styleNorth

When I did the reveal post about my dark walls I was a bit surprised that no one commented on the fact that the new cream lampshades (above left) weren’t quite the right size. The shades weren’t new, they were ones I’d pulled out of storage while I had custom shades made. The new shade on the right is one inch taller and one inch narrower: the difference is subtle in the photo but much more apparent in three dimensions. Yes, the old shade would have looked alright with a slightly smaller harp but I didn’t have one on hand, and anyway, I think a 7-inch harp is just too small for a 16″ lamp. Also, because the lamp is contained within a shelf, the wider shade extended too far past the edge of the frame.

I did some web research regarding shade size and discovered there are all kinds of “rules”, the most common being that a shade should be at least one third the height of the lamp. In some cases this is appropriate, in others, not so much. So I consulted the real experts, the high-end decor peddlers on 1stdibs.com.

As the trio of lamps above demonstrates, there really are no hard and fast rules, it’s all about style and proportion. The blue Murano lamp, left, has a 50s/60s feel, which is appropriate for the shape of lamp. The other two are closer to my approach with the shades being slightly shorter than the height of the base. Whenever possible, I simply take the lamp to the store with me when choosing shades and even then I sometimes get it wrong. Make sure you can return the shades if necessary and don’t remove the plastic covering until you’re certain you’ve picked the right ones.

I have to give a plug here to Toronto’s Aristocrat Lamps and Lighting, which is in the throws of a going-out-of-business sale featuring 50 – 75 per cent discounts. My new shades cost me just $30 for the pair. Directly across from the Drake Hotel at 48 Abell Street, Aristocrat is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm.

Photo above courtesy of Swank Lighting.