apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If you're going to leave the color of the walls white, then i say go for the black one.

I second black.

Black

I guess I would want to see more of the room. I like the way the black pulls the color of the trim on the pillow cases, but the white looks more ethereal to me. I'd go with the white.

White. :-)

I don't think the lamp style works with the bedside tabels. But I would say black if you had to choose.

Black will show the dust more than white, and you'll end up cleaning the lamp a lot more often than the white one. But, black looks nice in the picture because of it's contrast against the white walls.

I'd rather have the white one, and paint the walls a little darker.

Black. The white is great but it just fades into the white wall. The black pops and brings everything together. It does add some glamour and elegance.

Paint the wall a deep rich color. Like a rick dark chocolate - it will made your bedding really pop. Then go with the white lamp.

As for the rug - get a pad!

All rugs are slippery on hard surfaces. Get a big 8x10 rug pad from Target for $35 and cut it to size and use the leftover pad material to put on shelves to prevent things from sliding off.

Even rugs placed on carpets *need* pads. Trust me, I have over a dozen Iranian and Afghani rugs on my floors and carpet and that's not counting the ones hanging on walls and over railings. For rugs on carpets I love the "Wedlock" pads from Jade Industries. Any good rug store can get them or you can google for online sellers. I bought mine from Rugs Done Right dot com.

It's nice to see rugs used as throws though.

It's well known that Freud used a Qashqai (Iranian tribe) rug as a throw cover for his famous couch.

white lamp with a black shade... is this an option?

black Antler with White Shade...

I agree with the painting of the walls and the keeping of the white one, but it's hard to tell with so little of the room shown.

I would go with White but paint the wall behind the Bed a different color. Also is the bed frame going to be the Ikea Beige? I would also consider switching the lamp shades on the lamps so the white base has black shade i think that would really make the lamp Pop.

with that white bed i'd say go with the white lamps but paint the wall a color. if you aren't going to paint the wall then stick with the black lamps, the white lamp will just disappear into everything else.

nice choice tough.

Black. It's obvious from the pics.

black!

White Looks Better!

You will get more light out of the white lamps.

The black ones are too heavy looking.

Oh, by the my answer is the correct answer!

curve ball- when this happens when i do a film set i often just scratch both and start over. rethink! maybe hanging lamps or using a curved floor lamp. end tables dont necessarily need table lamps. maybe you need something more versatile and timeless if you can decide between both. you like the glamour of the black but the levity of the white. maybe you need a combined black and white lamp rather than having to decide between both. i think from a practical perspective the white antler lamp will be more versatile in the long run with color and interior changes. toss a coin and live and love with it?

black with a white shade...

It seems as if there are too many looks in the room. You have a modern, classical bedding with an oriental style coverlet, contemporary side tables and chair and then the modern lodge look with the lamps. I'd keep the white lamps, get a less "busy" coverlet, paint the wall a darker color or get a large print to hang above the bed, and I'd eight-six the chair.

Everyone has strong feelings for your lamps! ;P

I say: white shows definition of antlers better - but yes, you need to paint your walls. Even a pale taupe background will showcase both your lamps and bedding. White is my vote. Clean, modern, goes with what you currently have.
But if you must go with black - then I think you need white (or paler) bedside tables, b/c the black shades just fade into the tables.....

FYI: You may have trouble "dumping the antlers" as I tried to return this lamp to West Elm recently (it was bigger than the website dimensions indicated) and was told that it was a final sale only item. Now that I'm stuck looking at it, it occurs to me that I should have bought something less trendy.

although i think something like this would look better.


http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=/qid=/ref=br_1_br_1_3/601-9802830-0370539?ie=UTF8&node=255125011&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=255125011&rank=pmrank&asin=B000G1M9G6&rh=&page=1

Have you thought of hanging the rug on the wall?

Switch the shades on the lamps and look at them again. I think they will look a lot better that way.

I like the white - and i agree about painting the walls and getting a rug pad!

i'm with erikasky: hang the rug on the wall behind the bed.

then go with the white lamp. it'll stand out against the hanging and bring in the white walls and bedding. meanwhile the hanging will provide a high-contrast focal point and tie in the dark tables.

dump the lamps and get one that work better with your bedding. In either colour they add nothing to the room. If you insist on incorporating them in the room, then it depends on what colour you plan to paint the walls and if you plan on keeping the carpet on your bed. I would favour the black as it has more versitility and has more visual weight.

White. Definitely. And I agree with those who suggest something for the wall behind the bed.

white, and painted walls, if you are keeping the rug on the bed--love the way it looks.
If you are going with the white duvet with black trim, then the black lamp.

Black. The white fades away against the white wall. Like them with the table, btw.

another for mix and match. just swap the shades on what you have there.

Black.
It gives more depth and texture to the room.

black antler
with the white shade
trimmed with 1/2"-1" black ribbon on the top and bottom

The black antler does have a great graphic appeal, and trimming the white shades will pop it off the wall and echo the black on white detail you have on your bed.

And second hanging the rug...

I like the white, but then I tend to gravitate towards light and airy. I like the idea of the white with a black shade if you want it to pop or painting the wall to allow the same. I think the black on the dark dresser looks like a lot of heavy furniture.

Black antler.

As for your rug, check out the July issue of Domino and take a look at the guest bedroom of the art direct for Lee Jofa. He uses the seagrass headboard from pottery barn and hangs a rug over it. Also does it with a rug over a fabric headboard. With your rug and greek key motif bedding, it would look stunning.

I think you should paint the wall the golden color that's in the "rug", and keep the rug on the bed, and have both lamps be black, but change the shades out for a pair of these:

http://www.everylampshade.com/ES20573.htm

Seriously. I'm not kiddin'. Do it. Now.

- Curtis

black

I like both the lamps, and I like the idea of having one black and one white in the room. Its a little unexpected. I think the problem is that the black lamp really pops out against the white wall and the white lamp almost disappears into the paint.

Have you thought about painting in a rectangular "headboard" shape on the wall, that extends behind and a little above both the black lamp and the white? You could use a colour pulled from the spread - maybe that warm gold/tan, or the trim colour from the sheets - it would emphasize the colour and shape of both lamps, and it would kind of anchor the bed as well. Also it would stop those white pillowcases from also disappearing into the wall paint.

Neither - Yuck.

Black, and leave the rug on the bed, it looks great!

i don't like either. wouldn't want to hit one of those antlers if i have to turn on the lights in the middle of the night or on a gloomy morning. and black lampshades are so somber...
so sorry

For some reason I always associate black lampshades with hotel rooms. White puts off more light which is the point, right? I have never cared for that shape of shade, and would suggest going to ikea; they have some of the best lighting solutions for the money. A Noguchi style or worklamp perhaps. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/range/10371/10732/

black and lose the quilt

Black

I'd keep one of each, just the way you have it is great.

Post the antlers on Craigslist or Ebay, then get something more squat and spherical--maybe hammered brass or bronze with a natural shade. Something that brings out the neoclassical idea of the Greek key pattern on the sheets, like an urn shape, would be good.

I would keep the rug as a spread and hang a small horizontal piece of art over the bed--maybe something ethnic-looking.

Black if your walls are staying white, white if you plan on painting the walls any other color but white.

I agree with what someone said about the lamps not fitting the style of the tables but if that's your intent, that's cool.

About hanging rugs on walls.

First, What kind of rug is it? Does it have a silk foundation (warps/wefts)? If so then take it to a rug repair store and have them custom make a hanging system for you.

Otherwise here is a cheap and easy way to do it without altering the rug (all other options require hand sewing which gets expensive).

Go to any home improvement store and get a "carpet tack strip" (about $2). Coat it *well* with polyurethane to seal it. You don't want any bare wood or bare metal to touch the rug. Then screw the carpet tack strip to the wall, with the tacks pointing upward. All you have to do then is just press the rug into place. That looks like a city workshop rug if it is handmade, so mostlikely the warps and wefts are cotton and the tacks will simply go between them without damaging anything.

I have a 6'x9' Afgani/Uzbek flatweave (sumak) mounted on the wall of my home office this way.

The nice thing about the tack strip method is when/if you get bored with the rug it's trivial to take it down and replace it with a different one.

madsarah has a great idea about adding an ethnic/tribal element above the bed.

If someone wanted to nitpick, they might say "but the rug on the bed isn't tribal" but that's fine. It's not that unusual to see tribal and city rugs used together in the same space and can look really good.

You could also look for Uzbek hand embroidery to hang on the wall. (I collect Uzbek embroidered pieces, and love the look). They have smaller pieces that make awesome wall hangings. Some are primitive, others very sophisticated. You can usually get them for less than $200.

Go with the lamp that you love the most (in your gut), and then incorporate some of the great (and inexpensive) ideas from above to make it work. If you're doubting both go a different route altogether until you find something you can't live without. If you love something you'll have it forever (or at least longer!) But if you're just buying something just cause it matches (or b/c the pros recommended it to you), you'll never feel quite satisfied.

White! I actually have that lamp too :)

white

Black!

i say black, because it balances out the black in the blanket @ the bottom. with white sheets, the white one would blend in too much

If the walls stay white/light, then I say BLACK! If the walls get painted darker, then, obviously, go with the white lamp.

White because it will cast much better light and unless your batman, you will appreciate the light. A black base witha white shade would be just as good

White. I like black accents, but they are too big. The white looks much nicer in my opinion.

white

Black.

One of each. I think swapping the shades is too busy. If one of each is too unconventional for you, I'd go with black.

I'd try white lamp with black shade.

i'm not qualified to answer this but my first thought is get rid of them and get something else. they are both ugly. the white is only better in that it blends in so well that you don't notice how ugly it is. i'm sorry!

If you like the lamps, then go with the black.

Black

White

black. white blends into the background and you don't get to enjoy it as much!

Paint your walls gray and use the white. Otherwise if you must use the black.

(I tried replying a lot earlier but get the "error 500" when submitting the post thru Firefox browser on Windows..)

Wow!! I didn't expect so many comments from everyone... thanks so much for all the great advice and opinions.
I have a deal with my husband where he gets to make a choice for about every two that I make, and he LOVES these lamps so they've got to stay. My choice would have been wall lamps.
We are planning to planning to paint the walls a light blue-ish gray.
If the lamps stay, the rug on the wall as a headboard might be too busy. So I'm planning to use the rug as a cover for a low platform seating thing that I'll build (at some point). It's actually embroidered silk (not woven/tufted) so it'll work as a cover.
I can't change the side tables for a lighter one, because that was my first woodworking project (Yes, I did have the "stainer's remorse" when the color came too dark).
We tried switching the shades, the white antlers with the black shade look pretty good, the other way around, not so good.
Finally the answer my original question came to me last night when I woke up to go to the bathroom - half asleep, stumbling in darkness, the black antlers looked like they were going to attack me! As glamorous as they look, black antlers (or really any antlers) don't belong in the bedroom. So white is the answer, with smaller shades that don't look like they're covering the rest of the animal.
Again, thanks everyone for your suggestion... once the painting is over, the curtains bought and hung, I'll send in the "After" pictures.
Ferha