Similar problemo in my hallway: so, I changed the fixture entirely and ran one of those remote dimmer cords down along one wall. This way, got the light fixture I wanted and the dimming that is required in my life!!!

I like the look of an exposed light with the silver coating...this way the light is only reflected on the cieling.

here's a link to an example, although they come in regular bulb form as well.

My friend did this...sort of interesting and strange, but she took a regular lamp shade and hung it facing up over the naked bulb (so it looks upside down)
...it turned the ugly bulb into a curious conversation piece.

If you're not sick of the Garland Light yet, it might work as a fun and relatively inexpensive cover.

http://www.unicahome.com/catalog/item.asp?id=13770&L5=False

I'm with Todd.

Half-Silvered bulbs are the ticket.

http://www.alluminare.com/products_detail_shade.asp?id=146#

Maybe if you got the 'right' lampshade - it might look like a nice pendant light?

There's the Lunette clip-on shade--available from Butter in NYC for 25 bucks:

http://www.butter-ny.com/shop/index.htm#lunette

(It was originally mentioned in an earlier AT post on Pure Design, though it seems to be discontinued there.)

In addition to the Nelson Bubble Lamps, I would check out the Le Klint collection :

http://hivemodern.com/products/?cid=74&cid2=102

http://www.armsteadsporch.com/grito.html

You guys are geniuses!

Frank: I rent so I can't make any permanent changes and my landlord has no plans on upgrading the electrical system.

I have those weird energy-saving bulbs but I think I'll try the silver-tipped ones.

DT Jess...I think I'll get a garland light for my bedroom. I think they're really pretty.

Thanks everyone else for the tons of options I now have!

Any regular lamp shade that clips onto a bulb can be used upside down with a chain pull going through the inside on the shade. Choose a shade style and size that looks best for your space.

Check out:

http://www.eagle-emporium.com/bare_bulb_solutions.htm

and scroll down for traditional early-century beaded bulb covers. Available from a few other sources as well.

The lamps/lights at Lightbox in the EV would probably work for you :

http://www.lightboxhome.com/

Pottery Barn has two styles of clip on shades for ceiling bulbs:

Spiral, $59
http://ww1.potterybarn.com/cat/pip.cfm?src=shpclgtshdacc%7Crshop&pkey=clgtshdacc&gids=p5152

Scalloped, $39
http://ww1.potterybarn.com/cat/pip.cfm?src=shpclgtshdacc%7Crshop&pkey=clgtshdacc&gids=p4191

i just went across the street from my office to look at a lamp hanging in the window of Pier 1 on the corner of 15th st & 5th avenue, and i have to say its BEAUTIFUL!
its hanging from a chain that's threaded over the light cord, its round, maybe a foot across
its made of metal o-rings, like graduated, skinny cheerios and has a glass cylinder in the middle that looks like its covered in fabric, a pale gray-ish blue
i dont know how expensive it is (and its not on their crappy website) but it looks WAY nicer and WAY fancier than the usual pier 1 crap, and also looks like it would be easily adaptable to work with a hanging pull-string lamp
i highly recommend checking it out, espeically if you're looking for something mid-C at a non-mid-C price tag!!!

Thanks everyone!!!

Love the PB covers, Sara.

Try Poaa.com , they sell a lot of European designs at VAT free prices.

Good luck!