Good Questions: Shade Color for Marble Lamps?

Jason sent in a good question: We got these marble lamps from the family house. In their setting, we’d always kinda hated them, but I knew they had potential. Since they were free, I figured it might be worth investing in some gorgeous shades.

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I want your amazing opinions. I’m thinking dark, either a satiny gunmetal colour or black. But I’m curious about your ideas. Shapes, colours, size. The lamps are a great size, very heavy and the veins are beautiful, all caramel, black, and grey shades. What do you think? Thanks!

Please share your ideas for shades for Jason's lamps in the comments below...

Comments (22)

turquoise blue.
and i can't think of the name of the shade of yellow i'm thinking of. ochre?

I'd go with black or dark brown to bring out the gorgeous veins in the marble. As for shape, I'd go for a simple cylinder, horizontal, kind of like this ikea shade:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20121850
but a bit shorter and not tapering.

My first thought was a bright blue, but that's just my preference. I think it depends on what colors are dominant in your home. Black if you have black furniture/accessories; chocolate brown if you have more brown.

Still...I like blue. :)

I like your idea of gunmetal gray, only I think I'd try a soft surface, suede-like rather than satiny. It would contrast textures and pop the marble veins out even more. Is that weird?

My first reaction was black for two reasons - #1 to pick up on the veining in the base and #2 because of the black and white photos (if the lamp will indeed go in that space). I love the lamps!

I have VERY similar lamps and I bought two black shades lined in silver from Restoration Hardware. Couldn't. Be. Happier!

Here's a great site for lamp shades: http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/lamp-shades/page_1/

The pics of the shades are large enough for you to envision or maybe even place a photo of the lamp base beneath each shade! The color depends on your color scheme of course and the darker shades would be more dramatic, but also cast less light. So, weigh your needs. You should provide a photo to apartment therapy when you've made your choice so we can see the result!

P.S. The many styles on the above site should also help you figure out what shape you want.

Eggplant silk drums, OMG.

My first thought was Maroon...

Or if you want to go crazy, I'm currently in love with the embroidered shades at Anthropologie... especially the peacock one. It might be a bit too much though, with the ornate base.

I'd choose black drum shades lined with gold foil paper

what does the rest of the room look like? is it all completely neutral? or do you have some other accent colors in a rug or artwork? I love the lampshades at Restoration Hardware... and if the lighting sale is still on they're about 30% off.

Hey there.
Thank you so much for your thoughts! Sciencegeek, you might be onto something with the turquoise. I've been strangely drawn to it lately.

http://theserovingeyes.blogspot.com/search/label/My%20Housing%20Project

Some shots of my house. I was also thinking some kind of mustard colour, but I have a chair that would compete with that . . .

Melanie, the eggplant silk would be gorgeous. OMG!

Oops, sorry. I didn't notice that the larger shades were no longer available.

I'd go with a color in the veins of the marble - either a brown or dark gray.

By the way, what color are your walls painted? It's the exact neutral I've been looking for - not too cold, not too warm, not too dark, not too light! I'd love to know the brand/color.

Hey traderdi!
Unfortunately I have no idea what colour it is. Our landlord painted it before we moved in. But you're right, it's the perfect beige-neutral. I might love it even more if it wasn't on every wall in every room on three levels. But better that than if she had painted everything orange or something.