Good Questions: Finding Natural Hanging Lamps?

ATDC reader Kat needs our help tracking down some lighting:

"I've just moved and am pulling together a comfortable but modern look for my very open new condo (so many huge windows!). I've gravitated toward plant motifs-- a custom-made wood slab table, a huge vine wall-hanging. I found a set of hanging lamps which are gorgeous and fit perfectly, but -- alas!-- sold out. Here's the link: Viva Terra

Does anyone have suggestions for similar hanging lamps? They don't have to be vines or globes-- I'm just looking for something earthy but not too dense.

Thanks so much! Kat"

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: dc(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

Kat,
We found this lamp that is square yet similar at Wrapables.com; it is currently on sale for $75.00. West Elm also has similar lamps, though the larger sizes are currently sold out.

Does anyone else have an resources to share with Kat?

Comments (18)

I made these for my wedding. Go to a craft store and buy grapevine wreaths, or bundle of grapevine and some fine dark wire. Create two very slim and fine wreaths (just wrap some vine into a circle once or twice) and then intersect the two wreaths. Use the wire to secure the top and bottom. Then wrap the circular frame in grape vine. It'll look great and cost you about $20 bucks per shade. The material above doesn't look like grapevine, but grapevine will look very similar to this.

I made these for my wedding. Go to a craft store and buy grapevine wreaths, or bundle of grapevine and some fine dark wire. Create two very slim and fine wreaths (just wrap some vine into a circle once or twice) and then intersect the two wreaths. Use the wire to secure the top and bottom. Then wrap (weave) the circular frame with grape vine. It'll look great and cost you about $15-20 bucks per shade. The material above doesn't look like grapevine, but grapevine will look very similar to this.

When I say "wrap the circular frame in grapevine," I mean you should weave the grapevine through the frame and use wire to secure the vine when needed. :)

Go by Muleh; it's around 14th and R. They have a lot of organic modern lighting, made from silk worm cocoons, mulberry bark, etc.

I think you could probably make a shade like this for a simple pendent light fairly easy. Soak Hemp twine in craft glue and then wrap as you like around a balloon leaving the top open. Let dry on the balloon for a few days until completely hardened. You could even paint it after if you wanted to go for a dark brown...or leave it the natural hemp color. Something you can experiment with...as the supplies would be cheep to buy.

if you're feeling crafty...these remind me of a project my friends and I did recently, inspired by an article in the most recent readymade.

after pics on our blog here...

http://modernhomebody.blogspot.com/2009/01/triumphant.html

it was a little messy but it turned out magnificently. we just used white clothesline but it would totally work with twine for a more rustic look.

There was just a post within the past week of a bedroom makeover. The person made two of these hanging lamps, by purchasing the cord hit from Ikea (I think), which are about $4...and grapevine balls at a Michael's or other craft store. You woudn't have to make them yourself....They are really cheap too....then he wrapped the cord in hemp twine to make it appear more natural.

Pearl River Mart in New York carries similar globes, but the materials are more dense. (not shown online) but www.pearlrivermart.com

I know this is off topic, but I really like the table setting... what kind of plant if that in the bowls?

Three of them being sold on Craigslist.

https://post.craigslist.org/manage/977549452/nw6vd

I've seen the ones in Pearl River Mart and they're really nice and a substantial size. Not sure of the price. They have quite a few others that are similar as well.

eribear, I absolutely LOVE the teardrop shaped lamp in Pier 1. Haru's sushi restaurant downtown has a lamp suspended near the kitchen and I swear it's the same one.

I have 3 small pendants over an island a larger over the table that have the same natural feel, but a more traditional shape. I got mine at Great Indoors in Gaithersburg, but they are available all over the Web - they are by Uttermost and they are the Knotted Rattan collection. They have several finishes - I have the one with the gray glaze - sounds weird but it looks exactly like driftwood.

eribear12, I agree with. These lamps from Pier 1 are amazingly beautiful and sell at a very surprisingly LOW price! I'm looking to snatch some of them up for our new apartment.

You can get some hemp string/twine, and coat with some glue, wrap around a ballon, let it dry, then pop the balloon.. voila! use varying sized/thickness of string to create diff. depths of light