apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This is a slightly different tack than replacing the whole molding, but we have odd, oval-shaped fixtures with two bare bulbs in them just like that in our rental. I bought two of these folding lampshades from butter-ny and it covered the whole thing quite well. Now it doesn't burn your eyeballs out when you look right into bare lightbulbs...

http://tinyurl.com/mf3fb

I'm a little confused by your question -- is it the plastic medallion covering the ceiling hole that is the problem, or is it the fixture itself?

The fixture pictured looks like a circa 1900-to-1920's hallway light fixture... a great piece but clearly not meant to be used w/a medallion. Similar pieces are sold by Rejuvenation and other historic-repro places.

Why don't you just unscrew the fixture, remove the medallion, and replace the medallion with a smaller rectangular or square piece of something... sheetrock, cardboard, etc.... that decoratively covers the hole? I'm thinking that this is a project for Curtis.

One thing that I've seen done with these things is to just get a huge globe-like bulb. So for this, a pair of them would be kind of nice and old-timey in a slightly different kind of way. For one thing, how big the bulbs would be would KIND of block the view of the fixture, but I think the fixture and the medallion are kind of a kicky combination.

Another thing that could be done is to use those bulbs that have the top of them covered in chrome or something, But that might just shine even more light onto the tin ceiling and the medallions, which I would also kind of like.

Martha Stewart used to make a couple of nice clip-on shade things for these, and there are also some that you can get at some hardware stores, and in some of those grandma-type catalogs like Carol Wright Gifts and those other ones.

SOME of those clip-on shades are horrible, but some are not too bad; I actually had one on my entryway fixture until I found something similar to the original equipment on eBay for 99-cents which looks fantastic now. But my fixture was the single kind; it might be tricky with these double ones.

I was thinking something along the same lines as Maxwell. You could use a square or rectagular piece of paper or nice looking plastic, attach it along two opposite sides and let the paper/plastic drape down in the middle. That should give it a nice geometric look and be simple to accomplish.

It almost looks like that thing in the center is a threaded bolt or something. If so, perhaps so kind of long cylindrical brass rod could come down from it and something could be attached to either create a shade like Maxwell speaks of, or perhaps adapt a pre-existing oblong shade of some kind?

I had a bare bulb problem in my apartment hallway. I took one of Tord Boontje Garland Lamps (which come in gold or silver metal) and twined it around the bulb, hitching it to the little screws where a glass shade would theoretically be clipped in.

It looks neat and I get tons of compliments. Not bad for a crappy light fixture in an apartment where the management refused to give me a new glass globe shade!

Not sure how it would look with two bulbs, though, or with all the other stuff you have going on with your fixture, or if that's your style, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Here's a link to the Garland:

http://www.gnr8.biz/garland.html

Dear Naomi,
I had the very same problem and just came up with an idea I am very happy with. I went to Pearl River Mart and bought a small rice paper umbrella in white. I opened it up as far as it would go, and then I hot glued it to keep it open. ( You could also sink a screw through the post to secure it.
Then, I sawed off the entire umbrella post, and wired it to the Light ficture. It looks great and turns down the "harsh" of bare lights.

Although I agree with Maxwell, And I never use the overheads unless I absolutely need to.

Victoria

Ikea has ceiling lights that consist of just a round shade that may fix your problem. The LOCK ceiling lamp is listed at $3.99. The CALYPSO ceiling lamp is more chic at $29.99.

If you use the paper cover idea, how do you ensure that this does not become a fire hazard?

I love the idea of a paper cover, especially since I have a similar problem, and it's such an easy and inexpensive solution. How would you attach it? I usually see them hanging from a socket set.

I'm thinking of a lamp like this: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=21489&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=336&iSubCat=295&iProductID=21489

"those bulbs that have the top of them covered in chrome or something" are described by Bulbrite as
"Glare-free ambient lighting. Perfect for open fixtures."
see link at my name

I don't know what's so wrong with the bare lightbulb. I used to have them in my apartment, and while I never used the overhead, so didn't ever deal with their harsh light, I always found myself looking up at them appreciatively.

I like to think they were designed when the lightbulb was new enough that it was still seen as a sculptural, wonderous object to admire, not just something to hide away and take for granted.

So modernists, support me, here. Isn't this utilitarian beauty at its best?

Pottery Barn has a scalloped linen clip-on shade for this purpose. It's available on line.

I have had similar problems with odd fixtures and have used the Asian paper lanterns. Since your lights hang down, you might also look into moroccan style glass lanterns. You might be able to attach them. I find that if you use the energy saver bulbs, they don't get hot and there isn't a fire concern for the paper shades.

i'd spray the gold piece white (to match the medallion) (use a stove paint) and then use those silver dipped lightbulbs. or in the spirit of the idea that sometimes your greatest detriment can end up being your greatest asset, spray the medallion & the gold piece silver and then use those same silver dipped lightbulbs for a cool neo-80s loft look...

i have an odd bare fixture in my living room, i put in an oversized clear bulb and a dimmer in the wall switch. however since i don't like overhead lighting it is never on. sorry maxwell i'm from the don't ever use 'em school.

brooklyn design company Butter makes a clip-on shade called Lunette, two of them would probably disguise the gold part quite a bit.

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

Naomi:

With the ceiling tins, you might consider a lace parasol, several styles to choose from here:
http://tinyurl.com/mf8j2

The 15" style on page 2 (it's a total of 30" across) has the center portion that is opaque and the edges that are all lace. That will help to hide the area you don't like with the medallion, but allow filtered light out from the edges, probably making a beautiful lacey pattern on the floors. Not unlike the sunlight through dancing leaves.

When the light is off, the fabric/lace combo may visually "disappear" into the ceiling tile.

Do what Victoria mentions to create the cover...cut off the base of the parasol. You can drill a hole through the wood handle, or use an eye-screw into the bottom of the sawed part. Wee bit of wire, through the screw or hole, and slightly unscrew your fixture in the center, wrap the wire around that screw, and rescrew tightly.

You don't want the fabric to touch the bulbs, obviously. Or any of the parasol support structure. Take a look at store lamps, and see how close the bulbs are to the shades.

Since the bulbs themselves will be hidden, now is the time to switch to energy-saving fluorescent bulbs, which burn MUCH COOLER, and thereby reduce fire hazard.

Although they can be ghastly for skin tone, be forewarned...and consider upgrading to the more expensive full spectrum fluorescent:
http://www.lumiram.com/ecolume.html

You'll use your fixture more often if it looks good and provides what you NEED in your area. A ceiling light doesn't always make enough light to fulfill all your needs, like reading, so treat it instead as "general mood light"... Not real bright, high wattage bulbs, but more like the kind of light to maneuver the room without breaking a leg.

Then select your specialty lights for your needs, reading lights, up lights, down lights, swiveling lights, plant lights, etc.

Continuing with the fire hazard questions, there are spray fire retardants available for home use, like this company:
http://www.natfire.com/

Exerpt from above link:
Our fire retardants are extremely effective, non-hazardous, non-toxic, and are environmentally friendly.  We have flame retardant spray-on formulas to treat most natural and synthetic fabrics, paper, cardboard, drywall and all interior wood.
------

I hope this helps a little.

Oh! I meant to mention that IF you should get some from Lillian Vernon or Carol Wright gifts where it looks like a glass shade (but it's clear or "milk-glass" plastic), the finial on it will be such a bright brassy-looking plastic that you MIGHT do as I did while I had mine up, which is to paint it with the same combination of black radiator paint and aluminum radiator paint so that it looks like iron or something. I just couldn't take the cheap plastic brassy gold, although the cheap fake plastic glassy thing didn't bother me as much for some reason.

You know, for the amount of fuss in the suggested solutions, you could just change the light fixture to something you like. Its not hard.

Thanks for all your great comments! I love the Tord Boontje solution and the clip on shades, but I would like to find something that covers the ornament as well as the fixture plus the damaged tin around it. Since we are renting I rather not take the fixtures off, or paint them. We have three of these in our apartment, one has three bulbs so it might be even harder to find a solution for that one. I saw a large fabric drum shaped lampshade in a restaurant once that was closed on the bottom. Has anyone seen something like this before and does anyone have an idea how I could attach it?
Thanks again!

Like this:
http://tinyurl.com/hwdpb

The image shows a smaller drum shade with the diffuser attached.

From the live help option at the above site, Mark says:
It is a white translucent disk that fits on the bottom of the shade called a diffuser
you: Uh, how would that work? And can I view that online somewhere?
Mark: It is an option with any of our larger pendants
Mark: Sure! Again, the diffuser is a translucent white acrylic disk, sandblasted for a more finished look. It is recessed into the bottom by approx. 1/2-inch and attaches to the shade with a small silver center cap. A side view of a pendant with a diffuser attached can be seen here:
======

And that was the link I posted. The shades are available separately.

They have all sorts of fabric options to choose from. Enjoy browsing them!

For a really cheap quick fix, what about just getting those mercury covered light bulbs. You know the ones that are covered on one side?

For custom drum shades, go to www.meteorlights.com.
Though the one I ordered didn't have one, I think they can do the diffuser thing.

Great link Kayti! It went right into my favorite places to save! Thanks!

How can people not use their overhead lights? - when you open the door to enter a darkened room how do you see to get to a side light? - most normal people would immediately put their hand out to turn on the overhead light switch by the doorframe - thats what its there for...

As for these light fixtures, I think they look fabulous - they are wonderfully Victorian and match the tin ceiling wonderfully - why on earth would you want to cover them up? - They need shades like one my Mum used to have - it was fluted glass with a brass bit at the top which held it to the fitting

I found this possible solution - if you didn't want to purchase this outright - you might be able to make something that fits with your decor - click the link on my name or cut and paste :

http://www.brandlighting.com/fire_farm-retrofit.htm

Hello,

I'm new, I like all these ideas, very nice. Here's one: You can get a paper parasol (or silk..) with a design of your choice (or paint a plain one, or leave it). Open it, and saw off the wooden handle to the desired length that it will hang down. Screw an eye hook into that pole, put a hook in the ceiling, and you have a large, beautifully light parasol light cover that gives a cozy and soft glow to your room.

I have one in my hall, with a large lotus across the top.

As for someone above mentioning the Victorian, I think Victorian style would go nice with this old fashioned paper and bamboo parasol. Anyone agree?