apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

The best way to choose a lamp shade is to bring the fixture with you to the store and "try them on". Most sales staff at lampshade stores are used to this, and are often quite gifted and experienced in offering styles and shapes that are well suited to the scale of your lamp.

It may sound odd, but it's kind of like trying on clothes.

I also have an orphaned shadeless lamp stand. Does anyone have recommendations for lamp shade resources in Manhattan or brooklyn?

I'm looking for a traditional fabric covered style in a blue/teal-esque shade.

I have an idea, but it's not that simple. I think I'd try to find a black globe (as in "spherical map of Earth) and cut it along it's seam, so you have only half of it, and then carfully drill a hole in the bottom of it just big enough for the brass part to fit in, and have the opening pointed up. I think I'd want to aluminum-leaf the inside of the globe, and then use a chrome-top bulb. I think the light from that would be interesting.

Otherwise, I'd look for a black shade so you could really just focus on how beautiful the lamp is.

I'm running with Curtis' idea...with a twist...

find an old (or new made to look old) map of anything really- I'm thinking a topographical map would look nice as it's more abstract than a standard earth map. Find a nice cylinder lampshade to refrence the base, more narrow than wie and more tall than squat- something in dark color- perhaps black, perhaps a dark burgundy.

Remove a band of the dark fabric from the lampshade- methinks something like 3" or 4" from the center of the cylinder. Glue (spray mount) the map to that removed area.

When turn the lamp on the map area will glow and look quite nifty yet will still remain sleek as it's only a band of map and it's surrounded by black.

Danae,

Have you tried Just Shades in NOLITA or Gracious Homes in Manhattan. They have lots of shades (I have a lamp myself that I need to bring in to get the perfect size shade). Also Oriental Lamp Shade Co. on the upper east side - good but pricey!

As for the Saturn lamp. I like a black paper shade though I think you could do one with a slight flare. Otherwise the lamp might appear to cylinder-like. A metallic lavendar lamp would also be fetching with the chrome base. Again, this would depend on exactly what type of room it's going into.

just a place to go for great lampshades at GREAT prices - check out restoration hardware. They have great basic shades in some nice neutral colors. Or if you want to go super cheap ( but i wouldn't recommend it quality wise ) you can always try target too. Both places you can just bring your lamp base with you and try differnet shades! Should be fun!

I agree with a.l. the best places in manhattan are just shades and gracious home. bring your lamp with you and try lots of laamp shades to get the right shape and size.
jca it looks like you need a clip shade, but there are clip adapters so you can use a regular shade with a finial.

Hey.... i was tempted to post this without attaching my name.... but here's a bit of bravery.

START AT KMART.

Martha stewart has all of the basic lamp shade shapes in several sizes and has recently started to offer them in different fabrics. The great news is that if you find the right shape and it's in white, you can paint it or paper it or cover it in fabric.

They cost between 8- 15 dollars. If you can get out of NYC the Kmarts in the suburbs are better.

Or try one of the Home Depot's in the city or Bed bath and beyone - large variety and reasonable

Just Shades on Spring Street in lower Manhattan.
Bring your lamp. The sales people will let you try
on shades until you find just the right shape & color.
They have a huge selection.