apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Try anthropologie. They've had some nice ones lately that I could see on those.

Your best bet is to bring one lamp into a good lamp shade store -- and "try them on". We once took a lamp to a store in Westport, CT -- the salesman was great, really had an eye for shapes and sizes that complemented the base. They know their stuff -- and one trip with the lamp could save several with shades that don't work out!

Oh yeah BTW - I live in Washington, DC so although I could possibly head up to New York to find lamp shades, I'd prefer to find something online or in the DC Metro Area.

I do think that "trying on" shades would be a great idea, but I'm nervous about transporting such a huge lamp to a shop (& negotiating the space with it once I'm there). They're unweildy, glass, and honestly, I'm a bit of a klutz. *sheepish grin*

Um, a huge one that covers the entire base?

(sorry, feeling a little beee-atchy today)

drum-style shade will keep with the style.

With that lamp you'll need a wide, straight-sided drum shade to avoid the fat-lady-in-a-little-hat look. Since you're already over the top, how about tangerine silk with gold lining? You might find a plain white shade at Target or Costco, then just a bit of DIY magic can make a shade as expired as those lamps deserve. Just avoid fringe or hanging trims *shudder*.

Um, these are far from Hollywood Regency. They were known in 1972 as "Mediterranean" but that doesn't begin to describe them either. (We had the same lamps in amber).

These need a tall large shade, at least as wide as the base.
And since you went this far, I would encourage all the trim, fringe, bullion you could muster...

Extremely tall white, ivory or cream drum shades are what these lamps need:

http://www.brownslampshades.com/store/prod/br-005358.html
http://www.brownslampshades.com/store/prod/br-00118.html

BTW:
You'll probably need to replace the harp to accommodate the taller shades - you can get them at your local hardware store.

I wouldn't trim them the shades up either - keep them simple, but I would paint the wall behind them so that the shades and the blue color of those great bases stand out (dark brown, maybe?)

I am going through the same thing with a pot-bellied brass lamp I have from the 50s (made in India). Brass looks amazing with black, but I have an espresso colored couch and don't want to put a black shade next to a brown couch. Suggestions for my lamp, too? (is is horribly tacky to ride on someone else's question?) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/2424235558_2a5d5df61b_o.jpg

I agree with whomever suggested the tall drum shades. I found a pair of orange ceramic lamp bases at a thrift store and found GREAT shades at Lampsplus online. They are linen so when the light is on they great a groovy cross-hatching pattern and they don't take away from the lamps, which a busy patterned shade might do. I say let the lamp base "shine" and get a more subtle shade.

You wrote:

"I don't mind a little kitsch, but I also don't want to distract from such lovely lamps with something really tacky."

Too LATE these lamps are tacky but you should probably run with it. Go all out. Completely commit to the tackiness.
Let everyone know that YOU KNOW they're tacky and kitschy.

Oh, have fun with them. Life's too short to be so serious about interior design.

I have nothing to add except for saying these are funky lamps.

Take them to Just Shades on Prince st (corner with Mulberry maybe? or Elizabeth). They're super nice and helpful there and you can try on tons of different sizes and styles.