Thursday, January 24, 2013

Let There Be Light

Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I tend to rely on lamps for lighting my rooms, instead of overhead lighting.
The amethyst lamp above, found on sale at Pottery Barn captured my heart.
I knew it would be perfect in the wine country with the light shining through.  It reminds me of the color of grapes!

I love lamps and tend to fall in love too often with one of a kind or unusual lamps.
Like the hand made shell lamp that we found in Carmel last year. 
It was love at first sight!

 It replaced this little lamp that I thought I loved in the sunroom.
Don't worry, it found another spot in the family room.

Sometimes, it's just the lamp base that speaks to me, like the pair of red lamps in the family room.
I can dress them up or change the look with different shades.
I think they are on their third lampshade right now, a wicker shade from Pottery Barn.

Although I've featured this vintage transferware lamp before, I couldn't do a lamp post without including it.  It exemplifies my love for one of a kind lamps that will always find a way in to my heart!

 Sometimes though, it's just the shade that I fall in love with.

These two tall lamps with ruffled linen shades from One Kings Lane are a nice update in the living room, replacing the stuffy barley twist lamps that have been living here for over ten years. 
They go with the new updated living room much better than the old ones did.

 Although I love the base of this lamp, also from One Kings Lane, it really was the shade that got me.
I love how it's trimmed and lined in olive green.

 I fell in love with this lampshade from Target.
Since we each have mis-matched alabaster lamps on our nightstands, the pair of grain sack style shades gave them a more youthful appearance...

 ...and unified the lamps.
I also love how they compliment the green velvet upholstery and matting on the botanical print.

I'm always on the hunt for lampshades, as they can update an old or existing lamp easily.
Target tends to have great shades.  For instance, the shade above also came with a yellow stripe, which I bought.  They even had a shade that mimics a cable knit sweater.  Yes, I bought it too!
And of course, Pottery Barn also has lovely lampshades.

Do you love lampshades as much as I do?
Read my post, "If The Lampshade Fits."

Want to see my alabaster lamp collection?

I'm joining Courtney for Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage.
Pin It!

36 comments:

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

I can't seem to pass up a pretty lamp either Delores! I LOVE all of yours!

Susan said...

Oh, how I love your beautiful lamps! I've been wanting to change out 5 or 6 lamps in my house for about a year and you've inspired me to just do it! My home is very traditional in decor, but I love unique lamps, so I'm going to look for new shades and bases. Thank you for all the inspiration you give us through your blog, I really appreciate it.

Sassy Southern Lady said...

I have a thing for lamps also. I don't like over head light and lamps are perfect. Love your lamps.

Jan Hermann said...

I'm loving your lamps! They're all so pretty.

It seems whenever I walk into a store, lamps call my name!!

Jan ♥

Pura Vida said...

Your lamps AND shades are all so wonderful!

gme said...

Wow, what a great post! You do have a wonderful selection of lamps and shades. I also dislike overhead lighting and tend to turn on all the lamps around the house. Seems like it just makes everything so soft and mellow. Now I'm inspired to spiff up some of my old lamps with some new shades. Thank you!

Linda said...

I love lamps! They are not only the "light", but also the "life" of the room! (:>)

Sarah said...

Delores, you have some beauties. I find myself drawn to lamps too. I've two recent thrift store finds that have yet to be placed because I'm looking for just the right lamp shade. I never thought of looking at Target. I'll go take a look. Thanks for the tip. ;-)

Karen at Home Sweet Hollywood said...

Lamp lighting is the best...you have some really beautiful ones!

Kathysue said...

You are singing to the choir here!! My hubby says I have never met a lamp I don't like! He is almost right. I too, love soft ambient lighting and at night time I have about 13 lights dimmed. It is quite an ordeal to go to bed at night and turn them all off, lol!!
Love seeing your beautiful lamps and shades. Did you see the image I put on FB from Paris with all the hanging lampshades in the street. It would have been a perfect image for this post!
Have a great rest of the week D!
xo Kathysue

for the love of a house said...

GREAT lamps! Love them all. And I'm a shade nut. I buy shades that I don't even have lamps for! You should see my storage room:)
xxoj.

Leslie said...

I agree, lamps create a pretty ambiance .. especially with dimmers. You have a wonderful lamp collection and it's fun to hear about the sources for purchase. PB has really come a long way and there are some wonderful pieces to be had there. I am looking for some small lamps for my bedroom side tables. It's not been easy thus far!

leslie

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I also love lamps, and you've got some wonderful lamps. When did you get those grain sack shades? I've got to get to Target. Those are wonderful! laurie

Blue Creek Home said...

Oh dear! We are kindred spirits.
I adore lamps and move them from place to place and sometimes to my booth to sale, just to make room for another one I couldn't live without!
Love love all of yours - the seashell one is wonderful but the little transferware one is my favorite.
Rhonda

Libby said...

I love these.... and have some of these same shades! And, I even bought that red lamp base last year for my guest room! Lamps can make or break any room....You have done a beautiful job with all these!

Stacey said...

You do have some wonderful lamps. We need many more in our new house and I'm having the hardest time figuring out where to put them. I need to go back and look at some of your bigger room shots to see how you've used them. Target does have some great lamps and shades...my problem is that I tend to hesitate or want to think about it. Then they are gone!

Sheila said...

I love lamps and lampshades but they can be pricey. I like the idea of inexpensively updating old lampshades. I recently read a post at Bopsy? something (sorry I cannot remember blogs name) who took a lamp shade, pulled the bottom half of a nice textured sweater(something like cableknit)over it for a cute wintery themed update. Anyway, love all your lamps. Thanks for sharing.

Sheila said...

Now I remember the blog name, Unskinny Boppy. There were apparently several blogs chosen by a lamp shade company to come up with some clever makeovers for a plain white lamp shade. Go to Unskinny Boppy for a link to check out all the clever updates.

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

I lOOOVE lamps and shades too!!! We just did a switcheroo of our lamps in the living room and downstairs family room yesterday!!! I am planning a post on lamps too! I did one once before too. LOVE all your lamps and shades. The ruffly ones are my faves:) XO, pinky

Catherine said...

I have loved that amethyst lamp from PB since it came out. Score for you! All of your lamps are lovely. I need new living room lamps in conjunction with a planned redecorating scheme so this was a very informative post. Thank you.

Eva: evafalletta@yahoo.com said...

I have a thing for lamps too! love all of your lamps, but I have a big crush on the lamp with the iron flowers (3rd pic). Do you mind sharing the manufacture of that lamp? I need to buy myself one because it would work perfectly in my family room. : )

Carol S. said...

I splurged on the lamp shade from Pottery Barn in your first pic and would have loved the purple base also...so thrilled to see it found a home with you. Lamps are fun and easy to play with, wonder where those old family room barley twisted lamps ended up (send them my way, lol!)

Christine at Little Brags said...

love the burlap lamps.....I must have missed the ones from Target..darn...

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Delores. Your lamps and shades are so pretty. A great collection of both.. Happy Thursday..Judy

Terri~terrileeauthor said...

I know what you mean, I a bit of a nut about lamps too. I have run out of room. But sometimes I just swap one out and store the the other for awhile. I don't know why but lamps and chairs always speak to me. I wish I didn't always have to listen. :)

Ricki Treleaven said...

I love little lamps, too. I prefer them, and I love this time of day when I walk around the house turning on little lamps in darkened corners. I really love the shade on your last lamp you featured!

xo,
RJ

carolyn bradford said...

What a wonderful post! I love all of your lamps! Such great examples! Wish you could come to my shop and give all of our lamps a facelift! Love your take on the shades, etc…Hope you are doing well!

Karena said...

Delores I love all easy it is to change the look of a lamp with a unique shade! Love all of yours!

Xoxo
Karena
New 2013 Artists Series

Shawna @ mycherishedviolet.blogspot.com said...

I too have an issue with lamps!

My question is - how do you best store your lampshades? I can't seem to find a good way that seems to work for me when storing all my shades......any advice?

CocoinMagnolia said...

I heart unique lamps as well. I have a dragon lamp from when we lived in China. I appreciate your teapot lamp, as I have one as well. And your shell lamp is to d.i.e for! The target lamps shades are just what I need in boys room! Thanks for sharing! Love your blog.
Cheers,
Cortne

Melanie said...

I love lamps, too! Yours are gorgeous. I agree that Target has a wonderful assortment of lamp shades. I just found a beautiful white lamp base at Goodwill and am now on the hunt for the "perfect" shade.

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Delores, Delores, Delores....
it's a good thing we do not shop together because I think we would probably have to figure out a way to take turns buying things!!! I fear that my hand might be on the same item that you have picked every step of the way!

I have PB shades all over the house. I have probably ten alabaster lamps, and the other lamps are urns, trophies or architectural columns of some sort -- just like yours!

We both collect red paisley throws/shawls, brown transferware, plaid things, white ironstone, tortoiseshell, wooden boxes, etc. and the list goes on and on. How does this happen?

Were we twins split at birth?
:)
I am going to have to call my mom!

Love everything you share with us.

xoxox
Alison

Lori E said...

I struggle to choose lamps. They often look out of place once I get them home.
You have a good eye for sure.

Jaybird said...

I love lamps (and yours are gorgeous!!), and probably own way too many of them!!!
I need a source for 14" tall burlap or linen drum or slightly flared (very informal) shades. I have looked all over the internet, with no success. Do I have to resort to custom made??
Many thanks,

Unknown said...

Oh my! They're so adorable. Thanks for sharing this.

-FenchelShades.com

Michele Smith said...

I love all of your lamps, the shade with the green trim is gorgeous! Do you happen to know if Target is still selling those red stripe shades? I've been searching for months and the only ones my local Target had was yellow. I've been obsessing over that shade, scouring ebay daily LOL

Have a Happy Easter!

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