Your beautiful lamp sits in just the right corner in your favourite room providing a welcome glow each evening. It may have once belonged to mother or that of a favourite aunt or perhaps you spent years hunting through antique shops? But as elegant as the lamp base is, the shade has never been entirely suited. It's seen better days & the style could be more sympathetic. Sooner or later it's going to have to be replaced.
As all discerning decorators know, finding the right lamp base is hard enough, but finding the right lamp shade can be easier said than done! So how do you complete the look with the perfect shade? The first thing to remember is to take your time. This is a lamp shade after all - not emergency surgery!
Consulting an experienced, custom shade maker will cut through months of fruitless searching however in an age where fewer women sew, finding a skilled lamp shade maker, capable of a producing a professional look, can be tricky.
Bespoke lampshade making may be a specialist area but once you have your shade maker, the process can begin. Ask to see photos of previous lampshade work and samples of what you can expect.
Close enough isn't good enough when it comes to quality decorating. Providing pictures of the room your lamp will live in and the furniture on which it will stand is very helpful. Perhaps you can offer swatches of fabric or photos of lampshades you admire. Your lampshade maker probably isn't physic and these will assist in effectively conveying your ideas!
Size & proportion are very important so take your lamp base along and the old lampshade due for retirement. It will come in handy to show what you do and don't like about the old shade. It's true that there are a few rules regarding proportion, but in the end, your eye will tell you the most pleasing size and shape for your base and the rule book may well be tossed out.
A good shade maker should also have a selection of lamp shades in different shapes, sizes & colours. Try a few on, even those you may not normally be drawn to. Stand back and appraise your lamp thoughtfully, you may discover an exciting new look that you previously wouldn't have considered!
When it comes to lampshades, silk or linen is the choice of fabrics. These textiles lend themselves beautifully to shade making with a vast selection of colours to choose from. Silk is a particularly fascinating material.
Light, delicate, soft & luxurious, yet strong enough to hold a man's weight in a parachute descent, making it perfect for stretched designs & linings requiring tension! Once fabric has been decided, there are so many different shade treatments to choose from.
Plain stretched, knife, box or pinch pleats, gathering, crosshatching, ruffling & piping effects are just some, not to mention the stunning array of passementerie available. Crown this with a wide selection of finials in every shape & material & your lampshade project transforms into a work of art! With the design settled it's important to ensure your new lampshade will actually sit on your lamp!
Lampshade frame fittings need to suit according to which country your lamp originates. What fits in the US is different from the UK & Australia, with Europe having yet another fitting of its own! Vive la difference! Your shade will be unusable if it does not have the right attachment. This should be no problem for a professional shade maker who will be able to advise & supply a shade with the correct fitting. You should now be provided with a timely and detailed written quote. One of a kind, custom made work using superior materials obviously costs somewhat more than a mass produced article.
Lampshade making of this calibre is labour intensive & can be somewhat wasteful as many styles will only be successful with fabric cut on the bias. Materials such as silk, passementerie, finials & frames all need to be specially ordered, (with frame making being another specialist area in itself!)
A good shade maker should be busy. If they inspire confidence and you admire their work, then it's worth the wait! Even so, expect to be provided with an estimated date of delivery and receive progress reports at appropriate intervals, just so you know your order has not been forgotten.
Expect to pay for what you get and think of all those weeks and months trudging from store to store looking for the perfect shade, only to come home empty handed. Don't forget this is a long term investment that will pay off every time you admire your creation!
By:Maurice Robertson
