Questions & Comments
Have a decorating dilemma?
Need help finding that perfect fixture?
Email us your comments & questions and we’ll get right on it!
Q: We are making a transition from a rather traditional master bedroom towards a transitional style. This evolved with the remodeling of our master bath that brings in skylights, a mini-porch and door with many natural and Zen like elements with cherry finishes and brushed nickel in a very simple style. We have a canopy oak bed with iron work and are working on bedding and bedside tables (covered with fabric) to blend the two areas. In place of our black iron swing arm lamps, we’d like some contemporary pendant bedside lights that provide adequate light for reading and can accommodate shades of various colors/ textures. I was thinking about the drum style shades and pendant lights but I’m not sure of size, dimensions (Queen size bed), hanging length or features to turn the lights on and off. I’d be willing to consider other pendant style lamps as well. We do have a beautiful set of vanity lights with glass (colored in a yellow - Tahoe amber something) with twirl of brushed nickel holding the sconces (Tech Design?). The color is almost a “butterscotch” and the granite, tile, pebbles in shower are all earthy tones with creams, tans, gold’s, and rust-like (in granite). We’ve selected a BM color called Goldfinch (gold tone) with a niche accent of “eye of the tiger” for the bathroom walls and then a BM color for the bedroom called Precious Ivory. Working with a decorator, we have selected to accent all with a Navy blue/tan fabrics for the bedroom window treatments and bedding. And, we are adding navy blue towels to the bathroom.
All of those details to say, that we’d like some selection of color, texture and style for pendant lighting and/ or another type of pendant lights to bring the traditional but beautiful oak bed into the flow of the entire area.
I’d welcome suggestions.
Dee Sailstad
A: Dear Dee, Since you weren’t able to get photos due to construction, here are some ideas:If you choose to use swing arm wall lamps, I would recommend ones that clear the canopy bed fabric, in a style that updates your look, yet blends with your oak and iron bed. My suggestions for these are:
WS09010 Arc Swing Arm (Add trim to shade: 1″ wide navy blue grosgrain trim which you can glue on with craft glue and clothes pins to hold it while it dries) WS09003 (we would need to find you an AMBER glass shade for this)
If you go the pendant option (which is fun and current), you could use the following choices:
PE09032 Iron Twist (to pick up iron in bed) with PE09009SH amber shade
PE07009A Earth art glass pendant with Bronze hardware
PE08004 Amber (a few left)
HDW809 (comes with cord, plug, and on-off switch) hardware to convert the shade of your choice into a pendant!
Shade suggestions for above:
LS09100 or LS08002 Khaki with navy ribbon trim added
LS09070 for a clean look to blend with walls
LS09019 or LS09018 for a dressier look
LS07049 for an eco-friendly option
Hope this helps! Send us pictures when you complete your room.
Ashton Harrison
Q: What light fixtures do you recommend for a laundry room? I would like something fun, but within reason for this space.
Thanks,
Jennifer
A: I like to use 2 (or even 3) ceiling lights evenly spaced in the laundry room such as FM9501 bird lantern, FM08002 True Colors (use one of each color, such as one blue, one lime), FM9917 royal blue or stainless for an industrial look or 1 larger ceiling light like FM09018 Crown for a touch of whimsy! You need to have 2 watts of light per square foot so if your room is 10′x9′, you need 180 watts of light.
Thanks,
Ashton
Q: can you put uno shades on a metal socket? The fit is great, but is it a fire hazard?
Stacy
A: If it fits, you are okay. Often, the uno fitting is not large enough to fit over the socket. Make sure not to exceed the wattage limits for the shade. If you don’t know what they are, measure the distance between the edge of the light bulb and the closest part of the shade. Consult our Tips and Techniques section here to find the maximum wattage.
Thanks,
Ashton
Q: I am a new reader and enjoy your emails and website very much! I wondered if you could help me with a dilemma: in an effort to reduce energy usage I have decided to change from incandescent lamps to either CFL or LED.
My primary concern is safety as we choose to reduce our carbon footprint:
I am not as concerned about possible mercury exposure as I am about exposure to ultraviolet light from CFL usage. We take precautions in outdoors with sun screens, never use tanning beds, etc. Would we be risking our skin to development of skin cancers or other from the exposure to UV from CFLs?
We would optimally be looking for something in the 3500kelvin range, or better yet a full spectrum. If money were no object I would choose LED because of best energy cost reduction and no worries about health or environment impacts of recycling. But we are talking about over 50 recessed cans using 65R30 floods, 6 GU10 lamps, 6 GU10 lamps, plus 36 40 watt CA bulbs…a major investment even with CFLs!
Any advice in how to choose?
Thank you,
Lori Cameron
A: Dear Lori,
Your question is more common than you think! I personally believe that LED’s will take over fluorescents as the bulb of the future since they give wonderful light (newer ones no longer give off that cold blue light), they have no “side effects”, there is no problem with disposing of them, and they last so long you probably don’t have to worry about it anyway! The inital investment is still higher although prices are coming down every day. The recessed cans coming on the market this fall will be the most affordable and probably the most reliable. If you are contemplating switching, I would wait a few months for competitive pressures to bring prices down (certainly by the end of the year)!
Keep in touch.
Ashton Harrison
Q: Can a table lamp be too tall?? I bought a 35″ tall lamp. Do you have to have the right table and setting for this tall of a lamp. I have until Friday to return it. Thank you.
A: There is no height limit per say…but typically they make better accent lamps like on a buffet or console. For reading areas…it really depends on size/height of the table on which you are using the lamp….you want the light (bottom of shade) to be at eye level.
Q: I have two petite chandeliers that I want to hang from the ceiling, but because I rent this space I can not hang them from the ceiling without using a hook, how do I disguise the long cord going down the wall to the plug in?
A: You can use a chain cover (come in linen, silk or burlap) to cover the chain in a decorative color or a color to match the wall. You can also use a piece of molding or paintable “cord cover” (call for more information 1-800-262-6612) to hide the wire down the wall. If you want to get creative, use faux ivy, ribbon, or anything from the craft store to wrap around the cord! Don’t forget to install a cord switch to turn the chandelier on and off!
Have fun with your project!
Ashton
Q: We recently bought 2 replacement SOL lampshades. The lable says that they are washable. How does one safely wash a lampshade? Thanks.
A: How to wash a lampshade: Most better-quality lampshades are washable. Look for real brass frames (steel will rust) and fabric (not paper) linings. Soak in tub of lukewarm water and mild soap like Woolite or clear hand dishwashing liquid, then rinse and hang to dry. We also sell a shade cleaning brush for light cleaning or dusting.
Ashton Harrison
Q: How would black lacquer shades such as (LS07002), mentioned above, look on an antique brass six-arm chandelier that has yellowish/ivory/orange alabaster cups (?) around each bulb?
A: Are the cups bobeches? (see chandelier Tips & Techniques) around the bulb or underneath the bulb? If they go around the bulb, we would need to make sure the shades were large enough to clear the cups. The shades would probably hide the cups but would give your chandelier a completely new look. Perhaps hang some black crystals from the arms as well? And add some of our new decorative candle covers (AC09001-AC09009)?
What type of bulb do you recommend to use in each receptacle?
Are the sockets candle or medium base? If candle, you will need to use a “torpedo shaped” bulb (BU9502) to hold the shades. Always make sure you use the wattage recommended by the SHADES (not the chandelier) in your chandelier.
-Ashton Harrison
Q: I have a 12 light chandelier in my dining room - I feel like it needs a little lift as it is an inherited crystal one (I can’t replace it!!!) Can I put mini shades on a 12 light chandelier? In the site I see only up to 8 light ones with shades - probably too much, huh? Just trying to modernise it a bit!
Thanks, Camilla
A: Dear Camilla,
You can use shades on a 12-light chandelier! I would recommend straight ones (as opposed to flared) and dressy fabric such as LS9638 or LS9513W. Or you can use clear beaded bulb covers like AC0102A or decorative bulbs such as BU05008, BU08000, or BU0205. Another idea to add chic to an antique crystal chandelier is to use black silk (like LS9507) or black lacquer (like LS07002) shades, remove some of the crystals for a sleeker look, or add colored crystals (available through our retail store at 804-288-6515). Don’t forget ceiling medallions and silk chain covers (MC0304)!
Let us know how it turns out!
Ashton Harrison
