I managed to get hubby out to an anitque barn and then out for lunch. You have to understand that hubby’s idea of a good time is running, climbing or hiking and the whole thrifting/anitqueing on the weekend isn’t his kinda thing! Despite our differences, he has always been there to help load up a vehicle with my finds without batting an eye! Lol.
I managed to find a couple of things (well I found more than a couple, but a couple is what I came home with!) I’ll post those later on this week!
Right now I need some lampshade advice!
Back in December I posted about this PB mercury glass lamp with linen shade that I absolutely loved!
There was no love between the pricetag and I however.
Luv the size, style, mercury glass, just a great lamp.
That same week I stumbled across these lamps at a thrift store. They are somewhat similiar to what I had seen @ PB in terms of size and shape, but instead of mercury glass they are some sort of mirror glass.
So here’s where I need the advice. The lampshades I have on them now are from my old lamps. I’ve wanted to get some linen shades to match the PB ones.
It’s been really difficult finding shades as these lamps are really large! I also have a next to nothing budget to work with and the linen shades can be pricey.
I managed to find these shades at homesense for $16 each. They have a cross between linen and burlap look to them and the size seems appropriate to the base. (I’ve heard that the shade should be at least 2/3 the length of the base in which this shade is). I’ve left the plastic on in case I need to return them.
What do you think?
Are you partial to the white shade or this linen look shade?
Should I just continue looking?
Should I get rid of the lamps all together because they are uber large? Lol.
Appreciate you all stopping by and giving your opinion!
Blessings to you!
They are beautiful, but I do think you need a slightly larger shade and I like the white one better, but that is just me I am into white and blue lately. I have been looking at lamps too and it is a crime how much shades cost, not to mention the lamps.
Could you recover the white shade in a nubby linen fabric or possibly even burlap? I like the size/shape of the white one better but the drum shade is pretty too! Sorry I'm no help…
Judy
I like the burlap/linen looking shade but maybe the shade needs to be a bit bigger? Although if you don't love it, don't keep the shades or even the lamps. I like the lamps though, they look great!
I have been fooling with 2 lamps I just picked up thrifting too! I was hoping to find some drum shades to update them. The ones that came with them are 17" on the bottom and 9" on top which flare a bit much for me. Even though they are the correct size according to everything I've googled. I do like the sloped shape of the white shade with the shape of those lamps. I think the lineny ones are really pretty but maybe not big enough. I do like the lamp, I think you should keep it!
I like the other better, maybe you could cover the white one some how? I love the lamp and think it goes so well with your room! I love PB too but there prices are just not something you could love.LOL
Rondell
Hey darlin,love your lamps but think one size bigger would be better…have you tried Bowrings,or Urban Barn..just a thought! Off to work,xo
I like the white shade in the first picture.I think it looks just right.The white shade blends in nice with your room.
Kathy
Kathy
Hi there Kim, Don't get rid of those gorgeous lamps! I like both shades a lot, but if you have your heart set on the linen type ones (a la PB), I think that's what you should do. I agree with the other comments that the ones from Home Sense are a bit small. Have you looked in Sears? I bought lamps shades there last year and at that time they had a good selection.
Love your knock off on the Pottery Barn lamps but I do think the burlap/linen shade is a bit too small. I would keep the white ones until I found something a little bigger 🙂
I love your thrift store lamps! I'm never so lucky to find such great things. The white shade looks perfect to me.
The shade is just a little bit too squatty… sorry… the lamp is beautiful, the shade is lovely but together something is just not quite right.
I love the color and texture and shape of the new shade. It is a tad on the small side though (sorry). Keep looking, you'll find the perfect one. 🙂
Ok, I love the lamps! (If you want to get a mercury glass look you might try a light sponge painting effect on top of the mirror with maybe a gray color… It's worth a try…)
I like the burlap shades you got and I do not think they need to be any bigger. I like the look of the mirrored lamp and the burlap shade. The size works!
Susan
http://www.homeroad.net
HI Kim-
I really like your new lamps and know your dilemna all too well. I like the look of the shades you just bought. They add contrast to the corner and the white seating, but I think they need to be bigger – your instinct is always right! Since the white ones are ok, I would just keep searching until you find the right ones and have some time to save for them. I bought some tan linen ones about a month ago at WalMart for $14. They are drum shaped with a 12" diameter. Not sure if they would be enough or not. I am pretty sure there were larger ones also. Target always has a good selection, too. You could cover them with some linen fabric and spray glue. That might give you the best of both worlds and be budget friendly.
My best- Diane
I really like those shades you found! I think they fit perfect and since you already have so much white going on, they help the lamp pop a bit while still being neutral. I really like them!
I like many others have been wanting those PB lamps… gift card is burning a hole in my pocket but I just can't pull the trigger. Crazy price…anyway I LOVE your silver lamps and agree that the shades are a bit too small. The white is an ok size but maybe not perfect. If it were me I would cover the shade with an inexpensive linen-like fabric with a white seambinding trim – just a thought. Good luck, lamps and shades are tough!
Best wishes,
Tammy
They are great lamps. I would keep the burlap – looking shades. I think it is fabulous!
Love the lamps! I have a thing for cute lamps! I like the shape of the white shade better, but love the texture of the second one. I don't think it's quite the right size though. G'luck!
love the lamps and both shades are perfect but i am leaning to the white.
the white looks awesome!!!
I like the linen shade and look but that one may be too small. You could keep the white one you have and cover it with linen. Or go with a bigger, less expensive white drum and cover it yourself to get the look. Your room looks great either way!
I love the shade very much but it almost seems just a bit too small for the base. Is there another room that you can put them in because they are beautiful and a great price. 🙂 Good luck, however you decide it always looks great!
I definately love the linen shade. It gives a little more contrast to the room and the lamp. It looks like I am the minority on this but I would choose the linen/burlap if it was mine. Great find by the way!
You do need a linen shade but you need ones that are larger than the new one you got. On the right track 😉
Keep looking just a little bigger , if you find a white drum shade that is the right size you can easily make a linen slipcover for it , I know how hard it is to find , I did see some really cute shade probably the right size at Homesense today they are a very light stripe and have an applique they are worth a look.
I like the texture of the linen but the shape and size of the white one. Have you ever seen the lamp shades they sell that are sticky so that you can add your own fabric??? I've used those before and they are so easy to work with. You just peel off the outside and use it as your pattern, cut the fabric of your choice and rub it on. Then I hotglued some pretty trim around the edges. Good luck…anything you do will look great…It always does!!!…xo
Mariaelena
I prefer the larger white shades. The lamps are going to be lovely in your home! Have a good week.
I do prefer the larger white shades too.
I love the lamps you got. Great find!
I have the linen shade from HomeSense myself, I think it is too small for your base though. I have mine paired with a skinny lucite ball lamp and it is perfect for that, so you definitely want to go at least one size up.
I don't think the white ones look right though. You definitely want a drum style!
I love the shape of the PB one, so if you find something the right shape you might want to re-cover the shade if you can't find the linen look.
Good luck!
I like the white shade better for your lamp and interior. You have such a calm, serene look going on that the white shade just blends in nicely.
Hope this helps!!
Pamela xo
I'd go with the white. The linen one seems too dark. Maybe a lighter linen would work. Great lamp!
Boy, I absolutely love the lamp! I really like the white lampshade, but you can't exactly trust me because I always prefer the color white! 🙂 I do agree with previous comments in that the linen shade seems like the wrong size, so perhaps that's why you're questioning it. Darn that Pottery Barn…why does everything there have to be so expensive?!
I stress all the time about shades and getting the right size too! I am voting for these new ones, the color gives a contrast to the silver. I say keep them!
Kim,
I love the lamp and I love the texture and color of the new shade. I think it compliments the silver. I do, however, feel it's too small for the base. I think the drum style is perfect… if it were only a tad larger. I'd keep looking!
Hugs,
Michelle
I also think the shade is a tad too small. I am dealing with the same problem. I CANNOT find a shade large enough in an affordable price range. Let me know if you find something larger with the linen look. That is EXACTLY what I am looking for 🙂
I LOVE the lamps and personally like the linen looking shade better. It's whatever makes you happy that's important though!
The white though a tad small complements the silver lamp. I just LOVE that corner of your home and enjoy your site.
I love the fabric on the new shade, but it seems a bit too small for the lamp. Could you recover the white ones in a similar fabric? They have such a pretty shape & size.
Hi Kim, love those shades from homesense, I almost picked a couple up myself..but my girlfriend beat me to it hahha. I agree with most others and wish that it was slightly larger so that it extended over the sides of the base. : (
I like the size / shape of the white one's best. I agree with one of the other folks who responded that perhaps you could recover those shades? Also, I think there's something on the market where you can take the mirrored looking lamps and make them more like mercury glass (if you wanted to).
I like the size and shape of the white shade, but I prefer the linen shade for the contrast. The white one seems to fade away into all of the white you have going on there (though I do love white!) I feel that the linen shade is too small for the lamp. Others have recommended recovering the white shade with a linen-y fabric that you like. This might be your best option.
I feel your pain! I have been through so many lampshades in my home, trying to get them "right".
First off, I love the lamp itself, although if you are loving the look of mercury glass I think there is a medium that you can apply to any mirrored surface and it will give it an etchy (mercury) kind of look! It is used on mirrors all the time! I do love the look of the burlap in your room, but agree with the others that I do think the shade should be a bit larger. Although I do love a drum shade, I don't know if that shape fits with the "chubby" loveliness of the lamp. I would keep looking for something that would have a similar shape as the PB shade. How about just get a larger shade from PB? Much less money than doing the PB lamp/shade combination.
I love those lamps, I wish I could find something even similar to those at our thrift store! Anyway, I love the size of the white ones, and I also like the look of the white ones, but I also LOVE those PB lamps and those shades. I would see if you could cover the white ones w/ some linen fabric or burlap. I personally think that the new shade is too small and doesn't have the WOW.
Good luck making your decision. 🙂 Can't wait to see.
Jodi
I like the burlap ones….you could go a bit bigger but it is great this way also. It depends if you like the texture…..the contrast between the shiny and the burlap I think is what makes them pop!
Benita
I like the linnen shades. If you can find these a little bigger they would be perfect. Your have great taste!
I like the burlap/linen shade, but agree that it needs to be a bit larger in diameter. Think I would try to "scratch up" the base so it is more characteristic of the mercury glass base that was your inspiration…maybe there is a place on the bottom where you could experiment?
I love the lamps. But I think the shade diameter needs to be larger. Have you tried Bouclair?
XO
Shannon
Love the lamps! Yes, it needs a bigger shade, just wider. Have you tried Walmart? Usually the shades are well priced $14-16 per shade!
I also love the lamps. The shape of the white shade is better suited for the lamp than the linen shade. Hold out for the right one, it will come!
I love the white, it seems to work well and looks so bright and fresh! You might want to consider a light teal color as well, i love your painted bench/coffee table and your floral pillows of a similar shade. Maybe sponge painting the white ones?
Ashleigh
Love the lamps and the burlap look, but I agree the shade needs to be larger. I found Home Goods had some a couple of weeks ago that would be the right size but they were white. Someone told me Lowes had a good selection along w/ Target.. I found one to fit a large lamp I found at GW at Home Goods. Had to take one back and keep trying and was glad I did. Got it on my blog if you want to look .. I think I paid $14
I like your old shades but like the color of the others. Here is what I did.
I had lamps that had white bases & shades. I wanted ORB bases, so I spray painted them. They looked great, but now the shades were to stark white.
I made tea in my kitchen sink with 3 tea bags and boiling water, rolled my lampshades in it, dried them off after desired color reached and …beautiful lamp shades!
Hey Kim….how are you? Was so excited to see if you had a new post today…but I guess I can wait(for a little while) Enjoy your day,snow coming on Wed. and I heard right into the middle of April too!! x0x0
Hi! I just found your blog and am happy to now be a follower : ) I love PB and your lamps are great! I love the look of the linen shade, but the size of the white one is a bit better, I think. You should just get some linen and create your own from the white shades! I know the feeling though of searching for something and not finding exactly what you want! Then you're back and forth returning things all the time LOL I am the QUEEN of indecisiveness when it comes to anything pertaining to home decor! Good luck with you choice : ) Stop by and see me some time! http://www.rufflednest.blogspot.com or http://www.farmhouse-vintage.blogspot.com
Oh, please don't get rid of the lamps (or you could send them to me…LOL) I really like the linen/burlap shade, but if you notice the one from PB seems to be flared out a bit at bottom and not quite as narrow at the top as your white one. I think if you stick with the drum shade you probably need one a bit bigger. I can relate to your problem, I too need new lampshades as mine have split with age, but they are soooo expensive. If it ever stops raining here, I need to go out and look for new ones. Be sure to let us know what you decide on. By the way, I love your blog, you have such great style.
Love to take those lamps off your hands, LOL. I think a nice drum shade covered in linen would be great.
Thanks,
Kaye
I've been going thru your beautiful blog and stopped here to say how beautiful your house is and I'm your newest follower. See you again soon!
Cheers!