Let there be light

Lampshades have the practical purpose of muting the direct glare of a bulb, a seemingly simple task, but one that can be accomplished with great style. Lampshades can be custom fabricated or ready-made, fabric, paper or mica. The style of a lamp can be changed from traditional to contemporary by changing to a different shade style. And finally, scaling the shade to the base is extremely important, and some general rules apply. On a standing or floor lamp, a slightly bigger shade is appropriate, one that just covers the very top of the lamp base. When choosing a shade for a table lamp, the shade should stop an inch or less above the body, so that the neck of the lamp is just visible. Lampshades have three measurements - the diameter of the top opening, the length of the slanted side between the top and bottom, and the diameter of the bottom. The measurements are usually given in that order, for example, a 9" x 12" x 17" lampshade is a fairly standard size.

Shades styles are limited by imagination, but there are several styles that are generally familiar to most.

Empire - A round shade with a straight sloped side, the most popular shade style.

Bell - A distinctive flared shape, like a bell, narrower at the top than at the bottom, a very traditional choice.

Drum - A round or oval shape with straight sides, the top and bottom diameter are generally the same, or very close in size. A classic shape, can be used in a traditional or contemporary setting.

Coolie - A round shade, much like the Empire, but with an exaggerated pitch to the sloped side.

The Shade Shop* specializes in custom crafted shades with an extraordinary selection of styles, sizes and fabrics. Also offering a vast array of chandeliers, table lamps and floor lamps, as well.

Alluminare lets you custom design a fabric - motif, scale, colors - and then applies your creation to a pendant or lamp shade form.

Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware carry a large assortment of fabric and mica shades for the retail market.

A beautiful lamp shade can set the style of a room, and truly make a lamp shine brightly!

*The Shade Shop is a Social Media client of Gibson Design Management.

Sweet tweets

The friendly little bird "tweeting" from a branch is a familiar site, but it bursts into song from these beautiful perches.

Dwell Studio has captured branches, birds and flowers in the simple Chinoiserie Duvet.

Sweetly delicate, the Birdwatcher's Dessert Plates from Anthropologie.
Printed in Italy, Cavallini's Birds is ephemera at its finest. Available through Kate's Paperie.

John Derian has captured the Bluebird in a 13" x 18" Oval Decoupage Platter.

Hand embroidered in satin stitch to resemble paint strokes, Pottery Barn's Bird & Nest Pillow Covers.

A chirpy addition to any table, the Cloisonne Bird Napkin Ring by Dransfield & Ross.A garden delight from Stray Dog Designs, the Bird Stool/Accent Table, shown in Vienna Green, and available in 14 additional low-VOC colors.

All is Merry and Bright

The season of light, shining hopefully at the end of a long year, cutting through the darkness with a brilliant shine. A time to gather with family and friends, reflecting on the past, and looking forward to a brighter tomorrow.

Let it snow with the Aspen Mirror from Bungalow 5.

The stunning Grand Tour Mirrored Bed by Century Furniture. Silver leaf and inlaid antique mirror.

Mercury Glass Vases from Pottery Barn. Recreating a process from the 19th c., with silver sealed between double layers of glass.

The sweetest of vintage ornaments, circa 1900-1960. At Flessas Design, available through 1stdibs.

The Emerson 8-Leg Console Table with antique mirror, double-bead stretcher, by Belle Meade Signature.

The Cloisonne Christmas Tree Topiary Napkin Holder from Dransfield & Ross.

Hitting a mid-mod homerun, the Orbit Wreath, created using retro-look ornaments from CB2.

May the glow of this holiday season surround you, and those who are dear to you, with great joy, abundance, peace and prosperity.

Serving up Thanksgiving

Bone china, pottery, stoneware, porcelain - traditional, modern, antique. Beautiful, themed tableware abounds for the holiday season, most particularly for Christmas, but the softness of the autumnal harvest palette beckons from the Thanksgiving table.

Mottahedeh's Sacred Bird & Butterfly, the original Chinese export sets the dining room of the famed Nathaniel Russel House in Charleston.

Audun Ferme by Villeroy & Boch, is a vintage inspired, modern toile taken from their original design of 200 years ago.

The earthenware Pumpkin Platter by Crate & Barrel.

A little kitsch and lovely colors in the Turkey Serving Platter and matching Salad Plates from Pottery Barn.

Dating back to 1828, the harvest and the hunt feature prominently in Spode's classic Woodland pattern.

Classic Italian elegance, the botanical Affresco by Vietri.

Wishing everyone a very happy and bountiful Thanksgiving.

To sleep, perchance to dream...

We may not all relate to these words spoken by Shakespeare's Hamlet in his most famous soliloquy, but we can certainly find a comfy place to lay our heads in these beautiful canopy beds.
Hamlet himself would have been very much at home in the Tudor Poster Bed from Elijah Slocum with its hand-carved English Oak bulbous and gadrooned posts, paneled ceiling and arcaded headboard.

Beautifully simple Shaker style, the Farmhouse Canopy Bed in mahogany from Pottery Barn.

The Portica Canopy Bed by Room & Board is sleek and contemporary in brushed stainless steel.

Exquisite detailing in the hand-painted gold leaf vine trailing up the posts and the luxury of the button-tufted headboard make this Julia Gray Regency Four Poster a spectacular focal point.

Looking like it grew in Sherwood Forest is the Bard's Bed from Ironies.
Striking crotch mahogany is used to glorious effect in the headboard on the Barley Twist Four Poster Bed designed by Kerry Joyce and available through Dessin Fournir.

"To all, to each, a fair good-night, and pleasing dreams, and slumbers light" ~ Sir Walter Scott

Heavenly reflections

What better way to see if you are indeed the fairest of them all, than in one of these stellar beauties with heaven-sent inspiration.Wisteria is ready for day or night with their hand-hammered Quite Celestial Mirror.

Convex glass and shimmering discs in antique gold leaf splendor radiate luxury in the Raindrop Mirror from Pottery Barn.


Foxed mirror is cut, pieced and carved into a sparkling starburst from Mecox Gardens.

The Sun King, Louis XIV, and his glorious Palace of Versailles gave first light to the sunburst mirror. This early 20th c. Italian giltwood version from Alhambra Antiques through 1stdibs.com.

Having once twinkled from the ceiling of a movie theatre in 1920's Lyon, France, it is now shining brightly at Mecox Gardens.Anthropologie brings their rusty-hued iron Medallion Mirror down to earth, so that it may glitter from a console or low table.

Any one of these mirrors would certainly put a twinkle in your eye.