I Love Lamps

And sconces. Eye level lighting, the best kind of lighting, tips and sources.

Floor lamp that doubles as a sculpture in this apartment featured in Domino.

Possibly the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to dramatically transform your space is simply turn off the overhead lights and turn on the lamps. It instantly makes everyone look better, hides imperfections, and gives a space a sense of calm. I argue overhead recessed lighting should only be used for cleaning, finding something small dropped on the ground, and maybe cooking. Lamps and sconces provide softer ambient light at eye level, giving everything a nice glow. They also add a sculptural element to a room, and sometimes a necessary pop of color, or added texture.

Table lamp, sconces, and a table lamp shade in a contrasting color to bring a pop to the space

I apologize this has been such a long time coming. For one, I love lighting and there are so many good lights out there. I already have more lights to share than I have sourced below, so I’ll just have to do a part two post. Second, it’s been an insane few weeks. Work has kicked up into high gear, I’m working on a project in the Hamptons, Greenwich, Ojai, and now San Diego. And we just did a photoshoot for a project I managed on Fire Island, which was logistically challenging. Then all of my free time was dedicated to doing any graphic and design direction for my sister’s wedding (invitations, signature drink signs, escort cards, menus, itinerary’s etc.). And in the free time from that free time, I’ve been designing rugs for readers! I love doing all of these things, it just made getting this substack post out hard. But the wedding was beautiful, life is settling, and the sun is going down earlier, so lets get you some good lighting.

Lighting Tips

• Change the shade

  • Have an old lamp that looks outdated and tired? Put a modern, clean shade on it. Have a new lamp that could use some interest or character? Put a fun fabric shade on it. This doesn’t work if the lamp base itself is really ugly. See some great shades below:

    • Chairish $275 Chairish has lots of fun shades

    • Etsy $85 - you can find almost anything on Etsy, I like this store in particular

    • Just Shades $65 - a great source for simple shades

    • Rosie de Ruig $132 - shop that has really cute unique shades

    • Shades of Light $850 - this shop has every pattern ever, love this new collab with Gracie wallpaper, this is hand painted which is why it’s pricier

      

      

      Fun lampshade examples, from great shade stores

• Go big, but not bigger than the furniture the light is on

  • Big lamps can make a room feel put together and they can feel more expensive. But make sure the diameter of the widest part, usually the shade, is less than the depth of the nightstand or side table the lamp is sitting on.

• If there isn’t surface area or floor area, add a sconce or a pendant

  • Sometimes nightstands are too small or nonexistent, free up space with a sconce. Don’t worry, you can install plug-in sconces as easy as hanging art.

  • Plug-in pendants are as easy as sconces, you just get little holders to hold the cord in place. Make sure the cord is cute!

• When sourcing vintage or online, make sure the plug is wired for the USA. If it isn’t ask the vendor if they can rewire it, otherwise you’ll have to take to an electrician.

  • There are so many great items on Etsy and vintage websites that are inexpensive, but European, so just factor a rewire into the budget.

• If a lightbulb is exposed at all, make sure it looks good. I typically always gravitate toward frosted bulbs, especially in bathrooms and bedrooms, because they let off softer, more ambient light.

  • Tala makes beautiful lightbulbs

  • Matte white frosted, dimmable 3000K globe LED light bulbs are the type I’d go for from Amazon.

• Make sure the temperature of the lightbulb is warm enough. We typically do 3000k.

  • The higher the kelvin, the warmer the light will be. IE. the more yellow and less blue the light.

• Put everything on a dimmer switch.

  • It isn’t hard to change your outlets to dimmers. All you do is buy a dimmer switch and you can hire an electrician or watch a Youtube video and do it yourself. You just turn off the power in the breaker box so you don’t electrocute yourself (if you live in apartment building, ask your super for help). Then unscrew the switch plate, connect a few wires, and screw in the new switch plate.

  • If your landlord says you cannot do this, opt for lamps that have dimmer switches, or are at least low light so you can achieve different levels of lighting.

Bedside lamp with a fun shade, and bedside sconces adding texture

Here are some of my favorite eye level lights in a price ranging from most treasured/aspirational (relatively speaking, I skipped on sharing some really high end lights), to most economic:

Table Lamps

1. Danny Kaplan Studio $1,950

2. Claude Home $1,540

3. Natalie Paige $2,800

4. Claude Home $5,195 (aspirational/inspirational)

5. Claude Home $1,120

6. James Cherry (one of my favorite designers) via Spartan Shop $2,100

7. Spartan Shop $3,000

8. 1stDibs $807

9. Telita as found on The Oblist $882

10. Claude Home $600

11. Claude Home $800 (clearly I like this website for lamps)

12. Spartan Shop $645

13. Rad $238

14. Serax as sold on Smallable $337 (Serax makes some amazing affordable home goods that looks so much more expensive than they are)

15. Target $45 - I have no idea how a lamp this pretty is this cheap, someone buy it and tell me

Sconces

1. 1st Dibs $8,820 for the pair

2. Studio Anna Dawson $925

3. Amanda Haeghen via Stahl + Band $2,000

4. Lu Luis via 1stDibs $1,395

5. Lea Zeroil $1,936

6. Harshita Jhamtani $185

7. Natalie Paige $1,680

8. Helena Tynell Glashütte Limburg via 1stDibs $747

9. Huey $511 (also comes in solid colors)

10. Pigeon Toe $548

11. Etsy $676

12. Huey $284

13. Etsy $296

14. Forest Homes $303

15. Slow Roads $625

Floor Lamps

1. Alexis & Ginger $9,000

2. Chairish $2,970

3. 1stDibs $2,688

4. Worn $1,249

5. Beton Brut $2,988

6. Meso $1,499

7. Chairish $977 (I love the glow of lantern style lights)

8. Etsy $1,146 (This shop has a lot of great vintage lights, will need to be rewired)

9. Pure Salt $949

10. Etsy $400 (I bought this for my living/dining room and love it so much)

11. Oka $314

12. Harshita Jhamtani $1,246

13. Chairish $118 (someone buy this, an incredible price! I got a very similar for our office and love it, it’s a classic)

14. Lulu and Georgia $498

15. Joon Loloi $329

Plug-In Sconces

1. Etsy $302 / Pair

2. Etsy $168 / Pair

3. Etsy $265

4. Etsy $320

5. Schoolhouse $399

6. CB2 $199

7. Etsy $142

8. Magnolia $118

9. Etsy $158

A quick note on my sourcing: I’m not sponsored by Etsy, or anyone at this stage in my Substack. I just source most things for myself and suggest most things from Etsy because it’s where I usually find the lowest prices for handmade/vintage/small shop goods online. I typically like to stay clear of the big name brands, but sometimes you just need something and cannot afford the nicer version, I get it. I always check Facebook marketplace for these things too, sometimes you get lucky.

Other Oddities

• I’m hosting my 4th annual Ghost Tour this weekend and learning about Victorian Brooklyn has gotten me really into Victorian fashion. I’m into these jackets:

  

  

  1. Cambridge Dry Goods Military Band Jacket 2. Maria De La Orden Justine Jacket 3. Runway image 4. BCBGMaxAzria Velvet Floral Embroidered Jacket, 5. Poshmark, 6. Ebay

• If you live in NYC or are planning a visit, I recommend going to Green-Wood Cemetery while the weather is nice. It’s a beautiful and tranquil nature walk, with crazy skyline views, and so much history. It was the site of the largest battle of the revolutionary war, and was the number two tourist destination in America after Niagara Falls in the 1800s. The entrance gates were designed by the architect who did Trinity Church downtown, and the crypts, chapel, and main buildings are all architectural marvels. Greenwood Park restaurant/bar is a fun stop for lunch or a drink before or after.

  

  

  pics from my trip to Green-Wood Cemetery last Saturday

• I just updated my bedding to all white, and have been admiring vintage french linens. Maybe the trend cycle has come back around to shabby chic?

Some vintage french linens you can buy online. I am still searching for my monogram.

• I found the best pumpkin bread recipe, as backed up by friends who tried it, and by an online baker who determined this is the recipe winner. The online baker tested like 20 of the most popular recipes and ranked this recipe the highest. I skipped the pepitas, although they would have been great, but made sure not to skip a heavy pour of cinnamon sugar on top.

If having friends over this fall, pair the pumpkin bread with pigs in a blanket, baked brie, yogurt dip & crudite for health, and wasabi nuts. A balanced meal

• I rediscovered this cute light and home wear shop after I made my light sourcing collages, so adding them in this section. They have great stuff. link, link, link.

  

  Colander, table lamp, sconces from Atelier Vime

Enjoy Halloween and the rest of fall! Hopefully the next post won’t take me as long. Reach out if you want me to do a specific topic!