Lampshade round a Chandelier

I have found large chandeliers lighting very overwhelming.  We often add small chandelier shades, or one big shade, to add a more romantic or soft look to the chandelier lighting.

This week we completed two very large lampshades which fit around 2 chandeliers.  The home has a very large double volume entrance hall, to where the chandeliers will be fitted.

Here, one of our staff members is covering a large lampshade with a very sheer fabric.  This will allow the light to still shine through the lampshade:

Covering a lampshade this size,  needs lots of skill.  The lampshade is very large, and the fabric very thin.  To handle both, needs lots of patience.  The lampshade is at least 15 cm larger (both sides) of the chandelier to prevent the bulbs from burning the lampshade.  We have to date made chandelier cover lampshades up the 1.2 meter in width  (It must still go through the door...)

The lampshade is then fitted around the chandelier.  This chandelier has 8 bulbs:

Once the chandelier with the lampshade has been installed, you will experience the look as in the picture below.  The chandeliers with the lampshades around it, were installed in the Erinvale Golf Clubhouse in Somerset West.  We manufactured the outer lampshades for these existing chandeliers of the Erinvale Golf Clubhouse.  

Lovely, dont you agree?

Ice-cream Lampshades

After days of stormy and cold weather, in late spring,
  the sun break through late this morning.

We were all so excited that I grabbed some ice-cream pink fabric to use as lampshades.  We made these lampshades in a white and pink very textured fabric, and I reminded all the in 2 weeks time it will be Summer!

The workshop is filled with rays of sunshine and ice-cream colour lampshades!

Texture:

Clock Lampshade

For some time now, I wanted to make a clock lampshade.  Space is always a problem and why not combine a clock and a lampshade?

I bought the watch-works.

We made a frame & and covered it  and then I added the clock.  This is an ideal gift for the person who as it all......

A big box

Sometimes we make drums
sometimes we make cones
and sometimes,
we make something a little bit bigger...

Antique lampshade restoration

I wonder how many people still remember these shades.  They have candle clip fittings and  are even lined!

We have recovered them, in rich red velvet and gold braid - good enough for a palace....

Brand new  -  dont get rid of yours.....

De Oude Schuur, Stellenbosch

We have just delivered beautiful lampshades at the De Oude Schuur Antique Shop on the R44, near Stellenbosch - opposite Mountain Breeze Farmstall.  They have the most beautiful antiques and is worth your while to stop by when you want to get out.  They also make beautiful driftwood lampbases.  Have a chat with Antionette or Elmarie to have one specially made-up for you!

Humble Beginning in 1994

I found some of the pictures taken 17 years ago, when the lampshade bug got the best of me.  I then traded as Shade Delight in the Wilderness, Garden Route, Cape Province, South Africa.  I worked from home and this is what it looked like:  (The floral bell shape lampshade on the coach on the left, was the first bell we made from scratch, and I can (only now) admit, it was a nightmare to make - we had to redo the wire works a few times, to get it level, and then to match the seams to the wiring - many long hours of learning.....)

After 4 years of this, hubby could not take it any longer (I dont blame him) and we sold the business.  Pity - once in your blood, always in your blood.... and 13 years later, we are there again...

And, who remember these Biggie Best Styles?  We made 100's of these..

With bows, self fold and scolloped.

I even found a photo of a lampshade recovery we did then...

We also painted lampshade bases to match the fabric.  The fabric was cut and glued and the lampshade base was painted in the colours of the interior of the room - wow that was a long time ago.

One of my clients was the well known Robin's Nest Interiors, in George, Garden Route.  They had the contract to do the decor for the Fancourt Hotel.  We did the lampshades and this is what it look like 15 years ago:

This hotel has been redecorated a few times since then, Robins Nest has expand their business to the Southern Cape and Mauritius and we have moved to Somerset West.......

And this is how it all started...  then

Pleated Shades

We have just completed 2 pleated shades in silk.  These shades are all hand pleated and can be lined, should the client prefer so.  We have used knife pleats for these shades.  The frame needs to taped first, for us to hand stitch the fabric to the frame.  After the folding is completed, the top and bottom are sewn to the frame.  Thereafter we remove the excess fabric and finish it off with a self fold at the top and bottom

A little finesse

One of my clients redecorated her daughter's room.  She brought the 2 lampshades, fabric and tossels and together we decided to add feather for a bit more drama.  This is soooo beautiful.  In my heart, I'm still a little girl, when it comes to lampshades......

Match them all

So you have a few shades hanging against the wall covered in blue fabric, and the table lamp which is covered in cream.  Why not have it recovered and match it all?  The small shades we changed from round bulb clips to candle clips and then recovered it.  All the shades were lined in white, to reflect more light.  Shade lining always reminds me of a petticoat, my granny used to wear many moon ago.  Many people still prefer "lampshade petticoats" - and the most popular is netting lining.

Herewith all the matching shades:

 

From the Ceiling

Most people buy glass lamps to hang from the ceiling.  Have you ever considered having a lampshade made that hangs from the ceiling?

This shade is 70 cm wide and 35 cm high.

Brighten Up your day

Being winter time in South Africa, it is cold and wet.  Why not consider changing that beige lampshade to a bright colour, and add crystals?

Your world will be a better place.....