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Choosing The Right Lamp Shade Pendant

I kinda want to jump on The Voice bandwagon. Not in the sense that I want my shot at getting Adam Levine to turn his chair for me – at which point I would look him dead in the eye and say “keep your hands off my woman, Levine!” (it never hurts to lay clear boundaries with a guy like him). I want to jump on the bandwagon in the sense that The Choice (spinny chairs meets dating), The Taste (cooking) and The Face (modeling) have.

Only my spin-off would be called The Shade and it would be a competition to find “the next great light for Clara’s big girl room.” And no one would watch it.

Curtains 10 After Full Room

We knew we wanted to swap out the wood-tastic ceiling fan for something more Clara-friendly (we’ve used a table fan in her room for nearly three years and have never needed an overhead fan). We came to the idea of doing a shade pendant after realizing that it would give us lots of options (texture, color, etc) while not hanging too low (a chandelier would probably get in the way) but still illuminating the room nicely.

First we debated choosing one of ours, but since most of those are pretty patterned (and we already have lots of pattern going on in Clara’s room) we decided to check out a few other favorite sources, like craigslist and a local shop where we’ve found a bunch of other lights we love on a budget (aka The Decorating Outlet here in Richmond). Craigslist had nada, but our local Decorating Outlet had a lot. Not only did we find one shade that we liked there, we found four options – all within the $35-40 range.

ClaraLight 1 Four Shades

Here was the line up of what we found:

  1. Team Navy: A solid deep blue (to tie in with her curtains) with no pattern at all
  2. Team Purple Damask: A very subtle pattern in a purple tone that works nicely between the blues and reds in the room
  3. Team Neutral: A natural burlap-ish shade that could bring a nice organic texture into the space
  4. Team Chevron: Think of him as the contestant who’s not afraid to take risks – this one has a trendy, bold pattern in a navy and white color scheme

The Decorating Outlet gives you one business day to make returns, so we rushed home for the audition portion of our show. This meant I just held up each shade over the existing fan light (which isn’t as bright as a hanging pendant would be, but helps us imagine how each one would look). Let’s check them out in reverse order…

ClaraLight 4Four Chevron

Team Chevron was pretty cool on its own, but our fears that bringing one more bold pattern into the room were confirmed. It probably could’ve worked, but it made us fearful of other patterns and prints that we might have to nix down the line (remember we still have big plans for the blank span of wall between those two windows, and we don’t want the shade to compete). So then it was on to Team Neutral…

ClaraLight 3Three Burlap

This one probably could have worked too, but in person it felt too, well, neutral. So without much hesitation, we invited Team Purple to the stage.

ClaraLight 2Two Purple

This picture isn’t the best representation of it because it actually looked quite nice with the lights off. But when the light came on, the purple tone and damask pattern got kind of lost and it actually looked a lot like Team Neutral. Too bad. I really wanted to like it.

And then there was one remaining contestant…

ClaraLight 1One Blue

Even though Team Navy felt like the “safest” of the picks, it was our instinct all along. And although it looks a little dark, remember that our light kit will put off a lot more wattage than the old fan light does in this picture. Knowing our future plans for adding in other art and accents to the wall between the windows, we just felt that a shade without pattern was the right way to go. And even though it doesn’t looks especially exciting in the picture above, in person it was a pretty obvious winner. So we were both convinced within a matter of minutes that it was the choice – er, the voice – er, the shade.

With the auditions over, we moved on to the battle round (i.e. where I wrestle with the heavy fan to remove it from the ceiling). Luckily I emerged victorious.

ClaraLight 5 John Removing Fan

The added bonus to picking the navy shade is that it was also the cheapest of the bunch – just $34. And to further save on the cost of this project, The Decorating Outlet sells their “damaged” pendant hardware (for hanging the shade) at half price. The only “damage” to the one we bought is that the light kit had already been cut (so it wouldn’t work in a room with a high ceiling) but since it was still longer than we’d need for Clara’s room (we actually snipped it a bit shorter) we were more than happy to snatch it up for $25.

ClaraLight 6 Pendant Fixture

And since The Voice always loses me during the live rounds anyways, let’s skip our show ahead to the finale. Now’s where you picture The Voice theme song: “This is The Shade!”

ClaraLight 7 After 1

For a total of $60 (the light kit came with the canopy too) we’re really happy with our two-light pendant. I personally love that the dark navy color helps balance out all the pink in the room so it feels calming and not too Crazy-Pink-Palace. Plus, it subtly complements the other blue items in the room nicely without demanding too much attention. In other words, it’s more like Adam or Blake in jeans and a t-shirt (Cee-Lo it most definitely is not).

Of course all that really matters is that Clara likes it, so let’s get to her reaction to our winner, which was: “Is that mine? Can I touch it? Is that mine for my big girl room? I think it’s shiny and pretty like a pebble.”

ClaraLight 8 After 2

We ended up putting two 75-watt CFL bulbs in there, which also means that (despite the dark shade) the room is still plenty bright. So Clara will have no problem hosting late night tea parties or stuffed animal sleepovers. Whew. So whaddya think? Does my concept for The Shade have legs? No? Didn’t think so. I guess it and The Choice (which I think already got cancelled) will just be forgotten together…

Psst- Sherry’s having some fun with East Coast Creative by volunteering as one of their bloggy helpers (that’s a technical term by the way). So if you’re a blogger and would like to get paired up with $herdog for their little Creating With The Stars competition, you can enter your best project here for a chance to be one of their 12 final contestants.

Comments

  1. Alisia says

    I like the shade, it is clean and not too busy like some of the other choices may have been. (btw I am too excited that I am one of the first to comment.. I am a nerd :] )

    Reply

  2. Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says

    Is there a reason why you didn’t use one of the shades from your signature lighting collection?

    Kind of use Clara’s room as a showroom of sorts.

    And is there not just a lot of light bulb that you’re looking at with a ceiling drum shade? You know, where you accidentally look at the bulbs and are seeing the after-image for ages afterwards?

    Katy, who has lots of questions.

    Sorry.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes we mentioned that in the post. Lots of ours just have tons of pattern and since we already have a secret plan for that wall behind the shade (between the two windows) we didn’t want something that would compete ;)

      As for looking up at the bulbs, we have exposed bulbs in the pendants over our kitchen counter, the wire lantern over our dining room, and even in the laundry room with the clothespin shades, so oddly enough they don’t bother us. We love the light they give off and just like the sun, we don’t stare right into them. Haha!

      xo
      s

  6. Katie says

    I would have picked the neutral or the chevron out of the gate but agree the navy looks perfect once you held it up there!

    Did y’all consider using one of the IKEA pendant kits and just removing the plug at the end of the cord — or is that even possible? I picked one up the other day and was hoping that might be an option since we don’t have any outlets on our ceilings… :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes we’ve done that many times (in our laundry room with the clothespins, in our kitchen in front of the fireplace with the basket, etc) but we thought her room needed a two light pendant and theirs is only a one-light dealio.

      xo
      s

  7. Annelies says

    The navy one was my first choice as well when I saw the candidates. Looks nice ! Can’t wait to see the room finished !

    Reply

  10. Wendy @ New Moms Talk says

    That’s wonderful that The Decorating Outlet allows 24 hours of “look, see, and return.”

    Our local thrift store has a 1-hour big purchase policy. You pay, they mark the time, and you have 1-hour to remove it or it goes back on sale. It helps a bit so you can still look around without worrying about loading up or guarding big items.

    Reply

  11. SingleMama says

    I read the first part of the post wrong and thought you were going to leave the fan up and add the light fixture. I was trying to figure out how you were going to make that look good! Phew, so glad you didn’t :) The navy is my favorite, nice choice!

    Reply

  14. Meredith says

    I think you mean that The Voice *loses* you (not *looses*) during the live rounds. :)

    I approved of Cassadee Pope as the winner of The Voice and I was team navy, so I think the right winner of The Shade was selected as well.

    Reply

  16. Sarah | The Accidental Okie says

    Love it! Y’all have really helped me get over my fear of buying several items to test and returning the rest. I’m always afraid I’ll forget to return them or lose the receipt. At first, I liked the chevron shade best, but next to the navy, there’s no comparison. Looks like getting the mix from the get-go is the best option. Schooled once more by YHL :)

    Reply

  17. Lindsay says

    I know you guys have said you’re “fans of fans,” but do you think a ceiling fan can ever work in a room aesthetically? I live in Southern California where days top 100 degrees for months on end, and I’m so scared to get rid of mine. But I love the look of something more exciting!

    Clara’s light looks great, by the way! Definitely the right choice!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, we love ours in a sunroom (we had one in our first house’s sunroom and in our current one). The old sunroom had an oil rubbed bronze one that was nice and the current house has a white one that blends right in! Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

    • Kristin says

      Modern Fan Company’s Cirrus model is a really great choice. We have them in every bedroom, and they just kind of disappear because they are so simple.

      I can’t imagine not having a ceiling fan – it really cuts down on our use of air conditioning in the summer and makes the room feel better. We have super high ceilings, so we reverse the blades and run them on low in the winter and it circulates the warm air that wants to hang out by the ceiling.

  18. Brandy says

    Clearly, the navy was the winner….love that choice! And I’m glad you didn’t feel pressured into pattern and even though it’s “safe” it looks great. Everything in a room doesn’t have to command attention. Can’t wait to see what Sherry has up her sleeve for those walls!

    Reply

  20. Heather says

    Love the shade choice!

    On another topic, I just moved to the DC area and I cannot find any good thrift/consignment stores through my google searches. Are there any websites that you would recommend for finding a place to find a great deal this isn’t super shady?

    Thanks a bunch!

    Reply

    • Lindsay M says

      There are three restores in the NoVA area, and quite a few thrift and model home furniture stores that I love <3 honestly, I'm not much help aside from that; I don't know the names, only how to get to them. Ask around, neighbors, consignment shops, random people on the street ;-) good luck and happy thrifting!!!

    • Courtney says

      Not sure where you live in DC but Del Ray (in Alexandria) has two great consignment stores right next to each other that I used to frequent. They are right on Mt. Vernon Ave which is the main strip in Del Ray. I know one is called Not Too Shabby Consignments.

  22. Bethany says

    Nice! Have you guys already done a step-by-step tutorial on how to remove a ceiling fan and hook up a light like this one? We have some old ceiling fans that are begging to turn into nice shades and I was wondering if we’ll need a special kit since it’s a ceiling fan hookup and not a regular light.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  24. Alice says

    I had a different pick when the four shades were sitting on the bed, but once you held them up to the light … the navy was an easy choice!

    Reply

  25. Jennah says

    Though I do love the look of having just a light fixture, we are an overhead fan family. I like table fans, but they take up, well…table space, which is already limited for us. (We actually have an overhead fan in our bedroom PLUS a tiny table fan that my husband has blowing right on him.) I’d love to see some designs with ceiling fans worked in in a modern way, but MAN they are hard to come by.

    But I love the room :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We have ceiling fans in our sunroom (both in this house and our last house) along with a ceiling fan in the den of our last house too! You can see all three of those rooms with fans on our House Tour page! Hope it helps :)

      xo
      s

  28. Lisa E says

    That was my choice, too, as soon as I saw all four choices sitting there together. Since you are so good about using what you already have, I honestly thought you would either take the fan down and paint it say… hardware white and blades navy, or use that light fixture you took down by the fireplace, the white drum from Ikea. Regardless, it looks very pretty. Great choice. The whole room is really looking really pretty.

    Reply

  29. Rebecca S says

    I hate to say it but this is the first room of yours that I have just really, strongly not liked the choices. Each item individually is fine, but honestly they really clash together. I like the shade just fine, but the bedding and curtains together are just not my thing. I was really excited to see what you in this room, but I am just not feeling it. I would have loved to see a bright cheerful room for a little girl.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      No worries Rebecca! I definitely think everyone has a different idea of what they love (100 people would decorate their kids room 100 different ways)! As for a bright and cheerful room, we can’t stare at the happy chevron blanket or the curtains & the polka dotted rug or even the flash card wall above the dresser and the art collage in the corner without thinking “bright and cheerful” – so it’s definitely a personal preference thing :)

      xo
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, I’m sure many people like this room and many don’t! After sharing 2,500 posts, we’ve learned it’s definitely how it goes! We just share what we love in our house, but we definitely recognize that everyone out there wouldn’t do exactly the same thing – and some folks would do everything differently :)

      xo
      s

    • Janelle @ Two Cups of Happy says

      Don’t forget guys: “the middle is always crazy”! I agree that it looks cheerful, which is fitting because it’s a kid’s room. Happy colours are best! I can’t wait to see how the surprise wall art project turns out, Sherry.

    • Laura C says

      I don’t get it. Why do people care so much whether this room suits their taste? This room is for Clara. If she likes it…awesome! If others don’t like it, they just shouldn’t go to any of her tea parties. Yeesh. I guess you have to have a thick skin to blog.

    • kelsey says

      I think this is my favorite room in your entire house! I have known about your blog for a couple years, but only recently have started to read daily. I think mostly because I love what you are doing in Clara’s room!

  33. Rachel says

    The navy looks great! It ties in so well in the room, especially with the wall art! I was totally on team chevron to win but I guess that’s why I’m not in the designing world :)

    Reply

  35. Carmella says

    I was on team navy! love it, and I can’t stop staring at the ceiling fan in my office right….. it’s getting all nervous because it knows whats about to happen ;) Is it too difficult to change out the lighting kit? I would love the light of the exposed bulbs in here! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      If you check out google or even youtube there are some great tutorials for switching a fan for a light. It’s not too hard (takes longer than switching a light for a light, just because removing a fan can take more effort) but it’s totally doable!

      xo
      s

  36. Kellee says

    Perfect choice going with the navy!

    I just purchased one of your light fixtures this week and cannot wait for it to show up :)

    Reply

  37. Maureen says

    Love it! It really does tie everything together. I am excited to see what else you have planned for her walls. Question – do you like to put something on every blank wall? I am struggling with this, not knowing if blank walls should be left blank or if they should generally have something on them.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We generally like to leave breathing space in a room, but most expanses of wall that are around 3-4′ wide (or wider) end up with something on them, just because we love art and meaningful photos so much!

      xo
      s

  38. Nikki B says

    First let me say that John looks uber tall in those pictures.

    Second, are these shades the same kind that you could put on a lamp or is there a different type for hanging from the ceiling? We just bought a house and adding pendant shades to our boys rooms could be a fun way to add more charm.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      They’re shades that could go on a floor lamp, table lamp, or hang from a pendant. Just look at the hardware inside of them and your light kit to make sure they’re compatible and you’re all set!

      xo
      s

  39. Debbie C says

    Let’s not forget the show “The Job”. Could they BE more redundant with these titles? By the way, I like the navy the best too! If you really wanted pattern later, I’m sure you could add some with a stencil, or metallic sharpie, etc.

    Reply

  40. Brenda says

    I like the navy shade. I think it helps to balance the room since you have a lot of color in the carpet. Now you have something substantial but not in the way up high. I almost wish that Clara wasn’t already playing in there so we could see a big surprise reveal when it’s done, but it’s probably more fun to see what she picks out as you move the room towards being done.

    Reply

  42. Desiree C. says

    You’re right, that shade definitely doesn’t have a parrot or white fuzzy (evil-looking, mind you) cat perched on a man in silk pajamas and sunglasses with the tiniest of grown-man hands. I like the jeans and t-shirt shade–great choice!

    ps: I know it’s been about three months, but I can’t stop thinking about how HORRIBLY I embarrassed myself when I met you two in Minneapolis. I said, “I’m enchilada!” Those two words were the first two words I spoke and I am so sorry for that. …I’m still speechless and mortified and I hope you two don’t think I’m weird. I’m just awkward…but not awful and germy (Have you ever seen any of the Bad Lip Reading videos? They’re incredible…this is where “awful, awkward, and germy” came from [you might not want to watch it around Clara]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5i3F0YnkP0), I promise. :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hahahaha, you’re hilarious and we loved meeting you! You didn’t embarrass yourself at all, you made us smile. And we were so nervous (first signing!) so we were so grateful! As for bad lip reading videos? HILARIOUS!

      xo
      s

  43. bridget says

    did you have paint or touch upthe ceiling after you removed the fan? we have been dealing with problems in our kitchen once we removed the sofits took five coats of paint for the discoloration but it is still a little off. we have a ton of fans and I am nervous about the underneath of them. you make it look so easy :-)

    Reply

  44. Tracy D. says

    This is probably a silly question but do you put anything on the bottom of the shade or do you just see the lightbulbs when you look up in it?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      You just see the bulbs so we try not to stare right into it (like the sun, haha!). We have exposed bulbs all over our house (in the glass pendants in the kitchen, in the laundry room with the clothespin chandelier, in the dining room with our wire lantern) so we don’t seem to mind them :)

      xo
      s

  45. Sarah says

    I love it!! I was Team Navy from the first picture. It ties in with the curtains really well, and definitely takes a step away from being a pink overload.

    Reply

  46. Melanie says

    The phrase “nearly three years” when John referenced Clara’s small table top fan makes me all awwwwww! I can’t believe she’s going to be three this year! Time flies. :)

    Reply

  48. Jeanette Peters says

    This looks fantastic! Funny how much one small detail like a light fixture can really work to pull a room together. Clara must be getting so excited :-)

    Reply

  50. Elise says

    I love it! So glad you went with the navy. The room is really coming together in an awesome.

    Also: “Is that mine? Can I touch it? Is that mine for my big girl room? I think it’s shiny and pretty like a pebble.”

    Seriously? She is just the sweetest little thing!

    Reply

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