Pleated lamp shades: classic or out of style?

After receiving a delivery of antiques and furniture from my sister (who downsized from two houses to one, renovated, and redecorated all within the span of a few years), I found myself with many new surfaces, and in need of a few lamps.  Over the past few months, I have scoured many wonderful home décor stores around Atlanta and have also visited many online shopping resources.

One thing I have noticed: the standard shade that often comes with a lamp is in most cases drum shape (which seems to be the current trend – the top and bottom of the shade is the same size – it looks like a drum, hence the name) or empire shape (where the top opening is smaller than the bottom opening), and is usually a smooth finish.  Most of the lamps I have purchased recently come with a shade (linen or paper).  The lamp seen above is one I own – it was selected by my designer – and the standard shade that came with the lamp is a drum style. This is one of my favorite lamps, and the shade that comes with it is perfect for the lamp.  The lamp is made of concrete and has brass accents, and it looks great just about anywhere. This lamp can be found online here.

This is a lamp I have frequently admired, from Visual Comfort – it’s a classic narrow neck vase form.  The standard lampshade is a nice gentle empire shade whose top is slightly smaller than the bottom. This lamp can be found online here.

I also saw this lamp in Mrs. Howard (an Atlanta store owned by designer Phoebe Howard).  The standard shade had been replaced by a custom made pleated linen shade, and to me it gave the lamp an entirely different look and feel. This is when I realized that many of the lampshades in my house are pleated . I truly love the look of a nice pleated lampshade, particularly when the shade is made of linen. 

Lampshades are an interesting topic to research, and there are a lot of opinions out there. When I looked into what designers are liking in lampshades these days, it seems that drum shades and the empire shades in a more streamlined shape seem to fit the more streamlined approach (and lamp style) that some designers are gravitating to these days.   With a cleaner lined, simpler shade, the base can be the star of the show. And the opinion on pleated shades? Some say they are not in style right now and to stay away from them, although one source gave large pleats grudging approval.  Perhaps this is because pleated shades can be considered very traditional. Ultimately, it is a style and fashion choice, and everyone has their own opinion.

One of my favorite lamps in my own home came from Mrs. Howard. The pleated shade is the perfect touch, and replaced the standard shade that came with the lamp.

Personally, I am a die hard fan of pleated shades, particularly the box pleat style that is always featured so prominently in Mrs. Howard and in Phoebe Howard’s designs.  I think it is such a lovely detail on a lamp, particularly when the lampshade is entirely fabric (I like linen, but also like silk for dressier areas).  The light glows beautifully through a fabric shade. 

I asked one of the sales people at Mrs. Howard about her thoughts on box pleats lamp shades, and she said that they are a classic, and they have a very custom look as they are typically hand made and not mass produced.  At Mrs. Howard, they often replace the standard shade that comes with the lamp with a more custom shade, and in many cases this is a pleated shade.  Perhaps this is why so many of my lamps come from Mrs. Howard (such as the one pictured above, with a pleated linen shade).

So here is an ode to box pleat lamps shades. When looking through my files for images, I noticed that once I found a pleated lamp shade in a designer’s work, I often found quite a few pleated lamp shades throughout the body of their work. This could be personal preference, customs of the region, or the shops and craftsmen that a particular designer uses, but I thought it was an interesting observation.

Pleated shades always seem to be present in my favorite bedroom pictures. This stunning room was the cover for a recent Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles; interior design by Carter Kay Interiors, photography Emily Followill.

Another Carter Kay vignette with my favorite style lamp, and my favorite style shade.

A wonderful and youthful room by Ashley Whittaker. Note the pleated drum shade, which I haven’t seen very often but it is a great look. Image via House Beautiful.

A lovely bedroom found on Pinterest.  This is one of the prettiest bedrooms I have ‘found’ this year; the soft and soothing color scheme is my favorite for a bedroom, and there are so many charming details – the headboard, the lamps on the mantel, and of course the pleated shades. Source unknown.

Circa Interiors often feature pleated lampshades in their designs.  I love the look of a pleated lampshade with a crystal or glass lamp.

One of my favorite bedrooms of all time, in designer Lori Tippins’ house. The pleated shades are such a great element of the room. Lori worked with the legendary designer Dan Carrithers before she went out on her own, and he was a fan of pleated shades too.   Image via Traditional Home, photo by Emily Followill.

The bedroom of a friend is so beautiful – this image appeared on Mrs. Howard Personal shopper, as they did the interior design. Look how pretty the light looks with a pleated shade. These are probably linen.

Another beautiful bedroom that appeared on Mrs. Howard Personal shopper. I think Phoebe Howard creates the most beautiful bedrooms, and the soft touches like pleated shades are part of the appeal.

A vignette from Phoebe Howard’s own bedroom, in her Atlanta apartment (since sold). She clearly likes the pleated shade on a personal level, using one with a Vaughan lamp.

This picture epitomizes what I love in décor today – many contemporary touches such as the art, the floor lamp, and the drum shape of the shade, but balanced with a very traditional architectural envelope and soft touches such as the pleating in the lamp and the tufting on the love seat.  Image found on Pinterest, source unknown.

One of my favorite Atlanta design teams, Huff Dewberry (who are also Dan Carrithers alums) create wonderful interiors, and pleated lamp shades can often be found in their designs. This vignette appeared in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.

Another vignette from Circa Interiors, which was featured in their wonderful book The Welcoming House.  This is one of my favorite design books of the year, and would make a great hostess gift or Christmas gift. Click here to see it on Amazon.

Another image I found on Pinterest, I clearly have a fondness for pleated shades and glass lamps! I think this is such a pretty vignette. I really like the color of the shades, and of course love that they are pleated – it’s an elegant detail.

I thought these shades were interesting, as they are pleated but also squared off.  Many of my favorite pictures of pleated lampshades reflect pairs of lamps on consoles. It’s such a pretty look. Via Mrs. Howard.

Yes, another vignette from Mrs. Howard, but it’s so beautifully composed. Often the pictures are taken with the lamp on, and I love seeing how the pleated linen lampshade diffuses the light.

Miles Redd also uses pleated lampshades in his designs, and this picture caught my eye.

Windsor Smith also uses pleated shades in many of her designs. I am realizing how much I admire the look of a pleated shade crafted in a custom fabric – these charcoal shades are a beautiful touch. The cords are probably photoshopped out, but I suppose they must plug them in through a floor plug? Note how there is another shade created in the same fabric, on the other side of the room.  As a side note, what a magnificent chandelier.

This vignette was designed by Suzanne Rheinstein, who often uses pleated lampshades in her layered designs.

One of my favorite rooms by Suzanne Rheinstein – it’s so beautifully composed. Note the elegant tall lamps with the pleated lampshades.  Image via Architectural Digest.

Another Miles Redd design, with traditional lamps and shades flanking the softly abstract art. I must admit, I love it when the art is custom created as a design element of the room, pulling in all of the colors.

A warm and cozy den by Ashley Whittaker – the pleated shades make a cozy room even cozier.

A favorite scene from Mrs. Howard – the lamps and shades are perfect for the space.

A Phoebe Howard design again – the lamps and shades are one of my favorite touches in this room.

I had a feeling that Loi from Tone on Tone might have a pleated lampshade or two in his own home, and sure enough, he does. This is my favorite picture from the Traditional Home article featuring his house in DC.

Jackye Lanham uses pleated shades quite a bit in her designs.  This image came via architect Bill Litchfield’s website.

I need to cut off somewhere, and this ia a great place to stop. One of my favorite rooms by Jackie Lanham. Note the intricate details of the pleated lampshades that she uses with the simple cream ceramic lamps.

Here is a fantastic blog post I found on lamp shades through the decades, with pictures from every era. http://designfabulous.com/tag/lamp-shade-trends/ This blog author gives the stamp of approval to pleated lamp shades as long as they are box pleats (which is the style I like) – she calls box pleat shades the perfect marriage of the feminine and the masculine, and a fit for any design style.

So, what do you think of box pleat shades?  Do you think they are hopelessly out, or do you think that they are a classic?  Clearly, I am a huge fan and think they are a classic.  What style of lampshade are you liking these days?   I am also curious if you ever replace the standard lamp shade with a custom made shade.

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Lamps in kitchens

Last week, I had a sneak preview of the new Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, featuring a house renovated by architect Stan Dixon with interior design work by Liz Williams.  Several years ago, I was able to see this house as it was being renovated, and it was gratifying to see how the owners decorated the rooms.

As I examined every picture in the article, the kitchen picture (above, photo credit Emily Followill, used with permission) caught my eye. I remember Stan saying how much he likes lamps in kitchens – lamps make a kitchen look and feel so much more like a decorated room.  I’m not sure if the deep window space was part of the original house, or if Stan created it during the renovation, but it is certainly the perfect place for a pair of lamps. I wonder if the homeowners turn them on at night?

The June Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles is on newsstands now, and there is an Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles iPad app that has all issues available on the iPad for .99, and a year subscription for $7.99.  As of the time of this post, the new issue was not yet on the iPad, but it should be soon.

Another Stan Dixon project was in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles last year, and featured lamps in the kitchen.  I wonder whether this homeowner actually keeps them there on a day to day basis – they seem to be placed in a prime countertop area (especially given that there is no kitchen island).  Interior design by Nancy Warren, architecture by Stan Dixon, photo credit Emily Followill. 

Photographer Emily Followill shoots some of the most beautiful homes in the Southeast, and this one from her web site is no exception.  Note the petite lamps on either side of the range – such a pretty touch.

I cam across this picture, attributed to Charlottesville architect  Bethany Puopolo.  The lamp by the sink, with its dark shade that reflects the dark knobs and light fixture, is a wonderful touch in this kitchen.

A kitchen in a house designed by Peter Block, interiors by Beth Webb.   Note the lamps placed in front of the windows.  This style of kitchen lends itself well to lamps, as it is long with ample counter space and no overhead cabinets along the wall.  The rest of the house can be seen here; via AH&L, photo credit Erica George Dines.

This beautiful kitchen is in a house that is on the market in Atlanta, with architecture by Brad Heppner. Note the glass lamps on the long counter. Again, this is a great kitchen for large lamps because of the long counter with no upper cabinets.

Beautiful kitchen designed by Jackye Lanham features three lamps.  I love so many things about this kitchen – the architecture, the tall arched windows that let in so  much sunlight, the pewter plates, the lamps – but I always wonder why the stove doesn’t fit in the space!

Large statement lamps are a defining feature of this kitchen, with architecture attributed to McAlpine Tankersley.  I have seen this light fixture seems in many kitchens (I believe it is by Dennis & Leen) – it is in one of the pictures above too.

John Saladino’s kitchen featured in his book ‘Villa’ has several delicate candlestick lamps on both sides of the kitchen.  Rumor has it that Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi have purchased the house recently – see article here.  See Saladino’s book on Amazon here.

Joni Webb’s kitchen (from Cote de Texas) features a charming small lamp that fits neatly under the cabinets, and provides a nice warm glow that is an alternative to undercabinet lights. Note how she has concealed the cord behind a plate.

Another frequently seen place for a lamp is on the island.  This beautiful kitchen, with interiors by Michael Siller (via Cote de Texas) has a lamp that is key to the décor of the space.  The rest of the house can be seen here.

Often a pair of lamps are a feature on an island; another kitchen featured in AH&L, found on Pinterest – not sure who designer is.  Note how there is no overhead lighting (although I have heard that magazines often photoshop out those unsightly can lights!).

Ina Garten’s kitchen features lamps on the 18 foot long island. Note the novel approach to overhead lighting above the island.

I read somewhere that Ina Garten prefers the ambient light of lamps in a kitchen, and also appreciates that they make a kitchen feel more like a room, not a laboratory. This lamp was custom made for her kitchen.  Clearly there are no cords (unless they have been photoshopped out), so I assume that they are built into the counter, with the electrical underneath.

After noticing the lamps on Ina Garden’s island, I started noticing other kitchens with this design feature.  I suspect that the idea to have lamps on the counter was conceived as the kitchen was created, and there is a hole drilled into the counter for the plug. This beautiful kitchen is by Circa Interiors.

Another beautiful kitchen by Circa Interiors, featuring built in lamps on the island.

A mountain house featured in The Welcoming House  has unique lamps on the island that are a central design feature in the space.

I really like everything about this kitchen – it looks like an excellent design for a long kitchen space, and I appreciate how the kitchen is situated in relation to the family room beyond – separate yet connected.  Note the side by side double dishwashers in front of the windows, and the sinks on either side.   I suspect that the countertop above the dishwashers is a key work area for the kitchen, which means that the lamps are probably not taking up prime working space. The lamps on the island are a beautiful and distinctive design feature of the room, and appear to be used instead of overhead lighting (cans or light fixture).  Interior design by Circa Interiors.

I mentioned the new book by Circa Interiors – The Welcoming House – I read it cover to cover last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful houses contained within, as well as the great entertaining and decorating advice. Click here to view on Amazon.

What do you think of lamps in kitchens?  Do you have a lamp in your kitchen?  I am sold on the idea, if space allows – they are such a charming alternative or addition to can lights or light fixtures if the architecture and space allows for lamps.  However, I realize that the architecture and space are a big caveat – putting substantial lamps along a wall in a kitchen requires no overhead cabinets (small lamps are probably better for ambiance rather than a significant light source) and putting lamps on an island requires a large island with ample surface area- the placement is very important, especially since the lamps often must be somewhat built in to avoid pesky cords.

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