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Objects of Design #232: Wooden Lampshades

No 1 pendant light by Tom Raffield
No 1 pendant light by Tom Raffield

This beautiful steam bent wooden shade has been sculpted with 80 metres of wood. I’ll just pause for a minute to let that information sink in.

Choose from ash, oak or walnut
Choose from ash, oak or walnut

Right, ready? Each one is individually made (in Cornwall) and they look stunning both on and off, which is a detail that is often forgotten about. It’s no good having something that looks great when it’s lit up but a bit dull the rest of the time, or vice versa. It needs to work at all times of day. And imagine the wonderful shadows this would cast on the walls and ceilings.

It comes in three sizes; 35cm, 45cm and 55cm costing from £245, £315 and £695 respectively. Which, I appreciate, isn’t going to make it the cheapest light you’ve ever bought. So, either you feel that it’s a UK, hand-made investment/statement piece that will really bring a room together (imagine it in a hall or on a landing where it’s not competing with other pieces of furniture) or you want a cheaper alternative? OK then.

pendants from randomlights.com
pendants from randomlights.com

These are made by Norwegian designer Inga-Lill Aker and are a simpler, more pared back version of the Raffield lights. The clue is in the designer’s nationality perhaps as they have that instantly more Scandinavian feel. The most expensive of these is £128, although you might feel you wanted to make a cluster of them at differing heights.

Regular readers will know I am a big fan of another Scandinavian designer Hanna Francis, whose Kajo lights are one of my favourites.

Kajo lights by Hanna Francis
Kajo lights by Hanna Francis

There are several different shapes in different colours and they cost from £170

Kajo flower drum light
Kajo flower drum light

Finally what about these which are from the minjonshop on Etsy? A wooden shade with cut-out detail, these would make a statement.

lamps by minjonshop on etsy
lamps by minjonshop on etsy

You can choose the colour of the inside and the pattern you want on the outside and they are all handmade to order. Each one costs just over £240.

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buy one wooden and two different coloured shades for the inside

I couldn’t decide which picture I preferred so I have given you both.

you can also hang both shades separately if you prefer
you can also hang both shades separately if you prefer

So wooden lampshades … who’da thunk it.

 

 

 

 

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.