Is Minimalism not your style??  Need some colour and design in your home?? 

It seems that colour is coming back into winter decorating, mixed with smoky greys and creams.  Woohoo!!     Perhaps the Minimalism Movement is (finally) over.  Colour, pattern and a "lived-in" home has always been my mantra.  It could be my inherent disposition against obsessive housework.  Or maybe just that I have always worked full time with 2 sons and no interest in spending my precious down time dusting and cleaning. Whatever....our home has been our very happy refuge.

So....Bring on colour and pattern.

There are lots of ways to inject colour into your home.  Cushions, Rugs, Art.  But finding a coloured or patterned lampshade is a far greater challenge.  There is White or Cream or Black or maybe  Black or Cream or White.

The impact of a lampshade can vary with the fabric and shape that your choose.  I have made them for Victorian, Beachy, Modern, Art Deco and of course Mid-Century homes.  They can be made with fabric, hessian, tea towels, tablecloths or even towelling. The fabric you choose can be antique, vintage, retro or brand new and each will create a different look and feel.  And if you want to change your shade for the seasons it is simple and cost effective to make a new one.

The rules regarding the size and shape of shades has changed in the last few years.  There were formulae for the size of a shade related to the base. Now, we make large or tall shades for small bases and huge drum shades to hang from the ceiling. Often the size of the shade is determined by the pattern of the fabric used and where it is being located.

Drum or Cone shades are very easy to make once you have the components.  Its not easy to get all the bits you need in Sydney. I have imported quantities of the lining paper and frames from the UK and sell these at close-to-wholesale prices.

To learn the basics of lampshade making come along to our next  Lampshade Workshop at 6pm on Wednesday 21 February 2018 at Southern Antiques. The workshops are terrific fun and you take home your own shade.

Viva la couleur