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Pleated Lampshades Are Back in Style—Here's Where to Buy Them

Photo credit: Brendon Goldacker
Photo credit: Brendon Goldacker

From House Beautiful

From the vintage rattan to whimsical wallpapers, there’s no shortage of grandmillennial-worthy details to swoon over in the “Swanky Swamp” getaway featured this month’s issue of House Beautiful. But what really had us hooked was designer Charlotte Barnes’s brilliant lighting selections—specifically, the one-of-a-kind shades that top each lamp.

Ubiquitous in the '80s and early '90s, "fancy" shades—printed, pleated, gathered, and generally empire-shaped—faced near-extinction by the 2000s, when they were supplanted by shades of the white, drum-shaped variety. Until recently, it was nearly impossible to find the old-school ones in retail stores on this side of the Atlantic; most designers either imported them from the U.K. or had them custom-made (which, between the fabric and workmanship, meant steep price tags).

Photo credit: Courtesy of Charlotte Barnes
Photo credit: Courtesy of Charlotte Barnes

But with traditional design on the rise once again, those staples of classic English country-house style have finally started making their way back into the mainstream. Colorful block-printed shades from Bunny Williams Home became an instant cult hit when they launched four years ago; more recently, big brands like One Kings Lane and Ballard Designs have gotten in on the trend. While scoring a highly-coveted shade from British companies like Fermoie once required hefty duty fees (or a trip across the pond), they're increasingly available through U.S. retailers: Newport Lamp and Shade stocks a selection of Fermoie shades, while Society Social now carries Pooky. (We're keeping our fingers crossed for Penny Morrison.) Another favorite, Oka, launched a U.S. website last year. (When you're done checking out the gorgeous shades, don't miss the rattan accessories!)

Photo credit: Brendon Goldacker
Photo credit: Brendon Goldacker

If you're looking for something super-custom, head over to Etsy. North Carolina-based CruelMountain, is a go-to for shades made from Indian hand-blocked cottons in every color of the rainbow and a bevy of designer prints (think Les Touches and Liberty florals); you can even send in your own fabric and have one made. We also love ZZDecor and LampShadey.

So ditch the boring white shade and grab one that's full of personality—as the (not-at-all-made-up) saying goes, change your lampshade, change your life!

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