Fabrics

With more than 400 design-prints to choose from, the lampshades are classified in 9 themes.
All of the fabrics are 100% cotton. Each fabric being in a limited series, novelties are added regularly to the collection and replace fabrics no longer in stock.

Large selection of fabrics for the creation of original lampshades.

PRINTS – DESIGN

The lampshades in “The Collection” are photographed as small lampshades and/or large lampshades to give you a general overview of the fabric’s print and size.
The prints placement varies from one shade to another, since each lampshade is made to order.
A fabric’s print size must be suitable to the size of a lampshade. Smaller prints are used for small lampshades. Larger prints for larger shades. However, there are exceptions.

PLACEMENT – ORIENTATION

Depending on the fabric print, placement and orientation varies on different lampshade shapes. Explanations are given below.

STRIPES – CHECKS – WRITINGS AND OTHERS*

*Others : Prints that have a horizontal and/or vertical direction.

Coolie Shape
On all coolie/conical shape lampshades (including drum, empire, … shapes) these prints are placed diagonally (full bias) on the front face of the lampshade for aesthetic reasons.
Tiny suggestion : Avoid placing your lamp in the middle of a room, because these design-prints turn depending on the angle from which the lampshade is seen on all coolie shapes.

Fabric placement on bias for striped printed design fabrics on the front face of a coolie shaped lampshade.
Direction of fabric placement on bias on the front face of a lampshade for coolie shaped lampshades with check and writing prints.

Cylinder Shape
For the cylinder shape, on the other hand, these same prints are placed straight vertically / horizontally (straight of grain).

Cylinder shaped lampshade fabric placement on straight of grain for striped printed designs.
Direction of fabric placement on straight of grain for cylinder shaped lampshades with check and writing prints.

CYLINDER SHAPE RECOMMENDED

Even if a lampshade is photographed in a coolie/conical shape, the cylinder shape may be recommended (more suitable) for certain fabrics because the design-print has a pattern direction.
When a print, for example a toile printed fabric, is not placed diagonally on a coolie shape, the design-print is placed straight vertically / horizontally (straight of grain) on the front face of the lampshade for aesthetic reasons.
Design prints that have a direction may be less suitable for all coolie/conical shapes (drum, empire, …) because these prints turn depending upon the angle from which the lampshade is seen. Again, for this reason, avoid placing your lamp in the middle of a room. The cylinder shape is thus recommended under “details” for these fabrics. A coolie shape, nevertheless, still remains feasible.

NOT SUITABLE FOR COOLIE SHAPES

When a design-print is automatically placed straight vertically / horizontally (straight of grain) on the front face of the lampshade on all lampshade shapes. The print may therefore be strongly unsuitable for coolie/conical shapes (empire, drum, …) because again the design-print turns depending on the angle from which the lampshade is seen.
For these fabrics, the cylinder shape is the only suitable shape for aesthetic reasons.

To summarize, all design-prints that have a pattern direction turn depending on the angle from which the lampshade is viewed on all coolie shapes.

  • For a coolie/conical shape lampshade request with stripes, checks or writing prints, prints are placed diagonally (full bias) on the front face of the lampshade.
  • For a cylinder shape lampshade request, these same pattern prints (stripes, checks, writings) are placed straight vertically / horizontally (straight of grain).
  • For a coolie/conical shape lampshade request with a design-print that has a pattern direction, you will be reminded, under “details”, that the cylinder shape may be recommended (more suitable), but the coolie shape remains feasible. Again, it’s all a matter of aesthetics.

LARGE PRINTS

Certain large prints in the collection, including all the toile fabrics, have several different major scenes. The scenes portrayed may be different from one lampshade to another (images).
Please feel free to contact us for more details.

Large cream and pink toile printed lampshade with different large scene print designs.
Large cream and pink toile printed lampshade with another large print design scene.

COLORS AND LIGHTING

The lampshades in the collection are photographed unlighted and lighted. A lighted lampshade does not give the same color tones as a lampshade that is not lighted. These differences of color tones are due to the lighting and the type of light bulb used (lumens / wattage, warm white / soft white / soft daylight, …).

When lighting with clear glass light bulbs, shadows will appear on a lampshade. These shadows are the rods of the fitter (European fitter) of the lampshade. Even the writings (manufacturer’s name, …) on a clear glass light bulb will show shadows. To avoid the shadows and to diffuse the light, use a frosted glass light bulb (type LED, CFL compact fluorescent, …).
For more information on light bulbs : Light Bulbs – Lighting

Over time, fabrics can be affected by direct sunlight and this can alter colors and fading to occur. To help maintain their original colors as long as possible, avoid positioning the lampshade towards direct sunlight.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the colors of the lampshades photographed match as closely as possible to the originals, but slight variations may occur.
Depending on your computer (distortions or different resolutions) there may be slight differences due to the medium thru which the information is relayed.

LINING

All of the lampshades in the collection are hardback, meaning that a plastic inner liner with an adhesive surface called styrene is used. Styrene is made to withstand heat and to diffuse the light uniformly. There are several different types of styrene : Opal, White, Golden, Silver, Transparent.

Opal (semi-transparent) styrene is used for most of the fabrics in the collection, because it allows a maximum amount of light to go through and thus rendering the lighting of the lampshades very luminous.

White (more opaque than Opal) styrene is used for darker fabrics in the collection for aesthetics in the lighting, because it allows less light showing through than the Opal styrene.

Fabrics that are lined with “Gold” (Golden – Shiny metallic) styrene give an opaque effect when lighted. The lighting of the bulb diffuses a golden lighting inside of the shade as well as illuminating the top and the bottom of the lampshade. It’s a question of ambience. In general, the “Gold” styrene inner lining is used for dark colored fabrics, for aesthetics. The use of “Gold” inner lining is mentioned under “details” for these fabrics or may be recommended.
For a lampshade request with “Gold” inner lining, an additional charge of 20% will be applied to the price of the lampshade.