Accessories,Lighting | September 11, 20095 Comments

Interview with LitShades’ Dawn Bassett

Lampshades are important. They spell the difference between a ho-hum lamp and one that looks beautiful when lit. A good one, one that starts with a good quality fabric, is amazingly hard to find. Lampshade designer and fabricator, Dawn Bassett, feels my pain. Dawn is the owner of LiT, a Seattle shop devoted to the creation of beautiful lampshades.

Dawn became interested in making lampshades while working as an interior designer. The lack of interesting options caught her attention. She knew she could make something better and so LiT was born. Dawn creates ready-made and custom shades. We recently had a chat about her craft. Here’s what Dawn had to say.

DH: I often find the shades on lamps in shops are pretty inferior. What are your thoughts?

DB: Generally, they’re just not well made. First, they’re smaller than I recommend for the size of the lamp. And the sizes are too limited. They’re tapered or conical shaped, which makes them stackable and less expensive to ship. Sometimes conical is okay. But often a different shape, such as round, would suit the lamp’s style better.

Another problem is that the average shade is made using cheap materials. They use plastic backing and paper tape at the top and bottom. The fabrics are poly-rayon blends instead of silk or linen. Also, “hand-sewn” shades often aren’t really hand-sewn. They’re held together with rubberized glue.

DH: With so many people shopping on-line, what advice would you give shade shoppers?

DB: When shopping for a shade, measure the lamp first. For a tapered shade, I¬†stick to 3/4 of the lamp’s height¬†with a¬†bottom diameter twice that of the lamp base.¬†For a drum shade, go between 13 – 15″ diameter and between 9 – 11″ in height for a mid-sized table lamp.¬† These are very subjective guidelines, but I hope they help.

DH: Are there any lampshade guidelines?

DB: What I like people to be aware of is that a lampshade is a functional object. Pay attention to the size and material of the shade to determine how much and what color of light will be diffused.  One other pointer is to buy a harp or a shade extender to make sure the shade fits the lamp correctly.

DH: How can a shade be spruced up on the cheap, i.e.: DIY?

DB: Try adding grosgrain ribbon to the bottom of the shade. Leave the top plain. Or, apply decals to the interior of a shade. It will create a soft pattern that adds a touch of splash.

DH: Great advice. I love the decal idea a lot. So tell me, what brings customers to Litshades?

DB: Basically, it‚Äôs for one of two reasons; they either know what they want and can’t find it, or they aren’t quite sure what they want and ask for design advice.

Most of my work is custom. I make custom lines for a couple retailers that reflect their style.  What I really love are the odd jobs that come through my door. They let me get creative and use interesting materials and uncommon applications.

DH: What challenges you the most as a designer?

DB: Finding environmentally responsible materials.¬† There aren’t many companies making lampshade components like rings, backing paper, etc.¬† A lot of these products are Styrene (a plastic backing that degrades, cracks and off-gases chemicals). I won’t use Styrene, so I special order environmentally conscious paper and glues. I get my rings from a local welder to cut down on the CO2 footprint.

DH: When should we consider buying a different shade for a lamp that comes with one?

DB: A shade lasts between 10 – 30 years, depending on its materials. That being said, why settle for poor quality? The shade comprises half the lamp. It should shine just as much as the lamp does.

DH: In general, how much does one of your custom shades cost?

DB: It depends on the size, but generally they cost from $95 to $150.00.

DH: That’s not a bad price. I thought it would be much more. Do you have a favorite type of fabric for shades?

DB: I love cotton Marimekko prints, but my all-time favorite is silks by Osborne and Little.

DH: I love the way you add a design to the inside of your shades. How did you come up with that idea?

DB: I love Bunraku, the Japanese shadow-play theater.  The ethereal quality of an image that is there one moment, and gone the next is inspiring.  It’s a subtle way to add shape, monograms, and color to a shade without it dominating the room.

DH: I also love a frou-frou shade, like your floral design. Smocked shades are fun. Is there a particular style of shade that you like just for yourself?

DB: I’m working on these hand-sewn shades in the shape of lilies that have a light pink silk charmeuse lining and a soft, natural weave (almost like a cheese cloth) on the exterior.  They’re very feminine, but also strange and modern.  I also love silk that’s been rouched or pleated set on a modern drum shade.  The mix of old-world craft, like a hand-sewn shade, mixed with a modern interpretation, takes a shade from craft to art.

DH: On a more personal note, what’s on the nightstand next to your bed?

DB: Odd perfume bottles, a copy of Elle Decor Italia, and a teak and brass mid-century modern lamp adorned with a hand-spun rectangular silk shade.  Oh, and I’m reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

DH: What’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to you on the job?

DB: Recently, the set designer for a movie called The Details ordered several LiTshades for the film.¬† It stars Laura¬†Linney (whom I love), and¬†Tobey Maguire. I got to call my little brother and tell him my shades were going to be in Spiderman’s house.

Thanks, Dawn!

To find out more about Dawn’s lamps and read some more lampshade advice, check out Dawn’s blog, Litshades.

Do you know a good lampshade resource? Do you have a favorite lampshade decoration tip?

Tags: custom lampshades, diy lampshades, diy projects, lamps, lampshades