Saturday 25 February 2012

Clips and Spiders and Harps....Oh My

How does something so simple turn into something so complicated?

Earlier this week, while I was waiting for A to meet me after work, I was browsing in this ridiculously expensive furniture store. I adore their furniture but considering anything worth having is a couple months mortgage payments, I just admire from afar. However, the does mean that accessories are much more accessible, especially when they are on sale.

While meandering around the store I came across a pair of lamps with a brushed nickel finish. They didn't come with their lamp shades and were marked down by 50 percent as a result. As soon as I saw them I thought the finish on them would go perfectly with the new ceiling fan we had installed. So, I looked past the fact that they didn't come with lamp shades. I didn't realize how complicated this little fact would make things.

Here is where I began my lamp shade education. Did you know there are atleast 7 different ways to attach a lamp shade to a lamp? I was familiar with the ones that clipped right onto the bulb, logically called a clip fitter. I was also aware of shades that had used a nut to secure them to a wire frame, this is known as a spider fitter and that wire frame is known as a harp. That's where my knowledge ended, aside from the vocabulary because that is new too.

Since the lamp I bought required neither the clip fitter or the spider fitter. It was off to search for what it really is, which is where I came across uno fitters and washer fitters. Based on the descriptions I guessed that what I needed was a lamp shade with a uno fitter. So, off I went shopping thinking that is what I needed.


I still think that the uno guess is roughly, based on the picture above. So, I go to Bouclairs and all of their shades will fit but I wasn't positive about the size. Then, I go to Ikea and it is a even split between ones that would work for me and spider fitters. I had read that you can convert uno to spider with an adaptor, so off I go to an electrical supply store to see about an adaptor. They guy in the parts deparment had NO clue what I was talking about at all and suggested rewiring the lamp.

I went back into the store to see if they sold any other suitable shades, since I noticed that they sold lamps with the same kind of shade. Then all became clearer once I talked to a sales guy. Apparently, I had a euro fitter on my hands.

After all that commotion and searching, I get home and A likes the first lamp shade that I picked up. Go figure!

What simple task turned into an journey for you?

2 comments:

  1. My complicated easy task is also the lampshade issue. Bought a lamp with an uno shade base (learned that word today!) and now need a shade to fit it, look good with it, and I'm stumped! Glad to hear I'm not alone!
    Jenny

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  2. Hah! Came across this in my search... you got it, for the perfect shade with the right fitting! I've been to about 10 stores, several of them twice. Even ordered a lampshade Online, excitedly took off the plastic wrapper (so it is no longer returnable) only to find out that it is too large. I've seen the perfect lampshade - but it has a slip Uno fitter & I need a spider (though I think a threaded Uno fitter would work, too.) Oh, what to do. I'm fairly certain that I will end up spending more for the shade than I did for the lamp...

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