Thursday, March 10, 2011

Bedside Manner

For the past year, I have had a major obsession with finding mercury glass lamps for my bedside tables. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've developed a reputation at our local Home Goods store. The hunt began when Pottery Barn introduced this beauty...


I loved the vintage vibe of the lamp, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay more than $500 for two of them. I was determined to find a more budget-friendly option.  I searched the web, and found these ...

Murray Feiss
Jolie Table Lamp by Crate & Barrel

I liked them, but they were a bit too formal for my space. Then one day I was flipping through my new PB catalog, and saw these...


Serena Lamps

I think I may have screamed aloud when I saw them.  I immediately jumped online and ordered the round lamp.  When the lamp finally arrived, I was surprised at how large the box was that it came in.  I was even more shocked when I put the lamp on my table.  It was really BIG... much larger in scale than it seemed in the photo, and it totally took over the room.  Back to the store it went... boo :( 

I gave up the search for many months, until my friend recently purchased the bedside version of the original Pottery Barn lamp I was too cheap practical to get.  It seemed rather small to me, but I went and picked one up.  Here is what it looks like in my room...



Maybe it's just me, but it still seems a bit small. I like to read in bed, and I'm not sure this lamp is up to the task. 

After a full year of lamp-stalking at Home Goods, I finally tracked down my beloved mercury glass.  Here is what that one looks like in my room...


I'm not crazy about the shade, but the Home Goods lamp is $150 less than the Pottery Barn one. What do you think?




Alas, indecision has set in. I've been so fixated on getting a mercury glass lamp, and now I'm not sure I want one anymore.  Hmmm... maybe I'll look at some milk glass lamps...


5 comments:

  1. hi Carolyn!
    Honestly, I think they are both too small- especially since you like to read in bed. I think "Scale" is the most important silent design element in any room.
    My mantra is do NOT buy anything ($1/$1000) if you don't absolutely LOVE it. Put the money towards something you adore and then you'll never be sorry. I thiink you saying that you weren't sure if you even wanted a mercury lamp anymore speaks "volumes." Sometimes we just get too close to something to really see how we feel about it!
    good luck.
    joan

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  2. Sorry. I, too, think they're both too short.

    Mercury glass IS lovely though....

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  3. i share your mercury glass love...the lamps are beautiful, but yes...i agree with the girls above...too small.

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  4. I'm a huge fan of mercury glass lamps too. The Pottery Barn one is my fave as well - I may have to bite the bullet and just buy them since I may not be happy to settle for something less exciting. I agree with Joan - buy what you adore and you'll never be sorry.

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  5. I love the unqiue blend of pillows you have on the bed.

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