The allure of popular talent shows, like The Voice, often inspires creative spin-offs. While I’m not looking for a spot on the stage or a chair turn from Adam Levine – though I might playfully remind him to “keep his hands off my woman, Levine!” (always good to set boundaries) – I’ve been inspired by the trend of concept-driven competitions. Shows like The Choice (dating with a twist), The Taste (culinary battles), and The Face (modeling) prove that unique premises can capture an audience. My own vision, however, wouldn’t likely draw millions of viewers. I imagine a show called “The Shade,” a competition to discover “the next great light for Clara’s big girl room.” While perhaps not primetime material, this personal design quest for my daughter’s bedroom lighting was certainly an epic journey worth sharing, combining practicality with a dash of imaginative flair.
Our primary goal was to transform Clara’s room into a space that truly reflected her growing personality and needs, moving beyond her nursery years. A crucial element of this transformation involved updating the lighting. The existing “wood-tastic” ceiling fan, a relic from the room’s previous incarnation, felt increasingly out of place. Despite its presence, we had relied on a simple table fan for nearly three years, rendering the overhead fan largely unnecessary. This made the decision to replace it an easy one, paving the way for a more aesthetically pleasing and functional light fixture. We knew we needed something that would illuminate the room beautifully while complementing our broader design vision for a cozy and inviting “big girl” space.
Finding the Perfect Glow: Why a Shade Pendant?
After much deliberation, we settled on the idea of installing a shade pendant. This decision wasn’t made lightly; we explored various lighting options, considering everything from ornate chandeliers to minimalist flush mounts. A chandelier, while beautiful, would likely hang too low, potentially getting in the way or overwhelming the relatively modest ceiling height of Clara’s room. Recessed lighting, though sleek, lacked the decorative punch we sought. A shade pendant, on the other hand, offered the perfect balance. It promised immense versatility in terms of style, texture, and color, allowing us to perfectly tailor it to the room’s evolving aesthetic. More importantly, it could provide ample illumination without dominating the space, ensuring a bright and welcoming atmosphere for Clara’s adventures. This choice allowed us to integrate a stylish element that was both practical and visually appealing, setting the stage for the rest of her room’s decor.
Our initial thought was to select one of our own beautiful, often patterned shades. However, Clara’s room already boasted a delightful array of patterns, from her vibrant bedding to whimsical wall art. Introducing yet another bold pattern might tip the balance from charming to chaotic. With this in mind, we decided to expand our search, exploring other beloved sources known for their unique and budget-friendly finds. Our hunt led us to familiar haunts like Craigslist – a frequent go-to for hidden gems – and a local shop we adore, The Decorating Outlet here in Richmond. This outlet has been a goldmine for us in the past, offering fantastic lighting options without breaking the bank. While Craigslist came up empty, The Decorating Outlet proved to be a treasure trove, exceeding our expectations. We didn’t just find one potential candidate; we discovered four distinct shade options, all wonderfully priced within the accessible $35-40 range. This exciting discovery meant our “The Shade” competition was officially ready for its audition round!
The Contenders: Auditioning the Shades for Clara’s Room
With four promising contenders in hand, we rushed home, eager to begin the audition process for our very own “The Shade” show. The Decorating Outlet’s generous one-business-day return policy gave us the perfect window to make our decision. The audition involved a simple yet effective method: holding each shade up over the existing, somewhat dim fan light. While not as bright as the eventual pendant would be, this technique offered a valuable glimpse into how each shade would look and feel within the space, helping us visualize its impact on Clara’s room. Here was the impressive lineup of potential winners, each bringing its unique personality to the stage:
- Team Navy: This solid, deep blue shade was a classic choice, offering a clean, pattern-free aesthetic. Our hope was that its rich hue would beautifully tie in with Clara’s existing navy curtains, creating a cohesive and calming color palette without introducing any additional visual clutter.
- Team Purple Damask: A more intricate option, this shade featured a very subtle damask pattern in a soft purple tone. We were intrigued by its potential to act as a graceful bridge between the blues and reds already present in the room, adding a touch of sophisticated charm without being overly bold.
- Team Neutral: Embracing natural textures, this shade had a beautiful burlap-like appearance. It promised to introduce an organic, earthy element into the space, offering warmth and a tactile dimension that could soften the overall design.
- Team Chevron: Always the risk-taker, this contestant was a trendy, bold choice featuring a striking navy and white chevron pattern. It was undeniably modern and eye-catching, representing a confident design statement that could inject a dose of contemporary energy into the room.
Let’s dive into their performances, checking them out in reverse order of elimination, just like a true competition!
Team Chevron: The Bold Statement
Team Chevron, with its distinct navy and white pattern, certainly had an undeniable presence. On its own, it was quite cool and stylish. However, our initial fears about introducing one more bold pattern into Clara’s room were quickly confirmed during its audition. While it might have worked in a different context, the chevron felt like it would compete rather than complement the other playful patterns already gracing the space. We envisioned a future where this shade might limit our choices for other decor elements, particularly for the large, blank wall between the two windows, which we have big plans for. We didn’t want the light fixture to dominate or clash, so with a careful deliberation, Team Chevron was respectfully thanked for its participation, making way for Team Neutral.
Team Neutral: The Organic Touch
Next up was Team Neutral, the burlap-inspired shade that promised an organic texture and a grounding presence. This contender also had potential; it certainly wouldn’t clash with any existing patterns. However, in person, it felt a little too… well, neutral. It didn’t quite deliver the warmth or character we hoped for, nor did it offer the subtle visual interest we sought to elevate the room’s design. While safe, it simply didn’t spark the excitement or vision we had for Clara’s “big girl room.” Without much hesitation or debate, we decided to move forward and invite Team Purple Damask to the stage, hoping for a bit more personality and charm.
Team Purple Damask: The Subtle Contender
Team Purple Damask, with its subtle pattern and soft hue, presented itself as a promising option, particularly in photos where it might appear more distinct. Indeed, with the lights off, it looked quite elegant and hinted at a sophisticated touch. We were optimistic that its purple tone could beautifully harmonize with the blues and reds in the room, offering a unique intermediary color. However, the true test came when the light was switched on. To our disappointment, the delicate purple tone and damask pattern seemed to get lost under illumination. The shade took on a much more muted appearance, surprisingly resembling Team Neutral. It lacked the vibrancy and distinctiveness we had hoped for. Despite our desire to love it, the outcome wasn’t what we envisioned, leading to its elimination. This left only one contestant standing, our final hope for Clara’s room.
Team Navy: The Obvious Winner
And then there was one remaining contestant: Team Navy. Although it might have felt like the “safest” of our initial picks, a solid, deep blue without any pattern, it had been our strong instinct all along. Despite appearing a little dark in the picture – a common challenge when photographing light fixtures with existing, lower-wattage bulbs – we knew that our new light kit would provide significantly more wattage, ensuring the room would be plenty bright. Considering our future plans for adding more art and accent pieces to the prominent wall between the windows, a shade without an competing pattern felt unequivocally like the right decision. It offered a versatile foundation, a calming anchor that would complement rather than clash with upcoming decorative elements. In person, the choice was strikingly obvious. Both of us were convinced within minutes that Team Navy was the clear winner – or, as we playfully called it, “the voice,” or rather, “the shade!” Its timeless appeal and elegant simplicity ultimately won us over, promising a sophisticated yet playful addition to Clara’s growing sanctuary.
The Battle Round: Installation and Budget-Savvy Solutions
With the auditions concluded and a clear winner declared, we moved onto the “battle round”: the physical task of removing the old, heavy ceiling fan from Clara’s room. Luckily, after a bit of wrestling and careful maneuvering, I emerged victorious, ready to install our chosen navy pendant. This DIY spirit not only gave us a sense of accomplishment but also contributed to the overall budget-friendliness of the project. The decision to go with the navy shade brought an added bonus: it was the most affordable of the bunch, costing just $34 – a fantastic deal for a quality light shade.
To further maximize our savings on this lighting project, we turned again to The Decorating Outlet, which is known for its incredible deals. They sell “damaged” pendant hardware – the essential kit for hanging the shade – at half price. The “damage” on the particular kit we snagged was minimal: the light kit’s cord had already been cut. This meant it wouldn’t be suitable for a room with a very high ceiling, but for Clara’s room, it was perfect. In fact, the cord was still longer than we needed, so we even snipped it a bit shorter to achieve the ideal hanging height. This smart find meant we secured the entire pendant hardware kit for just $25, turning what could have been a hurdle into another budget win. These resourceful choices illustrate how strategic shopping can lead to significant savings without compromising on style or quality, making high-impact home improvements more accessible.
The Grand Finale: Clara’s Room Illuminated
Since “The Voice” often loses my attention during its live rounds anyway, let’s fast-forward our show straight to the finale! Now, picture “The Voice” theme song playing triumphantly in the background, but with a new title: “This is The Shade!” The reveal of the newly installed light fixture was truly a moment of transformation for Clara’s room. For a grand total of just $60, which included both the navy shade and the pendant light kit with its canopy, we were absolutely thrilled with our new two-light pendant. The impact was immediate and profound.
Personally, I adore how the dark navy color works to beautifully balance out all the vibrant pinks in the room. This thoughtful integration of color creates a wonderfully calming atmosphere, preventing the space from feeling like a “Crazy-Pink-Palace” and instead instilling a sense of sophisticated tranquility. Furthermore, the navy shade subtly complements the other blue accents throughout the room, integrating seamlessly without demanding excessive attention. It’s the kind of refined design element that enhances without overpowering, much like Adam or Blake in their comfortable jeans and a t-shirt – definitely not a flamboyant Cee-Lo statement, which was exactly the understated elegance we were aiming for. This careful selection truly elevated the room’s aesthetic, proving that thoughtful lighting can be a cornerstone of interior design, especially in a child’s sanctuary.
Clara’s Verdict and Functional Delight
Of course, beyond all our design considerations and budget triumphs, the only opinion that truly mattered was Clara’s. Her reaction to our chosen winner was the ultimate seal of approval, and it was everything we hoped for! Her eyes lit up as she exclaimed, “Is that mine? Can I touch it? Is that mine for my big girl room? I think it’s shiny and pretty like a pebble.” Her pure joy and curious questions confirmed that we had made the perfect choice, creating a space she felt a deep connection to and ownership over. Her sweet description of it being “shiny and pretty like a pebble” was an unexpected but delightful compliment, capturing the simple beauty we aimed for.
Functionality was just as important as aesthetics. We installed two 75-watt CFL bulbs within the shade, which, despite the dark exterior of the shade itself, means the room is now incredibly bright and well-lit. This ensures that Clara will have no problem hosting her cherished late-night tea parties or cozy stuffed animal sleepovers, with ample light for all her imaginative activities. The successful blend of visual appeal and practical illumination truly made this project a win-win. So, what do you think? Does my concept for “The Shade” have legs as a real TV show? Probably not, I didn’t think so either! I guess it, along with “The Choice” (which I believe has already been cancelled), will simply be fondly forgotten together, living on only in Clara’s beautifully lit room.
Psst- Sherry’s having some fun with East Coast Creative by volunteering as one of their bloggy helpers (that’s a technical term by the way). So if you’re a blogger and would like to get paired up with $herdog for their little Creating With The Stars competition, you can enter your best project here for a chance to be one of their 12 final contestants.