Unveiling Our Secret: The Young House Love Collection with Shades of Light

After more than 14 months of clandestine creative endeavors, late-night design sessions, and countless cups of coffee, the time has finally arrived! We are absolutely thrilled to pull back the curtain on a project that has been a true labor of love: our exclusive lighting collection, created in collaboration with the incredible team at Shades of Light. This isn’t just a collection of lights; it’s a culmination of passion, design dreams, and a shared vision to bring stylish, accessible home decor to everyone. Picture us doing jazz hands, high fives, and maybe even a little happy dance—it’s that exciting!

The journey began way back in October 2011 when Shades of Light, a name synonymous with quality and beautiful illumination, approached us with an extraordinary proposition: to help them design a complete lighting collection. Our initial reaction was a bewildered “Who, us?” quickly followed by an emphatic, resounding “Yes, please!” It was an opportunity that perfectly aligned with our philosophy of making great design achievable, and we couldn’t wait to dive in.

Crafting Style on a Budget: Our Design Philosophy

From the very first brainstorming session, our core goals for this collection were clear and consistent: we wanted to create pieces that felt casual, infused with playfulness, and radiated happiness. But perhaps the most ambitious—and ultimately, the most rewarding—challenge was to make every single item budget-friendly. We set ourselves an incredibly stringent target: to keep the entire collection, from charming pendant lights to expansive chandeliers, priced under $99. This was no small feat, especially considering Shades of Light’s reputation for high-end, often $400+ designs.

The commitment from Shades of Light to help us achieve this price point without compromising on quality was truly remarkable. They embraced the challenge, dedicating their expertise and resources to meticulously source materials and streamline production, ensuring that our vision of affordable, designer-quality lighting became a reality. We are eternally grateful for their partnership in making beautiful home lighting accessible to more people. This collection also features ingenious $3 add-on items, designed to effortlessly refresh and personalize the lamps you already own. Because, as you know, we absolutely adore helping you make the most of what you’ve got!

More Than Just Lights: A Personal & Creative Journey

Beyond the practical aspect of helping us provide for our family, these special collaborations represent some of the most exhilarating and creatively fulfilling work we undertake. Between juggling demanding house projects, crafting engaging blog posts, navigating book endeavors, and, of course, cherishing playtime with our beloved children, Clara (The Bean) and Burger (The Burgs), switching gears to a new creative challenge like this collection keeps our minds fresh and our spirits high. It’s truly the “icing on the DIY cake” – a perfect blend of passion and purposeful creation. In many ways, these lights are like our babies; each piece is imbued with thought, care, and a little piece of our heart. And speaking of our “babies,” Clara and Burger often find themselves at the heart of our inspiration!

We’ve often called our designs “our kiddos,” and seeing them come to life in these professional “studio shots” fills us with the same pride a parent feels watching their child confidently play “Tree #2” in an elementary school play. These are the apples of our eye, and we’re grinning from ear to ear as we finally get to share them with you. To see all the delightful pieces we’ve poured our hearts into, we invite you to browse our full collection of unique shades, versatile pendant lights, and innovative decorative add-ons designed to elevate any space.

A Local Collaboration with National Reach

One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration is its distinctly local flavor. Shades of Light is based right here in Richmond, Virginia, making this a true hometown affair. This proximity allowed for an incredibly hands-on and personal development process. Over the past year, we frequently visited their headquarters, and they often stopped by our home, transforming our living spaces into impromptu design studios. Together, we sketched countless ideas, meticulously reviewed prototypes, sampled a myriad of paint colors, and saw the products in action every step of the way. We even had the privilege of shooting many of the final products right in our own home for their online shop and catalog, ensuring an authentic and relatable presentation.

This local partnership means that many of our lights are proudly made, wired, and painted right here in good ol’ Virginia! This commitment to local craftsmanship not only ensures exceptional quality but also supports local artisans and contributes to our community. And while our roots are firmly planted in Virginia, these beautiful pieces are available to everyone. Shades of Light ships them nationally through their website, and for our international friends, overseas shipping rates are available upon request. So, get ready to see our “babies” embark on little pilgrimages to other cities across the country and beyond! We’re genuinely thrilled at the thought of our designs illuminating homes far and wide (assuming, of course, people buy them. Haha!)

Clara: Our Chief Quality Control Officer

Our eldest, Clara, enthusiastically embraced her role as the unofficial Chief Quality Control Officer. During one of our sessions, we asked her to pick her favorite from a lineup of lights. True to her spirited nature, she kept changing her mind, utterly captivated by each design. It’s a trait she inherited from her momma; she just wants to rub her face on all of them, a true testament to their irresistible charm!

Behind the Scenes: The Magic of Our In-Home Photoshoots

One of the most exciting phases of this entire process was finally getting to shoot some of the finished lights in our own home back in November, perfectly nestled between two book tour stops. This allowed us to see how each piece truly looked “in situation” and capture those authentic images for the Shades of Light catalog. Take, for instance, our charming farmhouse pendant, which comes in a delightful array of cheerful colors. Doesn’t the pink version look absolutely sweet playfully “fake-hanging” over our kitchen sink?

Curious about how we achieved that perfect “fake-hang”? It was a classic grassroots photoshoot operation, filled with ingenuity and lots of laughter! You see the green-shirted guy perched on a stool in our kitchen? He was actually holding our existing mercury glass pendant out of the shot while the team expertly captured the pink farmhouse pendant. This temporary fixture was cleverly clamped to a rod just above the sink, making it appear as if it were hard-wired in place. It was precisely our kind of shoot: authentic, resourceful, and wonderfully collaborative.

Here’s another glimpse into the magic of in-house photoshoots. Notice the massive reflector in the foreground, expertly bouncing light, and those three gorgeous pendant lights all meticulously clamped to a rod? That rod, of course, was later cropped out of the final picture. It’s truly amusing to think about the pristine, aspirational rooms we admire in catalogs like Pottery Barn. In reality, behind every perfectly styled shot, there’s a bustling, slightly chaotic scene of professional gear, creative rigging, and a dedicated team making photographic magic happen.

And here’s how those beautiful drum pendants ultimately appeared in the photographer’s final, polished shot. Oh, and spoiler alert: we simply couldn’t resist and ended up buying the captivating scallop pendant that graces the middle of this image! We’re already planning its perfect placement, right in the window you see here, where it will undoubtedly add a touch of elegant charm to our home.

Our Favorite Chandelier: Style and Affordability Combined

Do you remember the stunning chandelier we gave you a sneak peek of in Monday’s holiday post? Well, we’re thrilled to officially confirm that it is indeed a star piece of our new collection! This particular design quickly became one of our absolute favorites, embodying the perfect blend of style, presence, and incredible value. We were so smitten that we purchased it as soon as the catalog shoot wrapped up at our house.

Priced at an astonishing $89 for such a large chandelier—it spans an impressive two feet wide!—we knew it was an unbeatable deal. Its presence is truly captivating, and it looks absolutely amazing when paired with the oil-rubbed bronze glass pendants that hang over our nearby kitchen peninsula, creating a cohesive and stylish lighting scheme. While we opted for the charming rusty bronze finish, this versatile piece is also available in a vibrant palette of other colors, including plum, dark teal, crisp white, classic black, modern gray, and bold red. Each chandelier is meticulously painted locally by a truly talented lighting artisan, ensuring a unique and high-quality finish for every single piece.

One of the most enchanting “special effects” of this chandelier is the intricate shadow play it casts on the ceiling when illuminated with a clear bulb. These unique patterns add an artistic dimension to any room. However, if you prefer a softer, more diffused glow, simply switch to a frosted bulb for a beautiful, gentle ambiance.

Burger’s Star Turn: Playful & Customizable Shades

As you know, our beloved dog, Burger, is a constant source of inspiration and our ultimate muse. So, it was only natural that this happened: Burger now has his very own line of chihuahua-riddled drum shades, available in a variety of delightful colors! We wanted to offer maximum flexibility for our customers, so we specifically asked Shades of Light to sell these unique shades both individually (perfect for updating an existing table or floor lamp) and as a complete pendant kit, ready for hanging. The full pendant kit even includes a ceiling canopy, making it a hassle-free, all-in-one solution. Because when it comes to home decor, people definitely need options… and, of course, charming chihuahua shades!

Elevate Your Lighting: Diffusers & DIY Decals

Have you spotted those elegant, sculptural white metal diffusers gracefully adorning the underside of these geometric-inspired ikat shades? These were another fantastic add-on we conceptualized, designed to instantly inject a dose of flair and personality into any existing light fixture. Imagine you already have a pendant light at home, but you’re craving a little extra pizzazz. One of these striking diffusers, available in either a modern hex pattern or an elegant quatrefoil design, can effortlessly elevate your lighting game, transforming a simple fixture into a captivating focal point.

We absolutely loved the idea of incorporating small, inexpensive, and incredibly easy DIY options into the collection. That’s where our delightful $3 add-ons come in! These are essentially decals (or, if we’re getting fancy, “appliqués”) that we envisioned as a fun, quick way to personalize a lamp base you might already own, or perhaps one you’ve thrifted and given a fresh coat of spray paint in a solid color. Whether your style leans towards a charming white, black, or sunny yellow bee shape; a favorite lucky number in classic black or white; or even versatile scalloped patterns that can be used individually or layered for a maximalist effect – we’ve got you covered. Can’t you just picture a bold white #7 decal on a chic navy lamp base? Or a whimsical white bee adorning a cheerful yellow gourd lamp? The possibilities for quick, budget-friendly customization are truly endless!

A Blast from the Past: The Saga of Burger and the Bread

And now, for a classic Burger story! Cast your mind way, way back to Thanksgiving in 2011. Do you recall this memorable picture of Burger? Well, that half-loaf of delicious Panera bread he so brazenly absconded with was actually snatched during one of our very first meetings for this lighting project! The Shades of Light team was gathered at our house, and we were excitedly immersed in discussions about colors, fabrics, and shapes. In the midst of our creative fervor, Burger, the sneaky little bugger, managed to sneak ONTO THE DINING TABLE and grab the bread without any of us even noticing until it was far too late. It was a truly audacious act, and thankfully, it marked the first and last time he possessed such brazen food-stealing confidence. Just look at the genuine regret in those big, brown eyes in the photo – a clear sign that his misadventure did not go unpunished! It’s these kinds of quirky, real-life moments that fuel our creativity and remind us of the joy we find in our home and our family.

A Heartfelt Thank You & Future Inspiration

And so, that brings us to the grand reveal of our very special, 14-months-in-the-making collection of lights, shades, and add-ons. Our hope is that this collection not only offers beautifully designed, affordable lighting options but also serves as a wellspring of inspiration for all the DIY enthusiasts out there. Even if you’re not currently in the market for new lighting or have a limited budget, we hope you’ll feel empowered to get creative! Perhaps this will inspire you to simply paint a metal pendant or lamp base you already own, giving it a fresh, new look, or even to craft your own personalized decals to spice up a lamp base in a uniquely personal way.

Finally, we want to express our deepest, gushy love and gratitude to each and every one of you. We would absolutely never be “here” – celebrating such incredible milestones and pursuing our passions – without your unwavering support, encouragement, and engagement. For that, we are eternally grateful. To think that this entire journey started with just one little blog post way back in 2007 is truly “crazytown,” and we are so incredibly thankful to you guys for making it all possible. Oh heck, you guys are like our babies too! Come to momma, I feel a big hug coming on… thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being the most amazing community a blogger could ever wish for.