I was out walking in the forest this morning and decided to circle back to look in the window of a local junk shop — I mean, why can’t a fitness walk turn into a decorating adventure? :) I’m so glad I took my indulgent detour. I not only found a man selling the freshest watermelon ever along with sweet peaches from France, but the shop was open and even better, I found this lovely solid wood lamp. Nice, right?
It weighed a ton to carry it home, but when you spot something like this for cheap you have to grab it. I love the shape and of course, the shade reminds me of something you’d find in the wallpaper collection over at Cole & Son or possibly in the Florence Broadhurst collection. When I saw this lamp I thought of how this could easily be worked into a beach house somewhere in Australia or something. It also reminds me of designer Shannon Fricke, and I wish I knew why, it just does. I love Shannon’s work and dream of meeting her someday and hanging out in her creative cottage where she teaches. Swoon…
I may or may not eventually paint the base and I may or may not pop a new shade on this or cover this one, but for now I’m going to see where I can work this in at home and once I do, I’ll show you where it ended up. Do you have any latest junk shop/flea market “scores” to share with me?
(image: holly becker for decor8)
June 7th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Totally gorgeous! That is one nice junk shop you’ve got there :)
Well done, great find!
Kate
June 7th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Wow, what a great find Holy, there’s no such treasures in the junk shops near me!
Hannah´s last [type] ..REMINDER- We’ve moved
June 7th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
it’s beautiful! i wouldn’t paint the base, i love it. i always adore stumbling across a find and having to carry it home. makes the treasure hunting all the more exciting. i have many junk finds to share…come over and take a peek…
June 7th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Thought of you when I couldn’t resist a Copenhagen flea market last weekend. Got some vintage plates including some bjorn winblad :)
June 7th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
p.s. Love your lamp!
Emily Pearce´s last [type] ..Eat Me I’m a Danish
June 7th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Oh that gorgeous! Great find!
Mrs Bok´s last [type] ..Fantastic Mr Fox
June 7th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Love the lamp – great find! :-)
tinajo´s last [type] ..My new workspace
June 7th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
no no no leave the lamp just as it is! it’s lovely! good find.
renae´s last [type] ..Forest Friends Stitchery
June 7th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Fantastic find! I love the wooden base such a great colour very earthy! It would look great in my Aussie home! :) xx
June 7th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
oh this is marvellous! I wouldn’t change anything, it is wonderful. This brown is one of my favourite colors at the moment – I was lucky to grab a wonderful glass vase with a similar color at the flea market some weeks ago. You can have a look at it at my last post on http://www.azurweiss.de
Enjoy your wonderful lamp and have a great summer day, Sabine
Sabine´s last [type] ..Hallo- Flaschengrün
June 7th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Great! I sneak in my local junk shop regularly, too. They have amazing things sometimes – you just have to have the eagle eye to find them! :)
Marlene´s last [type] ..Flüssiges Süß vom Sonntag
June 7th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
I haven’t been shopping at all…. boring, right? I’ll definitely let you know if I find something on the next junk shop trip I make… I heard about another one from another artist in town that I met a couple weeks ago…. need to check it out!
I love that lamp! I miss having a cork based lamp. I had one in my last place in CA, though it wasn’t mine because I was subletting the place. I loved being able to tack little photos onto it, though…
xox
Shari´s last [type] ..A Sad Event
June 7th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
I love it! And the shade is lovely….what a great score. I love it when that happens….I visited the flea market on saturday & found some old fishing buoys that I love….I had been looking for them. One has the most beautifully faded rope, it must have been green but, now it is a beautiful aqua color. I love it.
xo
Melis
Melissa de la Fuente´s last [type] ..Monday monday
June 7th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
I, too, vote for not painting it. The base, as it is, is like a magnet. The natural wood gives it such solidity. I like the shade as well, but that I would change to suit my every whim as the lamp moves from room to room, or home to home. What a great find. Carolina
Carolina Ellis´s last [type] ..A Spoonful of Sugar Helps The Medicine Go Down
June 7th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Great find – that’s a lovely lamp.
I agree with #3 laura – it would be shame to paint the base!
Is there a maker’s name on the bottom or any indication as to where the lamp originated?
June 7th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
I love the lamp and the shade, dont paint!
June 7th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
I’m a huge fan of junk shop finds too, and always feel like I have found some treasure when I walk out with a special find. Love the lamp you found and think it should stay as it is… at least for now anyway.:)
samantha´s last [type] ..Reupholstered seat cushion
June 7th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Love, love, love great finds at the thrift stores. This one is especially great!
June 7th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
This is a great find, lucky you! To bad you didn’t carry your camera to the walk, I’d love to see what else they have in this store.
Kristina´s last [type] ..Help needed
June 7th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Oohhh, that is a wonderful find. I love it! A couple of weeks ago I had a wonderful few days where I found some super treasures which I showed here: http://meme-rose.blogspot.com/2011/05/junk-shop-finds.html. There’s nothing quite like finding something fabulous that doesn’t cost a lot… x
June 7th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Wow, great find! Love it. :)
Kathy´s last [type] ..Oh Hello There…
June 7th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Great find! I have a real thing for wooden lamps. I found quite a nifty one at a car boot sale a few weeks ago myself :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sealeswithakiss/5789899262/in/photostream
June 7th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
What a fantastic find! And I’m glad you did bring it home with you, even if it was heavy : )
Katie*Belle´s last [type] ..Underfoot
June 7th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
That is a gorgeous lamp! I really really really hope you don’t paint it, the wood is just too beautiful! The lamp shade is great too!
June 7th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
My husband’s grandmother just passed and we’ve been sorting through her apartment in NYC…it’s a flea market in a way. Buttons, funky lamps, and a turquoise typewriter! It’s a great object and a nice way to remember her…
emily´s last [type] ..Summer Creamy Onion Soup & Harry Potter
June 7th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
I wish I did have something that cool to share! I don’t usually have much luck at junk shops… I will perservere though! ;)
June 7th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
I love it just the way it is! .. gorgesous against the white background too. So you got your fitness walk AND weight training (since the lamp was heavy) :) End of June is my vintage finds sourcing … watch out stores here I come! Hmmm, maybe I should work out 1st!
Ada @ New York´s last [type] ..Monday’s Make-it … styleorganization message boards!
June 7th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
That lamp is to die for cute!!! This was from a junk shop..? great find!
June 7th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
What an amazing lamp! I *love* the shape of the base.
Just this past weekend I stumbled upon a little parking lot junk sale where I found a gorgeous mirrored tray. And I never would have found it if we hadn’t been detoured because of a parade…. funny how life works!
Design Fixation´s last [type] ..Typeface Tuesday Type For the Home
June 7th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Oh I love it. It reminds me of a lamp my Mother-in-Law has. The base is the same but the shade is covered with lots of pressed wild flowers.
Here is my latest junk shop find, a kitchen hanging rack (http://behindmargerysdaw.blogspot.com/search/label/Hanging%20Rack). I love it and knew straight away what I was going to do to it and it has turned out exactly how I wanted it to!
Margery Daw´s last [type] ..Modern Country Style Give Away – Spode
June 7th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Great find! I would probably keep the wooden base but change the shade (to make it work in my home that is). Here you can see my latest flea market finds:
http://lamaisondannag.blogspot.com/2011/05/trouvailles-du-jour.html
Anna G.´s last [type] ..Un projet bien coloré
June 7th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
I just LOVE the lamp!
An-Magritt´s last [type] ..Min gamle benk
June 7th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
What an amazing find! Love it as is. Seriously looks like something you would buy in a boutique!
I recently blogged about a couple great yard sale finds including an awesome drum shade for $1…
http://mandyford.blogspot.com/2011/06/she-scores.html
Mandy @ This Girl’s Life´s last [type] ..pay less
June 7th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Lucky girl!
It’s wonderful!
Cristina´s last [type] ..Scelte – Choices
June 7th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Wow — that is one handsome lamp! The heavy weight just means you get extra workout points, right?!
Sarah E.´s last [type] ..Hideaway morning
June 7th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Wow, that lamp is beautiful! I always loved the junk shops in our little town in Germany. I could pick up beautiful embroidered table cloths for just a few euros, so I amassed quite a collection!
Ariana´s last [type] ..Daily Photo- Castle Chapel- Nuremberg
June 7th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
please don’t paint it! sell it to someone before doing that!
alexandra keller´s last [type] ..the girls of Etsy – Vanessa of Supayana
June 7th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
um, FANTASTIC lamp! great grab!
kaitlyn sullivan´s last [type] ..valerie roybal
June 7th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
I love the lamp. What a find..I would like two of these to set up on my tables that anchor my bed.
June 7th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
i like this lighting design. love the pics too.. great article
June 7th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
That is a charming find. I love it just as it is, but will be interested to see what you decide as time goes along. I am staying away from thrift & other shopping these days. I’m on a living with less evolution right now and frankly the apartment is decorated and there isn’t space for more things. You’re so lucky you have a new home to decorate! And you’re doing such a fine job of it too. :)
kalanicut´s last [type] ..10 Things That Make Life Great
June 7th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
don’t change a thing….. It’s a lovely piece just the way it is!
June 7th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Cool! Why don’t you come over and do a style workshop? You could do it in Boston while your here signing books :) Let me know if you need any help
xoxo
Desha´s last [type] ..Shes not your avearage princess
June 7th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Love that shade! I can totally see the base painted in a bright bold turq or kelly green! That would totally fit the nature-inspired pattern if you keep the shade as is…what an incredible find!
xo-Julie
Peace. Love. LOL!
Julie Khuu´s last [type] ..The Jewelry Exchange
June 7th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
I love this lamp! it is so unique!
June 7th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
paint the base???!!!!
it would be criminal to cover the pattern of that grain!
I beg you to refrain…….
June 7th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Really a great find. My girlfriend hates it when I go to junk shops, but I just can’t help myself.
Abstract Art´s last [type] ..Paul Klee
June 7th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Lovely!!
Maria´s last [type] ..iskall rabarbersaft
June 7th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
That lamp is stunning! What a find. A really love it as it is. A lot. Replacing the shade could be nice but I would definitely leave the base as is. So cute!
Christina´s last [type] ..Style in the Living Room
June 7th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
really nice! great find!
must give a warm feel to the room, makes you want to drink a nice tea and read a good book under the blanket.
you have a lovely blog!
em´s last [type] ..petit pot
June 7th, 2011 at 9:04 pm
What a find! I would have struggled home with this too. It’s fantastic.
June 7th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Oh no! Don’t paint over that gorgeous wood!
June 7th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
Loving the lamp
hena tayeb´s last [type] ..Road Trip
June 7th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
i love the lamp. No, don’t paint it. The wood is so beautiful.
June 7th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
EVERYONE: Don’t worry, I didn’t say I was going to paint the lamp base LOL!!! I bought it specifically because of the lamp base being wood and the gorgeous shade so never fear!!!
June 7th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@Desha – I would love that but I have no time on this trip but definitely next time around! :) I have plans, don’t worry. :) :) Can’t wait to meet you on August 20th!
June 7th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Super Lamp!!!! Would fit perfectly in my house!
June 7th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
@Hadi – No tag on the bottom, I was looking too. :)
June 7th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
I can’t believe I was just putting a new shade on my old lamps and deciding what to do with the bases and then I opened up my mails to do some work and here you are with a lamp! What are the chances!
I’m going to cover my bases with strips of silver and Velvet fabric from the Baccarat design by Andrew Martin. It’s so expensive and a total indulgence, but what the hey. It will look fab and I will love it!
EmmaMT´s last [type] ..The Stacey Solomon Cake
June 7th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
@Kristina – It’s one shop that I’m trying to keep a secret, I have a few stores like that — I only share them with super close friends. Thing is, whenever I’ve suggested favorite shops or hotels in the past, prices went up and suddenly I couldn’t find things there anymore or stay at the hotels! It’s the internet, the minute you publish something it potentially goes to hundreds of thousands of people so some things I stay quiet about. ;)
June 7th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
wonderful find Holly ! here is a post on our new blog showing of some of recent treasures, it has been a very good hunting season :D
http://3wrenstreet.blogspot.com/2011/05/junk-bonanza-cont.html
June 7th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Fab lamp! And just think of the calories you got rid of by walking it home.
adventuresindinner´s last [type] ..When you are pasty and hot
June 7th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
That`s gorgeous! I wish it was mine ;)
June 7th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
what a lovely find, holly..the shade is just perfect for the lamp..rarely does that happen in a flea-market find..i have always had to find new shades..lucky you!! xx meenal
meenal @ maison marigold´s last [type] ..The Duchess never disappoints
June 7th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
The lamp has a really great shape, very nice. I recently picked up a new Kilim style floor runner – I put it straight through our washing machine and it came up beautifully.
June 7th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Classic lamp – I wouldn’t change a thing about it – it’ll make your heart sing for years just as it is.
Deborah Wall´s last [type] ..Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show 2011
June 8th, 2011 at 12:17 am
I guess it just shows that walking is good for people. You made a great buy. It is in such great shape to be in a junk shop. The wood is beautiful along with the shade. It must have been your day for walking.
June 8th, 2011 at 12:24 am
classic piece…no way would u have to change anythign about it…a super cool mid century piece
June 8th, 2011 at 12:27 am
ooh, such a gorgeous lamp! very jealous!
Laura Noble´s last [type] ..Nighty night
June 8th, 2011 at 1:31 am
As a keeper of a “junk/lifestyle/funky shop” I would have had to keep that lamp- as it is really a great piece.
deb´s last [type] ..try to give a little love
June 8th, 2011 at 2:02 am
Great find!
Cynthia
Cynthia at Coffee On The Patio´s last [type] ..Midnight In Paris
June 8th, 2011 at 3:03 am
wow its really great – what a cool find! Can I go thrifting with you? haha i usually bypass things and cannot see beyond….im good with paper ephemera though! ha!
It has a nice Retro feel about it. I actually love love the base, it looks really good quality.
Maybe change the lamp head if you dont feel it suits your space!!
June 8th, 2011 at 3:28 am
What a awesome find. I also won’t change the base the wood grain is beautiful.
June 8th, 2011 at 4:12 am
Wow! What a score!
June 8th, 2011 at 5:18 am
Beautiful! What a great find. Please don’t paint it…
Bianca´s last [type] ..cutest hat
June 8th, 2011 at 5:59 am
oh gorgeous. do. not. paint.
June 8th, 2011 at 7:11 am
Coolest design I found! Design is in our gene.. I can share something very interesting..
puja´s last [type] ..Welcoming Sfoorti and Rajiv!
June 8th, 2011 at 8:05 am
Lovely found Holly. Sometime we can find gems in junk shop, flea market or event IKEA as is (which I found something goods yesterday there). Keep us update where will you finally will put the lamp is. Or may be just evolve around the house hehe..
fenny setiawan´s last [type] ..Natural newborn wardrobe by Babysoy
June 8th, 2011 at 8:23 am
its stunning. What motivation to go out walking again!
debbie´s last [type] ..Competition Time!
June 8th, 2011 at 11:10 am
What an absolutely fabulous find, yay for you!
Monica´s last [type] ..More of Less
June 8th, 2011 at 11:32 am
Yes, I vote don’t change it too! It’s beautiful and perfectly formed!
June 8th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
How lucky are you !? This lamp is totally gorgeous !!
June 8th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Worth the trip to the shop indeed, I love it!! so many times I have been n a bus and have to get off because I just have passed a junk shop with something that catch my eye.
Margarita Lorenzo´s last [type] ..Fantastic locations in the X-men- First Class the movie
June 8th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
That’s a great find – the wooden base is beautiful. I’ve done a “junk shop lamp make-over” recently, decoupaging the lampshade and adding some rather glamorous fringing to what was originally a pretty boring object. There’s a picture of it here: http://decotales.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/let-there-be-light/ – I’d love to hear what you think!
decotales´s last [type] ..Cross stitch – currently very cool
June 8th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Fantastic find!!! Love the lamp!!
xo Allison
Spicer + Bank
Allison Egan´s last [type] ..Pouf Instant Exotic Style!
June 8th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
What a beautiful find! Definitely not a ‘junk shop’ but rather a ‘treasure shop’. I just found a fabulous spool bed at curbside. Free! Check it out at my blog.
Michele at modmissy.com´s last [type] ..Spool Bed
June 8th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
I love it!!! I’m on vacation and keep stumbling upon great finds but oy getting some of them home.
Brooke H´s last [type] ..Shes a Sketch Louise
June 8th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
That lampshade pattern looks like vintage Vera Neumann
June 8th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
love it! i have a vintage ceramic lamp i just found at a junk shop, but it had no shade. i like the idea of using more modern printed shade. thanks for the inspiration!
d r e w´s last [type] ..WISH LIST – KILIM RUGS
June 8th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Great find! Definitely worth carting home. What I love about going to thrift stores, etc… is that I can spend so little money and be thoroughly entertained just walking through looking at things. If I come home with a treasure in the process all the better. If I tire of if in a few months or years, no worries, it was not a big purchase! It’s a great way to try out new looks in my home at a fraction of the cost of something new.
Very Merry Vintage Style´s last [type] ..Painting Brass Vintage Deer with Chalk Paint & Share the Love Link Party 16!
June 8th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Great find! I love it, and it looks perfectly placed.
Julie´s last [type] ..In Tapestry Studio- Artist Cora Murphy
June 8th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
I have a real soft spot for round lamps. This one is lovely! And what luck that it has a great shade as well!
June 8th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Well I am natural kinda of girl and I like it this way. what a great find.
June 9th, 2011 at 3:07 am
Oh for goodness sake! Great score Holly!
June 9th, 2011 at 4:48 am
Seriously perfect! No need to do a darn thing with that lamp! What a score! Although I’m sure whatever you decide to do with it, it will look amazing.
June 9th, 2011 at 7:08 am
Exercise and shopping. Now that’s killing two birds with one stone! Loverley!
Maria´s last [type] ..Psych Ward – ME!
June 9th, 2011 at 7:13 am
I love the lamp. I have one that looks kinda like it but it has an Owl for the stand.
June 9th, 2011 at 9:03 am
It seems that you cannot go wrong when you go back to nature. Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece.
June 9th, 2011 at 10:07 am
Oh that print is lovely I can see why you had to have it! Wouldn’t one of those large ‘hole in the middle’ wooden 60′s bases look amazing (as per Mad Men)?!! My ultimate find was at an antiques and collectors fair around 10 years ago. It was the most divine old pine kitchen table, pale and scrubbed until it was so chalky and gorgeous, I couldn’t take my eyes of it and I also couldn’t afford it! As it was snowing and the last few hours from the close of the fair I managed to not only haggle the price to half, I also persuaded the chap to help me squeeze it into the back of my old Land rover! It now has pride of place in the kitchen and with every scrub or dent just gets better and better!
The Paper Mulberry´s last [type] ..Romantic French Fabrics – Gorgeous Greys
June 9th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
Hi Holly, inspiring blog and that lamp is a real corker. I love mixing vintage and flea market finds surrounded by antiques stalls, flea markets and secondhand shops where I live on the south coast of England. Furnished my house entirely with bartered bargains as you can see from these pix! http://tinyurl.com/3mavagq
June 9th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
@Sarah your home is lovely, thank you for sharing it with me. xo
June 10th, 2011 at 1:07 am
I would have walked out with that lamp too. Gorgeous find!
June 12th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
I LOVE THIS LAMP
June 12th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
I love this lamp! Brings up something from my childhood when one wall was orange and the other was flowery wallpapered (if that´s a word) and it makes me feel good and nostalgic :) And I love your blog. Just started reading few months ago. I love the colours mixed up with something white and bright. Love the flowers, the relaxed athmosphere and all those tiny, beutiful details. I even have my own scrap box now to make all the birthdaycards. Six months ago I was over my head in my busy bank-job and now I am at home with my 3 month old – looking at BEUTIFUL interior design sites, making scrap cards and finally enjoying myself :) Thanks for helping :)
June 12th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
What an incredibly lucky find! I have a soft spot for unique vintage lamps. And don’t you dare paint the base or replace/change/recover the shade! (I’m almost going to cry at the very thought of it.)
June 13th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Oh beautiful! What a find. Looking forward to your book! So exciting! Congrats :).
Morgan @ PepperDesignBlog.com´s last [type] ..Grandma’s Lemon Bars
June 14th, 2011 at 10:07 am
This is beautiful I love the shape what a great find
Sarah´s last [type] ..Sabrina Lins Stunning Penthouse
June 14th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Lovely! Don’t paint it!
August 9th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
When you see a handmade item like that you need to snap it up no matter what. I wouldn’t paint it — I would just keep the natural oiled finish. If it’s a little rough, sand it down and get it to 800+ grit, then re oil it.