Confessions of a Lamp Tramp

If you were to come to our house, one of the first things you might notice, besides the seemingly eternal stack of laundry that endlessly needs conquering (today it is taunting me, half folded on the couch), is that we have a lot of lamps.

But seriously, an inordinate amount.

I've been this way since I can remember, shuddering at the thought of overhead lighting. When I was in high school I purchased lamps from thrift stores to place around my room. I still have one that is so beautiful I refuse to trash it, despite the fact that it flickers every time I step on the wrong floorboard in our living room. I buy good lamps when I see them, even if it means I have to ship them home, even if it means they sit in the basement for a year before we use them. Because a good lamp is hard to find, and I am a lighting fanatic.

That's why, when I stumbled across Radiance Lighting, a little artisan lamp store in the UK, I was immediately smitten.  I have never seen so many beautiful lamps and shades in one place! It's like a junkie's paradise. Especially these shades to the left. They are these old photographs of different neighborhoods superimposed with vintage floral fabrics. Gosh, I feel like they were made just for me.

On top of simply selling unique and beautiful products, I found Radiance's story inspiring to boot. Sean and I have dreamt many times of having a store with a studio or workshop in the back like the artisans of old, and that's exactly the model that founder Hannah Nunn used when opening her own lamp store. When a storefront opened up in her town, she jumped on it and transformed it into a space where she could work in the back and sell up front. Today she has enlisted other creative lighting geniuses who sell at the store and works alongside family and friends to run the operation. In 2010 Radiance moved to a larger location, and it you're into Before and Afters, you can find the entire process chronicled here.

more on Radiance Lighting after the jump!

Radiance has grown from just a lampshade hotspot. Featuring artists such as Tord Boontje and Helen Musselwhite (gosh. love.) one can find a whole slew of uniquely crafted items sure to tickle their fancy. There are decorations, chandeliers, and these absolutely adorable tea light holders that look like a tiny city.  I dream of one day owning one of their items. If you hadn't noticed, I'm a huge proponent for having beautiful things in your home that make you smile, and this store seems like it's here to help. -hil