Quite a lot, actually.

Each Axis & Origin shade is individually handcrafted using carefully selected fabrics, professional lampshade materials and fire-resistant styrene.

All of our shades are finished on both sides, with contrasting fabric, brushed metallic or another considered interior instead of the plain plastic-looking lining found inside many mass-produced shades.

We source fabrics in small quantities and choose them because there’s something interesting about them: the colour, the texture, the artwork, the story or the tiny detail you don’t notice until you get closer.

They take more time and cost more to make than a factory-produced shade. That’s intentional.

We’re not particularly interested in making something whose only job is to cover a light bulb.

Most hardback lampshades have fabric on the outside and a plain lining inside.

We thought the inside deserved better.

Depending on the design, an Axis & Origin shade might have a contrasting fabric, brushed metallic finish or another interior selected specifically to work with the exterior.

Sometimes the inside is the quiet part. Sometimes it’s the entire point.

Some consider them rules. We consider them guidelines. And sometimes, you just have to measure things with your heart.

As a starting point, a lampshade should feel balanced with its base. For table lamps, a shade around two-thirds the height of the base is often a good place to begin. But proportions, placement and personal preference all play a part. An oversized shade can make a statement; a smaller one can feel a little more restrained.

Our standard drum shades are available in:

20 cm — Best for smaller table lamps, bedside lamps and compact bases.
30 cm — A versatile size for most table lamps.
40 cm — Suited to larger table lamps, statement bases and spaces where you want a little more presence.

Still unsure? Send us a photo of your lamp with a few measurements and we’ll happily help.

Or measure with your heart. We support both methods.

This is one of those things that sounds much more complicated than it is.

A harp fitting is used on lamps with a metal harp that rises around the bulb. The shade sits on top and is secured with a finial.

An UNO fitting attaches at the lamp socket instead, without a harp.

If you’ve read that twice and are still staring suspiciously at your lamp, send us a photo of the socket area with the shade removed. We can usually tell you what you need.

No. Our lampshades are sold separately from the lamp bases shown in our photography.

The bases are there to show you how a shade might look in its natural habitat and to give you ideas for pairing it with your own lamp.

Already have a base you love? Excellent. Give it a new hat.

Absolutely. In fact, we highly encourage giving a perfectly good lamp base a second act.

Changing the shade can completely change the character of a lamp without replacing the whole thing. You just need the right size and fitting.

Yes. Every Axis & Origin shade is thoughtfully made by hand.

That means tiny variations are part of the process, and patterned shades will never be completely identical.

Twins, perhaps. Clones, no.

Very close, but not identical.

Pattern placement varies depending on the fabric repeat and the size of the shade. We carefully choose the section of fabric used for each shade so the finished composition works beautifully, but individual flowers, animals, swimmers, ghosts or other assorted characters may appear in slightly different places.

Consider it your shade’s fingerprint.

It might. In some cases, that’s the whole idea.

Fabric, colour and interior finish all interact with light differently. Metallic interiors reflect it. Dark interiors create a moodier glow. Printed interiors can reveal details that are barely noticeable when the lamp is switched off.

Some Axis & Origin shades make their intentions clear immediately. Others are a little more reserved until you get to know them.

That element of discovery is very much by design.

Absolutely.

Light and reflective interiors tend to bounce more light into the room. Darker interiors absorb more light and create a warmer, moodier effect, often directing the light more dramatically upward and downward.

Printed interiors can reveal an entirely different personality once the lamp is switched on.

Off is one story. On can be another.

LED bulbs only, please.

LED bulbs produce much less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs and are the appropriate choice for our shades. Always follow the maximum wattage specified by your lamp manufacturer.

Absolutely.

You can change the size, switch the interior, reverse certain fabric combinations or adapt details of many existing designs.

If you’ve found a commercially available fabric you love, we may also be able to source it and make your shade from it, provided the material is suitable for lampshade construction.

We also work with interior designers and other trade professionals.

Some ideas simply don’t come straight off the shelf.

Sometimes, with one important exception: we don’t work with heirloom, irreplaceable or one-of-a-kind fabrics.

Making a lampshade involves cutting and permanently adhering the fabric. Grandma’s last metre of fabulous vintage silk deserves a less perilous retirement.

If the fabric is commercially available, send us the details and we can let you know whether it’s suitable.

Usually.

Our standard diameters are 20 cm, 30 cm and 40 cm, but custom dimensions may be possible depending on the design, fabric repeat and hardware required.

Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll see what we can do.

Yes.

Colour and texture can be difficult to judge on a screen, particularly when you’re trying to coordinate with something already in your space.

Contact us about available swatches before ordering.

Screens have opinions about colour. Fabric has the final say.

Gently.

A soft, dry cloth or duster is usually all that’s needed. Avoid water, cleaning sprays and harsh products, which can damage the fabric or interior finish.

We ship across Canada. Every shade is carefully packed and shipped with tracking. Lampshades are relatively light but impressively talented at taking up space, so shipping costs are based largely on parcel size and destination. Domestic rates are calculated at checkout.

International: For orders outside Canada, please contact us for a shipping quote to your location.

Send us a message.

Whether you’re wondering about size, fittings, fabric, proportions or whether the lamp you found at a flea market in 2007 can be made fabulous again, send us a photo and a few measurements.

We’ll help you figure it out.