Just Lamps

Ever need a lamp shade? But not just any off-​white lamp shade you can get a JcPenny. Something unique? Well, I had just the occasion a few months ago and after scouring the internet, we somehow came across Just Lamps.
Now, this is going to be a very strange review. Mainly because I just don’t know how many stars to give it.
The woman who owns the shop seems simply fantastic. There’s just no other way to say it: she just loves lamps! Like, really loves them! Like, REALLY — when she saw my husband’s shirt, she reached out to feel the fabric and said «Oooooh, that would make a lovely shade!»
We wanted to get a really unique shade for a unique lamp a friend made us. So, we came in here and looked at a variety of lamp shades. The owner (artist?) talked up a bunch of shades and even said that they do custom work on a regular basis. The shades were downright cool. They were so cool. They opened up a whole new window of cool, as far as lamp shades go.
We finally settled on one we thought would work with our unique lamp and I spied a $ 50 price tag. «Not bad,» I thought. Expensive for a lampshade, but not bad, considering. But then we all decided that it would be best to bring the lamp in, just to make sure.
So therefore it feels wretchedly awful giving a store with an owner like that only two stores. But here’s why…
After we left, my husband and I were talking. I mentioned how I liked the lamp shade and that we should go for it. He looked at me with crazy eyes and I said that I thought $ 50 was a lot to pay for a lampshade, but considering that it is homemade, so to speak, I thought it might be worth it.
«$ 50?» he said. «That lampshade was $ 350!» As were most of the other shades in the store. Apparently when looking at the price tag from far away, my eyes failed me.
Now, I don’t mind paying for quality. I don’t mind paying for artistry. I don’t mind paying for original pieces with the kind of attention to detail that you just don’t get in most stores these days. However, $ 350 for a lampshade? Clearly this store is in Lincoln Park and clearly I and my budget were not welcome in this neighborhood.
If this does happen to be in your budget, god bless you. And you will find the attentive service and quality most Unilocalers would give four or five stars. I, however, have to give it 2 stars based on the fact that I think $ 350 for a lamp shade (lamp not included) is just too much of an indulgence for most people.
PS — we ultimately bought a lampshade, which happened to be on sale, at Pottery Barn for $ 20.