The Shade E Lady
Custom Lampshades and Lampshade Restoration in Seattle
Handcrafted fabric lampshades and lighting restoration for homes, restaurants, and designers for over 40 years.
The Shade E Lady specializes in custom lampshades and lampshade restoration in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Since 1985, Bernadette has handcrafted custom fabric lampshades, restored vintage and heirloom pieces, and worked with homeowners, interior designers, and restaurants to create lighting tailored to each space and built to last.
The Shade E Lady
Bernadette McLain
I’ve been creating with my hands for as long as I can remember. Sewing and crafting came naturally, and I’ve always loved the feeling of turning fabric into something beautiful.
Decades ago, someone gave me an antique lamp as a gift. It arrived without a shade, and I wanted to find the perfect Victorian-style one to match. After searching, I discovered that custom options didn’t really exist — at least not then. So I decided to make one myself.
That first shade nearly drove me crazy. I swore I’d never do it again… until I saw how lovely it turned out. Soon I was recovering every lampshade in my house and experimenting with colors, trims, and shapes. Light Art was born — and I was hooked.
With the encouragement of friends, I began selling my shades at local fairs with my friend and partner Pedie McLain, including the University Street Fair and the Mercer Island Summer Arts Festival. In 1985, we opened The Shade E Lady across from the old Ridgemont Theatre and next to the original Patty’s Eggnest on Greenwood Avenue. Before long, interior designers, restaurants, and hotels were seeking us out for custom work.
Today, I work from my in-home studio, where clients can visit by appointment to collaborate on designs or drop off pieces for restoration. I still love the process of bringing new light to a beloved lamp — one shade at a time.
What I Do
Custom Lampshades, Recovering, and Restoration
Creating a new lampshade, or restoring an old one, is an intuitive, hands-on process. Clients share photos of their space so I can get a sense of the colors, textures, and personality of the room. From there, we collaborate: I listen closely, suggest shapes and styles, and together we discover what feels just right.
Once we’ve explored a few fabrics and trims, clients can see their vision coming to life—often with a few surprises that make them say “wow.” Then it’s my turn to bring it all together with care, precision, and a touch of artistry.
It’s a fun, affordable way to refresh a favorite lamp and transform the mood of a room. That’s the magic of The Shade E Lady.
Lampshade Recovering & Restoration
If your shade frame is still sound, it can often be restored instead of replaced. I recover vintage shades, mend damage, and preserve original details whenever possible — keeping the beauty and history of your lamp alive.
Lampshade Relining & Repair
Sometimes the bones are perfect, but the inside has worn thin. I replace yellowed or brittle linings, mend loose trim, and bring structural integrity back to tired shades. My goal: preserve what makes it special while restoring its glow — so your lamp shines warmly again, just like it used to.
Custom Lampshades in Seattle
From modern minimalism to vintage charm, your custom shade starts with a conversation. I’ll help you choose the ideal shape, fabric, and trim to complement your lamp and home. Each piece is handcrafted in my home studio — made to fit beautifully, illuminate softly, and make you smile every time you turn on the light.
Who I work with
Homeowners, Designers, and Restaurateurs
I work with anyone who wants to bring a lampshade—or an entire lighting concept—to life. Homeowners looking to refresh or restore a favorite lamp, interior designers seeking a custom touch for their projects, and restaurateurs creating one-of-a-kind ambiance all find exactly what they need here.
Every project is collaborative. I listen, guide, and provide options, helping each client achieve a final piece that fits their space, style, and vision perfectly. The result is a unique, handcrafted lampshade that transforms the room and becomes a true focal point.
glowing testimonials
Lampshade Restoration Blog
Custom Lampshades: Designed to Fit Your Space, Style, and Story
Lighting is one of the most overlooked design elements in a home, yet it has the power to define a room. A well-made custom lampshade does more than cover a bulb. It shapes light, complements furniture, and brings intention to the space around it. Custom lampshades are not about following
Lampshade Restoration: Preserving the Beauty and History of Your Lighting
Lampshades do more than soften light. They set the tone of a room, anchor design eras, and often carry personal or historical value. Over time, even the most well-made shades fade, yellow, crack, or lose their structural integrity. That is where professional lampshade restoration comes in. Rather than replacing a
Blue Lampshades: Shades Through the Years
Blue has been one of the most enduring colors in decorative arts, and its role in lamps and lampshades reflects centuries of changing taste, technology, and craftsmanship. From pale mineral blues used in early interiors to rich indigos and navies favored in later periods, blue lampshades have evolved alongside how
Why Clients Choose Me
“Perfection isn’t a goal — it’s my standard.”
Clients choose me because experience matters. Since 1985, I’ve created and restored thousands of custom fabric lampshades for homeowners, designers, and restaurants throughout the Seattle area. I combine careful listening, expert guidance, and meticulous craftsmanship to ensure every shade is exactly what my clients envisioned—sometimes even better.
Each project is handled with care, precision, and artistry, so the final piece not only fits the space but becomes a true focal point. That’s why my clients keep coming back—and why referrals have sustained my business for decades.
Gallery
Let's Bring Your Lamp Back to Life
By appointment only — at my Lynnwood studio. In home consultations may be available at an additional charge in the Greater Seattle area.
