Modern retro lighting

One of the easiest ways to add a retro touch to a home's interior is to have a retro style lampshade for the main light. There are a number of pendant style lampshades that could have easily been made in the sixties or seventies. The classic Lava Lamp is also available from the original company who made them.

Image source:
Benutzer:Wollschaf.

Lava Lamp

There seems to be some controversy over who makes the original Lava Lamp. It was invented by Edward Craven-Walker in 1963. The original company in the UK was called Crestworth. Crestworth was later renamed Mathmos. Mathmos claim "if it isn't Mathmos then it's not from the inventors".

Lavaworld claims to be the original "Lava brand". They have made Lava Lamps in the US since 1965. I think probably both claims are true. Mathmos, or Crestworth as it was originally known, made and distributed Lava Lamps in the UK in the sixties and seventies and Lavaworld had the US rights.

The Mathmos Lava Lamp costs from £45 see Mathmos. See Lavaworld for a list of distributors of the Lavaworld version. More information on the origin of the Lava Lamp can be found at Lava Lamps on Wikipedia.

In my view, the Mathmos Lamp has the slight edge in terms of shape and style. The Lavaworld version is cheaper, though.

Pendant lampshades

I always enjoy a visit to Habitat, particularly the lighting section. There is always a wonderful selection of modern style lighting. Some of which could easily have come from the sixties.

The Bluff Lampshade, right, from Habitat would look great over a dining room table, to give the room a sophisticated retro feel. For more information see www.habitat.co.uk.

Homebase also stock some very authentic looking seventies style lampshades. This shade right, right, with its retro style squares cut out with rounded corners shouts 70s. The brown and beige colour scheme is also perfect for the era.

This Retro Ribbon shade, right, also from Homebase, is a design that was very popular in the sixties. Its simple shape is ideal for creating an authentic sixties' look.

See www.homebase.co.uk.

More on retro lighting

For more on the original retro lighting see: Sixties retro lighting.