Let’s talk about some shady business. I almost titled this with a Slim Shady reference, but we’ll spare you. After working on a secret project for more than 14 months, we can finally share what we’ve been up to. Back in October 2011, Shades of Light invited us to help design a lighting collection, and of course we jumped at the chance.

From the start our goals were simple: keep the collection casual, playful, and cheerful, and—this was the real challenge—keep the prices affordable. We set a target of keeping all pieces under $99, with a handful of $3 add-on options so people could customize lamps they already own. Hitting that price point for larger fixtures, like two-foot-wide chandeliers, was a big ask, but Shades of Light embraced the challenge. They worked with us to trim costs without sacrificing quality, and that collaboration made everything possible.

This collection includes pendants, shades, chandeliers, and decorative extras designed to be flexible and fun. Some pieces are sold as full pendant kits ready to hang, while others are available as standalone shades so you can pair them with an existing lamp or fixture. We wanted to give people options: mix-and-match pieces, small accents, or a statement fixture that transforms a room.

One of the things we loved most about the collaboration was that Shades of Light is local to Richmond. It made the whole process feel very hands-on and personal. We hosted meetings at our house, visited their headquarters multiple times, and worked through sketches, prototypes, paint samples, and final fittings together. A number of the lights are actually made, wired, and painted in Virginia, which felt extra-special to us.

We also had a blast shooting several of the finished pieces in our home last November. Seeing the fixtures “in situation” confirmed how well the designs translate from concept to real life. For the photo shoot we staged pendants clamped to rods, used reflectors, and did plenty of improvising—grassroots, sometimes a little chaotic, but always full of laughter. It was a reminder that the immaculate images in catalogs often hide a very lively behind-the-scenes setup.

Some favorites from the collection include a farmhouse pendant available in cheerful colors, drum pendants with geometric patterns, and a two-foot-wide wire globe chandelier that feels surprisingly light and modern for its size. We bought one of the chandeliers ourselves and loved the way it pairs with smaller pendants nearby. It also comes in several locally painted finishes, giving you more ways to match your decor. If you like dramatic ceiling shadows, try a clear bulb; if you prefer a softer glow, a frosted bulb does the trick.

We added a few playful touches inspired by everyday life here at home. Burger, our chihuahua, even inspired a drum shade pattern—yes, there are chihuahua-themed shades—because why not inject a little personality into lighting? We also included sculptural metal diffusers that slip under shades to add texture and visual interest, and small appliques meant to personalize lamp bases. These $3 add-ons are simple decals you can stick on a thrifted or existing lamp and instantly change its look—numbers, bees, scalloped shapes, and more. They’re meant to be easy, inexpensive ways to refresh a light you already own.

There are also ready-to-hang kits that include a ceiling canopy so you can convert a shade into a pendant quickly and without a lot of fuss. We designed the collection to be approachable for DIYers and shoppers alike: some people will want full fixtures, others will want parts and finishing touches to customize their own pieces.

A funny memory from the project: during one of our earliest meetings with the Shades of Light team, Burger snuck up on the dining table and grabbed a half-loaf of bread right under our noses. It was a brazen move and the whole room erupted in laughter when we finally discovered what he’d done. That little episode became part of the story behind these designs—imperfect, personal, and full of warmth.

In the end, this collection is a labor of love and a creative side project that helped keep our family afloat while letting us flex a different design muscle. We hope it inspires people to think about lighting as an easy, impactful way to change a room—whether you buy something new, repaint an old fixture, or add a tiny decal to make a lamp feel uniquely yours.

We’re grateful to everyone who has followed our journey since the early days of blogging. Projects like this wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community that has grown around our work. Thank you for sticking with us and for making this creative adventure so much fun.