Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with shade

I'd like my floor lamps to be more attractive than lightbulbs lying on the floor.

pemberkins — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:32:17 -0800

Help me turn a blindingly bright LED tube into a functional and decorative floor lamp! I have two LED tubes (that look vaguely like these, are about three feet long, and have a couple feet of power cord at one end). I would love to turn these into floor lamps. They're pretty blinding on their own, so some sort of lamp shade is in order. So, my questions...

1) What kind of lamp shade should I use for these? I'm happy to buy one (preferably on the cheap) or make one, but it needs to cover the whole tube.

2) What can I use for a base to get the tubes to stand upright on the floor?

Thanks!

How do I grow food in my shady apartment?

Lord_Pall — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:03:13 -0800

How do I grow food and be more sustainable in a shady city apartment? So we live in a ground floor apartment in Marina Del Rey. We're near the water so the temperature is pretty stable.

We're ground floor, facing a courtyard. We have a sizeable outdoor area that backs up on a shared courtyard. Figure 15X10 worth of usable floor space.

We get VERY little sun. Like an hour or 2 max in summer. Due to sprinklers and the location, it's quite humid too.

I can't do much or any growing inside since we have voracious cats who will eat all they can get their paws on.

Outside we've got tomatoes growing, but they're not too happy. They're growing out into the courtyard to try to find sun.. Herbs sorta grow as well in containers.

So how do I successfully grow vegetables or other foods?

I'm thinking about getting some grow-lights to supplant the low sun content. Downside is that most grow-lights dont work outside, plus the energy consumption is batshit insane if it's not a cfl or led.

Is this a good idea? Should I keep the plants out on the patio and use a grow-light during the day to help? Move it inside when it's done?

Should I convert the outdoor closet into a mini grow-room where I can blast out the light as needed?

Do the energy costs with running grow-lights defeat the idea of sustainability?

I'm less concerned about the footprint, and more concerned about raw cost.. heh

Any pointers or ideas on how to turn this shady space into a food-generating or more self sufficient space?

Help me figure out a window covering/curtain/other for a small group of glass blocks!

bienbiensuper — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:27:29 -0800

We're moving into a new place in a few weeks, and we've got a nice glass block "window" in the bedroom. We love it, but the boyfriend needs darky darkness in order to sleep at night and there's a street light right outside the window. Help me figure out a window covering/curtain/shade/other! I don't have a full picture of the glass blocks, but here's a partial one of the bedroom: It's six blocks high by 2 blocks wide. We've since painted the room slate blue and I'm in the process of making some blackout curtains for the main window to replace the gnarly metal blinds (these curtains will be inside mounted on a track).

I'd like to do something that would allow us to see the glass blocks during the day. The wall around the blocks slopes down, but not enough to fit a tension rod. I'm very handy and can make most things, so if you have any ideas, throw 'em my way!

Oh - and our decor is somewhere between vintage modern and granny chic.

What shade should I put on this lamp?

arnicae — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:53:48 -0800

I just found this funky diamond shaped lamp and am not sure what it is, or what kind of lampshade would look right on it. It is a ceramic lamp with thin brass overlay running around the base and a (hand-carved, I think) wooden base. No obvious maker's marks. It looks old-ish, at least mid-60's because it has a woven flat electrical cord, which I think went out of common use around that time.

But the biggest question is what kind of shade I should put on it! I would love it to fit into our apartment which has a sort of simple, dark wood, craftsman style.

Anyone know anything more about this lamp, or have any lampshade suggestions? Thanks!

Balcony privacy

dead_ — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:34:14 -0800

I'm looking for an outdoor shade/blind to use on my balcony. So I'm trying to find a specific product but am just having no luck at all. Perhaps you've seen such a thing? Let me tell you exactly what I'm looking for...

My apartment has a small, 8'x8' balcony and I'd like to hang a shade or blind on one of those 8' sides to give myself a little privacy. It needs to be all-weather, and I'd like to get something that is brown or tan colored. I've seen such things on other people's balconies before, and some look to be made from bamboo or a similar type of material that still allows some light through. That would be ideal for me because it would fit with the decor of the unit.

Any idea where I can find a product like this?

Should I use the blue or silver side of my car sun-shade?

boots77 — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:54:36 -0800

Car Sun Shade Question: I have a car sun-shade that is blue on one side and silverish on the other side. Which side should I face out to keep my car cooler? I know this is a silly question, but I think about it almost every time I use my sun-shade. I have been putting the silvery side out. Both sides have sort of a cloth texture, so it is not one of those fancy mirror sun-shades.

But also, just for my curiosity's sake, are the mirror sun-shades the best type to use? Wouldn't these reflect the light away from the car? Does this even matter where temperature is concerned? Just curious.

Skylights, not skyheaters.... how to reduce heat gain/loss in a Manhattan office?

keasby — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:08:46 -0800

Energy efficient skylight and window treatments for Manhattan office - what is this film coating? Others experiences? Suggestions? Who and where to procure it? Howdy,

I am trying to outfit two large skylights - northern and southern facing at 30 degree angles - in such a manner as to reduce heat loss and heat gain (increase efficiency). The south skylight might also need to be outfitted with some sort of light-reducing shade, too.

I have heard about a light/UV-filtering see-through film that can be applied to glass (inside) to increase its thermal performance. That, on both windows, combined with a motorized, remote controlled shade on the south, seem to be the general solution.

My questions are thus:

1) Could someone clarify what this "film" is, how it works, and what it is called in contractor-ese?

2) What are your experiences with these films? Are they worth it? How much is sacrificed in visibility? While visibility isn't crucial, we have quite a nice view of the ESB that I would like to maintain

3) Other interesting suggestions or solutions to this problem? Anyway to "supercharge" this project by doing something really crazy...somewhere I thought I heard about a way to generate energy from a film-type application? Throw anything at me, conventional alternatives or crazy ones.

4) Recommendations for and experiences with brands, products and/or vendors in Manhattan or nearby would also be appreciated.

Much thanks,

Keasby

Cheap Shoji?

chococat — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:31:14 -0800

I need a large sheet of thin but durable, mylar-ish translucent material in Toronto. I'm making a big wood-framed screen to put in the giant window in our bathroom so our many neighbours can't see us every morning, brushing our teeth, in our underwear.
Kind of like a cheap, more durable shoji screen. I made a smaller version for a different window with a $6.00 24"x36" sheet of mylar I bought at Midoco, but that's the largest sheet they sell unless you want to buy an entire 36"-wide roll for $200 (they won't cut you a piece.) This one needs to be 30"x at least 32". I don't care if it's mylar or plastic or paper or whatever, but I want it to be translucent, patternless and colourless and I need to be able to staple or screw it to a wood frame. Also, it will be in a steamy bathroom.
I've checked Woofitt's, Curry's, Loomis and Toles, Japanese Paper Place as well as all the officey-type stores I can think of. Tomorrow I was going to try Kinko's or Astley Gilbert (architectural printer.) The only plastic at Home Depot was this really expensive window-alternative stuff. Oh and I looked at photography websites like Henry's and Vistek and couldn't even find any diffusion paper, but I may have missed it.
Any ideas?

Shade Tolerant Plants

Miko — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 06:35:07 -0800

Shade-tolerant plants! I have a small raised bed outside my door which is in deep shade, under a large white pine tree. I'm in coastal New Hampshire, Zone 5, somewhat moderated by the ocean effect. The soil is on the acidic side but is easily augmented. It's quite moist. I don't need veggies because I grow them in a community garden, but herbs would be nice, or just ornamental things. Any ideas as to what might grow?

I need some help constructing a shadecloth/tarp type thing for the backyard.

Optimus Chyme — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 10:13:02 -0800

I need some help constructing a shadecloth/tarp type thing for the backyard. We've been trying to figure out how to shade a specific area of our yard, and while driving one day, saw this. Does it look familiar? Is it a commercial product? How can this or something like it be anchored to a block wall?

Here are two pictures of it, one full and one detail of the hook.

Here are two proposed layouts.

We're not into anything like a standard shadecloth like you'd see at a nursery; they are ugly as hell. Thanks in advance. I don't know what I would do without you.

Cool Shade

Aghast. — Sun, 28 May 2006 17:21:52 -0800

The deck / patio on my mother's house is completely exposed to the sun and umbrellas haven't been working as shade providers. The wind breaks them. Or they provide insufficient shading. Besides building a roof over the deck, what else can we try to turn her deck into a nicely shaded space?

Ground cover for a shaded hill?

onhazier — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 14:47:22 -0800

What can I plant to cover a well shaded, steep hill? The back part of my property has a pretty steep slop. About half the hill has grass and various shrubs on it. However the other half is very well shaded by a large oak, holly, and pine. The soil is a red, heavy, clay rich mix common to Northern Virginia. What can I plant that will cover the clay and, hopefully, stand up to my two dogs? I'm wanting something to grow to reduce the amount of red mud my dogs can track in during the wet season.

Cord/small gauge rope that doesn't deteriorate in the sun?

mulkey — Sun, 29 May 2005 15:24:55 -0800

Is there some way to get rope or cording which won't fall apart after a summer in the hot southern Arizona sun? Last year I installed some roll down window shades made of bamboo to take the brunt of the sun that was otherwise streaming in the windows. These aren't the most well constructed shades ever invented, but they did admirably at providing a cheap solution to shading my windows from the intensely hot summer. All except for one thing. The cords that you use to pull up and down the shades are completely disintegrated. Almost all of them have snapped off and those that haven't are looking like they'll fall apart if someone breathes on them. Like I said, these are cheap window shades and the sun around here is HOT.

I think I can replace them, but my question is this: Is there a cord I could replace these with that wouldn't need replacing every year? Maybe a UV resistant one? Or would something like hemp be a less likely to fall apart after a summer filled with 100+ degree temps?

Help me fix my window shades

sugarfish — Thu, 19 May 2005 18:55:26 -0800

I have vinyl shades on my windows. One, in particular, has absolutely no tension. When pulling down on it, the entire shade unrolls and, if you're unlucky, falls off the window with a crash. I've used the tips here to no avail. Anyone have any other ideas?

I don't want to replace them because we're in a rental apartment.

Perennials for Shady Dry Area on Zone 4/5

kc0dxh — Mon, 02 May 2005 10:39:08 -0800

I have a spot on the East side of my garage that just won't support grass. It's in deep thick shade and gets little water. The soil is heavy and clay-like. What kind of perennials would work here? Have you done this before? Have you any pictures?

Tall Houseplant Recommendations

andrew cooke — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 11:50:30 -0800

recommendations, please, for tall houseplants that need little watering (we're sometimes away for a week or two), like the warmth (summer is warm, winter has central heating), and don't mind the shade (in summer there are blinds outside to keep the temperature down)? someone just recommended ficus alli to us, yet they are described on that page as "sun loving" - what's right? also, once bought, do we need to repot them into something larger? if so, what soil do we need? anything else plant-clueless people should know? thanks! if weeks without water is just crazy, we'll need to make other arrangements for watering, but the other conditions can't change, and we're still likely to water only intermittently.