The lamp you are thinking of buying looks like a very modern lamp to place between two floral chairs in an older home. If it were my house, I would keep the torchiere and move it into the corner. If the bulb points up (not sideways), stick a 100 watt (or 65 watt) flood or spot light in the socket. These bulbs have tinted sides and direct all the light upwards. That will give you plenty of ambient light.

For a reading light between those two chairs, I had the same issue a while back. A lamp on a table between the two chairs is obtrusive, but you still need a light. I ended up with a gooseneck floor lamp. You might try a pharmacy floor lamp.

Spotlight in torchiere:

Spotlight:

Nope, we've tried the torchiere with up to 300 watts and it's not what we want. We also don't want to do a table lamp - would be just waaaay too many lamps in the room. We've gone back and forth over what would work, and we know we want a floor lamp between the 2 chairs (also prefer the look of the light b/w the chairs rather than in the corner). The house is older and the chairs are a funky older look too, but we have modern elements. I'm just concerned that the quadratic is too contemporary.

This one from RH is another possibility, but it only takes two 60 watt bulbs and I'm a bit concerned it won't be enough. However, I do seem to recall that the light from two separate bulbs makes up more actual light than a single bulb of a higher wattage - ie, two 60's would throw more light than one 150 watt bulb (but i could be mis-remembering).

Here is a link that might be useful: rh floor lamp

If you are not opposed to CFLs, you can use them to get more light from a lamp than you would using incandescents.

What about a torchiere w/ reading lamp arms? See link below. I just got one like this but w/ just one arm (can be seen on the same website).

Here is a link that might be useful: Torchiere double arm reading lamp

dekeoboe, can you explain the CFL comment. Do you mean you can put a higher wattage light than the lamp states if the bulb is CFL? DH would be thrilled - he loves those things.

Straitlover, I agree that type of light would solve all our problems, but I haven't seen any like that in a style that would suit.

Any thoughts on the RH fixture.

Not a higher wattage than the lamp states. If your fixture says not to exceed 60 watts, you can use a 15 watt CFL to get the same amount of light as a 60 watt incandescent bulb or use up to a 42 watt CFL and increase the amount of light.

Thanks so much dekeoboe. I just did a little more research - very interesting. I think you may have given us another solution.

You want ambient light and reading light in that room - that's your goal. You will get your best ambient light from shooting the light upwards. It's not the wattage so much as the direction of the light. And a lightbulb with grayed out sides will shoot the light up to the ceiling.

I agree with you on not putting a table lamp between the two chairs. But buying the RH floor lamp would be adding a third floor lamp to the room, and you still wouldn't have ambient light. And it may not even give you the reading light for two chairs. I've had this exact same situation. I also don't think you are going to like the look of a floor lamp between the chairs, but it is easy enough to test by moving one of the other floor lamps to that area.

My suggestion: If you don't like that torchiere, then get one more to your taste and put it somewhere in the room for ambient light. Then something like a low profile pharmacy lamp for reading between the chairs.

budge, do you have a small lamp on the tv cabinet?

If you need this lamp mainly for reading light, have you considered a bridge lamp? They point the light down, but depending on the shade, can also provide some ambient light.

http://www.lightingcatalog.com/products/Kichler__74112BBZ.aspx

There are also floor lamps which hold three 60 or 75 watt bulbs and a three-way bulb, which gives you lots of options for how much light you have.

Here is a link that might be useful: 4 bulb lamp

Maybe I used the word ambient wrong. We need to llight that end of the room. We'd like to be able to read in the chairs and see things on the coffee table too.

We love the look of a lamp between teh chairs and have tried the lights we have there -really like the look.

The problem is we can only do one more light in the room otherwise it's going to look like a lighting showroom.

Camlan, I agree a 3 or 4 light lamp would be perfect. Unfortunately, the only ones I can find look like something my grandma would have in her room. Has anyone seen any more modern ones?

Crate and Barrel has some nice floor lamps. I have the table lamp version of this one and it casts a lot of light, though I wish I could have gotten the *white* shade instead of the tan shade with the brass base:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1230&f=29111

This one would also fit nicely between two chairs:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1230&f=3382

It's modern, but would fit in an eclectic setting.

This one has an interesting feature, adjustable height:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1230&f=6423

You can browse for more.

My understanding, which may well be wrong, is that the limitation on wattage is because some lamps have cardboard lined sockets and can't take too much heat. But since CFL's don't put out much heat, I tend to use the higher wattage-equivalent in them, and so far haven't had a problem.

Budge

I had similar situation in my LR - I was on the hunt for ~ 2yrs - same as you I didn't like the torchiere - I found a torchiere with an up light & an arm that provided down light for reading tasks - style - Yuck...

I just purchased RH library floor lamp for my application in my LR 150w max - 3way switch - what I really like is the adjustable height which I feel is crucial to providing good lighting where you need it . I personally prefer a floor lamp with a heavy base vs the tripod -

Best of luck on your search

Here is a link that might be useful: RH library lamp

I like the floor lamp, but am undecided on whether it looks good between the chairs:

Funny your torchiere isn't working for you - in my office, I have an antique one that could do double duty in an operating room!

It may be that the lamp placement in front of the window is the problem. The light output has to have a light surface to bounce against; a dark surface just absorbs the light. You could test this just by drawing the drapes at night and seeing if the light is brighter.

From an aesthetic standpoint, maybe should look for wall sconces. They would read less as lamps (furniture), and more as part of the building, like your ceiling beams.

Forgot to mention - that is one nice perch for the kitty!

Thanks everyone - this has been most helpful.

I do like the crate and barrel lights - much more our style. I was worried they wouldn't throw enough light having just 1 -150w bulb, but from what others have said, I'm thinking that with the help of CFL's a lamp with a shade is going to throw more light around the room.

I also wonder if it is that big window sucking light. We've used torchieres in other houses, other rooms with great success - just doesn't seem to be working here.

We've thought about wall sconces, but where they would have to be placed would mean having to jostle behind furniture every time we wanted to turn them on.

J., I looked at the library light from RH and do like it. I think we're preferring the RH tripod at the moment just because it's a bit more our style. I do agree that being able to raise lower it is a great feature. Also, our floor is a bit wonky and the flat based lights we've tried there tend to look like they are leaning. I think the tripod would be easier to level.

Thank you so much for the mock up gwbr54. I don't hate it, but not sure I'm loving it. I'm kind of leaning towards the RH tripod at the moment - even tho it's more than I wanted to pay and lower wattage. We've had good luck with getting lights from them in the past - good quality in a style that suits us.

Most wall sconces are operated by a wall switch, like for an overhead lamp. Because they're hard-wired, you would need an electrician to run wires through wall, so it could be costly. But in an older home, it would probably add value.

And aren't lamp prices pretty ridiculous?? I have the same problem and have been looking for years for the right fixture (including an online session tonite that ended in tears, so I came over to gardenweb to feel better). My older house LR has no overhead lighting either, but we have moved to a more modern look and I can't find what I want for under $1400, which is ludicrous. 200 watt halogen, white glass, simple clean lines. Why is that so hard??!!

Kitmu - you might try starting a thread with the link to the expensive lamp and ask if someone can find a cheaper alternative. There are posters here who seem to be able to find anything.

I get a catalog called CB2 with lots of modern stuff in it.

Here is a link that might be useful: CB2 lamps

Thanks graywings! I'll *run* right over and post there!

I know your taste tends towards the modern side, but your home is Craftman style and chairs more traditional so I'm having trouble fitting a streamlined modern floor lamp in that spot between the two armchairs and your lovely craftman windows.

This one would look stunning next to your chairs, but price is ouch!
http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Hubbardton-Forge-Patina-Finish-Floor-Lamp__38636.html

Any of these grab you:?

http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Robert-Abbey-Otto-Wrought-Iron-Floor-Lamp__K3958.html

http://www.hubbardtonforge.com/ProductsInfo.cfm

http://www.hubbardtonforge.com/ProductsInfo.cfm

http://www.hubbardtonforge.com/ProductsInfo.cfm

http://www.hubbardtonforge.com/ProductsInfo.cfm
http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Hubbardton-Forge-Natural-Iron-Floor-Lamp__69209.html

http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Noir-Bronze-Finish-Mission-Tiffany-Style-Floor-Lamp__J9277.html

http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Metro-Collection-3-in-1-Torchiere-Floor-Lamp__27340.html

http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Champagne-Glass-Three-Tier-Geometric-Tree-Torchiere__16398.html

http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/OTT-LITE-Pacifica-Collection-Floor-Lamp__45731.html

I like the Hubbargton Forge lamps a lot for your space. They have a lot of selection too in terms of finish, shade shape and color. Whatever you choose it should also coordinate with your chandelier. Where did you purchase that one from?