Testimonials

We have been making lampshades for over ten years and built up a client base of local interior designers and curtain makers, as well as many private clients. Below are some of the lovely comments we have received.

Get in touch if you would like to find out more about gilhoolie or to enquire about lampshades / workshops or illustrations.

Sarah from Swadlincote

“Julie did a great job of making two lampshades for me. I sent her the fabric and a ceiling light where we wanted the shade recovered (it wouldn’t come off the light itself and she successfully recovered it whilst it was still attached) and one she made from scratch. Julie has some tools to help you design the shape and she gave me lots of advice on what would look good. I am very happy that I now have totally unique lampshades to match the decor of my lounge.”

Kath from Wokingham

“So pleased I found Julie online. I bought lamps to complement my antique brass finish ceiling fittings but didn’t like the shade fabric. I chose new fabric to suit the room decor and Julie covered them beautifully. The process was easy, Julie patiently offered advice along the way, including picking the best lining material. The lamps are totally transformed!”

Carolyn from Maidenhead

“Julie did a fantastic job of recovering a small lampshade, and embroidery autumn leaves, giving a old lampshade a new lease of life. Very pleased with the end result 😀”

Diane from Gerrards Cross

“Really pleased with the whole experience – prompt response to the initial enquiry, help and support in the process of deciding to proceed, and an excellent product. I would certainly use Julie again for a similar project.”

Ruba from Twyford

“Julie did an excellent job with my three American lampshades. They look as good as new now. We have been living with those lampshades for over thirty years – they were in a very poor state, discoloured and cracked. We could not find the exact size and style in the UK to buy replacements. Julie is a real professional and she restored them to their original state. I am delighted with her skilled work.”

Charlotte from Maidenhead

“Superb. 18 mini gold lamp shades made in no time at all!! They are gorgeous. Easy to see fabrics etc in the workshop and she has such good ideas.”

Windsor from Shiplake

“We needed three lampshades re-covering. Julie was superb; she took us through several samples of our chosen colour and texture and helped us make our final choice. She gave us a fixed price and completed the three lampshades exactly on time. Overall a great service and superb quality.”

Alicia from Thame

“Really pleased with my lampshades, lovely quality & finish. Julie was super easy to deal with, responded quickly to my queries and kept in touch throughout. Payment process was quick & easy too. Couldn’t fault anything. Will definitely be using Julie for all my lampshades in the future.”

Linda from Goring

“Julie cleverly turned a 50 year old lampshade that was bespoke for an old standard lamp into a thing of beauty! Renovated and extremely smart. She provided an excellent service in a good timescale and the result is professional and top quality.”

Joanne from Bourne End

“Why spend hours looking for the right coloured lampshade when you can get one bespoke made for a reasonable price? Had three shades made, very happy with them, would highly recommend.”

Janey from Virginia Water

“So glad I found Julie! She recovered 8 large lampshades for me and they look fantastic. The old shades were black and faded. Thanks to Julie, they now look like new. She is so easy to work with and suggested fabrics that would suit. Highly recommended 🤩”

Priyanka from London

“Julie has made several lampshades for me this year, including a bespoke appliqué embroidery design. The quality of workmanship is superb and her communication is excellent, and she’s just a lovely person to deal with. Highly recommended!”

Lina from Maidenhead

“Julie was extremely professional and did a fantastic job on my lampshades. Her communication was brilliant.”

Donna from Stevenage

“Good communication and lovely lampshades. Would recommend.”

Pamela from Northwood

“Julie transformed our old damaged lampshade, giving it new life. Looks beautiful.”

Debbie from Maidenhead

“I absolutely love my new ‘Rose’ lampshade creatively designed and embroidered by gilhoolie Bespoke Lampshades. I wanted the lampshade to brighten up a very bland corner of our lounge. Julie executed the brief so professionally by first of all sketching out the design so that I was able to agree to the visual before production went ahead. This was very reassuring and meant that I knew that I was going to love the final product. We were unsure that the lampshade needed to be braided so Julie popped over and as the background wall is quite bland we decided it did. The braiding ties in with the colours that I have in my lounge beautifully and everyone who visits comments on it. It was so easy working with Julie, she was so communicative during every stage of the design and production and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending gilhoolie to anyone and I will certainly be asking Julie to design another lampshade for me soon.”

Mphala

“Julie was so helpful with advice on style and size of shades and height of lampstands. So thrilled with shades I ordered a second set! And getting great comments from family and visitors.”

Joy

“Thank you Julie for transforming my tired old lampshades which now blend in very well with our new decor. An excellent, professional service.”

Brigitte from Bedford

“Julie did a great job making my bespoke lampshade, using a lovely Vanessa Arbuthnott fabric!”

Anna from Maidenhead

“Julie made an absolutely beautiful lampshade for me. I was so pleased with the end result and the experience was a joy from start to finish. Many thanks again.”

Brenda from Cookham

“Many thanks for making the lampshade so quickly. I’m delighted with it and think the final decisions re size were correct.  Your kind patience with my uncertainties was impressive!  And how lucky we were that the fabric suppliers were so accommodating too. I am very grateful and will certainly recommend you to all my friends.”

Karen from Maidenhead

“Great, extremely quick service. Helpful advice and so nice to actually talk to someone. I knew I was ordering exactly what I wanted. Old lamps, totally re-vamped by Julie’s lovely new shades. Absolutely thrilled!”

Saira from Wimbledon

“The lampshades are really lovely, the girls were delighted and amazed at the detail…. particularly the C on the collar. Olivia hasn’t yet asked if you can stitch another doggy if she wins her puppy campaign!! Thank you so much for your help and hard work. You’ve been a complete pleasure to deal with all the way through, and flexible to tweaks and changes. It’s hugely appreciated and I couldn’t recommend you enough. I hope your new workshop works out well and I’m sure I’ll be in touch again soon.”

Anastasia Ward, Interior Designer, Ealing

“I did a bit of research before finally selecting Julie to make a bespoke lampshade for a client. As an interior designer myself I  could see Julie was also a creative and one who took great pride in her work from the sensitively and beautifully made lampshades on her website. Julie was very easy to communicate with and able to advise me on the best size and shape for the antique lamp base I was trying to find a shade for. Searching the high street or even designer lighting places proved futile to find something the right size and in the right fabric. Julie worked with the fabric I sent her and made the lampshade even better than I had predicted she would. It arrived quickly and very carefully packaged. My client was equally thrilled with the lampshade and it looked amazing in situ. I would have no hesitation in recommending or using Julie’s services again. Thank you Julie. “

Jenny from Marlow

“I am absolutely delighted with the stunning lampshades Julie has created for my bedroom. Having bought lamp bases without shades, I was really keen to get bespoke ones made with a fabric I had chosen and Julie was so helpful at all stages. She was great at advising me on shapes, fittings and measurements and then turned the lampshades around so swiftly once the material arrived. I have been recommending her to everyone and will certainly be using gilhoolie again soon!”

Clive from Horncastle

“The lampshade arrived this morning, safe and sound and completely undamaged. We love it. It is even better than we’d hoped. It was a bit of a guess as to the dimensions and shape on our behalf, but it is perfect and makes our standard lamp look much more modern and contemporary as well as fitting in with the new décor. The way you decided to run the pattern on the fabric is right too. This standard lamp is actually rather special. The stainless steel stem was once the pitot tube sticking out the front of a supersonic Lightning jet fighter, a type of aircraft that I flew for 7 years during my 36-year career as an RAF fighter pilot. It will have flown supersonic on many occasions, so this a sort of supersonic standard lamp! When the Lightning was retired from RAF service I acquired this pitot tube and made it into a standard lamp myself. Thanks for making this for us and for the service you have provided throughout.”

Dee from Leicester

“I ordered bespoke lampshades from gilhoolie – the size and shape were impossible to source on a number of websites/stores. Very happy with quality finished products.”

Simon from Hurley

“Julie provided an excellent and very prompt service, from design to completion, in making three lampshades for lamps that I had made.”

Cordy from NW London

“Julie was so helpful advising on the fabric etc and the lampshade is stunning. Highly recommend!”

Sarah from Amersham

“Julie made an amazing job of my bespoke lampshade. Highly recommended. She is really helpful and happy to talk through your ideas and provide advice.”

Vicki from Cheshunt

“Absolutely brilliant service. I had almost given up hope of finding exactly what I wanted for my little boys music themed bedroom. I found Julie just in time, and she created something better than I’d been looking for! Highly recommended.”

Steve from London

“Beautifully made lampshades, perfectly finished. Thank you, they are fab!!”

Pat from Dunstable

“The lampshades Julie of gilhoolie made for me for my son were perfect and he is delighted with them. There was enough material leftover for me to make a cushion cover to match the lampshades. Thank you.”

Nikki from Wokingham

“I love my lampshades! Julie turned three of my table runners from my wedding into lampshades for our new house. They are beautiful, look absolutely amazing. I’m so happy I found her to make them for us. Thanks again Julie.”

Phoebe from Egham

“We love working with Julie. Very easy to get along with, offering expert advise and creating beautiful lampshades! Would highly recommend.”

Amanda from Coleford

“Absolutely thrilled by a pair of lampshades Julie made for me. The fabric I sent had quite a large print on it and she was able to make both of them identical and they look perfect on my wall lamps. Would highly recommend her!”

Christine from Gretna

“Many thanks, my lampshades arrived safely! Wonderful, stunning, brilliant, they make quite a statement! Thank you again, you were a joy to work with.”

Claire from Reading

“We are really pleased with the large rectangular light shade that Julie recovered for us. Julie was able to organise fabric samples which helped made the process quick and easy.  Her professionalism, communication and attention to detail is excellent. We are delighted with our renewed light and would definitely recommend Julie.”

Lisa from Maidenhead

“Absolutely delighted with my lampshades. Julie was really nice to deal with – always keeping you in the loop on progress. I would highly recommend her service.”

Jack from Manchester

“I commissioned a bespoke lampshade made using a map that I supplied. Communication and attention to detail when I was ordering was excellent, explaining the options, and ensuring that I got exactly what I wanted. The lampshade was made to a very high quality and I would definitely use gilhoolie again.”

Phil from Maidenhead

“I had a ceiling shade recovered and the whole experience was fantastic. Julie was great in helping to pick out the right fabric, and then the recovering itself was done in a day and looks perfect. I’d highly recommend gilhoolie!”

Niki Schafer Interior Design, Henley-on-Thames

“I adore bespoke lampshades. They add interest and colour into my design schemes and real attention to detail. Julie has made a number of lampshades for me and I’ve loved all of them. Her work is beautiful and she is friendly, efficient and professional. I’d highly recommend working with her.”

Jacqui Davidson, Kids Curtain Company, Eastbourne

“Julie has made lampshades for us for a number of years now and I have always found her to be both professional and pleasant to deal with. The lampshades are beautifully made and always ready on time; both very important factors for us and our customers. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Julie and her company, gilhoolie, for any of your lampshade projects.”

Annabel Smith Interiors, Wooburn

“Love working with Julie. Her shades are smart, neat with great attention to detail and with a frequently super-quick turnaround. Lots of very happy clients to date. I include myself in that too.”

Chris and Julie from Alton

“Thank you so much for your efficiency, friendly approach and last but not least a superb makeover of our shades, we love them! Thank you!”

Jules from Flackwell Heath

“I had been meaning to find someone for ages to make new lampshades for a pair of special vintage asymetric shades on solid glass bases that I had inherited from my Mum and Dad.  Finally after my husband toppled over and put a hole in one, I got searching and low and behold found gilhoolie in Maidenhead, down the road.

I took the shades to Julie and she was very pleased to take on the job and remake using the original frames and cover with pink/orange shot dupion silk that I had chosen which was close to the original. In what seemed like no time at all, she had finished and off I went to collect. I was over the moon. They had been beautifully made and looked stunning and right up to date. These lamps are very special to me and they have had a proper restoration job done.

I am now looking around the house for more shade work for Julie and I think I’ve found two bedside candidates, one the card is crumpled and the other doesn’t match! I can highly recommend the quality of Julie’s work, her attitude and all our smooth dealings and look forward to our next project.”

Mel from Marlow

“gilhoolie have just made the most beautiful pair of lampshades for our bedside lamps. It was impossible to find a retail replacement for a tapered square, so instead of trying to copy the specific design and size that I wanted, Julie has beautifully recovered the frames in a fabric that compliments our new bedroom design. I’m thrilled with how they look, how quickly they were made and the level of service that I received. Many thanks again!”

Betsy from Fleet

“Fantastic service from Julie who recovered two very large tapered drum lampshades in record time.
I was unable to find a suitable replacement on the high street and decided to have the shades recovered in fabric I liked. I now have two unique lampshades which are just perfect. Great job well done.”

Fiona from Camberley

“We have just completely refurbished our dining room and wanted a lampshade for our standard lamp to match our new roman blinds. I contacted Julie who provided a quote the same day and then only took a week to make the shade. It looks absolutely stunning!  A really great job, professionally done and so easy to deal with. Thank you!”

Jane from Holyport

“Julie has just finished making us two lampshades which we are absolutely delighted with. From initial contact to collection, her service has been professional, friendly and efficient. She kept in touch at all stages of the process with regular updates and was invaluable in helping to source the perfect fabric. We really hope we get the chance to work with her again.”

Derek from Harrow

“To match the decor and compliment a unique ceramic table lamp purchased in the early romance of our marriage 50 years ago. A change of residence and decor requiring the new shade expertly and professionally completed to our delight. So quick and efficient with excellent communication.”

Neelam from Gerrards Cross

“We are absolutely happy with our lampshades. They look perfect on our old lamps and make the room look great. I cannot thank you enough. I have given your number to Baileys Interiors based in Gerrards Cross and a couple of my friends.”

Philippa from Maidenhead

“I was so lucky to meet Julie as she’s been professional, friendly and efficient. gilhoolie provided a very quick turnaround and the finished product is so smart. We will be coming back to Julie for more lampshades as we were delighted.”

Dave and Katy from Camberley

“We had been searching for a long time for replacement lampshades for two lamps in our orangery. The shades were large and an unusual shape and the search was proving to be very difficult. When we had the idea to search for bespoke shades gilhoolie site popped up. We took the shades to Julie who was very professional and provided samples of colour fabrics for us to choose. The finished shades are simply wonderful and really are beautifully made. Julie is friendly and professional and we would recommend her work.”

Jean from Beaconsfield

“Thank you Julie – the lampshade is stunning and perfectly done. Having spent months fruitlessly trying to find a suitable lampshade – to find out my original shade could be remade was really great. Julie has been the consummate professional, responding promptly and helpfully to my queries, and assisting in getting the correct fabric. It didn’t take long to get the shade back. The new shade perfectly compliments the lamp and now the room. I would certainly recommend Julie if you’re looking for a special lampshade.”

Jan from Rainham

“We had a beautiful lamp base with a lamp that needed replacing. After googling Bespoke Lampshades a number of sites came up. However I decided to check two out and get samples for material. gilhoolie sent such great samples and of a generous size so made it easier to make a decision. Communication was 5 star and very professional. I was extremely happy and pleased with the shade. The quality of work was excellent. Would definitely recommend to family and friends. Thanks to gilhoolie I have a beautiful lampshade again.”

John from Flackwell Heath

“For fear of sounding like a ‘grumpy old man’ – one seldom receives good customer service these days – Julie was very much an exception. Every aspect of my contact with her has been nothing short of First Class: Advice, guidance, timeliness and most of all – absolutely stunning work; it really puts a smile on my face every time I look at my rejuvenated lamps; ‘can’t recommend her highly enough.”