Karin Larsson’s famous lily lamp inspired this

Visitors to Sundborn, the farmhouse decorated by artists Carl and Karin Larsson in the Arts-and-Crafts style, often admire the beautiful flower-shaped pendant lamps in the dining room.

Sundborn home of Carl and Karin Larsson
Source: The Hyttnäs in Sundborn, home of Carl and Karin Larsson at www.carllarsson.se/en/garden/

Until I went in search of one for my own home, I didn’t even know they had a name: It is Näckroslamp, meaning ‘water lily lamp.’

Karin Larsson made many of the house’s unique furnishings herself. I wondered, could I make a näckros lamp?

Yes!

IKEA items used:
Other materials and tools:
  • Power drill with 1.5-inch hole bit
  • Card Stock
  • Glue gun
  • Paper pint food container (optional)
Following in the footsteps of Karin Larsson

1. First, I purchased two HEMMA pendant lamps. Using a hole bit matched to the size of the fixture, I drilled a hole in the base of the SKURAR just large enough to rest the pot upside-down on the shoulders of the fixture.

Karin Larsson's famous lily lamp inspired this hack

2. Then I assembled the lamp pieces, which was easy.

Karin Larsson's famous lily lamp inspired this hack

3. It took several tries, but finally I managed an acceptable free-hand drawing of the water lily petal shape. After that, I cut out a template in cardboard.

Karin Larsson's famous lily lamp inspired this hack

4. For the shade, my paper choices were a bright white card stock, and a red card stock with a satiny finish. I found them in the scrapbooking section of our local craft supply store. Four red petals and four white are enough to make one lamp.

Karin Larsson's famous lily lamp inspired this hack

5. Next, using a glue gun, I attached one red petal and one white at the narrowest part, spreading the two shapes apart slightly for effect.

Karin Larsson's famous lily lamp inspired this hack

Being afraid there was not enough room on the SKURAR to glue all four petals neatly, I decided to add an extra step, cutting a rough hole in the bottom of a pint cardboard paper food container.

6. Then, again with the glue gun, the petals are affixed to the cardboard cover.

Karin Larsson's famous lily lamp inspired this hack

7. Slipping the HEMMA cord through the opening in the lampshade, the näckroslamp is ready to hang!

Karin Larsson's famous lily lamp inspired this hack

8. This pair are hung from hooks placed in the ceiling. Very pretty in a bedroom.

Karin Larsson's famous lily lamp inspired this hack

~ by Emily