Everything Is Illuminated

Due to an unexpected (though totally exciting and welcome) bit of newsa few months ago, my apartment is now undergoing major renovations. Walls are being built, shelving and serious storage created, and entire collections of things like "albums" and "belts I don't wear" are slowly being given away. My ever-nagging fantasy of real-house adulthoodis being thrust upon me and, somewhere within the chaos of realizing this dream, I know I need new lamps.

But lamps are hard, right? Like rugs, the good ones are unexpectedly expensive and the bad ones are often, well, just really bad and stupid and make you look like you live in a dorm. Right now, I'm starting with table styles and have my eye on this stunning piece from Design Within Reach, though I kind of know I'll never buy it (but just drool over it and imagine how my life would be better if I had it). I also love this Peter Stathis version for our night tables. It's spare and sleek, but affordable (ish) too.

Even though I could essentially open a junkyard with all the janky, nonworking vintage lamps I've bought through the years, I have half a mind to get all of my lighting on eBay (oh, old habits die hard!). If I did, today I'd choose this, this and, for sure, these.

And now, for a serious question: Where do normal, not-fancy people buy cool-looking lamps that work?