This is the most amazing lamp store I have ever visited. I first bought a lamp there twenty years ago, and it still looks wonderful. This isn't your typical lamp store, the lamps are made from found objects, and the shades are all handmade. It's worth a visit just to see the work. It's like a museum! read more

Everyone I know knows that Sue Johnson is the place to go to find the most beautiful and creative lighting fixtures in the Bay Area if not the world. Sue Johnson has been doing this for many years and is a fixture in the region. read more

I've always admired this store and went there yesterday to get shades for several antique lamps I inherited. Micah spent half the afternoon (only a slight exaggeration) helping me pick out just the right shades. One of the lamps had a damaged harp and they replaced it by the next day. As a side benefit: I now know what to call the dohicky that holds the shade up. Could not have been nicer or more professional, and my lamps look gorgeous. And oh, yes, one of the shades was just a shade less than perfect. Micah suggested adding just a extra line of black trim cord, which Sue did on the spot. It made the whole thing work. I'd call the service stellar. read more

I do not think I am overstating when I say, these lampshades did change our lives.Living in a small bungalow, every little thing counts. The warmth and artistry these lampshades added to a small living room, completely transformed it into classic coziness. Well worth the investment of your time and money to go to this store. Love it. read more

This is a long overdue review for the best customer service we have ever had. We bought a beautiful vintage lamp base last year as a Christmas gift for dear friends. We found it online, and due to heavy blizzards at its location of origin, it was late getting to us -- a-week-before-Christmas late. All the custom lamp shops we called in the city said they needed several weeks if not longer to make a shade. Desperate, we found Sue Johnson's shop on yelp and took the base over to her shop in Berkeley in hopes of getting a custom shade made before Christmas. The ladies there could not have been nicer. They looked at it, determined exactly the kind of shade it needed to match the period, and said no promises because they were really busy, but they would try to make it in time for Christmas. We knew we were asking for a Christmas miracle, so we did not really expect it to be done and were in the process of looking for online photos we could print out to show our friends their Christmas present. Three days later, there was a call from the shop saying we could come pick up our lamp and new shade! They did a first-rate job, and the shade paired perfectly with the lamp. Thanks to Sue's fabulous staff, we were able to place it under our friends' tree on Christmas morning. They were thrilled, and so were we. Sue's team took customer service to a whole new level, and I have recommended them to other people. A thousand belated thank-yous to the staff at Sue Johnson Lamps! read more

it took me a few visits to this shop to understand just how incredible all the lamps are, but now i am completely addicted. in fact, i look for excuses to buy more lighting to have more of these beautiful lamps in our home! my favorites: the japanese paper shades and the mica shades with leaves. seeing this beautiful lighting in my home makes me happy....it will make you happy, too! read more

Ms. Johnson was quite unpleasant to me though I had never met her before. I had called her shop the day before going there to ask if they sell me parts for making a lampshade myself and the woman who answered on the phone was very helpful and nice and said they could/would. But Ms. Johnson implied that it wasn't 'worth her time'. read more

More than 20 years ago we bought an incredible mica lampshade shot through with eucalyptus leaves. It helped set the tone for our home but we didn't know who the artists was. Three years ago we discovered that it was Sue Johnson! Her shop in Berkeley is filled with artistic treasures that illuminate and enlighten. Each time we've been there since, the service from Sue and her staff has been excellent. read more

A true artist that is at the top of her profession. My wife and I been in there three times now and have bought a lamp and had repairs done to others we own and think she walks on water. Is it a little pricey? Yes, but she lives in Benicia not Piedmont. She is not getting rich off the pricing, they are fair for the time and artistry she puts in. These lamps are true individual works of art you can't find anywhere else. They will make your home POP. It is fascinating reading the yelp reviews, even the bad ones. Here is my take on it from a very analytical point of view and from someone who needs to read people quickly and accurately. This is a lady who has been doing this for over 30 years, it is very obvious from the moment you walk into her store she cares passionately for her lamps and lamp shades and the people that work for her. She makes incredible lamps and she knows she it. Let's face it, if you have worked in customer service or retail you know that at least 10% of your potential customers (and that number may be conservative) are self centered idiots who think they know everything or have bad attitudes. I could totally see how Sue wouldn't put up with it. If someone walked in there and started saying stuff like, "Oh my god, look at the price on this thing or why would you even use this color." She isn't going to want to spend any time with you and you will probably know it becuase she is a straight shooter who doesn't sugar coat or fake anything. She is very good at reading people and if you are there to shop for a lamp or to truly learn about lamps there is no other store or person you could go to that would be better in the Bay Area. I would say her customer service motto would be: You get what you give. The first time we were in there she had a customer who bought a lamp as a gift, the customer had a falling out with the person she was going to give the gift to, and then this customer wanted to return the lamp. On the receipt Sue had written 90 days return for store credit. It was almost 6 months later and the lady wanted a full refund. We know all this because we were waiting for this to end as we needed her advice. Sue was willing to extend the store credit but did not budge on the full refund. GOOD FOR HER! This is not F-ing some large corporation, this is a small business that would be taking money right out of her pocket and the pockets of the people that work for her. So bottom line. If your price shopping go to Ikea. No knock on Ikea it serves it purpose. If your the type of person who is always trying to take advantage or think you know better, don't go, it will end civil at best. But if you want the best lamp or lamp shade you can find at a fair price for that quality go see Sue, we shopped around extensively before finding Sue, and you will not find better. She even does custom lamps. You can't stay in business 30 years without doing a lot of things right. read more

For artistic lamps one needs a lamp artist. Sue Johnson is a lamp artist as are the other people you can meet in her shop. Sue and I spent hours rummaging through my trunks and in closets to make the final selections for fabrics, bark art and lamp bases. The items selected were from among my favorite collections of international fabrics, wood carvings and pottery. Five hours planning and selecting fabrics and bark art for shades - Lombok pottery and wood carvings for bases yielded 12 exquisite lamps that compliment my Indonesian furnishings. For those of you that do not have a collection of fabrics or potential lamp bases stop by her shop as it is full of exquisite lamps. When visiting the store the staff are personable and extremely helpful. Plan to spend lots of time selecting the perfect shade for the perfect base. read more

Yesterday I went in search of a shade for a lamp base that my beloved, long-deceased mother-in-law had made from a Chinese ginger jar she got in Hawaii. My search started, and happily concluded, in Sue Johnson's magical store. Sue herself greeted me, immediately appreciated the creative aesthetics of my family's one-of-a-kind lamp base, asked about its history, and then pulled out and dressed the base in various options, which Sue and I viewed and discussed. I ended up with a wonderful shade, which I'm sure "Popo" would have loved. A perfect adventure, rejuvenating a family treasure. read more

Sue Johnson took two pieces of fabric appliqued by my great-grandmother and created lampshades. The results are beautiful, the process was great fun, and the price was affordable. The store is absolutely beautiful, and the staff a delight. Even though my lampshade needs are modest, I'll return simply to be in that lovely environment! read more

I went to Sue Johnson in 1982 or so to have a new lampshade made for a lamp that I had for many years. The help she gave was so complete. The materials and workmanship in the resulting shade were exceptional. I live in San Francisco but drove to her store to have this shade made and I have to say that it has now been 30 years and the shade has held up so beautifully, never got funky even though it has been in a very sunny window all this time. I recommend her and her staff highly. I don't know what her prices are now but I have to say whatever they are, it's worth it. read more

Great service, fantastic selection, custom work while you wait. What a find! Thank you Sue and Carmen.

Years ago I purchased many mica lamp shades at the old Nowell's in Sausalito. Nowell's changed hands and moved and those shades disappeared. I was heartbroken until I rediscovered those shades at Sue Johnson's. It is so hard to find cozy comfortable lighting and the mica shades really make a room warm and inviting as well as interesting. I love the use of nature in their styles. Their choice of lamps and shades have an understated elegance in an arts and crafts manner. The staff is very friendly and helpful and it didn't take long to find exactly the right shade. I am so HAPPY to have found these guys! read more

Exquisite design and craftsmanship. We have not tired of looking at the mica ceiling lamp bought over 15 years ago. The lamp is as good as new, including the mica panels and paper; the cording that borders the panels; and the metal parts that hold it all together. Recently I telephoned to inquire about changing the stem and other supporting parts so that the lamp could be used in a different room. This was on a Sunday; three days later (by normal USPS delivery yet), I was delighted to find a fully assembled, customized stem and base. I received a turnkey assembly that took just a few minutes to install and now the lamp is gorgeous in its new space. Thus, not only are the design and fabrication quality excellent but so is the after-purchase service. Much appreciated! read more

Two weeks ago, I had a lamp repaired that had been left in disrepair by a previous attempt to repair it. From the moment that I came into the store with my lamp and met Carmen to the moment that I picked it up after receiving a call from Hank, the staff and service were exceptional. In addition, the lamp was repaired beautifully before the date that it was promised! As a result, I called the store to inquire about clips to stabilize a drum-type shade. I reached Sue and she could not have been more helpful to me. She told me exactly where in the store the clips could be found in the event that I visited the store when she was not present. On Thursday of this week, I visited the store to purchase the clips and I met Sue. She patiently explained how to attach the clips and how to adjust them so that the shade was stable. She was professional, helpful and very patient with me, since I know less-than-nothing about lamps or their accessories! I send a BIG thank you to Sue and her and her wonderful staff. I will be back! Absolutely!!! read more

Can you imagine being surrounded by 150 works of art that are lamps - lamps that range from whimsical creations to oriental masterpieces? At Sue Johnson's, each lamp is one-of-a-kind and made right there in the back room of the shop (which is fascinating in itself). I have never seen lamps like this or imagined a shop like this. Sue Johnson seems to have found a group of "lamp artists" (That's what I call them.), each of whom has a unique style and approach. Their latest collection is more stunning than the last, if that's possible. I make it a habit to stop by just to see what's new. I have always found the artists warm and welcoming, happy to answer my questions, and eager to have me browse to my heart's content. This shop shouldn't be missed. I think that it's been there for over 30 years. My Berkeley friends call it an institution, and when anyone from Berkeley say this, that's saying something. (As an aside, the shop is located on Solano Avenue, a fabulous and diverse area filled with interesting shops and restaurants.) read more