Some places become popular not for the look they wear but by the virtue of what they sell. Mahal Lamp Shades at 227/2 Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road may not be as chic as the new home stores in town, but for almost 20 years, it has been the destination for quality lamps and shades.

The shop, established in 1986, at any given point of time stocks more than 1,000 varieties of lamps in all shapes and sizes.

?A couple of decades ago lights were hardly experimented with, considered to be a basic, essential element,? says Kishore Belani, owner of the store. ?But of late, people have realised the importance of lighting in their homes and offices. If the lighting is done properly, it can give a whole new dimension to your house. It also reflects the taste and the character of the owner,? he adds.

The lighting accessories are broadly divided into modern and traditional. The decor and furniture of your home determines the lighting accessories that could be used. Go traditional if you have heavy, carved furniture. But if your home is filled with wrought iron, glass and steel pieces, then the modern lighting style would complement the mood.

CRYSTAL CLASS

Big chandeliers made of crystal add grandeur to a house and give an impression of royalty. But in the matchbox residences of today, there is hardly any space for such large, imposing installations. ?But people still prefer chandeliers. So for those who have small apartments, we have small chandeliers,? smiles Belani.

The smaller versions of the bigger varieties are available in crystal and glass. Besides, there are quite a few in floral, geometric and abstract designs, too. The chandeliers are also available in brass and wrought iron. The prices start from Rs 2,000 and run into lakhs.

LAMP LUSTRE

The lamp list runs long. Lamps are no longer restricted to table-top reading lights. Mahal is full of lamps for all parts of the home ? from floor to fa?ade, garden to ceiling. Wall-mounted lights come in small, medium and big sizes. These can be matched with the chandeliers. The prices start at Rs 185. For table lamps, simple glass is pass?. Switch your attention to glass mosaic lamps.

Study lamps and those with fabric shades are also available, priced Rs 250 onwards. Go in for floor lamps if you do not want the direct glare of the light to hurt your eyes. These are positioned on the floor, reflecting light off the ceiling, giving the room a softer glow.

Spotlights are also becoming popular with a growing number of people investing in art. Your latest purchases can be flaunted to full effect with spotlight shining down on it. The prices for these start at Rs 250 onwards.

GLOBAL GLAM

Though Mahal has been around for 20 years, the Belanis have been in the business for the past 50 years. ?We also manufacture most of our products,? explains Belani. They also import exotic lamps and lampshades from Italy, China and Taiwan.

?This gives a good blend of national and international flavours and the buyers have more to choose from,? adds the proprietor.