When we first started Shellamps, the focus was entirely on creating our signature table lamps. They were small, sculptural pieces of coastal light that found their place on bedside tables, hallway consoles, and living room shelves all around Australia. But as we grew, we began receiving a new kind of request. Customers loved the ambience and natural beauty of our sculptural lamps so much that they wanted to take that feeling beyond the benchtop. They wanted something built into the home, something more permanent, something that made the whole wall feel alive. That was when the idea for our wall sconces first took shape.
In many ways, the sconces were the next natural step in what we had already been building. Our entire brand centres around creating soft, atmospheric lighting that feels warm, calming, and connected to the sea. A wall sconce allowed us to take those same qualities and elevate them into a true feature piece. Instead of being an accessory to a space, the sconce became an architectural element. It was a chance to create lighting that wasn’t just functional, but transformative.
The early versions of our wall sconces were built the same way many parts of Shellamps began: by experimenting in our shed, surrounded by shells, tools, cups of tea, and a lot of learning curves. We knew immediately that this product had to feel refined, luxurious, and timeless. It needed to have the softness of our original lamps but with more structure and intention behind the design. When you mount a piece onto the wall, it becomes part of the home. It has to feel right for years, not just for the moment. That was the level of thought we brought into every detail.
One of the most exciting discoveries in creating our wall sconces was realising just how vibrant and striking half of a nautilus shell becomes once it is in front of a light. While our table lamps have a beautiful internal glow that highlights the natural depth of the shell, the sconces reveal an entirely different personality. When mounted on the wall, the sliced nautilus exposes its chambers like a piece of living architecture. Light travels through each spiral, illuminating colours, patterns, and details that simply can’t be seen in a whole shell lamp. The effect is more dramatic, more sculptural, and in many ways even more mesmerising.
Because of this, we are only at the beginning of what’s possible. The sliced shell design has opened a whole new world of potential, and we are yet to experiment fully with different shell types, sizes, and shapes. Each new shell brings its own possibilities, and the excitement of discovering how they glow, reflect, and interact with wall lighting is something we are looking forward to exploring further.
The next challenge was engineering. Our table lamps sit neatly on a solid stone base that offers stability and safety for the fragile shell. With sconces, everything had to be secured safely and cleanly to a wall. We had to rethink everything. We knew we wanted to stick with LED for its efficiency and diversity. So, we tested different options and landed on a super slim, super sleek down light. Ready to be installed by a qualified electrician. Nothing fancy, not too complicated, not only beautiful but safe and compliant for Australian homes.
Every version became slightly better than the last. We refined our brackets and tested our light temperatures until we found a warm tone that matched the gentle ambience Shellamps is known for. The goal was always simple: the sconce should feel like soft natural light rather than a bright wall fixture. It needed that ocean-inspired calmness that our customers have come to love.
One of the defining qualities of our wall sconces is the way they interact with the space around them. Unlike overhead lights, which tend to feel harsh or overly bright, sconces create mood. They soften the edges of a room, casting gentle shadows and a warm glow that instantly makes a place feel more intimate. Many customers tell us that installing Shellamps sconces completely changed the atmosphere of their home. A hallway that once felt dim becomes inviting. A bedroom becomes a retreat. A living room turns into the kind of space you want to unwind in at the end of the day.
Because the natural shell becomes the centrepiece, no two sconces are ever exactly the same. Each one has its own markings, shape, and personality. That uniqueness is something that mass-produced lighting can never replicate. When someone installs a Shellamps sconce, they’re putting a one-of-a-kind piece of nature on their wall. It becomes both lighting and art.
As we introduced the sconces to the world, we noticed something else: they were often chosen for meaningful spaces. People installed them at entryways to set the tone of their home. They used them in nurseries to create soft night lighting. They put them above reading corners, beside bathroom mirrors, and along long hallways that needed warmth. It showed us that our customers saw these sconces as something more than decorative. They viewed them as emotional elements of their home design.
We also wanted the sconces to fit into a range of interior styles. Because our customers have different tastes — from minimal coastal to Mediterranean to earthy organic — we made sure our designs were clean enough to blend with various aesthetics. The natural stone backplates, the soft gold detailing, and the option between Mother of Pearl and Natural shells were all chosen to feel classic rather than trend-based. A Shellamps sconce should feel just as beautiful ten years from now as it does on the day it arrives.
Of course, like every product we’ve created, there were hiccups along the way. Some prototypes didn’t mount the way we expected. Others didn’t sit flush against the wall or didn’t diffuse light correctly. We went through countless adjustments, supplier conversations, material changes, and late-night problem-solving sessions. But those challenges are part of what makes small business special. Every piece we release has been touched by our hands, our ideas, and our resilience.
Behind the scenes, each sconce goes through a careful process before it makes its way to its new home. The shell is hand-selected and inspected for quality before it gets mounted to the backing blate. The wiring is tested, the lighting is fitted, and the entire piece is assembled by hand. Then comes packaging, which we take enormous care with, using layers of cushioning to protect the shell during transit. We know how fragile each piece is and how much excitement surrounds its arrival, so we’ve refined our packing method until it’s as secure as we can possibly make it.
As we continue to grow, we’re exploring more ways to develop and refine our wall sconce collection. Different shell types, new stone options, updated lighting systems, and fresh silhouettes are all ideas we’re considering for the future. But no matter what changes come, the heart of the product will always stay the same: natural beauty, handcrafted quality, and soft coastal lighting that transforms a space.
Shellamps wall sconces are not only a feature piece, but a reflection of everything we stand for — creativity, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for the calming, grounding feeling of the sea. Whether they are used as gentle hallway lighting, elegant bedroom ambience, or a striking feature in a living area, they offer a sense of warmth and peacefulness that only natural materials can create.
What makes the sconces even more special is how they fit into the story of Shellamps as a whole. They represent growth. They represent taking a simple idea and evolving it into something more considered, more technical, and more integrated into the home. They show how our small coastal workshop has become a place of ongoing innovation, not just repetition. And they remind us every day why we started this journey: to bring a little bit of natural beauty and warmth into people’s lives.
For us, the sconces also symbolise the coastal lifestyle we love. They mirror the soft light of early mornings on the beach and the warm glow of sunset bouncing off the water. They feel like home to us, and we hope they feel like home to everyone who installs one.
Our hope is that every sconce we make becomes part of someone’s story. A piece that’s there for slow mornings, cosy evenings, and moments shared with the people they love. A reminder that beauty can be simple, calming, and deeply connected to nature. And that a small shell, when thoughtfully transformed, can light an entire room with quiet elegance.