Umbrella Chandeliers Inspired by Philippe Starck

Marie Coquine floor lamp and Marie Coquine chandelier by Philippe Starck for Baccarat

It's time to confess my dirty little secret: I watch The Real Housewives (of Beverly Hills, of the OC, of New York, etc. ad infinitum). Why, you ask, would an otherwise intelligent woman admit to this? It's because I spotted something remarkable on this week's NYC edition: a Marie Coquine floor lamp by Philippe Starck for Baccarat.

This rare gem was standing in the Hamptons Designer Showhouse that some of the Manhattan ladies visited, and though I've seen the light fixture before, I fell head-over-heels in love with it all over again.

Perhaps it's the fact that the ugly floor lamp near my dining room table has finally crapped out on me, but I've been taking special notice of lamps and chandeliers lately. I want ornate but not precious, modern but not minimalist. The whimsical Marie Coquine would be just perfect... if it weren't $55,000! Fortunately, I've found few alternatives.

I hate to recommend a straight-up knock off, but who can afford the real deal? France & Son has this "high-quality reproduction" of the Marie Coquine chandelier on sale for $2,250.

This black umbrella chandelier ($795) is certainly less dramatic than the original, but I imagine the gilded interior would emit a lovely glow at night.

The Pablo Designs umbrella lamp, above, is the best-priced option I could find, starting at $113 for the table lamp and $220 for the floor lamp.

Finally, this beauty was created for the Escher Museum in The Hague by Dutch artist Hans van Bentem, which mean it's even less attainable than the Marie Coquine, but I had to share.

It seems the best bet could be a DIY project, and Pinterest is filled to the brim with inspiration. Let me know if you figure out a way to make this happen!