recommendations for decorative lighting stores

Lighting by Gregory on the Bowery has everything, prices go from inexpensive to thousands of dollars.
http://lightingbygregory.com
158 Bowery at Delancey.

We toured a couple of stores in Bowery and found stuff for wall sconces, pendant lights, bathroom fixtures. Definitely bargain and they are willing to lower the priced for cash payments.

Lighting by Gregory - has everything, on Bowery.

Lee's Art Shop in midtown (57th and Broadway or in that area) - lighting floor is excellent. Nice layout.

Gracious Home Design Center actually has some decent lights but they are mixed in with bathroom fixtures. Simon's has literally a few lights but they are also nice (Ayre brand).

If you want something unimportant, such as a wall light in a closet that you can't see normally, Home Depot actually has some options that are very inexpensive. It's an option when things are adding up and even a simple wall light can cost a few hundred dollars. If you can't see the light fixture you might not care to spend that much.

If you are ever in Chicago, Lightology is possibly better than anything in NYC and they have a great website - I got a few pieces from there.

Many overhead and bathroom lights have incandescent/halogen and LED options. I would think about whether you want ceiling fans, pendants, modern, traditional etc etc.

Agree with propinquity. I would also look at Lee's Studio on West 57th

Propinquity, svroad, sp21, and Primer -- many thanks to all of you. Wow, this is super useful and will help me and my wife out a lot. Much appreciated!

Greene Street between Houston and Grand is full of lighting designers, from Flos on the north to Foscarini on the south.

If you end up going the mid/high-end route, I'd strongly suggest bringing on a lighting designer... whatever fee they charge will be more than offset by the discounts they can get.

Not a showroom, but I found http://www.ylighting.com/ to be incredibly helpful for idea generation. Good luck.

is Filaments on West 13th Street still around? They used to be a great place to go to for mid-Century modern.

ali r.

If you'd consider online purchases I like Rejuvenation and Schoolhouse Electric. I believe Schoolhouse also has a store in NYC...

Remains Lighting has some nice stuff (higher end so be prepared to open the wallet!)
I also really like Foundry on E 58th street. Again, a bit pricier but really gorgeous stuff.

If you are considering vintage pieces Olde Good Things is worth a look.

Olampia is expensive but the lighting is custom made and they will keep sending it back until it is perfect.
http://www.olampia.com

Gracious home will sometimes sell you the floor sample ( I saved 25%)

I order hudson valley lighting (Ferguson ) it was a nightmare the lighting was soldered on crooked and they said it was my fault. It took months for me to convince them I didn't solder it on.

Everyone -- thanks again for all the great recommendations!