This is a really great floor lamp with a minimalist look.  The lamp shade is white, even with the lights turned on (not yellowish as shown on the website).  It is not smooth, more of a "linen-textured" in an organic way that adds to the lamp.  It  came with a small, bright energy saving CFL soft white bulb.  We really like the low profile, unassumingly simple design that provides lighting without taking over the conversation of the room.