I'm a fan of the GE Reveal brand bulbs. They are a nice white light, and still just a standard incandescent bulb that will fit into any standard lamp. I think the bulbs themselves are the important part, more than the fixture. There are daylight spectrum florescent bulbs available that give off very bright white light.
I don't like florescent bulbs because I can hear the buzz and it drives me mad. I married a guy who makes electronic music so I value my rare moments of silence and a buzzing light fixture ruining my quiet time is NOT something that makes me happy!
I have an assortment of table and floor lamps I use the Reveal bulbs in, and I have a couple of small LED gooseneck lights right at the machine so for task lighting I am very well set. I still need better overall room lighting and found a funky vintage brass swag lamp at the thrift shop that takes 4 bulbs to help with that, I just need to get DH to hang it for me and I should be very well set.