I just love the classic look of lugs.

Indeed! ...So why would you paint them? :p

<img src='http://forums.mtbr.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=26439&stc=1'>

Oh yeah :D

Some look good painted...

<img src="http://www.cwo.com/~lunarlab/jpegs/image23.jpg">

<img src="http://www.cwo.com/~lunarlab/jpegs/image13.jpg">

Some look good polished or chromed...

<img src="http://www.cwo.com/~lunarlab/jpegs/image8b.jpg">

<img src="http://www.waterfordbikes.com/2004/data/bicycles/tech/carvedlug/ss%20seat%20lug%20web.jpg">

I think on my next one I going to go for the stainless steel look. For this bike the answer came down to cost. All those intricate paint jobs (while beautiful) really add to the price. Plus I was going for a more "race style" rather than a super fancy look. I did have a few little accents painted in the lug windows. Still on the next one it would like to try a bit fancier.

Some look good painted...

Oh, I know. I was just giving him a hard time! Mine are needing a repaint already, and will probably get painted and gold-lined (I'd polish them if I had the gumption and time). But not body-color, especially not with lugs as pretty as those pictured. Not that it changes the niceness of Northcoast's new (?) ride...

I finally got myself a lugged frame, an ex-RW Badley bike. Not as pretty as what Tig posted, but pretty in their own, worn and loved way. I'd love to paint this bike in a few years, a sort of pearl orange with either polished or cream painted lugs.

Yup. Lugs are pretty.

One day I'll own a Vanilla bike. Til then, these pics will have to do...

http://www.vanillabicycles.com/bikes/track/bike_c/lrg/2.jpg
http://www.vanillabicycles.com/bikes/track/bike_c/lrg/3.jpg
http://www.vanillabicycles.com/bikes/track/bike_c/lrg/1.jpg

What companies make the lugs like in the post above? I think those gothic/ French nouveau-ish lugs are awesome. Was it a particular time period that frame makers used those or is it a new custom thing?
Jon

What companies make the lugs like in the post above?...

I don't know the maker of the lugs, but the custom bike builder of that bike is Vanilla Bicycles.

Vanilla Bicycles is a one man shop, Sacha White. His work is beautiful and can take up to a year to finish a frame order.

His site is at: http://www.vanillabicycles.com

Some of his other frames:
http://www.vanillabicycles.com/bikes/touring/bike_b/lrg/1.jpg

http://www.vanillabicycles.com/bikes/touring/bike_a/lrg/3.jpg

http://www.vanillabicycles.com/bikes/commuter/bike_b/lrg/4.jpg

http://www.vanillabicycles.com/bikes/road/bike_a/lrg/5.jpg