My solution to the real/perceived dimness of CFL, is to simply use the next higher wattage.

It's still way less electricity than an incandescent, though that's not super important here in the Great White North (excess bulb heat simply helps heat the house, though not quite as cheaply as direct gas/oil heat might do).

EDIT: In my work study here, I have two 3-bulb ceiling fixtures, each with 3 CFLs. I mixed the colour temperatures within each fixture, to get a better balance of brightness and colour from each threesome.

Cheers