Monday, November 14, 2011

let there be light!


have you ever walked around a thrift store and seen all of those terrible 1970's light fixtures that obviously someone had the sense to throw out? well, i have and i've never known that they could look any better. that is, until i started thinking outside the box.

recently, i was at my local thrift store in cincinnati and found this beauty . . .


oh the possibilities! and you know the best part? it only cost me a dollar! i couldn't believe my luck. i mean, if you can see past the garish wood and rubbed brass, this lady had real potential. i knew she had to be mine . . . but where to even begin?

i decided that the bones of the light were worth way more than a dollar and that with a little creativity and spray paint, i could take this trash and make it a real treasure. here's what i did . .

first, i disassembled the light to see what i had to work with . . .


even after this project is completed i am left with these funky wood and beveled glass pieces that i intend to do an art piece with later.

after taking it apart i remembered that i had purchased some old chandelier crystals at a yard sale earlier this year, so i decided to add them and see which design worked best with the metal arms.

this is the design that i did not choose . . .


after i had a direction of what i wanted the finished product to be, i got out my spray paint and got to work!


i cut up a plastic bag and stuffed pieces of it in each socket so as not to spray the inside contacts, and then primed and sprayed the main piece as well as each smaller piece individually . . . allowing each coat of paint to thoroughly dry before recoating.



finally, i assembled the chandelier and hung the crystals.


voila! i'm super happy with the end result. it looks great in the foyer of my home and i especially like the reflection on the ceiling.


Project Cost Breakdown . . .

junk chandelier = $1
primer = $4
spray paint = $4
socket covers = $8
two replacement crystals = $4
chain = $2

Grand Total = $23!


*as with any electrical project, you should have the wiring checked by someone who knows what they're doing so you don't electrocute yourself or anyone else. in my case, my husband!


8 comments:

  1. congratulations on your new blog. I love what you did with the light. way to think outside the box.
    Laura
    http://www.imsovintage.blogspot.com/

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  2. I can't believe it's the same light! I love the new look.

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  3. Wow! This is so great! I want one! lol I would LOVE for you to share this at Totally Inspired Tuesdays going on now at The Inspired Collection! What a great project!

    Kelli
    www.theinspiredcollection.blogspot.com

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  4. Wow!! Really nicely done!!
    I kept scrolling back & forth... I 1st thought that you had just taken off the glass...finally to see that you had re-arranged the whole thing..
    Great Transformation!!!
    (stopping by from B/A)

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  5. Amazing - I kept scrolling back and forth too to figure out who you had done it. Amazing!!! You really did think outside the box with an awesome result!
    Peggy

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  6. Well, I thought I posted a comment yesterday but it's not here!?
    (It's probably lost on some Scooter chair site or some other non-related blog.)

    This was an amazing transformation!
    If I had not seen the steps it would've been hard to imagine.

    Thank you for sharing your creativity!

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  7. Thank you so much for sharing at the Inspired Collection, I featured you this week! Please come by and grab a button!

    Kelli
    www.theinspiredcollection.blogspot.com

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  8. That is beautiful!!! Great job!

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