Lighting really makes an impact in home design. Â When we bought our home in March of this year (2015), all the lighting was very tuscan style… Â Black rod iron and yellow glass shades for days. Â We have gone a different direction in our home, so I have been systematically changing out all the lights. As you probably know, lighting can be quite expensive, esp if your changing out an entire house worth! Â Some I’ve bought brand new, and others I’ve thrifted. Â When I shop used lights, I look for fixtures that have a good shape. Â If you like the style and shape there is always a way to transform it! The color and texture can always be changed!
I came across this one last week. Â It was listed for $60 and the seller said it had never been installed. Â They also stated they purchased it for $400! Â I’m not sure if I believe that, but it is a very heavy nice piece. Â Long story short, I offered $20 (after noticing it had been listed for several months) and they accepted.
The next day, I put my kids down for they’re daily naps and went to work on transforming my new treasure. Â If you follow my projects, you know I love Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Â Using a can of Graphite chalk paint I had left over from my painted tile project, I quickly began dry brushing the paint all over the chandelier. Â Dry brushing is a painting technique in which a paint brush that is relatively dry, but still holds paint, is used. Â The resulting brush strokes have a characteristic scratchy look that lacks the smooth appearance that washes or blended paint commonly have.
I first positioned the light upside down to cover all the bottom side of the light. Â Chalk paint drys super fast. Â By the time I was finished with the bottom side it was dry enough to flip right side up and finish the remaining top side. Â I did not do multiple coats. Â I just made sure to get in all the nooks and cranies, making sure none of the original metal was showing. Â I also did not wax since the chandelier would be hanging where nobody could touch it!
After the entire chandelier was painted (minus the 4 columns in the middle), I began wrapping hemp from the base of the columns all the way around all 4, and working my way up. Â The columns were the only part of the light which I really didn’t like. Â They seemed to date it. Here’s what it looked like.
Honestly, I got about a quarter the way up the middle with the hemp and realized this wasn’t working for me. Â I wasn’t liking the look. Â So I went to plan B. Â I made a quick run to Lowe’s to grab some thicker rope. Â I purchased 100ft of Twisted Sisal for about $6. Â Total cost so far $26!
This time instead of wrapping all 4 columns together, I wrapped each individually. Â Starting at the base of each column, I glued the end of the rope to the column with hot glue.
Once the end was secured to the base, I wrapped each column making sure to tighten the rope as I went up.
This was looking so much better! I finished all 4 columns and then trimmed some of the fray from the sisal with my scissors.
Here is what it looked like. Â My hubs helped me hang the light. Â I did make a few touch ups to the paint once it was hung.
I could have totally called this the finished product, but I wanted a little bit of bling. Â I ordered some chandelier crystals from Amazon for $9 a pack (10). Â I also had some extra wood bead strands from another light I purchased for my living room. Â I combined the 2 materials to create a little dazzle.
I separated the tear drop crystal from the rest of the chain. Â Using some jewelry wire I had handy, I wove the wire through the wood bead to connect the two materials.
Then I connected one of the octagon crystals to the wire to create my new charm.
I didn’t have enough crystals to hang on all the lights, so I just did the lower ones, omitting the 4 uppers. Â Its a 12 light Chandelier. Â Using the jewelry wire I simply twisted the charms strait to the metal swirls on the chandelier.
The end result…
And for the full effect…Before!
…After
Not bad for a completely original chandelier totaling at $35!
Hi Mysha! Stopping by from IG to let you know how wonderful your makeover is!! You did such a great job. It looks so high end now.
This is seriously amazing! You seriously are the diy queen!!! You need your own show!
thanks you Brandi! That really means a lot
Your sweet Kristen…Thanks!
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