Up Cycling Lights

Remember my lamp I posted on Facebook?

I was inspired by Katie Bower's post about her Goodwill Light Makeover.  I finished taping it, and it is sitting on my side yard just waiting for me to bring it in and de-tape it.  Yes I will get to that soon Dan and I'll try not to start anymore projects before I finish.  Maybe.

Anyhow it's kind of small for my entry but I would still like to use it to replace my current chandelier which I hope to also up cycle and use for my daughter's room.  I wasn't sure about what to do with the lamp shades but today I found a fantastic and SIMPLE tutorial on painting lampshades.  A short answer? YES, it CAN be done!  Check out Shannon at This Thrifty House.

Time For a New Entry Way Chandelier

It's time.  It's time to say good-bye to the last of the chandeliers that came with my house.

Rutbo Pendant Lights

My dining room is nearing the final stages of design.  The shutter wall has been complete now for a couple months and the new chandeliers are finally in place and functional!  We chose two of Ikea's Rutbo Pendant Lights.  

Lamp Rewire and Makeover Complete!

I'm finally finished painting and rewiring my thrift store lamp.  Now I'm addicted to lamps and have since rewired four additional lamps!   ...so easy.

Salvage Lamp, Rolled Paper Decor, and Flowing Fabric & Lights

Stop talking about your trip to Las Vegas already!  Okay....last time.  With out the distraction of raising three other human beings, it's amazing how much you can observe in one weekend!  I just have a couple more observations from recent time spent at the Anthropologie at The District in Las Vegas.

I love the arms and legs on this leather sofa.  It's a complementary balance of feminine and masculine design elements.  The colorful throw blanket and weaved ottoman coffee table are cheery.  Couldn't you imagine finding a coffee table like this at a thrift store and weaving the top with thrift store found men's ties?

I've been into lamps recently with my thrift store lamp redo and my upside down lamps in my kitchen.  When I saw this lamp I had visions of finding a piece of architectural salvage and drilling into it and installing a lamp kit.

Have you made a lamp before?  What have you used?

Look at this labor intensive paper decoration.  I interviewed the sales clerk to get the scoop.

They took water color paper and rolled it around various objects with varying circumferences and used a staple to hold the shape.  The paper was then dipped into blue water colors and then stapled to 2x4s that were attached securely to the wall.  Cute huh?

I'm wishing I had taken a picture of the fantastic round metal lanterns hanging from the ceiling at Gardunos at The Palms Casino in Las Vegas.  Although they would be too large for any home I've ever been in (okay, maybe Hurst Castle would be okay) they are a great inspiration for some fun lighting.  Assuming I could find pictures online, I didn't get a good shot (or picture.....shots were plentiful all weekend), but if you are ever in the area, be sure to look up.  They're awesome.

This bouncer lady was standing in front of the VIP section at this small lounge where we were dancing at Mandalay Bay.  I stood near her, looking up at this chandelier with flowing fabric.  Whipping out my camera I asked if I could take a picture.  She puffed up her chest feathers and pretty much told me off.  Instead of huffing and rolling my eyes like I wanted, I decided to smile and say nicely, "It's so pretty I thought it would look great hanging over my bed.  What do you think?"  Her whole face changed shape, she relaxed and said, "It is nice isn't it?"  It was interesting how being nice can change someone's whole attitude.  

Short story long, she let me take pictures if I angled the camera up.  And it would look romantic over a bed, wouldn't it?

Upside Down Table Lamp Pendants part 2

Continued from Part 1

Upside Down Table Lamp Pendants part 1

I've had this idea for a hanging light fixture for years now....upside down lamps.  It's funny because I thought I got the idea from a display at Urban Outfitters, but when I finally found the picture I took (in 2006), it wasn't an upside down lamp but just a couple hanging shades.

My Lampshade Arrived!

So last month I scored big on my thrift store shopping spree.  I've been thinking about what to do with the lamp.  Here's the before picture:

 It's almost finished now and I'll blog about each step, but I couldn't wait to share with you my icing on the cake....

It's called the Bloom Shade and it's from Anthropologie.  It was a total splurge.  If you read about my shutter project, you might have read that I'm on the mend from surgery and so I'll blame my skewed price judgment on the drugs.  But it's here now and I AM IN LOVE!  I'm not sure I've ever bought a cool lampshade before but I can say now I feel that it could be a serious addiction.  Besides, the lamp was like 5 bucks so it all works out, right?

Stay tuned for the AFTER pictures!!!

Sisal Shade Chandelier inspired by Edison Pottery Barn Chandelier

What do you think.....doable?

Chandelier Makeover

As I was clicking through some blogs I love to peruse, I came across fun chandelier before and after photos. I'm hoping to soon replace my entry way chandelier and repurpose it as a light in my art studio. My plan is to paint it glossy lime green, and the little shades, black. These photos from Design Sponge are a great inspiration for my upcoming project. Now if I could just find a replacement light in my entry way we could get this ball rolling!

(Photos via Design Sponge).

Moroccan Lanterns for my Dinning Room

My dinning room has a giant chandelier that is HUGE. My plans are to someday replace this with seven or nine Moraccan lanterns randomly placed on my ceiling. Most of the lanterns I've seen so far need to be wired for electricity. I have not yet begun to collect the lanterns but I hope that someday this project works it's way to a higher priority on my way too long list.

Photo from the Anthropologie in San Jose at Santa Row.

Photo from the condo of a doula client friend of mine.

Dress Up Your Lamp Shade!

Home Depot lamp shade, Home Goods lamp, and POM POM FRINGE! Using a hot glue gun I adhered pink pom pom fringe to my home depot lamp shade. It's a fun pop of color in my daughter's room and she loves it!