BAM. New chandelier.
It’s big. It’s bright. It’s celery green. I can’t make up my mind if I like it, but I’ll tell you what, it was a $19.99 fixer-upper from Goodwill. And aint nuthin’ wrong with that.
The new (to me) Cesca chairs in the dining room made me anxious for a new lighting fixture. And since I’m sorta big on chandeliers, I thought I’d surf some Ebay for a thrifty vintage alternative. Good idea – Bad results. The least expensive fixture to my liking came in at a whopping $800. Muchos Cheddaros!
So, when I saw this big 80’s Williamsburg brass bugger at Goodwill for under $20, I snagged it. Inspired by Jenny(Little Green Notebook)’s makeover a larger version of this same style light fixture months earlier, I knew spray paint and round bulbs would turn this into something awesome. And I was right – it did indeed, come out awesome. But, errrrrm, maybe not awesome in this room.
Couple problems…
Problem 1. I picked the wrong spray paint. The celery green is too pale in comparison to the table, too fluffy-girly seen next to the pale pink walls. It’d look cool in another room, but in here it’s too coming off granny, and not in a granny chic sort of way. More granny mothball. Or granny panties. Fun.
Problem 2. See above – there is a dimmer switch on the wall. I love that thing. However, dimmer does not love the light. If I leave it on for more than a few minutes the switch plate starts to buzz and get warm. Apparently this is a common problem that happens when the dimmer does not agree with the light bulbs. It’s not a problem when it’s on 100%, but if I dial it down in between, the buzzing starts. It’s not the worst thing, but 15 bulbs at 100% is A LOT OF LIGHT.
Conclusion: It’ll do for now. I think it’ll migrate to another room as soon as I can find another fixture I like better, and in the meantime, it can play dress up in my favorite party dress: Christmas balls.
What color do you wish it was? It’s amazing what a little spray paint and shade removal can do for the tacky 80s. I have a turquoise one in my bathroom.
oolala!
Maybe you could pajaki it up some, but I like it now.
Vallen Queen
That’s not a bad idea. I already have a pajaki from last year…not sure where it will go now. Hmmm…
I think it’s wonderful and can’t really imagine it in any other colour to be honest with you!
Spray that puppy again and unscrew a few of the bulbs. Got to tell you though, I am a granny so you may want to say “humm, I’ll think about it.”
Hi Peaches – you may just need a new dimmer switch if your house was built a while ago. It’s actually fairly easy to replace yourself if you know where the circuit breakers are to shut that off. You may also be able to order lower wattage bulbs online – those 25 watt-ers really add up quick. May want to do both. I say spray it another color you like better, and go with it. The round bulbs update it a lot and I like it for your space.
Yes, I’m going to see if I can find some seriously low watt round bulbs. This being Christmas season, I’m hopeful. I installed the dimmer myself — same model in several rooms, one of which has a multi-arm fixture…so I’m thinking it’s a bulb thing. Fingers crossed!
I know a certain Celery Jones who would love this!!!
Ha! I was thinking the same 🙂
Maybe a bright cobalt blue would be a good color–then it would match with your ginger jars and harmonize with the bright green.
No, no, I like the color! I do not see granny or panties. I see ombre. But if you redo it, be sure to show us. I think it’s quite awesome, possum. Have you tried 7 watt bulbs?
Neon colored light shades. Each a different color, one color, or funky multi neon color!
Add the Christmas balls,and then decide. Are you thinking about changing the color of the walls?
I’m thinking the same — Christmas balls will make everything better. The pink is staying though — it suits me and makes the white of the room extra bright. There is a luminosity to it that I love and have never found in another paint. It’s a keeper!
How about pumpkin orange or magenta? Then attach crystal baubles to it for some extra flair? We like flair.
If it moves to the kitchen, I’m thinking orange is the way to go. If it stays, probably more towards red. We shall see!
Magenta is a thought….uh oh.
LOVE IT!! Such a fab find and makeover… I don’t mind the color, though it would be rad in red too 😉
Tomato red is just what I was thinking… It might need to happen.
I seriously love it so, so much!!! I’m sad that the bulbs aren’t working because they really make the chandelier. The pink and green are pretty but don’t quite match everything else in your home. It might be really gorgeous in a nursery though with that exact light with those exact walls.
We have a small, black one, with just four branches/fake candles/whatever they are called in our dining room. I bought spray paint but haven’t taken it down to actually do the honors. Now it’s really cold out and it’s probably going to snow next week and I’m pregnant so there will be no spray painting for awhile around here.
Agreed — would be super cute in a nursery. Or even if I had more modern taste it could tone it down. But my hodge-podge isn’t taking to it.
And I hear you on the spray paint front — one of the reasons I pulled this one off so quick — have to get it in before snow. Congrats on your bambino!
Ha, ha… this coming from someone with such granny taste in her home!!!! I’m seeing one ball of color-of-the-day over your table… starker… more modern… to set off all the other old(er) stuff. It’s doing battle, right now, in my most humble old-granny-in-bikini-underwear opinion! Peachy cheers! 🙂
Hahaha. Nicki, you always crack me up. 🙂
Leave the pinkey peach; replace the green with orange… Trust me. 🙂
I’m thinking red-orange…but yes. I hear you!
The bulbs make it totally ah-mazing but a buzzing light switch would keep me up nights worrying about burning the house down as well as dive my misophonia ears crazy. But, pulling it down so close to the season for decorating it with ornaments seems like a damn shame. I would try switching out the dimmer switch Jenny suggested. As far as the color I think a bright yellow might look nice, but I’m on a bit of a bright yellow kick at the moment and that might just be that urge talking (that urge will probably get me in trouble over the weekend at my own house).
I’m with you on the bright yellow kick (I have been kickin it with bright yellow for 30+ years!) 🙂
do you install your own fixtures?
i like the idea of updating the ones here in my own apartment but never having worked with electricity before, i’m afraid i’m going to zap myself or have my handiwork start a fire…
I’m totally impressed with your thrifting and makeover skills! Also, is there reeeally such a thing as granny-anything that isn’t kinda great? I don’t think so.