Back in the spring, I joined a few other gals in a fun trip to Round Top, Texas during antiquing weekend. I think we had more laughs than buys, but we enjoyed ourselves and are already planning our Fall trip.
I took my camera to the show, because I planned on doing a post about all the cool things we saw. When I got home, I realized I had taken exactly one photo the entire day. I guess I was too busy looking for great finds and forgot to document my trip. Oops! Bad blogger!
Anyway, I think that my one picture is pretty cool. I’ve been holding it close to my vest for all that time, but I finally admitted to myself that I’d unlikely get around to reproducing it and thought you might like to give it a go yourself.
Isn’t that fun? I think it would look so cool over a farmhouse table in a breakfast room or even over a sofa if you have a modern/reclaimed vibe going on in your living room.
This is a light fixture made using a reclaimed board. The vendor who had this fixture in her tent said that she had ordered it from a catalog, so I’m not really sure where it came from – this one wasn’t for sale. The manufacturer or artist drilled holes on the bottom of 5 vintage-looking wire baskets and glued them to the board. They then drilled matching holes in the board and ran a light socket (like this) and bulb through it. If you or someone you know is familiar with wiring, you could wire sockets in serial. Two more holes were drilled on the ends of the board and two lengths of rope were strung through those holes and knotted on the bottom. On the top of the board, run the cord(s) up one of the lengths of rope, hang the rope to the ceiling, and hardwire the lighting fixture to your ceiling. You’d have to play around with that to really hide those cords if you have 5 of them – maybe wrap them in rope?
Do you have any other ideas about how to bring this project to light?
Ashley Tremaine says
I LOVE this!! So unique! My friend and I came across a few of those baskets on our last trip to an antique store…they were not too expensive. I have to keep my eyes out for them again! She and I discussed using one as a lampshade! I think that would be very cute!
Erin @ His and Hers says
Love this-it’s so unique and charming! Thanks for not keeping it to yourself! 🙂
Holly says
So clever! I love it! My husband and I just bought a bunch of reclaimed barn wood, and we are in the process of making a farm table! (My husband literally helped the old farmer shovel a pile of old oats off the floor to get the boards that we wanted!) Anyhow, this is a really great idea for lighting! I am totally pinning this! Thanks for sharing!
Bec says
This is so funny … I was at a big antique mall in Portland, OR a few days ago, and they had a fixtures nearly EXACTLY like this! I LOVED it – and wished I had my camera to take a picture!
Thanks for sharing!
~Bec 🙂
Suzanne says
I would use a string of outdoor lights~the ones that are bigger and brighter than Christmas lights. There would be fewer wiring headaches, and you’d have more cord to work with. 🙂 Just drill holes, add the baskets and then stick a light through, and screw in the bulb. You could make a longer fixture, too.
It’s a really cool light fixture!
Susan says
I just saw a fixture like this pinned on pinterest over the weekend and thought of you! And you did lug that camera around all day and didn’t take any pix! We’ll have to do better in October!
Jenny says
I recently saw something just like this at Ben Franklin Crafts. I’m not sure if it was for sale or just an example project.
Shannon says
I saw single pendant lights made from wire baskets in a showcase preview for the Fall Willow House collection available August 1st. I had planned to have my father (the electrical guru) make 3 separate lights but I have now changed my mind!! I have been looking for the PERFECT light for over my kitchen table-thanks for sharing!
Bernadette says
I hear ya on the “document/recreate/fail” bit (smile). I love the baskets. not so much as a chandy, but full of all sorts of fall treats/harvest across my way too long dining room table. THAT would be awesome. My mom (in TX) keeps trying to convince me to take her to Round Top. one day…
Bernadette @b3hd
Autumn Brown says
I just saw this exact item in a fancy furniture shop in down the street from my house in San Francisco for $600.