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You are visiting: Home » Decorating/DIY » Create Your Decor » Mastering the Master Bedroom {Updating an Outdated Light Fixture}

Mastering the Master Bedroom {Updating an Outdated Light Fixture}

by Lindsay Ballard on November 14, 2011 19 Comments

It’s been a while since I’ve updated you on the progress in our master bedroom.  It’s been slow going, but we are thiiiiiiissssssss close to being finished.  Today, I’m going to show you my little chandelier that now hangs in our bay window.

A few months ago, my sweet friend JJ from Blah Blah Blahger came to visit, and we hit up some thrift stores looking for a project.  I needed a small chandelier for the bedroom, and she had the brilliant idea of gutting this early 1990s brass beauty that we found at the ReStore for about $15.

I’ve shown you that photo before, and several readers have emailed that they have the exact fixtures hanging in their entryway and want them gone.  Have no fear!  I can help.

The process I used to transform this outdated fixture is very straight forward.  I simply unscrewed the pieces until I was able to separate the glass enclosure from the chandelier.  I then took apart the top section of sockets from the bottom section so that it would be easier to paint.  When I am taking apart wiring that I want to put back together, I always take pictures so I’ll know how to reassemble it.

Once I had it apart, I spray painted the pieces I was reusing – the 2 sections of lights, the socket covers, the pipe that holds them together and the pieces you use to connect the fixture to the ceiling.  I spray primed them with gray primer and spray painted them a black gloss.  Then, I used the new Krylon Glitter Blast in Starry Night on just the main part of the chandelier.  I also sprayed the Glitter Blast clear sealer on it so that the glitter wouldn’t flake off.  I’ve been wanting to try the Glitter Blast for a while, and I really liked the look it gave the fixture (although I wish the glitter was solid black and not black and silver – there’s currently no solid black option).  You can see that it’s not incredibly sparkly, but it glimmers in the sunlight, which is perfect for my space.

I rewired the chandelier back together (here’s a step by step tutorial if you need it) and hung it using a new black chain that I picked up at Home Depot.  My sweet husband had to add a box in the ceiling for this since there was no place to install it where I wanted it to go.  At one point, he was hanging from a ceiling joist in the pitch black attic with one arm, looking for a tiny LED light and hoping not to fall through the ceiling.  He’s a good man.

In the end, it looks so charming hanging in our bay window by day…

…and by night.

Next up, accessories and non-temporary shades.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Have you ever taken apart an old light fixture to create a “new” one?

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.

« What to do When Temporary Shades Become Permanent
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Comments

  1. NewAtThis says

    November 14, 2011 at 9:06 am

    I do have that same light fixture in my entry. My problem is I have no way to get it down. Would need scalfolding. 🙁

    Reply
    • Ann says

      November 15, 2011 at 12:01 am

      I just made a zillion pictures of brass light fixtures at my Re-Store last Satuday with an eye toward buying at least one to up-cycle! I actually thought of removing the glass on one like you bought and painting it mat black to hang from my vaulted ceiling. Electrical is the only thing I haven’t tried yet. Keep it up – I love everything you do!!

      Reply
  2. Pam Kueber says

    November 14, 2011 at 9:20 am

    Buying a light at the Re-Store and gutting it — great idea, Lindsay. I was just at my Re-Store 10 days ago, and they had tons of lighting in the same vein as your purchase — all sizes — for about $10 a light. These would be great to layer, as well. Well done. But now: What are you going to do with the leftover glass? Terrarium? tee hee

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      November 14, 2011 at 10:08 am

      Funny you should mention that. I had a garage sale a few weeks ago, and a lady spotted it in my garage. She asked how much I wanted for it, and I told her it would be free if she could tell me what she was going to do with it. She said she was going to put fake snow and her Christmas snow village in it. 🙂

      Reply
      • Pam Kueber says

        November 14, 2011 at 10:10 am

        Fabulous!

        Reply
  3. zena says

    November 14, 2011 at 9:34 am

    I have the same God-awful light in my two story foyer. Someday I’m going to get a new one, but i’d love to repurpose this to go over my garden tub. Do you care if I add this to pinterest to keep on my diy board?

    Reply
  4. Kelly @ Hooked on Home Decor says

    November 14, 2011 at 9:35 am

    I have something similiar in my entry and stairway. I have no idea why – my house was built in 2006. Who would choose a brass fixture in 2006?! Thanks for the post – you’ve given me hope that I can make these things look good!

    Reply
  5. Jennifer says

    November 14, 2011 at 10:28 am

    Great idea! My husband and I always want to try to refurbish and change ugly fixtures and furniture into something great. But, we always have a hard time seeing beyond what the piece currently looks like!

    Reply
  6. shelby@honeysuckle says

    November 14, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    Love it. Your chandelier looks so great! I just updated a few lights in our house too using thrifty finds – http://honeysuckleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/light-it-up.html

    Reply
  7. the Blah Blah Blahger says

    November 14, 2011 at 3:19 pm

    It looks AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  8. Shannah Hayley says

    November 14, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    Please share what you used for your bay window curtain rods – are they individual rods with corner brackets or are they made for bay window sets?

    Corner, btw, looks great! Very inviting.

    Reply
  9. Gwen@theboldabode says

    November 14, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    I am going crazy over that green spider back chair! It’s amazing against the charcoal walls!

    Reply
  10. Lynne says

    November 14, 2011 at 11:31 pm

    Haven’t altered a light fixture but today we are finally spray painting our brass fireplace doors a matte black colour. We have talked about doing this for ages and finally received some advice on what to use (high heat BBQ spray paint). Looks like it will take some time (sanding and taping etc.) and are hoping to complete it before it snows (we live just north of Toronto, Ontario). Unfortunately procrastination got the better of us as this should have been done earlier this fall – oh well better late than never !

    Reply
  11. Amanda @ mommyiscoocoo says

    November 15, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    Looks GREAT! You could go wild and hang several in this area. Here is my cheap chandelier find (which I also spray painted):

    http://mommyiscoocoo.blogspot.com/2011/10/antique-spray-painted-chandelier.html

    Reply
  12. gertie @ The Old Block House says

    November 15, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    Men crawling through attics so that we can have the lights just where we want them! Love it! Recently, we lost all our overhead lights, and my stepfather and bf were both up there looking about. Two men rummaging in the dark, but they fixed the problem.

    Reply
  13. Jenny @ Simcoe Street says

    January 23, 2012 at 12:00 am

    Love this!!

    Reply
  14. Mary Lynn says

    June 18, 2012 at 6:15 pm

    I love this! I have one in my closet waiting for me to DO something with it. This will be perfect!

    Reply

Trackbacks

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    March 12, 2013 at 9:44 pm

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    April 25, 2013 at 6:01 am

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About Makely

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.


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