John & Alice used to have this outdated brass chandelier in their entryway…
Here’s what it looked like up close (and without the blinding lights on)…
When they took it down, I asked if I could have the light. I’m sure they thought I had lost my mind. Perhaps I have, but I do have plans for the light part. (It’s going in my office…after a makeover, of course.)
So that left me with the glass. I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away, so I decided to re-use it. After a bit of a makeover, it has now found its way back into John & Alice’s house, right on the coffee table.
After removing the lights (which just required lots and lots and lots of unscrewing), I cleaned it really well, painted all of the brass parts black, plugged the holes from the inside with painters tape, and filled it with sand, shells, and a candle.
Again, maybe I’m crazy, but I think it looks great! And it just goes to show…context is everything. (Oh, and paint works wonders!)









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Great idea, I love the finished look, very creative!
Looks awesome! I love it!
Funny, I used to have a light that looked JUST ABOUT LIKE THAT hahahaha and so did ALL of my neighbors since that was the standard light the builder used. I wonder where all of those lights are now? LOVE what you did with it. And no you are NOT crazy, it looks great.
Wow, that looks amazing! I need your Upcycle Goggles, I see a brass lamp and immediately send it off to Goodwill, haha.
"Upcycle Goggles"…lol, I like that!
I just try to focus on shape. I figure just about anything can be painted.
Have that same fixture in my entry way. It hasn't made the replacement budget yet because I took it down a few years ago, took it apart, painstakingly taped off the glass and sprayed all the brass black. Not my first choice, but doesn't look too bad. besides it matches all the other brass painted black fixtures in my house.
Wondering now if i can spray doorknobs? Afraid it would come off with all the wear and tear? Suggestions?
I can't believe you taped all of that off!!! I started off doing that, then realized it would take approximately five week, two day, and four hours to finish it at the rate I was going. I finally just used the brush-on Rustoleum, and then when it was dry, I scraped the paint off of the glass with a razor blade. Seemed to go much faster that way.
Anyway, I've never painted door knobs, but I certainly would if it wasn't in the budget to replace them!!! You know me…I'm not afraid to paint anything. I think the process would be very similar to how I painted the faucets and shower frame in John & Alice's bathroom…sand, sand, sand some more, automobile primer, then a quality paint. Once it cures, I really think it would last. And if it does get chipped, it's really not that big of a deal to give it a quick spray to touch up. I'd go for it!
Wow it looks great!!!!
Wow… that looks amazing and so contemporary now! You are really showing me how to look at stuff that I previously considered junk with new eyes. I had so much fun at Goodwill last weekend because I kept looking at everything and imagining what I could turn it into or how I could paint it. LOL
I really love it! You did a great job! It would look great in my family room – which has a beach-cottage look!
Becky B.
http://www.organizingmadefun.com
Organizing Made Fun
You have me looking at all my lighting fixtures in a different way – not for what they are but what they could be. Wonderfully inspiring. Thanks.
Hi there NO you are not krazy! I love what you have done with this, stop by my place, I repurposed some of those myself! You shouldda see the basket I had full of these! Hugs Kat =^.^=
I love this! It looks like something you'd pay a lot of money for from Pottery Barn. Nice work!
Creative idea for something that many people would toss out. I like it!
Yes, it looks great!
Visiting from "Just A Girl."
This is gorgeous! I would love it if you would link up to my Tuesday Confessional link party going on now: http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/07/tuesday-confessional-link-up-2.html. I hope to see you soon!
~Macy from Confessions of a SAHM
I never would've looked at that and seen a candleholder.. but I love it!
what a transformation! i LOVE it. the coffee table is pretty awesome too with that weathered/rough wood.
found you via roadkill rescue
judi
the1829farmhouse.blogspot.com
What did you put on the bottom to keep the sand in?
Jana, I just used several pieces of painters tape to cover the holes. Worked great!
MY I love