10 stylish ways to update a lamp...

I'll confess I have a collection of old lamps taking over the guest room in our basement,
 so it goes without saying I'd have a collection of diy ideas for updating them...some day!
These are from my 'Secret Diy' Pinterest board, but since sharing is what blogging is all
about, I decided to give you a peek at what I put in my private file...

1. Easiest and most popular, recover the shade.

design sponge how to here

sand and sisal how to here 

2. Paint or gold leaf the inside of the shade.

peoniesandbrass.blogspot.com 

thomas smythe
3. Paper or fabric on the inside of the shade.

alittleglassbox.com

4. Recover the base with something unusual.

countrydoor.com

5. Embellish the base by adding hardware.

Lisa Mende Design

6. Spray paint the shade and base the same color.

mary mcdonald

7. Rub 'n Buff and a paint brush.

Dana Gibson

8. Add a base and/or feet to the bottom. 

womansday.com

9. Add trim to the shade

evolution of style blog  

our fifth house how to here

10. Add a decorative finial.

for the love of a house how to here

Hope this helps if you share my lamp addiction!

time for ikea bravur...

Ahh, Daylight Saving Time, although I'm dragging a bit this morning,

I'll happily sacrifice that hour for the extra light at the end of the day!

 I thought it would be the perfect time to share my favorite clock from Ikea.

 Although it's not as inexpensive as some of my other favs, at $49.99

 I think it's worth every penny, constructed of a stainless steel frame and glass front,

 it's a nice quality.

The Bravur is a vintage look school clock,

with a 24" diameter it makes quite the statement.

Check out these fun ideas for using one...

A clever diy side table...  

ikeahackers.net

Your entry or mudroom...

beautifulabodes.blogspot.com

Your living room...

 abeachcottage.com

Your kitchen...

maison.trouvetout.ca

 ingridlees.design.blogspot.com

decorpad.com

Your gallery wall...

homedit.com
Your bathroom...

elledecor

An all-time favorite, time zones...

rhbabyandchild.com

I may have to make an extra Starbucks run today,
 how about you?


Other Ikea favorites and inspiration:
Songe Mirror here

Black & White Pillows here
Byholma Chest here
Julmys Twine here
Lack Floating Shelf here
Tobias Lucite Chair here
Ikea Lantern here
Ikea Ektorp Sofa here 

diy tiered pendant tutorial

The first thing I bought for the bathroom makeover for the One Room Challenge
was Urban Outfitter's tiered pendant.  I saw this post from Jenny of Little Green Notebook,
 where she shared some of her favorite gems from Urban Outfitters, and I ordered it that day!
 I knew I wanted something with a modern edge to it, but after it was hung it I thought it
 needed a little pizazz. 

First, I'll show you how I added a custom touch with decorative sheet metal
I had leftover from my Craigslist hutch transformation, and then how to transform it
from a pendant into a flush mount ceiling fixture.

Urban Outfitters Triple Tiered Pendant Shade

  
Products:

Home Depot: Shade Holder Kit
Home Depot: Cloverleaf Sheet Metal (my piece was 12 x 36)
Gold Sharpie
Floral Wire

Procedure:

Each tier is attached to a crossbar by four chains, we're going to cut the sheet metal to size
and attach it with floral wire in four places where the chains meet the crossbar.

Cut the metal in 3 equal size strips, approximately 4"
(For the largest tier you'll need to attach two pieces together, we want to be
sure the pattern aligns, so at this point make sure two of the pieces do so.
You'll use one of the pieces for the smallest tier, and the other for the largest tier,
plus the leftover from the smallest tier.)  Stick with me you'll get it!

 

Trim the solid edge.

Starting with the smallest tier and using the floral wire like a twist tie,
 attach the edge of the sheet metal to the stationary ring. Continue around the shade
attaching on all four rings.

When you get to the end align the pattern by overlapping the ends,

 secure with floral wire and trim excess sheet metal and wire.

 

Color the floral wire with the gold sharpie to blend.

The largest tier doesn't have a chain and rings, attach the floral wire directly to the crossbar.

 Also because of the diameter of the largest tier you'll need to piece together the sheet
metal using the leftover piece from the smallest tier. Attach each end together using the
floral wire, as above. *** These are the two pieces you want aligned in the first step when
you make your cuts.



I chose to leave this piece a bit longer, no reason, you can do what looks good to you. :)

How to adapt the pendant to a flush mount: 

I took this photo of the adaptor to give you a visual of how it looks before we attach the shade.
The crossbars at the top of the shade will be mounted between the ceiling and the adaptor.



***Turn off the electricity****
Bring the wiring from the adaptor up through the center of the crossbars on the shade.
Attach them to the wiring at your ceiling - black to black, white to white, and the
the ground wire to a metal screw. If you're not familiar with doing this there are numerous
 videos online that show you step by step, and it's easy!

Attach the adaptor to the ceiling with the two mounting screws included.
This is a view looking up to the ceiling from below the shade.

Yell for someone to turn the electricity on for you,
cross your fingers, and enjoy your new light!

If you'd like to catch up with the One Room Challenge...

Week 1 - Before & The Plan

Week 2 - Painting Stripes

Week 3 - Painting the Vanity

Week 4 - Lighting

Final Bathroom Reveal here

Have yourself a great weekend, friends!

riad pillows at costco...

Stopped me dead in my tracks on my way to get my weekly samples groceries!

Obviously, not the real deal, but $16.79 for TWO 20" Pillows

in a knock off of the high-end, $50/yard, Riad print fabric by Windsor Smith. 

I didn't get any,

 it almost makes me dislike one of my favorite prints when I see something so similar

 at Costco.

But, I came to my senses and  I'm heading back today!

I'll surprise you with the color(s) I'm choosing, they'll be going on my patio furniture with

the black and white striped cushions. 

Also, a great ikat in the yellow.

Also, $24.99 for TWO Sunbrella Pillows in a print similar to Groundworks Gazebo.

Wouldn't you be more than a tad disappointed if you'd spent money to create a beautiful
 custom look like these...

 Pinterest via Kravet

 Pinterest via Alecia Shannon

 
Kahn Design Group

Will you be adding 'pillows' to your grocery list?

one room challenge...week 5

I'm dying to see every one's progress this week, the deadline is closing in on us

and I have the feeling this group is best under pressure. 

Woo hoo! Two out of three diys were a success over here this week.

My idea to add a little pizazz to the Urban Outfitter's tiered pendant is making up for

 my Roman shade that's been less than cooperative and is getting re-worked. 

Remember the before from last week...prettier, don't you think? 

Tutorial to come later in the week, it's easy I promise!  

My favorite is the warm ambient glow it casts. 

I'm happy with the valance, and that I took time to be sure the pattern matched,

if you take a photo straight on like the one below you can tell...you noticed, right?

Those folds are giving me fits and are pinned up at this point, after ripping out all of

the stitching and starting over. If I'd stop standing around admiring the light I could have

 had it finished by now. :) 

This week I'll be working on getting my accessories together, and figuring out

how to deal with the shade...ugh!

 You'll never guess my accent colors...pink and blue...trust me!!

Ha, how's that for leaving you in suspense?

If you'd like to catch up with past weeks

Week 1 - Before & The Plan

Week 2 - Painting Stripes

Week 3 - Painting the Vanity

Week 4 - Lighting

Have fun checking in on the rest of the projects!

Chattafabulous

Chinoiserie Chic

Classic Casual Home

the Cottage Mix

Cottage & Vine

Design Indulgence

Design Manifest

Everything LEB

Hodge Podge

Kim Macumber Interiors

Little Black Door

Matters of Style

My Crafty Home Life

Nicole Scott Designs

Pacific Family Homes

Pawleys Island Posh

the Peak of Tres Chic

the Pink Pagoda

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