What a difference a bulb makes

Just made a fun and simple change to a vintage chandelier in my house.  Said chandelier was in my dining room when I moved in.  I initially wasn't a big fan, thought a more modern drum shade fixture was more my speed.  You do have to be careful when using a vintage style to ensure your house doesn't look like Grandma just moved out.

Here she is (the chandelier, not my grandma):

Sorry, taking pictures of lights is tough!  Anyway, she grew on me after a while and I decided to keep her.  Then one day I saw a vintage fixture with round bulbs instead of typical chandelier shapes.  So, I swapped those suckers out and here's what I have now:

I really like the result, such an EASY and really free change because I would have changed out those bulbs eventually anyway.  It gives a much more modern and fun look.  

TAGS: vintage, chandelier, round bulb, crystal chandelier, new bulbs, vintage modern

let there be light (from matching lamps)

Quick update on some thrift store finds turned fabulous new lamps for my living room.  My living room is extremely symmetrical, see below:

On top of that I don't have any lighting except some lighting that shines from the ceiling onto the mantle. I've been looking for some matching floor lamps to bring some light and style to the space, was looking for something like this: 

Like this one from CB2 - except I wanted gold

But at $150 a pop, that would be $300 for lamps (see my mad math skills?).  Needless to say, I didn't want to shell out that kind of cheese for two lamps, ain't my style.  I have looked at Target and found some similar options, but even at Target it was going to cost a minimum of $50 each for these, so $100 total (again, math skills are sick!).  

$50 option from Target

But then I came across these at a Thrift store for $10 each, shades for $2.50 each.  It appeared said thrift store had a boatload of stuff from a hotel that must have liquidated old furniture and lamps.  I pushed aside the grossness of buying things from a hotel.  I mean what can people do to lamps?  Nevermind, don't want to think about it. 

As I referenced in THIS POST, I'm kind of totally super obsessed with painting things gold.  So, a $5 can of gold spray paint later, and I had two awesome floor lamps with nice sized drum shades for only $30 TOTAL! (that's $15 x 2)  Dontcha just love 'em? 

IN PROCESS: (sneak peak of another project  - black chair)

Here they are in my living room: (excuse crappy cell phone photos)

I'm loving them and super-pleased with the great deal I got on them.  What do you think? 

TAGS: thrift store, floor lamp, gold, drum shade, spray paint