Almost all of my projects become projects because I'm too cheap to spend the money and buy anything brand new. I’d much rather find a way to make something myself than buy it. A long time ago I had a friend who told me to quit admitting to everyone how cheap I am. She said I should be embarrassed to say it out loud and I should just say that I'm frugal.
Well, I suppose that sounds better, but bottom line is…I'm cheap.
There. I said it and I feel no shame or embarrassment whatsoever.
It seems as though the barrel shade has made a comeback. Gone are the days of the long seventies style barrel shade. Today’s version is short and sleek. A while ago I updated a lamp in my living room with a linen barrel shade and it gave the lamp just the lift it needed.
One day while perusing the lighting aisle at Lowes (I have a thing for lighting) I noticed they had linen mini-barrel replacement shades for pendant lights. So of course that inspired a project. What could my love of Rust-Oleum Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint and the newly discovered linen barrel pendant shades mean to me? Kitchen light fixture makeover of course!?!? Why? No reason!
The fixtures I had were fine. There was nothing wrong with them at all. I actually think they were quite nice. They came with the house and I'm sure you can buy something similar at Home Depot or Lowes today. I guess I just wanted a fresh updated look.
Below is a before picture of the light over my kitchen table and one of the light over the island. These are horrible pictures, but of course I didn't think about taking before pictures until after hubby took the lights down. As a matter of fact, I think I already spray painted them when the notion occurred to me to snap a photo. Thankfully, I found some pictures that featured the lights in the shot.
By the way, this is yet another project hubby shook his head and said "you’re going to do what"? Luckily, he just just took the lights down for me and didn’t give me a hard time. Mind you, this was going to save him some money, it's no wonder he didn't put up that much of a fuss. Mike Richardson, Richardson Family CFO likes to save a buck. That’s for sure!
Kitchen Table Light
Island Light
In order to find enough shades for both lights I had to go to three different Lowes stores. Of course it couldn’t be easy! I couldn’t just find all five at the same location, could I? But it was too late, I had my target in sight, I did what I had to do in order to get my hands on those shades!
I took the fixtures apart, ditched the glass shades and went to town spray painting everything in sight with my favorite paint.
After letting them dry overnight, hubby hung them up for me, I added the mini barrel shades and viola! LOVE them!
The shades were $12.98 each and I used almost a whole can of spray paint which cost $5.77. Are you kidding me? Two updated light fixtures under $75.00? Not bad!
This was a super quick and really easy project that totally updated the room. All I have to do now is update the light over the sink.
~Sheila
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~Sheila
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