Who Doesn't Love a Good Chandelier Makeover?





There is absolutely nothing on the whole internet that is more irresistible to me than a good before and after chandelier makeover. They make me go weak in the knees. And this builder grade chandelier hanging over my kitchen table has been asking for it for some time now. It is so on the "replace as soon as possible" list. So I had $3.50 and a couple of hours and a chandy headed for a dumpster. I know, I know, enough talk. You want the after shot, don't you?! I know! I want to post it so bad! Here it comes!

Yes, only $3.50 and a couple of hours and, most importantly, the most mind boggling bit of home decor craft information I've ever read. This woman, Sara from It's Good to Be Queen, had the stroke of genius to flip the arms of this exact chandelier upside down. That's it. She just grasped them. And turned them. And I fell over and died when I read that. So I had to try it. It works!!!! Sara painted hers an aged bronze color, but I went the other way. Yellow. I used craft paint. That's right. An 89 cent bottle of yellow craft paint. "Don't you have to sandblast that?" you're asking if you're Hank Hill. "It's not going to be durable." Well, here's the thing. If you tend to snuggle a lot with your ceiling lights or clean them with steel wool or drop them on the floor a lot, or if you want to hand down this $14 builder grade chandelier to your kids some day, then, sure, sandblast it. But seriously, when was the last time you even touched your ceiling lights with anything other that a soft, fluffy, Swiffery thing? Craft paint? It's fine. Whatevs. Live on the edge. I do. And I didn't even have to unwire it and take it down. I like the matte finish, but you could easily polyurethane it or use gloss paint.
When I removed the glass shades, I realized that I needed something there to sort of block that space where the base of the bulb shows. So I bought some 10 inch foil doilies. $2.50 for a pack of 6. Cut them in half like this and cut out the inner circle.
Painted them.

Rolled them up.
They sit right on top of the screws on each light base. I was a little bit perturbed that these foil doilies are paper lined because I didn't want paper close to the bulbs. But then I scoured the internet for tips about how close shades can be to bulbs. It seems part of the issue is the shape of the shade. A shade that has a smaller opening at the top traps heat. A large opening lets the heat dissipate. These don't even really have a top because they're so open. And a general guideline I found said for a 40 watt bulb, the shade should be an inch away. So I put in smaller bulbs. I also read that the surface temp of a 40 watt bulb is 252 degrees, way lower than the flash point of paper. Finally, I just left the light on all day and felt the paper. Not warm at all. Whew!
So there it is. My upturned arm before and after doily chandelier makeover. I love it so much!

Comments

  1. Brilliance! Just brilliance! :) Thanks for sharing!

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  2. This is AMAZING! Such a brilliant idea and now Im wishing I had a crappy chandelier of my own to make over.....all downlights in my place Im afraid so no such luck! Im going to share this on facebook for all my crafty friends to admire....great job!

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  3. You are a genius. Really. Love it so much!

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  4. Oh my goodness! What a transformation! Very lovely!
    Jennelise

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  5. it's so cute I wanna snuggle it... but now you say it's not sandblasted? :(

    aww.. no chandelier snuggles.

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  6. I have that exact chandy in my kitchen and I thought there was nothing I could do about it since I am renting. This is life-changing... or at least kitchen-changing!

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  7. I don't have the same chandy, but I am looking at my equally ugly one with new eyes now. I think the detail that really brings the whole thing together is that you also painted the chain and cord. My wheels are turning! Thank you!

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  8. thanks so much for linking to me! :) love your chandy redo and how genius to use foil doilies!! love it!

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  9. LOVE IT!!!! Use what you have and add a $2.50 detail, brilliant.

    Saw your Ikea hack on Casa Sugar and came by to check out your blog, great stuff!

    Cathy @ Room Rx

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  10. I love it!!! Your crowns remind me of the ones in the Ballard Designs catty, only much much cheaper. Will be making some of those crowns for candle holder. TFS.

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  11. I have that exact light fixture and hated it...until now. It's wonderful turned up like that!!

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  12. I love your redo! I have the exact same one that I have redone twice now and your way was way easier than mine! ha ha I need to go get some foil doilies like now...I haven't tackled what to do with the tops since removing the ugly glass. You are awesome!

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  13. Oh why didn't I see this two weeks ago!! I came across one of these chandeliers at the dump :(

    You are amazing, that is the prettiest chandelier I have ever seen.

    New follower here (found you through Before&After)

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  14. Visiting from Better After... LOVE IT! Great job!

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  15. Gorgeous! Thanks for the inspiration. I have a ceiling light that I would like to try this on

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  16. oh my goodness, doilies are my favorite. i am seriously trying to figure out if this will work in my kitchen. LOVE it.

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  17. This is so cool!!! I liked the electricity info too. Good idea to test it and see if the paper gets hot. I saw you on better after too.

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  18. Wow, Wow, WOW! Just LOVE it! So glad you posted and linked this, I am inspired.

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  19. Genius. That is all I can say. Oh, and I heart the yellow!!!

    xo
    Kate
    www.CentsationalGirl.com

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  20. Coming to you from Centsational Girl...wow! Great idea! I love it and have been looking for chandelier ideas for our master bedroom instead of ceiling fans. Now, to find two compatible used lights!

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  21. Doilies?? Brilliant idea!! Love it!!

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  22. Great job? Just found this and it's my kind of makeover. Sandblasting...phooey. I'm with you. I take shortcuts whenever I can when it won't affect the looks. Like you said it's not like it has to last 25 years. don't tell anyone, but I have painted over my wallpaper...looks great...who needs the time and agony of scraping it off when it looks good. I hate rules... reinventingtheordinary.com

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  23. Oh my goodness this is brilliant! I just love it and the yellow is fabulous!

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  24. Brilliant! It's beautiful! Who woulda thought?:)

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  25. I think this just might be on my list of things to try. I have that same UGLY fixture. The size is fine but the downward bulbs just cause too much glare. Off to Lowes to see about new globes and a can of bronze spray paint

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  26. So impressive, and you are so funny!
    Great job, love the yellow, my favourite!
    Maria

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  27. I have this exact frame of the chandelier (my shades are different) and I LOATH IT!!!! I am TOTALLY doing this to my chandelier and hope my version looks as good as yours!

    Thanks :-)

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  28. So so awesome! But could the doilies catch fire? Thanks for the inspiration!

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  29. Doh, should have read your whole post before asking about the fire hazard!!! I see I see! ~smiles~

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  30. Wonderful makeover for very common chandeliers! My question: How many of those acrylic paint containers @ 89 cents do I need to buy? Now, I just need to find one of those old lamp fixtures. That shouldn't be too hard!

    Mary in Oregon blukazam@yahoo.com

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  31. I have THAT chandelier! The same exact chandelier in nickel. Just bookmarked to do this. Thank YOU!!

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  32. Ah! Brilliant!!!

    Hmmmm . . . I'm suddenly thinking I should try to find the most basic, cheapest fixtures possible for our little apartment we're building on a shoestring (you think I jest . . . ), and see what magic I can work with some paint and paper. :o)

    Thanks so much for the amazing before & after!

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  33. OMG! I just turned mine...I feel like I have made some long searched discovery...I am going to get some fabric mini shades and pop them over the light bulbs now. SWEET!!!!!

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  34. I love this, thanks for sharing! ~ Alicia

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  35. I have this same one and have been going to try to mess around with it. Now I know exactly how to mess with it. Brilliant. And you are hilarious by the way. I'm a new follower for sure!

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  36. My mother has that same chandelier in her kitchen and she *just* took it down to replace it. I'm totally claiming it now!

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  37. I just did this in apple green... so cute! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  38. AMAZING idea! My boyfriend and I just moved into a 2 bedroom (a very big upgrade from our efficiency!), but the kitchen chandelier's glass was all broken from the previous tenant! The management won't fix it (cosmetic), and I have been hunting all over for inexpensive shade ideas!

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  39. This was my project yesterday, thank you !!! I crackled painted mine, even the doilies and my outdated lamp is now updated !!!

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  40. I just took down a really bad chandy, and now I'm going to make it lovely thanks to you! Love your humor, too! Thank you!!!!

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  41. Craft paint and paper! Omg. My fugly light fixture know my dining room is going to be beautiful this weekend!

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