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Home Decorating

$5.00 Thrift Store Lamps-Before and After

15 years ago

A couple of you asked to see the result of my latest little project, so here it is. We are on a VERY tight budget right now, so I do a LOT of repurposing. I found these 2 buffet lamps at our local PTA Thrift Store and paid 5 dollars for both (gotta love that!). The finish was a bit too "bright and brassy" for me so I took it down by dry brushing on some Minwax stain. I went just slightly heavier on a few of the details. They now look just a bit antiqued. The shape of the embroidered shades was nice, but I'm not a fan of plastic beads so I individually cut them off with a manicure scissor (sorry, Honey!). I used to do redesign and staging and one of my favorite things to do was to monogram select household items. One of my favorite things to have monogrammed was bedroom lampshades. A few weeks ago, someone posted in a blog about monogramming her shades and I was reminded that I hadn't done it in this house, soooo...

Off I went to dig through our craft supplies and found iron-on monograms. I didn't have 2 Ms for our last name, so decided to do our first initials. Can you guess which one is mine? :)

I then dug out some remnant pieces of silk trim that was left over from a job some years back and went to work with my hot glue gun. Here are the before and afters:

2 for 5 dollars!

Hard to tell in these pics, but the finish was very gaudy/bright

Plastic beads:

End Result-they look very pretty lit, but I couldn't get a pic of it with this camera. My 15 year old DD had a little "accident" with my good camera! I also just realized you can see I haven't rehung the draperies yet-not enough hours in the day. S-i-g-h...

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Comments (17)

brutuses
15 years ago
Wow, they look fabulous. Great job.
newdawn1895
15 years ago
Nice job and it looks good in your home.
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Hmmm...I could write up a HUGE list, I love my area thrift store. The best deals for this summer though... Pottery Barn decor for $1 each that I found in the catalog from the winter for no less than $50 each. A set of LeCrueset cookware still in the box for $25. A box of what the seller called junk...that ended up having an almost complete set of antique french flatware, several great ironstone pieces (my first ones - yay!), and more great antique and vintage kitchen wares than one could possibly hope for - for the bargain price of $5. OMG...I almost felt bad when I got home and researched what I bought. But I had to remind myself - one man's trash is another man's treasure...and this was a treasure for sure in my world.
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That is soooo cool. I'm happy for you. Thrift store has been good to me but nothing like your score. I had really good carpet installed when we moved in 17 years ago--so you can guess that is is hunter green. I had it replaced with travertine in all areas except the guest area. I left the hunter green because it was like new because of very little traffic over the years. Try to fine any fabric, bedding, window treatments, accessories that are hunter green---it has been purged from the planet! Then I thought---where would hunter green be? Thrift stores. Scored with some items that don't look too dated.
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Glad everyone is getting such good deals. DH hates to shop and I also hate it at a regular store. But there is something about looking for things at a thrift store. It is like a treasure hunt and bargain hunting at the same time. There are videos from Crazy Lamp Lady on YouTube about her great finds. Thrift Store Buys
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I loved reading this post during the week. Now I'm in front of my computer and can participate! We've spent that past four years redecorating most of our small house. Of all that, the only new things purchased were our bedroom furniture, including the bed + a side table, lamp and chair. There are many reasons for buying used furniture, housewares, cars and clothing. #1 I like things I can't afford new. #2 New things are usually too big and bulky for our small bungalow #3 I'm a hunter/scavenger In this room, only the bar cart was new. Everything else was flea market, consignment stores, 1st dibbs and craigslist. The mirror was my grandmothers. Some of these things were definitely not cheap. In this room, only the upholstered furniture, rug and the gold/mirror side table were new. Everything else was a gift or came from consignment stores (near & far), eBay, 1st dibbs, The RealReal and estate sales. Like the other room, not everything in here was cheap, but it was affordable for my budget.
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User
15 years ago
Wow! I really like the after much better. Great job!
arizonarose
15 years ago
How creative, they look great! Much better :-)
ladyamity
15 years ago
BEAUTIFUL!

OMG, if you hadn't told the background, I'd have thought you had paid gobs of $$$ for two lamps with absolutely gorgeous (after) shades!

Amazing, simply amazing.
dilly_dally
15 years ago
$5 for both?!? I bet you were doing the :happy dance:

I like the "before" but the "after" is just fantastic.
teacats
15 years ago
Fantastic job! They look like expensive decor store lamps!

Well done! :)

Jan
susan209
15 years ago
What an amazing renewal, you really did a great job!
igloochic
15 years ago
The before would have been exciting to me LOL But the after is lovely. I don't mean to be rude...but umm your house does not scream "On a tight budget" at all...sheesh woman it's fabulous!!! You make me want to see more of your wonderful finds!
pattiem93
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you all. Igloochic, I recently posted pics of our home. It's in a thread titled "Bodica, per your request". A pretty serious illness took a huge financial toll and my husband's business has been hard hit by the economy. I am a thrift store, Ebay, CL shopper and I love what I call "sidewalk sales" (bulk trash day). We refinish, repurpose, and redo. I sew all window treatments, and pillows and have a pretty extensive collection of vintage fabrics and linens. There is nothing my DH can't build or make. Prior to my illness, I spent quite a few years doing redesign and staging. I am a strong believer that a little imagination, a lot of elbow grease, and a bit of patience go a long way. Thank you again for your kind words-I'm very flattered.
oceanna
15 years ago
Wow! Great find, and great job. You should feel very happy with yourself. Those lamps look outstanding and like you paid oodles for them. How did you get the stain to stick to the shiny brass? I would have thought it would have beaded up.
pbrisjar
15 years ago
I am a huge beaded lamp fan but I do have to say the trim in the new lamps is much, much better.

Can you tell me about that lace piece on the table? It looks like it's open in the middle - did you do that or did it come that way? It's an awesome idea.
jejvtr
15 years ago
patti

Inspiring! An Ad for repurposing!
Great job suits your application perfectly
cliff_and_joann
15 years ago
They look fantastic. Great job, you have 'the vision'

:) Joann
cooperbailey
15 years ago
Gorgeous! just as the rest of your home.
pattiem93
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you all!
JennaVaNowSC
15 years ago
Wow, I was thinking the 'before' looked pretty great, then i saw the 'after'. what a fabulous job you did. I want to see the rest too, you are very talented.

June

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