small ta-daaa (pic heavy)

DLM2000-GW

14 years ago

This is one small step for some of you serial redecorators but it's a giant leap for me - I've been wrangling with re-doing my dining room chandelier as the first step in a whole room update.

The back story - bear with me please: This is the DR chandelier from the house I grew up in - my parents bought it in 1960, I've had it for 15 + years. It's silver plate and needs replating, badly, but it's not happening soon. The original shade was a drum, painted metal with silver plate edges and small vertical piercings in the top inch or so. When I got it, drum shades were oh-so-passe and I was CERTAIN always would be. I discarded (aarrgh!!!) the shade. I also discarded (shoot me now!) the supporting rods that connected the shade to the chandelier body. And with that I bought mini shades for each bulb. How clever. And I painted them to go with my decor du jour (oooooh, she's so cra-fty). A few years later I covered them with fabric to work with the decor of that moment (cra-fty on a whole new level). But that moment has lasted FAR too long and I need a new room. Did I mention I don't want to spend a lot of money?

To make this long story nauseating, I asked for help here a while back locating a large, shallow drum shade and did get great suggestions but couldn't come up with anything online under $250. Ouch. This is supposed to be a refresh with little financial outlay. Local stores would only do custom in the size I needed and that would push to $400. Double ouch. Sat down with Yellow pages online and started calling. Found a shop not too far away but would never have found otherwise, and they had the right size shade in stock, one left, 39.50. Now we're talkin!

DH had to do some retrofitting to make this work but gawd I love being married to an engineer!

Here's where I started (after the unfortunate discarding episode or UDE, which we will no longer mention, ok?)

Here it is nekkid with the new supports DH made and threaded into the fixture. Yes those are paper clips hanging from them.

And here is my darling DH doing the cut-to-fit. Gotta love a man who doesn't go overboard with tools, huh? LOL!

A close up of his handiwork - just like downtown!

And here is the new shade - yes, I know it looks like the Clampetts live there - give me a break - I'm in process!

Geesh - it does look like a lamp shop exploded in there!! Fabric is backordered, of course, paint color is decided - more updates (and hopefully bigger ta-daaas) as progress happens!

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Comments (42)

User
14 years ago
Oh that turned out really well. I am sorry about the "unmentionable" discard LOL...but you and your DH sure made it work. c
bellaflora
14 years ago
The revamped chandelier looks great! You are so lucky to have a DH who's not only cute but also handy (and brainy)

Can you provide me the details a/b the shade & how your DH retrofit it ? The chandelier in my DD's room is too small and I'm thinking of putting a shade around it to make it bigger.

TY!
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Thanks, Rose. To achieve this resuscitation, we had to: * have new cypress clapboards specially milled to match the original so that the patches would not be obvious; * inside, take down the damaged original plasterboard and insulate the exterior walls before putting new drywall on; * restore the opening between the LR and the DR to its original width (at some point, the house had been used as a church); * replace all the windows with woodframe double-paned replicas of the originals; * heavy up the electricity; * install SpacePak flexible duct AC; * jack up the porch roof (it is clear from a heavy beam running front to back in the basement that the entire house had had to be jacked up a bit at one time, which is why there are no level horizontal surfaces in the house); and * replicate some of the roof corbels and other bits of trim that had gone missing over the past nine decades. I finally found on craigslist a door that is close to the original. Of course, by the time it was installed, the paint on the porch was already needing attention again. The bottom line is that we spent too much money (for the neighborhood, not for the house) to give this old sweetie another 90 years with no vinyl siding. [On this street so close to where box cars would have delivered the kits, there are two other Americus examples; they look ok from a distance, but the siding is not cypress.] It was a harrowing project that could not have been undertaken without a GC who has an affinity for old houses. I made some not great decisions along the way (i.e., the tile in the master bath looks closer to avocado than stone green). It is the most gratifying project I have ever completed. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I had the money. And you need to keep up your good work so that other people will become as besotted as I am. Thanks again. hbk
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kathec
14 years ago
Congratulations, it looks fabulous! I'm patting you on the back long distance.

I guess it all comes back in style eventually, reworked, new colors, etc. Honestly, if you hadn't stated how old the chandelier is, I would have thought it was brand new Candace Olson or similar.

Kathe
cooperbailey
14 years ago
Wow!! I love it! that shade is so perfect! You DH is a wonder!
caminnc
14 years ago
What a great story with a wonderful ending. It's gorgeous, thanks for sharing.
dawn25
14 years ago
That looks fantastic! Kudos to you and your DH for doing it on the cheap and making it look very expensive!
graywings123
14 years ago
Love it! Tell your husband he has a fan club here!
rjinga
14 years ago
great job and nice save DH, I see you use your GW lingo at home too, even for the neighbors to see...

NO DHL ;) hope that doesn't stand for Love, but cool you get to leave notes for him ;) hee hee, couldnt resist sorry.
justgotabme
14 years ago
Deb, I'd say that's one pretty good Ta Daaa!!!! I love it! I want it. I'm with you and agree your hubby is a bit restranged when it comes to picking his tools. I won't say any more, but just know it's the thought that counts. Right? Ha! ;P
littledog
14 years ago
It's perfect. Great story, and the pictures made it fun. :^)
teacats
14 years ago
GREAT ideas -- and wonderful results!! :)

Very elegant chandy now! :)

Well done to all!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
14 years ago
Your post was so funny! The transformation is nothing short of miraculous and what a fabulous chandelier you have now! Pretty fabulous DH, too, I'd say!
mary_ruth
14 years ago
OH be still my heart... a 'live-in handiman' is the sexiest man alive! I have one too... Oh what a gift!
that chandwelier came out AWESOME!
bac717
14 years ago
Deb, I LOVE the shade on the chandelier! It looks fantastic!! Where did you end up finding the shade? I'm always on the lookout for new sources for lampshades. Did you also alter the shade to work with the new supports DH made?

I guess I missed it, but which fabric did you decide on for the chairs and what color are you going with for the walls?

I still haven't checked out the consignment shop in LaGrange. Let me know if you're interested.

Barb
nanny2a
14 years ago
That's a fantastic transformation and it looks as though it were brand new! You're so lucky to have such a clever DH who could make that work out for you! With that awesome chandy, I can't imagine what other kinds of neat updates you'll be making, but can't wait to see the finished room! It rates a BIG ta=daa in my book!
holleygarden Zone 8, East Texas
14 years ago
Very nice! Your DH did good!
DLM2000-GW
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all - I do enjoy our projects. DH always says I come up with the ideas and then expect him to figure out how to do it. That sounds about right!

bella most people who are doing this now are working with chandeliers that didn't originally have drumshades. They take the fixture down and slip the center ring of the shade (called the washer) over the wiring so that it sits on the top part of the fixture then re-hang it. My fixture has 3 holes in it and the decorative brackets then metal rods screwed into those holes and the original shade. I had to find a shade with 3 arms from the center washer (some have 4), DH clipped those short then used a ferrule to connect the new rods and the clipped ones. Clear as mud?

rjinga nice try!!! We have a home based business and used to have DHL as our pick up service - we put the sign in the window so they know don't stop, nothing is going out - no sign means they have a pick up. But we have Fed Ex now - that's what's on the other side!

Barb the shade came from The Lamp Outlet in Des Plaines - Central just west of Wolf. Never in a million years would I have found it - none of my shopping ever takes me anywhere near there. But it's truly a treasure trove - bought 2 other shades there. The woman who owns it (her DH does the repair) is a real character, very brassy personality but she has a great eye. I asked for a bunch of cards from her and have been giving them to everyone I know - I want them to survive this recession, but they've been there 26 years so hopefully they can weather it. You didn't miss anything on fabrics - haven't posted that yet. Walls will be Palace White - big change. LaGRANGE??? That's the other side of the world from me LOL!! Tell you what - you go and let me know if it's worth the trip!
tomorrowisanotherday
14 years ago
Gorgeous!!!
mclarke
14 years ago
It's dreadful. Just awful.

Send it to me immediately.
User
14 years ago
Looks great! I'm glad your DH was able to fix it up!
pat_tea
14 years ago
Loved your story and its ending. Congratulations. Patti
bac717
14 years ago
Wow, Deb, I know exactly where The Lamp Outlet is located. I've been there in that location and in their other location when they were in Mt. Prospect Plaza. Why didn't I think to send you there last year when you first began your search? I'm so glad you ended up getting exactly what you were looking for.

I know LaGrange is quite a hike for you. Heck, it's not even that close for me LOL! My job has been keeping me very busy and with the holidays quickly approaching, I'm not sure when I'll get there anyway, but if I ever end up there, I'll give you a report.
squirrelheaven
14 years ago
Wow, great story and fabulous chandelier! WTG, Deb! You and dh are a marvel.
awm03
14 years ago
That's a great looking chandelier -- and a great story too! Good going, dlm2000. Looking forward to the remaining updates.
loribee
14 years ago
Wonderful story with PIX to boot!
Nice going Deb, hats off to DH as well.... :)
jant
14 years ago
Well, what's old is always new again right? Looks great Deb. Yep, I love my "inhouse handyman" too!

We had an UDE (lol!) moment of late too...arrrrgh. Put a bunch of stuff out curbside including an old (but nice, traditional, simple) wrought iron flat FP screen with a mesh curtain. TWO weeks later we learn we can now burn wood in our kit FP according to our chimney guy....could we find ANYTHING like this now for a small FP? Of course not. :(((
(We did figure something out with another one I had hangin' about but it protudes more than the other one would have.)

PS: *I* did not want to get rid of it. Mr. M... "why will we ever need this again?"

UDE!

Are you going to show the fabric???? :)
ttodd
14 years ago
Looks great - excellent handiwork!
deeinohio
14 years ago
So elegant and au courant. :)
Dee
whitdobe
14 years ago
Beautiful job on the chandelier and great story!
saltnpeppa
14 years ago
Beautiful!

Smiles:)

PS. nice biceps on DH!! :)
bellaflora
14 years ago
Thanks for the instruction!
pugga
14 years ago
I love it! Please post pictures as you make progress.
parma42
14 years ago
Wow, how beautiful!

Can't wait to see your DR when it's all completed. It looks great now.

BTW, you can send your DH over our way, any time you get tired of him. My DH wants me to call a plumber because a washer needs to be replaced in our kitchen faucet. :(
stinky-gardener
14 years ago
Your dh is a hunky number (as we used to say.)

Oh, & your "new" light fixture is good looking too!
jjam
14 years ago
Oh, what a wonderful story! I'd love to do something similar with a small fixture in my powder room, but it was never designed for a large shade like that. My DH is also an engineer but I seriously doubt I could interest him in such a project. Yours is just beautiful!
DLM2000-GW
Original Author
14 years ago
Thenks everyone - I smile every time I walk by that light now. You know..... I don't dare tell DH about your comments. Bad enough he knows I posted - he keeps asking if people like the fixture - but he never needs to hear the hunky bicep comments, ok? Just so we're clear!

If I had a dollar for ever time in my lfe I discarded or sold something (furniture, clothes....) while saying 'I'll never use, wear, want this again' I'd be a wealthy woman. I'd KILL to have my fringed buckskin jacket and boots back!

***** Are you going to show the fabric???? :) *****
Geez, Jan - one thing at a time! The back of the back fabric, the dot, is here but I can't start till I have the main fabric. It would be just my luck to pull all the chairs apart and then not have it in time to get the room done for the holidays.
zipdee
14 years ago
Whoa! How clever is that? You guys did an awesome job, the finished product looks great. Very professional.
bungalow_house
14 years ago
Nice recovery! (No pun intended.)
paint_chips
14 years ago
Your "after" looks so Horchow!
sherwoodva
14 years ago
Very nice, Deb. I love stories like this where people figure out how to make something look great. The others are right, your DH is a hunk with those biceps!
patty_cakes
14 years ago
I love your new 're-do', but I liked the mini shades too. *Sometimes* I miss having a DH...................most times, not. ;o)
DLM2000-GW
Original Author
14 years ago
patty cakes I did hesitate about using the large drum shade because I love the lines of this fixture and some of it is now covered. I **almost** bought small candelabra drum shades instead. But keeping the shades straight on the bulbs is hard - they get wonky so easily. Some people aren't bothered by that but I am.

small ta-daaa (pic heavy)

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