After the totally lovely results of redoing Grandma’s chandeliers, I was eager to do something about my light fixture in the dining room. The only redeeming quality there is that they are nickel and that is my medal of choice. But everything about it is boring and wrong.

dining room before — check out the reflection for the full scope of the cheap, boring.

Once the arms were turned upside down, I went to Lowes and picked out a few options for new sconces. A poll of my family and design savvy friends confirmed my choice of the sparkly one. Of course, they are about 4 times more expensive than the others but worth it. Also tested how the strings of hexagon crystals looked between the arms. Liking it so far.

This was extent of my original plan but I thought it could use more sparkle. After a few trips to craft and beading stores I was pretty frustrated about price and selection of beads. I found some I thought would work on Amazon but some of them literally were delivered via slow boat from China. That put the project on hold for awhile. After they got here, I still thought I needed more and visited the craft store again. Found some basic clear beads that would end up being a major player.

I had to hand bead all of the strings that would drape from the top ring and between the arms. Fun project to do while watching tv.

I draped the strings from the top ring to the back of the sconces. Original plan was just one string pre arm but it looks weird, so I did a second string for each arm.

Still working on the canopy strings. Also found a larger pear-shaped crystal that I have had for years and decided to hang it off of the bottom for an extra little piece of bling.

The strings between each arm. Haven’t added the second canopy strings yet.

All finished. Love how it looks. Even with lights turned off, super sparkly in natural light!

I have tons of lovely memories of hanging out at my grandparents Doman’s house. And I have been very blessed in the gifts of their stuff that they bequeathed on me both when they were alive, after Grandpa died and as inheritance after Grandma died. When my relations visit my house, most note how much stuff in my house came from my grandparents — some people are pleased this old “junk” found a affectionate home, from others I get the sense they think I’m a bit of a bandit — but I was in the right place at the right time and wasn’t overly picky on what was “dumped” on me. One of the reasons I like this house so much is all of my inherited pieces are from the same time period and so it fits.

Anyway,  one of my fixtures in my grandparents’ house was their formal livingroom light fixtures and was pleased when Grandma took them with her when she downsized after Grandpa’s death. I was even more pleased when Mom asked it I wanted them! I love sparkly things and these are the kings of bling! When I lived at the Rex, I had one of them hanging in my bedroom for a while. But then I move down stairs and replaced the fixture with something more suitable for my renter. The chandeliers have been in a box since. And this was making me sad.

I knew I wanted to replace the ugly “boob lights” in my new house but wasn’t sure what I wanted. I remembered Grandma’s chandeliers but they are brass and I don’t really care for brass and nothing else in my house is brass, so I tried to look for a better option. But after almost 2 years in this house, I came to the conclusion that all of the other fixtures I like are too spendy for my budget and decided to give Grandma’s lights a second look.

So much sparkle — all of the pieces spread out on my desk.

I posted this picture on a few internet sites to see if anyone had any input of their value. Turns out there isn’t much.

If was going to hang them, they can’t be brass but I was torn about if painting them would “ruin” them. I asked the internet — they said “no.” I asked Mom if she would mind me painting them and she emphatically stressed that they are mine and I could do what I want with them. So let’s paint!

I didn’t take pictures of the painting but here is the hall light installed.

base hung in the hall. As usual – was harder to install than it should have been.

In the hall — all assembled and lit. Pretty!

In hall — all assembled and unlit. So much nicer than the horrible boob light!

It was a week or so after I got the hall light in before I tackled the kitchen. Thought it would be a breeze after struggling with the hall light. Turns out it was worse! Shocked myself (3 times actually — but the second 2 were almost expected and not as bad as the first, which inspired some really colorful language and almost knocked me off of my stool.)

The braker box — sent this to Dad to see if I was smart enough to replace what I thought was a blown breaker — turns out, not blown, just some dumb wiring on kitchen switches.

Good to know I am smart enough to swap out a braker — could be handy to know at some point. I think the wiring in the kitchen used to be controlled by 2 switches (both on different lines, which is super strange.) Anyway, 4 hours on a ladder and trip to the hardware store in the middle and I finally got it hung.

Finally installed in the kitchen — light off. So lovely!

Finally hung in kitchen! Such a pain but worth it. Also noticing the bulbs get really warm to stand under.

Love them! Going to tackle the dining room light next — probably another DIY glam up (since the fixture I want is $400 and that isn’t going to make it into the budget.) I hope Grandma is smiling down and enjoying the incarnation of her beloved chandeliers. Happy I can have this new reminder of them lighting my life every day.