Pantry Lighting Details

Some of you were wanting more details on the lighting when I shared the pantry reveal. The lighting in the open pantry area was a challenge. 1. There was no overhead/ceiling light to begin with. 2. Walls and ceiling are plaster. 3. Outlet was old and controlled by a switch on the wall. 

farmhouse pantry

Electrical work for the lighting was not DIY. My husband has installed recessed lighting in the kitchen but he was able to run electrical from the previously installed ceiling light, so it wasn’t quite so challenging. For the pantry area, no previous lighting meant pulling the wires from the wall to the ceiling. He started with drilling holes in the plaster wall and ceiling but the wood beam where wall meets ceiling had us realizing this job was ‘over our heads’ and not just literally. It was at this point that we decided to hire an electrician.

outlets

Then after some thought and to keep labor costs down, I let the electrician know that I wanted the wiring to run on the outside of the wall. He changed the old outlet near the floor (the old type that meant I needed an adapter anytime my plug had three prongs), added another outlet a little higher up to accommodate the microwave sitting on the pantry shelf (so I wouldn’t have to drill holes into the wood shelves for the cord to reach down to the lower outlet) and ran the lighting wiring up the wall, to the ceiling with a 90 degree turn to place the lighting. He also made the switch work for the lighting only, disconnecting the switch from the outlets. In hind site, I think this was something we could have done, but when in doubt, seek professional advice! 

connecting light fixtures

pantry lighting

Cord covers for the wiring from outlets, along the outside of the plaster wall, along the ceiling and connecting each individual light fixture.

I centered the lighting from the front edge of the shelving to the other wall and since I chose pendant lights, I made sure they were out of the way of an opening door. 

Then with the help of FrogTape® Multi-surface, I painted the track oil rubbed bronze.cord cover

I simply taped off either side of the conduit track along the wall and ceiling with my FrogTape and used my thumbnail to activate the PaintBlock® Technology. Then just painted the track. The oil rubbed bronze paint is sticky since it’s oil based so drying time is longer but still worth the work. It took two coats. 

oil rubbed bronze paint

As soon as I finished applying the second coat, I removed the FrogTape. Nice and clean! Note: paint will take a long time to cure!

removing FrogTape

Painting the conduit the same color as the walls and ceiling would help disguise it more but I think the oil rubbed bronze against the white ceiling adds to the industrial charm, don’t you? Especially with the pipe shelving.

RustOleum Oil Rubbed Bronze

I love it!

industrial pantry lights with wall track

Project Supplies:

farmhouse industrial pantry lighting

 We also added a dimmer…

farmhouse pantry

 

{open pantry reveal}

FrogTape Blog Squad

Disclaimer: I received compensation to complete this project for using FrogTape® products. All opinions, projects and ideas are based on my own experience. See the  FrogTape® Blog Squad for more inspiration!

DIY {half} globe light fixture cover

DIY Globe Light Fixture Cover

After I completed the wall mounted-pallet shelf, I updated some of the light fixtures including the one in the sitting room…

allen-roth-edison-orb

Allen + Roth Edison Oil Rubbed Bronze

However, the glass on this specific light is very thin and it cracked during the final stages of assembly, just by screwing in the light bulb. The crack was located in such a way that it wasn’t safe. I feared the entire glass piece was going to come crashing down.

cracked-glass

So, one rainy day, I gathered some supplies from around the house and created a new cover? fixture? globe? well, northern hemisphere at least.

DIY-globe-light-fixture-cover-tutorial

Here is what I did:

Materials: 

  • LOW WATTAGE light bulb
  • old globe (I have an addiction. I can’t pass up a globe at the thrift store, thus a collection on hand.)
  • craft paint (I had DecoArt’s Patio Paint/rich espresso on hand.) A high heat/temperature paint is a better, safer option.
  • double fold bias tape (Again…I had brown left over from a patio cushion project.)
  • hot glue
  • Sharpie
  • Edited to add: Flameproof coating

Tools:

  • Utility knife
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun
  • Craft paint brush

I started by disassembling the globe by gently pulling the frame from the north/south pole. My globe popped right out.

globe

I also chose a globe that wasn’t in the best shape, so the north and south hemispheres just pulled apart. (Cut seam along the equator with a utility knife if needed.)

split-globe

Next, using a Sharpie, I traced the fitting (or draw a circle the size of where the globe will be held into place on the light fixture).

globe-light-tutorial

I used a utility knife to remove some of the map/cardboard and discovered a metal circle underneath. I was able to remove it with pliers. Then cut away the rest of the cardboard/paper with a pair of scissors.

globe-light-cover

I painted the inside of my globe and let it dry (well, sort of. I may have been too eager to move on to the next step)…

paint-inside-globe

Then attached the bias tape around the perimeter with hot glue.

gluing-bias-tape

Since I was impatient with waiting for paint to dry and had a little “oopsy”…paint on the bias tape, I used a Sharpie to create a design to distract from the accidental smudge. Imperfection adds character.

globe-light-border

Ready to install.

globe-ceiling-light-cover

Heading to the basement: This is also the path to the basement and I can breathe a sigh of relief that the cracked glass isn’t going to hurt someone when it comes crashing down or that it’s no big deal if my 6’2″ husband carrying a ladder accidentally hits the globe. I kept worrying he’d ‘ding’ that thin glass on his way through…now, it’s okay.

sitting-room-ceiling

It fits with the style of our sitting room too…

sitting-room

Easy enough.  (Would also work as a lamp shade…decorative only.}

half-globe-light-cover

 Mystikit: Purchase the materials and tools needed to make this half globe light fixture cover.

sitting-room-diy

*more DIY projects in this space:

 *This light shade is mainly decorative. In our home, it is rarely turned on for more than a few minutes at a time. Please do your homework and consider safety in your own home before using a globe as a light fixture. 

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View Along the Way ~ Capiz Shell Chandelier Pendant Look for Less

DIY {do-it-yourself} is often the way we achieve a more expensive look or way to obtain a similar budget friendly version of a product we love. Kelly from View Along the Way has an amazing example. She loved this $549 capiz light fixture from Horchow {rightfully so!}…

horchow capiz shell light fixture

Kelly achieved a similar look for a much more budget-friendly price using…

1. capiz shell tea light pendant from TJ Maxx

capiz shell tea light pendant

2. IKEA Januari lamp

Januari IKEA lamp

3. two ceiling canopies

ceiling canopy

Here is her beautiful DIY version…

DIY capiz shell chandelier

See the tutorial from Kelly at View Along the Way {please remember to pin from the original tutorial too}.

How to Make a Capiz Shell Chandelier Pendant.

View Along the Way

Kelly! This is so creative, so pretty and so clever! Beautiful job! Thank you for sharing!

DIY Starfish Chandelier

When I first ‘e-met’ Debi from

Debi's Design Diary

and first saw her gorgeous starfish tutorial and adorable video,

starfish chandelier

I was hooked. I couldn’t resist checking out all of her cute videos and creative DIY ideas.

Today Debi shares a few tips for making this pretty blingy starfish chandelier. Here she is:

I wanted to create a light fixture that had all of the wow factor of a chandelier dripping with crystals but without the big price tag.
DIY starfish chandelier
I used 36 white starfish and about 10 yards.
supplies for starfish chandelier
I have to say that every project I dream up has it’s challenges and this was no exception. 
Here are some important tips I discovered along the way:
Use a small dremel if you have one, it is much easier on the delicate sea stars and you will have more control when you get to the part where you need to drill the extra holes as the starfish are hanging on the chandelier.
Lay your starfish out in a mock set up to determine how many to use and how they will hang, I used a total of 36 starfish,( 12 strands of three). six of the stands had 3inch links of chain a at the top to attach to the metal ring and the other six 1.5 inch links. I did this to stagger the starfish so they would not bang into each other or overlap too much.
Keep in mind that the bottom starfish on the strand only needs one hole but the rest of them will need two or more.
E600 is the glue I used, although it  is messy and needs to be used in a well ventilated area it works well. You can find this glue at Walmart or Michaels.
of crystal chain and about 10 yards of rhinestone chain.
Ps. Materials (and this chandelier – just 1!) can be found in Debi’s Etsy Shop: Debi’s Design Diary.
rhinestones and starfish

Thanks, Debi! If you’re attempting this project {or even if you’re not}, check out her video tutorial for tips and to get a glimpse of the girl behind the blog. I love it!

See more inspiring ideas at Debi’s Design Diary.
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Let’s Talk about Chandeliers!

I’ve been really lucky with finding thrifty {used} light fixtures. Want to see? Ever wonder how a creative idea strikes? Read on, my DIY friend…

This week, I may have squeeled with excitement when I saw this at St. Vincent de Paul for $9.99 {except that I’m the quiet type and even if I did squeel, you wouldn’t have heard me…but I was THAT excited. I still am!}

thrift store chandelier

and I’m thinking it’ll go in the family room {which, as you know is a work in progress…so what it looks like now isn’t a reveal and those pretty doors aren’t finished either!}…

turquoise doors

Then Lindsay had the idea of making it into an accent table – isn’t that brilliant?! ::light bulb over my head:: Re-wire it to plug in, add a glass top and ta-da!  It’d be gorgeous all rigged up – no need for a table lamp if the table is a chandelier!  Hmmm…now that she’s planted that seed…I just don’t know! {You know I’m indecisive!} But when it’s sitting on the floor, it DOES look like a table!

But I do love to play around. Here’s just an old window on top and an idea of how it’d look. Pretty awesome, I’d say!

DIY upcycled side table

repurposed coffee table

This one was purchased for $20 from Habitat ReStore…

 thrift store chandelier

and I’m pretty sure it’s replacing the light fixture in the dining room…

 thrift store chandelier

Now the dilemma. I love that they’re both huge and will make a beautiful statement in each room. But did I choose the right rooms for each chandelier? I think either light would work in either room so I’m certain I’m going in the right direction. I think. lol! What do you think?

And I love each of them and their aged gold color but I’m so tempted to give them a “WOW” with a coat of spray paint. Check out this inspiration…

yellow chandelier

{Pretty Handy Girl}

green chandelier

{Addicted to Decorating}

purple chandelier

{houzz}

magenta chandelier

{Vickie Howell}

blue chandelier

{design sponge}

I’m no stranger to spray painting chandeliers:

My dressing room chandelier used to be brassy gold…

The room that Cassity (Remodelaholic) and I designed for Shaw/HGTV Home last summer and the painted chandelier:

Guest Room Chandelier

  1. Keep my current placement plan?
  2. Spray paint one or both or none?
  3. Chandy side table?

Ps. Mr. DIY pictures a big palm leaf ceiling fan in the family room so the light fixture there will be temporary until we decide to choose and invest in the perfect one. And he’s sort of liking our current dining room light fixture, but maybe he won’t notice the swap? Or he’ll fall in love them when they magically appear in place? Didn’t happen with this one in the powder room:

powder room before and after

{powder room}

He’s not a fan of the ‘snot monster’. But he tolerates it for me. Love him {and the tear drop light}. They’re both keepers! 😉 

After writing up this post and playing with the idea more, I’m thinking if I keep the current dining room light fixture {we’d love a pulley light there anyway}, use the lantern-chandelier in the family room and the caged chandelier as a coffee table/accent table … problem solved, right? What do you think? I am LOVING the chandelier coffee table idea! So, I’m going to work a little do-it-yourself magic, make it sturdy, add a top (I like the window) and change the electrical from hard-wire to plug-in. It’s just too perfectly my style not to go with that idea. Here are some more pictures of the repurposed chandelier table idea (I see a tutorial in my near future).DIY chandelier coffee table

repurposed chandelier coffee table

I’m so glad we had this chat. It’s been a huge help in curing my indecisiveness. 😉

old window, books and globes

But I might still change my mind.  {After all, I do have these for making a coffee table too.}

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DIY Master Bedroom Makeover

You all know Jaime from that's my letter blog

right? Well, in case you missed it or just in case you don’t ‘know’ her yet, I’d like to introduce you to a super creative, talented DIY blogger. She claims “All DIY all the time” and she’s not kidding.

She always has some amazing do-it-yourself projects to share and most recently, a truly awesome master bedroom makeover full of DIY projects with detailed tutorials on how you can give your room or even other areas of your home a fresh new low-cost look. Here are just a few of the before/after photos.

master bedroom before

master bedroom after

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