My 1920's Re-Invented Lamps Get Lamp Shades

When you take on a project that you have never endeavored before, it becomes something a bit closer to your heart.  At least, in my opinion.  The re-invention of my 1920' Ebay Lamps came with some pressure to accessorize them correctly with lamp shades.

Re-Invention of a 1920's Lamp (see previous blog for details).

So, how to accentuate my art?  I found some great lamp shades at Lowes.  My boudoir is to be silver, black and purple (see boudoir blog).  These shades are silver when off and purple when on.  How perfect.

I love the color mix of these lamps.

I don't feel that these lamps are that perfect though for a 1920's boudoir.  They needed a little something more.  Maybe some beads on the bottom?  Crystals on the bottom?  I needed some inspiration.  I took the shades into Michael's.  Nothing.  I took my lampshades into Heddie's in Las Vegas and played with beads and crystals.  Bingo!  I thought I was looking for crystals, but really the black beading was calling me.  Not just for the bottom, but the top.

Out comes the hot glue guns and pins to hold in the beading while I confirm my direction.  Out goes the harps from my lamps as modern lamp shapes don't use them.

Now to confirm with the hot glue gun.  Get rid of the little stringies that are inevitable when hot gluing.  Send up a prayer that this will work and meet all of the goals in mind for these poor 1920's lamps.  I do not want to offend them.

I think I accomplished my goals and did these lamps proud.  Artsy, chic, over the top (a bit) and modern.  They light and they make the statement I want from them. 

When lit, these lamps are purple!

At the end of this lamp project, I have spent about $140.  About $70 per lamp with history and a story.

Don't let yourself stand in your own way.  For so long, I did not consider myself artsy or particularly handy.  I have proved that wrong and watch out amateur house redressing world, here I come!

Why not a Chandelier and a Fan Together? It Could Be Harmony!

I like the flow of air circulating in my bedroom.  I live in Las Vegas and have an upstairs bedroom.  Heat rises, right?  So, why would I want to get rid of my ceiling fan?  Well, as previously discussed, I am redressing my bedroom into a Hollywood Chic Boudoir.  How does one have Hollywood Chic without chandeliers with glossy crystals?

I started to think, why can't I have both?  I have elected to take a path that is all my own and there are no rules, right?  I began by searching on the Internet.  Lamps Plus, Fab.com, EBay, Amazon, Overstock, etc.  I found a few items that could be called Chandelier Style Ceiling Fans, however I would certainly not call them chic.  Also, plaguing me is that idea again of spending a lot of dough on one lighting fixture.

There are handy people in my life.  They use drill bits, circular saws, hammers as well as the rest of them.  Why not get a chandelier and replace the current fixture with the blinged out chandelier?  Lamps Plus had a $100 deal on a crystal and silver chandelier that matches the color scheme of my plans.  So, I went for it!  Now, to take down the existing white, dull ceiling fan blades and holders.  Then on to cleaning the base and blades...prepping them for Metallic Silver Paint.

White Ceiling Fan and Blades

Prepping Tools:

Screwdriver
Ladder
Soap and Water
Area to keep items clean while drying

Key to success here is to clean the base and blades as well as the blade holders.  I used warm water and Lysol.  Afterwards I let the items air dry as to not worry about any remaining lint.  Obviously, you want to repeat the process for the flip side of the blades and blade holders.



Silver Painted Ceiling Fan Parts

Items Needed:

Metallic Silver Spray Paint (I used Rustoleum)
Drop Cloth or other protected surface
Rag (to clean up any drips prior to drying)
Patience

Key to success here is making sure that you have a space that will allow you to work comfortably.  Clean, smooth sweeps when spray painting from a comfortable distance will make sure your project does not have drips.  If you have drips, take care of them immediately by dabbing or cleaning off that area.  I like to stay at least 8 inches away from the item I am spraying while spray painting.  I also think wide and smooth, left to right strokes makes sure you have an even finish.

Patience comes in handy while you let it dry completely.  It should no longer be wet or tacky to the touch.  I am not so patient, so this was a big test for me.  I did two coats on both sides of the items even though they would not all show to the eye.  This process took two days.  If outside, like I was, make sure you are comfortable the wind will not create art deco prints on your paint with debris.

Using brown paper picked up at Lowe's, the ceiling around the base of the fan was taped up so that the ceiling did not get spray painted Metallic Silver either.  I would recommend two coats here, as well.  That patience kicks in to make sure the ceiling fan base is dry, as well.

Removing the existing fixture involves a screwdriver and disconnection of the power to the fixture from the existing ceiling fan base.  You should turn off the power so you do not get hurt (please see previous blog about re-inventing a 1920's lamp).  If you are not comfortable with this process, contact someone you know who is or a professional handyman.  Reconnect the chandelier that was purchased (best and least amount of effort come from making sure the base of the existing light fixture and new light fixture are the same diameter).  You may need to drill holes into the new chandelier base to attach.

Once power is reconnected from the Ceiling Fan base to the new Chandelier, screw in the fixture.  Test and make sure you have completed this process successfully.  I hate continuing through a process and then realizing something is wrong.  Now, I have to backtrack and undo everything I struggled to get done in the first place.


And...it works!



At this point, there is not any bling.  That is not possible!  This particular chandelier comes with plenty of crystal prisms that will eventually tie to the re-invented 1920's crystal lamps.  A tip...if you are attaching a whole lot of crystal prisms while standing on a ladder...make sure you know that they are in the right place.  I took for granted that they were all the same length and was just adding them.  This resulted in me having to remove my hard work and start over.  I was getting pretty cranky.  I only have so much patience with anything let alone my own mistakes.

Silver Chandelier Ceiling Fan with BLING

 Many people have asked me if this has resulted in the crystal prism drops knocking together.  Thankfully, no.  However, they did sway a bit.  At Lowes, they sell a $3 ceiling fan weight set that is simple to use and will assist in balancing everything out so the sway will go away.

Can I have my Ceiling Fan and Hollywood Chic Meets Today Chandelier in one unit?  Why yes, I can.  Thinking outside of the box has resulted in a very custom and inexpensive lighting piece that makes me happy.  It keeps me inspired to get the rest completed!

A Story of Re-Inventing a 1920's Crystal Lamp When a Bit Mechanically Challenged

In the effort to locate Table Lamps for my 1920's inspired boudoir, I searched many days for Crystal Chandelier style lamps that would not break the bank.  My interest always surrounded trying to find something vintage and authentic, however in trying to balance that with a low price tag I was not too successful.  I took a break and added a reminder on my Ebay app on my phone to search for crystal lamps.  After a couple weeks, I found what I was looking for on Ebay.  When my lamps arrived, odd looks were sent my way.

Love at first sight.  One of two 1920's vintage lamps purchased on Ebay.

I found these vintage beauties online for $27.00 (with shipping).  They did not work and they obviously needed some TLC.  I spent an entire Friday night with some Cabernet staring at this beauty trying to find the road I wanted to travel.  Then I realized I had no idea how to rewire anything, let alone a lamp.  I could not let that stop me.

I found a seller on Ebay who specialized in lamp parts and sent a message inquiring about the recommended parts that may accomplish this now seemingly hefty goal.  You see, I am not very mechanical.  Nor am I very handy, really.  What was I thinking?  He sent a message back with some ideas and after a few more exchanges I purchased:

2 Steel Pipes
2 Harps
2 Sockets
2 Silver Lamp Cords
Lot of 25 Clear Prisms

I then conferred with my uncle and it was decided that I still needed 8 washers, 8 couplings and some extender threaded rods.  I went to Lowes, found my items and excitedly headed home. At this point, I have spent $80 on two vintage lamps and they looked no different.  I stared at my pieces spread out on the table and willed it to come together.  It was like putting together a puzzle for me without a picture other than the one in my head.  After 3 hours I had put together one lamp into my vision.  And now, the easy part...to make it work.

Lamp One coming together, but still no light.

I have taken honors classes in high school.  I have a college degree.  I have been a Management Leader on a large property.  I have advised many companies on operational decisions.  One stinking lamp was giving me a headache.  How to light it?  I went to wikipedia for charts.  I read articles.  Finally I realized I had not taken the socket apart. 

Inside the socket it turns out are the two screws that the wires at the end of my power cord needed to be wrapped around and then screwed in.  From there I decided to put a bulb in and test this theory.  It worked!  There was light!  Then I reached for the lamp to adjust it and immediately shocked myself!  In my excitement, I did not think that there was rapid electricity flowing that obviously accounted for the light.  So, I unplugged my lamp and plowed forward.

A few more times I took it all apart and back together until I was happy with the final product.  This was not completed without another shock.  This one sent the light bulb out of my hand.  This is no joke.  You want to be an amateur and take this type of project on...keep your common sense right next to your screwdriver.  4 hours later...a lamp was reborn!

15 minutes later, another lamp was born.  Talk about a learning curve!  Now for the perfect lampshades to take my lamp to the next level.  No pressure.


Two 1920's lamps re-envisioned to meet a modern time.  Sleek, steel lines meet delicate, glass prisms.

Another blog will be coming soon with details (and I am sure some more fumbling) as I find the perfect lampshades to accompany my beautiful creations.  A minor clean up on some of the prisms and the lampshades will take the $80 re-invented lamps to the next level. 

The feeling of pride when the lamps turned on was incredible!  A totally exciting rush for someone that barely manages a screwdriver.

Redressing My Bedroom Into a 1920s Inspired and Modern Boudoir

In my quest to redress my house, I have decided that my bedroom is dull.  I don't personally think I am dull, so why should my inner sanctum reflect dullness?  So, it came to me that my inner sanctum is mine.  I can do with it what I will and display it as I please.  Why does it have to match what I am doing with the rest of the house?  Some may disagree, but since I am not a professional nor am I really answering to anyone, why should I really care?  As long as it follows a thought process of detail and creativity and a reflection of my likes...I decided to go for it.

I started by pulling items from the Internet that reflected what I thought as Hollywood Chic.  Based on these and my own sense of style, I attempted to put color boards together.  I don't actually have any software for this type of thing, so I simply started stacking pictures from the Internet into PowerPoint, so I could see how the vision was coming together.

Sample of my Powerpoint Color Board

I love the idea of a damask reading nook, as well as the elegance of chandeliers.  Over the top and completely representative of my love of Old Hollywood Chic.  The heavy silver is my nod at modern elegance.  I am naming my boudoir Old Hollywood Chic Meets a Modern Woman of Today.  The fact that I would name my room, tells you how sensational I plan on having this room become.

As a modern woman of today, I have the pleasure of Internet at my fingertips.  This includes shopping online.  I relish finding deals and have decided to mix in the challenge of recreating the items myself or with the help of family.  Searching Ebay, Fab.com, Amazon and other websites has helped in locating items and getting inspiration.  I am not a big fan of paying big dollar on items when I can add my own personal touch at a lower cost. 

I have sent messages back and forth to sellers on Ebay to get assistance on items I am not so sure of using.  Don't be shy.  I have decided that if I sound silly, they can at least appreciate being reminded of their expertise. 

Is this a finished piece of art?  Not yet, but it is on its way.  Some select items have made it in the collection and I have made purchase decisions.  I will continue to Blog about this room as well as other areas in my house and creative ideas used to respect a budget and allow my own creative juices to flow.