As I mentioned in last week’s post about the Music Room, our first update many years ago was replacing the bucket lights with chandeliers. Very inexpensive shiny brass ones from either Lowe’s or Home Depot. But I was going for a modern cottage or beach chic look and shiny brass wouldn’t do! With a little spray paint, some shiny crystals, and a cord cover, I had the look I wanted.
But that was the look I wanted ten years ago. Now I’m over that and want to make it more shiny like a baby grand. So down came the chandeliers.
Now, if I was Michelle, these would have been done up very fancy like what she did for her chandelier over her enormous tub. But I’m more the “hit it with a spray can” type. And that’s what I did! Off to my “spray booth” where they got a liberal dose of Semi-gloss Spray Paint from Valspar.
I changed out the light bulbs for a little inexpensive update. Terry hung the chandeliers back up but that chain was REALLY ugly!
I’ve made cord covers a few times and usually use dupoini silk. This time I found a remnant of black cotton for 44 cents at Wal-mart so used that. And they were hideous–they just didn’t lay right. So I went to Jo-ann’s and bought a 12″ piece of black “silkessence” fabric on sale for $1.00. So much better.
You can get cord covers at Ballard Designs but they are a little pricey and so easy to make. Just take 2 or 2 1/2 times the length of the chain and wide enough to go around it. These particular chains are very short–due to the change from dining room to guest room a few years ago. We were afraid one of our guests would run into them. Or a grandchild would be hanging from them when they jumped on the sofa bed. So Terry shortened them quite a bit. Which also happens to be the perfect height for over the piano. So this chain is only 9″. I cut two pieces 18″ x 6″ then narrow hemmed all four sides.
I usually use Velcro to attach them to the cord but this time I just attached it by hand stitching. Just got up on a chair and stitched them on. (My arms got a little tired but not as bad as when painting a ceiling!)
So much better! And another step completed in my music room renovation! Tomorrow there will be more!
I thought those looked different. Yay – spray paint strikes again! There are so many colors out there now, it’s crazy. Interesting bulb choice. I never would’ve thought to put round bulbs in them – a contemporary twist, it works. Two thumbs up – what’s next?