Can you even believe I’ve been doing this blogging gig long enough to have a roundup of my own projects? Yeah, I can’t either.
Because honestly, I’ve never been an endurance girl. I live life in phases.
I tried my hand at writing a novel once. That lasted 4 days. I attempted to start my own photography business because, hey, who doesn’t like taking pictures? That lasted about 5 months. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve tried to keep a diary, and I usually forget about it after a week or two.
So it’s miraculous you’re even reading this right now. But I’m pretty sure this blogging thing is here to stick around a while. Maybe this phase is becoming more of a lifestyle…then again, maybe it’s a lifestyle because I’m actually living in the midst of what I love to create.
It’s hard to forget. All I have to do is look around.
So wa-bam! You’re witnessing a milestone here, my friend. The entire first floor of our house is officially builder grade lighting free! (Can I get a halleluja?)
I kind of wussed out on the last two lights, which I’ll update you guys about at the end of this post, but for now, let’s cue the cheesy overly dramatic inspirational music, shall we?
It all started with our foyer light.
1. DIY Rustic Industrial Sphere Light – $24
Then, it bugged me that the foyer light didn’t match the hallway lights. A box of outcast old brass fixtures from Goodwill, a roll of chicken wire, and some spray paint later…
2. DIY Chicken Wire Light Fixture –Â $5
Over the summer, I realized what to do with some of the mason jars I had in my craft stash to transform the builder grade light in our powder room.
3. DIY Mason Jar Vanity Light – $6
Since I was sort of stumped on what to do with our builder grade dining room chandelier, I found one on Craigslist that I liked better, but it needed more personality. Some sisal rope, a hula hoop, and my always trustworthy hot glue gun did the job.
I loved the rope-wrapped chandelier so much that I did it again to our kitchen bar lights.
5. DIY Industrial Pendant Lights – $9 each
Before Thanksgiving, we managed to change out our kitchen flushmount light and kitchen table pendant light too. All if it works perfectly together! I couldn’t have planned it out any better at the beginning of all the madness.
We actually attempted to DIY both of these, and both of them failed miserably. It was frustrating in the midst of realizing that all of our hard work went down the drain, but I’d rather buy lights I like than tolerate the ones we made just because we spent so much time on them. (One of these days I might have to write a Bless’er House Bloopers and Blunders post just to laugh off all of the projects that went terribly wrong.)
So now we have these in our kitchen.
Our kitchen flushmount is the Millennium Lighting Neo-Industrial Flush Mount.
I love how it looks like a vintage desk fan. The strange thing was the brushed nickel version of this light was $40 cheaper than the oil rubbed bronze finish.
I keep ORB spray paint in my stash like it’s my job, so I bought the nickel version and spray painted it to save $40. I guess it was a semi-DIY after all.
After my plans for our kitchen table pendant light failed miserably, I rushed to get a replacement the day before our big Thanksgiving this year.
I chose this hanging pendant lantern from World Market and couldn’t be happier.
And it works perfectly with our clock gallery wall and bar lights.
Before we even moved in last year, one of the very first things Robert did was install our living room ceiling fan (because, let’s face it, they’re a necessity here in the South).
He actually picked this one out himself- Harbor Breeze Twin Ceiling Fan. My man has good taste…in lighting anyways. He sort of got stuck with me I guess. 😉
We have 3 light fixtures left upstairs that I hope to transform or change out in 2015. It’s still looking mighty plain up there. (My New Year’s wish list keeps growing somehow.) Â It’s good to have goals. I’m not even going down that road until after Christmas (in 3 days! Woohoo!)
So what do ya know? I guess I am an endurance girl after all. I just had to find the right motivation. And just the fact that you’re here taking this journey with me to transform this house is an added bonus. THANK YOU for being my cheerleaders.
What do you think of them? Better than builder grade? I’d love to know your favorite. 🙂
Blessings,
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I love all of your new lights, Lauren! It’s wonderful that you played a big part in their creation too! I hope you continue in with the blog. I love what you’ve been sharing so far and look forward to seeing what is to come. I’m planning on taking my blog a bit more serious this next year. So far it’s just been very random. We will see, since I’m like you, and quit things easily. Though, I also feel like this is right in the mists of what I love so it just may stick too. Have a wonderful holiday!!!!
We’ll have to hold each other accountable. How’s that sound? 🙂 I’ve enjoyed your blog too. Your home tour the other week was lovely!
I’m glad blogging has become a steady thing in your life, because I thoroughly love reading your posts and oogling over the pictures of your gorgeous home. These light fixtures are all so cool, and the prices are hard to beat. I think my favorite one is the mason jars. How cute!
Rebekah @ Charming Imperfections
Rebekah, you are always so sweet. You know how to make my day. Can’t wait to see how your chair find is going to turn out!
Love all these lights! I am looking for an idea for a light to replace the dreaded “boob” light in my bedroom redo. I like the rope chandelier.
Tania
Ugh! I hate those too! Once you see it, you just can’t unsee it. Haha
LOVE the creativity of these lights…I’m bookmarking this for some ideas for our home!!
Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG
So glad it could inspire you, Cheryl!
Love all of your amazing light fixtures. Your Round up will be featured tomorrow at Your Designs This Time and pinned to our group board. Thanks for sharing with us!
Emily & Erin @ Elizabeth Joan Designs
Thanks so much, ladies! I wanted to reply the day you sent this but my comments section has been acting up on me lately. Thank you for the love!
I like them all so choosing one would be a challenge. The rope chandy is out of the park brilliant though, and I do like the ceiling fan and over table light as well. I may have mentioned that replacing more builder lighting (and replacing poor choice replacements we previously picked) is one of our goals this year too.
Thank you Elizabeth! Lighting is definitely one of my favorite ways to take the basic out of the builder grade.
Love every single one of these, Lauren! I’m always amazed at your creativity! -Amy
Thanks girl! You’re the sweetest! 🙂
You are the bomb!
I was thinking about your “failure” but wondered if hoops used in macrame or embroidery hoops might give you the form you wanted with some light soldering might produce your results. You never fail as long as you learn something.
Leia, Thank you for the reminder. I need to give myself grace when I see something is just not working. 🙂