How to inexpensively repurpose a builder grade mini pendant light with industrial style.
I have a mixture of styles that I love- farmhouse, French country, industrial- and I try to keep them balanced and working together in our space. (Do you find yourself in that struggle too? I blame Pinterest.)
- Builder grade mini pendant light fixture
- Oil rubbed bronze spray paint (affiliate)
- Sisal rope- 3/8 inch
- High temp hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Metal lamp guard (affiliate)
Each light took about 30-40 minutes to wrap. The beginning is a little tricky to get started. Hold the rope in place for the first few wraps around the downrod, and apply about a dime size of hot glue for each wrap around.
I held the end in place until the last bit of glue was completely cool.
The lamp guards screwed right in place above the bulb and that was it! I used Edison bulbs to give it a more vintage look too. They give off a yellowy light that I’m okay with in person, but it doesn’t translate very well to photos. They are rustic industrial fabulosity though. 🙂
They look pretty darn smashing with our giant chalkboard and vintage gallery wall…
I love your style. I blame Pinterest too! These look amazing!
Thank you, Shambray! That’s a huge compliment! It’s always a love/hate relationship with Pinterest, isn’t it? So many gorgeous things- it’s hard to pick what defines “you”.
Another fabulous update! Love the rope {hope your fingers didn’t get too burned}!
~ Ashley
Thanks, Ashley! I managed to escape this project unscathed. I can’t say the same for the chandelier I did about a month ago though. 🙂
Great update! Thank you so much for sharing at the Twirl & Take a Bow Party! Have an awesome week!
Leslie
House on the Way
Thank you! Same to you!
Love not only your light fixtures, but also the wall decorations behind. Where did you find all those goodies, like the giant key? I’m glad you mentioned the color of the spraypaint, cause it’s just the color I need to spray a few things around here. My husband loves industrial/steampunk and I love Pinterest too! Now, if I can just get him to help me paint the living room!
Thank you! I’m so glad you like it! That spray paint really is great and eliminates a step since the primer is mixed in. I found the giant key on the clearance aisle of Target. The metal EAT letters are from Target too. The other keys are from Hobby Lobby and I found the clocks from all over- mostly from Garden Ridge if I recall.
Wow. Crazy good up-cycle! Pinning that one and the other ones in your post. Love it. Would love to have you link up with us at The DIY’ers! http://biggerthanthethreeofus.com/the-diyers-16/
I’ll head over there and link up! Thanks, Ashley!
wow, you are incredible!!!! PINNING
Yay! Thanks, Christine! That means so much to me.
ahh restoration hardware, so dreamy. I can’t believe what an awesome hack this is! way to go! I’d love you to share it at our Outside {the Box} link party! http://www.carissamiss.com/2014/09/outside-box-link-party-no-2.html
Thanks, Carissa! Already one step ahead of you. It’s already linked up. 🙂
Wow! I am so glad you decided to get into “beast” mode! Now, this was a terrific project…you did a wonderful job and thank you so much for sharing the instructions! Love it! Leticia
Thank you, Leticia! And I just realized that phrase is probably really weird outside of the context of our house. My husband always says he’s in “beast mode” all the time when he’s cooking some intense recipe or working really hard on building something. Haha So glad the instructions could help.
I love these lights! Awesome job! following from wellnessandfamily.blogspot.com
Thank you, Jamie!
Just gorgeous! I love your style. I can’t believe these started out so generic. I would have never thought to change them like this. Great work. Thanks for sharing at The Handmade Hangout. Featuring at Redouxinteriors tonight!
That’s a HUGE compliment coming from you, Charlie! I love your style too. 🙂 Thank you so much for the feature!
Love this! Where did you get the light guards? Your link didn’t work 🙁 Pinning 🙂
Oh darn! Fixing it now. You can find them on Amazon or in most home improvement stores. They will set you back about $3. Thanks for pinning!
Oh gosh! The light fixtures you created are just simply amazing. Your aesthetic and style just blew me away. Thank you for sharing all your great DIY projects, which are a great way of spreading beauty to homes everywhere. Happy Halloween, y’all!
Eleanor Roy @ Douthit Electrical
Pinterest is definitely to blame! I have stalked your blog enough for today but I will definitely be back. Would love to turn my builder grade lights into this magnificence!
http://www.marriedlifewiththemrs.com
Stalk away, Tasha! So glad you’re here. 🙂 And yeah, always blame Pinterest. Haha
Hey Lauren,
These are very awesome looking pendant lights ..I really liked them.
Thanks for sharing …
Oh I missed this post!! I just ordered these light wire covers from Amazon–been wanting to do this for months–and finally got my hubby’s agreement. I’m one to mix things up. Im a bit defiant at times. I want to take off the white shade covers from our over our table five light fixture but these will be placed upwards not down. I have huge beveled chandelier crystals with rubbed on antique gold edges that I will hang from arms of the now looking more like a chandelier light fixture. The crystals are shaped in a free form styled oval/curved/pointed sides shape. Put with the industrial look of the wire cages makes me excited to try it!! I’m not out but $32 to try a unique look for me!! I love your idea. I love this rustic charm look!!!
Ooh that will look really cool! So different! I hope it turns out well! I’d love to see pictures when you finish it.
Does the heat build up inside the jars?
Hi, Pam! You commented this on my pendant lights but did you mean to post this on the mason jar light post? As for the mason jar light, I haven’t had any issues with heat building up, but it’s in our powder room where the light isn’t on for very long. Mason jars are traditionally used at boiling temperatures for jellying/canning, so we haven’t had issues with heat. Our light bulbs have been going strong for a year in the fixture since we installed it, so it’s been great. 🙂
I love you!
I have stalked all your light fixtures. How do you take them off of the wire? I have tried to take a fixture off and it seems COMPLETELY attached. Is that the case? What am I missing? Please direct me to a good website!
Yay! Stalk away, Lydia! That makes me happy. Haha! As for removing a fixture, here’s a good article to follow: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-remove-a-light-fixture-176020 Of course, be sure to turn off your electricity, and if you need to, it might even be a good idea to hire a professional just to make sure it’s done right. I’m all for DIY, but if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t push yourself too far.
These are fantastic!!!! I recently just bought my first home. I have some updating/remodeling I have to do and your home is an absolutely inspiration for ideas! ❤️
I was wondering where it is you found the lamp gaurds?
Yay! I’m so glad to be a source of inspiration, Samantha! Congrats on your new place. 🙂 I got the lamp guards on Amazon, if I’m remembering correctly. They’re only around $5 each.
Lauren – LOVE your blog. You have given me so many great ideas including these pendant lights which I copied in our house. The builder installed almost the identical pendants that you had so I took off the shades and spray painted them as you did and added the cages from Amazon. They look so much better. Your new kitchen looks amazing!
That is so great to hear, Gillian! Yay! The best part is if you ever get tired of the cages, they’re so easy to remove too and change out with something else. 🙂 Thanks for the love!
Do you know about how many feet of rope you used for each light? I only have one light and don’t want to over/under buy. Thanks!
Oh goodness. I don’t remember. I’m sorry. But I think a 25 ft spool did the trick for both lights. Usually 25, 50, and 100 ft increments is what they’re sold in.
Oh my goodness! I LOVE your blog! It is super interesting and awesome! I gawk at everything you are able to do!
Thank you, Candice!
Lovely project! I just love the work that you did – so simple an yet very very beautiful!
Thank you Sarah!
Great work. I just finished making this ceiling light. It was very easy and fun for me. It is looking awesome. Thanks and keep sharing.
Did you use a specific type of glue for your glue gun? Didi the glue hold up to the heat of the fixture? Thanks for the idea.
Hi, Pete. There are glue sticks specifically for the high temperature glue guns. The glue help up for the fixture. I do not believe the heat from the light fixture would go up the part that holds the glue.
Can this be done as a plug in and swag the rope?
You could always take your own twist on it for sure.