Lauren McBride

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Dining Room Update: Chandelier Makeover

August 4, 2012

 

Well ladies and gents, it’s finally happened. After months of searching I have finally found her.

It started earlier this week when I decided to stop by The Weathered Nest (she doesn’t have a website yet, and I told her she needs to get on it!), a store filled with incredible shabby chic-ness that lies just minutes down the street from my house. The owner is amazing. Think Miss Mustard Seed, but less farm, and more beach. Being that we live in a beach town and all.

I spotted her on my way out….her ugly brass just screaming to be painted, and her crystals sparkling in the store lights. I nearly squealed when I asked the price…a cool $45. But her chain was really short and I could tell she needed rewiring, something I wasn’t sure could be done. A few phone calls and picture messages to the hubs later, and she was riding home safely in my car….

 

 As it turns out, it’s really easy to rewire a chandelier. They even sell kits at Home Depot that include the chain to hang it. I was going to show you a step by step way to change out the wiring, but then the hubs got annoyed with me all up in his business while he was in the process. So, all you get is a few photos with minimal explanation. Blame him.  Sorry peeps. :/ I will gladly read him all of your comments on how you reeeeaaaallllyyyyy wanted instructions and now he’s ruined your lives and you can never DIY again. 😉

So the photo below is the base of the chandelier. He removed the bottom portion to expose the wires and this was the junk inside. The black and white wires stayed there, but that ugly orange striped cord is the one he removed and rewired.

 You can see the orange wire he removed better in this bottom photo. This is the wire that goes into the ceiling with the chain, like your standard chandelier. He removed this, and then inserted the new wire that came in the kit through the base up to the top of the fixture. He measured the height I wanted ahead of time so he would know how much wire to cut.  He then spliced the new wire, which reveals a black and white wire. He tied the black wire to the black wire in the bottom of the fixture that is in the above photo, and did the same with the white wire. Black to black, white to white. He then attached the new chain, measured to my liking, and ran the wire through every other link. Once that was complete, he repeated the same black-black, white-white strategy to the wires in the ceiling.

Does that make sense? It may not. Again, I will read him your hate mail.

Anyways, after all of that I removed her crystals, spray painted her white (because everything looks better white!), wired the crystals back on and she was finished! Isn’t she a beauty?

Please excuse the ugly orange backpack. It’s the hubs. You can send in hate mail about that too 😉

I love her! The dining room is ALMOST complete and to my liking…I have one larger project in the works. And yes, it involves that dark wood table that now looks super awkward in my white room.

So whatcha think? I’m pretty proud of her! Yes, her. You totally gender pieces of your home decor too, don’t you? No? Just me?

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Comments

      • Sharon says

        Hi, I just stumbled on your web site looking for a reciepe for laundry detergent, and I had to commient, I found the exact same Light at a thrift store and was also extatic! I had looked for ever for one just like it! Although I painted mine black! But what is even funnier is when I went down and looked through your pics of it! you have it hanging over my table! well your table but its my tables sister! Thats to funny! If we shopped together we would fight over stuff! You have great taste!!

        Reply

  2. [email protected] says

    It turned out great! Don’t you love it when something comes out the way you pictured it?! My husband and I buy fixer uppers and fix them up while we live in them. It’s so exciting when a room comes together the way we imagined.

    Great job on the chandelier. I want one!

    Visiting from SITS.

    Reply

    • Lauren says

      Thanks Suzanne! Not nearly as talented as that AMAZING laundry room you just did!!!!!! I tried to comment, but couldn’t from my phone, gonna head back over now because i’m obsessed with it! 😀 😀

      Reply

  4. Jen from insideways says

    Oh my home is full of anthropomorphic housewares! The chandy turned out beautifully!!! The crystals look so much more cohesive with the white – one beautiful curvy piece with tons of sparkle Yay! 🙂

    Reply

  5. Taylor @ Goings on in Texas says

    Love it love it love it!! I’m still working on re-wiring my chandelier that I picked up for $10! 😉 I kind of got un-motivated to finish my project but now you’ve given me some more inspiration to get my rear in gear. It’s all painted and everything, just have to finish re-wiring it and to get my hubby to install it in the dining room. I can’t wait to reveal my little project. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got up your sleeve for your dining room table. 😉 xoxo

    Reply

    • Lauren says

      Glad I lit a fire up under your butt! 😉 Get on it, I wanna see it!! I have big plans for the table, hoping to get it done soon! 😀

      Reply

  13. Misty says

    Hi Lauren,

    I’m not sure if you’ll remember me …. but I just wanted to check in and make sure you are doing okay.

    Yours in Christ,
    Misty xx

    Reply
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