Update Fixtures With Spray Paint

I went a little crazy with spray paint when I first started blogging. 

I was afraid at first that others would be able to tell that stuff was sprayed but I had to get rid of all the bright, blingy 90s brass.

It was like a walk down memory lane once I started thinking about all the updates we made with spray paint.

Light fixtures have a lot of impact once they are painted. 

It is a great way to update a dated brass fixture.

I've painted ceiling fans.

 I waited until Bill was out of town, covered everything in plastic and went for it. 

I recommend spraying a little bit and then running out of the room for fresh air. 
This was so worth it. I've completely forgotten what it looked like before.

We did some of the outlets covers and switch plates.





The faucets in two of our bathrooms got sprayed before they were replaced. 

Spray painting this faucet because of its porcelain handles was more successful than the master bath without the porcelain handles. 

Eventually the handles on the master started to chip.
I simply gave them another coat but I wanted to eliminate the problem by putting on the porcelain handles that came with all the faucets. 
Bill threw them away. 
The lesson here? 
Never put your husband in charge of extra handles! 
#itoldyouso
He was sure we would never need them.

This was a very low cost redo using only paint but in the end we had black mold lurking behind our tub and shower so it all had to go. 
That being said, I would recommend spray painting faucets particularly if they have porcelain handles. 
See our updated master bathroom.

Door knobs?
I'd do it again except for high traffic doors like the pantry or trash closet. 

We have 28 doors. I'm sure a few mental calculations and you can get close to how much it cost to replace all the door knobs in this house. We did eventually replace them all. 
We did it in stages so it wasn't too horribly painful unless you can't remember how much it cost and you ask your husband. Then the pain he felt at spending all that money becomes your pain.

Don't forget the hinges.

The little pulls and knobs on some of my furniture pieces got a coat.

A very dated and yellowing thermostat cover received a dusting of paint.

This update had my brother thinking I had lost my mind!
Haha.

I even spray painted the refrigerator magnets. 

Yes, I did.

Let's recap: light fixtures, ceiling fans, switch plates, outlet covers, faucets, door knobs, hinges, knobs and pulls, thermostat covers and refrigerator magnets.

I had a good love affair with
 Rust-O-leum, Oil Rubbed Bronze. 
Like all good things, it had to end. 

I fell in love with white.
Katie 
Linking with,
Between Naps on the Porch 
A Stroll Thru Life 
The Scoop #155  
Savvy Southern Style   
Share a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson  
From My Front Porch to Yours 
Feathered Nest Friday

Brass Chandelier Makeover

I wasn't completely happy with the 
French looking chandelier in the kitchen. 
I liked it but the scale was off.  

I really needed a five arm 
fixture instead of a 3 arm. 
I wanted something I could transform with
spray paint and crystals. 
You can read about  my dining fixture here.
I went to one of my favorite junky chandelier stores. 

They had about 5 blingy, brass, 90s fixtures to choose from at the Re-Store. They had some nine arm chandeliers but that would have been too big.
They had some 3 arm lanterns.
I sort of wanted a lantern but I went more traditional and classic. 
I found one 90s fixture that was sturdy and it had 5 lights. 
None of the arms were bent.

It had good bones and some detail that I thought would look cute ORB.

I stopped by Lowes on my way home and got a package of long crystals and new candle covers. I planned to recycle the crystals off of the old one. The whole thing only cost $35.00.
I hung it out in the yard. 

I did many light coats with Oil Rubbed Bronze Metallic from Rust-Oleum. 

I didn't want drips.

I took the big ball thing off of the bottom. 

I was able to put a new plate and finial in place of the ball. 
The other two fixtures in the room were a little on the brown side of bronze. 
They didn't match anymore.

 I didn't want to take them down and possibly mark up my new ceiling, 

so I sprayed the Rust-Oleum on to a piece of paper and dabbed it on the fixtures with a brush. 

It took some time but now they are more black than brown.

The scale is correct.

Brass Chandelier Makeover

It provides more light

and adds some sparkle.

I love it with the newly painted cabinets.

Thanks for stopping by.

Katie
Linking with,
Debbie Doos 
French Country Cottage   
Funky Junk Interiors

  

Candelabras

The formal dining room doesn't get used much at my house unless we are hosting a dinner.

It has been used for puzzles, scrapbooking or just plopping stuff on the table. I am always on the look out for unique and fun stuff to decorate the space so it can look pretty and dramatic. The great thing about our dining area is that it is almost always neat and clean, which is good because it is the first room seen from the front door.
I was at my favorite thrift and I saw two lamps. 
I was so confused by them. 
They were reproduction lamps based on French Empire Antiques. There were candle arms that were designed to hold real candles under the shade.
Wouldn't real candles burn a lampshade?
The ones that I found were pot or cast metal from the 60s.

Pot metal was like the resin of today. I think many affordable lamps were made this way.

Would you be able to look past the ugly of these?
It took me three trips to the thrift before I could. 

 I paid $10.00 each. That is the going rate for lamps at my thrift store. 
As soon as I got home I dismantled the lamp.



I unscrewed the lamp socket,

and cut off the cord.

I was left with a hole at the top of the lamp.

I screwed in a finial that I picked up at Ace Hardware. 

Be sure to hold the nut at the bottom to tighten the lamp.

Out to the yard for spray paint. Orb of course.

Now I have two candelabras instead of wacky lamps. I thought $20..00 a little high for very outdated lamps, but  I think it pretty good for these.

I added some crystals.

They looked fabulous burning when trick or treaters came to the door.

They look so good with the spray painted chandelier. Read about it here.

 What do you think?

I love them.

Katie
Linking with,
Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style
&Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage 
& Catch as Catch Can at My Repurposed Life 
&Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage