DIY: How to Add Patina to a Chandelier

A few months ago, I found this semi mangled chandelier on the side of the road next to the garbage. Talk about a curb side treasure! So, I did this manic U-turn, pulled into an awkward driveway and loaded it up. It also comes with those gold lampshades, but we most likely won't use them for now. What is your opinion, shades or no shades? Living in a rental, we can't put this up, besides, it is too big for our place with such low ceilings.

Our Downtown Studio salon is switching the massage and Jacuzzi room, with our large party/lounge area, and I knew this chandelier would be perfect for lighting since it is pretty dark. Pics of our gorgeous set up here! We spray painted the "candlesticks"  black and got some of the vintage candle flame looking light bulbs. I used a patina-like sea foam green color and dry brushed it on for an aged look, and in some parts, did more of a watercolor wash. I am probably going to add a second patina color and then do a little bit of sanding on the "patina" to really age it. We usually don't like the bright gold, but it works in here and really shines up the rustic glam feel. And of course, I want to add strands of drippy prisms from the bottom. It will be gorgeous and I will most definitely include photos of the finished project!

It's not really work when you love what you are doing!

 

Finished Product! At Downtown Studio Salon's massage and spa room.

 

Inspired Room: Cozy Elegance

I adore Maria's dining room from johns journal. Her design mix is everything from an Okinawa dumpster find in a contact paper covered tv stand turned wine rack, an owl picture from Goodwill, chairs form Ballard Designs and a table from Thailand.Such a beautiful mix. The mix of rich warm colors, mirrored details and the white and espresso, the lovely gray walls... works together perfectly. Really though, her entire home is well done, check it out here.

love fresh white hydrangeas in a simple vase

I always love a good bust.

Spray painted overstock chandelier.

The contact paper dumpster tv find, with a wine rack added inside.
Love the various candles and their glass and metallic holders. I'm sure it puts off a lovely glow.

Inspired Room: My House of Giggle's Dreamy Striped Bedroom

 Tracey of My House of Giggles featured her lovely gray and white striped bedroom so I am finally getting around to showing you some of it. Be sure to visit her best of 2010 projects, they are all so beautiful and full of inspiration. I love her use of gray, blues and white, and the careful additions of stripes. I tried my own striped little cake pedestal stand, and though I love it, I simply could not get the lines to be as straight as I would have liked.

 Her chandelier work is enchanting, and so inspiring. See how she did another one here.

  I would never have thought of using two, thin, ornate contrasting colored mirrors like this. Love it.

 As a jewelry designer, I am in desperate need of cute and creative ways to store jewelry, I adore these.

 I did ballet as a toddler, does that count if I want to add some ballet slippers in my room?!

 Aren't her flower paintings lovely? She also has an etsy shop, which is currently closed, 

but hopefully she will add more items soon!

Branching Out

 branch montage fine art print ~ a wild goose chase

I'm not sure if it's the bare trees all around my yard, or the feeling of scaling down and wanting to declutter and destress, but these branchy pics I've had saved in my files for some times have really struck a cord today.

branch headboard white bedroom ~ lisa madigan

decor8

branch chandy ~ sfgirlby bay's bedroom

*lots of beautiful and subtle branch decor ideas in white space here*

Shine On

Today, I am going to surround myself with pretty things, images and thoughts, that will spin negative happenstances into a postive, beautiful, glowing light that will help guide me for the day.

Homefront: Sparkly Sprinkles

 

This display started with my husband. When we packed up Christmas, he saved this mirrored disco ball type ornament because it cast prisms in the light. It hung around our mantle for a while, until it somehow ended up hanging from the blinds in our little kitchen window.

I loved the movie Pollyanna when I was a girl. I was always astounded by the prism wall of the crotchety old man, and how Pollyanna used those magnificent little crystals to bring warmth to that bitter old soul.

Well, I'm not particularly bitter, or crotchety or a man... but I do feel like I am an old soul at times.

Collecting antique glass apothecary bottles, bejeweling them with vintage rhinestones and adding vintage chandelier crystals to this window has brought a spark of joy to our day.

When the sun is at it's peak, we see thousands of little silver lights, and rainbow prisms dancing across the ceiling, floor and walls.

 

My son asks me to make the sparkles dance, so I lightly tap the blinds and off they go! One day, our whole window will be full of prisms, and the whole wall full of sparkly sprinkles.

Bringing the Outside In

photo by cassia (her etsy here)

Love dining al fresco, cupcakes and jams? Well then you will love today's post!

Anna, of Life More Abundant took a large wooden picnic table and put it in her dining room. The simple breezy white table cloth and curtains, earthy blue paint and simple vase of charming flowers makes a peaceful place to dine with the family. Love the lighting. I think it's just perfect!



Do you think a picnic table would be too casual for you? Well, think again. A classy chandelier, change of drapes and flowers would transform the room in an instant. The simple and unique design (and not having to push chairs around to clean the floors) can be used in many ways to work for anyone!



Here, I added some elegant themes in black and yellow.
(black chandelier, modern placemat, mirror & butterfly frame)



For a more colorful and shabby chic look. (orange vintage mirror, turquoise chandelier, shabby table linens)

All and all, I love what she did with it, and now we can see how versatile a picnic table can be!

By the way, I love featuring beautiful designer homes, but I would really love to feature original designs that haven't been shared before! If you have a space you would love for me to feature, or give some design ideas on, just email me the photos and your thoughts and I'll get to work!

For more crafty and design ideas, head on over to Kimba's diy day linky party and check out all the amazing makeovers!

Anna has also begun selling her homemade treats at Fresh Batch Jams and Fresh Batch Cupcakes! Go visit her shops and leave with a treat.

Perfection in a Shabby Pink Society

I brought along my mother and my two toddlers to the antique mall with me the other day, and boy, were they troopers! Because I took so many photos, I decided to reveal them to you by theme and color, Pink, Aqua, Red, Prairie, Black, Kids, Places We Sit, Fashion and Shabby Chic. Today, the honors go to Pink!






























Question, do you think that a pink room could potentially be masculine? (Obviously not the overly girly examples above though!) I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, what would your man pets say? To see my masculine pink rooms, visit here.

For the Turquoise Antique Mall finds click here.
For the White Antique Mall finds click here.