{GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED}
The winner is: #262: Chelsea Duncan!
Our Lowe’s challenge this month was to spruce up an outdoor area and give it more curb appeal. I knew instantly what I would do and that is, change out these pitiful light fixtures. Lowes has some really nice ones for not a lot of money.
I picked out these two beauties and they were $40 each. Not bad at all for adding that curb appeal.
This pretty little black lantern will go over the front door.
I got out the ladder and started taking down the old fixture. If you have been following my blog for awhile, you know that I am not afraid to tackle light fixtures and changed out every light fixture in my old house myself. It’s not hard once you get the hang of it. I’ll show you more on that below.
The old one came down. YAY!
And the new one went up. Look how cute it looks with my glass front door!
It’s very simple and elegant with seeded glass.
Here’s are simple instructions on DIYing your own light fixtures. Someone asked me this and YES, turn OFF the power to your lightswitch by turning off the breaker. I will confess, that I sometimes just make sure the switch is in the OFF position on the wall and that stops the power from coming through too, but that is not the proper way to do it. Do as I say, not as I do. Be safe!
Here’s the back porch fixture. I thought I’d show you how easy it is to connect these. Black wire to black wire and white one to white. Wrap the copper ground wire around the little screw that is marked Ground. Screw the plate in and line up the bolts. 
The base of the fixture has holes that the screws slide through and then the cap nut goes on top.
Much better, don’t you think?
Beautiful and simple Craftsman style fixture and now the porch will look SO much better. I can hardly wait to get on this porch to enjoy it all!
And Lowes is giving away to ONE of my readers a $100 giftcard to help you out with a project of your own! What will you spend your giftcard on if you win?
Do you have an outdoor project you’d like to do soon? Tell me in the comments and I’ll choose a winner in a few days!
Note: I received a Lowes giftcard to complete my outdoor project.
Lovely! You ARE the ‘can do’ lady! I especially like the fixture you chose next to the slider.
$100 would go a long way towards being able to have a real dining room light. When we moved in there was a light up on the ceiling…no chandelier. Now that is just not acceptable. But, the good thing. I’m making the very best of it. That gift card would be a huge blessing. Thanks!
You are so fortunate Rhoda that you are a ” handy woman”. Love the new fixtures, they make a world of difference. Great giveaway!! We are in Lowe’s at least least twice every weekend and this $100 would certainly come in handy.
I love the pictures of the progress on the house, it will be lovely. Thanks for the giveaway~
Mary L
I have the longest “to-do” list. I bought my very first house 3 yrs ago & did it all on my own. It was a foreclosure & needed a TON of updating. I’m sure you can picture what a 1981 tri-level looks like. 🙂
we are changing out all our exterior lightss at our lake house. this would buy 2 of the 8 we need!
I would buy paint to paint our little girls’ play space.
Hey Rhoda, I am so excited about your new house. I love seeing the improvements you are doing. If I won a Lowes Card I would give it to my daughter to do some home improvements in her home and there are many but having three perfect little ones leaves less money for needed projects.
We desperately need a new back porch light. Ours is being held together with duct tape! Awful! Plus, could always use new cushions for the seating on our front porch!
I would get a new light fixture for my front hall; wish I knew how to show you a picture of the ugleeee 1960’s fixture that is there.
Love your blog Rhoda! I am a fellow Atlantan who recently just bought my first place. I would use the gift card towards the installation of my tile back splash.
We’re wanting to add some fun accents to our backyard for our little boy, from the last Lowe’s magazine. The thing with the gutters, outdoor chalkboard and the PVC pipe buried in the ground to run cars down. Would LOVE to have this GC to help with that project!
I am saving to buy french doors to replace my old outdated sliding glass doors going out to my back deck. Also wanting to paint all of my wrought iron furniture, recover the seating and paint an outdoor rug. That is a lot on my list, I know…but it has been a long time a comin’ 🙂
So happy for your new home purchase and look forward each day to see if you have shared your next project with us!
Tona Haggermaker
Athens, Alabama
Paint and moulding! My daughter’s bedroom (she moved out 10 yrs ago) is in a desperate need of a do-over.
So happy for you. May God give you more blessings !!! The light fixtures do look just right there.
Oh my gosh – I would love to win the gift card! We want to do a little wall around the backyard and this would be perfect. Actually, there are a million projects I want to do – paint the family room, shelves in the office/craft room, paint a dresser, etc. :))
More plants for my yard.
I’d put it towards all the paint I need to finally paint the interior………..it’s been more than 20 years since it was done!
Hi Rhoda!
There is always a project around this house. But if I have to choose, I think I would buy some blinds for the den.
I’d love to finish up some landscaping projects and also add some window boxes to the front of the house and plant some colorful flowers. Thanks!
I would switch out our home’s outdoor lighting, too! The ones the builder put in are so sad… two out of the four outdoor lights are already broken! We really need some new lights!
Sprucing up master bath and need a new light fixture!
Love your blog !