{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.
I really want beadboard paneling and a new sink and cabinet for my laundry room.
My niece just bought her first house. She’s single with a two-year-old son and has a lot of upgrades she wants to do. She had her front yard rototilled on Saturday so she can replant grass and wants to put succulents in the flowerbeds in the front. If I won the gift card, I would give it to my niece to assist with making her new house her home.
I would love to win !!! My husband loves to sit out on our porch after dark. The porch light is huge and glaring…so he sits in the dark. I am skeered, a possum or skunk might join us! So, I would definitely purchase some landscape lighting!
well, we need one for sure! We had a skunk get under our house…we don’t turn our porch light on much…he squirreled in a loose vent… and believe me…it has never smelled the same since! Please pick me (if even randomly). Long time reader here… who loves your style! 😉
I think it is great that you are so handy. I am also challenged by my outside lighting. I would definitely replace my sad, rusted and undersized light on the porch. It is so short the bulb sticks out the bottom of the ugly fixture.
If I were to be the lucky girl, I would buy supplies to build steps from our back door to the yard. There is none! Great job on fixing up your home. This is an exciting time for you!
Thanks for the chance to win! I’d love to be able to paint the pergola hubby recently built and/or start some landscaping!
I’d love to re-do our outdoor patio trellis. The wood is so old, and is in need of replacing! This would be the perfect push to get me going!
Your new light fixtures look awesome! What a transformation. So fun!
My husband and I are in the process of giving the front of our house more curb appeal too! I am actually painting the exterior this weekend, but we were going to put off buying a kick plate, door knocker for our front door, and a mailbox. I would love to win this so we can go ahead and get the items we were going to wait on! Thank you so much for the opportunity!
[email protected]
My wooden porch has gotten so beat up and worn in the last 25 years that I would love this gift card to give some good ole’ TLC to my front porch. I really could make this $100 stretch by sanding down and re-staining the wooden pillars, spray painting my house numbers and mailbox, buying some planters and ferns to put beside the front door, a new light fixture (just like you) and a new welcome doormat. Thank you for the fab giveaway! Here’s to wishful thinking.
Have soooo many projects to do in my 27 year old house…..outdoor light fixtures, numerous kitchen projects. I would welcome any contributions toward my multiple projects. Love following your reno!
I want to turn my patio into a real living area. The gift card would be a great start for that project!
My wife and I just entered into a new home (built in 1955) the same time we just entered into our new marriage… fortunately our marriage doesn’t need as many repairs yet as this old house!!!
Our favorite part of the house is the back yard, and one of the first projects we need to do is to restore the back deck into working order so that we can site outside and enjoy our meals out in the Florida sunshine! A lot of the wood is warped and isn’t safe, and we worry about our doggy Kelsey falling through the deck or hurting herself. We would definitely use this to fix up our new back deck area!
We are doing some fixing around here so we can list our property. A lot of fixing!
I just saw something today that i want to do! Someone put up a pergola between the house and the garage, and used it as an outdoor living room. Clever!! I’d add greenery to the trellis part, as well as the top, to get shade, keeping it cool.
Lovely lights!
I would love to work on a raised bed in our garden for some strawberries….something I can fence from those little bunnies.
I love the light fixtures you chose for your house. I am enjoying following the progress you are making on your new home. So happy for you! You are inspiring me to get busy! I need new outdoor light fixtures too and new planters for my porch.
I was just in Lowe’s this weekend and bought a vanity light for my kitchen and I saw that exact same black one you have at the front door and thought it would look pretty indoors in my kitchen, but my mom and sister talked me out of it and I thought, “I’m going to come back someday when it’s time to switch out the outdoor light and get that one!” And if I win I can! Plus they are very reasonable. I also bought a medicine cabinet, but I need one more so I think that is what I would get if I won. Question Rhoda…do you have to turn the power off first before you install? I have to admit I’m a little scared of electricity but would love to be a great do-it-yourself’er such as you!
Those are excellent choices for your new home. Sad to say it made me wake up and notice that my lights are very dated and shabby looking(not shabby chic). So definitely new light fixtures. Great job on your new home. Go!!!!
I would probably spruce up the backyard with new flowers and pots or some chairs and outdoor cushions!