{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 am enjoying watching you rehab your new home! I am sure it will be gorgeous when complete. Our home needs to be painted outside. Thanks.
I’d put in a new light fixture over my dining area! Thanks for the opportunity…
I would use the Lowe’s gift card for interior paint. Moving into a new home and it sure could use some paint to make it more our home. Thanks!!
I’m thinking of taking my small little concret pad out my basement doors and turn that into a small patio with a potting bench. I’ll be able to reach my garden easy and then sit out and enjoy it…
My husband loves to set outside after dark. Our porch light is HUGE and glaring…so he doesn’t turn it on. So it is dark.
I’m a little skeered to sit out with out any light… possums, skunks or anything else might join us! I would love some landscaping
lights!
Wow! What a difference just a new light fixture makes at your door! Great, simple transformation. Would love to win a Lowes gift card – would use it for countertop transformation kit. I have ugly (U G L Y!) yellow countertops now and would love to paint them!
Thanks for the giveaway and LOVE your blog!
Thanks again –
Barbara in TN
I would use the gift card to get new light fixtures for the entry and hallway, Both are the original 80s fixtures and they need to be updated!
I need a new mailbox and post! Mine looks terrible and I would love to replace it!
My Hubby and I and are redoing our living room and kitchen. We buy all of our supplies at Lowe’s. We also get all of our gardening supplies at Lowe’s. They have everything you could imagine for both the inside and the outside. We would put this gift card to great use!
I love your blog and have learned so many creative things. I really enjoy the pictures of your Mom and Dad helping you with your house. How lucky you are to have them by your side!
Love the update…I am a nut about light fixtures too. One by one I am changing them out! I have the same light you put over the door–I just gave mine a coat of black satin spray paint to spruce it up. I would probably buy more spray paint if I won the gift card. Paint gives anything a new life. I have also found that it’s great for all those foam planters that start to loose their color. Take care, Holly
I would use the gift card to update the landscape outside our soon to be home. It needs a trelis for a rose, a fence to hide the trashcans and a/c, new mulch or pine needles, thinning out of shrubs and would LOVE to buy some daylillies!
LOVE your blog! You are SO inspirational!!!
I would love to have an outdoor ceiling fan on my covered back porch. It would certainly help wth the summer heat.
We could use some “enlightenment” at our place, too! A gift card would sure help….thanks for hosting, Rhoda!
I would buy outside lighting for my house, and if I had any leftover, maybe some nice annuals to spruce up the curb appeal! Nothing like some pretty red flowers to make everything pop!
I would love to finish my inside stairs!!! I only have 4 more to go & the trim!!!
Yesterday, I was at Lowes looking at outdoor light fixtures , we have those ugly brass ones and would love to put up 4 new ones. So PICK ME!!!!
And I am loving watching you take your house from ugly to a darling home!
Oh wow, those are gorgeous! I’m so happy for you that you will soon be back in a place of y our own. Keep up the good fight. I would love a new outdoor carpet for my back porch. 🙂
I would use the Lowe’s gift card for landscaping the front side of my yard. I think this would add to the curb appeal. Thanks
I have a few little projects…
*Make tufted headboard for master bedroom – need plywood or pegboard
*Fix Trim around house – need paint and trim brush
*Organize closets – need system
I could really use the $100 gift card!!!
Thanks for the giveaway Rhoda!
Very nice job, Rhoda! I would use the Lowe’s card to also update my outdoor light fixtures.