Score on another light fixture from Lowes. You never know when they will mark things down and their light fixtures can be a super deal if you hit them at the right time. I’ve been lucky enough to score at least 4 others on deep clearance, just by being in the right place at the right time. I even darkened this one slightly with my Sophisticated Finishes Blackened Bronze craft paint.
I shared the Sophisticated Finishes craft paint (that I get at Michaels) in this post and you can see what the bottle looks like and how it works. It works best over painted and textured surfaces like picture frames and painted metal. I use a small craft paintbrush to apply it.
My foyer fixture is from Lowes, as is the track lights in the kitchen, the outdoor fixture hanging outside the garage, and another small little fixture that is in the masterbath water closet. All on deep discount.
EDITED: And for those of you who are new and asked if I replace them myself! Oh yes, girlfriends! I have changed out each and every light fixture in the house with no help from my hubby. I taught myself how to do it by trial and error. Always, always turn off the power and then it’s just a matter of rewiring black to black and white to white wires and attaching the copper ground wire. I won’t tell you that it’s foolproof, because I have had many occasions where one almost kicked my butt. But, I persevered and conquered! 🙂 Some that I buy at yardsales don’t have the nuts and bolts to go with them, so I’ve had to improvise and use things from the hardware section. I’ve painted many of those little nuts black to match the fixture after I got them up. But, if you buy one from the store brand new, you shouldn’t have a big problem. They are pretty easy to do and after replacing more than a dozen of them, I’m getting to be an expert.
The only fixture I had help on is the foyer fixture in the 2 story foyer and my hubby stood on a smaller ladder with me on the taller one and we did it….barely, but it got up there. That was the hardest one I’ve tackled and only because of the height of the ceiling. You can read about the foyer fixture here and see the dining room fixture that was replaced around the same time. This was before I painted the dining room when it was red.
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you’ll know that I’ve been on a mission for the last 3 years to replace all my builder’s brass light fixtures and I can happily say, it’s done! This one replaced the smaller fixture in the downstairs blue guestbath that I picked up 2 years ago at a yardsale for $5 (you should have seen the brass ugly that was there originally, double yuck).
This was the last one, the floor model, hanging on the wall and I asked the salesgirl to please take it down for me, so she did. Originally marked at $68, it was $17, less 10% for being the floor model, total was $16 plus change, yeah I can handle that.
So yeah, I’m trading up…again! 🙂 Hopefully the last time on this one.
Speaking of trading up, here’s the new yardsale chandy that I recently picked up for $8 in my office nook. I’ve been waiting for just the right one and this is it! It is the perfect size and doesn’t hang down too far and it’s just girlie enough for this space. There’s even room on the curved arms at the bottom to hang some crystals if I find some and I think I just might do that.
Not sure if I will add shades or not, I sort of like it naked.
And backing up from my desk, it’s just adorable in here. You can see my messy desk, I really do use this space. Paint palette on the floor.
So, all my builder’s ugly bright brass is finally out of here (at least in the light fixtures). I have one more trade-up in the upstairs guestbath that I’ll be showing you real soon. In fact, that bath is getting a fun makeover that I can’t wait to tell you about.
Looks great, Rhoda!! I always peek at the clearance merchandise at Lowes… you never know what might be there! Thanks also for the tip about the craft paint… I have a couple of touch-ups to do around here and I didn’t know about that specific product. I’ll give it a try!
Hi Rhoda,
Amazing deals on those great-looking light fixtures! I’m totally impressed every single time I visit your wonderful blog.
I always think … “What a woman!” Makes me think of that song … “I can bring home the bacon … Fry it up in a pan!”
Well, Rhoda, you can bring home the fixture … Wire it up in a flash!
Hope you have a great Labor Day weekend!
See you at your next party!
Bill @ Affordable Accoutrements
Great find!! Turned you bathroom from wow to spectacular!! Lovin the colors in your office nook, I’d keep the lights bare…so sparkly!!
Have a fantastic long weekend!! Hugs, Nerina 🙂
Beautiful light fixtures. I think the garage sale find is my favortie and it is a beautiful addition of an already beautiful area.
I know you are so happy to have no more brass fixtures!! I am sooooooo ready to be rid of them myself!! Slowly getting there. Thanks for the inspiration!
Rhoda, Thanks for showing us how to upgrade your house frugally! I want to do this, I really do! After remodeling our house for the past year, my husband is being transferred. (It’s a good thing:)!) All the houses we are looking at have the most random fixtures! I am now relaxing a bit knowing that with a little patience I can replace the yuck and make it my house without going broke! Love, love your blog!!
Thank you for showing your cosy little office nook Rhoda. It looks lovely in there and quite inspiring.
Love the makeover, Rhoda. You can’t imagine how many times I’ve looked at our fixtures throughout our rental home just dying to paint them! Someday, when military life is over, I’ll have my own home just like I want it. A tip for the foyer light or those with extremely high ceilings, my husband & I utilize our dining room table with the 6 foot ladder on top. We’ve used this to change out long bulbs in the dated kitchen lighting & for those awkwardly placed smoke detectors!
Love it Rhoda! I’m so jealous — we only have two brass left but they are about 20 feet up, so I’ll need to hire out for that one. I’m not that brave!! And we have a few that I like but are brushed nickel. Just want to paint those but some of those are even taller!! 🙂
Hi Rhoda!
You just have the prettiest style. Thanks for sharing. Any suggestions for the very ugly building-standard flouroscent box light hanging in my kitchen? I got hubby to take it down today and saw there is just one small hole where it hung….hubby said something about a new fixture having to be secured with a brace first (or something)???
I love your office area! Its so cute!
tried my very first switch today………..no shocks…….connected the wires, dropped the glass and it smashed……..could not get the middle screw thingie to the cross thingie….seems too short……..and now the light doesn’t go on!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jill, you might have missed this one, but I took down that ugly fluor. box in my kitchen earlier this year & installed a tracklight. I love it! Take a look here. I’m sure you could do the same thing. It didn’t require anything extra, I just had to secure both sides with the screws that came with it.
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/lighting/
Norma, I’m SO sorry you had problems with yours! Sometimes you have to improvise & get longer screws or work with it a bit to make it work. I hate that the glass broke too. I’ve had some mishaps myself. Don’t give up! 🙂
Hi Rhoda,
I really like how the 3 light fixture has more presence above the large mirror. I’m still quite impressed that you do all your owning light fixture changes. I’ve watched hubby do ours many times (usually I’m the one holding the fixture) and it still makes me nervous – YIKES! That little office nook of yours is a dream & looks very functional!! Love the paint color, its one of my fave colors even for clothing. TFS! Sheila
I’ve always admired how fearless you are in tackling these projects involving electricity!! My husband doesn’t even like to change out light fixtures! The new bathroom is a much better size and looks great!
Manuela
Love, Love. Love what you have done with your light fixtures. We are in the process of doing the same thing. Out with the brass and in with something more up to date. I had a question our guest bathroom is in the process of being redone. We want to put a frame around the mirror like the one in your blue bathroom. was that easy to do, and did you use crown molding for the frame.
thanks, Jami
Hi Rhoda,
Wow, you new light looks great! Love your little office too!
Debbie
LOVE the office nook… love it… the black chandy is the perfect touch.
You are one brave girl!
Looking forward to seeing you guys soon. Let’s talk next week and finalize plans.
Hugs!
Kat
congrats on removing all your brass fixtures!!!!! cannot believe you do it all yourself!!!! go girl!!
xoxoxo