Happy Thursday my friends! As you know we are in the process of selling our home in Pennsylvania. This is a long and arduous process that begins with cleaning and purging, followed by getting the house ready to go on the market! So, this fits in nicely with my post today. Chandelier make-overs. An Easy DIY anyone can do!
If you are preparing to put your house on the market, I would advise taking down any existing lighting or chandeliers you do not wish to leave with the house when you move. This will preemptively prevent misunderstandings or haggling down the road. And trust me, it will come up. Even if you list them as an exclusion, someone will still want them. We all want what we can’t have, right? The crystal sconce shown above is one of my all time favorite finds. I admit I did nothing but clean it up and hang it, but I adore it.
Which brings me to my point that almost all of the chandleries in our house cost relatively little money. (but that doesn’t mean I love them less.) I sort of have a chandelier fetish. I love nothing more than hunting for a neglected little light with good bones, and lots of potential! Actually my very favorite chandelier hangs in our kitchen. I bought it 15 years ago at an antique store for $40. It had a greenish patina and no crystals. It had a lovely shape and was in otherwise perfect condition. I brought it home, cleaned it up and painted it with a fresh coat of Heirloom White Spray paint. (I wish I had a before picture but sadly do not.)
I had the fixture rewired by my electrician for safety and then hung. I had some crystal prisms in my stash and what was missing I ordered online on eBay, which is a perfect source for all things crystal and lighting. And this little beauty has hung in our kitchen ever since! 
Tip: You can buy lots of crystals on eBay sometimes for as little as a dollar per crystal. Keep an eye out for bids ending soonest and also for buy it now options. Often you can get a great deal! I also like to mix and match different sizes and shapes of the crystals to make a chandelier a bit more interesting. Therefore don’t get hung up on buying all one kind.
This vintage brass chandelier hung in our dining room at our last house. It’s pretty but was missing the bottom cap when I bought it. I paid just $15 and also had it rewired. The electrician found a bottom piece that matches closely enough. Since the bobeches were also missing, I added glass ones and crystals. The little arms on the body of the fixture are a bit puny. See? They are pretty but small. And they only hold one crystal each.
So, I searched on eBay for a few weeks until I spotted these. I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I found a set of 8 for $25! These arms exactly match the ones on my kitchen chandelier.
The arms are easy to switch out since they simply attach with flathead screws.
See the difference? Also, the larger arms allow for two crystal opportunities versus one! More crystals? Yes, please!
And here are the new arms in place. Doesn’t this little change make a huge difference? The whole fixture feels much more substantial.
And because this fixture is a close enough match to the kitchen chandelier, I plan on painting this one white, switching out the beige sleeves with white and adding crystals to match the other. I can picture the lovely pair hanging over our future kitchen island. Together at last! <3
Can you picture it?
This is another beauty I found at an auction. It was crumpled in the corner and no one else seemed to want it. All it needs is a little TLC and it will be a show stopper once again! Supposedly this one came from Paris!
And check out this make over by Suzy’s Not So Shabby Cottage. She took this plain builder grade brass chandelier…
And turned it into this! Remarkable, right? Suzie said she predrilled holes for the crystals, then spray painted the fixture white. And aren’t the turtle doves perched on the chain a fun touch? Great job!
And another makeover by Centsational Style. She took another builder grade brass fixture:
And simply updated the entire chandelier with a fresh coat of spray paint and hung it in the kitchen. What a difference, right? Also, I like the number of arms this fixture has because it gives off tons of good light! Always a good thing in a kitchen.
And a close up look at the transformation…
Honestly, you can find these builder grade chandeliers for $20 or less at thrift stores or consignment stores and the vintage brass ones on Craigslist or eBay for around $50. With a bit of imagination, the sky is the limit! Especially if you are on a tight budget, this is a great way to get the look you want without breaking the bank. Paint it, embellish it, or whatever to make it your own!
Personally, I find it a challenge to find light fixtures and fix them up. It’s truly the thrill of the hunt! So much the better if I get a great deal. Some part of the process makes it very rewarding for me. Plus the fact that once I put my spin on it, it’s suddenly a one of a kind piece masterpiece!
Have you rescued a chandelier or given one a make over? I’d love to hear about it! Meanwhile, thank you for stopping by! I really appreciate it! Have a great night! xoxo Dell
