Happy Monday, my friends! Long time no see! How are you?? I am relieved and thankful to report that my family is safe and healthy and I pray that you and yours are as well! To keep ourselves busy during the quarantine, we have been over at the lake house working on a few projects. So, why not pop over to the lake with us and see our covered porch chandelier!
First of all, let me say that these days are the strangest I’ve ever experienced and I’m sure you feel the same way. The past few weeks have been filled with uncertainty, but we are trying to stay positive and enjoying the extra time at home with some of our immediate family. (Including our precious grandson!) It’s also allowed us to work on some projects on our to-do list at the lake house.
About 7 years ago, shortly after we purchased our lake house, aka Happy Hill, I stumbled upon a fabulous, oversize chandelier at a consignment store. Word has it the chandelier was pulled out of a house which had been seized as a result of the owner going to jail for embezzlement. All of the contents of the house were sold. Once I saw this unique chandelier, I knew I had to have it! At the time, I didn’t have a place for it, but knew if I passed it up I would be devastated later. So, I purchased it and hauled it to the lake house. My husband, Brad, hung it securely from the rafters in the garage and covered it in plastic, and there it sat for the past 7 years. It’s kind of sad looking….
Fast forward to last week and the lake house covered deck project is nearly complete! As soon as we were under roof, I was clamoring to hang the chandelier. And then it happened! My sweet husband is so good to humor me about things exactly like this. And our newish 16 foot ladder is just the right height for the job. Thanks Facebook Marketplace!
Brad hung a metal plate with 4 screws and a hook underneath the center of the structure. And if you look at how the roof was built, you can see this space was screaming for a chandelier. And it had to be a statement piece, right? Luckily I had just the thing…
Once the hook was securely in place, Brad and our son, Chase, used a pulley system and hoisted the chandelier and looped the chain over the hook. I ran outside on the dock and picked just the right height as they adjusted accordingly. The chandelier needed to be seen from the water, but also be tall enough so that people can walk underneath freely. Instead of hardwiring the chandelier just yet, we put the chandelier on a plug and used extension cords. What a great temporary solution, don’t you agree? I mean, we HAD to hang it ASAP.
After a bit of research, I decided to use LED 25 watt light bulbs. LED lights burn cooler than incandescent bulbs making them less attractive to bugs. And even though it’s not officially bug season, I must say I haven’t noticed any moths or bugs flying around the fixture. We used small hooks screwed in along the top beam to disguise the cords. The chandelier plugs into an exterior outlet nearby.
I admit, once we hung the chandelier I wanted to leave it plugged in 24/7! The chandelier is heavy, with 12 arms and different size metal leaves all over. I think it’s perfect for this outdoor space! It’s a departure from my usual crystal chandeliers, but I am still in love with it! The size and scale feel perfect to me.
The ceiling and roof structure are made from treated lumber and plywood. After the wood has time to cure, we will paint the underside of the ceiling and the railings white to match the rest of the house. For now we are enjoying the beautifully crafted angles and how the chandelier lights up the space. We’ve already had a few boaters drive by slowly to check out the new deck and light. Maybe we will start a new trend on the lake?
Last night we had quite a storm and I was worried about the chandelier. Despite the high winds, thunder and lightening, all is well! We deemed it a good test. However, for my piece of mind, I’d still like to reinforce the chain and hook somehow so it can withstand future (inevitable) storms. Eventually, we will hardwire the chandelier and put it on a dimmer. For now, it’s working out great! The chandelier gives us great lighting on the deck and is even pretty when not on.
Thank you for stopping by today and I apologize for not being on here much with you lately. Real life gets in the way sometimes, right? But I have lots of projects I’d love to share with you so please stop back by soon! Stay well my friends, and let me hear from you~I miss you! I hope you have a great day! xoxo Dell