TGIF my friends! We still have about a foot of snow on the ground but the roads are clear allowing me to run out and buy guess what? Yes, a chandelier! Dear Craigslist, I love you!
Earlier I shared with you a fabulous chandelier my sister-in-law, Shana scored on Craigslist. Just to refresh your memory, here’s another peek.
Beautiful, right? Isn’t Craigslist the best? As you know, my husband and I are selling our house in Pennsylvania and moving back home to North Carolina. We tried to sell the house ourselves, (For Sale by Owner) but it turned out to be such a headache! Mostly the calls were from realtors wanting to list our house. We did get one bite this week but it fell through. Apparently the buyers were concerned about the age of the furnace, water heater and a/c units. Well, the house is 15 years old. Hello?
Anyway, the experience taught us a few things. In the Seller’s Disclosure Statement we listed items we did not wish to include in the sell of the house such as 5 chandeliers. These particular ones are very unique and special to me and I love them. So, the buyers put in the contract that we could take them and “replace them with comparable fixtures.” Hmmm. Clearly they don’t know me. If they did, they would know that I paid less than $100 for each of them, some as little as $40. However, to replace them would cost thousands!!
So, now my mission is to replace the ones I truly love with acceptable alternatives. Enter Craigslist! My handyman (not Brad, the other one, Justin) is coming next week to work on a few repairs and I’m going to have him switch out the fixtures for me. That way, the next couple that walks in the door will know that what they see is what they get. (And more importantly not want mine.)
I could just go to the thrift store and pick up some standard, cheap lights, but my pride won’t allow it. We still have to live here, right? And the thought of leaving my house behind with tacky light fixtures is not in my DNA. So, today I checked Craigslist and found this beauty.
It was advertised as Elk Lighting and brand new for $100. The fellow selling the light had bought out a lighting store that had gone out of business. He explained his wife was furious with him for buying that amount of fixtures and their garage and dining room were packed. Hence, sell them quickly! I asked him if that was his best price and he said make him an offer. $75 cash? SOLD! This light fixture is heavy and big. I love the brass accents and the fun finish. This baby is going in the dining room. I think it’s a fine replacement!
Aren’t the details fun? I kind of want to keep it. (Naturally, being the hoarder that I am.)
The scale of the piece will fit nicely in the dining room and will replace this fixture. (see below) Can you believe I paid $100 for this chandelier? I found it at a consignment store in Denver, NC. I think the store owner had bats in the belfry. (see prior post) So, I snatched it up and brought it back to PA and had my handyman hang it for me. I’m too attached to it to leave it. Plus, can you imagine how much it would cost to replace it with “something comparable?” Therefore, my Craigslist score will hang nicely in here and be a little more contemporary. Plus, the brass accents will blend nicely with the gold in the dining room.
Once it’s hung I’ll share a picture and you can tell me which one you prefer. Honestly it may be a toss up! Different styles, but I think they are both beautiful. I wonder what may husband will think of it? Like I said, he has come over to the dark side when it comes to lighting. (Thank heaven!) Now to find 4 more lights….
Well, I wish you all a lovely weekend! Stay warm and dry. Saturday night we turn the clocks back. Yay!!! Thanks for stopping by! xo Dell
