DIY Pendant Light

As I was shopping for a light to go above the kitchen sink, my mind was on some of my favourites that I’ve seen lately:

The Vintage Barn Light from Restoration Hardware $299-399

Vintage Streetlight from Restoration Hardware $329- $549

Because those images were tucked away in my head, I got up the courage to buy this at our local Restore (Habitat for Humanity’s building supply thrift store).

(I forgot to take the picture before I took it apart. Just imagine a gold chain and gold wire) Cost – $8.00

I had this in my bag when the electrician was here. When I pulled it out to show him, his reaction was hilarious. His eyes lit up and I could just imagine what he really wanted to say. Instead, he said, “Well, it’s not a bad light…”. We all just laughed…

He did advise us to put in new wiring and porcelain socket thing. There was a carefully written notation inside that said “porcelain socket replaced 1983”. It was time to do it again.

So while my husband fiddled with all the electrical parts, I got out my spray paint and went outside. (Tip Alert!: Note the paper I have taped to cover the hole. I covered the entire white inside with paper attached with painter’s tape. I didn’t want any spray paint to sneak onto the inside.)

I thought it was hilarious that you could see the entire outside view in the reflection of that gold hood. And, look! For the first time in my life, I have long legs! tee hee!

I propped the pieces onto a glass jar and coffee tin. It made great spraying stations. I could spin them around without having to touch the freshly painted item.

I sprayed “oil-rubbed bronze” in satin finish in thin layers. I took my chances and didn’t prime first. I wasn’t sure if I needed to…and it seemed to work fine without it.

Here it is all finished and hung.

 

And for those of you who like the cost break-down, here it is:

Light at the Restore: $8.00 Spray Paint: already had Electrical Parts: $8.25 (with all taxes added)

Total: $16.25. Hmmm…slightly cheaper than the others on my wish list!