Sunday, July 26, 2009

Chandelier up and a Lampshade purchased ...

After hours of assembly between assembling the lamp and being completely lost on crystal hanging directions, the chandelier is up. I'm happy with it, but what a nightmare. I got a good deal on this and now I know why. The instructions were awful and I have no idea if I even put the crystals on right but, its up now and I love how it looks.


It looks a thousand times better than it did before ...


We actually have to buy lower wattage bulbs because its a little brighter than we'd like and we don't have a dimmer. Maybe one of these days we'll install one, but for now, different bulbs will work.


Along with the Shabby Chic bedding I got from Target the other day, I found a shade in a shape I really like for the thrift store lamp (yes, it was more than the lamp!). I left the plastic on for a while because I wasn't sure if the scale was right, but I figured it was enough of a drop to hide the socket so it must be right.

I like the scallop on the bottom edge of the shade ...



You would think I would know about these things. My first job out of college was working as an engineer for a lamp manufacturer. I was only there for a year but I really loved the job. A few times a year we would have meetings with the designers about their concepts. Funny thing about designers ... they do all these "pretty things" that are near impossible to carry out. What was my job? To make "the impossible" a reality while making it cost effective at the same time and to see the product from prototype to show and into production. We did some upscale, more modern lighting and other pieces that were more on the funky side. Now, I did learn that a shade should have a certain scale on a lamp, but I can't remember exactly what that scale should be. It was 11 years ago. Then again, that was probably part of the designer's job. And, we didn't work on crystal chandeliers!


Check out Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorphosis Monday for more transformations!

33 comments:

  1. Oh, the chandelier is just gorgeous. I love it. The lamp shade is really pretty on the lamp. I think the scalloped edge is very pretty with the design of the lamp. Everything looks so pretty. Hugs, Marty

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  2. The chandelier looks gorgeous! I love all the sparkly prisms! I had a friend you bought a chandelier off ebay that she had to put together - what a nightmare that was! But it looked great in the end and so does yours!

    Manuela

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  3. Melanie, your chandelier is beautiful. REALLY! And I just love the vintage lamp, but I'm partial to vintage. Why are shades so expensive?? I don't know!

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  4. Your Chandy is just lovely. Looks great hanging in your kitchen.

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  5. Despite the problems the chandelier gave you, it really looks wonderful. I don't think anyone would know if the crystals are on it "the right way" or the "wrong way." It looks great to me! Pretty lamp shade too. I don't get why lamp shades are so expensive either. It's highway robbery for some fabric and wire. :o

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  6. You got it up! It's gorgeous! With all that sparkly going on, who can tell if everything is perfect? It looks wonderful. And so does the lampshade look perfectly to scale for the lamp. And I must say I love the cozy look of your room beyond the lamp too while I'm at it!
    Brenda

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  7. I absolutely love love love the chandelier! Gorgeous!

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  8. oooooohhh, sparkly. love it. It was totally worth all the trouble to have something so pretty in your home. And the lamp shade is cute too. Here's what I do: I walk right into the store with my lamp base. I started doing this after I went through 3 shades for one little lamp. The light bulb went off, take the lamp to the store...

    :)

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  9. I love your chandelier! It's so pretty! And that lamp is so cute! :)

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  10. I LOVE the chandelier!! Isn't it amazing what a difference lighting can make to a space!?!?! Beautiful!

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  11. Beautifully bright chandelier. It makes a lovely difference in your room.

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  12. What a beautiful seating area with those blue chairs and that gorgeous chandelier!

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  13. The chandelier adds just the right touch and that scalloped shade is sooooo cute!

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  14. Beautiful chandelier, and how impressive that you hung it yourself! Nice job.

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  15. The chandi is so beautiful! You are so brave to wire it yourself! I'm so scared of electricity! Your scalloped lampshade is darling!

    Tina

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  16. The chandelier totally transformed that area! Isn't it amazing how uninformative instructions can be--frustrating, too. Love the scalloped lamp shade. I think it works perfectly. Hope to see you over my way one day...

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  17. Beautiful! And I LOVE those blue chairs.

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  18. Wow...I must say, it was worth the hassle. Very Nice.

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  19. Its all about balance -- and presentation. What a lovely transition.

    TTFN~~Claudia ♥

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  20. That chandelier is gorgeous!!!

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  21. Lighting is EVERYTHING!
    And now you have it!

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  22. I love your chandelier, so shabby chic! The lampshade is perfect for the base and that room is so pretty!

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  23. Loved it! It's gorgeous!!! Just gorgeous!!!

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  24. Very pretty light, I bet it is heavy !
    Hugs ~ Kammy
    p.s. love your new shade and love the cottage colors of your living room !

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  25. Definitely prettier than the original lighting. I've got to commend you for following directions on putting the chandelier together. I would have thrown the directions aside and tried figuring it all out myself. Or given up and put it all at my hubby's feet with a plea.

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  26. Ooohhh! I love the chandy, so beautiful. Drooling over your slipcovers too, lovely home.

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  27. I can't imagine putting the chandelier together!! You persevered and it paid off! Love the look of your family room!

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  28. I love your chandy! I just painted my kitchen and hung a new chandy too. I just noticed that my kitchen looks almost the same paint color as yours! I loooove those blue chairs. I might have to do something similar with green paint.

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  29. Cute chandy! It was well worth the hassle! I'm glad you found the perfect lampshade, I'm having a heck of a time finding one large enough to replace a shade on a lamp in my living room. They don't make them like they used to - that's for sure. ~ Robyn

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  30. Oh, I miss my old chandelier. We had one in our dining room (an old one that came when we bought our old house)--because of the heat we installed a ceilin fan in that room and moved the chandelier to another area. However one day, about a year later!!! the chandelier came crashing down!! It broke to pieces. I still use the prisms on my christmas tree ;-(

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