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January 10, 2013

How To Update Old Brass Fixtures

Have you ever found something really cool at a thrift store and you bring it home and that one little thing ignites a spark that makes you change a bazillion other little things in your house?

Well, that happens to me on a weekly basis. For my own mental sanity, I should really just stay out of thrift stores, but dangit they draw me in like a gnat to a porch light.
This past weekend, I came across a brassy little lantern chandelier at the thrift store. I had been looking for something like this for awhile, so when I saw a $5 price tag on the lantern, I think I yelped outloud. Seriously, this thing should have been more than $5.
High-five to the awesome person who donated this to the thrift store.

The secret to updating old brass fixtures! Such an easy update! Check this out!



When I saw this thing, I knew immediately where it would go. 

The secret to updating old brass fixtures! Such an easy update! Check this out!

The above picture is from the first set of renovations I did to our master bedroom. I found that giant chandelier (also originally brass) and decided that it was better than the dark brown ceiling fan that was there before. 
You have to go see the before pic of this room with the dark wood paneling and old ceiling fan. 

After a while of living with the giant chandelier, it began to really annoy me. It was just too large.

The little brass lantern seemed like a much better fit.

So, I decided to spray paint the little brass lantern, too.
Here's what I ended up with. 

The secret to updating old brass fixtures! Such an easy update! Check this out!

I really love the way it turned out, and the size fits the room much better.

The secret to updating old brass fixtures! Such an easy update! Check this out!


To update the chandelier from brass to brushed silver,  I used one of my favorite silver spray paints, Rustoleum Titanium Silver (amazon affiliate link). This is the same paint that I used all over my kitchen and on my bathroom faucet. I like it because it creates a brushed nickel finish rather than a chrome silver finish. So, it's perfect for all sorts of home decor stuff, especially fixtures.


Rustoleum Titanium Silver Spray Paint - creates the most realistic 'brushed nickel' finish!



Once I had my chandelier hung, it got me on a redo-tons-of-other-stuff-binge. So, I completely redid my vanity area. If you read my blog a lot, you might notice what I did. 


 I spray painted the vanity mirror silver, too. And I also painted the table satin black, and completely reupholstered the chair.
See how this thing looked the day I brought it home from the thrift store here.


I love the way it looks in the evenings, with the little lamp on. Here's what it looks like during the day now.



I like the new vanity colors much better. They complement the green rug and embroidered pillows now. 




And that's not all. While I had my spray paint out, I spray painted another thrift store find. I found a little gold  mirrored vanity tray at the thrift store for $2. I thought it would be perfect to hold some of my jewelry. 







Most of this junk is from Target and thrift stores. And Forever 21...or Forever 29, as I like to call it.


And one last thing, I decided to sell my old vanity stool that sat under my antique flip-down desk. It was too small. So, I pulled an old piano bench out of a storage closet and painted it black. It's not a permanent solution, as I really have no idea what to do with this room long-term. But, it's okay for now.




Check out how I later upholstered this stool with stripes here.

And those are all of the bedroom updates for today!
Thanks so much for stopping by! 
*To see a complete history of the evolution of this room from the day we moved in to months after this post was written, go here.







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34 comments:

  1. V this looks AMAZEBALLS!! Isn't it crazy how a little spraypaint can transform a light fixture like that? We are brass covering twinsies today! I have a post up on the FOLK blog about this exact same thing! :) http://www.folklifestyle.com/2013/01/update-an-outdated-light-fixture-with-spray-paint.html

    Yours is a beaut!

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    1. Great minds think alike indeed!!!!!!!! I love your version!! Now, teach me how to use my camera. (I kid....I am an impossible student.) :)

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    2. Love this! How do you not get the spray paint on the glass part?

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  2. This is just full of awesomeness! I'm glad to know that you didn't just discard your trophy wife, but rather updated her with a thinner, more modern one. Very classy. You are so talented--keep up your beautiful work!

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    1. Ha!!! Why, of course! It's always best to see the potential in someone! :) Plus, the trophy wife has already ended being put somewhere she can be displayed much more prominently! Thanks for the sweet words, Brenda!! xo

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  3. I cant wait to have my own place so i can use your tips & tricks and decorate like you do! i love your blog!! Sam Schuerman mentioned you and i've been obsessed with your posts :)

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    1. That's so awesome! Thanks so much Gabriela! That's so nice to hear! I love Sam....her blog makes me atleast TRY to wear makeup! :)

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  4. I seriously wish I had half your talent. You make it look so easy!

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  5. Nice job Virginia - your bedroom looks gorgeous!

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  6. I've been itching to make over a light fixture! Itching I tell you! I just can't seem to find one anywhere lately! I'm re-inspired though now thanks to you!

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  7. Gorgeous my friend! I just bought that same spray for some stuff in our bathroom, so glad to see how gorgeous all your items turned out! Everything is fabulous.
    XO
    Kristin

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  8. $5 is amazing! I did love the old chandelier too though :( Hope you find a nice new home for it!

    Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget

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  9. I remember seeing Emily Clark's light and thinking how fabulous it was...yours is equally as wonderful! I think it's perfect for your bedroom. I sort of like the old chandy so I'm anxious to see what you did with it!

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  10. Love the light transformation! Looks like one of those really expensive bird cage lamps now! And I so hear you, sister. We can be gnats together.

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  11. The silver is just perfect! Your bedroom is to die for! I can't wait to find out what happened with the old light!

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  12. Great job with the lantern! Your bedroom looks beautiful.

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  13. Love the lantern and I actually love the piano bench! You are a master with thrifty finds and spray paint!

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  14. K. New light is FAB....huge improvement! Your vanity area is also much improved. Nice work!! You've given me several a-ha's in this posting, so thank you!! I'm off to tape off and spray paint a mirror now AND purchase some curtains with hold backs (hold backs?? whatever they're called...the hook thingys installed on the wall that hold your curtains away from the windows/doors...I have French doors in my bedroom and now know what I want to do for coverings!) Thanks for the inspiration! <3, Dawn

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  15. Love it all! I've seen this type of fixture often at our thrift stores too. Have thought about getting one an redoing it but can't seem to make up my mind..haha! We made a neat dining table fixture from a thrift store fixture but it's so hard to keep clean! I'm thinking of hitting up thrift stores for something else.
    What do you think of our knock off fixture? http://cndesigns.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/more-knock-off-lighting-fixture-photos/

    Honestly I've loved all your incarnations of your master bedroom. Each one is great but they just keep getting better and better.

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  16. I love the light fixture, but I really love the mirror! I need to try some of that paint, I keep hearing that you can paint anything with rustoleum! :)

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  17. Oh my gosh, so gorgeous girl! Love the light fixture. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  18. Forever 29, keepin it real..hilarious!

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  19. :) I'm addicted to your site! Looking for a new home that we can just move into and not worry about the finish work. But after seeing what you did to this home. YOU HAVE INSPIRED ME!! Wow! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have changed my world. Love your style, color choices, and positive attitude. I'm ready to start Thrifting right now!!

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    1. Aw! Thank you so much Brenda! That truly means so much to hear that! Thank you so much for stopping by and I'm so glad I was able to share my ideas with you!!

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  20. I already have a brassy lamp like that hanging over our dining room table. I would like to change it out, but spray painting it seems much easier and cheaper! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  21. My H brought home a brassy light fixture from the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store in our town. I remembered having read this article, and looked it up. Then I looked through my spray paint stash and found "Crafters' Metallic" in Silver, satin finish. It worked quite nicely.

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  22. Is the glass still in the chandelier I can't tell from the pic. Awesome job. I'm doing it!

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  23. You know what you need for your corner with the desk? A sweet little cozy wing back sized for a lady; upholstered in black and white toile!!! I used to have the exact thing you need....wonder what I ever did with that chair.....?

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  24. I have a giant version of your lantern in my garage. It was in my in-laws' 2-story entry. I would like to paint it an oil-rubbed bronze color. I just don't know how! I don't want to destroy the fixture trying to take out all the glass pieces or make a giant mess trying to paint the inside chandelier part. Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated! The version I have is twice as tall as yours, with two panels of glass stacked vertically per side.

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  25. QQ - What is the color of the paint on the walls? Absolutely love it!

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  26. I have 2 hanging lanterns similar to yours, hanging now...brassy, dirty and rather ugly. I just moved into this house and many things need updating, especially these lanterns.
    I will drop them and paint them black which would fit into the country cottage look I'm heading for. Thanks for the inspiration!!

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  27. I followed one of your links back and back... oh such a journey. And such fun! Do many wonderful ideas. My two married daughters and I are thrifter die hards. But it was my mother-in-law and her sister who truly taught us the finesse and style of thrifting. Good Will will always be "The GW Emporium" in our hearts. Thank you for great suggestions and a terrific blog.

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  28. I love your room and chandelier. I too love thrift shops and garage sales. Last summer I bought four large brass school house lights for $30. The owner said the brass does not go with their decor anymore. Well, I wasn't going to tell her that it did not go with mine either. I spray painted in black satin and they look wonderful. See pic's http://hometransitionsandstaging.ca/blog.

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment!! I do the hammer dance every time I read one.

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