I ordered this pretty light for the office / back room (heretofore just called the office even though there’s really not that much work that happens back there, but this slash thing is getting annoying). Yes, the ceilings are low (well, 8 feet, which I guess is normal, but it’s normal low, not normal high) and I’ve since read 40,000 designer blog posts about how I really should have a flush mount light there, but I didn’t want a flush mount light. I wanted a pretty pendant light to be a fun dash of pizazz in the room.
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| Pretty light but bad canopy and chain color. |
Lighting is one of those things where you can spent $10 or $1,000 and in the end you still have something that illuminates your room. It’s just that the $10 looks like a boob and the $1,000 is a work of art. Most of us choose lights that fall somewhere in between. In this case, I was closer to $10 than $1,000 but still at a level I was somewhat uncomfortable spending for a light, even after finding a pretty good coupon. But when that light arrived I was smitten. Until I pulled the canopy and chain out of the box. Because while the light is scalloped-shaped bits of heaven (OK, capiz shells) finely lined in 14-karat gold (not 14-karat gold), the chain and canopy were spray painted a hideous shade of orange that I think was supposed to replicate copper but didn’t in any way, shape or form replicate copper or any other actual metal.
There was also a pressing design issue with the chain: There was no way to shorten it. We tried to cut open a link, remove the excess links and close it back up again, but there was no way that sucker was going to go back together. Since by this point I realized that we were going to have to repaint the chain and canopy, we picked up a stainless steel openable chain link that twists shut and used that to make the connection where we had cut off the chain.
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| My mini spray booth setup and the canopy and chain in all its orange coppery glory. |
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| The cutest can of spray paint ever. |
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| And after a few coats of spray paint. |
I scuffed up the canopy with a little bit of sandpaper, cleaned it well, rigged up a mini spray booth in the box the light was shipped in and went to town with a very cute mini can of gold spray paint.
Three coats later and all was forgiven.
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| The now-improved light looking great. |
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| You can see the twist-close link we added to the top and the spiffy new gold color that matches the rest of the light perfectly. |
Yes, it irritates me that you can pay not a little bit of money for a light and still have to fix it yourself, but I love it so much that I would have ordered it anyway even if I knew that ahead of time. I’ve come a long way. Years ago I would have sent that light back because if something was new it was supposed to be perfect. These days, I just get out the spray paint.
Here are some other random things I’ve spray painted over the years.
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6 Responses
I think you are more adaptable than I am and you have great DIY skills that help you solve the problem!
This post is extremely timely! I have been contemplating spray painting a light fixture to make it look like I want it to but it just felt unnatural to alter something brand new! I think you've convinced me. I'm doing it. (Not telling my husband though; he'll think I'm nuts).
HI Maggie,
Don't worry, your husband probably won't notice for years, if ever. He will just think it looks nice.
Charlotte
Stunning! I can't imagine why the manufacturer thought that orange matched the gold around the shells!!
Have can, will spray. Nothing is sacred.
Hi Erin,
Absolutely agree with you and Lisa Greenbow – nothing is sacred! About 10 years ago I was looking for 4 bar-height chairs with an old fashioned French, wrought iron look. I wanted something with square tubing not round that did not look like it was made in Mexico or in China. Everything I found at furniture stores and on-line was $200 or more per chair. Then my local supermarket brought in some "Bistro Sets" with 2 chairs and a small round, marble-topped table. The chairs were VERY sturdy and quite lovely except that they were a rusty brown color. Each set was only $128! Brought them home, spray painted the metal flat black. Recovered the seats with a heavy upholstery weight fabric to match my curtains, made corded trim to go around the seats then button tufted and added faux ties. Then took the 42" high tables outside to the patio to hold large pots of geraniums. They all look very expensive and frankly, down-right fabulous!
I have also painted shower surrounds, bathroom faucets and door knobs – scuff lightly with med weight steel wool, prime with automotive self etching primer, two light coats of appropriate metallic paint then two light coats of gloss or semi-gloss sealer.
Practice first on something you plan to throw away then go for it! Even the great decorator, Mario Buatta, says that a can of paint is a decorator's best friend. (Check out Cote De Texas Blog – The Skirted Round Table discussion with Mario Buatta.)
Only wish I had bought more of the Bistro Sets. Could have dolled them up and sold them for $300 to $400 on line.
Smiles from Charlotte Des Fleurs