Chandeliers make all the difference

We'll be heading home from Florida today, so this is a good time to show the yardsale chandy I found recently. I absolutely love how it looks in the guestroom AND I even found another cute chandy at the Lovelady thriftstore. They operate a thriftstore and I spotted one for $5 that is going to go in the beachy guestroom, so stay tuned for that soon.
I have to confess...I love pretty light fixtures.

From day one of moving in our home, it has been my mission to change out every single stinkin' builder's brass light fixture in the house. And I've just about succeeded in doing that. Only a couple more to go. I had bought a cute little flushmount fixture at Lowes on clearance for $10 that was originally in this room (it is now in our masterbath water closet). So, when I spotted this cute thing at the yardsale recently (for $10), I wasn't at all sure where it would go.

I actually left the sale and came back about 30 minutes later, after it dawned on me that I could make it work in the toile bedroom. So, now it's up...this one really just about kicked my butt and took me forever to get it up there right. I've taught myself how to change light fixtures out, but each of them is a little different and sometimes I really have to ponder over it and fight with it. This one was the worst.

Especially when I decided to add the ceiling medallion I picked up years ago at House Parts in Atlanta. I've been carrying this around for a long time and finally got it hung. This thing is made out of fiberglass and I had to screw it into the ceiling. Just call me Tim the Toolman, but I've really had to learn a lot being a DIYer. It's on the job training. I had painted the medallion with my Sophisticated Finishes paint in Blackened Bronze and it's a great match for the chandy. It really is a great look in the room and makes it feel cozy. You can see I did cover the shades with some of my leftover toile fabric and it is just too cute now.
And I adore it. It's a perfect just-right petite size for the bedroom. I had to twist a few of the links to shorten it a bit too so my guests won't smack themselves in the head :), but you don't really see that when you look up at it. Those things are made of iron and would not budge, so that is why the chain is slightly wonky...I'll live with it

So, there you have it! There was also a bigger traditional shaped bronze chandelier that was just beautiful, for $25...and I don't have a place for it! I would have snapped that one up too, but you might remember I changed out my diningroom and foyer chandeliers back in January. You can check out the before and afters if you want...here.
I've found several of these flushmount fixtures at yardsales and changed out all the hallways..amazing how many of these you need in a house when you start counting them up & I've found plenty. Had to paint out a few of them, but they have all worked out well. All for about $5 each.
Another pride and joy yardsale fixture from last year went over the breakfast table. You might remember this one that I was jumping up and down over....for $20.
So, I was in Lowes recently and spotted this really pretty outdoor fixture on deep discount clearance for $20. I had already bought one last year at a yardsale for $3, but this one was so much bigger and prettier, so I upgraded. This sits outside our garage doors. And I sold the old one at my yardsale. The energy saving bulb was already in there, so I left it, even though I don't like the look of them.

That's how I like to operate. It might not all be the lighting of my dreams, but I enjoy upgrading those fixtures as time and budget permit. Between yardsales and finding deals at Lowes, I've done really good in that department.

How about you...got any fixtures you're dying to change out? Be sure to check out Lowes from time to time. They really have some good discounts if you catch them in time. I only have a couple more small fixtures to change out and I'm done! New fixtures really make a huge difference.