Look at your old stuff with a new light....

This past summer, my husband and I have been remodeling my grandmother's kitchen for her in Charleston, WV. She has lived in her home for over 35 years and with the exception of changing the flooring 15 years ago, replacing her appliances over time, and a few hundred coats of paint and wallpaper, the kitchen has never been changed. So when she would express the desire for certain things along the course of the project, we would always try to ensure that those things were included. However, my grandparents are and always have been very hardworking people and believe that they have to pay for it all and will not accept anything as a gift. Being that they are both retired and still raising my teenaged cousin who started college this year, I am we'll aware of the fact that they still are operating on a tight budget. This scenario has really challenged me to not only giving her a professionally remodeled kitchen, but keeping it as cheap as humanly possible.

This weekend's challenge was the light over the kitchen sink.....

While shopping at a major national hardware store, her and I stopped and looked at the light fixtures. She had mentioned how much she really liked the Edison Bulbs and the fixtures for sale now that were designed to show off the bulb. Then she found one that she really liked and wanted and had made her mind up to come back when she had some extra cash and spend the $65 on it (pictured below). (Yes, I did offer to pay for it myself and was quickly struck down) 

                                   

So after A LOT of staring blankly at this photo and flipping through all my mental images of things on hand that could be used to construct something similar, I looked up at the wall behind my grandma's couch and inspiration hit me....
It just so happened that my grandmother had another one of these wall sconce candle holders in a box of things in storage that she didn't have use for and the deconstruction began. The glass bell was held in place with a screw and washer, which was easily removed to reveal (to my excitement) that the bottom of the glass was an open hole. We then cut the the metal bell that held the glass off at the stem. After rummaging around my grandpa's garage filled with random items and pieces of things that he may have found during his years working for West Virginia State Road or hunting in the middle of nowhere, I was able to collect the other bits and pieces I needed. An old porch light, some rusty washers, chain, and a light canopy kit that I happened to have in my car. (Yes, I travel around with crazy stuff in my car. You never know when a project may appear.) 

Using a drill, I bored out a hole in the metal bell large enough for the threaded light fixture rod to pass through. I then screwed the lamp holder (the part the light bulb screws into) to back into the threaded rod, pulled the electrical wires through it and, placed a washer large enough not to pass though the hole of the glass bell and bolt right after it. I pushed the rod though the hole in the glass bell and placed a rubber washer and metal washer on it and bolted it down so then the lamp holder and rod were then securely in place. The next hour or so was simply spent stacking and unstacking different washers, bolts, lamp parts, etc. until I got the overall shape I desired and bolted it tightly together and finished it off with a chain holder loop bolt. I painted all the parts with copper leafing paint and after drying I added black acrylic paint to give it an aged, hammered copper look. 

                                    

I attached the chain and wove the wires through it. My husband, a licensed electrician, then mounted the brace, ceiling canopy, and wired the light up.                                                               *Not only have I managed to give my grandmother the light fixture she wanted without spending a dollar (with the exception of $8 for the bulb) and make her super happy, but I think I really impressed my grandpa too.  

                      Here is a side by side look of the retail fixture and my recycled fixture.   

   
    

Spray Paint Can Storage Solution

I have been diligently working to turn my garage into a studio for my projects for months. As a mother of a very active 4 year old boy, co-owner of an electrical company, part time duck rescuer, Habitat Restore Blogger, and a BeautiControl Sales Consultant (I seriously love that stuff and getting a consultant discount is a major bonus), it's clear to see that having things quickly accessible for use is a must. Spray paint cans have been my biggest storage with "grab and go capability" that I have been struggling with. If you haven't already gathered, I am a avid spray painter with an inventory and color selection that may rival a small hardware store. Lining them up on a bookshelf wasn't really working (mostly due to the fact that I always end up losing the cap that tells me what the color is), putting them in cardboard 6 pack beer holders took way too much room and still didn't provide me with the ease I was looking for, and the price of a PVC pipe large enough for the can to fit inside is a little absurd, not to mention the fact that it would then have to be cut and mounted which just sounds way too time consuming. I have tried just about every affordable way I could think of or find on Pinterest to no avail, which brings me to my latest midnight brainchild....

I had picked up a sleeve of 20 of these large plastic cups for $.50 back in February from my local Habitat Restore thinking that I may have use for them in the wedding decorations that I was working on for my brother-in-laws upcoming wedding. (needless to say that I did not end up using them for that but) While trying to select a color off the shelf I have caused yet another landslide of spray paint sending cans all over the place and one ended up landing inside of one of these cups. It was at that time I discovered that the bottom of the cup perfectly held the spray paint can and I could lay it on it's side and even stack the cups!

I simply lined the cups up on a scrap piece of plywood and screwed them down using a small wood screw and a washer. These are pretty durable cups that don't crack when you squish them but I figured the washer would help disperse the weight more evenly across the bottom. I then mounted the board to the wall and filled the cups with spray paint cans and found that I could even fit a can in the dead space between each cup. Now I have I can quickly see my color choices and make a selection without the fear of breaking a toe!