2.04.2010

The Evolution of a Lamp

I bought these two lamps back in May at a garage sale. $8 for the pair. (Man do I miss garage sale season!)

The color of the wood looked a little dated to me, so I took some paint to them. I brushed it on lightly so that the brown of the original lamp would still come through. Then I covered the bottom (metal) portion with a hammered metal spray paint. (I'm sorry I don't remember the names of the paints I used...I did this part last summer!)

They are now a deep brownish-black. One lives in my upstairs hallway, and the other in my new guest room (still a work in progress!).

I loved everything about these lamps, but the lampshades I bought at W*lMart were a little too gold for me. So I covered the shades with a little burlap (using my method described here) and presto! The evolution is complete.

And it only took me eight months.
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29 comments:

  1. KelliFebruary 4, 2010 at 7:02 AM

    Worth the 8 month wait. I love your table in the hall...it's so welcoming.

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  2. JbooFebruary 4, 2010 at 7:12 AM

    Beautiful!!! It probably would have taken me 8 years -- so 8 months is really fast!

    Hope you're having a great week!

    janet

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  3. Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on TopFebruary 4, 2010 at 7:18 AM

    Love it! I had to laugh about it only taking 8 months. I still have yard sale purchases from this past summer that I haven't done anything with yet either.

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  4. Jenny LynnFebruary 4, 2010 at 7:25 AM

    So cute! I MUST start going to garage sales - so many potential projects :)

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  5. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2010 at 7:30 AM

    I think I have seen that exact lamp at Goodwill and now I am kicking myself for passing it up. I just recently bought a lamp at an estate sale and am trying to figure out what to do with it. I definitely need to cover the existing shade or get a new one all together. Thanks for the inspiration to get moving on my lamp!

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  6. The Starr FamilyFebruary 4, 2010 at 7:42 AM

    Presto change-o, don't you love quick fixes?

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  7. Jessi @ Yankee Belle HomeFebruary 4, 2010 at 7:52 AM

    Gorgeous! And I love the burlap shade.

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  8. ShiloFebruary 4, 2010 at 8:00 AM

    Only 8 months?? That would be record time around here! :) Lol! Looks great, Carrie!
    Shilo

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  9. Lori AllberryFebruary 4, 2010 at 8:17 AM

    Carrie - these look awesome! Wow, I may have to start garage saling! (sp?) =)

    Do you mind sharing how you get your signature in your blog?

    ♥Lori

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  10. MandyFebruary 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM

    Those turned out AWESOME!!!

    & I can't wait till the spring yard sale season cranks up!!!!

    I feel a burlap lamp shade coming on now...so inspired! ;)

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  11. Kim @ NewlyWoodwardsFebruary 4, 2010 at 9:05 AM

    Very pretty. I love the shade.

    And, posts like these make me want to start yard saling. I never have gotten into it.

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  12. Wendy February 4, 2010 at 9:54 AM

    Always love a good lamp makeover...and I love the moss-y "G" in your previous post...great idea!

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  13. MichelleFebruary 4, 2010 at 10:27 AM

    Totally miss garage sale season. Do you ever drive down to Monument for the Woodmoor garage sales? Fabulous! I try to play my vacations around it. The Pink Creek one in CS is fabulous too. I've never been to a neighborhood one in Denver or CR. You'll have to fill me in on the good ones. I am pretty much a fanatic about garage sales.

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  14. frillsfluffandtrucksFebruary 4, 2010 at 10:44 AM

    Oh that turned out great! I hear you on taking 8 months to do a project--I think I'm the queen of taking forever to do simple projects, LOL!

    ~ Sarah

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  15. VictoriaFebruary 4, 2010 at 11:19 AM

    LOL that it only took you 8 months! ;) That's probably not too bad considering you are a busy Mama of 2.

    Love the lamp! It turned out beautifully.

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  16. Lori AllberryFebruary 4, 2010 at 12:18 PM

    Hi Carrie

    I've given you a Sunshine Award!! Knowing you and reading your blog, seeing your incredible work, brings Sunshine to me! Please check out my blog to read about it! =)

    http://sugarberrysensations.blogspot.com/2010/02/blogger-sunshine-award-woop-woop.html

    ♥Lori

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  17. Carry GraceFebruary 4, 2010 at 1:21 PM

    Wow, these look fantastic!

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  18. Lisa-MarieFebruary 4, 2010 at 1:35 PM

    They are so swank!

    I saw a lovely lamp n a cahrity shop for £4.50 last week, and I didn't buy it. I am kicking myself. They also had two huge wooden but painted gold, heave candlesticks(for pillar candles) for £15. I should learn to buy things when I see them!

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  19. UnknownFebruary 4, 2010 at 2:19 PM

    Awesome!! I think lamps are the easiest thing to repurpose. I always see so many great shapes like the ones you did here at Goodwill. Yours turn out beautifully!

    Lindsay

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  20. The Little Red ShopFebruary 4, 2010 at 5:33 PM

    I looove revamp'n up old lamps! Yours look beautiful!

    : )

    Julie M.

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  21. kacydFebruary 4, 2010 at 9:13 PM

    Thanks for sharing - those turned out great! I have two lamps in need of a redo and you have inspired me to get on it!!

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  22. Jennifer {Studio JRU}February 5, 2010 at 12:05 PM

    Looks great! I love the idea to cover the shade too... makes a *huge* difference! :)

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  23. HeidiFebruary 5, 2010 at 2:24 PM

    I love the lamps! I have to laugh because I have come across a few blogs lately that are itching for "garage sale season." It makes me laugh because I live in the San Diego area and we have them all year round. It is a SERIOUS perk to our great weather that I had never considered before. In my little town we even have garage sales on Thursday morning...it is an old tradition. I love it!

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  24. Mandi @ Sweetly HomeFebruary 5, 2010 at 6:56 PM

    Better late than never though! I love the whole vingette of your lamp and table. I actually bought a lamp very similar at a garage sale like yours ... same sort of shape. I painted my black - then bought another smaller version at a yardsale too. I'm dying for yard sale season. Just dying!

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  25. Kim HancockFebruary 5, 2010 at 9:02 PM

    That looks great! Great find...

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  26. Its So Very CheriFebruary 6, 2010 at 1:13 AM

    It looks do nice. You did a great job.

    Don't miss out on my weekly give-a-ways all months long.

    Cheri

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  27. Lisa & GeraldFebruary 6, 2010 at 7:01 AM

    Just beautiful..love the look...What a great idea...Hope you have a wonderful weeekend..Hugs..

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  28. Shell in your PocketFebruary 6, 2010 at 3:11 PM

    Very cute and perfect for that special corner!

    sandy toe

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  29. Southern Fried GalFebruary 11, 2010 at 1:29 PM

    Beautiful! I love everything about this little nook. And I'm for sure going to do the burlap lamp shade trick.

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Thank you so much for your comments! Please know that I read each and every one. I would dearly love to visit each of you in return, but sometimes life's busyness wins out! :)