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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

the barn room chandelier


I love the chandelier that I found last year for the barn room.  Every time I look at it I am so grateful that it came to me at just the right time!   The room needed a large chandelier, and I had resigned myself that an antique piece would be impossible to find, much less afford, at that size.  Even the new chandeliers I found on-line were in the thousands, and that just wasn't in the budget. One day I decided to look on Craigslist for a chandelier. I kept widening my search to neighboring states, and I stumbled upon this beauty- a mere 5 hour round-trip away, in Connecticut!
The chandelier wasn't antique, but it was hand wrought iron, the perfect scale (just over 4 feet)  and the perfect design for what I envisioned in the room.  Oh, and I got it for a steal... the asking price was $300, I offered $250 and got it!

When I found it it was black, which I knew would be too harsh for the color palette I had envisioned for the room, so after much paint sampling I painted it a brown/rust color using Rustoleum Multicolor Texture spray paint in Autumn Brown.   The chandelier was then hung using antique iron chain and an antique bronze ceiling cap.  I can not begin to tell you the difference that using the antique chain and ceiling cap has made in how the piece looks and feels in the room.  Real wax candle sleeves in white from Lumiere Candles (don't forget the 10% off coupon for my readers HERE.)  
Love
Well, except for one little thing that absolutely drove me crazy ....




Can you spot it?  I would sit on the sofa underneath the chandelier and I swear this thing would blink at me to notice it!!   Even my very design savvy husband said "Oh, it's fine like it is."  It was not fine!  It was just plain wrong...




There it is in all its blinking-at-me glory..... the bottom of the center piece that looks like a cut-off pipe.  Wrong I tell ya.  It wasn't finished, it didn't make sense- like someone had made this beautiful chandelier and then ran out of time to finish it.  I contemplated drilling a small hole for an eye-hook and then hanging an antique crystal from it, but that never "felt" right or seemed like enough.  We had plans to go to our favorite The Old House Parts Company in Kennebunk, Maine on our next visit to look for a small antique ornate cap to finish off the end piece. 




That was until one day a couple of weeks ago while looking for something up in the attic I found this moving box filled with items which had been in my office/laundry room in Dallas.   




Inside the moving box was a plastic box filled with antique lamp parts and finials that I had saved for making lamps. I haven't seen or opened this box in four years!  My first thought was that maybe there was something inside I could use on the barn room chandelier?!




I brought the box down to the kitchen and took out a couple of finials that I thought might work.  I really liked the one on the far left, but it had a hole/opening on the bottom.  After playing with them for a minute I realized that the little French finial (the worm holes give it away as French) had a wooden dowel that just happened to fit perfectly into the first wooden piece.  It was a perfect scale for the chandelier and was the finishing touch I had been wanting!




Married, they looked like this...




And, they would hang from the chandelier like this...




Taking into consideration how I wanted the two to be placed together I used a little bit of tape to ensure that when Dan wood-glued the pieces together my "view" sides were aligned.  Dan then used some quick setting epoxy to attach the wood finial to the iron chandelier.




This is the chandelier now.... complete!
I love that the finial is wood and the chandelier is iron.  The color was a perfect match too- I didn't do a thing to the finials other than wipe them off.




I realized after adding the finial to the barn room chandelier how similar the effect was to the kitchen dining chandelier.




One more time-
before:


after:


Now I really love it!




87 comments:

  1. Wow!!! What a difference! I love iron chandeliers!! You found a gem!! :)

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  2. It's the small details that can make a big difference! I love it!

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  3. You were meant to find your box of treasures and they really work well.

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  4. i love it joan! i wish you could bring your eagle eye over here and fix this place!

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  5. Sometimes it's the smallest details that make the biggest difference. I love it. And love the fact that you found your finial in storage - it was obviously meant to be! Thanks for sharing, liz

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  6. Ahhh!!! SO exciting, it is absolutely gorgeous. So happy that you found such a great deal and not that far away either! Can not WAIT to see the final room.

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  7. Totally worth the 5 hour drive! I think it's brilliant. Your patience in putting the bottom all together paid off. It really looks beautiful. Wanna sell it ? :). Lol. I really would be happy to take it off your hands. Have a good rest ic the week.

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  8. OH YES.....that detail was important!
    Lorraine

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  9. Wow, it's amazing what something so small can do! Love it! And I'm loving your ceiling too!

    ♥ sécia
    www.petiteinsanities.blogspot.com

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  10. joan, you really are amazing at all the little details that make such a difference. proud to say I spotted the same thing you did before I scrolled down to read what bothered you about it. ok, ok, it took me a minute...
    i don't think we are alone in the satisfaction of finding a great thing at a good price and making it something wonderful. I always say that anybody can go and buy something at a retail shop. but the personal touches and satisfaction that come with found and fixed items is priceless. donna

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  11. Wow! Talk about a match made in heaven! That beautiful finial completely changes the look of the whole chandelier. Beautiful!

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  12. Just lovely, Joan!
    Sara, Massillon Ohio

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  13. Wow, it made such a big difference! I love it when changing something small makes a huge difference!

    Kat :)

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  14. Joan - You crack me up - I don't know how you always pull these things off!!! :-)

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  15. Great job. Amazing how you pulled it all together.

    - The Tablescaper

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  16. I love the color of it. It really turned out nicely.

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  17. Excellent match Joan and I like the fix. I knew that's what you were after to fix but I thought it was a wire hanging out the bottom. It would have made me nuts too!

    XX
    Debra~

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  18. what a gem!!! loving the color.

    ashley over @
    {hookedonhickory}

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  19. Patience certainly paid off in your favor! I love how great it looks. Can't wait to see the whole room when it's ready for its big reveal. I like the added finial too.

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  20. It's perfect. It was great before the addition of the finial, but now it's perfect.

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  21. Gorgeous Joan and what a brilliant idea!! LOVE that ceiling! I just ordered the real wax candle sleeves for my dining room chandy and LOVE how they transformed it, gave you a shout out in my post.

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  22. Just beautiful. That was some find!
    Happy Wednesday.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  23. Well worth the 5 hour trip! Love the new toned down color and the cute little finial finishes it off.
    Kelly

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  24. You have such an amazing eye -- and incredible luck!

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  25. What a wonderful story. My favourite part? That you had stored your finials and lamp parts in a box labelled "Laundry room."
    Fabulous.

    Makes me wonder what treasures lurk in the farmhouse laundry room.

    Chandy looks regal, now.

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  26. Amazing and a perfect match! Good thing you don't throw away everything. The light fixture is really beautiful! Pamela

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  27. Nice story...The addition of the finial made a huge difference. Love your wooden kitchen chandelier too.

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  28. I loved this post!! Bravo! What a difference and how creative of you!!!
    xo Leslie Sinclair

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  29. I love it when you can use something you've had to finish something that needed help. The chandelier is stunning and even more so with the French finial.

    Can't wait to see the entire room.

    Karen

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  30. It's perfect! And you didn't have to spend one more dime!

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  31. What an eye for details you have! It was fabulous before but now it's perfectly divine!!

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  32. YOU are amazing! Your Angels must really love you because they are singing to you all the time, guiding you where you need to go. Beautiful solution and can't wait to see "The Room" in all it's glory.

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  33. Your attention to detail is amazing! Love it!

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  34. Yes, I picked up the gauntlet and found the iron rod. It is kind of odd, isn't it? Your solution is classic Yankee ingenuity! Love it!!!

    My hat is off to you have for your patience, and persistence as you searched high and low, holding out for the right chandelier to present itself to you. We can all learn from this. We don't have to have it all done all at once. The journey often is as exciting, even more exciting, than the finished product. And it makes the final solution all the more satisfying.

    You personify the notion that creating a home is a process as opposed to an assembly of parts and pieces.

    Cheers,
    John

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  35. You are amazing! Yes, I spotted it and oh what a fabulous job you did. I love the way you lead thru a story and then the DIY techniques - just so thoughtful to share!
    Regards, NB in Ontario

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  36. What a great deal and I agree, the finial finished it off perfectly. I know how you feel if it isn't perfect. If Momma isn't happy, ain't nobody happy {at least that's the way it is in my house}.

    Enjoy the view from the sofa......

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  37. Go Craig's List! Your patience and persistence sure paid off and the finial you added is of course perfect!

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  38. Wow - you really do have a natural talent as well as a great stash of goods. Love that you found the pieces in a plastic container of parts.

    Did you really drive 5 hours round trip to CT to buy the chandelier? That's something I would do!

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  39. You are genious! It looks wonderful!

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  40. J...I have a box like that. I have not had the need ..or smarts ...to use them that way, but have tucked finials and little ephemera around the house at the base of potted plants, on top of books, and nestled on mantles and shelves. The wood ones are my favorite. You continue to inspire.....thank you...k

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  41. You are the master of details! And I had trouble focusing on the chandelier because I was looking at that beautiful ceiling!

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  42. The chandelier is gorgeous and the finial is absolutely perfect :o)
    ~Des

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  43. That iron chandelier looks so perfect with your additions of the chain, the cap and the finial. Terrific piece!

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  44. You have a great eye. It is beautiful, of course!

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  45. Wow! I can't believe the difference. It looks so much better! It is a beautiful chandelier and I'm sure it is perfect for the space. You have fabulous taste! :)I think we all need a box of goodies like that too. ;)Thanks for sharing the process. :)

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  46. Love it! You definitely nailed it!
    It really make the lamp look perfect!

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  47. Yep...that did it! Just goes to show you, hanging on to random litle things is not a bad thing! It's the BIG random things that will cause some grief!! As usual, it was the pperfect solution for your beautiful home!!

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  48. It's all about the details, isn't it? So clever of you to find and marry old lamp parts to finish off your wrought iron beauty. What a great find, too!
    Well done!
    xi
    -Lisa

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  49. Wonderfully perfect! Thank you for sharing. Hope you received Happy Valentine's Day wishes from MT! Loved precious Ella's lovely Valentine greeting! :)

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  50. It finishes it off perfectly. what great style you have!
    cheers Fiona

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  51. Looks fabulous! What a clever fix. It was actually the first thing I noticed.

    TDM xx

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  52. First - wow! What a Craigslist find! And second, the finial adds the perfect finishing touch. You must have been thrilled when it came together so perfectly.

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  53. It's always cool when a saved box of miscellaneous junk yields just the needed part.
    --Road to Parnassus

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  54. Clever girl!.Everyone needs a box of goodies like yours!

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  55. I love your chandelier! And, how wonderful the way it all came together with parts you already had. Some things are just meant to be!

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  56. This turned out perfect...love what you've done!!

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  57. Now it is REALLY a part of you.

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  58. love your blog! adding you to my blog side roll!
    Your newest follower!

    Mark @ room363

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  59. You're just an inspiration- teaching me to think out of the box! I love it!!!!

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  60. Love the chandelier, and love how you finished it with that finial. Inspired!!

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  61. I never would have noticed that- but once you pointed it out it totally was screaming to be finished. The pieces you added are just perfect and now the piece is a one of a kind statement piece, perfect for your barn room!

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  62. Perfect!!! What a great idea!!! I'll be keeping my eyes open for these little finials in the future!

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  63. We're kindred spirits about details--they separate great from extraordinary. I appreciate details and sometimes just let myself get lost in them...aaahhhh the bliss of it!

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  64. Details, details. Funny how they make all the difference. Even if you don't see the difference you can feel that something is missing.

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  65. Hello,

    this is incredible, what a small detail can make a big difference. This is the evidence that details are very important!

    Greetings from Belgium
    jérôme

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  66. I love the wood against the iron look as well. It was meant to be! Gorgeous!!

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  67. Why...you and you little boxes of stuff (oh...and handy Dan).

    Just magic!

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  68. I love it. It is just fabulous, you clever girl.
    All the best...Victoria

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  69. The serendipity fairy strikes again! I love when that kind of thing happens...the perfect fix right under your nose, and for free! It really is just perfect.

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  70. Wow! It didn't bother me before but once I saw the final product- what a difference!! Perfect scale too. Kudos!

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  71. It's beautiful, Joan! I love the color you chose for it. And those ceilings in the barn room are fabulous!

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  72. Hi Joan
    There you go with the detail.Looks fabulous but I wouldn't expect any thing else.
    I'm sorry I didn't get to share those treats with Ella.
    Kind Regards
    Karen
    PS: I already love the colour of the room.

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  73. Hi Joan, love the post. I am quite addicted to chandeliers and this one is no exception. Looks fantastic. Regards Adriana

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  74. ...love the chandelier (wonder where that chandelier was hanging when it was new)...love the story of finding the solution to your worry in your treasure box from texas...and really really really loved the peek into the barn room...blessings laney

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  75. What a beautiful find! both the chandelier and the finial...a perfect marriage =)

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  76. You are so right. The finial is perfect! I did the same thing to an antique chandelier. It had an iron circle at the bottom that just needed something hanging from it. One day at the recycling center, I spied a long piece of chain with two fleur-de-lis attached. I got it out of the garbage, took off one of the ends, and attached it to the loop on the chandelier. I love it! Aren't we clever to think of such things?

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  77. absolutely beautiful, joan. your attention to detail is amazing. best, robin in umbria

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  78. Don't you love when that happens. It just all comes together.....

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  79. I love your attention to every detail in your home. I bet it even smells wonderful! Thank you for sharing this beautiful place you call home.

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  80. A-mazing! the finial makes it look sooo right and the chain and cup look as if they belong to it too! the chandelier is not a million miles away from one I just put up over the weekend in my hall - mines not antique either!!

    Sharon

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  81. Your chandelier is absolutely gorgeous. Don't you love it when you find the perfect piece(s)? Thanks for the tip about the Rustoleum paint.
    Babs

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  82. What a clever/wonderful idea! Looks beautiful!

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Welcome! Thank you for leaving a comment; you have no idea how much your comments inspire me to keep writing- I appreciate each and every one. Comments are moderated by me prior to publishing on the blog, so if you don't see your comment post immediately it will be posted as soon as I receive and read it. joan