Swingin' Chandelier

My love of color is no secret. But undertaking this project had me a little nervous. The overhaul of a vintage chandelier that had previously graced a more sophisticated setting than that which exists in my world was a bit daunting. But the texture of the chandelier arms spoke to me and I wanted them to be enhanced by a striking aqua. A coat of Kilz primer and a spray paint in a satin finish was all it took. I painted the crystals in different shades of blues and greens with regular acrylic paint. Up close they're fooling no one, but hung from the ceiling with the lights shining, they gave me the exact look of colored milk glass that I was hoping for. I'm no sewer but the chain cover was easy to make with fabric glue. I think this is a project that anyone can tackle. Even those brand new, generic-looking chandeliers from Home Depot or Loew's would work.

Got Boring Shades?

Window shades are sometimes a necessary evil, especially in childrens' rooms. And most of the time, they're ugly and boring. A huge swath of white when pulled down, an annoying obstruction when pulled up.

But they needn't be boring. With a little paint and imagination they can become superstars in any room. Since I'm all about the paint, I love to paint cotton shades to coordinate with the room. A beautifully painted window shade can even stand alone -- no other window treatment needed. If you don't have artistic talent, buy a stamp or do as I did above and paint a checkerboard. Checks are a neutral style that coordinate well with other prints.

Cotton shades are easier to paint than the plastic/vinyl type, but they can be painted, too. Just make sure you get the kind of craft paint that works well on a plastic surface. Finish off the look with an interesting shade pull --- a tassel, a cluster of glass grapes, etc.