Tuesday, March 2, 2010

DIY: Lacquered Turquoise Lamps & Boxes

First off, I can't wait to share my craigslist story with you this week! But let me get on to an old project I finally finished. I bought a pair of lamps back in November..yes almost 4 months ago..tisk tisk. I kept looking @ them through the Habitat For Humanity Restore window. $1o each seemed like a-lot to me. But after a week, I went ahead and snatched them up.

What can I say, I can't control myself when it comes to outdated lamps.


After a couple of months in the basement, where all of the other "stuff" I buy goes, they got brought back up to the real world. I taped/covered the places that needed some protection and gave the lamps a good soapy wipe down.

The first lamp I didn't prime. This is the 2nd. Let me say, priming is a must if you are painting glass!! The primed surface held the final spray way better than just clean slick glass alone. Oh & I did rub them down a little w/ sandpaper.

Next. After 2 oats of primer spray paint comes 2 coats of this fabulous Krylon Blue Ocean Breeze spray paint. Then on to a few wipe downs of glossy poly wipe-on. I kept wiping them down each day after I woke up.





Now you have to know I wasn't going to leave those Abe Lincoln styled shades on! I bought a couple of shades from Ross for $2.99 each! They have a beautiful selection of shades for uber cheap. I almost went w/ some shades that had a chrome lining. And I bought shorter harps from lowes for about $3 ea.


Check out that shine! Looks good enough to lick! Well not really...


These lamps will go in my room. I also started (not finished) a set of stacking boxes I bought off of ebay for my mom. After seeing Jenny's boxes I knew I wanted to paint these (as well as reclaim them from my mom..thanks mom!).

After a good sanding, bring out the craft paint! Turquoise & Black please.




Painting those freakin flowers on the top was a nightmare. Note to self: use a foam brush..ALWAYS!
After taping off and painting the black trim (took forever) I wiped them down with my fave poly and added some new hinges. I love that the gold on the boxes tie into the gold bottom of the lamps. I usually do silver w/ turquoise, but I'm lovin the gold w/ it.


I'm thinking about some black ribbon to the lampshades. Not sure yet. I will let you in on how it looks if I do. Are you loving gold & turquoise or would you have went with silver? All of these items will be going into my room of course.
p.s. I still have one more box to finish..Dang puppy chewed up my painters tape :o(
Linking to:
pssttt: Great Giveaway @ High-Heel Foot in the Door!!

62 comments:

Dayka Robinson said...

girl get the f*** outta here, the turquoise looks hot! i was mad for a minute, because i absolutely LOVED the lamps white, but they look just as good in turq. LOVE the gold bottom--they look very similar to ones lakeitha bought at tj maxx a few weeks ago (go check her blog). ross is my new spot for shades, too! the boxes look hot too--i really am scared of you! i'm glad you followed your instinct and stayed with gold. they definitely look classic. 2 thumbs up!!

Sarah @ Hennessey House said...

Holy cow, the lamps AND boxes turned out awesome! Are you going to paint the base of the lamp a different color, maybe a brushed nickel? I think that would really make them totally awesome and contemporary. And as for adding ribbon to the shades, I like the idea :)

brokeintrovert said...

Nice projects. Those boxes are so awesome. I'd love to have lamps like these in our room too! Just beautiful. I love your style.

Redesign Diva said...

OMG! I am loving those lamps! I am going out to buy some wipe on poly..those lamps are HAUTTTT!

I would have gone with silver but that gold looks good.

Why am I not receiving your posts directly? maybe I need to subscribe vs following?

Oh and I love the boxes too! Too cute

Kirsty said...

Those lamps are AMAZING! Love them. So much. And those boxes are fantastic. Great job on both!

Sleepyhead Designs Studio said...

Thanks so much for all your sweet comments! I loove what you did with these lamps and wooden chests--lamps are absolutely amazing!!! that's one of my favorite colors. oh--and she was playing with shaving cream on the counter : )

###### said...

damn good honey child! i agree...lamps look like suckers...by i stay away from sweets..LOL..my ass is corny sometimes...no but really..I love them and that color.

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

wow! everything looks fab! Those lamps turned out great! I can see that those boxes took a lot of time!
great job.
gail

Screaming Meme said...

I love the lamps...So pretty! I'm Meme from Screaming Meme...It is so nice to meet you...If you get a chance stop in and see me over @ Screaming Meme...

L.Duncan@Home23DuncanBoys said...

I. AM. SCREAMING!!! No seriously what the BLEEP! Girl you did an outstanding job on those lamps! I am going crazy! I was telling Dayka a few days back that I had never spray painted lamps before and was thinking about doing it. You have totally convinced me to go for it! These are hot girl. HOTTTTTTT I tell you! Leave the base gold. Don't add any trim. They are HOTTTTTTTTTT!!!

Have a great night!

Sarah AKA The Thriftress said...

I love the lamps. I was just at Home Goods and there were tons of lamps like this! Great job.
Sarah
http://thethriftress.blogspot.com

Erin said...

I love how you repurposed those lamps. I never would have thought to put the poly on. With the paint & new shades they look like you spent a lot of money on them! And I do like them with the gold. I'm surprised I like the gold because that's usually my last choice - but they look really good. So do the boxes!

Elder Esplin said...

HOw fun! The blue is just so yummy. Almost edible!=) I love it all. Great finds and great job!

Jennie @ Cinnaberry Suite

stephie hicks said...

looks so amazing!! I love the color!

I'm hosting a giveaway @ my blog...stop by and check it out!

http://madebystephie.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-first-giveaway.html

Sara Louise said...

Wow! Those look incredible! I need to start getting crafty.
Me, I would have gone with the gold instead of silver as well =)

Anonymous said...

Wow, I really love them both! I have never used the wipe on Poly, but woah, I'm going to head to HD tomorrow and pick some up! I had no idea what a slick smooth shine it gave! How many days (applications) did you have to put on to achieve that? And the boxes? Amazing change - great colors, love them!

Ericka said...

The lamps are seriously gorgeous...I think they look fine in gold but would prefer a nickel finish myself. The boxes are also beautiful and I am going to go get the wipe on poly for my next glass painting project. Love it!

Erika Ward said...

the shine on those lamps are amazing...such a deal, too! I'm into gold these days so the turquoise gold combo works for me!

Destination Seaborn said...

Coming over from Dayka's, those lamps are pure perfection! I love the color you chose!

Lisa

Bon said...

LOOOOOVVVEEEE IT! ( I was totally singing that like Wheezy from Dragon Tales in my head!) Love the color and everything! great job~

Anonymous said...

Love the lamp transformations and that color! I'm thinking of painting some accessories too - maybe I'll have to try that color on one of them.

The Single Nester said...

Holy S&^T! I love those lamps! They are gorgeous and sexy! Question - what kind of spray paint primer do you use? I see it in the background of one of the photos. Great job!

Linda @ theLENNOXX said...

that's honestly one of the best transformations I have seen! Can't believe it's the same lamp!! Lovvve the gold foot with the turquoise =D

Taija said...

Both projects turned out fabulous! I totally LOVE those boxes. Nice!

Frugal Home Designs said...

Those are awesome. Love the color. Great Job.

###### said...

hey...regarding your comment. I want a rug. I think a solid or stripe...I tried putting a striped fabric piece down just to see how it would look in black and white and looked great.

j said...

Oh my gosh Adrianna. You are killing me with those lamps! They turned out SO beautiful. I am going to have some of the poly stuff soon. I've never heard of it before but now it seems like a must.

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

How stunning...love the color! I think I need to check out the lampshades at Ross...great find there. Hop over and enter my CASH GIVEAWAY...a chance for more thriftin' money:)

Blessings,
Linda

Dayka Robinson said...

I'm heading up to TN to play tetherball, and to steal some chairs from your basement. :)

side note--was the poly for the lamps or the boxes? i thought the boxes, but maybe i missed it . . . ???

Nessa said...

The lamps came out beautifully. And I love wooden boxes. Yours look so pretty next to the lamps.

Sean the Vampire

happileah said...

Wow-Great job!
I just bought some thrift store lamps & Have been thinking about painting them and you have convinced me that it's the right thing to do. Those are FANTASTIC!

karen@fitnessjourney said...

OMG! They look amazing! Spray paint is the best. The lamps had a great shape, but the updated color is fabulous.

René said...

I just bought a set of similar lamps at the Re-store for $10 a piece too. Spray paint here I come. Yours look amazing!
I found your blog through a comment you left at Little Green Notebook and now I'm following.

Take care!
Rene

Patti @ Pandoras Box said...

Lamps came out great! and look fabulous with those beautiful boxes!

Diana said...

I love these diys! The lamps and the boxes all look gorgeous!

Megan Gunyan said...

Those look great. I love how shiny you made them. You're patience must be more than mine! I would have declared it done after one coat. I love the colors! Great job!

René said...

Adrianna, thanks for stopping by today. I just had to tell you that I checked out the shades at Ross and you were so right. Three shades for 12.00, deal!

Angie Holden said...

Loving those boxes!!! FABULOUS!

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

Wow, now picking my jaw up off the floor. What great redos! Love the color too. Thanks for linking up.

Meaghan said...

A girl after my own heart! Krylon Ocean is definitely my weapon of choice. These lamps came out gorgeous as well as the boxes. I love when I find someone who adores turquoise as much as I do :)

creativejewishmom/Sara said...

Love the turquiose! I'd love for you to drop by my blog linking party with this on Sunday (thru Tues)@creativejewishmom.com
hope to see you there! all the best, Sara

Shaunna said...

LOVE the lamps and those boxes, oh, how pretty! Thanks for stopping by my blog...I really appreciate your comments!

Anonymous said...

Hi. you did such a great job on the lamps.I love the color.I'm a new blogger too.....Kathy

jen said...

im a sucker for the turqouise as well - so much that my front door is blue! the boxes look great - what a transformation - and i think the lamps came from the pottery barn magazine! great job!

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

Oh wow... beautiful!! Everything looks so good together. I love the colors you used. I really like the black trim you took the time to do! :)
~Jennifer
www.studiojru.com

the thrifty ba said...

i love the color! i might go out and buy some of that color and look for omething that isnt moving fast so i can spray it!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

The boxes look great, but those lamps look phenomanol! I have seen lamps just like those and in that color you did and they are soooo expensive. Nice job!

Never teh Bride @ MftH said...

Wow, fantastic!

Symone's Mommy said...

Girl, you did that! For real! Great job!

Free Art Printables said...

Those lamps look amazing and expensive! You did a fantastic job!

Lori said...

The lamps and boxes turned out great..

Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thurs. Please join me next week for another great party.

Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking said...

Fabulous! I NEED to get some of that Krylon paint... that shade is lovely. Thanks for sharing at the POPP.

Ann Marie @ Twice Lovely said...

Just did a chair over at my place with the Blue Ocean Breeze from Krylon. It's my new fave!! Love it! Check it out over at my blog.

Unknown said...

Wow, the lamps are beautiful!! That shiny finish is really cool. I have some thrift store lamps to redo tomorrow, I'll give that a try. Love the boxes too!

Frugal Home Designs said...

I was watching TV today and I saw 2lamps just like your redo. I can't remember what I saw them on right now, but I am going to think about it. I thought it was so cool! Goes to show you that your taste is awesome.

Anny said...

How very pretty! I've had a box like the bottom ones for YEARS and never even thought to paint it :)

Rashon Carraway said...

Those lamps have great lines. Old lamps are amazing is style and quality.

Mr. Goodwill Hunting
http://g-w-hunting.blogspot.com

Rashon Carraway said...

Love the lines and styling of these lamps. Great investment.

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

Like the first comment I liked them white and initially couldn't believe you were painting them! But then scrolled down...OH!!! WOW!! If you EVER get tired of them please send them my way! Janell

O.C. said...

I just found your blog. Great job on these projects, they look fantastic.

Tonia Lee Smith said...

ok, now you can send them to me...another lady after my own heart! I love old lamps, and I got those same shades at Ross in Dallas, for 2.99, but no lamps yet.

Unknown said...

Talk about GLOSSY!!! Your lamps turned out amazing!! WOW