January 9, 2012

Ugly Lamp Gets A Make Over


I have always loved vintage/antique tea tins that have been converted into lamps. Since we are in the process of updating our den/kitchen, I thought it would be a good time to purchase one.  Every time I found one that sent my heart into high gear, the price would be WAY too high.  I  walked away from soooo many ‘perfect’ ones because of price!  

I wanted one like these beauties
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                Live Auctions                                        1st Dibs  (over $1000.00)


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Country Living                                                                                       French Accent

Okay, I had no choice – If I wanted a tea tin lamp I would have to make one myself – from scratch!   So, a cheap lamp with the ‘round tea canister’ shape was added to my list of things that I began looking for on my junking excursions.



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It took several months, but at last I found one – 

I thought $8.00 was high for such an old ugly lamp,
but the shape was absolutely perfect for my tea canister lamp.
I took all of the wiring out and dismantled the lamp.  After giving it a background of black paint,  I made a stencil of a laurel wreath.  I use gold paint to stencil the wreath and also to add the numbers, using a purchased stencil.  The top and bottom bands are gold leaf.  When everything was dry, I gave it a protective coat of Annie Sloan’s dark wax which also helped to age the bright gold and give it the vintage look that I wanted.
I didn’t want to reuse the metal piece on the top of the original lamp,  so I had to replace some of the rod lengths and also find something simple to take the place of the original decorative piece.  After finally getting it put together and rewired, I set out to find a shade for it.  Luckily, a vendor at Old Bank Antiques (where my booths are) was having a 1/2 price sale on everything and they had a huge assortment.  I paid $9.00 for the shade.

- At last -
here is my faux vintage tea tin lamp
Lamp Redo 004
Close up of the design 
- I love gold on black -

Lamp Redo 014
This was a fun make-over

Lamp Redo 017
It looks great in the den and…

Lamp Redo 015
it only cost $17.00!


Follow me to these fun parties :
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Coastal Charm               Savvy Southern Style                            Ivy & Elephants                 From My Front Porch To Yours

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The Shabby Creek Cottage         No Minimalist Here                           2805                                  Common Ground
Rhonda

27 comments:

  1. Rhonda, that looks fantastic! Great job! Your patience definitely paid off in finding the lamp to transform. Love the wreath design.

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  2. Rhonda- What a great looking makeover. I love it. It might have taken a while to find the perfect lamp but it was well worth the wait. LOVE IT~ xo Diana

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  3. Very clever of you! I like your version every bit as much as the ones you showcased. Great job!

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  4. Great job, Rhonda! I love lamps and yours turned out so nice. I struggle a little with the rewiring but have tackled some of it this Fall. It's tough to get them all put back together sometimes! $17 is a fabulous price for such a pretty lamp. Hope you're well and enjoying the new year.
    Lynn

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  5. Such a beautiful lamp for only $17...you did a wonderful job on it and thanks for sharing it at my NTT party. Those tigers better get it GOING!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  6. Your lamp turned out beautiful! Great transformation! And you can't beat that price! :)

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  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  8. Rhonda, You did a wonderful job recreating a antique tea tin lamp. I love it! Thanks for linking to my party.
    hugs,
    Sherry

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  9. You did a wonderful job & such a great project! It's such fun to see what other people do & the inspiration that give.

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  10. I love those lamps, too and yes, they are pricey. I love what you did with yours. Looks great.

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  11. I love it. I have a lamp with a similar shape in our foyer. It used to be an old cream can, and my mother tole painted it. Then a lamp maker transformed it into a lamp. Don't you love having things that no one else does?

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  12. Does much justice and looks rather good. From the heart.

    Love
    Rukmini

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  13. Hi, Rhonda. I love these lamps too. I have the lamp on the lower left side with the "28" on it. Bought it from Pottery Barn, full price, since it was the cheapest I'd ever seen a lamp like this - even a reproduction. Your's is gorgeous and at an even better price! Great job.

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  14. Rhonda, OMGosh! Your lamp is fabulous and I'm lovin' it. I know what you mean. I've seen them around and the price was astronomical. OK...now I'm going to be on the look out for one to re-do. :) Thanks for sharing how you transformed it. Very professional look.
    I'm a new follower.
    Babs

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  15. Wow! I love that lamp. What a great idea. Also I wanted to say that your dogs are just adorable!

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  16. That is beyond awesome Rhonda!!!

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  17. This is really a terrific makeover! Luv it! Thank you for sharing this creative post at Potpourri Friday!

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  18. I love it! It really does pay to be patient and wait for just the right piece to come along. I happy to hear you held out and didn't pay those awful prices. Great job!

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  19. That looks just fabulous, Rhonda. What you didn't want to spend $1,000 at 1stdibs? I think it's funny you thought $8 was too high--it's just perfect, now.

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  20. Rhonda,

    Beautiful job! Your talent to turn other people's "trash" into treasures is unmatched. I have been searching for wooden lamps to redo like Pottery Barn's architectural salvage lamps. Unfortunately, when I did come across a pair at Good Will, Thomas was with me and didn't see my vision. I returned the next day without him, but they were gone.

    Your Friend,
    Deborah

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  21. wow Rhonda, this is amazing, LOVE this, and the black with the laurel stencil makes it look so high end, great job!!! xoxo

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  22. That looks GREAT Rhonda! You did an awesome job on that make-over!!!

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  23. Fantastic job...I like yours better. Patience does pay. I'm now following you with the new awesome Linky tool, so follow back so we can connect, Lori

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  24. I'm a new linky follower! Hope you will be too!

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  25. I like what you did -- I've always said, if you can't afford what you want -- then replicate it yourself! I've been fortunate enough to find two -- a big one and a little one at very reasonable prices -- not real tea tins but rather made for lamps I'm sure. But like you I've always coveted one . . . I think they're timeless and not trendy at all!

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  26. Hi Rhonda, love your blog! And what you did to the lamp is great, very inspired. I am your newest follower, until next time, Tammy

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So happy you are here - I love your comments!