Fauxbulous Marble Lamp Makeover Part 2: The Lamp Gets a Shade

 The Find

From a previous post you might recall that earlier this year I found a table lamp (without a shade and with a large crack) and decided to repair it and revamp it with a fabulous faux finish (fauxbulous) inspired by marble and alabaster table lamps.

But of course, the refinished lamp needed a shade, and maybe another level of marble inspiration.....

The Makeover

I tried some different shades that I had in the house, along with random fabrics already in my possession.  Here are some examples of the fabric options I considered.

Dark fabric lampshade

Dark floral fabric option

Fish fabric fun

The coral pattern fabric had some of the same colors used in other parts of my living room. Seafood green is always a strong contender.

Seafood green and beige coral pattern fabric

The Liberty of London 'Hera' pattern was looking really really promising (because blue and white, obvi!)....

Lamp with Hera fabric option

...but I couldn't get the idea of a marbled-paper lampshade out of my mind (probably because I've been reading a lot of House & Garden UK).  So off to the fancy paper store I went. The in-store selection of decorative papers was wide, but there weren't any of the marbled pattern papers of the type that I *****really***** wanted - the kind where there is recognizable repeat pattern over the entire sheet but with subtle variation that comes from being handmade. In the end I settled for this lovely blue and white random marbled paper.  For less than $7 I was willing to take a chance.

Hand-made Marbled paper

I used double-sided tape around the top and bottom and at the vertical seam and pressed the paper to the outside of an existing shade.  I cut the paper a little taller than necessary in order to have over-hang on the bottom.  I then cut the excess off carefully with the razor blade (example photo below), this resulted in a neater edge.  (I should have done this on the top too instead of trying to cut the paper in a straight line before applying it. Live and learn!)

Careful cutting of paper with razor blade

Conclusion

I completed the marble on marble lamp experiment to general satisfaction.  I'm not 100% sold on the combination of that marbled paper with that faux-marble-finish base - but I like each component separately.  The cylindrical lampshade is plain white underneath, so I can always revert to that or remove the blue marbled paper and apply something new if the mood strikes.  Flexibility is the key to happiness!

Marbled paper on a marbled lamp on a granite counter

Happy freestyling, don't be afraid to take some maximalist-style risks once in a while!

Fauxbulous Marble Makeover Part 1: Lamp Repair & Painting

 The Find

I found this discarded table lamp in the autumn (along with some others around the same time, maybe lamp season is a thing here too?).  I immediately liked the classical square column, sort of obelisk-y, shape because classical forms speak to my soul, never mind the giant crack across the body....

Brown column table lamp laying on blue towel

Close-up of the crack around the column

The Repair

Cracks can be filled! And filling the crack is what I set out to do, using some Goodfilla brand wood filler (not sponsored, just what I used) in a few layers to try to get the fill material as deep as possible.  I should also mention that I cleaned the entire piece and removed the electrical components.

Lamp body and wood filler

Close-up of the repair using wood filler

I fully acknowledge that the **right** way to fill this type of crack is to over-fill and then sand back.  However, I hate sanding, so I try to avoid it, thus I tried to fill to the surface level and then hoped that the paint and pattern brewing in my mind would fool the eye enough.

Repaired crack in the original lamp body

The Makeover

My inspiration came from alabaster and marble lamps, but of course I didn't want to pay hundreds of dollars, time for an experiment with fauxbulous finishing!  There are many online tutorials and videos about faux finishing, but the key concept is layering layering layering and some special sauce in the form of scumble.

Step 1 was, of course, primer.  I used Zinsser Bulls Eye Zero Primer For All Surfaces.  I've had this can for a few years and it comes in very handy.  I applied the primer with a brush.

primer

The first coat of primer highlighted the repair more than it obscured it.

Repaired area after first layer of primer

After a second coat of primer the base was looking more even, but I wasn't going for a full flat white primed based because the faux marble look is all about layers.

Repaired and primed

As my base color I used a paint sample I has on hand, Behr Etched Glass, probably mixed with something else that I can't remember right now.  I didn't want a stark stark white because in a natural material I would expect off-white and shades of gray to reflect varying mineral content.

Paint sample lid, Etched Glass

Below is a photo of the various paints I mixed together to achieve the different layers.  There are no set ratios, I just did it by eye. They included the sample of Etched Glass, a free half-used paint in the color 'Canvas' (a pale beige), and some Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (an almost black but not true black).

Paints and glue

Let's talk about scumble. Scumble is the sort of background cloudy layer that will form the base of the more distinct veining that will be layered on later.  To achieve my scumble I used a mix of the paints to get a pale grey, maybe a pale grey-brown?   I dabbed it on with a piece of cut up sponge (shown with the yellow arrow in the photo below) and then dabbed the excess off with a rag (shown with the blue arrow in the photo).  It isn't complicated but you do need to work quickly so that the scumble layer stays faint.

Scumble on with the sponge, scumble off with the rag

Here is a different side with a fainter scumble.

Lamp with scumble layer of faux finish

After the faintest scumble, do another layer with a slightly darker color and less application overall.  If anything looks to straight-line just wipe it off quickly and start over.

Scumble variation on different sides

The veining is the last part, done with either the edge of a feather or a small paintbrush held very loosely in the hand.  Follow the general direction of the scumble, usually a diagonal, but keep a very fluid line.  Remember, you're mimicking geological uplifting and folding of layers of sedimentary rock, it's not going to be precise.  After finishing with the paints I decided to shellac the surface to protect the paint job, but this step is optional.

Below is a closeup of the bottom part of the lamp body after its repair and faux marble finish. Does the pattern distract enough from the repair?

Detail of fauxbulous finish on the lamp base

Conclusion Part 1

After all that fauxbulous painting it was time for a lie down.... with the other electrical components before being reassembled.

Lamp body with new faux marble finish and electrical components

Happy freestyling, why not give faux finishing a try? You might get some fauxbulous results!

Old Lamp Slides Into New Life With Gold Metallic Wax

The Found Lamp

This bronze-tone desk lamp was in my stash from years- YEARS- ago. I was never sure if it worked because I didn't have the proper size lightbulb. I love the shape and size, so it just sat in a bag in the storage unit, waiting for destiny to unfold.

Desk lamp, before

Yes, that's right, normal lightbulbs don't fit into the elongated dome and it never occurred to be to shop around for a custom size lightbulb. Turns out I didn't need to shop around, I just needed to wait (years) until someone was throwing out old, dusty, but unused lightbulbs. I found this.

Tubular light bulb

The result is that I tested the lamp and it worked, as one always hopes a lamp does! 

Working lamp!

Next was the makeover, since the bronze color was juuuuust a bit too dull for my preference.  Also there were some pitted bits, a dent on the top, and some other signs of wear which gave it a bit of a tired appearance.  

Detail of rusting

Detail of dent on dome

Detail of spotting/pitting on base

The Lamp Makeover

It was around this time that I *finally* decided to try out Rub n' Buff (RnB), which according to the blogosphere can do miraculous makeovers on tired furniture pieces.  I also had to decide between two colors of RnB that came in my sample pack.  In a small area near the cord I tried one coat of 'Antique Gold' RnB vs. 'European Gold'. I could see that the Antique Gold is much more yellow, and the European Gold was a more copper-bronze color which was too close to the original and not bright enough.

The difference between Antique Gold (bottom) and 
European Gold (top)

The difference between the original color and the Antique Gold RnB was even more striking on the top of the elongated dome of the lamp.

Original vs. 1st coat

Here's the entire lamp after one coat of RnB, already lookin waaaaaay better and brighter.

Lamp after first coat all over

You can see that the rusting on the top square part was able to be covered by the RnB.

After, no more visible rust

Top of the lamp dome after one coat of RnB. There was also a learning curve in how to apply the product, it help to do one thin coat and then walk away in order to let it dry fully - if you try to apply more product too soon you will just end up wiping off the first coat!

After 1st coat, dome looking brighter

Detail of the lamp base

Final product!

The final made-over lamp after 3-ish coats of RnB looks so much bright and just more cheerful. I'm pleased with the way this turned out, easier than spray painting and a bit more shine than I've seen from gold paint.  Expect more Rub 'n Buff freestyle makeovers in future.

Desk lamp after makeover with
Antique Gold Rub 'n Buff

Happy freestyling, don't be afraid to hold on to those useful little things. Minimalism doesn't always win over the practicality of knowing something will come in handy.

Tags: how to makeover a bronze lamp; bronze lamp makeover; rub n buff; using rubnbuff; using metallic wax to makeover a lamp; metallic wax on metal lamp; desk lamp makeover

Y-urn-ing for another lamp makeover? Here's something for that.

The Find

I guess it is lamp season, or lamp discard season, or maybe I just notice lamps because they are functional, easy to fix, and fun to makeover. Either way, here is a story of making over a funny lamp that was designed to look like some sort of aged antique.  It was also sitting on the ground when I found it, which helped with the aged effect.

Lamp, discarded on ground.

The Makeover

After a thorough cleaning, which revealed that the aged crackle look was very much intentional, I was please to discover that the lamp electrical components were working just fine.  I was EVEN MORE PLEASED when a lampshade that I had randomly found (right? because it's lamp season??) a few weeks prior turned out to be a decent fit for the size and shape.

I had it sitting in a corner for a few days while I plotted the makeover. Every day confirmed that the aged crackled-ivory look of the 'vase' part of the lamp just was not cutting it.  It just sat there muttering, "I"m fusty," while I contemplated what color - or colors - to use.  I thought about matte black, matte white, or a dark clay red, but then the image of wedgewood blue plates popped into my head, and I kind of liked it.

Lamp in corner, with new shade

While at the hardware store, considering the spray paint aisle, I realized that if I wanted to use spray paint I would have to wait weeks for the temperature to be warm enough outside. Unacceptable! When the freestyle makeover bug bites it must be dealt with immediately.  So I trundled over to the interior paint section and found the cheapest paint sample on the display shelf - thank you 99cent jars of Glidden. At that price I could experiment!  I found 4 shades of blue on the same sample card and got matte paint samples for each.  Once back to the workbench I started painting little samples to see how the colors really looked, and how they looked against the 'brass' color parts.

testing the waters...

The color that won out is called SERENE SEA, it was the lightest of the four. In the photo below it is super washed out by the bright lamp I had shining about 6 inches away while painting, and the paint was still wet.

Repainted lamp section in Glidden Serene Sea.

Conclusion

After looking at the lamp for a few days I'm pleased, but not overjoyed, with how it looks.  In an unexpected twist (thank you subconscious?) it coordinates with a different lamp in the room that has a brass body and a blue glass shade.  My plan is to look at it for a while longer and decide if I want to extend the current amount of blue, or paint any of the other lamp body sections.  For now I am very happy with how the paint covered up the original crackled-ivory look and smoothed out the texture a bit.

Post-makeover, blue vase lamp

Happy freestyling, revamping, redoing, and all the DIY-ing!

Small Brass Lamp Makeover - Part 1 - The Body

The Find

One night I found a small brass lamp with a pleated shade, the kind you might see on an end table or as a night light.  I don't have a full 'before' picture because I once I got it home I was excited and started taking apart the shade (the shade makeover will be described in part 2).

Here is the lamp once I started taking it apart.  The surface was pitted and I had an urge to bring some bring color into the space rather than trying to shine up the metal.

Brass lamp dis-assembly

All of the pieces were threaded on to this central rod.

Brass lamp dis-assembly: center rod

This number is scratched on the inside of one piece, I have no idea what it means.

Number scratched inside the brass lamp

To keep track of the pieces, I used a marker to write the order and the direction it was facing as I disassembled the lamp parts.

Lamp body piece number '7', direction facing 'up'.

The Makeover

I used a few coats of glossy green spray paint to cover the metal. All spraying was done outside over the course of a nice day. I've learned the hard way not to use spray paint when it is too cold, the paint will develop what look like scales.  Also, be sure to hold down the edges of your newspaper, otherwise there will inevitably be a gust of wind to fold the paper onto your paint whilst it dries.

Glossy green spray-painted lamp body pieces

I reassembled the lamp and purchased a lamp wiring kit so that I could install totally new wiring.  This was also good practice, fun, and so so easy to do!

Reassembled lamp with new wiring, almost ready.

Conclusion

The lamp body makeover didn't take much time for each step, but with the spray painting there was a bit of back and forth, as usual. It goes something like this: shake can, spray, wait to dry, shake can, spray again, wait to dry, discover yet another spot that you missed, shake can, spray again, wait for the paint to dry, decide you are done with the painting, wait 24 hours before reassembling.

I'm pleased with the glossy emerald green finish and the classic turned wood lamp body shape.  In the corner of the final photo you can see the shade waiting for some freestyle attention!

Freestyled lamp body with glossy green paint and new wiring

Happy freestyling, and don't be afraid to paint your finds to fit your style!

Freestyle finds help a Texas transplant take root

A fortuitous friend introduction led me to meet "Miss S" soon after she moved to the area....and was looking to furnish her apartment with a little bit more than what had fit in her car during the cross-country drive.  As an enthusiastic thrifter and fan of second-hand items Miss S. was thrilled at the prospect of some free apartment accessories, and I was happy to send them to a good home.

It started out with living room things....

A small end table with brass inlay, and a cute lamp that had a secret light-up middle section.

A set of three square display shelves for the wall, after their installation

Geometric patterned throw pillows that happened to have just the right colors to go with the dark blue couch.

Then a few weeks later I found a curtain, very mod with it's pattern of squares.
Two of the grommets came out in the wash, but otherwise it held up well.

The curtain became a shower curtain outer liner.

Finally (for now at least), the masterpiece of this freestyle bonanza was this large frame with the glazing intact. The original poster was a bar scene with a rather elongated bartender, not really in keeping with the light and bright feeling in the rest of the apartment.

A friend's photograph was purchased, matted, and framed....

...then the final landscape with flowers photo was hung with care to brighten up the bedroom.

Happy freestyling!