{Swoon}

Yesterday, I dropped the girls off at the local KidsPark so that I could peruse my favorite store in peace.  I love Habitat's ReStore.  Its super awesome!  They have funky, fun, different stuff.  Most can be salvaged easily by a little T.L.C. and I get to feel like I'm doing something good when I spend Papa's hard-earned cash on something that would otherwise be called "junk."

I went in search of a light fixture.  Something to replace the awesome ceiling fan we had in the master bedroom since it decided to crap-out on me.  We don't have an extra couple hundred bucks to plop down on a pretty new light fixture.  While I was searching the store for hidden treasure, I came across this awesomeness.

Aren't they pretty?!?  And there are two of them.  And they are the most precious shade of blue.  I l.o.v.e. these lockers! But at $200 each, they are a bit out of my price-range.  So, I continued my search for a light and I found this beauty.

Ok, yeah, I know, its not really beautiful.  But look at all that potential!  No, seriously.  Ok, well, I'm not a big fan of the 90s tract home brass either (in fact I removed it all from this home just 7 years ago).  But, bear with me, it'll be awesome, I swear!  All it needs is a little of my favorite thing - spray paint.

I started by cleaning it really well.  Then I lightly sanded the whole thing with some fine-grit sandpaper.  Next, I crumpled up little pieces of paper and shoved them (gently) in to the light-screwy parts.  Finally, I grabbed a can of Rust-oleum's American Accents Aqua in Smooth Satin Finish {because it matches my gorgeous quilt (made with love by Leesy-Lou) featuring some beautiful Amy Butler fabric.}

I tested the spray on a different surface (the drop cloth would work) to make sure it was spraying well, and started in an inconspicuous area of the lamp to see how it held (the top of the chandelier, where the chord comes out and goes to the ceiling).  I liked what I saw so I did the arms and small areas using short bursts and making sure to coat it lightly and evenly.  For the larger portions (like the big ball on the bottom) I used longer bursts and even movements to ensure the same.

About half-way through the first coat

I let the first coat dry and then hit it with a second coat using the same techniques; hanging it up to get the very bottom of the ball-y part (yes that's a technical term) smooth and even.  Then let it dry for a few hours before bringing it in the house and commanding the tall, manly person to install it.

Here's what it looked like before installation.  Just chilling outside getting its "dry" on.

The best part?  All things told, this cost me exactly $21 and only took about an hour (plus installation time)!

{You'll have to wait for future posts to see it in all its glory because this beauty has inspired a little bedroom makeover - so stay tuned!}