Super Simple Ceiling Fan Drum Shade

I have been wanting to fancy up a ceiling fan with a drum shade forever.  I had planned on doing it when we lived in Cincinnati, but my husband never got around to putting the ceiling fan up in our master bedroom.  Well, our rental just happens to have one up in the master so I took when I got my opportunity I ran with it.

I was taking a stroll through Ross the other day and I saw 2 beautiful large lamp shades, both greige, but one lighter and darker.  Why I didn't buy both I just don't know (you can never have enough drum shades).  Well, part of the reason was that neither one of them was marked with a price, so I actually didn't know how much they were so I only took one up to the register.  Lucky for me Ross just goes and grabs something similar when finding a price and the one they found was $5.99.  SCORE!!!

Now off to the task of actually getting this thing on my ceiling fan.  The best tutorial I found was at Thrifty Decor Chick.  You can head over there and read it, she does a great job at explaining it all.  Doesn't hers look great?



So off to Home Depot I went to find the parts I needed.  The "threaded connector" ( I will wait for you to go get one so you know the spam real word she was talking about, I laughed when I saw it).  I also got a package of couplings.

Here is what the fan looked like before.

and here is the fan after

Now my bedroom is nowhere near ready for a reveal, so bear with me.  At least you can see how the fan looks in the room.  My  comforter is from Home Goods in case you were wondering.

So this ceiling fan cost project cost me a total of $16 if you include the crystal pull I bought to replace the one that was missing when I moved in.  Not bad if I say so myself.

xo,

mONICa

It's been a crazy week

I have been so busy lately.  I just launched a new Etsy shop called Decorating Insanity.  My garage looks an artist studio with my multiple half done projects that are starting to look fantastic.  I dream of greatness with a real studio one day in Los Angeles (lately I've been wanting to go back home pretty badly)  and I must get more things in my store and fast.  It's looking a little half naked right now.

I sold my first piece within days and that was really exciting.

I've completed my second piece this week and listed it, and I have at least 2 more pieces on the way this week.

Since it's spray painting season I've got to take advantage of the weather.  I thought I'd post some great spray painting tips from Thrifty Decor Chick.

 

Q:  Where do you spray paint in the different seasons?

A:  In the spring/summer/fall that’s easy – usually in the backyard or on the deck. Usually I can be found holding an item out at arm’s length, over the edge of the deck, spraying away. Then I’ll just lay it on the railing to dry.

I keep old sheets around that I use as drop clothes when I paint, but most often I use them on the garage floor to spray paint. A few many, many times hubby has come home to a slew of items drying on his side of the garage floor. Which I know thrills him to no end.  ;)

In the winter, I have been known to spray paint in the basement – but I do quick, light sprays, then leave immediately. Usually anymore, I do my winter painting in the garage.

Q:  Do I need to prep my surfaces for spray paint?

A:  Other than thoroughly cleaning an item, honestly I don’t prep much. :) If it’s bare wood, a spray primer is a really good idea. You’ll prime the surface and use way less spray paint in the end.

On wood items, sometimes I will do a light sanding to prepare the surface – but most of the time I don’t. On metal, I usually just spray directly on the surface, but if it’s something that will get a lot of handling, I definitely prime it first. I have sprayed many metal lamps and did not prime because (the bases) don’t get touched much.

Same goes for light fixtures – I mean, how often do you touch them? At least around here, it’s not much. :)

So for the kitchen fixture, I didn’t prime. I did light, quick sprays and worked my way around the light as it hung. I LOVE the way it turned out!:

Swoon! (Ignore the pantry door in front of the window!) Now the light hangs about 29 inches above the table instead of 31 (I know, but I notice.) And it’s 23 inches wide instead of 18 inches – which fills in that area much better.

Visual substance and all.  ;)

I’m thinking of an update for the shades – you know I can’t leave well enough alone!

The Krylon oil rubbed bronze paint I used dried super fast, even out in the freaking-insane-I’m-sweating-just-standing-here-heat we had today, but you need to be sure to let anything you spray paint cure (dry) long enough before you handle it.

Because I’m insanely impatient, I waited till this fixture was dry to the touch and then started installing. Because of that, there were a few little scratches here and there after I got it up.

I just threw the sheet over the kitchen table and sprayed little touch ups. I don’t recommend doing this unless you really have yours spaces covered. But I am me and me is crayyyyzay! :)

So if your project doesn’t go just right, what do you do?

Q:  How do I fix bubbles/crackling/drips/oopsies?

A: Imperfections usually mean one of two things – either you didn’t prep properly so the paint isn’t adhering well, or you are spraying too much, too fast. Drips always mean you’ve used too much. To correct those, wipe them off immediately if you can, then spray over. If you notice them later, sand it down lightly and spray again.

Same goes for crackling. Whenever I see that it means I haven’t prepped well. Sometimes I’ve noticed crackles when I’m using spray paint that has been in the heat or the item I’m spraying has been in the heat.

Crackle can be harder to cover – so sand down as much as possible and spray again.

If you follow these tips, you should get a finished product that will last you for years!:

xo,

mONICa