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Around the Home DIY Thrift Store Upcycle Projects

From Old Brass to Farmhouse Sass

Welcome to the Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge – February Edition!  The fourth Tuesday of each month a group of blogging friends get together and transform/restore/upcycle/re-purpose something we have picked up at a yard sale, thrift store, etc.  At the bottom of this post you will find links to each of the participating bloggers thrift store upcycle project for the month, and I encourage you to check out all the fun and thrifty projects!

Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge

The Rules:

  • Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
  • There’s no monthly theme.
  • There’s no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts

Amanda | Red Cottage Chronicles   Kim | Made in a Day 
Dru | Polka Dot Poplars    Erlene | My Pinterventures    Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek    Pili | Sweet Things    
Shirley | Intelligent Domestications    Debra | Shoppe No. 5    Marie | DIY Adulation    
Chelsea | The Johnsons Plus Dog    Jes | My DIY Envy    Lindsay | Crazy Organized
Molly | Just a Little Creativity    Ashley | 3 Little Greenwoods    Kimm | Reinvented    Michelle | Our Crafty Mom
Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay   Sue | A Purdy Little House   Sara | Twelve on Main
Claire | Pillar Box Blue     Chelc | Inside the Fox Den    Kim | Farmhouse Made   Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled    
Sherry | Savvy Apron    Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod    Lora | Craftivity Designs      
   Denise | My Thrifty House   Toni | Small Home Soul  Megan | C’mon Get Crafty  Ann | Duct Tape and Denim

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!


thrift store upcycle redcottagechronicles.com

Living with animals can be a real treat.  And, no I am not talking about my husband and kids!  They are a whole other story!  I am talking about my beloved golden retrievers and two cats.  The cats are relatively harmless and don’t get into too much trouble. The dogs and their enthusiastic tail wagging however, have been cause for many an “accident” in our household!

Recently, more like before Christmas, one of those wagging tails took aim at a lamp on a side table in the living room.  I ran to try and catch it, but it came crashing down and smashed all over the floor.  This of course sparked the interest of the other dog who wanted to see what all the fuss was about, which had me diving over the couch to grab him before he went prancing through the broken glass.

Life with dogs!  I wouldn’t have it any other way!

So, since December we have gotten by with only one tiny lamp and a floor lamp in the living room.  It was high time I got to buying a new one.

While wandering through the third local thrift store of the day looking for something to spark my interest for this month’s upcycle challenge, a new lamp was the furthest thing from my mind. Then from across the aisles I spotted a couple of brass lamps and that is when the light went off! (No pun intended!)

Thrift Store Upcycle

I need a new lamp, and I need a thrift store upcycle project.  Win, win!  I choose one with a yellowing and brittle old pleated shade, but was tall and I really liked the shape of it. 

thrift store decor

On closer inspection it had spots for two bulbs and pull chains to turn on each bulb separately, albeit broken pull chains, but that would be an easy fix.  I knew I had a shade that would fit nicely, but would also need a coat of paint if I wanted it to look like the vision I had in my mind.

Thrift Store Upcycle

Once I got it home I immediately ditched the ugly shade and gave the lamp a good cleaning.  I wanted to use up paint I already had to keep the cost low, so I grabbed the two half empty cans of Rustoleum chalkboard paint and gave it three light coats.  While waiting for each coat to dry I used a brush to paint the burlap shade with Rustoleum’s Chalked Paint in Linen. 

Thrift Store upcycle redcottagechronicles.com

The next day I used Amy Howard at Home’s liming wax to add a protective coating to the lamp base and to soften the black chalkboard paint.  I love how it kind of looks like soapstone.  The wax gave it a super soft finish, that should resist any knicks or scratches from direct hits by a dogs wagging tail!

thrift store upcycle

At Michael’s I had picked up a roll of 1 1/2 wide black satin ribbon and hot glued a band around the top and bottom edge of the shade.  

thrift store upcycle

I purchased two new pulls to lengthen the broken pull chains.  The new chains were a bright brass so I dipped them into the chalkboard paint and let them dry before snapping them in place. 

thrift store upcycle

I have to admit I surprised myself with this Thrift Store Upcycle Challenge.  Never did I think of choosing a lamp as my project, but I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! 

thrift store upcycle

 Not to mention, this lamp is significantly heavier than the glass one the dog sent flying, so I would hazard a guess it won’t budge when it gets whacked with a wagging tail!

thrift store upcycle redcottagechronicles.com

One last look at how this old brass got some farmhouse sass!

Thrift Store upcycle

 The total cost of my “new” lamp was $14 including the lamp itself, ribbon and new chain pulls.  I already had all the paint and liming wax with lots left over for another project!

Until next time….

Red Cottage Chronicles

 

 

And now for more thrifty goodness!

Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!


31 Comments

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Comments

  1. claire says

    February 23, 2017 at 5:50 am

    Much more stylish after the revamp. Love the new shade.

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      February 23, 2017 at 6:09 am

      Thanks Claire!

      Reply
  2. Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled says

    February 23, 2017 at 8:36 am

    Wow, that looks like something pricey from Pottery Barn! You did a great job. Visiting from Thrift Store Challenge.

    Reply
  3. Lora says

    February 23, 2017 at 10:06 am

    I love the finished version! SUCH a huge improvement over the “before” 🙂

    Reply
  4. Shirley Wood says

    February 23, 2017 at 11:21 am

    The Before and After pics tell the story! Such a nice upcycle project. The price of lamps is ridiculous and this is much more fun anyway.

    Reply
  5. Amanda @ The Kolb Corner says

    February 23, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    Love the transformation. I am pretty sure my mom still has that original lamp in their basement, pleated shade and all haha. Maybe I should show her this and she will get the hint 😉

    Reply
  6. Dru Beecher says

    February 24, 2017 at 7:41 pm

    Gorgeous!

    Reply
  7. Kim~madeinaday says

    February 25, 2017 at 10:54 am

    Great makeover! I love you painted the shade. I’m on the lookout to find a couple of lamps to change out the ones in my bedroom. Thanks for the inspiration.
    Kim

    Reply
  8. Sue Purdy says

    February 25, 2017 at 11:33 am

    This looks so gorgeous. I LOVE the end result and it looks perfect.

    Reply
  9. Jeannee~Shepherds and Chardonnay says

    February 25, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    That is one of the most dramatic transformations I have seen in a long time! Fabulous!
    Jeannee

    Reply
  10. Erlene Amat says

    February 25, 2017 at 3:23 pm

    Wow, I can’t believe that’s chalkpaint. It looks like brushed metal and I love it!

    Reply
  11. Denise says

    February 25, 2017 at 6:20 pm

    It’s amazing what a good coat of paint can do. This lap is amazing….love it.

    Reply
  12. Chelc | Inside the Fox Den says

    February 25, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    Oh my gosh, this looks amazing! The transformation is incredible. Great job!

    Reply
  13. Judi J. says

    February 25, 2017 at 11:16 pm

    Love your lamp! I also have a brass lamp that got a makeover only in white. Funny thing is my shade is burlap with black ribbon banding lol.

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      February 26, 2017 at 3:16 pm

      Great minds think alike!!

      Reply
  14. Toni | Small Home Soul says

    February 27, 2017 at 1:06 am

    Wow wow wow, it look so glamorous now. Great idea painting the shade and adding the ribbon. Just beautiful

    Reply
  15. Michelle James says

    February 27, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    This turned out great. I am in love with the lampshade & the lamp looks so pretty black!

    Reply
  16. FLORENCE @ VintageSouthernPicks says

    February 27, 2017 at 6:00 pm

    Cuuuute!!! So there was hope for that lamp! Love the updated look now. Living with dogs is definitely worth it though.

    Reply
  17. leanne with divaofdiy.com says

    February 27, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    Love the update! What a great vision you have!

    Reply
  18. Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures says

    February 27, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    What a wonderful makeover! I love the soft black finish! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

    Reply
  19. Maria Brittis says

    February 27, 2017 at 9:44 pm

    I am in love with that transformation of a lamp. Great job, will pin it.
    Maria

    Reply
  20. Mary-the boondocks blog says

    February 28, 2017 at 5:16 pm

    That is one super transformation. Getting rid of all that brass makes a huge difference. And of course I love the black and white look.

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      February 28, 2017 at 6:54 pm

      Thank you Mary! It has become my favourite thing in the living room!

      Reply
  21. Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    March 1, 2017 at 8:09 pm

    What a fabulous idea! I love updating lamps for inexpensive home decor. You did such a great job!

    Thanks so much for the DIY inspiration!

    Reply
  22. Debrashoppeno5 says

    March 5, 2017 at 5:17 pm

    I love the lamps new look. It is a great update.

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      March 5, 2017 at 7:07 pm

      Thanks a bunch!

      Reply
  23. Stacey says

    March 5, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    Fabulous job on that lamp! It’s transformed into something new and chic.

    Pinned and sharing. 🙂

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      March 6, 2017 at 5:01 am

      Thank you Stacey!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. "Why Didn't I Think of That?" |15 Upcycled & Repurosed Thrift Store Makeovers - Knick of Time says:
    April 13, 2017 at 8:01 pm

    […]  Upcycled Vintage Lamp & Shade –Red Cottage Chronicles […]

    Reply
  2. Thrift Store Upcycle French Country Style on a Budget says:
    April 27, 2017 at 4:01 am

    […] After it was completely dry I used my Amy Howard at Home Liming Wax to give it a protective wax finish.  I have used this liming wax for countless projects including this lamp. […]

    Reply
  3. 10 Genius Thrift Store Upcycle Projects - Red Cottage Chronicles says:
    March 30, 2019 at 5:31 am

    […] a tired old brass lamp and giving it new life as a farmhouse style is one of my favourite upcycle projects.  I am still always on the look out for a similar one so I can have a similar […]

    Reply

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Red Cottage Chronicles

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Well, hello! I am Maureen, and welcome to our little Red Cottage. Married to my high school sweetheart, I am a passionate baker, accidental DIY'er and love all things home! Read More…

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