Rustic Bathroom Ideas

Whether you actually have a cabin in the woods or just enjoy that design style, a rustic bathroom adds charming appeal to your home. With the right choice of fixtures, wall treatments and accessories, your bathroom can have an old-fashioned and woodsy look, but with all the modern conveniences.

Walls and Floors

Wood and other natural elements are associated with a rustic style. If your bathroom's walls are already wood, you're all set. If you don't like their color, you can always restain the wood. To dress up plain walls, make wainscoting with wood beadboard paneling and stain it in a tone you like. For a look that's different from the norm, make the wainscoting taller than usual, about 4 or 5 feet high. Above the beadboard, paint the walls an earthy color, such as mossy green or golden brown. Beadboard has a beautiful, timeless look that goes well with a rustic style. If you'd like a wood look without actually having wood in your bathroom, consider wood-look wallpaper or ceramic tile.

For floors, a natural stone or a ceramic stone-look tile are an attractive and cool counterpoint to the warmth of the wood. Tile is practical in a moisture-laden area like a bathroom and is easy to maintain.

Fixtures

Bring back the rustic look of the past by choosing a pedestal sink or two pedestal sinks if you prefer. Old-fashioned ceramic or metal faucets with the familiar H and C designations are a perfect accompaniment to a classic sink. A plain, footed tub--as opposed to a fancy, fussy clawfoot tub--will complete the look. If you want the jets or other bells and whistles that come with a modern tub or shower, go ahead and have it. Not every element of the bathroom has to be rustic to achieve the look.

Accessories

Wrought iron, or black metal, accessories are another way to bring natural elements into a rustic bathroom. A lovely wrought iron mirror and a black metal toilet paper holder will add a bit of elegance to the room, which could become too kitschy if care is not taken. A black metal or wrought iron hanging shelf or cabinet can provide extra storage.

For a woodsy shower curtain, choose a plaid fabric and make your own. To get the right size, measure an old shower curtain or use it as a template for cutting out your fabric. Leave an extra inch all around for a seam. If you have a sewing machine, hem all four sides of the fabric. If you don't sew, you can use fusible tape, found at stores that carry sewing supplies, or fabric glue to hem your shower curtain. Hang it with curtain clips, which will save you from having to create holes for hooks.

Tags: black metal, shower curtain, your bathroom, look that, make wainscoting

Measure For Dropin Stoves

Drop-in stoves are common in kitchens throughout the United States.

Drop-in stoves are supported by both the counter top at either side and a set of adjustable feet below. To fit correctly, drop-in stoves must squeeze the bulk of their frames between the existing cabinets and appliances while projecting a slim top ridge over the surrounding framework. The result is a tight and finished look without any rough cabinet edges or sides of the oven in sight. To measure for a drop-in stove, you will have to know the exact size of your stove and the space into which it is going.

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your drop-in stove using your tape measure. Measure the width of the stove itself and not the overhanging lip that extends from the sides of the range at the top.

2. Measure the opening between your cabinets where you plan to install the drop-in stove using your tape measure. If the space is at least as wide as your stove and does not exceed it by more than 1 1/2 inches, the stove should fit. If the gap is too small, you must either purchase a drop-in stove with a smaller width or take steps to increase the size of the opening. If the opening is too large by less than 1 1/2 inches, you should still be able to place the stove by maneuvering its overhanging lip into a central position, which will cover the extra space.

3. Measure the distance between the cabinet doors that sit to the right and left of the opening where the drop-in stove will sit. The minimum distance from the opening for each door to work properly is 1 inch or so.

4. Measure the height of your countertop using your tape measure. Measure the height of your drop-in stove. The height of the stove must be less than the height of the countertop for it to fit. However, if it is too short, it will look out of place and may require a bit of framing. Consider a stove that is closer to the dimensions you require.

5. Measure the depth of the space where you plan on installing your drop-in stove. The depth should be measured from the front edge of the cabinet door to the wall behind. Check with your drop-in stove manufacturer recommendations for depth requirements.

6. Measure the gap between the countertop and the cabinets above it. The minimum recommended height is 18 inches. Perform the same measurement in the space above where the drop-in stove is to fit. The minimum recommended space between the range top and the cabinets or vent directly above is 30 inches.

7. Measure the countertop thickness with your tape measure. Some drop-in stoves will require that your countertops stay within a certain maximum size while others will not. Check with your manufacturer guidelines for specific information.

Tags: drop-in stove, your tape measure, tape measure, your drop-in, your drop-in stove, your tape, using your

Install Recessed Lights Before Or After Painting

Recessed lighting adds a modern look.

Recessed lighting is used to add a type of spot lighting to a specific area in a room. With different styles available today, you can accomplish almost any lighting effect. Most recessed lighting is energy efficient and very simple to install, even in a finished house. The lighting can be installed before or after painting the ceiling. Most newer homes come with recessed lighting already installed.

Instructions

1. At the circuit breaker, turn off the power to the room in which you will be working.

2. Mark the area where you want the recessed lights to go. For better lighting, plan on spacing them at least 6 feet from other lights. If you are adding the lighting in a kitchen, plan on adding lighting over the stove and sink.

3. Disconnect the light fixture that is currently in the room. This is where you will be getting your power.

4. Test the wires with a voltage tester to determine if the breaker will be able to power the new lights. If not, have an electrician upgrade the circuit breaker.

5. Locate each of the joists in the room with a stud finder. Mark where each of the joists are, so you can avoid any unnecessary cutting later. You could also complete this step with a hammer and listen for an echo.

6. Drill a hole in the ceiling in the center of where you want to install a light. Bend a wire coat hanger and slide it through the hole. Mark where the coat hanger stops. Measure from the end of the coat hanger to the mark. If it measured 8 inches, then you can continue to the next step, if not, you need to find another place for the lights.

7. Trace the manufacturer's template where you will be placing the light.

8. Use a drywall saw to cut the opening.

9. Drill a hole in the joist to allow the wires for the lights to pass through. Do not drill a hole bigger than 1/4 of the width of the joist. Cut the holes only if necessary. If there is dead space above the joist, then you do not need to drill at all. You can simply lay the wires over the joist.

10. Run the wires to the closest fixture. Leave about a foot of wire hanging out of the opening.

11. Connect the color coated wires to the appropriate colored wire on the lighting canister. Use a wire nut to secure the wire.

12. Slide the canister into the ceiling; the clips attached to the canister should snap into place and hold it tightly. If you need to paint the room, now would be a good time.

13. Install the trim around the fixture, then install the light bulb.

14. Turn the power back on to test the fixture.

Tags: coat hanger, adding lighting, circuit breaker, each joists, install light, Mark where, where want

Drop Ceilings

About Drop Ceilings

Drop ceilings are also known as dropped ceilings, false ceilings or suspended ceilings. They were originally created to hide the floor and fixtures above a room and to provide acoustic control. Drop ceilings are installed at a height lower than the actual ceiling in a room. They are popular for their ease of installation, modification and versatility.

Function

Drop ceilings are used as secondary ceilings to conceal ductwork, wiring and piping of buildings. These types of ceilings are typically seen in large buildings such as department stores, hospitals, schools and office buildings. Drop ceilings also function as a sound barrier when properly insulated. They deaden sounds so that adjacent rooms are kept quieter.

Types

The older type of drop ceilings are known as the "concealed grid" system. These ceilings interlocked the panels of the grid, making it more difficult to remove single panels to gain access above the ceiling. Modern drop ceilings are known as the "drop panel" system and are used almost exclusively where drop ceilings are needed. The drop panel system allows individual panels to be removed when repairs are needed.

Features

Drop ceilings consist of a grid of metal channels which are suspended on wires from the structure over head. These channels are snapped together in a regular panel and filled with acoustic ceiling tiles. The tiles in drop ceilings can be made of an array of materials from wood to metal or plastic. Fluorescent lights, sprinklers and air conditioning vents are also installed into the grids as needed. Insulation known as "Sound Batts" are installed in drop ceilings to control and block sound.

Benefits

The main benefit of drop ceilings is the ease of access to fixtures above the ceiling. This makes repairs, maintenance and alterations easier. They are extremely popular in commercial and industrial buildings where there is a need to cover fixtures in the ceiling. Another benefit is the ability to hide structural damage or other building flaws.

Warning

Drop ceilings can be misused and are often a means of hiding faulty wiring, pest infestation and building damage. Beware of landlords who try to hide problems with drop ceilings. They easily discolor and do not age well. Drop ceilings are easily damaged and aren't usually aesthetically pleasing. This makes them less desirable for residential applications. Loss of height is another disadvantage of drop ceilings. Four to eight inches is usually needed between the bottom of the actual ceiling and the top of the drop ceiling. Before installing drop ceilings, make sure you have enough space for them.

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Paint Clouds On A Bedroom Ceiling

Use photos to decide the cloud shapes you plan to paint.

Faux painting a ceiling is a little challenging, mostly because the ceiling is over your head -- and whether you use rollers, a brush or sponges, your arms still get tired. The reward for your hard work can be a bedroom ceiling that looks like someone took the roof off the house to reveal the sky on a bright and sunny day. Such a ceiling is likely to lift the spirits on glum days. To create a good sky takes some work but when you finish, your child will love it.

Instructions

1. Collect a group of photos of the type of clouds you want to paint. This is very helpful since most people never closely look at clouds. Clouds have a direction, which means they have a leading edge and a trailing edge. Clouds look darker underneath and lighter on top. Some streak. Some are fluffy. Tape your cloud photos to a large piece of cardboard and tape that to your wall so you have easy reference once you start.

2. Remove everything from the room. Place plastic sheeting on the floor and tape over anything you can't remove. Use tape and paper along the corner from the ceiling to the top of the walls to protect the walls from paint drops and help create a straight edge. Bring in a tall ladder. If you removed the window coverings, look out the window to see what direction the clouds are moving in relation to the room. Note this direction and keep it in mind for when you begin to paint clouds.

3. Set up a folding table (with plastic sheeting over it since you will be mixing paints). Select a dark shade in a color of blue you like. Pour the blue into an empty quart can until the can is about half full. Pour the same amount into a second can. Use a disposable plastic cup to scoop up a cup of white paint; add that to the second can. Mix it well with a stir stick.

4. Paint the ceiling so that it is darker toward the edges and lighter toward the middle of the ceiling. Paint with the darkest blue starting in a corner. Use a 3-inch brush. Brush away about 18 inches from the corner and 6- to 8-inches from the wall. While the dark blue is still wet, pick up the second can and paint the lighter color in another 18 inches or so. When you have painted what you can easily reach from the ladder in that position, take your brush and blend the two colors so that it is hard to see where one starts and the other stops. Repeat this around the entire room.

5. Mix two more quart cans with the dark blue base adding more white to each mixture. Repeat your painting technique of painting from dark to light inside the area you already painted. When you reach the center of the ceiling, work with two colors and blend them well. This will provide a backdrop for the clouds.

6. Mix white paint with glaze at a ratio of three parts glaze to one part paint. Mix gray paint with glaze using the same ratio. Pour gray/glaze paint into one half of a roller tray and white/glaze paint into the other. Recall the direction of clouds you noted earlier. Look at your reference clouds to see how the front edge looks.

7. Moisten the sea sponge with water and squeeze it dry. Dip it into the gray paint and squeeze it until it has paint but isn't drippy. Press the sponge against the ceiling and sponge out the shape of your cloud. You want the cloud to be somewhat random with darker and lighter areas, so move your sponge around and let some of the sky shine through. Pick up some white paint on the same sponge and highlight the cloud. It doesn't matter where you start on the ceiling. Move around and paint big and small clouds. If you don't like how one looks, cover it with your sky color mixtures and try again.

8. Go up and down the ladder to check your progress. Add highlights with unglazed white paint. Add shadows with unglazed gray paint. There will be a point where you understand how the clouds in your room should look. They should be puffy here, and streaky there and brighter here and darker there. After you are reasonably satisfied, it's time to finish.

9. Pick up the can of pink spray paint. Spray the pink on some plastic sheeting to get a feel for how big the spray pattern is. Then, pick a spot and while standing back from the ceiling (at least 2 to 3 feet), spray some pink. It will look as if bits of sunlight are splattered about. Add a few other bits of pink around the ceiling. Use white spray paint to soften the edges of some of the clouds. The more color layers you apply, the more brilliant your sky and clouds will look.

Tags: white paint, gray paint, plastic sheeting, ceiling that, dark blue

Find Hotel Discount Codes

Find Hotel Discount Codes

With all the great deals, promotions and coupon codes on the Internet, you don't have to pay full price for hotel accommodations for your next trip.

Instructions

1. Visit the websites of the hotels you would like to stay at and sign up for their email alerts if your trip is fairly far off. Most major hotels and hotel chains send emails advertising promotional codes for deals on stays that might be weeks to months in the future.

2. Find online "coupons" for all hotels in the area on popular travel sites such as Hotels.com. These sites not only will compare rates for all the hotels near your destination, but there also are site pages specifically dedicated to special deals/coupons.

3. For those not picky about their destination, sites such as Travelzoo.com are helpful. These types of sites compile the best travel deals on the Internet, from hotels to flights to travel packages. You also can sign up for Travelzoo emails so you won't miss any hotel coupons that come through the site.

4. Check online coupon sites such as CouponCraze.com and RetailMeNot.com. Enter the name of the hotel(s) you would like to stay at in the search field. The search should return several coupon codes you can enter when reserving your room online. Most of these types of sites also will offer ratings and other information on each coupon code (often, these types of codes expire, so it might be too late to use them).

5. Do an online search for hotels in your destination city to check for these types of sites. If your vacation destination is a large city, there might be sites aimed specifically at hotel coupon codes/discounts in that city. EarlyVegas.com is an example of this.

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Attach A Shade To A Floor Lamp

Lamp shades come in three types: the spider with harp, the uno and the clip.

Lamp manufacturers use three different standard styles of attachments for lamp shades. It is important to recognize which style lamp you own before trying to attach the shade. The "spider with harp" style shade has a circular metal attachment at the top of the shade. The "uno" style has a metal cone extending from the top of the shade down to be flush with the bottom of the shade. The "clip" style shade has a circular clip that attaches directly onto a light bulb.

Instructions

Spider with Harp

1. Unscrew the fitting from the top of the lamp shade with your fingers. Unscrew from right to left, or counterclockwise.

2. Lift your old shade straight up, off the fitting.

3. Line up the fitting on the lamp with the center of your replacement shade, and slide the shade straight down onto the fitting.

4. Screw the fitting back in place on the top of your lamp with your fingers.

Uno

5. Unplug your lamp from the electric socket.

6. Remove the bulb from your lamp by unscrewing it to the left with your fingers.

7. Lift your old lamp shade straight up and off the light-bulb socket.

8. Line up the base of your replacement shade with the top of the light-bulb socket, and place it directly onto the socket.

9. Screw your light bulb back into the light bulb socket on your lamp, and plug the lamp back into the electric socket.

Clip-on

10. Unplug your lamp from the electric socket.

11. Unclip the old shade by holding the top of the shade in one hand and the base of the lamp in the other, and gently lifting the shade straight off the lamp.

12. Line up the clip on your replacement shade with the center of the light bulb in your lamp. Gently push your replacement shade onto the bulb until the clip snaps into place.

13. Plug your lamp back into the electric socket.

Tags: your lamp, electric socket, light bulb, replacement shade, shade straight, your replacement, your replacement shade

Make Light Fixtures

Create truly unique home decor by making your own lamp or fixture.

Lamps are an important feature of the typical American home. Attractive table lamps both give light and accessorize a room's decor. While inexpensive lamps are widely available, nothing can replace the special look of a lamp you design and make yourself.

Instructions

1. Wire the lamp stand. Drill a 3/8-inch hole through the store-bought lamp stand from the bottom to top, unless the stand comes with a pre-drilled hole for the wiring. Insert a rod through the hole, leaving 2 inches at the top. From the bottom, wire the stand up through top.

2. Connect the socket.Thread the wire through the neck, and attach the wiring to the socket at the screws.

3. Put the neck, socket, harp and finial on the stand. Attach the neck on the stand. Put on the socket and place the harp with the finial into the socket cover attachment

4. Remove the shade from an old cylindrical lamp shade. Take off all the material. Be sure not to damage any of the metal struts in the structure. Wrap cotton tape, in a color that matches the new lamp shade material, around the old lamp shade structure. Wrap enough around to attach a new shade.

5. Sew a new lamp shade and place on old shade structure. Measure around the old lamp shade structure at the widest place. Add 2 inches and cut the material. If you prefer, decorate the material with a design. Sew the material with a 1-inch hem and slide over the lamp shade.

6. Put in the light bulb and place the shade on the lamp. Turn the lamp on to check that it works.

Tags: lamp shade, shade structure, around lamp, around lamp shade, lamp shade structure

Design Bathroom Fixtures

A well-planned bathroom adds market value to a house.

Modern bathrooms call for clean lines and uncluttered space. Even if a bathroom fits an older home's design and architecture, these rules apply. Having adequate storage in cabinets or closets ensures that bathroom floor space works better. Small bathrooms with very little floor space look more elegant and roomy if supplies and towels are stored outside the room. Plan a beautiful overall design and create each bathroom to feature its basic fixtures in their best light.

Instructions

1. Review bath-fixture catalogs to select a sink, commode, tub and shower that are appealing. Buy the best fixtures your budget allows. Keep in mind that well-designed bathrooms add resale value to almost any home. Find well-made fixtures that work appropriately with the home's architecture. Think, also, of how the fixtures will appeal to future buyers of the house.

2. Plan a bathroom around the sink or vanity space. Measure the wall space and sketch the sink area as the main focal point. Use a large pedestal sink in a tiny hallway bathroom, for example. Install an oval mirror above the sink. Paint the wall a contrasting dark color to call more attention to the sink space. Purchase large mirrors to emphasize a vanity cabinet space or add elegant light fixtures.

3. Create an accessible shower space. Design a table or cabinet to hold towels outside a clear corner shower, for example. Keep in mind that the shower should function well when family members are in a hurry. Create the shower door to open easily. Don't use cumbersome shower curtains and rods when a simple pre-made shower unit works better.

Victorian Trim Ideas

The Victorian era embraced the use of wood moldings and columns.

The Victorian era lasted from 1835 to 1900. In America, homes built before the Civil War were simple, Arts & Crafts style Victorians. After the Civil War, because of the development of machinery that could cut wood moldings, houses began to be embellished with wood trim. The advent of this machinery made wood trim available in a variety of shapes, and it became more affordable. Today's homeowner can replicate the Victorian look by paring down the elements but still embodying the Victorian spirit.

Interior Trim

Window trim flourished during the Victorian era with fluted boards surrounding a window and the corners embellished with carved rosettes. Another favorite was to add picture framing wainscotting to the walls. Ceilings had boxed beams, or a center medallion, from which hung lighting. Door jambs were made from several layers of trim, creating a series of profiles and ridges. Crown moldings were also created from several layers of trim boards -- the more, the better. Additionally, chair railings and wide baseboards abounded.

Exterior Trim

Fanciful cut and painted wood trim adorned the exterior of Victorian homes. Wide frieze boards, connecting the roof to the walls of the home, were cut to resemble lace or a pattern, such as ocean waves, shells or a fleur-de-lis. Dormers were favorite places to add details, such as plaques or cornice brackets and were surrounded with a decorative frame. Wide, open porches were a Victorian favorite, and the space between every column was adorned with ornamental valances, often beaded and most definitely intricately carved.

Accessory Trim

Trim was hung everywhere there was empty space in the Victorian home. Fireplace surrounds became elaborate affairs, often using columns and pilasters. Corbels, pediments or spindles adorned the tops of doorways. Scroll-sawn brackets were used to hold up shelves.

Using Victorian Trim Today

The modern interpretation of a Victorian style is to use only some of the basic design elements. Accentuate the intricate moldings by painting them in rich colors while keeping the main wall areas light and unadorned. The most common colors of the Victorian era were red, green and amber, and combinations of those colors were used on walls, ceilings and fabrics. Today's Victorian style uses colorful patterns sparingly and draws the eye to the wood trim for which the Victorian is so well known.

Tags: wood trim, brackets were, embellished with, from several, from several layers, layers trim

Grout Travertine Tile On A Wall

Travertine is a stone tile that's full of random craters and holes on the surface, the result of the natural formation of the mineral-rich stone. The holes are part of the classic look of Travertine, though in most cases, those holes are filled with grout so they don't collect dirt and moisture. By using grout of a different shade than the tile, it highlights the shapes of the holes while still giving you a flat surface on the tile itself. Travertine should be pre-sealed before grouting so the grout doesn't stick to the face of the tile.

Instructions

1. Apply tile sealer over the surface of the newly hung tile using your paintbrush. Work from the top of the wall and make sure to apply the sealer only to the flat face of the tile. Don't get it in the lines between the tiles or in the holes that are in the tile surface. Let the sealer dry for several hours.

2. In a bucket, mix your unsanded grout with water using your putty knife to stir it. Add the water slowly, mixing the grout to the consistency of thick mud. Let it sit in the bucket for 10 minutes so the chemicals meld (this is called ``slaking'').

3. Re-stir the grout. Use your grout trowel to apply it to the wall, starting at the top. Scrape the trowel across the tile at an angle, with the long side pressed tightly against the surface so the grout is squeezed into the lines and holes in the tile face. Do the entire wall, making sure to go over every inch of it so all the lines and holes are filled.

4. Wipe down the wall with a damp sponge. Run the widest span of the sponge flat against the tile so it takes up the excess grout but doesn't dig it out of the lines or the holes.

5. Let the grout cure for a week or more. Re-apply tile sealer as before, but this time go over the whole tiled surface, grout and all.

Tags: lines holes, face tile, grout doesn, holes filled, surface grout, tile sealer

Removal Of Asbestos From An Acoustic Ceiling

Preparing a room to remove sprayed ceiling

Acoustic ceilings that could have asbestos product in them can be in the form of a spray-on 'popcorn' ceiling. Asbestos was used as a sound dampener and a binding agent in ceiling materials through the 1980's. Use of the product was banned because it can cause lung cancer. If you are not sure if your ceiling contains asbestos, you can send a sample to a lab for analysis.

Safety First

Removal of the popcorn ceiling will release the asbestos fibers. Popcorn ceilings can be painted over, but that makes it more difficult to remove them later. Hiring professionals who have the safety equipment and training is the best option. If you want to do the work yourself, use a respirator (if your doctor approves) and protective clothing, including eye protection. Wear a protective suit. Protect wiring and electrical from the water you will be using to wet the asbestos. Trim, drywall, paint, and furniture can be damaged in the removal process.

Removal

Remove all items and furniture from the room. Hang 6 mL polyethylene from the doorway to seal the room to contain the area. Tape the polyethylene to the walls and lay it on the floor. Purchase polyethylene waste disposal bags; you will need one for every 25 square feet of ceiling. Do not allow visitors to the room while you are working. Turn off the HVAC system to avoid getting asbestos fibers in the ventilation. Remove smoke detectors. Sprayed ceilings must be wet down to prevent the release of the fibers. Use a spray bottle with warm water and a teaspoon of liquid detergent. It may take up to 20 minutes for the ceiling to absorb enough water to scrape easily. If you cannot get the material to absorb moisture, stop working. You will need to contact an asbestos contractor. If you remove dry material, you will spread asbestos fibers throughout your home.

If the material absorbed the moisture, begin removing it, using a small scraper, and allow the material to drop into your hand. Place the material in a bucket that is up where you are working. Do not drop the material to the ground. Place the material from the bucket into the 6 mL polyethylene bags.

Cleanup

When you are done removing the sprayed ceiling, place all the material from the ceiling in the bags. Encapsulate the ceiling by applying a coating that will bind the asbestos fibers. This can be done with latex primer. Do not sand ceiling before painting. After painting, spray the walls with water. Then, work from the top down and the back of the room to the front. Place the polyethylene from the walls and floor in the bags. Do not shake out or sweep anything. Put clothing and any tools you want to dispose of, including the the respirator filters, in the bags. Seal the bags. Clean the rest of the tools and shower. Dispose of the materials in a licensed asbestos disposal site.

Tags: asbestos fibers, material from, polyethylene from, popcorn ceiling, sprayed ceiling, walls floor

Decorating Ideas For Old Crystal Chandeliers Using Material

Overhaul the look of your crystal chandelier with a new theme.

Old crystal chandeliers are elegant in a Victorian home, but can seem out of place in a modern or country home. Update your crystal chandelier with a little fabric and some creativity. Get some help taking the chandelier down and redecorate it at ground level instead of trying these ideas while on a ladder.

Winter Wonderland

If your home's design is crisp as a winter morning, consider changing your chandelier to match. Purchase some white, shaggy yarn from the fabric store and some white cotton or spandex fabric. Wrap the white fabric around the brass parts of the chandelier, securing it with adhesive. Wrap the chandelier parts again with the shaggy yarn. When hung, your chandelier will look like a snowflake.

Raggedy Anne

Country-themed homes are just begging for a raggedy country chandelier. Obtain some quilting fabric and cut it into strips. Tie the strips onto the brass parts of the chandelier, stacking them close together. Finish off the look by covering the the chandelier plate bottoms with fabric and replacing the crystals with raggedy ornaments.

Fantasy

Turn your dining room into a storybook by creating a fantasy-themed chandelier. Wrap each brass arm in a different brightly colored fabric. Replace the crystal cups with lamp shades, also covered with bright fabric. Finally, replace the crystals with silk butterflies or dragonflies.

Fringe

Modern homes have so much decor that is crisp and square. Add a head tilting focal point by transforming your crystal chandelier into a fringe chandelier. Remove all the crystal and the light-bulb covers. Use adhesive to glue fringe fabric along the tops of all the brass pieces. Glue fringe to the rims of the light covers and you have one very modern chandelier.

Tags: crystal chandelier, your crystal, your crystal chandelier, brass parts, brass parts chandelier

Make A Crystal Chandelier

Make a Crystal Chandelier

A crystal chandelier is an elegant update to any room's decor. One does not have to be expensive to give the impression of luxury. When making your own crystal chandelier, keep in mind the requirements for the fixture. You can hang a candle chandelier nearly anywhere. If you want an electric chandelier, though, you will need to be able to install it into an existing light fixture or hire an electrician to install it. First, choose the chandelier frame that fits your expertise and budget.

Instructions

1. Choose a chandelier frame from a home improvement store or a lighting store that has plenty of arms to hang your crystals from. The more complicated the design, the more crystals you can string from it. You can also alter an existing chandelier in your home.

2. Decide how long you want your crystal dangles to be. Cut the fishing line to this length plus 3 inches. Cut as many lengths as crystal dangles you want to hang from the chandelier.