Goodwill Lamps Gone Good

A few weeks back I headed over to my beloved Goodwill in search of whatever I could find.  :)  Call me crazy but it's one of my favorite stores, ever.  Everything is cheap and diy-able.  Oh and the best part, each month they have one 50% off days!  Score. 

After perusing through most of the store, I headed over to the lamp section and there were a ton to choose from.  All kinds and styles.  I first spotted one glass lamp that I pretty much loved from the moment I saw it and then at the other end of the shelf I saw another one that was almost identical to it.  I was immediately sold.  I paid my 10 buckaroos and brought those babies home.  When I brought them home, Jer couldn't even notice the difference in them.  Since we are re-doing our master bedroom a bit (like our grid wall that I'll be posting about soon, fingers crossed) I needed to find some lamps of the prettier/classier kind.  And these were it.  

Since the parts were a little rusty and one of them didn't work I went ahead and got some new parts for them both and one lamp kit package for the one that didn't work.  It didn't matter what the "parts/hardware" looked like since I would be spray painting them all the same color.

The question was, what color did I want them painted?  These were my two choices and I loved them both. So, in the end, I chose both!  Why not give them a little two-toned action?  The Krylon was used for all of the "parts."  But the mint color was the real winner since it was chosen to give it some color on the outside.  

These $10 lamp shades from Lowe's were simple, cheap, white and round....everything that I was looking for.

Here's what we started with BEFORE:

The lamps did us good for over 8 years but it was time for them to go.  But no worries, they'll be getting a makeover themselves.

And here's one new beauty (on my side of the bed):

I LOVE how they turned out.  Especially that mint color.  They look like they cost a pretty penny.  But really, they cost a total of $60 for both!

You can see the satin nickel color we used for the hardware of the lamps.  It's pretty perfect if you ask me.  :)

So, what do you think?  Don't these lamps look better?  And doesn't that mint add the perfect touch of color?  

xo

Jen

Me and Ikea = LOVE

Remember when we went to Ikea on our date night the weekend before last?  Well, we ended up getting a few things that I just couldn't have lived without (at least that's what I convince myself every time I go), of which included, an 11 inch frying pan with lid, a skid-free mat for our entry, a candle, a flower (yes, one flower, ha), 3 picture frames and two of these shelves....

for this space near our entry/dining room.  It's an odd little slanted wall that sits next to our laundry room door.  We've had a couple of picture frames there but when we textured the walls we never re-hung them.  oh and, please ignore the horrible chocolate brown color on our walls.  It's one of those paint decisions that you totally regret after a few years of living with it.  What was I thinking?  I can't even blame that decision on Jer.....itwasallmydecision!  

When I can get some motivation and my mom to come spend the weekend with us to watch Boston, we will re-paint this whole area (entry, dining room and arch).  It's something we dread since we know it will take a whole friggin' weekend to do since it will require primer first.  

Anyway, here's our empty space that I was dying to fill.  It needed something and not just picture frames.  When I saw the shelves at Ikea I knew they were coming home with us.  Luckily, they were the perfect size for that odd little slanted wall.  

This is what it looks like when you walk in our front door, minis our office doors immediately on the left.  And yes, that would be a shoe of mine right in the middle of the floor.  They magically appear in different parts of the house due to a certain little *cough Boston cough* guy that likes to get into every thing and leave every thing all around the house.

As Jer hung them....

Boston was doing a little of this....

and this.... 

and this.

And voila!  The first one is up and hanging. :)

On to the second one.

Jer covering the screws with some white tape they shelves came with.

And here they are.  The decor will change every so often.  

But for now we have: top shelf - 3 of the vases I painted a few weeks ago (the blue and the two small white ones), and then an engagement picture.  bottom shelf a newborn picture of the B-man, a family picture from Boston's 1 year photo shoot and a Goodwill find shaped into a heart that I found for less than a buck while we were in San Francisco on our anniversary.  Speaking of, I don't think I ever shared our whole San Fran trip.  Wow.  How could I not share that?  It was a pretty cool trip.  

They'll change every so often but for now I'm really enjoying them and what they have on them.  :)

xoxo,

~Jeni