~ROMANITC VINTAGE CHANDELIER - Shabby Chic Lighting At It's Best~

~ROMANTIC COTTAGE LIGHTING~

Happy New Year to all of you on this BEAUTIFUL FRESH WINTER DAY! It's going to be a GREAT DECADE! I just know it! I am happy to see you again and I'm excited about the days ahead!

Are you ready to be inspired?

Good! Read on!

While my Mr. AGPMan has been busy watching FOOLBALL FOOTBALL :) today (he does deserve a BREAK now and then!!!) I've been head-deep in organizing a ton of photos I snapped just before and after Christmas 2009. With our holiday decorations packed away for another year I feel like things are getting back to normal around here!

Time to breathe again!

Do you remember a few posts back when I told you about the amazing vintage Chandelier my guy bought me for my birthday? Well...it's time for the reveal!

But first...I've gotta fill you in on the prep details!

~WALL MEDALLION~
Thinking Outside of the Box

Last February I shared with you how I found some amazing wall medallions and how my Mr. AGPMan transformed them into light surrounds for the chandeliers in my home. Above is a photo I snapped of my latest find. I paid only $27.99 for this fabulous scrolly metal beauty! Isn't she gorgeous?

~GREAT PRICE - $27.99~
Compare at $60.00

ROSS has the most amazing things! Sometimes you really have to look in order to find the BEST of their hidden treasures...but I ALWAYS go there and TJ Maxx before I go anyplace else!

~DRILLED HOLES FOR WIRING~

Two holes were pre-drilled before painting in order to wire the surround correctly (so says my guy anyway)! :) This is something I know NOTHING ABOUT!! Show these pictures to your lighting person...if they know what they are doing in the first place they'll get it! Trust me!

~PRIMED WITH ZINSSER~
Brush Painted with Behr Cottage White

Remember last year when I told you about ZINSSER PRIMER? It is my favorite Primer to use although most any Bonding Primer will work. I always paint the underneath side of the surround first. Once dry I flip over and clean up any drips and then finish up with the best creamy white paint ever! It's from Behr, comes pre-mixed and is called COTTAGE WHITE! Yummmmmm.... Just like soft vanilla ice-cream!

~WIRED IN PLACE~
Lightly Distressed

I gently distressed the surround but I chose not to antique it with any other treatment! It reminds me of an antique ceiling mount and/or fixture. SQUEAL! I DO DO DO LOVE IT!

~PROFESSIONALLY HUNG~
By My MR.APMan

My guy has always done all the electrical work and rewiring in our home. It's a good thing. Electricians can cost BIG BUCKS! It is the one place we've really saved money by being Do-It-Yourselfers! Still...if you (or your honey) don't know how to wire something...call the pros. Better off spending the cash than burning down your home!

~HANGING CHANDELIER~
I Moved OUT of His Way

By this time I was so excited my camera was shaking! :)

~SIMPLY BREATHTAKING~
Be Still My Heart

I just sat for the longest time and looked at this beauty! I found her on eBay last month and unashamedly BEGGED my guy to buy it for me for my birthday! Since he's always felt bad about me being born so close to Christmas (can get costly, you know!) it's easy to winkle out of him just the PERFECT THING! :) :) :)

~SHE'S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS~

Now...if the Chandelier wasn't beautiful enough, the real icing on the crystals (sorry!) is the simple fact she was purchased for just over $200 and that included shipping from Connecticut! :) Any reputable Antique Shoppe would easily have priced this beauty at over $650.

EEK! I love saving all those NICKLES!

Through the winter months I'll be posting even more pictures of our Romantic Dining Room. It's a work in progress! Once our front living area, we've been transforming it into a gathering place (did I say that?) that is large enough for our entire family to dine together. As a formal living space it was truly wasted square footage. Plus, our old dining room was made into a fabulous office for my guy (no, it is not romantic, charming, girly or cottage white)! :)

More photos coming up tomorrow! I'll be showing you snapshots of two vintage china cabinets and sharing with you a charming little story about how good things do come to those who wait...

Blessings to you my friends! I'm so looking forward to sharing my thoughts and ideas with you again this year...Rebecca