I just wanted to be clear about this before I start this post. This project turned out okay, but I did not end up with the result I wanted nor did I enjoy the process. I love lighting, and I have updated 12 light fixtures in our house. But Mark has always done the wiring for me. Last night I decided on a whim to start an electrical re-wiring project, and to attempt to install it myself. 2 1/2 hours later, I asked Mark to do the the last step. Ugh. I have no idea why it frustrates me so much - I loved electricity in Physics! But working with my hands up in the air, in a tiny little space, trying to get those darn little wires into the wire cap, only discovering that I had put the mounting bracket on upside down... Well, you get the picture.
I wanted to turn this lovely outdoor wall mounted light into a beautiful hanging light for my laundry room. I even took it out of the box at Home Depot to make sure this was possible. And I am going to stand my ground that logically, this should have come apart as I intended. I wanted to remove the side bracket, and rewire it through the top, and hang it from the ceiling.
I think the wider angle is kinda cute:
So I started to unscrew different bolts and brackets. This is what it looked like before destruction.
Ahhh, the lovely mounting bracket.
See how *almost* everything came apart so nicely?
Except for this one, last bolt. And I even batted my eyes and asked Mark to use his braun for this last little sucker. It would not budge. We used every tool available, minus a saw, to get this thing undone.
It was dinner time and we had to give up on the last bolt. Caleb and Abby were happily building a fort during our battle with the light. (a pirate themed fort? I am not sure...) But I knew they would start asking for dinner, so I had to give up for a little bit. If they didn't want dinner every night....gee, I would get a lot done. But who can resist these cute faces...
As soon as the kids were in bed, I went back to the drawing board. I remembered a lamp shade I had up in the attic and decided to make a new light. I took bits and pieces of the light fixture and built this light instead.
Not bad. Not what I had in mind, but it works.
For the next 1 1/2 hours I attempted to wire said light fixture. I have already complained about my wiring abilities. I would like to add that the light I was removing was circa 1967. The paint was completely chipped under the old light so I will have to add a ceiling medallion.
This is how it looks now. I actually kinda like it. I still have most of the parts left from my lantern destruction. I will have to find something fun to make out of the parts that are left. My goal was to save some money and turn a $30 light fixture into what I wanted instead of spending $75. Was this frustrating evening worth $45???? I don't know.
No comments:
Post a Comment