The cabinets are all original (1959 - and when I pulled them apart to paint them all, I found the original "MADE IN SWEDEN" stamps on the bottom sides - too cool!) but at some point in the 90's someone put horrible blue pastel tile all over the walls, a terrible blue pastel counter top (which was rotten - literally - and needed to be removed - but that's another post...), and a halogen 3-light flush-mount fixture in the center of the 18ft vaulted ceilings.



The light (along with the counters and tile) had to go. And I wanted to update the recessed lights in the ceiling in the process.

I'd been searching high and low for some gorgeous, somewhat period appropriate reproduction lights (as it didn't seem I would be lucky enough to actually a) find 3 original vintage matching lights, and b) be able to afford such lights) that wouldn't break the bank.

I ended up making my own countertops out of this retro laminate -

Wilsonart's "Betty" laminate image courtesy of Wilsonart.com

and I planned to have my back splash be the robins egg blue so I wanted to bring out the orange in the counter, without being too peach, or too too orange.

The answer?

Copper.

So I went searching for copper pendants online fitting my needs. Here are the ones I originally fell in love with:

Rejuvenation's Pineridge Corded Pendant, in Copper, 20" $475.00

I loved it - but not for $475. I couldn't do 1 of these, let alone 3.

So - I improvised. I 'made' my own. For about $40 each.

Here's how!

• Warehouse-Style Hanging Pendant Light, 17", in brushed nickel*
• Rustoleum Copper Spray Paint (I used 2 tins on 3 lights)*
• Rustoleum Clear Coat Spray Paint (I used Matte finish, but if you wanted your copper shade to be shiny, use High Gloss)*
• Blue Painter's Tape (I used 3M)*

1. Prepare your pendants.

I used this Blue painter's tape (3M) for my taping.*

I used plastic bags taped to the cords to protect them, carefully taping off any area that the spray paint might reach. (You'll have to excuse the post-paint tape picture - but see to the right, where the finger is pointing? you have to get your tape into that groove and have it make a good seal)



I taped the outer rim of the light (I figured this was much easier than trying to get a straight tape line on the inside rim of the shade) making sure that my tape was nice and snug, and tucked right down into the groove (I used a tweezers to shove it down in there).


2. Paint!

Easy as that. You'll need to keep your coats really light and even. Make sure you're spraying in a well ventilated, but not windy! area.

My lights took 4 coats of the copper spray. Seal the copper sprayed shades with a clear coat* of your choice.


Sew at Home Mummy Tip:

The copper spray by Rustoleum* has a natural matte finish - if you want to end up with shiny copper shade, use a clear gloss spray over top, like this one.*

I sealed the copper paint with a matte finish clear*, as I liked that rustic look.



3. Hang!

Carefully remove your tape, and hang!

I'm so please with my lights. I get so many complements on them. I even hacked an IKEA RANARP mini light to match, to hang over my kitchen sink.

A photo posted by Erin Davis (@sewathomemummy) on Jun 4, 2016 at 7:51am PDT

And, notice that the recessed lights are no longer recessed, but pendant?

Look for my how-to post on converting recessed or can lights to any other fixture style here soon!

Thanks for reading - and if you end up hacking one of these lights, I'd love to see it! Share it in the comments.

Happy DIY'ing!