I thought long and hard about the light fixtures for Our DIY House. To me, light fixtures are a huge part of the decor of a room. They can really set a mood!
We purchased most of our light fixtures through our account with Direct Buy. Want my honest opinion on this club? I think it’s completely worth purchasing a membership (which is very pricey!) if you like high end items for home improvement store prices AND if you’re planning on renovating in a big way or building. We purchased our membership in B.K. (“before kids”) when we had extra spending cash.
Here’s a peek at our light fixtures. My hubby is an electrician, so he’s installed them all himself (along with a parade of fancy plugs, dimmer switches, timers and all sorts of fun things). I stuck to oil rubbed bronze fixtures for most of the house, and polished chrome for the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms.
(Scroll to the end for a DIY on how to paint fan blades like a pro!)
Master Bedroom Fan (Kichler) (We debated long & hard over whether or not to have fans in our bedroom and breakfast nook because they are notoriously ugly. However, I actually loved the look of these fans. They have a neat “industrial seaside” air to them, and you can’t deny how awesome it is to have a breeze inside on a hot day!)
Master Bedroom Reading Lights (Z Lite) (We opted for pendants hanging in front of the windows on either side of our bed so that we could fit our King bed frame between the windows.) You can see our gorgeous DIY craftsman trim here too – I’ll post a tutorial for that later (I’m so happy with it)!
Master Bathroom Chandelier (Z Lite) (Don’t make fun – this is my favourite piece.)
Office (Lowe’s Canada)
Entry Chandelier (Z-Lite) (This was my big splurge, but I think our 3-story entry needs something substantial and gorgeous.)
Dining Room Chandelier (Kichler)
Laundry Room (Kichler)
Kitchen Island Pendants (Kichler)
Breakfast Nook Fan (Kichler)
The blades on this polished chrome fan for our breakfast nook didn’t match with any of our decor-to-be, so I painted them black (to match our cupboards and tie in with the oil rubbed bronze elements). It was easy and I loved the result!
To paint fan blades like a pro:
Sand the blades lightly (I used a block sander). This helps the paint adhere well.
Use a small foam roller (this is the trick!) to paint the sides first (I used a semi-gloss latex paint), and then the tops of the blades. A foam roller leaves a nice, smooth finish with no brush strokes. This is especially good if you’re using a semi-gloss paint like I did here.
Paint at least two coats of paint (make sure to let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next). See? Even four-year-old C can paint smoothly with a foam roller.
That’s all! Now I have a fan that ties in beautifully with everything.
Next on our plate is laying our laminate flooring, tiling, and installing our cupboards. We’re exhausted, but Our DIY House is nearing it’s completion! Thank God.
What do you think of my lighting choices? What’s your favourite light fixture in your home?
This post is part of my “Our DIY House” series where I’ll share with you my most exciting DIY ever – building a country house from the foundation up with my talented hubby! We’re crazy, we’re creative, we’re on a limited budget and we’re planning on having it finished in the Spring of 2013.
Linked to: Sundae Scoop Link Party on I Heart Naptime
Jess Burrell says
May 10, 2013 at 11:36 amI never thought I’d ooo and aw over a ceiling fan! Those are gorgeous! Retro/industrial= my style!
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Christina Dennis says
May 13, 2013 at 9:34 amHaha, thanks Jess! I never thought I’d want ceiling fans in my house (I think of “Trading Spaces” episodes from 2002 that are engrained in my brain where they’re ripping down the fans like there’s no tomorrow).
Phil says
May 17, 2013 at 4:28 amThe secret to getting a good finish on your fan blades seems to be using a small child to do all the work. love the rest of your light fittings
Christina Dennis says
May 17, 2013 at 8:00 amHaha! Yes, she loves helping her mama paint. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Laurel says
August 19, 2014 at 2:20 pmI love the office light but can’t find it at Lowe’s. Can you send the link? Also, where did you find the laundry room and dining room light? I love your blog and am thinking about using the same laminate in our renovation! 🙂
Christina Dennis says
August 24, 2014 at 11:21 pmI cannot find it either, Laurel. They most not have it anymore. 🙁 The laundry room and dining room light, however, are by Kichler and you should be able to find them at most specialty lighting stores or online! We love our laminate flooring. I would definitely recommend using it!
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April 3, 2019 at 9:36 amThank you for sharing this technique. I never really thought of the pillowcase technique. That is just amazing. I do admit that cleaning our ceiling fans can be very time consuming and difficult, but with your post that will not be the case anymore. Thank you again for sharing.
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