Monday, June 7, 2010

How to make your own Niermann Weeks: kinda

Oh how I love the look of a Niermann Weeks chandelier, and oh how I hate the price of them. My friend Karen who is one of the most fashionable ladies walking the planet, got me thinking about how to create the look of a Niermann Weeks chandelier. She is a girl after my own heart and loves to decorate fabulous for less. I have told you before that I am a "faux, faux finisher". I pretend a little with decorative finishes, but I had never experimented with applying any products to a fixture before. So I gave it a shot.

Here are a few finishes I liked from the Niermann Weeks collection, all priced over $5,500:







Here are a few of Brooke's table lamps from her Giannetti lighting collection, love the finish of these as well:








And this is what I wanted to transform into something lovely: a $25 brass consignment store find. I liked the lines of it, and it was large enough to go in my foyer.

Everything I used was products that I had around my house (Faux Effects plaster), but you could use regular plaster and tint it any color you wanted. I scooped the product up in my hands and smeared it all over the chandelier. My first plaster color was a bronze shade. I let that dry and then I repeated the exact same "technique" with a neutral color plaster (I am using that term loosely as my five year old helped me cover the chandelier in plaster with her hands). Once both layers had dried I sanded it a little by hand to let the darker shade underneath show through.
We did change out the glass because I wanted an "old look". We replaced the plain glass with "seeded glass" for a vintage feel. I considered not putting any glass in it at all. I think that would have been a nice look also, but ultimately the "seeded glass look" won me over.
Then my cute carpenter risked his own life to hang my creation. He is a good man.Isn't she lovely.


Can you see the finish and texture?

The seeded glass reflects specks on our walls at night...it's dreamy.

I love not having to spend $5,500 to get the look I want, and I love Karen for convincing me to try this.

Linking up with:
The Shabby Nest! Click here to go check out other frugal projects!


Amy

31 comments:

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

It turned out beautiful!! You did a great job.

Decor To Adore said...

This is amazing! I have a similar light in my entry that is horrible dated brass. I think I will try this.

Nancy said...

Wow! And, kudos to a safe return to terra firma after hanging the light.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Wow, your new lamp turned out fantastic. I love it. Just gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

ntignor said...

WOW, that looks great, you continue to amaze me. Why is it that you don't live near your Mother? I will always worry about Kevin, what the heck? I'm glad all survived!

sassy seamstress said...

Good to hear...now I have a lamp that needs your attention. :)

FLOWERSHOPGURL said...

Wow, it really came out amazing, I love how you used the plaster and seeded glass! Love it!
Hugz,
Kim

Jenn said...

That is amazing! Kudos to your daring husband too! And for you for staying around to witness that...I always leave the house when my husband starts up those ladders ;)

LOVE it!
Jenn

sara said...

Wow, Amy, great job! It looks wonderful, you are so creative. I have to admit, though, that I can hardly look at that picture of your husband on his ladder extension, scares me to death!

Debbie said...

Wow, this is amazing! what nice work you do!
Debbie@houseatthelake

HouseMama said...

I love, love, love what you did with the lamp. Gorgeous! But your husband on the ladder extension.....I think my stomach lurched when I saw that. Glad he's safely down! :)

Between You and Me said...

seriously. it looks gooooooood. I love it!

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

Amy - WOW! Beautiful, and your husband a gem to hang that baby. You did such a great job, I feel like taking down my hideous brass chandelier this very instant and transforming it! I think you have a new career to explore!

Anonymous said...

wow amy! great job! how did you take that pix of your hubby! we went through that same project and i was losing it! i mean it! and ours isnt quite as high as yours! whatever! it looks great!!!

Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top said...

It's beautiful! I admit I shuddered a little seeing your husband on his makeshift ladder. Eek. So glad he was safe.

Kim @ Everything Etsy said...

That's beautiful! I love when something turns out looking like a million bucks!

~Kim

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous make over!! I love it and agree that the glass you chose makes a big difference too!

Jenny@ L.O.T.s of Love said...

That is crazy! It looks really great!

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

WOW, fabulous job and the image of your helper up there on the ladder made me quite nervous! Glad he is fine and so is the knock off light fixture! Janell

Unknown said...

Beautiful job! Where did you purchase the panes of seeded glass?

The Smith Hotel said...

Lovely! I see lights like yours all the time at the thrift store and just walk on by! Maybe next time I might have to pick one up and give this a try!

Jody

Oh-I am going to follow you too!

Scooper said...

Girl. Friend. You have got some seriously mad faux finishing skillz. I am beyond impressed. Way to go!!!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Wow, This is fabulous! I have never tried Faux Effects plaster but I have done some projects with Spackle. I'll have to look at their site.

camille said...

Brilliant! You (and your daughter) did a fantastic job! Now I'm on the hunt for something to transform with plaster!! Thanks for the inspiration!

Amy Chalmers said...

I am glad I found you..I plan on following you now after this most marvelous transformation of a chandelier into a show piece!

decorating diva {aka deanna} said...

how wonderful! it looks like million bucks! so it's better than the original! i am going to try this!

SHERRY HART said...

What a difference!!! Saw this on The Nester! Brilliant....

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

This is so pretty! You did a great job and I just love seeded glass. I think that made a big difference. You husband is a brave soul!

Magic Brush said...

Was it "Pull off Plaster" from Faux Effects? I love that stuff! New Follower!

Mandi @ Vintage Revivals said...

This is so so amazing! I am speechless (which doesnt happen very much!) I am totally following your creativeness!

Mandi

Pamela said...

This turned out gorgeous!! Wonderful job! I have my revamped foyer chandy sitting out in the lonely garage just waiting to be hung in our two story foyer. I was quoted almost $400 to have an electrician come out and hang it. Um nope cause it only cost $25 the chandy! That would be crazy! Send your carpenter over when he is done at your house pretty please!

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