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Frugal Lampapalooza

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The Nester is hosting a Lampaplooza party today and The Shabby Nest is having a Frugal Friday party tomorrow.  So this seems like the perfect time to share some of my frugal finds that I have been meaning to share.
(Don’t you just love her button?  Oh, that’s right.  I designed that.)
Alright.  How much do you think I paid for this chandelier?  
Ok.  You know I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t get a deal, but pretend you didn’t know I got a deal and guess how much you think I paid.  I think the original chandelier retailed for $400-$500.  I paid about $18.  This thing is big and heavy.  I went to a place here in Phoenix called Construction Lots (on Washington St. at about 32nd St.).  It sells home builder surplus.  I was looking for ceiling fans (more on that later), when I saw one of these on display.  I’ve been wanting something more substantial to hang over the dining table.  It is supposed to have glass shades around the lights, but the one I found had been a floor model, I think, and several of the shades were broken or missing so it had been marked down significantly.  On top of that they were clearing out all of their Minka brand products at 75% off the marked price!  So for under $20, I decided I could love it.  I might get new shades at some point, but I think it looks fine with out them.  I am considering painting it someday, either a different metal or a distressed white to go with the curtain rod I put in there.  I guess it depends on what I end up doing with the table and chairs.  Initially I considered leaving off the big tear-drop shape that hangs down, because it seemed like too much, but my neighbor insisted that it stay and it’s growing on me. What do you think?
The light on the left is what was in there before, and it was really wimpy looking in that large room.  The lamp on the right is what was hanging in my entry way before we did this (I think I still have both of these, if anyone wants them):

The lamp was a clearance purchase at Lowe’s.  I think it originally was in the ballpark of $140, and we got it for $35.  I won’t tell you about the acrobatics our friend Adam had to perform to to get it installed.  Let me just say, I don’t think we will be replacing it anytime soon!
Now about the ceiling fans.  I know in all of the home decorating shows, those are the first things to go, but in Phoenix, they are really a necessity, unless you are super-rich and can afford to keep your thermostat at 75 degrees all summer.  The trick is to try and find fans that work with your decor.  We are going to do a rocket/space themed room for my son (did you see his last b-day party?), and I wanted a modern-looking fan that could look like a part in a space ship or airplane.  Construction Lots had the style I was looking for that normally runs around $200.  They were being cleared out for about $40, because some one had decided to make them brass with pewter blades.  It was a nice brushed brass, but brass none-the-less.  But now that I know that spray paint can solve all of life’s problems, I bought it confidently!
I sprayed all of the metal parts of the fan with Rustoleum chrome spray paint.  I probably should have cleaned the surface a bit before painting, since during the time the fan was waiting to be installed, my children couldn’t resist playing with the parts and scratched off some of the paint.  We touched it up before installing and here it is, safe from children’s hands and ready for the rest of the space adventure.  (Anyone ever made a false ceiling with Christmas lights poking through for stars?   Yes, I have some big ideas!  We’ll see how far I get this summer.)
I also got a really fancy ceiling fan for our bedroom for around $70 that retailed for more than $300 (I think).  But that is a post for another day, when the bedroom is clean, and I ask you for some opinions about what I am doing in there.
Don’t forget to check out the Nester and The Shabby Nest for more lighting and frugal ideas! And don’t forget about my Purple Trail Giveaway, ending tomorrow!
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17 Comments

  1. I Kendra,
    I am visiting via The Nester. This is my first time on your blog and it has been a fun one. I like the chandelier you found you can tell it is definitely nice quality. I think once you replace the shades the tear drop bottom will be proportioned better, but I agree it looks fine as it is. Drop by my blog anytime it is always nice to meet new friends. ~Cathy~

  3. Great finds. The fan for your boys room turned out fabulous. And you are right about fans. I live in southern California & I can't afford to run the air 24/7 in the summer, so we have ceiling fans in almost all of our rooms. I would love a chandy more, but staying cool at night wins out over being stylish. And I have found some super duper deals at Lowes too.

  5. Great deals! I am with you on the ceiling fans. I love them! If I ever did Trading Spaces that would be the first thing I put back in the room.

  11. Ceiling fans are a must here in Florida as well. Now you’ve got me circling the house with a can of spray paint wondering what I can do to the fans in each room…….

  13. Love the new chandelier…and I LOVE ceiling fans…being from Tx and the South..a must! What do designers know anyway? ;D

    Instead of a false ceiling, get some glow in the dark paint and sponge stars on the ceiling OR you can stencil them OR find some glow in the dark ones. I found the glow in the dark paint at the chemical section at our local dump! Can’t wait to see it.

  15. Congratulations, winner!
    So fun winning stuff!
    Come on over to my blog and let me know if you would rather a Welcome sign or address numbers!
    Talk to you soon!
    Shelley Smith
    wonderfullywordy.blogspot.com

  16. Wow! yep – that chandelier is gorgeous! I love the idea about the stars and false ceiling. Hmmm… I’ll have to keep checking back now to see if that comes to fruition! 😉

  17. Hi there!!
    Ive been doing a bit of blog hopping and I found your blog. Then I noticed you were a Phoenix girl!! So am I!. I really just wanted to say hi and let you know how much I've enjoyed looking around your blog. I have to go now…but I'll be back to finish up soon!

    Karen

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