Faux Gas Street Lamp Makeover

A Faux Gas Street Lamp Makeover!

Hey, friends! Thanks for stopping by this morning~ I hope your week is going well. Today, I’m sharing a project that was a little challenging, but in the end completely worth it! Sometimes what starts as a great idea, isn’t always what you thought…Can any of you relate to that comment in regards to home decor projects?! Been there WAY too many times, but I keep coming back for more. Slow learner, or determined DIYer? You decide……:)

I’ve wanted to replace our front porch lights for a long time, but those of you who are either a) homeowners, b) parents, or c) BOTH, know that something always needs more attention than those minor things in a house that we walk past ( daily, weekly, monthly, or in my case, yearly….10, that is! ) that we don’t like, drives us crazy, etc.

I check thrift and antique shops frequently when I’m looking for a particular item either for a client, or for myself. I had seen 2 brass sconces one day, and was about to buy them, when I noticed they were slightly different, so I didn’t get them. When I went back a week later, and started looking more carefully, I found a match! I could envision a Charleston, South Carolina gas streetlamp kind of thing, and I knew with a little paint and TLC, I could change them to look like something higher end and completely different.

Pretty shape & features

I love the French Country look of these sconces from Ballard Design! While I was flipping through my new catalog, I decided the finish was similar to what I wanted for our front porch.

Ballard Design image

Ballard Design image

The lights we had for the past 10 years, I chose when we built our house. If I’d known then what I know now, I would have gone for a much bigger sconce…

See how much the proportion is off in relation to this large space?

Here are my supplies…I really like Rust-oleum’s Oil Rubbed Bronze on outdoor lighting….it gives a rich look~

FrogTape worked great for the glass panels, although it was difficult getting everything painted inside the sconce! The razor blade helped get the paint off the glass afterwards, and the Martha Living metallic glaze in Coffee blended beautifully with the Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint. I used the glaze primarily to add a little more depth, and it also worked great to touch up areas inside that couldn’t be reached with the spray paint~ I just applied it with a foam brush. (Yes, we probably could’ve disassembled the light, but it would have taken longer. And I was eager to get these up~)

I have to say, the little lighting stem in the center was the hardest of all! That is the area that I hand-painted afterwards.

These are the bulbs I decided to use~ I use them in the electric lights that I use in my windows at Christmas and they give the sconces that gas lamp look~

Much better proportion….don’t you think?! ( I will be changing the door handle hardware next to match the knocker, and am considering new paint colors for the door )

I love the way they look! I’ve always loved the beautiful gas street lamps in Savannah & Charleston…..They kinda remind me of that~

I hope you’ve been inspired today at The Painted Chandelier! I have to give Chico ( Mark, my husband ) a BIG thanks for installing the lights! It is so nice to have a husband that helps me with my business, despite how busy his own is! I’m very grateful:)

Have a great day, y’all!

Faux Gas Street Lamp Makeover

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