Moroccan Light Fixture DIY: One Room Challenge Week 7
We are officially in the home stretch and for me the last week has felt like it was all uphill. Since this is my first One Room Challenge, we chose to complete a room that I thought would be “easy” and “manageable”. To all the guest and featured designers who were completing kitchens or bathrooms or literally moving walls my hat is off to them! I have no idea how they survive and create such beautiful spaces. This spring I followed along as Ashley of at home with Ashley completed an entire kitchen remodel and let me tell you just watching all the long hours and tireless work, she and her husband put into that space gave me secondhand exhaustion. You can see the beautiful, finished space here At Home With Ashley Blog.
I am not sure if I will ever be that brave because this week’s DIY project of Moroccan lanterns wore me out and it was just two light fixtures! We ordered these light fixtures from ETSY ShreeRadheArts about 8 weeks ago hoping this would allow more than enough time for them to arrive. For some reason the two lanterns were shipped separately and thanks to all the global delays they were not here in the quoted shipping time. We do not believe this was due to delays by the seller but nonetheless the first lantern arrived on Tuesday and the second arrived today! Talk about last minute. I luckily didn’t have a full schedule today and was able to drop everything and focus on painting and installing the lights.
Etsy Moroccan Lantern Buy Here
We initially looked for gold or brass-colored lanterns however the price difference was substantially more, so we decided to spray paint the darker bronze lanterns as this is an inexpensive and easy way to get the color we wanted for less. We used Rust-Oleum Universal Matte Metallic Spray paint in sunlit brass.
Rust-Oleum Spray Paint Buy Here
I did not realize from the Etsy Images that the lanterns had light kits built in. This would have been great however the cord was not nearly long enough for the type of installation we had in mind. Also, the cord was black and did not have an on off switch. We debated cutting the installed cord and splicing it to the cord we preferred however I had never done that before and I was not super comfortable with trying something out in a client’s home that could potentially be dangerous. So, we decided to remove the current light kit and replace it with our preferred choice of light kit from amazon in hemp that had an on and off switch included as well.
Pendant Light Kit from Amazon Buy Here
Now I will say that the original light kit installation was superb, and it was very difficult for me to remove it. It was done so well I had to cut the cord because I could not find any other way to remove it without damaging the lantern.
Next to install the new light kit I attempted to take it apart so that I would not have to alter the existing hole, however I was not successful. Perhaps with more time and patience on my hands I could have figured how to take the kit apart, but I was already a day late and rushing to get this done so I decided to “modify” the lanterns. I do not recommend this! I did not have the correct tools and the result is not professional looking whatsoever. However, I knew the lanterns would be hung at a height where the average person would not be able to view this. Also, that spray painting afterwards would camouflage some of these flaws.
Spray painting the lanterns outside. The new larger opening is visible.
Once the hole was large enough to fit the plug and switch through, I simply pulled the kit through and the lantern rests on top of the blub socket. I will reiterate that this is not the most ideal or stable option. If these were to be knocked or touched, they will wobble and could easily become crooked (but will not fall). I think with more time and research this could have been avoided but hey, decisions were made lol.
Moroccan lantern installed in guest room.
We used small hooks screwed into the ceiling to hang the lanterns from and then placed the on and off button portion of the cord on the corresponding side of the headboard for easy use by whomever stays in the room. Initially I was bummed that it took all day to complete the project and that the photos were being taken at night but seeing them lit in the darkened room was so beautiful. I literally told the client “Ok you are staring at them like they are a hot guy you just met”. I am so thrilled with how they turned out and they give such a calm romantic ambience to the room.
I am excited to be heading into the final week of the One Room Challenge!! Next week will be the final reveal and I can’t wait for you all to see it. I’m also so ready to see all the featured designers and guest participants rooms completed as well!! Please go cheer everyone across the finish line this next week and use the hashtags #bhgorc and #oneroomchallnge on social media to locate all the participants. Or view the participants progress on One Room Challenge. com
