We are home-improvement impaired. I maintain that this is, ironically, partly due to our having lived in a dilapidated (but charming!) Brooklyn rental for so long... everything needs fixing and none of it's ours, so why bother? I'm a little handy, just lacking in commitment. And Chris... he won't mind me saying that he is the anti-handy. (He's not getting his Ph.D. for nothing!) But what I lack in commitment he makes up in determination once he's set his mind to a (very, very rare) home improvement task. Then there was our attempt to fix our a/c window unit last year, during which we tried to remember the instructions the guy from the hardware store so nonchalantly rattled off to us. Let's leave it at this: blue sparks. And some screaming.
I'll admit now that when I bought this fabulous antique iron lamp (for $40!) at the P.S. 321 flea market and made Chris promise we'd rewire it to make it work, I had doubts in my heart. The seller assured us it worked, but those wires sticking out of the fixture just brutally cut sheer across looked frightening. But this time we armed ourselves with knowledge and protective devices. We bought the Reader's Digest Fix-It-Yourself Manual. We googled. We bought a continuity tester. In the end, all we had to do was replace the main cord, attach a plug, and install a switch. I won't lie: there was some swearing and it wasn't hitch free... but no real sparks flew and that's what's important!
Now it just needs a second deep cleaning and a few readjustments to arms that are a bit bent out of shape.
Eventually, when we get really bold, we'll remove the plug we installed and hang this as a light fixture in our bedroom.
Posted by jess at March 30, 2006 7:45 AM | TrackBackGreat light fixture -- I had one like that in my daughter's room that I just loved! Just wanted to leave a comment to thank you for all the fun links you put on your blog. You always direct me to something cool (love that Green Cardigan on neoknits!). Never mind the Pavement quote, which gives anyone a few stars in my book!
Posted by: Liz K. at March 30, 2006 8:57 AMThat fixture looks fabulous! Kudos for conquering the fear of electric wiring. I recently did my first wiring work, and I was scared as all get-out beforehand, but found it wasn't all that bad once you get down to it.
Posted by: Sarah at March 30, 2006 9:00 AMwhat a find! it looks great. and good for you for actually fixing it and not just staring at it longingly. not every relationship can withstand home repair and improvement.
Posted by: carrie m at March 30, 2006 11:16 AMCongrats! What a fun lamp. I'm home improvement impaired, too...
Posted by: Chris at March 30, 2006 11:29 AMHi,
I found your blog through Craftster and just wanted to say that that is probably my favorite lamp of all time. Congratulations on fixing it yourself!
And didn't The Breakfast Club teach us that scholarly boys and boys who could make lamps work are equally important? :)
Posted by: Sioux at March 30, 2006 11:36 AMThat's gorgeous - what a marvelous find!
Posted by: Sarah at March 30, 2006 11:55 AMGreat find!! I love vintage chandaliers like that. Glad you all were able to fix it up :-)
Posted by: Prim at March 30, 2006 2:07 PMWow, I'm so impressed! Very cool lamp. Wouldn't we all be lost without Google?
Posted by: Jessica at March 30, 2006 3:00 PMWhat a cool lamp- i'm too scared to do electrical stuff because i don't trust myself to not burn the place down :)
Posted by: Kym at March 30, 2006 11:19 PMLove the lamp! It's a great find!
Posted by: Emy at March 31, 2006 3:45 AMGreat lamp! I can emphatize with the renters' dilemma. I'd hate to call my charming Brooklyn rental crappy, but - let's face it - would I put up with all those things needing repair (ahem, peeling paint) were it not for fear of a rent hike?! Ah, life in New York . . .
Posted by: megan at March 31, 2006 7:37 AMelectricity is scary. i am glad you two academics conquered it. and no one got electricuted in the process. there is nothing better than a sweet thrift score. i love the inherent contradiction of iron roses. it's going to be a lovely chandelier. good eye! xo.
Posted by: erin at March 31, 2006 8:21 AMi bet it would look amazing if you spray painted the whole thing white...
Posted by: jeannie at March 31, 2006 11:52 AMThat is a very cool fixture. I have a thing for those old iron pieces...just got one at an auction for $5 last summer to put on our screen porch. I added some great old crystal drops. Are the flowers on your lamp attached or did you add them?
Posted by: Lynne at March 31, 2006 12:42 PMThat light fixture is great! And good on your guys for figuring it out yourself. My hubby is quite the handy man and I'm slowly learning... thinking of painting the living room green. I need a green room in my house. I hope to read more about your fix-it up stories, will motivate me to work around the house too. :)
Posted by: Aimee at April 3, 2006 6:34 AMThat light is AMAZING. Definitely worth the risk of a spark shower to get it in working order.
Posted by: Delia at April 3, 2006 1:23 PMThat lamp is gorgeous. I worked at a neighbor's antique shop throughout high school. I count rewiring lamps as one of the best things I learned there. It gives you such a sense of accomplishment and it sounds much harder than it really is!
Posted by: Sarah at April 7, 2006 2:31 PM