Vase to lamp: the DIY that never was

I found this vase at HomeGoods for 16$ before Christmas. I, of course, wanted to DIY it into a lamp. Remember when I re-wired my thrift store lamps? But after thinking it over I didn't think I was ready for this one. This vase weighed about a ton...and the ceramic was 1/2" thick- I'm not that handy with a Dremel. I took it over to the girls at The Lamp Shop here in Charlotte and this is what came home! We are pretty much obsessed with it over here. The basic lamp build-up fee is $60, plus the cost of whatever base you choose (if any). I think thats a pretty amazing deal: custom lamp (potentially) under $100. Of course, most of that 60+ dollars was labor (because the parts are not expensive) but it saved me many hours of frustration - a win in my book!

For your viewing pleasure: chair candy

Here is some b.e.a.utiful work done by my friend Allie. When she got these chairs they were nothing more than bones...exactly like my dining room chairs- which are still just bones.

 We found the KWID Imperial Trellis for, I think, about 8 dollars at Sleepy Poet...I tell you again, there are treasures there. Allie (with the help of her crafty mom) finished the frames in a red lacquer and upholstered the chairs (there are two)  from the ground up. Can you believe it? I need a step by step from her.

 

 And lastly, a sneak peek at the color we chose to paint baby-girl-Barham's bedroom! Don't you know it makes my heart go pitter-patter, just call me twitterpated.

Lake Update: 1/8

Disclaimer: this post is loooooong. BUT there are pictures galore, so that should make up for it. Dad and I visited the lake house last weekend to try and nail out some details about lighting fixtures/placement and plumbing woes. I haven't been up there since probably November or late October and they have made some serious progress! April is our goal to finish the basement. 

 Since then the new casement windows and sliding glass door have been delivered and installed. All of the overgrown shrubs that blocked the light from the basement were taken out (do not fret, it does look naked now, but- in case you didn't know- my dad is a Master Gardener, watch out!)

A glimpse of the old windows and the beautiful sasanqua in bloom. It kind of makes me sick to know that it is gone, but it was blocking the entire bedroom window :( Oh, and that's my baby brother, Travis.

 New windows/door, new light. We decided to go with casement windows with no grills to optimize day light and views. Plus, we live a simple life up here. No cable, no internet, no window grilles :) Just books, sun, naps, eating and movies. Usually in that order. 

New window and patched drywall in the back bedroom...there is still a door-sized hole leading to the newly expanded future bathroom.

Sooo much more light in here with that huge sasanqua gone....

There is the wall Jeff is building to define our new laundry room.

One wall devoid of wallpaper. Dad learned his lesson with over-enthusiastic wallpaper stripping methods when he took off the drywall tape with it.

The upstairs guest bedroom is filled with mattresses waiting for a home. The king will be going in the water-facing bedroom in the basement. The back bedroom with be home to several sets of bunk-beds immigrating from my brothers' rooms at home.

Check out those lightweight cotton blankets in a off-white and grey chevron-y pattern. Score for like 15$  on clearance at Homegoods.

That's all for now folks. This week with the help of my architecture school side-kick Eileen (old habits die hard, I still can't work without her) we (mostly) nailed down a lighting scheme for the basement main room. Orders have been placed for the sink, bathroom lights, faucets, barnwood...progress is being made.

Lake house Lighting S.O.S.

Dad and I visited the lake last weekend (and I have pictures and updates to come!) but right now I need to figure out a lighting plan. I must have been avoiding it...for some reason...oh, yea, I have no idea what to do. Let's see what others have done.

Wall sconce. I love wall sconces, but we would have to install so many to light the main room in the basement.

 I can't accurately tell you whats going on with these ceiling lights, just that they are in the ceiling. My brain must have iced over, too, right?

We could do something totally offbeat (not for me but for the lake...I am not sure I have a beat) and modern.

 Swing arm wall sconce...

Wall sconce...noticing a trend here.

 Spotlights on the wood beams highlighting ceiling. Thats what my in-laws have in their lake house, but alas, no beams in the basement.

 Spotlighting-ish.

 No visible overhead lighting.

 Pendants, we could do really flush mounted pendants.

 Pendants/track

 Pendants in large room...

Chandelier/ wall sconce.

Ok, so I will be honest, I really don't want to do canned lights down there in a pretty barn wood ceiling. I have nothing against them generally, but I just can't see them in that wood. Does anyone out there have suggestions/ what did you do? Please, help! This is a picture of the room before renovations started (I want to save the update pic for the next post!) 

Notes: ceilings are 8' high, current chandelier that was made by previous owner will be going. The room will have two areas:

A seating area will be going on this end of room...

...and the foosball table will be centered on that window.