Camera! Action! Lights!

I stressed about the lights in the study all week. Then, I walked into ReSource, a local salvage and used building supply purveyor on my way home from picking up the pillars.

I saw these shades and bases:



Three of each, to be exact. They aren't from the same light... in fact, they probably aren't even from the same decade, though I am bad at that (anyone have any guesses for the true age of either?). They look really cute together, though!

Can't beat the price: $5 for each complete light fixture
Can't beat the environmental impact: Three light fixtures reused

Here's what it looks like on the ceiling:



I took the light from the study and moved it into the living room; quite an improvement over the nipple lamp.

I discovered some scary looking wiring in the lightbox of my study:


Here are some before and after shots, including a picture of the never before seen "smallest room in the house" (it's 8'x10' minus a closet, and my studio).

Front Study (my husband's)

Before: (with huge light)



After:



Back Study (Mine)

(This room is the only one with those neat windows, and this is the ONLY shot I can get of the room and the light at the same time, since it's so small)



Living Room

Before:



After:

(Complete with two sleeping puppies)



I would love any ideas you have about the scariness of the electrical wires in my ceiling or the age of the light fixtures!

Study Lights... YES or NO?

I fell in love with this light (and the price) on Oh, Bungalow a month ago... and then I vowed to Trim the Fat and not spend money on such frivolities in February. It's March now, and the study lights were killing me.

I wrestled with hanging first one (in my husband's study) for most of the afternoon... and now I'm not so sure I like it. It seems a little big. Or hangy. Or something.

That will show ME to go spend money. Back to no money spending... a renewal of vows.

Though, I actually have designs on it for the living room ... there is an ugly nipple lamp there that we were not going to replace, since it's not completely offensive:

Maybe the nipple lamp will work better in the office. The new light will definitely look better in the living room.

What do you think?

A Studio Makeover

First, I apologize for the lack of "before" pictures. I didn't intend on doing much when I started a few days ago, but rest assured it was a complete mess. In fact, you could hardly walk into it. I just wanted to do something nice for my husband while was out of town and pick up the junk that I had left in there so there would be room for him to practice... but I did a little more.

The room in question is my husband's studio/study. It is a 10 ft by 12 ft area, including the closet space. It needs to hold a 4-1/3 octave marimba, a drum set, a large file cabinet and bookshelf, a cello, a guitar and amp, 300 CD's, and a number of other band and orchestra instruments. He uses it primarily for practicing all of those instruments.

Previously, we had painted the white room a light cream and painted the dark brown and in terrible repair baseboards a moss green. We also removed the garish gold tone mirrored closet doors and painted the interior of the closet and the header the same moss green. We intend on replacing the baseboards and the carpet in the future. But right now, it just has to be LIVABLE.

I spent the day hanging up CD shelves and paintings and laying down a new area rug, recycled from my in-law's recent remodel. I also reorganized the layout and bought a black 6 foot bookcase to add more bookshelf space and match the existing black file cabinet. VERY cheap, and hopefully temporary. Someday I would love to redo the entire closet with built-in shelving and file cabinets.



Notice the loft space above the closet, where the instruments have gone. The wire CD racks are existing relics from college that have found a new life as wall shelves. The books and computer components have all found a home in the new bookcase.

I placed the drum set in the corner by the window, place two cowbells on the window, and hung a Chinese calendar and hat that a brother brought back for us along with a picture made of wood that a student gave him between it and the marimba (which takes up the entire other wall).


My favorite addition is this:


It is a painting of one of our favorite places (Lake McConaughy) by a very good family friend and fabulous artist, Mick Shimonek. It was a Christmas gift a few years ago that we hadn't found the right wall for (our living room walls are way too small). I think I found a good place for it:



It really dresses up the whole room. Plus, it's a great reminder of summer sunsets on the beach, sailing, and playing fetch until the dog drops at your feet.

The guitar and amp found a home behind the door, in a space just the size for them. The cello found a nook between the bookcase and CD rack.

I didn't have time (as I left town yesterday), but I still want to buy bamboo roll up shades for the two windows. They will help keep the sun off of the delicate instruments, tie in the Chinese artwork, and add decoration to the bare windows. I will have to look for used bamboo shades.

Cost:
Bookcase: $20
Screws: $2.27