09.08
2013

Making Over a Chandelier with Chalk Paint

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! Tonight I wanted to show you a quick makeover we did on an outdated chandelier. We actually have ordered our new chandelier for our dining room which should be coming in the next week or two. When I was painting the dining room, though, we hadn’t made a decision yet on what chandelier we were going to order and I knew once I got the walls painted staring at this brass chandelier was going to be distracting from the paint job so I figured it would be fun to give it a quick makeover so it didn’t stand out so much in the newly painted room. I remembered that Amy from Maison Decor had updated a chandelier a while ago with chalk paint so figured it couldn’t hurt to try it on this one. If it went awry it wouldn’t matter too much seeing how we were taking it down anyway, and if it worked well then I would be able to possibly use this technique on the sconces in our powder room (the powder room is the next project after I finish up the entryway – we already have the new toilet installed and new vanity top, sink and faucet ordered so now I just have to make a decision on wallpaper and then paint the sconces, trim, door and current vanity base, and then switch out the mirror and do a little decorating).

Here is the chandelier we had to start with:

The first thing I did was paint on some of the Annie Sloan paint in Paris Gray from the lovely Karla at Lady Butterbug.  I figured it was going to go on fairly easily but I have to say it went on even easier than I anticipated. I added a second coat once it was dry just to ensure all of the brass was covered.

After that I just rubbed on the wax and switched out the bulbs for more delicate looking ones and that was it – so easy! I didn’t even take it down from the ceiling! Because I knew it was just a temporary fix I didn’t put a whole lot of effort into getting the detailed parts perfect. I have to say it was relatively quick and easy project and such an inexpensive way to modernize an older light fixture!

The girls wanted me to add some “sparkles” which was a fun little touch but I have to admit I took them down after a day and fortunately they didn’t notice. =)

We’ve still got a lot to do in here but here’s a little peek at the new paint on the walls and trim. I like the clock better in here than in the den although it may make one more move to the entry way when I am finished painting in there. Or it may end up staying in here but I will wait and see where it looks better once the walls in the entry way are painted – we shall see. More musical furniture. =)

 
If you are looking to purchase some Annie Sloan chalk paint I highly recommend ordering it through Karla at Lady Butterbug. She has been such a pleasure to work with and I am looking forward to ordering some more colors once I find some furniture pieces for the dining room and entryway! 
Have a fabulous week! I plan on being back tomorrow with lots of photos of the progress we’ve made so far on the kitchen.
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66 thoughts on “Making Over a Chandelier with Chalk Paint”

  1. That looks awesome!! Did you use clear or dark wax? Is that Gray Owl on the walls! Everything you have done so far in your new home is beautiful!
    Michelle

  2. Wow! The chandelier looks sooo good! I can't believe it is only one color of chalk paint and dark wax! You are so creative and talented!

    How did you do the chain? That must have been a pain! : )

    I find myself looking around my house for something to paint now!!

    Your new house looks gorgeous – I can't believe how quickly you work – great job!!

    Angela

    1. Thank you, Angela! I just did the chain the same way I did the rest of it. I was dreading doing the chain because I thought it was going to be really tedious but it really wasn't that bad at all!

  5. That looks FANTASTIC!!!
    Great DIY Jenni (and Amy!): )
    Leah
    BTW – I painted right over an oil rubbed bronze chandelier once with just regular latex paint and it worked really (surprisingly) well too!! Just in case anyone out there wants to give this a try..: )I don't even think I primed it first…

  6. It never crossed my mind to use chalk paint on a chandi! It looks great.

    9 years ago I spray painted a brass one in my last home. It looked really nice but I love the chalk paint look even more.

  7. Jen this looks amazing! It was so fun to see this post, as I had just been at Cindy's Fractured Fairy Tale (my dear friend) and saw she painted her chandy shades and gave me a shout out…and then i came directly here from the link on her sidebar and bam! another chandy shout out!! So thank you~and I love Karla too. She's a class act! Nice job as always, you make everything look beautiful with your magic wand. xo

  8. I actually really like it with the bling! 🙂 what is the name of the wax you used? Thanks – eileen

  10. I love this idea, your chandelier looks FABULOUS! What a transformation! I have a very similar looking one that I absolutely hate, just haven't found a replacement yet, but I love what you did and may just give it a try! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂

  14. I have a chandy just like this one that needs a facelift. I am going to try this. Thank you for sharing.

  17. I'm so glad you posted this! I've been wanting to use this paint on my kitchen cabinets. What color wax did you use? After putting on the wax was there an other step or was that it?

  18. I would like to know what type of wax you used over the paint and also if it was the same kind of wax you use on your furniture???
    Thanks–love following your blog

  19. Can you share any Annie Sloan chalk paint with wax tutorials you used before doing your projects? I am not sure what kind of wax you are using and how you "wipe" it on to get such a great finished look! LOVE the way your home is turning out!

    1. Thank you, Neely. I didn't use any tutorials – I just kind of "winged it". I used the dark wax and just rubbed it on with toilet paper of all things – haha!

  20. Beautiful Jennifer! It turned out amazing. It never occurred to me to try chalk paint on brass. I use it on furniture and have one of those chandeliers sitting in our garage. You've inspired me to try chalk paint on it! Your dining area look so pretty. I just love that clock.

  21. I have this same chandelier! I dry brush painted mine a few months ago in Annie Sloan Duck Egg. Then finished it with clear wax. Love it! I also painted another one with a Foil Finish and it looks sterling silver! : ) Yours is lovely!

    1. Thanks! I have had the privilege of seeing Joan's candle sleeves in real life and they are indeed beautiful (as is every details of her home!) Our chandelier will hopefully only be up for another week or so though so it wouldn't be wise to purchase any sleeves for this particular piece in our home. Maybe for another chandelier though!

  26. What type of brush did you use (foam brush?) and any technique to get coverage? I just tried to paint a brass lamp and I'm getting tons of brush strokes using a regular flat paint brush…not sure if I'm doing it right. This is my first time painting and a little nervous. Yours looks fantastic!!

    1. Thank you! I just used a regular paint brush and didn't have any majorly noticeable brush marks. I think the brush had relatively soft bristles – maybe that helps?

  27. That looks amazing! I may have to give that a try, I am sure I could find an old brass chandelier somewhere. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Tammy @ thecoloreddoor.blogspot.com

    2. Thanks! I painted my brass lamp last night and it really looks great. I used paris gray as well. This morning I started to brush on the antique wax and it started to rub some of the paint off as well. What do you recommend?

  30. I love it, love it, love it!!!!!
    I am about to buy one like this on Craigslist to do the same, would you mind letting me know the measurements of yours? I have no idea what size to buy…

    1. Hi! I've had them for so long I honestly can't remember. I believe I took them off of a chandelier that we bought about 10 years ago that had too many on it.

  33. Hi I love love it, I've been watching your work. I hve my kitchen that I want to paint too but I'm nervous lol we wanna move sometime and I want to paint ina color that buyers will love too any suggestions?

    1. Hi, Becca! I asked Jenni about the candle sticks and she couldn't remember (this post is from a while back), but she thinks she may have spray painted them.

      -Jason

  38. I am making over a huge brass chandelier with Paris Grey and dark wax! When waxing, did you buff the wax? When I buff the wax, it has a more even look. While I love that look for some pieces, I LOVE your kind of 'antiqued' look!

    1. Hi, Elizabeth! I checked with Jenni and she said is has been so long that she can't remember if she buffed it or not. My guess though would be that she didn't. Sorry this isn't much help!

      -Jason

  39. Hi, your chandelier looks beautiful. I painted mine with Annie Sloan and put clear wax on. It is really sticky and doesnt go away when I buff it. What did I do wrong? Thanks a lot. Ruth

    1. Hi! Jenni didn't have any issues with her wax drying, but I believe she has only ever used to dark wax (I don't think she has tried to clear before), so I'm not sure if maybe it has something to do with that.

      -Jason

  40. Dear Lillie, I'm planning my own DIY project when I came across your post, absolutely stunning!!!! You mentioned you used 75% of grey owl on the walls how did you achieve the 75%?

    1. Hi, Diana! If you just ask for that at the paint store they will only do 75% of the formula when they mix your paint–it makes it just a bit lighter.

      -Jason

  42. ok I just bought exactly same chandelier on craigslist and been thinking to spray it in glossy black to add some drama, but now I have seen this gray and thinking to give it a try. it looks wonderful and with my gray rug and curtains it will blend in perfectly. I have never used chalk paint, so is that it? just sloan paint and wax it?? thank you for great idea !! Ivana

  43. I am so impressed with how the chandelier turned out, which has inspired me to paint a small brass table lamp I have. Could I please ask the color of your dining room walls?
    Thank you for inspiring me to transform my bedroom.

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