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Funny Little Light

During the same time we were getting our furnace installed for the second floor, Scott did a final sweep of the attic (which is where the furnace now lives). He picked up bits of loose debris, double checked the work on our leaky roof hatch (that was properly fixed by our contractors during the whole no-ceiling-living) and mentioned to me in passing, oh, I found a cool – I think, anyway – floor lamp up there.

He stuck the lamp in our temporary storage room (aka, a room full of unpacked boxes, scattered tools and paint rollers), and over the weekend – months later! – we finally pulled it back out to get a good look at it. With the nook room freshly painted, we wanted to see how it would work in there – that is, if it was worth keeping.

Because after all, it seems only fitting that our funny little nook should have a funny little light, right?

There’s nothing terribly fancy about it; it was rusted, slightly wobbly and it looked as though it might’ve had a shade at one point. We liked the idea of keeping something in our house that once belonged to a previous owner (although which one, we’ll never really know), so we screwed in a regular bulb (we found it bulb-less), plugged it in for a quick test, and – voila! – we had a working floor lamp.

Of course it would need a bit of a refresh, so we flipped it over to see how it was all strung together, and it appears to most definitely be homemade; which, by the way, is even better! Perhaps one of our pet-chicken-having past owners made it? (Okay, probably not.) The base was just an old ashtray, and the lamp kit was pulled together with some pipes, nuts and an extra long bolt.

There was definitely something rattling around inside, and out came a handful of beads (wrapped in tape?) and dried leaves (flower petals of some kind?). We actually liked the natural patina on the lamp, but we did want to buff in a bit more shine using Eagle One Nevr-Dull. Juuust a touch.

We spray painted the base a matte black, tightened everything back up (wobbly no more!), removed the harp holder (had to look that one up) and replaced the standard bulb with an Edison bulb. Not bad!

I’m not going to say that this would’ve been our first choice for a lamp in this room (you know, say, if we went to the store to buy anything our hearts desired), but we absolutely love that there’s an unknown story behind it. We can only assume that it was made by someone else who once lived in our home – someone who, maybe, loved this home, too?

There’s a story behind it, a history. And that’s the best part.

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  • Julia@Cukoo4Design1.30.14 - 8:20 AM

    I agree, the story behind it is awesome! And I really like it tooReplyCancel

  • Susan @ Jubilee Furniture1.30.14 - 8:27 AM

    Totally fun! Love the mystery surrounding your “new” lamp. It’s why I love used – or as someone I work with once said – pre-loved furniture.

    I’m constantly amazed at how creative and resourceful you two are!ReplyCancel

  • ann1.30.14 - 8:30 AM

    very cool conversation piece. and I noticed how the room changes color shades in different light.ReplyCancel

  • Laura @ Rather Square1.30.14 - 9:13 AM

    Love the story of how you found this! And how it was made from an ashtray. Are you planning to add a shade?ReplyCancel

  • Kim1.30.14 - 9:50 AM

    Laura, no plans for a shade right now – just keeping it bare bulb!ReplyCancel

  • Mercedes1.30.14 - 11:24 AM

    Hello!
    Just found your blog via Restored Style, and I love your design aesthetic. I will definitely be checking in to see how your house comes together.ReplyCancel

  • Kim1.30.14 - 11:49 AM

    Mercedes, so happy you found us!! We love Kirsten.ReplyCancel

  • Caitlyn1.30.14 - 3:21 PM

    What a fun lamp story! My all-time favorite lamp (like I’d probably grab it if my apartment caught on fire cause I love it SO much) actually came from the dumpster of my last apartment. Well next to the dumpster. I spied it and it was love at first sight. However, I lived in a 4th floor walk up and had no way of testing the (fairly heavy) lamp without carrying it up all 4 floors – muttering the entire time “please work, oh please work, I swear I will love you forever and never put you in the trash if only you work.” and then I got it in my apartment, plugged it in and WAHOO! it worked!!! I still cannot fathom why someone would get rid of it, it is the coolest vintage floor lamp I’ve ever seen. I’ve now had it five years and every time I stop and look at it I smile and think that it was meant to be mine. :) Yay for found lamps!!ReplyCancel

  • Kim1.30.14 - 4:54 PM

    Caitlyn, you’re killing me! I need to see a photo!ReplyCancel

  • Christina1.31.14 - 5:36 AM

    what a lovely metamorphosis. it’s like you adopted the scraggliest mutt in the pound and transformed him into a little puppy prince! oh, and caitlyn, we all need to see a photo of this magical lamp!ReplyCancel

  • Kristen1.31.14 - 11:41 AM

    You were right the paint looks amazing in the nook and the lamp looks like a new piece.ReplyCancel

  • Londen2.4.14 - 3:38 PM

    I love that lamp already, I’m sure it will be even more fun once you add more to the room. Great job on the house guys, it’s relly coming along!ReplyCancel

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