Houses are like people -
some you like and some you don't like -
and once in a while there is one you love.
-L. M. Montgomery
It's true: houses are like people. Some we adore and could live with- live in- forever.
Others we're happy to visit but glad to leave.
And yet others we'd just rather not go around at all. Houses are like people. And every now and again, you fall in love.
This house is really growing on me.
There's a hole in the ceiling above the dining room table. It was there when we bought the place, but I know from touring the house with the realtor that there was a gargantuan palm tree light fixture hanging there before. After spending hours online and at local flea markets, I got discouraged: the chandelier of my dreams is way out of my price range. Way out. We're talking seared duck on a corndog budget here.
And then so serendipitously, a box appeared in the attic. Confirmed: the original dining room chandelier has been located! It was here all the time!
I took it out of the box yesterday and examined it closely. Was I in love? No. But could we do lunch every day? Definitely. There's a lot to like here! I'm pretty sure it will need to be rewired, though. And restored. The glass shade thingys are gone. (What are they called? It's escaped me.) It seems like some of the crystals are missing and/or broken, so I'll need to figure that out, too. But part of loving an old home is keeping what you can, so I am thrilled to keep and rehang this chandelier once again... even if it isn't the one I've dreamed of.
(The more I'm discovering about the original look of the place, the more I'm uncovering glass and mirrors. Lots of glass and mirrors. Glass knobs, glass-fronted cabinets, mirrors and windows. Glass, glass, sparkly glass. So it's becoming a theme.)
I'm off to get some buffing cream and then get to work. It will be fun to see how this old girl shines once again!
Enjoy your Thursday. -Brin
8 comments:
What a treat to find the original chandelier! You can make it something special that will be just right. I can't wait to see it all in place when your room comes together. I'm loving your new house right along with you. Wishing I could find something interesting in the attic. Maybe I will - it was empty when we moved in and who knows what we've stashed up there?
~Adrienne~
You can find the crystal prisms on ebay! I bet it will be really pretty when you finish working on it!
I think you'll come to love that chandelier. It's got it's own sense of character. You'll add a little of yourself to it, and like everything else there, it will become the perfect amalgam of the house and you. We're talking the best kind of alchemy here. :)
Melanie
It's almost like the house is gifting you for saving it! Sweet!!!
Love it! You could either put glass chimney globes on (like on an oil lamp), or why not some great shabby chic tiny lamp shades?
Can't wait to see it up! Isn't it about time this house has a name??
I love it .I had bought one on Ebay that was very similiar, took it to the lamp shop had it reworked with new shades and it was a feature piece.
.L.O.V.E. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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