My Favorite Part. Always.

I think, forever and always, my favorite part of any room is when we finally install the light fixture. It’s like have the best accessory on your outfit, or wearing a tiara when you’re playing dress up as a little kid. I have no idea why it’s my favorite – but it is.

What was in the Study when we bought the house? A ceiling fan.

When we bought the house, all of the original fixtures had been removed, and most of them were like the ceiling fan – practical, but not beautiful. And with 11″ ceilings, the house was begging for drama. If light fixtures were shoes, the house was filled with thick-soled rubber orthopedic shoes – but she really wanted some stilettos. With some gel-cushion inserts, of course, because one MUST be practical.

Walking around the house when we first bought it, Doug said quite a few times, in regards to the light in the Library, “I really like that light.”

It’s not original, and not crazy old (that I can tell), but it is fun. I did, however, think it was too small for the room it was in. So the combination of Doug really liking this light, AND the Study being smaller – it was a no brainer.

First job : the medallion!

I was limited on choices here, because I needed one with a 10″ opening, because the canopy of the light is 10″ – much bigger than a usual light. But I found this one, and loved it. And painted it the wall color.

Next, I added black.

Gold leaf paint came next.

And then, silver leaf.

Finally, copper leaf!

This might be my favorite medallion yet. Could I get a job just designing bathroom floors and painting ceiling medallions? Is that a thing? I seriously get so much joy from this.

I tried to take a picture at each stage so it would all line up, and it didn’t work perfectly, but maybe if you really squint your eyes, or down a lot of tequila, it’ll look like I lined everything up well.

I remember saying to someone that the color scheme for this room seemed boring, but I promise, the room won’t be boring. Hopefully, I succeeded. I’m actually really jealous that all of this opulence is in Doug’s Study. I cannot WAIT to do my studio.

Bye Bye, ceiling fan!

Reporting for duty!

I added a little bit of black and silver to the light, to help it tie into the room some more. It was already painted, so I didn’t think I was committing high crimes a treason – maybe more like jaywalking, if this is an old piece. But I don’t think it is.

It’s amazing how big it looked on the ground, and how small it looks on the ceiling.

Audrey Griswold : “It’s pretty, even if it’s not lit.”

Squeeeeee! I love it so much.

Someone asked me about the bulbs, and they aren’t anything special. I should get some LED Edison bulbs, but I’m not there yet. You know those super cheesy vanities from the 1980s that had bulbs going around the side, like a theatre dressing room? These are clear versions of those bulbs, and I think they work well in a fixture like this. 

I think it’s the first one where the ceiling medallion just looks like it’s part of the light, and I love that.

This was a pretty picture, until you see all the dust / sawdust above the doorway on the right. Sigh. Just being authentic!

I’m super happy with it. It really is my favorite part of any room – especially this one.