When we moved into our fixer upper this past January we primed the dining room walls but left everything else just as it was. This wasn’t a huge deal because we had sold our dining room table and didn’t have anything to put into the room anyways. After a few months I got my design plan down and Josh built me a table for the space. I even purchased a new chandelier. I fell in love with a wooden one from World Market. There was still a part of my that felt like I was giving up too early on the old brass one. There wasn’t even a small part of me that wanted to keep it as it was but I thought if I could by some chance make it look even close to wood, I might just like it in the space.
I searched Pinterest looking for ideas. I found several tutorials for painted chandeliers but nothing for faux wood chandeliers. I then remembered that I could use chalk paint and an antique glaze just as I did the old desk/TV console that I did a couple months before inspired by Bless’er House. You can find my console makeover here. I wasn’t so sure if it would turn out the same on brass but I thought it was worth a shot!
Here’s the chandelier before –
First, clean your light fixture and let it completely dry.
I did two thin coats of Everlasting chalk paint and let that dry. Everlasting is a grayish, white color paint. You could certainly use a light beige as well.
The last step is to brush on a coat of antique glaze. I used a 1″ chip brush that for this part. You want to use a dry brush technique. Too much glaze will just give it more of a solid brown color. You want very little glaze so that the brush leaves brush stokes and creates the illusion of wood grain. Slowly work your way around the light fixture until it’s complete. Let is dry over night and you’re done!
As a simple and FREE fix to those worn out candle stick covers, I just flipped them upside down so that the blackened edge was hidden.
I made a cord cover from some linen fabric and it was finished. I honestly can say I don’t just like it but I love it, so much that I returned the chandelier that I had bought. Most people who come into our home do not realize that it’s the same light fixture. I would say that it’s a win! I’ve always been a big advocator of paint. I think that you really can transform and give things new life with just a fresh coat of paint.
You can see our entire dining room makeover here.
Have a great week friends!
This turned out amazing!! Thanks so much for sharing with us and of course I had to share it with others on FB.
Thank you so much Julie! I’m happy to share. Have a great week 🙂
Did you leave it hanging while you painted? I’m assuming you applied the same technique to the ceiling plate? I am so doing this! Love it. Thank you for sharing!!
You are so welcome Andrea 🙂 I did leave it hanging while I painted it. I also did the ceiling plate the exact same way. I completely forgot to mention that in the post. I’m so happy you like it!
WOW!!!!! What a glorious makeover. It’s brilliant, Amanda. I officially have faux-wooden chandelier envy. Cheers, Ardith
Thank you Ardith! Have a great week 🙂
Which antique glaze did you use? The link just goes to michaels 🙂
This looks amazing! I have the same chandelier and plan to do this project. Would you mind posting a supply list? As a previous commenter noted, the link for the glaze goes to Michaels.
Hi Amamda,
I am about to redo a large foyer chandelier and I am doing the exact same technique you are but have had a hard time finding products so I was gonna do what you did and wing it! You did a fabulous job and I was wondering about the glaze. The link is just going to a plain clear or white glaze at the Michaels site. What color would you say you used? Brown looks too dark and I was going for the more undone wood color you went for. Thanks so much for your time on this!
Hi Angela! I know the brown glaze looks dark but that is the one I used. You’ll rub very little on at a time and then once it’s on you’ll rub a lot of it off… if that makes sense. That will give it that lighter brown color you’re looking for. Hope that helps. Good luck on your chandelier! It’s going to be beautiful 🙂