Dramatic Chandelier Makeover

By Leah French, About.com Guide

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Instructions

If the fixture is installed, detach it from the ceiling. Make sure you turn off the power at the breaker before removing it.

Wrap the body of the chandelier in multiple layers of wide masking tape. Don't be tidy or orderly about it. Vary the thickness of the tape layers to create lumps and bumps all over the chandelier. Make sure you don't tape over the candle sleeves, bulb sockets, chain, or any of the wiring.

Using a paintbrush, coat the chandelier with a paste made from plaster of Paris. Follow the instructions on the container to mix the paste. Make the coat thick enough to cover the ridges, where the tape overlaps, but not so thick that you lose your lumps and bumps. Let the plaster of Paris dry. Repeat with a second coat if necessary.

Paint your chandelier. For the finish in the photo, first paint the chandelier with a layer of metallic gold paint and let it dry. Next, dry brush black paint over the gold, leaving some of the gold exposed. Let dry.

Cover the chain with a chandelier chain cover, which is just a long tube of fabric. To make one, cut a strip of fabric twice the length of the chain, and four times the width of one of the links. Fold the strip in half lengthwise, right sides together. Stitch the tube closed lengthwise, with a seam allowance of about half the width of a chain link. Turn the tube right side out, and then slip over the chandelier chain. If you prefer an exposed chain, skip this step and paint your chain to match the chandelier.

The raven is optional, but if you want to attach one, or anything else, use wire to anchor it to an arm of the chandelier.

Leah French
Flea Markets & Yard Sales Guide