By Lamp Light (French Style)

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One of the biggest mistakes people make when decorating their home is to overlook or ignore lighting.  A room isn’t successful or finished until appropriate lighting is installed.

I love vintage and antique lamps.  It doesn’t matter if the cord is old and frayed, rewiring a lamp is as simple as buying a kit at the hardware store. Anyone can do it.

Lamp shades are another story.  Rarely does an old shade survive in good condition.  Sun damaged silk shades fall apart.  A bent frame will always be crooked. If I get a bargain on a lamp, I don’t mind spending a few extra dollars on a fabulous shade.

This time I got lucky at Goodwill. I found this wonderful Eiffel Tower lamp for less than $12.00. Although the shade is in good condition and clean, it’s very drab and definitely boring.

It’s the perfect DIY project. A little time and some chalkboard paint and I have an original, unique way to add ambient lighting to any room.

The fabric shade has a plastic lining. It took two coats of the black paint for good coverage. I like the fact that some of the light shines through.

Since I’m a Francophile (someone who adores everything French!), I chose French adjectives to decorate my shade.  Ravissant means delightful.

Choose words that mean something to you or draw pictures or have your kids decorate the shade.  The best part, if you make a mistake or want to write something new, simply wipe it off with a damp cloth and start over!

A good lamp should last for years. Just change the shade when you redecorate or repaint.