One day I am sure that I will be crying on Antiques Roadshow.
There won’t be happy tears of joy that my yardsale find is really worth $10,000. It will be an ugly cry because I rubbed every last bit of aged patina from these Hobnob Milk Glass Lamps.
But a DIY Mama’s got to do what she can to add new life to an old piece.
I am totally in love with this DIY Lamp Update.
A little bit of love and this pair of Hobnail Milk Glass lamps look fabulous in our home office. They got a good cleaning, new colored lamp shades, and a bit of a trim thanks to a sharp pair of scissors.
You might remember seeing these gigantic lamps in this post about all the furniture I scored for our home office update. They once graced the living room of my sister-in-law’s grandmother. But at over 3 1/2 feet tall with huge shades they were a bit too much.
So I went on a hunt to find new shades. The plan was to purchase new ones then DIY them to something fabulous. But as I was standing in the aisle with a buggy overloading with a variety of shades something occurred to me.
Why should I buy new shades to cover or paint when I can simply do that to the ones I already have? Maybe they could even be cut down to make them more modern looking?
Back on the shelves the lamp shades went.
Here are the original lamp shades in all their nubby carpet looking glory. Wrong color. Wrong size.
Stacking them on top of each other made a perfect template for trimming off 2 inches from the bottom.
I wasn’t sure this was going to work because the shade is probably 40 years old. It was slow going and some pieces did splinter off as I cut. But one pair of very sharp scissors took the shades from 15 inches to 12 inches.
Next it was time for a new color. There was one more can of navy spray paint left over from the kitchen chandy makeover. Leave it to spray paint to totally make a piece new again! Love the color!
While the shades dried I recruited Little Boy into scrubbing off years of dust and grime from the hobnail milk glass globes.
The next question was whether I should leave the metal finish alone or try to shine it up. Since none of the metal matched I thought what the heck.
One bottle of Brasso later and the bases of the lamps gleamed! But the other metal pieces on the lamps did not change in anyway with the cleaner.
All the pieces put back together make this pair of lamps a fabulous addition to our home office makeover. I love how they frame Honey’s humidor and our Steeplechase print from the day we first met.
A navy ribbon adds a lovely detail and hides the cut bottom of the shades.
Here is a look at the corner of the home office right beside the dresser with these lamps. We have named this our Reading Nook. It has a comfy chair with a DIY Footstool for the children to hang out as I work.
{Click here} to see the DIY Leather Footstool tutorial.
Want to catch up on all of the Southern Gentleman’s Home Office Update? Here’s links to all the DIY home decor…
How To Make No-Sew Curtains
DIY Curtain Rods & Finials
Navy Lamp Upcycle
Easy Vintage Wood Bookcase
DIY Sweater Lamp Shade
DIY Brass Pineapple
Most Confused Room in Our Home
Thrifty Office Artwork
DIY Leather Footstool
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They give me huge motivation to keep creating and having fun with my 3 Little Greenwoods!
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This turned out super cute!
Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!
Those are strikingly beautiful. Love that shade of blue. The ribbon just set them off. That Brasso is some good stuff but it does require elbow grease, doesn’t it! They turned out great!
Oh my goodness!! I need these in my house! I love navy and metallic/gold/copper/brass together and these are just stunning! Way to go you DIY Mama!!
Those turned out great! I have never thought to pain lamp shades. Very good idea!
The lamps look great! I think they work really well with the other lamp in the room. And sometimes you just have to do what you need to make the item work in your house.
they look wonderful!!!! Love the blue shades too. Hugs!
Those blue shades are GORGEOUS! I’m totally impressed with how you transformed these lamps without really needing to go get supplies or anything else for them. I could’ve sworn those were NEW shades, not revamped ones. Nice work!
Wow! And W.O.W.! These look really fabulous!
Your lamps turned out awesome! The navy and the ribbon trim really look good. I love, love, love hobnail milk glass. I bought a set of lamps (smaller than yours) that are missing shades. The chandelier type shades are too small and the next size up are too large. I never thought to trim the shades. You’re a genius!
What I am is a cheapie! I hated to spend the money on new shades that I was going to paint anyway. 😉
Best of luck finding new shades for your lamps!
Beautiful! What a pretty color combination! Great job 🙂
These lamps are GORGEOUS! I love how you made such good use of an old find, hats my favorite thing to do haha. You’ve truly given them a new and fabulous life =)
Thanks so much, Addie!
These are amazing! I love that color! So creative to think of trimming them. I totally would have either painted them and left the size alone or chucked them and got new ones. Pinned!
These turned out gorgeous! I love all things milk glass and these lamps are beautiful. Your work on the shades and the bases made for a wonderful transformation!
Thank you so much, Beverly! I love how they turned out!
Your lamps turned out beautiful!! You always make things look so nice with a can of spray paint!!
Spray paint is my bestie!
i love how you took “old” and updated it to work in your space. I too love saving something with good bones. Thanks for sharing this
Thanks so much for the comment love! I love them so much in our newly updated home office!
This is pretty cool! I shared it out to my FB page for my readers to see. I love the colors that you picked. I actually just passed up a milk glass lamp yesterday because I didn’t know what to do with it but yours looks so elegant!
Thank you thank you for sharing on FB!
Go back and get those lamps! I would love to see what you can do with them!
These lamps are absolutely stunning! That rich shade of blue contrasted with the white of the milk glass is just gorgeous. Great makeover!
When I realized they were milk glass I almost died! Such a lucky hand-me-down from my sister in law!
What an awesome transformation! It’s amazing what a little spray paint and elbow grease can do!
I know! Gotta love some leftover paint in the garage! Thanks so much for the comment love!
Looks great. LOVE navy and white. Classy.
Have you posted about the new curtains?
Love those too!!
You are an awesome spyer of new projects, my friend! Aren’t they fabulous? I can’t wait to share them!
I love the lamps! Fabulous job. But I am loving those navy curtains!! Can’t wait for that post!!
Oh they are coming! 😉
Hi Ashley,
What pretty things you have. And, you made them yourself? How craftsy of you. I am not good at crafts at all. Talented, you are!
Thank you for coming to the Inspire Me Monday Linky Party.
Janice
You have a great eye for how to re make things beautiful, love the drawers they are beautiful too!
I would like to invite you to stop by and share on my Friday Feature Party!!!
Have a great weekend, Karren @Oh My Heartsie Girl
Thanks so much for the party invite! See you on Friday!
Gorgeous! I love the new office! Question.. the curtains? They are fantastic! Where? – Kim @ knockitoffcrafts.com
Oh the complete home office curtain reveal will be coming soon! I can’t wait to share them with everyone!
I love how the lamps turned out. So much better. They look wonderful where you put them too. Thank you so much for linking up to Tips and Tricks. Hope to see you again Monday at 7pm!
Thanks so much, Kathleen! They look so good in our home office. Love your linky party!
They really turned out nice! I love anything hobnail and I don’t think that the spray paint took away from it at all. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
I love-love-love that these lamps have a hobnail globe on them! What a treasure! So happy I didn’t ruin them by upcycling the pair for our home office.
Those lamps look like a million bucks! Seriously loving the way you updated them! Thanks so much for sharing at Talented Tuesdays!
I love them! Thanks for your fun and creative linky party!
I think they look so much better without the patina! No tears will be shed! Would love to see you over at the Found & Foraged Linky Party held every Saturday night at 8PM CST on http://houseofhipsters.com/
Thanks so much for the party invite! Loved your mixtape! 😉
I’m visiting from the Pretty Pintastic Link-Up! I love this idea..I”m not super crafty, but this seems doable. I would never have thought to trim a lamp shade or even spray paint one. Awesome!
So excited that you were inspired by my “new” home office lamps! I love the spray painted lamp shades too!
I love the finished product! They look so classy! 🙂 Thanks for linking up!!!
THOSE LAMPSHADES. I want them. I need them. NOW! Seriously, I love that navy – totally changes the look of the lamps! Love it!
OMG I LOVE IT SO MIUCH!!!!!! You have an eye for potential, that’s for sure! They came out great, perfect linkup for the #ShineBlogHop! Thanks!!!
I love our “new” home office lamps too! I’m so happy I didn’t replace the lamp shades! 😉
Hi Ashley!
I’m totally kicking myself right now for all the garage sale lamps I have passed by without flinching! I didn’t realize it was so easy to update them, shades and all! If you’re interested, I’d love for you to share a post at my Tuesday link up.
Xoxo K
http://peeledwellness.com
I was holding my breath as I cut those lampshades! But I figured “what the heck?” If I ruined them it would be okay. Go find you some awesome lamps to upcycle!
I love those blue lampshades! (Blue is my favorite color!) Thanks for sharing this great project at The Pin Junkie! I’m stopping by to let you know that your updated lamps are being featured today in a roundup of home decorating ideas.
YAY! Thanks SO much for featuring my “new” home office lamps in your roundup!
Ashley! I LOVE this! You took something and made it fabulous! I love how you just worked with what you had and turned them into treasures! I’m just in awe! Great job! And, thank you for linking up with Waiting on…Wednesdays! I hope to see you next week!
I love my “new” home office lamps too! The navy shades are awesome and didn’t cost me more than a can of spray paint!
Love this tip. We are moving at the end of the month, and this is a great plan to change up our now ugly lamps. They are gold with black shades (given to use, cant be choosy). Will now paint the shades. Would you recommend spray painting the gold metal part of lamp? We aren’t fans of gold, think there is wood on bottom of lamp.
You can use spray paint on every piece of the lamp! Just make sure it is clean before you get started. 😉
Wow, what a change! I’ve never dared to spray paint lamp shades… do they look nice when lit?
Thanks so much for the question! Each shade got an even coat of spray paint and they do look great when lit at night.
Wow, what an improvement over the old shade! Love it and the color!
Thanks so much, Cheryl! These lamps are one of my favorite parts of our home office makeover.
I might have missed it, but how did you attach the ribbon so smoothly? They look great and love the blue!