Today I’ve teamed up with a group of other bloggers for a design challenge. Each month one of us will pick an item from Home Depot that we have to make something out of. The catch is it has to be a gift for a specific person each month. This months chosen item is this little copper “t”.
After seeing the chosen item for the first time, my very first thought was industrial light fixture, but I quickly decided that would be too hard. I spent days trying to think of something interesting to make with it. My daughter suggested a wine opener, which was a good idea but I didn’t know how I’d make that a functioning wine opener. After a week, I was starting to worry that if this were a reality show, I’d be the first one voted off the island.
I decided to just put it out of my mind for awhile. Like in the movie Men In Black (#3, I think) when they “have a piece a pie”. In the movie, that is a metaphor for giving yourself a mental break if you can’t come up with a solution. Of course, that is when I found one.
I was surfing the Urban Outfitters website and saw this copper light fixture.
My light fixture does not look like this one, it just gave me the inspiration I needed to go with the light fixture idea. I have to admit, I have an advantage in the lighting department. My husband is great with electrical. But to balance that advantage out, he really does NOT enjoy DIY projects and usually thinks my ideas are crazy. And you better believe I have tons of ideas for light fixtures! Remember my knock off Restoration Hardware chandelier? So I convinced him to go to Home Depot with me and see what we could come up with. We picked up a variety of copper parts.
I showed him the Urban Outfitters copper light to give him a general idea of what I was thinking. Then my husband came up with a concept for our version, he drew it out to show me his general plan.
I asked him if we could also include a third light in the center. We got started assembling the pieces using solder.
This next picture shows the center of our fixture which contains the “t”.
We also picked up 3 of these lighting switches which were to become the sockets for each of our lights.
My husband cut them down and removed the dial switches.
Not long after we started assembling this, my camera battery died. When my husband is in DIY mode, we stop for nothing for fear the mood will pass. So I don’t have pictures of every step. We were somewhat winging it as we went along anyway, so this really isn’t a step by step tutorial.
Here you can see how he wired it and spliced the wires together.
After completing it, I switched out the light bulbs for round ones rather than the chandelier bulbs.
The arms are adjustable, they can hang straight down or out to the sides for a more modern look.
We haven’t actually installed it yet. We are undecided on whether we should keep it or actually give it to someone to fulfill the gift part of the challenge. Thanks, John for helping me make this!!
And here is what everyone else came up with, such amazing ideas all around!!
Emily says
February 15, 2015 at 8:28 amSuper cute! I love the round light bulbs too.
RoxanneK says
February 15, 2015 at 8:58 amThanks Emily! I love your book rack, very clever!
Amy@HomeRemedies says
February 15, 2015 at 11:46 amSo fun! I love industrial style lighting – this looks amazing! Love that the arms are adjustable, too!
RoxanneK says
February 15, 2015 at 12:47 pmThanks, Amy! I really love the table you made, impressive!
Cat @ therusticwillow says
February 15, 2015 at 1:34 pmThis is awesome! I’m totally into industrial light fixtures and this one is gorgeous.
RoxanneK says
February 15, 2015 at 4:02 pmThanks, Cat. Your grill master project was a great idea!
Lindi says
February 15, 2015 at 3:56 pmGreat light fixture! This is one of my favourite projects from the challenge! I’d have a hard time giving it away too! Lol
RoxanneK says
February 15, 2015 at 4:03 pmThanks, Lindi!! Love your wine holder!
Shannon Churchill says
February 15, 2015 at 4:31 pmRoxanne, this light is simply stunning! I love the minimalist and industrial look and you nailed it with this one.:) I’m glad I’m not the only one who soldered.:) Great job!
RoxanneK says
February 15, 2015 at 5:07 pmThanks Shannon, I love your very clever clipboard art!!
Shelly says
February 15, 2015 at 5:21 pmThis is so amazing Roxanne! I am blown away! Love it!
RoxanneK says
February 15, 2015 at 6:36 pmThanks, Shelly! I LOVE your lamp idea!!
Emily @ Table + Hearth says
February 15, 2015 at 5:57 pmSo happy you stuck to your original idea and went for it, it’s awesome!! And oh to have an electrical-loving hubby 🙂
Carmody says
February 15, 2015 at 7:17 pmReally cool light fixture! It would be har for me to give it away.
Kat@Home. Made. Interest. says
February 15, 2015 at 9:43 pmI’ve been wanting to make a light like this fod so long. You made it look easy, lol!
diana says
February 16, 2015 at 9:42 amAwesome job ♡
RoxanneK says
February 16, 2015 at 6:44 pmThanks Diana! 🙂
Amanda @ Dwelling in Happiness says
February 16, 2015 at 11:41 amThis is SO awesome! I looove how it turned out. I love simple modern lighting like this. 🙂
Kirsten says
February 17, 2015 at 8:40 amI love it! I think the round bulbs are a great touch, too. I’d have a hard time parting with that light fixture if I made it myself. 🙂
Michelle says
February 17, 2015 at 5:14 pmSuper Duper cool that you and the ladies get together and create your own projects using the same item! I’m jealous. All are very nice, very nice indeed. http://www.thatblackchic.com
Rena @ Lemon Peel says
February 18, 2015 at 10:29 amThis challenge is the coolest ever! All of these projects are fantastic and your copper light fixture looks amazing. I’m in awe!
Emily, Our house now a home says
February 18, 2015 at 1:49 pmThis is great! I love it. I think something like this would be great to put in my husbands home office. It seems like a pretty easy DIY project. I love the use of the copper.
Jennie @ The Diary of a Real Housewife says
February 19, 2015 at 8:44 pmI love this! Thanks so much for linking up and sharing it with us today!
Angela, blue i style says
February 20, 2015 at 7:40 pmSuch a cool, industrial look! I’d love to have you come and link up with us at our new link party, The Creative Circle http://blueistyle.blogspot.com/2015/02/TheCreativeCircleWeek3.html
Jen@The Evolution of Mom says
February 21, 2015 at 1:25 pmI LOVE this! This is my kind of DIY. Thanks for sharing with us at the Momma Told Me Link Party. I so want to try to make one of these. I need it over my table. Sigh….
~Jen
Shirley Wood says
February 22, 2015 at 5:43 amLove it! I’m glad you went with the round bulbs too! I love this challenge! How fun. There are so many neat ideas that are being shared. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday! You will be my Feature with the new party starting tonight at 9pm EST.
Pinning to my DIY board and the Merry Monday Features board.
RoxanneK says
February 22, 2015 at 11:02 amHi Shirley, that’s awesome, thanks!!
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says
February 22, 2015 at 1:55 pmIt’s so fun to create with bits and pieces from Home Depot. I did not know about this challenge, will have to check it out. Great project! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again next week. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Cindy says
February 22, 2015 at 2:29 pmWow…I love it!
Thank so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
brett says
February 23, 2015 at 1:06 pmSeriously … how cool is that? Your fixture looks so great – tons of possible places I could stick that in my house! Thanks for sharing at the Pretty Preppy Party! xx, b
Lauren says
February 24, 2015 at 8:51 pmI’m so in love with this! I like that it’s so versatile with the adjustable bulb sockets too. Thanks so much for sharing over at Your Turn To Shine!
Elaine says
February 25, 2015 at 9:19 pmThanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope you come back tomorrow and share some more stuff!! Pinned!!
http://www.cookinandcraftin.com/my-2-favorite-things-on-thursday-link-party8/
Ginger says
February 27, 2015 at 7:03 pmInteresting! I can see this going in lots of different spaces. Thanks for linking up to Show Me Saturday.