Beach House Decor : A Lamp Shade Make Over in Blue and White

Hello Beach Dwellers

I have to tell you that for several reasons this Beach House decor project scared me a lot. But actually, once I felt the fear and did it anyway, I can't tell you how happy it made me.  I was so buoyed by it, I gave my kids what they wanted for dinner, danced around the house to their squeals of joy, inspired by my good mood and was even kind to Mr Beach House, which is not always on the menu round here.  I was worried about the solvents in the glue melting the rice paper of the original shade covering, of cutting straight and mucking up some of the prettiest fabric I have seen in ages, but it got to the stage where I needed content for the blog after mucking up another project, which you will know about if you follow in instagram and I just had to jump in.

I intend to make two of these to sit at either end of the sofa in the media room, but wanted to see if I could put this together before I spent money on a matching lamp shade.  This lamp shade was surplus to issue, after installing what I am calling my Moroccan chandelier over the dining room table.  I had the lamp stands from Laura Ashley, when this kind of thing was all the go in the 1990's.  I've been that close to chucking them that many times, but actually I think the darker wood fits nicely with blue and white fabric.

It was so easy in the end and I am so proud of how it turned out.  If you don't look too closely, you'd think I paid top dollar in a designer store.

So here's what you will need for this project.  I only ended up using the adhesive spray.  I thought I'd need the PVA for the join, but didn't bother, as the spray worked perfectly well without any mess.

So I bought a metre of fabric and folded it over, ironing the seam to ensure I cut it straight.

I also ironed the end seem so I would get a nice finish at the back of the shade.  I measured it in three places across the seam, to ensure I ironed a straight line. My seam was 3cm/1inch.

I cut the overhang where the wire stays were, so it was easy to stick it down on the inside.  I did this on the other side too even though there were no stays, as it just made it easier to manoeuvre the fabric into place inside the lamp shade.  Before you start with the glue make sure you decide which way is up with your lamp shade and which way up you want your fabric to sit.

It's important to get the right tension on the fabric so it doesn't buckle and look bumpy.  The glue was pretty forgiving and stays tacky for a while so I pulled it off once, to ensure all areas were smooth.  That bit worked remarkably easily.

You will also need to trim up your overlapping hem to about 1 inch or less.  My overlapping bits were longer as you can see and when I turn the light on, you can see where the hem is.  That doesn't bother me so I left it, but I did wonder what it was when I first turned the switch.  This may not happen on thicker lampshades, but because mine was made of rice paper, it left a distinct line with the globe shinning behind it.

Once she was done, I styled it up with a faux pineapple and some lovely thrifted Hardy's silver.  I mean how can people throw this stuff out I wonder.  I added some coral for a little coastal pop.

Along with  $5 thrifted bamboo mirror, we have a coastal Hamptons, tropical, coastal thingy in motion and I for one love it and can't wait to complete the lampshade for the other end of the room.  It's not perfect, but it cost me very little and has certainly lifted the room in a big way and that's what we are all about here on this little blog people.  Looking good on a budget.  I've lived by that rule all my life and today it's working for me.

Have a beaut weekend 

Today I am linked up here

Feathered Nest Friday
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Craftomaniac
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