Since I am gearing up for the Ugly Lamp Contest (which will begin next week), I thought I’d set the mood early with a few fabulous lamp makeovers. Keep in mind, however, there is no makeover magic happening during the Ugly Lamp Contest. It is purely, completely, 100% ugly lamps, nothing more. So you’ve been warned. Start preparing your eyeballs now. Maybe some daily stretching or something will help.
But for now, enjoy these lovely lamp redos coming your way!
This lion lamp started out as a project by Nichole at Mommy Diaries, who went a little craftin’ crazy when she realized she was going to have a baby! Totally understandable. They should have a name for that, seriously. After awhile, she realized she really wasn’t feeling the lion love, so she changed gears and went for a neutral nautical theme instead.
Better After reader Lindsey bought this brassy lamp for $5 at a thrift store, used some paint she had on hand for the base, and raided her fabric stash to cover the shade. So her grand total came to …. $5! Looks ten times that, at least!
Wowzers. Check out the shade on this thing! It’s so … um … curtainy? Which is why Kristen from Ella Claire ditched it completely and focused on the base instead, which is actually quite cool when it isn’t competing for attention with Pleaty McDrapeyshade. I’ve been dying to try this ‘ghost shade’ look myself — not to be confused with the ‘haunted movie theater’ look that this shade was formerly sporting.
And finally, a lamp that couldn’t be more ’80s if it was rocking a set of teased bangs and listening to NKOTB on a Walkman, gets a fresh shabby chic look from Better After reader Connie. I never would have predicted that this mauve meatball could look so modern. Nice work Connie!
5 Comments
BF
August 15, 2012 at 4:51 PMI actually really like that “drapery” shade… haha, but love the after as well!
Anonymous
August 16, 2012 at 3:04 AMAh, August – the time of year I gear up for Shark Week and the Ugly Lamp Contest. Fabulous!
suzieQ
August 15, 2012 at 8:19 PMOh, someone needs to help me here, but I was going to comment that the drapery shade would look fab on just the right lamp. Nothing I want, like or desire, but I totally appreciate it when people are going for a total package to recreate a look and that shade, we all agree, has a LOOK, it represents an era.
I used to work at a lamp store in the mid 1970’s and I spent a lot of time with some U-G-L-Y lamps. Remember the cherubs and the dripping oil down fishing line? Wrought iron bases and crushed velvet lampshades? I could go on and on…Can’t wait for the contest! I am very, very particular about lamps so I have no contestants, drat.
Kristen {Ella Claire}
August 15, 2012 at 11:32 PMLol! Thanks for featuring my lamp! It definitely put the ‘ug’ in ugly!
Lindsey
August 16, 2012 at 12:05 AMThanks so much for featuring my lamp! I feel oh so famous. Haha 🙂