I've been wanting a crystal chandelier for my dining room but didn't have hundreds of dollars to buy one. Saturday I was coming home from running some errands and noticed that a neighbor across the street was having a garage sale. I almost didn't walk over there because I didn't really see anything interesting as I drove by. Boy, am I glad I walked over! I found this crystal chandelier for $20. These pictures were taken before I cleaned it up and rewired it. All the crystals were in a separate bag and I couldn't wait to see what it looked like so I hung it from my curtain rod bracket as soon as I got it home and hung on the crystals. I LOVE it! I kept it hanging there all Saturday afternoon so I could admire it. 
Sunday morning I took all the crystals off and washed them and cleaned up the base. I ripped out all the old wiring and replaced it. It took me hours to get the wire through the chandelier arms. I was ready to give up and just take it to the lighting store and pay to have it rewired but I just kept at it and did it myself!
Hopefully I can get someone to hang it for me later this week. I can hardly wait to see it in my dining room. I can't wait to show you how much better it looks clean and sparkly! I didn't scrub the brass because I wanted it to have that aged look. The little metal cups that you see were added on later I think. It came with glass hurricane shades and to me they just didn't go with the chandelier so I took those little cups off.
When I was unpacking this I noticed that the newspaper it was wrapped in was dated Oct 25, 1970. It's been packed away for almost 37 years! I love that it is very dainty looking...it's exactly what I wanted!
Sunday morning I took all the crystals off and washed them and cleaned up the base. I ripped out all the old wiring and replaced it. It took me hours to get the wire through the chandelier arms. I was ready to give up and just take it to the lighting store and pay to have it rewired but I just kept at it and did it myself!
Hopefully I can get someone to hang it for me later this week. I can hardly wait to see it in my dining room. I can't wait to show you how much better it looks clean and sparkly! I didn't scrub the brass because I wanted it to have that aged look. The little metal cups that you see were added on later I think. It came with glass hurricane shades and to me they just didn't go with the chandelier so I took those little cups off.When I was unpacking this I noticed that the newspaper it was wrapped in was dated Oct 25, 1970. It's been packed away for almost 37 years! I love that it is very dainty looking...it's exactly what I wanted!
45 comments:
Wow Cindy,
I love those kinds of stories.
It was meant to be. It was waiting for you for all that time.
It is a beautiful chandelier. I sometimes drive by a sale thinking that there isn't anything good. I guess we need to get out and really look.
Enjoy,
Rosemary
Whoa, Cindy, that's just gorgeous!! Lucky you!
Carol
http://ourreddoor.blogspot.com
OMGOSH!!!!...what a FIND!!!!....it WAS meant to be...ENJOY!!!!...Lacy
Okay... lucky, yes, but more than that by far. Is there NOTHING you can't do????? I'm sooooo impressed you rewired it!!! I am just as proud as if I did it myself! (Which I'm lucky if I can plug IN a lamp, let alone rewiring it.) It's so lovely. I'm happy you walked across there to find it.
Cindy, this is a great find. I have a bunch of old crystals in my attic. I'm going to dig them out and put some on my candlelier that's on my patio. I'm hooked on reading your blog. You're in my favorites under inspiration.
Perfect! How many times have we all walked by what we thought was a worthless garage sale! Not any more!
Don't you just love when that happens?! I am so happy for you; it is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!
:)
Beautiful find! It was all packed and waiting for your lovely home all these years. It's so exciting when you have that moment you turn around and spot something you've wanted and can't believe the price..a priceless moment! It will look so nice hanging over your table with the lights dimmed and crystals sparkling!!!
kathy
It is beautiful! What a great find!
Just lovely! Well done!
How gorgeous that find is! What great luck to snag it for 20 dollars! It was packed away just waiting on YOU to come rescue it!
You are amazing! You are like my sis in law who will tackle anything! I so admire that in a person! I try and fobble it far too often but look what you were able to do!!
Have a sweet week!
Hugs,
Sue
Wow! What a great find!! That is just as beautiful as the $300.00 one you had on your blog. Hope you get it hung soon.
Julie
What a beautiful Chandelier!! It looks perfect in your home.:) And how super you did your own wiring!! I am working on a light project I posted today .
What a great find! LOVE yard/garage sales. I'm posting photos of some great chandeliers - stop by if you can. Blessings, Polly
Serendipity!
You go girl! Re-wiring and all. It's just gorgeous. It's so nice that you found something you really wanted at such a fabulous price!
Manuela
Well done on all of your hard work to bring this sparkly beauty back to life -- and a bargain too! How wonderful! Can't wait to see it hung and shining in the dining room -- don't forget to add a dimmer switch!
Jan x at a hot and sticky Rosemary Cottage
You are a lucky woman I think ;o))
Rini from the Netherlands
Oh Cindy! I am sooo happy for you!! I know how thrilled I was to find mine at a yard sale a few years ago! What a gift huh! You deserve it! Now enjoy!
Thanks for sharing your awesome find!
Oh, what a wonderful story! It's a beautiful chandelier; so much nicer than brand new -- it has character, and will always be special to you because of how you found it! I have been visiting thrift stores since your post about the dishes you found there, and now I'll have to start haunting yard sales, too. Thanks for the inspiration!
God is good!! Yay, I am rejoicing for you, you got the chandelier you wanted at the price people dream of! Perfect. I am so happy for you.
Lidy
You scored, Cindy! that is one beautiful chandy. I know you will enjoy it for years & years & you better take it with you when you move! What a great story.
Rhoda
Congratulations! That was quite a find. I'm impressed that you rewired it yourself.
~elaine~
What an amazing crystal chandelier - and story behind it!
Great find.
Cindy, that is a fabulous find!! I love it's style, and who doesn't love sparkle? I'm so glad that you found that! (and impressed that you knew how to rewire it...). Good for you!!
xo
I'm new to your blog and already hooked! Cindy, you are a real inspiration! I LOVE hearing these kind of stories. Your finds are gorgeous:) You scored big time.... Congrats!
This is so pretty, and I'm really impressed that you rewired it yourself!
I can't believe you rewired it! I'm surprised your not going to try and hang it yourself! But don't! You could get electrocuted..it's beautiful...loveit!
Oooooh Cindy! What a beauty! You must have worked so hard to get it in the beautiful shape it is now. That is so much work!
I'm so happy you found it. You will appreciate and love it for so many years to come.
I've seen that style with the glass covers and they don't appeal to me either. I love it the way you have it. Congrats on your fab find!
Donna
GORGEOUS!!! and what a wonderful story...makes me love it all the more.
Absolutely stunning!!!!
My, you were lucky!!!
Lovely chandelier! It looks like it would go with your home perfectly! What a beautiful find. You have a lovely home and a blog I enjoy very much. I can't believe you rewired it yourself! How did you learn to do that?
Kathleen Grace
This is the kind of success story that restores my faith in yard sales! Congratulations, it is truly gorgeous.
What a wonderful find!!!
Oh Cindy! I am thrilled for you. Your new chandelier is gorgeous. Sorry about my nosy comment before. You post on such a regular basis I was worried about you. So glad all is well. xoxo
Holy guacamole but that's gorgeous. I guess it's true, everthing old is new again. What a great find.
You lucky girl! Aren't you glad you mosied on over there. I missed out on a pretty pink rocking chair (no arms) on Saturday. I was in a hurry bringing my kids to a local running race event and they began wailing when I mentioned stopping. They were lucky I didn't have any money on me...
You've gotta love yard sales!!
Linda
Just beautiful Cindy! ReWire Queen!!!!
Hugs,
Carol
wow- you lucky girl- its divine..la.la.laa...love jo..
Just gorgeous! Oh Cindy - I am SO happy that you found this chandy - it was meant to be yours! Beautiful!
xo,
Kim
it is perfect! i love the balance - a good chandelier is hard to find!! and what a great price! clearly meant to be yours :)
$20...incredible!
Gorgeous! I want one on my workroom... I know, my husband won't "get it" but hopefully he will install it, lol!
Lana
Wow, what a great story and an amazing find! I guess I need to be more persistent with the garage sales! So pretty! ~A :-)
What a wonderful chandelier...can't wait to see it hung up in your home.
Post a Comment