I’m back with an easy thrift store upgrade. John and I snagged this seen-better-days brass candlestick at Goodwill for $1.99 after I convinced him that a bright and modern color would complement the traditional shape for a clean and current result in about five minutes flat.
So I spray painted that sucker with some glossy yellow paint (Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Gloss spray paint in Sun Yellow)…
… and ended up with a nice new (and super cheap) accessory in a fun and happy color. Here he is accompanied by his three candle friends. Anyone humming Beauty & The Beast yet? Totally reminds us of Lumiere.
Simple? Check. Cheap? Check? Anyone can do it? Check. Plus we’re planning to do a little seasonal decorating and we think this guy will come in handy for all sorts of occasions (Halloween, Thanksgiving, fall in general, etc). So stay tuned to see a few fun arrangements with our new yellow candlestick.
And speaking of quick thrift store makeovers, what have you guys been transforming on the cheap? Any other candlestick projects going on?
Aimee says
Darn it…wish I hadn’t gotten rid of my old candlesticks! Why can’t I be creative too? :) I would love to have one of these in a dark red for Christmas…
Elisa @ What the Vita says
I love it, a simple and sweet update! I’ve been stalking thrift stores lately – a new found obsession. What a great idea about using candlesticks for halloween and then thanksgiving… I will keep this in mind while stalking.
Jessica Tenberge says
Yes I totally have! Last weekend our town had a community yardsale and I snagged a 1950’s brass chandelier for ONE DOLLAR!!! So it got fresh coat of pewter paint and some pretty. white chandelier shades. So total it cost be $16 for a grand chandelier!!!
Emmie says
This is so cool! I’m so glad you tackled this because I’ve been wondering about painting brass for the past couple of days. Do you think this would work as well on brass lamps? I have a table lamp and a floor lamp that were hand-me-downs from my mom – and while they are perfectly functional, I am not crazy about brass. I was thinking of painting one or both, but I am afraid of “ruining” them.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Emmie,
Oh yeah, paint those babies! Just use high quality spray paint (and not the cheap $3 stuff) and you might want to apply a thin and even coat of spray primer to be on the safe side (although metal usually takes spray paint really well without it).
xo,
s
Adam says
And here I was afraid you two only shopped at those pricey-er thrift stores. Loving the Goodwill purchase post. (No spray primer first? I don’t use spray paint often, but I thought primer was a must for metal?)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Adam,
We’ve rarely used spray primer with metal since quality spray paint usually sticks just fine without it- consider it extra credit though- it can’t hurt!
xo,
s
Stacey says
I just had to pop back in and thank the posters who mentioned painting their chandeliers. I had a “light bulb moment” ;o) and realized that perhaps I can do something similar w/ the ugly brass chandelier & sconces we have in our dining room. At the very least, they’ll be less aesthetically offensive than they are now and it will buy us some more time to find/save for new fixtures! Double bonus!
Thanks YHL readers!
hi-d says
I absolutely love it! I’m going to be on the lookout for something like that at my local thrift shop. I once painted some candles a really pretty metallic organgish color, with acrylic paint – of course I never lit them. :)
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) says
So cute! Love the bright yellow. Man, your blog always makes me feel like going thrift store shopping. It’s dangerous!
Shauna says
Green ME!!! I like to save all my empty containers and then let my kids run a muck, they seem to enjoy this better than their own toys.
Leslie says
Love the color! I’ve been really into “lemon yellow” for a while! We even used the color on our front door for spring and summer (pics on my blog this evening!)
Amanda@The Hand Me Down House says
LOVE this makeover! :) That yellow just pops and you’re right — it’s perfect for fall festivities!
I’m a huge fan of making over thrift store finds — I actually just did some fall candlesticks myself:
http://thehandmedownhouse.blogspot.com/2010/09/fall-candlestick-topiaries.html
Spray paint + Thrift Store Treasures = Happiness! :)
Thanks so much for sharing!!
Tricia says
WOW! Love it:)
Leslie C says
Be our guest, be our guest. Put our magic to the Test!
Thanks guys, I will be walking around singing beauty and the beast songs all day! Haha
Bonjour, good day, how is your family….
Erin says
Genius! I just happen to have a pair of these in my buffet, (picked up for $1 for both at a garage sale year’s back) that haven’t ever made it to the table. I think I’ll try a bright rusty orange that will work with my decor and the autumn theme. Thanks for helping me give these previous “space wasters” new life.
molly says
hi yhl–
maybe you’ve tacked this question a time or two– but how do you prevent spray painting drips??? am i spraying too close?? to much at once? i can never seem to get a smooth finish.
thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Molly,
Our tips are to keep the nozzle at least 8-12″ away from the piece and to apply very thin and even coats (always keep your hand moving while spraying) instead of one thick and drippy coat. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
kim says
I just did something similar last week!! We bought a condo with the most hideous crappy brass and wood chandalier (a generous title for this piece of garbage) with glass globes that were a little to Bonanza for our taste.
I took the whole thing down, ditched the glass globes, painted black, chain and all, and added fabric shades from the Christmas Tree Shoppe for a $1 a piece. For $10 my horrible light is a now at the very least a passable light!!
I wish I had a before pic, it was really bad!!
Dana says
I re-did a brass and marble candlestick by spray painting the brass a silver finish. I also used the same silver paint to re-do two mis matched lamps from my grandpa. They look awesome! I’ve also spray painted two gold candle holders silver and painted some frames black.
Steph @ BirdHouse Family says
I love the new yellow color! I liked the brass version too, since it’s not that fake, shiny, 80’s brass, although the two looks have a very different feel. Here is a post about some cute brass flea market finds that I plan on leaving just as they are:
http://birdhousefamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/flea-market-finds.html
And here are some recent transformation, including a turquoise side table:
http://birdhousefamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/turquoise-side-table.html
A two-toned desk/night stand:
http://birdhousefamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/desknightstand-makeover.html
And cheapest of all, a wine bottle turned into a vase with spray paint:
http://birdhousefamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/wine-bottle-vase.html
Adriane says
WOW! Thanks to you guys (although my husband would say differently), I’m on overload every time I see anything. I recently saw a beautiful print on gift wrapping paper at World Market and used it to cover an old, plain cork board! It’s beautiful! My aforementioned husband is less than pleased with all the new “junk” that I have ideas like this for but he’s always impressed when I’m done! =)
Michelle says
I’ve been collecting frames from thrift stores and been spray painting them white to make a little gallery look on my walls. I just need to choose the images to print now.
pam says
Oh yes me & spray paint have been great friends lately! Great quick & easy project!
Audra says
I totally just did this same project about a month ago with a set of two candlesticks that I got at a garage sale for .25 cents! I painted them black and I love the way they look, and I too had to convince my hubby that once painted the “seen better days” candlesticks would have good days once again. Once I got them finished he admitted that he was really impressed with the way they turned out. Score! Two great looking candlesticks for a mere .25 cents!
rachael s says
I snagged a vintage frame a while back and turned it into a earring hook. You can see it here on my blog. http://www.ladybearcrafts.com/2010/02/perfectly-framed.html
I debating painting it and i still am, but i kind of like the tarnished metal look it has for now. :) It would look pretty awesome in a sunny yellow or teal too though!
Amanda @geekdetails says
I redid some candelabras the other day in a lovely sage green color. I also redid a round coffee table. It now has book pages (and love notes) under it’s glass top and a new sage green color (instead of beat up wood).
I love redoing thrift store finds. I’d say a good 60% of my house stuff is redone thrift.
GreenInOC says
I didn’t really make anything over (I don’t have the amazing vision that you two have!), but I did make good use of a couple of things…
Found the perfect vase for my dining table at Salvation Army but at $7 I thought it was too expensive. When I was making my other purchase, I found out that everything was 1/2 that day -score! Then I went home and ordered some teal dyed peacock feathers from Etsy for the vase. Total centerpiece cost: $8.50!
My other purchase that day was a white round ceramic piece divided in 1/2 and then 1/2 again on one side (3 sections), then I put my jewelry in it. $5!
kyla says
You did nothing to prime the brass? I have tried to spray paint brass lamps (found in my Mother’s attick) with no such results. Maybe the spray paint I am using? Have you had other success spray painting brass in the home? I am wanting to tackly my brass fireplace doors….Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kyla,
You can definitely use a spray primer just to be safe, but the Rust-Oleum stuff that we used lists “metal” as the list of things it can easily cover and it stuck to that brass like glue. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
I would have never thought to spray paint that! It looks fabulous! Great idea and thanks for sharing!!
Carshena says
This is so cute! Why didn’t I think of that.
Lisa in Seattle says
The shape of that little candelabra really makes the whole thing special! I never see anything that cute at thrift stores.
Between Michael’s and TJMaxx, I found four hideous brown ceramic candle holders (two for pillars and two for tapers) that looked like fake wood logs or stumps. I spraypainted them all gloss white and now have four beautiful faux bois candleholders (or, if I turn them upside down, vases).
Jenny says
Last year we were living in California, waiting out an escrow on a 100+ year old house in Oregon. One day, right before we moved, I found an old beat up vintage sewing table by the dumpsters at our condos. My boyfriend STILL makes fun of me for bringing it into the condo….but I painted it and it sits at our entryway now, with a plant, a blue bowl and a white fish-shaped plate on top…to hold our keys. Perfect!
Sarah says
So pretty! I see these things frequently at the thrift store, now I’m so inspired to buy one.
I’m always redoing thrift store finds, but one of my favorites was a brass lamp that I painted white and added a new shade from Target for a completely new look.
My blog post about the transformation:
http://room2think.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/dont-pass-on-brass/
Sarah W J says
SO fun!
love love love
simple, quick and cheap ways to add a little flair to the house…
GREAT find.
Taylor @ thehouseonpennylane says
Next time I visit the hardware store, I’m going to pick up some steel pipe and flanges to make some candlesticks a la curbly.com (sorry, I couldn’t find the link for it – that would have made this comment so much more interesting).
Here’s an image of it at least:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/curbly_uploads_production/photos/0000/0011/4982/pipecandlestick.jpg.jpg
Reenie says
I LOVE rust-oleum spray paint ~ the 2 x one….so good!!
Beth says
I thought you were going to spray paint it white at first but I LOVE that you chose a super sunny yellow. Looks great!! And I forsee a future Halloween costume for Clara as Belle with her sidekick Lumiere! Now all you need is Cogsworth!
Christine B says
I did the same thing with some single candle holders awhile ago. Mine are just white but I am planning on adding black candles for Halloween and because they are white I will be using them again at Christmas with to display fancy ornaments.
Sunny's Life in Rehab says
That turned out great, and I love the bright yellow!
And heck, there are times I feel all I ever do is spray paint stuff.
Sara says
Be our guest!
Great color, can’t wait to see it in situ.
Paige says
I’ve been on a picture frame painting kick. My local Goodwill always has a great selection of frames and mirros, so I’m able to searach by the size I need and fix the (usually hideous) color myself. I told a friend of mine about a great print I found there that was in a ghastly frame, and she goes, “Get a new frame!” and I said, “Get a new one? No way! I bought spray paint!”
Maky says
So I’m wondering… is this ‘fireproof’? The spray paint, I mean.
I absolutely LOVE the color, too! Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with decorating-wise!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Maky,
It’s definitely hot-wax-proof and heat-proof… although we wouldn’t recommend setting any candlestick on fire!
xo,
s
MelissaOklahoma says
Looks great! Can’t wait to see it in your seasonal fall decor!
Sarah@StyleandCentsability says
Love the bold yellow.
Check out my favorite yellow accent
http://styleandcentsability.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/diy-framed-bulletin-board/
Amanda says
Ok, I have to admit when I first saw this candlestick I wasn’t convinced either that it could ever be cute. However, it really turned out nice. Good eye! And, the color is awesome!
Lonely Wife Project says
You are ridiculously creative!
http://thelonelywifeproject.wordpress.com/
Elle says
Love it! It’ll make a great summer-time accent as well paired with some limes.
Mellissa says
LOVE this! Love, love, LOVE IT!
Did I mention that I love it?!
laura Durrer says
Just blogged about an Upcycled Candle Stick today!
http://www.oliveandlove.com/2010/09/upcycled-candle-holder.html
Livi says
I have a brass fireplace insert I cannot stand – could I spray paint it? Suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Livi,
Oh yeah, we did that with the one we have in our living room. It was brass and I gave it a quick coat of white spray paint. Worked like a charm. Just tape off the glass or use a straight razor to strip the paint off of it for a polished and clean look. And you can even hunt down heat resistant paint for even more durability!
xo,
s
Jen says
Are there different kinds of spray paints out there? If so, which is the best type for this kind of project?
THANKS!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jen,
We just recommend against getting the really cheap generic stuff (aim to spend 5-7 bucks instead of two, because there really is a quality difference). When it comes to what spray paint works best with what material (metal, wood, etc) just read the can and buy whatever seems best. Good luck!
xo,
s
kelly says
i did think of beauty and the beast but it is sooo cute, really bright and cheery!