Asked on Oct 23, 2015

70s lamp makeover?

Lauragan
by Lauragan
I was gifted this (in my opinion) pretty ugly lotus flower lamp a few years ago. When we rehabbed our house, it was one of the first things we took over there because we didn't really care if it got gross in the process. Turns out, the thing is a powerful beast lit up! It would be perfect in my sewing room if I didn't hate the way it looked. I know some people love this stuff, but it's not my style so you probably won't talk me into it! I was thinking a coat of oil rubbed bronze would cover the brass that I dislike so much, but I'm not really sure what to do about those shades. I don't think I want to makeover the glass shades, I am leaning toward replacing them all together. The bulbs are standard size, and the petal shades screw on to the base. Most basic "accessory" size lamp shades I've seen are the ones that clip on to the tiny lightbulb, but replacement shades would definitely need to be on the small size. Help!
Not my actual lamp, one I pulled from the interwebs on a search.
  11 answers
  • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Oct 23, 2015
    @lauragan Sighhhhhhhhh....... I wish it were mine, I <3 it.
  • Z Z on Oct 23, 2015
    Sell it to someone who loves it and use what you get to buy something you love.
  • Mandy Mandy on Oct 23, 2015
    I would paint it all one color minus the glass panels and invert it to make a hanging lamp instead of a floor lamp. I would use chains to support the weight. Just a thought!!
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 23, 2015
    I think that since you dislike the piece so much its not worth it to invest any money. Why not use the money you were going to use to repurpose the lamp and buy something you do like.
    • See 1 previous
    • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 28, 2015
      @Lauragan So are you saying you would like some ideas to help you recreate the piece?
  • Inez Holloway Inez Holloway on Oct 23, 2015
    I love it! Different things for different people. I would suggest selling it to me and buy a good lamp from a sewing store for your purpose. It will take a lot of work and cash to make what you need. I have several for sewing I hate to let go.
  • CK CK on Oct 23, 2015
    I concur with others here. Sell it and use the money to buy a good sewing lamp. There are 70's aficionados out there who'd love to have this lamp. If you really dislike it, there's really not much you can do to make it over.....well, yes there are things you can do but the cost will outweigh the end product which starts from something you don't like ;-)
    • Lauragan Lauragan on Oct 28, 2015
      @CK Here's the thing: I love the light the lamp produces, and the general shape of it. Some of the glass petals are broken, so it's not worth much to anyone. Most of the stuff in our house was ugly at one point before we got our hands on it! We like doing projects together to make it our own.
  • Clf626 Clf626 on Oct 24, 2015
    If you totally dislike the style, get rid of it. But it CAN be made to look really cute. Here are some examples... http://littlewingfaerieart.com/products/14303346-rosy-lotus-silk-flower-lamp And if you want to get rid of it, let me know, I'll buy it and repurpose it for my granddaughter's room. 😄
  • Debbie Rahemba Debbie Rahemba on Oct 25, 2015
    I like Inez Holloway's answer best! :)
  • MaryJane MaryJane on Oct 25, 2015
    I'm selling one of these on ebay. But if it doesn't sell my thought was to use stain glass paint and paint glass in an ombre effect. And spray paint the stem in a brush nickle. I think it is a conversational piece. It would get Oo's and Ah's. And be your own one of a kind art project. Hmm. Maybe I'll take it off ebay and do just that.
    • Lauragan Lauragan on Oct 28, 2015
      Yes! I love the ombre idea. If I ever get around to it, I will show you pics of the completed project.
  • Nancy Nancy on Oct 27, 2015
    round painted string balls made with glue and balloon or funky paper shades at Ikea.
  • Melanie Melanie on Oct 30, 2015
    I don't care for it. In order for me to repurpose, rehab, redo, whatever I, have to consider how much effort it is going to take. If I have to spend a lot o.f energy and or resources to produce an item that I can use but not love then its not worth it. Get something I truly love..