Hello fabulous friends!! Today I’m back sharing what I did with one of the two lamps in my Winter Thrift Store Haul, and it was the perfect piece to show how to wet distress and highlight all those pretty details!
I had a special request to use the color Antebellum by Dixie Belle on something, and I too wanted to try it out.
I thought this lamp was the perfect piece to use it on:
This was $5.25 and of course, I was drawn to the glass bauble in it! (Turns out, it’s actually plastic.)
Prepare to be dazzled…
This color is a deep teal. It’s kind of a moody color and Falls outside my normal light and breezy color palette, but it was nice stepping outside my norm for a change.
I could see this color on bedroom furniture paired with bright white bedding and white curtains.
It only took one coat of Antebellum for full coverage on this lamp:
Instead of sanding to let some of those pretty gold accents show through, I chose to wet distress.
How to Wet Distress
When my lamp was just barely dry, I dipped a cloth in water and rubbed it across all the areas I wanted to the gold to show through:
The sooner you wet distress the better or it will be harder to remove the paint. I chose to wet distress instead because sanding likely would have taken the finish down to what is beneath the gold, which is probably a white/gray color. Not a good look!
When I was finished distressing in all the right places, I sealed with Dixie Belle’s clear wax. (I was afraid the clear coat would pool in the crevices.) You could use a clear matte spray sealer too.
Painting this lamp really highlighted all the pretty parts…
It even makes the plastic bauble look better!
There was no finial or shade with this lamp when I found it, but I had a huge finial in my stash that worked perfectly! I found it when I had pulled over one day to check out a floor lamp someone had left on the curb. The neck was snapped so it wasn’t salvageable, but I grabbed the finial off of it and I’m so glad I did!
I sprayed it in gold first:
Then I painted it in the Antebellum and wet distressed it also.
It is perfect paired with this lamp!
And the shade? I found that at HomeGoods. They are the first place I check when I need a shade if I don’t already have one in my stash that will work. This huge shade was just $16, and the gold accents made it a fun choice for this lamp.
This was definitely out of my norm, but it’s fun to step outside the box sometimes! I hope you enjoyed seeing this color on something, Gloria! 😀
Wet distressing is the perfect way to enhance all those pretty details, and it works great for frames as well!
Another project done woot woot!
If you missed anything so far, you an catch up below:
$5 Thrift Store Chest Makeover
I hope you all have an awesome weekend and I’ll see you back here on Tuesday with my Trash-to-Treasure girls. I’ll be sharing this Windsor chair and something else I paired it with:
UPDATE: See what this chair looks like now and check out what I redid to go with it HERE now!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Email * Instagram * Facebook * Pinterest * Twitter
Petra says
Good job and that shade really quite suits it 😀
Christy says
Thank you, Petra! Funny thing…I saw this shade at HomeGoods and thought how pretty it was, but left it behind. Then two days later as I was working on this lamp, I thought of that shade and how perfect it would be…I stopped what I was doing and immediately left for HomeGoods hoping it would still be there lol. Luckily, it was! XOXO
Shirley Freeman says
Love the color, great job
Christy says
Thank you, Shirley!! XOXO
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
Another well done project! Love the color.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Rose! This color is very elegant! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Wow it is beautiful now, what a transformation! I love how that turned out. What a beautiful color that is! That is pretty cheap for a lamp shade, next time I need one I am going to Home goods. Lamps have become so expensive to buy now, I love how thrifty you are and how beautiful this one turned out!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Mary! Yes…HomeGoods is a great resource for shades. They don’t have a ton, but almost always have something I can use a great price. I saw this shade a couple days before I started working on this lamp and ended up going back for it. And I agree, lamps are getting very expensive! XOXO
Char Fisher says
Love what you did with the lamp! Fabulous! The color is pretty and the gold peeking through is beautiful. Plus I love the shade you chose! Great job as usual!!!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Char! I’m so happy I got to try this pretty color on something finally! XOXO
Pam Walsh says
Love the new look for the lamp!!!! Have a great weekend !
Christy says
Thanks so much, Pam! You too! XOXO
Rosie says
Beautiful as usual! Love the choice in colour 😊
Christy says
Thank you, Rosie! It was really fun to try a new color!! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Christy this lamp turned out beautifully!! Wow!! Did you have to take it all apart to not get paint on the bauble or just tape it off? Gorgeous outcome and the finial is perfect. 🙂 The wet distressing you did is just the ticket!
Have a great weekend!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Christina! I actually didn’t even tape off the bauble since I used a smaller brush. And you just made me realize I spelled it wrong lol! (Thank you, friend!) I was thrilled to finally use that finial I’ve been hanging onto for years! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Such a pretty lamp now. Not sure the color is for me but it is pretty. Always look forward to Tues and Thurs.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! I enjoy lighter hues as well, but this was a fun change for sure! XOXO
Margie says
What a great accent color & love the gold peeking through.
Christy says
Thank you, Margie! The gold really works with this pretty color! XOXO
Jo-Ann says
Another perfectly lovely project. I love the Antebellum color, hope you use it again on a future project.
Christy says
Thank you, Jo-Ann! I might have to use it on a piece of furniture now! XOXO
ELIZA mapleson says
Great improvement
Christy says
Thank you, Eliza! XOXO
Sandra D Camp says
OMGOSH! I ‘m so lovin’ this lamp, thanks for sharing your inspiration with all of us!
Christy says
Thank you, Sandra! It is always a pleasure to share! XOXO
gwen says
i’m always in love with the items you choose and then their makeovers too! love this color!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Gwen! XOXO
Betty Bilnoski says
Love it!
I have 2 “Vintage” lamps that are turquoise & gold with gold leaves at the bottom. They’ve been in my attic since I inherited them in 2002. Maybe now I can attempt a makeover.
Christy says
Thanks, Betty! I think what you suggested in your email will be great! XOXO
Laura says
As always, the lamp is a hit. You have an amazing knack for choosing colors and pulling it all together. I am a novice at all diy but you really inspire me. My daughter and I are about to do over a veneer cabinet in midnight blue with white overlays and gold handles. Wish us luck.
Christy says
Aww thanks, Laura! I really appreciate that! What beautiful choices for your cabinet…I know you will do fantastic, but wishing you good luck! XOXO
Cindy D says
Oh my goodness Christy. You are so right. I was absolutely dazzled. What a gorgeous color. And that bobble….who cares if it was plastic, right? You made it look delicious. Great job. You just inspired me. <3
Christy says
Aww yay! Thank you so much, Cindy! XOXO
sharon austin says
My color palette is all over the place from pastels to dark rich colors including TEAL. So is it any surprise I love this lamp?!
Christy says
I’m so glad you like this one, Sharon! This is such a rich, elegant color! XOXO
Cynthia says
I normally paint in white and grays, but that is an awesome color.
Cynthia
Christy says
Me too, Cynthia! I had fun trying this one out though! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
What a great look! I never think about painting lamps. I was sure you had gilded all the little details – but of course you did the more sensible thing! It’s nice to have something dark and moody in a room filled with light coastal decor. I predict this one’s not going to last long in the booth.
Christy says
Thanks, Marcie! Funny…I had planned to guild the details originally, but then I didn’t need too lol! It’s already in the booth and even if it takes a while to sell, I love having the extra lighting it provides for my booth! XOXO
Tia Hunt says
That blue is gorgeous!
Christy says
Yes! So elegant! 🙂 XO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! This is so not you. I love you for you. The lamp is pretty but you know you are going to repaint now. Right? Another good way to distress is using baby wipes. Good find on the finial. I laughed when i read how you left the lamp but found the finial. It is good to step out of your norm but you remember why you have so many followers. 🙂
Christy says
I had a request to use this color on something. I knew what I was doing when I chose to try it out on a lamp. If it takes a while to sell, that’s great because in the meantime, it will offer my booth very much-needed lighting! It’s actually already there doing its job very well lol! You know me well though, it really isn’t me, but I so enjoyed painting something that only took one coat! All my lighter pieces are so much more work ha ha! XOXO
Anita says
I absolutely love the lamp! I’m all about the eclectic look and try to avoid the matchy-matchy, which is why I love the unique and one-of-a-kind look of this lamp. I love all your work — you are my favourite blogger — but this departure from your usual aesthetic is spot on. Great job!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Anita! I truly appreciate that! it was fun to step outside of the box a bit on this one, and it is one-of-a-kind! XOXO
Linda C Johnston says
I just have to comment and tell you, girl, you knocked this out of the park and I don’t “do” blue!!!!! I love everything you redo, but this just stopped me dead in my tracks! This is stunning, simply stunning. If I were to hunt a similar lampshade, I can tell you I would never find it! lol IMHO, the shade completes the look perfectly.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Linda!! I actually saw this shade on a previous trip into HomeGoods but left it behind. A couple days later as I was working in this lamp, I remembered that shade and thought it would be perfect…luckily, it was still there! I agree, it really completes this lamp! XOXO
Cheryl W says
Everything is excellent – color, distressing, shade, the works! I’m a wet distressing lover and will always do that over sanding if possible. I can live without the dust.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Cheryl! Wet distressing is definitely the way to go on these pieces! XOXO
Terry Moore says
So fun and so beautiful. I love a good update! I must say, I am so pleased with the fabulous coverage Dixie Belle paint has even with the first coat! I have had so much fun using my winning paint. I will send you a photo soon.
Christy says
Thanks, Terry! I’m so glad you like the paint…it is wonderful! Can’t wait to see! XOXO
Shaun says
Nice to see colour! I just bought this colour! Love it!
Christy says
Oh yay! It is so lovely!! XOXO
Ashley says
Beautiful lamp!👏🏻 #inspiration
Christy says
Thank you, Ashley!! XOXO
Gloria Wyssbrod says
Thank you Christy!
The lamp is beautiful and I do like that color. I am going to definitely try it but on a piece of furniture I have.
Thank you again. Gloria
Christy says
You’re welcome, Gloria! Thanks for pushing me to try it out! It is a beautiful color! XOXO
Lori says
Christy, this color is really beautiful. I am going to paint a lamp soon and I might just buy this color. You did a wonderful job. Thanks.
Christy says
Thank you, Lori! It is such an elegant color! XOXO
Kathy says
Love love it…need more out of your norm..
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Kathy! XOXO
Robyn Wright says
Very pretty!
Christy says
Thanks, Robyn! XOXO
Becky says
Beautiful! That color isn’t far off from the color of my front door, and I love it!
Christy says
Ooh I bet your front door is gorgeous!! Thanks, Becky! XOXO
Marian says
I was shocked by the color at first, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. I like the way you wet distressed the lamp. I am going to try this on something. Do you think this works better on metal than wood? You always have a good eye. Thank you.
Christy says
I’m so glad it grew on you ha ha! It really is a pretty color. I think you could use this method on anything, but you can’t wait too long after the paint dries or it will be more difficult to rub off. I like it for detailed pieces like this that I don’t want to take down too far past the gold underneath. XOXO
Naomi Shelton says
This makeover is gorgeous, Christy! And I love the Antebellum color. I’m trying to think what I have that I could try it out on. What do you think about using it for a jewelry box up-date? I have two or three that I’ve been intending to re-do.
Christy says
Thank you, Naomi! This would be gorgeous on a jewelry box!! XOXO
Phyllis says
I must admit that when you first mentioned the lamp wouldn’t be white, I was disappointed. I can remember the rooster lamp and the candlesticks (oh those candlesticks), so delicious in white. However, as usual, you never disappoint. The lamp is beautiful and the shade is beautiful as well. You tore at my heartstrings when you told of rescuing the curb side finial. You go girl!
Christy says
Thank you! You are a girl after my own heart, Phyllis! You know I would paint everything white if I could! I had a request to use this color on something so I chose the lamp. I was pleasantly surprised at how pretty this color is on it! I was bummed that the roadside lamp was broken, but so glad now that I salvaged the finial…it was just perfect for this lamp! XOXO
Karen A Cronk says
Love the color Antebellum, and now I know about wet distressing plus how to do it! Lamp looks great!
Christy says
Thank you, Karen! XOXO
Carroll Xavier says
You make it look so easy! Thank you for all the inspiring, wonderful ideas…quite a few of your recent projects are ones I’ll be tackling at home, too, so I have your tips and demos to use. Can’t wait to see how you transform the oar…that one would have me stumped 🙂
Christy says
Aww you are so welcome, Carol! I’m still deciding what will become of that oar ha ha! XOXO
Glenda Hood says
Beautiful job. Do you know when you’ll work on the glass lamp posted in picture?
Christy says
Thank you, Glenda! I have actually already done that lamp and now I am just looking for a replacement shade, so very soon! I think you’ll be surprised to see what I did with it! 🙂
Wendy says
I really love the color of the lamp Christie. A Gorgeous Blue. Thanks for sharing.
Christy says
Thanks, Wendy! This is a really pretty color. I’d love to try it on something bigger! XOXO
jd says
LOVE IT!!!! LOVE THE PAINT COLOR!!!!
i always paint all of my lamps white and distress back to brass. i also rip the fabric off of my shades and paint/distress those for a deconstructed look.
i have 2 lamps that i am adding a vintage label transfer too and had been searching high and low for the lampshades– Home Goods to the rescue!! i had never thought of them for shades but great price!!!
as always, love your flips 🙂
Christy says
Thank you so much, JD! I love the idea of doing a deconstructed look on the shades! The shades that come with the lamps are usually not in the best shape, so I love that. Yes, HomeGoods doesn’t have a ton, but I can usually find something that will work! XOXO
Shirley says
I sure wish my color pallet was antebellum because I’d buy this in a quick minute! First off, I was in shock to see this color in your stash…lol! When I got my first look at this I was also in shock..breathtakingly, stunningly, drop dead gorgeous! I have my collection of lamps (I buy them all the time!) and when I am ready I know this will be a color I use. I’ve been to this page at least 10 times just to look at it again and again because I am so in love with it! I would like to know, did you paint the lamp gold first? You couldn’t have picked a more perfect shade for this. Did this sell quickly? Also, in the first photo with the makeover lamp, about those picture frames…were those painted? They look gorgeous with the lamp!
Christy says
I am so glad you enjoyed this one, Shirley! Thank you! It is definitely out of my normal color palette, but I loved it so much when it came out that I ordered a small jar. Then I had a request to use this color on something and this lamp was perfect! It is still for sale in my booth at the moment, and that is the original color peeking through. I didn’t base coat it at all. The frames are thrift store frames, also in their original gold hues. I hope you get a chance to try Antebellum on something soon…it really is just lovely! XOXO