Dress This Mess > A Lamp With Some Substance!

Have you ever had one of those Oprah "Aaha" moments where you think: "If only we could..." And then you do, and life changes forever as, you and Oprah, soar up over a rainbow in a hot air balloon called success?

No?

Well something a little bit like that happened with this vase
- but without the fabulous Ms. "O":

My wonderful Auntie enlisted me, and my somewhat creative brain (more like I begged her to let me help...) in redecorating her great room; which includes her living room, dining room, and entryway.

Two of most important things that she wanted in her redesigned space was, more of a contemporary feel and color. Words I love to hear!  She picked out a beautiful palette of peacock blue, apple green, creamy ivory, black, and bronze-y brown. 

The first space we worked on was the entryway. She had found a gorgeous granite topped console table, which we wasted no time accessorizing with some great finds from Pier One and TJ Maxx (aka - my second home). But then came the dilemma. It had no wow factor.  

While the entryway area was looking very chic and sophisticated, it was also looking very beige. Don't get me wrong, I love me a little beige, especially framed with a crisp white. But too much of it and your eyes start to lose interest, kinda like a pretty face with no personality. This console needed some vibrancy, a little something that would have you coming back for a second glance. Unfortunately, the piece that had the pop of color we needed was a ceramic vase, that crowded the whole table when added in with the other pieces.  Boo Hoo.

Then came the "Aaha" moment (bet you were wondering where that was coming in...) I complained that what the table really needed was a lamp, only in the same color as the vase. Then Auntie brilliantly asked, "Couldn't we turn the vase into a lamp?"

**BING!**

Why couldn't we turn the vase into a fabulous lamp, and why does she need my help, when clearly there are a bunch of amazing ideas floating around in that cute head of hers?! And that's what we did. (the DIY'ing of the lamp. Not the getting rid of me part.)

Using a old lamp kit she had laying around in the garage, a carbide drill bit to drill a hole in the back for the cord, and her hubby's skillz, we made this:

into this!

And then Oprah ran through the front door, and gave both of us free cars!! Oookay - she didn't, but we were giving each other Oprah sized high -fives, over our new custom made lamp.

Isn't it just fabulous? Pretty, but with substance. Just what Auntie's entryway needed!

Look around your garage. You never know, you just might find a great potential lamp in all that mess!

~Angela

P.S. No one tell Oprah I used her catch phrase!