Looks like I’ve once again been roped into one of Sherry’s schemes: her “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge (yes, the “dude” applies to me too). The idea is simple — actually do something with items we’ve been hoarding in the spare room. It’s a use-it-or-donate-it challenge. This week’s project was a light fixture we rescued from a thrift store in Delaware almost a year ago for just $19. It had been sitting on the playroom floor ever since, and it was definitely time to let it shine.
The fixture is made of some kind of resin and looks like a big glowing ball of clear spaghetti in a cool, slightly ’70s way. We later learned from a savvy reader that it’s called a spaghetti lamp and is made of spun lucite. Our original plan back in February 2011 was to strip the gold finish and hang it in the master bathroom nook. Fast-forward to today, and plans shifted: we decided to give it a new home in our closet instead.
The closet felt like the smarter choice for two reasons. First, the bathroom nook is visible from the bedroom and we worried this large round fixture might compete with the other big round fixture in the room. Second, the closet’s bare bulb was basically Yawn City — it needed personality and better light. The new fixture brings both.
We love using what we already own and upgrading that sad, naked ceiling bulb. Installation was straightforward: we cut the plug off and exposed the wires to hardwire the fixture. We bought a kit at Home Depot to attach the chain to a crossbar, and tracked down a canopy at a specialty lighting store that fit. We left the gold finish as-is — since it’s in the closet, it doesn’t have to match the rest of the room, and the retro gold look felt right. We can always paint it later if we feel like it.
The lamp casts wonderful streaks of light across the walls and ceiling, like little party streamers. The texture and glow are more impressive in person than in photos. One day Sherry might make a short video because it does look so much better in motion. We chose the hanging height by standing under the fixture while Sherry adjusted it; it ended up hanging about 6’4″ from the floor in our 8′ ceiling space, which gives enough headroom.
While the light was the spark for this project, the closet needed some other attention too. When you last saw our closet a few months after we moved in, it was clean and organized. Over time it had become a little derailed — and a certain chihuahua played a role in that. Moving Burger’s crate into our closet displaced our laundry basket and shuffled things around. Clara, our toddler, has a habit of getting into Burger’s food and water, so we relocated the crate to the master closet where she doesn’t go often. Burger prefers small, tucked-away spaces, so the closet turned out to be an ideal spot for him.
On my side of the closet there was a shoe rack left by the previous owners that I didn’t really use. I’m pretty simple about shoes: one pair of brown, one pair of black, plus flip-flops and sneakers in the shoe bins by the door. Sherry, on the other hand, has more shoes than either of us needs. After a little teamwork (and Sherry’s encouragement), I removed the shoe rack. We shortened the two long shelves by about 14 inches and reassembled the rack into a smaller version that fits my modest collection. The reduced rack freed up corner space for Burger’s crate, and everything felt more purposeful after that quick tweak.
Since this post has a little personality, let’s pretend Burger gives the tour for a moment:
“Welcome to my bedroom, people of the internet! Here you will find my crate tucked away and a clothing receptacle nearby. Apparently humans prefer their laundry closer than their beloved canine, but I don’t mind — I get more privacy back here in the master suite. See me in the back? That’s my spot. Right next to my sleeping chambers are the dining facilities. Yes, I live the life.”
Back to reality: Clara does like to get into Burger’s food. Sometimes she swirls each kibble in his water dish first, which is messy but not the end of the world. The closet rearrange solved that problem by keeping his supplies out of reach.
It’s a little sad the lamp sat in a pile for almost a year, but it’s wonderful to have it hanging and working now. We even had extra chain from the fixture, and that found a second life in another little domestic adventure. All in all, this small project upgraded a dull light, reclaimed closet space, and made our day-to-day routine a bit better. Have you crossed anything off your own “Dude, Get On That Already” list lately? Whether it’s reorganizing a closet or finally installing a fixture, small wins like this feel great.