Den
If you read my last update, you got to see the beautiful job Superman did on the bookshelf wall. In the last picture, you also got a sneak peek at the lighting I put together for the room. I always hated history class, but I love holding history in my hands and adding antique pieces to our decor. And, though we live in a young country, there is still a lot to learn and embrace.
I have likely mentioned it before, but our town has the cutest little antique shop, quite literally my favorite store. Every time I visit, I find something I want to add either to the house or the shop. At some point, I know I will have to stop going, but for now I am loving the finds! Anyway, I kept getting drawn in by the antique lanterns in the store, so one day I bought a couple. I had no real plans for them, but you never know.
In addition to antiques, I also love upcycling. I had previously found an antique yoke [at Goodwill of all places] which I knew I’d be using at some point, maybe over the mantle.
Then it hit me! The yoke can hold the lanterns and serve as a light fixture. Lucky for me, Amazon has all the niche objects you could ever dream of needing, so I was able to buy a 3 socket rope covered cord that fit the rustic look I was aiming for. All I had to do was dismantle the lanterns to attach the sockets and insert the bulbs, then reassemble them and attach them to the yoke, then hang the yoke from the ceiling and wire it all up. Another thing I had going for me was that my dad frequently repurposes corded things into hardwired ones, so the task was much less daunting than it sounds. I have seen it done, after all.
It worked out great! It isn’t overly bright, which is great for an ambient setting and the real feel of lantern light.
At some point, I may rewrap the cord, but you get the idea.
The den is really starting to come together! We still have a few quirky things, like finding those odd size antique register covers that got removed when the floor got covered in plywood, and reframing the windows after tearing out layers of wall. But for now, it’s on to the next room!
