Getting down and dirty with home renovations is nothing new to Walt and Morgan Cullen. Since buying their first home together in Austin, TX a little over a year ago, the two have amassed an impressive amount of DIY achievements - all documented on their charming and inspirational blog, CasaCullen.
This week the Cullen’s unveiled a recent dining room makeover that includes a jazzy update to the old-fashioned crystal chandelier they inherited from a previous homeowner. They loved the look of this Schonbek chandelier, but (like most of us) balked at its $5,000 price tag. So, armed with a few cans of spray paint, their insane eyes for detail and a whole lot of patience, the Cullens set out to transform their out-of-date light fixture from Gram-to-glam. When looking at the results, it’s hard to believe the final product was achieved for under $8.00!
Head over to CasaCullen to read their in-depth step-by-step on how they achieved this look, and take a scroll through their many adventures and anecdotes in home projects. I give special props to the Cullens for safely and effectively scraping off the popcorn ceilings in every room as they go along!
Images courtesy of CasaCullen
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absolutely gorgeous!
The chandelier is a great DIY, but I just hope they had their popcorn ceilings tested before scraping them down. I lived in a house that had asbestos in the popcorn ceilings - safe if left undisturbed, but definitely not something to remove yourself.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!! How unique! Love CasaCullen ideas.
I am impressed with the change and think it looks really nice in the space, especially with the beautiful gray walls, but I also am partial to the before picture, but I am guessing it's just the nature of the photos, I am sure in real life the after is way better. Nicely done.
Also, home body - the article says "safely and effectively," so I think they are okay, but I am sure they appreciate the concern.
Brilliant!
Amazing.
Great result! The 'after' is so much better.
It's beautiful, but the cutesy tone of the how-to made me want to strangle somebody. 'Hubby,' honestly, in 2011?
what an amazing center piece and talking point for any space, cant wait to try this!!
absolutely beautiful, I've been meaning to do a purple one but I haven't had the time to buy the actual chandelier yet!
This is beautiful! I love the way it pops with the room color! Amazing piece!
Looks so great! I have been planning to do the rustoleum makeover on a light fixture we inherited with our house, but I have been a little worried about whether the paint is combustible - those little "candlesticks" get hot! Does anyone know about this?
I love it! It's a beautiful way to modernize a chandelier that was definitely pretty but needed some updating. And for $8?? That's genius! Well done Casa Cullen.
I think the before was fine but I dig the black as well. Gives me some ideas. :)
I love the idea, but I too would have preferred the before-one.
But still creds for the amazing idea.
Dandel -
On a surface that gets hot, use (light or dark) Auto Primer first, under a high temperature spray paint, such as Radiator paint. It's recommended to use the same brand (Rustoleum makes both) for both so there are no little incompatibilities.
Gorgeous transformation!
Love it!
I would have painted it white
Stellar makeover and what an adorable blog they have!
I love the makeover and I love the blog! I found them around the time they started it. So glad to see my other DIY blog (AT) find them too! Their projects are inspirational and affordable. I even tried their framed fabric art and they used one of my images! http://www.casacullen.com/2010/04/decorate-creative-ideas-for-easy-framed-fabric-decor-.html
They are a cool couple with cool ideas and a super cute pup. :)
http://www.taliashewrote.com
Love this makeover! WOW! And I agree with others as well that I LOVE the casacullen blog. So many inspirational ideas that are affordable and easy to do! I love that I can just hop online to casacullen and know that I'll be inspired to break out the "DIY" around my house as whatever seeds of creativity that I have, (even if they're tiny!) they will for sure begin to grow! It's awesome to realize that great style is realistic and not found JUST in magazines. Thanks casacullen!
Oh Wow! i really like the dark paint, it refocuses on the crystal and lights! Great job and great blog!
Now this I can appreciate! Nothing "wrong" with the before though it's very traditional. The after makes it fresh, fun and more modern.
Too Cool! I LOVE the black and I think I would have LOVED the yellow too!! Brings a whole new look to something that can look so...like something my grandmother would have had!!! Way tres chic! I love the CASACULLEN blog...she posts a lot of affordable ideas!! Thanks for showing what can be done!!!
I like both the before and after. I disagree that the before was "outdated."
This makes a very traditional chandelier completely contemporary. Love the look of black with the crystal! This seemed painstaking but for $8 what a DEAL!!! I'm impressed!
I would have painted the 'brass' only, not any of the crystal/glass.
Awesome! Sooo much better in black! Good call on painting the ENTIRE piece (including some of the crystal/glass). Totally inspirational.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU everyone for all the awesome comments! We are so happy this DIY has inspired some of you. We're humbled/honored to be featured on AT, indeed! We are thrilled with the 'after' and keep pinching ourselves because of how well it turned out, in our eyes! Thanks, Morgan @ CasaCullen
I think the chandler looks amazing, love the black against the new wall color. And I have to say I admire that you two tackled this job together, I find it wonderful that even after hours of hard work and nimble fingers you can still be so sweet to one another. Keep up the amazing home improvements and keep us informed of them!
The black offers a much better contrast to the crystal, and painting all of the brass and the white plastic creates a more cohesive look. It's a very nice transformation!
I would have voted for the yellow with you Morgan - but the black looks tres chic -- way to go!!!
LOVE this blog--Morgan is full of amazing, clever ideas. What a vision! I think this post reminds us that we don't always have to spend more to get more--well done Casa Cullen! xoxo
FAB! i have a chandelier just like that sitting in the garage, and i want to paint it and hang that baby up :)