If you don't like it, I'd say list it on Craigslist. Someone will buy it for sure.

A few coats of paint color and frost/etch the glass

Does it come apart at all? I might be inclined to use "spray frosted glass" on the glass panels and paint the wooden sections. Can't go wrong with white satin spray paint.

Hmm I don't mind the shape of it myself. You could consider staining the wood or painting it and leaving the brass, or stain/paint the wood and paint the brass as well. You could do some neat colour combinations if you were to stain the wood darker and then paint the brass or if you painted the wood and brass a different colour (or the same if you want to blend the elements more)

Otherwise cragislist it, just make sure you price it properly if you want to get rid of it quickly.

The frosted glass is a good idea

If it comes apart, or you can are able to protect the wood, maybe you can change the color from gold to silver? The gold to me is what is making this "dated", but the wood seems like a nice accent.

I like the frost recommendations - I also like high-gloss white paint on the wood and matte black on the metal.

Oh - and swap the bulbs for white ones and update the chain... or just buy a new fixture :)

I would take off the glass inserts entirely and use the structure that is already there to add a drum shade.

I would then cover all remaining surfaces (aside from lightbulbs) with matte black paint.

Its so cool and mid-century. Look online at mid century fixtures and see if you are inspired to alter it at all. Its pretty cool the way it is already though. I know a lot of LA people who would love it in their homes.

I agree with ElectricKatie
Take off the glass and spray paint it a color that you like- something that will go well in your room-
Then replace the glass with a crisp modern white drum shade.
If you read Young House Love I think it could look similar to what they did with the chandelier in their office.

Remove it and install exactly what you want to see there. Sell on CL or donate this one to the ReStore. If you were inclined to modify it, I think you would have done so without asking AT. And this fixture is (or will be) right up someone's alley as it exists now ... so I recommend you sell or donate it.

spray the brass matte black, then decide if you want to spray the wood black too

There was an AT post on this in the past.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/how-to/good-question-revisited-solution-for-the-ugly-pendant-lamp-020414

Also if you type in "diy pendant" in AT's search bar lots of previous, related posts come up.

make a faux stained glass lamp ! that is what I did with mine! http://crafturday.blogspot.com/2011/09/faux-stained-glass-geek-lamp-revamp.html paint the wood, spraypaint the brass and voila!

i agree with others the shape is really cool, but the finishes are pretty dated. if you dont like it you have nothing to loose in painting it. The paint+frosted glass sounds like a good idea.

Some hipster / MCM fan will think it's great and give you money for that dated thing. Spend your time writing the craigslist ad to appeal to them rather than wasting time "updating" it.

Dust the light bulbs and get rid of it.

If you have the storage space, replace it and keep the old one for a day you or a future occupant might want to restore it. Think of all the gorgeous antique and midcentury items that have been ruined by the quick fix when they weren't in style...

Don't screw it up with an ill planned DIY. Take it down, store it in the attic, and maybe someone would like to have it when you sell your house as an ORIGINAL FIXTURE.

It's a shame to paint, spray or whatever else people have suggested when there are people out there who collect era lighting and you could probably get a nice price for it. EBay for that, not Craig's List, those people are members of the Bird family, cheap cheap cheap!

If you can get a collector to buy it on Ebay, awesome (though I doubt that someone would want it as an "original fixture" when buying your house). I wouldn't be afraid to highlight the structure of the piece using bright red spray paint, or you could go with a softer affect using aquamarine paint and lining the glass portions with a pretty patterned paper.

I had that same EXACT fixture in my apartment 20 years ago (well, my parents apartment... so I don't sound so old). The managers let them swap it out for a ceiling fan and we put it back when we moved.

Take the cover off - it must screw together somehow - and put a cylindrical shade on the central bit. Or get rid of it.

Alternatively you could put it in a box in the attic for someone to find in 100 years and think it's fantastic.

100 years? Maybe 15 at the rate we're going.

I vote no on the DIY. Save up for something you really like, and put this one in the attic as suggested, or just let it go.

I love a good DIY project, but sometimes we're all just a half-assed coat of spray paint away from disaster.

My vote is to put it away in the attic.

We live in a much older home and would have loved if all the original light fixtures were tucked in the attic.

I think it's pretty cool. If you'd like to save it (might as well give it a try!) I'd paint the wood, frost the glass in a pattern. Depending on what color paint you used you may be able to keep the gold without spray painting it. You may even be able to replace the glass with some handmade fabric panels. Looks like it's in good shape, I'm sure you could sell it since it's looks pretty modern! Wouldn't give it away for a low price.

I always recommend spray paint. It's my favorite way to update, well, anything.

I think you should keep it as is and tuck it away. I'll bet you'll warm to it in a few years. :)

"I love a good DIY project, but sometimes we're all just a half-assed coat of spray paint away from disaster."
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Best AT comment ever. And so true!

Dust and donate. Someone will love it as is and use it in a way that makes sense.

But if you want to keep it, I think it would look better on a longer chain like some sort of 70s hanging light fixture (which it is, I guess, but I mean hanging lower next to a couch or armchair or over a dining table.)

It was cheap looking in the 70's and time has not been kind.

If you don't like it, donate it to Habitat for Humanity ReStore. You also might find a nice replacement there. Your donations and purchases at the ReStore help people in need.

It is SO NOT cool and mid century, it's hideous. Get rid of it.

its a nice piece...someone who loves it would be glad it take it off your hands..and you can go for what u like...and its sad to see hate comments here ..what is wrong with any style or piece at all...there is an audience for every style and era. isnt it

btw, if u live any where in atl..i can take it from you..:)

That is one energy hog you have there. There was no such thing as Energy Star in the '60s.

I moved into a '60s condo two years ago. All the fixtures were original. There were 1,050 watts of lights in the bath. No kidding.

When I replaced all four of my light fixtures, my electric bill took a dive, like in half. I was shocked it could make such a difference. That alone is enough to get rid of old light fixtures in my book.

I think if you changed the inner workings, rather than the outside, it would look really neat. So change to a simple bulb in the middle, or a cluster of bulbs, maybe. Then I would change the length of the chain as well. Make the light hang a little lower and that might make it a little bit more contemporary.

I actually really like it, even though its completely unlike anything else I like. I would agree with many of the above posters in saying that it would be a great shame to try to revamp and update this great original feature.

I say update it with a paint job!!! It has REALLY great lines and most of those finishes could easily be redone again if someone (or yourself) decided they wanted it back to "it's original glory". I'd take the brass and wood and spray them the Oiled Bronze spray paint by Krylon and then the glass would become the ever so popular faux mercury glass that I've been seeing everywhere as DIY lately!!!

It's very Brady Bunch. Someone will want it as-is.

is your house from the 60s/70s? if so, get to know the era and the architecture. might just make you like that light. there is nothing inherently wrong or un-pretty about it. hey, AT, stop calling things "dated" in your headlines. EVERYTHING is dated.

The only thing I'd do to it is a faux stained glass pattern. With the pretty light effects, no one would notice the fixture.

It also has the wrong kind of bulbs. It's designed for those candle flamed jobs. Frosted, not clear, to reduce glare.

I'm a DIY lover. I'm pretty much hating all of these DIY suggestions. Just get rid of it if you don't like it, it's kind of growing on me.

Modge Podge on some book pages or music sheets ... I salvaged a lamp from a house for this and it looks great!!