Dear AT,
I just recently purchased a timber loft with 14 foot ceilings. It currently has ugly suspended track lighting which I want to replace. I would like to try a DIY version of hanging lightbulbs.
I want to buy some sockets and cords to replicate this lighting style (in picture) and hang them from the timbers. Where can I go to find cheap materials in Chicago or online?
Thanks!
Vanessa
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Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
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Dear Vanessa,
One of our house tours last year, Andreas' Greektown Loft, showed a DIY hanging lightbulb project that Andreas did himself (pictured above). He mentioned that he just went to his local hardware store for all of the stuff. Our favorite store for any project is Clark-Devon Hardware, a place we have had great experiences in terms of selection, service, and price.
We pulled up our 2006 "Best of Chicago" nominations for resources for DIY projects, and there are several others you may want to check out. See the final votes here.
Anyone else have THE spot for cheap materials for Vanessa's lightbulb project?
www.1000bulbs.com
Literally, thousands of bulbs and lighting accessories at cheap prices.
Ikea has pre-built cords for $3.99: http://tinyurl.com/e95lq
i've gotten the ones pictured at the top at Urban Outfitters, though they were on clearance at the time, so may no longer be available. about $5 each and add your favorite bulb.
I always have trouble getting the cords to hang perfectly straight... they always look a little wobbly to me, or show where they were bent in their original wrapping. Anyone have any solutions?
I buy heavy duty (outdoor type) extension cords and cut them up into whatever lengths I need before attaching the socket and/or plug. The bonus is that extension cord comes in lots of colors and is cheap.
Remember that if you're planning on putting up more than a few lights, you'll want to use very low wattage bulbs or you can easily overload the circuit.
A standard, 15 amp household circuit can safely carry a total of 1440 watts (assuming the other technicalities of the wiring are in order), and a typical lighting circuit, particularly in older construction, would have at least couple of rooms worth of devices (fixtures) on it.
L, you can try heating the cords a bit with a hair dryer and then tugging them straight. Just be careful not to get them too hot.