apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I don't see the difference between the first and second pics. I assume the first one is yours and the second one is "how it should be," but they look the same to me!

julia b

the first pic is in daylight, the second is at night...they are the same

the 'original' she copied is huge and made from fluffy ostrich feathers

LOVE the fireplace surround. Totally cool!

I think you did an ok job on the feather light too. I'd be nervous about having flammables next to light source, but I have plastic, paper, and cloth lampshades, and they would be flammable too.

If you get tired of the feather light, then do something really wacky with the shade, and put in battery LED lights inside this and then cover with the shade:
http://www.gagworks.com/Product.aspx?pid=237&catid=27

Since your home looks so lovely, it will really stun your guests. Maybe best for the bathroom, mounted ceremoniously over the commode. You'll probably hear the laughter, even if the door is closed.

When your guest comes out of the bathroom laughing and puzzled and asks "Is that a lit-up rubber chicken in a lampshade in your bathroom?" you simply reply "Why, whatever do you mean?"

Do you remove the fireplace surround when in use (if it works and you use it)?

If you are not using halogens or other really hot blubs flammability is not much to be concerned with. Unless the flammable object was directly touching the light for a period of time it won't get near hot enough to ignite unless it was coated in something super flammable. A few inches of clearance is normally fine.

Love the fireplace! I was wondering what to do to cover the ugly brown tiles around my fireplace and I think we have a winner.

Maybe it's just me but I thought the first pic lookes like it has plastic shopping bags wrapped around it.

Cool! Pidgy is famous!

Yes, Pidgy is might be a poster child for fire safety. But I don't think it's too severe--because it's built around a glass shade, no feathers touch the bulb.

I love the bathroom idea! People already come out laughing because of our "art," a bathroom superhero of sorts drawn by a former student of mine.

I don't remove the fireplace surround. Because it's a gas log, and it has glass doors, I don't think the risk of fire is very high. I wouldn't do it with a wood burning fireplace. We have a fire extinguisher nearby, if that helps.

rmmarty: don't give me any ideas...

might *not* be a poster child for fire safety.

I think it's actually pretty nice! Different from the inspiration, of course, but it's cool. Have you thought about hanging it lower with an extension rod? I think it's small for the space, so hanging it lower might reduce that effect. Fireplace solution is creative and beautiful!

http://inspiredroomdesign.com

I actually don't mind the feather light - just a bit small for the space. Love the fireplace surround!

I thought at first the entryway lamp was toilet papered (from a distance). But the large feather lamp, um... reminds me *giggles* of antarctic penguins squatting down on their egg in winter to keep it warm. Know what I mean? I can't stop thinking *more giggles* about it slowly lowering and covering a guest's head in loving, caring warmth... lol I mean look at the thing!

I actually like the lit pic of the lamp a bit. The unlit version makes me think of andy wharhol. Not something he painted, but his hair rather.

Thanks for the post, it put a smile on my face.

Oh! That big light wasn't shown when I posted before. It looks like it just laid an egg, and the splat cow hide below it showed what happened when the egg hit the floor.

If you like the big globe look and crafting a bit, get those paper ball lanterns, and craft on them.

Paper umbrellas:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/hot-or-not/hot-or-not-happy-hour-lampsboston-056605

Random paper:
http://www.cinimodstudio.com/hoxton-square-exploded-globe

These are pretty cool:
http://allgardendecor.com/gazing_balls.html

Scroll designs with a metallic marker on a paper lantern globe? Silk or dried leaves scattered across?

You could do a seasonal light. Faux fern fronds? Newspaper ads?

I'm eyeing my paper globe light...wondering about Bay leaf stripes. Even with a compact fluorescent, it might make enough heat to make a good smelling light.

If someone with both money and a sense of humor bought the original ostrich-feather lamp, they could still cover the inside bulb with the rubber chicken. Oh, the hilarity!

Heck, I'd do it.

And Saint Pidgy the Flawed? He deserves his own DIY cult.

Heck, I'd join.

Damn, I just got a look at that fireplace. Gorgeous.

really really love the fireplace. amazing!!

A "how to" would be helpful on the wonderful fireplace surround.

Because I see that as being a great all-around idea. Cover wide frames. Or frame a square of the feathers. It's "art" if I say "It's art".

How about a headboard?

And by golly, if I was rolling in money, well, that would be stupid. But if I had a lot of money, that would be the ultimate wall covering, and I'd have to figure out a way to put on a sealing top coat that would not wreck the feathers, while preventing those feather-eating moths from eating the wall. Also for cleaning. And making sure that if anyone happened to bump against the wall, they didn't wreck it either.

Someone will probably make a wall paper out of it now. Not with real feathers.

I love the combination of luxury and subtlety in the fireplace - it's the sort of thing that would surprise and delight visitors, but only on close inspection. It adds another layer of interest to the decor.

Frankly, I think the designer feather lamp is hideously tacky.

Just an idea-
Seems that the difference between the original inspiration and the actual diy project might just be a lack of a frame.

Maybe you could buy one of those rice paper shades
http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/40000243/Images/1/lantern-cream.JPG

and arrange the feathers to the already existing frame of the shade. It would probably make the feathers easier to work with :)

Haven't tried it myself- but just wanted to throw it out there as a possible idea

the fireplace surround is AWESOME. are those guinea hen feathers? i've been wanting to plaster a canvas or two with guinea hen feathers just for fun, but i've stalled due to the dreaded massive cleanup afterwards.

Aha! Check out the overhead fixtures here...that's a DIY if I ever saw one...using those globe paper lanterns as mentioned:
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod93280019&parentId=cat16130841&masterId=cat16130841&index=4&cmCat=cat000000cat000553cat17640731cat16130739cat16130841

Shown above the Empress Dining Furniture, in case the long link doesn't work/breaks after posting. Looks like sepia-toned sunflowers...paper copier/printer anyone?

Here they are, they're shells to look like flowers. Save 600.00 with the sepia paper sunflowers!
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod93280017&parentId=cat16990737&masterId=cat16990737&index=24&cmCat=cat000000cat000553cat17640731cat16990732cat16990737

Thanks to all the people who like the fireplace! It is seriously easy, just cut the hardboard to fit with a hand saw and spray glue on the placemats on in an overlapping pattern. It took almost 5 placemats, maybe 40 minutes total, and minimal clean up.

It is guinea hen feathers, but they come glued to felt backing, so it was easy and clean.