Spray paint, but be sure that it is compatible with whatever the light is made of.

This is going to look amazing and I want to see pictures!!! Have you thought about adding hanging black crystals, unique bulbs, replacements for the faux candles?

Use RustOleum Metal Primer then Krylon Enamel Paint. TAKE YOUR TIME! SPRAY ON LIGHT COATS, EVEN IF IT TAKES A FEW COATS TO COVER. Pardon the shouting, but in the past, I have been impatient with spray painting projects and have ended up with drips.

I've got to be honest, I really don't see this chandelier in this room. I'm all for eclectic design, but I don't this would really work. Besides, I actually like the chandelier the way it is. I could see something round, to counterbalance all the sharp edges in the room. The room wants to be contemporary--let it.

I had beautiful pearly inks left over from making my wedding invitations. I painted a grandmother's flowery chandelier for my daughter's room. The inks are rich color, but thin and metallic.

QueenBee, IMHO, I think that the ornate design of the chandelier, executed in black, will counterbalance and blend with the contemporary room.

Yes, spray paint, slowly and lightly. Just a few weeks ago I did a similar project to a lamp and was rushing myself. Take your time. And a quick way to block off the white tubes where the lights come out of is to take a grocery bag and rip it into a few pieces and use painters tape to seal it off.

I would also go for an accenting color -- there is too much black and blah in the room. Try pulling a red or blue from the painting above the bed! Good luck!

Laura
http://www.grafxnerd.net

just last nite there was a show on hgtv where they redid a room and painted the chandelier. can't remember which show but they completely taped off the light socket bits, removed all bits that were removable (chain, ceiling cover, etc) and spray painted. woman showing how to do it also said that when spray painting don't hold can too close or the object will get drips and to just move the spray can up and down across the surfaces laid out on paper so there is constant, consistent movement. the chandelier came out beautifully. oh, i think it was designed to sell, maybe.

also remember there are all kinds of metallic paints if you want to go that route. not suggesting, just mentioning.

I would definitely use a glossy finish spray paint after you have prepped prepped prepped!!! The gloss will reflect light so the ornateness of the chandelier isn't lost. And I say PREP PREP PREP because the gloss paint will show more imperfections also. So take your time and PREP! Because that one little drip will show up and bug the crap out of you!

Oh yeah and I like jeffnyc's idea of adding the black crystals... or regular clear crystals. Try it and see if you like it after you have painted the chandelier! And definitely show us the after!!!

I think the chandelier will look fabulous in black. I too recommend multiple thin coats of spray paint, as I've had a few too many impatient projects that ended up looking crappy. Definitely send in pictures when you're done!

Your room is looking really nice. Honestly I think the chandelier would look best as it is, unpainted. More authentic and less trendy. Good Luck!

There was an earlier post about using a product called Plasti Dip for covering a chandelier. It would look different than simple spray paint and you could always peel it off later. (I believe.)

http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip

I think the ornate chandelier will be an excellent counter-point to the contemporary bedroom. About painting it black: You have a lot of black in the room now. Are you sure you want to paint it black? Part of the charm of the original fixture is that is IS anachronistic to the black-themed contemporary room.

Think of the chandelier as a piece of jewelry that adorns the room--- or a grace note, if you are a musician. Clean it, and hang it for now, and see how it looks.

I agree to pulling a color from the painting. My favorite option would be to spray paint the chandelier the same subdued red as the painting. A hit of red looks great in a black and white room.

What SunnyBlue said explains it best I think.

i think with all the black and white, a rich yellow or cobalt blue would look pretty. red, as well, would go well with the painting, but look at all your accent pieces and paint the chandelier a color that's represented in the painting but not in your accent pieces.

I agree with the comment it would seem out of place in that room, unless there are other glam/eclectic or traditional elements in the room. From the picture it seems like it should stay all modern.

Not every old chandelier needs painting - This one certainly doesn't.

What it needs is to be cleaned, hung and have some little gold-lined black shades put on each of the bulbs.

If you go the spray-painting route and can't find an exact color match, this company mixes custom color spray paints from samples or paint chips. I've never used them, but I've spoken with a customer service rep and plan to in the future! O, the endless possibilities...

http://www.CustomFinishes.com/Color-Matching.htm

What size is it...it seems to be too small for the room (according to the proportion of the candle bulbs). First, think positioning... it is too small for the center of the room so i'll go to a side, maybe next to the wall to the back or off center somewhere, give it the stature of an art element. The other thing is if you're bringing this ornate, antique style element to the room, don't blend it in, give it it's full potential and if you need to make it scream its there, do so. (do it for it, already you wrote you love it and are scared of making a faux pas). Clean it to bring out its full gold tones, and if possible, ad crystal beading to ad more volume to it.

And if you insist on blending in go full black or full white and adding the crystal extras either in black or white accordingly.

at first thought, no to the hanging light, but then i thought in high gloss black paint, but ultimately i like the idea of the plasti dip suggestion in a muted light grey blue, sort of a gray periwinkle. so thats my thought, the light to medium gray plasti dip.

I think the chandelier might add more interest in a silver or copper than in black, playing against the whiteness of your walls and the darkness of your furnishings. I love the suggestion of cleaning it, hanging it and living with it for a while before committing to the black.

You could rub paint on it, then rub it off. It would darken some areas of it.

I'd clean it and leave it unpainted for a while, see if you like it.

It's a gorgeous chandelier. Why not put black lampshades over the candle bulbs to modernize the look and just leave the metal as is?

Painting is really for things that are cheap or poor quality -- this seems too special to deserve that treatment.

I agree with a couple of the other posts. Clean it and hang it as is and see how you like it. There should also be some other eclectic touches in the room for it to make sense. Personally, I wouldn't paint it if it's solid brass either. Good luck with your room. You've made a great start.

POWDER COAT. If this is a piece you really like and you want to ensure a quality finish, definitely get it powder coated professionally. Worth every penny, I've had it done on chandeliers and it's fantastic.

I think the trend of spray painting anything metal into bold colors is going to end soon and then you'll have painted over a lovely chandelier!
I agree with the other comments - clean it up, hang it up and see how you feel about it for a few weeks before doing anything drastic. I think it would add a great visual element as is. Good find!

I say spray paint it gloss yellow!

I agree with clean it and hang it.
Not sure about the art but can you paint that frame gold and lower it. Then hang more art in with semi-ornate gold frames to tie in with the chandelier for more interest and glam. Everything is so flat.

Ohjodi and Lisa (Montreal) have good points.

My only contribution is not to worry too much, if you do decide to paint, about getting into all of the grooves with absolute precision. It's a chandelier hanging from a high ceiling - no one is going to be able to get close enough to it to find fault in your handiwork, much less see brush strokes.

I think the only way that particular chandelier is going to work in that particular room is to play up the contrasts. The room is sleek and modern, the lamp is ornate and traditional. This creates an interesting tension.

I'd clean it and add gold-lined mini shades as has been suggested, and then add maybe 2 or 3 other glam items: maybe a small decorative chair with carved detail painted or leafed in gold with black velvet upholstery, maybe a mirror or painting with a fancy gold frame, and maybe a throw for the bed with luxury fabric using gold and black threads (embroidered, brocade, quilted, something gorgeous.)

If the chandelier is small as it seems, you might hand it relatively low over a black Parsons style console table or other streamlined table (or a dresser). Put the fancy chair next to it.

Could be amazing!