Hope you all had a beautiful Valentine’s day. This past weekend we hosted our first dinner party in the new house, and I brought home something I’ve been negotiating over for a few weeks now.
This house has 10 fans in it (that seems like a lot to me) and I’m on a mission to get rid of most of them. My mom has recommended I wait until the summer to do that (she’s probably right – that there’s a reason for all of them) but the one in the wood paneled living room has got to go sooner than later. I think fans have their place, but I’ve yet to see an affordable one that I think looks really nice. So one of my alerts on craigslist is “chandelier” in case you missed my craigslist post you can find it here, and I know that listing pretty well. When this chandelier showed up a few weeks ago I about fell out of my chair.
The pictures were really good and the quality of the piece was apparent. But the price tag was waaay out of my budget. That’s the problem with craigslist, you can’t exactly search within your budget. If I can’t afford a more expensive sofa, I’m going to go to Ikea and steer clear of Crate & Barrel. But you don’t have that luxury to avoid higher priced items on craigslist. I couldn’t afford the $1,200 price tag, but I’ve gotten a bit more bold in my attempts and sent an email anyway – telling the guy I was interested and asking if that was his best price.
He told me it was negotiable and to shoot him an offer. So I did…I told him how completely in love with it I was but gave him what I knew was a really low ball offer saying it was all I could do. I thought for sure he’d never take it, but he did. He told me that he “didn’t feel like he could deny it from someone who was completely in love with it and willing to give it a good home.” I guess even in the game of craigslist, honesty is still the best policy. The problem was, I had spoken too soon. I hadn’t talked it over with Micah (because I never dreamed the guy would take my offer) nor took into account some maintenance issues with our house that had come up oh, older homes. So I embarrassingly had to renege my offer. It was in that moment that I found out he was an electrician who had pulled this from an old home, but he had put a ton of work into it.
It was incredibly dirty when he brought it home and the wiring was brittle. He rewired the entire piece, completely disassembled and cleaned every pin and crystal and found some hand painted candle sleeves on ebay to replace the worn ones. He may not have paid for the piece, but he had put a lot of time and love into it – which made me want it even more.
I thought about what I could do to get the funds before someone else came along for it. And Milly’s old curtains came to mind. So I sold something I had put a lot of love into in order to get something someone else had put a lot of love into.
She’s hanging in the basement for now, hence the dark pictures. I mean, I could have turned the lights on but then you would have seen all of our junk. For now I’ll have to make a point to go visit her, but I look forward to the day when she shines in the heart of our home.
I’m incredibly honored to tell you that The Makerista has been nominated for Better Homes & Gardens Blogger Awards again this year. Last year’s nomination brought some really great opportunities my way, and I’m so thankful for all Better Homes & Gardens does for the blogging community. We’re in the company of some incredibly fine women, so go take a peek and if you have a second I would so appreciate your vote!
Julia Konya says
I hate fans too and love the chandelier. Congrats on the nomination
katie gavigan says
The chandelier is gorgeous, and I know it will be even more meaningful knowing how creatively you obtained it. 🙂 I've used this tactic before (selling something to get something), and it's so rewarding. Also, you got my vote!
marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says
Love your chandy. I hate fans also, but when you live in the desert with 120 degrees in the summer, then a fan is a blessing. Congrats on the BHG. I voted.
Robin Warzywak says
Congrats! I voted for you! That is a gorgeous chandelier and I love the story behind it.
http://www.designbyrobinsnest.blogspot.com
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks so much, Robin!
Erin Sharp says
Congrats! How major!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
What a gorgeous fixture! Even though you had to sacrifice for it, you surely would have regretted letting that one slip by! Congrats on the nomination, so happy for you!
Lela B says
Congrats on the nomination!I give u my vote!!The chandelier is so majestic!
Ren says
Your story made me think of Edgar Allan Poe's Gift of the Magi. Funny what we remember from high school English class.
I have been reading and enjoying your blog for several months but have never taken the time to leave a comment. Thank you for the inspiration and congratulations on the nomination!
Enjoying a "snow" day here in Charlotte while reading about the beautiful chandelier.
Albertina M. Cisneros says
Of course I will be voting for you!! COngrats!! and I love, love the chandy! So glad it has such a beautiful home. I took out every single fan from our old house…..felt so good!!
Bethany DeVore says
So gorgeous! Congrats on the nomination, just voted! 🙂
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, friend!
Rachel says
So glad you got the chandelier. It's just beautiful, especially the hand painted candle sleeves. You can tell he put a lot of work into it. Can't wait to see it hanging in your home. Congratulations on being nominated by BHG for the blogger award.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks so much, Rachel! I was definitely taken by those too. 🙂
sarah m. dorsey says
Congrats Gwen!! 🙂 So well deserved! The chandelier is super gorgeous!!!
Shavonda Gardner says
What a fabulous find Gwen. You are so good at finding great pieces. Congrats on your nomination as well . Its very well deserved.
Sherri says
I had voted for you yesterday, in fact! I know jealousy is not a good trait to possess, but I totally am envious of that chandy, as well as the brass one!!! The story behind how it got to you is way cool. You find such amazing pieces and display them in such a grand way. Please get that beauty up soon !!
Beth of designPOST Interiors says
Congrats!! And that light is gorgeous!
Claire Brody says
Congrats! So well deserved. I obvi voted for you!
Meg says
wow that is such an amazing find! i too love the thrill of craigslist and am currently on the hunt for an awesome chandelier to convert to a swag lamp style to hang over my office area. it's just way more fun to find used items than purchasing new off the shelf! and budget friendly too obviously 🙂
Mike Lintro says
I wonder how that electrician came by to own something like this. You got lucky that he was able to fix it all up. There is a lot of electrical work that needs to be done correctly in things like this, and it looks like he was able to get everything working properly. That electrician seems like he really knows he stuff, and get lucky because people give him things for free. http://royalpluselectric.com/
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