From Bronze to Silver: Lamp Transformed
March 29, 2010
Over the past months, I’ve been putting just a few finishing touches on my stepdaughter’s bedroom, and one of the last things I wanted to do for her was inject the space with a dash of big girl glam. As you know from my fixation on metallic finishes, I’ve been wanting to silver leaf something, anything, for quite some time. An inexpensive bronze Kmart lamp became the victim. I’ve had this lamp for over three years and it was just looking a little, well, plain to me. So rather than buying her a new lamp, I just decided to give it a glitzier look.
For the faint of heart, the lovers of standard lamp bases, and the devotees to dark bronze, avert your eyes, look away, look away ! Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Now, for those like me who adore all things shiny, feast your eyes on my latest transformation, a lamp refinished in silver leaf.
Before and After:
This project was incredibly simple, and took only a few hours to complete. Here’s the play by play.
But first, peeps, come a little closer, I’m about to say something that the silver leaf company doesn’t want to tell you. There is no need to buy those expensive adhesives and coating sprays that are sitting there next to the metal leaf products. Sssssh. It wasn’t me who told you. Pass it on. This message is brought to you by a gal who has silver leafed only one thing in her entire life.
But seriously, other than the $10 dollar package of silver leaf available at a craft store, I used products I already had for this project including multi purpose spray adhesive and Minwax Polycrylic to seal. I’m sure the other products designed for applying metal leaf are fine and dandy, I’m just a cheapo, and I wanted to save the $15 bucks.
The instructions tell you to use wax paper to ‘iron on’ the leaf with your fingers to the wax paper before you apply it. Hey, it worked ! This stuff is incredibly thin and prone to flaking so it helps to use the wax paper as a guide.
And may I just say that my wrist looks particularly chubby today. I’m gonna blame the lens and not my latest melted cheese binge.
I applied my spray adhesive to the area of the lamp where I wanted to apply the leaf, and used the backs of my fingers to adhere it to the lamp.
I cut smaller sections for the skinnier and curvier parts.
When I was done, I applied two coats of Minwax Polycrylic to the lamp to protect the finish. That’s it !
Flirty gray lampshade from Tarjay.
Some of you spray paint devotees are thinking why not just use silver spray paint ? You’re right, I thought of that. After all, I am a self confessed spray paint junkie, and there are a ton of metallic spray paints available. Valspar has an entire ‘metal’ series that is fab ! However, I’ve been wanting to experiment with silver leaf forevah, and I like the subtle textural difference between a smooth spray painted surface and an silver leaf crinkly surface. Glamour injection ? Check. And my daughter loves it !
What about you ? Have you ever danced with the silver leaf in the pale moonlight ? Er, I mean, have you ever used this product, and what were your results ?
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Tags: lamp, metallics, silver leaf
LOVE it! And I must say, I’m swooning over your styling almost as much as the lamp. So pretty! I need to go find something to silverleaf . . .
Lovely. I’ve been dying to do some picture frames in this method though with more of a burnished, aged look. Will have to get on to it!
It’s really pretty! I love the texture! Do you think this works better than a silver spray because it leaves a nicer texture?
This came out pretty darn awesome! Nice job :)
I did the same thing with a thrift store lamp. I loved how it turned out, except I wasn’t sure about the shade so I kept the plastic wrap on. My husband relegated into the garage and I am going to sneak it back into my daughter’s room once I find her a desk.
Here is my link for the silver leaf lamp:
http://hodgepodge-babselou.blogspot.com/2010/01/midas-touch-another-thrift-lamp.html
Yours is fantastic!
Can I just say your daughter is one lucky teenager to have a mom with such talents and fabulous taste! in about 10 years my 4 year old will be very jealous.
I came across a silver leaf table recently and I’ve been dying to try it out ever since. The lamp looks fantastic!
Looks great! The texture adds to it, so it’s not just painted metallic. Very cool!
oh la la! so sexy!! and LOVE the shade. I have a plethera of those bronze beauties in my home and have been slowly switching them out- may have to get me some silver leaf.
Love the color palette you used in the room. Great job on the lamp!
I’m in love! I love the texture the leaf gives… you can’t get that with spray paint.
Oooh la la. That is what thing I have never tried before. I even got some for free from a friend. I guess I have had the inspiration strike yet. But silvers are growing on me. I am redoing my master bath in blues. white and silvers. I am going to paint my nasty oak cabinets in there. And you, my dear, are my inspiration. In my head I want to do a Silver Sage base with some sort of blue wash and a opulence pearl over the top. Plus wallpapered insets like your cream cabinet makeover. I love your patina dresser too. However, my cabinets are not real wood everywhere so I feel like I can’t do the same treatment as you did. You are queen of finding cool inspiration pics. Have you seen anything like that?
I want you cream cabinet makeover with your patina dresser mixed together but with more of a blue than a turqouise. Confused
That looks great, Kate! It seems like the perfect item to try it out on, too.
I think you did a great job! I don’t think I would attempt this but it looks good.
Gorgeous dahhhling! It turned out great.
Are you kidding me, I love this and I love even more the fact that you gave us such great hints about not needing the extra steps. You always do such great work and I think this one is just as good as all the others. Thanks for always inspiring me .
Cha Cha
This is fantastic! LOVE how it turned out! :)
oh my goodness – so so beautiful!! I too have been wanting to try silver leaf and now I am more inspired than ever to do so. Well done!! :)
Oh my goodness!! I love this project!! I have wanted to do something with metallic leaf but I’m too afraid to try. Isn’t that awful. The worst part is I have bought it and the sticky sizing and all, but it kind of just sits on the shelf. This is some serious push here. Thanks for the inspiration.
Oh yea, your room is beautiful. I love the colors, so pretty.
Gorgeous, as always! I especially love it with the colors in the room and those beautiful flowers! I silver leafed a mirror once. It was my first time and I didn’t put a dark base coat on, which I should have. I am going to redo it. I didn’t realize you didn’t need to use the sizing. Good to know!
Hi I just popped over from Traci’s Linky party at Beneath My Heart. I love your lampbase – it is just perfect for a girly room. Thanks for including pics on how to do it and your fabulous tips! I love the silver next to that gorgeous splash of turquoise blue. Wishing you a wonderful day ~ Tina
Super scary that you’re in my head right now. I’ve been looking for THE right shaped bedside tables to give this treatment to, it’s the only glam I plan on adding to the grand master bedroom reno plan. Haven’t found them yet, but good things come… :)
Gorgeous! I’ve been wanting to try out silver leaf and I just got 2 matching lamps from goodwill the other day. I think they’re going in my bedroom. I think you just assigned me a new project.
You know, I did your brass/ crystal lamp makeover with the Heirloom White and have thought about switching it up with silver leaf. I love how this silver lamp turned out, so I believe you’ve just inspired me to move forward with my idea. thank you & awesome job!!!
Hi again Katie,
loved your playday feature yesterday…. a delightful day for your precious family… and yum… the coup d’etat… the fab chowder at the end of it…. so fun to read… I was almost right there with ya!
Instead we’re in the middle of painting the kitchen… and I almost scored on your pulls from Tar-jay- but when I went back to get them- THEY WERE GONE! CLearanced out over the weekend!
So The Home Depot version will have to do… meanwhile, I started to tell you before I digressed.. the silver leaf lamp is too wonderful in that room… Kudos on picking that lamp for the treatment… once again you’ve done another WOWza project!
LOVE IT!
And it’s convinced me that I’m right and I do need to make the currently green lamp in my living room silver.
I used silver leaf on plastic easter eggs last week and although they are tricky because you have to hold them and I wanted them to still open, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Love the way the silver leaf looks, especially with the grey shade. Good job!
So chic! I loves it. ;) I bet your daughter has the coolest and prettiest room out of all of her friends. Job well done!
To heck with the silver leaf… tell me more about the melted cheese!! I thought I was the only one who appreciated this fine food! Please tell me how you prepare yours! (Feel free to use my Email)
b
I really like the textured look that the silver leaf gives the lamp. Great job!
looks awesome!
just perfect! Janell
I think your lamp turned out FAB. Love the silver leaf and I too have been wanting to try this.
I love your tips. The last time I used silver or gold leaf OMG the mess. It all just flaked and fell apart!
Karena
Art by Karena
I &heart; this lamp…the colors in the photos are so serene! lo, and how funny that you quoted the Joker… I ♥ that movie too…the original(first one) was the best! By the way, thank you for all your wonderful inspirations…keep em coming :)
Nikki
Must. Have. Silverleafed. Lamp. Now. This is gorgeous! I love love love it!
Autumn
TheFickleHobbyist.com
That is so cool!
m ^..^
Very nice! This inspires me to try silver leafing rather than spray paint!
It looks beautiful against that fabulous wall color. I bet that room only brings good dreams! With colors like what I see in the picture, how could it not?
Very pretty, and I am digging that side table. Where did you find it? It is just the right size that I”m looking for on my side of the bed.
What a great project! I love this technique and have seen it done before, more on mirrors. It looks fab on the lamp!
Wow! It is absolutely gorgeous!! Excellent tutorial…. Thanks.
I did a similar project on a big glass lamp several years ago, and I still absolutely love it. Great project.
Excellent work! Definitely a dose of glamour! And I love that you use the word “glitzier” in this post. :)
It looks great! Thanks for posting the instructions!
Now, you know this is like the bomb!! :)! Brilliant and tre chic!
I’m yet to silver leaf, but have to say that lamp is GORGEOUS…and the shade is simply perfect. I’m feeling motivated to get my hands on a lamp over here now. :)
Hello, luh-vah! I really enjoy the texture of the silver leaf compared to what you would have gotten with spray paint. I’ve never silver-leafed, but this definitely makes me want to. Like now.
would love to see a full shot of the entire room! Love the color on the wall!
GORGEOUS, Kate! I silver leafed a letter “R” when I was in college, but it I used a kit that was WAY more complicated than what you’ve done and yours turned out so much better! I may have to give it another go.