Flush Mount: A Look for Less

First off, how is it already February?!? This week has completely gotten away from me. Chloe is in a big “Mom DON’T Work” phase & throws fits every time I sit down at the computer. Which is super awesome & allows me to be really productive. {enter sarcastic tone} Plus, the hubs had a few extra days off which was extremely fortunate because our Water Heater blew. So there was two days of A DIY disassemble & install of a $$$ new one. It’s one of those investments that was not fun buying, but we surely appreciate the hot water. Cold showers are no bueno!
But after that was done he had one more day off & we tackled all kinds of projects! He was in the attic most of the day rewiring a few things because the wiring in our 60+ year old gem of a house are like a spiderweb of surprises. Usually not the “woo hoo” kid of surprise either, more of the “Uh Oh” variety. But his hardwork paid off because the spaceships are gone! No, I haven’t completely lost it. That is my term of um endearment? for the horrid light fixtures that have graced our kitchen ceiling for the past SIX years! SIX!!!
I have been researching & looking & praying for a decent looking & affordable flush mount to hit the market. Apparently those are two things that don’t exist together. And it has to be a flush mount fixture in our kitchen. Hence the reason those things have stayed for so long.
I fell in love with these fixtures… I loved the substantial metal frame but not the substantial $335 price tag (& that’s on sale!)
![]() |
design via Zoldan Interiors |
I also really liked these… But the color was wrong & at $272 I still wasn’t thrilled.
![]() |
Well all I can say is that patience & persistence are completely worth the effort because I found these at my favorite store… Home Depot for $45!!! At that price I wasn’t scared to tackle a little paint project to make it what I really wanted.
I originally tried a little Gold Rub’N’Buff, but I wasn’t thrilled with the color. So then I sprayed over them with some of my Design Masters 24 KT Pure Gold Spray Paint. The Rub’N’Buff underneath gave it a vintage-y (yes that’s a word) feel.
I am so happy with how they look in our kitchen. Much better.
I also have a dirty little secret about our Goodwill Pendant…

(It’s never worked!) WHAT?!?! It’s true. We got the idea & hung it up without wiring it right before our Do It Yourself Photo Shoot. It even had a bulb in it to make it look real… but it was just a prop. We always intended to wire it, but the Holidays & other projects got in the way. But now it REALLY WORKS!! It is really nice to have that extra layer of light in the kitchen.
While the hubs was being Handy Hubs, I was busy working on the next BIG project. If you follow on Instagram you’ve seen a few shots & sneak peaks along the way. I am feeling giddy with excitement about it.
Happy Thursday!
xo-
Both look so great! Love your style!
Going to Scotts this weekend?
it looks great! That is too funny about that pendant!
I love how the finish came out looking 'vintage-y' it goes so well with your goodwill find!!
looks good! Love the finish you created! I'll have to remember that for the future!
Oooooh, these look awesome, and that's so dangerous because my rental has boobs lights I would love to replace – but shouldn't really invest in. So torn!
Gotta love Home Depot! I just picked up two great swing arm lamps for $50 with the intention of spraying them gold, thanks for the perfectly timed inspiration ~ it looks fabulous!
Love the new light! And TOO funny about the pendant. I have lusted after it since you installed it and never would have guessed it didn't work. Ha!
Looks great! It's always fun have the challenge of finding the right piece at the right price, love the vintag-y feel (and I agree, definitely a word!) π
Love your new flush mount! Ba ha ha I can't believe your pendant didn't work! That's te beauty of photography… we never knew! If you ever by chance get sick of that lovely pendant I will gladly take it off your hands!
I LOVE them! I am determined to get a little brass or gold into our kitchen, but having a hard time convincing the hubby! These turned out awesome!
SO FUN! It's amazing how something so small be so irritating (I know the feeling!). The wait was definitely worth it – the new light looks perfect, and dressed in gold – my favorite!
That looks amazing! What a great deal. I wonder where I can put these in my house…
I have always loved those gold flush mounts too but hated the price. I think you did a fantastic job with yours.
My guess for you next big project: Stenciling your floors.
oh my goodness – amazing job! love it.
This looks so awesome, I've had the image of the original kitchen with those pendants in my files forever because I've loved it so much! Seriously super great job and I love your honesty about the pendant! (:
You have me drooling every time! love the rub n buff-gold spray paint idea… putting that one in my back pocket for later! ;}
Always love a look for less solution. I think it works wonderfully with your (now working) pendant.
LOVE that flush mount – totally looks high end! We're remodeling a house and I'd love to steal your idea, can you tell me the color of rub & buff and brand of paint you used? Thanks so much!!!
The finish on the light came out great! I just put some R&B on a shiny brass picture light to give it a little patina. I love how it came out; my husband came in and said, "honey are you going to fix that light? It's not shiny anymore." π
Ditto what Christy said. I'd love to know the brand and color of paints used. I have a family room in dire need of snappy light fixtures.
HI Kim, I updated the post… but I used Design Masters 24KT Gold Spray Paint.
Your new light looks amazing and matched your bowl turn light perfect.
Love. What a great alternative to the "boob" lights that are so hideous!
Love! I have been obsessing over your ceiling fixtures all morning. I want them in my hall…
I enjoy your blog! As I was looking at your older posts, I noticed your pillows are the Chiang Mai Dragon fabric. Since you try doing projects as inexpensive as possible, how did you get that fabric at an affordable price? It is soooo expensive!
I do splurge occasionally. But for the pillows I did score a $50 lot of fabric remnants (or scraps) that were large enough to make two pillows.
Did you get the remnants on Ebay?
Or Etsy… It was 3 years ago… Good Luck
What paint did you use? They are just what I am looking for!
Alexis
Hi Alexis. I used Design Masters 24KT Gold Spray Paint. The link is in the post.
love the lights and how you recolored them that pretty gold color! i might need to get these in my place too!!
— jackiejade.blogspot.com
Which shade of the gold rub n' buff did you use underneath the paint?
I used the Gold Leaf. But it really just gave the burnished effect. The gold paint covered all the rub'n'buff.
I have to go out and find those fixtures now- I am obsessed with how this looks!!
I just clicked over from Nester. Love your DIY prowess. I also love those campaign corners on your open cabinets. I'm going to go back and read some posts to get more insight. I think you just got a new reader!!
I looked up the light you used on home depot's site. I really like it! But I read some of the reviews and they complained that it didn't give off much light. What's your take on that? (I was considering getting one for my kitchen, similar to yours. Mine is over an island though.) Thanks!
It does not give off as much light as our previous shades as it is closed off with the thick collar. We do have other layers of light throughout our kitchen though. Under Cabinet, Pendant over the sink & we are considering adding a few cans… so if it would be the only source it probably wouldn't be enough. Hope that helps…
found you through nesting place and i love your light! i enjoy getting things a reasonable price and personalizing them myself. the rub n buff showing makes it look vintagey and unique. great job!
Genius! So freaking love this!
Do you find the light bright enough?
Perfection!! WE just replaced our ugly flush mount kitchen lights that have been hanging out for too many years.
Love the pendant light too, its amazing!
Nice look for the HD fixture. Interesting about the Rub 'n' Buff underneath the spray paint giving it a vintage look. I just bought a schoolhouse fixture from HD for our Craftsman bungalow. We have brushed or polished nickel fixtures all around our house, but I think an antiqued brass or gold look would be stupendous with our new coal-colored powder room. I'm just too much of a sissy to start Rub 'n' Buff-ing fixtures because they look just fine now, and I don't want to potentially mess them up!
I know now what im looking for. Im gonna look for some today.
I just bought this fixture. I think why it doesn't give much light is because Hampton Bay painted the glass white. That seems weird to me. So I may get paint striper and then frost the glass so the bulbs don't show.
Wanted you to know I used this light in my foyer. My foyer is open to my dining room where I have a rather fabulous gold leafed chandelier, and I needed something simple that would not compete. I started with antique good rub n buff as it was what I had on hand. It was too orange, so I added in some gold leaf rub n buff. It coordinates well with my chandy without drawing too much attention. Love it! Thanks much for the inspiration!
This is cool!
Your ideas are wonderful! My kitchen actually looks very similar (with blackboard wall and all!) and NEED a new light with some character, so I will definitely be trying this. I will keep checking back in for new ideas. It's always helpful when I can show my real estate clients how to spruce up a dull space for home staging without breaking the bank. Thanks!
http://www.njhomesandliving.com/
AWESOME diy on that flush mount!!!!!!!!!!!
I like this! Thanks for sharing. I think interior painting make a big difference.
Not a woo-hoo suprise, but an uh-oh one…ha! I'd forgotten this little gem….guess I'll be heading to Home Depot! xo Happy New Year!
Awesome! Immense information there.http://plus.google.com/112458942571457568265/posts
Ya! Great idea! Thanks π
Brilliant job!!!! Looks like a Circa Lighting fixture.
Love this. Definitely putting one of these in my entryway. Thanks for sharing!
Kristin, I've always loved your flushmount and waited for a place to make the same. Since I finally got the right room ready for it, I thought I'd share how it turned out! Thanks for the inspiration! http://www.petitemodernlife.com/2015/02/23/black-white-gold-office-reveal/
not very good reviews on this light fixture on Home Depot website. Very dim light
It has been quite a few years since we had these lights, but had no problem with them being too dim in our previous kitchen. We also had under cabinet lighting that helped with a more focused lighting.