One Woman's Trash ...

… often times is another woman’s treasure.


But not always.  Because taste and style are taste specific.  Individualized.


To each his own, I say.


Not everything will appeal to everyone.


And just because I have no plans to emulate someone else’s decorating style, it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what they’ve done …


… and the hard work they’ve put into creating a look that fits their own personal aesthetic.


But the ceiling fan in my son’s room.  It was just plain ugly.  No if ands or buts.


I can’t imagine a couple strolling through the lighting section at Home Depot or Lowes sometime in the late 80’s or early 90’s and saying …

“I just love that ceiling fan.  Honey, just look at those faux wood grain blades.  Just what we’ve been hoping for!  And did you see the brassy accents?  Swoon worthy, right?  Oh, and those smoky yellow shades are just the icing on the cake …”

More like the nail in the coffin.


Now our ugly ceiling fan was here when we moved in 17 years ago.  So that whole imaginary ceiling fan love conversation did not happen between my husband and I …


... though I should be reprimanded for letting that ugly ceiling fan remain in our home unchanged or unchecked for way too long ...


When I decided to redecorate my son’s room -- where the ugly ceiling fan resided -- I knew it had to go.  Well, more like had to change. 


So I started with the removal of the fan blades and giving the motor a coat of silver paint.  While it was still attached to the ceiling.  And, yes, that was fun, fun fun …

As for the fan blades, I had grand plans to do something amazingly creative like this …

But in the end, purchased some affordable fan blades (and some new non-brassy screws) that I attached to the freshly silver painted fan blade holder thingies (yes, that’s the technical term) …

And I was ready to leave as is.  For about three seconds.  Because I had a drum shade in the wings waiting to be attached.  You can see how I dressed up that drum shade here …


I’ve had quite a few questions about how I attached the drum shade to the fan …


… so now I’m sharing the deep dark secret …


… picture wire.


In the end, it’s far from perfect …


… but I think if my husband and I were strolling through the lighting department at Home Depot or Lowes and I looked up and saw this …


I might just say, “I like that ceiling fan …”

Linda is a wife, mother, Chicago homeowner … and creator and author of it all started with paint blog.  You can find the detailed tutorial on how she made over her ugly ceiling fan by clicking here …