DIY Branch Chandelier

Like DIY modern art, it is also tricky to really pull off DIY lighting solutions. There have only been a few projects out there that I really like (here was a good one).

But I can't get over how great this lighting project is. The owners of Abilene Bar in the Carrol Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn needed inexpensive lighting for their restaurant and came up with this idea.


They layered many of these simple and inexpensive socket adapters from Home Depot together to create a coral or branch effect. The best part is there is absolutely no hard-wiring required. The first socket just screws right into your existing light bulb socket. Completely genius!


I like the white sockets seen here, but I'd also consider spray painting the outside of the sockets red or gold.








Image sources: Time Out NYC, NY Mag
on

45 comments:

  1. meenal @ maison marigoldMarch 16, 2011 at 6:04 AM

    wow...that is genius..and so do-able...i would also prefer them painted a dull gold/silver ...thanks for sharing, Jenny!! do check out my gilt-themed post today when you have a moment!! xx meenal

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  2. lisaroyMarch 16, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    I love these! And so simple! I think they'd look great in a bedroom :)

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  3. Houndstooth and NailMarch 16, 2011 at 6:20 AM

    That's so cool! I wonder if that would work in my hallway, might hang down too far...hmmm...

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  4. AndreaMarch 16, 2011 at 7:27 AM

    What a great idea. I agree, painting them would look amazing!

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  5. MorganMarch 16, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    Emily Henderson did this on the latest episode of Secrets; she made them red/coral.

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  6. laxsupermomMarch 16, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    Wow! That's so pretty! I'd love to see it painted a bright, fun pop of color. I can't believe how easy that is. I recently DIY'ed a light fixture, but this one has me thinking of doing these for the guest bath. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. MoonlightMarch 16, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    they look fabulous over that bar, I'd even try it at home if we had a real bar where people sit on stools and all that jazz! :)

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  8. Design BloomsMarch 16, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Theres a "why didnt I think of that?!" moment waiting to happen! So clever and easy-thanks for sharing!

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  9. Laura TreveyMarch 16, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    I love this ~ very creative!!!

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  10. AshleyMarch 16, 2011 at 8:40 AM

    Jenny, I posted about this project a few weeks ago, made the chandelier, but haven't gotten around to putting it up yet...great project, huh?

    http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2011/02/to-do-diy-lighting-fixture.html

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  11. Nick and/or LaurenMarch 16, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    That is so cool!

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  12. Lilly from Lilly's NotebookMarch 16, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    Obsessed with this idea!!! Amazing!! Tweeting about it now!!!

    ;)

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  13. LindseyMarch 16, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    Thank you, Jenny! This will be perfect in my new kitchen!

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  14. UnknownMarch 16, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    WOW! I really think I will try that! Thanks.

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  15. Kelly RobsonMarch 16, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    This is GENIUS. I'm OBSESSED. I want to do this in my house somewhere (someday, when we actually have walls on the 2nd and 3rd floor-- ha!). Great post, Jenny!!

    xoxo
    Kelly

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  16. Kate {domestikatedlife}March 16, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    Oh I love seeing a similar one in orangey red on Emily Henderson's show last week, such a fun idea -- it's so plaful and modern!

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  17. autumnMarch 16, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    what a great idea! i love the chunky, knobby appearance...it's almost like an old, knotty tree sprouted light bulbs!

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  18. Hyphen InteriorsMarch 16, 2011 at 11:37 AM

    What a cool little diy project. Thanks for posting.

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  19. KCMarch 16, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    this is brilliant! It makes me think even I could do it!

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  20. GT Home ExperienceMarch 16, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    genius! i'm also envisioning some gold paint...

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  21. CaseyMarch 16, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    Wow, that is such a cool idea! I wish I knew about this a couple of apartments ago when I had a few of those fancy "1 exposed lightbulb" fixtures... Thanks!

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  22. Haute MamaMarch 16, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    this same DIY fixture was featured on Secrects from a Stylist last Saturday (Emily Henderson's new show on HGTV)- If youre not watching- you should!

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  23. Amber B (Simple Dwellings)March 16, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Genious idea! I love an easy DIY project! I also saw this on a new HGTV show- "Secrets of a Stylist"
    I love how it looks when it's finished, and I love your idea of spray painting them a different color! Thanks so much for this tutorial!!

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  24. Forever LovelyMarch 16, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    What a great idea and it seems simple enough to do! I love the organic shape of the fixture, so creative :) Thanks for sharing!

    -Forever Lovely
    http://foreverlovelydesign.blogspot.com/

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  25. KellieMarch 16, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    that is awesome! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing, I just might have to try this out for myself.

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  26. Chic ColesMarch 16, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    Those remind me of a piece of coral and would be fun in a turquoise color!

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  27. JessMarch 16, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    i love this idea, whenever to finally buy a place this is definitely going to happen. in more than one room.

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  28. SaraMarch 16, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Genius!!!

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  29. Christen AlesMarch 16, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    I saw this exact same thing on Secrets from a Stylist... I bet you this becomes a trend

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  30. nicole me oh my!March 16, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    I'm so glad you posted this! I just saw a similar DIY on Secrets From A Stylist and was hoping for instructions!

    THanks Jenny!

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  31. Jamie HerzlingerMarch 16, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    Really nice to see an easy but great looking outcome!

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  32. AprilMarch 16, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Omg I'm extremely excited about this notion! I live in a rental and have ugly light fixtures. This would be perfect in the dining room and bedroom! Woohoo and hooray!

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  33. UnknownMarch 16, 2011 at 9:50 PM

    It's always the simplest ideas that give the biggest impact! I agree they'd be amazing in red or gold!

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  34. JoiMarch 16, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    Yup! This idea is great! I just saw Emily Henderson do this last weekend on her show!

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  35. Gaby [The Vault Files]March 17, 2011 at 4:36 AM

    what an awesome DIY project! thanks for sharing it, love it!

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  36. Beau lifestyleMarch 17, 2011 at 5:49 AM

    Dear Jenny, I can´t wait to make one myself, thank you for sharing, I liked it so much that I wrote about it on my blog too ;)

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  37. Danielle Sigwalt InteriorsMarch 17, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    Just brilliant...will have to remember this for sure!

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  38. AvygatorMarch 17, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    Emily henderson made some of these on one of her latest episodes and painted them in red. it looked superb with the mid century interiors.

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  39. Forma LivingMarch 17, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  40. MichelleMarch 17, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    I saw something very similar in a room done by designer Erin Martin, one of my favorite designers, at the San Francisco Elle Decor Show Home. She used filament bulbs and it was gorgeous. Here is a link to a picture http://tinyurl.com/4cnftbe

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  41. libbieMarch 20, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    Does anyone know where else to find the DIY for the bubble chandelier? I clicked the link to the ReadyMade website but it looks like it is no longer available there. Any ideas? I really want to try this one!

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  42. CarolAnne - camdesignMarch 21, 2011 at 1:54 AM

    Just might be the answer to my daughters hair salon lighting problem, we did not know what to do that was cool... down the middle of the salon... thanks for the post. xo

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  43. LaurieMarch 23, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    Oh my god! These are fantastic!!!

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  44. NicApril 13, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    They look great, but I'm curious - wouldn't it be unsafe to plug so many into a socket that's designed for a single bulb? Are there any electricians reading this who can clear it up for me?

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  45. feathermarApril 26, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    You are fancy! And your lights are fancy! Thanks for the tutorial!

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I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)