Looks like I’ve once again been wrangled into one of Sherry’s schemes. This time it’s her “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge (apparently the “dude” applies to me also) where she’s trying to actually do something with some of the items that we’ve been collecting hoarding in our spare room. It’s a use it or lose it challenge if you will (well, more like a use it or donate/craigslist it challenge). This week’s victim: the light fixture that we rescued from a thrift store in Delaware nearly an entire year ago for a mere $19. That guy just sat on the floor of the playroom since then, and it was high time we actually allowed him to do the whole illumination thing again.
He’s made of some sort of resin and basically looks like a big glowing ball of clear spaghetti… but in a cool, kinda ’70s way. Update: we’ve learned form a savvy reader that it’s actually called a spaghetti lamp and it’s made out of spun lucite. Our plans back in Feb 2011 were to ORB the gold finish and hang it in our master bathroom nook. Fast-forward to now and the plan has shifted slightly. Instead, we’ve given him a new home in our closet.
The closet seemed to be the better choice because (1) the bathroom nook is visible from the bedroom and we figured this big round fixture might compete visually with the other big round fixture in the room. And (2) the bare bulb in the closet was Yawn City.
Ahh, much better:
We got on that! Oh happy day! Gotta love using what you have and upgrading a naked old ceiling bulb. We’ll dive into more light-related details in a second, but there were some other closet happenings that went on as well…
When you last saw our closet a few months after we moved in April, it was looking mighty clean and organized.
These days, well, let’s just say it had gotten a bit derailed thanks to a certain chihuahua we all know and love.
It’s actually unfair to place the blame solely on Burger. Sure moving his crate into our closet from the playroom closet meant our laundry basket got displaced from it’s nice little nook. But Clara was actually the main reason for the move. We too often found her playing with Burger’s food, water, and crate – much to Burger’s dismay – so we decided to tuck it away in our room where she doesn’t go that often. For some reason Burger enjoys small spaces, so he feels most comfortable with his crate and even his food/water tucked away in a closet or nook (it’s just dry food, so there’s not any odor and we thankfully don’t have any ants/pests that bother it). So after a year of nook deliberating we declared our closet: The Best Nook For The Job.
To make a long story long, even though this project started because of a light – we couldn’t ignore the other less-than-satisfactory situations going on in here too. And fortunately there was an easy answer. See how much spare room I’ve got on my side of the closet?
Unlike the lady wife, I don’t use my entire shoe rack left here by the previous owners. Yes, I know, I’m such a typical guy – I have one pair of brown shoes and one pair of black shoes and my flip flops and sneakers live in our shoe bins by the door. Meanwhile, on the other side of the closet, Sherry has enough shoes for the both of us. Not that I wear hers. I actually don’t think I could walk in any of them.
So after a bit of couple’s brainstorming (aka: Sherry encouraging me to allow Burger’s crate to pilfer some floor space from my side), I plucked out my shoe rack. And after completing the exhausting task of removing both pairs of shoes from it (sheesh, talk about backbreaking DIY) we got down to business.
Sherry pried it apart and I cut down the two long shelves by about 14 inches and…
…we nailed it back together, thereby creating a John-shoe-collection-sized rack.
And the smaller rack made space for Burger’s crate in the corner. So we’re glad we got on that. Why it took us 13 months of living here, I’m not sure.
But you know what, I really should let Burger give you the tour – since it’s kinda his domain. And yes, this means this post is about to be pretend narrated by a dog.
“Welcome to my bedroom people of the Internet!”
“Here you will find that my crate has been replaced by a clothing receptacle. Apparently my family finds it more important to have their dirty clothes closer to them than their beloved canine.”
“But that’s okay, because now I get more privacy back here in my master suite. Hello? Do you see me here in the back giving you the peeper?”
“Conveniently located next to my sleeping chambers are the dining facilities. Why thank you for asking – yes, I do live the life.”
“Speaking of my delicious cuisine, allow me to indulge myself for a moment.”
“Actually, I’d much prefer my culinary assistant to hand feed me right now. Oh tiny human! Come hither!”
Okay, tour’s over. It’s John again. That Burger’s feisty, isn’t he? Anyways, you can see above what we mean when we say that Clara likes to get into his food (don’t mind the sticker covered monkey/sock/floor). It’s not the worst thing that she likes to feed Burger his food piece by piece… if only she didn’t feel the need to swirl each piece around in his water dish first. She gets her strange-ness from her mother I think.
Anyways, this post was supposed to be about a light, right? Sidetracked much? Back to that…
Installation was pretty easy. We cut the plug/cord off and exposed the wires to make it hardwire-able. Then we picked up a kit at Home Depot that would allow us to attach the chain to a crossbar (though we had to hunt down a canopy at a specialty lighting store that would fit). We left everything gold because we figured since it was in the closet it didn’t have to match the other fixtures in the room, and we kinda dig the retro gold look for the closet. We can always paint it down the line if we get “the bug” but for now we like him just the way he is.
The room isn’t really this dark with the light on, I just turned down the exposure on the camera so you can see the texture of the light a bit better. And these pics don’t even do it justice. It’s super cool looking when it’s on. Sherry actually wants to make a video since she says it’s so much better in “real life” so you have that excitement to potentially look forward to…
One of the coolest parts are the little streaks of light it casts all over the wall and ceiling. Like little party streamers or something. We almost feel like we should have installed some mechanism to make it rotate like a disco ball. Okay, not really. But that could’ve been fun…
It’s kind of a shame that the light spent nearly 12 months in a pile in our playroom. But at least it’s hanging up in all of its glory now! Oh and as for how we figured out the right height for it, I just stood under it as Sherry hung it at different heights and we picked one that gave me a little room – so it hangs around 6’4″ from the floor (our ceilings are 8′ high).
Oh, and if you’re at all curious as to what happened to all of the excess chain that we didn’t use (it had like 8 feet for swagging) – you can see Clara get her Jersey on with it over at Young House Life today. And yes there’s a video. And fist pumping. Predictably, I’m mortified and Sherry’s elated.
So did any of you guys cross something off your “Dude, Get On That Already” list this week? Did you reorganize a closet or otherwise rope your husband into a challenge? How about ghost writing a blog post for a chihuahua? Just me?
Mai says
lol! loved this post. what a great setup with burger.
Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says
I love the Burger part, haha. So great.
That light looks great in there too.
Off to Young House Life :D
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
That is a fun little 70’s light. And it works well in your closet! Gald you’re still working on your challenge. I finally got the rest of our kitchen dishes out of our guest bedroom and into…the kitchen! http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/fill-the-cabinets/
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! I bet that feels great!
xo,
s
Riva says
Burger’s narrated bedroom tour = my most favoritest YHL post moment ever!
Jennifer says
This is hilarious!! Burger should post more often. The light looks great.
Ay @ this DIY life says
Yay! A place for everything :)
Here’s my “simplify” challenge update: http://thisdiylife.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/simplify-progress-kinda/
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- progress for sure!
xo,
s
Callie says
Haha, I love it, especially the Burger tour!!
Megan says
I practically spit my coffee out when I read, “if only she didn’t feel the need to swirl each piece around in his water dish first. She gets her strange-ness from her mother I think.” Got a little funny streak in there John. We pulled some much needed switcherooes in our son’s room last night. Now if only we could get to, what my son calls, The Dangerous Room. LOL!
Lindsey @ arkadian belle woods says
Haha! You guys crack me up! I love the fixture too! We finally finished our ‘Dude Get on That already’ by finally hanging the doors to our bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs since you know …. they came down over a year ago! It’s sad we have gotten used to being doorless. I feel so adult now with doors that open and close hahah!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahooo! That’s awesome.
xo,
s
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
Smart idea with the shoe rack & moving Burger’s crate. I love the way the light looks in there (it mimics the big light in your bedroom).
Is it weird that I’m proud of Clara fist pumping? Woo hoo for New Jersey!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, not weird at all. I beamed.
xo
s
Izzy says
Hey guys – just curious – doesn’t having Burger and his food dishes in your closet make the closet/your clothes smell like dog food? I guess not seeing as you’ve done it for so long already…
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no, it’s just dry food, so there’s no odor. It’s sort of like leaving a bowl of crackers out. Thankfully we don’t have ants or other pests around so it seems to work!
xo,
s
Emma says
on sunday i re-organized my closet and finally hung up a gallery wall in my living room! i moved to a new apt in september and my walls have been empty ever since! i’ll take part in the dude get on that already challege with you – i need the moral support!
Christa says
Yes, I did reorganize a closet. It’s one of those why didn’t I do it sooner, I love it so much better kind of things.
I blogged about it here:
http://controllingcraziness.blogspot.com/2012/01/more-closet-organization.html
Love the light in the closet. Such a cool light for a little spot, makes it seem all fancy in there.
YoungHouseLove says
Niiiice!
xo,
s
Danielle says
You guys are cracking me up this week! I love your funny, quirky writing style. Also LOVING the kitchen. Last night I basically told my fiance that we need to redo our kitchen like YHL. I have now been banned from Pinterest and your blog…LOL.
Like the rest of your readers I cannot wait to see the finished kitchen. It is gorgeous so far!
Christine at Casa-de-Christine says
Love that light! Great find!
And that Burger narration was very entertaining!
Robyn says
Can you tell us where the laundry basket it from? I am having a hard time finding one that color! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s from Target a few years back but I think I saw it again recently. Maybe they always have it in stock?
xo,
s
Ruth says
I saw it (or one very similar) at Target just a few weeks ago, so I think it IS back.
YoungHouseLove says
Sweet!
xo,
s
Diana @ Boy + Girl says
Love this post! The light looks great but the mini pooch steals the show – tied of course with the tiny human! So funny!
-Diana
Megan says
I love the Burger tour. He has a very nice tour guide voice in my head. And I was crying laughing.. at work.
Thank you for making my day!
P.S. The light is fantastic!
Erin @ One Project at a Time says
How fun and unexpected! I’ve been working on a crazy closet project at our foreclosure/reno house. We’ve tackled 3 closets so far, but so far this one in the playroom is my favorite thanks to the bright pop of color! http://oneprojectatatime.blogspot.com/2012/01/bam-goes-playroom-closet.html
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh it’s awesome!
xo,
s
Julia @ Chris loves Julia says
I really like the light! At first I was confused why you didn’t spray paint the chain, but by the end of the post I already forgot about that and really liked it. As for my procrastination project. Finally. After almost a year–I redid Greta’s boring, little Ikea Latt desk.
http://chrislovesjulia.blogspot.com/2012/01/ikea-latt-hack.html
And yesterday she spent all day playing at it again. Victory!
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo,
s
Vidya @Whats Ur Home Story says
I’m thinking may be you could have ORB-ed it and used it in the dining room. Would have looked cool with the new pendants over the breakfast nook. Not sure what you have in mind for over there, may be an even cooler one? :)
YoungHouseLove says
That would have been cool but it’s super small. Might have looked like a walnut hanging over our giant 70″ dining table. Haha. We have plans for something huuuge in there!
xo,
s
SarahW says
Awesome! Love the Burger tour!
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
I love the light! It looks really neat. I have some organizing to do, does that count for this challenge? With us starting to move in less than a month I need to clean out and organize for the new house.
YoungHouseLove says
Totally counts! That stuff feels so good!
xo,
s
heather s. says
Love the light! What’s a ‘closet closet?’ :) You have an extra word after Clara’s pic.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- thanks!
xo,
s
Cindy says
Dating myself but…..I had this light in the 70’s! Should have kept it…….
Carly says
I love the Burger tour. He is so sassy and refined! I can totally hear him, too. Great job :)
Yeah, I love finally finishing those tasks that have been sitting around forever. I started upholstering a headboard about 3 months ago and just finished it this weekend (check it out here if interested). What a relief. I feel like superwoman for finishing a 3-month-old-task. Hallelujah! And it was good.
Enjoy your spaghetti light!
-Carly
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! That looks awesome!
xo,
s
Whitney Dupuis says
Hilarious! I especially love the “she gets her strange-ness from her mother” comment.
Oh, and I love the light. I also love the fact that you decided to use it in the closet. I am still trying to convince my husband that putting up a nice light and making our very tiny master closet actually look nice will make a huge difference.
Sarah says
Great post, John! Made me smile :)
Lindsey d. says
Tacking things this weekend! BF and I made plans to install a permanent TV antenna on the outside of the house and pull down the not working fluorescent light in my kitchen to either replace the ballast or the whole light. Next on the list, build a simple frame for a beautiful map that has been hanging in my hall with thumbtacks for two years. Then we start tackling his house to get it ready to sell so he can move in with me.(OMG!)
DeeJay says
Oh how I love that lamp! And btw…Cesar Millan would not disapprove of Burger’s crate placement. It is like he has his own little suite. LOVE!
YoungHouseLove says
Yay! The Cesar Milan endorsement!
xo,
s
Amy says
I have to admit, I snorted at the “Oh tiny human! Come hither!” my 2-year-old likes to play with our cats’ food and water. Yuck.
Anyway, I have been making myself finish projects, including hanging art in our bedroom and a hat rack in the boy’s room. It took like 10 minutes!
Amy says
Wow, proofread much? Ooops.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- no worries! We know what you meant!
xo,
s
kathy says
Oh jesus, I just started LOL-ing in my cube at the Burger tour. Totally something I would do with my dog (although she wouldn’t stay still like he does!).
I’m really digging that light – looks swanky!
Jordon W says
Hahaha! I loved Burger’s post! His “people of the internet” reminds me of my husband swearing we’re called “kind people” by our cat, Pearl. Lol. Anyway, how about a mini post on that light/chain/ceiling canopy project? I think that could be great info for many of us people of the internet. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
It’s so hard for us to take pics when we’re doing lighting since one of us is holding the light and the other person is holding the wires. Haha. We’ll have to try to set up a tripod and a timer or something!
xo,
s
Kara says
Fun!
I’ve had my kids’ school pictures leaning against the wall in the hallway since before Thanksgiving. This weekend, I finally got on that and hung them.
I am a big fan of the “Dude, get on that already” challenge. I have a million half-finished projects that have kinda stalled for no good reason.
Ang says
Hahaha! Crackin’ me up over here! Love the Burger post! I got my small foyer last weekend and finally decorated it as per the BH&G photo inspiration I had been saving for 5 years. That’s right, 5 years. It looks great! Just gonna install a new light fixture this weekend, lay down a rug on the new floor an it’s done!
Nice looking orb there!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Congrats!
xo,
s
Pati says
I just love the Burger tour, you should do the next house tour from his point of view! :) Anyway, I was wondering…how come that Burger leaves all your shoes alone? I mean, some of them seem to be the perfect snack for most of the dogs out there.
YoungHouseLove says
Thankfully he has never been into chewing anything but treats and dropped table scraps. The guy has a one-track food mind. Haha.
xo,
s
Allyn says
Love love love it! I’m all about textured lighting!
I’m jealous of your closet space. We share a small one, and someone other than me takes up more than half. Not that I’m pointing any fingers.
I have, however taken over the small shelved closet in our office and turned it into my shoe closet. And it’s full.
No, I don’t have a shoe problem. Why do you ask?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, me either. Nothing to see here, folks. No I don’t have two pairs of leopard heels. Who would need two pairs?
xo,
s
No Ordinary Mess says
Love the Burger commentary. Thanks for making me smile!
Katie says
Ha! “Predictably, I’m mortified and Sherry’s elated.” This just cracked me up. I love the narrated-by-Burger pics!
Rachel says
I love the light! It’s called a spaghetti lamp and is basically spun lucite! These things are awesome and I’ve always wanted one. And what a great price!!
YoungHouseLove says
Cool! Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Kate Battle says
What a cool light! I love the retro appeal of it (but that’s from the girl who loves ALL things retro) :)
My dog Leo drops in on my posts all the time! Curiously, yesterday’s post was all about Leo and a lamp. :)
http://retroranchrevamp.com/2012/01/25/i-love-this-lamp/
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- Leo is hilarious. I love him.
xo,
s
Suni says
I got my husband to help me paint the lonely white wall in our kitchen Red to match the other two walls the were red in there, after putting it off for 2 1/2 YEARS!!! Looks SO much better, and I can’t believe we waited so long to do it!I got the motivation after your first “Dude, Get On That Already!” post! So thanks for that!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! I don’t know why everyone’s accomplishments are so thrilling to me but they are. Haha. I’m like the Target lady from SNL screaming “it’s a match!”
xo,
s
shannon says
SNL target skit reference for the WIN!
YoungHouseLove says
High five!
xo,
s
bridget b. says
What a cool light fixture! I like having an interesting feature like that to jazz up a closet. With the help of tar-jay, I recently switched out our master closet lighting situation, which you can see here: http://623designs.tumblr.com/post/15397105905/stylish-swap-diy-drum-shade-pendant-light.
p.s. the video of Clara “raising the roof” was hilarious!
YoungHouseLove says
Love that! Great update!
xo,
s
Karen F says
only you guys could make a post about a light and a dog crate so entertaining! love it! We all know that sucker is gonna get orb’ed…just a matter of time!
Monika says
You guys are just too funny! ;)
tracylee says
awww, I keep my dog in a closet too!
except mine’s a bit bigger than Burger – I have a huge greyhound with a huge crate, that I have nowhere else to put but in my huge bedroom/storage closet. She loves it in there, and when I go in to get clothes or tools, she looks at me like “? hey human! what are you doing in my room??”
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it’s their world. We just live in it.
xo,
s
Kim says
Love that light guys! I definitely noticed the light streaks it made and thought ‘how cool is that’! I love that you two can make even a mundane space like a closet into something fun and original – with such an inexpensive purchase. And love the ghost writing John – you definitely have a fall-back career if you need it – haha!
vanessa says
Oh my goodness John you are so weird! that’s good though, keep it real! I think its ironic how you ghost post through burger, then mention that Clara gets her strange-ness from Sherry..? haha!
Vickie says
AWESOME! My bedroom had a light JUST like that one but mine was a gorgeous turquoise blue! Yup! My room had blue and green shag carpet and this gorgeous swag light in turquoise. It was so great for a ten year old who got her own room in 1970! Love your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh that sounds like the best room ever.
xo
s
Kasey M. says
Hey guys, does Burger sleep in his crate all night? I know I’ve seen lots of pictures of him napping in your bed so I always assumed that’s where he sleeps.
My “Dude Get on That” project was starting a Happiness Project. http://buttonwoodcottage.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-happiness-project.html
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, he sleeps in our bed at night. He goes in his crate throughout the day just for fun (we find him in there a lot and he whines if we don’t leave the door open) and also goes in there when we go out to run errands (he seems to like it in his “safe” little hideout).
xo,
s