DIY Gold + White Beaded Chandelier

 Truth be told, I am just a little giddy over my new entry way chandelier. Anyone who knows me knows that gold and white are right up my alley. It's a love affair. After discussing my inspiration for the chandelier here, I decided that I wanted a matte gold metal and matte white beaded finish.

WHAT I USED :
-Lowes Chandelier

-Ace Hardware Brite Gold Metallic Finish Paint {Comparable to Rustoleum Ultra Cover in Gold}

-Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White{sample size is plenty!}

-Annie Sloan Clear Wax

-Wooster White China Bristle Paint Brush

-Small Flat Paint Brush for Beads

-Towel/Rag for Wax

-Yellow Frog Tape for Delicate Surfaces {optional}

HOW I DID IT:

I saw this chandelier DIY before I started the project and the recommendation for Rustoleum Ultra Cover paint in a gold finish. For me that was hard to find. Home Depot stocks it in stores, but we do not have one here and they do not ship it either. I couldn't find it anywhere else online. After calling several other local shops that carry the Rustoleum line, I finally got somewhere with Ace Hardware. They carried a similar product and I was willing to give it a go. 

My first step was to tape off the beads so I wouldn't have a lot of mistakes to cover as I painted the beads their new shade of white. The chandelier didn't come assembled of course, so it was just the beads that wrapped around the chandelier that stayed in place that needed taping. Pictured below, I started taping off the beads to protect them from gold paint. I wasn't sure how many rounds of tape I would end up using {with my level of mistakes! ha} , so I bought a Frog Tape for delicate surfaces, just in case I had to tape over paint later. I did not bother to tape the inside of the beads attached to the chandelier, I figured I would be risky and just touch up as needed! 

 I decided this was much easier if I tackled this project with out spray paint because I really do not have good luck spray painting in the winter. Plus, I figured if I did this inside with a window open, it was much easier on me trying to accomplish between nap times. The gold paint required several coats, but that may just be an isolated case. I think my can of paint was a tad bit old and had a hard time mixing well. Once I finally got the can thickened up from the paint that had begun to sit at the bottom, it went on beautifully. I felt like Midas with the gold touch. ;) My paint brush was simply amazing too. There are no brush strokes whatsoever. After a few coats I did sand a few drips off, which you may not have.

While I was waiting on the paint to dry on the chandelier, I began painting the mother of pearl beads. I know...what a shame to cover up the mother of pearl beads. But that is what I was going for. I used Annie Sloan Chalk paint with a teensy bit of shimmery silver acrylic paint mixed in because I initially wanted a slight shimmer to the beads. Once it dried you could not see any shimmer whatsoever, so that was pointless- but I liked the new result anyway. It took me two coats of paint on each side of the beads, and then I rubbed them down with clear wax on an old dish towel. I think the wax gave the beads the smooth finish I wanted. I even added a tiny bit of gold paint to the hooks at the end so they didn't clash in silver tones. Disclaimer: painting the beads is a bit time consuming.

It took me a few rounds of touch ups, alternating between the gold and white paint to get beaded part right. I was being meticulous and adding dabs of gold paint to the small pieces of metal in between beads. At times like that, I was kicking myself for not spray painting it! But in the end, the time was worth it and I love the gold finish on the metal. It seems a lot higher end looking than a lot of spray paint jobs I have done lately!

The original vs. the new....

Also, while we are on the topic of pretty gold lighting...you must check out this DIY sunburst flush mount, can you even believe it? Love it! Pam is always the most innovative DIYer, I swear!

 Hope y'all enjoyed! Now I am on to part II, painting another chandelier!

-Linking to Best of the Nest-