Nautical Lamp {Saturday Project}

For Reynolds’ “big boy room” I’m trying to go a little nautical…not like, we’re on a boat nautical, but a few things here and there. The nautical texture I’m bringing into his room is rope.

I found a cute rope mirror from Target that I purchased using my cartwheel app back in March. And then I found some navy nightstands and rope knobs at World Market.

I knew I wanted a rope lamp but then finding the right one that didn’t cost me an arm and a leg was another issue.

I started toying with the idea that I could create the lamp I wanted, but wasn’t quite sure how…which lamp and just the technical side of covering something with rope. {I have little faith in my crafty side}

And then I remembered I had this lamp:

A hand-me-down from a co-worker (thanks PAIGE!) that I’d already been debating if I would paint it pink for Eliza Jane’s room. It was perfect!!

Then, last week, as Providence would have it, our Lowe’s Home Improvement Ideas magazine came in the mail and wouldn’t you know, there was a section on ROPE!!

And how-to’s on covering things…like LAMPS!

So, Reynolds and I went for our walk this morning with “Aunt Anne” then headed to Lowe’s to pick up the rope we needed (even though I’d not actual read the how-to…we winged it!).

Here’s how it went:

I bought this rope ->

with this cord (because it needed a new one badly) ->

First thing’s first. I watched a quick how to replace a lamp cord video on youtube…

Step 1. pull out the lamp socket ->

Step 2. unscrew the cord from the socket ->

Step 3. pull out the old cord ->

Pause here on the socket/cord part.

Since I was going to be working on covering this lamp, I didn’t want the new cord to be all up in my way, so I decided I’d go ahead and cover the lamp with the rope THEN go back and add in the new cord. {It actually worked really well…thankfully!}

Down to the real business of covering this lovely yellow lamp with the newly purchased rope (side note, R was napping so the timing was perfect, but I was under the clock!).

Step 1. hot glue the end of the rope (the starting point) so that there are no frays

Step. 2. Start at the BACK of the lamp (which also gives you an idea of where the cord hole is for when you finish), at the base to glue the starting point. I also put a paper towel down so that I wouldn’t get glue on my dining room table.

Gluing, pressing and even-ing up as you go along…

………

The top was kinda tricky, but when I realized that the detail was just not going to be visible, it was easier to move on, knowing it was turning out exactly how I’d wanted.

I went all the way to the tippity top with the rope. Using masking tape and a razor blade to cut my end (I had 50 ft of rope to start with and ended up with about 1.5 ft left over!)

Back to the cord.

After I took off part of the felt bottom, I fed the new cord back thru the hole and up to the top. Once the new cord had been pulled out, I cut it down the seam just a bit to pull the two sides apart:

Per the video, I tied a loose knot and then screwed back in the socket.

The not-so-final product:

I’m debating on what the lamp shade will look like {I have about 3 ideas floating around in my head} but for now, this is how R’s lamp looks on his World Market nightstand 🙂