Wednesday, March 9, 2011

{bubble chandelier}



When we first moved into the loft, I thought we would need a large statement light fixture to go above the dining room table. We were having a really hard time finding something that was “right.” The best options available in our price range were at Ikea and they all seemed so recognizable and rather boring.  Chris suggested we try to make a light based off a project in one of our old ReadyMade magazines.  You can see the bubble chandelier that inspired ours in the ReadyMade archives here. The directions for this project appeared rather extensive with weaving the bulbs into groups and then weaving of those groups together; ReadyMade even gives it their highest difficulty rating! So we cut a few corners- here is how to make our version: 



what you will need:

    1. Hang the paper lantern cord in desired location, then attach light socket splitters and bulbs. For the socket splitters, insert one in to the main lantern cord socket and then insert the second splitter into one of the outlets from the first splitter.
    2. Cut string into 2 foot lengths, one piece for each bubble. 
    3. Flatten paper clips into a small rod using pliers (essentially you "smash" the paper clip) and attach one piece of string with double knot in the center of the clip
    4. Insert the end of the string with the paper clip into the bubble while holding the other end of the string out.
    5. Begin by affixing the large sized bubbles first; most of these should be placed around the bottom underneath the light bulbs. Affix each bubble by tying the end of the string around the lantern cord with a double knot so that the bubble is held in the desired location.  Trim excess string from knot.
    6. Continue by affixing all the small bubbles in between and above the large bubbles to create your desired shape.
    7. Cover the knots along the cord with white electrical tape
    8. Enjoy!


      The best thing about this light is that you can make it as large or as small as you would like depending on the amount of bulbs and bubbles you include (I have been contemplating making ours a little bigger). I also think this project would make wonderful hanging bedside lamps using only 4 or 5 bubbles and one bulb. Faire Frou Frou, a luxury lingerie boutique, found another easy DIY way to use the bubbles here.

      If this is too much DIY for your then you can also purchase the original chandelier from ReadyMade in Jean Pelle's shop on Etsy. The seller is the same person who wrote about the project for the magazine.

      31 comments:

      1. Thank you for the Faire Frou Frou shout-out in your post! I love that you made a pretty centerpiece for your home. I actually used that DIY guide you used to help me with building my chandelier too. It can be a lot of work, but so worth it!
        xoxox alison

        ReplyDelete
      2. i really like what you have done here. but i don't understand how the lantern cord is connected to the ceiling electic socket. do most ceilings have wires to connect, not plugs? does your ceiling have a regular electric outlet? if you cannot plug it in to the ceiling, then you must have to strip the wires or something? also, i only want to hang my chandelier a few feet from the ceiling and am having a hard time finding a paper lantern cord shorter than 12 feet, any suggestions? thanks so much

        ReplyDelete
      3. wow I cannot believe you made this...that's incredible. I work for CB2 {recently started} and am going to show them what you did with the their bubbles! How cool!

        ReplyDelete
      4. This is amazing! I came over from Domestic Jenny and I totally want to try this for my living room. Love the idea!

        ReplyDelete
      5. what a fantastic light fixture! thanks for sharing the diy instructions. i definitely want to try this out!

        ReplyDelete
      6. I love this, it is such a statement piece. Thanks for sharing!

        ReplyDelete
      7. Oh my gosh this is beautiful! I would love to attempt to make one of these!

        ReplyDelete
      8. I TOTALLY love this project! It looks so gorgeous and unique!!! I might have to give it a go one of these days!

        ReplyDelete
      9. This is incredibly beautiful! Just found you from Centsational Girl. Congrats on the feature!

        ReplyDelete
      10. This is gorgeous! I have always wanted to attempt something like this (Love all the CB2 bubble lights) but now I have an idea how to! Congrats on the feature at Centsational Girl!

        ReplyDelete
      11. Blown away by this...the execution and the creativity! wow!

        ReplyDelete
      12. Love this idea! How did you do the electrical work putting the cord into the ceiling? Did you just cut and strip the cord and add the connectors? I would love to do something like this in my dimly lit kitchen but am puzzled on how to do the electrical part. Love how yours turned out. :)

        ~ Nina
        http://diyprojectsbynina.blogspot.com

        ReplyDelete
      13. swoon!!! It looks gorgeous!! This has been on my to do list for a while, hopefully one day I will get around to doing it.

        ReplyDelete
      14. Hi all-

        I have received a few questions about how this light is connected at the ceiling and wired. It is hung from exposed piping in our loft and the electrical cord is run along that pipe to an outlet on a wall about 15 feet away.

        Also - our paper lantern cord is much shorter than 12 feet- it is closer to eight feet and we purchased it from Ikea.

        ReplyDelete
      15. Totally gorgeous, it turned out so lovely! I've linked your chandelier to my project post here today too, well done!

        ReplyDelete
      16. Well done! Good on ya, mate! Your loft is gorgeous - it goes to show you that good design doesn't always have to break the bank!!!

        ReplyDelete
      17. Simply stunning... Thanks for sharing!

        ReplyDelete
      18. Gorgeous, but... doesn't it take a lot of maintenance? It looks like it would really show all the dust and grim that it would start to collect and with that shape it must be a nightmare trying to clean...

        ReplyDelete
      19. Very well done, I love the effects of this lighting fixture it will definitely make my room brighter.

        ReplyDelete
      20. this is beautiful, but not very functional. the table is completely in shadow, so as a chandalier, it makes for a dim to dark eating atmosphere. different bulbs might better focus the light downward.

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Hi Aaron,

          This light is actually very bright. It contains three 60 watt globe blubs and we generally eat with the light slightly dimmed because it is so bright.

          I had to have the light significantly dimmed in order to get pictures of it that weren't washed out which is why it may appear very dim in the photos.

          -Natalie

          Delete
      21. This is so awesome, i love this version!! I think I need to try and make one now!

        ReplyDelete
      22. Hello! My husband and I made this chandelier today! I wanted to show you the photos. Thank you so much for posting the instructions and sharing. I have been searching high and low for an affordable modern & unique chandelier!
        http://www.flickr.com/photos/29866075@N04/8110526844/in/photostream/
        http://www.flickr.com/photos/29866075@N04/8110527566/in/photostream/

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. Kristina-

          This looks soooo good! Im so glad you used my tutorial to make one for yourself and shared it with me :)

          -Natalie

          Delete
        2. Very nice. Question, what ceiling kit did you use? Most of the ones I'm finding look like they would connect to a wall socket. Not sure how to adjust it to work for a ceiling fixture

          Delete
      23. I love this! How do you attach it to the ceiling with the wiring? Any ideas??

        ReplyDelete
      24. I saw a chandelier similar to this piece, it really made the room feel different but in a good way. This should be supported by wiring if not this might fall.

        ReplyDelete
      25. I LOVE this! I'm going to make a smaller version for our camper. I'm re-doing the inside in a Retro 70's theme. This will be perfect! Thank you!

        ReplyDelete
      26. erm, aren't the bubbles at risk of melting, since they are directly touching the light bulbs?
        I remember, as a kid, leaving a golf ball on my night-table lamp, only to find it half an hour later partially melted :/

        ReplyDelete
        Replies
        1. ok, I noticed in the specs of CB, they are made of glass :)

          Delete
      27. Does anyone know if using those cool Edison bulbs with the decorative filament would work in a project like this? The bulbs are expensive, but I like the look- especially on a dimmer switch. Just curious if the glass balls surrounding them would obscure the bulbs.

        ReplyDelete