Hanging a Chandelier

This was the old light fixture in the dining room.

My mother-in-law gave us this beautiful chandelier that she made herself.

I wasn't so sure how to go about hanging a chandelier myself.  It was pretty easy though, not sure what I was worried about.  It did take quite a few trips to the hardware store though.

This is what our ceiling looked like after taking down the old fixture.

I hung the chandelier a few weeks ago, but it was too long.  It was about an inch above the table.  Then I put a hook in the ceiling to drape the chain from but I didn't like how that looked either.  Plus the wiring wasn't right because there wasn't anywhere for the wires to go up through the middle, which was weird.... my husband came up with the idea to drill a small hole into the canopy for the wires, which worked out perfectly.  Then I cut the wires to the desired length and shortened the chain.

I had to run to the hardware store a few times to get a new lamp nipple because the one I had was too long and the fixture wouldn't screw flush into the ceiling.  

Yea, lamp nipple is the actual name of those things.  I think I like the hollow screw thingymajig, which is what I have been calling it.

Anyway, check it out

Now I need to paint the ceiling.... it looks pretty bad.  Don't worry painting the ceiling is now on the top of my to-do list!

What do you think?  Have you changed a light fixture even though you have no idea what you are doing?  I could have had someone come help but where's the fun in that?  Chris helped me a lot with this project so it was fun doing it together!  If we can do it, anyone can!

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