DIY Network

Western Living Room See how to convert your living room with inspiration from the Wild West. From "From Junky to Funky" episode DFJF-206

The From Junky to Funky crew make-over a lifeless living room by adding western-styled accents such as cow print chairs and a horse lamp.

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Carousel Lamp

A found child's plastic jumper horse is dismantled and reworked to create a unique floor lamp.

Materials:

plastic jumper horse on springs
curved wooden floor lamp base
extra piece of curved wood
vintage light fixture
threaded rod
new electrical kit
craft jewels
spray primer for plastic
gloss brown spray paint
crackle glaze
acrylic paint
clear water base acrylic polyurethane
clear water base acrylic spray
jigsaw
drill
blow torch
poly glue

1. Remove the plastic jumper horse from the springs.

2. Lightly sand off the loose paint from the plastic and wooden foot pegs.

3. Create a hole for the wooden pole to go through the top of the horse using a combination of a drill and jigsaw.

4. Take apart the thrift store lamp to expose enough of the threaded rod to reach the top of the horse. If necessary, use a coupling and an extra threaded rod.

Note: For this project, a solid spiral pole was used to create a channel for the electrical cord. The pole was cut in half lengthwise using a table saw—lowering the blade about 1/2 inch and running one half of it over the blade three times, each time moving the guard over slightly. Once the channel was cut, it was held together using wood glue and a clamp. Once the glue was dry, all of the rough edges were sanded down.

5. Apply some poly glue onto the threaded rod, and then twist the spiral pole onto it.

6. Allow to dry.

Figure A

7. The second spiral pole should start just underneath the surface of the saddle. Using a blow torch, warm up the plastic on the horse's mane (figure A) that will wrap around the pole.

Safety Note: When using a blow torch, wear safety glasses, a respirator and gloves.

8. Wearing leather gloves, carefully mold the plastic to the shape of the pole. Use duct tape to hold the horse to the pole while the plastic re-hardens.

9. Lightly sand the pole where it meets the horse mane, and then use polyurethane to attach the horse to the pole. Use tape as a clamp while it dries.

Tip: Use automotive filler or hot glue and cotton paper to fill in any large gaps.

Figure B

10. Once everything is dry, sand the excess glue.

11. Run the electrical cord through the pole and the horse.

12. Create a pole topper using a vintage light fixture (figure B).

13. Run the electrical cord through the light fixture.

14. Attach the light fixture onto the top of the pole using poly glue and screws.

15. When all the glue has dried and the electrical work is complete, tape off the light fixture and spray two coats of white paint primer (made for plastic). Allow to dry.

16. Spray the base coat; apply gloss brown enamel to resemble finished wood.

17. Once the paint is dry, apply a coat of crackle glaze to the desired parts.

18. Allow the glaze to dry for a short time, and then apply an antique white paint over the glaze.

Figure C

19. After the paint has dried, and the paint has "cracked", brush on a coat of semi-gloss water-based poly acrylic that is tinted with sepia and black acrylic. This will tone down the antique white and give it a distressed aged look (figure C).

20. Once the poly has dried, build up shadowy layers in the horse's features by using more poly glaze and acrylic paint.

21. After the hose is completely painted, spray it with water-based acrylic polyurethane.

22. Glue on jewels using super glue and using painter's tape to hold them on until they're dry.

Project Cost:

Lamp base, Pole: Free
Jumper horse: $20
Paint: $35
Materials: $5

Total: $60

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