The good advice to unplug for a while came to us by way of editor in chief Lindsay Bierman in this month's Southern Living. And trust me: that lemon pie on the cover is reason enough to distract you from your duties. I served it for dessert after a casual dinner on our porch last weekend, and it's glorious.
So when I haven't been entertaining friends or puttering in the garden this summer, I've been doing what I do best—shopping! My new column In With the Old has kept the two of us quite busy with trips to flea markets throughout the South and a series of photo shoots here at the house. Check out this pair of architectural columns I found at the Renniger's Antique Extravaganza in Mt. Dora, Florida.
Like any other diamond in the rough, multiple lives had resulted in layers of cracked and peeling paint.
Still, they had a great look with beaded detailing around the tops I loved. At about five feet high, I imagine they might have once stood upon bases supporting the roof over a breezy, open air porch, perfect for summer entertaining. That was just the inspiration I needed for one bright idea: standing floor lamps with durable outdoor shades to light up the night!
To start, I sanded the pair of columns and attached simple, unfinished wood bun feet for added height. After priming and painting everything a creamy shade of white, I topped the columns with fence post caps from Lowe's and used a lamp kit to wire them for electricity. If your lamps are in a covered area (such as a porch or sunroom) where they won't get wet, a regular lamp kit will work fine. Get my step-by-step directions here.
To give the columns a stylish, more decorator look, I had our good friend Susan Schneider of Shandell's create custom, porch-appropriate drum shades using outdoor fabric from Quadrille, water-resistant adhesive and vellum plastic frames. I had her railroad the fabric (apply it horizontally) to echo the column's fluting.
When it comes to outdoor living, deep comfortable seating is a must, and ours is from Hayneedle. To finish the look, I paired airy, Bohemian-style napkins from World Market with solid linen for inexpensive custom throw pillows.
After a serendipitous visit from new neighbors during the shoot with their adorable yellow lab Jasper, here's how it all turned out!
Huge thanks to photographers Miki Duisterhof and Ralph Anderson, together with all the editors at Southern Living for their contributions to the story. Now—if I could only put down my cocktail and pick up my laptop more often…
Unplugging is definitely a must! And with a cocktail even better! Love those lamp shades! Hope your having a great summer! 🙂
Jennifer
Eddie! These lamps are brilliant. The Quadrille fabric is fresh and adds just the right juxtaposition from the old columns.
Speaking of … I will have to check out your hew column w SL. Had no idea! Congrats.
xo,
cristin
You are amazing! I’d like to come by for a Southside on your porch right now!
That is absolute perfection … and the Lab couldn’t have been a better model! My yappy little Maltese really needs to do a better job of posing at my photo shoots. 😉
And I so vote you should enjoy the cocktail … just remember to fill us in every once in a while!
Serious WOW’S from me!
A super fabulous transformation of those columns… who would have thunk!
Love the marguerita colored shades!
What!? Eddie I am just amazed (as usual) The column lamps and the fabulous shades, well my jaw dropped! Love the pillows on the porch furniture. It all came together as so classic and comfortable!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
I hope you will also enter my Giveaway from Dr Perricone!
Ugh, why are you so fabulous?!?! Those lamps are pretty darn amazing. What a great idea. xx
Picking up my jaw from the floor. Was not expecting the lamps! I’m adding columns to my flea market “to find” list. Thanks for sharing.
That is the prettiest porch, love the lamps and the artfully arranged furniture and accessories. Really Jasper makes that photo shoot!
What a sweet Summer you are having! cheers.!
pve
I’ve got to move to a house with a front or at least covered porch!
what an inviting porch…and love how you saw the columns as something other than columns.. I would never have thought to use them as lamps.. but they’re perfect for the porch..
and the pie looks heavenly..
best,
maureen
Love that idea! Believe it or not, my brothers salvaged 6 old columns from a local beach house.. wonder if I could talk them into making me some floor lamps…hmmm… (If you ever take a field trip to Wilmington, N.C. I can take you to the best kept secret junk shop around!- of course I’ll have to blind fold you to get there!) … -birdsofafeatherdesign.com
Wow, again out of the ball park!! Beautiful setting!!! I love that shade of green — and as everyone before has said, who would have thunk about lamps for those columns — well, you of course. You really do have such great vision. Thank you for sharing these pictures with us!
What an amazing idea! I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for some at Scott’s next time! Your porch is fab?
I cannot even speak riht now!
can you just see these at scentimental gardens … mista steve could do this!!
was so speechless I could not even spell … right!
hahaha
I want an old southern porch to sit out on.
Love those lamps of course you knew they were fabulous
this is what I love about our repurpose era we are in
Janice
Eddie, you have got to get your own tv show! Stat!
Though I miss your posts, I vote for keeping the cocktail! 😉
I loved the spread in SL, so bright and fresh!
Kat 🙂
Those lamps are fabulous, what a great idea! and that porch looks amazing…Wow
Wow! I would have never in a million years thought of turning a column into a light. Brilliant. You two are so cute; I want to be your neighbor!
I love those shades! Are there places to buy the materials to make your own? I’ve seen kits but they are small and not drum shades-a must. Maybe you could post DIY instructions sometime. I want to customize an ugly fixture with a huge drum shade but I have no clue how. 🙂
I absolutely love this idea!
Oh Eddie! This looks so fresh and inviting. I imagine having a glass of lemonade on the verandah. Love to you + Jaithan! xoxxo, P
wow…masterful!!
What great ideas! I love those lamps, how clever you are. I’d love to live on that porch all summer long!!
You make it look so simple…beautifully done!
What a beautiful outdoor setting. I love the way the lamps turned out and your trick of using napkins to create pillows is one I’ve used for years….such a quick and easy way to dress up a space. Thanks for the inspiration.
What a grand reuse of columns + the lamp shade is delicious! Our lives should be easy, I will be here when you post again. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
Beautiful! Feels fresh and oh, so summery! Great job color coordinating the doggie. 😉
Classic, gorgeous, cool and refreshing comes to my mind when I look at your porch. Love it!! xoKathysue
De-light-ful
Brillant Idea for the columns. Who would think of that but only you?! LOL.
Miss your posts but glad you are busy doing what you love..
I think this is the most impressive thing you’ve done! It’s really lovely.
Eddie,
I absolutely love the lamps! That was totally unexpected and completely brilliant. Now I need to make one of these for my family room. Thanks so much for sharing your brilliant ideas. I went dumpster diving with my daughter at the end of her first year of college and salvaged a bookcase. The back was in sad shape, so I covered it in fabric (one of your previous posts!) It is fantastic. Keep the inspiration flowing!
Donna
http://www.greenpieced.com
Aw, Eddie, I know you’ll always come up with something unexpected. And you make it look so simple. The lamp thing, maybe, but the perfect scale of shade to pedestal is something else again.
Just beautiful. Love the fresh green.
Just fabulous, as usual!
Fantastic!! Love those lamps:) How fun to have to go shopping! Enjoy the rest of your summer!
The whole porch is gorgeous…love the lamps and the shades…fabulous!!
Love, love, love those lamps! I can’t wait until you reveal more of your new home!
Fabulous porch!!
Brilliant!
When you get tired of them you can sell them to me…
Hope you are having a blast this summer – Mr. E &J!
Summer hugs,
Mon
Love the color palette and accents, gorgeous!
Using beautiful napkins to make covers is simply inspired! Génial!
A super fabulous transformation of those columns..The column lamps and the fabulous shades, well my jaw dropped! Love the pillows on the porch furniture. It all came together as so classic and comfortable!….
It’s the happy dog face that does it for me, hahaha.What a cutie! But seriously, a great idea- I was wondering what you were going to do with it- but you are one of a kind and can always think up something different – love the green of the lampshades.
And looove the dog 😉
Have a great weekend!
XOXO
Bea
Simple Fabulousness! I’ve always said that you can create a lamp out of just about anything.
Oh this is just great! I actually bought a couple of columns from one of my favorite dinner places when they got rid of some of their odds and ends. I didn’t have a plan, just knew I needed them! I considered making them into floor lamps, but wasn’t sure how to do that or if it would work. You showed me how! It will be my new project for fall (too hot down here for projects right now) and I’ll put it on the blog. Thanks Eddie Ross!
The lamps are genius!
Eddie…WOW is all I can say…the porch looks Fabo!! And no don’t put down that drink 🙂
Of course LOL the Lamps…shades esp
Ann
One of the most brilliant idea I have ever seen. I admire your creativity and the fact that you are sharing it with everybody is a plus. Beautiful idea without a cost.
Thanks Eddie
Have missed you…but am happy you have enjoyed your Summer. Love the columns…what great lamps. Looking forward to all the great things I k now you’ll share as Fall approaches. Mona
How creative -t hese lamps are fabulous. I love the overall look of the finished patio. Such wonderful colors with the rich chocolate brown with the cool greens and blues. The pillows are amazing.
Super job.
Patti
This is my first visit here, and I gotta tell ya, I am adoring all you do. I will happily be buying a Southern Living magazine now and eagerly thumbing through to find your pages. I wish I could send you pictures of the thrift stores by me (I live in MN)… wonderful collections of tables and mirrors and dressers… always lots of dressers! Blessings!
We adore repurposing salvage items into something beautiful! Love the lamps!!!
Angela and Renee
Love the the pillars and the shades! P.S. I’m going to look for pie in the fridge.
LOVE. LOVE, LOVE! The result is absolutely beautiful! Angie
S*C*R*E*A*M!!! Did you hear that? This project is COMPLETELY MESMERIZING!! I LUV IT, I LUV it, I luv it! franki
What a great idea!! As Always!! Lucky you that the Eastern heat isn’t like Dallas’. Keep Cool.
simple and elegant, at the same time bright and beautiful. Love that they are sitting on the porch.
What a great idea, Eddie! We all missed you this summer but are glad you had a good break. We all need a break now and then. I just love these lamps!
Lemon pie and a great flea market find…doesn’t get much better than that. I have meyer lemons in our tree and two great finds of my own.
1. 2 very old deck chairs $12 each
2. a rocking/chair glider that I am seriously thinking of silver leafing $20
Off to pick lemons and find some sanding paper. Thanks for the inspiration.
http://www.cynthiasblog.com
http://www.theapptutor.com
I am in lust for those lamps!
I want everything on that porch…including the porch!
That picture reminds me of the summer evenings of my childhood, spent sitting on my porch and the porches of neighbors.
Our porches weren’t so stylish,but you’ve certainly managed to capture all the essence of those sweet endless summers.
That porch is fabulous! Love it,great job! xoxo
Looks divine including the pooch! 🙂
Eddie – Love this piece. So is that porch at your new home? Looks divine! And is that your dog?
Looking forward to seeing you in Ireland in November- you must come down to Nicholas Mosse Pottery-just outside Kilkenny. I have just become their new Marketing Director so we have loads of great events planned for the upcoming year in celebration of their 25th Anniversary. Looking forward to meeting Jaithan too!
All my best, Lisa
Oh, it’s very original themes connecting to this post! Even the writing jobs service will hardly get by with this.