how to: glass bottle lamp…

last christmas my mummy {mom} found a lamp that she loved at metrolina expo. it was made from an old antique glass bottle & looks incredible in her living room. shortly after she bought it her & my dad tried making their own… lamp #2 another win.

i’ve now been on the search for a new lamp for our living room for 3 months. i’ve looked EVERWHERE & nada. so, i decided to make my own & this post was born… first, i will say that these glass bottles are hard to come by {i found mine at my favorite antique store in Asheville: Lexington Park Antiques} & nice lamp shades aren’t cheap either. this project isn’t on the low-budget side of things but, you never know… i got a GREAT deal on my bottle & already had a gorgeous new lamp shade just waiting for a home.

what you’ll need:

#1. glass bottle: mine was priced $95 with 40% off, lucky me… they range from $50-$250 or more depending on the size, color, age & etc. mine is 4 gallons & is made of perfect green glass with thousands of tiny bubbles. #2. lamp shade: i used a clean, crisp linen drum… local spot here. great website here. #3. lamp supplies: {all found at a local hardware store or lamp shop.} lamp kit $8. lamp harp $4. lamp harp topper $3. i splurged an extra $6 for a clear cord, because i liked it better than the white one the lamp kit included. #4. a phillips head screw driver, needle nose pliers & a light bulb.

first lay all your pieces out…

next stack your parts… starting with the rubber adapter {this will sit inside the bottle neck} twist the threaded pipe through leaving 1/4 inch at one end. tighten the lock nut on the opposite end. {this is the bottom} then stack the check ring, the harp bottom & the socket cap… then thread the wire through the appropriate hole in the socket cap.

next you’ll loosen the terminal screws in the socket interior & attach the wires… the ribbed wire goes to the silver screw & the round wire goes to the brass screw. this was a little tricky… you want to make sure the screws are tight on the wires. replace the socket shell over top. now, carefully insert a light bulb & check to see if you’ve got electricity! {if yes, GOOD, you’re almost done. if no, undo and re-wire again.}

now that you’ve got light, all you need to do is get this contraption settled in the neck of your bottle. then add your lamp harp…

now… add your lamp shade, the harp topper & find an incredible spot for this beauty to glow. voila!! {so far we’re in love with it… it’s the perfect mix of antique & modern which is right up my alley. i’m also digging that no 2 lamps will ever be exactly alike. hope you love it! -hg}