Have Pendant Light, Will Travel

You know what's annoying? When you drive 3 1/2 hours to an IKEA and forget a few things on your list.

My fabulous Salt Lake-living brother is willing to make his very first IKEA run just for me to pick up what I forgot. Naturally, out of concern for his welfare I drew him a map. I'm sending him back in through the exit area so he doesn't have to wander through the showroom and either spend $200 on impulse purchases or get lost and curl up inside one of the 500 sq. ft. display "homes" until he's found by security that evening, sorting through piles of identical sweaters from Target in a walk in closet. I sure hope he makes it out alive.

 You see, I forgot wall lights for above their bed and a pendant kit -- all of which I wanted to be plug-in, because I strongly suspect my boys won't have bunk beds or the need for a light six feet up on the wall forever. And IKEA has a couple fabulously inexpensive options that aren't hardwired.

And we only even need the pendant because of a combination of the downward facing warehouse pendant light and a tall bunk bed, which both create a dark little nook. And a dark nook is a useless nook.

So while my brother is doing battle with the most overwhelmingly maze-like store in existence, searching for my wall lights, I decided to figure out the pendant on my own (rather than make him search for two separate things on his first trip. See how nice I am?)

Lucky me, I found IKEA's $3.99 lamp cord kit being resold on Amazon for $8.99, which is still $6 less expensive than the clear/silvery version I found at my local Lowe's. I wanted the thick round white cord, so I placed an order and started racking my brain for pendant shade ideas.

 I wanted the light to still look a little industrial, but I didn't want to match the larger pendant in style or finish. I found this utensil crock at a local thrift store for $1.50 and I was sold.

I removed the little round feet with a vice and a little leverage, used wire snips to cut a hole in the base (which was becoming the top) just the right size to accommodate the light socket, spray painted it a glossy orange and hung it up.

I love my little DIY cage light, even if there's still nothing worth mentioning in the nook it's illuminating.

 It makes a huge difference in that dark space.

I'm laying the groundwork, people. Or something.