For a long time, I have been looking for a chandelier like this one.  In my teen years, my parents had a lamp just like this one over their kitchen table.  What made it unique in my book, was that it had a down light in the center.  My mother would have only that down light on, whenever I would come home in at night.  I liked the warm, cozy glow it gave to the kitchen eating area, and I
often thought I would like one for my kitchen table in our home.

I found this one at the local Habitat for Humanity Building Supply Store near my home. 
On my first visit to the store, I found the front showroom, filled with polished brass chandeliers.  Apparently, there is no longer a demand for polished brass.  As I was looking up at the big selection, I found one with a down light.  I was thrilled!  For a few dollars I purchased it and brought it home.  It was exactly like the one we had in our home.  In fact, I like to think it was the same one:)

I purchased a can of bronze metallic paint at the local KMart store. My husband cleaned it thoroughly. On a day when the wind was not too strong, he spray painted it by hanging it on the lower branches of a tree.  When he was finished, it looked just as I had imagined.  He used two coats of the spray paint, allowing the first coat to try before giving it the second coat.
I added some small crystals I already had on hand.  For so little cost and time, I now have a
chandelier like I had searched for.  The down light gave the same soft glow as I remembered
from my mother's table.

Most of the time now, thanks to the three way switch, we use only the down light, when

we are not eating our meals at the table.  If you ever wonder if you can spray paint

any polished brass fixtures you have, hopefully this will answer your question.

You too, might want to make a visit to the local Habitat For Humanity Store and

buy a can of paint like this one.

 

Then you too, can have a soft, warm light over your kitchen table.

Thanks for stopping by this evening, and for allowing me to share my fun lighting adventure.