This light is featured in my Ultimate DIY Lighting Guide, along with other ideas for creating your own lamps and how to work with fixtures.
So if you’re a fan of Fixer Upper, I’m sure you’ve seen this house.
These lights immediately catch your eye and make a statement in this kitchen. So make your own statement with your very own X Lights!
Buy them here:
Make them:
- Find a light fixture. Check out my post on selecting fixtures.
- Build a basic frame as in the Basic Light, using the measurements of your light fixture as a guide. Be sure to allow sufficient room for your light fixture to hang freely.
- Construct one cross of each x, laying the dowel from one corner to the opposite and marking the first angle. (Huge tip: Check out this video from Ana White on cutting angles).
- Cut the first angle, then lay the dowel in place again. Mark and cut the second angle.
- Attach with glue and brad nails.
- To complete each x, cut two more pieces of dowel, marking and cutting each angle. Attach with glue and brad nails into frame. I also used staples to attach small x pieces to larger x piece from step 2.
- Attach a cross brace as in the Basic Frame.
- Feed your pendant through and hang!
Note: If you are good with angle cuts, and your frame is perfectly square, you can create one x as a pattern, and then cut the other 3 all at the same time. If, like me, you are not good with angle cuts, or perhaps your frame isn’t perfectly square, you can go the slow and steady route and do one at a time.
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Where do you buy the pendant part of this project?
Hi Sheena,
I bought a basic pendant on clearance at Lowe’s. It actually had a large white shade on it that I removed. They don’t carry that specific light anymore. But shop around, there are tons of basic foyer lights that would work great for this. We have a Habitat for Humanity Restore close to us that always has a ton of brass foyer lights available. You would just simply take the pendant out of the glass shade, and the pendant can be easily spray painted if needed. Good luck!
What size dowels and what color stain did you use? Also, what size did yours turn out to be! I’ve been looking everywhere for the lights to go inside and I’m trying to figure out how much clearance to give them! Thank you! Love this!
Hi Sarah, Well, I’d love to go measure the light, but we sold the house so I can’t give you exact dimensions! For the outside frame, I used 3/4″ dowels. I used 1/2″ dowels for the Xs, but you could use 3/4″ there too. I will say that I had a different fixture for this originally, and the light felt a little smooshed inside. My new light, the one in the picture, was smaller and it looked much better. I think you will want to give it a couple of inches of cushion on each side. I’m sorry I can’t be a better help! For the stain, I used Minwax Special Walnut. Good luck!