Shed new light on your dining room

Takeda’s two-tone aprons have vivid piping binding the top and bottom together. “It’s like a secret, only visible on the inside,” she says. On the custom Bistro version for New York’s Blue Hill restaurant, below right, that bright stripe is front and center. See more styles on Instagram at @gkp_good kitchenproducts. THE DETAILS: Aprons, from $79 each, gkpofficial.com.

M A R T H A S T E W A R T

A m e r i c a n M a d e

C H E F ’S C H O I C E

When this Santa Barbara, California–based designer couldn’t find the apron of her dreams four years ago, she stitched one up herself, launching a business that lives up to its name: G.K.P., or Good Kitchen Products.

TEXT BY CATHERINE HONG

A N Y O LD A P RO N CA N P ROTE C T your clothes. But Kazuyo Takeda, a former fashion designer and mom of two, craved one that would do more than fend off kitchen spatters. “I tried to find some I’d want to wear to fit my style and mood, like clothing in my wardrobe,” she says. Unsatisfied with the options, she sewed a few of her own, using high-quality cotton twill and canvas left over from fashion projects, and a simple design with roomy pockets for her cell phone and cooking tools. After friends saw it and begged her to make versions for them, too, Takeda decided to whip up samples to send to the pros she’d admired on the Netflix show Chef’s Table. She got glowing feedback—and actual orders—from talents like Grant Achatz, Nancy Silverton, and Dan Barber, who appreciated the sharp, gender-neutral styles and the sturdy material that stands up to grease and laundering. That success gave her business liftoff, and soon she was creating more designs and hiring a small team of California artisans to produce aprons inspired by the same values that motivate farm-to-table chefs. “Beauty, practicality, sustainability—these are our goals,” says Takeda, who donates a percentage of sales to organizations battling plastic pollution. G.K.P.’s newest project: colorful, compostable trash bags that look good in your kitchen.

IN A NEW LIGHT Home editor Lorna Aragon saw the potential in this brass relic from a friend’s fixer-upper, and reimagined it with white chalk paint to mimic pricey plaster chandeliers. Turn the page for the how-to.

THE DETAILS On mantel and trim: Valspar Ultra Satin Interior paint, in Unforgettable, $32 a gallon, lowes.com. William Morris Chrysanthemum wallpaper, in Green/ Pink, $237 for a double roll, wallpaperdirect.com.

| RESCUE & REVAMP |

Bright Ideas

Dining-room lights do more than illuminate meals and set a mood. They’re like jewelry for a space and can elevate its entire look. However, sometimes they need a little help to truly shine. Whether you’re transforming a diamond in the rough, updating an existing fixture, or mixing in a sparkling new piece, the options on these pages are real gems.

TEXT BY TINA CHADHA

Four Custom Touches

Whether your chandelier is centuries-old or brand-spanking-new, these simple DIY additions will make it unique. Pick an accent or two, and turn up the twinkle.

BEFORE

Chandelier How-To

1. PROTECT THE WIRING Unscrew the bulbs and wrap the sockets with painters’ tape, covering them to shield the interior workings.

2. CLEAN THE METAL If it’s rusty, sand it first using steel wool before washing. To clean, Lorna wiped the chandelier with a rag soaked in TSP cleaner dissolved in warm water; it’s a potent powder often used to prep items before painting. (A solution made with Dawn dish soap or Windex will do the job, too.) “You want to eliminate grease and stains so the paint adheres,” she says. Follow with a wet rag, then wipe dry.

3. COVER IT IN “PLASTER” For even coverage without paint splatters everywhere, Lorna laid a dropcloth over a table in her garage, and made a spray booth by cutting through one edge of a big cardboard box and setting it on top. Then she hung the chandelier from an S-hook and applied two coats of paint, turning the fixture continually as she went. Once it was dry, she went over it with Rust- Oleum protective matte sealer.

4. REPLACE THE SHADES Lorna traded this old-timer’s frilly originals for simple white ones.

THE DETAILS From previous page: Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte spray paint, in Linen White, $8, homedepot.com. Aspen Creative Small Empire chandelier clip-on shades, in White, $34 for 5, amazon.com.

JOIN THE DIY CLUB For more clever and creative home projects you can easily pull off, visit marthastewart.com/DIYclub.

M O U N T A M E DA L L I O N

These rings add vintage charm and come in all sizes, shapes, and materials. “Light urethane ones are easy to affix,” says Lorna. ”Paint them the same color as the ceiling so they look original.”

A D D N E W L I N KS

Swap out a plain or dated chain for a chicer style. “People don’t always realize you can buy them in different finishes and shapes,” says Lorna. For a cohesive look, pick one in the same metal as your light.

H A N G S O M E J E W E L S

Dress up chandeliers and sconces with crystals. Replace clear ones with gemstone colors, or pick up wire links from the hardware store to dangle a few dazzlers from new spots.

SWA P T H E TO P P E R S

Don’t settle for the so-so shades that came with your fixture. “Personalize it by choosing colors or patterns to match your décor,” suggests Lorna.

CEILING MEDALLIONS Clockwise from top left: Ekena Millwork Theia, 24", $102, lowes.com. Hampton Bay Bellezza, $30, homedepot.com. Westinghouse Soleil ceiling-fan medallion, $59, wayfair.com. Ekena Millwork Orleans, $34, architecturaldepot.com. Westinghouse Botino (lattice pattern), 12" , $28, homedepot.com. CHAINS: Assorted styles, from $25 a yd., grandbrass.com. CRYSTALS: Assorted pendalogues, prisms, and teardrops with beads, from $4 each, chandeliersupply.com. SHADES Clockwise from top left: Black and gold-lined chandelier shade, 5", $25, shadesoflight.com. Beige box-pleat, $45, lampsplus.com. Limited Edition Riverbed, in Lasso, $24, ballarddesigns.com. Birch Blonde Giclee, $60 for 4, lampsplus.com. Isla block print, in Slate, $29, ballarddesigns.com. Limited Edition Anais pleated, in Persimmon, $29, ballarddesigns.com.