How to Transform an Old Chimney Pot Into a Garden Light

Photo:  Kristen Larsen

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  • 1 to 2 hours
  • $250 for the chimney pot, $57 for the light and $45 for a 60-watt transformer

Difficulty: Easy All you've got to do is a some simple wiring and a little digging in the garden.

Among the simplest creative reuse projects I've done for my Salvage column, this landscape uplight is also one of my favorites. That's partly because I love proving naysayers wrong. Many of my colleagues couldn't visualize a chimney pot, much less a chimney pot that could cast a warm, 50-watt glow on the undersides of a Japanese maple's leaves. But I found a believer in Maria Burk of Kichler Landscape Lighting, who hooked me up with a low-voltage light that fit snugly inside the base of the crown-topped pot I chose. She also sent along a 60-watt transformer with a built-in timer, which plugs directly into an all-weather outlet, so the unit will automatically turn itself on and off each night. Here’s the step-by-step for how I put all the pieces together:

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Helpful Info

Video: How to Create a Chimney Pot Garden Light
Article: Chimney Toppers

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