DIY Sconce

Tutorial for the sconce I made for my One Room Challenge Office Space. This is a moderately complicated DIY as it involves some power tools for drilling holes, and electrical knowledge. I utilized brass bases from lamps that I already had, but sourced possible bases if you wanted purchase some and try this at home.

SUPPLY LIST:

6 " Brass Lamp Bases (2)   You can find this one at Grand Brass 6" BRASS BASE HERE 

Hickey and (4) 1" Length of 1/8" threaded rod, (4) 1/8" nuts You can purchase   HICKEY'S HERE    You need 2 of these

Candelabra sockets (2)  found HERE

Lamp wire if hard-wiring or if plugging in 2 Lamp cords HERE,

Dowels found either at Home Depot or Lowes

5/16" x 48"   (2)
7/16" x 48"   (4)
3/8" x 36"     (7)

Gold Leaf and Adhesive Size   found at Michael's or Amazon

2 Aluminum Ridge Vent Straps found HERE

8 screws and nuts(to attach the ridge vent strap)

Spray Clear Lacquer

Epoxy ( I like quick set, just a few minutes)



MAKING THE SCONCE:

The brass base will be set on the diagonal for this project. 

1.  Thread a 1"Long x 1/8" threaded rod through the hole in the center of the base and attach the hickey placing a lock nut on back side of base. Take another 1"Long x 1/8" threaded rod and attach the candelabra socket to the hickey. If you are not hard-wiring the sconce you need to drill a 1/8" hole in the "bottom" of your base to allow the cord to thread through hole and down the wall to your plug.
2.  Run the lamp cord through the back of the base and wire the candelabra socket.
3.  Attach the aluminum ridge vent to the base by drilling through the brass base using the holes as your guide. You then use screws and nuts to attach the ridge vent or if you own a pop rivet gun, rivets make a nice flush attachment to base.
4.  Coat your dowels with adhesive size. When dry "roll" the dowel in pre-cut pieces of gold leaf paper. 
   
   
   
    
   
   

     5.  Seal the dowels with a spray clear lacquer. DO NOT SKIP this step as the gold leaf will naturally tarnish.

     6.  Cut the dowels to your desired sizes. My longest center dowels were 15" long and then I graduated the sizes according to how I wanted it to look.

     7.  Have your dowel pattern laid out prior to epoxying so it does not dry out before you finish. I used clamps at the beginning (you could use clothes pins) to prevent the dowels from moving prior to setting. Continue epoxying and layering your dowels until you reach your desired look.

     8.  Use a small wattage bulb to prevent fire hazards.

DIY Screen

Here is the tutorial for the screen featured in my One Room Challenge

Supply list:

Hollow Core Unfinished Composite Door Slab 18 x 80 (4) available at Home Depot $19.98 ea

Brass Hinges 2 1/2" $3.98 for a 2 pack. You will need 5 packs 

Square wooden dowels (I got mine at Home Depot)
3/8" x 36"   7 at $.98 ea
1/4" x 36"   8 at $1.04 ea


Epoxy Glue
Glossy Spray Lacquer Paint  I use whatever they have at the big box hardware store

Prime the panels with the black spray paint. Once dry put on 2 coats of black paint.

I chose to cut the dowels to the size I wanted, and then spray them gold. Do this so you can spray the ends to avoid raw wood edges.

"Paint" on the size adhesive and let dry. Apply the gold leaf. I cut the sheets to size to make it easier. You can also "roll" the dowels on the sheet for easy application.

Once you have gold leafed the dowels, you MUST seal them with a spray lacquer. The gold will tarnish if you do not complete this step.

Arrange the dowels in whatever pattern you choose. I used Epoxy to glue them to the panel.

I put 3 hinges on each screen. This is helpful to have an extra set of hands to help hold the screen as you apply the hinges. Hint: pre-drill pilot holes for the screws.


Total cost for materials:   $160.48

Later in the week I will post tutorials for the console, sconces, and floor cloth.