I have to admit, Joey is a genius. A few months ago, when browsing through the bins at Goodwill Outlet, he stumbled upon a giant pile of wine corks and a fan grate. He excitedly called me over to look at what he had found. To me it just looked like a bunch of junk; however, Joey saw something special in those materials. He had a vision, and I’m glad I allowed him to follow his vision, because now I have an incredible wine cork chandelier which was made from those seemly useless items. You can follow the tutorial below to make your own.
Materials:
- Fan grate
- 60-100 wine corks
- String
- 60-100 screw eye hooks (214 x 13/16)
- Rope (medium thickness)
- Picture hanging wire
- Pipe fastener
Instructions:
Start by screwing the hooks into the wine corks. Then you need to determine how many layers of corks you want and how long you want each layer to be. Following that decision, you can cut strings to the appropriate lengths. You will then take each string and tie one end of it to the hook and the other end to the fan grate. Arrange the strings on the fan to create the desired look. Joey and I found that 4 layers worked well for our chandelier. We tied the longest strings to the inner edge of the fan and then worked our way out. You want to tie the string to a stable base so it wont move around. Fan grates typically have three bases: the inner edge, the outer edge, and a circular beam about a third of the way from the edge. Since we wanted four layers, we had to create a fourth base. To do this, we molded picture hanging wire into a circle and attached it a few inches from the center edge. Later we wove rope around the wire to conceal the uneven wire edges. Then we created a handle to hang it from by screwing a pipe fastener into the inner edge of the fan grate. We also wrapped rope around the fastener. Then we tied an additional piece of rope to the handle and hung it from a hook in the roof.
Pretty cool, huh? The best part of this whole project is that it cost less than $15 and most of the items were thrifted.
oh. my. goodness. that is adorable. loving it!
This is seriously one of the coolest, original ideas I’ve seen on any design blogs.
I’m so excited by it, I’m wondering how I could adapt it to another “design” if you will, like a tabletop one? Or whether a wreath ring could be used instead of the fan base? Will let you know, but meanwhile please know I would NEVER have thought of it without your idea first!!! thank you, thank you, thank you DN
You guys are insanely talented. I am beyond jealous. <3 you!
I love this, what an awesome idea!
Thank you!
Wow, your chandy is just gorgeous – love it!!! I have this linked to my cork post too today, for inspiration!
Thank you! It was a really fun project.
Wow – this is very cool! I love it!!!
Thank you!!
Love this! I think I’ll add a cheap low wattage light to mine.
I thought of wrapping those really tiny and fine lights on the fan grill covering as much as I can inside only. I would use white. It wouldn’t be bright, but instead it would provide a really nice soft light which I feel would go well with the corks.
So inventive! I love the creativity. I have a stash going and haven’t found anything inspiring, but this might be the inspiration I’ve been looking for!
Thank you, Ashley!
I’m not trying to be mean but this looks like a cork tampon chandelier.
Haha – that is an interesting observation. I’m not sure if I see it, but to each their own.
You don’t have to use string,fishing line,a fine chain and I’m going to use the stick on lights. You could use either size. I believe I’m going to use the several small ones.
Love your creativity!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I really like your idea of f ine chain. That would make it mo
cool idea!
please take a look at my custom wine cork art:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.621982829297.2292590.3607674&type=1&l=c6bb277c6f
Thanks!