This post is sponsored by Linzer Products Corp., and contains affiliate links for your crafting convenience.
The vintage wooden candle sconce is a thrift store staple these days- they come in various sizes and shapes, and often come in pairs. For example, take this basket o’ sconces I found while on one of my thrifting adventures.
Sconces everywhere I look…
I purchased a pair without a clear vision in my mind for how to repurpose / upcycle them. That is, until I made a simple viewing adjustment. Traditionally, each sconce would be hung on the wall like this in order to hold a single taper candle in each one.
Hmm, what can I do with these?
But what if I turned each candle sconce 90°? And placed a wooden dowel between them? And attached the entire thing to board? Do you see what I see?
Shifting my perspective…
A towel rack, y’all– a DIY vintage candle sconce towel rack. And all I need to do is paint the parts, reassemble like this, and hang it on the wall!
Get out of town- IT WORKS!
Ok, so let’s get to painting! I decided to paint the board a soothing moss green using my absolute favorite paint brushes- Trylon™ brushes by Linzer Products Corp. Now, we’ve used Trylon™ brushes around our home (mostly for cutting in and trim painting) for years, but now that I’m a full-time DIY blogger, I use them on projects whenever I can.
There is NOTHING better than a brand new Trylon™ brush!
A DIYer’s dream brush…
I’m a genuine fan of these brushes- and we have a paint cabinet in our garage filled with them to prove it! They hold and release paint beautifully, and they clean up like new.
While the board dried, I spray-painted the candle sconces and dowel a metallic silver. And yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you- I used my craft anvil to anchor down the dowel for easier painting!
A little spray painting to make them metallic…
When all the paint had dried, I used my Trylon™ brushes (available to purchase in the paint section at The Home Depot) to seal each candle sconce and the dowel with top coat. Since this is a towel rack, it needs a waterproof finish!
Using smaller sizes of Trylon™ brushes this time…
NOW we could get to assembly! We measured the center of the back board and drew a long line to mark it. Then, we attached one candle sconce with 1” wood screws through the back of the board. Next, we inserted the dowel, lined up the second candle sconce, and secured it in place the same way.
Putting this crazy idea together!
To hang the towel rack, we drilled in two wood screws, using a laser level to ensure it was straight. I then dabbed on a bit more of my Behr paint to help the screws blend in just a bit.
Y’all! Can you stand it?
You know how excited I get when a crazy idea works out perfectly…
How crazy but awesome is that? It doesn’t even look like a candle sconce on each end, does it?
All done!
I always get a little giddy when my ideas work out!
Craft on!
S
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Okay — I just realized you attached the sconces by screws from the back … and that would have precluded you attaching the board from behind the sconces …
🙂
LOVE IT!!! I could have stood there looking at those old sconces for hours on end and NEVER see a towel rack. Your mind works wonderfully. Is that even a word?? Have a great week!!!
Thank you, Kathy!!!
Awesome and unique and thank you for sharing
Thanks, Norma!
Your ingenuity never fails to amaze me! Love it. Another thing to add to my look for list! Great job!
Thank you so very much, Kathy!
Just Awesome!
Thanks, my friend!!! You know just how ubiquitous these suckers are at the thrifts.
I never would have thought of that! Truly, sometimes when you find something, you need to hold it sideways, upside down and backwards just to “see” what else it can be! Brillliant!
A shift in perspective can change everything!! 🙂
This is a wonderful idea! I would’ve never seen these candle sconces this way! I Love it!
Thank you so very much, Sandi!
You have such a thrifty and junky outlook and that is a complement. Thanks for all your ideas!!
Thank you so very much, Audrey- I take it as a HUGE compliment! 🙂
WOW !!! Super sconce surprise! Thank you, now I am going to try that with my ornate metal ones!!!
Ok, I completely love “Super Sconce Surprise”!! That captures this perfectly. 😀
What a great idea! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thank you so much, Cindy!
I used to see these scones alot and never, ever could have imagined this use! It looks great and I love the colors you used! Thank you for the opportunity to enter your giveaway!!
Thank you so much…and Good Luck!!!
Now THIS is up-cycling!!!
Thank you so very much!
Love seeing your ideas from across the sea. I don’t recall ever having seen candle sconces here in the UK but still nice to see … and look out for! 🙂
Ahhhhh…it could be an American thing. It has that “country” style that America latched onto in the 80s…
What a clever idea! You are thriftastically amazing!
Awww, thanks, girl!!! Muah!
Your creativity is top shelf! Reading your blog & watching the ideas come to fruition is rewarding. You give my brain affirmation! Smiles!
Thank you so very much, Joy!!! Your comment made my day!
Thanks so much for the chance to win paint brushes! I am a paintaholic! I am constantly painting something not to mention the entire interior of our house ceilings and walls and three sides of the exterior (I have just the north side to do yet). I just chopped a trashed out old vanity in two to become each side of a desk and am about to paint the second coat, I bought an ugly shade of blue bookshelf for $20 to paint next. I love to paint!!!!
Good luck!!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I’m always painting something myself .
Good luck!! 🙂
Great project and great giveaway! I could so use new brushes!! 😁
New brushes are THE BEST!!!
What a clever idea! I never would have thought of that!
Thanks, Cherryl!
This is one of the most clever ideas I’ve seen in a long time! I’m on the hunt for sconces! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much, Pam! I’m so glad you found my blog. 🙂
Unique, clever, and artistic. Love.
Thank you so very much, Cat!
Wao!! what a Imagination! Congratulations and Thank for sharing
Haha, thank you, Fanny! I strive to fill my blog with unique, but relatable and usable repurposed / upcycled projects- so glad you found me! 🙂
What a great idea. I made lots of those sconces when I lived in CT. Love it when I can re-use old items. Thanks.
Thank you so much, Deb!
I always say, “Don’t ask what is this?”, but ask, “What can this be?”
Absolutely- I couldn’t agree with you more!
Awesome idea! Looks great!
Thank you so much!
Very clever, Sarah – I love the way you think outside of the box…or rather…sconce!
Thank you so much, my friend!
I love the way your mind works Sarah, you are really an inspiration even to the creatives 🙂 This was a great project!
Thank you so, so much, Susan!