“Crystal” Hanger Chandelier
Posted by ReadyMade
Story by Ahna and Barbara Holder, Photo by Peter Belanger
Turn closet clutter into inspired illumination.
Skill Level
Moderate
Active Time
Less than an hour
Cost
$
- Power drill with 1/8" bit
- Flat-nose pliers
- Wire cutters
Tools
Drill a hole at both ends of each hanger.
Cut a length of wire 36" long.
Start threading the wire through the holes at one end, making sure to alternate directions of the hangers (hook in, hook out) as you place them on the wire.
Once you’ve gone through all the hangers, thread the end of the wire back through the first hole. This will cause the hangers to fan out and the shade to close.
Before the fixture is entirely closed up, insert the Hemma’s socket into the plastic disk, and place it in the center of the hangers. The disk not only holds the chandelier aloft, it also helps it keep its shape.
Using the flat-nose pliers, feed the wire back through a couple of the hangers so you can secure the wire by twisting it onto itself and trimming any extra length.
To close up the bottom of the fixture, cut about 24" of wire and begin threading it through the bottom holes of the bottom hangers. Make sure to leave a wide enough opening to enable you to change the light bulb. Secure the wire using pliers as before.
Cut the plastic tubing into 28 pieces, 1 ¾" long.
Measure out about 8' of wire, and secure one end to a starting point around the stem of the metal hook at the center of a hanger. Loop the wire around the stem, slide a piece of plastic tubing over it, and move on to the next hanger. The tubing helps keep the hangers evenly fanned out. Continue in this manner until you’ve gone around the entire fixture.
Once you get back to the starting point, secure your wire and trim off any extra length.
Dust off the china, throw a dinner party, and set your “crystal” centerpiece aglow.
