Cupcakes and Cashmere

Before and After: Candlesticks

June 29th, 2010

{The mismatched candlesticks, in all of their unpolished glory}

This past weekend I braved the heat to visit the Melrose Trading Post Flea Market in hopes of starting a new collection (since I finished this project). I found some antique candlesticks with great patterns and curves, but their dirty exteriors and cheap varnishes were an instant turn-off. I decided to bring them home anyway and painted them all a glossy black to make a cohesive and chic collection. Whether or not they’ll have candles in them is still to be determined, but the process was easy (an afternoon) and affordable (candlesticks + paint supplies=$28).

{I loved the different curvatures, but not the brassy colors}

{Once the tarp was down, I sprayed one coat of primer and let it dry}

{Then I sprayed two coats of glossy black paint}

{Final product}

Leslie
Emily, that’s look so chic… I promise do that as soon as you I have time… Here in Peru we have something similar to Flea Market, it’s called “La Parada” (In Spanish) and there also you can find lots of antiques… Love your candlesticks ….
http://luluandteacups.wordpress.com Jaycelle
Your projects are inspiring. Makes me want to do my own little projects at home. Keep ‘em coming!
http://oneprettything.com Rachel
Oh how beautiful! I’ll have to link to this in my next Revamp Roundup. They have so much impact!
http://alongtheshorestyle.blogspot.com Becca
They turned out amazingly well! Great DIY idea.
http://www.meganlimjewelry.blogspot.com Megan
Looks awesome!!!
http://thesoundoflace@blogspot.com Heather
ahh im so inspired!….i was going to do a center piece on my dining room table of black apothecary jars…but i think i like this better!
thx!
thesoundoflace.blogspot.com
thesoundoflace.blogspot.com
http://hiyaluv.blogspot.com hiyaluv
wow! brilliant idea and they came out fantastic!
smiles,
gina
http://sevendollarpants.com Seven Dollar Pants
AWESOME!!! This is perfect. Great idea for my new place!
http://sparklesmileandshine.blogspot.com/ Hannah
love the candle sticks, they are so chic!
check out my blog:
http://sparklesmileandshine.blogspot.com/
http://www.hercaviardreams.blogspot.com Natasha
Melrose Trading Post is such a great way to spend part of the day. Last week I picked up the most adorable antique gold perfume holder shaped as a piano. The lid lifts up and has a spot for solid perfume from Avon. Its sitting right on top of my keyboard as inspiration.
http://www.hercaviardreams.blogspot.com
http://glittermixedwithrockndroll.blogspot.com/ Liz, Love.
Such a great idea!
I might do this to a few old candle holders I have laying around.
http://glittermixedwithrockndroll.blogspot.com/
http://www.theclothingproject.com the clothing project
nice!
- the clothing project
http://www.theclothingproject.com
http://stylecat.webblogg.se STYLECAT
wow, it looks really cool
http://thelittlesequinedbook.blogspot.com Lauren
The candlesticks look GREAT! xx
http://cecylia.com Cecylia
I cannot wait to try this myself!!!
http://cookieandkate.com Kate
terrific idea, emily! the candlesticks are now très chic. i think they would like so striking against a white wall or next to a little bud vase with a pink peony. high contrast gets me every time! i’ve been meaning to do the same thing with some vintage photo frames. they’ll look much more pulled together once they’re all the same glossy black!
http://cookieandkate.com
http://www.cupcakesomg.blogspot.com Melissa
i love how you dolled this things up!! i’ve been collecting girly, glittery greeting cards for a while, but have yet to come up with a good way to showcase them: http://cupcakesomg.blogspot.com/2010/06/say-it-with-cupcakes.html
http://taetaeeescloset.blogspot.com taetaeeescloset
woah I love this idea and it looks so chique! gorgeous collection of candle sticks!
read me at:
http://taetaeeescloset.blogspot.com
xxx
http://asequindressatbreakfast.wordpress.com a Sequin dress at Breakfast
love the glossy black finish! don’t you love making old things into ‘new’ for you?
http://asequindressatbreakfast.wordpress.com
http://sprinklesinsprings.blogspot.com/ Kara
This is such a great idea! I’ve done this technique with ornate antique picture frames… it really brings old, unrelated objects to life again.
http://dedanotions.com/blog DebLegg
Stunning. Classic and simple!
http://DailyDivaDish.com Piper (DailyDivaDish)
Such a great idea! I have a bunch of old brassy – colored candlesticks I’ve been meaning to get rid of…until now. Love this!
XO Piper
http://www.thewondergirl.com Wonder Girl
super cool! i have done this with mismatched picture frames from flea markets and goodwill, too. i never thought of cnadlesticks though, i like it!
xoxox,
tara
http://www.thewondergirl.com
http://winginiteveryday.blogspot.com/ Jocelyn Stott
Those look AMAZING! I love it. You have inspired me!
http://TiffanysSmallWorld.blogspot.com TiffanysSmallWorld
very nice!i love flea markets too!
http://victoriadiazs.wordpress.com/ victoria
wow! really cool Idea!
Angel
Great idea! Now I am inspired to do some flea market shopping over the weekend and reinvent something.
http://ramblelina.blogspot.com ezzie
genius! i absolutely love the silhouettes!
amelia
bright, popart red would look cool too!
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http://www.peace-love-lipgloss.blogspot.com PeaceLoveLipgloss
I do this with picture frames, but I go for all white. Loves it!
http://katyaandco.blogspot.com Katya
Brilliant! I’ve been looking for things to do whilst on leave. Thanks!
http://www.thebudgetbabe.com The Budget Babe
this is exactly the idea i was looking for! i’m so making these this weekend
A glamorous way of Thinking
These are great. I love antique stuff.
x
http://aglamorouswayofthinking.blogspot.com/
http://paperrockandscissors.blogspot.com Paper-Rock-Scissors
LOVE this idea! Definitely going to steal this to improve my new place. Great blog!
http://www.thetshirtdiaries.com Robin
Love this and I would love if you would post it to my Upcycled Awesome Linky party!
http://www.thetshirtdiaries.com/2010/07/upcycled-awesome-4_07.html
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http://bigbeigebox.blogspot.com court
great shine on those!
http://www.parkjamae.com sora
love them!!!
http://antoniapetite.blogspot.com Antonia
WOW black is so much better. i didnt know that black could work on candlesticks but you have proven that to me
http://www.alienbabyblog.blogspot.com Cindy
Wow! I was going to say that brassy wasn’t so bad, but they look so much better in black!
Arden
Oh my goodness! Where have you been all my life?? Why didn’t I know about this site sooner?! Love it!!
Water Bottle Chic
I am in love with all of your creative home improvement ideas! I am always trying find ways to turn trash into treasurer, and just recently, I made a really great light fixture out of old wine bottles! I have a bunch of plastic and glass water bottles lying around that I have been trying to figure out what to do with…any suggestions??
Michelle
eh silver/pewter would have been better, black is so 1990′s
http://traumzuhause.blogspot.com svenja
great idea here are my favorite candlesticks.. http://traumzuhause.blogspot.com/2011/12/some-art.html
nice day to all of you
svenja
http://thewellbeingdiary.com/ Piyumi
So inspiring, i m so gonna do this with mine! thanx!
http://www.delolovesdesign.com dee
I like the black but also loved the gold. Very Jonathan Adler!
ItsTheTruth
Cute.. I’m in the process of decorating my office space, and wanted to incorporate candlesticks… Now I know how and what to do with them!