As a creative freelancer, I often design themed environments for special events and nightclubs. I've often been in search for a giant chandelier to use, but I was never able to find one that was really large, reasonably lightweight or uncomplicated to transport or assemble. I liked the simple lines of chandeliers I'd seen in used in modern designs like in urban lounges and hotels. I came up with this solution which creates a nearly six ft. wide , visually-substantial chandelier that weighs maybe 15-20 lbs, and packs flat, and at only half the diameter! This versatile chandelier can even be electrified fairly easily. I've made these in white and black, but they could also be cut from other routable foam board products or even foamed PVC board or even acrylic.
Here's how to make your own...
Here's how to make your own...
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The first step is to have a one dimensional silhouette of a chandelier. This was designed in Adobe Illustrator, but you could design or edit the included file in any vector app of your choice. Or you may simply use what I've included as-is.
You will then need to have access to a CNC router. I don't have one of my own, but use a local service, which also supplied the Gatorboard foam board which I've chosen to use for it's cost, relatively good durability and especially how light weight it is.
You will need six sections of half of the chandelier. All halves are identical. To make my chandeliers as large as possible, I was able to get two on a standard 48" x 96" sheet, so I required three sheets total to be cut.
In my builds, I've used 1/4" Gatorboard foam board, and the slots in the design are cut to accomodate that thickness. Each chandelier requires four slotted disks to hold each of the six sections into place. The slots are 1/2 the radius of the disk, with four matching slots on each chandelier section. Though I require only four of these disks per chandelier, I have plenty of spare room on my 4x8 sheet to cut extra, which is always a great idea to have spares!
Additionally, I have teardrop "crystals" cut and pre-drilled to be strung with loops of monofilament and hung from the two tiers of each chandelier section.
You will then need to have access to a CNC router. I don't have one of my own, but use a local service, which also supplied the Gatorboard foam board which I've chosen to use for it's cost, relatively good durability and especially how light weight it is.
You will need six sections of half of the chandelier. All halves are identical. To make my chandeliers as large as possible, I was able to get two on a standard 48" x 96" sheet, so I required three sheets total to be cut.
In my builds, I've used 1/4" Gatorboard foam board, and the slots in the design are cut to accomodate that thickness. Each chandelier requires four slotted disks to hold each of the six sections into place. The slots are 1/2 the radius of the disk, with four matching slots on each chandelier section. Though I require only four of these disks per chandelier, I have plenty of spare room on my 4x8 sheet to cut extra, which is always a great idea to have spares!
Additionally, I have teardrop "crystals" cut and pre-drilled to be strung with loops of monofilament and hung from the two tiers of each chandelier section.
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viajante says:
May 6, 2012. 12:11 PMReply
That's an original idea
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davidandora (author) says:
May 6, 2012. 1:12 PMReplyThanks! It was, however inspired by others that I've seen that were much smaller or with less "branches"
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bagnitsch says:
Mar 5, 2012. 8:15 AMReply
Sweet
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davidandora (author) says:
Mar 10, 2012. 6:37 AMReplyThanks!
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davidandora (author) says:
Feb 19, 2012. 11:24 AMReplyI found his chandelier. What a pretty and delicate structure! http://www.craftstylish.com/item/26379/extreme-paper-the-long-dark-road-to-a-bright-idea
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canucksgirl says:
Feb 19, 2012. 10:31 AMReplyVery pretty. It totally reminds me of the paper chandelier that Jeffery Rudell made in 2008 that was on display at Tiffany & Co. over Christmas that year in New York. He even suggest the same materials. Were you inspired by his earlier design?
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davidandora (author) says:
Feb 19, 2012. 11:20 AMReplyThanks! I'll need to see what I can find online now. I don't know of the one you mention. I had seen small silhouette chandeliers before, but only ever four-sided. My inspiration came from several places I recall, but mostly out of a need for a very large, affordable and portable chandelier for themed environment installs.
Cheyannelovesham says:
Feb 13, 2012. 9:58 AMReply
that is amazing!!!!!! i love that i want one
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foobear says:
Feb 5, 2012. 8:21 AMReply
(removed by author or community request)
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davidandora (author) says:
Feb 7, 2012. 7:36 AMReplysuch flattery!
EllieRose says:
Feb 5, 2012. 2:09 PMReply
This looks really cool!!
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davidandora (author) says:
Feb 7, 2012. 7:35 AMReplyThanks!
Organize74 says:
Feb 7, 2012. 6:51 AMReply
The surface really catches the colored lights in the room. This design is brilliant! The rooms used for events have such high ceilings that something like this would fit very well and add a lot of interest to the room. Thanks for sharing.
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davidandora (author) says:
Feb 7, 2012. 7:35 AMReplyThanks! These white chandeliers are cut from a foam board product called Gatorboard, which is glows brightly under UV light, so they tend to really "pop", which is a nice happy accident.
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porklips says:
Feb 4, 2012. 8:35 PMReply
Wow how easy and fantastic. Will definatly try in a smaller scale for my mini house!
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davidandora (author) says:
Feb 4, 2012. 11:35 PMReplySo easy! I'm sure it would look great!
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jessandstavro says:
Feb 4, 2012. 4:20 PMReplyThis is great. Well done!
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davidandora (author) says:
Feb 4, 2012. 5:16 PMReplyThanks! I appreciate the compliment :)
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Penolopy Bulnick says:
Feb 4, 2012. 2:33 PMReplyOh, I just love this! Beautiful!
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davidandora (author) says:
Feb 4, 2012. 3:49 PMReplyYay! Thanks!
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