I don’t know if it’s the rustic simplicity, the effortlessly cozy factor or my Nordic pride shining through, but I’m always inspired by the Scandinavian aesthetic, especially so this time of year. I made this Holiday centerpiece for our dining table using a flat wood piece we salvaged from an old textile loom that a local salvage and antique shop, Art & Architecture was selling off for parts. With just a couple drill holes, a few candles, and a snippet of velvet ribbon, I pulled together a simple and restrained centerpiece that we’ll use to deck the halls with Nordic flair this year.
Materials List:
- Weathered Wood Board–the more weathered, the better!
- Hand Saw
- 5-3/4″ Menorah Candles from Target
- Electric Drill
- 3/8″ Spade Bit
- 3/4″ Spade Bit (optional)
- 12″ of Velvet Ribbon (optional)
- Pencil
- Ruler or Measuring Tape
Step 1: Cut your board down to the length you prefer using a hand saw. I cut my board down to 24″L x 2-3/4″ W x 1-1/4″ H, but if you have a large dining table it could be fun to make a long, dramatic centerpiece to run the length of the table.
Step 2: Using a pencil and ruler, mark where you’d like the candles to be placed. I made two rows 7/8″ apart and roughly 7/8″ in from the long edges of the board. Candles were placed 2″ apart down the length of the board. Rows were staggered.
From its days on the loom, my board had a 3/4″ diameter hole already drilled through one end of it, so I decided to embrace the character, and tie a 1″ thick ribbon through the hole to add a luxe touch to an otherwise rustic centerpiece. If you’d like to mimic the hole and add a velvet loop, eyeball the general midpoint of the short side of one end of the board. Measure and mark 1-1/2″ in from the end of the board.
Step 3: Drilling for the Candles: Using your drill fitted with a 3/8″ spade bit, securely hold the board down, place the point of the bit on one of your pencil marks, and drill down about 3/8″. Repeat until all holes are drilled.
Step 4: Drilling for the Velvet Loop: Switch out your 3/8″ spade bit for a 3/4″ spade bit. Securely holding the board down, place the point of the bit on your pencil mark and drill all the way through the board.
Step 5: Thread the ribbon through the 3/4″ hole, tie the ends using a simple knot, and tuck the knot into the hole so it’s not visible.
Step 6: Place candles into the 3/8″ drill holes and light!
Note: Keep in mind the intended look is rustic and imperfect. Don’t worry if the candles aren’t spaced perfectly; it will add to the charm of the finished piece!
