Faux Gold Bookends

Hi it's Sarah Sherman Samuel here again from Smitten Studio & A Sunny Afternoon with a gilded bookend DIY. I have been coveting this vintage pen & pencil holder which inspired this inexpensive project that came to my mind when I was once again perusing the aisles of my local hardware store. I was able to pull together all of the supplies there for this functional and sculptural piece.

Supplies needed for 2 Bookends: Two 2' PVC pipe with 1.25" diameter // Two 2' PVC pipe with 1" diameter // Mitre Box & Saw // 400 grit sandpaper // electric drill // gold spray paint // 20(ish) – #4-40 Machine Screws 3/4" long + matching nuts.Step 1: Using the Mitre box and Saw (or if you are lucky and have an electric reciprocating saw, you might save yourself a blister or two) cut the 1" PVC pipe to make 3 pieces that measure 1", 4", & 5.25". Cut the 1.25" PVC pipe into 4 pieces that measure 1.25', 2.5", 4.5" & 6" (image 1).

Step 2: Sand the pieces of pipe down to remove any rough pieces of plastic that were left from the saw as well as to prep it for paint (The pvc is really smooth and if you don't sand it all over the paint won't really stick).   

Step 3. Spray paint all the pieces (image 2).

Step 3: Drill holes 1/4" from the bottom of each pipe wherever you want to make a connection with another pipe. (image 3).

Step 4: Thread the machine screw through the drilled hole from the inside of one pipe (image 4) and out into another. Secure the connection by screwing on the nut on the inside of the sec on pipe. 

Repeat steps 3 & 4 until all of the pieces are used.Voila, enjoy your new bookends! They'd make pretty cool candle holders as well.  xo Sarah

 Credits // Author and Photography: Sarah Sherman Samuel