WINTER: a stylish & EASY taper candle tip

I've decided to focus on very simple projects this month, sharing a few tips that will quickly and easily impact your decor as you warm up your winter homes.

This particular tip isn't mine - it originated with a very special shopkeeper, entertaining guru, visual stylist, decorator, and author who has been inspiring me for decades now: Ted Kennedy Watson (no, we're not related!).

Ted owns two stores in Seattle - Watson Kennedy Fine Living on Pine Avenue (across from Pike Place Market), and Watson Kennedy Fine Home on First Avenue. Both stores boast a wealth of beautiful items to enjoy in your decor and entertaining, and the displays Ted creates in the shops and the window displays are absolutely some of the best I've ever seen. I could (and did) spend hours taking in every detail in both shops during the 18 years I lived in Washington.

This particular stylist's 'trick' is SO easy - and by adding just one little detail, it makes a huge difference!

continue reading to see HOW easy...

We've all run into the problem of taper candles NOT fitting properly into candlesticks. If they're too big, you can melt or shave the wax at the bottom of the candle. But if they are too small, here's a stylish way to make them stand up straight:

materials:
taper candles . candlesticks or candleabra . old sheet music or book pages

method:


1. Tear or cut a strip that is 1/4 to 1/3 of a piece of sheet music or book page.

2. Fold the strip of paper in half in the middle of the strip, as shown.

3. Place the folded paper onto the top of your candle holder.

4. Hold a taper candle over the paper and center it over the hole in the candleabra.

5. Gently press the candle base downward into the hole, twisting it slightly as you go.

6. Twisting the candle will cause the folded paper to move slightly at the top, making it 'ruffle' a bit to hold the candle securely in the hole. 

The BONUS to this method is that the paper 'ruffle' acts as a bobeche - a wax guard - and will soak up any drips from the taper so they don't end up on your table or linens.

Of Note: Remove wax candles after they have burned down to within two inches of the paper, just to be safe.

You're not limited to candlesticks or candleabra with this trick, either - 
I used it to turn these ceramic bud vases into candleholders, and they work perfectly!

This tip can be used on battery-operated taper candles, as well as real wax ones.

Here's a photo of Ted's candle tip as shown in his first book...

Ted's first book, Style & Simplicity, is a wonderful resource of decor ideas and inspiration, and more stylist's tricks like the one I've shared in this post.

Buy it direct from Ted on his Watson Kennedy store website


Ted's second book, Guide to Stylish Entertaining, was recently published.
It contains more of Ted's colorful and interesting tablescapes, menus, and stylish suggestions that will elevate any gathering.

Buy it direct from Ted at his Watson Kennedy store website

... and if you find yourself in Seattle, make sure you visit his stores!

(This is not a sponsored post. Ted inspires me, and I am always happy to share great resources with you!)

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