Minimalist Concrete Candle Lanterns
Bring soft, enchanting illumination to outdoor patios, garden pathways, or cozy living rooms with minimalist concrete candle lanterns. Blending solid concrete bases with delicate glass chimneys, these lanterns shield flickering open flames from breezes while grounding outdoor seating areas with an aura of industrial sophistication.
The construction of a concrete candle lantern centers around integrating a cylindrical glass hurricane sleeve seamlessly into a cast concrete base. Select a plastic container or small bucket to serve as the outer concrete form. To ensure your glass hurricane glass fits snugly into the finished concrete base, wrap the bottom two inches of your actual glass chimney in several layers of plastic wrap and press it directly into the center of the freshly poured wet concrete to form a perfectly sized recessed ring.
Mix your high-performance concrete blend, pour it into the main mold form to a depth of roughly three to four inches, and vibrate the mold thoroughly to remove trapped air bubbles along the base walls. Press the plastic-wrapped glass sleeve down into the center of the wet slurry, ensuring it sits level and true. Place a weight inside the glass so it does not rise out of the mix. Allow the concrete to set for 24 to 36 hours before demolding and gently twisting out the glass sleeve. Remove the protective wrap from the glass, drop a pillar candle inside, slide the glass back into its custom recessed groove, and enjoy a warm, wind-protected glow.