Oliv Cardboard Pendant Light by Graypants Scraplights

Oliv is a compact, single-size Scraplights pendant from Graypants: a hand-built shade of recycled corrugated cardboard that turns an ordinary bulb into a soft, paper-warm glow. One size, three finishes (Natural, White and Blonde), and an easy way to bring designer lighting into a bedroom, nook or hallway.

Every Oliv is laser-cut and assembled by hand, so you get a studio-made fixture with real craft behind it at a level that stays friendly for everyday rooms, and a build meant to be lived with for years.

The Design Story

Oliv is part of the Classic series of Scraplights, the collection Graypants started with soon after the studio was founded in 2007 by Seattle architects Seth Grizzle and Jonathan Junker. Scraplights grew into the studio's flagship line, and it still carries the idea it began with: a humble, recycled material given a clean, modern form. Graypants designs from studios in Seattle and Amsterdam, and credits Oliv to Graypants Studio.

Graypants describes the line as warm, intimate and functional light for any occasion or space. Oliv is a good example of that: it asks for very little room, yet it gives a corner of the house a clear point of light.

“I took the scraps from the chairs and made lights.”

Seth Grizzle, Graypants co-founder, speaking to Business of Home (August 19, 2021)

How It Is Made

The shade begins as a digital model that is turned into cut files. A laser then slices each layer from recycled corrugated cardboard, leaving a thin, darkened line along every edge. Those burn marks are part of the look, because they outline the corrugation and let the lamplight show through it.

The layers are stacked and glued by hand with a non-toxic adhesive, treated with a non-toxic fire retardant, and wrapped in recycled paper before they leave the workshop. It is a simple, careful process, and the results feel more like a small sculpture than a catalog item.

Why You'll Love It

Oliv measures about 7.5 in (19 cm) across and 8.7 in (22 cm) tall and weighs just 1.8 lb (0.8 kg), so it sits lightly in a room. Hang a pair on either side of a bed, line up three over a narrow console, or give a reading chair its own overhead glow.

The three finishes shift the mood. Natural shows the warm brown of the cardboard with dark laser-cut edges. White reads clean and bright against painted ceilings. Blonde is a soft, warm white; Graypants describes its blonde Scraplights as white cardboard with a burned edge for a warm white finish.

Made for Real Life

Oliv comes with a 6.5 ft (2 m) cord and a 4.5 in powder-coated canopy, giving you plenty of length to set the shade at the height your room needs; 16 ft (5 m) and 26 ft (8 m) cords and custom cords and canopies are available on request. It uses one standard E26 bulb, up to 15W LED, and 2700K warm white is recommended. The bulb is not included. Oliv is rated for dry locations only and should be kept out of direct sunlight.

Product Details

Handmade for You

Oliv is made to order by hand: Natural and White take about 2 weeks and Blonde about 3 weeks. Because each piece is crafted for you, every order is final sale, and we are always glad to help you choose a finish or plan a grouping before you order. Questions are welcome, and answering them is part of the service.

Scraplights have lit workplaces and restaurants well beyond the home, from an NBBJ project in Columbus, Ohio, to the headquarters of Ancestry in Salt Lake City. Oliv brings that same studio quality to a single room.

Not the Right Fit If

Oliv is a small shade made for you, so it is not the answer if you need a light within days or one large central statement. For dramatic scale, group several together at different heights. It is for dry indoor rooms only, and the cardboard should stay away from damp areas such as showers and covered patios.

Questions We Hear Most

What sizes does Oliv come in?

Oliv comes in one size: about 7.5 in (19 cm) across and 8.7 in (22 cm) tall. You choose the finish (Natural, White or Blonde) and nothing else.

How are the three finishes different?

Natural is the warm brown of recycled cardboard with darkened laser-cut edges. White is a bright, clean paper tone. Blonde is a warm white with a burned edge, softer than White in the glow it gives off.

How long will my Oliv take to arrive?

Natural and White are made to order in about 2 weeks. Blonde is made to order in about 3 weeks.

Does Oliv come with a bulb?

No. It takes one E26 bulb, up to 15W LED. A 2700K warm white bulb is recommended for the coziest glow through the corrugation.

Can I dim it?

Dimming depends on the bulb. Choose a dimmable LED bulb and use a dimmer rated for LEDs to adjust the light.

Can I hang Oliv over a nightstand?

Yes. At 8.7 in tall and 1.8 lb, it suits a bedside pair. Hang the shade at a height that keeps it clear of your head and any lamp switch, and keep it out of direct sunlight.

What should I know before installing it?

Graypants advises having a licensed electrician handle the ceiling wiring, turning the power off and testing it first, and checking for hidden wires before drilling. Leave at least 12 in (31 cm) between the lamp and the canopy, and clean the shade with a dry duster or compressed air.

Why We Love It

Oliv shows what a simple idea can do: layered cardboard, a laser, careful hands and a single bulb. It is a quiet piece that rewards a second look, and it is one of the easiest ways to bring Graypants into your home.

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