Skew Recycled Cardboard Wall Sconce by Graypants

Skew is the first wall sconce in the Graypants Scraplights family: a slim shade of laser-cut, recycled corrugated cardboard that holds two lamps and sits just 4 inches off the wall. Graypants describes it as ADA compliant at that depth. It comes in three widths, 13, 15 and 22 inches, and three finishes: Natural, White and Blonde.

Use it to light a hallway, flank a bed or mirror, or sit above a piece of furniture. Every Skew is made to order by hand, so it arrives made for your wall.

The Design Story

Graypants keeps looking for new ways to use cardboard, and Skew is the first Scraplights sconce, moving the line from the ceiling to the wall. It is meant to complement any Scraplights silhouette, so a Skew in the hallway can echo a Hive or Madison in the room beyond.

"I ended up making a series of four chairs from found materials, and then out of that, I took the scraps from the chairs and made lights."

Seth Grizzle, Graypants cofounder, speaking to Business of Home

Graypants is an architecture and product design studio founded by Seattle architects Seth Grizzle and Jonathan Junker, with studios in Seattle and Amsterdam. Skew is designed in Seattle and made in the United States. The studio lists Scraplights installations for clients such as NBBJ in Columbus and Ancestry in Salt Lake City on its projects page.

How It Is Made

Skew is cut by laser from sheets of recycled corrugated cardboard, with the layers numbered so they can be sorted and assembled. Hands then glue the pieces with non-toxic adhesive, a non-toxic fire retardant is applied, and the finished sconce is packed in recycled paper.

The laser leaves the cut edges looking dark, and the corrugation lets the light glow through.

Why You'll Love It

A sconce this light, 1.25 to 2.25 lb, hangs on an ordinary wall without fuss, and its shallow depth means it will not catch shoulders in a hall. The result is warm, filtered light with a textured shade in place of a bare bulb.

The three sizes are proportioned differently, not just scaled: Skew 13 is the tall, narrow one, Skew 15 is short and wide, and Skew 22 is wide and moderately tall. That variety lets you vary rhythm along a corridor or pair them over a headboard.

Made for Real Life

Skew 13 (13 in wide, 16.75 in tall) flanks a mirror or a door; Skew 15 (15 in wide, 9.75 in tall) sits well above a bedside table or console; Skew 22 (22 in wide, 14.25 in tall) works over a headboard or at the end of a long hall.

Each Skew has two E12 sockets, max 5W LED per lamp, and Graypants recommends 2700K warm white; bulbs are not included. It is hardwired, and it is rated IP20, for dry locations only. To clean, use a dry duster or compressed air; the shade is non-toxic and handmade.

Product Details

Designer	Graypants, designed in Seattle, Washington
Collection	Scraplights Classic Series
Finishes	Natural, White, Blonde
Skew 13	13 in (33 cm) wide x 4 in (10 cm) deep x 16.75 in (43 cm) high, 1.25 lb (0.6 kg)
Skew 15	15 in (38 cm) wide x 4 in (10 cm) deep x 9.75 in (25 cm) high, 1.75 lb (0.8 kg)
Skew 22	22 in (56 cm) wide x 4 in (10 cm) deep x 14.25 in (36 cm) high, 2.25 lb (1.0 kg)
Materials	Recycled corrugated cardboard, non-toxic adhesive and fire retardant
Fire retardant	Yes
Light source	Two E12 sockets, max 5W LED each, 2700K recommended (bulbs not included)
Voltage	120V, 50-60 Hz, hardwired
Certification	UL certified
Care	Dry duster or compressed air; the shade is non-toxic and handmade
IP rating	IP20, dry locations only
Accessibility	4 in (10.2 cm) depth, described by Graypants as ADA compliant
Origin	Made in the United States; designed in Seattle
Item numbers	GP-2088-N-UL (Skew 13, Natural); GP-2090-W-UL (Skew 13, White); GP-2089-B-UL (Skew 13, Blonde); GP-2086-N-UL (Skew 15, Natural); GP-2087-W-UL (Skew 15, White); GP-2085-B-UL (Skew 15, Blonde); GP-2091-N-UL (Skew 22, Natural); GP-2093-W-UL (Skew 22, White); GP-2092-B-UL (Skew 22, Blonde)
Lead time	Natural and White: made to order, about 2 weeks; Blonde: made to order, about 3 weeks

Handmade for You

Skew is made to order by hand, so each sconce is assembled after you choose a size and finish. That care is why every order is final sale, and it is why our team is happy to talk through size, finish and placement before you order. You are choosing a handmade piece for your wall, not a boxed stock item.

Graypants designs lighting to be affordable for designer lighting yet built to last, and a wall sconce is an easy way to bring that into a hall, a bedroom or an entry.

Not the Right Fit If

Skew is made to order, so it is not for a project that needs a sconce within days. It is for dry, indoor walls; a damp bathroom or an outdoor wall is not a suitable place for a cardboard shade. It is hardwired, so plan for a qualified electrician.

Questions We Hear Most

Is Skew ADA compliant?

Graypants describes Skew as ADA compliant at its 4 in (10.2 cm) depth for all three sizes. Check local requirements for mounting height in your project.

Which Skew size should I choose?

Skew 13 is 13 in wide and 16.75 in tall, a narrow vertical shape for flanking a mirror or door. Skew 15 is 15 in wide and 9.75 in tall, a low, wide shape for above a bedside table. Skew 22 is 22 in wide and 14.25 in tall, and suits over a headboard or at the end of a hallway.

Is Skew plug-in or hardwired?

It is hardwired: Graypants' instructions show a live, neutral and ground connection. Have a licensed electrician install it.

What bulbs does Skew use?

Two E12 candelabra bulbs, max 5W LED each, with 2700K recommended. Bulbs are not included, and dimming depends on the bulbs you choose.

How do the finishes differ?

Natural shows the cardboard as it is, while White and Blonde are lighter; the photos here show each. Natural and White take about 2 weeks, Blonde about 3.

How long will Skew take to arrive?

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

What should I know before installing it?

Graypants advises having a licensed electrician do the wiring, turning the power off and testing with a voltmeter, and using a cable locator before drilling. Keep Skew out of direct sunlight and in a dry location (IP20), with plenty of room around the light.

Why We Love It

Skew proves that cardboard works as a quiet wall light: slim, warm, hand-assembled and shaped to sit close to the wall.

Shipping Info

Lead Time	Natural and White: made to order, about 2 weeks; Blonde: made to order, about 3 weeks
Ships From	United States