The card catalog takes me right back to the Sherwood Elementary School library. Does anyone else remember it being totally stressful when you first learned Dewey Decimal system? It’s bitter sweet to think of using a card catalog for anything else, but here are some ways to keep ye old friend around:
Build a table via Elementum
Hide shoes via Dream Book Design
Stack ‘em via Hindsvik
More great ideas on Calloh Callay and Poetic Home.
Last night, approximately 2 hours before my birthday, BC tricked me into believing that he thought my birthday was on Sept 9, instead of Sept 8. For a second even I thought I’d mixed up the date of my birth! Somehow this rouse went one, believably, until a single tear rolled down my cheek at the exasperated thought of my boyfriend of two years NOT knowing my birthday.
If only I’d had a leather belt I’d have…
Crafted a Belt Chair or Seat
Belt Chair via Apartment Therapy
Belted Seat at Gather by Heritage Salvage
Recycled leather to make rugs
Eileen Fisher’s Recycled Leather rug via Garnet Hill
Added sturdy leather handles to my favorite apple crate
Old Farm style Tote via Foundation Antiques
Applied leather scraps to make a high end luxury pieces
petit H Jewellery Hooks (made from leather scraps) by Hermes via House and Home April 2011
Laid new leather flooring
Modular Leather Belt Floor Tiles by Ting London via Apartment Therapy
I certainly would not have used that leather for retaliation against my boyfriend. No, sir! Besides, all was forgiven when the clock struck midnight and I began receiving “Birthday Princess” treatment. And it’s certainly sweet to to wake up to this:
Did I ever tell you he’s an especially good wrapper?
(Lightbulb over head) An idea!!
Lightbulb Hurricane Candle (and more great repurposing lightbulb projects via CFabbridesigns
Steampunk wedding using repurposed lightbulbs via Sugar and Fluff
Lightbulb vase via Prudent Baby
Lightbulb vase by StarRe Designs via Trendhunter
Lightbulb light by Sergio Silva
Hot air balloon lightbulb via BettyJoy
Valentine’s Day craft via DesignSponge
Lightbulb Toothpick Holder by StarReDesigns
Lightbulb Ship via Recycle-eh
Lightbulb vase via Luvinthemommyhood
Spring Awakening Event window at Acquire by Kor Floral
As I wrote here, I LOVE FALL. And the return to school means that the church across the street becomes a school again instead of a summer camp. Which means for me: no more singing hordes of children which I’m writing in the morning. (I secretly kind of like it, but I shall pretend to be a grumpy old lady.)
So where were we? Right, back to school. The weather has been slightly cooler in NY this week and I’ve actually wanted a jacket the last few days. You’d be surprised how much this excites me. So in honor of this beloved time of year – repurposing school supplies….
Yardstick Pendant Shade via Brooklyn Limestone
Rulers on stairs via Funky Junk Interiors
Yardstick Table via Brooklyn Limestone
Business Card Holder via Roberta Grove
Ruler Picture Frame via The Lettered Cottage
Newspaper Recycled Pencils via Abe’s Market
This blows my mind! Pencil sculptures by Dalton Ghetti via Restored Style
Got an old school house lying around? Repurposing an Old Belgian School via Desire to Inspire Aren’t the dark walls amazing?
Today we have a reader request – which, by the way, I’m always happy to hear and I’d likely jump at the opportunity to help you come up with repurposing ideas. Send any requests my way! So Emily has a pair of mountain bike tires – just the tire, no spokes, etc. What to do? Take your pick:
Stretchy storage unit by Michael Konstantin Wolke via SHFT
Bike Tire Rug by Annemette Beck via Inhabitat
Upcycled Sprocket Chair by Matt Johnson Designs via The Interior Revolution
Sculpture made of tires by James Smith via Worca
Inner Bike Tube Repurposed Mirror via NuFangledWallDesigns
I’ve thrown in a couple of personal accessory repurposing ideas below. For the record, you can also use old tires to make wallets, journals, and a host of other accessories.
Headband via Troy Bike Rescue
Belt via Spirit Jug
Last night I finally took advantage of my Brooklyn Historical Society membership and went to hear author Ben Feldman speak on his book Butchery on Bond Street. It was a really interesting talk – basically this dude in the 1850′s died in his dental office on Bond Street. His mistress/wife seems to be the primary culprit but… you’ll have the read the book or hear Mr. Feldman speak to learn more. It’s a pretty fun story, I’d recommend it!
And while we’re on the subject of books, here’s a new set of ideas for repurposing books:
Coffee table via Tytie
End Table via Tytie
Hollow Book storage by Green R Studio via Oh Hello Friend
Book Hollow Art by Brian Dettmer via My Rusty Sieve
Book Lamp by TypeWriterGraveyard via Oh, Hello Friend!
Book iPhone and iPad Charger by Inbook via Oh, Hello Friend!
Book Frames via Apartment Therapy
I may have mentioned this, but BC and I have a CSA half share this summer and fall. I can’t tell you how glorious it is to receive a bundle of vegetables every other week. It’s also lots of fun to figure out how to cook with what we’re given. (We record our meals on a blog with some friends, Party in the CSA.) Photographing so many of our meals makes me wish we had more variety in our dishware. If so inclined, I know of a few things we could do with our old plates when we get around to replacing them.
DRESS UP
Source unknown
via Nina Invorm
And of course there’s the repurposed plates from Beat Up Creations.
MAKE A STAND
Style Garden via Apartment Therapy
Plate on Candlesticks via The Mother Huddle
SMASH
Buy plates pre-smashed via Katie Designs 4U
Use smashed plates to make kitchen backsplash tiles or even to accent tiles, via Pique Assiette
MAKE LIGHT
Plate Light, Source known
CREATE ART
Little Owl and Swarm‘s Altered Perspective Series via Decor8
Many many moons ago I saw a home design article where the homeowners had repurposed one of those iconic British red phone booths. They used the booth as a walkthrough between the kitchen and family room. It added just the right amount of whimsy.
There are a lot of old public space artifacts that would make for really interesting pieces in home. Here are a few I rounded up.
Again, the phone booth. I think this would also be super cute situated under the stairs as a little hideout/telephone area. Or it’d be a cool piece in your garden.Photo: Englishphoneboxes.com
This has kid’s headboard written all over it! Photo: 711 Warren
I could see this used as a fun little accent in a kids room or in a garden. If you had two of them, it could be interesting to create a bench or a headboard with the two poles flanking either end. Photo: Eron Johnson Antiques
This is a Victorian ticket booth. I could see this used a couple different ways. I think my favorite would be to build it into a kitchen so that one side would serve as a the breakfast bar and the other side would be part of a counter. Can you imagine it? Photo: Eron Johnson Antiques
A classic English pub mirror. I think I’d most love to see this converted into a fancy pants entry wall bench with storage. Photo: Cox’s Architectural Salvage Yard
Actually the Globe Light’s become a common reproduction piece hasn’t it? If I had a bigger hallway (and if I weren’t renting) I’d love to fill an inside hallway with these. Photo: Cox’s Architectural Salvage Yard
Salvage One has a ton of doors from public spaces but I love how this meat locker door captures that modern rustic sparse design aesthetic that I’ve seen around the blog block. Know what I’m talking about? Imagine a totally white space with wood and metal accents – there you have it! Photo: Salvage One
I’m pretty sure I could go on for days. Public spaces provide quite a bit of design inspiration!
A quick update on repurposing grain sacks and burlap.
Burlap covered Head Bust via The Coveteur
Pillow via Fine Grains
Burlap Bulletin Board via Jones Design Company
Grain Sack Covered Chair via Fine Grains
Extra, extra read all about it! They say print is dead… well, take a look at the afterlife.
Stacked Magazines make Walls in Oktavilla’s offices via Apartment Therapy
Newsprint strips made into Wallpaper by Weitzner Limited
Newspapered Wall via House and Home
Kathleen White Home Tour via Apartment Therapy
Magazines used as silo art by Kirsten Krason at 6th Street Design School
Newspaper stack as Chair via Style Me Pretty
Stack of magazines as chair Hockenheimer via Apartment Therapy
Newspaper star via Kissa Design
