Comfy pallet chair

According to some sources there about 2 billion wooden pallets in circulation and about 65% of them get used just once. It makes sense to make something out of them instead of sending them all to landfills, which in turn makes that new stuff cost less. It's a win-win situation. This here (The Pallet Armchair from Pierre Vedel) is one example of what's possible. I love seats with wide armrest so as long as this baby's sanded down to a no splinter finish, I would love one of these.

Images from shft.com

By the way, Pierre Vedel shares the design with the world so you can download the specs and build your own for for free! Go Pierre!

More broken tiles

Instead of wasting broken tile pieces, using them in useful and beautiful applications is such a better idea.  Not only does this approach save materials from landfills and generate value, but this attitude of re-using stuff in unintended ways also fosters creativity.  It's resourcefulness at its best!

FirenFusion on flickr created this back-splash (above) from broken tiles and she says "I have received so many wonderful compliments. Including, one from a friend that spent over $800 for a project I did for under $100." Did I mention  this approach saves you lots of money?

Ari Kokomosaico on flickr makes the world a more colorful place with various projects ranging from small mosaics to large-scale works in public/commercial buildings, all with broken tiles.

See all posts on broken tiles here.

Copper bowl/Copper sink

Re-purposing items is always cool. This is a $12 copper bowl used as a sink. It's a steal compared to what copper sinks go for.

Images from JunkMarketStyle.com

Use what's available

In my opinion, few things are more boring than attempted perfection. All that extra effort to create and maintain it and it doesn't look half as good or interesting... The rough and natural textures here make a strong argument against perfectionism.

Cabinet software

Those are some neat cabinet pulls, no? I've always wanted to makes some like that myself, it's so encouraging to see that they actually look pretty cool. And the texture of the wood is quite nice as well.

Images from InsideHomePage.com

Wooden revival

This place has a lot of great furniture simply put together by salvaged wood, old shipping crates, and pallets. They're relatively easy to put together and they really show how great raw wood looks. These things give their home a lot of character and are also easy to live with because you don't need to worry about scratching them, or hurting the finish.

Images from ApartmentTherapy.com

Mind-candy instead of eye-candy this time

Great video from TED. The houses or the interiors featured may not be everyone's cup o' tea but the ideas discussed are very much inline with the spirit of this blog! Enjoy!

Don't lean back!

I don't think it's a good idea to place shelving so low above a couch, or to store shoes over your couch (where do these stylists get these ideas?!) but I do think using old wine or fruit crates for storage and shelving is a great idea. (While this image does offer some inspiration it could also be featured at CatalogLiving.net.)

Image from BaileysHomeAndGarden.com

Born again

An old cable spool gets a second life as a cool side/coffee table with lots of character.

Image from blog.DesignSquish.com

Hail Daniel Hale

The Remodelista.com post about Daniel Hale has some inspiring images, such as the sofa built with wooden pallets -very nice!- and that easy-going low-maintenance yard.

All images from Remodelista.com

Resourceful

If you want to make something out of wooden pallets, take a look at this coffee table the French group doobi created just by adding some paint and casters.

Image from doobi's facebook group.

Easy and beautiful life!

A no-maintenance yard with a hammock, and a stock tank for a pool... Now that's living!



All images from bigbangstudio.blogspot.com

Plants in colorful cans

Buying stuff in bulk is great, saves you money and uses less packaging. Delicious stuff like tomato paste, feta cheese, and olive oil come in some cool colorful cans. Enjoy the delicious stuff and plant some flowers in the cans for a great colorful (and appetizing) look!

Above image from flickr user tacosnachosburritos's stream


Above left from flickr user JoyceMcClure's stream - Above right from flickr user Monceau's stream

Be virtuous!

You need shelves? This shelving unit made with crates is inexpensive, modular, and has a lot of character. Remember, paying too much for stuff or caring too much about what others might think are not virtues, but being resourceful and creative are!

Image from ShockTheBourgeois.blogspot.com

Reclaimed character!

Two casual pieces made of reclaimed wood; one is the Cant End Table from Uhuru made from the end caps of bourbon barrels, and the other is the Boardwalk Bench from Wuttke Werks, made of reclaimed wood from an old boardwalk. With the pattern left by removed nail heads on one, and the color and smell of bourbon left on the other, both pieces have lots of character!

Above - image from UhuruDesign.com

Above - image from WuttkeWerks.blogspot.com

Nightwood NY

Myriah Scruggs and Nadia Yaron of Nightwood in Brooklyn, NY, give new life to reclaimed wood and out of commission furniture. The look they create is easy-going, warm, and unpretentious. Hats off to Nightwood!


All images from NightWoodNY.com

Chase DeForest

Furniture from salvaged materials do not always look great but I love the warm and familiar character of Chase DeForest's pieces.

Images from ChaseDeForest.com

Old clothes and Fabric Scraps

If your clothes are too worn out even for wearing around the house you have some options:
-You can donate them (Even if they're too worn out for resale Goodwill sells such items together as bulk to companies that recycle them as insulation)
-You can make rags out of them
-Or you can always add some comfort and style to your life by turning them into a casual crazy quilt:

Above image from TheScope.ca

Above image from AntiqueQuilts.biz

Turns out scraps work quite well as upholstery also. The design group Squint creates great lively and easy-going pieces of furniture by using colorful patchwork for upholstery.

Above two - Images of Squint's work from ApartmentTherapy.com

Above Image of Squint's work from InteriorDesign.net

Vintage industrial pieces from Cleveland Art

Cleveland Art re-purposes/recycles salvaged industrial surplus as functional furniture/art/lighting. I like renewing/reusing furniture instead of dumping them, I like the functional and no-nonsense aesthetic of industrial objects, I like things that last, and I like things with age and character, so there is quite a bit for me to enjoy at Cleveland Art's inventory.





All images from ClevelandArt.com

Jurgen Lehl

Jurgen Lehl designs some rough/casual/earthy furniture along with his clothing line.

Above - these stools are hand carved from one solid piece of wood. Image from JurgenLehlShop.jp

Above - Stools are made of woven bamboo and stainless steel, naturally each one is unique. Image from DesignBoom.com