Reuse. Rehabilitate. Restore. Architectural salvage and repurposed pieces for the home.
I check the Uncommon Goods online store all the time, but I’ve never written about it because it’s not some fresh new thing that I’ve just discovered. Well, let me just do this for myself so I can move on….
Some of my favorite handmade recycled items:
Stave Back Storage Bench: $400
“Beam Table”: $ 3800
Uhuru was founded in 2004 by Rhode Island School of Design grads Bill Hilgendorf and Jason Horvath.
The two honor the Shaker belief that “beauty rests on utility”. Most of the pieces they fabricate in their Red Hook, Brooklyn shop are from salvaged materials.
The “Beam Table” pictured above is made from reclaimed timber from early 1900’s buildings in NYC that were being demolished.
“Stoolen”: starts at $2000
The Stoolen side table/stool is crafted from strips of wood saved from local Brooklyn area shops. See the rim around the piece? Bike rim.
“Fenced In”: $ 3800
The “Fenced In” coffee table is made from repurposed cast iron fence pieces and 1/2″ tempered glass.
Uhuru is currently working on some deals with local showrooms. For the moment contact them directly via their website for all inquiries.
In doing a search for recycled wallpaper I came upon Graham & Brown. The paper isn’t 100% recycled but I prefer their collections to some of the “greener” stuff out there.
Approximately 50% of an average roll of Graham & Brown wallpaper is made from renewable resources. If not recycled, the paper comes from FSC managed forests.
Recycled rainwater and a state-of-the-art drainage system is used in production. The company also uses non-acidic inks & coatings. Pollution is burned off on site and used for energy to run the plant.
Prices seem to average about $40 per roll. Retailers include Lowes and Janovic.
Via Treehugger via Design Boom
I’m not sure if this handy kitchen gadget is actually for sale or it’s currently just an “idea”. French designer Kechenyl Camille won an honorable mention in the “Dining in 2015” competition. “My eco-cook is an object that helps to save water, energy and time.”
And that’s why this would be great for me. I loathe cooking. It stresses me out. I throw everything in together (if I must cook, that is) because I’m lazy.
The dohickey is made out of nylon and silicone heat resistant material. Not only can you cook everything in one shot, there’s no need for a colander.
Now if they could only invent something to wash and season those boiled vegetables, I’d be in business.
I love these! I’m not a huge fan of parquet floors, but this wood mosaic and herringbone look is hot. Yeah, I said “hot”. Just shoot me now.
Since wood + water don’t mix, my first question was “But how do you grout?” Well, you use epoxy thinset and epoxy grout. The tiles are recommended for backsplashes, wainscoting or as accents. I’m assuming you can use them for floors in low traffic areas that don’t see any moisture.
Anchor Bay Tile offers 9 choices of real wood tile from sustainable forests. At $25.50 per square foot, it would be a tough nut to crack for the entire floor anyway. It ships from Arizona.
Beagle Tiles, straight outta Brooklyn, has a line of veneered plywood. They came up with the concept in 1986 when they converted a mound of 1/4″ fir plywood scraps into beautiful, functional tiles. “Proud owner” Marcy informs me that these can be grouted since they are sealed and finished first.
CALL FOR EXHIBITORS: BKLYN DESIGNS + 2008
Since it’s launch in 2003, Bklyn Designs has expanded into three main venues. The Dumbo show is presented by the Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Target this year.
In addition to showcasing up and coming home furnishing and fixture designers, BKLYN DESIGNS 2008 will feature a cash and carry market for small home accessories.
There is no jury fee to enter, but booth space is $800 and items must have been made in Brooklyn.
Application deadline is February 1, 2008.
Before you get excited, Source Antiques is located in Bath, England. But I just want to give you an idea of what you can do with old outdated cabinets. With a bit of refurbishing and new handles, your cabinets could be (almost) as spectacular as these. Won’t you give them a second chance?
We have a set of wood cabinets in our garage that are waiting for some love. And I can’t wait to get to them! It’s going to be a fun project.
A few weeks ago I heard about the glut of hotel armoires on NPR. This due to the fact that flat screen TV’s are all the rage now and hotels are discarding the entertainment units along with the big outdated TV’s.
Armoires have been around since the turn of some long ago century. I don’t know the full history, so I won’t pretend I do. They can be converted for use as a closet, kitchen cupboard or computer desk. And why not still an entertainment center? Those flat screen TV’s are still very much out of place in a period home!
Universal Hotel Liquidators seems to be the only local hotel shop. And when I say local, I mean New Haven, CT. They currently have some cool couches and chairs from the Essex House.
For a list of surplus outlets across the country, see I Love Upstate’s November post.
Yes, we live like this. And we have for years. If you’re a germaphobe, please look away now.
Our long term plan is to completely redo the kitchen. We’ll probably end up adding an extension as the layout here is difficult to get around. There are windows and doors in every wall. It would be a bit cramped for an island. We also don’t love the idea of having a full bathroom right off the kitchen, but we want the home to have 2 baths.Continue reading Preparing for Guests: The Kitchen
We’re starting on the easier projects first. Like the guest room, the living room is pretty much finished.
The major concerns here are the couch and the light fixture, both Ebay finds. Both items bought about 3 years ago and my husband has never let me live down.Continue reading Preparing for Guests: Living Room
Neil Collins had me at the mask. Very Darth Vader meets Hannial Lecter, no? The wall sculpture is made from an oil painted antique gas mask with new nylon straps attached to the frame by steel rings. Rings are hand made from the metal of a football helmet face guard. The frame is welded steel painted in a pattern of alternating black and bare steel. Entire work, apart from glass, is sealed. $500.Continue reading Etsy Find: Neil Collins
Hey, this guy has some cool stuff on Etsy. “Creative Pal” is a writer and inventor out of Bloomington. He creates lamps, murals and other fun stuff that any adult child (oh, that’s me) would love. I’ll let you read about his creative process in his own words. Just click on photo links for more info.
City Tech’s Continuing Ed program is offering more brownstone series courses starting in January.
For more information: dsalomon@citytech.cuny.edu
To register: 718 552 1170
January 15
Green Home Furnishings and Healthy Home Decor: HHT 075 $40
February 20
Interior Design Basics HHT 072 $40
March 6 – 27
The Art of Home Decor HHT 070 $125
March 11
Basic Home Repairs HHT 077 $40
April 12
Spring Sruce Up (No course number) $20
April 17
Low Impact Living: HHT 076 $40
I love it! A bathtub couch. A shopping cart chair. Reestore is so clever, they don’t need to use 100 year old salvage. They can make fine furnishings out of everyday crap!
The prices aren’t bad. The couch costs as much as a “regular” couch. Ok, it may not be the most comfortable thing in the world, but who cares? It’s fabulous! And your dog can’t chew it up.
Oh, one catch. Reestore is in the UK.
Via Inhabitat
