Go Eco with Vintage Decor! 35 Ways to Use 9 Items
December 12, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design & Home & Garden. ]
Decorating your home? There’s nothing more environmentally friendly than choosing pre-owned goods, especially those that may be seen as trash by others. Look for aging items with lots of texture and character like apothecary cabinets, bins and baskets, bird cages, dressing tables, suitcases, picture frames, shutters, scrap wood, jars and tins. Use these 35 photos as a visual guide to pick out quality vintage pieces at thrift stores, flea markets and yard sales and integrate them into your home.
Apothecary Cabinets
(images via: ffffound, flickr, diychichome)
Originally designed to store herbs, spices and medical goods in retail stores, apothecary cabinets have many small drawers that can be extremely helpful in organization. Often weathered, giving a hint of their history, these beautiful cabinets can be found in excellent vintage condition from locations all over the world. Reproduction models are also available (but are nowhere near as charming or eco-friendly.) They can be used for the home in so many ways: storing linens and special tableware items in the dining room, arts and craft supplies, baby items and random odds and ends.
Bins & Baskets
(images via: restoration hardware, poppytalk, schoengeistig, country living)
They’re among decorators’ most-loved vintage finds: bins and baskets from times past, typically very sturdy and well-made, often printed with text that tells of their initial use. If you’re lucky, you’ll see metal baskets from old locker rooms, industrial metal bins, milk crates and French mail bins. Naturally, the uses for these bins are practically endless. Slide them onto bookshelves, or use them in place of drawers in dressers. Mount them to the wall. Use them in the bathroom for towels and extra toilet paper. Place them inside open kitchen cabinets or pantries to reduce the look of clutter.
Bird Cages
(images via: knock off decor, design sponge, bhg, womans day)
Bird cages have a certain ‘shabby chic’ aesthetic that some vintage-loving decorators just can’t resist. Many are decorative enough to simply hang empty, or place atop nightstands and book cases. Some place candles or potted plants inside them, turn them into hanging lamps, mount them to walls or remove one side to create a cute little organizer. Get instructions to make the latter at Better Homes and Gardens.
Dressing Tables
(images via: craftynest, the how and tell blog, hellolovelyinc, traceytilley)
Why keep dressers hidden away in the bedroom when they have so many uses? Snag one with potential, re-paint it and revamp it into a foyer table, an organizer for tableware in the dining room, a changing table, a television stand or even a bathroom vanity. Look for real, solid wood (not particle board, which can bend and warp) and interesting hardware for maximum visual impact.
Suitcases
(images via: re-nest.com, cupcakes and cashmere, apartment therapy, style me pretty)
Who knew suitcases had so many purposes? Aside from schlepping around your travel gear, vintage suitcases – especially those a little too worn for their original use – make beautiful and unexpected nightstands and decorative elements when stacked. Just like baskets and bins, they can be placed inside a dresser instead of drawers; have one open on a tabletop to display some of your favorite items.
Picture Frames
(images via: shelterness, citified, shelterness 2, curbly)
The trick to making a gaudy old picture frame chic and modern? Spray paint. Even the busiest frames can be vastly simplified with a coat of paint – try black, white or a high-impact bright like red or turquoise. Weathered wood frames are beautiful as well. Take cues from these inspirational images and use them to display photos in unexpected ways, frame a chalkboard or display jewelry.
Shutters
(images via: good housekeeping, martha stewart, iffers, jaimescott)
Room screens. Headboards. Wall art. Furniture. Tuck memos, mail, notes or photos into the slots.
Shutters have so much texture, and their mere presence seems to make a room brighter and more welcoming because they provide the illusion of more windows. Another way to use this effect to your advantage – and visually enlarge a room – is to place them on either side of a large mirror.
Jars and Tins
(images via: houzz.com, etsy, etsy 2, ionwkathy, designsponge)
Vintage jars are so in-demand that they can sometimes sell for up to fifteen dollars each. That’s a big success story for an item that was once thought of as trash. Mason jars, tins and other kinds of glass and metal containers – especially the old blue Ball jars – are a small but dramatic way to bring some vintage flair into a room. They can be hanging lamps, terrariums, vases, planters, soap containers and votive holders. Melt down leftover wax and pour it into an old tin for a double shot of reuse. If you’re in love with the look of those blue jars but can’t find any, try this tutorial by Like a Cup of Tea, which uses glue and food coloring to create the effect.
Weathered Scrap Wood
(images via: traditionally modern designs, u-create crafts, alternative apparel, cenzo design)
Strips of salvaged wood bring so much character into a space, whether used sparingly or applied to an entire wall. Drill 2-inch holes into a scrap wooden post to turn it into a rustic candle holder for your mantle or tabletop. Nail them together into whimsical wall art. Use them to cover the top of an uninspiring table, or create a window valance.
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DIY Dress-Up: 13 Totally Doable Eco-Fashion Projects
October 17, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steph in Home & Garden & Tricks & Hacks. ]
Making your own recycled clothes and accessories? It might seem best to leave such ambitious projects to the talented and experienced craft mavens of the world, but if you can squeeze a glue bottle and cut in a fairly straight line, you can make these 13 fun and creative customized glitter boots, jewelry, arm warmers and more. Ranging from ridiculously simple no-sew scarves to stylish skirts and dresses, these eco-fashion tutorials could produce handmade holiday gifts or a new fall wardrobe for yourself.
Knit Circle Scarf from a Sweater
(image via: ps i made this)
Making a super-warm circle scarf just in time for fall and winter is as easy as cutting up a sweater and taping it. No, really! P.S. – I Made This explains the unbelievably simple no-sew process that even someone with zero crafting experience can handle.
Sparkly Boots
(images via: lefancuille)
Any old tired pair of shoes, from your own closet or from the thrift store, can become your favorite pair of party heels with a little glue and glitter. If you can pour glitter onto a glued surface, you can do this.
Lace Briefcase
(images via: a beautiful mess)
A vintage briefcase gets a stylish and feminine update in another simple tutorial at A Beautiful Mess. Just glue the lace on in strips. Of course, the same idea could apply to virtually any type of fabric trim, like ribbon.
Cute Cat Food Can Ring
(images via: ecouterre)
Yuka Yoneda at Ecouterre shows us how to turn an empty cat food can into an adorable kitty ring with a little bit of snipping and folding. Do DIY eco accessories ever get any easier than this?
T-Shirt Shrug
(images via: cut out and keep)
Any old t-shirt – including those freebies with not-so-desirable printed designs on the front – can become romantic shrugs a la Pride and Prejudice with some hemming and a ribbon. Cut Out and Keep explains how to slice up the front of the shirt, sew a casing and insert a ribbon for an adjustable cardigan. Dress it up further with trim at the bottom hem, or a removable brooch.
Sweater Arm Warmers
(images via: totallystitchin.net)
Keep your arms cozy, no matter what outfit you decide to wear, with a pair of upcycled arm warmers made from an old sweater. There’s not much more involved in this project than cutting the sleeves off the sweater, creation a hole for your thumb and adding accents as desired.
Pocahontas Top from a T-Shirt
(images via: nice and shiny)
An old t-shirt is easily turned into a serious style statement inspired by Helsinki street style and Pocahontas in this tutorial by Nice and Shiny. All you have to do is cut the t-shirt into a halter shape, tape of a waistband and then add lots of slits.
Detachable Collar
(images via: diyprojects, wear the canvas)
Want to get your hands on one of the trendy detachable collars that have been popping up everywhere lately? While you can DIY this adaptable accessory by cutting off the collar of an existing shirt, you can also make one from scrap fabric for a more customizable shape. Try either the traditional shirt collar tutorial at Wear the Canvas or a sweet Peter Pan-style from DIY Projects.
Beaded Fabric Flower Necklace
(images via: pretty-ditty)
A long, narrow strip of fabric and any old ugly unwanted beads transform into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind necklace with this tutorial from Pretty Ditty. A few little fabric rosettes give it a bit of extra charm.
Recycled Ruffled Headband
(images via: crafting a green world)
Ultra-feminine (and a great gift for little girls, if it’s a bit too twee for your tastes), this ruffled headband uses about a quarter yard of lightweight material like chiffon or organza and the wide headband of your choice. Tip: Check for remnants of these fabrics at your local bridal shop or tailor.
Scrap Leather Birdie Purse
(images via: a beautiful mess)
A few scraps of leather, yarn, lace and a button form the basis of a super-cute bird-shaped fringed purse, designed by Elsie Larson of A Beautiful Mess. Fabric stores often have leather remnants, or you could seek out a damaged leather item that still has usable portions. Different colors could be used to craft a species of your choosing.
Men’s Shirt Skirt
(images via: fashion indie, crafty stylish)
Who knew that a men’s dress shirt could make such a fetching skirt? There are any number of ways in which to accomplish this, ranging from simply cutting the top of the shirt off and sewing an elastic waistband to an elegant gathered version explained at CraftyStylish.
Tablecloth Dress
(images via: recycled-fashion.com)
Making clothing out of upholstery is generally a bit of a DIY no-no, but it’s unlikely you’ll have anyone yodeling at you if you choose your fabric this carefully. Erica Louise at Recycled Fashion found a gorgeous Ikat tablecloth at a trash and treasure market and made this dress using a free downloadable pattern.
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Tiny Living Worlds in Glass: 12 Terrarium Ideas
October 10, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design & Home & Garden. ]
Light bulbs, mason jars, cake stands and tea pots: practically any clear glass container can contain a tiny greenhouse, providing humidity and warmth to plants. Whether you keep it simple with moss and a few cute figurines or curate complex miniature landscapes with tropical or even carnivorous plants, terrariums bring a touch of nature indoors and make stunning centerpieces for special occasions.
Tiny Garden in a Light Bulb
(images via: hipster home)
Used light bulbs, typically destined for the trash bin, could be the setting for an adorable miniature terrarium. The Hipster Home explains how in a tutorial that requires needle-nose pliers, long tweezers or chopsticks, a screwdriver and some sand and plants. Adhesive silicone bumpers allow you to stand the light bulb up at the angle you prefer.
Hang an Bit of Nature
(images via: design sponge)
Now, you could either wrap some wire around your light bulb terrarium, or find a clear glass ornament in order to make a tiny hanging terrarium. If your ornament is destined for holiday use only, use dried moss, not live plants, or you’ll be sad when you pull them out next year to find that greenery has turned brown. Get the details at Design Sponge.
Reclaim Those Jars
(image via: space stitch)
Many mason jars are just too pretty to toss into the recycling bin, and why should you when they have so many uses? Clean out a used jar and simply add stones, soil, plants and any little figurines you may want to include. Learn the details about maintenance and care at Make Online.
Light it Up in a Lamp
(images via: moontree handworks)
Combine two functions in one with a terrarium lamp! A company called MoonTree Handworks offers a lamp kit with a clear glass jar, or you could easily create a DIY version with your own mason jar using an adapter kit.
Wear It Close to Your Heart
(image via: woodland belle)
Carry a miniature garden close to your heart. Terrarium necklaces like this one from Woodland Belle are easy to find on Etsy, the online market for handmade goods. If you’re crafty, you could also make your own using miniature corked glass bottles, wire and chain.
Sweet Cake Stand Idea
(image via: diyideas.com)
Put your terrarium on a pedestal. A cake stand is the perfect way to show off your creation, and vintage cake stands are easy to find at garage sales, flea markets and online auction sites.
Frame it to Perfection
(images via: country living)
Reminiscent of the large, enclosed terrariums that were popular in the Victorian era, this sweet DIY creation is essentially a mini greenhouse in which hothouse plants like ferns and orchids can thrive throughout the year. Country Living offers a step-by-step tutorial for making it out of eight picture frames.
Invite Nature in for Tea
(image via: ohafternoonsnacks)
Is this tea pot garden adorable or what? Ideal as a table centerpiece at special events, particularly weddings or garden parties, a clear tea pot filled with live or artificial plants is cute and quirky.
Hang it on Your Fridge
(images via:ruffledblog)
Magnetic metal tins, often used to organize office supplies or arrange spices on a refrigerator, are the perfect containers for tiny vertical terrariums. This version keeps things clean and super-easy to maintain using air plants, so that no soil is needed.
Garden in a Bottle
(image via: terrarium man)
Wine bottles, jugs and carafes can be laid on their sides or even hung with wire. Want a super-easy (and practically free) terrarium project you can complete with the kids? Try using a plastic soda bottle.
Another Bright Idea
(image via: design spunk)
When blogger Kat of Design Spunk spotted an outdated 1970s chandelier, she didn’t see junk – she saw an incredibly creative terrarium container for live orchids, showing off the flowers in a beautiful and unusual way.
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DIY Decor Inspiration: 14 Eco Crafts for the Home
July 25, 2011 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design & Home & Garden. ]
Hang a wreath on your door made from the pages of unwanted books, custom-color your own vases and mason jars, turn torn doilies into a pretty hanging lamp or organize your jewelry with a reclaimed rake. These 14 fun, crafty DIY projects for the home transform cast-off materials into stylish new decorative items.
Custom Colored Mason Jars
(images via: creative little daisy)
Vintage blue mason jars can make a pretty addition to home decor, but a single jar – once tossed away as junk – can cost as much as $12 at an antique store. This tutorial, by Creative Little Daisy, shows you how to glaze clear jars and vases in any color you want using nothing more than Mod Podge glue and food coloring.
Branch Candle Holders
(images via: fossil blog)
Add rustic beauty to your mantle with twig candle holders. This DIY project is simple and natural, using just a flat candle holder (check thrift stores!), garden pruners, craft adhesive and dry tree or shrub branches of your choosing. The same concept could be used on vases or other decorative items.
Tiered Cupcake Stand
(images via: giverslog)
Cupcake stands are a fun and dramatic way to show off these confectionery creations, but it makes no sense to spend a lot on one if you’re not a frequent baker. Thankfully, it’s cheap and easy to turn the plates of your choice (preferably secondhand, to make this an eco-friendly project) into a tiered display rack that’s customized to your tastes. A tutorial from GiversLog uses decorative drawer pulls and items from the hardware store to create an interchangeable stand, so you can switch out the plates according to the occasion.
Round Lace Lantern
(images vía: dos family)
Lace doilies aren’t exactly fashionable home decor any more, but if you’ve still got some laying around – even if they’re ripped and otherwise unusable – they can be turned into a pretty globe lantern using glue and a balloon. Other items that might work include lace handkerchiefs and tablecloths.
Recycled Barrel Planter
(images via: design sponge)
Design Sponge will show you how to create this rustic tiered planter for your porch or deck using a half barrel and wood from old pallets. You’ll need a jigsaw, a compound miter saw and a power screwdriver. The result looks almost identical to those pre-made ones that can cost hundreds of dollars.
Fabric-Covered Pots
(images via: ashley ann photography)
Got old, ugly flower pots hanging around? You can totally change their look with some scrap fabric and Mod Podge glue. This is a great way to use small fabric leftovers or clothing items that have been torn or otherwise damaged beyond repair. Each one takes just a few minutes to create, using the instructions by Christine Chitnis.
Crocheted Swiffer Sock
(images via: crafty stylish)
Yes, those Swiffer pads work really well to get things like pet hair up off the floor. But that shouldn’t mean you have to keep buying the disposable cotton pads, creating unnecessary household waste. Just crochet your own, if you’re handy, using this tutorial by CraftyStylish – or try any of these other 13 ways to make your own Swiffer socks, listed by Consumerist.
Wine Cork Bath Mat
(images via: craftynest)
As if you needed another excuse to crack open a bottle of wine as often as possible, this cool project from CraftyNest gives you a way to use all of those corks. A naturally soft, water-resistant material, cork is perfect for bath mats. CraftyNest’s instructions involve hot-gluing the corks to a non-adhesive shelf liner, which acts as a floor-gripping base.
Magazine Baskets
(images via: how about orange)
Out-of-date magazines can be given new life as colorful baskets simply by folding the pages and weaving them together. The website How About Orange explains how to use narrow strips of magazine pages and glue dots or double-stick tape for baskets that can be tailored to your preferred color scheme.
Rose Wreath Made of Book Pages
(images via: by stephanie lynn)
Love all things literary? Proclaim it to everyone who enters your home with a gorgeous wreath made of book pages. Crafter Stephanie Lynn explains how to cut pages from an old, unwanted book into swirls that you can shape into roses and secure to a wreath form with hot glue. The same idea can be used to create individual roses for other projects, like adorning wrapped gifts.
Upside-Down Planters
(images via: design sponge)
Upside-down planters are an eye-catching way to grow plants indoors or out, but the ones on the market tend to be less than aesthetically appealing. Design Sponge will show you how to make your own using coffee cans or plastic bottles, wire hangers and the fabric scraps of your choice.
Rake Jewelry Organizer
(image via: sarahndipities)
What a brilliant way to wrangle that tangle of jewelry that’s likely clogging up your drawer or sitting in a messy pile on top of the dresser. Old rake heads are easy to come by in flea markets, antique stores or at the junkyard, and turning them into jewelry organizers is as simple as adding a piece of string.
T-Shirt Grocery Bag
(images via: ecouterre)
Making your own reusable shopping bags has never been easier than this. Old t-shirts with moth holes, stains or unwanted designs make stretchy, colorful totes with minimal sewing. Check out the tutorial at Ecouterre.
Vintage Trophy Coat Rack
(images via: design sponge)
Can you imagine how many trophies with sayings like ‘Potato Sack Race Champion’ there are poking out of landfills around the world? This fun coat rack salvages the little metallic figures that adorn unwanted vintage trophies for a quirky addition to the foyer or mudroom.
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Art of Upcycling: 20 DIY Wood Pallet Reuse Project Ideas
April 7, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Elizah in Art & Design, Home & Garden, Tricks & Hacks. ]
Not quite a fan of the unsustainable design clones that fight for elbow room in today’s furniture and big box stores? Anyone with a crafty bone in their body knows full well that entirely original household staples and all around practical lifestyle accessories with major wow factor can be cobbled together with minimal budgetary impact, all thanks to humble yet highly customizable wooden shipping pallets. Even if you’ve never before dabbled in the fine art of DIY, a little elbow grease and repurposing inspiration is really all you need to get your eco-design train in motion. Allllll aboard!
No-Sweat Shoe Rack Ensures Fanciful Footwork!
(Image via: junk+ion)
Here is a phenomenal way to launch into DIY territory without chewing up a whole day attempting to make sense of hammers, nails or any of the other traditional accoutrements fitting of a craft enthusiast. Simply knock on the door of any major tile retailer and offer to take one or several wooden pallets off their hands (which will surely make them smile from ear to ear since they normally have to pay a fee for proper disposal). Upon returning home with your freebie treasure, merely prop it up against a wall and tah-dah — behold an instant shoe holder which should easily accommodate 8+ pairs of footwear depending on its size and construction. Those who are itching to customize it should definitely bear in mind that the wooden surface is instantly ripe for paint, decoupage or whatever additional decorative concepts can be conjured up.
Put Glitzy Dishware Out On Pallet-Parade
(Images via: re-nest)
This “why didn’t I think of that?“ organizational project makes good use of the simplistic features of a garden variety pallet without requiring that the DIYer exercise any real fuss or muss. Merely swinging a hammer will take a pallet from yawn to yowza, imparting an edgy, urban feel to a kitchen or dining room that will have even well-heeled admirers scurrying off to the home improvement store in search of a jumbo pack of nails. If you think dishware looks good in a vertical pallet arrangement, the same concept could easily apply to cookbooks, tchotchkes or spices (with the addition of a few strategically placed planks of recycled pallet wood).
Sled Your Winter Cares Away On a Modified No Frills Pallet
(Images via: Instructables & stiffey)
How about another minimal effort project for the DIY newbies out there? Requiring slightly more elbow grease than the previous two ideas above, this wooden pallet sled makes child’s play out of snowy hills and dales with the addition of curved rails on the underside of the craft. If you don’t already have a sledgehammer, claw hammer, chisel and saw in your arsenal, rather than purchasing them (which will definitely hurt when you saddle up at the cash register), borrow them from friends or neighbors who fancy working with their hands and sweeten the deal by letting them in on your cheap snow-worthy secret!
Green Your Pedaling With a Carbon-Free Bike Trailer!
(Images via: Instructables & cmachia)
Tooling around town via bicycle to square away groceries as well as other shopping pit stops can end up being a whole lot easier and greener with this clever and relatively simple wooden pallet scavenging project. In three simple steps, one pallet can be disassembled using either a circular saw, a hammer or pry bar, a recycled wheel assembly as well as a hitch assembly can be created using a total of $7 of hardware and the whole kit-n-kaboodle can be attached to a separate fully intact pallet. The final result is a dandy looking DIY trailer, enabling any biking greenie to once and for all be able to carry more than a few carefully selected purchases home. Finally, welt-free arms are within reach!
Sit Pretty On a Mini Adirondack-Style Pallet Chair!
(Images via: Inhabitat, flickr, Nina Tolstrup of StudioMama)
Are you one of those people who longingly eyeballs the latest patio furniture offerings but never quite gets around to plunking down the necessary ka-ching? Aside from enjoying the view outside by sitting on a curb — which is free, but not so comfy – taking a load off shouldn’t require shelling out a small fortune. Fortunately, shooting the breeze with a friend, enjoying the fruits of your organic gardening labors or indulging in a thirst-quenching libation can now be done with a relatively minimal 4 hour DIY investment by following this straightforward pallet chair tutorial courtesy of Mikey Sklar.
Cool Your Heels On an Outdoor Sectional Pallet Couch
(Images via: Craftzine & Wendy Tremayne)
Repurposing guru Wendy Tremayne offers up a seriously hardcore DIY project that, while requiring a great deal of time, patience and creativity, will take the heat off your wallet since the majority of the materials are reclaimed. Involving a framework of industrial pallets supporting reupholstered foam cushions rescued from someone’s curb, the result of her efforts is a seating arrangement that is both utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing.
Accent Your Rooms With Whimsical Pallet Furniture
(Images via: Pallet Art & Mark Dabelstein)
Co-creator of Recycle Santa Fe…a Festival of Recycling, Vermont-based repurposing artisan Mark Dabelstein constructs uniquely designed pallet wood furniture and household decor pieces accented with organic paints. From flags and picture frames to clocks and cabinets, the artist has proudly been diverting landfill waste since 1998! You could easily pay homage to his resourceful style by following suit or tinkering with the arrangement of your pallet planks to devise entirely original designs.
Harness Your Unruly Belongings With an Earthy Yet Stylish Shelving System
(Images via: Design Sponge & Claire Terry)
One of the greatest inventions known to mankind, a simple multi-tiered organizational rack can beat books and random knick-knacks into submission, but the price tag can often be hard to digest. Claire Terry from New Zealand’s Madame Fancy Pants has conjured up a spectacular DIY recipe for a pallet shelf is both tasty and oh-so-doable with its perfect melding of style, structure and simplicity. Do you know anyone who doesn’t need an extra handy-dandy shelving system for the wonderful price of practically free?!? Didn’t think so!
Scare the Living Bejeezus Out Of Trick-or-Treaters!
(Images via: Virtual Placebo)
Why spend full retail price on seasonal Halloween props that aren’t designed to last beyond the next full moon when you can whip weathered pallets into shape by making this creepy semi-buried coffin instead? You’ll definitely get the desired reaction from neighborhood kiddies who happen to saunter on by this piston-activated crypt that springs to life (or death, as the case may be) with its perpetually restless skeletal resident. Perhaps it could also double as an organic root cellar for the remainder of the year?!?
Deck The Halls With Palletized X-Mas Decor Ideas!
(Images via: Apartment Therapy)
Visual merchandiser Dann Boyles teamed up with Nashville’s Nouveau Classics to brainstorm these crafty yuletide treats using slabs of reclaimed and artfully arranged pallet wood. Aware of the challenges that consumers face in a continually depressed economy, they devised this festive yet frugal decor duo consisting of a rustic wreath and a 13 foot Christmas tree using nothing more than a brad nailer, proving that cheap can still be chic when you add an ample dose of creativity to the formula. Who knew that hunks of wood could be so easy on the eyes?
Bring Music To Your Ears With a Finger-Pickin’ Good Pallet Guitar!
(Images via: Sarah Archer & LA Guitar Sales)
While difficult to imagine, several enterprising individuals have taken on the seemingly full-blown challenge of transforming typical softwood spruce and pine pallets into musical instruments that can genuinely hold a tune. John S. Sargent’s smooth, knotted pine wood version — riddled with nail holes and an S-shaped pallet nail insignia emblazoned on its peg head apparently possesses a mellow sound as does Bob Taylor’s limited run of weathered pallet oak and pine guitars. The latter craftsman initially embraced the project to prove to naysayers that truly fine musical instruments can be created with any conceivable material and today, with just a handful of them floating around, collectors snap them up at several thousand dollars a pop.
Green Thumbs Rejoice: 4 Outdoor Decor Projects Ripe For The Picking!
(Images via: Instructables, Makezine, Woodworker’s Woodshop, Homegrown Evolution)
From a quick-n-easy flower/veggie planter using two pallets to a latched, four-walled pallet compost bin, there are several surprisingly slick outdoor helpers that can assist the green warrior within all of us. Fancy crafting a potting station that won’t cost you an arm and a leg? Homegrown Evolution’s graduated design is practical while also being stylish, and with plenty of built-in tiers, you can stash gardening implements with the greatest of ease. Interested in encouraging the fine feathered friends flittering about to make a feast of excessively hungry insects that continue to plow through tender shoots and buds? Truly chemical-free gardening can be achieved by setting up various bird-worthy accommodations using recycled pallet wood, and the best part is that they can then feast to their heart’s content and keep returning to the scene of the crime day after day!
Bring Out Your Inner Child With a Painted Pallet Playhouse
(Images via: Instructables & jkratman)
Whether you have a family of your own or neighborhood children tend to habitually flock to your property in search of entertainment, this repurposed pallet playhouse will definitely hit the spot. It’s safe to say that this comprehensive project is best suited to the intermediate to expert DIY enthusiast, but as newbies acquire experience, it’s definitely something worthwhile to aspire to. With its use of impressive craftsman-like details such as framed windows, a built-in porch and customized roofing, children lucky enough to call this their home away from home might not ever leave!
…Or Construct a Very Adult-Friendly Reclaimed Pallet Abode
(Images via: I-Beam Design, Michael Jantzen, Inhabitat)
Architectural firm I-Beam creates emergency or transitional structures for war/climate refugees as well as other individuals who through unforeseen circumstances are faced without the prospect of shelter. What makes their 16 x 16 $3000 concept particularly brilliant is that — in addition to being erected in just one week — it can be adapted to become more permanent when concrete, plaster, stone or other substantial materials are incorporated. Michael Jantzen, on the other hand, is the brainchild behind the Tiny Free House, which is a 100% pallet-constructed abode fitted with modern amenities, proving that we can all achieve the American Dream with a little resourcefulness and DIY action. Interested in making one of your very own mini Thoreau-like pallet dwellings? The designer sells plans on his website! Last but certainly not least, the multi-award winning Paletten Haus is reportedly simple to erect, energy efficient and could conceivably become a viable, low-income housing structure for individuals with compromised financial backgrounds. In fact, its designers Andreas Claus Schnetzer and Gregor Pils are currently in the process of modifying the structure as an 80 square foot home for a Johannesburg, South African social building project at a cost of just $11 per square foot.
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Good Things in Small Boxes: Urban Garden, Tiny Footprint
March 17, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Delana in Home & Garden. ]
With Spring right around the corner, we can’t help but think of all of the delicious vegetables and herbs that are just waiting to spring up in our backyard gardens. For the millions of people who don’t have access to the type of land it takes to grow a bountiful vegetable crop all summer, the Urban Garden gives you a chance to sprout organic produce in a small space.
City dwellers who don’t have the luxury of vast expanses of green space in which to grow veggies typically resign themselves to buying organic produce in the grocery store or growing only the essentials in pots on balconies. A company called The Urban Garden wants to help everyone realize the dream of growing fresh, organic food at home, even if space is tight. Their products are designed to grow the maximum amount of plants in a minimal amount of space.
All of the Urban Garden products consist of compact raised beds. The layered designs help urban gardeners squeeze a large amount of usable ground out of a remarkably small footprint. The boxes even feature “seed holes,” or small openings where single-stem plants can grow horizontally out of the front of the box setup. Weeds aren’t a problem, and the boxes are happy being placed just about anywhere with a southern exposure to the sun.
Available in four different configurations – from the single-level raised bed to the six-level, 54-plant original setup – the Urban Garden is flexible enough to meet the needs of just about every gardener. Even if you think you have a black thumb, the people behind the Urban Garden want you to know that there are plenty of vegetables that require very little skill to grow. For a first-time gardener, choosing easy-to-grow veggies like broccoli, tomatoes and peppers can help you get off to a great start.
While the Urban Garden is an ideal solution for people living in crowded city areas, it’s useful even if you do have yard space to spare. By raising the garden a bit, you eliminate a lot of problems that come with traditional gardening – problems like poor soil quality, overwhelming weeds, and pests (the cedar used in the Urban Garden naturally repels insects) become easily managed with container gardens. And for those of us who prefer organic produce, growing it at home can save an astonishing sum of money over the course of one growing season.
(image via: Popular Mechanics)
There are plenty of resources out there for DIY-ers who prefer the satisfaction of building something rather than the convenience of purchasing it pre-made. If you’re ready to get your hands dirty constructing your own raised vegetable garden, these instructions from Popular Mechanics will get you started. This Squidoo lens about raised bed gardening is very detailed and has step-by-step photos and illustrations to help you through each part of the planning and building process.
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Eco Homes from the Earth: 7 Ways to DIY
March 15, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design, Home & Garden. ]
Wouldn’t it be nice to own your own green dream home, made with recycled and natural materials and packed with custom features? Whether you’re an experienced builder or have never picked up a power tool in your life, you can build a natural eco-friendly home with user-friendly, low-cost materials like cob, cordwood, straw and the dirt and wood from your own land. These 7 natural building techniques produce beautiful homes with a small ecological footprint and tons of personality.
Earthships and Hobbit Houses
(images via dominicspics, ECOnscious, Earthship Biotecture)
They seem to be a living part of the very earth itself, often with nothing but a façade and some windows to betray the presence of a home in the hillside. And earth-sheltered homes built partially into the ground come with some incredible benefits, like the ability to absorb and regulate heat from the sun for comfort in all seasons. Earth-sheltered homes can be built entirely underground, bermed (covered with earth on one to three sides) or built into a larger hill with just one side open. Earthships and ‘hobbit houses’ are common forms of earth-sheltered homes.
(images via: simondale.net)
Among the most famous examples of a ‘hobbit house’ is “A Low Impact Woodland Home”, self-built in Wales for about 1000-1500 man-hours (over four months) and £3000. Creator Simon Dale used stone and wood from the property, straw bales covered in plaster for the walls, and lots of reclaimed and salvaged materials like hardwood flooring, doors and windows. The reciprocal roof, covered in plastic sheeting and mud/turf, is surprisingly easy to build and looks incredible.
Cob
(images via: ziggy fresh)
How can a house made of mud last 500 years? The short answer is, the combination of clay, sand and straw – known as cob – is extremely strong and durable once it dries, and can withstand fire and severe weather as well as practically any other material. This ancient building technique is among the easiest and least expensive ways to build your own sustainable, healthy green home.
Just ask “Ziggy”, a resident of the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in Missouri who built his own cob cottage for just $3,000. Ziggy breaks down the costs, all materials used, time frame and the entire process including lots of photos at his website, “The Year of Mud”.
(images via: eco-sense)
These hand-sculpted homes give the builder practically endless creative opportunities for organic forms, built-ins like bookcases and benches, and even artistic details. But cob houses don’t all have to be free-flowing and eccentric. Take a gander at the Eco Sense house, located in Canada, which wouldn’t look out of place in a suburban neighborhood.
Cordwood
(images via: daycreek, cordwood masonry)
From far away, it looks like stone masonry – but get up close and you’ll see that cordwood buildings are actually made from wood stacked firewood-style, and mortar. Debarked logs ranging from 12 to 36 inches can be arranged into walls either in load-bearing round structures or in combination with post-and-beam framing. Soft woods like cedar and pine are used because they are more stable, with less expansion and contraction. These walls offer both insulation and thermal mass. As with any natural building technique, it’s labor-intensive, but easy enough that practically anyone can do it.
(images via: home-n-stead)
While the mortar typically used for cordwood construction is made from Portland cement, lime and water, some people are beginning to combine cordwood building with cob in place of mortar, as in the owner-built cordwood home above.
Straw Bale
(images via: building with awareness)
“I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down!” It seems like straw would be the worst possible material to depend upon for stable shelter, but in fact, straw bale building produces thick walls with excellent insulative qualities and surprising strength. As with cordwood and cob, straw bale walls can be load-bearing or can be combined with post and beam framework as needed to gain building permits.
(images via: solarhaven.org)
The straw bales are stacked on top of a masonry foundation, anchored to each other with wood stakes or bamboo poles, and finished with a breathable earthen or lime stucco that allows the walls to breathe, preventing moisture accumulation in the straw. Straw bale structures have been found to be remarkably fire- and pest-resistant.
Rammed Earth
(images via: rogers rammed earth)
Fireproof, termite-proof, storm resistant, extremely low-maintenance and literally dirt-cheap: all of these qualities make rammed earth an attractive natural DIY option for owner-builders. Popular in hot, dry places like Australia and the American Southwest, rammed earth uses compressed dirt blocks as building bricks. The dirt is often from the home site, typically packed into a wood wall former, and the results are stunning and well suited for modern home designs.
(images via: rammed earth)
While tamping of the earth into bricks can be made easier by a pneumatically-powered tamper, it’s entirely possible – and much cheaper – to get the job done manually. Rammed earth buildings last indefinitely and results in energy-efficient buildings that keep temperature fluctuations to a minimum.
Earthbag Building
(images via: dornob)
(images via: mother earth news, tiny house design)
Earthbags can be an ideal alternative to cob in areas where the soil has a low percentage of clay, and they also make it easy to construct domes and other rounded structures. Earthbag buildings can be bermed with earth to create an “underground” structure that looks like a seamless part of the landscape.
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