repurpose

decorating inspiration

7 Ideas For Repurposing a Ladder

Happen to stumble across an old wooden ladder at a flea market or tag sale?

Happen to stumble across an old wooden ladder at a flea market or tag sale? Don't let it gather dust in your utility closet! While it might be quite useful for giving you a leg up while changing a lightbulb or dusting that top bookshelf, it can also be a fun decorating element as well. Here are some fun and easy ideas for turning that old piece into a showpiece.

  • A folded stepladder is a perfect place to balance books and knick knacks in a corner of your study.
  • Use a ladder to display antique quilts.
  • Hang a ladder on the wall as conjoined frames for a series of pictures.
  • Display your favorite shelter mags on the rungs of a ladder.
  • Lean a ladder against the wall in your bathroom as a towel rack.
  • Hang a ladder from the ceiling in your kitchen. Add S hooks and hang copper pots.
  • Use two step ladders and run planks between it for an eye-catching shoe display.

Have you used ladders in your decorating? Tell me all about it in the comments!

Source

Books

Would You Make Furniture Out of Books?

In the trailer for Paper Man, writer Richard, played by Jeff Daniels, replaces his floral sofa with one made entirely of books.

In the trailer for Paper Man, writer Richard, played by Jeff Daniels, replaces his floral sofa with one made entirely of books. I'm all about repurposing old books into works of art, headboards, and even chandelier-like wall hangings, but a couch seems a bit out there. What do you think?

DIY

Casa Verde: Eco DIY Ideas

Recently, I interviewed Tyler Velten, whose apartment had been featured in a New York Times article about designing on a student's budget.
Casa Verde: Eco DIY Ideas

Recently, I interviewed Tyler Velten, whose apartment had been featured in a New York Times article about designing on a student's budget. Tyler has a lot of cool, creative ideas for making eco changes on a budget. Check out some of his household experiments in the slideshow. Photos Courtesy Tyler Velten

recycle

Casa Verde: Recycled Texas Houses

Yesterday I told you about some cool tiny Texas homes, and today I'm back with an amazing story about one Texas couple's vision to help anyone who wants to own a house to do so, with lots of hands-on work and about $20,000-$50,000.

Yesterday I told you about some cool tiny Texas homes, and today I'm back with an amazing story about one Texas couple's vision to help anyone who wants to own a house to do so, with lots of hands-on work and about $20,000-$50,000. Phoenix Commotion was started in 1996 by Dan and Marsha Phillips, who mortgaged their house to start a business building affordable houses from free, salvaged, and recycled materials. The company caters their homes to the working poor, including single mothers, who need energy-efficient, affordable, comfortable homes. The homes are built with such unexpected materials as wine corks and frame samples, which are used in beautiful and innovative ways.

This program recently partnered with the program Brigid’s Paradigm, and built their first home together in Huntsville, TX. The next project will be a number of homes in Houston's 5th Ward.

To qualify for the project, potential participants must provide $500, good credit, and proof of a stable job. The homes are built by the future owners, along with mentors who help to guide the unskilled workers. A 1-person home will only be built at 240 square feet, which increases energy efficiency, along with the homes' uses of insulation, tank-less hot water heaters, and rain barrels.

To see a video about Dan's work, just read more