CasaSugar

Guess What This Console Was Made From?

CasaSugar — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 08:30:46 -0800

This pretty console table was upcycled from a salvaged architectural element. Can you guess what it was made from?

Love It or Hate It? Upcycled Teapot Lamp

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:00:59 -0800

This clever table lamp, which is made from an old teapot, is from French designer Gilles Eichenbaum. Are you a fan, or is it a little too literal for your taste?

Cool Idea: A Car Turned Planter

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:00:32 -0700

I stopped by Flora Grubb the other morning to grab some delicious Ritual coffee and to check out the amazing garden store for inspiration and ideas. Before picking up a gorgeous spear-like Sansaveria, I wandered around the gardens, taking in all of the beautiful plants. I was particularly taken with the way Flora Grubb had reimagined this classic car. I love the way it's been "reclaimed" by nature in a rather Land of the Lost fashion. While this project is definitely more art installation than practical idea for your backyard garden, I do love the idea of creatively reusing unexpected materials as planters. What's around your house that you could re-use as a planter? Could you use an old candelabra to display air plants? How about using cracked bowls as flower pots? Tell me, what have you used around your home as an unexpected garden or indoor-plant vessel?

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Before and After: Charming House Shelves

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:00:40 -0700

Writer and crafter Mary Helen recently stumbled across these cute unfinished house shelves at the Salvation Army. Seeing crafty potential in these plain Jane shelves, she decided to take them home and turn them into something fabulous.

Want to see how she transformed these shelves? Then read more.

Using white craft paint and Amy Butler craft paper, Mary Helen took these shelves from boring to vibrant. She explains,

Using newsprint to create templates for the shelf cavities, I carefully traced the shape of each shelf onto my decorative paper. I cut each pieces out and trimmed it as needed so that it would lay perfectly flat inside the shelf. Then, I used a foam brush to apply a very thin coat of Elmer’s Glue (you can also use Mod Podge) to the back of each piece of paper. After gluing, I placed the paper on the wall of the shelf, and smoothed it out with a dry foam brush.

I love this smart project, which is an excellent example of upcycling. And I can't wait to see what cute little objects Mary Helen will place in her shelves, once they're hung. Check out Mary Helen's post for all of her advice and directions.

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Casa Verde: An Upcycled Headboard

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:00:02 -0700

Craftster member Jessyratfink recently posted pictures of this awesome book headboard project. She's no stranger to upcycling old books into home furnishings. In fact, we featured her DIY instructions for a book-legged table here.

Jessy explains, "I work at a used bookstore, and so I was able to save a lot of old books and wanted to reuse them. I've previously done a table with book legs and a bookshelf out of old encyclopedias. I wanted something a little prettier this time. [The headboard] is made out of book covers, Elmer's Glue-All, a plywood backing, and some polyurethane to seal it. It was really simple as you just glue them down in layers!"

Want to see more photos, and find out how to make it yourself? Then read more.

Get the complete instructions over on Instructables.

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How-To: Upcycle Wine Bottles

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:30:52 -0700

While I'm a fan of the vino, I hate to see the beautiful bottles that my favorite wine comes in end up in the recycling bin. Luckily there are many ways you can upcycle these bottles for use around your home and garden.
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Crave Worthy: Nebu Chandelier

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:00:21 -0700

First designed for New York's Bar Breton, the Nebu Chandelier from UM is a gorgeous example of upcycling. Fabricated from a powder-coated aluminum frame and 250 vintage and antique stemmed glasses, the chandelier uses energy-efficient LED bulbs. And if you need something smaller or larger, no worries - your chandelier can be custom built to fit your home's dimensions. I love the way that the different-colored stemmed glasses sparkle like jewelry when they're lit up. And isn't that what a chandelier really is, anyway - jewelry for your ceiling?

For close-up photos, read more.

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Love It or Hate It? Standard Chair

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:00:00 -0700

The Standard Chair combines ornate Louis XVI chair backs with modern steel-plated legs. It's made by Uhuru Design, a Brooklyn-based furniture company dedicated to sustainability. Do you want it for your home?

Guess What This Chandelier Is Made From?

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:00:47 -0700

On a recent trip to New York, Danny Seo stopped by an Anthropologie store to admire this chandelier. He concluded that it's worth every penny of its $1,100 price tag, since it's handmade with wire attached to this upcycled material. While it's not a natural material per se, you will find it in a natural environment. What is it?

DIY: Recycled Bathmat

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:00:42 -0700

Need a project for Earth Day? Here's a great one from Michelle Kaufmann. As she mentions in the video, this recycled towel bathmat project is a perfect activity to do while watching a movie. Instead of using old towels, Michelle also suggests substituting old t-shirts for the main material of the bathmat. Now, if only I can convince the person I live with to give up all those old concert t-shirts for this project . . .

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