Friday, May 31, 2019

The Upcycled Garden: Repurposed Old Fashioned Garden Trellis




Okay so this is kind of like a backwards Upcycled Garden blog post! I usually write about how we can reuse old, recycled items by incorporating them into our gardens and outdoor landscapes, but here's a new twist - let's bring the old garden into the interior of the home and use it as unique home decor.

This old wooden garden trellis fits well in this small bathroom space, but imagine it as well in another part of the home. 

How about on a kitchen wall showcasing a display of vintage family photos along with a framed copy of grandma's favorite recipe or two? 

It also would add interesting texture in a living room and be a great accent on a narrow (think door-width) wall. 

If you don't like to decorate with photos and frames, think of all the other interesting ways that you could decorate your trellis—you could use flowers, reeds, branches (think a few sprigs of pine), or other natural materials—to bring even more of the outdoors into the inside of your home, or just leave it completely bare for a simple look.

No matter how you decide to use it and decorate it, if vintage style is your style, an old garden trellis can make a unique statement and be a pleasant surprise when used as a decoration inside of your home!




What do you think?


How would you use it inside of your home?


Have a great week!
Laura



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Article copyright ©Laura Beth Love 2019 and may not be republished in print or other media without express written permission from the author. For any link corrections please leave correct info in comment area.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

More Upcycled Dressers: Painted, Wallpapered, & Decoupaged


It’s been a while since my first blog post about painted and upcycled dressers so I figured it’s about time that I gather together a new collection of painted, decoupaged, and upcycled dressers, and share some new creative DIY inspiration.

Summer is just around the corner and this is a great time to  tackle a nice-sized furniture project or two before the summer heat arrives full force. Unlike the cold winter months where we are stuck indoors and have to deal with paint smells and refinishing noises inside of our homes, we can now work outside or open up our garage doors for lots of fresh air and adequate ventilation.


So find a dresser, clean it from top to bottom, remove all paint and stains and oils with furniture stripper and by sanding, choose your project, pick your palette, and get to work. And wear your safety glasses!

Check out these creative upcycled and painted dressers and be inspired!




A vintage favorite has taken a contemporary turn


Colorful tribal style designs add color to your room



Stenciled leaf dresser in pretty neutral, natural tones from Designed Decor



Get the look of an old fashioned pressed tin ceiling with vinyl sheets from the hardware store



Colorful folk art can add bright happy touch to a kitchen or any room



A soft pink palette, crystal knob drawer pulls and sanded drawers create a perfect feminine vintage look



Paint or decoupage a bright design onto a bright white background



Decoupage a large image across the drawers of a dresser front



Rustic Industrial dresser by Beyond The Picket Fence 



Add some permanent inspiration to your home with your favorite quote or saying 



Decoupage a large poster onto a dresser with Modge Podge



Old dresser turned portable bar BlissRanch



Floral wall paper can completely transform a plain dresser



Pastel paint is great for a nursery or small child's bedrom



Keep the color palette simple with two colors and focus on an ornate design


Paint an eclectic dresser with your favorite images




Black paint with brilliant gold leaf makes a beautiful statement



Which is your favorite?




Have a great week!
Laura


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Article copyright ©Laura Beth Love 2020 and may not be republished in print or other media without express written permission from the author. For any link corrections please leave correct info in comment area.


Monday, May 20, 2019

Milk Crate Magic: Neat Things You Can Make With Upcycled Milk Crates


Behold the humble milk crate: sturdy, chunky, strong and portable, lightweight, versatile, and—hello 80's—not just for record albums anymore. 

Plastic milk crates are one of the most reused shipping and storage items ever. Ah yes, way back in old timey days of recycling and reusing (I'm talking back before the DIY and upcycle revolution) milk crates were pretty much standard teenage bedroom decor. We used them as bedside tables, book cases, storage for albums and VHS tapes—later transpiring to DVDs and CDs of course—as well as for many other household chores such as garage and basement storage. 

But now, with the blossoming creativity of the 2000's, milk crate recycling and reusing is now upcycling and repurposing (the differences are subtle, but they're there) and creative folks are thinking up even more ways to use milk crates in their lives and homes. Check out this collection of cool upcycled plastic milk crates and see all the different ideas that creative folks have come up with.


DIY milk crate cart from Inscrutables


Milk crate turned DIY kayak cart by twiceayear at texaskayakfisherman


Here's another DIY kayak cart from Instructables


Milk crates + boards + plywood = Outdoor milk crate table


Milk crates lined with heavy duty felt make great outdoor garden planters


Milk crates lined with burlap bags used as garden planters


Milk crate-turned bicycle rack with ample space



Folding milk crate as rear-bike storage


Milk crate hen house


Milk crate bench/reading corner



Milk crate as kitchen wall storage by Penny Wincer, Alice King


6 milk crates + 3 stained boards = nice game storage. Spray paint milk crates to coordinate with your home decor.


These milk crates make for great mudroom shoe storage


Getting fancy with plastic milk crates: add spindle legs and a sanded and painted plywood top


These large sized milk crates were woven together with cording to create a sturdier book storage space


Balancing act: try using plastic zip ties to attach milk crates together at precarious angles


I like this one a lot: 9 milk crates on a sturdy wood base with caster wheels or cart wheels


A mishmosh milk crates with table legs & top in sleep black = eclectic  from Design Sponge



Milk crate chandelier overhead lighting = industrial elegant? Not sure.


How to make a DIY woven milk crate stool from Sam Henderson HGTV


More eclectic milk crate furniture. This one is a bench with cushion top and table legs



Use mollys or sturdy wall hardware to hang milk crates for laundry room storage


70's style milk crate wall assemblage


Easy closet storage for rolled up t-shirts and sports wear


A wall of milk crate storage for books and magazines


Use rope to cover a milk crate to create a foot stool with hidden storage


Milk crates used as grocery store shelving


Large plastic crates stacked and secured are used as a room divider



Milk crate stairs

Milk crate stools, tables, lights, and wall



A towering milk crate arch



Milk crate sculpture







Have a great week!
Laura







Article copyright ©Laura Beth Love 2019 and may not be republished in print or other media without express written permission from the author. For any link corrections please leave correct info in comment area.