Restoration Hardware Inspired Table Display

Well, I finally honed in on a cool compilation of items for my repurposed saucer sled. If you recall, the organic spheres in my last post were a quick fix and really didn't make the statement I wanted to achieve.

Those who are familiar with Restoration Hardware know they are big on minimalism. Does that make sense? They are also "big on" . . . well BIG things. Over-sized focal elements sprawled across cool, reclaimed, industrial pieces now posing as coffee-tables are the norm. Giant light fixtures that had prior lives hanging in factory setting are now trendy floor lamps for chic living rooms.

My saucer sled reminds me of a large bowl I'd expect to see on a RH coffee-table; in my case, on a dining table. Within it, an old piece of thick rope (another repeated accent RH loves throwing into the mix), a vintage, gallon jug and a metal orb made from scrap metal.

How much did this display cost? Well, a free sled, a $2.00 piece of rope from a second-hand store, a $1.00 gallon jug from another second-hand store and a metal orb I made from free scrap. Hmmm, RH may be unhappy to hear this cost me $3.00. I think a similar, recreated ensemble such as this by RH would retail in the hundreds. Nevertheless, they do amazing things and I sure love pulling inspiration from them!

Keep inspiring me with your cool industrial ideas Restoration Hardware!

A Repurposed What?

"SLEDDING ANYONE?"

Organic Accents

OVER-SIZED GOODNESS!

Do I need a giant cup to go with my giant saucer?  Yes, another reclaimed item and yes, again from the woods.  What the heck is with people disposing of their old contents so inappropriately?  Why am I complaining?  I have gotten too many cool things lately to complain.  Their junk = My treasure I suppose.

I found this many months ago.  It has a lot of authentic scuffs and dents from its prior life as a sled.  I actually brought it home with the intent of making it a giant, industrial clock.  I'm still planning on doing that but for the time being (haha)  I decided to put it to use rather than simply storing it.  (I'm still looking for giant clock hands.)

I'm getting a little bored with the same spherical accents (as shown above) but that was all I could scrounge-up for staging.  I think a ton of green apples would look visually stunning displayed within . . . or perhaps a bunch of artichokes.  Hmmm, how many apples can I consume?

For now it is a much needed change from my bark bowl and its oversized-ness (I create words when I need to) demands attention. So, what would you display within this centerpiece? Pinecones? Lots of multiple height candles? Glass orbs? (I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the later!)

Until Next Time . . . Happy Repurposing!

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Rustic Shelf Kitchen Island

My chippy paint rustic shelf which I originally made for outdoors has found its way inside.

Remember Me?

A few months back I found a small kitchen island out for trash which I rescued and fixed up. It has been sitting in my kitchen for the past several months in the above location however I decided to sell it. I never had anything in this spot before (just a large open kitchen) but its amazing how quickly we get accustomed to our surroundings. I decided I wanted something else to fill the void.

Hello Rustic Barn Wood!

So, what do you think? I love merging design styles. Rustic and Modern actually work quite well when combined. The shelf looks super in its new spot and I'm rather glad to have it indoors without fear of the wood deteriorating from weather conditions. I unfortunately will have to cut a good 4 inches from both sides to allow for better flow around it - however, I know it will still be a great addition to the space.

Sharing this at:
Primitive and Proper - POWW Party
Very Merry Vintage Style - Share The Love Wednesday
Restore Interiors - Restored It Wednesday
The Brambleberry Cottage - Time Travel Thursday
The Shabby Creek Cottage - Transformation Thursday
No Minimalist Here - Open House Party
House of Hepworths - Hookin Up with HoH Party
The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday
Common Ground - Vintage Inspiration
REDOUX - Friday Link-Up Party
Rustic Crafts - Rustic, Recycled & Shabby Chic Link-Up

Industrialize It!

It's no secret that I love old industrial "things" - farm implements, vintage tools, cogs and gears, etc.  These items can lend themselves to numerous design styles depending on the other accents you choose to incorporate in a space..  Old farm implements can read country-chic for some folks while may read steampunk-cool for another due to different staging and color stories.  Old signs look great in modern and industrial settings but can also be quite fitting for a vintage farmhouse.  All the other accents and accessories are what unify your intended design direction and help tell your story.

My personal office has always been a bit on the "industrial side".  I hate being "themey" with rooms but I had a motorcycle vibe going on in this space and just went with it.  Metals, blacks, leather accents and the like seem to nicely mesh.  The room has gone under some subtle changes over the years.  The addition of a silver, horizontal, color block helped make some bike art POP.  Two opposing walls, once white, gained some tough attitude with a coat of flat black paint.

A look BEFORE the simple "industrial additions".

Other unique items were introduced to the space such as a rough-hewn and crafted crate, reworked to become a coffeetable.  This piece could easily fit a rustic-styled space but due to the other room accessories, incorporates perfectly.

Some recent additions, to add a bit more, relevant character to the space, were a burlap sack with a simple font that screams "industrial" and an authentic sign from a gas station (another fitting element for a "motorcycle room".)

Excellent Alpha-Numeric Font!

Cool, authentic signage.  The flip-side says "GASOHOL".

By the way.  The burlap sack was $1.50 from a second-hand shop and I found the old sign in the woods (talk about a score for frugal decor!) with a few other signage items from a gas station (like random, giant, pricing numbers for a gallon of gas).  

So, easily add some "INDUSTRY" to your space - if you so desire.  You don't have to spend a lot to do so.  Look around for cool items.  Farm auctions can be great sources!  Add and subtract items as necessary until you fall upon the "sweet-spot".  I think I've found my sweet-spot . . . at least for a while.

Sharing this at:
Kammy's Korner - Trash 2 Treasure Tuesday
Coastal Charm - Nifty, Thrifty Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia - Tuesdays Treasures
Home Stories A to Z - Tutorials & Tips Link Party
Debbie Does Creations - Toot Your Horn Tuesday
Chic on a Shoestring - Flaunt It Friday
Happy Hour Projects - Happy Hour Friday
Simply Designing - Simply Link Party
The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday
At The Picket Fence - Inspiration Friday
Funky Junk Interiors - Party Junk

Happy Earth Day 2012

Despite a hectic month of outdoor projects (still in-process and which I'll share soon), I had to take a moment to wish you ALL a Happy Earth Day 2012!


Today you can recycle a plastic bottle, conserve water usage, pick up litter and dispose of it properly, plant a sapling or visit and join the Arbor Day Foundation.  Most of these you can do daily.

Every Little Bit Helps!

Please visit my pages on Green Living for more info on how you can help OUR WORLD

 and GREEN your Home.

Earth Day Every Day

Thanks to all who Upcycle and Repurpose and there are a lot of you!  We are making a difference just by doing what we enjoy!  Keep up the great work.  I love seeing your ideas!

Green For Spring

The color green always signifies Spring and its arrival. This refreshing color however seems to have a soft-spot in my heart year-round. I find it soothing, comforting, welcoming and I know I'm not alone.

Green has been a top color for designers and decorators and has been prevalent in the home decor industry for the past couple years. Its growth (haha) doesn't seem to be waning either as evidenced by this recent advertising image from Wisteria . . .

"Bugs" are still a trendy motif and theme and I'm loving it!

. . . and this catalog cover they also are promoting.

I love fern prints and am glad to see they are still in vogue.  I've been using them for many years.
White against green walls looks wonderful doesn't it?  

As more and more people become "hip to" and embrace the subtle yet crisp beauty green offers, I expect we can see it sticking around for a long time . . . and I'm FINE with that!!!

Pieris Japonica Shrub

Boy the weather has been wacky in Pennsylvania. Weeks of overly mild March temperatures and a mild Spring in general has everything confused. Bulbs are blooming in advance, my poor Rhododendrons are once again trying to force blooms much too early, weeds are going nuts and I had to mow my lawn already (not too happy about that one!!!)

Red tulips, out-and-about early this year.  

A red tulip on a crisp late-March morning.

Yesterday was an oddity compared to the past few weeks (or is it months) as the temps remained relatively cool (in the 50s) as they SHOULD BE for March. Great outdoor working weather in my opinion. I finally got around to doing something I've been wanting to do for about 2 years . . . transplanting my prized ornamental Pieris Japonica "Fire Mountain" shrub.

A "Fire Mountain" Japonica, newly transplanted.

I got this fella about 7 years ago in a one gallon container size for under $10.00. I believe it may have come to my knee in height at that time. I planted it in a location that I thought was perfect. We've all done that before, right? Never really taking into consideration how big it may possibly get. Well, it got big. It is now taller than me at about 6 feet and is probably near it's max in height. A perfect specimen size for an ornamental shrub.

Its previous location had it blocking visibility for access in and out of the driveway. It was also on a slight slope and loved falling forward during heavy rain or snow storms. Can't tell you how many times I frantically ran to its aid during storms or to free it from heavily weighing snow. It must be love.

Since the timing and temps were perfect yesterday I decided to "get-er-done" (finally) and am ABSOLUTELY THRILLED with the transplant (and I hope IT IS too!) I had to make room for it which entailed digging up a bizarre lone section of Privet, typically planted to produce a hedge. What's worse is this area was overgrown with trailing ivy and other "viney" culprits. The clearing of the new location took the bulk of my day for the transplant.

A much anticipated arrival . . . the Japonica in a new location where it can be better enjoyed!

The actual move was rather smooth. Japonica's have a relatively shallow root system and since mine LOVED leaning forward, it's shallow roots were already pulling upward on the backside. Guess it wanted to move to a new spot too and was helping out a bit.

The showy, fragrant flower clusters.  Look for species with pink flowers too.

Anyway, I can't say enough good things about this species and would highly recommend it. It provides year-round interest and mine has been maintenance-free. The showy cascading blooms this time of year (as evident from my photos) have a lovely fragrance that you notice just from passing by. New growth on the leaves spout at the tips in brilliant red hues giving it the trademark "FIRE" moniker and Winter buds provide interest as well. So if you are contemplating a care-free type of ornamental shrub, I highly recommend the Pieris Japonica varieties. They enjoy partial-shade to sun and moist, yet well drained soil. From what I read, they can tolerant full sun and poor soil conditions as well. I do have the recommended partial-shade to sun and moist, well-drained soil so that may be the "magic mix".