Reclaimed Barn Beam Bench

I finally got around to creating my reclaimed barn beam bench.  Truth is, I kind of settled on this as a temporary solution while determining exactly how to use this beam.  The result was a bit better than I had planned (at least in my eyes), so it may be pulling duty as a bench/console table for some time.

My step-father was lucky enough to happen upon someone tearing down a barn and disposing of the wood. He collected many wonderful pieces, this being one of them.  When I saw the chunky thickness of the piece, many ideas flooded my head: bar, coffeetable, bench, fireplace mantle.  Thankfully, the piece was given to me so I could experiment with my many ideas.  The long piece even looked neat propped-up in the corner of a room for a short while.

Vintage Salt Glazed Pottery

The nice thing about this project was the ease of its construction.  It's simply a vintage barn beam on supports. Coming up with ideas for legs or a base was problematic at first, but I'm pleased with what I found for this purpose.  Of course, the perfect accessories pulled the entire look together and the lower height and narrowness of the piece opened up the space.

View more images and learn more about this 

simple, reclaimed barn wood bench.

If you liked this project, read about my chippy paint rustic shelf (shown below) 

made of discarded barn siding found in a wooded area! A tutorial for this shelf will be coming soon!

Chippy Paint Rustic Barn Wood Shelf

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Easy Driftwood Mug Tree Stand

I found this cool piece of driftwood a few months ago; you may recall my Springtime Driftwood Table Display. Well, the time had come to switch things up a bit and the table display has recently changed. The driftwood with its many pointed appendages was too cool to pack away.

Other unique limbs and branches are already on display throughout the home, so finding the perfect spot for this piece proved difficult. Seeing as I have a rather large kitchen with high ceilings and minimal organic accents within it, and because I had grasped the wood and was carrying it vertically with its stubby branches pointed upward, an idea suddenly materialized . . . a tree stand for my coffee mugs!  (and perhaps the numerous mugs in the sink waiting to be washed helped spark the idea too!)

A Found Piece of Driftwood Becomes a Mug "Tree" Stand

This piece of wood did not have the flattest base on which to set it upright.  In fact, getting it to stand vertically proved somewhat difficult.  I actually grabbed some old rusty nails I reclaimed from some barnwood and hammered them into the base of the "trunk" at an angle - almost in an attempt to create a tripod of legs.  It took some adjusting to get the balancing just right but it finally happened.

Rusty Nails Hammered into the Base Help Balance the Driftwood

This method is fine for now but I do plan on encasing the bottom 1 1/2 inches of the branch base into a round concrete form to provide more weight and better support.  I typically get round brown-paper craft boxes at Michael's to use as concrete forms for such projects. (a square base is an option too, in which I use the bottom half of a milk or creamer carton for the form)

A Perfect Display for a Deep Corner

This deep corner seemed the perfect spot for adding height and some organic flavor.  The earthy branch stands in stark opposition to the cold stainless accents, but harmony is oddly achieved.  I love mixing modern styling with organic items to create such scenarios as that above.

So, if you happen upon a piece of driftwood, fish it ashore and take it home.  You never know what unique uses may come of it!

Repurposed Burn Barrel Plant Stand

I finally got around to "redoing" the front entry for Spring 2013. In the past, I have used inverted birdbaths to create height for plants in this corner. Since I've done that a few times before, a change was needed; perhaps something a bit more in-your-face.

Repurposed Burn Barrel

Rusty patina barrel repurposed as a massive plant stand.

This barrel, found on the property, was never actually used for burning.  In fact, both ends are intact but the contents are long gone.  Going this route provided a bit more rustic-industrial design.  I didn't like the openness of the fern's pot sitting atop the barrel, so I arched an old grapevine swag around the front half to mask it.  The grapevine adds an organic touch that plays off the river rocks surrounding the base.

Speaking of grapevine, my first idea for this barrel was to fully wrap it with grapevine.  I have a huge doorway arch that I created a few years ago with fresh vine, but it simply got too dry and was unworkable for wrapping around the barrel.  I'd still like to give that a shot at some point.

To the right of the barrel, I located three varying height pieces of scrap wood which I bundled together with rope. These pillars provided the perfect location for my house-numbered wine bottles. (Option: paint larger house numbers on the barrel instead - vertically would really look neat!)

House-Numbered Wine Bottles

House numbers painted on old wine bottles.
(I take these in each night to inhibit water getting inside - I could cork, but I like the open, simple look)
Invert them instead (before painting) and you can stick the neck in the ground as the display support. 

See how I made my numbered wine bottles here.

Leaning against the barrel is an old truss fence post I found alongside the road.  It has cut-out pockets and holes where other members or beams would have attached.  Those cut-outs could be neat for future creative uses.

Repurposed Chimney Pot

A chimney pot, placed on the ground, is filled with dirt and new annuals.
For a less messy approach, place enclosed containers or planters within (this is what I did when it was on a deck).

How fitting that a chimney topper, often referred to as a "pot", is reused as a pot for plants!  I did this a few years ago on my back deck but seeing as I have two, I decided to flank them on each side of the main entry this year. I think the terra-cotta color stands out nicely against the gray-brown hues of the stone columns (and it ties-in with the rusty stuff I have dotted around the property - like the burn barrel!)

Repurposed Items Galore!

The spring 2013 front entry

Besides repurposed chimney pots as planters, old landscaping beams were cleaned up, stained espresso, and span from column to column.  Pieces of scrap metal were used to create my "Dwell" entry sign.  An old galvanized pail with a rusty patina has been placed atop the beams and houses some Begonias; its central location really makes an inviting statement!

See how I made my "Dwell" scrap metal sign here.

Rock Stairs

Large stones create steps to an upper-level outdoor living space.

Yeah, not really a "repurpose" or anything out-of-the-ordinary, but I wanted to share this picture since I just mulched yesterday and it was not the most exciting chore in the world.  I really love how vibrant the greens pop against the dark brown mulch, however.  Three planters offer a nice visual statement and provide some early-year color with Begonias and Impatiens.  Another old fence post (given to me) has been placed on a rock wall as another element (for now).  I like its faded, weathered finish with some mossy-green growth.  

I hope your outdoor spaces are well underway and are coming together nicely.  I have lots more to do to get "caught-up."  Heck, I still have leaves to rake in some parts of the property.  YIKES!  For now, I'm enjoying the way the front entry is shaping up and am loving my rusty repurposed burn barrel plant stand!

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Springtime Driftwood Table Display

The introduction of Spring always seems to put a smile on my face. Bulbs start peeking through the earth and colors start reappearing in nature. Despite the mini snow storms we keep having here in Eastern PA, milder weekends have been creeping in every now and then. I managed to get out one particularly nice Sunday and decided to take a walk along the river. I found a lot of driftwood washed ashore from the recent high waters produced by melting snow and rain showers.

One particular piece of driftwood caught my attention so I decided to bring it home 

(like many others before - some of which have yet to make a debut).

My "Frugal" Driftwood Table Display 

Welcomes Spring with Ease!

I love the numerous cut branches protruding around the central limb . . . 

. . . all with the same wonderful, faded, weathered-look and smooth finish.

Natural, organic goodness

This great piece of wood established the central element of a simplistic Springtime driftwood table display.  A large round river stone and some pops of "Springy" green from my moss spheres provide a wonderful, natural look, while Mr. Pier1 Rabbit (appropriately made of carved wood) provides a touch of Easter during the holiday.

If you like the moss spheres, see how I made them 

by visiting my post on creating a mini topiary accent.

It took me about 5 minutes to put this together (not including the making of the spheres) and I'm really enjoying it!  I was going to look for some unique wooden eggs or was contemplating making some of my own in paper mache from plain brown craft paper.  However, I decided to keep it simple.  I still like the idea of the craft paper eggs, perhaps for another location in the home, so I may have to give that a shot yet.

Anyway, here's to the new season!  

I hope you are all welcoming Spring into your homes!

For more frugal and earth-friendly decor ideas, 

visit my website page on Green Decorating.

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Wine Bottle Pendant Light How To

I finally got around to making my wine bottle pendant light.  I saw these become popular a few years ago, back when I started the frugal-interior-design website.  A vendor called ROOST had some incredible lighting that I salivated for.  I was drawn to the classic simplicity of the lighting - meshing new with old - inspiring a nod toward both modern and rustic.

Roost Pendants - recycled wine bottles.  By the way, how cool is that wood-strip wall?
It has given me a few ideas for walls in my home!

I never forgot about the above image.  And of course, I've seen other interpretations of the same principle and have my own.  

I began cutting wine bottles about a year ago and have been using them for various projects (upcycling and repurposing them in cool ways.)  See my previous posts on:

Numbered Wine Bottles 

& 

Holiday Wine Bottle Crafts  

Finally. I got my hands on a large clear-glass wine bottle and was successful at cutting the bottom off with a smooth, straight, clean break 

The bottle sat like that for about another year.  Finally, with some free-time and motivation, I set to task - time to create a light!

The original frosted-glass shade was nice and worked fine with the room,
but I sure love the new sleek and simple look of the clear wine bottle!

A spiral filament vintage bulb was of course used for that extra coolness factor!

A clear glass wine bottle theme perhaps?

If you have a similar tube-like armature light pendant or even one with a simple wire (with/without the chain), you'll be able to recreate this pendant light.  The only other thing you will need is a cut wine bottle and snazzy light bulb (I recommend vintage Edison bulbs).  Each application may be a bit different, but if you read how I secured my bottle to keep it straight, you'll be able to come up with ideas that will work for yours.

To read about how to make a wine bottle pendant light, 

please visit my page entitled Wine Bottle Light.

  

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Holiday Wine Bottle Craft

Since the holidays are typically a whirlwind of activity, I never found (or took) the time to post some of my fun, upcycle creations.  I've been in this wine bottle upcycling frenzy lately (see older posts and the main website's recent wine bottle light for evidence of this) and although the holidays have gone, I decided there is still time to share them.  Maybe they will spark some Valentine's Day decor ideas or future holiday wine bottle crafts.

 Wine Bottle "Trees"

Trio of various height wine bottles.

This decor was simple.  I cut the bottoms from three various-sized clear glass wine bottles I had been saving.

I sprayed the interior of the bottle with Krylon Looking Glass spray paint after lightly misting the inside with water using a fine-mist spray bottle.  This technique of pre-misting the interior (or exterior if you decide to paint that instead) will allow the development of a mercury glass type effect.  

Mercury Glass Wine Bottles?

Somewhere in between the start and finish of the project.
Note the mercury glass-esque finish  from the spray paint.

Oh Starry Night!

Rustic and rough-formed stars bent from heavy-gauge spooled craft wire.

I felt the bottle trees needed stars and of course a star theme established itself early on with the introduction of the "star garland" I had previously purchased at a Dollar Tree - - - simply cut to length and wrapped from bottom to top.

Sledding Anyone?

A vintage saucer sled comes to the rescue.

My free saucer sled seemed a fitting vessel for displaying my holiday wine bottle trees.  I liked the monochromatic scheme with all the silvers and reflective surfaces.  Oh, and of course, the wine bottles have no bottoms, so they can be placed over tea-lights for extra shimmer.

Go simpler and leave the bottles intact.  Spray the outside instead!

Let It Snow!

Snowflake Table Runner

Somewhere after Christmas and before New Years, the display morphed to this!  I have this stash of vintage thick-cut glass window panes.  They were in the home when I acquired it and have been sitting silently, untouched, for nearly 10 years.  I remembered them and decided to put them to use.  Each pane is a hair more than 8 1/2 x 11 (the perfect size for a standard piece of copy paper).  

I used three pieces of paper to create three identical snowflakes (albeit rectangular ones to fit my glass).  I lined them up down the center of the kitchen dining table with a glass pane over each to create a runner.  The aforementioned mercury glass wine bottle trees decided they wanted to stay out a bit longer.  

TIP: Remove the garland and star, and group these bottles together for non-holiday decor

Terra Cotta NOT!

A terra cotta clay saucer gets a simple face-lift!

I had this huge candle and nothing to place it in or on that seemed appropriate.  I remembered the abundance of old clay planter saucers I had stored in the garage.  After a spray with flat black paint and a spray with matte clear-coat, the old dull saucer looked quite fitting for my cranberry candle.  

Some collected pods create an encircling wreath of organic-ness around the candle.  

The perfect, finishing touch!

So, if you have some old empty wine bottles and/or old clay saucers, dig em out and get to work.  The holidays may have gone by, but they will be back again (and always sooner than we expect!)

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Repurposing an Old Window

A new year is a time for change, and what better a time to do a little redecorating? After putting away holiday decor, I often get motivated to move things around for a new look. I guess I'm lucky to have this interest in repurposing old items - folks (friends, family, etc.) often think of me when they have something they want to dispose of.

  "Hey, do you think you could use this for one of your projects?" 

I have to admit, I have gotten some pretty "neato" things in this manner, 

 such as my recent freebie: an old basement window. 

With its cool rusty hardware . . . 

. . . and weathered old wood with authentic chippy paint (it's even one of those retro green paint colors we all seem to love)

Many Ideas Emerge!

My first was to hang it vertically on the wall with some artwork placed behind the existing glass panes.  If I go this route, I'll undoubtedly rework the paint color to perhaps a rustic white- or black-wash of some sort.  Of course, then that unique old paint color goes bye-bye.

Sometimes simplicity is best!  

I've seen folks take old windows such as these and turn them into trays for table tops.  I like the look but was feeling lazy today, so I decided to go a bit more basic--use it as it is!

I'm liking this!

Having it totally devoid of any contents looked just perfect.  Of course, I had to mess around a bit. Seeing as I'm leaving the glass panes intact, lightweight items are a necessity for any additional elements.  About as heavy as I would venture to go was with the use of some upcycled wine bottles I painted to showcase my house numbers.  

Some big Pine cones align in a stately manner with stark "organic-ness."  I'm sure I'll be messing around with this for hours, but I know this repurposed old window will be getting its debut as this table's focal element--at least for a few months.  

Perhaps when I grow tired of the look, its next repurposed life may be a picture/artwork frame or a lift-up top for an accent table (another great way I've seen old windows upcycled!)

So, if you happen to see some old windows like these out for trash, snag em!  Old architectural pieces are truly works of art; at least in the eyes of the upcycling beholder!