Kate Burt writes a great article for the Independent newspaper back in January this year- yes I have been a little slow at adding this, on the topic and current trend in reusing, recycling, reclaiming and upcycling items to produce new and interesting interiors.

The article features some of my own work and ideas, but also some wonderful quirky ideas for the interior decoration of a London pub, as well as some key ideas from Sally and Mark Bailey, shop owners and authors of Recycled Home & Handmade Home, whose books are full of such wonderful images of reusing and upcycling items for the interiors.

Unfortunately, the text is a little small for reading so I posted the link for the online article below the main image.  I have also shared a few details about my ideas featured in the article, so check below for some re-made inspiration … Enjoy!

For the online version of the article in the Independent please click here Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim

I would start by advising anyone wanting to have a go at ‘scavenging’ as Kate Burt playfully put it, to first start with an open mind to seeing everything as having more than one use and often an items most interesting use is not the one it was originally designed for.

Details from images:

Main image- the Dressing Table I have used is an old painted bureau desk, the Stall I painted the legs white and upholstered in vintage 50′s fabric, the Mirror I picked up from the car boot and painted gold, I used an old picture frame spray painted grey, took out the glass and covered with black netting to make a pretty Jewellery Holder, vintage metal Jelly Moulds hold perfume bottles, a mini oil can holds earrings, vintage advertising Milk Bottles are used as vases, from the Bird Cage hangs delicate broken lightbulbs each containing detailed bird drawings (made by Patrick Bremer Art) and is also used for hanging necklaces on. I made the Light from an old vintage jelly mould and twisting the wire over hooks on the wall.

Firetruck Light image- the crate used as a Table is an old wine crate stood on it’s side, the Magazine Rack is made from a broken bent Cymbal, the Lamp Light I made from an old toy firetruck and the Cushion (just seen) is made from an old potato sack.

Kitchen images (2 small images top right)- the orange Milk Bottle Crate has been used to hold kitchen cleaning items, 2nd image- I used a golden Tea Pot as a vase for flowers and a Parfait Storage Jar to hold the orchid plant, but you can use anything pretty or with the same function of storing liquid and space for flowers or plants as a pot/ vase. The Easel is used as a cookbook stand, with pegs to hold book pages open.