Upcycling Wood Crates

Looking for wood crate ideas? Look no further! Here are several ideas to upcycle wood crates.

Styling and Salvage

Rupert Blanchard has a very interesting site, recording all his projects and interests. I would say that he has an excellent sense of design and has come up with some great designs.

Hudson Goods

This is a very cool piece, it would make quite a statement in the right setting. The shape of it makes me think of the old fashioned wood baskets that apples for sale were in at the orchard I went to with my mother when I was a kid. I'll be those could be used to make a light fixture too.

Real Simple

Wood crates are great for storage and this idea doesn't require anything besides stacking.

Gore Dean

How neat is this idea? Love the burlap cushion. Metal trim was added to this crate, but if you want to try this at home, you could make it without. How about rope handles?

Vintage Finds

I had to include this console made from plastic crates. It takes a creative eye to do something this stylish with plastic crates!

Funky Junk Interiors

Donna from Funky Junk Interiors has the tools and the know how to create some pretty cool things. She shares it on her site.

Simply Savannah Events

Here's an idea that is simple, functional and looks great. The metal corner pieces (not sure what it's called) add a lot of stability. Think how different it could look if you had crates that had colored graphics on them with colored metal corner pieces plus bright casters! (I'm tempted to do that myself.) Plus a piece like this could be used in many different areas of the house or garage to organize different things.

The Style Handler

This idea to use a cheese crate as a planter is an oldie but a goodie. I like the way these succulents look in it.

Halloween Goblet

Whilst thrifting one day I came upon a giant goblet. (I've always wanted to use that word - we don't say whilst in Wisconsin - I just like the sound of it.) Spotting it's enormous potential I bought it for the sum of $3. I've already put it to it's first use as a Halloween decoration. I placed a skull, plastic bugs, mice and bats inside. Whoo...scary!  I used some of that crafty cobweb and hooked it onto the giant spiders legs. The dangling web is full of baby spiders. I wasn't able to use as much cobweb as I would have liked because of the lack of rough edges to hook it to. I think I need some big candle stick holders, then I could attach the cobweb to all three. Another idea that just occurred to me is to add some battery operated lights. 

I'm going to employ this goblet for the Christmas season also, filling it up with lights and ornaments. Hopefully my brain will remember to post that.


This post is linked to:
The Shabby Creek Cottage

Retro Chair Dilemma

I seem to be buying retro chairs lately. Like a moth to the flame. I don't have room for more chairs, but I can't resist them. What will I do if I see another chair I really like? I need to get a book about the history of chair design too, because I have no idea what I'm looking at, just what I like. But enough trifling, back to the matter at hand.

I bought this chair last week at Hope Gospel Mission Thrift store for $20.00. It's a retro office chair I believe. Thought it would look nice in my living room that I'm trying to modernize.

Please pardon the fact that I haven't cleaned the chrome yet, was too anxious to take a picture  :>) I like the profile and design of this chair. Reupholstering would really bump up the look of this chair, but I'll add it to the list with my Baker Chairs that I scored a while ago.

This is where the dilemma comes in. Today I found this groovy retro chair that I bought off of Craigslist for $50.00. The finish is a bit worn on the arms/legs, but that doesn't bother me for now. The naugahyde is in great shape. The owner told me his wife bought it in the 60's and after some time they replaced the upholstery with naugahyde.

I didn't even notice that the chair was missing one of the steel bars in the back until I got it home. (I'm going to contact the seller to see if she might have it.) It's another detail that I like about this chair. 

I like the profile on this chair and feel that it looks nicer in the space. But I still like the other chair too. Where do I put it? Gak!

I put both of them in front to see if it would work with both, but I don't think it does. What do you think? I should also mention that I don't know the maker of either one of these chairs.

Whenever I take pictures it reminds me that I want to paint the walls a different color, do something to the inside of the bookshelves, get some different baskets... sigh. Why does one thing lead to another? And why do I prefer thrifting and estate sales to getting these jobs done?

I need therapy for my buying of pictures/prints/frames too, but this one is definitely a keeper and already on a wall.

I love this yak with a rose in his mouth! I bought this signed print at an estate sale today for $35.00. The glass looks like the old wavy glass which I don't care for in a modern print. I am going to buy a new frame for it anyway, so that will take care of the problem.

Anyone know this artist?

I hope this doesn't start an obsession with yaks.

What did you find this week?

This post is linked to:

Very Merry Vintage Style

Blue Cricket Design

Her Library Adventures

Hey what's for dinner mom?

The Colorado Lady

Stuff and Nonsense

Country Industrial

Country Industrial

While searching the internet I came across some interesting industrial items from a place called Country Industrial founded by artist Ray Degischer. Degischer who has worked in many creative fields (photography, sculpture, graphic design and landscape design),creates lighting, furniture and vases, to name a few. He uses industrial objects, scrap metal and old wood to create unique items.

Country Industrial

How charming are these gas cap pendant lights? I like the mix of colors.

Country Industrial

Here are two of the many vases offered that are made from steel tubing. I like the one on the right.

Country Industrial

Very cool idea, steel cutout mirror in the shape of California.

Country Industrial

What a great table! The top is made from steel tube.

Country Industrial

I just love this bench made from steel tubing, it's very sculptural.

Country Industrial

Stenciled Steel Vases

Country Industrial

I would never have thought the words sump pump and planter would go together so well. Isn't this a perfect vessel for succulents?

Country Industrial is located in Healdsburg, California at Dragonfly Farm. Dragonfly's organic farming and floral design are the inspiration for Country Industrial's repurposed metal vases.

Thrift Find - Sign Marker Set

Many times the best thrift finds are totally unexpected.

I didn't notice this box in my first pass. It was on a low shelf and somewhat covered up. The age of the box is what caught my attention.

It's an old sign marker set!

It was a bonus to have the label intact inside. It says "Aristocrat Sign Marker, Number 2, Price $4.50." Looks like it was made in Chicago, Illinois. Some of the writing is obscured by the testing of stamps.

This picture is a bit dark. All the letters of the alphabet and numbers are there, punctuation too.

Not sure what I'm going to use it for, but there are many possibilities. The stamps are a nice size; the letters measure 1-1/2" tall. The pointing hand stamp is over 3" long. The price of $2.99 really sweetened the deal!

Industrial Cabinets

What is it about industrial cabinets that makes my heart go pitter patter? Is it form meets function? Their stout but streamlined style? It could be the interesting patina of a well worn piece or maybe the unique look of a piece stripped to the bare metal. I'm not sure, but I sure do like them. Let's take a look at the wide array of these unique and interesting cabinets.

Selectism

This is where that patina thing comes into play. Rustic items on top show off these desk top drawers. But for more function you could add an industrial tape holder and lamp.

Midcentury Modern Finds

Even though the paint is wearing on this blue cabinet, it has not lost it's charm. Totally functional, it can hold a lot of supplies nearby.

eHow

Who could say no to this snazzy little cabinet? Small but mighty, it could hold a lot of supplies.

Antique Helper

This dental cabinet has many possibilities. It would be great in a bathroom for towels, soaps etc.

Design For Men

First off, this credenza is the cat's meow. Store your stuff in high style. Nuff said.

rico

Here's an example of the stripped metal that I mentioned. These old doctor's cabinets could work in so many places - bathroom, kitchen, living room, dining room. What a great coffee table! Pieces like these break up that too much wood look and add a lot of interest.

The Estate Store

This streamlined cabinet could be jazzed up - spray paint a bright color, add a new formica top in a interesting pattern, then add a great lamp & maybe a vintage radio or other accessories.

http://leavesoftea.livejournal.com/80690.html

The beauty of this piece is undeniable. Using it as a display cabinet for vintage cameras is a great idea. I like the orange tool box on top with the black/white photo. Perfect!

Antiquaire

This industrial cabinet with a wood top fits well in it's surroundings. The ornate mirror above and alligator on top give it an eclectic look.

oodle

This little piece is hard to resist with it's jaunty legs and attractive green color. It could hold printer paper in an office space. A plant on top would look nice too, yes?

Selectism

This German display unit has a timeless contemporary design, but it's age also gives it an industrial appeal.

Under a Paper Moon

This large cabinet could be a real work horse. A collection of vintage globes on top would look great or some plants to soften the look.

Hello Friend

This machinist cabinet would be great for holding small items and has a lot of style. Like that stool next to it too.

Hello Friend

These matching drawers could work as night stands. The red chair shows how a punch of color can really make industrial items sing.

collective_ballard

This old mechanics cabinet has an artful presence. It would look spectacular surrounded by great artwork, sculptures etc. I think it would work well with Asian items.

POLYVORE

Put some glass shelves in this baby for a bar cabinet, towel cabinet or stereo stand, just to name a few.

THE NEW COLLECTOR

I'm not sure if the wood drawer is original to this old medical cabinet, but it sure looks nice and is a good example of how wood can warm up a metal cabinet.

Design For Men

Endless possibilities with metal carts like these, printer cart, plant stand and bar car are a few that come to mind.

apartment therapy

These metal kitchen cabinets were cleverly built in with the kitchen cabinets. I think they look really sharp and add a lot of interest to the space.

LASSCO

I like the style and patina on this olive green cabinet - it's color is neutral and would work in many places.

Design For Men

This french credenza with perforated doors could be used in an office space, a dining room or as a tv stand. 

Design For Men

I don't know what the original use of this steel perforated chest was, but me likey. What a great statement piece!

SunDial Powder Coatings

No one would miss this red barrister bookcase, but it could be painted any color. I have a pair of barrister bookcases very similar to the above but mine are gray. I drove to Missouri to get them after I purchased them through a university surplus auction. I looked long and hard to find a pair in my budget. A university surplus ended being the way to go - even with the cost of gas and a 16+ hour round trip drive, I saved 40-50% of what it would have cost to buy them off of eBay or from an antique dealer.

goyohidalgo

Wow, wow, wow - love it. This walnut and steel credenza was designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller in the early 1960's.

Selectism

Words fail me. Let's just say that this French Steel and Brass Atelier cabinet has a lot of presence and some serious storage.

Rehab Vintage Interiors

Again, here is form meeting function. A steel hutch like this could be used for many different purposes.

Hudson Goods

Here's a steel and reclaimed wood credenza, this one has a rustic feel to it too.

BROOKLYN retro

How sweet and practical are these turquoise colored drawers? They would look great on a desk top.

It's a little hard to see with the lavender background, but the green drawers fit inside stripped metal frames, a nice contrast.

Rockett St. George

I'm not sure what this cabinet was originally intended for,perhaps a medical cabinet, but it has an interesting design.

Rehab Vintage Interiors

This cream medical cabinet has the look of designer Norman Bel Geddes. I know the hardware is original, but different door pulls could add a new look to it, not to mention a different color.

houzz

Yellow is a happy color and these filing cabinets would add a big punch of cheer to an office space.

For a smaller punch of color, this mid century medical cabinet would do the job nicely.


This post is linked to:


Very Merry Vintage Style
Handy Man, Crafty Woman
Blue Cricket Design
Faded Charm