Recycled Driftwood Christmas Tree Ideas

For those of you that are heading to the coast for Christmas and are looking for an alternative to the traditional Christmas tree how about a little DIY project inspired by these eco-friendly tree options.

image via All about you

Just gather a few pieces of driftwood and create your tree. Instructions to create this lovely tree above can be found at All about you.

Alternatively you can purchase these from Folksy and Karen Miller of Devon Driftwood Designs.

image via Folksy

image via Devon Driftwood Designs

What a great idea for a coastal Christmas holiday or beachside holiday home. 

I now have to find some driftwood for our tree. Have fun.

Fabric Alternatives For Cushions Covers :: Recycled Indian Sari Fabric

I have recently ordered some second hand Indian sari fabric from Delhi via Etsy.

Why? You may ask? 

Sari's come in about 5m length of fabric and a standard roll wide. Depending on the fabric style they can vary in pattern and colours across the entire length. This makes for an interesting mix of colours and patterns from just one or two pieces of fabric.

LHS image - sari artwork from the restaurant Dal Roti in Fort Kochi, Kerala, India
RHS image - some of my sari material

You can see how many different colours and patterns you can get from just one sari!

The fabric patterns will also tie in nicely with the Indian theme of my new outdoor seating area.

If you are looking for an eclectic set of cushions with mix and match patterns, colours and designs and do not mind making your own cushion covers then this makes for an interesting option. 

It is also far cheaper for the amount of fabric that you get and great to know that the fabric has found a new lease of life. 

Will post photos when all the fabric has arrived...

Has anyone used any other interesting recycled fabrics to make their cushions? 

Have fun.

Patchwork Pattern Throw

I have been gathering quite a few fabric samples these days with the various project I have currently on.

What to do with them after I finish using them for sample boards? How about a patchwork pattern bed throw like this one by The Purl Bee. These are made from squares of felted wool fabric, but you could also use upholstery fabric, old denim or even an old chunky knit jumper. 

If you click here The Purl Bee have also got a great tutorial on how to make this amazing throw.

This may be my solution to covering up more tired sofa...

Have fun.

Recycled Chairs :: Stackable Old School Chairs

My family and I have recently moved from our lovely 67 sqm Brisbane Post War home in Brisbane to a larger home by the sea in Hervey Bay. 

We plan to raise, extend and add a much needed deck to our Brisbane home at a later date but in the mean time we have swapped our city life for a sea change while we plan for the future new house build. 

This move has given us the opportunity to have outdoor living areas for the first time since we have been in Australia and this we are quite excited about.

So I now have some new "To do lists"...

1. Look for some second hand outdoor dining room chairs and recycle.

2. Reupholster and give some new life to some up my old dining room seats.

3. Look for some old timber doors or recycled timber furniture to make a new outside dining room table.

4. Find some old secondhand daybeds, refurnish to create to a new outdoor lounge area.

5. Start planning for the new build.

Now for Task 1 - Inspiration for new dining room chairs

Currently I have some old dining room, ply stackable, 'school style' chairs (originally from Ikea UK many years ago) and I am now looking for some ideas to give them a new face lift.

via poppytalk

This recycled old school chair has been given a great revamp just by adhering fabric scraps and samples to its back and base.

Here's a great idea if you love painting. These beautiful chairs from Anthropologie are hand painted with different flower and landscape scenes.

via decor8blog

Finally for something for softer. This comfortable revamp of a classic 1930's school chair by UK textile and pattern designer Ellen Calvert has created a cushion base and back by knitting the cushion and based with a giant woolen knit, then she applies a pattern print to then embroidering over on top.

Have fun.

Recycled Candle Centre Pieces, Coat Hooks and Book Ends

Now here are a few original recycling ideas by artisan designer Terina Smith.

These pieces have been rescued from landfill or farmers paddocks then cleaned, polished and given a new lease of life. 

I love these coat hooks made from recycled locks 

These candle centre pieces, book ends and coat & hat racks have been created from 100 year old electricity cross beams and old insulators found in the Scenic Rim region. 

Recycled candle centre pieces

Recycled coat & hat racks

Recycled bookends.
All images courtesy of Terina Smith

Can you imagine that these pieces would have been passed by bullock trains and horse & cart, seen the advent of motor vehicles and dirt tracks turn into bitumen roads and been around to see the telegraph replaced by telephones and now optical fibre cabling. 

What an amazing piece of history in a recycled object. 

If anyone would like to buy these feel free to drop me an email here.

Have fun.

Recycled Timber Stools :: Natural & Painted

I had the pleasure of walking around Brisbane in Design yesterday. There were loads of great new furniture ideas, artwork, rugs, kitchen and bathroom appliances to view and the odd glass of bubbly!

One of my favourite finds were these recycled timber stools by Jardan made from recycled telegraph or electricity poles! 

From pole to stool in the Jardan factory - images courtesy of the design files

They come in either a natural or painted finish and can be used for both indoor and outdoor situations. 

What a great sturdy stool!

Have fun.

Quilted Vintage Patchwork Chairs :: Japan & UK

As I was browsing in a department store in Kyoto, Japan I stumbled across a range of recycled patchwork chairs. Unfortunately I have no idea as to their origins as I was unable to converse with the assistant but what a great DIY patchwork project this would make at home!

Stool seen in a department store in Kyoto, Japan

In the past I have sourced something similar from furniture designers in the UK. Some of the suppliers designs are below. 

Chairs from Kelly Swallow (top left), Squint (top right) & Viva Terra (bottom)

As I have not seen many similar items made in Australia, I would like to get in touch with any Designers or Hobbyists in Australia who want to sell their recycled patchwork chairs.

Any recommendations would be most appreciated.

Have fun.

Coastal Christmas Decorating Ideas

The last few years I have found myself by the beach for Christmas. This year I will be in Southern India and without access to my Christmas decoration box which is currently in storage back home in Brisbane.

As I am currently living out of a rucksack I will have to search the beaches for this years driftwood and shell based decorations! Here's a few ideas for now until I find mine over the next few weeks...

For more driftwood Christmas tree ideas click here.

Have fun & have a great holiday.

Contemporary interior design in Kathmandu :: Pipalbot

Pipalbot showroom in Kathmandu, Nepal

On the last few days of my visit to Kathmandu I stumbled across a Baber Mahal Revisited which is an new redevelopment of a series of old Rana buildings and courtyards converted into craftsman based retail showrooms and a couple of amazing restaurants. 

Hidden amongst these courtyards I was excited to find the interior design showroom and lifestyle store called Pipalbot, so I had to pop in... 

Pipalbot is a joint venture between Tim Linkins (an Australian-born architectural photographer and designer) and partner Diki Ongomo (who is based in Kathmandu).

Hand-made silk rugs

Their designs are created in the Kathmandu Studio by a network of local Nepalese craftsmen, dyers and weavers creating Tibetan wool and silk rugs. There is also other objects of art created from locally sourced materials like cane, ceramic, wool and cashmere.

This was a pure delight to find such great modern designs using local craftsmen and artisans all here in Kathmandu.

Have fun.

Lisa

Decorating With Ladders :: In The Bathroom

I am now looking at the fun decorative part of my bathroom renovation and have always wanted to incorporate ladders in a bathroom. 

They are great a piece of furniture that can be both practical and decorative, act as storage for towels or as a simple towel rack. 

Easy to find, cheap to recycle and they make a nice decorative DIY project. 

I am just loving these below...

images from Pinterest, Remodelvista & Pottery Barn

I just have to find space for them...

Have fun.