From Trash to Treasure

Marian-Duijvestijn - doilies dyed red

Perhaps feeling a little guilty of the amount of additional landfill caused by too many chocolate wrappers being discarded over the Easter break.  I thought I would share some of my favourite up-cycle projects/designers.  Some of them could even be made at home (with a little bit of imagination and indeed elbow grease to work off the chocolate).  So off to the flea market and op shops to find a few doilies and cake stands……

Marian Duijevetijn

Marian Duijvestijn graduated in theater design. She specialises in recycling materials into something which emanates a new and exciting fresh form.  Her ideas are very simple yet her designs are quirky surprising, original products. With a little effort these would be something that could easily be created by the humble blog reader / writer.  I think the red doily throw against the black sofa (above) looks stunning…what do you think? A couple more of her up-cycles are below.

Marian Duijvestijn - Up-Cycled Cake Stand

Marian Duijvestijn - Up-Cycled Cake Stand

Katie Thompson

Based in Cape Town, Katie Thompson’s company REcreate centres upon the following mantra “An object is no longer being used for its original purpose in life! That purpose has expired and I have recreated a beautiful ‘something else’. Katie takes objects and transforms them into unique and creative seating.

Giles Miller

London-based design practice, Giles Miller Studio, specialises in the development of truly innovative surface, interior and retail design projects. Having worked on projects that span furniture, interior and product design the studio has not only attained extensive international press coverage but has also created acclaimed work for some of the world’s most prestigious brand-names across a variety of industries.

 All projects are designed in-house and manufactured in the United Kingdom, with the vast majority being completed by hand  in their studio. They have championed the use of cardboard to create many of their furniture and installation pieces. How else would you have a light weight flat pack grandfather clock! I love the way that he uses the natural corrugation of the card to make the patterns in the panels and lamp shades.

Giles Miller Laptop Bag

“It’s a brilliant material,” he says, and admits to “falling in love” with cardboard when the strap broke on a laptop shoulder bag he was carrying and the computer was damaged. “I began experimenting with making a laptop bag in cardboard, and after alternating the direction of the corrugation I constructed something that could take the force of the blow.”

Giles Miller has also been party to some stunning interior installations using his cardboard talent, such as the one below for a Stella McCartney store in Paris.

Stella McCartney shop installation in Paris

Velvet Ribbon

Most attics hold an old tennis or badminton racquet that have long passed their use by date.  I love this quirky idea from Velvet Ribbon, a UK based interior company to revamp the old for a new purpose. You could also use them for picture frames.

James Plumb Design

James Russel and Hannah Plumb of James Plumb Design’s work covers everything from found object furniture to retro installation art. James and Hannah are two artists under one name who “work with the overlooked and discarded, taking time worn antiques and cast-offs to produce one-off assemblages, luminaires, and interiors.”

 James Plumb design created twenty-five limited edition ‘Albie’ Puppy Lights from salvaged and recycled materials: an old lamp shade, reclaimed wood and wheels from cast off toys. Albie is an eco-friendly incarnation of man’s best friend.

I could go on but I think I will stop with Albie… off I go to get some doilies and lamp shades !!!!

On with the colourful journey………………

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