Oil barrels remade into sweet cabinets

(to quote Tricia), I hearty heart heart this cabinet made from a salvaged oil barrel. It’s like an eco-industrial take on the Componibili I love so much. But at $500, it’s not for me. The price may be fair. I imagine it takes a lot of work to get a used oil barrel clean enough to serve martinis on.

 
Images from Lockengeloet. Via TreeHugger.

Der Die Das D.I.Y.

Today I've found some German awesomeness and DIY inspiration. Max Qwertz and Yanik Balzer make furniture and other goods from re-purposed axes, toolboxes, and watering cans. Their designs have a shiny Home Depot (Haus Depot?) newness about them, and that slick look is part of their appeal. Do you think it would work as well with vintage objects and a weathered patina?

The whole collection is interesting, but I’m especially charmed by the toolbox table and the watering can coat rack. That table is toddler safe, right?


Via NOTCOT

Sit on this

At $190, this adorable add-your-own-magazines stool isn't crazy expensive, but you crafty types could surely DIY one for less $ and more time. Let this one serve as your inspiration. I think it's charming, and would be a much better solution for those back issues of _________ (insert favorite magazine weakness here) than my current approach of a box under the bed.

Images from NJU Studio. Via Apartment Therapy.

Papercuts

 

Papercuts + fingers = ouch awesome! The picture says it all. Laser-cut paper rings by Tithi Kutchamuch. There are 12, modeled on the flowers for each month.

Images from Tithi Kutchamuch. Via Paper Crave.

Picnic in eco-style

I've been researching materials lately, and I ran across Verterra. Hard to believe, but these eco-friendly dishes are made from fallen leaves and water. That's all--no plastics, binders, adhesives, lacquers, or other chemicals. The resulting product is porous, so it isn't recommended for reuse, but probably would hold up to multiple washings if you're careful. In photos, they're lovely. 

We usually party with either real plates or basic Chinet (also compostable in our industrial city system), but the first really good excuse I have to use these, I'm placing an order*. So pretty!

*If I ever see these in person, I'll update this post.

Images from Verterra. Discovery via Lunar's materials guide.