apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

some (very few) of those projects are somewhat ingenious, but most are pure trash that's worth way less than 99c.

At first this blog/idea was SUPER INTERESTING until I read how many times they 'cheated!' I immediately lost interest. I mean, I'm all for total honesty in blogging and in experience, but this would be so much better if they'd STUCK TO IT.

Cool idea! With a bit of imagination, you can create some really neat things with articles from the Dollarstore.

I recently made some Stanley cups for a boy's birthday party using aluminum tape, plastic bowls, laundry baskets and spray paint. They turned out really good and he L-O-V-E-D them!

Laundry basket being taped

Checking out how to arrange the plastic bowls

Final result : 4 DIY Stanley Cups from the Dollarstore :)

Must be a high-end 99cents store. My 99ner is a meca for faux Brillo and glitter handbags.

I agree- it depends on the dollarstore. For ex., dollar tree sucks. But, I like DEALS! which is really more of the cheapest TJ Maxx ever..since they have brand name type things just that didn't sell.
I was hoping for lanterns made out of coffee tins or something. Brooms turned into faux finishing tools..

Cheapo made-in-China stuff that won't last = hate.
Creative reuse/appropriation = love!

P.S. I also totally love the sparkly light fixture. Flea market pressed glass plus glass drill = reused version? Where do people get those hanging lamp kits? I can't find them at any of the local home improvemt chains. Surely you can't get those at a dollar store...?

When planning my wedding a few years ago on a super low budget, I bought so many things from the dollar store.

I had fallen in love w/ some pricey-ish tall vases for the centerpieces and when I went my local dollar store I found VERY similar vases there for $1!

I also found cool containers to line the aisle (these were $4 each but still a great price), red tissue paper to fill favor boxes and other modern vases to decorate other areas. I still find cool things there every so often you just have to keep your eyes peeled.

Its much more "green" to opt for quality materials in a less-trendy style. How many of these will just get tossed within a year?

teachers can be very protective and hence somewhat defensive of their students. the only items not purchased at the dollar store were the light bulb fixtures in the hanging lights. They were about 7 dollars at the hardware store. I believe the students' work was insightful and refreshing and it shines through all the parameters of the project despite the lightbulb fixture piece. Experimentation and research with design should be applauded, what a bummer to have my integrity in question by a comment. It is a rich project that motivated creative solutions and it is a sound idea, ripe for an infinite number of smart designs. Despite this negative comment there have been lots of supportive comments and on behalf of my students, thank you.-michael a. salter

M2JL, hoist one of those Stanleys over your head and skate a victory lap! They're fab!

what a fantastic idea...those cups were amazing!

I think design assignments are always going to seem wasteful to people inclined to see it that way. You have to go to school to learn how to do stuff - you have to buy stuff and waste stuff to make stuff. Most of the "traditional" materials to fulfill your course assignments are quite expensive, not just ordinary hardware/home improvement stuff, but art supplies and kind of specific art supplies that you wouldn't just have on hand or find on sale or be able to reuse from something that you could find in a dumpster. Some assignments might focus on that, but most aren't going to be able to stay away from the necessary materials.

After 9/11, I lived in an unfurnished apartment for the 3 months my apartment was uninhabitable. My insurance would have paid for better things, but I decided to go the dollar store route, since there was one down the block. I bought cellophane American flags and taped them to the bottom pane of my windows - privacy and instant stained glass, plus very right for the time. The tiny kitchen got its fittings from there too.

I love this post. What a great challenge design solutions challenge. I love active minds. Thanks for sharing.