If you're bemoaning the fact that we live in such a throwaway society, head on over to Superuse, an online community of designers, architects, and creative folks who find new and inventive ways of reusing old and abandoned materials.
Superuse features page upon page of user-uploaded projects and ideas for turning ordinary junk into elegant (and some not-so-elegant) wares. Some of the items featured are for sale by their respective designers, while others are merely inspiration for crafty DIYers.
After sifting through the first several galleries on Superuse, one thing is for sure: You can turn anything into a light fixture.
PICTURED ABOVE:
1. Bike Wheel Clock, made from a recycled aluminum bike wheel
2. NUBE Lights, made from reclaimed plastic bags
3. Cascade Chandelier, made from discarded plastic water bottles
4. Telephone Book Chair, made from shipping crate plywood and telephone books
5. In Retreat, made from a vintage trolley car
6. Chiquita Chandelier, made from cardboard banana boxes
7. Reversible Trolley Chair, made from an upcycled shopping cart
8. Lights from old containers, made from assorted containers and bottles
9. The Bare Hair Project, made from recycled PET bottles stuffed with human hair
10. measuretapelamp, made from coiled measuring tape
MORE UPCYCLING ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Upcycling Inspiration: Scrap Wood Headboard
• Upcycling Chic: The Bathtub Sofa
• Upscale Upcycling: Decanter Lamps by Lee Broom
(Images: As linked above)
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Adore the bike-wheel clock, chuckled at the grocery cart chair, but really just not feeling the chikita banana chandelier. Enjoyable post :)
Here's an interesting jewely creator that uses the same recycling concept:
http://twicecreations.wordpress.com/
Placement really sways me. That chikita piece looks amazing to me in that room. Anywhere else, it would seem horrific.
What a fun post. Loved the bike-wheel clock, though I've seen them before. The Bare Hair Chair - eeeeuuuuwww.
The measuretapelamp looks great, but I question whether it's really recycled. The tapes look new.
I went to the site Superuse, too, and it's terrific.
The Bare Hair Chair is pretty awful.
I like the idea of recycling. Some of these are fun, some are super cool and some are scary. My concern with the chikita banana chandelier being made out of cardboard, wouldn't that get hot and possibly catch on fire?
That hairball chair is too "pizza dream" for me. I suppose it might be considered Dada...maybe?
Agree that the measuring tape lamps -- great as they are -- are more repurposed than up cycled.
The hair one is so disturbing and creepy. For those people who keep all their hair clippings (I've met a few) this is a great way to showcase it. It kind of seems like a nest. Which is even creepier.
the hair is creepy but...whatever. you had me at BANANA!!!
The author of this article wrote: "You can turn anything into a light fixture."
Just happy to know that the hair ball project isn't a light fixture. *shudder*
Why wouldn't they donate that hair to Locks of Love? Did they really need conversation piece chairs more than ill children could use a wig?