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This DIYer Gave a Thrifted Utensil Crock a Bright and Bold Transformation

Megan Baker Detloff
Megan Baker DetloffDirector of Home Projects at Apartment Therapy
I cover home upgrades, DIY projects, hacks, how-tos, and plants. I’ve written about home decor and renovations for more than a decade since earning my degree in Magazine Journalism from Northwestern University. Before AT, I was an editor at HGTV Magazine and This Old House Magazine.
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updated Jun 10, 2020
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A retro orange ceramic utensil crock sitting on a medium wooden table
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Credit: AT Video

Sometimes to get really creative you need a little restriction—small budgets, limited materials, short deadlines. As any dedicated DIYer knows, there’s always a way to create. So this spring, when stay-at-home guidelines were issued in most states due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to see how some of our favorite DIYers used this added new obstacle to inspire their creativity. Welcome to season two of Megan’s Mystery Makeover!

The rules for this round’s challenge were simple: DIYers needed to “shop” their homes from start to finish. They’d choose an item they already owned and make it over using materials and tools they already had. Oh, and because we love a twist, we also gave them each a different prompt to get their brains moving and inspire their creations.

First up in this season of Megan’s Mystery Makeover is Elena of @thishouse5000. Elena’s Toronto home is filled with chic, minimalist DIYs—like this gorgeous caned bed frame, or these Scandi-inspired pendant lights—so we were eager to see what she’d come up with. Her challenge word? The 1960s.

Elena dug into her at-home stash and found an old thrifted utensils crock that she’d never been able to find a place in her home for. The bright orange color struck a groovy ’60s vibe, so she wanted to figure out a way to use it in her DIY. With just a few more materials, a couple tools, and a little extra help, Elena transformed the crock into something that suits her space much better, and is more functional to boot. Watch the video above to see the whole transformation—and get inspiration for your own home projects.

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