Recycled, UpCycled, Freecycled Garden Projects

Recycled cable spool table
Recycled cable spool table

Hey Owen, this is a link to a facebook page that has some really killer examples of projects I thought you would like. It’s called Recycled, UpCycled, Freecycled Garden Projects. You don’t have to ‘like’ the page or have a facebook account to see it.

Read more

Steamer Trunk Furniture

Steamer trunk
Steamer trunk

In keeping with our series of articles about super low cost and free DIY furniture, let’s look at steamer trunk furniture. Everyone has probably seen these old trunks from days gone by, but using them creatively as furniture is less well known. The trunks may need refurbishing or repair, although it’s not always necessary. One technique is lining the inside with aromatic cedar planking (available from specialty wood stores) for use as a storage chest at the foot of beds or elsewhere. Trunks with flat tops make good coffee tables and end tables. And, as you can see in the following photos, trunks can be assembled into desks, bookcases, shelving and other furniture.

Read more

More Grain Bin Homes

Our recent blog posts about Sukup SafeT Homes and SafeT Home Videos proved popular, so I thought readers might enjoy seeing a few more grain bin homes. Image source: Little Homestead in Boise Image source: Mother Earth News Image source: Greenieweenie Image source: EcoFriend Image source 5, 6: Travel Shack Related: Mother Earth News: Convert … Read more

Double Pallet Wall w/ Post and Beam

Wooden shipping pallets are typically available for free and are very practical for building homes, furniture and many other things. We’ve already explored several ways of building pallet walls: Post and Beam Pallet Wall, Earth Lodge Pallet Walls, Interior Pallet Walls, Straw Bale Pallet Walls. This new design sprang from the idea of creating wider … Read more

Building with Salvaged Materials

“This article is a distillation of various tips and tricks I’ve learned for making salvaging and building an enjoyable and rewarding process. Building with salvaged materials has many potential advantages. First, salvaged materials are usually less costly than new materials, and they may be of better quality (e.g., well aged wood that doesn’t shrink, crack … Read more

Dan Phillips: Creative Houses from Reclaimed Stuff

In this funny and insightful talk from TEDxHouston, builder Dan Phillips tours us through a dozen homes he’s built in Texas using recycled and reclaimed materials in wildly creative ways. Brilliant, low-tech design details will refresh your own creative drive. Phoenix Commotion.com