Beauty Off The Grid

Spring is just around the corner and while most of us are thinking about planting our gardens or contemplating the dreaded spring house cleaning I am thinking about new ways to reinvent my living spaces. One of my favorite pastimes is scouring yard sales, flea markets, salvage yards, and consignment shops for treasures or shopping at an outlet for that one thing that takes a room from boring to wow! What’s fun about re-creating living spaces or reinventing objects is the creative challenge. For me shopping is about the hunt and finding a good bargain or something that really speaks to me. Recycling objects is also about being green and chic in a unique way that expresses your own personal style. Searching for that perfect piece can create big impact or add a new dimension to a room which is very exciting.  One of my favorite spaces to reinvent or create is a fun and creative outdoor area. In the summer months this is where I spend most of my time and I want this space to be inviting and comfortable. For me the perfect outdoor space should offer color, comfortable seating for lounging and dining, and shade. For the evening it should have beautiful soft lighting and some type of fire source which adds a lot of coziness. The following pictures provide some great whimsical and creative ideas of just what I’m talking about.
Believe it or not but this space is really easy to create. It started with an old gazebo structure which was stripped of its standard original canopy. Colorful recycled canvas pieces were strung together that form the roof and the sides are draped with a collection of Indian Sari’s. Personally, I am not that crazy about is the hanging chandelier in the center. This is a custom design  that  isn’t my taste. I would substitute this lighting source with something that reflects your own style and if you find an interesting electric chandelier it can be reinvented with paint and you may want to use the sockets for candles instead of actually wiring it and using electric bulbs.

Looking for something different? This sleek fencing idea is very unique. Metal roof flashing material (a thin metal sheet used in building roofs sold in long narrow pieces) was woven through rebar (metal posts) uprights for a flashy privacy screen.

If you’re lucky enough to have an old garden shed they make the best entertaining retreats. This one has been transformed into a very charming gathering space with used furniture, recycled French doors, candles, cushions, a few curtain valances and some nicely potted plants which has now become a fabulous spot for relaxing.

This is a great recycled kitchen! These amazing stools are made from giant coils that come from large trucks. The coils are actually called “suspension coil springs” and the seats are grinding wheels. I am not sure what the hanging lights were originally but I really love their industrial look. Everything really works so well together in this kitchen including the old wood boards used for the island.

Vinyl wall art decals have come a long way and the latest ones shown in these pictures make a strong statement that add beauty and whimsy to these rooms. They are so easy to use and these are some of my favorites. You can shop for these at: www.dalidecals.com and www.etsy.com (for this website I had to use the search tool and typed in vinyl decals). There are so many different styles to choose from and some of these decals can be expensive but they are worth every cent.

These next pictures show how a residential driveway was transformed into a magnificent outdoor space. I had to show you the before picture because I couldn’t believe my eyes. This is a gorgeous makeover.

Recycled silverware becomes a work of art and offers a whimsical way to display or hang your kitchen wares.

Need a serving tray?  This glass picture frame is a great way to serve up your favorite cocktails.

Need some additional storage space in your bathroom. This ladder idea is perfect.

Who would have ever thought an old chicken feeder could become the coolest spice rack.

How about making your own furniture out of rocks or should I say boulders? I think this whole patio is gorgeous but the one element that I love the most is this unique rock table. You will need some extra hands for creating this one. Yikes!

I hope you found these ideas interesting, fun and useful. If any of you would like to accept the reinvention challenge I would love to see your creations. You can email your pictures to: nadine@beautyoffthegrid.com

Written by Nadine Imus - Beauty Off the Grid

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