I thought these drawers would make a great little shelving unit! You can create storage space by simply stacking and combining drawers in new ways. This is an great project, because you can make it as simple or as involved as you want. If you come across a nice set of drawers, all they might need is a new paint color. Then, they can be stacked and arranged into a unique modular shelving system.

Since I only had two drawers to work with, I decided to slightly alter the form of each of them to add more character to my shelf. I planned to add feet to the larger drawer to lift it off the ground and  make it look less ‘drawer-like.’ I also wanted to create a specific place for a plant to grow on my shelf and decided to build a secure spot for a flower pot in the smaller drawer. I drew some quick sketches (above right) and then got to work!

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Last week, I went scavenging my local alleys with a crew from the St. Louis, MO morning show “Great Day St. Louis.” I gave some tips and advice for dumpster diving and took home a few objects we found. On November 23rd I will be live on the show to present the new looks I have created for those discarded objects. You can follow the process of the creative restorations here on the blog under the title “Dumpster Diving Finds.”

And now for an introduction to our objects…

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Over the past year, I have accumulated more than a few pieces of luggage from the trash. Recently, I came upon a beautiful blue suitcase only to discover it was pregnant with an equally as lovely mini-suitcase. With suitcases reproducing at such a rapid rate, I figured it was time I found some ways to reuse all this discarded luggage.

With my summer vegetables on their very last legs, I have been thinking about how to continue growing vegetables into the  colder winter months. In my search for a solution, I discovered cold frames, which are essentially tiny greenhouses (image on right). With limited space in my apartment, I thought it would be great to make a portable cold frame from an object built to travel…the suitcase.

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dumpster diving, curb cruising, and the like…

DON'T DO THIS

What’s wrong with the image above? 1. no gloves 2. jumping in and out of a dumpster with reckless abandon 3. my mother doesn’t approve. What’s right? 1. I have permission from this thrift store to look through their dumpster 2. I’m with a friend (the photographer of this amazing picture) 3. I’m wearing closed-toed shoes.

If you are thinking about searching for some treasures, there are a few things you should keep in mind before diving into your local dumpster. Continue reading »