Inspiration Index: Windows

Have you ever heard somebody say, "you make a better door than a window"? (so rude, we know.) Well, these windows make better tables, mirrors, garden sheds and shelves. Repurposing these paned glass beauties is great for your wallet and even better for the environment! 

Read on for a wild walk through the wonderful world of windows. Then put your project pants on, hike up your tool belt and break out a little elbow grease. Make sure your watch is on, because it's time to get DIYing. 

For even more ideas, follow us on Pinterest for a plethora of perfectly pleasant projects.  

This rustic window is the perfect backdrop for a romantic mantle
Books + window = perfect coffee table
Replace the glass in an old window for a chic mirror
Eat your heart out, Anthropologie! Love this dreamy DIY

Easily create a faux stained glass window with a bit of paint
One resourceful couple made a stunning country retreat completely out of windows!
Let the light shine with this Do it Yourself greenhouse
This mirror lived a previous life as a window. Fantastic!

Use a window as the perfect canvas for your artistic creation!

U-S-A! D-I-Y! Let your flag fly with this patriotic project

Remind everyone of bathroom protocol with this great sign

A reused window becomes a tray with this chevron-styled DIY project

Inspiration Index: Let there be light (fixtures)

We've all seen them: sad, dusty, slightly dingy light fixtures. Often missing parts, covered in a thin layer of grime, these once brilliant luminaries seem lackluster and limp. Should we just toss them? Pass them by at our local reuse center or thrift shop? Sigh and think of their former glory days with nostalgia?

Of course not! A quick cleaning, some slight modifications and POW, these light fixtures are good as new (better, some might say!). SHAZAM, a chandelier is repurposed into an earthy planter. WHAM, a pendant light is upcycled into a hip terrarium. ZONKS, a ceiling light is transformed into a tranquil bird feeder. Holy reuse, batman! 

Check out these great reuse ideas, then dust off a light fixture and make it something awesome. For more inspiration, follow us on Pinterest. We're super pinners. 

Remove the bulb and electric parts. Fill with succulents and sand. Enjoy.
Easily turn a ceiling light into a tranquil bird feeder.
Paint the glass panes of a light fixture for an Anthropologie knockoff mirror.
A glass paneled light makes the perfect hanging planter.
Bring Jurassic Park to your desktop with this luscious terrarium.

Give your pots a hand (or 10!) with help from a chandelier.
A pendant light makes a gorgeous, inexpensive terrarium.

Follow PlanetReuse Marketplace's board Bright ideas for upcycled lighting on Pinterest.

Gobble Up These Thanksgiving Reuse DIYs

For me, Thanksgiving is a time to sit back and reflect on how lucky I am for a plethora of blessings, everything from the ordinary (that girl at the cafe gave me an extra cookie!) to the huge (job, house, family). Celebrating the changing season with a big meal surrounded by loved ones puts me in a permanent good mood (and a prolonged food coma), and in the weeks leading up to the big day, you'll find me crafting holiday decorations.

Below I've rounded up several awesome DIY projects that reuse, repurpose and upcycle everyday materials into terribly terrific Turkey Day treats. Because, for us at PlanetReuse, being thankful means using what you've got and stopping to appreciate all the little things along the way.

Gobble Gobble!

wine bottles + paint = a DIY we're thankful for!

Reclaimed wood makes for a great FALL sign

Be ready to rake in the compliments with this DIY project

Repurposed burlap is used to make a cozy, autumnal pillow

This sweet sign is made from upcycled art & chalkboard paint

Put everyone in their place with these wine cork namecards.

These turkey decorations are made with acorns and feathers and are adorable!

Need a pie server? This one is made with a wine glass and a plate. Genius!

A log and candles combine to make a rustic centerpiece

Set sail for Holiday style with this charming namecard DIY

Want even more great DIY ideas? Get on over to Pinterest and follow us! 

Write on: Delightful Desks Made From EcoFriendly Materials

A good desk can make all the difference. It's a catalyst for creativity, a push towards productivity, a gentle nudge in the direction of neatness. We've rounded up a collection of DIY desks that use reclaimed building materials in really beautiful, unexpected ways. These desks aren't just functional (which they are), they're also a surprise in stylish sustainability. Lumber, pipes and bolts never looked so good! 

So grab a couple power tools, carve out a few hours of time and get your build on. Whether you're using to read, write, craft or create, you'll have a piece of furniture that's sure to be on your (very short) list of favorites. 

Pipes give this desk a sturdy, industrial look. 

This funky, functional desk makes use of upcycled organizers. 

This table, made with repurposed machine legs is "sew" cute!

Hairpin legs + reclaimed wood = fantastic

Salvaged corbels make for a very "game of thrones" vibe. I dig it. 

Book lover? Prove it with a geek chic table desk. 

Old doors make the perfect tabletop for a new desk. 

Like the bat cave, but for crafters. This hidden desk is so awesome. 

Book cases do double duty in this smart desk DIY.

Our nerd hearts are rejoicing over this novel-stacked desk. 

Reclaimed materials give this desk a wonderful, farm feel.

By: Sarah Rendo

Warm and Cozy Fall Reuse Projects

Brrrr...here in the midwest, the weather is starting to turn chilly. Which means it's the perfect time to make DIYs that celebrate the holiday and the changing temperatures. Football? Thanksgiving? Knit sweaters? And is there anything better than curling up with a steaming cup of apple cider, the hints of cinnamon wafting up before you even taste the hot, aromatic cider?

Check out our roundup of great DIYs to embrace the changing season (and reuse materials while they're at it). Then get to doing! Want even more inspiration? Follow us on Pinterest for a plethora of promising projects.

This stunning table runner is made with reclaimed wood. 

Need a quick centerpiece? Grab some candles, coffee beans and a pot! 

Upcycled frame + leaves + ribbon = adorable autumn decor. 

Let there be (candle) light! Go on a walk and collect the materials needed for this DIY.

I LOVE this adorable Turkey Day dessert cart. Make one yourself with reused wood!

An old rake is born again as a cheery Fall wreath. 

Have an old sweater? Upcycle it into chic leg warmers. 

Designed for Good: Using What You've Got

The way we create our homes and buildings has changed. The way we interact with our manmade environment has changed; LEED certified, passive and zero-energy are just a few of the buzzwords that have ricocheted across the architectural nomenclature in recent years, each with their own merits and advantages.

In their strive for a more symbiotic relationship with nature, forward-thinking architects have embraced a philosophy that firmly encourages us to use what we have, to design with existing materials in mind. Creating homes and businesses around materials that we already have on hand is an incredibly responsible - both environmentally and economically - style of architecture.

A stunning example of this school of thought is actually a school! The Eco Hawk Research Facility, housed on the University of Kansas campus, is a beautiful of example of using what you've got. The Engineering Department, which uses the facility as a lab to create a better electric car, wanted their built environment to reflect their commitment to a lower impact on the natural one.

Designed by Studio 804, Professor Dan Rockhill (more on his work here) and a team of KU architect students, the designs took stock of existing building materials they might take advantage of before creating the plans for the building, upcycling as many items as possible. Which makes sense. Why wouldn't you reuse instead of spending the energy, resources and money involved in creating new ones? Especially when they result in a building as gorgeous as the pictures below show?

Want more information on this amazing project and the brilliant minds behind it? Check out this article here, and this one as well.

Inspiration Index: Plumbing Parts

I know what you're thinking. Plumbing parts, really? Trust us on this one. Repurposed plumbing parts are the perfect DIY material: they're modern, industrial and effortlessly chic. They tell a message of times past, a stripped down style that is at once functional and beautiful.  

Your local reuse center is a flush (ha!) with pipes, fittings, valves and knobs. Check out the projects below, all of which use upcycled metalwork in interesting and intelligent ways, then get to DIYing.  

Want even more? Follow us on Pinterest for a riptide of reuse ideas. 

Reused pipes are transformed into a hip, industrial clothes hanger.

This quirky light fixture oozes nerdy charm.

The micro-rooms are made from giant, repurposed pipes!

Shine a little upcycled light with this brilliant lamp/bookcase combo.

This stylish DIY table is good for your wallet and the environment.

Bronze plumbing gives this wall lamp a modern look.

Posted by: Sarah Rendo

One Man's Rubbish Is Another's Residence

Some people look at a piece of clay and see a sculpture. Some people look at a shipping container and see three bedrooms and a walk-in kitchen. While these homes, some dreamy, some stunning, some a little whacky do differ widely in many aspects, one is the same: they repurpose materials in amazingly creative ways.

Would you live in an old jumbo jet? Maybe a silo? How about a house made out of mushrooms? These interesting abodes, designed to save natural resources, may just change your mind.

http://dornob.com/upcycling-old-grain-silos-houses-homes-hotels-inns/#axzz2ZKkFtAVw 

http://earth911.com/news/2011/10/04/photos-junked-jet-becomes-a-malibu-home/

http://inhabitat.com/upcycled-living-rolls-out-affordable-shipping-container-housing/

http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/some-it-hut-shed-year-competition-winner-upside-down-boat

http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/tiny-house-mostly-made-mushrooms

http://www.zoodisk.com/upcycled-houses-built-from-old-shipping-containers-plastic-inspiration-and-innovation/190982

Posted by: Sarah