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.

House/Boats

We've all heard of houseboats, the floating ship/home hybrids that ride down a river or bob lazily in a lake. But what about boat houses? Some very enterprising builders have repurposed out-of-commision sloops, steamboats and skiffs into very interesting single family homes.

The result? Aquatic-themed abodes that will amaze and astound you.  And while plopping a yacht in the neighborhood might make you a feel like a fish out of water, we have a feeling these upcyclers think their creations are definitely something to "sea."

Follow us on Pinterest for even more inspiration.

Upcycled, overturned boats make adorable sheds!

Loving this landlocked boat-turned-house. 

Two boats are better than one house! 

A tugboat is recycled into a charming lake house.

A retired boat captain repurposed an old boat into a rustic seaside abode.

Would you believe this vacation hotel used to be an oil rig? 

The Apple Jack was lovingly restored by an upcycling pro. 

This hotel in thailand uses colorful recycled boats as guest rooms. 

A repurposed boat lends its shape to the roof of this tiny house. 

Posted by: Sarah Rendo

PlanetReuse.com pre-launch March 3rd

Fellow Reclaimers!

We wanted to make you aware of a new resource that can boost your sales of "reclaimed flooring products!" with PlanetReuse.com. This new website is a digital warehouse that allows you to reach thousands of contractors, architects and homeowners searching for your products online. PlanetReuse allows these buyers to search a global database to purchase reusable, reclaimed, and excess building materials through the site from sellers like you. We would like to invite you and select others to list your products and be a part of our pre-launch March 3rd. This exciting opportunity will give you maximum exposure over the site's upcoming release on March 17th.


At PlanetReuse.com:

* Sellers create free listings for reused, reclaimed, and excess building materials for no fee or charge

* Use a safe, secure, solid site aligned with trusted companies in PayPal, FedEx, and FreightQuote

* Access an industry-specific digital warehouse, unlike Craigslist or Ebay

* Global exposure is given to buyers looking for reused, reclaimed and excess construction materials

* LEED documentation and year-end reports are a free service

* Sellers never pay for listings, buyers pay a nominal fee that covers all transaction costs and fees

* Users take advantage of a point-incentive system to buy and sell products through PlanetReuse


We are offering you a free text ad on our site for two months as incentive to populate PlanetReuse with product listings during our pre-launch. This pre-launch offer ends March 17th, but we encourage you to check out our competitively-priced advertising rates here: http://www.planetreuse.com/advertise/info.

PlanetReuse willl be reaching over 50,000 architects and contractors in the “green community” throughout the world on our "go-live" date March 17th. Along with your products, PlanetReuse will be featured by DWELL magazine on March 17th as well as Greenability magazine and ecoLogical Home in the upcoming months. This digitial initiative, coupled with our print media efforts, creates a one-of-a-kind opportunity to extend your products and web presence to interested buyers.

Please feel free to visit PlanetReuse.com and email us at partnership@planetreuse.com if you are interested in participating in this offer. We look forward to working with you for years to come!


Bradley Hardin - CEO, LEED AP
PlanetReuse.com 4441 Fairmount
Kansas City.MO 64111
Office: 816.298.7947
bhardin@planetreuse.com