The term, "upcycling" was coined in the 2002 book, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. This book has been deemed a manifesto calling for the transformation of human industry through ecologically intelligent design.
Project #1: Lamps
Jonathan Adler Giant Belly lamp ($695 @ JonathanAdler.com) This high end look uses a matte white finish to accentuate the lines on the body of the lamp.
An affordable option can be found at Ikea.com for $59.99. Their Jonnsbo Asarp table lamp has similar matte white finish and graphic details.
When looking for lamps to upcycle to achieve the look, search for lamps with simple repetitive lines and a clean body. We used Design Masters Matte white spray paint from Micheals.com to duplicate the finish from the high-end version. Complete the look with a simple white shade that has a drum-like shape.
Project #2: Vases
Jonathan Adler Lantern vase ($98 @ JonathannAdler.com) The look here is simple elegance. White pottery that lets the shape and form speak for it self.
An affordable option can be found at CB2.com for $39.99. The "Chisel Vase" has the similar matte white finish as its more costly counterpart.
When looking for vases to upcycle to achieve the look, search for ones with simple repetitive lines and a clean body. We used Design Masters Matte white spray paint from Micheals.com to duplicate the finish from the high-end version.
Project #3: Colored Art Glass
Colored art glass continues to be trend for the home. The "hot" color for spring and summer is reminiscent of the beach glass that washes ashore we all collected as kids. We can see examples of this at West Elm( $14-39).
A great upcycling idea for old clear glass vases we all have under our sink is to paint them in trend colors. There are many products on the market for painting glass, both spray and liquid. Micheals.com has a variety of options available ( PermEnamel, Vitera and Valspar). The trick when using the paint is to start with light coats and build up to the desired darkness.
