Posted: January 4th, 2012 | Author: artintolife | Filed under: design | Tags: design, environment, home, innovative design, repurposing, shopping
Recently, I have been struck by products which cleverly repurpose old newspapers. In general recycling has become so de rigor that it’s hardly exciting. But these products still managed to catch me slightly off guard — apparently the actual term for these re-uses of materials is “upcycling”. (Just go around talking about upcycling and see how people react. I’m thinking it could be pretty funny.)
My favorite, because it’s so simple and obvious, yet so clever, is the NewspaperWood Log designed by Mieke Meijer for Vij5. Instead of burning logs in your fireplace, you can burn this recycled newspaper styled to look like a log. Layers of newspaper have been glued together to form a substance which is hard and solid and can be used like wood. Cutting through the stack of papers reveals a cross section that has the effect of wood grain.

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Posted: December 28th, 2011 | Author: artintolife | Filed under: design, other stuff, stuff to buy | Tags: design, home, innovative design, redecorating, repurposing, shopping, top ten, trends
Design: Top Ten Products of 2011
1. Native Union Handset for iPhone, iPod, iPad
Easily my favorite product of the year.
I’ve already discussed this one, so I won’t bore you.
Available on Amazon.

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Posted: November 27th, 2011 | Author: artintolife | Filed under: art, design | Tags: art, artists, crafts, decorating, design, fabric, Frederique Morel, home, innovative design, repurposing, sculpture
I’m of the opinion that we collect kitschy deer art. My husband likes to point out that we only have one art object which is a deer:

Dennis Svoronos, Bargain Hunter, 2007

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Posted: October 28th, 2011 | Author: artintolife | Filed under: design | Tags: decorating, home, repurposing, rugs, shopping, trends
My latest obsession — and yes, I have about 4 or 5 new obsessions a week — is over-dyed rugs. If you’ve done any online shopping for homewares recently, you’re probably already familiar with the concept. They are all over the flash sale sites. But in case you haven’t, let me fill you in. Over-dyed rugs are essentially vintage rugs, or patchworks of vintage textiles, completely saturated in a wash of intense color. The result is strikingly beautiful.

Rugs from Bazaar Bayar as seen on onekingslane.com
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