Green Ideas for the Home

11Apr11

I’m a big fan of all things green.  I hug trees, eat granola, and recycle (although I don’t really consider myself crunchy or a tree hugger, but I wouldn’t be offended if you thought I was).  I try to repurpose whenever I can, a trait which I owe mostly to my amazingly resourceful parents who taught me not only to be inventive and creative, but also to appreciate the thrill of a deal!  So, I’m happy to report some green repurposing ideas around our house courtesy of one of my favorite local shops, Phantastic Phinds.

If you live in the local Philly area and enjoy garage sales, thrift shopping, or vintage items of every style, OR if you have unwanted, unused items to get rid of, Phantastic Phinds is the place for you.  I purchase and consign there and they make it easy as pie to unload your house hold items for second-hand sale.  It’s always a treat to browse their shop and you literally can go in one day to the next and see so many new things!  I love their business model, and the owner, Angela is always on hand and really knows her stuff.

It was on one such trip to the fabulous (or phabulous?) Phantastic Phinds that I got…an idea!  I was wracking my brain trying to think of something creative for my hubby for our third anniversary.  I consulted the traditional anniversary gift lists which suggested something leather.  A new wallet seemed boring, so did a belt.  I considered a few other things, none of which really worked.  Then, there in Phantastic Phinds, I saw a leather saddle in the window.  Now that’s something different, I thought!  Let it be known that neither hubby nor I are equestrians; I’ve only been on a horse a few times.  But this saddle was cool and I figured there’s got to be some way to use it.  So I commissioned my dad’s handy work to help me make this saddle into a stool.  And what resulted was a leather, 3-legged stool for my hubby on our 3rd anniversary, complete with little horseshoe feet.  It’s perfectly corny, uniquely ours, and I love it!  It doubles as a seat and a conversation piece!

And in other things phantastic, I had been searching for a long time for a vintage gold-leaf frame to house a painting my grandmother had done.  It needed a more worthy and protective home, as an heirloom piece it’s becoming.  Guess where I found the perfect frame?  Phantastic Phinds!  I removed an old, dingy, unloved canvas that came in it, cleaned up the frame, and took it next door to Woulfe Framing where they treated the painting with white glove service and sent me home with a super easy DIY kit to finish the frame job.

Notice the wall color complimented perfectly thanks to interior designer Mimi Leitzel of MCL Studio.  Mimi also very patiently helped me pick the paint colors for the adjacent rooms.

I hope this inspired you to do something creative and green in your home and to check out some of these awesome local businesses.

I’ll have more happenings to share around our house soon – currently working on accessorizing our deck.  Did someone say BBQ?  Why, come on over!

Filed under: Family, Photo, Photography, Random   |  3 Comments
Tags: consignment, green home, Green living, homegoods, housewares, interior design, mcl studio, phantastic phinds, philadelpahia, recycle, repurpose, vintage