Upcycled Chic and Modern Hacks: Thrifty Ways for Stylish Homes

Stylist Bauwens and writer Campbell (co-authors, Country in the City) celebrate the reuse of discarded objects to furnish beautiful, creative homes. Most of the homeowners featured are artists or do creative work, so the rustic idiosyncratic mismatch of styles, colors, and objects evidence the risk-taking sensibility that is essential to their chosen vocation. The result may not for be for everyone: for example, recycled painted boards in shades of blue and green used to make the facades of kitchen cabinets and drawers have a patchy and unforgettable effect. And don't expect recycling to be an inexpensive option: shutters reused for their aged patina face a custom cabinet. Some of the hacks are somewhat familiar, such as big-box-store bookshelves in various configurations serving as room dividers and extra storage. Other embellishments can look downright kitschy, like fairy lights draped over a mirror, evoking a college dorm room rather than a high-end home. Nevertheless, the book has inspired moments: the draper's table used as a desk, sitting by a blackboard from an Edwardian school, makes the perfect vintage room for daydreaming over a project or schoolwork. (Mar.)