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5 ways to accessorise your home by upcycling

November 1, 2013

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By Brianna O’Neil

Even in tough economic times, your home and office can still look great and be environmentally friendly with the use of recycled and upcycled materials. Melbourne property styling expert Brianna O’Neil says it’s not difficult to use recycled items to add personality and flair to your home whilst reducing your carbon footprint.

brianna 1
Wall hanging made from recycled wrapping paper, clock made from industrial letter P (formally Hoyts movie signage), telephone table and typewriter from eBay (secondhand), books from thrift shop, faux fur throw from Kmart.

“When styling a home, it may surprise you to hear that places like eBay and the Salvation Army are one of my first ports of call for artwork and decor,” she said. “Sometimes the most interesting items can be found where you least expect it and don’t cost an arm and a leg. Vintage items are not a new trend and many blogs and websites give ideas on how they can be best used.”

Helen Edwards, author of the Recycled Interiors blog, which focuses on sustainable decorating, says: “I love the way a windowframe, an old door, secondhand chair, a piece of lace or fabric, a lamp, cushion or an upcycled piece of furniture can connect us to human history and reduce our footprint at the same time. The aim is to show you how to make mindful and ethical choices in your interior decorating, without compromising on style.”

Wall hanging made from recycled tissue paper, clock from Temple & Webster, chair bought on eBay and restored Trolley, books and crockery from Savers Thrift Shop Rug from Kmart
Wall hanging made from recycled tissue paper, clock from Temple & Webster, chair bought on eBay and restored, trolley, books and crockery from Savers thrift shop and rug from Kmart

Brianna recommends using the following techniques to give an element of personality to your home via recycled and upcycled items:

Vintage books – Old books are one of my favourite ways to decorate a bedside table or shelving system. Stack them in interesting ways using bookends or use the pages to line drawers or make wall hangings. However, always check the value of the book before pulling it apart.

brianna books
Book from Savers thrift store (props for property styling job), clock from $2 store, letter Q from eBay

Restore furniture – If you are feeling thrifty, search eBay for used furniture. It can be brought back to life by a good restorer and a dash of wow can be added with designer upholstery fabric.

Photos – Too often our photography will never see the outside of a Facebook folder. Why not have some fun printing travel photos on canvas as a series or restore old family images to be framed?

Wall hangings can be made from just about anything – old tea towels can be hung using dowel rods and mirrors can be decorated with mosaics from old tiles.

Recycle fabrics to make cushions and purchase fabrics by the “fat quarter” (a quarter of a standard yard) to stretch over canvas from a discount or two dollar shop.

Recycled lampshade covered in Robert Kaufman fabric from eBay
Recycled lampshade covered in Robert Kaufman fabric from eBay

“One of the best things about upcycling is that it really is a lot of fun and can add a point of difference to your home and office. And it’s a guilt free way to decorate.”

Find more upcyling and recycled décor ideas at Brianna’s website www.styledbyhibernate.com.au

Jen is currently on honeymoon in Tokyo, Venice and the UK, and has opened up the blog to a series of fabulous guest posters to share their interiors-related expertise in her absence. She hopes you’ll enjoy them and look out for the odd honeymoon post from overseas! The new Mrs Francis (who will still be known as Bishop for work purposes) will be back at her desk on 11 November.

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Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial family category and they're a special gift. So ends three weeks with @danisteve81 who left her husband and son in the UK (I'm forever grateful they lent her to me!) to come and cheer me up and help me in the most practical ways after I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital. There were tears and I miss her so much already but how amazing to have had all that time together as adults. Such a rare treat and would never have happened without having been through something so challenging. Silver linings and all that. So many other friends have also been incredibly thoughtful and kind. There aren't many times I'd say this without cringing but I am 100% blessed!

I still cannot believe we have been friends since we were 12! 12! Are you still close with your childhood besties?
The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys 💗 Me and my boys 💗
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner 💓😁
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack 🥰 @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack 🥰 @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting 🤣 Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help ❤️
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late is marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydney’s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital 😜

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
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If you have high quality, original, relevant content to share, we might be interested in publishing your guest post on Interiors Addict. Please email [email protected] with your submissions.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarAgs says

    November 1, 2013 at 7:39 am

    New at your blog but love it already!

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