Used drinking cans, bits of paper, and rusty metal sheets aren’t exactly things you’d want to put on display at home. But once they’ve been converted from their original state to works of wonder such as ceiling lamps made from aluminium sheets and chairs made from Coke bottles, they’re another story altogether. Why don’t you do good to the environment and avoid wastage by investing in one of these clever home decor pieces?
Made From: Newspapers
Recycled newspaper container and vase $99-250 from Egg3
Newspapers may be considered ephemeral to fickle society but to artists, they’re a continuous source of inspiration. Pop your next flower arrangement into this innovative vase made of recycled newspapers. Or pick up this chic container you can store your coasters in.
Made From: Aluminium Sheets
Circumference lamp $2,990 from Strangelets
Designer John Wischhusen, whose works revolve around his research on sustainable lighting, has twisted and turned old aluminum sheets into a trendy piece de resistance for the home. The Circumference Lamp is a pendant light with five individual light sources while the Clamp has 12 light sources. Both can be disassembled easily for future recycling.
Made From: Graphic Novels
Crisis on Infinite Chair $490 from Like That One
A chair is not just a chair, once in the crafty hands of master recycling duo Belle and Cheu. This one’s had some nifty decoupage work done using pages from the world’s best loved comics. Who doesn’t fancy sitting atop classic depictions of Superman, Wonder Woman and Flash Gordon?
Made From: Coke Bottles
Emeco 111 Navy Chair $350 from Space
If you think people who randomly collect drink bottles are weird, you obviously haven’t seen this radical piece of work—the remake of the iconic aluminum chair originally designed in 1944 for the US Navy. As solid and practically indestructible as the legendary classic, each plastic chair was made using at least 111 Coke bottles.
Made From: Recycled Teak
Bedside table $350 from Originals
It’s quite rare to come across unwanted pieces of quality wood such as teak here but in Indonesia, it’s a different ball game. Driven by the amount of waste (one man’s trash is another’s treasure, after all) churned out there, furniture designers like the ones at Originals have created pieces like this rustic bedside table made of recycled teak—restored and whitewashed to add character to your living space.
Egg3 #04-26 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Rd., 6887-5815, www.eggthree.com. See website for other locations. | Like That One #01-02 Skytech, 2 Bukit Batok St. 24, 6560-9168. | Space 2/F Millennia Walk, 9 Raffles Blvd., 6415-0000. | Strangelets 87 Amoy St., 6222-1456. | Originals #02-03 Sime Darby Centre, 896 Dunearn Rd., 6471-9918.
