Reusing Relics

If you have ever renovated or rebuilt portions of a house, barn or maybe even an old church, chances are you ended up tossing away items that seemed useless other than for what they were originally used. Perhaps some of the items even caught your eye but you simply had no idea what to do with them. The key is to think out of the box by looking beyond the object�s original purpose.

Architectural items like old columns and balusters can be used in many creative ways. For instance, beautiful table bases can be made with old chimney pots. Old porch balusters can adorn the front of base cabinetry in your kitchen or bath. Depending on the height of a column, it can lend itself to be used as a unique pedestal for a plant or piece of art.

Antique or vintage wooden doors offer numerous repurposes. Tables and headboards become real conversation pieces when made from these. A kitchen island�s look can be totally transformed by laying one of these old beauties on its side horizontally and turned into the island�s main face piece.

Metal items, such as old ironwork, if sized appropriately, can be refashioned into room dividers or backdrops behind furniture, like a sofa. Smaller gates can be mounted on the wall or ceiling to use as pot racks. Old metal heat registers can be quite ornate. Used on tabletops, they can be decorative in their own right. Or put them to work as hotplates. One person I know even used one over a recessed area on the front wooden landing outside their front door as a place to wipe dirt and grime off of shoes.

There are countless possibilities for smaller items like cornices and brackets. They can be used to serve practical functions such as drape swag holders or bookends. Instant art can be achieved by showcasing them in a prominent area of your home. Add an up light and voila � you�ve created a gallery in your home.

Listen to your creative instincts and run with them. There are no rules other than to have fun and express who you really are.