Fabulous Upcycling Ideas to Inspire with RETRASH
I am sharing a wonderful mix of upcycling ideas to inspire you today, with a bit of a book review of Retrash – a high quality, soft cover coffee table book, showcasing inspirational ideas on reusing second hand materials, through upcycling. I met the author Nathan Devine, at a talk with the inspiring Terracycle at Google headquarters. A book like this is the perfect way to gain ideas for your own projects, because you can flick through and seek inspiration and ideas, without it needing too much energy or concentration. I love the mix of art, fashion and interiors in the book. It is easy to find what you are looking for and beautifully put together.
The word Upcycle is defined as “reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.” This fantastic easy to read book, with stunning and inspirational images, really takes that concept and celebrates it. Published in New York in late 2014, Retrash is a book that inspires creativity and imagination through stories of upcycling, recycling and living sustainably. The book itself even follows these principles, being printed on 100% recycled paper, and features work from people living in Australia, Germany, United States, Spain, United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, France, Romania, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, Netherlands, India, Portugal, New Zealand, Italy, Argentina, Belgium and Hong Kong.
Retrash is aiming to inspire and challenge people globally to think about how we can reuse waste in creative and innovative ways and promote the growing movement of people across the globe that are reducing landfill by upcycling, repurposing and reusing salvaged materials. Post consumer waste contributes 1.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. By showcasing the best of the upcycling movement, Retrash hopes to educate and inspire the world to rethink what they currently view as being waste. In doing this we can reduce waste globally by reusing, repurposing and upcycling waste, as well as making better purchasing decisions on new materials and products.
Promoting the upcycling movement is one of the main objectives of the book and it does this very well with beautiful images showing a snapshot of the growing movement of artists and creative thinkers using materials which are considered waste in our society. To make this book accessible to as many people as possible, the team reverse eengineered the book with the end goal in mind. By capping the total number of contributions in the book to just over 80, and selecting appropriate recycled paper stock, they were able to keep the total combined weight to under 500 grams so they can offer shipping at a fixed rate, anywhere in the world.
In 2009, Retrash signed a sponsorship agreement with two charities – FINCA and the Helen Bamber Foundation. The agreement is that for every copy of Retrash sold, $1 will be donated to each charity. Nathan Devine, founder of Retrash, formed these agreements as part of a personal life mission to help others. FINCA.org provides financial services to the world’s lowest–income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets and improve their standard of living. Actress and activist Natalie Portman is the FINCA Ambassador of Hope. HelenBamber.org is a human rights organisation that helps those who have experienced torture, trafficking and other forms of cruelty. Actress and activist Emma Thompson is the chair of the Helen Bamber Foundation.
Nathan has been diverting waste from landfill for over 30 years, he enjoys seeking out waste materials to create structures like garden sheds, cubby houses for his children and suitcase speakers to name a few. His passion for working with second hand materials started from a young age working in the family business which was mowing lawns and rubbish removal. “We were at the tip on a fairly regular basis as kids and I was always excited by what treasures I might find to take home. One time when we were at the tip, I noticed half a dozen small black and white TVs that my dad let me take home to clean up and sell. It was such an empowering feeling to be able to create my own pocket money from something that had been thrown away. That event really changed my perspective on rubbish and the value that it has to different people.”
Nathan is passionate about reducing waste globally by inspiring others to rethink what we throw away. His book is a recycled piece of art itself and has been endorsed by the largest handmade market in the world, Etsy. It has been featured in the New York Times, Connect 4 Climate and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). If you love to be inspired I highly recommend you grab a copy of this unique and important book to place on your coffee table, and who knows, maybe you can upcycle yourself a coffee table to go with it.
Which upcycle do you love the most here?
Helen
xx
(update of a post originally published 2014)
Kate Insley….! X
That’s mad, I saved that pic of the bike/sink the other day such a fab idea! Thanks chick…you know me so well xx
I like the idea of the bench seat on wheels, but not in the house. It looks hard, heavy and uncomfortable. Would work better in the garden for me.
It’s from the book. I think it’s staged for the photos ☺
So much inspiration .. ❤️❤️❤️
lots to love Lyndal Corner
Very cool!
Wow some really clever ideas here, thanks for sharing Helen! That bicycle in the bathroom is very chic
Genna Millar – the book up cycling in here made me think of you 🙂
Jade Nightingale
Susan Johnston
Walker I think you have a project on your hands 😉
Fattori project :p
isn’t it cool! STYLE CURATOR
Donna Hutcheson
Adele Adele Walsh
Ang Hannath
Now we know what you can do with your books Tracy Halpin
Kate Everingham Kirsty Woodley Lisa Jane Groth Penelope Lynn
That is awesome!
A small massacre of books but very effective
Fiona Currey couldn’t help but think of you with the books!
Haha yes!! Makes my day bedU0001f609 lol……or two!!
BLARNEY BOOKS & ART
I love….nothing like decirating with books!
Tnik I wiil neid to reed moore to improuve my speiling…..
Those poor, innocent books.
Rebecca Rotheram do you like this ? I personally dont .
Imagine cleaning the dust, hair etc out of the spokes and all the nooks and crannies. No thanks
How cool I just love something so inspired.
Dan Vallance – next house maybe!
Could use my bike ☺️
Glen & Jessie this would be perfect in your new digs.
Look what you can do with your bike Shelley!!
Love it – might bd time yo re-model my en-suite x
Lauren Hawkins how would this do in the ensuite? U0001f609
That’s it Moore cleaning …no thanx
That’s awesome…well get to on it then xxx
Elizabeth Bell. Bon jour
SO COOL U0001f6b2
Heidi Edwards Jane Smith…open the link and look at how the old books have been repurposed. I think the book nook might be getting upcycled over the christmas holidays
Haydee Softley X
Lol. That’s what I thought too.
Gareth Downey Simon Jones to makes your lives complete
Cute! I’m sure we could come up with some other ideas too.
I liked seeing the books being used to make a bookshelf. Very cool ideas. Old unwanted books end up as landfill every year when they can be made into some really cool things!
Yeah – the bookshelf looks really nice. Of course there’s our annual Christmas tree too…
Im going through an upcycling phase..
I need to think about this when my brain isn’t tired. There’s usually a window between about 10:30am and 12:30 when it’s on fire!
How cool is it…I actually found
oh dont worry i was going to say i found it in a hotel i was looking at but now i cant find it lol
Debbie Lundy lol
Jules McLucas maybe a bathroom renovation?
Adam Bell you will like this U0001f600
No thanks. I doubt the ugly green will look very good!
Way too cute
Kaila this could work?
this is very cool
Daniel Sullivan get pickin
Very clever !!!
The toilet could be a wheel barrow. very classie
Kim Jackson could you imagine doing this, then realising you can’t ever easily clean under that sink again.
That’s what shower power is for. Spray and walk away. I wonder if you’d have to greass the chain every few months?
Philip Byrne…. idea 😉
Love a great imagination x
Shannon Woolcock Kirrabelle Lovell Robert McEneaney for all your bicycles
That so cool
Haha! Awesome Lisa Sarcevic
I like it… Need a library big enough to take it though x
Giovina D’Alessandro we need this! x
Thought of you last Nite in the Light & Sound Show in David’s Temple where the whole castle was covered in bookshelves!!! Awesome! No photos allowed!
I want a camera robot man!
This is lovely, wow
I love this
Rusty old bike or trike would work too.
it is cool!
pretty cool idea
Narelle :)))) x
Love it Deb!
Haha. Outside sink?
Jason Palasty that’s a unique vanity item
Jason Rheinberger how cool is tgis
Thought of you Amy Seath and stu…perfect for your bathroom 🙂
Nice but I don’t think I’d get that past Belinda Fischer
With the ammount of bikes I have in my house I feel this may be a good use of at least one of them 🙂 what are your plans for Aust weekend
Rhys Harrison I need this
Elizabeth Burge haha
Maybe I could use my bike
Sian, Eli, I feel you need this.
I feel it too
Sue Harpley cool idea for bathroom out bush
Scott Simpson some inspiration.
J’adore je veux la même
Wayde Hazelton…that’s one way to get the bikes in the house
What do you think Alan for our bathroom?
Melissa Croke thought of u x
Does this mean that I can buy another bike?
Just use one of the four you already have
But as you said I use them.
Alvina Sutton……thought this would suit a bathroom at your place!
Oooooh i bloody love it heehee xxx
Paul Woodger – I’m surprised I don’t see this in your bathroom
How cool is that I want one
Thought you might. Doesn’t it look great.
A horror to dust!
Matilda Stone show Dad our bathroom upgrade
It not carbon!
Some renovation ideas for your bathroom Leigh Parsons!
Wow! I have one of my old bikes I can use too…
Leigh Parsons I am surprised this isn’t mounted in the new SofM offices!
Need to collect the keys first!
Jen Whelan table dilemma solved when you move!
Bathroom upgrade Tony Roughan?
Love this !!!
Although i’d bash my leg on that pedal every day for sure.
Mark Duyker … Need some ideas for the build ?
Christine Abnett here ya go 😉
Kev Almond how cool does this look
Vicky Soar Smith how cool is this?!?
Ellice Sretenovich Willows bathroom U0001f602
Wow I know that was my first thought! I kinda actually love it though Willow Wilson U0001f6b4U0001f3fcU0001f6b4U0001f3fc
Rhiannon Tierney – your husband would live this!!
Graham Smith.. If ever you decide to give up cycling U0001f600
Liss Strong I could see this in your place
Isn’t that just so amazing!
Looks great but it would get quite grubby and difficult to clean.
Cambell Dew hipster
I’m sure you’ll be able to whip this up in no time Clyde haha
Pretty cool idea Kahla..U0001f60e
Love it neat!!!
Som this should be your bathroom
Waste of a good bike
Haha yeah true
Love this idea 🙂
Johanna bathroom renos!!!!! U0001f604
Jodi Bree what about this?
Rochelle Vranješ X
I was complaining about having no where for my bike haha
It is amazing! I would love to have that. X
I love the window pane veggie boxes! So gorgeous! U0001f60d
I just keep thinking of towel fluff and hair in the spokes…
Don Cook for your throne room.
Guy Grieve thought you might like this U0001f60a
Haley Flynn how cool is this. You should do this in your house
Amy Winnewisser Farley this has you written all over it.
You so could have done this! Just surprise dad lol renovate his bathroom
How cute is that. If only my bathroom was big enough U0001f64a
It seriously does!
WHY….??????
What a nightmare to clean…. One of the stupidest ideas I’ve seen
Ros Schmidt, Kim Kilpatrick you should have gone for this look
Sharon Willis interesting U0001f60a
Looks nice… but I wouldn’t want to clean it!
TDU 2016. Go Gerro!
With his Pinerello?
Dani Kell time to upgrade your bathroom when you get back
What an interesting idea. Very retro.
Ooohhh… that’s a brave act alana
Jacinta incase you need a new sink!!!
I looooveee this. Anuska came past today 🙂 xxx
Nica & Anna – you need to re-do your bathrooms ladies!!!
Yea she came past a couple weeks ago aswel U0001f60a
I want to make these 🙂
They’re so cute!! Shouldn’t be too hard either ☺️
I remember making Pom poms as a kid so I think I could make them as an adult!
We all need aspirations Leeanne Zissimous, will post pics over the weekend U0001f60a
Well we certainly have plenty of bikes to choose from here … I’m sure Dave would love it! The cleaning of all those spokes though! To show him … or not to show him U0001f603
John Carter didn’t Sandra Carter want a new bathroom sink ???
Armando Avanti here’s one for you U0001f618
Paul Cronk this looks like your type of bathroom
Oh I need one of those!!!!
That’s very cool!! I love it U0001f60d
It is pretty cool! Hope the new house is coming along nicely xx
Shirley Crosthwaite show grand please
I knew my old bike wud cum in handy
That a good one
Know someone who did this with an old sewing machine stand looked great
I don’t like in bathroom, just me maybe
Dotty Jo .. great idea for your bike when you’re finished riding it U0001f609
Karl Kinson i want to do this in our bathroom xx
Nigel Etheridge X
That’s awful lol
Sean…. Just a thought for any spare bikes you might have ? U0001f917
Looks mint x
No way, think of how hard to keep clean !
Street find
old desk
new TV sound unit
You should have seen her sorry state before “Ricki”
Perhaps a project for your excess books Simone??
Linda Williams look a book chair….
Books are not something that need to be ‘recycled’, I hate this.
Sean Pie Jones if you can’t afford new furniture at least you’ve got your books U0001f602
Fair enough! I also keep all mine or send to the op shop
Wow you’re being really nice about my tantrum!
U0001f601U0001f601 debating is good!
Mitchell Donaldson do it
Just beautiful Helen xxx
Devan Sabaratnam – I guess not in your house?!?!?
Love this. I have a couple of old guitars that aren’t worth renovating but too pretty to throw out.
John Lozano, another useful thing you could do with your guitars 😉
How cool is this Natasha? U0001f60d
Simple yet so cool! U0001f642U0001f643
Tonia Turner for Dave
I love it too! xx
we should do it @helenewild
Joshua Williams I know where to put your g-tar
Wow! Love it Shannon!
Matthew Whitaker could do this with your paddle!!!
Got some old ones that might get this treatment… 😉
Love it Cat Piper
Emma, some inspirational wall art for you and Brad.