MODify: DIY Spice Rack, New Mod Furniture "Uses" and "Free" Childhood Home Finds

I love to use what I have and get creative before I buy a retail solutions, it's the Buy Nothing New/Non-Consumerist way and saves money, win/win! Here are some ways I've been using what's already around for home problem-solving lately:

My mom bought two towel racks on clearance at IKEA during our pilgrimage for organizing supplies and they've been sitting in my kitchen unused for months until I was trying to find a spice racks solution. I love my new "towel rack spice rack" minimal and modern, it goes with the vibe of my apartment. Not the best solution for earthquake prone areas perhaps but that will never be a problem on the raised sandbar that is Florida.

I remember this guy sitting on a dresser in my brother's bedroom throughout childhood and was surprised to rediscover it helping my mom the garage. Every day I have a certain number of things I need to finish, 10 listings, catch-up on 10 blogs, tasks like that. I used to mark it on paper but using the 20-something year old contraption above makes it more tangible and erases the need for scrap paper everywhere. Win-win. Yep, I'm a very strange mark-as-I-go worker, always taking notes all over the place.

Oh this hutch and it's matching credenza need to go! Many have come to see and ask about the set but no one is willing to pay the very reasonable price of $300 for both pieces of American Martinsville 1960s Mid Century Modern furniture; $300 only doubles my investment, I try to triple what I pay in or more. Anyway, I have to live with these pieces for now (I will never, ever buy big furniture again, I was guilted into this set) so I moved this piece out of the way to the bathroom as a huge, attractive towel rack and it fits perfectly there. Makes my large, empty master bathroom a little more cozy.

And yet another free find from mom's garage, seems like there's gonna be a few of these as I help her purge (we wanna build a work-shop in there to make more mod-repo furniture). When I took it home I had no idea how to use it but it's perfect behind my bedroom door hosting my small scarf collection. I also hang my favorite batman hat, purse, and sometimes outfit for the new day on it.

What have your been MODifying around the house lately? I'm on the hunt for lots of freebies to use in the garden. It's seed-starting time! Can't wait to get growing.

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Upcycled Mid Century Modern Style Night Stands: Mod-Style Furniture DIY Idea

I've always wanted matching nightstands, but have never found them while thrifting. Buying them new is usually a minimum of $40.00 per stand so my mom and I decided to try making some of our own using wood from a homemade bookshelf I no longer wanted. (You can see the bookshelf "before"
in my old apartment.)

We used an electric and hand saw, hammer and nails, wood screws and electric drill, sand paper, and tape measure to make these.

The "box" is made of four pieces of 15" x 7 1/4" and four pieces of 21" x 7.5". The backings are 21.5" x 15 1/2". You'll need 8 angled top plates to give your stand's legs that slightly angeled atomic look, otherwise go for normal straight top plates. I used these 6-inch mod style legs- you'll get a better deal than I did if you order from that links, comes with 8 for two night stands. You can save on this project if you can upcycle the sides and backings like I did, I only paid for the legs and top plates.

Directions: 1) After your wood is cut and sanded, drill pilot holes on the left and ride sides of the longer pieces and at the tops (they will stand vertical) of the shorter pieces. Mark carefully to be sure they line-up. 2) Screw your box together, then  3) nail the backing to that back of the piece. 4) Screw your angled top plates to the bottom of the "box", one on each corner. 5) Twist your legs tightly into the top plates. 

This is an easy project for beginners and very versatile, to boot. You can stain it, paint it, paint the back-drop, add fabric, sky's the limit. I like how it's almost a mod piece deconstructed, furniture at it's simplest form. They're great for storing magazines, records, and and other collections. I use mine to store bedside reading, books and magazines on my priority-list to read.

Next time I need to make a bed (I sleep on a mattress on the floor after my old bed broke) and a headboard! I'm on a making kick, upcycled furniture construction is awesomely addictive!

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The New Thrift Core Headquarters: Where I Resell, Blog, Ship, Watch Horror Movies...

I haven't found the perfect way to define an office, craft/dining space, packaging/shipping station, and merchandise storage in one "great room" attractively-- while buying as little "new" as humanly possible! It keeps getting better, though. Here's my current progress and a wish list for the future.

I hung my favorite piece (maybe a post on that someday?) above a spot where I probably spend the most time, in front of the computer editing pictures, writing, listing...

I hate the 2nd non-mod couch, looking for a mod sectional maybe for the living room space. The "ugly couch" will host visiting butts for now. I recently re-staged the art to help define the living room space. Needs something horizontal like a tall lamp or plant to break it up. I used to have the art stationed all around but I like having 2 large gallery walls and 2 small ones for interest now.

This corner of books I need to scan/photo backdrop just sucks. I tried to make the white shelf hold packing materials but I have way too much for the shelf to hold well. I'm looking for some cool vintage lockers or a large cabinet to put here to hold the supplies.

My expedit unit (stuffed with more books to scan, craft/art supplies, some merchandise, paperwork...) kind of divides the living room and working area and having the dining table right in front of it now gives me a spot to craft, since I sure as hell never eat at that table. Bad me.

I could use some more rugs to define spaces, perhaps. I love that I took a year to get rid of excess but minimalism can be a tad boring if it's not balanced right.

As detailed in this post, I use the top of the expedit unit as a photo-taking station for all online listing needs. Love how the shades keeps it tidy yet easily assessable.

It still needs some work but I love my spacious, super-light-filled apartment and living/working here every day. I really want to transform it to a more completed state this year and will update you throughout the process. Perhaps with some design info to go with it.

The Yuko always enjoys it. She has ample space to explore, many things to destroy...

What improvements are you trying to make to your casa this year? What's on your thrift wish list? I'm looking for area rugs, a mod sectional couch, tall lamps/plants, lockers/storage cabinets, and kitty-proof fiberglass chairs...

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Nicole's Gorgeous Party Pad Full of Art, Mid Century Modern, and Vintage, Part 1

Remember when I shared my pal Nicole's gorgeous casa full of vintage finds and local art? That was right before her move, she's moved into a gorgeous spacious home that I can't wait to document in full. consider this sneak peek at her new space "take one". These are some quick shots I took after her housewarming party:

Nicole's a fellow Reseller and Southern Crossing Antique Mall and curates excellent collections of industrial furniture. I definitely aspire to have as many nice pieces, time to hunt! I love how she stages her collections so it never looks cluttered and matches her colorful yet organic art style.  (See her amazing portfolio of work here.)

Her collections were squished into her former house, with a new large space each piece stands out better. Her new home is huge, I'm excited to keep sharing more looks at her collections, could easily cover four or more posts!

And with ample wall space more art collections can be hung and appreciated. I love seeing the mix of local artists and vintage art on her walls.

These collections are in a large den near the entryway she's turned into an adorable playroom her her son.

Love the Ugly Doll collection. I adore ugly dolls but can never hang on to them for long, they sell quick!

Nicole's new home has several areas for lounging, an office, a huge kitchen, backyard, patio, this is her new living room area.

I appreciate how her scattered still lives often mimic the art on the walls! Also could read her home library all day!

'Twas a sweet house warming, I'm so Nicole found such an amazing new home for her growing family. Expect more tours, she's created a stunning upstairs "lounge" full of vintage, an awesome pool table and amazing art that you'd love to see!

I'm glad I learned some more about the awesome sign above, it's a found piece from her childhood home in New Jersey. It's from the 1940s or 50s, it's hand painted and hung in a local deli. It's in such great condition it looks like a reproduction piece you'd often see in a place like Pier 1 Imports.

I love a home with character, we'll see more of Nicole's pad soon! What's your favorite piece in Nicole's home? Hard to choose...

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MODify: Three Thrifty Ideas for Hanging Artwork In Your Home. Think Outside the Box!

A room is not complete for me without artwork to contemplate and inspire on the walls. When I worked in the corporate world my corner of the office was filled with an explosion of artwork and color! I need it to focus, blank walls make me crazy! You don't need expensive custom framing or conventional expensive store-bought frames to hang your artwork in style, here are five thrifty MODified methods I've adapted over the years moving from apartment to apartment and office to office:

1) Black or White (Dollar Store) Foam Core: I want to custom frame my Batman (pictured above) and Dragon Ball Z calendar pages someday, in the meantime I have them mounted on cheap black foam core I cut out seven years ago. It gives a similar affect without the cost! I used sticky putty to adhere the pages to the foam core and there they've stayed without falling for nearly a decade.

2) Vintage Wooden Pant Hangers: I've been asked about my high-tech designer-looking "wooden picture hangers" by apartment visitors, customers, or blog readers who see them in photos. They're simply wooden vintage pant hangers. (I have some for sale on Etsy here.)

3) Thrifted Binder Clips: Vintage binder clips are another way to hang art prints, records, or other pieces creatively. I bought a huge bagful for cheap at thrift store and often see them at yard sales for cheap, too.

4) Thrifted Frames: When you're patient and hunt enough you can often find frames of any size for your pieces. I'm still holding out for another poster-sized frame, I found one for my transformers poster above for around $5.00.

5) Dollar Tree $1.00 Frames: This isn't such a creative option but when I need a frame for an 8 x 10 art piece (standard paper size and the size of many art prints)  and can't find one for months while thrifting I will rely on the dollar store for some. Most Dollar Trees will have these available although the stock does vary from store-to-store. (Eight of the pieces pictured above are hung with dollar store frames.)

Past MODify posts: File Organizers

Got Any Creative Artwork Hanging Tips to Share? Let's discuss ideas in the comments.

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Thrifty Home Decor: Quick & Easy $1.00 Record, Book, or Magazine Organization Ideas

I'm in the midst of a complete apartment re-haul and loving it. While on a yard sale binge last weekend (got lots of cool vintage goods to show off soon!) I recalled why I used to go to yard sales so often before I was a reseller: it's a great way to get practical housewares for pocket change. I paid fifty cents each on two scores that saved me some valuable shelf space.

I knew this plain black file organizer would be perfect for hosting records I was having trouble figuring out where to store after selling my big 1980s record player. (Going to replace it with a smaller model.)

Then there was this sleek plastic file organizer I could hang on the wall for more nifty record organization. I liked how it was clear, allowing the record art to show through.

This is the record pile before, at the bottom of a bookshelf, taking up valuable book shelf space. You can't access them easily like this, either.

So now I have a new and improved record corner that just needs a little record player to get the party started. (I saw a Michael Jackson record player on Craigslist the next city over. Want! Would go with my freshly moved MJ record wall nicely!)

And my new "library corner" has some bright beautiful record art on display. I see this method working well to organize art supplies (scrapbooking papers, etc.) and favorite books or magazines. Keep an eye out at the yard sales and thrift stores, I often see file organizers and I'm sure their numbers are increasing as file storage moves into the digital era.

Got any nifty thrift storage techniques to tell? Do share in the comments. What records do you collect? My Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, and Prince record collection is sizeable. I also love disco, funk, and soul.

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Thrifty Work Space Solutions: Dining Room/Office Before and After

You ever dream that you'll finally have every single thing you own pedantically organized, labeled, filed away in a spreadsheet? You every wish every yawn and blink was scheduled? I'm almost there! I'm almost organized to the extreme and it feels so good! Regard my new work space if you need inspiration:

This is an in-between shot, I was moving items to be stored in the new work space to dining room/office area and searching for the "perfect" cabinet to store it all. After months of hunting at thrift, flea markets, curbsides (no shame!) and comparison shopping I gave in and bought the cheapest thing I could find retail.

These are two tiny Closet Maid closets I got on clearance from Target and stacked on top of each other. It's a huge help having this right in the work space! I'll keep searching second hand for a second cabinet to store packing materials.

This was the first time in a while I've to break the "Buy Nothing New" rule to retain my sanity! Worth it though, I love how rearranging this space hasn't just made it organized, a fresh new look in the work space  is always inspiring. Now I'm going to jump in there and get back to work!

What do you use to get to organize your art/craft/reselling supplies? I'm always on the prowl for furniture and items to use for organization while thrifting.

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