by Derek “Deek” Diedricksen
Hey All,
I just had a little fun shooting this one-take DIY-idea video on using free and salvaged goods for decorating and construction, from windows to wall hangings, and while some of the ideas might be ultra-bizarre, others might be practical enough for your needs, or better yet, might spark another new idea in YOU.
Below, for tinyhouseblog.com readers, I’ve also added a few more photos of examples that the video DOES NOT cover (and believe me, I have about 100 more, but the video is long enough already!).
A window on “The Gypsy Junker” cabin (for sale btw $1200 OBO), made out of a colored glass dinner plate
Building on a budget is something I always make sure to cover in the workshops I host for Tumbleweed, and the ones I host/set-up on my own, in fact, our April 26th-28th build/3-day workshop with Steven Harrell in North Carolina, will not only incorporate A LOT of hands-on building, but a good deal of free-form design, salvage construction, and recycled material problem solving- ALWAYS fun! We do have a few slots left, but not many at all, and some INCREDIBLE guest speakers and demos planned! Check out the flyer below for a full listing of our AWESOME guest teachers- its more or less a “Tiny House Convention” at this point. Just crazy…
Aside from this new video….here are a few photo examples and their explanations. Some are taken from my book “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks“, while others are brand new shots which might end up in the next book.
Some of you will see this video, or these photos and think “Bah, this is pure rubbish, hogwash, and tomfoolery- with a dash of nonsensical illogicality ta’ boot!” (as you then re-don your monocle in a huff) , but you’re missing the point….I’m just attempting to get people to see beyond the face value and widespread and definitive use of any given object that might be in front of ‘em. ‘Nuthin more….and hopefully you at least walk away from it with one or two new ideas.
WANT TO WIN A TINY HOUSE BOOK?
If you have any great ideas, post ‘em below, and the one or two with the best recycled usage concepts, just may get a nice new tiny house book from Lloyd Kahn (“Tiny Homes, Simple Shelter“), or Gerald Rowan “Compact Cabins“, mailed to ‘em. Heck, maybe I’ll even film a little video on it, credit you, or even invite you to be part of the video for my “Tiny Yellow House” youtube series...so fire away and good luck!
-Derek “Deek” Diedricksen
TO CHECK OUT OUR WORKSHOP DETAILS/SIGN UP CLICK HERE…
Dehydrating apple slices on a junk screen window, over a wood stove safety “cage” built from scraps (to protect the kids). The screen is aluminum, hence the dish towels under the fruit to space the edibles away from it.
A freebie bowl (originally from Ikea) that I connected to the floor of my video-toured “Wolfe’s Den” Tree House in The Catskills. You can’t see it in the photo, but a bird feeder hangs beneath this bowl-window, so that you can watch birds beneath you, through the floor (they usually can’t see you above, so you can get inches away from ‘em).
Scrap art paintings on left-over wood hunks n’ blocks- just for fun…
Another example of glass-bowl-style windows, set and caulked into scrap plywood rings, which were then sealed and attached to this tree house that I built way out in Vermont a couple years back.
Washing machine window on my little cabin “The GottaGiddaWay” (also for sale- $500)- here, a little girl peeks through it at a eco-convention we displayed the structure at down on Cape Cod. Photo is from my book.
Weird, pressure-fit, bookshelf, made from pipe fittings, and a few stretched bicycle inner tubes. Good for boating perhaps, as those books won’t fall out easily.
An example of thin-strapping trim work (all from leftover lengths) in my side foyer. Even if you buy this type wood, its about 1/8th the cost of linear foot trim you’d otherwise have to use. An eight foot piece is less than $2.00.
Poly-coated lengths of rustic maple branches help support a small portion of my tiny house book collection. FREE, and I love the look.
Loads of recycled and free items in a tiny guest cabin I’ve been working on. This cabin is where some guest of mine end up staying at the MA workshops I hold (among other structures on my property). Its a mere 8′ by 8′ by 8′ in size. We’ll have a video tour of this when its done. Still LOTS of work to do.
