Upcycle: 24 Sustainable DIY Projects

by Rebecca Proctor

In this inspirational and practical book, 24 international product designers show you how to recreate their upcycled designs. Inspired by the trend for recycling and craft, readers can follow the designers' step-by-step instructions and create their very own piece of high-end upcycled design for the home. Projects include a clever waterproof mat woven from marine rope, a geometric lampshade made of strips of Tetrapak carton, a hanging rail using leftover copper plumbing pipe, decorative floral arrangements made from old plastic bottles, a cane chair upcycled as a cross-stitch canvas, and many more.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 2015

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The projects in here are absolutely impossible to do if you're not an engineer or an artist.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are very cool works of art but most are really elaborate and require a lot of technical skills and knowledge, plus often quite a few tools and supplies. Way out of my skill set. Some are neat to browse through, but don't go looking for projects the casual DIY fan can do. I did like the looks of the elaborately braided fishing rope rug and the lampshade made of seaweed draped over a metal frame and covered with lots of layers of resin was surprising and pretty. These folks are clearly artisans though, and these are not projects most people will be able to replicate easily.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think this person understands what upcycle means. When a project involves more items to be purchased than not, and specialized tools, and extremely specific items... it's not upcycling.
It's an interesting browse of artists, designers, and architects who have created with loads of new materials and usually one item 'upcycled' in the process.
It involves acquisition and consumption in abundance though; these projects are the antithesis of the upcycling movement.

[Marlena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super misleading. These are basically projects that showcase artists and are not really for DIYers who are normal people. Also, only some of them are cool. Some are weird and unappealing, so.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring and eclectic mix of projects, from easy to tricky, rethinking and making use of varied items to create new ones.

[Jaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

An illustrated guide on how to upcycle using some interesting materials for recycling.

I think it's aimed more at the experienced upcycling, rather than a beginner like myself. Still well designed and informative.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

cool sculptural chairs.