Fireplaces with Wood Storage

First and for most, I realize that I have disappeared over the last few weeks, and I apologize! I had a wonderful trip to Charleston, a bout of not feeling well, and some mental shutdown downtime… But now I am back! My style files have been organized, and I am hoping to inspire with many new posts!

The weather has been quite dreary here in Atlanta, but all around the country it seems as if Winter has been in full force! All of the images of snow have inspired some new posts on fireplaces.

I love the idea of building some wood storage into your fireplace.  If you are building, what a great opportunity to include something like this into your design!  It it not only functional, but can be a great design element.

I love the wooden slab beam with exposed bolts on this sleek stucco fireplace from the home of Tim McNamara

I love this more traditional application as well.  It has a historic feel, but with a modern cleanness.
(Design by Birch Coffey)

The idea of having this stunning painted brick fireplace in my breakfast room makes me absolutely giddy! I could enjoy my morning coffee by the fire for hours!(Image from Beta Plus publishing)

This narrow application works perfectly in this design!
(apologies, source unknown)


Many older and historic homes have fireplaces the unfortunately are nonfunctional, however you can still accent them in unique ways.
(Apartment Therapy)

So what do you think? Love the idea, wish you could have it, totally not for you?
I would love to hear your thoughts…. Stay well and warm!

Recycling, It Can be Pretty!

Monday, while vowing to follow through with twenty-tens resolutions, I also promised some ideas for on recycle centers for the home! Today, after recovering from some technical difficulties regarding my server, I come to you late in the day with a post fulfilling my promise!  So you can either read through over a glass of wine or your morning coffee.  Either way I hope you are inspired!

Here are a few facts before we get started with the fun design ideas:
1.Each person creates 4.7 pounds of waste everyday.
2. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours — or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.
3. Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S.
4. Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour! Most of them are thrown away!
5. A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose — and even longer if it’s in the landfill.
For more information, please visit Recycling Revolution, EPA.gov, and Recycling Facts

Now, Some Solutions!

I love these old produce crates converted into recycling bins.  The chalkboards add a fun element and the addition of the wheels make these bins totally functional!

(Charleston Home Mag)

If you don’t have access to old produce crates, you can purchase some Wooden wastebaskets, like the one seen here from trashcans unlimited.  I love the idea of painting them to coordinate with whatever room your recylcling station ends up!

If you are not to keen on the idea of displaying your recycle station out in public, or are just short on space, There are options like this is a rotary recycling center from organizeit.com or pull-out bins from Simple Human that can easily be added to your existing cabinetry.

If you are looking for a basic, stainless floor model, here are two good options.  The first is from Simple Human, which gives you two interior bins in one and organizeit offers a three compartment bin that is a little more cost effective.

Here are some additional images as well!
(design*sponge)

(Apartment Therapy)


(Better Homes and Gardens)

Let me know your thoughts~ I would love to hear!
Do you have any other great recycling ideas not listed? What do you currently have for a system in place in your home?