Create signature style and save a bundle when you mix cast-offs with a little creativity.
Junkovers
Stop Time Vase • A broken vintage clock blooms anew with a test-tube vase.
The Do-It-All Junking Tool • On the go or at home, a multi-tool may just save the day. It’s like a fold-up toolbox—compact but able to handle the tough stuff.
Tokens of Affection • Old game pieces—dice, Scrabble tiles and more—make their moves as household helpers.
Circling Back • Chunky wooden napkin rings that have a ’70s vibe make a surprise reappearance.
Cheap & Cheerful • Turn orphaned junk—think watch faces, bingo balls, dominos—into darling cabinet knobs.
Wallpaper Love • IF YOU’RE SMITTEN WITH VINTAGE WALLPAPER, THESE PROJECTS WILL MAKE YOUR HEART FLUTTER.
Higher Power • The junkover: We had some truly divine interventions with old ladders that had seen better days. They’re now tables, coatracks, and more. Price: $15 to $35 for wood ladders; $5 to $35 for step stools and stepladders; $20 to $35 for metal ladders. Good to know: Many of these junkovers don’t require a functioning ladder, so look for deals on broken or damaged ones at yard sales and flea markets.
Tiny House Movement • We went to town on old soda crates, turning them into dollhouses decked out with vintage odds and ends. Take your pick: a boho cottage, city row house, or low-slung midcentury pad. You’re architect and interior designer of these tiny houses that measure in at a mere 2 square feet (or less!).
How Granny Got Her Groove Back • Damaged granny square afghans from the 1970s get new pep in their step with these eight projects.
Patch Work • Turn graphic emblems from old uniforms, shirts and letter jackets into nostalgic accessories.
Sweet Endings