Home from the Hardware Store: Transform Everyday Materials into Fabulous Home Furnishings

by Stephen Antonson, Kathleen Hackett, Kathleen Hacket

50 stylish projects from the aisles of the home improvement center

In Home from the Hardware Store, artist and designer Stephen Antonson and his wife, Kathleen Hackett ply the aisles of the home improvement center and emerge with a host of ideas for clever, original decorative objects any interior designer would love. Antonson and Hackett cast their eyes on pedestrian materials—drain covers, cork matting, plumbing parts, light sockets, brass nails—and see lamps, wallpaper, table runners, side tables, even cuff links. Organized by decorating challenge, chapters include ideas for lighting, windows and walls, furniture, tabletop, and storage. Beautiful full-color photos, including how-to pictures along with clear, concise, yet friendly instructions, accompany every project. Sidebars and quick tips are scattered throughout, providing DIYers with gentle reminders and instructions for basic tool and equipment use. Design lovers, crafters, and penny pinchers alike will find much to inspire in Home from the Hardware Store.

Genres: Nonfiction, How To, Design

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2010

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice short read to get some preliminary ideas about making useful furniture and decor items from hardware supplies. The authors' taste is very much in evidence, and I happen to like their sort of funky, makeshift style. If you prefer substantial antique pieces or like everything to match, this book is not for you.

Anyone want to make me a chandelier out of balling wire?

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. There were lot fewer things-you-can-make-into-a-candleholder projects, despite the unpromising cover photo. But the projects were a little "high end" for my tastes; I mean, I *could* make a bust sculpture podium stand out of pegboard, but...I don't really need a bust sculpture podium. And I do think it's sort of clever to make a space-age-looking coffee table using shiny silver air duct tubing as the base, but I'm not sure that would fit in with our trailer aesthetic. The only project I really liked was the one that used pipe and boards to make shelving, but I felt that it was most likely above my skill level.

I am sort of inspired to write my own limited-resources DIY book. The first one will be: 100 uses for 100 shoelaces. So far, though, I'm stuck on the first project, which is "Tie 50 pairs of shoes".

[reading is my hustle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It turns out that (in the end) I am not a fan of pegboard, PVC, or plumbing parts.
Oh (and) cork tile, either.

[luckykarmatx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Home from the Hardware Store has some interesting ideas that could be used as inspiration for other projects. I appreciate that it shows you how the pieces would be staged in one's home. The how-to portion of the book was easy to understand.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some really great easy ideas (some not so easy too). It's very interesting and I definitely want to try a few in my home. If you're looking for ways to be creative or a good DIY book this is definitely a great one! It has lots of great simple ideas like turning a table into a fort for the kids, or faux wood organizing containers. Quality home decorating on a budget.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas about using building supplies to make art and furniture, but for the most part the attractive ideas would be expensive to make. The inexpensive projects didn't wow me ... a vase made from PVC double reducing pipe looks like, well, a vase made from PVC double reducing pipe.

[Kendra]

Some really cool ideas!