useless lamp to useful table

I've always been curious, endowed with an active imagination. I remember, as a kid walking home from school, coming across a section of pipe with a switch on it, perhaps from a vacuum cleaner. It became, in my mind, something more interesting: a SPACE WEAPON.

The bad habit persists. I still sift through flotsam and jetsam relegated to the black bin; but now I call it repurposing.

As well as working for the Library, I belong to the militia, spending time in Mewata Armoury.

I was there one weekday when the old light fixtures were being replaced. Aha, I thought, something useful, in British racing green!

I really wasn't sure of a use, but their shape intrigued me. I asked for one and tucked the new treasure safely in my hatchback (very useful for a scavenger). Soon, the fixture liner became a lampshade, but the outer shell stayed longer in storage. Eventually, something inspired me to cobble together a table from the outer shell.

I cut a circle of mdf for the bottom and added plastic feet. The glass top was connected to the base using 3/4" pipe, chrome tubing, two pipe flanges and a wooden collar. Some of these parts were discards previously scavenged.

If you are like me, you prefer to find new possibilities for cast offs rather than add to your garbage footprint.

At the Library, there are many books to inspire you to unique green endeavours.

Decorating junkmarket style : [repurposed junk to suit any decor], Salvage style for the garden, and Making rustic originals are just three examples in the collection. And, speaking of unique tables, check out 500 tables : inspiring interpretations of function and style.

Dave, Central Library