The Bike in the Bathroom

Interior Design or Art?
Both.

Artist Benjamin Bullins has taken a discarded bike and created a bathroom vanity. Bullins doesn’t stop with the bike vanity. The mirror has been fashioned from an old trombone case. A snare drum has been made into a ceiling light fixture. The bike’s handlebars are now towel bars (not shown). And what’s not to love about the basket as a towel holder?

Bullins aims to create sculptures that reflect the culture of his hometown of New Orleans. He successfully achieves this here and manages to be creative, functional and green at the same time.

What do you have around your house that can be re-purposed and re-used in a new way? I suspect many of you will love this bathroom bike vanity design. If you’re not the Do-It-Yourself type, contact Benjamin Bullins about buying his mixed-media artwork. Yes, artwork. And vanity and mirror. Both are available for purchase through the artist. Contact him at his artist website.

Read more about the very talented artist and photographer Benjamin Bullins.

###

.

Advertisement

Home and Garden Show in Minneapolis

Home and Garden Show

February 29-March 4, 2012
Minneapolis Convention Center

$2 Off Discounted Tickets to the Home and Garden Show

The Home and Garden Show is taking place at month’s end. This is an opportunity to get lots of ideas and advice on these two topics. Hundreds of exhibits and displays will be placed throughout the Minneapolis Convention Center. Show highlights include:

Innovation Avenue

Green Scene

The Ultimate Backyard Lounge

Glorious Feature Gardens

The Idea Home

The Chandelier Fashion Show

Taste on Third Avenue

Shop the Marketplace

The Annual Plant Sale (5pm on Sunday)

.

What show would be complete without celebrity guests? Here’s a partial list of celebrities at the show this year:

Chip Wade of HGTV’s Curb Appeal, The Block and Designed to Sell

Mark Brunetz of Style Network’s Clean House

Pat Simpson, nationally recognized home building and remodeling expert

Marjorie Johnson, a national star in the world of baking (and a Twin Cities native)

HOURS:

Wednesday Noon – 9pm
Thursday 10am – 9pm
Friday 10am – 10pm
Saturday 9am – 9pm
Sunday 9am – 6pm

ADMISSION COSTS:

$13.00 adults;
$4 children 6 to 12
5 and under free

More information on the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show

Maps – Minneapolis Convention Center

More information on Gardens

Here’s a link to Entertaining–Green/Eco Tips–Recipes | Tips Trends and Tools for those who can’t make the show in person.

~~~

.

.

Home and Patio Show

February 16-19, 2012
St. Paul River Centre

$2 Off Coupon for the Home and Patio Show

If you’re planning to make some changes to your home or gardens this year, here’s an opportunity to get ideas and “how to” information. Hundreds of exhibits and displays will be placed throughout the three levels of the River Centre. Home improvement seminars will be presented by the Home Depot Pros. Topics include:

Do-It-Yourself Tile Installation: Ceramic, Porcelain and Stone

Do-It-Yourself Installing Pre-Finished Laminate and Hardwood Flooring

Do-It-Yourself Light Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Landscape Lighting

Do-It-Yourself Toilet Installation and Repairs

Painting Tips and Techniques

.

Looking to spruce up the landscape and garden? The Minnesota State Horticultural Society is sponsoring the garden seminars. Topics include:

Container Gardening for the Balcony, Deck or Patio

Small Space Vegetable Gardening – Jennifer Porwit, Master Gardener

2011: Oh, What a Year! – Bobby Jensen, KARE 11 and The Lawn Ranger

Ornamental Grasses – Susan Oven, Master Gardener

Crafting Cool & Creative Containers – Don Engebretson, The Renegade Gardener

Organic Gardening – Mark Armstead, Linder’s Garden Center and Greenhouse

Master Gardeners will be available on Saturday and Sunday to answer questions. Looking for bulbs? Check out the bulb sale each day.

HOURS:

Thursday Noon – 9 P.M.
Friday Noon – 9 P.M.
Saturday 10 A.M. – 9 P.M.
Sunday 10 A.M. – 6 P.M.

ADMISSION COSTS:

$9.00 adults;
$2.50 children 6 to 12
5 and under free

More information on the Minnesota Home and Patio Show

Directions to the River Centre

The Renegade Gardener

LessLawn.com

More information on Gardens

~~~

.

First Photos of the New Year

Photos of the Day
January 1, 2012

Yesterday I wrote a post about LED lamps and trees. Today I offer photos of untrimmed, misshapen, evergreen trees that I captured after dark.

These trees stand clumped together inside a circular drive green space with light from the building shining upon them. They are not particularly attractive in and of themselves. Nor are they attractive in their planted mass. Still, their contrast against the lighter grass and the dark skies make them stand out in the artificially lit night environment. They were begging to be noticed for a change. I saw them, and how beautiful they were as part of the larger picture.

I was hesitant to write about trees (and light) for two consecutive days here. Would anyone care about trees, besides my friend Charlie who loves trees? Would fellow photographers find something beautiful and/or artistic in these pictures?

Then again, it’s the start of a new year, a time when people make resolutions and think about changes (growth) for themselves. Trees are all about growth and spreading themselves via their root systems, their trunks, their branches, their leaves, and whatever fruit, nut and/or flower they may grow. In this regard, another post about trees seems perfectly natural.

Let there be light in 2012. Let there be growth in 2012. May you grow tall and strong with stunning ability to sway and dance with the wind. May you be fruitful in all your endeavors. May you blossom with joy all through the year. May you be ever “green”.

There is beauty all around us. Sometimes, you simply need to take another look in a different light.

Blessings,

Kate

~~~

Related articles

• LED’s and the Ghostly Tree (designhouse9.wordpress.com)

It’s a Bright Time

Photos of the Day
December 24, 2011

Is time on your mind today? One of the things I love about this time of year is all the decorations with light. It adds so much to our shorter days. The clock(s) in the photos above are in Chicago along Michigan Avenue. They provide light year round. I took these in July. May your days and nights be merry and bright.

~~~

The Peacefulness of Swimming at Night

Photo of the Day
August 12, 2011

Anyone care for a dip in the pool?

There’s something quite relaxing about swimming in the evening. There is generally less visual and auditory noise, and fewer people. It can be wonderfully romantic with the right person. If you are somewhere without a lot of city lights, you can float on your back and look up at the stars and the moon. Hmm, the pool beckons. Time to go.

~~~

Come see this pool and
a fabulous two bedroom/two bath condo at Seven Oak Condominium.
Click on link below for more details.

3412 Oak Ridge Road, Unit 314–Minnetonka, MN

~~~

Home and Patio Show in St. Paul

Home and Patio Show

February 17-20, 2011
St. Paul River Centre

$2 Off Money-Saving Coupon to Home and Patio Show

If you’re planning to make some changes to your home or gardens this year, here’s an opportunity to get ideas and “how to” information. Hundreds of exhibits and displays will be placed throughout the three levels of the River Centre. Home improvement seminars will be presented by the Home Depot Pros. Topics include:

Do-It-Yourself Tile Installation: Ceramic, Porcelain and Stone

Do-It-Yourself Installing Pre-Finished Laminate and Hardwood Flooring

Do-It-Yourself Light Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Landscape Lighting

Do-It-Yourself Toilet Installation and Repairs

Ask the Home Depot Pros: Open Q & A

.

Looking to spruce up the landscape and garden? The Minnesota State Horticultural Society is sponsoring the garden seminars. Topics include:

Creating a More Sustainable Landscape

Design Ideas to Shrink Your Lawn – Evelyn Hadden, LessLawn.com founder

Tough Sites, Great Solutions – Bobby Jensen, KARE 11 and The Lawn Ranger

The Secret Ingredient: Growing, Preserving, and Using Herbs

Crafting Cool & Creative Containers – Don Engebretson, The Renegade Gardener

Top 10 Gardening Blunders and How to Avoid Them! – Don Engebretson

Master Gardeners will be available on Saturday and Sunday to answer questions. Looking for bulbs? Check out the bulb sale each day.

HOURS:

Thursday Noon – 9 P.M.
Friday Noon – 9 P.M.
Saturday 10 A.M. – 9 P.M.
Sunday 10 A.M. – 6 P.M.

ADMISSION COSTS:

$9.00 adults;
$2.50 children 6 to 12
5 and under free

More information on the Home and Garden Show

Directions to the River Centre

The Renegade Gardener

LessLawn.com

More information on Gardens

~~~

.