In celebration of my new VIDEO online class Organize Your Kitchen (which is now available as a self-paced online class) this week’s storage solution is for the kitchen. The idea of upcycling an item in your home to give it purpose and infuse your space with style, however, can be used in any room! I hope you are inspired to look at the items in your home with fresh eyes and put this idea into action soon.
What it is: An old olive oil bottle repurposed for use as a dish soap decanter.
Where I got it: The bottle came from Folie à Deux Winery near Napa Valley. I got it in 1997. The dispenser top came from Bed Bath and Beyond in St. Louis, and I got it last week.
Why I love it: On the surface, this storage solution looks like a bottle being used to dispense dish soap in a stylish way. For me, that could be enough. I love the idea of replacing the plastic, retail packaging for dish soap with a container that is a more stylish and attractive. This simple upcycling makes the everyday task of washing dishes a drop more fun.
But this particular bottle is even better because it’s meaningful to me. And I love infusing spaces with meaningful items. If they have a purpose, all the better! This bottle is one of a handful of little souvenirs I brought home in my suitcase after our honeymoon to Napa Valley in 1997. Now, in 2011, as part of my kitchen reorganization and spruce up project, I’ve pulled this bottle out from the depths of the cabinet under our sink and put it to use. Now, this little honeymoon memento is out on display, serving a useful function in a space I use every single day. What’s not to love about that?
This week’s storage tip is less about using a glass jar to decant dish soap (though that alone could make your heart sing, if you’re anything like me), but is more about looking at items in a new way. What meaningful item in your home could be put to use serving a stylish and useful purpose? I have used a ceramic bowl from a Florida vacation to corral sponges and dish scrubbers in the past.
And my spoon rest is a ceramic dish from a trip to visit a friend in Chicago. When I see these things in my kitchen, they make me happy and yet, they still perform important kitchen tasks.
When you marry meaning with purpose, you’ll love how your spaces look and feel. This will give you one more incentive to keep your spaces organized going forward.
Do you use meaningful items in functional ways to organize in your home? If you do, I’d love to hear the item you use and how you use it. If you don’t do this yet, begin looking at your items with new eyes. What meaningful vessel could you upcycle into a functional and inspiring storage solution? I can’t wait to hear what you come up with! Thanks for sharing.
Love your spoon rest. I also use an oil dispenser for my soap.
I’d be afraid I’d knock it over and it would shatter on the tile floor……especially with 3 boys in the house!
Decanting dish soap makes my heart sing, too! And, yes, I use he tapas dish I got in Barcelona as the spoon rest in the kitchen. I, simply, couldn’t agree more with this logic. Also, the same principle governs me when buying gifts/presents for anyone around me – a meaningful moment turned into a practicality. Thank you, Aby, for reinforcing the concept!
I use tin mugs I got in Australia to hold my sponges and such — a variation of what you do, Aby. Photo here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24224159@N00/2764900328/in/set-72157606284787574
And then there’s the big ceramic frog, found while visiting a friend in Florida, that serves as office storage:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24224159@N00/3647445383/in/set-72157620006413221
I am trying to limit my crap intake. We are trying to be more thoughtful of things we buy with our intent of knowing a purpose. Often times it is hard.
This weekend we are going out of town. While out of town we will be going to an art & wine festival. I love to buy pottery from 2 potters this one potter we have bought a ton and use his plates and bowls as our dishes. We have paid a bit more than what I could get in a store, but the pleasure it brings me every time we use pieces makes us happy. We used to live near where the art festivals were, but now I have to plan my wishes. in 2010 we got soup mug bowls from him. So last winter every time we ate soups I thought of our trip =-)
The festival will have a glass pumpkin patch now while this will not be easy to re-purpose, this will allow us to use it as a decorate for the holidays and remember our trip.
While we struggle with eliminating clutter, we are also working hard in surrounding ourselves with things we like or love!!
Now I just need to re-purpose more things throughout our house.
Its a learning process, but life is constantly a learning process.
http://www.lifespondering.blogspot.com
I found a great vinegar bottle in the shape of a lobster during my honeymoon trip to Maine. It has been upcycled for the past 15 years as my dish detergent dispenser! Brings back great memories each time!! Thanks for your great ideas.
I also use an oil bottle for the dish soap. It looks great if you get the different colors. I hold the metal tip under the stream of water which helps to get the soap out as well as suds it all up.
Other interesting bottles are used as plant starters. I’ll go out soon to trim up some annuals to get them rooting for planting next spring. Then, the bottles can be washed and recycled.
I too use an oil/vinegar bottle as a dish soap dispenser, but mine is not clear class it’s ceramic.
I don’t necessarily have something upcycled but when I’m travelling I like to buy souveniors but not junky knick knacks that need dusting. I have coasters, spoon rest, cutting board, tea towels, that I think of the vacation each time I use them.
I love your sentimental upcycled soap dispenser and that your readers have them too! I’m not sure I’ve taken meaningful items and put them to good use, but I’m going to look around the house and see. I might be surprised!
love it, looks so fancy!