As promised, I took advantage of the sun today and snapped a few photos of the vintage re-purposed garden vignettes in my home. Finding new uses for vintage items is such a great way to add creative flair to your house, not to mention saving the environment. Almost any vintage item can be re-purposed into a planter with a few rocks, activated charcoal, plastic lining, and creativity!
I always ask my guests to take off their shoes when they come into the house…and this planter is a great reminder to them! I had a pair of vintage boots from a photo shoot that were just begging to be displayed..and voila! One plastic liner tucked into the shoe later, you have a very unique re-purposed vintage planter that is perfect for your foyer.
Succulents are such great houseplants because of their will to grow in any environment. If you have any vintage tin or can, they are perfect re-purposed planters for succulents, which require very little water, and therefore, will minimize any risk of rust in your antique tin. This is part of my lil’ vintage tobacco vignette…those are antique tobacco tins, and all my antique pharmaceutical bottles are held in a vintage cigar box (when they were only .15 cents each!)
If you have any larger vintage food tins, they look darling as re-purposed planters for your kitchen herbs. I grow my mint and verbana in this antique Campfire marshmallows tin with great success (like Borat..haha). Make sure you place a half to one inch layer of pebbles on the bottom to allow for drainage (so the roots don’t rot), and you may also want to add a plastic liner to protect the tin from rust.
Being from California and having lived for many years in Hawaii, I feel really peaceful when surrounded by elements of the sea. I took this large vintage shell I found at the Aloha flea market in Honolulu and turned it into a tropical planter. Because shells naturally “breathe,” they make great planters for plants, especially tropical ones that like moisture. Again, make sure you place a layer of pebbles on the bottom to allow for proper drainage.
What type of planters do you use in your home? What are your ideas for re-purposing your vintage treasures into practical planters? I’d love to hear about your inspirations or see pictures!
13 responses so far ↓
1 Design for Mankind // Aug 14, 2008 at 5:32 am
OMG I LOVE THE SHOES! EEK!
2 Duc // Aug 14, 2008 at 5:42 am
My favorite is the Sea Shell. I really like the stand for it as well!
3 Jon // Aug 14, 2008 at 6:13 am
Wow - I have never seen, or even thought of what you have just created… Truly amazing.
4 M&Co // Aug 14, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Hihi the shoes are great!!! I use mostly normal planters, but also empty tin boxes, old cigar boxes, and antique and vintage china.
5 Amy // Aug 14, 2008 at 5:30 pm
All so beautiful, Grace… the nautilus is super charming!!… thanks for the great sneak peeks of your lovely abode!
6 Grace // Aug 15, 2008 at 3:07 am
Thank you so much for your kind words!! It was so fun to share these parts of my home with you.
I’ll tell my plants (yes, if you talk to them they grow healthier…so the research at my house shows) about your lovely comments, and I’m sure they will sprout a new leaf or two!
7 ofifteen // Aug 15, 2008 at 9:55 pm
that second image is very nice. love the bottles!
ofifteen
‘designing your life’
http://www.ofifteen.com
8 Grace // Aug 15, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Thanks ofifteen! I don’t think one could ever have too many antique bottles with interesting medications printed on them
9 Suzy Pierce // Aug 16, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Amazing, I love your inspiring posts. I especially love the seashell. You make me inspired to think outside the box! Thank you! Suzy
10 Grace // Aug 16, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Suzy, I am so flattered by your kindest words. Thank you so much!!
11 Susan // Aug 21, 2008 at 1:26 am
The re-purposed tobacco tin gets my vote. Its size, bright coloration, and subtle imagery are brought to life against the shiny green leaves of the succulent plant. When I feel the need to see something unique, I come again and again to Poetic Home.
12 unique peek // Sep 1, 2008 at 6:10 am
[...] kind ideas for turning your vintage treasures into re-purposed planters and vintage interior decor.http://poetichome.com/2008/08/14/peek-into-my-vintage-re-purposed-garden/Peek at the Week Park Ridge Herald-Advocate Submissions for “Peek at the Week” are required 10 days [...]
13 Repurposed vintage bathroom inspiration | Poetic Home {pH} Living in Vintage Poetry // Sep 3, 2008 at 6:41 am
[...] can never go wrong with vintage shoes re-purposed into new functionality! These look to be vintage boots fashioned with old wooden rolling pins [...]
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