Upcycling is an art; whether it’s seeing the potential behind an old piece or actually putting the effort into improving discarded items, each finished piece is a reflection of the person who worked on it and the style they wanted to replicate.
Tel Aviv-based photographer Or Kaplan has said that he’s always been fascinated with upcycling, which likely stems from his creativity and an eye needed for photography that sees what could be. He told Inhabitat,
“I travel a lot around the world, and since I was a child I was creative about making things from other things.” He added, “I would walk down the street and find things and think, ‘What can I do with this?’ It could be an abandoned tree limb, a box or even a book.”
At the heart of upcycling is a dedication to DIY furnishing and a love for creating unique styles, both of which absorbed Kaplan after he acquired an apartment that he could renovate and make his own. His living room and bathroom are the best showcases of his work, but his love for the art of upcycling is visible in every room.
In the living room, he repurposed old army boxes and piles of books into wall shelving and an uncommonly-shaped window frame was fashioned into a frame for his own photography. He has a wall filled with greenery that was constructed out of chicken wire, old olive oil cans, and scrap wood that boasts a variety of indoor plants.
The kitchen features minimalist lighting decor fashioned from simple black wire and fun bulbs with a backdrop of antique signs. The bathroom floor was made from vintage tiles, a handmade lamp, and simple bathroom furniture that flows with the minimalism of the decor.
Upcycling is not only fun and often a cheaper way to acquire and design furniture, but this form of recycling is great for making use of items that would otherwise fill up the landfill. Kaplan encourages others to go out and take a second look at items that are discarded, either on the street, in a dumpster area, or even at a thrift store, and see if you can picture them upcycled in your own home.
View more photos of Kaplan’s apartment below.
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