Contemporary $100 couch (Honolulu)

The simple stripe design on this couch would make it the perfect companion to anyone's current coffee/end table.

Very chich -- at a very chic price!
see ad on craigslist

Waste-not Lamps

Asian accent lamps made from recycled book jackets? It's true and very available!

Using a secret method, a former librarian has separated the plastic from paper in retired book jackets and created these glow lamps. Accented with Chinese and Japanese characters, these lamps would make the perfect addition to the soothing retreat you call home.

For those who can't afford the lamps or the shipping, HGTV Canada has a project that recreates the same effect -- except this time, you're recycling jars instead of books. Make a glow jar today!

Honolulu Housefinds: Stylin' chair needs some TLC

This chair is up for grabs on craigslist for only $100. It's got a great retro stripe pattern on it. There's no doubt it would look fabulous in your Brini Maxwell inspired scheme. Now why didn't you think of that?

This dresser would be fabulous with some new drawer knobs and a nice dusting. A bit of organized clutter couldn't hurt either!

WOW! this dresser blows that one out of the water -- and at $100 it's a steal!

Hawaiian Housefinds

Going for that indian/middle-eastern theme in your home? Well then wrap your sandy mitts around this Hookah set for $35. And hey, if you send me a picture of you blowing vowels with your smoke, I'll send you 5 bucks!

other items (via craigslist):

• Dressers fit for any dorm room - 3 for $100


• A home on wheels for your DVD player and TV! - $60


• 8 drawer wood desk - $80

Cardboard for your ass

Not everyone can be a great woodwooker, but that shouldn't stop you from having an awesome chair.

That amazing artisan at Andrew Senior.com has transcribed instructions and patterns for you to create your own cardboard chair. The chair uses no glue, nails or tape; It relies on the science of weight distribution. It also encourages recycling!

Instructions and pictures here

Diagram of cutouts here.

Turning Windows Japanese

Last night, I saw a horrible attempt at re-creating Japanese Shoji screens. The student on HGTV's Designer Finals spray-painted strips of wood silver (for some reason, she was merging a metropolitan look with asian influences) and did a faux rice paper treatment on closet doors. A botched attempt, you say? That's the understatement of the week.

To prevent anyone else from doing the same, I thought I'd point you in the direction of some instructions to re-create Shoji Screens for your own windows. Instructions are here (courtesy of DIYnetwork).

RE-USE IT: CD Spindles
Got too many CD spindles, but not enough blank CD-Rs to fill them? Try your hand at turning them into handy (but mostly dandy) desk lamps. Instructions via ReadyMade magazine.Learn how here

And for those not industrious enough on the computer to make their own shades, I've two for you to use. One's interesting, the other might be a bit of an eyesore (yellow design), so use a low-watt bulb.
Travel Shade • Lime Shade