Our Romancing the Home challenge for this week is upcycling.

So what does upcycle mean? According to Wikipedia, upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.

Well, I had to look no further than the small town Cullinan, where the world’s biggest diamond was find. Cullinan is also home to Zau Spa, Gastehys Janharmsgat (not a spelling error) and the lifestyle shop Rust in White.

Zau Spa is situated in an old mine house overlooking the Cullinan dam. We have made use of upcycled items in both the interior and the exterior of the house and continue to do so in every little detail where we can.

Old pots, pans, kettles and scales were built into some of the walls.

These wind chimes were bought from Rust in White.

An old bath was converted into a water feature.

Cold drink cans complete the mermaid’s tail in a bathroom.

Old crocheted tray clothes beautifully frame the old wooden windows.

Janharm Voster and Pieter Vosloo are according to me, the masters of upcyling. Here are some of the upcycling Janharm did at Gastehys Janharmsgat.

Old cold drink and beer cans protect the wooden floors from any coals which might escape the fire place.

Chairs which were converted into bedside lamps. Old tin and porcelain plates decorate the wall.

An old tin to house a plant.

An abandoned gate works perfectly as a head board for the Grent Room’s bed.

A crocheted table cloth acts as a curtain.

An old enamel mug filled with cement, makes a beautiful candle holder.

Enamel bowls were used to make these charming lights for the corridor.

If you are looking for any recycled items as well as beautiful antique furniture and other interesting and quirky decorating items for your house and garden, look no further than Pieter’s shop Rust in White.

Fill these bottles with flowers or hang them on a wall or in a window.

Some recycled finds at Rust in White.

Visit my fellow Romancing the Home blogger friends, to see what upcycling ideas they had, to help make the world a better place:

Kylie at Our Unique Home

Ramona at Ruffles and Rust

Talia at My Shabby Shack

Stacy at Sawdust and High Heels

It makes a big difference to recycle. It makes a big difference to use recycled products. It makes a big difference to re-use things, to not use the paper cup. And each time you do, that is a victory. – Emily Deschanel