Here at Remodelista, we're all serious patrons of our local hardware stores (and many of us have zeroed in on equestrian supply stores, too). What we're often after are leather ties and hides for making things. Here are 10 useful and attractive projects that put leather—including those old belts we all have lying around—to good use.
Above: A project from Norwegian blog Brigg: two wooden towel bars and a pair of matching leather belts make a wall shelf for holding magazines, books and newspapers; see DIY: Easy Leather Strap Wall Shelves.
Above: A genius solution to the outmoded napkin ring: a strip of leather threaded through itself. This example came from the since-closed Bar Bambino in SF; it inspired us to make our own DIY Leather Napkin Ties.
Above: A thin strip of leather is used to tie back curtains in the kitchen of Jamie Kidson's home in Oakland, California. Photograph by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista.
Above: Designed by a leather saddle maker, the mat used as a bench cushion at In Fiore in SF was modeled after a vintage leather wrestling mat; it provides some good ideas for the skilled DIYer with furniture to finish. See more of the shop's custom details in A Jewel Box Parfumerie in SF.
Above: Hang a rolling pin with a few strands of sturdy leather, as seen at DIY: A Marble Rolling Pin on Display. Photograph by Natalie Weiss for Remodelista.
Above: Like Morgan Satterfield of The Brick House, Alexa made her own cabinet pulls out of leather in our DIY video: How to Make a $20 Cabinet Pull for $2.
Above: Sarah uses simple leather laces to tie her white duck shower curtain; see DIY: Leather Shower Curtain Rings. Tour Sarah's Refined Rental in St. Helena, CA, to see her leather ties used as dining room drawer and cabinet pulls. They're also featured in the New Uses for Familiar Things chapter of the Remodelista Book.
Above: Suede and leather pillwos cushion a window seat photographed by David Prince; for a DIY tutorial on leather pillows, visit Vintage Revivals (and adjust measurements and hems to replicate the look shown here).
Above: Inventive knotted door handles at the SF outpost of Milan-based Henry Beguelin from our 2008 Shopper's Diary: Henry Beguelin in San Francisco.
Above: An affordable approach to the popular leather-hanging wall clock, this DIY from Korean blog Naver uses a $20 Ikea clock and intertwined leather belts—see DIY: Ikea Clock with Leather Belt Hanger.
Looking for more projects? Peruse all of the DIY & Remodeling posts in our archive. Gardenista also has some great DIYs, including Medicine Vials as Wall Vases and a homade Rose, Cardamom, and Ginger Body Soak. Pure inspiration? Click here for our photo gallery of DIY projects.
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