Customer Reviews

Wary Meyers' Tossed & Found: Unconventional Design from Cast-offs

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been obsessed with these guys since their design column in Time Out NY, and this book takes their alchemy of discarded elements to a whole new level. Besides the fact that I have a crush on the little cartoon piglet handyman that guides you through the how-to illustrations, I am in love with the WaryMeyers' sense of style and eye for the beauty created by juxtaposition. They relish the patina and character of salvaged furniture and weathered materials, but then re-invent and collage these bits and pieces to make a new whole that is more sophisticated and snazzy than the sum of its parts. I'm already in the middle of remixing of a couple of their textile projects - quilting a pair of jeans with the pattern from a vintage silk scarf - making some molten gold pillows to pour over my couch - but the real gift this book has given me is a new way of looking at the old stuff in my life. It's got so much potential!

This is a phenomenal, one-of-a-kind design book that is not only chock-full of inspiring ideas and clever, clear, intelligent prose, but the book itself is a work of art. The sketches and artwork within these pages are as impressive as the brilliant projects that the Wary Meyers team have invented. In this age where people are talking a lot about "green" design, this book one-ups them all, in both form and function... what is more environmentally sound than finding already existing items and using one's imagination and creativity to give it a second (or third) wonderful life? I love this book! It doesn't just make me want to try and do the projects in the book (which it does...) but, it also is changing the way I think about yard sales and interior design and re-purposing items all around us. I've never seen a book as breathtakingly original as this one.

I love design magazines, and I love home improvement, but I'm so over feeling poor and out of it for not having a 'Dwell' budget. Thank you to this book for being with the times, and having their priorities in order. Enough with the excess. A beautiful home should be warm and reflect not just the aesthetic, but the soul of the person who lives there. So this is the design guide for soulful homeowners with a conscience.

Was looking for a housewarming gift for my brother now that he's got his own pad in the city, and since he's a thrift-store hound, this seemed right on the money. I had it delivered to me so I could hand it to him when I visit, and for real I'm gonna hafta buy another copy for him cause I'm keeping this one for myself.

Seriously beautiful book, which would be great to leaf through for the photography and the cool illustrations alone, but then you're immediately impressed by the crazy ideas and one-of-a-kind projects and how-to's, and you feel totally encouraged to go out there, grab some raw materials, and create your own world of special stuff.

IMO this book blows away other diy design guides I've checked out because it inspires and challenges you to take your ideas to inventive extremes instead of just spoon feeding you some warmed over projects you'd find in a magazine. I've never seen anything like this before.

This wonderfully delightful book is the answer to the prayers of all those who have over purchased at tag sales or saved everything from Granny's attic with the idea in mind to "do something with it", but just what???
Wary Meyers has a solution for the chest of drawers gathering dust in the basement (can't wait for my husband to copy that French dresser); for the extra yardage left from the bedroom draperies ( a custom jewelry box made from that fabric and the old wine box with special memories); for the football that has seen its last days (my son needs a new lamp for his room); and for the piles of wood from years of unfinished projects (my daughter and her boyfriend
are planning to make the monogrammed mantle for their apartment). So, BRAVO to the authors for their ingenuity, for their clear and very witty presentation, and especially for writing a book with the good of the environment in mind. This book is top on my list for Christmas giving!!!!

I first learned about this book from The New York Times write-up about it, and I'm very happy I followed their lead and bought it. I was immediately happy I did, seeing the first few pages of yard sale- and side-of-the-road photos, and then the clean, stylish bent plywood chair project. I love reading their stories and inspirations behind the projects, learning about the how and why they decide to make something, and seeing the occasional conceptual sketch pages which contain countless more ideas. From the ingenious "Le French Dresser" project to the Boro jean quilt and monogrammed key, the book shows you the coolest ways to re-think and re-design the most forlornly "tossed". Five stars.

The photography is fresh and fun. How the authors thought up some of the projects is "a wonder" and inspirational. Some projects are way past my construction level, of course, but it's a pleasure to see what's possible. Opens the door to help you fantasize about your own unusual, resourceful constructions.

Exactly the sort of book that a second-hand diva like myself just ADORES - well done & thank you! Loads of fab ideas for those wacky yard sale treasures!

Beautifully put together and makes for a fun gift book!

This book is an awesome springboard for personal DIY projects. It shows how you can transform a mundane piece off the street or some random yardage of fabric into a unique conversation piece for your apartment. I cannot wait for the next book by this crafty, designer pair. Nice work!

Nice book with a lot of helpful information. A good mix of useful (not fluff) text, diagrams, images, etc. I am always annoyed with books like this that only show the final product, but none of the process.