Not just for riding: Bikes find spot in home decor
Bikes have become part of hipster culture. There are bicycle-themed dining, drinking and shopping establishments from Portland, Ore., to Brooklyn, N.Y., and dozens of bike-friendly burgs in between.
While the rides themselves often are tricked out with colored tires, swanky seats and vintage baskets, there are also those who see more than the sum of two wheels, a frame and a seat. Designers and artists are creating furnishings and art that give bikes a new way to roll down Cool Street.
Some of the better options:
Canadian cyclist and metal artisan Gilbert VandenHeuvel turns out all sorts of reworked bicycle art and accessories from his studio in Goderich, Ontario. His online shop (therecycler.ca) offers wall hooks crafted from gear sprockets, mirrors made from spoked wheels and clocks crafted from drive trains and chain rings.
In Marquette, Mich., designer and former bike mechanic Andy Gregg has combined his skills to make high-style furniture that’s found its way into homes, hotels and restaurants. There’s a chair made out of wheels, with soft rubber tires as arm rests and handlebars as the feet. Seats and backs are padded in black or paint-box-bright yellow, red or blue vinyl. Some versions are outdoor-friendly, great seating for a beachside cottage or city balcony. A stylized table is composed of swirls of aluminum and steel rims, with the radiating spokes covered with glass. The collection’s got a mix of Deco, midcentury and contemporary vibes, which make the pieces versatile. (bikefurniture.com)
And from the Phillips Bicycle Collection of upcycled rims, pedals and frames, a fireplace screen made of welded wheels makes a functional and striking piece. (phillips collection.com)
This photo provided by SOLO Home Design shows inner tubes that are manipulated into clever recycled doormats at Solo Home Design. (AP Photo/SOLO Home Design)
This photo provided by Phillips Collection shows The Bicycle Collection, created by upcycling discarded bicycle rims, pedals and frames. The result are rustic yet sophisticated designs that are instantly recognizable as repurposed. The Bicycle Screen is made from three panels that are hinged together, allowing for many configurations. (AP Photo/Phillips Collection, Diana Parrish Design + Photography)
This photo provided by Flea Market Rx shows a handle bar fashioned into a coat hook. Hilary Nagler calls her art “Bicycle Taxidermy.” The handlebars are ebonized to a rusty patina, and mounted on wood. (AP Photo/Flea Market Rx, Robert Redfield)
This photo provided by Phillips Collection shows The Bicycle Collection, created by upcycling discarded bicycle rims, pedals and frames. The result are rustic yet sophisticated designs that are instantly recognizable as repurposed. The Bicycle Screen is made from three panels that are hinged together, allowing for many configurations. (AP Photo/Phillips Collection, Diana Parrish Design + Photography)
This photo provided by SOLO Home Design shows hip cutting boards from Solo Home Design created with bicycle rims and salvaged wood. (AP Photo/SOLO Home Design)