Recycle!    by Moira Hankinson & Nicholas Hankinson Order:  USA  Can Kyle Cathie, 2006 (2006) Softcover      Reviewed by Martina Bexte The authors of this appealing and timely book are both Londoners with careers in design. They set up shop in Somerset and quickly developed an internationally acclaimed range of furniture and accessories for the house and garden. Both are very passionate about their subject and are recognized as long-time champions of reclamation. Currently settled in Herefordshire, they now specialize in 'sympathetic restoration of neglected houses'. In their introduction, they say that 'whether you are motivated by environmental concerns or just want to "give it a go", the aim of this book is to show how salvage can be successfully incorporated into designs for both home and garden. It is amazing just what can be made from waste materials, cast-offs, rubbish. Instead of throwing such things away without a second thought, we suggest ideas to resurrect them and perhaps make unusual gifts'. Here's just a sampling of the nifty and truly imaginative projects in this book: use old wooden fencing to make an attractive picture frame; rescue an old wooden shutter to make a CD stand; do you have a few old wooden axe handles lying around your shed? Why not make an attractive footstool? Make a storage rack from an old galvanized wire basket. Reclaim old copper tubing and turn it into an attractive curtain rod. Wow your neighbors with a garden bench made from old scaffolding. Impress them even more with a garden table and chair made from an old cheese press. Use old castaway bricks to edge your lawn and flowerbeds. Turn an old steel cattle trough into a stunning water garden or use galvanized buckets for planters. Reclaim a plywood cable drum and construct a hose reel. Turn a wooden tent pole base into an eye-catching globe light to accent any room, or use old wicker baskets as light shades. This big, colorful, information packed book is filled with all sorts of wonderful indoor and outdoor ideas to help breathe new life into objects that would otherwise be considered junk and that might end up in landfills or be left to molder away in their original surroundings. Each of the sixty projects presented is carefully explained via a concise list of equipment and materials needed, full color photographs of the finished project, and additional comments from the authors. The variety is amazing and you don't have to be a master builder or have fancy tools to achieve any of the ideas presented. All you need is a little imagination and the time to re-consider what you're planning to toss out - or what you might discover when out antiquing or hitting neighborhood garage sales. Recyle! is a great book to add to your library and with Christmas only a few months away, a perfect gift for the handyman on your list. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews