Purple Mountain Press

Decorate with Designer "Garbage"

Burlingame, CA. Most people visit furniture stores and browse through catalogs when they decide to redecorate their homes. Not Carol Tanzi. She heads directly to the dump.

Tanzi is known as the Goddess of Garbage. She is an interior designer who decorates with things people throw away.

"People don't realize how many great things can be found free in the most unusual places," said Tanzi.

For example, she picked up several old radiators from a scavenger company. She then went to a lumberyard and asked for old scraps of wood for free.

With a little paint and a lot of imagination, Tanzi created a one-of-a-kind desk.

An old garbage can painted black becomes a dining room table. Pieces of metal screwed together make a bookshelf. Wheel rims from junked cars make stool seats or a coffee table top.

"Other people's garbage can be your bag of tricks when creating a personal style to dazzle your friends and family," Tanzi said.

Tanzi recently showcased her work. She turned an empty space into a beautiful living-dining room filled with objects found for free or at thrift shops. Where did she hold the exhibit? At Goodwill, course!

Return to Goddess of Garbage in the News.


Volume 1 - Issue 147/16/2001
	Decorate with Designer "Garbage" Burlingame, CA. Most people visit furniture stores and browse through catalogs when they decide to redecorate their homes. Not Carol Tanzi. She heads directly to the dump. Tanzi is known as the Goddess of Garbage. She is an interior designer who decorates with things people throw away. "People don't realize how many great things can be found free in the most unusual places," said Tanzi. For example, she picked up several old radiators from a scavenger company. She then went to a lumberyard and asked for old scraps of wood for free. With a little paint and a lot of imagination, Tanzi created a one-of-a-kind desk. An old garbage can painted black becomes a dining room table. Pieces of metal screwed together make a bookshelf. Wheel rims from junked cars make stool seats or a coffee table top. "Other people's garbage can be your bag of tricks when creating a personal style to dazzle your friends and family," Tanzi said. Tanzi recently showcased her work. She turned an empty space into a beautiful living-dining room filled with objects found for free or at thrift shops. Where did she hold the exhibit? At Goodwill, course! Return to Goddess of Garbage in the News.