Saturday 17 January 2009

On the Home Front: Doorstops

I have been a bit obsessed with doorstops lately... Since we moved in the door into the kitchen has been propped open with large tins of beans! Not classy. I just couldn't find any that I liked, or which were large and hefty enough to cope with the doors in our house and have become increasingly obsessed with tracking down something suitable.

So when a local shop was closing down and selling off some large blocks of oak they've been using in their displays I snapped a couple up (and made the boyfriend carry them home).
I'm sure they won't be to everyone's taste but I'm rather in love with them, and they do the job beautifully. Here's the one in the kitchen: I still have a few more doors that need stopping, so all recommendations would be welcome! Ideas for things that could be used as doorstops are what I'm most interested in as I really like the idea of using slightly unconventional things, or something which is just nice to have on display in its own right used as a function object. For example in one bedroom our current doorstop is a vintage suitcase (filled with clothes that need mending! haha) that used to belong to my grandmother:

10 comments:

Iris said...

Ohhhhh I love that doorstop. I might just try to find one of my own. Great find!

Rhiannon said...

lovely :)

I don't know how practical it would be, but i think it would be cool to have a welly boot filled with gravel to hold open the back door
x

Ashley @ Joyful Creations said...

Hey I love the doorstop. You were asking for ideas and since you are pretty creative and crafty with sewing and such I was thinking why not make a customized, hand sewn felt cover for a can of beans. LOL I know it may seem a bit weird, but I think it would be pretty cool. No one would ever know it's a can of beans... I'd do it if I knew how to sew or even enjoyed sewing. What do you think?

Bagladee said...

what a lovely piece of wood :) I love organic items like that.

Vicky aka Stichr said...

The wood block is perfect! My husband brought home a 'thing' from when he was in the navy. It's a heavy bugger, and looks like it might have been a piston for a HUGE engine. Or part of an anchor. Or..Or??? Anyway, it's a heavy round thing at the end of a pipe and was perfect for a 'movable' door stop....the kids couldn't move it because you had to be the Incredible Hulk, so it stayed put when I wanted it stayed put! So look for things metal and heavy at the salvage yard, and definitely take the boyfriend!

novachick said...

what about using all that fresh new felt to make some..a range perhaps?wooden tree stumps(akin to your badge),even the welly boot translates well. and arange of wee'creatures' holding the door open...dunno if dried beans would be heavy enough to stuff them(..I do realise that in terms of p&p these would be awkward..perhaps you are stocked in a shop locally that would take these too?)
one thing i saw recently was a wedge of yellow plastic - like a cheese-the one wit the holes! - used to hold a door open..it appealed...
and off the make'n'do idea...could you have portable plants? you do seem to grow things..some kind of moveable base tray with gravel in to weight it, that as times go on you are able to move/add /remove the smaller plants inside... course it depends where the doors are for warmth & light....just some thoughts... i've finally stopped lurking- been folloowing ur blog for weeks..great reading while backpacking in queensland!

Cindy Is Crafty said...

My doorstops are a bit ecclectic. I have a brick covered in a tapestry (thrifted), an antique flatiron (thrifted) and a plaque covered with a needlepoint canvas that has a doorstop attached to it. The doorstop folds up and down as needed. It was also thrifted.

Beachy Rustica said...

Those are great... I'm currently using a bottle of wine!

Bugs and Fishes said...

Ooh, thanks for all the ideas everyone - I particularly love the thought of using plants (maybe something really slow-growing that doesn't need much light? hmm...), of filling something up so it becomes heavy or covering plain things over... the latter reminds me of the knitted brick: http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2007/01/29/

Anonymous said...

Those are great ideas. I currently have one of my red converses holding open the bedroom door! Something more practical and stylish would be good ;)