We love simple. We love thrifty. And for her column this month, Jerusalem Greer’s craft is both! She shows you how to repurpose some of those glass bottles laying around the house (in her case, decanters) as sparkly containers for your cooking oils. Such pretty images too. LOVE!

Thanks, Jerusalem!

(PS- For other ideas, visit Jerusalem’s own blog, Jolly Goode Gal.)

In many kitchens space is at a premium, but that doesn’t mean you have to crimp on style or creativity, does it? My favorite way to bring character to any kitchen is through unique – but functional- accessories.

Years ago, in our pre-children days, I purchased these decanters at a flea market for my husband, Nathan, who at the time was going through a Rat Pack infatuation, and dreamed of having the kind of well stocked swanky bar that would make Frank Sinatra proud.

Now days, in our small 1940s cottage, space in every room is at a premium (especially with rowdy boys who just keep getting bigger and bigger, despite our pleas to stop growing). To make room for growing kids and visiting friends and family, the bar eventually had to go, along with the huge recliner (no tears were shed by me for that one) and my craft room.

When it came time to pack up the bar, I just couldn’t’t let go of the decanters. Not yet. After all, someday the kids will go to college and leave home (fingers crossed) and maybe then I can take back my craft room and Nathan can restore his bar. Maybe. But for now I have re-purposed these lovely vintage beauties in the kitchen, using them in a way that is both beautiful and functional.

Instead of bourbon and scotch, our vintage decanters hold our Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil and White Vinegar. To prevent unpleasant surprises and culinary disasters, I made simple labels for each jar, using shipping tags, ink and rubber alphabet stamps. The cost of the total project (not including the decanters) was under $5 and took less than half an hour to complete, and added a lovely bit of sparkle to our kitchen in the process.