Photograph Courtesy of Merkled Studio

I often walk by dumpsters and alleys and see cool things, but rarely do I actually take the initiative to do anything with those cast-offs. Kari Merkl is a little more motivated.

One day Merkl, the owner of Ravenswood-based Merkled Studio, noticed some steel loom ends in a recycling bin outside a metal weaving company.

She collected them, began working with the scraps, and eventually found a new way to use the industrial waste. The result? These amazing pot racks. They come in different colors and styles and are a fabulous way to display your cookware. The design is versatile enough so you can install them over an island or on a wall.

So, um, does that bin have any old looms left in it?