Latest news with #repurposing
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Kmart shopper's unlikely use for viral $15 product: 'Easy to clean'
Whether they're transforming tablecloths into curtains or finding unique ways to increase under-sink storage, Kmart shoppers are often some of the most innovative people on the internet when it comes to repurposing. An Aussie mum has recently showcased her creativity by using a popular $15 bathroom product from the retail store to solve a common problem in the kitchen. Deanna (@ posted a video revealing that she had purchased Kmart's Stone Dry Bath Mat and Tray Set a few months ago to use as a drying rack for her dishes, and was thrilled with the results. In fact, she said she loved it so much that she ended up buying a second one last week. 'It's fantastic, I really love it. For the price, it was great,' she said. 'If you look online for anything remotely similar to this, you're looking at like $50.' RELATED: $13 Kmart product to completely transform your living space: 'Very affordable' Kmart shoppers praise 'brilliant' kitchen storage idea using unlikely $9 item Kmart find transforms caravan family's kitchen for $10: 'We don't have drawers' Deanna tells Yahoo Lifestyle that she uses a similar product in the bathroom but thinks it's also perfect for the kitchen because it looks neat, absorbs the water from the wet plates and glassware, and can be stored in the cupboard when not in use. 'It's easy to clean and maintain, doesn't get a damp, wet smell, and looks aesthetically pleasing,' she adds. 'I keep the bathmat clean by washing it with soapy water and then wiping it down with a clean cloth. I recommend wiping it down if there is a lot of excess water to keep the mat from getting a buildup of water.' While Kmart sells a $10 stone drying mat specifically designed for use in the kitchen, Deanna says she prefers the bath mat because it's a much larger size. The drying mat is 40cm by 30cm, while the bath mat is 60cm by 39cm. Another perk of the bath mat as opposed to the drying mat is that it comes with an additional small tray, which Deanna uses to store her dishwashing liquid on. 'I usually leave it just near the sink, and it's great. It picks up any of the residue that comes out, and even the water off my hands, it collects that, and then I can just wipe it down,' she details. Kmart has recently released an even larger stone dry bath mat, which is 75cm by 50cm, and features a cube design rather than stripes. Social media users have since taken to the comments of Deanna's video to applaud her clever idea, with some people admitting they've already been using the bath mat as a drying mat. 'Great idea,' one person wrote, while another added, 'That is genius!'. SHOP: 🍕 Domino's brings back 'unexpected' $7 menu item: 'Soft and fluffy' 🧣Aussie brand Oodie brings out new winter range '400 sold daily' ☀️ Tax laws to burn Aussies on summer essential: 'Many of us struggle' 'I use it as well, have done since it came out!' a third shared, followed by someone else who said, 'I've been doing that for ages'. 'I use mine for the water bowls for my cats,' a different user replied. The Stone Dry Bath Mat and Tray Set currently has a 4.7-star review on Kmart's website, with shoppers describing it as "outstanding", "very good quality" and "great value for money".
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
In rural Japan, railway stations and empty properties repurposed to serve tourists
With rural Japan experiencing severe depopulation, unstaffed railway stations and vacant properties are being turned into places for tourists to stay – and it is proving a success. Transport operators are working with local communities to repurpose quiet outposts into hubs of activity, injecting new life into surrounding areas with their creativity. In the tranquil countryside of Shizuoka prefecture, central Japan , a disused part of the unstaffed Futamata-Hommachi Station has been converted into a one-room hotel, giving travellers a unique perspective on rural Japanese life. Inn My Life was opened by Akihito Nakatani in May 2019 to encourage people to explore his hometown of Tenryu, whose once-thriving forestry industry has faded. Two young guests at Inn My Life, a lodging in a disused part of unstaffed Futamata-Hommachi Station in Shizuoka prefecture, wave at a passing train. Photo: Instagram/inn_my_life 'For a place to become a tourist destination, it needs attention-grabbing accommodation and attractions. If we can create successful examples, local people might be encouraged to do the same, eventually turning the area into a viable tourist spot,' the 34-year-old said. Nakatani, who used to run a real estate business renovating buildings in Tokyo, decided to return to Tenryu around 10 years ago to do something similar in his hometown.
