free to junky home

Somehow I received two books from my book club yesterday that I don't recall ever ordering. I swear I told them not to send this month's selection. And I was fooled somehow and thought it was some other books I'd ordered. So I opened the box, and once you do that, they're yours. No sending them back with "REFUSED" writ across the label with the industrial strength sharpie.

Since I don't watch television, I have no clue who Sue Whitney and Ki Nassauer are. Duh, I'm slow today. I thought they had a show on HGTV or something. How'd I get that wrong? So, no show, but they've guest starred on other home decorating shows.

Whitney and Nassuaer are lovely on the cover of their book; they look ready for hard work. And there's nothing wrong with the book. The rooms they transform are amazing. Their aesthetic tends toward the modern, sparse look, which I'd love to pull off amid my clutter, but doubt that will ever happen. But it's modern, sparse, and junky. Or rather, industrial.

I looked through the book and like I said, it's lovely. The photography is spot-on. Each page is slick, glossy, and color infused. Sadly, I'm not feeling up to any kind of room makeover. And there aren't any cool architectural reclamation joints in my part of the state, so I'm basically SOL as far as picking up daring and delightful pieces to showcase in my home. The other thing I noticed at the book's end, in the resources section, is that two-thirds of the companies they cite are based in Minnesota. Another mark against my finding this book particularly useful. As much as I'd love to visit the state of 10,000 Lakes, I won't be making a special trip to find funky junky pieces for my home.

So, if you want it, leave a comment about your favorite junk piece in your home. Or any old comment will do, really.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part. This isn't just a book of lovely before and after photos. Also inside are instructions for replicating specific projects they've incorporated in their clients homes. So, it's possible that you can devise a reasonable facsimile.  In my current state of mind, I think I'd be terribly disappointed if I could not exactly duplicate it, you know? And since I live in resourceless east Tenn. 'Nuff said.

Comments

[Betty]

Hey Bekka,
First, congrats...I wondered when you picked up the irises. You just had "that look".

Second, I think East TN is very resourceful. You just gottan know where to look. Since we are moving and I'll have all new decorating challenges on a shoestring, I'd give the book a good home!

Betty

[Betty]

Oh shoot...forgot my favorite juck piece. It's a rocker we bought at a yard sale for $15.00. The cushions need recovering and there is a distinctive noise that emits from the lower region when you rock in it. I've taken it apart, WD-40ed it, waxed it and still it's the "fart" chair.

Needless to say, I don't allow guests to sit in it and when I do, I never move!!!

Betty

[nova]

I don't have a junk piece, really. I just think the phrase "funky junky" is kind of funny. And also, my food book club keeps sending me books I don't order too. Why is that?

[gale (she shoots sheep shots)]

I have so much junk I can't think where to start...I mean junk in a good way? But junk in a sparse modern way? I would love to see it. I've a long wall high shelf lined up with cheapo 60's cameras- platic Brownies /instamatics. I couldn't resist 3 or 4, then a few more, then friends started giving them to me becaus they are like $3. at yard sales... I wonder what Whitney et al would do with them besides pray no one is tall enough to see all the dust collecting?

[elizabeth]

I am SO into redecorating and repurposing items in my home right now! My favorite piece of junk is an old enameled IV holder. At least, that's what I think it is. I'm using it as a planter, you can see a picture here:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2497988366_98bcfe37b9_b.jpg

[JC]

This book sounds like it has the kind of projects that I love to read about and look at photos of but somehow never seem to have the time to get around to actually doing.