Decorating JunkMarket Style: Repurposed Junk to Suit Any Decor

by Sue Whitney, Ki Nassauer

The JUNKMARKET Girls reveal ideas from their unique creations, product line, and media ventures.

Secrets to finding good junk and how to use it for new and different purposes.

Inspiration for those searching for treasure at flea markets, garage sales, attics, and dumps.

Room settings illustrate decorating styles urban industrial, country, cottage, retro, and even traditional.

Ideas and how-to projects to fashion candle holders from tractor parts, repurpose carpenter's levels as shelves, create photo holders from tennis racquet presses, make cornices from architectural molding, and much more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Adult

204 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2005

Reviews

[Cbphoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always finding cool stuff at thrift stores or garage sales and thinking "what can I do with this?" I've read more than a few of this type of book where the author(s) show ways to repurpose junk for the home.

These ladies are head and shoulders above all those others. Their ideas are really original and they make things that people would actually want in their homes alongside their fine couches and beautiful antiques. Their solutions to using some of the things they find are really clever, yet very practical and add style and whimsy to the rooms.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read in one night.

Although the book is a bit dated, it still holds inspirational value in terms of seeing creative ways to use “junk”. Good photos, some nice step-by-step instructions.

I did find the book a tad lazy though. Like, how many items do I really need to repurpose into candle holders ??? How many candles does one person need ??? But I did find some useful stuff in here and am glad I read through it.

[Ace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting more I guess; being an avid upcycler, I was looking for some new ideas. Guess it's back to YouTube I go!

Also be wary of some of the food display suggestions in here; many old pieces used lead, asbestos, and other nasty things you don't want to incorporate in your heavy usage pieces.

[Shani Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and refer to it often for upcycling ideas and a fresh creative influx!

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I can applaud these ladies for the ingenuity, I'm not convinced of the practicality of most of their suggestions. You have to have a lot of free time and a mountain of junk to accomplish this type of decorating motif. Also, I feel like their creations are so jerry rigged that you'd have to be very careful not to bump into anything in these rooms else everything would come falling down.

On the other hand, I thought their birdcage planter was cute and do-able. It's a fun book to look at, but not a life-style, decorating-style that I would want to adopt.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone that enjoys junking this is a good book. It provides not only beautiful photo's but "how to's" for reusing other people's junk.(treasures) I love the idea of finding a new use for an old item rather than throwing it away. There is so much character in an old painting, furniture, lamp or architectual piece. My style of decorating is eclectic and this book provided me with some great ideas. This is a book I will refer back to many, many times. Well done Sue & Ki.

[Wendi WDM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned that in Florida we pretty much have sucky junk stores and flea markets and that all of the cool things in this book will never be had by me unless I move out of this state. It's a fun book but unless you live near really cool flea markets it's kind of not fun. There is an element of jealousy.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

These women have such creative-thinking brains. They look at a discarded piece of "junk" and see it blending beautifully into someone's home decor. And they're great at it. I have seen some books and magazines about "junk" decorating where, after all was said and done, their work looked like...well, junk. Not so with these ladies' work. Their rustic touches blend perfectly.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love junk with potential, so this book was kind of right up my alley. I didn't like, though, that they teased me with such ideas as "make a lampshade out of a hatbox" but there were no instructions, nor a good enough pic to figure out the technical details myself. Rude.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book more than the 2nd book they put out. This book has a lot of interesting things to make. Very inspiring. I especially like the mailbox shoe rack. I wish I could find a whole bunch of old mailboxes and make that.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few cool ideas that I may try in this book. I am always on the lookout for junk that can be recycled and this book is all about that. I especially liked the birdcage planter. I am so going to do that.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-Fiction; Home Improvement
4 stars

While decorating with junk definitely is not everyones style, this book has great ideas for reusing and repurposing items in a creative way.

If you like yard sales, antique shops, and thrift store 'vintage-y' type stuff, you will probably enjoy this book.

[jenna Hudrlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love looking at pictures for ideas - and then going out and finding stuff like a treasure hunt and then selling it all on ebay!! fun fun

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun for ideas and design ideas, poor for practicality and actual workable projects. But a great book for fleamarket/junk market ideas.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book because my boyfriend and I are into flea markets and repurposing the items we find there. This had LOADS of great do-it-yourself decorating ideas!

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun! Their approach is a little different from other books that showcase flea market style. This book also includes some how to projects.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

If only I had the eye and the talent to do this.

[Just - The romance reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute ideas for decorating on a dime and recycling junk into treasured interior design elements.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Projects I like:
Mailbox shoe rack
Table with old metal tray and tray stand from restaurant supply
Big stumps of wood with wheels on the bottom

Some interesting and unusual stuff.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would love to be so clever in re-purposing old things.

[Joyanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some of the quirky ideas, but I do not have that much pretty junk sitting around to make things like that. It was fun to look at.

[Ceanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great ideas!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm just never going to think a cheese grater lamp is stylish. Love ki's magazine but the books are just not me.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is neat seeing old things used today.

[Selkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decoration Junk Market Style is a highly imaginative book. My favorite idea is the making of a chandelier from chicken wire.