Junk Beautiful: Room by Room Makeovers with Junkmarket Style

by Sue Whitney, Ki Nassauer, Douglas E. Smith (Photographs)

One person's trash is another's treasure. That's a fact of life that the Junkmarket gals know only too well. Through their annual Minneapolis fleamarket, The Junk Bonanza, web site junkmarketstyle.com, and tireless touring, Sue Whitney and Ki Nassauer have helped countless devotees transform junk into one-of-a-kind furnishings and accessories. Working their magic on every room of the house--from kitchen to home office--they present conversational case studies that introduce the clients and explore their needs. With characteristic humor in tow, they take readers through each renovation adventure, from shopping for recycled materials to the actual construction projects. The gals also include complete materials lists, plus paint chips and fabric swatches, so that everything can be recreated down to the last delicious detail.

Genres: Nonfiction

204 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Ligaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is some creative repurposing going on here for sure, but I warn you not to read the text as you'll afterwards want to pluck your eyes out... The copy is a horrendous mash-up of puns and dated, failed word-play. You have been warned. Most of the rooms featured in this book were too crammed with stuff for my taste, but if you look, you can find little gems of really clever ideas. It seemed, the more successful makeover items followed a "simple is the better" credo (the wagon body replaced with a slab of lumber on the back cover or the urine specimen bottle used as a vase), while other more complicated projects just seemed tortured into being (the entire first featured room in the book). So, good for inspiration... not for writing style.

[Amanda Kotchon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a fundamental identity problem. Portraying itself as a how-to guide for “furniture projects to transform your home” in fact eliminates it from being a useful book for those of us who don’t have spare organ pipes or potato sorting belts lying around. Reading the highly specific directions for each piece leaves the reader at a loss for how to apply the writer’s general handiness to their own stuff-y life.

[Gwen · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading another one of the Junk Beautiful books and not really liking it, I thought maybe it was just that particular book so I wanted to give this one a try. I feel the same way. It all still just looks like junk. It didn't turn out beautiful honestly.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting ideas for home decor. My only complaint would be the low-likelihood of finding such uncommon vintage and antique parts, pieces, and “junk” for these specific room makeover projects. But if nothing else, Junk Beautiful provides inspiration for outside-of-the-box repurposing.

[Cecile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great tips but nothing I can use immediately.

[Gracee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok.. .not really the edition I wanted (I'm searching for the "Outside Edition"). I wanted to check it out simply to see if I wanted to pursue the Outside Edition - which I do. Lots of interesting ideas in this book. Downside is, I'm sure you'd have to have a fist full of money to buy some of the items in antique and second hand shops. On the other hand, if you're adaptable, and can see "outside the box", you might be able to use what you already have, or what you can pilfer from grandma's stash. :)

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the parts of this book that actually featured the "junk" projects (example: wall-mounted coat rack with old faucet knobs as the hooks). However, the majority of the book just showed full color pictures of rooms, and expected you to magically figure out what was made from recycled junk. Even the pictures' captions weren't that helpful.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great for me - I am passionate about repurposing things, and this was inspiring. Full of clever and fun ideas - I got this through the library, and kept renewing it because I loved it so much. This will be one book I need to purchase to keep on my shelves!

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing earth shattering or new in terms of concepts, but a nice visual book to look through. Photos of several different homes are showcased so that the reader can see how different people use found treasures (junk) in various ways. It also contains a few How-To projects, which is nice.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very beautiful book with lots and lots of spruced up junk. I just have a feeling that if I were to try these ideas it would look like Junky Junk and not Junk Beautiful!

[Deena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm all for picking up things off the street and bringing them home. . . as long as they are bed-bug free. . . this book took that up a notch and had some great photos. Now I just need the space!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to get inspired.

[Maliades · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of great ideas in this book!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the creativity of these two women - OH WOW!

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised by the amount of projects included -- I will keep some in mind. It's fun to look at things in a new way.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool ideas to transform junk into awesome additions to your decor. Makes me wish I were creative!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun ideas for upcycling.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because I had read their book Decorating Junk Market Style and really liked their ideas. Here are great ideas here, too, there's just too much to wade through to get to them.

[Nicoll Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

So you're walking the streets & on the nature strip is someones junk this book shows how it can be turned into someone else treasure. Its about decorating on the super cheap and diy.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time. Hit up google and find yourself some inspiration and advice, rather than the clutter shown here.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. It is neat seeing a new use for something old.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really disappointed in this book. I felt like they were just hanging random junk on the walls so they could write a book about it. Not impressed.

[Regina · Rating 1 out of 5]

pretty outdated style wise

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever ideas - some of which I hope to use in my makeover of a room upstairs with cottage style.