Antique Work Bench

Do you know this man?

My dear friend 
and antique business partner, Jenn --- 

(for those of you joining in and not knowing that about me!) 

and I met Mike four years ago 

at the Junk Bonanza in Shakopee. MN. 

It was his first year selling 
at the Junk Bonanza that year,

 and it was our first year 
shopping.

It changed our lives forever! 

Too much fun.

Holding a copy of Flea Market Style magazine where he was
featured by legendary design genius/junker Ki Nassauer as one of her favorite vendors.

Since then, we see Mike Brown
and his lovely wife Janet, 

at the larger markets here in the Midwest. 

But, they also travel all over the US -- 
to include Texas, Massachusetts, 
Florida, Tennessee, 

and Georgia, etc. etc. etc.

So you may have met 
Mike or Janet

and you may have even 

bought one of their pieces?

They are known 

for taking old pieces and pairing them

with other old pieces to create 

a new re-purposed antique piece.

So while Jenn and I were visiting them 

in their workshop last fall,

I spotted a large antique 
8 ft.  workbench top 

that did not have a base.

Oddly, enough the top was imported 

from Hungary and the details

are really unusual with dovetailed joints 

and a wooden vice (instead of iron).

You may not be able 
to tell from the pictures,

but this piece is really long!

Didn't they do an amazing job with it?

I feel the urge to build something 
every time I walk past it.

I have always wanted one in this long hall 

where the horse stalls used to be. 

Old workbenches make terrific bars

when entertaining!

Mike and Janet's Link

It is very rustic and not for everyone,

but I live in a barn 
and it seems to work, right?

Have a small collection of these hide-covered stagecoach trunks. Love their patinas,
and their one-of-a-kind detailing.