Tuesday, January 10, 2012

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.















38 comments:

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

Alison, this is a great piece! I love it's placement; and the vignette is gorgeous! I would love to have some fresh greens inside for decorating; but, here in
Texas, right now, the options are limited. As always, this is just beautiful!

Tina@WhatWeKeep said...

I'd love a stroll thru your barn! Your house is gorgeous and filled with wonderful, interesting finds.

Carolyn@Sweet Chaos Home said...

It's awesome, Alison! Isn't it fun to meet people whose work you really appreciate? I'll have to be on the lookout for Mike if I ever make it to an antique show around here :)

Barb@curlywillowdiy said...

Beautiful piece, Alison, perfect for that ol' barn you live in! ;-) And that stagecoach trunk-wow!

Amy Chalmers said...

Splendid piece!! I love this old workbench being used as a console table. Fab!

Salmagundi said...

I love anything like that, and it fits perfectly in your lovely home. Sally

Linda @ A La Carte said...

What an amazing and lovely piece. Fits perfectly in your home. Your vignette is so perfect for this time of year!

Sandy said...

I love the and the way it's decorated! It's a treasure for sure!!! I'll keep my eyes peered incase I ever see Mike and Janet at one of our shows here in CA. TOP(hat) of the morning to you! xoso Sandy

laxsupermom said...

What a terrific piece! I love the deep rich color of it and that vise on the end! I love meeting up with people whose work I admire. Thanks for sharing.

The enchanted home said...

Alison what a beautiful piece and it adds so much to your space, it fits right into your beautiful elegant decor. Love it!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Fabulous piece Ayson and I love it you could make it a bar when you entertain! I love the perfect vignette you created on it, you are such a talented lady for decorating your style dfor your beautiful house. I love it that you pick just the right elements. Mike and his wife sound like they have the perfect antique show. I have a giveaway for my 1 blogg-a-versary, hope you enter too and try.
FABBY

Sarah said...

Alison, it's perfect for your long hall. I love the look!
Great piece for The Polohouse. ~ sarah

Ricki Treleaven said...

What a unique piece! I love it, Alison. I think it looks great in your home, and it is the perfect piece for that spot. :D

michele said...

it's awesome, and i love how functional it is! so much life going on in your home--i love that.

smiles.

michele

Pamela Gordon said...

This bench is such a wonderful piece and looks great in your hallway. I like your doughbowl with the 'marbles'? Very interesting.

Andrea said...

that is gorgeous! My hubby would be drooling over this piece as he loves old workbenches. That is exactly what we're looking for in our theatre room-now the hunt is on =)

The French Hutch said...

Your workbench is the perfect piece for your long hall. I love the vignette you created for it. This lovely antique
looks very much at home in the Polohouse!
~Emily
The French Hutch

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

Love the workbench! One of my regrets is leaving a local auction before a gorgeous wooden workbench came up. Found out later it went for almost nothing. Arrrggg! Glad you didn't let yours get away.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Wow, Alison, that is a beautiful piece! What a history that top must have. I could see that in your home. Now you just need to get them to part with it!

Olive said...

It is a lovely rustic piece. It is perfect for your barn and for many other homes too. I have a more primitive butcher's table that is long that I need to photograph for the blog.

Karena said...

Alison I am constantly amazed at your finds. Your workbench is so special! I love it!

xoxo
Karena

Art by Karena

Paula@SweetPea said...

What a great piece! It looks perfect in this spot and I loved ready about its history.

Privet and Holly said...

I'll have to look for
M & J this year at JB.
What a gorgeous piece
and YES, it does work
great in your place!

xx Suzanne

Blondie's Journal said...

It works very well in your place and would look great in mine, too!! Very original...I love it!

XO,
Jane

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

This piece is PERFECT in your home! I love it and the vignette too. I spotted some antlers too. LOOOOOVE that horse piece, is it a weathervane? XO, Pinky

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Absolutely beautiful!!!..... as is the vignette. What a place you have created there, truly.

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Hi Alison,

It is pretty cool looking. It's a great looking bench for your style home.

Dee

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

what a gorgeous piece. It looks beautiful in your home.

Richard Cottrell said...

Your bench is a beauty. What a nice addition to your home. The dealers look like they would be good to deal with. makes shopping lots more fun. Richard from My Old Historic House.

Tee of Vinnord Cottage said...

I LOVE it!!!! It works SO well with your home... total envy of your weatherwane horse as well... of course

Carole said...

What a signature piece. You have such great taste.
Those guys look like a hoot and they must do Brimfield too so I'll have to look for them

hugs
C

Babs said...

Isn't it great when you find the perfect piece? It's beautiful and looks custom made for your long hall. Great finish. Love your vignette.
Hugs,
Babs

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Hi Alison, The workbench is perfect for your hall! What a wonderful piece and you have it decorated beautifully.
xo,
Sherry

Susan Freeman said...

What a fabulous work bench. I love the wear and the patina ~ it's just perfect!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Sandy and Joe/rhubarb reign said...

Beautiful, Alison! Great to see you, as always. Here's to a great new year -- lots of antiquing fun. xxoo

Karen said...

What gorgeous patina on this work table! It looks perfect in your house. Can you tell us about that unique lamp shade? And what are those white stone (?) balls in the wooden dough bowl? You have such unique pieces, I'd love to hear about everything on this table!
Thanks for sharing.

real estate philippines said...

Excellent piece and I like it. Your property was really gorgeous and wonderful. Thank you for sharing.



Charles A

Anonymous said...

hi guys, great bench!i was wondering what kind of finish that you used on the work bench thanks