Home before me…
Visit The Shabby Nest
A little about me!
Welcome to my junk filled summer home tour! I’m Donna with Funky Junk Interiors and my passion is decorating with, well… JUNK.
I started collecting off the curb out of need, as I couldn’t afford to decorate my home after starting my life over again. Curbside finds were brought home, where I put them to work. I then fired up Funky Junk in order to share what I was creating.
Today, Funky Junk has become a source of inspiration for those that have previously felt they had to go without. The projects you see here are cheap to make and easy to put together for DIY beginners. Most everything is found or built from found things so lack of funds is never an excuse!
I also author a feature blog, I Love That Junk, that showcases YOUR junk creations from Funky Junk’s weekend link party, Party Junk. Totally junked out yet?!
Scroll to bottom of post or blog header to follow any of these ways.
My Junk Filled Home Tour
Downstairs Office
Visit farm table styled pallet wood desk HERE
This downstairs office is where I spend time doing my dayjob. I run a sign and graphics company from home and decided to funk up this area as well.
The desk was created from scratch with all reclaimed wood. This was truly my first ‘real’ build, meaning, I made the framing and everything. I’m so proud it’s still standing! 🙂
This desk is looong! At 12 feet, I desired a nice long work surface facing the north facing window.
I rarely flick on inside lights. I like natural light so I gravitate being near windows.
Quirky accessories help me stay organized.
Main bathroom
The biggest aha moment I’ve ever had was the day the massive vanity was removed out of this small bathroom. Creating a design for the tile floor and adding a few quirky touches has me loving this room.
Visit crate toilet paper holder HERE
The quirky crate and license plate toilet paper storage took an unexpected popular turn. It went semi viralish. Sometimes the easiest projects truly ARE the best it seems!
Visit headboard towel holder HERE
An old headboard was revamped into the perfect towel holder. You can never have too many hooks in a bathroom.
Master bedroom
Welcome to my bedroom! As you can see, there isn’t any glamourous furniture in this room. The headboard is an old horse gate and the side table was built from scratch.
Regarding the bedding… I’m a messy bed maker. And there’s a reason for that. All the bedding is too short so I compensate with creative ways to make up for that. The bed rarely looks the same two days in a row. I just throw on whatever!
A headboard with added hooks offers you unlimited decorating potential. Rustic wreaths are my thing today. Who knows what’ll be up there tomorrow…
The lovely white metal heart is a gift from Lucketts. It adds an unexpected touch of girly charm smack dab in the middle of rusticville.
The lampshade was created from a wire basket and twig garland. It really helped to kick the glam down a notch on this fancy lamp base.
More fun jewelry finds it’s way on the lamp. Cool pieces by What Lola Wants Lola Gets.
Visit pallet wood yardstick nightstand HERE
Desiring a unique night table, this unit was built around two baskets acting as drawers. Reclaimed pallet wood and other antique touches were used. This piece is NEW so watch for the tutorial coming soon!
Beautiful, abundant hydrangeas still in their pots flank the windowsill inside a toolbox.
The cute webbing garland is my souvenir from Miss Mustard Seed’s booth at Lucketts!
Visit pallet wood closet wall HERE
This funky wall feature created from pallet boards actually serves a purpose… the hooks keep my floor clean, plain and simple. I personally don’t think a room can have too many places to hang things.
Visit cheater board and batten wall treatment HERE
Desiring walls with some character, I created a cheater method of board and batten. It’s quirky with random sized boards and spacing and easy to remove if you change your mind. I love how it brings focus and brightness to the bedroom.
The paint on the other wall is called Bamboo Beach, by Cloverdale Paint, in Canada.
Junk accessories are used to store jewelry, such as this ultra cool typewriter key bracelet by Junxtaposition.
Livingroom
Visit pallet coffee table HERE
Desiring a coffee table with some junk charm, this one was built from pallet wood scraps, complete with junk accessories.
No sew pillows that are actually coffee bean sacks spruce up the sofa. Pop your pillow inside, fold the top over and you’re done!
Adding some junky bling to the coffee table supports offers unexpected art and interest. My theory is, dress up your home with things you love to look at, and you’ll love your pieces even more.
The checkerboard tray is the perfect centrepiece for a coffee table. It can also act as a coaster. And a place for my books by Miss Mustard Seed and Ana White!
The coffee table is large enough to host pretty much anything desired, such as this vintage typewriter/plant vignette, perfect for summer.
The ladder plant stand is perfect in front of a window. It doesn’t hinder view nor light, and your plants will love it! Cats too.
Visit window gate screens HERE
These gate screens were created to simply frame the windows. They add a touch of cottage / country charm and help to brighten up the dark corners.
My first ever pallet creation was this tv stand. Leaving the pallet intact, legs and crates were added, making it super functional and fun to look at.
The pallet had an edge, so placing the TV on a piece of 2×4 for support and covering the works with glass offered an unexpected display showcase.
Friend Dan Sawatzky and team via Imagination Corporation created this one of a kind fireplace without removing the old one! Cultured stone, fibreglass reinforced concrete, and custom, oversized features hide the old, bringing new life and focus into the room.
I love wood burning fireplaces and am grateful to hang onto one of the last, I’m sure!
Entryway
A surplus of junk was put to work, creating an entry way coat hanger gallery wall.
Nothing was measured. One piece after the other was fit into place creating a fun focal point NO ONE appears to miss when coming by for a visit.
Visit bingo board tutorial HERE
I borrow from the wall all the time, replacing it with new things. New, revamped bingo board tutorial coming soon.. forgot about this one!
Kitchen
Summer is the time to celebrate flowers, so a ‘flower box’ took centre stage in the kitchen.
Visit Farmer’s Market sign HERE
I’m also addicted to the sunshine, so all window coverings came off to let that sun shine in!
I’m rather kicking myself for leaving the lamps in the picture. It looks ‘full’. But trust me, I could never live without the ambiance they offer. If you’ve never tried lamps by your kitchen sink, maybe don’t start, because you’ll never take them down. 🙂
The metal topped island is custom made by Dan and team via Imagination Corporation. It’s double sided so it can be sat at from both sides. The curvy lines and corners visually make the island appear smaller than it is. It’s huge and it’s perfect! It sits on a 45 degree angle to the rest of the kitchen, which works as the entire upstairs is an open floor plan.
Visit the white twig chandelier tutorial HERE
The white twig chandelier resides above the island, and is made from willow and grapevine branches attached to a thrift store chandy. It’s really very easy to make! Just fiddly.
Trademark crates also make their way into my kitchen. They suit the rustic shaker styled cupboards and warms up the white board and batten backsplash.
Please tell me everyone has two coffee makers on their countertops these days?! ( disclosure… I removed the 3rd for the picture! don’t ask)
WRONG WAY is a fun jab at the fact that I don’t adore cooking. I’m just the type that would rather mow the lawn or saw up some wood or something.
The black along the ceiling is MDF treated to look like metal panels. (help by friend Dan Sawatzky) When the kitchen was renovated, the header above the old cupboards destroyed the ceiling. Rather than replace the entire thing, panels were created to hide what was removed. It’s a really cool look and makes the ceiling appear taller than it really is.
Blog office
Visit pallet wood blogging desk HERE
Welcome to my dining room! If I spin my chair around, I face the kitchen, so it’s the perfect spot to get your work done yet still be in the thick of it all.
The desk was created by using sawhorses for legs, a ladder for the framework, and pallet boards attached to the top. Easiest build ever!
The desktop got it with some sign work and eclectic bolts and such. Just because.
The monitor is also sunken into the surface of the desk to save my neck from looking up. The tutorial shares the full details.
Stairway
Visit crate styled stairway HERE
This one comes with a story. I was about to get the stair carpet replaced, so I ripped up the old carpet. The carpet man didn’t show up for whatever reason, so I just left it because I couldn’t afford it anyway. Then I came up with the idea of painting them up like old soda crates.
I created stencils out of decals (before it was THEE thing to do) with my signmaking equipment and made it work.
(I use a 24″ Graphtech cutter with Signlab and Coreldraw software… not priced for the novice – and I do not sell decals to the DIY community… more on that soon!)
Each riser wears something different. The original post shows more photos.
Photo studio
Visit photo studio HERE / pipe sheet curtains HERE
I also have gutted a room downstairs and use it as my photo studio. The light is amazing! If you can spare a room somehow, someway, I highly endorse having a room just for this!
Outdoors
This little shed use to be a greenhouse. The plastic was replaced with old fencing boards from a neighbour, then enhanced with plants, pallets and junk.
Patio
Desiring a super comfy place to sit, pallet boards were used to create this sofa from scratch.
Visit two pallet oversized chair HERE
But the sofa needed a companion, so two pallets later, this double sized chair was born. It seriously only took two pallets and 4 legs to make!
And you know with me being a signmaker, I had to leave you with a sign. 🙂
Thanks so very much for your visit! I hope some of these projects inspired you to look at junk a little differently. Can’t wait to show you what I’m up to next…
Christmas 2012 full home tour HERE
Next up in the tour…
visit the amazing SONGBIRD HERE.
Complete listing of all the home tours
DAY 1 (June 3rd)
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DAY 2 (June 4th)
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DAY 3 (June 5th)
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DAY 4 (June 6th)
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Wow, just wow! I had seen a lot of it already, obviously but all together it makes such an impact.
I love that your house is so unique, personal and full of your personality. You are going to knock some socks off with this one!
Thanks, friend!
Oh my goodness Donna!! I could just look at these pictures all day…and still find some little detail I hadn’t noticed before!! (Love the little junk tucked into your plants here and there.) I’m going to “pin” this post so I can come back for more inspiration 🙂
Thanks, girl! I already know we’ll be swappin’ pins… cya soon! 🙂
I love seeing all your junk all in one place. I don’t know how, but I seemed to have missed your bedroom when you originally showed it. Your board and batten treatment is great. No cheating there!
Thanks Pam! My bedroom gets changed all the time so it’s no wonder you haven’t seen it like this! 🙂
absolutely just way too fun! you’ve hit home for me … even as I seem to be heading toward a more minimalist way of life … your home has touched something deep inside, and I’ll be back! I’m subscribing right now …
thank you for putting some sparkles in my day!
Thanks Linda! Minimalist I am not, but maybe organized chaos is a good word for this?! So cool to hear something inspired you… YES!
Your home is just so YOU – and I love it! You never cease to amaze me with your creative ideas!
Thank you so much for joining the tour ♥
Thanks so much for having me, Gina!
Your home is delightfully creative and inspiring! Thanks for the tour!!
Melissa
Thanks for coming by, nearly neighbour! Got any sun yet or did you take ours…
Well I wouldn’t have thought I could love you any more than I already did….but alas. I do! You make my heart go pitter pat. Lisa~
As your home did to me, Lisa! High fiven’ our junk!
Holy cow lady! i’ve never seen anyone so creative. your home is amazing.
Thanks, Nancy! Lotsa building and fun spun over here. Glad you enjoyed it!
Donna~Your house is like a museum. I could probably spend days walking through each room gawking at all the cool things!! Your home is definitely YOU. Thank you for sharing all about YOU. You have a beautiful home~ Linda
Aw Linda, museum certainly isn’t what it looks like most days… ask any of my neighbours! haha Good thing the camera catches it on a good day. 🙂 Thank-you!
WOW! You are so very creative and artistic! You have created so much beauty and personality in your home with discarded treasures.. I am impressed, envious, and inspired! Can we be friends in real life?
We already are! Online is about as real as it gets in our world. Coffee sometime? 🙂 Thank-you Heather!
We must be friends.. cuz I do LOVE coffee!!! 😉
It’s fantastic Donna!! I love all the wonderful rustic touches that you’ve added and of course all the old stuff too!! It’s so nice to be able to visit your house, since you were just here visiting mine. I wish we lived closer so that I could pop over and see it in person!
P.S. I’m so envious of your shed, that’s just about the cutest shed that I’ve ever seen!!
Hi Donna,
You have such a cool home. I love reclaimed lumber and you’ve opened my eyes to all kinds of neat junk ideas. I sure enjoyed touring your home a few years back. You’ve really tied it all together nicely.
signdog
Can’t wait to see what you do to YOUR own digs, Duncan! Go get’tem! Thanks for the kudos and your visit all the way from sign land!
I love your style!!! So much texture and warmth everywhere! Pinning like mad… but I have a question, what is that plant that is coming out of the typewriter? It’s soooo perfect!
Awww, thanks girl! I have NO idea on the plant. I always throw those tags out! 🙂
Donna, as always I love your amazing space and all of the creativity you have poured into it!!!!!
Thanks girl! I cannot WAIT to check yours out!
YOur house is absolutely amazing. I have enjoyed your tour so far more than any other becasue it is just so completely creative. You are a goddess!
Haha Nicki, well thanks! Still learning as I go along but appear to fake it a-ok… nothing’s fallen over yet!
I love the creative uses of all your vintage finds and especially that you can make something from nothing. I veer away from store bought decorating and new items. Your gate looks just as if it was made when the house was built. You have inspired me to make a gate for my large windows. Thank you for the tour, I enjoyed it.
Oh cool Lisa, you really can build those gates easily! I hope you share them after they’re done, cannot wait to see your take! Thanks for your visit and kudos!
I have to admit I was getting just a little bit bored with the home tours. Things start looking the same. But I am blown away by your style and ingenuity. Have you ever been to the City Museum in St. Louis? You would pee your pants. http://citymuseum.org/site/?cat=34
I will be frequenting your blog a lot more often. So, so cool.
Wow Leah, that place is crazy awesome! Thanks for sharing the link!
And your kudos is much appreciated! I know my look is a little ‘different’. Thanks for getting it! 😉
wonderful this style!
I love your home. You certainly put your own touches to every room. Totally LOVE it!
You are one of the most creative people that I know! You make every rusty, crusty, woodsy thing look wonderful. Thanks for the tour, I love your home and style.
Debbie
Thanks Debbie! And my rusty crusty woodsy house thanks you too! (fab description!)
Your house is amazing! I’m sure it took a lot of work, but it’s beautiful!
You’ve been blowing me away lately even more than before. The constant stream of great content, the blog design overhaul and a huge magnitude of creative energy. I always look forward to your posts!
Oh goodness Brian, I feel the same about YOUR work! Thanks for the kudos all the same!
Your home is a junque lover’s dream and my favorite of the tour.
Thank goodness I can save this to my computer, and especially make copies of all these wonderful treasures….You are such an inspiration as some of us need a picture in order to try to make the same thing…keep up all the good work….k
Your home is so fun. I want to come over and play. It’s seriously so inviting. Thanks for sharing your awesome spaces. LOVE your creativity! ;}
OMG my mouth is still dropping to my knees! Donna, you are so incredibly talented!!!! I want to jump right into these pictures and browse through every nook and cranny of your home, like a museum. Wow, Wow and more WOW!
Your blog is amazing too.
Haha, you made me laugh! (and blush) Thanks Marie!
Love everything you do! Thanks for sharing your home..
Incredible! Love your typewriter planter! Super cute!
Love your home! So fun and creative and looks like the perfect space to both relax and create. Thanks for sharing!
~Katie
I don’t check out home tours too often, but of course I was thrilled to be checking out yours!! I don’t think I ever told you, but your stair case and that island were the two things that had me all gaga when I first started blogging, (back when I barely knew what a blog was), and you were one of the first blogs I ever followed. I was so smitten with those two projects, and it just keeps getting better!
Aww Karen… wow! Thank-you!! Glad you’re still tuning in!
I have just bought a big old house that needs everything. I don’t uhave the funds ( long story) but I am going to submit the kitchen to hgtv to compete for world’s ugly st, I mean dark brown metal cabinets and dark brown shag rug. I would like to make the cabinets out of furniture I find cheap. Where are you located? Any suggestions?
Hey Priscilla! I hope you win! 🙂 I’d just suggest to visit thrift stores or watch the paper for a good deal. Salvage yards are great for cabinets as well. I’m located in British Columbia, Canada.
I have to tell you that I am enthralled by your home! No matter how many times I see it, your creativity and consistency and style amaze me. Not only that, you’re genuine and giving and are an encouragement to so many other bloggers. Thanks for being you, Donna.
OMG the stairs are amazing!
Hi Donna! What a wonderful home tour! I’d seen rooms here and there on your blog before, but seeing the whole thing together in one post is awesome! It really gave me a truer idea of how your home beautifully flows from one room to the other, from one marvelous use of junk to another, even to te outside! I love the shed! Everything is so creative and fun! I especially enjoy seeing the Virginia license plates! My state is represented – woot! LOL! I am going over your tutorials and older linked posts and getting the creative urge for junk fun all over again big time! The last few weeks have been kind of blah so this is just the kick in the pants I needed! I’m also enjoying the others’ tours – great fun! Take care! Hugs, Leena
Can we be friends? I love coffee, barn junk and cats. Pretty much all at the same time, too!
That was awkward.
Really though, I absolutely love your blog. I have been following you for years mostly on facebook and pinterest. This has been the first time I’ve ventured to your actual blog in a very long time. I first started following when I was searching design ideas for our home building process and came across your blog from a Google search. I was so busy I didn’t have time to stop by and leave a comment. Okay, that is a horrible excuse. Thank you for continuing to reassure me that it is “ok” to decorate with junk. I think my husband still doesn’t quite get it but he’s starting to catch on.
Loving all the amazing additions you have done. I have quite a few of your ideas pinned and your rooms have grown and changed so much. Keep it up 🙂 Thanks for all your inspiration!
Oh my gosh Donna! A feast! A virtual feast I just couldn’t get enough off. I’m honestly blown away! What an amazing home you have! Such a talent and a delight to be seen in every detail. Thanks for the tour and sharing the beauty both inside and out.
Cheers!
Donna –
Your home just blows my mind. It is incredible!! I loved seeing all of the rooms and projects. You are so inspiring!
xoxo
You are so creative!
My favorites are the staircase and your patio. Thanks for the tour of your home!
Oh I’m in trouble…. Found your site while browsing Pinterest… I’m in love! With EVERTHING! Simply love your style. Awesome stuff! Thank you for sharing you’ve inspired me no end! Really looking forward to this ebook of yours!!!!
I love your home. You have a real talent for decorating. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for a tour of your home. Love all your “junk”. You are a great inspiration to us all. Thanks again.
Your home is so unique and gorgeous, Donna!
I’m playing catch-up, I’ve been offline for a while, I’m loving being back at it…and I think it’s going to take a while. lol
Thanks for sharing your home! I remember most of the posts, some I’ll have to check out soon.
Debbie 🙂
WOW! Your home is really amazing, Donna! I LOVE your style! Sharing this! Hope you have a wonderful 4th!
~Abby =)
Donna you just make it look so natural and awesome! great job
Donna I am absolutely loving this tour. So many things I have never even seen of yours! Fantastic. You do make all the junkin’ come together in such a fine, unique and creative way. It certainly inspires me to look at some things I would just pass by in a new light. Awesome tour!
You are so very gifted! Thanks for blessing us by sharing your ideas!
I am in love with your couch behind the photo of the
pallet coffee table (the one with the coffee bean pillows).
Can you tell me where you got it or even what the style is
called? Thanks so much!
I came upon your website by way of my friend Whimsy Couture. Wow!!! is all I have to say! I thought of asking to move in, but I figured I could just use your ideas for my own place!:) Great space,equally awesome blog!
good grief! I loved this so so much! what creativity and vision. I’m going to challenge myself to find uses for things that would normally be sent off to goodwill or worse HA! Thanks for sharing – so glad I found you 🙂
I love your blog, please keep it coming, I’m totally inspired 🙂 My hubby and I stole a window from his great grandparents condemned farm house pre-marriage and kids – from Nova Scotia. Its identical to the one on your fireplace. Missing glass and all. Love it! I’ll let you know how our stairs look when we are done with them!
Cheers
I love your home!! How did you do the folding barn door window cover? I want to do that! Thank you for sharing your beautiful home. Love your shed and rusty ball jar cover ring wreath. Awesome!
Hey Kathaleea! All the links are under each photo… or should be! If you mean the white gate screens in front of the big picture window, it is at: https://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2010/04/wood-gate-screens-for-so-you-think-wk-7.html
AMAZING!!!
Super Ideas! I have collected alot of JUNK! and look forward to using some of your ideas. Great inspiration!
Wow..
What a beautiful house. Very nice and warm.
Please let me in, hehe..
Donna,
You are amazing! I just spent about an hour browsing your site. Congratulations on being such a strong person! Your projects are beautiful and your spirit is inspiring.
Thank you!