Thursday, April 21, 2011
Breathing new life into an era passing us by
We've been mining this old pipe organ/solar products/repository for a lot of old things for almost a year now. Soon it will be razed to make way for more condos like the ones across the street.
After spending a lot of time there you start to notice little signs of the workers and people that inhabited it since the 1860's. In one of the basements someone cut out a Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman campaign photo and nailed it above an old drill press. Next to that a Vargas pin up was tacked above a long work bench. The more you get tuned in to it the more you see and find.
That's what it's all about for me. Less than six degrees of separation from this old stuff now to the original owners. When Steph and I find old cool stuff or I build something from reclaimed materials I'm trying to keep what they did going for future generations.
After spending a lot of time there you start to notice little signs of the workers and people that inhabited it since the 1860's. In one of the basements someone cut out a Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman campaign photo and nailed it above an old drill press. Next to that a Vargas pin up was tacked above a long work bench. The more you get tuned in to it the more you see and find.
That's what it's all about for me. Less than six degrees of separation from this old stuff now to the original owners. When Steph and I find old cool stuff or I build something from reclaimed materials I'm trying to keep what they did going for future generations.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Factory Finds
We have been American Pickers in an old factory slated for demolition in New England for the last few months.
It originated in the 1800s making a variety of products until current day. Each iteration of this factory's life was stored in layers throughout the various buildings. From pipe organs to infant coffins to solar panels, this place was full of bizarre stuff.
We spent a lot of time digging.
And I've been at work designing and turning our factory finds into one of a kind furnishings for home + studio.
I've been selling the medium sized cabinets to be used as end tables and night stands.
Brilliant.
The small cabinets, many, fit on the counter under most kitchen cabinets. Or on a shelf. We like using them for organizing small stuff we need to stash.
Check out what I made:
It originated in the 1800s making a variety of products until current day. Each iteration of this factory's life was stored in layers throughout the various buildings. From pipe organs to infant coffins to solar panels, this place was full of bizarre stuff.
We spent a lot of time digging.
And I've been at work designing and turning our factory finds into one of a kind furnishings for home + studio.
I've been selling the medium sized cabinets to be used as end tables and night stands.
Brilliant.
The small cabinets, many, fit on the counter under most kitchen cabinets. Or on a shelf. We like using them for organizing small stuff we need to stash.
Check out what I made:
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| Spa Boxes, End Tables, Medium and Small Cabinets @ SoWa Vintage Market in Boston |
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| The Mezzanine @ Brooklyn Flea (our old space @ One Hanson Place) |
 |
| Spa Box (fits on a counter or shelf) |
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| Small Cabinet Criss-cross pattern in ceiling tin Legs from antique corbels |
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| Factory Table- Restored by John Warren |
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| Detail of ceiling tin repair on Factory Table |
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| Ceiling Tin Fleur-de-Lis on Console by John Warren Made to Order johnwarrendesigns@yahoo.com |
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