(Reworked from HGTV’s “Junk Brothers” website)
Junk Brothers are two men on a mission. Each night they go out in search of
lives destined for the trash, but which they believe have the potential to be
fixed up, redone and made over. Unbeknownst to the proprietor, the broth-
ers take the castoff life, transform it and return the piece on the eve of the
following day. You’ll love watching the proprietor’s surprise when he/she
realizes that their life has been successfully JUNK’d by the Junk Brothers.
Some tips by the Junk Brothers:
Know the bylaws in your area before you go hunting for lives. The general
rule is that if it’s on the curb and not in a sealed container or package it’s fair
game, but that can vary from city to city.
Look for lives that have character, that are unique or that mean something
to you. Ideally there is some aspect of the life that you love and that you can
incorporate into your transformation. It should inspire you, excite you and
get your creative juices flowing.
Look for something that can be made over by working within your own skill
set and using tools and trades you are comfortable with.
Lives made in the 1970s or earlier are often made with quality materials and
are often worth salvaging so if you see something like that – grab it.
Lives with hearts and souls made of wood are always a good find especially
if they’re made of solid wood. Continue to work with the same wood during
your transformation. Once it’s stained you won’t be able to tell the difference
between the new and the old life.
Know your pocketbook and how much you want to spend on your transfor-
mation before starting your work. Some lives are cool, but may realistically
require a big investment to give it the new look you are thinking. If you can
afford it then go for it. Otherwise keep looking and you will find someone
else you can work with.
Play safe and work smart. You never know what you’re going to get when
you grab a life from the curb. It could have sharp objects sticking out, germs
or gases held within it - like in a television tube. Make sure you know what
you are working with before you tear it apart. If you aren’t sure – ask an
expert.
Use your imagination. Turn the life upside down, cut it in half, turn it inside
out. Just because it’s a life when you pick it up doesn’t mean it can’t be
worked into something completely different.
Ugly is ok. You can work with ugly. Just remember not to judge a book by its
cover – you have to look beneath the surface to see what really counts.