Let's go junkin'... and play a game.

There's a great town near me called Langley. And whenever business takes me in that direction, I always attempt to squeeze in some fun along the way.

Langley is really well known for it's junking and antique haunts and Napiers is generally on my list.

One thing this place DOESN'T have is a lack of stock. Every square inch is literally stuffed to the rafters.

It's so tight in some places you feel a bit claustrophobic. But in a good way. What's not to love about this kinda stuff surrounding you?

Overwhelmed? I generally am too whenever I first walk in. But if I start to zero in on individual things, it gets a bit easier to take in and appreciate.

The place is so stuffed, it has semi trailers out back that are also open to shoppers. Pretty crazy, huh?

So... one of the most asked question generally thrown my way is,

"What would you do with a _____?"

Want to play along? I'll tell you my first impression on what I see with these things and feel free to do the same in comments if you wish!

1. unusual garden pond or outdoor flower garden

(or gutsy coffee table... ha!)

2. firewood storage, mag/newspaper holder, drying hydrangeas, dirty laundry, bathroom towels, outdoor flower pot

Coffee break... cool way to sign up your store! This would look neat in a home too.

K, back to work!

3. Hubcaps = Look at all those amazing clocks or Christmas wreaths. :)

4. doors - desk toppers, wall character with hooks or mirror, chalkboards, bulletin boards, replace newer doors with older doors

5. bench - coffee table, end of bed blanket holder, window seat, mudroom, bathroom towel holder

6. highchair - plant holder

7. barbed wire - why, a fall wreath of course! :)

8. rug beater - primitive wall hanging as is, jewelry holder, photo frame

9. ACK. LOVE. I'd use this for ANYTHING.

Why oh why didn't I take this home...

That was fun. So let's go pay for my rug beater and barbed wire I took home.

 This little cash counter has LOADS of character. Reminds me of a Harry Potter style bank.

If you're ever in Langley, BC, gotta check out Napiers.

And as if that wasn't enough...

...this beauty was right across the road.

And you KNOW what happened next, right?

More to come... :)

(and wait till you see the place next to the CHURCH!! That's coming too...)

What would you do with the above things?

(cut and paste below if you wish...)

1. Wheelbarrow = 

2. Metal bins (what are these?!?) = 

3. Hubcaps = 

4. Doors =

5. Bench = 

6. Highchair = 

7. Barbed wire = 

8. Rug beater = 

9. ACK why didn't I get this cabinet =  

Click HERE to enter

Let's go junkin'... at my dream 'Back Porch'

"If we win the lottery, I'm knocking on this door with an offer. I want this place!"

"Really Mom? When can we move in? Can I have my own chickens when we do?"

WHEN, he says, not if. If only!



This place has everything I could ever desire.

The Back Porch is a family owned business located in Harrison Hot Springs, BC Canada. The couple live in an amazing vintage home with their outbuildings and shop also located on their property.



The studio is just to the right. Most elements of the building are void of boring straight lines. This place has character!

Inside the studio you'll see this coffee sampler area because they roast their own coffee beans. (which they sell and are to die for)

Check out this primitive coffee counter... 

Now pretend your monitor has a scratch and sniff feature and you smell the most amazing coffee aroma ever and you'll be right there.

And naturally, they have coffee bean sacks for sale too for a whoppin' $1 each. The one I pulled out on the floor is the one that came home.

See the pretty pottery in the background?

It's gorgeous! I just loved looking at the teapots especially as each spout had a different twist to it.

Bet that shelf caught your eye, didn't it?

Take a little closer look and you'll be head over heels inspired with those branch brackets and reclaimed lumber.

Who needs curtains again?!?



The rest of the pottery area is loaded with floor to ceiling branch shelving. I was on my hands and knees for a good long while studying how they created it. You may see my own version land on my wall one day if I get lucky enough to have it stay put...

Here's a small sampling of what the outside of the studio looks like on one wall. I LOVE the hanging strawberries that adorn this area. Bringing some greens up amongst  junk displays is a look I use often in my own home. Plants just make rust sing.

Did you note the shake shingles installed in a random pattern? Very cool.

According to my son, we'll own this place one day so on that vein... this studio will be where I will host hands on workshops to eager participants from all over the world wishing to learn how to work with tools and build cool junk.

So if 5 trillion bazillion of you preorder now, I may actually be able to afford this place. I'll make it worth your while too. I promise to make you the most amazing coffee EVAH and share their my dark chocolate covered coffee beans with you. Thank-you and see you soon!

The grounds are LOADED with junk artifacts put to use in the gardens in the most unique of ways. A broken chair base serves up as a perfect planter. Who knew.

And here's where I get a lump in my throat...

Character buildings are located everywhere housing tools, or whatever acreage needs. One is even a hen house.

Vines this way and that take over in the best of ways. Can you feel my pain yet?

Inside one of the buildings is the antiques shop. (I KNOW!) That is the most magnificent dough bowl I've ever laid eyes on. It's about the size of a door.

But a junk find is always the same 'ol for me. I want it cheap or free so I'm pushed to create. And then I found these...

A roof drain circa 1848. $10! Perfect! One came home with me so I'll be showing you what I do with it one day soon.

Here's another post I did on The Back Porch a couple years ago.

Yep. This here will be our home one day. I'll be sure and keep you updated on when this fantastical happening occurs because I fully expect to have all of you over for my housewarming junk party, deal?

I dream good, don't I?

What does your dream home look like?

A 5 min front door redo thanks to my new junk.

After church one fine sunny Sunday, I couldn't resist following a garage sale sign. I don't have very high expectations for Sunday sales as stuff is generally pretty picked over, but figured you never know... plus, I wasn't ready to hibernate in the house quite yet, kwim?

I've been such a good purging girl lately! I found a wonderful temporary home for my piano just down the road, plus gave them a table and chairs set I had, and sold my pile of hardwood flooring to another neighbour. The extra space is making this place feel like a real home again rather than a storage unit.

So, it's no surprise that the little voice inside me screamed DANGER. I don't need more stuff sitting around!

I'm so weak when it comes to junk. :) So I brought home just a tiny truckload. (is there such a thing?) I have some intentions of selling and some keeping. Wanna peek?

Vintage ball jars and medicine bottles of all colors and sizes. Some were even purple.

A set of two old ancient chairs. It was a 2 for 1 deal. The other is falling apart, so it's perfect for a garden arrangement or something.

The unique lines and shape of this chair really caught my eye. See the wide oval seat? It provides a really nice sit! I can't say that for all chairs. I'd love to do something really cool to this one.

Loved the coffee tin. You don't often see a black one!

Very nice oak thin frame with a wonderful patina. Love the blackish edging.

The ever present troops inspect for Funky Junk quality approval. 

It all passed. :)

But this one was iffy. The handle is broken so it would make a sweet bird house/nest thing on it's side (that I showed you on THIS post) , vase or outdoor feature of some sort.

Ohhh... and what do we have here?!?

A 5000 ton solid wood vintage door that was VERY dirty but cleaned up pretty sweet. I won't be touching this one with paint as the faded white is perfect.

And it provides a little trick. Wanna see?

It's a 'change my mind' door with a warm brown coating the other side. 

I decided I liked the idea just fine but it needed some toning down.

With a little black coffee toned oil based paint I had, I just swiped it on,

Then wiped most of it off with a rag loaded with a thinner of sorts.

That's better! Now what to use it for? I have 101 ideas or so...

Which led to me hating my front door even more.

Ah... brainstorm.

Well lookit that. I only hate it 80% now instead of 100. Not bad for 5 minutes of fussing. It'll do for now.

(LOTS more to come for the front of the house! I have no idea how some have nothing to blog about.. I can't seem to run out!)

So.. which piece would you have wanted to take home with you?

I'm sharing my new junk here. Bring yours over too!