Kitchen Junk

Whether we call ourselves collectors, buffs, aficionados or even pack rats, let's face it - we like stuff! One need only to note the proliferation of garage sales or the thousands who cram flea markets to know that we're a nation of accumulators, and Mary Randolph Carter, author of "American Junk," now hones in on the heart of our homes and serves up Kitchen Junk, the ultimate guide to everything culinary that's fun to hunt, costs a pittance, and will give a kitchen retro charm. An unlikely candidate for "Queen of Junk," Ms. Carter is the Vice President of Advertising at Polo/Ralph Lauren. With her husband and two sons she maintains homes in New York City and Duchess County, New York, where, as she says, there's too much junk. Nonetheless, she abides by her motto "Never stop to think, do I have a place for this?" With over 400 lush colored photographs and a state by state guide for junking forays, Kitchen Junk is the ultimate guide for shoppers. Helpful information offered includes a dress code and tips on haggling: "Most dealers worth their junk expect a bit of a tug-of-war." One of the most appealing chapters, "A Checkered Life," is devoted to red and white checked items. These pages are replete with tablecloths, napkins, dish towels, aprons, gingham, oilcloth, mitts and even a rooster in those trademark all-American colors. Ms. Carter demonstrates how to set a table with these items and create an atmosphere based on "the fantasy of the farmyard." Such aprons you have never seen - a bib apron embellished with a picture of a young girl cleaning her plate, a half apron fashioned of a cloth decorated with kitchen tools, a "Some Like It Hot" barbecue apron for him, a strawberry pattern for her. Prices of the items and where they were found are also noted. Stating that 50% of kitchen time is spent at the sink, the author spruces up that area with an enamel soap dish found for $3.00 at a New York flea market, French agatewear bowls - a steal at $10.00 per, and vintage cut glasses discovered at garage sales for an average of 50 cents each. Everyone knows what the staff of life is and bread boxes abound from "A hinged lift-top bread box decorated with a frieze of teapots and kitchen ware. It beckoned from a yard sale in Virginia for $3.00." to a "1930s English enameled bread bin." Few how-to's and where-to's are overlooked in this enthusiastic paean to collecting. With Kitchen Junk in one hand and a Mapsco in the other many will prove the old saw that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Happy hunting!

Anyone who can make REAL junk look this good is a friend of mine! As a casual collector of things old with a special place for kitchen collectibles, I found this book fascinating not only for its content - such a wide variety of items - but also for the excellent photography, creative displays, and down-home narrative style. While you won't find this useful as a pricing guide, you can still get a feel for values of some everyday items you might find. This was my second book by Mary Randolph Carter and they have become my "coffee table" books. (I now have all 3 of her Junk books.)

Ms. Carter's book was true journey thru the past.Who would not want to be reminded of our youth and members of families and oour friends who did not just collect this stuff but actually used it in their kitchens and homes. Thank you Mary Randolph Carter for your beautiful book and for bringing me back to years gone by. You must be a swell girl.

My wife and I loved the first two Junk books. When we saw Kitchen Junk we thought Ms Carter might be milking a good thing. But, we found it just as fascinating and maybe even more fun. The photography is great, the "negotiating" tips are priceless; if you have even the slightest interest in what has to be the greatest way to spend leisure time...flea market hopping...you'll love this book. We did.

This is MRC's third junk journey--this time through the real heart of the home--the kitchen. I've read them all, but this really tops it--arpons, sifters, dinged coffee pots, a matador's breakfast fantasy. If you love junking like I don't even hesitate, and if you have a friend who loves this stuff--what a Christmas present!