THE CAVENDER DIARY

Mike Wolfe…..

From American Pickers?

Yepp, this guy….

Nashville Lifestyles Magazine did a spread on his Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee house. I know! Doesn’t that sound exciting? I thought so too.

Well, for some odd reason there are hardly any pictures of the actual house.

Here are the best ones that I could find.

Even the exterior shot looks like a game of “Find The House?”

(photos by Kristin Barlowe, in case she wants credit for these duds)

Thanks to the architect using reclaimed doors, windows and other tidbits the house has all the character of a century old estate, and it’s only 12 years old. There’s a hidden office behind a swinging bookcase, there are wide staircases opening the center of the house, and even four separate porches. The previous owner, also a motorcycle collector, kept his bike collection in the finished basement. There’s access via a garage door.

 “Oh my God, I’m taking this house!” he said as soon as he saw that basement garage door. It was as if the whole space were custom-made just for him.

Now, you might expect a bicycle/motorcycle fanatic like Mike to cruise around his 32 acre property on a vintage 2-wheeler, but no….he opts for this cool-as-hell red vintage Ford pickup.

Don’t blame him one bit…….I would too.

Sure, you know that Mike spends his days digging through dilapidated barns, in his custom-made imogene + willie jeans, for “Rusty Gold”. My dream job. (Who am I kidding, I have my dream job…picking junk would be my fall-back dream job) But what does he do with all those odd-ball things he uncovers? Recently Mike teamed up with Nashville designer Dave Phillips to create one-of-a-kind light fixtures. Lovingly called Rustorations. The guys use vintage buckets, funnels, hay pulleys and fans to make pendants and floor lamps. If it can be wired for electricity…it’s fair game for the pair and their imaginations.

Here are a few of my favorites.

(photos from Antique Archeology)

Aren’t they just freaking awesome?

Unfortunately, each is one of a kind…with no prices listed online…..and can only be purchased in one of Mike’s shops; Antique Archeology.

The original location is in LaClaire, Iowa and the newest in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville, that’s not too far from Leiper’s Fork, I suppose.

Probably just a quick ride in a vintage Ford pickup.