Ki Nassauer

Tell Ki Nassauer that her career is in the dumpster and you'll get a "thank you" and a polite smile.

As the original "Junk Lady", Ki has been referred to by the media as the "Martha Stewart of Junk" and "America's most famous junker". It has been Nassauer's goal since 2000 to make a career out of junk. She spent the last nine years scouring flea markets, garage sales, surplus stores and the occasional street-side junk pile for raw materials in order to work her magic on repurposing junk into tastefully inventive and decorative items.

Ki was one of the first to realize the potential revenue possibilities of converting junk into cool stuff. After her first "test" garage sale grossed 11 thousand dollars, she founded JUNKMARKET and ran monthly sales that attracted thousands. With near immediacy, she was transformed into a national celebrity and developed a loyal following.

What followed were a series of successes that included co-authoring Decorating JunkMarket Style and Junk Beautiful, Room by Room Makeovers; a regular column in Country Home magazine; appearances on HGTV's "Country Style" series and the "TODAY" show; and hundreds of public appearances, nationwide.

In 2008 Ki founded Junk Revolution, an innovative grass roots concept with a Website filled with ideas and information on the cutting-edge of the junk world. Ki continues running Junk Bonanza held each September in the rolling countryside outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Bonanza features wares from over 100 handpicked dealers who must pass muster for her juried junk show.

Ki is co-editor of Flea Market Style, a new decorating & lifestyle magazine created in partnership with Matthew Mead. The magazine will hit the newsstands early spring 2010.

Before preaching the gospel of junk, Ki owned and operated Ki Clayton, a successful retail clothing store with locations in Florida and Minnesota. She later freelanced in product design for Eddie Bauer Home, Target, and Carter's Kids.

Although it has been a long way to the top of the junk pile, Ki still loves the business and is committed to making certain that junking is alive and well; sustainable and functional – and downright, fun.