Freeman is a venture capitalist-turned-real estate developer-turned-antiques dealer who recently opened her first business, the Foundry, at 14th and U streets NW. Freeman buys and refurbishes antiques great and small and can often be found on the road or hard at work on a future masterpiece in her garage. How did you get from venture capital to antiques?
It is a jump, isn’t it? … Tech and venture capital was a way to pay the mortgage, really. When the money increased, my brother and I went out and bought our first building to redevelop. … So for about the last 16 years I really got into design and development. It really turned into a passion for me.
Where do you shop?
I do estate liquidation and salvage sales during the week. Monday through Thursday I travel basically in a four- to five-hour radius from D.C. And once a month I go just about anywhere. … I try to go places where people here can’t find the same stuff locally.
So should we tell the History Channel you’re the original American Picker?
Yes! I was a picker before it was cool. … “American Pickers” is a great show. And the thing I love about it … is people used to say to me, “Oh you’re a junk dealer.” But the side they don’t see is what “Pickers” has brought to light — the things you go to buy are intriguing objects [to us].
What’s attractive to you when you’re shopping?
I am drawn to the ugly duckling. … I’m drawn to furniture repair; I like good bones. I very quickly see it in current state [and] what it was. But then it’s, “Oh I can cover this in cow hide, or maybe leather. …” It’s a five-, six-second process and I quickly imagine what it will be. But I like ’em ugly.
— Liz Farmer
