Introductions: A Tall chest named "Ermintrude"

I have not painted with this slate blue color in a while....and so I thought it was about time I used it again! I absolutely love this color, and knew that this piece was going to love being coated in it from the first stroke.I love the turned leg detail on the bottom of this piece and the scroll trim across the top.....it adds a bit of softness, which I played down a bit by using a more masculine color along with the vintage wooden hardware. I don't use original hardware too often, but this vintage mixture of woods and shapes just really felt perfect for this piece. I also went with a power sanding technique on this one instead of hand sanding , so the distressing is a bit more intense....but again....all part of the design plan I saw for the completion of this piece.In the styling of this piece, I used a print that I purchased at my intern Ann's art show at the beginning of the year. It is called "Curiosity" and I love that word...then you add an elephant and a hot air balloon...and I am hooked completely! This print is from my personal collection.....BUT the wire baskets and the pillows are available for sale in the shop as well as the online shop! Wire baskets. Indigo Ikat pillow LG. Indigo Ikat pillow SM."Ermintrude" will be staying on the floor until after the book party....can't believe it is THIS FRIDAY!!!..... and then I will get all of the new furniture...including book pieces listed in the online shop!xo,Barb

Introductions: A little gate leg table named: "Cortilde"

Hello everyone! I am so sorry that I have been completely MIA over the last week......it is just one of those times where I have more to do than hours in a day.....and I did not get my posts all written and scheduled like a good girl.....and because of that....the blog has suffered a bit over the past few days! I am back though.......and I have so much to share with you leading up to the book launch on May 3! I cannot even believe it is only 11 days away!! EEP!I have gone back through the archives and pulled and edited several pictures from the early days of working on the book and am excited to share about that....as well as a post tomorrow on the sweet and amazing lady that wrote the forward for Furniture Makeovers!!For now though.....Look at this sweet little beauty that we have up for your viewing pleasure today! I gave all of you Instagram followers a sneak peek at this piece a couple weeks back....but here she is in all of her finished glory! I really enjoyed this piece......it was fun to pull out the FrogTape and do a fun design on the top to create interest. I wanted to create a little bit of a different pattern vs. the normal chevron...and so we created a mirror image, and I absolutely love, love it! It is a goody!I named her "Cortilde".....because.....well, why not? She totally looks like a Cortilde! {wink!} I have her on the floor in the Knack shop for now {495.00} and will get her listed online after the book launch party. If however you are out of town and would like to purchase Cortilde before then, just shoot me an email {barb@knackstudios.com} and we'll make it happen!Measurements are: 47 inches long with sides up, 36 inches wide, 30 1/2 inches tall. Flowers used in this shoot are blue thistle, black and white print by Brooklyn artist from my personal collection, recycled vases sold at Knack, and metal and wooden chairs available for sale at Knack as well. Knitted power cord available on etsy. Enjoy the day!xo,Barb

Introductions: A Tall and Chunky Chest of Drawers Named "Faye"

This beautiful, beautiful old gal was an absolute pleasure from the moment I laid eyes on her. I knew I wanted her....but the price tag was too high. So.....I waited, and patience won out!I got her to the studio, and she just needed a few small cosmetic touch ups, like removing some paint off the drawers and wood filling some deep gouges in one of the legs..... but once those repairs were complete I knew exactly what color she would be, and where I was headed with the design plan.I always like to consider that these pieces are statement pieces on their own, and do not need a whole lot of help in order to make them modern again. So, with that in mind....I decided to keep this girl neutral so that she could fit into any design aesthetic......and it is a good thing I did because she has already found a home! She went FAST! Woot!Three pieces of furniture found homes last week....{which is amazing!} and I finished two new pieces of furniture that are fresh on the floor this week! I can't wait to show them to you! I will be finishing up three commission jobs this week so that the next week and a half can be spent solely on the Book Launch Party!I am so stinkin excited!xo,Barb

Introductions: A marble slabbed beauty named: "Aurelio"

I spotted this little chest when I was purchasing several pieces of furniture from a dealer, and at first....the marble did not "have me at hello". But, the more I stared at her....the more I knew that she was going to be one of mine and that I would make her fresh and new.I did not want to compete with the marble top, and so I kept the paint color and finish nice and simple....but I just could not resist adding a little pop of color with the yellow knobs. I just simply couldn't love her sweet little self more....and I named her "Aurelio".Aurelio is available locally at Knack.... as well as they Etsy shop, and the Knack online shop!Have a great Monday!xo,Barb

Introductions: A Tall Chest of drawers named "Euphemia"

Hello Everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend.....and this week is Spring Break...so Woo Hoo! Hope you all have a wonderful week, and a taste of Spring wherever you are!Today's introduction is "Euphemia". This lovely gal is a tall and slim one measuring 44 1/4" tall x 14" deep x 28" wide. Her finish is a blue green milk paint with a polyurethane final coat. Her knobs are a pretty orange and blue ceramic floral knob.....so, she is set for Spring and ready to go!Euphemia and her color are perfect for adding character and charm anywhere in your home.....and if you decide that she needs to come live with you, she is in the Etsy shop , the Knack online shop, as well as locally here in Greenville in the Knack store located at 11 Lois Ave.!xo,Barb

Introductions: Another Collaboration Between Annie Koelle and Knack = A Hutch Named "Kallymenia"

Well....Annie Koelle and I have been at it again, and the result is this amazingly fantastic hutch appropriately named "Kallymenia"! Kallymenia is named after a type of sea plant that resides in the beautiful ocean depicted on her drawers and doors. I always love the charcoal drawings that Annie incorporates into her work, and the charcoal mountains in this piece are just breathtaking.I painted the base of this piece cream, then Annie worked her magic, and I sanded and finished it off with a dark stain. I fell in love with the original hardware on this piece and so in this rare instance I kept all of it instead of changing it out for new....it just works. This hutch has such great clean lines and storage galore. Perfect artwork + function = what more can you ask for?!Another beauty!Kallymenia is available in the Knack store located here in Greenville.... as well as the new Knack online shop!xo,Barb

Introductions: BONUS! A tiny little peach chest named "Euphemia"

This little chest is the cutest mini me you have ever seen! It is a little replica of a large piece of furniture and would be perfect as a nightstand or side table.It has it's little quirks...like the fact that the very bottom drawer pulls are slightly off to the left....but I left it that way because it is part of her story....and it just works for some reason.I personally felt like painting the entire piece solid peach was too safe.... so I added a lavender drawer for fun....and then the burgundy owl knobs complete this situation! This was a risky color combination....but that is what makes life interesting, and I love interesting :}Look for Euphemia in the online shop soon! { I forgot to bring her measurements home.....oops!}xo,Barb

Introductions: A Little Black Chest with Papered Feet, Named "Belen"

  When this piece came to me it had seen better days and needed some loving. It's ok....because that's what we do at Knack. There was already a pre existing "condition" of cream paint...and part of it had been stripped off and the rest left on.I made all of the necessary repairs which included two new drawer bottoms and a re nailing of the top......and then decided to paint the piece black over white and let all of the distressing and roughness play in to the character and design of the piece. Miss Belen has really plain and simple lines and I really wanted to give her some interest and pop.....so I papered her feet with hand made paper! It took a few hours to get the feet perfect....but it was worth every single second :}I love the finish on this piece......it reminds me of a starry night.....and then the brightly papered feet and painted drawer insides complete this little beauty perfectly.She'll be listed in the online shop later today.....or you can come by Knack from 9 am - 2 pm and see her in person!xo,Barb