A beautiful soft gray desk named Corisande
Well, here she is......the first piece that I have painted in this New Year. I have worked on three others that you will see here soon....but this is the first official piece of the year.I have been so busy. End of the year book keeping, beginning of the year planning, running the retail shop, organizing, and new opportunities have kept me super busy this first month of the new year. It feels really good to have all of that squared away for now, and the fact that I am very cleaned and organized has really helped me focus on the full year that I have ahead. More on that soon........but for now....this sweet desk. I love the beautiful and graceful lines of this desk. The little curved legs, the carved fluting, and the all around soft curves of the design. Very attractive and versatile if I do say so myself.When I started on this desk....my initial plan was to use milk paint....and I really wanted a very heavy distress pattern. However, this piece is a mahogany piece and the pink tannins started rearing their ugly heads from the start. I had to change design directions, since I needed to use a primer to "tame the tannins". I have a favorite primer for these situations and it is called Fresh Start by Benjamin Moore. I had it tinted to the color of my paint so that I would not have to worry about white primer showing through. There are several reasons that I love this primer, but the thinness of it and the non chalky finish are the two top reasons for me. {not to mention it covers stains and tannins like a boss} It is never easy to have to add extra steps...but it is ALWAYS worth doing the job right and to the best of your ability.So, even though I had to change directions, and go with a less distressed finish... I love the character of this piece. The beautiful soft gray color combined with the wooden chunk knobs and the hand made paper by JuJu papers, take this lovely girl to the level of triple threat.Corisande is available on the shop floor, and in the online shop as well! Click here to make her yours! {UPDATE: This girl is now SOLD!}A very special thank you to Julie Dodds of Willow Florals for the absolutely stunning floral arrangement that was used in this shoot.xo,Barb
Makeover Monday
I am in a bit of a holding pattern in the furniture department lately, and so I have not been painting at all these last several weeks. There are very good reasons for this, and these reasons will unfold over the next few weeks.I did however start the first piece of 2014 last week, and had hoped to have it ready for you all today....however, I ran into an issue with my design due to the tannins in the piece and had to completely change the design plan....and prime the entire piece. Grrr! It will be beautiful when completed....and I hope that completion will happen this week so I can show it to you all on Monday!For now though.....here are some makeovers for your Monday! Visit my online shop if you decide that you cannot live without one of these beauties in your home! Bring on the color!xo,Barb
New Things
images via Sir | Madam
Yesterday, was a busy busy day of market in Atlanta. I always have such mixed emotions about heading to the market. In one way I dread it, because of all of the crazy nonsense you have to dig through to hopefully find a gem......but then in another way, when you find that gem...that shining gem... in the midst of all the ribbons, monograms and polka dots......it is completely worth the trip.I believe I found my two gems this trip, and am very excited about carrying these new lines at Knack this year: Peg and Awl & Sir | Madam.I love this excerpt from the mission statement of Sir | Madam which states: "The products are designed to be timeless, and to marry well with a range of styles in today’s eclectic and collected interiors." You see, they speak my language.
Then you have Peg and Awl....a husband and wife team who make beautiful things from found objects that are beautifully crafted and useful in the home: "Our work is made from olde things, treasures found and recovered from misfortune and neglect, relics of the unusual, the confused and the macabre, cut and pulled and built into wearable curiosities, inscribable keepsakes and useable, longlasting treasures". Perfect.Both of these are spot on, and in line with the Knack way of life.Coming Soon.xo,Barb
A teeny tiny little chest of drawers named "Berengaria"
This little gal is the cutest thing you have ever seen! My dad rescued her out of the estate of an old family friend. He lovingly repaired all of her drawers and sagging sides...until she was as good as new....and then I stepped in and gave her a fresh coat of paint, new knobs and vintage map drawer liners.She is so happy now, and her big name " Berengaria" gives her all the street creds in the world!Measurements:26 1/4" tall19" deep36" wideThe gorgeous floral arrangement in these photos was created by Julie Dodds of Willow Florals and is available for purchase and pick up at the Knack shop || 11 Lois Ave. Greenville, SC.Enjoy!xo,Barb
Little black night stand with kitty fantastic detail - "Reiniger"
Ok.....I have two kitty cats....and it is no secret that I love them. I personally have never ever been a cat person...... until little Bleeker Olive and Newsie Mae came into our lives last April. We were very quickly converted as a family...and remain smitten kittens {wink!}This sweet little night stand is for all of my cat loving friends and is painted with black latex paint and then finished with minwax stain. The wallpaper on the drawer front is from Spoonflower and can be purchased here. The artist for this cat in frames pattern is : Moss Badger.Little miss "Reiniger" is available for sale on the Knack website here.Meow love,Barb
Blue and Red for the Win- Meet "Torelli"
I finished this lovely one a couple weeks ago.....but could not decide which knobs I wanted on her...and so she sat in the workshop...all sparkly and new....until some gorgeous red floral knobs made their way into our lives.Now, all is good.....and she is complete. This finish is a milk paint, followed by three coats of water based poly. The drawers are lined with a vintage Laura Ashley wallpaper, and then we finished Torelli off with a red floral ceramic knob.I really, really love {once again} how the milk paint crackled and peeled in all of the right places. Such a beautiful thing when paint performs above and beyond every single time you use it!Torelli is available in the Knack online shop here! { Did you all know that there is a full Knack online shop where everything pictured in these photos {and more} is available for purchase? No? Get on over to knackstudios.com and check it out! }Hope you all are having a great week!xo,Barb
A sweet little armoire with cute little feet - named "Burwell"
First of all....I must apologize for not being around here much lately. I have no excuse...so I won't make one....I will just show you this latest piece of goodness that I finished recently. This armoire belongs to my parents, and they use it to put their TV and supplies in....but they wanted it to be painted and fresh...and so they asked if I would take on the job.....:}I am happy to say that I left her way better than I found her.....and am glad I get to visit her every Tuesday when I am at Mom and Dad's for dinner!xo,Barb
Meet Aronia, a little fancy lady in pink milk paint
It is no secret that I have a major love of all things milk paint. I have been using it in my work since the early 2000's......{which feels like forever ago now!}.....and have never ever been disappointed in a single finish.Milk paint gives a truly time worn and authentic finish that you cannot get with any other paint....period. Don't even try to tell me you can get it with chalk paint, latex paint, or any other brand of paint out there on the market.....I've tried it all.....you can't. There is something very special about milk paint, and that is why I have loved it from the first day I used it. I will never forget the first color I used, or the piece I used it on. I used Sea Green, and I painted it on this HUGE armoire. {yes, I am a risk taker!} I had never used milk paint before, so when it started to peel...I started to panic....but decided to just go with the flow, go through my motions, and see what happened. I wish I had a picture of that piece....I probably do have a printed picture somewhere .....but it turned out so beautiful, and I was an instant and forever fan.So, when Marian came out with her line of Miss Mustard Seed milk paints....I knew I would love the formula...and was so excited to see a pretty new line of colors. Marian sent me a wonderful package of products to have fun with....and the very first color that I went for was this gorgeous "Apron Strings" . It literally is the best version of an "orangish" pink that you ever did see. It is so soft on the eyes, and reminds me of a perfectly pink little piglet. Apron strings is not a salmon or a pumpkin....it is a beautiful coral, and I absolutely love it. I finished off this piece with MMS clear furniture wax, which was soft and creamy and wet....just the way I like wax to be. I have not done a wax finish in months, and I enjoyed whipping out the wax brush and buffing out that beautiful wax sheen.I am so happy with how miss "Aronia" turned out, and can't wait to finish the other three pieces on the work room floor......Painting is such fun.Xo,Barb