Cream and Navy Stripes + Brass bunny = "Franchon"

When one of my pickers brought this little piece to the shop to see if I was interested in purchasing her, I instantly fell in love with her size, shape and detail.The character of Franchon is just so sweet and perfect. The round and soft curves, the little stacked feet, the drawer, the shelves, the side slots. Franchon packs quite a bit of storage and design in her small frame.....and I decided to celebrate that with four inch cream and navy stripes.The brass bunny head knob has been calling my name for months now, and I knew that it would be the final detail needed to complete this design. Of course, the gorgeous flowers created by Julie Dodds of Willow Florals make this situation fresh and beautiful. When Julie walked in the door with this arangement, my stomach literally flip flopped.....and my soul groaned....literally...I am not just saying that. Fresh flowers....especially ones as diverse and colorful as this.....really make me joyful. You will be seeing lots more of Julie's work, as she is the floral stylist for Knack book number two! Yay!I hope all of you are well......and enjoying Spring break, or whatever it is that this week holds for you!{p.s. Franchon is available for sale at the shop.....but if she doesn't get snatched up this week....she will find a home with me. This one is tugging at my heart}xo,Barb

Spring colors and triangles for a coffee table named "Elusine"

It is definitely Spring, and I cannot even tell you how her colors have inspired this piece of furniture. The blooming trees, the green green grass, and the many flowers opening their faces to the sun have me very inspired.Remember when I lamented a bit about the Pantone color of the year being radiant orchid? I am not a huge fan of purple in any shade...but I was determined to find a way to use it my work...and at the same time stay true to the Knack aesthetic. In this coffee table design, I use radiant orchid not once...but TWICE! Once in its original state, and then I added a little somethin' somethin' {white paint} to create a little lighter shade. I absolutely love the color palette of pink, orange, lavender, gold, and orchid, and this palette was completely inspired by a bouquet of Ranunculus flowers I purchased a couple weeks back.I think it is fun, yet again, to combine the hard edges and points of the geometric triangles with the feminine and curvy lines of this sweet table. The perfect pairing if you will.I used FrogTape® to create the custom triangle designs on top of the table, and there is a full step by step "how to" up on the FrogTape blog here! If you decide that miss Elusine needs to come live with you, she IS available for purchase at Knack! {and if you freakin' love the dish towel hanging on the wall, {me! me!} you can get that at Knack too!} We are all about some goodness for the home around here!Hope you enjoy!xo,BarbI received compensation to complete this project for using FrogTape® products. All opinions, projects and ideas are based on my own experience.

A fantastic desk named "Constantia"

This my friends....is the girl I have been telling you about. I knew she had it in her, but it took me a few tries to get her ......perfect.After tearing through layers of warped veneer, {to reveal gorgeous planked wood}, two coats of primer, four coats of milk paint, three coats of poly, and two coats of Danish oil on the top.......she is ready to rock and roll!I think back on the hours and hours that this piece took to complete.....and they seem to just fade away, as the lens tells a whole new story of transformation and redemption.I love my job, and this truly brings me joy! Speaking of joy....Matt Ayers and Sam Windell of Traveling Storytellers shot a makers video on me last week. If you would like to check it out, click here! These guys creatively directed this film, and I love that they honed in on the important things: Family, passion, joy and hard work!xo,Barb

Sometimes, Love Hurts

I was really hoping, hoping, hoping.....that I would have a beautiful new finished piece for you today. Unfortunately, that was not in the plans. {Boo!} I have been working on this desk for three weeks now. Not three weeks solid....but a few days a week....for three weeks. Typically this type of piece would be completed in one week, but there have been so many hidden issues with this piece. It has been complete crazy town....and honestly... if I had known the hours of work it was going to take, I would have left it with my supplier.However, I am all about redemption, and seeing the lovely in the unlovely. Sometimes you get a piece, and its hidden secrets are crazy scandalous.....but no matter how far gone it seems....it can always be fixed....there is always hope. It totally depends on if you are willing to put in the time and do hard things. I am in it to win it, baby!The entire top of this piece and all of the veneered drawer fronts had to be torn off. I tried using glue and clamps before tearing off...but it was too far gone. What I found underneath the existing two layers of veneer, was this amazing solid pine wood that is absolutely gorgeous. I stripped the wood on the top to remove all of the glue and gunk left over from the veneer. I sanded, primed {two coats due to redwood tannins}, and painted two coats. I wasn't quite happy with the finish, but wanted to get her done, so I went ahead and applied one coat of poly. Well......When I get into the studio tomorrow morning.....I will be sanding this desk down again and repainting it a brand new color. I know it may sound crazy....but it is what it is, and it has to be this way in order to be right! The new plan will leave me 100 percent satisfied, and I can't wait to share this desk with you next Monday. Warning you though....the name will be a DOOZY! How could it not be with all that has been put into it?Sometimes things take more time, but it is always worth it in the end. This lovely desk will make someone's room very happy one day soon, and that is why I do what I do here at Knack!I have a sweet chair makeover coming up on Thursday as well! We used two fabrics from the new Sweet as Honey fabric line and are excited to be a part of the blog tour!I also have the first day of shooting for Knack book #2 this week as well! {Woot! Woot!} I am bursting with pride over the amazing team that has come together for this book, and am so stoked about the content that will be produced! I will introduce you to everyone very soon......and I want you to know that I fully intend to write and produce another #1 best seller! Off we go!Exciting times. Busy times. Good times.Thank you for being here with me.xo,Barb

A little deep blue jewelry chest

I purchased this little tiny furniture piece, which just happens to moonlight as a jewelry box, a few months ago. I thought it was adorable, and I personally had not come across one quite like it before.I got busy doing other things, and this little one was forgotten on a shelf.....until....I spotted it last week and thought "it is surely time to make this piece new"....and off I went.Of course it's brilliant blue, {because I LOVE that} and I was going to list this little lovely in the shop....but it was snatched up on Friday as soon as I put it on the showroom floor.P.S. all of the amazing jewelry in these photos is by my friend Lily Wikoff of Lily Pottery, and can be purchased online here.

Stripes and ships on a little nightstand named "Watts"

This lovely little nightstand belongs to my client, and it came from her grandmother. It had a broken back leg, which I fixed, and the way that it looked unpainted was not a right fit for the environment it was needed in. So, we talked......came up with a grand plan of action and off I went to work some magic.This nightstand will be living between two beds....in a condo by the beach! Doesn't it look like a beach bum, ships and all? What a life! Fresh and new, and ready to make memories for more generations and families yet to come!I love what I do! It is so exciting to see things transformed, and made fresh.Enjoy the beach, Watts!xo,Barb

Sweet Little Papered Side Table named Matilda

This little table you guys.... is such a fun one! A little paint, a little paper from Spoonflower, a little custom wooden knob {designed by yours truly}.........and BOOM!It is amazing to me...every, single, time......what vision and passion can do for something as simple as a cast off piece of furniture. It is such an example of hope, and that is thrilling to me. Every week here at Knack...I experience hope and renewal...and that is nothing to shake a stick at.Miss Matilda is available for sale in the online shop here, and of course...if you are anywhere near our brick and mortar shop located at 11 Lois Ave., you can swing in and see her there as well!Have a great Monday!xo,Barb 

This Blue Girl named "Aureliana"

This lovely side table , that is solid as a rock....just needed a little paint update in order to become a superstar. Blue is one of my favorite colors...and I end up painting lots of furniture in shades of blue....but this girl is just so lovely and graceful...and her color stirs my soul deep down in its very depths.Looking at her makes me think of depths.....depths of the ocean perhaps, depths of love shared, depths of mercy.....seriously. Does color do that to you? I'm telling you.....color is a gift in this world of ours....Aureliana is available for sale at Knack, and in the Knack online shop as well. Do you need a little soul stirring blue in your life? I think we all do....xo,Barb