If you’re here for Furniture Feature Friday, it’s still going on below this post. Feel free to link up any furniture pieces!
When my business phone rings, it’s always exciting. I’m a little dorky about it. The phone rings and I run through the house yelling, “The Mustard Seed phone!!!” It’s like the Bat Phone or something. So, I look at the caller ID to see if it’s a publishing company or Nate Berkus or something like that. Most of the time it’s one of my retail spaces calling about a price on something. Last Tuesday, the caller ID simply read “South Carolina.”
A sweet voice with a southern drawl was on the other end. “This is Barb Blair from Knack…” She went on to tell me about herself and how she felt compelled to call me. She apologized for the strangeness of the call, but for me, it really wasn’t strange. I didn’t know her at all (I’ve been under a rock or something), but I felt a real connection with her, too. Several phone calls (some a few hours) and e-mails later and I’m telling my husband that I’m talking to “my friend Barb.”
If you read Design*Sponge faithfully, then you know Barb. She writes a weekly (now monthly) column called before and after basics. If you read Southern Living, you may recognize her from the February 2011 issue.
(OK, can I just say that I am now dreaming of Southern Living coming to my house and taking pictures of me sitting on one of my dressers?)
Well, Barb was right to call. She was right that we have a lot in common. We’re both furniture and antique girls. We have very similar businesses and dreams. We talked paint, wax, brushes, cameras, blogs, furniture, workshops, sprayers, books, writing, prices, goals, Etsy, antiques…all of it. It’s been like finding a long-lost friend and a true kindred spirit.
What is just as cool as having so much in common is how different our styles and brands are. Check out her home…
…and her furniture…
You wouldn’t look at our styles and see our commonality. I’m French country, she’s vintage modern. I lean towards the traditional, she leans to the unconventional. I like a tight bunch of hydrangeas in an ironstone pitcher, she likes a single stem flower in a modern glass vase.
Despite the differences, we use so many of the same techniques and products, we look for the same pieces of furniture, and we have a similar way of looking at our businesses.
Barb has also given me a preview of where I would like to be in a few years. She works out of this super-cool studio.
That place just looks like heaven to a furniture girl like me…although, I think I’d like to be in a barn or something.
If you want to learn more about Barb, check out her well written and very inspiring blog, Knack, where you’ll happen to find a feature about me today! If you *must* own one of Barb’s pieces, you can buy one (or more) at her Knack Studios Etsy Store. And, if you’re in the Greenville, SC area, you can make an appointment to visit her in her studio or check out her space in Antiques on Augusta.
She just can’t be your BFF. ‘Cause I’ve got dibs.
And you’ll be seeing more of Barb around here. We are planning some collaboration projects where we’ll share our painting, business and furniture knowledge with all of you. It’ll be good stuff.
Speaking of Design*Sponge, my Union Jack dresser was featured there yesterday! You can check out my feature here.
22 Responses
Congratulations! I have followed your blog for long enough to be impressed with the changes and growth. You are an inspiration and it is fun to see what you come up with…How is the bathroom coming along?
Thank you, Thank you friend!! Your words are so sweet and I cannot even begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed these last couple of weeks…getting to know you , talking about everything under the sun….and feel the very same way about you….long lost friend indeed and new bff fo sureity!! You are awesome! so glad I picked up that phone….:) xoxo
Barb sounds amazing! How nice that you were able to connect with a new friend. I must check out her blog after seeing all of the beautiful images you've posted here. I adore the desk with the orange knobs and that orange mirror…FAB! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
I follow Barb's blog for a year now…she is such a big inspiration to me!
Oh goodness!! I feel in love with Barb's pieces in Southern Living last month and they actually inspired my nightstand make-over {thanks to you too Craigslist}. So excited to see what fun things the two of you have in store. 🙂
eeeeeeeee!!!!
are you kidding me??
my two fave, inspiring repurposing girls together!!
woot!
i nearly burst and couldn't open
this post quick enough to read
about you two connecting … just AWESOME!
i follow both of you … i love what both of you do … i love your similarities and differences … just cool.
i am just so happy for both of you to meet
and now to collaborate will be too much fun.
me, too ~ can't wait to see what wonders
you will work together … : )
xoxo
prairiegirl
Well, this post just kicked my bootay into high gear. I am a faux finisher and have yet to do anything in my own home. But have many pieces that are in major need. I love that gray vanity with the red knobs. Great post.
Hello Marion,
Don't you just love making a new friend?
I will be checking out your feature
Have a great weekend!
janet xox
thank you for introducing her blog I just hopped over for a look, great write up for you. Its lovely when you find a kindred spirit, i have done the same recently through a friend of a friend. Shes lived one road up all this time & didnt know her but shes mad on interiors & all thats vintage. Shes been distrssing furniture lately too. My friends get bored with hearing about my obssession but soul sister found. Have a great weeknd
Maybe Nate will call – as he said he checks out Design Sponge regularly…congratulations on all the exciting developments, Marian!
I have been following Barb for a long time now. She is inspiring and such a nice person. I am hoping to visit her studio/store the next time I am in South Carolina in May.
Hey you guys feel free to call me anytime…just say'n!
Congrats on what I'm sure will be an awesome adventure!
Looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship for you two gals! Thanks for introducing us all to Barb. Her blog looks so cool, and I will be checking it out for inspiration, but I don't know if I'll be able to keep up – LOL! You both have such tremendous energy (and ideas).
I have been following Knack for a while now. She is amazing, innovative and so creative!
You two are going to hit if off just fine. If I ever get in her neck of the woods…I will definitely be visiting her 'working studio'.
Have a great weekend.
~Pam
pamspaintparlor.typepad.com
Also, saw your dresser on Design Spronge…you are rocking it!
Such great pictures! I can't wait to see the collaboration…thanks for sharing with us!
Love that you "met" Barb! I am in Greenville as well and even though I haven't met Barb in person I reached out to her since I was new to junking/blogging and she has been very gracious in sharing her knowledge with me. I've also visited Antiques on Augusta and her furniture is beautiful!
But don't worry, I won't steal your friend 🙂
This is so fun! I read that article and immediately LOVED her. Marian, I cracked up at your dresser comment because I thought the very same thing when I saw her sitting so cute on that fun piece. Love her style. So glad you connected:)
It was fun to read through this post about my amazing sister;-) Barb told me all about you over the phone few days ago. I know that her getting to meet you was a bright spot in her week. She's a hoot, isn't she? 😉
No no no! Not a barn! Thats not original anymore! You should do like a little French looking cottage or like an old fashion ice cream parlor minus the ice cream. Just the cute shutters and loveliness =)
like this
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.customplayhouses.biz/photos/002.jpg&imgrefurl;=http://www.customplayhouses.biz/playhouse-photos.php%3Fp%3D1%26t%3DFrench-Cottage-Playhouse&usg;=__03ueoaEcoZpLL2ppUhhg3M0esSI=&h;=400&w;=580&sz;=71&hl;=en&start;=0&zoom;=1&tbnid;=0PFvUhFOt-cYCM:&tbnh;=126&tbnw;=183&ei;=x-d7Tf2cCYKSgQet6N3oBg&prev;=/images%3Fq%3Dfrench%2Bcottage%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1SNNT_enUS413US413%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D600%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs;=1&iact;=rc&dur;=430&oei;=x-d7Tf2cCYKSgQet6N3oBg&page;=1&ndsp;=20&ved;=1t:429,r:10,s:0&tx;=45&ty;=62
Great story- thanks for another great blog to read- didn't know of it either:)
Vintage modern offers a blank canvas for the faux treatment most antiques won't withstand, so i like this article. Very nicely presented. Love her use of space with color!
rose