The sense of smell is powerful. It can instantly evoke sweet memories or transport you to a specific place and time in your past. When I smell leather, I am immediately dancing on the floor at the Hall of Fame in College Station years ago as a college student. (Some of you Aggies out there might remember?) Or when I smell peach preserves, I am standing in my grandmother’s kitchen in the summer. But for one talented, self-taught woodworker, it’s fresh-cut wood and tree sap that makes her heart race. Caitlin Knabe, of Knabe Woodworking, admits to enjoying a stroll through Home Depot’s lumber department.
As a young married couple, Caitlin and her husband had just bought their first home and were excited about filling it with some new furniture despite a limited budget. Out on a walk one evening, Caitlin noticed construction wood scraps on the side of the road and wondered, “Could I use that wood to make a headboard?” The answer was an absolute “Yes!” She posted her creation on Facebook and immediately received orders for 15 more headboards. Knabe Woodworking was in full swing. Caitlin’s dream of creating heirloom pieces for generations of families to invest had begun.
Knabe Woodworking sees all of its unique pieces as heirlooms for future generations. “They don’t make furniture like they used to. I create custom pieces that are unique and ensure quality.” Caitlin can use a picture you have or the idea in your head to create a one-of-a-kind piece for your home. She enjoys making functional pieces like creative nooks that address your personal needs such as a curio shelf in a corner to hold precious figurines or a bookshelf in a room to display all of your athlete’s trophies. When Caitlin’s mother requested a barn door, Caitlin shrugged and thought “I’ve never made one, but I could learn.” Now 870 barn doors later, she has definitely figured it out. A barn door Caitlin created was once moved by the homeowner from the old house to the new one. The piece had quickly become an heirloom piece to keep in the family.
Investing in unique pieces is a cherished way to share memories and family traditions for future generations. Remembering meals and laughter around a table that your family shares is a priceless gift to leave for others. Caitlin says that hard work and hustle make a business. And her hard work is allowing her clients to invest in something that will last a lifetime.
To contact Caitlin Knabe about your unique woodworking idea, email her at knabewoodwork@gmail.com or visit her on Facebook.
Caitlin says that hard work and hustle make a business. And her hard work is allowing her clients to invest in something that will last a lifetime.