Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin and Nick Knabe.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
4 1/2 years ago we bought a larger bed, and I couldn’t find a headboard I liked. So while I was walking around our newly developed neighborhood and I decided I was going to make myself a headboard out of scrap wood from the newly built homes. After it was all finished, I posted a picture of my homemade headboard on Facebook. Everyone LOVED it and wanted one. So Nick looked at me and asked “wanna make some extra cash?”
After months of building headboard after headboard, I had all this scrap wood left over. I was going to my cousins baby shower and decided I was going to nail some 1bys together and hand paint the baby’s name on it. Nick then saw another opportunity to add to our portfolio. About a year into all of this my mom came to us and told us about this “barn door” she saw on an HGTv show, and she wanted us to build her one. It took us forever to find the hardware and then 8 hours later to build and install the door (8 hours doesn’t seem like long, but now we can do it in 3-4 hours).
We made every mistake you can make, and Nick swore he’d never build another barn door again. Well, 261 doors later… with 20 on the books, here we are. For the last four years, we have spent every waking moment in the garage together. Staying up every night till 12-1am, after we would get home from our normal jobs. But we are proud of what we have built. We do much more now than the headboard and signs. Barn doors are our most popular items, but we also have expanded into farmhouse tables, TV stands, and some other furniture.
We have barn doors in Hurts Donut in Frisco, a set in a hotel in downtown Dallas, and other ones all over the state. Earlier this year we were contacted by Shanty2Chic to build them a table, and have grown such a wonderful connection with them. Also, we have jewelry stands for All the Wire that are showcased in AT&T stadium and The Star in Frisco. Just went we think things are slowing down we always seem to become even busier. In the last few weeks, we have moved out of our garage and into a shop in Bolivar (north of Denton). The shop has given us the room we need to build and grow our business.
With this holiday season approaching, and all the craft shows we are about to attend, space was a must.
Has it been a smooth road?
Working side by side with your significant other is never a smooth road. It has taken us years to smoothly work together, and we still don’t always see eye to eye. I’m the type of people who take on crazy projects and thinks my glass is over filling. Nick is the type who thinks the glass is full, but it isn’t that full. I reach for the galaxy and Nick pulls me back to reality. We really make a perfect duo.
But the hardest struggle we faced was in the last year. I became pregnant in June 2017 and was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (severe morning sickness). I was sick 24/7 for nine months. I was doing daily IVs and could barely function. So Nick stepped in and pulled a double time. He would stay up til 2 am working on projects, just to make sure we never fell behind. We also thank our family during this time for all the support they were with installs. Without Nick working like he did I don’t think Knabe Woodwork would have survived.
But on February 20th we welcome our baby girl into the world. Now we just need to teach her to sand and paint! Haha
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Knabe Woodwork – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a custom woodworking company. We specialize in barn doors, farmhouse tables, headboards, custom signs, and furniture items. Anything we make we strive to make the customer 100% happy because it’s your piece of work.
We also pride ourselves on building quality barn doors. Our barn doors are made of real wood, no MDF, no plywood. We feel if you are going to spend money on a large item that it needs to be made of quality wood.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Nick and I were both raised in Denton Tx. Denton is our home. We both love the fact that Denton is so centrally located and we can get to Dallas or Ft Worth within 45 minutes.
Being in this metroplex makes life never dull. You can always find something to do on the weekends. We are both huge foodies, so it’s nice to be in driving distance of such cool restaurants.
What we like least… and want everyone who lives in the DFW area probably likes least, would have to be I-35.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.knabewoodwork.com
- Phone: 4695143690
- Email: knabewoodwork@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knabewoodwork/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/knabewoodwork14
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
