{ lust-haves: map totes }

How cute are these eco friendly map totes spotted on the Velocity Art & Design site?

Additional cities/totes available here

{ reclaim :: repurpose :: refresh: knack studios }

studio front

I'm kicking off the return of this S.HOPtalk feature with a visit to Knack Studios--the oh-so-inspiring brainchild of Barb Blair, who personifies {in my humble opinion} the growing movement toward slow design. If I lived anywhere near Greenville, South Carolina--Knackstudios' home base–I would be camped out there every. single. day. 

Barb uses her talent for hunting down and repurposing found objects to create Knack's collection of home products. The result is a line of one-of-a-kinds offerings--featured and sold in her studio space--geared toward a distinctly urban professional lifestyle. Barb describes her eclectic pieces as sleek yet warm, detailed but relaxed. 

These are some of my faves:

And don't you love before & afters? 

before:

after:

before:

after:

"new" black and gray cabinets filled with goodies from Thomas Paul

Barb certainly has a knack for turning drab into fab, don't you think? 

For those of us who don't have the option of popping by Knack Studios and loading up a trailer full of her amazing recreations, Barb has created a Try it Yourself paint and prep tutorial, of which, I plan to take full advantage. Oh....and if you do live in the Greenville area, I'd love to hear an eye witness report back.

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