ALL ABOUT BLEND
A BROTHER AND SISTER DUO
Chris and Holly are a brother and sister team, making outdated but quality pieces of furniture shine again! We have high standards for the pieces we choose to work on, and even higher standards for our design and finishing process. Attention to detail in each design is what we believe sets us apart. Read on to learn more about us, and the story of how Blend came to be a family business!
Holly Klaus: Owner, Buyer, Designer, Painter
I founded Blend in 2019, but the dream was born many years prior! I’ve always had a love for design, and dreamed of a career that allowed me to express myself freely. I can’t explain why I’ve always been obsessed with furniture, but the ability to see potential in old pieces was instilled in me from a young age. As a military family, we moved quite a bit, and reinvented our spaces every time. Our mom would shop local garage sales and thrift stores to outfit our new rooms! Back then, we would use cans of spray paint or even latex to transform our finds into something unique and beautiful. I loved it! Through the years, I continued the practice of saving old pieces rather than buying new as I decorated my own homes. In 2009, I refinished and sold my first piece of furniture on Craigslist. I was hooked! The idea of a painted furniture shop was born. My dream shop needed to be in the right city, and at the right time. The move from Virginia to small-business-friendly and eclectic Saint Petersburg, FL was with intention, and part of the plan. 10 years later, Blend Furniture Studio is a reality, and I am grateful every single day! When I’m not at the studio, I’m enjoying quality time with my Fiance, Paul, and our two spoiled pups. 🙂
Chris Klaus: Woodworking, Repairs, Assembly, Design
My passion has always been in machinery, and figuring out how things work. When Holly opened the studio in the Warehouse Arts District, she asked if I’d leave my job as a mechanic to instead work with her on Furniture. It was a leap and a big change, but a no-brainer for me to work with family on something that we can steer and grow as a team. I’ve developed a new passion for woodworking and design, and I am able to put my fix-it skills to good use, as so many pieces are in need of quality repair. In my free time, I’m hanging out with my family of five, and our Aussie mix, Morgan.