Staff writer
While many fantasize about refurbishing their furniture to Pinterest-esque pieces of art, it is Peabody local Karen Klose-Dornbush’s hobby.
Klose-Dornbush, who works as a CNA at Kansas Christian Home in Newton, got started with her refurbishing projects back in the 90s.
“I did my very first project in 1997,” she said. “It was an old antique dresser from my grandma.”
Over the past couple of years, Klose-Dornbush has gotten more serious about her craft.
“It’s more of a hobby for me, but I get so excited when somebody else enjoys my work and appreciates it,” she said. “I get a lot of special orders. People either bring me their furniture or they make special requests.”
One of her favorite projects to date was a china hutch she refurbished in royal navy blue and gold colors.
“It came out real rich looking,” she said. “I received a lot of compliments on it.”
Besides dressers and china hutches, she has refurbished coffee tables, end tables, and bookshelves.
“If it’s wood, I’m redoing it,” she said.
Klose-Dornbush markets her work by word of mouth or online on swap sites, but she is hoping to move to bigger venues in the future.
“We’re looking to start selling at craft shows next year,” she said. “I can’t keep up inventory wise to load up a trailer and take it.”
Klose-Dornbush also does other crafts, including making homemade laundry soap, and she is not the only one in her household to embrace their creative side.
“My kids and my fiancé are joining in on it too,” she said. “My fiancé makes metal tin men, so we’ve got orders coming from every direction. We have a very creative and talented home.”