Meet Nick & Caitlin Knabe | Woodworkers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick & Caitlin Knabe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick & Caitlin, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Almost 7 years ago, when we first started Knabe Woodwork, we both had full time jobs and only did the work after 5pm and on the weekends. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. We were newlyweds with no kids and were focused on building a brand, not just a business. If friends wanted to see us, sorry you needed to get on the schedule. Family just understood, we would come around when we could. Flash forward to now, and it’s changed only because of one thing. Her name is Ms. Leighton, and she is two and a half. When she was born, Caitlin took on Knabe Woodwork full time and quit her nursing job. The one thing Caitlin tries harder now than before is in the evenings we try our hardest not to work. It doesn’t happen all the time. But we try to make it happen more than before. The balance still isn’t there, but owning your own business isn’t about only working 8-5. It’s about working 12-14 hour days. Unfortunately, there is no letting up when you have a successful business.

What should our readers know about your business?
Here at Knabe Woodwork, we take pride in every product that goes out the door. We are the only barn door company who installs the way we do, to ensure that the doors work and fit the openings perfect. It would be so much easier to build a door off of the measurements a client gives and just send the door on its way. But that’s just not how we do it. Every product we make, not just the barn doors, is specifically made for each client. We are consistently on a 8 week turn around time and around the holidays gets even worse. I’ve learned you can’t give up, you can’t slow down, and you always need to be ahead of the curve. We number all of our doors so we aren’t posting the same barn door picture or we aren’t just “saying” we’ve made 500 doors. We want our clients to see the proof. See that our skill and craft is consistently changing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Caitlin and myself are huge foodies. We visit cities just for the food. And we feel lucky enough to live so close to Dallas to have fun date nights in the city. Bringing a friend to the area the first place we would take them for a little brunch action at the Rustic, lunch at Meso Maya (our favorite), and dinner would be a toss up between Al Biernat’s or Ocean Prime. We can’t forget in between all the eating, to make sure to swing them by Perot Museum, The Star in Frisco, Scheels in the Colony, or to walk around North Park Mall. And we can’t forget our favorite bar spots in downtown Denton, Miss Angeline’s, Eastside, and Mulberry Cantina.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m not sure we could be where we are today without the help and support of our family. From Nick’s mom and Caitlin’s dad watching Leighton at weird hours, to Nick’s dad helping with installs and builds, with Nick’s sister and brother in law helping with craft shows and being muscles when we need it. It for sure takes an army.

Website: www.knabewoodwork.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=fkrc67nogmm7&utm_content=1187vvw
Facebook: www.facebook.com/knabewoodwork14