Knottily Would Making Old Furniture Look New

If you’re going to open up a new kind of furniture store, it’s probably best to have a cool name to go with it.

So here’s one: Knottily Would.

OK, yeah, but what does it mean?

A neat play on words? Pure gibberish? A not-so-subtle reference to deceased film actress Natalie Wood of “West Side Story” fame? (Oh
heavens, no!)

“We’re just trying make people guess what the heck we’re doing in there,” store marketer and co-owner Mary Martin quipped. “Create a little interest.”

And the “there” she’s referring to will be located at 12118 Madison Avenue right next to the in a business that upcycles or modernizes old wood furniture, does custom furniture painting and will also build custom radiator covers as Lakewood has lot of older homes that use them.

The store will open around the beginning of July, and the business is currently remodeling the storefront and preparing furniture for display.

Martin, 58, is partnering with longtime friend Dan Munday, 50, to launch Knottily Would.

Martin, who’s been a chef and art dealer and does home remolding, will handle the store’s marketing and provide aesthetic insight. Munday will handle the custom wood working.

They’ve known each other for 30 years.

“We saw a hole in the Lakewood marketplace because there are a lot antique stores and thrift shops, but they’re not going to do what we’re going to do,” Martin said.

“We’re not going to do antique-looking things. We’re going to take older furniture and make it look modern by applying paint and current colors. We’re doing something that somebody else in Lakewood has not done yet.”

Also, Martin said Knottily Wood will use the proper paints to stay environmentally sound. Plus she said recycling furniture has strong attributes for the consumer.

“A lot of people have furniture they really like, but they want a new look. It’s a lot cheaper to get something painted than it is to buy new furniture,” Martin said. “So that’s another recycling thing. We’re using all low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints and latex paints, so we’re trying to keep a friendly environment.”

Plus, it’ll give Martin, a longtime Lakewood resident, some activity as she nears retirement age. If you’ve got the skills, why sit around and not use them?

“It’s a seniors’ thing. Something to keep the seniors busy,” Martin said. “A girl’s got to have something to do, you know.”