Last month, I let you guys explore Levi’s Modern Black & White Nursery. If you didn’t see his room reveal yet, you can check it out here! It turned out sooo cute! As I’ve said before, the star of Levi’s nursery is his beautiful crib from the Cameo Collection by Milk Street.
Levi’s unique oval shaped crib was designed by the talented Julie Knisley. She designed cribs for luxury brands like Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn before branching out on her own and creating Milk Street. She is passionate about crib safety, trend focused design, and beautiful finishes.
I have been able to chat with the lovely Julie Knisley on and off over the last year as she helped me choose Levi’s crib, and then add a dresser to his room in our new home. Through her kind words, charming correspondences, and obvious passion for her work, I have come to feel as though I’m part of the Milk Street family. I’m so proud and honored to have her special line of furniture in my son’s room. It’s the kind of furniture that makes you stop and smile. It gives me joy every time I look at it.
One of my own passions is turning spaces into places of comfort, and the Cameo Collection created by Julie Knisley allows me to do just that with Levi’s nursery. I was able to get an exclusive Question & Answer session with Julie, so that we all can get to know her a little bit more! Believe me, you’ll fall in love with her too 😉
Q&A with JULIE KNISLEY
Tell us about the journey you took as a designer to get into the furniture and product design side of things. Where did you start out and how did you get to Milk Street?
My initial designs were for children’s chairs with FAO Schwarz. I then moved into lighting and bedding along with some design work for several crib companies. Once I began researching crib compliance and all the safety concerns I became focused on this category. It is tough to create beauty within the constraints of a crib standard, but a challenge that I adore. So many new parents assume that just because a company produces baby furniture it is “safe.” Our goal in the work we do under Lolly& Me and Milk Street is to educate and teach families what questions to ask. Never assume anything when it comes to your baby and the products you bring into your home.
Why cribs? What drives that passion?
As mentioned above, it is a category that is tough. To take a 57″x 28″ box and make it beautiful is a challenge. I love this challenge. I also love working with families. A crib is a very emotional purchase and one that brings incredible relationships.
What’s your favorite room in your own home and why?
My favorite room at home is actually not a room at all, it is my barn. We milled our own trees and built a small solid oak barn with a stone porch up on a hill behind our house. It is my escape. Being outside and with animals is where I feel the greatest peace. Many of the distressed finishes on our new Milk Street lines were inspired by weathered fencing and the soft brown and grey finishes inside our barn. Wood grain and the patina of gently worn solid wood is the mainstay at Milk Street. Deep, warm finishes that beg you to touch them! Finishes that get better with age.
How did you come up with the company name Milk Street?
I designed my first crib while sitting in a small park on Milk Street in downtown Boston.
Tell us a little bit more about your passion for shopping locally.
I believe that purchasing nursery furniture is an experience. While there are many choices online, one misses out on the knowledge and support that a local baby boutique offers. I urge people that are looking for Milk Street to find their local baby store, and go in and hear the differences. There is a wealth of knowledge found in those local folks.
The stores we partner with are all part of a group called BRIXY. These independent retailers are located all over the USA and CANADA. I believe that it is critical to keep these experts in business not only to aid families with safety, but also to serve as a support system for the life of your children. Most of these stores have been in business for generations, they know their products, they genuinely care about their customers. Walk in. Learn why Milk Street is so incredibly special. What we do that no other crib company does… care for your family.
(FYI – If you’re one of my Wisconsin followers, you can view and buy furniture from the Milk Street collections at The Lullabye Shop in Appleton, WI. The kind folks who own the full-service infant through teen furniture and accessories store delivered Levi’s dresser with white glove service. They brought his one-of-a-kind dresser with care all the way into my nursery and showed me all the cool features while giving me knowledgeable tips for furniture care.)
Besides design and shopping locally, what other passions and hobbies do you have?
I love horseback riding, music, snowboarding, painting and above all talking with and meeting people. I believe that through interacting with people from all walks of life is how we grow and become better. I also have a strong faith in God and believe that there are no coincidences… things happen for a reason.
Do you have a favorite collection?
I love all three so so much, but probably the Cameo collection is my favorite. It has incredible design details and the finishes, especially the new TOAST finish is mind blowing. It has such depth and a tone that changes with the light.
(This is the finish of Levi’s furniture from the Cameo collection and I love it!)
Lastly, what are you working on now?
I have been traveling non-stop since December launching Milk Street in cities all over the country. It has been invaluable. I think meeting all the sales people at each location has been the most rewarding. They are my “boots on the ground” and will truly be the ones responsible for our success. I am home for the summer which is so nice. Family time is the best time.
My son and I just went to Cuba where we painted for a day with an amazing artist and just read and and talked. It was incredible! I am in the beginning stages of a new collection which will BLOW YOUR MIND! It has that Milk Street look but is completely different. Stay tuned…
Looking for product sources? Go to Levi’s Black & White Modern Nursery for all the links!
