Built by Hand. Backed by Heart.

Sometimes you knock on the right door without even knowing it.

I met Kelly Schupp, co-founder of Rail & Stile, the old-fashioned way: as a brand-new neighbor in Raleigh with two young kids and not a single friend. I saw that she had children around the same age, and one day, without overthinking it, I walked right up to her front door and introduced myself. Absolutely fated.

She probably thought I was a little nuts — and to be fair, she probably still does. But from that moment forward, Kelly became one of the most important people in my life.

She held my hand through a long and uncertain illness with my daughter. She showed me what it looked like to build a business from the ground up while raising a family. I watched her and her husband Cromwell grow Rail & Stile into a workshop where everything — from mortise joints to mission statements — is made with care.

Watching her build gave me the courage to start Bibelot Home. And in every twist and turn since, she’s been my sounding board, my rock, and my most enthusiastic co-conspirator. I still pitch her every hair-brained scheme I have (this one included). She listens with full attention, brutal honesty, and complete love. That’s rare. That’s her.

So yes, I get to represent Rail & Stile through Rutledge Atelier. But more than that, I get to champion a friend whose vision, integrity, and commitment to craft inspire me every day.The pieces she and Cromwell make together are like that, too: strong, soulful, beautifully built. You can feel the care in every line, every drawer glide, every smooth curve of a hand-rubbed finish.

I’m proud to feature their work. But more than that, I’m just proud of them. Oh, and the whole Schupp family? Pretty great, too.