Antebellums Meet Chris

     My name is Chris Moody and I became interested in woodwork and antiques in my teens. I refinished several pieces of old furniture bought at garage sales and a few years after high school started working at antique auctions part-time and began admiring and purchasing antiques. I began a short career at a custom millwork and furniture manufacturer as a finisher in the paint department. There I worked with many varieties of woods and learned all sorts of painting and finishing techniques.

     Around 1995, some friends suggested that we should come up with an idea for some type of craft that we could market at a local craft show. We looked for ideas and came across barn wood frames. We gathered some old wood at a nearby salvage warehouse and began to make frames. I was hooked and “Antebellums” was born. Our first craft show went well. Encouraged, I started searching all over the south in barns, flea markets, salvage yards and antique stores to find other architectural elements. I found spindles from old porches and stairs, windows and doors taken out of old homes along with great supplies of moldings and tongue & groove boards. After a while, my partners got involved with other projects, but I continued to come up with new ideas and have kept going.

     I now live and work in Montgomery, AL with my two dogs Jake and Jasper. I built a workshop behind my house a few years ago and have a great place to store and create new things. Because most of the materials I collect have been left out in the weather, their colors vary and have different levels of distress. This makes each item that I produce a one-of-a-kind addition to your home.