Kennesaw’s Painted Butterfly an artsy place to shop

It’s hard to miss Holly Jones’ Kennesaw store. It’s the one with the monster-sized pink porch chair out by the curb.

A little more than a year ago, Jones, an artist, moved into a former bungalow on the city’s Main Street where she puts her finishes on furniture, old windows, doors and chairs — in a range of sizes from kid to Shrek.

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H.M. Cauley

Perk up a kid’s room with a dresser and table painted with the Cat in the Hat. Artist Holly Jones will paint almost any surface.

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Jones’ fruit and wine motifs are best sellers.

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Her signature items are giant, colorful wooden butterflies on sticks that go easily into the yard or a potted plant. Another specialty is painting pet portraits in the frames of old windows. On most days, she’s on the porch, putting a paint brush to her latest project.

“I go from funky to realistic,” said Jones. “But it’s all a trash-to-treasures mentality. People bring me old doors and windows, and I go to yard sales to find things to paint.”

What you’ll find

Jones will paint on just about any surface: end tables, dressers, canvas floor mats, steamer trunks, dining chairs, doors, rocking chairs, jugs, decorative plates, pillows, bar stools. She makes as well as paints some of the items, including an assortment of birdhouses with recycled books for roofs. She also comes up with personal designs for furniture pieces that customers bring to her.

The small store is a warren of rooms packed with her imaginative designs. The kids’ room comes with scaled-down chairs, desks and tables in vivid hues. A bureau in bright blue sports the image of the Cat in the Hat; a small table is emblazoned with Mickey Mouse. A Christmas room is filled with her handmade ornaments and decorations. The hallway is lined with her paintings, many landscapes depicting fields in Tuscany or Provence or bottles of wine.

Jones also produces inspirational signs that add humor to any room (“Marriage has no guarantees; if you want a guarantee, live with a car battery”). There’s also a selection of ponchos and purses that she designs and produces.

Prices range from a few dollars to $200.

Trends

The butterflies in her work are perennial favorites of customers, said Jones. But there’s been a recent interest in any decorations with wine connections — bottles, labels, vineyard scenes. Rich Tuscan colors and scenes are also popular.

Best sellers

The wood butterflies on posts attract many buyers into the store. Jones also has developed a market for her customized pet portraits.

WHERE TO FIND IT

The Painted Butterfly

2760 S. Main St., Kennesaw

770-419-0200

Hours: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday

In the area: The store is a short stroll to the heart of Kennesaw, where there are several shops and restaurants.