Get to know Paula Blankenship

Paula Blankenship’s love for home interiors, DIY, furniture and design started at a young age in her small Tennessee hometown. She eventually moved to Kentucky and became a commercial interior designer, traveling to New York City often. Paula created Heirloom Traditions Paint in 2013 to keep her then-teenage son Braden occupied after school.

Since then, Heirloom Traditions Paint has become a leader in developing paint products that remove the guesswork for even the most novice painter – providing a beautiful result. Paula works as CEO, and her husband, Craig Cameron, is president of the company, which is headquartered in Kentucky.

1. What originally sparked your passion for reinventing furniture and cabinetry?

I grew up in the furniture business. My parents owned a store my entire life, and in my twenties my sister and I opened our own. Even with access to beautiful furniture, I was always drawn to auctions and pieces that needed restoration. I watched my mother paint in her store to relax, and I saw how paint could completely transform something that might otherwise be discarded. Painting became my way to unwind and to create something beautiful from what others overlooked. I realized many people did not know they could renew their own furniture. That is where the idea began. Paint was the catalyst not only for transforming a piece, but for changing the way I viewed possibility.

2. What was the moment you knew Heirloom Traditions Paint was going to become something bigger than a DIY hobby?

I first listed my product line on eBay because it gave me an instant storefront to the world 24- hours-a-day. My goal was simple. Sell $100 a day to replace inventory and pay my son while teaching him entrepreneurship. I had moved him to Louisville before high school so he could attend a school built around faith, family, and finance. He was not happy about the move. The paint business became something we built together. When I saw it changing his mindset and creating opportunity for us, I realized it was more than a hobby. It was building belief and a future.

3. Is there a personal project or piece from early in your career that still inspires the work you do today?

Yes. When we moved to Louisville, I painted many of the formal pieces from our Tennessee home to make them more relaxed and informal. I blended them with secondhand finds and created a home that felt familiar yet refreshed. I began sharing single photos of these projects on early Facebook. The response surprised me. Many people had never seen furniture painted before and asked very simple questions. That is when I realized there was an opportunity to teach people how to renew what they already owned.

4. What’s your favorite paint color?

I genuinely love all colors. My home is primarily black, white, and neutrals so my large, colorful artwork can stand out. I am an artist, and color energizes both my home and our studio spaces. There is no color family I dislike, although I am less drawn to muddy tones. For me, color is about clarity, emotion, and possibility.

5. You’ll be leading two cabinet painting demos at the show — what can attendees expect to learn that will give them the confidence to tackle their own kitchens?

Students will leave with both knowledge and confidence. I teach them how to properly clean cabinets to remove grease and oil, then demonstrate my brush and roll technique that creates a beautifully smooth finish. I show them how to paint around hinges so they can leave doors on if they prefer. With my product there is no sanding or primer required, and I explain why that works.

Most importantly, I remove fear and give them the skills to successfully paint their cabinets at home.

6. For homeowners who have never painted cabinets before, what’s the one piece of advice you always give them?

Be open to learning. This is not your mama’s paint. Modern paint technology is advanced and requires updated technique. When homeowners stay curious and follow the proper method, their results are dramatically better.

7. What are you most excited to share with the Central Kentucky DIY community this year?

I am excited to share my new book, Just Open the Jar, which will be available in bookstores in June. I hope to have copies available in April, and it is currently available for preorder. We will have QR codes available for easy ordering. We will also have a booth showcasing our products. I am especially excited to meet members of our community and share the joy and transformative power of painting from the stage.

8. What’s a DIY trend you’re loving right now — and one you’d be happy to leave in the past?

I do not focus on trends. I encourage people to surround themselves with what they love rather than what is currently popular. Trends change quickly and often lead to unnecessary waste. Instead, repaint what you own, thrift solid wood furniture, and restore pieces that still have value. There is more joy in renewal than constant replacement.

9. When you design a room, what is the most important interior design advice you give?

The room must reflect the homeowner, not my personal vision. My role is to refine their ideas, not dominate them. I often look at what colors they wear or begin with an anchor piece such as a rug or artwork to guide the design. The emotional feeling of the space is just as important as the visual design. A room should support how someone wants to live and feel in their home.

10. What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you outside of your work in the DIY world?

I am an avid animal lover, especially cats. I have four beloved black cats ranging from 20-years old to two. I am also a grandmother of nine, which is one of my greatest joys. Even in my free time, I paint large canvas artwork. Paint follows me everywhere and is part of my daily life.

Catch Paula Blankenship’s Paint-Cabinet 101 Brush & Roll demonstration on the Main Stage of the Central Kentucky Home Show on Friday, April 10 at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 11 at 5 p.m., and Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. Learn more and get your tickets here.

Check out Paula on Facebook and Instagram.