Unique Sixteen Drawer Cabinet Redesign

A few years ago, my friend’s mom passed away and I was given her little 16 drawer cabinet by her daughter. She had used it for her sauce packets and tea bags. It took me along time to figure out what I wanted to do with it, how to redesign it and for what purpose. The it hit me. I could use it for my random tools and furniture parts that were scattered all over my workshop. Ah ha! So I got busy and designed each drawer differently to not only show my own personality, but to also showcase some different furniture redesign techniques on a teeny tiny scale.   The BEFORE: To prepare a piece for paint, DH and I first needed to clean, sand and prime: Remove the Colonial looking top part. Cleaned with Krud Kutter and scuff sand. Shore up the drawers so they fit well. Spray … Read more

[VIDEO] Maximize Sales With A DIY Retique It Liquid Wood Sample Board

 Are you a furniture flipper and/or a Retique It retailer? Now you can create a sample board for your customers that is portable enough to be taken with you anywhere. Show your future customers the beauty and versatility of Retique It’s Liquid Wood and let them see and feel for themselves the uniqueness and versatility of our most favorite furniture flipping tool. You too can create your own professional sample board just like mine!  While you are visiting my Youtube channel, please subscribe.   CLICK THE PIC BELOW TO WATCH THE TUTORIAL! ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓ Want more ideas, resources, tips and furniture flipping tutorials? My membership for furniture flippers opens a few times a year. Subscribe to THE DROPCLOTH to be notified when it opens: Https://ValFrania.com/theDROPCLOTH. You’ll also get a Free PDF Paint Reference Guide along with tips, tutorials and lots of other furniture flipping helps! See links below: ✅ To learn … Read more

From Gun Cabinet to Display Cabinet – Upcycle, Don’t Toss!

We go to garage and estate sales looking for deals or just something fun for our house, our kids or to flip. I guess you could call us “PICKERS.” I don’t usually have anything in mind. I can look at something and envision something else. DH can’t do it at all. I’ll say, Oooh, wouldn’t that look good in blue with a dark glaze and he’ll say, “Ok, if you say so.” He’s learned to rely on my vision. I rely on his ability to size something up that needs repairs and know whether it’s a good buy. After all, he’s the one who will be fixing it. I’m fortunate. He’s pretty good at fixing things. We saw this gun cabinet turned shelving unit at a garage sale. I’ve always looked for narrow cabinets. Too often they are very wide and take up too much space. This one was narrow … Read more

[VIDEO] A Cat Condo for Two – Part 4

A Cat Condo for Two – Part 4 Welcome back! This is my fourth video tutorial for my project, A Cat Condo for Two. This was a big project with many different designs and techniques, so I split it up into four videos. If you’ve not seen them yet, go to the first one and make your way through. Here are the links to the first three tutorial videos: A Cat Condo for Two – Part 1 A Cat Condo for Two – Part 2 A Cat Condo for Two – Part 3 This video is a quick look at how I decorated the other side of this Cat Condo for Two. Since it’ll be in my office for the time being, I won’t see this side. It’s next to the wall, but that’s OK since I tend to move things around in my house. I took the opportunity to … Read more

[VIDEO] Part 3 – A Cat Condo for Two

A Cat Condo for Two – Part 3 Welcome to the Third “A Cat Condo for 2” Video Series! To see the first two videos in this series, A Cat Condo for 2 – Part 1 and a Cat Condo for 2 – Part 2, where I show you the first two stages of this redesign, and the changes I made when I didn’t like my first attempt. Come along with me as this dresser turns into my Mia and Max’s beautiful Cat Condo for 2. Here’s the BEFORE: In this video, I show you how I redesigned the right side of the piece: creating a decorative background, embellishing the raised stenciling with metallics, plus color blending techniques on the top and bottom drawer. The two sides of the Cat Condo are different…just for fun. When you create for yourself, it’s easier to experiment and do things differently because in … Read more

[VIDEO] A Cat Condo for 2 – Part 2

This is the second video in my Cat Condo for 2 series. Click the link to see the first video, Cat Condo for 2 Part 1 where I show you the beginning stages of this redesign. I didn’t my first attempt, so I started over – I’m inviting you to come along as this dresser turns into my Mia and Max’s beautiful Cat Condo for 2. In this video, I show you how I changed course from my original plan of using a green distressed look to a much better design using completely different paint colors and techniques: raised stenciling, stenciling, and color blending. If in doubt…don’t. Sometimes we don’t like the course we are on and need to change it. Just do it. You’ll be happier in the end. Some of the Products Used in this Project: Retique It Gothic Grey, Spiced Cider, Willow, Camelot & Midnight Black Ultratique All-in-One Paint Retique It Royal … Read more

[VIDEO] A Cat Condo for 2 – Part 1

A Cat Condo for Two – Part 1 Originally I had a little kitty tower that I created for my cat, MIA that sat next to me in my office where she would be with me during the day and hopefully curtail her walking on my keyboard as I worked. For the most part it was a great fix, and we both enjoyed being together most of the day, though she often asserted herself when she felt it was time to feed her by walking back and forth in front of me as I typed. I’m a totally obsessed cat lady, so when we got a second cat, MAX, from the shelter, I had to do something different for my office. More on that in the video… MIA was one of three sisters dumped at our vet’s. I’d not had a cat in YEARS, so it was a real treat … Read more

4 Sided Decor Tin for Staging

A DIY 4 Sided Decorator Tin for Staging Furniture  Combining Saltwash, Retique It Ultratique, & Southern Blenders   I created a DIY decor series for my Blueprint members a while ago. This is one of the projects I included and I’m sharing it today with you to encourage you to do a bit of DIY to help your bottom line. Ya know…there are more ways to make money besides raising our prices, like finding ways to cut our expenses. Save some $$ by creating your own staging decor. This tin is just one example of a really inexpensive piece you can change with paint – or in this case, paint and Saltwash. Click the picture below and it will take you to the tutorial on my YouTube channel where you can find more tutorials and reviews. Do you DIY? If so, what have you done? Leave a comment and tell … Read more

[VIDEO] Product Review – Phone Camera Lens Kit by Isaac Jones

Isaac has been working with me creating videos for 5 years now. Believe it or not, his first set of videos were when he was 12. He helped me put together a course for kids, demonstrating how to redesign furniture – CREATIVE KIDS FURNITURE ART. He was pretty amazing back then – but now? WOW. He’s a pro at age 17. This video is his review of tiny little lenses you can add to your phone to enhance your photos. In my case, I use them when I stage my redesigned furniture. I’ve bought and or downloaded several products, apps and programs he’s recommended because he takes the time to learn them and finds the ones that are the best price for the quality. Take a look. If you love photography and would like to take some cool shots or need to extend the usability of your phone, this kit might … Read more

Apply [Retique It] Polyacrylic Without Drag

When I first started redesigning furniture, applying the topcoat was very frustrating for me. It dried too quickly, giving me drag. Drag happens when you swipe another strip of poly overtop poly that has already started to dry. It’s tricky to get a good application when the poly dries too fast. This could happen if the room you are working in is very dry or too warm. So make sure there’s enough humidity in the room and/or the proper temperature to give you time to work. No matter what I did back then, I couldn’t get a smooth, consistent finish. After lots of sleepless nights, then plenty of practice and research, I discovered a method that works AND a product that makes it so very easy. In this video, I demonstrate applying Retique It Polyacrylic with a detailer sponge. Easy peasy! The Polyacrylic (interior water-based polyurethane) and Polytique It (exterior … Read more

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