Products – Love My DIY Home

Ep38 The Great Paint Debate: It’s Just Wood…Until It’s Not

The Great Paint Debate: It’s Just Wood…Until It’s Not Just starting out? ValFrania.com/LearnToFlip There’s a lot of noise in the furniture world when it comes to painting. Some people will tell you to never paint antiques. Others will paint anything without a second thought. If you’re new, it can feel like you’re stuck in the middle trying to figure out what’s actually right. This post is for you if you’ve ever stood in front of a piece wondering, “Am I about to make the wrong decision?” You’re not alone—and the answer isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Hit play ➡️ to listen to episode #38. See the furniture mentioned in the podcast below. It’s Not About Rules Furniture flipping isn’t about following strict rules like “always paint” or “never paint.” It’s about learning how to recognize what you’re working with. Because the truth is… Furniture really is just wood—until … Read more

Ep 36 The Great Paint Debate – How Do You Choose?

The Great Paint Debate: How Do You Choose? New to flipping? Start here: ValFrania.com/LearnToFlip Everyone wants to know what the “best paint” is. And honestly, that question is probably responsible for more confusion among beginners than almost anything else in furniture flipping. Spend a little time in online groups and you’ll quickly see why. One person swears by one brand, another says never use it, and before long, beginners feel like they need a chemistry degree just to paint a dresser. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to choose products, this episode is for you. We’re talking about how to think through paint choices based on your project, your goals, and the type of finish you actually want—not just what’s highly promoted online. Prefer to listen? Hit play below. Paint Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All One of the biggest mindset shifts you can make as a furniture artist is realizing that paint … Read more

Ep24 The Final Finish: Why Application Matters More Than the Paint Itself

Prefer to listen? >>> No paint cans were harmed in the making of this episode. The Final Finish: Why Application Matters More Than the Paint Itself If you’ve ever stood back after finishing a piece of furniture and thought, “This should look better than it does,” you’re not alone. One of the biggest misconceptions in furniture flipping is that a better finish comes from better paint. It doesn’t. More often than not, finish problems aren’t product problems — they’re application problems. Brush strokes. Drag marks. Patchy sheen. A finish that looks rushed instead of refined. Paint doesn’t fix those issues. It reveals them. Craftsmanship Is More Than Product Choice You can use the best paint on the market and still end up disappointed if the surface underneath wasn’t prepared properly or if the application was rushed. A professional-looking finish comes from judgment — knowing: when the surface is … Read more

Ep17: The 5 Types of Primer Every Furniture Artist Should Know

Which Primer Will Work Best for Your Project? The 5 Types of Primer Every Furniture Artist Should Know Primer shouldn’t feel like a trip through a chemistry lab — but sometimes the names alone can twist your tongue! In Episode 17 of Flipping Furniture for Profit, I break down the five primer types every flipper runs into and explain what each one actually does in real-life projects. You’ll finally understand which primer helps with adhesion, which one stops bleed-through, which one blocks stains, and which one is your best friend when nothing else seems to work. And yes… by the end you’ll be able to say “shellac-based stain-blocking primer” with confidence (maybe even twice in a row). I created a free workbook to go with the series — because teaching is my love language. Click the link to request the workbook >>> ValFrania.com/PrimerWorkbook Click below to listen to Episode 17 … Read more

Ep16: The Beginner’s Guide to Primer — When You Need It… and When You Don’t

If you’ve ever stood over a piece of furniture wondering, “Do I really need primer… or is this just one more thing people say I should do?” — this episode is your new best friend. Episode 16 of Flipping Furniture for Profit kicks off the Primer Power Series with a clear, beginner-friendly breakdown of when primer is essential — and when you can skip it without guilt (or fear… or a paint-peeling disaster). You’ll hear real stories from my early projects, simple guidelines you can use today, and a few “learned it the hard way so you don’t have to” moments that might make you laugh… or nod a little too hard. And because I know you don’t want to listen with a pen clenched in your hand, I put together a companion workbook for the whole 5-part series. It lets you relax and enjoy the episodes — then flip … Read more

Unique Sixteen Drawer Cabinet Redesign (PART 4)

Today, I’m going to take you behind the scenes for the last set of drawers in my workshop cabinet. It’s been such a fun project! You know, I’ve been using this cabinet to store all those random tools and furniture parts that used to be scattered all over my workshop. And let me tell you, it’s not just super handy, but it’s also super cute! I’m a firm believer in surrounding myself with beautiful things, especially in my workshop. It just sparks that creative fire, you know? What’s really cool about this project is that each drawer front has a unique design. It’s like a mini canvas where I can express my personality and showcase different furniture redesign techniques. It’s creativity on a teeny tiny scale, and I absolutely love it! In case you’ve missed out on my previous posts, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are the links: … Read more

[VIDEO] Master the Art of Antiquing – Retique It Glaze Tutorial

The Art of Glazing Yep. Glazing can be intimidating! I remember the first time I used glaze on a couple of pieces. Oh my, I’d thought I’d ruined it. But then a weird thing happened. I waited a day, took another look and LOVED it. So now I always tell my members to wait a day before deciding that the outcome wasn’t good enough. It’s funny what one day will do to your perspective. Yesterday I glazed the doors on my end table and at first I thought that I wasn’t happy with how it turned out. It didn’t look like picture I had in my head. But then it happened again! Today I LOVE it and I can’t wait to list it. What a transformation! Here’s the BEFORE with another piece I picked up at the same time. It was cleaned, repaired and primed with oil-based paint. My … Read more

[VIDEO] Tool Tip – The Allway Contour Scraper

Sometimes there is a simple solution to a pain in the wazoo situation when it comes to prep. Have you ever had to remove from the bottom of an end table foot those nasty ol’ stick on floor saver thingys? I have and it occurred to me that I had a tool that would make short work of a dirty job – I no longer had to try to pull them off with my fingers. I know, it takes me a while sometimes but I eventually find an easier and painless way to do things…because I hate prep, and it needs to be done. This is a short video showing you how I used a simple tool – the (afflink) Allway Contour Scraper. I use it all the time for so many different things. What’s your fave tool? Let me know in the comments. My workshop is full of great … Read more

[VIDEO] Finding the Time to Flip

I’ve gotten many comments like this, “Val, I have no idea how you get so much done!” or, “You amaze me at all the things you do, how do you do it?” Well, some of my ability to accomplish as much as I do is through planning and patterning. I learned it back in the day when we were raising our 15 kids at the same time we were in the ministry doing 111 different things. The days flew by and the list kept getting longer, so I had to do something to keep on task and accomplish the things that mattered to me. Patterning is developing good daily habits, creating a lifestyle that was productive in a way that I didn’t even have to think about what to do next. It’s eeking out time to do at least a little of what needed to be done, giving myself margin, … Read more

Unique Sixteen Drawer Cabinet Redesign (PART 3)

Today I’m showing you how I designed four more drawer fronts. I’m enjoying using it for my random tools and furniture parts that were scattered all over my workshop and it doesn’t hurt that the cabinet is super cute either. I like having prettying things around me, especially in my workshop because it inspires me. Each drawer is designed differently to not only show my own personality, but to also showcase some different furniture redesign techniques on a teeny tiny scale. Here are the other posts in case you’ve not seen them: Unique Sixteen Drawer Cabinet Redesign (PART 1), and Unique Sixteen Drawer Cabinet Redesign (PART 2). 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 prime it … Read more