Retique It – Love My DIY Home

[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

[VIDEO] A How-to Patriotic Coffee Table Set Tutorial

We’ve had these two pieces for a long time sitting in our garage. I was never really sure what I wanted to do with them. It’s no secret that coffee tables are hard to sell, so I was wanting to do something special with them to grab the attention of possible buyers. It’s a balance. You want to redesign your furniture pieces in a way that will appeal to a large audience, but if you stick with a simple, one color design, people might just scroll on by. But if you get too creative, your customer group will seriously narrow. BALANCE is the key. We do tend to redesign according to our own individual tastes, our own style, which isn’t a bad thing if our vision isn’t too wild or on the other end of the spectrum, boring. It’s no fun painting a piece in a way that we dislike. … 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

[VIDEO] Get PRO Results (Part 4) – Painting Crisp Lines with Tape

[VIDEO] Get PRO Results Furniture Painting Tips for Beginners >> Part 4 << The video below is the fourth in a mini series sharing some PRO tips about furniture painting. ICYMI, Video #1 is : 14 Furniture Painting Tips and Video #2 is: 7 Furniture Painting Tips. Video #3 is: 3 Methods for Painting Furniture Without Tape. Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel while you’re there. Link to my video on Youtube if video doesn’t play: https://youtu.be/CqMMRa0uhmE The Method explained in the video: Using a stencil brush rather than a regular paint brush is key. Watch why! NOTE: This is what I do – by all means, find out what works best for you! WANT TIPS? Do you do contact work? As in, a customer asks you to paint THEIR piece. When you subscribe to my email list, you’ll get my FREE PDF that will help you … Read more

[VIDEO] Get PRO Results (Part 3) – 3 Methods for Painting Furniture Without Tape

[VIDEO] Get PRO Results Furniture Painting Tips for Beginners >> Part 3 << The video below is the third in a mini series sharing some PRO tips about furniture painting. ICYMI, Video #1 is : 14 Furniture Painting Tips and Video #2 is: 7 Furniture Painting Tips. Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel while you’re there. I’m walking you through each step with real projects. It is my hope that you will want to dive in and grow your skills in every area. If you want to start at the beginning, first learn about paint. Below the video are some links to get you started. You can dip your toe in or jump in with both feet – up to you. Link to my video on Youtube if video doesn’t play: https://youtu.be/CqMMRa0uhmE The 3 Methods explained in the video: Using just your brush, you just need to decide if you’ll TIP, WIGGLE … Read more

[VIDEO] Get PRO Results (Part 2) – 7 Furniture Painting Tips for Beginners

[VIDEO] Get PRO Results Furniture Painting Tips for Beginners >> Part 2 << The video below is the second in a mini series sharing some PRO tips about furniture painting. For the first in this series, go here: 14 Furniture Painting Tips. Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel while you’re there. I’m walking you through each step with real projects. It is my hope that you will want to dive in and grow your skills in every area. If you want to start at the beginning, first learn about paint. Below the video are some links to get you started. You can dip your toe in or jump in with both feet – up to you. Link to my video on Youtube if video doesn’t play: https://youtu.be/VBRwlFbI7P4 The 7 TIPS explained in the video: Use: A popsicle stick, paint cup, kitchen mat, glass jar, round brush, do a … Read more

Unique Sixteen Drawer Cabinet Redesign (PART 2)

My last post here on LMDH showed you my latest project for my workshop, and the designs of the first four drawer fronts. Today I’m showing you four more. I’m using it for my random tools and furniture parts that were scattered all over my workshop. 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 is the first post in case you’ve not seen it: Unique Sixteen Drawer Cabinet Redesign PART 1. 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 with oil-based primer. The piece is rustic, so I didn’t feel like I had to make it … Read more

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