Love My DIY Home

Coffee Table Comes Alive – An OFMP Update

Since I wanted to try out the two OFMP greens, Lexington and Tavern, layering seemed the best way to go. The first layer was Lexington. I added Extra Bond after a bit of research, since stain came off onto my sponge when I was cleaning in preparation for painting and I didn’t want to use shellac. The supposition is that the Extra Bond would seal in the stain if I mixed it into my first layer of OFMP. It covered well with not a hint on the dark stain bleeding through. So far so good.

Old Tissue Box Revived – Spray Paint Season is Here!

I first wrote this in the beginning of 2015, and the technique has become quite popular, so I’m playing it again, Sam… Another consignment shop find has found itself at the end of my spray paint can. I do enjoy spray painting – it’s quick and requires no top coat. It doesn’t fit every scenario, but once in a while it’s the best choice. Spray paint season is once upon us and so let the games begin… While dropping off STUFF…you know that STUFF that sat in your basement for years wondering if they’d ever turn into a “real piece of decor,” I found this cool little tissue box holder slathered in hand painted foofy flowers. Not really my style, but I could picture it painted. E.A.S.I.L.Y. I had done something similar to what was floating around in my head on an antique table for … Read more

Lighting for Staging Furniture {Love My DIY Home}

Furniture Staging – Lighting

Natural Light is Fickle I went a couple of years without proper lighting for my furniture staging. But, I checked out modern custom cabinetry Gamma Cabinetry, to decorate my house with my furniture. It proved to be very difficult to catch natural light and eliminate distracting shadows. I would often have to fix any lighting errors on Photoshop before I was able to post my projects. Frustrating didn’t cover it. It made me crazy to spend hours trying to create a quality representation of my piece. The worst moment was when I needed to get my post out and I hadn’t taken pictures yet and the sun was fading. Ugh. It wasn’t pretty. Homeowners may also look at a Modern seus lighting collection if you want to improve your home’s lighting. Choosing the Right Light Kit My DH finally decided to just go on ahead and buy me a light … Read more

Budget Industrial Lights Idea Board {Love My DIY Home}

Industrial Lighting on a Budget

It’s Time to Shed Some Light on Your DIY Projects Since becoming an affiliate for several online stores, I’ve got the Gimme Gots for home decor. Industrial, vintage, farmhouse…today’s styles are quite interesting and look great with the new painted/distressed/antiqued furniture look. Definition: Gimme Gots gim·me /ˈɡimē/ informal – contraction verb: gimme = give me gotz / slang for have An overwhelming feeling that one must have something that is only satisfied by the purchase of the first and last detail. With Spring around the corner, we’re all dreaming of updates – my latest piece to my puzzle is lighting. We have two hallways in desperate need some statement lighting – you know, that just right fixture that gives you pause. You’ve painted the accent table and and hung a matching mirror. The walls have a fresh coat of paint and the flooring is done. The rugs, baskets, candles … Read more

Background Options for DIY Indoor Photography

Photography Backgrounds – Are They Really Necessary? Whether you are into still photography or portraiture, you have known the pain of trying to get it just right while shooting indoor. Lighting, backgrounds and flooring options can improve or limit your outcome. Some of my most frustrating moments has been trying to make due with what I have to get a good shot. But shooting outdoor isn’t the safest or easiest scenario. If it’s: too cold too hot windy too bright intermittent shade It can be challenging or even impossible to get a good shot. But then if you take it indoors you have other issues. Background, flooring, lighting, and available space all play a part in good staging. It is challenging to find a good day for outdoor photography. A good day was overcast, warm, and not windy. If it wasn’t overcast, you’d have to run around trying to find … Read more

80s Bookshelf Redesigned {Love My DIY Home}

1980s Style Bookshelf Redesigned

I’ve been tooting the “flip it don’t toss it” horn for quite a while now – have you heard it? Look around your house. Do you own any furniture that is the same ol’ same ol’ from the 80s? Are you tired of hum drum? Let’s look at a bookshelf re-designed out of the 80s and into the present. This old thing has been sitting in my hallways for a dozen years. It was time for a change and I’m not willing to go out and spend $100, but I will pick up a brush. Since (aff link) The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company provided products for this project, I was able to experiment a bit and come up with an original piece of art. Yep. I said “art.” Art isn’t always a framed picture on a wall. Art can be anything that an artist creates. What makes an artist? They … Read more

It’s About TIME – The Skinny on a Little Side Table

Last week when I tried out the (aff link) HomeRight Finish Max on a rolling storage cabinet, I threw in a little skinny side table. Two for the price of one, so to speak. It was green, then dark brown, and now it’s a light tan, with decorative stenciling. It’s a bore no more. Super easy, 1,2,3,4 1. Spray one coat with Benjamin Moore Advance using a (aff link) HomeRight Finish Max. I only did one coat for easy distressing. 2. Distress, lightly. 3. (aff link) Stencil clocks and some French script. Get some paint in your brush and wipe most of it away on a paper towel or paper plate. I use acrylic paint. This is a dry brushing technique. Tape your stencil in place and do a quick up and down movement with the brush to get the paint onto your surface without it bleeding under. It’s easier … Read more

Rolling Cabinet Makeover with HomeRight Finish Max Sprayer

“Spray it Pretty” #sponsored post This month The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest®, “Spray it Pretty” is sponsored by (aff link) HomeRight. They sent us all a Finish Max sprayer to complete our projects, something I’ve been hearing a lot about from other furniture flippers, so I was glad to give it a try. Along with the sprayer gift, HomeRight is giving prizes to one winner – one being this (aff links) spray shelter. We bought “Ellie” at an estate sale – the same one where we got the Ethan Allen China Cabinet that I turned into a buffet a few months ago. She was one of the last pieces remaining at the estate sale on the last day. I hadn’t even noticed her the two times I had looked through the sale and only saw her when we were finished loading all of our purchases into our truck. She was … Read more

7 Tips for Pricing Flipped Furniture Without Stress

As you finish your flipped furniture and put it up for sale, do your research on pricing and then stick to your advertised price. Every piece I’ve sold has had low-ball offers thrown at me. Here is a bit of advice drawn from experience on how to lessen the stress associated with selling your creations: 1. Don’t be offended – most people are looking for a deal and don’t think of it is offensive to low-ball or to ask for a discount. I usually just respond with, “Thanks for the offer, but my price is firm.” It never pays to be rude. Within a few minutes of posting “Katherine”, I received an offer of $100 – I had it priced at $175, a special price since it was so close to Christmas. Here is the actual PM: . She came and bought it at full price. She was a very … Read more

OFMP Ethan Allen Coffee Table Updated {Love My DIY Home}

Ethan Allen Coffee Table Stars in “The Taming of the Shrew”

#sponsored post It looked like an easy flip… Have you ever had a DIY project that you just wanted to throw out the window, chop it up with an ax and then burn it to make sure it was totally eradicated from your memory? Beware of the “easy” ones… There’s a little consignment shop about 45 minutes from us that we go to occasionally to look for furniture to flip. The prices are reasonable, usually, so it’s worth the trip. Of course visiting their other little shops and burger joint doesn’t hurt the experience either. We found an Ethan Allen coffee table that looked like an easy flip, so we grabbed it and brought it home. (It’s the “EASY” ones you need to watch out for.) DH found one similar online at Etsy – ZBrothers Furniture, so I’m guessing the added white was either special order or just … Read more