home decor

Antique Side Table Updated with OFMP – An Empire Case Goods Co. Antique

Pepper – An Empire Case Goods Co. Antique This is a Sponsored Post I found a sweet little antique bedroom side table from the Empire Case Goods Company at an estate auction. It was in bad shape and everyone was passing it by like it had no more life to it. I knew better. I immediately knew it was a great find and fought till I won it. It was a bit pricey, but totally worth it. Pricey for me might not mean the same thing to others…  Upon a bit of research, I found the manufacturer of this side table, the Empire Case Goods Co., listed in a 620 page library book of Jamestown, New York 1915-1916 Town Directory. From what I’ve read elsewhere, the company was formed in 1912.  This side table was sold by the Donath Furniture Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their tag was stapled to the … Read more

Making a Statement

Do you have vision? One of my Blueprint members, Lori Marie of 10-9 Designs has the eye. You know, the one that can see what not’s there. Fortunately, if you have the eye AND have to power or skill to make it happen, you can recreate your vision on a piece of furniture that makes a statement. Whether that statement is one like this piece, emphasizing one’s devotion appreciation, or desiring to just put art out there that soothes the soul. This piece was typical of an old antique that’s been sitting in someone’s basement, not really matching anyone’s style. Some gripe about antiques being painted, but I say it’s better someone enjoy a piece than have it sit collecting dust. If an antique is not in pristine condition, it’s probably not worth much anyway. Go here for an article I wrote about it after I looked into the subject … Read more

Sometimes it’s the little things that grab attention…

Have you tried dry brushing? Sometimes a little tweek to your redesign plan can grab attention and set your piece apart from the hundreds advertised online. Here’s a very short video to show you one piece that got an update fetching a pretty penny from a discerning customer. I especially like techniques that are NOT expensive that are EASY. If you like tips and prefer them by video, check out my video tips series.  >>> Blessings, my creative friend.

Click for Tips

Do you spend hours online looking for answers? I used to. Now I have them written down, categorized and tested. And now YOU can have 100 tried and true furniture flipping tips in 50+ videos. Watch this video for some pricing tips.

Mold on Your Furniture?

How to Clean a Piece of Furniture Prior to Painting to Ensure Mold is Killed and Will Not Reappear * Guest Post by John Ward * I recently obtained an antique credenza at a garage sale. This hardwood masterpiece was looking a bit worse for wear, so I decided it needed a facelift. However, after examining it, I discovered it had mold spots. Whenever people hear mold, thoughts quickly jump to the black gunk we see on walls or those powdery spots on cardboard boxes stashed in the basement. But, as you may know, mold can also grow on furniture, often appearing in spots. Mold is a pretty common problem, and effectively killing mold on a piece of furniture is difficult, to say the least. If you have a piece of furniture that you want to flip, here’s the best course of action to permanently get rid of mold before … Read more

Looking to Add Revenue to Your Furniture Biz?

Next Level Flipping in the Retique It Pro Network Nearly two years ago I noticed someone named Michele Corwin on Furniture Flipping Forum suggesting the product Retique It to some of the members in comments. I was curious and messaged her, asking what the product was and if she was the company owner. She was, and that began a friendship that has led to not only my enjoying her products, but actually promoting them. I don’t promote products unless I have used them and think they would be good for my members. I now consider Michele a friend and want to introduce you to some opportunities that she has for you to grow your business by adding more revenue. Try her products and then consider how they can play a part in growing your business. It’s always a good thing to look into ways to add revenue to your business. … Read more

Dye Stain, Java Gel & Water-based Stain Comparison

Adding a Bit of Pizazz I have a lot to share with you today – and I’m using several different products and several different methods and techniques to try them out and let you know what I’ve learned or discovered. NOTE: Most products listed are affiliate links.   So here we go. First up: Let’s look at the differences between three different General Finishes stains: Java Gel (my personal favorite), regular water-based stain, and dye stains. If you’ve not used General Finishes dye stains, order some and check them out. They are water-based and super easy to work with. So here’s the deets: After prepping the piece, I painted the body in Loganberry from Chalky Chicks and topcoated it with matte CrystaLac water-based polyurethane. I left some of the wood parts that were had a nice grain and spiffed them up with Wise Owl Lemon Verbena salve, a gift from … Read more

From Dresser to Dining Room Buffet

From [Side-of-the-Road] Trash to Treasure Our daughter, Katie, had told us she was looking for a buffet for her dining room. It had to be a certain size and very cheap. And of course, since I redesign furniture, I figured I could find one for a good price and just paint it her colors. If you want to hire services for cleaning painted flat walls with ease, you can get them here easily.  It took us a bit, but we eventually found this one for FREE [free is good] alongside the road. My two daughters and two grandkids did all the prep work and I helped with the painting. Some struggle with how to help their family when they have a project. Some charge them and do all the work. Some give a discount, and do all the work. For me, if it’s a piece already done and listed that … Read more

Upcycled Antique Window Wall Decor

NOTE: All red hyperlinks are affiliate links for your convenience.*   UPCYCLING AN OLD WINDOW I found an old window (click site for window repalcements) at a salvage warehouse and thought it would make a good addition to my living room walls. The only problem was it was old, dirty and falling apart. But I had a plan which is solar tinting as suggested by the professionals. I could see it all spiffed up and shiny new even though it looked like this: I paid $12 for it and asked DH to load it up. He shook his head and took it home for me. See, DH can’t envision like I can, so he often wonders how I can make something like this look good enough to use for decor. Fortunately he’s willing to help and has knowledge from past experience that helps me transform a piece. Reglazing The old … Read more

Outdated Cabinet Upcycled into a Cat Bed

It’s the same with babies and cats. They tend to take over your house. Cat bed, toys, littler box, tunnel…my kids think I’m nuts. They come over to my house and you have to step over all of Mia’s stuff. Let’s face it. Mia is my baby, so I enjoy seeing her lounge and play. Catadorn is my go-to shop for cat toys and accessories. So I had this idea that maybe others might like to have some furniture that has a duo-function. How about an end table that hides a cat bed when company comes over? Here is the before. I got it at a garage sale for just a few bucks. The picture looks kinda nice, doesn’t it? This is a case where the photo fools the eye. It’s was in pretty bad shape and needed help. I think it was supposed to look high end, but somehow … Read more

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