Woman’s Day Feature and 9 Thrift Shopping Tips

Hey there, Friends! Hope you’ve had a good Monday…can you even believe July is almost over? Me neither- unbelievable! Things have been so busy around our house lately with school prep for all the boys. Wesley, our oldest son, is going to college in mid- August, our youngest son, Colby, starts high school next week, ( NEXT week?? Do Summers keep getting shorter and shorter or WHAT?! ) and Tanner, our middle son, will be a sophomore this year in high school….I just still cannot grasp any of this, but it’s still going to happen, right?! Wesley turned 19 this month, and I realized I have been a SAHM ( stay at home Mom ) for 19 years!! Wow. It has gone incredibly fast, and I’m proud of my boys and the young men they have become ( and are becoming! ) 🙂 I have loved being home with my boys all these years.It’s been the BEST job I’ve ever had. Not always easy, but extremely satisfying. It’s been a fun Summer, but as it gets closer to August, I’m starting to have to look reality in the face that my oldest is leaving our Nest. Oh, it’s a wonderful time and a sad time, ( but wonderful + sad still = bittersweet! ) . Thankfully, he won’t be too far from home! New seasons in life…..

 On a happier note, a fun thing  happened to me a few months ago. I got an email from the Home editor of  Woman’s Day magazine, Andriana Verdi. She said she ran across my blog while researching chandeliers for a flea market finds article, and asked if I would be interested in sharing some tips for painting chandeliers, lighting, & furniture. I read the email, and immediately thought it was spam! lol I replied back that YES, I would very much like to be a part of that article, and we corresponded back and forth over a few weeks period. She sent some Q & A questions for me to complete, and I emailed them back to her. Magazines come out on newstands prior to that month’s issue, so my Mom was first to find the August issue in July, and called me. I asked her what it said or looked like and her reply was something like, ” Oh, I don’t know, I just picked up the August issue and looked  until I found your picture!” She’s so cute and sweet, she said she wanted to tell the sales clerk that her daughter was in the magazine, but she refrained.  MOMS!! Gotta  love their pride & support for their children!  🙂 

My Mom even told me the page I was on, so I went to the grocery and found an August issue of  Woman’s Day. I tore through to the page, and there it was…… 

How cool. I come from a loooonng line of magazine- loving women starting with my maternal Grandmother, and then my own Mom. The chandelier pictured was not my work, and neither was the makeover steps, but there I was! My picture and a tip I had sent them.

The article is called, “Make Over Your Secondhand Finds: Turn thrifted items into statement pieces with smart DIY updates inspired by top bloggers.” It was a  fun & exciting  experience and I was HONORED to be a part of this feature!

 

“Rest a 6′ dowel between two ladders or sawhorses and securely tie the chandelier’s chain to the dowel. This makes spray-painting it easy because you can raise or lower the fixture to reach every angle.” ~ Melanie Robinson, thepaintedchandelierblog.com

That was the tip they chose of mine because the featured item was a chandelier they had made over at Woman’s Day. Just something I do when painting chandeliers that makes it easier. I also shared some other thrifting & painting tips that weren’t published, but will share with y’all below.

The other bloggers featured were Jennifer of with heart blog, Shaunna of Perfectly Imperfect blog, and Barb of Knack Studios blog. They each offered a different tip for each featured item Woman’s Day made over, as well.

I have  rediscovered what a great magazine Woman’s Day  is through this experience. They have garden, food, fashion, organization, home decor…you name it! And it’s still one of the best buys for a complete womens’ interest magazine at $2.79 an issue! Thank you, Ana, at Woman’s Day for reaching out to me. I would love to work with your beautiful magazine again sometime! 

Below are some Q & A’s about thrifting & painting pieces that I answered for WDM. I am by no means an expert, but I do have many years of experience painting and making mistakes learning things 🙂 !Please feel free to ask me a question in the comment area below or email me regarding any questions you have! I hope you feel inspired to try thrift store shopping ( if you haven’t) or to paint something you never have before…There is so much you can do to these pieces to give them a “high end” look for less and put your own signature spin on them.

9 Thrifting & Painting Q & A’s- ( How to Make Good Thrift Shop Purchases! )

1. When looking for furniture or accessories to redo, what’s your go-to source (ebay, craigslist, thrift store, flea market, etc.)?

 I typically look for furniture pieces, lighting, & accessories at thrift shops, antique shops, home décor consignment shops, & online yard sale sites.

2. Once you’re shopping, what’s your game plan? Do you scan the entire store/market first and then hone in on your favorite piece? Do you have an online search strategy? We’re curious what works best for you!

 If I’m working with a client and we know what type of piece we’re looking for, I tend to narrow my search down to that type of item. If I’m just looking for good investment pieces or one-of-a-kind pieces, I look at everything first, then hone in on the best pieces ( well made, attractive lines, potential, etc. )

3. How can you spot a good piece? What do you look for (good lines in a piece, something that’s not broken beyond repair, peeling paint that will be easy to remove, etc.)? Give us any examples you can!

 I love finding good pieces that have interesting lines, unusual features, and/or classic elements ( caning, nailhead trim, architectural details, claw feet, French lines, period pieces).  I will check to see how well made a furniture piece is by looking for dovetail joints, strong springs, cushions, and solid wood.  I don’t limit myself to buying just these pieces, but these are some telltale signs of well made furniture.  It also is good to know how to price the piece if you intend on selling painted furniture.  The more well made the piece is, the higher the price you can ask for your finished piece!  Some examples of great items I’ve found are bamboo chairs, French armchairs, brass chandeliers, outdoor lighting, glass door book cabinets, and leather armchairs with nailhead trim, to name a few.

4. When considering a purchase, what red flags do you look out for (lead paint, cracked wood, missing/ hard to replace hardware, etc.)?

So many things can be repaired easily when buying older furniture and antique pieces, but I tend to look at the entire piece and see what my vision is.  If I know it’s going to be a painted piece, I know I can simply use wood putty, sand it down really well, and then paint/glaze/wax it, etc. to hide imperfections. I also know that if the original hardware is broken, I can replace that easily with new knobs or pulls. However, things that I typically walk away from are broken caning and wicker, torn leather or fabrics ( unless I intend on reupholstering ) drawers that stick badly, and unstable/unsturdy chairs. In most instances, these things can be repaired, but I have to ask myself if it’s worth the price, time, etc.

5. What inspires you most when shopping for/ beginning a project? When you find a piece do you immediately know what you’ll do with it, or do you fall in love with the shape first and decide your design plan later?

I am first inspired by the shape, overall look of the piece, and hidden potential. Then, I envision how I’m going to transform it through the use of beautiful fabric, paint, new hardware/architectural wood pieces, etc. 

6. We used a primer on our chandelier to make sure the topcoats stuck. Do you find this necessary when spray painting? Would you suggest scratching up a brass surface with sand paper before painting?

I usually clean the piece extremely well first and let it dry thoroughly.  I do not always prime the brass or metal lighting first, in most cases.  Many of the spray paints now have paint + primer in one that have very good adhesion to metals.  I also have used chalk paint on brass chandeliers without priming prior to painting, and then follow with a clear paste finishing wax.  I sometimes use dark wax if I want an aged look. Other times, I have used flat latex paint + primer to paint brass or metal chandeliers and other lighting followed by either a clear paste finishing wax or polyacrylic topcoat, depending on the look I want. Polyacrylic comes in spray or wipe on, but I don’t use this much on chandeliers- mostly painted furniture.

7. Do you mind talking us through your ideal spraying technique? Though it’s usually best to spray from at least 6 inches away from the piece and in an upright position, I’m curious if you have any tricks to make it go faster, for getting to the underside of a piece, or to ensure coat of paint is even and smooth.

I like to set up a 6-foot dowel between 2 ladders and tie the chandelier wires to the dowel with dropcloth underneath to protect the surface while spray painting it.  I can raise or lower the chandelier to get to all the hard to reach places with this method. ( you can also use a paint sprayer with flat latex paint + primer or chalkpaint for a very even, almost flawless finish!) If I’m using flat or chalkpaint, I lay down dropcloth on an interior table and tie the chandelier wires to another chandelier in my dining room. It holds the chandelier in an upright position, but allows me to turn it and get to all those hard to reach areas.  It works great!

8. Have your outdoor lanterns stood up to the test of real-life use? Would you have done anything differently?

My outdoor lanterns have held up extremely well! They have been in a protected area under our wrap around porch.  I painted another large outdoor lantern and placed it on the north side of my home with no protection from the elements, and it has done equally well.

9. Do you have any other general DIY tips or rules you decorate by?

1) I think almost any furniture piece can be made beautiful through new paint, stain, fabric, trim, and/or new hardware. Look at high end home decor catalogs and magazines, and see how you can achieve the look for less. You can repurpose an existing piece ( i.e., a large dresser can serve as a tv console or buffet, a plain sofa table can be slipcovered and used as a foyer entry table, a small buffet can be a powder room vanity). I get a lot of my inspiration from home décor magazines, catalogs, and stores, as well as Pinterest and other blogs.  To me, the thrill lies in finding something lifeless, boring, & dull and making the ordinary extraordinary and one of a kind!

2) When you are considering adding a piece of furniture, keep measurements of the space in your home in the notes section of you cell phone, or in a small notepad in your handbag, as well as a pocket tape measure. You will have the information handy when you find a piece that you’re considering buying!

3) Always buy the pair, even if you only want 1. That way you can always add another if you change your mind, or if the other breaks you’ll have a replacement.

4) Sit on a piece of furniture, turn it upside down and inspect the underside, and check for missing pieces.  Decide what you’re willing to repair or not, and remember that loose screws can be tightened, fabrics that are dingy can be steam cleaned, and leather and vinyl can be cleaned or painted with chalk paint to give the piece a completely new look.  Envision the possibilities of a piece, while being realistic and walking away if it seems beyond repair.

Have a great week, y’all!! xo