Sharing furniture flips, tips, techniques, and doable DIYs.
My refinishing journey started in earnest in 2021. I had refinished pieces for myself over the years, but I painted a table we weren’t able to use in our new home and listed it for sale on Facebook Marketplace. It sold quickly. I just kept picking up more pieces here and there and things just snowballed.
As the business grew, I began sharing my refinishing techniques online.
I love the refinishing process and although I’m self taught, I am an avid researcher. I happily share my successes and failures in hopes that it might help you in your refinishing journey.
You will find some doable DIY and gardening videos on the channel too!
So, if you are looking for a side hustle, easy DIYs or you’re just here for the before and afters, welcome!
I’m glad you’re here! Lisa
Please send partnership inquiries to lisa.ivylaneinteriors@gmail.com.
If you're making this to sell why do you line the drawers with that absolutely horrible paper? If I bought something with drawers I would want to put my own lining inside. I would hate opening those drawers and seeing that garnish paper staring back at me. Sorry but I did not like your finished product, the stain on the pedestals and legs looked very uneven. I think it looked much better before you stripped it. The 2 tone feature was beautiful and made it stand out as being special. You made it look like just another refinished piece of furniture.
The stripper you use seems terrible. There are some really good strippers out there that do a way better job. I don't know how you don't gouge the wood up with that carbide scraper, it seems pretty risky to me. Is there a reason you use your sander disks for hand sanding vs. cheaper sanding paper that can be cut to size?
This piece looks incredible!! Beautiful work, as always Lisa! I just scored an entire campaign bedroom set that I think will be a perfect candidate for your gentle restoration process. I’ve always done a complete sand down to raw for a refinish project, so I’m kinda excited to try this method and see if I can boost my profit margin by cutting the time down (significantly) with this method!
The stripper links to Smart 'n Easy Paint & Varnish Remover Gel, but I can see what you’re using is clearly labeled as Smart Strip. Have they changed the name or is it a totally different product? Are you ambidextrous? after watching quite a few of your videos it appears that you seem to be able to do everything well with either hand.
Okay, I looked it up and it's not exactly the same. I actually picked up the Smart Strip at Sherwin Williams. Here's a direct link: www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/products/smartstrip-citrus-lemon-paint-remover-gel I'm not completely ambidextrous. My Dad is. I can do many things with both hands, but I'm definitely left hand dominant. =)
I'm not usually a fan of painting quality veneer, but this piece needed it, and the black is gorgeous. I hope the buyer appreciates the extra trouble of lining the drawers.
If you get another beast" try just putting some Stone look or a ceramic tile to restore the top. If you try to sell that piece after all your hard work, you'd out price yourself. I Also Suggest a Decoupage process that is very forgoviing of flaws.
I just love learning all these techniques from you! This one was great because of all the little fixes that needed to be done…these types of pieces just need a little love & repairing shouldn’t deter anyone from trying a light restoration! It’s perfect learning experience! Beautiful! 🦋
My goodness, a Drexel piece brought back to life and not relegated to the garbage dump! Beautiful job! I grew up where Drexel furniture was manufactured in NC. Unfortunately, Drexel no longer exists thanks to NAFTA. It's top notch quality furniture made from American wood (not press board like so much junk furniture made in Asia today). Kids, take care of your parents' good furniture from the past. Do not put candles and crap on the tops to ruin it. Recycle it and make it gorgeous.
Drexel is usually such a great brand. I was surprised to find pressed board under the veneer on top, but the body was solid wood. I love vintage furniture 🤩
My dining room chandelier was ready for an update. I found the perfect one @loweshomeimprovement. It combines matte brass and black for modern yet traditional vibe. I love the fabric shades to boot! I think it pairs nicely with the mural I installed last month. What do you think? Here’s the link: creatoriq.cc/4eOuY93 #lowesfinds #lowespartner #chandelier #ad
Absolutely gorgeous. It can be used in so many different rooms. You earned every penny of that $700. When you ran into the problems with the top, I was thinking, I’ll just have my husband cut it up and throw it away but you stuck it out and ended up with a winner. 🤌🏿👍🏻 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Oh my.. you have worked so hard on this peice. I wish l would have seen this when you were working on it. We have a body shop. I really would have warned you on covering the whole top with Bondo. And would have asked how much hardener you used in it? It didn't look like much. You want to work fast with Bondo. But the more hardener you use the faster it will harden. But yours didn't look like you put much in it. And the temperature in the shop. Bondo needs to cure and depending on which one you buy it will shrink. Some won't, you will pay more but worth it..Then you fill it in again. Sand with orbital sander w 80 grit sandpaper, then put dolphin glaze ontop of it sand with 150..then!! You need to spray primer on it and sand with 320.. You needed a yardstick or ?? Something wide to spread that big of whole. Also, you can wrap sand paper around a paint stick to sand edges and save your fingers. And the auto store has boxes of razor blades for fair price. Meh.. for these days. They get dull fast BUT, next time, I would HIGHLY recommend that you use fiberglass. KITTY HAIR or DURA GLASS.. It's a process.. you will spread it let it dry 15min to 1/2 hr..then you sand and glaze it. Let dry 1/2hr sand w 150 then primer it.. let it set overnight.. sand w 320..and done.. You'll want to wear longsleeves and mask when sanding. Shower after you sand fiberglass before sitting in your furniture etc.. Go to an auto body paint store and supply. Even NAPA will have it. I wrote this out for you if there is a next time. Good luck! I'm at 38 min and l feel so bad that you went through all this..I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the end. 💐 🙋♀️ Yay!! Sucess! It looks really nice. Well deserved!
I love your flips but oh my goodness the way you apply the drawer liner is 😰😰!! Total anxiety! Lol! Nevertheless you've done a beautiful job as always ❤ also just a quick question- does acetone need to be 'neutralized'? I've never used it but I have been having an issue getting all the stripper off even with the included neutralizer (I use the greenez combo) and thorough cleaning
Really?! I find it completely easy with no measuring or math. 😅 No, from what I’ve read acetone does not need to be neutralized and is an excellent cleaner because it evaporates quickly and doesn’t leave an oily residue. Here is a great article on acetone: www.woodshopnews.com/columns-blogs/acetone-can-be-an-all-around-solution
