Andrea Doyle-Phlip, owner of Haldimand Vintage in Grafton, ON, shares her secrets on how to find (and fix!) a grungy piece of used furniture and turn it into a family heirloom for generations to enjoy.
My mom’s love of good quality, mid-century modern pieces inspired me to refinish furniture. She purchased most of her furniture in the late 60s to early 70s and still uses it today. I loved refinishing things for my home and continually bought unique items from Facebook Marketplace. But I began to run out of space for it all! So about 10 years ago, I started selling them. I had no idea what I was doing: I was taking pictures outside on the grass and at terrible angles. Thankfully I found a great community — one specific group of experts on social media.
They taught me the ins and outs of staging pieces properly, photographing them to sell online and the ever-important art of pricing. I am so grateful for their support and help in getting my foothold in this industry. Unfortunately, the group disbanded a number of years ago, but I’m still friends with furniture refinishers worldwide.
I’m a registered nurse in an outpatient oncology clinic and had always thought of Haldimand Vintage as my side hustle, but last year I made the tough (but easy!) decision to do furniture refinishing full time, and I’m so glad I did. I love this community!
TOP 5 TIPS TO THRIFT LIKE A PRO
Even if a piece looks beat up, here’s how to tell if that yard sale find is worth the investment.
- Drawers say it all. Do they all slide well? Are they dovetail (i.e. do the pieces fit together like a wooden puzzle)? If so, it’s a good sign they have been built well.
- Look for a label. Is there a designer stamp/label on the piece? Chances are if someone took the time to put their name on it, it’s worth something. (If in doubt, Google it.)
- Your nose knows. If it has come from a smoker’s house, stay away! You can’t get rid of that smell easily
(or ever)! - Get social. Follow your local thrift stores on social media. Watch for their discount days and promotions. Plus, they will post their items online, and you can just call them to buy the piece.
- Let’s make a deal. If a piece is broken or damaged, chances are the seller has already priced it accordingly, but it doesn’t hurt to ask if there is room to negotiate. Also, some places like to move
merchandise, so if you have your eye on more than one piece, see if they will go for a “group rate.”
EASY WEEKEND(‘ISH) PROJECT: Dressing Table Makeover
YOU WILL NEED:
- Degreaser/Cleaner/Vinegar
- Sandpaper 150-220g
- Latex Paint
- Good quality paint brush
- Cotton paint roller & tray
- Top Coat (hemp oil, wax or
polyurethane)
Optional: - Primer
- BBfrosch Paint Transformer
IN YOUR TOOLBOX
- Degreaser cleaning solution. Andrea’s Picks: Spray Nine, Krud Cutter, TSP
- Good quality paintbrush. Andrea’s: Pick: Zibra
- Sheets of 220g sandpaper and a good hand sander. Andrea’s Pick: Ryobi
- Latex Paint. Andrea’s Pick: Behr
- Tinfoil to line your paint tray (easy clean up and helpful to wrap up brush/roller between coats of paint)
- Paint scraper (a game changer for removing old finishes and paint)
FRIDAY NIGHT
Prep, prep and more prep! This is the most time consuming part of the entire project but the most essential. Remove all hardware and store in a safe place where you will remember where it is. Clean your piece with vinegar and water, or a degreaser such as TSP if super dirty. Remove (and clean) all drawers before painting and work on those separately.
Sand – Sand the dresser with 150-220 grit sandpaper to remove the glossy finish so the paint has somewhere to stick (you don’t need to sand it to bare wood). After your entire piece is sanded, remove any dust with a clean, damp, lint free cloth.
Prime – Not all pieces require priming. This helps your paint adhere to the piece better and it also covers any stains or discolourations in the wood. (Priming is recommended if painting your piece a light colour particularly white.)
SATURDAY MORNING
Sand Again – Using 220 grit sandpaper, lightly sand your piece between every coat of paint. This will give it a nice smooth finish, wipe the surface between each sanding to remove any debris.
Paint – It’s time to transform your furniture! Get your paint ready: Mix it again if it has been sitting for a while and pour into a paint tray. I line mine with tin foil for easier clean up and to easily reuse the trays. (NOTE: If adding BB Frösch Paint Transformer, refer to the mixing guide.)
Andrea’s Pick: Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel with built-in top coat
There are a few different ways to go about painting. You can use a brush or a cotton roller. I usually use a small cotton roller on the flat surfaces and brush the hard to reach crevices, I like to paint these areas first. Rolling paint helps prevent visible brush strokes. Typically you will require to paint two-to-three coats on each piece; more if using a lighter colour. I like to apply thin coats of paint and ensure I am giving the pieces time to dry between coats.
PRO TIP: I use a product called BB Frösch Paint Transformer. This is a great product because you can add the powder to any latex paint and turn it into a chalk base paint. Plan to finish your last coat of paint by mid-day because most require 24 hours to fully dry.
Hardware Tune-Up – Clean the hardware with baking soda and vinegar and set aside to dry.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Finishing Coat – After your last coat of paint has dried for at least 24 hours, you are ready to seal it. There are a number of ways to seal your piece. I like to use either Hemp oil, wax or water based topcoat like Varathane soft touch.
Andrea’s Pick: Walrus Oil Furniture Wax
Allow the dresser and hardware to dry overnight.
MONDAY MORNING
Final Steps – If you used the finishing wax, allow the paint to dry for 24 hours and buff it with a clean cloth. Reinstall hardware and replace all the drawers. Find the perfect home for your new masterpiece!
A (mini) Guide to Facebook Marketplace
I do most of my thrifting online, particularly on Facebook. I love the whole refinishing furniture community and feel very comfortable shopping for treasures there. My advice is to take some time to get to know who your local sellers are. Learn their habits, their specialties and their average price points. Introduce yourself, ask questions, and congratulate them on a good find. Once you feel comfortable, give them your phone number and permission to contact you. When they are out shopping, they can message you with their finds before posting on FBMP so you get first dibs. When you are searching on the app, use keywords to save time: vintage, antique, mid-century modern, dresser, credenza, and side tables are some of my go-to’s.
