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Thrift Store Flip

Thrift Store Flip Before & After

Posted on April 24, 2021May 4, 2021 by Stacy Verdick Case

One my favorite parts of my job is thrift store flips. Shopping at thrift store makes home decor affordable. Even if what you find doesn’t quite fit your aesthetic like this “I Love Bears” tote I found at a local Goodwill.

Thrift Store Flip Before

Hmm. It has its charm, but it’s not the look I or my customers are looking for for their homes. I mean, I like bears but not that much.

The first thing you have to deal with on any thrift store flip are those sticky price tags. I know why they use such sticky tags (my customers remove mine all the time) but I’m always a little resentful when the tag is extra stubborn.

Remove the price tag

Lucky for me this tag wasn’t too much of a problem. I’ve had worse especially on raw wood like this piece where it leaves behind a ton of residue.

Once that was taken care of it was time to sand away the stenciling.

Sand away the stenciling

Kudos to whoever stenciled this piece because their lines were crisp! That’s extremely difficult on wood that’s not sealed so I had to take a moment to appreciate the artistry of whoever stenciled this.

I also sanded away all the rough edges.

removing rough edges

I’m a little surprised that the previous owner didn’t take the time to do this step. The edges were extremely rough and there were splintery pieces over the entire piece. It’s a strange step to skip. You don’t want people injuring themselves on your tote, so I’m sanding the whole piece.

tack cloth

After I sanded the whole projects I used a tack cloth to clean all the dust and debris off the pieces.

dirty tack cloth

Even when I think a piece is clean it seams these clothes can find all the dirt that escaped my first cleaning attempt. They are well worth the few dollars they cost to have some of these on hand.

ghost shadow

Even after all that sanding there is still the ghostly shadow the bears left behind. Since I’m not in the mood to belt sand today I decided to leave it. I was planning to paint it anyway. If I was going to stain the piece I would have had to sand the wood past this shaddow.

B-I-N Primer

Instead I decided to B-I-N it. This has to be my favorite primer. I’ve tried a bunch and this one just works. Every time.

painting on primer

If you’re going to paint a raw wood piece it’s always best to prime first. Otherwise your paint will soak in so you’ll have to use extra coats. And you run the risk of phantom stains leaching up through the paint from sap and tannins. You don’t want that!

220 grit to sand it down

Once the primer was dry I used a 220 grit sand paper and lightly sanded away where the grain had lifted. That happens any time you paint on unfinished wood. All you need is the weight on your hand (not pressing down) and a few quick swipes back and forth to get rid of that raised texture.

Shuttered cottage for this thrift store flip

I chose Shuttered Cottage a wonderful pale blue color that has the perfect beachy vibes.

Because I’m giving this tote a Shabby Chic feel, I’m not planning to paint a solid color over the entire piece. That means the amount in the cap after shaking up the pot is probably going to be more than enough.

light brush stroke

I used a light, stuttering stroke to get the imperfect look I was going for in this thrift store flip! I didn’t want a solid color across the whole piece. Instead I wanted to see some of the primer peaking through.

Thrift Flip

Now it’s beachy and beautiful!

This project took only a few minutes and a tiny bit of product. it’s ready for a price tag and to be whisked away to my shop. I know someone will take this beauty home at the next sale.

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Thrift Store Flip Before & After // thrift decor // thrift home decor // thrift diy // thrift store decorating // thrift store diy // diy thrift // thrift store diy home // diy thrift store // thrift store makeover // thrift store diy ideas // thrift makeover // thrift store upcycle decor // Before and After

If you enjoyed this before and after don’t miss this

Many Blessings to you!

~S

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15 thoughts on “Thrift Store Flip Before & After”

  1. Tammy says:
    April 24, 2021 at 11:31 am

    Stacy, the project turned out great. Amazing what you can do with some TLC and paint! Great job, friend!

    1. Stacy Verdick Case says:
      April 24, 2021 at 11:34 am

      Thank you Tammy! I love thrift flips! Wait until you see my Marketplace flip!

  2. gardenchillmudra says:
    April 24, 2021 at 9:32 pm

    I love your transformations! This turned out so great!
    @gardenchillmudra
    Melba

    1. Stacy Verdick Case says:
      April 24, 2021 at 9:34 pm

      Thank you so much! It was fun to flip this one.

  3. opendoor419gmailcom says:
    April 26, 2021 at 5:30 am

    Stacy!
    What a transformation!! I love what you can do with just a little bit of paint!! 🙂

  4. laura says:
    April 27, 2021 at 3:41 pm

    HI Stacy! This is great! I love a flip too! laura

    1. Stacy Verdick Case says:
      April 27, 2021 at 3:53 pm

      Nothing better than a good flip!

  5. Dee says:
    May 11, 2021 at 3:09 pm

    It turned out super cute, and updated! I appreciated all the steps you shared, and favorite products. Now it’s way cuter, and will look great in someone’s home!

    1. Stacy Verdick Case says:
      May 11, 2021 at 3:11 pm

      Thanks Dee! I was really happy with how it turned out.

  6. Cindy says:
    May 12, 2021 at 8:52 am

    Such a sweet makeover! I’m a huge Bin fan too!! Happy thrifting!

    1. Stacy Verdick Case says:
      May 12, 2021 at 9:53 am

      Yes BIN is amazing stuff. Stinks but it works! ?

  7. Linda says:
    May 12, 2021 at 9:59 am

    I love thrift stores and thinking of ways to bring something back. This one is great!

    1. Stacy Verdick Case says:
      May 12, 2021 at 10:15 am

      Thank you Linda!

  8. Stacey says:
    May 12, 2021 at 11:27 am

    This turned out so cute! I’m inspired to go out and thrift so I can flip something! <3

    1. Stacy Verdick Case says:
      May 12, 2021 at 12:56 pm

      Do it!

Comments are closed.

A photo of stacy Verdick Case Owner of PeonyLaneDesigns.com

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