Wife and mother of four, Lynn Garcia, started flipping furniture as a creative outlet when she started homeschooling her children over 13 years ago. “I really love what I do and I’m very blessed to be able to create beautiful things out of items that would normally be discarded.” Lynn says. “The relationships I have built with people are very special to me and many clients have become longtime friends."
When buying vintage or upcycled furniture, especially when you have it customized, you're not only saving the items from the landfill, but you’re getting a personalized piece that you can truly treasure–knowing it’s built to last. Believe it or not, the cost of upcycling (or simply even painting a quality piece_ is a huge money saver.
“I love getting a piece into the shop-whether it be owned by someone who wants it customized, or if it’s something I bought to paint and sell.” Lynn says. She enjoys working with her clients to help them envision what the piece could become. “When someone messages me or we talk on the phone, the hardest thing is to get inside their head to get a feel for their vision. Most people don’t know what they want until we start talking.” Lynn says. “Through much back and forth with inspiration pictures, their home pictures, and talking, we can figure it out.”
Lynn has a proven four-step process for every single piece: paint-clean/sanitize, scuff sand, clean again, prime, paint, seal. She guarantees all of her work.
Lynn shared a few of her pieces with us and how she achieved the look on each one.
Bench (Converted from a headboard) “This was actually a headboard that was converted into a bench before I got my hands on it. I wanted to create a more dramatic look with paint, then a wash of a different color–watered down– to give the appearance of paint dripping.”
White Desk Converted from an old Piano “This was a gutted piano that was deconstructed and wood pieces removed from one area and moved around to create the perfect desk with a new stained wood top. This is one of my favorite repurposing projects to keep another piece out of the landfill!”
Serpentine Dresser “This dresser had the drawer-fronts stripped and sanded, then stained and sealed with an oil-based sealer while the body was painted in a color of the customer's choice. The wood grain was amazing!”
Lynn also has custom-built over 100 tables; dining, sofa, coffee, and side tables. “Initially, for the first 4-5 years after I started my business, all of my tables were one-of-a-kind because I would buy old beds and cut the posts off, flip them upside down, and those would serve as the table legs.” Lynn shares. “Currently, I can order table legs from a few companies to create this, but the oldest bed I ever cut-up belonged to a family who was selling a bed. When I went to purchase it, I shared my plans to convert it. The woman selling the piece told me that her grandmother was born in that bed, so it was very special to the family. I was able to use both the headboard and footboard to create the table and a bench for her!"
I really take each piece very seriously and people deserve to have an heirloom piece in their home." Lynn says. "I feel honored each time I work for someone."