What DIY Blogging is REALLY Like: Q/A Session

Chalky Finish Mint and Floral Buffet

We sat down with a successful DIY / Furniture Repurposing blogger, Bre, from Brepurposed and asked her to let us in on the insider scene of blogging. She shared her honest answers and stories below:

WIRL Project: Where do you get your pieces of furniture to repurpose for your blog? 

Bre: I get my pieces from a number of places! Craigslist, garage sales, estate sales, and I have my go-to thrift shops in my area that I try and hit up at least once a month. My friends and family are always on the look out for me too and have brought me some amazing pieces!


WIRL Project: How long does it take to flip a piece around?

Bre: The timeline is different for each piece and also depends on the type of paint I’m using. If I’m going for a distressed, shabby chic look, I’m usually using a type of chalk paint which requires minimal prep. I don’t have to sand or prime so I can just clean off my piece and get to work. The paint dries super fast too, so I could be done with paint in a day or two and then I just need to distress and seal. Sealing takes 1-3 days because you want your wax or finish to completely dry and set before you recoat.

If I’m going for a more polished look, I might be using a different type of paint that requires primer. This adds in an extra step and can extend the timeline by at least a day or two.

Of course there are the final touches of adding new hardware and maybe some fun paper. All in all, I would say a painted piece of furniture could take anywhere from 3 days to a week and a half. Of course that’s if I had free time every day :) They usually take longer!


WIRL Project: What do you do with these beauties when you’re done?

Bre: Most pieces I try and sell. I would love to open up my own shop one day. Of course there are pieces we keep and I’ve also donated some to auctions, etc. I’ve also done a bunch of pieces as gifts for family and friends.


WIRL Project: Have you ever had an epic fail? 

Bre: I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have any fails! It’s all about learning what works for you and doing a lot of trial and error.


WIRL Project: Does repurposing furniture and blogging take up a lot of your time?

Bre: Blogging takes up a TON of time. It’s like a second job. I was unemployed for a while, so it was my main focus which was awesome because I had the time to focus on it. Now that I’m working again, it’s been a struggle to find that balance. I don’t have all that extra time to spare and I have to manage it much better. It can get frustrating because I would love blogging to be my full time job (or owning my own shop). I know it will happen one day if that’s what God chooses for me, so for now I’m continuing to grow as much as I can and refine my skills and technique so I’ll be ready for that day :)

 

 

 

Join the conversation! Easily contribute your story here with the tag “WIRL Blogging”.

 


About the Author…

BrepurposedThis WIRL was contributed in part by Bre Bertolini from Brepurposed. She is a successful DIY blogger who likes to repurpose things. If you visit her blog you’ll find she stalks craigslist, thrift stores and friend’s basements to find hidden gems, and gives them new life. She can be found at her website, on Facebook, and Pinterest.

 

 

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