kitchen

Lisa Arnold is a transformer.

The Richland resident takes pieces of furniture that are outdated and brings them back to life.

“I am passionate about this,” said Arnold, owner of Fabulously Flipped. “I put my heart and soul into every piece to make it look beautiful again.”

She began by refurbishing some of her own furniture in 2018 and selling it at a local upcycle shop in Richland called Modern Yesterdays.

By the summer of 2022, Arnold began searching for additional pieces to flip. Her business began to grow to — she started refurbishing bathroom vanities, kitchen cabinets and bedroom sets. She has recycled buffets, coffee tables, nightstands, desks and even old record players.

“A person might have a family heirloom they want to preserve, something special to them, and it just might need updated,” Arnold said. “They want to keep it, but feel like it needs a new color because they are changing the décor of their home. I can help them.”

One of the benefits is that clients don’t have to invest in purchasing new, she said.

According to Architectural Digest, a GlobalData survey said 54% of shoppers feel that buying secondhand furniture pieces is better for the environment.

Additionally, refurbished furniture adds a character that one isn’t going to find at budget or mass-produced furniture stores.

The cost of her service varies based on size, intricacy and technique — the paint and finishing process. Pricing for a six-drawer dresser starts at $200.

She typically works on quality wood pieces.

“I can save you money,” Arnold said. “A lot of times people get new countertops and floors and backsplashes for their kitchens. I can redo the cabinets for a fraction of the cost (of new ones).”

When she is doing a project such as refacing kitchen