Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Ward.
Hi Kara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Our story started back in April 2020, when my husband lost his job due to COVID. We decided to refinish our own bedroom furniture, even though we had never done anything like that before, and I posted the finished product on Facebook. We had such a positive response that we wondered if we were on to something! We began flipping smaller pieces out of our garage and they would sell within minutes. We quickly discovered that flipping furniture was going to be the way to keep a roof over our heads during this tumultuous time. Fast forward a year, and not only did we manage to pay all of our bills from our side hustle, but we also got completely out of debt paying off a total of $46,000 of medical debt. Just from flipping furniture in our garage. We were honored to be invited to the Dave Ramsey Show in 2021 to share our story on his XM Radio channel, his podcast, and his YouTube channel.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge is the many hats I have to wear on a daily basis. As a home school mom, YouTube influencer & furniture flipper, my days are jam-packed with to-do lists. My ultimate goal is to help others see the opportunities in small side hustles that can propel their family into financial freedom. Becoming a debt-free household has been life-changing to us and the way we are able to save for our future & give back to others.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My passion is to take ugly pieces of outdated furniture and make them stylish again. I love 1980-90’s pieces. Furniture from that era usually starts with great bones to create the most trendy styles of this season. From boho furniture to Mid-Century Modern, I love to put a fresh twist on something that was destined for the dump! Picking up-and-coming design colors and mixing them with the furniture pieces I cultivate, sets me apart from other designers. I aim to create pieces that are designed to have their own “moment” in a client’s home. Something to be designed around & make a statement. Subtle, yet eye-catching.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If there is something that interests you, give it a go! Start small with minimal overhead just to see if you like it. When I started, I flipped lots of coffee tables and nightstands. I picked simple, neutral paint colors that sold quickly. Once I had made 10-12 sales, I saved some of that money to purchase more supplies and items that would make my job quicker like an orbital sander and a spray gun, allowing me to flip more pieces quicker. I did not start off purchasing those big-ticket items. I made sure this was something I enjoyed and would stick with, got some sales under my belt, and purchased as I saved.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @lemons_to_lemonade_furniture
- Facebook: @lemonstolemonadeTX
- Youtube: @Lemons To Lemonade Furniture
