DIY
Load Two Colours on the Brush at Once
9 min read20 Sept 2026
Editorial LeadAustin, Texas, USA
Mia Caldwell
Mia Caldwell is the Sustainable Upcycling & Budget DIY Expert for The Nestiora, transforming thrifted furniture and reclaimed pieces into modern design statements.
“Never underestimate the transformative power of a fresh coat of paint and a free weekend.”
Highlights
- Writes on thrift flips, salvage and budget room makeovers
- Gives real material costs and real time estimates, including the bad ones
- Favours non-toxic finishes and mineral paints
- Will tell you when a piece is not worth saving
Experience
Mia writes about the part of home improvement that happens on a Saturday with a budget of not very much. Her guides start from what a thing used to be — what is underneath the lacquer, what is salvageable, what is chipboard pretending otherwise.
At The Nestiora she covers thrift flips, salvage and budget makeovers, with honest material costs, tool alternatives for small flats, and finishing steps written in the order that stops a job failing three weeks later.
Background
Mia writes about salvage and budget work in the voice of someone who has wasted a weekend on it and would rather you did not. Her guides carry real costs, honest failure rates and the occasional admission that a project was not worth it.
Areas of Expertise
Thrift FlipsEco-Friendly CraftsZero-Waste DecorBudget RenovationChalk Painting TechniquesHardware Restoration
About The Nestiora
The Nestiora is an independent home journal dedicated to thoughtful decor, accessible woodworking, and slow gardening. We believe that trustworthy home advice comes from real experience in real rooms—not stylized showroom sets staged for a single photograph.
Learn more about our team and our editorial process, and our commitment to ensuring we provide you with the most trustworthy advice verified by certified experts on our Home Improvement Review Board and Gardening & Plant Care Review Board.
