45 Unbelievable Flea Market Flips
As DIY enthusiasts, we love HGTV's Flea Market Flip, and we know you will too. Just check out these amazing before and afters from the show!
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August 19, 2015
By:
Keri Sanders
Before: Industrial Pieces
An industrial pulley and boat propellers may seem like an odd combination, but partners Amanda and Solomon have just the thing in mind.
After: One-of-a-Kind Coffee Table
After adding a glass top and connecting the boat propellers, this industrial pulley makes for one amazing coffee table. Learn the secrets to scoring a deal at flea markets and yard sales.
Before: Overlooked Pieces
Partners Kelly and Cole chose an old wooden picture frame and a worn-out medicine cabinet in hopes of creating something totally unique.
After: Custom Medicine Cabinet
After a pretty paint job, the two parts became a whole. Cole used his original artwork to give the piece an even more custom look.
Before: Good Bones
For their "Midcentury Project," partners Solomon and Amanda picked up a cute little chair and side table.
After: A Punch of Color
After a super colorful paint job, this midcentury set is looking funky, fun and better than ever. Find out the best way to haggle.
Before: Crusty Cabinet
Partners Mar and Paul thought this worn-out yellow cabinet had potential despite the flaky paint job and worn wood.
After: Shabby Chic Upgrade
A new mirrored front and extra shelving make this repainted medicine cabinet an even more useful amenity.
Before: Simple Side Tables
Though they've got a great shape, these wooden side tables just don't have any wow factor yet.
After: Designer Quality
After a sleek paint job with a surprising bright green interior, these side tables look like high-end designer pieces. Get pro tips on painting old furniture.
Before: Wooden Wall Rack
This wooden wall hanging rack doesn't seem very exciting now.
After: Useful Wall Art
An added mirror, a metal radiator screen and industrial hooks enhance the usefulness of the original rack while adding a healthy dose of style.
Before: Metal Cabinet
Partners Anthony and Jack bought this vintage metal cabinet planning to give it new life with just a couple of changes.
After: Stylish Storage
A mirrored rear panel gives this cabinet a cool retro vibe, while the warm paint color offers a cozier look. Thinking of selling some stuff at a flea market? Get some tips on getting top prices.
Before: A Strange Assortment
Iron frames, piano dollies and porch rails may seem like an odd group, but partners Anthony and Jack were determined to turn this trash into treasure.
After: Unconventional Dining
The finished product is such a surprise. The piano dollies and porch rails became the perfect table for four, while the iron frames just needed some handmade cushions to become comfy stools.
Before: Retro-Chic Seating
For partners Rachel and Blair, this worn out cane-back chair is full of potential and begging for an update.
After: A Fresh New Look
Refinished and reupholstered, this trendy chair is given a fun update, making it the perfect addition for any stylish home.
Before: Metal Table and Chairs
This bare bones table and chairs has a cool industrial look but could use a little freshening up. Find out the best way to restore old metal.
After: Sleek and Shiny
A fabulous clean-up job works wonders, but the upholstered seat and frosted glass top take this table to the next level.
Before: Pretty Arched Window
For partner Heshy and Michael, this arched window made the perfect base for their "Elements of Glass Project."
After: The Perfect Hanging Coat Rack
An added shelf, a couple of hooks and a detailed number design turned this plain arched window into a very handy hanging coat rack.
Before: Farm Trough
For partners Holly and Carlyle, this Hungarian metal farm trough was just waiting to be reimagined into something new.
After: Creative Coffee Table
With the addition of legs and a glass top, this metal farm trough makes for a pretty interesting coffee table.
Before: Boring End Table
Partners Rose and Sophie picked out a basic wooden end table with the hopes of turning it into a can't-miss item .
After: A Totally Different Vibe
A new paint job with added leather detailing give this once-basic end table a bit of edge and a lot of personality.
Before: Antique Frames
Partners Darren and Stephen picked up a couple of ornate frames with the intention of turning them into something totally unique.
After: A Layered Look
Now, the antique frames make up a two-tiered table that is full of style.
Before: Set of Metal Drawers
For their "Durable Design Project," partners Heshy and Michael chose a simple set of industrial metal drawers.
After: Simply Steampunk
A pipe lighting fixture assembled by hand took this simple set of drawers from solid and industrial to a one-of-a-kind steampunk design.
Before: Old Carriage Seat
This marvelous carriage seat is such a great find! Unfortunately, the fabric is worn, and the seating is lacking in comfort.
After: Comfy, Chic Seating
A brand new upholstery job plus added cushions make this classic carriage seat a great addition to any home.
Before: Asian Tea Table
A gorgeous Asian tea table is already a great find for team members Al and Merry, but they've got plans to make it even more useful.
After: Brought to New Heights
A removable extended base frame took this tea table from beautiful accessory to useful dining table.
Before: Dated Dressing Screen
Dressing screens exude old-school elegance, but this one is a bit dated for most modern homes.
After: Bold and Fashionable
Covered in a bright, cheerful fabric, this colorful dressing screen is given new life.
Before: Inkwell Printing Press Trays
For their "Mirror Project," partners Scoop and Moose picked up four antique printing press trays. The end result might surprise you!
After: A Mirrored Image
Now, the mirrored trays make up a very interesting piece of wall art that is great for displaying tiny knick knacks.
Before: Lone Glass Jug
A flea market staple, this basic glass jug could be used for a myriad of projects.
After: An Illuminating Idea
Partners Ron and Peter cleaned it up and added a shade covered in historic tracing paper maps to create a truly awesome lamp.
Before: Charming Steamer Trunk
Old steamer trunks are always a fun find, but oftentimes, they aren't in the best shape.
After: Well-Traveled Bar Cart
After a little spruce, a new color and a bit of rearranging, this already cool steamer trunk looks even better as a bar cart.
Before: Dated Bedroom Set
Partners Al and Merry immediately saw the potential in the gorgeous but out-of-date bedroom set.
After: Fresh and Fun Again
A few cosmetic changes and a brand new paint job bring this three-piece set into the modern world.
Before: A Mysterious Combination
What do you get when you combine airplane wheel covers and a beveled glass table top?
After: Industrial Table
You get a very cool, industrial coffee table that celebrates history and looks stylish at the same time.
Before: Out-of-Date Tool Box
This old wooden tool chest has certainly seen better days, but some imagination and elbow grease give it a brand new purpose.
After: Industrial Bar Cart
Once old and out of date, this antique tool chest has been reimagined into a rolling bar cart.
Before: Table and Drawers
A basic table and a set of card catalogue drawers seem to make for an odd grouping.
After: Bright Table With Storage
After painting the table a more vibrant color and attaching the drawers on top, this awesome table looks fantastic and has room for storage.
Before: Pair of Roofing Hooks
It's hard to imagine how a couple of roofing hooks could be transformed into anything someone might be interested in buying, but partners Luke and Nicole were up for the challenge.
After: Creative Lighting
Wow! Add a few lights, and these roofing hooks are transformed into a beautiful, industrial-style chandelier.
Before: Dated Bench
Cover an old bench with a burlap coffee sack? It doesn't sound so amazing, right?
After: Bright Burlap
But look what happens when you go even more outside of the box by dying the burlap a deep, exhilarating shade of turquoise. This bright piece could fit in anywhere!
Before: 1930s School Desk
Partners Amy and Helene snagged this old school desk in hopes of updating the unique piece for modern-day use.
After: First-Class Seating
Since the desk was already in good condition, all the duo needed to do was add a couple of cool maps for a piece that's truly one of a kind.
Before: Set of Chairs and Sewing Table Base
Partners Chris and JJ decided to combine a vintage sewing base with four plain chairs for an industrial piece that's full of funk.
After: Funky Fabric-Covered Dining Set
A vibrant orange paint job and pop art fabric give the pieces a super fresh look.
Before: Traditional and Boring
Partners Regina and Sarah reimagined this old bureau into something useful, updated and colorful.
After: Cozy, Cottage Feel
What was once dated and boring is now fun, fresh and perfect as a kitchen island.
Before: Dingy Metal Chair and Desk Set
What can a simple paint and reupholstery job do for this metal desk and chair set?
After: Lively Paint Job to the Rescue
'70s funk is back! This fun green table and chair with a wild patern were given new life. What a difference!
Before: Brass Candlesticks and Vases
A conglomeration of brass candlesticks and vases can look great on its own, but with a little creativity, the end result can be illuminating.
After: Bright Lights, Big Impact
Just add lights, and you've got a one-of-a-kind piece that is not only beautiful but functional as well.
Before: Plain-Jane Bookshelf
Chances are you or someone you know has an old bookshelf lying around. What can you do to make it cool again? You're about to find out!
After: Fun, Funky and Fresh
Liven it up with a dynamic paint job! Black and white stripes are always a winning combination, but a bright red surprise on the inside takes this look over the top.
Before: Basic Pair of Iron Tables
If you think this iron table duo is cute on its own, just wait until you see how partners Erika and Evey reinvented it.
After: Stylish Bar Cart
Ta-dah! Combining the tables into a stylish bar cart on wheels would have been impressive enough, but just look at that fabulous paint job!
Before: Nothing-Special Lockers
A set of lockers is great for storage, but to make it even more useful, just add padding.
After: Storage and Seating in One
Now it's a seat! The best part of this ingenous transformation is the fact that this seat still makes for great storage. You're welcome, small-space dwellers.
Before: Wire Buckets and Utility Lights
Two wire buckets plus two utility lights makes for one really fantastic flip.
After: Industrial Light Fixture
Cool industrial light fixtures are all the rage, which makes partners Kim and Chandi's on-trend project one to be reckoned with.
Before: Drop-Leaf Table and Chairs
If you're thinking of throwing out your old dining set and replacing it with a new one, you might want to check out what Rob and Minetta did with this fading set.
After: Chic and Understated Dining Set
Totally refinished and given a classy color palette and fresh upholstery, this formally dated dining set is almost entirely unrecognizable.
Before: Vintage Canning Jars and Rack
Who doesn't love a good Mason jar? And a whole set is pretty hard to come by. Is there actually a way to make this primo find even more fantastic?
After: Charming Chandelier
Just flip the jars and their rack upside down and add lights for a chandelier that will have all other upcyclers bowing at your feet.
Before: Settee That's Seen Better Days
This looks like the kind of piece most people would pass right over at a flea market, but partners Charlotte and Jill saw the settee's potential.
After: 21st Century Seating
Whoa, can you believe this is the same piece of furniture? It took some serious work, but the end result couldn't be more appealing!
Before: Vintage Buggy Wheel and Die-Cut Numbers
What can you make out of a rusty wheel and die-cut numbers? You might be surprised.
After: Time Well Spent
A large-scale wall clock is a useful and interesting piece of wall art, and it all started with a vintage buggy wheel. Who would have thought?
Before: Lamp Post Top
It's projects like this one that prove anything is possible if you're willing to think outside of the box.
After: Out-of-the-Ordinary Aquarium
This old metal lamp post top makes the perfect home for a single fish, and it's bound to be a conversation starter. It's just such an excellent idea!
Before: Dirty Speed Limit Sign
This dingy speed limit sign doesn't look like much now, but it's amazing what some elbow grease and a good idea can do.
After: Clever Shelving Unit
One thorough cleaning later, this speed limit sign was made into a standout lighted shelving unit.
Before: Lackluster Chairs
Though these dining chairs were in good condition and had interesting details, most people don't have much use for only two dining chairs.
After: One-of-a-Kind Bench
Partners Rose and Sophie decided to make the chairs more useful by combining them into a bench that would look great in an entryway or living room.
Before: Parlor Table, Chairs and a Window Frame
It's amazing what adding an unexpected piece can do to an otherwise complete set of furniture.
After: Quirky Window-Topped Dining Set
By simply swapping the basic parlor table top with a more interesting window pane, partners Solomon and Amanda were able to make this dining set something really special.
Before: Vintage Suitcases
For a project that emphasized global design, partners Jeannine and Robin chose three vintage versions of travel's most well-known icon.
After: Interesting End Table
Stacked on top of each other and lifted off the ground, these three suitcases are given new life as an adorable and quirky end table.
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