A DIY Dream Come True

Why “You Can Do It” for the name of my magazine? Because I really do believe you CAN do it. Or, better put, there isn’t anything you can’t do. But, you’ve gotta BELIEVE it—and I am here to help.

In this case, specifically through the magazine, I am applying my philosophy of “you can do it” to the whole concept of do-it-yourself projects. But you must know, I also carry this concept through every aspect of my life and credit this to the fun and amazing things I have experienced so far in my life.

If you had told me somewhere in my past that I would wield power tools and be able to make just about anything my mind’s eye can see—I would have told you flat out, “You are crazy.”

People often ask me how I got started. They assume my family was in the construction business and as if it was handed down to me from a generation before. The answer is “No, my family is not in construction.” While my father was rather handy and my mom has creativity pouring out of her every pore, they were by no means professionals in construction or any other visual medium. What my parents did hand down to me was “There isn’t anything you can’t do. But, if you are going to do it, then do it right.”

So, how did I get into this field of design, construction and craftsmanship?

It all started with a repetitive dream. In the dream I was always painting a large wall with an extraordinarily large brush, and I mean huge! The bristles were about one foot wide. The paint colors I used were always yellow or red, and sometimes I painted with both colors at the same time. The brushstrokes I made were over exaggerated, like most things in most dreams. Each brush stroke required me to literally squat down to the floor and then reach up on my tiptoes as high as I could reach. This dream was always vivid and colorful. I now believe the dream was my subconscious revealing the inner artist in me. And so, I started playing with decorative finishes that lead to very successful results.

The second driving force in how I got started: I have always had an innate sense of investing a little sweat equity into my homes without making financials stretches. I transfer this same sense into my quality of life.

Case in point: After college, I headed to the bright lights and big city of New York City. I wanted a cute apartment in a decent area. What I realistically found was that I couldn’t afford much and what I could afford was generally sad and dilapidated. Not to mention, these sad apartments were in neighborhoods where I just didn’t feel safe.

After having seen a ton of apartments, I found a space that had potential. It was a nice size and in a neighborhood where I felt safe. Other details included hardwood floors (with holes where I could see the washing machine in the basement), a nice size bathroom with separate tub area (where the shower head was framed out by the studs with no wall surface and very exposed pipes), and big bedrooms with gross shag rugs. Upon further inspection, I lifted one of the radiator covers and found a Hot Wheel racing car, a Barbie, Cheetos, Fritos, potato chips and a dried-up pork chop bone, just to name a few leftovers from previous tenants.

The owner was an older gentleman, and we both took a liking to each other. I could tell he wanted to rent it to me. I also realized that in order to afford the rent, I’d be making other sacrifices in my life…like food! LOL.

Bottom line: I couldn’t afford what he wanted, I couldn’t justify the price for the mess, and I knew HE wasn’t going to fix it up. I was faced with taking it over “as it was” right at that dirty gross second. So I said to him, “You lower the price of the rent, you pay for the supplies and I will fix it up.” The words came out of nowhere. The apartment had the bones—it just needed some surface work. I had the energy to do it on nights and weekends when I wasn’t working. He took the bait, and I started the journey you are joining me on now.

The apartment turned out great! With every new project I did my research, created a plan, and took my time. As I was doing my first-ever decorative application, I distinctly remember standing on a ladder and saying out loud, “I would love to do this for a living. I would love to do this every day.”

Now it’s been several years and hundreds of projects. I’ve started my own business and done some television. I’ve learned a million things and will enthusiastically learn a million more. But the one through line I say from way back when and still use everyday with every new tool and skill is “You can do it!”  ‘Cause you CAN!

Carmen De La Paz