DIY
Layer Halloween Onto the Fall Window You Have
8 min read31 Jul 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
- 8+ years transforming secondhand furniture and flea market discoveries into modern statement pieces
- Professional Certificate in Sustainable Design and EPA Lead-Safe Certified Renovator
- Documented over 100+ complete step-by-step furniture flips and budget room transformations
- Advocate for non-toxic finishes, mineral-based milk paints, and circular home economics
Experience
Mia spent her early career working in Austin’s vibrant architectural salvage yards, learning the provenance of antique joinery and how to safely strip aged veneers. Frustrated by the disposable furniture culture filling modern landfills, she founded a boutique upcycling workshop, teaching weekend hobbyists how to identify solid hardwood underneath decades of battered lacquer.
At The Nestiora, Mia is the voice of accessible, high-style sustainability. Her guides provide honest material cost breakdowns, tool alternatives for small apartments, and foolproof step-by-step finishing recipes. She demonstrates that with sandpaper, milk paint, and patience, anyone can furnish a stunning home on a thrift-store budget.
Education
Mia earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art and Spatial Practice from the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on sculpture, woodworking, and non-toxic surface treatments. She subsequently earned a professional Certificate in Sustainable Design and completed EPA Lead-Safe Renovator certification to ensure historical furniture restorations meet modern safety standards.
Verified Licenses & CertificationsCertificate in Sustainable Design, EPA Lead-Safe Certified
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.
