About Me — Sawdust Girl

Hey there! I’m Sandra.

I turn boring spaces into beautiful ones—and teach you how to do it too. From DIY furniture to full-home makeovers, I’m here to help you build with confidence.

I’ve never met a dull room I didn’t want to tear into. What started as a class project in Interior Design school turned into a full-blown obsession with cabinetry, built-ins, and full-scale renovations.

I designed my first wall of built-ins on paper… and when hiring a cabinetmaker was out of my budget, I decided to build them myself.

Real-World Experience

Over the last 20+ years, I’ve:

Renovated five homes from top to bottom—solo. Check out my projects.
Partnered with my sister on a flip house and helped her (and my brother) overhaul their homes
Designed and built countless cabinets and built-ins—from closets to kitchens

I’ve taken everything I’ve learned about cabinet building and packed it into my Cabinet Building 101 eBook—a step-by-step guide that helps you build with clarity and confidence.

Need more support? I also offer one-on-one virtual mentoring to help you plan, troubleshoot, and bring your project to life.

Why I Started Sawdust Girl

When I first started, I couldn’t find helpful resources that explained things in a way that made sense. Most DIY advice assumed you already knew all the tools and terminology—or skipped over the tricky stuff.

So I built the kind of resource I wish I’d had when I started.

Sawdust Girl isn’t just a blog—it’s a guide, a toolbox, and a community for anyone who wants to roll up their sleeves and build something amazing.

When I first started blogging, it was under the name Sawdust and Paper Scraps—so if you see that watermark on older photos, that’s me too! Eventually, the “sawdust” took over, and Sawdust Girl became my full-time identity.

Tutorials You’ll Find Here

Whether you’re building your first cabinet or taking on a full renovation, I’ve got step-by-step tutorials to guide you through:

Cabinet Building – Learn how to build custom cabinets from scratch
DIY Builds – Furniture, built-ins, shelving, and more
DIY Techniques – Tips and how-tos for tools, materials, and building basics
Renovation Skills – Demolition, drywall, flooring, electrical, and more
Workshop Projects – Shop storage, workbenches, tool organization, and jigs

New Here? Start Here:

If you’re just finding me, start with these:

Sandra’s Remodels – Explore my personal renovation projects, room by room
Cabinet Building 101 eBook – My step-by-step guide to building cabinets from scratch

Let’s Build Something Together

When I’m not working on one of my own remodels, I’m helping clients with theirs. I love being part of their project (and personal empowerment) journey—cheering them on, troubleshooting problems, and celebrating the wins.

Client Project Transformations – See real built-ins DIYers have completed with my help; from rough sketches to big reveals.
Work With Me – Get personalized support, design help, and DIY coaching tailored to your cabinetry goals.

Whether you’re working on your first project or planning something big, I’m here to help.

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