Featured Member: Raneem

Submitted to What's New

Today we meet @Raneem, who joined Creator's Studio last summer and won second place in the Creativity in a Can New Member Challenge


Why did you join Creator's Studio?

In order to get my skills to a professional level, I had to find a trustworthy group. As a Rust-Oleum enthusiast, I admired the challenges and all the discussions associated with them.

What's your favorite part of the Creator's Studio community?

I like surveys as they make me feel part of a team of designers, creators or even part of the brand. Challenges bring the best of everyone and as such, they inspire! The café where asking a question about a product can be educational.

How would you describe yourself/occupation to a complete stranger?

I used to live and work in France/Monaco. I fell in love with fashion, design and international business. I had my masters in Business in the French Riviera after working for a couple of years in yacht sales. Soon enough I found my dream job “Marketing Communications Manager” with a satellite communication company. After 6 months I became pregnant with twin boys and my husband was transferred to California. Now my boys are 7 and I love them so much. California is awesome!

What creative areas do you like to focus on?

I love to create something beautiful and exceptional. It’s not always the way I want but I’ve started to create ideas and have a feeling for them. In the past, I did graphic design. My passion for design is a never ending story. I’d sit and create on my Canva, mostly in the evenings, if I am not creating/repurposing an old piece of unwanted furniture during the day. I also love business, I’d love to start a new blog/brand of design soon!

What is your favorite Rust-Oleum product? How has it helped with your DIY projects?

My top favorite is the whitewash. My second is the oil based primer if only it doesn’t smell so strong. They are beautiful products! The whitewash gives the wood feeling. I did it to my old fence, mantle shelf, chaise lounges and planting bench. All were my handiwork and I love the look of whitewashed wood. The oil based primer, works like magic if my water-based failed on a bleeding through old piece of furniture! Such a life saver!

What interests you most about DIY projects?

The new products and end results! It’s all a learning process. I always make something new and exciting! Sometimes repurposing is such a wonderful thing to do because I save a piece of furniture and use it!

What's the best DIY project you have completed and how did you accomplish it?

My outdoor chaise. It turned out gorgeous. It’s trash to treasure truly. I had to go to pick up the old deck wood and sand the paint away then cut the pieces to shape in order to make a very comfortable outdoor chaise. I used the whitewash and it’s just amazing to add to my outdoor and extremely comfortable to lie on.

What's the most difficult project you have tackled?

It’s a current project. My old headboard. I’m flipping it into a Louis XIV bed design. It’s taken two weeks as I was trying to figure out the best way to add the cane / rattan to it and upholstery. I reupholstered the rest of the bed. The headboard should be finished once I find the right crown molding piece, paint it then add it on the top. I used white linen Rust-Oleum chalk paint and mixed it with French linen paint that I bought online three years ago! I love the color contrast with the black velvet upholstery!

If you could create any type of project (with no limitations), what would you design and why?

I would create luxury Louis XIV furniture from unwanted furniture. It just has to have the right curves!

Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know about you.

I’m impatient in certain situations but I’m working on taking my time or even take breaks even long ones if necessary. That means if I feel a project is so hard, I’d push myself into thinking it’s good to think hard and take my time on it!

What's the best advice that anyone has ever given you?

“You should do international business studies” and I did!

What book(s) are on your nightstand right now?

The 5 love languages of children.

What's your all time favorite food?

Sushi, kebbe, clam chowder, home-made baguette and seafood risotto.


Lovely to get to know you better, @Raneem - thanks for taking the time!