Pandemic prompts DC Woodworks to flip to renovations

Coakley most recently earned her living building custom furniture. She was on vacation in March when Nova Scotia declared a state of emergency because of the pandemic. When she returned she found her work had dried up. Customers were cancelling their orders. She couldn’t even buy supplies.

“The first month was pretty emotional. People weren’t thinking about buying shelving units at that stage. I realized how closely tied my identity and mental health were to my job. Looking back, that downtime turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”

Coakley always wanted to try flipping houses, but she put it off because she was busy with furniture orders. The pandemic shutdown was her chance to try it.

“I was looking for the ugliest, grossest house out there. I didn’t feel like I was in competition at all. I was after the house no one else wanted.”

She hopes the series will get noticed by TV networks, but more than anything she hopes to be a role model for young girls who might be considering carpentry as a career.