Nice Legs

Feb 9, 2010

Do you have some great legs? Well, don't keep them hidden, get them out and show them off! That's what Lindsay from Dancing Through Life did with her great collection of old mismatched chair legs.

I truly would have never conceived of something like this myself, so hats (not pants) off to you Lindsay!

Angela's Dreamy Boudoir

Swoon. Drool. Gape. Wow.

Is this bedroom not the dreamiest thing you've ever seen? This redo comes courtesy of Angela from Fixing it Fancy. It is one hundred million times better than the before.

There is no possible way I could have slept, or even stood in that previous bedroom for any period of time. The wood paneling! It terrifies me, no joke. It's truly lame, but I have a little phobia of knotty wood. Even just looking at the pictures is seriously making my stomach hurt. Knotty wood looks like eyes. Eyes staring at me. It honestly creeps me out. AGHH, I'm getting all jumpy, I have to stop writing about it!!!

Please go see more HERE. Thanks Angela, I love the new room even more than I hate knotty wood! And that's a lot.

And take a look at her closet. Trying ... not ... to ... seethe ... with ... jealousy ...

Whiteberry

Feb 8, 2010

Thought I'd check in with Holly over at Life in the Fun Lane, one of my very most favorites. She does her redos out of her home and sells them, and they are consistently beautiful. She also mixes her own colors, usually soft variations of white. Don't you just love that subtle damask on the back of this hutch?

My 8 year old son just wandered up and took a look at these pictures and said "That's the before? That's nice." (Keep in mind, he's an 8 year old boy). Then I scrolled down and showed him the after and he softly breathed "Wowwww." When you have the power to stop an 8 year old boy in his tracks, you are on to something, Holly!

Check out the hutch HERE and the buffet HERE.

The Lovely Chairs

I'm a big fan of Kelly over at Much To Do With Nothing. Her redos are always spot-on. And I just love both of these chairs so much that I would send them valentines if I could.

Roses are red,

violets are blue,

you are so cute,

can I sit on you?

See the first chair HERE, second one HERE.

Dayka's Kitchen

Dayka wanted to make over her kitchen, (uh, can you blame her?!) but as a first time DIY-er, she didn't want to bite off more than she could chew. So she opted to keep the layout the same and instead spent her time and money updating everything else from lighting to appliances.

Now, it looks so much bigger, even though the layout of the room didn't change. It's like magic! Check out more on her blog Life + Style. Thanks Dayka!

Milky Coffee Table

Well hello there. I am back and feeling much better. I am convinced it had to do with all your well wishes, I really am. You are all such lovely people, thank you!

Down to business. Here is Wendy's coffee table redo. I once tried to make over a table like this with the shiny, shiny lacquer. It did not go well. I thought paint stripper would remove the shiny layer, since it had a big gash in it, but it was so incredibly impossible to remove, that I gave up and just painted it black. With no primer. And the paint would bubble up and peel off every few weeks, so I'd haul it out and paint it again. Repeat. Oh, I had so much to learn!

Anyway, looks like Wendy knew what she was doing here. I love the soft colors, it looks like milk glass. Check it out on her blog Ramblings from the Sunshine State.

UGH.

Feb 5, 2010

Friends, I have been struck down by the unholy combination of adult strep throat, the flu, and something else that is behaving like food poisoning. Please mentally send me your wishes of good health and visions of chicken noodle soup, and hopefully I will return in full force on Monday!

Eduardo's Kitchen

Feb 4, 2010

Helloooo sexy! No, Before Kitchen, not you. What the heck was up with you, with your sink all off to the side like that? Who wants to stand at the sink and gaze directly at a cabinet? You were both depressing and boring at the same time. Yes, go away Before Kitchen and let me get a good look at dreamy After Kitchen!

Ahhh, so lovely! The colors, the glass tile, the mill work! Eduardo was the Do-It-Yourself-er responsible for this beauty, see more pictures on This Old House.

Trio of Tables

Are you looking for ways to spiff up an old end table? Are you losing sleep wondering what, if anything, you can do to de-borify your ho hum nightstands? Well, look no further, because here are a few ideas for your viewing pleasure:

This gray distressed table with a fleur-de-lis detail is from Lisa at Recaptured Charm. I just love the shape and the color of this table.

_______

This before table was not just lacking in the style department — it had never even met the style department. Annie fixed it up with a leafy paint job that took its cue from the detail on the original knob. See more on her blog Living with Annie.

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And finally, this little table gets to go to the ball after all. The ladies over at Shanty 2 Chic waved their shanty wands and gave her a sophisticated gown, which wouldn't be complete without some new jewelry as well!

Thanks everyone!

Alabama Ranch Home

Feb 3, 2010

Guess how much it cost Jennifer from The Newlywed Diaries to make this transformation to her home? Not that much. It helps to have an engineer husband, who can reconfigure the lighting himself and build lovely wooden columns to replace those swirly iron ... thingys.

They also removed the doily-like storm door and painted the front door blue (Cafe on the Riviera by Ralph Lauren) and spent most of the money replacing the mismatched bushes. Adios junipers!

And doesn't it look great? So, what was the total cost to revive this 1959 rancher? Under $500! "Hey, just doing our part to stimulate the economy!" Thanks Jennifer! Check out her blog here.

R-r-r-eally great r-r-room!

This living room used to be unexciting. Even the dog was like "Eh, I'd rather just lay my head adorably in my paws and take a snooze in here."

Micah from The Yellow Front Door livened it up with new drapes and decor, bringing in some much needed color. And do you notice the change in the fireplace? She simply painted over the brass grate and it looks so much more streamlined now. Love it! Thanks Micah! More to see on her blog here.

Can I offer you a hand towel?

I admit it. I don't really have a warm fuzzy spot in my heart for "theme" rooms. A little kitchsy for my taste I guess. They can be overwhelming, not to mention limiting. I know a lady who has a 'pig-themed' kitchen. There are probably over 200 pigs in there. Pigs on the dishtowels, pigs on the wall, pig statues, pig curtains, pig placemats, etc, etc., etc. It's terrifying.

But hey, if you are doing a theme room, then do it all the way baby. Take this before bathroom. It was headed in a cabin-esque direction, but the most noticeable feature was that dangly light fixture. Oh yeah, that and the giant bear.

Karen took the room to the next level by HAND PAINTING that mural! Wow! With the woodsy vibe complete, the soap-serving bear no longer looks so crazy and out of place. And did you notice? The bucket is actually the sink! Pretty fun, I must say.

Check out Karen's site http://www.karenhetzer.com/ if you're in the market for a sweet hand painted mural yourself!

Window Seat

Feb 2, 2010

Sure, you could add some cute curtains or something, but if you really want to doll up a window, simply add a window seat! Ok, so it's not that simple, but wow, does it ever make a big difference here. Check out Posh Pieces to see how Shannon and her husband built this themselves.

I want!

Copper Wicker

White wicker...yikes! Barbara had this dresser that had sat in the closet for a few years until she dragged it out one day, thinking she might be able to use it to redecorate her living room. She used a mahogany gel stain, which must be easier than paint, because have you ever painted wicker? Not. Fun.

Still a bit too plain for her taste, so she sprayed copper sheeting with vinegar and ammonia and left it outside for a week. She says, "Now it is my favorite piece of furniture!" Thanks Barbara!

Ice Chest

This old ice chest once belonged to the grandmother of Hanna of Drab to Fab. Hanna had loved it since she was a little girl and when she inherited it, it was in bad shape. She sanded it completely and dressed it up in distressed yellow and white. Check out more on her blog here. Thanks Hanna!

Dos Sillas

Feb 1, 2010

I've had these chair redos hanging out in my inbox for quite a while, so without further ado, here they are!

Both of these chair were pleading, crying out for a makeover! Sunday heard the call and went with toile (cheesy rhyming, I know, I know), and a black paint job for her $5 thriftstore redo.

The second lovely silver velvet chair is by Laura from Decor to Adore. Silver velvet, swoon! Well done ladies! Thank you!

Grecian Bathroom

Mikael had a clear vision in mind when she redid her powder room. She wanted the vibe to echo a seaside village in Greece, with vibrant blues and crisp whites. I'd say she definitely pulled it off. Looks great! Check out her blog Starter Home to Dream home for a detailed post on how she and her husband did this project themselves, everything from hanging beadboard and moulding to framing the artwork. Thanks Mikael!

Jamie's Basement

Another terrifying basement room gets a glam redo courtesy of makeover maven Jamie. I don't understand why the previous owners of this home only finished half of the basement. I mean, there's that wood-paneled wall with a fireplace, and then ... bare studs and open beams everywhere else. And do I spy a shuffleboard court on the industrial green floor? Hmmm.

But the after is beautiful, with a ceiling and everything! Sadly no room for shuffleboard, but I bet that doesn't bother Jamie one bit.

Giveaway Winner

Jan 30, 2010

We have a Winner!

#176 - Kelli West

this is great!! I love #1 the best. so cute.

Congrats Kelli!

Thanks so much for entering everyone! If you'd like to sponsor a future giveaway, just send me an email, okie doke? betterafter@live.com

I promise I won't clog the blog with tons of these giveaways, since that's not why you're here, but it would be fun like once a month or something don't you think?

Have a great weekend!

Miss Mustard

Jan 29, 2010

Let's check in on Miss Mustard Seed and see what she's been up to lately ... Just the usual, being awesome!

I love how she takes each makeover an extra step further, like the embellishments around the chalkboard on the desk, or the sheet music that gives that side table a whole new identity rather than just a new paint job. Thanks Miss Mustard Seed! You never cease to amaze! See both projects HERE and HERE.

Jen's Hutch

Jen of Sanctuary Arts at Home was tired of her blah hutch, so she set out to give it a distressed cream paint job. But, after painting the black base coat, she loved how it looked and stopped there. I love how sleek this looks with the doors removed, and how it still a bit of the country charm from before, only with more sophistication. Thanks Jen! See more HERE.

Knack Dresser

Oh Barb. You simply leave me speechless! See more of this beauty over at Knack.

Giveaway! Woot!

Jan 27, 2010

Guess what? A giveaway, that's what! CSN Stores has kindly offered a chance for Better After readers to win one of these super cool mirrors for free!

I've selected the following five mirrors from Livingroomsdirect.com, and let me tell you, it was not easy, as there are only about a billion items of home decor over there. They also carry every style of bar stool you can imagine, so check out their site sometime and show them some love!

On to the giveaway! Since everyone's tastes vary wildly, I tried my best to pick something to appeal to everyone. All you have to do is pick your favorite and leave a comment with the name of the mirror you would like to win!

And make sure you include your email address or some way for me to contact you; I'm not psychic! If you'd like more info on the mirrors themselves, (dimensions, etc.) simply click the link! Good luck!

***giveaway now closed! thanks for entering! ***

#1. Lotus

#2. Melissa Floral

#3. Cocostick

#4. Scalloped

#5. Lilliput

Good luck! Wait, did I already say that? Well, I hope you win.

I plan to keep this contest open... eh, until I close it. Probably for like a day or two? We'll see. Tell your friends!

Victorian victory

This might possibly be the most expensive Better After I've ever featured! Actually, coming in at a cost of $140,000, it is definitely the most expensive.

After purchasing this house, Dorian W discovered that the 1896 Victorian home was a rare design by architect George Franklin Barber. An unfortunate "remodel" decades later had compromised the artistic quality of the home. However, he was able to find the plans and restore this home to it's original glory. Amazing!

Featured on This Old House.

Sweet Sofa

This old sofa went from stuffy to stunning thanks to some love from Joi at Nuestra Vida Dulce. She found it for $45 on Craigslist and knew she wanted it recovered in white. And, good idea alert: she used indoor/outdoor fabric for superb stain resistance and durability!

Check out her blog for the details, AND check out her super cool feature "What's good in your hood," where she trolls the Craiglist postings in different cities and shares her funky finds. Great work Joi!

Buffet to Bookcase

Erin sent me this great bookcase redo, and I had to laugh at her description of how it came to be: "I picked up a buffet that had seen better days through Freecycle about three or four years ago. I parked it in the garage and then proceeded to accidentally ram it with my car from time to time."

She finally decided to drag it out and fix it up. After gluing it back together, she removed the doors to make it into a bookcase and painted it a lovely turquoise. Check out the full story on her blog The Impatient Gardener. Thanks Erin!

I want my two dollars!

Jan 26, 2010

Molly of Toile in the Family went to an auction and scored this buffet for a measly two dollars! No, not a typo. Two bucks. What?! I really need to start going to some auctions, geez.

So, with literally nothing to lose, she went bold and painted it red, replaced the handles and named her Scarlett. And frankly, my darling, I think it's divine.

Jessica's House

Jessica's house was lacking in the "eye-catching" department. If I drove past this house, the first and last thing I'd notice would have been that luscious lawn and not much else. It really reminds me of the neighborhood in Napoleon Dynamite, and sho nuff, Jessica lives near-abouts where that movie was made.

But the after is a different story. With new shutters, siding and stonework, her home has not only been brought up-to-date but given a focal point as well. It even looks bigger. And the lawn continues to look great! Thanks Jessica!

Dresser n Desk

Here are a few more I loved by Bethany at Dwellings by Devore. First up a vintage dresser redo (Is it really vintage? I don't know, but I do know that my grandma has a dresser almost exactly like this, and if grandma has it, it's vintage, honey). I love how she mixed it up with the black and white, and I think the drawer pulls are so unique!

This was Bethany's husband's beat-up old desk. It needed some TLC, and for the cost of paint and $5 for a recovered thriftstore chair, she's got herself a brand new desk. I like how she added the cork tiles in the middle, to break up all that white. Thanks Bethany! Check both projects out HERE.

Happy Seat

Jan 25, 2010

When you're busy getting your craft on, there's no reason your bottom should be left out! Veronica wanted a chair for her new scrapbooking room, so she got busy with this Salvation Army cast off. Not, after some white paint and happy fabric, both she and her seat have a colorful new chair to enjoy! Check out her blog Everyday Kings for more!

Sonja's Drawing Room

This Better After comes to us from overseas! Sonja live in Ireland, in a home that is 200 years old! How cool. I can't imagine all the history and memories that have taken place there.

One memory Sonja would like to forget was painting her drawing room walls burgundy. So she and her husband did a little make-under and stripped the walls back to their original state with a sugar soap wash. (Don't have a clue what that means ... must be an Ireland thing?)

With the now neutral background, all of the character of this room was able to stand out on its own: the tall ceilings, two beautiful windows looking into a park, and original wood floors refinished to a deep brown.

Check out her blog Craft-Werk to see more of this room, and the light fixture she made out of paper! Thanks Sonja!

Cookin & Cleanin

Here are a few more redos from Jamie, who you may recall had previously fixed up the exterior of her house that was being eaten alive by junipers.

This before kitchen had some unique features, like that lone fluorescent bulb pretending to be a light fixture and a floor tiled in brown and more brown.

She fixed it up with some creamy paint and new pulls for the cabinets, new flooring, lighting, countertop and backsplash. Looks great!

And here was her spooky laundry room before, a room I probably wouldn't set foot in without wearing rainboots and carrying a hammer to smash spiders. (Although her before washer and dryer are way cooler than my current set, and her after set is even better! No fair!)

De-spookified and looking good! Thanks Jamie!

Smarter.com

Jan 23, 2010

Hey there!

Just inturrupting your weekend to let you know about Smarter.com, Better After's first official sponser! Check them out over there on my sidebar. ----> Now, I wouldn't go sticking just any old thing on my blog that I wasn't a fan of, so you can trust that this site is cool, yo.

It's a comparison shopping site that finds and compares whatever you're looking for, from any and every online merchant that sells it. For example, when I wanted to buy my husband some cologne, I typed in Claiborne Sport for Men and it pulled up every store online that sold it from Ebay to The Scented Monkey (I did NOT make that up) AND how much it cost. I ended up getting a smoking deal that was $20 less than the mall would have been, plus hair gel, body wash and a shaving bag! Woot!

So, anyhoo, it's a smart way to shop for all your wants and needs, from home decor to electronics and whatnot, so check it out! And if you are interested in advertising on Better After, just drop me an email and we can chat!

And now, back to your regularly scheduled weekend.

ReDu

Jan 22, 2010

Michelle found nothing appealing at all about bland, expensive furniture that every other person on the block had. So she took to redoing old pieces in her own unique style, and created a little business in the process. Check her out blog out at Redu Home Furnishings, and also her etsy site Boheme Trouve where some of these items are for sale!

I like how she mixes it up here with both flower and crystal knobs.

And here comes my favorite. The colors, the knobs, perfection! Thanks Michelle!