Better After: November 2009

Bench for Two

Nov 30, 2009

Jen needed a spot for both of her little boys to sit, as they like to crowd around the computer together. So she remade this little side table into a padded bench with white paint and blue-green taffeta.

When she went to remove the top, only the middle came out, so it ended up with a cool framed-in look. Check out the link here to see how it looks with our friend, the computer desk!

Chipped Chair & Distressed Desk

Here's some more yummy goodness coming from Jen at A Thousand Words. A totally mismatched mess of a country-fied desk and junky chair come together in perfect chippy harmony with a little paint and distressing and a dark stain on the top.

Both pieces now look made for each other, I'd say. And I also love the sleek new knobbies. Thanks Jen!

A Thousand Projects. Or just one.

Things are moving s l o w l y around here! Still shaking off that turkey hang-over, bear with me!

Today I present to you several projects from Jen over at A Thousand Words. She has a beautiful blog and her pictures are gorgeous.

Here is an old tray redo she did, check out the link above for a closer look at all the pretty little details. And I'll be back later with a few more of her before and afters!

E v e n t u a l l y. . .

Fall Centerpiece

Nov 26, 2009

What are you doing reading blogs on Thanksgiving Day? Go eat some more turkey and take a nap for crying out loud! That's what I'm doing! At least that's what I'm predicting I'll be doing, since I'm actually writing this on Saturday... (don't tell.)

Here's a pretty little Thanksgiving inspired centerpiece for you. It might have been wise to share this BEFORE Thanksgiving, should you want to recreate one for yourself, but oh well. It's still fall, for like, one more minute.

Happy Thanksgiving!

And thanks to Kara at Creations by Kara, great job!

White to Tan and Back Again

Nov 25, 2009

So, try and keep this straight. This first before and after project by Rita at Curbside Creations features WHITE bricks painted brown!

The next one by Kristen at k.f.d. Designs features BROWN tile (and cabinets) painted white!

What do you think? Do you prefer one over the other?

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I think they both look great! Because I see where they each were going with their ideas.

Rita wanted to liven up her bland wall, and I think she did a great job making it warmer and richer. Looks like it must have taken a lot of time to get the color variations in the bricks just right.

I also really like Kristen's kitchen, it looks so fresh and so clean, clean. I would never have though of painting tile, but I really like it and I think it helps the room retain a cottage-like feel.

Cottage as in cute vintage-type home, not cheese.

Ashley's Table

Ashely from Ashley's Rowhome is on a mission to brighten up her basement. I love her fearless choice of colors and design! Funkalicious!

First Place Fireplace

Nov 24, 2009

Hellooooo Gorgeous! This one was obviously done by a professional, although, that's not to say that you shouldn't give this a try in your home.

HA HA! Totally Kidding! Do NOT give this one a try, unless you yourself are a professional stone layer. Leave it to the pros! Looks like it was definitely worth it. What a difference. Thanks to Kim from The TomKat Studio for sharing!

Golden Fan

I want to start a new category called "Wait, I can paint that?!" It would feature things like this fan: from Gold Overload to Brown Beauty. Whoulda thunk? Jen from The Thrifty Home reports that it was actually a lot easier than she thought it would be, and she wishes she had done it sooner.

So what are you waiting for? Is there something in your home that drives you nuts? Do you stare at it everyday thinking, "That thing bugs me!" Can it be remedied with just a little fix or a quick and easy coat of spray paint? Use your imagination! And don't forget to take pictures and send them to me!

Michelle's Master

I don't feel too bad showing projects that have already been featured many times throughout blogland. I figure I probably have at least one reader who doesn't subscribe to a bunch of blogs, and just checks in here instead. (Hi Mom!)

So, as it's my duty to report the latest and greatest, here is are a few projects from Michelle at Three Men and a Lady.

First up, her master bedroom redo! If I was annoying and obnoxious (please say I'm not), I'd screech my head off like Mary Murphy and put this bedroom on The Hot Tamale Train!

WOW! Now check out this sad little corner over here:

And add this guy here...

And you get this!

(She made that joshua tree picture herself. I know. I hate her too.)

(Not really, I think she's great!)

And here is one more. She made over this generic Wal-Mart piece into the perfect foyer table.

Go check these out here, here and here if you haven't already!

Christine's Chair

Nov 23, 2009

I really love the look of this chair. It's kinda classic and whimsical at the same time. Is there a word for that? Classical? Yeah, I think that one already exists. I'll work on it. Thanks to Christine, see more on her blog here!

Repurposed Headboards

More from Jenn at Livin the Simple Life. Here she repurposes two headboards into french art inspired wall plaques and a super cool coat rack. Thanks Jenn! I covet your imagination and great eye!

She does it again! I love it and I want it!

Wine Rack Buffet

Jenn from Livin the Simple Life had no room for a buffet, so she improvised! This lovely table was made with a wine rack topped with a piece of plywood. Yes, I said PLYWOOD. Amazing what a little stain and trim can do!

Eddie's Chair

Nov 19, 2009

Here's one from an honest-to-goodness decor pro to the stars: Eddie Ross. He got this chair at an antique store and envisioned it with thick horizontal stripes, slightly askew. After looking high and low for the perfect fabric and finding nothing that suited his style, he simply recovered it in white, taped it off, and sprayed it lightly with silver spray paint! So chic!

Fridge Handles

Sometimes the tiniest change can be the most fun. Amanda over at Imperfectly Beautiful had some grungy yellowing fridge handles. What to do? No amount of scrubbing can change that. But do you know what can? Spray paint made specifically for plastic! It's like a brand new fridge!

Do you have anything that could use a little freshening up? I'm wondering if that would be possible on my shower floor. I don't have a tile shower, it's just made out of fiberglass, or whatever that stuff is, and the grunge is here to stay. But, maybe not!

Katie's Staircase

This staircase was a little bland, especially when compared to that fabulous millwork going on in the room up front. So Katie, AKA Yoga Gal, and her husband dressed it up with some trim and paint, and now it looks great! I love that look, so very classic and custom. Thanks Katie!

Green Hutch

Nov 18, 2009

Needing to fill a large blank wall, Melissa from Invited In found what she was looking for when she got this old hutch for $100 on Craigslist. She spruced it up with a bold green, although it wasn't as easy as that.

She says, "I was overly optimistic about this piece. It is ginormous!! I did not realize all the work it would take to remove all eight doors, 20 hinges, 14 knobs, not to mention all the taping it took for covering the glass before spraying."

Well, all that hard work certainly paid off! Thanks Melissa!

Jill's Armoire

From yellow pine to fine wine! (Is it even pine? I can't tell, but I like to rhyme.) I love the deep red on this armoire with the black antiquing peeking through. Check out Jill's blog Off Woodland Lane for even more great furniture redos.

Amy's Kitchen

The Ugly Honey-Colored Cabinets strike again! Amy from Pretty Frugal Pretties was not having it, so she tackled the project armed with only $100! It looks amazing! I love the contrasting island. Thanks Amy for showing us you don't have to live with ugly cabinets!

Shabby Desk

I love the details on this old desk. The drawers remind me of seashells. It was picked up from a yardsale in pretty nasty shape, but now it looks like a treasured family heirloom! Check out Every Day is a Gift for more!