Chest Inhancement

When Patsy emailed me to tell me about her freshly made-over chest, my mind immediately went to the gutter, because I am 12 years old like that. Then I prepared to be jealous, because hey, I wouldn't mind a freshly made-over chest either. THEN I saw the chest in question and was thoroughly impressed and also jealous because she got this solid wood piece for $35 and those pulls are equally as awesome and she paid $12 total for them. Truly looks like a $800 item from Pottery Barn.

See it on her blog The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore. Thanks Patsy!

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

Kammy's Karma

Kammy from Kammy's Korner got this freebie little desk from a friend who was about to take it to Goodwill. She repainted it and made use of a stencil she already had, taking the grand total of this makeover to about seventeen cents. That might be an exaggeration, she didn't give a grand total. But I bet her friend is like "... um, I just forgot ... I actually need my desk back? Yeah, um ... it's a ... family heirloom? Yup! Family heirloom! Give it back!"

Great job Kammy! PS: watch your back.

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

Au'revoir, Boudior

I feel as though I should take total credit for Allyson's bedroom transformation here. She happened to be a fan of Better After, and happened to know my sister-in-law Kalli, and happened to drop by her house on a day when I happened to be sitting upon the couch. Seeing how I was such an inspiring sight, rocking my husband's sweatshirt and a raging sinus infection, she got her makeover on to show me what she could do.

Actually, she was probably inspired by Kalli's house, the epitome of cute. Or maybe she was just plain tired of her Parisian-themed boudoir and ready for a fresh look! Mission accomplished, I'd say. Lovity loving the wainscoting. It looks so chic and cozy, no? (That's how the french say it). Check out all the great details on her blog The MVPs of Mesa Town.

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

Total Wack-job

Upholstery is not my strong point, so I sense a kindred spirit in whoever previously owned Rene's uggo chair here. Note the green plaid arm rests? They either started there and decided "Screw this shizness" ten minutes in, or never planned to reupholster the whole thing at all, just found a fabric that kinda sorta matched, slapped it over the bare spots and called it a day.

Rene's solution was equally as appealing to the lazy upholsterphobe inside of me: paint! Apparently there's some textile medium out there that allows you to paint fabric, eventually giving it an easy-to-clean vinyl-like texture. She liked it so much she did it two more times! Count me in. More info on her blog Paddywack Designs. Thanks Rene!

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

That's dope

Are you afraid to get down? To get down with brown? (Brown as in the color, not brown as in the street name for hashish, a more resinous form of marijuana, don't ask me how I know that, I don't do drugs! But I do know that odd fact for some reason and therefore the UPS slogan always makes me laugh a little ... woah, tangent.)

Anyway, I'm digging this chocolate room redo from Elizabeth. So glamorous and classy! I would normally shy away from such a dark, dramatic statement color, but I think it's perfect for a bedroom. It makes me crave chocolate! (Not, I repeat NOT marijuana). Check it out on her blog The Mustard Ceiling.

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

Too cool for school

A pretend conversation:

Me: "Hi Brittany! What are you up to?"

Brittany: "Just redoing this orange chair!"

Me: "It looks like you stole that from my junior high. It's literally 'old-school!' Ha, I crack myself up sometimes. Well, good luck with that, but to be honest, there's no way a simple coat of paint will make that grungy old thing look stylish."

--25 seconds later--

Me: "Wow, that looks totally rad."

Brittany: "I know. You can see more on my blog All Together Now."

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

quatro banos

It's been awhile since I posted any bathroom a makeovers, so here are four, count'em FOUR, just for you! But that's not all. Not only are these four bathroom makeovers all fantastic and whatnots, they are all done by the same person! Wonder Andrea! Not her name, but should be. (Ok, ok, so some contractors were involved too).

Her blog Oak Ridge Revival is a big, long inspiring tale of before and afters guaranteed to wow and amaze and eat up your entire afternoon. You've been warned.

So here we go. This powder room is now sweet and stenciled and was accomplished in a few short hours by Wonder Andrea! Check it out HERE.

---

Andrea feared she would have to gut and remodel the next two bathrooms, but just a few small changes were all that were needed to make them shine. It looks like she just painted right over the tile...is that even allowed?! Who knew? Check them out HERE.

---

Woah woah woah, back up. This next room is clearly a bedroom. Make that WAS! Wonder Andrea got her hands on it and ripped out the bedroom and plopped in bathroom instead! Bumping up the grand total of toilets in her household to five! Amazing. And breathtaking. See it HERE.

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

Clockin' In

Sarah from Hennessey House found this funky old starburst clock and turned it into a starburst mirror! While I think it's super-duper cute and I love the new colors, I do hope she kept the old clock face, because I have a little bit of a thing for clock faces. The other day I saw a picture from a flea market of a whole big bin full of clock faces and I almost burst into tears with love for them. I maybe ... should see someone about this. Not normal.

But wait! Sarah didn't stop there. She made ANOTHER mirror from a clock! Ack, roman numeral clock face!!! I love youuuuu! Ahem. Sorry. I do think this mirror is super cute too, like a fancy snowflake, and it looks so pretty against that deep turquoise wall. See it {HERE}. Thanks Sarah!

(this is a subliminal message:.... you want to send me your old clock faces and you also don't think I am weird ... )

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

Baumerang!

I don't know why, but exterior makeovers are some of my very favorites! It's probably because I am not in love with the exterior of my house, currently painted in two lovely shades: Brown and Browner. The trim is also a beautiful color: Slightly Lighter Brown. Then there's the front door: More Brown. 

Well this remodel by Lindsay and her husband Jace of Baum Shelters turned my brown frown upside down! Isn't it fabulots? I'm especially loving the new carriage-style garage doors replacing that sunless sunroom/hostage holding cell thing that was going on. Great job guys! 

Read more...

Spare some change?

Do you know some dear sweet soul who, bless her heart, hasn't changed her decor one whit in the last 30 years? I know someone like that, only it's not her decor, it's her hairstyle. Yeeps. I've essentially had the same hairstyle since 5th grade, so I understand, but still ... this woman looks like she's wearing a family of exceptionally fluffy hedgehogs on her head. No. Joke. I'd love to suggest something new, but I think she's pretty committed to this look. Still, change is good!

Laura from Finding Home had a client who's living room had been the same since the 80's! She was ready for a change, and Laura, who clearly knows what the heck she's doing, delivered a beautiful room. Even just changing the furniture configuration made a huge difference. Check out her blog for some professional tips! Thanks Laura!

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

Winner! And Hot Pink! And Zebras!

Good morning! A few items of business: First: Giveaway winner! It's you! If your name is Teri and you said this: ... Love!! TJ Maxx it would be for me:) March 25, 2011 7:56 PM Yay Teri! Email me at betterafter@live.com to get your $50 giftcard!

***

Second...I thought I had something else to write about here, but I think my darling daughter just took off her diaper and peed on the carpet, so I'm going to make this quick. Hot pink kiddie kitchen coming your way! That should wake up the ol' eyeballs if you are having a mundane Monday morning. Wish I was.

From Better After reader Denise who said: "I don't know who has had more fun with it, me making it or her playing with it. After 3 sons, I am enjoying doing the girlie things with my granddaughters!" Great job Denise! (Ok, how cool is the view through the window? A field of ZEBRAS! Ha!)

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

a lightpost post

Sharon wanted some lighting outside, but was unimpressed by the typical "stick" solar lights that you jam into the ground. (Yeah, those kind of drive me nuts too. No matter what, they always look crooked. My OCDness can't handle it! I'm going to break into your yard and straighten your solar lights! Random tangent: once time I thought I was doing my widow neighbor a favor by sweeping off her front porch when she wasn't home, and she actually got really freaked out and called the cops and thought someone was trying to kidnap her. And then she called me and demanded to know I had seen someone cleaning off her porch, and I was like ... um, yeah, me? And she was just baffled that someone would do that. So I never did it again. So there.) Anyhoo, Sharon took a few outdated light fixtures and created one timeless lightpost for her yard! She just tucked the solar lights into the globes and they light up so nicely at night, no electrical work needed! Check it out here: Keen Inspirations.

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...

Baroque? More like BaROCK!

It's Friiiiday, friiiiday, gotta get down on Friiiiidaaaaay!" Argh! Curse you and your inane song, Rebecca Black!

Sorry. Don't listen to that song, it will get stuck in your head for three days straight. You will hear it in your sleep. And you will weep for mankind, because mankind has horrible taste in "music" and has downloaded this song like 3 million times. ~shivers~

Anyway, let's talk before and afters: Chiara had this overly ostentatious baroque chair. She was not feeling that nursing home drapery upholstery, so she took it to opposite end of the fabric spectrum: geishas, skulls and snakes. Badassery at it's finest. Sure, not everyone's cup of tea, but I highly favor a little hardcore edge vs. pretty, predictable and profoundly lame. (I'm talking to you, Rebecca Black).

See more on her blog Extreme Makeover Barock. (in italiano) Thanks Chiara!

This post has been brought to you by Krrb.com!

Read more...