Better After: September 2009

Brassy Decor No More

Sep 30, 2009

An oldie but a goodie from Centsational Girl. Behold the power of white spray paint! Every tacky little item in the before picture got a hearty dose of Heritage White and went from brass to class!

(Except for the little silver cup that simply got a good polish. WHY people send their old silver to Goodwill, I'll never understand. Polish it people! It takes 10 seconds!)

Pink Hutch

I never knew I was such a fan of pink until I had a baby girl, and now I just can't get enough.

This fantastic pink hutch by Karli from Rocky Bella makes my heart sing! And look at the little bird handles! So sweet it's giving me diabetes!

Red Delicious Kitchen

Kim's kitchen makes me want to tear my house to the ground and start over from scratch. The red cabinets! The plank ceiling! Everything about it screams charm! Maybe that's the wrong word ... charm doesn't scream, it probably giggles demurely and offers you some apple cider. I can picture pulling a stool up to the island and chatting in this kitchen all day.

See more on her blog, Twice Remembered.

Plus, check out her awesome studio steps HERE. So fun and inspiring! Love the harlequin.

kfd designs

Sep 29, 2009

Here is just a small sampling of projects by makeover pro Kristen from k.f.d. designs. Her blog is stuffed to the gills with super duper before and afters! Check out her custom cabinet refacing job HERE.

I love all the artistic touches she includes, like what I thought was fabric in the last project, is actually hand painted dahlias! Neato!

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Table Triplets

Sep 28, 2009

Here are a trio of tables that all looked remarkably the same, in their sad, neglected 'before' states. However, they couldn't be more different as 'afters.'

The first makeover comes from Marian at Mustard Seed Creations. (Good gravy I love her blog! Everything she does is astounding!) Check out her chalkboard table tutorial HERE.

I love the second table as well, a completely different look! Lisa from Recaptured Charm repainted this table robin's egg blue, then gave it an extra touch of personality with fun fabric and a glass top.

And the last table was rescued by Kendra at My Insanity. I'm loving the two toned look. I don't know how she managed to get that nasty broke-down wood to look so good, but dang, it looks good!

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Mod Podge Shoes

So, usually I focus on home decor, furniture and the like, but these were too cute to resist! Mod Podge shoes!

Check them out on Erika's blog Oops, I Craft My Pants. (If that blog title doesn't make you giggle, I don't know what will). ((You may find it extra funny if you are an SNL fan))

Rambling on and on about myself

Sep 25, 2009

It's Friday! I usually like to leave you with something astounding to gaze at over the weekend, but that's not the case today. Instead, you get a little before and after from none other than myself! Get excited!

Ok, don't get too excited, because all I did was take my superbly disgusting mousepad and give it some pretty new fabric. Yes, that is truly what my mousepad has looked like for the last few ... years. (hangs head in shame).

But isn't almost everyone's mousepad kind of gross and grubby? No? Just me? I knew it.

Well, not anymore, thanks to some scrap fabric and that fusible hem tape webbing stuff. I don't know what it's called. You know what I mean. Too ... lazy ... to ... Google.

And, my little ol' blog got an award, what what! Thanks Janell from Isabella and Max Rooms!

I'm supposed to share some facts about myself, so here goes:

#1 I always count how many steps I take wherever I walk. I told you I'm a little OCD. 94 to the mailbox!

#2 Despite my compulsive counting, I always ALWAYS skip the 80's when I'm counting somehow. 77, 78, 79, 90!

#3 Despite the first two facts, I hate numbers and am really bad at math.

#4 I will eat pretty much anything, (cheerios off the high chair, expired yogurt, iffy looking potato salad) but I am a SNOB when it comes to butter, of all things. Margarine, barf.

#5 I know they are kind of a decor-rage right now, but owls freak me the heck out.

#6 I sing in my car. Loudly. With hand gestures. It's ... not good. If someone pulls up next to me, I pretend I'm on my phone and keep on singing.

#7 I like to try out new mottos to live by. Current motto is "If you're bored, then you're boring."

#8 I hate going to the movies. I'm almost always disappointed and then I get mad for wasting 12 bucks on something lame.

#9 But I watch the heck out of my TV! Greys Anatomy, (although the season premiere made me want to jump off a cliff it was so depressing), The Office, SYTYCD, Project Runway, The Soup, are a few favorites.

#10 And finally, I just want to say a big fat THANK YOU to all my fabulous followers and subscribers and loyal commenters! You guys seriously rock my socks. I wish I could personally high five every one of you! Have a great weekend!

Knack Studios

Buckle up, here are some redos that might just knock you off your seat! Check them out courtesy of Barb from Knack. I don't have much more to add other than I love the colors, flower knobs and also, wow.

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Wastebasket

Sep 24, 2009

Hey! Do you have an ugly trash can? Don't throw it away, and don't throw away money on a new one either. Just make it cute, like Kara from Creations by Kara. You don't have to settle for an ugly trash can, who knew?!

Tall Lamp

I tried giving a lamp a makeover last night... it didn't go well. The before was better than the after, and the before was pretty bad. Sigh.

Well, here's a good lamp revamp. This one went from gold and grannie to black and chic thanks to Anna at All Things Creative. I love her blog, it's full of some great before and afters, check it out!

High Society Seats

Sep 23, 2009

These three projects are so darling. It's like they got all dressed up to go have tea with the queen. Frills, florals, ruffles and lace galore!

So while they might not be your cup of tea, you have to agree, over-the-top is so much better than boring-and-beige-at-the-bottom. I think they're divine!

Thanks to Glamma Fabulous for the lovely petticoat footstool and the bench, which she remade from a Las Vegas hotel room cast off!

And thanks to Rene at Paddywack Designs for her awe-inspiring chair redo. I love how the skirt is lifted, showing off a bit of leg. Cheeky!

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Burlap Basket

Lindsay (aka "Living with Lindsay," not to be confused with Lindsey aka "me") got a hold of a nice big basket at a Goodwill for $3.99. But then sadly, her dog also got a hold of it too. With his teeth. So she scrapped her original plan and ended up making it not only usable again, but really cute too! I love the braided jute trim. Nice work Lindsay!

I would have just gotten rid of the thing. And by thing, I mean dog.

Sweet & Simple

Sep 22, 2009

Here are a few simple makeovers that show what a difference a coat of white and a little bit of detail can make.

The first is a milk jug makeover from Whitney at Shanty 2 Chic. She was inspired by her sister's project, the rooster pitcher, as seen below. A lot of people are on the "rooster as decor" fan-wagon (if there is such thing as a fan-wagon), but I do think it must be done carefully. I have a certain in-law who is so into the rooster thing, I once counted over 100 rooster-themed items in her kitchen! That is not only extreme rooster overdose, but it is also terrifying, and should probably be illegal.

And finally, some freshened up canisters by Lisa at Recaptured Charm. So cute! I love the swirly little initials.