I see a zebra looking at me

These two projects aren't related, but I think they would make a cute couple! Not that I think things that are related make cute couples. I just mean, two different people submitted these, separately... you know what I mean. 

 First, Jessica from Words Making Sounds purchased this mirror for $1.25 (So cheap!! My Goodwill is such a rip off, I swear). A quick and easy coat of white, and she looks brand new! 

 Secondly, the cute zebra chair redo comes from Ashlie, who paid $5 for it at a thriftstore. After an adventurous recovering endeavor in which she discovered old ramen noodles lurking deep within, Ashlie and her chair are now headed toward a beautiful ramen-free life together.

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Sherri's Kitchen

Sherri was determined to make a comfortable home for her kids after unexpectedly finding herself single and on her own in a new community. She purchased this three bedroom fixer-upper, and eventually, with "a little time, a lot of help from wonderful people, and not a lot of money!" she transformed it into a beautiful space for family and friends. 

 Here is how her kitchen started out: note the dashing - or should I say "clashing" - plaid wallpaper, orange paint, faux wood Formica and sickly yellow backsplash. Quite a contrast to the finished product. It is so much more inviting! Thanks Sherri!

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2 Tone Sideboard

Caroline scored this antique sideboard on Craigslist for $50. It needed a bit of TLC, so she freshened it up with a two-toned look: distressed white on the bottom and a walnut stain on the top. 

 I know some people practically drop over dead when anyone paints an antique, but I say do what you love, gosh darn it. If it's in your house and you're looking at it everyday, it should make you happy. 

 If it's in someone else's house and worth lots of money, well, leave it alone. 

 Check out more on Caroline's blog The Feminist Housewife.

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Pretty as a Princess

Jessica recently earned a cool-mom merit badge by making over her daughter's bedroom for her 6th birthday. And the little girl knew exactly what she wanted: the color yellow and a canopy over the bed.  

She must be thrilled with the outcome, it's such a little princess room! It no longer looks like a bonus level in Super Mario Bros., what with the brick-like rectangles all over the wall. 

 I think the picture rail high up is also great, it brings the ceiling down to a more kid-friendly height. Thanks Jessica!

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Cut a Rug

Oh, how I love a redo that totally reimagines an object!

 Does your floor need some clothes? Well, all you need is some imagination and to follow these simple steps: #1 Take some scissors to a 5' x 5' drop cloth, #2 google "zebra hide," #3 add some brown paint, and ta da! You've got yourself a hip new rug! 

 No animals or budgets were harmed in the making of this rug. 

 Check out Erin's blog Cultivating Home for more! Thanks Erin!

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Centsational Space

Stop me if you've seen this one before... Ok, you probably have. It's the sensational office makeover from Kate over at one of my most favorite blogs, Centsational Girl. I just found myself going back there to look at it over and over, so hey, why not post it again? 

 I just love the colors she used here. My own house could use some de-beige-ification. I normally shy away from blue for some reason, but it looks so great here against the creamy white accents. And I also love the little pops of pattern in the chair and curtains. Perfection! Much more to see on her blog HERE.

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Case in Point

Here's a fun and fabulous little redo by Amanda from Shabby Remix. She made over this traincase using wallpaper, modge podge and fabric. The wallpaper matches that in her daughter's room, who uses the case to hold all her nail polish supplies. Cute and functional! And what's not to love about a damask/leopard skin combo? Thanks Amanda!

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Sweet Seat

A cute chair redo by Joi from Nuestra Vida Dulce. Love how the white brings out the design on the back of the chair, which makes the white in the fabric stand out too. Thanks Joi!

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Dream Mantle

Here is a fireplace redo for your viewing pleasure. This fabulous mantle comes to us from Mikael from Starter Home to Dream Home. She went for a "less is more" approach in the tile department and ripped out those big boring tiles in favor of smaller more colorful tiles, which make a way bigger impact. And the new moulding is the perfect finishing touch, making it look like an honest to goodness mantle, and not a fireplace jammed into a random corner. 

  Spelling question: Mantel or Mantle? From what I hear, they're both right...

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$0.99 Design

Ballard Design probably doesn't love it when people make knock-off versions of their pricey decor. Well Ballard Design, maybe you should charge less! 

 Abby from Tales and Trials found this bedraggled and fruity topiary at a thriftstore for 99 cents. She freshened it right up and gave it a new home, for less than it costs to even look at a Ballard Design catalog! Thanks Abby!

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JJ's Pretty Pleats

JJ over at the Blah Blah Blahger had this nice chair that just needed some new paint and fabric to be truly beautiful. Only it's never that easy, is it? Once she dug in, she discovered several layers of fabric, then wallpaper(!), then plastic covering the seat, and layer upon layer of paint that needed to be sanded away.

 The final product was worth it, I'd say, and check out the added detail of the pleating on the seat! What a perfect extra touch! Thanks JJ! See more HERE.

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Entry Fixer Upper

What are you doing this weekend? Any big plans? If not, here's something to think about. What is the first thing you see when you enter the house? Not your guests who ring the doorbell out front, YOU. 

 If you're like many people, you probably enter your home through the garage. Maybe you pass through a mud room, pantry, or laundry room. Why shouldn't that space be welcoming and beautiful too?

 Emily from Frilly Details thought so. So she turned her ugly walk-through laundry room into an inviting area that says "Hello! I'm so glad you're home!" I would smile walking into this room every time.

 So think about fixing something up just for you. Maybe a closet that no one else will ever see, or the inside of the doorway from the garage. It's your home after all, help it make you happy!

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Photoshopped Kitchen

Loving the before shot of Erin's kitchen here. She forgot to take a before, so she just (un) fixed it right up with photoshop! Cool with me, all I require is a before and after! 

 She wasn't a huge fan of this kitchen when she and her husband first moved in. She tried to spice things up with the tin backsplash, but that wasn't enough. So she rolled up her sleeves and got busy, and I think the end result is fabulous. The tin backsplash really pops and the dark countertops work so much better with the white. See the whole transformation on her blog Domestic Adventure. Thanks Erin!

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Bye Bye Boog

Kelley has a habit of Tearing Up Houses. Her great blog is full of tales in chronic renovating. 

 Here she took a tiny "booger colored" guest bedroom, and made it so light and airy that she managed to fit a queen size bed and a desk in there and it still doesn't feel cramped. Check out her blog HERE for tons more pictures of this beautiful room and the accessories she dressed it up with.

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Twofer

I've been bogged down lately! Can't seem to keep up! I swear, my laundry has figured out how to reproduce itself and my emails go unanswered longer and longer! Sorry, someday I'll figure it all out. And then I'll probably die the next day, because I will be 109 by the time that happens. 

 To compensate for my general lacking-ness, here is a two-for-one deal! Two blah dressers into two great redos, coming your way: 

 First: a pink cabana-style dresser from Denise at The Painted Home. Love the dresser, but I really love that before pic! Drawers open, clothes every which way. Hmmm, looks familiar..

Second, take a look at this fun dresser redo from Pamela at Be Colorful. She redid this dresser to sell it, but when she did, she was a little sad to part with it. I would miss all that personality too! Thanks so much ladies!

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Hole in the Wall

Amanda had some issues with her living/dining room situation. Unable to completely knock down the existing wall separating the two, she did the next best thing and opened a window! 

 Bonus: now they can see the TV from the dinner table! "We love our Wheel of Fortune," she says. Looks great and adds a lot more interest to the space. Check out more on her blog

  Little House on the Corner.

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White Here

Continuing onward with our white and bright theme for the day, check out these lovely redos by Erin. 

First up, a rocking chair lightens up with a cleansing coat of white. The before was actually kind of interesting, almost a bit Miss Mustard Seed-esque, but the white is so classic, and it shows off the chair's shape and slender spindles so well. Much more appropriate for a baby's room. (Note: I do not know whether or not this was actually FOR a baby's room, but that's where I would put it!) 

 Next, Erin brightened up a dark hutch that was in need of some attention. Now it's all fixed up and ready to show off! A dose of white really makes a big difference, like putting a Crest White-strip on your home! Thanks Erin!

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Nemmie's Kitchen

Want to make your kitchen look about three times bigger? Easy! Go white and go bright. Emily's before kitchen was sporting an odd minty green color that looked a little sickly. She livened it up with some bright white on the cabinets and a soothing neutral on the walls. Check out more on her blog HERE, including how she updated her funky built in pantry. 

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Peas and No Podge

Modge Podge ... it's a fine line between super cute and just plain tacky. For instance: this stately little dresser was totally upstaged by a poorly executed application of flower petals. It just looked a bit juvenile. 

 Deciding it was best to keep things simple, the gals over at 4 Sweet Peas turned it back into a dignified and classy piece of furniture. After many hours of sanding and stripping, it was given a distressed white paint job and some girly crystal knobs. Way better! Thanks ladies!

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Aloha Sofa

Megan and her husband just moved back to the mainland after living in Hawaii. (JEALOUS!) So, naturally they had to pack light and needed some furniture upon their return. What they found was this $25 sofa that had lots of potential. Potential for swine flu. 

 After convincing her mother that one cannot contract swine flu from a sofa, (But can one? Who knows?) she helped her recover it with some $6 per yard fabric. Final product: a gorgeous new sofa for less than $100, AND no swine flu. Win-win! See more on her blog HERE.

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