Horsing Around and Around

I could hear the dull drumbeat of  horse hooves overhead, faintly at first, but pounding stronger and stronger as I struggled to open my eyes. Another sound slowly entered my consciousness, adding to my escalating fears. Circus music. How strangely out of place it seemed. The tune sped up, the notes growing more and more maniacal and frenzied, the organ shrieking out its terrifying melody as I blindly fought to free myself from this spinning carousel of nightmares.  Then I woke up.  And realized I was just in my butt-ugly bedroom.

That, or something like that, is what inspired Julia to transform this room of terrors into the colorful and happy home studio it is today.  Free from the visual torture of the horsey wallpaper and stencils along the baseboard (that's a new one), she can now express herself in peace!

See more on her blog Chris Loves Julia. 

Have a great Labor Day weekend! 

 I will leave you with this quote I just love from Julia's wall:

Good advice.

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Christine Cans the Cat

Christine aka The Crafty Woman didn't know she had hit the jackpot when she bought this marble-top buffet for $80, until she saw an identical one on Ebay for $400.  That helped numb the pain of the four-hour round trip it took to go pick it up, which would have totally deterred me.  In fact, just today I found a coffee table on Craigslist for five bucks.  FIVE BUCKS!  But then I was like ... "Oh wait, it's in Avondale? That's like, twenty minutes away! Forget that shiz."

But Christine wasn't done yet. She found this old chair and loved the shape, not to mention the price: $15.  However, it soon became apparent that instead of being a chair for humans, it had actually been the home of a large hairy cat. Or a family of cats.  Probably a family of cats that all gave birth to more cats. Cat hair to the extreme.  So she played along, and recovered the chair with a lovely ikat fabric instead.  (Fun fact: ikat is actually pronounced e-cot.  But it would be cooler if it rhymed with cat.  At least for this story.)  See more of the makeover HERE.

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Patching up the Patio

So, I really can't stand how stores prepare you for a season two seasons in advance.  I don't want to buy swimsuits in January, nor sweaters in June.  Christmas displays long before Halloween?  Back to school stuff while my kids are still in school?!  It makes me cranky.

However, I will continue to enjoy the fact that patio furniture goes on clearance at the end of summer, because that's when patio weather is finally beginning here in Phoenix. But if you only have a few weeks left of summer, don't bother hitting the sales.  Just rehab what you have!  Like Laura from Top This, Top That who salvaged this sad set with snazzy outdoor fabric.

And Nicole from The Recycled Rose, who revived a set of hail-damaged chairs for a friend. (OK, it has been noted that these are not the exact same chairs.)   Her friend was originally from North Carolina, so Nicole mixed a little North Carolinian flavor in to the makeover.  (Hint: it's the state flower). 

Pop quiz!  Can you name your state flower off the top of your head?  No peeking!

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Play it Again

Kids are pretty style-savvy these days.  My daughter Mia is three and already tries to pick out my clothes for me. And she has plenty of opinions about what I wear.  Although, she usually wears nothing but boots, her Ariel swimming suit and a jacket, so what does she know?  But I think she would definitely prefer the sophisticated color-palette of this after playhouse versus the faded shades of sadness in the before.

See how Lorraine transformed this (and what her son thinks about the new look) on her blog South Meets Southwest.

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Sticky Style

If you know me, or have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know this: I like things easy.  Easy like Sunday morning.  Give me a project that requires one coat of spray paint and I'm a happy camper.  Give me a project that requires less than that?  Now you're just being crazy!

But that's what I came up with when I was recently asked to try out some of the new products from Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape.  Have you seen this stuff?  It's not your grandpa's roll of silver duct tape, that's for darn sure. 

So many fun designs, it basically does all the work of a makeover for you.  For instance, I went to my local Goodwill and found these beauties:

$1.99!?!  Tell me that's not ridiculous.  That thing is a total piece of crap.  The checkout guy thought it "looked like ivory." The checkout guy was insane.

(The Starlet one is pretty rad, though.) 

But, with just a quick rip, tear, and sticky, stick, stick, and look what I have here!

Pretty cool, I think! 

And while I was at the Goodwill, I also picked up these boring things:

Snoozefest alert.

But not anymore!

I was planning to keep them in my closet for jewelry storage, but I like them so much I think I'm going to put them on my desk so I can see them all the time. 

 

 After that I went a little zany and ran around the house looking for more things that needed some Scotch Duct Tape flair.  I decided my over-the-door-mirror could benefit from some girliness.

The corners were easier than I'd hoped. I just overlapped the tape then pulled it it back at an angle and cut.

I hope you enjoyed my little projects! There's a million and a half fun duct tape projects out there from quick and simple to downright jaw-dropping.

Right now you can take the Scotch Duct Tape Style that Sticks quiz that will help line you up with patterns and projects to fit your personal style.  

Plus, you could win hundreds of free combo pack samples that they are giving away everyday.

Check it out!

This post is a collaboration between Better After and Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape. Take the quiz to help you find your style that sticks!

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Sitting Prettily

Better After reader Raquel didn't want to pay and arm and a leg for new dining room chairs.  Who would?  I can only imagine the bummer of a vibe that would cast around your dinner parties, if you were sitting there with only one arm and one leg, bitterly informing your guests that they could all thank your bloody stumps for being able to sit at all.  Urg, I think I just ruined my own appetite. 

No, let's be sensible.  Raquel found these ornate old chairs on Kijiji for only $10 apiece and fixed them up nice and pretty.  Doesn't the black and gold look so regal?  And I'm not just saying that because those were my high school colors.  Go Elks!  (That was our mascot, I'm not even joking.  Yes, plural and everything.  I know.)

 
 

  

Hey now, here's another makeover in the dining department from Melissa at I Will Joy.  She found this mismatched set for $40 on Craigslist and updated it with a little paint and probably fabric, although I can't tell from the pictures.  I'm sure whatever it is under there, it's lovely.  The rest of it sure is.  I just can't get enough of that soft aqua color lately. 

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Either Oar

Ally had loved this buffet long and hard, but it just wasn't working with her new white walls.  So she toned it down with a lovely gray, (Ashwood by Behr), and distressed it ever so slightly.  Now it looks fabulous against the white, which is maybe, subconsciously, why I wear so much gray.  Maybe it looks fabulous against my paler than pale skin.  Shh, I can dream.  I love the nautical accents she accessorized with.  Hmm, maybe I should start wearing those too.

Check it all oot, (she's Canadian), on her blog Wish Simple.

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I Propose a Change

A wedding proposal should be one of the most memorable events of your life. It should be special.  Maybe you want your family and friends there.  Maybe you want it a private affair between the two of you.  Maybe you want to trip over a wadded up bunch of weather-beaten AstroTurf.  But probably not. 

That's why this future groom enlisted his How-2-Home friends to help him jazz up his balcony before he popped the big question.  They decked the whole place out in greenery and lights for a romantically magical look, and his fiancee was thrilled!  Check out the link to see how to make the faux-box shrubs.

Funny proposal story: one of my best friends was proposed to at midnight on New Year's Eve in the middle of the skating rink at Rockefeller Center.  How romantic right?  Problem was, she was planning on breaking up with the guy.  Ruh-roh.  So, as thousands of strangers skated around them clapping and hooting, she smiled a big smile, nodded a huge nod, and hissed "We'll talk about it," through gritted teeth. Nobody was the wiser.  Except for the poor guy!

  

 

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A Mill-ion Times Better

Remember back when it was cool to furnish your home with heavy wooden couches upholstered in the finest 'quaint-country-millhouse' velour that money could buy?   No?  C'mon, how could you forget all those luscious shades of brown, yellowish brown, orangey brown, browny brown, and brownish brown?  The withered sunflowers?

Well, at one point, this set was the height of chic.  (Chic had lower standards back then.)  But check out what Better After reader Amber recently did with the set she bought off Kijiji.  It's undeniably cool. Again!

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Back to Black

So, you may have noticed that Better After has changed a wee tiny bit.  Now, instead of betterafter.blogspot.com, it's simply betterafter.net.  It really doesn't change anything, all old links should still redirect here, but in case you wanted to update your reader feeds or what-have-you, feel free to do that.  Plus, I think there are less restrictions with a .net vs. a .blogspot.com, so now you are free to browse around the blog at work or school!  (I won't tell.)  Any questions?  Please ask.  I will do my best to pretend I know what I'm talking about.

Also, please check out my most recent Sunday Sweets post on Cake Wrecks, if you like that sort of thing. 

And now, back to the business of before and afters.  Remember Tabatha from Turn Right at Lake Michigan?  She had that intensely black bedroom makeover that set tongues a-wagging.  People either really loved it or really ... didn't.  She didn't give a hoot though, because she likes the dramatically dark look so much, she did it again in her bathroom! I personally think it looks amazing.  So glamorous. So chic.  And SO much better than before, cuz wow. 

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2012 Ugly Lamp CHAMPION

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Congratulations to our 2012 Ugly Lamp Contest Champion, Numb Skull, submitted by Sherry!  

Numb Skull dominated his round and came out on top in the finals with 38% of the total votes, though not without controversy.  Some voters insisted that this orb of evil was actually quite cool and probably something that a teenage boy would enjoy.  This is why I don't allow teenage boys to make any of my decor decisions.

In any case, he has been officially crowned the ugliest lamp of all, and for that Shelly has earned herself a $100 Target gift card.  Hooray! 

Thank you so much for playing along, everyone. I hope you enjoy the contest as much as I do.  Your comments were seriously killing me!  And keep on the lookout for any ugly lamps that cross your path. Who knows, you might just find 2013's big winner!

 

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Ugly Lamp Contest: FINAL ROUND!

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the final round!  Today the top two winners from each round will battle head-to-head ... or fist ... or whatever ... for the distinction and infamy that come with being crowned the 2012 Ugliest Lamp! 

Yesterday's round was a fight to the finish, with Whittled Fist and Mr. Pretty Kitty edging out a win.  There were no clear favorites, although Lil' Lush did get the fewest votes, with only 1%.  You guys and your passionate love of sculptural lamps, geez.

But.

There can only be one winner today.

Who's it going to be?

Will one lamp rise above the rest?
 
Or will they all crack under the pressure?
 (We can only hope.)

Here we go.

from Gillian

Lacy Lady plans to intimidate the competition with her icy stare.  If that doesn't work, Plan B is to smother them in lace.

from Sarah

Can these Life-Size Lovers stop getting handsy long enough to be serious contenders? 

 from Camille

Don't be fooled by their bewildered gazes. Lady African't is so confident of a win, she's already broken out her party hat.

from Sherry

Numb Skull dominated his round, but will his fiery flames of dragon-orgy evil be enough to roast the challengers?

 from Brittany

Underneath that calm and gently glowing exterior is a Mr. Pretty Kitty who's ready to pounce.  He's got his claws sharpened and bow-tie tied.

from Crystal

He may be small, but Whittled Fist is scrappy. And not just because he's made from scrap wood.  Count those fingers.  Obviously, he's seen his share of fights.

Vote Now!

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Ugly Lamp Contest: Round III

Welcome to Round III of the Ugly Lamp Contest!  How did your favorite (or least favorite) fare in yesterday's round?   My vote went to Numb Skull, who was a winner by a mile, with 49% of the votes. African't came in a distant second with 19%.  Strangely enough, many of you fell in love with  Randall, God of Lighting and even suggested that his owner auction him off! 

But now, let's get down to business.  It's time to gear up for Round III. Steel your nerves, put on your serious face, perhaps find a small stuffed animal to snuggle for comfort.

Here we go.

from Brittany

Me-oww!  Mr. Pretty Kitty is all dressed up, and just needs somewhere to go! He's perfect for any room.  Put him in the living room, dining room, bathroom, or anywhere you want a glowing cat incessantly staring at you. Take him home today!  No, seriously, take him home.

from Crystal

Back in my day, we didn't have any so-called "Like" buttons on the "Facebooks" or whatever it is you whippersnappers fiddle around with.  No, if we wanted give someone a thumbs-up, why, we did it the old-fashioned way.  We whittled them a fist!  

from Heather

This eco-friendly lamp is serious about conserving the earth and using our natural resources wisely.

That's why it's made from a  cow crap.

from Lauren

Hug me.
Hug me.
Hug me.
HUUUUUG MEEEEEE!
  HUG ME!!! 
HUG ME OR I WILL EAT YOUR FACE!

from Patty

This little guy has a very similar look to the aforementioned God of Lighting, but I don't see anyone rushing to coat him in copper with a blue patina wash and put him in the garden.  Sorry, kiddo.  It's just that Randall had those abs.  And you have ... an underage drinking problem.

from Sayle

 

"Shh darling.  Don't look now, but it appears we are being overtaken by an alien aircraft."
"Oh, don't be daft.  That's just the new art deco lampshade I bought."
"Art what now?"
"You're so behind the times, honestly. Wake up and join this century."

"Er, OK.  Um ... so ... which century, exactly?"





Vote now!

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