Guess who accidentally deleted her entire inbox today? And then, before she realized it, deleted her entire ‘deleted’ folder? This gal. Whoopsie-doodles. So please feel free to email me again if you’ve emailed me recently.
And please feel free to gape and gawk at this awesome project from Better After reader Sheri. Sheri had this enormous retaining wall in her tiny backyard. One day, she saw a picture of an Italian villa with bricks similar to her wall, and inspiration knocked! So she answered by creating this awesome faux villa. It comes complete with a framed door (a $3.95 reject from Lowe’s that she painted to look like wood), windows made from scrap lumber and two layers screen, plus solar lights underneath so they look lit up at night, new landscaping, and even a door-knocker and a little flagstone path leading up to it!
She reports its now the best feature of her backyard instead of being an eyesore. I’ll say!
Here’s a look at the door before. Seriously, $3.95?! I never find these deals. Not that I’m going around buying random doors that often, but still. The door isn’t actually attached to the wall, it’s mounted to the frame and anchored to the ground with post stakes.
One more look, just because I think it’s so darn clever! Great job Sheri!
The Ugly Lamp Contest is coming soon! Submit your ugly lamp to me at BetterAfter@live.com by August 10th!
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36 Comments
Anonymous
July 31, 2012 at 10:18 PMthat is so darling!
Amie
July 31, 2012 at 11:02 PMso so so cute and something I’d never think of trying myself!
stephbo93
July 31, 2012 at 11:46 PMWhat a clever idea!
Anonymous
August 1, 2012 at 12:34 AMOk I was totally expecting a cheesy painted mural. This is so enchanting!
Anonymous
August 1, 2012 at 3:08 AMLove it!
Holly
August 1, 2012 at 4:02 AMThat is brilliant!!!! She should win a prize for best yard makeover ever!!
Jenn
July 31, 2012 at 10:25 PMThat is amazing!
Laura from Top This Top That
July 31, 2012 at 10:51 PMwhat a great idea!
Tracy
August 1, 2012 at 5:57 AMThat is the most awesome thing I have ever seen. I was also expecting a mural. Fantastic! Bravo!
Tracy@GeneralSplendour
July 31, 2012 at 11:06 PMOk that is absolutely spectacular. What a wonderful job she did. How cute to sit out there now. 🙂
Naz
July 31, 2012 at 11:06 PMNow that’s a creative person! Excellent idea for sure.
Ashley
July 31, 2012 at 11:20 PMThis is amazing! I thought the after photo was actually a house until I really looked at it. Awesome job!
TracyMB @ Crows Feet Chic
July 31, 2012 at 11:20 PMBrilliant!!!
Nichole
July 31, 2012 at 11:52 PMI love it!!
Nancy
August 1, 2012 at 12:29 AMI think this is my favorite After ever….ever After? Whatever…it’s spectacular! I think she needs a blog!
Mary Ellen
August 1, 2012 at 3:19 AMThis is such a neat project!!! Would love to see what other great ideas she comes up with! Does Sheri have a blog?
Korrie Bastian
August 1, 2012 at 3:29 AMOh, this is very, very cool!
The Polka Dot Closet
August 1, 2012 at 3:57 AMOK, that is the best and cutest oh, and creative project I have seen in a long time!!
Carol
Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
August 1, 2012 at 4:03 AMVERY creative and executed perfectly. I love this idea.
trolley castors
August 1, 2012 at 2:31 PMThe transformation looks better now. We don’t need to be expensive in one thing if there’s an alternative and cheapest solution.
Anonymous
August 1, 2012 at 3:35 PMThat door looks awesome! Did she mention how she made the door look like real wood? I would LOVE to do this to my front door, inside and out!!
-Laura
Karen G
August 1, 2012 at 6:14 PMI cannot believe this actually got some hmms. This is so, so cool! What a fantastic idea, and lovely execution.
Nikolette
August 1, 2012 at 1:36 PMWow! I was not expecting that at all. It looks amazing. This After is def one of my faves.
Ashley
August 1, 2012 at 1:51 PMThis is actually one of the coolest things I’ve seen!
the cape on the corner
August 1, 2012 at 3:50 PMi swear this is cuter than the front of my actual house. the shame!
Brandy
August 1, 2012 at 4:19 PMI’d have the door open and paint something shockingly silly behind it.
Brandy
August 1, 2012 at 4:19 PMI’d have the door open and paint something shockingly silly behind it.
Martha
August 1, 2012 at 4:44 PMNow I wish that my backyard retaining wall was MORE imposing! Maybe if I put up a miniature version of what Sheri did, it would look as though Snow White’s dwarves live in my backyard? Nah! This is an awesome example of making a punchbowl of lemonade out of a bucket of lemons! I, too, wish that Sheri had a blog!
Jen
August 3, 2012 at 6:45 PMOh wow! That is one of the coolest ideas I’ve seen for a backyard. Don’t think many would be brave enough to tackle something like this – but obviously well worth taking the plunge!
Jody
August 5, 2012 at 2:15 AMWow, that’s amazing! I’d always imagine what could be on the other side of that door!
Rosemary
August 4, 2012 at 7:57 PMThat is awesome, but now I want to go IN it! Lol!
Debbie - Painted Therapy
August 5, 2012 at 12:34 AMUmmmmm. . . That is pretty friggin awesome!!
Mark and Kimmy
August 25, 2012 at 6:38 AMWow! I love this. I wonder how many of their friends try to open the door? Ha!
Jen
December 29, 2012 at 10:02 PMSeriously, I am amazed. Does this person have a blog or any info she would be willing to pass along? Even my hubs was impressed and that’s sayn something! Thanks, Jenny ><>..
Melissa
April 20, 2016 at 10:59 AMCan you PLEASE tell me where you got the faux windows from, I MUST do this on the side of my long ugly brick garage. Thank you so much
Lindsey @ Better After
April 20, 2016 at 1:46 PMI think she just used old windowpanes, if I remember correctly …