Better After

4 In Uncategorized

Hormone Therapy

You know what I think? I think hormones are to blame for at least half of the world’s problems. I seriously do. I don’t care if you’re male or female, sometimes your hormones get all out of whack and aggressively override the section of your brain responsible for rational behavior. And that’s how Erin explains her decision to use this frothy shade of peachy pink in her dining room.

But that was then, in the throes of pregnancy. Take a look at the NOW! Not only has this room’s mood visibly improved with the addition of that amazing wall color, she’s also added a ton of designer touches that you’ll have to see up close on her blog Design Crisis. (My favorite: that fancy new lacquer doorknob!)

March 10, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

13 In bathroom

Flushing report.

You know how everything used to be smaller in days of yore? Homes were smaller than they are today, so furniture was smaller. Dinner plates were smaller, so people were smaller, and so on and so forth.

But there’s one thing that wasn’t smaller. Toilets. Talk about UN-efficient. Look at the size of the tank in Brandi’s before bathroom. It looks just like the toilets in my grandparents house, which probably hold about 17 gallons of water, and seriously take a solid ten minutes to refill post flush.

Obviously an update was in order! Not only did Brandi add an earth-friendly toilet, she pulled out all the stops everywhere else. Beautiful floors, a delicious vanity, and I’m in loves with that wall treatment too. Even the outlet covers got upgraded! See more on her blog Brandi Nell The Southern Belle.

March 6, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In tables/dressers

Tri-Tips

Do you wish you were a little more … daring in your decorating? Why not incorporate some … triangles into your home? That’s right, triangles. They are the rebels of the shape family. They don’t follow no rules. They’re equilateral, isosceles, OR scalene. They don’t care. They are pointy on all sides. They’re … DANGEROUS.

If I haven’t convinced you to give triangles a try, maybe Shelley at 100 Things To Do and her nightstand makeover can.

Ooooh!

Or what about this similar side-table makeover from Jen at Girl in the Garage? Two layers of triangular temerity! Can you handle it? I think you can.

March 6, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

14 In living room/ miscellaneous

Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Here’s a little fireplace that went from wood to white.

“Hmph,” you are thinking. “Big deal.” Well, hang-on grumpy pants, I’m not done yet.

Sure it looks cute and everything, but for the full impact of this makeover, we need to zoom out a little.

Zoom out.

There!

Ok, now didn’t that make a huge difference? It blends in so nicely with this area now, which is so lovely and white and pure, I think it is possibly Heaven’s waiting room. From Connie at Connie Nikiforoff Designs.

March 5, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

10 In tables/dressers

Let the springshine in!

Isn’t it a little strange that it’s technically still winter until March is almost over? It’s March! I don’t care if it’s 10 below outside, it’s March! And March equals spring! And spring equals happy colors as fresh and bright as springshine. That should be a real word.

Here’s a happy media console makeover from Shawna at Furniture Works. We are not officially sure that this really is a media console, because it obviously hails from a time gone by, where the only media available was like, your grandpa’s slideshows. But that’s what Shawna decided it’s going to be today, and after a glossy coat of Peppermint Leaf, it’s so lovely it can be whatever it wants.

And here is a relative of Shawna’s console: this sweet buffet table from Better After reader Kristyn. Doesn’t it look like they could be cousins? Step-sisters? Anyway, she painted it with the luxurious shade Deep Ocean, which emphasizes the gold handles in the best possible way, and makes me long for spring! (I’m just trying to be sympathetic, it’s actually glorious weather here. Ha! I mean … sad face).

March 5, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

13 In kitchen/dining

Break-through Built-In

Nicole had a weird little wall in her kitchen. It tried to be useful, it really did. Bless its heart. “Look!” the wall desperately cried. “I’m toootally a pantry! See all this storage here? And what about this high chair/trash can/random paper bag area? Talk about multi-tasking! Did you notice the calendar? Yup, I got your family activity command center, right here. What more could you need?”

But Nicole needed more. She knew this little wall wasn’t living up to its full potential. So she and her husband added a few stock cabinets (easy to find at any building supply store), a countertop that they made themselves, plus paint, hardware, crown moulding, and hello! It’s now starring as a hard-working built-in that looks like it has always been there. Love it.

See more at Those Darn Kidd’s.