Better After

18 In bathroom/ kitchen/dining/ living room

Before and Rafter

Lately I’ve been into this show on HGTV, Flip or Flop. Have you seen it? It’s about a young couple in California who buy up nasty, run-down homes and try to flip them in 30 days for profit. I don’t know why, but I can’t tear myself away when it comes on!

The one bummer is that they are trying to market to a very conservative crowd. Their homes all end up very neutral, neutral, neutral. Brown cabinets, beige walls, tan tile. Yawn-zers.

Well, there’s a small company here in Phoenix that I think totally deserves their own show. They’re into flipping houses too, but with WAY more style. They’re called Rafterhouse, and I just think their work is amazing! (They are not paying me or anything to sing their praises here, in fact, I contacted them).

Here’s just a few of my favorite projects they’ve done recently. I’ll also be posting a few of their exterior makeovers later today!

What?! Isn’t that beautiful? And still neutral enough to appeal to buyers without an onslaught of oatmeal-colored everything.

Here’s the other end. I love the new french doors and everything about the fireplace face-lift.

Unlike Flip or Flop, it seems that Rafterhouse’s homes are in better shape, so more of their budget is able to go toward fun cosmetic changes. Not fumigating termites and leveling foundations and whatnot. C’mon HGTV, doesn’t that sound like a better show?

They’ve got a knack for spot-on staging too. I’d move in today!

All of their flips are clean and simple, but they also don’t shy away from a unique touch or two, from a salvaged wood accent wall here …

… to a reclaimed pantry door there.

Love it. Phoenix – aka land of the wheat, home of the beige — is veerrry slow to catch on to any other trends beyond southwestern and stucco, so I’m just excited to see a fresh outlook for a change.

Anyway, I pretty much think that Rafterhouse is the bee’s knees, and thought you would enjoy their work too. Stay tuned for some of their exterior makeovers later today!

<<<Don’t forget to enter the Silhouette Portrait Givewaway! Winner chosen Nov. 28th!>>>

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Looking to create the perfect, personalized gift?

Check out our sponsor PhotoJewelryMaking.com

for everything you need to make your own photo jewelry!

November 22, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

9 In tables/dressers

A Dresser’s Servitude

Today Better After presents: A Dresser’s Servitude: the lifelong journey of a work-weary dresser, and the family that wouldn’t give up on him.

Our story begins with this hand-me-down dresser, which stood proudly in Ashley’s master bedroom, despite its terrifying mix of colors, starburst appliques, and tear-drop pulls. He was only a temporary furniture fix however, and he knew his days were numbered.

But then, a short while later, a job opened up in the nursery! Our friend would gladly transform himself into a feminine changing table, supplying an ample diapering surface and much needed storage for all of baby’s needs.

Alas, baby wouldn’t be in diapers forever, and the dresser braced himself for the day he would accompany the bassinet and baby swing to the curb.

But by then, the family had grown fond of the dresser, and decided he was worth another chance. The boys were getting a bedroom makeover, and with a few small tweaks and a set of chunky new feet, he was first in line to help furnish the room. But would this really be his permanent home?

In a word … no. Sadly not.

The End.

(fade to black. begin rolling closing credits)

(record scratch!!!!)

Hold on just a doggone second! That’s not where his story ends! Unbeknownst to him, the family had been searching for a new vanity for the bathroom. Guess who fit perfectly in the space, within half an inch? Our hero! It was always meant to be!

So here he sits, planning to live out the rest of his days as a permanent resident of the home, and honorary member of the family. I love a happy ending.

Read all about his saga on Ashley’s blog Domestic Imperfection, and more on how he became a vanity here.

Looking to create the perfect, personalized gift?

Check out our sponsor PhotoJewelryMaking.com

for everything you need to make your own photo jewelry!

November 21, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

10 In desks/hutches/buffets

Everyone needs an LBD – little black dresser

This buffet had a lot going for it. Maybe too much. You know how they say that after you get dressed, you should take a look in the mirror and remove one accessory? Poor little buffet. No one ever taught her that. Carvings, appliques, routered details, ornate pulls, contrasting wood grains, woah. It needed a “Honey. Let’s take it down a notch.”

Reeves was happy to help tone her down with simple black and a set of outrageously awesome oversized glass knobs that do all the talking. Beautiful! See more at The Weathered Door.

Looking to create the perfect, personalized gift?

Check out our sponsor PhotoJewelryMaking.com

for everything you need to make your own photo jewelry!

November 21, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

487 In Uncategorized

Silhouette Portrait GIVEAWAY!

Guess what!?

Good news time!

I get to give one lucky Better After reader a Silhouette Portrait!

Yaaaay!

If I had to choose my number one, can’t-live-without-it crafting tool, the Silhouette would win every time, hands-down.

If I was going to be stranded on a desert island and could only bring five things, one of those things would be my Silhouette. (I’m assuming the desert island has electricity). (And food).

If when Oprah invites me on her ‘favorite things’ episode, you’d better believe I’m bringing along my Silhouette.

You get the point.

And now, YOU get a Silhouette! And YOU get a Silhouette! And YOU get a Silhouette!

Actually, only one of you gets this free Silhouette Portrait, but don’t worry. The biggest Silhouette promotion of the year – THE BLACK FRIDAY EVENT – is coming up soon!!

There’s never been a better price EVER on both the Cameo and Portrait bundles!

I’ll have more details on that coming soon,

but for now, you can enter to win your own Silhouette Portrait right here!

Entering is easy! Simply leave a comment.

Get an extra entry if you are a Better After fan on Facebook. (Thanks! I’m a fan of you too).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(If you are reading this from a tablet and having difficulties entering, just hop on over to my Facebook giveaway page and enter there! Still working on my mobile platform, arg).

Here are just a few of the projects I’ve made with my Silhouette, and I’ve got another one in the works right now that I hope to be able to show you soon.

Good luck, I hope you win!

And be sure to check back here on Black Friday for the promotional deals that will blow your mind!

November 20, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

9 In kitchen/dining/ other rooms/ tables/dressers

Seriously Simply Simple

Yesterday I shared a kitchen makeover that was all about small and simple tweaks. Maybe it’s the time of year or something, but I seem to be in the mood for that lately. Small changes, minimal effort: big results! Kind of like how I colored my hair for the first time EVER a few weeks ago, and nobody has even noticed so far. Except no. That was big change: small results. So … the opposite of that.

Caitlin at The Picket Fence Projects is the master of simple change. Check out her guest room makeover. Nothing dramatic happened in here, no walls were removed or any wacky new paint treatment, just some accessories and textiles and suddenly I want to move it. I’ll crash here while I’m pouting about my hair, k’ Caitlin?

She also worked her magic on this dining room table that was suffering from oak-overkill. One simple change and the whole thing is instantly lighter and happier! She makes it look easy, doesn’t she? See more on her blog The Picket Fence Projects.

Looking to create the perfect, personalized gift?

Check out our sponsor PhotoJewelryMaking.com

for everything you need to make your own photo jewelry!

November 20, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In kitchen/dining

Kitchen Tweak Techniques

When Grace bought her home, the kitchen had already been remodeled, and she loved it! Almost!

But, much like they tell the contestants on American Idol, she needed to make it her own.

Only few small tweaks were needed: she brought in the chandelier from a different room, painted the lower cabinets, and added a few new fixtures and unpolished brass hardware for warmth.

But my favorite is the painted backsplash! She painted right over the stone, and used a chalk pen to highlight the grout. It makes all the difference, and it looks spectacular! See more, including her tips on mixing and matching hardware (there’s acrylic and stainless steel amidst the brass!) on her blog A Storied Style.

Looking to create the perfect, personalized gift?

Check out our sponsor PhotoJewelryMaking.com

for everything you need to make your own photo jewelry!

November 19, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

Older Posts

Newer Posts

Living Rooms

Kitchens

Furniture

Before and Rafter

A Dresser’s Servitude

Everyone needs an LBD – little black dresser

Silhouette Portrait GIVEAWAY!

Seriously Simply Simple

Kitchen Tweak Techniques

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