Better After

9 In lighting

Light Savings Time

Tip of the Day: You may think you are getting a real steal of a deal on that set of thrift-store lamps, but beware! After buying a replacement harp or two, materials to make them over, and a set of lampshades (which are so ridiculously pricey it’s ridiculous), you may end up paying more than if you had bought a set of brand new lamps. Don’t let that happen to you.

Jennifer was well aware of this, so she patiently waited until half-price day at the thrift-store, (positive that no one else would purchase this uggo pair of lamps in the meantime) and brought them home for about $6 apiece. Then she awesome-ified them with green and gold paint, and I love them so, so much. So much.

See more on her blog Dimples & Tangles.

April 11, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

7 In kiddie/ tables/dressers

Bikes & Butterflies

Whenever I try to explain my blog to someone who has no idea what a blog is or does, it’s always difficult. I’m like, “OK, so Better After is where I feature tons of before and after projects of all kinds of stuff. Like thrift-store makeovers or room renovations, things like that.”
*blank stare*
“For instance, someone will paint a dresser, and then send pictures of it to me!”
So … someone paints a dresser … and then YOU paint the dresser?
“No, I mostly just show what they’ve done.”
Like, painted a dresser?
“Yes, exactly.”
So, you show everyone on the internet a dresser you painted.
“No. Well, sometimes. But mostly I show what other people have done. Makeovers. Of their stuff. You know.”
So, do you sell this furniture you’ve painted?
“No. You’re still not getting it. That’s not it at all.”
You should show me how to log in to your blogsite sometime, so I can see all your furniture for sale. I need a new dresser.
“Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.”

This conversation has truthfully happened more than once. Anyway, if I actually manage to get my point across, I like to point out that it’s not just any old furniture makeovers here. I love to feature things with a little extra something special. Like this one here:

So cute! From Beth at Sawdust and Embryos.

And not only is this dresser extra fun, it was inspired by the Pan Mass Challenge, an annual 200 mile bike race/fundraiser that raises money to fight cancer, a cause dear to Debbie’s heart. See the story on her blog Painted Therapy. Funnily enough, this one actually IS for sale!

April 10, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

9 In decor/ other rooms/ outdoors

Give yourself a patio on the back.

So, maybe you’re renting. Maybe you wish you had more space. Maybe you wish for a lush and sprawling backyard instead of a little wedge of patio barely big enough for a couple of lawn chairs. Well pardner, look again. You might have more than enough right in front of you! Check out what Michael from Guy On The Move did with his small and simple space:

Pretty great right? Michael built that outdoor sectional himself, so it can easily go when he goes. (To another home I mean… that sounded rather morbid …)

So … anyway, let’s swing around and look at the other side, where nothing but a sad little hanging mirror was hanging out.

Guess what? It’s the SAME mirror!

I know. I want one too. See it right here: Guy On The Move

April 10, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

9 In laundry rooms

Wash, Rinse, Wow!

I don’t know who was in charge of this dumb idea, but most of the homes around here, especially one-story homes, are entered through the laundry room. (Assuming you typically come inside from the garage, not the front door.) So chances are, the first and last thing you see when coming or going is a sad, sad pile of dirty laundry. And should you ever happen to bring a guest home with you, you will quickly shove them through without turning on the lights and pray that nothing smells too funky, or make them go around to the front door. Not the most welcoming of welcomes.

But Nancy wasn’t about to have any of that. Her laundry room makeover is so lovely, she probably hosts dinner parties in there. I feel like I need to make up a new word for ‘laundry room’ just to describe it. Did you notice the jute and nailhead edge treatment? So cool! Check it out on her blog Powell Brower Home.

April 9, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

2 In bathroom

Prudent with Pennies in the Privy

Tiny budget + 20-year-old bathroom = lame-o makeover? Incorrect! You CAN make a big change with chump change, as Jen, aka Girl In The Garage proves here with her makeover of a friend’s bathroom. See, this friend had redone every other space in the house, and the bathroom was the final frontier. Of course, the budget was pretty much gone by then, so the challenge was to find low-cost solutions that would actually make a difference and not be like, “Something’s different in here … did you get new hand towels?”

So, they repainted the vanity and found a granite countertop for cheap because it was a discontinued style …

The original flooring was replaced with in-stock tile and the baseboards were removed and reused…

And for the final touches, Jen whipped up a custom shower curtain out of a drop-cloth and fabric, and used the leftover fabric to make art for the walls! See it on her blog Girl In The Garage.

April 9, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

12 In desks/hutches/buffets/ innovative idea

Safety and Pins

Well, great. Now I’m feeling the urge to go rob a bank. Not to steal any valuables, but to nab myself a set of safety deposit boxes like Rachelle found here. She unearthed these two at a thrift store, and after some clean up and a bit of light construction (if welding can be considered ‘light’) she has herself an incredible new TV console. I love the contrast of the industrial boxes with the hairpin legs and the warm wood top. Seriously, about the bank robbing, who’s with me?*

*disclaimer: I do not actually want, plan, or intend to rob a bank. But you knew that.

See more details on her blog Adventures In Creating.