Better After

Table for Too

How do you take your coffee? Dark and rich? Or bright and jewel-toned? Wait a minute. I’m actually talking about dining sets. The following two dining sets, to be precise. So what’s your pleasure?

Deep and dark like this two-toned table from Rachel at Thrifty Inspirations?

(Eagle-eyed viewers
may note that this is not the same set. But Rachel promises it’s almost identical to what it used to look like. And it honestly took me a
few minutes to even notice. So pretend you didn’t see anything. We
never had this conversation. Carry on.)

…or light and colorful like this set from Suzy at Simply Vintageous. (Look hard. There was a table under there).

Will you please pass the colander?

I love the different take on the two-toned look here too. Too hard to pick a favorite. I’ll take them both!

October 18, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

31 In other rooms

Not for a ferry long time.

Better After reader Jessica recently stripe-ified her lifeless hallway, which looks fantastic! She is still debating what exactly to do with the doors, but has plenty of time to think about it, because she’s waiting until after Christmas to tackle any big home improvement projects. And also, she lives on an island in Lake Michigan serviced by a ferry that stops running from December til April, so she REALLY has plenty of time to think about it.

So, since nothing door-sized is coming her way for a while, I decided to help her out with some Photoshop inspiration: black doors! If you are not a fan of black doors, that is because you have probably never painted a door black. I recently tried it out for the first time, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my entire life. Slight overstatement. But I really do love my black door. I’ll show you pictures sometime.

October 17, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

9 In innovative idea/ miscellaneous

Closet goes on and on and on…

Where the heck was this idea way back when Matt and I were living in student housing? Our closet doors looked exactly like these. Flimsy and cheap, but at least ours had handles. I can’t imagine how anyone ever opened these without pinching a finger or five.

The closet doors were one of the things Abby liked least about her new home, so she got to work making them look like the doors of her dreams. The doors of her dreams happened to be $400 Shaker-style doors. She did it herself and spent something like $40. I’d call that a win.

See more on her blog DIY Design.

October 17, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

12 In kitchen/dining

Kitchen Confoundery

Ok, use your imagination just a little on this before, because it’s certainly not anything like the after. I think we are looking at the same door and windows, only they are centered in the after picture, but then again, the oval door is still there on the left, so maybe that center panel door is just a fake door, unless the second window in the before picture is actually a door, which makes a tiny bit more sense, because that panel door is clearly not fake, so I can’t really explain how this door and two windows became a door, window, door, window, but I DO see that she built faux transoms above everything, which is my favorite, and I’m done thinking about it, because I really just want to go make myself one of those ‘grocery’ signs.

Go ask Karianne at Thistlewood Cottage about her fabulous kitchen; I’m sure she has all the answers.

October 16, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

10 In desks/hutches/buffets

Handy Work

Better After reader Julie recently redid this desk for her 12-year-old son, hoping to help him with his handwriting. He was allegedly doing his homework in bed, which was making for some atrocious-looking assignments. Did the desk help? I don’t know, but it looks great and he was excited to try it out!

I also happen to have the handwriting of a 12-year-old boy. Maybe I should give myself a cool new desk. I’ve even practiced my handwriting, trying to ~~occasionally stave off boredom in church~~, get better, but nope. I really think it’s in your genes, like some people are musical, and some people are handwriting-y. I am not both.

October 16, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

9 In chairs/ottomans/seating

Frumpsty Dumpsty

Hey everyone! I kind of figured out Instagram! This is a big deal for me. I’m usually the last person on earth to hop on the hip train. I usually wait until the hip train is exhaustedly lurching into the station. While you’re at it, check out my MySpace! Kidding. But anyway, do you want to follow me? I solemnly swear to never post pictures of my feet. You can find me and all seven of my pictures under betterafterlnz.

And for your before and after viewing pleasure, get a good look at the following makeovers from Barb at Turtles and Tails. First she streamlined a set of ottomans, which were definitely the frumpiest things that ever frumped. But now they are sleek and even rocking one of fall’s hottest trends: corduroy! Such fashionistas.

I also love what she did with this plain old stool. First she painted it. Then stained it. Then aged it. Then freezer-paper stenciled it. Then twined it! That’s a whole lot of neat on such a small seat. Oh, I’m a poet. See the stool’s saga on her blog Turtles and Tales.