Better After

Sofa Reeking Better (say it fast!)

All this couch needed was a little lovin’, but its owners heartlessly kicked it to the curb instead. Pshh, rude! But it turned out for the best, because Christi came along and rescued it with a scripty fabric and a professional reupholstering job that came in at $417 total. (And that includes paying about $50 too much for extra yardage.) She’s not sure what the script actually says, but it looks great. I won’t tell you what I think it says, but maybe you can guess … (*giggles immaturely*). Anyway, seriously though, it’s about a one billion percent improvement, and I love the black legs too.

See more on Compartment Life. (Hey, that’s our fabulous sponsor! Woot! Go on over and say hi, won’t you?)

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May 24, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

3 In kitchen/dining

Plank Position

Alicia had a thing for cedar planks. So she made a giant dining room table out of them. “Lindsey,” you are thinking, “You poor dear. You need a nap or something. You are confused again. Obviously, this is the SAME table in both pictures.” Yes, well, I’m not done!

I was about to say that her cedar plank table was becoming a problem. One spill at dinnertime meant total-table-dismantlement to ensure no crusty crust would start to grow in all those nooks. So one day she just took the whole tabletop off and leaned it against the wall. She like how that looked so much, she was inspired to carry on her love affair with cedar planks there instead! Check it out on her blog Thrifty and Chic.

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May 23, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In tables/dressers

Claws and Effect

Meg from Meg and Mum’s secured this lovely little hall table from an auction, then decided it was a bit too ornate for her taste. (Mine too. Mostly, I’m just having trouble with those “animal claws” which I think is a spin-off of my regular wood-related phobias. And general dislike of animals. Uh, not really, I totally LOVE animals! Don’t send me any hate mail!) Still though … weird. Anyway, so she quickly whipped up a custom blue for the base and restained the top, and offered it for sale instead. And I think it looks fabulous! Not at all like it’s going to lumber across the living room and stand over me as I sleep.

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May 23, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In chairs/ottomans/seating/ tables/dressers

Color Connosisseur

Hey color-phobes! That’s right, I’m talking to you. Are you afraid of making a color-itment? Too scared to be tied down to a startling shade or a prominent pigment? Well, don’t look at me! I’m a color-phobe myself. But maybe a look at the following redos will help us climb out of our (beige) shells a bit.

First from Miranda, whose telephone table turned out terrifically turquoise. And that yellow fabric! Just dreamy. See it on her blog The Pinterest Project.

Kymberlie from Gameel Designs also went above and beyond a regular rehab with this dresser. It’s not a mere strip-sand-restain job here, no. Instead, she outfitted the drawers in a Marie Antoinette-inspired fabric, with a distressed top and hot pink frame. Yowza! I’m actually a big fan of color, just not sure exactly how to incorporate it into my home without it being like “YO! BIG COLORFUL THING OVER HERE! LOOOK AT MEEEE! NOTHING ELSE MATCHES MEEE!” You know? I should probably get over that.

We have a Simply Spray Upholstery Fabric Paint giveaway winner! Congrats to Rochel G., I will be in touch ASAP.

For those you outside the United States who asked where to buy this super cool product, simply click here. To buy online within the US, click here.

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May 22, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

11 In desks/hutches/buffets/ tables/dressers

Dine and Twine

Bridget had owned this old Ikea table since college, and it was sitting around gathering dust ever since she had replaced it with a new kitchen table. So she decided to give it a new purpose in life as a desk. Painted it white, stained the top, you know the drill. But here’s where it gets interesting: she wrapped the chair slats in twine!

Oh, how I love this look. I don’t even care if it might be somewhat scratchy. Form over function, that’s my motto. I would way rather have things that look nice than be practical. That’s why I keep my toaster in the cupboard even though I use it everyday. And that’s why I’ve never used a paper towel holder. Which is also why you can never find the paper towels at my house. No matter! Beauty is pain. And look, Bridget added cushions to the chairs, so they are probably actually MORE comfortable now. Win-win! See more on her blog, Life as Bridget Knows It.

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May 22, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

8 In laundry rooms

Double Duty

What is this? A laundry room? A bathroom? An efficient way to pass the time as you pass … never mind. Anyway, Laurel was not so thrilled with this little set-up when she first bought her home, and quickly set about to make things more pleasant and private. In fact, it was the very first room she and her husband tackled when they bought this “disaster house,” and sometimes she would escape in there for solace from the rest of the home! See more on her blog SoPo Cottage.