Better After

Yell’s Angels

You guys, I’ve been converted! Holy hallelujah, I’m born again! You are looking at a card-carrying, confirmed member of the church of yellow. Remember way back when, about a year ago or so, when I was all like “Yellow, ew!” I’ve changed my ways. I’ve seen the light. And the light is yellow.

And now I can say that yellow is my favey crockett, and I owe most all of it to Sarah and her sweet makeovers. Check them out!

Lamps: LOVE them.

Nightstand: Ok, technically NOT yellow, but working perfectly with all those yellow accents in the room. Hi again lamps!

Console table: Genius. She sawed it in half and painted it … you guessed it.

Oh, but wait! What if you aren’t a huge fan of yellow (weirdo) or just want to know what happened to the other half of the table? Don’t you worry. Check this out:

Aqua ombre, hombre. And what a perfect way to add some a table space and accessories to that narrow ledge. (Not to mention getting two tables for the price of one). Pretty sure Sarah is a genius. See more from her on her blog Sarah M. Dorsey Designs.

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May 11, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

8 In desks/hutches/buffets

Happily Heifer After

Here’s a handy tip for you … if you can’t find the fingernail clippers, don’t be lazy and use your kid’s safety scissors that you found in your desk instead. You won’t be pleased with the results. Not that I just did that or anything. Just thought I’d pass that along. Anyway, here’s something else I’m passing along, a fabulous buffet makeover by Katie (with a sneaky mirror makeover thrown in too)!

I will love this two-toned look until the cows come home. And speaking of cows, head on over to Katie’s blog Miss Dixie to see even more of this makeover, and catch a glimpse of “the Dream Cow” while you’re at it. What is the Dream Cow? You’ll just have to see!

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May 10, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In outdoors

Angie Birds

When Better After reader Angie and her husband bought this house, they knew something would eventually need to be done about its dreary beigeness, toothpick-like porch poles, and renegade flock of birds on the lawn. (They could also be leaves, but who can tell?)

So they added some stacked stone, new siding, and beefed up the poles so they no longer look like they would surely collapse in a mild breeze. They love the look, and so do the neighbors, who’ve complemented them many times and, and also thanked them for ridding the neighborhood of its infestation of birds. (I might be making that part up.) Looks great Angie!

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May 10, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

12 In miscellaneous

Well Bred Ped Bed

Holly needed to feed her Pinterest addiction, so when she found this abandoned side table begging for a makeover, she snatched it up to make a dog bed. Fear not dog lovers! She did not actually put any dogs inside those doors. She removed them, flipped the whole thing over and added a pillow!

That reminds me of one time I was at Goodwill buying a little wire birdcage that was OBVIOUSLY decorative, and I was accosted by an old lady who demanded to know if I was going to keep a bird in there. “Nope!” I replied, “I’m going to spray paint it!” and then we had a fun I’m-pretty-sure-this-person-is-crazy stare-off. Some people just don’t get it. See more on Holly’s blog Aggravation Station

And Better After reader Sarah found an ornate table and planned to make it into a dog bed as well, but was stumped on exactly what to do. Months passed and then it hit her: WuShock!

Oh, you don’t know what that is? ALL the cool kids know what that is. I’m kidding. I had no idea what that was, until she explained that the mascot of her alma mater, Wichita State University, is the WuShock. Apparently, it used to be “Wheatshockers,” but got shortened. I’m still confused. Sarah clears it up further. “Basically, we’re Kansas and like wheat.” Got it.

So she played up the WuShock theme and made the “Woof Shock” fancy four-poster bed, in the school colors black and yellow, naturally. That is one spoiled pup! Thanks for sharing Sarah!

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May 9, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

16 In kitchen/dining

From Z to A+!

I know a few people might gasp at Karen’s audacity to paint over her brick walls, but guess what? It’s z-brick, which is basically the equivalent of crab with a k. Not the real deal. It was starting to feel more closed-in than cozy, so she painted it a soft blue and the cabinets white, and I love how it still has all the texture of brick without all that … brick-ishness. There were plenty of other major changes like rebuilding mismatched doors, moving the wine-rack and extending the cabinet, new flooring, counters, sink, faucet, and appliances, and it still came in at only $2,700! Great job Karen!

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May 9, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

10 In chairs/ottomans/seating/ tables/dressers

Padding the Truth

Turning coffee tables into upholstered benches isn’t a new idea, but it’s still a great idea. I’ve been meaning to do this myself, oh … for several years now and have still haven’t come across the perfect table. But! I need to stop waiting for perfect. Dara’s table didn’t look anything like the storage bench she really wanted, but that didn’t stop her. She closed off the sides with laminate sheeting and unscrewed the table top to make a hinged lid! Pretty AND smart. Pretty smart. See it on her blog Dara’s Designs.

And I totally would have passed this one by in the thrift store, perhaps even pointing and snorting at it and its smoked-glass and beveled-edged eighties-ness. But Better After reader Jenn saw something more. She saw ottoman opportunity! She only spent $65 total, and made a believer out of her husband, who had probably been pointing and snorting at it too. Oh, we of little faith. Looks fantastic and oh-so-comfy now!