Better After

1 In living room

Living (room) in the past.

If there is one bit of wisdom I can impart to you today, it would be this: photograph your home! I’m sure most of us are pretty diligent about photographing our kids and families as they grow, even if it’s just casual snapshots here and there. But do you document your home as it changes and evolves? Those pictures are priceless! Great for cheering you up too. All I have to do to feel pretty awesome about my house is glance through some of our newlywed apartment pictures. Back then, ‘decor’ to me meant dollar store artwork classily thumbtacked to the wall and an obscene amount of fake greenery. I thought I was really taking it to another level if I bought a Kleenex box that matched my bedspread. Wow.

Shelly has a great collection of living room pictures that show just how much her style has changed through the years. This most recent look is definitely my favorite! Check out all it incarnations over on her blog Slipcovers by Shelley.

April 24, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

11 In chairs/ottomans/seating/ desks/hutches/buffets

Chop and Change

Jen received this desk from a friend who knew of her talent for transformations. What a nice friend. Guess how many of my friends have given me free furniture? NONE OF THEM! They must know me too well, and figure that if they gave me some item to makeover, I would either let it sit in my garage for 10 years or sell it on Craigslist. That’s why I live vicariously through everyone else and their fantastic abilities.

Jen, for instance, chopped half of this desk off with a chainsaw and turned it into a side table! That’s pretty amazing to me. Check out all the details on her blog Eating My Candy.

Tara didn’t take any power tools to her telephone chair, but she did knock out the side for a more open look, which really highlights its curvy shape. It’s like a brand new chair! I’d even call it better than new, because new furniture doesn’t come with the pride of doing it yourself, or the fun stories to tell about how you had to de-spider it either. Where’s the fun in that? Great job Tara!

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April 24, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In outdoors/ tables/dressers

Reform Spool

Are you looking for a cheap table project? Then look further. Seriously, keep looking, because this one cost almost $100! That was way more than Joda had planned on when she started this spool makeover, but then again, she started from scratch. Now that she has all the paint, putty, stain and polyurethane needed to transform a grimy old spool into a gleaming table, she thinks another one would be a fraction of the cost.

She started by puttying all the dents and cracks, then sanded everything smooth. Since you never can be too sure how food-safe industrial items like this are (answer: probably not that safe) she opted for a prefabricated table-top from Lowe’s which also added a nice bit of overhang. Paint, stain, and casters to easily move it to and fro, (because you can’t really flop it on its side and roll it place to place anymore) and she has a totally unique addition to her outdoor decor! See her inspiration board HERE.

April 23, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

14 In chairs/ottomans/seating

Tuft Love

Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was swell. I think I am finally fully recovered from strep. That was miserable. I don’t recommend it. And here’s the lamest thing of all: I GAINED weight! Isn’t that the only good thing about being sick for a week, you might lose a few pounds? I ate nothing but popsicles and toast and gained eight pounds. Strep can suck it.

But you know what doesn’t suck? This settee makeover from Katie, AKA The Sewing Nerd. It’s so modern and fresh, especially since she painted the frame white and opted to take out the tufting. That’s probably something I wouldn’t have realized until it was too late: tufting and striped fabric is a match made in Wonkyville. Great job Katie!

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Cliq Studios produces quality kitchen cabinets at discount prices.

April 23, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

18 In other rooms

Floored by the Foyer

This foyer was in such sad shape that if guests came over, I would bring them in through the garage, or if that was unavailable, an open window. But all it really needed was a fresh coat of paint and a thorough sanding of that splintery door to become bright, welcoming, and safe to the touch. The parquet floors and rock accent wall don’t even look dated anymore, they add a ton of character, yeah? I also love how Virginia turned the closet into a pretty little nook, it appears to have tripled the square footage of the whole thing! I would totally do this to the closet by my front door, if it wasn’t the ONLY closet in my entire house. Sheesh, who’s idea was that?

Get all the details from Virginia on her blog Live Love DIY.

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Cliq Studios produces quality kitchen cabinets at discount prices.

April 20, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In tables/dressers

Mod Men

As you may know, there has been much illness swirling around casa de Allen for the last few weeks. I’ve been housebound for so long, it honestly took me a minute to remember how to start my car yesterday. Where did I go? To buy orange juice and medicine. We are living large. Anyway, all of this couch time has made me and Netflix a lot closer. I blew through the first season of Mad Men and I’m well into the second, and um … it’s great? I like it, and it’s critically acclaimed and whatever, and the characters are so well-drawn, but wow, it’s kind of a downer, huh? Will I keep watching it? Yes.

Anyway, there is some rocking set design on that show, which is practically the best part. Katie’s little dresser would fit right in after she gave it a mod makeover and just a hint of color with Behr’s Rain Washed. Looks like a star to me! Check it out on her blog At Home When I’m With You.