Better After

8 In kitchen/dining

Dazzling Dining

Shannon’s dining room was great … if you were inviting the grim reaper over for dinner. Oh, I kid, I kid, it wasn’t that bad! Just a little dark. The wall color and brown furnishings weren’t helping. But now? Holy wow! Isn’t it absolutely lovely? So light and breezy and happy! I think I like the new curtains best of all, the color looks great against the blue, and plus the old ones were reminding me a bit of my middle school nickname, ‘Highwater Girl.’ (You want to talk bad, THAT was bad.)

Check out all of the details and how this whole makeover cost only $131 on Shannon’s Blog Burlap and Lace. Thanks Shannon!

February 7, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

12 In bathroom

Better Baths and Beyond

Did somebody order three piping hot bathroom makeovers this morning? Well, order up, honey-bun! Breakfast is served:

First, Laura’s bathroom underwent some minor changes and got major results. Just paint, a new shower curtain and accessories, that’s all! And high fives for the bathroom-appropriate photos on display too. It’s always a little bit weird to see pictures of people’s kids or wedding in the john. JMHO;DWTHYWIYB.

(If you are unfamiliar with the above acronym, it means “Just my humble opinion; do whatever the heck you want in your bathroom“).

See more on her blog To Newlywedism and Beyond.

As for this next one, I’ve seen more welcoming bathrooms in prison. Not that I’ve spent much time in prison bathrooms, but I can’t imagine they’re much worse than this. Kelly ripped out that funky corner counter and replaced it with a refurbished vanity and sink that doesn’t look like it’s weeping. The itty-bitty medicine cabinet was also replaced with a mirror that you can see all of yourself in at once! See it on her blog Flippinga4Square.

“Lindsey,” you are saying, “Those bathrooms were both great, but I’m a little grayed out! I’m craving some color! You don’t happen to have say, a stenciled paisley special in green, do you?”

Comin’ right up, darlin’!

From Heather who ain’t afraid to rock her bathrobe, at DIY Kinda Girl.

February 7, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

10 In kiddie/ other rooms

Under the Stairs and Dreaming

It really should be a crime for builders to leave wasted space under the stairs. Yes, a crime punishable by death, or at the very least, a life-sentence of carefully scootching past a perilous tower of teetering storage bins stacked high in the garage, because there’s nowhere else in your stupid house to put them, every SINGLE DAY. Because that’s what you have condemned me to, builders!

If you suffer the same scanty storage problems, check out this inspiring makeover from Ashely. She just knocked her wall right open and reclaimed all that square footage! Not only did she create a space to stash her stuff, she also transformed it into a hideout fit for royalty, and she did the whole thing by herself in 18 days. Awesome. See it on her blog From A to Being.

February 6, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

7 In chairs/ottomans/seating

Piping it Pretty

Howdy friend! I hope you had a good weekend. Did you watch the Super Bowl? I watched the inside of my eyelids on my couch. And speaking of my couch (which we kinda were, for .002 seconds), I did a double-take when Kelly emailed me this sofa makeover, because I have the exact same one!

But Kelly needed more than this couch had to offer, (AMEN) and so she switched things up with some colorful cushions to replace the beige-y lump-o-matic ones from before. But, best part alert: she also PAINTED the PIPING! Painted right over it! Ha! I’m totally going to try this too! Check out the how-to on her blog Corner of Main.

February 6, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In desks/hutches/buffets

Banned Books

This makeover is perfect for the person who loves to read, but doesn’t necessarily need anyone seeing what they love to read. Are you a grown man with a secret crush on teenage vampire love stories? A bodice-ripper reader who also teaches a home preschool? Maybe you have a growing obsession with celebrity biographies? (raises hand.) Keep prying eyes out of your bookcase and simply add some doors! No one needs to know! Just put stuff like War and Peace and Wuthering Heights on the open shelves. I won’t tell.

From Willow, who has nothing to hide and actually uses this as a dining room hutch. Check it out at My Irish Cottage.

February 4, 2012 By Lindsey @ Better After

4 In decor

Picture Window

If you are like most people, you like to be productive over the weekend. You get stuff done! You make things happen! You run those errands! (Or your wear your pajamas embarrassingly late into the day. That’s ok too.) Either way, if you are looking for a little project to get your hands upon this weekend, look no further than Amy’s windowpane photo-frame! Isn’t it cool? I would totally buy this in the store. You could make a whole bunch! You could save them for Christmas gifts! (You are productive like that!) You could send one to me! (Because I’m not.) Check out the how-to on Amy’s blog Wine Country Mama.