Better After

8 In other rooms

Making a Dramatic Entrance

The first impression of Linda’s home didn’t make much of an impression. Upon entering the front door, guests were greeted with a few framed snapshots, a blue accent wall, aaaand that’s about it. Linda confesses that it had stayed this way for 15 years! I totally understand. I think everyone is capable of ignoring things like this until they are completely invisible. For instance, I have this huge metal leaf on the wall above my couch, and I just realized yesterday that I totally hate that thing. Even though it’s been hanging above my couch for the last 5 years. That can’t be good for my feng shui.

Anyway, Linda had had enough, so she whipped out her paintbrush and added a few other DIY fixy-uppies for an entry no one will soon forget! I’m loving the black door, so dramatic! See more on her blog It All Started with Paint.

this post sponsored by:

Cliq Studios: Quality kitchen cabinets at discount prices!

December 7, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

12 In chairs/ottomans/seating

Knit-wit

The cold snap in Arizona continues; it’s friggin frigid here! I’m tempted to get my knitting needles out and make some big, wooly socks so I don’t have to leave house to go buy some. Yes, I only wear socks once a year. No, I actually can’t knit socks. Unless they are rectangle-shaped socks. But you know who can knit? Virginia, from UberCrafty, that’s who. But she doesn’t limit her knitting to human apparel. If you leave a broken chair on the back of her porch, she just might knit that thing a sweater! I have to say it again: She reupholstered this crappy old chair with a custom-knitted sweater!

Totally cool. And warm!

this post sponsored by:

Cliq Studios: Quality kitchen cabinets at discount prices!

December 7, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In outdoors

Flip-floppin’

Just in case you aren’t dreaming of a white Christmas, this after pic of Kelly’s home should warm your soul with a little glimpse of summertime. (I’m dreaming of warmth today. It’s so cold here I actually had to wear shoes! Did you hear me? REAL SHOES!!)

Anyway, the healthy patches of lantana really help to ground the house much better than the scraggly little bushes were managing. Not to mention the new, way more proportionate columns that replaced the matchstick-sized columns from before. I’m pretty sure I could have karate-chopped down the old ones with one strike, and I don’t even know karate.

See more on Kelly’s blog Oak House 5.

December 7, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

8 In lighting

Double Lamp Revamp

Here are some before and afters of the lampish variety for you. Both of these redos feature those overly ornate, cut-crystal lamps that previously seemed unsalvagable, unless you are some huge fan of excessively fussy decor, or an octogenarian.

But look how chic they can look! Lori at Bleak 2 Unique updated hers with glass paint on the crystals and the inside of the crystal base, added a satin-nickle spray paint over the brass, and topped it off with hip new shades. I’m really digging this whole look.

And Paula from Vintage 2 Vogue saved this lucky lamp from the rabbit hole with vintage Alice in Wonderland fabric and a brightened base. I love how all the fluffery (technical term) around the shade coordinates with the new paint job. I also am quite partial to Alice; that was my Halloween costume this year! What’s that? You’re dying to see a picture? Well, I don’t kno— ok, OK! Twist my arm! It’s HERE. (And it’s 99% Goodwill!)

December 6, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

7 In desks/hutches/buffets/ tables/dressers

Master of Disaster

Did you need a refresher on the power of white paint? Probably not. If you are like me, you actually keep more cans of white spray paint on hand than emergency supplies. In case of a disaster, I may not have water bottles or Band-aids, but I will be able to make outdated stuff fabulous! Like, for instance, my ’emergency’ cans of creamed corn that expired in 1997!

So here’s a whitened and brightened little coffee table from Lindsay at Country Girl Home.

And Teresa woke up this tired and tarnished buffet with a few coats of white, which I think really makes the details on the doors stand out. Didn’t even notice ’em before. Lovely! See this and more on her blog Teresa’s Tag Sale.

December 6, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

7 In bathroom

This tile makes me smile!

Save the retro bathrooms! Save the retro bathrooms! I know, I know. Erin’s retro bathroom was cute. Sure. But if you showed me a side-by-side of the before and after, and said I could choose either look for my own house … well … it would be new bathroom all the way. Look at that gorgeous tile! It looks like a sparkling swimming pool that I could dive headfirst into! (I don’t recommend doing that).

So what say you? Which look do you prefer?

See more from Erin on her blog Just Grand.