Better After

6 In bedroom

Spa-aaah!

I love board and batten, but I’ve always hesitated to try it myself. Not because I’m lazy, (ok, because I’m lazy) but also because I wonder if I do one wall, will I have to keep going and do every single wall? That really terrifies my laziness!

J from Design OCD shows us that it looks perfectly great to do a single board and batten feature wall, especially when everything else around it flows so well. “Serene,” “spa-like,” and “I bet it even smells good too” are the words running through my head about it now. Great job J!

November 17, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In desks/hutches/buffets/ tables/dressers

Gotta Run(s)…

I’m just going to let this one speak for itself because a) It is totally awesome, I want one, I’m jealous, etc. and b) I am late for the “Turkey Trot” at my son’s school, which kind of is a gross name, now that I think about it, like, maybe that’s what you get after you eat too much turkey, yougetwhatI’msayin?

Anyway, check out more of Lisa’s beautiful repurposed entertainment center over on her always-fabulous site Recaptured Charm.

November 17, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

14 In tables/dressers

Total Bore to Encore!

Mr. Boring McBlandydresser needed some help. He was useful for storage, but hard on the eyes. Simply put, he was fugtional. And sick of it. He knew he was meant for more. He wanted to amaze and inspire people. And now, thanks to Kari from Encore Decor, he does! I’m inspired to go … I don’t know … grow and paint something at the same time!

Thanks Kari!

One more view, so you can fully savor that wood grain peeking through.

November 17, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

13 In bathroom

Waste Not

Citizens of Earth, I must now make a formal decree. I declare that no one, NO ONE, from this moment henceforth, is allowed to paint a bathroom in the colors of bodily waste. No concentrated yellows, no sponged on browns, and please, PLEASE, no watery reds. In the immortal words of Billy Bush, “It’s gross.”

Laura Beth from A Step in the Journey agreed completely, and was happy to flush the fuchsia forever and introduce a calmer, cleaner, completely non-vomit inducing palate. MUCH better. Thanks Laura Beth!

November 16, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

16 In kitchen/dining

Let there be light … over there!

This great dining room belongs to my sister-in-law, Kalli. (Oh yeah, and my brother Nate too. Not that he offers any input about the decor, other than to whine for awhile whenever Kalli moves things around. Which, to his credit, is about twice a day.)

She had painted this $75 thrift store hutch in order to sell it, but decided she liked it so much, it stayed put. Now, she just needed to convince Nate to move the wiring so she could center her light over the table, and he was happy to do it. After much whining. (Which, to his credit, he had already moved, rewired and patched it from that exact same spot at her request before). Those crazy kids.

Kalli doesn’t have a blog! Ridiculous, I know.

November 16, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

13 In desks/hutches/buffets

Julie Be Good

This desk would have definitely gone under my “Never in a million years” category if I had happened upon it in a thrift-store or somesuch. Not because it wouldn’t be totally adorable all fixed up (which it is) but because it looks like A FREAKING TON of work (which it was). I try to stick with projects that can be completed in 45 seconds with a can of spray paint in one hand and a sandwich in the other. (I don’t actually eat while spray painting, gross).

But Julie was up for the challenge, and it turned out beautifully!

But she wasn’t done yet! She found this secretary IN HER NEIGHBORS TRASH! Sorry for the all-caps, but seriously. IN THE TRASH! The only things my neighbors ever throw away are lawn clippings. That really bums me out. I guess I will console myself by living vicariously through Julie’s work instead. I will also remind myself that this definitely wasn’t done in 45 seconds. Then I will resume eating my sandwich.

Thanks for sharing Julie!