Better After

Dreamy Design

Ok, I truly thought I had already shared the following makeovers by Jeremy and Adrianne from Dream Book Design, but apparently I have not. What I suspect happened was that I found them once online and marveled greatly in their awesomeness. But then, the more I realized how abundant their awesomeness was, I began to berate myself for not being nearly as awesome, and then I probably blacked out in an uncontrollable rage of jealousy. So you can see how that would mess with one’s memory. Anyway, I’m all better now, so let’s check out their kitchen shall we?

When Jeremy and Adrianne moved into their home, it had little galley kitchen. So they fixed it up the best they could with paint and moulding, but realized they could do so much more. Like fit a couch in there! Isn’t it fantastic?

And in another instance of awesomeness, they repurposed this old drafting table into a dining table fit for royalty. I’m seriously trying to talk myself out of breaking into their house and stealing those chairs for myself. Um, ignore that last sentence, that was the green beast of jealousy talking.

See the table makeover HERE.

Thanks guys!

October 25, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

10 In chairs/ottomans/seating

Old chairs, new life, young ladies!

This before chair was not tragic at all. No mice skeletons stuck underneath, or years spent in a leaky barn for this well-loved chair. The seat was in great condition and the paint had a beautiful weathered patina to it too. Only that was the problem. The paint was so weathered and worn that it rubbed off onto the clothes of anyone who sat in the chair. Uncool, bro.

Dianna was a bit hesitant to redo the chair, as it belonged to her husbands grandpa, but guess what? Back in his day, PaPou was into furniture refinishing too! It turned out great, and I bet he’d be proud. See the story on her blog myselfandDi.

And here’s another chair makeover by Better After reader Laenie, who decided to redo her bedroom after finding before and after inspiration right here on this ol’ blog! Oh yeah, did I mention she’s only 17?! I couldn’t even correctly identify a staple gun at age 17, let alone have the vision for this. Great job Laenie!

October 25, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In bathroom

From drool to drooooooool!

Fdsa;lkjjjjjjj, oh sorry, that was me falling asleep on the keyboard from looking at this before bathroom. There was so much nothing going on in here. Natalee was more than a little tired of it too, so she got to work with a $100 budget and a dream. That was all it took to transform it into a space that is certain to wake you up in the morning now!

I love the beadboard, did you know it’s just wallpaper? Cool stuff. More to see on her blog Designed to the Nines.

October 24, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In office

Multiple Purpose

Happy Monday! Let’s kick things off right with a great redo from Better After reader Stephanie. Her parents had this multi-purpose sort of room: it served as an office, toy storage room, puppy’s room, and also contained the door to the deck outside. Not only that, but it had to store her father’s wheelchair and the extra counter-height chairs, AND be presentable when guests came through from the deck. It was overworked and looked it!

Her mother had zero time to do anything about it, so Stephanie rolled up her sleeves and got to work, streamlining their computer setup, adding oodles of storage, and painting the walls an energetic green. What a great daughter! What do I have to feed my kids to get them to turn out like that? Thanks Stephanie!

October 24, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

19 In fashion

Fashion Friday

It’s Friday! Any big plans for the weekend? Why don’t you dust off your dancing shoes and go out on the town? Oh, you don’t have any good dancing shoes, you say? Sure you do.

What about that great pair that has been sitting unworn in the back of your closet for years? Is it because the color isn’t quite right? No big dealio. Ashley from Lil Blue Boo had the same problem and fixed hers up with a fine paintbrush and a steady hand. She reports they are much more wearable now with the added blue!

Jen at Green Wedding Shoes fancified this plain pair of heels with a chiffon scarf. Now they are just dying to go dancing! You could change the scarf color and have a new pair every night!

Or add a little modge-podge and fabric to perk up some patent leather, like Dave’s Wife did on The Diary of Dave’s Wife. Add a stripes and sassy bow, and your feet will be having more fun than anyone else on the dance floor!

It would be impossible NOT to kick up your heels in these beaded beauties. Geneva from A Pair and a Spare had her eye on a pair of Burberry beaded heels, bud decided to save herself a boatload of money and made a knock-off version instead. I LOVE these! So easy, but so chic it almost hurts!

Heels not your thang? That’s ok. You can still cut a rug and catch some eyes in a pair of colorful canvas shoes. Katy from Sweet Verbena took a pair of $5 shoes from Wal-mart, removed the laces, dyed them a sunshiny yellow, and added a bit of elastic inside to keep them put. I love how the dye didn’t take in the bias, it’s a fun little bit of contrast.

And kids can get in on the fun too! If you have kids, and those kids have feet, and those feet wear shoes, chances are the toes are worn out. My kids drag their toes to stop on their bikes no matter how many times I demonstrate how to use the brakes.

Brittany at Crafty Mischief came up with a fun fix: duct tape! A great way to add a little more life to children’s shoes if they manage to wear them out before they grow out of them. Check out her blog for the whole tutorial.

And Taylor at MaryJanes and Galoshes had the same problem: sturdy shoes, worn out toes. Glitter and ruffles to save the day! I think glitter and ruffles could probably solve most of the world’s problems, don’t you?

Thanks everyone!

(Credit where credit is due, I found many of these links from Babble.)

October 22, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In chairs/ottomans/seating/ tables/dressers

Mosai-yeccchh!

Earlier today I featured a mosaic table that I thought was pretty cool. But that doesn’t mean they all are. Seriously, let’s just pause a moment and consider the bone-chilling truth here: someone at some point thought this was a good idea, and that person might still be on the loose.

They could be out there right now, hot gluing more shards of glass onto more defenseless furniture! Spreading thier vague palm tree things among us like an anti-style scourge!

Do your part, fellow citizens. If you discover one of these works of “art,” be brave. Be like Christina. Dust it off, take it home, and turn it into a super cute bench. Or a plant stand. Or a puppet theater. I don’t care. Just please … no more of … that.

Check out more on her blog The Harrisons. Thanks Christina!