Better After

15 In miscellaneous

Set, stay!

I love how the TV sets of yore packed about 19 measly inches of viewing ability into an 800 lb item of furniture that required four people to lift. Does anyone even call them TV ‘sets’ anymore? Am I confusing the young folk? Would they just stare at me strangely if I went into Best Buy and asked where I could find “a real nice TV set?”

Well, those old sets can still serve a purpose. Like … as a pet bed! Better After reader Elisa got bit by the refurbishing bug, and turned this $2.50 ReStore purchase into a comfy bed for a furry friend. She posted it online and had it sold within minutes. Then someone else called immediately after it had sold and wanted it so bad they paid her to make another one! Let’s see your fancy flatscreen do that!

October 19, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

8 In kitchen/dining

Orange you glad this isn’t orange?

I must be in a bit of a blue mood today. Not that I’m sad or anything. How can I be sad when Paula Deen has recently released butter flavored lip balm? How can anyone?!

No, today I just seem to be digging makeovers in blue, and here comes a fantastic one from Kayla. Ahh, so much better. The new stain on the table and benches is lovely. It even complements the floor better. That old stain was a color not found in nature. Unless you count The Jersey Shore as nature.

Check out more on Kayla’s blog Furniture Remix.

October 19, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

16 In tables/dressers

Salvaged Swirls

This dresser was ugly, that’s for sure. So ugly that Connie reports she was embarrassed to even tear off the ticket at Goodwill. But she took it home and gave it a lot of love, and now it looks like it came straight off the showroom floor. And those swirly-whirly handles are amazing! (That is their official name, yes). They used to look like squashed bugs, but with a little Rub n’ Buff, they are truly the stars of the show.

See more on her blog Salvage Savvy!

October 18, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In bedroom

Nautical Nonsense

Two different bedroom makeovers here, by two different women, in two different styles. Both rooms began as dark, cramped and crowded, but that wasn’t all they
had in common before. There was something else. Can you spot it? I’ll give you three hints: it’s absorbent and yellow and
porous.

Nicki’s bedroom is now feminine and romantic, (and Spongebob-free), and looks fantastic! Check it out on her blog The Vintage Farmhouse.

Tanya’s room is now graphic and modern, and has expunged the sponge as well. (Good thing, as that particular Spongebob was looking quite demonic). Also, was there a weirder possible place to hang that poster? No. Looks so grown-up and chic now! See more on her blog Dans le Townhouse.

October 18, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

8 In chairs/ottomans/seating/ decor

Stylishly Stained

People be all up in my grill about why I only ever post painted wood makeovers. Not really. Most people are very nice. (Except the couple of people who emailed me over the weekend demanding that I take down the creepy doll pictures. Blerg. Guess what? I ALREADY KNOW they are creepy! It’s for Halloween! Not everyone has the same taste. I would certainly never go to your house and demand that you take down a picture I didn’t like. The nerve…) Ahem. Moving on.

So anyway, here is some wood that has NOT been painted! Instead it was lovingly restored and restained to a beautiful rich walnut. I’m in loves. I would have totally just painted this white. But I might have to venture down the wood-stain aisle sometime. Where is that again? From Lindsay at Country Girl Home.

And hang on, there’s more! She redid this old… any guesses? Bread pan? Broken lunchbox lid? Actually, it’s an old ammo box, and now it’s super cute and adding some shajazz to her side table. See it HERE. Thanks Lindsay!

October 17, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

3 In tables/dressers

Not Lacking Glam

Ahh, I love the smell of IKEA in the morning. (I actually do like the smell of IKEA, it smells like meatballs). And I really love this little $20 Lack table makeover by Lizzie, who gave it a glam look with wallpaper and nailhead trim. A few tips she learned in the process: rolls of nailhead trim are hard to find. So you might end up hammering in single nails instead, and it will take forever, but look great! Also, it helps to wrap the top of the table in wallpaper before assembling. Check it out on her blog Pretty City Things.

And hey! Check me out, I got interviewed over on Kammy’s Korner today!