Better After

26 In decor

When I think about you…

We all know how spray paint can fix up ugly junk, but did you know it can save you from having nightmares too? Because that’s what these creepy teddy bear canisters are giving me. I could maybe understand something like this in a baby’s bedroom, many many years ago when supposedly this kind of thing was … cool? *shudder* But even then, in a KITCHEN? Which is where I assume most canisters like this belong? I am scared. And the bears look like they are touching themselves. Double creepy.

So anyway, hooray for spray paint and jute! They look SO much better. And chaste! From Caitlin at Riparata.

July 6, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

11 In living room

Bye-bye Built-in

If you are an eagle-eyed viewer of this ol’ blog, you may have noticed that this before used to be an after! It’s ok if you didn’t notice. I have over 1,200 posts. You’d kind of have to be a stalker to notice that. And it’s fine if you DID notice. I don’t mind stalkers. Just don’t come to my house and watch me sleep or anything, ok?

So LeAnn had this built-in bookshelf that she didn’t love. She made it work for a while with some turquoise paint and new knobs, but it was kind of a thorn in her side. So she did something completely irrational, ripped it out and replaced it with turquoise zebra print wallpaper. Hey, nobody ever said rational equaled fun. I love the whole new look in the entire room. Check it out on her blog For the Love of Cottage.

July 6, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

8 In chairs/ottomans/seating

Can I get a what what?

This chair submission arrived in my inbox with nary an explanation. There was simply a before and an after, signed by “J.” Mysterious! I’m not sure but I’m pretty sure that “J” is probably a very well-known celebrity. I bet J wants to keep his or her thrift-loving identity secret, so the whole world doesn’t find out that they secretly would rather recover a moldy old chair than buy a new one for half a million dollars at Barney’s, or wherever ridiculously rich people buy furniture. I wouldn’t know.

Possible possibilities: Jack Johnson, James Franco, Janet Reno, Jay-Z, Jerry Seinfeld, Joey Lawrence or Joan Cusack. Hmmmm.

Oh, I’m on to you Jay-Z.

July 5, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

7 In tables/dressers

Throw the book at ’em

No, Gloria didn’t find this ancient dresser tucked away in an antique shop. She didn’t get this from a little old lady who couldn’t squeeze it into her retirement condo. She didn’t inherit it as a very well-loved family heirloom. Nope, she found it in the trash. Fo real.

It was in need of serious work, and she discovered while trying to refinish the top that there wasn’t much “top” there. So she mod-podged book pages across it instead, filing the excess off with an emery board, gave it a coat of chalk paint and wax and pronounced it ‘beautiful!’ Check out the whole story on her blog Potentially Beautiful.

July 5, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

7 In decor

7.04.11!

Happy Independence Day!

Have a safe one, and do enjoy this patriotic project made from old flooring by Claudette at Life’s a Journey!

July 4, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

11 In tables/dressers

Gotta Get Down on Friday

Unless “dusty, broke-down and fugly” is the name of some hot new design trend that I’m not aware of, these desks needed makeovers. It’s so fun to get submissions of really similar items and then see how different they turn out.

This first desk is from Jessica at My World Made By Hand, a $17 online find, looking classy in black and silver handles. How did she find a perfectly matching handle for the one that was missing? It was hiding in the drawer all along. Lucky duck. She is probably still icing down her trigger finger, because she painted this entire thing with spray paint!

And a black and white beauty from Kammy at Kammy’s Korner. She picked this thing up for $5 at a yard sale! Isn’t the stencil great? I think it’s a stencil, she didn’t say. But high-fives to her if it’s hand painted.