Better After

11 In outdoors

Baumerang!

I don’t know why, but exterior makeovers are some of my very favorites! It’s probably because I am not in love with the exterior of my house, currently painted in two lovely shades: Brown and Browner. The trim is also a beautiful color: Slightly Lighter Brown. Then there’s the front door: More Brown.

Well this remodel by Lindsay and her husband Jace of Baum Shelters turned my brown frown upside down! Isn’t it fabulots? I’m especially loving the new carriage-style garage doors replacing that sunless sunroom/hostage holding cell thing that was going on. Great job guys!

March 29, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

8 In living room

Spare some change?

Do you know some dear sweet soul who, bless her heart, hasn’t changed her decor one whit in the last 30 years? I know someone like that, only it’s not her decor, it’s her hairstyle. Yeeps. I’ve essentially had the same hairstyle since 5th grade, so I understand, but still … this woman looks like she’s wearing a family of exceptionally fluffy hedgehogs on her head. No. Joke. I’d love to suggest something new, but I think she’s pretty committed to this look. Still, change is good!

Laura from Finding Home had a client who’s living room had been the same since the 80’s! She was ready for a change, and Laura, who clearly knows what the heck she’s doing, delivered a beautiful room. Even just changing the furniture configuration made a huge difference. Check out her blog for some professional tips! Thanks Laura!

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March 28, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

44 In kiddie

Hot Pink! And Zebras!

I thought I had something else to write about here, but I think my darling daughter just took off her diaper and peed on the carpet, so I’m going to make this quick. Hot pink kiddie kitchen coming your way! That should wake up the ol’ eyeballs if you are having a mundane Monday morning. Wish I was.

From Denise at Stitches and Nails who said: “I don’t know who has had more fun with it, me making it or her playing with it. After 3 sons, I am enjoying doing the girlie things with my granddaughters!” Great job Denise! (Ok, how cool is the view through the window? A field of ZEBRAS! Ha!)

March 28, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

3 In outdoors

A Lightpost Post

Sharon wanted some lighting outside, but was unimpressed by the typical “stick” solar lights that you jam into the ground.

(Yeah, those kind of drive me nuts too. No matter what, they always look crooked. My OCDness can’t handle it! I’m going to break into your yard and straighten your solar lights!

Random tangent: One time I thought I was doing my widow neighbor a favor by sweeping off her front porch when she wasn’t home, and she actually got really freaked out and called the cops and thought someone was trying to kidnap her. And then she called me and demanded to know if I had seen someone cleaning off her porch, and I was like … um, yeah, me? And she was just baffled that someone would do that. So I never did it again. So there.)

Anyhoo, Sharon took a few outdated light fixtures and created one timeless lightpost for her yard! She just tucked the solar lights into the globes and they light up so nicely at night, no electrical work needed! Check it out here: Keen Inspirations.

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March 25, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

19 In chairs/ottomans/seating

Baroque? More like BaROCK!

It’s Friiiiday, friiiiday, gotta get down on Friiiiidaaaaay!” Argh! Curse you and your inane song, Rebecca Black!

Sorry. Don’t listen to that song, it will get stuck in your head for three days straight. You will hear it in your sleep. And you will weep for mankind, because mankind has horrible taste in “music” and has downloaded this song like 3 million times. ~shivers~

Anyway, let’s talk before and afters: Chiara had this overly ostentatious baroque chair. She was not feeling that nursing home drapery upholstery, so she took it to opposite end of the fabric spectrum: geishas, skulls and snakes. Badassery at it’s finest. Sure, not everyone’s cup of tea, but I highly favor a little hardcore edge vs. pretty, predictable and profoundly lame. (I’m talking to you, Rebecca Black).

See more on her blog Extreme Makeover Barock. (in italiano) Thanks Chiara!

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March 25, 2011 By Lindsey @ Better After

7 In kitchen/dining/ tables/dressers

I Heart Stripes

Approximately 100 years ago, or actually 1 year ago, which is like 100 years in blogging years, I featured Jaimelyn’s table, seen here. Back then she took it from plain and strange (still not sure what that mystery patch in the corner is all about. Did they run out of stain? Or started sanding but gave up very early in?) to black and white. Well, it’s black and white again, but better than ever! What could be better, you ask? Well, hold your horses, I’m about to tell you. Stripes! Big, fat and chunky. That’s how I likes ’em.

Check it out on her blog I Heart Naptime. (Hey, so do I!)