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2 In kiddie

Chalk to Me

Carly hit the jackpot when she found this little desk at Goodwill for $5. She just didn’t know it at the time. So there it sat, languishing in the corner for months. Until one day, she decided it was time to paint. Fortuitously, that exact same day Oh Dee Doh featured the exact same desk, at definitely not so much the exact same price, and that didn’t even include the sweet chalkboard surface or robot dude on the side! Check it out on her blog Life with the Little Bird. 



















And while you are there, check out her cradle redo too! A cute graphic take on a former plain jane. Thanks Carly!












January 13, 2011 By
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10 In bedroom/ tables/dressers

Stand-Out Nightstand

Once upon a time, someone had tried to refinish this nightstand, but gave up and hauled it to the thriftstore. That’s where Teresa plucked it up for a mere $27 and brought it home.

This is the point where I would have painted the whole thing white, end of story. But Teresa went a few steps further. Namely: replaced the pulls, applied one coat of primer, two coats of Belle Green from Valspar, distressed it with sandpaper, glazed with Valspar Mocha Glaze, splattered a little brown paint here and there for more dimension, added one final coat of Minwax to protect. Dang. I think that little beauty is going to last a lifetime! See it on her blog Magazine Your Home.











January 13, 2011 By
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11 In chairs/ottomans/seating

Double Down

There’s this place in town that sells old furniture from major hotels. I know what you’re thinking, “Yikes. I’ll pass on the Motel 6 mattress, thanks.” But it’s actually pretty cool, a lot of the furniture comes from big hotels in Vegas after they remodel and such. Still, what looks like a cool chair in room #225 of the Bellagio might look like, well a hotel room chair when you get it home.

So, if you have a sturdy, semi-stylish chair on your hands, but would like to make it more you, take note of these two:



















Better After reader Lauren bought these chairs on Craigslist in brand new condition. Obviously, that called for some distressing. A little paint and a drool-inducing fabric on the seat and now it’s WOW!

 



This chair probably used to get ignored at all the parties, but now it’s the belle of the ball with a splashy turquoise paint job paired with a orange damask seat. Definitely worthy of eye-catching status. From Better After reader Chelsie, a kindergarten teacher by day, intrepid dumpster-diving, chair-rescuing furniture transformer by night!

January 12, 2011 By
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14 In bathroom

Bunny Bathroom

Sarah from Flying Heartfield had one heck of a monstrosity of a bathroom going on. The size was nice, but the style sins … too many to name. If the wall-to-wall mauve carpeting isn’t enough to give you nightmares, I’d better warn you now about the bunnies. Prepare yourself.











So much better, right? Light, clean and airy.

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BUNNIES!!!!!

























 





 
Ok, you can safely peel your hands away from your eyes and stop crying now. The bunnies of terror are gone, replaced with a handy storage closet and a corner shower. Phew. That was just … no.

January 12, 2011 By
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4 In kiddie

I’m a Barbie Girl

Christine from The Lovely Home recently did a dream home remodel. Barbie’s Dream Home! She upcycled this dollhouse as a gift to her niece, and Barbie got some serious upgrades in the process.






An upholstered headboard…

 

 a new hardwood floor (popsicle sticks!) …

and a Christmas ornament turned chandelier, in the perfect Barbie pink!
More to see on Christine’s blog, check it out HERE. Too fun, thanks Christine!

January 12, 2011 By
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17 In decor

Framed and Hung

Got a bunch of old frames or trays laying around? Well, lucky you! Because there are a bunch of uses for them! Here are a few ideas coming atcha:

Jamielyn from I Heart Naptimes wasn’t really feeling this tropical scene or the ornate silver frame that came with it, an odd pairing to be sure. So she got some fabric and batting and made a be-ribboned ribbon holder instead! C to the UTE.















Karla found a fun $3 tray with an removable insert! Oh, the possibilities. First things first, she removed that golf-themed needlepoint (yet another strange combo… I mean golf and needlepoint? Huh?) and swapped in some lovely fabric. Fabulous! See it on her blog Sugar Bear Designs.




















And finally Jessica opted for a sweet and simple chalkboard for her formerly gold-framed still life. Let’s hope that wasn’t a priceless painting. Hmmm, I doubt it. See this plus her cute chevron tray makeover on her blog J+J.

(On a totally unrelated note, but  I just discovered as I tried unsuccessfully to type that + sign over and over, if you press Ctl and then press the + key, your screen will zoom in! Ok then! Carry on!)





































January 12, 2011 By
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