Better After

Vintage Bench

When Diane from Dwelement says she cares about the environment, you’d better believe she means it. She searched for over two years to find the perfect bench to fit in this entry nook, looking only at vintage or thrifted items, so as to make less impact on the earth.

She finally found the perfect bench and went to work recovering the nasty material with vintage fabric she had scored at an estate sale. She probably didn’t plan it this way, but I like how she simply reversed the colors, dark on the bottom, orange on the top! Thanks Diane! See more on her blog Dwelement.

March 3, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

9 In kitchen/dining

Beadboard Kitchen

Sarah from Frills, Fluff and Trucks and her husband had just built an addition onto their family room. It was great, but it made their oaky kitchen look extremely dated in comparison. So, knowing she had to do it on the cheap, she convinced her husband that white paint, new drawer pulls and beadboard was the way to go.

And for an extra touch, she added trim not just at the top, but at the bottom of the cabinets as well! When all was said and done, she managed to make this dated, oaked-out kitchen look amazing for $350! Please go check out her blog HERE for way more pictures.

March 3, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In kiddie

Craiglist Cradle

Oh, Craigslist, you never fail to disappoint. Check out this cradle that Annie found on Craigslist for $20 (!) and redid in white for her baby girl. You can’t even buy half a cradle for $20, and even if you could, the quality wouldn’t be anything close to this solid wood piece of furniture.

It just needed a coat of paint, and now it’s better than new. She even made the bedding herself! She says, “The mattress however, I did go buy a new one and recover it, I couldn’t bear the thought of using the old one!” So cute! See more on her blog HERE.

March 2, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

10 In living room/ other rooms

First Place Basement

Stacy of Red Door Home knows what she’s doing in the makeover department. Check out her basement redo, which not only has the distinction of being featured on my fine blog (ahem), but also this other publication, I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, Better Homes & Gardens? Yeah, Stacy is the stuff.

She and her husband were determined to keep the basement a part of the house and not just an afterthought. See the rest of the remodel HERE. Thanks Stacy!

March 2, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In kitchen/dining/ tables/dressers

B-Right

Among a sea of freshly painted white chairs, these chairs boldly jump out. Betina from B-Happy said, “My husband says it looks like a Mexican restaurant. He’s right. I just so happen to like Mexican restaurants.” Love that! Thanks Betina, for your bold, bright, beautiful chairs!

March 2, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In living room

Roswell Room

I like this redo from Amy at My Roswell Home because it shows what a big impact you can make for next to nothing.

No walls were knocked down, no contractors were involved, heck the furniture wasn’t even rearranged! But what a difference a coat of paint and some new accessories make. I think adding the blue accents really make this look great and not too neutral, which was the problem in the before.

Check more out on her blog HERE, won’t you? Thanks Amy!