Better After

5 In chairs/ottomans/seating/ desks/hutches/buffets

White Here

Continuing onward with our white and bright theme for the day, check out these lovely redos by Erin.

First up, a rocking chair lightens up with a cleansing coat of white. The before was actually kind of interesting, almost a bit Miss Mustard Seed–esque, but the white is so classic, and it shows off the chair’s shape and slender spindles so well. Much more appropriate for a baby’s room. (Note: I do not know whether or not this was actually FOR a baby’s room, but that’s where I would put it!)

Next, Erin brightened up a dark hutch that was in need of some attention. Now it’s all fixed up and ready to show off! A dose of white really makes a big difference, like putting a Crest White-strip on your home! Thanks Erin!

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February 17, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

1 In kitchen/dining

Nemmie’s Kitchen

Want to make your kitchen look about three times bigger? Easy! Go white and go bright. Emily’s before kitchen was sporting an odd minty green color that looked a little sickly. She livened it up with some bright white on the cabinets and a soothing neutral on the walls. Check out more on her blog HERE, including how she updated her funky built in pantry.

February 17, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

1 In tables/dressers

Peas and No Podge

Modge Podge … it’s a fine line between super cute and just plain tacky. For instance: this stately little dresser was totally upstaged by a poorly executed application of flower petals. It just looked a bit juvenile.

Deciding it was best to keep things simple, the gals over at 4 Sweet Peas turned it back into a dignified and classy piece of furniture. After many hours of sanding and stripping, it was given a distressed white paint job and some girly crystal knobs. Way better! Thanks ladies!

February 17, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

12 In chairs/ottomans/seating

Aloha Sofa

Megan and her husband just moved back to the mainland after living in Hawaii. (JEALOUS!) So, naturally they had to pack light and needed some furniture upon their return. What they found was this $25 sofa that had lots of potential. Potential for swine flu.

After convincing her mother that one cannot contract swine flu from a sofa, (But can one? Who knows?) she helped her recover it with some $6 per yard fabric. Final product: a gorgeous new sofa for less than $100, AND no swine flu. Win-win! See more on her blog HERE.

February 16, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

15 In kiddie/ other rooms

PB Playroom

You’ve heard that certain colors can affect your mood and behavior. Like sometimes prison cells are painted pink to soothe angry prisoners. Yeah, I bet that helps. Or, you shouldn’t paint your kitchen blue or … you’ll always feel hungry? Something like that? Don’t quote me on that one.

What I do know is this: this intense red playroom was not doing the trick. Playrooms should inspire happiness and play, not the creepy feeling that you’re sitting in a gloomy vampire cave.

London from Sixty-Fifth Avenue took this lovely playroom makeover inspiration from a page in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog, and even had her husband paint a version of the pricey decals. Looks so happy! Thanks London! See more HERE.

February 16, 2010 By Lindsey @ Better After

12 In bathroom

Dyane’s Bathroom

This lovely redo arrived in my inbox without much by way of words. No blog address, no detailed description of sweaty nights spent in tile-laying labor. Nothing really. Just a before and an after. But I think the pictures speak for themselves.