Better After

10 In kitchen/dining

How to deal with shelf-doubt.

Are you wondering if open shelving is right for you? You really want to do it, but you’re scared? You can’t commit? Girrrrrl, please. Let me talk you out of your fears.

Fear #1: “I will lose so much storage space!”

False. You will most likely gain space. Better After reader Jenny and her husband recently ripped out the small set of cupboards in their kitchen and replaced them with open shelving. Not only does it look so much lighter and spacious, I’d bet money that they are able to fit more on their shelves now than they ever could in those wussy cabinets.

Fear #2: “It does look lighter and more spacious. Are you sure that isn’t just because they knocked out a whole wall and painted and upgraded everything else?”

Ok, that’s not really a fear, but yes that’s true. That obviously made a huge, wonderful difference. But my favorite part is still those shelves.

Fear #3: “You don’t understand. My cabinets are currently jam-packed with crap. I have towers of mismatched plastic cups that are older than my kids.”

Are you listening to yourself girlfriend? Toss that crap! Dejunk those cabinets! Look at the contents of Jenny’s shelves here. Simple, streamlined, and cohesive. What more do you need?

Fear #4: “Sure, but what about DUST? I don’t want my dishes getting all DUSTY. Did you ever think about that?”

Look hunbun, as long as you are using the items regularly, it shouldn’t be a problem. And if you are not using them regularly, what the heck do you have them for? (See Fear #3). And also, occasional shelf dusting is a small price to pay for the fabulous open-shelving kitchen you’ve always wanted, right?

“I guess you’re right! Wow, I never looked at it that way. Thanks friend! You’re the best!”

*tearful hugs*

*credits roll*

August 7, 2015 By Lindsey @ Better After

3 In lighting

Ugly Lamps … Where are they now?

Another friendly reminder that the UGLY LAMP CONTEST is coming! I am still accepting submissions until Aug. 21st, so if you have an ugly lamp in your life, take a glamour shot of that sucker and send it to me! Details here.

But before I assault your eyeballz with full on fug, lets do a few warm ups with some formerly ugly lamps. These lamps used to suffer from awkwardness and general unattractiveness, but they are smokin’ hot now. I imagine them confidently strolling into their 10 year reunions all nonchalant while all the other lamps who were mean to them in high school jaws drop.

This lamp from Sonya used to be that hippie girl in school who went barefoot a lot and sewed her own clothes.

Now she’s a high powered fashion industry executive who moonlights as a back-up dancer for Madonna. (In my imaginary world lamps do these types of things, what?) See more at At Home with the Barkers.

Valerie’s lamp was a bit of late bloomer.

She didn’t develop her curves until much later. (Rumor has it that she’s been … artificially enhanced). Is it true?? Get the scoop on Valerie’s blog at Home Made Modern.

And lastly, Tania’s lamp finally grew up and graduated from her ‘grunge phase.’

Who knew she was such a natural beauty underneath all along?! I wonder if she’s single.

See more at Little Vintage Cottage.

August 6, 2015 By Lindsey @ Better After

2 In office

Shipshape in the Office

That resounding sigh of relief you just heard echoing across the country came from me. My kids are officially back in school today. Summer just chews me up and spits me out every time. “Summertiiiiiime, and the living is … busy.” That’s how the song should really go. Three cheers for routines and bedtimes and order! Hip! Hip! ZzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZ. I am very tired.

If you’re ready to buckle down and get down to business too, let this office makeover from Katy at A Shade of Teal inspire you. Fresh paint and a shiplap wall treatment, and it’s ready to WORK!

But first, a nap!

August 5, 2015 By Lindsey @ Better After

14 In desks/hutches/buffets

Over the Moon

Whenever anyone dares to paint over wood furniture, you can bet that a horrified crowd of internet commenters will follow.

“You’ve ruined it!” they’ll wail.

“It was SO MUCH better before!” they’ll sputter.

“I am so LIVID WITH RAGE that you’d cover up that natural wood grain that I’m literally shaking as I angrily type!” they’ll howl.

Well, consider this:

What if …

what if …

that natural wood grain …

happened to look like …

like …

… a butt?

It totally looks like a butt.

No amount of loving restoration is going to fix that. Luckily, Amanda came along and worked her magic with a pitch black shade of milk paint, and it looks so much more dignified now.

Now the focus is on the lovely detailing and ladylike legs and totally not on the other thing. Take a peek at the adorable inside on Ferpie and Fray.

But wait! There is literally more! Amanda has spread her talents to some other lovely-but-lacking furniture, like this sweet but plain little desk. Unfortunately, there are no apparent body parts in the grain, but I’m sure if you looked hard enough you could find something. If you’re into that.

So lovely! Current and timeless, I’d say. The coral color accents the wood legs beautifully. See more at Ferpie and Fray.
And hold on to your britches, because I have EVEN MORE from Amanda. Another little desk got the two-toned treatment, and it’s so sweet that I think I just lost a tooth.

Aren’t those knobs the best? Wonderful talent Amanda! I’m inspired to hit up the thrift-store today. I haven’t painted furniture in a while, but I’m feeling the itch!

See it at Ferpie and Fray and be sure to scroll down to the bottom for a peek inside. Spoiler alert: deer!

August 4, 2015 By Lindsey @ Better After

1 In miscellaneous

Double Whammy from Kammy

Let’s see what our friend Kammy at Kammy’s Korner has been up to lately. Oh, just redoing her whole house one room at a time. No biggie. Just kidding, huge biggie! Where is this magical reserve of energy and creativity that some women seem have access to? Is there like a pill I should take? A facebook group I need to join? I need to know! What’s the secret Kammy?

One of Kammy’s secret weapons is her husband, who whipped up this new mantle without buying anything new. He just used scraps and parts that they already had lying around.

Ok, if I tried to build a mantle from the stuff I have lying around, it would most definitely be made out of laundry and string cheese wrappers.

Kammy also tackled this formerly wallpapered-to-the-extreme bedroom, which was also appeared to be hiding hardwood floors under some canary colored carpet. With the walls sufficiently toned down, the floors can shine, along with that beefy baseboard and window trim. Mmmm, luv me some beefy trim.

Check that out here at Kammy’s Korner.

August 3, 2015 By Lindsey @ Better After

4 In bedroom

Let the sunshine in.

Wowza! I asked and you delivered! I now have a huge batch of ugly lamp submissions to sort through. I have my pepto-bismal on hand and I can hardly wait!

If you haven’t heard back from me, don’t fret. I just returned late last night from an out-of-state funeral and haven’t had much time to answer emails. In fact, if you’ve emailed me at all this summer, there’s a good chance I haven’t gotten back to you, but I fully intend to! Remember how summertime chews me up and spits me out into a sweaty ball of frenzied failure? You too? Just me? Cool.

Anyway, I am still accepting ugly lamp submissions until August 21, so send ’em on in. More details here.

And now, please welcome Debbie and her charming bedroom makeover. Before, this room was super nice. Hardwood floors, tons of natural light. It seems to me that this is a space off of the bedroom, probably meant to be a sitting area or somesuch. If this space was in my bedroom, I would have kept it exactly the same and used it for twirling.

But in a bold move, Debbie made it the center of the bedroom instead! Fantastic. Can you imagine waking up every morning surrounded by sunbeams? That would probably start your day off right every time. See more on her page Refresh by Debbie

July 31, 2015 By Lindsey @ Better After

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