Better After

5 In tables/dressers

From Howdy to Bonjour!

(Please enjoy this Better After Flashback from 2011. Happy Saturday!)

Have you ever heard someone say “I love EVERY type of music! Well, except country and rap.” I’m almost inclined to agree, but I actually like quite a bit of rap. Country … is … not really my thing. Sorry. Same with design. I love EVERYTHING, I really do. Modern, transitional, industrial, minimalist, bohemian, you name it. Except country and rap. (If you don’t think “rap” is a design style, you haven’t watched a lot of MTV Cribs. Usually involves at least one framed Scarface poster).

So I would probably have avoided this very hunter-green, country-fied sofa table, but once again, white paint saves the day. It looks so elegant and very French-country, which is worlds away from regular ol’ country. I can’t speak for French-country music though.

From the fantastic Alicia at Thrifty and Chic.

hunter green table with knobs before makeover | betterafter.net

white sofa table makeover | betterafter.net

November 15, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

4 In bedroom/ kiddie/ tables/dressers

In The Pink

Hey hey, pink stuff yay!

I’m not a poet, and I know it. You don’t have to tell me.

But if you like pink, then rub your hands together with glee, because I’ve got some pink makeovers for you today. And if you don’t, well you probably know someone who does. And if you don’t, you’re either lying to me, or you don’t have any friends. And if you don’t, I’ll be your friend. And I like pink. So here we are.

Kimberly was living in a two bedroom home and pregnant with her third child. Needing another room, she converted this narrow space into her three-year-old daughter’s bedroom, fulfilling a life-long dream to decorate something pink pink pink girly explosion! So fun.

But don’t you worry, this is only a temporary arrangement until they move to a larger home. You can see more of her super fun style right here at MissFurnellie.

I bet you’ll never guess what Better After reader Sara did with this playhouse. You’re right. She painted it pink! How did you know?

She received it free from a neighbor and fixed it up for her girls. Um, my neighbors never give me anything this cool. All I get from my neighbors are notes asking me to please remember to close my bathroom blinds at night. (Haha, I’m kidding. They ask me to keep them open).

(Just kidding again). (Sorry in advance for your nightmares).

I love the sweet little treatment Jen gave to this yard-sale dresser. She had learned that it was at least 50 years old and didn’t want to sand it for fear of lead-based paint. Also it was the color of depressed urine. No thanks! Primer, paint, and a little hand-painted work on the drawer details, and it looks better than new.

Check out all of her tips and helpful product recommendations for doing the same on her blog All Four Love.

November 14, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

13 In kitchen/dining

You have the right to right now.

Tanya is saving up her cash for a dream kitchen makeover, which will take place sometime in the distant future. Might as well just live with this boring old kitchen that she absolutely hates in the meantime, right?

WRONG-O!

That big-budget dream kitchen could be years down the road. Her logic is, why not make it look and function better right now?

She spent less than $1,500 to transform her kitchen into a beautiful and fun space that she’s happy with RIGHT NOW! Tiny cramped cabinets were removed to make way for open shelving, which means she doesn’t have to wait for some imaginary day in the far-off future to enjoy her collection of bright aqua dishware. She can enjoy them RIGHT NOW! She can greet her kitchen with a smile TODAY!

Are you putting off something that you could change to make you happy right now? Don’t wait! It’s not time or money wasted. It’s a small price to pay to avoid years of discontentment, that’s what I’d say.

See much much more at Dans le Lakehouse.

November 13, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In decor/ kiddie/ miscellaneous

Creative Block

Knife blocks. They aren’t just for knives anymore.

OK, this one is still for knives. But it looks a lot better than it did when it started! From Ronja at Nur Noch.

Cute right? And now lets talk about other uses for knife blocks:

– Firewood

– Door-stopper

– Yoga Blocks (advanced yogis only)

– Makeshift car jack

– Fun game of Catch the Knife Block

– Weapons to fend off intruders if all of your knives happen to be in the dishwasher

Or, if you would rather have a “good” idea that “makes sense” and is “practical” then here’s one from Serena at Thrift Diving.

That is pretty great. Crayon and craft storage! Such a genius idea. I would make one and fill it with pens and call it Writer’s Block, and give it to my author friends. I don’t have any author friends. But if I did, I would.

November 12, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

8 In tables/dressers

Extra Credit Credenza

I’ve featured Reeves and her fabulous refinishing work several times, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized what a young’n she is. She actually started her blog in high school! It was part of a project during her senior year, and she used it to chronicle some of the makeovers she had done. Cut to now, and she’s a 20-year-old student paying her way through college with her furniture. That’s amazeballoons! Give me a virtual fist-bump, Reeves!

I love her style, and I love what she did with this scuffed up MCM credenza. Not wanting to hide that lovely wood grain, but needing to revive the thirsty wood, she opted for gel stain. Gorgeous! I have a vintage record player that is also a color I don’t love, I call it “Dusty Mud,” and while I would never paint it, I am tempted to try the gel stain. Its claim-to-fame is that it can go on right over an existing finish. My problem is I just don’t want to move the dang thing, it weighs like 8,000 pounds.

Back to Reeves. She did a simply glossy white on the top, which is the perfect modern touch, and you can see more at The Weathered Door.

PS: Happy Veteran’s Day! Big thank you to all who have served, and a big thank you to their families too.

November 11, 2014 By Lindsey @ Better After

10 In bedroom

Replacement in the Basement

Hey there, happy Monday! You may have noticed that I didn’t put up my Saturday post, or, if your weekend was anything like mine, you may have not noticed anything at all and now suddenly it’s Monday and where did the last three days go? I need human-cloning technology to be real already because I could use about three more of me.

I’ve been extra busy because there is something kind of crazy going on this week, and if all goes well, I’ll tell you about it soon. It has nothing to do with DIY or blogging or anything like that, and you could guess for 100 years and still never guess right. So. How’s that for a teaser?

You’ll just have to wait and see, but not for a great before and after! Because I’ve got a lovely one from Vel who transformed a plain basement bedroom into a guest oasis right here.

Here’s what I love: that she faked a window and hid the storm door with curtains, I love how the bed is so much higher and makes the room feel much … fluffier is the best word I can come up with, the headboard is great, the rug is great, and there’s a lot more to see on her blog Life & Home at 2102.