Ok, I will be the first to admit that it would be hard for me to get inspired about this outdated, wood-paneled room. Rebecca saw it and said, I can't remodel and I have absolutely no budget to fix this up, but I want a craft room and I'm gonna figure it out. And when I say "wow", to what she pulled off for $75, I mean "wow!"
Rachael's budget to transform this space into the craft room she wanted was zilch, but that didn't stop her. She went through her belongings and sold some stuff on craigslist. She took the resulting $75, was patient to find good deals on the things she needed, and a number of DIY projects later she has created one truly inspired craft room.
Find the rest of Rachel's post, which includes each before and after that went into this remodel, at her blog — Older and Wisor.
Images: Older and Wisor
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How to Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor
I'd say Rachael was wildly successful on her $75 budget!
This is nuts. Love.
This is great - when I went to the blog I expected the $75 to be paint and eveything else was "borrowed" from other rooms but you actually bought most of the pieces in here - amazing. Can you come to my house and fix my family room - I can even double your budget :)
That's a great paint treatment for the paneling!
Medusa: what don't you get about the island??? I can see many uses for it in relation to crafting and sewing.
I think the island is a "work station". This seems to be a cute little crafts/work room judging from the supplies I see cleverly distributed throughout the room.
you'd use the island to cut fabric or paper, for instance.
Holy crapoli, that's an awesome transformation for $75. Of course, I didn't see prices listed for the art, curtains, paint, etc., but it's probably safe to assume she already had them or that they were super cheap. What a colorful, lively, fun, functional space. The pictures on the blog showing more of the details make me like it even more. The black stripes on the walls aren't my favorite thing ever, but it's funky and it works fine. They made me wonder, though, if it might've been interesting to leave some natural wood stripes with the white--I don't think I've ever seen anyone do that, but white and wood work so well together, I'd like to see how it would turn out.
BREATHTAKING
that's really fantastic. Great job
Wow, quite the transformation. $75.00!? Kudos to you!
I can't handle black and white stripes on anything. It makes me itch. Nonetheless, I think you have performed quite the miracle on this room.
Stripes for paneling is genius!
Looks great!
This is absolutely amazing! This woman is sooooo creative and crafty. I can't believe some of the things she came up with. Like that holder for the wrapping paper...genius.
this may be my favorite before/after ever.
Even though high contrast stripes aren't my thing, I think she was really clever to use the existing vertical seperations in the paneling. It's a really nice effect and it looks expensive.
Amazing worktable. Perfect for spreading out supplies, cutting fabrics, making patterns, sewing, gluing, painting, making flower arrangements, wrapping gifts... You could probably even break out a saw on that thing if you felt so inclined. The clean-up wouldn't even be that bad on that tile floor. This is a completely useful room for a lot of different types of crafting endeavors. I imagine that being able to access the worktable from all sides is convenient, too.
I love that the black and white stripes are kind of random.
Hyzen -- I like your idea to leave a few panel boards in the natural wood. I think that would've looked really cool, too.
WOW! So cool :) I agree with a few of the above posters that the panel stripes aren't my favorite... but for that budget with that space, it's an incredible idea.
Great, great job!
Looks great! I'd have kept the sliding door but great job.
Sorry but I really love the before of this room.
The wooden panelling is gorgeous and works really well with the tiles.
That being said I do think this is insanely clever and low priced and it obviously works for her tastes so congrats!
ElaneB -- pretty sure the sliding glass door is still there behind the curtain.
@ElaneB The door seems to still be there, it's just not visible in the second photo, but you can see a bit of the curtain.
@ElaneB
I think the sliding glass door is still there. It's just not shown in the after pic.
Not my style, but this is an awesome makeover.
I personally prefer the before, more airy, spacious and lovely texture.
I'm not a fan of the stripes, I'd have rather of had all black or all cream walls. Some great finds from Craig's List.
Very creative. I'll remember the stripes ...
Beautiful job. So impressive.
I love it!
I'm green with envy. Loving the work table, kids can do their thing at the same time as mom...creativity inspires more creativity and so on...super turn over!!!
Hmm. I like it, but on the other hand I probably would have changed everything except the wood paneling.
I love the ingenuity!!!!! It never would have occurred to me to use the weird box thing from the thrift store to hold wrapping paper. You've done an amazing job on a tiny budget and I applaud you!! This is right up my alley!
I also prefer the before.
Such a great looking space .
Utterly amazing! I enjoyed touring the transformation on the blog post.
This was an awesome transformation. It just goes to show what imagination, patience, elbow grease can do when you really want the job done! Great job!
Impressive!
Great job !
Great job. It's so difficult to paint every groove of wood panneling.
too. busy.
i prefer the before, to which i would add a plant.
Her blog is spelled "Older and Wisor."
This site seriously needs a copy editor; the constant errors detract from the great content. Where can I apply?
I'm pretty sure her last name is "wisor", it's just a play on words.
Very nice! I like that she did stripes instead of trying to hide the wood. I'm not huge on the two tone thing either, but I love tone on tone stripes on walls (matte vs. gloss), so that would be one way for me to go when I have my own house to do! Wood paneling is probably something I'll run into. :)
The craft island is a dream of mine. But it would be half workbench. I would love to have a flexible space like that for cutting fabric, paper, and even lumber. It would be so much more sturdy than a normal table.
The only thing I would add is some more comfortable seating. But with a $75 (!!!) budget, this turned out fantastic!!
I think it's just way too busy. I honestly feel so overwhelmed just looking at it, and I probably wouldn't find it a very conducive space to try and do any work in: I would just keep getting distracted.
It's a perfectly functioning space, design decisions aside. It really doesn't matter if it's busy or you don't like the stripes. It's functional and funky for the person who created it. Kudos for working under the necessary constraints and making it your own.
Busy? Come on! It's a craft space. Quite a serene one compared to most. This is THE most amazing transformation - by far - I've ever seen for the investment. And the paneling treatment was genius! Even those who don't care for stripes or high contrast must give it a nod for creativity.
VERY well done all around.
That is a fantastic and inspiring way to treat wood paneling. The final outcome is better than the sum of its parts. Great idea!
Striking wall and colors, but they kind of make the floor and the island look out of place and the space half-finished. I'd upgrade them, too.
Yes, and this site had it as "Wiser" before I pointed it out.
Such a clever way of painting over paneling. It almost makes me want a wall of paneling! Beautiful upgrade :)
As someone who is always looking for things to repurpose for craft room storage, I loved this post. This was very resourceful!
Such a happy room, I love the green dresser! The island? Obviously a workspace!
Good job...
The stripes make the room look small, I don't like them at all.
The house we are renting had pine panelling on the walls, and before we moved in the landlord painted over them in the same colour as the drywall walls. Looks refreshing compared to flat no detail drywall.
Fantastic! The "before" -- even if you added shelving, a rug and worktables and cutesy decorations -- would not make me want to create in there.
I'm sorry, but the people who are saying they prefer the before MUST be joking. Please, tell me you are being tongue in cheek?
I enjoyed reading her blog post. Very interesting treatment, specially what she fashioned out of old crates and that abandoned drawer.
this is awesome - can't believe you only spent 75$!
Eeka, I would job-share the copy editing with you. All the Apt Therapy sites could use a little grammar therapy. :D
wow ! fabulous !!
@janjanjan, I totally agree. The before picture is empty, to my eye, that's an indulgent and shocking waste of space. A totally empty room means... you've too much real estate.
Why would heat and air condition that and then preach about the environment???
Rant over.
Sorry, I meant to add...
Fab makeover, 'older and wisor' is now in my Bookmarks folder.
Holy mackerel, I love it! Totally unexpected. I expected the usual white wash. Looks like an awesome craft room!! I've seen quite a few sad looking houses around this area with the yucky varnished pine vertical joints coupled with bare brick and it just makes me wonder "what is to be done?". But not any more!!