When you head out to discount stores such as TJ Maxx or Homegoods, glassware and vases are inexpensive finds. That said, more often than not, they could use a little something extra. This homeowner thought the same and gave these ho hum vases a modern makeover!
The folks over at Homepodge tipped us off to this great vase makeover over at Timber and Lace. The basic vases were taped off and painted and the results are simply stunning.
This is a great example of less is more, but sometimes things need a little help in achieving that look. Even though the wooden table steps things up a bit as well, the vases steal the show. It's a simple upgrade that could be done to almost any home accessory on a budget and with very little time or desire to get your hands dirty. Check out all the details over at Timber and Lace.
Image: Timber and Lace
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Nice. I was expecting chevrons, though.
tbgboodler...LOL!
no.
tbgboodler, that is so funny because I thought the same thing before I saw the after. lol
It's interesting that painting a vase (or three) changes the wall color and shelf as well...
i created a similar project with a spherical lamp base. of course, it dropped it on the ground when i was still drying, causing sand & dirt to get stuck in it...so i made lemons with lemonade and made the whole 'silver area' textured with steel wool when i got inside. i actually much preferred the 'after disaster' look.
This time I disagree. I love the simplicity of the Before and think the vases were prettier in one color.
On the timber & lace blog she describes the whole process, choosing & painting the twigs, making the table, etc. Calm down, everyone.
However, I'll be #4 to say LOL to tbgboodler!
I was expecting there to be a bird on it.
Oh, and that she didn't intend it as a before and after; she was just into "dipping" and decided to try it on these vases with the paint she had on hand. Later felt the silver might not have been the best choice.
I for one am happy and appreciative to see people's attempts at creativity. I think these look fine but even if not, her honesty about the creative process is refreshing.
Years ago I saw a TV spot where some ditzoid said if you see guests coming up the front walk and don't have a bouquet & vase, here's what you do: take a mason jar, put it in a brown sack, cinch the neck with some ribbon that you then curl with scissors, put some [apparently magically manifested] flowers and water in it, and presto! You can now relax about what your guests will see.
Compared to that #Fail of UNIVERSAL proportions, no succeeding less-than-successful crafty idea has ever seemed dumb.
*no "succeeding?" Anyway, I meant none that I saw later. I'll go away now.
Although the Before vases are cleaner and simpler, I think the Afters seem more upscale
No.
they look spray painted therefore cheap...
Surprised by the comments! I thought these looked really cool.
(lol #5 @ tbgboodler)
why?
i liked the before way better.
I like anything metallic, but strictly speaking, the Before was way more "modern."
Personally I don't like silver in decor but I think she did a really nice job. I love my spray paints but they can be tricky to get a even finish if you don't have a dust and draft free room to work in. Maybe that should be my extravagant room since I don't have a need for 3 gift wrapping rooms.
Before was noughties, After is 80s - not an improvement I'm afraid
yay, something on Apt Therapy I actually don't like!
love the idea of taking something you already own and adding a new twist to make it feel fresh again.
wow. I was expecting chevron as well, but I really like this :) I would like this in all different colors! Way to go!
I guess somedays you gotta post something...
lol #6.
oy
I hate to leave a negative comment, but I simply must have it on the record that I actually laughed when I saw the After picture.
I have a fit of laughter over the ditzoid comment. Annie-O, thanks for the laugh, I am going to check myself now to see how many ribs I've cracked!
:-)
I think the medium-sized vase actually looks good in the "After" picture. But the silver doesn't seem to work with the other shapes...
Classic white wins for me. Personally, I don't think adding the silver improves the look here, but I have no problem witih painting vases.
I got a textured sea-green frosted glass vase once about 18 inches tall and narrow, nice silouette. I painted it matte black with acrylic paints and dusted it with metallic powders I use with polymer clay -- it looks like raku, now. THAT was an improvement!
the after photo looks cheap. I like the single color vases in the before picture. If they had simply been placed back in the same position after those walls were painted, and given the branches, they would have been fab. Further, painting those branches white, coming out of the white vases, would have been fab. Oh well.
Each vase had classic, almost perfect proportions. The uniform height silver bottom demolishes that. The line placement of the line ignores the individual shape and grace of each vase. The upper halves loose all aesthetic significance. The only thought that the "improvement" stimulates, is "OK. How did he pain them so exactly? Ah, he dipped all three into the same tub of paint." Whoppypoop.
The vases were "modern" to begin with, a "modern" twist was not added, perhaps "personalized" twist might be a better descriptor.
Sorry, I prefer the before.....they were already modern to begin with.
Prefer the original white . . . agree that the vases could be personalized in many ways, but I don't care for the silver. The comments, now. THOSE, I like.
Guess I am way out numbered here, but I like them.
The silver makes them look very cheap.
So I just went to her blog & read the post. NOW I know why she chose silver.
I hate when I really want to do something & the only color I have is white and I really, really don't want to wait. I end up regretting it later.
I like the after
Love!
Oh, stop. If you saw these at an upscale store w/ a huge price tag you'd be wanting to "DIY" to replicate. I think they look great. I was expecting chalkboard not chevron.