The Latest: Apr 2014

You know how we’re always saying that entryways are a perfect spot for walls that wow? This before and after certainly highlights what a difference design in one’s entryway can make! It was a lot of work (and a lot of math) but you might find inspiration for your own entryway with this neat 3D wall pattern idea.

This teeny little wood and upholstered vanity chair on casters was in a sorry state when Kathy found it on a neighbor’s curb on garbage day: the wooden back was broken off completely (the hand is holding it up in the photo above!), the springs damaged and the upholstery tired and dated. It would be a big job, but Kathy knew she could count on the help of her talented family. The result is a darling and spring-like update!

Lifestyle blogger Megan of StyleGirlfriend was in desperate need of a functional workspace (and ahem…more back support) in her small Brooklyn apartment, so she teamed up with the designers at Homepolish who used some clever tricks to give her a stylish, multi-purpose space. Yes, please! Designer Shelly Lynch-Sparks used a dramatic dark wall to break up the boxy room, and turn the desk (from Recycled Brooklyn) into a statement, rather than an afterthought.

Heather called the previous hallway in her Victorian UK home, “uninspiring.” But after a spruce-up, this space is no longer “grubby and old.” Just wait until you see the dramatic difference. Here’s Heather’s professional website. Thank you Heather!

We often turn to IKEA for cheap storage options, which makes their basic wardrobes a popular item in a lot of homes. Clever DIY projects and hacks pop up as people discover ways to upgrade the units to look more expensive and custom-built in their spaces. Here are 8 great projects to think about yourself: Designer Tommy Smythe updated his PAX doors with molding and vintage knobs. Combined with the sleek black paint, this new storage looks high-end and beautiful.

Maybe it’s her name, but April certainly seems to love springtime. She tells us that she recently expanded her porch so she could spend more time outdoors, but needed to furnish it on the cheap. Luckily, a friend found this free glider which just needed a little spruce up in order to become official new porch furniture. Cocoa and Crafts Thank you April!

Beth tells us that, before she got her hands on this piece, it had been used as an ironing board. That’s not good wood care! Luckily, Beth also says, “I love me a good challenge when it comes to wood refinishing.” She sure got one. Make Me Pretty Again. Thank you Beth!

My birds are back! Last year, I got all up in nature’s business and bought a bunch of bird feeders. I have a Nyjer feeder for my goldfinch flock, several standard mixed feeders and, of course, a hummingbird feeder. It’s incredibly relaxing to sit in the yard and watch the birds go about their daily routines. If you’re interested in bringing the kids in on the action, here are 10 great DIY bird feeders that kids can help make.

When Joanna moved into her 1927 Spanish Revival a few years ago, the bathroom had a lot of original character and some…ahem…colorful extras that needed immediate attention. Her goal was to simply enhance the bath’s vintage charm with a few cosmetic updates and practical repairs. She switched out the rusted pedestal sink with a new model and chose Benjamin Moore’s Black Horizon for the walls to play off the original black and white floor and subway tile.

Sometimes older bathrooms are full of charming and quirky details that are totally worth keeping as-is. And other times older bathrooms are just dull and outdated. Can you guess which one Tanya’s was? Waiting on when the budget will allow for a full renovation, she tackled a few DIY, tried-and-true tricks to change the look of this space to be more livable now. My husband and I just moved into our house and are saving up to renovate our main bathroom.

Want to know a great DIY project trick for small spaces? Anything you can do to a heavy piece of furniture to make it feel visually lighter could help a room feel more spacious. Simple, yes, but effective: Michelle’s paint job left her new nightstands lighter and refreshed, and she added design detail with new handles.They make for a fashionable contrast in her brightly painted bedroom. From Michelle: We had two ornate nightstands that had great trim and very cool brass handles.

Megan’s bathroom was already kind of sweet and simple — perfectly serviceable. But as the only bathroom in her and her husband’s 1930s Sonoma house, they felt it should be a little more spectacular. So they mixed their styles to create a still-simple and sweet but definitely more bold bathroom. From Megan: Our 1930s Sonoma home has only one bathroom and so it had to be spectacular!

Even as a “before” this chair was a favorite of Karen’s — she adopted it from a friend who’d had it in his family for years. The original fabric had seen better days, especially after what Karen calls, “an unfortunate incident with our cat.” But since Karen was taking an upholstery class, she knew she could spruce this chair right up. Wow! We’d say that class was well worth it.

Does this kitchen look familiar? It is the Apartment Kitchen. I believe it was installed in every apartment built between 1978 and 1995. It is difficult to hate the Apartment Kitchen — it just is. But there is not much to love about it, either. So when One Kings Lane editor Kerstin, who had the Apartment Kitchen, met stylist Megan Pflug, who was looking to do an “easy but stylish” kitchen before and after, she jumped at the chance. Yes — it is the same kitchen. I know.

This old vinyl MCM style chair was asking to be rescued. Vinyl cushions paired with good bones and clean lines — need I say more? For 20 bucks it was mine, and I set off on my first attempt to reupholster a worthy chair. For my first re-upholstery job, I’m happy with the results. The structure of the chair was very sturdy, and the condition of padding was fair. I carefully un-stitched the vinyl and saved it to use as a pattern. The frame had to be sanded and re-stained.

Yikes. That’s what I thought when I saw the ‘before’ version of Lisa and Brian’s Brooklyn kitchen. Old cabinets covered in so many layers of paint the doors would no longer close, peeling vinyl flooring, ancient wood-grain (!) laminate countertops — this kitchen had it all. And not in a good way. Oh, and also the oven didn’t work. It was time for a change.

I learned a lot by working on my first bathroom remodel. One of biggest was where and when to use grout versus caulk. Grouting and caulking, although very similar, serve different purposes and shouldn’t be substituted for one another. Follow these guidelines and get it right every time.

Nothing piques our curiousity more than a completely empty room (besides that very peach wallpaper…). It makes the dramatic reveal of Ashley’s two-year bedroom makeover all the more exciting. Wanna see it? Says Ashley, “We put lots of love into the room by doing personal DIY touches (sunburst mirror, bamboo blinds and headboard). It took a few tries to get things right, but we finally feel like the room reflects us.

When she bought her Chicago condo, Priyanka also inherited a pair of chairs from the previous owner, a 90-year-old lady. She couldn’t bear to throw them away, so she kept them but made one major change. Priyanka tells us she’s not very crafty but still had a vision, so she found a local reupholster (Windy City Upholstery) to do the job. She got a deal on this beautiful fabric and wound up with brand new, beautiful chairs for a reasonable price.

Starting a garden from scratch in a brand new house is a challenging task that I think is often underappreciated. Builders frequently leave lots of building waste, and they tend to scrape off topsoil, compact things, and leave upturned subsoil. Because of this, massaging the landscape of a newly built home into something beautiful can be harder than it looks.

Project by: Lisa Hershman Location: Greenwich Village, New York, New York Looking for some small space inspiration for small homes that also house young kids? You’ll love the ideas in this New York City apartment — the clients wanted a space that looked good, but one that could also be flexible enough to change as the family grew and withstand any damage two small kids could throw at it.