Before & After: The Year’s Most Creative Transformations

Written by

Nancy Mitchell
Nancy Mitchell
As a former Senior Writer at Apartment Therapy, Nancy split her time among looking at beautiful pictures, writing about design, and photographing stylish apartments in and around NYC.
updated Jul 17, 2020
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Post Image
(Image credit: Cristin Frank)

Some of my favorite before & afters are the ones where some intrepid DIYer sees the potential in a piece that everyone else would’ve left on the curb. From a side table turned pet bed to a humble crate turned into a swing, this year’s projects featured plenty of impressive repurposings. Check out some of our favorites.

To view the ‘after’ photos, click the links for each project. (Hint: clicking the links with the scroll wheel of your mouse will open the posts in a new tab.)

TOP ROW:
1. Before & After: Obsolete Crib Makes a Fantastically Functional Set of Shelves
2. Before & After: Old Wooden Crate Gets a Fun New Life
3. Before & After: Cheltz & Woo’s Discarded Spool to Dining Table
4. Before & After: Merrill’s Side Table Pet Bed
5. Before & After: Emily’s Crafty Chair Project

BOTTOM ROW:
6. Before & After: A Headboard Gets Reincarnated
7. Before & After: Toppled Chair Becomes Table for Two
8. Before & After: Michelle’s Industrial Jewelry Chest
9. Before & After: A Sputnik Stunner
10. Before & After: From Hanging Plant Basket to Easy Outdoor Chandelier