5 of the Coolest Before and After Projects We Saw in June

Home upgrades and improvements are in season any time of year, but the warm weather and (slightly) relaxed schedules of summer make this the perfect time to take them on. So it’s no surprise that Apartment Therapy received a flurry of impressive Before and After submissions in the month of June. From functional home office redos to a bathroom upgrade that features a charming new clawfoot tub in place of a dated drop-in, this month was full of top-tier makeovers. A few stood out, though, for their creativity in both cost-cutting and execution. Here, five of the coolest, most clever before and afters we saw in June.

Appliances are expensive — so it often doesn’t make sense to replace something that works just fine only because you’re tired of the look. DIYer Tanna proved with her makeover that a few clever cosmetic changes can go a long way toward making a dated or unsightly fridge look like a design piece (without spending a ton of money).

Homeowners Erica and Chris were quoted a whopping $8,000 for custom built-ins in their living room, but they were able to get the look using IKEA BILLY shelves for just $800 all-in. The results are seriously impressive.

When most people inherit old-school knotty wood paneling and built-ins, their instinct is to hide it with paint. But designer Amber Wallace proves with this living room redo — part of a full-cabin project — that you can modernize knotty pine without painting it at all. Here, she covered the backs of the wood cabinets with floral wallpaper to give the entire space a woodsy flare.

The old counters, cabinets, and tile in this mid-century kitchen didn’t go anywhere — they were just completely transformed thanks to some smart paint projects. Light green freshened up the cabinets, bright white toned down the backsplash, and the combo made the old counters look brand new.

This bathroom’s white Shaker-style cabinets looked good to begin with, but a navy blue paint job, fresh wood countertop, and new hardware make the whole space look extra luxe. Homeowner Jen Berry also gave her sconces the easiest, cheapest makeover in the world by using patterned washi tape to cover some of the chrome accents. Genius!