Bathroom vanity makeover with new artwork, decor, and lighting.
Before & After Blowout: The Big Bathroom Makeover Gallery
We will never, ever, ever get enough of bathroom remodels. And if you’re in the mood for just a quick hit of some serious makeover magic, scroll through the gallery to see some of our fave tile transformations, bath boosts and sink sensations. Revisit some old favorites and a few new ones, and who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to tackle your own bathroom project!
Jun 26, 2017
A 5-Minute Apartment Search Lands the Perfect Spot For This Plant Enthusiast
Name: Jamie Location: Cincinnati, Ohio The basics: 6 years, rented | 1,800 square feet Jamie’s enviable apartment search, which took about five minutes, led her to this charming Cincinnati apartment. Exposed brick and rich colors set off her collection of thrifted finds and her gaggle of plant children. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My apartment is my best Craigslist find to date.
Jun 25, 2017
Before & After: What it Lacked in Drawers, it Made Up for in Rodents
Stacy and her husband found themselves with a very trying kitchen on their hands. After two years of living with not enough storage, poor ventilation and dreaded pests they decided to take the plunge and create a kitchen that was clean, functional and easy on the eyes. From Stacy: Our kitchen had a hard life. We bought our home back in 2011, a recent flip after the previous owners had foreclosed.
Jun 25, 2017
“Colorful, Bright, Happy and Child-Proof” in Berlin
Name: Ingeborg, Anton and their two daughters Location: Pankow — Berlin, Germany The basics: 5 1/2 years, rented 68 square meters (732 square feet) Ingeborg and her family have added color and character to their starkly white apartment. With little adjustments for every major life change, the apartment has been made to fit the family as it grows. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Anton and I didn’t feel at home right from the start.
Jun 24, 2017
Before & After: Wallpaper Transforms a Tired Table
Claire from Pillar Box Blue generously made over her friend’s worn table in a single afternoon. Adding bright color and vivid patterns to a wood table not only upgraded the piece, it changed the vibe of the entire space. From Claire: My friend Wendy’s dining room table was in a sorry state. It was a well-used table that had become full of scrapes, scratches and even a dirty big iron burn. The table was in her main living/dining room and a bit of an eyesore.
Jun 24, 2017
Before and After: An ’80s Bathroom Gets a Classic Update
Tasha’s twins were using a dark and outdated bathroom, complete with carpet (why was that ever considered a good idea?) and some very ’80s materials. Calling in the professionals for the major plumbing and drywall work, but doing the rest herself, Tasha created a space that can grow with her girls and remain visually appealing for years to come. From Tasha: Our second full bathroom, which is mostly used by our twin girls, was horribly outdated — circa 1980.
Jun 23, 2017
Before & After: A Flea Market Find Loses Some Paint & Finds Some Character
John spotted this coffee table at a flea market, and knew that even though it had seen better days, it was still a solid piece of furniture. Without a particular plan in mind, he decided to sand down the top and was handsomely rewarded for his curiousity! From John: I purchased this coffee table at a flea market about a year ago for $100. It came in this rustic, dry-brushed grey color. The hardware was outdated and dull. But the piece itself was solid and the drawers were pristine.
Jun 22, 2017
A Chic French Apartment With a Vintage Vibe
Name: Clemence, her partner and their cat Location: Saint Mandé, France The basics: 3 years, rented | 45 square meters (485 square feet) Clemence’s apartment mixes clean lines with leafy plants, black and white with pops of yellow. She also makes the most of the space, dividing it into areas designated for work and play. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My boyfriend, my cat and I have lived in this apartment since 2014.
Jun 21, 2017
Before & After: Putting Some Pretty on a Porch
Kayla and Kyle’s porch felt like a missed opportunity. Dark, outdated and very much not their style, they weren’t spending a ton of time out there. Kayla finally had enough and set out to punch up the porch, turning it into a perfect spot for relaxing or hosting. From Kayla: My husband, Kyle, and I moved into his childhood home almost three years ago when his parents moved to the country.
Jun 21, 2017
Before & After: A Bathroom Suffering from “Green Fever” Gets a Makeover
That sure is some green, isn’t it? Anna, of Interiors by Popov, wanted to bring her client’s very verdant powder room into modern times with a sleek and sophisticated upgrade. She upgraded the room from top to bottom, without a hint of green. From Anna: The powder room we were called to tackle had a severe case of “green fever”. Emerald green floor, neon green walls and an outdated oak framed vanity were the original finishes from 1984.
Jun 20, 2017
Before & After: Miles of Style in a First “Grown Up” Apartment
After Josie helped her client, Lisa, move into her Prospect Heights apartment she tackled the task of figuring out a look and layout for the space that would meet the needs and wants of her client. The space needed to be multi-functional, work with the somewhat unconventional window alcove and inject some style into the space.
Jun 19, 2017
Before & After: We Survived Our First (Mostly) DIY Kitchen Reno
Michelle and her husband bought their house with the anticipation of putting in some serious work on the kitchen. What they didn’t expect was a handful of undisclosed damages and, as first time renovators, just how much time a kitchen reno can take. But they survived! Smarter, saavier and with a much better kitchen. From Michelle: We spent almost a year looking at houses before we came across our current home.
Jun 19, 2017
Before & After: A Sister Steps in From Across the Country to Give This Kitchen a New Look
Jillian is not only a talented designer, she’s also an insanely generous sibling. She helped her sister and her fiancé tackle their kitchen renovation long distance. That’s love. From Jillian: My sister and her fiancé purchased their first home in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore late last year — a traditional brick rowhome.
Jun 18, 2017
Before & After: Embracing Minimalism in a Tiny Bedroom
"I moved to San Francisco with a couple of suitcases and found a room that barely fit a bed and didn't have a closet."
Jun 18, 2017
A Beaut of a Beachside Australian Bungalow
Name: Nicole and her family Location: Austinmer, Australia The basics: 1 year, rented Nicole describes Austinmer as, “a hidden coastal village tucked between the mountains and the seas only an hour south of Sydney.” If that doesn’t get you packing your bags, Nicole’s breezy bungalow will have you hoping on a plane.
Jun 17, 2017
A Bold, Contemporary and Cozy Brooklyn Brownstone
Name: Talia Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant — Brooklyn, New York The basics: 1 year, owned | 1,350 square feet After living in the smaller unit for a few year, Talia and her son moved down into the larger unit of their Brooklyn brownstone. Super bright and kid (and cat) friendly, the space feels stylish yet unintimidating. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Our apartment is on the garden and parlor floor of an old Brooklyn Brownstone.
Jun 16, 2017
Before & After: A Bland Bedroom Gets a Breezy New Look
"I love how light and airy it feels which was a goal. I love the bright and happy splashes of colors in the accessories."
Jun 16, 2017
A Colorful, Cultivated and Comfortable Family Home
Name: Courtney and her family Location: Ross, California The basics: 7 years, owned (recently sold) | 2,800 square feet Courtney decorated her home with usability in mind, which you might not immediately guess given how stunning it is. Beautifully thought out, the space balances curated style with a life with children and all that entails. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: This was our family home for seven years.
Jun 15, 2017
Before & After: A Dramatic Living Room Makeover Three Years in the Making
Lauren’s living room was dark and dated, and distinctly not her style. She gave renovating the space the old college try when she first moved in, but with other spaces in the home needing her energy and attention she wasn’t able to fully finish it. Enter one of the most valuable tools available to DIYers everywhere — a good friend. From Lauren: When we bought the house, the living room was dark and, to put it frankly, “depressing.
Jun 15, 2017
A Designer and Her Dogs Show Off Their Digs in Austin
Name: Jennifer Location: East Austin — Austin, Texas The basics: 1 year, rented | 1,500 square feet Jennifer and her dogs have put down roots in this lovely Austin home. Jennifer is a designer by trade, and her ability to mix high and low, make bold choices work and balance a space is truly on display here. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I live in a great neighborhood on Austin’s eastside.
Jun 14, 2017
Before & After: A Flat is “Dated, Dark and Unloved” No More!
"Throw yourself into the project and be excited!"
Jun 14, 2017
Before & After: A DIY Home Upgrade Under a Time Crunch
Tyler and his family were about to make the move into a house built in the 1950s when they realized that it would need some upgrades in order to be suitable for their young daughter. Two weeks of intense DIY fixes later, they’re home was not only livable, but totally adorable! From Tyler: Our boss’s father recently passed away.
Jun 13, 2017
A Casually Cool & Comfortable Apartment, Decorated “Piece by Piece”
Name: Will and Jaz the cat Location: Westport — Kansas City, Missouri The basics: 2 years, rented | 500 square feet Will’s apartment has a casual cool that is endlessly inviting. Full of funky art and fantastic finds, it feels like a twist on classic Americana. We’re totally ready to stop on by for a beer on the balcony! Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I stumbled upon this little gem on Craigslist.
Jun 12, 2017
Before & After: From an Outdated Hot Tub Shed to Chic Bedroom Escape
Tricia and Jason banded together to turn a bare bones, former loan office turned hot tub shed into an exceedingly cute guest house. They went slightly over budget, but they managed to turn this entire thing around in five weeks without any outside help! From Tricia and Jason: Our once-dilapidated, unused garden shed sits awkwardly off the side of the house close to our front porch.
Jun 12, 2017
Before & After: An Old Shed is Totally Transformed Into a Chic Blogging Studio
When Charlotte first bought her home it came with a shed that she wasn’t quite sure what to do with. After landing on turning it into a workspace rather than a catch-all, she set about giving the space a major facelift while making sure it could serve as a workable space year-round. From Charlotte: Our historic home in Southport, Connecticut was built in the mid 1800s and has two exterior buildings. One is a large old barn and then this second space was a bit more of a head scratcher.
Jun 11, 2017
A Textile Designer’s Vintage-Modern Home
Name: Mili, her husband and their dog Location: Dallas, Texas The basics: 2 years, owned | 2,300 square feet Mili’s home has a mid-century flair that is perfectly balanced with global finds and accented with gorgeous textiles from her own line. After a kitchen and dining room remodel, the home is now open and inviting. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: It’s a 1979 ranch style home in Dallas, Texas.
Jun 10, 2017
A Pretty in Pink Freshman Year Dorm Room
Name: Cara, her roommate, 2 suite-mates and 9 plants Location: Baltimore, Maryland The basics: 8 months, rented | 286 square feet At first glance, you would have a hard time sussing out the fact that Cara’s room is actually in a dorm. The bright colors and cute accents are a far cry from the white cinderblock and bunk beds most often associated with freshman year. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: This is my freshman-year dorm room.
Jun 9, 2017
Before & After: A Striking, Hand-Drawn DIY Wall is the Star of a Guest Bedroom Makeover
Nancy’s second bedroom was in need of a little oomph, and oomph it received! With a hand-drawn wall treatment, colors and patterns and incredible furniture finds, the space went full force glam. From Nancy: Before, we used our small second bedroom for storage and to hold our treadmill. It was a complete waste of space, and in NYC that is completely unheard of. It’s a pretty narrow room, but it has good bones with its pre-war moldings and original hardwood floors.
Jun 9, 2017
Two East Coasters Share a 380-Square-Feet “Teeny Tiny Casa” in San Fran
Name: Kathryn and her husband Derek Location: San Francisco, California The basics: 9 months, rented | 381 Square Feet Kathryn and Derek not only make this small space work for them, they thrive in it. Choosing to look at their apartment not as a burden but as an opportunity, they’ve embraced living small and all of the ways it can bring them closer together.
Jun 8, 2017
Before & After: A Rental Living Room Goes Glam
"That feature wall in my living room? IT'S JUST TAPE!"
Jun 8, 2017
Before & After: An IKEA Hack Adds Style & Storage to a Kids Room
Kids rooms can be a tough nut to crack. They have to combine storage and function with style that can be adaptable to the changing and developing tastes of the young one. Jane decided that they could do more to maximize the space of their daughter’s room and give her a space that was more reflective of who she is. Enter, the IKEA hack! From Jane: Our youngest daughter’s bedroom was relatively small and lacked space for additional furniture for storage.
Jun 7, 2017
30 Plants, One Cat and One Super Cool Person Share a Toronto Apartment
Name: Terra Location: St Clair West, Toronto, Ontario The basics: 8 months, rented | 700 square feet Terra’s apartment is one part plant conservatory, one part friendship coven and one part personal sanctuary. After apartment hopping around Toronto, Terra settled into her new space. Taking root physically and metaphorically, she has filled her apartment with plenty of plants and tons of good vibes.
Jun 6, 2017
A Peek Inside a Charming 450 Square Foot Studio in Stamford
Name: Lauren, Tulip the cat and Alfee the rabbit Location: Stamford, Connecticut The basics: 4 months, rented | 450 square feet Lauren’s lovely little studio is bright and calm. Using white to keep things light and airy helps the space feel open, but the personal accents keep the space from feeling impersonal or static.
Jun 5, 2017
A Thoughtfully Styled 500-Square-Foot Montreal Studio
Name: Lauren Location: Montreal — Quebec, Canada The basics: 1.5 years, rented | 500 square feet Lauren struck rental market gold with her Montreal studio. With the high ceilings, moldings and that window the space is full of glamorous antique charm. With a clever layout and personal touches, Lauren has played up all of the best aspects of the space, creating a sun-drenched dream that looks for bigger than its 500 feet.
Jun 4, 2017
A Bright and Cheery Mobile Home, Purchased From a Baywatch Babe
Name: Anne, her husband and their 4 dogs Location: Paradise Cove — Malibu, California The basics: 2.5 years owned, 1,200 square feet Anne’s home is as cute as it is fun! Designed to weather the elements as well as four dogs, everything is durable and inviting, creating a bright, lived-in feel. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I bought our mobile home two and a half years ago from Pamela Anderson.
Jun 2, 2017
Before & After: A Family-Friendly Room That Makes a Fantastic First Impression
Let's play "spot the recliners".
Jun 2, 2017
A Cozy Oasis in a West Village Walk Up
Name: Melina Location: West Village, New York — New York The basics: 9 months, rented | 300 square feet If you’ve spent anytime hunting for housing on Craigslist, you know that “cozy” spaces so rarely are. Not so in the case of Melina’s West Village studio. Like something out of a TV show with an excellent acoustic soundtrack, her studio is welcoming, warm and totally charming.
May 31, 2017
Before & After: A Rental Bathroom Upgrade with a Vintage Portrait Gallery
Megan’s rental bath makeover is low key awe inducing. Without making any major upgrades, it’s like she helped her bathroom leap forward into modern styling, while also time traveling back to the time of glam powder rooms. From Megan: The walls of our bathroom were decked in a puzzling color scheme with one brown wall and the rest purple. It was flat paint so it felt pretty dingy and not very practical in a bathroom.
May 31, 2017
A Williamsburg Studio Full of Impressive DIYs & Renter Friendly Fixes
Name: Eva, her fiancée and their cat Location: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York The basics: 6.5 years, rented | 450 square feet Eva has been in her studio for almost seven years, which is like 64 in renter’s years. But it all makes sense when you consider she’s acquired two of the most covetable New York real estate finds: a space to oneself (at least, until your partner moves in) and a very chill landlord.
May 30, 2017
Before & After: A Bright Blue “Neat Bohemian” Bathroom
Mel was hired by her clients to breathe some style into this workable, but very dark, slightly cramped bathroom. Using a single piece from the client’s old house as a jumping off point, she identified their style and found solutions for their pain points while giving them the look they wanted. Beautiful blue tile, a subtle yet stylish light fixture and funky accents create a bright bathroom oasis.
May 30, 2017
Meet Lil Blue, The Tiny House Parked on a Farm in Iowa
Name: Sarah and Jordan Location: Elkhart, Iowa The basics: 2 years, owned | 160 square feet Sarah harbored tiny house fantasies. She and her husband turned her dreams into reality. The pair set up shop in an adorable tiny home, finding cute ways to maximize space at every turn. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My husband, Jordan, and I live in this 160 square foot tiny house, which we’ve dubbed Lil Blue.
May 29, 2017
Before & After: A Loving Kitchen Update That Would Make Grandma Proud
Tarah lovingly updated the kitchen in her family home, holding onto history while creating a space that meets her needs and matches her style. She’s kept pieces of the old kitchen throughout the new one, lending a true vintage charm to the room. From Tarah: My grandparents built the kitchen of my grandma’s dreams when they installed indoor plumbing in the home for the very first time in 1958. They also put the bathroom behind the kitchen .
May 29, 2017
Before & After: 3 Months + $3k = One Enviable Kitchen
Now, there’s nothing wrong with a bold color in the kitchen if it’s executed well. Sadly that was not the case for Shannon’s sporadically navy blue kitchen. She made some small updates to the space when she first moved in, but after living with the kitchen for a few years she decided it was time to give the space the true makeover it deserved. From Shannon: When we first bought the house six years ago the kitchen walls and cabinet panels were painted a dark navy color.
May 28, 2017
Before & After: Little Miss Muffet Reupholstered, Like, a Million Tuffets
This once grande dame of a sofa had good bones, she just needed a little refresh. In swoops Ashley’s mom, Janie, newly(ish) minted upholsterer and true tuffet champion. After three weeks and, like, a million buttons, this beauty was ready for her second act. From Ashley: This 1970s pea green sofa was certainly lovely in its time, but the velvet was worn and stained and its skirt wasn’t doing it any favors.
May 27, 2017
One Couple’s Post-College Plan: Turn a 250-Square-Foot Camper into a Minimalist Haven
Name: Courtney, her fiancé Gregg and their pets Location: Decatur, Illinois The basics: 3 months, owned | 250 square feet How’s this for a post-graduation plan? Buy a camper, fix it up, move into it and live a more minimalist lifestyle. Sound good? Well that’s exactly what Courtney and Gregg did after graduating in 2016. Tell us a little about your home and the people who live there: We purchased our camper in September of 2016 with the intent to remodel and move into it.
May 25, 2017
Before & After: Two Mid-Century Chairs Get Rescued from the Landfill (& Vamoose Vinyl!)
Vinyl aside, these chairs had a certain je nais se quoi. Stephanie snatched them up from the salvage yard and gave them a loving and era-appropriate upgrade. From Stephanie: These Australian-made mid-century chairs came from the salvage yard at our local landfill. The colors and finishes are different, but I noticed their matching frames under the worn vinyl and busted lacquer finish. Both also had a pivoting metal under frame – so they weren’t just regular armchairs, but recliners!
May 25, 2017
Before & After: A Young Couple Survives Their First Bathroom Remodel
Kristina and her boyfriend triumphed over one of the most trying of relationship milestones: their first renovation. Kristina points out an important truth about renovations, that even if you’re not working on your forever home, the time and energy that goes into getting a place ready to flip is still monumental. After multiple trips to Home Depot, disagreements and disappointments, and a moment of buyer’s remorse, Kristina and her boyfriend now have a bathroom they can be proud of.
May 24, 2017
A Bright and Bubbly UK Victorian Embraces Pastels
Name: Kelly, her husband, their 4 children and 2 dogs Location: Lancashire, United Kingdom The basics: 10 1/2 years, owned | 2,000 square feet Kelly’s home is full of cheery pink, upcycled finds and DIY projects big and small. Kelly and her husband Derrick have been able to adjust their home to their growing family without much outside help.
May 22, 2017
Before & After: Adding On and Leveling Up For a Gorgeous New Kitchen
Penelope and Andrew’s outdated kitchen needed a boost. Well, not just a boost. A whole new extension and then a boost. After paying the high price of living through a kitchen reno with a toddler, they were handsomely rewarded with a gorgeous kitchen chock full of brand new functionality. From Penelope: We wanted a bigger and more useful kitchen. I’m an architect so I couldn’t help but see the potential a small addition to the house could provide — a larger kitchen!
May 22, 2017
An Open & Crisp Seattle Studio Apartment for Two
Name: Angel, her boyfriend and their cats Location: Seattle, Washington The basics: 1 year, rented | 550 square feet Angel’s Seattle studio is super open but short on storage. With some creative thinking and smart purchases, Angel and her boyfriend were able to make the most out of their shared space. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My boyfriend and I have been living in this apartment for about a year.
May 19, 2017
Before & After: An IKEA Bookcase Goes on an Epic Epoxy Adventure
Nick found himself with the familiar small space dilemma of moving to a new spot and needing more storage. He decided to give his plain IKEA bookshelf an EPIC makeover, turning it into a high glam, conversation-starting storage piece. From Nick: A couple of years ago, my boyfriend and I lived in Queens, where we had enough room for a studio for my graphic design work. This bookcase used to live there and worked perfectly as is.
May 19, 2017
One Woman and Her Dachshund Share a Stylish Studio in Denver
Name: Kaitlin and her dachshund Dilbert Location: Highlands — Denver, Colorado The basics: 2 months, rented, 520 square feet When hunting for her apartment, Kaitlin wanted a space that was as lovely inside as out. She found exactly what she was looking for with her super cute studio in a dog friendly neighborhood. Good news for her and great news for Dilbert!
May 18, 2017
Before & After: An Outdated Captain’s Bed Gets a Fresh Update
Madeleine needed both storage and a sleeping option in her small mountain bedroom. She figured that a captain’s bed would solve both dilemmas and after getting super lucky on Craigslist, set about making her find a little more visually pleasing. From Madeleine: When we bought a tiny (600-square-foot) condo in the mountains, we needed to furnish it efficiently both in terms of space and cost.
May 18, 2017
Creatives Carve Out a Home on a School Bus
Name: James & Jen Location: Atlanta, Georgia The basics: Purchased March 2016, completed March 2017 | 125 square feet It still seems a little unreal that people can live on busses without being part of a family band or going on a very intense field trip inside the human body. Not only are James and Jen are living the dream on their rehabbed school bus, they’re slowly winning over the toughest of home critics, their cat.
May 17, 2017
Before & After: Decking Out the Deck on a Budget
Spring has (maybe? hopefully!) sprung and now is the time to get outdoors. Natalie and her boyfriend recently moved in together and found themselves with a spare table that was a little worse for wear. Rather than toss it and buy all new deck furniture, they had the bright idea to give what they had a colorful upgrade and now they have a lovely outdoor space without breaking the bank. This old table had been in storage and was showing its age- stained, chipped and scratched.
May 17, 2017
Former New Yorkers Land in a Beautiful Berlin Apartment (And Learn You Have to BYO Kitchen)
Name: Alana, her partner and cat Location: Berlin, Germany The basics: 9 months, rented | 1,800 square feet Seeking a slower pace and a bit more space, Alana and her partner relocated from New York to Berlin. They found this airy stunner and set about making it the perfect place to work, entertain and relax. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I live with my partner, Adam, and our awesome cat Olive.
May 16, 2017
Before & After: The 2k, Get-With-the-Times Makeover of an Outdated ’80s Kitchen
If you were to make a list of kitchen essentials, it’s fair to say that “working oven” would be close to the top. Erica’s kitchen not only lacked the aforementioned necessity but was also chock full of heavy, dark ’80s design details. Her budget minded revamp helped give the kitchen a new airy look and some needed functionality. When I moved into my 1980s fixer upper home two years ago, one of the first projects was the kitchen.
May 16, 2017
A Cosmo Editor and a Designer (Who Are Also Comedians!) Set Up Home in Williamsburg
Name: Carina and her roommate Claudia Location: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York The basics: 11 months, rented | 400 square feet Carina and Claudia’s Williamsburg apartment is colorful, fun and full of secret weirdness. They’ve made their first “Grown Up” apartment functional and pretty without taking the whole thing too seriously.
May 15, 2017
Before & After: A Stunning DIY Kitchen Update for 15k
We recently featured Ashley’s dining room makeover, and now we get to see what kind of magic she’s worked in the kitchen. She unenviably lived through a year and a half long updating process, but the result is pretty stunning. From Ashley: The kitchen had ugly wallpaper, chipped paint on the cabinets, and was closed in. We wanted to open the space up to our dining room to make it feel bigger. We did almost all the work ourselves and it took us about a year and a half.
May 11, 2017
Before & After: A Completely New Sofa Phoenix Rises from the Ashes of the Old One
Just going to get this out of the way up front: this project is not a casual, pick it up when you’re bored DIY. This project is a “save yourself thousands” and “put your tools and considerable sewing skills to good use” and definitely a “can’t believe you can actually do that” type of DIY. From Karen: I wanted a new more modern sofa, but the one I loved was $2,100! My slipcovered sofa was stained and sat very low but the frame was still very solid.
May 10, 2017
Love at First Sight: An First Time Homeowner’s “Urban Cozy” Condo in Boston
Name: Jenny Location: South Boston, Massachusetts The basics: 2 years, owned | 780 square feet Jenny’s condo is a balance of bright and poppy colors with sleek and sophisticated shapes and textures. After saying yes to the space when it was but a shadow of its current self, she set off to slowly and deliberately make this house her home.
May 10, 2017
A Peek Inside a 1920s Shanghai Lane House
Name: Miranda Location: Jing An District – Shanghai, China The basics: 2 years, rented | around 700 square feet Miranda’s historic lane home is full of antiques, high ceilings and her traditional Chinese dress collection. The layout of the apartment complex let her get to know her neighbors and build a sense of community.
May 9, 2017
Before & After: A Glammed Up, Totally Temporary Rental Kitchen Upgrade
Raise your hand if you’ve ever lived in a rental. Now raise your hand if you’ve ever lived in a rental with a lackluster kitchen. Underwhelming rental kitchens are about as common as noisy upstairs neighbors, but at least you can make small temporary fixes to brighten up your cooking space (if somebody makes peel-and-stick ‘quiet down and be considerate of others’ please let us know immediately).
May 9, 2017
Before & After: One Afternoon and $10 for a Vintage-Style Mirror Makeover
Sarah had an idea of the perfect mid-century-style mirror in her mind. So when she spotted something like that mirror, albeit a rusty, over the top version, she snatched it up. Using the classic DIY elixir of elbow grease and spray paint she turned the whole thing around in one well-spent afternoon. I love mid-century design and wanted a vintage starburst mirror for as long as I can remember, but I also didn’t want the price tag that typically goes along with the real deal.
May 8, 2017
Before & After: And After Allllllllll You’re My Wooden Wallllllll
Today is gonna be the day that we're gonna put some slats on you.
May 6, 2017
A Sunny Space in the Sunshine State
Name: Stella, her partner and pet Location: Gainesville, Florida The basics: Two years, rented | 1,200 square feet Stella’s home is full of bright yellows, rich pinks and purples and some lovely plants soaking up all of that Florida sunshine! Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We try to fit in unique details from all around the world. My boyfriend and I love our house, as well as our cat Sal Pacino who rules over the both of us.
May 5, 2017
A Funky Textile Dreamland in Columbus
Name: Hannah, Jake and their daughter Cyprus Location: Columbus, Ohio The basics: 8 months, rented | 1,214 square feet Hannah’s home is a funky textile dreamland with plenty of space for her young family. You can find charming boho touches throughout the space that feels so warm and lived in, it’s hard to believe they’ve been living here for under a year.
May 4, 2017
Room Transformation: An Orange “Unsightly Texas Chunky” Before to a Fresh Updated After
Project by: Lesley Myrick of Lesley Myrick Art + Design Location: Waco, Texas Lesley was charged with upgrading this Texas living space. Her clients space was less groovy ’60s modern and more pre-fab ’60s outdated. The room is an add on that had a few key elements with serious potential. Lesley made some smart upgrades to those (hello refreshed built-ins) and got ride of the orange-ish ceiling beams.
May 4, 2017
An Energy Healer Designs Her Bohemian Bungalow with Intention
Name: Bridget, her husband, teenage son and one dog Location: Missoula, Montana The basics: 18 months, owned | 2,000 square feet Bridget’s home is warm, inviting, and relaxing. The natural light, white walls and layered rugs give the space a welcoming and open feel, perfect for lounging and hosting. Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We are a small family of three with a sweet black lab pup.
May 3, 2017
A Loft of One’s Own
Name: Leanne Location: St. Charles, Illinois The basics: 2.5 years, rented After sharing a much larger space for a few years, Leanne decided to downsize in order to live on her own. She’s made the most of her space, customizing it to fit her needs and style.
May 2, 2017
Before & After: Bathroom Beadboard on a Budget
We’ve seen Ariel work her renter friendly design magic before, and now she’s turned her energy toward the bathroom. In one weekend she added color, texture and style without sacrificing her security deposit. Check it out! From Amber: That folks, is what it looks like when bad spaces and poor planning happen to good people. As you can see, not terrible, but nothing that I’d call “Pinterest worthy.
May 2, 2017
Before & After: A 75 Year Old Tub (and the Rest of the Bathroom) Gets a Makeover
What was initially supposed to be a cosmetic upgrade turned into a much larger project for Courtney and John after they discovered some water damage. Undeterred they set about turning Courtney’s parent’s bathroom and laundry room into a guest-ready space. Courtney writes, “This bathroom is in my parent’s pre Civil War era house. Over the past 20 years, it was the only full bath shared by my parents, two sisters and myself. It also served as our laundry room.
May 1, 2017