Before & After: Blank Space Goes Graphic
What to do when your place is a total blank space? Kristin overcame the unlimited possibilities of her white-and-concrete living room, and went big and bold with graphic wallpaper. See how it looks now: From Kristin: There are good things and there are bad things about moving into a house with white walls (not even a backsplash in the kitchen!) and concrete floors. The good: It’s a totally blank canvas.
Jan 14, 2015
Before & After: Old IKEA Nightstand Gets a Quick Refresh
These IKEA nightstands were still in good shape, if not particularly stylish. Aya tackled them with a quick and easy refresh that’s totally on trend: We can’t get enough white-and-wood mix, and it looks particularly great here. From Aya: I’ve had this Ikea nightstand for several years and since it was still in really great shape I didn’t quite want to get rid of it. It had turned a little drab and boring so to spice things up, I painted the drawer fronts a matte white.
Jan 13, 2015
Before & After: Laundry Room Gets a New Look
With the laundry room in her new home visible from the front door, Tania made fixing it up her first priority. Adding functionality and style, plus a way to close off the space when it was less than company ready, were top of the list: From Tania: In the fall of 2014 I bought a 1960s ranch fixer upper house.
Jan 12, 2015
Before & After: Unbecoming Cabinet Becomes New Credenza
Lucia found this old wooden cabinet with sliding glass doors, and immediately saw an alternate use for it. Instead of a wall-mounted unit, she transformed it into freestanding furniture that better suits her needs, all for a minimal cost… The transformation wasn’t technically difficult, just time consuming. After sanding off all the varnish, Lucia spray painted the inside white. The exterior got several coats of water-based wood stain.
Jan 10, 2015
10 Ultra Easy DIY Table Project Tutorials Anyone Can Tackle
Tables: They’re not just handy and convenient, they’re nice to look at occasionally, too! And you know what makes a table even more awesome? When you get to beam with pride every time you look at it because you were the one who made it. If you don’t have a ton of DIY skills (or even if you do) this small collection of table tutorials will give you the pride and joy of creating with your own hands — and give you a useful furniture object when you’re done!
Jan 9, 2015
Before & After: A New Life For A No-Name Castoff
I spotted this gorgeous Thonet-esque chair while strolling through an antique mall a few months ago. It was in supremely rough shape, but I had a vision and at $8 I just couldn’t pass it up! If the chair had a makers mark I might have thought about restoring it and finding someone who wanted it in original condition, but it didn’t —so I grabbed some sandpaper and a can of spray paint and got to work!
Jan 8, 2015
Cozy Nooks, Comfy Chairs, & Fluffy Beds: Just-Right Spots To Get Your Reading On
I get the sense that we have some avid readers here on Apartment Therapy. The discarding, collection, and hoarding of books are always contentious topics, and many of our house tours feature cozy areas designed for reading. So if you’re a reader, where do you do most of your reading? Curled up in an armchair, nestled into a nook, tucked into bed? Or not at home at all? (Maybe you’re a commute- or coffee-shop-only reader.
Jan 6, 2015
Plan Your Cure: Make a List of Projects
It’s tempting, during this particular Cure exercise, to charge ahead and do too much, too soon, but try and trust the process and just take it one step at a time. You don’t want to burn out – this is a month-long journey. Today is about observation, contemplation and vision, the action will come later. Ready to make a plan? Let’s go!
Jan 5, 2015
The “Loudly Lime Green Room to a Vintage Style Viewing Lounge” Makeover
Project by: Brittany and Justin Location: Springfield, Missouri The TV room in our 1930 bungalow is the room in the house that gets the least amount of natural light, so we wanted to create a bright space with a colorful touches to hang out in the with our three chihuahuas. The previous owners had installed several built-in pieces—including a desk, shelving, and a decorative room divider—so we started by clearing the room.
Jan 4, 2015
Before & After: 1950’s Kitchen Renovation Gets A Modern Update
This summer, my husband and I embarked on our first renovation project — a 1950’s terraced house with what we like to call “potential.” It has been a long, hard slog with a tight budget but we are beginning to see progress. You may have seen the results of our efforts in the living room here recently. In the kitchen, the long-term plan is to extend the room to make a big bright kitchen diner with glass doors out onto the garden and a little bit more room to swing a cat.
Jan 4, 2015
Happily Ever Afters: 10 Stunning DIY Furniture Makeovers
It’s a definite skill to look at something boring and busted, and still see potential. Pair that ability with some actual time and hard work, and you get some truly remarkable furniture makeovers. Here are ten DIY furniture projects that inspired us… 1. Above, Before & After: 2 Contemporary Cabinets Age Considerably…Overnight 2. Before & After: Recycled Pallet Pops With New Purpose 3. Before & After: Rita’s Really (Really!) Amazing Closet Transformation 4.
Jan 1, 2015
Before & After: 10 Wallet-Friendly Kitchen Renovations
In 2014, our Before & Afters proved again and again that you don’t need a ton of cash to have a fresh new kitchen. Here are ten of this year’s best budget kitchen remodels. Click on the slideshow to see the projects. To learn more about each project (and see more pictures), click the links in the captions. → Welcome to Apartment Therapy’s Best of 2014 roundup! From December 21 through January 1 we are rounding up our favorite (and your favorite) posts from the past year.
Dec 28, 2014
Before & After: Kids’ Furniture Refreshers
Parents are proven problem-solvers and potential-seers. That’s why some of our most amazing Before & After furniture transformations are for nursery and kids’ rooms. Let’s look back at some of 2014’s best rescues and restorations: Click on the slideshow to see the projects. To learn more about each project (and see more pictures), click the links in the captions. → Welcome to Apartment Therapy’s Best of 2014 roundup!
Dec 26, 2014
Before & After: A Year of IKEA Hacks
Nothing stirs the DIY spirit like a good IKEA hack. IKEA is so accessible — anybody could stroll in there and buy a BEKVAM or two — but its Scandinavian design is deceptively simple. With a little ingenuity a box, or a table, or a stool from IKEA could become pretty much anything. Here’s proof. Click on the slideshow to see the projects. To learn more about each project (and see more pictures), click the links in the captions.
Dec 24, 2014
Before & After: A Former Dumping Ground Turned Inviting Guest Room
Amanda had a tiny extra room that wasn’t much more than a dumping ground for “old clothes, holiday decorations, paperwork, and hockey gear,” becoming pretty unusable. But with a guest visit on the horizon, she gave herself the challenge of transforming it into a room a guest could enjoy staying in! From Amanda: To brighten the room and add some life, I brought in color with the pillows and ottomans from Target.
Dec 20, 2014
Before & After: A Cheap Chair Gets a Chic Update
Luann spent just $40 on this thrift store chair and a great deal on discounted fabric to boot, but you’d never know it. Check out the expensive-looking (and, dare we say, nature-inspired) final results. From Luann: The finish was worn down on the arms and gunked up with…gunk? I sanded the wood completely down and stained and polyed it. I got a good deal from a fabric outlet on this fabric which is, in my opinion, perfect for this MCM chair.
Dec 16, 2014
Before & After: Guest Room Gets Ready for New Resident
A lot of people have guest rooms that really just function as glorified storage spaces that collect the flotsam and jetsam of our lives. Sure they host visitors from time to time, and might serve as a quiet work space when needed, but rarely do they serve as the heart of the home. This was all about to change for Emily, who needed to convert this bonus space into a specific purpose. See what she did…. There was a good reason for the redo: namely, a brand new edition to the family!
Dec 15, 2014
Before & After: A Clunky Console Goes Glam
Since Shehzeen picked up this media console for free, anything she did was gonna be added value. Even so, we never thought it could look this good. From Shehzeen: I had it for about two years before I decided that it needed a bit of a facelift; it was way too dark for me suddenly. I painted it over in a white, added some gold to the legs, installed them asymmetrically and I think I’m sufficiently thrilled. See more at The Desi Wonder Woman. Thank you Shehzeen!
Dec 15, 2014
Before & After: A 1950’s Living Room Renovation
This summer, my husband and I bought our first home. Having been living in a big flat with high ceilings and sprawling open plan living for the past five years, the reality of what we could afford as our first step on the property ladder hit us like a DIY toolkit in the face.
Dec 12, 2014
Before & After: The Mingo Masterpiece
Tanya did something amazing to find exactly what she was looking for: she asked. She posted a want ad to her local classifieds and lo and behold, someone was looking to unload this beauty. We bet the seller wants it back now! Check out the transformation. From Tanya: I wanted it so much, I didn’t even haggle (she was asking $250). I saved up, and then spent $400 on a professional upholstery job. Years later, this is still a favorite chair.
Dec 11, 2014
Before & After: A Sad, Old Loveseat Gets a Sassy New Look
Pam found this love seat in a thrift store and fell in love with its great bones. It was in perfect condition except for the dated, faded upholstery so crafty Pam gave it some love. Pam says, “All it needed was a good cleaning and a tailored slipcover in a sassy blue cheetah print to spring back to life.” Hear that, folks? This is a slipcover! Masterful work, indeed. See more at Pam Morris Sews. Thank you Pam!
Dec 9, 2014
Before & After: A Painted Credenza Gets Some Drawer Drama
If you’ve ever come across a painted wood storage piece and wondered how you could restore it to the naturally beautiful look of wood and do something fresh and unique to it, you’ll find inspiration in this credenza Martha got creative with. From Martha: The original finish on this piece was a fading white with many scratches all over it.
Dec 6, 2014
Before & After: A Two Day Transition from Old to “Old World”
Nicolette found this old wood chest in a random shop, and viewed it as the perfect opportunity to test some new stencils she recently designed. Which means that wood lovers and purists, you might want to go and rearrange your sock drawer for a few minutes. I can tell you without hesitation that there is hyperventilation in your near future if you click through. You have been duly warned… Nicolette took a couple of days to paint and stencil the trunk.
Dec 5, 2014
Before & After: The Neverending Story of a Bungalow Bathroom
When Katrina moved into her 1952 Portland bungalow, the area that needed the most attention was this really teeny bathroom. It was sponge-painted (gasp!), had a bathtub that nothing short of nasty (ugh!), and it was hard to even turn around in the tiny space. She and her husband decided to gut it and start over, taking over an extra closet to create more space.
Dec 4, 2014
Before & After: Old Dining Room Set Gets a Makeover
Sam, a friend of the blog Flutter Flutter, wanted to change up her chairs and table in her dining room. She mixed together some old cans of chalkboard paint she had lying around and purchased a bundle of wood from her local hardware store. The whole project cost her under $10 to complete. Check it out below. You can find more of the project details over at Flutter Flutter. Thank you Sam and Rosa!
Dec 2, 2014
Before & After: Ideas for Turning an Unused Room into an Inspiring DIY Craft Room
Have a spare room that you want to turn into a creativity-inducing craft room the likes of which have never been seen? You just might find some inspiration and ideas in Tasha’s DIY craft room that features bold colors and patterns as well as stylish supply storage solutions. From Tasha: We transformed the remnants of our twin girls’ nursery to my craft room/home office. I selected a neutral gray for the walls and a black and white color palette.
Nov 30, 2014
Before & After: A $60 Sofa Gets The Royal Treatment
Lauren is on a tight budget so when she found this sofa at a thrift store for $60, she knew its makeover would also have to be a thrifty affair. From the look of the final project, you’d never know just how much she saved. From Lauren: I ripped out the old fabric, stripped the speckled varnish on the wood frame, sanded it down but kept the bare wood instead of varnishing again. I like how it looks more rustic that way.
Nov 24, 2014
Before & After: We’re Angling You’ll Love This Dresser Redo
Reeves was drawn to the simple style and gorgeous hardware of this dresser on Craigslist, but when she saw it in person it was a little more beat-up than she anticipated. So how did she cover the damage without being boring? Check it out. From Reeves: The top was extremely worn and scratched and a few places had pieces of veneer missing. I wanted a look for the piece that had clean lines, but wasn’t same old same old. Something new and different.
Nov 21, 2014
Before & After: Small Changes Make a Big Difference in a Little Kitchen
Last week, we witnessed the transformation of Elizabeth’s tiny bathroom, and today we’re taking a look at the rest of her tw0-bedroom co-op. When Elizabeth bought the place, she originally planned to only remodel the bathroom, but her contractor helped her realize that with only a few small changes, she could have a whole apartment that she was really happy with.
Nov 21, 2014
Before & After: A Fresh Kitchen Makeover for $500
If you’ve ever done a kitchen makeover or thought about it and did a little research, you know that things get really pricey, really fast (I can speak from experience). That’s why I was so impressed by Brooklyn Berry’s $500 kitchen makeover. That’s almost like pennies in the kitchen makeover world. The key is being a really savvy shopper, getting creative and getting your hands dirty to do most of the work yourself.
Nov 20, 2014
Before & After: A Screaming Plaid Sofa Gets a Makeunder
Minni was looking to replace her old sofa with something a little more streamlined. She loved the lines of this retro yellow sofa but it didn’t exactly scream “low key.” For €30, she took a chance. From Minni: I wanted to challenge myself with an upholstery project that I had never tried before. I found lovely gray upholstery fabric for a bargain of €13 /yard which I think is the perfect color and texture for this sofa.
Nov 20, 2014
The “What the Architect Might Have Done Today” Kitchen Makeover
Makeover by: David (check out David’s bathroom makeover, too) Location: Glendale, CA We purchased our mid-century ranch house in 2012. We were only the 3rd owners. The first owners commissioned Robert L Earl architecture to build the house and it was complete in 1962. They lived in it for ten years, the second owners for 40 years.
Nov 19, 2014
The “Egg Yolk Yellow Tub & Brown Carpeted Bathroom” Makeover
Makeover by: David (check out David’s kitchen makeover, too) Location: Glendale, CA We purchased our mid-century ranch house in 2012. We were only the 3rd owners. The first owners commissioned Architect Robert L Earl to build the house, and it was complete in 1962. They lived in it for ten years, the second owners for 40 years. Other than some decor changes was pretty much in original condition. The second bath came to us with an egg yolk yellow bathtub, and brown carpeting, yuck!
Nov 19, 2014
Before & After: Windows Saved From a Fire Become Something Even Better
Rosalind lost her first home to a fire back in February and, although heartbroken at the loss of her 1940’s home, she found a unique way to pay homage to it in her new house by reusing some of the original vintage windows that were saved. From Rosalind: We’re in the middle of a whole house renovation right now, so I needed to do something to get my creatives juices flowing.
Nov 19, 2014
A Tour of AphroChic’s Stylish Show Home at Helms Bakery
On the weekend of October 12th in Los Angeles, global design gurus Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason remixed the Helms Bakery District’s newest showroom space, transforming its interior into a stunning concept home filled with design inspiration. The exhibit, complete with a living room, library, master bedroom, dining room, and back patio, was furnished entirely with items from the Helm’s Bakery District’s various retailers.
Nov 17, 2014
Before & After: From Cat Hair to Chair Flair
Jade got this Swedish chair for $30, not realizing that his cats would quickly use it as their scratching post. So, he decided that this horrible brown, fur-magnet needed an upgrade, stat. Wow! Looks like a certain feline creature still has a soft spot for this chair, but it’s looking so much better. From Jade: Instead of succumbing to our cats, I decided to upholster for the first time using heavy duty outdoor fabric and reducing the buttons because our cats tend to pick on them.
Nov 17, 2014
Chris & Roger’s Bold Blue Bathroom Makeover
Project by: Roger + Chris Location: Sharon Springs, New York The drab downstairs bathroom in our 160-old Italianate Victorian was in desperate need of a style infusion. Likely installed in the 1940s or 50s, the bath hadn’t received much attention in the ensuing years. A cute but well-used pedestal sink with separate taps, a tiled (and tiny) shower, fairly gross floor, and square tile running halfway up the walls. On the plus side, the large window brought plenty of sunlight into the space.
Nov 16, 2014
Before & After: A Simple (& Temporary!) Modern Mantel Update to a Stone Fireplace
Renters and those not willing to make permanent changes to their stone fireplaces, rejoice! There is a way to meld your modern sensibilities with an outdated fireplace that might feature a material that overwhelms. Lidy came up with a simple and chic DIY way to add a modern feel to her stone fireplace. From Lidy: Our fireplace was a little outdated and it had no mantel. Although I was perfectly content with that, I debated how we could modernize it just a bit.
Nov 16, 2014
Before & After: A Drab Wallpapered Bedroom Gets a Dark Paint Makeover
Wendy fell so in love with the character and charm of this rental apartment she was a bit blind to the stained, outdated wallpaper in the bedroom. But after moving in, she realized an update was needed, and she went with a dark and dramatic color palette. From Wendy: When my children and I moved into our rental apartment last winter, I was so wowed by the charm and character of our new space that I scarcely noticed the dingy, stained wallpaper covering every room in the house.
Nov 15, 2014
Before & After: A Blah Bookshelf Gets a Big Dose of Happy
Nicole tells us, “When the seller of our new home asked us to trash the book shelf and storage unit she deemed too battered and bulky, I thanked her kindly for her wasteful ways.” Nicole wasn’t nearly so quick to discount these useful shelves; she knew they just needed some love. From Nicole: We have a LOT of books so I knew we would need lots of shelving in our home office.
Nov 14, 2014
Before & After: 1 Weekend, 1 Dresser and 1 Fabulous DIY
DeaAnna found this dresser at a yard sale for $35. It had some fun details and the drawers were all in working condition so she decided to give it some much-needed love. It turned out so well she couldn’t stand to hide it in the bedroom anymore. DeaAnna and her husband recently swapped out their formal dining room set in favor of a more casual table and chairs but they were still missing storage. From DeaAnna: I decided to repurpose it as my dining room buffet.
Nov 13, 2014
Before & After: A Drab Card Table Gets a Ladylike Makeover
I passed by this sad little table at the thrift shop about a half dozen times before deciding to bring it home and give it a new life in our new house. With a little spray paint and some adorable laminated cotton (it was originally my idea to use oil cloth, but I couldn’t pass up this fabric), this little table received quite the transformation! We kept this project super simple and didn’t worry about removing the original fabric.
Nov 12, 2014
Before & After: A Worn Out Chair Gets a Wake Up Call
Not long ago, Linda spotted a picture of a Mid-Century Ercol armchair on Pinterest and completely fell in love. It didn’t take her long to find a similar style chair but it was in massive need of an update. Not only were the original cushions sporting a suuuper fashionable needlepoint-style print, they were torn to bits from decades of sitting. From Linda: I spent some days browsing fabrics and finally settled on an upholstery fabric from Clarke and Clarke featuring a large tulip print.
Nov 12, 2014
Before & After: A Modern Update for an Itty-Bitty Bathroom
Purchasing real estate in Manhattan is not for the faint of heart. Not many people would think of making a commitment after 15 minutes, but after a single visit — and about that much time — Elizabeth was ready to put down a bid on her West Village co-op. Her boldness paid off: she got the apartment. But it needed a little bit of work. The first order of business? The bathroom.
Nov 11, 2014
Quick Fix: A Cheap & Easy Solution for Slamming Doors
I’ll admit to it. Every now and then in the heat of the moment, I’ve been know to slam the occasional door. So perhaps when this tip showed up in my inbox from my S.O., it wasn’t so much as a tip, but a hint. In an effort to keep the peace, literally, I’m going to give this quick tip a whirl.
Nov 10, 2014
Before & After: Baby Crib Repurposed Into a Headboard
Lucy didn’t have a headboard. And she didn’t have a crib. But when she saw one being thrown away by neighbors the wheels started turning and she snatched it up. But how to make it into a colorful headboard for herself? Clue: she didn’t use paint. Lucy shares: Dilemma: I didn’t have a headboard for my bed, but I also didn’t have the money to spend on one. Solution: My neighbors threw out pieces of a baby crib by the dumpster in my alley. They saw trash.
Nov 10, 2014
Before & After: A Vintage Veneer Rescue
Steph was in the market for a little record cabinet and found this veneered chipboard ‘60s cabinet. The varnish was shot — scratched, faded, and bubbling where it had been left in the rain — and the veneer had chipped off in a couple places. Never fear! Handy Steph worked her magic and performed a wood resuscitation. From Steph: I replaced the broken veneer with pieces of new blackwood veneer, sanded off the old finish, and gave the cabinet a varnish all over.
Nov 10, 2014
Before & After: An Easy & Bold Bathroom Refresh for Only $65
When the budget is tight and you can’t tear apart your entire bathroom to turn it into something you’d prefer, you’ve got to get creative. Jenna did just that with her bathroom, and it went from kind of sad to cheery! There are some simple but bold ideas in this makeover for both renters and homeowners.
Nov 9, 2014
Before & After: A Colorful & Cheery Mid-Century Kitchen Renovation
Kelsey and her husband Heath had their work cut out for them when they moved into their new home with an outdated kitchen. But they worked with the home’s bones for a makeover that both fits the house and their personality! From Kelsey: This project is/was the most time and energy intensive DIY renovation we’ve sunk our teeth into, but it has also been the most gratifying.
Nov 8, 2014
Before & After: A $20 IKEA Chair Gets a Terrific Two-Day Makeover
What to do when one of your old vintage finds or IKEA chairs is looking sad and worn? Well you could reupholster it, of course! Lisa gave not just a new look to her old IKEA chair, but a custom one. From Lisa: As an unstoppable chair rescuer, and self taught upholstery DIYer, I love to sink my teeth into new challenges as they come along. This dilapidated IKEA (Lunna) swivel chair, grabbed on Gumtree (Australia’s Craigslist!
Nov 8, 2014
Before & After: Book Lovers Make the Most of a Boring Basement Wall
Vicky and her husband had this blank basement wall just crying out for some pizzazz and they knew exactly how to get it there. Hint: it has to do with one of their favorite activities. From Vicky: My husband and I like to collect books. There is just something important about holding a real book in your hands, putting it on your bookshelf when you’ve finished it, and lending it to someone else if it’s worthy.
Nov 7, 2014
Before & After: A Super Cheap IKEA Shelf Goes Incognito
Soffia took a look at the $14.99 HYLLIS shelf at IKEA and thought she could give it an upgrade. A MAJOR upgrade. Check it out. From Soffia: I wanted a Restoration Hardware/Pottery Barn-ish industrial looking shelves for the living room. We used four Hyllis that we cut down to size and spray painted and some plywood that I treated. We got this and we love it 🙂 See more at Skyeytum Hus. Thank you Soffia! Re-edited from a post originally published 11.7.
Nov 6, 2014
Before & After: A New Mom Gets a New Old Rocker
Erin first noticed this “lawyer’s chair” style rocker at an outdoor antique market and kept right on moving. It was covered in flaking paint (what she called “legitimate shabby chic”) and had a water damaged seat so it didn’t seem worth the $85 asking price. But after wandering the antique stalls for a few more hours, she just couldn’t forget it. Though obviously neglected, it had such grand potential. She had to have it.
Nov 5, 2014
We Want You…To Submit Your Before & After Projects
You know you love the satisfaction of seeing other readers transform their boring befores into amazing afters so join in! We want to see YOUR projects. If you’ve published your project on your own blog already, great! We’re happy to give you a shout-out (and link, naturally!) you crafty blogger you. You can collect the compliments and inspire others to take on their own DIY.
Nov 5, 2014
The “Seriously Uninspiring to Creatively Convertible” Makeover
Project by: Heather Location: Denver Our third bedroom is used as a home office/guest room and was in desperate need of a face-lift. It had beige walls, an IKEA desk, a leftover kitchen chair and a butchers rack—a seriously uninspiring space for a home-based creative professional. As with most decorating projects, there were some design challenges to overcome: • This room has two functions—office and guest room.
Nov 4, 2014
Before & After: This Craigslist Cupboard Gets a Cute Companion
Amanda spotted this round cupboard while trolling Craigslist and scooped it up for just $25. While it may not look like much to you and me, when Amanda saw it, “a lightbulb went off in my head.” Props Amanda, we would never had thought of this unique use. From Amanda: New dog bed for Mazzilli!! I love the idea of a small little nook for Mazzie that will look good in the middle of the living room.
Nov 4, 2014
The “Faux Wood Paneling Nightmare Ends” Makeover
Makeover by: Stella Location: New York After months of looking for a new place, I came across this semi-attic space covered in wood paneling. I knew I couldn’t sign a lease without thinking first of what my makeover would consist of. After all the makeovers I’ve done in the past, I had to came to terms with the fact that this one would be a whole new deal. It was going to take more than just hanging art or getting new bed linens.
Nov 3, 2014
Before & After: A Fresh Kitchen Makeover For Under $500
We’re all about the affordable makeovers that completely transform a room for not a lot of money. And though this kitchen does get a new floor (the price of which is not reflected in the $500 budget mentioned here), pay attention to the rest of the room where the $500 was spent. Alex got creative and outlines everything done to achieve a fresh new look. From Alex: I’ve wanted to redo my kitchen since I bought the house five years ago.
Nov 2, 2014
Before & After: A West Elm-Inspired Desk Hack
If you’ve ever not been able to afford a design you spot in a catalog, look instead to your thrift store, and keep your eyes peeled for a piece that shows potential. You just might be able to shape it to look more like your dream furniture piece without spending as much money!
Nov 2, 2014
Before & After: The “Wig Lady” Chairs Get Gorgeously Ghostly
Jean and Ruthie bought these chairs nearly 20 years ago from a mother-daughter duo who were selling the entire contents of their home. The creepy house was filled with an assortment of oddities and at one point they noticed piles scattered throughout the house – only to realize later that they were, in fact, piles of hundreds of wigs! They say, “The whole situation was a bit Grey Gardens.” When they went back the next day, the house was deserted.
Oct 31, 2014
Before & After: A Crumbling Cone Chair Resurrection
This Verner Panton cone chair surfaced as Andrew’s friend was cleaning his garage. It had been rained on and was in danger of disintegrating beyond repair. Not if Andrew had anything to say about it. In fact, this graphic transformation was also a surprise to Andrew! From Andrew: I rescued the chair, putting it in a dry place until I had the time to restore it.
Oct 30, 2014
Soundproof Your Rental Bedroom in Under 10 Minutes for $40
If you’re in a rental apartment, the last thing you want to do is pay a lot of money to make it livable. Perhaps the only thing worse is pissing off your roommate(s) while you’re having loud — ahem — relations, or blasting Gregorian chants from your bedroom on Sunday mornings. Which means you need to find an easy, reversible and affordable solution for privacy, while respecting thy neighbors.
Oct 29, 2014
Before & After: This DOA Desk Gets Some CPR
Beth says, “I love a good challenge.” She would have to! She bought this mess of a desk from Craigslist for only 15 bucks. It had been sitting out on a balcony and the wood was in shambles. From Beth: There was no way to save it the bottom portion. The top was stained beyond recognition and the drawers were beat to hell and back. Why did I buy this? It’s how we learn, people! So feast your eyes.
Oct 29, 2014
Before & After: Dark, Unloved Room Turned Fresh Family Room
Project by: Jacqueline Wheeler Interiors Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Clients: Candice Langston and Felix Von Uklanski This family room has one big virtue: its large size, but, as you can see, not a lot of effort has gone into making it an appealing space for the family to spend time in. Jacqueline Wheeler was hired to brighten it up and and bring it to its full potential.
Oct 28, 2014
Brookstone’s Tranquil Moments: Portable Sleep Machine
Product: Brookstone’s Tranquil Moments Bedside Sleep Sound Machine Price: $129 Rating: Strong Recommend* Sleep machines have been around forever without much change or evolution. For years, I swore by sleep machines, especially when traveling.
Oct 27, 2014
Before & After: A Table Skeleton Comes Back to Life
Karen found this table skeleton on garbage day and dragged it home. Creative soul that she is, she came up with an unexpected (and free!) solution to make it whole again. We can’t believe we’ve never thought of this one! From Karen: We are lucky enough to have a neighbor who is a flooring installer. He had leftover pieces of hardwood flooring. We chose a variety of wood grains and pieces. My husband helped me attach the flooring boards to the table top.
Oct 27, 2014
Before & After: A Bland Spare Room Gets a Bold, Contrasting Makeover!
What to do when you’ve got a spare bedroom on the boring side and are looking for a creative place to work? You tackled it stylishly like Marie and her husband did with their extra room, creating one seriously dramatic, contrasting space to get creative in! From Marie: Our renovation started off quickly because, four days after moving in, a pipe burst in the bedroom’s ceiling and flooded the entire floor and closet.
Oct 26, 2014
Before & After: From Cocktail Table to Classy Ottoman
With the holidays almost on the way, you might be looking for ways to add both extra seating and storage in your small home. You’ll love this DIY project that turned a plain cocktail table into a modern ottoman with concealed storage! From Pam: I came across this sad little cocktail table made from cheap blistered laminate in a second hand store. Its only redeeming quality was the octagonal shape, which I thought would make for a cool little ottoman.
Oct 26, 2014
Before & After: An Artistic Family’s Creative, Crafty Office
Project by: designHARMONY Location: Bothell, Washington From the designer: This busy family of four had a disorganized, uninspired office space. We transformed it by updating pieces the family already had, turning a former closet into a desk space and created a masterpiece with all of the kids’ artwork. Bright paint and accessories round out the now creative, family-friendly space.
Oct 25, 2014
The “Bye Bye Blank Slate” Bedroom Makeover
Project from: Joy Location: Boston When I moved in with my husband two years ago, our condo was a blank slate of cream colored paint, bare walls, and uncovered windows. We set to work infusing the space with personality, working first on our main kitchen/dining/living space, then the home office, and finally the bathrooms. But we dragged our feet getting around to the master bedroom, since we’re really the only ones who spend any time in there.
Oct 24, 2014
Before & After: A Botched 50’s Chair Gets a Brush Up
When Ian found this antique baluster oak armchair at a thrift store he could see it had been hastily reupholstered around 1950 (see that lumpy seat and vinyl?). He bought it anyway. From Ian: Instead of adding jute webbing and hand-tie coils for the seat (like I eventually did) the previous owner just dropped in an ill-fitting box spring system from another chair, added some foam and some ugly printed vinyl, and that is how it spent the last 60 years.
Oct 23, 2014
Before & After: A Dated Console Does a Meet Cute
Carlos and his wife are two architects living in an old house where “everything is very big and brown.” Well they fixed that particular dilemma, at least with this cute console. See it now. From Carlos; We have gradually been transforming the inside of the house, trying to do so by spending the least amount of money possible. We have focused on using all elements that already exist in the house so we’ve tried to reuse most of the furniture and make it more fun.
Oct 23, 2014