We had a bevy of chair projects in our inbox, so I thought, why not share another trio of cool chair makeovers? The first one comes from Chyanne, who spotted this chair with an unusual back (and yucky upholstery) at a garage sale. After a heavy dose of sanding, staining and reupholstery, she wound up…
I’ll bet that whether you’re at work or home, you’re willing to linger a little longer if your seat is soft. There’s no telling what you found while stripping your piece of furniture. How about some horse hair, pig hair, hay, even old t-shirts to pad your seat? I kid you not . . ….
If anyone is looking for fall home-decor inspiration, look no further than this amazing wood paneled wall by Lindsay and her husband, Drew. Using planks of beautiful alder wood and a combination of wood conditioner and a dark stain, Drew created an incredibly rich, dramatic accent wall for their bedroom. I love the combination of…
We have two opposite before & after bedrooms today. One lightens, the other one darkens, but both successfully transform rooms from drab to lovely. Mallory wanted a fresh, bright bedroom with touches of vintage charm, and I think she achieved just that. The pops of yellow are dispersed perfectly throughout so as not to overwhelm…
Fall always seems to fly by faster than any other season. Before you know it, we will be closing our windows and heading indoors for some nesting (blankets, hot tea — you get the idea). I thought we should take a moment to celebrate the great outdoors with a roundup of our best outdoor-related Before…
Old-school wooden rulers like these really take me back. I remember grabbing one from the big jar on my art teacher’s desk in fourth grade; it was always fun to get a new one and see how people had customized it with pen doodles, pencil etchings and various other markings. This is the largest design…
As someone who has trouble keeping things neat and tidy, I can totally relate to the “before” scenario for this studio makeover from Amy. It can be difficult to take a pause in the midst of projects and deadlines to completely clear out a space, but sometimes, that’s exactly what you need to do, and…
I’ve always wanted a room with wall-to-wall bookshelves, and for some insane reason, I always imagined I would have to stumble upon a home with this feature already present. Why had it never occurred to me that I could build something like this? I have no idea. I can be very dense sometimes :) Luckily,…
I felt a wave of excitement when this beautiful table makeover landed in my inbox. I’m not a woodworking expert, but I am always looking to try out new techniques. I’m absolutely determined to make myself something using Sarah’s awesome herringbone design. Sarah Summers and her father, a self-taught carpenter, worked together to modify an…
This lovely dining room makeover has made the blog rounds a bit — you may have seen it on Poppytalk last week — but it was too beautiful a transformation not to share. Abbey and her husband purchased this 1800s farmhouse in upstate NY a mere four weeks ago, and already they are hard at…
The lesson I’ve learned from this Before & After is that if formal dining isn’t your thing, you can turn your dining room into an awesome home library — that’s a valuable lesson in my book. Jennifer enlisted the help of her friend, interior designer Autumn Clemons, to revamp this beige box and turn it…
I’m a big fan of white-and-wood combinations on furniture, especially when they strike just the right balance of warm, rich wood and crisp, clean white accents. What I love most about this simple dresser revamp from Amy is that the dresser retains its vintage charm but seems so much more sophisticated and luxurious with its…
As someone who lives in an apartment with a lack-of-light problem, I feel particularly appreciative of this modern and bright renovation by Canadian-based design consultant Kirsten Marshall. Kirsten achieved an incredible level of light in each room; blended black, white and color beautifully; and brought in some great unexpected details, like that amazing light bulb…
I’ve always wanted an actual dining room, but its never quite come to fruition yet. I’m in love with the idea of turning a random room into a fresh, beautiful dining space with a small table and floating shelving, just like Sibylle has done here. The space cost her next to nothing; just some elbow…
Metallic leaf is one of my favorite craft materials, but I’ve never used it on anything larger than a vase or a small wood project. This copper-trimmed vanity table from Nicole has inspired me to do more with the medium, especially after seeing how it sets off the fine wood. The warm, rich tones on…
Whenever I’m in a color rut, I can always turn to the Before & After submissions for a jolt of inspiration. It’s awesome to see the color palettes people come up with, especially when others are much more daring than I am. This cheerful credenza makeover from graphic designer and all-around maker Jessica Decker is…
My friends tease me for this, but I will go on record as saying that I think the bathroom should definitely receive the most love and consideration when renovating a home. I’ve seen scores of inspirational bathrooms, but this extensive renovation by graphic designer and illustrator Anile Prakash comes close to my vision of a…
Has anyone noticed how many beautiful independent flower shops are popping up around the country? There was this gorgeous NYC studio renovation by Poppies & Posies; this beautiful floral studio that Sarah shared with us just a couple weeks ago; and now another lovely rustic flower boutique from Kristen and Katherine of Root 75. The…
Seeing as we are definitely in peak porch season right now, this simple, stylish porch makeover could not have come at a better time. Rachael took it upon herself to fix up this neglected area of her rented home, and in the end, her landlords were so pleased with the results that they plan to…
This is a great project to open with today; the loveliness of these chairs can inspire you to tackle your own re-upholstery projects, and this afternoon’s Upholstery Basics post on coiled seats can show you how to get started! After snagging these chairs for only $8 (!), Heather made a brilliant upholstery decision by pairing…
