Sweet Home Architecture: Before and After

Showing posts with label Before and After. Show all posts

CLOSET REVEAL

5:53 AM | Labels: Before and After, Organizing

It turns out that I don't really need a deadline to get things done, the fact that my house literally falls apart when I take on a project is enough motivation for me to get it done!

I'll start with the pretty pictures and then delve into the ugly truth in another post.

Now, for the pretty pictures, here is the new and improved closet....

It all started with this $5.00 vintage lantern I found at the thrift store.

I added the wire baskets for more storage.

I already had the corduroy bins and they hold purses, hats and a few summer items.

I ended up purchasing the wire hangers wrapped in velvet. I bought them at Homegoods.

They take up less space and there is zero chance my clothes are slipping off those babies.

I picked up this brass tray at a junk/antique store our on Christmas adventure trip.

I loved it at first sight and it's perfect for corralling more jewelry.

I love the fact that is is tarnished, old and imperfect.

The plate is from Pottery Barn, the frame is from Homegoods

and the little black box if from the thrift store.

I framed the poem "Footprints" and added it to the closet.

A very good friend gave me this poem a few years ago when I was going through a rough time.

I love that I can start each day being reminded of this great message.

I have been mulling over ways to use these antique doorknobs we inherited with the house.

I was thinking of using them as hooks, but for now, I kind of like them on display.

Last night, I stopped in Hobby Lobby and picked up these knobs for the dresser.

I took most of the pictures yesterday afternoon sans the knobs.

The screws were silver and I added a hint of Rub N' Buff to the tops of the screws.

I just couldn't help myself. I haven't Rubbed N' Buffed anything in about a month.

Next to my new jewelry display, I have a mom bulletin board.

I like to hang special things my kids make/give me here.

It's just an old blank canvas covered in some fabric.

The stripes turned out great (the second time around, that is).

I ended up painting the entire wall Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige

and then did the stripes with Sherwin Williams Sea Salt.

Here's a shot without the light on. I love the lantern, but it casts some strange shadows in there.

The dresser got a coat of cream paint and now blends in much better with the rest of the closet.

Ahhh, all finished! Sure felt good to scratch this makeover off the list.

Just to remind you, this is how the closet looked last week.

And this was my inspiration board.

I'll share the valuable lesson learned tomorrow.

For now, I am going grab a cup of hot tea, my kindle,

hang out in my closet and enjoy the fruits of my labor. Kidding, maybe!

Sharing with:
Savvy Southern Style
Miss Mustard Seed
Home Stories A2Z
Delightful Order

No Minimalist Here
At the Picket Fence
Shine Your Light
Eclectically Vintage

Read User's Comments0

GETTIN' BUSY

7:59 PM | Labels: Before and After, Closets, Organizing, Painting

Since it looks like the rain, snow and cold are finally settling in here, I will most likely be bombarding you with projects around the house. I tend to get a tad antsy this time of year since we are stuck inside.

First up, the closet makeover.

Yesterday I purchased the wire baskets and I investigated the hangers. I brought home some of the wire hangers that are covered in velvet. If I end up using them, I need to get my hands on 125 more.

I was originally planning to buy the wooden hangers from Ikea, but when I ran across the ones covered in velvet, I thought they seemed like a great option. Clothes sliding off the hangers is a bit of a problem in our closet and I think it would be even more of a problem with the wooden hangers.

Velvet versus wooden - what's a girl to do? Any advice?

I also finished turning the old window into a jewelry display. It was quite the process.

It started out looking like this...

And now it looks like this....

The first thing I did was take it outside and break out the glass with a hammer. It was exhilarating!

I did get a few strange looks from a neighbor.

Next I used metal cutting scissors (very technical term) to trim the wire backing to size.

The backing is from an old fireplace screen that was here when we bought our house.

After that, I attached the wire backing to the back of the window with small "U" shaped fasteners.

I added some "S" hooks that I purchased at Lowe's to hold the bracelets and earrings.

I also added cup hooks at the top for the necklaces.

I bought this old window from an outdoor antique show years ago.

I was never quite sure what to do with it.

So glad I finally found a use for it.

I was feeling ambitious today and I tackled the stripes.

I mixed it up a little with the colors and I love the way it turned out.

I will show you next week.

The only thing left to do is to paint the dresser.

Since I loathe sanding and priming, I am thinking of either making my own chalk paint

using Carmel's instructions or maybe biting the bullet and ordering some Annie Sloan chalk paint.

So it appears that having a deadline for finishing a project is just what I need. Go figure!

How about you, does a self imposed deadline work for you?

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

Sharing with:
Savvy Southern Style
AKA Design

Read User's Comments0

DINING ROOM REVEAL

10:51 AM | Labels: Before and After, Decorating, Inspiration Boards

I finally have a reveal for you. This dining room got a complete overhaul.

Brace yourself for picture overload.

The walls were painted a beautiful shade of blue (Benjamin Moore Smoke)

and wainscoting was added to the room.

New curtains were added.

We added some art from Homegoods and two wine racks from Ikea.

We opted for this nice thin console from Ballard Design

and then added the mirror, lamps and some fun accessories.

These prints were ordered from Etsy and the frames came from Ikea.

They add just the right pop of color the room needs

The dining room chairs were painted black and recovered in a lovely green fabric.

A pillow from the same fabric was added to the entry bench.

A new light fixture is the focal point of the room.

We added this fun bulletin board above the bench.

I made it using this great tutorial from Emily at Jones Design Company.

Just to remind you, this is what the room looked like before we started.

My client is thrilled with the outcome and she is looking forward to showing off

the new dining room to her family when she hosts Thanksgiving dinner next week.

Here is the design board I created for the dining room.

If you are interested in having me help create a beautiful space in your home, contact me here for details.

Hope you all have a great weekend. We will be in full Thanksgiving prep mode here.

Read User's Comments0

IMPRESSIVE

4:16 AM | Labels: Before and After, Inspiration

My very first, very talented client recently sent me these pictures. She made this fabulous slipcover herself. She made is from a drop cloth and believe it or not, it only took her 1.5 hours to make.

She has four side chairs and two arm chairs. I stopped by yesterday to check it out in person and she already had another side chair and one arm chair almost completed. I was impressed, to say the least!

I hope she's ready to sew some more, because I warned her I will be sending customers her way.

If you are in the market for simple slipcovers, e-mail me and I will hook you up with her.

Speaking of impressive DIY projects, you must hop on over to Evolution of Style and check out the project Jenny is tacking in her kitchen. This girl certainly is not afraid of a challenge.

Here' s a sneak peek:

One more DIY project I was completely impressed with recently is this creative and inspiriting idea from Courtney, at A Thoughtful Place. She wrote the lyrics from her wedding song on a wall in her home. Brilliant!

I always told my children when they were toddlers not to write on the wall, but I am dying to try this at my house. There is a wall on our second floor landing that just might be the perfect spot. I am thinking a prayer or perhaps a lovely poem about them growing up would be fitting.

Great, something else for my "To Do List".

Hope you have a fabulous weekend. Monday I'll fill you in on what I have been working on lately.

Read User's Comments0

MOD PODGE MAKEOVER

7:17 PM | Labels: Before and After, Crafting, Creating

I read about Mod Podge on blogs all the time. Not sure why I am just now jumping on the Mod Podge bandwagon, but I am sure glad I am.

A friend of mine was looking for a tray to put on top of an ottoman in her living room. We looked a bit while we were antiquing one day. We weren't able to find anything that was the right size and the right price. I happened upon one in a thrift store soon after and I picked it up for her.

It looks like this now.

But it looked like this when I found it at Goodwill for $3.00.

Nothing against wine, I happen to love it, but this tray was pretty ugly.

My friend and I went fabric shopping last week and we found the perfect fabric, on clearance, of course, for $4.00/yard. She bought 5 yards of it and as a thank you for taking on her tray project, she gave it all to me. I only used a small piece for the tray, so you can expect to see this fabric making an appearance at my house. Most likely it will be in the form of pillows.