Restyled Homes

Showing posts with label before and afters. Show all posts

The Marvelous Down Under...

As a proud Canadian, I like to share the talents of my fellow Canadians any chance I can. One of the best selling Canadian magazines is House and Home magazine, and I have recently discovered some of the great blogs over on their website, too. One of my favourites, is from Meg Crossley, Senior Editor with the magazine. Meg recently shared the renovation of her basement within the pages of House and Home and on her blog. To say it is a fabulous transformation would be an exercise in restraint. In my opinion, Meg has elevated her basement's status from sub-terrain to go-to haven, worthy of coming up for air...and heaps of praise. See for yourself!

Before:

...and, happily, after:

And her basement laundry area, before:

and after:

Is it not perfection??

To see and read more, pick up House and Home`s fall 2009 Make-overs special issue, and be sure to visit Meg`s blog, here. Thank you for so graciously sharing your photos with us, Meg!

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(all images, courtesy Meg Crossley and used with permission)

What you Gonna Do with all that Junk?

Don't you just hate that song? Still, it is very fitting for me as I look around at my latest purchases. I have found that I have very little interest in what is in the shops lately, so I have been checking out my favourite junking/thrifting haunts. I love all things vintage, as many of you know, and while I am not in the leagues of those who transform junk as an art form, I do enjoy wielding a can of spray paint in the name of repurposing.

When on a consulting job recently, I found myself on a back road as my route home. I had heard about a true junking spot, where only the die-hards could see gold in the pile of real junk. Being one of those die-hards, I spotted my newest project as soon as I pulled up and scanned the piles...

What do you think I found?

Have you spotted it yet?

A quick trip to the paint store for a can of my favourite blue spray paint, a little fume inhalation, and it (my new stool, below)will be ready for your approval (hopefully).

I have the perfect spot for this beauty, and I can't wait to set it in place. I have always yearned for those fun, aluminum stools that you see everywhere...the perfect example of cool retro. Now, I have the next best thing!

If it doesn't rain today you will find me adding yet another colour to my gravel driveway, which will be gone soon, I am happy to report. The only downside? I will have to find a new spot on which to transform my version of junk!

Stay tuned...!

Before and After...

While it is always fun (and enviable) to be able to simply go out to a store and buy what you need and want for your home, the reality is most of us can't always do that. Throw in a shaky economy, and this carefree spending can seem downright imprudent, if one expects to be at all impacted by the instability. Then there are those who get joy in achieving similar looks on a budget, choosing to instead transform what they already have, or can pick up at flea markets, yard sales, or thrift shops. Others still consider this the ultimate form of recycling - choosing to respect that which already exists, and restoring it to its former (or new) glory. I am a combination of them all: I love to save money, get a look for less, use what skills I have, and reuse the tired and neglected.

I have taken on a few of my own before and after projects, often with the help of my husband, who I often dub "the handyman" on this blog, just to protect him from the stalkers..ha! Have a look at the following posts, and have a look at my archives. You will soon discover that I love a bargain, and if I/we can make it myself, then that is the route I choose.

Besides, we all know it take more style and talent to pull off a great look on a modest budget. While we can envy homeowners with generous budgets, we are more apt to admire those who can do it themselves!!!

Facelifts are Good

Flippin' Out

Flippin' Out...cont'd

Porch Swing Make-over

Frugal Decorating

More Frugal Decorating...

Not Your Granny's Wallpaper

Slipcoverin' It All Up