CasaSugar

Before and After: A Bathroom Makeover For Under $80

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:00:33 -0700

Craftster member Nichola accomplished the admirable feat of making over her bathroom for under $80. Cheap, chic makeovers are always inspiring, and Nichola's bathroom definitely fits the bill. Before Nichola's bathroom got to this "before" status you see here, she spent three nights removing ugly, decrepit wallpaper that may have been original to the house. With this somewhat blank palette, Nichola went to work.

She notes, "Now, I really admire people who can use color, people who can grab a can of bright red paint and slap it on the wall, but I am not one of those people. I shamefully admit that I am one of those who grab a can of white, or off white and go to town."

Even if Nichola is shy of bright colors, she still pulled off an amazing makeover in more neutral colors. To see how it looks, read more.

Nichola hung a new mirror, added some furniture and accents (including that cool basket of dowel rods), painted, sewed and hung curtains, and crafted a silhouette portrait. She says, "In addition to being frightful of color I'm also cheap as can be and on a budget. Here's a rundown of my costs: $15, white eco friendly paint for the walls; $17, white floor paint; $35.99 mirror; $3.94, 2 metres fabric for curtains; $2, supplies for silhouette picture. Everything else was stuff from my stash (frames, vase, cotton to line curtains)."

The black and white palette looks very sophisticated, and all of the little touches are perfectly pulled off. Nichola notes that she's not quite done with all of the changes (how many of us home reno-ers ever are?), but that she's quite pleased with the results. As she should be! This bathroom looks fabulous!

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Before and After: Renovating Family Furniture

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:00:29 -0700

Su Casa member Melissa Kathleen recently updated a piece of furniture that had been in her family for decades. She writes, "When my family and I had to move my grandmother out of her apartment, we didn't know what to do with all of her furniture. When I saw her old chest she kept in her large bathroom, I loved the shape and wanted to re-finish it." Curious as to how Melissa Kathleen's chest looks after its makeover? Find out when you read more.

Melissa Kathleen gave the old chest a thorough sanding. Then, she primed it and covered it with a few coats of paint. Another great update she added was changing out the drawer pulls for something more contemporary. She says, "I love my new chest! And the best part is, it's been in my family for about 60 years!" From the looks of it, I bet this stylish chest could easily stand the test of time for another 60 years, don't you think?

Have you joined my Su Casa group? Showcase your home makeovers, or just ask for advice from other members about your latest home project.

Before and After: An '80s Hutch Gets Up-to-Date

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:00:01 -0700

I love a well-executed furniture makeover, especially when a piece that's this ugly can turn out to look so good! Crafty lady Erin explains, "My brother-in-law frequently comes across discarded furniture. The other day he found this hutch and asked if we would like it. It was pretty darn ugly, so hubby and I decided to give it a makeover."

To see the unbelievable results, read more.

Erin explains that, "We removed some of the decorative wood, painted it, and frosted the glass. I think it came out pretty awesome!"

There's no arguing with you there, Erin. This hutch is virtually unrecognizable from its earlier incarnation. Nice work!

Before and After: A Light and Airy Living Room

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:51 -0700

Su Casa member ndchristine has been making some updates to the old farmhouse she and her husband bought, which "had seen better days."
The previous owner's paint job was dark and dreary, and the split paint colors made the room seem smaller than it is. She lightened it up with a fresh-white paint job, and chose light furnishings to keep it airy. And, she tore up that grungy carpet to reveal beautiful wood floors. To see the room in its new and much-improved state, read more.

This room looks like a breath of fresh air to me! I love how she used an old ladder to hang throws and accessorize with that beautiful blue demijohn. What do you think?

Before and After: From Distasteful to Divine

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:00:11 -0800

Su Casa member Anti Curl and her husband purchased a house about six months ago and, according to Anti Curl, it "honestly was one of the nastiest places I had ever laid eyes upon. I only wish the 'before photos' could convey just how neglected our home had been."

You've already seen the improvements Anti Curl made to her kitchen nook, so I thought we'd check in on her dining room transformation as well. Anti Curl started with this sad beige space.

To see her jaw-dropping changes, read more.

Anti-Curl writes, "We were very intimidated when we first moved in . . . as the room looked like a cavernous white abyss. The transformation started simply by purchasing the dining set and bookshelf. I knew the room was still missing something; it just felt like a white and wood blah. I knew I wanted to do something to make the items on the shelf pop, but I didn't want to paint the entire wall. One day while rummaging around Home Depot I stumbled upon 'caramelized orange' in a pamphlet and I decided to take a color risk with something bold. In an impromptu moment, I decided to frame it by going up as high as the window lines on the adjacent walls and four inches in from the remaining three sides."

Once again, I am impressed by how thoroughly paint can transform a space. Of course, replacing that nasty carpet with these honey-colored wood floors doesn't hurt any, either. Congratulations to Anti Curl for being able to see a diamond in the very rough home they purchased!

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Before and After: From Stark and Sad to Warm and Romantic

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:30:47 -0800

Su Casa member Zulkey bought her home less than a year ago, and since that time she, her husband, and her friend Jessica Riddle have made countless improvements throughout the house. When Zulkey and her husband moved into the house, the bedroom was a little limited in the personality department.

To see how they breathed life into this blank canvas, read more.

Zulkey writes, "Jess painted the room grape mist and the doors cocoa bean and she added coral knobs on the closet doors."

Crate and Barrel and West Elm were sourced for curtains and bedding, and Jessica cleverly fashioned the headboard for the bed from her own materials.

I love the improvement to the room. It went from stark and sad to warm and romantic. The browns and reds add such a cozy feel to the space, and painting those closet doors really made them look luxe. Now I'm inspired to see how I can transform my home with paint!

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Decorating Makeovers Part IV

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:00:40 -0800

In my final ode to House Beautiful's 101 Decorating Makeovers, from the February issue, here are some more of my favorite tips for renewing your home with small changes. To see them, just read more.

Go here to see my other favorites, and be sure to pick up a copy of House Beautiful for 80 or so more decorating makeover ideas.

"If your kitchen is cramped, remove your upper cabinets and install open shelving. Just as much storage space, but without the bulk."
"Cover the books in your bookcase with white or brown kraft paper, and write the titles on the jackets with a fountain pen in really personal handwriting."
"Tired of your red coral? Spray it black!"
"Instead of centering one big piece of art over your bed, hang one really small piece. It will have even more impact."
"Rearrange your fireplace mantel. Instead of one candlestick at each end, mass lots of them on one side. Remember: Odd numbers make the best arrangements."

Source and Source

Decorating Makeovers Part III

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:20:46 -0800

In continuation of Decorating Makeovers Parts I and II, here are some more of my favorite tips from House Beautiful's 101 Decorating Makeovers in the February issue. If I haven't drilled it into your head enough already, it's Renewal month, so get at it when you read more!

"Change your house numbers."
"Paint the inside of your kitchen cabinets a color that sets off your dishes and glasses. Everything will look cleaner and more finished."
"Use your best silver and glasses every day."
"Invest in a set of matched wooden hangers for your closet."
"Tack nailheads on a plain, inexpensive ottoman."
"Rearrange your living room. Instead of one big seating area in the middle of the room, break it up into two smaller, cozier seating areas."

Source

Decorating Makeovers Part II

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:00:20 -0800

As the sequel to Decorating Makeovers Part I, here's a handful of my favorite tips from House Beautiful's 101 Decorating Makeovers, in the February issue. I'm sure you can make way for one of these changes in your home, and you'll see that they have a big impact on renewing your home. Go for it when you read more.

"Out of season, stack your leftover wood—artfully—in your fireplace."
"Open that coffee table book! Instead of displaying the cover, open it wide to your favorite page and let it really take over your coffee table."
"Buy a large map, poster, or print and cut it into equal parts. Frame all the sections and reassemble them on the wall."
"Instead of buying complete matched sets of towels (something's always missing at the store), buy different shades of one color and mix it up."
"Gather all your accessories that are the same color from every room in your house. Don't worry how they relate or what you bought to go with what. Now . . . group all of them together on a tabletop."

Source and Source

Decorating Makeovers Part I

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:00:23 -0800

The February issue of House Beautiful has a list of 101 decorating makeovers that they're calling "small changes that make a big difference." Considering that it's Renewal month, I figured I'd share a few of my favorites with you, which may serve as inspiration for reinventing some part of your own homes. I encourage you all to try at least one, and let me know how it goes! To get clued in on some of the small changes, just read more.

"Find a tired old bargain brass chandelier at a thrift shop or antiques shop. Spray paint it white. Or a color— if you have the courage."
"Paint a white paper lampshade your favorite color— the color you'll never find in the lampshade department."
"Wallpaper the inside of your bedroom closet."
"Use leftover wallpaper to line the drawers of your bedside table."
"Buy a big pretty tray— try lacquer. Take all the things on your coffee table and arrange them on the tray for a whole new pulled-together look."
"Put a real rug, not a bathroom rug, in front of your bathroom sink. It will hold up just fine."

Source and Source