When Janet Lee first moved into her tiny studio apartment, it was a blank box of white walls and neutral parquet floors. As a renter, she wasn't able to add any actual architectural details for visual interest, so she faked the look by bringing plenty of depth to her bland folding closet doors, creating an inexpensive and removable solution that anyone can do at home.
Filing cabinets are definitely making a comeback. You can find them at garage sales, flea markets, craigslist, and all sorts of secondhand places. I am partial to the larger catalog-style cabinets that are loaded with drawer space and this makeover definitely caught my eye!
I have an 8 year old little boy and his closet needed a serious makeover. The long list of problems was clear. Let's start with the air conditioning duct that went from the attic unit to the main floor. It had sharp edges. Kid friendly... nope. We had stained wall paper, badly painted built-ins, and cracked plaster walls. Here is how the closet looks today.
I'm sure you've seen the cool potato sack-esque storage bags circulating around the web. They're a practical storage solution for kids rooms and other spots around the house. This simple update looks fantastic and has me ready to grab the ol' paintbrush!
I have an 18 inch wide pantry and this is how it has looked lately. We moved into our house with big dreams of a future kitchen renovation but until then, we must function out of very little storage. This pantry will some day be gone so I have no desire to spend tons of time and money modifying it to awesomeness. I honestly don't think it could get there anyway. My goal was to go to the store, grab some storage solutions and bring myself home the things that will make my pantry more usable.
The inside of the Curbly House has received a whole lot of love over the last couple years, while the backyard has been ignored with a capital "I".
We partnered with Lowe's to make some small improvements to the backyard and ended up with a mini makeover that improved the area tenfold. Read on for all the details.
The thing about older houses is: their quirks and charms aren't always functional. A tucked away, sloped-ceiling closet with an awkward layout just wasn't cutting it for these homeowners. So, with some hard work and a creative eye, they transformed this space into a beautiful and oh-so-functional master closet.
This closet started out like almost any other closet... with a jumble of clothing hanging on mismatched hangers, and heaps of random household items in messy piles. But with some vision and determination, it has been completely transformed into a colorful, organized craft closet with a dedicated spot for every tool.
This was your typical messy closet. Ugly storage, lots of cords, and not much organization. But once Tricia got her hands on it, the space was transformed into a functional and stunning office inside of a closet. Click through to see the unbelievable transformation.
Spruce up a plain basket with a fun, painted pattern and hand-stitched embellishments! It's an easy, inexpensive way to add a pop of personality to your home, while providing a simple solution for storing blankets and textiles.
Closet doors are often an over-looked part of the room. If you're renting, there's not much you can do to give them a custom look. Until now. These doors got a luxurious makeover with a little gold washi tape!
Four upper cabinets: that's all* the storage this small kitchen had when Molly from Almost Makes Perfect moved in. As she puts it, "I don't know who these people are that only need four cabinets, but I am not them people". See her DIY storage solution below!
I have to admit, I love the fireplace in this living room's before, but with nothing else in the room, it doesn't feel like much of a feature. Luckily, with a big DIY project and some of the owners personal items that problem is fixed in a flash. Curious to see this makeover? Click through to check it out.
I don't know about you, but I tend not to organize anything that can be hidden behind closed doors. But when it comes to a home office, organization can boost productivity and simplify daily tasks. This closet makeover is the perfect example; continue reading to see the dramatic transformation.
I've been teasing you all month long and the time has finally come for my big office makeover reveal! Are you ready for this?!? I sure hope so.
But first, another flashback to the 'before':
GROSS. Just... gross. Enough of that, moving on. Let's get to the pretty photos, yes?
BAM! (We're still trying to figure out the best way to curb cable clutter, but it's SO MUCH BETTER, right?)
We stuck pretty closely to our inspiration boards, even figuring out the best way to include some staggered/stacked floating cabinets. After some searching and considering, we ultimately decided on the Akurum cabinets from IKEA (which are actually kitchen cabinets). They're available in a wide variety of finishes, so if you're thinking of doing something similar, you're bound to find a finish that works with your personal tastes and decor! We went with the birch frame/white door combo. Installing them is a breeze, too. Just make sure you get the right anchors -- and have an assistant.
The desk is the Vika Amon desk from IKEA, which we covered in some wood grain contact paper. Due to some measuring errors (that happens), we also ended up having to saw one of the desktops in half. Hooray for power tools!
Oh, and we can't forget those neon pink legs, right? (If you're thinking of painting your own, here's an easy how-to!)
My husband is passionate about music (and movies), so we needed to allow for some space for his equipment -- a corner desk was the perfect solution! We installed a hook under the ubiquitous Lack shelf so he can hang various equipment there when he's not using it. And, of course, we needed a spot to display his movie posters and toys. Obviously.
I showed our super chaotic closet in my first post and you're probably wondering why the doors are closed in this photo. That's because we're not quite finished! The closet is currently undergoing its own storage-tastic makeover, which I can't wait to show you. It's gonna be bombin'. (Do people still say that?)
This swing-arm lamp by Andrew Neyer might be my favorite thing in our entire office! I'd had my eye on it for a long, long time but never thought we'd find a good spot for it. Then, VOILA! We started on an office makeover that was just begging for some Crane Light love. Sometimes these things are just meant to be, you know? Sigh.
And now for a whole bunch of detail photos! Sit back, grab a beverage, and enjoy.
Every office needs a Gumby. And a geometric bear to hold bills.
Coat racks aren't just for coats, people! Don't be afraid to use them for different purposes.
My DIY leather mouse pads and tabletop trees. Also, TRIANGLES. I love 'em.
Some inconspicuous storage -- those tins are packed full of random office-y things! Also, apparently I am obsessed with time?
Part of my robot collection. Left to Right: Tank, Herbert, Maggie, Bonnie, Walt, and Curly. Yeah, I name all my robots.
The Lisa Congdon print that started it all!
And a closeup of the neon legs as well as the wood grain contact paper. Because why not? Closeups are cool.
There you have it, folks! My mad-colorful, art-filled, triangle-crazy office!
For those interested, here's a source list: