Before and After: This and That

I cannot get enough of before and after shots of real makeovers, why because I love to see the end result of a once shabby, dull, boring room. I believe that every room in our homes have star appeal, if we care to adjust and give it the star quality it deserves. Try grouping of collectibles, or dust that rug up and make it a focal point in a room (with weather conditions and the dust to deal with in sri lankan homes, large and cumbersome rugs may not be practical, but try using the smaller ones where a weekly shot in the sun is all the treatment it requires), hang up pictures in groups, create a focal point of family photos, add at least one hardy house friendly plant, add an antique or simply give it a new coat of paint.

Before

After (view 1)

After (view 2)

I am in love with these before and after makeovers on http://www.housebeautiful.com/

Before view of a room

After view of the room

There are so many ideas to get inspiration from, so many do along the way tips that you simply have to go and check for yourself. See for yourself all the little details that have undergone the makeover, from the rugs, to the scones to the flowers, and to everything else.

Before view of the hall

After view of the hall (view 1)

After view of the hall (view 2)

What are your inspirations? 

xoxoxoxoxo

Candice

A doing weekend

With the weekend just around the corner, I have found some lovely stuff that anyone can do in a matters of hours, perhaps in under half a day the most. Let me know how it turned out. Dash for the stores if you wish, or simply make do with whatever you have on hand.

"Small items can easily get lost and cluttered inside of a large cabinet. To prevent this, search for inexpensive containers you can use to keep things organized and neat. Here, an open tin is perfect for storing markers, and an old restaurant serving basket keeps school supplies in place"

"Use a toothbrush holder to artfully store paintbrushes, pens, and pencils. Use a matching soap dish to house business cards and other small items. These clever containers will keep your drawers and desktop free of clutter"

"Control clutter in a junk drawer with this low-cost solution. Here silicone cupcake liners hold small, loose items. An egg carton stashes items such as thumb tacks and staples in the egg cups and larger items such as pencils, a calculator, and a pair of scissors on the other side"

ALL IMAGES and descriptive text above from
http://www.bhg.com

A well co-ordinated laundry room

Don't throw away your odd candle stand, glue them on a silver tray and light up those candles!!!

Got some old picture frames, paint them and hang the odd work of art

Beautiful things come together to make this sit space cozy

Add some christmas lights into large bottle for an instant statement



Bring out all those colourful bottles and display them on your window sill or dresser

All Images Above from http://www.countryliving.com/



Re-decorate with the unusual

Here in Sri Lanka it is not unusual to live in a flat. With the advent on the mushrooming condominiums dotting the face of the city, more celebrities are opting to buy themselves a good decent flat in the city. As for me, I can never live in one. I need the fresh air to breathe, the green grass, the occasional grasshopper and butterfly and the smell of fresh dug earth. What about you.  I need doors that open to a side garden, I need windows to close when a thunder storm is threatening and I need to have wet messy feet to scrub and dry after a good session of re-potting.

With that said, I believe though that there is some form of art to in living in a flat.  I remember a song taught by my great grand-father, which went something like this..."our old tom cat died last night, the wife said bury him out of sight, we had no garden, cos we are living in a flat, so what were we to do with the body of a cat". My point exactly.  But whatever your abode is, I am a true believer that you make the most of it.
xoxoxoxoxoxo

Candice

Bookshelves dont have to be with books-use your imagination and fill it up with pretty and unusual items

Side tables need not be high polished and glossy

For the flat dweller

Book cupboards and racks dont have to be conventional, stack some odd shaped boxes and store your books

cane and wicker go hand in hand

Great for your indoor or outdoor table, stacked up pots

IMAGES:

Lonnymag.com