Monday, April 13, 2009

Up-Cycled

Re-creating is my new found love. It started with clothing, but currently, it's furniture. I'm obsessed with home decor websites these days. It's my guilty pleasure. I'm loving Apartment Therapy and Design Sponge. Particularly "Before and After." (There's a link on the left of the Design Sponge site if you're interested.) I scour Craigslist for free stuff daily and can literally spend hours wandering a thrift store. But I'm amazed at what I find already within my own home to spruce up. Even a year ago, I would have donated worn out things to charity. No longer. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

My first re-upholstering project was this traditional (ugly) ottoman we inherited from my in-laws when we needed furniture to fill up our first house. I made a slip cover for it years ago, but that was worn out and ugly now too. I was planning to make a new slip cover and decided to try my hand at re-covering. So $.99 for the fabric and a half can of spray paint and I have myself a new piece of furniture. I felt very empowered with staple-gun in hand.


BEFORE


AFTER

Now that's more like it.

And while I'm on home decor...it seems to be popular to organize book shelves by color. I love decorating with books. But in my head I kept thinking organizing by color would never work for me. I don't have any bright colored books. They're too drab. But once I separated the colors, I was amazed at the results. It completely changed the look of my book shelf. I cannot believe they're the same books I had sitting out before. Unfortunately, I don't have a before picture.

20 comments:

Cynthia said...

Ooh, I wish you lived in my neighborhood. I could use someone walking around my house with me and give me some ideas.
You are amazing at the reupolstering! very cute.

AKA Rosa said...

Hey..... we are thinking a long the same lines!! Great job on the redo and I have never heard of the books by colors but LOVE IT!!

Danielle said...

Look so great!! I love trying to reinvent things, but you are so much better at it than I am!

Eric said...

Great job! I have been doing a few changes with old things also, but I'm not sure I'm loving the outcome. I can't believe you have so many books that match, guess I never noticed if I do or not. Great idea.

Heidi said...

you are one handy girl. I dont think I would even attempt the ottoman. You are good!

Lisha said...

Wow! I love it! Amazing! If you ever want to be my decorator you've got the job.

Jenn said...

Look at you! I love the ottoman and the color coordinated book shelf! Great idea and good job!

Sheryl said...

Love it! The ottoman and the books ....looking good! You are such a handy girl to have around!!

Genn said...

The ottoman looks great. Great job. I also love that idea with the books. We put all of our books (most all of them) in boxes in the garage to get them cleared out of the office which turned into Claire's room. I'll have to remember that one when I have a space to put my books again.

Autumn said...

Oh my gosh. A few months ago when I was helping Heidi inquire on blogs about doing giveaways, I spent a tad bit of time on many many design blogs. Its kind of one of those things that I was thrilled AND sad about finding. I could see myself spending way too much there. But I haven't gone back since in fear of the obsession. (Design milk a handful of times.) I wanted the whole world to know about the master list of these I found, but I lost my link and its overwhelming even thinking about it. But on the other hand--oh the inspiration they provided!!! I saw the library sort their displays by color-I LOVE it. Nice before and after!

Erin said...

Wish you lived closer! We could do so much together, and our kids could totally hang. I have been sprucing things up, will have to post later! Good job on the ottoman!!

Kelly said...

LOVE it all, Katie!! The ottoman looks totally different- and for .99 cents! I am in awe! The colored books would never have come to me, but wow- they look great! Can't wait to get a different house so I can get re-doing!

Lauri said...

I read your blog at school but couldn't see any pictures and was anxious to get home so I could see the outcome of the ottoman. You did a great job. I love the book shelf idea...I'd never seen it done that way either.

Sam and Becky said...

oh we are SO copying you on the arranging the books by colors.. what a great idea!!!!

Traci Elizabeth said...

Awesome..it made me realize I throw way too many items away! BTW...How do you find time for all of this?

Brooke said...

I've been trying to convince Dustin to let me sort his books by color for years but I haven't gotten anywhere. He has to organize them by topic so he can find them. What ever that's about. :)

Amanda B. said...

Go Katie! :) That is awesome! Love the ottoman! Good idea- and the books look really good also!

jeanine said...

You are awesome!!!

Violet said...

I love it all!!! I love fixing things up. I've never tried re-upholstering though. Maybe someday ;0)

Kelly said...

Love it all! I just don't kow how you find the time to do all this with 3 crazy boys!