What better way to kick off the Labor Day weekend than by admiring

the labor of others?  And by that I mean Before & After projects!

If you've never stopped by the Little Yellow Barn then you've missed a treat.
Full of interesting articles, the site also features beautiful B&A photos:

                         

                             Before                                             After

Be sure to stop by and visit Jourdan at Little Yellow Barn.

We've all seen 70s end tables like the one below.

Ever thought about turning one into a pet bed?

Electric Frog

So cute, airy and repurposeful.

                      

Another thrift store gem - a simple paint
treatment makes all the difference, doesn't it?

A can of white spray paint and two mirrors helped turn this

vintage bamboo serving tray into a sophisticated liquor bar:

Indie Lee

Take a second look at little side tables the next time you're

out thrifting.  You might be surprised at the possibilities:

A Brush of Whimsy

In addition to the paint, the molding and hardware

make this rather plain dresser exceptional:

My Home Look Book

Honestly, this buffet was almost beyond saving:

Camp Clem

Beautiful rescue!

Only one word is needed to describe this 'before':  Yikes!

Florence Haseman

But there are so many words to describe the 'after' -

lovely, charming, and incredible to name a few!

The transformation of this vintage credenza is simply AH-mazing:

Better After

 Speaking of vintage . . . . .

Itch For Kitsch

Art by Angeli

So sophisticated.

Before closing today's post I have to introduce you to Samm and Chris Spangler of Little House in the Big D.  They're a darling young couple who are renovating a 1940s house in Dallas.  Check out just a few of their imaginative renovations:

Little House in the Big D

If these last few photos aren't inspiring, I give up!

Seriously, have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend.

Why do we feel like dancing on Fridays but feel like sleeping

in on Mondays?  Better get up and at it.  What do you say we

start the week off with some inspirational repurposing?

Olga Barber

Don't you love this idea for repurposing a door into a book shelf?

Source

I should have included this great idea into last

week's post on repurposing cabinet doors.

A salvaged fence - literally!

Alesia Rebholz

The fence, above, was created mainly out of discarded aluminum
panels and vintage ceiling files purchased at a flea market.

Barbara Neblett

Old shutters are a beautiful way to create a little privacy on a patio.

 Disclaimer:  I am not advocating gutting an antique piano but . . . .

Cathy Anderson
. . . . I have seen many un-salvageable uprights for less
than a hundred dollars and they do have beautiful lines.

Who would have thought to decoupage vintage blue prints on

top of an old dresser and trim it with pieces of an old yardstick?

Gadget Sponge

Leave it to Gadget Sponge to create a very swanky silver plated birdfeeder.

Ewa In the Garden
How clever to use an old tea kettle as a faucet!

 Huffington Post
Even though I toss my used Altoids tins in the recycle bin
I always feel guilty that I don't come up with an ingenious
way to re-use them.  This tiny sewing kit is precious!



Have you ever come across old dining room chairs with damaged cane
backs and just couldn't think of an inexpensive way to repair them?

   

How about repurposing them?  It's as easy as 1-2-3:

1)  cut the tops of the chairs off
2)  sand, prime and paint them

3)  You've created beautiful picture frames:

All Things Thrifty


It seems that we all know someone who is buying
their first home or just moving into a new home.

Etsy
The backing is a dictionary page on the many
variations of 'love'.  Ahhhhh, so sweet.

Repurpose Books by Bob Vila
Great alternative uses for old books.


And who doesn't have old watches lying around?!

Source


Silver plated flatware is still plentiful in thrift shops and
relatively inexpensive.  It makes beautiful jewelry, doesn't it?

Historic House Parts

Etsy
If you have vintage clip-on earrings lying around think about repurposing them into bracelets.

Well, I guess this is a form of repurposing:

Well, I hope your Monday is manageable and you don't need throwing plates!

When is too much just too much?

The Foo Dog

The Cottage Gals

One of the most challenging aspects of collecting
is simply displaying your treasures.  

Bellezza Storia

I've never seen vintage tins hung on the wall.
Interesting but probably a headache to dust.

Kathryn Greeley Designs

These antique bread bowls seem a little
crowded and are lost in the busy background.

Apartment Therapy

Compare this display of pepper mills to the one below.

Which do you prefer?

The North Elevation

Most collections won't have to compete for your 'visual
attention' when shown against a white background.

Decoist

Grouping the pieces by color gives the collection
a better sense of organization.

The symmetrical shapes of lunch boxes allow for a more balanced display.

              God in Design

 From the angle of the photo it appears as if this lunch box

collection has been hung in an overhead space which doesn't
allow as much access to them and makes viewing difficult. 

Real Simple
Antique printers' drawers are a charming
way to display small treasures.

Dishfunctional Designs
Elevating the tin of antique pocket watches
draws more attention to them.

Is it just me or does this room seem claustrophobic?

Common Ground
It's fun when one collection can actually display another.

Interior Collective
This display seems a little unorganized and messy.  These
beautiful pieces deserve more attention than this display allows.

Lisa Pocklington
I like the concept of displaying antique and vintage fabric
in stitching hoops but there are just too many of them. 

Vintage Beach
A Bakelite button collection is charmingly
displayed on a coffee table.  Very unique.

Source
What is the name of these little vintage toys?  You press underneath the
platform and the figurines bend and flop, they were popular in the 1930s to
the 60s.  I really like this display but definitely not with little ones in the house!

Regardless of what we collect, most of us will agree
that the hardest part of collecting is simply stopping!