Oh, those annual pesky resolutions.

But it is refreshing to have an imaginary blank slate on which to

write our goals and dreams.  I usually create a list that includes
eating healthier, exercising more, spending less, blah, blah, blah.

This year my goals are a little less generic -

♥  I'll strive to retain the energy to spread the Beauty of Thrift
through ad-free fleaChic .  

♥  Now that The Big Move is behind us I'll try to relax
and enjoy the Simple Blessings of Life.
  
♥  Continue to encourage and uplift family and friends in a less bossy
way!  (Note to self:  listen more, not everyone is seeking advice.)

Here's the last darling idea of 2013 that I'd like to share with you:

"Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page
book.  Write a good one." -- Brad Paisley

Ready to pack away the Christmas ornaments and decorations?

Today's Repurposeful Monday is all about finding extra storage

space in unexpected places.

Vintage thrift shop dressers are relatively

affordable and provide tons of room for storage:

Before

After

Modern Missus

The faux jungle print on the sides of the drawers was
made with colored permanent markers.  Clever!

Storage and organization go hand-in-hand:

A recent study showed that being disorganized was

a major cause of stress.  That's easy to take care of:

Don't be so quick to toss those small breath mint tins into the

recycle bin.  They make great little organizational cubbies:

The Self-Employed

Keeping game and toy parts organized can be a challenge.
Dedicate a yard sale end table for holding specific toys pieces:

Aren't the Lego drawer pulls clever?

You want a cool, eclectic coffee table, right?
And you want extra storage space, right?

Well, think outside the box or, um, the case, in this case:

Etsy Source

It's surprising how often you'll stumble across a distressed guitar case

at a flea market.  And vintage-esque table legs can be found at Lowes.

Source

Cape 27

Vintage hard-shell luggage is super
durable and slips easily underneath the bed.

Put your collection to work, using

it for hiding treasures from view:

Oneil Sisters

Ladders are also great for repurposing into

extra storage and displace shelves:

Architecture Art Design

This antique chicken coop made darling

kitchen shelving after vigorous disinfecting:

I love the towel rack, too!

And what's cooler than locker storage?

A few cans of spray paint gave this set
of lockers a chic bohemian look:

Table Tonic


Oh, the possibilities:




Malanga




Torie Jayne




bhg




Decor 8
Leaving the lockers in their original rustic state
gives off an intriguing masculine vibe.  Interesting.


A pink teapot softens the industrial look:

6th Street Design School


Possibly the coolest bookcase you'll see today:

Houzz


Let's not forget that old commercial lockers often contained metal baskets:

Your Home Decor Ideas
These are ridiculously pricey online so keep
an eye out for metal baskets at the flea market.



In closing, I'm in love . . . . . . . . . 

Vintage Interiors
Simply gorgeous.  Sigh.

Have an awesome Monday.  It's the last one of the year!

The best way to survive the holidays?  Stay on a schedule.

So let's stick with our weekly Before and After Projects Friday.

A distressed historic home in Prattville, Al, received a loving renovation:

Before                                              After

This Old House

How many of us have dreamed of adding a second story

to our existing homes?  These owners did just that:

It's amazing how different this house looks

with a redesigned roof line and entry:
Before                                          After

High Cotton Style

This Cape Cod also received a new entry and
porch that completely changed its appearance:
Before                                                After

Edyta and Co.

Many people would look at this abandoned

stone house and think, "Tear it down!"
Before                                  After

dornob

Instead it was rebuilt into a stunning contemporary show place.

A stone facade was applied to this house with beautiful results:

Before                                             After

A Mid-Century Modern bungalow received
a facelift that enhanced its original integrity:

Before                                                   After 

Front Door

This house was painted lighter and its shutters were painted darker:

Before                                     After

A View Along the Way

The front door really pops now that its painted red.

A dated split-foyer is unrecognizable in the 'after' photo:

Before                                         After

Edyta and Co.

Gorgeous!


A rambling rancher was renovated into a luxurious lodge:

Edyta and Co.

It doesn't necessarily take huge changes to bring about a huge improvement:
Before                                               After

The contractor who erected the massive white
eyesore must have skipped aesthetics class!
Before                                                   After

1,000% improvement!



While almost all houses look better in the Spring than in Winter, new
white siding and shutters greatly enhanced this charming Cape Cod:
Before                                       After

Painting the shutters gave more definition to the house
and removing the overgrown shrubbery helped, too:
Before                                                            After

 Yes, a 4 car garage would give us room to store
our treasures AND park the car out of the elements:

 Faux-Craftsman architectural elements
make even a garage a thing of beauty!


Two different colors?  No!
Three different colors?  Yes!

When this old house went up for sale 99% of the buyers said, "Pass."

Let's hear it for the 1%!!



A new entryway completely changed the profile of this house:
Before                                     After

Of all of the beautiful, dramatic makeovers we've
viewed, this small bungalow is my favorite:
Before                                       After

This Old House
Utterly charming!


Aren't today's projects inspiring?  So much planning,
so much work.  Thanks for sharing them with me.

Have a great weekend, friends.