Pepper Design Blog

In with the Old! New Year’s Refurbishing Inspiration

I am inspired this New Years to find beauty in the old — to embrace the well-worn as well-done and honor the original craftsmanship of ‘outdated pieces’ by providing them a new lease on life. Perhaps it’s a need to downsize, or maybe it’s that I’m not ready to throw in the decorating hat even though I have accumulated more than enough furniture to fill the house.

Refurbishing is clearly the answer! With the unfortunate lack of space to add more ‘stuff’ — I continue my decorating adventures without having to give up previous ‘stuff’.

Ruthie Sommers (spotlighted in December) is an excellent example of a very posh interior designer who regularly scrounges through the thrift store circuit to come up with THESE incredible projects! The room at top (how perfect is that room?) is filled with this sofa (above) and this dresser (below).

Wow! is all I have to say to that. Follow the jump for three more refashions by Sommers. Read more »

Before & After: Inspiring Room Renovations

These Before & Afters by Habitat Hanalei Interiors are so inspiring! They are beautiful, classy and every bit stylish in their final design.

While you might not be in the market for a tear-down-the-walls renovation, creative ideas like these can inspire quick fixes too: remap the layout of a room to bring just the right amount of change, add a faux fireplace to a blank wall for a bit of architectural detail, repaint ceiling beams white to really make your space appear BIG, or incorporate new rugs, slipcovers or window coverings to spruce things up.

Follow the jump for four more inspiring Before & After shots, including PINK occasional chairs that I heart and a bright green guest room to satisfy that itch to be daring. Read more »

Before & After: Mirror, Mirror On the Wall…

What a fun DIY project! Mirrors are both beautiful and practical and they belong in every room of the house — they open up space, provide extra light and reflect back all of that decorating love you’ve worked so hard on. My favorite mirrors are not the square, wood framed ones but instead are the unique mirrors that both compliment a room and might even serve as the statement piece.

Beautiful and stunning mirrors don’t have to come at a high cost — search around your own home for a mirror that has lost it’s character or find one in need of a good refashion at a local thrift store, and then let your imagination take off…

By applying a fresh coat of paint {following the examples of the above beautiful pieces: vintage black Crafty Nest mirror, tarnished gold High Street Market sunburst mirror and another Crafty Nest feminine mirror-turned-bulletin board} an ordinary or out-dated mirror is made over into a piece very worthy of your wall.

Not quite convinced? Follow the jump for more refashions using mosaic, ribbon and spoons (yes, spoons)! Read more »