Pepper Design Blog

Before & After: Antique Sideboards

I love a good before & after… especially one that involves chic restyling of antique/vintage pieces that are usually lost in the bustle of an over-crowded thrift shop.

Anyone might dismiss these original sideboards as too dated, too much work, too time consuming… but a careful eye might spot the beautiful curves in those legs, the ornate detail of the carved doors or the solid wood core of a well-made vintage find.

I fell in love with antique-buffets-turned-new after we spotted this one in a local shop:

For photos sake, I wish I could say I knew her before that brilliant coat of turquoise! With the remodel well under way I borrowed these picture from a previous “Favorite Spot” guest post a while back – the dining room now resembles a bit of a stack and pile area.

We love our antique buffet and have slowly added restoration fixes ourselves – new handles, lined cabinets and next on the list is reinforcing those fragile legs.

Here’s a bit more inspiration for a weekend DIY project, each of these thrift finds have been beautifully restored to their former {or improved} life:

Sources: Country Living, House in Progress & Harpers Bazaar.

And a few DIY before & after photos that look incredible!

Navy blue sideboard by LivingEtc via CasaSugar and white dresser-turned-buffet by Holly of Life in the Fun Lane via Simply Elegance.

A bold coat of paint and new handles over at Live, Lush & Laugh:

And a white credenza makeover by Verity and a new yellow buffet by Michelle of Three Men & a Lady {both via design*sponge}.

Top amazing red sideboard before & after image by Jenny of Little Green Notebook.

Happy Goodwill hunting!

{Vintage Carnival} Inspiration

Designed to offer a vintage spin on a carnival-themed celebration {bright colors, pinwheels, paper rosettes, ribbons…} this party is full of inspiring ideas. The very first thing that caught my eye was the bright pastel colors that adorn everything from the handmade ribbon table runners to the swinging two-sided paper rosettes.

Chris over at Celebrations At Home featured this beautiful Style Me Pretty photoshoot a while back and I loved every detail.

The dessert table is beautiful, and simple treats such as popcorn cones, store bought cookies (just add the custom icing) and covered apples make a delicious spread.

Personalized carnival invites pull the theme together, as do the white ceramic animals and the vintage decor that’s casually mixed in.

The above easy ribbon runner and set of handmade rosettes tops the list for favorite details. I created a similar backdrop and table decor out of paper pinwheels/rosettes for this vintage nesting shower and loved the result – they’re very easy to whip up and always look great!

Shoot designed by Moira Events with photography by Tangerine Tree Photography.

Favorite Trend: Pops of Yellow

One of those home decor secrets that I continue to love is incorporating unexpected splashes of contrasting color into a space. It’s a great way to decorate for the season {try a pastel pink for the spring and switch it out for a cranberry red in the fall} and keeps a room looking young and contemporary.

One of my favorite pops of color right now is yellow. It looks terrific when paired with navy and I love the brightness it brings to a gray space.

The soft yellow desk in this next image keeps this room light and fresh – it’s a beautiful compliment to the powder blue walls and cobalt accents!

Those yellow doors are bold… but fantastic! And I love the bright yellow waste basket peaking out from under the sink of the bathroom on the left.

Incorporating a contrasting color will immediately liven up your space, whether you choose an easy-to-change-out throw pillow or decide to go all in in with a fresh coat of paint on furniture, you won’t regret the new look!

Images: Nuestra Vida Dolce via 6th Street Design Blog, DecorPad, Elle Decor, Lonny via 6th Street Design School, black.white.yellow.