3 Clever Remodeling Ideas: Before & After from Creative DIYers!

Will we ever tire of seeing interior design transformations? I think not. There’s always so much to learn even when it’s just the color palette that changes. I am no stranger to the realities of real life renovating which always involves a bevy of design decisions, a big mess, and more money than you saved for the project. But the payoff! Before & After: 3 Clever Remodeling Ideas from Creative DIYers may inspire your next makeover or even nudge you to tackle the kitchen!

Before & After: 3 Clever Remodeling Ideas from Creative DIYers!

1. Reface Your Cabinets

DIYer and designer, Mallory of Reserve-Home and her partner David, recently transformed this charming Brooklyn Brownstone kitchen (above). Here’s how the little kitchen looked before:

Believe it or not, the beaded detail cabinets are actually IKEA boxes with made-to-order Nieu cabinet doors.

Of the finished space with bespoke cabinet fronts, Mallory said “We LOVE our Nieu Cabinet fronts so much! Somehow even more than I knew we would.”

Nieu Doors are Easily Installed

Their custom cabinet doors can be used on existing cabinet boxes in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and offices. You can also use them like Mallory did with any IKEA boxes.

Is it Cost Effective to Reface Cabinets?

Nieu’s custom made painted doors at $41 per sq/ft are a budget-friendly bespoke option.

Cottage style door fronts echo the history of the brownstone and keep things feeling casually chic and fresh.

Who is crushing on pastels and Smeg? Mallery’s keen artful eye and color intelligence along with these cabinets has me swooning…

Bathroom Cabinets Can Get the Bespoke Treatment Too

Bathroom vanities deserve Nieu style too! Here’s a rather familiar builder’s grade “before” (and I love that some of the bulbs are burned out, making things even dimmer than normal!):

and after:

When I browsed Nieu’s site, I appreciated how there were plenty of choices for cabinet fronts, yet it wasn’t an overwhelming prospect.

Don’t you love it when a brand finds that sweet spot?

You’ll find plenty of inspiring before/afters on their site too…I mean, don’t you love everything fearless DIYer Angela Rose does?

She is amazing! This Nieu door style designed with Angela Rose caught my eye, and the gorgeous color reminds me of a certain unforgettable light blue kitchen.

The Ultimate IKEA HACK

A budget friendly bonus? If your own cabinet boxes are past their prime, you still have the option of ordering IKEA cabinet boxes for made-to-order cabinet doors from Nieu.

Bespoke kitchen without breaking the bank? The cost of the cabinet fronts for this Brooklyn kitchen was just over $2000. (Install them yourself for big savings!).

2. Convert a Garage to Living Space

If you have faithfully watched Celebrity IOU with The Property Brothers on HGTV as I do, then you may have seen Season 2, Episode 7, where Darren Criss (Blaine from GLEE!!!) makes over his manager’s garage, patio, and backyard. While the show has a crew which doesn’t qualify as “a creative DIYer” like, say, moi, there are plenty of takeaways you can apply to your projects.

Interior designer Anna Rosemann absolutely transformed this detached garage into the most zen, serene, flex space with Drew and Jonathan. The palette chosen for the California cool, organic, natural, open concept plan with neutrals and tone-on-tone is such a welcome change from typical ‘man cave’ sightings!

But first the space looked like this:

You have to see the whole episode to appreciate all the gorgeousness and ideas to steal for your own decor projects!

The thing about a garage like this is ceiling height!

I’m in love with the color palette, cabinet style, and reflective Zellige tile backsplash in here:

And should you need an idea for privacy and function in a small, unsightly backyard…

Hello lovely, hot tub and outdoor chill space for Darren Criss’ lucky manager and family! Notice how the designer didn’t choose delicately scaled pieces for the relatively small area. The result is an expansive, handsome, hang out space that lives large.

Can’t wait to share more of designer Anna Rosemann‘s lovely work with you soon…stay tuned.

3. Keep the Layout & Don’t Underestimate Paint

Bathrooms can feel so daunting to tackle, DIY or otherwise, but bear in mind some smart swap-out upgrades and thoughtfulness about paint color may completely transform your space.

This standard and dated vanity was stripped and made to look like furniture with the addition of feet! The lighter, raw wood has a fresher feel, and the raised height means more comfort for the owners. Swapping out the hardware for matte black is also a subtle yet smart upgrade. Out went the sheet of mirror, and in came a pair of minimal rounds.

I think the most transforming feature is the dark accent wall and tub panel which provides great contrast with the light tile floors yet doesn’t make the bath feel cave-like.

Need an idea for that paint color? It is similar to Sherwin-Williams Carbonized which we used in the kitchen and bath in this condo project.

Here it is on a vanity in that home:

And here’s how that bathroom looked BEFORE the paint makeover and pretty tile:

I hope these ideas give you plenty of food for thought. And if you’re a DIY renovator like me, then you know the process comes with lots of creative challenges and headaches. THE BIG FEELINGS COME as Glennon Doyle might say…

That is good advice for any project! PIN THIS POST for future reference, pretty please.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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