cost
$40
time
5 hours
difficulty
★★★★
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Looking for a large-scale planter solution can be expensive, but Austin-based furniture designer Chad Kelly knew he could create something more reasonable and fun with a standard filing cabinet. “I saw a similar cabinet-turned-planter in a store and it cost $600! But I knew I could do it myself for far less.” Chad found the perfect Anderson Hickey filing cabinet on Craigslist for only $30, and used Rustoleum Sunburst Yellow protective enamel spray paint for the vibrant color. After building plywood boxes to fit inside the cabinet, Chad filled them with plants purchased from local nurseries.
cost
$150
time
5 days
difficulty
★★★★
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Gray and yellow is one of the most popular color combinations we see on Design*Sponge, so we were thrilled to see Knoxville homeowner Libby Gourley use this classic combo as part of her kitchen makeover. An avid cook, Libby was set on updating her 1970s kitchen so that she would enjoy spending time in the room making meals for her family. To keep costs low, Libby focused on using paint to give the room a modern feel. Inspired by the food found in her kitchen (an egg, to be specific), she used a sunshine yellow and bright white paint combination to make her cabinets pop against the soft gray walls. Playful kitchen accessories bring an added dash of color to the room, completing the “appetizing” makeover Libby desired.
cost
$10
time
12 hours
difficulty
★★★★
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Well-known for their rustic furniture makeovers, Brooklyn-based designers Nadia Yaron and Myriah Scruggs, of Nightwood, decided to transform this vintage sideboard into a chic, modern piece. Using salvaged pieces of oak, chestnut, pine, and walnut (all purchased for under $10), Nadia and Myriah designed a unit that was “casual and rustic while still having a touch of elegance.”
cost
$25
time
3 hours
difficulty
★★★★
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Dumpster diving is a popular pastime for dedicated before-and-after artists. Designers Jason and Martina Ahlbrandt found these black office chairs in a local Dumpster and decided to bring them home for a little upgrade. Originally Jason thought they’d be great for patio chairs, but Martina had the brilliant idea to combine them to create a custom bench. After removing the seats and backs, Jason and Martina spray-painted the frames silver and joined them together with five 1 × 4 wooden boards, creating a brand-new, five-foot-long bench for their backyard in Nashville.
cost
$85
time
9 hours
difficulty
★★★★
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When it comes to furniture makeovers, few stores hold as much possibility as Ikea. Full of affordable, basic furniture just waiting to be customized, Ikea provides endless inspiration. Eric Teng, managing partner of the branding and advertising firm DMD Insight in New York City, is one of my favorite “Ikea-hackers.” Erik purchased a Rast dresser from Ikea for less than $40 and decided to give it a luxe look by creating a contrasting light and dark finish. After sanding the dresser, Eric applied a stain (MinWax’s Dark Walnut) to the body of the dresser. Once it dried, Eric painted the drawers a glossy white and added new hardware from Home Depot. He described the final look as “luxe, unexpected, and extraordinary,” and we couldn’t agree more.
cost
$42
time
1.5 hours
difficulty
★★★★
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Suitcase makeovers are a huge part of the Before & After column at Design*Sponge. We’ve seen them turned into everything from entryway consoles and bedside tables to hanging storage. Artist Keeley Durocher decided to turn one of her favorite suitcases into a table, celebrating the fact that this world-traveling piece of design had finally come home to rest. By attaching a set of four tapered table legs from Waddell to the bottom of the suitcase, Keeley was able to create a sturdy table structure. Once the two pieces were connected, she painted the top and bottom with a glossy black spray paint to create a unified piece. Now this clever little suitcase table stands below a mirror in Keeley’s Ottawa home, ready to hold household accessories and memorabilia from Keeley’s travels.
