guest blogger: rene from cottage and vine

Hi all, Casey here. I want to welcome Rene from Cottage and Vine. Rene is so creative and has succeeded in transforming her home project-by-project into a fresh, inviting environment. She's also one of the warmest, supportive bloggers I've been lucky enough to "meet" and call friend these past few months. Thanks, Rene, for coming over to share your talent with us.

Thanks so much to Casey for inviting me to guest blog. Because we all like to see before and after projects, I thought that I would share some of the before and after photos from projects that I have finished over the last year. To back track a bit, our home was beginning to feel dark and a bit stodgy, so I have been adding white and touches of color/pattern to liven up our decor.

bedroom before

bedroom after
A fresh coat of white paint on the wall lamps and the bright green on the nightstand gave this little nook the injection it needed.

kitchen before
kitchen after
Before, we had a dark cabinet hanging over the banquette.  Once it was removed, we added thrift store plates and painted the chairs and banquette white. 
entry before

entry after

The pattern was made using happy tape and the addition of the mirror gave the space a more open feel.
living room before
living room after
Believe it or not, the walls are the same color and weren't painted.  Adding a lighter sofa that was more to scale with the living room and lightening up the window treatments, which are drop cloths that I painted,  gave the room and instant uplift and a much brighter appearance.

Thanks to Casey for inviting me today!  For more before and after photos and DIY projects, I invite you to stop by my blog Cottage and Vine.

15 comments

Fran said...

Rene, as always, your transformations are awesome!! I am trying to convince my friend to paint her kitchen chairs white (she has a similar kitchen table & chair set) and she is on the fence. I am going to send your B & A and I'm certain that'll be the 'push' she needs! Thanks for sharing!

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

Wow, loved seeing this collection of before and afters. It really shows how several smaller changes can add up to a huge difference...fabulous job on all the rooms! Janell

SHERRY HART said...

Love how you arranged those plates! It really brightened up the space. That room looks totally different with the changes.

Karen said...

Great projects. I adore the kitchen!

Chats with Jack said...

Great post! I love them all, but the entry is truly fabulous. Since you are a mom of boys, would you recommend a white slipcovered couch? Do you like it?

René said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
An Urban Cottage said...

Love the kitchen makeover! You went from Pottery Barn to Martha in one fell swoop. Very nice!

Gini said...

Rene, I love your before and afters, so fresh and airy and cozy!

May I ask, what is the name and brand of the color of paint in your entry, stairs and living room area? I have been looking for just that color and have not been able to get just the right one.

Just beautiful...thank you for sharing.

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

Rene, I love to see all your before and afters at once. I'm inspired by you yet again!

René said...

Thanks everybody!! Especially thank you to Casey for the warm introduction.

Abby, yes even with boys, I love the white sofa.

Gini, the color is Eddie Bauer, coir.

Anonymous said...

Your rooms all looked very nice before but now looks so fresh! I'm thinking about painting our nightstand too. I like the way yours turned out.

Maude Lynn said...

I love the green in the bedroom!

Erica @ Decorica said...

Rene, your living room is such a great transformation!

Sixty-Fifth Avenue said...

Rene, your kitchen makeover is my favorite! So pretty...your whole house fabulous.

Londen

Privet and Holly said...

Actually, I loved
both the before and
the afters, which
means Rene is a VERY
talented decorator!
The afters are very
fresh and inspired.
Thanks for sharing
these transformations
with us!
xx Suzanne