Pretend it's Tuesday.

Did I say "come back tommorrow and I'll show you the afters"?  I meant come back in a few days when I finally get back to working on my little project and get 'er done.  You totally got that, right? 

It's hard to photograph because it's small and dark, but that aside, this really was a fun and thrifty project.  By shopping my house and a bit of elbow grease, this little stairway got a big improvement. 

So, we got through the walls being painted and the door going the best watery green-blue.  Best $1.50 I've ever spent at Benjamin Moore.  Go ahead and admire the door.  I'll wait.  I've got a can of oil rubbed bronze just itchin' to spray that brass door knob and the child-proof door knob cover is the height of home decor fashion.  Tres chic!  

Next, I was lucky enough to get a custom magnet board made personally by my good friend Jodi.  I painted the frame the same red as my front door.  I planned on adding some fun decorative trim on it but I couldn't wait to put it up!  It might get some in the future.  I think it would look extra spiffy.

A piece of trim I already had was cut to size (thanks neighbors!) gave a secure landing for the inexpensive hooks from Target.  My kids are thrilled about their new hooks.  Hopefully, they will use them.

I had the iron bird scrolly thingy for a while.  I'm on the fence over it.  It's looking a bit like a tattoo to me for some reason. 

So voila!  A small and dark stairway transformed into a hardworking space that is much better to look at and even better since it was done with mainly supplies I had on hand. 

So what about you?  What's your favorite spiff up that you've been able to do by simply shopping your house?  Did you organize your office?  Brighten up your bedroom?  Breathe new life into an old t-shirt by embellishing it?  I'd love to hear what you have been up to.