Beautiful Curbside Transformations on a Budget: Welcome to the 166th Metamorphosis Monday!

Greetings!  Hope you had a fabulous weekend!  I spent most of mine indoors with brief forays onto the porch.  The pollen has been crazy here but we got a little rain two days in a row which seems to have helped calm down the attack of the yellow stuff.

This week, for Metamorphosis Monday, I'm sharing three amazing exterior transformations.  If you are living in a home that's great on the inside but a bit ho-hum on the outside, take heart!  Your run-of-the-mill exterior can achieve car-stopping curb appeal with a few basic changes and a little landscaping.  All it takes is a little vision and a modest budget to get these awesome looks.  Check out these stunning transformations.

Imagine driving by this home...you probably wouldn't give it a second glance, right?
Before:

After:  Take a look at her now!  Wow!  The new additions having the biggest impact are the porch and landscaping.  On closer inspections you'll also notice new shutters, window boxes, an added door from the attic area with a small balcony and deeper eaves with corbels.  I love the new curved stone pathway and white picket fence.  I'd love a look inside to see what they did with the attic space?  I'm guessing it was transformed into either a guest room, a new master suite or perhaps a home office.

Brick ranch homes have so much potential.  This one didn't look bad before but it was pretty nondescript.
Before:

 After: Check her out now!  The biggest change, other than the painted brick, is the addition of a beautiful deck, complete with pergola.  It really transformed the entrance to this home, didn't it?  What an inviting area to welcome friends and family.  The landscaping is pretty awesome, too.
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IKEA PJÄS Closet Additions: Welcome to the 164th Metamorphosis Monday!

Greetings!  Hope you had a fabulous weekend!  Last Friday I met a friend for lunch in Atlanta.  We lunched in a restaurant by the name of Osteria del Figo.  I think most folks just call it, Figo Pasta.

We each had a yummy salad and a dish from the "Figo Favorites" called Zucca.  It was delicious!

Pic from Figo Pasta

After lunch I headed over to IKEA.  You may remember after my last visit to IKEA, the closet went from looking like this...
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Adorable Cottage Gets a Wonderful Update

I have a soft spot in my heart for cottages, especially cute little Cape Cods. Southern Living recently showcased this lovely home (located in Atlanta) on their website.  Here's how the exterior looked prior to being purchased by its current owners.

Check it out now!  You can see they really stayed true to the character of the home.  The porch overhang looks like it was beefed up just a bit...looks so much better, doesn't it?  I LOVE the cedar shingle roof.  It adds so much to the curb appeal of this home.  As much as I love a cute Cape Cod painted white, I have to admit, the darker color gave this home a much more sophisticated, elegant look.  Do you like the new color or do you prefer a lighter color for a Cape Cod?

One of the smaller changes made that really had a pretty big impact on the exterior appearance, were the little shutters added to the dormer windows.
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The Beach House in Something's Gotta Give

Recently, I took a little vacation to Savannah, Georgia. It was a wonderful trip and when I returned home that weekend, I couldn't wait to pull out one of my favorite "beach house" movies, Something's Gotta Give.


Somethings Gotta Give is one of those movies you just have to watch at least once every summer. Joni, whose beautiful blog is Cote de Texas, believes the beach home in this movie to be the most beloved "movie" home ever. I might have to debate that one with her because I kind of think the house in Home Alone takes that honor. ;) Okay, maybe they both qualify since the movies are from different time periods and the homes are so very different in style.

A while back, Linda, Megan and Joni of The Skirted Roundtable, interviewed Beth Rubino, the Set Decorator for Something's Gotta Give. In The Skirted Roundtable interview, Beth Rubino says, "The house was the 4th main character in that film." She is so right. The phones of designers were ringing off the hook for months and months after the release of Something's Gotta Give. It seemed everyone on planet Earth wanted their home decorated to look exactly like this wonderful beach house.


We get our first look at the home when Harry Sanborn, played by Jack Nicholson, and Marin Barry, played by Amanda Peet, first pull up to the house with plans of a romantic weekend. Marin thinks her mom and successful playwright, Erica Barry, played by Diane Keaton, is away for a few days. Surprise! Erica walks in shortly after the pair arrive and the fun begins.

This beautiful home is actually located in Southampton, NY. But, I might as well break the news to you early on...in case you don't know.
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Rugged Hunting Cabin becomes a Beautiful Victorian Retreat

Have you ever longed for a cozy little place hidden away from the world, a haven where you could relax, read, nap or just dream? Sandy Foster created just such a place, and in doing so, she's given us all a wonderful gift. With the click of a mouse, we can be transported to a beautiful, romantic retreat tucked into a little hill along side a picturesque stream.

This lovely spot isn't accessible by road. No, it requires a little effort to reach it, making the arrival all the more sweeter. Pink boots aren't a requirement, but they are highly recommended.

Sandy is there waiting for us, along with her precious, doggie, Zuzu.

Let's take our boots off here on the porch. Did you hear that soft buzzing sound? That's the sound of hummingbirds sipping nectar from the Foxgloves. Or, it could be faerie wings because this is surely a place where faeries would gather.

Once upon a time, this beautiful studio was just a brown, run-down hunting cabin. The windows were small and strictly utilitarian; the interior was rugged and plain. Today it is a fantasy retreat filled with candles, lace and chandeliers.

There's even a comfy bed tucked into the loft...the perfect spot for reading, napping and dreaming. Sandy did all the work herself, installing columns, gingerbread trim, shelving, windows, insulation, doors and everything needed to create this very special studio.

Zuzu looks right at home here, doesn't she? She is every bit as elegant as her surroundings.

Sandy carefully chose each treasure for her retreat. Isn't the mirror absolutely stunning?! Though the studio is only 9 ft by 14 ft in size, mirrors reflect the light, making it feel open and airy.

In anticipation of our visit today, Sandy created a beautiful table just for us.

The flowers are so pretty and they make the perfect centerpiece for this sweet tablescape.

Here's your place right here. In addition to pink boots, having seconds is highly suggested. ;)

No need to rush. We can stay and play all evening, even long after dark. The candles are lit and their flickering light is a reminder of the moonlight that bathes our cabin on this starlit night.

Sandy, thanks so much for letting us stop by your beautiful studio. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to visit again real soon.

You can visit and read more about Sandy's hideaway studio at her blog, My Shabby Streamside Studio. See you Sunday evening for Metamorphosis Monday.