WELCOME!
Are you ready for a party?! I just love Before and After pictures, don’t you? This is just the ticket to help us get some inspiration for the New Year and perhaps find a project or two to add to the list of things we’d like to accomplish this year. I know I sure get a lot of inspiration out there in blogland from all of YOU, so I’m happy to pass some of that on. For my new readers, come on along for a year of projects at my house. Hope you get inspired too! Just follow the links in my post if you want to read more about a particular project.
From January, you will probably all remember this before and after in Modernizing a Vintage lamp. As a refresher, this lamp was picked up in my neighborhood at a yardsale for $5. Someone’s mom or aunt probably had this thing hanging around since 1962 or so and all it needed was a fresh new look to bring in into the 21st Century.
Nothing that a little black and cream damask fabric can’t handle. Add some trim and call it done and it sits proudly on my foyer table! Just so you know, I’m counting all these lampshade redos as one project. 2008 was a good year for lampshades. 
So…speaking of lampshades, I can’t let this one go by without a mention. Just a little update to the lamps I have in the diningroom, with the addition of burlap and a cute monogram. 
And this pair, yardsale finds which got transformed for the guestroom redo you’ll see below. 
Newly covered lampshades and rub-on decals and it’s a magical change. 
Then, in March, I told you all about the gold urn that got a repair job. Don’t let a broken handle stop you from using something. Get some air-dry clay and fix that pretty thing! 
Paint it white and it will be the star of the sideboard. 
Again, in March, I got inspired to do a little tweaking to my office nook, so I painted the feature wall lime green like my laundry room and outlined the wall with rope trim for a new fresh look.
Along with the bookcase that got a wallpaper treatment of scrapbook paper, seen all over blogland and I believe started by the popular Nester. 
A big outdoor project was completed in May, when we took the muddy under the deck area of our backyard and transformed it into an oasis of sorts with a newly constructed patio. 
And what a difference this made! The after Decorated Patio pics really show it off. 
This is definitely my favorite outdoor seating spot now! Ahh, Spring…just look at the green. 
In August, I did a little decoupage project of a monogram letter.
Simple leopard tissue paper did the trick. 
In September, we all got ready for Fall and I got inspired to try some white pumpkins. 
A little white spray paint later, and Hello Fall, classy white pumpkins for the season. 
In October, after a fun yardsale shopping trip and finding a beautiful bookcase in need of a makeover, a guestroom was reborn. 
With a newly painted and beadboard clad bookcase to showcase some treasures. 
In November, a lucky yardsale find (for $10) made way for a new chandy in my cottage guestroom, where once there was only a lone little ceiling fixture. What a difference a cute little chandelier can make, don’t you think? 
In November and in preparation for the final project of 2008, the Beachy Glam guestroom redo, I made over a framed print in that room to take it in a new direction. From traditional gold to…
A newly painted black frame and much more modern look. 
Which brings us to the last and final project of the year 2008, the Beachy Glam guestroom, which went from being rather Granny…
To a completely different direction of an updated color palette of black, white and soft blue. This one made the Birmingham paper in December and I was so proud! 
So, that wraps up my Top 10 Favorite Projects for 2008. Whew! Didn’t realize just quite how much I had accomplished last year until I looked back. How about you? Do you have something to share? I hope you do. It doesn’t have to be 10, but any number will do, even if it’s only one.
Share by adding your link to Mr. Linky below! Let’s get this party rolling.
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Hi Rhoda – thanks so much for hosting this party! Your projects are great – love the decoupaged initial!
Oh I am GIDDY! I love before and afters!! I just linked to my B and A posts. I should have another one tonight…I hope!! 🙂
I so love before and after pics! So fun and so many great ideas! We are getting ready to do our master bath and laundry room, so I can’t wait to see some great ideas!!! 🙂
I love all your projects! The patio is one of my favorites! I linked up…thanks for hosting!
I love this idea! I popped over from Rue’s and I’m so glad she posted about you.
You’re so creative.
I’m going to gather my pics and hopefully post this soon. I’ll link up once I do.
Rhoda,
What a great idea. Thanks for sharing it. Love your blog.
Laura
2008 was a goood year for lampshades!
I loved seeing so many of your projects in review…What a great idea! I’m still loving your black and white room, and it was so much fun watching it come together. I look forward to visiting the other sites tonight…When I’m home from work (Jeez…don’t they know I have a blog party to go to? 😉
Rhoda — Wow! I am not officially inspired. Thanks so much for these great ideas to kick off 2009. I am a huge fan of black-and-white, so you know I’m excited about these projects.
Rhonda, I love how you brought together your 08 projects in this post. I’m sharing two things with you today, which I hope is okay. Our kitchen is 36 square feet… so they are small space projects!
Katie
What wonderful projects! I love the leopard monogram. I have got to try that.
Loved it all and I am looking forward to what you do this year! Btw..I have that same monogrammed black letter and remembered your treatment with tissue paper…I am on the look out for zebra print tissue paper for mine!
Rhoda, thanks for hosting such a fun party. You always have such great befores and afters!
Great idea & great projects!
Hugs, DebraK
My favorite is the office space. It is so gorgeous! I love all of the little touches that made is so perfect. I love your blog! Thank you for always sharing your wonderful ideas!
So much inspiration! Great party idea!
I’ve got nothing to share – whew, 2008 was a tough one! – but am so thankful to take a gander at everyone else’s.
Thanks for all the inspiration.. love all your projects.
Oh how fun, thanks Rhoda…it is a miserable day here so this is just the ticket for me !!!
Here I go,
Kathy 🙂
Gosh I love all your projects! They are just beautiful. You have inspired me to want to tackle a few more projects this year. Thanks for hosting a great party.
Karin
Rhoda thank you for hosting a projects party. Everything you do turns out wonderful. I love your blog.
Becky
What an incredible transformation of your guestroom. It's so modern & chic now! Love the way you incoporated the traditional staffordshire dogs into such a modern room. And I love that shade of blue on the walls…Love it!