Hi Friends! I love before and after’s! Who doesn’t like to see transformations! We all crate before and afters and reinvent things all the time. From rooms to landscapes to recipes, to hobbies, to ourselves!

When you look up reinventing, typically it focuses on reinventing yourself or that old adage reinventing the wheel.

To make over completely: “She reinvented Indian cooking to fit a Western kitchen and a Western larder”- (Irene Sax).

To replace (a product, etc) with an entirely new version

So today I have a few projects which we have reinvented!! something I love to do with plaster and paint!

Bill Stubbs, a Houston celebrity designer, spotted a kitchen in Segreto Vignettes designed by Julie Dodson which he used as inspiration to show his client what he had envisioned for her range hood!

She loved the idea and was excited by the fact that her wooden hood could be reinvented to read like metal. Here is the before (above).

Here is the after!!!  Starting with a black base, we layered to top with a paint infused with real metal, then the strapping was hand-painted in a Trompe L’oeil fashion!

It looks so real!

And such a fun piece to reinvent!!

In this next project with designer Jennifer Martinez, two fireplaces needed a bit of love to work better with what was planned for this home’s reinvention! In the first, the knotty pine was too orange and needed to blend more with the tile surround.

By applying glazes, the rustic charm was apparent but the tones were much better for the room. Now the mantle becomes a beautiful architectural accent to the room and not the first thing you see, allowing the seating area to be focal.

In the second room, Jennifer wanted just the reverse–this time she wanted for the mantle to stand out more. Currently, your eye stops at the tile since the actual mantle, painted the same color as the walls, blends in.

The mantle was painted a darker color and glazed to visually expand its size.

Loving this kitchen for 10+ years, these homeowners just wanted a refresh! The entire home, in which we collaborated with designer Beverly Shaeffer was in Segreto Style. How does the same space look lighter and brighter?

Plastering the walls and painting the cabinets to blend, the perimeter brick, dark stained hood corbels, and gold-toned accent tile stood out.  By plastering the brick, glazing the tile and refinishing the wood, this kitchen was reinvented without the expense or mess which replacing items entail! Jerry, now, is toning the tile.

Two beautiful interpretations of the same space, the new version has been edited, by reducing the number of color changes in the space.

Figuring out how to change the color of stone without losing its natural feel has allowed our clients to keep what they have and reinvent their appearance. This homeowner loved her mantle but really disliked its peach undertone!

We neutralized it making it look so natural with her newly refinished floors and beautiful art piece!!  I love to reinvent! Whether it is trends in homes, styles in fashion or your life’s desires, nothing stays the same!! Think about what you love to look at, what you want to change and what you want in life and reinvent.

There are always ways to incorporate looks you want in your home and implement what you want for your life with REINVENTION! I hope you have a joy-filled week! Till next time!  Xo Leslie