Melissa at The Inspired Room did a post on Monday about "Solving Flaws: Creative Concealment". I thought I would share some of my "Hiding the Ugly". See my kitchen chalkboard above? It covers up the ugly circuit box (or whatever that thing is called).
This thing is so ugly and they didn't even put one in with a cover over it. I guess they felt if you lived in an apartment you didn't care about how things look!!!
My next "Hiding the Ugly" is right around the corner from the chalkboard, in my dining room. See that carrot mold? It's actually there to hide my thermostat!
As you can see below, this just doesn't go with my decor! I used to have a beautiful blue and white ceramic mold covering this but I dropped it once when I was turning up the heater and it broke! I had this carrot mold but it was copper and really didn't match with everything so I used silver Rub n Buff paint which worked great! I would like to find something a little nicer to cover this but until I do, this does the job.
Even though I've covered the thermostat it still works. I was worried the heater wouldn't come on with this cover on it but it works just the same as it did without it!
You can see some other great creative concealments on by clicking the "Mr Linky" at the bottom of Melissa's post.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Hiding the Ugly
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48 comments:
Thanks! I have so many things that needed covered. I will keep these ideas in mind. Or maybe even lay out some things that I have and pick the ones that would make good cover ups.
I never get much done but I keep telling people that my closets are beautiful with all the stuff in them that I plan on using!
Enjoy your time off!
THIS is the exact principle that leads me to wear long pants!!!!!!:)
Those are great ideas! I have a fuse box that desperately needs to be hidden, but it's just such a weird size!
M ^..^
Good ideas! I also like the rabbit hook that your aprons are on. Very cute!
I would say you are the Queen of Concealment.
Hugs,
LeAnn:)
Great examples of hiding the ugly. I have an issue with some cords that show underneath this TV cabinet that I have in my bedroom and they drive me crazy. Can't seem to think of anything to hide them successfully. Have tried putting decorative boxes in front of the cords, but they still seem to peek through.
You've done a great job of "hiding the ugly." However, I have to say it makes me absolutely furious when I see some of the stupid things builders do. You can't tell me there wasn't an inconspicious place, perhaps like a closet, that the circuit box could have been concealed in. Stuff like that is truly one of my biggest pet peeves! There is just NO reason why it had to be placed out in the open like that. Your cover-up solution is beautiful and creative 'tho. I would have never guessed if you had not done the big reveal.
That is so clever~~~ Thanks for sharing and for sharing the link to The Inspired Room.
Great ideas! It's fun being creative when it hides something ugly! I've done that many times in homes we've lived in. The worst was a set of unfinished double doors that were added to the dining room wall of a parsonage in a little community where my sweetheart was the pastor. The room on the other side never materialized so these doors went basically nowhere. I knew I couldn't live with them in my home but I couldn't take them out, either. So, I hung a wonderful big quilt that was a wedding gift from a special lady from my childhood over the door. If you didn't know what was behind them you would just think I had a fantastic place to display such a beautiful quilt!
~Adrienne~
Oh gosh - what a great idea for a post! I've got some real ugly I'm hiding in my house that would make for an interesting post! You are very creative! I'd never have thought of hiding the thermostat!...Donna
Bravo Ms. Thang!...My first thought was the carrot would interfere with the temp control, but evidently it's not...I will remember this designing jewel of an idea! BTW, I always look forward to your post because your home is ultra feminine and cozy-comfy! :-) Brown-Eyes
Amazing concealment, you are definitely a concealing wonder woman! These are great examples, thank you SO MUCH for sharing them! You are always such an inspiration with your clever and practical ideas for making things beautiful!
Happy day,
Melissa
Our fusebox is in the garage.
Do have a thermostat or 2.
Sweetie, I'm surprised there's one "ugly" thing in your whole apartment! I've seen her posts though on concealing "uglies." Love them. I think people should just hire you to come in and "conceal all their uglies." I can't fathom that there's anyone more qualified!
xoxo, Brenda
Cindy:
You are amazing. Now I am going to look for ideas to hide my uglies and I will share a post too.
Thanks for ALWAYS inspiring me.
Love ya,
Debbie Kay
This is such a great idea! We too have an ugly circuit box door and of all places, it's right when you walk in our front door! I think I might try this and hang something over it to hide it. I love your white framed chalkboard!
Cindy
I am looking at my thermostat right now on a very obvious place on the Livingrm wall- great solution (I may have to steal it!!)
Cindy great ideas. Alison
Hi Cindy! What great cover up ideas! I love both of them. I have seen the power box thingy covered before with pictures but I love your chalk board. Much more useful and so much cuter. Now I love the coverup of your thermostat. How clever is this? I have one just like yours in the den and it's absolutely in the middle of this little wall just staring out at me. Wonder what I could put over it? I'll be on the lookout. Thanks oh mighty decorating one! You're my hero - that just sounds so much better than heroine, don't cha think?
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Great ideas Cindy, you would never even know they were there! I'll have to show my tv coverup!LOL.
Have a fun and relaxing 4th.
Hugs~Kelly
Oh Cindy,
I love this post - we have a really ugly old metal phone jack in the kitchen about four feet off the floor. What are people thinking? Thanks for the ideas! Off to take a look at Mr. Linky for more.
~Tracie
Hi Cindy,
I hate breaker boxes to. I hide my too. If you whant to see my idea, you can go to Rate My Space and look in Virginia spaces (How to Conceal a Breaker Box in Laundry Room. Maybe you enjoy my idea.
thanks for these great ideas Cindy!
I agree with Shari. they should have put it in a closet. I am going to visit Mr Linky. I have a doorbell in my kitchen. Hummm, maybe a basket will cover it.
Oh, what perfect ideas- love the chalkboard idea- and wow, love the dinning room standing there all lovely in the background. :}
thanks for sharing your ideas.
You are so clever! Who would ever know what was behind there??
Hugs, Sherry
Psst... I'm having a giveaway! My 1st!
Cindy,
These are great solutions to your problems. I am thankful I don't have any really outstanding things to hide, with the exception of my ugly carpet. Only solution to that would be new carpet $$.
My father put a picture over their fuse box years ago to hide theirs in their hallway.
Ciao
Glenda
Great ideas once again!! Loved all of your beautiful pictures on Flickr. You are truly amazing!!
How clever you are. Thermostats can be so ugly. Would have never thought to hide one. Of course, my husband would be fussing every time he went to change the thermostat, so mine may just have to stay out there for all the world to see (wonder if I could wallpaper it toile?) Thanks. Laurie
Cindy,
I love how creative you are. I can't enough pictures of your home. I have alot of nice stuff, but I don't know how to put it together. Thank goodness for blogs like yours which inspire me.
Take care,
Elizabeth
What inventive ideas, and how beautiful they are. I have long lamented my thermostat boxes--but no more! It never occurred to me to cover it. And thank you so much for leaving the information about your appliques!
Clever, clever. I'm always so inspired when I arrive here for a peek. Today as I was walking around my garden I went into Briar Rose Cottage (our playhouse) and decided it really needed a makeover. I'm going to take some before pics and then start changing things. I immediately thought of you, Cindy, and all your great (and thrifty) ideas. We don't have a mall, but we do have thrift stores. I'm arming myself with knowledge and readying for the delightful task. I want to have fun, and you always seem to have so much fun with all your DIY projects. I love your Romantic Home! : )
Mornin' Cindy! I went to bed last night thinking how I could cover my old nasty thermostat cover in the den! Just wanted to with you and your daughter a wonderful fourth of July!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Good morning Cindy :)
I have a doorbell that needs to be covered up. I don't know why they can't make those things pretty. I wish someone would invent covers for them. You've done a wonderful job using what you have to fix the problems :)
I love all the pictures of the dining room and living room below! Everything is so soft and serene. It really is romantic :)
hugs,
rue
Oh Cindy I love hiding the "ugly".. I've wondered about the thermostat if it would work covered.. I'm going to borrow that one.. I too covered the breaker box in my laundry room.. would love for you to see that when you get a chance... I'm decorator101 over at RMS... hugs ~ lynne ~
'Hiding the Ugly'...that is classic!!! I woke up 20 minutes before I had to leave for work this morning...can I crawl under your tin carrot mold too?
Great ideas for hiding the uglies at home. The fuse box really needs hiding and what good thing you did in yours.
Thanks for sharing those tips.
Hi!
When you have a free minute, could you look up my blog:
homemusings.blogspot.com
I have pictures of my reading nook there and was wondering if you have any suggestions for how to make it look prettier..
I love your style.
Have a great day!
Elizabeth
Wow, what clever ideas! I have a few uglies that need hiding and you have inspired me, lady! You have such wonderful ideas. Thank you!
What great ideas for hiding those areas in our homes that we really don't think are very pretty. I tend to use all sized decorative screens, ones I have made and ones I have bought to hide modern appliances like tvs or telephones. I seem to have a thing about those and a little screen in front makes it so much prettier to me! Thanks for your ideas. I will have to try the chalkboard one for sure! Amy
What a wonderful blog ! I realy love your romantic home. I always thought that english decoration is the most best in the world...although I'm not english-;)I'm living in France...so please excuse my english (school days are far far away...!)
have a nice day !
A bientôt !
What a fantastic ideas. I would never think that you have anything ugly in your home. You are defiantly the best Cindy!!!
Have fun! Suzy
Great ideas! Maybe I could find something pretty to cover up the mountain of laundry I need to scale -- I mean fold -- tonight! :)
I am enjoying this blogging thing. I own a shabbychic/cottage decor shop in Cochranville, Pa. I finally have my blog up and running. cottonwoodhouse.blogspot.com and i am enjoying looking at other blogs but I especially love yours. Very interesting!!!
What a fabulous idea! I hate my thermostat and never thought to use something to cover it! Thanks :-)
Great concealment ideas! And those aprons I saw in the pic look adorable.
Love the carrot mold repurposed into a thermostat cover! Clever, clever!
Cindy, I was just looking at my thermostat this morning and wondering how I could cover it. Thanks for idea!!!
Great minds think alike! I had a builder put the intercom in the middle of the largest wall in my kitchen! My antique cabinet was suppose to be centered there. I was furious. My husband didn't catch it. . . I was in another state. They would have had to totally tear up two different walls to change it. So, I covered it up. I still don't think it's perfect, but nobody knows. Check mine out if you'd like at elderberrystreet.blogspot.com. Thanks
to hide a thermostat, use a floating wall shelf and lean a picture in front of it.
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