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BEFORE & AFTER: I AM HERE TO SERVE YOU!

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BEFORE & AFTER: I AM HERE TO SERVE YOU!

It has been all about me on this blog for weeks! Are you tired yet? I am tired of promoting myself! I’ll take a quick break and focus on serving my readers what they want.

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BEFORE:
AT YOUR SERVICE

BEFORE:

I got this Butler’s Table at a flea market. It was tired but stylish. The functionality is its hard-sell, but still wasn’t enough to get credit card swipe. The solution was a fresh coat of paint.  I hand brushed Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray on the the tray and then came in with steel wool to return the piece to its vintage charm.

Parma Gray
Parma Gray
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AFTER:
BETTER IN BLUE

AFTER:
The result is below. What I like about the picture is the way the tray is used. It is not just about cocktails and food. This is a multipurpose piece.
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I always like to end in a sell. This Butler’s Table did just that, following the fresh coat of paint in a shabby chic finish. So I will return to a subject I sell well. That’s me :)

UnknownI went to visit my buddy Brian Meece at RocketHub. He’s a rockstar-literally. That was the first step in a brilliant idea that centers around crowd sourcing. Brian’s story is great and all started when he wanted to get friends and family jazzed about his music career. He decided to explore the crowd sourcing platform and out of it came his company Rockethub.

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ROCKETHUB
LAUNCH PAD

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So we’re taking a journey together. I am getting my Rocket Fueled. This is my first share on this subject. More to come xx

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LEARN SOMETHING NEW!

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LEARN SOMETHING
TIGER LILY’S POWERPOINT

LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY

THE ASSIGNMENT:

Make it your own homework. Practice the theory that if you give, you will receive. I do this almost everyday in one form or another. This week it brought me back into the classroom at Greenwich High School where I had the pleasure to speak to Mrs. Myer’s Interior Design class that on Tuesday meet at high noon. I have Cardinal pride. I am graduate.

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BACK IN CLASS
TRYING TO MAKE THE GRADE :)

I had a few things to say to the class which detailed my own coming of age and how it is possible to identify your dreams early and work toward them everyday. I shared with them that life has the same movement as the graphs they study in math. It is not always predictable, it has highs and lows but overall it is consistent. There are truths that keep us all moving and striving toward what we want out of life. The beginning is the declaration of what it is you want.

LEARN & RECEIVE:

I affirmed another declaration of what I want out of life. I want to share my experience, to inspire other people to live, dream, create and share. I thank Mrs. Meyers and her wonderfully attentive class for listening and encouraging me. I gave and I received.

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OUR FUTURE
SMILES & BRIGHT

It turns out the class, look at how awesome they all are in this picture, got something out of what I said too. Mrs. Meyer’s sent me this note:

THE GRADE:

“Thank you so much for speaking to my class today and sharing your story! You are an inspiration and while the students seemed quiet, I actually think their heads were spinning. You hit on several topics to get them thinking. “

I left the class with one final thought that I share with you:

“I want the freedom for the full expression of my personality”

-Mahatma Gandhi

XXOO

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I had a few things to say to the class which detailed my own coming of age and how it is possible to identify your dreams early and work toward them everyday. I shared with them that life has the same movement as the graphs they study in math. It is not always predictable, it has highs and lows but overall it is consistent. There are truths that keep us all moving and striving toward what we want out of life. The beginning is the declaration of what it is you want.

LEARN & RECEIVE:

I affirmed another declaration of what I want out of life. I want to share my experience, to inspire other people to live, dream, create and share. I thank Mrs. Meyers and her wonderfully attentive class for listening and encouraging me. I gave and I received.

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It turns out the class, look at how awesome they all are in this picture, got something out of what I said too. Mrs. Meyer’s sent me this note:

THE GRADE:

“Thank you so much for speaking to my class today and sharing your story! You are an inspiration and while the students seemed quiet, I actually think their heads were spinning. You hit on several topics to get them thinking. “

I left the class with one final thought that I share with you:

“I want the freedom for the full expression of my personality”

-Mahatma Gandhi

XXOO

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BEFORE & AFTER: MAKE UP GOES A LONG WAY

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BEFORE & AFTER: LET’S FACE IT-MAKEUP GOES A LONG WAY

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BEFORE:
PREPS
SAM ON THE SCENE

BEFORE: 

I am all about the before and after. This time it is me! This is my before. This is how I look on most days, especially following three straight of burning the midnight oil. I am working hard lately to grow my business. When it comes to operating your own business, days and night go into the “before.” How do you impact growth? How much of what you are doing adds to the bottom line?

Winston Churchill once said,  “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”  A successful business has give and get. Victoria De La Rios and her team at http://www.mymakeupartistvictoria.com, is helping me here. Both of us donating time and energy to the 8th Annual Taste of Hope, benefitting the American Cancer Society. It is held every year at 82Mercer.

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IT TAKES AN ARMY
HAIR & MAKEUP TAG TEAM
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AFTER:
FINISHING TOUCHES

AFTER:

It is amazing how you can start the day off one way and with a little help, hair and makeup, transform into something entirely different.

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AFTER
READY FOR THE WORLD

Taste of Hope is the American Cancer Society’s signature culinary, wine and spirits event featuring some New York’s most popular chefs, restaurants and beverage vendors. Here’s a freeze frame  from the quick interview with Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster and Food Network Fame.

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I watched him touch the heart of a cancer patient. It took her a good deal of strength to walkover and talk to him.

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I asked her about the experience. When I get the video together #neednewintern #rockethub I promise to share  her inspiring story with all you.

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In the end we celebrated more then Taste Of Hope. It was the American Cancer Society’s 100th Birthday. We closed on a strong note. When I close, you can expect a sell. This one is a pull on the purse strings for the American Cancer Society. Money raised on this night go to the goal of eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Together we save lives and create a world with more birthday’s.

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If you got this far and wonder about my need for an intern. That still exists! For more information on our blog, you can check out the website, tigerlilygreenwich.com.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

Dr.Suess

 

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BEFORE & AFTER: ONE DOOR SHUTS ANOTHER OPENS

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BEFORE & AFTER:  ONE DOOR SHUTS & ANOTHER OPENS

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TIGER LILY’S
OLD SCHOOL
241 East Putnam Ave

BEFORE:

BK, my amazing, high-octane momma started Tiger Lily’s on 404 West Putnam Avenue in Greenwich. The picture above is the second stop on the road 241 East Putnam Avenue. I love this picture. B, living her dream. There is a long story that gets her to this point that is deep, refreshing, inspiring and  full of all the life-struggles that make best-sellers sell. Through it all she’s remained determined, optimistic, creative energetic and open to all types of new growth. One day we will open to the door to that story.. for now we open it to the Old TL.

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INSIDE
241 EAST PUTNAM

241 East Putnam was a menagerie of chair frames, fabrics and books.  It was old school, classic grab a fabric and go!

AFTER:

I am honored to share the after with the help of WAG Magazine. Journalist Mary Shustack spent a few days getting to know me and the vision I have that started with my family to grow my brand.

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AFTER
154 Prospect Street
NEW SCHOOL

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CLICK TO LINK

http://www.wagmag.com/a-singular-style/

If you read the fine lines it gives you a true sense of what we are all about. I have love and gratitude for the magazine who helped in sharing my dreams. Perhaps it will invite more people to open our 154 Prospect Street door.

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INSIDE
154 Prospect Street
WELCOME

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls”

Joseph Campbell

 

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BEFORE & AFTER: NEW PEEPS & TWEETS IN MY POSSE

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DON’T WANT THEM DRAKE?
I DO!
#NEWFRIENDS

BEFORE & AFTER: NEW PEEPS IN MY POSSE

Drake doesn’t want them, but I do.  I am proud to profess, I have new peeps in my posse :)

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LAURA BEHIND THE SCENES
TALK TO THE HAND
KEEP TWEETING

Laura gave me the inside on Drake. I can’t take credit. Ask me about music and I am bound to tell you #bobmarley #onelove or that I loved the music from Broadway’s “Book Of Mormon..” I love the show and the thumbs up for gays. I give thumbs up, they give me ruby slippers. More on that later but  if you’ve seen it, you might agree Laura’s giving the Hasa Diga Eobowai here. She apparently doesn’t want anymore peeps herself spent the morning trying to raise our numbers. The limit for the day is 1,000.  I am 52 twitters strong @talktigerlilys. Follow me friends clearly I need more.

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Here’s some interesting facts: I found this on the website expandedramblings.com:

Sorry Drake, You didn’t want friends. Biebs does. Arguably to get to the land of #beliebers I have some distance to cover. I return back to the yellow brick road and the friends I met along the way and one that is a new twitter friend and overall blog fan. Enter Susan Jensen Smith @yourhomebetter. She recently shared my story:

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http://yourhomeonlybetter.com/the-wizard-of-art-and-upcycling/

The blog is called the “Wizard-of-Art and Upcycling. I am not sure I could say it any better myself. This does after all have to do with my Wizard of Oz booth. Here goes nothing…

BEFORE

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Here’s the sofa. It was bought on the cheap. I love to give to charity. That ‘s what this project was about. Design On A Dime for Housing Works. Everything I put into the booth raised money for the cause. I had to be resourceful. The upholstery we do in our custom workroom, http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com, is artisan in nature. It can be pricey and here I had  to save a buck. To cut the cost, I literally cut out the back.

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CUT SOFA
CUT COST

Once the back was out, the sofa became a day-bed. Less fabric, less labor and less out of pocket for me. We upholstered the daybed in Robert Allen’s Tularosa in Stirling.

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The Dynamo Daybed debuted in my Wizard of Oz booth. The new Queens in my posse loved it. It got two ruby slipper’s up.

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I generally finish my blog with a sell. I can’t sell the daybed. It sold.  I can pitch ny new friends,  Second Shout Out. Find some of my favorite “afters,” vintage finds and one-of-a-kind pieces at their website http://www.secondshoutout.com. A portion of the proceeds if you by my goods, go directly to me or pays Laura’s salary. Support our cause! Buy.

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To all my new friends, peeps in my posse, thank you for sharing in this journey with me…If the shoe fits rock it! Thank you all for continued support. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

“Live for yourself and you will live in vain;
Live for others, and you will live again.”
― Bob Marley

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BEFORE & AFTER: SOME WHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

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BEFORE & AFTER: SOME WHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

I will start with my intro: I am Samantha Knapp. Designer, Creator, Author and Creative Director of Tiger Lily’s Greenwich. Did I mention I love the camera? With out knowing, my eyes light up and I talk with my hands.

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HERE’S THE LINK TO YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okROtibFmdA

I was thrilled to be considered for the #Valspar #HouseBeautiful collaborative on color at the Housing Works Design On Dime #DOAD charity fundraiser. I think I know a little about color. I painted the walls of my booth Valspar’s Wave and Luscious Green.

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BEFORE:

BK found this desk on the street. She’s the most amazing Mom and the best source if you’re seriously looking to get a project done ”On A Dime.”   I owe it all to her and she never asks me to pay. The desk was a pick up.

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The best trick in town when you are looking to make something old— new again, is a fresh coat of paint. That’s Patti’s Portico. Located at 140 Highland Street in Port Chester, Charlie Osz is the only game in town if you are looking for a professional, high-gloss lacquer finish.

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INSIDE PATTI’S PORTICO

Oscar Wilde said this of color:

“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. ”

Charlie at Patti’s said this of primer:

“Always use Primer. Priming ensures better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability”

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AFTER:

We went with black. It is a Valspar color. Black is always the new Black. You seldom go wrong with that color.  It shines as brightly as the mirror.

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Housing Works sold the desk at a set value. That money will go to housing city homeless who are battling for home and health. Part of the mission of #HousingWorks is heal and care  for clients with HIV-AIDS.

IT’S A WRAP

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It ‘s a wrap, but not before thanking the many generous souls… my team at Tiger Lily’s(www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com) Charlie & Company @ Patti’s Portico.

My life is full of beautiful color and I am forever thankful for that.

Somewhere over the rainbow, with all that brilliant color from Valspar & House Beautiful,  I promise Dorothy is right… DREAMS COME TRUE.

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JERRY MCGUIRE MANIFESTO #11: KNOW YOUR VALUE

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JERRY MCGUIRE MANIFESTO #11: KNOW YOUR VALUE

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JERRY MCGUIRE MANIFESTO
KNOW YOUR VALUE

RULE #1

Pdiddy’s Instagram last night. @LauraBays sent this to me to remind me of my value.  The line between business and personal depends only on how dark you make it. My line is invisible to the naked eye. I am firm believer that what you learn in life applies to the entire picture. I have been asked a lot in Goldman Sachs 10-Thousand Small Businesses for a vision and a mission state.  Two more sepearate ideas that blur in lines. The mission statement of the Jerry McGuire Manifesto is easy so I will start there.  The mission is to feel good and teach lifestyle from personal experience.

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#11 is the understanding of value. I got a personal lessonlast night, as I was preparing to host the wonderfully talent and inspiring legendary designer, Christopher Hyland. This is a man who understands who he is and lives his life from that understanding. I attached a link to my introduction.

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CHRISTOPHER HYLAND SPEAKS AT NATIONAL ARTS CLUB
YOUTUBE INTRODUCTION:

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11dx6mln6xc&sns=em

Christopher Hyland is a leader in the industry. He believes in himself. He believes in his creativity and represents a high end luxury brand that is himself. That simple. That brand is tangible. You can buy his textiles. It is also an idea, you can buy his virtually.  The magazine is HYLAND.  Grab it on itunes as an app. His approach to lifestyle is forward thinking with a reflection on tradition. His brand is second to none.

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Christopher Hyland personifies the first tip to understanding your value. Believe in yourself and believe that what you want is possible for you. When you are balanced in your mind on who you are and what you stand for you can make the right decisions about the future. That opportunity to say yes or no in business and in relationships is powerful. It is your positive energy and your extreme value.

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As the lecture moved forward last night a personal relationship that I appreciated ended for me. I learned someone I really liked was interested in pursuing another relationship. Value also involves confidence. I bravely stated my value in the conversation. I am second to none. Value means knowing what you want and acting from it. Know this.  It is difficult at first but when you understand what you want, that has value. That value can be quanitified. When you set that value for yourself, you can act from that place. The world will take care of you.

Mind has value: It is the most powerful asset we have. Use it. Understand that the relationship you have with your own value is from one place. Apply your value to every aspect of your life and you will succeed.

“Love is an energy which exists of itself. It is its own value.“
Thornton Wilder

ONE LOVE

 

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BEFORE & AFTER: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

In the Wizard Of Oz, Dorothy says it best “There is no place like home.” This is not Kansas, but the concept is still the same. It is only fitting then that http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com when it came to Housing Works: Design On A Dime for charity, we turned to Oz.

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BEFORE:
BLANK CANVASS

BEFORE:
Two blank walls with vibrant colors from #Valspar. Luscious Green is on the right, the blue is called Wave. The concept, I thought was simple two colors to represent two characters Dorothy and the Wizard Of Oz with two totally different styles. Dorothy years later is still better in blue. Oz has traveled far.

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AFTER:
EMERALD CITY

AFTER:

This is our take. A yellow brick road, plants and picket sign. My take away from this experience is to follow your own yellow brick road. You never know where it will take you.  “If we walk far enough,” says Dorothy, “we shall sometime come to someplace.”  The journey has perhaps just begun.

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Thank you to Robert Allen for helping me to support Housing Works and please support Housing Works youself… go out and buy :)  For more information on Samantha Knapp or Tiger Lily’s, visit our website http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com.

 

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SAIL INTO TIGER LILY’S: COASTAL LIVING SHIP SHAPE FIND

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SAIL INTO TIGER LILY’S: COASTAL LIVING SHIP SHAPE FIND

Coast Living sings my song, before & after. So I loved getting the magazine and getting inspired. The pillows on Coastal Living’s May cover pop. The fabric is Kelly Wreastler’s Bengal Bazar for Lee Jofa.

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In honor of Coastal Living and nautical design, I am sharing these pillows in blue.  Buy them at Tiger Lily’s. The “EYE OF THE TIGER”

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BUY ME: $459.00 (PAIR)
http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com

This fabric, the name and our name got me thinkin… “EYE OF THE TIGER” Bengal + Ikat.  Here’s a quote from Rocky 3 when Apollo says to Rocky “Now, when we fought, you had that eye of the tiger, man; the edge! And now you gotta get it back, and the way to get it back is to go back to the beginning. You know what I mean?”

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BENGAL “IKAT”
EYE OF THE TIGER

Get these pillows get the edge :)  For more information on our blog, before & afters, shopping visit our website, http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com.

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BEFORE & AFTER: HOUZZ’S THIS FOR AN ANSWER

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BEFORE & AFTER: YOU’VE GOT A QUESTION? HOUZZ’S THIS FOR AN ANSWER

Houzz
Hi Samantha Knapp,
You have a new question on this photo.
maryrdagostino asked:
“ where is the island from?“

See Question

We got our first question on Houzz.com. If you have seen the site, it is a great resource for interior designers and home owners looking to be inspired. I love a good before & after so here’s the share.

THE DESTINATION:

I recycle. I am also a self proclaimed picker. That combination made the Greenwich Recycling Center a goldmine when spring afternoon. Recyling center is the Gucci word for Dump.

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DESTINATION DUMP
FINDER’S KEEPERS

BEFORE: 

I found these vintage cupboard doors. If I had to guess, I would have thought they came out of an old house demolition in back country Greenwich. For the record, this dump is very well maintained. It is like visiting the Taj Mahal.

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BEFORE:
KITCHEN CABINET DOORS
NO MONEY DOWN
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BEFORE:
ULINE SHELVE
ROUGHLY $100.00 BEFORE SHIPPING

I paired the doors with a base from ULINE. I like positioning of the metal with the wood, the old and new. There is a little bit to the project. I deep cleaned and sanded some of the finish off the doors to create a smooth surface. I then had them mounted onto the existing frame.

 

AFTER:

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AFTER:
COUNTER TOP

It’s been said “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  At Tiger Lily’s we take that literally. For more information on before & after’s visit our website, http://www.tigerlilysgreenwich.com.