It’s finally here: the first of our three before and after features in BHG’s Do It Yourself Magazine has arrived on newsstands. This feature documents a focused two-day photo shoot in our home and captures the styling decisions and small updates that made a big visual impact. We’re proud to share the result of that effort and to highlight what we learned about styling, photography, and presenting rooms for print.
If you followed along when we described the two-day photo shoot last October, you’ll recognize some of the same before photos. Watching professional stylists work on each room taught us a lot about how to highlight strengths, downplay challenges, and convey a clear design story in photographs. Those lessons influenced the styling choices you see in the published spread, from color balance and lighting to prop selection and layout.
One reason this feature is especially meaningful to us is that we wrote it ourselves — our first national magazine byline. Writing for print meant condensing ideas into clear, usable tips while still telling the story of each space’s transformation. We focused on practical, actionable advice readers can apply in their own homes, such as selecting the right paint finish, using artwork to anchor a vignette, and choosing textiles to introduce contrast and texture.
You can read our pages on DIYideas.com or pick up the glossy print version if you prefer the tactile experience of a magazine. Look for the Spring 2009 issue to find our spread; many stores still have copies of the current season, so check newsstands and magazine displays. The printed pages feature large photos and concise captions that walk you through each room’s before and after moments, making it easy to see how a few deliberate changes can create a refreshed, cohesive look.
Beyond our own ten-page spread, the issue offers a wealth of inspiration and practical DIY advice. It includes dramatic bathroom makeovers, a charming Los Angeles cottage renovation, and step-by-step painting tips that simplify common projects. Whether you’re planning a full room update or simply interested in small changes that make a big difference, the issue provides ideas, techniques, and product suggestions to help you get started.
We tried to keep the write-up helpful and relatable, offering guidance that works for a variety of budgets and styles. The styling choices featured in our photos demonstrate how to mix thrifted finds with a few purposeful purchases, how to rearrange existing furniture for better flow, and how to use color strategically to energize or calm a space. We also note how scale and negative space affect composition in photos and real life, which is useful whether you’re staging for pictures or simply living in the room.
We’d love to hear what you think about the feature. Which pages stood out to you? Which transformations do you find most inspiring? Tell us which projects you would actually tackle in your own home — whether it’s a simple repaint, a furniture rearrangement, or a more involved makeover. Your feedback helps shape future posts and the kinds of projects we share.
This is just Part I of our before and after story; Part II will appear in a few months. We’re excited to continue sharing the process and the results with readers, and to offer practical tips you can use in your own DIY projects. Stay tuned for more photos, lessons learned, and step-by-step guidance in upcoming installments.