Photo by Jennifer Moran (herekittyblog.blogspot.com) From top: Bedroom before, bedroom after, living room before, and living room after.

Waaaaay back in 1998, Jen and I met in our freshman dorm at Ithaca College. We instantly bonded over music, dramatic love lives, and (once we turned 21, of course), strange mixed drink concoctions.

Ten years later, we're older and wiser ... Thank goodness. And we have plenty of new things to bond over, including decorating and home improvement.

Jen is far away in Madison, Wis., but my before & after escapades have turned her into a loyal Give Me Shelter reader. Lately, she's been posting before & after photos of her own home on her blog. I love the paint colors she chose for her bedroom and living room, pictured here. Suddenly the walls in my house look so pale ...

What have you been doing in your own home? Email me some photos, info, and/or a link. If you inspire me, I'll post it here so you can inspire others, too.

I took the day off from work today to bake cookies and wrap presents. Throughout the holiday season, most kitchens really get a workout, and ours is no exception.

There are a lot of things I'd like to change about our kitchen, but the biggest problem is that it's tiny. Since we bought our house in 2005, we've made some changes to spruce it up and make it feel larger. Here's the "before and after" evidence:

Above, left: A photo of our kitchen in 2005. YIKES ... Just the wallpaper-countertop-flooring combo is enough to make anyone cringe.

Above, right: I took this photo today. The updated surfaces on the cabinets and countertop are a welcome change. The reflective backsplash and larger floor tiles help make the room feel more spacious.

Here's the short list of the improvements we've** made:

• Removed hardware and painted cabinets -- The dual-tone colors add some character, and the darker color matches the trim color, so the edges of cabinets blend into doorways and windows.
• Replaced countertop -- I'm not sure how much this helped create the feeling of more space, but the existing countertop was really outdated.
• Added backsplash, a faux tin that's normally used on ceilings -- The shiny surface reflects light and creates the feeling of a larger space. It's also less expensive and easier to install than regular tile.
• Replaced trim around doors and windows -- We used the same simple wood trim, painted an espresso color, throughout the house, which helps unifies the space. The clean lines make small rooms seem less cluttered.
• Replaced super-ugly floor tiles -- The 12x12" checker pattern is larger than the designs used on most floors, which actually makes the room seem twice as big. The muted colors (faux stone and marble) also help enlarge the space.
• Replaced regular-sized fridge with an apartment-sized model -- We keep the larger one in the basement for overflow food storage.
• Removed wallpaper and painted walls -- The small, striped pattern on the wallpaper clashed with everything and made the room feel claustrophobic.
• Added a freestanding, rolling dishwasher -- It hooks up to the sink, and is much easier than washing everything by hand. The top adds some much-needed counter space.

** When I say "we," I mean mostly my husband, who is one of those amazingly skilled, creative, DIY types.