Tag Archives: budget

Creating a stylish home on a budget

Posted on June 18, 2016 | Leave a comment

Sometimes you walk into a home and it’s hard to put your finger on exactly why, but you just know it oozes style. And it’s not all about the contents of the house either, but rather the way they are displayed. I am regularly asked what defines a “stylish” home and after some serious contemplation and memory archiving, I have managed to compile a shortlist of commonalities. The one thing I can assure you of, though, is the non-existent correlation between style and the state of people’s bank accounts. It needs more than money thrown at it – as they say, “you just can’t buy style”.

Knowing where to bomb money

The other differentiator with stylish homes is their sixth sense of knowing where to bomb their money. And the more interesting ones are not full of high-priced unachievable items either, but rather an interesting mix of inexpensive with collectible. I have met many a homeowner that has chosen a decrepit old couch from a junk store for its shape but had it reupholstered in the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier fabric so that you would never know its original price tag. And others that have mixed a high end dining table with chairs from IKEA. Knowing where to spend it, and what to spend it on can be the game changer to a layered and stylishly appointed space.

In my humble opinion, it’s often these traits that are “invisible to the naked eye” that set a home apart from the crowd – rather than its contents alone – and define it as stylish.

The $100 Bathroom Makeover

Posted on March 4, 2016 | Leave a comment

1.Hang a new shower curtain and liner

There are lots of pretty, affordable shower curtains out there. If you decide on a curtain with a design, treat it like a wall tapestry, and play with colors from the design in the rest of your bathroom decor. Consider buying a new one and washing the liner you have: Even plastic liners can be washed in cold water in the washing machine, along with some towels. (The towels help scrub mold and mildew from the liner.)

To create even more drama, hang an extra-tall shower curtain; use a tension curtain rod to avoid adding holes to the walls. Elongated shower curtains will make the room look taller, not to mention hide any less-than-fashionable tiling you’ve got in the shower.

Total estimated cost: $10 to $20

2. Swap a standard showerhead for a raincan

A raincan showerhead is the ultimate quick fix when it comes to adding a little luxury to a ho-hum shower. It can transform your everyday lather into a lavish experience, which is why you’ll almost always find them at spas and in luxury hotel rooms. Find an affordable one on sites like Amazon, install it yourself, and make sure to take it with you once you move out. (Read: Don’t toss the one you’re replacing, or be prepared to give up a chunk of your security deposit.)

Budget Finds (Kmart, Marshalls) from Million Dollar Decorators

Posted on December 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Kathryn Ireland is known for her California casual approach to classic French and English country house decor, and fans of “Million Dollar Decorators” find her excitable demeanor and eccentric proclamations endearing. Strolling the aisles at Marshalls, Ireland suggests looking at whatever catches your eye, even if it turns out to be hideous. “I always say you’ve got to have some bad taste in house,” she says. “I am serious. Because if everything is perfect, the thing that is not takes on its own life. You might buy something on a trip or get something from your grandmother that is not good taste and you should flaunt it.”

Here, with a basket already filled with Le Creuset cookware in a vivid orange-red and a collection of yellow glass bottles, Ireland scans the pillow shelves.

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