I am finally finished with my “$200 or less makeover challenge”, Yippee!!! It took a lot longer than I thought, but I am pleased with the results. You’ll be happy to know that the $200 I gave myself to spend was quite more than enough. See below for my breakdown of cost, but for now check out my “before and afters”.

The first thing I wanted to do was make a plan for the wall decor. I took a mirror I have had since college (it was gold with crackle paint) and painted it white. Then I took sandpaper and lightly distressed it. I did the same with some Ikea candle sconces I had lying around.

Then I just had to try out this new “studio style” trend. This means to hang your art at different levels (kind of a collage of art that has grown as you hang your masterpieces, as you would do in an art studio). I took wallpaper samples I had from discontinued wallpaper books and framed them with frames I already had. I especially love the fruit topiary wallpaper. It looks so french! I cut out a metallic damask pattern and pasted it to the corners of the small square frame and placed stripes of fabric inside. The mirrors I found at a yard sale for $1.00 for all three. I drew a sketch of the hanging plan before I went hammering holes in the wall. However, this was still the easiest hanging job I have ever done, because nothing had to be level. I love “studio style”. I posted previously about my lovely “french chicken wire lampshade”. I bought it at work for $29.00.

Then came the all important window treatments. As you can see above, the old silk panels were fading and to dark. This room has a full sliding glass door, so the window treatments needed to be light and blend. Changing the window treatments from a dark, bold color, to a soft, subtle linen made all the difference!!

This orange wall was the bane of my existence! I hated it sooo much. I matched the soft linen color of the other wall and just painted the one wall. I spent $24.00 on paint and supplies.  The walls being all one color and light made the room feel twice as big.

Then it was on to the clean up of this mess I called a desk. How I was ever inspired, I will never know. First I dealt with the UGLY table. I bought 4 legs at Ikea at $10.00 each. Then I wallpapered the top with a lovely “tone on tone” art nouveau pattern wallpaper I had leftover from a display at work. I made a skirt (to cover the unsightly cords) with a luxurious silk. I pleated it with a staple gun underneath the table and then attached a pretty blue polka-dot ribbon in each pleat with Velcro for contrast. Now I actually like sitting at my desk!

As you see, I covered the entire door with white grommet panels I had previously. I moved the rod as close as I could to the ceiling to add height to the room. I love the window treatments, and they are all from Ikea!! The white lets so much light in the room. It no longer feels like a cave.

I bought the rod at “Ross dress for less”. Yup, and for only $15.oo!

Here is a better picture of the desk skirt.

I picked up a couple of urns for $10.00 each.

See the cute blue polka-dot ribbon, isn’t it cute. I love the wallpaper on the desk top. It blends to nicely.

I know the carpet is an issue. I am working on it though. I have one philosophy I have learned to follow. Never buy just because it is a deal, only buy if you love it. I haven’t found a rug I love yet, so I haven’t bought one.

So here is the cost breakdown.

Paint and supplies $24.00

Table legs $40.00

Curtain rod $15.00

Lampshade $29.00

Mirrors $1.00

Desk accessories $20.00

Total- $129.00

Wow, I have money leftover!! I think I will spend the remainder on some perfectly soft robin’s egg blue candles for my sconces (I don’t have any because I am being picky about the color), and some lovely flowers for my desk. Oh, and some Starbucks to give me energy after this project. So I hope this inspires you to do a little brainstorming to figure out how you can transform a room by moving things around in your home and finding great deals that really are out there. It does take time, but it is so worth it.

Some fabulous random inspiration for ya’. I love the tone on tone neutrals in this first pic. The art above the fireplace adds just enough warmth to the room with splashes of yellow. One of the best things about this room is the warm light streaming through the big french doors, although everything is pretty fabulous is this room.

I love the symmetry in this room. Sometimes symmetry is just the way to go. I also love how they separated the large room with two different seating arrangements (one in front of the sofa, and one behind). This is such a great way to make a large room more intimate. A great suggestion when arranging furniture, put the sofa in the center of the room and not against the wall (if there is any possible way to do so). It creates a much more interesting designer look and breaks up an open floor plan by visually creating separate spaces.

The warmth in this room is amazing. yet everything in the room isn’t dark and overpowering (an easy mistake I see people make when trying to create a warm color palette). The key: add splashes of warm color in a mostly neutral room. I love how they placed the large art piece above the fireplace, in cool blue tones, to break up the warm tones. This creates just enough contrast to relax the eye, another reason why this room is not overwhelmingly warm and dark.

Ah, my favorite color, pink. Just a few splashes will due. The window treatment is amazing in this room. This classic with a great pleated detail is fabulous, and is paired with panels in the same fabric (just goes to show that you can use different window treatment styles in the same room in some cases). Love the soft linen sofa!

Wow, warm gold and beige tones with white walls! It does work! I have been saying this to my clients for years and this is such a great picture to dig up for a little backup now’n'then. I love the splashes of warm orange and the artwork is amazing.

I love the yellow sofa, and these last two rooms happens to be some of the few times I say white walls rock! Key here, fill the room with color and texture elsewhere, and the walls can be white and fabulous. Another key, you simply must have fabulous artwork on white walls.

pics via House Beautiful, Desire to Inspire, CotedeTexas, Things that Inspire 

Here are some more beautiful window treatments. I hope you get some great ideas from these!

 This next treatment is great. I just adore a boxpleat with a banding. This boxpleat I found especially unique, the way it is staggered in and out across the window.

via www.traditionalhome.com

 

I love the softness of color on this next treatment.

via http://www.casafiora.com

via http://www.casafiora.com

from my shop