Budget Decorating: Styling An Ikea Etagere

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Veronica Solomon

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I regularly receive emails from folks asking about budget decorating, especially how to take an inexpensive piece of furniture and making it look fabulous. To address those questions, I decided to do a little segment every once in a while on my blog called “Budget Decorating” where I will highlight some projects done on a tight budget.

I have to admit that Ikea was never a place that I have shopped in the past for my clients, but I have found that one or two pieces placed in the context of a well designed room works just as well as a pricier piece.

I myself, have used a couple of their pieces to fill some space and add some function in my new work-in-progress design studio.

The office area (formerly the only bedroom in this old Victorian) is currently set up as a place to sit with my clients and discuss the numbers part of their design projects, review and sign contracts etc, and where I will be doing paperwork. I wanted it to be comfortable, light and airy and a clutter-free zone. I will be showing the finished space in a future blog post, but for now I wanted to focus on how I addressed a dead space that is the walkway to the other rooms in the space.

Since I am on a really tight budget I decided to bring in an inexpensive Ikea etagere to fill the area without visually or physically taking up space. I chose the etagere because it was open, with very clean lines and had glass shelves that helped to give it a less obtrusive appearance.

Ikea Vittsjo Shelving

Ikea Vittsjo Shelving

The etagere started out as a box of parts, and I am eternally grateful to my friend Courtney for helping me put it together. He was able to assemble it in about half an hour. The cost for this run of the mill metal shelving was $70.00

Here’s what it looks like now

After Styling of teh Ikea Vittsjo Shelving

After Styling of teh Ikea Vittsjo Shelving

I now call it an etagere because that sounds a bit more fancy than shelving.

For about $120.00 I was able to solve the issue of the dead space in the walkway with something beautiful and functional. Most of the tcotchkes you see here, are just left overs from long ago projects or things laying around my garage from my recent move. I did purchase the new picture frames (pictures of the kids will be added ) and rosette candle holders from ZGallerie. The etagere provided a great place to display a few of my design books and magazines.

The key to styling a bookcase, etagere or shelving is to mix up the textures, layering, adding various heights and levels, adding softness with florals, keeping the colors fairly consistent or complementary, and using things that have special meaning to you. I displayed a few of my favorite design books & magazines, and my 1920′s peacocks are a favorite treasure – I love peacocks and birds in general

Other items that you can use are baskets or storage boxes on the bottom shelves to add some visual weight and ground the whole unit. I chose not to because I wanted to keep it open and airy.

This etagere can be used in any room of your home really – In a kitchen as extra storage for cook books, wine bottles or dishes. In a bedroom closet as a place for shoes or sweaters. In a game room or kids’ play area for storing games and toys. In a laundry room for storing detergent and cleaning supplies. In a garage to get things up off the floor (if you’re anything like me ), and even in the pantry for storing cereal boxes and canned goods. You can even ”bunch” two or three or more side by side to fill a large wall space and add tons of storage in a room.

Where would you use this Ikea etagere and what are some favorite items you would display? Leave me a comment below

One more thing before I go. If you like Ikea prices but not necessarily the look of some of their pieces, this website has tons of products and ideas that you can use to add some fabulousness to a plain piece. Check out O’Verlays Decorative Fretwork Panels to see what I mean

I hope you have been inspired by my budget decorating! Now go forth and decorate!

Please share this post and contact me here if you have any questions about my design services. You can also connect with me on social media through the same link.

Visit my online store to purchase designer bedding, pillows, rugs and the recently added doggy styles (dog fashion, beds and carriers).

Have a very blessed Monday!

Be Inspired!

Check out the new DOGGY STYLES category on our online store

Check out the new DOGGY STYLES category on our online store

Designer Thingies: What The Heck Is It?

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Veronica Solomon

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It’s that time again, to play another game of “What The Heck Is It?

As a reminder, the way the game works is: I post a picture of a product or tool that is often used in my line of work as an Interior Decorator, but is most likely unknown to you if you are not in the design industry. You, my loyal readers get the chance to guess what the heck the product or tool is and what it is used for. Leave a comment below with your best guess! The answer will be revealed in my blog post for the following day, and of course I will give a shout out to everyone who correctly guesses “What The Heck Is It?”

Are you ready for today’s product?!

Here goes!

There it is! Please leave your comment below with your best guess of what the heck this product is and what it is used for. Feel free to share this post as well so others can participate! I will reveal the answer in my blog post for tomorrow. Good luck guessing “What The heck Is It?”

Before I leave you for today, here are few quick, easy and budget friendly decorating tips that you could do in a weekend to update your home.

Small-Changes-lamp-shade-0910-de

Switch out those blah white lampshades for a patterned or embellished lamp shade
Or embellishing the white or off-white lampshades that you currently have. Use iron on letters that you can find at a craft store to give the look of a custom monogram.
Add cabinet knobs to dress up boring cabinetry. MyKnobs.com has a great selection
Paint the ceiling in a room. Ceilings often get ignored, why not make them the 5th wall?
Add a chair rail in a room for a classic touch
Add floating shelves in a bathroom (maybe above the toilet) for more storage. If you are really handy, make a shadow box storage shelf from an old picture frame
Pull your collectibles out of boxes and drawers and use them to style a bookcase. Display them in groupings and mix in other objects like books for a designer look
Add decorative pillows to jazz up a boring sofa.
Or my favorite thing to dress up a room – add a small vignette, like a tray full of beautiful and special pieces for a master bedroom or bath.

Decorica Blog

Decorica Blog

Photo source: Country Living Magazine

Hope you are inspired to do a bit of budget decorating this weekend. If you’d rather not go the DIY route, I am available to assist you with your decorating needs. Contact me here

Have fun guessing what the heck the product above is and what it is used for. Please come back tomorrow to find out!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Be Inspired!

Design Dilemma: The Black Leather Sofa!

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Veronica Solomon

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I have to be honest with you…..It’s a designer’s worst nightmare to walk into a consultation with a client, and be informed that their black leather sofa set from college has to be a part of the new decor!

A few years ago I received a call from a newly wed couple in their early twenties. Such a cute couple they were. They had just bought a home, and of course just paid for wedding, so their budget was very limited. They wanted to have a nicely decorated home since they entertained a lot. Most of their furnishings were hand me downs in different styles from different design periods, garage sale finds, and stuff left over from college. Of course, my ultimate nightmare….a black leather sofa, loveseat and a reclining chair to match! Being the fabulous decorator I am, I accepted the challenge Since they were on a tight budget, I just helped them to come up with a decorating plan that they could tackle in phases on their own, and of course work around the black leather sofa set. I don’t have photos from that project, but I pulled some photos from various sources found on the internet to illustrate some of the ideas I shared with them to address their design dilemma.

So if you are the proud owner of a black leather sofa set, don’t lose hope…..Every design dilemma has a fabulous solution. Follow these five tips to making black leather look intentional and work in your home beautifully.

1. Offset the darkness of the black leather with lighter colors. Paint the walls a soft, warm white or a soft taupe or gray. Add lighter colored throw pillows in a nice mix of patterns and textures to breakup the large expanse of black leather. If you already have occasional tables in a dark finish, consider painting them a lighter color as well. Add a patterned area rug to pull some of the focus away from the leather goods. It also helps if the predominant color of the rug is a light color.

This sofa is a bit more elegant than the one we had to work with, but the same principles apply.

2. Playup other focal points in the room and shift focus away from the black leather. You can do this by adding large scale and colorful artwork on the walls, adding a tall bookcase that is styled very well, adding drapery panels in a great fabric, or highlighting the existing focal points in the room, such as a fireplace.

3. Consider using just one piece from the collection and moving the other pieces into another room. Not because they were purchased as a set doesn’t mean they have to stay together forever. It is very overwhelming to have a room full of matching black furniture. Breaking up the set will give the room a more collected and homey feel with a lot more personality, especially if you are working with hand me downs and pieces from different styles and periods. Just maintain a common color theme to tie it all together.

4. Consider re-covering the seat cushions. This solution probably won’t work with every sofa, but if you are going for a more traditional look, and the sofa isn’t too contemporary and streamlined, this might work great. Check out the remnant section of your local fabric store and choose an upholstery grade fabric with a color and pattern to complement the room. Find a good upholsterer and have the sofa cushions re-covered with a zipper opening for easy cleaning later. Re-covering the cushions will help break up the large expanse of black leather. Then add your throw pillows and a throw blanket to finish off the look.

These examples are dark brown and not black leather, but will hopefully give you an idea.

5. Color change or dye the sofa. Believe it or not, you can actually change the color of a leather or vinyl sofa to an easier color to decorate around, like dark brown or tan. I have never done this or commissioned this myself, but have found information than it can easily be done as a DIY project. (I am therefore not endorsing this method, but giving you food for thought). Here’s a link to a video I found that explains how.

Of course there is the option to completely reupholster the black leather sofa using a great fabric. From my experience, however, it can be just as expensive, or even more than buying a new sofa. If the sofa frame is of quality construction, then it may be a cost effective method in the long run and the options are endless to customizing the fabric. A master upholsterer can even change the shape and size (within reason). Care should be taken when selecting fabrics for upholstery. You can read my recent blog post about “How To Look For Quality Upholstery” here

As you have just learned, there are definitely clever ideas you can use to breakup the look of black leather and make it feel like it belongs in a beautifully appointed room. Leather does have great benefits like being easy to clean and comfortable for the family, so if function is high on your priority list – you can certainly have the best of both worlds!

Please don’t forget to comment and share

Be Inspired!

Veronica Solomon

Veronica Solomon

7 DIY Decorating Ideas Under $100

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Veronica Solomon

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You asked for it, and here it is – A list of practical decorating ideas that you can do yourself for under $100. So without further ado, here goes:

1. Ceiling Medallions As Wall Art

You’re familiar with those plaster or plastic ceiling medallions used for hanging light fixtures…right? Bet you won’t look at them quite the same.

They can be painted into whatever color your heart desires and can easily be hung with a picture hanging kit from Home Depot or Lowes. Hanging them in groupings have a much bigger visual impact. Take a look

2. Fabric Covered Boxes

If you have fabric remnants left over from another DIY or sewing project, you can use them to cover wooden boxes. You can find these at your local craft store like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby. Your local fabric and craft store may also have fabric remnants for very little cost.

Fabric covered boxes make a great decorative element when styling bookshelves or they work great for storage in other parts of your home. Here’s a quick how-to instructions on creating your own fabric covered boxes from Centsational Girl Blog

3. Children’s Artwork As Framed Originals

I have touched on this one before in a previous blog post “It’s The Little Things”. Kids create such wonderful and colorful art, that always have a fun or cute story behind them.

All you need for this project is artwork, matte boards and frames, which are available at Micheal’s or Hobby Lobby. Hanging them salon style or in a neat grid on one big wall has such a major impact, not just on your decor, but on your child’s self confidence and creativity.

4. Decorating With Burlap

It’s no surprise that these days burlap has become widely popular and in demand for home decor. You can now find burlap on fine upholstery, pillows, drapery and home accessories. But did you know that burlap was used for packaging coffee and sugar? The rustic, textural character of burlap is what makes it so desirable. It lends itself to a homey, cozy feeling, which is always welcoming in home decor.

It is now available in colors other than the traditional beige/brown color. In fact we have custom burlap drapery panels available on our online store starting at just $269 per pair! But if you have basic sewing skills, you can make your own for under $100.00. Or maybe a pillow, tableskirt or even a wreath is more within your comfort zone? Here are some inspiration photos

5. Wallpapering The Back Of A Bookcase

Built-in bookcases are a great architectural feature in a room. Why not dress them up with remnant wallpaper that you can find at your local wallpaper supplier quite inexpensively. Peel and stick wallpapers are widely available online in wonderful colors and patterns. Roommates Wall Decals is a great place to start.

One thing to consider when picking a wallpaper for this application, is to look for bold or geometric patterns or a pattern that will not get lost behind the decorative accessories that will be placed on the shelves. keep accessories to a minimum, as the wallpaper is the big feature and you want to avoid a cluttered, over decorated look

6. Painting An Accent Wall….. Or Four, With Large Horizontal Stripes

Painting an accent wall a darker or bolder color is a great way to add a focal point to a room that lacks any architectural interest. Instead of stopping at just a solid coat of paint, why not do a horizontal stripe detail?

Depending on the mood you want to create in the room, you can go with 2 colors with a high contrast for a bold look, or two colors that are close in value for a more monochromatic or tone-on-tone look. Metallic paints work great for this application as well, but keep in mind that metallic paints will cost a bit more. The stripes should be at least 8″ thick for a more updated look. Here are instructions for creating horizontal stripes in a room

7. Electrical Wire Spool As A Table, Stool Or Ottoman

This one is my personal favorite! Who knew that such beautiful pieces could be made from those not so attractive, industrial spools. Electrical wire spools can be found at electrical supply stores or do a google search and you will find many resources for where you can purchase them very inexpensively.

The structure of the spools themselves don’t require alot of rework. A can of paint is enough to transform them into something special. But if you want to take it a few steps further….check these out.

So there you have it – A list of seven fun DIY decorating projects for under $100. Now it’s time to go forth and decorate!

Please don’t forget to comment and share if you found these tips useful. You can also check out my monthly newsletter “Pocket Decorator” for more fun design tips, ideas and inspiration. Click here to subscribe. I promise I won’t flood your inbox with emails.

Be Inspired!

Veronica Solomon

Veronica Solomon

A Little Bit Of Shopping Therapy

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Veronica Solomon

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For those of you who follow me on Facebook you may have seen the post that my car was broken into yesterday in the parking lot of my design studio. Both windows on the passenger side were shattered and it appeared as though they were trying to steal it altogether. I won’t talk too much more about it, as I am still a bit shaken up, but I am blessed to be ok and nothing valuable was taken from my car. I have shared a photo on both my Face Book pages if you want to take a look.

With that aside, I was delighted that my next door neighbor, whose pool is in the final stages of construction, has asked for my help with the decorations of the lounging and dining areas. She will be throwing a big party in a few weeks to break-in her new pool, and needs some decorative items very quickly and on a tight budget! No time for custom pieces, so a little bit of shopping therapy is in order! I decided to head to a few online retailers. Let’s see what I was able to find:

Her wish list:

Avoid grandma wicker (Her words, not mine :-))
Conversation area and dining area
Clean lines and contemporary
Classic touches
Feels comfortable, more like indoors than outdoors
Not very bright colors, subtle but still has some presence
Cleans easily

We were lucky to find this clean-lined, contemporary set at Home Decorators. We won’t be needing the tables since we don’t want everything to match exactly. We will also be changing the cushions and pillows to bring in some subtle color

This beautiful rug will anchor the seating area. It’s made for outdoors so cleans very easily.

A couple of these ceramic garden stools will act as occasional tables in the seating area

We’ll be re-covering this pouf and adding it to the seating area. Great for reclining and putting feet up on

This zinc dining table is also from Home Decorators and will add the classic touch that she is after

These are the chairs that will complete the dining area. Cushions will also be changed to ones with a bit more color

Some pillows and cushions will be added. We may have time to add custom pillows, in which case we can better coordinate our fabrics

We will also add some accent lighting

Can’t forget about the dishware and serving pieces. Great opportunity to add a bit of whimsy!

Of course, lots of potted plants

Basically, since my neighbor hired me on a consultation only basis, I will provide her with a plan and direction for the project and she will be responsible for purchasing, tracking, managing and installing herself. The plan will include a furniture layout, a more detailed shopping list than the one above (Including photos and dimensions), fabric selection for the items we will customize, elevation of any key design feature, and budget breakdown.

I don’t get to do very many patios, so it was great being a part of this mini project.

Hopefully she likes everything, and hopefully you found some inspiration to go forth and decorate your own outdoor spaces.

One final note – There is an upside to not having windows in your car. I got to enjoy the beautiful weather this morning on my drive to the collision center to get my windows replaced. At every stop light (and I caught every single one), I got to hear the birds singing their beautiful morning songs….I honestly have never taken the time to enjoy the beauty around me, but this morning I couldn’t help basking in the beauty of nature that we so often igonore. Have a blessed day!

Be Inspired!

Veronica Solomon

Veronica Solomon

Decorating in Stages

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Veronica Solomon

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In today’s economy where consumers are trying to get the most for their money, decorating a living space is no exception. There is a great hesitation, however when it comes to taking on a decorating project. The common misconception is that it all needs to be done at once, and it will cost a small fortune. Enhancing a room can be easy and cost conscious if it is carefully planned and evolves as time and budget allows.There are great benefits to decorating in stages: (1) by taking the time to get to know the space and how you want it to function will leave no doubt in your mind about what pieces of funiture the space needs. (2) by assembling a room in stages you have more time to do research, comparison shop and take advantage of seasonal sales and markdowns.

While the end result can be beautiful, the process can be a bit haphazard. Here are a few ways to simplify the process and still end up with the same great results.

Stage One

Painting the room will give you instant gratification and the biggest impact in the space. Paint is a very inexpensive way to change the look and mood of a room. If you are handy with a roller and paint brush, then it is a great do-it-yourselfer project which will save you the expense of hiring a paint contractor.

Adding window treatments is also a great way to give a big impact right away. Most drapery workrooms can customize simple drapery panels for not a lot of money. If a custom workroom is still beyond your budget, try purchasing ready-made panels at any home decor store. The draw back to this is that you have to work around the color schemes they have available, and they are usually a bit shorter than most standard windows require. If choosing a color becomes an issue, then stick to something neutral that will work with any color scheme. If the panels are shorter than what you need, you may be able to attach a coordinating fabric to the top or bottom for a custom look. If you are handy with a sewing machine, then the sky is the limit!

Arranging the existing furniture you have is the next step in stage one. If you only have a few pieces of furniture, it’s best to arrange them in one main conversation area for the biggest impact, instead of lined up against walls. Later as you acquire new pieces, you can arrange secondary seating areas throughout the room. It is best to always start with a scaled floorplan. It doesn’t have to be a professional floorplan; all that is needed is a piece of graph paper and a tape measure. Play with different arrangements to find the one that’s right for the room.

Finally in stage one, arranging your existing accessories in a pleasing way. Remember that sometimes less is more, so resist the temptation to bring too many small scaled pieces back into the room. Adding pillows to a sofa is a very inexpensive way to make a big impact and enhance your color scheme.

Stage two

Bringing in an area rug at this stage is a great way to define the conversation area and anchor the furniture arrangement. It is important not to skimp on quality when it comes to area rugs, but with some good research you can find great quality rugs for under $1000 and have money in your budget for some more accessories or even an accent chair or two. Keep in mind you are always tweaking your floorplan for each new piece of furniture you add.

Stage three

Bringing in some art work at this stage will get the room to the “fiinished” look. Also adding a secondary seating area complete with an occasional table will finish off the room. This is the stage where you can consider reupholstering the sofa if it was a bit more worn than you would like. Maybe replacing the ceiling fan with a fun new light fixture or adding another layer to your window treatment.

Each stage should be an improvement and should take you one step closer to a full makeover. At the end of these stages, you will have a beautiful and well pulled together room. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Be systematic and organized. Start by arranging the furniture you have. Evaluate it to see where the holes are, then make a shopping list and prioritize it. When shopping, always carry a list of measurements (doorways, windows, etc.), samples of fabric or carpet, and paint or wood chips.

2. Give furniture a test drive. Take furniture out on approval when possible. The best way to see if it really fits in a room is to try it there.

3. Watch for bargains. Showroom sample sales are great places to pick up designer furniture at good prices. To find out when these sales happen, call your local design center or check the website of a showroom you like. Add your name to the mailing lists of favorite retail stores to be notified of big sales.

4. Don’t settle. It’s tempting to buy furniture as a quick fix to fill a room, but such purchases often are unsuccessful long-term solutions. Only buy furniture you really love.

5. Consider using a designer. Interior designer fees vary, but you can usually count on their time costing 10 to 15 percent of your budget. Although that means around $300 of a $3,000 budget, a designer’s recommendations could help you make sound choices that save money in the long run.

Photos Source: BHG.com

Please click here to contact me for questions about my design services

Be Inspired!

Veronica Solomon

Veronica Solomon

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