If you have a nest egg waiting in the wings,
congratulations! Figure out a short list of most-desirable splurges-for
example, an armoire and a fireplace-and make those special purchases. Continue
to use the advice and ideas in this book to keep your budget in check. That
way, you'll have cash left for a great vacation after all the work is done! Any
great play features three components: a terrific set, charismatic stars, and
talented supporting players.
When
you set out to do a room makeover, think of your room as a stage and consider the
key elements that will appear there: The background is your stage set, the
primary purchase is your star, and the accents are supporting actors. You'll
learn how to balance and layer these elements so your makeover stays on budget
and achieves marvelous style.
Broadway
producer has to decide where to invest the budget. Will the bulk of the bucks
go toward the star's paycheck? Or will this play be known for its breathtaking
sets?
Perhaps an important supporting role will require a well-paid actor. As
an investor in your own little home production, you get to decide where to
funnel the finances-or how to slice the decorating pie, above, so to speak. The
decorating pie can be sliced in a variety of ways, depending on your goals and
interests. To allocate your budget, consider the pieces of the pie and decide how
big you'd like each piece to be: BACKGROUND.
Think
of your room as an empty stage waiting for the set director (that's you!) to
make the transformation. What role do you want the four walls, the ceiling, and
the floor to play? Do you want them to serve as the driving force of the room
with brilliant painted hues, powerful pattern, or glimmering metallic leaf? Or
do you want the background to be quiet and understated? Your answer will depend
on your ultimate goals for the room.
Consider
the players that will comes onstage next-your primary purchase, such as a large
sofa or a bed, and the accessories and accents you want to add to the scheme.
If you know you want a drop-dead gorgeous sofa to be the highlight of the room,
for example, downplay the background and invest a good chunk of your cash in
your primary purchase. The walls can still sport great color; find a bold color
chip and then take it down a notch or two to let the sofa stand in the spotlight.
If you're reusing an existing sofa and you're not thrilled with its look, choose
a sophisticated solid-color slipcover and invest in a dramatic pattern or color
on the walls, ceiling, and floor.
For example, in Mississippi: Winsmere Way,
below left, He dressed the walls of a bedroom in dramatic red toilet fabric-with
results that are well worth the significant expense. A bed, sofa, and
decorative items in the room take on lesser roles.
The
sofa- a thrift store find-helped stay on budget. A curving armoire that was
custom-built to keep costs down adds grandeur to the room without upstaging the
walls. We transform an ordinary office into a handsome library retreat by
dressing the walls in moldings and various shades of green and brown.
