Small Change, Big Difference

Sublime Style for $10,000 or Less

Written by Peggy Ann Brown

Showcasing a personal collection brings charm to a bedroom and new appreciation to those special pieces.

Consider smaller design changes for $10,000 or less that add pizzazz to your home without tearing down the walls.

Keep in mind that low cost projects do not have to be about cutting corners. Imagine instead that one magnificent wall mural or exquisite architectural detail that creates the “wow” factor in your home.

The Power of Paint

“Color can be the biggest psychological boost to making an entire room feel different,” says Lynni Megginson, principal designer of L&M Designs in North Potomac, Md. “It’s one of the most cost effective changes you can make.”

Supplementing paint with texture and decorative art increases a room’s individuality even further. Megginson created a Zen feel to a client’s master bath by exchanging the all-white interior for creamy blue walls and an Asian-themed mural above the bathtub.

Photos by Mike Megginson, courtesy of L&M Designs

A spare room is the perfect place to indulge your decorating fantasies
with new wallpaper and bedding and such details as throw pillows,
fun lamps, and well-placed accessories.

“By adding something totally unexpected, a boring, plain bathroom turned into a spa-like oasis,” says Megginson.

Federico Roman, project coordinator for Benchmark Painting’s decorative painting division, uses a similar approach.

“Paint transforms a room,” says Roman, who adds visual interest with wall textures and borders. He often uses Venetian plaster to create a simple, Mediterranean feel.

“Venetian plaster is an old technique that makes a room more elegant, without being too fancy,” says Roman. “It gives a sophisticated look to a room that is too traditional or common.”

Roman also suggests embellishing walls with painted borders. He replaced a standard chair rail with a stenciled Greek chain, adding a unique charm to a formal dining room. A whimsical border of cartoon animals transformed a plain room into a charming nursery.

Guest Room Ingenuity

Focusing on one specific room allows your creativity full expression. Megginson considers guest rooms especially challenging: “They’re often the catchall for old furniture,” she says. “But they’re also fun outlets for your creativity because you don’t have to follow anyone else’s taste.” Megginson took a plain Jane space and created a French country bedroom for under $10,000 by coordinating bedding and wallpaper and adding hand painted lamps and blue and white china.

“This room makes guests feel special,” says Megginson. “Any room can benefit from the same technique of adding textures and patterns without overwhelming the budget.”

Photos courtesy of Cabin John Construction

Dressing up the front door enhances a home’s
architecture and welcomes guests in style.

Curb Appeal

Adding personality to your home begins with the entrance, says Don Cable, owner of Cabin John Construction in Cabin John, Md.

“Walking up to a front door gives you that first impression,” says Cable. “Using a cheap $300 door on a custom home is like putting 50-mile tires on a Ferrari-it just doesn’t add up.”

Cable finishes, stains, and installs door blanks that clients have purchased from specialty manufacturers such as Georgia Art Glass.

To combat the “cookie cutter look” found on many homes, he recommends adding a trim system-base, pilasters, and pediment-to the front door.

“You can dress the front entrance with new trim capped in copper,” says Cable. “Add a new storm door, mail box, and exterior light, and you’ve created curb appeal.” Further enhancements under $10,000 include adding shutters and window boxes, replacing a vinyl porch ceiling with a beaded ceiling, and installing a ceiling fan on a covered porch.

Photo by Christian Molina, courtesy of Benchmark Painting

Create an elegant, Old World feel in any room using
faux finishes such as the Tuscany technique
and relief shown here.

Nesting Nuances

While guest rooms are ripe for makeovers, Trudy Simmons of Dégagé in McLean, Va. suggests giving your own special corner the treatment you deserve.

“Even in grand homes, people’s favorite spaces are the cozy, intimate ones,” says Simmons. “You can take your favorite spot and create a nest-y place for under $10,000.”

Simmons advises starting with walls and ceilings. “Because they’re the largest planes in the room, you get the most dramatic changes for your dollar.”

While wall coverings and faux finishes vary widely in price, look for “inexpensive treatments to gain a lot of pop,” says Simmons. “Decorative arts play a wonderful role in creating ambiance and versatility.”

Home Improvement

Complement your home’s style with a distinctive element that adds new interest and refreshes even your favorite room.

“Glass brings out the beauty a room already has,” says Mike Spiegel, vice president of River Glass Designs in Rockville, Md., which specializes in shower stalls and countertops. “Installing a frameless shower can make a huge change in a bathroom. It adds visual space to the room, feels solid, and is easier to clean.”

Photo courtesy of River Glass Designs

Glass features, such as this freestanding frameless
glass shower, update and visually expand a room’s look.

Spiegel advocates simple designs that do not become dated. He uses glass for kitchen countertops and backsplashes.

When choosing a new design element, identify where your family spends the most time. “If you like to watch television and have purchased a flat screen TV, put it inside a piece of furniture that raises the screen,” says Trudy Simmons. “Hanging a TV on the wall is not beautiful.” The furniture protects the screen and allows it to be raised to a proper ergonomic height.

Beauty and Order

Tame clutter with closet and cabinet systems. Reclaiming your kitchen with pull-out shelves is an affordable project that’s especially attractive to anyone who’s rummaged around in a disorganized pantry. “Cabinets go from cavernous spaces to being completely accessible and organized,” says Andrew Kerwin, president of Shelf Conversions of Ashland, Va.

Using the universal design concept, Shelf Conversions’ custom made products benefit every family member. Says company Vice President Joyce Burgess: “This system makes a house livable for all generations, whether it’s a child learning to put things away or someone in a wheelchair wanting to open a cabinet.”

Concludes Lynni Megginson: “Small changes can actually improve your life. You feel good when you’re in a room that you love.”

Photo by Omar Salinas, courtesy of Dégagé

Dramatic artwork adds visual interest and directs
attention to a room’s focal point.

Creative Counsel for Low Cost Projects

“Be upfront about your budget. A designer’s job is to make your money go as far as it can,” says Lynni Megginson of L&M Designs. Specifically, be sure to:

1. Discuss your likes and dislikes with contractors/designers

2. Rearrange and remix rooms

3. Remember the power of paint

4. Splurge on one perfect accessory

5. Clear out excess clutter

6. Allow your tastes to change

7. Choose designers/contractors with a good track record