Bedroom and Home Office Makeover

Robert removed the picture rail molding and all of the furniture from the room. He updated the window treatment using four cotton panels in two distinct colors — rusty red and straw gold. The old curtains were used as a liner for the new treatment, to give a fuller appearance. He upholstered a headboard with a large-print fabric and fashioned a bedskirt from the same material. A shimmery gold duvet cover was added to complement the headboard.

Robert placed three colorful pillows on the bed — two in moss green, one paprika red. He also placed a copper-colored throw at the foot of the bed to pull the reds in the room together. He created a tray table by cutting the legs off a small table and adding two silver handles on the sides, and he placed a burgundy ice bucket and glass flutes on the tray table. He cut an inexpensive dining room table in half and painted a black rectangle on the table top to mimic the side table in the Inspiration Room. On top of the table, he placed a large mirror, a lamp with a glass base, books and a vase of flowers.

On the other side of the bed, he placed a small dark table, added a lamp (matching the one on the other side), two small standing masks and a decorative glass bowl. Robert grouped a collection of puppets and masks on the wall over the bed. He repainted the shelves in the computer area and added small lights to the bottom of the shelves to accent new accessories. He placed about a dozen warm-colored glass vases and pieces on the shelves to give a unified look to the space. He added a modern office chair with red cushions at the computer desk and hung an unframed abstract painting on the wall.

To see where the savings are, take a look at this direct cost comparison of some Inspiration Room items and the creatively comparable ones used in the Makeover Room:

• Bedding and accessories, $7,200 / Bedding and accessories, $400

• Two-legged Paris console table, $4,000 / Reproduced side table, $135

• Table with accessories, $8,000 / Table and accessories, $400

• Small black side table on right, with accessories, $7,400 / Small black side table on right, with accessories, $225

• Red armchair, $3,700 / Modern office chair, $150

• Oil-on-canvas painting, $5,700 / Large abstract painting, $315