Update Your Family Room With an Eclectic Travel Theme

$80 - Border

A large-scale border made out of wall board is used instead of a traditional paper border. The wall board is painted the same color as the walls and stenciled. Sculati made her own stencil by using an image out of a copyright-free image book. She enlarged the image to the appropriate size, traced it onto posterboard and then onto Con-Tact paper. Once the border is on the walls, the edges are trimmed out with molding and the arches are highlighted with one-inch upholstery nails.

• one-inch nailheads: Van Dyke Supply Co. - Old Gold 'Z' S6081-100

$9 - Furniture Covers

The sofa is updated with a piece of fringed remnant fabric and the chair is dressed up with a new cover on the back cushion. The ottoman is given a new cover that's held in place with elastic straps on the feet; tassels made from a skein of yarn add design flair to the bottom.

• sofa fabric: thrift store
  
• chair and ottoman fabric: Mills End Textiles

A new rug adds color to the seating area.

• 5x8 area rug: Menard's - Orian, Polynaise Collection New Castle lambs wool BRPOL4NELW

$4 - End Tables

TV tray tops are screwed onto the tops of the homeowners' side tables.

• TV trays: thrift store

$15 - Media Curtain

Electronic equipment is hidden behind a small curtain attached to the entertainment center.

• fabric: Mills End Textiles

$43 - Dresser

An old dresser is brought in for CD storage and given a faux crocodile finish. Crumpled crocodile-patterned tissue paper is smoothed onto the surface and adhered with decoupage glue. Once dry, the piece is painted with an antiquing medium and given more depth with a dark brown water-based stain. The surface is pounced with a plastic bag to mix the colors and add more visual texture to the finish.

• tissue paper: dollar store
  
• decoupage glue: Plaid - Mod Podge, CS11305
  
• antiquing glaze: Menard's - McClosky #6460 Asphaltum
  
• stain: The Home Depot - Carvertrip Safe & Simple #7754 Special Walnut

$10 - Screen

A screen is created out of bi-fold doors, padding from a mattress pad and remnant material and gimp. It's hooked to the wall so it doesn't tip over.

• fabric: Mills End Textiles

$23 - Play Area

A mirror is given more prominence with a stenciled design and two sconces. Plump floor pillows and a small rug make the play area comfortable.

• stamp: Plaid - Stamp Décor, Tasha #53628
  
• paint: Plaid - Folk Art, 657 Metallic Regal Red; 668 Metallic Plum
  
• pillow fabrics: thrift store

$8 - Photo Gallery

A wall-mounted photo gallery is held together with jute webbing. A leftover window shade slat is used to hold the strips of webbing; the frames are held in place with dress hooks.

$27 - Light Fixtures

The nondescript light fixture is replaced with three directional lamps.

$51 - Accessories

Fabric is used on the mantel to soften the look of the fireplace, to add interest to the walls and disguise the tops of the speakers (at right).

• fabric for lampshades: Hancock Fabrics
  
• tin/leather vases on mantel: Big Lots - #14534000, #86229042

Before

$81 - Chandelier

A vintage-looking light fixture adds ambiant lighting in one corner.

• light fixture: The Home Depot - Hampton Bay, #385-138

$19 - Window Treatment

The small window is decorated with a lace curtain on a tension rod hidden behind a scalloped wood cornice. Craft beads are used to highlight the points on the scallop.

• wood beads: Lara's Crafts - 7/8" wooden apple, V10112 75424610-3772

$32 - Credenza and Baskets

The existing changing table is replaced with a credenza (finished like the CD cabinet), which offers more storage and function. Baskets are placed underneath to hold toys.

• credenza: thrift store

$500 - Total Cost