Designer Lynn Hollyn describes the Inspiration Room, a dining room that was created with a feeling of the outdoors. The look is accomplished with a $14,000 Italian setting trompe l'oeil wall mural, colorful place settings on the table and luxurious chairs. Eight-foot-tall Palladian doors lead to a courtyard, also helping to lend an alfresco feel to the room. Transforming the Makeover Room
Below are steps that designer Melissa Wilson used to turn an unstyled, unfinished space into an Italian villa:
- Instead of painting, added a colorful Italian scene wallpaper mural to the back wall of the room.
- For the windows, draped yards of discounted cream silk fabric over vingtage crystal doorknobs, mimicking the window treatment in the Inspiration Room; sheers were added for privacy.
- Over the windows, hung mirrored half-circles, to create a more open feeling in the room.
- Placed a glass-top table with metal legs in the room. The glass provides a light feeling and sense of expansiveness, says Wilson.
- Around the table, placed chairs with linen slipcovers that have been painted with stencils. (Mix acrylic paint and textile medium together according to manufacturer's instructions.)
- Added tableware in colors of warm terra cotta, sage, azure blue and mustard; terra-cotta colored cloth napkins were secured by napkin rings made from shower curtain rings in a flower design.
- Beside the plates, placed shiny stainless flatware; marigold-yellow water gobelets and amber wineglasses add a burst of color.
- In the center of the dining table, placed a large floral arrangement in a handblown glass vase; accessorized the table with colorful glass candlesticks and salt and pepper shakers.
- On the wall, added a pair of gilded gold sconces.
The Bottom Line
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:
Window treatments, $4,000 / Window treatments, $370
Custom glass dining table, $5,000 / Glass table, bought at auction, $300
Slipcovered dining chairs, $500 each / Slipcovered dining chairs, $88 each
Place settings, $360 each / Place settings, $60 each
$500 Challenge
If you have only $500 to spend, focus on the wall mural (a strong focal point), the window treatments (which add elegance and grandeur) and the table accessories, such as the vase and colorful candlesticks (they add a sense of fun).
chairs, cream damask slipcovers (IKEA)
acrylic paint, stencils for slipcovers (Michaels Arts and Crafts)
Bubble Marigold wineglasses, ornate gold sconces with rosettes and acanthus leaves (Z Gallerie)
blue/yellow /red glass vase, yellow/blue/orange bubble candleholder, blue geometric candleholder (Burlington Coat Factory)
earthenware salt and pepper shakers (Macy's)
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