Former Rental Overhaul

After: Now, the living room has graduated with style, thanks to new furniture, window treatments, lighting and accessories. The updated mantel and fresh paint really play up the fireplace, which was largely ignored before.

Here is how the costs broke down for this project:

countertops $314
furniture $633
flooring $92
hardware and accessories $498
lighting $226
lumber and paint supplies $169
window treatments $58

Total: $1,990

Products from The Coaster Company of America:

coffee table for living room, 5421

Products from Lowe's:

Portfolio living-room chandelier, 76901
Portfolio wall-mount light fixtures (one for living room, one for kitchen), Leaves, 155401
Heritage living-room mantel, 6", 163237
Armstrong Meadowstone vinyl floor tile for bathroom, Midwestern Fantasy, 219769
Portfolio light fixture for bathroom, 129304
towel ring, Signature Bathware, Astina, 124065
five cabinet knobs for bathroom, 90764
countertops and edge kits for kitchen, Labrador Granite, 201969, 201995, 65433, 65579

Products from The Home Depot:

Price Pfister bath faucet and fixtures, 8B5-8PBC
bath countertop, 048118392600
Saratoga Slate vinyl tile for kitchen floor, 317150
cabinet cleaner/ refinisher for kitchen, Restor-A-Finish by Howard Products in neutral, 088682160014

Products from Michael's Furniture Warehouse:

living-room sofa with pillows, Cinnabar Loveseat, 5791635C

Products from Kmart:

Home Essentials dining-table set, Lafayette style, 072000827642
Martha Stewart window valances for living room, Persian Paisley style, 07665763995
throw pillows, 73879083206
Martha Stewart shower curtain for bathroom, Wide Stripe style, 63676502774

Products from IKEA:

two wicker chairs for living room, Agen, 50058376
window valances for bathroom, Blenda, 10071775

Products from Target:

two window valances for kitchen, Fieldcrest Classic style, 068032098

Products from Marshalls:

vanity mirror for bathroom, 002911661

Products from The Linen Outlet:

bathroom towel, 819078

Products from Big Lots:

living-room art, 2133450098006

Products from Spectra Paint Centers Inc.:

paint for living-room walls, Pratt and Lambert's Safari
paint for living-room paneling, Pratt and Lambert's Tarragon
paint for kitchen walls, Pratt and Lambert's Caramel Tint, 2087-B1
paint for bathroom walls, Pratt and Lambert's Muffin Tan, 2277-B1