The photo, above, is the completed project. Unfortunately, it doesn’t show the right-hand counter or the tiny range. But you get the idea.

This was my first show house. The Junior League gave me a tiny kitchen that had been part of a mother-in-law’s apartment. It was so depressing, I think I may have been the only designer who bid on it.

As you can see, the floor was Ick! The cabinets and counters were a snore. The hardware was cheesy “brass”. This was one ugly kitchen. I love a challenge and could see the potential just waiting to be brought out.

If you have an ugly kitchen, you can transform it too. I overhauled this one in two weekends for under $1,000. Here’s how I did it.

MORE!

Inspiration

Believe it or not, I took my cue from the hardware – faded fake, ornate brass. The filigree got me thinking frou-frou. Light bulb Moment! I had some Manuel Canovas toile in my basement in the form of old curtains and a cornice. The tie-backs had fringe. So French Country it was going to be.

Paint

The kitchen was broken up by all these different elements in a tiny space. I wanted to make the room seem larger by visually integrating all those elements. Using one color all over the room achieved that. I chose the same green as the ground color in the toile and painted everything green, including the ceiling.

Fabric on the Cabinets & Fridge

I wanted an eye-popping, over-the-top look to create a big impact in this small space. My biggest problem in achieving that was the fridge – a giant, white block. I knew I wanted to cover that with fabric. The idea to dress up the cabinets stemmed from that idea.

To apply fabric to the cabinets I first used iron-on interfacing to make the fabric stiff, and cut it into rectangles. They were installed using wallpaper paste.  To frame out the fabric I bought molding at Home Depot and had them cut it with mitered edges. I painted those green and hot-glued them into place Рhalf on the fabric and half on the cabinets.

Finally, I polished the hardware and was amazed at how much better it looked. With the French look of the toile, the filigree now looked right. Their age only added to the look.

I made a bulletin board that covered the entire fridge using foam core. I cut it to size, covered it with batting and fabric and hot-glued it into place. Then, I criss-crossed ribbon and glued that as well. To create the tufted look, I stitched ribbon with a big needle through the layers and tied it off. Finally, I bought strips of magnet tape, stuck the sticky side to the bulletin board and voila – the white fridge disappeared.

Cornice & Curtains

In show houses, designers pay for everything, unless they get things donated or borrowed. I didn’t want to pay for a “real” cornice. Foam core to the rescue! I made this with hot glue, batting, and fabric. I even hot-glued the fringe. Fortunately, I know how to sew. A roman shade is simple to make. My window was done.

Counter & Floors

These were my big expenses. I shopped around for the cheapest solution. With no IKEA on hand back then, I opted for a butcher block counter for $300. I really should have asked the homeowner to pay for it (duh). Live and learn. I covered over the vinyl floor with a laminate “cherry” wood floor I found on sale at Lowe’s for just over $100.00. My regular contractor installed both for free.

I borrowed a red, Tibetan wool rug from a dealer and a red chandelier from the Grange showroom.

Accessories

I needed to get rid of that giant sink. In a real job I would have installed a smaller one. Instead, I filled it with moss and a basket filled with wine and wooden apples. The rest was a matter of using things from my house, like antique baskets, artwork, and other accessories I picked up at garage sales. Done!

Jennifer’s Tips

What Style? Go with what you like. You can change the style of existing elements with paint. Turn ornate hardware into a contemporary look by spraying it white, chrome, black, or your cabinet color.

Use recycled fabric. Check out thrift shops, your mother-in-law’s basement, garage sales. Mix and match if you can’t find enough of one fabric. Create a funky look using plaid shirts. Cover each cabinet with a different plaid and paint the cabinets a unifying color. You can eliminate the fabric and use stencils. Check out The Stencil Library for the best choices.

Grease Factor. If you’re worried about the grease factor, treat the fabric for stain and fire resistance for about $50 by sending it to Prosealplus.

Foam core? Why not? There’s nothing wrong with it. Because its light-weight, it was perfect for the fridge. And, if no one is going to peek under your window I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t make a permanent cornice with foam core. Just make sure you can install it without having to drill through it. I hung mine with L brackets that supported it.

Do it Yourself. I’ve installed carpet, wallpaper, and laminate flooring myself. You can too. If you don’t own a sewing machine, you can make a Roman shade using iron-on tape and a needle and thread.

Just Do It!

The kitchen was completely transformed in 4 days. My actual costs were about $500 – $600, including the paint. Since the fabric, carpet and lighting were free, I figure you could create this for about $1,000. Fortunately, I sold enough accessories to break even.

Excuse me for bragging, but my little room was voted the best in the house. Why? Besides the fact that I’m a genius (wink) it was because I took one big idea and covered everything with it. More importantly, it was unexpected and had something original going on. I’m all for stealing ideas. Feel free.

I hope this inspires you to overhaul your kitchen, or other room. Just don’t forget to send me the pictures! How do you feel about fabric on cabinets?

Ron is the host of Small Space, Big Style. He agreed to redecorate a woman’s living and dining room for free with a budget of only $1,000. Did she appreciate getting saving a $6,000 design fee? Not.

To read the article and see more images, follow this link. But first, here are some of my favorite bits from the story.

Mr. Marvin offered solutions for nearly all of her design problems, all for $1,000. Ms. Sperling, however, seemed upset. “I don’t want to totally say no,” she began, before pessimistically questioning nearly all of his recommendations. When told the dark sideboard would be repainted white, she asked “what kind of white?” When Mr. Marvin said the top of the dining table would be replaced with glass, she asked, “Isn’t glass expensive?” And as for the coffee and end tables from Ikea, Ms. Sperling wanted to know, “Is it made well at Ikea?”

later…

He was also perturbed that Ms. Sperling suggested spending more money. “She was being so detailed and picky about the whole budget,” he wrote in an e-mail message to this reporter, and now she is “adding more things!”

still later…

The next day, Ms. Sperling e-mailed back a lengthy explanation for why she wouldn’t be able to make it to Ikea for another week, how she didn’t like any of the three rug options Mr. Marvin sent, and why, according to her calculations, the mirror or a lamp would have to be cut.

Jeez! Thankfully, she liked “99%” of the finished room. I’ve been so lucky to have had great clients. But, there was this one lady….

Pretty nifty, what? Marlaina teaches us a lesson in the importance of contrast. How did she do it? The silver armoire was her inspiration for the design. Marlaina highlighted the high ceilings with an elaborate Mother of Pearl fireplace wall, which was created using 12″x24″ tiles of capiz shells. That’s a cool idea, isn’t it?

The shimmer continues with the bed upholstered in pearlized “leather”. She framed the windows with silk. Using panels on either end frames the bed and removes any awkwardness of the bed in front of the windows.

The biggest design challenge – the bathroom – was completely outdated. The walls were painted cloth. Moisture on cloth? Eeewww.  To update the bathroom, Marlaina added an oversized trellis-patterned wall covering in charcoal gray and painted the trim a fresh white, and also built a custom wood surround for the tub.

To see the rest of the show house, follow this link. What do you think of the rooms? I think she did a great job and showed real creativity in the space planning and the shells on the fireplace wall. Designers pay for everything that goes in a show house room. We hope to sell enough of the furnishings to break even. Unless we own a furniture store, designers beg and borrow to create a room. Which is what I’ll begin doing in a few short weeks at the Junior League Show House here in Grosse Pointe.

Jennifer’s Tips

1. Buy a few bold pieces instead of lots of little things.

Lots of tiny things may seem like the way to go, but they’ll actually make the room look smaller. Your eye won’t know what to rest on and will be buzzing around. The large, graphic artwork in this room works really well. Also, notice the careful selection of furniture. Not too much!

2. Define “rooms” with translucent fabrics and/or area rugs.

You might want a bit of privacy in the bedroom. Even if you’re alone, being able to close off the bedroom will create a cozy feeling that’s easier to sleep in. IKEA makes a great system that suspends from the ceiling.

3. A vibrant paint can define a separate space with-in-a-space.

A large block of vibrant color can visually separate a space. If you’re living in a rental, painting only one section makes it easier to return it to “Decorator White” before you move out.

4. Buy furniture that does double duty.

A dining table can be a desk. An ottoman can be a coffee table. A coffee table could also hold some storage.

5. Light colors will make the space appear larger.

If you want to go with color on the walls, remember that cool colors recede and will make the room larger. A pastel will also reflect more light and work to that effect even more.

6. Finally, mirrors are an old stand-by for tricking the eye.

One-foot square mirrors are sold at Lowe’s and Home Depot. Why not create a mirror wall? Your room will double in size in an instant.

Do you have a tip? Sharing is caring.

images: visiondecor, 200 Water St, Venturska

So, we’ve got our color scheme. Rachel needed some help with furniture placement, a buffet and some finishing touches. So here we go.

The table needs to be placed with the short end facing the entrance. As you can see, it makes a better traffic flow into the kitchen and around the table. That’s simple! The next place to go is the area rug.

The walls, table and floor have orange tones, which can look monotone. The large window and the wide doorway on the other side cut down on the saturation. Still. I felt it would be a good idea to go with a neutral carpet to cut back on the orange without clashing with the blue patterns on the chairs. The 5′ x 8′ sisal carpet ($158) is from Pottery Barn). It has a bound edge and fits nicely under both the table and chairs. Next, we need a buffet.

I’d like to see Rachel and her husband some pieces they’ll keep forever. I love this Chinese Butcher’s Table from Wisteria ($1,499). The age on the antique buffet gives the room tons of character. Plus, it can serve as a buffet table – terrific for entertaining. Since Rachel is lucky enough to live in San Fransisco, she can shop the antiques in her wonderful city for just the right thing and keep this in mind while she shops. Lucky girl!

We need some simple accessorising. Rachel already owns this tiled mirror. The color ties in perfectly with the blue chairs. I’d hang this over the buffet. She’s going to need some artwork on the other wall as well. I suggest starting an art wall with a variety of photos, art work and other elements. To see how to create this look, read my earlier post on the topic.

I’ve added a hand-painted Talavera plate from Novica as a centerpiece on the table. Two would be even better.And that’s it! A simple plan for a beautiful, colorful room.

Jennifer’s Tips

• Always start with the item that has the fewest options. Here, I would have started with the rug and then chosen fabrics for the chairs afterward.
• Neutral goes with everything! Duh. The beige sisal cuts back on the orange and creates a nice extra layer of decoration.
• Don’t freak about matchy-matchy. Please! This room will look really great with a mix of styles. The only important element is the scale. Keep all the pieces the same scale. Say no to a giant chair with a tiny table.

Okay, let’s hear your tips. How would you decorate Rachel’s dining room?

Most of us will agree that a bed needs a bedside table. We need a place for a lamp, a book, the remote. A really great bedside table needs just one thing (besides style) to meet my requirements. It needs a drawer. At least one. Perhaps more, but at least one.

You need a drawer to stash those private things that we all need handy at night. Medication and condoms are obvious. Your dog-eared copy of Lovely Lying Lips might be less so. At any rate, you need a drawer. Here are 8 styles that fill the bill for me.

1. Wm. Sonoma’s Hudson Table

This lovely style from, Wiliam Sonoma, also comes in a dark stain ($895). I like its simple lines.

2. Ethan Allen’s Maison Chest

A chest of drawers is terrific, if you have the space. This is from Ethan Allen ($949).

3. De La Espada’s Weekender

De La Espada’s 643 Weekender bedside unit is low and chunky. Perfect to partner with a platform bed.

4. Wisteria’s Moorish Chest

At 34.5″ high, I think this beautifully inlaid chest from Wisteria ($2,999) would look great with a tall bed, like the one I’m lying on right now. The mattress has to be high enough so you’re not reaching up too high to access the hot oil.

5. Tealan’s Chinese Antique Table

This is a steal. Tealan sells Asian cabinets that are perfect for by the bed. The even have a drawer. This one sells for $375. You can find some in pairs.

6. Max Alto’s Thronos table

This is lovely in its simplicity. Designed for the Max Alto division of B&B Italia (one of y super faves), Thronos even has a drawer, believe it or not.

7. Shine Home’s Bing Table

I like the Bing side table – a colorful option. I see it in a dramatic bedroom with some large lamps. It’s from Shine Home where it comes in 3 colors.

8. Horchow’s Deco Side Table

For an eclectic, feminine touch, Horchow’s Deco Table is a good choice ($1,199).

My favorites are the William Sonoma table and the Moorish chest from Wisteria. One plain, one fancy. Which one is yours?

Take it away Fiona!

I love to design bedrooms! People really want to get involved in the design and are much more open to expressing their personality in the bedroom. As a designer I love the challenge of meeting the design brief as well as getting the mood and ambience right.

For example, a couple who needed my help approached me. They‚Äôd spent a lot of money on built-ins. Their beautiful Victorian, double aspect bedroom was packed to the brim with wooden furniture and looked like a room in Travel Lodge. They hated it and were devastated. We decided to keep the wood. They couldn’t justify the cost, and I couldn’t justify ripping out brand new furniture. My plan was to work with the existing space by softening the rest of the room so that the wood would blend in and look less harsh.

It was a pretty simple fix. I created a feature wall out of the chimneybreast, fireplace and the two new fitted wardrobes either side using bold wallpaper we chose together. My clients went for a hot pink color. We added gold to the color mix and chose new fabrics for a bed throw, cushions, a window seat and curtains. The warm tones complemented the wood tones, which softened the look of the built-ins.

To finish off, we choose a beautiful chandelier, bedside lamps and mirror to create the right kind of lighting within the room. I also wanted to add something feminine to counteract the masculine feel of all the built-ins. It was amazing how different their room felt when it was done. Best of all, the clients were incredibly happy with the result – and so was I!

Thanks Fiona! The end result does look amazing. To hire Fiona, visit her website. Or follow her on Twitter.

Paul and I ended out discussion with some dirty talk. How to wash the sheets, that is. He’s got a few tips on shopping as well.

DH: Is it important to wash linens with special detergent?

PH: What you have to watch for in detergent is chlorine bleach.  Chlorine bleach kills cotton fabric.  It not only yellows the fabric, but it breaks down the fibers, causing the sheets to have a shorter life. They pill and rip more easily. There are many good detergents on the market. Just avoid any that contain chlorine bleach. Use an oxygen bleach instead. We have a page on our site dedicated to this subject.

DH: I iron my sheets, which has spoiled me forever. What makes an ironed sheets feel so much better?

PH: It brings out the crispness of the cotton or linen of the sheet.  The same way a nicely pressed piece of clothing becomes the person, the nicely pressed cotton or linen makes one feel “extra special” when crawling into bed.  It could also have something to do with the fact that extra attention was given to get this fabric just right.

Paul’s Tips on How to Buy and Wash Bed Linens

• Educate yourself about the various types of sheets. Do you want percale or sateen?¬† A specialty store can tell and show you the difference.
• Know and trust the merchant who is selling you the sheets.¬† If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is.¬† Will they stand behind their product?¬† Have they been in business a long time?¬† Will they be there tomorrow?¬† Those who have a long history tend to take the business more seriously, and offer better quality than others.¬† Sometimes price leads the way. If it doesn’t, shop at a specialty store that carries the best quality possible.

More shopping tips and all about washing after the jump.

• Forget about thread count. It is not an indicator of quality. It used to be, when all yarns were the same, but no longer.¬† A higher thread count today has nothing to do with the quality. You have to know the manufacturer (we‚Äôve been at it for 118 years). The best Egyptian cotton yarns are used.

• Jennifer’s shopping tip: If you’re like me and buy white sheets, buy 2 sets and rotate them. They’ll last longer and you’ll always have a fresh set.
• Launder your sheets in warm water. Make sure you sort the colors. [Jennifer here: I wash my sheets separately]
• Never use chlorine bleach. Pre-treat and use an oxygen bleach instead.
• Yes, sheets can go in the dryer. But don‚Äôt bake them! A hot dryer is the worst thing you can do to fine linens.¬† The heat breaks down the fine fibers.
• Dry sheets in a cool dryer for about 15 minutes, then check on them.¬† It is okay to remove them while slightly damp. If you have the space, dry them until they’re “just” dry and hang them to dry the rest of the way.
• Never dry clean sheets – always have them laundered.
• Jennifer’s last word. If you don’t have time to iron your sheets, at least iron the cases. It wouldn’t take that much longer to iron the first 2 feet of the top sheet. Your bed will look really great.

Thanks, Paul for a great interview!

Have any questions about what to look for when buying and/or laundering sheets? Put your question in the Comments Box and your answer will be revealed.