Painting for Faux

Paint isn’t just for walls anymore! One of our favorite D.I.Y. remodeling ideas – EVER – came from our friends Erin and Brian.  They really wanted the look of terracotta tiles in their backyard, but as we all know, that can be an extremely pricey proposition!  What to do?  Our Fab friends used a special outdoor paint and painted the concrete to look like terracotta tiles!  And I am telling you it looked so realistic at first I didn’t even realize it was paint and not the real thing.

Similarly, in this month’s issue of House Beautiful magazine, they showed an incredibly stylish Manhattan apartment which looks like it is covered in large tile flooring – but is actually just painted to look that way!  Sure it takes a steady hand and some time & effort, but for the price of a couple cans of the right kind of paint- it just might be worth the hassle!

Don’t Take a ‘Bath’ on Remodeling Costs

As we all know from Brandi’s experience, bathroom remodeling can mean big bucks for a small space!  And the bathtub can either be the focal point of your problems – or a creative solution!  Our LA friend Kate had an old claw foot bathtub that most people would have had hauled away without a second thought.  Her solution?  She brought it into her backyard, had it hooked to the water supply, and created an outdoor spa sanctuary - wonderful to soak in on hot summer night, looking up at the stars!

Make it Like New

In other bathtub news, it can cost a lot and be a big hassle to get an old tub removed and hauled out of your home.  Our solution?  We’re going to have our bathtub refinished – you can get a pro to come in and re-glaze your tub for a couple of hundred bucks.  From what we hear, this is definitely one to call the pros in on – not worth it as a D.I.Y. project!

Hidden Decorating Finds!

An offshoot of any remodeling project is that with all the cleaning and sorting of stuff comes some unexpected finds!  You might be able to add substantially to your art collection with stuff you just happen to find while remodeling.  I recently found an old vintage scarf rolled up in a drawer – which I had framed, and it now looks  phenomenal in my dining room!  In addition, we unearthed some old – and I mean OLD – family photographs – which we also had framed – transforming my hallway into an instant vintage photo gallery.

A Note to the Neighbors!

Lastly, our NUMBER ONE suggestion is to spend nothing but gain a lot of goodwill!  Be sure to leave a note – and even a treat – for your neighbors!  Your remodeling project is sure to be something of an inconvenience for them, and it won’t cost you anything to let them know how much you appreciate their patience!

Creative Practicality

No matter what your next home renovation plan may be, keep it real by getting creative!  Know how much you have to spend and plan within your means.  Necessity is the mother of invention, so if you can’t afford to cover your walls in 18 carat gold leaf paper- don’t worry!  Maybe a faux paint job will give you the same look?  And if you don’t have vision, hit the design mags for inspiration and call in your friends who have an eye for style. Whether you’re buying a new appliance, fixture or creating a whole new look in your home, you can always find a  solution that fits your budget – you just need to think outside the box!

| Print

Pages: 1 2