The story below is from our September/October 2022 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Create your ideal space with these budget-friendly tips from local experts.
When it comes to feathering your nest, it can be tough to know where to splurge and where to save. Should you invest in that stunning piece of original art … or replace that out-of-date sofa? And does it really make sense to buy a fancy dining-room chandelier … especially if you’re not sure how it’ll play alongside your eventual kitchen reno?
If those questions make you tense … we get it. That’s why we asked five local designers, decorators and DIYers to tell us about the best $10,000 (or less!) that they ever spent in a single space … either in their own home or a client’s. Here’s what they shared.
Elaine Stephenson & Seely Stephenson Nicholson, Elaine Stephenson Interiors
When you ask this mother-daughter design team how to best spend $10,000 in a single room – especially if that $10,000 represents your entire design budget – they know exactly where they’d put it: in high-quality upholstered furniture.
“Certainly, you can spend it on a great antique chest or a lovely rug [or] artwork, but you can’t sit on those and live,” says Elaine Stephenson, who has worked as a local designer for decades.
Her daughter, Seely Stephenson Nicholson, is quick to agree, and with one important caveat: upholster those pieces in a hard-wearing, stain-treated fabric – “kid-proof, dog-proof,” she says. As a new mom to a one-year-old, she’s had a chance to put those kinds of fabrics to the test in her own home.
“I have performance fabrics on all the upholstery in my family room,” she says. “My sofas are white … and they’ve been really easy to clean!”
A younger designer, Seely believes she’s in a good position to understand clients who are trying to maximize their dollars. For those just starting out, she recommends laying a solid foundation with well-made larger pieces, and then layering in art and accessories as your budget allows – a perfect recipe for building a personal, collected look over time.
“For accessories … bookshelves, mantles, coffee tables … I think a mix of high- and low-end is always a good thing,” she adds.
And while it pays to splurge on a quality foundation, there are other good places to save. Budget-friendly fabrics, for instance, can be a good choice for pillows and window treatments, Seely says, which are easy to dress up with custom trim. “If you’re looking for curtains, that could require anywhere between 15 and 30 yards,” she explains, “and if you specify fabric that is $250 a yard, that’s really tough.”
Instead, says Elaine, “There are some great plain-but-pretty fabrics that are a fraction of that — maybe $50 a yard or less — and then you can put a great-looking tape or fringe on the leading edge and just make them really special!”
Maisie Leach, Rambling Interiors
When it comes to naming her favorite $10,000 expense in a single space, emerging designer Maisie Leach doesn’t need to think for very long. The solid winner is a built-in storage closet, she says, which she designed for the mudroom at Wesley Hodges Fly Fishing + Bird Hunting in Eagle Rock.
“He initially had a hall tree in the space which was just overrun with coats, fishing waders and shoes,” remembers Leach, the owner of Rambling Interiors — a newer company that specializes in natural, organic spaces inspired by outdoor living. “The built-in was a great storage solution well under $10,000 that not only made the space function a hundred times better, but it also looks so much cleaner … We were able to incorporate sliding dog kennels… lights [and] power outlets, wader hangers, and a secret gun closet for his bird hunting gun storage. Try to guess where it is!”
Her client admits that the built-in made a huge change to how he uses the space … and the overall feel that his guests experience when they arrive at the farm for hunting and birding trips.
“[Previously,] it didn’t match my overall business brand – that ‘Garden & Gun’ look,” says Hodges, who offers glamping and is undergoing a full renovation of his farmhouse to accommodate luxury-AirBnB guests, too. “I wanted my clients to be able to feel very catered to, and part of that catering process is, once they show up on site, they don’t have to touch their gear anymore.”
And when it comes to achieving a pulled-together look in your own space, Leach has some simple advice: “If you can make built changes to your home in order to make a more efficient and beautiful look of the space, I say do it!”
If that’s not possible, however, she has three additional tips for improvements on a budget. First, start with paint and wallcoverings – “It’s the most cost-effective way to make a huge impact throughout the whole space.”
Next, consider vintage and antique finds. “Most of the time you can get cost-effective furniture with way more character at antique [shops], thrift stores or estate sales,” she says.
Finally – don’t skimp on your lighting. “If you can implement three sources of lighting in your space, no matter what else is in it, it will just make the space glow,” she says. “Try using lamps, sconces, and candles instead of just one overhead light.”
Emily Mangus, Emily Mangus Interiors
As a designer, Emily Mangus is known for her light, bright, classic designs with high-end appeal… but $10,000 can still make an impact, she says. “Powder rooms are often a great bang for your buck as they are often small, but can pack a large punch.”
Mangus points to a recent half-bath design that came in at under $10,000, but played a pivotal role in the personality of the home. “Our client’s powder room renovation was key for their first-floor upgrade as every guest in their home will use this space,” she explains.
To achieve the airy aesthetic she was looking for, she specified white shiplap walls to add texture, then added pops of summery marine blue on the trimwork, ceiling and light fixture. “The end result is a clean crisp space [that’s] soothing at the same time,” she says.
So what’s her advice for homeowners contemplating how best to spend their design dollars?
“We always suggest our clients do things once and do them well. If you can’t complete a room or reno all at once, begin with the key elements,” she says, such as a light fixture, rug or sofa. “These key pieces can transform a space and be a great jumping off point for the rest of the room.”
Cheryl Mosley, Lyrehc Styles
Cheryl Mosley has a knack for creating sophisticated looks without the spendy price-tag.
“I love high-end design, but I just don’t want to pay for it … and I know how to be creative and design a space without having to,” she says.
An intrepid DIYer who works by day at United Way Roanoke Valley, Mosley often spends her after-work hours dreaming up room designs … and then painting and constructing those dreams into reality. To feed her creative urges, she recently launched a side-hustle décor business, Lyrehc Styles (“Lyrehc” is “Cheryl” spelled backwards), which specializes in custom mood boards, curated décor packages and personal shopping — particularly for clients who want a luxe look for less.
“When I tell people what it costs, people are floored,” she says. “I get joy out of giving people that.”
So when Mosley purchased her circa-1915 foursquare in December of last year, she immediately put those skills to work for herself, starting with her own bedroom.
“A lot of my life is very busy, and my time is not my own, so I cherish serenity when I can get it,” she explains. To create her sanctuary, Mosley focused on specific words to ground the project – “I wanted calm; I wanted relaxed,” she says – and then selected a favorite palette in gold, black and cream.
Perhaps the crowning achievement in the room is a chic channel-upholstered headboard, which she constructed from plywood and pool noodles.
“The [plywood] probably cost me $20. The pool noodles were $2-4 apiece,” she says. She covered the piece in fabric she spotted in the clearance section at a fabric store — “[It’s] this really beautiful floral that wasn’t overpowering, but was really soft and relaxing,” she says — and then planned for a statement slat wall nearby.
The result is a deeply personal space where Mosley feels free to indulge her artistic side … even at the end of a long workday.
“It feels soft; it feels mellow. I feel good when I go in there,” she explains.
For those who want to DIY their own refreshed room, she has a few simple tips.
“Don’t take on a project just because it looks good on Pinterest,” she says. “Make sure you know what you’re getting into.”
She recommends watching YouTube videos, asking for help when necessary, and carefully estimating the cost — “not just financially, but timewise,” she says. “With DIY, you have to look at your schedule and commit to what you’re going to do.”
The end result might just be a space that’s completely unique to you.
The story above is from our September/October 2022 issue. For more stories, subscribe today or view our FREE digital edition. Thank you for supporting local journalism!
