
Get the Look for Less: An All White Dining Room
This dining space from a house featured in Homes & Gardens (UK) shows how an all-white decorating scheme can feel warm and inviting -- even in a modern architectural space. White (and its multifarious shades) can have more character than one might assume: Notice how this room uses several shades of white in one space.
Homes & Gardens, September 2005, IPC Media
A handful of dark elements, like the stools and the farm table's top, break up the all-white canvas. Meanwhile, natural wood, rush seats and multiple fabrics work to create texture in the room. The variations in color and texture work to give this space its warmth.
Start your own white oasis and get the look for less with the products below:
Mixing traditional silhouettes with modern elements takes the look to a whole new level.
Wing Chair, $379; Batista Counter Stool, $199; Mini Pendant Chandelier, $66.91
Wainscoting and wood candle holders bring instant texture. Texture is what takes a space from flat to pop!
Wainscot Panelling Kit, $44.99/8 feet; Montemartre Carved Candleholder, from $29
A farm table and ladder-back chairs are classic designs, which ground a room.
Linden Extention Dining Table, $459.43; Wynn Ladderback Chair, $229
- Get the Look for Less: A Colorful Dining Room
- Get the Look for Less: A City Loft
- Get the Look For Less: A Glamorous Bedroom

3 DIY Wallpaper Projects With Wow Factor
Photo: Chronicle Books
If you love wallpaper art, try these creative DIY wallpaper projects that are anything but ordinary.
Wallpaper is a one-stop crafting wonder.
It not only has color and pattern (and can tell a story) but it can cover an empty wall from floor to ceiling in one fell swoop.
The book, Wallpaper Projects: 50 Craft and Design Ideas for Your Home, from Accents to Art by Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith, features easy how-to projects using wallpaper, from making pleated window shades to designing chic recipe cards to covering stair risers.
Here are 3 ideas of their ideas that were so good that we had to steal them.
Consider a bold-patterned or floral shirt in your closet or a favorite textile to cover your walls. Photo: Erin Kunkel
1. Turn Your Favorite Fabric into Wallpaper
What You Need:
A favorite fabric
White printer paper
Computer with scanner, printer, color photocopier
level
pencil
metal ruler
wallpaper paste and brush
plastic float
sponge
Here's How To Do It:
- Choose a favorite fabric to turn into wallpaper.
- Scan the section of fabric you want to serve as the "repeat" pattern in your wallpaper.
- Print out the wallpaper on a printer then make your color photocopies. (Obviously, the larger the paper size, the fewer pieces you'll have to print and paste on your wall.)
- Apply paste to the wall, and adhere the printouts using your plastic float to smooth out air bubbles as you go. Be sure to handle the pages with care as they are more prone to ripping or stretching than typical wallpaper.
Don't be boxed in with the "either/or" scenario. Use both wallpaper and paint as a dynamic duo and double your creativity. Photo: Erin Kunkel
2. Combine Wallpaper and Paint
What You Need:
Wallpaper
paint
paint tray
rollers
drop cloth
measuring tape
utility knife
metal ruler
pencil
level
wallpaper paste and brush
plastic float
sponge
Here's How To Do It:
- Choose a pattern that lends itself to a slender 6" to 8" strip.
- If you are painting your walls, take your wallpaper swatch and find a complimentary paint color.
- Prep and paint your walls. Let dry overnight.
- Measure the height of your walls, and cut out your wallpaper to size using the utility knife and metal ruler as your guide.
- Use a pencil and ruler to mark on the wall where you will place the wallpaper strip.
- Apply paste on the back side of the wallpaper, book the strips, and adhere them to the walls using the marks as guides.
- Once you've pasted up all the wallpaper pieces, go over each strip with the plastic float to make sure the edges are perfectly flush with the wall.
- Apply more paste as necessary, and wipe off any excess paste with a damp sponge.
Combine wallpaper patterns and fashion a collage layering your cutouts. It's as simple as choosing two patterns, or more if you like. Photo: Erin Kunkel
3. Create a Wallpaper Collage
What You Need
Wallpaper (two complementary patterns, preferably one large-scale print and one small)
Wallpaper paste and brush
plastic float
sponge
scissors
Here's How To Do It:
- Apply paste and hang your primary paper if it isn't already installed.
- Cut out your desired shapes from the secondary paper.
- Apply paste on the back side of the secondary paper and adhere to the wall.
- Smooth down the cut-out shapes with a brush and remove any air bubbles with the plastic float.
- Wipe off any excess paste with a damp sponge.

Get the Look for Less: Mixing Light and Dark (and Pops of Pink)
A simple photo inspires many looks. Combine aged metals and wood, glass, and pinks for a rich textured design. Rooms to Inspire in the Country by Annie Kelly. Rizzoli 2009. Photo: Tim Street-Porter
Inspiration is all around us. When it does come, take notice because it's really exciting.
I recently saw this still-life photo of amazing flowers surrounded by a few objects. At first glance, there's not much there except I was struck by the combination of materials. It's a detail that could easily be overlooked but the richness of the oxidized metals combined with clear glass and a well-worn wood surface punctuated with a bevy of shades of pink flowers inspired me to want to use these same combination of materials in a room.
The play of weather-worn dark woods, which evokes a historical feel sitting aside clear glass, which reflects light, and then the teeming bouquet of magenta, fuschia and pale pink is literally and visually a work of opposites. Below are four looks inspired by this very photograph, looks (for less!) that bring together metals, woods, glass and the pink family.
Light yet substantial, an open-designed iron bowl is softened by a vibrant multi-hued magenta rug and a collection of clear vases.
Fiore Rug, from $298; Apothecary Jars, $19.99/set of 3; Oleander Bowl, $99.95; Avondale Table in Worn Black, $399
A lighter country feel, the effect is still dramatic with pale pink, natural wood and a solid yet elegant iron console with cabriolet legs.
Found Milk Bottles, $30/set of 6; Pink Book Boxes, $49/set of 3; Scalloped Console Table, $299; Wood Coasters, $28/set of 4
Gazing Water Globes, bold pink wallpaper, an artisanal iron table and a shiny chandelier translate into a modern look.
Striped Wallpaper, $62.28/double roll; Linden Accent Tables, $99; Nocturne Chandelier, $280; Gazing Water Globes, $29.95 and $39.95
Go eclectic mixing vintage, flea market and modern. French wire, Depression-era pink, recycled glass and a reworked classic chair get the look!
French Wire Pillar Holders, $14 and $19; Dining Chair, $159; Pitcher Thistle Rose, $49.95; Recycled Fluted Glass, $6

Wallpaper That Tells A Story
We spotted the perfect alternative to tired wall decor -- use framed wallpaper panels to tell a "story."
Here, a roll of wallpaper featuring a nautical scenic print was divided into sections and then framed. What makes this different from other framed wallpaper projects is that the design depicts a scene, multiple objects or a "story," if you will, rather than a single graphic pattern. Framing intermittent parts of a scene makes it interesting and downright modern.
Rooms to Inspire in the Country by Annie Kelly. Rizzoli 2009. Photo by Tim Street-Porter.
What You Need:
- Begin placing all of your frames on the wallpaper to visualize what sections you would like to feature. It's okay to overlap or repeat areas.
Here are a few patterns to consider in your storytelling wall art project.
Check out Casa Sugar's round of gorgeous toile products or get help picking out the perfect Valentine's Day gift for the home on the Frisky. (We also loved this idea for a fabulous DIY Valentine's Day present on DesignSponge.)
One last don't miss: Hear Domino editor Deborah Needleman talk about her design sense at Decor8.

Get the Look for Less: A Glamorous Bedroom
If I ever decide to go "glam," this is the way I would go. This bedroom would fit my lifestyle – a 9-to-5er with a bedroom fit for a movie star. It's not over-the-top but it's infused with fantasy. In other words, this bedroom is daring but oh-so-livable.
Invite a dash of 40s glamour with accents of gold and shimmer.
Photo: Living Etc. published by IPC Media
I wouldn't normally put together hot pink throw pillows with a shiny black chandelier. However, they look fabulous in this setting; shades of pink and brown complement each other.
But my favorite element is the wallpaper. It's on one wall only -- and that's all that's needed. Graphic yet neutral, the wallpaper's background has a slight shimmer that is in keeping with the room's glam aesthetic. To get in touch with your inner starlet, scroll through some products to get the look for less.
Accessories with shine like gold or bronze will strike a perfect balance with brown wood furniture. It's an instant personality change.
Retro Platform Bed, $499; 28" Floor Vase, $69.99; Tahoe Chest, $399
Not only do pinks and browns achieve the 40s feel but so does a bedroom side table with a retro silhouette.
Saturna Silk pillow, $49.95; Madeleine Coverlet, from $243; Century Nightstand, $199
Consider either crystal, leather or shag to add texture to your room. Together, however they can bring the look to a whole new level.
Crystal Chandelier, $297; Ottoman (available in Eggshell), $499; Dalyn Shag Rug, from $79
Here, a stylish welcome as you enter the bedroom. Go bold and flocked on a neutral background wallpaper for instant understated glamour.

5 Weekend Projects With Antique Linens
Here's an idea: Reuse your old textiles.
"Old textiles have a way to warm the soul with their timeless beauty. What I adore is knowing that these textiles once lived with, and were loved by generations before me," says Wendy Lewis of The Textile Trunk.
Lewis scours Europe for bolts of flax and hemp leftover from farming families hundreds of years ago, as well as grain sacks, French prints, sheets and ticking. Giving them new use is not only environmentally-friendly but with a few buttons, a kit and some simple sewing, you can take on a few easy DIY projects. With Wendy's help, we pulled together five fun projects for you to tackle, including a roman shade, bolster, bedcover, shower curtain and wall art. Find her textile collection on Ebay, which averages $35 - $55/yard.
Grain sacks come in many sizes and shapes. Photo: Wendy Lewis
1. Bolster Pillows
European grain sacks make simple bolster pillows that offer texture and is machine-washable.
Here's how to make it:
-Choose the size of grain sack that you wish to use for your finished pillow.
-Purchase an insert, preferably a feather one.
-Insert the pillow into the grain sack. Slip stitch the opening closed or sew on snaps or buttons to close.
Add a finishing touch with a bedcover. Photo: Wendy Lewis
2. Bedcover
Large antique hemp and linen sheets make excellent bedcovers and are, in most cases machine washable. The natural and simple designs of a sheet's weight, tone and texture will bring a finishing touch to your bedroom.
Here's how to make it:
-Measure your bed from one side of the mattress to the other, plus the drop required for the width. For the length, measure from the head to the foot of the mattress then to the floor. Add one yard to allow for tucking under the pillow.
-Any sheet can be chosen based on your size requirements.
Full or Double -- 54" x 76" (137 x 191cm)
Queen -- 60" x 80" (152 x 203cm)
King -- 72" x 80" (183 x 203cm)
Dual King -- 78" x 80" (198 x 203cm)
Make easy curtains with a grommet kit. Photo: Wendy Lewis
3. Shower Curtains
French linen and hemp sheets make great shower curtains. "Hemp is also naturally mold and mildew resistant," says Wendy.
Here's how to make it:
-Measure the opening where you plan to hang the shower curtain. Allow for an additional 8" in width for gathering.
-Use a fabric pen to mark where you want the grommets to be. All marks should be made on the right side 1" from the top. The first and last mark should be 1" from the sides. The rest should be evenly spaced between those two.
-Add a plastic liner to protect the fabric.
Create a wall display of printed grain sacks. Photo: Wendy Lewis
Antique printed French grain sacks are instant art objects. Consider framing without a glass front to prevent glare.
Here's how to make it:
-Choose the sack with a design that is appealing to you. These sacks can be dry cleaned or simply framed as is. Iron the sack flat before beginning.
-Measure the dimensions of the sack that you would like visible.
Stretch the fabric gently onto the frame backing.
-Cut away excess fabric, and secure with staples or pins.
An antique linen hangs as a simple window treatment. Photo: Wendy Lewis
One of Wendy's favorite ways to enjoy an old textile is turning it into a simple window treatment using a roman shade kit. Linen yardage makes the best shades, she says, and suggests leaving them unlined to show off the hand weaving in the fabric when the light shines through.
Here's how to make it:
-Cut a length of 1x1 wood to fit across the inside top of the window opening, and attach with screws.
-Select your fabric. Linen is woven on narrow looms so widths may need to be seamed to fit the window.
-Miter the seam allowances at the corners so that it will not bunch up in the corner, and iron.
-Sew a strip of Velcro across the top of edge of the fabric. This will produce the basic shade.
-Making the pleats: Measure and mark the horizontal lines where you think the horizontal pleats/folds should fall. Glue "battens" (or thin strips of stiffening material) horizontally across your fabric at the pleat marks.
-Allow time for the glue to dry.
-Sew plastic loops to the battens. Space them evenly in at least two vertical lines. Be sure to fasten the loops securely to the shade.
Decorating, DIY: Done in a Day, Bedroom, Your Home, Projects, Fun Stuff, Crafts & Projects

Get the Look for Less: A Colorful Dining Room
At first glance, you might have gotten the homeowner pegged in a stereotypical "style." Perhaps it seems that this room was designed by a safe, New England-based interior decorator?
On a closer look, I see a bit of humor, whimsy and an unrestrained approach to color and pattern. Anyone who can paint an entire room in a bold color is a person to consider imitating. In other words, I see personality. Floral curtain panels are just ubiquitous floral panels until they're put up against citrus lemon painted walls. Their personality instantly goes from drab to fab.

Rooms to Inspire - Decorating with America's Best Designers by Annie Kelly, Rizzoli 2007. Photo: Tim Street-Porter
Get the Look for Less: A Serene Dining Room
Elle Decor
Ahh, isn't this room relaxing? It manages to bring in a ton of texture and pops of color while remaining monochrome. If you want to add dimension, sophistication, or a historical element to any room in your home, think about installing paneling or wainscoting. Paint this architectural detail a different color or shade from the wall color, and you have just created a very exciting space.
Displaying black sea fans as wall art is ingenious. They are beautiful natural works of the sea, interesting in their intricate detail and unexpected as decor. The chandelier with its hefty wood design gives the room presence and anchors the space. The red ribbon holding the black oval mirror is a great detail and easy to do. Overall, this dining room demonstrates that all you need are two to three strong elements to hold a room together. Check out the gallery for tips on getting the look for less!
A Dining Room Fit for <i>Elle Decor</i>
Black Sea Fan, $7 each at Wonders of the Sea
Belcaro Five-Light Chandelier, $250 at Bellacor
Avenue Oval Mirror in matte black, $133 to $255 at Oval & Round Mirrors
Marimekko Tamburiini Ivory Tablecloth, $30 to $80 at Crate & Barrel
Offray Grosgrain Ribbon, $12 at JoAnn
Louis Chair, $349 each at Pottery Barn
Mikasa "Swirl" Black Pitcher, $40 at Cooking.com
Wood Bucket, $76 for a set of two at Bonanzle
Wall Panel Wainscoting, $128 to $225 at BuyWainscot.com
Get the Look for Less: A City Loft
Amid the backdrop of ubiquitous cream walls and warehouse windows is a study in casual living. Quite liberating, I think. A home that looks and feels relaxed will lead to a relaxed and happy family. This fiesta-worthy room from The Way We Live in the City by Stafford Cliff takes on an artistic quality. The homeowners boldly placed seemingly disparate pieces together in a room; the French Campaign folding chairs and the American Adirondack wicker armchairs almost look like they belong together.
© Gilles de Chabaneix from The Way We Live in the City by Stafford Cliff, Rizzoli New York, 2007
Get the Look for Less: A Jonathan Adler-Designed Foyer
Housecleaning notwithstanding, an all white room provides a very good foundation for decorating. A bare slate can help you keep your choices to a minimum or it can act as your personal canvas. In this photo, you have several bold pieces such as the table lamp, gold mirror and abstract painting, but nothing is overwhelming. In fact, because there are just a few key items, the different styles are able to mix together without confusing the eye.
Adding a touch of black, like these stunning stairs and banister, is an easy way to bring in a sophisticated element. Click through the gallery below to see products that will give you the look for less, including a custom light fixture at an unbeatable price.
An Adler-Inspired Entryway
Portrait No.1, 1938 by Joan Miro Poster, $35 on AllPosters.com
Drum Lampshade in Kenya Pattern, $39 at Alluminare
Champei Lamp, $218 at Bellacor
Owl Umbrella Stand, $140 at Burke Decor
Carved Narrow Lap-Joined Picture Frame, $60-$207 at SolidWoodFrames.com
Gilding Kit for Frames, from $34 at Caromal Colours
Floral Diamond Blue Throw Pillow, $20 at ImagineThrowPillows.com
Metropolitan Console Table, $349 at Pottery Barn
Queen Anne's Lace Upholstered Chair in Aqua, $246 at Target
See the entire house here. It's worth it!











