Budget This.

I don't get the whole "budget" idea. I mean, maybe to some people spending $1,000.00 on a lamp is a steal but ... ?? ...I didn't even spend that much on my SOFA!! (Snagged it on sale at JC Penney).



I thought, for fun, I would try and recreate one of my favorite bedrooms in Domino Magazine (April '06) on the cheap. The REAL live cheap. Let me know what you think.

1. Fabric headboard and Dust Ruffle: This is tricky. The headboard and fabric were custom and ended up costing the homeowner $1,750.00 excluding the fabric. (Which I have a hard time understanding since isn't the dust ruffle fabric?? I guess it was a custom deal. Most NORMAL people can't really afford "custom" unless it means DIY or asking dad if he will make it for us. However, Ikea has a fabric bedframe called the Morkedal (add appropriate umlauts) which has a clean white headboard and dust ruffle. The one in Domino is more of a creamy muslin color but I think this is a decent facsimilie. And there is always RIT dye to fall back on. This beauty will set you back a mere $309.00!

2. Antique Mirrored Chests as Nightstands: Okay, if you want an antique you will pay for it. The owner of this bedroom certainly did...$2,130.00 A PIECE!! (Currey & Company). If I wanted to replicate this look on a budget I would head on over to one of my fave sites: Urban Outfitters, and pick up two Mirrored End Tables for the reasonable price of $200.00 a piece. Now that's a deal! They don't have the gorgeous patina of an antique but you get the same idea for pennies instead of $$$.

3. Lamps: The lamps in this picture are a lovely matte silver with white shades. They are $239.99 at Lamps Plus. While I agree that they are really beautiful, I am sure we can find something a bit more "wallet friendly". I found this Silver Shine Table Lamp for a mere $50.00 a piece at Pier 1. They are brushed chrome finish over brass and the white fabric shade has a pretty little design. I really like these. Nice shape and fairly unbreakable for little ones who like to tornado around my bedroom!!

4. Duvet: I am not sure exactly what size this bed is. In the photos it looks to be a full/double size. The duvet is a gorgeous custom Medura Lapis from John Robshaw textiles and it cost the homeowner $590.00. Once again I headed over to Urban Outfitters where I rather like the Giant Damask Bedspread . It isn't a medallion print but the colors are right and they also have styles featuring medallion prints but in other colors. This coverlet is 101 1/2" x 91 1/2" (which is nearly the size of a king spread) and can be yours for the low, low price of $34.00. That's right! It's not a typo. Only $34 bucks and if the backside looks crappy you can always buy two for that price and sew them back to back or make them into a duvet cover. What a deal!

5. Sheets: West Elm Morocco sheets here. Nice ones too and not a terrible price of $79.00 for the sheet set. In the pictures you can't really see them very well so I would imagine that any sheet set from your regular retail shop would be fine in this case. They have a small chain pattern on the edge which is nice but not necessary in my opinion. Suit yourself on this one.

6. Pillow Covers: I think that this means the blue throw pillows which are also West Elm (called Layered Geo) and do not seem to be available online anymore. West Elm has many other great pillow covers. As a matter of fact, pillow covers are pretty easy to find in the budget range. I particularly like the Denise Schmidt Strings Attached Sham from RetroDepo which fits a standard sized pillow. Great deal at $18.95. Also check out some of these from West Elm (on clearance) and Pier 1:

7. Curtains: I am terrible at choosing curtains. I can never decide what type of material I should get, or if they should have liners. Also, they cost the EARTH! Even Kmart window panels (one per package) are crazy prices considering you usually need two per window and have more than one window per room. It's a pain in the butt. The homeowner's curtains are made from Rosen and Chadwick's fabrics at $19.50 a yard and hung at ceiling height on a black or dark brown rod. They seem to be a plain blue color. Hmmm. In this case I would recommend taking your new bedcover or throw pillow to the store and attempt to match one of the shades of blue.

8. Light Shade: The magazine doesn't list the price of the big round chinese lantern shade on the overhead light. They SAY that it is an "inexpensive lantern". Pearl River is the undisputed KING of paper lanterns for less. They have different sizes and colors available. The largest sizes are under $30.00. Beautiful!