I hope you’ll enjoy this new series called “Steal This Look!” With each installment of the Steal This Look series, a fabulous designer room will be recreated (by yours truly) using a combination of DIY techniques and decor available online so that you can easily recreate these designer looks in your own home . . . and for a lot less!
For the first installment, I’m focusing on this flirty, feminine room that was first published in Ideal Home in July of 2008. I was instantly drawn to the sassy pops of fuschia throughout the space that keep the design looking fresh and modern (instead of potentially prissy and country).
Here’s how you can recreate this look in your own living room in a jiffy (and without breaking the bank!) with a few DIY projects and lovely store-bought pieces:
1. white sofa: $799
2. floral rug: $113.99
3. white end table: $139;
4. DIY upholstered coffee table: less than $20 (MDF), less than $5 each (legs), $3.49/yard (hot pink fabric). Have the MDF cut to size at the store, then use spray adhesive to attach a layer of foam to the top of the MDF. Next, wrap batting and the hot pink fabric over the top of the batting/MDF and staple the layers underneath to secure. Finally, use screws to attach the four legs to the underside of the MDF (after spraypainting them a glossy white).
5. DIY quatrefoil stencil: $25. While the original design uses wallpaper, this quatrefoil stencil is a beautiful and budget-friendly alternative to wallpapering that will achieve a similar look. I chose the quatrefoil pattern just because I love it and think it will be a chic update to the space, but you could alternatively use this stencil to stay a bit closer to the original design. Use kelly green paint to stencil the pattern on the walls.
6. DIY drop cloth drapes: $19.97 (+ lining with hot pink fabric). Talk about bang for your buck! Just line these drop cloths with the hot pink fabric (also used on the ottoman) for a touch of understated sass.
7. pillows: $24.99 for 2 (green), $18.99 (hot pink), $29.49 for 2 (striped), $20 for 2 (floral).
8. white bookcase: $59.99 (white bookcase), $25 each (glass door, in white, in 15.75 x 38.62 size), $25 each (solid door, white). To keep this bookcase affordable, I decided to go with a mix-and-match option from Ikea.
Total: less than $1,500
Have a designer room in mind that you’d like me to recreate? Just shoot me an email or link to it in the Comments section (it must be in quotes to be visible) and I’ll add it to the list!


























