Design on a Dime: Redo your dining room for under $25,000...

The husband and I know a lovely couple Miss M., and Mr. G.,...soon to be married...and they are lucky enough to have just purchased a beautiful home in West Hollywood...as any straight couple should, they consulted their gay's for some decorating ideas.  After hours of scouring through Pinterest I was able to find some fabulous dining room set ups that I think you would love to have in your own home.

Now I have deducted that Miss M.  has a taste for French Provincial and with their new large and square dining room it will fit fabulously!

As always we are going to try and keep this under budget, now with $30,000.00 I hope we can do it, with a room that so many of us have such fond memories in, I would hate to scrimp but; these are tough economic times so bear with me.

Now, I will be using our favorite mail order furniture store Horchow, and I will sneak in a few new gems from a new place I discovered called One Kings Lane...This will be really fun!

LETS GO!

2 Lido Host Chair...$1,799.00ea.
Natural Dining Table...$2,199.00
4 Maya Armchairs...$999.00 for 2
Viola Mirrored Bar...$5,929.00
2 Gianna Console...$1,279.00ea.
Golden Chandelier...$1875.00
Slate Leiden Curtains...$89.00ea.
6' Barley Twist Rod...$167.00
2 Drapery Rod Rings...$68.00/set
Belvedere Chest...$1,199.00
Dinner service for 8...$664.90
Antique Baroque Flatware...$339.90
Cheers Glassware...$155.40
Azure Cotton Napkins...$114.00
Orchid Napkin Rings...$645.00
8' X 11' Panthea Rug...$649.00
4 Aero Sea Glass Pillow...$556.00
Glass Bottles w/stoppers...$295.00
Perched Birds Table Jar...$575.00
Turquoise Decor. Accents...$86.90
Golden Geometric Tray...$425.00
Swarovski Photo Frame...$270.00

Four Songbird Prints...$425.00
Antique French Floor Mirror...$550.00
Demetrius Mirror...$1,050.00
Four Silver Bird Panels...$1,795.00
Julius Center Piece...$219.00

GRAND TOTAL: $24,633.10
Somehow we came in under $366.90 Maybe I should get another vase?

Since this room is inspired by French Provincial design, I wanted to have a lot of light an airy pieces, such as the bird prints, centered with bright and colorful accents scattered throughout the room...large furniture helps fill up a large room, but by adding mirrors you keep the room from feeling overstuffed or claustrophobic.  The real room I thought of when I designed this is directly visible from the front door, so I wanted a statement chandelier which instantly sets the mood and overflows with class and sophistication, your guests know exactly who their host is from this chandelier. The table has lots of textures and is plush and inviting from the head of the table to the guest chairs and their cushions. The Side tables around the rest of the room serve as additional storage for serving platters china etc...they also allow you to always have a place for fresh flowers to be scattered around, adding to the French theme and filling your home with even more color and the best parts, fresh scents!

Now, I added this fabulous Viola Mirrored bar...it's fantastic!  the front doors slide into the sides so you can pack it with booze then hide the fact that your an alcoholic and yet still be classy while doing it.  These fabulous glass bottles with stoppers are decorative and functional for brandy's decanting etc.

All in all this room is now full of luxurious, comfortable and fashionable pieces, sure to intrigue your guest, and delight the senses almost as much as the fabulous food you will soon be serving...Hopefully!

Now, I wonder if I could do a room almost just like this for under $2,000.00? HAHAHA I know...that's funny, but who wants to see me try?

As Always, if you would like to create this fabulous room or one like it don't forget to visit our friends at Horchow and One Kings Lane!

Watch Your drink,

The Stepford Husband

Design On a Dime: Redo your Living Room for Under $40,000.00

Room by: Jean-Louis Deniot  www.deniot.com

Well Ladies and Gents it's that time again...our house is far from completed and today we have to somehow manage to redo our Living room for under $40,000.00...last time if you remember correctly we managed to redo our Bedroom for under $30,000.00 and we came in right at $29,462.50, and that was only because we had enough left over to get 12 drinking glasses with which to toast to our success!  I think we can do it again!

This time we are again going to be using the fabulous furniture from our friends at Horchow but we are also going to be throwing in some choice pieces featured in the January issue of our friends Architectural Digest.


LETS GO!!!!

Lana Media Chest, Qty 1, $2,799.00
Rock Crystal Lamp, Qty 2, $3,190.00
*Ellsworth Tufted Sofa, Qty 1, $1,799.00
Claudia Mirrored end table, Qty 2, $1,118.00
Catarina Chair, Qty 2, $6,458.00
Paxton Coffee Table, Qty 1, $1,099.00
Bohemian Pendant, Qty 1, $2,225.00
Carmella Bar Cabinet, Qty 1, $4,799.00
Olantio Bookcase, Qty 1, $3,999.00
Madallion Blues Rug, Qty 1, $3,459.00
2 Norlina Wall mirros, Qty 2, $450.00
Urban Toile Pillow brn/whit, Qty 2, $310.00
Urabn Toile medallion, Qty 2, $350.00
Polar sheepskin pillow, Qty 2, $878.00

Apricot Sun Pillow, Qty 2, $258.00
Ivory Suitcase, Qty 1, $475.00
Aqua Suitcase, Qty 1, $475.00
2 Golden Fl. Panels, Qty 1, $1,425.00
Antique Mirrored Tray, Qty 1, $275.00
Coral in Urn Tapestry, Qty 2, $1,450.00
Stacked Crystals Lamp, Qty 2, $470.00
Amelie Mirroed Console, Qty 1, $999.00
Icicle vase Large, Qty 1, $155.00
Icicle Vase Med., Qty 3, $375.00
Icicle Vase, Sm., Qty 6, $570.00
Fashion Book, Qty 1, $65.00
2 Doves Platforms, Qty 1, $50.00

SUB TOTAL: $39,975.00


Now, I totally wanted to get a fabulous bottle of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon but they are $140.00 each, so we will have to settle for a bottle of Yellowtail Cabernet Sauvignon instead which for a magnum comes in at about $13.99 at your local grocery store and we can get some plastic cups for $2.00 with which to drink it with. So...that leaves us with a grand total of....drum roll please!

Grand Total: $39,990.99


Whew! Yet another close one, but ladies and gents, just like I promised we have succeeded! We actually came in underbudget $9.01!

Here are some more pictures of the fabulous trinkets for our room.

If you would like to learn more about Jean-Louis Deniot and his fabulous interior designs, please visit his website at www.diot.com, Architectural digest also just featured him in their AD100 their list of the top talents in architecture and interior design you can read his article here.

Again if you are newly or always have been wealthy and would like to blow some of that cash furnishing your home don't forget our friends at Horchow, they have the best stuff and I think you would agree. You can get everything I mentioned above by going here.

What room should we do next?

Watch Your Drink,

The Stepford Husband

* Please note, I thought the Ellisworth Tufted Sofa was cheep, my current couch was several hundred more,  and that was after nagging on the bitch (she's actually very nice) for an hour for a discount, and I got to choose the leather and fabrics...Never pay full price, hold out for a discount ladies and gents, it's not being cheep, it's managing cash flow!

Trends: What to wear for your Christmas Parties

When dressing yourself this holiday season or dressing your table there are fabulous finds in your own neighborhoods and in the stores to help you accomplish your style needs!

When dressing yourself this holiday season refer to gold, bronze and classic evergreens for your accessories their seasonal yet still spot on! You can also always opt for Dark Blue's and Purples with silver accessories.

Complete your look with a statement neckless...I've included a link and below!

When dressing your table, have some fun with it!
Source fabric from your local fabric store look for Red and Green Plaids, Polka dots, or light green paisleys...make sure you get it big enough for your table and roll under and sew the raw edges to finish it off...if you don't have a sewing machine your local dry cleaner could probably do this for you while you wait for about $10.

The best part of these do it yourself tablecloths is that you can reuse them come spring!

For you Glassware mix in the glasses you already have with Champagne and wine glasses from your local antique store. You can pick up a set of Antique Crystal glasses for about $2.00 which is more than half the cost of brand new set...and you get to own a piece of history.

When it comes to your holiday florals, mix in white delicate flowers with, Stargazer lilies, Red Barry's, and Roses for a fragrant, beautiful, and long last arrangement...you can do a large arrangement yourself for about $20 instead of the $80+ that your florist would charge!

Holday Necklace from Etsy

Watch Your Drink,

The Stepford Husband