STORAGE BOOST
To make efficient use of a hall closet, Renee attached brass flush-end posts (buyrailings.com) to a shelf bottom, which freed up wall space on the side for a shoe rack. Acrylic rods held in place by wall flanges hold shoes upright on shelves.
MIRRORED UPGRADE
Renee had pieces of mirror cut with polished edges, because they would be visible in the doors of the IKEA wardrobes. She used mirror adhesive to glue each panel into place. Updating cabinet handles is her easy way to add polish.
STAMPED IN STYLE
A block print pattern on the lampshade is echoed elsewhere in the living room. Renee made the design with a rubber stamp kit. She used acrylic paint to stamp directly onto the plain surface, going around the entire shade
BERIBBONED WALLS
To attach petersham ribbon (which curves easily), Renee brushed a thin layer of wallpaper paste on the walls and adhered strips of ribbon, including around doors and moldings. Dabs of hot glue secure the ends.
DOT ART LAMP
Renee liked the splatter design on a Safavieh lamp base, even though its inky blue didn’t fi t the nursery scheme. She bought it and, using an artist’s paintbrush, dripped light blue ceramic paint over the dark splatters. She covered the shade with wallpaper
FAUX BAMBOO FINISH
Half-round faux-bamboo molding (osbornewood.com) trims closet shelves. Renee cut the molding to size (use a miter saw for corners), painted it, and attached with pin nails and construction adhesive.
SHELL- ENCRUSTED FRAME
Inspired by artist Christa Wilm, Renee coated a mirror frame in finely crushed seashells (joann.com), which she attached with construction adhesive.
CORNER INTEREST
The couple used baseboard trim on the ceiling to hide imperfections where the wall and ceiling meet. “We had to get really clever with how to make it look finished, so we put these square pieces on the ends,” Renee says
INSTANT ARCHITECTURE
Fretwork wall panels (ekenamillwork.com) were Renee’s alternative to replastering an imperfect nursery ceiling. She nailed the panels in place to hide uneven plasterwork and create architectural interest in an unexpected place.
TRIMMED OUT
An X-shape design made from screen molding from Home Depot adds detail to living room cabinet doors. Renee cut the molding to size, painted the pieces, and secured them to the door fronts with double-stick gel tape.
LUXE FOR LESS
Renee upgraded the look of a plywood console by wrapping it with washable grass-cloth wallpaper (decoratorsbest.com). Folds mimic the look of mitered corners. Renee adhered the paper with wallpaper paste.
PLEATED SHADE
Renee sews an elasticized cover from a piece of fabric, which she gathers and slips over a lampshade. She adjusts the gathers to evenly space them, pinning in place. She then hot-glues the gathered fabric, removing pins as she works.
BUYING INFORMATION: BHG.com/Resources
PHOTOS: (FLUSH-END POSTS, RIBBON, BAMBOO MOLDING, SHELLS, FRETWORK PANEL, WALLPAPER ROLL) KELSEY HANSEN