Bargain-shopping expert and do-it-yourself decorator Maria Calleia shares her tips for using inexpensive items and simple methods to create a warm and inviting home. Instant Window Treatment Inexpensive tab-top shower curtains and cheap metal plant hangers come together to brighten a big window. Splashed with gold paint and hung upside down to support curtain rods, the hangers pair prettily with blue-and-white-striped curtains (figure A). Romantic Cottage Theme For a romantic all-over-the-house cottage theme, mix all kinds of floral fabrics and patterns -- the cheaper the better. Extend the mood by searching out bargain-basement antique accessories to which you can add your own flowery touch, as Maria did with hand-painted roses on a bargain urn (figure B). Curtain Cushion Covers and Napkin-Covered Pillows Cover worn couch cushions with cut-rate curtain panels purchased from an outlet store, and top them with napkin-covered pillows without ever sewing a stitch (figure C). Tuck the curtain panels around the cushions, and seam the marked-down pillow covers with hot glue. Stamped Lamp Crown a thrift store lamp with an inexpensive rubber-stamped lampshade. Maria stamped a fleur-de-lis pattern on a shade, filled in the pattern with permanent marker, and outlined the design with a gold pen (figure D).
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