Design Expert Leslie Neblett paints the walls of the Terrys' bonus room; Fairfield County, Conn.

Problem 2: Hodge-podge of mismatched furniture in the family room; faux wainscoting makes the ceiling seem lower than it is.

Expert: Leslie Neblett, designer

Solutions:

• Remove chair rail.
  
• Create wall hangings from colorful bed sheets and stretcher bars.
  
• Reupholstered Annette's desk chair with inexpensive fabric and staple gun.
  
• Replaced temporary paper window treatments with simple match stick shades.
  
  • Shades = $15 each from Home Depot
  
  
• Introduced a color coordinated Sisal rug to create an intimate family seating area.
  
  • Sisal Rug = $90 from Pottery Barn
  
  
• Moved the newly covered sofa closer to help with flow.
  
  • Cotton Duck Slip Cover = $80 From Bed Bath and Beyond
  
  
• Re-purposed the old T.V. stand to make window seats in the alcove
  
  • Window seats cut to fit = $17
    
  • Pillows = 80
    
  • Painted with white paint
  
  
• Hung curtains to separate the office and exercise areas
  
  • Curtains and Rods $100
  
  
• Mounted 2 Ikea floating shelved to unify the T.V. area
  
  • Shelves = $30
  
  
• Added 2 T.V. stands also from Ikea
  
  • $200
    
    • -->Total Cost $657

• Walls are re-painted; the Terry's love the color, and the room looks bigger and brighter.
  
• Furniture rearranged.
  
• They finally got window seats where they can read, relax, and gaze out the window
  
• Maarten has a spot for my computer in which he can work with minimal distractions

Resources

Home Depot
800-430-3376
The world's largest home improvement retailer and second largest retailer in the United States.
www.homedepot.com

Pottery Barn
888-779-5176
702-779-5176 (FAX)
A full range of Pottery Barn products are available online, including furniture, tableware and decorative accessories.
www.potterybarn.com