Demon Decor — IKEA-ology
Whether I’m working with a budget that’s $5,000 or $50,000, it’s pretty much a sure thing that IKEA will come into the picture at some point. Lucky for us Atlantans, we have one that’s super accessible and right smack in the middle of our city. From fabric by the yard to popular dining chairs, the megastore has an abundance of items that can easily be upgraded to look like pricy, custom-designed creations. As the following examples show, getting creative with IKEA can be a beautiful thing for your house—and your checkbook.
1. First-class upgrade (see photos below)
I turned to IKEA for both draperies and upholstered seating in this area of a Midtown master suite. I used four pairs of RITVA panels at $19.99 each, then had Distinctive Design in Douglasville add blackout liner, fan pleats and a 3-inch border of black-brown trim. The medium-price-point KARLSTAD swivel chairs paired with big money David Hicks La Fiorentina throw pillows gave the entire area a high-price-point feel. Believe it or not, we spent less to furnish this space than we did on the kitchen backsplash!
2. Your slip (cover) is showing
When designing a dining space, I wanted streamlined, slip-covered chairs that were not only fancy, gender-neutral and graphic, but also super durable. By sticking with IKEA’s classic, timeless $59.99 HENRIKSDAL chair and a slipcover made from indoor/outdoor Sunbrella fabric, guests were able to stare at their pretty cake … and carelessly eat it, too.
3. Going around the subject
To stay on budget with this TV producer’s lounge, I paired one-of-a-kind vintage dining chairs and a super-duper high-end banquette with a trio of $149 DOCKSTA tables. The all-white penny pinchers are doppelgangers for Saarinen’s classic modern Tulip Table—a classic that starts at around $2,500. You do the math.
4. Underneath it all
In this jewelry designer’s studio, I opted to spend a little extra on designer wallpaper and custom window treatments. With little money left, I turned to IKEA’s $149 TORSBY table for a clean, contemporary look, then updated it with a pink skirt that allowed for concealed storage below.
Décordemon.com creator Brian Patrick Flynn is a television producer turned decorator/designer. The moniker “Décor Demon” comes from his fast-paced weekend routine of furiously raiding garage sales and flea markets for one-of-a-kind pieces. What started out of necessity as a cash-strapped film student has led to a unique design style (referred to as “Garage Sale Glamour”) seen in more than a dozen magazines as well as seven seasons of a hit television series.
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