Budget
Discover The Hottest Design Looks — And How To Get Them For Less
Published on June 29, 2020
There’s a reason high-end design details are so coveted. Whether it’s striking designer wallpaper or chevron floors that look like they belong in a Parisian apartment, these elements take a space from ordinary to extraordinary. We break down five of our favorite design looks, tell you exactly how much it costs and how to get the “luxe for less” version.
Plaster Walls
Turn your walls into tactile canvases with a Venetian plaster finish. This centuries-old technique can be topped with wax for a polished effect. Here are three ways to bring the look home.
1. Hire A Pro: Venetian plaster walls enhance this kitchen’s stone counters and warm wood accents. Professionals like Darrell Morrison of Decorative Painting & Plastering Concepts in Surrey, B.C., create a Venetian plaster finish by artfully applying thin layers of lime plaster topped with wax in a labor-intensive process.
Cost: Approx. $9,000 to $14,000 for a typical 10-foot-square room, depending on the style of finish and complexity of the work.
2. One-Step DIY: Lime Fresco paint in Skin Powder from Pure & Original gives this farmhouse bathroom a cloudy appearance that’s similar to plaster treatments. The combination of lime, pigment and water creates the effect in one application using a lime paint brush with extra-long, firm bristles (or try a masonry brush). Lime paint can be sealed, so it’s moisture- and bacteria-resistant, making it suitable for bathrooms and kitchens.
Cost: $167 for a 2.5 litre can of paint, which covers 86 to 129 square feet in a single layer + $10 for a specialty brush.
3. Three-Step DIY: You can get a plaster effect by layering any brand of paint in two or three shades, and texturizing the lighter top shades by rubbing them with crumpled paper and damp rags. Unlike lime paint, the finish stays relatively flat so it can be easily repainted. This wall was created using three colors of Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan.
- A base coat of Scandinavian Pink was rolled onto the wall and left to dry.
- A 50-50 mix of Henrietta and water was brushed on in random patches, then rubbed with crumpled paper while the paint was still wet. This process was repeated until the whole wall was done. Allow the paint to dry.
- A wash of Paloma was brushed on, then dabbed off with a damp rag to create a powdery look.
Expert Tip: Before beginning, try a practise patch with paint samples until you get the effect you like.
Cost: Approx. $47 per 1-litre can of Chalk Paint, which covers 140 square feet.
Designer Wallpaper
Give plain walls new life with bold color and rich pattern. Envelop a room for full-on drama or use wallpaper strategically to stretch your budget without sacrificing impact.
1. Full Coverage: Floor-to-ceiling wallpaper by storied brands such as Fornasetti, Cole & Son and William Morris creates a luxe look, with a price tag to match. “Papering a 12-foot-wide wall can require three rolls, depending on the ceiling height,” says Katie Hunt of Katie’s Wallpaper Installation in Toronto.
Cost: Approx. $250 and up per roll.
2. Partial Coverage: Get more mileage from splurge-worthy wallpaper by applying it above or below a chair rail, or frame it with mouldings as shown. Katie says these methods can save about one roll per 12-foot-wide wall.
Cost: Approx. 25 per cent less than papering.
Heritage-Look Baseboards
Give rooms a pedigreed appearance with deep, stately mouldings. Today, most new-builds and condos are trimmed with basic four-inch-high baseboards. Swapping them for baseboards at least eight inches high — or tricking the eye with a simple illusion — adds grandeur.
1. Buy It: Solid wood eight-inch baseboards are widely available at big-box stores and specialty moulding retailers.
Cost: Approx. $15 per linear foot, including installation.
2. Fake It: Mimic deep baseboards by adding chair rail trim above your existing baseboards and painting the space between them the same color. Here’s how:
- Mark the height above your existing baseboard where you want the new trim to stop. Measure the height of the chair rail trim and mark the wall where the bottom edge will land.
- Cut a block of wood the same width as the space between the existing baseboard and the bottom of the chair rail trim to use as a spacer.
- Cut the trim to length and mitre the ends. Using brads, nail the trim to the wall.
- Caulk to fill all the gaps and cracks between the wall, baseboard and trim.
- Apply painter’s tape to the wall along the top edge of the new trim.
- Prime and paint the baseboard, wall space and chair rail trim the same color to create the illusion of a solid, high baseboard.
Cost: Approx. $1.80 per linear foot for the trim + $5 for a tube of caulking + $10 for painter’s tape + $8 for a box of brads. You’ll need to budget extra for paint and primer, and tool rental, if necessary.
Gallery-Style Frames
Create a high-impact, professional effect by framing photographs and art using matching frames with extra-wide mats. This treatment works well with smaller art, as it creates drama and makes a petite piece look more substantial.
1. Hire A Pro: Professional framers like Toronto’s Archetype Custom Framing use high-quality, antireflective glass with 99 per cent UV filtering for clarity and to protect images from fading. Conservation matting further guards against damage and discoloration.
Cost: Approx. $405 with a 16- by 20-inch solid wood frame.
2. DIY: Pick simple ready-made frames in the same color, then swap out the supplied narrow mats for ones with a wider profile. A framer or framing website can help calculate or recommend the size of a custom mat, or try a mat at least three times larger than the art for added drama.
Cost: Approx. $15 for a 16- by 20-inch frame + approx. $34 for matting.
Chevron Floors
Chevron floors (a parquet method where the boards meet in a V) convey pure Paris apartment chic. These three chevron options cater to a range of budgets.
1. Hardwood: Hardwood is the most expensive, but it can last for decades and be repeatedly refinished over time. Contractor Maxim Sologub of Strataline, in Vaughan, Ontario, notes: “It requires an ideal surface.” The process involves removing old flooring, levelling the surface, then installing the new boards.
Cost: Approx. $13/sq.ft. and up.
2. Precut Engineered Planks: Engineered planks are made of layers of wood that are bonded together and topped with a real wood veneer. They can be installed over concrete or in-floor radiant heating because they’re built to withstand temperature variations and resist buckling and warping. It’s possible to self-install a “floating” floor with planks that snap together over an existing floor. If the veneer is 1⁄6-inch thick or more, engineered wood can be refinished a couple of times.
Cost: Approx. $9.50/sq.ft.
3. Vinyl Planks: Printed to simulate natural wood, this option has a click-in system that makes it possible for DIYers to install. Vinyl withstands moisture, so it’s a good option for basements or bathrooms. Be sure to check the product’s warranty for protection against common vinyl flooring issues such as denting and fading with UV exposure.
Cost: Approx. $6/sq. ft.
House & Home June 2020
Produced by Kai Ethier & Jennifer Koper