Produced, written and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with styling by Scott Laslie and photography by Sarah Dorio

Actress Geena Davis made a U-turn from the Hollywood Hills straight to becoming an Olympic archery hopeful. The Terminator tossed his Sarah Connor agenda out the window, then emerged as Governor of California. Kathy Ireland traded Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions for a billion dollar empire’s worth of lighting, carpet and bedding catalogs. As this star-studded trifecta demonstrates, when it comes to business practices, a change can do you good. Atlanta-based interior designer, Scott Laslie, is no exception to the rule.

Thanks to this go-fug-yourself, sink-or-swim economy, Mr. Laslie and business partner, Alex Guerrero, opted to completely re-evaluate the firm’s existing design services, then willingly brave the market with their own new joint venture. Just two short years ago, sprawling southern estates, sexy high-rises with sweeping views and high-dollar vacation homes were all part of Scott’s daily agenda. Nowadays, with most full-scale projects benched in purgatory, the designer is taking it one-room-at-a-time. Largely inspired by Betsy Burnham’s groundbreaking concept for Instant Space, Scotty beamed himself up in a similar direction but with a slightly different approach. Although, for now, Mr. Laslie’s reputable, scaled-back, full-service firm thrives in this identity crisis of an industry, he refuses to become design roadkill in the years to come. So what’s the difference between Scott’s firm and Found Market? While Scott Laslie Interior Design often implements the Scott Laslie aesthetic into client’s homes, Found Market, well, notsomuch.

Laslie and Guerrero are hell-bent on each Found Market space strongly resembling its client. Albeit a single room execution or a simple object hunt, each task is treated as its very own full-service design project. Example: imaginary businesswoman, Puffie van der Snuff, has a gorgeous living room sofa, heirloom rug and drapery fabric; however P-Snuff is [a] stumped on tables, lamps and accessories [b] indecisive in choosing a wall color. Found Market makes a beeline for budget-minded retail stores, trade-only design showrooms and discount outlets with a fan deck and snappy point-and-click in hand. Once the missing pieces to each decorating puzzle are found, Laslie painstakingly puts each and every one in place either himself [if the home is local to Atlanta] or via step-by-step, do-it-yourself plans [for out-of-towners]. NOTE TO SELF: hyphen-overload in previous sentence. To see Laslie’s new service in action, my photographer and I spent an afternoon with the designer himself along with his client, Leigh, and her two dogs, Luigi and Wayne Newton. The result? All design talk aside, when it comes to the creation of a niche business, Laslie and Guerrero have FOUND their MARKET.

Pretty in pink

What once was a gash wound shade of red is now sitting pretty in pink. Leigh called upon Scott to turn the bloody mess of a dining room into an airy, elegant reading lounge. In true Found Market fashion, the designer put his client through a personal taste test, then built the room around her cherished photography and existing club chairs.

What’s mine is yours

Once Lee surrendered her existing pretties to her trusted design guru, he began with the artwork. First, Scott splurged on custom-cut matte from a local framer before outfitting each botanical print with black, medium price-point frames from Pottery Barn. Next, he arranged them symmetrically above a reasonably priced, neutral, Linato linen sofa from Lee Industries scored at America’s Mart in downtown Atlanta [to-the-trade only]. As opposed to his pricey-pricey projects prior to 2008, Laslie nabbed his current client’s side table from a flea market, had a discount vase re-purposed as a lamp and went retail for throw pillows from Crate & Barrel and Lee Industries.

Soft to the touch

While the room is elegant and tailored, Scott kept it welcoming with casual touches. A soft wall color, “Early Morning” from Ralph Lauren, was chosen to accentuate the pastels of Leigh’s existing abstract. Since the photography layout was so perfect, Scott opted to be a bit less precise by simply leaning the four-foot canvas up against the wall, then topped it off with a pair of framed, watercolor figure paintings. Leigh’s club chairs are known to take her to her happy place, so Scott enhanced said happiness with discount houndstooth fabric scored at Lewis & Sheron Textiles for $9 per yard. Retail therapy strikes again with a tripod table and woven window shades from Target. For designer windows sans the price, Laslie had linen panels sewn with rod pockets, then embellished with a 2-inch tape trim sporting a zebra-like pattern.

Everything old is new again

Accents of black and white unite old with new and high with low. Starting on the wall with Leigh’s botanical prints, the classic combo makes its way to the ground with IKEA’s “STOCKHOLM” swivel stool uphosltered in cowhide. While the animal-tastic seating is a brand-new purchase with a $279 price tag, the second-hand coffee table was found at a flea market for just a few dollars more. As far as the area rug is concerned, Laslie turned trash into treasure. The Belgian linen beauty was a remnant from a carpet showroom which he had bound to fit the space.

Keep on the sunny side

As thunder made its way in and stole our $#&*@ natural light, designer and client enjoyed the totally chic, totally Leigh digs with Luigi and Wayne Newton. And by enjoyed, I mean took direction from me very well although completely exhausted, suffering power outages and running late for a friend’s soon-to-be-rained-out wedding 90 miles up the most-likely-flooded Interstate. Oh well, at least it’s always sunny in Leigh’s lounge.

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Produced, written, directed and styled by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Mali Azima

“If you can’t say something nice, come sit by me.” – Olympia Dukakis, Steel Magnolias. Decor Demon’s own mantra is somewhat similar; however, YOU is swapped with THEY in reference to thanks-but-no-thanks publications who’ve scouted, then passed up homes with unapologetic styles. So what if said publication ran out of room for you at their brand-specific table? Even more reason for you to, well, come sit by me. Much like co-star Shirley MacLaine’s red velvet armadillo cake, dark and eclectic interiors are often labeled too “edgy” or, in some cases, considered “too difficult to photograph”. ENTER Mark Edge, a jewelry-making man about town whose elegant, masculine home was passed up for national consideration when, dubiously, the only “edgy” thing about it is its owner’s last name. Mark’s stunning Midtown Atlanta project came Decor Demon’s way when our editor friend, Lisa Mowry, passed it along knowing its overall dark aesthetic would never fly with her affiliated brands. Two things [a] Lisa is pretty, tall and generous [b] finders keepers.

A soft-spoken, exquisitely dressed Southern gentlemen, the talented Mr. Edge purchased his dream home, a historic bungalow in Midtown Atlanta, with plans to reinvent it as a showstopper fit for a man’s man. Much like the raw stones in his jewelry design studio, Mark stripped all 4,000 square feet of house to the core before busting out the polish, then adding his magic touch. With some help from designer/friend Amy Wikman and her studio, Bjork Antikt, Mr. Edge would spend the next 18 months invading flea markets, estate sales and thrift stores in search of one-of-a-kind pieces from which to create something unique and easy-on-the-checkbook. Modern? Sure. Traditional? Hell yeah! Dark colors? Y-E-S. Photo shoot nightmare? Um, no. Like, not AT ALL. Two lighting kits, three buckets of flowers and one brilliant photographer later, the same home deemed too dark and edgy for others became an editorial gold mine for us.

Entry level position

One part Elle DECOR, one part Goodwill and all parts well-curated, Marky Mark and his funky, vintage living room bunch greet guests with background stories galore. A friend bestowed the crushed velvet art deco sofa to Edge after discovering it at a Salvation Army Thrift Store in Macon, Ga. After years of wear-and-tear, the handsome homeowner turned over his sassy, second-hand six-seater to designer Amy Wikman’s upholstery magic shop, Bjork Studio, where some serious stitch craft restored the piece to its original 1930′s/1940′s state. Artemide was Edge’s source for the 1960′s era “Nesso” Giancarlo Mattioli Table Lamp [available to the trade only through Illuminations Contract]. Wikman brought her antique savvy to the table, literally, with a Swedish modern coffee table of wood, brass and glass. Friends and family assume the role of Armchair Warrior thanks to the comfy, black patent leather one-seater found at Scott Antique Market. Every room needs a splurge; client and designer both agreed that the bold, red abstract by David Huff was the perfect, high price-point fit.

This subject is dead

Not much to talk about in reference to the living room fireplace…and I mean that in a good way. While much of the house was in major need of some serious gutting, the sitting area’s focal point remained in pristine condition; a combination of red brick and limestone complete the masonic DNA of Edge’s fire-starter. Wikman brought in the Swedish once again, this time in the form of elk antlers straight out of Sweden, a housewarming gift for her crafty client.

Amber waves

From the reflective metallic ceiling above to the brand-spanking-new chairs below, touches of amber wave their way up, down and all around the dining room. Mark’s bulky oak conference table [rumored to have previously belonged to Ted Turner] was nabbed from a used office furniture store, then revitalized with a new finish. Both Edge and Wikman thought outside the box for the space’s lighting. To create something cost-effective AND custom, the dynamic duo rewired aged mirror pendants, then grouped them together for wow factor/razzle-dazzle from above. Although the room can seat up to 14 guests, for the most part, eight is enough. Designer and client agreed on moderately priced plastic “Ice” chairs from Calligaris in “Transparent Orange”. Food on the table isn’t the dining room’s only organic element; the block pattern of the Tibetan rug under foot was created by artisans with vegetable dye. Thinking locally and acting globally, Mark turned to Buford, Ga. sculptor Margaret Von Keiser for the stone bust which the designer dude himself embellished with leftover chain from his kitchen pendants. Lastly, I’d like to point out that this “hard to shoot” space was photographed using ONLY natural light. Mrrrkay?

Knife in the back

Since Mark’s kitchen is situated in the rear of the house, a knife in the back simply refers to the location of his cutlery. Speaking of things that slice, the sharply dressed man’s mason painstakingly cut hundreds of Verde Chipolino marble tiles to achieve the staggered pattern created with each 6 x 18. To keep costs down, Edge picked up the solid surface showstoppers from the close-out section of Stone Locator. Wikman and Edge, both fans of Thomas O’Brien, chose the superdesigner’s antique globe pendants from Visual Comfort to illuminate the kitchen from above the island. Dishes and vegetables enjoy soaking in the MTI farmhouse sink with plumbing fixtures from Chicago Faucets. Perhaps next time, when styling a kitchen, I’ll be sure to buy vegetables and soft drinks you don’t have to squint to see. #selftaughtstylist

Speaking on a panel

The main event of Mark’s bedroom design is its custom ebony-stained wall paneling. SIDENOTE: Notice the “lived in” styling of the bed? Although I am kinda happy with it, it would have been smart to have found out beforehand that Mark is famous for always having a meticulously MADE bed…any given day at any given hour. G-dammit! But I digress…while custom bedroom design elements such as the millwork, metallic Ultra Leather headboard and a plush shag from Underfoot Design were splurges, Thomas O’Brien bedding from Target kept the budget in check. Just steps away from the bed sits a comfy lounge area comprised of art deco and midcentury antiques [from Bjork Antikt and Scott Antique Market].

Platinum recording

Wikman’s custom paneling continues throughout the entire master suite, uniting bed, bath and beyond. The high contrast of the white Arabescato Marble in tandem with the shiny platinum finishes [such as the Restoration Hardware sconces] help bounce sparkling light throughout the otherwise dark space. In keeping with the platinum motif, Edge brought in chart-topping, framed Beatles album covers to introduce touches of color and pattern. This room must have been a total @$%#& to shoot, right? Nope, in and out in 35 minutes.

Orange you glad

Hermes makes a strong appearance in the library…well, kinda. Designer and client fell in love with the luxury brand’s signature orange tone as an accent for the well-read, 14 x 12 literary retreat; Wikman mixed custom paint to match the color exactly, then used it solely on the bookshelf back panels. The jewerly man kicks back with books comfortably on a slipcovered sofa from Cisco Brothers and an upholstered armchair from Donghia. A repurposed coffee table made from antique gate and a glass top finish off the room’s lounge area. Wikman managed to pack fine art into the space by taking advantage of dead space along the bookshelf’s facia. As our shoot came to an end, Mr. Edge informed me that the entire project, start to finish, only took him 18 short months—the same amount of time it’s taken me to choose a damn wallpaper for my living room.

Win this piece of Mark Edge jewelry crafted from recycled coins and antique chains by [a] leaving a comment on his feature [b] becoming our friend on Facebook [c] following us on Twitter. A week from now, you can show it off to your jealous friends who, unlike you, were too busy to leave a comment.

Produced, designed, written and styled by Brian Patrick Flynn with live action direction by Eric DeFino and photography by Sarah Dorio

As an ambitious, Nintendo-obsessed young boy, my mother often preached “Make us proud by finding something you love to do, then get paid for doing it…just as long as it’s not appearance-based OR in show business.”. I am [a] an interior designer [b] a TV casting producer. FAIL.

Four design series, three well-decorated homes, two rescue dogs and one spread in O at Home Magazine later, Mommy Dearest snuck an amendment into her little mantra. Could this have anything to do with SonnyBoy’s access to furniture at wholesale prices, high-end rug remnants and steep media discounts? Perhaps. But I prefer to think it’s my five years treading the entertainment industry waters without a shark attack. This conclusion rings especially true since my father equates success with “how you triumph over adversity and conflict”; based on his collection of elk, hammerhead and sailfish taxidermy, the dude knows a thing or two about triumph. Regardless, by land or by sea, I’m doing TWO things which I absolutely love…and people give me money FOR doing them. WIN.

When a new production company waltzed into town seeking smoke-and-mirror magic for their creative lounge, my team made a beeline for the set faster than a fluffer to flacid talent. Although the writer/producers wanted something dramatically Hollywood, each envisioned a different use of the space. One person saw the lofty 24 x 18 as a sophisticated writer’s retreat while others saw it as a place to throw back Hennessy with hot chicks and clients. Soon thereafter, ideas and requests multiplied like Gremlins after midnight: a TV director needed graphic backdrops for shooting reality-style interviews, two laptop-clutching writers insisted on power outlets galore, sound engineers preferred the concrete floors NOT to echo, and the staff editor wished for a sofa on which to kick back and scan raw footage. For a bunch of dudes unsure of what they’d DO in the space, they surely agreed on what they’d SPEND on it—very, very little. FAIL.

As a fan of conducting business for the sake of, I dunno, MAKING MONEY, another gated community-caliber design on a community theater budget wasn’t too enticing. Suddenly, my imaginary lightbulb flickered. The Decor Demon team had been gearing up to shoot a series of web videos and, coincidentally, our prospective new clients own cameras, sound equipment, lights, cranes and editing software. Two dumpster dives, eight reupholstery jobs and five weeks later, cameras rolled on THEIR new space…and on OUR new series. WIN/WIN.

Humble beginnings

If studio executives cast furniture in leading roles, the blue bombshell above would be the Marilyn Monroe of sofas. In true Norma Jean Baker fashion, our It Girl was plucked and polished to the nines before making her cinematic debut. Every part of the 1970′s sectional was nipped, tucked, pulled and sprayed—from the original fabric to the straps and foam to the mirrored base and the fancy woodwork. Discovered during a routine dumpster dive/fire sale run, my carpenter stripped her, sprayed her high-gloss white, then dropped her off for upholstery. To make our lady fit for her new men’s room, my upholsterer recovered the starlet in twelve-bucks-a-yard navy blue velvet, then glammed up her base with mirrored chrome veneer. For silver screen razzle-dazzle, we had pillows made in David Hicks “La Fiorentina” and two platinum-toned fabrics from Kravet.

Change in character

Best part of watching soap operas? Exit/entrance voiceovers: “The role of Billie is now being played by actress Lisa Rinna”. Same thing with this pair of has-been chairs. To seem less like crackheads and more like TV producers, we scheduled “castings” on garbage pickup days, then scouted potential “talent” before waste management’s arrival. While we encouraged both chairs to remain true to their original roles, going in a younger, more energetic direction was best for the overall project. Both cane-back and shield-back chairs were modernized with a high-gloss white finish, then updated with contrasting fabrics. For our shielded, supporting cast member’s much needed touch of graphic impact, we created decorative trim from Schumacher’s “Chevron Print” in Navy sewn straight up the center of its cool, new, blue mohair upholstery. As far as the cane-back’s update was concerned, we opted for black [now discontinued] faux snakeskin from Innovations Leather fancified with chrome nailhead detail.

Praising the bar

To facilitate both eye and liver candy, we outfitted a $349 IKEA “TROLLSTA” sideboard with barstock and A/V equipment. When things are all business, a stand-mounted flat panel graces the top’s surface; however, when it’s time to liquor up high-strung clients, Mr. 42-incher gets swapped for a show-stopping Jonathan Adler print from ArtThatFits.com behind vintage chrome-tipped barware. One very special Sunday, the vintage Gods blessed us with a pair of 1970′s chrome lamps which we basically stole from City Issue, then came across the kindred spirit chandelier found for $75 at a flea market. In addition to the blue/green/yellow work by The Talented Mr. Adler, we layered pattern on the wall using Graham & Brown’s “Viva: Black Gloss” at $80 per roll.

Hollywood treatment

From its bold, formal wallcovering to its diamond-tufting and Hollywood Regency details, our laptop lounge was perfectly fit for Tinseltown bigshots. Pretty!—but who the hell puts wallpaper on cinder block? Me, duh. During our initial scout, both parties agreed there should be no trace left of the industrial hellish/brownish/reddish concrete wall; we’d make it disappear faster than a teen idol sent to rehab. First we painted the cinder block flat, ultra-white, then clad it with Masonite panels. Once my carpenter, Chris, attached each 4 X 8 Masonite sheet to the wall with concrete screws and a drill, my paper hanger, Mary, jumped in to adhere the “Ornate: Blue” wallcovering from Graham & Brown in four sections. Does Mary talk way too much and take way too many smoke breaks? Yes. Is she one of the best paper hangers in the business and worth all the stop-drop-and-huff-and-puff? Hell yes. For maximum seating, my upholsterer, Miguel, whipped up a diamond-tufted banquette covered in one of my go-to, repeatedly used, indoor/outdoor fabrics—Sunbrella “Velveteen”. Sure, the bitch looks sexy, but she can also handle spilled White Russians aplenty should a staff screenwriter self-destruct during his sixty-ninth script revision. IKEA came in handy when budgeting for affordable lighting and pedestal tables. Three “FADO” pendants light the space from above while a trio of “DOCKSTA” tables offer space for laptops, or in some cases, TV dinners and beer. Unsightly beige-ish concrete quickly fell by the wayside thanks to FLOR in “Rake Me Over”, Indigo.

Ready for her closeup

Our Big Momma project, as far as cost was concerned, was definitely the banquette. As the head writers stated many times over, ample power outlets were a HUGE necessity. So, obviously, we’d engineer the custom piece with outlets embedded into it—right? I know, so obvious. After Miguel upholstered all surfaces, he installed power strips snugly into three cutouts along the banquette’s lower facade. To glamourize Big Momma, we brought in the same sparkly silver pillows tossed about the blue velvet sofa, then embellished her armrests with chrome nailhead detail.

Casting extras

In addition to built-in seating, the writer/producers needed a few extra chairs for script reads and pre-production meetings. So, naturally, we took to the streets again in search of castaways. All it took to whip these misfits into shape was a coat of high-gloss, ultra white paint and 2 yards of super shiny, commercial grade vinyl.

Video killed the Internet star

And now, a suckfest in styling. Since this particular project had both video AND still photography components, there should have been two completely different methods of propping. Sure, the bold, cost-effective IKEA fabric draperies are show-stopping; however, they overpower the faux cowprint rug and apparently ate the damn chandelier. How about that chrome flea market coffee table completely hidden by the glare of its glass top? What a damn mess. Also, since when do rap-music-video-director-dudes kick back to Suzanne Kasler and Dorothy Draper decorating books? Perhaps it’s to distract them from the random chunk of safety yellow cheese sitting to the right? I could make excuses all day but instead I will use this sentence to [a] prove that it worked well in video format and [b] drive you to watch the first two webisodes of Decor Demon, the series here and here. WIN.

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Produced, written and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with styling by Burnham Design and photography by Sarah Dorio

Ever since my teenage brother stabbed me in the foot with a sharpened number two pencil, I’ve [a] hated him [b] avoided teenagers [c] used a keyboard. When my tortured tween sister was dealing with Floridian mean girls, I’d intervene at the bus stop—to disastrous results. At fourteen, I attempted karate moves in my own bedroom—resulting in my foot through a wall—hours after my mom had the sheetrock redone. During my senior year of high school, my “friends” disowned me claiming I was psycho for naming my Clownfish after their girlfriends. My point…and I do have one, is that dealing with teenagers is usually a nightmare—unless you’re Los Angeles designer Betsy Burnham.

The California-by-way-of-Connecticut fashionista invited us to photograph her latest work—the bedroom suites of son, Will, and daughter, Carson, at her family’s Hancock Park Mediterranean Revival. In two shakes of a lamb’s tail, my photographer and I were perched like eager puppies waiting for treats at Burnham’s back door. Both of us huge fans of her work, we jumped at the chance to see her team in action. While Carson made an after school appearance, Will, much like his stunning mother, preferred as much distance from the lens as possible. In true Los Angeles fashion, both the family AND their breezy abode were cool, calm and collected—not to mention insanely fit [says the guy sipping a glazed Christmas ham through a straw].

Not only were the teen rooms fresh, fun and practical, but like all Betsy Burnham creations, they were layered, worldly and effortlessly chic. High-end elements such as custom draperies were counterbalanced with checkbook-savvy West Elm purchases. Splurges on beds were justified by area rugs from IKEA and accessories from flea markets. After ten hours of shooting teen-related content, talking about inverted box pleats and chasing down gourmet sandwiches with red vines, I found myself pleasantly re-living the teenage experience…this time without Clownfish named Tina and Jennifer.

Carson Daily

Thanks to a superstar designer mother, great genes and a cover-shot-worthy bedroom, every day is like Sunday in Carson’s suite. Betsy put her signature layering expertise to good use here starting with inverted box pleat draperies in “Chinese Garden” by Hazelton House [trade-only, available through Keith McCoy & Associates, Los Angeles] custom made by Teresa Prater Custom Interiors. Walls splashed with “Ivy Enchantment” from Dunn Edwards [a goes-with-almost-everything tone] allow each unique element to soar, particularly the black four-poster bed from Lane. A similar model is available through Ethan Allen.

Pillow talk

Curfews are something to look forward to thanks to Carson’s crisp, white, embroidered bedding from Deborah Sharpe Linens. Betsy hit up Peter Dunham‘s design hotspot, Hollywood at Home, for the shiny, happy, vintage Suzani bolster. A discontinued fretwork-ish side table from Williams-Sonoma Home supports a cost-saving orange “Boka” lamp from Crate & Barrel. One last bedside penny-pincher, IKEA’s “STOCKHOLM RAND” rug, grounded the sleepy space without breaking the bank.

Read all about it

Carson’s homework/reading area is a mashup of retail therapy and multicultural bargains. West Elm’s Parsons Desk in white houses candles fit for the Vatican and a turquoise Asian Foo Dog lamp found on ebay. Framed graphic art from Village hung above the desk is a nod to teen valley girl lingo. The vintage swivel chair [discovered at L.A.'s oasis of collectibles, Nick Metropolis] was given the Burnham touch with a cushion made of Clarence House’s “Jembala Wool Crewel” fabricated by Teresa Prater Custom Interiors.

State of the union

Union Jack is a signature pattern in Betsy Burnham designs. Luckily, for Carson, Mom nabbed a one-of-a-kind hand painted dresser sporting the U.K. emblem, then used it to pop color and graphic in the room. An autograph from actress Amanda Bynes took it from its original state to an A-List keepsake thanks to a People magazine shoot that took place outside the family’s home.

The right stuff

Teens are always gonna have STUFF, so why not embrace it? From the looks of Carson’s built-ins, it appears that proper accessorizing may be genetic. Betsy designed the unit with a combination of concealed and open storage. Drawers below [adorned with polished brass pulls from Liz's Antique Hardware] keep the unsightly stuff out of sight so that fun objects can be showcased above. Betsy’s favorite place for the fun stuff? High Street Market which has its own fantastic blog, I might add. When I asked Betsy the story behind the hot pink hot mess sporting floral brooches, she replied “We had a period of heavy Chinese propaganda collecting and the Mao bust fit right in”.

Bath to basics

Beyond the bedroom lives a classic black, white and grey bathroom certain never to go out of style. For Carson’s floor tile and sink, Betsy brought in sheets of Parramore Basketweave Mosaic and a Palladio sink, both from Waterworks. Gerber Hinge was the designer’s source for the chrome, hand-shaped pulls. To splash pattern onto the walls, Burnham chose “Attendants” wallcovering from Katie Ridder, then topped it off with a pair of sconces from Circa Lighting. Although Burnham Design is big on custom pieces such as the faux-python clad mirror, the studio’s trusted retail showrooms for all things kitchen and bath are Ann Sacks for more fashion-forward products and Waterworks for the classics.

Two for the money

Although we were specifically focused on Betsy’s teen room designs, it was hard to resist shooting her runway-ready project managers, Max and Alyssa. Not only did my photographer and I learn about their professional backgrounds, we discovered that [a] Alyssa hates photos of herself and is not on Facebook [b] Max is not a fan of the Darren Aronofsky film, Requiem for a Dream, but he does own a dog named Dynamo. Notice how the duo of design dreamboats rock ensembles similar to the layered interiors they help create? Coincidence? I think not.

Where there’s a Will

When it came to the design of son Will’s room, Betsy opted for overall neutral territory. Farrow & Ball’s “Drab” was Burnham’s wall color of choice. Supermom chose Schumacher’s “Galloway” in Navy for Boy Wonder’s inverted box pleat draperies which were fabricated by Teresa Prater Custom Interiors and installed with hardware from Iron Art by Orion. Will calls it a day, nightly, sprawled out on a discontinued bed from Land’s End dressed with dreamy bedding from Deborah Sharpe Linens.

It’s a man’s world

From the sleeping area to the study space to the rock show in the middle, Will’s room is a man’s world. Designer-Mom’s palette of taupe, burgundy and navy is sure to buck all trends—and look uber-masculine while doing so. When retail is a must, Betsy prefers both West Elm [source for the red Parsons Desk] and IKEA for kid spaces. Pops of yellow adrenalize the study space in the form of a Jonathan Adler lamp resting below a framed print by Lichtenstein. Pattern pops up once again courtesy of a Vivienne Westwood for the Rug Company pillow perched against the back of an Eames desk chair. The Rug Company’s “Ponti Red” area rug carries the burgundy tone over to the bed space where it’s greeted by a lacquered side table from Ji Gallery. Union Jack makes a cameo in the form of a custom “Big British Flag Lamp” lamp from Burnham Design.

A fresh approach

While Will’s bedroom layered brute colors with timeless patterns, Betsy went fresh, clean and nearly colorless in his bathroom. Rohl was Momma Burnham’s source for almost everything from the mirror to the sink/faucet combo to the polished chrome tissue dispenser. The Carrara marble surround is from Jerusalem Stone. For a dash of pattern, Betsy brought in a roman shade made from “Oakfield Tartan” by Ralph Lauren. I wonder how well Clownfish would do in that farmhouse sink.

Interested in hiring Betsy to design your home? Check out Burnham Design for full design services and Instant Space for Betsy’s do-it-yourself approach.

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Produced, designed, written, styled and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

Finally! After five years designing homes, I’ve been able to use this sentence: “My client is in Spain with Cameron Diaz learning how to drive stunt cars so we’re gonna have to push the purple ceiling installation back two days until she’s done interviewing Tom Cruise, then stops by Austria.”. These words don’t stem from being delusional or obsessed with A-Listers or Scientology but rather from the fact that my new FOX News reporter client, Stacey Elgin, has the coolest day job in the galaxy. Referred to as The Road Warrior [in reference to her live, out-in-the-field morning news show of the same name], the stunning southern belle is tasked with assignments ranging from movie premieres and press junkets to American Idol finales and the latest and greatest in fashion and fitness. The well-spoken blonde bombshell hired my team to infuse glamour into her lackluster home studio. What the hell does a news reporter need a home studio for? Well, when this Road Warrior is off the road, she runs a website hocking high-end women’s workout gear and custom jewelry. The only sucky part of the project? Getting it all done in about a week. The un-sucky part? My client’s hands-off approach and super fun taste. Her three decorating must-haves? Pink, black and mirror. This situation can best be described as a designer’s wet dream.

While the girl on TV braved 100 mph loop-dee-loops around Spanish race car tracks with Golden Globe and Oscar nominees, my team braved 100% humidity-infused drives back and forth from Home Depot with trim color candidates. Although we aimed for Bergdorf caliber high fashion, the proposed budget was more of a fit for Dress Barn. Thanks to an amazing wallpaper website, we scored a Halston-esque 1970′s pattern for the walls without breaking the bank, then the rest fell into place. We saved on storage and seating, splurged on floors, trim and custom draperies, then went Wisteria wild for our finishing touches. At the tail end of the project, I realized one minor detail. I never ran this pretty in pink concept by Stacey’s blue-and-brown-loving man’s man of a husband.

Foreign accents

It started out kinda Finnish with “Helsinki” wallpaper from UK-based company Graham & Brown. Soon thereafter, the Finnish-by-way-of-England wallpaper picked up a French-Italian accent once introduced to Wisteria’s hand-painted Parisian console and Traditional Venetian Glass Mirror. A little American retail therapy via West Elm finished the entrance off in the form of a Hammered Vase and a Crushed Eggshell Box.

A view with a room

With windows peering out into her driveway and mailbox, Stacey’s studio wasn’t exactly a room with a view. We switched things up making it a view with a room—from the top floor landing, that is. While standing in the doorway, one gets a tailored eye full of elegance from the Morningstar ebony bamboo floors from Lumber Liquidators, custom faux silk draperies, plum trim work and ceiling to a $25 flea market chair updated with black high-gloss spray paint and a violet mohair cushion.

Design within reach

Stacey’s jewelry design business requires a space to sprawl out jems, wire, clasps and materials; however many of her essentials often double as eyesores. By adding a tailored skirt to the front and two sides of a TORSBY table from IKEA, our bejeweled subject can now keep the design must-have’s within reach below the white glass table top. Our fabric of choice was pink slubby basket weave cotton at $4.99 per yard. The silver trim? Repurposed ironing board liner. Cost, FREE. We reached into our trusted bag of tricks to turn 3 BILLY bookcase units from IKEA into a fake-it-don’t-make-it built-in. To contain the part-time designer’s hat inventory, our organizing expert, Sarah, layered them inside recycled newspaper bins from The Container Store and kept Stacey’s own line of bath and body products safe in weathered BYHOLMA and Maize bins and baskets. A grey/silver pendant from West Elm added a play-on-scale to the studio from above while a $25 floor model version of the retailer’s Jute Boucle rug protected the floors below. We interspersed some decoration with our organization using Book Boxes, Jewel Topped Bottles and a Glass Pouring Pitcher from Wisteria. The black Louis Ghost Chair from Kartell was scored online.

She works hard for the money

Although the space is, for the most part, dedicated to curating Stacey’s inventory of women’s workout apparel and jewelry, it also needed an area for logging on to the Interwebs. A simple $300 West Elm Console Desk solved that with space for a laptop above and open storage for clutterables below. We splurged on a high-end black vintage chair from Pieces, bringing the medium-grade desk to new designer heights.

Windows of opportunity

Both the windows and ceiling were opportunities for creative cover-ups. First we added a WoodHaven Beadboard system from Armstrong Residential Ceilings to the uber-boring drywall above, then painted it a shade of plum called “Choo Choo” by Porter Paints. To mask the energy-saving yet aesthetically-corrupt vinyl windows, we layered natural woven shades from Texton with the aforementioned custom faux silk draperies. While the drapery material may be fashionably fake, I will tell you what isn’t—my draper, Donna’s, dissatisfaction with my measuring skills. Supposedly, her inverted box pleats would have looked ten times more spectacular if I had ordered 1/3 less fabric. Notice Donna’s happy off-camera smile and “Thanks for effing up my damn drapes” expression? It was even more enjoyable in person. Ten bucks says she also leaves a comment about it on this very page.

Well hung

Since the home studio is meant for Stacey’s online fashion boutique, it was imperative we up the ante of her closet. We fancied it up for more of a dressing room look by painting it “Choo Choo” in a flat finish, then bringing in the same ebony bamboo floor. Thanks to the Container Store’s elfa system, we doubled Stacey’s inventory space and pulled the same silver tone from the wallpaper inside. Speaking of bringing things inside, I just realized I left a pan full of bookshelf paint right outside Stacey’s front door. If purple paw prints end up all over the first floor, I’m blaming Stacey’s husband.

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Produced, designed, written, styled and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

You know that old line “if you don’t have anything nice to say, paint your stuff green and move to a farm on Mars”? Neither do I. But if that actually was a saying, my downtown loft would be the root of its existence. At only 920 square feet, the former downtown Atlanta milk factory lent itself to an “anything goes” method of decorating. While at first this was a designer’s dream situation, too many options rendered me my own worst client. Making decisions for others? A total breeze. Making decisions for myself? A total bitch.

After an unfortunate situation involving a what-was-I-thinking shade of blue and silly rod-pocket drapery panels, I opted to start over. No trends. No neutrals. No being safe. No picture frames. No mirrors. There would be no inclusion of my beloved charcoal, blue-grey or orange. It was time to be totally experimental without asking for anyone else’s opinion. Should I mix space age and farmhouse styles? Well, of course! Pair kelly green and black-brown with ultra-white and Christmas red? Sounds neat! Invite David Hicks and Andy Warhol in to finish it all off? Yup. The outcome? My most loved, hated, talked about and publicized project to date. Apparently, giving the rules of decorating the middle finger works quite well.

You’re welcome

My former snorefest of an entrance was adrenalized with a $35 craigslist credenza updated with a sprayed finish using PPG’s “Red Gumball” urethane paint. A pair of Jonathan Adler greyhounds kept watch afront a black-brown wall paneled with stain-grade luan and 1X3 MDF.

Parental supervision

Is it weird to still live with Mommy and Daddy at age 34? Well, kinda. But in this case, they’re simply the subject of a mural. Since the space behind the sofa wasn’t earning its keep, I put it to use by getting creative with a photo of my Mom and Dad in the late 1960’s. The 3X3 photograph was scanned in high-resolution, then outputted on UV-resistant vinyl in GIANT SCALE. In fact, even more gigantic than the ego-maniacal reputation I was given from neighbors who assumed the fellow in the photo was me.

Getting a big fat F

And here’s a lesson in bad styling. I’m proud of my revamped flea market furniture and use of natural light; however, I give myself an F in accessorizing. Why the %@#$ did I shove that gorgeous sunflower arrangement way back in the corner instead of on the coffee table? What’s with that wimpy little yellow thing in the skinny vase to the right of the Jonathan Adler elephant? I’d like to blame drugs but the only ones I’ve ever done are for headaches and sore throats. Speaking of placing blame [in a good way], it’s because of a Cartoon Network series cancellation that I got the plush green shag rug. The tv-studio-yard-sale find completed a list of other garage sale-ish items including: a yellow F from a TGI Fridays sign, lucite coffee table scored in Athens, Ga., and a brass chandelier swiped from a flea market and sprayed red. My carpentry friend, Dan, fabricated and installed the barn door shutters complete with frosted Plexi to let diffused light in when closed.

Case study

While many say TV cameras add weight, I often argue it’s the Snickers, pizza and cookies between takes. A similar situation occurs when designers see photos of their work and claim “It looks better in person”. Although many times that is actually the case, let’s explore this train wreck of a reading/study area. What I did right: flat black-brown paint to make the walls recede, gallery-style art grouping, false plywood wall with capsule molding afront a 13×9 white/walnut elfa system from The Container Store. And now for the not-so-much: my table choice was totally wrong, that accessory mess on the table is a disaster, spray painting the hanging basket red seemed like a good idea at the time but reads like a college apartment experiment.

Kitsch[en]

Apparently, the kitchen bought a one-way ticket on a Kitsch bound train; however, it was totally fun and done on a microscopic budget..so STFU. My refinisher removed the cabinet door fronts, added molding, and sprayed them with two coats of oil paint. I put my stellar DIY skills to use by screwing the “Grafton” glass/chrome pulls from Restoration Hardware into holes with something called a drill. To update the existing cheesy laminate countertops, my British carpenter, David [who pronounces water "WOH tuh"], created a form around its perimeter, then filled it with concrete resulting in a chunky, modern look. For a custom backsplash, David cut standard 12×12 marble tiles down to 3×5′s with a wet saw, then finished them off with light grey grout. Across the room, floating shelves housed my soup obsession while a breakfast bar below [made from standard fence posts and pine] served double duty as a serving station. Why the hell is there a robot next to the cake instead of plates?

Work of art

Space was tight in the loft so I built a table from pine [then painted and distressed it] for both dining AND work space. I kept finding these amazing iron scrollback chairs at random flea markets throughout Atlanta and, lucky for me, they mix well with just about anything. In this case I paired them with fiberglass 1960′s swivel chairs which my upholsterer updated with kelly green vinyl cushions. IKEA entered the loft in the form of three “FADO” pendants, a cost-saving alternative to true mid-century globe replications. Eye candy art by David E. Peterson, Jonathan Fenske and Ronnie Bautista tempted dinner guests to stick around for dessert. Guess how many times I actually dined in this space? Six. Okay, I lied. Three.

Saving Private Brian

The private areas of the loft literally NEVER saw the light of day. With the only two windows being at the opposite end of the unit, I was determined to over-rule the dark side. For starters, I turned to the power of ultra-white. A gallon of porch and floor paint on the bathroom’s pine planks helped bounce light around from a flush mount in the ceiling. In the bedroom, a Nelson saucer in white vinyl cast a glow throughout the room while a pair of white faux bamboo lamps shed light on reading material. To brighten up the walk-in closet, I spray painted a traditional iron chandelier white, then swapped flame bulbs for globes [a trick learned from my designer friend, Cinda]. In addition to the white, I pumped energy into the spaces with saturated green and red on walls and with FLOR. To balance the boldly bright, I incorporated dark black-brown six ways: Zoli sink/mirror combo and striped curtains in the bathroom, custom diamond pattern velvet duvet, side tables and painted rectangle in the bedroom, and trim and alcoves of the closet built-in.

Getting high

Although the rooftop was communal, its layout allowed all 14 tenants to entertain sky-high simultaneously. By designing a four-poster table from 4×4 lumber and 1×5 pine planks, the dining area could accommodate a plug-in outdoor chandelier meant for use ONLY while entertaining, then be safely stored in a weather-proof console unit. My painter friends, Josie and Yvonne, gave the deck a swank update by stenciling a custom pattern with porch and deck paint. Wire garden chairs and fiberglass dining chairs were updated with red nautical vinyl upholstery for sophisticated skyline seating. One simple step down from the dining area and guests were sitting pretty in the rooftop garden. Galvanized metal siding served as facia to an open-top planter wall packed with hard-to-pronounce-so-don’t-bother-trying succulents. Caring for them was a breeze; I simply hired my landscaper/friend, Nic Dodson, to care for them. Notice the lush lawn topped with white 1960′s rattan patio furniture? Yeah, that’s totally not real. Watering grass daily up four flights of stairs would not a happy tenant make, so we opted for NewGrass. The acrylic imposter is genius for many reasons: it requires no water, it’s fade resistant, and it drains itself through a perforated backing.

Musical chairs

A short time after completing the design work, I gazed out over the city thinking to myself “Wow, I really LOVE living here”. Then I bought a mid-century modern ranch, packed up and moved.

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Produced, directed, written and styled by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

Midcentury modernists are kinda like popular kids in high school. An intelligent coolness exudes from their attitudes and keen fashion sense to their flea market infused weekends. Newlyweds Keith “Kebo” Brown and Karen Hennessey are no exception. He is a sharply dressed marketing, branding and design whiz. She is a stunning, soft-spoken, population-saving epidemiologist. Aside from their careers, both are masters with decorating and interior design.

Brown and Hennessey saw hidden potential in a less-than-stellar 1963 Avondale Estates ranch, a short drive from downtown Atlanta. Both invested sweat equity and hard-earned cash to take the property from architectural ugly duckling to period-appropriate dream home. Although the midcentury marvel, referred to as the K2 House, looks like a million bucks, the mod couple’s penny-pinching bag of tricks resulted in a home as practical as it is spectacular.

Grand entrance

Entering the K2 House is an experience in itself. Guests are greeted by house pet, Kuba, before making their way into the great wide open. Kebo discovered original chrome Eichler-style door hardware at a local vintage market, then had it retro-fit for the house.

Sliding scale

Brown and Hennessey put up a wall, literally. Modular drywall panels allow the couple to section off private areas of the house when hosting large events. The all-white aesthetic helps their meticulously edited pieces to stand out including: Obama-centric photography by Marlene Lillian Photography and a modular sectional found at West Elm.

In living color

Brown and Hennessey are all about organic textures mixed with small doses of color. An aged, leather-clad console table was just what the doctor [and her husband] ordered to break up the dominant white-on-white aesthetic. Above the table hangs abstract art by David Huff found at the Mattress Factory Studios. Kebo was drawn to its resemblance of a classic Valentino haute couture gown, a nod to his roots in fashion design. Nestled next to a handsome chunk of driftwood sits a ceramic look-alike of the couple’s four-legged Boston Terrier son.

Up on a pedestal

True to midcentury form, pedestal bases appear on furniture in most rooms of the K2 House. Our featured fashionistas are greeted by their master suite’s Saarinen tulip side table and felt-upholstered swivel chair, both picked up at Design Within Reach Atlanta. A lightbox art piece discovered at SpaceModern sheds light on both subjects. Unfortunately, the lightbulb in my head didn’t illuminate when styling this shot; the leafy branch arrangement appears in two different photographs in this feature. Dammit.

Up high, down low

Kebo and Karen shopped super high-end, then went super low to create their master bedroom. Hubby proved himself handy by stripping the existing wood floors, then refinishing them himself. The tall rectangular window beyond the niche wall was a clever cost-saver courtesy of Kebo’s outside-the-box thinking; he had a low price-point sliding glass door installed as a picture window. Brown and Hennessey re-purposed a queen palm seed pod as sculpture displayed above their bed. KAJSA STEN bedding from IKEA set them back a cool $59.99 allowing them to dig deeper into their pockets for the upholstered platform bed from SpaceModern. Abstract art by Helen Durant becomes a focal point from the bed.

Bed, bath and beyond

Although Kebo and Karen’s master bathroom looks like a W Hotel penthouse suite, its budget was more fit for Motel 6. The man of the house came up with some brilliant ideas to create high-end fixtures from medium-to-low-end items. First up is the glossy white vanity re-purposed from IKEA’s BESTA BURS tv stand. Kebo cut out the back to fit plumbing, then fixed two DECOLAV vessel sinks from Lowe’s to the top. Wall-mounted Kingston Brass faucets were a steal from overstock.com. Italian porcelain from Iberia Tile runs throughout the space from the floor to the shower walls. Custom mirrors and glass were fabricated locally by Glass World in Decatur.

So fresh and so clean

A modern free-standing tub was a discount online discovery. Kebo added drama with a formal chandelier hung overhead; the DIY light fixture was freshened up by first spraying the brass with primer, then finishing it off with black spray paint.

Guest relations

Staying in the K2 House guest suite is a first-class experience. The white-on-white aesthetic is at its best here, especially when lit by the sun’s morning glow. A framed pair of Das Cabinet of Dr. Caligari-inspired Alberto Mier art pieces hangs above the MALM platform bed from IKEA. Custom sheer draperies made from $5.99 per yard IKEA fabric diffuse the morning light as Kebo’s rehabilitated midcentury chair rests in the corner with an 8X8 “State of the Union” collage by Daniel Biddy overhead. Keepsakes from trips to Japan and Africa top the guest dresser while a David Bowie-esque abstract by David Huff hangs nearby. Kraus fixtures polish off the minimalist guest bathroom.

Heart of the house

Kebo and Karen cook and entertain often [in fact, they even got married at the house]. From the looks of their designer kitchen, this is no surprise. Brown and Hennessey saved a good chunk of cash by going the IKEA route for cabinets, drawers and refrigerator facing; however, they agreed to splurge on a custom Corian countertop and an island facade of Nexus brown/black wall panels. Below the Zephyr ventilation fan sits a hand-welded stainless steel Alessi centerpiece designed by Fratelli Campana. The same white hue from the cabinets and countertop carries down to the floors via Italian Arebescato marble found at Home Depot EXPO. High-end appliances were purchased affordably through discount outlets; a resin Harry Allen Banana Bowl was a wedding gift.

Preferred seating

The best seats in the house are in the fireside dining room. To create something unique without busting their budget, Kebo and Karen combined JAKOB swivel chairs from IKEA with safety yellow sawhorse bases and an ovular IKEA laminate top, then splurged on a 1940′s Belgian iron and crystal chandelier found at Scott Antique Market.

Fashionably late

Although Kebo and Karen were dolled up and ready for their night out on the town, we begged them to stick around just a few [or fifty] minutes longer for a kickass action shot. Do they usually ballroom dance in their kitchen? No. Did we persuade, then encourage them to double dip over and over again all for the sake of one more fantastic shot? Hell yes we did.

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Produced, designed, written and styled by Brian Patrick Flynn and Tiffany J. Davis with photography by Sarah Dorio

Just another day at the office: Design a favorite-outfit-inspired bedroom on a shoestring budget, then install it on LIVE television. Um, okay. Publicist Jamie Annarino is a master with events, branding and media. When the PR savvy fashionista put her own guest bedroom together, let’s just say all press wasn’t necessarily good press. In fact, our red-headed power gal had referred to the space as “the garage” for so long that she’d truly forgotten it was meant for slumber.

I called upon fashion writer/stylist/DailyCandy editor, Tiffany J. Davis, to sum up Jamie’s personal style in a single outfit. After hours trying to cast Tiffany’s key players in my design feature, the inspiration set in. We’d pair white, green and orange with a gender neutral backdrop, throw in metallic sheens and organic textures, then finish it all off with touches of the 1960′s. To keep costs down, we’d furnish the room with garage sale items, flea market finds and smart IKEA pieces. Remaining funds would go to custom draperies, bedding and an architectural treatment to the ceiling. The design AND the live television coverage left all parties involved very pleased…except for the lawnmower and wheel barrel, who have been marooned to the front porch.

Closet case

After an hour, Tiffany and Jamie both agreed on the one getup most true to Jamie’s sense of fashion: a white and silver mod dress, green snakeskin clutch, grey-brown leather heels, bold orange scarf, pewter brooch and a natural/brown necklace. Not an easy combination to translate, but who the hell am I to judge?

All dressed up

Out with the old and in with the new! We started with operable floor-to-ceiling draperies cut from IKEA’s 100% cotton PATRICIA fabric [$7.99 per yard]. Once installed, we brought in the snowy white EDLAND four-poster bed [$299] flanked by a pair of grey two-drawer EDLAND chests [$199]. Atop the chests reigns the fairest lamp of them all, a ceramic queen bust scored at a flea market for $15. Two coats of orange spray paint later, the glossy lady became the space’s breakout star.

Points of interest

Accent pieces run the price-point gamut from used-and-abused to showroom showstoppers. Fresh flowers rest inside a 1970′s juice pitcher discovered at a flea market for two bucks. Throw pillows and bedding from the opposite end of the dollar sign spectrum were fabricated by Custom Slipcover & Upholstery from silver-toned Fabricut silk, pleated metallic Kravet fabric by Candice Olson and charcoal Fabricut linen. A zig-zag Dwell Studio pillow from Target completes the bedscape as DIY art boasting “Carmen: Blue & Brown” wallpaper from Graham & Brown graces an adjoining wall.

Cutting overhead

I’m horrified by machines that cut things and make lots of noise yet was determined not to leave Jamie’s snorefest of a ceiling high and dry. Good thing my carpenter, Chris McClellan, enjoys both saws AND nailguns. The handy fellow added architectural interest with Armstrong’s Woodhaven plank ceiling system in roughly six hours. Chris’s installation included: nailing furring strips to studs, cutting planks to size, staggering and attaching each tongue-and-groove component in place with metal clips and screws.

Cartridge in a pear tree

Jamie’s inspiration outfit included a dark olive clutch….so where the hell is the green? Well, it’s on the walls — duh? To keep the room open and airy, we chose a blue-green hue to complement the grey and orange tones in the furniture, accessories and the tree-like pattern in the fabric. My draper, Donna Dennis, brought the hanging beauties to the next level with cartridge pleats. Although we spent most of our budget dressing the windows, we opted for industrial conduit, flanges and simple pewter rings versus pricy designer hardware.

Seamingly sew

Not only did Donna meticulously sew seams and pleats to create our custom draperies, she showed up to make them perfect for our live TV installation. Notice how her outfit kinda matches the room. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Getting cornered

To put this dead space corner to good use, we deemed it laptop central. The entire setup cost a “whopping” $125. We scored the 1960′s desk for 25 bucks then added two coats of orange with an HVLP paint sprayer. Our 60′s-centric lamp set us back $25: the artwork was a thrift store score at only $10. Although our Asian scrollback chair cost only $25, we spent $40 on fabric and fabrication from my upholsterer, Miguel, for a new seat cushion. Now that it’s done, we’re all gaga over the project’s outcome. Let’s just hope Jamie doesn’t have a new favorite outfit anytime soon.

If you’ve got ten free minutes to watch the video clips from our live room installation on FOX 5, click this entire orange-tastic sentence.

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Produced, designed, written and styled by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

Jungle mural? No. Truck theme? No. Baby blue walls? Now you’re pissing me off. Decorators and horticulturalists have a lot in common when dealing with nursery-based clients. We both weed-whack our way through poorly planted ideas before our designer polished seeds can grow roots to become something spectacular.

I’ve often wondered why so many young parents engage in cliche-fests when putting together their baby rooms. Designers are focused on the baby’s walls, windows and furniture; parents-to-be are consumed by redistribution of income, raging hormones and their impending special delivery. The Decor Demon team showed our discerning three-month-old client, Ethan, and babbydaddy Michael, that creating an enviable nursery is a stroll in the park compared to a scheduled C-section.

Color me happy

Michael and wife Alisa were adamant I keep their walls white; my color-me-happy splash of color tactic still won them over — well, kinda. Two dominant hues of pea green and dark brown came into play via the bookshelf and ceiling treatment. While the built-in and paint tricks were cost-savers, custom floor cushions in Trina Turk indoor/outdoor fabric were a splurge.

Just frontin’

Meet BILLY:  a popular line of Ikea shelving that’s easy to assemble and a cinch to customize. First, we dressed up back panels with a jolt of pea green paint. Next, my carpenter, Brian Bell, put together three side-by-side units before securing them to the studs. Brian then attached a facia of 1 X 2 MDF to BILLY’s facade with a nailgun. For the perfect finish, Brian spackled then sanded the nail holes and added a color-matched coat of semi-gloss to the front. Our faux built-in project cost a total of $235 in materials and roughly 4 hours of labor.

Basket case

Let’s face it: babies get a lot of $@#& from their showers. How can Mommy and Daddy put Uncle Bobo’s bunny on display but let Aunt Ruthie’s pint-sized books bite the dust? Baskets and boxes: the key to cute versus clutter. In Ethan’s case, we proudly displayed his most graphic items: chunky piggy banks, a chrome sculpture, a pewter bird and tone-on-tone plush toys. Smaller keepsakes are just as accessible nestled inside aesthetically correct containers.

Well-dressed man

Ethan’s windows and upholstery are up to snuff with those of a classy bachelor 25 years his senior. The 1970′s swivel rocker was a $75 flea market find updated in David Hicks-esque velvet. While Michael and Alisa were set on dressing up their windows, they didn’t want to incur major expense. For $29.99 per pair, I picked up RITVA panels from IKEA, then dropped them off to my seamstress, Kim, who tailored them up with blackout liner and a fan pleat. West Elm was our medium price-point source for the polished nickel hardware. The classic modern Saarinen tulip table is from Design Within Reach Atlanta.

Hand-eye coordination

Organic textures were key to adding layers of visual interest in Ethan’s pad. IKEA’s LERAN pendant shed light on our little guy while also adding a hand woven element.

On your mark, get set….go

Rooms on tight budgets call for the most creative art ideas. In Ethan’s case, our subject was Daddy’s 1980′s-centric Matchbox car collection. After my photographer snapped her fantastic four, the blue quartet was printed on vinyl, adhered to a plywood box then hung above Ethan’s changing table. To assure a fit both safe and straight, Brian used a level to secure the piece directly to the studs with long screws. Did I include a photo of Brian to show readers how to use a level? Yes? Perhaps the photo of Brian was added because he is easy-on-the-eyes. I don’t know.

Sleeping stateside

Our final color infusion entered the space by way of a vintage topography map. In order to make it a bit different, we cut the map into six pieces, then framed it with metallic RIBBA frames from IKEA. Although Mommy and Daddy are sure to read him many bedtime stories over the next few years, I personally think the tale of Brian, Brian and the One Day Baby Room Installation will be his favorite.

Produced, written and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

First of all, shame on you for hyperlinking to a story solely based on its deceptively edgy title. Next, thank you for hyperlinking to a story solely based on its deceptively edgy title. With the current state of our economy sucking it hard, it seems rather preposterous to drop money on fine art — yes? Well, not in Jason Moattar’s case. The matinee idol-esque metrosexual shares both DNA and ownership of designer rug showroom Moattar, Ltd. with his sister, Andrea. Jason’s decked-out walls demonstrate two things: art collections can be done cost-effectively and the rug expert’s eye for style peers far beyond Turkish Oushaks. Peachtree Street’s Prince of Persia led us on a magic carpet ride through his high-rise for a lesson in how gathering rare artistic finds can be easy on the eyes AND the checkbook.

Up in pieces

Mr. Moattar dines with Ms. Pamela Anderson every night…literally. Well, kinda. Jason enlisted designer slash showroom owner Ryan Hughes to cost-effectively fabricate a fractured image of the blonde bombshell as a focal point. Hughes urged his carpetmaster client to print the image on canvas and hang as a 16-piece dining room installation. By doing this themselves, the dynamic duo completed the project for a mere fraction of a gallery purchase.

Media play

Jason gave his walls the royal treatment by splurging on art by Clint Bearden. The artist’s high style juxtaposes mixed media with found materials such as the piece above applied to wood. A slight reflection from a Plexiglas facade achieves Bearden’s signature seen-through-the-looking-glass effect.

Roundabout manner

Above the viewing room sofa sits a trio of hand-cut wood film reels scored at a medium price-point from the Sundance Catalog. The celluloid counterparts [24, 32 and 42 inches in diameter] are an excellent way to add graphic impact and shape to an expansive blank wall.

Standing in line

David Howland’s striped masterpiece was Jason’s living room splurge. Howland creates his beauties with acrylic and resin on wood panel.

Charity case

Jason’s secret method for fine art on a dime? Charity auctions and philanthropies. This diptych by Todd Alexander was a steal from the silent auction of a Human Rights Campaign event. Alexander uses mixed media and often includes graphic lines of animals. Moattar is a regular to the non-profit scene; he sits on the Atlanta board of DIFFA.

Moattar’s Most Wanted

Clearly, Jason is a huge fan of Clint Bearden! A second piece featuring a moody, tree-covered trail stems from a collection of Bearden’s work with oil paint. The common thread among Bearden’s forest-like scenes is his beautifully majestic use of light and shadow. Jason’s third and final [for now] piece from Bearden is completely unlike the others: bamboo stalks against a bold shade of orange. While the first two paintings were splurges, Bearden’s brighter side was another wallet-friendly score found at a Human Rights Campaign silent auction [where, apparently, Jason is becoming a VIP].

Reptilian scale

“Snake and Ball” was snatched from the walls of the Baker, Knapp and Tubbs showroom. Unbeknownst to most people, decorative art in boutiques is often for sale quite reasonably; many pieces are on loan from artists aiming to increase visibility.

Sketchy appearance

This final piece from Jason’s hallway is a side-of-the-road purchase done right. Our handsome fella scored this figure drawing for next to nothing streetside in Highlands, NC., then sent it off to the Moattar family’s framer. Framing virgins can get a taste of what’s out there by scanning the options available online at Larson Juhl. Something my photographer and I brought up upon our exit of Maison Moattar — our featured collector was every bit as enjoyable to look at as his art.

For more information on Moattar rugs, click your way over to Moattar, Ltd. Facebook users can get friendly with the company via the Moattar fan page.