Design Happens

I have been a huge fan of Kate Riley, the renowned Centsational Girl, ever since I moved into my first unfurnished apartment. I was on the prowl for stylish, clever and budget-friendly decorating ideas when I came across her blog. All of a sudden, I found myself in DIY zombie mode. I started buying vintage furnishings left and right, painting them and embarking on one weekend project after another.

Moral of my story: If you haven’t perused Centsational Girl yet, then you should. Kate offers an incredible source of inspiration and design eye-candy every single day. Kate, a lawyer-turned-home blogger, is an avid bargain hunter, DIY extraordinaire and was even the co-contractor (along with her husband) on her own home remodeling project. If you’re looking for serious designer style on a budget, then this is your guide.

Along with furniture makeovers and craft projects, Kate features home decorating and basic home improvement tutorials, too. Oh, and for those of you with an entertaining niche, she offers chic year-round and holiday-themed tablescape ideas and recipes, as well. Unfortunately, I can’t make everything on her site (DIY bucket list?), but here are a few of my favorite Centsational how-tos for your viewing pleasure.

DIY Projects to Try

Peacock Blue Bamboo Chest

I’ve been absolutely obsessed with peacock blue this year, so when I saw Kate’s blue bamboo chest I developed a serious case of design envy. The gold pulls, the bamboo detail, the glossy finish — I have yet to find a piece of furniture that makes me as happy as this one. Want to know the best part? She tells you exactly how you can get the look, too. So, pull out that piece of furniture you’ve been dying to paint and give it a nice coat of peacock blue. I promise you won’t regret it.

DIY: Paint Stick Sunburst Mirror

Now, why didn’t I think of paint sticks for our own Designer MacGyver?! Here, Kate uses almost 50 paint stir sticks to create a simple and stylish sunburst mirror that can work well as an accent piece in any space. I’d love to make one to jazz up my hallway.

Gold Leaf Desk Chair

I sit in a rolling, more-for-comfort-than-style desk chair all day long, so I love coming across super-chic home office chairs. Kate’s gold leaf detail to the backing of this thrifted chair really caught my eye. You would be shocked at how easy the how-to is, too.

DIY Wood Cutting Boards

Can you imagine bringing these beauties out during a wine and cheese party? Better yet — giving them as gifts? To make these gorgeous wooden cutting boards, Kate cut the pieces out of a slab from a local salvage yard and then smoothed the top and edges with a sander to get that perfect finish.

Go Inside Kate’s Home

Remember at the top when I said Kate and her husband embarked on their own (catastrophic) home renovation? Well, here’s a peek into their insanely beautiful home (after, of course). If you want to see more, head over to Centsational Girl and take the full “tour.”

Living Room

Powder Room

Master Bedroom

Patio Cabana

So, are you feeling inspired? Did you add any new projects to your weekend to-do list? Are you an avid Centsational Girl reader, or are you just discovering her blog for the first time? Let us know in the comments below.

PS: Not to give you DIY overload, but you can find all of Kate’s amazing projects and tutorials in a one-stop shop on her Project Gallery page. Happy decorating!