Presentation, from Christy Ferer's Book "Decorating on a Dime"

Framed Photos: This is an easy project that personalizes a space and can also hide a damaged wall. 

Miniature Furniture: An oversized doll's chair or a child's chair can hold an object or a picture frame and be positioned as display. 

Good Enough to Frame: Anything that is dramatically framed can earn the status of art object - from stamps to children's art to lost of broken jewelry.

Pearls: Pearls can transform an everyday object into a treasure.

Just One Color: Use those wonderful odds and ends in your attic. Christy Ferer suggests any flaws in your found objects are disguised by the spray paint. Different shapes and sizes should play off one another on the wall and table. 

Decorating on a Dime Solutions and Coverups

Carpeting: The border of Vidicom CEO Christy Ferer's carpet is rug padding, not expensive sisal. Padding is resilient and comes in many colors. The center piece is a remnant that was inserted to replace the original stained carpet, which was removed.

Applique: Don't throw away that favorite bedspread or tablecloth before you try sewing on an appliqué to cover tears or stains.

Radiator Cover: Pick out a mesh screen you like at your local hardware store to cover up a radiator or air conditioner.

Vanity Skirt: Here's a quick fix to hide bedroom pipes, dress up vanities, or layer over stained curtains. The beauty of metallic organza is that it is translucent, and the metallic sheen glows through the fabric.

Rope Trim: A sophisticated way to finish off a space where a vanity top meets wallpaper or title or carpet meets molding. Because it is a natural color and material, it looks as if it is part of the design rather than an add-on.

Windows and Lighting, from Decorating on a Dime

Christy Ferer, Vidicom CEO, loves fashion and interior design. Below are some tips for windows and lighting.

Burlap and Silk - the contrast of burlap and silk is eye-catching and a bit exotic, whether hanging in a formal living room or a summer beach house. 

Beaded Muslin - a soft, opaque look especially useful when you have an unattractive view to block but you want as much light to enter as possible. The acrylic beads make the entire panel sparkle. 

Upside-Down Lamp Shades: This directs the light up to the ceiling, creating a very dynamic effect.

Made in the Shade: Trim shades with fabric, wallpaper, art paper, crystals, upholstery trim, or shells. Or leave it plain if the background pattern is strong enough to carry the look. 

More Design Tips from Her Book

Vidicom's CEO, Christy Ferer, says "Stick to neutrals. They go with anything."

This rule is responsible for decades of boring rooms. People think neutral means only beige, white or black. True, these colors blend easily with other colors and are easy to live with, but so are lots of more interesting colors. When toned down with white or black, green coordinates with almost all colors, making it nature’s neutral. Celadon, olive, khaki and steel gray are the “new” neutrals, easily pulling together complex color palettes.

Remember what the legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland said: “Shocking pink is the navy blue of India.” The point is that what is neutral for one culture or person is radical for another. Remember this too: Almost any color becomes a neutral when it stands on its own and isn’t made to coordinate with another color

Sandblased Furniture Tips

Sanblasted Furniture 
Pieces of painted furniture
Distilled white vinegar

Your local auto body shop will put the piece in its sandblast booth and add beautiful years to your furniture. Christy Ferer says to heighten the aging process, blot vinegar on any metal features or hinges. The longer you allow the vinegar to sit (at least 24 hours), the more pocked and antique looking the metal will become.

Frame Canopy
Take the measurements of the bed to the lumberyard, where you will find a selection of polymer molding. Christy Ferer and the Vidicom team suggests asking the yard to cut your chosen molding into four pieces and miter the edges. Stay tuned for more tips from Christy Ferer's book, Decorating on a Dime.

Setting Up a Display Table

Vidicom CEO, Chrsity Ferer, says measure any existing glass top you have. Ask the glazier to duplicate the top in 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thickness. As with all glass tables, it is best to have the corners rounded off. Arrange the decorative items on the table's regular glass top. Carefully place the second piece of glass on top.

Variations:

• Old book pages
• music sheets
• foreign bills
• pennies (lay out a evenly as possible to keep glass balanced)
• birth certificates
• marriage certificates
• college diplomas

Another application of this technique is to place glass over a wooden table whose top you want to protect, such as a fine dining room table. 

Black Vinyl and Plumber Tables

Vidicom CEO Christy Ferer recommends ordering vinyl through the Resource Guide. The local automotive shop should also carry black vinyl, and will upholster your kitchen banquettes and make cushions for you.

Variations

• Junkyard car seats
• Restaurant supply seating

For plumber tables, Christy recommends using copper pipe, tabletop of glass, granite or marble, and small felt tabs. This is how your plumber should build the table: Bottom of table (feet).

1. Put caps with street 45's (4 sets).
2. Put 4 2-inch pieces in street 45's
3. Put 4 T's on 2-inch pieces with street 45's and caps.