WHO DOESN’T DREAM OF A CABIN IN THE WOODS? Architect Richard Kenney made that dream a reality–for about the cost of a new car. It started in 2002, when Kenney paid $11,500 for a dilapidated mountain cabin (above) an hour outside of Seattle. Working on weekends, he cleared out debris, repaired leaks and wiring, replaced some of the existing windows with salvaged units, and installed 1920s kitchen cabinets rescued from a Seattle hotel renovation. Kenney was equally thrifty when it came to decorating, refinishing $5 garage-sale chairs and sprucing up a 1960s boomerang coffee table with a coat of paint. Altogether, he spent about $15,000 fixing up the cabin (below), proving that when money is in short supply, charm (and a good eye) can go a long way.

Photos courtesy Richard Kenney

WHEN I COULDN’T FIND A LAMP I LIKED for my living room at a price I could afford, I decided to make my own from an inverted vase (above). Practically any item can be turned into a lamp–from jars, vases, candlesticks, wine bottles and driftwood to baskets and musical instruments. Lampmaking kits are available at most hardware stores for less than $15 and contain wiring, a socket, a finial and a harp (the armature that holds the shade). Directions for making a lamp are included in the kit, or you can consult these easy lampmaking instructions from Lowe’s. 

If you don’t want to do the job yourself, consider hiring a professional (you’ll find them in the Yellow Pages under Lighting Fixtures). The cost will depend upon the business and whether the lamp will need to be drilled, mounted on a base, fitted with a special finial, etc. Figure at least a hundred dollars for a simple project with no base to more than $250 for a piece requiring a custom base and matching finial. Shades are extra.

IF YOU LIVED THROUGH THE 1970s, then you’ll remember carpet tiles as the bottom-feeder of the floorcovering kingdom—aqua and orange pieces of felted rubber that attracted stains and withering stares in equal measure. So I was skeptical when I heard about FLOR tiles—that is, until I saw them. Fun, affordable, and altogether beguiling, this new generation of carpet squares is designed in an arresting array of hip colors, patterns and textures, letting you create a customized area rug or wall-to-wall carpet at an affordable price.

Each FLOR tile measures 19.7 inches square and is secured in place by four peel-and-stick adhesive tabs, so there’s no gluing. The tabs are low-tack, so if you don’t like what you’ve done you can move the tiles around (the adhesive won’t damage the surface underneath). And if a square gets soiled, you simply pull it up and replace it. Best of all, FLOR starts at less than $10 per square, with most designs priced in the low-to-mid teens. The user-friendly Web site, flor.com, includes a gallery of ideas to get you started, plus a design tool that lets you plan your carpet right on the computer. (If you want to see the tiles before you buy, you can purchase a packet of three swatches for $5.) Order your carpet squares online, lay ‘em down, then step back to admire your handiwork. Rarely has high design been so fun and so affordable.

Photo: FLOR

MY EYES ARE STILL SMARTING from staring at the assemblage of gingham and floral tchotchkes that make up Kmart’s new Country Living Collection. Created in partnership with Country Living magazine, the collection is heavy on curtains and tabletop items rendered in shades of red, white and blue. It’s all a bit too Minnie Pearl for my tastes (Kmart has a long way to go if it wants to catch up with Target), but there were a few items that caught my eye. I liked the nickel and black-wood picture frames, and the Begonia Lambswool Area Rug (top) was striking and well priced, at just $129.99 for the 62-by-90 size. For understated chic, it’s hard to beat the Leaf Lantern Collection (above)–and if you buy before October 3, you can get them at half off.

Photos: Kmart

SAY WHAT YOU WILL, but Pottery Barn has done a lot to make chic design affordable. Two pieces jumped out at me from their latest catalog. I totally dig the Benchwright Bookcase ($799), with its cast-iron frame and rustic wood shelves–just the thing to add an industrial kick to an otherwise-conventional interior. And their charming new Hadley Woven Bench ($499) features a woven-rush top that adds a  touch of country without the corn. (It’s a table or bench, giving you two functions in one.) Drawers open from either side, making it perfect for storing all that clutter that collects in a family room.

Photos: Pottery Barn

I’M ALL FOR SAVING MONEY, but there are a few areas of the home where you shouldn’t skimp. One of them is buying a sofa. It’s one of the costliest home purchases you’ll make, and one of the most enduring, so buy the best one you can afford. Some tips:

• Choose a sofa that fits your style: rolled arms, tufted backs and skirts for traditional interiors, angular lines and exposed legs for contemporary ones.
• Pillow-back sofas are generally more comfortable, but a tight-back sofa (above) requires less primping.
• Patterned fabrics will hide stains better than solids; neutral colors are more adaptable. (Introduce color and pattern with throw pillows.)
• To check quality, lift a sofa by the end—heavy is better than light. Sit on it and bounce around, paying attention to squeaks, pokes and shimmying. 
• Scale is critical. To test, mark out the sofa’s footprint with tape or newspapers, or consider “building” a mockup out of boxes and living with it for a few days.
• Before you buy, measure all the openings leading to the room, otherwise you may find yourself stuck with an expensive lawn ornament.

Photo courtesy Hickory Chair.

TRY THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX when you’re decorating on a budget. For instance, I kept searching for a piece of art to hang over the fireplace in my vacation home, but could never find anything right—or reasonably priced. I really wanted an old artifact, but objects like vintage signs can be pricey. And a painting was out of the question. Then I spied an old wheel in an antiques mall. Crafted from iron, with graceful flourishes at the end of each spoke and a leather strap around the perimeter, it had just the graphic impact I needed. The price was $125, but I offered $100 and walked—err—rolled away with it. Someday, I may find something fancier. But for now, it gives the room just the punch it needed.

WHO SAYS a nightstand has to be … well, a nightstand? Nearly any table or chest of drawers will work beside a bed, as long as the top isn’t more than six inches higher than the mattress and the depth doesn’t prevent you from navigating your way under the covers. Using one of these other items will also help you save on space, since the piece can double as a desk or bureau. And don’t think you’ll need a matching item on the other side—that whole notion went out with Rob and Laura Petrie.

Photo courtesy Hickory Chair.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I interviewed renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly for a story in Metropolitan Home magazine. The ceiling of Chihuly’s living room was covered with accordions. When I asked why, he told me he just liked the way they looked. That’s as good a reason as any to collect something, I suppose, and was a great demonstration that nearly anything can look good if you display it properly. Candlesticks, old clocks, colored bottles and even vintage garden sprinklers can look great if you display them in a group. You don’t have to hang them from the ceiling like Chihuly, but try to avoid stashing collectibles in curio cabinets, which tend to look fussy and prevent you from interacting with your possessions. Cupboards bare? You don’t have to spend big to start a collection. Gather beach glass, shells, pinecones or stones on your next trip, then display them in a pretty glass bowl. Even a bare branch can look like a work of art if it’s allowed to shine. These items will look great, and will remind you of your travels every time you see them.

Photos courtesy Martha Stewart FLOR/Hickory Chair.

THEY SAY YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, but I’ve never understood why you have to pay so much for a bed. There’s not much to them, but the prices could make you weep. That’s why I was excited to see this piece in a roundup of upholstered headboards in the September 2009 issue of House Beautiful. Glancing at the page, I assumed it was a high-end designer item, until I spied the price: just $300! Covered in 100-percent-cotton velvet backed by polyester batting, this glam headboard from Urban Outfitters attaches to your bed frame and fits either a full- or queen-size bed. You can get it in four colors, but I’m partial to the aubergine (above), because it’s just so damn much fun.

Photo: Urban Outfitters