AD Top100 designer Tiffany Brooks gives tips on when to splurge versus when to save, plus expert advice on budget-friendly decor from the Decorating Tips & Tricks podcast. This week on HGTV Obsessed, Design Star Tiffany Brooks joins host Marianne Canada to talk all about budget-friendly home solutions. She shares her favorite memories, on and off camera, from her time on the latest season of Rock The Block and whether or not she would compete again. Tiffany talks all about her new show, $50k Three Ways, the best ways to add value to your home, and gives a rapid-fire round of tips for where to splurge and where to save in each bedroom of the home. Then, host of Decorating Tips and Tricks Podcast Kelly Wilkniss gives expert advice on how to create a thoughtful home decorating plan and shares her creative tips for curating high style spaces at a low cost.
AD Top100 designer Tiffany Brooks gives tips on when to splurge versus when to save, plus expert advice on budget-friendly decor from the Decorating Tips & Tricks podcast. This week on HGTV Obsessed, Design Star Tiffany Brooks joins host Marianne Canada to talk all about budget-friendly home solutions. Tiffany talks all about her new show, $50k Three Ways and gives a rapid-fire round of tips for where to splurge and where to save for each bedroom. Then, host of Decorating Tips and Tricks Podcast Kelly Wilkniss gives expert advice on how to create a thoughtful home-decorating plan and shares her creative tips for curating high style spaces at a low cost.
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Find episode transcript here: https://hgtv-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/budget-friendly-home-renovation-decorating-tips-that-can-change-a-space
[MUSIC PLAYING] MARIANNE CANADA: Hello, and welcome to HGTV Obsessed, your podcast for all things, HGTV. Oh, you guys, today's episode is all about the dreaded B-word. We are talking all about designing on a budget. Now, I know no one loves talking about budgets, but they are unfortunately, unless you are a Kardashian, a necessary evil.
And we have some experts on the podcast today that make it fun and interesting, I promise. We're here for all your budget needs. First up, we have designer and host of the new HGTV show $50K Three Ways, Tiffany Brooks to talk about the insight and advice she gives homeowners when it comes to budget-friendly interiors. She is a damn delight, you guys.
Then we talk to the host of the Decorating Tips and Tricks podcast, Kelly Wilkniss about her approach to designing within a budget, and how to achieve that high style in your home at a low, low cost. I mean, today is basically champagne taste on a Lacroix budget. Not even beer, we're like a rung below beer. We're talking sparkling water.
Anyway, I'm your host Marianne Canada, Executive Producer and hgtv.com lifestyle expert. And when I'm not watching HGTV, you can find me making crafty videos for HGTV handmade, gardening, cooking, or honestly, if you ask my husband scrolling Facebook Marketplace for chairs I don't need. What is need anyway?
I've worked with HGTV for 14 years. And honestly, I thought I had heard and seen it all, but I was surprised at the creative ways our guests elevate spaces without compromising their budget boundaries.
BRAD: OK, Marianne, let's take a pause for a producer Brad question.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yes, everyone, this is Brad. The voice of god.
BRAD: I just I'm very curious because I'm obsessed with your house, your house that you bought from your grandmother.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh, thanks.
BRAD: What's the next space in the house that you're hoping to tackle? And have you assigned a budget to it yet?
MARIANNE CANADA: Well, that's a really good question. Also I feel like the longer I do this podcast, the more it's going to become like a drinking game to see how many times I mentioned that I bought my grandmother's house. Guys, did you know? I bought my grandmother's house. I'm renovating it.
OK, so what's next on our to-do list? So we have some big outdoor projects, which are shockingly expensive, truly. But the most pressing is, when we bought this house, there was an in-ground hot tub, it almost looked like a small swimming pool that was broken and had a leak.
And so we technically filled it in, in that it is filled in with gravel, and has a rug over it, and we're treating it as our outdoor dining space. But the combination of an outdoor rug and a pit full of gravel is-- as the kids say it, not it.
BRAD: It's like a booby trap.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, I mean it's-- when I opened it up, and people see what's underneath, it's fun to surprise people. Anyway, we're just finding, it's not really a cheap project in terms of labor. So I'm hoping to find a good deal on some cement tile for the space. We're going to kind of almost make a rug out of tile.
I'm pretty good about stretching my dollars, but this is my forever home. I mean, you're going to have to take me out of this house in a box, like it's my forever home. And this is a really permanent installation. So I'm just trying to really weigh the cost versus-- yeah, just I'm going to have to look at this for the next hopefully 50 years.
BRAD: Take you out in a box.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh, no.
BRAD: Gosh! Maryann, this got dark. I thought the B-word we were talking about today was budget not burial. [LAUGHTER] OK, so anyways, I'm invested in this story now. So you've got a pit in your backyard. It used to be a hot tub. You're going to fill it with an outdoor rug, but the hope is that somehow, it stays within your budget.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, that's the hope because that is true. We use this space, I would say, like eight months of the year. So we got to get it right. But anyway, someone who knows a lot about prioritizing and designing on a budget is our first guest today, Tiffany Brooks.
Tiffany is such a delightful person. She was the winner of HGTV Design Star Season Eight. You've seen her on Rock the Block. She and David Bromstad made my favorite team ever. And now, she has a brand new show on HGTV and Discovery Plus, 50K Three Ways.
Now, I do want to make a technical note. Tiffany and I were battling, I don't know, mercury in retrograde or something, and we both had some pretty critical issues with our audio. So this is not the best audio quality, but I really want you guys to stick it out because Tiffany is so charming. She is the best advice. We cannot let technology beat us. Anyway, here's my chat with Tiffany. Tiffany welcome to HGTV Obsessed.
TIFANNY BROOKS: Finally, I'm excited.
MARIANNE CANADA: I know. I am so excited. No lie, have had you on our list since our first episode because I've been such a huge fan of yours since you won Design Star. And you're just always a part of the network, you're doing smart home, or you're doing Rock the BlocK. But now you have your own show.
TIFANNY BROOKS: Yes, I do have my own show. I blew up that on HGTV. I did. I blew up back so I won to Design Star obviously, and then I started with the special, when normally the season host are given the special. So I felt like I was given a big boy britches early on. It was like here put these pants on girl as soon as you can do.
And then they asked me to design Smart Home. And I'm like, OK, so I'm designing and hosting. So yeah, that keeps me busy. And then finally got my own show.
MARIANNE CANADA: It's like they really did. They threw you into the deep end. So then by the time you get your own show, you're like, I can do this.
TIFANNY BROOKS: Right. It was like, OK, this is easy.
MARIANNE CANADA: So for everyone listening, who is not familiar with Tiffany, which where have you been? Like what rock do you live under? Tiffany was the winner of Season Eight of Design Star. She just recently competed on Rock the Block, which I really want to talk about. She designs the HGTV Smart Home. What is the number one thing you learned on all of these shows, whether you're a competitor, or just thrown into designing a whole house?
TIFANNY BROOKS: OK, first of all, not to take yourself too seriously, it's interior design. We cannot take yourself too seriously. And as far as competition goes, if you're thinking of it, if you're thinking of this grandiose idea, and you have all these ideas in your head, your competitor has already thought of it. So do better. Those were the two things I can tell anyone. Those are the two tips. That's all you need.
MARIANNE CANADA: It's so true. I tell people all the time, when we're working on HGTV Handmade. I'm like, there's so rarely a truly unique idea, like it is one in a million. So Rock the BlocK this season was so incredible. I literally watched every second of every episode. And you and David Bromstad, together are just magical I was like, I want this show. I want the David and Tiffany show.
TIFANNY BROOKS: A lot of people have said that. Like on our social, we need a David and Tiffany show. That's what's needed.
MARIANNE CANADA: Like the fashion alone, the wallpaper, I mean, what was your favorite memory of being on the show? And I have to ask, because I know Alison Victoria has famously said, she will never do it again, would you do it again?
TIFANNY BROOKS: OK, so I have it on-cam memory, and I have an off-cam memory. So my absolute favorite-- I'll say the on-cam memory first, is when Tarek and Heather were judging our kitchen. And he was dead set against the grain. But Rae raved on camera about how much he loved Nate and Jeremiah's green kitchen.
I know it's a twisted memory. But that was my favorite thing. It like justified my kitchen. It was like yeah, our kitchen show won. Bam, right there, he said it. He loved Nate and Jeremiah's. It was even the same shade of green. So bam, that was my favorite on-cam moment. Now, off-camera moment, it's going to go a little bit deep. But you saw a little bit of it at the finale, David was crying. Do you remember seeing that?
MARIANNE CANADA: Everyone was so emotional.
TIFANNY BROOKS: We were. But we had a moment before that off-camera. And I believe it was in David's trailer. It was in David's trailer. We all were sitting in there all the competitors, and it was before that they had announced that Mika and Brian were the winners.
And we were just sitting there, all of us, all emotional together, realizing what we had just accomplished. Like we just put together four houses, poured in all of our creativity, all of our emotions, all of our everything that we had in us. And David just started crying, which cause all of us just to give him a group hug.
It was like David Bromstad, he is the strongest, snarkinest, sassiest thing on the network right now. He would tell you like it is. He is also a barrel of fun. BT just became a soppy mess, and it just caused this chain reaction of emotion. It was awesome. It was awesome.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh, you could really see that. You could-- I mean, I was like oh my God, I'm about to cry, these are pros, these are the biggest stars on HGTV. The most accomplished designers in America. And everybody was just a puddle. It was so sweet to watch. But I noticed you sidestepped, the real question of would you do it again?
TIFANNY BROOKS: Oh, yeah, I did. OK, so here's the thing. I would do it again. I would change some things, but I definitely would do it again. I did not want to do it, when I first did it. So that's the funny part.
I did not want to do it. So I went into there like, I really don't want to do this, but I am going to do it. So I guess I got to just put my big girl britches on. But now that I've done it before, and I had the most fun, I have had since Design Star. Yeah, I would do it again.
MARIANNE CANADA: Tiffany, you really could tell that you and David were having the most fun. And that house was the most fun.
TIFANNY BROOKS: It was the most fun. And that's one thing that me and David talked about going into the show. I went in there, like, oh my God! We got to win this. We went into this thinking that-- at least I did. I wanted the W, I wanted the sash, I wanted it to BT year, I wanted to be prom queen of Rock the Block.
OK, so David, the first conversations with Dave, he is like, honey, if we just have fun, we're already winners. We won Design Stars with two wins between us. All we have to do is have fun, and it will be fun.
So Bromstad kind of calm me down. And he would be that person that diluted my competitive edge because I was just like so serious. And my hair will be sweated out almost after every episode. And I was just taking this so seriously, almost to the point where I stopped having fun. With David, was that one that would shake me out of it, and be like yeah, girl, you calm down. So yes, I would do it again. I would do it again. And Bromstad said and I did have a gang fun, the most fun.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh my God! I love that he's the one that calmed you down and helped you not take it so seriously. But he was not afraid to throw some serious shade, and tell Nate and Jeremiah that their designs looked like a loaf of bread. I laughed out loud.
TIFANNY BROOKS: It was more than that. It was like, he would refer to their living room as a crescont. It was just like-- I mean, yeah, David was the shadiest. He gets the shadiest, Shady Boots Award. And I would call him shady boots. Every episode, I was like, you are shady booth today honey.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh my God. I do want to just brag on you a little bit. You were recently named Architectural Digest Top 100 designers in 2021. What an accomplishment. I mean, have you even calmed down from cloud nine yet?
TIFANNY BROOKS: No, that's a hard thing to calm down from. That is like # Goals, like goals, it's a small exclusive group of designers and architects on the AD 100 list. And to be able to go to my grave, and saying that, my work, my creative energy, and everything that I have built. And I get to say this about myself forever and ever, and ever. It's a big deal to me, and it means a lot.
It really is up there with the day that I won Design Star. It's up there with that, right there on that show. So it was a huge deal. It is a huge deal, it still is, and it is going to frame my career.
MARIANNE CANADA: That's amazing, congratulations.
TIFANNY BROOKS: Thank you.
MARIANNE CANADA: You have such a unique style, not just for HGTV, but I feel like in the design world in general. And you kind of describe your style as classic with a twist. What are a couple of things we can always find in a Tiffany Brooks design space?
TIFANNY BROOKS: So you will always find humor. And I think that's mostly where I like the twist to be. I like to use crazy art. I will inject mannequin body parts in there. And it's just weird isms.
And then you all you'll often find that so weird things like, I love to use things as a family already has. And make that a focal point because they bought it for a reason. Even if it's just something, what people consider small, as a small as a family photo, give me access to your family photo albums. I'd like to make that as special as possible. And another--
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh, I love that.
TIFANNY BROOKS: Yes, I always put family photos in anybody's home because it needs that. It's I hate doing cold spaces. And there are things that make it less cold. And that's one of them. Another thing that you will always, always see in my space is are trees, and life plants. That's another way I inject life back into the spaces because design spaces can be so cold.
And so it looks so formal and so finished, and almost just so precious in a box. And I love the idea of deconstructing that, and making it messy so people look at the room, and they're like, oh my God! That's an amazing finish room. But I want to go in there, and I want to dive in on that sofa, and watch TV in this amazing finish room. And that's where the skill set comes in. You have to be able to deconstruct it, and make that room livable and stylish at the same time.
MARIANNE CANADA: I love that. So most recently, and the reason we really are here to talk to you, you are the host of the brand new HGTV show, $50k Three Ways, which is such a perfect fit for you. And also, this is our budget episode. We're really talking about getting the most bang for your buck. What can you tell us about the show because I cannot believe what you squeeze out of $50,000?
TIFANNY BROOKS: It's hard. It's a lot of reusing, and taking stock of what the homeowner has, and then making the most sense, like how can we stretch this floorplan, and make the most sense of the flow of this room, just to serve the homeowners better in the most inexpensive way? So I often go in there, and I'll tackle a main bedroom, and bath suite looking for a smart wall to put plumbing on the least expensive wall to move the plumbing.
Sometimes, we keep all the utilities in place, and only replace things aesthetically if before-plan is working well. So we definitely do come in there knowing how big of a challenge it is to perform a project like a kitchen rental. In today's times, $50,000 is a lot, but it gets you very little in the renovation world nowadays. So we do have to be smart on how we're spending every single cent on this show.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, I mean, $50,000 is a lot of money. I mean, I think, everyone can agree on that. Is that about the average budget for home renovations?
TIFANNY BROOKS: Yeah. People typically come to us with right around, with $50,000 as a start. And they typically want us to touch their kitchen, and an adjoining space with that, or it's a main bedroom, main bath space with that, or it's their exteriors, or it could be simple decorative touches throughout the house.
And maybe it's a laundry room, or powder room bath, and a mud room, they want us to do for that amount. So yeah, usually the homeowners are coming in with $50,000 and a plethora of projects they want done in their home. So basically, what I'm doing is I'm helping them drive a car to figure out how to spend a 51.
MARIANNE CANADA: One thing that I think is so amazing about this show is that a lot of HGTV designers, they have a space to make over, and they make a plan, and they do it. You literally make three different design plans in every episode that really stretches every dollar for these homeowners. And that just overwhelms me to even think about trying to make three different design plans. So like what's your first move, once you see their space, and know their budget?
TIFANNY BROOKS: So I have to first come in and see the space, and understand what they're talking about, and wrap my head around that, and then steal the space out. Once I connect to see all of their bids with all of the spaces that I'm being shown, and I see where they're coming from, and I try to understand it, one space fits me a little bit harder than the rest of them.
And then the other spaces, I'm like, OK, they don't like it, but I have some opportunity to be a little bit creative here with a whole bunch of coverings. And then usually, we even have spaces that are under budget. So I can really hone in and throw some custom things on there. But there are spaces that I feel that aren't working in the house more so than others. So that allows me to really flex my design intentions.
And then other times, I'm just able to be super creative, and then other times, I have to be a little bit more functional. So I guess, depending on the space, I get sources of creativity from everywhere. And I start from basically with the homeowners, are telling me their issues are.
MARIANNE CANADA: And I have noticed the homeowners don't always agree on the space that they want to make over, and you have to play therapist while you're also playing designer. How do you handle playing design therapist, and walking these homeowners through these big decisions?
TIFANNY BROOKS: You know what? It's crazy because if you ask any designer in America that same question, that do they have to play counselor or therapist, they will overwhelmingly say yes. Spending $50,000 is a big stressful ball of decision. And spending it in one [? way, ?] definitely can cause stress in relationships.
And sometimes these people really do not know when they come to see me, is the day that they have to make the decision, what they're going to do. Other homeowners do come in knowing that they want their kitchen done, they want their bedroom and bathroom done. They come in knowing that. And there's very little I can do to talk them out of it because they've been thinking about it since I left.
But there are those homeowners. I would say about half of them that really have no idea. So I have to play therapists like OK, let's think about the valuation of the property. Let's think about if you're going to sell it within the next five years. Let's think about all of these other factors to help you make that decision. So yeah, you do play therapist.
MARIANNE CANADA: Is there a room that people typically choose to renovate the most often? I have a guess. Is it the kitchen?
TIFANNY BROOKS: Hands down, it is hands down the kitchen. It's because we are taught to think that you will be able to pull the most value out of your kitchens, and your main bedrooms, and yeah.
So yes, people definitely tackle the Kitchens first. And the age of us being at home, and not being able to dine out, enjoy that experience so much overwhelmingly, people want a chef's kitchen. People want to be able to do the latest and greatest in their kitchen in the highest tech. So hands down.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, I have to say, I was very pleased. We did a full kitchen renovation two years ago, and it has been awfully nice now that I am the only takeout that we have on order. [LAUGHTER]
TIFANNY BROOKS: Nice.
MARIANNE CANADA: So you've touched on this a little bit about when you're updating, you know how people do want to keep value in mind, not just aesthetics, and they have to think about resale value and everything. Are there updates that tend to add the most value to a home?
TIFANNY BROOKS: Yes. So there are updates that make your home look more sellable. Basically, more marketable. And there updates that will make your home more valuable. And you're winning it, if both of them are of the same category. Exterior curb appeal is a big one. People are wanting to not only have that curb appeal, but enjoy their exteriors too.
So think about doing some parts thinking outside, think about actually having areas of functioning entertainment, the outdoor kitchens, maybe adding a water feature, landscaping, gardens, adding a sound system out there, possibly, adding on a television. This actually adds more livable square footage to your house. It's this taking what you have inside and bringing them out for outdoor entertainment purposes that's one way to add value.
Obviously, in the kitchen. If you're in the Midwest with me, you probably have a basement space. I'll suggest you look into finishing off that basement space, especially if you're going to resell your home. It's one of those things that you're adding livable square footage to, but you're also making your home more sellable because you've already finished off that basement space. And I can tell you that the homeowners who are looking for homes with a basement, want it finished.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, I have to say the basement challenge and Rock the Block, I think was my favorite. I loved seeing what everyone did with those spaces. So obviously, with budget comes a lot of compromise. What in your opinion is one thing homeowners should never compromise on?
TIFANNY BROOKS: So it definitely depends on the room. I would say never, ever, ever compromise on anything that is built in and anything that sacrifices function. For example, if you're redoing your kitchen, and you're a huge cook, and you know you need a six-burner ring, you need a six burner, don't buy a forberg, you will never be happy with your kitchen. So you really have to think about your priorities, and exactly how you want your space to function.
MARIANNE CANADA: All right, I want to do like a rapid fire room by room, like where you think we should splurge, and where you think we should save? So let's start kitchen, splurge or save?
TIFANNY BROOKS: Definitely, splurge.
MARIANNE CANADA: Agree.
TIFANNY BROOKS: Splurge on appliances, save our cabinets if they're good. See what can we gain specific.
MARIANNE CANADA: You're so good. I feel like we're getting like a primer. All right, living area?
TIFANNY BROOKS: Splurge on storage and built ins. Save on real plastering chairs, if they're so good and sofas.
MARIANNE CANADA: All right, main bedroom?
TIFANNY BROOKS: Splurge on lighting. Splurge on the lightning space in the main bedroom. It's one of the darkest spaces, and you need the most light in there. And then save on your bed frames. You could get totally creative with your bed frames. Here's where you think outside the box.
MARIANNE CANADA: Love it. What about bathroom?
TIFANNY BROOKS: I would say splurge on your lighting in there, also in your shower experience. I have been totally into that. And save on your cabinetry. There are so many vintage cabinets out there that you can use as vanities, and it would look amazing.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, it looks better than custom. OK, finally, laundry room.
TIFANNY BROOKS: I would say save on your washer and dryer, especially if you bought them, they're already energy-saving. So save on that, try to reuse those, and then splurge on your layout that's another thing that function cannot be avoided.
If the function and the layout of your laundry room is not working for you, then you need to splurge on getting cabinetry, getting countertops, getting a folding station, getting the proper plugs, getting charging stations. Definitely make that one of the most functional rooms in your house.
MARIANNE CANADA: Totally agree. My laundry room is also our mud room. And it's the first time, I've ever had, like a proper mud room. And it's a real game changer. All right, Tiffany, before we let you go, we cannot let you leave without you giving your thoughts in one of our favorite segments, "Defend the Trend."
All right, so in the Rock the Block finale, we saw you and David use a really cute peel and stick wallpaper for the bathroom, which then kind of turned on you, when you tried to remove it from the wall, and it peeled the drywall off.
So I have to ask, peel and stick design options, like wallpaper, a tile, they're all the rage because they're easy, I say easy in air quotes, budget-friendly, and in theory non-committal alternative to more permanent options. Do you think these temporary solutions come off as cheap, or do you think they're here to stick around? Sorry. [LAUGHS]
TIFANNY BROOKS: Goodness!
MARIANNE CANADA: That was terrible.
TIFANNY BROOKS: OK, in our defense, plastic wallpapers do work. We just stuck it, or we just tried to remove it too closer when we paint it. So we literally painted that room, and put up a plastic wallpaper. So in our defense, the plastic wallpaper work. And I do think that these conveniences, I wouldn't call them trends, I do think that these conveniences definitely have a market, and there is a certain place for them. Removable Wallpaper is here to stick around.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh my gosh. Tiffany, you are so delightful. I already am planning on when we can have you back because I know you're one of the hardest working people on HGTV. You'll be on seven more things before the end of the year. But where can everyone find you on social media? And where can we all watch $50K Three Ways?
TIFANNY BROOKS: So $50k Three Ways premieres April 26 on Discovery Plus, and it will also be on HGTV on April 26 at 8:00 PM Eastern, 7:00 PM central. You can find me on Instagram Tiffany Brooks Interiors, you can follow me on Facebook on the Tiffany Workstation's Interiors.
MARIANNE CANADA: All right, well, Tiffany, I can't wait to have you back, and I cannot wait to watch more of this show.
TIFANNY BROOKS: See you soon.
MARIANNE CANADA: I just love me, some Tiffany Brooks. I have say that moment in Rock the Block, where they started peeling that wallpaper off, and all of the paint, and drywall started coming off with it. I mean, I literally felt like sick to my stomach. It was extremely stressful. So I'm really glad that she defended the trend of peel and stick wallpaper because there was not a pretty sight.
MADELEINE: Yeah, that moment was terrifying. And that wallpaper was so cute. It had like little divers on it. It was the perfect bathroom wallpaper. But it was-- yeah, it wasn't-- it made me scared of it. But Marianne, do you have any peel and stick in your house? Do you stick to traditional, like have you tried this trend? What are your thoughts?
MARIANNE CANADA: Well, in case you guys are wondering if Brad just-- if his voice just got a lot higher, that's our other producer, Madeleine. That's the other voice of god. Yes, I do have some peel and stick wallpaper. So we have one bathroom that we did not renovate. It has this very retro-- like everything is avocado green. And the tile is this kind of Moroccan green shape. And we just decided to lean into it.
So we put up this almost green-black jungle cheetah print peel and stick wallpaper in that bathroom. And it's really a statement maker. I will say, my husband really passionately wanted to do this himself. And he will not ever do it again. Both because he hated it, and because it's not perfect.
OK it's hard to be married to someone like me because I am just going to sit there and analyze every single spot, or the pattern doesn't line up. And guys, we've been together for 18 years, like he should know me by now. He should know that I am going to care. I care so much.
MADELEINE: So I love wallpapers in small spaces. So like bathrooms, closets, I'm thinking about putting some in my office at work because it's temporary. And I can just put it up there, have it in the background of my Zoom calls, and then I can take it down when I need to. But the idea of getting it up, and getting everything perfect, and having to cut it intimidates me a little bit. So we'll see how it goes.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, I will say a lot of people, I think, have the misconception that peel and stick wallpaper is less expensive. I have not found that to be the case. I think it's pretty pricey. The nice thing about it is most of them are vinyl. So they're repositioniable. But the other caveat I would put out there, is it does not work with any kind of texture on the wall.
You need just the right surface, or it literally just won't stick, or everything will show, and that won't look good. But it's fun. I mean, it's a fun trend. It's not permanent, as someone who had to take wallpaper off of every single wall in his house. It's certainly a lot easier to remove than the real stuff.
Anyway, we could literally keep talking about peel and stick wallpaper forever. But I really want to get to our next interview because we are talking to Kelly Wilkniss from the Decorating Tips and Tricks podcast. And you want to talk about someone with a wealth of knowledge when it comes to decorating, but especially, decorating on a budget, Kelly is your girl. She also is like my new best friend. So let's get to it.
Kelly, thank you so much for joining us today for our Budget episode. But before we get into that, I know. I know you have a lot to say on-- about the B word. But I want to talk a little bit about your amazing blog. You are one of the hosts of the Decorating Tips and Tricks Podcast, which has published over 450 episodes, which is just really a feat in and of itself.
KELLY WILKNISS: It is kind of amazing, when we think about how did we do all of that? A lot of talking, a lot of talking about decorating.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, well, there's so much to say, right? And then that's not enough, you're also the author of a blog and YouTube channel "My Soulful Home." And the author of at least one book that I know of A Year in Flowers. Before we get started, what is your background, and how did you become this authority in the interior decorating space?
KELLY WILKNISS: Well, I started out as a busy lawyer with a passion for designing my own homes and gardens. And it was my joy, my stress relief, creative outlet. And then we had a big move across the country from New York to California, and that gave me an opportunity to try to change careers.
And so I did what? It may be cliche, but I followed my bliss, and I started renovating the home we were living in, I got some local clients, and then I decided I was going to start my blog. And things just led. One thing led to the other. The blog led to the podcast, which led to the book around the same time. And then the YouTube channel. So it's been-- I don't want to say the word it has been-- but it has been a bit of a journey.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yes. Well, and I mentioned how prolific you are. And in all of these, podcast episodes, and blogs, and YouTube videos, is there one specific piece of advice that has been the most popular, or that has really resonated with your audience?
KELLY WILKNISS: Well, they love the tours. But doing a podcast, it's non-visual. We were a little concerned in the beginning, like, how are we going to convey this information in an audio format. But what it really turns out to be is people really want concrete, actionable tips, and advice, and inspiration that they can then translate into their own spaces, whether it's the podcast, if we call anything tips and tricks, or we have five ideas for you to transform your living room, people love that.
And I found that is also true in my YouTube channel, that if I'm giving design tips, and advice, even it's just listing them down, people want to jump on that information, and then translate it into their own spaces.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yes, it is interesting. That was one of the first things that we were asked when we said we wanted to do a podcast for HGTV. Everyone was like, how do you talk about what a room looks like? How do you talk about the shade of blue that I have in my office? And I was like well, it's so much more, you can visualize so much, and offering that service, answering those questions, that's what people really want.
KELLY WILKNISS: I agree. And that's really what we found throughout the podcast. We don't talk so much about, hey, look at that painting that's hanging on my wall because obviously the people are not seeing that painting. But when you describe how you can transform your own spaces with something that you describe with words, then people can translate it.
And it's almost better because sometimes if you see an image, whether it be on Instagram, or Pinterest, or YouTube, or someone's blog. And you think, oh gosh! I can't get that exactly right in my own space, and it's just not going to translate. But when you hear it, you can take all the information. And then maybe have the overlay of your own home. So I think it makes it almost easier, which is sort of counterintuitive.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, it's so true. So I mentioned at the top that this is our Budget episode. And I know you actually recently had an episode of your own podcast about Decorating On a Budget. This is something I think that really resonates with HGTV audience, focusing on creative ways to bring in that high-style to your home at a lower cost. What is your personal approach to decorating within a budget?
KELLY WILKNISS: Yeah, a budget is really important. No matter what your budget is, everybody wants to get the best look for the least amount of money. So I really focus on a mix of highs and lows. So you're going to mix it up, not everything in the room is going to be super expensive. And the way to do that, that's so much fun, and so reasonable, and within just about everyone's budget is thrifting. Thrifting and spray paint. Spray paint is magic in a can.
And if you can find the two, you find a little table, or something a thrift store, and then you spray paint it, well, you've got the best of both worlds. But you can focus on those accent pieces, the smaller pieces, and really get them for a song. And then focus on your investment pieces. And then at the end of the day, you're going to stay within budget.
MARIANNE CANADA: You just really like spoke to me to my soul because you're like thrifting and spray paint might as well be like my Instagram bio of those. But it's so true though. And it's really the quickest way to have a unique collected space that is just yours, that doesn't look like what everyone else has.
KELLY WILKNISS: Oh, the collected look is the way to go. And I love that overall term because there was eclectic for many years, and then it was farmhouse, there was this, and there was very specific looks. But the collected look, is something that you collect over time.
Two, you don't get the collected look in an afternoon. And that's another way to really stay within budget. Don't rush it. You do not have to decorate a room, or certainly not a whole home in a month, or a week, or even a year, collect over time. And here's a really good tip about staying within budget, but having a more high-end look.
Know what the real deal looks like. If you are into antiques, go to antique stores, go to estate sales, find out what does the real antique look like, or if you're into newer furniture, or something more modern, go to stores that carry that type of furnishings, and really see what are the hallmarks of the look that I want. And once you know that, you'll know when you come upon one that fits your budget better. So it's a lower price point, but it's still hitting all the marks.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, you just have to do a little homework.
KELLY WILKNISS: You do. And it's fun.
MARIANNE CANADA: It is fun. And in fact, you have a YouTube video about creating a decorating plan. And you had this great saying, "Great decorating doesn't happen by accident." And it's so true. You don't walk into a home, and it's just like, oh, I don't know, I just threw this together. Can you walk us through the most important steps that you take to create a decorating plan for a room?
KELLY WILKNISS: Yeah, you really have to plan. And I do that in every aspect of my life for decorating for sure. And when you do the plan, you're also going to save money overall because you're not going to make mistakes. And you're going to end up with this cohesive look and something that you love. But my first approach to any room, whether it's individual room, or overall, the whole home is function.
So if you start with the function, and I'll always do this with clients, who's going to be, or how are you going to use this room? Who's going to be in this room? And how are they going to use it? What does this room need to do, or be to support the people who live there?
And I think if you start with that, then everything else will fall into place. And if you can't answer that question right away, hold tight, hang out, live in the space, especially, if it's a house, or apartment, or condo that you've just moved into, take some time to see how you're living in this space because before you're in there, you might have a whole different idea of what that room is going to be all about.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, that's so true. But aside from planning entire rooms, let's say, we just want to have a little space refresh, a corner, or the top of a dresser. What are some of your go-to tricks for leveling up a space, without breaking the bank, when we're not focusing on the bigger picture?
KELLY WILKNISS: Perfect time of year to do this. Everybody wants a little refresh in the springtime. So here's a really simple, and a very budget-friendly, subtract some things. Most of us, probably myself included, have too much furniture. So see if there's something that you can take out of a room, then take a look again, see how it feels to you, and certainly purge any clutter, and get that all out of the space.
So that is going to give you an instant completely free refresh. Easy, inexpensive refreshes are also pillow covers. You can get them from so many sources. If you've got some good inserts, you just zip them off, and put the new covers on. Lampshades, if you've got some dated lampshades, I say, go drum, you can't really go wrong, get the right size shade of course, but that can really transform a space, even if something is simple as a new throw in a pop color.
And it can be pretty inexpensive, maybe, you're just going to have a pop of pink, or a pop of bright yellow, or something for the spring, add that into a room, and it can completely transform it. If you want to go a little more designy, get yourself a tray, and then create a vignett. Have three different pieces at a minimum, different heights, and different textures, but things that speak to you. Things that are going to add personality to your space.
And that's a great thing, as you mentioned an entryway. I have a tray on my entryway table, and I change it out for the seasons. I call a spot like that in my house, a decor hotspot. It's easy to change up, I always have the tray, and then I can switch it out, whether it's the holidays, or I want to spring refresh, or something like that. And also, you can just refresh with some new flowers, put them in a vase, and there you go.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh, yes it is-- we are really getting an to flower season here, and I'm so thrilled. But I love the idea of a decor hotspot of thinking of these vignettes as something that can always be tweaked and played with and changed for the season. Do you have some go-to textures or finishes that you love, that instantly make a room feel more elevated, or just like a little more expensive?
KELLY WILKNISS: Yeah, natural fibers will do that, a really good linen that's going to have some texture and some heft in the hand, that really can make a statement in a room. If it's colder weather, you're in a colder climate, maybe, some velvets, or just one pillow in a fabric that you love. I have this one fabric that I absolutely adore. It's super expensive. And so I have one pillow in it. But that pillow really elevates the entire space.
I also love a little touch of gold, and every room can always benefit with a touch of black. So even if you're adding that in a really simple small way like black frames for photos, or maybe, you spray paint a little side table black, or something like that, adding black to a space-- and people are hesitant to do that. Adding black to a space can really elevate the whole look.
MARIANNE CANADA: I agree. That's one of my favorite colors to decorate with.
KELLY WILKNISS: Marianne, you and I have to be best friends because we're obviously soulmates.
MARIANNE CANADA: I think, we just became best friends. I think that's what just happened. But yes, I mean, I just-- everything you're saying, I'm like yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, like preach it to the masses. I love it. So we talked a little bit about flowers. And I do want to come back to that because I'm-- as I literally sit here with my peonies that I went and cut this morning.
KELLY WILKNISS: Oh, I'm so jealous. You can't have peonies in California, it doesn't get cold enough, which is such a bummer. So I can buy them at the grocery store, but I can't grow them here.
MARIANNE CANADA: I know. I always tell one of my best friends lives in LA, and I always say, well, in exchange, we can't grow lemons in the ground here in East Tennessee. So there's a trade off.
KELLY WILKNISS: OK, true. That is true.
MARIANNE CANADA: You have amazing citrus trees. But I do want to talk about your book, My Soulful Home, A Year In Flowers because it's just all about cutting, preserving, and arranging flowers for your home. And I know that our HGTV audience, the G in HGTV is for garden, and everyone is really ready to get out there, and fresh flowers are going to start making an appearance inside. What are some practical tips you share in the book?
KELLY WILKNISS: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. That is how you're going to preserve your flowers in a vase. And so yes, as you mentioned, the book is all about creating floral arrangements. And there is a chapter about creating your own cutting garden, and things like that. But the overall message of the book is how to create beautiful arrangements, and make them last inside your home. So what you want to do is hydrate your flowers.
And when you've had them at the grocery store, or some other place, they may have been sitting in this bucket flat on the bottom of the bucket for a day, or two, or even longer. As soon as you walk in the door, soonest as possible, give them a fresh cut, and put them in some water in a dark, or darker area, a darker corner. And let them just chill for a little bit. And let them rehydrate.
And the best way to get the cut on your flowers is to invest. And when I say invest, it's a very small investment, maybe under $30. Get yourself a good pair of floral shears because it makes such a difference. When you make it fresh, clean cut with floral shears, it cuts the stem of the flower in a way that allows them-- we don't have to get too technical, but there's a sort of a channel from-- all the way up the stem, from the base of the stem up to the top of the flower. And the water has to travel up.
And so if there's any impediment to that, that's when your flowers are going to wilt, and flop, and have to go in the trash. So you want to keep that waterway open, and then you want to allow the flowers to soak up as much water as possible. And if you're going to do a simple arrangement, just let them hydrate for an hour or so, and then you can put them out on your table.
But if you're going to do an elaborate arrangement, and be moving them around a lot, then I would say let them sit for a few hours, fully hydrate, and then you can get them, and get the base you're going to use, then you can make the different cuts that you need to actually create the arrangement. And in the book, I have 12 different arrangements that you can either follow, or you can get inspiration for. And one is for each month of the year.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh, I love that. We will make sure to put a link to Kelly's book in the show notes @hgtv--
KELLY WILKNISS: Oh, thank you.
MARIANNE CANADA: --@hgtv.com/podcast. You know flowers are just like us, we all need water, a little of haircut, and to be put in a dark room occasionally. At least, that's how I feel.
KELLY WILKNISS: I love it. I never really thought about it that way. But it is so true.
MARIANNE CANADA: So Kelly, you obviously have such a wide variety of design inspiration. Where do you go to recharge your creative batteries, are you a Pinterest person, or do you keep it old school with magazines? Where do you find your design inspiration?
KELLY WILKNISS: Well, it sounds kind of cliche to say everywhere. But it's true there's inspiration everywhere, whether you're walking down the street, or if you're in a shop, if you can go back to shops right now. And certainly, Pinterest, Instagram is a wonderful place. But here's what I say too with regard to inspiration, while it's so wonderful, sometimes there's a little too much of a good thing, and people can experience overwhelm, or they can feel that what they're seeing is unattainable, and that kind of bums them out.
Don't approach it that way. And a good way to avoid that is to really know the space that you're thinking about decorating, designing, renovating. If you like this kind of thing, you've got your house in mind all the time. Like, oh, when you see something, oh, that might be great for my whatever.
So think about your own spaces. Really study your own spaces well. So then when you're out in the wild, and you're getting all this inspiration, or you're scrolling through Instagram, or filling up boards on Pinterest, then you can focus on what will work in your home, rather than being sort of all over the place, being inspired by all different things, and then experiencing that feeling of overwhelm.
So curate the universe for yourself. And I do use Pinterest. I love it. I used to be on there a lot more for my blog than I am now. But the way I use it now is for clients. So I do a lot of virtual consults, or have local clients, and I'll create a secret Pinterest board with them. And so I'll curate the universe for them, and we can share it back and forth. So Pinterest is a wonderful tool, whether you're using it with someone else, or for yourself, and for your own home.
MARIANNE CANADA: Curate the universe for yourself. And that feels like it should be like on an inspirational poster somewhere. But it is hard when you work in this field, and when you love interiors, like I just love interiors. And I sometimes joke that I need like a separate house that I can decorate all Hollywood regency. And I need another house that can be like my Pendleton fish camp log cabin of dreams because you can't cram it all into one space. You could try, but it does get a little overwhelming.
KELLY WILKNISS: Yeah, yeah, yeah, the buy which you love, does have a limitation. You really can't have the fishing camp and the Hollywood regency working together. Maybe a little touch somewhere, but yeah, I agree with you. I need about eight different houses. This is why I love having clients because I can do something totally different in their space, and that can scratch that itch for myself as well as getting them a beautiful space.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yeah, I have to say, now, I'm like, maybe that's what I need. I just need to start decorating my friends' houses. I mean, they all want me to do it.
KELLY WILKNISS: I'm sure they do.
MARIANNE CANADA: All right, so Kelly, while we have here, we couldn't let you leave without having answer a couple of our listener questions because--
KELLY WILKNISS: No, I hope they're not hard.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh, I think they are in your wheelhouse. We would never throw a total curved ball at you. So the first one comes from Madeline. And Madeleine is I think facing the dilemma that so many of us are, especially over the past year, which is the working from home life.
"And if you don't have a dedicated office, where you can close the door, and stash all your laptop and charger away, if you have to work on your kitchen counter, or a dining room table. Do you have any tips on how to stylishly store away your laptop, and charger, and work items to where they're still accessible, but not just like this, I saw it because I hate cords more than anything?"
KELLY WILKNISS: Oh, we really were separated at birth. I hate cords. I despise them, even on my backsplash in my kitchen, I don't have any outlets. I did a plug mold underneath the cabinets, so you don't see them.
MARIANNE CANADA: That's such a great idea.
KELLY WILKNISS: So you don't see the outlet. So then therefore, you don't really see the cords because they're hidden. So anyway, back to your question. Yes, that is a real challenge for so many people, especially now. And it is stressful to have your work out on the dining room table, or on the kitchen table. And it's just always there looking at you, kind of calling to you because now we're all working home, you could work 24/7.
So you should have a place where you can put it, and you don't have to see it, and it should be lovely. So how about, if you've got a laptop, say a charger, maybe, some notes, and pens, what have you. How about getting a large-sized tray? Now, you could buy a beautiful tray. And you can then slide it under your sofa, under your bed, or maybe that's not good feng shui. Put it someplace else, maybe, not under your bed.
But put it somewhere where it's accessible, and maybe even there is an outlet behind that piece of furniture or something, so if you needed to be charging over the night or something, you could be doing that. And then you slide it all out. And it's all there for you in the morning. So you're not running around looking for a charger, or a pen, or something like that. So it's kind of like your little mobile office.
And if you didn't want to purchase a tray, or your stuff was kind of odd-shaped, how about a box? And you decorate it. So then you can have a fun, creative afternoon decorating your box. We are all getting zillions of boxes at our doorstep all the time. Maybe find something, I mean, I would think, like, maybe, a large shirt box, or something might be a good size.
But if you have a bigger computer, maybe you need something a little bit bigger, you could cover it with pretty wrapping paper, or wallpaper, or you could spray paint it. And so you could create your own little office. But I think a tray would be super easy. And the other one would be super fun to create as well. But I think, they would both serve that same purpose.
MARIANNE CANADA: Yes, exactly, that out of sight, out of mind because if I even see my laptop, my mind just goes to work. We have one more question from Danielle. So Danielle writes, "My husband and I recently sold our home, and almost all of the furniture in it. We are basically starting from scratch. And I'm curious, what are pieces we should invest in, and where are areas we can save?" And I think your previous tip about looking for vintage fits in here as well.
KELLY WILKNISS: Oh, yes. Definitely, well, first of all, Danielle's so exciting. And yeah, it's so easy to sell all your furniture now, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, wherever you can get, or your neighbors, what have you. What an exciting time in your life to be starting from scratch.
So thinking about things you might invest in first. I would invest in some of the major pieces, like a sofa, you're going to be sitting on it a lot, maybe napping on it, spending a lot of time on it, it should be comfortable, and long-lasting.
And we don't know, whether or not, Danielle is going to be in this house, or apartment, or condo for a long time, or a short time, but a sofa is something that you can take with you. So I would choose something in neutral colors, maybe get performance fabric. So then if you are moving on to another place, it can work in that next space as well.
Now, the timing that you might be in this particular home would come into play with my next possible investment window treatments. If you going to be there a while, I would invest in some window treatments because there is a big difference between just buying some unlined drapes, and sticking them up on a rod. And having something that's blind, that maybe gives you the privacy, and even the sun protection you might need.
And so that adds a whole other element to a room. And maybe, you want to do natural woven, or something like that, you're going to bring in some really nice texture. That's an area that I would think about investing in, if you're going to be in the home for a bit of time.
Another item to invest in is a mattress. Again, very much akin to the sofa. Get something that's good, and you can always take it with you, if you move on. But you're going to get a lot of good night's sleep on it. Now, where you can save is yes, thrifting, vintage, antiques, little side tables, and little accent pieces.
You can also save on rugs. You not have to spend a lot of money on rugs. Rugs come in a lot of different materials, polypropylene, even those indoor outdoor rugs are great, you don't have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a wool rug.
And lamps, I think that lamps, can be super expensive, but there are so many nice, reasonable lamps out there in the universe. I think, you can get really well with getting some nice lamps. But do you remember to have three sources of light in your room for really creating that feel that you want. You just don't want overhead lights, and you just don't want a little a side lamp. So shoot for three sources of light.
MARIANNE CANADA: That is the best advice. My husband and I, when we did our renovation, our contractor really wanted to put in overhead lighting. So and it's very minimal, and it's not-- but we literally only turn them on, when we're cleaning because you can see all the dust on the floor, when they're on.
KELLY WILKNISS: Absolutely, and well, I mean, when my husband comes home, I know when he did, he's home, or was first home at night because all the overhead lights on. And we do have them. Oh, well, they're practical. But it looks like somebody whose performing surgery in the house. And I go down there, everything has to be on dimmers. So I dim them all, I put my little lights on all over the place, and it just transforms the space instantly.
MARIANNE CANADA: It's so true. Well, Kelly, this has been so delightful. Before you go, I just want you to tell everyone again, where we can find you on social, and how we can listen to you your incredible podcast Decorating Tips and Tricks.
KELLY WILKNISS: Well, Decorating Tips And Tricks is available on any podcast player. You can even ask your Alexa to play Decorating Tips and Tricks. And she'll do it straight away. As far as me and My Soulful Home, that's the name of my blog. And My Soulful Home on Instagram. My Soulful Home also on YouTube.
And my book is, as you mentioned, My Soulful Home: A Year in Flowers. And I would love to connect with any of your listeners, whether it be on the podcast, or elsewhere. Come over, say, hi, and leave me a comment, or let us know that you're enjoying the podcast. And I love this podcast. So I'm so glad to know of it because you guys take a lot of walks with me and my dogs. I love HGTV Obsessed.
MARIANNE CANADA: Oh, thank you so much. Well, I think that we have basically established that we are designed soulmates. And I really look forward to chatting with you again in the future. I hope you come back.
KELLY WILKNISS: Thank you so much Marianne. This was really wonderful.
MARIANNE CANADA: Thank you. My goodness Kelly Wilkniss and Tiffany Brooks in one episode. I mean, it's just too much goodness. So many nuggets of information about budget decorating on the podcast today. We hope you enjoyed this budget themed episode today on HGTV Obsessed. Once again, a special thanks to Tiffany Brooks for sharing her expertise with us. You can catch her amazing new show $50k Three Ways now on HGTV and Discovery Plus.
And thank you again to Kelly Wilkniss, my new best friend of the Decorating Tips And Tricks podcast, and My Soulful Home for her creative and insightful chat as well. As always, you can learn more about both of our guests by checking out our show notes at hgtv.com/podcast.
And you guys, if you loved today's episode, do you know what I'm going to say? Head over to Apple Podcasts, and please rate and review HGTV Obsessed. It really, really helps us out. It helps new people find us. It just enables us to keep bringing you this semi-OK quality podcast every week. It's mostly great. We're just-- sometimes, technology fails us. No, not really.
Please, head over to Apple Podcasts to rate and review HGTV Obsessed. It really-- it means so much. I want five stars from everyone listening. Don't forget to follow HGTV Obsessed, wherever you listen to podcasts, so you never miss an episode. I'll see you guys next Thursday.
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