KC's Tips from the Rachael Ray Show

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Get The Look- Hollywood Regency Style

You’ve seen it in movies, magazines and boutique hotels. The look is pure luxe and it’s also high end.


But it doesn’t have to be…

This style is all about drama, and what better way to achieve that than with a striking 2-color scheme. Oh, and some mirror thrown in- for sparkle of course!

I chose dark, dark, dark chocolate as my background.  Why? Simply because the darker you go the more your contrasting color- in this case white- stands out.  The two together are pure glamour!

Next step was creating the look of intricate architectural detail… for no money.  After drawing my design on graph paper and working out my measurements, I drew guidelines with a pencil and a level on a white wall.  Next, I lay down my tapelines making sure to keep the tape close, but not on top of the line and then cut my overlapping corner details with an exacto knife. Next part- and this is an important one- is to burnish the tapelines.  This is basically working out any bubbles or creases where the paint might bleed and insuring a tight bond between the wall and the tape.  I like to do this with my thumb, but you can also use the back of a spoon. Applying a bleed-proof seal comes next.  Using a foam brush, I applied Acrylic Gel Medium (available with the acrylic paints at any art supply store) over the seam of tape and wall. It goes on milky, but dries clear in just a few minutes.  This creates an “invisible” layer of protection over the seam.  Up went my chocolate paint. I waited anxiously for it to tack up- but not dry completely.  I pulled the tape away while the paint still had a little movement to it- and voila!! Razor sharp lines.

A brass chandelier- on clearance for $60 at Lowe’s- only needed a coat or 2 of off white spray paint and some white globe bulbs to take it from cheap to chic!

The “faux molding” was not enough to really drive home the Hollywood Regency feel. I needed more texture, more layers, and more architectural detail. So while at Lowe’s, I also picked up a pair of ceiling medallions.  Once spray-painted the same creamy shade of off white as the chandelier, they look like authentic plaster, but at $35.00 apiece, you better believe they’re plastic! The hole in the middle is meant to accommodate a ceiling fixture, but round mirrors from Michael’s hot glued in the center cover them up and turn them into frames.

How many ways can I use mirror tiles…well at least one more.  The table was a steal at Goodwill for $7, but the finish was a far cry from sensational. Yet another coat of spray paint- and then the mirrors. I purchased octagons and 2” squares, all with a beveled edge for a higher end look, and applied them directly to the tabletop with hot glue.  Around the perimeter, I needed half pieces to correctly finish the pattern.  Using a glass-cutting tool (available for a few bucks at Lowe’s) I scored and snapped my pieces.  Just to be safe, and to insure that no one touched a jagged edge, I added half round molding to cover the very edge of the mirrored tiles.  I secured that in place with hot glue as well.

To dress the table, I stopped at my favorite source for orchids- Trader Joe’s.  They always have a great selection of fully bloomed, substantial ones for $12.99.  That went into a pot that I picked up at a nursery.  The horse head was an amazing find at a yard sale for 2 bucks, but wasn’t doin’ it for me in black iron.  Yes- the white spray paint AGAIN!

I wanted the formal graphic quality to carry to the furniture, so the high back chairs (which you may recognize from my loading page) were the perfect scale. I found these at a thrift store ages ago for $25 a piece.  They were upholstered in a hideous watermarked fabric and the legs were stained a dark brown.  The transformation can be credited to white spray paint on the legs- come on, it’s like the most useful thing ever invented! - And vinyl that I bought at JoAnn’s for $6.00 a yard. 

To finish off the whole shebang, I laid a sheepskin rug from Costco on the floor- total luxury for $139.00.  This is- by hundreds- the cheapest you can find these rugs in this size.  You have to check often, though.  They’re a seasonal item.

The Tyra Banks Show

Check out these “Design On a Dime” Decorating Tips presented by Kristan Cunningham, host of HGTV’s “Design on a Dime,” as featured on the Tyra Banks Show. Kristan offers tips to help you turn a boring room into something fabulous!