Meet Stacie. She lives downtown in a gorgeous home that we helped her decorate. The time has come to officially House Crash her — so fasten your seatbelts. This is going to be fun.
You may already remember her bedroom. It used to look quite different:
We created one of our first mood boards for her, which helped transform the space into a cozy, stylish retreat:
But what about the rest of her home? Clearly Stacie has serious style. Here’s the hallway that leads from the foyer to her sleek, modern kitchen — note that beautiful transom window:
She chose Ikea cabinets and never regretted it. The customization options and the price made them a perfect fit for her renovation.
Her front room reads dramatic and refined with deep chocolate walls—try Benjamin Moore’s North Creek Brown 1001 for a similar effect—paired with plush velvet seating and a textured wool rug. The accessories look luxe, but some standout pieces are surprising finds: a starburst mirror above the fireplace from ZGallerie and lamps flanking the sofa from Target.
Stacie also has a cozy sitting room/office with a large West Elm daybed — the same model we use in our sunroom — where her kids relax while she works at a compact West Elm desk. A CB2 pear print over the fireplace and a modern light fixture complete the space beautifully.
The pièce de résistance is the recently renovated dining room, which we helped revamp for a big party she hosted last week. Here’s how the room began:
And here are the after photos. The room’s inspiration was the metallic wallpaper Stacie fell in love with, which she hung on two parallel walls to bookend the space. The results are nothing short of magnificent: the wallpaper elevates the room and creates an irresistible focal point.
We visited after the wallpaper was installed and could already tell this would be a standout room. We brought paint swatches and recommended an amorphous greige for the remaining walls—Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe 983. It reads differently across photos, balancing warm tan with soft gray undertones that play up the metallics. With oversized crown molding, high ceilings, and wide doorways, the whole composition feels regal and inviting.
Small pieces complete the look: buffet lamps from Marshall’s and mirrors above the console from Crate & Barrel. Stacie mixes an original crystal chandelier with thoughtful budget finds, achieving high-end glamour without excess spending.
One design dilemma was the fireplace surround. Stacie hesitated to paint the wood because it didn’t match the “cloud-like” vision she wanted. We considered weathered gray-blue stain or painting it white or gray for an ethereal effect, but it wasn’t until Ralph Lauren’s Metallic paint collection was mentioned that she lit up. The choice was pewter — Ralph Lauren’s Regent Metallic Series in Ambassador Sterling — which adds a subtle sheen perfect for this airy, luxe room. To keep the high-contrast drama she loves, she painted the surround a moody black, which sets off the pewter mantel beautifully.
That wraps up the tour of Stacie’s home, a place where budget-friendly finds look like a million bucks. Her ability to combine drama and glam without overspending is inspiring. What do you think — which space is your favorite? We can’t decide between the stunning metallic wallpaper and the lighter, brighter bedroom that still looks fabulous more than a year after its makeover.
UPDATE: We returned to Stacie’s house to photograph her latest updates. See those new photos on our follow-up feature.