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September 5, 2024 11 mins
Begin with an introduction and insights into transforming office spaces. Discuss the challenges of office renovations and share DIY project ideas. Provide tips for renovating older homes on a budget. Explore a kitchen makeover with Hilary Crawford, focusing on accessorizing and finalizing the kitchen space. Offer a recommendation and review of a faux eucalyptus tree as a decor element. Conclude with a summary of the episode’s key points and a takeaway message.
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Transcript

Episode Transcript

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(00:00):
Welcome back to another episode of DailyInterior Design Inspo, where I, Betsy Helmuth,
bring you the latest and greatest in affordableand modern interior design.
Whether you live in the heart of New York City,the suburbs of Westchester, or anywhere in
between, we have got you covered with tips andtricks that will make your home look fabulous

(00:20):
without emptying your wallet.
Today, we are diving into a fantasticbefore-and-after story that follows a golden
rule for brightening up any room.
Our story focuses on a budget office redo byDIYer Jackie Lindsay, who transformed her dark,
uninviting home office into a bright, organizedspace where she now loves to spend her time.

(00:48):
Jackie inherited a home office with dark purplewalls from the previous owners.
Even with large windows, the space felt small,dark, and overwhelming.
The purple walls clashed with the wood floors,which had an orange hue, making the room even
less appealing.
Jackie explained, "I never wanted to spend timedoing office work because I didn’t enjoy being

(01:12):
in the space."
With a budget of just four hundred dollars,Jackie took on the One Room Challenge and
completely transformed the space, includingtackling some DIY projects for the first time.
One of her favorite features is the DIY archshelf she created using the bones of the room’s
old niche bookcase.

(01:34):
She crafted the new arched alcove using acardboard template for the top.
"I think it’s so cool," Jackie says.
"My goal was to make it look built-in, whichmade for a few complications, but I persisted,
and I love how it turned out."
Jackie shared that YouTube tutorials were a bighelp throughout her DIY journey.

(01:56):
But, the most significant change came from afresh coat of white paint.
"It took one coat of primer and two coats ofwhite paint to go from dark purple to white,"
she says.
"It truly brightened the space so much." Thetransformation was so impactful that she now
enjoys being in the room and even uses it foryoga in the mornings.

(02:19):
Of course, no DIY project is without itschallenges.
Jackie had to fill holes in the walls and dealwith sanding and smoothing, which created quite
a mess.
Her home, built in 1968, came with all thequirks and challenges of an older house.
She also had to fix the window casing, whichhad been poorly installed by previous owners,

(02:41):
leaving the windowsill not flush with thewalls.
"I was able to butt it up and use caulking tohide the seams," she says.
"It turned out great."
The final touches included new furniture andfixtures, choosing accent colors, and adding
decor.
"A large desk makes things so much moreorganized, and I love how the green plants go

(03:05):
with the wood and black accents," Jackieshares.
Some of her budget-friendly DIYs included barnwood shelves and an upgraded door leading out
to her porch.
Instead of buying a new door, she painted thedoor white, installed black hardware, and
spray-painted the door trim black.

(03:25):
"I think the black trim is the focus instead ofthe gold grid bars, and I love that," she says.
Jackie wrapped up her project with a large rugto cover the existing flooring and plans to
paint the ceiling when her budget allows.
Her advice for anyone tackling their own DIYprojects is simple: "Pick colors and things

(03:46):
that bring you joy, don’t follow trends, andthink outside the box when you’re working on a
budget.
It’s amazing what you can do with what you havewhen you are creative."
Let's talk about a kitchen transformationthat's a true testament to the power of color.
When you think about kitchen renovations,dollar signs might start flitting about your

(04:10):
mind.
Suddenly, all the hypothetical mishaps thatlead to unexpected and expensive costs loom
heavy.
However, not all stunning transformationsrequire a twenty-five-thousand-dollar kitchen
renovation budget.
Take Hilary Crawford’s one hundredtwenty-eight-square-foot kitchen in her
family’s colorful, four-bedroom home inNorthern Ireland, for instance.

(04:36):
The original kitchen was glum because “the darkwood cabinets were sucking away any light that
was in the room, making it feel rather gloomy,”Hilary says.
Her goal was to make the space feel lighter andbrighter to flow with the rest of the vibrant
house — but she wanted to keep the costs to anabsolute minimum.

(04:57):
Here’s how she and her husband, Mark,completely DIY renovated their kitchen.
Because the kitchen is part of their open-planliving space, Hilary wanted it to have its own
identity while still feeling cohesive with theoverall living space.
She started by picking her color palette —green/teal, pink, and mustard — from the living

(05:21):
and dining rooms to tie the spaces together.
Once the paint shades were confirmed, it wastime to get to work.
Her family needed to use their kitchen duringthe renovation, so Hilary had to piecemeal the
updates.
The first area of focus was the cabinetry, andshe decided to work on five doors at a time.

(05:43):
Hilary set up two pasting tables, begansugar-soaping and lightly sanding each door
side before priming them with Blockade, andthen painting them with two coats of Little
Greene’s Mid Azure Green.
When the cabinets were finished, it was time topaint the walls.
“I decided to color block the kitchen area andcarry the pink of the walls right up over the

(06:07):
ceiling to give the illusion of separating thespaces while still allowing the spaces to flow
together,” Hilary wrote at the time of herhouse tour.
Wanting to honor the pink in her color paletteand complement the mustard yellow Orla Kiely
dandelion blinds, she painted the walls andceiling in Graham and Brown’s Lady Like Pink.

(06:30):
The cabinet handles and the sink’s tap were thelast accessories to be updated.
“I chose Hive handles in raw brass from Dowsingand Reynolds as I loved the detail of the
six-sided design as well as the raw brass coloragainst the green,” Hilary says.
“For the tap, I chose the Neo Mint Tinkisso tapalso from Dowsing and Reynolds as I thought the

(06:53):
mint color tones perfectly with my kitchencabinets.”
Hilary’s kitchen proves you can make a bigdifference on a minimal budget, just by way of
bright colors and strategic placement.
“We couldn’t afford to change the kitchen, sowe had to get creative and come up with an
alternative way to turn it into somethingcloser to what we would choose ourselves,” she

(07:17):
says.
The kitchen isn’t the only colorful room inHilary’s house.
To see more of their stunning space, visit thefull house tour on Apartment Therapy.
Alright, design lovers, let us dive into afabulous find that is sure to add some lush
greenery to your space without any of theupkeep.

(07:38):
I am talking about the Faux Eucalyptus Tree inStarter Pot by Valerie, available for just
fifty-nine dollars on QVC.
This faux plant is so realistic that it willhave all your friends fooled.
As the days get shorter and the leaves changeoutside, many of us notice that our indoor
plants start to lose their vibrant touch.

(08:01):
This happens every year when the seasons shift;they simply do not get enough sunlight.
While I love repositioning my plants to findthe best spots for sunlight, sometimes their
new homes are not as visually appealing astheir original sunny corners.
If you are like me and sometimes feeloverwhelmed caring for real plants, it might be

(08:25):
time to consider adding some faux greenery toyour home.
After scouring the market for realistic fauxplants, I found one that stands out for its

lifelike appearance (08:35):
the Faux Eucalyptus Tree in Starter Pot by Valerie.
So, what makes this faux eucalyptus tree sospecial?
For starters, it stands five feet tall andcomes in a starter pot that can easily be
hidden inside baskets, larger pots, or vases.

(08:55):
Whether you want to brighten up a bare corneror add a touch of greenery to a relatively dark
area, this tree is perfect for bringing anyspace to life.
The tree's realistic appearance is due to itsintricate details.
Its trunk mimics real bark, and the veining inthe leaves is so lifelike that it is difficult

(09:16):
to distinguish between a real eucalyptus treeand this artificial version when placed side by
side.
If you want to add extra height, considerplacing it in an urn for an additional foot.
Alternatively, if you prefer to keep it at itsoriginal height, simply place it in a basket or
pot.

(09:37):
Its weighted base ensures stability andprevents it from tipping over.
But do not just take my word for it; QVCreviewers are raving about this faux eucalyptus
tree.
One reviewer, Kris H Indy, said, "I tried areal plant in the place I now have this tree,
but there wasn’t enough light for the realplant.

(09:58):
No one would ever know this is not real as Ihave several real plants, and this fits in
perfectly."
Another reviewer, 5oaks, shared, "So surprisedwhen I took it out of the box.
The trunk is exceptional.
Love it." And RGMTGirl added, "I bought two ofthese in the five-foot size to use at a wedding

(10:21):
shower and wedding.
They were beautiful at the shower, and morethan one person thought they were real because
they really do look real!"
If you are looking to infuse your space withsome greenery without the hassle of watering,
the Faux Eucalyptus Tree by Valerie is anexcellent choice.
It adds a light, airy feel to any room whilemaking a stylish statement.

(10:46):
Plus, it might just brighten your spirits inthe midst of dreary winter days!
That wraps up today’s episode of Daily InteriorDesign Inspo.
I hope you found some inspiration for your ownspaces.
Remember, whether you are tackling a bigrenovation or just adding a small touch of
greenery, every little change can make a bigdifference.

(11:09):
Until next time, stay creative and keepdesigning!
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