Time Out New York  |  October 16-22, 2008
Love the Space You’re In
Lease got you locked into not-so-snazzy digs? You don’t have to live that way. Spruce up your pad with these nonpermanent fixes—none of which will sacrifice your security deposit. By Sophie Donelson

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Problem
Uneven, bumpy walls.

Solution
I’m a proselytizer for Benjamin Moore, the cheapest, fastest way to transform a room. So imagine my surprise when even the elegant #2129-40 couldn’t disguise my cruddy living-room walls. The paint was flat; the surface was not. I enlisted Brad Ford, interior designer and founder of the blog Design Therapy, to mask the trouble spots without damaging the apartment. Ford’s usual clients are high-end, but he gamely suggested a budget-friendly plan for me: a salon-style grouping of art, hung with fishing wire from a single rail.

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As the daughter, sister and best friend of artists, I have a veritable gallery of framed art, but Ford thought my collection was too “grandmothery” to make a singular statement. Instead, we fitted those frames with primary-color construction paper, and bought others (Brownstone Treasures, 220 Court St between Baltic and Warren Sts, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; 718-237-1838, brownstonetreasures.com) to fill with vivid oak tag. “The variety of frames gives it charm, and the paper palette makes it consistent,” he said. Using fishing wire, we connected each artwork to a clip, then hung the clips over a rail , meaning I’ll be able to change the layout and the art itself. “Honestly, if we had more frames, we would have hung them,” Ford said. Sure, come back anytime—I’ve got three more walls.

About Sophie Donelson

I’m a magazine writer and consultant. My stories have appeared in Interior Design, Elle Decor, Departures, and Martha Stewart Living. More details are on the About page.

Selected articles by Sophie Donelson

Room Mates
Manhattan, May-June 2010

Oh So L.A. — For Better and For Worse
Globe & Mail (Toronto), May 1, 2010

Hip Brooklyn: Head to the Point
Globe & Mail (Toronto), March 16, 2010

2010 Best of The City: Home
Manhattan, Jan-Feb 2010

Gift shopping in New York
Globe & Mail (Toronto), December 12, 2009

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Recent blog posts by Sophie Donelson

July 21, 2010 9:40 AM
French kissing & Francophile style

July 1, 2010 10:15 AM
Gold Rush

June 18, 2010 2:36 PM
Sister, Sister

May 24, 2010 11:48 AM
What color would you marry?

May 17, 2010 4:47 PM
ICFF 2010: Paper Planets and Moon Rocks

May 5, 2010 2:36 PM
Notes from L.A.

April 2, 2010 11:00 AM
Glamour Meditation #1

February 28, 2010 3:25 PM
Palm Springs, I love you

January 19, 2010 12:02 PM
Talking Heads

December 12, 2009 8:05 PM
Spoiler Alert! Holiday Gifts Edition

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