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Look for (much!) Less: Lisa's Stone Cairn Lamp

Jan 18, 2010

Last summer, I designed an eDecor Plan for Brian and Lisa's library. (Check it out here.) They live near the Lake Michigan shore and wanted a room designed to reflect that. I put together a plan inspired by their historic home and their love of the beach. Lake Michigan tumbles some of the most beautiful beach stones, so I included this Stone Cairn Lamp from VivaTerra on their Inspiration Board.

Photo: VivaTerra

The lamp was going for $279, beyond Lisa's budget, but she loved the look of it in the room design plan. (More below on why I included this item in her plan.) So she got creative and took advantage of some free and cheap resources to make her own stone cairn lamp. Here's her handcrafted version:

Photo: Lisa Confer

Here's how Lisa did it for $25.

Lamp making kit, Home Depot: $9
Diamond-tipped drill bit, Menards: $6
Hammer drill, borrowed: $0
Lamp shade, Target: $10
Stones, Point Betsie (Lake Michigan beach): $0

TOTAL : $25
(and according to Lisa, a few smashed fingers offset by self-satisfied pride)

Lisa says the best thing about making this lamp is that every time her son Jackson walks past it, he says, "Mom, that is so cool!" Jackson, I couldn't agree more. —Diane

(Incidentally, the Stone Cairn Lamp is no longer available but Vivaterra's Balanced Stone Lamp is similar, for $298.)

How Inspired Room Design's eDecor Plans work in real life…

This is a perfect example of a client using my eDecor Plan as creative inspiration and putting her own stamp on the room while saving money in the process. And it's exactly why I prefer not to adhere to a strict budget limit with eDecor Plans. I can provide a vision and present ideal solutions so that clients can work toward achieving the ideal look rather than settling for just what they can afford right now. It's a long-term plan for a space you'll love for years to come.

In addition, when I design a plan, I understand the client's "budget style" and their ability and desire to do work themselves. I knew Brian and Lisa were handy with the power tools and good at adapting ideas to their own space.

The best rooms are assembled over time, and my room design plans allow clients to take their time and implement the design gradually. With conventional interior decorating, the designer would have a deadline and therefore go out and buy the expensive lamp (and then mark it up 10-20%) in order to complete the room on time. If you're willing to put forth a little effort and implement the design yourself, you can still have a professionally designed room, for a lot less money. Interested in learning more? Email me.

TAGS: stone cairn lamp rock lighting beach vivaterra look for less cheap chic edecor edecorating e-decorating

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