Stephanie Boyer painted her walls black with white crown molding before it was a thing. The realtor with Berkshire Hathaway’s Downtown office had always staged homes to lure buyers, eventually bringing her knack for maxed-out design into her own abode, which she documents on a dedicated Instagram page — then to a recent commercial project at Skyline 776 on Euclid Avenue.
Her philosophy: “Stay away from trends, and go with things you love.”
Here’s how.
Thrift Away
Boyer found a china cabinet at Habitat for Humanity ReStore for only $35. “The maple wood didn’t match the vibe of my home, so I tinted the windows and painted it a Kelly green,” she says. Add pink tassels to the knobs and ta-da: a kitchen centerpiece for storing pantry goods.
Facebook Marketplace is a treasure trove, Boyer adds. “You’d be surprised how many people give away free furniture that is worth a lot,” she says, noting a boho-vintage 1970s Henredon dining table she scored at no charge.
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Deck Every Hall
For renters and budgeters, consider easy add-ins: pillows, rugs, artwork, vases, mirrors or books sourced from libraries and secondhand shops. “I don’t want any space to go unthought of or unnoticed,” Boyer says of finding ways to mix patterns and textures.
A small wall in Boyer’s entryway could have been ignored. She bucked it up with an indigo spray-painted vintage chest, a fuchsia lamp, a golden mirror and books stacked into a binary platform for a kitschy dish.
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Peel, Stick, Move On
Stick-on wallpaper is more affordable and involves much less of a commitment. Boyer goes bold with houndstooth patterns, exaggerated geometric designs, vibrant jungle florals and even dancing zebras.
Take Your Time
Embrace the treasure hunt of curating. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” Boyer says. “You will make mistakes. I just change it until I get it right and am absolutely in love with it.”
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