A Few Splurges, A Lot Of Saves

This Virginia homeowner has a sharp eye for mixing high and low finds.

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ENTRYWAY

Homeowner Jenny Foley got this wingback chair for $25 at a thrift store, then painted the legs grayish white and had it reupholstered in tone-on-tone zebra fabric. A pedestal table with a beveled top, bought at a local store, sits on a cowhide rug from World Market. The crystal teardrop chandelier is a beloved hand-me-down from her husband’s grandma.

When Jenny Foley and her husband, Jay, walked into the 2,200-square foot house in Richmond, VA, that they would eventually buy, there was no doubt about it: This was an honest to-goodness fixer upper. “Let’s see, the kitchen had teal cabinets and floor-to ceiling tile, the dining room had maroon and mustard sponge-painted walls, and the bathrooms hadn’t been updated since the ’50s,” says Jenny. “Ugly doesn’t begin to describe it.” Still, she and Jay saw gobs of potential in the 1925 home with original oak floors, a spacious foyer, and a sunroom. And—most important— they could afford it! Twelve years, two remodels, and two kids later, Jenny’s clever decorating style is on full display. Her credo? Mix a few high-end buys with a mash-up of hand-me-downs, flea market finds, and great-looking bargains. “I look at decorating a home the same way I do shopping for clothes,” she says. “You don’t need to spend a lot of money. Pair your nice things with some vintage pieces and steals, and you can make a whole room look more expensive than it is.”

Living Room