Dan's Papers - June 5, 2009 - Beautiful and Easy DIY

Robert Verdi, designer and stylist to the stars, shares his ideas on how to DIY celebrity style when it comes to beautifying - or simply sprucing up - your home. Many of Verdi's celebrity clients, underneath their glam exteriors, like to roll up their sleeves and are DIYers at heart. For example, Eva Longoria Parker proudly claims that in real life with husband Tony Parker she is not a desperate housewife, but rather, a very happy one who cooks, cleans and sews.

All of Verdi's tips aim to simplify life and show ways to make essential home tasks easier and more accessible. "I'll show you ways to make sure your hands stay clean in the necessary dirty work and that the process is as effortless and efficient as possible. So easy and time-friendly, you'll feel like a celebrity," said Verdi.

First things first - a good foundation is essential. "Before even thinking about paint or fabric color," advised Verdi, "take a good look around the room." Gaps and cracks around doors and windows or mold and mildew around the sink in the bathroom sabotage even the most beautiful interior design. Use a discriminating eye and make sure to replace any cracked or dingy caulk.

While these fixes might conjure up thoughts of gooey, goopy caulk and hard-to-use caulk guns, they're not as difficult as they used to be. Verdi suggests using GE Caulk Singles, single-use disposable packages of caulk. "Caulking is now as easy as tear, squeeze, and toss," says the designer. With the deceptively simple packaging, hard-to-use squeeze tubes and caulk guns are a thing of the past. They dispense effortlessly with one hand, require no tools and leave essentially no waste in the package. And because they come in paintable white acrylic or waterproof white and waterproof clear silicone, it's possible to create a polished, professional look throughout the home without a celebrity budget.

After the foundation work is done, it's time to dress things up. See your home as an extension of your personal style. It's okay to be eclectic. Advice Verdi lives by: "Buy things you love and you'll always find a place for them, no matter how many times you redecorate or move. A few really beautiful things can make anything purchased on a budget look that much more fabulous." Overall, he says, celebrate your range and have fun.

Don't forget lighting. It's especially important in bathrooms. Another one of Verdi's clients, Sandra Bernhard, has a wide variety of chandeliers, high-tech ceiling fixtures and votive candles to suit any mood. Verdi also shares that dimmer switches are an energy efficient way to alter ambient lighting.

The following are a few of Verdi's secrets so that you can add your inner celebrity personal touch with minimal effort or cost:

Play musical chairs (or sofas). Have fun with what you have. Did you know that placing your sofa on an angle can make the room look bigger? Once you have a new layout, he suggests looking for a new rug to help further spice up the room. "Don't forget your 'foundation work.' Size up any unsightly marks on walls and baseboards or cracked molding that might now be exposed with furniture away from the wall," he advised.

Lighten up your bathroom without touching a paintbrush. "Fresh, crisp whites and neutrals are what I recommend for bathroom décor and towels," said Verdi. Despite best efforts, the wet, humid conditions in a bathroom, coupled with the use of cleansing products in tubs and shower stalls, can lead to mold growth. Are there sinks or tubs that appear to be falling away from the wall? Both are images far from clean and fresh. Verdi's solution is quick and painless - no paint brush required. "Clean and caulk the sink, tub or shower with Caulk Singles waterproof and you will instantly lighten up the room - literally."

Invest in beautiful and unique fabric. True to his roots - his mother was a dressmaker - Verdi loves textiles, and he recommends investing in a few yards of really beautiful and unique fabric that you absolutely adore. "Pair sassy colors for a straight-out-of-nature look, such as green with a shiny gold to mirror a spring tulip. Or go for texture so that the little details will pop when you walk into the room," he said. What to do with the fabric is up to your imagination: gussy up a tired couch with throw pillows, or cover some boards to make a screen. All are much more affordable and versatile than buying new furniture. Verdi's friend and client, Eva Longoria Parker, sews in her kitchen. "She loves to put her own personal touches on her home," he shared.

Quick and easy celebrity style for the home doesn't require a celebrity-sized budget. Trust your own sense of style. Simplify home care by finding products that make essential home tasks easier and more accessible. You can do it. You don't need a professional - trust your instincts, have fun, and make sure you have a solid foundation.

What's in Robert Verdi's Bag of Tricks?

I prefer a light "tool bag" that includes items that require no major muscle, tools or skills. Here are a few of my favorite things, many of which can even be stored in the kitchen drawer for easy access:

Flashlight: When looking for imperfections on your walls or around trim and molding, use a flashlight. It will show gaps, cracks, and places where the molding or caulk is starting to give way. What you might miss with the naked eye could stick out like a sore thumb once you put a fresh coat of paint up - especially if the new color is bold.

GE Caulk Singles: Busy moms carry bleach pens. I carry this little package of caulk that is as easy as tear, squeeze and toss. A little dab will do wonders helping to create a seamless look around molding and trim and fix unsightly old caulk around the sink in the kitchen or bathroom, giving an instant face-lift to any room.

Measurement cheat sheet: Either draw a "scale" drawing on an index card or keep important measurements, such as window size, room size, couch size, etc., stored in your PDA so that they are always accessible. This way, when shopping online, or perusing a flea market or antique store, you'll be sure to know what works for your room.

Paint and fabric swatches: Keep samples of your paint and fabric swatches in an envelope, so that when you are out shopping you have an easy reference with which to match colors and patterns.

Tape measure and mini-level: Store these items within reach to help with day-to-day improvements. I shop with a tape measure to ensure that any purchase fits when I bring it home.

For more of Robert Verdi's design tips or ideas on how to beautify your home effortlessly, visit caulksingles.com.