High Low Design Challenge – Kate Spade Living Room
by Suzanne M. Harvey
Those who know me well, know about my obsession with Kate Spade handbags. So imagine my delight when she launched her home furnishings and decor line. But let’s be real, these items are not for every budget. I love the looks created in her ads and it got me thinking…could this be re-created on a more reasonable budget? There in lies the design dilemma. Let’s get to the high low design challenge – Kate Spade Living Room. Check out the beautiful ad we will be working from found in a recent issue of Architectural Digest.
www.architecturaldigest.com/story/kate-spade-home-furnishings
What a gorgeous space! Great contrasts of the black accents against the gray in the sofa and wall. Everyone wants gray these days. Since gray is a neutral tone you need the accents that add your pop of color in the floral arrangement and side chair. Plus the graphic rug to anchor the floor. This is a beautiful and well balanced design. The cost for the furnishings and accessories in this space is $12,470!
As a designer I love a challenge. Above are the pieces from the ad I will locate alternatives for. So let’s get started. Here are the pieces I have curated to inspire the same wow factor as this room for less…
www.wayfair.com
First we will begin with the largest item – the sofa. The Kate Spade Downing sofa is $5390. I found this beauty for $1280. It is good quality, sturdy construction and it looks great.
www.wayfair.com
Next is the great graphic black & white rug. The Kate Spade version is priced at $1400. I found this one for $265. The graphic pattern is perfect for contrasting the clean lines of sofa. And great visual interest!
It is difficult to see the coffee table in the ad, this piece has a very distinctive mid-century modern look and feel. Let’s get a better look at it…this beautiful piece is available for $3365.
www.katespade.com
www.wayfair.com
In our space the Downing coffee table is replaced by this cool Mercury Rowe table. It’s clean lines with white and wood accents and the glass detail create the same look and feel at a cost of $299.
Finally few finishing details are needed to complete our new space – a simple side table and lamp will do. The lamp and side table from the Kate Spade ad came in at $2375. Might I suggest this combo to complete this beautiful space…
www.wayfair.com
www.wayfair.com
This table provides a similar line that continues the mid-century modern feel of the space. The fun white lamp with black shade gives the contrast we need to recreate the look in the ad. Cost of the table is $333 and the lamp comes in at $254.
The final cost for the items in my room, recreating the beautifully appointed Kate Spade ad, is $2431. That is a savings of just over $10,000! Wow! I get so excited creating beautiful spaces for less. My goal in design is to create a space that my client will fall in love with over and over again. In order for that to happen it must be beautiful, fully functioning and within budget. With a savings of $10,000 we can move onto the next project. So this is a successful high low design challenge!