Meet Stacie. She lives downtown in a gorgeous home we had the pleasure of helping decorate. Now it’s time for an official House Crash—so buckle up. This tour is full of thoughtful design choices, budget-smart finds, and a few surprising finishes that together create a refined, lived-in look.

You might remember Stacie’s bedroom from an earlier makeover. It started out very different, and after working with one of our early mood boards she transformed it into a calm, stylish retreat that still looks fresh more than a year later.

But the bedroom is only one chapter of her home. Walk through the hallway from the foyer and you enter a sleek, modern kitchen framed by an elegant transom window. Stacie chose Ikea cabinets for their versatility and value—customizable, affordable, and practical for everyday life.

Her front room reads dramatic and sophisticated with deep, chocolatey walls (a similar hue is Benjamin Moore’s North Creek Brown 1001). Plush velvet seating and a textured wool rug add warmth and tactile contrast. Accessories that look high-end often come from surprising places—the starburst mirror above the fireplace was a great find, and the lamps flanking the sofa were budget-friendly purchases.

Nearby, a cozy sitting room doubles as an office. A West Elm daybed offers a relaxed spot for her kids while she works at a compact desk. A modern light fixture and an artful print above the fireplace complete the vignette, making the small space feel intentional and comfortable.

The dining room is the standout renovation. Before the refresh it was unremarkable; the after is a study in texture and glow. The transformational element was a metallic wallpaper Stacie fell for and applied to two opposing walls, visually framing the space and giving it instant glamour.

When we visited after the paper went up, we could already see the room’s potential. We suggested a soft greige paint for the remaining walls—Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe 983 is a close match—which shifts from warm tan to cool gray in different light and plays beautifully with the metallic finish. High ceilings, generous crown molding, and wide doorways amplify the room’s luxe feel.

Stacie’s mix of sources keeps the space approachable: lamps from an off-price retailer sit on a buffet, and mirrors above the console bring balance and scale. The ability to pair an original crystal chandelier with accessible decor pieces proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to craft dramatic, layered rooms.

One challenge was the fireplace surround. Stacie wanted the room to feel cloud-like and ethereal, but the existing wood finish disrupted that vision. We explored options—staining it a weathered gray-blue, painting it white or soft gray—but the idea that captured her imagination was a metallic finish. She chose a pewter metallic for the mantel to reflect light and add depth. To preserve contrast and maintain drama, the surround itself was painted a deep, moody black, which makes the metallic mantel sing.

The result is a home that feels polished without being precious—rooms that balance drama and comfort and showcase how thoughtful combinations of high and low pieces can create a cohesive, elevated look. Stacie’s clever mix of budget finds, classic elements, and a few standout finishes proves a stylish, inviting home doesn’t require excess spending.

So what do you think of this House Crashing tour of Stacie’s place? Are you drawn to the metallic wallpaper and dramatic dining room, or do you prefer the lighter, softer bedroom? Both demonstrate how intentional color, texture, and proportion can transform ordinary spaces into something memorable.

UPDATE: We visited Stacie’s house again to photograph her latest updates—see the follow-up tour here.