Having spent 13 years as a wardrobe and prop stylist, Klafeta says the transition into home design felt natural: “It’s all related—trying to make things look good, fitting things together.” Experience creating custom looks on a small budget has served her well. By using rejected pieces of reclaimed wood, for instance, she was able to floor her second level for $600. The bathroom wallpaper is actually gift wrap coated with vinyl plastic. She often re-creates her own DIY versions of fixtures and other household items she sees in stores. “I see things and think, ‘I could do that better—or different, or a little more funky.’ It’s just doing a little more research, a little more legwork,” she says. “Most of the time it ends up being less expensive, and more meaningful because you put it together.”
