Search - Interiors By Michele, Volume One on DVD

A must-see for anyone thinking about re-decorating!

Mary G. | New Jersey, USA | 07/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whether your budget befits a royal, or is on the peasant level, the new DVD just released by Michele Caprio, "Queen of Decorating on a Budget," offers a treasure trove of ideas for transforming the blandest, plain vanilla space into a stunning palace through the creative use of color, paint, pattern, and superlative window treatments.

Interiors by Michele: A Before-and-After Guide to Transforming Your Home Into a Palace With Custom Window Treatments offers an inspiring tour of eight homes, each with its own distinctive style and the most fabulous window treatments ever devised. There is a myriad of ideas and inspirations to suit every taste. Queen Michele, complete with sparkling crown and sceptre, guides the viewer throughout the 37-minute DVD, first showing the drab "before" and then the dramatic "after." The rich color schemes and amazing window treatments are nothing short of dazzling.

But this DVD is far more than just eye candy - it is extremely practical as well. Designer Michele explains exactly how the window treatment was done, and breaks down the expenses clearly and candidly. Closeups of the elaborate valances, jabots, bishop's sleeves, and swags, along with the imaginative trims that set these window treatments apart from the ordinary, allow the viewer to see exactly he or she might be able to do it him or herself, and save even more money.

The details are fascinating - beaded trims sparkle in the light; tufts and tassels accent the outline; fringes, rosettes, and loosely tied knots punctuate the lavish flow of some drapes. It is impossible to watch this DVD and not feel a rising sense of excitement about the possibilities. Who wouldn't be tempted to reproduce the deftly looped, draped, fringed shower curtain shown in one home, with its elaborate form and trim which turn the modestly-sized room into a fantasy retreat?

Ms. Caprio also clearly demonstrates the enormous impact a daring palette can have on interiors. Most of the "befores" are vanilla white. It is amazing to see how the sustained use of a more assertive palette can tie together the desparate elements of a room - the warm toasts and caramels, rich burgundies, and saturated jewel tones with which several of the homes are decorated play a major role in unifying the rooms' disparate elements, and creating an enticing atmosphere which draws people in.

Interspersed with the thorough coverage of the interiors of eight homes, whose styles run the gamut from traditional, modern country, eclectic, and transitional, are decorating tips to guide both the notive and experienced through the design process. With refreshing common sense, Ms. Caprio counsels re-decorating just one room a year, so that one can truly concentrate both one's creative powers and financial resources on the project. For those who want to be ahead of the curve when choosing the next hot interior paint colors, Queen Michele points out that today's fashion hits are tomorrow's interior design must-haves.

Another extra in this informative DVD is a segment on interior murals, with one of Ms. Caprio's best artists demonstrating his craft and showing off several stunning murals, including a sun-kissed, Tuscan landscape complete with villa, lombardy poplars, and undulating hills. Again, the DVD pulls no punches and gives complete pricing details."