Joan Steffend is the designer and host of HGTV's hit program Decorating Cents, which airs Mondays through Saturdays at 1 p.m. and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST. During each episode, Joan works with a guest designer to create fresh new looks in one room of a featured home for less than $500! Joan is a seasoned veteran when it comes to turning "trash into treasure" and using existing furnishings and accents in a home to makeover a room. Joan met with Savvy Home Design™ to discuss what inspires her design ideas, as well as give homeowners advice on designing within a budget.

Q:   What advice do you have for homeowners when budget constraints conflict with the design selections? How can a homeowner stay within a specific budget without sacrificing style and quality?

A:   You can look at budgets in at least two ways - a miserable constraint that keeps you from exactly what you want, or a great way to prioritize and get creative. Obviously, I think the latter.

That being said, if your budget doesn't allow for a piece you really love, and it is a foundation for your look, I say save for it, and in the meantime find a creative way to fill the gap in your look. This has certainly happened to me in the past, and I must confess there have been many times I've forgotten all about what I wanted, because the creative budget solution was so much more interesting.

Q:   How can homeowners use the budget they have effectively? Where should homeowners cut corners, and where should they not?

A:   Again, it's priorities. Put the money into the foundation pieces of a room that will be there for years and not months. If you have great foundation pieces, like solid carpeting or furniture, it elevates everything else you put in the room. Cut corners on the smaller pieces and accessories. The best analogy I can think of is Sharon Stone's Oscar outfit from years ago when she paired a designer skirt with a Gap T-shirt. The skirt elevated the T-shirt, and the T-shirt made the skirt much more interesting.

Q:   Where do you find inspiration for turning "trash into treasure?" Name the most interesting item you have transformed into a treasure, and describe for our readers how you did it.

A:   Well, I have to give credit where credit is due. Our "Trash to Treasure" ideas have come from a variety of design geniuses on our show, not me. Robb Whittlef and on-set carpenter Jeff Meyer work together on most of them. I do believe it's a creative muscle they've learned how to flex - looking at the form of something to see what it could be rather than what it is.

My all time favorite "trash to treasure" item came from a ditch in southern Minnesota. Robb was driving past and saw what had been a front porch laying in a ditch. It had been torn off a farmhouse during remodeling. He loaded it into his pickup and with the addition of some old basketball flooring, turned the pieces into a four-poster bed with side tables and a trunk. It was amazing.

Q:   What resources do you recommend homeowners use to determine what design themes will work best in their home?

A:   Since there are about a billion home magazines now, there are looks out there for every design taste. Go with the tried and true method of paging through the publications and ripping out anything that you respond to and things you don't. It won't take long for you to see a trend in what you're ripping and what direction to head. Of course, not all designs translate perfectly into all homes, but you shouldn't feel forced into doing mid-century modern just because you live in a '50s rambler. You can pick up the flavor of any style in any style home. I am so not a purist on that!

Q:   How can homeowners with no budget use what they currently own to create fresh new looks in their home?

A:   Start the way we do on Decorating Cents. Clear the room you're working in, and scavenge for pieces in your attic, basement and other rooms to add to your new look.

The clear room allows you to cast a fresh eye on how you live in the room, where the focal point ought to be and how you want the room to flow. The scavenging may surprise you. Something you felt was dated may end up being the star in your "new" room with a fresh coat of paint.

I also think it's a good idea to bring over a few friends and brainstorm while you're moving furniture around. People don't have to be designers to come up with interesting solutions and to see a space in a new way.

Q:   How do you stay in touch with the latest design trends?

A:   The way most people do, by shopping and devouring home magazines. Also, I get chances to go to a design market, where you can spot what may be coming down the line in the next ye?r or two. That being said, I'm not overly trendy with anything but color palette and accessories. I don't have the budget to completely change looks every time a new trend comes along!

Q:   Are there particular design trends that define the taste of today's homeowners?

A:   Four words come to mind: eclectic, collected, transitional and functional - or maybe that's just me!

Q:   When selecting carpet and other flooring options, what are the color, texture and pattern choices people are currently making? What recommendations would you make to homeowners as they make flooring choices, regardless of their home's décor?

A:   The flooring choices are all over the board. Hardwood will last forever and always be strong, although bamboo is a new, tough contender in that category. There are also people who will never give up the plush carpeting. I'm seeing a lot of interesting textures, such as carved or frieze carpet styles, going down in houses. One of my favorites is a wheat colored looped sisal look that's still very soft underfoot. It looks great all alone or with some room defining rugs laid on top.

Q:   What has been your favorite room transformation on Decorating Cents and why?

A:   There have been so many impressive makeovers for less than $500 over the nine years the show has been running, but I think I'll have to choose the faux rotunda/leopard print/cigar lounge in the lower level of Jesse Ventura's governor's mansion as my favorite. The designer, Joan MacDowell, was a good friend of mine and the work that went into stretching a $500 budget around a HUGE room, in a public building, for a man whose personality was larger than the room, was overwhelming. It was the biggest challenge we've ever faced, and we survived!