The first glimmer of their revamped bedroom appeared to [Joanne Conway] in a shimmery two-toned fabric, gold on one side and a rich mahogany on the other: It blended seamlessly with the 1950s Gibbard mahogany furniture inherited from [Shane]'s parents. Perfect for the curtains and valance, she thought -- and half price.

Joanne donned a mask and used two cans of gold spray paint to create the gold accents she wanted on items, including a Bentwood chair that had been her great-grandfather's, a picture frame, a pair of wrought iron candelabra, the chandelier that replaced the unsightly ceiling fan, the curtain rod finials and an iron lantern from the garden.

The couple wanted something special for the wall over the bed. Using a mold a friend had made from an old marble fireplace cornerstone found at a demolition site, Shane made four casts. Joanne painted them with several layers of wash made of the ceiling paint and water. Shane fixed them to an old shelf board with construction glue, and he built a frame of old mahogany molding he had found at a garage sale.