Get glamour — and stay on budget

This newfound treasure trove of lower priced but glamorous products has probably come about due to a combination of factors. First would be the struggling economy where consumers have less discretionary funds while at the same time more knowledge about design than ever before . In other words, the educated consumer now expects more in quality and looks for his hard-earned dollar. And secondly, an emphasis on sustainability and green design that has been a shot in the arm for a new take on old materials, along with the development of new materials .

All of this was brought home to me recently when I was encouraged to participate in the Design a Suite competition for the venerable El Cortez Hotel that is currently celebrating not only its 70th birthday but a renaissance as well under the clever and visionary direction and ownership of the Epstein family, the father and daughter team of Kenny and Alexandria. The event was held in conjunction with the Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center Las Vegas, which was to be the chief source for furnishings .

My vision for the El Cortez suite was a glamorous one where fabrics and materials would shimmer and glisten, seducing guests with their beauty in what I referred to as The Hollywood Suite. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world because the historic connection between Hollywood and Las Vegas dates back to at least the early days of the hotel .

It was a joy to discover the materials and finishes available to designers looking for beauty and glamour on a limited budget because never before have there been so many eco-friendly, sustainable and jaw-dropping gorgeous products to choose from as there are today, even in contract and hospitality design. This is right in line with the current trend of giving hotel rooms more of a residential look as in the hospitality design of couturier icons like Versace and Armani. It was my goal to use as many of these products as I could to help achieve my vision of a suite that would capture comfort and sophistication in a modern and state-of-the-art environment while creating a true symphony of luxury and practicality.

The color palette was comprised of the loveliest and most serene shades of pale blue, teal, cream and shimmering, metallic silver (to be used on the crown molding ), and all achieved through paints and finishes with low volatile organic compounds . These new green paints are all water based, nontoxic and free of any irritating odor, easily washed and even scuff and abrasion resistant. And the price point of these paints is perfectly in line with today’s budget-conscious shopper and widely available at most commercial paint departments.

The same properties held true for my choice of wallpaper for the bath area, which was a vinyl like you’ve never seen before. Its name is Ecoskin (by Concertex) and it shimmered and glistened and danced as if it were alive, while still categorized as a Class A fire retardant material and totally resistant to graffiti and to the kids’ crayons as well .

As for the fabrics — they were to die for. The drapes were a faux sateen (Duralee) in a light teal color that absolutely replicated the real thing but at a fraction of the price. It was as strong as it was beautiful and even available with a Teflon-proseal finish for extra durability . The headboard material was a silver sparkle vinyl (Duralee), again at an incredible price, indestructible and glamorous at the same time and used in combination with an aqua-teal taffeta fabric (really 100 percent polyester) that you would swear was the real thing .

The furniture came mostly from two sources at the design center, Brownstone and Four Hands, which both offer superb value and workmanship as well as incredible pricing. With the product from these sources I was able to create a glamorous and sophisticated setting that allowed me to successfully mix exotic pendant lights and steel furniture from India with acrylic, mother of pearl, superior woods and expert upholstery.

My initial doubt of being able to achieve my vision for The Hollywood Suite due to budget and product constraints was soon overcome by the quality and price points of the products available to me through showrooms at the Las Vegas Design Center, as well as several other local sources.

Stephen Leon is a licensed interior designer and president of Soleil Design International; he has been designing and manufacturing custom furniture and cabinetry for more than 25 years. He has served on the board of directors of the Central California/Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers and is a certified professional in green residential design.