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By Elizabeth Han
The Press-Enterprise

When Russ Hemmis talks about putting lipstick on pig, he isn't talking politics, He's describing home remodeling.

It's about "taking the house you've got and making it better," said Hemmis, of HGTV's '24 Hour Design' and 'Design on a Dime'.

"It doesn't necessarily take a lot of money to do that," he said, "especially if you have a few tools at your disposal."

Hemmis will be sharing his secrets for affordable mini-makeovers at the Inland Empire Home Show at Ontario Mills, Oct. 3-5. The home show will have more than 400 exhibitors and guests such as Hemmis and JL Walker Event Designer Inc., an Alta Loma caterer who will serve a Halloween-themed dinner to winners of drawings.

The event will cater to wide-ranging interests in home decor, home improvement, energy-saving products, antiques, arts, gardening, and more.

Hemmis will offer practical tips on how to remodel or redecorate on a budget.

First, don't underestimate the importance of a new coat of paint.

"By painting a room, you can give it a new facelift," he said.

It is more helpful to buy a room's accessories first and then choose the color scheme for a paint job, instead of the other way around, he said.

"I've chosen color first, then going to find accessories to match it -- it gets to be more difficult," Hemmis said.

And speaking of accessories or accents for a room, discount stores like Ross and Marshall's can be a source of affordable home furnishings such as throw pillows, vases, kitchenware, chairs, coffee tables and end tables.

"For home furnishings, these discount stores are surprisingly overlooked," said Hemmis, who is based in Los Angeles. Sometimes, he said, it's OK to go cheap if a piece of furniture will not see a lot of use in the future.

But there are scenarios where going cheap will not be worth it, such as toward the end of a costly renovation, when homeowners panic at the rising budget and skimp on quality materials to save money.

A poorly made, inexpensive faucet, for example, will cost a person more in the long run when it has to be repaired or causes water damage if it leaks. Or an inexpensive countertop may end up getting replaced because it wasn't a first-choice selection.

"If you want to save money in the long run, you have to spend a little bit of extra money" on quality products that will have lasting value, Hemmis said.

Another common mistake is clutter. "It just makes the room look busy," he said. "I always wonder, 'How can anyone relax in the room?' Always, always just simplify."

Hemmis brings the perspective of a person who has been to many homes in the course of his remodeling work for HGTV. He is grateful for the chance to brighten a homeowner's day.

"Seeing as we were able to change something for somebody in their lives, it really makes it all worth it."

Russ Hemmis' 10 essential tools:

• Utility knife
• Measuring tape and pencil
• 6-in-1 screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Wood chisel
• LED flashlight
• Voltage detector
• Wire strippers
• Basin wrench
• Electric screwdriver

View the original press release at PE.com.

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