Apartment Therapy Chicago | The $10 Room Makeover...Thanks to Sharpie

The $10 Room Makeover...Thanks to Sharpie

Charlie Krazer of Kentucky decorated his basement with murals produced with Sharpie markers. Simple line drawings transform the space from a run of the mill rec room to something altogether unusual and personal...for a budget of about $10...

While the usual accoutrements of a casual basement family room are intact (exercise equipment, pinball machine, pool table, cushy sofa), they are joined by drawings referencing Seurat, Picasso, Hercule Poirot and the Marx Brothers, among others.

Check out the full article by Cheryl Truman at the Lexington Herald-Leader, along with a 360 degree panorama of the whole room.

Thanks, Aaron!

Photos: Lexington Herald-Leader 360 Panorama

Comments (37)

Is this guy married? Because if he isn't I think I need to propose...

posted by medusa12120 on September 24th 2008 at 7:44am
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simply awesome! gotta love sharpies...

posted by abbatron on September 24th 2008 at 7:45am
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That's gonna take a lot of Kilz to cover that up!

I think it looks incredible, though. I would use it in a smaller room.

posted by Kimber on September 24th 2008 at 7:46am
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What humor, and great for the fun use of the space

posted by DahliaCactus on September 24th 2008 at 7:51am
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Sooooooooh cool!

posted by AT4H on September 24th 2008 at 7:54am
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This actually looks great. Although I'm afraid that the markers might fade or turn brownish over time, a pity for the drawings.

posted by Daniel Poitiers on September 24th 2008 at 7:56am
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Love this - so great for a basement!

posted by AndreaU on September 24th 2008 at 7:56am
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What an amazing thing. If only I could hire him to do my house.

posted by kuroneko on September 24th 2008 at 8:02am
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Apparently his mom never told him not to color on the walls?? lol This is great. I'd love to see it in a hallway too. Would paint eventually cover the sharpie?

posted by AZkathy on September 24th 2008 at 8:09am
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holy cow, this is amazing!

posted by hanako66 on September 24th 2008 at 8:11am
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This is awesome! I love it!

posted by ilovebutter on September 24th 2008 at 8:12am
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Wowie wow wow!

posted by suzy8track on September 24th 2008 at 8:16am
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That's so cool.

posted by Lisa (Montreal) on September 24th 2008 at 8:17am
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A new business venture in the makings.
This would be rad for a kids room if any mom would let them fill it in with crayons or markers.

posted by racheloncegentry on September 24th 2008 at 8:30am
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this is so funny & cool at the same time! i love it! and i wish i had half the sharpie-drawing skills as this guy.

posted by frannybee on September 24th 2008 at 8:35am
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wow!

posted by Pistachio on September 24th 2008 at 8:36am
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was not fond of it until i read 'basement'. what a great idea.

posted by jln3681 on September 24th 2008 at 8:40am
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awesome. this guy rules.

posted by amt230 on September 24th 2008 at 8:47am
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Ingenious! I wish I was 24 again so I could justify this kind of work. I love it.

posted by G&D on September 24th 2008 at 8:51am
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WOW, so cool! I would feel bad if he ever sold the place though. I the new owners don't like it, all that is gone. :(

posted by RedMaiko on September 24th 2008 at 8:52am
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This guy deserves a prize! Amazing

posted by kimg924 on September 24th 2008 at 8:53am
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reminds me of gino's east, a local chain pizza place here in chicago, where they encourage you to write on EVERYTHING. i was not amused when i got a water glass with someone's name scrawled on it. we used to doodle on the walls when i was in architecture school...the dean was also not amused...but it was fun!

posted by arcgrrl on September 24th 2008 at 8:54am
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Looks like a lot of fun! ;-)

posted by steven77 on September 24th 2008 at 8:57am
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Love this!

posted by Limonata on September 24th 2008 at 9:23am
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It made me think of the foyer in Three Men and a Baby...and I swear I mean that in a good way.

posted by KiKiinOB on September 24th 2008 at 9:25am
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very cool, but sharpies show through multiple coats of paint. it'll be very hard to deal with later on.

posted by madfish on September 24th 2008 at 9:59am
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So cool!!!

posted by I Love Upstate on September 24th 2008 at 11:00am
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Awesome!!!

posted by fabframes on September 24th 2008 at 11:15am
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cool it sort of reminds me of that mural from "Thre Men and a Baby/Little Lady"....

posted by westlm2 on September 24th 2008 at 11:20am
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Love it!

posted by DreaMichelle on September 24th 2008 at 11:53am
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:-D that is wonderful!!

posted by maike on September 24th 2008 at 12:50pm
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I am still giggling, this is great!

posted by La loca on September 24th 2008 at 1:39pm
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Now THAT is creative !

posted by LBhirise on September 24th 2008 at 1:53pm
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Is that an R2D2 unit in the corner?

It's like being in an Edward Gorey illustration :-D

posted by Chrysilla on September 24th 2008 at 5:09pm
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I *LOVE* it. He's made those walls come to life.. great movement. Congrats!

posted by LaDaDee on September 29th 2008 at 5:12am
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I bet he was highhhhhh on those sharpie fumes!
It is sooooo cool.

posted by jaferq on January 23rd 2009 at 6:10pm
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Well done, and on so many levels.
After reading the original story in the Herald Leader, I'm wishing I still lived in Lexington. The video is so much better executed than the Nate Berkus video (I'm not comparing Nate's place to this room; just the video styles.)
And yes, Chrysilla, the newspaper confirms it is R2D2.

posted by MaeEast on June 3rd 2009 at 1:05pm
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