The pros give cheap a shot

Is that design diva Kelly Wearstler pushing a cart past shelves of discount sushi plates and $14.99 rugs? Is that Museum of Contemporary Art curator Brooke Hodge casting her discriminating eye on the sale vases at Tuesday Morning? And could that really be Philippe Starck, arguably the most famed product designer in the world, buying children’s furniture at closeout emporium Big Lots?

Yes. Yes. And, oh, yes.

In the spirit of the times -- when excess is out and recession decorating is in -- the Home section asked these L.A. tastemakers to hit some of the city’s budget-minded stores and see just how far a dollar can go. What do they find? For one, sticking to a budget isn’t easy. But more important, following years when luxury and ornamentation defined in-home furnishings, the recent economic free-fall has sparked a new austerity in decor.

“In a time of financial crisis, we must go back to timeless objects and rediscover the elegance of basics,” proclaims Starck, the designer behind L.A. hot spots such as the restaurant Katsuya and the new SLS hotel. Tag along as Starck, architecture and design curator Hodge and Hollywood style queen Wearstler embark on their shopping expeditions. We trail them through the clearance aisles, compare what they purchased and ask the ultimate question: How do you spend less without sacrificing style? PAGES 8-9