Bringing the WOW Factor to Southlake
by Jami Zimmerman

Cheap Thrills Decor. It’s a name that is hard to forget for a company that creates interior designs just as unforgettable. The unique design energy of Bob and Jami Zimmerman has become a celebrated signature style in the Southlake community.

Cheap Thrills Décor began as an underground phenomenon. Its roots are in accessible, creative designs mixed with rock star attitude. When Jami moved to Southlake in 2001, her friends and neighbors were energized by her fresh and funky decorating approach. They asked if they could bring friends by or if she would kick it up a notch in their homes. What’s a girl to do?? She had a party… and invited them all to sip wine and check out her latest quirky finds. She sold everything that night.
The Cheap Thrills Décor buzz spread fast and her red carpet events packed the house. There was valet parking, women in limos and a house full of hip home décor treasure hunters hooked on Cheap Thrills Décor. “I found iron gates from New Orleans, shutters, car doors, marquee letters and even signage from old drive-ins,” said Jami, who’s official title is Chief Creative Spirit. “I was a creative MacGyver taking my funky finds and transforming them in to fabulous home décor items that people loved – I also was meeting great new friends and having a blast while doing it.”

Then along came Bob. The Hoosier hard rocker was a longtime musician from metal band, Slur. He had supported his music career as a carpenter and homebuilder with an electrical engineering degree from Purdue University. When Jami discovered Bob could bring her projects to life, a match was made (or as they say, “Wonder Twins activate!”) They fell in love, married and combined their warp-speed energy and talents into a design and remodel dream team that is hard to beat.

As even more friends dropped by her Southlake home to buy her eclectic finds, the remodel and furniture business jumped into high gear. Business boomed and they needed more space! So in 2005, they flung open the doors to their Keller-based warehouse and filled it with the same “who would have thought of that” interior inventions. They also designed some of their own unique creations. Their genius of mixing found objects with repurposed or custom pieces makes for an interesting selection of things you won’t see anywhere else. The warehouse is open just three days a month, allowing Jami and Bob to discover and transform new pieces, keeping sale items updated and exciting.
In addition, they provide full-scale remodeling services including kitchen and bathrooms, custom furniture, cabinets, bedding, window treatments and their own line of custom awnings. They are currently spinning a new Cheap Thrills Décor product line. No design challenge is too big for this designing couple who have turned a kid’s room in to a basketball court and hung a Chevy truck on the wall.

“I believe that if you are paying for a designer, you should get unique, one-of-a-kind, designer spaces,” said Jami. “Our clients expect stand out spaces; something that no one else has because it was designed just for them!”
Their distinctive designs have been featured in local and national press and featured on “Hot on Homes”. A few years into their partnership, Jami and Bob were invited to Los Angeles to be a part of HGTV’s Design Star competition. Out of thousands of applicants, they were both top 20 finalists, but returned to Southlake to continue the growth of Cheap Thrills Décor.

“I love them because they have so many outside the box ideas and their designs are innovative and unique—you never get the same cookie-cutter designs,” said Southlake resident Lenna Summy, who used Cheap Thrills Decor to redesign several of her family’s current spaces. “It’s always something very exciting and Wow.”

Drawing on this “Wow” factor, Cheap Thrills Decor has also carved a special niche in one-of-a-kind kids’ spaces. The Zimmermans bring many children’s dream rooms to life while also considering the livability of the space. “With four kids of our own, we know how families use their spaces,” said Bob. “Kids want cool rooms with amazing graphics, graffiti and space layout-- the ultimate hang spaces for them and their crew.”

Cheap Thrills Décor specializes in finding just the right style for each client. Their designs range from traditional to eclectic to WAY out of the box. Their belief that you don’t always have to start from scratch to get a great space has them starting with a client’s existing décor and adding a few whimsical twists such as paint finishes, reupholstery, furniture refinishing or just rearranging to make a dramatic impact.

If your rooms need a breath of fresh air or if you have a decorating emergency call Cheap Thrills Décor at 817.689.1726 or visit our website at www.cheapthrillsdecor.com. You can also find them on Facebook under Cheap Thrills Décor.