HOUSE CALLS

Chevy Chase designer Sarah B. Jenkins helps a couple furnish a sloped-ceiling, second-floor landing in their Bethesdas Cape Cod. (Len Spoden (703) 598-7427 - for The Washington Post)

Paint the walls -- including the walls leading downstairs -- a color to blend with the brownish olive carpet. Brown Bread by Behr might be a good choice; it is soft enough to continue on the ceiling. (Take a small sample of the carpet to the paint store to see if the color works.) In such an angled space, Jenkins recommends painting ceiling, walls and trim the same shade.

Create a reading area at the top of the stairs with an area rug, new window treatments and a round table flanked by two slender wing chairs. Take a look at the 6-by-9-foot, black-and-white houndstooth jute area rug ($189), the Tavern pedestal table in black ($299) and Winged dining chairs with casters, covered in black ticking ($539 each), all from Ballard Designs ( http://www.ballarddesigns.com/ ).

For extra seating , place three easy-to-move stools along the wall to the right of the reading area. Jenkins likes the Primary Poufs from Design Within Reach ( http://www.dwr.com/ ) in gray, light gray and orange ($298 each).

Frame existing wood window blinds with soft green drapery panels with faux suede top banding like the Cuidad window panels from Pier 1 Imports ( http://www.pier1.com/ , 44 by 84 inches, $40 each). Install a simple metal curtain rod, as high as possible while leaving about three inches of fabric to puddle on the floor. Extending each panel two feet on each side will make the window appear larger.

Put new shelving along the entire low wall. Pre-cut shelving from local hardware stores is simple to install.

Adjustable track lights can connect to your existing ceiling outlet, avoiding complicated installation. Start with six track heads: one or two near the desk area, two near the reading area and the rest directed at the new book shelves. Jenkins suggests a W.A.C. track available at Rexel in Rockville. See http://www.waclighting.com/ for more information.

Recover the desk chair with black faux leather available at any fabric store.

Hang photographs going up the stairs of your children at different ages. Black-and-white, 8-by-10-inch photos in simple black frames with off-white matting and the beveled edges painted orange would be striking. Jenkins suggests going to the Picture Frame Factory in Rockville for this project.

Hang a large horizontal mirror to the left of the master bedroom doorway, such as the Kendi textured mirror from Pier 1 ($100).

Terri Sapienza

Want to try our take on your room? Tell us about your design challenge, and send photos and room dimensions tomakeover@washpost.comor write to House Calls, Home Section, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.