Annie Groer and Jura Koncius
Washington Post Home Staff
Thursday, July 7, 2005
11:00 AM
Every week, the Washington Post Home staff talks about various ways to improve your home. Find out about new home trends, upcoming antique shows and how to reupholster your furniture.
Ask Post staff writers Annie Groer and Jura Koncius about all things home related.
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Germantown, Md.: I have a yellow kitchen (BM Hawthorne Yellow) with blue accents that connects to a living room by a short hallway and a pass-through, so I feel they should match somewhat. Any suggestions on colors for the living room? Should I stick with blue or yellow? I am replacing the furniture as well so am working with a blank slate.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Good morning all...Let's get down to the biz of home decor without further ado!
Dear G'town...Yummy yellow that Hawthorn. Yellow living rooms are always so cheery, so why not stay in general range and do the L/R in the slightly lighter Weston Flax.
You can pick up a bit of blue or go in a different direction (green, red) for accents.
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Rockville, Md.: Any suggestions for alternatives to paintings to hang on our walls? We have moved into our first house and feel it's time to say goodbye to all the framed posters that used to adorn the walls of our apartment. Problem is we can't yet afford to buy many paintings, but are quickly tiring of the white walls.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Rockville - How many of us have attics filled with old college-era posters? So, yes, it's time to upgrade. But since you also seem to be lamenting those plain white walls, why not give them a hot coat of paint, anything from a clear pastel to a really strong primary.
If you want to really make a statement, consider Blue Moon or Tangerine by C2.
Now for the art...you can have family photos enlarged and printed in black and white and then put them in framed groupings; architectural renderings, botanic prints or vintage fashion ads.
If you want to save lots of money on framing, buy your frames and mats at a hobby store like Michael's or AC Moore and do it yourself.
You might also thing about buying narrow shelves to hold your collections or to lean framed photos against.
And don't forget large mirrors, which make the room come alive and reflect light.
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Baltimore, Md.: I love Thursdays! I get to tune in to this online chat. Anyway, I am considering painting my living room Glidden Honey sweet any suggestions for a color in the green family for the dining room (I have chair rails) so two colors would be even better. Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Baltimore - And we love Thursdays because we get to hear from all of you.
Honeysweet is a nice rich butterscotch color so if you're looking for complementary greens, consider Glidden's Pampas Grass and and the paler Aviary Green for your family room. Your call on whether the dark or the light goes on the bottom. And keep the trim in all the rooms the same shade of ivory white.
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Washington, D.C.: How easy is it to make my own curtains. I was thinking of buying some fabric, use no sew tape to hem it and then use a grommet kit. Is this a good idea?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear DC - If you are considering this because of fabric selection, we'd say go for it. But frankly, a grommet kit is suitable only for shower curtains. If you're going to do this, sew a channel on the top and use a rod. Or make tab tops.
If you are considering doing this for economic reasons, go to Ikea or Target, where you can get ready-made curtains very inexpensively. Also, check out the fab Chris Madden line of curtains at JC Penney.
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Portland, Maine: After years of following my military husband around the country, we've retired to Maine and bought a small, old, shingle-style home a block from the ocean.The front- to-back living room has the same beige walls that I put up with through all our moves. I want to jettison all of our traditional cherry furniture and start from scratch. I'm thinking of a cottage style but don't know where to begin. Should I pick the wall color first or the furniture? Any ideas for a color pallette? The room has high ceilings and good light.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Portland - Congrats on your retirement and moving to such a paradise. We have great news for you...and it's called Maine Cottage Furniture, located in a former sardine cannery in Yarmouth, just 12 miles north of Portland.
Their furniture has become very popular with designers, in small boutique shops, etc. It's brightly colored, well-made, comfy looking, but, alas, quite pricey.
However, it's worth a trip to check out the place and get a sense of what the look is all about. www.mainecottage.com
We also recommend that you pick up a copy of Cottage Living magazine and soak up the look, the colors, etc. And we join in bidding fond farwell to your cherry furniture.
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Washington, DC: window treatment question. I have 2 bedrooms done in BM's true blue. What color curtains/drapes would you recommend for a contemporary look?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear True Blue - Great color, a nice intense azure. For a contempo look, try a steely gray. And you can never go wrong with crisp white.
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Can't afford real art: Believe it or not, I have bought a number of paintings&lithos at thrift stores that I love - ocassionally I find a real gem too. Until I hit the lottery and can afford Picassos&Monets, these aren't too bad and they are "real", in a class above posters.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Great idea. Other good sources are estate sales...Annie has bought a number of paintings at thrift stores and house-emptying events, including a classy looking impressionist-style landscape for $7.50 that was painted by a guy renowned in California as half of a classical piano-duet team.
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For Curtains: For curtains, I've just double hemmed the fabric (usually 60" across fabric and cut to the appropriate length) and then used curtain clips that you can find at the fabric store or anywhere that sells curtain hardware. They clip onto the fabric and they have rings that go onto the curtain rod. Since I usually buy the fabric from the discount table, with hardware, I spend around $25 for a 56" by 80" curtain.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thanks for the clip tip. The DIY-ers out there thank you.
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Frederick, Md.: I grew very tired of just having painting and pictures on the walls. I recently purchased fairly cheap metal art, ceramic dried flower holders, and floral swags to hang on the walls. It's a refreshing change from flat paintings yet they don't stick out in the way.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Very creative, Frederick.
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For Curtains: For curtains, I've just double hemmed the fabric (usually 60" across fabric and cut to the appropriate length) and then used curtain clips that you can find at the fabric store or anywhere that sells curtain hardware. They clip onto the fabric and they have rings that go onto the curtain rod. Since I usually buy the fabric from the discount table, with hardware, I spend around $25 for a 56" by 80" curtain.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: great clip tip. thanks
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homemade curtains - : I used clip rings from pottery barn to "hang" my curtains on the rod. Since I don't sew, I was able to use the no sew tape for hem and the clip rings kept me from having to sew tabs. I had fabric on hand so it was a pretty inexpensive project. My little curtain looks better than IKEA but not as nice as some of the high stores. I've had it up for a year or so and no problems yet!;
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: terrific.
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Washington, D.C.: I want to have a custom shoji screen made to cover a window. Any suggestions on sources in the area? Thanks
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Try Oriental Living at 7720 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda. 301-656-9333.
And if anyone out there has other sources in the area, speak up.
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Centreville, Va.: Hi! We are planning to paint our kitchen and adjoining living room. I love Restoration Hardware's palette of colors. Would it be too much yellow if we painted the kitchen butter and the living room butter cream? I'm considering painting the kitchen cabinets celery.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Centreville - You're fine with Butter, which is nice and rich, and the paler Buttercream, which is almost ivory. But ditch the Celery for the cabinets. It's too washed out in this combination. Instead, turn to the Queen of Green, Ms. Martha Stewart herself, and treat those cabinets to a coat or two of Lamb's Ear or Awning Green from her Everyday Colors collection.
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McLean, Va.: Ladies, I have a doorway that I need blocked off. A door is not really possible because it is a rental home and the doorway is narrow. It leads to an additional bedroom and a stairway to the loft. There really is no hallway. I am trying to keep my pets out of this area. Any ideas?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Just because it's a rental doesn't mean that you can't put up a narrow swinging door and then, before you move out, remove it and the hinges, and do a bit of spackling and repainting.
Or consider a kiddie-proof gate that said pets cannot leap over.
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Another Artwork Alternative: I'll admit this was a Martha idea, but I like the look of framed and matted wallpaper samples. They can be grouped by color or pattern (botanical, etc.)Wallpaper stores often have old sample books at a huge discount, and you might even find vintage books at flea markets.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We salute you and Martha. It's a fab idea.
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RE: Homemade Curtains: Thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking about it more for the fabric options. Haven't liked anything I've seen in Ikea, Target, etc. plus it has to have a white lining (Condo rules). I think I will try the curtain clips. I thought of the grommets for a modern/industrial look.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Only if the grommets are as large as a poker chip, like the ones on Ikea's canvas curtains (which look plenty industrial)
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Denver, Colo.: re: Art. Who knows - that thrift store or estate sale find may wind you up on the Antiques Roadshow. More than once I've seen people who have bought old art or posters and there was a treasure lurking behind the print....
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Righto, Denver. And then there was the person who found a copy of the Declaration of Independence behind a framed print. We should all be so lucky.
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shoji screens: Cherry Tree cherrytreedesigns.com makes them. They are beautiful but pricey.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thank$ for the high-end suggestion. Most custom work tends to run high.
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Washington,D.C.: What's C2? Do you mean the furniture store by Crate and Barrel? Do they have their own brand of paint?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear All - We forget that sometimes folks don't know about the C2 line of paint, which is one of our favorites. The approximately 500 colors in the collection were created by a team of designers, colorists and paint professionals. They offer the ultimate paint chip, an 18 by 24 inch sample painted with actual C2 paint. Check out www.C2color.com
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Hoboken, NJ: Hi Ladies!;
No question, just a comment -- I just moved into a new apartment and my bedroom walls were an awful bright yellow. I decided to paint them Sea Urchin (in eggshell finish) by Benjamin Moore, which is a wonderfully calming taupey color with a purple undertone. I've found it to be a nice sophisticated neutral so far. It's warm in the daylight and soothing and calming as I'm reading and getting ready to go to sleep. I definitely recommend it. Love the chats!;
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Hoboken - We, too, are Sea Urchin fans.
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Washington, D.C.: Another art suggestion ... I love to buy small watercolors of tourist attractions from street artists when I travel. Though the pieces aren't necessarily the best quality, they look interesting on the wall together and are certainly better than any photographs I could ever take!;
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear DC - Fab idea. Jura also does this, and still has the drawings from trips to Scotland, Paris and London hanging in her bedroom. They make a nice grouping in six to eight inch frames with nice mats. Perfect for remembering all the good times overseas, before world travel became so dicey.
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Chicago, Ill.: Good morning! I'm looking for a neutral paint color for my casual living room. Red sofa, dark wood, not much natural light. Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Chicago - Try the aforementioned Sea Urchin. Tra la.
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Rockville, Md.: Thanks so much for taking my question. I apologize in advance for yet another paint question...there are just TOO many choices! I am looking for a color for my very small powder room. The vanity top is an ivory marble. I was thinking a very soft, pale blue. Any suggestions?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Try Behr's Lakeside Mist, or for a slightly darker look, Ice Flower.
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Dublin, Va: So, what's wrong with cherry furniture? I have light cherry and love it. Just curious.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Dublin - Nothing wrong with cherry furniture but the previous chatter seems to have shlepped it with her for much of her husband's long military career and wants to start afresh with a cottage look. We're here to help people get rid of things they're tired of as well as use what they have.
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Arlington, Va.: Help! I have less than a day to pick out the exterior paint colors for a 1915 Victorian home! I'm thinking Sherwin Williams proper grey for the walls, artichoke for the trim, and sable for the accents and door. Do you think these 3 colors will blend well? I'm particularly worried about the sable. Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Arlington - Wow! You have great color sense. You have chosen three strong colors we think look terrific together. And we especially love Artichoke. Our only comment is that Sable is quite, quite dark and will read almost black. You might consider going for the next lighter shade, Cobble Brown.
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White-lined curtains: JC Penney has a wonderful selection of curtains with white linings. Got some nice slubby cotton ones to break up the long wall in my bedroom, and keep the sun from waking me at 5 AM!;
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thanks for the sleep-saving hint.
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Rockville, Md.: I bought a lithograph about 10 years ago in Paris for $300. I'd like to sell it. Can you recommend someone that buys "used" lithographs. Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Rockville - Selling art, particularly by an unknown artist can be tough. You could advertise it in the Post, on a community list serve or take it to a consingment shop. The last venue will take up to 50 percent of the proceeds but most have a steady stream of buyers. So it may be better to recover some of your costs. Consider that you basically paid $30 a year for that artwork and move it along.
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Arlington, Va.: Please help! I want to paint my living room/dining room light green, but I can't find the right shade! I want something that's not yellowish or brownish, but not minty either. Just a pale green.
For context, the trim will be Behr Ultra Pure White. The kitchen next to the dining room has white cabinets and light blue walls.
Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Arlington - Back to the Queen of Green. Try Martha's Tag Sale Green. It's strong but a very true shade that should work well with the surrounding environs.
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Annapolis, Md.: Looking for help in painting a front door - would like to use a red color against a brick facade. Not particularly interested in maroon but a colonial red type look. Thoughts?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Annapolis - Benjamin Moore makes a smashing color caled Heritage Red, which will make your front door sing.
And on that scarlet note, we must be going. So much to write, so little time.
Until next week.....
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