Home Front

Every week, the Washington Post Home staff talks about various ways to improve your home. Find out about new trends, upcoming antiques shows and a variety of how-to help.

Ask Post staff writers Annie Groer and Jura Koncius about all things home related.

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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Good morning! Annie and I had a great time at the Home & Remodeling Expo at the Dulles Expo Center. Thanks to those of you who came out to listen to our top ten list and ask questions.

Jura visited the NSO Showhouse this week and you can check out what's there in today's HOME section.

Keep sending in those House Calls makeover photos - we love getting them.

And now, on with the show.

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Washington, DC: Wow! Jura, I loved your article on the NSO show house. Did you have a favorite room? I'm really looking forward to checking out this house and all the other tours listed in today's paper. Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thanks. I personally loved snuggling under the faux fur throws on the club chairs in that chocolate brown media room.

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Fairfax, Va.: This is a bit of an odd question but I'm not sure who would have the answer. I thought maybe you guys would.

How bad is it to have furniture in a non-climate controlled storage for the months between November and May? If it helps, the storage will be near the water in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Thanks for your help.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Yikes! All of that wounds horrible. The only thing you have going for you is that November is the alleged end of hurricane season. Is this something you are paying for or is it a free space to use? We suggest if this stuff is at all worth saving, whether for sentimental or financial reasons, you move it to someplace where conditions include heat and air conditioning and moisture control - like many commerical storage places do.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I have a small collection of soccer scarves (scarves from clubs around the world). They are about 4-5 feet long and 4-6 inches wide. I would like a way to hang them horizontally without nailing them to a wall. Is there a way to display them without damaging the fabric? For a picture of what a scarf looks like, www.soccerscarf.com

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: How about curtain rods? What a neat thing to collect.

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Ashburn, Va.: You mention Benjamin Moore paint colors when you talk of paint. Is this your favorite brand? Are there others that you like? I hired a painter that uses Sherwin Williams, should I be concerned about that?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Ashburn. Benjamin Moore paints have a high penetration in this area and nationally. They are often used by interior designers. But they are by no means the only paint company that makes good quality paints! We of course like Sherwin-Williams, who makes the Martha Stewart paints and others. Other frequently used brands here are Duron, Glidden, Behr, Pratt & Lambert, Pittsburgh, Dutch Boy, Ralph Lauren, C2- anyway,there are many good ones.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Hi Gals! I want to decorate my kitchen area in a country/colonial theme. Should I lean more toward pewter or black wrought iron? Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Either would be nice. Both are countryish.

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Rockville, Md.: I have a leather chair that has dog toe nail scratches all over it -- it sits by the front door and my little doggie goes crazy when I get home and pounces all over the chair. Any suggestions for a rub or solution that would smooth out these scratch marks that are really just a discoloration in slashes! Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Oh dear. A pedicure is in order for your dog.We are going to call someone and ask.

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Washington, DC: Cheesy baby blue here again. Maybe we should enter our room into House Calls! Thoughts?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Enter your room!

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Washington, DC: Hi Annie, Jura!

I have a stupid question regarding curtains: If they're a pole-pocket style, can you still attach rings to the tops to hang, or can you only hang them by putting the rod through the pocket?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: No rings.

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Germantown, Md.: I was thinking of replacing my dining room chandelier with a non-electric (ie, candle-powered) one. Before I take this bold step, do you (or the chatters) have any reasons why I should re-consider this idea (I am a little concerned about smoke damage)...also, any pearls of wisdom would be welcome (eg, sources/types of candles to use) Thanks - you are always so helpful!!!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: This is a cool idea but beware. Air conditioning or heat currents can make the candles drip all over your souffle - or your dining table.

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Tablewares?: I am looking for some places to find nice, colorful, non-expensive, modern tablecloths, napkins, and table accessories. Bed Bath and Beyond and its type of stores just arent doing it for me. Any ideas? Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We hear Home Goods is a good place. And Annie and I recently checked out Tuesday Morning and were very impressed at their selection and their prices. Filenes Basement sometimes has great stuff and CMart in Joppatown

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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Back to the doggie who scratched up the leather furniture. We called Poltrona Frau in Georgetown. And Ciro said they use Leather Medic 301 -869-6770. Alas, Chuck Roddy didn't answer. But we think this is a great tip for those with damaged leather.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Home Staff- I rarely miss your wonderful chat, and today I hope you can answer a question regarding the "HouseCalls" section of today's post. I am so intrigued by the proposed "affixing of opaque plexiglass pnaels" to cover the pinky beige tile- I have exactly that color in my home! But how the heck would this actually be accomplished? Glue? And how would the top edge and joints be dealt with? I'm sure many readers are also puzzled by this idea- please fill us in! Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Washington: Thanks for bringing this up. The Montgomery College design team said that it is done using a waterproof caulking substance. We will try and get more details to you.

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Washington, DC: I recently had the handyman in my building paint my bathroom a sage green. When I came home to look at the work he had painted the ceiling as well. It's a small space with no natural light, so it's pretty dark now. It never even occurred to me to specify not to paint the ceiling -- is this standard?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: This is definitely not standards. Although we have seen this treatment in designer show houses in recent years. If you think it is too dark, ask that he do the ceiling white - he should not have done this without asking you.

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RE: Soccer scarfs: They don't look like they would be that heavy. You could probably use straight pins to hang them on wall. Just don't try to drive them into the studs!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: True.

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Baltimore, Md.: Hi, my question is about picture frames. Should you try to match all the frames in a room, e.g. all frames in dark wood or silver, etc. I've got several photos of family and different prints that I want to put up in our new home but don't know where to start. Also, our bedroom is a strange green, like a bright key lime green, with white doors, trim and window sills. We don't have $ or time to repaint so what do you think is a good color for the bed and curtains besides plain white?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Strange Green doesn't sound very good for a bedroom - or to encourage sleeping! But anyway, if you really can't afford the time or paint to redo it, go with pale blue and pale green bed coverings to make it more soothing and tone down the acid green. As for picture frames, if you do things in the same frames it does make the space look more polished. You can buy very inexpensive frames at places like Michaels, the Container Store and Marshall's.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Candelier: I rearranged my townhouse LR/DR so that the DR does not have a light over it. I was given a candelier as a gift and I love it. It is the kind where the candles used are votives in glass holders so there isn't any dripping involved. Beware tho - they don't really put out much light - great for romance but not to really see. I need an additional torchiere for that.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: That's great advice. Thanks Silver Spring. The romantic aspect is really tempting. Jura saw a house in Avon-by-the-Sea, an old clapboard beach place with a big sweeping porch, that had one of these candoliers swinging from the ceiling. Alas, in a bad storm, the whole thing crashed.

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Richmond, Va.: For the reader with leather chair scratched by dog, I have same problem. I purchased at Restoration Hardware, a jar of Leather CPR, a lanolin cleaner and conditioner. Just wipe it on with a cloth--it softens the leather and the scuff marks and scratches become less visible. It's not perfect, but an improvement. About $12 per jar.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thanks Richmond. Sounds like a good product. We recently got a sample of a new product by Method - they are leather wipes in a convenient plastic container - our editor has tried them and said they are great for a general cleaning and freshening of leather and to get out crumbs in the seams.

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Washington, DC: I recently picked up two matching Crate n Barrel occasional chairs off of Craigslist (yay Craigslist!). They were incredibly cheap because, despite being structurally sound, the upholstery was ruined by a particularly ferocious kitty. Anyway, I want to get them reupholstered. My question is whether, even though they will be in the same room, I need to get them reupholstered in the same fabric. My living room is beige, and my sofa is brown, and I want to cover the chairs in fabric that will pick up some of the colors I have in either rooms (pinks, oranges, greens, blues). So, I was thinking of doing the chairs in fabrics that complement each other, but don't match. Is that doable?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Sure. It is doable. But the thing is, since the chairs do match, it would be nice to do them in the same fabric so you could use them together. It would pull the room together more if they were the same.

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Clifton, Va.: Saw the article about the so called Trophy Garage. Excuse me it is not even close. Trophy garage has a lift, parts washer, is wire and plumbed with hard lines for a air compressor and electric. It has a fridge with a keginator, various calndars from Snap on and Pirelli(Euro editions) and a 50" plasma tv and surround sound system for watching sports and racing. This guys garage is for poseurs and little foo-foo. He would get laughed out of the Prosche Club with this garage. Also if Audio Buys did the home theater it is at the best second class. My garaage with all the above costs me well over $150k not counting $40k in tools from Snap On. Yeah my garage is on the Snap On toll guys route. My home theater costs me over $500k and will soon have a Sony commercial digital SXRD 3 chip project which retails for over $250k. Cables and wiring in my home theater cost me over $60k. His home theater is third rate at best.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Clifton. Please send photos.

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Alexandria, Va.: Annie

I liked your article on Frank Luntz, and his quirky collection. He and I share some similar interests in this regard, and I was hoping to contact him about it. Do you have any contact information you can share for him, even if it is simply a company web page or phone?

Thanks, Chris

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Email Annie at groera@washpost.com and she will get a message to him.

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Sleeper sofa (continued): Thanks ladies for taking my question about sleeper sofas last week and thanks to all who responded. I've got a related question -- are futons comfortable? Possibly more comfortable than sleep sofas?

Thanks, as usual.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Hey you futon people out there. Let's hear from you!!!

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Rockville, Md: Can you recommend a source for good-quality leather beanbag-type furniture? (Want something comfy and moveable but not too dated-looking for a conversation pit in a contemporary house.)

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Rockville. Love the pit angle. But a bean bag is a bean bag which unfortunately does conjure up the Love Pit of the 1970s. If this is the look you want, here are some suggestions. www.thebeanbagchair.com has them in colors like hunter green, navy, black, burgundy and vanilla for $500. Try www.beanbagchairs.ca $300 in brown or tan.

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Washington, DC: I love the look of the new Ralph Lauren metallic paints. My living room (right now, a plain white) has very high ceilings and the two longest walls have, at the top, a foot-wide box "trim." There's no other way to describe it, other than I think it might be where the wiring runs. Anyway, I want to paint the walls a creamy beige, and was thinking of painting that trim along the top one of the metallic browns from the RL line. Would that look strange? Any suggestions of a beige and a metallic brown that would complement each other? Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Washington: Ralph Lauren does not have brown - but there is a greenish bronze called Candelabra RM27.Benjamin Moore also has a line of metallics you might check out.

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Maryland: Do most people hide their big flat-screen plasma/LCD TVs in custom cabinets or hang them on the wall?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: People do both, depending on the room. In their more formal rooms, they tend to hide them in cabinets, behind textiles or in skinny consoles. But these days, the status of having one makes people want to keep them front and center, particularly if they have contemporary decor.

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Arlington, Va.: Re: scratched leather chair The lanolin cream sounds very much like a Doc Martens leather balm that I use on scuffed shoes. It darkens the leather slightly, but it conditions nicely and disguises the scuffs and scrathches. I think the product is a little cheaper than $12 -- more like $8 maybe? -- and can be found where Docs and similar shoes are sold at shops and online.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: What a fab idea Arlington! Doc would be proud.

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Soccer scarves: What about a quilt hanger to hang these?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: yup

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re: candle chandelier: This is only going to be semi-helpful. I recently read an article about someone who makes beautiful chandeliers that only look like they use candles (the lightbulbs go inside what looks like candles, so it simulates the glow as well). Unfortunately, I can't remember where I saw the article (domino, maybe?), and I can't remember the name of the maker. But google may be helpful.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: check it out.

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Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Hi Annie and Jura! Where can I buy slate pavers (tiles) in the area? My husband and I want to use slate (about 12'by 12') as a paver on our walkway in our backyard. I've struck out at local hardware stores and looked at some places online but they require a minimum order and we only need about 5 or 6 tiles. Thanks for your help!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Sisler's Stone Yard in Falls Church or Jack Irwin's in Rockville both should be able to help. But call first. They do sell by the piece - according to our esteemed Gardening Editor.

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Madison, Wis.: Hi, What are your favorite places for bedding online? I've looked at Pottery Barn, Athropologie, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Garnet Hill. I like the Pottery Barn stuff the best--I think I want a patterned (floral or paisly, not stripes) duvet cover and shams and I love their silk quilts--but nothing they have right now is just calling out to me. Any other ideas? I have an iron bedframe and white dressers and was hoping to paint the bedroom either blue or golden yellow, so I'm looking for medium colors, and a sort of boho/shabby chic look without being too over the top girly or flowery. Thanks!!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Try Antrhopologie. Also, Design Within Reach has a new line of linens.

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re: Flat Panel TV: You can even keep your flat panel tv open in formal rooms. You can keep a piece of your favorite art work displayed on the screen and have the whole panel framed in a picture frame. The nice thing about flat panel tv's, particularly the plasma ones, is they are very versatile.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Yes thanks for this.

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re: futons: My two cents: they are perfectly comfortable for sleeping on, but aren't great for sitting on. They tend to be too deep, and are often slanted so that you're sitting very close to the ground but your knees are level with your eyeballs. I'm short, though, so maybe it's just me.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Short people and tall people read this.

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Re: Futons: Futons can be very comfortable, but you must be willing to spend the money. Some of the cheaper metal versions never fully fold down, so if two people stay on the futon they both roll into the middle on top of each other. Also, the metal frames tend to have thin mattresses. The metal slats can be felt through the mattress. I am no "Princess and the Pea" but they are quite uncomfortable.

Now, the wooden framed futons tend to have fuller mattress and wide wooden slats that do not dig in. They can be very comfortable for the short-term, and they arent as much of a hassle as sleeper sofas (less furniture to move).

Good luck with the decision!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Another futon person weighs in.

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Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.: I live in an older building with a window right next to my bathtub. The window is painted wood with a sill of wood. What can I do to keep water from hitting the window during a shower? I don't want the sill to rot. Are there tasteful waterproof curtain out there? I can't find any.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Tasteful is the operative word here. You chould buy a vinyl shower curtain and cut it down to fit over your window.

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Alexandria, Va.: Annie and Jura -- You are such design divas! I just bought 2 wing chairs at a yard sale - $30 bucks. They are rust in color. My living room is soft yellow with a beige chenille couch (with pillows with a deep tan stripe). I have another chair in the room that has greens, browns, reds, and a dark taupe background. Should I reupholster new chairs or leave as is?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Lucky you. You didn't say what condition the chairs were in. If they are in good condition, use them for a while and see how you like the look. If you decide to reupholster, don't forget to check out Discount Fabrics at www.discountfabricsusa.com or go to their store in Thurmont or their new location in Falls Church. More on that later...

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Washington, DC: Our condo's kitchen is painted BM Cape Hatteras sand, a grayish khaki. We painted our living/dining room (kitchen opens up onto it) what was supposed to be a light steely gray-blue--very loft chic. It turned out to be a cheery baby blue--almost (horrors) UNC Tarheel blue. Ack!!! Can you recommend a good bluish gray, on the lighter side, so we can fix this disaster?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Horrors. Try C2's Bahamas or Bewilder.

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Futon vs sofabed: Several years ago I was living in a studio apartment and had both a queen-size sofabed and a full-size futon. I was alternating between the two and eventually found myself sleeping more often on the futon because I found it more comfortable. Rather than the one obnoxious support bar that's found on almost every sofabed, the futon has multiple bars that didn't seem to bother me as much. It probably also helped that I had splurged and bought a great futon mattress, one that weighed a ton but was almost as comfortable as a regular mattress. It was definitely better than the standard foam mattresses you generally find on futons, and considering this became my regular bed, I was glad I'd spent the extra money! Moving it into the building using a tiny service elevator, now that is a story for another time . . .

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: The mattress seems to be the key here...

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Candle vs Electric plus Futons: I've had dining rooms with both candle chandeliers and electric ones. If you go to a candle chandelier, make sure you have another source of light in the room, because lighting candles all the time instead of flicking a switch, especially of you're look for something (like the cat, who's hiding between the chair legs because he doesn't want to take his meds, and he KNOWS he can prolong this episode indefinitely if he hides in the room with no electric light), gets really old, really fast... especially when it's dark, and you have to find a flashlight so you can find the matches and light the candles. Plus, the wax does get everywhere, and depending on the chandelier, it can be a real pain to clean the wax out of the drip-catchers.

In case you haven't guessed, I don't ever want a non-electric chandelier again. (Those votives in glasses would be an improvement, though.)

Futons are actually pretty comfortable for a few years, until the mattress starts to get lumpy. I used one for a few years and liked it. So far, too, my guests overwhelmingly prefer the furon to the air mattress.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Read this. And weep.

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Futons and Soccer Scarves: Soccer Scarf here: Thanks all for the advice.

As for futons, I bought a futon from IKEA about 10 years ago. Very simple woode frame with no armrests. It also comes with a thick woven cotton mattress that is as comfortable as any high-quality bed. The trick is to get a woven cotton mattress instead of a foam one.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: More mattress advice.

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Washington, DC: Hi, ladies! I love the look of Angela Adams' rugs, but I'm not particularly fond of the prices. Any suggestions for similar styles, but more affordable?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We love those too!! Try Storehouse.

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Capitol Heights, Md.: Good morning Ladies. I can't tell you the size of my basement, but we are getting our furniture on this Sunday. Two black leather pieces and tables. I havn't a clue as to how to decorate our basement. Any ideas?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Don't panic. Do you have carpeting or curtains down there? With black, you should use a light color so you can make the room look bigger and lighter. Treat yourself to some new pillows, a couple of new lamps and put some books around to warm it up. Target is a good place to pick up some inexpensive treats.

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Thanks!: Thanks so much for you recommendation of West Elm for affordable, but good quality furniture! I absolutely adore my new bedroom furniture and am looking forward to visiting West Elm's new store in Tysons, opening tomorrow! Thanks again!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Hey. We are excited about West Elm too. You might find one of us out there tomorrow too!!!

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi... Question on kitchen remodeling: I've selected the granite for countertops, as this is what everyone recommends. Of course, the cost of this is somewhat astronomical. Would tiling counters with either Marble or the-like be considered low grade? The thing is, everyone is doing granite, and yes, it does look wonderful. But what if you use Marble or even Granite Tiles instead? I'm in a dilema here, hope you can lead me in the right direction... Thanks

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We called Oye Alle, an owner of Granite Outlet in Alexandria. 703 921-0903. He said, yes you can use granite or marble tiles on your countertop. He has done this at his home and he thinks it was a bad idea because there is so much grout that food and other kitchen gunk collects in all the seams. He said if he had to do it over, he would do a solid slab of granite. Marble is not as durable or dense. So scrimp on something else and go for the granite.

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Northern Virginia: On the topic of chandeliers-- do you or the chatters know how difficult it would be for a prof electrician to convert a chandelier or other hanging fixture from hardwire to a longer flex to run to a wall outlet? My older rental apt does not have a ceiling fixture, only a plate to hang something from and plug into the wall. They just don't seem to make attractive hanging lamps with long cords.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: You could do a channel that covers the cord that is painted the same color as the ceiling or walls. Try to get a handyman to help you.

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Washington, DC: Sorry to weigh in negatively, but the trophy homes you featured today lacked one important quality: good taste. I appreciate that beauty and taste are in the eye of the beholder, but the ghastly "Young Girl's Bedroom" and the media room with mohair walls demonstrate that throwing tons of money into home decoration just isn't enough.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: That's what show houses are for - to encourage discussion! It's just like the fashion shows in Paris, Milan and New York. We can get ideas in these houses, but we don't have to love everything.

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re: Futons: I own a futon that I will probably never get rid of. The key is a thick sturdy mattress, if you spend the money on that it will last forever! I am pleased with mine and lots of my guests are amazed by how comfortable it is.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Wonderful!

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Burke, Va.: I have a backsplash question for you. In our kitchen redo, we installed Ubatuba granite, with a 4 inch backsplash. Should we tile between this and the bottom of the cabinets or just paint? For either, any suggestions on color? The kitchen walls are a cream, with a sea green soffit.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Paint.

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Falls Church, Va.: Hi, Thanks for taking my question.

We're remodeling our place and will be putting in a hardwood floor. We're having problems picking a stain/color for the wood floor. We have natural cherry cabinetry in the rooms the floor will be going in (kitchen and family room). Do you think we're better off going with a natural cherry floor, or a darker stain (probably in oak)?

Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We'd go with natural cherry.

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Front Door Color: I'm looking to jazz up my front door. The door and surrounding trim are currently Hasbrouck Brown, while the plank siding is Georgian Brick (both Benj. Moore). What Ben Moore or Behr colors do you suggest?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: How about Peale or Kennebunkport Green - or even Great Barrington - all from Benjamin Moore.

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Washington, DC: This question is part decorating, part gardening.

I am thinking about buying a glass-top side table to put a few potted plants on. I like colorful, hardy plants that are slightly out of the ordinary. My apartment gets a lot of sunlight, and is decorated with bright, bold colors (but white walls...I don't have many options for painting considering I rent the place). Any suggestions?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: If your question is where can you find a glass topped table, you can just buy a piece of glass and put it on any table. Meanwhile, try American Plant Food on River Rd., if you want a good selection of plants.

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Baltimore, Md.: I'd like a large (maybe 16" or 18" in width) completely circular globe (milk glass maybe; and like a big ball) that is a pendent for my family room. I know of rejuvenation.com (used them and was very happy) and schoolhousefixtures.com, but they don't seem to have what I want (maybe b/c they are too "historic"). Any ideas for high quality, high style, custom order (I have high ceilings), online lighting companies?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We found them!!! Go to www.lampsontheweb.com. They sell reproductions of actual schoolhouse pendant lamps from $39.99 to $1006.99. They have plain large globes too.

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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thanks everyone. Back next week for more. Have a great week and check out the new home stores at Tysons opening tomorrow.

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