Post Magazine: Fall Home and Design

Yesterday, the Fall Home and Design Issue of The Washington Post Magazine featured articles about an interior designer and her artist husband who've learned the art of compromise in Chevy Chase; a furniture expert who has created a mid-century modern showcase in Alexandria; two environmental architects in Charlottesville who have invited Mother Nature into their house; and a Republican political strategist whose house is a museum of memorabilia.

Today, Jill Hudson Neal will be online to field questions and comments about yesterday's issue and the latest in Home and Design trends.

Jill Hudson Neal is The Washington Post Magazine's design editor.

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Jill Hudson Neal: Hey everybody! I've just finished downing a PowerBar for lunch, so I'm ready to go! Hope you had a chance to read yesterday's Home and Design issue. We had a lot of fun putting it together, so I hope it was a fun read. Ok, let's get started...

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Washington, D.C.: I would like to know more about the sustainable community in the Woolen Mills neighborhood that Hays + Ewing Design Studio is working on. Where can I go for more information on status of this project, availability, prices, etc.? Thanks!

Jill Hudson Neal: You can start by contacting Chris Hays at his Charlottesville design studio. The phone number is 434-979-3222.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I am going to be moving into a two bedroom, two bath condo that is currently being built. How do I find an interior decorator? I have no clue about decorating at all and realize I need help. I am so clueless about this sort of thing, I don't even know how to go about picking an interior decorator. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Jill Hudson Neal: Hey there Silver Spring.

If you're on the look-out for an interior designer, the Washington Design Center is a terrific place to start. The center is a wonderful resource for design ideas, trends and sources, and is open to the general public (with some guidance from the friendly staff). You'll be able to see the work of a number of area interior designers and will see someone whose taste most resembles your own. Call for an appointment at 202-554-5053.

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Montgomery Village, Md: My wife and I were very taken with the stair railing from the S.S. United States used in the deco home. It's just the look we've been searching for. Short of trecking up to Philadelphia (where the United States is docked!) - not to mention the obvious problems with gaining access to the ship and its components - is there someplace we can go for reproductions or (hopefully inexpensive) knock-offs of this look?

Thanks.

David and Hilde Sandler

Jill Hudson Neal: Hey there. You're right to be taken with that stair railing from the Donnelly's home. It's fantastic and looks amazing in the house. Unfortunately, Dan found the railing about 20 years ago, and it (or something like it) has since become pretty difficult to find. The folks at Daniel Donnelly Furniture in Old Towne Alexandria (703-549-4672) suggest auctions or sales specialize in architectural salvage. With that in mind, eBay isn't a bad place to start.

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Arlington, Va.: So where do us working/middle class folk go to find AFFORDABLE housing like this? Seems like this technology is out of financial reach for most, at least until many years later when we can buy hand-me-down eco-houses.

Jill Hudson Neal: This is an interesting question, Arlington. I talked to Chris Hays to get his thoughts on affordable sustainable housing and he agreed that homes like his are often out of reach financially for most working and middle class people. His design firm is working on a couple of eco-friendly homes in Charlottesville for Habitat for Humanity. There are a few small things that you can do in your existing home to make it more eco-friendly - using low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, for example - but it's a tricky thing to figure out how to back into a project like that. Hope that helps somewhat.

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Alexandria, Va.: Picking an interior designer: when I've looked at the boards at the Wash. Design Center, it looks like all the interior designers are WAY out of my price range (or interest). When I bought our house years ago, I needed help and found a great interior designer through the Wash. Home Show. She gave a talk on how to use color and I really liked her approach. She ended up doing our whole house, and I still like everthing we bought at the time. She has since retired, unfortunately for me.

Anyway, just a thought for those looking for someone, go to the home shows and to the talks and see if you click with someone.

Jill Hudson Neal: Thanks Alexandria for this answer. It's a terrific idea.

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Jill Hudson Neal: Unfortunately, I'm going to have to wrap things up. Thanks for your questions for this issue. Look forward to chatting with you soon.

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