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.

You may also browse an archive of previous Home Front discussions.

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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Good morning everyone. Hope we don't have any technical difficulties today. All seems okay. First of all, Annie wants to thank all of you for your suggestions of how people deal with too many books. (See today's HOME section.) She found that many of us have so many books they are literally taking over our lives. Don't miss this package today in HOME.

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Alexandria, Va: I'm looking for patio furniture, and haven't seen anything that I love in a moderate price range. Any suggestions of where to look other than Lowes, Home Depot and Crate and Barrel?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Yes! We just had a long discussion about this topic with our very own Czarina. She found that Restoration Hardware had a great new collection, very substantial, outdoor room kind of thing - not straps - but you'll pay big for it.

Grandin Road, the little sister to Frontgate, has a good looking wicker lounging-around line - www.grandinroad.com. She says - you owe it to yourself to go to the outdoor living stores like Schirmers in Rockville and Offenbacher Pool 'n Patio. The new Smith & Hawken line for TARGET is worth looking at. And don't miss Martha's line for Wal Mart.

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Alexandria, Va: An area rug can really pull a room together, but the house I just bought is fully carpeted. Can I put an area rug over carpet, or is that a big decorating no-no?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Alexandria. Annie and I answered this last week for somebody and we said we weren't a fan of this look. But, to make sure, we called a real pro this morning Gary Lovejoy of Washington, one of our top tier designers. Gary said it's just fine to do that. But the wall-to-wall carpeting needs to be very low pile for it to work. He does this in his own practice on occasion. YOu generally don't need a non-skid rug pad because the carpeting serves that purpose.

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Oak Hill, Va: Regarding a reader's question last week about getting a color consultation and other basic help for her home, I was surprised that you didn't suggest calling an interior redesigner. She can go to www.weredesign.com to find one in her area. They specialize in room makeovers and don't mind working with smaller projects or with do-it-yourselfers.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Arlington, Va: Area rug question: I love the look of sisal rugs w/the colored "tape" along the edges - but want something softer on my feet for my family room! (9 x 12). Any suggestions or affordable places to shop to get a soft sisal look-alike? I already tried Home Depot.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Yes. We are SOOO over those sisals with the two-inch binding on the edge in green or brown or leather or whatever. We need some new looks in inexpensive carpeting. Check out some of the great rugs at West Elm at Tysons Corner or CB2.com or www.capelrugs.com.

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Anonymous: I don't need decorating help so much as I need arranging help. Is there someone who can come to your house, look at your rooms and your stuff, and then say, put this here and that there and voila, you can live more comfortably?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Yes. There are people who specialize in makeovers. And you can find one through your local chapter of ASID. In D.C., that is 202-488-4100.

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Martha: Aren't Martha's lines for K-Mart not WalMart?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: oops you are RIGHT. I was typing too fast...

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Alexandria, Va: Any recommendations on where a do-it-yourselfer decorator on a budget might look for ideas, inspiration. I'm trying to find books, magazines, etc but everything seems to high end in look and price.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We like Domino Magazine. Also Cottage Living and Budget Living. Also check out the $500 Room Makeover book we wrote about a few weeks ago in HOME. It's by Lisa Quinn and published by Clarkson Potter $22.50. She gives you lots of tips on color palettes, inexpensive window treatments and theme rooms.

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Arlington, Va: Love your column. What do you think of headboards in the bedroom? I'm thinking this might save space. This was suggested by our spring spruce up decorator. She suggested leather. My husband will probably think that is tacky, but we need something. This decorator also suggested painting the trim white. It is now the same color as the walls and using some sheer curtains for the windows.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Leather headboards are a great look and don't take up much space. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has some great headboards - go to www.www.mgandbw.com

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Annapolis, Md: Hey Ladies, I'm trying to be adventurous with paint color. What do you think of Behr's Baked Brie and Isle of Capri for an office? The Isle of Capri will be an accent wall. Is there any other interesting way to use this color? Thanks.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Those colors sound like a trip to Italy on a cruise ship. Anyway, we LOVE Isle of Capri, it's a really strong blue and would remind you of those romantic waters off the coast of Napoli. Is it a home office? If it is, we might suggest that you could also use it on the ceiling. Baked Brie is a very pale mushroom color (again with the food) that's amiable.

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Arlington, Va: Schirmers is closed, fyi. For a less expensive alternative on outdoor furniture, you might try secondhand furniture shops like Rough & Ready.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Sorry - they still popped up on google...Ruff & Ready at 1908 14th St. NW 202-667-RUFF is a great source of stuff you are right. They are open only Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm. When the yard sales start up again - when the thermometer rises above 60 - head out to catch those spring clean ups which may put a lot of outdoor furniture on the block.

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Richmond, Va: We are one of those households with a lot of books. Lots and lots. After a lot of searching, we bought a 'library wall' from La Difference in Richmond. The manufacturer is Jesper, it's Danish modern and I love it. It is so nice to see all the books in (mostly) one place. They have a CAD program where you can see what it will look like on a computer before you buy.

I am looking for these inserts for shelves that accomodate paperback books so you can have two rows on one shelf and still see both rows. I saw them somewhere a long time ago, before the collection got out of hand. Any ideas?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thanks Richmond. Great tips. We don't know about these inserts although they sound fab. Anyone out there know anything????

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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: By the way, Annie just got an email from a second hand book dealer looking for serious books you might want to know about who was not in her story.

He is Georgetown Bookshop at 4710 Bethesda Ave., 301-907-6923. They buy review copies and scholarly collections and they can also point you in the direction of other dealers and charities.

Thanks to Andy Moursund for plugging your services.

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Oak Hill, Va: Someone was askng for a source for "different" bedding. Try Horchow.comLots of high end looking sets. Also, try Stein Mart.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Yes both good ideas. And don't miss the shoes at Stein Mart...

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patio furniture: We found good deals at Offenbacher's (Falls Church and elsewhere).

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: great

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Patio Furniture: Another alternative is the ever popular FreeCycle or Craigslist.

I ordered a wicker porch swing from Homedecorators.com (and yeah, the sale went off Monday), so I am eagerly awaiting my stuff in the next few days. Since most of their items have been good, I am not expecting to be disappointed.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Great ideas.

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Stainless or white for my tiny kitchen?! : We are trying to decide whether to get stainless or white appliances for our kitchen. Our kitchen doesn't exactly have a modern look, nor does the rest of the house. What do you recommend? We have white cabinets w/silver knobs and the kitchen is pretty much microscopic. Also, one side of the fridge (side of fridge would be black) is exposed to a walkway from the dining room to the living room. Please help us out here! Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Kitchen gurus are already saying that Stainless is on its way out. It's showing up in lower end kitchens and there are lots of imitators out there. So go with white, which will always be IN.

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Alexandria Bibliophiles: It was so much fun to see our picture in the paper this morning!! Perhaps I should have mentioned where I work, the Folger Shakespeare Library. A lot of people have asked why our picture was taken at work!

A suggestion for the next story about living in small homes with a lot of stuff: Newlyweds who have registered for things with the anticipation of moving into a bigger place soon. (We need help with that one!)

Sincerely,

Jennifer Kimball

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thanks Jennifer!

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Washington, DC: A friend bought some bookshelf-like inserts at Ikea. She used them for her kids' collection of videos. They kind of look like those inserts used to store spices in your kitchen drawer. I'm sure the Ikea inserts could be used for books.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Videos are taking over my den. Great solution.

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Bowie, Md.: I asked 2 weeks ago about finding full beds. Now a tip, as my way of saying thanks: Storehouse in Annapolis is planning to move to new digs in a couple of months and plans to have a big moving sale sometime in late May/early June. No, I don't work for them; just my way of saying thanks for everyone's help.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Love getting tips like that. Keep 'em coming!

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Alexandria, Va: Good morning, ladies. I'm having trouble finding a smaller than 2x3 accent rug for a small powder room. Can you recommend a place? Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Have you tried Linens'n Things or Bed Bath & Beyond? Bloomingdale's has a great bathroom department too.

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Fort Washington, Md.: Hi, ladies. Besides Home Depot and the Great Indoors, where else can I find traditional drawer pulls for my dresser? Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Restoration Hardware has a great collection.

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Takoma Park, Md: Go with white for a kitchen because it's always "in" - but what if you are getting medium-dark cabinets? Seems like black would be better for the appliances.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Jura has black appliances = she had her kitchen done 7 years ago and has cherry cabinets. She still likes them, but wonder if the black appliances will be made indefinitely into the future...

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Anonymous: Any idea where I can find oval shaped seat cushions for a pair of wicker chairs? Or any way to improvise? Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: That's a tough one. Sounds like you need to find a friend who sews to make them for you.

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Penn Quarter, Washington, D.C.: Hi! Any recommendations for local places I can buy mohair upholstery fabric? (The kind of mohair that has a straight pile - kind of like velvet with a longer pile - often used for teddy bears.) I want to have a few pillows made with it.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Penn Quarter. We just called Discount Fabrics USA in beautiful Thurmont, Maryland www.discountfabricsusa.com. 301-271-2266. And they have just gotten in a rare shipment of silk mohair that retails for $290 a yard and they are selling it for $48.50 a yard. It will be posted tonight on the website. They also have some Brunschwig & Fils embossed mohair for $40.49 a yard, which is about 2/3 off retail. And they try and carry mohair all the time. YIPPEE.

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Arlington, Va: Can you offer some color suggestions for the classic old style black-and-white bathroom -- small black and white tile floor, white tile with black trim on the walls about half way up. Hall carpet is brown and walls are light grayish-green. It doesn't have to match the hall colors, but I don't want it to clash, since the door is always open when not in use.

I've got maroon in there now (towels and curtain on the window), and am ready for a change.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Black and white bathrooms are the best - anything goes. You can choose towels in bold colors like hot pink, yellow, kelly green or marine blue. You could paint the walls a high gloss white, so you could vary the towel colors. The shower curtain can also be sripes, dots, geometrics, florals etc.

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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Just had another thought about outdoor furniture CMart, at 1000 Joppa Farm Rd., in Joppatowne, Md. 410 538-6100 www.cmartdiscount.com. The store (which has all the charm of an airplane hangar which befits an abandoned Kmart)is a treasure trove of bargains from clothing to furniture. See Jura's story of a few years ago. This week's Big Deal is 16 trailerloads of outdoor, porch and patio furniture plus accessories (all half price!). Wrought iron, resin, faux wicker, real wicker, rattan, aluminum, outdoor cherry, teak, blah blah blah. Annie and I are taking a LONGGGG lunch hour today....look for us on I95.

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Takoma Park, Md: Drawer pulls are all over the web. Don't go to Restoration if you're expecting inexpensive. Simply as an example of what you can find on the web, try:

http://www.cabinet-pulls-online.com

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: yes yes yes

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Fairfax, Va: Regarding those bookshelf inserts for paperback books, we bought some at Ikea a few years ago and they have worked out very well. They are basic gray metal, but were very inexpensive and once the books are on them you can't see the metal anyway.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: thanks

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shelf inserts: My brother uses styrofoam blocks as inserts on his shelves. I think he just cut up the foam used in packaging appliances.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: how brilliant!

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Patioland: How about modern patio furniture? Room and Board has great stuff, but pricey. Any suggestions? Our deck has custom, very cool stainless steel railings, and wicker, adirondack, etc. would all look silly.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: See previous message on CMart.

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Silver Spring, Md: I've got a guest bedroom question...I recently purchased all new linens, beautiful, crisp whites, and I'm looking to paint the walls a nice, inviting color, perhaps a shade of blue. (right now, the walls are also white) Any thoughts on what might work well? I don't want the room to feel too masculine or too feminine, and I'm trying to stay away from the neutrals so there is a good contrast with the linens. Seen any color combos you recommend?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Sherwin Williams Hinting Blue is a kind of pale grayish blue. It will look different in morning and afternoon sun.

If you want something stronger, try Vast Sky, a pale Wedgwood blue.

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Flooring: Whta type flooring is appropriate in a kitchen/family room combination room? I need something sturdy becuase I have kids and pets.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We keep plugging that wood laminate for high traffic, high kid/high pet areas. It works. Jura's got Pergo that is 7 years old and even cat's claws haven't damaged it. Nor teenage boys. Nor golf cleats.

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Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Since you often get queries about drawer hardware or bathroom fixtures, I suggest myknobs.com It has a huge inventory using a range of suppliers and a good search function. I found Asian themed knobs to match my tansu furniture, and bath acessories in hundreds of finishes, such as weathered copper, bronze, lacquer. Much broader selection than stores.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: yes - thanks.

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Books: The Signals catalog has a T-shirt with a design by Edward Gorey which says "There's no such thing as too many books." My husband got it for me as a gift when we moved in together as a way of saying "sorry" for all the boxes of his books I had to carry to our new place.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Great gift idea. I'm getting one for Annie.

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outdoor furniture: C-Mart is featuring outdoor furniture in their ad today in the Baltimore Sun.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: And in the Post too...

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Custom seat cushions: We bought a Pier 1 couch last year - very pretty but the memory foam cushions are getting a bit uncomfortable. Do you know anywhere in the area that might make better seat cushions? Is this a very expensive proposition?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Go to your local fabric store and look on the bulletin board for seamstress ads.

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Arlington, Va.: Loved today's book package. My husband and I are always arguing over our valuable book shelf space. Now even my three year old has his own shelf which is spilling over. I haven't gotten a chance yet to carefully read the entire section, but I'm hoping to find some great ideas! Thanks again.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We appreciate that a lot! Thanks for reading!

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Centreville, Va: After 2 years of living with us in our small townhouse, our son and his family are finally moving out and facing the world on their own. We need a lot of work done, but how could we make a significant but affordable change to pep up our empty nest?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: What we would say, is first, enjoy your new space. Clean it up, toss or give away stuff you don't need, paint the walls a nice semi-gloss neutral like a warm Behr Eggnog. Don't start filling it up again for a little while. Space is a luxury. Enjoy.

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Washington, DC: I have 17-yr old daughter who'd like to update her room. She'll be leaving for college in a year so a complete re-design isn't necessary but a "face-lift" is certainly in order. Any suggestions? She's a trendy girl who favors pinks & greens.

Thanks

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Check out Pottery Barn Teen. www.pbteen.com.

They have a lot of pink and green. Some new sheets, a new coat of paint, new pillows, things like that help to make it look fresh.

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Rugs!: Hello ladies -- I am in search of area rugs for a news baby's room, as well as a master bedroom (which seems like an overstatement for a room that is 12x12, but what can you do!). I would like the rugs to fit so that they cover most of the floor. I've had trouble finding something nice and soft, the right size, at the right price. Is a trek out to Greenfront in order? Any other suggestions? Thanks!!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: We consulted DC Baby, a great book by by Sarah K. Masterson. They like Ikea for kids furnishings and Ikea has great inexpensive rugs. Also Pottery Barn Kids.

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Painting Order Question: We have a large basement that I'd like to paint a light green color. We like rich colors so if you have any suggestions for Duron or BM paint, that'd be great! Question about the order of painting. We just had the ceiling repainted after getting recessed lights. We need to do the walls and the baseboards. Do we paint the woodwork first and then the walls? Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Usually, it's walls first, woodwork next, basboards last. Get painters tape. A nice Duron green is Dewmist which is a little on the minty side. If you want something that is yellower, try Willow Wind.

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Bethesda, Md: Thanks for taking these questions! I am looking for a valance or window treatment for a window in a dining room. The walls are light brown and the dining table is a contemporary glass-top. Silk fabric may be too fancy. We're having difficulty choosing a style, fabric, and a color.

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Sage green would be nice with the light brown. A latte color might also be nice. JCPenney has a great window treatment department. Also Bed Bath & Beyond has expanded its collection to include lifestyle diva B.Smith.

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Patio furniture: We got GREAT patio furniture for cheap at World Market. Great wood choices, although some needs to be stained or sealed at home. Just be prepared to put it together yourself and maybe deal with missing pieces - one of our chairs came with two left arms and had to be exchanged. All in all - totally worth it!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Good thinking! Everyone has patio furniture on the brain these days - we just need some WARM weather so we can sit on it.

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Cary, NC: A few chats ago you mentioned the editorial changes to House Beautiful magazine. It used to be my favorite shelter magazine because I thought it had a great mix of "dream" houses by top decorators, usable information plus good writing. I am very disappointed in the new style of the magazine. I feel it has been "dumbed down" with the Q&A format of the articles (ALL of the articles! how tiresome)and the addition of some new columns (cooking, etc). If these changes are supposed to appeal more to "regular", non-city dwelling women, they are off track! What are your thoughts?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Cary, we respect your opinion. And we agree that it's been a seesaw over there with new editors constantly changing the whole format. We personsally do like the House Beautiful issues we have seen under Stephen Drucker. The April issue What is Taste? is a keeper. What do the rest of you think?

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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: Hi Jura and Annie,What area stores can you recommend for a wide selection of lighting? I'm looking for the perfect sconces for either side of my living room fireplace. Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: There is Dominion Electric Supply currently having a 15 percent off in-stock lighting sale. The Great Indoors is a particular favorite of Annie. Illuminations is high-end but the style and service is terrific - located in Cady's Alley and 8th St. NW. Restoration Hardware has great sconces. Annapolis Lighting has locations all over too. Gaylord's in Bethesda is more traditional but has great service - and they often can fix your lamps while you wait.

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Silver Spring, Md: Where could I buy a nice hope chest without spending too much money?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Annie did a great story on hope chests a couple of years back. Yard and estate sales are good places to look. Check out Lane Hope Chests.

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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Bye! www.cedarchests.com - is also good for hope chests.

Have a great week everyone. Thanks for tuning in.

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