Home Front

Every week, Annie Groer and Jura Koncius help you in your quest to achieve domestic bliss. Got a question about decorating? They're happy to whip out their paint chips and suggest the perfect hue, call a retailer to help track down a hard-to-find accent piece or offer some do-it-yourself (or call-in-a-pro) advice. They can even help you cope with the eternal pets vs. furniture battle.

Built on years of reporting experience, Home Front is an online conversation between two longtime Washington Post Home writers and their readers about the best way to feather the nest. From bargain shopping to spot removal, antiques to armchairs, they invite all of you to submit questions and share you own great tips, ideas and, yes, the occasional complaint.

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

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Jura Koncius: Good morning all. This is Jura, of the semi-frozen pipes. Has anyone else had problems with FREEZING in their bathrooms? Thankfully, my faithful husband used a hair dryer and also we put a little heater in a small bathroom on an addition in the back of the house to open up the pipe.

Let's chat about that and other stuff.

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Washington, DC: I've had my condo on the market for over 5 months. I've remodeled the kitchen, painted, and decorated as best I can. But, the hardwood floors need work. Buyers don't seem too bothered by it, and most say they want carpet. Even though I'm offering closing costs and help with condo fees, could I be turning them off (even subconsciously) with the floors? Or, is this just a reflection of the current housing market? Thanks!

Annie Groer: Dear DC - Don't know if your condo is furnished or not, but refinishing floors is an expensive, messy job. Methinks you (and your real estate agent) might consider lowering the price, or even think about renting it out for a year.

Good luck.

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Washington, DC: Hi Ladies,

I can never remember...does painting the ceiling make a room look smaller or bigger? We're painting a room in our basement a terracotta color, it's got probably a 6.5' - 7.0' ceiling. Should we paint it too? Thanks!

Annie Groer: Dear Basement -- Unless you want to be living in a cave, paint the ceiling white or a very light color. And make sure your terracotta isn't too dark.

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Rockville, Md: This is my favorite chat of the week! Desperately need your advice: The bulbs in the ceiling light fixture over our staircase just burned out but the ceiling is at least 15 feet above the landing. We don't have a ladder that tall (and none of our friends or neighbors do either unfortunately) and it seems silly to buy one (they run over $100) just to change a lightbulb (we wouldn't use it for anything else). Also, I'm not even sure such a ladder would work because the legs may extend too wide to fit on the landing. What a headache just to change a lightbulb! Anyway, do you have any suggestions? We can't go on with an unlit staircase forever! Thanks.

Annie Groer: Dear Rockville - I know the feeling of looking up, way up, and not being able to reach. Ace Hardware in Tenleytown, 4500 Wisc. Ave. NW (lower level, under the Container Store) has light changing poles with an attachment at the end to make things easier to get those burn-outs. 202-364-4500. They cost $33.

For those of you not in the immediate area with the problem, try www.nextag.com. The Unger brand with two attachments is $334.40 before shipping. And don't forget, replace those energy eating incandescants with more eco-friendly versions.

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I love my cats, but ... : They definitely leave lots of dust, hair and dander on my furniture. Do you know of a reputable company or person who could come to my home to clean the couch and upholstered chairs? I think it'd make a huge difference and probably should be a yearly event.

Jura Koncius: Do you have Maine Coon Cats? See today's HOME section to find out why they have the most annoying hair to clean up. Meanwhile, upholstery cleaning is something we have wanted to write about. Service Masters is a very popular firm in this area. Anyone else have someone to suggest?

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Table talk: I could really use your advice on a dining room table. For

months now, I've wanted to replace my old one but I can't

seem to decide which way to go. Practically, I know that a

wood table with 1-2 extension leaves is probably the way

to go. But I love the look of a fixed dimension wood table,

unmarred by any cracks. I love the way the grain is

uninterrupted. What are the pros and cons of each? (FYI,

my dining room is 12 X 12 so I don't have room for a

huge table, but for holidays and parties, the extensions

would be nice, I guess.) A dining room table is a big

purchase, which is why I'm wavering. Thanks for your two

cents.

Annie Groer: Dear Table - Ask yourself this... How often do you really have large dinners that require extending the table? If the answer is just once or twice a year, go with what you want in your limited space. You can always buy a round topper, which is hinged in the middle for easy storage - that will fit on your table to make it larger. Caterers use these all the time.

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Washington, DC: My roommate and I converted a one bedroom apartment into a two bedroom, greatly sacrificing our common room and leaving it without a window or any real natural light. The space is small, and so we are afraid to put too much in it, but right now the room is very "blah" despite the red couch and black coffee table and some art we have on the wall. Do you have any suggestions for how to liven up the room without overcrowding?

Annie Groer: A snazzy rug and some lively art or stretched fabric on the walls. And good lighting.

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Washington, DC: Good morning divas,

I'm sure that by now you've heard about the C-Mart that's opening in Landover, MD on Feb. 17th. I have a paint question. Can you suggest two BM or SW/Duron colors for an office (it's actually a bedroom) and adjoining sunroom? The sunroom has one exposed brick wall that I'd like to paint in a red brick color. In other words, can you suggest a red brick color for the exposed brick wall and another color for the sunroom and office? The sunroom gets a lot of natural light but the office does not. Furniture is neutral (beige, maple and chocolate brown). I would like colors that will not hurt resale. Thank you.

Jura Koncius: I've asked our producer Kim to link to the little piece I did on the opening of C-Mart a week or two ago. It's going to be a wonderful new addition to our discount shopping world here in Washington. Designer clothes and furniture in a huge warehouse makes for an incredible treasure hunt.

www.cmartdiscount.com for those of you not on their email list - get on it for weekly special emails. Now for your paint questions. BM's Colonial Brick would be nice and what about a peachy color with it for the sunny room. What about Peach Nectar?

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Suitland, Md: I want to do something with a lavendar leather chair -- what else can I put with it to make a cute and contemporary look, but rich -- I would like for them to go into my living room with prego flooring --

also what accessories what look great with them

Jura Koncius: It isn't clear whether you have one or two lavender leather chairs. But whatever, they or it sounds adorable. I would say, keep the color scheme simple and make it stand out. Like just do black and white with this lavender pop.

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river city: We have been at a standstill for weeks in our bathroom renovation: what to do with the 4' high wainscoting current stained light. Paint it? Stain it darker? Use a color stain? I'm thinking of painting it a lichen color and paint the walls white with a hint of lichen?

Jura Koncius: Love the lichen idea.

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Ellicott City, Md: we recently bought a new house which has a large number of windows. That is good. But the houses are so closely packed together we need some kind of window coverings. I don't want to put heavy shades because I like a lighted house and able to look at the sky sometimes. I was looking for plantation shutters for half the window maybe but they are so expensive. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Jura Koncius: Plantation shutters are expensive. But they are long lasting and they do add value to the house. You might go for some pleated shades that pull up to only a half inch at the top of the window. When they are up, you don't even see them, but they can provide totaly coverage and some insulation from the cold when they are down.

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Cleveland, Ohio: Ladies, Please speak a bit about classic color combinations for interiors, what they are, why they are. Having done my share of trendy colors, I finally realized several years ago - before sage took over the world - that what stops me in my tracks every time in every shelter magazine or design book, are rooms that is all blue and white, or brown and white, and now that's what I use exclusively. What are the classics, and are new pallets developing that you expect to become future classics?

Annie Groer: Dear Ohio - If I see one more chocolate and pale blue room I may scream. Among the classics - yellow walls, upholstery in stripes or print with touches of yellow, green and coral. Taupe or khaki walls with red accents on the furniture. Pale gray walls, pale pink walls...And I'm with you...I am totally saged out. Hope this helps.

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Washington DC: Hi there,

I'm all-but-ready to spring for FLOR tiles for my basement, but my lingering concern is the lack of padding. (Which I know is part of the point.) In your experience, do the tiles make a nice carpety surface, or does it feel like indoor/outdoor carpet laid on concrete?

It's going to be the playroom, and I worry about the cushioning aspect.

Thank you!

Jura Koncius: We haven't used FLOR ourselves, but we have heard from people who have turned to it as an alternative to wall-to-wall, especially after last summer's orgy of basement flooding. Can any of you out there testify as to it's comfort level with kids etc.?

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Anonymous: In reply to "I love my cats, but," I've had very good luck with upholstery cleaning by Ayoub Carpet Service (ACS) in Chantilly (www.rugcare.com).

Jura Koncius: Great. Do they do upholstery also?

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Fairfax, Va: hello,

I love the front page of the Home Section this morning. Please tell me what color and manufacture is the color of the door in the middle? I love, love, love it!!

Jura Koncius: Dear Fairfax:

Yes, it was a really fun article on red doors. We just checked with our editors, and it seems that the three doors on the front are real doors on existing homes and we do not know those exact colors. But inside, we do list some of the favorite reds.

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Mt Airy Md: Does the Washington Post plan to follow up on House Calls redesigns? In other words, we never hear how the homeowner(s) implemented the design or if they even liked it. It seems like a big part of the story is left unwritten. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: This idea has come up before and the editors are considering it. It would be fascinating to see that.

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Alexandria Va: A comment instead of a question: overstock.com has the most fabulous sheet sets (high thread counts, luxury satin feel) for very little money. I'll never buy in a brick & mortar store again.

Jura Koncius: You are right, Alexandria. We have an editor here, The Czarina by name, who swears by overstock.com for all her Italian high thread count sheets. So everyone, check this out.

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Washington, DC: We don't have frozen pipes but thanks to the cold weather we have m-i-c-e. Can I borrow Gus or perhaps the Maine Coon from today's Home section?

I am working to spruce up my bedroom. I really like the look of Leontine linens. Sadly they are way out of my budget. Do you know anywhere locally that sells and monograms bed linens? Thank you!

Jura Koncius: www.leontinelinens.com is a beautiful site!

Abrielle monograms on sheets and towels and they have a beautiful selection of monograms. The store is at 3301 New Mexico Ave. NW 202 364-6118. Their linens are made in Portugal, Italy, France and the United States.

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Washington, DC: WONDERFUL article on red front doors in today's Post! I have been wanting to paint my door red for sometime and now I have direction. Now for my question. I have a relatively small but loud and unsightly air-conditioning unit smack dab in the middle of my rear patio. It could be a really lovely space but the placement of that thing is awkward and annoying (though I guess it needed to be there for venting reasons). Any suggestions for disguising it (looking forward to outdoor patio entertaining in spring gets me through harsh winters!).

Annie Groer: We talked to Dallas Valley of Thos E. Clark plumbing who said moving the unit will be costly. First have it checked to find out why it's so loud. There could be a problem.

If you wrapped it in soundproof material, there goes your required air flow. It requires a pro to come look at it.

The issue is how much it annoys you and how much you're willing to spend to solve the problem. 202-742-4130.

He does suggest you wait until frozen/burst pipe season is over to book a house call.

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Jura Koncius: Oh and I forgot to tell Washington that Gus is available anytime for mouse duty. He had a rumble with a FOX the other day and is ready for bear...

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washingtonpost.com: C-Mart Branches Out, (Feb. 1, 2007)

Jura Koncius: Check this out for C-Mart news.

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Silver Spring, Md: Help! My husband and I moved into a 1940s Cape Cod style house three years ago. The previous owner maintained the house very well, but we still have the original kitchen - old cabinets, no dishwasher. We also have some very dated wallpaper in the entryway and do not have central air. We are contemplating a move to something larger to accommodate a growing family and are wondering what we should do to improve the house and what we should leave for a potential buyer. Any thoughts?

Annie Groer: Dear Too Small - Talk to a real estate agent to find out what is happening in your immediate neighborhood. You may want to save your cash to put into your next place. At the very least, you can get rid of the foyer wallpaper (it is the first thing buyers will see) and paint the space a crisp color.

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Arlington, Va: Yes, Ayoub Carpet Service does upholstery cleaning. They did a great job on my couches. They were very neat and didn't make a mess of my house. Here's a direct link to their upholstery cleaning page: www.rugcare.com/upholstery.html.

Annie Groer: thanks.

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Washington, D.C.: Any suggestions beyond West Elm, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, to find cute bedroom furniture (think, dressers/nightstands/armoirs, not necessarily the bed itself) that isn't going to break the bank?

Thank you.

Jura Koncius: What about Z Gallerie in Tysons Corner or Belfort or Colony House - check out Martha Stewart's furniture for Bernhardt. Also don't forget the flea market season is beginning. Also Brocade Home or CB2.

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Washington, DC: I vote for top down/bottom up pleated shades for the windows of the close together house. I had them in my townhouse which faced a courtyard. You can lower them quite a bit while maintaining your privacy. I just ordered some from Next Day Blinds for my bathroom.

Jura Koncius: Super.

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Oxford, Miss: I have a small full bathroom with a sort of muted sky blue countertop. I recently painted the walls a light lavender (trim is still white) and it looks OK, but needs a splash of something to put some spark into the room. I'm trying to decide whether to paint the trim something other than white (yellow?) or to sponge paint over the lavender. What do you suggest? If the latter, what colors would sponge well with light lavender. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: I think the lavender is your SPARK. Enough. Go with white.

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Help ! Window question - : I live in a condo - the windows are very simple, no trim, minimal windowsills. I've installed simple wood blinds (no tape) and kinda like the minimalist look. I've been hearing that I need to install trim or molding around the windows to "finish" them. Is that true? I'd love to hear what you think. Thanks !!

Jura Koncius: We think no.

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Jura Koncius: Anyone out there with a Maine Coon Cat? They are adorable. We want to know if you think their hair is a real pain to vacuum up like Consumer Reports did. See today's HOME section...

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Washington DC: Any ideas about how the Spring Spruce Up process is going this year? I submitted my application on-line early on Sunday, and I'm dying to know if I will get an appointment! Does the on-line application process make it so that they can pick and choose exactly which projects sound like good prospects, rather than just taking the first 200 applicants?

Annie Groer: Dear DC - It's closed, alas. By 9:45 a.m., they had gotten all 200 requests. There was no cherry-picking. It's a case of the early bird getting the decorative worm. Now they are trying to match the lucky folks who submitted with compatible designers. If you want to know whether you made it, email Leslie Ehrmann at Leslie@asiddcmetro.org.

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Flying things: This isn't decorating related, but it is home related and maybe the chatters could help. We have little gnats in our basement--tinier than fruit flies, and we cant see where they are coming from. Any ideas for home-remedies or other extermination ideas?

Jura Koncius: Well, we asked around here and nobody seems to have an idea. You don't have any fruit down there do you or some wierd plants? You would think fruit flies would be dead in this cold weather... Besides calling in an expert exterminator, does anyone have a home remedy out there? We share your pain. Ick.

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Re: office & sunroom paint: Did the poster say that they wanted to paint over the exposed brick wall with a red brick color? This is almost as bad as painting over beautiful wood! I bought my house specifically for the exposed brick -- please rethink covering such a valuable asset! (Especially if you'll be selling the place...)

Jura Koncius: Good point.

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Maryland: if your addition isn't surrounded by other areas of house and your pipes are freezing, odds are you don't have appropriate insulation around the pipes. They need some winter coats!

Be careful with that space heater, as I suspect you aren't going to be in the room the whole time it is one. Huge fire hazard to walk away from one of them. You should treat them like candles.

Jura Koncius: That is totally right. I slept right next to the bathroom with the door open and a brand new little space heater on low.

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Washington DC: Hello Ladies! I have a paint question. The first floor of my house has all neutral paints; taupe in the family room and kitchen, and a light, I'd say, putty color in the living room. I'd like to paint the walls in the dining room with some color, but not something too bold. The adjoining living room has teal accent colors and chocolate brown and khaki furniture, so I was thinking a blue-grey for the dining room? Any suggestions? Thanks!

Annie Groer: Blue-gray works for me. Check out Benjamin Moore's Glass Slipper or Lookout Point. For something a bit darker, but still pretty subtle, consider Brittanty Blue.

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Paris, Miss: Speaking of freezing pipes, I just discovered something the hard way: don't ever leave a hose attached to a "frost-" or "freeze-proof" outdoor spigot in the winter or you negate the frost and freeze proof qualities!

Jura Koncius: Thanks Paris. Is it freezing there too?

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Rug Smell: Glad to see the rug cleaning thread. I bought an 8x10 display rug from The Great Indoors three years ago. I don't have pets nor do I wear shoes in my house so the rug is very clean, but it's starting to smell like burnt rubber or old latex and nothing I do seems to fix it (baking soda, carpet deodorizer, etc). Do you think the rug cleaners can fix it? Has anyone else had this problem?

Jura Koncius: Is the pad disintegrating? How wierd!

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Anonymous:"Do you know of a reputable company or person who could come to my home to clean the couch and upholstered chairs -due to cat hair]? I think it'd make a huge difference and probably should be a yearly event. "

you can get a special attachment on most high end vacuums just for this type of thing. and you need to do it at least every 2 weeks. once a year is, well, just gross. you can do a deep clean (like with a rug) once or twice a year, of course.

Jura Koncius: Meow.

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Monogrammed Sheets: JCPenney does monogrammed sheets - just saw it last night in one of their books.

PS - Love the chats - look forward to it every week!

Jura Koncius: That is fantastic news.

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Bedroom Furniture: With C-mart coming to town, wait 8 days and check them out. They have fabulous stuff from a variety of high end makers. Also, check out Craigslist. You can score some great deals on some quality merchandise. And some of it is even solid wood.

Annie Groer: Dear Bedroom - Right you are. And stay tuned. Next Thursday I am doing a story on people who have furnished entire homes from Craigslist, Freecycle and Swapthing. If anyone out there has experience with Swapthing.org, shoot me an email at groera@washpost.com

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plantation shutters: Second the vote for shutters! Got plantation shutters about eight years ago, and have found them to be a terrific investment. They are classic and look good in every room, great insulators for my windows, cut down on outside noise, and while my friends in our development are on their second or third set of window treatments (changing taste, sun-damaged fabrics) I just dust and smile.

Jura Koncius: Dusting and smiling is good.

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Raleigh, NC: I'm thinking of buying one of JCPenney's dining sets, currently on sale for a great price. We are looking for something that will serve our small family well for several years, but won't be a big investment. Is Penney's furniture good quality, at least so we don't have to replace it in a couple of years - or is it more you get what you pay for? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: We think Penneys is a super place to find good quality and well priced furniture.

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sheet novice ...: What's the difference in feel and maintenance of sateen vs egyptian cotton (consider the same thread count, if that matters)?

Annie Groer: Dear Sheet Novice - Egyptian cotton is the fiber. Sateen is a finish, and as its name implies, has a satin-y feel. It is my personal fave. I only sleep on sateen.

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Maryland: painting stained wood. Do yourselves and future homeowners a HUGE favor. if you choose to paint stained wood (sob) PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE seal the wood first. If you seal it, you have the option of removign the paint at some point in the future without major refinishing requried. if you don't seal it, the paint gets into the pores of the wood and requires a lot of work with (often) a not great result to take it back to a stained look.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for this.

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Washington DC: I had a precious Maine Coon for years, and the same thing that makes them lovely to stroke makes their fur a pain to clean. It's fine and silky and dense, and it comes in several different lengths. (Long overcoat to keep the rain off, downy undercoat to keep the skin warm and dry. They're forest cats, after all.) So you have to come up with at least two cleaning methods to catch both different kinds of fur. Plus MCCs are LARGE-- males usually weigh more than 15 pounds-- so they have more fur than a 10-pound-cat!

Still. Best cat ever. Smart, friendly, good sense of humor.

Jura Koncius: I think Maine Coon Cats are beautiful. Clearly, their owners learn to live with fur flying.

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Washington, DC: In practical terms, what's the difference between reglazing bathroom tiles and painting them?

Annie Groer: Dear DC - Repainting is just that -- paint. Reglazing is a process that involves applying a layer of porcelain over existing tile.

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Paris, Miss redux: It's not freezing here today (35 degrees right now) but a few days ago it was in the teens. The next day, when the temps hit the 30s again, my kitchen grew a puddle of water from the spigot pipe in the wall. Oops! But yes, it's cold here.

Annie Groer: Check that out carefully. Could be a leak.

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Alexandria, Va: HELP! I'm having my twins TOMORROW and we -still- don't have a dresser for the nursery. My husband is not satisfied with the quality of what we've seen so far. Can you or your readers recommend the best place to find sturdy wooden furniture suitable for a nursery (preferably white in this case). THANKS!

Jura Koncius: Yikes! We consulted with a newish Mom in our section, editor Liz. She says run to Pottery Barn Kids in Tysons Corner or Fair Oaks or White Flint Mall. ASAP!! GOOD LUCK!

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Maryland - plantation shutters: They are expensive, but worth every penny. They never need to be updated or replaced (well, defects and damage aside). They are classic, and they actually increase the resale value of the house (vs. curtains and such which are viewed more as disposables). I get all kinds of light, yet as much privacy as I want with a simple tilt of the louvers.

Annie Groer: Great solution, though can be pricey.

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Latex Smell: As hand-tufted or latex carpets get older, the latex begins to break down, and the carpet will begin to have that burning/eggs/feet smell. This generally happens 5 years or so after purchase depending on the quality of the carpet to begin with. Don't get the carpet cleaned, cleaning only makes the smell worse. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this smell does not get better. I'm in the carpet cleaning business, and I deliver this news at least once a week. That and news about sisal rugs. Tufted and sisal are on my list of no-nos. I wish the designers would stop using them!

Jura Koncius: This is fabulous information. Thanks so much for sharing. Who knew?

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Brookland NE, Washington DC: Good Morning,

I'm 24 year old single guy, that recently bought a condo. I've went with a mahogany theme in my living room deep brown leather couch, loveseat, and chair. I want to paint my living room walls and I'm looking for some colors that'll stay consistent with my mahogany and bachelor-pad theme. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Jura Koncius: Hey Brookland. Sounds like you have a great start. We like the Benjamin Moore Historic Colors for you. What about Marlboro Blue or Homestead Green?

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I love my cats ... : Thanks for the ideas for upholstery cleaning. I really appreciate the help.

Jura Koncius: Yeah!

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Virginia: I have two mixed breed Maine Coons, thanks for the article! I do find that their fur clings to fabrics like nothing else. I have a faux suede sofa, and notice that their fur doesn't stick to that. If the cat owner doesn't mind getting a slip cover, that could save her some work or money on cleaning the sofa.

Jura Koncius: Great tip.

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Alexandria, Va: Hi. I am still puzzling over the regular redesign story that ran a few weeks ago. Featured was a "budget" 1990's kitchen makeover for a young couple, in which the designer suggested new cabinets, new appliances, and marble countertops! Where was the "budget" in this article?

Jura Koncius: We will pass this along.

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For new mom of twins!: I'd recommend Great Beginnings out in Gaithersburg MD. I find Pottery Barn Kids to be overpriced for the quality. Great Beginnings has a much bigger selection. We bought all our white baby furniture there in 2002 - they delivered all of it for $75 for one trip. GOOD LUCK!!

Jura Koncius: Yikes. Time is of the essence here. I hope she has time to make it to Gaithersburg!

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Washington, D.C.: I am thinking about buying a white leather sofa, ottoman, etc. I remember a friend of mine having trouble keeping her beige leather car interior clean. Would I have the same problem with the white leather? How would I best care for it? Would leather cleaner once every so often work to keep it looking like new? If so, how often is appropriate?

Jura Koncius: If you want white leather, be ready to ban red wine and spaghetti and meatballs from your buffet dinners. A very chic choice, but not a good one if you have dogs, kids or messy relatives. Anyone out there have white leather?

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Paint color and ceiling: Help! I just had my very small full bathroom painted in B.Moore's Gray Chasmere (rest of condo is Cedar Key). It is more teal/mint chocolate chip ice cream green than gray. Ugg. I was recommended Umbria red but was wondering if you think a medium-deep red is too confining for my small and only bathroom. Additionally, it was recommended that I should paint the ceiling in the same color. Is this based on it's small size (5'x7' approx.). Is there an exception to the rule you posted earlier today?

Annie Groer: Dear Bathroom - Yes, there is an exception to everything we post, and this sounds like one of them. I once had a houseguest paint my bathroom shiny black while I was at work (how close did I come to throwing him into the Potomac? Very close.) But in fact, after the shock wore off, it looked pretty good. So yes, red wall and red ceiling. But go light with shower curtain and towels. You may also want a new light fixture that has several bulbs.

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river city: don't cry over us painting the stained wood, it's not original to the 1917 house or quality wood at all! It's some new DIY paneling the previous owners tacked up a few years ago instead of repairing the plaster walls. Something needs to be done cuz it's not quality wood and looks unfinished like something from an unfinshed wood store. Staining dark seems too dark for a bathroom, painting white looks too girlie, so painting a muted color is my only idea. I'm VERY open to better ideas decorators! Don't cry, give me ideas!

Jura Koncius: Wah!

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Bath Fitters: Hi Annie,

It's AJ from Alexandria. You asked me to respond to last week's poster re:Bath Fitter. My husband and I moved into a condo that had bathroom issues. The tub was a mess and the tiles were pink. We had seen the commercials and mall set-ups for Bath Fitters and decided to give them a call. They came out gave us an estimate. It seemed like a good idea. We set our measurement date for the third week in August 2003. They came they measured and ordered the supplies. The following week they were to install. Well, they measured incorrectly and we had to wait another six weeks before it could be corrected. Well, the product when it was finally installed looked great. However, there are things they don't tell you. If you live in a condo esp. one that's 40 years old, the shifting of the bldg. can cause stress fractures in the fiberglass install. They also don't tell you that in case you have to remove the inserts that it is nearly impossible. We had our bathroom remodeled last summer and it took two days to remove the fiberglass insert from the walls. And they had to break the existing bathroom tub to remove it from our home because the insert stuck to the inside of the tub like cement.

For anyone considering Bath Fitters or any place like it, ask yourself some questions first. Does the tub need some refreshing? Check out reglazing. It's a fraction of the cost. Is your tile hideous as my husband referred to the salmon pink in our home? If so, consider having a professional remove it and put in new tile yourself. Home Depot has classes and it can be fun. Or do you want a permanent solution? If so, Bath Fitters might be the way to go. However, I suggest checking with a local contractor and seeing what your options are.

Jura Koncius: Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us. It definitely gives some important issues to consider before spending any money on a bathroom upgrade.

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La Plata, Md: I'm thinking about replacing bi-fold closet doors with sliding closet doors. Is this something that I should take on myself (moderate handywoman skills) or get a professional?

Annie Groer: Dear La Plata - I'd go have a very frank talk with your hardware or DIY sales folks because if the track and door are not lined up, you will be most irritated several times a day. Has anyone done this out there...and when you post, be frank about your skill level.

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Washington DC: I feel your frozen-pipe pain. We had to take out a large section of drywall to get to the leaking junction in our basement.

Now that we need to re-wall and re-paint, I have a design project on my hands! This is a basement guest room; the entire basement, little bedroom included, is painted a nice sunny yellow. (I didn't choose it, so I can't match it.) Given the yellow in the rest of the space, what kind of decor scheme would be logical for the small bedroom? It only has one small window, relatively low ceiling, and just enough space for a full-sized bed. I've been meaning to get new bedding, so this can be a total overhaul.

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Sorry about that. I would go with white paint for the bedroom. Then you can use any color you want for linens etc.

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Flor: Love my Flor tiles. Currently located in my study as an area rug. Feels just like carpet and doesn't move, even with my two cats racing across.

Annie Groer: Thanks. Bet those feline races are a trip to watch.

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different whites: Hi,

My bathroom has white tile in the shower and on the floor and the vanity is white. No budget to replace those now. I've been trying to figure out what color to paint the walls. I found a picture that uses red and an antique-y creamy white, kind of like old parchment paper, that I'd like to hang in the bathroom. I like that off-white look with the red. My towels are red and the shower curtain has red in it so I'm thinking of painting the walls that parchment paper color. 2 questions: do you have a suggestion for a color, and will off-white walls look strange with regular white tile? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Parchment is a good idea. There is a new color in Pittsburgh Paints called Adobe White which would be super.

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spring spruce up: Hi there - I was one of the lucky ones who remembered to start furiously typing at 9 am to get my application in. In fact I was typing so quickly I'm not really sure all I specified on my rooms needing help!

My question is, will the designer give me advice about more than one area? I think in my two hours I would have time to ask about things like color and furniture placements in a few areas....do you know if this is allowed?

Thanks for the chats -- love the red doors -- we did ours a couple of years ago and I'm still very happy with it!

Jura Koncius: Congratulations on being one of the lucky ones!

Most designers will happily answer as many questions as they can in the two hours. So have your list ready. And take notes!

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Pentagon City, Va: For the person looking for a nursery dresser - I just bought ours at Baby 2 Teen, they have locations in Manassas and Fredericksburg. They have a large selection and lots of other beautiful things for a nursery. Plus, they are not at all pushy. Look for the Rumble Tuff brand - it's very well made and is reasonably priced. Ours was about $425.

Jura Koncius: Again, thank you for helping out this mom to be!

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New Paltz, NY: Howdy. We bought a 1940s farmhouse here in the Hudson Valley last summer. Living room and hallways are paneled with real wood (I believe pine), not the cheesy fake stuff. It's not what I would have chosen myself, but it's nice for what it is, and it definitely makes the house distinctive. But - combined with the oak floors, it does make the interior of the house quite dark. We have decided we don't want to paint the paneling, and so we're looking into ways to brighten up the living room. Ceiling is beamed, painted bright white; that looks good too. So far I've come up with a 5x8 shaggy white rug (I believe the chic term is "flokati") and we have our eye on a Room + Board sofa (Klein) in a blueish-green. We have two v. nice Barcelona chairs, chocolate brown. Not willing to give those up. So, I'm thinking that the next move will be to paint the brick fireplace. How about a blueish-tinged color, rather than white? Your thoughts? and any tips on fireplace painting?

Annie Groer: Great idea to paint the fireplace, and light is definitely the way to go.Think about Bravo Blue or Lauren's Supreme.

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Regarding DR Table: We purchased our DR table from www.antiquetablesmadedaily.com. The table has two additions that attach from the sides, and the table is all wood, hand-planed, and gorgeous!

Check them out, their prices are reasonable.

Jura Koncius: Great.

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For mom of Twins again! : To make it even easier - I bought a white Rumble Tuff dresser from Great Beginnings. This is a wonderful, very sturdy and high quality line of furniture. It was the highest rated by Baby Bargains. She can probably pick out a dresser on-line and GB will send it . . .

Jura Koncius: More for mom.

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Bathroom confusion: So many paint colors! If my living room walls are ice cream French vanilla, and the bedroom is TBD, what would you recommend for the bathroom, which is in between?

Jura Koncius: What about a citrusy PEAR by Behr?

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House Calls: To be honest, I don't like most of the designers' suggestions. If even one homeowner's negative response was published as followup, your pool of interior decorators would dry up fast!

Jura Koncius: Hmmm.

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Alexandria, Va: Hi ladies! Boy is this perfect timing.

I am redecorating my bathroom because the last owners put up wall paper, and it's peeling all over the place. I can see that some parts of the wall surface are not perfectly smooth. I was thinking of sponge-painting. I was also going to use a neutral color that's not white. Any feedback here? I'm a novice!

Annie Groer: Dear Alexandria - Sounds like a perfect place for sponge painting. Don't go too dark on the new color. And think about doing a light under-color and a slightly darker over-color. But until you get your technique down, start someplace relatively out of sight, like inside the shower enclosure. And remember, we've got a three-day weekend coming up.

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Tufted?: What the heck is hand-tufted, and how do you know if your rug is that? Why would it smell worse than non hand-tufted?

Annie Groer: Dear Tufted -- A hand-tufted rug, by definition, is made by hand, as opposed to a machine. If no synthetic backing has been applied to the hand-made rug, there won't be anything to decompose and smell.

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Raleigh, NC: Hi there! This isn't quite a do it yourself question - but hoping you can help! My current kitchen cabinets are oak and show alot of the wood grain in a very medium wood hue. I absolutely hate them. The cabinets are in good shape so I'm looking into refacing them but I wondered if I would be able to hire someone to strip and re-stain them to a darker more modern looking color - do you know if this is done and what kind of company/contractor I would need to call to do this?

Jura Koncius: Since you are in Raleigh, we can't suggest a specific person. But yes, there are companies that can restain them. Look in the Yellow Pages.

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Washington DC: Re: Flying things

They might be drain flies - flies that live in moist/wet areas, like drains. I don't know how to get rid of them exactly, but I do know that they lay eggs in tub drains and under the rims of toilet bowls. A web search should help with id and getting rid of them.

Jura Koncius: Yuck. Do other people have this problem?

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Colesville, Md: Good morning,

The contractors start tomorrow on our kitchen remodel and I still don't have paint picked out. Our cabinets are birch (Ikea), our floor is a light warm cherrywood, and our granite is called tropical black. It has a black background with white and grey swirls and large spote of a deep orange. The orange is dark and vibrant (not quite burnt orange). So I'm thinking of doing a complimentary orange color on the walls with cabinets and a grey on the walls without. Is this crazy? Is grey a neutral? Beige looks all wrong. Also what color for ceiling and trim. It would be helpful if the colors are available at Lowes or Home Depot.

Thanks

Jura Koncius: Gray is indeed a neutral. We aren't too sure about using more orange - as in the walls. Manhattan Mist is a nice Behr color in medium gray.

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Annapolis, Md: Good morning ladies! I'm excited to finally get my living room ready for recessed lighting this weekend. I have a 1970's split foyer with a large open living room. I was wondering if there are any guidelines for the number or placement of lighting. The room is about 20x15 with the sofa facing a large picture window. Thanks!

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Annapolis - Think of recessed lighting as a painless combination of task lighting and accent lighting. That means figure out where you sit and read, where folks gather in the room, whether you have pieces of art of furniture that should be spot-lit. And above all else, put all of them on dimmers.

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Bowie, Md: Good morning to you both! Please help me decide what method I should use to clean the carpeting in my home. Steam cleaning or the dry process known as chemdry? I've had both done to my carpeting in the past. The last time the carpet was cleaned I used the chemdry system and the chemdry employee badmouthed the steam cleaning system saying all of the dirt would come back again with steam cleaning. I really don't know whether to believe him or not. Which method do you prefer? HELP!!

Jura Koncius: This would make a great story. Sorry neither of us can compre the two! But what about you guys out there?

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Alexandria, VA: From Twin Mom to Be: THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS, POSTERS--I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

Jura Koncius: I think we had a great list going here. GOOD LUCK with everything. Let us know what you end up with!

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Baltimore, Md: One wall in my dining room has ugly wood paneling on the bottom half. I would like to paint the paneling, but I'm not sure what color to choose. The rest of the room is painted white; it has hardwood floors, a khaki-colored couch and a multicolored rug (burgundy, sage, navy). The room is small and north-facing. The wall with the paneling on it leads into the dining room, which is painted a light blue-grey (but there's no paneling in the dining room). Do you have any ideas? Thank you!

Jura Koncius: We would paint it white.

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Winston-Salem, NC: Hi! Our 1938 house has 3 1/2 baths, each of which needs some kind of cosmetic or structural work from repainting to replacing flooring to removing rusty sliding glass tub doors. I have discovered that I'm terrible at choosing/buying/installing colors, fixtures, etc., and I'm tempted to just call in a kitchen/bath decorator and let them handle virtually everything. Will the price likely be outrageous?

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: It will probably be higher than if you did it yourself because bathroom remodels are the most labor intensive room of the house in the tiniest space. You need fixtures, tiling, plumbing. Go to the website www.nkba.org, which is the home of the National Kitchen and Bath Assn., to get a sense of your style. And do only one bathroom at a time. It's a messy, loud process and you certainly don't want to be left without a loo.

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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Time to sign off today. Back at you next week.

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