Home Front

Annie Groer and Jura Koncius
Washington Post Home Staff
Thursday, February 15, 2007 11:00 AM

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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Anonymous: I'd like to open up a question for discussion...What is the best way to clean hardwood floors? My house has Bruce Hardwood flooring. Besides vacuuming regularly, they recommend their own Hardwood cleaner. But a quick read down the ingredient label reveals all sorts of toxic-sounding chemicals--a concern when kids are crawling around. I've heard Murphy's Oil is not good--it retains dust. I've been wet-mopping, but any other (greener?) suggestions?

Annie Groer: Dear Wood - You should make sure water doesn't saturate the surface as you wet-mop (damp mopping is better) because it can seep into cracks and underbaseboards and make the wood expand and contract. You are right about the dust-attracting properties of oil soap.

Martha Stewart's "Homekeeping" bible suggests that if your floors are polyurethane-coated, make a cleaning solution of 1/4 cup viengar and a quart of warm water.

If your floors are finished with wax instead of polyurethane, then the surface is vulnerable to scratches, which means water can penetrate and damage it.

After vacuuming, wash gently with a barely-damp mop (practically dry) says Martha.

And the rest of you out there with wooden floors??

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Silver Spring, Md: I bought an unfinished chest of drawers, which I stained a medium-dark mahogany. I was thinking about an antiqued brass for drawer knobs. Where are good places to look for drawer knobs and do have any suggestions about what to look for?

Annie Groer: Dear SS - When looking for knobs, you want to consider scale and style. If the chest is traditional, or your room is traditional, you'll probably want to stick with brass or facted glass. If the chest has clean lines and the rest of your stuff is more contempo, you can go with sleek round or oval pulls. You want to make sure that you don't get a teeny know for a large chest or something that looks way too large. In this area, Great Indoors in Gaithersburg has a big selection; so do the Expo Design centers.

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Annie Groer: Hello all - Brrrr.... Hope everyone is warm. We'll start with a word from Jura, who woke up to discover that Peter Pan peanut butter she just bought at the Safeway in Chevy Chase is part of a bad batch that may contain salmonella...The code on the lid begins with 211...If you've got some of this, keep it around for a week or two; Jura's pediatrician advised her to keep it in case symptoms surfaced (they can take up to a week).

Here's a question -- who refrigerates their PB and who keeps in in cabinets (Annie and Jura do the latter).

And now for decor.

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Arlington Va: Once upon a time, I heard of a website that quizzes you to help you figure out which interior designers would be the best match for you. I bookmarked it. Then my hard drive crashed. Now we're trying to gear up for some remodelling, and the bookmark is gone. Can you point me in the right direction?

Annie Groer: Dear Decorating....Ouch, a crashed hard-drive. No fun.

One source, while technically not a quiz, is the website of the local chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, www.asid.org and click on find a designer, then click again to designer referral services. It's not a quiz but it will get you started.

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Washington, DC: Painting trim question - all the window and door trim and base boards in my house are painted white. However, I am re-decorating my den, and found a picture in a magazine that I want to recreate. The catch is that the trim in the magazine room is cream, not white. Would it look strange to have the trim in one room (the den) not match the trim in the rest of the house?

Annie Groer: Dear DC - Presumably, your floor plan is not wide open, so, yes, go for off-white in the den.

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Richmond, Va: I know this really isn't a decorating question, but I need a new vaccuum...one that will adequately pick up cat hair. Do you have an opinion as to whether an Oreck or a Dyson would be better?

Jura Koncius: Dear Richmond:

You should pick up a copy of the March 2007 Consumer Reports. They have a report on the best and worst vacuums for PET HAIR. Last week I wrote about it in the Home section. They had to collect bags of Maine Coon Cat hair for the testing. The Dyson and Oreck seem to have similar scores in the middle of the pack. One suggestion from the testers: vacuums that use bags are a bit better at capturing cat hair than vacuums that have dirt cups.

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FLOR tiles and woven blinds: Hi there, someone last week asked about the cushion factor re: Flor tiles for a child's room. I have them and can assure that they are not the least bit plush if you are sitting or kneeling on the floor as a young child would. Cute and economical, yes, but there's no padding and it's basically like being on a bare wood floor.

My question today is, what tone of wood/reed etc would you choose for natural woven shade if your room had beige carpet and walls and furniture lots of white trim? I'm leaning toward mid-tone brown, like natural walnut. But I'm intrigued by the possibility of using espresso-dark bamboo blinds. There are five big windows in this room. THanks!

Annie Groer: Dear Flor & Shades - Thanks for the tip about the Flor tiles. We've also heard from people who use it in kids' rooms and like it fine.

As for the windows, go for the dark. It will provide interesting contrast to all that pale and medium wood. But keep them up during the day so as not to turn the room into a cave.

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Washington, D.C.: Color help!!!!

My parents are coming this weekend to help paint the bedroom in my new condo. I'm a 30 y/o male, looking for something masculine/classic.

I was planning Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray on three walls, but can't decide on an accent wall color. I was thinking Shenandoah Taupe, Himalayan Path, Stone Harbor, or Stonington Gray, all with Super White trim. What do you think? I was in love with Shenadoah Taupe, but now it looks a bit muddy.

Annie Groer: Dear Painter - Looking at all the combinations with Edgecomb Gray, I vote with your early choice, Shenandoah Taupe. If you're worried about it being muddy (did you test it on a wall already?) think about putting other things on the wall -- a large mirror, the headboard of your bed, artwork. Or go a shade lighter with Valley Forge Tan.

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Re: Flor cushioning from last week: I wanted to respond to the person from last week who had a concern about the lack of padding with Flor carpet tiles for use in her basement playroom.

We're very happy with the Flor in our bedroom (placed on top of a damaged wood floor, which, admittedly, absorbs more shock that concrete). My 2-year-old has no problem bouncing around on it, and it feels great underfoot during late-night bathroom trips. Different Flor styles have different amounts of thickness, so I'd try to check it out it in person to see for yourself (Design Within Reach carries it).

That being said, it does not have the fluffy cushiness of regular carpeting. It is, after all, mostly industrial/commercial grade -- made to stand up to lots of traffic. In my opinion, this is what makes is absolutely perfect for a playroom (or any room in a house with small children!).

Annie Groer: Thanks...The touch test is always best.

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Rockville, Md: Dear A and J: I have updated a bedroom wall closet (approximately 6 x 6) with shelving and hanging rods but need a door or other covering. Thinking a Shoji screen w/a light behind it would be great but not finding one readily. Decor is 1920's theme. Suggestions?

Thanks

Rae

Annie Groer: Dear Rae - Try Lloyd's Custom Cabinetry in Upper Marlboro --301-599-1616. He's in the process of doing a set of sliding Shoji closet doors as we speak. Email him the info and someone will get back in touch...lloydswindow@yahoo.com.

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Alexandria, Va.: Good morning! Do you have any suggestions for removing shallow scratches from a glass-topped coffee table? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: We called a glass expert who suggested going to a website called www.crlaurence.com, a leading supplier to the glazing industry. You can order a buffer from them and a special buffing solution that might work for you, but our contact cautioned that this method doesn't always work.It might be cheaper and easier just to get another piece of glass.

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wood floors: i just vacuum thoroughly, then clean any dirty-looking spots with a damp cloth. i'm petrified of water on wood floors! every once in a while, i go over the whole floor by hand with a damp cloth. (i have no pets or kids, and i don't wear shoes inside, so they don't really get dirty.)

Annie Groer: Thanks...But remember, floors are for walking and living. You can be careful but not terrified.

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washingtonpost.com: Jura's story on cat hair and vacuums, (Feb. 8, 2007)

Jura Koncius: Here is my piece on Coon Cat Hair removal!

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knobs: finally the stores have listened to us, and now you can get some very retro knobs at Restoration Hardware or even Lowes for very reasonable prices.

Jura Koncius: Hurray!

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leather furniture: A couple of weeks ago you suggested leather medic. I was happy to hear abouut it. Unfortunately they do not service Prince George's can you suggest another place. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Try Ram Leather 800-333-230 or 703 818-2300

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river city: Keep regular PB in cabinet. Organic without preservaties goes in the fridge.

Jura Koncius: Thank you River City.

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Inexpensive Rugs: Good Morning, I am in the market for an inexpensive rug (8 x 11 or a bit smaller). I found a few that would work at Home Depot, but I was wondering if there is another discount place I should check out. Solid colors are great, and I just want something that doesn't feel scratchy. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: You might try Ikea or West Elm.

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Fairfax, Va: We have a spare bedroom/office. Right now, it has a desk and a few bookcases in it. When we get new furniture for the master bedroom, we plan to put our old stuff in the spare room.

The comforter will be bright multi-colored stripes and the wood on the furniture is mostly light colored (birch). Any ideas for a neutral paint color and color for curtains to pull the room together?

Annie Groer: Dear Bedroom - You don't say what colors are in those multi-hued bedclothes, but here are a few suggestions using Behr paint (Home Depot).

Try these four pale possibilities -- Snow Leopard (whispery gray), Sea Salt (hint of beige) Frostwork (with a tiny bit of green) and Cascade White (faintly blue-ish.)

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Washington DC -- small room question: What is the best rug to open up a small living room? Print or solid? Should the rug extend under the furniture to make the room feel bigger?

Annie Groer: Dear DC - Not too much pattern, maybe an abastrct, and yes, it should go a foot or more under furniture so as not to look like a floating postage stamp.

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Manassas, Va: For the person looking for knobs, I highly recommend myknobs.com -- great variety, friendly customer service, and you can sign up for discount coupons. I used myknobs for my kitchen (pulls, handles) and the cost savings were considerable.

Annie Groer: Thanks, Manassas.

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Washington Design Center: The Home section this morning is fab. The article about craigslist was terrific.

I noticed the blurb about the Sample Sale at the Washington Design Center. Have either of you been? Is it really crowded? Would you advise going early in the morning or waiting until later in the day?

And no, I have never refrigerated PB.

Annie Groer: Thanks for the kind words about my story. It was great fun doing it. Yes, I went to a sample sale a couple years back and here's what I can tell you..Get there EARLY!! If you can leave the kids with someone else, do that too. This sale is not for the faint of heart. If you need to confer with Significant Other, he/she should come along. It's truly you snooze, you lose.

When I went, people began lining up an hour early or more. They brought coffe, etc. More importantly, they brought fabric swatches, paint chips, a tape measure, room sizes, etc. One woman even brought a sofa pillow to match several colors in the floral fabric. This is an all-sales-final event.

Happy hunting.

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Downtown Washington DC: Hi there,

Do you have any experience with, or opinions about, "mail-order" interior designers? I'm thinking of using a designer who sends you a kit and you provide her with a scale drawing of your space, answer a questionnaire, provide photos, etc.

Thank you!

Annie Groer: Dear Downtown - I don't have experience with such folks, but my first reaction would be that for a process that is this personal, you really want a live human being who can actually show up and see your space. Also, personal chemistry is really important with a designer, as it is with a contractor, doctor or hairdresser.

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Washington, DC: We bought a townhouse a few years ago, and in my excitement (and against my husband's wishes) I painted the living and dining rooms right away, in colors that I now realize are horrible for our space. The living room is BM Straw, which is too dark and makes the room look dank. The dining room is BM Alexandria Beige, which goes terribly with the Straw, and is not an appetizing color. I'd like to repaint but am now paralyzed when it comes to picking a color. I'd like to do one light color throughout, and I like the idea of yellow, but I don't want anything too lemony, or too orange, or too dark . . . is there anything you can recommend for a middle townhouse that doesn't get a lot of light? I think I'm only going to get one more shot before we go back to boring off-white. Thanks so much!

Annie Groer: Dear Townhouse -- Don't beat yourself too much. We've all made paint mistakes. Things that look great on a chip often appear dark or muddy on the wall, particularly in a middle townhouse. That said, and since you seem to like Benjamin Moore, try Moonlight (it is the color on the entire ceiling in my open plan loft and is quite pale and creamy.) If that looks too dark (you really should get a sample pot and try it on your Alexandria Beige wall (you may need several coats or a good primer to cover it). Another yummy possiblity is the even light Yellow Freeze.

Don't lose your nerve. It will be fine.

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Upper Marlboro Md- Making A House A Home: Good Morning Ladies,

I was looking at the website for the Washington DC Design Center and was wondering when the Design House will open for viewing?? (Spring maybe) and how often does this happen?? Looking for decorating tips and maybe a decorator (on a budget). You mentioned the ASID having a week that decorators offered discounts, did I miss that already?? Grateful for any info you can provide.

Many Thanks

Jura Koncius: www.dcdesigncenter.com

is their Web address.

Look for a new Website around March 1.

We just spoke to someone at the center. The 54 showrooms on floors one to seven are open for window shopping on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Of those about 20 of those will allow customers without a design professional inside to browse. You can't purchase products from these showrooms without a designer or architect.

The Concourse level of the Washington Design Center, which houses the kitchen, bath and building products, is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All nine showrooms allow customers to browse and purchase directly from them.

For more information call 202 646-6100.

Most of the showrooms They are open the public for browsing floors 1 to 7 Monday to Friday 9 to 5 pm.

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Washington DC: I enjoyed your story on web shopping. One additional hint: Car-sharing services (Flexcar and Zipcar) have pickup trucks and SUVs you can rent by the hour. It's much easier and usually cheaper than renting a truck or trailer from U-Haul. We've used Zipcar pickups to carry many a Craigslist find, including a dresser, mattress, bed, two dining room tables, china cabinet, a couple of loveseats, and a brand new dishwasher (which didn't match the other appliances in a designer's new loft, so just HAD to go).

Jura Koncius: Super.

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Baltimore, Md: I need new flooring for my kitchen; the old vinyl tiles are very scratched and worn. I don't want ceramic tile, so I'm thinking of laminate or sheet vinyl. But my dog always splashes water from his water bowl all over the floor. Can Pergo or other laminates tolerate a lot of water?

Jura Koncius: Put a try under the bowl if you can. Pergo is pretty good with small wipe-up amounts of water.

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Alexandria, Va: For the person looking for knobs for a newly-finished cabinet: I got glass knobs at Restoration Hardware to replace all the cheesy stamped-brass pulls on our bi-fold closet doors. They look great and come in a variety of sizes, so you could use both larger and smaller ones on your dresser if the sizes of the drawers call for variation.

Peanut butter: on the pantry shelf. Jif Extra Crunchy.

My question: I have a very small breakfast nook, and would like to use some sort of banquette instead of the table and chairs we currently have. Would it be feasible to use cabinets, put up on some sort of riser or toe-kick, to make a banquette with storage? Then I'd top them with a foam cushion for seating and a couple of throw pillows. Good idea or not?

Jura Koncius: Great ideas all of them! And keep eating Jif...

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Washington DC: One note of caution on craigslist, etc. Watch out for BEDBUGS!!!

In places like Boston and NYC bedbugs have been spread all over by people buying and selling furniture (not just beds -- sofas and nightstands too -- they can live in wood) on places like craigslist.

You can't always see them, and they are NOT limited to just low-market cheap furniture or homes. The cleanest, most expensive home can have them. They are very costly and a royal pain to get rid of.

-- I speak from experience.....

Jura Koncius: YUCK!!!!

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Washington, DC: We have a small bedroom with very little closet space. In between two small closets is an indentation where we initially considered putting an armoire. But I've been looking for a year and I've only found one that fits in the space, and it's expensive and not my style. So -- we'd like to install bars between the closets to hang clothes, but then the clothes would be exposed, and will also jut out a few inches beyond the closets. Can you recommend a way to install a track on the ceiling to hang a full-length curtain that would hide the clothes? Do you think this is a reasonable solution? My husband would love to be able to move his clothes into the bedroom (currently they're in his office). Thanks!

Annie Groer: Dear DC - I don't know how handy you are but one solution is to frame the inside of the indentation along the two vertical walls, paint and finish the wood inside and out and hang a conventtional clothing rack to form a closet.

Then you can decide whether you want to add doors, or just go for curtains to conceal hubby's clothes.

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Washington DC: whats the best way to clean steel front appliances? Mine are spotty but I was told that I had to use some kind of "special" cleaner but have never seen anything in the stores.

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Try Mrs. Meyers Stainless Steel Spray. It comes in three great scents - Lavender, Lemon Verbena and Geranium. It's $7.99 and you can order from www.mrsmeyers.com or they have a store locator.

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rugs at good prices: I have gotten some very cool rugs from overstock.com. Shipping is only $3 and they seem to be wearing very well. I've never wanted to return anything and you can read reviews from other buyers before you buy. Also GREAT place to get allergenic down-alternative comforters at v. low price and low shipping.

Jura Koncius: Wow can it be true that shipping is $3.!!!!

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Hardwood floors:: I highly recommend Bona Kemi products for hardwood floors. I regularly use the hardwood floor cleaner with great results, and every few months add a coat of the refresher to my polyurethaned floors. It really brings them back to life.

Annie Groer: Thanks for the heads-up about this Swedish company that makes eco-friendly floor care products. Alas, the website does not say where they can be found in this area. Help us out...where do you get them?

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Dear Baltimore in search of a new floor...: Don't forget to consider CORK!

Annie Groer: Thanks.

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Clifton, Va: I have two rough collies that blow more coat in five minutes then Maine Coon Cat blows in five years. Tumbleweeds of collie hair. I have a Dyson Animal. It picks up all the hair. Three years old without a problem. No it doesnt have a headlight who cares. Its a little heavy but it picks up more hair then my isster's miele or my bro's Panasonic. My sis has three Border COllies. Her next vac will be a Dyson!

Jura Koncius: I think my Miele is toast compared to yours!

My cat Gus does not have huge fur shedding thank goodness.

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Peanut Butter: We have always kept the peanut butter in the cabinet, right next to our chocolate (which my in laws refridgerate).

Annie Groer: Dear PB - Thanks. You don't make PB and Chocolate sandwiches do you?

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Washington DC: Good afternoon from a new homeowner! Well, we close in a week and I've only just come to the realization that my new home has neither a linen closet nor an entry/coat closet. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Cry. Then call a carpenter. A good lesson to everyone else.

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Arlington, Va: I'm in the same boat with Jura on the Peter Pan. I just had eaten a huge spoonful when i read the recall. Here's hoping no Salmonella for Presidents Day weekend!

Jura Koncius: Misery loves company!!!

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Inexpensive rugs: Head to the nearest carpet store, if solids are OK--there are usually dozens of remnants rolled up against the back wall left over from big wall-to-wall jobs. In my den, I have a soft and cushy high quality broadloom, nicely bound, and just about 6 by 9, for the grand price of $60.

Annie Groer: Thanks. Good advice. And if you want to make a remnant look custom, ask if they can bind the edges in a contrasting color.

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Cleaning stainless steel: Someone (Martha Stewart maybe?) recommended using olive oil to clean stainless appliances. It works GREAT! The Method stainless steel spray cleaner I have is pretty much useless.

Jura Koncius: Yeah Martha! And YEAH Racheal Ray. Do you have to use EVOO???

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to combine two questions: Give yourself a little time to find an armoir on craigslist. I JUST found one yesterday after checking for 2 months and paid about 1/5 to 1/10 what it would have cost in an antique mini mall. It was a great Valentine's day gift when we picked it up last night.

I think someone said here a few weeks ago, that a lot of armoirs will come available as people who used them for TVs switch to wall-hung flat screens. Give it a little time, I think this is a great time to pick up a 2nd hand wardrobe or armoir.

Jura Koncius: Good for you. Armoires are going to be flooding the market as flat screens take hold. You heard it HERE first...

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Frederick, Md: We have a 1912 house with yellow pine floors throughout. We have a great Mission-style oak table and chairs in the dining room that tends to blend into the floor, so we have thought of setting it on a sisal rug to set it off a bit. However, I saw something in this chat a week or two back cautioning against sisal. Can you or the poster from that time elaborate?

Annie Groer: Dear Frederick - It wasn't the rug that was the problem, it was the deteriorating latex backing (put there to keep the rug from slipping and occupants from breaking their necks).

So if you are going to anchor a rug under a d/r table and chairs, that won't be an issue. Make sure the sisal has no sticky backing.

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Shutters: Last week you all talked about how great shutters look in a house and I couldn't agree more. I am very interested in doing shutters in my living room.

I have a row house with three bay windows in the front that are very tall. (I forgot to measure them before I left this morning.) How do shutters work with tall windows? I've noticed that some other houses on the Hill will put the shutters on the bottom half of the windows. With the elevation of my house, this would work - people from the street wouldn't be able to see in. But does that look good? If I put them just on the bottom half, do I need drapes or a valance across the top of the window? Thanks!!

Jura Koncius: Just putting shutters in the bottom is just fine. When you are out walking or driving in Georgetown, Alexandria or Capital Hill, check out other rowhouses and you will see how common a solution that is. You really do not HAVE to put something on top if you want a clean architectural look.

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Maryland: Dyson is an awesome vacuum. it gets EVERYTHING (2 dogs and 1 cat in the house)

wet-mopping: if you use aything other than bruce floor cleaner, you could void any warranty. But practically speaking, just never dump a bunch of water on the floor with non-sealed wood. Wring the mop out and damp mop and likely you will be fine. have done this in 2 house for 10 years and they look fine.

Jura Koncius: Swiffers are good too.

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stainless steel cleaning: My college job was working in the cafeteria and my last task every night was wiping down every stainless steel surface with a weak solution of vinegar and water. I still use it. The french dressing smell goes away as soon as it dries, and my appliances are streak and water spot free. Doesn't smell as good as Mrs. Meyer's but it costs about two cents a treatment. Ack, I'm turning into Heloise!

Jura Koncius: Yes. You ARE turning into Heloise! And that's a good thing...

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Pergo in the kitchen: I was warned that some of the flooring products (similar to Pergo) require special installation in kitchen and bath areas because the edges of the product are not sealed. This sealing process can be done after the floor is installed and before the trim goes on, but it is not standard.

There are some really nice products out there that look like tile but are not and handle water and indentations from chairs,etc., quite well. I would keep looking if I were her.

Also, if you watch design shows that are produced in other countries you will notice a bias against Pergo and laminate (floating) floors creeping in. Kinda funny because I think it started over there!

Jura Koncius: Hmmm. I still love mine after 8 years.

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New York: How do you tell if your wood floors are poly covered or waxed? We are in a 1960's ranch...original owners put down great hardwoods and probably immediately covered with wall to wall in all rooms. As we have been taking out that original wall to wall, we have found great hardwoods.

They are not as glossy as I think of poly floors to be (where a clean coating chips off in spots), but I don't think they are waxed either?

I vacuum many times a week (black lab & lazy husband that does not take off his shoes if he goes back in the house for something!) but the floors look dull. Is it from the puppy walking on them with his nails, or husband's dirt getting ground into floor? I just want them to look clean and shiny, but not glossy.

Annie Groer: Dear New York - We turn againg to Martha, goddess of wooden floors, who tells us that in houses from the mid-60s that may never have been remodeled, there is a good chance the floors are covered with shellace or varnish.

Here's how to tell.

Scratch the surface in an inconspicuous spot with a dime, If the finish flakes, it's probably shellac or varnish.

Sprinkl a few drops of water on the floor, out of the way spot again. Wait 10 minutes. If white spots appear, there is wax on the floor (the spots will come off with bast wax and buffing)

If the finish does not flake or spot, it's polyurethane.

Hope that helps. And you may want to ask Hubby to walk around the house shoeless.

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Alexandria, Va: Hello- Can you direct me to a place where I can purchase replacement tiles for my shower? I have some cracked tiles that I want to replace but cannot find basic tile stores that will be able to sell me a small amount of my 4x4 tiles (they are off white and have a texture to them). I've looked in Home Depot and Lowes but they don't carry what I need. All of the other tile stores I find are for really high end remodels!

Jura Koncius: Try www.morristile.com. They have been around 50 years and have lots of are locations. Good luck.

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Person Looking for Inexpensive Rugs: I got 3 areas rugs from Overstock.com -- great rugs, shipping was free (at most they charge $2.95), and great prices. Also C-Mart might be a good place, or the Crate and Barrel outlet..

Jura Koncius: C-Mart. Yes. And they are opening their Landover location this Saturday. I hear Annie is going with her friend Toni Lee. I would love to come but I have to go out of town.

Annie promises to tell me about the bargains. Check out www.cmartdiscount.com. You should know that the rug department at C-Mart is a leased department.

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MMMMMMMMurphy's Oil Soap: Oh but it smells divine!

It reminds me of childhood. I have it on hand just because.

We also used it for our saddles and bridles (likely the main reason I have great memories when I open a bottle of it...)

Jura Koncius: We get your message!

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Washington, DC: A caveat on Overstock.com: I'm currently trying to return a table I ordered from them, which arrived broken, and their customer service is a nightmare. No refund in sight. Caveat emptor.

Jura Koncius: Oh dear. There is always a hitch.

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Southwest, D.C.: Just wanted to say thanks for reporting on the vaccuums. I have a Maine Coon cat and his hair is truly difficult to remove. (And there is ton of it! Maine Coons are v. large cats; ours is a little over 21 lbs. and the vet says he is in fine shape).

Our vaccuum just broke and were in the market for new one anyway.

Jura Koncius: There are so many Maine Coon Cat lovers out there. They really are beautiful majestic cats. Thanks.

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Wright house: This is about last week's story about the renovated Frank Lloyd Wright house: I was wondering whether Ethel Marden has been back to see the house since it was renovated?

Annie Groer: Dear Wright - Yes she has, according to Jim Kimsey. And she was pleased to see it. (Her husband's ashes are on the property now).

Another Wright-stuff person who's been there is Loren Pope, who commissioned the Pope-Leighy house in the 1930s in Falls Church and is now on the grounds of Woodlawn Plantation, 9000 Richmond Highway in Alexandria.

Of the three Wright homes in this area (Wright designed the third in Bethesda for one of his sons), Pope-Leighy is the only one open to the public as a museum.

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cleaning wood floors : I had a landlady who required in the lease we only use "Wood Preen Cleaner"

Annie Groer: Hey, she's the landlady.

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Bedroom Curtains: Hi Ladies - We just bought a new house and have huge windows in our bedroom. We're thinking of getting velvet panels to block out the light and provide some privacy. I really like the ones at Pottery Barn but they are a little pricey. Can you recommend a less expensive alternative?

Jura Koncius: I actually OWN bottle green velvet panels from Pottery Barn. They are about seven years old and in my back room. (One designer actually told me the looked "too Italian" for my little den - guess he didn't think my house was Tuscan enough.) They have lasted beautifully and are very heavy and hang out nicely plus they cut out drafts.

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Washington, DC: Hi HomeFront!

Great article about using craigslist and freecycle. I've been using craigslist a lot during the past few weeks to get rid of furniture and housewares that no longer fit with my new decorating scheme. I've had some luck, but it's also been a very frustrating experience. I had to deal with a lot of no-shows, and people who assured me with several e-mails that they wanted an item, only to get no response when I tried to arrange the pick up. It wasted a lot of my time.

Another thing that's frustrating are the scam e-mails. I had someone who claimed interest in an item, only to send me a very demanding follow-up about how I was to immediately take down the ad since they were buying it, insisting they be allowed to pay by certified check (even though my ad said cash only), and that some other person would be coming to pick up the item on their behalf. They went on to say that they needed some personal info from me so they could get the certified check cut. It's a well-known scam. The person will then send you a certified check for more than the amount of the item, claiming that's the only amount they could get. You're supposed to wire cash back to them for the excess amount. The check turns out to be fraudulent, and you lose the cash you wired, and are held responsible for the fake check.

It's also a little creepy letting strangers come into your home. I'd make sure someone else was with you, or for small items you can arrange to meet in a public area.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for those observations.

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No Linen or Coat Closet: You don't HAVE to cry over this. We didn't have either and for the coat closet, we use a stylish coat rack. (You do have to switch your coats out for those you use most at the time, keeping the others in storage somewhere...light weight fall jackets, heavy coats, then rain coats for spring.) It's not ideal but it can work.

For a linen closet, we realized that one of our bedroom closests abutts the hallway. So we put shelves on that end of the closet, cut a hole and then put small cute doors in the hall. It works great. Granted my husband's father is a contractor so he was able to make sure the doors hung correctly, etc but it didn't seem too hard.

Annie Groer: True -- Also, for the coat closet, Arhaus Furniture (www.arhaus.com, with locations in Baltimore, Fairfax, McLean and Richmond) is currently having a sale on a tall but compact hallway bench with seating, storage (boots,shoes) coat hooks and a mirror. It's currently $879, down from $1,099.

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Finding BonaKemi: Strosnider's Hardware in Silver Spring and Bethesda has it. Also, you can use their locator - http://www.bonakemi.com/mpdealers/mpd-masterep.asp

Annie Groer: Thanks...Why couldn't I find local distributors? Because at heart I am a cyber-failure. Oh, pitiful moi.

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Portland, Maine: Just moved into a new house and am not sure how to put curtains up. We have beautiful fluted, column window trim that I do not want to hide. Also the windows are very large and high to the ceiling. One in the living room is about 3" from the corner so not much room to do much. Do not need to hide the view. Was thinking sheer swag valances - any ideas?

Jura Koncius: Portland - what a beautiful place. Your windows sound beautiful so why cover them up?

Swags may look too 1980s. Have you thought of wooden shutters or possibly tiny blinds that fold up into a half inch when they are not in use?

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Bethesda, Md: I used to use my usual countertop cleaner to swipe my stainless steel stuff, but it was always streaky. Now I use Windex and it's totally streak free. Windex... it does everything just like the father on My Big Fat Greek Wedding said!

Jura Koncius: Windex. Yes. But I don't like to spray it on cuts like that Dad did...

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Velvet panels: We got ours from West Elm. Very happy with them and they were much cheaper than other places. The poster can go to the WE store at Tysons Corner if he or she wants to see them up close.

Jura Koncius: Wonderful. Thanks.

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velvet curtains: I just did curtains and also shied away from places like Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, etc. because my windows are big and I needed so many panels.

I ended up with Bed Bath & Beyond in one room and Target in another. Much cheaper and I think they look nice. Both stores had velvet options.

Annie Groer: Thanks. And in cold weather like this, remember to keep them closed at night so warm air doesn't escape, and open during the day to let in sunlight.

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Washington DC: Is Annie going to report back about the new C-Mart?

Also, for the DC Big Flea Market that's coming up, how early should one get there? Does a line form before opening?

Annie Groer: Of course I am going there, with my favorite shopping guerilla. Jura got a preview to write about it two weeks ago and reports back that the shoes are a knockout, including Kate Spade and Michael Kors. Also the Jil Sander clothing was huge. And no, she bought nothing, because that would have been unethical.

I haven't been to a Big Flea in a few years, so I don't remember. But I'd say if you're an early riser, go for it.

And if you want a terrific bargain, the best time to go is just before it ends, because dealers don't really like to have to pack up a lot of stuff. (Of course, what you want may not be there, so you have to decide whether you will pay a bit extra to get it.)

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spring spruce up: I was chosen for the spring spruce up. I've never worked with a designer before, so how do I make the most out of my hour, while being realistic? Can/should I hit him with as many questions as possible (what color works best here? is there a better way to arrange my furniture? what can I do about this bathroom?) or is it better to just focus on one room? I have a small condo so theoretically he could look at the entire thing and give a smattering of comments on each room, but I don't know if that's the best way to approach it. Also, are you supposed to tip or just pay the $100/hour?

Jura Koncius: We don't think tipping is necessary. You could offer coffee or tea and a nice selection of cookies!

Meanwhile, the best way to do this, especially in your small space, is to make a list of questions in advance. And have a pad ready to take notes. You might get a paint fandeck or ask the designer to bring one. Walk through the rooms and ask as many questions as you can.

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fingerprints on chrome?: What is the best way to remove / prevent fingerprints all over chrome kitchen appliances?

Annie Groer: Dear Fingerprint - Chrome is shorthand for Chromium, a blue-white metal with a gleaming shine. According to www.doityourself.com, you can use sudsy warm water; you can use a soft cloth dipped in undiluted white or cide vinegar (no balsamic, please).

The site also suggests applying baby oil with a soft cloth to remove stains from chrome trim on faucets, appliances, etc.

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Bruce Wood Floors: We have Bruce wood floors - which we love, by the way. Our builder informed us that we needed to use the Bruce wood floor cleaner (I think we got it at Home Depot) or we risked voiding the warranty. Don't know whether that's true, but it does a beautiful job on them.

Annie Groer: Thanks, good point about the warranty.

And now we have to sign off for the day, armed with the alarming news that yet another of our colleagues, Terri Sapienza, had peanut butter for breakfast.

What is it with you people? Haven't you heard of oatmeal? Creamcheese on that bagel? Scrambled eggs?

Back next week, with tales from the shopping front.

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