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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Washington DC: Hi Ladies! Any thoughts on where to find a small lucite dining table and a couple chairs (to use with banquet seating in the kitchen)? Either vintage or new is fine.

Annie Groer: Dear DC - You may want to consider glass rather than Lucite for your tabletop because Lucite can scratch. As for slim chairs, Kartell makes the very cool Victoria Ghost Chair by Philipe Starck, an armless acrylic chair that runs about $300 each.

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Jura Koncius: Hi everyone. Let's get going. Lots of questions already in.

Also - our colleague Terri Sapienza is doing a story on people who live in homes previously owned by someone famous (either living or dead). If you know of anyone, please email her at sapienzat@washpost.com. It will be a fun story.

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wild western, va: I am getting ready for a major kitchen remodel, keeping in mind that we will likely be moving in three years. I am leaning toward white cabinets. The "thermofoil" cabinets are the most affordable for my middle of the road budget, but I'm wondering how that stark white really looks in a home, and also any input on how they might wear over time?

Annie Groer: White cabinets are a wonderful look -- neutral, clean looking, and certainly good for more than three years. You can soften that stark whiteness with painted walls -- anything from pale yellow to bright red or sage green, you can do white, stainless or black appliances, etc. ect.

You get the idea...Lots of flexibility without killing your wallet.

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Potomac, Md: Last week someone asked about buying oriental rugs on ebay. I have bought three hand-knotted wool Kazak rugs on ebay from Pakobel Rugs. The seller has both new and used rugs mainly from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The rugs are similar in quality to ones I have purchased in a good rug store, and were much less expensive (most go for between $10 and $300). Shipping costs are reasonable. The only caution I would make is that you must study the posted photos extremely carefully as the company photographs the flaws but does not always point them out. The "shadow" you might see on a photo is likely a stain or discoloration.

Jura Koncius: Good tips and observations, Potomac. Thanks.

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Washington, DC: I read Terry Sapienza's article today about Pottery Barn's decorating classes. I went to the website to sign up but coudn't find out where to do this. Can you please provide more information?

Annie Groer: Turns out this is one of the few things you can't do on 'net. You actually have to call a store near you to reserve a space. Who knew?

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Arlington, Va: I was one of the people selected for the 10th Annual Spring Spruce Up and I wanted to let everyone know that it was a great experience. My designer was great she gave us ideas that are very easy to acheive and afforable.

Annie Groer: Thanks....we love good reports.

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Arlington, Va: Last week I asked for reupholstery recommendations and costs - someone kindly wrote that G Street was having a sale - I brought pics of my chair in there - with the 40 percent discount on labor and WITHOUT fabric, the cost was going to be $400! Wow, I could get a new chair for that much! Just wanted to share what I found out, in case anyone else was considering reupholstering a chair.

Jura Koncius: Sad but true.

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Baltimore, MD: Hello--I love the chat, read it every week. I was just wondering if you'd had any expereince with JCpenney furniture or the furniture from HomeDecorators.com?? I'm looking to get a loveseat/oversized chair for my home office for less than a designer price (my husband is a med. student, I'm heading to grad school). So do you have any experience with either entity or any other suggestions?

Annie Groer: Anyone out there???

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Largo, Md: My husband and I just found out we are expecting. We have a 3 bedroom townhouse. Of the 2 smaller bedrooms, we are going to make one the nursery and the other one (larger of the two; currently a home office) needs to be an office/guest room. I'd like to make it comfortable for the few guests that we get (usually couples), however the room gets the most use as an office. Do you have any suggestions on how to make the space practical for both uses?

Annie Groer: Congrats on the baby front...As for the guestroom/home office, since you don't get too many visitors, I'd consider a good looking futon against a wall. It's easier to set up than a sleep sofa, can be comfy for a night or two and can be changed with a new mattress cover to match any decor. You don't say how large the room is but I'd put a small table on either end with a reading lamp, a small clock radio, a few books and a water carafe. As for office furniture, if you haven't yet got any, go for a corner desk and hutch to save space. And make sure there is room enough in a closet for guest clothing, or put an over-the-door hanger up.

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Central VA: I am looking to replace my patio furniture. Can you suggest something, particularly as it relates to the finish? I am confused by all the options and can't tell what will hold up best in the weather, especially summer humidity and rain. I have some of those resin chairs, and they just collect mildew and mold, and won't come clean, even with bleach and power washing. What is comfortable and will look good for several years?

Thanks.

Jura Koncius: Good point about the resin. I have wrought iron furniture that is about 10 years old and doesn't look too bad. We spray painted a few areas that were a bit rusty. It stays out six months a year. We also have cushions that we tie on for dinners outside. It's a pain to keep taking them off and putting them in a storage container, but I'm sure it has kept them looking nicer. With all the waterproof fabric cushions out on the market now, it's still a fact of life that bugs, leaves, pollen, rain and pollution take their toll. Teak or metal or PVC will hold up longer.

Anyone else out there with opinions on this?

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outdoor rug: I am looking for a fairly large outdoor rug to make our splinter-prone deck more baby friendly. I don't want to spend a ton on it. Do you or your readers have any good suggestions for sources? I saw some in Home Decorators' Catalogue, and am wondering about those or other options.

Annie Groer: Try Home Depot, Lowes, Target and these two websites: www.walmart.com, which has them only on-line, not in stores, and www.rugsusa.com.

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Baltimore, Md.: I found a good website, Walnut, for cool and different wallpaper. Any other suggestions for wallpaper that is a little funkier than the norm?

Jura Koncius: wow

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Clinton, Md: Good Morning Ladies: Love your chats.

Looking for a daybed for a small guess room. Any suggestion on where to shop?

Jura Koncius: Check out West Elm.

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Lake Geneva, Wis: One of you mentioned that you have velvet curtains in the bedroom. I do too, and I was wondering, since they are fairly heavy (and I chose mine because they block drafts pretty well), do you change them in the summer to something lighter?

Jura Koncius: Actually, mine are in my den. They are olive green from Pottery Barn. And yes, they are a bit heavy in the summer. So far, my budget has not allowed me to have both summer and winter window treatments in my house.

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Alexandria, VA: Hello Ladies!

First, thank you for the wonderful articles and chats. I liked the new double duty appliances in today's section and the 'Pencil Sharpener' piece. I and a fellow craigslister would like to know if there are any places around here that offer upholstery classes. I know of the websites where you can buy videos and books, but we are hoping to find some hands on help. Would checking with local companies about apprenticeships be our only option?

Annie Groer: Thanks for the kind words. I am the "Feels Like Home" czarina and the submissions have been really interesting. Remember, if you want to send one in, you must keep it to 100 words...And the combo appliances also rock. I discovered a five-in-one breakfast cooker but alas, the only importer has decided not to re-order.

As for upholster, check out adult education classes in the city or county where you live. G Street Fabrics offers them too.

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Burke, Va: I'm hoping you can help me with a window treatment dilemma. I just had replacement windows installed. One unfortunate result is that there is no longer enough upper wood to re-install my 1" vinyl blinds. Can you recommend a window treatment that provides privacy while still letting in plenty of light like my soon-to-be-departed blinds? If it helps, about 5/8" remains above to install on.

Annie Groer: You can always do inside-the-frame tension rods with sheers. They let in lots of light, come in many colors and provide privacy.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I have a 1947 brick cape cod in Silver Spring with original windows. I'm debating if we should get high quality storm windows or replacement vinyl windows. Everyone seems to be getting vinyl ones but even the expensive ones look cheap. But I need better insulation than the single-pane windows I have now. Any thoughts?

Jura Koncius: We discussed this a few weeks ago. I live in a 1937 colonial with original windows. There are a few leaky storms, but they aren't too effective. Some winter days, it's mighty drafty in there. But because my house is small and winter isn't usually too bad, I put off getting new windows each year because I dread how tacky the new ones will look in comparison with the nice wood originals. It's a choice you have to make - I know I'm wasting energy but it will also cost a fortune to replace all the windows.

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Windows in Showers in Alexandria, VA: Most of the apartments in my complex have a 1 1/2 ft. x 3 ft. window in the shower with mini-blinds. The blinds work well, but get a little rust after several years and are replaced. If the window and tile are old, it is important not to let any water sit in the window well and seep behind the tile wall.

I got a white fabric shower curtain to cut up to make a gathered window curtain with a tension rod at the top and bottom. It would go as high as my head and about 12 inches of the top of the window would not be covered. But I never got around to doing it...

Regarding very large bathroom windows with frosted glass, I have heard of neighbors being able to see the showering person's silhouette if the window is in the wrong location with a light behind them at night.

Annie Groer: Good points about bathroom maintenance. Perhaps the key is to shower when the opposing bathroom light is off. Or get a patterned opaque window film to put over the glass that will produce only a very fuzzy silhouette. Or just be resigned to give the occasional neighbor a cheap thrill.

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Arlington, Va: We have a beautiful, spacious living room with khaki walls, slate fireplace, chocolate & dark green furniture, and an Oriental rug with a burnt orange background and traces of brown, green, red, and slate blue. There are radiators (for hot water) along the floor below the bay windows. Can I still do floor-length curtains or should I go with blinds or plantation shutters? And what color(s) would you suggest?

Annie Groer: I vote for plantation shutters. You've got a lot of color and pattern going on there. And if you can make them white or the color of the window trim, that would be great. They would kind of disappear.

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Home Decorators: We have ordered several items from Home Decorators and have been pleasantly surprised by the quality.

Annie Groer: Terrific.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi Annie and Jura,

I recently purchased a new sofa with a celery and cream houndstooth upholstrey (not the neutral I was looking for, but I love it). I am pairing it with a dark brown leather ottoman, but need to paint and furnish the rest of the room. Any suggestions on wall colors -- a pale beige or light gray? And I'd like to add an upholstered chair -- beige, grey, chocolate brown? I could really use some help! Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Celery and cream houndstooth is DEFINITELY not neutral but so much more interesting. Wall color could be cream or a very very pale celery green. Chocolate brown sounds good for another chair.

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G Street Fabrics: Well, I did the same and got a similar quote. I was the poster who recommended the shop on Duke St. If the chair is going to be one that you'll cherish and use, get a few estimates and have it done. Just because you can get a new chair for the price of reupholstering bear in mind that most new chairs won't last nearly as long. Shop around. In their defense, G Street has to ship out their jobs so you're paying for all of the extra costs associated with the job.

Annie Groer: You might also try Calico Corners. They are also having a fabric and labor sale.

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Ballpark question: If you had to ballpark it, how much would you say it'd cost to convert a garage into a bedroom/den - no addition of plumbing, but need to snake in some heat/ac.

Annie Groer: No idea....anyone out there do such a conversion? Are you talking about putting the bedroom/den on top of the garage or just clearing out the existing structure, adding insulation, drywall, flooring, etc?

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Lavender and Kips Bay: Hi Ladies. I loved the photos from Kips Bay. For all the other readers - the photos are much clearer and the colors more vibrant online than in the morning paper. The lavender is much more apparent online. Or maybe it is just because I have had my morning coffee. Thank you too for the spring house issue in Sunday's magazine. I LOVE Adrian Higgins' garden. WOW!!! Now one smallish complaint. I am having a time finding the chats from the front page of the web site. Is it just me or is there an easier way to find them than by searching on JURA? I really hate it when I miss these chats. They are so helpful. Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: All discussions for a given day are now listed; the "+" sign to the left of the word "schedule" is a pull-down with the daily lineup.

Jura Koncius: Yes. Please just type in Jura...

I need more hits, as they say.

Just kidding Annie.

We always want everyone to be able to find our chats. And thanks for all the compliments. Sometimes the colors in the paper don't reflect the true colors in reality.

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Regarding Thermofoil Cabinets: Regarding the other poster's question about white thermofoil kitchen cabinets: I'm also considering them and was wondering if you've seen a kitchen with IKEA's white Abstrakt? I'm going for a very high-end, ultra-glossy look, but wasn't sure if they looked glossy or "high-end" enough. We'd love to save the money by going with IKEA and spend more on hardware to dress it up. Any advice is appreciated.

Jura Koncius: Tossing this out for you Ikea kitchen lovers...

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Anonymous: Response to Central VA about Outdoor funrniture!

Solid Cast Aluminum! I have had a table and chairs for 12 years, they stay out in the garden all year long and never rust and still look as they did 12 years ago when I bought them! I would only go with Solid Aluminum!

Jura Koncius: Okay. You have really gotten your money's worth.

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Montgomery Village Backsplash Help!: We recently installed our first grown-up kitchen with maple cabinets, cherry floors and granite counters. I had a 4" granite backsplash put in because I never thought I would have time to tile. Is it okay to put tile above the granite backsplash? If so, chestnut-colored cabinets, arctic moon granite, white appliances, cherry floor. I was thinking some shade of white subway tile or small mosaic-like tiles. Please help. You two are wonderful.

Annie Groer: Tile could get a little busy. Why not just paint the area above the backsplash the color of the walls.

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Granite, Md: Good morning. We have an old farmhouse with wide, stained wood baseboard, crown molding and ceiling beams (not original) which in my opinion visually breaks up the small/low ceilinged rooms. I finally won the battle to paint the trim, but don't necessarily want to paint the beams. Two questions - the walls are cream; what color should I paint the trim? Also, the doors in the space are cool old stained doors, and one stained salvaged-wood doorway (without a door) which I don't want to paint. Will it look odd to keep the beams, one doorway and the doors unpainted?

Thanks!

Annie Groer: In a word, no. But if, after you've painted everything else and it niggles and annoys you, reconsider painting them too.

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Narrow console table: Where can I get a really skinny console table for my entry? I'd love to find a simple table with a shelf for a bit of storage. My entrance hallway is narrow and the table I have now gets bumped when I open the front door, and bumped again when I open the hall closet. I thought about just hanging a shelf, but I hate messing with my plaster walls too much. I'm looking for more modern, less traditional.

Annie Groer: Clearly your current table is too wide, hence all that bumping. The website www.allcoffeetables.com has a good selection and free shipping for a limited time. But before ordering, measure the wall with both doors partially open so you don't end up banging that table too.

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Walk-in closet: Hi Ladies - I hope you can help me with a closet problem. I have a walk-in closet with the cheap modular hangers/shelves -- plenty of hanger space (and very sturdily hung on the wall!), but the shelves just don't work well enough for t-shirts and sweaters and everything else that gets piled up. It's got a real high ceiling, so I've got plenty of room to put up additional shelving. Is this something that Elfa or ContainerStore can solve?

Jura Koncius: Yes definitely. Elfa is a beloved system of many. Container Store has a full complement of components for it. Get yourself over there.

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Alexandria, Va: I love my dog, but he peed on my brand new silk/wool Oriental carpet. I blotted it up right away with a little pet stain remover, and don't see a stain or smell anything - but is there anything else I need to do now? Should the rug be cleaned, and if so, how do I find a good place to take it?

Jura Koncius: We all love our pets but YIKES. They do cause a lot of damage in our homes. Just this morning, i was looking at the shredded corner of my slipper chair in the living room. Boy, it sure looks shabby thanks to Gus, my beloved cat. If I replace it, he will ruin whatever I get. So I guess we will just be a bit shabby around the edges.

Meanwhile, people have had good luck with www.odormedic.com or www.urinegone.com. If that doesn't work, a cleaning might be in order. Sorry about this...

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Washington, DC: Hi! To the poster who asked about Home Decorators.com I ordered a 4 door low cabinet from there a few weeks ago. I loved the cheap price and for what I needed it for, it's great. However, expect a low-ish quality to go along with the low price. We noticed that the surfaces scratch very easily (just from moving a picture frame around!) and we had some trouble putting it together...but we are happy all around with what we got for such a low price.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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McLean, Va: My living room/dining room is a long, rather narrow room with three equally spaced, narrow, almost-floor to ceiling windows in the living room area. I am in a quandry as to what type of curtains and/or blinds to get for the windows to provide privacy and light into the room. Do you have any solutions? My furniture and style is traditional. Thank you.

Annie Groer: Since your decor is traditional, think about ready-made silk curtains that work with your color scheme. You can get one or two very long rods that extend across all three windows so when the curtains are closed there is a unified look. Or you can get Roman shades on each window in a print, stripe, print or toile.

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Washington, DC: Do you have any experience with Restoration Hardware paints? Curious about the quality.

Jura Koncius: The paint, which has around for four years, costs $32 a gallon. There are over 40 colors. You can buy a fandeck $7 of their of their colors or a 4 oz. sample for $3.95.

www.restorationhardware.com.

It is good paint and a good value. Anyone else out there want to chime in?

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re-upolstery blues: I must say this makes me sad. How about this for a viewpoint: you're not just getting any old chair if you re-uphonster - you're getting one that's custem designed to fit in with your taste and decor. How often can you do that with furniture? We did this recently with a sofa and it's dynamite. It really suits the room in a way it wouldn't if we hadn't picked out the fabric!

Jura Koncius: Another view, and a good one...

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Console Table: Check Craigslist. I've seen some really skinny ones lately. Also, if you know someone handy, then have them saw a regular kitchen table in half and mount one half to the wall and us the other half of the top as your shelf. People give away tables all the time.

Jura Koncius: Oh yes.

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Windows: Regarding Silver Spring with the window question,

I think he/she was looking for advice, or experience of someone who's done the job.

For what it's worth, I replaced the original 1908 windows in my house. It was a tough decision. They weren't fancy or decorative in any way, but they were original, and I liked that. So I know how you feel.

BUT, on balance, the benefits of original (mainly philosophical/emotional) didn't come close to outweighing the detriments: they were drafty, which increased my heating cost and my environment footprint; they rattled in the wind, which kept us up at night; and they provided zero noise insulation, so we heard every word uttered (and every bark barked and horn honked) on the street and sidewalk in front of the house.

In order to address the aesthetic question, I opted for a woodgrain interior, and the white vinyl exterior. My woodwork inside is all original and all dark, so I thought the white would look terrible on the inside. It added about 10% to the cost of the project, but was totally worth it.

It's a big investment, but if you're going from old single-panes, you might find that it's justified.

As for storm windows, I considered them, but rejected the idea. The cost was 60-70% of what total replacements would cost, and honestly, I hate getting my fingers caught in those spring-loaded clasps when raising and lowering all the pieces! Plus, the noise insulation isn't great with storms.

One final, unexpected benefit of new vinyl windows: they keep dirt out! I was amazed to see how much less dusting I have to do, and how clean my windowsills stay, since we did the replacement. Who knew.

Jura Koncius: wow. great observations

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Cleveland Park, Washington, DC: Hi there! Now that the weather is getting nicer, where should I look for flea markets in the area? I'm looking for small pieces of furniture and accessories. I'm looking for more selection than the ones at Glover Park or Eastern Market, but I also do not own a car so can't really drive around at yard sales.

Thanks for the help!

Annie Groer: Alas, ever since the Georgetown flea moved to Arlington, there are so few DC choices. you may want to consider getting a ZipCar or FlexCar for the day or carpooling with a friend in order to hit the Bethesda Farm Women's Market, 7155 Wisconsin Ave. on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. Also, the Arlington Civitan Club does a flea the first Saturday of the month through November in an enclosed parking garage that straddles I-66 and North Quincy St. If you can wait till July 22-21, the DC Big Flea at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly has tons of dealers.

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Alexandria, Va: For the person who just had the replacement windows put in & the old blinds won't fit:

We had the same problem when we did ours a couple years ago. The only blind we could find that would fit was pleated shades - and even then we had to get special low profile brackets. We ordered through Next Day Blinds and love them.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for this.

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Cleveland, Ohio: Ladies, I don't have a question but you have solved many of my dilemmas since I've discovered you and some of the timing has been perfect (i.e., painting a brick fireplace surround and after reading your column, I changed my mind!)

Thank you so much!

Jura Koncius: We love Cleveland!!!

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Arlington, Va: Re: upholsters. I used Jose Goncalves (Lee Hwy in Arlington) to reupholster a 76 inch sofa about three years ago. They retied the springs, new webbing for the deck, replaced the three loose back cushions, but seat cushions were still good--about $1000 for labor. I supplied the fabric which I had picked for a great price at Discount Fabrics in Thurmont, MD. They do at least part of their work on site. It was a Sherrill sofa about 20 years old--well worth reupholstering.

Jura Koncius: I have a Sherrill sofa too - Mine is 17 years old and has been reupholstered once. It's a good quality piece and still looks classic.

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Re: Ikea Cabinets: Do the white thermafoil ones look really high gloss? And do they look good installed?

Jura Koncius: Anyone have experience with these?

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no futons!: for the person with the office/guest room--seriously consider an aerobed. The $100 price range kind are REALLY comfortable, much nicer than a futon for your guests and store in a box the size of an overnight bag. To my mind, a futon is comfortable neither as a couch nor as a bed, why bother?

Annie Groer: There are comfy futons (I have slept on a couple of them) and they do provide a place for the homeowners to sack out or rest even when there are no guests.

But I'm also a huge Aerobed fan. Jura and I each have them. Jura's advice is to not buy the cheapest version but spend a bit more so you won't have to replace it. She used the twin size for her son's friends for sleepovers. I have a queen size that inflates to thigh height as if it were a real bed, and during a renovation, I spent nearly three weeks sleeping on it. It inflates in about five minutes and takes standard size linens. These tall queens run about $300, but if you watch out for the Linens 'n Things or Bed, Bath & Beyond 20% off coupon, you can get them for $240. And you can throw the Aero in the trunk if you're crashing with friends sans guestrooms.

Final tip: Bed, Bath and L 'n T accept each other's coupons.

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Dupont Circle, Washington, DC: My living room has a red wall with a large, empty, freestanding white mantel (empty as in no fireplace!). We are renters so painting/removing it/adding a fireplace isn't really an option. Do you have any suggestions for what I can do with this? Something that would look good in the empty space at the bottom? It's about three feet by three feet and the area doesn't get enough light for a big plant. Thanks!

Annie Groer: A funky piece of scultpure? A couple of odd size candlesticks? A vase of dried flowers? A short stool with a stack of coffee table books?

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Fairfax, Va: Don't forget Spicer's in Alexandria for reupholstery. I was very happy with the job they did on my sofa and loveseat, and the price, though not cheap, was less than G Street or Calico Corners -- plus you talk to the people who will actually do the work; it is not subbed out.

Annie Groer: Thanks.

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Funky wallpaper: http://www.melinamade.com/ has wonderful vintage wallpaper & barkcloth, if that's her idea of funky.

Jura Koncius: Funky.

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Home Decorators and JC Penney: Home Decorators is owned by Home Depot, so the quality is similar to their in-store items. You can get some great deals on rugs and decorative items there. Look for coupon codes online.

JCPenney furniture is excellent quality. It's not the most exciting stuff, but it lasts for a long time.

Jura Koncius: Hey, we did not know this! Home Depot purchased Home Decorators last year - it's a St. Louis company.

The business is mainly online and catalogue. www.homedecorators.com.

The business is totally separate from the Home Depot stores, according to a spokesman.

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Helena, Mont: I'm considering using a heavy wallpaper that looks like beadboard, since I don't think I'm handy enough to install the real thing in my dining area. Anyone have experience with this? Will it look OK? I'm wanting to somehow cover the textured wall finish with a better look. I'd do the lower wall and put a chair rail at the edge.

Jura Koncius: Anyone?

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Secondary Glazing: Is there something here in the US the equates to what in Britain is called 'secondary glazing'. A lot of people have old houses there and they solve the with original windows/drafts dilemma this way. They fit inside the originial windows. I Think it works a bit on the tension rod principle. They do look a little funky from the inside ... but that's easily solved with sheers. The upside is that they're affordable, get rid of drafts and keep the house windows sympathetic.

Jura Koncius: What a fascinating concept! The people in Britain certainly need to protect themselves from drafts. Does anyone know about this in the U.S.?

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Salem, Ore: Hi ladies! You give such awesome advice I just have to ask your opinion... We're building a new house and the bottom floor is mostly open without a lot of walls to break up the color. I can use two colors primarily, and I'm looking to use a warm creamy color that doesn't look "wimpy", and a second color in the brown family to add drama to the entry and one accent wall in the main living space. I want a cozy but cheery feeling as I'm in rainy Oregon! Most of the light will be coming in from the east, with two south facing windows as well. What would you suggest? I have the SW, BM, and RH fan decks. Thanks a bunch!

Annie Groer: One of my favorite pale yellows (which is also a hit with our chatters) is Sherwin Williams Lily. If you want to go a shade darker, try Glad Yellow, and use Lily on the ceiling throughout. As for that brown accent, Try SW Cardboard or the darker Craft Paper. But make sure you've got good a good light fixture in the entry way, on a dimmer of course. You want to come into a home that says cheery, not dreary.

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spring spruce up: I also had a spring spruce up appointment, and we were more disappointed. The person spent the whole time describing the custom elements that she'd design and order, and at the end we felt as though we paid the $200 to get her marketing spiel. What we really wanted was advice about the scale of furnishings that would work in the room (so that we could buy them ourselves from big box stores like Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, etc), but she was just focussed on trying to get us to hire her. She treated it as a consultation for her custom services, and we'd have preferred to pay that consultation fee to someone whose work we had already seen and admired.

Jura Koncius: I would call Leslie Ehrmann at the ASID local office and express your concerns. 202 488-4100.

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Old Town Alexandria, Va: Re: restoration harware paints. Love the colors but FYI if you have an old house with imperfect plaster walls (as we do)...I had two professional painters come and do estimates. Both separately recommended against RH and its "velvet" finish for old plaster walls as it shows every imperfection. We went with C2 Potsticker and LOVE it

Jura Koncius: Love Potsticker... And interesting to hear their advice. Thanks.

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pro-upholstery: I agree w/ the previous comments on upholstery -- it would be hard to find exactly what you want for $400, plus you get the advantage of NOT filling up the landfills. I found G St. to be expensive tho' -- I used Mt. Vernon upholstery in Alexandria, and thought they were GREAT. I think about $400 for upholstered chairs that had a TON of tufting buttons. I got the special order fabric for 40% off at Joann's -- they have those sales almost once a month. Selection isn't quite as diverse as some of the other places, but the sale prices are tought to beat.

Jura Koncius: It's a tough call, isn't it. But I agree about filling up the landfills with disposable furniture...bad bad bad.

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Flea Market: Will you ladies be going to the big sale at the Old Luckett Store in a few weeks?

Annie Groer: Ooooh, the last thing Jura and I need is more stuff, but if any of you desire a shop op and weekend excursion, check out www.luckettstore.com. It's an antique emporium in Leesburg. Don't know if this question was planted by the store staff, but hey, we're an info conduit here.

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re Ikea cabinets: No personal experience however I have seen them used more than once in Domino magazine. Looks really nice.

Annie Groer: I have Ikea stainless steel cabinets with frosted glass doors and they seem to be holding up just fine. And they look good.

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DC, soon to be Seattle: My husband and I just signed a contract on new construction house this morning! We'll be moving from a condo to a 4-bedroom dream home, so now comes the fun part, figuring out how to decorate! We'd like to gradually replace our IKEA chic with, um, real furniture, but it's going to take a while after buying the house. Do you have any suggestions for decorating in transition, and some good books or shelter mags that can help? We like traditional (I came to the marriage with a few Queen Anne pieces for the bedroom) and rich wall colors. Thank you!

Jura Koncius: Hit the spring yard sales. And Domino magazine has great ideas and shopping tips, although it can be a great idea source as well.

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Garage re-do: To clarify, my garage question is not about putting an addition on top of a garage, but taking the actual garage (in a rowhouse) and making it a room.

Annie Groer: Thanks for clarifying. The best thing to do is get a couple of estimates from contractors and do your research on how reputable they are. Also, you may need to check with your local government about building permit and zoning issues.

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Windows: I too have an old (1930) home with windows that let a lot of air through. One very effective, although not particularly aesthetically-pleasing, solution is the plastic that you can line the inside of the windows with. It makes a huge difference in terms of letting in cold air in the winter. So if that's your main concern, it's a cheap fix. However, you do have plastic on the inside of your windows, which a lot of people don't like the look of.

Jura Koncius: No, I can't bear to do that I'm afraid.

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Re: Outdoor Furniture: I have all wood furniture on my deck. It takes a LOT of maintenance to look good, but it does last a long time (I've had mine for 8 years and everything is in tip-top shape.) Wood that has been "oiled" will grow mildew fast, which turns it black. We have to bleach the wood each Spring - a most unpleasant job. If it weren't for my husband - a Scandinavian who wants wood everywhere - I'd go with metal. Make sure your cushions are Sunbrella - pop the covers in the washer with some bleach when they get dirty. Sunbrella is indestructible!

Jura Koncius: There is no such thing as maintenance free!!!

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Anonymous: Love your chats.

I have a question about cleaning tiles. We have tiles in our kitchen. The tiles in the high traffic area look dirty in spite of repeated cleaning. Can bleach be used on tiles for getting rid of the dirty look.

Thanks

Annie Groer: Oh, yuck, grimy looking floors. According to Donna Smallin's book "Cleaning Plain & Simple," she says use a cleaner made for ceramic floors, or mix 1 cup of vinegar in a gallon of water. Do no use detergent or soap, which can dull the surface.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Homettes - love the chats. We're looking to do a kitchen renovation and have been comparing Ikea cabinets to Venicia by Kraftmaid. There's a huge price difference, but is there a quality difference?

We're looking at the high gloss white cabinets, to do a sort of 1940's deco theme with black and white and accents of cobalt blue. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: The Ikea cabinets may not make it into the golden years with you...

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Space Starved New Yorker: A question you posted a few weeks ago never got answered, maybe becuase it came at the end of the chat. Does anyone know where to but the premade wall niches, to set in a wall?

Jura Koncius: We have never seen pre-made wall niches. Has anyone else?

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Reston, Va: Hello there ladies! My husband and I recently bought a townhouse and want to redo the kitchen. The current cabinets are in pretty decent shape but need refinishing. We are having a hard time finding recs for contractors who will do a good job - not interested in refacing though. Thanks!

Annie Groer: In a community as large as Reston, there must be a listserve. Sign up and start by querying your neighbors. Or join the local Angie's list, in which consumers rate the job done by lots of service providers (www.angieslist.com).

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Old Luckett Store: No, I don't work for them. I was out in Leesburg a few weeks ago at an auction and met a couple of ladies who will have booths there. Then, last weekend I made a Craigslist pick-up and the seller was going to be at the event also. I just couldn't keep this kind of thing to myself.

Annie Groer: Thanks for sharing. It's a reporter's job to get all the facts.

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Falls Church, Va: We're getting ready to plan a kitchen renovation, and are feeling a bit overwhelmed. Will kitchen designers at a place like Home Depot help with figuring out how to rearrange the space, or do we need to go with a high end design/build type place for that?

Annie Groer: Do not despair. Home Depot, Lowes and Ikea will all work with you.

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Garage re-do: You may need some serious work on the slab to get out or seal away oil stains. Not to mention that most garage slabs are sloped and you might have to do a lot of levelling on the subfloor.

You'll probably need to bring in additional electric outlets, too. Not a project for the faint of heart.

Jura Koncius: Great

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Aldie, Va: We are in the preliminary stages of building a new home. Are there designers who can help with how we might finish the interior, to include design, also selection of cabinets, granite, tile, crown molding, appliances, lighting, bath fixtures, etc? If so, how do we find them? I have only found those that deal with decor, not bare bones design.

Jura Koncius: Another wonderful chat comes to an end. Thank you everyone on your thoughts on reupholstering, garage makeovers, window replacement and more.

See you next week.

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