Home Front

Every week, the Washington Post Home staff talks about various ways to improve your home. Find out about new home trends, upcoming antique shows and a variety of how-to help.

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Ask Post staff writers Annie Groer and Jura Koncius about all things home related.

The transcript follows.

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

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Jura Koncius: Greetings all. I'm just back from High Point and the fall furniture market. I must say, you never know who is going to have a furniture collection, from butler's of famous princesses to former hot models. But lets talk about more important things right now...

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Reaction to House Call: The designer identified the room dividers as "old-fashioned architectural features"?

Um, I think they came from West Elm -- fairly recently. Or even Target (who came out with knockoffs of West Elm products shortly afterwards.)

Don't designers look at mainstream furniture catalogs?

Painting isn't a bad idea but in my mind this designer lost all credibility when they revealed they didn't know about mainstream products.

Annie Groer: Actually, the designer is correct since the owner has had the room dividers for several decades. Perhaps a better choice of words might have been "dated" or "tired" if they had some wear on them. Such pieces were very hot in the 70s, when originally acquired. And since there is virtually nothing new under the sun in home furnishings, smart (or lazy, you decide) mass retailers like West Elm, Target and all the others are copying copiously from bygone eras.

One of the points of the very popular House Calls feature is to help people use what they've got if it still works, and update the room with new things, which is why giving the dividers a facelift was a good idea.

FYI, a lot of what the big stores are selling today are copies of Arts & Crafts and Mission pieces (early 20th century), Art Deco (1920s - 1940s) Mid-Century Modern (1940s - 1960s)etc. You get the picture. And so does the designer, I'm sure.

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washingtonpost.com: House Calls

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Brookeville, Md.: I have lots of electrical items in my home, like stereos, musical instruments. The wires are unsightly, especially when there is no plug point close to where the electrical item is. Is there any way to tame this mess of tangled wires?

Annie Groer: Who doesn't. And they are ug-ly. Check out www.lifeorganizers.com and www.cableorganizer.com for a good start. And if any of you chatters have done something really chic with those annoying wires, let us know.

Annie Groer: we agree...ugg-ly. check out www.lifeorganizers.com and www.cableorganizer.com for options. And if any of you chatters out there have found a really chic solution, chime in.

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Arlington, Va.: Can you recommend a great lavender paint for my bedroom? I have a mint/celery colored quilt on the bed and a black metal bedframe. The other furniture in the room is mid-toned wood. The picturs are Maxfield Parrish prints in green tones. I want the room to have a warm, girly, romantic feel.

Do you also have any recommendations for a blue for a bathroom? Leads off the lavender bedroom. I have a white vanity, white tub, and beige tile in the bathtub. Looking for another relaxing color. Spa-like perhaps?

Thank you!

Annie Groer: Try Behr's Icy Bay or Monet Lily for lavender, both of which will look yummy. But rather than go with blue for your bathroom, why not go for a really soft variation of the celery quilt to play off the comforter in the adjoining bedroom. You can do the full spa thing with green walls and lavender accnts to pull the whole thing together.

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Washington, D.C.: Another suggestion for Jura for "pilling" Gus -- our fiesty Maine Coon needs twice-daily insulin plus pills. The pills are particulary nasty-tasting and smelly and she manages to pick them out of food and pill pockets. We got a prescription from our vet for small (#3)empty "gel caps"; cut up the pill to fit inside the gel cap, then coat with butter and use a "piller." Works perfectly and is relatively stress-free for us and our cat.

Jura Koncius: Yikes! Is a Piller the horrible pill pusher I paid $11 for with my prescription for Gus?

Please tell us! Love the gel cap idea.. does that stop the cat from smelling the pill?

Gus update. We had an early morning appointment this morning. His wound is pretty much healed but JUST TO MAKE SURE the vet prescribed five more days of antibiotics and he has to wear the Elizabethan collar for FIVE MORE DAYS. I'm going to kill myself. Plus I have to find beef flavored pill pockets because the chicken flavor ain't doing it!

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Washington, D.C.: I have three pine bookcases that were painted years ago. I'd like to remove the paint and stain them. Any product suggestions?

Jura Koncius: Could you afford to have them stripped? Call The Stripping Workshop. 202-544-1470.

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Brookland, D.C.: We're getting ready to paint a newly finished basement. The two bedrooms downstairs will be our offices for the time being.

The ceilings are 7.25 feet high, and there are large windows, but I'm still worried about it feeling like a bunker.

My girlfriend wants a "robins egg blue" for her office. Should the ceiling and trim be painted a stark white, or an off white?

Annie Groer: Stark white for the ceiling and trim, to reflect as much light as possible. As for the blue, check out Dutch Boy's Blue Shell or the even lighter Ghost Town.

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Fairfax, VA: Hello, again, Annie and Jura---

In addition to my question, I forgot to add a suggestion for giving Gus a pill: we bought a pill crusher at the drugstore, and every morning we mix our cat's pill in a little wet food or, as a treat, turkey baby food (vet's suggestion---also good when they're sick). It works like a charm. She WILL NOT take a pill the "normal" way, but crushing it? She laps it up! Good luck!

Jura Koncius: Hmmm. Gus seems to smell the pill in any food I put it in and reject it - but I have never totally crushed it. Maybe I will have to try this method as well. I am taking better care of my cat than I am of myself these days...

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Dining chairs: I have a fairly large dining room, painted what I would call an eggshell blue color (not pale blue, more like Palladian Blue, but less green). I have a six-seater dark wood dining table and four wooden chairs, also dark wood but lighter than the table. Here's the question -- I need two additional chairs at the table, and the existing chairs were purchased at an auction, so can't match those. Previous owner of the house left two wood and faux leather upright chairs, with arms, that are the right height. BUT the faux leather is a military green color. I am hopeless at figuring out which colors go with which -- is the military green a no-no with the blue walls?

Annie Groer: Nope. Olive drab is yummy with that shade of blue. Go for it. But turn over the chairs to see if the fleather is just stapled on. If so, it's pretty easy to replace with some new fabric, a staple gun and a bit of cotton batting for cushioning. I've done probably a dozen dining chairs in my life. Piece of cake.

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House calls: I really couldn't tell from the before photo that it was the same room. The doors in the after drawing didn't even seem in the same place, and the room seemed much smaller. Did the designer do anything with the space on the other side of the dividers?

I do appreciate the fact that she used fairly inexpensive furnishings.

Also, you should not have this chat conflict with the Secrets that Sell chat!

Jura Koncius: Kat says it's the same room but just a different perspective. We always tell the designers that their solutions should be affordable and accessible. So we are glad that you liked Carol Freedman's take on this project.

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Ugly wires: Well, when I finished my basement off, I made sure that the electrical plugs, cable TV lines, stereo wires had outlets at the right height, to be hidden behind the TV stand and media storage cabinets. The cabinets are about 3 inches off from the wall, so loose cables have a place to go.

Disclaimer -- dad and I are both electrical engineers, so we kind of had a leg up on this whole process.

Annie Groer: Oh...do you and dad hire yourselves out? Alas, most of us have the problem of pre-existing outlets in not such convenient places.

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Musty towels: Is there any method to get the musty smell out of bath towels without just replacing them? They are fine out of the dryer, but after one or two uses, they just smell...not fresh.

Jura Koncius: These days, if you don't have the air conditioning on, wet towels may not dry out completely during the day. Try using and exhaust fan. About the only other thing you can do is to dry them every few days or hang them outside in the breeze in sunlight.

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Washington, D.C.: Any ideas on how to light artwork on a dark wall with a soffit at the top?

Annie Groer: You could use picture lights, which attach to the artwork (I presume it's framed).

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Silver Spring, Md.: My mother-in-law has a leather recliner has a four-inch split on one seam. Other than sew it herself, what are her options? Do they make a leather glue? Are there any furniture repair stores in the Rockville area that you can trust and recommend? Thanks.

Jura Koncius: You might try www.furnituremedic.com. They can make repairs in your home.

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Chicago, Ill.: Hi ladies. A couple weeks ago you were talking about Martha Stewart's collection at Macy's. I think the faux wood grain sheets are kind of ugly, but I love the colors of her solid color cotton sheets. I can't decide between the pale blue and pale green...

Annie Groer: Flip a coin, consult a friend, take a good look at everything else in the room. That should help the choice. Or if you're feeling flush, buy one set of each and alternate between washdays.

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Alexandria, Va.: Thanks for the advice a couple of weeks ago about unpacking boxes and clearing out. I have used Snappy Auctions in Alexandria, Va., to get rid of some of the "stuff." I sold three sets of Waterford goblets and now have a couple of Pottery Barn Kids rugs for sale. The owner, Ellen, is a great resource. Your readers may want to check it out. She makes the eBay experience very easy. You make some money on stuff that you no longer love or use. It is located at 688 N St Asaph Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314 or Snappy Auctions

Jura Koncius: Thanks

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Ohio: Just joined in and read about Gus. Did thatguy go out and get in trouble again? He needs some kitty self-defense classes!

Jura Koncius: No. He absolutely did NOT go out. He is retired! But what he did was keep scratching one of his small wounds from the fight in late June until it started bleeding and was on its way to getting infected! I think he is really mad he cannot go out and have fun anymore. This is a problem for many. But it is much safer inside.

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Rockville, Md.: Luv your chats! I am very concerned about over-updating properties in the $300K to $400K price range. It seems that everyone thinks ANY property should have granite and hardwood. At some point, don't expensive updates become ridiculous? Have folks forgotten what starter homes really are?

Jura Koncius: I'm with you. We didn't grow up with luxury and not everybody should expect to get it in a starter home.

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Catonsville, Md.: We're getting a family room addition put on our house and are getting to the point where we're starting to think about how to arrange the furniture. One wall of the new room has a fireplace in the center flanked by bookcases. Clearly this will be the focal point of the room and the sofa and chairs will be arranged with that in mind. But this room will also house our television (which is of the non-plasma, non-flat screen variety) and I'm struggling to find a place to put it where it will NOT be the focal point but will still be easily viewed. The room isn't big enough to set up a secondary seating area.

I'm sure I'm not the first person to deal with this particular conundrum. Any ideas on furniture arrangement for dueling focal points?

Annie Groer: Consider not having a sofa at all, but getting four to six swivel tub chairs. They are comfy, but more importantly for your purposes, they are easy to reconfigure...You can have them grouped facing the fireplace for conversation (with a smallish coffee table in the center).

Then put the TV off to one side or the other. When the big game comes on, aim the chairs at the TV set. They provide way more flexibility and take up less space than a sofa.

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Montgomery Village, Md.: For the person with musty towels...Try putting baking soda in the washing machine along with detergent. It's a great deodorizer.

Jura Koncius: Oh great idea and an oldie but goodie - they are the best!

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Falls Church, Va.: Hello! Do you know if the Watergate sale is still going on and what is left? I am on the hunt for a desk. Do you still have to pay to get in. Is it worth it? Are the lines still long? Thank you!

Jura Koncius: I would think it is over. But does anyone out there know? Have you tried calling the Watergate?

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Kitchen floor: Not sure if this is up your alley(s), but I have a center hall colonial built in 1934, in Chevy Chase. The kitchen floor is currently tiled (not by us), and is about 1.5 inches higher than the hardwood floors in adjacent rooms. I'm assuming there are other floors underneath, but do you or the other chatters know if kitchens in houses built here at that time had wood floors (and if not wood, what might the bottom layer be)?

Jura Koncius: I live in a similar 1937 Chevy Chase home. Our house did have a wood floor in the kitchen, but it was made of a cheaper grade softer pine. So it was really really stained and dirty and we could not get it sanded down enough for it to look decent. We put a Pergo floor over it and love it.

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Herndon, Va.: Do you have any information on the safety of painting while pregnant? I have heard latex paints are safe.

Annie Groer: Congrats on the baby....Check with your OB-Gyn, but here are a few hints to keep in mind when using latex: Use zero-VOC paint (volatile organic compounds). Open all windows in the house (this would be a good weekend to paint because there is no rain predicted), and turn on a fan or two facing the open window to act as an exhaust. Wear a mask.

Invite a couple of friends to help so the work goes quickly. Once you're done, have them take you out for a couple of hours while it dries.

Any other painting-while-pregnant advice?

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Gus: This is probably a dumb question but is Gus'sElizabethan collar taken off before the pilling? We have given our old male Siamese cat pills for almost 10 years due to a liver ailment and both our cats get other meds as well. We have never used any "tricks" with them at all. It helps ours to catch them when they are lazing around but not asleep on the bed or a chair and are relaxed enough to accept the meds. But each mom knows her own kitties. Good luck from a faithful reader!

Jura Koncius: Gosh. You are lucky that your cats accepted their medication with good manners. Yes, the Elizabethan collar must be removed for him to eat his pill pocket covered in beef gravy and hidden in a small pile of crunch pet treats. I have to stand there and watch him eat, make sure he eats his pill and then put the collar back on before he starts scratching his ear where the wound was - it still must be itchy. Going to the vet really makes you feel sad. In the waiting room this morning, I saw dogs going for oncology treatments and a dog that could not breathe and needed emergency vet assistance. One poor lady brought in her little dog who had been running around scratching himself since 2 a.m. People love their pets so much and it is heartbreaking to see both the pets and their owners suffer.

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Washington, D.C.: How do you feel about dark and light wood pieces in the same room (dining room, if that matters)?

Jura Koncius: It can look very chic. Look at magazines like Elle Decor and Domino and you will see a lot of this.

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Burlington, Wash.: Hi ladies -- I was trying to find out more information about Martha Stewart's estate on Mount Desert Island and I came across this reference to tree pruning:

"Since buying the property, she has worked diligently to maintain and improve the gardens there. To revitalize the mostly wooded garden, she said she feeds the trees, and does "cloud pruning" -- removal of every third branch -- to improve the view from her terrace. The cloud pruning also protects her largest trees from being blown down in a storm, she said, by allowing the wind to blow through them.

"I care about every tree and I don't want to lose one," she said.

She also "cleans" the moss in her woods of pine needles and other debris so it is velvety soft, using a leaf blower."

Have you guys heard of cloud pruning -- and is it really a good idea? Does it damage the tree?

Jura Koncius: You better write in to our colleague Adrian Higgins' chat for info on cloud pruning... as for Martha, she has a lot of money, a lot of staff and a lot of demands from her properties. But they look fabulous...

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Wall stickers: Does anyone have any suggestions for a good site for removable wall stickers? I'm thinking this would be a good option for decorating my 6 year old daughter's room. Since we can remove them easily, when she decides it's time to redecorate!

Annie Groer: Closet doors, inside and out. Perhaps as edging for a mirror. On dresser drawers. And let her help. "Where should we put this one?" You get the picture.

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Alexandria, Va.: We bought a rowhouse built in 1945 in February. We knew there were wood floors original to the house underneath the cheap carpet that is on there now, and I recently discovered that it is wood parquet. We were planning on refinishing the floors sometime soon, but now I'm not sure. Does anyone like parquet? We are planning to move in about five years, so we think about what we like and what other people will like when we make improvements. So refinished original parquet floor or new probably middle of the road hardwood floor?

Annie Groer: As someone who lives in a 1941 condo with gorgeous, gorgeous parquet floors, I vote to keep them. You can always have them lightened or darkened during the refinishing process. But for the sake of time, money and the environment, do not go to the expense trouble of ripping up perfectly good wood to replace it.

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Painting while pregnant: Be careful on the ladder.

Annie Groer: Excellent point.

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Painting while pregnant: Make sure to wear gloves and depending on how far along you are, be careful on ladders as your balance is different. I painted 4-5 rooms in my house while pregnant without any probs -- I opened windows, used fans and wore gloves and a mask. I also scraped the cottage cheese off the ceiling of one room, sanded and repainted. Just do things when you have the energy.

Annie Groer: Thanks. Good point about gloves. And yuck, cottage cheese removal while preggers? Hooray for you.

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Omaha, Neb.: I have a small, simple bathroom in my apartment - pedestal sink, toilet, bathtub, shallow medicine cabinet. I love the simplicity, but the lack of storage space is a problem. Any suggestions for ways to store larger items (e.g. hair brushes, back-up makeup, etc.)? Again, I like the "clean" look, and would prefer not to drape hanging storage racks over everything. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: I also have a small bathroom off my guest room that I use to blow dry my hair. I bought a two-level silver two-drawer wire mesh organizer for $29.99 at the Container Store.They also have a two level slim utility cart that fits under most small sinks.

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Washington, D.C.: Any ideas on where to buy a sofa inexpensively (under $400)? It's for a basement so not a lot of people will be sitting on it.

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: That is a pretty low price to expect to pay for a new sofa of any quality. We suggest you try Craigslist or yard sales.

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Hudson Valley, N.Y.: Hi, Gals,

Our living room is paneled in real (medium-dark) pine that, after much waffling, we decided not to paint or stain. The wood soaks up every bit of light that comes into the room, so the challenge is to lighten things up. In one corner is a large (24" square) pendant lamp, box style, orange raw silk. Very pretty, love the color, but can't do any more orange in this room -- too 60s with the pine paneling. We bought a white sofa and loveseat from Ikea - step 1. Worked! We painted the fireplace instead -- white -- looks great! really brightens up the room. We're planning to get a double bookcase to bring literacy to the room. Also white. Question (finally): rug? Would a 5x8 white flokhati be too, too much white? Suggestions most welcome! I like the flokhati idea for two reasons: love the texture, and the cats' pawing it won't destroy it (we have trained them not to scratch the sofa). Anyone know of a place where we could get an (inexpensive) pale blue flokhati instead of white?

Annie Groer: Try www.plazarugs.com. They advertise 100 percent New Zealand wool pale blue rugs at $469 for an 8x10 and $239 for a 5x8. But you may want to see if they will send you some kind of color swatch or check their return policy because on my monitor, the rug looks like a steel blue gray, way darker than what I think you want.

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I was feeling chastened for my snarkiness, but...: So I wrote in with the snarky "those dividers are from West Elm" message. Sorry for the early morning attitude. Needed my coffee.

But -- um, $300-400K starter home? Not possible for many. We live in a $185K starter condo in the District with no granite (or West Elm for that matter)and love it. Mortgages over $400K are called jumbo mortgages for a reason.

Jura Koncius: Amen. I'm grouchy too because I need another cup of coffee - got in delayed last night on my flight from High Point and then got snarled in horrible traffic around the Kennedy Center. How long is Whitehurst Freeway going to be closed anyway? I've been out of town so don't know the latest.. My cab driver says traffic has been horrible all week downtown...

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Enterprise Ala.,: Since you mention Pergo, how hard is installation? Is it worth getting it installed or can you do it yourself? We have a cement slab foundation.

Jura Koncius: Well, we could not do it ourselves because we are DIY challenged. But I hear people who are handy can definitely handle it. Has anyone out there installed it themselves?

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Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C>: Wondering if you or any of your readers have any experience with the combined clothes washer/dryer. I think it was LG brand. I am condo shopping, and saw one unit that had one of these (in a small, galley kitchen).

Jura Koncius: Anyone?

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Silver Spring, Md.: Living in an apartment for now, and hoping to buy within the next year or so. Really depends on the market. We have very little furniture in the apartment, and what we do have is primarily hand-me-downs or the cheapest stuff we can find at IKEA. It looks like we will need to replace the tv stand soon (it's barely staying in one piece) and I'd really like to get at least one side chair (right now we only have a couch). Any recommendations for finding things that will fit our current arrangements and work in a yet-to-be-determined house that will likely have smaller rooms than the apartment?

Annie Groer: Check out Creative Classics in Alexandria, which specializes in small scale furniture, including chairs.

They're in Old Town Alexandria - 906 King St. 703-518-4663.

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Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Hi -- Trying to get in early today to see if your readers have suggestions...I'm overwhelmed trying to find a (king) mattress. Are mattresses really all the same? Where are the best deals? Thanks.

Jura Koncius: Last week I mentioned a friend who loved www.originalmattress.com... Anyone else? Also - does anyone have a pillowtop mattress pad? Do they really make a very firm mattress feel like a cloud?

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Removeable wall art: In case they meant "where can we order them from" here are two Webs ites with fun stuff -- Blic and Wonderful Graffiti.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Re: painting while prego: I won't be painting until after the baby comes. Do I need to abide by the same precautions? Or is it only fetuses that are affected by the fumes? Thanks!

Annie Groer: Couldn't hurt for any of us humans to do this. The fewer chemicals we inhale/ingest, the better.

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Aster Mistake, Va.: Okay, so maybe this is a question for Adrian Higgins, but I will take a chance. I planted 12 fuschia aster plants in the front of my house in the landscape. Now I hate the color - it does not scream "fall" to me. Any suggestions on what other plants I can add and more importantly what color to make it feel more like fall? Gold or white mums? Snap dragons? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: How about filling the area with pumpkins or gourds? Maybe you better ask Adrian...

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Cleveland, Ohio: Enough is enough. I thought this was an exchange for design and decorating ideas, but once again its blah, blah, blah aboutanimals and pills and problems. Since somuch is wasted on PETS, I will look foranother newspaper with a sense of focuson the topic at hand.

Jura Koncius: Sorry you feel that way but the fun of a chat is that we respond to questions wherever they may lead us from designer paint colors to sponges to smelly towels.

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Charlottesville, Va.: Re: Wall Stickers...I think the poster may mean a place to get the stickers...Target.com has LOTS of removable wall stickers for both children and adults who want to decorate without it being permanent. Most are not available in the store, but through the website.

Jura Koncius: Maybe the poster will answer...

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Towson, Md.: Hello, I was hoping you could help with a paint issue. I am choosing a new color for my dining room which has a teak furniture set. I prefer cool colors, but am concerned that with a warm cherry looking teak, this will won't work. Do you have any recommendations for something in a neutral, brown, or blue family that still has a cooler contemporary feeling while complementing teak? I also usually use Benjamin Moore. Thanks so much!

Annie Groer: In the brown/taupe family, check out Abalone or the darker Silver Fox (which is not remotely silver). As for blue, try Harbor Fog or the slightly grayer Summer Shower. They're all contemporary and would look great.

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Springfield, Va.: Our cats totally trashed the carpeting going to our basement (very dirty paw prints, various whoopsies) so we pulled it up. We have pine (lots of knots in it) steps and don't know how to finish them. We are debating staining and varnishing the steps versus painting them. Walls are Opera Glass (Duron). It is also dark the way most basement steps are. Which do you think is better -- stain (pecan) or paint?

Jura Koncius: The problem with wood stairs is that they are more dangerous than carpeted ones. But I can see that with the cats, its easier and cleaner not to have carpeting there. Why don't you try varnishing them first and see how you like that look. Painting stairs requires more upkeep as they chip. You could also put non-skid panels on the stairs, although that doesn't look so good...

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Arlington, Va.: I think the "site" for decorating stickers referred to "web."

I've seen some on Apartment Therapy, but I can't remember brand names.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Springfield, Va.: What's your opinion of track lighting in a kitchen? We have a horrible rectangular 70's style fluorescent fixture in there now and apparently cannot do recessed lights in the sloped vaulted ceiling because there is not enough space above it (nothing above the ceiling). Any other suggestions besided track lighting? I'm worried a chandelier wouldn't give enough light.

Annie Groer: Track lighting now comes in all sorts of cool versions and the good news is you can aim each of the lights at the dark spots. You can get a straight or curved bar, or even something that's S-shaped with four, five or even six lights for maximum illumination. Just be sure that you prep the ceiling after removing the big box - sand, plaster, and prime and paint.

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Chevy Chase, D.C.: Help, please help. I am apparently the only person in the US who doesn't want to proudly display our big ole flat screen TV by hanging on the living room wall or setting it on a TV stand. Oh, or installing it over the fireplace. How do I know this? Because there seems to be no "concealing furniture" designed specifically for wide/flat screen TVs.

Something sleek and trim is key. I'm trying to find something that resembles a funky, West Elm-ish -dining room- server -- but would hold a TV inside, not plates.

Have you come across anything like this in your travels? I hope? (the Ballard Designs option is ridiculous, so not that). many thanks!

Jura Koncius: I did in High Point. It was at Hooker Furniture. Check out www.hookerfurniture.com.

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Cheap Couch and combined washers: We love our cheap couch from Value City Furniture. It was about $600 I think. Not quite as cheap as you wanted but still a very good value. If I had it to do over again I just wouldn't have gotten microsuede. Makes me sweat!

Friends have combined washer/dryers and have had nothing but problems. They've gone through 3 models (I think European ones) and have finally given up and gotten just a washer with intentions to line dry. They had a lot of trouble getting their machines serviced here since they're relatively rare.

Jura Koncius: Cheap and good as they say. Meanwhile, we are hearing that those combo washers can take really really long to dry.

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Hudson Valley, N.Y.: Thanks! Do you think we're heading in the right direction -- that is, blue rather than white rug? Or do you think white might be okay?

Pregnant painter: I spent the final week of my (42-week) pregnancy painting windows and the ceiling of our living room (this was a long time ago). It was an excellent way to keep my body moving around and also, of course, an excellent use of waiting time. There will be NO painting once the baby arrives, remember. At least, not for a while.

Annie Groer: That's a great point about no time for painting after the baby arrives, particularly because the original poster said that is when she is planning to paint. So she might want to listen to the voice of experience here.

As for the flokati, I'd go with white.

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Alexandria, Va.: Yes, to the earlier poster, you CAN get a starter home for 300K-400K. But be realistic. You will get a fixer-upper. There will be things that you will have to compromise on, such as size of the house or amenities. Look at older neighborhoods -- there are still houses out there that haven't been expanded and are still 2-3 bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms. That's why it's a starter home -- it's not a dream home at that price.

Jura Koncius: Everyone should get over the idea of having their dream home right away. Some people die with out having their dream home but they have a wonderful life anyway!

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Re combined washer dryer: I used one in an apartment we rented for a week in Paris a few years ago. Was in the kitchen, and pretty small. But we could wash three people's clothes in it, pants, shirts, underwear and socks, which we did daily. Had no problems with it at all -- and it's nice not to have to shift the clothes from one machine to another. But I have never used one in the U.S.

Jura Koncius: Yes! In Europe they are very common. I recall staying with friends in Scotland who had one in their kitchen. I asked if I could do a load of wash and our hostess told us that it would be okay, but it would take an ENTIRE DAY to wash and dry one load!

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Wow:

Can't resist -- Ohio needs to take a chill pill. Obviously not a regular reader...

Jura Koncius: Love that! Thanks for making our day. MEOW!!!

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Washington, D.C.: Ah Cleveland -- feel like you're not getting your money's worth? Oh wait. Not only is the site still free, but you not local, so you probably don't even buy the paper.

Now, back to house stuff... any great suggestions for where to find black towels and sheets? I have just had NO luck with this.

Annie Groer: For black sheets, in cotton or polyester satin, as well as black towels try www.target.com. Or hit the new Bloomingdale's (for black towels) in Chevy Chase. The store is glam and though the home section is small, there are lots of choice items.

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Washington, D.C.: When my cat was sick I was able to get the drugs compounded into tuna-flavored liquids that I put in her wet food. She never knew the difference, and she was very crafty at avoiding pills no matter how well disguised.

APOTHEPET

Jura Koncius: Wow. Wonder if they make beef flavor... Thanks.

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$300K is too high for many of us to start: My 300K home will be my dream home many years from now. We don't all have the same means here. This is what's partly out of whack in D.C. -- people think 300K is reasonable for a starter home. It's not.

Jura Koncius: You are so right. Everyone thinks they have to have luxury living. We have too many high end expectations in this culture.

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Electrolux: Re combo washer/dryer. Wwe have high-end combo from Electrolux/Arthur Martin and have loved it for almost four years. Great.

Annie Groer: Thanks.

And now, a parting request...Am doing a story about Baby Boomers who have decided to do cosmetic, rather than structural things to their homes to make them safer -- higher furniture, better lighting, extra grab bars and railings. If you are, or know, someone in their 50s and 60s who have done the proactive thing so they can grow really old in their homes, email me at

Groera@washpost.com

Thanks for a great chat. Next week.....

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Black sheets: I would NOT get black sheets or towels. They will show every single piece of lint and fuzz on them. They will never look clean. A charcoal color might work though.

Annie Groer: Good tip. Thanks.

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Pergo: This is the electrical engineer guy.

Yeah, dad and I redid the entire 1st floor of a townhouse in Pergo in 5 days (including pulling up carpet, fixing subfloor, removing kitchen cabinets, and installing new formica countertops).

I find the true Pergo brand to be easier to do than Bruce or Armstrong, but it is 40 percent more expensive or so.

Tips: rent a good table saw, buy several good new blades (they get dull easily), and dust-mop or Swiffer every day for the first month until you've got all the fine dust up.

Annie Groer: Thanks. And I repeat, do you and Dad make house calls?

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