Home Front: Patio Heaters, Displaying Seasonal Linens, and Debating "House Calls"

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.

Staff writers Annie Groer and Jura Koncius take on all things home related. They were online taking questions Thursday, May 8.

A transcript follows.

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

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Fredericksburg, Va.: A suggestion for the person last week who was talking about wanting glass countertops. Check out www.thinkglass.com. You aren't crazy to want glass. This site has GORGEOUS glass countertops along with other beautiful uses of glass in the home. I'm sure it isn't cheap, but WOW!

Annie Groer: Thanks much. A glittering hint.

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Jura Koncius: Good morning. A quick note - if you love looking at houses and pretty rooms, and you haven't been to the Georgetown Design House, this is your last weekend to check it out. It's at 3014 P St. NW. Tuesday to Friday 10 to 3 and Saturday and Sunday 12 to 5. $20. Last day May 11.

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Iowa City, Iowa: Shower curtain seeker (last week): Try Garnet Hill. I have the multicolored ribbons, but the surfboards are also eyecatching!

Jura Koncius: Yeah.

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Cleveland, Ohio: Annie and Jura,

Next week, my mom and I are coming to DC and staying in the Capitol Hill area. Can you point us to some of your favorite, metro-accessible areas in the city we can explore on our off-afternoons? We are looking for fun art, home accessories and other generally interesting stuff.

Thanks. Can't wait for great shopping!

Annie Groer: Try the U Street Corridor - Green Line - U Street stop. Up and down 14th Street from U down to Rhode Island - and across U from 12th to about 18th - Modern stuff (Vastu, Muleh, Reincarnations) traditional/transitional (Mitchell + Gold), funky (Home Rule, Go Mama Go) plus good eats and fun fashion.

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Oviedo, Fla.: Great House Calls makeover - workable budget and livable results. Home run.

Wish you could tell us if the homeowner "does it" or just files it away.

washingtonpost.com: House Calls: Double Duty (Post Home Section, May 8)

Jura Koncius: We will file your request with the boss.

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Boonsboro, Md.: Today's House call: Does that designer actually KNOW any teenaged boys? Buffet lamps? A console table? Where are they going to put their computer monitors for all-night online gaming sessions? Where's the fridge and the microwave? Sorry, she is clueless in this one.

washingtonpost.com: House Calls: Double Duty (Post Home Section, May 8)

Jura Koncius: Another opinion...don't you love this chat!

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I don't normally like to complain, but...: The brief that Jura wrote on patio heaters seem to perpetuate the unnecessary consumption of energy resources. It's so wasteful and sad to think someone can't go put on pants or a sweater to sit outside. Heating the outdoors seems to go against everything that we should be working for a for a cleaner environment.

And what else boggles me are there are restaurants whose patio sections are filled with these.

It really shows a lazy attitude of "why help the planet if we can't be comfortable doing so."

washingtonpost.com: If Your Patio Gives You Chills (Post Home Section, May 8)

Jura Koncius: Well, we have a lot of opinions this morning. I presented the item as a new product - it's up to you guys to decide if you want it, need it or think it's wasteful.

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Tysons: A couple weeks ago, someone wrote in asking what the "Tysons Design Expo" is on Route 7, and it was concluded that it was a branch of the Home Depot called EXPO Design Center.

After that post, I took a short drive to shop there since it should have been in my backyard. I've come to report that it isn't part of the Home Depot. Instead, this is how it's described on its website: "the largest luxury home decor and furniture destination in the metropolitan area!" I have to say, it looks intimidating. Any chance someone out there has scoped it out further than me and can provide details?

washingtonpost.com: Not much of a website yet: Tysons Design Expo

Annie Groer: Hmmm. Who knew...Okay gang, field trip time. If we can't get out there this weekend and you can, chime in next Thursday. And don't let anything intimidate you. Unless someone physically bars your way, stroll in with that "just looking" answer. In this economy, they should be grateful to have anyone with a pulse come through the door.

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Falls Church, Va.: My husband and I just bought a cute home (our first!) and we're so excited! It's this adorable red brick, Cape Cod cottage. I love the idea of painted brick, but for now (for cost reasons), we'll leave the brick in its current red condition. We are planning to change the current shutters to classic black (don't love the green suggestion that is often made). We'd also love to have a bold door color (not red, don't love the look of it with red brick). I'm thinking a really bold, deep blue. Is this crazy? And if not, do you have any color suggestions?

Thanks so much! Absolutely love your chat!

Annie Groer: Congrats on your first home. And no, blue is not crazy. It's a very classy color. Check out Behr's Jazz Blue...and get it in high gloss to really pop.

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Silver Spring, Md.: As the result of a botched repair job on our new leather sofa, we've had a problem with the color of one of the arms for over a year now. We couldn't get any satisfaction from the dealer (Leather Living, which I hear is out of business, but will be opening under a new name). Instead of enjoying our new sofa, each time I looked at it, my blood would boil. I read about Leather Medic (www.leathermedic.com) in this chat recently and set up an appointment with Chuck Roddy, the owner. He was able to correct the problem in about 20 minutes. The sofa looks great and my blood pressure is back to normal! I highly recommend Leather Medic for any of your leather repair and cleaning needs. And thanks for the great chats!

Annie Groer: Thanks. We've heard great things about leather medic. Also, if you find out the new name of Leather Living, give us all a heads-up. This does not sound like good customer service.

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Interior design classes: I'm looking for interior design courses. I know that Corcoran has continuing ed classes, but they don't work with my work schedule. Are you aware of any weekend classes/workshops? I don't have a design background, so preferably something for a beginner! thank you!

Jura Koncius: Marymount University in Arlington has classes as does Montgomery College.

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Cold patio: I haven't read the article yet (I save the Home section to read in the evening), but I finally have a nice patio and a nice yard, and I am thrilled to be able to use it, and would like to maximize the time I can use it, so yay for patio heaters.

Jura Koncius: A yay.

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So long, Sun, Moon, Stars...: It's time to say goodbye to the "Sun, Moon, Stars" wall stamps from Pottery Barn. The girls are now nine and 16!

It is a large bathroom -- 10x8 at its widest. We'll be keeping the white tile and tub, but would like change the paint and decor. I'm thinking of using photographs of the girls on major trips, but would like to find a classy way to do so. Collages, posters, black and white?

I'd love your thoughts!

Jura Koncius: What a cool idea. It is hard to say goodbye to the sun, the moon and the stars. So you have to come up a good alternative...I love the idea of using photos from fun family trips. You could use a wallpaper featuring a map theme and them put up photos framed in plain black or silver metal frames.

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House Calls: Gotta say I like the before much better, particularly for teen boys.

Jura Koncius: Posting yet another opinion.

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Charlottesville, Va.: Hello, Annie and Jura. Maybe this is more of a "Martha" question, but do you have any clever ways of displaying/storing linens? I have tablecloths, placemats, napkins galore, most of which are holiday-specific - e.g. pumpkin tablecloth, red/white/blue runner, Christmas placemats. Right now they are shoved into a trunk and drawers, but I was wondering if there's a way I can decorate with them year-round. Half the time I forget I even have them. I know - clutter, clutter, but any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks so much.

Annie Groer: Hmmmm...You could get a nifty old wooden drying rack, the old fold-up kind at a flea market and hang a few but I must say, the idea of Christmas and Halloween in July makes me nervous. A better idea might be to get breakfront or highboy with glass doors and at least show them folded.

I'm all for decorative quilts, but out-of-season placemats, well....So I invite the rest of you to chime in...Either how you solved this display dilemma or whether you think it's an idea best shelved, so to speak.

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Yay for patio heaters: And ceiling fans on back porches to make them more bearable in the hottest summer.

Jura Koncius: Ceiling fans on porches are fabulous. And remember that if you are sitting outside with a fan on your porch, you may not be running the AC inside.

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RE: Does that designer actually KNOW any teenaged boys?: But if you read the homeowner's statement "I want to be able to use it after he's gone, which is September 2009" then the design makes sense. They don't want to design just for the teenaged son. He's leaving for college in a year, and the homeowner wants something that works well for adults after that. I thought it was great!

Jura Koncius: more...

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blue door WITH black shutters?: Not crazy about mixing dark blue and black...

how 'bout dark sage?

Jura Koncius: Hmmm.

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Blue Front Door: Just a note for painting a front door gray, blue, black... My front door is dark blue and most of the door decorations that I prefer, e.g., natural looking wreaths, are pine or dark wood. It is very difficult to see the decorations on the door! So if you like to decorate your door, you might want to go lighter or something besides dark green, blue, or gray.

Annie Groer: Good point. But this color is not that dark, and if a somewhat lighter shade is in order for door decor, check out Behr's Artesian Water.

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Flowers/herbs: Isn't Adrian Higgins usually sitting next to you? I missed his chat and want to buy herbs and flowers to plant in containers (both pots and window box type containers) on a south-facing balcony. There is a house close to us on that side, with a few tall trees, so it's not unfettered sunlight, but it does get quite a bit of sun.

I have an extremely brown thumb, and mainly wanted to try easy herbs to use in cooking and easy flowers to pretty up the balcony. Any advice for a true novice??

Annie Groer: Try rosemary and sage for starters. I have a roof deck and even I have managed to keep them alive. Alas, Adrian is not here at the moment for further advice.

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Jura Koncius: Hey you guys. We are doing a special beach issue on May 22 - beach houses and how to get the beachy look at home. We want to include some stores from favorite beach towns of Washington area residents. So if you have some places to suggest between Cape May and Duck, let us know - we know that you go to beaches much farther up and down the coast and all over the country, but we are trying to keep it to within a reasonable drive time. Thanks! We are looking for stores that sell home products and hostess gifts or flea market finds etc.

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Patio Heaters : Glad to hear they are now available for home use. Have been to many sidewalk cafes that use them and love them. For one cooped up in an office all day, it extends my time of being able to enjoy the outdoors.

Jura Koncius: I second that idea! After getting home, I love sitting in my back yard and soaking in fresh air as long as I can.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hello - We got an estimate from Home Depot to re-carpet one bedroom. While the carpet price was reasonable, their installation fees piled on another $350! (This is for an 11x11 BR). Just wondering where else we should get estimates from, preferably around Alexandria. (Any experience w/Carpetland on Duke St.?) Price and reliability are a much bigger concern than quality of carpet itself. Thanks a million!

Jura Koncius: Sending this off to you guys = Annie and I live in DC and don't have experience with carpet in Virginia.

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Front door: How about a nice purple!

Jura Koncius: Yum.

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Annapolis, Md.: Our dining room had 1980's county pink wall paper and a Pepto-Bismol pink chair rail and trim. The room faces southeast has two windows at the front protected by a front porch. On the east side is a bay window and I keep a lot of plants in the room. Furniture is rosewood. Floor is oak gunstock. I want to get rid of the wall paper and paint. I'm thinking of perhaps a mocha color below the rail, khaki or beige above, and white trim. My other thought is a grayish green with RL candlelight topcoat and white trim. Which of these do you think would be better, or do you have another suggestion?

Annie Groer: Whew, we all want to get rid of the wallpaper and pink trim.

Either solution would be fine. This is one of those times that you may want to give in to Other, in the hopes of winning future battles.

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Washington, D.C.: Morning, ladies! I have a quilt I bought recently (just the regular "throw on the bed and use as blanket" kind from Anthropologie) that is supposed to be dry clean only. I bought the quilt because it is very pretty, but dry cleaning is such a pain and is likely to make the quilt less soft and comfy than washing would. How likely am I to damage the quilt by gently machine washing and drying it? Is it a matter of colors bleeding? The quilt is a white background with a bright blue, green, and turquoise design. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Each quilt has different construction and fabrics so it is very hard to figure out whether washing the quilt would harm it. Hopefully you won't have to clean it very often. If you want to take a chance, putting on a gentle setting with a mild laundry detergent would be the safest bet. Beware of hot dryers also.

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Richmond, Va.: I discovered the BEST plant for hot sunny containers. It's called Licorice Plant and it's SO forgiving if I forget to water it, doesn't die like a lot of others. Cascades beautifully! Cannot rave enough about it!!!

Jura Koncius: A rave.

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Perfect Beige: I have finally found a perfect beige, Behr's 'European Linen'. Not too yellow, not too pink, just a light beige/taupe shade. I have painted the hall so far and as a background color for art it really makes the colors pop.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for sharing.

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Vienna, Va.: Hello! I have a metal water urn I brought back from a trip to Israel years ago. The dog knocked it over recently and the spout fell off. Where do I go to get the metal resoldered? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Try Awesome Metal Restorations in Kensington 301-897-3266.

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Dusty Candles: Hi there. I have quite a few candles that I put out for decoration, but don't burn. When the weather gets humid dust seems to stick right to them. Any ideas on how I can remove the dust without scrubbing the nice finish off?

Jura Koncius: I hear wiping them down with pantyhose is an old trick. YIKES.

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Herndon, Va.: Hello from Herndon, where I wonder if the beautiful outdoor seating sets I'm seeing in Restoration Hardware, Crate and Barrel, and other catalogs are truly for homes in our climate... They seem very "California" to me (which is the appeal), but I wonder if the materials -- what looks like wicker, colorful fabrics, thick chair pads -- will hold up. If so, what kind of treatment do they need to last the season?

Thanks for entertaining my question so I can do some of my own entertaining outside this summer!

Jura Koncius: Dear Herndon:

Our humid climate isn't kind to a lot of outdoor products. Between the pollen, dust, bugs and UV rays, furniture takes a beating during our long outdoor living months. Recent technological advances have made both fabrics and wood finishes more durable. I have chair pads which sit under an umbrella in my back yard all summer and still look fine. So I would say, if you buy from a reputable dealer, things should hold up in either Herndon or Santa Barbara.

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Vienna, Va.: No question. Just want to let you know how much I enjoy your chats.

Jura Koncius: Wow. I'm blown away by your thoughtfulness!!! Thank you so much!

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YIKES. : You're supposed to take the pantyhose off first!

Jura Koncius: Not necessarily...

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Silver Spring, Md.: Our upstairs bathroom has black and white tile, but I am not sure what color to paint it. The current off white is a little boring to me and would like to go more bold.

What color paint goes with a black and white bathroom? Floor is black and white original tile. Walls are black tile half-way up the wall. Shower, sink, toilet, window/door trim and doors are all white. Ceiling and walls are currently off white.

I was thinking of red but am afraid it will get too dark. Any other thoughts for paint color, or am I on the right track?

Annie Groer: You are on the right track if you want drama...Pick a red with more yellow than blue in it, such as Benjamin Moore's Habanero Pepper or Tomato Red. Get a shower curtain with all three colors in it -- a stripe, floral or print. And if you want maximum versatility, get a really wild print or floral with several colors, and pick one of them up in towels, floor mat etc. Bathrooms are small enough to have some real fun in. Just make sure you've got a strong light in there. And if you're not sure of the color, get one of Moore's oversize paper samples and have someone stand behind you with the red facing the mirror so you can see how YOU look in the reflected scarlet.

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Petworth, D.C.: I think I'm a house-chondriac! I'm always worried about my old house -- whether it's getting the brick repointed, worrying about termites, or if it's time to caulk the bathroom tub. Is there hope for me? How do you learn to relax and live with the good and the bad -- and that you can't do everything at once?

Jura Koncius: Dear Petworth. Thank you for your candid question. I think many of us live in houses that aren't exactly the way we want them, and there are things that we think are shabby or rundown or just not as stylish as we would like. All you can do is make a list and check them off one by one as budget and time will allow. My husband and I kept a Most Tacky list for years - first to go was the pale pink Formica vanity in the main bathroom.

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Detroit, Mich.: Love your column! I have a gray brick 1950's ranch. Our new roof is a bi-tone grey/taupe. Our plan is to paint the brick taupe. Would love your paint suggestions for taupes and suggestions for a new door color (now a brick red). Thanks!

Annie Groer: Since I haven't seen a roof shingle, I can only guess at the shade. But Sherwin Williams has a couple of cool colors: Versatile Gray, Popular Gray and Reticence.

And I'd keep the red door, or go with a gray-green such as Kale Green or Isle of Pines.

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Washington, D.C.: Good morning, and thanks. My friend just bought a condo and is planning on bringing his old couch with him to the new place -- couch is a creamy light tan, almost beige, leather. What wall color would you suggest with this? I feel like creamy walls would wash it out, but something like a chocolate would just look weird. Having difficulty envisioning anything!

Jura Koncius: A creamy tan leather couch is a pretty neutral object to start with. If you love neutrals, a mocha color or caffe au lait would be nice. Such as Duron's Sands of Time. If you want to inject some color, what about Duron's Impetuous green or yellow Solaria.

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Tysons Design Expo: I took a walk through Tysons Design Expo last weekend. It's a furniture store featuring one-of-kind pieces. They have both classic and modern. The prices seemed reasonable for the quality; however they don't order items, what you see on the floor is the exact piece you get.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for the report.

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Laundering a quilt: To keep that quilt looking good, it would be best to launder (as infrequently as possible) with a gentle product made for washing quilts, then lay it flat to dry. No harsh detergents and no hot dryers, please!

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Beach Towns: My family favorite is Fenwick Island, Delaware, just over the border from Ocean City, Md. Two great stores are Carolina Street (http://www.carolinastreet.com/) and the Seaside Country Store (http://www.seasidecountrystore.com/).

Both have a great variety of homey, beachy stuff. I visit them on pretty much every vacation!

Jura Koncius: Thanks a lot. I have been to Carolina Street - it is a cool place.

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Black and white bathroom: Just painted my 1930s black and white tile bathroom with BM's Palladium Blue. The "white" tile is a little more ivory (perhaps a result of age) - but I think it creates a calm color combo in the tiny bathroom.

Jura Koncius: I have that color in my dining room.

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Leather in same room as rattan?: Will a leather ottoman look too heavy in a living room where I'm using rattan chairs for my seating? I can't afford to get new chairs right now, but eventually I will be replacing these donated rattan chairs for something else. Meanwhile, I need an ottoman that I can use for a coffee table, and I really love a leather one I found that will provide some much needed storage for a few baby toys in the living room (as well as being soft if baby runs into it). Will the rattan and the leather clash? The chairs are more of a dining table style rattan, not the large living room style rattan chairs, and are a brown/black combo. I also have an option of taking a donated oval brown wood glass-topped coffee table that might look better in the space, but won't provide that storage I want.

Thanks for your advice.

Annie Groer: Go with the leather and rattan (they sound like they'd work). And you don't want Baby charging into a glass-top table for now.

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You're supposed to take the pantyhose off first!: OMG! So now how do I clean coffee off my keyboard! LOL!

Jura Koncius: First, take your pantyhose off...

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Bathroom: with walls that are already black tile halfway up, I'd be worried about more bold color. I'd try to lighten that up... maybe a light icy blue?

Jura Koncius: Great minds...

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Bethesda, Md.: We have a combined living room/family room and cannot decide whether to furnish it with two sofas and two chairs, or one large sectional. Both would give us a 'U' shape that we think would be functional for TV and guests. We have two young kids so the idea of watching movies on the sectional seems nice, but it doesn't have the versatility the sofas have and it may look like a 'blob' all in one material. Also, are we better off with deep/not deep? Deep is great for watching TV on but not for sitting.

Thanks.

Jura Koncius: With two young kids, lounging is a major activity. Go for the separate sofas and chairs. And don't go too deep on the seating.

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Washington, D.C.: A quick question and I hope that you choose me. I am looking for a place that will frame some pieces of art that I have. One piece is a batik that I would like someone to take extreme care with. help!

Annie Groer: Consider yourself chosen. Try Framer's Workroom in Tenleytown...4431 Wisconsin Ave NW...202-363-1977 or www.framersworkroomdc.com. They are reasonable, careful and have a do-it-yourself operation as well, so you can actually have a hand in framing this piece that sounds so special (and save a few bucks in the process).

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Annie and Jura. I need some protection over my front door and a portico would look strange. I am thinking that an outdoor iron trellis that I can grow ivy on and fit over my front door would look super. Horchow sells one, but the dimensions are wrong for my door. Can you recommend anyone in the DC area who could make such a thing? Thanks.

Jura Koncius: We do know iron workers. Woodies Welding 202 543-8009; Quality Iron Works 240-340-0107 and City Ornamental Iron 202 882-9411.

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Olney, Md.: I am planning to build an outdoors gazebo in the wooded area of my rear garden.

What colors/fabrics would you suggest for the interior? I am using Lane Outdoor white wicker furniture. The space will be fairly large, with exterior windows/screens all around.

Annie Groer: Why not try a tropical-feeling print to make you think you're in Margaritaville; or a blue-and-white print that feels Rehoboth-Beach-y. There are tons of stripes and solids in weather-resistant Sunbrella and other brands, so you can mix and match with abandon. It's an outdoor room, so have some fun.

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Arlington, Va.: I am trying to source Briwax or a comparable paste wax for wood furniture in this area. Any ideas?

Jura Koncius: briwaxwoodcare.com - You can buy it there. It's an old and respected products. Does anyone else have a wood paste wax to suggest?

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Foggy Bottom: Annie,

Loved your brief piece on the home office. I'm with you. I just want a little more space in my dining area.

washingtonpost.com: Aspirational Home Offices ( Post Home Section, May 8)

Jura Koncius: Annie's dining table is her home office. I am a witness to that!

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Help!: I'm trying to find panel curtains for my bedroom and looking for something with a pattern or color or embroidery. I'm trying to complement a light blue bedspread and prefer a more sheer fabric. Everything I see is in white, ivory, brown or red. Are there any sources you can recommend for something interesting but not too expensive? Thank you!

Jura Koncius: Panel curtains are everywhere these days. Try Ikea, JCPenney or Target.

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Chicago, Ill.: hello ladies!

We recently refinished our hardwood floors to a deep espresso color and would like to re-paint the living room (and dining room that is partially open to the living room) a light, muted color that is somewhere between green, gray, and blue. We tried a swatch of BM's palladium blue, but it wasn't muted enough. any suggestions?

thanks.

Annie Groer: Ooh, half the Home Section staff has at least one Palladian Blue room and decorators love this color.

How about having your paint store divide a quart of PBlue, and cut half of it by 50% with white and the other with 25% white. Then test these to see if they are subdued enough.

Hope it works.

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Washington, D.C.: All this talk of using our patios and backyards makes me wonder: is there anything that really, really works to ward off mosquitoes? Other than DEET sprayed on the skin, I mean. Our front and back yards are almost unusable from May to October because of those beasts.

Thanks very much.

Jura Koncius: Some people think fans help blow them away...

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Raleigh, N.C.: I am trying to find an article that was published a few months ago in the Home Section about decorating with lilac/violet. Can you please help me with the link? I have tried all the possible search combinations but I cannot find it on washingtonpost.com.

Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: How They Make The Most of Lavender (Post Home Section, May 3, 2007)

Jura Koncius: Here it is! Thank you Elizabeth!!!

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Paste wax: Strosnider's in Bethesda has a huge selection.

Jura Koncius: Thanks. We were put on hold when we called and then we gave up...

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Falls Church, Va. : Door color questioner again--

Thanks for the lovely suggestions! Jazz blue is exactly the type of color I was thinking about! I do also love the purple color suggestion -- I just wasn't sure that I dared (but maybe I do!).

Jura Koncius: Dare to be different.

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Panel curtains: For the person looking for panel curtains, Country Curtains has sheer embroidered panels in blue.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Panel curtains: the curtains at Lowe's are nice for such a reasonable price.

Jura Koncius: Oh yes.

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washingtonpost.com: A Stylish Prince Awaits the Return of Chintz (Washington Post Home Section, May 8)

Annie Groer: Jura is too modest to toot her own horn (yeah, right!) but she's already gotten a funny phone call from Mario himself. Apparently one of his Virginia clients read the whole thing to him over the phone this morning. The next time he's in town, go see him. He's hilarious. He starts his presentations wearing the worst toupee on earth, and you sit there squirming and hoping that this is not a serious hairpiece. Then he whips it off and all is right with the world.

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Arlington, Va.: One last point about the House Calls...

IF this family wants this to be a teenage boy hangout for a few more years (and frankly, I wouldn't call them unfit parents for not ceding an ENTIRE basement to kid and friends until he leaves for college), then they really don't need to be putting in several $1K leather chairs. Or even $500 leather chairs.

Teenage boys spill.

Annie Groer: Thanks for the input. Maybe the kids are neat.

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unlit candles: It is bad luck to have candles in your house that have never been lit. Just light the ends once and blow them out so they have been burned. Lucky home!

Jura Koncius: Bad luck, and I am told that in some circles, it's tacky to have wicks on display that are not pre-charred ...if you can believe that...

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Bowie, Md.: For Bethesda, I had the same dilemma and went for the sectional. Wonderful for watching TV, but it did diminish the conversation factor, I thought. Instead of looking at each other, everyone was looking only at the TV. I wished I'd done the 2 sofas. For what it's worth.

Annie Groer: It's worth a lot. There is a reason they call them "conversation pits."

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Storing Tablecloths: I have mine hanging on pants hangers in the coat closet - I can see at a glance what I have. Skirt hangers for placemats (in bundles) and napkins?

Jura Koncius: Fab.

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Bethesda, Md.: Good morning. I'm getting ready to paint my exterior trim. Are you happy with Farrow and Ball's exterior performance?

Jura Koncius: Hmm. Exterior? We do not have experience with this. Anyone out there?

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Paint color somewhere between green, gray, and blue: Restoration Hardware has a paint color that might fit your vision.

Annie Groer: Ah yes, Silver Sage et al.

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Aucti, ON: Ladies,

I used to live in the rural Richmond area and there was an auction house (Tillmans?) that did on-site estate auctions during the summer. I used to pick up their flier every month and it would give a listing of where and when the auctions would be.

Is there anything like that in the DC/NoVa area?

Annie Groer: Try www.maineantiquedigest.com and check out the calendar for auctions and other sales.

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Chevy Chase, D.C.: Submitting super early but hope you will answer my call for help! Our house was in move-in condition when we moved in about a year and a half ago and though it is a Colonial (i.e. not necessarily our style), we have attempted to "make it our own" to borrow from American Idol-speak... but we need some help with re-design of the interior. I want to find someone who not only specializes in room re-design but also someone who won't just offer run of the mill suggestions, who will take into account our personalities, our kids, our tastes, etc. We are not traditional decorators and don't want to have our house look too traditional. Aside from getting a name from an association, how can we seek out a decorator who will attempt to "get us?" Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Go to the Washington Design Center and look at their Design House rooms on display. And look at their section of interior designer boards which show their look. Also, check in with ASID the DC Chapter - 202 488-4100. Leslie Ehrmann is a terrific source of names.

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Pleasant Prairie, Wis.: Hi ladies, love the chats. We just painted our bedroom BM Brookline Beige, which turns out to have a more ruddy undertone than I was expecting. What color bed linens/duvet would you pair with it? We currently have a darkish but faded red coverlet, which I thought would go well but now seems to clash. Maybe a cooler, paler color? Thanks.

Annie Groer: You're right about going pale...try silvery blues or sagey greens. It should be just the ticket.

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Carpet installation: I was at Lowe's this weekend and they had a sign saying $99 installation special.

Jura Koncius: Wow! Thanks.

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Boonsboro, Md.: House calls:

So go to IKEA, and yard sale the lot in October 2009. I have had loads of teenage boys spend the weekend in my basement, staying up all night gaming. No console tables... computer desks instead.

Jura Koncius: Ha!

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Ladies,

In the past you've suggested that a way to save money on framing is to buy a framed picture, remove that picture and replacing it with a picture of your own. How do I remove the picture and replace it with my own? The framed picture I purchased has glass in front and paper backing.

Annie Groer: You take a razor-blade or knife and carefully cut away the paper. Then you remove the brads or whatever hardware is holding the backing in place and slip everything out.

If your piece of art is valuable, you may want to buy an acid free mat and backing board (available at frame and hobby stores); otherwise just replace the pictures. While the frame is open, carefully clean the glass inside and out, let it dry and reassemble.

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Washington, D.C.: Good morning, ladies. Please help me! The kitchen in my small studio condo is being demolished as we speak (actually ahead of schedule), and I have a week or two to find hardware (handles or knobs) for the new flat-front maple cabinets. I'm looking for something unique but relatively simple (modern but not cold/generic) and not outrageously expensive. Could you recommend a couple of sources in the Adams Morgan/Dupont/U St/14th St area or in the city and accessible by public transit? I don't have a car. I know that there are a lot of decor stores in the area, just not which ones have cabinetry hardware. Thanks so much; I'll even send you a photo when it's finished.

Jura Koncius: Restoration Hardware has great stuff but it's in Georgetown. Otherwise, what about www.myknobs.com or www.sunburstknobs.com

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Hyattsville, Md.: We recently had new cabinets installed in the kitchen, and the piece across the window (that connects the two bordering cabinets) had a really tacky flower cut out on it. I removed the cut out, but now it looks too plain. I would love to find something to re-attach to dress it up. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Annie Groer: How about a simple piece of molding stained to match the cabinets or to contrast.

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Jura Koncius: So, another week comes to an end. Thanks!

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