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 Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza take on all things home related. They were online taking questions Thursday, June 12.

A transcript follows.

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

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Terri Sapienza: Hi, everyone! Before we get started, I wanted to thank everyone for such a warm welcome on my first chat last week. With Jura's help and your nice comments, I already feel like an old pro. Secondly, I wanted to address a question left over from last week. Someone asked for a good pink paint color for a child's room. Last year, I painted the inside of my linen closet with "Cameo" from Ellen Kennon paints. The brand is a "full-spectrum" paint, which is supposed to absorb light and change as the light changes in the room (www.ellenkennon.com). The colors are beautiful. It was a little pricey (I think a little over $60 a gallon - don't tell my husband!), but I loved the color and it was such a small space we didn't need much, so I splurged. And I'm so happy I did - I love it! It's soft and light, a whisper of a pink that feel happy about whenever I open the closet. If anyone else has had good luck with pink paints, we'd love to hear about it.

Okay, let's chat!

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Was there a discussion last week? I was doing tree cleanup at 11, but later I couldn't find an archive listing for June 5.

House Calls comment: The child has LOTS of toys and there was a request for play space, but nary a toy to be seen in the makeover. Also, the decorator seemed to completely ignore the alcove extending from the dining area.

washingtonpost.com: Yes, there was a chat last week. Here it is. I just realized we need to update the chat hosts' names for the archive - should be fixed today.

And here is House Calls: A New Look for a Basement (Post Home Section, June 11)

Jura Koncius: Thanks for all your comments.

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Ipswich, Mass.: My wife and I are on a kick to make the inside of our house look brand new or at least not so "tired." We've decided to start with the bathroom. I saw your article on how to make over a bathroom on a budget and the suggestion to hire a professional to recaulk the sink and tub. Our tub and sink look pretty dingy and the caulk is even chipping in places. Do I have to hire a professional? It looks like a pretty easy job and I'm pretty sure it will make the room look a lot better. Any easy-to-use tools or tips for doing it on our own?

washingtonpost.com: Do The Bath (Post Home Section, April 24)

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Ipswich. How fun - I love home improvement "kicks!" As for the bathroom, I think you can certainly take on the re-caulking project on your own, if you're up for it. I've never done it myself, but a quick search on-line pulls up several "how-to's" and they look fairly simple. You should also check a local home improvement store, like Home Depot or Lowe's because they often offer classes on small DIY projects. At the very least, someone there should be able to chat with you about the best way to caulk. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

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Jura Koncius: Hey guys. You all are very interested in paints and various brands.

I wanted to mention that Behr was voted the highest in consumer satisfaction according to a recent J.D. Power and Associates study of 8900 respondents who had applied interior paint within the previous 12 months.

Testers said Behr was particularly strong in the areas of price, design guides and instructions. We'll try and get the results of the survey and fill you in on how other brands did.

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Jura Koncius: Hey. Do you all have ANTS invading your homes this week? I had a friend over last night who said, "Jura, did you know you have millions of ants marching along the back of your kitchen counters?" I was HORRIFIED and ran to CVS to buy and traps. This morning, my husband found ANTS in his Kashi Crunch cereal. He was very grumpy after that. They are tiny little ones. Any ideas on how to STOP them...

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Kid's room -- pink and then some: A couple of years ago, daughter asked to have her room painted pink. Knowing she might outgrow the shade she wanted (Behr, I think it was Fairytale or Princess Pink in their Disney line, of course), I convinced her to let me paint just the bottom half pink, top half white. Seriously, a very pretty saturated pink in small doses, but I imagine that a full room in this would be like living inside a gumball.

Since the room had no chair rail and we didn't want one, I drew a level line around the room, then used fabric glue to glue a dimensional ribbon (in this case, pink cutout flowers) as "chair rail".

Now that she's outgrown the pink, we can easily paint just bottom half, and pick another ribbon or something to replace the pink flowers. Fabric glue did no damage to the walls, but of course, test first! Now we're onto blue...

Jura Koncius: Love the "living inside a gumball" concept!!! Your idea is fabulous. Thanks for writing in.

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Fences and boundary lines: Thanks for your article on fences. I wanted to pass on a correction though about a common misconception about determining where the property line is based on what I'm going through with my neighbor now. The article states "It might help to dig out the plat (or property map) that you received when you bought your home."

You must make sure you know if the plat you have is a property survey done by a licensed surveyor or a house survey done to satisfy the bank. A house survey simply verifies the existence of a lot and buildings on it for the bank. In Maryland, house surveys must state a disclaimer that they cannot be used to determine the property line. Margins of error for a house survey in determining the property line can be 1-5 feet, even if the house survey shows set back measurements to the main building or other markers. This is especially true in older neighborhoods.

A property survey done by a licensed surveyor determines the location of the lot in the context of the entire block and makes sure the boundary lines match specifics for the entire area. As it was described to me, a correctly done property survey fits together all the lots in the block like a jigsaw puzzle using GPS, deeds and other records in addition to extensive on site measuring.

My line is 2-3 feet from where I thought it was based on a property survey and my plat that I received when I purchased the home clearly states not to use it to determine boundaries. This would make a great article for the paper. My surveyor had stories about every lot in a block in Chevy Chase being off 5 feet.

washingtonpost.com: On the Fence? Here's How to Decide. (Post Home Section, June 12)

Jura Koncius: Wow!

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi, I have a furniture question. I have a pretty small living/dining room, but I would like a sectional. The wall that it would go on is about 90" long (well the wall is actually about 175", but my dining area takes up the rest). Do you know of places that have small-scale sectionals? The only one I have found is at Room and Board and they are kind of pricey.

Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Alexandria. I,too, have a room with a 90-foot wall that I have been considering a comfy sectional for, and you're right - a lot of sectionals are just a little too big for that wall. I was in Baltimore yesterday reporting for a story about home shops out there, and one store I went into had the cutest small scale sectional - it was light blue and the perfect size (I can't remember exactly, but instantly knew it would fit my space). It was beyond my budget - over $2000 - but I think it would be less so if you chose a lower-grade fabric, like a crisp and clean white duck slipcover. The name of the store is The House Downtown (www.thehousedowntown.com). I think it's worth a call. And a trip - the store and surrounding neighborhood, Belvedere Square - are incredibly charming.

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Washington, D.C.: Help! I have an old and very tarnished brass tray table that was bought overseas years ago - I'm looking for some place to get it dipped (recoated) as I haven't been able to get it looking right after trying many tarnish removing techniques. Thanks!

Catherine

Jura Koncius: I called Brass Knob, one of the area's largest purveyors of antique brass, for some ideas for you. Put these in your Rolodexes!!! Roy Wheeler, Magic Lantern Polishing, 202 684-8485 and Metro Plating in Kensington 800-938-5811.

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Fence and Ants: On fences, also check on zoning and permitting laws. D.C. for example has height limits that vary in part based on how close to the property line the fence is.

On ants, have them too. I think it's all the rain/wet soil, and they want drier areas.

Jura Koncius: Glad someone else has been visited by the ants and not just my place!!!

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ANTS: The bane of my existence. Traps don't work with those tiny little ants. Use the spray - spray where they are coming in and along their routes (along the baseboards for me). They were horrible in my kitchen, but also came on my end tables in the living room, so I sprayed in the corner midway between and some more along the baseboards to the kitchen because they were the worst there and I haven't seen any for a few days.

Funny (I suppose) story - our apartment management sent in pest control. When they stopped by our apartment, they asked if we had pests and my husband said "we have ants" and the pest control guy said "they're not pests". (Roll-my-eyes).

Jura Koncius: They are not pests!!! Yikes! My friend Kathleen said she brought in the Ant Whisperer and they were gone...

I'm going to buy spray on my lunch hour...

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washingtonpost.com: Ant story - Freshman year in college I had a suitemate who was an animal rights activist. We developed an ant problem and I bought some little traps. She balked and suggested that instead we lay a trail of food going out the door. I pointed out that a trail of food would not be a one-way street, so I won and we poisoned those ants. - Elizabeth

Jura Koncius: that is hysterical...

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Annapolis: There are several commercial products that you can place around your house to stop the ants. I can't remember the one I used several years ago but check with the local hardware store. I think there are some "green" ones that can be used also.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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South Riding, Va.: Hello all, I want to paint my 3 month old daughter's bathroom pink. Her bathroom is already furnished with white furniture and white tiles. I'm thinking something very soft and easy on the eye, like pastel pink. Not something I would find in Barbie's clothes or house. Thank you

Terri Sapienza: See my first comment for my suggestion for a wonderful pink paint color. Another suggestion: if you find a color you like but feel it's just a little too bright or pastel, ask the paint store to mix it at 50-percent or, if the trim in the room is white, add a little to the pink to lighten and soften it.

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Charlotte: The only way I've dealt with the tiny ants is to keep the counters completely clean! Wipe, wipe, wipe! Also, trace their trail back to where they're coming in and clean the whole length. Once upon a time, we followed them back to the window in the dining room. They came all the way through there and up onto the counter...

I will say I haven't had as much trouble with them since we replaced the windows. New and better caulking/sealing seems to have helped.

Jura Koncius: I can't afford new windows!! I will trace the trail tonight. These ants made me clean off EVERYTHING on the counters and throw out everything in my fruit bowl. This morning, my husband threw out most of what was in the cabinet with the cereals. So I guess this is making us clean up our act!

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Ants: Hi Jura, I just wanted to say that I had to deal with ants in our townhome. I found the source and where they were coming in. I put traps there, I also used Raid spray and later when I didn't want to use that, I used pepper (they hate pepper). Outside, I found their nest in our backyard and destroyed that with boiling water. Of course, they just rebuilt in other places, so I kept doing it until I worried about our lawn. So I bought Raid sticks that you put into the ground to get rid of ant colonies. (Another problem is I do think they decided to invade our yard from a neighbor but I can't confront our neighbors!) I hope you can get some ideas from this!

I didn't know we had ants until they had invaded our bedroom. I have no idea why they decided to come into a room that had no food, but they were everywhere! Ick!

Jura Koncius: Gulp. I am going to look outside the house and see if I find any nests! Yuck!

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Clifton, Va.: Many HOAs will not allow vinyl fencing. It has to be board over board wood. Composites may not be allowed either. Check your HOA regs.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Ladies,

Welcome Terri. I'm looking for a somewhat neutral paint color for an office, but preferably no cream or beige. The room gets very little natural light, and the wood furniture is maple. I would like something warm. An adjoining sunroom that is visible from the office will be painted in BM Pumpkin so I would like a color that coordinates. I plan to use pumpkin accents in the office to tie the rooms together. I prefer BM or C2 colors. Thank you.

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Washington.

I'm searching through a BM paint deck to find Pumpkin, but there are four! pumpkin "mousse," "patch," "seeds," and "spice." Which one did you use? I'd like to take a look before making any suggestions.

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Washington, D.C.: Don't know if this is the right forum, but can anyone recommend a good roofer in D.C.? I've received a couple of quotes that seem extremely high for my rowhouse. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Try Corley Roofing 301 894-4460. They've been around a long time.

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Washington, D.C.: I'm not handy at all and have been re-caulking in my bathroom and kitchen myself. Some tips:

1. Get a good caulk remover (3M makes one) and a super sharp blade.

2. Make sure everything is bone-dry before laying down the caulk.

3. The caulk gun looks intimidating but it's better than the squeeze tube because you get steady pressure. Just practice with it a little first.

4. TAPE your lines. Do not try to free-hand it.

5. I started with my tub because it was the least visible area to be caulked. By the time I got to my vanity - the most visible - I was a pro!

I could have asked one of my handy guy friends to help me out, but it felt good to learn and do it myself. The best thing is it's cheap, so if it looks really terrible, you can start over or hire a pro if necessary.

Terri Sapienza: I'm impressed! Thanks for the tip.

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Chantilly, Va.: The little ants are sugar ants and they are everywhere. They are really hard to get rid of. I have had luck with cleaning with a citrus smelling cleaner (they apparently hate the smell of oranges) to get rid of the scent trail they lay down to tell other ants where the food is, and then caulking closed any holes/gaps where they are coming in around doorframes, in corners, etc. Then spray ant spray outside the house where they are coming in. You will have to repeat this process every couple of weeks if you see new ants.

Jura Koncius: I see this is going to take up a lot of my free time...

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Ants!: The best way to deal with ants is to prevent them from entering your home in the first place - check for holes, and keep all food tightly sealed.

I've found that ants can't abide lemons. So try keeping a few lemon slices in the cupboards to see if that discourages them.

Jura Koncius: Ants hate oranges and lemons. I'm going to load up.

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Ants: I had ants and used those traps from CVS. The taps worked great at first, but the ants came back. I tried the traps again, and the ants came back again after another period of them being gone. What worked was calling an exterminator - he sprayed twice. I think it depends on where they're coming from, though. Mine had a nest in my wall, and the traps were killing out the workers, but not getting the queen. Mine were large ants - not the tiny ones. They were able to carry pieces of cat food, and there'd be a line of them going from my cat's dry food bowl, across my living room, through my bedroom, into the hole that led to their nest.

Jura Koncius: Oh no!!! I better check Gus' cat food bowls carefully tonight. I hope ants hate Fancy Feast but I fear they will love it. Maybe I should put orange and lemon slices near Gus's food. I also recall a tip that you put the pet's food in a bowl of water and the ants die on their way to the food.

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re: ants: Can you find where they are coming in? We've had moderate success using caulk to close the holes. It's hard, though, since they are so small and can squeeze through the tiniest cracks, so usually we combine it with some poison. Terro.

Jura Koncius: Caulk and poison. What a way to go.

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ANTS!!: Yes, I have them too. I had to repot 2 (indoor) house plants because ants had totally invaded. how can I get rid of them without using poison???

Jura Koncius: That is a very good question! I hope they don't get my orchids. Does anyone have something to help with this?

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi there! I'd like to have my parents' first coffee table (from 1964) refinished. Given the damage, I believe it will need re-veneering. Do you have a craftsperson you'd recommend for this job? Thanks.

Jura Koncius: Try American Hardwoods, 9160 Brookville Rd., Silver Spring, Md. 301 558-0363. It sounds neat.

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Be careful with pink...: When I was 9, my mom did up my room to accommodate my tastes at the time: white wicker, a daybed, horse posters, and pink flowery wallpaper. By the time I was 16, I was a Doc Marten-wearing grunge girl. Needless to say, living inside a Laura Ashley store was pretty embarrassing!

So don't do anything that can't be easily reversed.

Terri Sapienza: This is great advice. When I talk to designers about decorating children's spaces, they all say the same thing: do everything in moderation because kid's tastes change. For example, if your daughter has a think for purple, consider painting the walls a lighter, more neutral shade (like lavender) and bring in the brighter, darker purples with accessories (pillows, bed linens, lamp shades) that can easily be swapped out as her tastes change. I think black Doc Martens would go with lavender : )

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Smaller sectionals: Check vintage stores such as Miss Pixie's, The Hunted House as well as Craigslist. You might find large groupings, but sellers might be willing to sell you just the pieces you need. Many mid-century pieces were designed to work together and stand alone.

washingtonpost.com: And, as seen in the Home Section today, Miss Pixie has a new location!

Jura Koncius: Yes. Miss Pixie has a very cool new location and so much more room for her finds. Go on Thursdays - today as a matter of fact - the day her freshest finds hit the floor.

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Antville: We have the tiny ants, do every year. This isn't an awful year so far. We use Terro liquid, from Home Depot or a hardware store, and it seems to work eventually. Ah well, they are basically harmless, just annoying. Whenever it rains, I can predict another influx!

Jura Koncius: Dear Antville: I hope you are spared this year. I think they all marched over to my place.

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Ant Invasion: The best ant killer I've found is called Terro Ant bait traps. They are clear plastic rectangles containing a thick sweet poison. The ants will swarm into it and carry it back to the nest. In a couple of days, they're all dead. I have to use this in my kitchen every spring.

Jura Koncius: I need to get some of this magic stuff...

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Regarding ants: Cornmeal! Track the ants to where they are coming from and pour cornmeal into the hole and on top of the ant trail. They'll eat it and die. (Full disclaimer: I heard this from my mom. She said it worked for her.)

Jura Koncius: Now I have to find some cornmeal! These ants don't have a chance after all these tips!

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Arlington, Va.: Love your chats! Could you recommend a nice Orange for my dining room (prefer BM or C2)? Adjacent kitchen is SW Koi Pond and hall is a light yellow.

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Benjamin Moore's Jack 'O Lantern is warm and pumpkiny.

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Ants: Peppermint oil will help with the ants. Also, check for any kind of sticky spills in the areas where they were noticed.

Jura Koncius: I will add it to the shopping list.

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House calls comment: I agree with the first poster about ignoring the alcove off the eating area.. but I'd like to add another comment.

The homeowner requested an eating area, but let's face it - if you're bothering to bring food down from the kitchen into the basement, it's not going to be a full 5 course dinner. It's just going to be a plate of food and you're just going to plop down on the couch with it. So there's no need for the dining room set.

I think they'd be far better served by adding a coffee table in front of the couch, perhaps one with some drawers that they can put napkins and extra silverware in. If they wanted to put some more work into it, they could maybe add a small wet bar area with a refrigerator to store some cold drinks as well as the napkins and silverware.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for your inventive ideas.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I'm planning on renovating my kitchen and am looking for clean lines (not not too formal) and a warm, inviting feeling in the new kitchen. Can you suggest a couple of color schemes that would work well for what I want?

Also, a shout out to Terri. Good to see you online. I know you from our Camp G.C. days.

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Silver Spring. Who is this??! Would love know. email me at sapienzat@washpost.com so we can catch up.

As for your kitchen, so many colors can feel warm and inviting (in fact, most color can depending on the intensity of the shade), that it's too difficult to suggest a few for you. Are there any colors you particularly like? What colors do you have in your house? In adjoining rooms? Do you want light cabinets or dark cabinets? I would start combing though magazines and ripping out pictures that appeal to you. After you do this for a little while, you'll start noticing a trend in your picks and it will help you narrow down what you like and are looking for.

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Ohio: I, too, have had an ant invasion in the kitchen this spring. I found where they were getting in, gave that location a good shot of Raid House and Garden and haven't seen any since. Once, when my children were small, I had the same problem and used salt at their entry point, that worked too.

Jura Koncius: Dear Ohio. I think they've marched East...

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Ants: When Raid ant traps did nothing for my ant invasion, a friend recommended Terro Liquid Ant Traps to me. They work great. Check the hardware store.

Jura Koncius: another vote

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Ants: My mother swears by a mixture of white vinegar and water, through a spray bottle on the affected areas. Have never tried... but I do have those ultrasonic pest repellers plugged throughout the house, and I've seen nary an ant inside the house, don't know if they work but I like to believe they do -- now, crickets are another story.

Jura Koncius: I'm not ready for an Ultrasonic pest repeller yet,,, but who knows...

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Caulking: Caulking isn't rocket science, but it requires practice to do a neat job. Buy a cheap tube of caulk and practice on some scraps of wood. Don't lay it on too thick - it's easier to add a little more than to neatly remove the excess. And a contractor taught me that the best tool for smoothing caulk is a wet finger!

Jura Koncius: You are so right...

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House Calls: The basement looks terrific, BUT, I always wonder when basements are going to be used by kids - where are the toys? Seems unrealistic not to have any open storage at all for a 6 year old's stuff. Is this really what the parents want? I'd like to have a basement that can be a place for the kids to let loose and not feel like it's formal like the living room. I think it could look nice AND be 6-year-old friendly as well, with some open and accessible storage - easier for them to tidy up as well. I don't want my kids to think I'm trying to erase evidence that they live here.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for writing in...

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had to laugh: The cornmeal comment reminded me that a couple years ago, I read that ants hate cinnamon. The ants that year were coming in along the top of the cabinets, walking along the edge of the ceiling and down. So I tossed cinnamon along the corner of wall and ceiling. It did not really stop the ants and you should've seen my husband's face when he got home! :D

Ahhhh, home remedies, gotta love them.

washingtonpost.com: I think, Jura, you could use half your lemons, oranges, cornmeal and cinnamon on the ants and the other half to bake some kind of muffins?

Jura Koncius: lol

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from ehow.com: Step1. Cover the scent trail. When the scout ant decides your house is a good place for him and his colony to call home, he heads back to the colony to get them. The scout ant leaves a scent trail so he can find his way back to the colony. When you destroy the scent trail you confuse the scout and stop him from getting back to the colony to call the other ants. Use vinegar in a spray bottle to spray the ant and the surface you saw him walking on.

Step2. Take away the reasons for calling the colony. The scout decides your house is a great place to live if he finds food and water available. Seal all of your food in plastic, clean up crumbs after eating, wash all surfaces after preparing food to stop the ants from wanting to move in.

Step3. Kill the scouts before they get back to the colony to call the others. Place ant traps out to kill ants that wander into your home. Be careful how you use these if you have pets or children in the house. Ant traps contain poison.

Step4. Repel ants from your home naturally. Ants are repelled by mint, citrus, cloves and bay leaves. Clean your kitchen and bathroom with vinegar, which has the same acid as citrus. Wipe down surfaces with peppermint or citrus oil. You can also plant mint plants around the foundation of your home to stop them from entering.

Step5. Find the point of entry and block it. A wall of baby powder placed where the ants are coming in prevents most of them from entering. If they do find their way over the wall of the powder, the powder covers their scent trail so they can't find their way back out.

Jura Koncius: I'm headed to the grocery store after the chat... armed with HUGE shopping list... those ants don't stand a chance...

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Arlington, Va.: On the topic of pests, has anyone had experience using garlic spray to combat mosquitoes? Our backyard is usually unusable in the summer and while it's not too bad now, I'd really like to figure out ways to combat the problem. Thank you.

Jura Koncius: Garlic spray? Anyone? Is it good for ants too?

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi all. First time poster here. I'm 24 and moving into a basement apartment in a few weeks. I need to furnish the place, but want to replace my college-era furnishings with stylish, moderately priced pieces which will not break down after a year. Besides the obvious choice of Ikea, where can I find pieces to update my apartment look without breaking my decidedly meager budget?

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Have you been to Miss Pixie's? See page 2 of today's Home section. Hit all the yard sales you can this summer. Check out what's available at World Market, Stein Mart and T.J. Maxx and Marshall's.

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Washington D.C.: Hi, do you have any suggestions for a silver-blue or gray-blue paint for a bedroom? My bedroom furniture is a dark rosewood, and we have mirrored nightstands. The large rug is a gray and blue pattern. I tried Benjamin Moore's Palladian blue, but it turned out to be too green. Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: I used BM's Woodlawn Blue at 50-percent for a guest room, and I like it, but it may be too blue for what you are looking for. I don't have any personal experience with silvery-blues, but there are a few Farrow and Ball paints that I love in that color range that I love looking at: Borrowed Light, Pale Powder and the new Pavillion Blue.

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smaller sectional: We just got a smaller sectional (89", I think) from JC Penney. Ordered it online, and never even visited the store. It's super comfortable, wasn't too expensive and there were a bunch of colors to choose from.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for this.

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Alexandria, Va.: Post-Leaky Basement - Now that I'm biting the bullet and putting in French Drains and a Sump pump, what to do about Remediation? Contractors are all eager to rip out everything in my finished basement from the floor up to two feet - including wood door jambs and drywall where there is NO visible mold stains. Once the moisture problem is controlled, mold growth will be stopped. So is trashing everything really necessary? I'm not allergic, and the mold isn't the toxic variety.

Jura Koncius: Have you thought of having a home inspector in? They are unbiased experts on all things in the home. It might be worth it. www.nahi.org or www.ASHI.org

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Arlington, Va.: You are reading my mind regarding a nice soft pink for my daughter's room. I really like Benjamin Moore paint, and their store is around the corner from me -- any ideas for a light pink in BM colors?

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: I'll weigh on on this. I like Frosty Pink by BM. And if you want it lighter, you can cut it with some white.

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Pigtown: Terri... I am so glad you came up to Baltimore. Belvedere Square is wonderful! It was semi-abandoned for a long time, but now it's flourishing. Another great resource in Baltimore is Mt. Washington Mill, with the new Gore-Dean location. It's stunning. Also Hamden for a funky collection of unique shops and restaurants. Baltimore has tons to offer and it's just a short hop up I-95!

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Pigtown. Yes, I am now very familiar with the shops of Baltimore and am working on a story about them, which will run soon. I visited each place you mention, loved them all and encourage everyone to make a trip up there. But make sure you have your GPS - the streets are confusing!

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Lemons, cornmeal, peppermint: I'm getting hungry reading this chat! Even Terro is making me hungry for taro, haha. If nothing else, you'll have some good pantry ingredients even if the tricks don't work.

Jura Koncius: Yes. Wait until my husband gets a load of all of this tonight...

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Terro City, DC: Terro, Terro, Terro. I could hear the ants laughing at my ant traps. The laughter stopped when I brought out the Terro. Now there is ant silence in our kitchen.

Jura Koncius: Ha!

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Pink Paint: My living room is Benjamin Moore's Monticello Rose - a soft beigy pink. Even my husband loves it.

Terri Sapienza: Oh, I love it when the husbands admit to liking pink rooms. After much doubt and concern, my husband admits that the linen closet looks very nice. It's so fresh and clean and pretty. I couldn't stop looking in it after the job was done.

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Ants in the Cereal: There's nothing more gross than finding ants in the box of breakfast cereal. It's been years since that happened to me, but I still roll the top of the bag inside the cereal box and close it with a clothespin or binder clip. It also keeps the cereal from getting stale, as an added bonus.

Jura Koncius: You know, my husband usually does this so I'm stunned that he had not on this particular box of cereal. I have clothes pins and chip clips galore. One thing I have always wondered and wanted to call General Mills about - why don't cereal companies sell cereal in zipper bags? It would keep it fresher and keep ants out. I always thought it was a plot to make it go stale sooner and make you buy MORE of it. That's why I never buy those huge cereal boxes at Costco - too much waste as it goes stale even if you use a clip..

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Ants... Again!: How 'bout if they're in the Dishwasher? I run the Rinse/Hold cycle and that seems to work... for a while. Then they're back! It seems they come back as I load the dishwasher. I can't run the dishwasher every day!!! Help!!!!

Jura Koncius: I had this problem last night. We did a small load just because they were all over the inside of the dishwasher. UGH. This is not good for energy saving!

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Fencing - boundary survey: We would like to do a boundary survey to erect a fence around our property (.4 acres). Could you/readers suggest any surveyors and the cost - most of the property backs up to a wooded area.

Jura Koncius: Anyone?

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Silver Spring, Md.: What great timing on the fence article! My husband and I just had an estimate done for finishing the chain-link fencing on our new home and it seemed ridiculous (WAY WAY more than the $15/foot quoted in your article). We're thinking about just doing it ourselves, but I thought I'd see if you (or any of the chatters) had a recommendation for someone in Montgomery County who does a good job. Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: On the Fence? Here's How to Decide. (Post Home Section, June 12)

Jura Koncius:???

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Rockville: Are there any rules on painting walls with chair rails? As in, if you're only painting one side, what difference does it make to do the top versus the bottom half? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: We have seen it done both ways...usually darker on the bottom.

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Upstate N.Y.: Welcome, Terri!

I have a gorgeous sari hubby brought me from India. I want to display it, but don't really have anywhere to hang it - except for the blank wall over the stairs. How best to hang it? It gets no direct sun and there's nothing there now.

Terri Sapienza: Thanks, Upstate!

What a thoughtful husband you have! Sounds like a good gift-giver, too, which is always a plus. I think hanging the sari sounds like a fantastic idea, and my first thought is that you take it to a framer's shop and see if they can make a shadow-type box for you to hang it in, then hang the box on the wall. The box will protect the fabric from getting damaged or worn and will make the hanging process easier.

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D.C. Brownstone: Is engineered wood an acceptable flooring option for an at-grade English basement?

Jura Koncius: This type of flooring isn't good in floods.

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Washington, D.C.: Could you suggest color/design for area rugs please? I'm looking for two, one for each side of the bed. Bed linens are Pottery Barn toile in dark red, furniture is dark brown, walls are cream. Thank you very much.

Jura Koncius: You could bring in another color - with red and brown, pale blue would be cool. Or khaki. check www.capelrugs.com.

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Arlington, Va.: The person looking for a surveyor might start by calling the company that prepared the original plat. Sometimes since they have at least partial info on file, you can get a better price for pounding in the stakes than if you cold call a surveyor. This is what we had done when we put in a fence.

Jura Koncius: These issues are complicated. Thanks a lot.

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Kaneohe, Hawaii: Aloha! I know you guys rave about Palladian Blue, so I'm thinking about going with it for my master bedroom. I have cathedral ceilings with wood beams, tons of natural light, and mocha-colored bamboo floor. Thoughts? For bedding, I'll probably buy all white to keep the look crisp and clean.

Jura Koncius: That sounds so cool and crisp for Hawaii! Love it!

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Ohio again: RE: Cereal getting stale.

Check out plastic containers called Lock and Lock. They seal everything out. You could put your cereal in one of those and float it in a swimming pool. It would stay dry and fresh. (I have no connection to the company, but really like the containers.)

Jura Koncius: I will check this out. Great Father's Day gift!

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Arlington, Va.: I don't know if this is really a question for you but here goes. It seems to me our washer really isn't getting all the suds out. I'm wondering how much I can cut back on the amount of detergent in each load, without compromising the cleanliness of our laundry. Sometimes I just do an extra rinse but that is a huge waste of water. Is this just a problem with our washer? It's a Kenmore, only about 1.5 years old.

Jura Koncius: This is a weird problem. Have you tried various detergents? If it is a HE washer, are you using HE brand detergents? You might send Kenmore's consumer department an email.

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Olney, MD: For the English basement question about acceptable flooring, resilient vinyl flooring from various manufacturers, Armstrong, Congoleum, Mannington etc. are the way to go. They look like real wood, can hold up to water damage, are laid down in planks. Ifloors.com usually has great deals on them.

Jura Koncius: Another idea...

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if you can borrow a metal detector: wave it around your property corners and you might find the iron poles sunk into the ground (not all parcels have them, but some do.) The first thing surveyors do is kick around with their boots, then pull out the metal detector to look for the corner markers.

Jura Koncius: great idea

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re: Plating: I've used Metro Plating to polish a piece of vintage Liberty and Co. pewter and they did a fantastic job.

A question: the hardwood floor around my kitchen sink is getting worn and is difficult to keep clean. I'm thinking of replacing just that area with porcelain tiles that look like slate. Has anyone had any experience with these? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Sending this out to the crowd...

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Alexandria: Ants in plants - they got into my orchid. Took the plant outside and totally submerged it in a big pot of water. It was really creepy to see the ants swarming out!

Jura Koncius: Yuck!

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Bowie, Md.: I'm newly engaged -- and the fiance comes with a 150-pound mutt that I adore. This amiable dog is used to having the run of the fiance's home, which can't be the case when they move into the house where I currently live alone. I've never had a dog, so I'm trying to figure out how to be the best-possible dog owner given that I'm also allergic to dust, mold and pet dander (luckily, cats more than dogs). My plan is to make the first floor dog-friendly and keep him downstairs, away from the bedrooms. I'm thinking of putting down porcelain tile floors with radiant heat in the traffic patterns -- any other ideas for making my first floor as easy to keep clean as possible? Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Bowie. Congrats on your engagement! What an exciting time of lots of change this must be for you and your fiance...and the dog. As a dog owner myself, who had my large dog for seven years before I met and moved in with my husband (who is also allergic to pet dander, more cats than dogs), I have to be honest here and say that I wouldn't have been happy with, nor agreed to, the "no dog upstairs" rule! I understand your concerns, but I think keeping your house clean will be easier than you think. Our dog has the run of our house and sheds like you wouldn't believe, but as long as I keep up on the dusting and sweeping, things are fine. I also throw blankets across furniture he likes to sit on and keep a bed for him on the first floor.

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Diatomaceous earth and ants: A natural way to kill ants and other insects is to put out diatomaceous earth at the points where they get in. It won't hurt humans or pets, but it is basically tiny shards that pierce the insects' exoskeletons and they die. Used it for ants last year and it worked very well.

Jura Koncius: How amazing!

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Altoona, Pa.: Ants, ants, ants. We get them every end-of-winter when our basement gets wet. If they are sweet-loving ants, here's what works: mix well 1/2 tsp boric acid, 2 Tb sugar, 6 T water. Put it in a shallow dish or paper plate covered with plastic wrap where Gus's long paw can't reach (no Thursday is complete with a mention of the adorable Gus). This is not a knock 'em dead recipe; the idea is not to kill the first ants, but to let them get back to the nest and spread the word and THEN they die. So you will see ants for a while -- in fact, don't freak out when they start parading in. They will peter out fairly soon.

Cornmeal/essential oils/lemons are old wives' tales, and none of the home remedies mentioned on your chat has ever worked for us. We haven't needed to try Terro. Is it pet-safe?

Jura Koncius: The pet safe question is very important to me and others...

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Sudsy detergent: I had the same problem with the suds lingering in our new washer - then read the manual carefully and found (in fine print) that you're supposed to use low-sudsing/HE detergent for ALL energy star washers, even if they're traditional top loaders with an agitator.

Jura Koncius: Totally true.

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For too many suds: We used 1/4 the recommended amount in our washer (used to be a top loader, replaced with a Bosch front loader). Still have too many suds, so we do extra rinse. Would like for Tide HE to come in no scent, no dye and smaller bottles. Experience with Bosch in Britain and Belgium led us to replace top loader with Bosch.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Los Angeles: I know that I may need a different shade to get the effect, depending on light, room orientation, etc. -- but in the Sex and the City movie, what is the new paint color on Carrie's walls?

washingtonpost.com: Find out here! (casasugar.com)

Jura Koncius: Here!

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Mosquito control: Get a bat house - http://www.planetnatural.com/cgi-bin/planetnatural/bat-house

I live by the woods w/lots of bats and hardly ever a mosquito..

Jura Koncius: I want a bat house for my birthday.

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Terri Sapienza: We've run out of time, but have lots of ant-battling to take care of now. Chat with you next week!

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