Home Front is an online conversation between two Washington Post Home Section writers and their readers about the best way to feather the nest. Every week, Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza help you in your quest to achieve domestic bliss. They were online Thursday, July 17.

A transcript follows.

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

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Terri Sapienza: Good morning everyone! I was recently lucky enough to attend a fun flea market with a expert flea shopper, so I learned lots of great tips for successful market shopping. Check out today's Home section for upcoming fleas in the area and beyond. We'd love to hear about your adventures in flea marketing, your favorite markets and some of your best purchases. Let's chat!

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College Park, Md.: Posting early just in case. I know this comes up frequently, but I can't find old recommendations. I need to replace carpet in the basement (water damage, mold in pad and carpet). Any leads for good and reasonably-priced carpet installers in the College Park area? I'm not sure who to call for estimates.

Jura Koncius: Lots of people suggest Carpet Palace in Bethesda. 7351 Wisconsin Ave. NW 301 718-0020. Any other ideas?

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Chevy Chase, D.C.: Re: Today's House calls - Wow. I am blown away by the designer's ignoring the client's wishes and the dated, tacky look of the redo. Client says they don't like the valance that's there, so they replace with bigger, uglier valance. Client wants something kid friendly, so they get dated vertical blinds that kids routinely get caught in. Client wants hardwood floors, so they get giant carpet square. It seems to me the designer did themselves more harm than good with this one.

washingtonpost.com: House Calls: Dining in Style (Post Home Section, July 17)

Jura Koncius: One person's opinion.

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Falls Church, Va.: I loved the article about flea markets!! What can you tell us about the one this weekend in Chantilly?

washingtonpost.com: Finders Reapers (Post Home Section, July 17)

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Falls Church. Glad you enjoyed today's story! I had a fun time doing my reporting. I haven't had the opportunity to attend one of the Big Fleas yet, but I'm going this Saturday for sure. I know that there will be approximately 600 vendors and more than 1000 booths and that local designers and dealers go early to scope out the best pieces. So, my advice to you is if you plan on going, go early! That's my plan.

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Washington, D.C.: I need to repaint my house but there is a large amount of prep/handyman work that needs to be done before I can even consider painting. The shoe molding needs to be replaced, all sorts of cracks that needs spackling, etc. My question is whether a painting company would do this work (and do it well) or whether I should hire a handyman separately to do the work.

Jura Koncius: Lots of painters can do all the extras that you ask for. Get several estimates and see what different companies will do for you. Is anyone using a painter right now who can comment on this? Painting contractors to suggest?

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Terri Sapienza: Before I forget, I have a request: I'm looking for homeowners with a blue painted porch ceiling for an upcoming story. If you've painted your porch ceiling blue, or have opinions about them either way, I'd love to hear from you. E-mail me at sapienzat@washpost.com. Thanks.

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Arlington, Va.: Last week there was much discussion about a family mahogany desk. I inherited pieces from my grandparents and I have no room for all of it in my small apartment. Can you or the chatters recommend a reputable dealer to buy furniture? Also the auction in the Penn Quarter highlighted in last week's paper -- do they buy pieces for the auction?

washingtonpost.com: Looking for a Deal? Try Window Shopping. (Post Home Section, July 10)

Jura Koncius: Weschler's Auctioneers does take pieces for auction. See their website for details www.weschlers.com. Take a digital photo of it if you can so you can show it around without having to bring the piece with you. Another auction house you might try is Sloans and Kenyon, 7034 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda 301 468-4911.

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Slipcovers: Hi, I submitted this question at the tail end of last week's chat, and am submitting early in hopes of getting folks' input. I have two armchairs which I bought secondhand for $75 (for the pair!). They are in very good condition, and they came with white slipcovers that I would like to have dyed a brown or green color. I've tried G St Fabrics, and I've tried Parkway Cleaners on Conn Ave, but neither of them will dye fabric or know who can. Any thoughts on where to go for this? I don't want to do it myself with a box of RIT dye, because it will be messy and probably won't turn out looking that great! Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: My advice to you is: Don't dye the white slipcovers! If you really want to change the color, I would suggest looking into having another set of slipcovers made in another fabric (it should be easy to find a brown or green cotton duck fabric, if you wanted something inexpensive). White slipcovers are great to have. They usually can be thrown in the wash and bleached when dirty and they are a nice way to freshen up your room during the summer months. I would have another pair made and switch the covers throughout the year. It's an easy way to update your furniture and your room.

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Washington, D.C.: Good morning! Do you know of any stylish carpet runners for the entry hall? I want to protect our hardwood floors from rain and snow, but don't want some big, bulky ugly thing. Most of the ones I have seen fit this description.

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Yes. Look up www.dashandalbert.com. We are fond of designer Annie Selke's collection of stair and hall runners. You can get them at Urban Country in Bethesda and The House Downtown in Baltimore. Farsh in Alexandria has nice runners as well.

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Richmond, Va.: Regarding Marmoleum -- has anyone used this as an area rug or mat in front of a sink or stove, as opposed to the typical wall-to-wall installation? If so, how were the edges finished? I've heard of doing this, but the manufacturer doesn't have any recommendations about finishing the edges. I was thinking of putting two pieces back to back and using adhesive in between them, and just cutting the edges with a good utility knife. Any thoughts, advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated. Thanks

Jura Koncius: What a great idea. Marmoleum is experiencing a renaissance. Anyone have experience with this use of it?

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Washington, D.C.: My brother has a rowhouse in Ledroit Park. What are good sources for antique front doors? He'd love to find one in the area. Many thanks.

Terri Sapienza: Try Backdoors Warehouse (2329 Champlain St NW, (202) 265-0587, www.thebrassknob.com) or Second Chance, Inc. in Baltimore (1645 Warner St, Baltimore,(410) 385-1101, (www.secondchanceinc.org)

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Bethesda, Md.: This is pretty urgent and not about flea markets but about a cousin of flea - the roach! My son has been dealing with a bad roach infestation in a NYC sublet (after cleaning and spraying and trapping, he does no cooking or eating in the apt). Now he is ready to move to his own apt and wants to leave the bugs behind! What can he do to make sure that the bugs are not in the books, clothes and bedding that he will be transporting? He has found a roach in a book. He heard that he might try to put everything in plastic ziploc bags, or the freezer, but for how long? And not much fits in the freezer. Any sprays or other ideas? He is moving July 31. Thanks so much for your help.

Jura Koncius: Yuck! I would be concerned as well. I remember my first studio apartment on my own in NYC at Tudor City - I had 3-inch roaches that would come out at night and I could hear them crunching around my trash can! One night I called my parents in the middle of the night in tears! Your son doesn't want to carry these horrible bugs with him to his new place. First of all, he should definitey get rid of as much paper as he can - no newspapers, magazines, shopping bag collections etc as roaches love to hang out in paper. Freezing stuff is a great idea but as you say, the freezer is small. He might consider taking all of his clothes directly to a laundromat and washing them in hot water before moving them into a new place. Do our chatters have other tips?

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Glen Allen, Va.: I would like to gain some privacy around my deck and spa and can't just wait for the trees and shrubs to grow. Do "outdoor draperies" exist? Or maybe it's possible to buy awning type fabric by the yard? Any other ideas?

Terri Sapienza: You could have drapes made with a fun outdoor fabric, which is available everywhere - there are so many fantastic styles out there these days. Locally, try Calico Corners and G Street. There are also lots of outdoor fabrics available to designers, if you know any. You don't mention where you plan on hanging these drapes though. How would you hang them on a deck?

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Reston, Va.: I have ugly black power cords snaking down my light-colored walls. Is there any reason I can't paint the power cords the color of my walls? Will it make the cords brittle or cause any other electrical problems?

Jura Koncius: You should not paint them. Why not get a cord cover that matches the color of your wall?

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Washington, D.C.: Good morning! I usually love House Calls, but I agree with the previous poster on this week's design... not a very kid-friendly place.

We are about to have our first child and live in a small house with little space and storage. We would like to devote an entire wall (7 feet long) in our living room, bedroom, and/or dining room to an attractive unit that would maximize wall space. The only items we've liked are built-ins done for friends, but we're on a tight budget. Are there any companies that offer modular storage solutions that look as nice as built-in but for less money?

Terri Sapienza: If there is anyway you can afford built-ins, I would recommend going that route. They may be more expensive up front, but when you consider how much money you could end up shelling out over the years on multiple less expensive storage pieces, built-ins might be a better overall investment (plus they typically add value to your house).

In the meantime, if you're looking for a modular unit, I have always liked Ikea's Expedit shelving unit(www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00071356). It comes in a few sizes and colors and are great for children's spaces.

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Arlington, Va.: Hi - I just purchased 100% cotton (white/off-white) slip covers for an inexpensive loveseat and two chairs. I haven't opened the covers yet but think I'd prefer some color. Is there anyplace where I can have these items dyed? BTW, I hate the other available colors for these slipcovers.

Thanks much.

Jura Koncius: Check out www.fabricdyeing.com. I called Bergmanns but they do not do it and don't know anybody locally who does. Can you still return the slipcovers? If you don't like them, perhaps you should have them custom made in a fabric you like and you can get on sale somewhere.

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Roaches: Check out your local extension service or try this site (U of Illinois extension). http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/thriftyliving/tl-roaches.html

Get rid of cardboard boxes, too. Have him pack as much as possible into plastic bins with tight fitting lids. Roaches and their eggs travel in boxes -- and eat the glue. So don't pack stuff in boxes and keep it in the apartment. If you have to pack in cardboard, move the boxes immediately to a roach-free place.

Also try boric acid in the new place (Borax). Mix it with a bit of cocoa powder and a tiny bit of sugar to lure the roaches. They eat the Borax then crawl off to die. Put a small amount of the combined powders in the corners of EVERY cabinet. My grandfather learned this is Texas and everyone in the family has used it since. Much less environmentally and humanly toxic (and cheaper) than insecticides, and it works well.

Jura Koncius: All great ideas.

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Chair rails: I have a small condo with a LR/DR and I am trying to make them look more like separate areas. I've painted the rooms different colors and put bookshelves up behind the sofa and against the "invisible" line of separation. I was thinking about chair rails in the dinning area (from the bookshelf to the kitchen), is that overkill at this point?

Jura Koncius: Overkill.

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Roaches: When I returned from living in Germany, the tenant left my studio condo infested with roaches. I thought it was a roach farm. I went to CVS and got two cans of flea bombs, set them off and returned the next day to vacuum up hundreds of dead roaches. I then placed Combat around the condo and never saw another roach.

Jura Koncius: Yuck. That was a horrible little exercise to have to go through. Glad it worked.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Good morning ladies. I really hope you can help me out on this one.

This morning I noticed a strange pucker on on one of my Oriental rugs. It's barely noticeable on the front, but on the back it looks like it might have been cut and then sewn back together. The whole thing is about an inch long, so it's not a bit deal appearance-wise, but I'm afraid it will get worse as I, or my cats, walk on it.

Any thoughts as to where I should take the rug to figure out if anything should be, or can be done to fix it?

Jura Koncius: You have a place right in Silver Spring that has been around a long time. Hanna Ayoub, 301-562-4088 - 2614 Pittman Drive.

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A different sort of paint question: I am moving into a new apartment soon and want to paint a couple of walls -- one in the living room and one in the bedroom. I'd assumed they would be the same color so I don't have to buy too much paint, but I realized I don't know how much paint I even need! I'll probably only do one coat so that it's easier to return to the apartment white, so how many square feet does one can of paint cover?

Terri Sapienza: The easiest way to do this is to use a paint calculator. Go to the Benjamin Moore web site (www.benjaminmoore.com). Click on "For Your Home" then "Find Products." That should lead you to their calculator. Good luck!

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Rockville, Md.: I go to the Big Flea in Chantilly all the time... it's great! There are a few really high-end booths, some trashy ones, and lots in-between. In addition to the professional dealers, this show gets small-timers and people who have collected or inherited too much stuff and decide to clear out... that's where the real bargains usually are. Just please, people: leave the dogs and strollers at home!

Terri Sapienza: Great advice, thanks!

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Painting my bedroom: Hi Jura and Terri, I just bought a place and am thinking about painting my bedroom. All I think of for how I want my room to look is "zen-like." I am thinking of a light lavender/purple or a gray. Any other suggestions for how I can my bedroom into a zen-like abode? Thank you!

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

Jura Koncius: Check out these colors of lavender. The walls could be a great start to a Zen room. Polished dark wood floors would be nice; but wall to wall carpet is also very soothing and silent. Make sure you have room darkening shades. Do lighting on dimmers. Use scented soy candles to set a mood. Have music playing that is soft and mellow.

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Raleigh, N.C.: I am in the process of buying my first house... hurrah! I close in August, but face another dilemma: I don't have a lot of furniture. After years of hand me down furniture and IKEA, I'm ready to buy some more quality pieces, but I don't actually know where to get them. I like the aesthetic of Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn, but their wood furniture seems to be mostly MDF with a pretty veneer -- which makes their prices seem high. What are some good, mid level type lines? Haverty's? Bassett? Can you help an excited girl out?

Jura Koncius: I see you are in Raleigh, N.C. Have you looked at Bernhardt? Martha Stewart's furniture which is made by Bernhardt is well made and has a great deal of style. Yes, check out Haverty's, Bassett and Ethan Allen. Also check out estate sales for gently used vintage furniture.

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Arlington, Va.: I actually didn't mind today's House Calls... and while they would not work in my house with toddlers, gee, you would HOPE a teenager would not get entangled in vertical blinds. For once, it seemed like the designer kept budget in mind because usually the featured items are just so expensive.

My two cents.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for your two cents.

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Dallas, Tex: I love other aspects of home decorating, but freely admit that dealing with window treatments gives me hives.

I'm especially conflicted with my kitchen, which -- I'm sorry to tell you -- has inherited balloon shades from the early '90s. I have a bay window and two large windows that overlook the back yard. What are some ideas for appropriate and good-looking treatments in a kitchen environment?

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Dallas. Yes, I agree: window treatments can be headache inducing. Though, I have to say, when they are up and they are the right treatment, they add so much to a room.

Regaring your situation, first things first: take down the balloon shade! I think you will feel instantly better afterwards. Secondly, have you considered natural woven or grass shades? They come in so many colors and add a nice texture to a room. I had off-white grass shades with a tailored valance installed in my bay window off the kitchen and I love the way it looks and functions.

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Lorton, Va.: Hi, Thanks for answering my question. I have a dining set bought a few years ago. The set looks fine, however the chairs are coming apart from the joints. Where can I fix it without paying a lot of money? The chairs otherwise look fine, no scratches or blemishes. I hate to throw out the whole set.

Jura Koncius: They need to be reglued. I don't know of a place in Lorton, but you could try furnituremedic.com.

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Houston, Tex.: I have a tip for the poor soul with the infested apartment. This happened to me in a D.C. apartment. DO NOT use cardboard boxes for the move. They love those. Buy inexpensive plastic storage containers to move your stuff - they aren't that much more than buying boxes, and then you can use them for storage at your new place. It really did the trick for me!

Jura Koncius: That is really a great thing to remember. My son is going off to college this fall and I was told to pack everything in those plastic storage boxes instead of cardboard since they can be reused and used for storage in between.

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Thanks: to the chatters who chimed in re: FLOR tiles last week. I went to the Interface website and ordered samples that day, got them really quickly, and love them! They are totally soft and the versatility, and ability to create your own design, are just so cool. I'm definitely going to order some to carpet my daughter's room. Thanks again!

Jura Koncius: Yeah!

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That 70's show..: lost their dining room set today.

That was the dullest makeover ever.

Jura Koncius: Hmmm.

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Borax: I second and third the Borax suggestion. My grandmother (also from Texas--paradise of the roach) used it and it always worked. My understanding is that it is a mechanical method of killing them -- the powder gets into their gaps, joints etc. and causes them to be unable to move. I'd suggest using it in both the old and new places -- to try to minimize the number in the current place that could migrate, and to prevent an infestation at the new place.

Jura Koncius: There must be GIANT roaches in Texas.

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Fairfax: I'm redecorating my 13 year old daughter's room. She currently has a mural on her wall. Although, I hate to paint over it. She really wants to have her room reflect her taste. Any ideas on where I can purchase bedding, curtains and accessories BESIDES Pottery Barn Teens, JC Penney's? She doesn't like the "girly" colors. She loves Hot Pink.

Terri Sapienza: Have you tried the Company Store (www.thecompanystore), Bed Bath and Beyond (www.bedbathandbeyond) or Garnet Hill (www.garnethill.com)? I think these would be good places to start. And if your daughter loves pink, I suggest going light on the walls, and leaving the bright and hot pinks for the bedding or accessories. She might grow out of that soon and those things are more easily changed than the wall color.

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For Cockroaches: If you don't mind a brand recommendation, the few times I've had problems with ants or roaches (all too common in Arlington apartments) I've just put down a few Combat disks. Poof, no more bugs. My sister has half a duplex and used to have a sloppy neighbor. Combat took care of it for her and she passed the tip on to me.

Jura Koncius: Fab.

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House Calls: While I'm not crazy about the design I did think that for once this designer DID keep budget in mind!

Also - it's worth noting that although they wanted it kid friendly, their daughter was a teenager.

Jura Koncius: Another thought...

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Re: roach problem: I dealt with the same thing during my recent move. I washed everything that could feasibly be washed before I packed it, then sprinkled dried bay leaf bits all through the boxes as I packed them. Finally I also applied some Skin-So-Soft to the outside of the boxes. I've heard roaches hate both bay leaves and Skin-So-Soft. The stuff then went to storage for 6 months and I didn't include any food, so I figured any bugs that managed to bypass the bay leaves would die or leave on their own. Anyway, we finally moved into the new place 2 weeks ago. I'm about 1/3 of the way done unpacking and I haven't seen a single bug or bug bodies or nuthin.

Jura Koncius: Lucky you. Great idea.

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Springfield, Va.: Enjoying the chat! Do you have any experience with Upscale Resale for selling furniture?

Terri Sapienza: I don't have any personal experience with Upscale Resale, but have heard lots of good things about it. Anyone with experience care to chime in? We'd love to get your thoughts.

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Leftover from Last Week/Antiques: Last week someone mentioned their son's color choices as black, grey, and red. As ladies, this might offend our sensibilities. However, this is an extremely cool and sophisticated choice for a male. Think Mr. Goodwrench. Use a subtle shade of grey as the base, add a wide stripe of black (8-10") all around the room about 6" from the ceiling, and outline the black stripe top and bottom with red tape or paint.

As for the antiques, some places will come inspect your pieces. Upscale Resale in Falls Church and Jasper's in Baltimore come to mind. They do consignment.

Jura Koncius: Very cool.

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re outdoor drapes around spa: For outdoor drapes and rods, try Plow and Hearth, also Restoration Hardware has some. I just got some for my screened porch; he person may have to put up a gazebo like structure or maybe just some fence posts to run a pole or heavy duty wire (the drapes have grommets).

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Brass Knob warehouse moved: The Brass Knob Warehouse (with all those cool doors, bath tubs etc) moved a couple of years ago. The new address is

The Brass Knob Back Doors Warehouse, Inc. 57 N Street NW Washington, DC 20001 202-265-0587

Jura Koncius: Thanks. You will be reading about Brass Knob in August in the HOME section.

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Dining Set: Why would the poster throw out the whole set? If the chairs can't be fixed satisfactorily, find a style that will go with the table. I think Furniture Medic has a branch in Lorton.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Springfield, Va.: Hi-

What BM colors would you recommend that approximate the Restoration Hardware colors Silver Sage, Seafoam, and Atmosphere Blue?

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: BM can match virtually any color if you bring it in. I'm curious as to why you just don't buy the Restoration colors?

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Chantilly, Va.: Hi ladies, I look forward to your chat every week and now I find myself in need of some advice myself. I have an empty guest room that faces east with one window. I like an eclectic look so I'm painting most of the furniture black. Can you please suggest a nice paint color that will look warm and cozy with black furniture?

Jura Koncius: Let's see what would make BLACK look warm and cozy? Bay Window by Lowe's Valspar Seaside Retreat collection. Pignoli by Martha Stewart Colors for Lowe's. Asbury Sand by Benjamin Moore.

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Arlington, Va.: In these days of scaling back and trying to "reduce, reuse, recycle"... would you consider doing a variation on House Calls where the designer comes in and basically rearranges the person's stuff to make it look better?

I personally have tons of nice stuff but don't display it to its best potential, or don't recognize its potential, know what I mean? And in that case, why buy new stuff?

Thanks for considering this.

Jura Koncius: We'll pass it along.

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sooooo . . . : how is the ant situation these days?

Jura Koncius: I thought they were completely gone - but my husband mentioned last night that he thought he saw a few dancing across the kitchen counter... So tonight, we bring back the traps. Thanks for asking!

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Upscale Resale: For smaller items, you can make an appointment with them to take them in. They'll inspect them on site. For larger pieces, I think you can email a photo and they'll determine if they need to schedule an in home inspection. All of the info is right on their website. They are very professional and polite.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Kettering, Md.: I have enjoyed your decorating articles. Based on your article about Miss Pixies on 14th St. NW, I was prompted to visit the store 2 weeks ago and was impressed by the variety of furniture and home accessories on display. These items fit my eclectic cottage decorating style to a tee. I don't plan to shop at Miss Pixies very often because the store is not convenient to where I live. However there are several stores in Old Towne Bowie that offer a variety of antiques and classic furnishings that are very reasonably priced. For instance, at Fireside Antiques, I snagged a Victorian Regency sofa with claw feet (upholstery in perfect condition) for $350! At Christophers Antiques I purchased a console table that fits against a wall and can be unfolded/extended with leaves added and used as a dining table to seat 8-10 people for $375! This is perfect for a small home such as mine where a large dining table would take up too much space. I can't remember the store in Old Town Bowie where I purchased 2 matching Victorian lamp wall sconces for $18 each! I truly love cottage style decor because it provokes a sense of warmth and coziness that I knew as a child. Check out Old Towne Bowie, I think that you will be just as impressed with the offerings as I am.

Jura Koncius: You sound like a candidate for Cottage Living magazine! Good for you. And we love knowing about these other sources. Please, keep 'em coming.

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Roach suggestion: If he really wants to be sure that he doesn't take anything with him, then he could rent a moving truck, load everything that is going to the new place into it (meaning, literally, everything), then get a roach fogger and bomb everything in the truck. This solution probably won't be for you if you're worried about pesticides, but I worked for a moving company in college and this is what we would do to the trucks right after moving anybody that had roaches in their house, to ensure that we wouldn't transfer any to the next person's stuff that got loaded into it. I suppose he could also pile all his stuff into one room in the place he's living before he moves and do the same, but it might not be as effective as doing it in a really contained space.

Jura Koncius: Fascinating. Bomb the truck. Look what you learn from a moving pro...

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Reading, Mass.: I'm looking for an exterior paint color for our front door. Can you recommend something blue/violet? My mind's eye sees the color of blue hydrangea flowers. The house is yellow with white trim and black shutters and I think this blue door will really pop.

Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: I have to be honest here and tell you that I don't think a blue or violet door would work well with your current house colors. Sorry. If it were my house, I would paint the door black, then plant hydrangea bushes in those colors near the door or in other places around the house. Or you could buy a pair of cool stone planters and place them on either side of the front door and change the colors of the flowers throught the year.

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a less lemony yellow?: We are repainting our kitchen and need a recommendation on a nice yellow. It is an older home with a lot of wood trim (windows, doors, baseboards) in a color just between the Minwax "colonial maple" and "golden pecan". Trouble is, the color we chose is too bright on the walls. It is Behr's Pale Daffodil, but wow... not so pale on a full wall. Any recommendations on a color that will still be sunny and will work with the wood but isn't quite so ... lemony bright morning wow...

Cabinets will be white. Accent color will be a blue, we think.

Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: I hear you, yellow can be a very difficult color to work with, which is one of the reasons I stay far away from it and bring it in through accessories. I'm a coward, I know!

I'll post a story I did about the color yellow in a minute, with some tips from a couple experts.

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washingtonpost.com: Here Comes The Sun (Post Home Section, April 10, 2007)

Terri Sapienza: here's the yellow story...

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Oh, please help! My one-bedroom apartment is too hot and I am going out of my mind. Do you have any ideas on how to make it cooler? The main room has a west-facing window, so it heats up during the day and then the sun shines in and really gets the air upset and then it takes until about 11 p.m. for it to finally cool down. I don't have air conditioning, but have a large fan in front of the window, and smaller fans in the kitchen and bedroom. And I keep the blinds down and tilted up so I can get a breeze but the sun doesn't shine directly in. Am I missing anything?? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: I feel very sorry for you! Keeping the blinds down all day is definitely a great idea. Can you get any cross ventilation in the evening. Have you thought of a ceiling fan?

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Fairfax, Va.: We had our white oak hardwood floor refinished with a natural finish in all the bedrooms and they look fantastic. However, I am at a total loss as to what color walls would go well with such a light floor color. I am so used to the honey oak dark floor finish that I can't even begin to pick out a paint. Any help is much appreciated!!

Jura Koncius: I would say the trick is not to do too pale a color on the walls. Otherwise the space will look really washed out.

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Terri Sapienza: Thanks for all the questions today. It's been fun, as always. Remember to email me if you have a blue painted porch ceiling (sapienzat@washpost.com) and to get up early and check out the Big Flea this weekend. If you go, join the chat next week and tell us about your fabulous finds. Talk to you next Thursday.

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