Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza
Washington Post Home Staff
Thursday, September 11, 2008
11:00 AM
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, September 11.
A transcript follows.
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Jura Koncius: Good morning everyone. Wanted to start out with a great Website to suggest to everyone. www.thefurnitureconnoisseur.com. My friend Beth from Richmond, who has beautiful antiques, sent it to me this week. It has the most wonderful furniture polishes and creams and care products.
Does anyone else have a fave design or furniture Website to share with you today?
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Arlington, VA: Wicker repair - Can you recommend a wicker repair shop? I have just gotten an old wicker chaise that is in great condition except for a small hole in the back. And, thanks for the chats!
Jura Koncius: Yes. I have this number on file. Willie's Wicker Repair, 703 379-1954. Willie has been repairing wicker for 11 years now. He is located 5812 Doris Drive., Alexandria. I just spoke to him so he is there now.
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Alexandria VA: Huge fan of Alessi home and kitchen tools; live in the midst of traditional everything. Any ideas for where to go for a more hip shopping experience to Italianize my kitchen and bath?
Jura Koncius: What a great question! You might try the National Building Museum Shop, which has a lot of wonderfully designed modern items. Museum of Modern Art in New York's website also. Any other ideas out there?
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Drapes: Hi, I'm replacing the heavy brown floor length drapes in my living room with something lighter. The room is small (old rowhouse), but the windows are pretty large. Two questions:
Would it be sacrilege to replace the drapes with shorter curtains, that end a little below the sill? The long ones get in the way in the small room and seem to take up a lot of space.
What do you think about using the Sunbrella curtains indoors? I like the grommet tops, and would get a simple off white, not the patio-striped ones. I have a cat that likes to sit on the sills, and her fur gets all over the drapes/curtains. I thought these would be more cat resistant and easy to clean. I haven't seen them in person yet, though I've seen the fabric, which seems nice enough, not polyester-like.
Terri Sapienza: If it were me, I would stick with the floor length (I think the look is nicer, especially in a living room). I also think one of the reasons you feel your current drapes "get in in the way" may be because they are dark and heavy. If you get drapes in a lighter material (cotton, linen) and in a color that closely matches the wall color (that is, if your wall color is light), then they will blend into the space rather than breaking it up, which would be nice in a smaller room.
As for the Sunbrella curtains, I've never seen them used in a living room, but if you like the look of the grommets and think they will work for you and your space, then go for it.
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Washington, DC: How do I reseal my granite countertops? Can you recommend specific products to use? I've asked at several hardware stores and no one has been able to help (no experience with products).
Jura Koncius: To be honest, I've had my granite countertops for nine years. Only once did I spray them with a special granite counter seal. And I'm not sure it did them any good. By the way, we have a great article on stone countertops in today's HOME section. We will post it soon.
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Washington, DC: Re: design websites, I just put this Home Interiors Zone in my RSS feed: http://www.homeinteriorszone.com.
Lots of off-the-wall stuff. I really enjoyed all the different bookcase ideas!
Jura Koncius: Thanks. Love that wild book shelf with the chaise in the middle...
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Somewhere in South Jersey: Someone a while back asked about the quality of Homedecorators.com rugs. I have one of theirs in my upstairs hallway that's held up beautifully. It's round and floral. We don't have kids, just cats, and it looks as good as new after 10 or so years... I can't vouch for their furniture, tho...
Jura Koncius: Cats can be as hard on rugs as kids - especially if they occasionally scratch or deposit hair balls on them (yuck - but they are a fact of life with most cats) So thanks for that info.
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PORCH QUESTION: My house has a screened-in porch on one side of my house, it's a rambler. It's at least 100 sq. ft. My dilemma is that it's the main entrance to the house. The door to the living room is accessible only through the porch. The porch is screened completely around with screen doors in the front and rear to enter. The floor isn't exposed, like on some porches, from the outside. It's siding up until the window (screen). My question: what can I do to make the porch feel like part of the house besides closing it in? Oh, the ceiling is high, with indoor/outdoor carpet.
Terri Sapienza: One way to make a porch feel like part of the house is to furnish and decorate it as if it were an indoor space rather than an outdoor one. Think about how you would like to use the space and furnish it accordingly.
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washingtonpost.com: Sorting It Out: Stone Countertops (Post Home Section, Sept. 11)
Jura Koncius: thanks.
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Rockville: Good morning! Any suggestions on ways to display babies' blankets and stuffed animals? Thanks!
Jura Koncius: Hmmm. I assume this means while your child is still a baby, not after he goes to college! You might find a vintage quilt rack and hang the blankets, which no doubt were either lovingly woven or knitted or lovingly bought, for your child. They would make a nice display. As for the stuffed animals - a big wicker laundry basket is one way to display them. Or you can built a shelf along the top of the baby's room. I confess that my son is now 18 and I have a huge trash bag of all his animals in the attic! They were so beautiful and so many of them have such special memories I could never bear to part with them. I guess they must be pretty grungy by now, though. Do any of the rest of you moms confess to this?
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Washington, D.C.: Where can I buy super -super- soft sheets? I've tried Macy's and B-B-and-B, but everything I've felt has been too coarse. Are there any brands that anyone wants to recommend? Thanks!
washingtonpost.com: Cheat Sheets? (Post Home Section, May 15)
Jura Koncius: Have you tried bamboo sheets? They have them at most bedding super stores and at department stores. Also try for Egyptian Cotton and higher thread count sheets. I used to love the Charisma sheets - they had the best softness.
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Wash, DC: Hello home Gurus! I desperately need paint color advice (sorry it's not a more interesting question). I need to select a color for living/dining room plus stairwell; I'd like something fairly light and neutral, in the tan/beige/gold family. I currently have C2's Kernel, which is a nice color - I love how it lightens up the rooms - but it's too yellow for our furniture, which is in the browns and tans. I was thinking maybe BM's Fennel Seed - or do you have a favorite for this kind of color? They are all starting to look the same to me... Thanks!!
Terri Sapienza: Two of my favorite neutrals are BM's Natural Wicker and Restoration Hardware's Linen. I also like the look of C2's Reflection and Cricket White (though I have never used them personally). Have you ever considered a pale gray? It might look nice with your dark woods. Take a look at BM's Classic Gray to start.
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Washington, D.C.: Re: Sunbrella fabrics. My decorator had us recover our couch and a chair in a white Sunbrella fabric, as the couch is in a south facing bay window. It looks like an expensive flecked soft linen, you would never know it's an "outdoor" fabric, and I don't worry about fading. Can't beat the price, either.
Terri Sapienza: Yes, Sunbrella is a smart and popular choice for indoor upholstery. It's now available in so many colors and patterns, too. Outdoor fabric in general has come such a long way. There are so many great options out there.
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San Antonio, TX: I noticed in the Sept. 5 chat that you mentioned Tuesday Morning. Now that I know they are in the D.C. area, I highly recommend them for the reader who was looking for quality pillows at a reasonable cost, as well as the man who wanted a masculine bedspread. Each dept. has a marked down section which has terrific bargains. A few weeks ago a reader was hunting the padded containers for china. Tuesday Morning carries these. Bed, Bath and Beyond is also a good place for the pillows and bedspread, especially if you use the coupon.
Jura Koncius: Thanks San Antonio for all those tips. The coupons at BB&B and Linens'n Things are terrific and everyone should sign up online to receive these on their Websites.
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Fall Color: I loved your Fall Forecast article- my room has been painted those exact shades of purple and gray for about 6 years now and I absolutely love it! Glad to know I'm on the cutting edge!
Jura Koncius: You are so nice to say that. We all had a lot of fun working on that.
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Washington, D.C.: I am not a mom, but I am a 25 year old who has carried a big box of stuffed animals along through four years of college and now three years "on my own". So there's my confession. I can't bring myself to part with any of them.
Jura Koncius: Thank you for sharing!! Some day, I think I will surprise my son when he comes home for a college break by putting all the animals around his room. Is that corny?
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Richmond, VA: Hardwood flooring.
We have honey oak for the downstairs. We are going to replace the carpet upstairs with hardwood but my wife wants darker wood (like teak). Would this be odd when we go to sell the house in a few years? Thx.
Terri Sapienza: If you're planning on selling in a few years, I would keep the wood floor color consistent throughout the house.
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Richmond, VA: In that stone countertop article, in the cost column for granite it says "If you want blue granite, it will double or triple the price because"
Just "because"? That hardly seems like a good reason.
washingtonpost.com: Missing text - I just alerted the proper producer. In the print version it says "because it is rare" or something along those lines.
Terri Sapienza: Thanks for the explanation, Elizabeth.
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Washington, D.C.: Hi, I have a sisal rug that has some stains. I tried to get them out with a brush and soap and water without success. Do you know where I can take it to get it professionally cleaned? Thanks
Jura Koncius: I just called a few rug cleaning places and just as I had feared - none of them will clean sisal rugs. Most of them say it's impossible to do it and not leave a water stain. The fibers absorb whatever stain is on them and it is almost impossible to get the stains out without leaving a trace of them. In most cases, do the best you can and hope that wear and tear will eventually sort of blend it in.
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washingtonpost.com: Fall Forecast (Post Home Section, Sept. 11)
Jura Koncius: Thank you, Elizabeth. Don't you love that driftwood mirror from West Elm!
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Silver Spring, MD: Hi there,
This isn't really a decorating question but hope you can help. (Also, submitting really early since it's going to be a busy week.)
My BF and I just moved into a new place. As we were doing some pre-moving cleaning we discovered a few small roaches here and there. We therefore decided to critter-proof the place as much as possible. We filled in every hole we could find, placed Combat baits in the drawers and cabinets and against the corners of the rooms and closets, and sprayed roach spray around the outside doors and windows.
I did some Internet sleuthing and also found that roaches hate bay leaves. So, I have also scattered them in the kitchen cabinets, especially the ones with things like utensils etc...
My question is how long will the bay leaves last? Does anyone know how frequently I should change them?
THANKS!!
Jura Koncius: Sounds like you are on the case. Personally, I might change the bay leaves every two weeks or so in the beginning. Then once the bugs are really gone, you might not have to do it so often. Bay leaves like all spices have gotten more expensive!
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Foggy Bottom: Hi Ladies,
I saw all of the lovely tiles this morning. While I like them, I want something a little unexpected possibly vintage. I would love to have a stainless steel counter top or a Formica one that has an atomic look to it like those found in 1950s kitchens. Where would one go for that sort of thing?
washingtonpost.com: When I was looking for something else earlier I came across this article about a guy who got very creative and saved a lot of money getting a zinc countertop and other kitchen items: Kitchen Remodeling Without A Net (Post Home Section, June 10, 2004)
Jura Koncius: Wow. Love the idea of an Atomic Kitchen!
You might try salvage places like THE BRASS KNOB (And we might post that article also.) My 1937 kitchen had the original stainless steel tiles in it until I remodeled about 9 years ago - they still looked fantastic. I wish I had saved them...
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Arlington, VA: For the Alessi fan, make sure to check out Home Rule on 14th. They have a well-edited collection of contemporary kitchen and bath goods. It's a fun store.
Jura Koncius: Oh yes. How could I forget! Thanks.
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Bamboo Sheets: I bought a set because they were crazy soft. Within one week, they started to pill. Very disappointing.
Jura Koncius: Totally.
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Penn Quarter, DC: Hi there! I have a question for you both about mixing woods in furniture. I have a condo and my main room is decorated almost exclusively in espresso colored woods -- I have a dark wood dining table, a large bookcase, and an entertainment system. I need to replace my coffee table and buy end tables and I'm wondering if it will look okay to use lighter woods for these (not blonde, just a lighter brown). What's the "rule" on this? And how do I make any mixes work well? Thank you so much, you guys provide a great service for those of us who are "decoratively challenged"!
Terri Sapienza: Mixing furniture finishes is just fine and, in fact, is a nice way to add some variety and interest into a room. For example, in my living room I have two chairs with dark wood frames, a brushed-gold finished coffee table and two white, Swedish-style tables. The finishes are all different, but they flow together nicely and add lots of interest to the space.
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Fairfax, VA: I have a family room in my finished basement that I would like to use as an entertainment area. I would like to put a small bar and stools at one end with a table nearby for games and snacks. Any suggestions for where I could find a bar and suitable table? I don't want to spend too much. The other furniture in the room is Mission style.
Jura Koncius: I would try JC Penney. Also check out the selection at Belfort Furniture in Sterling.
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washingtonpost.com: The Past, Polished (Post Home Section, Aug. 14)
Jura Koncius: Brass Knob.
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Washington, NC: Jura,
Just so you feel better about the stuffed animals.... There are large Rubbermaid tubs in my attic that are filled with them. My daughter, who is planning her wedding, recently asked about them. She warned me she and her fella want to look through them the next time they're here. I now feel better about having saved them (for the same reasons you did).
Jura Koncius: How funny! That's a great story!
I do have two VERY large Rubbermaid tubs where I have about 200 Beanie Babies entombed. I do not feel the personal attachment to those as I do to the full size animals - and I think my son would say the same. I recall who gave him the giraffe, the chintz bear, the lion and the cat...
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Washington, DC: I'm looking for a really light green paint for a simple half bath. Not too minty or yellow. The bath has a white pedestal sink and medium colored wood floors. I was looking at Behr Spring Morn. Are there any other good light greens to consider?
Terri Sapienza: Take a look at C2's Seedling. It looks like a light green with just a hint of beige.
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Habitat for Humanity Store: Has anyone gone to the Habitat for Humanity store in Gaithersburg? I was wondering if it was a type of salvage store where you can get really neat things for not a ridiculous price (as opposed to West Elm)
Jura Koncius: I personally have not been there but I have heard it is a fantastic place. Anyone have something to say about this?
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Arlington VA: Two things, related to a biggish remodel we have planned for next summer:
Some time ago (specific, eh?) you ran an article by someone who had replaced original metal cabinets with custom ones. I can't find it -- is there a whiz-bang chat producer who could find a link?
Also, any comments from you or chat participants on the relative merits of moving out (leave the construction zone behind!) vs staying put (save money!) would be much appreciated. We have small children but no pets, which may be a factor in weighting the pros and cons.
washingtonpost.com: Unfortunately this article's not showing up in my searches and not ringing a bell with Jura or Terri... - Elizabeth
Jura Koncius: Sorry we can't seem to recall the metal cabinets article.
As for moving out/staying in for remodeling - let's send this one out to the gang... I've never done a major remodeling - just a kitchen - and we stayed in and lived a slightly crazy life for a month.
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Washington, D.C.: You can find cheaper bay leaves in the supermarket's Latin section under "laurel." Cheaper than the spice section, that's for sure!
Jura Koncius: Yeah!
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Alexandria, VA: I'm 28, not a mom yet, and have had my bear since I was 5. It used to talk in "bear language", which annoyed my family and all his "vocal cords" (aka wires) are mysteriously stripped. Anyway, even after a dog bit off his nose and he has cataracts (his eyes are scratched and blurry), he still sits upon my husband's and my dresser, now holding my tiara from my wedding day. I debate about "taking him with me" or passing him down to my children, but I'm worried they won't appreciate him the way I do. Is that weird?
Jura Koncius: No!! I love this story! So fun. Keep that bear close at hand.
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A dad here:...and I'll confess to having stuffed animals my tween daughter is moving away from which I can't seem to let go, so I'm with you, Jura. Of course, at 38, both my spouse and I have a few stuffed animals from our own childhoods that first our parents, and now we, couldn't part with.
We talk about trying to pick a few special ones and letting go of others, but haven't managed to do that yet. They really are full of memories of days and people now long past. Maybe we need to raise this with Carolyn Hax?
Jura Koncius: Thanks so much for writing in. I think being sentimental is a wonderful thing. I agree with you though - choosing a few special ones to keep may be the way to go. And as professional organizers sometimes advise - take photos of the other animals and put them in a little album in the box with the animals that survived the purge...You're a great dad!
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Mechanicsville, VA: The Habitat store down here is definitely a place to get cool things for cheap prices. Not every time, but it's always fun to look around. I would imagine the Gaithersburg store is similar.
Jura Koncius: Thanks. It's sort of like going to Filene's Basement. You don't get a great buy every time,,, but it's good to check it out often. I scored a great Michael Kors brown turtleneck yesterday, by the way, at the downtown Filene's for $29.99.
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Jura Koncius: Hey, what do you guys think of the BRAVO show Top Design? Terri and I have been discussing it here at the office.
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washingtonpost.com: I have several dolls and stuffed animals from childhood on a bookshelf in my living room. Even better, not long ago I came across a Xerox of my favorite stuffed bear I must have made at my dad's office one day. It looks great in a shiny black frame. - Elizabeth
Jura Koncius: That is a lovely idea! My dad loved bears and I have a tiny little Steiff teddy bear he used to keep on his desk.
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Animal lover: I also have to confess that I still have around 75 stuffed animals from when I was little. It's easy to keep them in my case, though, because my mom has left them all exactly as they were in my room when I left for college... 10 years ago!!!
While I love them and would hate to get rid of any of them (they do all have special meanings), I'm sure I could get over it enough to part with a good number, if she wasn't so insistent that "YOU'RE so attached to them, we couldn't bear to change anything!"...
Jura Koncius: Thanks for sharing this story! Moms are amazing. At least she didn't turn your bedroom into a workout room or a home office!
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Re: Countertops: Lowe's has great looking laminate countertops, I think the brand is Wilsonart, with the look of granite but laminate price. They have a display of Quartz Milano, just gorgeous and it looks like stone.
Jura Koncius: Thanks.
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Takoma Park, MD: I have a question about paint colors. We have left over Borrowed Light from Farrow and Ball and want to paint our living room and dining room with it. The rooms connect to a small hallway which is currently a mustardy yellow which we don't think will go very well. We looking at light browns, but haven't found anything that works well and we love Pratt and Lambert paint. We have old pine hardwood floors and white trim throughout the house.
Thanks for your help!
Terri Sapienza: Oh, I love F&B's Borrowed Light - great choice!! But I agree: I don't think it would look great next to a mustardy yellow. How about F&B's Clunch or Matchstick? Or what about a nice gray (I know, I keep suggesting it, but I love it)? F&B's Pavillion Gray is so nice, too.
Just curious: Where did you initially use Borrowed Light (now that you have leftover)?
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21090: submitting early due to meeting.. I'm trying to paint a nursery gray - but want a "sparkly" gray. Not blue, green, or too dark. The furniture will be white, and there is a lot of warm woodwork (and wood floors) in the room. I plan to use navy w/orange and yellow stars for the bedding...I'd prefer Behr or BM paint! thanks!
Jura Koncius: What do you think of Behr's Sparkling Spring (it is sparkly, as you had requested!).
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Gaithersburg, MD: Are there any local places that would take a baby grand piano (about 5 feet) for donation, that would also pick up from the residence?
washingtonpost.com: Maybe a case for Craigslist or Freecycle? Recycling as a Matter of Give and Take (Post Home Section, July 15, 2004)
Terri Sapienza: Here's a suggestion from Elizabeth and we will post a story we did earlier this year on organizations that accept donations. In the meantime, can anyone else offer any suggestions?
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washingtonpost.com: Clearing Out for a Cause (Post Home Section, Jan. 3)
Terri Sapienza: here's the story...
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Tysons Corner: Thanks for taking my question. I'm searching for a reasonably priced dining room buffet/server (<$700) for storage of guest flatware and dinnerware. Do you or the chatters have any store suggestions within the DC metro area? Thanks again!
Terri Sapienza: Can you be a little more specific about the style of server you're looking for? It might be easier to provide some better choices that way.
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Arlington, VA: I'm not sure if this is a "home" question, but it deals with our backyard/patio. We have a large backyard, but it's gotten very shaggy -- the patio has some weeds poking through the cracks, part is over-run with ivy, etc. We can't afford landscapers, but I really want to deal with it before the end of the season. Any tips on tackling what seems like an overwhelming task?
Jura Koncius: Do you have any friends who live in an apartment and love gardening? Maybe you could have them over for a HELP MY YARD party and then serve them dinner? I'm afraid the only way to do this is to buckle down and spend an hour or two every weekend day with clippers in hand...
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Ohio: What would be a good pale blue for a formal living room? It gets lots of light with a big window. We have a medium blue and gold sofa and a gold upholstered chair. Everything I have tried so far seems too blue, too gray or too bright!
Jura Koncius: Well, we of course must mention our fave Palladian Blue from Benjamin Moore. How about Martha Stewart for Valspar (at Lowe's) Cake Stand Blue or Snow Globe?
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Arlington, VA: My apartment bedroom has an approx. nine foot long curved window. The standard issue blinds are ugly and get stuck a lot, so I was hoping to just substitute them with sheers for privacy, but I can't figure out how to hang a curtain rod on the curved wall. Any ideas?
Terri Sapienza: Is it one, long continuous 9 ft window? Or it a long expanse of several windows together that add up to 9 ft? If there are many windows together, and they each have their own frame and molding, maybe soft roman shades in each would work better?
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Midwest: You often get questions for nursery color ideas, so I wanted to recommend looking at kids' clothing for inspiration. For example, my daughter's wardrobe contains light aqua blue pajamas with cherries and red ribbon accents -- a feminine, yet unique, combo/theme. She also has very deep dark pink PJs with modern animals in white, purple, bright green, yellow, etc. - a unique twist on the zoo theme. Stores like Gymboree and Janie and Jack do lots of themed outfits/ensembles that would translate well into a kids' room or nursery.
Jura Koncius: Great ideas. It's fun to be inspired by things your daughter loves.
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re: sheets: Get them from your favorite hotel! One of my favorite is Marriott's. So soft...
Jura Koncius: I love Westin's Heavenly bed. Marriott is great also. You can order directly from them.
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Washington DC: I'd like to paint my basement bedroom (that gets very little light) a nice color that makes it seem cozy, but not cavelike. I'm thinking of a sage green, pale yellow or maybe soft gray. I have dark wood furniture, and there's whiteish/grayish wall-to-wall carpeting I can't remove. Do you have any specific colors you'd recommend? Any paint brand is fine.
Jura Koncius: Basements seem to be the hardest spaces to choose paint colors for. I like Ralph Lauren's Sage Sweater. Or Behr's Opal Cream.
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More stuffed toys: I still have my Raggedy Ann and Andy that a great aunt made for me when I was little - 40 years ago - and a doll my dad brought me from China. My 25-year old daughter still has certain stuffed animals, though she did cull them when she went to college, and my 23-year old son has one he kept. When my mother was too ill to get out of the house much, I found some adorably soft and squishy polar bears and packed a box with assorted colors and mailed it to her. She slept with one and kept the others set around the room. My dad kept them after she died and gave some to family members.
Jura Koncius: Thanks for sharing that.
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slumberland: For the poster looking for soft sheets, you can't always go by what they feel like in the package. I bought some high thread count sheets from Overstock several years ago and thought they were stiff at first, but after being washed a few times they're awesome.
Jura Koncius: Wow.
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Baby Grand Piano: I just got a letter from the music dept. at George Mason Univ. They are looking for people who can donate instruments. You may want to check with a school or recreation center.
Jura Koncius: Thanks.
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Gaithersburg, Md.: I was excited at first to see today's House Calls feature, since we're remodeling two bathrooms now. But the designer's suggestions made my jaw drop, since nothing was said about the gigabucks that would be needed to reconfigure the plumbing and install the tile. Why specify the relatively cheap costs for the showerheads etc. but leave out the many thousands of dollars for the rest of the work?
washingtonpost.com: House Calls: Master Bath (Post Home Section, Sept. 11)
Terri Sapienza: Designers who do house calls never physically see the spaces in person, their design and suggestions are based on photos only. Construction costs for every house and every project would be different and depend on so many factors that it would be impossible to provide an accurate estimate of those things without actually seeing the space.
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buffet: Try Craigslist. You'll find a variety of styles and price points. Saw a gorgeous vintage 1940s mahogany Sheraton style one yesterday for $150.
Terri Sapienza: Yes, this was going to be one of my suggestions. Craig's List can be a treasure trove of fabulous furniture. Good tip.
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Springfield: We have a fairly small home office. We both want to paint it and have settled on warm -- something bluish gray or sage green. What do you think of accent walls in a small room? Good? Bad?
PS: For sheets - go to Overstock.com. You can't beat the prices and the reviews let you know what others thought.
PSS: to redo a basement and need a bar -- check out Craigslist. People are always removing them and giving them away for free or reduced cost. You can always spiff it up.
Jura Koncius: Accent walls in a small room can be an effective way to make a splash of color without overwhelming a small space.
Thanks for those other tips.
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Arlington, VA: Baby grand - I'll take it!
Terri Sapienza: We have a taker! If the donator and the donatee would like to email me, I'd be happy to put you in touch. sapienzat@washpost.com
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Washington, D.C.: I am a new condo owner and am looking for design assistance. Getting into the condo strapped me financially. I would like to have a design "master plan" and then do improvements on a "piecemeal" basis. Most designers I've been talking to require quite substantial upfront charges. Is there a service you can recommend who would able to provide the assistance I'm looking for?
Terri Sapienza: Check next Thursday's Home section for a story I'm working on about this very topic...
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Fairfax, VA: I am looking for a color that is calming but not too light/neutral for my kitchen? I am considering a sage-type green but I am open to other suggestions. I prefer using BM or Duron paints. Thanks!
Jura Koncius: Everyone seems to be on the sage green vibe today...I really love Benjamin Moore's Prescott Green or Hollingsworth Green for kitchens.
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Keeping Dolls: I am in my mid-30s (waaaah!) and recently took back all of my dolls--four Cabbage Patch Kids, and my beloved best friend I've had since I was 5. She is a life-sized 2 year old. Oh the memories. I'm grateful my parents left my dolls as-is until I could re-adopt them. I also have about 300 beanie babies sitting in Rubbermaids in the basement.
Jura Koncius: We must all figure out something to do with these Beanie Babies.
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stuffed bear: Forty years ago, when I was a baby, I had a white stuffed bear (I only know its color from photographs) that I loved. For some reason, as a toddler, I picked all the fur off of him so that my mother said it resembled a mouse, but she never threw it away. I've had it all this time--it smells sort of musty, the eyes have rusted, and stuffing seems to have disintegrated, but there is no way I could give him up. There is such a sense of peace and security from treasured stuffed animals that you just have to save them.
Jura Koncius: Sigh. Love this.
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MD: We are going to be painting our nursery soon. We want a neutral paint color. For a girl we will probably get white furniture, for a boy, dark furniture. Trim, crown molding and ceiling will probably be Valspar (one of the specialty lines) Pale Ivory. Any paint suggestions for the walls?
washingtonpost.com: Imagination at Play (Post Home Section, Sept. 4)
Terri Sapienza: For a neutral baby's room, how about a pale green? Take a look at C2's Lichen to start.
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Jura Koncius: Well, we're done for today. Check out our Fall Home Forecast if you haven't already in today's HOME section. We had a lot of fun putting it together. Thanks everyone.
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