Home Front: Curtain Length, Window Washing, Elfa Reviews, Jewelry Storage, Favorite Neutral Paint Colors and more

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, March 19.

A transcript follows.

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

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Jura Koncius: Hi everyone: How do you all like the new look of House Calls? I really love it. Someone asked me this week about where to find great pillows to freshen up a few rooms this spring. Anyone seen anything out there?

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Reston, Va.: Just wanted to give some feedback about the ASID Spring Spruce Up event. I was one of the lucky ones chosen to participate and I cannot say enough good things about the experience. Jennifer Parker, from Patera Home, was such a pleasure to talk with -- totally open-minded and such a great listener. Honestly, I am intimidated by the whole process (and my house is a disaster), but she was SO helpful, giving me ideas I never would have come up with on my own. I will definitely work with her in the years ahead. Thanks so much for publicizing this event and thanks to the ASID for organizing it!

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Reston.

Thanks for sharing your experience -- I'm glad it worked out so well for you. Though I'm not surprised, because you were paired with Jennifer Parker. I've had the pleasure of working with her on a couple of stories. She's wonderful.

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My two cents -- Home Decorators Outlet: Now that people have tax refund money and the incentive to buy something new, please avoid homedecoratorsoutlet.com and its sister site as well, homedecorators.com. I have purchased two items from each only to return them due to defective merchandise. I have also had them ship something to me I never purchased, billed to my on-file Home Depot credit card -- yes, they are part of them! Items may look nice in the catalog or on the website but they are far from the actual descriptions and very poor quality. Overstock.com is way superior to this [stuff] and that isn't saying much. Sorry to gripe but thought others would want to know.

Jura Koncius: Sorry to hear about your experience. Many people do like this online site. Do you guys have other things to say about this?

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Tyler, Texas: I just moved to Tyler from D.C. and have been a little disapointed by the furniture stores here. Many sell only Texas-themed furniture (lots of pony hide and barbed wire. Seriously, who wants barbed wire in the house?) or the quality isn't that great. However, there is a Bassett furniture store. I've never bought from them. Can you all or any of the chatters speak to the quality?

Thanks so much for these chats. For people who have moved out of the DC area, they are a great way to feel connected.

Terri Sapienza: Welcome, Tyler. Sorry to hear about your disappointment in the home shopping scene out there - it sounds pretty grim. Do you not even have a Crate and Barrel near?

I don't have any experience with Bassett furniture either. Can anyone else chime in here?

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Burtonsville, Md.: What's the best product/solution for washing my lovely tilt-in windows now that the weather is getting better? I hesitate to use Windex or other products like that because of streaking... Thanks!!!!

Jura Koncius: We consulted Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook. She suggests using a squeegee instead of newspaper, cloth or paper towel. And she also is keen on cleaning windows on a mild cloudy day to prevent streaking from the sun. Her formula is equal parts white vinegar and hot water. I treat myself to having the windows of my house professionally washed about every three years. It is an amazing treat as the sparkling windows make everything in the house look bright and fresh and bring the outdoors in. I can tell you that for my three-bedroom, three story house including two bay windows and a sliding door, it cost me $395 last year. I have very old windows so getting all the cobwebs and dust out of the inside of the windows was amazing.

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Woodbridge: I need serious help! My husband and I are expecting our first child together in November. He's rarin' to go with painting the nursery and keeps asking me what to paint it!!! I was thinking BM Moonlight. It has to be gender neutral - he's very anti-pink or lavender (boo!). Thanks for your help!!!

Terri Sapienza: Congrats on your baby Woodbridge! Moonlight would be a nice, gender-neutral choice, though it feels more girl-y to me. How about a nice pale green? Or a creamy off-white? With the off white, you could bring in any color or colors through accessories, bedding and wall art, etc.

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Home Decorators: I've purchased a number of products from them and have had good experiences. It's not top of line stuff, but I think the quality is completely in line with their prices.

Terri Sapienza: A pro-Home Decorators comment

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Princeton, N.J.: Hello! I just had time to look at the pictures of formal china that were submitted by readers. The china was nice, but I was really struck by how pretty some of the placemats were, especially the brown linen ones with the fabric inlay trim. Do you have any sources for buying such elegant placemats? Thanks.

P.S. I LOVE my kitchen tile floor.

washingtonpost.com: Your Fancy China Photo Gallery

Jura Koncius: Wow. Beautiful placemats are something you can sometimes find at consignment shops or at vintage sales or estate sales. Look at www.schweitzerlinen.com, www.gumps.com, www.potterybarn.com. Any other ideas out there?

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Silver Spring, Md.: Jura and Terri, I was interested in today's House Calls because I too have a small, cluttered office space with lots of stuff in file cabinets and shelves. The "after" picture looked very pretty, but are we to assume that all of those notebooks, etc. have been magically made to fit into the closet? What about the stuff that was already in the closet?

washingtonpost.com: House Calls: A Fortunate Office Space (Post Home Section, March 19)

Jura Koncius: Kat says go and look at the project online at www.washingtonpost.com. They designed a closet opposite the windows with lots of storage shelves. And she added strategies to organize the notebooks for easy access, yet not in view.

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Frederick, Md.: Can you please give some guidelines for the appropriate length of curtains?

I recently replaced the Roman shades in our living room with curtains. Our windows all have radiators directly under them, so I thought it best to purchase curtains that would fall directly beneath the sill of our 63" windows (ie not cover the radiators).

Now that they are hung, though, they look oddly short (and old-fashioned?). Should I have purchased longer curtains, even though they would have partly covered the radiators?

Thanks for your input!

Terri Sapienza: I think you should have gone with full-length, sorry. If you are using the curtains for decoration only, then they could remain pushed to the side and not touch the radiators. But, I assume that you need to actually use the curtains (privacy, managing light, etc.). In that case, because you want curtains, I suggest you hang full-length curtains and maybe some inexpensive woven shades, too. That way you can keep the curtains pushed to the side and lower the shades as needed. The layer of treaments would add a lot to your room, too.

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Capitol Hill: I love Kemble's advice on trying wood floors without a rug. I recently moved into a larger home and just haven't gotten around to buying enough rugs for every room. But I've found I like the wood and the room just as it is and have lost interest in adding a rug and all the cleaning and allergens it brings.

Question -- if you were changing just the countertops in your kitchen would you go granite or quartz? I've had granite and thought I loved the look, I found that it pitted and never felt really smooth and clean. I've heard marble is very cold and chills your coffee and anything else you set down on it. Is there a drawback to Quartz?

washingtonpost.com: Travels With Mom Made Daughter Feel at Home With Design (Post Home Section, March 19)

Jura Koncius: From what we know about quartz counters, they give the look of granite but they do not have to be sealed. They are heat resistant and they resist virtually any kind of stain. Quartz, however, does not have the natural look of stone and there are visible seams.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: We just remodeled the kitchen. It is not a modern style. Can we use glass tiles for a backsplash? Thanks

Terri Sapienza: Why not? If you like it, go for it.

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Windows: Jura, can you recommend a window cleaner? That price doesn't sound bad, $395 for a three story house. I have an old house with lovely bay windows, and it would be nice to have them sparkling for the spring (and I know myself well enough to know that I'm not doing it myself!).

Jura Koncius: I have used a company for my last few washings called We Do Windows at 301-946-3697. www.301windows.com.

In the past, I have also used Stanley T. Naudus at www.stanleytnaudus.com or 703 820-5811.

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Ex-Tex: When you move to Texas, you have to redefine your idea of "driving distance" and "delivery zones."

East Texas women with money do their shopping in Dallas, Shug (that's like "Hon" for Texans). You could even go to Houston, but that's for amateurs.

Jura Koncius: Thanks Hon.

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more on curtains: Do you feel that the curtain rod should go all the way to the ceiling, and that the blinds should also be hung that way, even if your window is a foot or so below the ceiling?

Terri Sapienza: I prefer to hang my curtain rods above the window molding and closer to the ceiling because it gives the room extra height.

I have never hung shades above the window, but I've seen local designer Barry Dixon use this method to make the window appear larger. So, when you pull up the shades, they stop just below the window molding and the window looks like it extends to the ceiling.

Did that make sense?

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Pennsylvania: I had a rather odd storage problem involving jewelry. I recently inherited my mother's jewelry collection, which includes a number of large pieces (mostly Southwestern silver and turquoise). These pieces didn't really fit in the jewelry box. The two top drawers of my dresser are rather shallow, so I got some of that spongy, thin material (often used to keep carpets in place or glasses in a cupboard) and cut it to fit in the drawers. Voila -- instant jewelry storage. The pieces are protected from the wood and from sliding around, and they aren't crammed in a box. I was very pleased with myself for thinking of this solution.

Now, if I can just find a place for all the stuff I pulled out from the drawers...

Jura Koncius: That is a good solution. The Container Store sells inexpensive modular drawer organizers for earrings or bracelets or rings that are small foam compartments. It's called the Eva organizer and it is made of suede-like foam in green or black - they keep pieces from scratching and don't take up much room and cost $14.99.

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Old Town Alex Hardwood vs Tile: Hello, I want to thank the chatter who answered my question last week re: color of ceramic tile to fit with appliances and cabinet colors. I've chosen a really nice tile color to go with both. FYI for Terri and the tile lovers, manufacturers have responded to the market and are making warmer tiles. So, you might want to consider this as an option in the future. Meantime, I disagree with your assessment and will be replacing the hardwood.

Terri Sapienza: So we will agree to disagree then! Thanks for the info.

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Arlington, Va.: When I was expecting our first child, we purchased a Bassett crib,chest of drawers and dresser. These items have now gone through both my children and my daughter's children -- 32 years old and are still going strong. The finish still looks new -- the only problem we have had it on one of the dresser drawers in which one of the runners has some damage. I would definitely recommend their furniture. The items I have seen have been traditional so if this is your style, I'd check them out.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Alexandria, Va.: Second the idea of using vinegar and hot water to clean your windows. Also try using a microfiber cloth. I bought a bunch of them at the recent home show out at Dulles and am loving them more every day. Another hint, learned from my grandmother: wipe the inside of the windows horizontally, and the outside vertically. Then if there are streaks, you can tell which side of the window needs the touch-up.

Jura Koncius: Those are great suggestions, Alexandria. Microfiber cloths are something I keep in my car, in my bedroom and in my bathroom.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I wanted to follow-up on last week's wood floors discussion. I have wood in the entire 1st floor and love it, however it is completely destroyed because of my dog... Terri, I just know you'd love it! Anyway, after last week I went out and bought myself the Shark steam mop. Overall I am very pleased with the result, it dries superfast which is good for wood and got the floors very clean... probably as clean as mopping but without all the hassle.

Terri Sapienza: Thanks! And, yes, you're right -- I love that my floors have scratches from my dog's paws. It makes them look lived-in and loved, which they are.

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Jura Koncius: Hey everyone. Here's a good coupon to print out. Go to www.containerstore.com and you can get a coupon to save 25 percent at the store through April 13. It's through the Oprah's Clean Up Your Messy House Tour.

Share other things like this with us if you know about them. In this recession, we have to stick together.

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Columbus, Ohio: I have a question about kitchen appliances. I currently have a black dishwasher and black refrigerator, both fairly new. The oven and microwave desperately need to be replaced, and as part of my low-budget kitchen renovation I plan to paint my cabinets white. I worry that having all black appliances would look too harsh against white cabinets. Would it look weird if I buy a stainless oven and microwave even though my other appliances will stay black? Thank you!

Jura Koncius: I think I would stay with black, unless you are planning to replace the dishwasher and refrigerator. It will look more unified. And I love the idea of a black and white kitchen - very clean and crisp.

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Annapolis, Md.: I like microfiber cloths, but I can no longer find them. I used to find them at grocery stores. Any suggestions about where to find them?

washingtonpost.com: Target in the auto care aisle... super cheap microfiber cloths. -- Elizabeth

Jura Koncius: Thanks Elizabeth! Also www.theragcompany.com has a great selection.

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Columbia, Md: Hello, My sister-in-law has asked for my help with paint color in her living room in a somewhat dark rancher. However, she is painting before buying furniture! Crazy idea to me but I suggested she paint a neutral color that will go with any color furniture. She loves beiges, any suggestions in Benjamin Moore. One color I love is Devonshire. Thanks.

Terri Sapienza: A couple of my favorite Benjamin Moore beiges are Natural Wicker, Manchester Tan and Pale Almond. I also love Restoration Hardware's Linen. But, I have to say that I just had my master bedroom painted this week and am obsessed with the neutral color I chose. It's Farrow & Ball's White Tie. It's so creamy and soothing and warm, I can't stop staring at it. I want to paint my entire house with it.

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Quartz countertops: I have engineered quartz countertops (silestone) and love them. I did not want the heavily marbled look of granite, although obviously some is less marbled than others, in my galley-ish kitchen. I wanted a more streamlined, minimal look, so went with solid color brownish-grey Silestone and it looks great (with bright green glass tile backsplash and relatively light wood cabinets). And a grey tile floor (sorry! hardwood wasn't an option, unfortunately).

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Washington, D.C.: Good morning. How do I go about finding an interior designer who will work on a very small job, i.e. just one room? I am looking for some expert advice about furniture placement, color changes, and suggestions for one or two new pieces of furniture and how to "repurpose" old pieces. I definitely want to make final decisions myself but just need some help and guidance from an expert. I love reading "House Calls" each week but it appears many of those designers are attached to large design firms. Thank you very much.

washingtonpost.com: Making a Plan (Post Home Section, Feb. 21, 2008)

Jura Koncius: Check out this article that Elizabeth posted. Also you can call ASID, the Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, to find out which designers hire out by the hour 202 468-4100.

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Snuggie Lover, Va.: Talk to me about Elfa shelving. Our tiny (under 1200 SF house) needs some storage options, especially in our closets, and I saw that Elfa is on sale. Is it difficult to install? How well does it work? Should we do the free consultation?

Jura Koncius: Snuggie Lover! I've never met anyone who owned a Snuggie. Well, about Elfa. I bought some for my son to use in his college dorm and he loves it. Many many people swear by it and the installation isn't as hard as you might think. The consultants at the Container Store for the Elfa products are very thorough and they can walk you through the process. I'm sure we have a lot of chatters out there who will write in about their obsession with this organizing system.

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Nursery: We used SW Ancient Marble -- it is a neutral pale green. We love it.

Jura Koncius: Thanks. Sounds nice.

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Montgomery County: I have a flooring question and I need your advice. My three-level townhouse has carpet on the first and third levels and the stairs. I really need to replace the carpet on the first level and the stairs. The upper level (bedrooms) are not so bad and could wait. I am leaning toward hardwood floors because cleaning the carpet in the first floor "playroom" is so impossible. What should I do about the stairs? If I replace the gross carpet with new carpet I'll still have the impossible to keep clean issue. Is there a problem with hardwood flooring on the stairs? Any suggestions?? Thanks!!

Terri Sapienza: If you're going with hardwood on the first floor, then continuing it up the stairs is a nice idea. There is no "problem" with having hardwood stairs, but if you want to warm them up a little bit and cut down on the wear and tear, you could have a runner installed overtop.

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Havre de Grace, Md.: I keep meaning to report back on the Restoration Hardware warehouse sale. A couple of months back Pigtown and I both mentioned it was still going on (even though they were supposed to end in Nov, I guess the recession changed their plans). I try to hit it every few months, but usually, due to having a real job, I don't make it until Saturday. Well, the past few months I have been able to go on Friday. I have to say, if you want to go, show up early on Friday! For example, the king size headboards ($99) are usually sold out by noon (although there are always plenty of California kings). Until I went on a Friday morning, I never knew they ever had regular kings!

I was amazed at the license plates I saw. Virginia, DC, PA, Delaware. No one from Delaware comes to MD to shop, we all go there!

Jura Koncius: Great report!

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Appliance color: My spouse and I just bought a new house that is 50 years old... and all the appliances are at LEAST 20+ y.o. (the oven is original!). They desperately need replacement (I'm afraid to use the oven). The cabinets are medium wood and the floor and counter and medium beige tile. Should we go with white, black, or stainless?

Jura Koncius: I would go with black or stainless.

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Paint the nursery: I'm in the same situation, with one minor complication. Our future "nursery" has dark and ugly wood paneling. Should we paint over it or tear it down and put up drywall?

Terri Sapienza: If it's an option, I would tear it down and put up drywall. I think you'll be happy that you did.

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Kansas City, Mo.: We are having our house repainted -- the color is a medium gray, with a light grayish/white trim. Our house is best described as late 20th century suburban. I am looking for outdoor light fixtures, probably black and something architectual looking, rather than the standard hanging lantern. Any good websites for outdoor lighting? I'm not finding anything I like in the stores in our area. Economical would be a big plus.

Terri Sapienza: Have you checked out Shades of Light? www.shadesoflight.com

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Washington, D.C.: Cleaning up my apartment, I realized that I need more storage for my books. Can you recommend someone that can make a custom unit to frame my sofa? Right now it is in the middle of the room that separates the dining area from the living area. I thought that a nice low bookcase would further define the area.

Jura Koncius: You should find the name of a local carpenter, possibly through friends, a hardware store or your local online listserv. Places like Closet Factory -- www.closetfactory.com -- or other custom closet companies also might do this work.

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another Annapolitan: I've gotten microfiber cloths at solutions.com -- they've held up very well.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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for Snuggie Lover: After 35 years of marriage, my parents downsized to a house wherein they have a single closet in the master bedroom. Installing Elfa shelving may have saved their marriage; actually doing the installation definitely tested mine. Yes, the experts at the Container Store are great; however, you really, really, really must have the tools required to do the work (drill with a specific-sized bit).

Jura Koncius: A honest answer...

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Vashon, Wash.: We used Caesarstone, a quartz product, in our remodeled kitchen. The color is "Jerusalem Sand" and we love it--it's a pale, neutral tone, not cold at all, and plays up the wood cabinets. It does not have the pattern of granite, but I think that's an asset because it allows you to do something fun with the backsplash. We used recycled glass mosaic tiles on our backsplash and they are the highlight of the kitchen! They are very dynamic because they change with the light and even when you move around.

Jura Koncius: It sounds very nice.

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Alexandria, Va.: I also inherited a lot of my mother's jewelry, much of which I probably won't wear but would like to keep because it reminds me of her. I bought a large, inexpensive shadow box to display some of her pins and necklaces. I plan to hang the shadow box on my bedroom wall as art. I also have some lovely beaded purses that were my mother's and grandmother's. Any creative suggestions on how to display jewelry, purses, and other such items?

Jura Koncius: That's a lovely idea. I inherited some beautiful antique evening bags from my mother in law. I kept one on my bedside table on top of a stack of books for a while - it was nice to look at. I have also hung a few in the guest room. Designers such as Charlotte Moss keep a vanity table full of their favorite jewelry piled on wood trays or attractive porcelain bowls.

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Washington D.C.: My 100-year-old parquet floors are prone to popped nails. Now that I have a crawling child, more is at stake than just my socks. Any advice for securing the nails that work their way up?

Jura Koncius: You might want to have a contractor or a flooring expert come and examine your floors to see what is causing this. You definitely want to have the problem addressed with a crawling child around! Ouch!!!

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Enterprise, Ala.: My sister had high end Mexican tile in her old kitchen that had pawprints as part of the tile. As for tile being cold - slippers, people!

Jura Koncius: Some people never wear slippers! I actually wear ballet flats in the morning.

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Baltimore, Md.: Hi,

I need help with a whole house neutral that could be paired with almost any color. Something in the tan, sand family. BM, SW, Behr, Valspar are local brands of paint. Any suggestions would be great. Maybe a different color for the connecting hallway. I am planning to use a white trim.

Thanks

Terri Sapienza: See my answer above for nice neutrals. But you could also add: CB2's Potsticker and BM's Swiss Coffee.

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Tyler, Texas: I would die from joy if there was a Crate and Barrel. There is an old, abandoned Ethan Allen building -- but it's just a tease.

We've been to Dallas many times since we moved, and are on a first-name basis with the Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware delivery guys. We're also planning a trip to Houston just for the Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams store. I just thought it might be nice to stay a little more local -- I know Bassett is a national chain, but at least locals are working there.

Jura Koncius: Thank goodness for online shopping.

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Curtain length 2nd voice: Our radiators are wall length baseboard units - not a small hot air vent. Pulling floor length curtains to the side still has them on top of the radiator. So what to do?

Terri Sapienza: I'd probably stick with only Roman or woven shades in this instance. Maybe a valance, too, just to add something extra.

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Washington, D.C.: I'm in the market for some kind of wall display -- decorative shelving where I can put knickknacks and photos. I actually saw something I liked at Home Decorators (previous posting reminded me) but would love some ideas and direction on how to get this stuff off my bookshelves, and where to find good products.

washingtonpost.com: I have a couple of very narrow shelves (just a couple of inches deep) in my living room that I got at The Container Store that house a variety of little knickknacks from my travels. I love them. -- Elizabeth

Jura Koncius: Thanks, Elizabeth. I would also suggest www.exposuresonline.com for these small shelves.

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painting before furniture: I was told this is a good idea. You find the rug you love, pick a wall color to match that, then pick furniture to go with the wall color. My sister did this in reverse and it took her over a year to find a rug to match her furniture and never did paint the walls because nothing matched.

Jura Koncius: Yikes!

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Frederick, Md. (curtains, again): Thanks for your input. I'm willing to start over, donate the curtains I've already purchased and buy new curtains because I know the way it looks will drive me crazy. My husband and I are new to radiators, and I was initially worried that curtains would "block" the heat or that it might create a hazard. Thanks again!

Jura Koncius: Good for you.

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Annapolis, Md.: Hi, ladies! Not on topic, but I see that your former colleague Annie Groer has a nice article about her post-Post life in the April issue of More magazine titled "From Buyout to Face-Lift". Good to see her byline again!

Jura Koncius: Yes. Check it out! I saw Annie last night - she is doing great. We miss her.

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Washington, N.C.: Help! My elderly mother is obsessed with having her dining room wallpaper removed (it's above the chair rail). She wants the room painted a light yellow.

I am willing to do it for her but need a suggestion for a color as I know yellows are tough. After her choice of a green for her den, now a private "inside family" joke, she's not making the choice! The painter had begged her not to use the green she chose.

Terri Sapienza: How about Benjamin Moore's Pale Moon or (just above it on the paint deck) North Star.

I'm dying to know what green your mom chose for the den!

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Houston, Texas: Elfa - I love it and am slowly converting every closet in the house. You definitely need a good power drill and some patience, if you attach to studs. Once you get the hanging bar in (usually just a few screws) it is impossibly easy and flexible.

For the paneled nursery - My contractor/dad has recommended thinner drywall over the paneling for our paneled family room. We haven't done it yet, but he says it should save a ton of labor and insulate better than just drywall.

Jura Koncius: Lots of good info, Houston. Merci.

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another drape question from D.C.: How do you determine the proper length to buy? In a living room, it seems easy. The drapes should go to the floor. What about in a dining room? Is it the same? When would you install drapes that go to just below the windows rather than to the floor? Maybe in a child's bedroom? What is the normal way to size drapes? Thanks a lot for doing these chats.

Terri Sapienza: I would go full-length in the DR, too. Why have them shorter there? As for child's room, maybe fabric Roman shades would be better, so they couldn't grab them and get them dirty - just make sure to get a hidden safety cord.

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Baltimore. Md.: What color trim did you use with your FB "white tie"? Love the chats!

Terri Sapienza: BM's White Dove. Looks fantastic.

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no carpet on stairs: Be careful - this can be very slippery. Part of the reason for carpeting/runner on wooden stairs is for safety.

Terri Sapienza: yes, yes, yes. very true.

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Jura Koncius: Thanks, everyone. We'll catch you next week.

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