Home Front: Your Decorating Dilemmas, Solved

Every week, Washington Post Home Section writers Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza help you in your quest to achieve domestic bliss. They were online Thursday, April 30.

Browse an archive of previous Home Front discussions.

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Jura Koncius: Good morning. I'll start with the exciting news I just got from our editor Liz Seymour. The Home section is now on Facebook and Twitter! Please check us out and give us ideas for what you'd like to see us write and tweet about. Catch us on Facebook at "the washington post home section" fan page... and on Twitter at "wposthome". Sign up now.

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Southern Maryland: Sort of in connection with your article today about the homeless shelter -- I have some items I'd like to donate to some organization that can use them. A futon (very clean and hardly used), lamps, framed prints, housewares, directors' chairs, that I'd like to get rid of. The local church thrift shop charges to pick up stuff. (They want donations, but charge to haul it away!). Do you know of any local social service organization that can come to pick up donations of bulky items? My car is too small to haul it myself.

washingtonpost.com: The Comforts of a Temporary Home (The Washington Post, April 30, 2009)

Terri Sapienza: Give A Wider Circle a try. They are a nonprofit that serves individuals and families in the area who are living in poverty. They are based in Bethesda, but I believe they are willing to pick up items if they have a need for them.

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Jura Koncius: Another thing I'd love to chat about this week -- great ideas from you for places to shop in the country as well as at the beach. We are planning on doing something on home and antique stores at local area beaches at the end of May. Do you have favorites to suggest to us? Please write in.

Now for my report, I was in beautiful Orange, Va. last weekend where my hostess Mary Jane drove us around to the lovely little towns in this gorgeous part of the state. In Gordonsville, I want to point out two charming places you might stop into. Laurie Holladay Interiors (at 123 S. Main St. in Gordonsville 540-832-0552) has wonderful lamps and a great lamp repair service. Also mirrors, framed art and antiques. Fab selection of lamp shades. Down the street, Country Gardens has many garden ornaments and period mantels. There are all kinds of lovely things to choose from including dogs, cherubs and urns. For lunch, you might try the Cannelle Cafe and Bakery or the fancier Pomme.

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Nashville, Tenn.: I have just placed a wonderful, magical, large chandelier in my small entrance hall (6 X 9). It does make a happy statement and it makes me smile.

It made its debut at a dinner party on Saturday. No one mentioned it. I know I like it -- but have I committed a terrible decorating faux pas? Were my guests thinking if we can't say something nice, don't say anything? Please advise!! I can take your best hit!! Many thanks.

Jura Koncius: Wow. I would be disappointed as well!! Perhaps your guests did not look up? Do your friends usually comment on your decor or changes to it? You could say the next time, "How do you like my new light fixture?" I have been to three show houses in the last few weeks and large, dramatic lighting fixtures are definitely everywhere in the design world. You did the right thing! Just invite some real pals over who will appreciate it!

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Charlottesville, Va.: Hello, ladies. Have a question about painting a den red (I think actually painting the town red might be easier!). What is your opinion on painting both the walls and woodwork (including window trim) red? This was suggested to me by an interior decorator. I can see painting walls and woodwork similar colors if we are talking about off-whites, but red? Have you seen this, and how does it look? I originally had planned on Farrow and Ball's Book Room Red on the walls and Stony Ground (which to me looks like a brownish-gray if that makes any sense) as trim. Thanks for your help.

Terri Sapienza: I didn't used to like the idea of painting the trim the same as the wall color, but I've recently come around. I think it can look really great and it can give a room a warm and cozy feeling, especially if the color is dark. The good thing about trying it out is that it's just trim. If you hate it, you can always have the trim repainted.

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Ceiling Fa, NS: I think ceiling fans tend to be super-ugly. Of course, the house I bought last year is full of them. So hopefully you can help!

-- In a cathedral-ceiling living room, will a ceiling fan make any difference, or should I rip it out?

-- Where on earth can I find tasteful ceiling fans on a budget? (I like mid-century modern and anything Scandinavian).

Thanks -- and I'm really in N.S. (Nova Scotia).

Jura Koncius: I know what you mean about having fans in every room. And how hot does it get in Nova Scotia? I think the cathedral ceiling fan could go, don't you? For other ones, go to www.restorationhardware.com. They have a wonderful selection of modern and classic and many are on sale right now. They aren't cheap, but maybe you could treat yourself to one new fan each year. The thing is, they are part of the look of the room as much as a ceiling light fixture is. Also try target.com or hunterfan.com.

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Question from last week: Someone last week asked about the starfish pillow shown in the article on the beach home. L.L. Bean has starfish and other beachy designs on pillows you might want to check out.

Jura Koncius: Great.

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Herndon, Va.: Please help! Just bought our dream home -- but the appliances are less than dreamy. Basically we need to replace all kitchen appliances ASAP. Can anyone recommend the most economical way to do this? Our resources are totally drained now. The Herndon/Reston area would be most convenient, but the bottom line is the most important.

Thank you for your help! And thank for the wonderful column -- look forward to it every week.

Terri Sapienza: Congrats on your new purchase! That's very exciting -- well, the house part is. The less than dreamy appliances isn't so great. But you're in luck. This Saturday the Habitat ReStore in Northern Virginia is having a huge sale. In addition to the discounted appliances, windows and electrical supplies, they will have decorative pieces donated by local designers. I'll post the more detailed info in a second.

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washingtonpost.com: Sales Talk (The Washington Post, April 30, 2009)

Terri Sapienza: Here's the info on this weekend's sale at Habitat ReStore.

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Donation Pickup: I've had the Salvation Army pick up my donations for the last several years now. They don't charge for the pickup. While they put the items up for sale in their store (instead of giving them directly to the needy), that doesn't concern me since the proceeds from sales benefits their programs and, presumably, those in need are shopping there and paying very low prices for these items.

Terri Sapienza: Good tip. Thanks.

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Mansion in the Hills of Brightwood, D.C.: Yay!!!! Finally saved the $12k to make over my Mansion in the Hills. She is a less than 600 sq/ft 1BD/1BA beauty with big windows for eyes and a fireplace. There are drywall and electrical repairs needed due to water damage from neighboring pipes. I am looking for a decorator/contractor team that can handle this small project and approach it with huge levels of enthusiasm befitting such a Grand Dame. Two questions: When they visit my space, what must I absolutely ask and are you aware of any local decorators that specialize in small spaces?

Jura Koncius: Congratulations! Brightwood is a wonderful community. I think every decorator in town will do a small space these days -- very few people are turning down work in this economy. I would head over to the Washington, D.C. Design House in Georgetown. It is open thru May 10. See if there is a decorator you like and contact them to see if they will work with you. Go to the Washington Design Center where the spring design rooms have just opened -- see today's Home section for an item about that today.

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Pitgown: Hi... two good places, one at the beach and one in the country.

-- Shorehaus in Rehoboth. Beautifully curated collection. They have a blog and a great website.

-- Lucketts in Virginia. Lots of fun things.

Jura Koncius: Great. Thanks.

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Annapolis, Md.: I want to freshen up my dining room by changing the paint color below the chair rail. Above it is a creamy beige and below the deep red that I feel I've had too long and is too common these days. My window swags are a dark green, and I don't necessarily want to change them right away. I was thinking of either a deep dark blue, or a dark brown -- any suggestions?

Terri Sapienza: Sounds like you have a lot of dark colors in the room. If you're looking to refresh the space, why not choose a shade that's a little lighter? I would consider painting the walls the same light shade above and below the chair rail, then replacing the dark green swags with floor length panels. You can bring in color and pattern with the new window treatments.

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Silver Spring, Md.: For great, reasonable appliances, check out Bray and Scarff outlet in Laurel, Md. Worth the drive!

Terri Sapienza: Thanks!

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Faux Flowers, Va.: My living room has high ceilings and the colors tend to be browns, tans, and varying shades of blue (think light blue and an aqua almost). I would like to get some type of faux flower decor for the console table we have. I saw a picture of what I think are cherry blossom branches. I looked those up, and came across apple and peach blossom. Not knowing where to begin, any recommendations? I went to Michael's and think they have something similar but wasn't super impressed. I think something with a bit of color would go nice. And something tall. Also something that I can maybe pull from (in terms of color) and add to my dining room table -- it's a townhome so it's kind of one big room.

Jura Koncius: You know, I was in Restoration Hardware in Georgetown yesterday and they had beautiful faux cherry blossoms in big tall clusters for sale.

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D.C.: Do you know where I can find used/trashed outside window shutters? I want to re-purpose one and am having no luck on craigslist.

Terri Sapienza: Try Second Chance, Inc. in Baltimore. They have five warehouses filled with architectural salvage.

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Falls Church, Va.: Jura, I hear you have a blog? Where can I find it?? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: I would love to have a blog, but I don't right now. This is probably the closest thing right now to having a place where my voice and Terri's are heard. But we will no doubt be part of the new Home Facebook page and Twitter tweets in the near future. And maybe someday the Home section will have their own blog. Stay tuned.

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washingtonpost.com: D.C. Design 2009 - Our Favorite Spaces (The Washington Post, April 16, 2009)

Jura Koncius: Check out the local designers whose work is highlighted here.

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Rockville, Md.: Hi. What is your feeling on storm doors? Currently we have a storm door where the top can be either glass or mesh (and the bottom is solid). I love the mesh because fresh air can come in, but hate the look of it. I'd like to replace my front door some day, and wonder about keeping the storm door, as it hides half the door. So should I get a new full glass storm door (which basically serves no purpose for me), keep the current storm door that hides half of the beautiful new door, or get rid of the storm door completely? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: If you really hate it, get rid of it. I agree that the all-glass ones don't really serve the purpose. I have a wood Chippendale-style storm door that came with both screen and glass inserts for top and bottom and we do enjoy it.

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Antiques near the beach: A-1 Antiques, which is on MD 260 about a block before you get to the Bay in Chesapeake Beach, MD is a wonderful quirky, off-the-beaten-path antique store. They specialize in furniture -- and also have some new stuff (mainly things I've seen at Home Decorators Collection, but for seriously less money). It's less than an hour from Washington -- and definitely worth the drive. And the people bargain.

Jura Koncius: Wonderful tip. Thanks.

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Re: chandelier: It sounds fantastic to me, but I'm not sure I understand the disappointment or Jura's response. Maybe your friends aren't into that kind of thing enough to notice? It's weird to imply that people who don't appreciate it aren't real pals or that you need to gather people who will gush over it. Just enjoy it and love it. (Assume they didn't say anything because they didn't like it. Who cares? You love it. That should be enough IMO.)

Terri Sapienza: I agree. Just because people don't comment on something you've done to your home doesn't mean you've made a mistake. If you like it and it makes you happy that should be enough.

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Anonymous: What's the best way to put a runner on carpeted stairs? I have tried many things but the runner loosens due to traffic, though it's not heavy, making it slippery and dangerous. Thanks.

Terri Sapienza: Was your runner professionally installed?

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Madison, Wisc.: Hi, I was hoping you could help with a Mother's Day question. A few years ago, we bought my mom a nice hammock and wooden hammock stand from Pottery Barn. Last year, it was recalled because the wood was cracking. So now she still has the hammock, but no stand, and Pottery Barn appears to not be selling them anymore. I've seen similar sized stands made of green painted steel or metal in people's back yards (unfortunately, no one I know) that look like they would work with her existing hammock. Do you know where I can get such a hammock stand, preferably good quality and available for mail-order? Thank you!

Terri Sapienza: Have you tried LL Bean? I believe they carry just the style you describe. They have a store at Tyson's Corner Center in McLean. You can also buy it online.

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Upper Marlboro, Md.: Finally getting the opportunity to start reshaping the fixer upper we moved into four years ago. The entire split level gets a makeover. I am rethinking my assumption that we start with the floors (upstairs will become wood; downstairs will be either new carpet or wood). The more I think about it, them more I think I'm wrong. Maybe we should gut everything first and do the floor last. All of the hideous wallpaper is coming down, new paint, roof, gutter and siding replacement due to last year's hail, windows, everything! This is a one family, multi-year stimulus package for Prince George's. What order should I be going in?

Jura Koncius: I just called Rouzita Vahhabaghai who is with Ita Design in Georgetown.

Here is what she said when I read her your question, "It sounds like you don't have a clear idea of what you want to do with this place yet. Work out the design first. If you are thinking of gutting, definitely hold off on doing anything with the floors. Normally in a project, if you can make the floors the last item, it is the best decision, because floors are susceptible to damage and you want to put them in as late as possible."

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re: storm doors: While an all-glass storm door may not serve the purpose of letting air in when you want a breeze, it does serve the purpose of keeping air out when it's cold and in when it's hot, making the house more energy efficient.

And you can keep the front door open for light without having to have the door open to bugs or letting pets out.

Jura Koncius: Yes that is true. But if you totally hate the look of it, it's best to just chuck it because it is in the front of your house and it will bother the heck out of you each time you come home.

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No one mentioned it. I know I like it -- but have I committed a terrible decorating faux pas?: I doubt it. Sometimes it takes me a few visits before I notice something new, even something big, in someone's house. Especially if I'm there for a party or dinner, since my mind might be on talking to folks. Or, I know something is different but can't put my finger on it, and then forget to ask the hostess about it.

I say take it as a sign that your party was so fun nobody realized about the new chandelier.

Jura Koncius: This is so true. Just last night I hosted a few friends for a book group and my friend Laura commented on my rug, which she knows I've had for a couple of years but she only had time to study the pattern on it last night and told me how much she liked it. Some people are just not tuned in to the details of life.

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Arlington, Va.: For more modern ceiling fans, check out Minka Aire -- we have their Concept II fans in our bedrooms and love the look.

Jura Koncius: Yes -- I love those.

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Renter in Maryland: As a follow up question from a few months ago, I rent an apartment in a fairly new complex, and originally, the landlord forbade painting. I have recently come to the conclusion that if I painted, the landlord could keep the security deposit when I moved out or evict me for breaking the terms of my lease. However, the landlord was forced to return everyone's security deposit already for an unrelated manner and that I can't imagine any landlord telling a judge, "Yes, she pays on time, but she painted the apartment that hadn't been painted in 10 years BM White Dove so can you please evict her?"

Can you add anything to my reasoning?

Oh, and for the poster last week who was saddled with her great-grandmother's ornate silver: in the interest of family harmony and karma, she may want to ask her relatives if they would be interested in any family mementos before she disposes of it.

Thanks so much!

Terri Sapienza: I also painted the apartment I lived in even though I was told I wasn't allowed. I was willing to take the risk and repaint the place before I moved out if necessary.

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IRIS National Capital Area Interior Redesigners: Jura, on behalf of our interior redesign group, a big THANK YOU for your wonderful article on the Patrick Henry Shelter House and our apartment makeover project. Generous people have been asking about donations of furnishings and we will get back to everyone. Because the apartments are so small, we are limited in the size and number of things that may be used but we welcome all inquiries. Monetary donations and gift cards directly to Shelter House will certainly be put to good use. Thank you once again for showing how the community can give back to a very deserving cause. Pam Faulkner

Jura Koncius: Hey thanks Pam! It was great to work with you and I am heartened to know that the community is responding.

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Storm Doors: I knew when I had our storm door installed that I didn't want a solid bottom and that I did want a screen for the fresh air (and so I could hear the kids playing outside). I found the perfect solution at Lowe's -- it's glass on the top and on the bottom, but the top can be pulled down to reveal a mesh screen (it's on a roller system that hides up in the top of the door). Just make sure you get the better quality door because the salesman did confirm that some doors have problems with the mesh separating from the roller. We love it!!

Jura Koncius: Oh that sounds great. And I second the idea that you should not buy the cheapest model around -- it's worth paying a bit more since these things get a lot of wear and tear.

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Washington, D.C.: I would like to get a pull out couch, and just don't know where to start looking. Any suggestions?

Terri Sapienza: I don't know what your price range is, but have you tried Jennifer Convertibles? I've never bought anything there, but I hear the quality is good and they are well priced.

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RE Appliances for dream home: You guys should buy one at a time. Instead of trying to 4 or 5 appliances at once. Also did you qualify for the $8k tax credit? That could help!

Jura Koncius: Yes!

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Greenbelt, Md.: Regarding donation pick ups, my parents in Southern Maryland have had Purple Heart pick up their donations, including things like tables and chairs, several times so you may want to try them as well.

Terri Sapienza: Yes, another good suggestion for donations. Thanks.

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Annapolis, Md.: For the poster looking for deals on appliances. Look for a nearby "scratch and dent" place. I don't know the area, but my friend in California got a $3700 new wall over for $1900 because of a small scratch on the handle, something that could have happened in her home in the first week.

Jura Koncius: Great idea.

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Washington, D.C.: I want to tile (small glass square tiles, color TBD) the backsplash of my kitchen -- from counters up to the cabinets, but am wondering about the space above the cabinets. I have high ceilings so there is about 3 feet between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling. Should I tile that too? Any suggestions for how to utilize that space?

Terri Sapienza: I would just paint the wall space between your cabinets and the ceiling the same color as the other walls in your kitchen -- something that compliments the color of tiles you end up going with.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hey! I'm looking for recipes for homemade cleaning solutions -- both to save $$ and not have to have a lot of separate cleaners just lying around taking up space. Is there a good guide to this somewhere on the web? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: First of all I want to suggest a great book. Green Clean by Linda Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin (Melcher Media/DK Publishing $17.95) It is well worth the price for all the advice and the recipes. Also go to this site.

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Beachy pillows: Also, The Company Store has some great things -- and their stuff is really good quality.

Jura Koncius: Yes. Their stuff is generally very good. Restoration Hardware has some nice outdoor pillows too.

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Silver Spring: The Brass Knob carries salvaged shutters.

Terri Sapienza: Yep, that's right. Thanks.

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Washington, D.C.: Trying to sneak this in at the end! Do you know of any good places to go to buy a variety of herb plants? Ideally, plants that are already grown a little bit. I don't think Home Depot has what I want and I'd rather stay in D.C. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Maybe try the National Cathedral Flower mart tomorrow and Saturday -- for their annual plant sale. It's a fun event to go to also. Their things are good quality.

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Charitable organization that will pick up: Vietnam Veterans Association will also pick up donations. I like that you can schedule a pickup on their website.

Jura Koncius: Super.

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Re: Painting Apartments: I once had a friend who painted her apartment a lilac color. When she was ready to move out, her landlord told her she had to paint it back or get none of her deposit, which was a lot of money at the time. So she called over a group of six friends, offered us beer and pizza if we helped return her walls to white. So she got to enjoy the lilac walls during her tenure, the landlord got his white walls back, and we got beer and pizza and a story to tell.

Terri Sapienza: Great story. I also had a friend come over and help me paint -- I provided the very same menu. It was lots of hard work, but also lots of fun.

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Falls Church, Va.: Thank you so much for the article on the redesigners! I love what they did to those small, dingy apartments.

Is there a website or a way to get in touch with those redesigners? If they can do such a great job with so little, I don't think that my little apartment will be that challenging to them.

Thanks!!

washingtonpost.com: Start here: Interior Redesign Industry Specialists

Jura Koncius: Yes.

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Rockville, Md.: Hi I just renovated my condo and I am now looking for pictures. Is there somewhere that has pictures that are large and striking? I would like something different with a modern feel.

Terri Sapienza: How about taking a photograph of something you find striking and having it blown up to fit the space?

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Jura Koncius: A tip from my colleague gardening expert Adrian Higgins on another local place known for its nice herb selection: Ginkgo Gardens, 911 11th St. SE on Capitol Hill.

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Potomac, Md.: Sorry I missed last week. If it's not too late, I have suggestions for two of the situations I read in the archives:

Painted Concrete Porch: another attractive option is to tile it with either slate tiles (will need to be sealed after installation, but often on sale for $2/sq ft) or stone-look porcelain tiles. I did the tiling myself - not difficult, looks great, and cost about 1/10th of what neighbors paid to have it done.

Bathroom Window Needs Pretty Privacy: consider 'window films' -- available in MANY styles, on line and at HD/Lowes. Easy to apply and remove, no icky mildew concerns.

Jura Koncius: Thanks Potomac. We are happy to continue our discussions from week to week.

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Antique shops: Downtown Frederick is always good. Great Stuff by Paul is fun. Also if you head out 70 west there are the Beaver Creek antique shops and the little town of Finksburg has a few really nice shops. Finskburg is very close to the Hagerstown outlet mall.

Jura Koncius: Have never been to Finksburg.

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curtain question from Kensington: Hi, I have a curtains question for a 1950's ranch style home with some of the tiny windows that are high from the floor. My daughter's room has one of these small boxy windows -- It is maybe 5 feet or so from the floor and under the window we have a tall bookcase -- but she also has a more "normal" window. We have really cute PB kids long curtains. Should we hang both sets of curtains on both of the windows? Does it make sense to put long curtains on such a little window?

Terri Sapienza: I would hang the same curtains on both sets of windows.

By the way, for those with burning window treatment questions, be sure to check out next week's section for a Q&A with a local designer and window treatment expert. She will also be joining us on for the chat, so start thinking of your questions now...

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re: storm door: You can also get one with a full glass door that is interchangeable with a screen door. Either way, you can see the front door. In winter you get the weather protection, in spring/summer/fall you get the breeze.

Jura Koncius: True.

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Herbs: We always get our herbs at American Plant Food. They have a huge selection and the people who work there are knowledgeable and helpful.

Jura Koncius: Yes they are.

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Bethesda, Md.: For Herndon: You don't have to go all the way to Laurel for appliances -- Bray and Scarff has branches in Northern Virginia. And we've been buying appliances from them for close to 20 years and have had only good experiences.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Regarding Donations: I have a whole collection of bedding and matching accessories for a girls' dorm room (fits XL Twin bed). I want to give these all away as a set, and to a girl who will be going to college. Do you know of an organization that collects things like this?

Jura Koncius: ???

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Jura Koncius: Another request for you guys. I'm looking to talk to people who have had to change their lifestyle due to the recession -- in particular people who have dropped their cleaning services, are doing their own ironing now instead of going to the dry cleaners and are mowing their own lawns. And other chores they are taking on themselves to save money. Please email me at konciusj@washpost.com

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Floors first or last: Definitely do the floors last. It will make it much easier for painters and other workers if they don't have to worry about the floor. We painted our living and dining rooms when we first moved in, and it was so much easier because there was wall to wall carpet that we planned to rip up, so we didn't have to worry about paint stains.

Jura Koncius: I agree. Thanks.

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Appliances: For great prices, check out DADs Discount Appliances in MD -- look them up on Google... We got our whole kitchen for a steal.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Bethlehem, Pa.: Quick question -- I'm repainting my fireplace. Flat or glossy paint? I'm thinking glossy because it would be easier to wipe off dust or ash when I clean the fireplace.

Jura Koncius: I like the look of flat for a fireplace myself.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Because I'm busy Thursday mornings, I'm always out of sync, but here are some comments on last week's discussion.

The Bethesda poster looking for a cabinetmaker should try Watkins Cabinets in Barnesville, Md. They are not inexpensive, but their price was 25-50% less then other estimates I received, and the work was outstanding.

We bought our upright piano (first tuning 1911) from a widow neighbor who was relocating to a senior facility. We only had three rooms on the first floor -- living, dining and kitchen -- and the dining room proved the perfect place. It was less busy during the day, so piano practices happened with far fewer distractions. It was always available for "Happy Birthday" when the cake was brought in after dinner. It's not played much anymore, but the music stand is the perfect place to display Christmas, birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day cards.

The clear glass shower deflectors that are either fixed panels or hinged like a door and which have been popular in Europe since the 80's, have become simple DIY projects on that continent. Aside from the advantage of showing off your decorative tiling, they also save your floors from flooding when European houseguests don't realize that the shower curtain (or liner) goes inside the tub. I despair that these doors, like front loading washers, are considered high-end products in this country.

Jura Koncius: This is all great info. Thanks.

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Rockville, Md.: Just a tip to readers with stainless steel appliances: put olive oil on a microfiber towel, and it will wipe away smudges, fingerprints, etc.!

Jura Koncius: No need to buy those expensive stainless steel cleaning sprays...

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Clifton, Va.: In a big remodel project you always do the floors last. Paint spills and dings on the old floor from rehab work isn't as traumatic.

Jura Koncius: Yes. Thanks.

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Itching to Sell in Virginia: My husband and I are trying to sell our home and in an effort to spruce it up we are painting the downstairs. We have a 1 1/2 story Cape Cod, with 8-9 foot ceilings. The living room, dining room and hallway are all painted the same dark tan/khaki, that makes the space feel small. I want to lighten up the space and make it more inviting. We love greens, but also want something kind of neutral. Do you have any suggestions? Worst case scenario, if we can not sell, we will stay here for a while so I really want to like the color as well. Right now I am looking at Benjamin Moore's Gray Mirage 2142-50 or Horizon Gray 2141-50, which are kind of gray green shades. Your thoughts?

Terri Sapienza: This sounds like more of a question for our colleagues over in the Real Estate section, but I'll go ahead and offer my thoughts. If it were me and I was looking to neutralize the rooms for sale, I would probably stick with more of a beige than a gray-green. But, if you're going to stay, then paint it the color you like best. The colors you mention have a lot of green in them. What about BM's Wickham Gray or Edgecomb Gray. Both are more neutral in color but will give you the gray you like.

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Runner on Stairs: Ladies, I actually have an answer for you! To install a runner on your stairs, you need a nail gun and a piece of step-size heavy duty padding on each step (rubber on one side and rough on the other). Don't worry about nails in your rug, it won't hurt it. Just put the pad down, rug on top, and nail away. It is easy. To finish it off, if you want, you can buy those decorative rods, but they are not necessary. Brass ones break the bank, but Home Depot has cheap fakes if you really want the look. My family has a carpet shop, so I didn't just make this info up.

Jura Koncius: You are an expert and that's great information.

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Jura Koncius: Thanks everyone. See you next week.

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