Home Front: Recession-Friendly Decorating, Boosting Curb Appeal, Lighting Ideas and Much More

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, May 14.

Browse an archive of previous Home Front discussions.

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Jura Koncius: Good morning! How's everyone today? Let's get going. We might have a few window treatment questions left over from last week.

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Cleveland Park, D.C.: Dear Jura and Terri: I know that often, people veer away from dark colored paint and are afraid on their homes looking like a gloomy cave. I have recently completed a (I think) a very tasteful project in Ralph Lauren's Modern Loft. I can send photos if you'd like!

Terri Sapienza: Sure! We're always up for seeing pics of newly decorated/renovated spaces. Send them to home@washpost.com. Thanks.

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Centreville: Hi Jura and Terri! I'm trying to decide between a coffee table or an ottoman for my living room. Whichever we get will have to stand up to having our feet on it. I like the idea of an ottoman, but think it might be too dark and klunky looking in our small room. We have sage and tan upholstery and are thinking of painting walls a buttery yellow. I look forward to your column every week.

Jura Koncius: What about a buttery brown leather ottoman? One way to also use an ottoman for a coffee table is to get a nice sturdy tray with handles that you can put on and off the ottoman to put drinks on. In my den, I have a wicker tray with handles with a piece of glass in it that works perfectly.

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Clifton, Va.: I'm looking for creative ideas of how to place houseplants (not on floor) to green up my bedroom. I have windows but don't have a sill large enough to hold them.

Terri Sapienza: I think any small table could do. But how about a ceramic garden seat? they come in lots of colors, styles and shapes and are a little more interesting than a regular table.

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Falls Church, Va.: I'm looking to furnish a home office that both my husband and I can use. It's a small-ish room (12x12). I'm really into the idea of a partner's desk like the one at Ballard Designs but, in keeping with the times, I am wondering if you have suggestions for cheaper alternatives with similar functionality (large surface space, room for two people sitting opposite to each other). Thanks so much! I always look forward to your advice.

Terri Sapienza: One of my favorite desks is the Parson's desk from West Elm. How about getting two of them and placing them back-to-back in the room?

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McLean, Va.: Hi!

I have a great room lighting issue. The living side is fine -- one floor and one table lamp, plus the benefit of being closer to the wall-sized balcony sliding door. The dining side is very dark, especially in the evenings. There isn't a lot of room for floor lamps, and there is no chandelier (or even the wiring for one). That leaves putting table lamps on top of the china cabinet (6 ft high) and the server (4 ft high).

I had an idea of putting tall lamps on the dining table directly, but the wires would be a problem.

Any ideas?

Terri Sapienza: I wouldn't put lamps on the table. Instead, I would probably bite the bullet and have wiring installed in the ceiling for a chandelier. While you're at it, you might also consider having wiring installed for wall sconces. Remember to have all lighting installed on dimmers, too.

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Akron, Ohio: The cord on custom-made window treatment has broken. Is there a way to fix this? Business where they were purchased has left the area.

Jura Koncius: I hate it when that happens! I would call a local window treatment place and ask them what they would charge to come to the house. Also a freelance curtain and drapery installer could do it -- check with a local fabric store or workroom.

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washingtonpost.com: Restoration Hardware's Recession Strategy (The Washington Post, May 14, 2009)

Jura Koncius: I enjoyed finding out more about Restoration Hardware for the story I did today in the Home section. It's posted here. Lots of people love those Turkish towels they sell. I'm a fan myself and my husband and son really love their generous size. Do you all have towels that you like? Have you tried these? They usually go on sale twice a year in July and January I think -- they do cost a bit more but are worth it.

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Rockville, Md.: Hi ladies. I'd like to make my mom a (late) Mother's Day gift of homemade hand towels. I'd like them to be white with some fun trim. But I'm afraid of having white towels in the kitchen, especially having no knowledge of how bleach works. If I make them in white with colorful trim, can they be bleached or will the trim go white? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: I think your cautionary approach is correct. Trim would not be able to be bleached with a white towel. Maybe you should stick with interesting textured trim that happens to be white as well!

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Bethesda, Md.: I'd like to hire an interior decorator to spruce up my home by re-arranging stuff that is already there. In these tough economic times, where should I look for a good designer who'd be flexible to work within my budget? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Call designers and ask if they work by the hour. You can find names from the Washington chapter of ASID -- 202 488-4100. Also check out www.weredesign.com and www.interiorrefiners.com.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Good morning. I want to reupholster a camelback sofa and wing chair in my living room. I have a pretty area rug in the room, predominately Wedgwood blue with some deep gold, deep green and a little deep red in the all-over pattern. I have a dark wood jelly cupboard and end table in the room, brass lamp, gold sconces and a lot of photos framed in gold. Ebony piano. And the walls are taupe. What suggestions do you have for new coverings for the sofa and chair?

Terri Sapienza: Without seeing the space in person, I would recommend a light neutral for the sofa, for sure, with accent pillows to add color. Hard to say for the chair. Again, without seeing the space, the safest bet is a solid neutral, the same as the sofa.

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Bethesda, Md.: We bought our house last year, and it was newly repainted. Now, the paint is chipping all over the house, because of low quality paint or lack of proper priming. We know we have to repaint, but what do we need to do to make sure that the walls are adequately prepared for the new paint? Thank you!

Jura Koncius: Yikes! That is horrible. The people who sold you your house must have just slapped up a coat of cheap paint with proper preparation. Ask your neighbors for the names of good painting contractors in your area. Make sure you discuss with them the problem and include proper prep, scraping and priming in the estimate you get from them. Get several estimates, but don't go for the absolute cheapest. Make sure you include the brand of the paint you want in your estimate.

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Re: towels: I do not like thick towels. They never dry completely in the summer in our house -- we have climate control issues, I guess, because the humidity level in the upstairs is pretty high even with the A/C going full-bore. So the thinner the better is my motto. I assume the Turkish ones are plush. Oh well!!

Jura Koncius: Interesting! I guess you are right, in beach houses this can be a problem. I would just throw them in the dryer or hang them out to dry more often.

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RE: I'm looking for creative ideas of how to place houseplants: I have several house plants, most on nice rattan-like stands from Ross, including a ledge over my kitchen sink. Ross sells several options for plant stands.

Jura Koncius: Pier 1 Imports has stands and wood tables for plants as well.

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Nashville or Bust: Taking a drive in a few weeks to Nashville. Anyone know of any good flea markets in the area?

Terri Sapienza: This is a good question. Can anyone help out?

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Annapolis, Md.: Hi. Do you or any of your posters have experience with Phantom (or other brand) retractable door screens? I am thinking of installing one on a single swinging patio door in my kitchen. The door leads to a deck at the back of the house, so inside and outside party guests are always separated by a glass door. It would also really help cool down the house in the spring and fall.

Jura Koncius: We don't but do you guys?

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Centreville ottomans: Sounds pretty, but I've only seen espresso brown ottomans. Any ideas where I could find a nice lighter brown one? What do you think of the round ottomans?

Jura Koncius: Try Mitchell Gold, Roche Bobois, Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel. I don't personally like round ones as much as square or rectangle -- they take up a lot of room. You can custom order any leather color you want at most stores. Or buy a hide yourself and have an old ottoman reupholstered -- I bought a hide at Discount Fabrics in Thurmont.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I posted this a couple weeks ago but am trying again. I am having a D.C. weekend at the end of May and want to check out some unique shops, not the high-end Georgetown circuit but some of the vintage, or less expensive variety! So far I have Miss Pixie's, Ruff and Ready, Good Wood, and Millennium on my list. What else would you recommend? And are there any show houses still running? Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: How about adding some of the local flea markets to your list? The Georgetown flea is held every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There's also the Eastern Market on Capitol Hill on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Yellow living room: The rooms on the main floor of my house all connect though with pocket doors and swingy doors, I keep them a little separate. I'd like to paint my hallway a midtone gray, the dining room a deep, murky, soulful stormy ocean blue/green and the living room a midtone yellow to keep things alive. Any good paint recommendations? I have 100-year-old honey-colored oak floors and a lot of old wood trim.

Jura Koncius: I think Farrow & Ball rich colors would be perfect for you. For Hallway -- Pavilion Gray, for the Dining Room -- Green Blue, for the Living Room -- Yellow Ground. Check it out!

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Upstate N.Y.: Pretty-please, will you help me pick a paint color for my office/guest room? I've got roman shades made from Provencal-type tablecloths; they are a fairly heavy pattern, with dark lavender (almost like a grape hyacinth), cornflower blue, and bright grass green. The walls are currently off-white and very boring. The room is fairly bright, and has a fair amount of trim that I'd like to keep bright white. I'm leaning towards something like Behr's Berry Jam or Sherwin William's Izmir Purple. The floors are dark walnut, and furniture is transitory, so I'm not chuffed about it going well with the paint. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Sounds lovely. What about Misty Lilac by Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams Sassy Blue?

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No. Va.: Several houses in our neighborhood are for sale, and I have been considering our own curb appeal with the idea that if the overall level of attractiveness in the neighborhood is high, then perhaps any houses on the market will sell more quickly, and for higher prices, and isn't that a good thing for us?

Can you give me a few pointers on the major dos and don'ts for our front yard? We have quite nice flowerbeds out front, actually, but I'd like to know what you think says "that looks like a good neighbor," and vice versa. Kids toys good or bad? Thank you.

Jura Koncius: That is a great question. I would personally keep toys on the porch or in the back yard. But not too many! I would have neatly tended gardens with flowers blooming and mulch nicely arranged -- not too much though and not in huge pyramids under each tree -- just a small amount. Some nice concrete or terracotta pots with tall hibiscus, gardenia or oleander would be nice. Use them in pairs if possible. No wreaths on the door, but how about painting the front door a fresh color such as light blue, yellow or green? Make sure the shutters have a fresh coat of paint. Keep the walk swept at all times. Declutter the entry of the house -- whether a porch or foyer. Have a new brass doorknocker and a nice looking mailbox put in and make sure your doorbell actually works!

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Re: Retractable Screens: We had these installed on four different doors of our home (front, French doors to two decks and lower lever walkout). We got ours from Liberty Screen (in Springfield?). They did a great job and we love the screens.

Jura Koncius: Great.

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McLean, Va.: Hi,

I am working on redecorating my living room and dining room. I will need a rug in both rooms. I want contemporary rugs in my color scheme, and of course easier said than done. I will probably have to go the custom route. Do you have any suggestions on where to go to get a custom rug that won't break the bank?

Jura Koncius: Are you really sure you will need custom?

Check out places like Timothy Paul at 1404 14th St. NW or Farsh, 710 Jefferson St. in Alexandria. Also Carpet Palace at 7351 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

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RE: Wet Towels: For the person with the wet towel problem: invest $100-$150 on a towel warming rack. They make ones that sit on the floor or mount on the wall. Thick wet towels are usually dry in about 2 hours, even in humid conditions. The poster would then not have to worry about the thickness of their towels, and can get the biggest fluffiest ones they want!

Jura Koncius: What a great idea! Thanks.

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House calls: Really lame today. A day bed for a growing girl? No dresser or chest of drawers? Plus, an awkward layout -- you'd walk right into the back of the desk when you come in the room. It looked like an office/guest room makeover not one for a tween/teen girl's room.

I understand the room was small, but so much more could have been done.

washingtonpost.com: A Tween Room Grows With Color (The Washington Post, May 14, 2009)

Jura Koncius: How do you all feel about this?

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McLean, Va.: Hi,

I want to plan a vacation for August. Both my boyfriend and I love exploring specialty shops, especially those that carry home interior items. We both love design! Does anyone have suggestions where to go in the U.S. that has such a town with lots of shops to explore? Of course near the ocean would be nice, but not a requirement.

Thank you!!

Jura Koncius: Wow. You are open go anything. Here are a few of my favorite seaside places that offer tasteful shopping and browsing as an attraction as well. Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Ocean Grove, N.J., Rehoboth, Del., Carmel, Calif., East Hampton, N.Y., Malibu, Calif.

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Falls Church, Va.: Fast drying towels -- if I were that chatter, I'd use only those "quick dry" towels you see on infomercials for drying your hair after a shower or bath. They work great on the body too! PB had larger sizes of them recently, but then stopped carrying them.

Ottoman vs coffee table -- my aunt recently got this awesome coffee table made -- it is shaped to store 4 smallish ottomans underneath the top. You can easily pull out the four square ottomans and prop up your feet. And you still have a table to use. It's great - no cheesy recliners, no tacky ottomans crowding up the room. The table is a very dark wood and the ottomans are red.

Jura Koncius: Nice.

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re: plant stands: Costco had ceramic garden stools/plant stands last time I was there, in great colors and much less than I've seen elsewhere.

Jura Koncius: Love Costco.

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Montgomery Village, Md.: I would like to put some bamboo roman shades in my bedroom, but it faces the street and I hear you can see right through them. Do you know of any place that sells liners for these? I know Smith + Noble sells theirs with liners but they were $250 each for the size I need and I have three windows!! Anyone know where I could get these for a lot less?

Jura Koncius: I don't know how you could find them to customize with your Roman Shades, but you might try and sew them yourself or get the alterationist at your local dry cleaners to make them. It would cost less than $250.

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Tysons Corner, Va.: I hear Jura has a mirrored backsplash in her kitchen. I am thinking about this for mine, but I have a very small, French country style kitchen with oak cabinets and red, green and yellow accents. Will this look still work for me, or would I need a dressier, white and stainless type kitchen? I'm worried the styles would clash. Also, do you have one full sheet, or tiles? I would love to get subway sized mirror tiles. Any clue where I could get these on a budget as well?

Jura Koncius: I think mirror would work with any kind of decor -- it's just so great at making a small kitchen look larger and more sparkling. My mirror was custom cut to fit the space between my cherry cabinets and the granite counter. I have not seen subway sized mirror tiles. They would be harder to install I think. We just had to replace a small piece of mirror that was in back of the sink -- the grout had weakened and water had ruined the mirror finish in several places -- but it is 10 years old now! To replace a piece about two feet wide was under $50. A caution -- you should regrout every few years with clear, see-through grout to make sure the seal holds.

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Vienna, Va.: Husband and I purchased large townhouse a year ago and are now starting to focus our attention on wall decor. Where, other than the Torpedo Factory in Old Town, would be a good place to hunt for original, somewhat affordable, artwork? We're mostly interested in paintings.

Jura Koncius: Torpedo Factory is a great idea. One piece of advice -- don't tell an artist you are looking for "wall decor" -- say you are looking to invest in art for your home!

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Washington, D.C.: Any suggestions for a very muted teal paint color?

Jura Koncius: Yes! Jamaica Bay or Eucalyptus Leaf by Behr.

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New York, N.Y.: Hi!

Thanks for taking my question. I just moved into my first post-college apartment, and love having my own space -- but my room needs more light, and I'm at a loss over how to get it. There's no overhead wiring, and I don't want to hire an electrician. It's an old building, and the light switch near the door actually turns on and off an outlet to which the lamp should be plugged in. Unfortunately, this outlet is very close to the door and still well within the entrance hallway, so I can't really put a table for a table lamp there, and even a normal-sized standing lamp is awkward and makes it feel very cramped as you walk in. Help?

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Go to Ikea. They have a huge selection of all kinds of lamps in so many different shapes. You might find something hanging you could string up on a cord. Or you might find a very thin standing lamp. Maybe the Orgel wall lamp for $29.99 would work!

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Washington, D.C.: I bought a long-narrow rug in Morocco, but it bunches up. How do you un-bunch a rug? Thanks.

By the way, I did not care for the girl's room today. Looks more like a guest room.

Jura Koncius: Do you have a pad under it? You could also buy double stick carpet tape and tape it down for a while to see if that debunches it.

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bamboo roman shades: We have these in our guest room. We hung them just above the frame, then hung light-blocking pull-down roller shades inside the window frame. You can't even see the rollers when the bamboo shades are pulled up. Extra bonus is that you can let a little light in with just the bamboo shades down, or pull down the roller shades too if you want to block light.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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RE: House Calls: I agree, I thought it looked like an office/guest room as well. It's possible they put the dresser in the closet, however.

Jura Koncius: Maybe.

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re: House Calls: I agree -- the bedroom looks way too temporary without a bed and dresser. I would want my team to find sanctuary in her room, and I don't think she'd find it here.

Jura Koncius: More opinions.

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House Calls: I didn't care for it, either. The room looked really staid. Plus, putting those posters in frames "for a more uniform look"? Give me a break...time enough for that when she's thirty. Youth is not a time for uniformity.

Jura Koncius: And another.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi,

I have two rather ugly white plastic rain barrels which I'm putting at the front of the house, conspicuously visible to passersby and visitors. I considered enclosing them with panels on three sides, but I think that would look even worse.

Paint them? Put skirts on them? I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Terri Sapienza: You could paint them to blend in with the greenery of the outdoors or maybe conceal them behind a few trellis panels. But I would stay far, far away from skirts.

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Arlington, Va.: The question about curb appeal reminded me of a question I've been wondering about -- do you think a front door and garage door should match? So if one is white, the other needs to be white, or if one is natural wood, the other should be as well? And what about window style, etc.?

Ours are both white for now, but due for change in the very near future. I am leaning toward either natural wood or a medium "Mission" green.

Jura Koncius: I do not think they have to match.

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Arlington, Va.: Please weigh in on a debate my husband and I are having. It has to do with the huge garbage bins and recycling bins provided by the county.

Okay, ideally they'd be hidden away and invisible from the street. But really, I do not want my garbage bin in my garage, at least not during the summer months. How else can we camouflage these necessary things? Our lot is just not at all amenable to wheeling it around to the backyard (steep slope), so it must remain out front. I'm at a loss.

Jura Koncius: This is a common complaint about our garbage system. Those cans do hold a lot of stuff, but they are really ugly. Wheeling them around is probably your only option, unless you want to build a little shed for them with one open side. This actually might make a great story -- how to deal with these huge hulking pieces of plastic in front of your house!

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Bowie, Md. -- Rehoboth shops?: I am going to O.C. for a week vacation at the end of July. I know I'll need a break from there at some point and like Rehoboth too. Can you recommend specific shops that you like in Rehoboth?

Jura Koncius: You are SO in luck. Terri has just gotten back from a thorough scouring of shops in Delmarva and she will be writing a terrific guide to shopping at the beach in next week's Home section -- May 21. Stay tuned.

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Saint Louis: For the person looking for a screen -- we recently purchased an invisible screen that leads to our porch from ClearView. It seems much sturdier and safer than others we looked at.

Jura Koncius: Super.

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Re: mirrored back splash: Here is where I got the idea for the subway tile sized mirrors. I think it looks fab! The blogger does not mention which magazine this is from, so I have no way of locating where these are from. Do any of the chatters have any ideas?

Jura Koncius: Wow that is beautiful! We will try and find out -

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peeling paint: If the person just purchased the house, keep in mind that oftentimes Realtors slap paint up to cover a multitude of sins. In the house where I grew up, we had thick texture paint on the walls. It began to peel and chip and underneath were three layers of wallpaper!

So just be prepared for the worst.

Jura Koncius: The worst.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Good morning! We're finally moving into a home where we're free to paint, and I can't wait to have something besides white walls. I'm stumped in our bedroom, though. We have a mostly navy (with a white floral pattern) comforter and furniture with a walnut finish. Is there any color besides white that will work to keep the bedroom fairly bright and still coordinate with the furniture/linens? Thanks so much!

Jura Koncius: Have you thought of doing navy walls with white trim? Benjamin Moore Starry Night Blue? It would be very dramatic. Or another idea -- what about something a little zesty like Pratt & Lambert's Nasturtium, a soft orange.

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Bloomingdale: "art for the walls" I've posted it here before so sorry for the repeat but Artomatic is happening soon. Begins May 29th.

You could find stuff you like now and maybe even an artist you like who you could commission for a piece later to suit your taste and space.

Jura Koncius: Thank you so much, Bloomingdale.

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Broadlands, Va.: Greetings! I am so glad that I discovered your column. Being new to the area and decorating a new house, Home Front offers great information every week! My question is concerning antiques that I inherited and cannot use in my new house. I have incorporated several pieces that I inherited from my great grandmother but only have so much space. I have five chairs with cane seats, a few tables, and four Persian rugs. These items are in so-so condition. I would very much like to place them in a consignment shop or someplace where they would be available to someone who truly wants them. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks a bunch!

Jura Koncius: You might try Upscale Resale in Falls Church. Or classified ads or craigslist.

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Buying art: I'm surprised you didn't mention this: Mid City Artists Open Studios.

Happening this weekend. I'm not affiliated, just seems like a good opportunity to buy affordable art and support local artists!

Jura Koncius: Yes it does.

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Rockville: Maybe this is a question for the real estate chat, but here goes. There are a couple of houses on my street that are vacant due to foreclosures. The grass in the yards is about waist high on me. I recognize that there's not much I can do about them. But what about the house where I know people live there yet their grass is the same height? I'd love to call the county and report them, but not sure if that's the best thing to do. And no, I've never met them.

Jura Koncius: This is a great question. You could ask your local jurisdiction about what their rule is about grass and keeping up a property. You could leave notes in their mailbox with names of kids in the neighborhood who do lawn cutting. Maybe they don't own a lawnmower and they could borrow yours?

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Cats and Leather: It happened. Our cat clawed the leather chair. What are our options for mitigating the damage? The damage is mostly a series of small puncture marks, rather than jagged tears. (I know, I know, "what kind of idiot buys a leather chair when they have a CAT?!" Different story.)

Jura Koncius: Naughty kitty. I have a shredded slipper chair in my living room. Very embarrassing. You could call Leather Medic or Ram Leather at 800-333-2302 - they specialize in leather repairs. Good luck. Meow.

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Re mirrored backsplash: The blog does indicate the magazine -- the April "Elle Decoration." (I assume they mean Elle Decor.)

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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No wreath on the front door???: Why not? What do you suggest instead?

Jura Koncius: How about just a nice freshly painted door with a polished door knocker? Not everyone likes wreaths used all year, some like it as a holiday look only. You don't know who is going to come and look at your property.

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Jura Koncius: Time to say goodbye. See you all next week. Thanks for your questions and comments, as always.

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