Home Front: Best Kitchen Design Solutions and Much More

Every week, Washington Post Home Section writers Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza help you in your quest to achieve domestic bliss. Jura was online Thursday, May 28.

Browse an archive of previous Home Front discussions.

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Jura Koncius: Good morning. Just me today. What do you guys want to chat about? I've done a fun story about the remodeling of a fabulous kitchen at the Italian Ambassador's Residence in Washington. It's by Arclinea -- a cool, modern stainless steel and black oak design. Do you guys like modern kitchens? Or do you prefer country cottagey?

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washingtonpost.com: The Italian Kitchen (The Washington Post, May 28, 2009)

Jura Koncius: Here's my story from today on the Italian Ambassador's residence new kitchen.

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Anonymous: What is the best choice, currently, for counter tops? Is the rage for granite over?

Jura Koncius: I believe that granite is timeless and durable. Marble is beautiful but if you're a messy cook it might not be for you. Laminate or stainless steel counters are popular and stain resistant.

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Bowie, Md.: Having a cookout at a townhouse. But the new neighbors have a less-than-stellar backyard, so I want to shield my guests from that with a privacy screen. Do you ladies know where I could rent one for my party? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Hmmm. You should call your local rental equipment place or tent company. A small tent with sides might cover your neighbor's messy yard.

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High-end cooking ranges: Posting a little early. There have been several questions posted on this and the food chat about high-end cooking ranges, such as Wolf and Thermador. I have had a Thermador gas range with a back-venting system for 22 years. I'm looking to replace it and have decided against a similar high-end product for several reasons.

While I wanted a range with high BTUs, this aspect has been less than satisfying. One burner has high heat capacity, but the other three are not. In addition, all four burners have only three settings: low, medium, and high. I have trouble cooking on the low setting, as it often doesn't provide enough heat to keep something on a gentle simmer, and the medium heat is too high. In comparison, I used a friend's Kenmore range recently with 10 settings on each burner, and was able to achieve a lovely gentle simmer.

I'm replacing the unit because one burner hasn't worked for a while, and they no longer make parts to replace what is broken. Three burners is pretty limiting. And if parts won't continue to be available, I'd prefer a lower-priced range so replacing it is less costly. I'm looking at high-end versions of lower-priced brands, but haven't decided yet.

The best thing about my Thermador range is the back venting system, which eliminates a large overhead hood and does an excellent job. (Good venting is a must for serious cooks.) I hope to find something similar in whatever replacement range I purchase.

Jura Koncius: Wow. Lots of good info here. Thanks for sharing.

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Washington, D.C.: We are moving into a town home in D.C. with white walls. It has been totally redone and gutted but we want to add some personality with color. Any suggestions on how to paint an entry, living and dining that all flow into one another? We are slightly afraid of bold colors, but really don't want white walls.

Jura Koncius: I really like the "House Beautiful Colors for Your Home" book. (Hearst Books; $14.95) In fact, two paint colors chosen in the book by designers Gil Schafer and Eve Ashcroft are the Benjamin Moore Narragansett Green and Stonington Gray -- they make a great combo that should work in your entry, living and dining room.

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Cleveland, Ohio: Good morning! How do you and the chatters feel about over-the-range microwave/hood combos versus a separate, small exhaust hood and a microwave that sits on the counter in an appliance garage enclosure? The counter space taken up by a microwave would otherwise be used for shelving or a tall utility/pantry cabinet, so the same amount of counter space would be available either way. Thank you!

Jura Koncius: I prefer the over the range combo and I have that myself. How do you guys feel?

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Washington, D.C.: I have a basic, but likely elusive, furniture question. I'm looking for new or used pieces on a budget. I've tried craigslist, but am not seeing a lot that's worthwhile. Are there any stores in the area besides IKEA that you might recommend? Or, flea markets? I know Eastern Market, but wasn't sure if there were others. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Go to www.thebigtarp.com. There is a great flea market outside Baltimore where furniture deals abound. Also Ruff & Ready Furnishings, 1908 14th St. NW.

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Favorite Kitchen Styles: I love traditional kitchens -- cherry cabinets, granite counter tops, black appliances, chandeliers.

My neighbor prefers the more modern kitchens -- blonde wood, stainless appliances, sleek light fixtures.

We have very similar homes on the outside -- but don't judge our homes by their cover!

Jura Koncius: That's very interesting. I also love traditional kitchens with a touch of modern in them. I do love chandeliers in the kitchen. I have black appliances, granite and cherry cabinets. But my soap dispenser is stainless as are my small appliances.

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Washington, D.C. -- Hill East: Hi! We are buying a 1,500 ft sq condo just off Capitol Hill in the next few months. We are going to use the spare bedroom as a library and had the closet guy submit a quote to put in shelves along two walls (he was out measuring closets anyway). The quote came in at a decent price, but this closet organizer company only works in melamine. It be in various colors, but I'm not certain how a long run of these shelves would look. Thoughts?

Jura Koncius: Melamine is a lot cheaper and if you are dealing with a good quality closet guy, it should be fine.

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Rockville: Just an update. I was the lady with the neighbors with unkempt yards. I did submit a complaint to the county and two of the three yards have been mowed! One was done by a county contractor (I think), the other by the owner. The third was attempted, but due to three-feet high weeds, someone else is going to need to do it. But just knowing it will be done is helpful. So for anyone out there in MoCo, your tax dollars at work.

Jura Koncius: Yeah!

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Baltimore, Md.: I am considering BM's Grey Owl for a bedroom, with BM's decorator white for trim. Do you think this grey is too subtle, or will it look truly grey with the trim? I am seeking a soft, silvery grey.

Jura Koncius: I think that is a good choice. I also like BM's Glass Slipper.

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Arlington, Va.: Still wondering about counter tops. What materials would be your choices?

Jura Koncius: Stainless steel, granite, concrete, engineered stone, recycled glass.

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Springfield, Va.: Where do you like to have the trash can in the kitchen? Do you like the tall ones or the short ones? Are the pull-out ones that are in the kitchen base cabinets worth the price?

Jura Koncius: My sister and I disagree about trash cans. She keeps hers behind a closed door in a pantry in her large Great Falls kitchen. In my small D.C. kitchen, I had a trash can built into a cabinet -- Just one pull and the cabinet opens up and is fitted with a standard Rubbermaid black trash can. I think this is deal and I can push crumbs from the counter right into the trash can. I would say built in is the way to go -- but she likes hers the way it is!

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NW, D.C.: Is there any rhyme or reason to grouping pictures? I want to hang a bunch of different prints, photos, etc. with assorted frames on the wall that my bed backs up against, but I'm not quite sure how to attack the project. Are there any good websites I should check out?

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Scour magazines and design books and blogs for photos of rooms with beautiful framed photo arrangements.

Sign up for emails from bloggers such as www.apartmenttherapy.com and www.peakofchic.com. Read Terri's weekly Blogwatch column for new blogs to check out.

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Arlington, Va.: I loved the article on the Italian embassy kitchen -- and told my husband "I want to go to a party THERE!" Our kitchen is small and pretty traditional but someday I'd love a house with a big farmhouse kitchen with a table right in the middle and white cabinetry. Perhaps a real stone floor. And windows with cafe curtains!

Jura Koncius: Ah yes. I did get some of the goodies pictured on the counter! The risotto was to die for. And we didn't even get a picture of the desserts. It's a gorgeous place and drinks on the piazza are amazing in the middle of Washington -- to be in such a private spot.

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Granite Countertops: My aunt went with a black granite and a leathered finish to it. So it's not all shiny, but still durable ole granite. I love it.

Jura Koncius: Fab.

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Clifton, Va.: The burners on my KitchenAid Superba range are infinitely adjustable. I would never buy a cooktop or range where the burners had specific settings. Doesn't matter if it is 3, 8 or 16 setting, I want something that I can adjust to just right depending on the pot and whatever I am cooking. The problem with professional stoves is you must have professional quality venting to the outside which can be expensive.

Over the range microwaves/venthoods work very well for non-professional/commercial equipment. But you have to change the filters.

Jura Koncius: Thanks, Clifton.

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Arlington, Va.: My two cents on ranges: We have a GE Profile gas range with two "high BTU" burners (probably not quite Thermador standard, but definitely hot), one "regular," and one "simmer" burner. I think having true options is really a good thing. If only the oven were so praiseworthy!

My question: What would your dream laundry room feature? We are finally hoping to fix up our laundry room which is the typical 1950s cinderblock/ductwork furnace room with a workbench along one wall -- it is AWFUL and dark and this has been a long time coming, especially with the handful of small children in our house.

Jura Koncius: Two cents and more.

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The microwave: I have a very small kitchen, so over the stove it went. My aunt has a huge kitchen with a huge island. She has hidden it in the island. I think it's odd to have to bend over to use it, but it keeps the kitchen looking clutter free and allows for a pretty hood over the range.

Jura Koncius: Over the stove...

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Ithaca, N.Y.: Re: over-range microwave vs. separate. The primary thing to watch for is that the vent actually works. As one other poster said, ventilation is a real requirement for serious cooks. Ideally it should be able to be vented outside. I have one of the high-end range tops the other poster mentioned -- I love mine but it does require a heavy duty hood. Also a note: my Viking has continuous temperature control so the levels of heat are easy to control.

Jura Koncius: Lucky you to have a Viking.

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Microwave Poll: I definitely prefer the overhead option. And we just installed one in my MIL's home because she decided after oh-so-many-years that she wanted one too.

Jura Koncius: Another vote for overhead.

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Ashton, Md.: Love my new kitchen! Warm cherry cabinets with all the interior bells and whistles, sleek stainless steel KitchenAid appliances, gorgeous dark granite counters, stained medium wood floors, tile backsplash, walls and open to dining area all painted in BM Aura Truffle. Lots of work on my part in the running, shopping, scheduling, but saved a bunch of money and have a high-end result! My favorite room...

Jura Koncius: You're lucky if you love it!

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Your tax dollars at work.: Actually if the county has to mow the yard, they WILL send a bill to the homeowner.

Jura Koncius: Hmmm.

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Anonymous: Good morning paint experts! We need to paint a recently-renovated, small master bathroom -- bright chrome fixtures, white subway tile tub surround, while hexagonal tiles on the floor, white carrera marble vanity top and white cabinet, no windows. Though it would go with the veining in the marble, I'm not sure about painting it gray. Do you have any other ideas? We'd like to keep it peaceful and serene-looking. Thank you!

Jura Koncius: What about a very soft blue? Martha Stewart for Valspar at Lowe's -- two colors I like are Open Sky or Splash.

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Stainless steel: It does give a nice sleek look BUT also shows every single water spot! I'm sorry my dishwasher is SS, won't make that mistake again. If I had SS countertops I'm afraid I'd spend all my spare time wiping them down.

On the next kitchen redo I'm planning on going with engineered stone (Silestone or something like that) to provide a durable surface that I don't have to worry so much about. I may be wrong but I think marble is soft (knife marks) and granite needs to be kept sealed.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for your opinions.

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Re: microwave location: The only advantage I see to putting it on the counter or in an island is so that kids can reach it. Otherwise, above the stove makes much more sense to me.

Jura Koncius: It does.

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Vienna: I was inspired by your discussion of wallpapering a half bath! Our half bath is currently painted the same shade of tan as the adjacent living room. Floors are some kind of black granite-like tile (don't like them but they aren't getting replaced anytime soon...) fixtures are all cream colored. I love the F&B lotus pattern wallpaper -- but what color? And which size -- big pattern or smaller one? Am I crazy to think this is a good idea with two small kids or is the paper pretty durable?

Jura Koncius: I have had the same wallpaper in my guest bathroom for like 15 years. I know, it's time to change it -- but its a simple blue and white stripe. It is totally durable and I would go with the lotus paper. Don't be afraid to go bold -- a small room is a great place to make a statement.

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Silver Spring, Md: I'm planning to paint my master bedroom and teeny bath. The furniture is dark mahogany and heavy. The bathroom's tile is medium beige and a mosaic including the beige, cocoa and gray. What BM color(s)? The hall is BM's Harbor Mist. I'm drawn to periwinkle blue but am not sure how it would work with the tile. Thanks.

Jura Koncius: I'm not sure about Periwinkle. There is a sort of lavender-gray color by Benjamin Moore called Lavender Ice. Maybe that would work in the bathroom. For the bedroom, you don't have to match with the bathroom you know -- you could go anywhere depending on what the colors of your bedding, rugs and accessories are. A nice bedroom color is Potpourri Green by Benjamin Moore or Valley Mist by Behr.

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Boston: I hate above-the-range microwaves and inform my friends installing them that I won't visit the in the hospital if they burn themselves.

Pros: They look nice and free up counter space.

Cons: You can't use them if someone else is using the range, you can't see if your food/drink is boiling over (unless you're very tall), you have to lift hot/heavy food out from over your head, and you can't let kids use them for all of those reasons. Over a flat-top range whose top stays hot, even worse.

Jura Koncius: You REALLY would not visit your friend in the hospital?

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Reston, Va.: All this talk about microwaves made me remember that I love the new drawer-style ones, maybe from Sharp? They open like a drawer and you lift the food out from the top! I guess this doesn't address the venting problem, but I am not crazy about countertop OR over the stove, having had both. Has anyone installed one and can comment?

Jura Koncius: Mmmm. Sounds great.

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Anonymous: What is the best type of outdoor furniture to buy? I am looking for a dining set for outside that is affordable, but durable. Any recommendations on where to shop for outdoor furniture in a reasonable price range would also be much appreciated!

Jura Koncius: Metal mesh lasts a long time. You can find examples of this at Target, Kmart, Lowe's and Home Depot.

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No. Va.: Re: granite needing to be sealed, yeah, I guess so, and ours is showing some wear and tear since we rarely do it. It bothers my husband much more than it bothers me. Some granites are softer than others and some are more naturally inclined to be rather pitted. I think granite is a great low-maintenance choice but you should choose your granite based on your attitude.

We use our kitchen every single day, and it shows. It's a kitchen, not a showroom!

Jura Koncius: My granite is 10 years old and only once I have "sealed" it again, which seemed sort of like a weird process since all it involved was spraying some stuff on it and letting it dry! My granite has absolutely nothing wrong with it and we love it and we use it daily.

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New York, N.Y.: For the picture hanging query, please have her check out www.decorology.com as they covered that very topic this week.

Jura Koncius: Fantastic! Thanks.

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Cheap Furniture: I only have cheap furniture and hand-me-downs. I have had good luck with pieces from HomeDecorators.com (chaise, two chairs and file credenza), Ikea (couch, lingerie chests, many bookcases, large desk, futon), Target (chair, bookcase, kid furniture), Orvis Home (computer armoire). Not enough can be said for sales -- check ads and websites. I have been very fortunate with going-out-of-business sales.

Jura Koncius: Great advice.

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Hanging pictures: I created a gallery wall in our bedroom -- the bed is up against a wall in front of a window that's smack in the middle of the wall. I hung several pictures that are sort of the same theme, but have different colors and frames (I do my own framing). My theme is Ancient Rome -- and there are antique maps I bought in Eastern Market, prints and lithographs I bought in Italy and a hand-painted Greek plate. I decided on placement by spreading out colors (a couple of pictures have dark green mats, so I spaced them out to create some overall cohesion). The result is great, and my husband, who is from Baltimore, says he feels like he's sleeping in the Walters Museum (in a good way!).

Jura Koncius: Wow!

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Over the range microwaves: The repair or replace costs for an over-the-range microwave can exceed, by a factor of 3-4, the replacement costs for a countertop, so beware. Only the most handy can mount those things properly.

Also, if you're not tall, you'll be handling hot items, including liquids, above your shoulders.

Jura Koncius: Good thought.

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Ashton again: Love the convenience of pullout trash can right next to sink. Over-the-range microwave saves space and is really handy. Tall top cabinets to ceiling give lots of storage, as does pantry cabinet with pullout shelves. Especially enamored of the soft-close features on all the drawers! Mostly drawers rather than doors of bottom cabinets are really useful. Clever corner pullouts and lazy susans complete the easy-to-use storage. Anyone can plan the kitchen that suits them perfectly!

Jura Koncius: Lots of opinions on kitchens, great.

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Microwave: I am short so over the stove scares me. How do other short people get stuff out? I am stuck with mine on the counter.

Jura Koncius: Scary.

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to NW, D.C. grouping pictures: To help group pictures lay them on the floor and arrange them that way before putting nails in the wall. You can also cut out papers the size of each frame and tape them to the wall and arrange them that way before hanging. Good luck!

Jura Koncius: Love that.

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Pillows!: Happy Thursday! I just want to point anyone who is looking for pillows (the decorative type, not the sleeping type) to an interesting website I found. It's Imagine Fabrics (www.imaginefabrics.com). They have 150 pillow covers, ranging from damask to Marimekko. Something for just about everyone!

Jura Koncius: Marimekko pillows. I'm there.

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Silver Spring: I am in love with my hands-free trash can. All you do it pass your hands (or hip or whatever else sticks out) over the top and it opens. Great for when you are cooking and hands are gooky. Also good 'cuz kids love to throw things away. The only thing I don't like is that it is tall but since it is black it just sits under a shelf and kind of disappears. It is fun to watch new people try to throw something away.

Jura Koncius: I saw those at the Housewares Show this year in Chicago. They even had hands-free paper towel dispensers!

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MD: While the Italian Ambassador's kitchen was fab to look at, it is designed for a staff to work in, obviously. Clean up and maintenance on all of that stainless horrifies me, but that's because I cook AND clean myself. Just saying what is great THERE isn't always practical for the masses. (But as an aside, the best stainless cleaner is good old Pledge furniture polish).

Jura Koncius: As my mother always said, you must suffer to be beautiful.

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Bethesda, Md.: Could you or the chatters recommend a local store where I could get a rocker or glider? (Hopefully without spending $1500 and waiting 8 weeks.) I've been checking out Homegoods regularly, but they haven't had anything. Thanks.

Jura Koncius: Is this for a baby room?

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Washington, D.C.: I have a lighting question. I've always been a big fan of vanity light bars in bathrooms. Do you know if the clear or frosted incandescent light bulbs for the vanity bars will be still be available in a few years, or will we have to replace them with CFLs? Personally, I think a vanity bar with exposed CFLs will be beyond ugly.

Jura Koncius: What an interesting question. Yes, I think it would be ugly too. I'm sure there will be CFLs in that size but hopefully they will also design a better looking CFL before long.

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Microwaves: Boston must be extremely short. I'm only 5'2" and I can see if the food is boiling over in my over the range microwave. I've also never had to lift the food over my head. If he/she is really that short, then the previous poster's comments about how countertop microwaves are good for kids would apply.

Jura Koncius: True.

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Sealing Granite Countertops: Some granite needs to be sealed and some do not. Some needs to be sealed every year, and some can go ten years. When we had granite installed, we picked out three or four that we liked and then did the research for the best wear-and-tear options. I narrowed it down and selected a granite that isn't very porous at all and needs minimal upkeep. We've had it four years now and it looks as good as the day it was installed. And it's never been sealed, either.

Jura Koncius: I never asked.

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Anonymous: Granite counters I have are sealed with a 15-year warranty against stains. New processes are now available that makes granite really carefree.

Jura Koncius: Oh.

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Washington, D.C.: How do you feel about butcher-block countertops? I love the way they look, but are they difficult to care for? Relatively expensive or not? I have to admit, after six months of condo shopping, with all those renovated kitchens, I'm over granite.

Jura Koncius: I personally don't really love them. But wood countertops take on character as they age. Wood can also burn and stain easily and harbor bacteria.

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Rust Never Sleeps: Metallic outdoor furniture should be aluminum unless you love scraping and painting. If you own a beach house you should probably get teak because salt air will affect aluminum over time

Jura Koncius: true.

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Springfield, Va. - chipped veneer: Good Morning Ladies, Thank you for taking my question. We have an espresso stained, ash veneer table where several (small) areas are flaked or chipped away and you can see the underlying 'raw' wood. The veneer probably warped, kind of raised, in that area and then the coloring flaked away. Do you know any carpenters/re-finishers in the DC area who would be able to fix this? Or is this something we could try to do ourselves? The table was relatively expensive, bought in 2001.

Jura Koncius: You could try www.furnituremedic.com. Do you guys know anyone in the Springfield area?

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Capitol Hill: I'd like a queen bed with a leather headboard for comfy reading in bed. What are some good places to look for this?

Jura Koncius: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, 1526 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.

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re: Boston: I'm about 5 ft 8 and I can see my over the range microwave just fine -- it's not at all over my head. That may count if you're fairly short, but otherwise they must have installed the microwave/cabinets too high.

Jura Koncius: Could be.

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Microwaves and Short People: I'm short -- not quite 4'11" -- and I have no problem with my overhead microwave. I can stand back a few feet to check on whether something is boiling or not, and I'm comfortable with reaching up and in to bring something down to the counter.

Jura Koncius: Short people speak out!

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Glider: Yes, we'll use it for a baby now, but I'm looking for something that we can use in a family room later. (Which is why I'm looking for a upholstered one, not the Dutalier wood ones with cushions that scream nursery.)

Jura Koncius: I like the rockers at www.gatcreek.com.

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CFL Bathroom Bulbs: They make CFL globe bulbs that are frosted and look just like regular globes. The only time you can tell they are CFL is when they first come on and then only for a few seconds. Also come in a couple of diameters.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Richmond: A cheap easy stopgap solution to chipped veneer is a pen (like a magic marker) made for wood touch ups. Find your color, paint over the chipped places. The chips are still there and if you want to spend the money, you'll still need to have the veneer replaced, but at least the chips don't glare out until then for a few dollars.

Jura Koncius: It would be good to try that and see if it does the trick.

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Grouping Photos: Pottery Barn online has different grouping suggestions in a pdf file. They tell you how many frames, sizes, etc. It's really easy.

Jura Koncius: Oh wonderful. Thanks for that.

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Re: countertop rages: What do you think of "engineered" granite, like the company Granite offers? I was told the advantage over regular granite is that it doesn't have to be sealed but is just as durable, but there seem to be few color choices and the price doesn't seem to be less. Still a good idea? It would mean not having to demolish my current countertops since it goes over what's there.

Jura Koncius: I have never used this but I know it is popular. Any chatters out there have experience with it?

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RE: MODERN KITCHENS: I personally don't like modern/contemporary kitchens. They seem more suited for a restaurant. The metal, stainless, and hard lines are too harsh for a home.

Jura Koncius: Another opinion...

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Arlington: How often does the exterior of a house need to be painted? Mine was painted four years ago and the paint on the shutters and front porch is flaking badly. Used good quality Duron paint, so I was just wondering...

Jura Koncius: Four years seems a bit too few to get out of a good paint job. Next time, make sure they do good prep work and use a good base coat and good quality paint.

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For the person looking for a rocker: I waited too long to order one for our baby's room and couldn't wait the 8-10 weeks. We ended up with a rocker from LazyBoy. It sounds crazy, but it's GREAT. Comfy, stain sealed, it'll look good elsewhere later on, and it was WAY less expensive then most baby stores.

Jura Koncius: Good point about ordering it early!

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CFLs in the bathroom: CFLs are already being designed to be encased in regular looking bulbs. You can also check on LED lights, which are becoming more and more common. They are more expensive than CFLs, but last longer and are more efficient. There are lots of options. I would talk to some lighting specialists at home improvement stores and also check out the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website for their lighting section. They may have experts to contact also.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Washington, D.C.: I have hardwood floors throughout my (smallish) apartment. If I put a large rug in the living room, the largest room in the apartment, can I also put a small rug next to my bed? Do they need to be fairly neutral colors/patterns since they'd be somewhat close in proximity?

Jura Koncius: No, if the rugs are in two different rooms, they don't need to match at all. Maybe you could do your living room rug in a bolder color, and go more neutral for your bedroom.

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Clifton, Va.: Best cleaners for stainless steel: Bar Keeper's Friend and plain old club soda. Club soda removes finger prints and grease and leaves behind no residue on all metals.

Jura Koncius: Bar Keeper's Friend is a weekly thing with us.

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Veneer Help: Wood putty is another option for the chipped veneer stopgap repairs.

Jura Koncius: Yes.

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Furniture on a budget: What about going to the Leesburg outlet and looking at the Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel stuff?

Jura Koncius: Great idea. The Restoration Hardware outlet there also has some great bargains.

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Wolf Range top: When we renovated our kitchen last year, we searched and looked at hundreds of options for the gas cooktop -- GE, Miele, Viking, Kenmore, you name it -- but nothing fit what we needed/wanted. Finally, we came across a Wolf that met our main requirements (5 burners, controls to the side, grates that weren't too spindly). Best d--n purchase! That Wolf has turned out to be amazing.

Jura Koncius: Wolf wins.

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Overhead microwaves and high shelves: I'm 5'7" and like having my overhead microwave (because of the counter space issue and frankly I rarely use the microwave except to heat leftovers). I bought a cheap solid wood stepping stool from IKEA and painted it a fun (low-VOC) color. So, when my 6'7" husband is not handy, I can pull that sucker out and easily root around in my highest cabinets and my built-in wine rack above the fridge (I did not put it there!)

Jura Koncius: At 6'7" your husband must never need that stool.

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Helena, Mont.: I have white globe CFL bulbs over the large mirror in my bathroom. They look fine and give plenty of light. So they must be available in the east too. Mine came as a result of my utility company's energy audit and were free to me, so I don't know their retail price.

Jura Koncius: My energy audit did not mention these bulbs.

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: We bought a rocker from Land of Nod that is a 1 1/2 chair -- you know the kind. Love it. Our kids are older now, and it's in the family room and the one seat everyone calls dibs on. Great quality.

Jura Koncius: Good tip.

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Richmond: Follow up to the veneer chip staining: We found the magic marker style worked better than the crayon type (waxy texture made it hard to get even coverage). The marker was just like a wet marker for drawing: lots of paint that spread easily and soaked in.

Jura Koncius: Wow.

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Washington, D.C.: I hope I'm not too late with my question. I want to replace the well-worn and boring black window curtains in my bathroom. However, I am stumped as to what to replace them with. Because my older home does not have a vent in the bathroom, I need to have window coverings that make it easy to crack the window for ventilation. I also need something that provides for maximum privacy because I have a neighbor that can easily see into the room. Any suggestions?

Jura Koncius: Plantation shutters would be ideal.

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Vanity Lights: I also dreaded the idea of CFLs in my bathroom, but my son brought home these great-looking LEDs. They're pricey but rather attractive -- $5 each. I think he said he found them at Sam's Club, but I'm not sure.

Jura Koncius: Great.

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Cambridge, Mass.: Hi, ladies -- I'm moving into a new apartment, sharing with two other roommates. The landlord is fine with painting my room, so I have some color questions. I have a quirky style sense, and since I've been moving from apartment to apartment every year, none of my furniture is my final "grown up" furniture that I'll purchase for my own place. So -- my dresser (and desk chair) are painted an aqua blue, and the dresser has grass green knobs. I'll probably buy a new duvet cover soon (thinking brown/tan). What color should I paint the walls? I get the morning light, and was thinking of painting the wall opposite my windows Benjamin Moore Pure Joy, with a lighter shade of yellow on the other walls. Thoughts?

Jura Koncius: Grass green would be a nice cheerful color. What about Benjamin Moore's Cooking Apple Green or Behr's Cabbage Green?

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Wolf ranges: Made in America.

Jura Koncius: Yeah.

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Consider the setting: We chose soapstone when we redid the kitchen and couldn't be happier -- it's an older house and granite might have seemed too shiny and modern.

Jura Koncius: A vote for soapstone.

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Jura Koncius: That's very interesting. I also love traditional kitchen with a touch of modern in them. I do love chandeliers in the kitchen. I have black appliances, granite and cherry cabinets. But my soap dispenser is stainless as are my small appliances.: Thanks, Jura. I have black appliances and I was wondering about the stainless small appliances. That's a great idea. Where did you buy yours?

Jura Koncius: Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Home Depot.

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Jura Koncius: Well, we're done for today. And we want to send a shout-out to our producer Michele Hatty -- it's her last time with us and we want to thank her for her great work and wish her well in her new exciting endeavors. See you all next week. Thanks.

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