Home Front: Upholstering Tips, Slipcover Suggestions and Much More

Washington Post Home Section writer Terri Sapienza helps you in your quest to achieve domestic bliss. She was online Thursday, June 11 at 11:00 a.m. ET.

Browse an archive of previous Home Front discussions.

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Terri Sapienza: Hi, everyone. Thanks for joining our chat today. Jura's out this week, but she left me some information to pass along to everyone who inquired about her story last week about Todd DeGarmo's house. The paint colors in his house are all from the Donald Kaufman Collection. Living room, DKC 26. Dining room, DK 25. Bathroom, DK 33.

Someone also asked why Todd decided to keep wood floors in the bathroom and if there was a special finish on them. The answer: They are historic and were already there. They are finished with water based polyurethane. Finally, he bought is awnings at Metro Awnings in Hyattsville, Md. 301-927-6827.

Okay, time to start chatting...

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Columbia, Md.: Hi Ladies, I have a teeny, tiny bathroom and made the mistake to paint it yellow. I would like to repaint it something that's a bit more calming. Can you suggest a paint color? Everything in the bathroom is white and I'm thinking of a light blue with hints of green. Thanks so much.

Terri Sapienza: I love blue and white bathrooms. In fact, my husband and I are just about to redo a small full bath and plan on using those same colors. Well, he doesn't know that yet, but will soon : )

As for a color for your bathroom, how about Barely teal from Benjamin Moore? Or Duron's Buoyant Blue?

Let me know what you finally decide on and how you like it. I'm in the process of conducting my paint search now.

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Nova: I LOVE the fabrics at Calico corners but can't afford them! Any suggestions for local fabrics of similar quality?

Terri Sapienza: You could try G Street Fabrics in Rockville or head up to Discount Fabrics warehouse in Thurmont, Md. where they have lots of high-end fabrics for great deals. Here's the site: http://www.discountfabricsusacorp.com/

I think Calico just started a big sale recently, so if you haven't been for a bit I'd try now. Or at least give them call and ask about their sale.

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Washington, D.C.: I have a lot of cherry wood furniture in my house, how do I balance it out and mix things up?

Terri Sapienza: I would mix in furniture with different finishes. Painted pieces would be nice. Maybe something a little more rustic or modern as well so everything doesn't have the same look. It keeps things interesting.

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Washington, D.C.: I have several chairs that I need to get re-upholstered. I don't have a lot of money, but want the job done right, any suggestions?

thanks!

Terri Sapienza: Based on your question, my suggestion is to be patient. re-upholstering furniture is not inexpensive. In addition to the cost of the labor, there is also the cost of the fabric and any additional details, like cording or tufting, etc. If the cushions need to be replaced or refilled or the frame needs repairing, that will cost extra, too. So, if you're set on keeping these chairs and having them upholstered, but don't have a big budget, I would do one at a time as your budget allows.

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Washington, D.C.: So I have been thinking about a color palette for my living room, and I keep coming back to some loud bright colors. Like a deep yellow for the walls and a dark red as an accent peppered around the room. I'm envisioning painting some bar stools and a TV stand the accent color, along with adding some throw pillows. I know I could make it work, but whenever I look at color suggestions (like on Behr's site) everything kind of looks muted. Am I losing it for wanting to create a permanent party for my living room?

Terri Sapienza: If that's what you love and would make you happy, then go for it. It's your home so it should be decorated any way you want it be.

Personally, though, I would find those bright colors to intense to look at all the time. But that's me. I prefer a soft neutral background that I can accessorizes with whatever colors I love at the moment. I need my home to be soft and calming at the end of the day. But that's me. If you love bright colors, then go with bright colors.

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Washington, D.C.: My kitchen is Benjamin Moore healing aloe. I love the color but want to infuse a contrast, my table dark brown round from crate and barrel, love that also, I am thinking greens, orange and yellow? What do you think?

Thanks and love the blog!!

Terri Sapienza: I like the idea of green or yellow more than orange. Blue would be a nice color to add in, too. But I think adding all three would be too much. Were you thinking of one color or all?

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Falls Church, Va.: Good morning! Do you ladies have a favorite place for shopping for silk plants? My living room is screaming for some greenery.

Terri Sapienza: I recommend getting a real plant over a silk version. Faux plants can look too fake and they also can get dusty.

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Washington, D.C.: My 13-year-old daughter has her heart set on a turquoise bedroom, either BM's Jamaican Aqua (just like Annie's!) or one shade darker, Tropicana Cabana.

But I can't seem to figure out the right colors for trim and ceiling. Some of the more standard trim whites seem too grey and cold, but I don't want to go too far to the yellow side... Any thoughts on White Dove, or something warmer like Acadia White or even Sugar Cookie (or is that getting too peachy)?

As for the ceiling, will she OD on turquoise if we go with "Barely Teal" on the ceiling? I'm not a fan of cold, white ceilings in the bedroom.

Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: Sounds like a fun room! You don't say how big or small the room is or how much light it does or doesn't get, but I like the idea of Jamaican Aqua with White Dove for the trim. White Dove has a touch of gray in it, which keeps it from being too stark of a white. I think it would make for a great pairing. (Acadia White has red in it, so I would stay away from it in this room.)

As for the ceiling, I don't know your daughter so I can't say whether all the blue would be too much. Barely Teal is a nice color though. Why not paint the walls and the trim and see how the rooms looks. If it's not enough color for you guys, paint the ceiling blue.

Oh, and think about adding some tangerine accents like pillows - that color looks fantastic with turquoise. Let us know how it turns out.

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Enterprise, Al.: Party in her living room: We have bold wall colors all over. Suggest that one strong color per room is enough. Red and yellow would be a lot going on. We have a red living room with black and cream; dark green kitchen with black and white. Swatches and a whole wall are very different.

Terri Sapienza: Agreed. But I know people who have several bold colors in the same room and they love it. It works for them.

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more re upholstery: The person needing to upholster multiple chairs might want to buy all the fabric up front (assuming they want them in the same fabric) just in case the manufacturer stops making the fabric. The upholsterer can give her an estimate of the amount needed per chair. FYI, if you don't' buy the fabric through the upholsterer, you might find out there is a cutting fee per yard tacked on to the price when you have the labor done.

Terri Sapienza: Good points. Thanks.

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Washington, D.C. (healing aloe kitchen): I was actually thinking of navy blue for the kitchen chairs, but don't want to make it to dark and I did find a few fabrics that I love, one is navy and one is like a light bluish/green and cream color leopard print. I am not sure I will get tired of it though. On the other hand, I got this rug and it has a good mix of all the colors I mentioned (yellow, orange, green, brown) just not sure which. I don't want it to look thrown together. I am scouring design sites and still cant make a decision. Help!

Terri Sapienza: I think a navy would be too dark. I was thinking more of a lighter blue. In fact, I was thinking lighter shades of each of those colors. If you're already thinking that you might tire of the fabric, then you probably will. Pick something else.

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Arlington, Va.: I am really thinking about buying the Reese sofa from Mitchell Gold -- any opinion on how their stuff holds up? Is this a 5 or 10 year investment? My last sofa from Crate & Barrel lasted about 5 years until the seat pillows lost their ummph!

Terri Sapienza: I don't own any Mitchell gold furniture, so I can't say. But many C&B sofas are made by Mitchell gold. Are you certain yours wasn't? Can anyone chime in here?

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L L Bean Furniture: I am considering buying the Mission futon/sofa from L L Bean. I've read the comments posted to the L L Bean site, but would like to know if others have experience. Looks like I'll need a flat pack furniture assembly person when they arrive. Also is the futon foam free?

Terri Sapienza: Have you been to the LL Bean store in Tysons Corner? Not sure if they sell the furniture there, but it's worth a visit or a call to find out.

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Slipcovers?: Any word from you or the readers on the packaged slipcovers that seem to be widely available now? I've seen a Martha Stewart line that is affordable and wonder if they are worthwhile. We have an "apartment size" sofa that is structurally sound but I am unthrilled with the upholstery pattern. I'd like to do something inexpensive to recover it, but don't want to waste money if the slipcovers are going to ... well... slip, or tear or whatever.

Thanks.

Terri Sapienza: I have no personal experience with sofa slipcovers, but would love to hear from others that do. Seems to be a popular question today.

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Vermont: Bathroom blue - I redid our bathroom recently in "Soft Chinchilla" from Benjamin Moore. The new Aura paints are pretty remarkable - I was able to use the matte formulation, even in a bathroom. Looks fantastic!

Terri Sapienza: Sounds nice! I hear Aura is pretty great, but haven't given it a try yet. Maybe in my bathroom...

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Keeping slipcovers in place: A slipcover on my couch keeps sliding out of place when the kids hang out on it. Drives me crazy. Someone said there is a bar or something that can hold them in place, is that true? I went to Bed Bath & Beyond and the guy had no idea what I was talking about. Thanks.

Terri Sapienza: Another slipcover-related question. Anyone?

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House Calls Opinion: This week's House Calls was one of the most affordable that I've seen.

Did you notice that there is a round table 3 feet away in the kitchen on the other side of the short dining room wall? What were the builders thinking??? I hope the owners hire the decorator back to figure out what to do with the kitchen.

Terri Sapienza: A nice shout-out for today's House Calls. Thanks.

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Ashton: Sofa Comment: Cushions can be "replumped" but better yet is investment in a high-quality piece with great cushions (spring and down/foam). Henredon sofa and loveseat 7 years old, still looking and feeling new!

Terri Sapienza: yes, I was going to mention that about the cushions, but forgot. Thanks for the reminder.

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Columbia, Md.: Hi ladies! I'm wondering if wallpaper border trim at the top of a wall right under the ceiling is getting dated. It's already in the house I moved in, and I haven't seen it used much since the 1990s. Plus, maybe I don't really get why it's up there--to make the ceiling seem less high? Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: It's not getting dated, it's already there and been there for a while. Take it down, if you can.

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Alexandria, Va.: I think the writer is looking for a product to keep slipcovers in place. Here's a web tip:

Anchor your slipcover with a rolled-up magazine

Take a heavy magazine, roll it up and secure it with rubber bands about every two inches or so. This homemade tool is the most clever, least expensive and most popular tool known to readymade slipcover users. Simply jam it into the crevices between the seat and arm and all along the back of the seat cushions to create an anchor-like effect on your slipcover. Alternative anchors include wooden dowels, PVC pipe, and even pool noodles!

Terri Sapienza: Wow, this is a great tip. I would think that a thick rolled up magazine might make the seat uncomfortable or be noticeable, but maybe I'm wrong.

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The only slipcover I've ever liked: was the "separate seat" ones from Surefit. Having the seat cushions wrapped in a different piece of fabric helps keep everything in place. Otherwise, the slipcovers keep coming off and have to be tucked in over and over - that gets really old. A friend of mine tried some plastic things you use to keep the slipcover in place, but they didn't work at all. I read that you can use a broomstick (with the broom sawed off), shoved down below the cushions in the back, and that might work. I guess you could also get a thick dowel cut a Home Depot instead of a broomstick.

Terri Sapienza: More great slipcover advice. Thanks.

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Slipcover holders: Do a Google search for slipcover holders. There are lots. Here is one: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Sure-Fit-Tuck-Once-Loveseat-Slipcover-Grip/2931688/product.html

Terri Sapienza: great! thanks.

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Dining table centerpiece: What do you like to use as a centerpiece for a dining table? My dining room is open to my living room. In both rooms we have neutral walls, neutral carpet, and neutral furniture, so it's beige city and I've been trying to add some color to the dining area via the centerpiece. I have gone through a bunch of different stuff and haven't been happy with anything. The living room is decorated with red and black kilim pillows, and red and black art on the walls, so it would be nice to have something that mixes well with that look. I've tried white flowers (totally wrong for the look), orangish red flowers (overwhelming), now a small fern in a red pot. The fern is the best so far but still not quite right. I have a large square clear glass vase and I'm thinking of getting some red wooden apples to put in and use that in place of the fern. Any other ideas?

Terri Sapienza: I try and keep fresh flowers on my dining room table, just a small glass jelly jar full of them.

For your room, maybe it's the fact that you're trying to use more red. Why not try a different color? If you like the fern, try putting it in a different color pot. But a glass bowl sounds nice. How about filled with fruit? But not red apples. Something other than red.

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Reston, Va.: Good morning, ladies! My cats LOVE the bed and pillows in our guest room. That is fine except the comforter and pillows become covered in fur. I'd like to use some kind of cover over the bed and pillows, (i.e. something easier to WASH than a feather duvet) but would like to stay away from just throwing a sheet over everything. I'd like to avoid the "mid-move" look. Any suggestions for easy-to-wash bed and pillow covers? Thanks and Happy Thursday!

Terri Sapienza: How about a white, cotton matelasse with matching sham? You can find them just about anywhere and they are inexpensive and machine washable.

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Alexandria VA: We are re-doing our small master bath, ripping it down to the studs and starting over. Would it be too much tile to tile the shower area up to, and maybe including, the ceiling? Also, is it a bad idea to rip out the tub entirely, and replace it with a no-barrier shower? We aren't getting any younger, and I'm thinking this might be a good idea as we age in place. There would still be a tub in the hall bath.

Terri Sapienza: Tile on the ceiling? I think that would be too much. Tiling UP to the ceiling would be fine, but I would stop there.

If you have another tub in the house and would prefer a nice big shower, why not?

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Washington, D.C.: My tiny apartment has dark wood flooring and I have to redo the kitchen floors. They are an ugly white laminate now. I would love wood but feel it would clash with the wood of the apartment since the kitchen and living room are right next to each other(they have since discontinued the wood I used on the floors). Any suggestions on what to choose?

Terri Sapienza: How different is the other wood flooring in the house? Because you could still get wood in the kitchen and simply have it stained the same color as the existing wood floors.

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Window against the wall: In response to the questioner from last week who had one window directly against the perpendicular wall, I want to say that I feel your pain, as I have this same problem. What I ended up doing was purchasing a tension rod to go inside the window frame. I got one of the shower curtain rods because the regular window ones seemed too thin, not to mention plain. This one is about an inch diameter and 72" long. I was afraid that the panels would be too heavy for the tension rod, but so far so good (although I don't have very heavy panels), and I've also seen brackets that you can use to shore up the sides and middle. My panels have a few extra inches above the rod pocket, so the whole window space is covered. Hope this helps!

Terri Sapienza: Thank you!

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Terri Sapienza: Looks like we're out of time. Chat with you next week. Have a nice weekend.

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