Home Front: Displaying Jewelry, Choosing Ceiling Fans 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, July 2 at 11:00 a.m. ET to take your questions and suggestions.

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

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Terri Sapienza: Hi, Everyone. Happy early Fourth of July. The Home section this week is all about entertaining. Are any of you hosting a party this weekend? If so, we'd love to hear what you're planning. Okay, let's get started...

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Floored: A happy 4th to Jura and Terri!

I have a flooring dilemma. Our inside entryway is marble, and we've just put hardwood in the rooms off to each side (living and dining). Our problem is the powder room off the entryway. It now has hideous carpet (!) that we've planned to replace with tile. But I don't love the idea of four different floor surfaces in the same area.

Since we have a box of the hardwood left over from our previous project, is there a problem with using that in the powder room? There aren't many water issues, and I've seen in done in other homes, but would love your expert opinions.

Terri Sapienza: I think using the leftover hardwood for the powder room is a great idea, especially because you don't have any issues with moisture. I have hardwood in my powder room and I love it. go for it.

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Penn Quarter: I recently saw an episode of "Dear Genevieve" on TV where she used a tree branch to decorate a living room. It looked great, and I'm wondering where I can find some similar organic/plant materials to decorate my living room. Also, what would you use to hang it? Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: Is this a trick question? I would have to say the best place to look for a tree branch or other plant material is: outdoors. Or at a local nursery.

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Battle Creek, Mich.: To the poster 2 weeks ago who wanted a simple way to display an In-Laws gift of cross-stitch. You can display it on a tabletop in the guest bedroom with a small picture easel. This saves you from hanging it on a wall.

Terri Sapienza: Nice idea. Thanks.

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Chicago: Hi ladies, thanks for taking my question. We are moving next week to a place with no window treatment in the bedroom, and I do not want neighbors peeking in! I've run into a snag however in that our window is 110.5 inches long. I've talked to a few shops and they said roller shades and Roman blinds don't usually come in such wide sizes and suggested drapes/curtains. I've looked at curtains from Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, etc., but all the ones I like are too narrow for my window. The only place I've found that offer curtains wide enough is IKEA at 57 inches/panel, but I am not in love with the selection. Do you have any ideas as to where else I may look? I'm really hoping to avoid making my own curtains since I can't even sew buttons on straight...

Terri Sapienza: Why not just buy four panels instead of just two? Or however many pair would work? I assume they would just be pushed ot the side when not in use and the thicker they look on the sides, the better.

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Washington, D.C.: I was totally amused when I read House Calls today and saw that the problem was "I told my husband he could do what he wants with the room, but I am not pleased with the result."

Poor Mr. Boyce...I wonder if he likes his media room just fine the way it is?

Jura Koncius: Ha ha.

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Displaying jewelry: Somehow, I have ended up with five squash blossom necklaces (these are the Southwestern silver and turquoise pieces). They're fairly substantial pieces of jewelry, and I'm thinking about displaying them on my bedroom walls. Before I start banging holes in my walls, do you think this would look odd?

I also have some African woven bags I inherited from my mother that I'd like to hang on a wall--perhaps in my spare room, although we also have a little alcove in our hall that needs something interesting. Is there anything I should do to prevent strain on the bag handles?

Thanks much; love the chats.

Jura Koncius: What a great idea! Have you thought of a coat rack in your alcove with the bags? I think hanging the necklaces on the wall in a grouping is a really fabulous way to personalize your space.

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Falls Church, Va.: Good Morning and Happy Fourth, Design Gurus! We need to purchase a few pieces of furniture and are planning to look at several furniture stores. Do furniture stores expect customers to negotiate over price, or is the list price firm? We are new to this and want to be smart customers. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: I would say that at established retail furniture stores, haggling over prices isn't an accepted practice. However, there is no harm in asking about any coupons that are out there, about sales that are coming up or about extra discounts the sales person might offer you. That said, have any of you actually negotiated at chain retail furniture stores?

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"I told my husband he could do what he wants with the room, but I am not pleased with the result.": This is a common decorating problem! Maybe the husband didn't really care too much how it looked, doesn't look like he put much effort into it.

Jura Koncius: Hmmm.

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Guest Bedrooms: ...are made for in-law gifts, and any other hideousities that people force upon you. It's even better if the "treasure" is from an out-of-state relative, because then you only have to have it on display when they stay in your guest room.

Jura Koncius: I know people who change photos in their guest rooms when certain guests arrive - change to photos featuring THEM!!!

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Arlington, Va. Basement Remodel: Due to a recent water/mold problem, it looks like we'll be remodeling the basement on our new home earlier than we anticipated! We want to make it into a nice lounge. What do you think of having tile floors instead of wall to wall carpet? And do you have any color suggestions for the walls and the floor? There are two windows, so there is some natural light, and recessed lighting.

Terri Sapienza: If you have water issues, tile is probably your best bet. As for a color, in a basement with little natural light I would just pick a color that you like and make sure the shade you go with is light.

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Paint newbie: Hi! Can you offer some basic guidance about purchasing paint? How do I choose a brand, for example? New homeowner here, painting for the first time.

Jura Koncius: Low VOC paints usually cost a little more. Also high end paints such as Farrow & Ball, Donald Kaufmann and Fine Paints of Europe are favored by architects and designers because they give a better color and a better application. They can cost $50 to $100 a gallon. But for the average person, the major paint companies offerings are usually sufficient. Check out Consumer Reports for ratings of paint.

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Painting puzzler: Please help! I have a south facing living room with dark hardwood floors, chair railing, and chocolate brown couch. Can you recommend a Ben Moore paint color(s) to brighten things up? I was leaning toward a creamy butter color. If you could throw in a suggestion for a pale pink for my daughter's room, I would be beyond grateful. Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: I soft yellow would certainly lighten things up, but yellow is notoriously a very difficult paint color to pick and get right. Lots of designers claim to have difficulty with this color. The problem is that however light it looks on the paint chip, it's going to look darker and probably brighter on your wall. Keep that in mind while you search for a color you like and make sure you test the colors on the wall before purchasing multiple gallons. One hint: if you find a shade you like, try the shade one or two above it on the paint deck. good luck.

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Minneapolis: Hello. I am looking for a couch. I was wondering typically how much a quality couch should cost. I don't want a couch that is going to fall apart right away, but I also don't need a couch that will last a lifetime. Also, do you have any suggestions as to where to look? Thanks.

Jura Koncius: I think these days, spending $1500 and up on a couch would make it a pretty solid piece. Room & Board, Crate & Barrel, Ethan Allen, Pottery Barn are places to look at.

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re: negotiating prices: I've found that everything is negotiable these days. I negotiated a better price on wine at my local (national chain) grocery store! Ultimately got it for about 55 percent of what I normally pay. About a 15 months ago, we negotiated on furniture at a big-name furniture. We didn't get a significant discount, but certainly did get about 10 percent. Also, we've found that places like Home Depot offer 10 percent off to military folks year-round (not just the holidays) if you ask for it.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Ceiling fans: This sounds silly but please help - the second floor of our townhouse is always so warm. The A/C has to go from the basement to the second floor with vaulted ceilings. The ceiling fans sort of help at night when they are blowing on us, be we're trying to figure out if we're just wasting energy by running them during the day.

Terri Sapienza: I don't think fans use much energy when they run, and I also don't think they cool the air - they cool the people in a room. I'll post a story we ran a couple of years ago on ceiling fans that includes some tips from local experts.

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washingtonpost.com: Check Out What's Going Around - washingtonpost.com (Post, July 19, 2007)

Terri Sapienza: Here's the ceiling fan story.

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Alexandria, Va.: This weekend we will be prepping our house to put it on the market in the next two weeks. We have recently renovated the kitchen and bath and painted the walls. Otherwise, what are some suggestions for making our place appealing to buyers? We currently have no window treatments - should we install those? Any "staging" tips would be great! Thanks!

Jura Koncius: If you haven't spent money on window treatments yet, then don't just go out and buy some just to please some unknown buyer with unknown taste. Declutter all your surfaces. Some people say get rid of personal framed photos - or at least keep them to a minimum so people can imagine themselves in your rooms. Buy or cut lots of fresh flowers and put a bowl of fruit in the kitchen. Clear off the kitchen counters. Make sure your windows are sparkling throughout the house. Invest in some fresh pillows and towels.

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New word: I love "hideousities"!! I pledge to use it in a conversation soon.

Jura Koncius: It is a good word. A word I have heard recently that I love is gnarly.

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Wood Floor Powder Room: Depending on the thickness of the flooring material the toilet drain will probably have to be raised to maintain the integrity of the seal.

Terri Sapienza: Hmmm...I had no idea. The hardwood in my powder room came with the house. Thanks.

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New Market, Md.: Hi - my family room is a fairly large, bright space (when the blinds are open). It's currently painted in two tone (bottom half 90's forest green, top half Sherwin Williams Universal Khaki). My furniture is a combination of light khaki fabric and chocolate brown leather, accents are red and marigold, metal is bronze. What would be good options to replace the 90's forest green with? I really hate it, more and more every time I look! Would chocolate brown be too much brown? Is there a deep yellow that might look nice with the Universal Khaki but not be too sun-shiny? Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: Would you consider re-painting the walls all one color? I think that might look better. And, yes, chocolate brown would be too much brown, especially if you plan on keeping the khaki on top.

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Capitol Hill: Hi, We have a small house (only 11 feet wide) and we're looking at new furniture to replace our bulky stuff. Are there any furniture stores in D.C. that cater to owners of small spaces?

Jura Koncius: Rowe Furniture - go to the site for retailers - Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams at 1526 14th St. NW, West Elm stores.

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Hardwood or Laminate: I need to replace the carpet in my ranch style house (do to allergies and nastiness). I was hoping there was plywood underneath but it's particle board. What are the pro's and con's of hardwood vs. laminate. I have a cat and small inside dog. The wood would be covering the 800 sq ft of the house (contiguous - living room, dining area, hallway, and two bedrooms) not including the bathroom and kitchen which I replaced a year ago with vinyl before I moved in. Any preferences or suggestions?

Terri Sapienza: If it's on your budget, I would go with the hardwood.

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Boston: For the poster with the paint question. I'm not a designer or an architect, but I've done a looooot of painting at home. The products you find at Home Depot (like Behr) are fine. Just fine. But your life will be a lot easier (because the paint goes on significantly faster and smoother - i.e. fewer touch ups and extra coats) if you at least upgrade to Benjamin Moore paints. If you have a local paint store near you, or even a local hardware store (as opposed to the big box giants) they will be much better equipped to help you select paint and the tools you need. But call around to find out what paints they carry.

Jura Koncius: Well said. Thanks a lot for writing in.

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Paint Newbie: Once you pick your paint make sure you have good quality brushes, and good drop cloth and a study stepladder. I spent too many years cheaping out on those items. Painting is so much easier when you have the right equipment.

Terri Sapienza: Yep. Very true. Thanks.

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Martinsburg, W.V.: Has anyone tried the new paints with primer in them? We will need to cover a very bold blue and several shades of medium to dark purple with something much lighter and more neutral.

Jura Koncius: Anyone?

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Paint rec for the newbie: I highly recommend McCormack paints. I had my coop apartment pained in Shell White in 1990, and the vast majority of it still looks pristine -- no yellowing whatsoever.

No, I don't work for McCormack -- just a very pleased customer.

Jura Koncius: Great. We love hearing that.

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Jura Koncius: I'm getting ants in my house and they are annoying. Any new ideas for getting rid of them?

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Idea for displaying jewelry : I once hung some glorious necklaces I inherited from my grandmother on a guest bedroom wall. To make them pop and give them a "frame," I taped off and painted darker squares on the wall behind them. It created a strong sense of art/collection. If you don't want to paint the walls, you could accomplish the same thing by painting small boards and pinning the necklaces on, then hanging like art. One piece of advice is to edit...a few necklaces would make a statement. More, not so much.

Jura Koncius: Great tips on this. Could also use a fabric covered bulletin board to hang them.

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Flooring for Arlington Basement: I think the Flor tiles have been getting rave review for this very reason.

Jura Koncius: True.

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Lounge colors for Arlington basement: I was home sick earlier in the week and saw an episode of "Decorating Cents" where they made a cool lounge-ey look in a basement. They used red and purple (sounds hideous, but wasn't) with a creamy yellow on one large wall to alleviate the darker feel of the deeper colors. It was episode DCT-2604.

Terri Sapienza: It wasn't hideous? really? I find that hard to believe.

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Wide roller blinds: If you want roller blinds on your wide windows get them custom made by District Shade Shop. These people make in house rollerblinds to your measurements. My roller blinds are great. I bet they could do it for you.

They are not that expensive and the customer service is excellent. It's a family-owned business and I can't recollect them highly enough.

District Shade Shop 1530 U St NW, Washington, DC & #8206; - (202) 783-7860 & #8206;

Terri Sapienza: Great tip. Thank you.

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for the poster looking for buttery yellow:: I wish I could remember the name of the paint on my ceilings, but I found it looking more in the "white" section of the color dohickies. Its a really nice color. When the room is bright with light it looks like a soft off creamy, white, but when there is a little more darkness in the room it has a soft buttery look to it. Anyway, its Behr paint from Home Depot.

Terri Sapienza: think harder! We're here for 20 more minutes...

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ants at home: Lavender oil is great! Seriously - ants turn right around!

Jura Koncius: I will buy some.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Regarding the paints with primer in them, we spent a LOT of money on Ben Moore's Aura, only to have it take 3 coats to cover a medium grey. We would have been better off priming and painting 2 coats. Though no way to get around needing 3 coats.

Jura Koncius: Wow.

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ants: My grandfather used to mix Borax with cocoa powder and sugar. Sprinkle along the thresholds, in the corners of cabients/floors, etc.

I eyeball the mix--say 1 Tablespoon Borax to 1 teaspoon each of cocoa powder and sugar.

The cocoa and sugar draw the critters in, they eat the Borax and die.

Check the Borax site to see if it has a reference.

Our family has used this for years for both roaches and ants and always had good luck.

Jura Koncius: Love grandfathers recipes.

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Photos in guest rooms: I switch out the photos in the guest room depending on who is staying there -- I try to put out photos of something we've done together. It makes for great conversation. I'll also try to put out photos of mutual friends/shared family members. It makes the guest room that much more homey for guests.

Of course, after a couple of days I am tempted to switch the photos with signs that say "GO HOME NOW," but that's another story . . .

Terri Sapienza: Well, you're a thoughtful host. That's a nice idea. So is the "go home now" hint : )

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Negotiating furniture prices: Absolutely! We have found that mattress shopping is a comparable experience to used car shopping, and everything about a mattress is apparently negotiable... but, we have also had success with negotiating furniture purchases and prices, especially when purchasing multiple pieces. Just ask, "do you have any flexibility with the price?" Asking about upcoming sales is a good idea, too, and often, if you're ready to buy, they'll give you the discount anyway.

Jura Koncius: Yes. Always ask.

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Sunny Salt Lake City, Utah: Hello Homegirls! I have read recent posts from folks who want room darkening shades in their nursery and wanted to share my solution! We have blinds in our daughters nursery with a valance curtain across the top of the window. We didn't want to add another layer of curtain so I put a tension rod across the top of the window, inside the frame (and underneath the curtain) and hung a dark sheet over it that can easily be removed when naptimes are over. I love that it won't leave marks or be an eyesore when friends come to visit - all they will see is her cute Pottery Barn Kids curtain! Its also a cheap solution - the tension rod was $17 and the dark sheet was $10.

Cheers! New Mom

Jura Koncius: Love it. Thank you!

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Ants: I have read that they won't cross a chalk line. Not pretty but hey, if it works...

Jura Koncius: Really? Amazing.

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Paint: I've had bizarre success with True Value Hardware's own brand paint. Colors good, goes on well etc and the guys at the shop on 17th Street are super nice.

Anyone else had this experience?

Jura Koncius: Anyone else?

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buttery yellow name!: Just for you ladies, I ran to the basement to see if there was a leftover can and VOILA! Cottonseed is the name, Behr paint.. its nice..

Jura Koncius: Thanks. A great help. Here is something I just thought of that is a helpful idea I think. I keep a small notebook of the paint colors I have used in each room of my house. I tape an actual paint chip on the page so I have the exact name and maker of the paint in case I need it in the future or want to replicate it.

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Mpls MN : re ants: Me too! Just read somewhere to mix equal parts sugar water with borax as a cocktail for your antsy houseguests. Apparently, they close up the bar and send the message to their friends to return to their nest.

Jura Koncius: Anything that sends them packing is good.

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Ceiling fans and energy: I used to run my ceiling fans (two) during the day when I was out for my cats :0), even with the AC on. With energy bills rising I decided to stop doing that last year and I definitely noticed a drop in my electric bill. And, you are right, the fans just cool people when you are in the room.

Jura Koncius: Fascinating. My cat actually loves a tall narrow standing fan we keep in our bedroom for extra air circulation even with the AC running...

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Silver Spring: I had a problem with ants a few years ago. I read somewhere to put talcolm powder in the window frames and door sills. They don't like it and won't cross it. If they do cross the fine powder interferes with their breathing. It worked for me.

Jura Koncius: Oh great.

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Behr paint color- buttery yellow!: Okay okay! for you- I ran to the basement to see if there was a partially empty can left and yes! Cottonseed is the name.

whew...

Jura Koncius: I think we already posted this... but just in case.

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Arlington: I agree with a poster a few weeks commenting on the use of photos in the home spread. Once again, the photo on the front page is large, and although a nice scene, reduces the amount of space for actual editorial content. Also, the House Call feature seems to contain few details about the the reason for certain product choices and more graphics. I know your budget is probably less than it used to be, but still...

Jura Koncius: We will pass this along to our editors...

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Media Room: Requisites for a media room:

Largest screen TV you can fit, best sound system available, best recliners, room darkening drapes, snack tables, small fridge, lockable entry door

Jura Koncius: Wow. I think you nailed it. I might add ample storage for DVDs.

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Rockville, Md.: Hi, I am so excited! We plan to paint our bedroom this summer as we are receiving a lovely bedroom set as a present (dark wood finish). I haven't had time to think about colors, etc but as soon as I read Terri's (?) response last week about light turquoise with tangerine accents I knew I had found our color palate! Tell me which color you would choose; I do like BM paint but I am open to others. Also I am thinking crisp white trim. Do you have any other comments, suggestions for this room? Thanks and love this discussion every week.

Terri Sapienza: Happy to hear that you liked my color suggestions. I think the turquoise and tangerine combo is a great one. Very beachy and refreshing. Hard to pick a color though when I can't see the space, but I would start looking at Benjamin Moore's Maritime Blue, At Sea and Oceanfront. I would look at Duron's Aquatint. For trim, I would go with Benjamin Moore's White Dove. It will look nice and crisp against the blue. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

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Boston: Hi, ladies! A thought for the painting newbie who wrote in earlier. Benjamin Moore has a new paint line called Ben. It's much less expensive than Aura, but has many of the same "green" advantages, dries fast and comes in all 3500 Ben Moore colors. I don't work for them; I'm just a Ben Moore savant.

Jura Koncius: Thank you!

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Borax: If you use a borax mix to treat ants, just be sure that your pets can't get at it!!!!

Jura Koncius: Great reminder.

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Re:Basement remodel: If your going for a lounge feel then doing medium tone colors would look great in a basement. We did a almost terracotta color on our walls in the bar area with a dark wood floor. The theater room is a dark red with a tan beige shag style carpet. Its such a warm feeling space. I even painted the spare bedroom/study chocolate brown w/white and green accents. Basements can be cold feeling if you go to light . It is what it is a basement make it feel warm. Think of all the cozy D.C. pubs. They are dark with heavy woods and big bars and it feels comfortable. ....

Jura Koncius: Pub living.

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Lounge colors: red/purple/creamy yellow: You have to see the episode to believe the color combo looked good. Unfortunately, their website lists the episode but doesn't have any pictures. Darn them! Maybe they'll add some later or show the episode again...

Terri Sapienza: I definitely have to see to believe this.

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Terri Sapienza: We're out of time. Thanks for joining us, and have a happy and safe holiday weekend. Chat with you next week.

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