Home Front: Southern Style Decor, Porches, Fruit Fly Solutions, 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 16 at 11:00 a.m. ET to take your questions and suggestions. They were joined this week by Phoebe Howard, a decorator from Florida who was featured this week for her Southern style of decorating.

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

____________________

Terri Sapienza: Hi, everyone. Thanks for joining us today. We're very excited to have Southern decorator Phoebe Howard chatting with us this morning. If you're a shelter magazine reader, you've no doubt seen her pretty rooms all over the pages and on the covers in recent months. If you're unfamiliar with her work, check out her Web site at www.phoebehoward.net. I promise you won't be disappointed. Okay, looks like you guys have lots to ask Phoebe, so let's get started.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Q&A With Interior Designer Phoebe Howard (Post, July 16)

Jura Koncius: Here is Terri's great interview with Phoebe.

_______________________

Great Falls, Va.: Great stories today! I have a question for Mrs. Howard.... I have seen references to "Bridgewater club chairs" in numerous shelter mags- can you tell me who makes them and why they are so revered? I hope you do put a store in D.C. soon.

Phoebe Howard: A Bridgewater club chair is a style that originated in England, and was made popular in this country but an upholstery company named George Smith. This style is now available at all price points, and it is a classic. A gently rolling arm, tight back, and exposed legs with casters are typical features of this style.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: We are buying a house next month and we are thinking about kitchen renovations. The cabinets are 1950s era, and metal. They seem to be in decent condition for their age. Is there a market to sell them to someone desiring a retro kitchen? Any suggestions as to the logistics, including where to post/sell/consign are appreciated. Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: How about Craig's List?

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: I really like the bedroom in the photo on the front page of the today's Home section. I especially liked the seating area and the safo in particular. Who is the manufacturer and where can I get one?

Phoebe Howard: We sell this sofa in our stores - Mrs. Howard (www.phoebehoward.net). It is available in custom sizes and a variety of fabrics. It is a beautiful, comfortable style, and adapts well to many interiors. I particularly love the fact that it has a waterfall skirt, and a bench seat cushion without a welt cord, which updates this classic style.

_______________________

Annandale, Va. - New Homeowner and Nesting: Hi! Please help me if you can. I'm trying to finish as many projects as possible in my new (1950s) house before my baby arrives in 2.5 months. I'm using mostly BM paints and using Super White for the trim in the bedrooms and bathrooms. I will also be painting over some wood paneling & the cabinets in the kitchen with Super White (but walls will be San Antonio Gray). Question 1: Should I use semi-gloss or high gloss in the kitchen? The kitchen area flows somewhat into the (small) living area and then (wood-paneled) hallway. I'd like to have an accent wall in Tangelo (this extends slightly into the kitchen), and paint the trim Super White. However, I'd like a warmer white for the remaining walls and wood-paneled hallway. Question 2: Any suggestions for this warmer white? and 3: Should I keep the trim in the living room Super White to complement the kitchen? Thank you!!!

Phoebe Howard: In the kitchen, use semi-gloss. I am not a fan of accent walls, but if you want a warmer white, check out Ivory White (925). Superwhite is a great trim color - keep it throughout for consistency.

_______________________

Dishwashers: I need a new dishwasher. I was on the Internet last night reading reviews. Now I'm more confused than ever. You could pretty much find a good or bad review about anything. I need good honest opinions. I have a KitchenAid pro line range now. So I'm leaning towards a KitchenAid dishwasher, but I'm not that picky that my appliance brands needing to match. Any help would be great.

Phoebe Howard: My favorite dishwasher is a Bosch, but it is very expensive. However, they are wonderful. The glasses come out absolutely sparkling, and they are so quiet. Sometimes you are not sure if you turned it on or not! Check it out, and then maybe you can compare it to other brands.

_______________________

Fairfax County, Va.: My wife and I just purchased a foreclosure in western Fairfax County and have been working hard to renovate our place, including ripping out old carpet and replacing it with hardwood flooring. The upstairs is looking great, but we still have a couple of outstanding projects to do. Q1: How difficult is it to fix plumbing issues, such as a leaky manifold pipe? What do you recommend? Q2: We need to install a return vent downstairs for the HVAC. Is this something easy enough for me to do? Q3: We'd like to attach a garage to our split foyer. Do you have any recommendations on accomplishing this? Sorry for having so many questions! Thanks a lot!

Phoebe Howard: I think you should get the advice of a good contractor in your area.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: I just moved into a new apartment and I have one long blank wall. I would like a long, thin table to put against it and for some reason am having the hardest time finding one. I am looking for something nicer than Ikea but less than $250. I was in Eastern market the other day and saw a beautiful table but I didn't even ask the price because I knew it wasn't coming home with me! Any suggestions on places to look for something a little different?

Phoebe Howard: Have you thought about going green and checking antique fairs and vintage furniture stores? Maybe you could find something you could refurbish and paint.

_______________________

Tile as baseboard?: Ladies, We are having a contractor gut and remodel our two full baths in our small rancher. We will have the entire tub/shower area tiled, but will not have the wainscot tile around the rest of the walls. I was thinking of using the same tile that is in the shower area as the baseboard for the rest of the bathroom. My thinking is that it would create uniformity in these very small spaces, and it would bring a pretty spot of color instead of painted white baseboards. Thoughts?

Phoebe Howard: Maybe you should consider getting 12"x12" squares of white marble or whatever marble matches your tile. You can then have it cut into 4" pieces, and use that as baseboard.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I have a screened porch similar to the one featured today and I am struggling to find reasonably priced outdoor rugs and panels to hang. Any ideas for where I can get these items on the cheaper side? Thanks!

Phoebe Howard: Yes, there is a wonderful company that makes polypropylene outdoor rugs in modern and cheerful patterns. The name of the company is Dash & Albert, and they are very reasonably priced. For the panels, I would suggest Restoration Hardware. They make really pretty, simple outdoor panels with grommets.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I unfortunately did not inherit the family green thumb. The house we're buying has what looks to be a decent flower garden or at least a bunch of flowering bushes. Where do we start in figuring out what is there, and how to take care of the plants we want to keep? We haven't a clue! Also, any tips on what to do if you have a woodchuck, and a small dog who loves to hunt? Thanks!

Phoebe Howard: Gardening is not my specialty, but I know a gardener who is very talented in Little Rock, AK. His name is P. Allen Smith, and he has many books and a web site.

_______________________

Pittsburgh, Pa.: Moving into a brand new house in two weeks, and I'm struggling with what kind of window covering to put over the sliding glass door that is off the kitchen/breakfast area. It needs to be functional - want to be able to walk around in my jammies without putting on a show for the neighbors, but also need to be able to use the door frequently. Also will need something that won't get ruined by dirty little hands running in and out of the house to play. I'm sick of vertical and horizontal blinds - I'd like something different! Any suggestions?

Phoebe Howard: Have you considered a pair of simple curtain panels on an iron rod? Make the rod extend 12" past the width of the sliding glass doors, so that when the panels are open they are sitting on the wall and not on the glass. Then, you can get some wands to attach to the first ring to pull the curtains closed, and not touch the fabric every time. You might consider using Sunbrella or outdoor fabric - it is much more durable, and the choices available today are wonderful.

_______________________

North Bethesda, Md.: I was ready to paint my new bathroom Italian ice green to coordinate with the aqua/green/blue sea glass accents when I saw the bedroom today in Glass Slipper. The floor and shower tiles are white. I am now thinking about doing the bathroom and bedroom in Glass Slipper. But question whether this is too far from the aqua in the glass accent? I am a beige person and was going to do the bedroom in beige and only the bathroom in the Italian ice. Help! The painter is coming today!

Phoebe Howard: Glass slipper is blue but has some green in it. It is a beautiful color for a bathroom. I would consider painting the bedroom a different color - perhaps beige (such as Manchester Tan HC-81 from Benjamin Moore). Use eggshell or semi-gloss in the bathroom, and flat or eggshell in the bedroom. Good luck!

_______________________

Glenwood, Md.: We have a family room that is 20 ft by 15 ft. On one end is an entire wall of brick with a VERY small fireplace in the middle, two windows on the sides, and a huge, chunky mantle. There is one long wall and one wall of windows. The back of the room is open to the hall. What can we do with the wall of brick to make it look a little better? The fireplace is really too small for the amount of brick on the wall and the only real place for the TV is right in front of the fireplace. I am not even sure where to start.

Phoebe Howard: Have you considered painting the brick either the color of your walls or the color of your trim? It could freshen up and lighten up your space, and make it more cohesive.

_______________________

Stinky Can, Va.: We've started getting fruit flies, which is gross. What's the best way to get rid of them? Aside from trying to catch them midflight, is there a spray or something? I've covered and moved the fruit and now they seem to hang out by the kitchen trash, which is by an opened window (with screen). Aside from constantly emptying the trash, we've cleaned the can, put baking soda in it, and let it air out in the garage. Now, the garage smells and with the humidity upon us, it's not looking so good! Help!

Jura Koncius: Oh dear. It sounds horrible. From now on , you should keep all your fruit and food in your refrigerator. But before doing that, throw out any fruit that looks over ripe. Keep counters and floors clean and washed at all times. Do not leave any crumbs out. Empty your garbage once or twice a day. Fruit flies usually have a life cycle of 10 days. You might also consider removing flowers and plants for a couple of weeks. Make sure you also clean under your refrigerator. Good luck getting rid of those pesky flies.

_______________________

Cary, N.C.: Good Morning Ladies, thank you for the chats. We are expecting our first child and are preparing the nursery. We are looking at some wall decals from "Dali Decals" to place a tree on the wall rather than with paint. Does anyone have experience with these products? The pictures online look great, but I am not sure. Also, we are painting the room a pleasant dark tan/light brown so it will be calming for us parents. We have gotten some strange looks from the idea, people expecting pepto pink since we are expecting a girl(there are some pink accents). Tell me we're not crazy to do what we like, rather than the traditional color scheme. Thanks so much.

Terri Sapienza: It's your home, you should paint and decorate however makes you happy.

Can anyone offer some first-hand experience with wall decals?

_______________________

Richmond, Va.: On Sunday, Cote de Texas posted unconfirmed scoop about the Obamas firing their designer. Have you heard anything about it?

Jura Koncius: We have been hearing these reports for weeks now. We have polled our sources and we don't believe they are true. The First Lady's office has told us that because the Obamas are paying for the decorating of the private quarters with their own funds and not public money, they are keeping all the information about the decorator and decorating private.

_______________________

Nashville, Tenn.: We are adding a wet bar to our den, which was converted from a two-car garage. Along with a sink and small fridge, do you think we ought to add a dishwasher? It is pretty far from the kitchen and opens to a terrace. We are going to put the house up for sale in two years and I don't know if a dishwasher would be a plus or minus. It's a 4 bedroom/3 bath house so will appeal to families.

Phoebe Howard: I would definitely put in a dishwasher. Instead of a full size, consider one of the new dish drawers. These are wonderful because they do a smaller load and are more energy efficient.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Hi Ladies - I just bought a 1940s cape cod. I really want to paint the master bedroom a sage color. Do you have any suggestions?

Terri Sapienza: Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage is a great color, but make sure you test it out first. In rooms that don't have lots of natural light, the color tends to look more gray than green. You could also try a color suggested by Phoebe in today's story: Benjamin Moore's Vale Mist.

_______________________

State College, Pa.: I have a collection of family photos I'd like to display. Should I put them all in the same frames for a uniform look? If so, can you recommend a place to buy inexpensive frames? Thanks much--love the chats.

Phoebe Howard: Yes, I think it helps a lot to have them all in the same frames. Check out West Elm or Ikea.

_______________________

Jura Koncius: Hey I have a shopping tip. I was at the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls, N.J. The Crabtree & Evelyn outlet was having a terrific sale. I got boxes of their soaps like Nantucket Briar and Jojoba shell shaped soaps - three to a box - for $7. Also great robes marked down from $79 to $20 and products by India Hicks. Worth a look if there is a Crabtree & Evelyn outlet in your area. The company just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection which is bad news but we hope they can recover. Their products are great quality. They have outlets listed at Leesburg Premium Outlets and Prime Outlets at Williamsburg.

_______________________

North Bethesda, Md.: I love the dining room chairs. They would be perfect for my kitchen area. Where can I get them and how much are they?

Phoebe Howard: If you mean the dining chairs from my Atlanta apartment, they are antique. However, there are several reproductions that are similar, and we sell them in our store Mrs. Howard (www.phoebehoward.net). The store phone numbers are all listed, and our staff would be happy to help with some suggestions.

_______________________

Antique Stores: I'm going to Charlottesville for a couple weeks. Will you please recommend some good antique stores? How's the antique scene there? Should I haggle? Are prices inflated or reasonable?

Phoebe Howard: There are two really good dealers in Charlottesville. One is And George, 434-244-2800. Another favorite is Kenny Ball Antiques, 434-293-1361.

_______________________

Help in Dupont!: So this isn't exactly decorating but it is home related and I don't know who else to ask! I have lived in the same apartment for 7+ years (with the same management) and in just the last several months have started getting roaches--ick! An exterminator comes in on a regular basis (and always has), I am maintaining the same level of tidiness and housekeeping skills (meaning they could be better but they certainly have gotten no worse), basically there have been no changes I can think of but after 6 and a half years the bugs just arrived! Why and what do I do? It seems to be worse when I do run the air conditioning but I freeze if I run the air constantly. I've sprinkled boric acid behind the fridge (is this safe to actually put in cabinets that might touch dishes? Why now and how do I get these guys to move out? Please!

Jura Koncius: Wow. It sounds horrible. I remember having HUGE roaches when I lived in New York for one year in a studio at Tudor City. They would rustle in my trash at night and I would hear them. UGH! Your problem is probably being caused by messy neighbors. You should tell your landlord that it's becoming unbearable and they might want to change their exterminator! They can also look for places under your kitchen cabinets or baseboards where they might be coming in and plug up those holes. You sound like you are doing everything you need to be doing - do not leave stacks of newspapers or piles of paper shopping bags around as they love to live in those. Also, if you bring in boxes, they may be hiding in the folds of those. You have every right to complain to your landlord on a regular basis until they are gone. There are some home remedies which maybe some of our other chatters might post?

_______________________

Frederick, Md.: Good Morning I'm looking to replace my sofa. I have two newish leather club chairs with large rolled arms. Do I need to get a sofa with rolled arms as well or does anything go?

Phoebe Howard: I like to vary the arm styles, so I would avoid rolled arms for the sofa.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Shopping Charlottesville (Post, September 16, 2004)

Jura Koncius: Here is my article on shopping in Charlottesville. It's a few years old but will have some good basic information.

_______________________

Annapolis, Md.: Could either of you ladies suggest two paint colors. We are redoing our master bedroom and bathroom and are going for a seaside retreat. So I am looking for a nice calming color for the bedroom and a coordinating color for the bath. The bathroom will have all white accents. Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: How about a creamy off-white for the bedroom and a pale blue or blue-green for the bathroom? For the white, I would look at Farrow & Ball's White Tie (one of my favorites) and Benjamin Moore's Ivory White. For the bathroom, look at BM's Lakeshore Green and Green Cast.

_______________________

re: vinyl wall decals: While I don't have experience with that particular company, I have used the decals in three places in my house. One we had to pull off because we decided to paint and it came off beautifully. They all installed really easily and, in my opinion, they look great.

Terri Sapienza: Thanks.

_______________________

RE: Fruit fly hell: Mix together cider vinegar and soap in a container that you can have out in the area you are experiencing fruit flies. They are drawn to the smell of the cider vinegar and go for a drink but the soap coats their wings and they can't fly and drown.

Jura Koncius: Drowning is good.

_______________________

Wall decals: I have used vinyl lettering on my walls and they worked out very well. Basically a letter-shaped wall decal. They've been up for several years and no peeling. The key is a -very- smooth wall to start with. Also, I cleaned the wall area with alcohol and let dry thoroughly before applying the lettering. This gives the best chance for adhesion.

Terri Sapienza: More on wall decals.

_______________________

Rosslyn, Va.: Ms. Howard, your designs are truly beautiful. I checked some of them on your Web site. If you were designing a studio condo where the main room is 15.5 x 20.5 would you try to work the bed in there or go with a sleeper sofa or a Murphy wall unit with book cases. Thanks.

Phoebe Howard: I would try to work the bed into the room. I don't think Murphy beds are as easy as people think they are. You could still flank the bed with bookcases to get the look add storage.

_______________________

Wii Fit in?: So I bought a Wii fit and I am being really good and doing about 30 min of exercise a day with it. But it is now in the middle of my loving room. Do you have any ideas on how to make it not look like the Wii won the war of living room decor?

Terri Sapienza: I don't have one, but isn't it just a platform that you stand on? Why not find a pretty basket that's large enough to hold the Wii Fit and any weights and other other equipment?

_______________________

Bethesda: Hi, another paint question: our walls are painted Ben Moore Bronzed Beige - would Ben Moore Superwhite be a good choice for the trim? If not, what white would you suggest? Thanks!

Phoebe Howard: Superwhite is good, but I would suggest taking a look at White Dove for a softer white.

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: Have you heard of anyone using an online decorator? Also, are there good online decorating sites. Lastly is a computer program for decorating useful?

Thanks.

Terri Sapienza: I did a story on e-decorating last year, which I'll post in a moment.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: eDecorating (Post, September 25, 2008)

Terri Sapienza: Here you go...

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: This is a design and decor chat right? For a minute there I dreamed people were writing in thinking you can fix their plumbing problems and identify all the plants in their yard.

Jura Koncius: Our chat does cover a wide variety of topics relating to our homes and our lifestyle, just like the Home section does. So, we do touch on bugs, plants, cleaning, pets and sinks! We're here to help.

_______________________

Prattville, Ala.: Hi there!

Layla Palmer from "The Lettered Cottage" here. I'm usually busy concentrating on the INSIDE of my house, but I have a question to ask you about the OUTSIDE. Our house is constructed of decorative cinderblock. (It's actually the same kind Walmart uses). I'm wondering if you think it's necessary to shell out the big bucks to have the house framed and sided, or if you think simply giving it a new paint job will be okay, in terms of resale. Currently, both the body of the house, and all the trim, are a light, drab gray right now. The metal roof is a slightly darker shade of gray. I'd love to hear your opinions! Thanks! The Lettered Cottage

Phoebe Howard: Hi Layla! From your description, it sounds like a more modern style, that should probably remain as-is. Curb appeal gets them in the door, but if you are going to put the house on the market to sell, then the interior should be interesting as well, and should be a natural progression of the exterior. It sounds like a paint job could give it some pop, but I like what landscaping does. Create a framework and softness with trees and bushes that work in your region. Maybe even add some decorative stone steps that connect the house to the street.

_______________________

Fruit flies: you can get environmentally friendly fruit fly traps all over the place. I used these, but there are tons of others.

Jura Koncius: Super.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: I have a general question about colors. I LOVED the room with the black-and-white rug, paired with pastel furniture and would never have thought about doing that. Do you have any rules or guidelines about mixing colors in a room, including how many colors to use?

Phoebe Howard: Just like with fashion or cooking, there are no rules. I tend to use color - even vivid colors - in a monochromatic rather than polychromatic way. I would advise to limit the color choices. In this case, we used the painting to select our color palette, and the black and white rug gave us a graphic and striking way to ground the seating area.

_______________________

Selling my house!: Dear ladies and fellow chatters,

I'll be selling my house soon, and I'm looking for your best tips about decorating to sell. Yes, I've looked at all the Web sites and TV shows--lots of information there. But what would you, as a buyer, most appreciate seeing in a home you were considering?

Thanks!

Terri Sapienza: Well, this is more of a Real Estate question, but I'll give you my opinion on what I would most appreciate if I were looking for a new house. I think the house should be super clean with no clutter whatsoever. Neutral colors on the walls is also a bonus.

_______________________

Painting Stripes: I painted 8-inch vertical stripes in my living using a lovely light champagne gold color. I used flat and semi-gloss paint. I love how it looks when the sun hits, but without the right light you cannot see the stripes. Have you ever done this technique? In the future, should I use flat and eggshell and tint one color 25 percent darker instead of relying on the paint finish to show the difference?

Phoebe Howard: If you want to see the detail of the stripes, you could consider varying the color just slightly. So, I would agree that adding 25% white is probably the solution.

_______________________

Alexandria: Hi Ladies. I'm looking for two bedside tables that won't break the bank. How do you and chatters feel about World Market furniture? I don't have too much to spend, but I'd rather save up a bit more and buy quality than regret my purchase a few years down the road. Also, the comment about antique shopping interests me - any great fairs or big stores that I should check out? Thank you!

Jura Koncius: The DC Big Flea Market, which is held on a regular basis in Chantilly at Dulles Expo Center, is a great source for this type of thing - go to www.damoreproductions.com. There is one August 1 and 2. World Market is a great place for small accent pieces of furniture, as are places such as Pier 1 Imports and Target. Bedside tables aren't a place you want to invest your precious furniture dollars. Buy those at a bargain and put your money in your living room or dining room pieces that you want to really last.

_______________________

For person who needs a new dishwasher: The August issue of Consumer Reports has a feature section on Appliances, including dishwashers.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

_______________________

RE: long table: If you are semi handy you could build a long thin table. Lowes carries lots of furniture legs that are easy to mount to wood. Then buy nice plank of wood. You can get boards 10 to 12 inches wide. Not sure how thin your talking. You could do it for under a 100 dollars.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

_______________________

Outdoor Furniture Recommendation from Cheap Woman: Ladies, I just bought a lovely outdoor living room set at (shhh) WalMart! It is mixed in with the Offenbacher dining set (which cost more than a mortgage payment), and it really holds its own. I'm very happy with it and highly recommend it.

Jura Koncius: Thank you Cheap Woman.

_______________________

Ceiling Colors: Ladies: I noted in Phoebe's color picks that she recommends ceiling colors other than white, which I'd love to try. Would you use different ceiling colors in different rooms in the same house? Same question on trim colors-I understood that trim color should be uniform throughout the house. Thanks!

Phoebe Howard: Yes, I believe the ceiling is the fifth dimension in a room and is often overlooked. I love to use pale blues and pale gray colors on a ceiling. This is especially effective when you have low ceilings - It seems to visually pick it up. Yes, you can use different ceiling colors throughout the house, but they should be very soft. As for trim, that is a harder question - they could also vary, but need to be complimentary and low contrast with one another. Maybe varying shades of white and cream.

_______________________

Lusby, Md.: I love the ceiling fans that have tropical feel. Wide blades, made with wicker or rattan. Where can I buy one that isn't' $300 dollars?

Terri Sapienza: Good ceiling fans are not inexpensive. But if you're looking to spend under $300, I would try Lowes or Home Depot. You could also try Annapolis Lighting in Columbia, Md or Rockville, Md.

_______________________

St. Louis: I am getting my sofa re-upholstered. I want a more modern look, but my problem is that I have three large dogs. Initially I though I'd get a dark, durable fabric that wouldn't show dirt. But the dogs have white/yellow fur, which shows up on dark fabrics. What color/type of fabric should I get? I'm thinking of using Calico Fabrics for their upholstery services...

Phoebe Howard: What about getting a slipcover made in a Sunbrella fabric? Then you can take it off to have it cleaned.

_______________________

Atlantic Beach, Fla.: I am a client of Phoebe's and she is giving good advice to the person with the brick fireplace. I had a yellow brick fireplace in my very small den, we painted it the color of the walls and it made a huge difference in the room. Phoebe has great ideas and is always thinking!

Terri Sapienza: A chatter with first-hand experience with Phoebe's decorating advice. Thanks for writing in!

_______________________

Interior painting question: Are there any innovative alternatives to the typical arrangement in which the walls and ceilings are painted with a matte, while trim is painted with a semi-gloss?

Phoebe Howard: There are many ways to do specialty finishes. Strie, which is a vertical, subtle striping. You could do cross hatch painting, which is a strie done horizontally and vertically to create a subtle grid. Also, you can get a lot of visual pop from painting the walls flat and applying several layers of clear lacquer. This requires a lot of sanding and prep work, but it is worth it.

_______________________

Rockville: Hi there. We like to use our porch and would love to have our dog join us, but without some sort of gate, he'll run away. Do you have any suggestions for how we can keep him contained? The length is larger than what could be contained using a standard baby gate. Thanks.

Terri Sapienza: Could you use two baby gates? Lame answer, I know, but I can't think of another alternative at the moment. Anyone else have any ideas?

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: I guess this qualifies as something that would result in domestic bliss. We have an old toilet, light blue in color. It is roughly the same color as the tub. My wife keeps asking that we replace the toilet but I can't find new toilets of that color. Any ideas of sources?

Alternatively, do you think a white toilet with a light blue seat (those appear to be readily available) would work or even just a white toilet with no attempt to match the tub would be okay?

Thanks for your help.

Jura Koncius: There are rows and rows of toilets, sinks, tubs etc. in the colors of the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s lined up in a The Brass Knob Back Doors Warehouse at 57 N St. NW, www.thebrassknob.com 202 265-0587. They have pink and blue and purple and yellow and green pieces pulled out of homes all around our area and salvaged. I think it would be fun to have a light blue toilet that matched your tub. If your wife really isn't happy with that, I would go for solid white. Do not under any circumstances get a two-tone toilet! The toilet and the seat should be the same color.

_______________________

Wii Fit: Ummm, why not just slide it under the couch or lean it on its side against a wall in the closet?

Terri Sapienza: Yes, yes, of course.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: Hi there, I really hope you can help! My bf and I salvaged a cute wooden coffee table (it's dark, mahogany, I think) that would work perfectly in our apartment. The problem is that it has a number of small nicks here and there, a long white scratch across part of the top and, when looked at from an angle, a dark pink ink or paint-like stain.

Any ideas for salvaging it (short of having to sand the whole thing down and refinish it)? I am going to try some Old English scratch cover for the nicks and the long scratch but what about the pink splotch?

Thanks!!

Phoebe Howard: This is what we use in our warehouse to repair small surface scratches and polish furniture: Restore A Finish (www.howardproducts.com, 800-266-9545. No relation.

_______________________

Vienna, Va.: Hi. Just bought a house with a small screened-in porch that screams for some sort of cool lounge "conversation" set. Yet, my husband and I would never use it really except on the rare occasions when we entertain. We'd really love to be able to eat out there. But would a dining table look odd in an enclosed porch?

Jura Koncius: Absolutely not. A dining table with benches or chairs would make a great place to entertain or just sit out with a cup of coffee and the newspaper (okay, it's a plug!).

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: My husband and I live in an old row house in Old Town Alexandria, and want to put in a fireplace on an interior living room walls. We would like to do gas, but venting would likely be a huge expense, and one we'd like to avoid. I'm seeing "gel" fireplaces, which burn gel inserts placed in logs to give the appearance of a regular gas fireplace. They are much more inexpensive, and seem to fit our bill (decorative intentions rather than heating needs). Has anyone used these? Would it be more valuable for resale to install a real gas fireplace?

Jura Koncius: For resale, I definitely think a real or a gas fireplace would be preferable and it's a really desirable feature from what I hear from realtors. I have no experience with a gel fireplace but how about anyone else out there?

_______________________

Re: Selling my house: Having seen in the vicinity of 30 homes with an agent recently, I second the tip "I think the house should be super clean with no clutter whatsoever. Neutral colors on the walls is also a bonus."

Also, please do whatever it takes to NOT be home. It's that much harder to see yourself in a house when you literally see someone else there. I don't care if you have to run out the back door with the Windex in hand, just don't be in the house!

Terri Sapienza: Agreed. I don't like it when the actual seller is in the house.

_______________________

Detroit: Any ideas for an orange to go in a dining room next to a living room painted BM November Rain? Wood trim, unpainted (will remain that way). I'd like something a little on the cool side and modern as opposed to warm tones. If not orange, any suggestions for a green that may work? Thanks!

Phoebe Howard: Any orange is going to be warm. I like Benjamin Moore Soft Pumpkin. For a green that works with November Rain, try Paris Rain (1501) by BM.

_______________________

Kitchen paint color dilemma - advice needed!: Repainting entire house, but stuck on dining room and kitchen. For dining room, I really like BM's Britannia Blue - is it a good choice? And if so, what for the kitchen? Plain maple cabinets and stainless appliances, light counters and floor. Hallway likely to be BM Dunmore Cream. HELP!

Phoebe Howard: I really like Britannia Blue. For the kitchen, what about Monterey White (HC-27).

_______________________

Centreville, Va.: For the fruit fly question: I've had fruit flies before and they are really hard to get rid of, especially if you don't want to use bug sprays around your pets and kids. The best thing I found was old fashioned flypaper. I got it at a hardware store. It comes on a little roll that you hang from a cabinet knob or something. The fruit flies love it fly right to it, and your problem is over in a few hours!

Jura Koncius: Flypaper is so retro!

_______________________

Getting rid of fruit flies: Take a jar or container and put a few slices of fruit in it. I've found that banana works quite well. Cover the jar tightly with Saran wrap and wrap a rubber band around the jar to hold the plastic wrap in place. Take a sharp pencil and use the tip to poke several small holes in the plastic. The fruit flies will crawl in to go after the banana but will not be able to get back out.

Jura Koncius: They check in but they don't check out.

_______________________

Roaches: My wife lived in a building in DuPont that had German cockroaches big time, and there's not much you can do when they are brought on by untidy neighbors. One thing that helped big time though was just getting some regular old roach traps from the hardware store - there was a noticeable difference within a week. Getting a cat doesn't hurt either...

Jura Koncius: A cat! Hmmm. Does your cat attack roaches? I don't think Gus does! How do you teach them to do this!

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Re: metal cabinets - was thinking Craig's List but wasn't sure if there were other options. No clue where to start on price - it would be nice to get some $$ for the reno.!

Re: fruit flies - I saw this in Real Simple: A homemade trap can be made by forming a cone-shaped funnel with an 8-by-10-inch piece of paper, sealing it with tape, and sticking it into a clean jar or wine bottle. Bait the jar with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or a slice of ripe banana. Place one or more of these traps on counters or in pantries where the pests are seen most often. The flies go in easily but can't fly out. After you trap all visible flies, kill them with spray or release them outside. Rebait and replace jar traps, if necessary.

Jura Koncius: freecycle.com is another option or community list serves.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Please help!! I have a new house complete with an updated bathroom with beautiful textured tile in the shower. I'd like to install a soap dish, but suction cups don't stick to the textured tile, is there anything I can do myself (without taking out part of the tile)?

Phoebe Howard: What about placing a ceramic garden seat inside the shower? In my shower in my Atlanta apartment, I have a small, white, ceramic garden seat in the corner. You can keep shampoo and a soap dish on this.

_______________________

Roach help: I have used a can of spray foam insulation to spray pipe holes, like in the bathroom, where pipe meets tile.

Also, put a plastic bucket under any U-bend pipes as condensation can drip from them and roaches like water.

Sprinkle the boric acid along the walls, not in cupboards. Don't use it if you have pets.

And, I hate to say this, but put your toothbrush somewhere safe until this is behind you. Like a travel container.

Jura Koncius: Scary news about the toothbrush...Thanks for all the tips.

_______________________

Arlington, Va -- Soon to be Chicago: Hello! I'll be moving to Chicago in a month for grad school, and to a teeny tiny Chicago bedroom. The room is 9 x12 but one of the corners is cut off for the closet. I'm trying to figure out how to pack the most storage into the room without it feeling cramped, and to work with a bed bigger than a twin. I figured I would get a vanity, so I can use it both as a desk and to store my makeup. Besides under the bed storage, do you have any tips for making a small room feel cozy and uncluttered instead of just feeling like a shoe box?

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Arlington. I'm going to post a story we ran last year about getting the most out of a small space, but a god idea for extra space and storage is to use dressers as bedside tables. You could also get a storage ottoman for the living space or the foot of your bed. The storage cubes from Crate & Barrel are are very versatile. For your vanity, I would consider West Elm's Parson's Desk. It can be used as a desk, a vanity, an entry table, a console, etc. It's great looking, too. I would also take a look at the Apartment Therapy books - lots of great ideas and small space solutions. Good luck!

_______________________

Tampa: Our kitchen sits in between the family room and dining room. It needs new flooring. Have wood laminate in family room, vy tile in kitchen and carped in dining room. Can you suggest a flooring for kitchen or for all three? My husband is very reluctant to have a wood floor in the kitchen.

Thanks for your help.

Jura Koncius: Why not go with laminate?

_______________________

Anon: You all always recommend Benjamin Moore paint. Anything wrong with Behr?

Jura Koncius: Not a thing.

_______________________

Wichita: For Rockville looking for a dog gate: Check out www.onestepahead.com and search for configure gate. It is a gate that you can make ANY size and shape. We have 2 to contain our baby, and they are great!

Terri Sapienza: Yes, great idea. I've seen those but completely forgot about them. Thanks for the suggestion.

_______________________

Bristow, Va.: Where can I find decorative interior French Doors? I'm looking for ones that have the leaded glass look, sort of Art Deco in look. All of the interior French doors I've seen at the big box stores are so plain and nondescript. Thanks!

Phoebe Howard: Why don't you check some antique shops to look for some old ones? There is a great dealer in Jacksonville - Flaire Antiques (646 King St. Jacksonville, FL - 904-387-3613)

_______________________

Capitol Hill: For the poster with the dog that runs off the porch: my neighbors created a wooden panel (painted to coordinate with the house) that slides into a frame attached to the porch opening. It looks a lot better than the baby gates (though we bought an extra long pet gate from Petco that works fine that attaches with eyehooks).

Terri Sapienza: Another dog gate solution.

_______________________

For Fairfax and other new homeowners: For the Fairfax new homeowner who wanted to do his own plumbing and HVAC ductwork: don't do it! Now is the time to ask your friends and neighbors to recommend a good plumber, HVAC contractor, electrician, etc. Hire them to do these non-emergency jobs, and then when you do have an emergency (like a DIY project goes wrong), they will respond more promptly because you are an established customer. This is something all homeowners should do.

Jura Koncius: That is really solid advice. Thanks.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Living (small)

Terri Sapienza: Here's the link for the small spaces story.

_______________________

Cleveland: Hello, My house is 15 years old and has medium-brown stained oak interior trim. It is a basic builder style and not very distinctive. Since I moved here a year ago, I've been planning to paint it all white and replace the flat oak doors with white, 6-paneled doors to brighten and modernize the place. A friend just told me that when she sold her house 5 years ago, she got lots of positive feedback from potential buyers about the oak trim in her house. Is this something that people actually like and am I making a mistake by painting mine? I don't plan to stay in this house forever, but I still don't want to be looking at the oak for the next several years when I think white trim looks so much nicer. I also plan to add crown molding in some rooms and wanted to do that in white. Am I making a mistake by painting over the stained trim?

Phoebe Howard: I would recommend painting it. I have not put oak trim into a house in 15 years. I think it would give you a great update.

_______________________

Anonymous: Hi! We are putting the finishing touches on a large living room (20x25) that looks out on a screened in porch with a 75 percent glass portion that separates the two. Since it consists of four glass doors my plan is to cover the glass with draperies that would be very easy to open on one long traverse rod. I have all dark brown leather furniture so am wondering if I should use chocolate brown drapes with light walls or linen drapes with dark walls. Rugs are Afghan - mostly dark red and brown with cream touches. Drapes would be open almost all the time but drawn at night for privacy. Thanks for any advice!

Terri Sapienza: Sounds like you have lots of dark brown in there already. I would do linen panels AND a light paint color.

_______________________

Bath Color: Hi again ladies: Does Phoebe have a suggestion for a very small, low light bath where the adjoining bedroom is painted in BM Hollingsworth Green? Thanks!

Phoebe Howard: What about a pretty gray-blue. Alaskan Husky (by BM - 1479). I love to mix blues and greens.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: We just bought a new second home on the Eastern Shore. I have an empty slate with which to work with (including no furniture). I don't know where to start -- I want the house to be harmonious with color and style -- but feel overwhelmed. Any ideas?

Phoebe Howard: I do a lot of beach homes and second homes. Check out my web site (www.phoebehoward.net). We would be happy to help or recommend someone for you.

_______________________

Dishwasher ratings: The August 2009 issue of Consumer Reports is focused on major appliances. As far as dishwashers go, the top rating went to Bosch. They gave CR Best Buy ratings to Kenmore 1374 ($720), Bosch SHE33MO ($600), and Whirlpool Gold GU2300XTV ($550). Sears currently has 20% off on Kenmore appliances, 10% off on other brands. Not sure how long that lasts.

Terri Sapienza: Great info, thanks!

_______________________

Re: dishwasher: Thanks, I'll take a look it consumer reports. I do take things they say with a grain of salt. I worked retail selling cameras while I was in college. I swear half the cameras they use to list as the best were the worst. Most were repaired and bad photos, but that was years ago before the digital age. I will take a look. It's a place to start.

Jura Koncius: Always use several sources and go with a friend's suggestion more than others.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: I want to put up bead-board wainscoting in our small master bath. Is there a type that is appropriately water-resistant?

Phoebe Howard: Find a good painter, and make sure it is well sealed. We have wainscot in some of our bathrooms.

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: I have chair railing in my dining room. I plan to paint the area below the railing a darker shade of the color above it. Any guidelines for how much darker the bottom color should be?

Phoebe Howard: Do you know the colors? Then I can help.

_______________________

Rosslyn, Va.: Ms. Howard, thanks for the suggestion for my studio condo question. I did see an HGTV segment where the bed was worked into a pied-à-terre apartment in Paris. At the foot of the bed, they put the sofa with a library table behind (facing away from the bed, course!) It looked good.

Phoebe Howard: Great! Good luck!

_______________________

Jura Koncius: Thanks to Phoebe for answering all the great questions with us this week. Hope she opens a store in D.C. Thanks to all of you for being with us this week and we'll catch you a week from today.

_______________________

Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.