Home Front: Your Design and Decor Dilemmas, Solved

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, Oct. 29, at 11:00 a.m. ET to take your questions and suggestions. Joining them will be Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, furniture designers and manufacturers of the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams company in North Carolina.

Today's cover story: Go green, get green

____________________

Jura Koncius: Hi everyone. Today we are excited to have Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams here with us. They have been making relaxed, comfortable furniture in North Carolina for two decades now. I've visited their factory and written about them many times. You've seen their silhouettes not only at their own store on 14th St. NW, but also at most of the big furniture chain stores and many hotels and restaurants. Ask them anything you want. Their new book is called "The Comfortable Home - How to Invest in your Nest and Live Well for Less". Mitchell and Bob are doing an open to the public book signing at their store at 1526 14th St. NW on Thursday, Nov. 5th from 6-8 pm, and then they will be doing a personal appearance at Bloomingdale's Chevy Chase to launch a bed linens line (and sign books) on Tuesday, Nov. 10th from 6-9 pm.

On another note, we are looking for your questions for an upcoming article that we are working on. Need help for getting through the holidays? Who doesn't, especially in this time of economic distress. Send us your questions on entertaining, etiquette, decorating, gift giving, staying organized and staying away from the buffet after you've had a plate full. E-mail localliving@washpost.com with "Holiday Q&A" in the subject line. Please tell us your name and where you live. We'll publish questions with answers from experts we contact in an upcoming issue.

Lastly, today and tomorrow are the last day for the Green House eco-conscious decorator show house in McLean, Va. Check it out before it's too late. website is www.charityworksgreenhouse.com. Have any of you been there? What did you think?

Terri is out scouting stuff for her terrific annual gift guide today. So it's just me, Mitchell and Bob. Let's get going.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Mitchell and Bob -- You have so many sofas in your line -- what's the most basic one for a starter apartment -- the best one for someone on a budget who wants a good value but great look.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: the Alex or Alexa collection. They are classic designs, starter price points, well made....you'll love them. Actually we have a "Love" program of fabrics that make it easy.

_______________________

Potomac Falls, Va.: A comment re the cleaning out of a relative's home after a death. I found that having to do it all at once meant that I got rid of items I later wished I'd kept, but it was too overwhelming to think about what they meant about that person, so easier to keep china, etc., that wasn't as personal. If possible, give yourself some time to absorb the loss and then sort again.

Looking forward to your guests!

Jura Koncius: Dear Potomac Falls - this is a wonderful tip to share. I can see how that would happen. I want to do an article about this in the future - it is something we will all have to deal with. Do any of the rest of you have things to share on this topic?

_______________________

Greenbelt, Md.: I have an Early Whitney point wool blanket that we bought 24 years ago in Scotland. The last time it came back from the cleaners, I noticed that the blanket stitch around the edges of the blanket is unraveling.

Is there any cleaner, or service in the area that could restore the blanket edge stitching to my blanket? It's in very good shape apart from this problem. Suggestions from you or other readers would be greatly appreciated.

Jura Koncius: Dear Greenbelt:

How lucky for you that you have a beautiful Scottish wool blanket that you bought yourself - a great reminder of your trip. What I would do is to call Stitch DC (www.stitchdc.com) 202-544-8900. They are at 731 8th St. SE. I think they could find someone who carefully would match the wool and mend this little problem for you. You want someone to do it very carefully. By the way, this reminded me that on Saturday, I saw a pretty fabulous pile of Scottish cashmere blankets in plaids in sort of wild acidy colors at Filene's Basement in Friendship Heights. The colors were orange, mint green, purple - I thought about buying one since they were only like $50 but the colors didn't work for any of my rooms. Great buy though. Love Scottish wools.

_______________________

McLean, Va.: Such perfect timing! I have a client that is interested in the Dr. Pitt and would love to hear more about it. Do you recommend the version with the closed arm sofas or the open love seats on the end. I am also wondering about a more tailored look as opposed to the slip cover version. We don't want this to feel too casual. Thank you.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: Luckily you can order Dr. Pitt "tailored" or slip covered. AS far as open arm, it's really just a preference depending on size of room, how easy you want to get in and out. Having the arms on the end keep the kids in and makes a great conversation area. Having open arms might make it easier to get in and watch the big screen. Enjoy.

_______________________

Your New Look: Home Divas, I'm sorry to say I really dislike the new look of Home. Last week I nearly threw it away, not noticing it in the messy "Local" tabloid. I'm sure it's saving ink and paper. But now it is lost instead of standing out on Thursdays. I can ignore the rest of the newly ugly unreadable paper, or read it online. I enjoyed Home in the print version. But now you've lost me.

Jura Koncius: Oh dear. Please give us a chance! There is lots of great information inside Local Living, including all of us here like Terri and Adrian and me who are still writing the same kinds of articles. I'm glad you are still reading us online. But if you want to make your opinion known, write to ideas@washpost.com. Or call 202 334-6100.

_______________________

Maryland: Mitchell and Bob: I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your bulldog Lulu. Are you planning to get another dog? She was an amazing mascot.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: You're right. She was amazing. From 10 weeks old she was a natural model. Mitchell is dog free right now, Bob adopted a 3 year old 75 lb gorgeous bull dog named Stella Lu Bella. The Lu part is in honor of Lulu.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: I bought beautiful roll-up shades from Next Day Blinds in the natural material (they are tan). I have a sliding glass door in the same room and don't know what to put on the door. Suggestions?

Jura Koncius: Sliding doors are the most difficult thing to work with in terms of window treatments. Terri and I do not personally like vertical blinds. But there are versions of those that aren't the flapping metal things - but are made of soft fabrics. Some people still install blinds that roll up above the sliding doors or put curtains to one side that they keep tied back until they need them. Any other solutions out there?

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Mitchell and Bob,

Do you carry sleeper love seats? I'm looking for something that's not too expensive.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: we carry handsome smaller scale ones that are about 80" wide and have full size mattresses or a chair and a half with a twin sleeper. Their a good value!

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Is the slipcover look still popular and/or practical? What is your advice about upholstery fabrics that look and feel comfortable but can stand up to lots of use?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: Slipcovers are still very popular. They are easy to take care of especially with pets and kids. They look inviting as well and that is important to us. And slipcovers are an easy way to change the look of your sofa. Our new book, The Comfortable Home, shows some great examples. Look for the new 'performance' fabrics like 'soft suedes'.

_______________________

Dupont, Washington, D.C.: Good morning! Do you know of a company in the area that makes custom mantels?

Thanks.

Jura Koncius: I think that Smoot Lumber in Alexandria, Virginia or TW Perry stores www.twperry.com could make mantels. You can also find them at architectural salvage places, which include the Brass Knob and Brass Knob Back Doors Warehouse in DC.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Hi ladies,

What do you think about art in black frames for a living room with dark wood furniture?

Jura Koncius: Well, it keeps the dark theme going. Black frames are a classic and I think would look better than white ones. Although you might think about a silvery color or gold too.

_______________________

NW Washington, D.C.: Have either of you slept on one of your sofa beds recently? Have manufacturing methods made them more comfortable?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: Yes, Mitchell here. I stayed at my brother's. Ours have a 5 1/2" innerspring mattress instead of 4, extra padding and the metal frame has a 'drop away' bar so you don't feel the bar on your back. I think they are about as comfortable as you can get vs. a regular mattress and box spring. We've been told they're the most comfortable and sturdy. Hotels often use them.

_______________________

D.C.: How do I tell if I'm getting MG + BW sofa if I buy it from Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: Ask them. You can verify by going onto our website and asking the info contact. Sorry I don't have the names off hand. But ask and verify!!

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: For Mitchell and Bob -- Will you be having any new models of sofas that are smaller, made for apartments that aren't that roomy? I find most couches at many places (i.e., Pottery Barn) are much too big for a typical one-bedroom-size apartment. I'm looking for smaller but not tiny.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: This is a great question. We have a 'smaller spaces, big comfort' collection of sofas, sectionals and chairs. Just ask in our DC store on 14th St. We know they have some on the selling floor.

_______________________

Cleveland, Ohio: Mitchell and Bob, do you have any guidelines for right-sizing a sofa for a room? Such as how much room should be allowed for walking past/around it?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: you'll need at least 30" around to get by easily.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Our house is very echo-y, even though we have area rugs, upholstery, curtains and other items (stuffed animals, pillows, etc.) to muffle the sounds. We have hardwood floors, which, although they do contribute to the noise, we would like to keep. Other than covering the walls and ceilings with padding, do you have any tips for reducing echoes and extra sounds in rooms? Thanks!

Jura Koncius: This is a great question. I've heard that keeping TVs and appliances away from the walls helps in this regard. There are all kinds of acoustic panels you can install, although they aren't the most attractive things around. I think airtight windows would also help.

_______________________

South Brunswick, N.J.: Yes, everyone at the company truly misses Lulu. Mitchell and Bob dedicated their new decorating book, The Comfortable Home, to Lulu -- there are four great photos of her on the Dedication page -- including in her beyond-adorable bee Halloween costume...so many good memories...

Jura Koncius: We all do miss her! Thanks for this.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: MG + BW -- I have a copy of your brilliant first book. How is your new book different? Look forward to seeing you during the book signing next week at the D.C. store.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: The Comfortable Home has each key room of your house in a step by step format so you can put it together to get our look. We made the book like a valuable resource guide to show you how to get started, plan and execute. Lots of floor plan suggestions. We hope you enjoy.

_______________________

Dumfries, Va.: Hi there. Love the chats and read every week. I'm submitting my question early because every Thursday something comes up ... I am going to paint my two-story foyer soon, and would love to find a color that will make the house look warm, cozy and glowing when viewed from outside at night. The windows are south-facing, and the adjoining rooms are Wethersfield Moss and Normandy by BM. The adjoining kitchen will probably be something like Shenandoah Taupe. Any ideas? Thanks so much!

Jura Koncius: What about Benjamin Moore's Soft Fern or Golden Straw?

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: I wanted to know what shade of gray you would recommend that would compliment oranges, medium shades of blue, and light lime green. IT would also have to be a nice backdrop to a large painting that has a matte silver frame. This would be for my living/dining combo with gradual vaulted ceiling which reaches to 14 feet in dining area. And not sure what to do with color of ceiling either! HELP!

Jura Koncius: Pratt & Lambert's Pearl White or Behr's Pensive Sky.

_______________________

Sofa beds?: I bought two 'chair and a half' twin sleepers for my small apt. They have come a very long way and I slept on them before I made guests do so. If you're really concerned about comfort, go and get a mattress topper of your choice and store it in a closet (or storage ottoman like I do) and problem solved. Though, I don't have guests for more than 5-6 days MAX. and that could impact things.

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Good morning ladies,

I'm remodeling my master bath. Currently, the hardware is polished brass, but I'm replacing as much of it as possible with two-tone brass and chrome. The shower door and overhead fan light are brass and I'm keeping those. I'm replacing the sink faucet, vanity light, and towel bars with two-tone. My question is, should the knobs and pulls on the vanity be brass or chrome? I can't find these in two-tone. Thanks

Jura Koncius: I guess brass since that is what the majority of the rest of the fixtures are.

_______________________

Bedford, N.Y.: I actually have the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Dr. Pitt in my basement. It's the ultimate family gathering spot! My kids have all their sleepovers in the Pitt also. Are you coming out with any other modern style sectionals that I could use in my family room but aren't as big as the Pitt?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: We're so happy to hear you get good use out of Dr. Pitt. It is amazing how kids love it. In fact we love when parents bring their children to the store....we really enjoy seeing how kids start to develop a sense of style. We have some new smaller scale sectionals in the store now and a great one coming next February named Josie.

_______________________

Mountain View, Calif.: Hi! I have a townhouse with light maple floors and sandalwood kitchen cabinets downstairs, and carpet upstairs. The walls are tan with white trim. I'm purchasing wood blinds for the windows, both upstairs and downstairs. Which is better: painted white blinds to match the trim, or wood blinds to go with the downstairs floors and cabinets? Thanks, love your chat!

Jura Koncius: I think I would go with wood.

_______________________

Clearing out a loved one's home: Losing both parents in a three month span, not long after they had cleared out an elderly aunt's home, I can tell you that if you just toss things you will regret it later. if it is possible to keep some of it stored and go through it a year later, you will find treasures you need to keep, even if you feel the loss anew. And other stuff will have just become 'stuff', and easier to part with. A friend cleared her dad's place out in three days. An only child whose mother died when she was young, Mary regrets this in every conversation, as she has almost nothing of her parent' belongings.

Jura Koncius: Wow. Thanks so much for sharing this. It is really helpful.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Generally I like browsing your chats (I usually can't participate live), but there's one thing that always bothers me whenever I see it. You don't really pay attention to questioners' price restrictions when they list them.

For example, around the beginning of October (I REALLY don't get to read these chats live) you had a questioner who wanted a round rug for their 13-year-old's room, and didn't want to spend too much. The commenter specifically mentioned a $40 rug she'd found that was about the right price for her, but that she'd found it on Amazon and preferred to buy in-store.

You recommended a $130 rug. It was cute, but it was also more than 3 times the price point the questioner had mentioned. In what universe is $130 around the same price as $40? This isn't the only time I've noticed your responses being a little out of touch with reality, the commenter's stated restrictions or both. Why do you do that? Do you just not notice, or do you honestly think that the majority of your audience is that flexible with their cash?

I'm not complaining about the home makeover articles. I understand focusing on upper-income homes rather than middle class or working class homes (sure, you have a token here or there, whatever). It's the same reason there are glamour mags about Hollywood starlets and not, say, factory workers. But the chats are different, and it's aggravating to see stuff like that pop up.

Jura Koncius: Thanks for your thoughts. We do try to keep prices in mind in everything we do. Sometimes though it's hard to find something in the price range people want - unless it's a used or vintage item. We will take your comment into consideration.

_______________________

Washington, N.C.: Just a very heartfelt comment to Mitchell and Bob. Thanks so much to you guys for continuing to manufacture in The U.S. I know from friends in your area of western N.C. what stalwart supporters you are of the N.C. furniture business and of your local community. Hope the readers here will keep that in mind when shopping.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: WE love manufacturing in NC for the last 20 years. It's given us a chance to get to know so many wonderful people and for them to get to know us. And we have an education based daycare with 77 incredible children that makes us particularly proud. We really enjoy seeing the kids group up.

_______________________

What colors go with a stone wall?: Hello Ladies and B and W. I need help. We moved into our midcentury modern house about a month ago. I theoretically enjoy the midcentury style, however in reality I'm of the casual comfy/transitional/eclectic style. Today I was looking at the Halloween story and was struck by that green in the pillows. Can you suggest a Behr color that mimics that color? I really think that maybe the color that goes well with in our living room that has a full stone-walled fireplace. What do you ladies think? All our furniture are cream/white and I think this would really make them pop.

Jura Koncius: Funny you would think of your stone fireplace and living room when reading Terri's article on skull-and-crossbones themes in decor! I'm looking at that green pillow now - it looks like a European square sham. I'm looking at the Martha Stewart colors for Valspar - I happen to think her blues and greens are among the best on the market - I would say look at Tapenade, Green Olive or Chardonnay Bottle.

_______________________

Downsizing/Emptying: The logistics of emptying a home are daunting as is the emotional impact (sometimes delayed). In the interest of saving time/expense, decisions are made that are regretted later.

Sometimes renting a storage unit for 6-12 months is worth the hassle. And take photographs! If you've place grandma's buffet in storage, it's easier to take out the photograph (dimensions of item penned on the back) to revisit its condition, meaning to you, etc.

Would love to see an "in depth" article addressing this topic.

Jura Koncius: More great ideas. I definitely want to do more on this. The idea of renting a storage unit is a good one - just don't keep it for years.

_______________________

Mt. Vernon, Va.: I agree re "your new look." It's a mess!

Thursday mornings were always an event for me...make a pot of coffee, assemble everything in the dining room and settle in for the next hour or maybe two.

It's too much of things that aren't that interesting. It's a visual disaster. I used to LOVE the separate Home section. I am depressed.

Jura Koncius: Please don't be depressed. We are in there doing our jobs to provide you with great home and garden coverage! Please keep reading.

_______________________

D.C.: To Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: I have a sofa of yours I bought at Restoration Hardware maybe 8 years ago. I think it's called the Kathleen model but I'm not sure. Can I still order slipcovers for it and about how much do they cost?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: yes. if you are in DC area, our Signature Store on 14th can order it for you. If not, go on line and we'll get you a store near where you live.

_______________________

Frederick, Md.: Can you machine wash the slipcover for you M and G sofas? Also do you all make a table that is a little taller than a coffee table but not dining height. I'm doing two sofas in our game room and would like a taller table to do board games and puzzles but i don't want to be hunched down over a coffee table. Also something good that if you want to eat at the table you could.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: Some fabrics are washable, just depends which one you have. Do you know the name of your fabric or what type it is?

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Good day. I have a bathroom dilemma I hope you can help me with. Our bathroom had towel bars that we didn't like that we took down and replaced. The old and new bars were mounted with metal fittings that screw into the wall and then the bars attach to the fittings. Unfortunately, the screws for the new bar fittings were slightly closer together. I didn't want to drill new holes, since that would leave the old holes exposed (this is a tile wall, so filling in wouldn't be a good option). So I tried mounting them with one screw, but they eventually fell off. I think the best option would be to find new towel bars that have the same size mountings and the old bars. How do I do this? Towel bars on display are already put together, so you can't tell how they are mounted, and new ones are always boxed up.

Jura Koncius: Wow. I see your problem but I think this is going to be pretty impossible. You might want to just bite the bullet and spackle up those holes, repaint the room and make new holes for your new towel bars! It will be an excuse to choose a new paint color and make your bathroom look fresh and new.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: Re going through a relative's home after their passing: arm yourself with a bunch of file folders and a cardboard file box. My mom was very organized about her financial matters, but we kept finding personal letters and other things that we "put aside" that unfortunately later got lost as stuff was moved from her home to storage to dispersal among the kids and grand-kids. My uncle would love to have his WWII letters that we found, and that we KNOW we set aside, but they have never re-surfaced. Breaks my heart that we can't find them for my 90-year-old uncle.

Of course the best advice to anyone is to try to give things away to the next generation while you are still living and you can see them enjoying it, which my mom did to a great extent, but is still easier said than done for many people.

Jura Koncius: So true. It is very very hard to sort through these things with the pain still fresh. It is amazing what things are interesting to the next generation. Just the other day, my sister asked me if I had the old German Kodak camera that my father had traded for some bacon or something at the Displaced Persons camp in Germany that he lived in for five years in the 1940s. He died in 1996. I went to the attic and found it in a box of old stuff I had saved. My niece was thrilled as she is a talented photographer and is now so happy to have her grandfather's old camera.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: I'm ready to decorate a few rooms in my house and really need help. It's all so overwhelming. Does your store in D.C. offer space planning and design help? Will they come to my house to help plan?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: Yes, our DC store does offer "home visits". It's one of the services people seem to really like about our store. They'll help with space planning and design suggestions. There is a $200 fee that is refundable with a purchase. Sorry I can't remember how much. The store phone number is 202-332-3433. They can give you more detailed information. Good luck and enjoy!

_______________________

I'm Impressed!: I never looked at your line before this chat. Just got off your Web page and love it! Especially the Celia sofa. My question: what are your preferences for living with a television if you only have one living room (no den or family room). Do you keep it out in the open? Cover it with a painting? Stick it in a case piece?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: it's a matter of personal preference. For us, we think the screens today are simple and modern looking and it is just more convenient to have them out.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Hi there. My husband and I are making great progress in decorating a room we use for lounging toward the back of the house. We have a space at the end of a sectional that could use an end table. Thing is...we would like the end table to have some storage. We have 36" X 36" inches to work with. Do you have any suggestions on where to find an end table with storage, like a short cabinet?

Jura Koncius: What about the Pyramid Trunk end table at www.overstock.com - it is actually 20 by 20 and only $130.99

_______________________

Chevy Chase, Md.: Love the colors and quality in your new linen collection at Bloomingdales. Are you planning to expand and offer other products?

Jura Koncius: I hear bath towels are coming in the spring! Hope they are thick and in great colors.

_______________________

Slip covered Furniture: I've always shied away from slip covered furniture as I thought the look was too traditional for me. But now that I have a 1-year-old, I'm seeing the value in slipcovers. I need to replace a rec room sofa that will get lots of wear and tear from the kid, and a living room sofa that she will be around less often. On of them must be a sleeper. I don't really like traditional, but I'm not really modern either. I like clean lines. Any sofa suggestions?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: Frankly, ours is the perfect line for you. We think you'll like our clean modern lines but they are not the severe modern you might be referring to. Our slipcovers are nicely tailored and we have styles that are definitely modern. Check out Alex. Slipcovers are not just convenient, but they are very stylish and timeless.

_______________________

NoLo, D.C.: In keeping with the eco-conscious bent of today's section, can I just say that all summer long, when I walk past the Gold + Williams store on 14th (which I do numerous times a week), it drives me nuts that the doors are always propped open, with the A/C blasting! Does keeping the doors open really bring in so many more customers that it's worth the energy expenditure?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: ya know....I agree with you, but it definitely makes the store more inviting to keep the doors open. I've stood there and just watched people stop, look and come in. We've seen that it does not make much difference in our bill.

_______________________

Chevy Chase: OK, I like the new look! And I generally hate it when newspapers or magazines change, but this was an improvement. I think the Home section is my current favorite of the Post's supplement sections (do NOT get me started on the Food section now compared to what it used to be years ago).

Enough flattery, now for my questions. First, could you post a link to your oft-requested framing recommendations (where to find reasonable framing?). Second, I'm looking for a "statement" chandelier or other hanging light fixture for my entrance foyer. I tried Gaylord's but didn't see anything I liked. Any suggestions? It cannot hang too low, because the ceilings are 9 feet high but my husband is 6'5" and would not appreciate having to dodge a light fixture every time he walks in the house. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: You have made my day!! And I hope lots of editors at the Post read this.

I've asked our producer to find the framing article and post it. Meanwhile, I, like you, are also looking for a new statement chandelier for my entrance foyer. I happen to love the ones at Williams Sonoma Home - they aren't cheap but they are gorgeous! Also it's worth checking out www.visualcomfort.com. Sometimes Pottery Barn has some good things. Illuminations in Penn Quarter has great modern stuff.

_______________________

Princeton, N.J.: We're moving into a new home next month and have the chance to decorate our living room from scratch -- which is exciting, but overwhelming! Do you think it would help to start by picking our sofa first? Or maybe a rug?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: We think you could look around and see which you find first that you like and must have...the rug or the sofa. But it really is a little easier to pick the rug first since you can always special order a sofa in a fabric that will work with the rug. We have 350 fabrics to choose from.

_______________________

Columbia, Md.: Hi Ladies and Gentlemen, We just moved into a beautiful house that we got at a steal. The catch is that it is on a major road. I have gotten used to the constant street sounds, but at night it is really load when you are trying to sleep. Anyone have any suggestions for how to muffle the sound?

Jura Koncius: Lots of people have this issue. Sometimes it's street noise, sometimes its snoring. You could get one of those big standing vertical fans and keep it on high to make a constant noise. You could buy a white noise machine. Getting new windows isn't cheap but is an option. Also putting up curtains with felt linings and black-out shades.

_______________________

Just moved: Just moved into a new, nice one-bedroom apartment but all windows are north-facing. I now realize I'm a "sunny" person and am feeling affected by the light I get. I'm wondering about ways/colors to brighten my rooms. I could paint (but at cost of paying for repainting at end of lease term).

Jura Koncius: What about some large artwork or photography with sunny colors or scenes of sunny places. Don't know how long you are planning to live there, but coating the walls in a sun-drenched hue would really help. Try to always have fresh flowers, and get some pillows and throws in yellows, oranges, apricots and pale greens.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: For the earlier question about custom mantles -- I went through this last year and got stunning custom mantles from Walmer in Alexandria 703-461-9330. Ask for Judd. They also did custom bookcases for me.

Jura Koncius: Great! Thanks.

_______________________

re: Towel bar hell: The chatter is installing the towels bars into tile, so spackling and painging isn't their main worry -- it's holes in the tile. They should go to the Web site of a company like Kohler or Delta that sells bathroom accessories. They usually have a PDF that shows dimensions and installation instructions, and those would show the exact measurements of where the holes would need to be. Consider altering the size of the bar, and installing the brackets in he existing hole. You may also be able to go to a tile store and buy a product like Latricrete caulk that would closely match the color of your tile to fill the holes, if you can't find towel bars that work.

Jura Koncius: You are right.

_______________________

RE: Frederick, Md.: Washable slipcover question: I actually do not have one of your sofas yet. I was just wondering if you had fabrics that could be washed. I have kids and two dogs. The two dogs think they own the current sofa. It's from the now gone Storehouse Furniture. It's 14 years old and served us well but it's time for something new. Also had a second part to that first question about coffee table. If you made one a little taller to sit on a sofa for games and puzzles. Thanks so much.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: Yes, we have a good many washable fabrics for slipcovers. We have a variety of tables at various heights. But you might really be best off to have a side table or a pair of them.

_______________________

NEED COLOR!: Good Morning! I want to paint my living room/dining room, which flow into each other. My furniture is mainly beige and wood. I would like the living room to be an orangeish-reddish color, and the dining room to be a contrasting color, such as a teal or similar... Do you have any ideas on combos that would work?

Jura Koncius: I do like Orange Lily by Glidden also Soft Pumpkin by Benjamin Moore. For the dining room, what about Benjamin Moore's Buxton Blue or Madras Blue by Behr.

_______________________

Towel bar holes on tile wall...: There are some towel bar styles that have back plates to cover the surface, possibly allowing you to choose a 30" wide piece to cover the former holes. New holes, but no visible damage. Google Ginger's "Surface" style to see what I mean.

Jura Koncius: terrific

_______________________

New format: I, too, find the new format visually distracting and cluttered. I'm willing to give it some time (all change requires adjustment)and trust WP will be listening to readers' comments/suggestions. To whom at the Post do we address our concerns?

Jura Koncius: We appreciate your thoughts and would love to hear from you. Email ideas@washpost.com with any concerns or suggestions you have. Also you can call 202 334-6100. Thank you.

_______________________

D.C.: Good morning. I just purchased a home with parquet flooring. It is my least favorite aspect of the house, but everything else about it is great. What can I do to take away some of the visual impact of the floor, without covering the whole thing with a rug? Thanks.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: You might stain it a darker color. This will make it more uniform and less noticeable.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: Another bathroom question: a while ago we replaced all the doorknobs in the house with good Baldwin antique bronze levers. Now we're going to rip out both upstairs baths and re-do them completely. I really prefer silver (nickel or chrome) for bath fixtures, as that seems more classic and timeless. Will this look strange as compared to all the other doorknobs in the house, or okay to mix so long as everything in the bathrooms themselves are the same (i.e., all polished nickel or whatever)?

Jura Koncius: I think it would be fine.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Hi Mitchell and Bob, Love the new modern linens collection you introduced this fall...what new product categories can we look forward to from you guys in the near future?

Jura Koncius: I think I already answered this - towels are coming in the spring, says Mitchell and Bob's trusty media relations wizard, Eloise!

_______________________

Question about article on how to qualify for green credits: I LOVED your articles on the green credits. However, I did not understand this statement:

"In 2009 and 2010, you can spend up to $5,000 on qualifying materials and some installation fees and receive a maximum tax credit of $1,500. But if you claim the entire $1,500 credit in 2009, you will not receive any additional benefit in 2010. The only way to get another tax credit is if you are buying any of the products eligible through 2016."

Are you saying that it is a total of $1500 for 2009 & 2010 or is there some way to get more than that?

Thanks!

Jura Koncius: I will pass this question along to the reporter. It was a terrific article.

_______________________

Jura Koncius: Out of time. We thank Mitchell and Bob so much for joining us - great questions from you all. Please join us again next week.

_______________________

Anonymous: We just renovated our kitchen and I need pointers on how to incorporate my existing traditional kitchen table and chairs (cherry top with cream pedestal base and "farmhouse" chairs) into the more modern look of the new kitchen -- cherry cabs with recessed panels, stainless steel towel bar handles (echoed in the appliances), a celery green glass subway tile backsplash, and white quartz countertops). Will the old table and chairs still work with the kitchen's new look? I love the new MG+BW catalogue, by the way! It is certainly making me more receptive to modern furniture with cleaner lines.

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: It's hard to answer without really seeing everything. But our gut is that if you're questioning if it's working....it's probably not. We're glad you like our catalog. It seems your tastes are shifting to something more modern. We understand....ours have.

_______________________

For MG and BW: I really love your furniture, but have such a hard time pairing sofas and chairs for a cohesive living room look. What are some of your favorite combinations?

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams: We like to mix and match...a tall chair with a low back sofa, tub chair with a square arm sofa....the key is to mix and match for a variety of seating comfort types. Check out our catalogs or new book to see our favorites and to get ideas.

_______________________

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

_______________________

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.