Moderator: Welcome to Viewpoint with our guest, Michael Palmer. Mike, we're glad to have you with us. Tell us about the Half-Yearly Furniture and Home Sale.
Michael Palmer: Today is our opening day of the July Half-Yearly Sale. We have many new and exciting furniture styles featured in our catalog that may be found in most of our furniture departments offering lifestyles of elegant, casual and modern. We offer savings of 25 to 50 percent off all furniture and area rugs. We are offering 12 months interest free on purchases of $1,000 or more, with a minimum deposit of 25 percent down. Or, buy $750 or more, and charge that to your Hecht's/strawbridge's charge account and you will receive six months deferred payment. To see our entire furniture assortment, plus more, shop our new Hecht's Furniture Gallery in the Ballston Common mall.
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Catlett, Va.: We have a rectangular room (30' x 15') and want a seating area on one end (the bar area is at the other end). Would it fit to put two loveseats in a "V" format facing the bar and two chairs opposite each loveseat? Also, what's your perspective on the two loveseats in one solid color (sage) and two arm chairs in another (beige)?
Michael Palmer: Love seats may constrict your seating arrangement. With the generous size of your room you may want to consider adding a second seating group such as a sofa to be used with your two beige chairs.
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Tyner, N.C.: What is one color every room should have just a touch of? Some say black (maybe in a pillow or whatever). Also, what seems to dictate which colors are in and which colors are out? Thanks.
Michael Palmer: Yes, black is a basic. As you mention, it could be a pillow, it could also be a lamp, a picture frame, a painted chest, or a console.
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Arlington, Va.: My condo is on the ground floor. What kind of window coverings will give me privacy but still let the most light and the breeze in?
Michael Palmer: Either vertical or horizontal blinds would be your best choice.
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Alexandria, Va.: We have a large family room and adjoining sunroom with vaulted ceilings and have no idea as to what color to paint the walls and ceilings. They are now a boring "shell white." The windows (palladian) are large and very attractive, covered by white plantation shutters. The berber carpet in the family room is pinkish, with a burgundy leather chair and tapestry-covered couches in burgundy, blue, greens, and yellows. The sunroom has a burgundy couch and two taupe leather lounge chairs. Seat cushions are adorned with palm trees in hues of green and taupe. The family room also adjoins the kitchen, which has splashes of burgundy in the granite countertop and wallpaper. Any paint ideas you can give me for the family room and sunroom will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Michael Palmer: This is a very easy question to answer: Take a look at Benjamin Moore paint color number HC-80. It will pull all your fabrics and patterns together.
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Gaithersburg, Md.: In shopping for a sofa, what should I be concerned with in order to determine its quality?
Michael Palmer: The fabric content or the grade of leather should be a priority when selecting your new furniture.
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Alexandria, Va.: I recently moved into a new home with a two-story foyer. In the foyer are two closets on either side of the front door that end about 10 feet up. I am interested in finding something to place on the two "plant shelves" that would have scale and drama. What do you suggest? Where might I find large vases or some alternative large-scale decorative objects?
Michael Palmer: I would suggest that you contact a floral designer to come to your home for ideas with greenery, possibly using ivies and ferns. You may want to consider woven baskets to be incorporated into this look as well.
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Silver Spring, Md.: Should rooms be completed one at a time or should they be done simultaneously in varying degrees? I'm moving into a new home and basically starting from scratch. Thank you.
Michael Palmer: Moving into a new home is stressful enough, so move in and relax. Get accustomed to your new rooms -- how they appear in daylight, cloudy days, and evenings. If you wish to have a comfortable home, start with tackling one room at a time. Keep in mind how each room will relate to the next room.
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Oakhill, Va.: Michael, I need your help! I need some advice on what to so with a brass bed in the guest room. What kind of end tables do I put with it that wouldn't wood look funny and what colors look good with brass? Is brass tacky?
Michael Palmer: You may want to consider using a three-drawer chest for additional storage. We offer many styles in pine, oak, and cherry that would all work well with a brass bed.
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Herndon, Va.: Mike, please advise ... my stepmother said that matching end tables for a coffee table is so tacky. Is this true?
Michael Palmer: With all the styles there are to choose from, matching is safe, but not necessary. Stepmothers do have a lot of good advice; choose it wisely.
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Washington, D.C.: What type of rug do you recommend for a dining room? I'd love to use color but am afraid to use wool because of the wear and tear and the dirt that will inevitably get trapped there. I also like the natural fiber rugs (seagrass, sisal), but even with the option of a border, they don't add a lot of color.
Michael Palmer: Not knowing all the details of your room (i.e., formal or casual) keep in mind with decorating a room, you begin with the flooring. If you want color, don't be afraid to go for it. Any floor coverings take the chance of spills. Keep in mind area rugs should be turned for even wear. Stop in and look at our assortment of Karastan and Nourison area rugs.
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Chicago, Ill.: Hello, really enjoy your column. Recently moved into a condo, where the kitchen/living and dining area all make up one big open room. It's painted slightly off-white, with white molding. The kitchen cabinets are light maple, the dining room table is dark cherry, and the living room furniture is beige fabric and dark cherry wood.
We hope to sell the place in three years. Questions are:
1. Should the kitchen/living/dining room walls all be painted the same color? Or should there be some contrast there to separate the rooms? Note: The only molding in the unit is in the big room.
2. What colors are hot right now for the walls and would match our furnishings?
3. In the living room, half of the wall is a window (110" x 100"). What color drapes do you recommend to go with the paint? Note: All the other windows in the room have white two-inch wood blinds. Thanks!
Michael Palmer: Whatever color you would choose to paint, a realtor will always suggest basic beige for resale.
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Rockville, Md.: Is there a place online where we can see what is offered in your Half-Yearly Sale?
Michael Palmer: Visit www.hechts.com and click on the In-Store Advertisements link which shows the new Half-Yearly assortment.
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Ellicott City, Md.: What would you say are the latest color and style trends? Do you see designers looking to more traditional or contemporary furnishings?
Michael Palmer: The current colors are beige, browns, and sage greens. You will notice orange coming on strong. In our stores, you will find a strong traditional presence (elegant/vintage), and contemporary (casual) as well.
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Silver Spring, Md.: Hi Michael. I love Hecht's coupon sales!
I'm moving into my first condo soon and have a couple of decorating questions. Besides a dining table and chairs, what should I place in the semi-separate dining room of my new place? Do I have to invest in a china cabinet or a sideboard, or are there less expensive non/traditional alternatives? And how much is too much stuff in a living room? I currently have two small bookcases, a wooden chest as a coffee table, a round ottoman, a rocking chair, an Asian-style cabinet as a "sofa table" in addition to a sofa and an over-stuffed chair. Thanks.
Michael Palmer: Yes, look at our wide selection of casual dining (shown on page 17 of our sale book). Our casual dining can seat anywhere from four to eight. Or you could select from one of our dining room sets and use a china cabinet as a curio cabinet in your living room.
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Laurel, Md.: I have a new house and my bedroom carpet is hunter green. My husband likes the color gold. Can you help me choose a bedroom ensemble that has color and style?
Michael Palmer: Visit www.hechts.com and look at bedroom set page 1 for some of our newest selections, as well as pages 3 and 4. This gives you many options to choose from.
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Alexandria, Va.: I want to paint my dining room red and have black and white toile curtains and chair cushions. Too trendy?
Michael Palmer: Sounds right on target. What's for dinner?
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Upper Marlboro, Md.: I am in the process of purchasing furniture for my basement. The finished portion is in an L shape. I have the walls an olive branch green and the wall and ceiling beams are painted a dark purple/eggplant. I also have a rug that has the two colors already mentioned and the rug also has an orangy and mustardy color. The rug has triangular shapes. What kind of a sofa set do you suggest (fabric or leather)? I was thinking about a sectional because the room is open and I wanted to break the room up in sections without walls.
Michael Palmer: If space permits, a sectional would be a great idea. Sectionals have made a big comeback and for added versatility, look at our home theatre seating at www.hechts.com (again, In-Store Advertisements) under sofas page 8.
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Arlington, Va.: You have such good advice! If I stop into a Hecht's store, will I be able to ask the sales people questions as well? I got the new book in the mail and love the unique pieces!
Michael Palmer: Yes, all of our sales people will be glad to answer any questions you may have.
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Rockville, Md.: What is microfiber and how does it compare to traditional fabrics/leather in regards to durability and maintainability?
Michael Palmer: Stop in our Montgomery Mall location. We have all of our styles of sofas, sectionals, and home theatre offered in microfiber. Our sales staff will be glad to show you all the durability of microfiber, which is as soft as suede.
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Falls Church, Va.: I've just bought a condo with an odd-shaped livingroom/dining room combination. It has a diagonal wall, a beautiful lake view from the sliding glass door and a fireplace.
I'm trying to figure out where to begin on decorating ... new carpeting, new furniture, painting walls? What are some of the tricks for arranging furniture to get the best "feel" for the room? Thank you.
Michael Palmer: If you need new carpeting, replace it. Not knowing the shape of your living room, it's better to keep the paint colors neutral. You'll need to decide what your focal point will be -- if it's the lake view or the fireplace. Again, our sales people will be glad to help you with your furniture selection.
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Michael Palmer: I hope everyone has learned as much from this as I have. I wish I could have answered all of the questions that were received. I would just like to reiterate that our furniture sales associates are very knowledgeable and are as excited about our new furniture selections as I am. See you at Hecht's/strawbridge's.
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Moderator: Our thanks to Michael Palmer, Hecht's and all who participated.
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What is the latest in furniture trends? In colors? How do you begin to furnish a room? Does all your furniture need to match? Michael Palmer of Hecht's and strawbridge's was online to offer advice. Michael also discussed Hecht's and strawbridge's Half-Yearly Furniture and Home Sale which began July 16. 
