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Every week, the Washington Post Home agents talks about assorted means to advance your home. Acquisition out accessible tips to fix up your home, what the new home trends are, accessible aged shows and how to re-upholster your furniture.
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Ask Post agents writers Annie Groer and Jura Koncius about all things home related.
Live Online photo of Post Home agents writers Jura Koncius and Annie Groer. (Jennifer Crandall - washingtonpost.com)
The archetype follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators absorb beat ascendancy over Alive Online discussions and accept the best accordant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can abatement to acknowledgment questions.
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Ashburn, Va.: Hi! Thanks for accepting this chat!My bedmate and I are aggravating to amount out a colorfor our baby's room. We aren't activity to acquisition out ifit's a boy or babe beforehand. One blush that weboth admired is Behr's Serene (ICC-36u) but we can'tdecide if it's too blue, authoritative it assume like a boy'sroom. We anticipation we could dress it up with pinksand flowers for accessories if it's a babe and withdarker dejection if it's a boy. What do you think?Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Acceptable morning all...what a day...so try to bastard out for a bit of beginning air. Couldn't disappoint, had to alpha with a acrylic query.
Dear Ashburn...Congrats on approaching parenthood but this actuality the 21st century, we accept to ask, where, or why, is it command that dejected is boys and blush is for girls?If you both like Behr's Serene - and so do we - go for it. And you can dress it up with greens, black/white, yellows, for either acidity of baby. Anticipate alfresco the acceptable box. The adolescent will acknowledge you for alienated sterotypes.
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Reston, Va.: Hi there,Love the chat!! I accept to baddest attic for a committed home theater. Can you amuse advance a carpeting blush besides the accepted biscuit and a acrylic blush that would go with it. Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Reston - Lucky you, your own cine palace. We advance a darkish, purply-grey-teal carpeting (and you can accede commerical grade) so that all those agitated cokes and glasses of red wine won't be so obvious. We additionally like aphotic bank colors for theaters - abysmal blues, reds, purples, greens because the accomplished point is to abandon into an ball den.
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Bethesda, Md.: Greetings Ladies!We corrective our bedchamber Benjamin Moore Litchfield Gray (PH-78) with white trim and were acquisitive you could accomplish some suggestions for curtains. We're cerebration Dupioni cottony in taupe or amber amber (we accept aphotic predominantly blooming furniture)--how does they sound? Added suggestions?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Bethesda - Go for the chocolate. It's so rich. And if you appetite a bit added window drama, add white sheers. It will accomplish the allowance so restful.
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Northern VA: Added than accession all the little acrylic chips at Home Depot and Lowes, is there any added way for the boilerplate homeowner to get a absolute blush fan from the above acrylic retailers (Behr, Benjamin Moore, Martha Stewart, etc)?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear N.Va. - Best acrylic companies would be blessed to advertise you one of their handy, capital acrylic fan decks. If you're blush obsessed, and who in these chats is not?, you can argue them at all hours of the day and night. Benjamin Moore, for example, runs about $12.50
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Rockville, Md.: What are your admired decorating catalogs these days?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Rockville, appropriate afterwards acrylic fan decks, we adulation catalogs. We don't apperceive what your aftertaste is but the Terence Conran Shop (in NY, alas, not here)has a abundant one, which costs $2, accessible through www.conran.con or 212-755-9079. We adulation their indoor/outdoor LED stick lights, 33 inches aerial and aglow in purple, blooming or red. $79 each.
Another archive that is consistently acceptable is French Country Living, 1-800-485-1302.
Pottery Barn Teen is absolutely blood-tingling and fun, and compartatively inexpensive. 1-866-472-8336 or www.pbteen.com Abundant appearance bedding, (twin set, $49)and Flokati rugs in hot pink, angel green, dejected or white, 5x8 is $249.
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Vienna, Va.: Sorry, addition acrylic question. I am aggravating to accord my ablution a absolute spa feel. The asphalt is a admixture of white, cream, and a bit of brown/orange. The circuitous trim includes all these colors. I would like to use the white abject covering and two colors ragged on to actualize a aerial effect. Any account for BM blush combos?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Vienna - Sounds like a plan...Try these two - BM Gerbera Daisy - 2015-60 and Melon Popsicle - 2016-50
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Washington, D.C.: We aloof bought a abode that has a wet bar in the den. I'm not too addicted of it but don't apperceive whether we should booty it out or try to accomplish it attending a little nicer by painting it, alteration the faucets, etc. Any suggestions on whether we should booty it out or if we leave it in how to amend it so it doesn't attending like it's appropriate out of the 70s!?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear DC - Accumulate the bar. It's abundant to accept active baptize (and conceivably a tiny fridge) abutting at hand. You can amend it by accepting added avant-garde faucets with apple-pie curve in able nickel. It's cheaper than accepting it removed and it's consistently abundant for resale. Home Depot has a nice selection.
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Washington, D.C.: Help! I put a hot teapot on my table and now I accept a blurred amphitheater in the accomplishment breadth it sat. Is there any way to fix it abbreviate of re-finishing the accomplished thing?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear DC - Once again, our pal and savior Heloise to the rescue. She suggests, in her new book, "Heloise from A to Z" (Perigee, $13.95 paperback), rub the atom with according genitalia of toothpaste (not gel, you charge the bendable abrasive) and baking soda, activated with a bendable clammy cloth. Rinse out the bolt and apple-pie off any residue. Back the accomplishment is smooth, addict with a clean, bendable cloth. Restore blush and flash by abrading the atom with the meat of bisected a pecan nut. Then addict again.
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Leesburg, Va.: You both are awesome. I am attractive for some approved and accurate acrylic colors for my house. I am accessible to colors, but appetite to break on the aloof ancillary (nothing too bold). Do you accept a scattering of colors you apprehend about afresh and afresh as winners?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Leesburg ... Acknowledge you for those affectionate words. And now for your acrylic situation. We accept begin that the attenuated but fab alternative of colors at Restoration Hardware food has admiring association from Bowie to Manassas and in between. So, actuality are some acceptable ones:Thyme, a abundant academician green.Sycamore Green, a paler adaptation of ThymeCreamware - a adorable basal with a nice buttery edgeThe Appropriate White - back all abroad fails
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Falls Church, Va.: Hello...
Deep into a whole-house advance of a 1945 Four Square (you apperceive the ones...). I am attractive at ablution fixtures, and I accept begin an chip bottle barge sink/glass vanity that is actual abreast and keeps communicable my eye. This vanity would be in the bench bedfellow bath, with a white toilet. Can you anticipate of a way to emphasis bottomward the abreast activity of this bore in a baby ablution so that it would breeze with my eclectic/classic/decidedly non-contemp style?
The added advantage is to use a white barge bore with a aphotic copse animate table. The walls would be array of olive green. This is the safer option, but that bottle bore keeps communicable my eye.
Thank you!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Falls Church - It seems that if you appetite to emphasis it down, you're already accepting added thoughts about the abreast barge in your bedfellow bath. Why not do the "safe" affair in that amplitude and allow yourself in the adept ablution with that abreast marvel? Then you could adore it every day and not be busted with agnosticism about whether you'd fabricated it "pass" sufficiently.
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Plaster Walls: Any tips on blind abundant affected pictures (and added things) on adhesive walls?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Adhesive Walls - If the art is absolutely abundant and you're a amateur at this, we advance hiring a handyman to help. The aftermost affair you appetite is article abolition to the attic in the average of the night (or aerial apex for that matter) and abrogation a broad aperture in your plaster. Ask around, accelerate out a batch-email to see who wants to appear to an art-hanging banquet party. Save the affair until the job is done.
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Arlington, Va.: Do you accept admired decorating abatement sources?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Arlington - Step one is to apprehend our account affection in the Home Fronts on P. 3 alleged "Sales Talk." This week, for example, there are three absolutely hot contest : The Stark Carpeting accident is absolutely amazing.And as a bonus, actuality is a absolutely abundant bolt aperture we get asked about all the time. It's alleged Abatement Fabrics USA 108 N. Carroll St. in Thurmont, Md. (near Camp David)301-271-2266. Call for hours, as they sometimes change.Warehouse sales at places like Mastercraft Interiors and the Washington Design Center are abundant sources for one-of-a-kind bargains. Call them for their accessible events.
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Takoma Park, Md.: I accept a tiny (900 sq ft) bungalow with a advanced porch. At some point bottomward the alley I appetite to alter the apparent off white balustrade and trim to a added celebrated bungalow color. I apperceive they run darker (like a olive-green). Friends accept told it would alone accomplish the abode attending smaller. I'm absolutely not all that concerned, but what about a trim color, should it be forth the aforementioned blush arrangement or with such a baby abode can I adverse it. Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Takoma Park - Acceptable for you for absent to go historic. You could acrylic the abode a lighter sage, and accomplish the trim darker - either olive or alike a bittersweet red. Also, analysis out a annual alleged "American Bungalow." It's abounding of ideas.
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Arlington, Va.: I adulation white as a decorating color, and I'm attractive for some accepted suggestions for authoritative a allowance that's advisedly corrective white attending stylish, rather than aloof attractive like it hasn't been accomplished yet. Any ideas?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Arlington - Jura has addicted memories of a friend's admirable bedfellow allowance in Bordentown, N.J. in a 19th aeon rowhouse. The allowance had able copse floors, all white walls and beds layered in white and chrism linens, quilts and pillow shams. There were two apparent beside tables, additionally corrective white, and two white Conran's lamps. It was so peaceful and affected that Jura never capital to leave. We're so animated she did. So go for it. White is a abundant account and is timeless, to boot.
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Lorton, Va.: My fiance and I are activity to be affiliated in May. At some point we will advertise both our townhouses and get a distinct abode to live. Back I watch the "getting houses accessible to sell" shows on TV, usually the designer/stager uses a biscuit or off white on the walls. However every so often, one of the stagers goes with a wonderful, off the bank blush for the rooms. How do you apperceive back to go biscuit and back to use color? If it helps, his walls are all off white (even he says it is boring) and abundance are mostly colors (BMoore Rocky Mountain Sky kitchen, Voile Blush bedroom, a ablaze afflict blooming den)?Thanks.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Lorton - You guys present a challenge. Do one or two emphasis walls in the abode to accumulate you sane....Take one of your admired colors and use it in a baby allowance - ablution perhaps, or alike kitchen) and achievement for the best. Acceptable luck.
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Arlington, Va.: I am aggravating to buy a couch for the aboriginal time, and am addled on which bolt to choose. I appealing abundant accept a apple-pie slate, as the walls and carpeting are a aloof off white. I absolutely appetite a couch with a bolt of color. I like the kiwi/lemongrass/lime blush that seems to be everywhere, but will this attending too anachronous in a brace years? Also, I accept alot of dejected and white ceramics from active in Asia, and would like to aces a commutual blush for the couch. Any admonish you accept is abundant appreciated! Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Arlington - That blooming blush you so adulation has been about for a decade in shades from celery to spearmint to kiwi to agreeable chartreuse, so we don't anticipate it will attending so dated. With dejected and white, an all-white daybed or a fleet sofa, or one blush piped with the other, could attending actual brittle and stylish. Accept you advised red?
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Washington, DC: Can you acrylic aluminum (or maybe it's steel) balustrade on the alfresco of a house? Or is it bigger to alter with vinyl siding?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear DC - We can't acknowledgment and don't accept time to argue an able this anniversary so maybe some of you posters can admonition out.
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Annapolis, Md.: Acceptable morning - I'm appointment aboriginal because of a meeting. I'm attractive for a baby (2x3, or 3' diameter) absorbing rug for a crumb allowance - the allowance is corrective a buttery yellow, with white accessories and white copse trim. Annihilation too avant-garde - it's off of a shaker-style kitchen. Any suggestions for sources, either breadth store, archive or website? Mostly what I've begin in that admeasurement accept been ablution rugs, which isn't what I want.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Annapolis - Analysis out www.rugsdirect.com or 1-866-544-7847. Also, try www.capelrugs.com for a acceptable selection.
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Alexandria, Va.: Breadth is the best abode to buy top-up, bottom-down blinds for a bound budget?
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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Alexandria - try Abutting Day Blinds. They accept a lot of shops in the breadth and accept had acceptable acquaintance with their product.
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Springfield, Va.: I would like to do a "simple" re-do on our kitchen that has an eat-in dining area. I would like the focus to be on an apparent brick bank forth one side. We plan to do pergo attic and are because painting the copse cabinets an aged white (some with bottle enclosures to add added ablaze reflectivity). What would be a acceptable bank blush that would accumulate some simple breeding throughout (since we do not accept an added dining room)?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Springfield - Two colors pop to mind. Behr's Banana Cream, 350C-U and Herbal Mist (a anemic green) 440E-2. They should assignment beautifully.
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Arlington, Va.: I accept a baby active allowance with 8.3 ft ceilings furnished w/transitional furnishings. I appetite to put a beam fan in to cut bottomward on the A/C bill. I like the added avant-garde attractive animate fans, but anticipate that with the beneath beam I should do white. Any suggestions breadth to acquisition smaller, but avant-garde attractive fixtures. Or, do you accept a bigger suggestion?
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Arlington - Try Park Place/Fan Fair on Wisconsin Ave. in high Georgetown or Expo Desing Center (the college end Home Depot) for a nice selection.
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Ashburn, Va.: Hi,We aloof confused into a townhouse. It has one largevertical, angled window as you go from thesecond to third attic in the stairwell. I absolutely like itand would like to appearance it off in some way. Theprevious owners placed blinds there which I thinkdetracts from its appearance but we do charge somethingfor the account of privacy. Any suggestions?Thanks!
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Ashburn - The window sounds great. We'd use blurred white curtains in the amplitude to let in ablaze while accouterment some privacy.
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Greenbelt, Md.: We aloof bankrupt on a townhome that has carpeting carpeting upstairs. There are balk floors beneath the carpeting and we are affairs the old carpeting up afore we move in. If the floors are in acceptable shape, we would like to refinish them. How adamantine of a job is it? We accept no acquaintance in this blazon of job. I'm not against to hiring addition to do it. If you, or any chatters, accept some acumen or advice, it would be abundantly appreciated. Thanks!;
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Greenbelt - Attic refinishing is one of those things we leave to the pros. Too abounding things can go wrong, abnormally for a novice. And they can acquaint you all about color, stain, pickling, etc.
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Springfield, Va.: Please, amuse help! I accept 3 of those ugly, baby casement windows in my basement (30"X 18") and a accouter covers two of them. I put white celluar blinds on them, but they attending abhorrent and accomplish the windows attending smaller. The allowance is Ralph Lauren Crab Angel and the appliance is added on the transitional/ avant-garde side.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Springfield, Back the accouter covers two of the windows anyway, what you appetite is illusion, not reality. So get a blind rod that is added than the window, say 36 or 42 inches, and let the bolt adhere bottomward from the alien perimiters.
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Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Thanks, everybody. That's all we accept time for today. See you abutting week.
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Del Ray, VA: For the being attractive for affordable top-down, bottom-up blinds - be abiding to analyze Smith&Noble (on the web or archive only) to abutting day blinds. I've begin their prices to be cheaper, the articles are acceptable and it's not adamantine at all to admeasurement and install them yourself. You aloof charge a assignment and a screwdriver and a level.
Annie Groer and Jura Koncius: Dear Del Ray - Thanks for the acceptable advice.
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