Décor Score from Creators Syndicate

Find Samples in Magazines to Assist Decorators for 07/04/2008

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I have spent the past l4 years working to the top of the heap in my law firm and can now afford the house I want to come home to after one of my long, frenetic days in court. The interior designer I'm about to hire wants me to tell her what colors to use and furniture to buy.

Isn't that her job? All I know is that I want the house to be comfortable and relaxing for me. I don't plan t ...

Updated: Fri Jul 04, 2008

Hotel Rooms Become Homier with Calm and Comfortable Accessories for 07/14/2008

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I grew up in a house filled with "accessories," my mother called them. I call all those items tacky and don't want it in my contemporary home. But last weekend, I overheard my cousins talking about my house and they said it looked sterile — like "a hotel room where nobody lives."

It made me mad at first, but now I wonder if living without clutter could be con ...

Updated: Mon Jul 14, 2008

Try a Blending of Traditions When Decorating Your Room for 07/21/2008

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We want to pay homage to our Western heritages when we decorate our new great room, but most of the "Western" furniture we've seen is pretty corny. Will it be gauche to use some of the English traditional we have in the rest of the house, then bring in some accessories like an Indian blanket or a Remington statue my husband inherited?

A: It will not be gauche; instead a blen ...

Updated: Mon Jul 21, 2008

Functional Furnishings Help Accommodate Disabled Homeowners for 07/28/2008

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: My husband spends much of his day in a wheelchair. I need to arrange the furniture in our new house so he can get around with no trouble. The great room is the main problem. We already have a sleep sofa and two club chairs, but I don't know where to begin.

A: Breathe easier: The professional design world has been dealing with the challenge you're facing since Congress passed the histo ...

Updated: Mon Jul 28, 2008

Create More Living Space by Taking a Look at the Attic for 08/04/2008

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We live in a bungalow, only about 1,700 square feet. My husband's teenage son from his first marriage is asking to move in; he wants to attend the local community college.

Our two daughters already share a bedroom, since my husband works from home and needs the third bedroom for his office. The only possible way to make room for another child is to redo the attic, which is a lot of wo ...

Updated: Mon Aug 04, 2008

Use Slender Cabinets to Increase Bathroom Space for 08/11/2008

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We did something dumb when we renovated the master bath; we put in two pedestal sinks practically side by side. We didn't consider that there would be no place to store anything under a pedestal sink. My husband wants to have a cabinet built between them, but it will have to be very narrow. Do you have a better idea?

A: Yes, I do, and it's borrowed directly from a recently published b ...

Updated: Mon Aug 11, 2008

Take Advantage of Extra Space in Small Homes for 08/18/2008

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: Our old apartment has a couple of odd nooks and crannies that frankly have me scratching my head how to furnish them — like the little butler's pantry we don't use because we combined the dining and living rooms to expand the kitchen. We could use a little guest room, but it's somewhat open to the kitchen.

What's smart to do?

A: Repeat after me: Any space is better than n ...

Updated: Mon Aug 18, 2008

Laminate Floors Give the Look of Wood at a Better Price for 08/25/2008

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We want to finish part of the attic for our middle daughter (11 years old).

She loves the country look; we already have an old iron bed and a few other rustic pieces from downstairs, where she's been sharing with her younger sister.

Here's my question: We need a new floor in the attic, but just have a plywood budget, if you know what I mean. How would it look if we paint the pl ...

Updated: Mon Aug 25, 2008

Add a Little Color or Texture to Monochromatic, Neutral-colored Room for 09/01/2008

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We try to live an "eco-savvy" life, including the things we use in our home — for decorating as well as everyday items, such as cleaning materials. Now our bend toward natural possessions has resulted in a collection of natural colors: all neutrals, like beiges and wood tones. We even have grass cloth wallpaper.

As much as we wanted this to be our look, the end result ...

Updated: Mon Sep 01, 2008

Decorating with Man-made Materials May Save Homeowners some Money for 09/08/2008

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We've been planning to redecorate our kitchen for years, and I've always had my heart set on a marble countertop and hardwood floors. What bad luck that we waited until this housing crash; we are now afraid to spend money that we may not get back when we sell the house. Should we invest anyway, hoping the housing market will turn around?

A: Sorry to say, you're asking the wrong person ...

Updated: Mon Sep 08, 2008

Create Hobby Centers Without Taking a Large Amount of Space for 09/15/2008

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We have a good-sized house (three bedrooms and a bonus room), but every inch is running over with someone's possessions — we also have four children. I'm a passionate gardener; however, I don't have any place to work, except out in the nonheated garage. I'm thinking of taking over the breakfast room, since we have an eat-in kitchen. Would that be selfish? Unsightly?

A: No to you ...

Updated: Mon Sep 15, 2008

Eco-friendly Designs Offer Many Beautiful Options for Redecorating for 09/22/2008

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We are a yuppie couple; I guess that's what you'd call us. We have a nice center hall colonial, two children as well as plans to redecorate. Everyone is talking about "going green," using everything organic and sustainable, but I was overwhelmed when I went online to find information. Where do we start?

A: Many manufacturers are running to catch the "green" bandwag ...

Updated: Mon Sep 22, 2008

Consider Laminate Flooring as an Inexpensive Option for 09/29/2008

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We don't have great antiques, but over the years our home became a warm, traditional "cocoon" — so our friends always tell us. Now we're moving to a fixer-upper that needs a lot of renovation, including replacing the floors. Our budget's too tight for hardwood, and we hate the idea of wall-to-wall.

My husband thinks we should install ceramic tile that looks like stone. ...

Updated: Mon Sep 29, 2008

Control the Sound in your Home with Fabric Layering for 10/06/2008

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: My husband and I looked at our new house on a weekend; we bought it on a Saturday and moved in on a weekend. Imagine our surprise on our first Monday morning in the house when the street that had always seemed so quiet turned out to be a major traffic lane — everyone was going to the nearby train station before 7 a.m. It's so noisy in the mornings that we are thinking of moving out of ...

Updated: Mon Oct 06, 2008

Window Shadings Provide Dark Rooms for Better Sleeping for 10/13/2008

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I have always been a lousy sleeper. Now, we've rented an apartment where the bedroom has a wall-to-wall sliding glass door that looks out on a park.

It's nice during the day, but at night the streetlights keep me awake.

What can I put on wide windows to block the light? Regular curtains aren't doing it.

A: Sleep studies have proven that three key conditions lie behind a ...

Updated: Mon Oct 13, 2008

Eco-friendly Decorating Can be Fashionable and Stylish for 10/20/2008

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We are moving into an old home (l892) and plan to keep most of our furniture aka antiques. It seems like the perfect chance to live the eco-smart life we've been hearing about for the past 15 years. But this will eventually become our retirement house, and we agree that it shouldn't look like an "experiment in sustainability."

Can we have "normal" decorating that's ...

Updated: Mon Oct 20, 2008

Use Natural Wood to Create Older-Looking Mountain Home for 10/27/2008

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: We are in the middle of building a mountain house; we want it to look like it's been there since the l900s. I know there's a lot of "lodge" furniture around, but what should we do in order to make the walls and floors appear older?

A: You're about to undertake a fun adventure, but one that's also fraught with danger. It's neither nice nor easy to fool with Mother Nature. Emu ...

Updated: Mon Oct 27, 2008

Window Films and Light Colors Can Cool Your Home for 11/03/2008

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Q: We live where it's hot and dry all year long. I've observed that most of my neighbors try to block out the heat by using heavy drapes and sometimes even dark colors; however, we moved here to enjoy the climate.

Are there smarter ways to cope with the sun and heat when decorating?

A: First thought: Learn from those neighbors who are already veterans of the climate. Remember the ...

Updated: Mon Nov 03, 2008

Simplicity is Key When Decorating Dining Tables for 11/10/2008

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I feel like a '50s wife out of TV's "Mad Men" who's afraid for her husband to bring his boss home to dinner. I know where the knives and forks go, but after growing up a latchkey kid, the idea of setting a pretty and proper dinner table still scares me!

A: Relax. The rest of the world already has when it comes to dining tables. Your fears sound similar to a hangover from the ...

Updated: Mon Nov 10, 2008

Show Off Antique Pieces Even With Small Children in the Home for 11/17/2008

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Q: My great-aunt wants to give me some of her good antiques, pieces she has mostly collected in Europe. I've always been in awe of her home and its beautiful items. But we have three children, all under 10, plus a dog and cat.

Would it be awful to accept a few pieces and keep them in storage until the children are older?

A: Worse than awful! It would be a great waste and a missed ...

Updated: Mon Nov 17, 2008