| Q |
We're using an antique oak buffet as a sink base with a cobalt blue sink. The flooring I was thinking could be mosaic? white tile with a blue accent. White toilet. Antique chandelier. Bright nickel finish faucet. What color could we use for the walls and ceiling? |
| A |
The ceiling should always be painted a flat white color. This gives the impression that the room is open, and spacious. As for your wall colors, I suggest looking into yellow tones. If you think about the colors you mentioned (white toilet, white tile, blue accent, and a blue cobalt sink) those are all "cool" colors (colors that lean towards blue). By adding a nickel finish faucet, and an oak buffet, you are introducing yellows. Yellows are "warm" colors. Therefore, if your walls are a pale yellow color, your bathroom should feel balanced in terms of warm and cool colors. I suggest bringing in samples of the colors that are already present in your bathroom, into the paint store, and choosing your three favorite color swatches. Bring home the swatches, and hold them against the wall, to decide which one you like the best.
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| Q |
How can I make an awkward 2 roomed bathroom feel larger without tearing down walls? |
| A |
Well, if no construction is going to be done on the walls, then I suggest using a very light color on the walls, and a flat white ceiling. Mirrors can also be used to enhance a space, but be careful not to over do it.
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| Q |
I am renting a house and the kitchen is pretty big with about 15 foot slanted ceiling. I like bright color but classy looking decor. How can I achieve this with out costing me a lot. and so the owner wont go nuts on me. I would like to leave the ceiling white. |
| A |
Well, I suggest choosing one wall that will be your focal point. Generally this is a wall where your fireplace is, a large window, or even the wall with your favorite painting. Choose a color that satisfies both your color palette, and the building owner's color palette. In order to do this, identify the colors that are already present (in your furniture and drapery, etc) and find a color that both complements your furniture, and enhances your room. Be careful with super bright colors, stick to a color that is used somewhere else in the room.
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| Q |
I have a garden tub we never use, (no jets) people tell me to keep it for resale value. I would like to remove and put in a large Shower with multiple Shower heads.. What do you think? |
| A |
A large shower, with multiple showerheads, makes quite the showering experience, but must be installed by a professional. If you don’t use your garden tub, and the plumbing pretty much exists, go for it. It will add a lot of value to your home, assuming that you have a working tub somewhere else in your house. Also, be aware that your plumbing might need to be upgraded to a larger diameter pipe, in order to receive desired water pressure.
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| Q |
I have a mirror in the bathroom that needs something around it. It is a cheap mirror about 38 x 38 with rough edges and little cheap see through fasteners around the edges. What can I use to make it look better? |
| A |
I have the perfect solution! Take very precise measurements of the mirror, and bring them with you to your local art store. There you will find do-it-your-self frames, used to frame artwork. Usually they come in packs of two legs (2 packages=1frame) The measurements listed on the package should be the interior diameter of the frame. Buy the appropriate sizes, and paint if needed. Spray paint works well, if you take your time, and do many coats. When it is all assembled, mirror and frame, use the framing hardware to hang the mirror, rather then using those ugly clear plastic mirror hangers.
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| Q |
My "stucco" type ceiling gets mildew in-between the spaces. Can I scrape that stucco off and paint as a flat ceiling? Also, would you recommend gloss paint for higher reflection? |
| A |
The most important thing is that you get rid of the moisture that is causing the mildew, before you invest anymore money into this room. If it is a bathroom, a ventilation system is real important. There are a few different routes you can take. Stucco comes in all different forms, sprayed, troweled, or paint-on. It will be pretty much impossible to remove all the stucco, if it is sprayed or troweled-on. Any stucco ceiling will never be flat and impervious again, without replacing the sheetrock. Sheetrock can be hung directly on top of the stucco, assuming that it can be easily fastened to the studs in the ceiling. This would compromise your ceiling height a bit, but would save you an enormous mess. Once you get the new sheetrock up, use "Killz" bin primer to kill mildew and seal the wood (2 coats). Then paint using a FLAT paint, paint with no gloss. Gloss paint, even semigloss will show every fingerprint and imperfection on a ceiling. That is why ceilings are typically painted flat white. If this all sounds like too much work, you could just live with the stucco, and spray it down with a solution of bleach and water (1 part to 1 part). You will notice that the mildew dies almost instantly. Then prime with a few coats of that same "Killz" bin primer.
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| Q |
I have a large living room space. I have a very small dining area in my kitchen. Do you think I could put the dining table in the living room away from the sofa, etc? |
| A |
If the area is opened up well enough, your dining room table can work in you living room. If they are literally separate rooms, then it might be a little harder to make the table fit into a living room environment. But I think you should try sectioning off a portion of the living room, by moving a couch, or adding an inexpensive divider. Then, carry the color from the kitchen walls, into the living/dining room. This will make it function as more of a all purpose room. Once the table is in there, complement it with a few dining room paintings, glassware, or new lighting fixtures, to make it read more as a dining area.
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| Q |
Our home is a small, 884 sq.ft. rancher. How can we make the rooms (3 BR, 1 BATH, LR, Small KIT) look bigger, especially when painting the ceilings; should they be white, the same as the wall, or a complementary color? |
| A |
Ceilings in small houses should always be painted flat white. White gives it the sense that the room is open and spacious. Flat paint (paint without any gloss) because it will not show fingerprints, and any other imperfections that might exist. As for the room colors, keep them pale, and light. Dark colors will make the space feel smaller. To add some color and contrast to the rooms, do it in accessories. Contrasting window treatments, colorful glass/ceramics, and dark-framed paintings or photographs will all enhance the room, without painting the walls a dark/bright color.
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| Q |
My home in country French. I have just painted my kitchen white and put up yellow gingham wallpaper on the white cabinets as a border. I would like to make a window valance with the fabric being black with roosters. It's beautiful fabric but there is no other black in the kitchen. Can I tie it in with a few accent pieces in black? |
| A |
I think that the fabric can work, if you add black to another part of the kitchen. For instance, a tiled backsplash, with a touch of black could tie the whole room together, or even just some black, wrought iron, or antiqued hardware on your cabinets and drawers. It could even be just a few black accessories such as a black vase.
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| Q |
We are thinking of installing a partial stainless steel countertop with the other part corian. Will that work? |
| A |
This should work, assuming you have more stainless steel in your kitchen. A stainless steel countertop is very useful, but looks out of place, if not matched by a stainless steel sink or refrigerator. Since those are relatively expensive, I suggest using stainless steel drawer and cabinet hardware. This should add the right amount of stainless steel to your kitchen, without making it feel sterile.
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| Q |
I have a very small bathroom, my house was built in 1936. Currently there are glass sliding shower doors on the tub. Would it make the room seem larger if I removed the doors and put up a shower curtain? |
| A |
I would never recommend getting rid of shower doors for a shower curtain. Shower curtains become moldy fast, and just don’t look as nice as shower doors. Instead of a glass door on the shower, you can get a mirror put in, which should allude to a larger room. In my house, I have one translucent shower door, and one mirrored shower door. This makes the room look larger, and gives you best of both worlds.
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| Q |
I'm trying to pick out colors for new countertops in my kitchen. I am trying to decide between 2 colors of granite. One is Uba Tuba (black with colored flecks) and the other is Dakota Mahogany (brown with terra cotta accents). My cabinets are honey oak, med darkness. Will the black counter tops make the room look to dark? It is as good sized kitchen with an island. |
| A |
As long as your room is a good size, the countertop shouldn't make the room appear too much smaller, assuming you have lightly colored walls. If your cabinets are a medium honey oak color, and your wall color is light, then I think that a black countertop will look sharp. However, if your walls are dark, then it might seem a bit too gloomy. If it were my kitchen, I would paint the walls a light color, and go with the black countertop.
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| Q |
We purchased this house last November. The kitchen floor looks like someone walked on it with spiked shoes plus it's the 80's style of flooring. Can I put floor tiles over the old floor or do I have to rip it up? And the cabinets look like they were varnished over the old finish to make them look new again. It didn't work! What can I do with them? |
| A |
I would only put a new floor down, being assured that the floor underneath is solid, and in good condition. You might want to think about reinforcing it with some new plywood, which would give you a nice surface to fasten your new floor to. As for the cabinets, if you want to keep them, they will have to be removed from the wall, and stripped with some kind of varnish remover. This process will remove all the other layers of varnish, and provide a new surface to lay a fresh coat of finish on. This is nasty work, lots of time and fumes, so only do it in a well ventilated area, assuming you really want to keep these cabinets.
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| Q |
I'm trying to remodel our kitchen. I took our old wallpaper down, and painted the top portion a very pale green. (we have wainscoting on the bottom) What would be a good color for the wainscoting? I love the color it is right now, just looks natural. But of course we can't leave it that way. What color would look good with the pale green? I want the kitchen to look bright and cheery. |
| A |
If you love the color of your wainscoting as it is, don’t make more work for yourself and change it. It will be very difficult to get back that natural color that you so enjoy. For a bright and cheery kitchen, I would go with a pale yellow, with white trim. I have seen this with natural colored wainscoting, and it looks great. I don't know how far along you have gotten with the paintjob, but if you enjoy the natural color of the wainscoting, work around it.
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| Q |
I am wanting my master bathroom to be more romantic, but don't know what to do to get it to that point. I can't seem to find the right items to bring it together. I have a corner whirlpool w/a huge picture hanging above it, then a corner walk-in shower, water closet, double sink vanity. |
| A |
It seems like you have all the appropriate fixtures in your master bath, but it is missing romanticism. I suggest using some contrasting colors for your bathroom. I once saw a very romantic bathroom, that was all done in white, black and red. The walls were painted white, the vanity, countertop and floor were all black, and there were red accents everywhere (paintings, candles and towels). I think what makes it romantic is not only how it looks, but how it feels (tactile qualities) and how it smells. Try adding candles, potpourri, and some French paintings.
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| Q |
Living in a small community, it is hard to find things for handicap bathrooms. We are in the process of remodeling our bathroom and doing it in parts. What type of sink do you suggest to replace a double sink space for a wheel chair that will not look like a handicap. and not cost $300.00. Thank you for your help. |
| A |
I would go with a pedestal sink. They are small, inexpensive, and very nice looking.
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| Q |
I live in a log cabin and want to change my kitchen countertops, inexpensively. I have white tile now and am really tired of it. Any suggestions? |
| A |
Tile is the least expensive way of refinishing a countertop, because it can be placed on top of the old countertop, when prepared correctly. Poured concrete countertops are also really popular now, and can be done for a reasonable price.
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| Q |
I need to make my bathroom accessible. I have MS. I use a wheelchair and on good days can use a walker. I have been looking for bathroom sinks that I can get my wheelchair under that are stylish. Since I decorate in themes I am looking for a Zen-type Asian style. My bathroom is small 6X10. Since I am a disabled veteran I may be able to get a HISA grant for around 4,000. Any help would be appreciated. |
| A |
I would check into pedestal sinks. They are inexpensive, and allow plenty of room underneath. Retailers usually have some good deals on pedestal sinks, so you should check into those stores. Also, for that "Zen" theme, they offer a lot of natural or natural looking surfaces such as stone. Look at some higher-end bathroom magazines to determine what you like.
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| Q |
What is the easiest way to paint over wallpaper? Do I have to take it off? |
| A |
You can use a good primer and coat it a few times, before you paint, but it would look much better if the wallpaper were to come down, and start from scratch. Painting over old wallpaper is difficult to make it look good.
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| Q |
I have a large mirror in my new bathroom and I hate it but it is stuck to the wall with glue. It has a 1 1/2" space all around it. What is the best solution. Thanks. |
| A |
Try disguising it with a thick frame purchased from your local art store. If it is made out of wood, then you should be able to paint it any color you want, and just hang like a picture frame when dry. Be sure to take careful measurements of your mirror, you don't want to buy the wrong size.
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| Q |
We are thinking of selling our 1977 modular home. The kitchen cabinets look their age. We are limited with money and wondered how people feel about painted cabinets or should we just leave the way they are? |
| A |
Chances are, the people who buy your house will paint or rip out the cabinets anyway, so I would save the money and not fix the cabinets.
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| Q |
I bought my house a couple of years ago and am disabled and on low budget but I found out my ugly green kitchen cabinets are actually knotty pine. How can I strip them safely and at little cost? |
| A |
There are non toxic strippers out there, but it still is nasty work. It requires all the cabinets to be removed, and disassembled in order to do it evenly. The only other option would be to have someone come in and do it, but that can get pretty pricey.
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| Q |
I have a problem with space and clutter in my kitchen. I have taken away the clutter and in a matter of days its back. Underneath the sinks I have hardly any space to store. I have thought about a hutch but I don't want my kitchen to look like a country kitchen. |
| A |
A hutch can be cool, if it fits with its surroundings, and doesn’t always seem country. Identify what it is in your kitchen that you like (the color of the walls, your appliances, fixtures) and purchase your hutch with this in mind.
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| Q |
I would like to change my faucets in the bathroom to bronze. Is it possible to paint or refinish the brass trim on the shower doors to match? Thanks, Connie |
| A |
I would strongly recommend that you do NOT attempt to refinish the brass trim on the shower doors. I would contact the bath fitter who fitted your shower doors, or go to a new bath fitter, and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
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| Q |
How can I determine if the wall I want to remove is a load bearing wall? |
| A |
You should definitely consult an architect to be sure that the wall you want to remove is not load bearing, it depends on the house.
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| Q |
Kitchen wallpaper has noticeable overlapping seams (infamous ivy print); do I paint over or remove the wallpaper? same Kitchen...has super thick stucco walls and ceiling; how can I make the walls smooth? |
| A |
I would recommend removing the old wallpaper, and then painting. You will get a much nicer finish then if you were to just paint directly on top of the wallpaper. As for the stucco ceiling, I would hang new sheetrock right over the stucco, although you will sacrifice about an inch in ceiling height. The walls are a bit harder, because of the trim. I would remove the old stucco walls, and hang new sheetrock.
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| Q |
I am adding a master suite to my home. The style is transitional. How do I find a suitable (small) chandelier for the master bath and should it match the other light fixtures? |
| A |
The light fixtures only need to fit into the room that they are in. If your master bath is "transitional" then I would look for some inexpensive "transitional" fixtures. The lighting should not be drastically different styles from one room to the other. For instance, I would not put an overly ornate fixture in your master suite, and a transitional fixture in you master bath.
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