Will changing out fixtures improve home sale odds?
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Dear Mi-Ling: Our 13-year-old home is about 4,000 square feet. We want to sell in a year and are wondering if we should change all the polished brass door knobs, light fixtures, cabinet pulls, shower trim, and faucets.
Daughter's small bedroom is a challenge
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Dear Mi-Ling: I am doing my 13 year-old daughter's bedroom over. We just purchased black furniture. The floors will be a Wilsonart Laminate in the Northern Birch. It's a really light color. Her comforter is black and tan. It is almost like a toile pattern.
Mayo clinic may have prescription for home decor
Saturday, May 17, 2008
When you enter the main Mayo Clinic building you might mistake the grand corridors and beautiful decor for a five-star hotel. However, the massive complex was made even more appealing by the thoughtful design plan.
Heating vent above couch causes unsightly problem
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Having a vent directly behind your couch at the level where you would hang a picture is definitely a design problem.
Consider adding accents to complement wall colors
Friday, April 25, 2008
How to select a paint color is one of the most frequent questions I receive. Sometimes you have to work backwards to find the color for your design plan.
Paint is good, but now is the time to buy fireplace screen
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Dear Mi-Ling: Is it possible to paint a fireplace screen? I have a polished brass screen and I think the finish is outdated. The room is traditional with wood floors — walls are painted a dark khaki color, red brick hearth, white crown molding and mantel. Is there a high-heat paint I could use? I
Individual use of atrium brings light and character
Friday, April 11, 2008
Dear Mi-Ling: I just purchased a home and I am geared up to decorate. I have a paint problem. I want an accent wall that I would like to paint a dark red.
Finding the right color scheme depends on room
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Dear Mi-Ling: I have an evergreen microfiber couch and a medium oak wood floor, and an exposed brick fireplace on one wall. What color can I paint my walls?
Create events your friends will remember
Saturday, March 29, 2008
I like to host little parties throughout the year. It's a nice way to rekindle old friendships and make new acquaintances. One of my favorite things to do is build a photo display of past holidays and meaningful events and turn my billiard room into an exhibition hall.
Splash of color can enhance contemporary furnishings
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008
One of the challenges to overcome when utilizing a contemporary design is adding warmth to the space. After all, your mood is directly affected by the colors you display in your home.
Take base to store when searching for new lamp shade
Monday, Feb. 25, 2008
Dear Mi-Ling: We have three table lamps in our living room with fabric shades that are just the wrong color (too yellow in a room with shades of white and beige tones.) We have been to a couple of lamp stores but we could not find replacements that work.
How to achieve a pleasant atmosphere in a rental space
Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008
Dear Mi-Ling: I am renting an apartment. I have been trying to decorate on my own for the past six months and already have spent quite (a bit of) money without being able to make the place look much nicer. The basic furnishing is there but I need some cheap accessories or rearranging.
Eco-friendly flooring poses a challenge for home design
Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008
Dear Mi-Ling: I am having real hard time selecting the right paint color for my living room. It has a very light yellow bamboo hardwood floor. We have a dark brown leather sofa with chocolate brown cushions and light, dark brown pillows. The room doesn't get too much light. I prefer warm colors. I am thinking about using an accent wall. What color should I use for the accent wall and the rest of the wall?
Key to finishes is to avoid abrupt changes
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008
Do all the metals in my home - door knobs, cabinet pulls and knobs, ceiling fans, faucets, etc, have to be the same color or can there be brass in one area, silver in another?
How do we design an entry into an L-shaped room?
Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007
Dear Mi-Ling: We recently moved into a house where the main entry door opens into the L-shaped living/dining room.
Paint can be fairly cheap when seeking perfect color
Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007
Dear Mi-Ling: I need your help. I recently redecorated a few rooms at work and my boss loved them. Now, she wants me to do her office. She's giving me free rein but she wants me to keep her tan drapes. They have a thick deep orange border.
Careful planning prevents errors in picture hanging
Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007
Hanging pictures can be hard on your walls. You don't want to put a lot of unnecessary holes in your walls because you'll spend a lot of time filling the holes and repainting the walls.
Wall colors, shelves can give masks friendly face
Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007
Dear Mi-Ling: I have three large masks we bought in Jamaica. I have them on a wall in our living room right now. I want to move them to the bedroom and hang them on one of the walls. It happens to be the largest and barest wall in the bedroom. What else can I hang with them so it doesn't look like three large masks on the wall?
Options improve on coverings for sliding glass doors
Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007
Dear Mi-Ling: What are the options in covering sliding-glass doors, besides vertical blinds or drapery? Have vertical blinds improved from the 1980s? I would like light but privacy in the evening.
Retailers making it easier to decorate homes in green
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007
Are you going green? This new lifestyle is encouraging all of us to become eco-friendly by paying attention to how our homes, cars, clothes and the food we eat affect the planet. Whether you've given up bottled water or are contemplating purchasing a hybrid car, change is upon us.
Adding color, accessories can make dorm feel comfy
Friday, Sept. 7, 2007
I decorated both of my kid's dorm rooms over the past couple of years. Painting was not an option. We simply used punches of color from artwork, drapes and bedding. I didn't want to deal with repainting the rooms at the end of the year.
Try covering walls with wafer board
Friday, Aug. 31, 2007
I have raised two teenagers and have patched quite a few holes in my walls.
It's hard making Mom's home your own
Friday, Aug. 24, 2007
Dear Mi-Ling: After my mother's death, I moved into the family home. It has been seven years. I am finding it extremely difficult to decorate in my style and to "claim" the house as mine. How do I start?
Does that carpet come in 'red dirt'?
Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007
Dear Mi-Ling: We live in the country and would like to replace our light gray carpet in the living areas with some kind of hard surface. The previous owners who put down the carpet also put down 6-inch green tile, moving to brown tile, with wide white grout in the entry through the kitchen to the dining area. Keeping that grout white is impossible.
Frames do not have to match your decor
Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007
You don't necessarily need to change out the frames to match with your new design style. In my opinion, artwork doesn't have to match your decor — it should reflect something that you like and appreciate for the sake of the art.
Is your garage stressing you out?
Friday, July 27, 2007
Our garages seem to be the last stop for most of the junk we own. I'm still waiting for my husband to get rid of a set of rims that don't even fit the car he's currently driving. I have even threatened to make end tables out of them, but they're still stacked up the corner.
Is bigger really better?
Friday, July 20, 2007
Recently, I was watching a celebrity interview with hip-hop mogul and philanthropist Russell Simmons. He made reference to the fact that no matter how big your house is, you can only sit in one chair at a time.
Put the old backsplash in the trash
Friday, July 13, 2007
Dear Mi-Ling: We have a dilemma in the kitchen. We are planning on replacing the stark white back splash with tumbled marble. However my husband wants to keep a portion of the backsplash. He feels "it's perfectly good," so why get rid of it.
Retractable screens keep bugs out, doors safe
Friday, June 22, 2007
Dear Mi-Ling: I am in desperate need of screen doors for my home. I have double doors and single doors that need screens.
Homeowners have options for installing wood floors
Friday, June 15, 2007
Dear Mi-Ling: I am making improvements to our home. One of the first things we want to do is add hardwood floors to the upstairs hallway. My dilemma is based on which direction to lay the planks on the floor. Does it really matter if I lay them horizontally or vertically?