Should Lamps Be the Same Height?

Dear Melissa:

Should all of the lamps in my living room be the same height, and do you think that the lamps on either side of my couch should match? L. P., KY 

Dear L.:

The two most important things about lamps are (1) that you have enough light where you need it, and (2) that you aren’t looking up at the bulb when seated next to a lamp.

Lamps used as pairs should be the same height and scale, but these still don’t necessarily have to match. When you use lamps of various heights, survey the room to make sure your eye isn’t distracted by a large, showy lamp instead of being drawn to the focal point you intended.

If a lamp is too low, place it on a stack of leather-bound books for more height. Place a lamp that’s too high on a lower table, or try changing its harp or shade. Most rooms could use some height, so don’t exclude floor lamps. Why not consider a grouping of three funky accent lamps of differing heights, just for fun? M.A.K.

Carpet Care

Dear Melissa:

How should I care for a cotton area rug? It’s handmade and fairly expensive. Should I risk washing it? S.M., IL 

Dear S.:

Only if you want a misshapen pile of strings when you’re done. Fragile carpets should be treated professionally with stain repellants, kept out of direct sunlight, rotated regularly, and dry cleaned by a carpet expert. Treat carpets like the investments they are. Good care will prolong their life expectancy. M.A.K.

Quick Consultation?

Dear Melissa:

I’m not sure I want to invest in a decorator, although I need help with colors and mixing some patterns I have. Do decorators just do quick consultations? W.E., VA

Dear W.:

It is rarely cost effective for a decorator to come out to your home or office for just an hour consultation, although some do. You might get lucky if the decorator you want is having a slow spell during this economy, so call and ask. Perhaps the decorator will fit you in between local appointments, if you’re willing to wait. You may be charged a higher fee for a consultation, however; at the very least, offer the obliging decorator a cup of coffee. M.A.K.

Antique or New House?

Dear Melissa:

I’m house-hunting and the unthinkable has happened. I’ve fallen in love with an antique house with crooked walls and slanting floors. My friends are advising me to buy “new”, but my heart says this is the one. What should I do? N.K.., ME 

Dear N.,

Go with your heart, as long as your head agrees.

Of course the antique house has crooked walls and slanting floors. Goodness knows humans settle, too! However, that’s part of the charm. Talk to some owners of antique homes to get a feel for the lifestyle. Wonderful old homes often require concessions to modern living. They can be drafty and noisy (those creaks in the night and clanging pipes.) They require diligent ongoing maintenance, which can be expensive. Of course, if you truly desire an antique home, this is a labor of love.

Make sure you hire a qualified home inspector who specializes in old houses. He/she will understand the peculiarities of such a home’s wiring, plumbing, heating and structural systems. If there are significant problems, consider whether you have the financial and emotional wherewithal to correct them. I recommend waiting at least six months before considering any structural changes that may impact the home’s historical value. Get a feel for how you live in the house first, and always remember why you bought it in the first place. Good luck! M.A.K.

Rotate Your Collections

Dear Melissa:

Help! I keep buying tchotchkes and I can’t stop myself. I pick up mirrors, pottery, ceramics, everything. How do I make sense of this? Should I throw it all away and start from scratch with an idea or color scheme at least? S.B., MD 

Dear S.:

A woman after my own heart! Your collection of “stuff” already has a theme: your personal style. What’s needed is not necessarily an intervention, but a plan.

Collect all of your misfit items from around the house. When you have them all together, group them by their most common element. This may be by material, color, function, etc. Displaying your collections in groups will give them a cohesive look and greater visual impact than scattering them around your house. If your grouping of collectables is all the same height, use stacked books to raise the height of some objects to create a more interesting tableau.

Once you’re happy with the look, STOP. Pack up the rest of your items, and perform the exercise again in 6 months. By rotating your accessories periodically, you’ll be able to refresh your home with the items you’ve packed away, and gain a new appreciation for them. Happy shopping! M.A.K.

Buy New or Recover

Dear Melissa:

We just moved into a new house and our living room furniture looks really tired. It was fairly expensive when we bought it. We don’t know whether we should reupholster it, have slipcovers made, or just start over. We need a professional opinion. P.T., OH 

Dear P.:

This is really a question of budget and the condition of the chair frames. I don’t know how old your furniture is, but if the pieces are wobbly, the webbing beneath the seats is sagging, and the fabric is shredded, you should consider replacing them. Often, you can get a good buy during a local retail store’s seasonal sale.

You don’t have to buy new furniture, however; I have made some great purchases at auctions and consignment stores. Don’t be a snob about used furniture. You already own some. And let’s face it, what are pricey antiques anyway, but really used furniture? This may be the only way you can afford a fabulous piece of furniture, like a china cabinet.

I rarely suggest reupholstery to a client unless the piece of furniture has either a sentimental or an appraised value. Reupholstery, done properly, can be as costly as buying a brand new piece of furniture. This is because the workroom IS creating a new piece of furniture on the original frame. And trust me, craftsmanship counts here. So use the best, not the cheapest.

If the chair frames and seats are still good and provided that you select a reasonably-priced fabric, the least expensive thing to do is to use slipcovers. You can even change these seasonally.

Regarding secondhand furniture, one of my favorite things to do is to buy a $75 chair with fabulous lines, and slipcover it with $600 worth of fabric and trim. It looks like a million bucks while costing far less than a new custom chair. You can afford to be more extravagant with an inexpensive used chair. After all, no one has to know what’s under the skirt.

Once you know how far your budget will stretch, you might use a combination of strategies. M.A.K.

Boring Boyfriend

Dear Melissa:

My boyfriend’s apartment is blue, blue, blue. You’d think there weren’t any other colors out there. I’d like to make it look better. A.S., TN

Dear A.:

Are you sure you want to do this? More importantly, are you sure HE wants you to do this? If he’s amenable to suggestions, tell him that peach/terracotta/pumpkin accents will warm up his color scheme; bright yellow will give it a French Country look; and greens/violets will continue the restful theme. A monochromatic color scheme doesn’t have to be boring, however; just suggest that he vary the shades of blue and add lots of texture.

I wish you both luck with this. M.A.K.

How Much Do Interior Decorators and Designers Charge?

Dear Melissa:

I need help with my new house but I’ve never used a decorator before. I’m afraid it’ll be too expensive. Can you give me an idea of how much it costs? L.M., NY