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"HELP! I Need An Update Under $300!" by Michele C. Hollow |
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 Is there any way to bring more light into my kitchen and make it more efficient? Beverly Grant Providence, RI “The kitchen looks like a galley kitchen, which is the most efficient style there is,” explains Therese Kenney, kitchen and bath designer at Insignia Kitchen and Bath Design Group, Ltd. “It’s a small space and everything is usually within reach—except for the refrigerator. It is right on top of the door. I would move it to the other side of the stove.” The other immediate fix Kenney suggests is to brighten the space with paint. “Paint the cabinets a bright white,” she says. “For contrast, add a sunny yellow, red or bright blue on the walls to liven up the space. “I would remove the shade over the door and either leave the sheer curtains or buy ones that match the other curtains in the room,” she says. Above the door and on the shelves by the sink, Kenney would add decorative plates with a rooster or other country motif. A bright country-style rug with colors that match the walls would give the room a pulled-together look. For a touch of whimsy, she recommends replacing the lighting fixture on the wall by the stove and the one on the ceiling with a country-themed design. “It should be fun!” she says. |
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 Our guestroom is dark and drab. What can I do to make it more welcoming on a budget? Jamie Wallen Scranton, PA “Get rid of the wallpaper, and paint the walls a creamy white on the bottom and a soft yellow on top,” suggests Diane Bohstedt, interior designer and CKD (certified kitchen designer) at Insignia Kitchen & Bath Design Group, Ltd. “Keep the chair rail; it provides a nice country touch. These paint colors will immediately lighten the room. You also can paint the headboard and bench a soft beige or yellow. Those colors will work well with the quilt.” Bohstedt also recommends replacing the dark wooden blinds with white blinds or Duette shades in a light creamy color. “You can add color and softness to the room by adding a cushion on the bench and matching throw pillows on the bed,“ she adds. “A colorful floor rug by the side of the bed also adds texture to the room.” For a completely pulled-together look, Bohstedt adds that colors should be coordinated. “Replace the fan floral object above the bed with a poster of a country scene. Try to find art with yellows and corals that are in the bedspread to tie the whole room together. And when your budget allows, invest in two good night tables in a natural wood or white.” |
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 We just purchased a log cabin and are thrilled with it—except for the bathroom. Our furniture seems lost in there. What can we do to make the room cozier? Toni DeLuca Asheville, NC “The furniture in the room is too small for the space,” says Melissa Wilson, CBD (certified bathroom designer) with the National Kitchen and Bath Association. “The table, bowl and art are just lost in that room.” Wilson would replace the table with a larger cabinet that could hold towels and toiletries. “A large basket on the floor filled with towels and soaps would be more useful and look better than the bowl,” she says. “There is a lot of empty space between the mirror and pedestal sink,” she notes. “I would hang a cup and toothbrush holder right there. A double towel rack would also make better use of the space. Something decorative and useful serves two purposes.” She also suggests replacing the small picture with a larger work of art, perhaps of a country field; hanging an old-fashioned wrought-iron light fixture with chandelier bulbs to add a bit of whimsy to the room, and stencilling a small floral design on the tub. photos: Bill Mathews |
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