By Margot Gunther I’ve always wanted a garden room. I have a small bit of space on an enclosed porch, but I don’t know where to start. I love antiques. What can I do that is relatively easy and has lots of character? Judy Brooke Millerton, New York Take barn wood or lumber that is rough and unfinished and tack it on the walls (a great way to hide less-than-perfect walls). To make life easier, get a large supply of Command Adhesive Mounting Products by 3M. These self-adhesive hooks come in many sizes for many different uses, and best of all, they really work. They stick on any flat wall, making it simple to hang tools, pictures, garden gloves or practically anything you can imagine. Get an antique drop-leaf table for a work surface, a chair for lazy times and suddenly you have a useful area... and a charming one to boot. I have a very old-fashioned kitchen with lots of nooks and crannies. Some of the space is inconvenient, and I don’t need it for cooking. Have you any suggestions on how I can utilize this space? Becky Cooke Ludington, Michigan What a luxury: extra space. Why not use it for an avocation? To have the space for a potting area is a true joy—and I can guarantee that your flower arranging skills will double when all of the tools, vases, etcetera, are close at hand and not strewn all over. Differentiate this space from the rest of the kitchen with garden-inspired wallcoverings. Add a bold border about the chair rail and a carefree flower pattern above (pictured: Sanitas Wallcoverings). Dress the necessary bar sink with shutter cabinet doors, and you have a great country look. Use an antique table for an island and hang a simple shelf for vases, tools, birdhouses and anything else that might suit your fancy. Try lace for a light and airy valance (notice the rounded rod to fit into the curve of the window). With a simple throw rug on the wood floor, you have a charming and very useful addition to your kitchen. I have three children and an active household. Unfortunately, I hate doing laundry. I feel as if I spend my life in the bowels of my house doing this dreary chore. Is there any help? Judy Fells Portsmouth, New Hampshire There is always a solution to a problem. Sometimes it just requires a fresh outlook. No one said that laundry has to be done in the basement. Consider a more convenient location—part of your kitchen or garage, or an upstairs room that is rarely used. Carve yourself out a space and get to it. Use a bright wallpaper, such as this one from Eisenhart, and a clever border to anchor it at counter height. Under the counter, have a basket for each family member and for your table linens and personal items. A hanging shelf can hold soap, etc., and the flat counter can serve as a sorting and folding table. An outside view can help a lot to eliminate the drudgery. Dress it with a simple handkerchief window topper. Remember: you are important, and this is a space where you spend time, so why not add a bouquet of flowers, a picture you love and a bowl of potpourri? These little touches will make for a happier, brighter laundry day.

Editor’s Note: Margot Gunther, ASID, is a designer who has worked on residential interiors, country inns and restaurants. contact us • advertise • subscribe • Home