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Gail.

You can click on any question to be taken to Gail's answer column for that question.

Q & A's on Baths
Q & A's on Bedrooms
Q & A's on Color and Paint
Q & A's on Windows
Q & A's Miscellaneous

Q & A's on Baths
DEAR GAIL: We'd like to remodel our Powder Bath this year and wanted to know what would be just one thing that we should do different than the standard items that are already there? ELLEN

DEAR GAIL: We have a hall closet that is about 51 inches wide by 80 inches long. We don't need the extra storage space, but could really use another guest bath. The closet is right next to the kitchen, so we'll have no probably with getting the plumbing to the room, we're just not sure what to do about the vanity since it is so narrow. Do you have any ideas? Paul

DEAR GAIL: I have a powder bath that needs some sprucing up. It's fairly small and I would like to give it a face light with wallpaper, paint, border or faux painting. I've had wallpaper in the past and loved it, but would consider doing something different. I'm not a do-it-yourselfer, so can you give me an idea what the differences are in costs, along with any suggestions? Carla S.

Q & A's on Bedrooms

DEAR GAIL: I want to put my bed up on the wall so that I can make more room underneath for my desk to do my college work. I was wondering how this could be done? Jenn

DEAR GAIL: We've just bought a wonderful new home and I love our master bedroom entrance. We actually have two areas that you have to walk through before you enter the bedroom. The first area has an arched opening and we have a large linen cabinet and counter in there. Then the second area has a double door and from there is a second set of double doors to our master. It is so dramatic that we want to properly treat it. We haven't selected our flooring yet and would like some thoughts on what to do. Pam S.

DEAR GAIL: I just moved into my very first home and I love it. I'm writing because I have a fairly small master bedroom but want to create a small retreat in the room and somehow divide it off from the bed area. I only have a family room to watch TV and relax and want to have at least another area to go to when my husband is watching the game. I know I can just go into the bedroom, but I don't want to be sitting in bed. I know that has to be something interesting that I can do. Thanks for your help. Marcy F.

DEAR GAIL: We're going to be buying a new bed and going from a queen to a king. In the past I've just bought whatever sheets were on sale. I know good quality sheets are expensive, but I'd like to buy just a couple sets of nice sheets this time. So what do I need to know before I head out shopping? Louise S.

DEAR GAIL: We have an older bedroom set and originally had a full size bed and headboard. We've moved to a new house and our bedroom is now large enough for a king size bed. The furniture is no longer available to purchase a matching headboard. What else can we do for a headboard? Sandra H.

DEAR GAIL: HELP! I love my husband but I am tired of arguing with him over the pile of stuff that he places on his night stand. His night stand has drawers but he just refuses to use them. So I've decided to give in and give him additional piling space in hopes that it will stay more organized if he has more accessible space. I know that doesn't sound logical, but think it's worth a try. Any ideas on the type of table I can look for? Lauren M

DEAR GAIL: We want to decorate our master suite but have a very limited budget. What can we do? Sue & Lou

DEAR GAIL: We have a very long and narrow bedroom and have at least seven feet of wasted space at the end of our bed. We don't know what to put there and with nothing it makes the room feel empty. What are some things that we could do? Carol C.

DEAR GAIL: I have company coming and need to quickly decorate the guest room. I don't have time to run all over town shopping and really don't have the patience for it either. Can you tell me what I can buy and how I can pull it together in an afternoon? Oh, did I mention that I don't really have the budget to do this right now. Marcie M.

DEAR GAIL: I have been trying to find new bedding for my master bedroom for months with no luck. We have a very high pillow top mattress and nothing fits right, plus I haven't found anything that I've fallen in love with. So I've decided to have it made, but when I met with someone there were so many different styles and options to choose from that I got confused. I already know it will be more expensive than anything I can purchase in the store, so I want to be sure in making the right decisions. So can you tell me some of the differences in styles and options? Plus what is a cap fitted style, I've never heard of that. Dianna W.

DEAR GAIL: I'd like to use some pink in my bedroom but don't want it to come off too girly. What would be the best way to do that? Anna R.

DEAR GAIL: We were just given my Mother's bedroom set, but she only had one night stand. There is no way that we could match it as it is about 30 years old. What else can I use besides a regular night stand? Bobbie G.

Q & A's on Color and Paint

DEAR GAIL: We are tired of the white walls and would like to start painting. We would really like to use a couple different accent colors but how do we know what to paint where and how bold to be? Thanks Bob & Janie

DEAR GAIL: I have a one year old boy and a four year old girl who are sharing rooms for the first time and I can't decide on how to coordinate their room. Either I find stuff for a girl or a boy but then nothing matches if you put the two in the same room. I like the idea of doing green and yellow with a patchwork quilt for her but can't find anything for him to match or should I just change the whole plan? Any suggestions? Kim P.

DEAR GAIL: I want to paint my bedroom a dark cocoa brown color but am afraid to do it. I know that it is just paint and can be covered, but is there anyway to pre-look at the color on the wall? I have white bedding and the color would just make the room pop. Agatha S.

DEAR GAIL: We are moving into a new office and would like to paint the walls. We have fairly neutral furniture in the typical grays and blues. Currently the walls and vertical blinds are bright white. We are not able to change the blinds as they are building standard, but they will allow us to paint the walls. We don't want to go too bold, so that we don't tire of it, what would be a good color to use? Dianna L.

DEAR GAIL: My husband and I have just purchased an 8 year old home and want to re-paint the interior before we move in. The house has the original flat paint, so we'd like something more durable and also need to cover the pink and blue walls in the bedrooms. I'd like a neutral but rich color in the main areas, but I'm not afraid to add color as an accent. Any suggestions on the best way to decide? Roberta G.

DEAR GAIL: We've had neutral colored upholstery for years and even though we know it is the trend now, we want color. We know selecting colored upholstery is making a commitment for awhile, we are ready for a change, but we don't know what color we want. Can you give us any suggestions that will help us decide before writing the check? John & Susan

DEAR GAIL: O.K. I'm ready to take the plunge and use some color in my house, I'm tired of the white walls. But, I'd like to do it in small doses as this will be a big step for me. Where can I be adventurous with paint and not scare myself? Robbie W.

DEAR GAIL: I have been looking at model homes in and around the area and I love the idea of one wall painted a bright bold orange, red or even brown! How do you determine which wall should be painted and what color should be used? I want to paint a few walls a nice bold color but do not know which to choose. KAREN K.

DEAR GAIL: I've just moved into a new apartment and need to desperately add color. My landlord will not allow me to change the color of the walls since they were just freshly painted. What can I do, I hate the boring off-white. Jane W.

DEAR GAIL: My husband and I just bought our first house, it's perfect except that there is country wallpaper in every single room that needs to come down and pink carpet that we're going to replace with neutral beige. I need decorating help!! I know what I want to do but I'm afraid that the colors that I want to put together will look ridiculous. The floorplan of the downstairs is open enough that I'm thinking of painting the whole downstairs in a very pale ice blue and I'm thinking I want either orange or blue (brighter and lighter than navy) furniture and accent colors. I found an abstract picture with bright blue, orange and black that I want to use. Does any of that sound like it would work? I can see it in my head and it looks good, I'm just afraid it will look strange once I actually go to the trouble of buying new furniture and everything and getting it in the room. Erica D.

DEAR GAIL: I'm thinking of changing my color scheme in my house, but I've noticed over the years that sometimes I was not able to find towels and fabrics in the colors I was looking for. I don't want to pick color I can't find, but I also don't want to be forced into decorating with what is out in the stores. Who determines the colors that are placed in the stores and how can I figure out what direction to go? Mary Jo

DEAR GAIL: I want to redo my house in a completely different color scheme than I've ever had before. I've always just loved orange but it was never my husband's favorite. After 18 years he's finally given in as long as I keep it out of his office. So I'm ready to go, but want to know what other colors I can use to coordinate with. Any suggestions? Maddy M.

DEAR GAIL: We'll be moving into a new home, which is about 5 years old. Before we move in we want to repaint all the rooms. All the ceilings are the plain boring white that we've had in every other home, except this one has flat ceilings instead of the popcorn, so we want to paint them a color. Since we've never done this before, can you give use some guidelines? Bobbi & Jack

DEAR GAIL: Would it be a good idea to mix solid colors? For example an olive green sofa and love seat with a tan or brown recliner? Cody M.

Q & A's on Windows

DEAR GAIL: I'm finally ready to do my window treatments in my living room and want something simple but elegant. I've always liked swags and cascades but have a more casual contemporary style. I don't want anything too structured, like a cornice box which is why I'm leaning to swags. How can I make them work? Sherry V.

DEAR GAIL: I'm on a really tight decorating budget and I need some good advice. What window treatment color should I use for a large window in my 11x13 living room? The adjoining focal wall is going to be painted an extremely light muted yellow orange and my sofa is a brick red and rust color. JANICE

DEAR GAIL: I'm moving into a new home and in the past I had a very traditional dècor where I used pinch pleated draperies on my windows as they were great for keeping the rooms dark. This home I would like something that is not so heavy, is very casual but also classy for my windows. What do you suggest? Jillian D.

DEAR GAIL: Our living room window is 12 feet long by 4 feet tall and is centered on a wall that is 20 feet long. Any suggestions for how I can decorate so the awkward size and shape is not so noticeable. FRANCES S.

DEAR GAIL: I'm having a problem finding drapery panels that are long enough for my living room windows. It seems the longest I can find is 84 inches and I need 102 inches long. Where can I find longer panels or what else can I do? Mary Jane S.

DEAR GAIL: We're putting the final touches on our living room and have some questions about draperies. Should we match the color of the fabric to the walls? Also, what different types of panels could we do, we have a more contemporary style? Thanks, Tatjana

DEAR GAIL: I'm going to tackle my first do-it-yourself project and sew drapery panels for my master bedroom. I've noticed that most of the panels now sold in stores are not lined. Do I need to line mine? Joan M.

DEAR GAIL: What is a mock roman shade and how is it different from a roman shade? Mary Jane T.

DEAR GAIL: How do you hang the fabric scarves so that they look like I see in the models? I've been fighting with the one in my bedroom for weeks and give up. There's got to be a trick I don't know about. Would you mind sharing? Megan E.

Q & A's Miscellaneous

DEAR GAIL: I love to sew and have lots of fabric remnants left over from various projects. What can I do with them to decorate my house? JEAN W

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