Annie Elliott Design
Greater Washington DC
Dear Annie: We’ve been in our house for one year. We painted the living room and I really like the color – though it didn’t do anything to pull the furniture together color-wise, we just liked the color. We just invested a good chunk of change in having custom drapes made. I chose the drapes …
A friend told me the other day that they’ve nixed plans to renovate their kitchen, at least for now. I keep hearing that the economy is looking up, but in the short run, here are three inexpensive things you can do to perk up your tired kitchen. 1. Add a rug – a colorful one. …
I know the economy’s stalling, but here are 5 things you can do for a lift in these trying times, each for about $500. 1. Have a room painted. Notice how I didn’t say, “paint a room?” That’s because for $500, you should be able to hire someone to paint it for you, especially if …
I was wandering around Chapel Hill, NC this weekend, and I popped into the Carolina Inn. It’s a lovely place, decorated exactly as you would expect: floral upholstery, formal drapes with swags, needlepoint rugs, antique reproductions…all in all, a tasteful if predictable scheme for a “historic” inn (it was built in 1924). As I rounded …
Q: What suggestions do you have for sliding doors? I have some new ones in a combination bedroom/ sitting room at the front of a house with a front deck which we will make semi private. We want it to be totally open with the doors open in the daytime but very private at night …
Gentle Readers: The Washington Post was kind enough to mention this entry in its July 3 Home section; The Seattle Times carried it on July 5. Ah, summer. Hot, hot, summer. The luckiest among us live in places that cool down pleasantly at night, so an open window and maybe a fan are all we …
Q: I am buying a new 2-story house. I am concerned about the front of the house and the cohesiveness or lack of…. What do you think about the overall look from the front… is ok to have mix of shutters and drapes even if each is its own style? A: This is such a …