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These are some of the home design questions sent in by our viewers with the answers from Our Designer's. If you have any quesions please feel free to submit them and we will get you an answer as quickly as possible. Remember; sending pictures of your project helps Our Designer's to find quicker solutions.  Email Us Now

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Hello Beryn, my name is Julia and my husband and I just built a two-story, 4 bedroom colonial home which I am trying to decorate tastefully! My question is, can a chair rail and crown molding be put in the dining room? and if so, do we have to continue the crown molding throughout the home?  My husband says we would have to put it throughout (but between me and you, I think he is trying to get out of doing the work)!!

Julia
Massachusettes

Hi Julia. No it is not necessary to put it throughou the whole house. Unless the dining room is an open plan that is directly connected to other rooms.

Beryn
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My daughter will be building a new home next year and Is overwhelmed with the task of designing and decorating it.
She can't afford to make any unnecessary or costly mistakes, (3 children).  How would she go about finding a local Interior Designer that will be able to work with her architect, builder and most important, her!? She lives on the North Shore area of Boston, MA.
Boston does have a great design center, but I think it's only for the use of designers?

Thank you,
Lorraine

Hi Lorraine, First; I would like to suggest that your daughter visit our site (if she hasn't already) to make some preparatory decisions about colors and furniture styles before consulting a decorator (having this information ahead of time can help illeviate any confusion or mis-steps).

Another reason to do this is because many decorators like to infuse their preferences and not always what the homeowner wants. This is because some decorator's are more concerned with their portfolio. I have met with homeowners after a decorator has done the work only to find out that the owner didn't like or actually want the design; but felt the decorator was in charge.  I made he requested changes; but it ended up costing the homeonwer more for not properly planning ahead of time.

The homeowner should always be in charge and tell the decorator what they like. The decorator will make suggestions if the ideas are not conducive to the overalll design plan.  I bring this up as a preparation thought to keep things under control. I'm sure I can help her make some of these decisions if she contacts me via email with her initial thoughts - or by phone if she prefers.

I know this is an overwhelming project; but it can be made easier with advance preparation. Please have her contact me and let me know if a phone call(s) will be helpful. Otherwise; let me know the budget and size (how many room and square footage of the house, start date) so I can see if we (or someone else) can help.

Hope this is helpful and also brings some insight.

John
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I ’ m having a hard time selecting a paint color for my kitchen walls.  My cabinets are white, I have stainless/black appliances, my wall tile and floor ing are a clay color and my countertop is a brown/black stone.   My living/dining room s are adjacent to my kitchen separated by open doorways.  The walls in those 2 areas are a soft butter color.  Should I try to keep that same color in my kitchen or could I go with another color that compliments the kitchen better.  I ’ m totally confused on what paint color I should use in my kitchen area.  I plan to put up French doors that would separate the living/dining rooms from the kitchen, but at the same time I want them to compliment each other.  Can you advise me on a paint selection?

Thanks.
Gloria

Hi Gloria, The room design sounds great. Considering the brown/black countertops I would feel tha a lighter shade of the butter color on the kitchen walls would compliment the cabinets (and tone down the white) and contertops.

Alexis
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I have a bedroom 10x10, just painted walls white and quilt is violet, or purple with other colors of whie and lavendar. Funriture is maple-the wall you see from the dining room is white so I need to add color. Don't want wreathes on the wall like I have had. Walls are only 7ft. Should I do a border or will it make the room appear smaller. Please help me by suggestions.

Thanks,
Marilyn