Dear Joe,
I want to paint my bedroom in a deep forest green. I don't want any sheen to the finish. When I went to the paint store, I was advised not use the flat finish paint. What is your experience with this?
— Flat Out
Dear Flat,
Latex paint is sold in various finishes that range from totally flat to high gloss. What you use depends on the desired effect that you want on your walls.
My experience has taught me that a true flat finish paint is more fragile. Any scratches, fingerprints, or marks show up far more on walls with this paint. This is especially true in dark colors. If you just brush up against the wall, that mark will be there forever.
My advice is to use the next level of paint, which is a finish called 'eggshell'. This paint has just a bit of sheen to it, sort of like ... well, an eggshell. It does not mar as easily and smudges can be quickly scrubbed away.
This grade of paint will give you a very low sheen effect without having to constantly worry about marking your walls.
Dear Joe,
I recently bought a condo in a high rise. The bedroom windows face east. The sunlight floods the room in the morning, which is annoying since I like to sleep late on the weekends. I bought some curtains, but the sun is so strong that it comes right through.
I hate the look of roll up shades, so that's out. What else can I do?
— Cheryl
Dear Cheryl,
There are many solutions to blocking out the sun. You have already eliminated one of them.
Another option would be to use horizontal or vertical blinds. There are so many different options on the market that I cannot go into them here. Whether in wood, metal, plastic, with or without fabric, they all operate on the same principle. You can control the amount of light coming into the room by opening and closing the slats. One problem is that you still get light bleeding through the sides and bottom of the blinds.
Roman shades are another option, if you want a softer treatment. They can be made out of most fabrics and offer a nice clean look. Again, you will still have light bleeding in from the sides of the shades.
The best way to completely block out all of the sunlight is to have draperies made with a sun-block lining. This is a vinyl material that can be used to line most drapery fabrics instead of the usual cotton lining. If you extend the draperies up higher than the window and bring them out several inches on either side of the window, you can seal off the room from just about all sunlight.
Dear Joe,
A couple of years ago, I bought a sofa that came with a slipcover. When I put it through the wash, it started to fall apart. I contacted the store and they said that I have no recourse. Shouldn't I be able to wash a slipcover? Isn't that the point of having it?
Should I have another one made or will I have the same problem?
— Slip Shot
Dear Slip,
You are correct. The point of having a slipcover is to be able to take it off and wash it ( assuming that it is made of a washable fabric ) . The favored material is usually a cotton or cotton/polyester blend. They will last for many years if they are well made. A past client of mine recently told me that the heavy cotton slipcovers I sold her 10 years ago have lasted through two children and countless washings.
Should you have a new slipcover made? If the base sofa is a good piece of furniture and well worth saving, I would say yes. Be warned, however, that a well made slipcover will not be cheap. It has to be carefully measured and made for your sofa specifically. The creation of a properly fitting slipcover is almost as intricate as a custom piece of clothing. This is why I emphasize that the base sofa must be good quality and in excellent shape. A good slipcover can be almost as expensive as a moderately priced sofa.
Household Hint: After you wash the slipcover, do not dry it completely. Put it back on the piece of furniture just slightly damp. This way it goes on easier and dries to conform to the piece better.
Please send your questions to jos.riceinteriors@att.net . In the subject box, fill in 'WCT.'
Joseph Rice is a full service interior decorator. With 23 years of experience, he specializes in „hard to treat‰ windows. You can reach him at Joseph Rice Interiors, Inc ( 773 ) 271-2361 or at jos.riceinteriors@att.net .