Burning Question: Got Any Burning Questions?
We’ve loved getting your read on quite a few surprisingly controversial subjects over the years (from whether you prefer wood or carpeted floors in the bedroom to which way you like to dispense your toilet paper).
Some topics elicited way more responses than we ever thought possible (like this chatter about how early is too early to decorate for the holidays). While others got unexpectedly heated (who knew there were such strongly opposing views when it came to being pro or anti cul-de-sac?).
So now our big question is: got any more questions?
It’s not really that we’re “out” per se. There are always about a million things to ask, from what upholstery fabric you prefer (velvet? chenille? microfiber? duck?) to whether you like sofas or sectionals better (and why). But we thought it was about time that we asked you guys what big important home-related conundrums are plaguing you so we could officially add them to our roster of Burning Questions.
So what say you our curious readers? Is anyone out there dying to discuss the pros and cons of slate roofing vs. metal or asphalt ones? Anyone else wondering if a wood deck or a stone patio is more popular among our bevy of opinionated readers? Just comment on this post with any and all home or decor related burning questions (general ones where everyone can chime in, like “this vs. that”- nothing too personal to your house or your sitch) and we’ll do our best to address as many as we can moving forward. Sounds like a good time, eh?
Image from Google Maps (it’s actually my childhood subdivision).
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You may have done these and I just missed them somehow, but if not, here are a couple:
Leather furniture or not? (especially for those people with animals in the house)
Stainless steel appliances or not (especially with those with little kiddos with sticky fingers everywhere!)
Clear or opaque storage containers?
Dark wood floors and furniture or light? (like maple wood vs. oak)
Got carpeting, want rugs. Rug ON carpet? Hmm.
I don’t think this topic has been covered, but I’d LOVE to see a discussion on giant flat-screen TV’s – conceal/minimize or display proudly? Maybe also including creative budget-friendly ideas to conceal or minimize. My husband and I differ on this of course. Even though I love watching our new 52″ flatscreen LCD TV, I personally can’t stand seeing a giant black screen as soon as you walk into the room (with our open floor plan, you see it when you walk in the front door). I used to have a beautiful armoire to conceal our old TV, but alas our new one is too big and I can’t afford another giant piece of furniture. I have a fireplace in the room too, so I am trying to devise ways to move the focal point away from the giant black screen. ?
We actually got a read on just that subject a while back. Here’s that link for ya:
http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/12/burning-question-behind-closed-doors/
xo,
s
What is your favorite household tip?
Mine is that if you apply shaving cream to your bathroom mirror, it does not fog up…and no, it doesn’t streak upon application.
oh, the rug ON carpet one that Laura suggested is good! I have been debating that one too!
We love all these great suggestions! Keep ‘em coming.
xo,
s
I am about to be a first time home owner! I have approximately 10000 projects in mind, but one of the first things I want to tackle is the front yard/driveway.
Any thoughts on cost-efficient paving options?…. is gravel a bad idea (I’m in Houston)? Any experience with porous pavers like the Geoweb?
Thanks!
tf
hmmmmm……
Have you – or any of your readers – ever used a hardwood floor refinishing product that can help cover over dulling, scratched hardwoods that have survived kids/pets, without having to sand & refinish entirely? (Essentially looking for a rec on a clear top coat that will create shine, dry within a few hours, and restore some life without the huge investment of having the floors entirely re-done.) Thanks!!
Dogs in the house? I say yes, but am curious how many people out there think it’s a bad idea (I know my sister is one of the naysayers).
I have one: wall-stickers yes or not?
:-)
These are nice:
http://www.ferm-living.com/wallstickers/
How do you feel about leather furniture, especially with the baby coming? Yay or nay?
Oooh how about wood trim? Almost every I know has painted white trim now, but I think there are also people out there who want to keep the original wood tones. Might be an interesting topic.
You could also ask people what design trend they have done in the past and now regret. For example, I didn’t do this, but the previous owners of my house have some wall paper trim and had some cheesy wall stencils of some grape vines going up the stairs. They also put popcorn texture on the bathroom walls. On the walls! Not the ceiling, but all the walls. Ugh.
I have decided that carpet is totally out of the picture when the house remodel is done . . . this includes great room, bedrooms, hallway, entry, kitchen,office, formal sitting area. I’ll go with area rugs. I cannot do hardwood because of a certain Golden Retriever. . . so it’s laminate. Is there big differences in brands, pricing, etc. as to the quality & durability of this stuff. Seems to be a lot of options out there and if you were me, where would you start looking?
Hanging things on plaster walls… especially heavy items.
My question – how does one earn a place on your Link Love list? :)
When painting a room…accent wall or not? This debate caused a war between my aunt (who wanted an accent wall) and my uncle (who didn’t) when they remodeled their bathroom. My cousins and I were quite entertained when they would sneak in the bathroom and repaint the wall while the other was sleeping/at work/gone shopping/etc.
1) Bedskirts: yea or nay (or switch to bottom mattress covers and achieve a cleaner appearance?)
2) Sleeper Sofas: Back Nightmares or worth the investment for a good one? (like the AU sleeper sofa sold at Macy’s)
3) Affordable chaise lounge for master bedroom, one stylish and comfortable chair & ottoman or two chairs? another related question: how many of you “use” your master bedroom as a retreat together or does just one of you usually use the extra chair for reading?
4)Desks: pros and cons of corner desks, parsons desks, armoir/cabinet desks?
5)Regrets: you got the item on your wish list, finally, and it just wasn’t what you thought it would be. What was it? And how did you live with that or turn it around?
6)Furniture Finishes that have staying power — you’ll like them today and 15 years from now because they are versatile, never out of style,etc. (white oak, mohoganey, gray or white furniture,etc)
7)Mirrors in decorating: how to use them most effectively
Window treatments – I have wood – slated shades and shades on all windows in house. I have been contemplating doing draperies. Take down the shades all together or can I layer? Shades and drapes? Are shades still “in”? Thanks.
For Katie “Have you – or any of your readers – ever used a hardwood floor refinishing product that can help cover over dulling, scratched hardwoods that have survived kids/pets, without having to sand & refinish entirely? (Essentially looking for a rec on a clear top coat that will create shine, dry within a few hours, and restore some life without the huge investment of having the floors entirely re-done.) Thanks!!”
- I’ve heard really good things about Bona, as long as there was a sealer coat on the floor to begin with. And it’s supposed to be an eco-friendly option to boot!
Oooh, the exposed wood vs painted wood is a good one. I think that one tends to fall along gender lines…but I’d be curious to see.
Trim – white? wood? should it match the cabinets throughout the house?
Landscape or Desertscape?
itswhatshewants.wordpress.com
I’d love to see a poll added to the topics if you can do that. While some obviously invite more discussion, some it would be interesting to see a breakdown of votes (like the TP question).
I’d love to know what you guys do with unwanted gifts-i.e. clutter- do you store it somewhere? Is it ok to give it away? Between wedding gifts and various holidays I have half a closet of porcelain statues, crystal figurines,etc. that I’ll never use or display and haven’t the slightest clue what to (politely) do with them!
Also, I’d love to see more about how you guys live a “minimalist” lifestyle. I loved loved the “less is more” post you did a while back. Especially with baby coming :)
Kitchen back splashes–necessary or unnecessary? You guys don’t have one, correct? Our kitchen is new, but small and needs a wow factor.
More specific than the trim question: What color is best for quarter round?
I have always maintained that quarter rounds are part of molding and therefore should match the molding (white for most of us, I believe). There are many who match it to their flooring though. I’ve seen this is plenty of new construction in the last five years or so.
D.Dallas, I have a golden retriever as well! I’m putting in hardwood in the next few weeks. You should look at the Janka scale of the different products out there. You can get hardwood…you just need to find one with a good Janka scale. I’m going with EcoTimber myself (FSC certified, no formaldehyde). Even their bamboo came out ahead of most traditional wood flooring in the last round of Consumer Reports tests. :)
Hi Sherry and John,
Do you have any posts on your blog about mold cleanup? We recently discovered some mold on the wall in one of our closets. Its on the back wall of the closet, which is an exterior wall of our house. I would like to get it cleaned up ASAP, but I want to make sure that it is done correctly without harm to our health!
Thanks!
Becky
Hey Becky,
We haven’t tackled that topic yet, but we’ve heard that white vinegar and a really scrubby sponge will totally clear it up for you. Natural, cheap and easy- gotta love that!
xo,
s
My question would be financial. I really love the idea of buying a fixer upper home and making it your own (LOVE your house!), but I’m curious about how people actually financially accomplish having cash for the house + additional remodeling. Did you use a special loan that allowed you to take more money with your mortgage to make these changes? Save up the cash? Pay off over time? Obviously, I don’t want to impose that you disclose details that you aren’t comfortable with, but for a money worry wart like me, it’s been a burning question for a long time.
Thanks in advance!
I’m with Kristi W. and Cheryl..great questions!!
Hardwood flooring or laminate?
New construction vs older home?
Pro or anti-homeowner’s association?
I’d appreciate a “company coming” post. What works best for overnight guests, if you can’t keep a bed just for that purpose.
Storm door or no storm door? I don’t think they’re aesthetically very pleasing, but I like the idea of letting in a lot of light and air (if you have a screen) by opening the front door.
Here’s another one…
How many TV’s in a house is too many. If it were up to my husband we’d have a flat screen mounted on the wall in everyroom including the bathrooms! I keep telling him “this is our home, not a sports bar.”
“I have decided that carpet is totally out of the picture when the house remodel is done . . . this includes great room, bedrooms, hallway, entry, kitchen,office, formal sitting area. I’ll go with area rugs. I cannot do hardwood because of a certain Golden Retriever. . . so it’s laminate. Is there big differences in brands, pricing, etc. as to the quality & durability of this stuff. Seems to be a lot of options out there and if you were me, where would you start looking?”
To D.Dallas: I went with wood laminate, too, due to the durability and price. I went to 3 or 4 different home improvement stores, comparing price and appearance. I actually ended up buying mine from Costco, where they had several different high-end types of laminate, for the low-end cost. The one I went with even came with the padding on the bottom (usually you have to buy it separately). It honestly looks like real, true wood, because the grains in the laminate match with the darker colors in the wood (the lower end stuff doesn’t match). Everyone thinks it’s the real thing, and I’ve dropped all sorts of stuff on it already and not even a scratch or dent (think hammers, saws, screwdrivers, glass, and we have a dog). You can check it out at my blog if you like. Anyways, good question and good luck with your laminate search! :)
How about fencing options? Here in sunny Arizona block fences seem to be the norm. I think they are hideous but my husband who grew up here likes them. I know in some parts of the country people don’t like fencing off their yards at all, that’s a little too out it the open for me, I like a little privacy.
Hey Sandy,
We actually tackled the pro or anti fence debate a while back. Here’s that link for you:
http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/09/burning-question-do-you-fence/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I also want to know the ‘answer’ to Amanda’s question about “Trim – white? wood? should it match the cabinets throughout the house?”
And this isn’t a ‘question’ really, but considering how much everyone enjoys your mood boards – maybe you could add a feature that’s sort of a twist on the concept. You could invite people to submit photos of a room in their house that they want ‘rearranged/reinvented’ (without spending $$$)and you two could weigh in with your thoughts (or not) and then invite readers to make suggestions on how and what to rearrange. The submitter could also provide a photo of other accessories in the house that could be moved into that room. It’s a no-cost fun design exercise for both you guys and your readers – and it helps everyone save money and exercise their skills (that you’re also helping to cultivate through features like ‘Look & Learn’). What do you think?
Definitely the rug on rug question. I have mostly carpet in my house but I’m dying to add a colorful accent rug.
If you only had the space for one in a master bedroom which would you prefer: a whirlpool tub or a walk in closet?
Painting brick inside or out…We are dealing with this issue right now. Should we or shouldn’t we inside our home?
I found some fabric that I really want to turn into a duvet but I don’t have any idea where to start. Will you do a tutorial on how much fabric to buy and then what to do after you buy it?! Do I just sew a big square to fit over a white comforter? I am so clueless! Is it to matchy-matchy to buy extra fabric to turn into curtains? If so, where else can I incorporate the fabric?
Thanks!
One that we have gone back and forth on recently: pedestal sink or vanity sink?
similarly: recessed medicine cabinet, wall-mounted, or no cabinet just a mirror?
I completely agree on having the painted wood vs natural/stained wood debate. WHY WHY WHY do people paint wood?? Ahhhhhhh! As a woman with a forestry degree, I have love for all things tree and painted wood is a disaster in my opinion….sorry :) I much prefer tinted stains to get a color – even blue – because I love seeing that wood grain.
storage of CDs and DVDs – we have over 300 DVDs and probably over 500 CDs. Right now they’re stored in basic floor-standing-anchored-to-the-wall media shelves open to the world similar to http://www.theatlanticstore.com/products/Oskar-1080-Wood-Media-Cabinet-In-Maple.html What else can you do with that many discs? We have a plan in mind to build our own wall-mounted room-length shelving from old boards in the scrap lumber pile in our barn so we can get that floor space back.
Lighting – does each room need a light in the ceiling connected to a switch? Local codes may dictate this for some folks. What if the room was just lit by wall sconces? Or a couple floor lamps? Thoughts on can/recessed lights? We’ve got massive exposed wood beams throughout our first floor, running through the centers of each room section – so to put a light on one side of the beam would cast shadows on the other side. We’re leaning most towards can lights at this point to put on each side of every beam, but that would make for lots of light switches…
To use linoleum or not to use linoleum? It’s “green” and inexpensive…but…
Should a house be decorated to match its era, or should you decorate it to match your inner desires? That is, someone buys an 1800′s colonial – do they decorate in that time period or do they gut it and put in a modern zen sanctuary? Is there a balance between the two?
How many folks out there insulate interior walls for soundproofing reasons?
Open floor plan vs. separate rooms? Especially with regards to the kitchen being open to the living area or not?
I always struggle with toys (pets’ in my case, but children’s works too). How do you keep them accessible to children or animals, but not the first thing you see when you enter a room? It seems like I’m always picking them up, just to put them out all over again.
Any tips for those of us whose decorating ideas seem to be thwarted at every turn by our families?! i.e. shedding dog, messy kids, and a husband who seems to be the pide piper of dirt! I know that they are what makes a house a home, but I often wonder how the people you’ve housecrashed do it? No matter how I try, my house seems to look like a hodge podge (and not in the funky, eclectic way, more of the thrift store/hand-me-down/toys r us sort of way). Any help for us who have the will but can’t seem to find the way? Thank you again for the website. It is one of the consistently pretty parts of my day!
Lauren B.
A little more specific on landscaping: pet friendly fertilizers or how to get grass to grow and ways to maintain a good looking yard. When we bought our house the yard wasn’t in the best shape and we’re not sure what the best way is to get grass to grow without worrying about our dog eating anything she shouldn’t.
Yeah…I’ve been told that Borax works really well because it is very acidic, which is probably why vinegar works as well!
Thanks :)
Becky
Sliding glass door treatments? I have a sliding glass door in my kitchen that goes to our patio. We also have a dog that likes to dig up our yard, so we like to keep an eye on her somewhat, and we open the door really often for her to come & go. Curtains? Blinds? Both?
We actually did a post on that subject a while back. This is hands down our favorite sliding door solution. Here’s the link for you:
http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/06/reader-redesign-stellar-sliders/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Flat or eggshell paint for walls? I would especially love to hear from people who have kids.
What items do you keep in your “Decor Store” that have become your most popular, versatile, ‘go-to’ items? I know this is one of those personal preference questions but I’m starting my own mini-decor shoppette for my teeny tiny townhouse. All this means not a lot of space so all the more important to get items that give bang for the buck and storage space. I would LOVE to hear your top picks!
I know that some people do it, but I’ve struggled with this: To mix or not to mix wood tones in the same room?