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As published in the Napa Valley Register. Dear Readers, This column is just for you. Once a month, I’ll answer one of your interior design questions. Just se...

(Originally published in the Napa Valley Register) There are as many ways to create a gallery wall as there are walls in the world. There are no rules but I ...

"Getting to Know Your Designer" ... by Joan McDonald, Aspired Design Magazine ADM: Favorite book? PLC: The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexander Dumas ADM: Favori...

I don’t want to be influenced or swayed by another designer’s work. I want my ideas to be fresh, original, and mine. I also don’t wait for a

When it comes to shape, style, and sometimes finish, let your plumbing and lighting fixtures be your guide. Are these fixtures modern, tradi

The type of wood flooring we’re most familiar with is hardwood made from oak, walnut, teak, maple, mahogany, hickory, beech, and alder to na

something else I like that’s a different style. I’m looking online to get ideas but the more I look, the more confused I get. How do I finally make a decisio...

I always start with the shape of the room created by its furniture (other than the dining table). That is, an empty room may start out as a

Anything that makes your eye look up will help. For instance, place a can light on the floor, at the base of a potted plant, and shine it up

Large fans move more air than small ones so it is more efficient to run a large fan, even on a low speed, than a small fan on a high speed.

the wasted space beneath them? (Originally published in the Napa Valley Register) Your open stairs lead me to a few open-ended questions. What is the style o...

Some homeowners are opting for luxurious and user-friendly showers such as curbless entries where you can walk (or wheel) right in without

the future. We lost it in the Napa fires. In the meantime, we’re renting furniture which is expensive to do (and uncomfortable). Can you guide us in starting...

It’s true that many artificial plants look fake. Even the silk ones can look like plastic or paper. But there are companies whose potted pla

These rooms are actually one big room. I know the rugs should not match, but what do I look for so that the two coordinate? Also, are draperies out of fashio...

We belong to an HOA so much of the design is predetermined. But the interior style is completely up to us. Our last style was very mixed because neither my h...

now my wife is looking at quartz. There are so many quartz options and now we are confused. Do you recommend granite or quartz and could you shed some light ...

Let’s start with the basics. The strongest and most durable part of a cow hide is just below the hair. Leather made from this area is called

Let’s say your house has 10 rooms on a single floor and that you have three distinct paint colors in mind (not including trim and door color

room, family room and staircase at the same time. There are a lot of angles. My favorite color is purple but of course that won't work. My husband likes tan ...