Twitter Chat with John Gidding, and a HUGE Giveaway!

Natalie

I live in a loft space that I love. Unfortunately, I don’t love my floors and cabinets. The flooring is the original wood floor from the building over 100 years ago. It definitely gives the place character, but it is just not my style. And I have berber carpeting as well. Also, the cabinets are nothing exciting…

I love blacks, grays, reds and stainless steel, straight lines… industrial style.

I want to love everything about my place, but I don’t have the funds to totally transform it. Can you offer suggestions for a floor covering? How about a good way to change the look of my cabinets? Is painting the only answer? Also… can a place have too much black, gray and red???

linsley

What are your opinions on the peel and stick wall sayings, etc?

shannon

What are some ways to freshen up/change the look of a tile backsplash, that don’t involve a crow bar?

Emily

I just bought a great mid-century modern brick house, but the interior is quite boring. I’d like to add some color to the kitchen first, and have an idea to do two paint colors with a chair rail separating the two about half way up the wall. (So the bottom part would be asparagus and the top would be mint green). My husband says that the wainscoting style is very un-mid century modern. Do you think it would still work?

TD

John, can you please suggest where I can get some large scale artwork for under $100? I love the art pieces in Nicole’s house, and would love to get something similar. But I don’t have much to spend as of now. Thanks for the giveaway and whatever advice you may have for me.

the chatty housewife

How many colors can you get away with using in one room, if they all coordinate?

How many wood tones can you have in one room? For example, in my family room I have a dark mahogany wood piano, a cream computer desk and black bookcases and TV hutch.

Kelly Anne

I had no idea so many things were available using Amex points! If I use mine at all, it’s usually for travel. My question is this: I’m a young (25), single, occasional cook, currently an Americorps VISTA in rural West Virginia. I’m only here for a year, after which I don’t know where I’ll be headed. Right now my kitchen is primarily hand-me-downs and items found at the local dollar store. I get frustrated with the low quality of things, but can’t decide if I really want to invest in nicer (and more expensive) things when it will all be packed up and moved to who-knows-where in 10 months. As it stands now, I could leave behind most of my kitchen stuff, with the exception of a collection of vintage Pyrex. In your opinion, is investing in nicer pots, pans, mixers, utensils, etc, worth it at this stage in my life?

Jenn Martin

I live in a new-ish cookie cutter suburban home. Aside from painting the walls, can you recommend some low-budget high-impact changes?

heather f

we have a big pipe in our bathroom that goes from floor to ceiling. it is against a wall but it is about 5 inch in diameter and made from cast iron. We can’t move it. I have painted it with wall color but it seems like I should be able to do something interesting with it. it’s right in the middle of the room which is long and narrow.

Barb

Hi John and Nicole –

I will be moving soon into a new apartment in NYC and am a little nervous about the space I will be losing. Do you have any recommendations for double-duty furniture or decor?

Charity

I am looking to put my house up for sale. What are your thoughts with regards to removing all family photos and such from the home in preparation for sale?

Jessica R.

My friend has told me to pick the rug for a room first, would you agree? How do you go about selecting area rugs for a space?

How do you decide on the best color, pattern or size?

Lastly, what are some good sources for larger, affordable area rugs?

Holly T.

I live in the dark Pacific Northwest. The previous owners painted all the walls a dark putty, which is just gloomy in the winter time. I am looking for a color scheme that is neutral but warm, and can be carried through the whole house. Do you have any suggestions? I also need trim color. Thanks.

micaela @ hishouse;herhelp

This is a great giveaway! Wow so many prices. Question… our house was built in the 40s and underwent 2 additions since. It doesn’t really have any defined style on the exterior. The house has wide painted siding with concrete and brick and brick steps. I want to cover the concrete b/c I think it’s ugly. I thought a thin stacked stone would look good over the concrete but I’m concerned about using stone and brick together with painting siding. Too much? Should I paint the brick? Can I paint the bricks on steps?

carriegel

Will you ever be finished? :)

Lauren @ Healthy Delicious

What’s the best way too decorate a large home cheaply and without just filling it with “stuff”?

Sarah

What’s the best way to plan a living room layout? How many people should you be able to comfortably fit?

Caitlin

I’ve got a very small budget; I’d like to know how to focus that budget–what are the most important elements of a room to spend my money on?

Emily

What are some design options when you aren’t allowed to paint walls? This is something I’ve had an issue with since living in the dorms in college, and now my apartment complex won’t let me paint either. What budget-friendly wall treatments exist to make a plain-Jane space more inviting?

katie

What key pieces should I add to my living room to snazz it up w/o making it look too cluttered?

Thanks!!

Blair

How can I incorporate a dark red accent wall going up along our staircase into our home’s decor (mostly neutrals, blues, and greens)? It was painted by the previous owner, we don’t like red, and hiring professionals to paint it (which would be necessary because of the height) is not in our budget. Thanks!

Sara Moriarty

What a fun giveaway Nicole! And I can’t wait for the Twitter convo with John.

Your readers have thought of some great questions and I am going to repeat a frequently asked question:

What advice can John give that will help meld my husband and I’s tastes? What “tricks” does he use when designing for a couple that has differing opinions?

Thanks Nicole!

Kayduh

I would love ideas on how to find well made used furniture without having to haunt garage sales, thrift shops, etc. I love that sort of thing, but my life is too crazy to invest the time that seems to be needed to find good pieces. Or maybe I just have bad luck!

Melissa

I need to partition a room in my apt and have limited space. I was thinking of suspending a curtain from the ceiling. Do you have any other suggestions?

Vanessa

When on a tight budget, what’s your rule of thumb for where DIY STOPS and hiring a professional STARTS? I’ve had one too many projects where I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, thanks to an overinflated sense of human ingenuity and know-how, hah!

Medina

We are apartment dwellers and owners of two large dogs. Our space is limited so it is a constant struggle to incorporate the necessities for our dogs and still keep things tidy AND pleasing to the eye. Do you have any suggestions?

PaperDollyGirl

How much would you spend on moving into a new rental to customize the space? Someone quoted me a figure of one month’s rent, but that seems high to me.

Derricka

I am a law student and moving into my first single person apartment ever! I love a mix of modern and vintage/antique when it comes to fabrics, furniture, and decor. My question would be what is the best way to blend these two styles? Is it best to stick with one or the other when it comes to purchasing big items like sofas and other pieces of furniture, or is it better to mix them (i.e. a modern coffee table with vintage patterned chairs)?

Secondly, my apartment only has two sets of windows on the back side of the apartment in my bedroom and bathroom, and it gets NO LIGHT. What are some paint colors and techniques to help transform what could potentially be a DUNGEON into a lighter, airy space?

Amy

How do you find the balance between clutter and decor? I have things I’d love to display, but sometimes feel like there’s just too much out. Any creative suggestions on how to display without looking like there’s just clutter?

Janet

Can you suggest some modern, attractive window coverings/curtains that would block most of the morning sunlight? Thanks!

Erin

Question: What are the BEST websites for home decoration inspiration?

Rhea

Here’s a conundrum- We just moved into a house with… wait for it… wood paneling. It’s the real wood stuff, and it could almost be swiss-modern-cabin if I squint my eyes just right. Am I delusional? Should it come down? Get painted? Or just go with it and see what comes out the other side?

Jennifer

3 kids = 3 Billion Toys!! HELP!!!

What is the best storage option for tons of toys…that happen to pile up in the main living area?! (wicker baskets are destroyed by little teeth)

Letia

How can I merge my passion for modern design with my very strong-willed husbands desire for comfortable, and safe/conventional in a Craftsman style home?

Clara

I love greys as a backdrop and am planning on painting my bedroom in grey. Any suggestions from John on certain shades of grey that I should stay away from? Also, are there complementary palettes for room decor that you like when working with grey walls? Thanks in advance. I looking forward to the conversation.

hanna

What’s a good way to lighten up an ugly, cheap room at college (bad windows), without painting the walls?

Jesselyn

I have a couch I got at Goodwill for $50. It’s old – in the good way: very well built, sturdy, heavy. Would it be worth it to have it reupholstered, or should I just wait a few years until I have the money to buy a new couch (I’m a college student) – either way would be expensive for me, but I imagine reupholstry would be less so.

mary fran

what are some good strategies for containing clutter in a small home?

abbasmommy

I would love to know how to choose a trim color so it ties in with your wall color?

Meg

I would love to hear some tips on using and combining patterns in a space – or conjoined spaces. I have a large living room and dining room that are open to one another through a large 8′ arch way. I want to make sure the spaces work together.

Thanks!

Teddi

We need two home offices in our house, while we have a designated office room, I am having to put my workspace in our guest room. How do I still make it look like a guest room with a 27″ monitor sitting on the nightstand?

Jay

How can I integrate/store craft (dressform, sewing machine, fabric stash, etc) into my decor in a practical way?

Tara Jane

I am looking for boldly patterned wallpaper to put up on on a focus wall. What are your favorite sources of wall paper?

Cara

We live in a rental house, so we can’t replace the ugly carpet in our living room. Is it tacky to cover it with a different carpet or is there something else we can do?

sarah r.

my question is this: as a soon-to-be newly wed, i’m struggling with what to register for. what do we REALLY need and should we replace (even if we already HAVE something) versus sustainability??

Kelly @ Fabulous K

I would love suggestions on affordable ways to transform the all white walls of my apartment without painting or wallpapering. I love both treatments but since I rent painting/wallpapering are not options. Any ideas on chic, temporary ways to add interest are much appreciated!

Suzanne

What are some of your favorite gender-neutral nursery colors?

Jessica

I have a very eclectic style that I think really works well for me…or at least used to…I recently did a revamp of my masterbed room…and it is a lot more modern in style than the rest of my home…and the hall leading to it is starting to look very nuetral in comparison. What would be a good way and quick way to make the hallway a better transition between my spaces?

And what a great giveaway!!

Autumn Driscoll

I am very interested in the answers to a lot of these questions. My challenge: I am a photographer married to a writer (not a very handy pair) living in a 1959 cape which hasn’t changed much since 1959 – oh and we have a baby on the way. What can we do to update our home on a tiny budget that doesn’t involve too many power tools? Think pink and teal bathrooms….

Pauline

Great giveaway!! Lately I’ve notice a huge trend in recycling old furniture to look new. How can you tell if a piece is worth the effort?