ASK
PRISCILLA
Updating your headboard,
choosing a mirror,
what you need to know
before you move.

By PRISCILLA KOHUTEK

Q. I’m really tired of my brass bed. I want a more updated look that won’t put a huge dent in our bank account. What do you suggest?

A. Sadly, those beautiful brass beds, which were once considered treasures that cost the earth, are not currently in fashion. But I’m holding onto mine and hoping they come back into vogue during my lifetime.

Upholstered headboards are the current hot news and can be very affordable. You will need to buy a frame — an inexpensive metal frame will serve the purpose. If you’re handy or know someone who is, you can make and shape a headboard of your own design out of plywood. Next, you’ll have to “upholster” it with lots of batting, stapled onto the plywood. Then comes the fabric of choice, which is also stapled onto the plywood. Finish off the edges with a cording, hot-glued to the fabric, that matches, coordinates or contrasts with the fabric. Matching trim will blend in with the fabric, coordinating trim will outline the headboard, and contrasting trim will accent the shape of the headboard. It’s up to you.

Alternately, you can call Calico Corners or another decorator and either purchase something they may have on hand or have them design something especially for you.

Q. We’re making our first major move, and I have no idea how to handle it. Please give me some help. Where do I start?

A. Moving is a big deal, so get ready for one of the most chaotic periods of your life. Regardless of whether the thought of moving throws you into a tailspin or it’s something you think that you can take in your stride, it’s an emotionally and physically exhausting experience. However, there are some tried and true techniques for making the job somewhat easier. I hope you will also find them useful.

• Prepare yourself mentally. If it’s difficult for you to come to terms with the reality of moving, get some help sorting it out. Perhaps talking it over with friends who have had similar experiences will be enough. If not, talk to a professional therapist or counselor. Sounds like overkill? Nay, nay. Moving is difficult. It ranks near the top on stress charts. When you aren’t in the right frame of mind, it is impossible to set the stage for others who may be involved — and there’s always somebody, even if it’s the dog.

• If you have children, getting them ready for the move is crucial. Tell them about your plans as soon as possible. Children usually resist changes, so give them time to adjust to the idea. Be honest about where you are moving and why. If possible, show them where they will live. When this isn’t practical, help them select appropriate books and Web sites that will educate them about the new location. They can even get a satellite view of their new home and neighborhood on line at earth.google.com. Be patient with the little guys and be generous with the hugs — everybody needs them.

• Make lists.

• Start the purging process early. Get rid of everything that isn’t going with you. Do one room at a time. I like to get the hard stuff out of the way before I get totally worn out, so I tackle the kitchen first. Your priorities may be different, but wherever you begin, complete one task before you start on something else. If you’re cleaning out your dresser drawers, don’t switch over to the closet — finish what you start. Do kitchen and bathroom drawers and cabinets one at a time. Don’t dump everything out and try to sort through it all. Keep the house as tidy as possible. When the place is a hopeless mess, so is your head, and it’s very hard to get organized.

• Involve the kids. Give them a voice in deciding what goes and what doesn’t. Encourage them to pass on unwanted toys and outgrown clothes to children who need them. Of course, some of their things will end up in the trash, but the kids don’t have to know about it.

• Determine what furniture and which appliances will go and what won’t. Color coding is a great way to label things: Green goes: yellow goes to the consignment store; blue is for Disabled American Veteran’s Pickup, Boysville Thrift Shop, Goodwill, etc.; red doesn’t go beyond the nearest trash can. Add the codes to your list so you won’t forget what they mean. FYI: Colored Post-it notes may seem like a good idea, but they can fall off. Also, be aware that some tape can damage furniture finishes, so be careful with it if you plan to stick on the color codes.

• Get written estimates from at least three moving companies. Recommendations from friends and relatives are de rigueur. Ask the moving companies about insurance coverage and the estimated length of time for packing and shipping — get it in writing.

• Prepare for moving day. Remove light bulbs from lamps and pack them separately. Empty the refrigerator, unplug it, wash it sparkling clean, and dry it well. The smallest food particle can grow to the size of Mount Everest. Wash the door seals with Clorox to remove traces of mold and mildew.

• Be sure furniture is well wrapped. Movers should use heavy quilts and not corrugated cardboard. I learned this the hard way when some of our wood furniture arrived with corrugated marks and had to be refinished after one of our moves. Whenever it’s possible, remove table legs to prevent breakage. Pack the legs with the table if it makes sense. For example, if the dining table legs can be removed, pack them on the underside of the tabletop.

• Pack a “survival” box. Include items you and your family will need right away, such as sheets and pillows, towels, soap, nonperishable snacks, paper cups and plates, etc. Don’t forget the coffee pot and some ground coffee. Mark the box and be sure it’s easy to get to.

• Personally oversee the packing of valuables like silver and antiques. Take photos of the items. Be sure the boxes are initialed by the packer and sealed in your presence.

• Don’t identify the contents of the boxes on the labels. Mark them with codes or numbers, and keep a master list of what it all means.

• Check off the boxes as they’re loaded onto the truck. The mover will provide you with a shipping list. If your household goods are being crated and/or put into containers, have it done at your home and watch the process to make sure nothing gets left out.

• Safeguard your belongings! Do a complete and detailed inventory of everything that’s going into the shipment and/or storage. Yes, it’s a tedious task, but things happen. I’ve heard such horror stories — like a whole container ending up at the bottom of the ocean after a cable broke while it was being loaded. One of my friends who hadn’t yet found a new place to live put everything, including antiques, photographs and other family heirlooms, into storage, thinking they would be safe until she was ready for them. Guess what? The warehouse burned down.

Even if your household goods aren’t facing an ocean voyage or storage, boxes sometimes vanish into thin air, and moving vans have accidents. You can’t collect insurance on something you can’t prove, so be prepared with photos and receipts.

• Hand-carry important documents as well as all moving papers and shipping information, the inventory and the master list of the boxes and their contents.

• I can’t promise you that these tips will lead to a stress-free move, but maybe they will help you survive the experience.

FYI: Forty-two to 43 million people move each year in the United States — one in every four to five adults. Individuals move 11 to 11.7 times in their lifetime.

It takes an average of six months to become familiar with new surroundings and two years to feel really settled.

Moving is expensive: Homeowners spend as much as $10,000 on purchases for their new home; relocating apartment dwellers spend around $4,000.

Q. I have my eye on a smashing starburst mirror to hang over the fireplace, but I’m not sure how it will look with our traditional living room décor. Do you think it will work?

A. There’s only one way to find out. Take it home on a trial basis to see how it looks. This can be arranged with many of our local retailers. Then stand back and take a hard look at it. If you aren’t sure how you feel about it, take it back. If you love it, buy it. That’s the bottom line — if it pleases you, that’s all that is important. You’re the only one who matters.
Until next time, happy decorating.

Priscilla Kohutek, internationally published home decorating columnist and author, draws from her own experience and the advice of experts to answer your questions. Send your queries to Ask Priscilla® via e-mail at Priscilla@askpriscilla.com, or mail them to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, 8603 Botts Lane, San Antonio, TX 78217.