ASK
PRISCILLA
Updating a ‘50’s bathroom, using area rugs, advice
on woodwork, the newst wall treatments

By PRISCILLA KOHUTEK

Q. I’m bored with plain, painted rooms. What’s new with wall treatments? I want something that speaks to me.

A.Go for faux! To add depth and dimension to your walls, choose an exciting faux treatment that wakes up the senses. The architectural style of your home, your furniture and décor are good indicators for the faux treatment that will work for you. The right choice will not only speak to you — it will sing!
Venetian plaster is one of the most popular looks around. This faux technique produces a three-dimensional surface with a marble-like appearance. It’s sophisticated and looks like it belongs in a setting that mimics a Tuscan villa or something similar. But, if you’re panting for Venetian plaster, and you don’t happen to live in a villa, never mind. Use it in the bathroom.

Sandwashing is another interesting treatment that is more versatile. The effect gives a stone and sand texture to walls. Frottage imitates the look of antique leather. It is also adaptable to many different settings and various decors. Metallic treatments are high drama and good for accents like crown molding. A word of caution: these faux finishes are more complicated than the sponging, ragging and dragging treatments of yesterday — yes, these DIY favorites are past their prime. We’ve moved on, and the new faux effects are more difficult to achieve. Therefore, for the best results, call in the pros — or plan to spend a lot of time practicing the technique before you tackle the walls. But if you’re so inclined, the local home improvement centers offer free classes. Check it out.

Tip: Don’t go overboard with faux treatments. When there’s too much of a good thing, it looses its wow factor.

Q. What can I do to tone down my small ‘50s pink bathroom? I can’t afford to re-tile right now. The fixtures are white (thank goodness!), but the wall and floor tiles are pink, pink, pink, trimmed in dark burgundy. A few decorative tiles with little pink roses and green leaves are scattered among all the pink wall tiles. The floor is a problem, too. What kind of rug should I use? It’s a really ugly little bathroom. Help!

A. When you can’t hide it, flaunt it. I’m serious! There’s no way you can deflect attention from all those pink tiles, so use the color scheme you’ve been handed on a silver platter. You’ve got all the tools for a totally fashion-forward bathroom. Retro is so in, and pink is incredibly hot — how lucky can you get?

Make the walls and floor work for you. A pink and green color scheme is a given, so don’t fight it. Develop it further with a drop-dead fabric — a toile in pink and green. If your bathroom is wallpaper-friendly, use toile wallpaper on the exposed portions of the walls and a generous amount of matching fabric on the windows. Do a lavish shower curtain with a valance in a coordinating fabric, and tie it back with cords and tassels. In a large bathroom, I’d go for a shower liner in the same color as the background of the toile. If your bathroom is small, select a clear plastic liner — a colored liner creates a visual barrier and will make the room feel even smaller.

If wallpaper is not an option, paint the bathroom walls to match the background color of the toile fabric. Do the ceiling two or three shades lighter than the walls. Use creamy vanilla or antique white on the doors and woodwork.

Stick with the color scheme for a throw rug. A dark or contrasting color will look like it’s floating. You want the rug to blend into the setting — not smack you in the face. Take a large fabric sample with you when you go shopping. Be sure to shop at stores that accept returns in case your first (or second or third) choice doesn’t work.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Is there a place for a lampshade or two? Clip-on or regular will do. Cover the shade with toile — and a wastebasket, too.  Place faux ferns around the room. The real thing is always preferable, but they’re messy and not very practical. Add glass shelving to hold a few tchotchkes.
Oops, have I overlooked the burgundy trim? Nope. I’m ignoring it, which is what you should do, too.

TIP: Avoid glossy and semi-glossy paint for less-than-perfect walls. Shiny finishes make even little boo-boos stand out.

Q. I have a thick frieze wall-to-wall carpet in a light Berber fleck. I would like to add some color under my dark wood coffee table with an area rug. Is this a decorating no-no?

A. Absolutely not a problem. Layering rugs is a successful technique for breaking up the monotony of wall-to-wall carpeting. It’s also effective as a unifying feature in pulling together furniture of different colors and textures. In large spaces, area rugs give definition to various groupings.

According to experts in the carpet industry, layering rugs on top of carpeting is not harmful to the carpet. However, they do recommend using an area-rug pad for two reasons: to keep the area rug from wrinkling and curling and to protect the carpet from any friction that might be caused by the backing on the area rug. These special pads are available at O’Krent’s Abbey Flooring Center in San Antonio.

My personal recommendation is to give the carpet a little airing and to freshen the pile, pick up the area rug and vacuum the carpet on a regular basis. Anyway, it never hurts to see if anything is going on between the rugs — like a bit of dampness from an unobserved spill or, heaven forbid, a naughty pet.

For more about area rugs, see my feature in March/April SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, or read it online at www.askpriscilla.com.

Q. I am totally remodeling my kitchen. The old oak-colored cabinets are being replaced with cherry cabinets. My problem is that I don’t know what to do with the woodwork. Do I stain it to match the cabinets or paint it? If I paint the woodwork, what color should I use? I am also replacing the windows and frames throughout the house. What should I do with them?

A. Sure. It’s OK to throw down a rug wherever you want — on a short-term basis. For example, if you’re having a party or just a few friends over whom you want to impress with your decorating skills, rugs add a nice touch and won’t hurt the wood a bit. They also provide a softer landing for the toddlers. However, you should pick them up when the fun and games are over and before you call it a day.

Even when the wood is sealed, decking will naturally weather over time. If any kind of covering is left on, the weathering will be spotty and unattractive.

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 her via email at Priscilla@askpriscilla.com, or mail them to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, 8603 Botts Lane, San Antonio, TX 78217.