ASK
PRISCILLA
A novel accent for your bathroom, wall quandaries, handling buyer’s regret

By PRISCILLA KOHUTEK

Q. We’re looking for something unique for the master bathroom in our new home. What do you suggest?

A. Since everybody and his dog know all there is to know about ballroom- sized bathrooms with all the bells and whistles, I won’t even go there. Instead, I’m going to mention a couple of little things that will make an average- sized, run-of-the-mill bathroom special. How about a freestanding teak bathtub that’s super for soaking and gentle on the eyes? They come in all kinds of interesting shapes. It’s a Scandinavian concept, and many are imported from Denmark.

Here’s another luxe item that’s a personal favorite: a toilet seat that functions like a bidet with lots of extras such as an automatic deodorizer, adjustable water temperatures, dryer, seat heater with adjustable temperatures, remote control and soft close feature. They are perfect for a bathroom that’s too small for a bidet or if you just don’t want another fixture sitting around to clutter up the place. Actually, they just might make bidets obsolete.

You can check them out on Toto and Kohler Web sites. Toto’s site even includes an instructional video. By the way, these seats are made to fit certain models of toilets made by the same manufacturer.

Q. I want something more formal than painted walls. Is anyone using wallpaper these days, or is it completely passé? Honestly, I long for the versatile looks you can get with wallpaper.

A. Wallpaper is, was and always will be a great wall-covering. The good stuff with traditional patterns in tasteful colors never goes out of style — palaces and famous homes around the world are living testimonies to its timelessness. It’s color combinations and finishes that become outdated.

Now, decorating with wallpaper is totally cutting-edge. It seems the industry has stepped up to meet the demands for something new that consumers and designers crave. While you may not want wallpaper in every room — who does? — there are some rooms that almost scream for it. Bathrooms, powder rooms, laundry rooms and nurseries are preferred places. I have a sensational Ralph Lauren wallpaper in the butler’s pantry — traditional floral on a red background. So perfect for that area!

However, there are many new textural combinations that move nicely into living rooms and bedrooms, especially the reinvented flock effects. This treatment will work for the formal look you’re after. It goes with traditional as well as contemporary styling.

FYI: Flock paper has been around for about 400 years — who knew? English in origin, it was direct imitations of damask and velvet. Many of the current fashion-forward designs replicate these historic patterns, but a new twist has been added by combining matte and metallic effects. And, of course, there are new color combinations such as chocolate and turquoise and bronze, black and lime, plus many more hip blendings that are too scrumptious to pass up.

So, go ahead and use wallpaper wherever you want it. Check out the new stuff, and you may be inspired to use it in places you haven’t thought of yet.

Q. What color should I paint the walls in our living room to go with black and white furniture?

A. A black and white palette is so neutral, you can put anything with it. If you want a calming atmosphere, consider shades in the light brown family like camel, taupe or café au lait. Or go for something out of the ordinary with a color like Benjamin Moore’s Old Blue Jeans 836 (medium blue-gray) or Spring Violet 2117-50. For a room filled with sunshine, choose your favorite shade of yellow. For a jazzy look, go with orange. If it’s high drama you want, think about red lacquer, charcoal gray or silver or gold metallic.

Your color selection depends entirely upon the mood you want to create. How do you want to feel when you’re in that room? What activities will take place there? Who will be using the room? Remember that color affects behavior as well as emotions, so you should consider the ages and personalities of everyone.

Q. What can you do when a furniture store cheats you? We bought a dining room set from what we thought was a reputable store. We signed a contract and, for an extra $50, purchased a warranty — otherwise, there were no guarantees. We also purchased a “wood kit,” which was recommended to protect the finish on the table. After a short period of time, the tabletop was a mess. The store replaced table No. 1. We’re now on table No. 5 and still having problems. The replacements are not the same style, and the quality got worse with each exchange. They refuse to return our money, saying the amount we paid can be used for store credit only - company policy. We want to start over with a different company, of course. How can we make them give us back our money?

A. This is a terrible story. I’ve never heard of purchasing a warranty on furniture. Reputable furniture dealers and manufacturers stand behind their merchandise. Hint, hint — you’d be wise to avoid those who don’t.

However, since you are well past that stage, I urge you to contact your attorney. Make an appointment and go armed with a copy of the signed contract (I hope you have one), the warranty and any additional paperwork you may have. Walk her him through everything exactly as it happened. Ask the attorney to write a formal letter of complaint, requesting a full refund, to the corporate headquarters, and send a copy to the local store where you purchased the furniture. If that fails to get a favorable response, perhaps the attorney can file on your behalf in Small Claims Court.

If it turns out that you have no legal recourse, start yelling — loud and long — to anybody and everybody. Write the Attorney General of Texas, Greg Abbott, Consumer Protection Division, PO Box 12548, Austin, TX 78711-2548, or go on-line and submit your complaint. Copy both the corporate headquarters and the local retailer.

Call our local Better Business Bureau office and report the retailer. E-mail Watchdog@Express-News.net; call the Trouble Shooters at WOAI TV, (210) 476- 1022, or e-mail TroubleShooters@woai.com. Call Fred Lozano, Eyewitness Wants to Know, at KENS 5, (210) 377- 8647, or send an e-mail to helpme@kens5.com; another complaint desk at KENS 5 is I-Team (377- 8755) or iteam@kens5.com. Call KSAT 12, The Defenders tips line at (210) 351-1212. Copy both the corporate headquarters and the local retailer at each and every step.

Special note to our dear readers: Help yourself and any potential victims by disclosing the shoddy practices of unscrupulous companies. People need to know that even nationally advertised companies should be scrutinized before you trust them with your hardearned dollars.

BUYER BEWARE:
1. Carefully read any documents you are asked to sign. If there’s anything about them that raises a red flag, don’t sign. Run — don’t walk — out the nearest door. Never, never fall for the old line, “Oh, this doesn’t mean anything; it’s just a formality.” Of course, it means something! When you put your signature on a document, it means that you’ve agreed to the terms put forth in it.

2. Be sure to ask about the company’s return policy. Best is a money-back guarantee. In-store credit is risky, as reported by our dear reader.

3. Ask about delivery charges. Get that in writing, too.

4. Inspect your purchases super carefully upon delivery. If there’s damage of any kind, don’t accept it, and don’t sign for it. Call the company and tell them you’re sending it back. Any scratches and nicks should be repaired by the company and then returned to you. When you’re dealing with the unknown, don’t let them tell you that someone will come to your home and make the repairs. Too often, it never happens.

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.