LiveWorld Transcripts

Women.com presents

Peggy Kennedy
House Beautiful Editor

February 09, 1999

House Beautiful Editor, Peggy Kennedy, discusses the latest in decorating styles and home furnishings. Kennedy offers expert tips on the perfect look for windows, combining colors that blend well, and stylish carpeting options which add the ideal finish to your home.

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HomeArtsLive: Home Arts (tm) and Talk City, Inc (tm) welcomes you to HomeArtsLive. Today we will be talking with House Beautiful editor, Peggy Kennedy. Please welcome Peggy!

Peggy Kennedy: Hello! Sorry about the delay--hope you've got some good questions.

Possum Says: I've ended up with a real mish-mash of furniture styles, from antique to modern - how can I create a sense that everything "belongs" together?

Peggy Kennedy: The best way to do that is to cover everything with the same color.you can paint some things in all white or all black.but if you choose, for instance, a neutral color for everything it will pull the whole room together, and it's nice to have a conversation between pieces of furniture from different eras, so just be happy with your choices because they are very personal.

Persimmon Says: Decorating colors seem to always be changing - how can I choose colors that aren't going to make my living room look dated in 5 years?

Peggy Kennedy: First of all, you should always live with colors that you like, no matter how fashionable a color is if it's something you hate what is the point of choosing it. So, think of the colors you like and right now the fewer colors the better use lots of white for freshness with whatever color you choose from beige to brown but classic color schemes like blue and white are always in style.the colors should also suit your particular house so if you have a country style house go with colors that are comfortable with that look. If you have a craftsman style house there's a whole different set of colors.

Flip Says: Can you offer any suggestions on low cost window coverings? Everyone's always asking about windows.

Peggy Kennedy: There are inexpensive Roman shades that are sold through catalogues or places like Pier One that look great on practically every window.there are also simple panels of sheer fabrics that are available in almost every large department store chain.there is the idea of a simple cafe curtain--but not frilly.just almost a flat panel perhaps with a border of a color that coordinates with your room. Shutters.you know, blinds made out of bamboo, wider or thinner, or simple wood slats. These are all inexpensive and all currently in style.

Newtothis Says: What are some carpeting/flooring options for a pet owner who is tired of vacuuming? Help!

Peggy Kennedy: I have two cats and a dog and they all shed daily. Get rid of your carpeting and put down something hard-surfaced.wood floors finished with polyurethane, tiles.vinyl.something that cleans easily

Angiezzz Says: I have a contemporary style house, but I would like for it to look more traditional, is that possible?

Peggy Kennedy: What you need to do is use furniture that has a traditional look.perhaps if you have the ability to add moldings.moldings can give the backgrounds more character. Basically, you might want the backgrounds to have a little richer color. You have to decide what style you like.are you thinking country, Swedish, are you thinking 18th Century Traditional…pick an era you relate to and then use the colors that are in traditional houses of that era.

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