Dear Jean and Richard, We are planning to buy a new home, and want to make sure it is a good choice for resale. What interior treatments might ensure its selling appeal? – Isabelle and Oberon, Atlanta

Jean: Wait a minute. Are you already planning to sell it before you even buy it? I know we’re living in the age of disposable everything, but this is your home we’re talking about—assuming you’re planning to live there. If your question is about appealing to the broadest real estate market, I’m afraid you’re asking the wrong people. To me, it’s like asking what kind of clothes I should buy based on what the thrift store might want when I’m through with them.

Richard: Gosh, Jean. I wish you had a stronger opinion on this subject! I suspect these folks are less invested in the design and just want assurance their purchase is safe. Of course, what people thought was a safe housing purchase two years ago may not have the same buyer appeal today. It may be a surprise to younger generations, but there was a time that people actually chose a house to call home, not just to invest their money.

Jean: I trust you’re not implying I’m the older generation. Regardless of demographics, designing a personalized home interior is about lifestyle, not resale. Let’s leave the monthly trends to home builders, whose best interests are to stay “beige” so they can appeal to the largest number of potential buyers. The other day I heard a radio commentator use the phrase “a culture of mediocrity” and I think a lot of people aspire to that.

Richard: I have bought and sold maybe 30 homes in my life. Most people (other than clients) fear me when I am first invited to their home. What they don’t understand is that I can actually like beige. I have a problem with predictable, unoriginal and “off the shelf”.

Jean: People who place a high priority on having a beautiful home are less likely to make it look like everyone else’s. People who choose a house based solely on cost-per-square-foot or what financial gain they MIGHT receive when they sell it are living in their investment portfolios, not in their nest.

Richard: Well, technically they can have it both ways, and I think a lot of homeowners believe they do. But I also think that some people don’t give it a moment’s thought and just assume everyone lives the same way. A good example might be window treatments. Quality ones will usually survive the next buyer and enhance a room’s appeal.

Jean: Here’s the gist. In choosing a house, buy what feels right for you. Chances are, if you like it, a future buyer will like it too. And don’t simply begin replacing everything for the purpose of pleasing some future buyer. Make it your own—give it some personality—add some color and texture. Be creative!

Richard: Collectively, we seem to have forgotten what it means to turn a house into a home, and given the real estate’s recent market adjustments, maybe it’s a good time to remember. While you’re sitting on your nest egg, you may as well feather your nest.

Dear Jean and Richard, I recently needed to move an antique wardrobe, and while disassembling it, the door literally fell out and its mirrored front shattered. It had fancy curves and bevels, and my heart sank when I heard it break. How do you go about fixing something like that, and will the piece lose its value? –Don, Hendersonville

Richard: Hi Don. First of all, have you told your wife yet? I’m assuming you were the one disassembling it, and I feel your pain! Old pieces can be fragile, and sometimes hinges can be worn out. But most of the pieces that are designed to be broken down for shipment—especially those made in Europe—use pins to secure the doors rather than hinges, and it sounds as if yours was one of those. But I’m sure you know that now, and your questions move beyond the accident.

Jean: Of course, we’ve NEVER had anything break, even though most would agree that Richard is already cracked. We don’t claim to be an expert on repairing antiques, but there are people who are—the trick is finding the right expert. Fortunately for you, the break is only a mirror, and though it’s a shame that happened, usually a mirror can be replaced. As for loss of value, it depends on just how old the antique is. If the mirror is from a modern era—say, from the mid twentieth century—the replacement mirror will not be that different from what was there. If the piece is older, it will most certainly lose some of its value. But regardless, Don, you’re obviously in trouble at home!

Richard: At least we are fortunate to have good furniture craftsmen in North Carolina thanks to our furniture industry, and though much of the case goods are now made in China, experienced tradesmen are still here. There are glass shops within a hundred mile radius that can create just about anything you need, from dramatic shapes to wide beveling to chemical etching. The art of aging mirrors to look antique has greatly improved.

Jean: Don, I would take the entire door to a reputable glass company, and if they cannot replace the mirror, chances are they are in partnership with someone who can. In your case, they will probably remove the broken glass and make a cardboard template, and send with it either a broken piece of the mirror that demonstrates the bevel, or photos and specs that describe it. There was a day when these glass shops were plenty busy with orders from the furniture industry, but I’ll bet they’ll be happy for the business now.

Richard: See, Jean knows about these things because she’s always looking in a mirror, wishing she was younger….

Jean: I’m tempted to break one over your bald head, but I’m afraid you might lose your value. And speaking of antiques, a bit of advice for anyone who is faced with transporting them—make sure you have lots of help, lots of blankets, and lots of patience. Over time, adhesives can dry out, and as a result, marble tops come off, wood joints come loose, veneers splinter and appliqués break. Wrap them, support them, and pack with care. It’s a lot easier than trying to fix them later. And good luck telling your wife!

Dear Jean and Richard: I once read in a magazine about avoiding being too kitschy when designing a room. What on earth were they talking about? –Lori, Weaverville

Richard: Hi Lori. The dictionary defines kitsch as “artistic or literary material of low quality designed to appeal to current popular taste,” but designers know it can also reference creations that overuse a theme or take an idea too far. For example, it may be in your taste to hang in your bathroom a painting that features sea gulls and a lighthouse, but if the bathroom also has a lighthouse soap dispenser, a seashell shower curtain, and wallpaper with flying pelican repeats, the word “kitschy” might come to mind.

Jean: Actually, the word that comes to my mind is awful. I think kitsch can be a positive thing if it is deliberate and used in moderation. Let’s say you have a rec room with a bar. The room might be very urban or even elegant, but you could still have some 1950’s dancing hula girl statuettes on the bar—very kitschy because they are blatantly cheap and lowbrow—but they would be both fun and appropriate.

Richard: I’d prefer the hunky exotic man statuettes from that era. But you make a good point. Still, I think even in the arena of lowbrow art, you can overdo the singing bass trophies. You need to make sure the piece is displayed for its whimsy or for its value as an art object—juxtaposed with more serious surroundings. Otherwise, you risk the room looking like a flea market… or just campy.

Jean: Camp is a first cousin to kitsch, usually referring to something outrageously artificial or ridiculously flamboyant. Elton John’s early outfits were campy. Parades can be campy. As it relates to interior design, year round Christmas lights or giant glazed animal statues might be considered campy.

Richard: What if they were Roman gladiator statues?

Jean: We know people who would love those, don’t we Richard? Truly, I believe kitsch and camp both have their places. Some people take themselves too seriously, insisting on everything being exactly the same shade of dull—and their homes might benefit from a little silliness here and there. For example, you might consider making a formal room a little livelier by adding a really flamboyant lamp. But the idea can be taken too far, too. One “King of the Remote” throw pillow is usually enough. Not every room should have a clock cat with a pendulum tail. And let’s face it, a giant animal statue is probably too heavy for the bar, anyway. I wish we could train him to write our column, which now goes to weekly.

Dear Jean and Richard, I’ve seen sticks in a vase used as an accessory, but when I try it, it looks silly. Do you ever use found materials in your interiors? –Martha, Stuart, VA

Richard: Martha, I don’t believe your name for a second, but your question is a good one. I confess my yard might not yield much in the way of natural materials, but I’m sure Jean’s could produce all kinds of things, like poison ivy wreaths, bird nest baskets, or pinecone centerpieces.

Jean: Ha ha, very funny. Actually, those sticks “Martha” is talking about are usually curly willow branches, and can in fact be very attractive when displayed in a heavy glass vase. But if you choose to try them, make sure they have some size to them and there are several to fan out—otherwise, they will just look like you collected some wayward sticks from your yard.

Richard: Well, isn’t that the point? Found materials? I live on an urban street, and what I find you wouldn’t want to display! But lots of people have flowering trees and shrubs that offer opportunities for real centerpieces or beautiful arrangements.

Jean: Of course! I’m just saying don’t be bashful with the idea. A single bloom or three sticks in a jar will look like a kindergartner did it. I like to cut a flowering branch—or several—at least two feet long for display, or use a double handful of greenery to showcase cut flowers. Bring some of that outrageous color and unpredictable pattern from the natural world inside. Natural sculpture! And this time of year there are lots of choices.

Richard: Yes, but use caution when choosing. If you’re not careful, you might bring bugs inside too, or some beautiful plants that don’t smell as good as they look. If you brought in a sprig of English Boxwood, for example, you might think the cat missed the litter box. Unless you’re in Jean’s house. Then chances are the cat used the cut flowers instead of the litter box.

Jean: And you wonder why I don’t invite you over very often. Besides, it’s much more likely my cats would chew on the flowers than soil them. But that’s not the point. For my own “back yard” arrangements, I take advantage of what every season brings—cherry blossoms in the spring, magnolias in the summer, camellias in the fall, and yes, maybe even pinecones in the winter.

Richard: Well, accessories can be from the natural world without coming from your yard, too. Consider using a beautiful large clam shell for a tissue holder, or an exotic rock for a bookend. But make sure they are overscale and mix them in with more conventional elements. Just sticks and stones and dead pine cones like hers will never charm me.

Jean: Oh, that was painful. But speaking of charming, cats can serve as exquisite living accessories! I’ll get their bowls and toys, and we’ll be right over to decorate your home, Richard!

Dear Readers: Several friends and even relatives have asked us what we found this year at the High Point Furniture Market. Here’s a quick overview. –G&F

Richard: For those who think a trip to this enormous trade show is a grand shopping spree—it is not. Unless you have wholesale buying credentials or are a qualified exhibitor, you’re not even allowed in. And once you are in, it’s confusing and exhausting…even after 18 years of attending. Restaurants and hotels hike their prices and policies to take advantage of their captive audience; most manufacturers require large restrictive minimum purchases to qualify each customer as a dealer. So don’t go—we go because it’s important that we stay on top of trends and because we work directly with home furnishings sources from around the world.

Jean: Yes, Richard—but you don’t eat at the restaurants because a lot of exhibitors offer food constantly. And you don’t stay any closer than Winston-Salem to avoid five-star prices at 2 star hotels. Maybe that’s why you’re so fun the whole time we’re there.

Richard: This Market seemed more interesting to me for two different design extremes—one was all the furniture in white lacquer, with an almost Hollywood feel. Very Dorothy Draper, your favorite glam designer, Jean! And the other was just the opposite—a healthy amount of natural woods and finishes, some with accents of contrasting wood. For example, table tops might be in a dark finish paired with light-colored or painted table legs. It was if glitz and glamour were competing with native and natural. Ginger competing with Mary Ann or Lisa with Oliver.

Jean: How very Gilligan and Green Acres! But I saw it too—and it was an interesting contrast. Many firms heralded their “green” consciousness, choosing wood species that were in ample supply and using wax-based finishes instead of lacquers or plastics. And some of the wood was exotic, like zebra and perola from protected and renewable forests in South America—another twist on the green theme. These were often paired with wonderfully textured fabrics.

Richard: In the “glamour” department, fabrics included velvets and silks and even upholstery material that looked metallic. Lots of crystals, lots of sparkle. I had to drag you out ! And lots of white upholstery…no children, please.

Jean: There was a lot of my favorite, blush pink, too, displayed with white—and also black—upholstery. The combination of soothing grays and silvers was popular, as well.

Richard: Also, options on hardware are catching up to the kitchen cabinet industry. And I noticed leathers that were tooled or stamped.

Jean: I noticed, too! I bought you a new belt and had them stamp it with your name, “Gilligan.”