Pooled, pleated panels provide privacy

DEAR DEBBIE: I am looking for a window treatment for the huge windows in our condo. The view is not that great, and we feel like we are living in a fishbowl. Thanks for your great ideas. -- Lindu.

DEAR LINDU: Window coverings can be a big expense in lofts and new condos with floor-to-ceiling expanses of glass. It is not unusual to simply leave them unadorned. However, the luxury of all that natural light streaming in can be diminished by the lack of privacy.

Ready-made draperies seldom come in the lengths you require. A good solution is to fashion your own -- and this can be done even if you are not a seamstress. In the modern condo shown in the accompanying photograph, I used white cotton muslin cut into panels long enough to pool on the floor. The panels were clipped to rings and suspended from a fine curtain wire.

You can add color and pattern to the muslin panels. For these I folded each panel into accordion pleats held in place with a line of paper clips, and then submerged in a large vat of gray fabric dye. Once dry, the paper clips were removed, leaving a delicate pattern of white against the smoky gray background.

Tie-dye patterns are produced by tying, twisting or covering up sections of the fabric to block the dye, thus creating the light and dark designs. Experiment with golf balls held in place with rubber bands, or pulling bits of fabric through small hoops. No two panels will be alike, and it's this personal variation that is charming.

DEAR DEBBIE: I have an ugly, scratched hardwood floor in my living room with a 4-foot-square sanded area in the middle (left by previous owner) that I cannot afford to refinish properly at this time. I have beige, cream, moss-green and gold-tone fabrics and furniture with black and bronze accents. I was thinking of painting the floor black with a high-gloss finish. The room isn't very bright, and I wanted to have light reflected. I'd appreciate your thoughts. -- Kim.

DEAR KIM: Even though you can't afford a professional refinishing job, you will have to prepare the floor properly for paint, or it will lift and chip very quickly. You must sand off any existing varnish and dirt. You can rent a floor sander to do this. Let the dust settle, and clean the area. Now you're ready to paint.

I suggest you choose a light color with a high-gloss finish. One option is to paint a checkerboard or diamond pattern in traditional black and white, or cream and moss green would be stunning with your décor. Use floor paint, and cover with a high-gloss acrylic varnish.

Let the new surface dry and cure for three or four days before moving the furniture back. If you live in an area with high humidity, you should wait for a week.

DEAR DEBBIE: I have a black bedroom suite, and would like suggestions on what colors I can use on the walls. Thank you. -- Rochelle.

DEAR ROCHELLE: Ask yourself what mood you would like to create in your bedroom. Black is very grounding and can be the feature element in a dramatic setting. Take a look at the new metallic wallpapers and paints. I would choose a pearly aqua for the walls. It's very art deco, and will suit your existing furnishings.

Debbie Travis is a columnist for King Features Syndicate. E-mail questions to her at house2home@debbietravis.com.