Q: Is it really tacky to decorate the kitchen in a different theme than the living room if they are two different rooms, but are situated right next to each other? For example, could I do the kitchen a country style but do the living room in a more formal style?

A: One of the most frustrating things about getting the decorating bug is that, unless your name is Trump, chances are you have a limited number of rooms on which to bestow your skills.

Q: We just built a two-story house. Our new house has lots of little niches and tons of big windows, which means there's little wall space.

I love the old-world look, but I crave the contemporary look, and I find that in our new place my styles are clashing more than ever.

I own a floral sofa, red plaid sofa, antiques, a monkey motif armchair and footstool, handmade rustic dining room table, orange swirl granite island, transom windows, French windows... all of it in reds, creams, sages, and creamy yellows.

Many times, the photos of rooms in interior design magazines and the ads they contain are shot not in real homes, but in studios. This is good in that it allows control over what's being illustrated, but it doesn't help much in figuring out how to order all the stuff we collect in real life.

Here, however, we see a real room that is used by a real homeowner. We'll look at it in terms of the Sheffield Three Guidelines for Interior Design, function, mood, and harmony, focusing on function first.

Q: I just purchased a Florentine black bedroom furniture set for my master bedroom. I am happy with it and thinking about using gray, white and black in the bedroom.

Feng Shui is the ancient, oriental art of using the placement of objects, color and elements to create positive energy in an environment. Although it may sound odd, many of the principles of this practice for adding romance will sound very familiar.

Basic Feng Shui Principles and Elements

Feng Shui relies on three things, the physical direction and flow of energy in a home/office/room, color and lighting, and the presence of the five elements-fire, water, metal, earth and wood.

If you are looking to capture some of the breezy outdoors in your home, adding an indoor waterfall is just the thing. An indoor fountain will also give any room an artistic focal point, incorporating modern design with a typical outdoor feature. When installing an indoor waterfall fountain, you have the choice between buying one that is already made and building it yourself. Indoor waterfalls come in a variety of materials including slate, copper, marble and stone. If you are looking for a low cost, simple waterfall, then building it yourself is the best option.

Putting Bauhaus theories and concepts into interior design is not only prudent, but logical to the point of ridiculous if you don't in this day and age. Does using the theories that Johannes Itten outlined mean that everything must be steel tubes and modernist? Absolutely not! Ponder the realities of today's world with new vision and utilize Bauhaus concepts to create a comfortable, functional home.

For the reading enthusiast, a bookshelf is essential to keep your literary collection organized. Finding a bookshelf that fits the aesthetic of your home will not only keep your home tidy, but will enhance the overall style of the room. With so many design options, it's good to do know what's available before you purchase a new bookshelf.

Cave Bookshelf

Your apartment has a case of the "blahs" and its time to freshen the place up! With a little time, a little effort and (best of all) with very little money you can give your apartment a nice little makeover that has a great big effect.

Q. The vinyl tape that is use on the edge of my desktop is peeling and chipping. In some places, the outer layer of the tape that looks like wood has peeled, and left a black layer, while in other places the tape has peeled completely, showing the pressed wood. Does anyone know a good way to make this look better?