This morning I did a radio interview and was asked several questions that I thought might be of interest to you. Here are a few:

Q: What are some of the ways a kitchen can be improved without spending money, since most people seem to hang out in that room a lot?

A: Clear the countertops of anything that is not used daily. Doing so will free up a lot of space and make the entire room look bigger. For example, if you don’t use your food processor a lot, it should be put away.

Q: Are there any inexpensive changes we can make to the kitchen, besides repainting it?

A: Yes, new hardware can give the room a fresh new look. Just be sure to measure the existing handles before you shop. This will allow you to use the holes that are already drilled into the doors and drawers, without making new ones.

Q: What is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to decorating their living rooms?

A: Arranging the conversation area so that is comfortable seems to give most of my clients’ trouble. Here’s the secret: avoid an L shaped grouping, comprised of a sofa and loveseat, and, instead, create a U shaped seating area with a sofa and a matching pair of chairs. There are 5 variations that can be arranged in a U shape because the pair of chairs provides lots of flexibility.

Q: Speaking of pairs, I know you love them and encourage people to use them. What are some examples?

A: Pairs of chairs, pairs of lamps, pairs of throw pillows, pairs of tables: The more the better! Most rooms are architecturally off-balance because they have doors, windows and walls that are asymmetrical. Pairs help to correct the lopsided effect. I have a maxim, which I call Imelda’s Rule: “You can never have too many pairs.”

And, like the saying and new Boys Like Girls song (with Taylor Swift)  go, “Two Are Better Than One.”