Sunset first home first remodel: our guide to buying and fixing up a starter house - The Changing Western Home

Sunset, May, 2003 by Mary Jo Bowling

5. Using the third color and a wrapped roller, paint stripes between the darker ones. Its okay to have rough lines.

6. When finished with the stripes, use the width of the level to mark guidelines to paint a false baseboard and top molding. Fill using a brush and the darkest paint color.

Horizontal stripes

Additional materials

* two colors of paint

* two 9-inch rollers

* 3-inch-wide masking tape

* a ruler

1. Use a roller to paint the entire wall one color; let dry thoroughly.

2. Use masking tape to wrap the middle 3 inches of a roller as tightly as possible, leaving 3 inches of the roller exposed on either side, as shown in the photo above.

3. When the base coat is completely dry, use the level to draw a horizontal guideline 3 inches up from the floor along the length of the wall.

4. Using the wrapped roller and the second color, paint the first set of horizontal lines along the guideline. For each successive set of lines, overlap one end of the roller on the uppermost stripe in order to keep lines level. Continue to the top of the wall.

The right appliance for you

Smart shopping for cooktops, refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers

By Mary Jo Bowling

Photograph by Muffy Kibbey

Enter an appliance showroom, and you'll find it's a jungle in there. The possibilities seem endless. Freezer on the top or bottom? Four burners or six? One oven or two? What's best for your budget? We asked Portland kitchen designer and National Kitchen & Bath Association board member Michael Slaby for tips on making smart shopping decisions.

Cooktops and ranges

Height: Cooktops are instated at counter level; a range is a cooktop combined with an oven and is 36 inches tall.

Width: 30 inches for four burners, 42 inches for eight burners

Depth: 24 inches

Gas: Favored because it both heats and cools quickly. The heat output of a gas unit is measured in BTUs; more BTUs equal more power. Cooktops with 15,000 BTUs or higher are considered professional or commercial grade.

A professional unit with more than four burners may be good for people who cook frequently or who often cook many things at once. More power requires a bigger ventilation system.

Electric: Many new electric cooktops have smooth, easy-to-clean glass or ceramic surfaces that can act as additional counter space when not in use for heating.

Electric ranges and cooktops are slower to heat and cool than gas ones. If you cook small, simple meals, they are a good choice.

Refrigerators

Height: 60-84 inches

Width: 30-42 inches

Depth: 24--34 inches

Freezer on top: These models work best for people who need less freezer space and want to scan all contents quickly. This configuration offers proportionally slightly less freezer space than others.

Freezer on the bottom: This arrangement allows refrigerated food to be at eye level and often offers more freezer space than freezer-on-top models.

Side-by-side: This configuration gives equal access to refrigerated and frozen goods. It doesn't allow platters to be stored easily so it's not the best choice for people who like to entertain. Typically, it offers more freezer space than either of the other choices.