My guest on this week's radio show will be Christophe Pourny, furniture maker and restoration specialist. Chirstophe appeared on The Martha Show earlier this year to demonstrate the art of French polish, a beautiful furniture finishing process. If you have any questions for Christophe about restoring, finishing, or cleaning furniture, please leave a comment below. Your question could be answered Wednesday, during the 4 P.M. hour, when I'm live on the air at SiriusXM 110.
And here are the answers to some of the questions you already asked:
Q: I moved into our new house about five months ago, and I am lost with the living room! I am not a fan of the color pink, but my carpet is mauve. To save money for bigger projects I am keeping the carpet for now. My question is what is a good color for the walls? I have great floor to ceiling windows, making great light and my furniture is a simple beige. What are your suggestions? Please help!
A: Martha Stewart Living has a white paint called Glass of Milk or the ever-so-slightly-pink Elderflower would be simple and beautiful in your living room. Plus, your eyes could be drawn to what sounds like the focal point of the room–the windows!
Q: My kitchen cupboards are dreadful medium oak with raised panels. I have dark granite tops and nice steel appliances, but I hate the oak. Is there a solution other than replacing the cabinets? I have read the that there are cons to trying to paint oak.
A: Actually, you can purchase special paint made for just this type of problem. You will be amazed at the transformation! One type is called Cabinet Transformations and is available at the Home Depot.
Q: Still it is a little early to start up the fireplace. Is there a way that I can dazzle it up for the fall?
A: Why not create a beautiful small scale folding or decorative screen, like the ones above? Get the how-to for the decorative screen here.
My guest bath has black and white check tile on the walls, the floor and the shower walls (too much). I received a bid to have it painted for $1500.00. My question is: should I attempt to paint the wall tile myself? What is your opinion of painting existing tile?
I have seen this done and it is quite amazing! If you are going to do it, I say leave this one to the professionals. If you would like to save money, my advice is to embrace the black and white and stick with beautiful, plush white towels and accents for a fresh clean feeling.
Kevin Sharkey 
From: Rowaida Flayhan | 10/10/11 at 3:30 pm
Hi Kevin, What an amazing process by Christophe Pourny,I enjoyed the segment from Martha's show. Most of my French 19th century antique furniture have that sheen. I would like to ask Christophe what is the best way to clean this type of furniture. Thank you Kevin. Wish you a wonderful and successful week.
From: Janis | 10/10/11 at 10:09 pm
We just had a
MARTHA kitchen installed. What is the best material to use to line the kitchen cabinet shelves & drawers?
From: Jackie | 10/11/11 at 12:12 pm
I am completely lost at what color to get for curtains and pillows with our camel, gold couch! Im simple but dont want a blah boring look, but not too bold. Help me plz
From: Christina Nordholm | 10/13/11 at 12:36 pm
What advise do you have about how to integrate outlet covers into a room's design. I have a very hard time finding ones that I like. I just hate leaving them 'as is' because it seems to just draw attention to them. Can the plastic ones be painted? The wooden ones that can be painted are clumsy and don't come in all the configurations I need for switch/outlet combinations, etc. Then what about the actual switches? The only choices seem to be white or beige.
I have an even worse problem with thermostats. They never go with the room decor!
What's your thought?
From: Lisa Utz | 10/19/11 at 5:24 pm
Hi Kevin,I'm wanting to buy some chairs to go with my teak kitchen table but am unsure if the Parsons chair that's caught my eye will go. The table is a informal, oval, round edged table in a gold/yellow painted nook, over bamboo floors. The adjacent kitchen has cherry cupboards with dark brown/black granite counters. We also have 4 barstools close to the table that have espresso colored leather seats and wrought iron and mahogany colored wood backs. The chair I like has darkish brown wood with dark brown leather seat and back. Do you think the chairs would end up sticking out like a sore thumb rather than complementing? I love the idea of an easy to clean leather chair at the kitchen table but don't know if a Parsons chair has too much. Thank you for any advise you could offer.
From: Brenda | 5/8/12 at 10:18 pm
I purchased a fireplace mantel (120 years old). It has the top and the posts along the sides. I don't have a fireplace but want to mount it on the wall. Do you have any ideas about what would look nice on the wall in the opening at the bottom. The opening is 3 feet wide and 3 feet long. Thank you for any advice you can offer.
From: lisa vincent | 7/19/12 at 5:01 pm
I want to know if there is a name for beds that are very 'high'-where the mattress is about hip high-a bed that must use a 21" dust ruffle. I LOVE those beds and I have one in oak but I'd love to buy one in white or ivory and can't find ANY. I have been literally looking for years. Do they have a name and do you know where I might look? Thank you so much.