Wood You Believe? Yesterday's Timber Leads a Second Life by Rose Bennett Gilbert on Creators.com

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Decorating on a Deadline? Get the Basics Down First Q: I need unusual ideas for my boyfriend's home office. He loves antiques and "guy" things, such as maps and ship models. The trouble is, I volunteered to decorate for him before I was called back to work full time, so I can't spend much …Read more. It's Quite a Stretch, Decorating for 'Boomerang' Kids Q: We're trying to make a nice home office for our son who is moving back home until he can find another job. His father thinks we should move in some of the furniture that's been in storage, like a small sofa and some lamp tables. They're looking a …Read more. Overhead and Under-Played, Ceilings Are Worth Looking up to Q: I just returned from my first-ever trip abroad, where I was really struck by how much attention the Old World paid to ceilings! My husband laughed at me because I practically came home with a crick in my neck from staring up so much. Not that I …Read more. Add a Scoop of Contrast to Create Drama in the Kitchen Q: I am worried about the floor plan in the house we are building. The kitchen opens to the dining room through a wide doorway. I like the openness, but I am looking for some way to set the kitchen apart from the next room. The builder suggests that …Read more.

Wood You Believe? Yesterday's Timber Leads a Second Life

Q: Our son and his two young children are moving in with us after his divorce. We had planned to move ourselves, but now we'll stay put and add a great room for the kids. Our house is Tudor-style, so we want the new room to blend with the old things, such as the woodwork, stained glass and hardwood floors. We were thinking of using reclaimed wood for the floors and woodwork, but my husband hates the thought of "used" wood. Is it a bad idea?

A: On the contrary, it's a lovely idea. Any way you look at it — aesthetically, ecologically, practically — recycled wood is a terrific way to mellow out new construction and pamper the planet in the process.

There's yet another benefit to using wood that's been reclaimed from old barns, mills, warehouses or even underwater in rivers and lakes, says Jeff Stafford, partner in a company called Restoration Timber. Most wood harvested before the mid-20th century came from what are known as "old-growth," or "first-growth," forests that never had been logged, which meant that the trees were often centuries old, large in diameter and beautifully grained and "character-marked," as they say in the trade.

Besides, those ancient forests contained trees that just aren't around anymore, such as elms and aged chestnuts. Even more garden-variety trees, such as pines, gain charms with age. The floor in the country living room we show here is warmed by random-width pine siding that's been given a light walnut stain and then an oil and wax finish.

On the floor and in the overhead beams, wood is the room-maker — warm to the touch, mellow and soft to the eye.

All the effort that goes into reclaiming, recycling and custom milling comes with a cost, of course, but by buying wood from the past, you also will be investing in the future.

Go to http://www.RestorationTimber.com to learn more.

Q: Watching your energy budget fly out the window?

A: Here's a shady — but legitimate — way to save money: Take advantage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which allows federal tax credits for energy-efficient products.

One qualifying product is the new Duette Architella honeycomb shade. When these shades are mounted completely inside double-glazed windows, they have insulating R-values of up to 7.86 and will reduce heat transfer by up to 50 percent, according to the manufacturer (Hunter Douglas).

They also may net you federal tax credits for 30 percent (up to $1,500) of their cost, if you buy and install them before Dec. 31 of next year. For more details, go to http://www.HunterDouglas.com/TaxCredit and also consult your tax adviser.

PS: With some 180 choices in color and design, the shades are as decorative as they are eco-savvy.

Q: I have the world's tiniest powder room; I can almost touch the walls with both elbows. What to do to make it attractive? All our guests go in there.

A: Just ignore the small space. Make a big gesture instead. Consider wallpaper with a wildly overscale pattern, something nondirectional so you can run it over the ceiling, too. Repeat one of its important colors in carpeting or a room-size rug. Then hang the biggest mirror that will fit, and flank it with a pair of handsome sconces. Fresh flowers and fun accessories will do the rest.

Rose Bennett Gilbert is the co-author of "Hampton Style" and associate editor of Country Decorating Ideas. To find out more about Rose Bennett Gilbert and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.