YOUR PLACE.

ON THE SHELF

FOR THE PANACHE-IMPAIRED: La-de-dah decorators and their lavish decorating schemes can be a bit intimidating. Sometimes their instructions are so detailed they boggle the mind with design lingo, leaving you wondering just what is the difference between an apron and puddled curtain.

Without talking down to the reader, Lyn Peterson explains in her new book ``Lyn Peterson's Real Life Decorating'' (Creative Homeowner; $27.95) that an apron curtain falls just below the window sill, while a puddled style pools slightly on the floor. And she even explains the secret to well-balanced window coverings: the rod should be equidistant between window and ceiling molding.

In addition to window treatments, Peterson offers stylish and sensible ideas on choosing paint colors, patterns and prints, furniture and lighting. Plus some tips on wiring the TV room and home office.

- Barbara De Witt 

MAKING HOME COMFY FOR WORK: You gave up the freeway hustle and corporate 'tude to work out of the house and you're not alone. There are 3 million Americans working at home and more than half are their own bosses, says Lorrie Mack, author of ``Calm Working Spaces'' (HarperResource; $35).

But now that you've set up your computer, Web site and fax machine, you've had a chance to look around - and perhaps discover the kitchen or that small corner in the den just isn't providing enough comfort.

That's where interior designer Mack comes to the rescue. In her newest decorating book, she offers comprehensive details on all aspects of designing the home office, from seating, storage and lighting to the latest technology so that you'll not only be productive - but calm.

- Barbara De Witt

DESIGN IN EVERY CORNER: Have you ever wondered how a world-class artist decorates his home?

Photographer Pedro Guerrero presents the interior style of a genius in ``Calder at Home: The Joyous Environment of Alexander Calder'' (Stewart, Tabori & Chang; $40). Guerrero - a friend of the artist and his wife, Louisa - paid repeated visits to several of Calder's homes from 1963 until 1976, when Calder died. With thousands of photos to chose from, Guerrero presents 150 images of the artist, his homes and his studios.

The interior spaces are very simple, often featuring rough masonry walls. The couple, however, filled the space with idiosyncratic, custom-built items, from the furniture to the kitchen utensils. Believe it or not, Calder made his own forks, knives and spoons, and his wife hooked rugs from his designs. Virtually every square inch of his home environment looks like details from an unusually disorganized museum exhibit.

- Knight Ridder Newspapers

DESIGN IT YOURSELF: Few decorating books do as much to address issues of proportion, space and balance as ``Absolute Decoration'' (Atrium; $29.95)

Written by Arco Architects - a team of young architects in Barcelona, Spain - this book will appeal to homeowners interested in bold, exotic spaces.

The writers have gone around the world to photograph creatively designed interior spaces. A fair number of the living spaces are in unconventional settings, ranging from basements and attics to former warehouse spaces.

- Knight Ridder Newspapers

QUICK REMINDER: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that while most Americans have installed smoke alarms in their homes, many don't make sure they work. The commission estimates that smoke alarms in 16 million U.S. homes do not work. The commission recommends alarms be checked monthly.

PLANTINGS

PLANT: Florist chrysanthemum 

Attributes: Florist ``mums'' are blooming potted plants sold by florists. Long-lasting flowers in a range of colors are available anytime of year, making this a great plant for any occasion.

Bloom time: Throughout the year, with colors determined by season.

Tips: Purchase compact, well-branched plants with many buds and some flowers beginning to open. Keep soil moist but make sure not to let plant sit in water. Relatively cool temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees will lengthen the life of the flowers. Remove spent blooms and provide as much sunlight as possible. If plant is placed in a poorly lighted area, the flower color may fade.

Cost: $15 to $25 depending on pot size and ornamentation. Available at florist shops and discount stores.

- Knight Ridder Newspapers

To learn more about chrysanthemum varieties, visit the Chrysanthemum Show and Sale, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Sunday at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge.

< ON THE WEB

GETTING EXPERT HELP: Let's say the water in your upstairs sink smells bad. Let's say you have no idea what is causing the problem, or whether you can fix it without professional help. What do you do?

One person in this situation consulted the network of experts at Askme.com, where folks with questions on a variety of topics usually can get an answer. The Web site has an extensive area devoted to home and garden issues, so if you can't find your question there you can certainly find someone who knows the answer. Ten experts responded to the question about the odd smell; the consensus was that the sink's overflow drain needed to be cleaned out with bleach.

- Knight Ridder Newspapers

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