Q: Dear Christopher:

I've been thinking about downsizing into a condo since my husband passed away. Is this a good idea or not? Betty in Mississippi

A: Dear Betty:

I am sorry for your loss.

If you're downsizing to eliminate maintenance issues, or maybe you want to be in a different neighborhood, or you feel you want to live in a more communal setting with people like you, that's one thing. But if you're looking to downsize because you want to save money, that's an altogether different issue.

Downsizing into smaller quarters does not, in fact, mean that you will pay less. Many people who have made the transition actually found out that they paid more to have a great place, in the right neighborhood, in the right complex with the right on-going upkeep and amenities. You have to remember that while you might not be mowing the lawn and calling the plumber, you are paying for someone else to do it for you. And in a lot of the better complexes, maintenance fees along with a lot of restrictions can all add up to making your final decision.

With downsizing there are also costs in furnishings. If your stuff is over-scale to fill big rooms, it might not translate to smaller rooms. So you could be looking at storage fees and buying more scaled-down furnishings, too. If you're moving out of state to another kind of climate that dictates a different lifestyle, this also needs to be considered.

So, my dear, there's a lot to think about and while I don't want to discourage you, I also want you to put yourself in a position of being able to make a decision that you ultimately won't regret. Do your homework. Elicit the help of people who love you to ask all the hard questions and weigh the pros and the cons with.

 

Q: Dear Christopher:

I recently moved from a home in Boston to a condo in Florida and now everything I have feels like it doesn't belong here. My home in Boston was hunter green, Queen Ann, tapestries and "fox hunt club" in tone. Here, it's all wicker and pastels. What should I do? Barbra in Naples

A: Dear Barbara:

First of all, if you still love the look you had in Boston, it's your house and your things so enjoy them and work with what you've got.

Start by changing the wall colors to rich peaches, cool greens, cottage blues and yellow tones. Add light, bright resort-style window treatments. Throw a few cabana striped cushions on that hunter green sofa. Change black lampshades to white silk and call it a day. But also do a little research on the early Floridian style. It was a combination of traditional, colonial and Spanish with a touch of the Bohemian exotic. You'll be surprised at how similar the old Florida Mediterranean style is to what you might already own.

I'll also caution you that the pastel Florida look is, according to designers who work there, considered very dated. Instead, deep saturated colors and bold rainforest inspired graphic prints are mimicking the old Hollywood style we still have here in L.A. Who knew? You can do it!

Q: Dear Christopher:

I have a chandelier over my dining room table with the bare candle-like bulbs that put out unflattering light. Are those little lampshades still okay to use?
Henry in Turtle Creek

A: Dear Henry:

You bet they are-but keep it simple. By the time you add up all the little shades on one fixture, even a little bit of pattern can get mighty busy. I actually like the black matte paper shades with gold foil interiors. They're half the price of the black silk shades. They also do a better job of blocking the light from shooting around the room and, instead, focus the light down on the table for a very nice glow. Used with candles on the table, they create quite the mood.

Do yourself a favor and get that chandelier on a dimmer so you can really control the light. Remember it's for mood and dining-not performing open-heart surgery.