Shabby, Chic and Do-It-Yourself

BOOKS

So, you’ve patched that fixer-upper and are figuring what to fill it with. Rachel Ashwell says she’s been there, several times, and has pictures to prove it.

Her latest book, “The Shabby Chic Home” ($35, Regan Books, 2000), begins with a “run-down, gloomy old house” Ashwell says she found in Malibu and then decorated with often inexpensive furnishings. She presents her ideas and explains how they can work in your home.

Ashwell, who appears on the E! channel as an expert on interior design, likes to find stuff wherever she can, including flea markets and attics. Her game plan is to take seemingly mismatched items, no matter how old, and create a graceful and fairly simple environment. The book, of course, has dozens of nice photos to prove her point.

The author also has something of a passion for painting and gives several tips. Here are a couple: Since paint looks different on walls than store samples, paint a small strip and see how it looks. And gloss paint is way too shiny for indoors but is good for front doors and some exterior trims.

Furniture Painting in Detail

Sheila McGraw’s “Painting and Decorating Furniture” is now in paperback ($30, Firefly Books, 2000) and it remains a great source. The book covers everything: cabinets, chairs, desks, dressers, tables and other items with individual chapters dedicated to each.

McGraw lays it all out in easy detail, from tools and materials you’ll need to what types of paints and mixtures will give the desired effects. And there are lots of them--she goes into stains, gold-leaf, crackle, metals, fabrics and stencils, among other effects that can turn throwaways into pieces worth keeping.

THE WEB

Appliance Repair for the Web Wise

Most of us look at a broken appliance and reach for the yellow pages. After cursing, of course. But there are a few patient, courageous souls who think, “I bet I can fix this thingamagig myself.” For these adventurers, there’s a new site, RepairClinic.com (https://www.repairclinic.com).

The spot provides heaps of info, starting with trouble-shooting just what the heck is wrong with that toaster, refrigerator or washing machine and then listing what needs to be done to make it hum again. Of course, RepairClinic.com gets most of its profits from selling parts online but that doesn’t mean you have to buy there. You can always use it as a first stop for comparison shopping when visiting the local hardware store.

One of the more useful features is the PartDetective. Several simple questions help determine the exact problem and which gizmo will be needed. Photos verify that everything fits. Another section, called the RepairGuru, goes into maintenance needs and offers tips on how to ensure appliances last longer.

For instance, clean the condenser coils under the fridge with a brush and vacuum cleaner at least once a year. When it comes to the washer, protect against major leaks by replacing the inlet hoses every five years. And be sure to throw out chipping or rusting dishwater racks because the metal flakes can ruin motor seals.

* To have a book or Web site considered for this column, send information to: Home Design, The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Mark Chalon Smith can also be reached by e-mail at mark.smith@latimes.com.