In winter there's not much to take your attention away from the structure or colors of trees and shrubs. You can appreciate them for their branching habits and bark, not just because they supply the "canopy" or "spatial enclosure" of the landscape.

Q: A couple of my dining room chairs have become wobbly because of loose joints. How can I fix this ?

Q: DEAR TIM: I attended a Christmas party at a home that had wainscoting. It was gorgeous. The beadboard was painted a different color than the wall above to accent it. What can you tell me about installing wainscoting? I like a raised panel, but would settle for beadboard. -- Stephanie D., Minneapolis

Mulch is a gardening mainstay because it protects and nurtures plants while improving the look of many landscapes. Plants need different types of mulches depending on the season.

When people decide it's time to downsize and move out of the home where they have lived for perhaps 40 years, they want to distribute their household furniture, cherished belongings and family heirlooms to their adult children and grandchildren.

Q: I have heard that mold can grow behind a bathtub liner. Is this possible? -- Anna

Q: DEAR TIM: I have an opportunity to convert my home to radiant floor heating. A complete renovation is in progress, and I'm convinced radiant floor heating will be the best for me. Can the average homeowner successfully install such a system?

It's understood among landscape designers that the aesthetics of a garden go considerably beyond visual beauty to encompass sound and touch.

Q: I have a bathroom sink that clogs periodically. I have tried a plunger, several kinds of drain openers and so forth, and I haven't been able to get it to drain well. What's next? -- L. Ramsey

Holiday lights not up yet? You still have a few days.

If you love to cook, but are afraid of buying or renting a place with a kitchen the size of a phone booth, fear not. A small kitchen doesn't have to be a big drawback if you use your space creatively.

If you have a tiny room that you're thinking about as a bedroom for your child or a guest, getting the most out of a small space is a challenge but not an insurmountable one.

Post Home Section staffers Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza take questions on your decorating dilemmas. This week they'll check out the fabulous holiday decor at one Georgetown home.

Q. DEAR TIM: Wood fencing is my next project. My wife loves wood fences, and I feel they are attractive. What do I need to know to ensure this project is a success? What is a good wood fence post? Should I pre-build fence panels or construct the fence in place? Is it necessary to embed the fence posts in concrete? -- Barry L., Columbia, S.C.

You have decided to build a new house. You weighed all the pros and cons of 15 lots and finally chose one that's near public mass transit, so you'll need only one car. It's a 10-minute walk from a local shopping area, so you can easily incorporate some exercise into your regular routine.

One school holiday assignment I never minded was to read a book of my choice. So, here are my picks for some landscape and gardening books for your holiday reading and gift list this year.

Q: I want to paint my textured refrigerator to match other appliances, but I don't want to spray it. Can I use a brush? -- S. Ferguson

Post Home Section staffers Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza take questions on your decorating dilemmas. This week they'll help you get your home ready for holiday houseguests.

Q: DEAR TIM: The grout in one joint of my floor tile has come out. Do you know why this happened? I can see that the previous homeowner repaired it. What's the best way to work with floor grout in this situation? What type of grout do I install, and how do I match the color perfectly?

When homeowners cut their landscaping budget, they typically get rid of things such as garden pools, fountains, walls, seating, sculpture, containers and lighting. But these elements, which can be grouped together as "site amenities," contribute to the impact of a garden.