Dear Décor Diva: How low should I hang my foyer chandelier in a two-story entrance way? The ceiling height is 20 feet and there are 14 stairs with a small landing at the turn for a total of 16 stairs. The light itself is approximately four-feet tall. Thanks and bless you. I have a big dilemma with my husband over this!

Dear Grace Under Pressure: Calm down. I may need more details for your specific case because there really is no formula for the correct height except common sense. If the ceiling is 10 feet or more, such as yours, then a hanging chandelier is definitely called for.

Lower ceilings, on the other hand, require a flush or semi-flush fixture. Chandeliers are properly hung at different heights depending on the size and shape of the fixture.

Ceiling height and adjacent windows also play a role in determining correct height. I assume you have a double door entrance with a large Palladian-style window above. Am I right? I thought so. One general guideline for foyers such as yours is to center the chandelier within that window so that it will look best from both the interior and the exterior of the house.

Remodeling master

Dear Décor Diva: We're remodeling our master bathroom and want to include a laundry area. Before we start, are there certain things I should know about?

Dear Loves Laundry: This is a great idea since most of our dirty clothes end up in a clothing hamper in our bathrooms or bedrooms anyway. I checked with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and here are some of the things they recommend.

First, make sure you have enough space — not only for the washer and dryer but also for folding, storage for laundry baskets, soaps, softeners and possibly some type of ironing facility. Stacking washer and dryers reduce the amount of floor space needed (usually 27 inches in width and depth, plus a few inches on either side to get them in and out). Because doing laundry produces heat and humidity, it's very important to vent your dryer to the exterior. It's also important to increase the capacity of the ventilation to be used in the bathroom. Look for a washer that has an automatic shut off in the event that a hose springs a leak. Insist on shut-off valves on all the supply lines in the bathroom.

Once you pass all these tests, it's time to think about aesthetics. You can enclose the machines behind mirrored bi-fold or sliding doors. Mirrors visually increase the room size and can be useful when getting dressed.

You can also select doors that match your vanity cabinets. Be sure there is enough closed storage so that everything can be put out of sight when the laundry is done. Remember the main function of this space is still a bathroom.

Design lingo

Dear Décor Diva: What exactly is a chair rail?

Dear Just Curious: A chair rail is decorative trim or molding placed approximately three feet above the floor and running horizontally around a room.

Perla Lichi is a professional interior designer and syndicated columnist. Submit general questions by writing: The Decor Diva, c/o Naples Daily News, 7127 N. Pine Island Road, Tamarac, FL 33321, or submit questions directly to decordiva@perlalichi.com.