Dress up that old dresser

Q. My dresser is sooooooo ugly, and I really want to do something to it to spice it up. Can you help me? Oh, I have a small bedside dresser that matches and it is just as ugly.
Sincerely, Tammy, 16, St. Louis
A. The old ugly dresser story, I've heard it a million times and each one gets more horrible! I think your best bet is paint; it's bright, easy and makes everything look brand new. Now, if you don't want to paint it one color (because that can be boring) try these simple techniques:
Stripes are supercool and easy, either going across your dresser horizontally the width of your drawers or vertically about 8 to 10 inches wide. Let's say you want to paint it black and white. Sand your dresser so the paint will have a surface to stick to. Use a high-gloss oil-based paint for the best results. It can be messy (and a bit stinky), and you have to be patient and let it dry! You can also use a high-gloss latex-based paint and that is nice, too, but tends to have less staying power. It's up to you.
Paint the whole dresser white first and let it dry. Figure out where you want your stripes and lightly pencil them on the dresser using a yardstick. Next, tape along the lines with blue tape from the hardware store; it's more expensive, but well worth it when it comes time to remove it.
After you tape off your stripes, paint over the tape with a small roller or 2-inch-wide brush with the same white paint so it vanishes on the dresser. This will assure that when you paint your black stripes they will be absolutely perfect! When the painted tape is dry fill in the stripes with your black. When the black is almost dry, remove the tape and you will have an amazingly cool striped dresser.
One more suggestion for you. Paint your dresser a color that you really like that also matches your room decor. Next, take color Xerox copies of your friends or cool postcards or even magazine pictures and glue them with Elmer's white glue to your dresser and then go over with a d & eacute;coupage paste.
Your dresser will turn into a trunk that has been around the world or a photo album of your life that you get to enjoy every morning when you get dressed. Good luck!
Q. My room is in the basement, and my windows are small and toward the top of my walls. Is there something I can do for more light and to make them seem bigger? -- Denise, 15, Miami
A. My room was in the basement growing up, too. I totally understand where you are coming from! Here is what I would suggest. Hang curtains from the ceiling to the floor so it appears that the windows are longer. Make sure you use a fabric that lets in the light, but is substantial enough so it doesn't show the structure of your window. Try a nice bright cotton fabric.
Now, if you can, place a lamp in between those windows on a table or desk, so there is light diffused in the middle of the curtains and that should help.
XNeed help with your room? E-mail your question to markmontanonyc@aol.com. Mark Montano writes "Cool Room," a monthly room makeover column in CosmoGirl magazine. He is also the author of "Super Suite: The Ultimate Bedroom Makeover Guide for Girls" and an award-winning fashion designer in New York City. For more information about Mark and his work, check out www.markmontano.com.
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Want to date a rock star?
SEVENTEEN MAGAZINE
Gwyneth Paltrow, who is dating Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, digs the rock-star-girlfriend gig, but it's not a dream come true for every girl ...
PROS:
UHe'll write a song about you. (Imagine Martin singing, "Look at the stars/Look how they shine for you" to you.)
UVIP backstage passes (so you can meet other hot rock guys if things don't work out).
UHis bandmates want girlfriends, your friends want rock stars -- all's right with the world.
UDodging shattered guitar shrapnel nightly keeps you in top shape.
CONS:
UHis songs have girls' names in them; most of the names aren't yours.
UHe steals your $20 bottles of hair gel.
UEventually you'll appear on "Behind the Music" to recount the night he crashed his Porsche.
UHe'll be wearing spandex at 60.