On the home front

'Extreme Makeover' coming to our area

ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is looking for a family to help in the Richmond area. The deadline is Sept. 30, so get those pencils moving!

The show is looking for "special people who have amazing strength of character and never give up." The family must own their single-family home and show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference in their lives.

Nominations can be submitted by the family or by a member of their community. Each nomination must include the names and ages of every member of the household, a contact phone number and a description of the major challenges within the home. Be sure to explain why the nominated family is deserving, heroic and/or a great role model. E-mail nominations to .

For more information on how to apply, visit http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition/apply CW on QVC

Williamsburg, the home brand of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, will return to QVC Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 a.m. for a holiday broadcast. During the one-hour show, a home stylist will share tips for decorating the home for the holidays as well as offer shoppers signature new pieces from the brand's "Home for All Seasons" collection. Lavish lavatories

Bathrooms really have come a long way since the times when they were used only for hygiene. Today's lavatories, as you will find in "150 Best Bathroom Ideas" (Collins Design; $29.99) by Daniela Santos Quartino, can be as lavish as any spa and as sophisticated as a five-star hotel.

Take a look at the hundreds of photos in the book and you'll see what I mean. Designs for lighting, flooring, walls, window treatments, bathtubs, showers, toilets and sinks are all produced by the pros. Corner Lots

Common mistakes to avoid in order to sell your home quickly and for the most profit:

• Overpricing: Be sure to check the comparable home prices in your area. Your house should be in line with the selling prices of nearby homes of similar age, style and size.

• Overimproving: Don't go overboard when it comes to home improvements. It's possible to make so many upgrades that you price your home out of the appropriate range for the area -- and worse, never recoup your investment.

• Not prepping for sale: First, visit open houses in your neighborhood to get an idea of what the competition has to offer. Then make appropriate fixes and updates, declutter, stage and clean.

• Sabotaging the showing. Make yourself scarce when your home is being shown to prospective buyers; they need space to focus on and evaluate your property. Also, make sure the house is easily accessible with convenient showing hours and a lockbox for agents.

To read more on common mistakes when selling a home, visit HGTV's FrontDoor.com's Web site at http://www.frontdoor.com. It's time to . . .

Divide your peonies. The middle of September is the perfect time to dig up your peonies and carefully cut the roots into two or three pieces. After dividing, replant them in sunny well-drained soil. Be careful not to plant them too deep. About 1 inch of soil over the roots is all you'll need. This is a great time to share peonies with your friends.

Richard Nunnally's
gardening Q&A, D3