Design watch: Furniture Spruce Up by Turquoise LA

Our picks to click this week:

• A guest blogger on Decor8 contributes striking before-and-after photos of refinished vintage chairs. See the "Furniture Spruce Up by Turquoise LA" posting to witness the wonders of what a little lacquer and minor reupholstering can do. www.decor8.blogspot.com

• Katiedid treats readers to a bounty of design inspiration for the classic (and always stylish) pairing of black and white. A favorite look: mixing black and white with the old and the new and a touch of the unexpected, such as the photo of a guest room with black-and-white flocked wallpaper, a slick Eames chair and a Swedish-style grandfather clock — in red. www.katie-d-i-d.blogspot.com

• Pining for postings on purple? Get your fill of the color by checking out Patricia Gray and Design*Sponge. The bloggers provide pictures and products aplenty. www.patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com and www.designspongeonline.com

• Also on Design*Sponge, check out "DIY Wednesdays" for inspiration for your next project. This week's project uses contact paper to update a cabinet face. Other projects have ranged from a laptop cozy to felted nesting bowls. www.designspongeonline.com

Terri Sapienza, The Washington Post. Seattle Times staff contributed to this feature.

This is an occasional feature on what bloggers are saying about décor.