"How do I..." (Letter from a loyal reader).

I am so touched when one of my millions of readers reaches out to me with a question. I mean, when you consider they could ask someone like Martha Stewart or Nahm on This Old House, it's really quite humbling. So when Christine in Fayetteville, Arkansas (where the heck is Arkansas, Christine?) wrote me about how to treat a scratch on a vintage piece of furniture, I was happy, but nervous. After all, I'm not an expert. But then I thought, "If Christine in Arkansas thinks I can help her, then I can! Not just can - I must.

The letter/challenge:

Dear Pam:

I've been reading your blog and books for years and I think you're fantastic!

Can you advise me on how I should treat an unsightly scratch on my heirloom teak sauna bath?

Yours truly,

Christine G.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.A.

Well, Christine, without knowing the exact nature of the injury to your heirloom sauna - what the hell happened, for starters? Were you drinking? And who uses teak to make a tub? - it's hard for me to give a precise response. But I'm thinking that my own tried and true technique of treating scratched furniture might just apply here. The furniture featured in my response is indoor furniture, but I think the scenario applies pretty much any old place. Note: my proffered solution includes using a book, which you might want to place in a baggy due to the proximity of warm, murky water.

Now let's stop writing and focus on the pictures, shall we?

(Look up!!)

First, identify the issue. In the lower left corner of the top photo, you'll see what looks like a small dark speck on your computer screen. Don't be fooled and don't touch your screen! It's actually a scratch in the paint of this nightstand!

When trying to solve a complex problem, I always attempt to start with the easiest solution. In this case, it meant grabbing the closest small, decorative object to cover the scratch. This photo illustrates how that worked out. What do you think?

I thought covering the scratch worked out just fine, but it wasn't enough. While the expanse of blue wood was attractive and allowed one to appreciate the fine grain of the wood, I found myself wondering what was missing. So, I took more objects - in this case a red hardcover book and a small, blue book with dragonflies on it - and covered the scratch with some more stuff. (Please note that you should not feel locked in to using the same types and colours of books - now is the time to trust your judgement).

That's all I've got for you, Christine! Please let me know how this worked out for you! The most important thing is to just have fun with it! That's key!

Sincerely,

Pam