I roll up the blue rug and drag it out of the living room like a dead sea mammal. I unfurl the orange rug, which I am determined to like. I stand back and squint. The orange is pretty bright.

I recently got the bug to refresh and update my dining room, whose furniture dates back to the 1990s. So, I asked Los Angeles designer Christopher Grubb to consult. That is, I would send him photos.