Do you have a room that defies your every attempt to decorate it? Did you just move into a new place that needs furnishing from scratch?

All of us face design dilemmas, whether we live in an old house or new apartment, whether our taste is traditional or cutting-edge, whether we have a shoestring budget or big bucks to spend.

What we need is expert advice. That's where Ask a Designer comes in. Here's how it will work:

You send us a photo or two of your room, along with a letter describing the design dilemma and the look you want to achieve. Include dimensions, notes about colors, your tastes - whatever you think will help a design professional suggest an answer.

Starting this spring, members of The N&O Design Team, a group of volunteer interior designers, will take turns offering solutions in Home&Garden. So if you send us a question, you're giving us permission to publish the information.

Send your stuff via email to forhomeandgarden@newsobserver.com. Please put "Ask a Designer" in the subject field.