HomeBase plans to convert six of its stores in the Valley into a new home-decorating theme. The stores will close in about three months, when the remodeling and remerchandising will take place. The retooling will take about nine weeks, say company officials.

The new stores also will be renamed, going by the name House2Home.

They will sell everything from patio furniture to small appliances to office furniture. Each conversion of a store will cost about $5.5 million, say company officials. Part of the conversion effort will include a liquidation sale that will continue for the next 11 weeks.

HomeBase has been taking a beating from ubiquitous Home Depot for years, but now that home improvement Lowe's has moved into the market the competition has become even fiercer. Lowe's opened its first store in the Valley last year.

HomeBase, based in Irvine, Calif., announced its new strategy in December, and said that it would include the closure of some stores. HomeBase will close one of its stores in the Valley, the location at 9890 N. 90th Street in Scottsdale.