Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

Earlier this month Rinfret Home & Garden hosted its first Private Holiday Shopping Event, which was a huge hit. The shop was packed the entire evening with shoppers enjoying cocktails and yummy hors d'oeuvres (our personal favorite were the crab cakes). There was also plenty of shopping to be had, with gorgeous Christmas decorations ranging from ornaments to Santas to Christmas trees embraced by furry teddy bears. As if that were not enough, everyone left with a goodie bag, featuring a very cool candle shaped like a pinecone.

Here are some photos from the evening...

The front window of the shop offers some serious eye candy. It's no wonder that Greenwich Green & Clean recognizes Rinfret Home & Garden for their incredible holiday decorations year after year and the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce awarded us FIRST PLACE in their Winterwonderland Contest this year (see the end of this post for details on that).

Rinfret staff help to spread the cheer with festive accessories. Monika Walker, intern at Rinfret Home & Garden, is the resident Elf, while Ricky Spears, Senior Designer at Rinfret, Ltd. plays Rudolph.

Red was the color of the evening, as Cindy Rinfret and her friend, Jackie Ekholm show.

Gift wrapping is a Rinfret Home & Garden specialty. Chelsea Garber, assistant to Cindy Rinfret, puts the finishing touches on a Christmas gift. We love the idea of using Christmas ornaments as part of your wrapping. There's nothing like getting a present that already has a gift on view before you even un-tie the ribbon!

Our signature Christmas trees with teddy bears were a big hit at the party. Another popular item were our Hermes accessories. Who wouldn't love a hand-painted tray with the iconic Hermes logo? Throw in an Hermes bucket and you are sure to be considered a Christmas angel. For more Christmas ideas go to www.rinfrethomeandgarden.com and shop online or head to the shop at 354 Greenwich Avenue.

This was our first holiday party at the shop (and we will definitely make this an annual event from now on) but Rinfret, Ltd. is no stranger to holiday parties. Our staff love to have a good time and we do just that at our Christmas parties. We are looking forward to our upcoming soiree at Cindy Rinfret's house (if ever there was an amazing spot for entertaining, this is it).

In the meantime, here's a look back at last year's Rinfret Christmas fete:

Cindy Rinfret and Ricky Spears are all laughs. Notice the tartan blanket on Cindy's lap. Cindy loves to use tartan for Christmas parties -- from tablecloths, to napkins to clothing, nothing says Christmas like a red tartan fabric.

All the guests at the party got a gag gift. Here's Kristen Farrington Dawson, Senior Designer, holding her engagement ring mug, in honor of her recent engagement. (She is now married.) Fred Flare and Urban Outfitters have lots of fun gag gifts that are sure to put a smile on anyone's face. Notice the deluxe fur throw to Kristen's right? You can get one too at Rinfret Home & Garden. These are so luxurious and cozy that everyone who works at Rinfret, Ltd. has one of their very own. Click here to get yours!

Desserts are key component of any party. These taste just as fantastic as they look. And note the tartan again, isn't it festive?

We hope that this post puts you in a festive mood.

Merry Christmas to you all!

***NEWS FLASH***

As we were posting this we received word that Rinfret Home & Garden had won first place in the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce's Winter Wonderland contest for most festive shop.

Check it out:

Nothing like a blue ribbon to make hanging hundreds of ornaments worth the effort!

Decorate for Thanksgiving!

The shops on Greenwich Avenue, including Rinfret Home & Garden, may be decked out for Christmas but let's not forget about our more humble holiday, Thanksgiving, which is in just a few days. We love Thanksgiving and not just because it gives us a free pass to indulge in food for hours but it's also a great excuse to decorate. Check out Cindy Rinfret's decorations for her Thanksgiving dinner party last year. We'll show you how to achieve the same look at home.

Don't be afraid to move your furniture out of the way if you are having a large number of guests for the holiday. Having dinner in the living room really makes the occasion feel festive and special. Cindy brought long tables into her Great Room for a really dramatic effect:


Use urns and flowers to create gorgeous centerpieces. Branches and leaves add the perfect seasonal touch.


Candles are a must at any party. It's best not to have scented candles at the table, so as not to disrupt the aroma of the food, but use your entry to set out scented candles to immediately create an inviting atmosphere. Cindy's signature Greenwich Candle has a delicate scent that we love. Click here to buy it online or get it at Rinfret Home & Garden.

Scatter Fall leaves along the table to bring the outdoors in. You can find these at Michael's Arts & Crafts. Bring the leaf motive to the dinnerware with plates shaped as leaves.

Birds and animals make great decorations (and not just turkeys). Below Cindy used a pheasant for the table.


This Stag Punch Bowl is perfect for a Thanksgiving fete. Click here to get it at Rinfret Home & Garden.
Even with this gorgeous decor, food should still be the main attraction at any Thanksgiving dinner. Use the food to compliment the decor. These cookies are adorable and are just as pretty as they are delicious. Cindy's go-to caterer, Jon Cutler custom-made these cookies for her. You can also use "food" as pure decoration and bring in cranberries and acorns to fill vases. After all, the whole point of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for the harvest.

Make the most of your mantel for Thanksgiving with flowers and candles.

Cindy loves these glass hurricanes for the mantel or dining table and she uses them in all of her clients' homes. Click here to see a selection of glass cut hurricanes.
We hope that we have inspired you to decorate for Thanksgiving and not to wait until Christmas to accessorize. Best wishes to all our readers for a happy and healthy holiday (filled with lots of turkey, of course) and we'll see you out shopping this weekend!

2010 Home Of The Year!

Mountaing Living Magazine's November/December issue honors Rinfret Ltd. with the '2010 Home Of The Year Award'. Cindy whom is best known for her Classic Greenwich style proves once again her eye for design has no limits. This masterpiece tucked in the mountains of Vail, Colorado is the perfect blend of rustic luxury and modern style. Together, Cindy and Vail based architect Kyle Webb of K.H. Webb Architects transformed an original 1962 house into your not so typical mountain home. The 10,000sqft, seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom slopeside retreat is a new stepping stone in history. Discover the secrets behind the design, challenges faced and tricks of the trade.

As Published in Mountain Living

Rinfret is recognized as one of the Top Mountain Interior Designers of 2010. The editors of Mountain Living selected the most talented Architects & Interior Designers at work in the West today. Even when she steps outside of her Classic Greenwich Style, Cindy proves she can do it all!

Rinfret is "On Point"

Featured in the September 2010 issue of Connecticut Cottages & Gardens is a Norwalk waterfront jewel designed by Rinfret and her team. Cindy transformed a post modern space into a timeless traditional home inspired by the natural surroundings. Take a peek inside (and out) of another Rinfret masterpiece!







Click to enlarge each page, or stop by Rinfret Home & Garden to pick up your own copy!

Autumn Is Here At Rinfret Home & Garden

As summer comes to an end, everything is falling into place. Come stop by and see what is in store for autumn!

Summer Sale Ends Soon!

The Rinfret Home & Garden Summer Sale will be ending August 14th, stop by now for your last chance to save 20% store wide (books & candles not included) and up to 50% on select items!

Innovation In Design Awards 2010

The results are in! Connecticut Cottages & Garden Annual Innovation in Design Awards for 2010 are featured in the July/August issue. The areas most talented designers competed for a spot in Landscape, Kitchen, Interior Design, Bath and Architecture. See for yourself why Cindy placed second within her category.


Click to enlarge each image, and/or pick up a copy to see all the winners!

As Seen in 'Harpers Bazaar'

Don't miss Cindy's work as featured in the August 2010 issue of Harpers Bazaar, a lifestyle piece on Tommy and Dee Hilfiger at their new apartment in Manhattan's historic Plaza Hotel.

Check it out here: A Fashionable Life: The Hilfigers

2010 Greenwich Sidewalk Sale

Its that time of the year again! Come join us on the Avenue for Greenwich's annual sidewalk sale July 15th to 17th from 9am to 5pm. Score great summer savings that will keep you smiling all year long.