Animal Attraction

Unless you've been living in a cave for the past year, you know that animal prints are a hot in fashion, and looks like Michael Kors Spring 2012 collection are keeping the trend going strong.

Animal prints may come and go in the world of fashion but when it comes to interior design, there is always a place for some spots, stripes, furs or horns to add a pop of fun to a room. The look has been around for a long time in the world of design but we don't anticipate ever growing weary of it.

In the lower level of Cindy Rinfret's home is her entertaining area with this funky bar and lounge area. The zebra stripes in the bar stool cushions above and in the throw pillows below totally work with the fun and exotic look that this adult playspace is all about. Add some great fans and French bistro chairs and it adds up to a vacation ambience.

Animal prints in interior design aren't always playful and frivolous - they can also work for really masculine interiors. We may not associate animal prints and furs with men when it comes to fashion but for interior design the element of raw animal hides, furs and antlers can really give a strong and authentic look to a room that feels deliciously masculine.

Above is Tommy Hilfiger's family room (from his bachelor pad days) that is totally macho (in the best sense of the word) with wood paneling, Warhol's cowboy series, and fabulous antler furniture and lighting, plus a lot of leather and fur. This is a room that makes you want to light up a cigar.

A touch of zebra can also feel totally rock and roll, especially when paired with a photo of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The rock star bachelor pad look continues in Tommy's master bedroom:

If you're not into the idea of animal prints, a great way to add some warmth and interest to a room is with a great faux fur throw.

This family room by Cindy Rinfret gets a dose of cozy warmth with a fur throw. It's an easy way to get the look and not quite as intense as some of the fashions now, and certainly easier to pull off than the Game of Thrones look...

Which one would you rather wrap yourself in?

What we love: Greek Key

Any client, design assistant or friend of Cindy's knows just how much she loves to use Greek Key accents in her designs. Greek Key is a timeless trend that dates back to the Ancient Greeks, but its great geometric lines feel totally current in transitional interiors.

Here are some of our favorite examples of Greek Key in Cindy's work...

Fabulous window treatments with a chocolate tape in a modified Greek Key design make this elegant entry sing.

Here Cindy took a Chinese antique and transformed it into a headboard. The Greek Key elements in this ancient wood screen are echoed in the Greek Key detail in the throw pillows.

This living room has got so many Greek Key details but the design is used in different ways so that it doesn't feel repetitive.

You might recognize these cut velvet Greek Key throw pillows from the image above. They are Cindy's custom pillows and are a signature look for her interiors.

Here's that signature Greek Key pillow again. We love how it balances the patterns in the window treatments, rug and bedskirt beautifully.

This Greek key motif is used in a chair rail in Cindy's own powder room. It goes to show that beauty is in the details.

This powder room just gets better the longer you look at it. Love this Greek Key detail.

We think the ancient Greeks would be proud!