The secrets to a cover worthy living room

Cindy Rinfret's interior design for a Greenwich family's stunning Jacobean estate is the cover girl for this month's issue of the fabulous magazine, Luxe Interior + Design. Are you drooling over this luxe look? Read on and we'll show you how to get a living room that has cover girl cred.

There is so much to love in this living room. It's subtly luxurious and touches like glam mirrored end tables give a great transitional edge to an otherwise traditional design.

This side table from Rinfret Home & Garden offers the perfect touch of eye candy to frame a sofa. The transitional design can make a traditional room feel fresh and now.

Cindy Rinfret is a big believer in eclectic design. Using an antique style chinoiserie table with contemporary side tables brings an unexpected and "collected" feel to a room. Perfectly matched furniture can feel stale and uninspired so don't be afraid to mix different styles in a room.

It's just as important to have elements that pull a room together. Throw pillows are the most powerful accessories in a living room and can totally bring together a color scheme.

This throw pillow has a fabulous luxe look. If you can't splurge for the new sofa now, you can give your living room a face lift with a throw pillow that looks and feels expensive.

What's great about throw pillows is that they can lend a formal or more casual vibe to a room and are so easy to switch out. This same room could get a more relaxed summer look with linen throw pillows like the ones below.

To fill a room that is as grand as this one, you need a lot of accessories. Even the most beautifully designed room is not complete until is is filled with accessories.

The blue and white porcelain urn is a timeless choice. Not only does it lend a well-traveled and inherited flair to a living room, but in this room it beautifully continues the blue and cream color scheme.

Chances are, a cover room for a shelter magazine will have some flowers in the mix. There is a reason why stylists are always arranging flowers for photo shoots, they make a room welcoming and more beautiful. Even if you're not prepping your living room for a photo shoot, a well placed flower arrangement should always have a place in your home. If you're not a green thumb or hate how cut flowers die, then just grab a faux flower arrangement like this one. Trust us, no one will know the difference.

So now you know the secrets of a cover-worthy room. The best part? All of the above items are sold at Rinfret Home & Garden. So your luxe look is just a shopping spree away...

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!

Crazy for Chinoiserie

Chinoiserie may not be trendy but we bet it's here to last (after all, it's been around since the 17th century). This delicate and beautiful hand-painted style has its roots in China and portrays an idyllic, "imagined" Chinese landscape. It quickly became popular in England and the continent, as well as here in America.

Fast forward a handful of centuries. Cindy Rinfret is a hug fan of chinoiserie and she's an expert at using it in so many different ways. Here are a few of our favorites...

Cindy designed this sexy powder room for a stylish client. We love how the gold accents in the chinoiserie cabinet and chair rail play up the gold sink.

Check out the craftsmanship of this piece.

Here we have another bathroom with chinoiserie as the main focal point but the look and feel are totally different. This is Cindy's own bath and she wanted a more relaxing environment than the showy look of a gilded powder room. The beautiful hand-painted scene of trees and birds on the wall covering that surround the bath create a perfectly peaceful place for a calming soak.

Cindy also knows how to use a great chinoiserie piece to pack a visual punch. This stunning desk is a knockout and earned itself the cover image on Cindy's book Classic Greenwich Style (Rizzoli). Stay tuned to see her updated take on Greenwich Style in her next book with Rizzoli...but that's for a whole other blog post.

Classic chinoiserie often comes in red, black and gold. It's a bold look that just adds to the opulence of this luxurious room.

For a grand entrance, chinoiserie can't be beat. It's timeless elegance and hand-painted artistry make for a wonderful first impression. We love this wall-covering especially for its silver background that adds glamour (not glitz) to this breath taking entry.

You'll have to agree that chinoiserie is definitely not going anywhere, at least for a few more centuries.

Holiday Decorating, Part II: Creative Christmas Trees

Last week we talked about "mantel mania" and this week it's time to go inside the holiday home and take a look at the Christmas tree. After all, it's the most important decorative element this time of year. If you know Cindy Rinfret, you know that she decorates with a "more is more" philosophy, so it's no surprise that she doesn't limit herself to one tree. Each of her children have their own trees, her dogs have their own doggie tree, and sparkling trees brighten up her halls and entry.

The mother of all trees in Cindy's home is without a doubt the monumental tree in her Great Room, below:

A tree like this one demands a lot of ornaments. Luckily for Cindy she has a great selection of ornaments at her own shop, Rinfret Home & Garden, that she can choose from. (If you're close to Greenwich Avenue then lucky you too!)

Here are some of our favorite ornaments right now (all available at Rinfret Home & Garden):

Doesn't this charming ornament remind you of those fantastic, super preppy Tommy Hilfiger ads?

We also love these lifelike red cardinals that you can affix to your tree, wreath, or anything else you can imagine for a festive pop of red that feels fresher than just a glitzy red ball.

If you're more into bling than birds, you'll want these luxe crystal ornaments that will make your chandelier jealous of your Christmas tree.

Cindy's Marketing Director, Elizabeth, loves this doggie ornamanet because it looks just like her Korean Jindo dog. If she could get a Korean Jindo ornament at Rinfret Home & Garden, then we're willing to bet they can get you whatever breed you can think of!

Speaking of dogs, how cute do Cindy's goldens look in her hallway, framed by these simply elegant trees?

Cindy not only has special dog ornaments for her goldens but a whole Christmas tree dedicated to the four legged family members. Check it out:

If you like the idea of a special little tree but aren't a dog person, you should check out the famous Rinfret Teddy Bear Tree:

This is sure to please family members young in age and young at heart.

We could go on and on about all the great ornaments and decorative accessories for Christmas trees but you'll have a lot more fun if you simply come down to Rinfret Home & Garden and check out what we have first hand! While you're at it, you can count how many trees we have (there are a lot).

We hope to see you soon!

Holiday Decorating, Part One: Mantel Mania!

The Christmas season is a decorator's delight. There is no limit to holiday decor - from Christmas trees and tartan tabletops, to bows of garlands along the stairs. This holiday season we are going to look at one element of Christmas decor each week and break it down for you so that it's fun and easy. Decorating should be enjoyable, not overwhelming, especially during this time of year, when we all have enough to stress about.

We're starting off with the mantel. It's the perfect place to begin, as it's the dominating feature in most living rooms and dining rooms and it offers a wonderful place to start off your holiday decorating. (Plus, it gives you time to work up to the Christmas tree, which we'll talk about next week.)

In the spirit of starting out small, this first image shows Cindy Rinfret's library mantel decorated with just two simple urns with sprigs of evergreen. This is a great way to ease into the holiday spirit if you're not quite ready to go all out.

But when it comes to the holidays (and decorating in general) Cindy Rinfret is a firm believer in the "more is more" philosophy. Above, we see her same library but with the added touches of pinecones, red berries and magnolia leaves. It takes the room to a whole new level of festive.

Here's a closeup of this magnificent mantel that's got cover girl status. (It was on the cover of the Holiday 2009 issue of Traditional Home, and additionally is the online cover of this year's Traditional Home holiday feature.)

The mantel mania continues from Cindy's library to her family room, which has a gorgeous mantel that soars to cathedral ceilings and is framed by two French doors.

Bows of pine mixed with gold and silver ribbon and gilded pinecones work together to create a sophisticated look that adds to the beauty of the room.

Part of the fun of the holidays is that it's a great excuse to experiment with your decor and change up your normal look. Cindy might re-design what's on her mantel depending on her mood or to fit the vibe of a party that she's hosting.

Below is the same mantel as seen above, but instead of the red flowers that were centered above the mirror, she's chosen two mirrored vases filled with greenery and anchored them with a collection of fabulous glittery reindeer. The effect is more transitional and understated but no less festive.

Here's yet another mantel in Cindy's home (yes, she has a lot of mantels!) - this one is in her Great Room.

When you are working with a large space, it's important that your mantel decorations be substantial enough that they not get lost in the room. This gorgeous arrangement certainly does the trick. The warm tones of the magnolia leaves (a nice alternative to pine) highlight the gold ribbon and gilded pinecones. It is a holiday look that doesn't rely on the traditional red and green combo but still feels totally Christmas.

Now go look into your box of Christmas decorations and see what you can do to liven up your mantel for the holidays. And if you feel like you need more inspiration, just pop into Rinfret Home & Garden - where we are totally decked for the holidays.

Happy Holidays! Happy Decorating!

How to get your home ready for the holidays

The holiday season is upon us, Halloween has come and gone, and in our part of New England, we've even already had our first blizzard. It's time to start thinking about holiday entertaining and decorating. Cindy has some great tips for taking the stress out of making your home festive and inviting to guests (and you!)...

Think outside the box

Don't rely on Pottery Barn for all of your holiday decorating inspiration - do something personal that you have never seen before. Cindy is a dog lover and has the golden retrievers to prove it, so each year she dedicates a special Christmas tree to her dogs. It's decorated in adorable dog-themed ornaments and setup in the mud room, which is the stomping ground for the pooches. The tree is a great conversation starter at parties and more importantly, brings a smile to Cindy's face every time she sees it.

Make your home cozy and inviting

This is something that you should want for your home year round, but it is especially important around the holidays when you want to make your family and friends feel immediately comfortable at your house.

Faux fur throws are the perfect accessory to cozy up a room. They feel absolutely luxurious but are most of all comfortable. It's just the trick to add both style and comfort to a room. Another tip for fab parties is to make sure that there's plenty of comfy seating for your guests and that the furniture is arranged to make it easy to chat while simultaneously drinking and eating.

Entertain in style!

Take a tip from Mad Men, and whip up an old school cocktail with a fancy shaker (and yes, that means make cocktails - it's much more interesting than the standard white wine that everyone is sick of by their 5th holiday party).

Your guests will notice your extra effort and creativity and you'll find yourself energized by the excitement of using and trying new things.

The best part? You can get all this great stuff (from fur throws and ornaments, to the serving trays and cocktail shakers) at Rinfret Home & Garden. So go ahead and make your home cozy and your parties fabulous! It's easy and fun!