Greenwich residents have one thing in common It s their style.

Elegance, classic, timelessness and beauty are words synonymous with Greenwich style, according to attendees of 20-year interior design veteran Cindy Rinfret s lecture at the Garden Education Center (GEC) of Greenwich last Wednesday morning.

Rinfret is the owner of Rinfret Ltd., a leading design firm in Fairfield and Westchester counties. She is also the proprietor of Rinfret Ltd. Home & Garden Shop, located on Greenwich Avenue.

Nothing has to be pure, said Rinfret. She shared design tips and photos from her new book, Classic Greenwich Style, to a group of more than 40. It s all about all about detail and quality.

The GEC, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is a non-profit organization volunteer organization that is dedicated to developing interest, appreciation and involvement in horticulture, nature and the arts through educational programs, outreach activities and special events.

Cindy is an icon of style here in town, said GEC board member Christine Young.

Rinfret, a New Canaan native and resident of Greenwich, has taken her local design elegance to homes as close as Bedford, N.Y., and to homes as distant as Wyoming.

She has a 14-person design team that works on projects of any size. Many people hire a designer because they have a lot of great ideas, but can only get from A to L, said Rinfret, whose gift is visualizing a finished design and working backward.

She has been featured in numerous magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, New York Spaces and Decorating.

This is Greenwich style but it s in Bedford, said Rinfret of one image. It s a classic BackCountry horse house. We used all of the client s furniture and found a great wine rack at an antique show in Greenwich Village.

Rinfret says that while homeowners should expect to invest at least 20 percent of their home s value into decorating and furnishing, the best design elements aren t always the most costly.

The key is finding great sources everywhere you go. You have to keep your eyes open, said Rinfret. You can take a stock kitchen and spend money on two great light fixtures and all of a sudden it is very custom.

Being resourceful and innovative is characteristic of Greenwich style, according to Kimberly Lee of Old Greenwich.

I ve been inspired to look at things I own differently, and get everything out and use it, said Lee. That s what Greenwich style is about: using all your good things everyday.

But if you re going to spend a hefty penny on design, Rinfret warns that people should take care not to focus on the wrong elements.

Guilford resident Kristi Nordgaard is decorating her small cape home and attended the lecture for some pointers.

It was all very useful, said Nordgaard, whose mom is a member of the Garden Education Center, especially the tips about actually doing it, getting from A to Z.

During the question-and-answer portion, Rinfret fielded questions from nervous do-it-yourselfers that ranged from the rules for coffer ceilings to mixing finishes.

Is it okay to mix silver and gold leaf finishes? questioned one Greenwich resident who was in the process of combining two homes into one.

We mix finishes all the time, said Rinfret. You have to balance enough in the room so it doesn t stick out.

Balance is an important key to design, and not just for the house. Rinfret recalled one client who complained of lack of storage space in a 12,000-square-foot house.

If you re organized, it s easy to keep your house neat, said Rinfret. It makes your whole life simpler.

Second homes are often more fun, said Rinfret describing one client who bought a ski house for his wife as a surprise gift.

That is what s nice about doing second houses, people tend to be a little freer, said Rinfret showing pictures of indoor bowling alleys and movie theaters.

Decorating your house doesn t just begin after you buy it; it should begin before you build it, said Rinfret.

When building a house, I tell people to hire a decorator and have your floor plans and lighting plans done at same time, said Rinfret who recalled doing lighting plans that called for the installation of 192 light fixtures in a 200,000-square-foot ranch.

It s easier to make decisions in advance. It makes your life so much easier if you do lighting plans right up front, said Rinfret.

The type of materials a homeowner chooses and the quality of work can make after-decoration maintenance easier.

Paint jobs are really important and can last the life of a house, but are only good if a carpenter did the molding well, she said. Some people are going back to hardwood floors in kitchens. You don t want to spend your life being a caretaker for your house.

Certain design elements can help smaller houses that lack architecture.

It is important to get the bones right, said Rinfret. Think big picture: windows, rugs, upholstery. Get the dirty work done so your life isn t filled with dust for a year.

Greenwich style is all about making it the best that it can be, said Darien resident Holly Friend. Friend, a GEC member, thought the lecture was very informative and interesting.

The GEC lectures give access to very prominent people in their field in an intimate setting, said Friend.

Rinfret offered a final piece of advice for those who decide to hire an interior designer.

Trust your decorator, said Rinfret. You can turn anything into anything.

source : www.greenwichcitizen.com