The post Don’t Dread Red appeared first on All About ReDecorating.

Meaghan Wims

Designing Woman

Local interior decorator makes most of what you have

Helen Brennan realized her living room needed a new look after she played host to a meeting of friends.

There was no easy way for Brennan’s friends to chat in her living room, with the furniture spread out in corners of the room. The white walls looked bland, and her furniture was starting to look less like treasured heirlooms and more like dated pieces.

Brennan has lived in her Marin Street house, built in 1907, for 25 years, but she admits she’d overlooked the living room.

She decided it was time for a brighter, more inviting look. But where to start? She settled on a mossy green flower print for reupholstering two of her chairs. That’s as far as she got before she decided to call Jan C. Girouard, an interior decorator who owns Newport-based All About ReDecorating. The company specializes in helping clients work with what they’ve got when they redecorate their homes.

Girouard arrived at Brennan’s historic home, paint samples in hand, to consult with the retiree about how she could update her living room.

“It’s just gotten tired,” Brennan said. “It’s really cold.” This is Brennan’s first major renovation project, except for getting her kitchen redone a couple of years ago.

She loves her period and Victorian=era furniture and her clock, trinkets and carpet. But she’s bored with the white walls and wants them to be warmer.

Beyond that, she said with a laugh, “I just don’t know what to do. “She’s game for just about anything. “Sometimes you really need a new set of eyes,” Girouard said. “Homeowners will watch the television decorating shows, but they don’t know if it’ll work in their houses. I’m seeing everything live.”

The two looked at Brennan’s furniture, which she’s adamant about keeping. “I like my furniture. It has meaning to me. This is my stuff.”

Girouard plays off of that. “You have to be sensitive to what’s important to them,” she said. “She loves her things, but they are not warm and inviting. When you walk in a room, it speaks to you and your inner well-being. It affects how you feel.”

Girouard said she works “ceiling to floor” like a makeover artist would work head to toe.

Girouard suggests a warm, beigey-peach for the walls, drawn from the color of the flowers in the upholstery fabric Brennan picked out. The color will brighten the room and accentuate the tile that frames the fireplace, a feature Brennan admits she’s never really noticed.

Girouard and Brennan talk about covering a small sofa in pumpkin-colored velvet and her Victorian-era chair set in a green brocade print.

Next, Girouard eyes the ceilings. “People tend to say white ceilings,” Girouard said. “I know you’re conservative.” Brennan grinned.

But Girouard suggests a lighter, peachy “tint” in the same color family as the walls. It would make the white crown molding “pop” and will “pull your eye up,” she said.

Brennan laughs nervously, but agrees that the unconventional idea might work. Next, Girouard starts moving furniture, aligning the couch with the fireplace and bringing the two Victorian chairs to face the couch, forming a “vignette” conversation circle in front of the fireplace.

On the right wall, Girouard suggests a shorter table lamp, and moves two wingback chairs closer to a side table and away from the wall. Girouard pauses after each move and Brennan takes it all in, nodding.

“That looks good,” Brennan said, “I can see it.” Now to light fixtures. “You do,” Girouard announced, “have lighting issues.”

The room faces north and doesn’t get much light. Girouard suggests more lamps to “layer” light. She loves Brennan’s 1850’s glass lamp, which she shifts on a side table to get more focus.

Girouard suggests moving a large potted plant out of the room…it’s too casual. Next, to tackle the short, cream-colored drapes. Brennan wants to keep her curtains sheer and plain. But, Girouard points out that longer curtains would be more dramatic and add more height.

“That doesn’t upset me too much,” Brennan said. The only new pieces Girouard suggests for the room is a lamp or two, a mirror to hang above the fireplace and a long console table on the left-hand wall, plus artwork.

And, there you have it. In about an hour, Girouard has created possibility where there was uncertainty.

I’m excited. I can see things now that I couldn’t see before,” Brennan said. “The ceiling…OK, I’ll think about that. I just feel I needed some color. It will be a whole lot warmer.”

The post Designing Woman appeared first on All About ReDecorating.

written by Fruma Efreom
Originally published in Grace Ormonde, Marriage Magazine, 2003.

The Newport Daily News

“You don’t have to be wealthy to need professional interior design help,”explains Lauri Ward, author of Use What You Have Decorating and Trade Secrets from Use What You Have Decorating.

Based on principles like, “you can never have too many pairs,”Ward has founded her own personally-trained network of disciples who provide one-day inexpensive in-home advice. Ward’s redecorators, called refiners, physically arrange furniture and accessories, recommend purchases or renovations, and draw-up detailed room plans that even specify floral choices.

Jan Girouard, owner of All About ReDecorating in Newport, Rhode Island is a refiner, listed on Ward’s national website, www.redecorate.com and on her own business website, www.allaboutredecorating.com. Clients pay by the length of the room and typically need help with only one or two rooms.

Girouard analyzes the space the couple is or will be living in, its intended function, their furnishings, life-style, personality and tastes. Furniture is rearranged to create balance, cohesiveness, easy conversation areas, and traffic flow.

Overall, rooms are becoming simpler, more serene and less complicated –“less is more.”
—Jan Girouard
interior designer

When prioritizing future choices, interior decorating is compared to dressing a person (the shell), then clothes (the furniture) and finally jewelry (the accessories). Working within the shell, the priority moves from the top, the ceiling and lighting to the bottom, the floor. Expensive changes involving painting, flooring or window treatments depend on a couple owning the home. Then, larger projects take precedence over smaller ones.

Choices are based on the philosophy that people are looking to feel safe, comfortable and relaxed in their own home. They want a pleasant area where they can be themselves in a room that feels like them. They want to use every room in the house and they want low maintenance. Overall, rooms are becoming simpler, more serene and less complicated –“less is more.”

What a couple develops over time represents who they are. With each purchase, they are also creating memories. If a couple looks at magazines and continually pulls out the same styles or colors, then they can zoom in on what pieces to purchase. Girouard sees her job as getting couples started in the right direction. Many times, they know something is wrong with a room, but they need a second set of eyes, an outsider, to help them correct the mistakes.

Girouard never tells a client that a beloved piece “has to go.” If she can’t make it work in the room, she simply moves it to another room. She will go out shopping with them to prevent expensive overbuying — buying more pieces than needed or pieces too large for the scale of the room.

Matching pieces are preferred over individual unique pieces. While Ward mixes furniture styles, she does not mix light, medium and dark woods in the same room. Groups of family photos or art are both displayed in frames with matching finishes. Lamps with similar bases become pairs through new matching shades once their uneven heights is corrected by placing books, wood blocks or marble beneath the shorter base.

Couches and chairs are moved away from walls into an ideal “U” shape around a coffee table (with rounded corners) facing the room’s focal point, a large painting, fireplace, picture window or entertainment center. Seating is tightly grouped so that no one has to stretch to reach the table. Furniture of similar heights is always grouped together avoiding a “roller-coaster” look that draws the eye up and down.

Collections are always grouped together. Paintings, hung low on the wall, are only used on walls wider than three feet. One wall is always left bare. Larger art collections are rotated seasonally. Books are stacked cleanly along the outer edge of bookcase shelves. No posters, dolls, cutesy bric-a-brac, potpourri, elaborate switchplaces, pleated shades or stuffed animals are allowed. Area rugs are never used over wall-to-wall carpeting.

Color varies, avoiding “sweet” tones like pinks and peaches. Only paintings are exempted from matching the basic color scenes. In living rooms, three-way bulbs are recommended, in dining rooms frosted bulbs with dimmers are preferred. Clip-on shades further diffuse chandelier glare.

“Most people have a lot of what they need,” Ward notes, “they just don’t know how to use it properly. We educate and empower them. It just takes an hour or two to transform a room.”

The post Decorating Without Fear appeared first on All About ReDecorating.

By Jan Creamer Girouard

The holidays will soon be upon us and it brings to mind how we long to make our home warm and cozy. So many times my clients feel a room isn’t inviting enough and decide by painting their walls in a particular room they’ll create the look they desire. Well, they’re part way there. An area that is most often forgotten is the ceiling. Sometimes people think the ceiling should automatically be white and leave it at that. However, I’ve seen a room turn completely around when a ceiling is changed to compliment the new or existing wall color. For instance, let’s say you’ve decided to paint your walls in a warm cranberry with the crown molding and trim in white. To add to the warmth, a ceiling could be in a soft tint of yellow that is not bright but more muted in tone. The room would take on a whole new look with the accent color from the ceiling tying it perfectly together. Depending on the overall color scheme, I’ve seen colors in soft taupe, light sage green and even light blue make a dramatic difference. Try to think outside the box and, at the same time, be a little daring and don’t be surprised on the compliments you’ll receive.

The post November, 2004 edition appeared first on All About ReDecorating.

By Jan Creamer Girouard

How many times do you walk into a room and it just doesn’t feel right to you. You can’t seem to pinpoint what is wrong, however, it somehow isn’t warm and inviting. You start questioning is it color, is it furniture placement, is it the window treatments or could it be the lighting. Sometimes it can be all of the above, however, the majority of homes I visit, lighting is always an issue by either being too bright or very inadequate.

Have you ever sat in a room and the only light is the ceiling fixture? What usually happens is the room looks washed out and not intimate. Keep in mind a ceiling fixture is needed for your overall general lighting, however, much more is needed. One way to achieve a better balance is what I call “layering your lighting”.

Using a living room as an example, think of all the functions in that room and what the proper lighting will be needed to achieve the right balance. Here are a few ideas to think about.

On either side of the sofa you may need either table lamps or floor lamps. If you require table lamps the approximate height should be between 25”to 28” tall. Most of the homes I’m in, the lamps are too short for an appropriate height and comfortable reading.

Adding a picture light over paintings not only highlights a particular piece, you get added lighting by it softly washing down on the furnishings below.

If you see any corner that happens to be too dark, you can place silk trees or plants and add a spot light behind the tree/plant and instantly you have created a dramatic look in that area when the light filters up through the tree reflecting on the ceiling.

By adding recessed or track lighting, where appropriate, you can instantly showcase your wall art and furnishings, illuminate your surroundings and add instant warmth to the room.

Once you have achieved the proper balance in lighting your room, one little idea with big results is adding dimmers to your lighting. No matter what mood you’re trying to achieve controlling your lighting with dimmers will add so much depth and interest to “layering your lighting”.

The post October, 2004 edition appeared first on All About ReDecorating.

By Jan Creamer Girouard

As the season’s change and we go through our closets to remove our winter items and replace them with spring and summer, we can also make changes in our home.

In a bedroom you can easily create a different look by changing a bedspread, shams and accent pillows with a lighter color scheme that will compliment your walls and flooring. Another idea is to remove existing drapes and hang sheers that will open up any room and allow natural light in.

An easy way to bring new life to your living room is to slip cover your sofa or chairs in a lighter color. This will also allow you to bring in a new color scheme with pillows and accessories that will co-ordinate with your existing furnishings. When the fall returns bring back the deeper tones to enjoy them once again.

I received some questions recently and I wanted to share a couple with you.

Questions & Answers

Q: I need to purchase end tables for my family room. Is there a rule of thumb on how high the tables should be?
Sue C., Providence

A: Good question. I’m asked this quite often. To be safe have the height of the table be closer to the height of the armrest of your chair or sofa. Please keep in mind that if you place a lamp on the end table that the height of the lamp is enough to give ample down lighting or task lighting on to your sofa for reading, etc.

Q: I’m thinking of pulling up my wall-to-wall carpeting in my living room and I’m debating whether to install new carpeting on hardwood floors.
Mary L., No. Providence

A: I’ve always been a fan of hardwood floors, however, it depends on your personal preference and what you’ve budgeted for your flooring. Hardwood flooring can make any room appear more open and create a warm and inviting environment. If you like the look of carpeting, add an area rug over the hardwood, sized to what is in proportion with the room, and you’ll have the best of both worlds.

The post May, 2004 edition appeared first on All About ReDecorating.

By Jan Creamer Girouard

Recently I appeared at the Home Show and gave two seminars showcasing a “Before & After” slide presentation of actual homes redecorated with their existing furnishings. To bring it a step further, I featured the “after” photos with the walls in various colors. By adding color, you could see how any room can be much warmer, more inviting and dramatic by taking that extra step and not being afraid of color.

The audience loved it because they could see the difference immediately in an actual home. Many asked how I could make such changes and I said it was simple. Benjamin Moore has a fabulous software package where you can take digital photos and, through this program, you can experiment with the colors you feel best fit your lifestyle and personality. So, before you spend a dime on a gallon of paint and to avoid making any mistakes on choosing the right color, there is a solution out there for you with the Benjamin Moore software program. You don’t have to be afraid of color any more and it will change the whole dynamics of our home.

I received some questions recently and wanted to share a couple with you.

Questions & Answers

Q: I have a small kitchen and I can fit a table and four chairs comfortably in a corner. Do you think it’s a good idea to place an area rug under the table?
Mary R., Providence

A: If this is an area that you use quite a lot, my opinion is you shouldn’t have an area rug because it can become a “crumb catcher”. Also, the rug can tend to close up the area, as well, and make a room that appears to be small, even smaller. You need to open up the room, not close it in.

Q: I have collected some beautiful artwork over the years and I get confused on where I should hang them on a wall. Any ideas?

A: Without seeing the wall it’s difficult, however here are some thoughts. First, if you have a matching series keep it together. For an example, if you have a set of six prints that belong together don’t split them up. In this situation the frames should be matching with the same finish to give a nice balanced look and more appealing to the eye. Also, try not to hang paintings on a wall that is small or under 36″ wide. You don’t need to hang artwork on every wall. Your art collection should stand out, while at the same time as you scan a room, your eyes need to rest on a wall and not have sensory overload with too much to view. Try to keep all paintings, prints or photos in like finishes. If you try to mix your frames the room could appear very cluttered and lacking a cohesive look.

The post April, 2004 edition appeared first on All About ReDecorating.

Redecorating Solutions: Quick, Easy and Affordable

By Jan Creamer Girouard

Before we know it spring will be upon us and many of you will be putting your home on the market. You’ll be wondering what you should be doing to get your home ready to sell. One of the most important things you could do is have your home “Staged”. What is staging? Staging is a process of preparing your home for sale beyond the normal straightening and cleaning you would do. Even realtors know the value of a property staged before it goes on the market because it can draw a potential buyer’s eye to the most attractive aspects of the home. How you live in your home and how you sell it are two different things.

The goal is to sell the home as quickly as possible and closer to the asking price. The buyer needs to envision himself or herself in the seller’s home, and, because most people are visually oriented they sometimes can’t mentally remodel a home that needs some TLC right on the spot. If you have ever visited a new home development and walked through a model home you’ve seen how a staged home should look. You want the buyer to have a positive impression where all they feel they need are their personal belongings and they’re ready to move in!

Here are just a few tips to consider that are quick and easy.

1. Eliminate any odors, animal smells and use an air freshener if possible. Odors are hard to defend and are always noticed. Bake cookies an apple pie to give that homey feeling especially for an open house.
2. Remove personal items that are a distraction. Photos on walls and tables, items on the refrigerator. Remember people need to envision themselves in the home and not you.
3. Remove any clutter in the kitchen. Clean appliances and make sure the refrigerator and stove are spotless. Less is best and you need to have it appear open and inviting.
4. Clean your windows so the rooms will sparkle
5. Turn your lights on and have the curtains open to let the light in. Make the rooms look bright and at the same time warm.
6. Add flowers in various rooms and have soft music playing to relax the buyer and have them leave with a good subconscious impression.

I received a couple of e-mails to share with you.

Questions & Answers

Q: I’m about to paint my family room in a warm taupe/beige. Should I paint the ceiling white, too?
Jean T., Warwick

A: You can, but I have found that if you paint the ceiling a lighter tone of what you’ve chosen, it will add such warmth to the room and make it more inviting.

Q: I just bought a chandelier for my dining room. Should I use clear bulbs or frosted?
Sally M., Cranston

A: If you have shades, use frosted bulbs because they bring a warm, even light to the room. Clear bulbs should be used if you plan on no shades. Also, have it on a dimmer.

The post March, 2004 edition appeared first on All About ReDecorating.

By Jan Creamer Girouard

When I’m consulting with my clients many mention that their living rooms or family rooms aren’t cozy or inviting enough. They always ask me if there is anything that could be done to warm up their rooms without spending a lot of money.

Here are some ideas to think about. Add new pillows and throws and that will cozy up your room immediately. Change your drapes or valances for the spring and summer and next fall bring back your original drapes. If possible, rotate your artwork each season to bring a new fresh approach to the room. Also, add picture lights on your artwork that will add more perimeter lighting. Make sure your lighting is adequate, and to create a warmer ambience, have your lighting on dimmers. Place candles on your coffee table and hang candle sconces on a wall. Arrange candles in your fireplace. This is a great idea for those of you who don’t have a working fireplace and will give you instant gratification, as well. Just by changing or adding new accessories in your room will automatically enhance the look your desire with little investment.

Here are some e-mails I received recently.

Questions & Answers

Q: I need more book shelves in my home office, but I don’t want anything enclosed. It’s mainly to organize my books and office supplies. Any suggestions?
Lori T. Warwick

A: You should check out Pottery Barn and the Studio Wall Shelf. It’s very flexible and it comes in black, white and mahogany stain. They’re especially good in small rooms and are very attractive, too.

Q: I have a small dining room and it feels closed in. Is there anything you could recommend that would open it up?
Donna B. Smithfield

A: Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors! When you hang a mirror in a small room the area opens up immediately. A mirror gives the appearance of having another window of sorts reflecting light that is coming through your windows and reflecting light from your chandelier or wall sconces. You’ll be amazed how much brighter your dining room will be by doing so. Just a quick note, make sure your chandelier and wall sconces are on dimmers.

The post February, 2004 edition appeared first on All About ReDecorating.

Redecorating Solutions-Quick, Easy & Affordable

By Jan Creamer Girouard

As the New Year is upon us, we all have great intentions with our New Year’s resolutions. Either we want to lose weight or come up with solutions to better organize our lives as we go forward. Another area that should be addressed, or on your list, is your home, especially if you’ve been unhappy with the way a particular room looks. As we all are nesting more than ever, it’s important to surround yourself with an environment that you desire which is in your style and personality. Sometimes by changing the color in a room, the lighting, or even rearranging your furnishings, can give the appearance of a fresh new look, but with little investment. Minor changes can bring major results on how you feel about your home and about yourself. So, as you go forward this year, make your home a part of your New Year’s resolution to create the look you love and you’ll feel so much better for doing so.

I’m Jan Girouard from All About ReDecorating and I received some e-mails that I wanted to share.

Questions & Answers

Q: I have a collection of family photos that I want to frame and hang them on a wall in our family room. Is there a rule on what type of frame or finish I should buy??
Claire E, Providence

A: Many of my clients have been in the same situation as you are. When putting a series of paintings or photos together on a wall or on a table make sure the frames are of the same finish. I don’t mean they have to be the same frame on each piece, but for example, they should be, either, all gold, all silver or dark wood. You want the image in each frame to be the focal point and not the frame. You’ll, also, avoid a cluttered look by creating more continuity with the framing in the same finish.

Q: I love burning candles in our home. So do you have any ideas to share??
Donna B. Smithfield

A: Who doesn’t love to burn candles! One bit of advice is when displaying candles make sure you don’t mix the color. If you have white candles make sure all the candles are white in that room. Many times if you start mixing the color of your candles, you’ll create a room that lacks a cohesive look. You’ll find the room more appealing and inviting by doing so. Also, if you don’t want to burn wood in your fireplace put a collection of candles in different shapes or sizes, again all in the same color, and you’ll create a sense of warmth no matter what the season.

The post January, 2004 edition appeared first on All About ReDecorating.