Clinton News-Record, 1979-05-10, Page 43The benefits of an interior decorator
A home is never xealry compfetedUiTtirit's had -the -final----
Using the services of a
decorative consultant is a
valuable investment, ac-
cording to Tim St. Louis
owner of The Raintree in
Clinton.
"Without a consultant you
could make a mistake," Tim
explained.
Using faddish and. inex-
pensive •wall coverings and
furniture could, lead to this
problem.
"If you buy good furniture
and maintain it, it will last a
lifetime. If, in ten years you
get tired of it, then
reupholster," he.suggested.
Tim prefers a combination
of classic and contemporary
looks, with lamps . and art-
work as the most outstanding
accessories.
The Raintree offers a
selection of reproduction
furniture in practically any
style and covering. Since
most of the furniture
available in the store is
custom-made almost any look
can be achieved, according to
Tim. Special imported wall
coverings and hand painted
materials are also .'offered 'at
the Albert Streetshop.
"You .could bring me 11
with what they have and what
we can add."
"A few little things can
make a big difference in a
room," he explained.
Although The Raintree's
prices may not be rock bot-
tom cheap, Tim said they're
not overly expensive.
"The name of our game is
Page 7
to be practical. If you have a
family, there's no point
having a glass and '• chrome
table if there'll be kids
around."
"I have to feel that I can .
honestly deal with my clients.
"Their nice home is my
best advertisment, " Tim
said.
Is the laundry room a
wash-out? A Give these
bright ideas a tumble
A. well-planned laundry
area provides a central loca-
tion for many 'activities and
adds a great deal of conven-
ience to homemaking.
In a 'new home, the first
question is location. Start-
ing with the basics, water
and drainage are needed.
Access to an outside wall
for exhausting, the dryer also
should be considered, al-
though some new-dryers.can . .
use a long exhaust. In an
existing home, the washer
and dryer are in place, so the
yards of„, matei4al and we following mayo serve as a
could fina sofa to cover,„he decoratinggiiii.
a ,-._..._.._,....... - . _ ... - Storage_i.s_ atmust.,,.hoth,.
While Tim hlis ecorated
touches that interior decorating adds, saes Tim St Louis for laundry products and
•
of The Raintree of Clinton. A few extra dollars spent now , model suites in London,
and the advice of an expert will leave a more satisfying apartment complexes, his kitchen cabinets will adapt
phot)..for storing supplies and a
ff.
for dirty clothes . Regular
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services in this area usually ventilated closet with several
Oriental styles are
new western favorites
Whether atttibutable to po-
litical trends or other factors,
oriental decorative motifs
and shapes, always among
the most enduring and fa-
vored stylessfor furniture and
accessories, are attaining
new heights of popularity.
Either adapted as the
theme for furnishing' a full
room or as an accent; the de-
signs are pleasing to live
with, blending with almost
every period and type of fur-
nishings.
The Far Eastern love of
nature, attertio'n to detail-
ing and classic form have
inspired the unusual ele-
gance and variety of forms
exemplified by this multitude
of home furnishings from ex-
hibitors at the New York
Merchandise Mart. Evident
in them is the manner in
which' esigners through the
ages have reinterpreted pic-
turesque oriental studies of
flora and fauna to suit west-
ern tastes.
The gentle shapes and
softly curving silhouettes of
ginger jars, ceremonial tea
cups and bamboo styling re-
flect these cultures. Colors
are clear, with deep jewel
tones providing depth and
pastels imparting tranquility.
Manufacturers focusing
on these forms now offer
an enormous selection of
Eastern -influenced mer-
chandise that can add their
refined nature and decorative
character to the home. Any
of the pieces shown here
would make a pleasing addi-
tion to the mood of a .room.
These latest definitions of
this trend can be seen in
stores everywhere.
Turn your garage into
beautiful living space
To expand living space, it
is possible to convert a ga-
rage or car port into a com-
fortable, easy -care family
room, using materials readily
availahle at any home or
building supply center.
ttt(ION Nall
Plasterboard' will conceal
concrete walls, and can he
covered with a handsome
wallcovering—for example,
a patent -finish vinyl in a
bright geranium color—�•to
complement a white ceiling.
Where once was a garage
door, or no wall at all, there
can he a window wall. For
storage. install plasterboard
cahii tS and top them with
pine shelf board, leaving the
finish natural to match pine
studs between windows.
The whole room can be a
do-it-yourself project, with
wall-to-wall carpeting for
color and warmth;, except for
one element.
Treat yourself to Levolor
Riviera blinds at the win-
dows, custom made to your
exact measurements and
striped in whatever colors
you choose from a palette of
nearly 200. These, too. are
availahle through home and
building 'supply Venters
where samples,of.slat colors
(and photographs) will sup-
ply you with ideas.
Colorful lii(Iea%av
With geranium walls. you
might have blinds striped in
alabaster and space blue, and
'decorate with pillows striped
in all three of these colors.
Besides color, of course,
Rivieras provide privacy
and, with their slender alu-
minum slats, complete light
control.
If space permits, it's handy
to have an area for potting
plants or arranging flowers.
Again, cabinets to hold
vases, pots and potting..soil
make this activity more invit-
ing."A closet for tall items
such as brooms and a vac-
uum is also useful.
Such a multi-purpose
laundry area also can be a
rainy -day playroom, a
... homework room, -the family
office or planning center.
Keep these activities and
hobby interests in mind when
designing the room.
If your laundry area
bishing it might make a good
project for the entire family.
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a gpeera'l It :CL -nail ttri n tiea 'place "to core ani soil
dirty laundry. Also needed
are a sink for pre -treating if
small items and a space to /
hang newly dried permanent
press clothes.
However, there are other
related activities that logi-
cally can be I9cated nearby.
Since mending is often done
before washing a garment,
the sewing machine is a prac-
tical addition. Adjacent cabi-
nets for sewing supplies,
patterns and yet -to -be -sewn
material help form a creative,
center.
Also at home here is the
ironing board with a nearby
rod on which to hang com-
pleted clothing.
A table or cou,ntertap area
provides a handy place for
folding and sorting. Separat-
ing each family member's
clothing as -it comes from the
dryer cuts down' the number
of times it has to bo.handled.
advising on a particular
wallpaper.
"I'm not here to badger my
clients." he stressed.
Tim explained that he
doesn't go into a home and
completely destroy the room
then redecorate in the style
he prefers.
"The client has to be in
charge. He knows what he
wants and knows what he can
afford.”
"My detachment is that
they're going to live with it,
not me." ;
He added, "Their per-
sonality should be reflected in
the room. I.couldn't go into a
lady's livingroom and tell her
to loosen up her act."
"I don't rip the drapes off
the windows or throw the
furniture out, but we try to
create little environments
Vilt±TaTt`.,`-
e made to look wa with
any number of decorati
tricks.
Begin with warm c lors
such as yellows, oranges and
reds on the walls and floors.
Add pattern with uphol-
stery, rugs and curtains.
A little clutter helps, as
well. Pictures and knick.'
knacks grouped on a table
all contribute to the cozy
look you want.
Stop Splinters!
Nothing's worse than fur-
niture with splinters.; avoid
torn stockings and splinters-
in-the-han,d by smoothing
down • any' rough edges with
transparent tape.