Dear Jean and Richard, I enjoy reading your column because it is one of the few things in the paper that is not all doom and gloom. Are you ever concerned that your design advice has little merit with all the country's economic troubles? --sign me "Worried"

Jean: Hi Reid. (Worried seems so formal.) I understand your point, but I think you may be missing a larger one. The thing is, you don't have to eat and sleep bad news to be aware of a struggling economy. There are, after all, a few constants in life, and your home is usually one of them. That home, however humble, is still your castle and your domain. It may even be one of the few places you have a sense of control, and where small investments can yield big psychological returns.

Richard: I agree that the country is going through a lot of adjustments right now, but in our business we're used to adjusting lifestyles. Someone may be redecorating their home instead of moving, or converting a downstairs instead of building a house. Regardless of the investment level, there are still design decisions to be made with any interior project. Life goes on.

Jean: After holiday festivities, the cold short days of January can be depressing, all the cheerful Christmas lights are gone, and the national news always seems especially bleak. For a lot of people, the temptation to worry increases. One of my strengths is organization, and I've come up with the perfect solution for all my hand-wringing friends: the Worry Calendar.

Richard: I’m already worried that you’ll give me one for my birthday.

Jean: Here’s what you do. Let’s say you just heard about the latest bail-out, and you’re concerned about whether the government should be spending your tax dollars on this or that industry, but you’re just too busy to worry about it right now. On the Worry Calendar you can schedule a time to think more about that—say June 15, 2010. By then, the problem may be resolved without your worry and in the meantime you avoided all kinds of negative thinking! See how easy that is?

Richard: I have you down on my calendar to worry about—let me check—yep, today and every day.

Jean: OK, so the Worry Calendar is not working for you. But I’m telling you, rather than being depressed about the economy, or politics, or whatever new worry the news is creating, it’s better to invest yourself in something productive. For that reason alone, focusing on your lifestyle and home environment has a lot of merit.

Richard: In my opinion, taking pride in your home and making the most of it is always important, and not just a diversion. The positive effects of good design, decluttering and organizing closets and cabinets can easily enhance your whole outlook and attitude, the same way good food and fellowship affects your mood. In addition to a more inviting interior, a refurbished room can provide a sense of accomplishment and entice you to spend more time at home than out spending money.

Jean: The next time you catch yourself worrying about things you can’t do anything about, start listing those things in the house you can actually improve or begin changing. The process of creating a fresh environment can be inspiring and even elevate your optimism.

Richard: And remember, baby steps. One project at a time and progress, not perfection.

Dear Jean and Richard, I’m interested in home fashions. What are some of the latest design trends that you have noticed? –Mary, Hendersonville

Richard: Hi Mary, good question! A lot of people don’t realize what a fashion industry interior design really is, but it’s not like apparel or automotive designs that depend on you to replace products on a regular basis. We submit that good design is always in fashion, regardless of the latest fad. In the end, it doesn’t matter what the trend—or fad—may be. The choices for your surroundings have to feel right to YOU.

Jean: Well said, Richard. Sometimes, lifestyle influences help determine a new direction. Until a few years ago, where to put the flat-screen TV was not a concern. A few years before that, no one thought about the need for a computer room, let alone a media room. But high-tech doesn’t determine good taste, so to address your question we’ll concentrate on fashion.

Richard: If you see predominant fabrics on the runway, six months later you’ll see it on upholstery. As for color trends, gentle greens, deep browns, grays and taupes are the new neutrals, rather than beiges. Jean is happy about this direction—she’s always saying green is Mother Nature’s neutral. Accent colors tend to be less primary—for example, reds are more vibrant, leaning toward oranger tones. And you often see turquoise and chartreuse mixed with that.

Jean: The combination of lime green and brown remains prominent, and high-end fabric and wallpaper companies are continuing to embrace them. We are still receiving new sample books with a shelf life of three to five years featuring those colors.

Richard: I’ve noticed a lot of emphasis on bling. There’s a continuous return to glamour, often with a hint of Deco and Old Hollywood. Mirrored furniture and lighting is still hot, and silk, linen and velvet are being used on upholstered goods and drapes. Lots of embroidery, beading, fringes—generally, a lusher look. Even the chandeliers seem grander. Brass is making a comeback in lamps and hardware with a new finish that has a hand-rubbed, waxed treatment that gives it a more aged look.

Jean: You mentioned upholstery—faux furs, plush down or blend-down cushions, and more extravagant throw pillows are popular these days. For more contemporary tastes, textures are dominating that landscape, too. Wool, corduroy, chenille, tweed—all help to make those sparse, sleek lines more friendly and comfortable. High end men’s suit fabric is showing up everywhere. Think tactile. And recently there’s been a trend toward mixing contemporary designs with antique furnishings, which I think is an extension of today’s more casual lifestyles.

Richard: And just like the girls on the runway, stay away from bulky, puffy or marshmallow furniture. Think lean and serene.

Jean and Richard just returned from a buying trip to the fall High Point Furniture Market, where they also visit key vendors and scope out the latest trends created by the international home furnishings community. What do professional designers talk about on the car ride home from a four day tour? Here’s your chance to sit in on the conversation.

Richard: What’s with all the horses?

Jean: They were everywhere this Market, weren’t they?

Richard: You know, it’s almost like designers from all over the world got together and agreed to have an equine convention. But if you think about it, there’s almost always some dominant theme every six months.

Jean: I don’t think it’s coincidence as much as it is designers are being exposed to common influences. I mean, think about that amazing play on Broadway with the giant horse puppet. What’s it called? Warhorse?

Richard: Well, maybe. I don’t think it explains why framed art, sculpture, and even carvings featured horses everywhere we looked. And what was up with the red everywhere?

Jean: You know, you’re right! Red was definitely the accent color of choice this time. Little tables, fabrics, stools—but there was also more orange than usual.

Richard: I noticed a lot of pure white this time, especially high gloss laquer.

Jean: Yeah, the themes seem to offer sharp contrasts. They were either bright colors or neutrals, hardly any pastels. And bright white did play a dominant role.

Richard: I thought the styles emerging were great. French and Italian country, some of them crusty, worn looking or chipped. The furniture and accessories were mostly in whites, creams and grays. Lots of silver and gold worked in…with muted or washed linen on the upholstery. Back to the neutrals.

Jean: Neutrals, with bright accent pieces. Did you see the little red writing desk? I loved it! It was calling me.

Richard: “Hey there Jean! Buy me!” Well, I loved all the metal. Furniture designers seem to be using it more—shiny finishes and chrome…or dull treatments like steel and zinc…

Jean: Yeah, and the metals were all mixed in with contrasting textures, like natural and stained woods, leather, and even painted treatments.

Richard: Some of those were there in the Spring. Might be around for a while.

Jean: The main thing I remember about the Spring Market was the food. Especially the liquid foods.

Richard: That’s not new, either…you and doughnuts. They seem to call to you, too.

Jean: Must be a trend.

Dear Jean and Richard, I recently visited a home that had custom floors and a finished interior in the garage. In another time, even rich people kept their garages simple. Are you ever asked to design a garage interior?

Jean: Well, it’s true that garages are no longer just for parking cars. But the short answer to your question is Yes. We’ve also had several projects for creating a guest suite over the garage, and other projects that create a type of stage for their automobile.

Richard: No one would deny that there is a lot of money already invested behind those carriage house doors, but usually it’s in the form of a luxury sedan, motorcycles or sports car. What we’re seeing more often these days, though, is a well-lit, spotless environment with a workshop that no husband uses, two bikes rarely used and a lovely kayak.

Jean: A serious space plan as meticulous as a kitchen plan is your best bet.

Richard: Nationwide, 82% of homes have garages, but far fewer have cars in them. These are often the neglected interiors, in desperate need of serious makeovers. The first step might be to sort the “stuff” that fills the areas you might designate for storage. Get rid of that junk that you are REALLY never going to use or fix.

Jean: Be careful, Richard. Those treasures might be in the garage because Mama wants them out of the house. Pare them down of course, but then organize the keepers behind cabinet doors or in drawers. Choose a system of heavy duty cabinetry, the way you would in your kitchen, for storage. That “stuff” will soon have greater significance. And you might even be able to find your tools.

Richard: Pay attention to lighting, too. You cannot have too much. In other words, stop thinking about the garage as a catch-all for junk, and start considering it a viable part of your home.

Jean: Just as you would in your home, add a rug at the doors. They can stop a lot of dirt and grit. And speaking of the floor, you may want to consider polishing the concrete or covering it with interlocking tiles—especially if you use the garage as work or play space.

Richard: Or put a TV in there. Maybe the husband might actually use it.

Jean: There are entire books on the subject of organizing your garage, but I would say the key design element is to group tools and materials according to use. For example, flower pots and gardening tools might live along one wall while woodworking tools and fasteners occupy another.

Richard: Chalk off on the floor how much space you need for the cars. Leave enough room to open the car doors and about three feet clearance in front and back.

Dear Jean and Richard, We can’t decide which shade of green to use in our den. Do you have any advice on how to go about choosing a good paint color? --Lorri, Lake Toxaway

Jean: Well, you might work for around 25 years as an interior designer, but even then you could choose the wrong one. Because color lies! The swatch whispers, “Florida Fern,” but when you get it on the wall, it screams, “Kansas Corn!”

Richard: And sometimes if the color doesn’t scare you, the change will. Any strong color can be a challenge to get right on a large surface. One tool we use is the larger 8 x 11 sheets of color a good paint store can provide, rather than use dinky swatches. But choosing well is more than selecting the right hue, because so many other things affect it. For one thing, the color you put beside it can alter the tone. Red and blue, for example, will seem to vibrate when you put them side by side- like a cheap motel.

Jean: That may be true, but I’ll bet Lorri will not choose red and blue for the same room. Look at what happens with color under both natural and artificial light. One time a client suggested to the painter that she believed he had slightly changed colors on each wall. But it was only about the difference in how the light hit the walls.

Richard: The reflection of light is what it’s all about. Adjacent colors, artificial light sources, contrasting trim, fabrics and carpet—all dramatically affect the perceived color. For someone who doesn’t pick paint colors that often, a good thing to remember is the color will always be bolder than how it appears on a swatch, so you may want to “gray it” or “brown it” somewhat to tone it down. Something I wish I could do to children in nice restaurants.

Jean: Paint companies usually assume the consumer wants clear, crisp colors to create a fresh, newly-painted look, and they formulate them accordingly. But if you are restoring an historic home or creating an elegant, understated setting you may have to get the paint professionals to mix you a color that falls between swatch selections. Yet no doubt, nothing gives you more change and impact for your money than paint.

Richard: Another consideration for paint is sheen. We use different sheens for different applications. In one Asheville restaurant, for example, we used flat for the upper walls and satin for the lower walls, but they were the same color. The difference is dramatic. Flat finish will move surfaces away and semi-gloss will bring them closer due to the reflection. A little sheen goes a long way for durability and adding excitement, but will show all the surface imperfections.

Jean: Different textures can also affect the color. And as far as which color to choose, surround yourself with colors that you love. Discern the effect you want to achieve. Sophisticated? Whimsical? Institutional? Color speaks all of these languages.

Richard: I just wish I could find a cute Italian.