Interiors by Monique, Inc.

"Monique St. Germain's creativity and professionalism in responding to our requirements have always met and often exceeded our expectations."
Linda H. Thomas
Wellesley, Massachusetts

"Monique's expertise, energy, and enthusiasm have made overwhelming projects manageable and most of all, fun!"
Barbara Eisenson
Wayland, Massachusetts

"She is extremely creative and tremendously innovative. You can count on Monique to solve the most difficult decorating problems or enhance a favorite feature."
Judy Rubinstein
Brookline, Massachusetts

The Boston Globe

June 2, 2005

ONE STRONG OPINION
Edition: THIRD

Section: Life At Home
Page: H2

Window treatments are the least expensive way to transform a room.

Monique St. Germain
Interiors by Monique
257 Oakland St., Wellesley
781-239-3410
Interiorsbymonique.com
Specialty: Interior Design

Window treatments can create an illusion. For instance, by installing draperies above the window frame, the window will appear taller and the ceiling higher. To make a small window look larger, the window treatment should be installed outside the frame of the window, thus exposing the entire window.

"Dressing a window gives a room a warm appeal, absorbs sound, provides privacy, acts as insulation, and eliminates reflections caused by artificial light."

Each week, a home-design professional offers a passionate belief for your consideration. Architects, interior decorators, and other professionals who have an opinion to offer should send a query to home@globe.com.

ONE STRONG OPINION

Don't wreck the renovation: How to survive a home improvement project

By Jennifer Lord I News Staff Writer
Friday, January 28, 2005

When it was time to completely overhaul their 1920s-era home, the Vasconcelles family made all the right moves.

They consulted with an architect, a contractor. They made arrangements to live elsewhere while their home underwent its yearlong transformation.

And, most importantly, they hired an interior decorator right at the start - someone to suggest how minor design changes can make the kitchen more functional or create more livable spaces.

That designer was Monique St. Germain of Wellesley, aka "Interiors by Monique," who believes that involving an interior designer in the earlier stages ultimately saves homeowners time, money and stress. "It can be mind-boggling," St. Germain said. "People get decisioned-out. They're asked all these questions, do you want this, do you want that? It's overload, especially if you haven't done it before."

It is also something that requires communication -- especially if you want your marriage to survive, said Laura Jensen Walker, author of "This Old Dump: Renovate Without Decking Your Mate."

"You have to sit down ahead of time and tell each other exactly what you want," Walker said. "You need to say, 'This is what I'm not going to budge on, and this is where I can compromise.'

"And always know that in every renovation, it's going to take you three times as long and cost twice as much as you planned," Walker added.

Tina Vasconcelles had used St. Germain on a smaller project before deciding to completely redo her Wellesley home, which included adding an addition. The family wanted to ensure all the changes harmonized with the house's historic look while still meeting the needs of a 21st century family.

"Monique was involved right from the beginning," Vasconcelles said. "We were talking about colors, how the kitchen should be laid out -- she was very involved in the mud room. We have three boys - when they walk through the door they drop everything. Monique helped to make the room more functional, with storage."