norwalk furniture has one of the best fabric selections in their upholstery line and they do quite a bit of research to make sure they are on the money with the latest trends.  recently norwalk identified some great style trends for their fabric launch for 2013 and as i mentioned in my last blog they have categorized them into five style trends. in the next series of posts i’d like to take a look at those trends and add some of our own staff ideas of modern furniture and furnishings that capture the essence of each.

gem palace:   of course we at modmood love the gem palace look and think it definitely has a place in modern design.  if you have any doubt take a look at this photo of the miller house, in columbus indiana.  the seating pit with pillows surely is reminiscent don’t you think?

gem palace is characterized by exuberant colors and mixed patterns. fabric colors feature deep amethyst, peridot and pearl hues.  have you heard of blue-cast berry tones?  well you have now and norwalk says you also find these tones not only in home fashion but on the runways of milan, paris and new york.  norwalk says their gem palace collection of fabrics “have a reflective and lustrous quality emulative of their rajasthani inspiration”.

the fabrics of the gem palace style trend are lively and vibrant with a mix of patterns.  reflective, and lustrous qualities, emulative of their rajasthani inspiration also are seen throughout. look for elegant references to traditional indian paisley, ikat and silk patterns.  add some effervescence to your home with gem palace style!

modmood’s favorites on the  gem palace trend…

while enjoying a taj mahal (one of india’s finest beers)  catch our pinterest gem palace board or enjoy one of my favorite movies the best exotic marigold hotel!

we are looking forward to our event on tuesday evening (may 21st, 2013) inside/out.  it is our first design event here at the store and we have invited norwalk furniture and lucas paint our local benjamin moore supplier to be available to share some of the industry trends in textiles and paint color.

i’ve always been a big fan of benjamin moore but lucas paint (specifically shane) helps us specify the right color and type of paint for our clients.  ever had a white that ended up being to “pink”, to “gray” or two “yellow”?  not any more!  shane’s eye is great and helps us get it right the first time.

25 years ago i was trying to pick a chinese red paint for the front door of a client and we painted the door 3 times before getting it right.  the door would barely close!  thank goodness my client was a good sport!  those days are gone, experience has been a great teacher and with a little help from shane at lucas our team gets it right every time.

recently i went to the norwalk furniture factory for a pre-market event.  during our time there we were able to see some of the great new fabric and style trends in the furnishings industry.  i’ve asked sally simerson our rep to come and show these fabrics that have come from around the world and she will also be able to provide some insight into some of the style trends emerging in design.  just to whet your appetite here’s the trends:

urban studio, velvet reverie, the kasbah, gem palace and monogram….if you’re in the neighborhood come by, talk with the experts and enjoy some libations!

oh and don’t forget to spin the carnival wheel for a discount on your next purchase or design service.

tuesday, may 21st, 2013   7700 w. 44th avenue wheat ridge, co

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it was another busy saturday at modmood with fun furnishings being sold and plenty of traffic from open to close, great sales and the “fiscal cliff” seemed but a distant memory

however, with a lot of customers it was time time to give our regular attention to cleaning  the bathrooms. although we rotate this bathroom cleaning responsibility daily among our staff it was time for our newest employee, cyrus bobo, to take his turn and learn the fundamentals of toilet cleaning, etc.

i’m sure cyrus wasn’t thinking of toilet cleaning when he asked to help at our  retro vintage, modern and contemporary studio and design center.

after jeanne, our resident bathroom guru, had finished teaching cyrus the abc’s of making our restrooms spotless and sanitary, i’m sure he felt more like mr. clean than an apprentice retail associate. however, for better or worse, richer or poorer, most brick and mortar stores try their best to make the shopping experience enjoyable for their customers.  even teaching their grandchildren how to clean toilets–welcome aboard, cyrus!

in a recent survey i read, can you guess what the favorite color for living rooms in the mountain west region was?

brown (beige to be exact)… are you kidding me? it made me wonder who they polled to come to this conclusion. i’ve found that brown can absolutely suck the life out of any room. i like to keep it fresh and white is a great go to color for that…yes, white is a color too!

as an accent or more these colors can add so much to your space:

blue is a great color and can be safely used in so many areas of the home. usually classified as a cool color, it is generally relaxing and serene and is great in colorado as it blends nicely with our wonderful blue skies.

purple can range from a soft lavender to eggplant and is a great accent color whether used in an analogous palette, with blues or pinks or a complimentary one with yellows and golds.

red is one of those colors that either you go full blown, all the way, “katy bar the door” with OR you use just a touch. it can be overpowering quickly if used as an accent or vibrant and delicious if carried to the limit.

orange seems to be an all around favorite with the modern style and also the vintage and retro – it can add excitement to any space. of course you want to be careful; having lived in both tennessee and colorado (think tennessee vols and denver broncos) it can take on a unsophisticated turn very quickly if used with the wrong color or accent.

yellow can be fabulous or disastrous. due to the huge amount of sunlight we get in colorado it’s important to spend time selecting just the right yellow for your space. keep in mind the amount of direct sunlight to which your room may be exposed. one of my favorites is a butter cream yellow as it adds brightness yet is soothing to the strong bright light we are lucky to have here. another yellow that i love is what i refer to as the “aspen” yellow. you can’t live in colorado and not know the wonder of that beautiful color contrasting our snow covered mountains.

green is one of those colors that has a great organic quality. whether you are using a fresh bright yellow – green or running to the opposite side of the green range with blue – greens you can’t go wrong. green is a favorite for dining rooms and front doors and foyers.

here at ‘the mood’ we’ve been obsessed with the awesome lines of minotti’s allen sofa (pictured above) for quite some time. the sofa, carried exclusively in the denver area at studio como, is a testament to how good design is often the most simple.

for those of us who don’t have sofa budgets in the tens of thousands of dollars, there are some great, similar options in other companies.

camerich, for example, has their alison sofa (pictured below) which is available in an infinite variety of combinations. this is a great option for people with kids or pets who are looking for a clean modern look – the alison’s fabric is actually a tailored slip cover that can be removed and dry cleaned if a spill or stain should occur, and when the fabric has reached the end of it’s life, it can be easily reproduced without the expense of full reupholstery.

another great option, which will soon be on the showroom floor at modmood, is the manhattan by sohoConcept (pictured below). this wonderful sofa is not only good looking, but is also comfortable and well constructed. this is a great, clean lined piece that can fit in with a number of styles, most especially with a cool, relaxed modern feel.

we realize that the subject of “knockoff” or similar items is often touchy, but since the original items are also often out of reach of the everyman, we’re happy that these items exist. after all, the modern movement started as a way to bring great furniture to the masses, so why shouldn’t it continue down that path?

last night, the modmood crew got the chance to take in a screening of design on film’s latest project with director jake gorst, modern tide: midcentury architecture on long island. this was a great piece on how the architecture of, specifically the east end of long island, changed and progressed after world war two.

the film dealt with the progression of modern architecture from the quickly built modern homes of the post war era through the new designs of architects like charles gwothmey, phillip johnson, as well as husband and wife team barbara and julian neski, among others.

the film was also a call to arms to save these homes which have been torn down as the land has become more valuable and the want for larger homes has trumped the desire for preservation.

below, our own elizabeth farrell gives her take on the film:

modern tide was a great film discussing the progression of architecture in long island and i would recommend this film to all to see. this film showed how architecture of a home defines the way you live.

the part of this film that interested me the most was how simplistic the designs of the long island vacation homes were during the times of modern architecture. the modern designs of the homes encouraged families to spend time together in the open family areas of the home, or better yet out on the beach. summer vacation truly was about family and spending time together. it was discouraging to see the progression from modern architecture, to huge poorly crafted mansions being built along the coast, primarily in the hamptons. many modern homes built by noteworthy architects were destroyed and in their place mansions were built that discouraged the previous ideas of what summer vacation with family was truly all about.

this film did a great job capturing photographs and video of the modern homes, and descriptive commentary from both architects and historians helped portray the story and the progression of the times.

come on down to the mood and let us show you how modern design can help you and yours live harmoniously with your space!

check out the trailer here.

recently while traveling i was reading house beautiful.  this particular issue focussed on color and the articles reminded me how much i love color.  our store is full of color; teal sofa’s, orange chairs, vibrant rugs, tons of fabric, even the outside of our store is a great reddish orange.  as i often tell our customers it doesn’t take much to imagine a beige sofa but seeing an orange one…well sometimes you just have to touch and feel it to know it’s magic.

so many people love color and yet when it comes to buying furniture, painting their walls or actually using a color other than something very muted they shy away.

if you love color but are concerned about how to use it or whether you may tire of the color, here are a few ideas you can try:

paint – the nice thing about paint is that it isn’t crazy expensive and even less so if you do it yourself.  don’t be afraid to paint a wall, a ceiling, a half-bath or even a piece of furniture in a great vibrant color…you can always change it.

pillows – a great back drop for color is white.  paint a room white, the furniture white and then add some great colorful pillows to the bed.  if you tire of the color/colors you just have to change pillows.  you can also have a pillow and throw collection for all 4 seasons!

wall decor – posters, fine art and even your own painted canvases can add huge amounts of drama and color to your room without breaking the bank.  spray painting mirror frames and wall accessories are also a great way to add a punch of color.

rugs – company c is one of the rug lines that we carry and let me tell you they aren’t afraid to use color.  indoor outdoor rugs by company c and  loloi are a great way to add color in your kitchen and back entrance.  these rugs can take the abuse and bring you joy as you walk into your home.

note: when using color it is good to have some visual rest (areas that are “quiet” between the color) is important.

don’t be afraid to use color and  feel free to chat with me about it next time your in “the mood”.   there are so many colors to work with and ways to incorporate it.  i like what the artist melissa barbieri said when asked what was her favorite color:

…“why choose just one color when you can enjoy them all”

since modmood and RETRO Consignment has modern, contemporary and vintage 50′s and 60′s furniture, we are often asked to explain the difference between the styles. also, we will get a design client that will say they like or want modern furniture, when it is really a contemporary look they want.  so…i thought i would talk today about the various differences in those three styles of furniture, furnishings and accessories.

modern furniture is generally described as a style of furniture that originated in the post-war era (mid 1900′s; 50′s, 60′s and some 70′s).  these pieces have a very distinct look and design.  this style was greatly influenced by the scandinavian contemporary and bauhaus movements.  many of the pieces were designed by architects of the time.  there are many iconic pieces from the modern era.

some examples of modern furniture:

contemporary furniture, on the other hand, is exactly what it states;  current and new furnishings…what is happening now.

contemporary style (design, art, and furnishings) changes, it is dynamic with fewer rules and more open-ended applications than modern.  these fewer rules and open-ended applications allow for incorporation of new and innovative materials.  what was contemporary in a certain time period (such as the yellow and orange photo below) may not be contemporary in the future (photo 2). another factor that is often attributed to contemporary design but not necessarily correct is that it is very “cold”.   while in some instances it can be (a lot of contemporary work in the 90′s and early 00′s might have been) it is not necessarily a perquisite for a contemporary look.

currently contemporary design may incorporate organic or even mid century modern elements as seen below:

50’s and 60’s vintage can incorporate many looks.

if you like the mcm (mid-century modern) style then you are going to be drawn specifically to the iconic pieces of modernism developed in this time period.  if you are more into the atomic style then you are going to be drawn to those items we all remember from “george jetson” era.  and if you are just plain vintage you will be attracted to all those items that your grandma had in the basement…you know those things that made you wonder what grandma and grandpa did on friday night with that old bar with the great bar stools, the record player and the mountains of martini’s sets.  oh yeah, let’s not forget that formica dinette table now in their garage.

modern furniture and vintage kitsch is static, the pieces are what the pieces are…where contemporary furniture is very dynamic and is constantly changing.  you may find 70′s contemporary but it will look entirely different from 2010 contemporary.

does this explanation work?  i would love to have your feed back.

the modmood design studio is a sweet surprise.  when we first began working on our business plan and the floor place for the store there was a little area in the back that seemed to accommodate perfectly a small design area.  having had a design studio in knoxville, tn prior to joining the corporate life i was anxious to get back to my passion.

i can remember standing in the middle of this little space, once the fabrics, tile, rugs, paints and pillows starting coming in, and telling pat, “i don’t care if i ever do any business back here i just love being surrounded by all these things”.

needless to say, what is going on back in that little area is far above and beyond my expectations.  i guess it goes back to doing what you love and the success will follow.

the growth in our studio has required us to take a leap and that is to purchase another building (if you can believe we don’t have enough room in this one!) and expand our studio even further.  so…we have a place under contract and if all our zoning issues are resolved you will see further expansion of the modmood studio later this year.

most of the work we do in the studio comes from those who walk into the store.  you would think that since we have a lot of contemporary, vintage and mid-century modern in the store that the design opportunities would follow those styles.  however, much of our work encompasses MANY styles.  i was recently discussing this with one of our modmood fans and he said he thinks it is because there are so may people that want to get outside their style box but are nervous about it.  they feel comfortable with you and your team because your experience is in many styles and you can bring that modern edge to the more classic looks…hence our new tag line: modmood a modern twist to the classic styles.

check out our design page and see some of the things we’re doing.  there are a few photos of some of our work posted.  we will soon have a before and after segment but in the meantime have fun browsing at some of the photographed staged units.

i have been very fortunate to have worked with great design clients in the course of my design career.  just prior to making a career change 20 years ago from design to the corporate world of italian tile, i had a client that was pure heaven to work with and i chalked it up to my lucky stars never expecting to have another like her.

fortunately in those 20 years i didn’t get too far from my love and passion since part of my job was working with some of the great designers, architects and developers across the united states.  after 20 years in the corporate world, i’m back doing design work.

working with people, helping to define their space – whether it’s their home or office – is really fun!  it also has it’s challenges, as you can well imagine.  when we opened modmood i was able to take a small space in the back of the store and surround myself with fabrics, tile, textile, rugs, wallcoverings, etc.  the hope was that i would be able to once again work with people in selecting products for their space.  fortunately this segment of our business has really grown.

i find myself with not only one but multiple dream clients.  what makes a dream client for me?

one who actually listens to you suggestions: deborah and rusty are perfect examples.  i went to their home for a consult and we walked through and around their house looking at the things they had done.  as i made suggestions here and there she made her notes.  about a week later we spoke and she said she was ready to move to the next level as she had done everything on the list…i about choked.  how many times do people ask your opinion and then actually follow your advice?  this was so refreshing!

another instance – a client and i were talking about doing some things a bit outside her comfort zone.  i was listening to her as she was explaining to me why she wasn’t comfortable doing something different.  she stopped, looked at me and said “let’s do it!  why would i hire you if i’m not going to make changes?”  to which i say…if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten!

one who doesn’t breath down your neck: i’m currently working on a very large project in boulder.  this woman is very high powered, owning her own business with about 10,000 employees.  she is a dream client because she let’s me do what i do…design and decorate.  in the beginning she was more hands on, but once she felt more confident that i understood her needs and i had her best interest at heart, all she needed was a clear understanding of the concept.  ”what is the design concept?  what are the fabrics and colors?  what is the estimated cost?” then she would leave me alone to work out the details trusting in my abilities and expertise.  does it matter if the bedspread drops 14″ or 15″?  to me, yes.  to her….?

you are trusted to make it right: as much as i hate to admit it, not all jobs go perfectly.  there may be upholstery, drapery, rug, or production issues. the perfect client doesn’t go crazy and make your life a living hell.  you are given time to make it right.  have you ever heard the term “snake bit”?  it’s used when a job just seems to be destined for trouble.  no matter what you do to make sure everything is done correctly,  it just doesn’t matter – the fabrics out of stock, the manufacturers customer service entered the order incorrectly, the heartland is flooded.  a dream client understands that no one wants the installation to go more smoothly than the designer.  believe it or not, we care MORE than you. our name and reputation are on the job, not to mention our desire to please!

these are just a few characteristics of the dream design client, but i think you get the gist of it.  are you really going to do anything suggested?  do you really want something different than what you have? can you trust someone who does this day in and day out to do their job? and can you give them space to make it right when and if something goes wrong?

of course it goes without saying that all designers and decorators are not created equal.  it’s important to do your due diligence and make sure you and the designer connect, that they do in fact have integrity, and really care about your project.  once this is established, if you can say yes to at least 3 of the above questions, you can be someones dream design client!