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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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”

as customer first to modmood and RETRO Consignment, i became passionate about this place! green, modern, vintage, stellar design team, outstanding customer relations, this place was dynamite! now…i am so exited to be a part of the team.

before I get ahead of my self, my name is michelle and i am working with pat (one of the owners) handling the vintage collectibles and  also with jeanne (the other owner) and the design team in developing our “style” profile and interning in the design department.

our collectible vintage collection continues to grow. we are partnering with a very reputable company vandm.com (vintage and modern) based out of new york. v and m is an online marketplace for vintage and modern designer furnishings and other pieces. this partnership has expanded our customer base by reaching many customers outside of colorado. just recently, we shipped a laverne & estelle chair to paris- even though I haven’t been YET, I couldn’t help but get excited with the notion.   we  also shipped some fab barstools to arizona, and while working with the customer, learned her sister was a wonderful regular to the store. check us out

after majoring in psychology,  i’m having so much fun working with the style profile  (not sure if that is really the word to be used…still working on that) it’s  a great tool to help people identify their style.  we understand people can’t be easily categorized, especially if you are like me and your style  is constantly changing but we are developing a fun and unique tool that helps you understand your likes and dislikes in your living environment. We developed a formula that combines (your root )where your heart is (your mood) what mood your in right now and your own personal edge (that thing that makes you unique).

this tool will enables us to understand you and your style better so that we can work with you to create a space that reflects the uniquely wonderful you. it is still in development but should be completed by mid-month and we look forward to sharing more with you.

everyday is a new day here. the customers/clients, consignors and artists are all so intriguing and i love to listen to the dialogue, especially “my mom had one of these!” people get excited and are having fun! right now, as I type, we are being serenaded by a customer and he is spelling mississippi and many other words backwards—i love it.

i’m excited to be a part of the team and look forward to you meeting you on your next excursion to “the mood”.

by pat gooch…

since we’ve  just completed our first full year of business i want to recognize those players whose contributions made us so successful.  the nominees for our MVP AWARD are:

samantha b.– she tags/prices most of our merchandise, enters purchase orders into our cumbersome system, greets everyone who comes into our store, keeps our store clean and tidy despite every attempt by me to bring more clutter and inventory whenever and wherever i can, oversees our advertising including craig’s list postings, twitter tweets and facebook frequencies.  she makes vendors accountable for shipping issues and defective products, merchandises our vignettes, makes contributions to our future e-commerce presence and does such mundane tasks as making sure our restrooms are suitable for shoppers and our furniture is spic and span.  she is a friendly multi-tasker who balances her responsibilities at work with the demands of our 3 grandsons.  high five for samantha!!

tim tebow – if you haven’t been tebowing lately we’ll forgive you “non-believers”.  it was a storybook year in broncoland until the clock struck midnight last saturday in new england.  was it just coincidence that during the broncos great turnaround and improbable victories we were setting sales records to match?  that first play of overtime against the steelers was one of the most exciting in colorado sports history.  the tebow to d.t. catch and touchdown created more euphoria in denver than i’ve seen in years and it contributed to a supercharged , spirited and uplifted business climate as well. thank you tim!!

will bobo – transitioning from ameristar chef to our star “schlepper” was our best trade. pound for pound he is one of the strongest men I know.  he’s upbeat even when handling the most difficult tasks, he has a terrific sense of humor, is super smart, deals with my ever changing priorities, has mastered the trailer maneuvering course, shovels snow, empties trash, recycles our cardboard, balances the end of day reports in record time, fixes lamps, legs, leaks and loads.  he’s an up and coming salesperson, “no” is not in his vocabulary and he is our consignor’s best friend. he’s a wonderful dad, cook and hip-hopper and maintains a year round vigil for his beloved washington redskins. GOBoBo!!

jeanne – she is our heart and soul.  she has the gifted ability to connect with all customer types, a networker supreme, handles our IT,  she creatively merchandises our  windows and showroom (our push, pull and drag queen), heads up marketing, has outstanding personal and professional virtues, is a gifted designer who satisfies customer styles from post-modern to traditional and everything in between, she closes virtually every deal, never complains (unless she is tired or hungry), has 20/20 business vision, always prompt to our 5:00 am sales meetings, a risk taker but a methodical decision maker, she is responsible for our incredible vendor relationships, she            purchases inventory creatively and correctly, enjoys color, texture, style, her new lifestyle and fast cars. slow down GiGi!

connor g. – he is the best bookkeeper that never took an accounting course.  ambitious, diligent who can balance college curriculum and business responsibilities.  he’s easy going, a long distance commuter, art work display specialist and conscientious.  he is loyal, a math maven, dependable, flexible, tech savvy, carries a lofty GPA, keeps me abreast of the sport’s world, installed our security system and has never had a complaint from a customer.  he has a mr. universe bod and mucho karma to match.

give me a C-O-N-N-O-R!!!

…the envelope please…the winner of the modmood/RETRO Consignment MVP AWARD is (drumroll please)…OUR CUSTOMERS!!!!!!  Yeah! Yeah!

you win and it’s absolutely true.  you have made it all possible for us.  without you we could not buy great inventory, have done the outstanding remodel project just completed (for which we won a big award and now we share with you), every other improvement we made and every upgrade we did, all the groceries we purchased, our health insurance, our retirement fund contributions, the utility bills, all of our mortgage payments, the lines of credit, going out to dinner, paying the kid’s tuition, the car payments and every damn thing we have we owe to you.

so it is my honor to present this award to each of you who have and are making our business possible, successful and fun. cheers and thanks!  as a token of our appreciation and as a reward for whomever read this, my first BLOG, please take an additional 5% off any purchase without restrictions until the end of january 2012 by simply saying during the transaction “i’m the MVP!”.

2012 is here and we have all made our resolutions, right?  was one of yours to do something with the space you live in?

mine was…you would think since i do a lot of the designing and merchandising for the store that my own home would be a showplace.  but in fact the old adage, “the cobblers children have no shoes” is alive and well at my home. hopefully this year i can get a few more things done and practice what i preach.

sermon #1 – layering

it doesn’t have to happen all at once.  just as in nature, layer by layer we can build our space and environment.  we can do a few things first, live with it, then add the next, and the next, and so on.  often, when we try doing too much too fast, we can end up with an overly decorated space AND furnishings and accessories that don’t really speak to us or about us.

i had one client recently tell me that his impatience is probably due to the fact that he watches too much HGTV and wants to have it done in a weekend like all those home makeover shows.  i say, go away for a weekend, leave your credit card and we could do just that.

but, do you really want to have it decorated and done or would you rather have something that is an extension of you?

my husband and i were talking this morning about how much we enjoy working with the folks that come into our store…  our customers and clients are very connected to their homes and each piece and thing purchased is a treasure.  they aren’t just filling their homes with truckloads of furniture but are deliberately selecting and examining each piece to make sure it’s the right one.  a far cry from those who fill up there homes with pieces, designs and colors only to impress or worse just to get it done (mark it off their list).

so, let us help you jump start your resolution and come into modmood and RETRO Consignment and enjoy our

design services and design department

beautiful new and used furnishings and accessories

our vintage collectibles (also can be seen on v and m)

great collection of consignment furnishings

register on our contacts page for our monthly promotions.

and….if you keep us busy enough i won’t have to feel guilty come 2013 when i haven’t completed by home make-over!

hopefully you are surviving phase one of the holiday season!  are you looking forward to the new year?
we are!  2012 looks very exciting for modmood and RETRO Consignment.  can i give you a few hints?

expansion

modmood studio

modern shed

custom furniture

buy it on-line

auctions

fabulous sculpted wall panels

you’ll be hearing more about each of these in the coming months.  our goal is to  offer the friends of modmood and RETRO Consignment unique experiences and products.  we know the economy  and the stresses of our daily lives can take it’s toll and we want to make your home and businesses special, exciting and fun.

we are so appreciative to all of you who have faithfully supported our new business this year.  2011 was a very successful year for us, not only have we exceeded our overall sales goals, developed some wonderful vendor relationships, met some of colorado’s great local artists, but we have met so many new friends who have become a regular part of our lives.

it is an added bonus for all our hard work when you spread the word to your friends and it is especially exciting when you bring your out of town guests, friends and family to experience modmood and RETRO Consignment.

thanks so much for making 2011 a good year and we are wishing you and your all the very best in 2012!

the push is on to get the store decorated for the “holidays”.  since when did the holidays mean christmas and it starts before halloween?

it’s very difficult to mix  halloween, thanksgiving and christmas decorations, don’t you think?

anyway before i get started on the holiday decorations i wanted to take a little time to talk about my favorite holiday… thanksgiving.

why have i always liked thanksgiving?

• first it is in some form or another a 4 day holiday
• there are no gifts associated with it – except maybe bringing some food to someones house
• there are relatively little or no decorations
• as a single mom it was one of the holidays that was not devastating if it wasn’t my turn to have the kids.

even though i am no longer able to enjoy the 4 day holiday (since friday is the biggest shopping day of the year and we ARE retail) it’s still a favorite.  our oldest daughter now hosts our thanksgiving celebrations, accepting and assigning contributions from all for our favorite dishes.   she enjoys having a lot of people around on the holidays so needless to say the crowd usually involves not only our immediate family (13) but various grand parents, in-laws and other friends and we’re never quite sure who “those friends” might be.  i recently overheard a conversation she was having with a visitor to our store:

customer: “are you open on thanksgiving”

samantha: “no, we take that as a holiday, won’t you be with family and or friends?”

customer: “no, i don’t have any family here”

samantha: “come and have lunch with us”

i held my breath (as i’m not as generous as she is)

customer: “no, no, no, i don’t like all that family stuff, just thought i’d like somewhere to go during the day!”

whew!!!  but i have to love her heart and intentions…right?

thanksgiving for our family is fun for all…we go bowling first thing, yep that’s right bowling on thanksgiving.  then for all who are interested there is brunch around 11:00.

"papa pat" with the 2 oldest grand children cyrus and eli, bowling!

after brunch/lunch, we lay around, watch football and/or do some planned activities (usually some form of arts and crafts). then the feeding frenzy begins!

the craft this year was making pilgrim hats, aren't we a handsome crowd??

it’s interesting how each person holds their own idea of what one should eat for thanksgiving.  there’s the turkey bunch…the ham bunch…the healthy bunch… and the vegetarians and all the side dishes that go with each.

but somehow it all comes together beautifully and we have a great dinner, watch a little  MORE football, nap and then the deserts begin – what are your favorite thanksgiving day deserts?  some of my favorites are pumpkin pie, pecan pie, hershey delight

happy thanksgiving!

before i leave the thanksgiving celebration and go take care of my decorating, i wanted to tell you one of things we are thankful for… our friends.  you have made this little retirement project absolutely delightful, thanks for being a part of our modmood family.

i’ve put together a few things in modmood and RETRO Consignment that remind me of colorado’s  beautiful fall weather and also of thanksgiving.  enjoy…and when you’re out and about on “black friday” come visit “the mood”!

it’s hard to believe that over a year has past since we opened our store/consignment/design center!  we want to thank all our wonderful customers and faithful followers for supporting this local business…YOU ARE THE BEST!

we purchased the building in january of 2010 and officially opened in the fall of 2010, in the midst of an economic crisis.  probably not the smartest thing –  in most peoples minds (even flashed through ours at times), but in hindsight we were brilliant!

it has been a great experience.  the city of wheat ridge has been fabulous to work with and wheat ridge 2020 worked very closely with us and helped us receive a federal grant for the renovation of this historic piece of our little city.  i love the wheat ridge tag line, “deep roots and a short commute”, and that’s the truth.  a lot of the work we do is downtown and guess what, it’s a 10 minute shot down 38th or 44th.  so those of you holding off because you think wheat ridge is in “east egypt” come on over!

when we first looked at the building (photos below) pat asked me, “are we too old for this?”  we may be,  but it’s keeping us young and we’re learning a lot.

BEFORE…

NOW WE’RE HAVING FUN!

in case you’re wondering we are very diverse:  staging, design, retail, consignment, estate sales/liquidations…look for more in 2012 (it’s already in the works)

it’s been a while since i’ve posted anything but that’s only because a lot of good things are happening at modmood and RETRO Consignment.

did you see our profile in both the denver post your hub and the wheat ridge transcript?  it was totally ironic (or someone is bugging our office) that we were approached within days of each other by both publications and they were published on the same day….hmmmmm.  we have also been nominated Business of the Year in Wheat Ridge, keep your fingers crossed for us!

world furniture market las vegas

we recently took to the road and visited the world market in las vegas.it’s our twice a year “vacation” , sort of like this little “retirement project” or ours (modmood and RETRO Consignment).

it was fun and inspiring to see what’s new in the furniture and home decorating industry.  although it’s not the largest furniture market the show offers a lot to those of us who like modern and contemporary.  we purchased many new things which will start receiving in the store in the next few weeks and into late fall.

las vegas tiki

neither pat nor i like gambling and have found other entertainment after spending time in  the buildings and showrooms at the market.

we came across this fabulous little place called frankie’s tiki room…omg it was crazy, like stepping back in time. the decor was fabulous, the bartender had lots of dreads and was totally “rasta” looking and they were playing old casa blanca type movies on the tv’s.

the drink menu was a treat in itself, you may want to bring a flashlight if your not accustomed to reading in the dark.  definitely a must see next time your in vegas!

we hope you are following us as a fan on facebook.  samantha has the difficult and daunting task of posting the new and vintage items as they come into the store.  the only thing is that often the items can go out as quickly as they come in, that’s good news for us but not necessarily for those of your looking for these pieces.  also as a friend of modmood we post our estate sales and you are invited to come to the properties the day before the sale goes public to get early pickin’s.

…if you’re following us on facebook then you know that not only did we purchase NEW modern and contemporary, we also did the “clampett” thing and brought back a lot of vintage pieces.  las vegas is loaded with the 50′s and 60′s furnishings and we always take advantage of our little excursion to bring some home to share with our modmood and RETRO friends.

...and we didn't lose a thing!

here are a few of my favorite vintage pieces that are hidden in the truck!

i also want to show you a few of my favorite NEW things we have coming in:

and best of all pat went crazy over the modern kid’s furniture…coming soon!

there’s so much to share, but going to run.    the next two weeks will be busy with another estate sale and getting ready for the denver modernism show, we’ll have a nice representation of our products at the show.  get your tickets soon and don’t miss the vip party on friday, august 26th.

WOW! although we haven’t had our official grand opening party (save the date for the week-end of may 20, 2011), we are open and having a lot of fun.  tuesday, march 8th modmood and RETRO Consignment was THE LOCATION for the alphabet networking group event.

alphabet networking meets quarterly

this quarterly networking event is for the members of several leading business associations of the west metro denver area. the recent event, hosted by enterprise wheat ridge at modmood and RETRO Consignment, had representation from approximately 150 members of the following associations:applewood business association, arvada chamber of commerce, alameda gateway community association, conifer chamber of commerce, edgewater enterprise, enterprise wheat ridge, evergreen chamber of commerce, golden chamber of commerce, south lake business association, west chamber of commerce, west colfax community association.

along with the usual networking by business professionals the wheat ridge business district presented funds through a federal grand to pat gooch and jeanne nichols owners of the property and business modmood and RETRO Consignment for the facade and signage improvements to the exterior of the building at 7700 w. 44th avenue wheat ridge, co.

in honor of fat tuesday, co-owner of modmood and RETRO Consignment, pat gooch, shared beads (requirement of raising of the shirt/blouse was waved).  sliders and mini-dogs, salmon and capers, along with a bit of louisiana gumbo were prepared and served by will and samantha bobo employees of the business.  wine, beer and water were provided by wheat ridge local businesses (first bank, home instead elderly care, loretta ditirro-realtor, dan ryan the window man).

loretta ditirro asks: what do i need to do to get some of those beads?

although the weather was a bit chilly we were all kept warm by the fires of fireplace outlet supply and planika fires. heidi haas sheard of swiss flower and gift cottage helped spread the love with some gorgeous arrangements.

this event reminded us all of how important business connections and networking are to the development of each of our own businesses.  networking is a great way to meet new friends and share the many great products and services your company offers.

thanks to blu and katie of blu iron photography we have some great photos of the evening, see a few below or connect to see all the images!

while this event is over we are still having fun providing  professional services such as estate liquidations, sales and consignment along with modern, contemporary and vintage furniture and products to the metro denver area.  with the warmer weather looming we are looking forward to opening our vintage and new lawn, garden and patio furniture area and having a great spring and summer.  come and visit!