TIME TO REPURPOSE HIDDEN TREASURES by Deb Steege

It's time for Spring cleaning. Organizing closets, cleaning out garage clutter, and daring to look inside those unmarked boxes in the attic. Though the task may seem daunting, it's really the perfect opportunity to be on the look out for any unsused or forgotten item that could be "re-purposed." Maybe you're not using that bulky desk anymore. Sure it was the perfect place to study during those college all-nighters but now all of your work is confined to the contents of an 11" x 14" laptop computer. Instead of sentencing your trusty ol' desk to a landfill, think of all the other ways it could be put to new use. Stand it up vertically and add some shelves to create a shelving unit for the kid's room. Drag it inside the greenhouse to use as a potting table.

There's really a place and purpose for everything. Use that old door to make a funky vintage-esque coffee top table. Set it on top of those two well-travelled leather suitcases for an uber-cool Trans-Atlantic feel. Of course old tin type photos, weathered books and vintage frames add authenticity to any setting. Mason Jars are my current favorite re-purposed decorative element. I found about a half dozen in my Mom's attic in Illinois. Instead of tossing them, I gave them a good wash with a scrub brush. Now they make the perfect votive candle containers. The candlelight creates interesting and unexpected designs upon the beveled glass. In a darker room, they cast moody patterns, shapes and designs against the walls. They also provide a quaint and nostalgic flair while entertaining family and friends.

My point is if you think outside the box long and hard you can find a new life for just about anything and everything. Yesterday's trash is today's hidden treasure. Re-purposing old items is one of the best ways to preserve history, live consciously, steward the planet and have a little fun along the way.

BOLD COLOR - THIS YEAR'S "WOW FACTOR" by Deb Steege

Event Designers like me are heavily influenced by the color trends of the fashion industry. Luckily, the same colors that show up on New York's runways translate very well into an event design format. Well, maybe it's more than luck. Maybe it's a designer's understanding of how to adapt the color palette of a Toasted Almond, Aurora, Muted Clay and Feather Gray couture cocktail gown into an elegant but rustic wedding reception for 400 guests. There are universal themes in the world of color that work. Regardless of home decor, fashion, or event design cool colors including blue green and everything in between produce calm and warm colors including all variations of red, orange and yellow typically produce warmth, comfort, and enthusiasm. I avoid veering too wildly from what works; however, it is fun to give the color wheel a giant spin from time to time. Many factors are involved in color choice--the current season, the client's personality and/or signature color, the event venue, the economy.

Moving into Spring naturally evokes soothing hues from the blue green family like Turquoise and Ampara Blue; however, the down-turned economy continues to affect seasonal color choices. Cautious, pratical neutrals such as Tuscany, Dried Herb, Chalky Conch and Eucalyptus provide a subconscious safety net. Violet and Pink Champagne are two popular colors that lift those neutral spirits with a pastel punch. Rich Tomato Puree and Fusion Coral are newer colors in the event design vernacular. Eggplant, Tangerine, Yellow and Lemongrass continue to be part of the color dialect.

Though clients will likely continue to choose the softer more comforting colors for their "base color," they will also continue to select bolder, more optimistic bolts of color to vitalize their events. Unwittingly, by making the juxtaposition of a bold color against a neutral backdrop the client's signature color will make an even louder statement. Now front and center, color garners new status. Though color has always been of great importance, it is making a larger splash throughout the world of Event Design. A bold dose of color, in my opinion, is the "Wow Factor" of 2010.