my birds eye view

Sweet tooth anyone?

2012-02-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas came and went- my Forge store project has come to a close for now but my work with the investors and owners of Forge is not over...rather just beginning...
The people behind Forge are a group of investors and developers. Forge is a small part of a huge re development project of the city of Lancaster California. The city and the men I have been hired by have taken a 6 lane highway and re developed it in to a 2 lane street filled with shopping, restaurants, a museum and low income housing. It has given Lancaster residents and nearby folks a place to gather, to see a movie to have an ice cream and to just hang out. Its been an amazing project and group of people to have been blessed to be involved with.
Fast forward to today....The same group of guys have decided to open a concept shop in their own backyard of Agoura Hills. A 5,000 sq foot shop/gathering place/party space. A mecca of cupcakes, candy and frozen yogurt with more toppings than you have ever seen. Now cross merchandise that with fun gifts, home decor, apparel and accessories and you have it! You can get your party supplies, grab a gift, get cupcakes on the go with an cute cake plate to serve them on...all in this one stop shop!
Its bright, fun and fresh! Think Jonathon Adler meets Kate Spade mixed with some Trina Turk!
I have been lucky enough to have been hired to do the buying, the decor and the overall set up....I am beyond excited to see it come all together!
I will be posting pictures from the very beginning- so, with that said, here is the first look at Sweet XO's!

Newest project for Birds Eye View! Concept shop combining a sweets and high end gift and home! Think Jonathan Adler meets Kate Spade! Bright, fun and fresh!

Outside of the new project

4,700 Sq foot space

First phase demo! Walls beginning to go up.

Hard walls starting to be built! I love this part..you can start to visualize the space.

View from front door.

'Tis the season to be jolly

2012-02-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

I am a Christmas baby...I was born on December 29th. My mom made a huge deal of the holidays. She was a single parent of two so almost everything was handmade....the ornaments, the gingerbread men, the decor and the cards. I was blessed to have my own Martha Stewart. While I don't sew and making things by hand is very difficult for me ( I have the worst ADD- so creating small detailed items make me loose interest) I have learned to have a huge appreciation of all the small details. It is the big picture that drives me and pushes me forward.

By trade I am a merchandiser, I need to see the big picture and I need to see change and progress by the end of each day. So when the holidays approach I get very antsy....I know change, big change is on its way. Each of my stores or showrooms have very different looks and concepts. Concepts that we have put together for months, shopped for and by the time its being delivered to the stores I can hardly contain myself. Its the same feeling I used to get when my mom used to start taking out the boxes of handmade ornaments and decor.
This year we added Forge in Lancaster California. I was brought on to help guide the store in buying, merchandising and the set up fall through Christmas. For Christmas we went with candy and ice cream themes. The holiday bake shop was the most fun to create and buy for. Bake kits for cookies and cute serving dishes to put them on. Everything was bright, fun and merchandised as the one stop shop the hostess gift you needed.
The other was a woodland feel with white feathered owls and tartan ribbons.....chocolates and specialty cocos were placed here...again, easy hostess and teacher gifts....my favorite detail was the choice to use the champagne flutes in the Christmas trees by tying them on with the tartan ribbon......more out of necessity due to how many we had but ended up being the best part of the display.
Set up for a store this size is a solid week of long long days, but you know what, I live for it...the hours, the excitement to see it finished and to hear the customers feedback and wonder of it all....Its all worth it, and I have my mom to thank for my love and drive of it all things Christmas.

Ice Cream & Cupcake ornaments

Mens window-notice the reclaimed wire spool from a local construction site-great visual piece that went well with the mens vibe!

Bake-shop- aprons, mixing bowls and lots of sweet baking mixes! Cross merchandising to increase sales!

My favorite table top..white feather owls, specialty chocolates with champagne glasses ties to Christmas trees with tartan plaid ribbons.

All Things Pretty ♥

2011-11-08T21:08:00.000-08:00

Wilshire Beauty is one of our clients in the mid Wilshire area of Los Angeles. They have been known to be the first version of Sephora- a literal warehouse of all things beauty..hair, makeup, facial products and everything in between the only thing is they have not up dated, up graded or re invented in the last 10 years or so. Much of the old way from days long gone by were still in place. Many of the areas had nothing in them or worse had grown way out of the space that it was in- Why you ask? Fear of change, fear of what if it does not fit once moved etc...so there it stayed till we came along! My whole theory is you cant move forward if you are stuck in the past-change is a good thing..mistakes are the only way you are going to start seeing things differently- even if wrong you see it differently than the way its been for the last however long its been like that....
Thus is with Wilshire Beauty's cosmetic department. A mecca of beauty products in 15 different places and all free floating in the middle of two different departments..not pretty and not cohesive in anyway shape or form...We moved it forward- up to the entry, up where there was natural light and up to where there were actual walls we could do something with.We designed new cabinets- black with mirrored tops, re skinned the old counters with new black Formica so they would be cohesive with the new cabinets and re painted walls a charcoal grey to compliment the amazing Designers Guild wallpaper from Osborne and Little. With the new space we are able to make it all look cohesive, special and most of all pretty...

Click the links to visit the Wilshire beauty & Osborne and Little website

Thank god for Vivian!

2011-10-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Please help me welcome Vivian to our team here at Birds Eye View! She came to us via our good friend Sig, where she had interned at Kravet in the LA Mart! Miss Viv will be working on our blog and helping us with holiday set ups!
So, keep your eyes out for new displays, videos of how to's, links to great products and tons and tons of inspiration, photos and new ideas!
Its all about to change to hang on and enjoy the ride!

2 years later....

2011-09-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 10, 2009

A new chapter in Birds Eye View

When I had someone suggest that I do a blog for both our clients and for the general public I kept thinking who is going to read this and how do I do it...
Thanks to Micheal Garret here we are...thank god for the younger generation-the thought process that usage of the internet will forward your business. It's not something we old school-ers are used to...nor do we or me accept it with open arms...

My business is retail and wholesale consulting. My whole job is to push the envelope, push what the general public sees in windows and in store layouts as well as what the retailers see when they come to purchase for their stores for the coming seasons.
I have 2 mantras..
1-"change is good-change is good-change is good"
and
2-everything happens for a reason

In order to push yourself or your company you have to change..you can't stay safe or complacent..you have to push the envelope-not everyone will get it but it will make
those think about it..
Simon Doon the brilliant man who does the windows at Barney's NY has pushed the envelope
for years-he never stays safe and is constantly pushing the world of visuals forward-my favorite story he tells is of him doing a christmas window...Simon is not traditional- you will not find the normal holiday windows. One year they decided to do the typical nativity scene but in a total non-traditional way..Simon in his brilliance used hello kitty in lieu of baby jesus..while I find the humor in it the catholic church did not and put a full page ad in the NY Times...
The up side of all of this was the best free press and long long lines of people going to see the window display with hello kitty...that is pushing the envelope-that is not staying safe-that is what I love about this industry.

Everything happens for a reason...you may not see it at once but its always there...I lost all my stores after the earthquake- I was devastated..it was all I knew..it was my ego, it was my job..it was essentially what I thought was me-however, that me was a snotty 27 year old that yes pushed the envelope but not in the right direction..thank god that earthquake happened. I can't picture what I would be like now..or where I would be now...
I had to re-learn retail, re-learn what worked and what did not- how to drive traffic to a store, how to drive your buisness thru visuals and simple floor planning. I had to re-learn what customer service was and how to utilize it. I started my company 6 years ago and never looked back-I have never had to go out and look for work- all my buisness has been through word of mouth. I am very lucky and I know it..there are a lot of us out there and a lot of us all jocking for the same jobs..

This blog is for my retailers and the general pubilc- it will later be turned into a subscriber service for my clients who want the upper hand in retail solutions.
I will post windows I see, inspiration and ideas. I will list items and places I love etc...

The subscriber portion will have trend forcasting, show overviews (for those whom only make it to the reginal shows) and detailed display how-tos.
Hope you enjoy it and hope it brings inspiration to you!
m-

Who knew?

2011-09-15T16:24:00.001-07:00

WHO KNEW...I certainly did not when I signed on to open Forge's store in Lancaster that I would go from retail consultant and merchandiser to a buyer again...and,for men's no less....
I have not been a buyer for menswear in almost 20 years. Once a very long time ago I had three
stores in Fred Segal Santa Monica that I loved very much. I was very young and did pretty much what I wanted. I made a lot of friends, I made a more than a few people pissed off, but most of all I found out what I loved to do and I had the opportunity to learn it in an amazing arena!
There is nothing I would change about my education of the fashion world...nothing. I may have lost it all...but I would change nothing....
So, who knew when this opportunity came up that I would be submerged again in not only what I know like the back of my hand, but also men's and women's apparel buying...
Who knew that I would be nervous my first day back in the showrooms that I once knew, ruled (only because of having a store at Fred Segal) and understood so well...
Who knew?
But, just as riding a bike, it all is coming back....the eye, the verbiage ( and it does have a vocabulary to its own, let me tell ya!) the sizing, the delivery dates and so on and so on...
So, here I sit...scanning sites for new upcoming lines, re learning how to walk the walk and talk
the talk...and you know what, I am loving every minute of it...
WHO KNEW?
xo

cat got your tongue?

2011-07-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

I know, I know....its been waaay too long.....
In my business and life it seems its either feast or famine...at this moment, its feast!
Summer means sun and fun to most but in my industry it means gift show set ups! The
national shows are all in the summer months, peppered throughout the country, gift stores,
catalogs, home stores, decorators etc all shop the shows for the 4th quarter buys. I set up
showrooms like Peking Handicraft, Gus Dallas and this year a new addition, Roost! It is also
first show in the last few years that I am not involved in the California Gift Show set up....
It was a little bittersweet but all and all, it felt pretty good not to be so burned out by the time
I turn into a buyer (my other job)...
I added a new client to my retailers... Forge. A combination gift, home and apparel lifestyle store
in Lancaster...
I know what you are thinking....Lancaster...yep, Lancaster. The city and investors are re-developing downtown. I have to admit, as jaded as I am about retail not being so interesting
these days, not being fun and not adding anything new, this is new! A mix of old and new they have added restaurants, a moca museum, a bowling alley/club and now the latest addition- a movie theater/retail space.
The brilliance of moving traffic thru the retail space to purchase tickets, food and ultimately the theater has not really been done yet...Sure, Cracker Barrel moves you through retail space in order to get to the restaurant but really, who is in the market for singing frogs and bedazzled tee shirts these days?
Its Urban architectural adds so much to the street...so much so you really do forget you are not in Lancaster anymore.
I am excited to be on board with this project-I will be involved with everything from the buying, merchandising and display- its really a dream project!
I will post pics soon as well as pics of the latest show set ups for Peking Handicraft!
xo

"sew sweet"

2011-02-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

I think the sweetest thing you could do for anyone is
make them a valentine..crayons, felt tip or pencil
they are the sweetest when made from scratch and
made from love....
I'm thinking for my valentine I will take felt, cut
a heart and hand sew I love you on to it....

Top ten merchandising tips!

2011-02-01T14:53:00.001-08:00

Go to Birds Eye View facebook page for the top ten merchandising tips!

click on the link to take you to the video on facebook

Top Ten Merchandising Tips.

California Gift Show cross merchandising seminar 2010

2011-01-30T14:14:00.000-08:00

Last seasons gift show I was hired by the California Gift Show to do 4 seminars on
how to cross merchandise and create mini shops within retailers own spaces.
So many retailers don't cross merchandise.. I am not sure why, maybe not understanding how to do this? Maybe not wanting to change? I am not sure. I do know that lifestyled and cross merchandised shops like Anthropologie are the future- they are constantly re-working and re-inventing the new and the old inventory to create mini shops that draw your attention and entise you to buy...

This is what I do- teach retailers how to cross merchanidse and create fun and exciting vignettes and displays. I chose 4 concepts that retailers could relate to..ones that would make them think outside the box and create some excitement that they could re-create within their own shops...

The only concept not shown was the seaside living which I am sad to say I forgot to shoot...

enjoy!

xo

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Birthday shop was created to show retailers how to cross merchandise kids party planning

products and gourmet...its all about bright, fun merchandise that grabs your attention...

first plan of attack, inventory set up...

we decided to paint a huge happy birthday song on the wall...again, so easy and

so effective!

The finished opening tabletop- its supposed to feel like you just walked into

a kids party

The finished display!

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Halloween is the #2 most retailed holiday next to Christmas....

That being said, you may not feel like your shop translates to
a holiday like Halloween but trust me...this is a opportunity
that you don't want to skip over.
Even my apparel shops touch on Halloween- a little story of
black apparel cross merchandised with some candles and
specialty chocolates and ta-da! Instant Halloween statement.
Make sure you place it up front and have it set up by mid
September and you should be sold out of it way before the
actual holiday...

floor set up of the Halloween shop

opening statement table top...

finished! Notice the detail on the back wall... grapevine attached to wall, orange and black ribbon running through with Halloween lanterns hanging from it...so easy, so cost effective and so fun..... That is what its all about after all- making it fun for you and your clients!

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Nappa style was a cross merchandised wine/gift shop- showing retailers how to cross merchandise furniture, gift product and gourmet into one life styled vignette...

setting the floor at the convention center and laying electrical...the beginning of it all

opening statement of the nappa style shop

the overview of the entire shop complete

change is good....

2011-01-28T08:11:00.000-08:00

As we get ready to start changing over from holiday to new spring
windows and gift or apparel collections I have to wonder why so
many do not put more into it.....
As a retailer, you go to shows to get "wowed", to get excited, to be inspired...
don't you think that your clients want the same thing come a new season?
Most of you have a very regular client base, they see you at least once a month,
correct?
Think of you going to a show...if the showroom did not change the displays nor
front new fresh merchandise, wouldn't you just walk by and not go in assuming
that nothing new is being shown?
Its the same for your clients....
So...push the envelope a little this spring, make them think, get them inspired
and get your clients excited!

It is spring after all...
xo

Peking Handicrafts Atlanta showroom

2011-01-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

2 times a year are the gift shows...all across the country
showrooms with amazing gift and home products re-invent
themselves for the new season based around the new
product..
This is what I do...fly in, take down the old display and
re-invent the showroom and all the display to reflect the
product...for retailers this is the time they make most of
their buys- holiday, everyday etc...
My job is to create excitement and get the attention of
the buyers-
This is Peking Handicrafts new showroom we opened
last July in Atlanta...

Its all in the details I have always believed...
think outside the box in regards to how you display
items...standard fixtures are oh so boring!

the bare bones...we decided to paper the back of

the fixture with copy's of recipes from an old cookbook...yellow

pages made it more interesting..

The finished display...the faux cake is Styrofoam circles painted

brown and stacked with caulking as icing in between.....

the best is that it can stand up to sunlight so makes for a great

window display

I just love this missoni-ish group!

Starting to take shape...the Trina Turk opening statement with

the hot house floral group behind

An easy display element that pulls in the color and adds a little humor

more LA Mart display cases

2011-01-19T13:21:00.000-08:00

The begining..pale lavender-love this paired with dove grey molding..

The first portion of the molding....

Finished product..natural fabrics with silver and mirrored details. I love the organic elements of the drift wood and the wood carved bird against the modern mirrored chest....

The case lines for the LA Mart were based on trends...

Brights, modern/ethnic and pastel/mirrored- each floor had one design scope.
I wanted to make both case lines to flow with each other so when you got out

of the elevator you were told the story. I have always loved the museum of

natural history in Los Angeles and the display cases of cave men...I love walking into

the dark room and the cases magically became alive each telling its own story.

The cases on these floor sort of remind me of this... dark and full of stories...

Ready..set...go!

2011-01-19T12:33:00.000-08:00

prep work on the LA Mart furniture floor display cases..

product moved in and set...

finshed product with the display element of mexican paper flowers....

Very, very bad....

its been over a year from my last post..

Hmmm..lets see..in a year I have successfully broken 3 laptops, dropped 3 blackberrys in some type of water, filed for divorce, fell in love, visited Costa Rica, had 3 red light tickets, one speeding ticket, closed my office in the LA Mart, moved to Manhattan Beach and had a hysterectomy....

So, you see where my attention has been....

However it has not stopped me from working nor being inspired by all the amazing pop up shops, displays and beauty I have seen over the last year either...

I still have the photos to put up that I mentioned in the last post and now a whole new set of

shots to post..everything from last market to holiday.

Here is the first little taste of what is to come...

2010-09-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

Wow...how time fly's...
One day its May, the next thing you know its September! We have been so busy with so many projects that it was literally impossible to keep up with the blog....I know...bad practice when you have a blog and any kind of following! No more...promise!
I will be posting over the next few weeks pics of inspiration, the set decorators event at the Universal Studios back lot, the gift show set ups and any other exciting thing that I have been archiving on my blackberry camera...
Keep your eyes open....if not you might just miss it
xo
m

Feeling blessed!

2010-05-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

I have been busy multi tasking two different parts of my company...the design and merchandising part and the interior design part. One has always been busy when the other was slow-until now...
The great part is the economy is getting better...you can tell when you have been working with people sending emails back and forth, touching base and just letting them know you are ready when they are ready. Then, BAM!....all of a sudden everyone is ready to go at once and now at the same time as our show set ups...
This is going to be interesting...both how I handle my stress level and the lack of hours I will need in a day in order to get this all done...but somehow it always works out...
However...I will say this...I am so very very lucky to be this busy. There are so many of us out there whom are talented and without work...I have never had to go out and look for clients in either arena...we have been blessed to have all of our work come to us by word of mouth.
I had this thought after leaving a new clients house at 7:30 at night...as long as I am being considered for jobs and hired for jobs, I simply cannot complain....I have some of the most amazing clients whom all have become friends and family to me...they have taken me in and included me in their lives and for this I am so very very blessed.....its so worth it!

2010-05-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

Always an inspiration is Big Daddy's antique and found object warehouse...they have both an amazing eye and an even more amazing merchandising style- keeping alike items in a collection they have the space to do it right. This is a wall of vintage bird cadges in all shapes and sizes.

Larger than life found objects...fantastic use of space if you have it!

I think what makes Shanes presentation so amazing is the multiple vignettes- each has a different feel but they all flow- The addition of huge trees, greens and live birds in huge vintage bird cadges just adds to the presentation and overall atmosphere!

Big Daddy's outdoor stone collection filled with succulents

Feather or Rather Paper your Nest

2010-05-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

I have been sourcing wallpaper lately and have been so inspired with all of the different patterns, color and texture...it makes me want to re-do every room in my tiny apartment. I think what I love the most is that it takes either a small or large space and transforms it instantly to a chic space- weather it be modern geometrics, re-issued prints from the 70's or the huge marimekko florals that my mom did my childhood room in, they each give a space a face lift....

Walnut on Beverly is an amazing source with a staff that is helpful and has tons of knowledge to help you navigate through tons of sample books, styles and trends....

Walnut wallpaper

7424 Beverly Blvd

LA, CA 90036

323-932-9166

www.walnutwalpaper.com

Fashion Accessories

2010-04-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

"Eye-candy"

Think outside of the box....We have started to add small collections of handbags and scarves to our pharmacy's with great success! Create a small area with bright bags and scarves...cross merchandise with some hard candies in jars and ta-da! Instant swing shop!

Contact info;

Melie Bianco

1101 S. Main Street

LA, CA 90015

213) 749-3889

Gym inspiration

2010-04-28T09:00:00.001-07:00

Now that my schedule is beginning to pick up and my days are starting at 4:30 am and ending in the office at 5 or 6 pm, I am having to find time in other places to go through inspiration......
Somehow the gym is the one place I can go through magazines with a clear head and really look at what is going on in the world of design. I am not sure if its due to no phones, loud music on my ipod or just that its un interrupted time....but, true to my multi tasking a.d.d. personality I really do get more done this way...

While on the bike last night after tearing through the new House and Gardens I came across 9 by design on one of the 6 tv's playing on the gym walls....AMAZING!!! The couple behind some of the coolest projects and their life in design with family. Everything about it I love..from the concepting process to the split screen interviews..so inspiring and so fresh in the world of a billion design reality shows!

So...you never know where you are going to find inspiration...for me, its apparently at the gym on a bike!

2010-04-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

I LOVE THIS!!!!

Think of your signage in your shop...clean, graphic and simple!

2010-04-27T06:17:00.001-07:00

"Inspiration"

The rule of any collection shown in multiples is done soooo well here! Entire window from top to bottom filled with old singer and other sewing machines! Fixtures are made out of massive press and weaving machines...it gives a great contrast to the exquisite details on the apparel....

Gaps Pop Up Shop !

2010-04-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

I have always loved the ideas of pop up shops..especially when they are done well! The theory of opening up in sometimes random neighbourhoods to either just do a fantastic short term shop or to test drive a new division or brand is brilliant to me...

Gap's 1965 brand pop up shop is on 3rd street holding its own with the high end competition. I think what I love the most is the bare bones fixtures and the price points...nothing over $100..and in this neighbourhood of $500 dresses this is a daring move that will prove that Gap is back!

Gap's pop up shop brilliant fixtures...industrial shelving with plexi over back to create a shop separation and storage....also visually- "anything in multiples"..it's striking to see stacks of perfectly folded denim thru the plexi glass

Inspired

2010-04-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

Wonder what to do with too much space that you just can't fill with inventory? Oversize displays!

I love the scale of this....right as you walk in and brilliantly painted gold....

Same shop...above the tractor, a milk bottle chandelier!

getting it together!

2010-04-22T07:49:00.001-07:00

Well, the blog has been up for a while now and we are pleased to be getting more and more hits! We have just set up face book and our profile there- the hope is to link one to another....
This is not an easy or quick feat by any means! I have been lucky enough to have Sarah Jones of Character Brands as a friend and a source of information and advise on how all of this social media and networking really works...

What I have learned is that while I am busy posting away, those who are searching for inspiration etc...t may not want to go through the pages and pages of info and pictures we have posted.....
The solution...we will be posting by category-Here is a list of categories that we will be blogging on and attaching information on:
Kids
Gourmet foods
Table top
Home Decor
Holiday/Seasonal
Bath
Books/Stationary
Fashion accessories
General gift
and most importantly......Inspiration!
We hope this will make it easier for you to find what you are looking for and what inspires you!

2010-04-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

2010-04-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

Great modern and whimsical spin on an arm chair...

Get out there...

2010-04-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to take small day trips...Big Bear, Santa Barbra etc...its been amazing to get out and see your own backyard- I think we all get wrapped up in our own stores and businesses out of fear of loosing sales or not having the payroll etc - I am equally as bad at this - now getting out and about I'm feeling more inspired, more creative and less stressed about how to essentially re-invent the same spaces we have been re-inventing for the last 4 years....

Get out there, get inspired and get creative....

2010-04-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

The beginning stages of the table top and gourmet month display at the LA Mart...

Close up of color copies as the backdrop... Simple, cost effective and eye catching....

End result - when shopping for this concept I just kept going back to that high end, specialty shop look. Easy enough to do in the way of in-expensive fixtures, free wood crates from farmers markets and some color copies out of great cookbooks as a backdrop...

2010-04-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

Fantastic idea for those with a garden or patio in their retail space...interactive and fun....not to mention great idea for your clients oversized backyards....

2010-04-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

Water fountain in Los Olivos....at Anthroplogie the overall visual experience was based on sight, sound and scent...the water element was always used come beginning of spring....

2010-04-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

The single reason I love doing windows with vinyl lettering...bold and with a single catchy phrase you have caught most peoples attention in a single shot! These are the windows that I choose to push the envelope with what we are trying to convey...at mothers day a few years ago we had all of our staff get pics of their moms in early years and framed them for the back drop and the vinyl's read "mommy dearest."

2010-04-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

The simple element of orchids in wall vases....so easy to do on an empty wall with either faux or real! Notice the light fixtures....old glass floats drilled out with a simple ikea cord kit to go in and instant chic pendant lamp!

2010-04-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

Love these chairs! Nice to see them in a totally unexpected fabric!

2010-04-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

Back from South Beach and re-inspired and re-energized! One thing I can say is that there is soooo much energy there! The music is the #1 factor...its amazing to go into a shop that really is not that interesting and have loud or relatively loud music going....the energy of the store changes, you want to start moving around, looking, semi dancing....even if what you are looking at is not that interesting- It is what I have always said...energy creates energy! If you think walking into a dead silent shop you are dead wrong!

2010-04-06T12:23:00.001-07:00

W hotel South Beach....artist hipster....funky 70's decor matched with prominent artist of the today....so good!

2010-04-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

Can't say how much I love this enough...the contrast of the mirrored cab and the natural grapevine limbs stacked up....gorgeous!

2010-04-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

Above the bar detail....anything in a collection is dramatic and beautiful...

2010-03-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

This is a odd time for me...I have more or less started my life all over again. I am going through a divorce and re-learning how to do what I love to do, pour my self into work but now not loose myself in it....
I say this as I seem to thrive under a lot of stress, long hours and no sleep...why, one wonders would you thrive in these kinds of conditions....I guess it was escape..escape to a world of being busy, happy creating and most of all avoiding what was going on in my personal life...
So- fast forward 10 months....I feel happy again, I can feel myself smile and hear myself laugh! I am learning to balance a now happy life with a work load that I cant keep up with nor do I want to now that I don't have to escape something....
Balance is something that will create more, balance will open your eyes to new things, new sights and new sounds....
I am out to find balance and with balance comes inspiration...
We leave for South Beach this Thursday- will be posting inspiration for everyone....especially me!

2010-03-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

Kids trends are always the most fun to set up! Crystals display for the mini market captures all the fun of being a kid! Kites, dolls and play houses.... Easy display ideas for adding that extra detail to your kids vignette; Michaels or Joannes styrofoam letter wrapped in ditsy florals with phrases of "A is for apple" trailing it....

Think outside of the box....add some fun to your displays!

2010-03-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Stationary trends for 2010 are bright, up beat, happy and very tongue and cheek....we have been serious for so long its time to get happy!

2010-03-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

Love this use of wall space! The high and low element of display is fantastic as well... With all the eco/green displays out there I love seeing the re-invention of everyday objects like pallets, saw horses and used lumber..

2010-03-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

The start of the process! We have 2,500sq feet that we are doing a concept shop in- I have chosen the 4 seasons as its the best way to show most holidays without making it so obvious...this way "fall" can also have a bit of Halloween...etc

The fun part of this process is going to prop shops for the motion picture industry....we usually don't rent but in this case we need some big items...

2010-03-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

The cow for the concept shop! Oddly enough it turned out to be its own tourist attraction with buyers coming up and taking photos with it..

2010-03-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

Day one....nothing down on the floors as of yet but its so exciting to see the signage go up... Seems like its taken so long to get to this point and now we are finally here!

2010-03-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

Beginning of the concept shop..

What I find so frightening at this point is how big and empty it is.....I have some doubts at this moment and in the back of my head I'm talking myself off a ledge... On big jobs like this I have weeks without sleep, waking up at 3am and working things through in my mind and suddenly you find yourself at the very moment you have worried about for so long....its a little overwhelming but also sooooo exciting! This is the stress I love and thrive under....this is what its all about!

2010-03-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

Beginning of lobby concept shops. . .

Concept shops with paint..

2010-03-18T20:00:00.001-07:00

Susan's amazing organic and modern driftwood crosses- made with crystals and shells...each handmade, each with their own spiritual meaning...

2010-02-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

As far as displays go I have seen a lot between Anthropologie to Fred Segal it really takes a lot to "gobsmack" me....this one does just that!

Great use of a prop to grab your attention and she has also made it into a fixture by putting a saddle on it and filling it with product.....

2010-02-05T16:39:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite trends right now is the "high/low" look of using burap on both danish and more contemporary furniture but this is hands down my favorite use of it yet! A gorgeous porch swing....so southern!

2010-02-05T16:37:00.000-08:00

Brilliant!!!! Union jack huge panels- such a chic way to divide a loft space...all reclaimed fabric so it has a fantastic "vintage" feel.

2010-02-05T16:34:00.000-08:00

More Trina Turk highlights...
Backdrop is inexpensive $9.99 a pair Ikea window sheers that we dip dyed in turquoise...we have done this for several windows in the summer like Dianes Swim in Palm Springs and anything white just pops off it- here it works well with Trinas "hippy chic" collection of pillows and rugs.

2010-02-05T16:32:00.000-08:00

Trina Turks new tabletop line- so fresh, so modern and oh so palm springs!

2010-02-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

Atlanta show kicks off the season with a busy show! Thank god! Its so great to see so many people-to hear hotels are sold out and to just feel an energy that has not been in the air for the past shows...

At peking we focused on the sea side feel showcasing the new shell pillows- using everyday home depot whilte rope we made them look like sail rope curtains....easy, cost effective and fresh for the spring...

2010-01-02T12:03:00.001-08:00

Hello 2010 goodbye 2009!

While I am happy to see 2009 go for so many reasons (the economy, the closing of so many retailers and what became the standard conversation...complaining about buisness) I can look back and say that I was blessed in the growth of Birds Eye View....while we lost some retail accounts we gained work in other areas- one being the massive job of the LA Mart and the LACC gift show set up which we are in the swing of it now as we speak....
I will be posting pics soon of the set ups and display details of what we are working on- my hope is that you will be able to take some of the ideas to your own shops and create some of your own merchandising magic!

We will be taking a lot of risks this year- I belive in pushing the envelope and 2010 will be the year to start doing this again! You won't get anywhere in life or buisness if you don't take risks....
So go ahead...take a chance this year...I know we will be!
Happy New Year!

2009-12-30T21:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas set ups are always my favourite- you get to design without limits or rules of what is considered right or wrong just make it gorgeous....that's the whole goal!
Nely Galans house is a modern mix of Frank Loyd Wright and the colors of Cuba. Nely has stuck close to her roots in both the interior and exterior holiday decor...
All the furniture in Nelys is white with pops of hot colors like orange, pink and lime green...making it a great backdrop for her latin themes Christmas tree...
Tiny pinatas, large glass balls, tin angels made out of mexican soda cans are just some of the treasures that fill this 10 ft tree..
The garland outside is a great mix of budget and lux. Big Lots is the industry secret for large plastic ornaments that are perfect for exterior decor...
The lux part are the handmade mexican paper flowers in the same brights the house is painted in. Together the mix is amazing, bright and un expected...

May your holidays be amazing, bright and un expected!

2009-12-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

With spring on the horizion Peking has put a new spin on the typical seaside pillow group...modern patterns on a very tradtional medium...hook pillows...to tie in display and make the display cabinet look less "fixture like" we handpainted wide red stripes on a piece of home depot canvas ....again, easy and effective!

2009-12-03T10:43:00.000-08:00

For Trina Turks yarn pillow group we decided to tie in the obvious...oversized yarn balls...keeping it simple and effective.

2009-12-02T19:42:00.000-08:00

Holiday is all about massing out your gift groups...here we tied in throws, frames and pillows..no gift over $100.00..."malibu lux" at its bestAnother holiday gift group statement...notice the large clam shell being used for binning....think outside the box or rather "shell"..
Good example of alike items together and coloring groups out...makes for a much tighter statement

2009-12-02T19:33:00.001-08:00

Andrianna's holiday tree is a piece of ghost wood and tons of crystals and your everyday inexpensive silver orniments ....so effective and so easy to do...

2009-12-02T19:30:00.001-08:00

Andrianna Shamaris in Malibu bucks the "pedestrian" holiday decor going with oversize and mini disco balls for reflection and light...also a nice transition into new years

2009-12-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

DL Rhein's new home collection for peking handicraft is a technicolor moccan dream...multi colored and heavy embroidry work make them so unique..I'm thinking of a whole canopy'd bed with bright lanterns all round and vases of full lush pink roses....will be posting pictures of finished display soon.

Close up:

2009-12-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

Sneek peek at Trina Turks newest home collection for peking handicraft... 60's vibe with a touch of macrame feel to it with the loose yarn detail...

Love it!

Finally

2009-11-30T08:08:00.000-08:00

I am sitting on a plane on my way to Atlanta to set up Peking Handicraft's showroom for the January gift show...it amazes me that the only time I can really write or be inspired is on a plane..

We are a month and a half from the shows...Atlanta, LA, NY etc..this season we will be heading up the display at both the LA Mart and LA Convention center. This is a HUGE project and we are so excited to be involved from the beginning..it means long hours, lots of interns and tons of creative energy. In the meantime, I will be posting older pics of past work and inspiration as well as anything I see along the way in our adventure of setting up the show.

2009-09-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

From my birds eye view

i shop video for the LA Mart- sustainable style

2009-09-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

click link to view the newest project for Birds Eye View...

LA Mart Design

lights, camera and design action

2009-08-11T06:59:00.000-07:00

Good morning! Today is the shoot for the i-shop design segment called style story...while a small segment, this is one of my favorite things I get to do working with the LA Mart...
I have 2 jobs here, one is heading up the visuals for the gift end of the building and the other is the design service rep for the design showrooms. I have been lucky enough to work with some amazing people and this opportunity has given me a leg up on seeing the world of design before it hits the masses...
Today's segment is on "sustainable style"..the mix of old and new with organic materials mixed in..
green design is getting so much better each year...more forward, more hip and more obtainable for the masses. West Elm does a fantastic job of "hip green" ..
We will be posting out takes of the shoot and some of the stills..when it is up and running we will post a link so you all can see what sustainable style is through my eyes...

A new chapter in Birds Eye View

2009-08-10T10:25:00.000-07:00