GUEST BLOG by Susie Perelman

I've had the pleasure of working with Susie Perelman and Mosaic, a national linen and design firm based in Pittsburgh, for several years. The company is very design oriented and Susie is not afraid to take chances. For instance, check out her design approach on the upcoming film phenomenon The Hunger Games below. As she says, "it's Rambo meets Marie Antoinette." I love people who think like this! I think you will too.
David Merrell
Lead Designdawg, Creative Director, AOO Events



UNDER THE INFLUENCE:
Where We Find Design Inspiration

By Susie Perelman

Event design is about energy -- making guests feel alive and inspired. At Mosaic creating that feeling is our goal as we work with clients from coast to coast to develop unique decor concepts. In order to bring new ideas to the tabletop and beyond, we are influenced by the world around us. Sometimes we take this literally, finding ways to incorporate environmentally friendly design. Other times it's just a detail that we expand upon as we tune into and translate influences from what we see on film, on fashion runways, and in interior design. Every week we are creating totally different looks based on designs from wild and over-the-top to very formal. We see it all and were thrilled when Dave asked us to become part of the designdawg pack. Here are some great ideas from the tabletop up!

First and foremost, we want to create designs that make everyone feel great. As an industry, people come to us to create environments that exhilarate, inspire and encourage guests stay until the wee hours. It's a celebration, after all! But,this is also our business so here are ways we keep it current.

INFLUENCED BY ... COLOR TRENDS
Formal settings get a breath of fresh air when today's hottest colors are used with on-trend metallics such as our Rajistan fabric in silver and gold.

Our favorite pairings right now are metallics with shades of eggplant, sultry blues and even today's newbie on the scene - Tangerine Tango.

INFLUENCED BY ... LIGHTING
Using our Luna Collection of hanging pendant shades we enhance the environment around the table to set the mood.


To this table we added Chameleon's chairs, embroidered overlays (some of our faves are Mosaic's Bella, Stargazer or Princess Bride), glitzy chargers and crystal encrusted napkin rings for a look of romance and timeless beauty accented with a bit of bling.


INFLUENCED BY ... LIFE STYLES
A late-night lounge makes everyone feel like a jet setter.


These days no chic party is complete without one, and as you can see, lounge looks can be masculine and dramatic, or light as air. It all depends on what the client is trying to achieve with his or her event.


Incorporate sleek couches, ottomans, accent pillows and modern coffee tables to create a swanky nightclub atmosphere.

And late-night, bite-sized snacks reignite the energy to keep guests dancing until dawn.

INFLUENCED BY ... FASHION
Of course, the runways show us new colors, textures and combinations thereof. Here is a table treatment created after the classic look of Chanel.






INFLUENCED BY ... HOLLYWOOD
Last year we experienced the popularity of the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn and were inspired to create the look below. Many of the details in this look and others like it are influenced not only by Twilight but by successful retailers such as Anthropologie and Free People -- bringing together the unexpected pairing of upscale bohemian elements with vintage and shabby chic looks.


And then enter the film, The Hunger Games (to be released March 23) taking the Twilight look to a totally new level!

Recently we were asked to design a look for a hip, contemporary wedding proposal. We took inspiration not only from fashion designers such as Vivienne Westwood but from The Hunger Games to design an unforeseen combination of camouflage and frivolous romance.

Think Rambo meets Marie Antoinette! With the use of military-esque accessories (one man's ammo belt is another man's chair sash) and a floral arrangement that bursts with thistles, we create an unexpected environment of love and lust for this edgy couple.

Of course, not every event calls for such an edgy look! There are ways to translate some of that energy into modified looks as we did with this event. We incorporated chairs streaming with ribbons juxtaposed with a table covered in texture.

INFLUENCED BY ... THE WORLD ITSELF
We are constantly looking for ways to go green and ensure a better world for future generations. Using burlap, recyclable new-to-the-scene disposable cotton napkins from the clever folks at MyDrap, and biodegradable plates made from fallen leaves by Verterra, we give clients a way to dine in style while lessening their carbon footprint.


Recently we were asked to create this Enchanted Forest-theme Bat Mitzvah that allowed us to put our own green thumbs and hippy hearts to work. Note the tree stumps in the photo below.




At this party, we also used disposable bamboo plates and boxwood cocktail tables to meet the client's request to incorporate an Earth-friendly atmosphere. While keeping "green," we allowed the color palette to explode into a rainbow of hues to please this 13-and-under crowd.

In the end, although we are influenced by the world outside, it's what is inside that really counts -- our own intuition. Be clever, be original and be inspired. Follow your own heart and you can never go wrong.


About Susie

In 2001 Susie Perelman followed her heart and founded Mosaic Linen, a national specialty linen company based in her hometown of Pittsburgh and now with a representative on the West Coast. As Mosaic grows, so does its influence in the events community. To that end, Susie recently started a nationwide charitable organization called Event Pros Take Action with industry colleagues. Find out more about Mosaic and its work by clicking here.

MixPod: A Cool Idea

Here's a little inspiration for the end of the week!

We are always sending clients to the sites of entertainers with no guarantee that they will come back to us to book them. One of the entertainers we use all the time -- Lori Andrews -- has found a way to streamline that process. Because she prefers to be booked through AOO rather than directly, she began using Mixpod as a way to custom create private playlists that fit our client's needs. We then send them out with our proposals.

Lori is a harpist who brings fresh energy to the instrument by melding it with elements of jazz, fusion and R & B. She's on the cutting edge with her music, and, as I said before, with this marketing concept. She was happy to share how she creates these custom mixes for other entertainers.

Creating a MixPod
By Lori Andrews

Step 1
If you have video on YouTube, it's an easy process. I just edit and create my videos in iMovie, then save them to an MP4 format. But there are lots of programs that people can use to do that. Most digital cameras today already give you MP4s and you can edit in QuickTime. Once it's up on YouTube, you can access it on MixPod after you set up a free account. Just make sure it isn't set to "private."

Step 2
MixPod allows you to make a flash player with any non-private video from YouTube. You don't have to own the videos, you can just access them. They bill it as your personal playlist on a player. I keep my YouTube private so I can upload video I may have "borrowed" from YouTube using this link.

To explain what I borrow -- my partner Bart (a bass player) and I just played the Nokia Theater last Friday for the 11-year-old singer Jackie Evancho. There were a lot of audience videos that went up on YouTube the following week. I found them and changed them in iMovie by adding fade ins and outs to make them look more professional.

I chose the MP4 format, good quality at lower MBs and they give you five to nine choices of formats to download.

Mixpod does all the work. Put in a YouTube channel you are interested in, search your favorite videos then click the "add" button until you have finished your desired playlist. When these playlists are complete, I put them up on my blogs and websites (both jazz and wedding) and send them to clients as well as agencies. You can even change the color of the pod "case" to match your branding or website look.

To keep others from using my videos, my non-public YouTube channel has mostly my own stuff on it so you can't really search using tags. I set my videos to "unlisted" (rather than public or private) and I rename the songs so people can't search that way.

The process might take a little time for you to master, but the outcome is worth it!

For more about Lori and to book her, contact AOO Events.

GUEST BLOG by Arcadian Lighting

Many event trends come from interior design. So when I heard from Anna Thompson of the Arcadian Lighting's home decor accessories blog asking if the Arcadian Lighting team could join the designdawg guest blogger pack, I checked out their blog. Not only does it show their lighting products and home accessories, but it also gives readers tips and advice on trends in design. To me this is what blogging is all about -- sharing information, cross-marketing from different industries and, of course, giving you, the readers, lots of eye candy. So check out Arcadian Lighting and in the meantime, enjoy this fun and frothy post full great design ideas that crossover from home to event design.
David MerrellLead designdawg and Creative Director, AOO Events

Pink Parisian Chic

By Jessica Cleary

Maybe it's because one of the most famous songs to come out of France, "La Vie en Rose," has to do with the color pink, but when I think of Paris, I can't help but think of a beautiful shade of pale pink. If you model any of your interior designs after these rooms, you'll certainly be seeing life en rose. Amusez-vous bien!

This lovely bedroom is perfectly feminine and romantic. The black accent wall and striped rug are a wonderful canvas for the soft pink and white colors of the bed.

A pale pink wall color and vintage white bedframe give this room a soft, romantic atmosphere. I love the framed map of Paris and the vase full of twinkling lights.

This all-pink dining room is absolutely glamorous and chic. The dramatic ceiling light is truly stunning, and the silver chairs add a brilliant sparkle.

Beautiful bouquets of fresh roses and various shades of rosy pinks set the scene for a charming dinner party. I love the antique candelabra with rosy pink candles.

Pink napkins, orchids and accent wall create a flirty, feminine atmosphere in this dining room. A pink velvet tufted sofa in the background does not go unnoticed, especially in an all-white adjoining room.

The unique pendant light in a matte pink color is certainly eye-catching in this eclectic living room. The lavish pillows and drapes add some definite drama to the room.

This opulent room with its floral patterns and damask wall paper has such a pretty, romantic atmosphere when done in all pale pink. A few crystal and gold accents sparkle beautifully throughout the room.

A rich pink wall color makes the perfect canvas for white and black furnishings. The cozy white sofa looks so inviting and chic.

What do you think of these Parisian pink rooms? Let us know in the comments! And be sure to stop by Arcadian Lighting for light fixtures to brighten any room in your home! Merci!