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Entering Portlandia

Linda Cahan -- Gifts and Dec, 7/23/2011 6:19:43 AM

LINDA CAHANLINDA CAHAN is a retail visual design consultant based in West Linn, OR.In Portland, OR, as in most cities and towns, nature is IN. Whether it's birds, bees, butterflies or branches, nature is in almost every store I've visited in months. Another big trend, moss, is on everything!
If you've seen or heard about the new TV show on IFC called Portlandia you've also probably heard the expression "put a bird on it."
     Why are these things becoming ubiquitous? Probably because people are craving nature that is gentle, safe and non-destructive. With hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, Lyme disease and floods, the sight of sweetness in nature reminds us why we love the earth. That love is showing up everywhere: from an elegant butterfly, branches plus jewelry vitrine at the new Ralph Lauren on NYC's Madison Avenue to Portland's new store Eden.
     Bringing nature into your store is as easy as going into your yard or park and picking up rocks or branches. One word of caution about branches: spray them with bug killer and, once dry, spray again with fire retardant. But please don't let this warning keep you from carrying branches back to your stores... they are beautiful natural props that add texture and grace to your displays. So put a bird on it and see your customers smile!

A moss covered chandelier is a first, at least for me. It is fabulous, fun and fascinating. I'm guessing the bulbs are low wattage, or the moss is highly flameproofed. Either way, it works. How hard is this to make? Probably not very - just time consuming and messy. But as you can see, well worth the effort! 

 Natural Light
 This old drawer has been reworked

This old drawer has been reworked as a tabletop display. Why feel the need to fill every square with a ring? Add some moss instead. Cindy, owner of Eden, didn't worry about whether the woods matched - the moss pulls all the smaller displays together with the touches of green and the unique texture. 

George the Peacock is the immediate focal point of Eden. He stands 7' tall. He isn't for sale, but the taxidermist who made him sells others and orders can be taken. I've been seeing a trend toward taxidermy in several upscale gift shops. 

 George the Peacock
 Plant leaves curling like ribbon

Plant leaves curling like ribbon are a wonderful way to connect nature with the merchandise. Note the fabulous throw on the couch to the right. 

Polished natural wood blocks work well with the sophisticated jewelry. If the jewelry were more rustic, the wood could have been left natural with the bark on. Jewelry mainly sells off the top shelf of a glass case, so Cindy filled the bottom with moss, preserved leaves and a mossy branch. Bringing moss above to show the crescent moons necklace tied the treatments together. 

 Polished natural wood blocks

 

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