Wools of New Zealand and Sustainable Beauty for Surfaces 2007 Click here to print/read article   ASID Residential Design Spokesperson Click here to print article   Europe's BRIDGE FOR DESIGN Architectural Magazine Feature Article Click here to print article   Sense-ing Your Way to Luxurious Holiday Entertaining Sense-ing Your Way To Luxurious Holiday Entertaining A Quick-Fix Guide Guaranteed To Indulge The Senses DES PLAINES, ILL. (August 1, 2005) — For many, the holidays bring about an ample amount of anxiety. According to Colonial Candle's™ Psychology of Scent Survey, nearly 50 percent of U.S. adults say they are stressed out by the demands of entertaining and decorating for the holiday season. But setting the right holiday mood in your home doesn't have to be a hassle. After all, there are so many other things to get you stressed: fighting through shopping mall crowds and figuring out the "perfect gift" just to name a few. This year, holiday party planning can remain an uncomplicated element of the season thanks to quick tips that help create a warm, stress-free environment, both you and your guests will enjoy. And what could be easier than lighting a few candles? Colonial Candle's survey showed that 91 percent of people believe candles are a quick and easy way to create that festive holiday ambiance. Alan Hirsch, M.D., neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, says using the right candle scent can help enhance the mood of the party. "Aromas can impact the emotional experience more than anything else because there is a direct link between the nose and the brain," Hirsch says. "The brain reacts more quickly to smell than any other sense." More than half of the people Colonial Candle surveyed also said they use scented candles during the holidays for stress relief and aromatherapy. "Successful home holiday entertaining and decorating is more than just a good meal and traditional ornaments; it's about creating a warm and comfortable setting," says Deborah Burnett, an interior designer registered with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and contributor to HGTV. "So this holiday season, why not set a goal to relax and really enjoy yourself at your own party by keeping the No. 1 rule of successful entertaining in mind: Think 5…senses that is." SMELL: Burnett says, "Our sense of smell is linked most to memory," making it crucial for creating a lasting impression. Welcome your guests with fresh aromas from the moment they enter your home. Guests perk up when the air is rich with the smells of the holiday season. To create the perfect signature scent for your holiday get-together, Burnett says arrange three Colonial candles that are color compatible together on an entry sideboard or hutch and nestle them in a bed of fresh outdoor greens. Burnett suggests using the combination of Colonial's sensual Moroccan Spice, richly inviting Pumpkin Pie and holiday zesty Cinnamon candles for effect. SIGHT: So your house is in disarray and there is no time to deep clean every surface? That's no problem. Simply examine your home with the same set of fresh eyes your guests will have as they enter your home—and only clean what they will see. To determine what's in their view, use a disposable camera and take a panoramic picture of each and every room starting at the left-hand wall as you enter the room. Once the photos are displayed in an overlapping format you'll be amazed at the clutter, dangling cords and disheveled furniture you'll find. Use the pictures to locate the spots that seem to lack luster and charm and concentrate your holiday decorating efforts there. Forget the rest. TOUCH: Texture is the top way to fulfill this sense at your holiday gathering. Colonial Candle's new elegant glass hurricanes, pre-filled with premium botanical potpourri, make it a natural fit for texture. Since the potpourri is made from nature's finest, it can be crushed in order to further release the fragrance. Burnett recommends pouring out the loose potpourri into a decorative basket or serving bowl. Position the empty glass hurricane in the center of the loose fill and place a pillar candle in the vase. Colonial Candle's pre-filled hurricanes are made with patented AromaPlus™ technology, designed for lasting aroma. TASTE: Prepare a holiday menu that is supported both by your mouth and nose. And the best way to accomplish that is to include flavor-intense candles and potpourri throughout the room in a scent that complements and supports the menu. Serve a dish like hearty winter beef stew and crusty French bread topped with hand-whipped butter and surround with the lingering fragrance of Colonial Candle's Merlot scented candle and glass hurricane filled with mildly-scented white poinsettia potpourri. SOUND: Fine-tune your entertaining efforts by selecting music that complements the mood you're trying to project. "Whenever I entertain during the holidays and through the year, I always have several swing-era CD's going whenever older family members are over," Burnett says. "For my ageless friends, light jazz and soft rock are a must." If you don't have a stereo system in your home, simply locate a few satellite or FM radios and position them on the tallest furniture piece in each room tuned to your favorite commercial-free station. About Colonial Candle Colonial Candle offers a selection of home fragrance products that are infused with premium fragrances. Choose from scented jar candles, votive candles, scented tea lights, botanical potpourri, Simmer Snaps wax potpourri, Electric Home Fragrancers and Colonial To Go!™ portable air fresheners. Colonial Candle products are available at specialty home retailers and on the Colonial Candle Web site at www.ColonialCandle.com/. # # # Editorial Contact: Lisa Widner 312.755.6213 Lwidner@wheatleytimmons.com   HGTV Design Deborah Burnett's Quick Fixes for Holiday Decorating HGTV Designer Deborah Burnett's Quick Fixes for Holiday Entertaining You've finished your shopping, but now there are only a few hours left before your guests arrive for the holiday party. Don't worry, there's plenty of time to make your home warm, welcoming and fabulous, thanks to these tips from renowned interior decorator Deborah Burnett, a regular contributor to HGTV. Start With Photographs Locate the problem areas right away by seeing each room as your guests will. If you don't have time to use a disposable camera and rush to the one-hour photo, opt for a Polaroid. Start at one end of the room and work your way around for a panoramic view. Once the photos are laid out, overlapping, you'll be amazed at the clutter, dangling cords and disheveled furniture you'll find. Use the pictures to locate the spots that seem to lack luster and charm and concentrate your holiday decorating efforts there. Forget the rest. Get The Aromas Ready Welcome your guests with fresh aromas of the season from the moment they enter your home. Nationally known Scent Expert Dr. Alan Hirsch, neurologist and director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, says the quickest way to alter mood and emotional behavior is with smell. According to Dr. Hirsch, certain aromas can actually affect the neuro-chemicals in the brain, making one feel more energized, less stressed and happier. People perk up when the air is rich with the smells of the holiday season. To create the perfect signature scent for your holiday get-together, Burnett suggests arranging three scented jar candles that are color compatible together on an entry sideboard or hutch and nestle them in a bed of fresh outdoor greens. Grab some from your yard to do the trick! Colonial Candle, the maker of premium quality candles and home fragrance products, asked Dr. Hirsch to evaluate the new holiday fragrances in their line of scented jar candles. Based on Hirsch's information, Colonial came up with a handy "Scent and Mood" reference guide that identifies the emotional response triggered by each multi-layered fragrance. For a desired effect, use this handy guide to find the perfect candle that promotes the mood you want to achieve. Colonial CandleImpact on Mood White Poinsettia Makes you feel safe and secure; helps reduce anxiety Holiday Glow/Fine Merlot Makes you feel energized Autumn Fig Promotes togetherness, happiness, learning Holiday SparkleKeeps you awake and alert/promotes nostalgia Mulberry Incites desire to exercise and learn; Promotes energy Pear Decreases claustrophobia/reduces anxiety Apricot Mango Sorbet Makes your feel nostalgic Strawberry Rhubarb or Cranberry Apple Tea Like a sweet wake-up call these scents make you feel like you're bursting with energy Vanilla + Passionfruit Promotes feelings of youthfulness Moroccan Spice/Cinnamon Evokes romantic feelings among men Potpourri Adds Richness Colonial Candle's new elegant glass hurricanes, pre-filled with premium botanical potpourri, make it a natural fit for texture. Pour out the loose potpourri into a decorative basket or serving bowl. Position the empty glass hurricane in the center of the loose fill and secure a pillar candle in the vase. Now you have a beautiful table centerpiece. Tablescape Place a few empty shoeboxes underneath an oversized cloth—preferably in a festive color. Scrunch and swirl the cloth around so that all boxes are covered. Put a few wreaths atop the boxes, leaving a hole to nestle decorative casserole bowls or serving baskets inside each opening. Put the main course in a large gift box in the center. Add in a few framed pictures from past holiday parties for a touch of nostalgia. Let The Music Play Fine-tune your entertaining efforts by selecting music that complements the mood you're trying to project. Have a few swing-era CD's for the older crowd and some light jazz and soft rock for the ageless. If you don't have a stereo system around your home, simply locate a satellite or FM radio and position them on the tallest furniture piece in each room tuned to your favorite commercial-free station. # # # Editorial Contact: Lisa Widner 312.755.6213 Lwidner@wheatleytimmons.com   NSA Member to Represent Osram Sylvania Nashville, TN—Deborah Burnett, ASID has developed a successful career as an award-winning interior designer, a commanding keynote speaker, an entertaining television personality and a knowledgeable published author. Now, adding to her exceptional list of accomplishments, Burnett has reached an agreement with lighting giant, Osram Sylvania, to be featured as Sylvania's design spokesperson. In that capacity, Burnett will emphasize the consumer oriented program, "Decorating With Light," and will appear on national network and cable television programs, industry events present live speaking engagements and seminars on behalf of the company. "Sylvania is the education leader in home lighting," said Burnett. "In that effort, I will work to enlighten the public on the benefits of increasing the comfort level and beauty in their homes by using appropriate lighting. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to represent a company that not only has tremendous name recognition, but unsurpassed quality of product with cutting edge technology." Burnett, a member of the prestigious National Speakers Association is both an interior designer and licensed building contractor and has been making appearances as a nationally recognized design guest expert on programs throughout the country since 1984. She is regularly featured on programs carried by LIFETIME, HGTV, TNN and QVC cable networks and is a popular guest for "live" programming on network affiliate stations. Burnett, who has become a highly requested keynote speaker, has also authored her first book called "Comfortable Living by Design," and has created a top-selling video series called "You Can Do It Decorating." "Our priority has always been to educate consumers about simple, elegant ways of using lighting to add beauty and functionality to their homes," said Jon DiGesú, Director of Communications, General Lighting, for OSRAM SYLVANIA. "Deborah's decorating expertise combined with her experience in broadcast makes this an exciting collaboration for us." OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM GmbH of Germany, one of the world's leading lighting manufacturers. With headquarters in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA manufactures and markets a wide range of lighting products, electronic and magnetic ballasts and precision materials and components for industrial and commercial users, original equipment manufacturers and consumers. For further information regarding SYLVANIA lamps, ballasts and other products and services, please refer to our web site at www.sylvania.com or call 1-800-LIGHTBULB. -30-