LA Designer Goes Postal...In A Good Way!

LOS ANGELES - July 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Who would have thought a former marketing executive turned Intern would be debuting a furniture collection three years after her first lay off?  Not Holly Westhoff…who now begins life in the design world with the launch of her MODERN POSTAL collection.

MODERN POSTAL features vintage post office boxes constructed into functional pieces of furniture such as nightstands and dressers.  Made in Los Angeles, each limited edition piece exhibits unique ‘one of a kind’ craftsmanship with soft closing drawers and a secret compartment that can be opened with a combination or key.  

Westhoff came up with the idea while dabbling in designing modern interiors and furniture.  She was working on a master bedroom project and trying to come up with a unique, cool and functional nightstand for a client. She perused the Rose Bowl flea market in Pasadena and found a set of brass vintage mailboxes.  Westhoff had a thought…and quickly texted a photo to her client who loved what she was thinking.  After some added bells and whistles (drawers and doors) and stainless steel surround her project was complete and her client raved about the new piece suggesting she sell more since there was nothing like it on the market.  MODERN POSTAL was born.

Westhoff spent several long months collecting vintage post office boxes from all over the country then mixing the doors with modern finishes creating a variety of styles.  She found boxes that were over 100 years old and others with beautiful art deco and mid-century pieces.  

“I was well aware of the obstacles when starting this collection…each piece being very labor intensive and the postal boxes being very hard to come by.  But I took the leap and here I am,” says Westhoff. “My goal is to create functional art!”

Westhoff is a former entertainment marketing exec who, after being laid off from her job, decided to start over and follow her true passion of interior design.  On her quest for finding happiness, she became an intern for a well-known Los Angeles based interior designer.  In her popular blog, Adventures of an Almost 40 Year Old Intern (http://www.almost40yearoldintern.com/), she chronicled her inspiring story of transitioning from executive to intern.  Westhoff is now known for creating chic and innovative do-it-yourself projects, from hand painted rugs to brass chandeliers, garnering significant attention from popular domestic and international blogs including Design Sponge and Apartment Therapy.  She has appeared on the Nate Berkus Show as well as The Today Show.  

MODERN POSTAL pieces start at $3500 and are custom made to order. You can view them and other designs from Holly Westhoff at www.hollywesthoff.com including her unique Jacks collection of tables.