Monterey, CA Couple's Business is Romance

Some couples have a hard time keeping the romance alive after years of togetherness. Not so for Brian and Heidi Borgia of Monterey, Calif.

In fact, they've got so much romance that they're spreading it all over Monterey County - and beyond.

The Borgias, co-founders of Romantic Room Designs, spend their days dreaming up unique settings for proposals, anniversaries and other celebrations of the sensuous kind.

Rose petals on the luxurious hotel bed? No problem. Bonfire on the beach? Piece of cake. Balloons and roses at your favorite restaurant table? Done, and done.

Since the Monterey Peninsula is known worldwide as a romantic destination, the Borgias' company seems to be a natural fit.

Romantic Room Designs' specialty is decorating hotel rooms for couples' getaways, but also offers setting the stage for proposals and "proposal coordination," as well as wedding favors and alluring gift sets called Romance Inside a Box.

"I like the concept of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary," said Brian Borgia.

And he's a romantic at heart, which doesn't hurt.

Brian's first forays into all this took place in college, where he'd impress girlfriends by transforming his apartment into an Italian restaurant, or the balcony into a beach, complete with sand, barbecue, blanket and ocean backdrop. It turned out to be so popular that all of his roommates used the same "balcony beach" for their girlfriends as well.

And what got all this romance started? He's not sure, "but I am Italian," he jokes.

"Everyone says we were born to do this together," said Heidi Borgia, who met her husband-to-be while both were working at the sales office of Monterey's Hyatt Regency.

"It's a great way of helping people, a fun business and it's fun to see people get engaged."

They were still dating when they started a business together - Monterey Peninsula Reservations - after seeing the need for reservation referrals in this area. The Borgias sold that business in 2005.

"You're supposed to start a business after you get married, but we did it backwards," said Heidi.