{interior project to keep winter blues at bay}

I have the smallest powder room within a 10-mile radius and it seems more like the builder’s after-thought than a clearly planned out space (in my inner eye I see him going eeny, meeny miny moe: pantry or powder room, and powder room won by a slight margin.)

Over the years, and mostly due to its tiny size, I’ve more or less forgotten (or at least ignored) the room. You can’t do anything with space this tiny, I reasoned. But as I was looking for interior projects to keep the winter blues at bay, I decided to tackle the tiny forgotten powder room once and for all.

Going for a complete transformation, I removed the old pedestal sink and bought a (small) cabinetry vanity sink to add an old-world-feel and a bit of charm. I replaced the old mirror with a framed mirror to match the look.

The little powder room has no natural light since it has no windows, and I decided to continue the dark theme by adding a brown paint tone to the walls. Yes, it is dark, but sort of cozy (if that is a word that can be used for a tiny powder room). I put glass baubles on an old chandelier I found at a rummage sale to add a bit of glitz, and it offers an unexpected charm to the space. I also added dark-hued glass globes for above the mirror for lighting and also staying with the dark-colored theme.

Finally, I hung a rod iron hook on the wall where a multi-colored large silk scarf dangles with the complimentary warm brown and orange hues of the room. The crowning jewel; the piece de resistance, is a gold and patina green plaque that hangs above the scarf that reads: “One Shoe Can Change Your Life” – signed Cinderella.

Though the room didn’t get any bigger, it does get a sizeable charm rating by friends and guests who like the tiny room’s big transformation.

Spring better come soon – I’m fresh out of interior projects!

{palettes from industry color experts}

Star Tribune/Benjamin Moore's Cedar Green

Kim Yeager, Star Tribune, polled color experts, near and far, for their thoughts on colors that will be on your radar for 2010. One of Hirshfield’s many color experts, Kathy Basil, shared her opinions on Hirshfield’s favorite subject…color. Here is the link to “Swatch patrol.” Love the title.

Benjamin Moore's Violetta

Interested in reading more about Benjamin Moore’s 2010 colors du jour? Here’s a link to the article.

Why this lovely photo? Michelle Lamb, trend forecasting authority, put the word out last week; expect to see a lot more of the color pink in late 2010 and 2011. I know the color is “violetta” but it looks like a greyed pink to me.

You heard it here first!

{friday finds: plasters}

Kyoto

Pataan

Holy Rusted Metal, Batman!

Melinda and Marc Bender were at the showroom yesterday sharing new products, techniques, and samples. They recently took a class at MIFF and worked with a new line of zero and low VOC products, from Japan, called Shizen.

Kyoto is a low VOC plaster consisting of interlocking fibers creating a clean, sophisticated Tuscan look. The fibers also bring added visual interest to the product. The photo does not do it justice.

Pataan is troweled on and will hold sharp clean lines and is easily manipulated into any pattern you want. Think of the different patterns seen in raked Japanese rock gardens. Also, a low VOC product.

Kai, not shown, is made from recycled sea shells along with soil and sand. The exciting news about Kai is that Modern Masters ran a Formaldehyde Absorption test and Kai cleans existing VOC’s from the air. It is also mold and mildew resistant.

The last finish is a reactive iron paint, layered over with a shimmerstone metallic plaster. Melinda turned it into a grid pattern with added embellishments. MIFF used this product in their space and graffiti wall. This product always looks great, but it is not a low VOC finish.

Kyoto, Pataan, and Kai are available in 160 colors.

Hirshfield’s designResource display some of the Bender’s samples in the showroom, otherwise feel free to call Melinda and Marc. They can do amazing things with a trowel.

{the birds}

In a previous post, I mentioned a trend presentation for Hirshfield’s employees where Michelle Lamb, trend and color forecast authority, spoke about upcoming trends.

One of the trends to watch for are birds, especially owls; they are going to be big…really, really big. Starting last year the bird trend was beginning to take hold, and Michelle was so spot on for this year. Birds have taken over every aspect of design and decor.

Gatehouse wallcovering

Wallcoverings from Gatehouse and Residence wallcovering books.

Apartment Therapy at NY International Gift Fair

Thanks to Apartment Therapy for their post from the New York International Gift Fair. Products shown are available in a few months. Enlarge the brown bedding image – the stylized owls are fantastic?

Pottery Barn knows a trend when they see one.

Bird-lamps-by-zhili-liu

Image from Cookie Tell me why I like this room so much?

Wall decal available at our retail locations. Roseville has one up in their kids area.

Nina Campbell birdcage pattern

You can't escape The Birds

Additional photos of the trendy birds can be found on Hirshfield’s facebook page.

{organizing your basement… one step at a time}

It is difficult to find motivation to clean and organize a basement, isn’t it?  It has to be on the list of worst household tasks!  I enlisted a friend who is a professional organizer and she came to help me with an area in my basement, and in the process I learned practical tips that I can translate to future projects.

Start small.

Don’t try to tackle the whole basement in one day.  For example, begin with the toy closet, a group of cupboards, or the workshop.  By accomplishing one task, you will feel good about your success – not frustrated by an unfinished job.  After your first project is complete, map out a strategy to get the whole area done.  (Closet this Saturday, workshop next Saturday, spare bedroom ½ day next week.)

Remove everything first!

Taking everything out and then putting it back in is much more efficient than cleaning as you go.  This allows you to sort all at once, as opposed to by individual shelf or bin. You can also clean once, instead of bit by bit.

Set up “work tables” for organizing.

Break out the card tables and get ready to sort! Tables create a new work surface apart from the floor or area you’re trying to clean out.  When you remove those items from the closet, use post it notes to indicate sorting areas.  Some simple ways to sort are by item (legos or playmobil), by location (upstairs or garage), or by intention (keep or donate).

Don’t purchase any containers in advance.

Plan and measure as you go.  Determine what kinds of containers best suit your purpose, after seeing what you really have and how best to store it. Then make your list and shop for the containers you really need.  In the end you will save time and money.

Just think, starting small can yield BIG results!

{friday finds: jewelry from a greek goddess }

Friday Finds comes to the design studio by way of Thessaloniki, Greece. The design studio carries these one of a kind, hand made pieces, created by jewelry designer Anna Nestoridou.

These beautiful pieces are created with quartz, lava, jade, agate, turquoise and coral combos, along with crystal and porcelain accents.

Make certain you click on this photo to get the enlarged version. Look at the agate that is in the piece draped over the shell; doesn’t it look like the shape of a woman? Also, pay attention to the lovely pale quartz necklace on the right.

Anna’s work is very reasonable priced; Kathy and Julia, from the design studio, both own a couple of her pieces and will answer any of your questions.

Please check out all of Anna’s collections at www.nestoridou.tk and you can reach her by email at anna.nestoridou@hotmail.com

These pieces make a very nice thank you gift for a client, or a very nice thank you gift to yourself.

{area rugs…more than just a floor warmer}

Rug samples available at showroom.

With hardwood floors in most spaces of my house, I’ve invested a considerable amount of money in area rugs. In fact, much to my husband’s dismay, we ripped out “perfectly good carpeting” in exchange for hardwood floors, and then proceeded to buy area rugs to cozy up the space (or covering expensive floors, as my husband used to say).

In my opinion, it’s almost as difficult to buy an area rug as it is to buy art for your walls. The rugs will remain long after the paint job on the walls, and how do we really match a rug to furniture, paint color, artwork and accessories?

Here’s what I’ve learned in choosing (sometimes) costly (but oh so necessary) area rugs for my home:

*I know what color tones I like: *

While coordinating the rugs with a color scheme can be important to some, I’m too practical to pay too much attention to specific colors. I love warmer hues , so I choose rugs with these undertones – warm reds, dark beiges, soft blacks and golden browns. Because these tones are a constant, I keep my rugs for decades.

*Classic patterns are timeless patterns:*

Just like I gravitate to warmer tones, I also tend to stay away from geometric, contemporary and floral patterns (whether we talk clothing, fabric or rugs), but rather go for the more traditional look and feel reminiscent of Persian masterpieces and classic Oriental designs.

*Texture enhances rugs look and feel:*

Most of my rugs are made of highly durable wool, but there are several different textures and materials available. Silk, for example, is beautiful and gives a rich feel high in luster, but silk is a lot more expensive than wool. I also have a jute rug in my four-season porch, and I love its natural look and feel, but it does show stains easier than my wool rugs.

*Size does matter:*

Rugs frame the rooms in my house and I like a large rug in my family room that leaves about 12 to 18 inches of floor space. I use a round rug for my round kitchen table (leaving enough space to comfortably pull out the chairs), and with an open floor plan, I can also showcase the beauty of my hardwood floors that complement the rugs. In the past, in order to make sure that I choose the right size rug, I have laid down newspaper to visually see what the right rug size is for a specific room.

* *

Just like I would never buy art to match my sofa, I don’t want to buy rugs to match my paint color. But if you stick to the colors and patterns you like (and have liked for a long time), I’m sure you’ll you reduce opportunities for errors and regrets when you choose your next area rug for your home.

{friday finds: vintage suzanis}

What is a suzani?

Suzanis are decorative cloths, traditionally embroidered with silk thread. They are handcrafted in Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Traditionally, women made these beautiful creations and I don’t know if that still holds true. Aren’t they gorgeous? They remind me of Pysanky.

Hirshfield’s Design Resource is lucky to have two in the showroom. No matter what your decor, contemporary, traditional, or transitional, suzanis are prevalent in every decorating style. Think of it like the little black dress!

Throws, bed covers, tablecloths, re-purposed as pillow covers, I love the versatility of a suzani. Pieces that can travel from room to room are the best.

{choosing and using accent pillows}

Pillows from Hirshfield's showroom

One simple way to add some splash and variety to any room is by using accent pillows.
Accent pillows can achieve a big bang for the buck, and they are widely available at many retailers and are becoming less expensive all the time. For example, Hirshfield’s design center offers unique and great quality accent pillows.

You can keep your “extra” pillows in a tote and pull them out as needed. Don’t be afraid to use this perfect, inexpensive decorating tool in powerful ways:

Change your room by season. Use foliage pillows for fall, bright floral patterns for summer, wintry prints and knits for winter. Keep your room feeling fresh all year through.

Change your room by occasion. Having a birthday party? Pull out a “you are special” pillow, or a printed birthday cake accent pillow. Having friends over after a round of golf? Grab that embroidered “golfers” pillow and throw it on the couch before you head out to play. Your friends will be surprised by your personalized touch. (so easy!)

Change your room by trend. We all receive those great catalogs and wish our rooms looked like the ones we see in print. But if you just choose a few quality pillows that are in the latest design trend, you can “update” your room instantly. You can also add a great punch of color to any room in a flash.

{natura paint – the people’s choice}

Of the more than 2,000 environmentally-friendly green products showcased on the BuildingGreen website in 2009, Benjamin Moore Natura was the #1 most viewed product.

Natura is Benjamin Moore’s premium waterborne paint:

• zero-VOC’s in the base and colorant
• virtually odorless
• durable, washable, and fade resistant
• can be re-coated in one hour
• dries to touch in 30 minuets
• tinted to match any color

Our customers who have tried Natura have nothing but good things to say about it. Painting in the winter and can’t open the windows? Breathing issues? This is the product for you. Don’t believe us? Dwell magazine, April 2009, had a professional painter test four different low- and zero-VOC paint products. Mr. Hubbard chose Benjamin Moore’s Natura as his zero-VOC paint of choice. Natura was preferred over Yolo Colorhouse, AFM Safecoat, and Mythic. Unlike many the “green” paints available, you will not sacrifice quality of performance (ease of application, coverage and durability) when you use Benjamin Moore’s Natura.

You’ll only find Benjamin Moore Natura at selected Hirshfield’s stores. For the list of Hirshfield’s stores stocking this #1 green paint product click here.

From tankless gas water heaters to P-traps with built-in cleaning mechanisms, find out about the rest of the people’s choice green products at Building Green.