{thinking about painting your home’s exterior?}

Hirshfield’s can help! Showing a little TLC to your home’s exterior can go a long way in upping its curb appeal and resale value. However, choosing the right paint color for your home’s exterior can be a daunting task. Lighting, landscaping and personal style are all factors that should go into your exterior color decision.

If you live in the Twin Cities and are looking for some advice or guidance when it comes to choosing an exterior paint color for your home, let the color experts at Hirshfield’s help! Twin Cities paint manufacturer and retailer, Hirshfield’s, will send out one of their color professionals to help you choose the right exterior color for your home. Kathy Basil, one of these experts, specializes in choosing the right combination of colors to suit your home’s needs.

To see what actually happens on a Hirshfield’s exterior color call, check out this video:

If you are interested in scheduling an exterior color call with Hirshfield’s, click here to make an appointment.

{kim receives stamp of approval}

Kim,

Thank you for the perfect colors you picked out for our townhome. Our home now has its own style which has come alive in each room by colors that enhance our furniture and decor. We would not have been able to accomplish this goal without your professional help. Your thought, ideas and color complements were given with much care and consideration towards the outcome we wished to achieve. We must admit we were on a completely different page when we first came in for our consultation.

Thank you for doing your job and being direct in showing us we needed to think differently. We love all the earth tone colors. Our townhome is now complete and we are truly at home.

M & T

Thanks, M & T, for sharing your appreciation of  Kim’s color expertise. Another satisfied customer brought to you by Kim, Hirshfield’s Coon Rapids location.

{friday finds: hirshfield’s color call – the movie}

We thought it would be helpful for people to see what takes place during a color call. We asked Kathy Basil, from Hirshfield’s Design Studio, to show us how she works with customers during an exterior color call.

In addition to selecting paint colors, Kathy suggested changing the color of the shutters, adding a shutter, beefing up the light fixtures alongside the garage door, and trimming branches that blocked the view of the home from the street. Ahh, a fresh pair of eyes is sometimes what it takes to see the obvious.

What you don’t see are Kathy and Mrs. H heading over to another neighborhood where Mrs. H showed Kathy her favorite house. The color of the house was gold, and Kathy explained to Mrs. H why that color would not work with her home. Trusting Kathy’s knowledge of color and experience, Mr. & Mrs. H took a leap of faith, and went with her suggestions for the paint colors.

The couple is in the process of implementing Kathy’s suggestions and are very pleased with the changes, including the new paint color.  It took them a while to warm up to the huge change in their home’s appearance, but it helps when people you don’t know, stop and tell you how much they like the new paint color.

Check out the post Amy did earlier in the week highlighting Hirshfield’s color calls.

Check out Hirshfield’s video library at: youtube.com/hirshfieldspaint

{hirshfield’s color calls}

If you’re like most homeowners, you’ve more than likely found yourself standing in front of a wall in your home staring at samples of various paint colors applied side-by-side in small sections. You may leave the room for a bit and come back to look at the colors again at a different time of day. You may ask your friends and family for their advice. You may tilt your head thoughtfully, while looking at the colors for the hundredth time, and murmur, “Hmmmm….” But at the end of the day you still don’t know what color to go with.

You’re not alone. Paint may be the least expensive decorating product you can purchase to dramatically change the look of your home. But for many it comes with a high price: color anxiety. If you find yourself agonizing over countless paint chips and feeling overwhelmed at the amount of time spent on indecisiveness then consider enlisting the help of a Hirshfield’s color expert.

{decorating with florals}

Mother’s Day is coming up on May 8th. You could get mom the requisite bouquet of flowers that will look magnificent on the dining room table for a week or so, but will eventually start to wilt … or you could instead present her with a beautifully decorated room inspired by her favorite flowers.

But don’t go thinking a room decorated with florals has to look old-fashioned or antique-y. Large floral patters in bold colors tend to take on a more modern, artsy vibe. Consider playing with scale and placing a large, bold print on a small area rug or throw pillow.

Real Simple

Conversely, if you think mom is looking for a more vintage, feminine look, work with smaller floral patterns. Mix different pattern sizes and colors for a fun, eclectic look.

Better Homes & Gardens

For a simple, do-it-yourself project, frame some photos of flowers that you purchased or took yourself. You could even frame some scraps of floral wallpaper. Create a grouping on the wall and you’ll have a real work of art to present to mom.

House to Home

When using floral wallpaper, it is important to understand pattern repeats — the vertical distance, in inches, from one point on a design until it starts over again. Busy repeats (six inches or less) can be intense, so they’re often best for covering just a single wall. Larger repeats (12 inches or more) are less dramatic, so they can cover four walls and still feel subtle.

Osborne and Little-available at Hirshfield's Design Resource and select Hirshfield's stores

Best Home Gallery

Another great Mother’s Day gift would be the gift of a Hirshfield’s Color Call - Let a Hirshfield’s color expert help you determine the perfect color for your space. Here is what one happy customer had to say about their Hirshfield’s Color Call:

Hi Kim,
David and I wanted to let you know we recently completed our painting project with the colors you selected. We just love it! The house feels so much warmer and up-to-date. You made it all so easy…We never would have been able to do this on our own. Thank you so much.

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

{best colors for your bathroom}

You can spend hours choosing the right sink shape, faucet or mirror when decorating your bathroom. And then it’s time to talk color. Before choosing the color for your bathroom there are a few things to consider.

First, what’s your style? Is the bathroom a place where you quickly get ready for work in the morning and for bed at night? Or is it a sanctuary in your home – where you enjoy a long soak in the tub, relaxing after a busy day?

This spring we talked about House Beautiful’s discussions with designers about their favorite paint colors. The publication looked at different rooms and the colors that can best bring them to life.

Benjamin Moore Fresh Dew

Designers describe the pale wash of green of Benjamin Moore’s Fresh Dew as the “color of the sea,” and the perfect backdrop to a relaxing bath in a spa-like space.

House Beautiful: The Bathroom

Maybe you want your bathroom to be spotless and sparkle. Benjamin Moore’s Brilliant White will really make your fixtures pop. This is a white that isn’t too bright and isn’t too creamy. It’s a great, classic backdrop for any artwork you might have.

Your bathroom can also be a place to really experiment with color, since it may be a smaller room with some wall space taken up by tile. If you want to really kick things up, try Benjamin Moore’s California Blue or maybe even Tangerine Dream.

Benjamin Moore California Blue

California Blue is a rich, dark blue that’s reminiscent of the blue used in blueprints.

Benjamin Moore Tangerine Dream

Tangerine Dream is definitely not for the faint of heart but can really give you some major wow factor in a small space.

Why not go even bolder? Hirshfield’s Facebook friend Kelly posted that she transformed her 1/2 bath thanks to Benjamin Moore’s rich purple color called Aura Kalamata. Kelly says it’s so rich she thinks it also makes the bathroom look bigger.

This is a look at Aura Kalamata using Benjamin Moore’s personal color viewer. It’s a great tool to use to see how a color will look in your space.

Benjamin Moore Aura Kalamata

No matter which color you choose for your bathroom, remember that it doesn’t have be a utilitarian space. Using color, accessories and artwork, you can really create a space that fits your design personality. What do you think? Log on to our Facebook page and let us know what you thought about this post. We’ll choose one winner at random who will get two gallons of Benjamin Moore paint!

{color matching}

We all have a favorite color, that shade of green or blue or purple that just makes us feel good. But if you’re looking for Tiffany blue or Coca-Cola red for your next project, sometimes there just isn’t that perfect match in the countless options of paint chips available at the paint store.

That’s where color matching comes in handy. Experts can now take just about any item – a piece of jewelry, a blouse, even a pillow or door and copy it in paint. Consider it couture color at no extra cost.

Computers are used to match a color and put the precise amount of colorant in a base to create your perfect can of paint. Kevin at Hirshfield’s Paint Manufacturing says you don’t need to have a large sample of the color you want to copy for the process to work. As long as the computer has a sample the size of a quarter, it can recreate your color.

Computers can have a tough time with a sample that has a rough or textured surface, like a tapestry or pillow. Kevin says that’s when color matching needs to go a little more low-tech.

That process still starts with the computer to get close to the color you’re looking for. Then, it’s up to the employee to decide which colorants to add and how much. This is where Hirshfield’s expertise comes in.

Kevin walked me through the process: first a sample of the paint is brushed out and dried to compare to the sample being matched. This process can be repeated several times until the correct color is created and you’re happy with the match. Ron at the Roseville Hirshfield’s says the “hand to eye” tweaking can be done while you wait but does take some time. It may be best to leave the sample at your neighborhood Hirshfield’s and let the experts work on it to create the best match possible. Then it can go home with you to start your next project.

{tinting paint: creating the perfect color}

Finding that perfect color of paint for your next project doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Think of the possibilities!

Shades of red can have a hint of orange to deep cranberry.  Blues can be anything from a cool turquoise to a deep navy.  There are even countless shades of white and cream!

But how does that range of color become reality? It’s all thanks to quality, professional tinting to take a base and turn it into something that can transform your home.

Kevin at Hirshfield’s Paint Manufacturing says it all starts with the tinting base. Hirshfield’s uses four types: White Base, Medium Base, Deep Base and Neutral Base. White Base will be used for the pastels and lighter colors that you’re looking for. Neutral Base is basically clear before the tinting process and is used for very dark or very bright colors.

Each base is designed to accept a certain amount of color. That makeup along with a pigment in the base helps the professionals at Hirshfield’s control the depth of color that ends up in the paint can you purchase.

Tinting is not something you want to try on your own.  The tinting equipment used right now is designed to make sure that each gallon of paint gets the same amount of colorant. Bases are also designed to have certain amounts of color mixed in. Those precise measurements ensure that the color is consistent and will give you the coverage you need for your room.

Summer science class visits Hirshfield's Paint Manufacturing

Painting is a stressful enough project as it is, it would be even worse to have your paint not cover well or take three times as long to dry!  So leave it to the professionals to get the tint right, so you can focus on grabbing those rollers and getting started!

{time to paint those plastic shutters?}

Shutters can add character, charm and overall curb appeal to any house. But after a hard winter, those quaint shutters may be in need of a little TLC. Or maybe you are just ready to update the look of your shutters by changing up the color. Either way, all it really takes is a fresh coat of paint to take your plastic shutters from dingy to delightful.

Here are some tips from Mark Masica of Hirshfield’s to keep in mind when it comes time to paint your plastic shutters:

• The most important thing to keep in mind when buying or painting plastic shutters is to refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper care. Some may need to be primed, while others may require a specific kind of paint. Most plastic shutters will call for a good quality, 100% acrylic paint.
• Be cautious when going darker with the color of your plastic shutters. Darker colors absorb more light, causing the plastic to warp and ripple. You can always go lighter with your paint color, but consult the manufacturer’s guidelines or an exterior paint professional when considering going more than a few shades darker.
• Older shutters need to be thoroughly cleaned and usually require a coat of primer before painting. When in doubt, always go with a coat of primer. It’s cheap insurance and can never hurt.
• When selecting a color, keep in mind the colors of the shutters typically matches the color of the outside of the inside door. Meaning, if your front door (as opposed to your storm door) is painted red, your shutter would also be painted red. This creates harmony in the exterior color scheme of the house.

{home & garden show 2010}

Home & Garden Show?

One of Hirshfield’s customers found this wonderful photo in his father’s belongings and passed it on to us. My guess is the Home & Garden Show, but what decade? Anyone want to venture a guess? I thought by the numbering on the back of the photo it was 1967, but I’m having my doubts.

Let this be your official notice… 2010 Home & Garden Show begins Wednesday, February 24 and runs through Sunday, February 28, 2010.

Highlights that caught my attention:

• Timber Barn Bungalow – works as a lake retreat, hunting cabin or backyard studio (think small)
• Celebrate Minnesota Gardens – refresh your winter soul with beautiful greens and flowers
• Meat Raffle – never tried a meat raffle, but have always wanted to- proceeds to Emergency Food Shelf
• Radio Disney – Kids get in free with library card on Friday
• Sasha Andreev – Curb Appeal host
• Christopher Straub – Minnesota’s Project Runway Designer
• Pat Verlodt – WHO? Pat talks a mean game of color. She is an industry color expert; selecting paint lines, consulting with building product companies, and trend analysis. She is presenting “Trends in Color” on the Lifestyle Stage, at 2:00 on Saturday. Hirshfield’s is excited to sponsor Pat’s visit to the Home and Garden Show; her audiences always rave about her presentations.
• That’s not all. Hirshfield’s is having a fun, fun contest, but I can’t tell you anything more about the contest. I asked my boss twice if I could put out “feelers” and I was turned away each time with a huge, “NO! Not yet, we’re not ready.” I know I am sorely testing his patience, but I can’t help myself…stay tuned. Now I’m worried, I think I broke my promise to him to keep quiet.

Look for Hirshfield’s at booth #2306.

Shop local…68¢ out of your dollar stays in the community when you support locally owned businesses versus 43¢ at non-local businesses. Minnesotans hang on to your pennies, let’s not lose any more jobs.