(wallpaper therapy = positive energy)

 I’m thankful the snow that blew through parts of the state last night missed the Twin Cities. But it’s not enough. I needed some wallpaper therapy to brighten my day. I hope Fleurique puts a smile in your heart with its cheerful colorways and fun, stylish patterns. From our friends in the Netherlands, Eijffinger always puts the “happy” back in color.

This book is not available at all locations, so please call your Hirshfield’s store before you make a special trip. Here’s another post showing more patterns and colors from the Fleurique book.

(decorating with washi tape)

Trendenser

Washi tape is a style of Japanese paper tape that started in Japan but manufacturing has now spread throughout the world. Washi tape is commonly made using fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub (Edgeworthia papyrifera), or the paper mulberry, but it’s most commonly made using bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat. Washi comes from wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper, and the term is used to describe paper made in the traditional manner, regardless of where it’s manufactured. – Wishy Washi Tape

Babble

Over the past few months I’ve finally started experimenting with washi tape: taping photos on the wall in my daughter’s room, adding rows of washi tape to a framed print, and attempting a cross-stitch mini-mural on my bathroom wall…epic fail, but I’ll try again.

 What’s been holding me back from jumping on the washi tape band wagon is how addictive it could become. Thousands of gorgeous patterns and colors and they’re so small and cute; what’s the harm with buying another couple rolls? Am I right?

The beauty of washi tape is there’s just enough tackiness so it sticks, but isn’t permanent. Give kids a few rolls of washi tape and this “arts and crafts” project could keep little hands busy for hours.

Recently introduced by MT Casa is a wider size tape for making a washi tape statement in your home. What a treat for people who are renting and can’t paint or hang wallpaper, but want to add color and their own sense of stye into their space. Washi tape adds an air of whimsey and fun to any project. Non-permanent flair for your walls, floors, furniture…and cars.

The Minimalist

MT Casa

MT Casa

Apartment Therapy has some inexpensive and creative ideas for washi tape and kids rooms here and here. I touched on washi tape in the home, and I can only imagine what the scrapbooking crowd can do with a roll of washi tape.

If you have any washi tape projects send us a photo – it would be fun to see what people can do with a roll of tape. If my bathroom wall turns out I’ll share a photo.

{friday finds: pallets project}

Wood pallet project ideas embrace the inner do-it-yourselfer. They range on any level of expertise and the ideas never run out. From chic and elegant to country rustic, wooden pallets accentuate decorations and room color. These often discarded pieces can easily be attained. As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure!

(2013 bachman’s spring ideas house)

Dining Room

Where did the time go? This is the last weekend for the Bachman’s Spring Ideas House! Remember you need a ticket to go through the house. Your $5 ticket includes a coupon good for $5 off a Bachman’s purchase, with 20% of ticket proceeds benefiting Art in Bloom, the principal fundraiser of the Friends of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Visit the Spring Ideas House to see a hip take on ideas for spring entertaining and home decor from the perspective of a busy event planner and gardening enthusiast. After being buried under the Minnesota snow piles, this Ideas House rendition encourages getting out and getting together. Bachman’s designers are applying modern elements and clean design with infusions of bold patterns to the 100s of creative home décor and entertaining ideas. Expect to see an on-trend mixture of grays and yellows infused with crisp whites and plenty of natural elements. Plus many rooms will be themed around unique gatherings, giving you ideas for the upcoming party season.

Yellow kitchens were the big winners in the September 2012 issue of House Beautiful’s “America’s Favorite Paint Color.”

The living room coffee table is built from 6×6 cedar posts and decorative tiles. I also liked the idea of using a water feature in the fire-place during the months when the fire-place is not in use. Imagine that soothing sound of trickling water.

Drama Queen? An appropriate name for the wallpaper in the sun room, don’t you think? Loving the oversized scale of the vine – reminds me of Jack and the Beanstalk.

The headboard wall is covering in paper flowers and the light pendants are made from hanging baskets.

 Being an Event Coordinator,  three chalkboard walls are a necessity. The chalkboard paint went straight on the wall and was framed out with molding.

Event Coordinator’s office

Once again the Bachman’s design team did a lovely job. It has to be difficult to keep it fresh and new with every Idea’s House. We’re very appreciative to Bachman’s for choosing Hirshfield’s paint colors. It’s an excellent venue to see the paint “in action” and according to Nancy and R.C.W. it’s a great product.

For more photos, Hammers & High Heels, has an extensive montage of the Idea’s House. Have a great day - the sun is shining.  Enjoy!

Hirshfield’s paint colors used in the house:

Front Porch
Trim 0012 Bunny Cake
Floor 0211 Light Lichen
Entry
0806 Sweet Angelica
Living Room
0219 Camel’s Hump
Accent wall above fireplace 0806 Sweet Angelica
Sunroom Wallcovering
Drama Queen GC0874
Dining Room
0217 Oak Tone
Kitchen
0806 Sweet Angelica
Main Bathroom/Back Hall
0806 Sweet Angelica and 0218 Drifting Sand
Stairwell 
0217 Oak Tone
Event Coordinator Office
0462 Resting Place
Event Coordinator Workshop
Walls
0391 Crispa
Chalkboard Paint:
Benjamin Moore 529 Sweet Daphne, 627 Spring Break, 683 St. Lucia Teal
Girl’s Bedroom
0211 Light Lichen
Master Bedroom
0462 Resting Place
Upper Level Bathroom
0211 Light Lichen

 

{friday finds: flerique by eijffinger)

I’m excited to show you a new wallpaper book from Eijffinger called Fleurique. I know Eijffinger isn’t for everyone, but it appeals to my sense of style. The strong colors, patterns, and European flair is what I like most about this line.

This book is inspired by brightly colored flowers. Rounding out the book are stripes, overscaled snowflakes, raised patterns with matte and glossy finishes playing together. Never a dull color in the Eijffinger books.

                 

Fleurique surprised me with the elongated triangles shown here in neutrals, which also is available in a lovely pink. And how cool is wallpaper that looks like shiny, iridescent eyes of peacock feathers? It’s a modern looking pattern not found in other wallpaper books; plus, it’s available in some doable neutral colorways. I see patterns from this book crossing the line from residential to commercial applications. Eijffinger has not disappointed me yet.

The wallcovering libraries vary at each Hirshfield’s location. Call in advance if you are looking for a specific book, and ask if the book is checked in. Our stores are seeing a steady increase in customers looking for wallpaper which is very exciting for us wallpaper lovers.

{monterey wallpaper collection by thibaut}

Carolina Raffia on the walls

Alston Trellis

Donegal

Bastille

Sulu

Thibaut’s limited edition collection, Monterey, offers a variety of fresh patterns with a bohemian vibe. Strong yet comfortable colors ranging from vibrant coral to peacock-blue round out this unique wallpaper and fabric collection. Versatile patterns flexibly coordinate to create a collection that has a hip new take on traditional style.

Color or colour? Either way you spell it, Thibaut’s newest wallpaper book is filled with fabulous color combinations and patterns. I know, no need to state the obvious. Doesn’t it seem like the patterns are crying out, “look at me, I’m more gorgeous than the pattern next to me.” In addition to wallpaper, the Monterey book carries coordinating and complimentary fabrics.

Okay – if you’re thinking that red sofa doesn’t look good with the wallpaper, I would concur. And that dog? The home of Britt Van Deusen is where the Thibaut team set up the photo shoot for the Monterey book. Being a wallpaper geek, I loved Britt Van Deusen’s blog posts on the weeklong photo shoot. Read all about it on her blog Design Omnivore. Britt is a fine artist who shares her love of art, life, and all that is design on her blog -  it’s an entertaining and informative read.

Thibaut books are available at most Hirshfield’s stores; call first before you make a special trip.

Happy Easter everyone!

{window treatment wednesday}

House of Turquoise is an excellent resource for inspiration. Whether you want ideas for paint colors or just want to see what other people are doing in their homes, House of Turquoise is a site to check out. Erin works very hard at curating all that is turquoise, and the majority of what you see on her site is the result of Erin’s hard work. She finds all those lovely homes to share with her thousands of readers.

I chose some window treatment photos from her site, and asked Shannon Scarrella (Manager of Hirshfield’s Shop at Home) to share her window treatment expertise. It’s all in the details.

House of Turquoise

A great picture to show the effects of layering. Hardwood shutters, while they provide a handsome look with nice privacy, the top treatments and draperies softened the feel.  The tassel fringe breaks up the linear lines of the shutters and the stripes in the drapery fabric.

House of Turquoise

The roman shades on the doors provide privacy when lowered and the valance provides uniformity, when the function of a shade isn’t needed. In this case, the custom roman shades and valance bring in the needed pattern and color to a neutral kitchen.

House of Turquoise

This is one lucky girl! The honeycomb shades are neutral, to disappear, but also providing privacy and light control when needed. The drapery panels, tie backs, and trimmings give the room a classic feel. The layering of pattern, texture, and color help to keep the room age appropriate and fun.

House of Turquoise

Custom Shutters with Pinch Pleat Draperies provide a clean backdrop to the teal and green table combination. The pleating on the draperies helps to add fullness and depth to the neutral drapes.

House of Turquoise

My favorite! Upon first glance this appears to be teal drapes, but look closer…..it’s actually a sheer with a soft stripe over a teal colored fabric. The header at the top is sewn to create the illusion of one piece, when it’s actually two materials sewn together. The layering of the sheer over the top softens the fabric underneath and the stripe in the sheer adds another dimension. The fluted detail in the rod mimics the custom molding beautifully, while the metallic matte finish compliments the accessories in the room.

House of Turquoise

More shutters with side panels….must be a trend! The white on white provides a classic, clean look, while the darker rods pay respect to the other furniture pieces in the room. 

House of Turquoise

People see our windows from the outside too. The chevron patterned fabric is attached to the rod with rings and clips; this allows the soft fold and less serious look to them. They are outside after all. The fabric framed windows also make a great backdrop for the skirted bar or buffet.

House of Turquoise

Natural Roman Shade with blackout lining and coordinated cotton edge banding gives the bathroom something more organic, yet structured. The color of the shade ties the color of the bedding into the bathroom.

Wasn’t that a treat? It’s like looking into houses on your nightly walk, without having to worry about being busted.

Here’s a link for more information on Hirshfield’s Shop at Home Division. And to see what’s on sale in the window treatment world at Hirshfield’s, you can click right here!

Erin also runs the shopping blog, Everything Turquoise, jammed packed with turquoise goodies for sale. We’re very proud of our Minnesota girl.

{cottage paint}

Hirshfield’s is excited to announce we’re adding a new product called Cottage Paint, to our line of decorative paint finishes. Cottage Paint is a clay-based paint that dries to a matte finish. If you’re looking to update an old piece of furniture, this is the product for you.

From the Cottage Paint website:

Cottage Paint is a clay-based paint that dries to a silky matte finish and remains porous and easy to sand or wet distress when dry. We didn’t invent this paint, it’s been around since the frescos in the Sistine Chapel! We did, however bring it up to modern environmental standards by removing almost all of the VOCs in both the bases and the pigments.

1. Cottage Paint dries in about 15 minutes to one hour. I’m not joking. BUT for a rule of thumb – never do more than THREE applications of anything to a piece per day.
2. It adheres to just about any surface you can think of: Wood. Plastic. Metal. Brick, Melamine…
3. It requires NO sanding, priming or stripping. NO prep work – just a CLEAN surface. 
4. It can be distressed as soon as it is dry using a damp cloth or fine sand paper. 
5. Cottage Paint does not roll or peel like latex when sanded, and appears as if the paint has truly worn off over time.

People get really excited about the “no prep” aspect – but use your judgement. I was working on a chair with a high-gloss factory finish, and I took five minutes to scuff it with sandpaper to assure maximum adhesion. Use TSP to clean the piece making certain it is clean, clean, clean.

Cottage Paint offers a clear wax coat in three different sheens for a protective finish. For a tougher finish a varnish top coat can be applied. Also, included in the Cottage Paint products are colored waxes which give your piece of furniture that aged antique look.

The standard Cottage Paint line has 24 colors. But wait…There’s more! Drew, Minneapolis Institute of Fine Finishes, a/k/a The Plaster Center, developed  30 additional colors for the Cottage Paint line. In addition to the extensive palette of pastels and brights, imagine all the color possibilities you have just by adding white to a color.

Join us at Hirshfield’s Eden Prairie store on Saturday, March 16, 2013.  Ongoing demos are taking place from 10:00 – 2:00. Cottage paint and two DIY decorative plaster wall finishes, Sedona and Moiré, are being featured. Hirshfield’s Maple Grove will be the next store showcasing the products, so stay tune for more information.

The Edina store and The Plaster Center stock the Cottage Paint, with the following stores waiting to be set up:

Baxter, St. Cloud, Shakopee, Wayzata, Edina, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Roseville, Apple Valley, and Woodbury.

We appreciate your patience as we set up the remaining stores. If you have questions about the product, please contact The Plaster Center at 612-374-0221 or Hirshfield’s Edina at 952-927-4647.

P.S. I used Créme Brûlée as the top coat on a piano bench and I put a sample of Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon, in the Aquamarine color way, next to it. What a stunning combo. I could totally see an accent wall in the Schumacher paper with a Créme Brulée buffet placed in front of it. You could charge admission, it is that lovely.  A $2 piano bench and $200+ a roll of wallpaper; a perfect example of mixing “high and low.”

{bits & pieces: thibaut’s faux bois wallpaper}

I planted the seed a couple of weeks ago. In passing, I mentioned to my husband, ” Think about horizontal (painted) wood planking on the headboard wall in our bedroom.” Audible groan, and then, “what are YOU talking about?” In our house, my ideas = husband doing a lot of the work.

That was before I saw this wallpaper in the new Neutral Resource book from Thibaut. The Hirshfield’s Design Studio staff first showed me the paper, and then a couple of the stores mentioned it. Everyone’s in agreement. It’s an excellent faux bois paper and all around great book. That extra layer of texture gives a room more character and added interest. What do you think?

A wide array of natural tones comprise Thibaut’s Neutral Resource wallpaper collection. Designs range from traditional classic patterns to novelty contemporary prints. A variety of metallics paired with colors such as soft fawn, stone, and charcoal enrich the neutral color palette. Specialty papers like cork and raffia enliven the collection with dimension and vitality.

The majority of H’s stores have the Thibaut books, but call first before making a special trip.

Enjoy your week! Spring is almost here.

{friday finds: front door design}

It’s the first of March and the sun is shining! I don’t think it’s too soon to start thinking about exterior painting (and spring), do you? Let’s start with the front door.

The front door of your home is like the cover on a book, the wrapping on a present, or the icing on a cake – it’s a preview of what’s to come. Your front door assures you that you’ve arrived safely home. It warmly greets your guests and welcomes them in. With so much of your home’s reputation resting on your front door, we wanted to share some tips and inspiration to help you make your front door a true representation of the family and home that resides within.

Color When focusing on exterior colors for your home, Hirshfield’s paint expert Mark Masica recommends going by the “70-25-5” rule:

Body color (70%) Trim color (fascia, windows, overhangs) 25% Accent color (doors and/or shutters) 5% Since the paint color you select for your door will only be used on about 5% of the exterior of your home, it’s a great place to experiment and go bold! Here are some popular exterior paint colors that Mark says are right on trend for the season.

Lighting A well-lit front entrance not only looks lovely, it’s also practical. Wall lanterns on each side of the door will give your home a warm, welcoming look, while assuring the safety of those who enter.