{friday finds: 2013 asid showcase home tour}

The American Society of Interior Designers and Mpls St. Paul Magazine crossed the river to St. Paul’s Historic Hill Heritage Preservation District for the 2013 ASID Showcase Home Tour.

This historic Queen Anne-style Victorian home features the work of 39 designers and the transformation of 22 rooms. Some rooms are part of the homeowner’s private residence while others are part of the St. Paul Bed & Breakfast. Updating the house, yet remaining true to  Victorian design elements, sounds  like a challenge. It will be exciting to see the end result. I can’t imagine how much hard work must go into pulling all the pieces together.

THE FACTS:

May 18, 2013 – June 9, 2013
The house is open to the public Wednesdays – Sundays, 10 AM – 4 PM
325 Dayton Ave. St. Paul, MN 55102
Tours are self-guided
Closed  on Saturday, June 1 for a private event.
Tickets are $20 at the door and $15 at the following ticket outlets:
Hirshfield’s, ASID MN, Intersource @IMS, Bachman’s, D’Amico & Sons, Patina, Rubble Tile, and The Bibelot

For more information on the Special Events at the ASID Showcase House you can go to this link to Mpls. St. Paul Magazine.

{friday finds: what’s on sale}

Hirshfield’s Paints are on sale through Monday, May 6, 2013.

• Hunter Douglas rebates on select window treatments.
• Free upgrades on select Hunter Douglas products.
• The Federal Tax Credit on Hunter Douglas energy-efficient window treatments. Good through December 31, 2013.
• 10% off Benjamin Moore Paint through May 6, 2013

Any graduations or confirmations coming up this spring? Take advantage of this great sale if some of your rooms need a fresh coat of paint or new window treatments. Don’t be like me and wait until the week before, and then decide to paint; you know when you have nothing else to do.

Have a fab weekend. I’m looking forward to the sunshine next week!

{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!

(friday finds: junk bonanza spring 2013

Housekeeping at the end of the day at Junk Bonanza…

Hirshfield’s has been out at Junk Bonanza these past two days and loving every minute of it. Junkers are loving Cottage Paint, the 50+ colors, and loving the on-going Cottage Paint demos being held in our booth and in the Cottage Paint classroom. There’s a lotta love at Junk Bonanza!

Tomorrow is the last day of the Spring Junk Bonanza; the show opens at 9:00am and runs until 5:00pm. Vendors restock every evening; rearranging their booths with new pieces pulled out of trucks and trailers…some of the vendors have living quarters in their trailers. Crazy creative are the junking crowd.

From start to finish on this small table…using Cottage Paint and Cottage Paint Waxes

Benjamin Moore’s Molten Metallics on a cardboard “H”

Showcasing the different products at the H’s booth

Enough about us… here’s Junk Bonanza.

I met people from all over the country who come to shop at Junk Bonanza…Colorado, Arkansas, Thunder Bay, Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Toronto, and the list goes on.  I can’t say enough good things about the whole Junk Bonanza experience.

I apologize for the lateness of this post. Hopefully, you’re able to experience Junk Bonanza tomorrow. One last thing, I thought “the junk” was priced to sell.

P.S. I almost forgot to mention the Weddings Lab. This is where brides-to-be can gather inspiration for their own weddings from four different themed vignettes, featuring vintage and repurposed ideas.

{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.

{friday finds: junk bonanza giveaway}

The Junk Bonanza is right around the corner and here is an opportunity for you to win some very cool Junk Bonanza swag.

The prizes are:

* Two VIP Early Bird tickets for admission to shop two hours before the Bonanza opens for general admission on Thursday (good for admission Friday and Saturday, too!)
* A copy of the latest issue of Flea Market Style magazine
* A $22 gift certificate to the Ki Nassauer shop, to be used at the Bonanza
* A special edition 2013 Spring Bonanza tote bag!

To enter:

• Leave a “Junk Bonanza“comment on this blog posting, e.g., your best JB purchase, this will be your first Junk Bonanza, you had JB hangover from too many Bloody Marys.
• Leave your comment by 5:00 CST Friday, March 29, 2013.
• Include your email so we can contact you when your name is drawn! (random drawing)
• The lucky winner will be announced on Monday, April 1, 2013
• All prizes will be mailed to you with the exception of the Junk Bonanza tote, which you can pick up at Junk Bonanza.

 Hirshfield’s is so very excited to be partnering with Junk Bonanza. Our booth will be next to the Ki Nassauer store so make certain to stop on by.

We’re showcasing chalkboard paint by Benjamin Moore…available in over 3,000 paint colors. Also, from Benjamin Moore is Molten Metallics™ paint….a high-gloss, hammered-metal finish available in six ready-mixed colors. And lastly, a new product to Hirshfield’s called Cottage Paint. Pieces of furniture needing an updated look; older pieces going up to the cabin; pieces being recycled to your children, or found pieces lovingly picked up off the curb. Cottage Paint is available in 50+ fabulous colors. Virtually no odor and you can paint indoors in the winter spring. Junkers unite. We’ll see you in April.

{friday finds: from dots to daisies}

Back in 2011 I came across this honeysuckle, polka dot house on Anna Maria Island in Florida. Honeysuckle was the 2011 Pantone Color of the Year and the house was covered in polka dots. You couldn’t help but smile when you saw it. You could tell the owners take pride in their home.

My favorite house is still my favorite house. It just has a new look. With an exterior remodel, new paint job, and added landscaping, this house still makes my heart sing.

 Someone has a seriously good eye for color. Once again, the owners did an outstanding job with their color selections.

 I wonder what the neighbors think? How lucky they are?

{friday finds: painting a 1952 linoleum floor}

My daughter has allergies and her bedroom was making them worse. There were the usual suspects. The floor to ceiling bookcases were removed, still the sniffles persisted. We removed the wool carpet and she was left with the original 50′s linoleum. Her room is 11×12 so there wasn’t a lot of open floor space, and for a while she graciously put up with the retro vibe.

Then came the dreaded, “Mom, I want to paint my room.” I say,”dreaded,” because girls of a certain age want their walls hot pink, lime green, or deep turquoise. Kathy (Hirshfield’s Design Studio) had just painted her daughter’s bedroom Benjamin Moore Peony 2079-30,  and said it was a “good pink.” G liked it and I trust Kathy’s opinion when it comes to paint colors. G also submitted her master design plan which included a floor re-do.

What to do with the floor? I liked all the painted floors I was seeing on the decor sites and it sounded like an easy fix. Painting the floor was going to be the least expensive and least amount of work for me. The key was not having to dismantle her trundle-bed, hauling it piece by piece downstairs, and repeating the process to set it up again. Painting seemed like the best solution.

• Prep the floor. The 60-year-old linoleum was already dulled with age so it did not need to be primed or scuffed up before applying the paint.

• Clean the floor. If you do have to rough up the floor, wipe or vacuum up the sanding dust. After washing the floor with TSP, a rinse with plain water, and letting it dry, my floor was ready to be painted.

• Paint the floor. I like to run my ideas by the H’s experts and they usually present me with at least a couple of options. I choose the one best suited for my needs and novice skill level. Cory, Hirshfield’s Monticello, recommended the Glidden Professional Concrete Coatings, White Tint Base. I rolled on a total of three coats, using a short nap roller cover. I waited a day (okay, sometimes a week) between coats. Always check the can for re-coating times.

• Wait. Let it cure. I painted half the floor* and waited a couple of weeks before I moved the furniture to the other side of the room. Before moving the furniture, I touched up any areas where I hadn’t applied an even coat. I placed rugs under the four corners of the bed and dragged it across the room so I wouldn’t mar the newly painted surface.

•  Apply topcoat. For added protection and durability I used Benajmin Moore’s Benwood® Stays Clear® Acrylic Polyurethane, Low Lustre. Don’t be fooled by Low Lustre as there was plenty of shine. I chose the water based product for minimal odor and easy clean up. I applied two coats, allowing for the appropriate drying time between coats. Pay attention to the thickness of the Benwood® when you’re putting it down. I poured the Benwood® on the floor and rolled it out. Don’t do that. The yellow spot next to the rolled up rug is where the product was not rolled out thin enough.

All and all it was a perfect solution for this room. It’s been two years and the floor is in good shape; there are a few dings, but they don’t bother me enough to re-touch. And most importantly my daughter enjoys spending time in her room.

Your style. Our expertise. Hirshfield’s sales staff is waiting to help you with your projects.

*Because I was shifting furniture from one side of the room to the other, I painted and topcoated half of the room. After it cured, I moved the furniture to the other side of the room and repeated the process.

{friday finds: design week 2013}

Join Midwest Home Magazine for an exclusive adventure where you will explore the interior design scene in the Twin Cities during the week of February 10-16, 2013. One whole week of design discovery and de-light. There are events planned each day and evening during the week, so pick and choose what interests you.

Design Week is kicking off at the Weisman Art Museum on Sunday, February 10, 2013. Luncheon with designer and author  Thom Filicia, design seminars with industry experts, and cocktail hour. Information on registration and tickets for the kick-off event can be found at Midwest Home Magazine.

You can see what’s going on each day during Design Week at Midwest Home Magazine’s event schedule.

Hirshfield’s retail locations and Creative Lighting are selling tickets for the Tuesday, February 12, ASID luncheon taking place at International Market Square. The luncheon event featuring a panel of top local designers answering the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. Tips and tricks will be shared. A designer at every table will then reveal an inside peek at what’s trending during showroom tours at International Market Square. The cost of the ticket is $25 and the event is from 11:30-2:00.

Esteemed panelists for Tuesday’s luncheon are:

• Bruce Kading, ASID, CID
• Renee Hallberg
• Laura Ramsey Engler, ASID
• Martina Willegalle

Hirshfield’s Design Studio is located right across the street from IMS so please stop in after the luncheon. We’re very proud of  our staff and product offering…our wallcovering library is the best in the world state.

Need inspiration or motivation to jump-start your project? Mark your calendars for February 10 – 16th, 2013 and take advantage of Design Week.

{new year’s resolution: refinish those garage sale finds}

Raise your hand if you made a New Year’s resolution this year!

Making the resolution is the easy part, the hard part is actually following through! Have no fear, the team at Hirshfield’s is here to keep you accountable! All month long we’ll be bringing your tips and advice to help you stick to your home improvement resolutions. We’ll be covering topics such as adding color to your space, getting your home organized and using more green products in your home. Today we want to help you finally tackle those garage sale, antique store and flea market finds and turn them into the beautiful showpieces you imagined them as.

Refinishing old furniture is not only a more environmentally friendly option than buying new, it is also a way to incorporate family heirlooms or sentimental pieces into your current design scheme. Not to mention, refinishing an old piece assures you that you’ll end up with a one-of-a-kind look!

A old side table transformed via DecorHacks

You’ll want to start the refinishing process by wiping down your piece with soapy water so you can get a good look at it. Are there layers of paint or stain that need to be removed? Are there some gouges that could use some sanding or putty? Talk to your local paint professional to determine what steps you need to take to make sure your piece is ready to accept new paint or stain.

The before and after of a project that some Hirshfield’s team members worked on

Here is a refresher course in Kim Yeager, Minneapolis designer, owner of Lark Nest Design and self-proclaimed “junker”, tips for refinishing furniture:

• You can paint metal. You can do a paint makeover on metal but the surface should be primed. Pieces with lots of curves lend themselves to a spray-on primer that comes in a can.