{friday finds: house parts}

Warline Painting

“You know that thing? No, not that thing next to the chimney, on top…” Are these snippets of conversations familiar to anyone? Whether it’s the name of a structural detail or design element you don’t know, here are a few terms to throw down while chatting with your contractor or you find the need to impress your neighbor.

Leewood Homeowners Association

Cricket - A second, small, pointed roof that diverts rainwater around something, such as a chimney, that projects out of a primary roof.
This Old House

Leewood Homeowners Association

Scuttle - A ceiling opening with a cover or hatchway.
This Old House


Home Tips

Efflorescence – The weathering on exposed bricks or stones that looks white and powdery. It appears when natural salts in the materials leach out and crystallize. This Old House

Leewood Homeowners Association

Gablet – The small gables often found over a single dormer window.
This Old House

Anatomy of a Door

Scuncheon – Any reveal between the inner face of a door or window jamb and the wall.
This Old House

You’re already sounding (and looking) smarter than the average homeowner. Head over to This Old House for additional House Parts You Didn’t Know Had a Name. Head over to Hirshfield’s if you’re interested in the dissection of a can of quality paint.

{friday finds: letters of appreciation}

It’s always a special treat when our customers take time to send a letter or e-mail of appreciation about one of Hirshfield’s hard-working staff. It makes everyone’s day.

Here are letters of appreciation for the exceptional customer service given by Hirshfield’s employees Beth, Charene, and Mike.

Dear Beth:

I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for your great service!

I know I was frazzled when I walked into the store, after spending the morning with various building suppliers, I was anticipating more obstacles! How nice to experience the ‘Hirshfield’s difference’ – I appreciated your professionalism in helping with the selection of the exterior colors for my home – thanks for making the process fun and with great results!

I will look forward to the next meeting with the builder, colors in arm, and placing my order!

Thanks so much!

D.B.

Mr. H.,

My mother-in-law and I walked into the Coon Rapids store last Sunday, 4/22 at 4:25 p.m.

We looked at paint chips, then started asking questions at 4:45.

Charene answered them patiently, completely, and professionally.

She brought Mike into the conversation when I asked about full spectrum paints.

Mike looked up information, gave us technical specs, and made recommendations, including discussing the painter that my mother-in-law is working with.

We shut down the store. Mike cheerfully stayed at least 20 minutes after closing, making himself available until he answered all of our questions.

We appreciate Charene’s and Mike’s passion, knowledge, and fine customer service – going the extra mile.

Thank you.

We’ll be back.

J.M.
Coon Rapids

Dear Mr. Hirshfield,

This letter is to commend Beth Zentis, your Hirshfield employee at the Woodbury store in City Center West.

On April 4 we went to the store with two of our large living room pictures in hopes of getting paint to darken the wooden frames. Beth was most helpful in trying to find the shade of dark brown that would work to compliment each picture. We tried a couple different colors and then Beth suggested the perfect solution.  Beth took a paint chip and topped it with some semi-opaque metallic paint. Wow-that was exactly what we needed on those frames, which are now hanging in our living room!

Beth was most helpful, knowledgeable and eager to assist us in solving our problem. Our Hirshfield’s store is most fortunate to have Beth as an employee!

Sincerely,

W & M

 If  you see something in our stores that can be improved upon, please let us know. We want all our customers to have a good experience at Hirshfield’s. Thanks for supporting a locally owned company, we truly appreciate your business.

{friday finds: benjamin moore hosts olioboard contest}

Think spring. Think paint. Think, I’m going to win this contest.

 Here’s an opportunity to put your finely honed Olioboard skills to use. Benjamin Moore has teamed up with Olioboard and is hosting a Spring Color Makeover Contest. Create a room, and include at least three Benjamin Moore paint colors, to be eligible for a chance to win 1 of 3 $450 prize packs.

Riddella's Olioboard for Benjamin Moore's Spring Color Contest

We wanted to create an app that would allow anyone to experiment with interior design, no matter the age or technical ability.
 Sheilah MacSporran, Olioboard

What is Olioboard? Olioboard is the Polyvore for interior designers and interior design enthusiasts. It is an on-line community where you create and share digital mood boards. You can upload, download, organize, drag and drop interior design products. It is free, but you have the option to upgrade to the Pro Plan Color Tool. Recently included in the Pro Plan are all the Benjamin Moore paint colors, and in honor of this great new addition, all members will have access to the color tool for the duration of the contest.

To get started you need to set up an Olioboard account, read the rules for the Benjamin Moore Spring Color Makeover Contest here, and start creating.

When you enter your board, let us know so we can all vote for you. Good luck!

Entries need to be received by May 10, 2012 at 12:00 EST.

{friday finds: teachers’ lounge contest}

Dear Principal,

As a small business with strong roots in the Twin Cities metro area, Schneiderman’s Furniture would like to thank your teaching staff for all the incredible work they do for their schools and communities. One way we can say thank you is to help improve an area of the school just for them…an excerpt from a letter that went out to schools in March, 2012.

Schneiderman’s Furniture, ProSource Flooring, and Hirshfield’s Paint & Wallpaper are partnering in a contest to award one school a redecorated teachers’ lounge, complete with new furniture and finishes. Submit a short video telling us why your school deserves a new lounge.

All members of the school community are encouraged to participate. Videos need to be submitted by midnight, April 22, 2012. Spread the word in your school community. Maybe, you even know a student who can use extra credit points this quarter?

Details can be found at http://www.schneidermans.com/teacher_contest.php
Check the school district list to verify your district is eligible.

Hirshfield’s is excited to be a part of this project and thanks Schneiderman’s for including us.

{friday finds: pottery barn diy video & kids colors spring 2012}

Bring excitement into your child’s room with a can of paint and a little imagination.

  After watching this video from Pottery Barn, painting numbers and letters on a wall never looked so easy. Maura Garrity, decorative painter for Pottery Barn, does an excellent job demonstrating this DIY painting project. This is an affordable, DIY project that transforms a room from plain to ” I love that room.” That’s what paint is all about.

Do you see a paint color in Pottery Barn’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection that reflects the vibe you want for your child’s room? Or a color you both can agree upon? This paint collection is a good starting point, along with stopping at one of the many Hirshfield’s locations for your painting needs.

P.S. If a family member has asthma or is sensitive to odors, Benjamin Moore has Natura, which is a zero VOC paint, and Aura, which is a low VOC paint. No odor and low odor. Something to keep in mind.

{friday finds: 50′s revival and what a hoot}

Audrey Jeanne

Vtwonen European paint colors

J. Crew

The appearance of coral and gray upon the color scene has been subtle, but it’s there. Coral and gray sightings started with a French illustrator on Decor8, and her adorable gray and coral owl postcards. Next were the European paint colors on the Dutch magazine, Vtwonen’s site. Lastly, an e-mail from J. Crew featuring soft coral, silk taffeta bridesmaids’ dresses on a pale gray background, and all this in the last couple months.

 I ran my “I think gray and coral are going places” theory by Greg at Hirshfield’s Design Studio, and he agreed. He has recently seen coral and gray combos in a number of European magazines; he also feels it is a revival of the colors of the 50′s. Read the rest of this entry »

{friday finds: bachman’s spring ideas house 2012}

Tablescape in sunroom

Welcome to Bachman’s Spring Ideas House 2012.

“A Relaxing Renewal” celebrates spring energy and renewal. It’s all about relaxing, organizing, getting together with friends and watching things grow.”  Read the rest of this entry »

{friday finds: benjamin moore color stories}

What do you want first? The great news or the not-so-good news?

 It’s here. Finally. The new color collection by Benjamin Moore. The line is named Color Stories and offers 240 brand new paint colors. Can you stand it? The not-so-good news is Hirshfield’s Edina is the only location with the Color Stories chip rack and pint sampling. It’s worth the trip, you’ll see. Read the rest of this entry »

{friday finds: as seen at hirshfield’s}

Benjamin Moore Inner Glow on the walls and that amazing ikat fabric on the sofa is Thom Filicia for Kravet.

Eye spy, from the pages of the February and March issues of House Beautiful, lots of lovelies you’ll find at Hirshfield’s Design Studio and at our retail stores. Stop in and check us out.  Read the rest of this entry »

{what’s on thibaut’s best sellers list?}

If you’re not familiar with Thibaut, they offer over 50 books in their wallpaper library. Each collection contains a distinct group of designs by themes such as traditional, nautical, stripes or toile. Also, included in the offering are papers, vinyls, natural textures, and lovely fabrics.

Here are the top four patterns from their best-selling book Texture Resource Vol. 3:

Tuscany Leather

Read the rest of this entry »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 57 other followers