Sample from Hirshfield’s Design Resource
2013 is all about dimension and texture. From the runway to your room, embellishment is guaranteed to draw the eyes in. By rethinking the use of flat walls, you can provide dimension and interest. There is no wrong way to pull this trend off, except by not daring to try it.
Hirshfield’s Design Studio in Minneapolis is home to not only some of the most delicious eye candy the interior design world has to offer, but it is also home to some of the most experienced and creative design professionals in the Twin Cities. Those design professionals being Kathy, Greg, Julia and Meropi. All of them are more than happy to answer your design questions, but we thought it would be fun to turn the spotlight on them and ask them a few questions!
Kathy, Hirshfield’s Design Studio
Today, get to know Kathy, Manager and Buyer at Hirshfield’s Design Studio. You’ve probably seen Kathy’s name pop up in a few blogs as we’re always asking her for her expertise when it comes to design trends (check out Best Paint Colors for Accent Walls and Make Your Rental House Feel Like Home for just a few examples).
For this blog we didn’t ask Kathy about design trends (well, almost, we couldn’t resist throwing just one trend question her way!), instead we asked her about her own personal connection to design…
How long have you worked at Hirshfield’s Design Studio?
I’ve worked at the Design studio for 27 years.
Have you always known you wanted to go into design as a profession?
I can remember being about 8 years old and wanting to rearrange my bedroom… often. It just made me feel good. I think that is when I knew interior design was my calling.
How did you get started in the design industry?
My mom opened Hirshfield’s Design Studio back in the late 70′s. I came to work at Hirshfield’s for a summer job….. 27 years later here I am and I love it!
For some people, the first hint of a fall wind means it’s time for them to bring out the crockpot, the Uggs and a nice warm sweater. For me, the first hint of a fall wind means it’s time to stop by Hirshfield’s Design Studio in Minneapolis to check in with the team on all of the latest styles and trends for the season!
So it was on a beautiful Minnesota fall day that Kathy and Greg of Hirshfield’s Design Studio gave me a tour of the showroom and pointed out some of their favorite pieces.
Vanguard Furniture
Hirshfield’s Design Studio is thrilled to be an exclusive retailer of Vanguard Furniture! The clean design of this line is right on trend and the quality of materials is superb.
Vanguard Furniture
Vanguard Furniture
I spotted this Vanguard sofa on my tour. Kathy says she loves the subtle pattern and rich blue of the fabric – totally on-trend!
Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood continues to be a trend in interior design. The rustic look and feel of reclaimed wood pieces can help anchor a room without being overbearing. And the story behind each unique piece makes it all the more interesting!
“The rug came from Hirshfield’s, a local (Minneapolis) showroom .” Design by Lisa
“ The color of the vanity is Hirshfield‘s Color #0540 – Praise Giving” Martha O’Hara Interiors
“Paint – Benjamin Moore #2057-20, Galapagos Turquoise” Cheryl Burke Int. Design
Hirshfield’s Young Colt 0198 is the wall paint. Hendel Homes
Wallpaper from Ronald Redding John Kraemer & Sons
HOUZZ is the leading online platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish… With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to get the design inspiration, project advice, product information and professional reviews they need to help turn ideas into reality.
-Houzz at a glance
Have you been sucked into the Houzz vortex and re-emerged hours later, thinking,”what the heck, where did the time go?” I like Houzz because as a homeowner you get a firsthand look at the work of your local design community; from designers, architects, remodelers, homebuilders, landscapers, and homeowners.
It’s also a great tool for auditioning “the trade” when you’re looking for a professional; you can get a feel for the type of work they do. Do they have the same design aesthetic as you?
And as a Hirshfield’s employee, seeing the Hirshfield’s paint colors, wallpaper, and design studio products used in actual residences, is of interest to me. Houzz has it going on!
Houzz offers over 500,000 photos and 1.8 million “ideabooks” that users have created, the options for interaction are endless on Houzz. See for yourself all the features that Houzz has to offer.
For a little background on Houzz, here’s a link to an article The New York Times did on the house that inspired Houzz.
Schumacher Byzantium book
Another colorway of the Nasrid Palace Mosaic
Schumacher wallcovering
Pattern from Pip (totally Anthropology looking)
Pip – get use to seeing seafoam…again!
Pattern from the Suzani book
Pattern from the Geometric book
Pattern from the Suzani book
There are so many rockin’ wallpapers available right now it makes my head spin. Traditional, European, retro, flocked, classic, vinyl, hand blocked, screen printed, transitional; wallpaper is very much in vogue.
The staff at Hirshfield’s Design Studio tell me naturals are trending: grasscloths, linen looking papers, bamboo, or silhouettes of nature, like trees and flowers. Also, for a single wall application (focal wall) geometric patterns and damask motifs are customer favorites. The wonderfully exotic Moroccan influence has been emerging over the past year and is now starting to appear in the wallpaper industry.
Hirshfield’s carries an extensive wallpaper library in the majority of our stores. We offer wallpapers at all price points and have the most diverse selection of high-end or “to trade only” books in town. Our sales staff are wallpaper savvy and knowledgeable with every aspect of the world of wallpaper.
No other decorating product offers so much color, design and coverage to suit any mood, taste and need. Stop by your neighborhood Hirshfield’s and see for yourself all the exquisite wallcovering options.
Valentina Ramos Aaron shower curtain
John Robshaw fabrics available through Hirshfield’s Design Studio
Cute, cute painted dresser from Apartment Therapy.
You’ve seen them haven’t you? It makes no never mind which room you’re in, you’ll find an elephant somewhere in the room. Unlike the saying, we aren’t ignoring the popularity of elephants in the design/decorating world. Erin, Elements of Style, created a wonderful post on elephants of all shapes and sizes I’d like to share with you. A little bit of this and a little bit of that makes for an interesting read, so plan on spending some time on Erin’s blog.
I’m so excited the weather is cooling off for a day. Have a fan-tabulous weekend. Go Team USA!
It’s been fun following the Tangerine Tango trail since it was chosen as Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year. It is everywhere, except in my house. Try as I might, I could not get the oranges to co-exist with the colors in my home. Not every design trend is going to work in your home, so just like in fashion, there are many trends to choose from.
Experimenting with current trends is an excellent way to freshen up your space. Accessories can be an inexpensive and easy way to test the waters of your favorite trend. Adding the new with the old, and mixing it up with your sentimental favorites, is what makes a house a home.
Here are three examples of current home decor trends and how you can make them work in your home.
Color-blocking which has been so popular in the fab world of fashion made the leap into decor. Work with three of your favorite colors and see where it takes you. If you start adding more colors you can end up with a home decor disaster.
An inexpensive and easy way to add color is to paint to the back of open cupboards or bookcases. In the examples shown above, you would only need a pint or quart of paint for each color. You can also gather “like colored” items from around your home and group them together in an energized color-blocked collection.*
Buy fabric in your favorite colors for accent pillows and a DIY steal-the-show shower curtain.
I love how color-blocking was used in this living room with neutral walls and neutral furniture: the rug, stack of green books, draperies, ottoman cushion, and the luscious green pillows. It all works for me.
Here color-blocking is used in the artwork, rug, side chairs, and accent pillows. The finish of the coffee table also reflects the colors of the entire room.
Nautical is crazy popular right now for the home. The traditional nautical colors of red, white, and blue, paired with tailored stripes, gives off the clean, crisp vibe I love. Make a total commitment with one of Pottery Barn’s six nautical themed bedrooms, or accessorize with the simple, yet fetching, “You anchor me” piece of artwork.
Benjamin Moore Harbor Haze and Spellbound paint colors were used in this bright and cheery space.
If the style of your home doesn’t lend itself to the sea, desk accessories, anchor pillows, sea shells, wooden ships or knot artwork are smaller pieces you can work into your home decor.
Shagreen (shuh-green) – before last year I don’t remember ever seeing this word in print. The Pink Chandelier tells the story:
Much to the chagrin of most sharks and rays, their skin, shagreen, has been used on decorative items and furniture since ancient times. Egyptians adored its pearly texture and Japanese samurais used it on the handles of their swords. Louis XV and Madame Pompadour were huge fans of the luminescent, pebbly leather and had exquisite wig boxes covered in it. During the Art Deco period, furniture and boxes were commonly upholstered with shagreen and dyed in soft pastel shades. Today, shagreen is still coveted and used on luxurious furniture and decorative objects because of its amazing texture that is reminiscent of tiny beads. Luckily for sharks and rays, faux shagreen is an alternative option and unless you are an expert, it’s hard to tell the difference.
Faux shagreen wallcovering from Hirshfield’s Design Studio
Kathy and Greg (Hirshfield’s Design Studio) tell me shagreen was very, very popular at High Point Market this past 2012 spring, showing up on furniture, accessories, wallets, bar carts, and lamp bases to name a few. Kathy also told me it’s desirous to have a shagreen covered item with the larger white spots on it.
Ann Sacks black shagreen tiles…the real deal.
When I am looking to add a little luxe glamour to my interiors, I look to a shagreen-finished object like a tray, accent table or box…The Pink Chandelier
This is a trend that is building momentum; in the next six months we’ll be seeing more shagreen products mass marketed. I would love a shagreen box to hold all the remote controls, and I would consider a lamp with a shagreen base. Shagreen covered items add another layer of texture and interest to a room.
Just like with fashion not all trends will work for you. Your home should be comfortable and reflect your personal style, but yet don’t be afraid to freshen it up every so often. You’ve gotten rid of your mom/dad jeans, haven’t you? Maybe that valance in your kitchen needs to go…oh wait, that’s my valance that needs to go!
*Half painted walls another form of color-blocking?
Images: Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, Styleathome.com, Martha Stewart, Interiorholic, Pottery Barn, RatedPeople, Blacklist Studio Prints, Elle, Style Theories,?, House To Home, ?, Full Chisel Blog, Hirshfield’s Design Studio, Old Plank Road,Oly, Apartment Therapy
There is nothing subtle about the new rug samples gracing the wall o’ flat weaves at Hirshfield’s Design Studio. The colors and Moroccan-inspired patterns of these flat weaves grab your attention and instantly the wheels start turning, “where can I put one these rugs in my house.”
What are flat weaves? A flat weave rug has no pile, it is thin, usually available in wool or cotton, and very durable. The rugs shown from the design studio are wool and reversible; kind of like, two rugs for the price of one. Different types of flat weaves are kilims, dhurries, and soumeks.
Flat weave rugs are versatile and can be used anywhere in your home:
Also, if allergies are an issue, the flat weave doesn’t have the thick pile of a carpet so the dust and dander can’t settle in.
Hirshfield’s Design Studio has the intel on these fabulous flat weaves; use the expertise of Hirshfield’s staff in selecting the correct size for your space. Don’t be cheap and try to go too small!
Images: Hirshfield’s, BHG, House of Turquoise,
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 »
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 »
