{made in Minnesota products from Hirshfield’s}

When you shop local, you’re supporting local businesses and the people behind them! Hirshfield’s is proud to be a local Minnesota-based, family-owned company, manufacturing paint right here in Minneapolis and selling that paint throughout the state.

But Hirshfield’s sells more than their own Minnesota-made paint. They also sell many other Minnesota-made and USA-made products. Dave Gerber, procurement and distribution manager for Hirshfield’s, spoke with us about Hirshfield’s commitment to purchasing products from other Minnesota and U.S. companies.

How long has Hirshfield’s been manufacturing and selling paint here in Minnesota?
Hirshfield’s has been manufacturing paint in Minneapolis since 1982 and selling paint and painting supplies since 1894.

What products does Hirshfield’s carry that are made right here in Minnesota?
Besides Hirshfield’s line of paint, Hirshfield’s also carries Atrix products which are made in Burnsville, Graco products which are made in Minneapolis and the Handy Paint Pail line which is made in Chanhassen. Hirshfield’s also carries more than 25 other products that are made in the U.S.A.

{design blogger feature: Lark Nest Design}

The Twin Cities is filled with lots of great design, and lots of great design bloggers! With such a thriving design blogging community right here, we thought it would be fun to get to know each other better through some local design blogger features. A few weeks ago we featured Twin Cities design blogger, Jennie, from Twin Cities Design Scene. Today we sit down with Kim from Lark Nest Design.

Kim is a life-long lover of design, with a background in journalism -  so it’s no wonder the projects she chronicles on her blog are smartly written and truly inspiring. Kim says the blog began as a natural outgrowth of her website, LarkNestDesign.com, as a way to share her finds and illustrate the process of giving new life to old furniture. Although she does admit the blog also has a self-serving purpose – to indulge her passion for fabric, color, texture and design!

Not only do you blog for Lark Nest Design, but you also blog for Flea Market Style Magazine and Junk Bonanza and are a former writer for the Star Tribune, so which came first – your love of writing or your love of design?
Probably the latter, though I’ve been so fortunate to find a way to integrate so many of my interests. I’m trained as a business journalist, but my love of textiles, color, textures and decor won out! I am incredibly fortunate to spend each day searching out finds and fabrics for decor clients or for myself, for the projects I retail through Linden Hills Florist and the Piccadilly Prairie occasional sale. In addition to blogging for the Junk Bonanza and Flea Market Style magazine, I handle marketing for the former and build projects for the latter. So the writing/decor functions are fairly seamlessly intertwined!

How would you describe your personal style as it relates to home decor?

{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.” 

{design blogger feature: Twin Cities Design Scene}

The Twin Cities is filled with lots of great design, and lots of great design bloggers! With such a thriving design blogging community right here, we thought it would be fun to get to know each other better through some local design blogger features. A few weeks ago we featured Minneapolis design blogger, Erin from House of Turquoise. Today we are going to chat with Jennie from Twin Cities Design Scene!

Jennie, the blogger behind Twin Cities Design Scene

As a Minnesota native, Jennie has spent a lot of time learning and exploring the (excuse the pun) Twin Cities design scene. She started her blog in 2009 with the goal of creating an online resource for local design-related businesses, groups and individuals to showcase their work and connect to customers. Since starting the blog, Jennie has created an entire community of design enthusiasts who come together via her blog and Facebook page to share design-related ideas and events.

Now we’ll turn it over to Jennie and let her do the talking…

As a Minnesota native, what do you love most about living in Minnesota? Have you ever thought of living somewhere else?
It’s cliche, but I adore the Minnesota summers. Everyone seems to be coming out of hibernation and it feels like a big, happy community. There is so much to do in the summer! This summer, I am most excited to attend the Northern Spark Festival, Barbette’s Bastille Day Celebration and go to movies in the park. Although I love going to events in the summer, there is something to be said to going out in the winter. There is a great vibe when attending a concert when it is 0 degrees out, because you know  everyone is committed to being there. No one is going to leave their homes in the winter unless they REALLY want to be somewhere!

Do you have a favorite place to visit or shop to find design inspiration?
Hands down, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. In order to understand current and future design trends , you have to have knowledge of our design past. Most of our current design trends give a nod to past designers. What is old, usually comes back as new in one way or another. The MIA has a great collection of not only paintings and sculptures, but furniture and home goods. Once you start looking through their collection, you can see how you can build an eclectic and beautiful room based upon the different eras of design.

How would you describe your personal style as it relates to home decor?
Speaking of mixing eras of design, I use a mixture of Mid Century Modern and 1930′s inspired pieces in my own space. I love the juxtaposition of the serpentine lines you find in the 1930′s furniture mixed with some of the clean, straight lines from the 1960′s.  

You feature lots of local stories on your blog, is there a favorite story or person you’ve blogged about?
I’ve loved all of the people I’ve talked with for my blog and I am so appreciative of everyone who has taken time out of their days to share their stories. I love seeing the excitement people have to share their own stories. I do have to thank Swedish designer, Pia Amsell. She granted me my first in-person blog interview while she was in town in 2010 to talk about the accessories line she designed for IKEA with Barbro Wesslander. I spontaneously asked her to tell me her about her history after her public talk at the Bloomington IKEA store and she graciously took the time to talk with me for 20 minutes. You can read the interview here.

Through your current work at Spyder Trap and your past work at Room & Board and Gabberts, what have you learned about design?
What I have learned the most is good design can come in many different packages. We see all of these giant homes with expensive furniture showcased around town. Some of the most beautiful spaces I have seen are smaller apartments that have been thoughtfully put together with a combination of new, vintage and found items. While it is important to invest in quality furniture, not everyone can afford to do that. My biggest recommendation is to save up to buy quality pieces where you hang out for long periods of time, mainly your sofa, mattress and office chair. Make sure to shop around all of our locally owned stores across the cities and state to for great furniture and decor!

You can join Jennie’s community on her blog or Facebook page. Feel free to post your ideas and jump in the conversation!

{bits & pieces: orange cupboard}

I have pinned it, tweeted it (or tried to), and put it on Facebook. I’m in love with this orange cupboard from Lucy Interior Design, based here in Minneapolis. Imagine this same cupboard stained instead of painted. Yawn. I love what a coat of paint brings to the party.

{friday finds: happy holidays}

Front window of Hirshfield's South Robert

Happy Holidays from everyone at Hirshfield’s!

 

{friday finds: bachman’s holiday ideas house 2011}

Stairwell

“The Elegance of Winter” is the theme for Bachman’s Holiday Ideas House 2011.

  Expect to see creamy whites, cool blues, celadon, soft greens and shimmering metallic accents mixed in with botanical elements and natural textures. Vintage architectural pieces, such as repurposed porch posts and railings, will add historic charm throughout the house. Needless to say, it’s definitely not your traditional red and green Christmas!

{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.

{bachman’s fall ideas house}

Bachman’s Fall Ideas House “A Transition of Seasons & Styles” September 15, 2011 – October 9, 2011

Guess what?  If your name is drawn, the contents of the sunroom (above) can be yours! No purchase necessary, just enter your name in the drawing at Bachman’s on Lyndale. And Hirshfield’s is giving away four gallons of the wall color 0634 Day Spa.

Decorative doors from the Wisconsin State Capital used in the living room vignette on the right. The coffee table is made from windows and salvaged wood filled with vintage print blocks.

Teaching your little genius numbers, words, and the alphabet would be easy peasy in this pre-schoolers bedroom.

Gorgeous antique armoire painted glossy white with a customized interior. The detailing on the front of the armoire adds to its charm.

Fall tablescape in the dining room.

This room is called the “casual office & family room.” The paint used in this room can’t decide if it wants to be a gray, green or beige, which makes it a perfect bridging color. The saying on the pillow has me thinking:

“When was the last time you did anything for the first time?”

There is so much more to see inside and outside at the Fall Ideas House. It’s always fun to see what, and how, the staff repurposed all the pieces (for sale) throughout the house. I guess that’s why they call it the “Ideas House.”

Bachman’s suggests calling in advance for your ticket and remember they are not open on Mondays and  the last tour slot is at 5:00. I have not run into crowds on my visits as I try and go at the end of the day. If you’ve never been through the house, remember the saying on the pillow, ”When was the last time you did anything for the first time?”

Number one question asked of the “keepers of the castle” at the Bachman’s ideas house?

What color is the paint…?

The paint is brought to you by Hirshfield’s and Benjamin Moore.

Front Porch
Trim 0012 Bunny Cake
Floor 0211 Light Lichen
Entry & Stairwell 0278 Barberry Sand
Living Room 0884 Gold Tweed
Sunroom 0634 Day Spa
DiningRoom 0401 Bamboo Forest
Kitchen 0884 Gold Tweed
Trim and cabinets OC-68 Distant Gray
Lower Level Bathroom 0884 Gold Tweed
Boy’s Bedroom 0309 Palmetto Bluffs
Girl’s Room 0023 Shell Tint (white) 0536 Subway (black)
Master Bedroom 0317 Green Gold
Upper Level Bathroom  0317 Green Gold
Casual Office &  Family Room 0574 Shark Fin

{friday finds: paint to china and a photo exhibit of china}

Dateline: July 29, 2011, Camden

Hirshfield’s Paint Manufacturing

This week, more than a full shipping container of Hirshfield’s Platinum Exterior Flat 5790 was produced, filled and packed for shipping overseas to China.  Development of business relationships outside Hirshfield’s traditional markets is a growing side of HPM.

HPM’s Paul, Mark, Charlie and Nick (on top of paint) take a break before securing the paint for the ground trip to the west coast ports where the container will be loaded on a seabound freighter.

The paint order beginning its journey to a commercial project in China.

Hats off the Jason and the entire crew at HPM.

If you haven’t seen the story on Minnesota Companies in the Asian markets, click here.

Here’s a three-minute tour of the Hirshfield’s Paint Factory.

Since we’re talking China here’s an exhibit opening next week at the Nash which piqued my interest.

A special collection of photographs from Chinese artists will be on view at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery on the University of Minnesota’s West Bank campus beginning August 2, 2011.  Visit www.nash.umn.edu for more information.