(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: 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.

{bits & pieces: ombré from benjamin moore color chats}

Benjamin Moore Color Chats did a great blog post on the ombré trend I thought I’d share with you.

Ombré is a paint application that makes anyone look like a master painter. Use the paint colors on a color strip or mix your own secret formulas and you’ll end up with a one-of-a-kind wall or piece of furniture. Here’s the link to Color Chats Ombré: The Fade is Not a Fad.

Trend alert – Does it seem like the scallop motif  is gathering momentum?

{friday finds: thinking about an exterior paint make-over this spring?}

Your home says a lot about you. Both inside and out, it is a reflection of your style, personality, and the family who lives there. Making sure your home is an accurate reflection of you is exactly what our Hirshfield’s color specialists are trained to do. Painting the exterior of your house is a very large project that you want to get right on the very first try. If you’ve already made a trip into the paint store to admire the thousands of paint options, you may be seeking an expert to give you specific color suggestions that match your home and personality.

An exterior color call typically starts in the interior of the home because the inside of your house is a great reflection of your style. A color specialist will also take time to interview you as the homeowner to ask you about your color preferences, and even take into account the existing colors in the neighborhood so that your house stands out from your neighbors’, but still complements the look of the neighborhood. Finally, your color specialist will evaluate the permanent or semi-permanent fixtures around your home, such as windows, fixtures, and landscaping like plants, trees, or front walks.

After the consultation is complete, the specialist presents 4-6 color options to choose from for the main color of the house which covers 70-75% of the exterior. Accent colors are then chosen for the trim and remainder of the home. Your new exterior color will change the look of your house– and hopefully make your neighbors just a little bit jealous!

To see one of our Hirshfield’s color specialists, Kathy Basil, explain the exterior color call process, check out the video below:

{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.