{friday finds: 5 simple home upgrades}

No matter the year, painting remains the easiest and most affordable way to get your home on trend and feel refreshed. This do-it-yourself transformation adds personality to any room. Whether you’re starting from the bottom up and reworking the whole house, or changing one room at a time, here are five ideas to inspire you.

{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!

{books to give to design lovers and DIYers: part 2}

Last year the team at Hirshfield’s got into the holiday spirit and compiled a list of some of our favorite books for design lovers and DIYers to share with our readers for some holiday shopping inspiration. We’ll we’ve decided to play the role of Santa’s Little Helpers again this year, as we bring you our employees’ favorite design and DIY books, part 2!

Decorate
This book brings together the world’s top designers and leading decor experts including Kelly Wearstler, Amy Butler, Jonathan Adler, and many others to share over 1,000 tips, ideas, and solutions for every room and every budget. Written and compiled by Holly Becker, founder of the hugely popular design blog Decor8, and Joanna Copestick, acclaimed lifestyle writer.

Pantone: the 20th Century In Color
Pantone, the worldwide color authority, invites you on a rich visual tour of 100 transformative years. Longtime Pantone collaborators and color gurus Leatrice Eiseman and Keith Recker identify more than 200 touchstone works of art, products, decor, and fashion, and carefully match them with 80 different official PANTONE Color palettes to reveal the trends, radical shifts, and resurgences of various hues.

{mexican design}

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, we’re going south of the border to look at Mexican design. This is a style known for its love of vibrant color and rustic elements.

The feeling of Mexican design is one of joy – as well as being welcoming and friendly. This is not a style for someone who doesn’t want color in their home. Bright vibrant yellows, reds and blues will bring the fiesta feel to your home.
Terracottas and browns can work as accents. Muted and dusky colors also work well in this palette. You really just want to stay away from pastels if you’re going for Mexican design.

Natural, hardwood flooring are a perfect fit for a Mexican-inspired home. Clay or ceramic tiles can also bring the the feel of Mexico to a kitchen or entryway. If you want something softer underfoot, look for woven rugs.

A mosaic backsplash in the kitchen would inspire a batch of fresh salsa.

Mosaic Tiles

The furniture you choose can also evoke a sense of Mexican style. Look for wood in pine or a warm wood like cherry.  You can update a piece by adding rustic, iron hardware.

Devine Paint, available at Hirshfield’s, has multiple color palettes that lend themselves nicely to a Mexican color scheme. These colors enhance the wood in your home, everything from  flooring to furniture to trim, for a warm, rustic feeling. You can see all the Devine color palettes here.

Devine, Desert Lights

Devine, Sweet & Hot Beans

{tips for new homeowners}

Congratulations! You’re now a homeowner! May 1 is actually a holiday just for you – it’s “New Homeowner Day.”

Being a homeowner can be overwhelming and the list of projects can seem endless. But think of the possibilities that are ahead of you. What colors will you choose to inspire you? Paint or wallpaper? What types of window treatments do you want? And then you head outdoors – maybe to a patio or deck or a lovely garden. When you begin to think about decorating your home think about the ‘feel’ you want to have. Do you want it to be bright or cozy, masculine or feminine, opulent or minimalist?

As a new homeowner you might be painting for the first time. Making sure you have your supplies ready to go before you start is key. You’ll want to have the right brushes, rollers, dropcloths, tape and of course paint. The professionals at Hirshfield’s can help you get exactly what you need and our video series on taping before you paint shows you just what to do before you load up your brush. You can also find out more in these posts about which window treatments are best for kids’ rooms, bright spaces and which ones will even make your home more energy efficient!

Maintenance is a big part of home ownership. Staying ahead of problems will help you tackle them before they get to be really big issues. Look for any signs of water damage or leaking – it could signal you need to get your roof looked at. Most experts recommend getting a roof inspected if it’s older than 12 years. Check your fixtures too – any leaks around a faucet or toilet could mean it needs a fix that you can likely find at a home improvement store.

A great part of owning a home is having some outdoor space to enjoy. Our blog on getting your deck ready for summer is a great place to start on what you need to get done.

Happy New Homeowner Day! To celebrate, Hirshfield’s wants to give away three Home Owner’s Journals, so you can keep track of all your invoices, color choices and home improvement projects! Just comment on this blog or on the Hirshfield’s Facebook page telling us what project you tackled or will tackle in your new home! The winner will be announced May 2!

{design inspiration: sports}

Call it what you will – a man cave, an entertainment room, a sports shrine; the one room in your house where you can pay homage to your preferred sports team or cheer your favorite players to victory. With Super Bowl Sunday just around the corner, let’s take a look at ways you can incorporate a sports theme into any room of your house.

For the sports enthusiast who prides themselves on their impressive collection of vintage posters, memorabilia, and jerseys, it only makes sense to devote a den or bedroom to showcase their pieces. Take for example, this Minnesota Twins bedroom that covers the gamut – from team photos to baseball cards and bobbleheads, this shrine captures the essence of the Minnesota Twins throughout the years.

Minnesota Twins Fan Room

If you’re seeking the perfect place to root for, say, the Minnesota Vikings, why not transform your game room into a commemorative library that tracks the team’s success? Deck your walls in purple and gold paint, and choose rugs, lamps, and furniture that embrace this color combo. Frame old ticket stubs and team photos, and for an added pop, choose décor that makes your room come to life!

Vikings-Themed Bedroom, Wall Pops

Die-hard fans can bring a beloved venue to life, like this Wisconsin family did to show their support for their favorite hometown team, the Minnesota Wild. Their game room is complete with a wall mural, an Xcel Energy Center ice surface floor, and a table hockey game to play when they aren’t watching the team on play on TV.

Minnesota Wild Game Room

What great TV rooms stand out to you as the perfect place to host a Super Bowl party?

{asian design}

The Chinese New Year starts February 3. Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year runs from the first day of the first lunar month through the 15th day of the first lunar month. With this motivation, now is the perfect time to add Asian-inspired design into your home.

Start by including a touch of bamboo to your windows through unique treatments. Bamboo blinds are eco-friendly, lightweight, durable, and attractive. Use bamboo, a very popular finish used today, throughout your home. You can also add drama to your walls by using bamboo as a wallcovering.

 

Provenance blind from Hunter Douglas

Red is the Chinese color of luck and happiness. Use the bold and bright color throughout your home to provide an energetic vibe. Paint an accent wall with this hue and accompany it with décor like wall art or silk screens.

HGTV

Red pieces like chairs and sofas, as well as Asian inspired furniture and Oriental rugs would also be a nice addition to your space.

Osborne & Little

For a final touch of the Eastern World, use wallpaper or a wall mural that captures the essence of China.

Kravet

For more Asian design inspiration, check out Chinoiserie Chic, a blog dedicated to the timeless world of Chinoiserie (a French term meaning “Chinese-esque”). What are some ways you’ve incorporated design elements from around the globe into your home?

{inspiration rooms: game rooms}

With the cold weather firmly in place across Minnesota, the best place to find yourself this time of year is at home. Why not create a game room or spruce up your space to make a fun room in your house where you and your family can get together and spend quality time?

One idea for a creative game room is to pay homage to an era with a throwback theme to honor a certain decade. Vintage wall clocks, framed images of Elvis, or beaded drapes could complete a 60s style look, while neon signs, arcade games, and posters of Madonna and Price could capture the feel of the 1980s.

HGTV

Since game rooms are a place to relax, have fun, and get your mind off serious business, don’t be afraid to play with color in this space. Try a bright accent wall, and accessorize with matching shades by adding accent pillows to a couch or chair.

House Beautiful

Perhaps your playroom will be a place to store your family’s books and games. Have fun making a kid-friendly space with plenty of storage that’s both friendly and inviting.

 

Ohdeedoh

Of course, game rooms should also be a place where you can express yourself, or your love for your favorite sports team. Create an ode to your favorite college or professional sports team and hometown heroes and show your pride and spirit!

HGTV

Finally, draw inspiration from this remodel from one of our own Hirshfield’s employees. This basement went from an unfinished space to a sleek entertainment room. These classy quarters are the perfect space to relax with the family or company.

Entertainment Area Before

 

Entertainment Area After

 

Entertainment Area After

How are you planning to renovate, remodel, or redecorate your game room?

{tips for taping a room before you paint}

You’ve spent time staring at paint chips, trying to choose just the right shade for your project. Now that you’ve picked your paint – you’re ready to get started! But have you taped the room yet to protect woodwork, carpet and your windows? Properly taping a room can really make a difference in how your finished paint job looks – and lasts. In this video Bob from 3M demonstrates just how to get that perfect edge.

Bob also showed us the different types of tape that are available in this video.

{fantasy rooms for children}

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” transports children to the far away land of Narnia – encountering dragons, dwarves and lost warriors.

"The Chronicles of Narnia"

The movie, and book, may have your child dreaming of fantastical adventures. What better way to spur his or her imagination than with a bedroom that immerses them in a land of make-believe?

First, start with the bed. This can be as simple as the bedding you choose – but you can also get creative with headboards. Why not create a castle or shield for the head of a bed?

HGTV

If painting on a wall seems intimidating – there are some amazing stick-and-peel products to use. You can check out catalogs for Wall Pops and RoomMates products at Hirshfield’s. If you have a younger child, these Dragon Hunter wall stickers are fun and colorful.

RoomMates Wall Stickers

How about creating a magic wardrobe for your child? This is an amazing addition to a room – if you have the space. It could even be a do-it-yourself project with a reclaimed armoire.

Magic Wardrobe

Consider using an image of a lamppost – which is a key part of the stories – or lion in honor of the character Aslan to bring “Narnia” home to your child.

Etsy

Finally, use maps to lead your children through the story of a magical journey. Decorating with maps is a big trend right now and popular in all kinds of spaces. You can be literal and use a map from Narnia, or simply look for a map of the world to plan your adventures.

Map of Narnia

Room for Children by Susanna Salk