{kudos to kathy}

Kathy helped J & L select paint for their home and in their words, “Every color is absolutely perfect!”  Kudos to Kathy on exceptional customer service, and thanks to J & L for sending such a nice note.

Dear Mr. Hirshfield,
We’re sure you’re already aware of what a treasure you have in Kathy Basil but we just wanted to let you know how happy we were with her work and what a great representative of your company she is!  While we’ve remodeled a lot of homes and bought a lot of paint, this is the first time we had a “color consultant” come with our painter (Edgar Gomez–New Century Construction–aside—a superior painter with an amazing crew).  We are used to buying about 50 versions of the same color to finally arrive at just the right hue.  Kathy is able to quickly narrow down the choices and make the whole process a lot more agreeable!  On top of that, she presents colors that one would never have thought of …and they turn out to be absolutely amazing!
I could go on and on about each of our color choices but in the end, she helped us with paint for at least thirteen different rooms + hallways, trims, stairways, etc….The idea of repainting this whole house (that had previously been filled with wallpaper from the ’80′s) was daunting but Kathy skillfully, creatively, patiently, and cheerfully steered us to just the right colors.  With her expertise and intrinsic sense of color, she facilitated this process to the ultimate degree.
Suffice it to say:   Every color is absolutely perfect!  Whether it’s the kitchen, the work-out room, the bathroom, our bedroom, my office, the living room, etc, etc….
On top of all this, we weren’t the type of clients who just threw ourselves into Kathy’s hands.  We had our own ideas, we had “experience,” and we were a little skeptical, knowing how hard it is to choose just the right color.  Kathy was wonderfully patient with us.  She expressed her ideas, respected our ideas, and explained what was good and bad of the two…
So this summer, we will be painting the exterior of our “new” house and you can be sure, we will be asking that Kathy come back and find us just the right shade of “beige” or…what ever color she recommends.
So many thanks for the professional guidance you provided us through Kathy.
J &L Hovland

{new year’s resolution: add color to your home}

Raise your hand if you made a New Year’s resolution this year!

Making the resolution is the easy part, the hard part is actually following through! Have no fear, the team at Hirshfield’s is here to keep you accountable! All month long we’ll be bringing your tips and advice to help stick to your home improvement resolutions. We’ll be covering topics such as adding getting your home organized and picking the best “green” products for your home. This week we’re tackling the subject of adding color to your home.

Adding a bold color to your home may seem a but scary and a little too permanent for some people. The trick to stepping outside of your color comfort zone is to incorporate colors that work with your existing color scheme vs doing a complete overhaul.

Create an accent wall
An accent wall can define a space, add interest to a room and even highlight an architectural feature of your home. Kathy Basil of Hirshfield’s Design Studio offers some advice when considering an accent wall:

• Not all walls are suitable accent walls. There needs to be a reason for an accent wall and it needs to make sense in the overall design plan. A fireplace wall, a headboard wall or a window wall all make good accent wall candidates.
• Accent walls don’t always have to be paint – Wallpaper works great for accent walls.
• Accent walls allow you to incorporate bold colors into your home without committing all four walls. Kathy’s current pick for an accent wall color is a dark charcoal, or dark chocolate color.

Martha Stewart

You don’t need to put paint on the walls
Adding color to your home doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to put paint brush to wall. We

{friday finds: top hirshfield’s blogs of 2012}

As another year comes to an end, it’s hard not to sit back for a minute and reminisce about all of the things 2012 will be remembered for. The London Olympics, the Presidential election, the rise of ombre in fashion and design and, of course, Tangerine Tango being crowned the 2012 Color of the Year. For a closer look back on what the design community was buzzing about in 2012, we’ve rounded up the most read Hirshfield’s blogs of 2012…

As Seen at Hirshfield’s
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. Benjamin Moore paint, Phillip Jeffries wallpaper and Kravet fabric can all be found in House Beautiful and at Hirshfield’s!

House Beautiful, Benjamin Moore Inner Glow on the walls

Best Paint Color for Accent Walls
An accent wall can define a space, add interest to a room and even highlight an architectural feature of your home. But with endless paint color options to choose from, how do you decide which color is the best for an accent wall in your home? Kathy Basil of Hirshfield’s Design Studio in Minneapolis gives her opinion on the subject in this post.

Martha Stewart

Pottery Barn DIY Video & Kids Colors Spring 2012

{hirshfield’s designer feature: meet julia!}

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!

Julia

Today, get to know Julia, who handles sales and administration at Hirshfield’s Design Studio. Julia has been with the Hirshfield’s Design Studio team for about 15 years, and, as you’ll learn, she’s all about mixing it up when it comes to design!

How did you get into design? Is this an industry you’ve always known you wanted to work in?
I have always been interested in interior design and creating ambiance. I started going to auctions, junk shops, and antique stores at a young age with my mom and I think that’s what got me started. I was always interested in surrounding myself with interesting things. I love art and good design.

How would you describe your personal design style?
Very eclectic. I like to mix it up and change things often. Moving the things that you surround yourself with makes you see things differently and it keeps things from becoming static or boring. It is very liberating. I like to de-clutter and pack things away for awhile and get them out again later. I think people don’t realize that you don’t have to have everything you own out all at once. Rediscovery is fun. I love hand crafted, found objects, and vintage stuff.

Do you have a favorite design book or magazine that you draw inspiration from?

{hirshfield’s designer feature: meet kathy!}

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!

{design trends : what we saw at High Point}

Founded in 1909 in High Point, N.C., the High Point Market was formed to provide the region’s furniture makers and retailers a convenient venue to conduct business and discuss design trends. It’s where the who’s-who of the design industry meet, mingle and shop! Greg and Meropi, of Hirshfield’s Design Studio, recently attended fall Market and have returned to Minnesota inspired and energized by all of the new design trends they saw!

Here’s what the Hirshfield’s design experts, Greg and Meropi, saw at High Point:

Colors
Blue is still a dominant color and the driving force behind many color palettes. Neutrals and grays with accents of orange, yellow and emerald green are trending colors going into 2013.

Vanguard Furniture

Fabrics
Menswear fabric was a huge trend at High Point. Glen plaid and plaid fabrics in general were showing up everywhere.

Calysat Gourd fabric by Vanguard Furniture

Geometric fabrics continue to be on trend.

Stanford Furniture

Furniture
We saw lots of painted furniture – bright paint colors, satin finish. We didn’t come across many pieces of painted furniture with the distressed look, almost everything we saw was clean and chic.

Stanford Furniture

{fall design inspiration from twin cities design experts}

Here is Minnesota, we are lucky enough to get to experience the uniqueness and beauty of each of the four seasons. Winter is glittery and glamorous, spring is all about fresh, bold colors, summer means carefree living and design and fall … sigh … fall is all about coziness and comfort!

So what’s new in fall design for 2012? Let’s see what the experts are saying…

The Minneapolis design experts over at Hirshfield’s Design Studio – Kathy and Greg – are predicting bold, graphic wallpaper will be a huge design trend this fall. Wallpaper just gives a home a “finished” look, that something extra that sets your home apart from any other.

Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon

Eijffinger

{what’s new at hirshfield’s design studio in minneapolis}

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!

{friday finds: hirshfield’s and houzz}

            “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

“The exterior color is Hirshfield’s 8632W Timeless Gray. The shutters are painted Hirshfield’s Old Porch 8636N.”

 Alethia with Erotas Building Corporation

“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.

{when to splurge and when to save when decorating your home}

Furnishing a home can be a major investment. You have the necessities – a table, bed, dinnerware, and a place to sit. Then you have the “nice to haves” – wall art, fancy lighting, a glam rug, and accessories to tie the space together. When you’re excited about decorating, and anxious to get started, the line can easily become blurry between the two categories. Which is why we love Apartment Therapy’s post on when to splurge and when to save when furnishing your home.

Here are some of their tips:

Splurge where your health is concerned.
This means mattresses, office chairs and work surfaces at the proper height for the job at hand. If you’re lucky you may find these items at a bargain price, but generally I’d suggest budgeting more for items which directly affect your health and comfort.

A comfortable looking office, color on the wall is Benjamin Moore Hot Apple Spice 2005-20.

We would also add that along with furniture that affects your health, products that affect your health. Consider going with a low or no VOC paint to cut down on odor. Hirshfield’s offers Preserve LOW VOC INTERIOR LATEX FLAT with Microban® antimicrobial product protection and Benjamin Moore Natura® Zero-VOC Interior Paint.

Splurge on statement pieces.
These are the pieces that you love, that you’ll take with you when you move, that make your home feel like yours. The Eames chair which detracts from the big-box store sofa, or the vintage armoire which makes putting away the laundry fun. It goes without saying that falling in love with pieces that are also functional is advisable, but it doesn’t always work out that way.