{top tips for adding color to your space}

Choosing a paint color can be tricky. What color do you choose? Do you need an accent color? What color should your accessories be? It can be enough to make you just want to stick with beige! But don’t worry – you know your local Hirshfield’s color expert is always ready and willing to help you pick out the perfect paint color and give you advice.

For a quick lesson in color, we found an article over on HGTV.com outlining the top 10 tips for adding color to your space – here are some of the tips we like best:

Use the 60-30-10 Rule
Decorating a space in terms of color is as easy as 60-30-10. Don’t believe me? Take a look at some rooms in magazines or in Designers’ Portfolio. You’ll notice that the rooms you like the most are almost invariably divided into percentages of 60-30-10. Why this works is anybody’s guess. Perhaps it is the human tendency to see an overall theme in the 60 percent hue, unifying the coloration. The 30 percent provides visual interest and the 10 percent, not unlike jewelry, provides that little spark of sparkle.

HGTV.com / Design by Kenneth Brown.

So, when decorating a particular room, divide the colors into percentages:
60% of a dominant color
30% of a secondary color
10% of an accent color

{belinda is the best}

To whom this may concern:
We are in the process of finishing off the lower level of our rambler style home.  I was very confused about selecting colors of paint for the walls, wanting it to be cohesive and tasteful.

I had such a wonderful experience working with one of your color consultants, Belinda Dietrich, at your Lakeville, MN location, I just had to write to let you know.  She came out to my house with large paint samples in hand and by the time she had finished, all colors were selected.  I was pleased with the choices. When the walls finally were painted, we were overjoyed that it was exactly how we wanted it to look.  Belinda was not only very kind and  professional,  but she really listened to my thoughts, concerns and put together a color palette that I was striving to achieve.  She made suggestions to paint accent walls that I would not have thought of and having painted them, we are so PLEASED at the end result.  She also recommended some painting supplies that helped my husband with edging.

So, we think Belinda is the BEST and Hirshfield’s is our store of choice for decorating and paint ideas and products.

Kay and Harry

What a great e-mail from Kay and Harry. We appreciate them taking time to acknowledge Belinda and the service she provided. Keep up the good work, Belinda!

{friday finds: schumacher wallcovering}

House of Turquoise recently did a post featuring the Chiang Mai Dragon wallpaper pattern in blue. The aquamarine and lacquer colorways of this pattern are so stunning, I never paid much attention to the blue colorway. After seeing this bath redo I’m a believer in the blue. Having the millwork painted white makes the wallpaper all the more striking.

F. Schumacher & Co. ran a contest this past spring asking designers to submit projects showcasing Schumacher wallpaper. An honorable mention was bestowed on Renee LeJeune Hallberg, RLH Studio, Minneapolis. Gorgeous room, isn’t it?

My personal favorites:

• wallcovering (of course)
• wallcovering application at the ceiling
• palest of pale blue/gray paint on the makeup vanity
• vanity stool

Click here to view the work of the other talented designers selected by Schumacher.

Hirshfield’s Design Resource carries all the Schumacher books as well as some of retail locations. Call first if you’re making a special trip.

{back to school: painting 101}

School is in session! As most Minnesota students are heading back to class this week, we thought now would be a good time to host our own little education session on something we love teach about – paint! So take some notes, this information will be on the test!

Before you get started on any painting project you need to understand some basics:

Choose your paint- there are five sheen levels for interior painting. Tim from Hirshfield’s in Lakeville explains the differences between the five levels:

• Flat is the lowest sheen level and is best used for low traffic areas and ceilings.  Flat paints touch-up wonderfully but aren’t the most washable.
• Matte finishes are relatively flat looking on the wall but offer an amount of durability and are commonly referred to as washable flats.
• Eggshell is the most common sheen and is appropriate for many different uses. Its level of durability makes it washable in high traffic areas and bathrooms.
• Satin finishes are great for very high traffic and high moisture areas such as busy laundry rooms and bathrooms where condensation is common.
• Semi-gloss works well for walls that see abuse everyday and is very durable and washable.

{painting ceilings}

Most people opt for off white or ceiling white colors for their ceilings because they don’t want to have to paint them every time they change or refresh the wall colors. Ceiling white is usually a slightly tinted white with better hiding so you can do it in one coat. Also there are more products with a hue such as pink that when applied shows you where you missed spots then it disappears when the paint dries. Also there are more paint and primer combinations on the market that help with getting the job done in one coat.

We are seeing more people looking to add a dash of style or a bit of whimsy by painting the ceiling. We have seen massive buildings with mosaics and paintings on the ceiling that screamed luxury and excess. Even today most churches have some detail on the ceiling, especially if they are large and old.

{friday finds: bold and beautiful paint colors}

Bright Lime 2025-10 Benjamin Moore

Grappa 1393 Benjamin Moore

Venetian Plaster

Venetian Plaster via House of Turquoise

Benjamin Moore 1601 Hearthstone, 2028-30 Tequila Lime, 2124-10 Wrought Iron, 1307 Geranium

Benjamin Moore 2169-10 Racing Orange

Benjamin Moore Lucerne AF-530

Benjamin Moore 2083-10 Raisin Torte, HC-46 Jackson Tan

It’s all about color today. Strong colors. Can you see any of these colors in your home? Get your eyes use to Raisin Torte; it’s like the color of the candy, Boston Baked Beans. I’m starting to see that color appearing in different fashion blogs, which means it will show up in home fashions down the line. Kathy, from Hirshfield’s Design Resource, had a customer use that color just yesterday. Okay, it might take two years to reach Minnesota, but it’s coming.

As soon as the angels go back to school, are there any paint projects you want to start? Right now I’m finishing the touch up in my newly painted family room, and still pondering the interior barn door idea. And I want to get started painting a Union Jack flag, on canvas, to hang on the side of the shed. I can’t get this pink flag out of my mind. We’ll see.

Hirshfield’s Labor Day paint sale starts next week, so keep us in mind when it’s time to start (or finish) your painting projects.

If the Venetian plasters piqued your curiosity, check out The Plaster Center in Minneapolis. Fun, fun colors, and many variations of the plaster look.

May the force be with you, until school starts.

Images: Elle  Decor magazine, Elle Decor magazine, Elle Decor magazine, House of Turquoise, Benjamin Moore, Dabble, Benjamin Moore, Benjamin Moore

{only in minnesota…}

The Minnesota State Fair rolls into town this month! The great Minnesota get-together celebrates all things that make Minnesota, well, Minnesota. The history, the people, and of course, the food – some things you can only get here! I mean, where else will you find a deep-fried Norwegian Banana Split (banana wrapped in lefse, deep fried and topped with ice cream, mixed berries, nuts, whipped cream)?

But there are lots of other things that make our state unique – for instance, our distinctive style and history. Minnesota is filled with beautiful homes that contribute to our rich history. So once you have had your fill of deep-fried something on a stick at the fair, why not take some time to visit these historic Minnesota homes:

The F. Scott Fitzgerald House, also known as Summit Terrace, in Saint Paul is part of a rowhouse designed by William H. Willcox and Clarence H. Johnston, Sr.. The house, located on Summit Avenue, is listed as a National Historic Landmark for its association with author F. Scott Fitzgerald. The design of the rowhouse was called the “New York Style”, where each unit was given a distinctive character similar to rowhouses in eastern cities. It was here that Fitzgerald worked on and completed This Side of Paradise in 1919, at the age of 23. He is also remembered for his novels The Beautiful and Damned and The Great Gatsby.

F. Scott Fitzgerald House, Minneapolis.About

{bits & pieces: style at home high/low}

Thibaut

Cole & Son

Close up of Thibaut paper

This “high/low” post over at Style at Home caught my eye because I recognized the wallpapers. When a customer requests “bird wallpaper” these  two patterns are often pulled by the staff to show to the customer.  The papers have a lot in common; variety of color ways, quality paper, both good-looking patterns; the price point* is what sets them apart. Is it worth more money to the customer to have a more stylized, block or screen printed pattern shipped from the UK?  Or is the customer happy with the Thibaut paper, made in the states, less expensive, but less stylized pattern?

There is a $4,300 price difference between the two rooms. I know. Sometimes it’s hard to settle for the low, when the high is so perfect. Head on over to Style at Home for the breakdown. Would you settle for the “low” room?

Both “bird papers” are available at most Hirshfield’s retail locations, call first before making a special trip.

*The pricing on the wallcovering is misleading. The $250 bolt of Cole & Son is equal to a little more than a double roll of paper. It is priced at $250 a bolt, because you have to purchase in full bolts. The Thibaut paper is priced out per single roll at $84. A more “apple to apple” comparison would be $168 for a double roll of the Thibaut paper.

{form and function: window treatments that filter natural light}

Furniture, flooring and wall art are not investments you want to make everyday. Once you find these finishing touches for your home you want to protect them from damage and keep them looking great for as long as you can. You’ve probably already considered the usual destruction culprits – kids, pet and the occasional accidental spill of the wine glass by a guest – but have you also considered the damage sunlight can do?

UV exposure is not only harmful to skin, it can also damage furnishings, floors and art. To help protect your investments, most Hunter Douglas products have fabric options that filter out 99% of these harmful rays while in the closed position. Many Hunter Douglas window fashions, including Silhouette® window shadings and Luminette® Privacy Sheers, filter out as much as 86% of harmful UV rays in the open-vane position.

Silhouette®: The Silhouette® window treatments transform sunlight into beauty. Suspended between two sheers, the fabric vanes offer precise lighting control. When fully raised, the Silhouette® shades disappear into the fabric-covered headrail.

Hunter Douglas Silhouette

{friday finds: hirshfield’s color call – the movie}

We thought it would be helpful for people to see what takes place during a color call. We asked Kathy Basil, from Hirshfield’s Design Studio, to show us how she works with customers during an exterior color call.

In addition to selecting paint colors, Kathy suggested changing the color of the shutters, adding a shutter, beefing up the light fixtures alongside the garage door, and trimming branches that blocked the view of the home from the street. Ahh, a fresh pair of eyes is sometimes what it takes to see the obvious.

What you don’t see are Kathy and Mrs. H heading over to another neighborhood where Mrs. H showed Kathy her favorite house. The color of the house was gold, and Kathy explained to Mrs. H why that color would not work with her home. Trusting Kathy’s knowledge of color and experience, Mr. & Mrs. H took a leap of faith, and went with her suggestions for the paint colors.

The couple is in the process of implementing Kathy’s suggestions and are very pleased with the changes, including the new paint color.  It took them a while to warm up to the huge change in their home’s appearance, but it helps when people you don’t know, stop and tell you how much they like the new paint color.

Check out the post Amy did earlier in the week highlighting Hirshfield’s color calls.

Check out Hirshfield’s video library at: youtube.com/hirshfieldspaint