{spring home makeover: front porch edition}

The return of warm weather means it’s time to get outside in Minnesota! Spring is the perfect time to open up your windows and revamp your front porch so you can enjoy the outdoors for the months to come.  But time is wasting, so here are some decor tips  for a quick and easy front porch makeover.

Paint the Front Door

Minnesota ASID Showcase Home 2015

For the biggest impact, add some bright, inviting color to your door and accessories. Whether you go bright or light the key is using complimentary colors. For every blue, green, or violet, choose an orange, red, or yellow.

Credit: Hannah Brown

If you’ve got warm brick or siding, try a cool color like spring green, teal, or turquoise. If you’ve got white siding, no color is off limits — not even this canary yellow.

Credit: LDa Architecture & Interiors

Plant Your Flowers

Flowers and planters are another quick fix, but you need to be thoughtful for maximum impact. These planters are a great choice because they are similar to the chandelier in shape, but opposites in finish — traditional warm metal compared to a contemporary cool plastic.

Credit: Historical Concepts

Turn On The Lights

Adding new lights will give new life to your porch. It will make your entrance bright for all those late-night comings-and-goings if you’re looking for safety and security. Don’t forget about scale. People often make the mistake of not buying large enough outdoor fixtures. Looking for the soft glow of porch ambiance? Welcome your guests with a string of decorative twinkling lights.

Credit: JS Interiors LLC

Add More Furniture

If you have enough space, consider adding more furniture to create a room with a view. Whether it’s conventional wicker furniture to create a three season sitting room, or the right rug, and chairs, you’re sure to enjoy the warm breezes all summer long.

Minnesota ASID Showcase Home 2015

Give it a Swing

And if there’s one look that’s made for any porch lover it’s the porch swing. This updated swinging sofa completes a classy yet comfortable porch combo – perfect for enjoying a late night in the still summer air.

Minnesota ASID Showcase Home 2015

Whether your goal is extra color or extra comfort — or both — the right choices can add to your curb appeal and the enjoyment of your home. So, now that you’ve been inspired, how will you make over your front porch?

Check out Benjamin Moore’s photos for an inspired exterior. Paint is your best friend when it comes to upping your curb appeal!

Since Frank and Elizabeth Hirshfield opened their first store in 1894, it has been our mission to do the best job possible meeting customer needs and solving customer problems. Hirshfield’s. People and products you can trust.

{5 tips for updating or freshening up your entryway}

The entryway creates your guests’ first impression of your home. But it’s also one of the smallest parts of your home — usually too small for much furniture or many accessories.

So, how do you freshen it up when  you want to make a different impression? It’s all about the finishes. Here are 5 great ways to give your entryway a facelift.

Credit: Joe Carrick Design

 Keep it Light and Bright

Elsie Larson took her entryway from drab to fab by painting her door a happy pastel and adding a bright metallic wallpaper on the walls. Since the wallpaper is mostly white, her hallway feels airy and open rather than dark or cramped.

Credit: Elsie Larson | A Beautiful Mess

Note: Bright and white walls look best in sunny rooms. If your entry is more of a hallway than a foyer, grab some medium tones or shimmery samples, too — they might look better in your lighting.

{friday finds: wallcovering inspiration for spring}

Spring Looks from Thibaut

As the world freshens up, thoughts turn to bringing the outdoors inside. With the world starting to bud, it’s time to put away the saturated hues of Winter and embrace the colors of Spring for an on-trend accent wall or room.

Turner is an updated trellis pattern available in eight colorways

 

Thibaut Design’s Geometric Resource 2 wallpapers offer classic motifs executed in everything from soft, understated neutrals to brightly shaded palettes that evoke narcissus and tulips. Updated trellises, simulated studs and even animal prints are executed in two-toned patterns, and many are enhanced by special techniques like flocking, beads and printed grasscloth.

Javan Wallpaper in Neutral

Let Javan bring you animal print neutrals as you’ve rarely seen them, in subtle and surprising hues.

{prepping your home’s interior and exterior}

March 20 marked the first official day of spring, and that means it’s time to start your spring cleaning! Now that the days are longer and the sun is shining abundantly, you’ll want your home’s exterior in great shape to show off your house. When the inevitable April showers arrive, focus on improving your home’s interior. These tips can help!

Old Man Winter spent a lot of time visiting this past season, and exterior finishes were ravaged by the harsh conditions. A fresh coat of paint can go a long way in rejuvenating a home battered by ice, wind, and snow time and again this winter.

Outside, use lush landscape to highlight your home’s best features, whether it’s a large lawn or bay windows. Greenery and bright blooms will add color and vibrancy to your lot, which will continue to flourish as spring turns into summer.

This Old House

Another way to boost curb appeal is through simple changes. Give your windows a good cleaning. Power wash decks and patios. Paint or replace your front door to give your home a whole new look.

 

Design Buzz

Inside, give each room in your house a thorough cleaning. Get rid of clutter and place items you no longer use in storage. Create shelving units or find furniture, baskets, or containers that can keep books, magazines, and remotes out of sight and free of dust.

Architects for Life

For a new, refreshed look in your home, rearrange the layout of your furniture or add slipcovers to give your space a makeover with new patterns, designs, and styles. You can also restore floors by waxing linoleum and steaming carpets.

Update your kitchen and bathroom by replacing hardware. Change knobs, handles, and fixtures with different sizes, shapes, or colors for a whole new look.

 

Kitchen Improved

Make your house the most beautiful on the block! What plans do you have to invigorate your home this season?

{put some “spring” into your home!}

Spring is definitely around the corner. As you gear up, here are three simple ways to put some “spring” into your house:

A new arrangement: Go ahead and do your spring cleaning, and while you’re at it rearrange your furniture. Not only will this help you save money by eliminating the need to purchase new décor, but you will also get a fresh take on the season and your style. Make sure you plan out a functional and practical traffic pattern when rearranging furniture – you want your furniture arrangement to accommodate you and your family!

A new outlook: Spring is the perfect time to get started on the redecorating you’ve wanted to do. Think about adding a focal point to your most often used rooms. This can be done with a piece of interesting furniture or art, or by painting one wall with an accent color.

A new view: After you’ve washed those windows from a long winter’s mess, be sure to clean your blinds too. Or better yet, update your window coverings for an easy change that gives the whole room a bright new look. New window treatment options include organic textures and some options can even help increase the energy efficiency of your home!