Faux Bois is french for “fake wood,” as it looks like wood but it’s not.  Replicating the faux bois look appears to be easy, fun and fairly inexpensive. These photos are showing a painted base, then one or two (I can’t remember what the Old Masters rep said, I’ll find out) layers of stain that...Read More

With melting snow and a warming sun, I feel like I’ve received a new lease on life! This was a tough and long winter, and I’m itching to be done with the cold, the snow and the dark evenings. But as I’m inspecting the perimeters of my house, I’m finding that winter left behind some...Read More

March Madness is once again upon us. As millions of hoops fanatics are swept away by college basketball euphoria, it may be time to try to make sense out of the madness that can be your children’s trophy collection — by creating displays that will make those victories live on. Here are some creative ideas...Read More

As I’m sweeping my kitchen floor, readying it for the vinegar-and-water mop I use to clean them, I wonder why I love hardwood floors so much.  They are more work to keep clean, for sure! They get scratched by shoes, falling toys and un-manicured dog paws and they fade with too much daylight! In my...Read More

When my husband and I first moved into our home, the downstairs wallpaper was the first to go. It had pictures of antique fishing lures and might have been cute in a lake home or cabin but it didn’t fit our personal style. We spent hours steaming away the paper and scraping the walls. It...Read More

It is difficult to find motivation to clean and organize a basement, isn’t it?  It has to be on the list of worst household tasks!  I enlisted a friend who is a professional organizer and she came to help me with an area in my basement, and in the process I learned practical tips that...Read More

Clutter makes me crazy! It eats away at my inner peace and hard-earned zen, and my loudest wish since day one of motherhood has been that my offspring (and husband) would understand how much clutter- not only clutters my home, but my mind, my patience and honestly, my love for them. But, I have had...Read More

I have bought and sold many homes over the years – all without a professional stager and most without a real estate agent!  Whether that was purely genius or just insane, I’ll never tell, but I have learned a few things along the way. But in order to sell your house, you can help yourself...Read More

    Painting is more than simply splashing colors on your wall – it’s an investment in your home.  Here are some tips from Mark Masica, Color Services Manager, on how to make your investment last: Invest in high-quality paint and equipment: As with most things, you get what you pay for.  Splurge on paint...Read More

Isn’t this the best?  Well, as a matter of fact, it is!  This is the Hirshfield’s ad that ran in the Brainerd Dispatch on October 30 as part of the Kids Ad Design Project.  We love what Zoey designed to promote Hirshfield’s in the Brainerd area. Linda Hurst of the Dispatch shares the history of...Read More