by HJ HOLTZ | Apr 29, 2025 | Nonprofit
Little Hands of Virginia – a nonprofit founded to provide families of young children with essentials, especially diapers – knows that collaboration is key to fulfilling its mission.
“We could not do what we do without our partners,” says Heather Farber, Little Hands’ director of development.
Little Hands was founded in 2019 by Taylor Keeney, hoping to fill essential needs for families with children from birth to age 3. The organization began in Keeney’s garage, but rapid growth led to multiple moves: to a storage unit, a room provided by Second Baptist Church, and another office space. In June 2024, Little Hands moved into a 6,500-square-foot warehouse, now with an interior freshly painted by H.J. Holtz & Son.
“It was just a warehouse with visible drywall, but the Holtz team came in and really brightened up the space,” Farber says.
Holtz has been a partner since 2023, when members of Little Hands’ board recommended the company. “An interior designer made the connection,” Farber says. “We’ve been grateful for [Holtz’s] support ever since.”
To date, H.J. Holtz & Son’s involvement has primarily been through the organization’s Virginia Tablescapes event, a fundraiser in which 25 interior designers from across Virginia create over the top tablescapes in keeping with a theme. But with the new warehouse location, the Holtz team was able to do one of the things it does best: paint a space.
“It felt good to help Little Hands move into their new building, which they really needed,” says company president Rick Holtz. “A lot of people – volunteers, other partners, possible funders – go in that building, and it’s important for it to look good as well as be functional.”
Farber says the warehouse supports Little Hands’ distribution of roughly 100,000 diapers every month. In addition, the organization provides new and gently used clothes, books, toys, baby carriers, strollers, portable cribs, and formula. “We have giant shelves, stocked to the ceiling,” Farber says. “We were unable to do that before moving into this space.”
Little Hands’ clients come via referrals with more than 130 other nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and medical providers. “They let us know when a family is in need so we can get diapers and other essentials out to them,” she says.
Little Hands accepts donations Monday-Wednesday, 1-3 p.m., and occasional Saturdays, as posted on their social media channels. Monetary donations are always welcome, as the organization can purchase some items at cost.
“We rely on partnerships with local businesses to donate supplies, to help support us through the year,” Farber says. “We love any kind of donations. People are often surprised to learn that one of every two families are experiencing diaper need. Our diaper bank responds to this urgent need, making a big difference for families in our community.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Apr 18, 2025 | Decorative Painting
The saying “Put your best foot forward” is often taken to mean that a first impression is important. There’s a recognition that an observer – unwittingly or not – will make judgments based on what is readily apparent: a facial expression, clothing choice, stance of body.
The same is true for your home. A house that shows a well-maintained exterior demonstrates care and attention. Fresh or clean siding, intact fixtures, crisp window and edge trim, sturdy railings, color from a bright front door and plants – all these are pleasing to the eye and also signal that the home is well-maintained even before a guest walks inside.
Spring is a natural time of year for exterior maintenance and for considering what repairs or refreshes might be needed for a house’s exterior. Start with the front door. Is the paint intact? Would a color change be useful – or just fun? Repainting the front door is a small job that can yield great impact.
Next, assess fences and railings. Over time, even the most well-crafted supports can deteriorate, necessitating repair or replacement. It’s especially important to ensure any handrail that is used regularly is solid and can withstand a tug in a time of need. Fences that hug the property line or face the street set the tone for the property as a whole, even if they aren’t technically part of the house.
A close appraisal of window trim, shutters, and siding is best done by a professional, who can use a ladder for access and who is able to recognize the signs of lurking trouble. Damage can come from water, plant material deposited by wind and storms, and growing organisms (mold, fungus, etc.). Repairing or replacing planks is essential before repainting occurs, as the painting won’t correct a problem but can allow it to fester unseen.
Contact H.J. Holtz & Son for Expert Exterior Maintenance
Contact H.J. Holtz & Son today for a free assessment of your home’s exterior so work can be scheduled for the warmer months.
Before
After
by HJ HOLTZ | Apr 7, 2025 | Decorative Painting
Thomas Jefferson wasn’t the first homeowner to paint his wood floors, but the green floor in Monticello’s Entrance Hall – the first room visitors enter – demonstrates how effective simple paint can be when applied to the wall that’s underfoot.
“Just like with walls, painting a floor is one of the most cost-effective ways to change a look and really create a feeling,” says Andy Clark, principal of Andrew Clark Inc. Interior Design.
As with any other design strategy, the appeal of painted floors can ebb and flow. “We are seeing a resurgence now,” says Ashley Hanley, principal of the design firm that bears her name. “When more people see [this technique], they think, ‘Oh, it’s not that scary,’ so they’re more comfortable with it.”
Hanley points to Colonial Williamsburg for inspiration, noting that residents in the 1700s and 1800s used painted floorcloths to warm and decorate their homes. Painted floors achieve the same effect. “A lot of times, a painted floor can really ground the space,” she says. “It’s a classic, timeless look.”
Clark observes that painted floors also allowed a homeowner to create a luxe appearance without the cost. “People would use faux paint to mimic marble,” he says. “Painted floors can add a whole new decorative pattern or variety of colors you don’t have. You can do so many things to a floor to elevate the space.”
Clark, who divides his time between New York City and Richmond, has white painted floors in both residences. The NYC apartment came with pickled floors, which he immediately had sanded to their original oak. He quickly realized the pickling had made the space seem larger, so he had the floors repainted with gloss white deck paint.
In Richmond, Clark had hired H.J. Holtz & Son to paint his home’s interior. Once that project was complete, Clark decided to go one step further. “I thought, ‘I like [the white floors] in New York], so why not have them here?’” he says. “I feel like people get stuck into what they’re used to seeing. Just because we’re used to seeing a brown floor doesn’t mean it has to be brown.”
Both designers acknowledge people may worry about how a painted floor will wear. The good news is that it’s up to the homeowner to decide how the floor should look – weathered or pristine. Visible wear can be part of the appeal, or careful preparation and finishing will keep the floors looking fresh for years.
Hanley painted her own kitchen floor during the pandemic because she wanted a change and knew a full kitchen renovation was in the house’s future. “I didn’t take any of the beautiful steps that Holtz takes,” she says. “After three years, the hardwood started coming back through the paint, and the floors looked distressed. If you don’t prep it, and you don’t seal it, then it’s going to wear.”
Clark adds: “The most important thing to say about any painting is the value of the paint and the paint job is in the prep work. That’s where the time goes – the labor – and that’s what makes it last and makes it look amazing. That’s what Holtz does best.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Feb 27, 2025 | Decorative Painting
Blair Delli Santi’s family was excited to move into their new house last summer. The nearly 120-year-old home was filled with character and thoughtful updates from the previous owner, but Delli Santi wanted something to pop.
Her solution: A Fine Paints of Europe front room just for her.
“I call it ‘Mom’s blue room,’” she says. “It’s my room away from the chaos.”
The chaos includes two – soon to be three – children, plus her husband. Delli Santi had hired the H.J. Holtz & Son team for wallpaper installation in the family’s prior residence. But in this space, Delli Santi’s aim was to go for full dramatic effect.
“I wanted to put my own decorative stamp on the space,” she says. “Because I’d worked with them before, I trusted them implicitly.”
When it came to color selection, Delli Santi worked with the H.J. Holtz & Son team – the only certified Fine Paints of Europe painter in the Commonwealth of Virginia – to find just the right color. “I knew I wanted a gray blue, and they helped me narrow it down,” she says. The final selection? Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray, a cool blue with a distinctive chalky finish.
Installation was less complicated than for some other projects, because the Holtz painting team was able to work before the family moved in. Fine Paints of Europe application requires a carefully contained and controlled atmosphere, as the high-gloss coating will attract and show airborne particles, such as dust. For this project, the team created an enclosed area that extended from the front of the house, where the room is, down the hallway and out the back door. “It was tricky, but we didn’t have to live with it,” Delli Santi notes.
Now that she’s had a chance to live with the room for a while, Delli Santi wouldn’t change a thing. “It’s always daunting to feel confident with your choices,” she says. “I love working with H.J. Holtz & Sons because they’re so professional, so easy to communicate with. Their attention to detail and craftsmanship is unparalleled in Richmond.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Jan 29, 2025 | Decorative Painting
H.J. Holtz & Son has been in its “new” North Chesterfield location for nearly 18 months, and the renovation of the space is nearly complete. Nearly.
When company president Rick Holtz found a larger building for the growing company in spring 2023, he knew renovations would be necessary. He also knew it wasn’t wise to try to do everything at once; he wanted the team to occupy the space and feel their way into how it could best be used. And he didn’t want the in-house work to affect how the company serviced clients.
“We had to keep our eye on the ball: doing the work our clients need us to do,” he says.
While the project is not yet complete, the new location is looking – and feeling – comfortable and functional.
“It’s coming together,” Holtz says.
A former body work shop, the building has 12,000 square feet in a long, rectangular configuration. Administrative tasks are housed at one end, with a reception area that will soon feature a Holtz Built desk and a row of three individual offices. A door connects the administrative wing to a spacious, light-filled room with moveable standing desks. An adjacent conference room seats 14 around the table with ample wall space for brainstorming on butcher paper. A large screen allows for computer presentations.
Beyond, the building is largely open, with tables and shelving that can be rearranged to accommodate furniture, cabinets, or windows in varying stages of production. Two spray booths and a designated priming space allow multiple paint jobs to be managed simultaneously.
The carpentry division is at the far end of the building and is enclosed by a wall of windows that was moved from the company’s Scott’s Addition location. The wall helps to contain dust generated by woodworking equipment and creates a sound barrier that benefits both those working within the carpentry area and those outside.
The Holtz team framed the spaces and made the woodwork and trim. A subcontractor handled drywall, and John Calhoun of Cardinal Electric, a regular partner, took care of electrical. Pye Interiors of Charlottesville – whose principal designer is Linda Pye, Rick Holtz’s sister – advised on light fixtures, furniture, and overall decor.
“We’re pretty happy with how it’s shaping up,” Rick Holtz says. “And it will be great when it’s all finally finished.”
