by HJ HOLTZ | May 25, 2016 | Client Work, Decorating Tips, Designer Projects
As you look around your home, you realize that it is time for your walls to be repainted. Or you would you like to add wallpaper to your powder room. Or perhaps truly transform a room by painting the cabinets instead of replacing them. Maybe you want a graphic design painted on your floor? However the last thing you want to do is move furniture, live with disruption and have painting crews coming in and out of your home. After all, life is busy enough! Don’t you sometimes wish that you could go on vacation and have everything finished when you get back? Well, you can! Let H.J. Holtz & Son take care of painting while you’re on vacation.
Here is what one client had to say about the importance of this convenience:
We lead very busy lives with multiple homes and the ability to travel frequently. Taking time out for home maintenance repairs sometimes gets in the way. H J Holtz and Son offers the option of doing any job for us while we are away whether it is painting, wallpapering or simple construction jobs. They are a family owned, operated and run company that takes pride in personal attention to all of its clients. Their attention to detail even includes taking pictures of the space and being able to return the furniture and decorative items to their correct position after they make sure the space is as clean as it was before the job began.
Mrs. Eska B.
At H.J. Holtz & Son, we offer our services to our customers and paint while you’re away. This way, you can come home from vacation to a freshly painted home without having to deal with any of the mess! Our crews will handle the project from start to finish: remove clothes and clutter from closets, uninstall window treatments, pile up books from bookshelves, move furniture and wall hangings and more. Of course, we put everything back in order when we’re done.
Also, our crews will bring in the mail and let approved trades come and perform maintenance, as long as we know ahead of time. This way, cleaning services, pest control services and gardeners have access to your home and provide their services too.
Imagine all the benefits to having your home painted while on vacation:
- Efficient – Since you’ll be away, our crews don’t have to make your home re-livable every evening. We can leave things the way they are and continue the next day, making things faster and more efficient.
- No Headache – Trying to manage your day-to-day life around furniture, painting crews and emptied out closets and shelves is stressful. Since you’ll be on vacation, you can skip this stress – and the mess!
- Less Dust – Moving furniture, emptying out bookcases and taking down wall hangings creates a lot of dust. With our vacation-friendly painting service, everything will be cleaned and restored by the time you get home.
- Less Odor – Even though most paint products are low odor, the smell can still be noticeable. By the time you get home from your getaway, the paint odor will be gone!
- Exciting – Coming home to a freshly painted home will be the perfect end to your fun- filled vacation. And, it will definitely give you something to look forward to when flying/driving back!
You deserve a break, and we’re prepared to give you one. You can count on H.J. Holtz to deliver the highest quality work and honest, dependable home improvements. None of our services are outsourced, so it will be only our employees that will come into your home.
It’s a triple win — a major item on your home maintenance to-do list gets accomplished, you and your family get to take that vacation without feeling guilty, and your home remains occupied and busy during the day, concealing the fact that you are away. Book our services today so it all gets done while you’re away!
by HJ HOLTZ | Feb 9, 2016 | Decorating Tips, Residential Painting
The demand for our craftsmen to paint stained woodwork is increasing substantially here at H.J. Holtz & Son. Whether it is a wall, trim details, a bookcase or cabinets we can change the look of your home. A little paint can provide relief from the wood, create a clean look, brighten the room and sometimes can make it look more formal. Even just a little painted trim can make a huge difference.
Styles change over the years and color preferences and decor vary from person to person. If you have dark wood where you would prefer a brighter, lighter environment, you don’t have to grin and bear it merely because you’ve been told it is impossible to paint light over dark successfully. With proper preparation and the right paint and company, you can have a redesigned look.
Our craftsman first wipe down the wood with a degreaser because many people use wax to clean and moisturize wood. In addition the moisture on your hands leaves residue that needs to be removed so the degreaser addresses these issues. Then we sand and use a primer that promotes adhesion. We like Sherwin Williams Extreme Primer, Zinsser Pigmented Shellac and Stix. It is very important to let it dry overnight and cure, then it can be painted any finish the customer chooses. The difference is overwhelming.
Below are some gorgeous photos of our customers painted stained woodwork. If you are interested in updating your home or just wanting a change call us for a free estimate or visit our Design Studio for many more ideas of how to improve your home.
These two toned grey painted cabinets blend beautifully with the stone backsplash, stainless steel appliances and pewter lighting. They brighten the kitchen and create an inviting atmosphere. Benjamin Moore AF-685 Thunder (upper cabinets) and Benjamin Moore HC-168 Chelsea Gray (lower cabinets).
This faux finished room was once a dark stain wood. The distressed finish not only opens the room but also gives it an antiqued look. Plus the wallpapered ceiling adds dimension and interest.
The bright white trim of the railing and risers accentuates the wood on the stairway creating a cleaner and more modern look. Benjamin Moore White 01.
The dark wood paneling surrounding the fireplace painted off-white creates a much larger space. The window trim and mullions were also painted in the same color to maintain a unified look. Having a neutral space lets you add a pop of color with your furniture or accessories. Farrow and Ball Slipper Satin 2004.
These grey bathroom cabinets blend beautifully with the marble floor and countertop. The light fixtures, faucets and knobs accent the color. Farrow and Ball Blackened 2011.
This blue front door in a wonderful accent against the brick exterior. When it is opened into the entrance it blends beautifully with the rest of the home.
Clearly, when you paint stained woodwork, the results can be beautiful, practical, and rejuvenating all at the same time. If you’re wondering how this technique might be used in your home or business, just give us a call. We’d be happy to host you at our one-of-a-kind design studio to see this technique first hand. Use the form below to contact us, or just give a call at (814) 358-4109.
by HJ HOLTZ | Jan 26, 2016 | Decorating Tips, Residential Painting
Often our clients are looking for ceiling paint ideas (or even ceiling wallpaper ideas as you’ll see later in this post). To designers, the ceiling is often referred to as the “fifth wall.” The ceiling is just as important as any other wall in your room and it has real potential. Think of it like a blank canvas. Decorating your ceiling can help you elevate a simple room to a masterful design.
Ceiling Paint Ideas:
Idea #1: Paint your ceiling a color. There are some wall color options out there that just don’t look great with bright, white ceilings. Choose your ceiling paint color based on the shades that are already in the room. Many of our customers use the Fine Paints of Europe Brilliant finish because it is a high gloss which gives the ceiling depth and reflects the other colors in the room.
The accent colored ceiling in this room highlights the beautiful dentil moulding, the textured wallpapered panels and chandelier. The accent colored ceiling accentuates all of the details of the room.
Idea #2: Minimal color contrast. You can make a small room feel larger by keeping minimal color contrast between the walls and ceiling. This will allow people’s eyes to travel upward creating a flow to the room.
Idea #3: A mural or stencil can be designed for your ceiling. Stenciling or adding a mural will add interest to your room. You can use any pattern and color you want to create a design on the ceiling. These techniques can be used throughout the whole ceiling, around perimeter of the ceiling or just surrounding a light fixture.
Idea #4: You can also wallpaper a ceiling. The petite design of this wallpaper adds texture and a visual interest to the room. Plus it achieves balance between the ceiling and the faux distressed wood walls.
Idea #5: Install beadboard on your ceiling. Note how this adds lots of character and architecture to the room below. If you can incorporate stain into your design you will be adding warmth to your room as well as making a large room feel more inviting.
by HJ HOLTZ | Dec 3, 2015 | Decorating Tips, Residential Painting
With the cold weather upon us, we will begin spending a lot of time indoors. For many, it is a hard adjustment. In fact, in recent years the medical community has confirmed that the “winter blues” is a very real thing. People suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (“SAD”) are sensitive to the chemical and hormonal changes resulting from lower exposure to bright sunlight and may require treatment.
For most of us, the effect is less severe, but we may still find ourselves feeling a bit “blah.” While we can’t claim clinical effectiveness, we can say from personal experience that sprucing up your interior (where you’re spending a whole lot more time!) provides a wonderful boost to your state of mind. We have listed 13 simple things you can have completed this winter to create a fresh look.
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- create an accent wall – Using a graphic, wallpaper, a hand painted mural or a different color or high gloss paint you can create a whole new look to your room.
- paint your ceiling – Did you know that your ceiling is considered your 5th wall? Similar to an accent wall, using graphics, wallpaper or paint will completely transform that space.
- paint a piece of furniture – Pop color into your room by painting a piece of furniture. Using a high gloss, satin or chalk paint, you change the look of your space immediately!
- paint cabinets or bookcases – Do your cabinets feel dated? Are your tired of looking at woodgrain or maybe your have white built ins that you loved years ago, but are ready for a new look? A coat or two of paint will do the trick!
- accent the back of open shelving or bookcases – Wallpaper and paint applied to the inside of these cases add dimension and interest. Depending on what you choose it could also highlight what is displayed on the shelves too.
- spruce up your stairs – By painting risers, stringers and/or railings, you are creating a new look and depth to your stairway!
- change your trim or interior door color – Glaze, high gloss paint, satin finish or contrasting color can modernize your home!
- use wallpaper – Wallpaper can be used for many things, not just on walls! You can wallpaper a dresser or a coffee table with glass!
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- paint chair rail and moldings to match walls – From an architectural element this will simplify your room yet let the moldings add depth.
- paint accessories – Lamps, curtain rods, mirrors and antique glass can all be updated by using paint!
- paint the floor – Decorative stenciling, painting or staining will add an unique look and interest to your home. It will definitely make a statement.
- paint your garage – Do your walls need some TLC or is it the floor? You can do both and have your garage looking as good as the rest of your home!
- paint a closet, a niche or even a radiator – Contrasting paint or wallpaper will make those spaces stand out!
These are all things that we can do at H.J. Holtz and Son to beautify your home. Call us today for a free estimate or visit our Design Studio to see some of our examples on display. It will spark your creativity and inspire your imagination.
by HJ HOLTZ | Sep 29, 2015 | Decorating Tips, Residential Painting
Looking for inspiration for your next home project? Seeking premium paint and unique furniture? Then you need to explore Palette Paint and Home on Grove Avenue or their second location in Charlottesville. These elegant stores “showcase an eclectic mix of furniture, lighting, unique finds, and an amazing collection of original art.”
As a source for premium paint, including Fine Paints of Europe, Farrow and Ball, and Bridget Beari Colors, their expertise is unparalleled. In fact, last year they won the Farrow & Ball 2014 International Stockist of the year award. In addition to premium paints, Palette sells art highlighting local artists and unique furniture. The majority of their furniture on their floor has been repurposed, which means it has been repainted in a high gloss finish that only premium paint can provide — and H.J. Holtz & Son is uniquely qualified to execute.
Our collaboration began four years ago when Stephanie Snyder, owner of Palette Paint and Home, recognized that there was need for a premium paint distributor in the region and decided to offer the Fine Paints of Europe brand. Meanwhile we had become the only certified painter of Fine Paints of Europe in Central Virginia. To fuse the working relationship between Palette and H.J. Holtz & Son, the owner of Fine Paints of Europe flew to Richmond to meet with us. Stephanie fondly recalls that not only Rick Holtz, our President, attended the meeting, but also his father, mother and some of the crew. She was thrilled that they were there to support her and the new relationship.
Similarly, Palette Paint & Home and H.J. Holtz & Son have collaborated to become the premier retailer and contractor, respectively, to offer Farrow & Ball premium paint. By offering and working with these two fine brands of paint, both companies are able to address an array of situations and tastes.
More About Our Partnership
“Integrity” and “genuine” are the first words that come to mind when Stephanie Snyder of Palette Paint and Home is asked to describe Rick Holtz. H.J. Holtz & Son cares about the product, the partnership, and their clients. It is a family business with family values that are rare to find in this day and age.
For the benefit of our mutual clients, there are many layers to this wonderful partnership. Stephanie will provide color consultations with clients not working with designers or clients that don’t want to redesign. She wants to inspire people to use their inner creativity. H.J. Holtz and Son will bring to fruition the vision that the client has in mind. Just to give you an idea of how closely we work together, this fall, H.J. Holtz & Son will be painting the exterior of Palette Paint and Home’s Richmond store using both Farrow & Ball and Fine Paints of Europe products. Our collaboration has endless possibilities, and we are working together to provide unique capabilities to the community.
For homeowners who aren’t working with a designer, or otherwise looking for help to select colors and finish, Stephanie of Palette Paint and Home will conduct just about the most thorough analysis and recommendation possible. “I look at everything – the architecture, trim, walls, ceiling, cabinets, floors, lighting, details like recessed cans, fans, switch plate covers, fireplace surrounds and whatever can be transformed with paint…” The client receives a detailed analysis of the space and specific recommendations about colors and locations. “Placement of a color is of equal importance to the color itself,” explains Stephanie. If that sounds like something you’d like, stop by Palette Paint, or give us a call so we can arrange to meet you there!
by HJ HOLTZ | Jun 24, 2015 | Decorating Tips, Residential Painting
At H.J. Holtz & Son, we pride ourselves on providing homeowners with high-quality painting work that will continue to look sharp and remarkable for years to come. While the craftsmanship of our skilled painters is key to achieving beautiful results, it’s just as crucial to choose a quality of paint that can stand the test of time. That’s why we use premium paint to meet our customers’ high expectations.
H.J. Holtz & Son is a certified painter of Fine Paints of Europe (FPE), a provider of the finest paints that are only sold by reputable, independently owned paint retailers, including our partners at Palette Paint and Home. The philosophy of FPE, and serious homeowners, is that paint’s true value is determined by the number of years it will beautify and protect. In the company’s words, “There is nothing more expensive than cheap paint.”
FPE paints are formulated using the highest quality ingredients with no fillers, which is why the prices are higher than American-made paints. The company argues that the paints are formulated for high durability, not a competitive price point, to satisfy European homeowners who have high expectations for its performance. They typically live in the same home for 15 years or more, so they view the painting process as a capital investment. Across the Atlantic, American homeowners move an average of once every four years and expect to repaint each time. As a result of this market, most domestic paints are formulated to provide a beautiful finish at a lower cost. The resulting trade-off is that homeowners should expect to repaint sooner, or take greater care to not expose surfaces to wear and tear. Ninety percent of the cost of painting is labor, so homeowners who want durable results may view a “long-lived performance finish” such as FPE as a smarter investment over time.
Another brand of premium paint that H.J. Holtz & Son proudly recommends to discriminating home owners is Farrow & Ball (F&B), which has produced paints in in Dorset, England since the company’s founding in 1946. From their beginnings F&B resisted the trend of producing acrylic paints, and the company states that the “true alchemy” of their product lies in “the high levels of pigment, rich resin binders, and the high refractory nature of our key ingredients that produces our signature immersive depth of colour.” F&B formulates the base paint using “age-old methods” and high quality ingredients such as chalk, china clay and titanium dioxide. The company offers a range of paints and finishes in a curated palette of 132 colors, and each batch of paint is tested “before it even reaches the tin.” In 2010, F&B’s entire range of paints moved from oil-based to only water-based finishes with low or minimal volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are considered more environmentally friendly.
For homeowners who expect the most from their paint, choosing a premium brand such as Fine Paints of Europe or Farrow & Ball for their walls, furniture and other home projects will guarantee high-quality and long-lived results. To learn more about the premium paints our company uses, or how you can apply them to your next home project, contact H.J. Holtz & Son today (contact form below).
