by Paula Peters Chambers | Aug 27, 2026 | Designer Projects, Residential Painting, Wallcoverings, Wallpaper
H.J. Holtz & Son might be known primarily as a company that offers painting, wallpaper, and carpentry services, but the company can also facilitate other home renovation needs as one new partner discovered.
Becky Nielsen Interiors of Nashville got to see all Holtz has to offer while working with clients who live far afield from Richmond. The couple purchased a house in Richmond – where they both grew up – so they could have a comfortable landing spot for summer and holiday visits. While the changes were primarily cosmetic, electrical and plumbing work was also required, and Rick Holtz suggested trusted local vendors to fill in where needed.
“We were on a tight schedule, and they did a beautiful job quickly and cost-effectively,” says Caroline Campbell, design office manager with Becky Nielsen Interiors. “Really, we want them in Nashville. They made it so easy and lovely for us.”
The clients suggested their designers reach out to the Holtz team initially for wallpaper services. Company president Rick Holtz, who made the first visit, quickly saw the full scope of the project and realized the company could assist beyond the initial ask.
“Our goal, always, is to help clients in any way we can,” Holtz says. “It’s good for everyone when a job runs smoothly and all the elements come together well.”
The Holtz team contributed throughout the house, with painting and wallpaper in both usual and novel spaces. The interior of an original built-in corner cabinet was painted orange to match new wallpaper and detailed with grosgrain ribbon for an additional pop. After Holtz carpenters built bunk beds in a small bedroom for the couple’s sons, wallpaper was added inside the bunks’ walls, for visual interest. The Holtz team also built radiator covers and painted them to match trim, and added paneling on the ceiling in the TV room.
Once the job was largely complete, the clients decided to add a light fixture. Campbell worked with Project Coordinator Karen Moore to facilitate that added task. “Karen was wonderful,” Campbell says. “She let us send hardware and fixtures to the office to pass off to the electrician. They really went out of their way to make things easy for us.”
Even though Becky Nielsen Interiors and H.J. Holtz & Son are physically located in different cities, Campbell says she feels a real connection.
“The Holtz team executed beautifully, communicated all the time, sent pictures,” Campbell says. “They made this easier than many of our in-town jobs. They are running a great operation there. I wish we could duplicate them in Nashville.”
by Paula Peters Chambers | Aug 12, 2026 | Wallpaper
Wallpaper adds personality to any room. Simple, quiet patterns provide a subtle backdrop for furniture, draperies, and art. Bold designs grab attention and add zip to a simple space. When added to an unexpected location, such as an accent wall or ceiling, wallpaper becomes a stand-alone design element that enhances its surroundings without overwhelming them.
Most people assume that adding wallpaper to their home will cost more than painting the same area. That’s true; paper coverings nearly always cost more than paint*. But wallpaper’s durability and longevity, along with textural options, can make the price worth it. So how much more expensive than painting is wallpaper?
The short, but true answer: That depends.
The best way to obtain an accurate estimate for a wallpaper project is to select your wall covering before calling H.J. Holtz & Son. That’s because there’s no industry standard for bolt size; every wallpaper manufacturer determines how many yards of wallpaper is wrapped on a single bolt. Additionally, papers come in widths ranging from 18 inches to 54 inches wide. The narrower the paper, the more yards will be needed. Some wall coverings are even sold as panels, which can be priced singly or in sets.
The design of the paper also matters a great deal. Some papers are hung using a straight match, which means each sheet or panel can be hung from the same horizontal starting point. But many wallpaper designs have a drop match, which creates a diagonal pattern. This technique means the estimator has to account for some excess paper, which may or may not be used elsewhere in the room.
On the initial visit, the H.J. Holtz & Son estimator will measure the space. Beyond square footage, the estimator will note any features that interrupt the flow of the paper. Openings (doorways, windows), obstructions (fireplaces, built-ins), and architectural elements (arches, molding, chair rails) all affect the paper’s placement.
As with any home item, different wall coverings are priced differently, depending on the brand name. Luxury coverings from Schumacher or Gracie have a higher price point than other papers, which can be equally desirable or appropriate for the room. If the paper selection changes after the estimate is given, the estimate will change, too.
The key point to remember is that with wallpaper, each job is a puzzle, with unique pieces that fit in a specific way. And just like a puzzle, the completed image will come together beautifully.
*The cost of high gloss paint from Fine Paints of Europe is comparable to some wallpapers.
by H. J. Holtz & Son | Oct 28, 2024 | Wallpaper
Continuing education is useful in any occupation. That’s why the paper-hanging team at H.J. Holtz & Son regularly travels to regional and national gatherings – to learn about new techniques and materials, and confer with others who understand the unique challenges of the industry.
“When you talk high-end residential [work], there’s maybe three or four people around [Richmond], but not necessarily to the level we’re at,” said James Draine, who has been hanging paper with Holtz & Son for 12 years. “Where do you go [to learn] if you’re at this level?”
Where you go is the Wallcovering Installers Association, the national trade group that supports and helps to educate people working in the industry. In March, Draine, Shane Legano and Luis Alas attended WIA’s one-day March Madness session in Southbridge, Massachusetts. In September, Draine and Legano went to Philadelphia for WIA’s annual convention.
The March Madness gathering was Alas’ first time at a WIA event; he began learning how to hang paper with the team in fall 2022. Alas said he enjoyed the opportunity to make connections with other experienced paper hangers. “I definitely felt welcomed,” he said. “There’s still a lot to learn.”
At the Philadelphia gathering, Draine and Legano – who has been with H.J. Holtz & Son for 21 years and is now a WIA regional director – team-taught a seminar in hanging scenic, the elaborate, mural-like wallpapers that require careful preparation and attention to detail. The session was open only to hangers with five or more years of experience. “We’re going to show how we do an install, then we’ll help [participants] do it,” Legano said prior to the conference. Other conference sessions covered topics such as corner cuts, establishing a good work flow, and building rigging systems. Draine and Legano also had time to spend with other participants, swapping stories and sharing tips. “It’s always good to get other people’s ideas,” Legano said.
Decorative wall coverings have been around for hundreds of years – the earliest are believed to have originated in China, in roughly 200 B.C. – but there are always changes afoot.
“Wallpaper is booming so much,” Draine said. “The industry has been flipped upside down with digital printers. If we went [to conferences] only every five years, we’d be so far behind.”
Legano added: “You have to keep up. There’s new paste, and new science that changes materials.”
This year’s annual conference also included a 50th-anniversary gala with a throwback theme to 1974, the year the WIA was founded. Registered participants received a tie-dyed shirt and were encouraged to wear their best 1970’s-era attire. Before they left, Legano shared the pair’s plans: “James [Draine] is getting an Afro wig. I don’t know what direction I’m going: biker or sleazeball.”
by H. J. Holtz & Son | Jan 29, 2024 | Residential Painting, Commercial Painting, Designer Projects, Wallpaper
The team at H.J. Holtz & Son knows the value of relationships. As a third-generation family-owned company, we enjoy working with designers, contractors, and vendors over and over again, because we know that strong collaboration benefits clients.
As a thank-you to our professional partners and to celebrate those connections, last year we held a Designers and Contractors Appreciation Lunch at Independence Golf Club. The location was fitting, as we’ve worked with Independence over the years to freshen their spaces. The event was so successful – with representatives of 8 paint, wallpaper, and millwork companies showcasing their lines – and more than 60 designers and other business partners in attendance, that we decided to do it again!
This year’s event will also be in February, a time of year when many of us think about what and who we love – thanks to Valentine’s Day and prompting from heart-themed store displays. Many of last year’s representatives will be on hand, as will additional friends eager for conversations with others in the same industry. We are excited to see what new products and ideas are surfacing in the industry and happy to bring together people who share our ethos of customer service and high-quality workmanship.
If you’re in the industry and would like to join us, please give the office a call!
by H. J. Holtz & Son | Dec 27, 2023 | Carpentry Services, Commercial Painting, Residential Painting, Wallpaper
Everyone knows that moving into a new place is a process. Decisions have to be made about how to best use the space, what renovation or construction is essential immediately, and where everything is going to go.
Now imagine that new location isn’t a house for a family, but a building for a fully functioning company, with ongoing projects in need of attention and employees in need of work areas. That’s what H.J. Holtz & Son has been experiencing over the last six months.
“We knew this was a big change, but it doesn’t really hit you until you’re in it,” says Rick Holtz, the Holtz Painting president and third generation owner. “We’ve been going full steam since we moved in, and there’s more to do.”
The company purchased the new location, a former auto repair shop, in May and began work immediately to make it their own. They’ve removed interior walls to create an open space where estimators and project managers can confer and hung new drywall throughout to create a fresh, clean environment. Virtually all of the interior changes are being handled by the Holtz team, except for significant electrical work, which is managed by Jon Calhoun of Cardinal Electrical Services, a regular partner.
The new shop at 2025 Tacony Drive, near the intersection of Hull Street Road and Chippenham Parkway, is nearly double the size of the company’s former location in Scott’s Addition. The added room allows for additional spray booths, greater dedicated space for the carpentry division, and more holding area for projects that are in process.
“We didn’t realize how cramped we were at the old location until we got in here,” Holtz says. “Even though we’ve got more arranging to do, to use this space to its full potential, we’re already able to better manage work flow. And we don’t feel like we’re constantly bumping into one another.”
The company’s shift from Scott’s Addition to Chesterfield County makes no difference when it comes to serving clients.
“We have clients throughout the Richmond metro area,” Holtz says. “With the Chippenham Parkway right here, we have access to expressways that take us wherever we need to go. It’s a great spot.”
As for when the new shop will be fully finished, don’t hold your breath. “It’s like the old saying about the cobbler’s children who go barefoot because everyone gets shoes before they do,” Holtz says. “We’re still putting our clients first. Our shop can be perfect later.”
by H. J. Holtz & Son | Oct 31, 2023 | Client Work, Carpentry Services, Wallcoverings, Wallpaper
The unfinished third floor in the house had been useful over the years. With easy access to the second floor below via a wide stairway, the attic was a great storage spot for boxes and bins. Plus, it had two dormer windows that offered light and created a feeling of openness.
But the family now needed more from that space. An attic renovation was in order.
“My clients are almost empty nesters, but the kids come home all the time, and friends come with them,” says Ashley Hanley, principal of her own design firm. “The couple also has younger nieces and nephews, and they were running out of space for everybody to sleep.”
The solution? Turn the attic into a welcoming bunk room with built-in sleeping and sitting areas, and architectural details to elevate the look and feel of the space.
Hanley was familiar with H.J. Holtz & Son’s carpentry division, having worked most recently with the team on a project in Williamsburg that included a custom mantel, shiplap, and built-in cupboards. “I have used and loved the company so many times,” she says. “These clients had Holtz’s carpentry team build custom radiator covers for them, so it was easy for them to get on board.”
For the attic renovation, the Holtz carpentry team created three built-in twin beds, window seats that open for hidden storage, and a chair rail and beadboard. The team also fashioned a new railing for the staircase leading into the room, setting the tone for the refreshed space above. Holtz painting and wallpaper teams finished the room, adding whimsical “Cornwall” wallpaper by Anna French, which Hanley selected.
“The room really has that Mary Poppins attic feel,” Hanley says.
Hanley has worked with H.J. Holtz & Son since early in her career and quickly noticed that Holtz was different from other home services firms.
“I always knew Holtz & Son was really good, and I also knew they were expensive,” she says. “But after deciding to give them a try, I was just blown away by their professionalism. If something is wrong, they’re going to fix it; they’re not going to fight me on it.”
And she is delighted the company continues to expand its carpentry division, making projects like this attic renovation possible.
“Finding a good carpenter is really, really hard,” Hanley says. “Builders use the good ones and don’t like to take on smaller projects. This is such a smart part of the business for Holtz & Son to lean into.
“Everybody is nice, friendly, and talented,” she adds. “They are really proud of the work they do. It’s always a pleasure to work with incredible craftsmen.”
