Welcome Mat: Contest ties paint to Detroit history

Plymouth’s Haven closes for renovations

The bad news is adorable home decor store Haven is closing its Plymouth location. The good news is the closure is temporary as the store gets a new look. Owner Martha McMeekin says updates will include resurfaced floors, along with new paint, electrical and lighting. There also will be brand new furniture and accessories for spring. “We decided it was time for a new look after 17 years!” she writes in an email. “Our new look will be more open, brighter and more minimal.” The Plymouth location should re-open in mid-February. Haven also has a location at 111 N. Center St. in downtown Northville, which will now be open from 12-5 p.m. on Sundays during the Plymouth store’s renovations. For information, go to havenofplymouth.com.

Contest asks public to name Detroit-inspired paint colors

Paint colors inspired by Detroit’s history? Yes. Motor City Paint is teaming up with the Detroit Historical Society on a fun contest, asking the public to come with up with the names for a range of colors inspired by Detroit’s history. Twenty-five color swatches are now on display at the Detroit Historical Museum through Feb. 28. Visitors are asked to take a “ballot” and write down their historically inspired names for each color. The grand prize winner will receive a professional paint job valued at $1,000. And anyone whose color name is suggested and ultimately chosen will receive a $50 gift card redeemable at one of Motor City Paint’s area stores or online at motorcitypaint.com. You have to be a Michigan resident to enter. “Being a Detroiter, I wanted the colors we chose for this collection to be reflective of our history,” said Brian Eisbrenner, CEO of Motor City Paint. “That meant pulling from many sources — including the Belle Isle Aquarium and the aged copper roof of the Book Tower. We toured the Detroit Athletic Club, the Packard plant, the Fisher Building, and numerous other buildings in the area for inspiration.” Motor City Paint also is donating 10 percent of net profits annually to the Detroit Historical Society. The Detroit Historical Museum is at 5401 Woodward.

IKEA hosts organization event

If last week’s cover story about getting organized in 2018 resonated with you, check out IKEA this weekend. IKEA is hosting a two-day Make Room for Organization event from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at all of its locations, including its Canton store. There will be special deals on organization products such as shelving units and hangers. There will also be workshops and activities, including one called Linen Closet Rescue, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Closet Clutter Be Gone at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., also on Saturday. Both workshops will be held in the Canton store’s bedroom storage department. The Canton store is at 41640 Ford Road. For more about Make Room for Organization, go to ikea.com/ms/en_US/events/organization.html.

Association names top plant for ’18

Paint retailers name a Color of the Year each year. Why not a Plant of the Year? The Perennial Plant Association has named Allium “Millenium” its 2018 Perennial of the Year. A relative of the onion, the Allium genus contains more than 900 species in the northern hemisphere, but is best known for a dozen or so species of culinary vegetables and herbs, including garlic, leeks, shallots, scallions, and chives. The association named the Millenium the Plant of the Year because it “is a workhorse of the late summer garden,” it said on its website. “Bred by Mark McDonough, horticulture researcher from Massachusetts, ‘Millenium’ was introduced through Plant Delights Nursery in 2000 where it has proven itself year after year earning rave reviews.” And yes, Millenium is spelled with one “n.” It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil.

Art Van opens flagship store in Canton

Art Van’s first brand-new store built from the ground up in two decades is now open on Ford Road in Canton, featuring a red facade and sleek look. The new 70,000-square-foot store, called a flagship in that its unlike any other Art Van stores, will celebrate with a private grand opening party at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and a public ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:45 a.m. on Feb. 3. The new Canton store spans two-stories with an escalator in the middle. Perched above the escalator is a sparkling custom 20-foot-by-13-foot sculpture. Art Van CEO Kim Yost says guests should prepare to be “wowed.” “This magnificent Michigan showroom has evolved from conception to completion over the past two years as a must-visit destination for anyone who wants to furnish and beautify their living spaces,” said Yost. On Feb. 3-4, there will be music, refreshments, balloons and other giveaways for shopper. The new store is at 41661 Ford Road.