AB Home Interiors

Every year the holidays come around faster than anyone can prepare for, and the same dilemma occurs: What on earth can I do differently this year?

I always have my  go-to staple items, but isn’t it nice to mix it up and do a new twist on an old favorite? Adding new items is a great way to update your existing

holiday decor but this year here are some excellent ways to update your holiday table with inexpensive items from around the house from Real Simple.

1) Candy Cane lollipops:

Easy to find, inexpensive, and adds a super sweet twist to your holiday table! Lollipops are great centerpieces and can be thrown into a planter box, styrofoam piece or a bucket,

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2) Wine Glasses:

Well, you cannot get any easier than this. Wrap up your wine glasses with pretty ribbon for easy and decorative place settings. Add complimentary napkins and for a little panache I take wine corks, gently slice with a razor and use them as stands for place cards. Super sweet and super easy!

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3) Everyday Party favors:

We all love getting a gift so why not add a simple party favor to your place setting to make your guests feel extra special? One of my favorite gifts is contributing to the garden. Give your guests seeds to their favorite food, or plant and wrap on their plate with twine, or ribbon.

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4) Rubber bands:

Snappy, colorful and charming, bands can be added to drinking glasses, votives and  premade buffet plates. Also an excellent tool for outside dining when the wind picks up!

For decorative rubber bands click here.

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5) Fruit:

Apples in hurricanes from around the house can be piled into a vase or combined with water for an elegant and easy centerpeice

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Use limes for decorative bowls on the table or as placecard holders

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6) Chalkboard placemats:

A quart of chalkboard paint can be picked up at any hardware store. Take peices of cardboard cut approximately 19×15 and paint them up for custom handmade placemats.

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7) Votives:

Most of us have various votive holders laying around the house. Take tissue paper from a recent purchase and cut them out for votive wrapping. Colorful, cheap and easy!

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Candy:

For $4 a few bags of hershey kisses can instantly turn a hurricane into an instant holiday charmer. Combined with candle light a few kisses make an evening!…

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9) Foliage:

Take items from around the yard and combine them with table settings. For added punch, spray paint with left over paint in the garage for instant holiday glamour.

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So many of us have things laying around the house, that with a little twist can be made into something great, and all inexpensively.

Often times, the simple items are what add charm and clever appeal. Be creative and look beyond ordinary items to make them extraordinary!

Pics and ideas via

Harley the Cat

Some people think they can change us, and some people who have cats go on to lead normal lives…

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We offer an array of services to meet your design needs

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Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am all about the “easy road” when it comes to entertaining. I have enough crazy in my life, so I don’t need to add more with holiday festivities.

I want them to be a joyous occasion with friends and family where I can ENJOY them and not focus on stressful decorations! Here are some of my favs that I have come across in the last few days that would definitely make it on my holiday to-do list:

Holiday centerpiece with fruit and craft paper leaves

Take construction paper and trace leaves from outside. Take sticks or curly wire from a craft store and glue it to the leaves.

For added punch crease the leaves and gently outline with chalk and rub with

the oils in your fingers to give an aged look.

Holiday hurricanes

Take glass hurricanes from around the house and wrap them in colored tissue paper. Tack with a dot of tooth paste, or glue and voila,

a beautiful burning glow for your mantel or center piece.

Turkey trivia place card

Cut out the bird on heavy weight paper. Write questions on one side of the feathers and answers on the other. Fasten with a paper fastener.

Put the guests name on the body of the bird and you have yourself a charming place card and a great conversation starter.

Turkey template

For template click here.

Plate presentation

Put plates and dishes on display when serving a buffet. This is a great way to set out china a week or so in advance. It keeps dust off the dishes and prevents breakage, and dirt from those silly

shenanigans that Harvey is always up to.  Bell jars, cloches and cake covers are easily found at flea markets, and yard SALES and create a beautiful display for your china that is charming and sweet. Also, stupidly easy! love that!

Candle light is the easiest and most glamourous item to add to your holidays. Simple glass votives can come from vintage double old fashions, shot glasses, or inexpensive candle holders from

a craft store.

Photos 1-6 via, and photo 7 via

Harley the cat

“Sure, you can call my name and I may come over if I have nothing better to do….”

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whether you live in our area, or out of state. Click here for more info!

Warehouse SALE!

Our annual Warehouse SALE is this Saturday! Find all kinds of great gifts, accessories, designer furnishings (and much more) at 50% OFF!

Beat the holiday rush and buy your gifts early this season. Last years event was absolutely amazing.

Over 5000 people showed up for the event thanks to Mrs Cheap, and our feature on Talk of the town, on Channel five news.

This year will not disappoint. Everything is 50%, ONE day only.

8 am – 3 pm

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If you are looking for great holiday gifts at exceptional prices you don’t want to miss this years biggest event.

Large assortment of accessories,

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Choose from an array of great gifts, like our paddywax candles,

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Fine furniture by LEE industries, Robin Bruce, Old hickory tannery and much more.

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Overstocked on Holiday essentials, decorations, entertaining, and stemware,

AB HOME Interiors Warehouse

Tons of one of a kind art from local artists,

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And a handful of one-of-a kind unique items,

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If you are interested in purchasing any of our items shown  and don’t live in our area,

email us for a special online shopping code to take advantage of this event!

contact moi @ info@abhomeinteriors.com

And become a FAN on our AB HOME facebook fanpage!

The Dish

by

Harley the cat

Harley the ornery cat

“You can keep a dog; but it is the cat who keeps people, because cats find humans useful domestic animals.”- George Mikes

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We offer an array of services to meet your design needs

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I had the great pleasure of having my college friend Tressa, visit me last week. Despite being knee deep in warehouse sale preparations, and playing designer we were able to take a quick trip to the Chattanooga aquarium so she could see more of Teneessee and less of  the  AB HOME offices.

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What I found to be most amazing is how inspiring the colors of nature truly are. All of these animals vivid with color combinations that we attempt to replicate with color schemes from paint stores, fabrics and accessories everyday! All found in complimentary combinations, all thanks to nature. No wonder some combinations like yellow and purple, and green and blue speak to us. It just feels right, and harmonious.

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I was also fascinated by how beautiful all these animals were. Patterns, and color combinations so unique, that manufacturers have mimicked  for years in their accessories, fabric patterns, and wallpapers like this sting ray:

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What also surprised me was the beauty in animals portrayed as not playing so nice with humans like poisonous tree frogs and pirañas:

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The color combo of the piranas shown above is a common color scheme found in interiors. And is also close to the AB HOME logo colors if I do say so myself! Here is one of my most favorite pics from the day:

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Can you believe this photo above was taken with my iPhone? If this isn’t a great example of what this little phone is capable of, I don’t know what is!

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Do you need decorating assistance? Want your home to be filled with warmth and joy?

Contact us about our design services.

We offer an array of services to meet your design needs

whether you live in our area, or out of state. Click here for more info!

The Dish

by

Harley the cat

Harley 2010

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Cats are the most cunning and intelligent creatures, so why is it you question me? By the way, those piranas look tasty….

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WAREHOUSE SALE

The Warehouse SALE is a week from Saturday. Beat the holiday rush and find designer pieces at incredible prices!

WAREHOUSE S A L E

AB HOME Interiors sneak peek

If you missed the event last year, you missed out! Everything will be 50% OFF!!

We need to make room for next years inventory.

If you are looking for great holiday gifts at exceptional prices

you don’t want to miss this years biggest event.

Refreshments will be served, so come on down to AB HOME Interiors

for holiday shopping, and fun!

If you are interested in purchasing any of our items shown  and don’t live in our area,

email us for a special online shopping code to take advantage of this event!

contact moi @ info@abhomeinteriors.com

Don’t forget to follow us on twitter!

And become a FAN on our AB HOME facebook fanpage!

The daily dish by Harley the cat

Harley the cat

Cats know how to obtain food without labor, shelter without confinement, and love without penalties. – W. L. George

I myself am a kind master, just remember your place ~ Harley the cat

Think I am the greatest cat ever? Me too, find me on

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Do you need decorating assistance? Want your home to be filled with warmth and joy?

Contact us about our design services.

We offer an array of services to meet your design needs

whether you live in our area, or out of state. Click here for more info!

Rugs are one of my favorite designing accessories, but Steer hides are my ultimate rug accessory. I love combining them with other elements and really creating a layered look. They provide texture, depth and gravity to a room. I am also a huge fan of making a room feel organic and a steer hide is all sorts of perfect for that.

Photo courtesy Dana from House Tweaking

What most people don’t know is that not all rugs should be treated equally. Most do not look or feel the same and there is a vast price difference.  I sat down with one of my favorite rug importers, Furug, to talk shop with the owner, Aaron Salter, about price, quality and competition; and to get serious answers to my burning questions.

What is the difference, and what should we look for?

Contrary to what most people think, not all cowhides are the same.  A lot of cowhides on the market are dull and stiff.  The best source for high quality cowhides, like those that furug provides, are not from Florida, Texas, or even Mexico; like most hides in the US are.  Our hides are from Brazil which is known worldwide for having the best tanning process.

Exotic hide by furug

Why is tanning important?

Quality tanning is extremely important when selecting a hide.  Brazil’s tanning process dates back to 1858 and is more expensive than typical processes found anywhere else. This tanning process makes the hide more supple, more resistant, gives it a beautiful shine and properly tanned hides will last a lifetime compared to inexpensive domestic ones that will typically fall apart, and crack.

Where should quality hides be purchased from?

Always purchase hides from a small dealer instead of a big box store. A small dealer is a very important, often overlooked detail when purchasing a hide. When you see companies that say they have hundreds of cowhides, they are getting what is known as stock lots. These are a large amount of hides that are mixed together (good, bad, and ugly).  Tanneries are not going to sell all of their best hides and be left with the rest that may not sell.  My cowhides are hand selected for each order to ensure their quality and unique character, and we always have the best. A good quality hide will cost anywhere from $800-$900. Rugs that are less expensive are typically low in quality. Those are the ones that will fall apart and crack so remember, you can always find a cheaper hide, but you get what you pay for.

Ikea rug

Dark grey Special

What is the best way to care for a hide?

Hides require minimal cleaning, and with proper care the hide will last a lifetime. A light vacuuming (keep the vacuum on the highest setting) will keep the hide free from dust and debris. This is important because dirt can act like sand paper and damage the rugs fibers. A soft cleaning brush can be used to brush the hides fibers in the correct laying direction and also fluff it. Often times a crease will be in the hide from storage. Lay the item out and the rug will relax after a few days.

Black and Brown Special Multi

What else do you carry?

One of our biggest sellers is our Mongolian curly lamb pillows. They are super soft, easy to care for and add a luxurious component to any chair or sofa. They contain down fills and are becoming one of our top selling items!

Seal Brown Mongolian Curly Lamb pillow

Ivory Mongolian Curly Lamb pillow

Thanks for taking the time to tell us more about Steer hides and your company Aaron. I have purchased many items from Aaron and the quality way surpasses the price. His hides are supple, shiny, thick, and last no matter where you put them. I have purchased inexpensive ones before to fit into a particular client’s budget and having seen one next to the other there is absolutely no comparison. It is like apples to avocados!

Like any of these products. Need more info?

If you are interested in purchasing any of the items shown here on our blog  or would like more info

contact moi @ info@abhomeinteriors.com

Do you need decorating assistance? Want your home to be filled with warmth and joy?

Contact us about our design services.

We offer an array of services to meet your design needs

whether you live in our area, or out of state. Click here for more info!

Lovely clusters

This week, despite prepping for our massive warehouse SALE, I am spending time with one of my dearest friends, Tressa. Her and I go way back and I am so happy that she has flown out from California to visit with me. Little does she know, I run a tight ship, so Im putting her butt to work. Hopefully I can shadow it with Southern charm so she doesn’t know what I am up too….oh wait she’s smarter than that! Ok so a little tiny bit of work and a lot more play.

Poppytalk

So her and I will have lunch together, and reminisce about are younger selves, and laugh at how silly we were, never thinking for a moment that we weren’t

This is glamourous

We will go for  long walks, and actually take time to smell the roses.

Here comes the Sun

And we will make silly checklists about all the things we may or may not do, knowing full well we really don’t have too!

I hope all of you have a fantastic day!

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From todays Daily Dish, brought to you by Harley:

“I’m aloof, I like to run around outside and I like to be inside and out simultaneously…is there a problem with that?

The aloof Mr. Harley

Do you need decorating assistance? Want your home to be filled with warmth and joy?

Contact us about our design services.

We offer an array of services to meet your design needs

whether you live in our area, or out of state.

Click here for more info!

What a week this has been! With the addition of Harley to our office I couldn’t imagine that it could get better! Well. it. has. Susan Herin just wrote an article on Houzz.com featuring the Las Vegas home I did, and it made the front page!

To read the article click here.

Susan Herin from Houzz.com

Thanks Susan for doing the write up and featuring one of our favorite homes!

As if that wasn’t enough, today is my birthday and my dearest friend Tressa is flying in from California for a week to visit with me. Her and I have known each other since college and we have shared some life experiences and somehow lived to tell about it! I cannot wait to see her and share some wicked laughter together!!

Like with this photo:

Tressa and I in 1996

Holy Jesus are those bangs even legal?? LOL! Here we are on a double date in the Spring of 1996. I don’t recall the restaurant but it spins 360 degrees and is located in San Francisco.

The irony is that her date later became my husband!

My wedding day 2000

Ummm, is it me or are we ALL wearing to much make-up? Good Lord!!  Katie my flower girl, well she is now twenty and has worked for AB HOME for four years! Kim (to my left) is one of my dearest friends and we have known each other since we were 14 and silly about boys. Tressa (to my far right) and I met in Chemistry class in our second year of college. Poor girl got stuck with me as a lab partner and within a few weeks I managed to irritate and frustrate the Professor so much, that she had it in for the both of us for the next two years as we struggled through stochiometry, chemical equations and periodic-table nonsense! Lucky for me I was like white on rice and wouldn’t allow Tressa to dump me. Nope, I knew where she lived and would beg, borrow, or steal my way to her heart because she was my ticket to a “B”! And me in the tiara? Well, there was no such thing as enough PINK. Pearls were an essential accessory, pedicures were always “I’m not a waitress red”, and little did I know, the part time job at that high-end design firm was about to change my life entirely. I had a lot of growing up to do and I was trying to figure out life and how I fit into it. The good news is I was in my twenties ( when we totally know everything and have it all figured out) and I knew my life and career were going to be freakin’ awesome and nothing would ever go wrong!! The details weren’t important, those were merely things that would come somehow, someway like magic pixie dust. Phew! Who knew those details would be the elements that shape our lives and make us who we are as individuals. And simple details, like getting Harley are way more important to me than any twenty something could ever imagine!

Harley 2010

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Do you need decorating assistance? Want your home to be filled with warmth and joy?

Contact us about our design services.

We offer an array of services to meet your design needs

whether you live in our area, or out of state.

Click here for more info!

As most of you know I lost my beloved Nike back in late August. For twelve years he was there through it all. The moves, the up’s and downs, and just a true companion. I could never imagine the loss I would feel until he was gone. I had thought about it and I knew that someday it would come, but I always pushed it to the back of my mind figuring I would worry about it when that day came. Little did I know that day came all too fast and in the blink of an eye his health deteriorated and in a flash he was gone.

Nike

Loosing him has been a very surreal experience for me. I had many pets in my youth (predominately long haired black and white cats) but their presence was always overshadowed with school, extra curricular activities, and youth in general. Nike was my first real pet as an adult. It was my responsibility to take care of him. More importantly he saw me through my most awkward 20′s. A death of this nature is like loosing your right arm. Yes my twenties were gone some time ago, but together we weathered the storm.

October 29th was exactly two months since Nike died. Still difficult to see his photos I realized the best medicine was to get the closest replacement possible. Enter Harley the new Black and white kittie!

Harley

This is our introduction above at the pound. He slobbered all over me and couldn’t get enough hugs. And just like Nike he had been returned to the pound.  His purr is erratic and bumpy just like a Harley-Davidson so we named him Harley. He is perfect in every way and I am so glad to have found him. As my mom says, he has won the kitty lottery! Everyone adores him in my office and all he wants to do is hug and snuggle. What great therapy he is!

Harley

Here he is next to my desk. Is he not the cutest thing you have ever seen?  He is a year old and has a lot of growing to do but Harley is available for hugs and comfort whenever you need him!

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