Now I often say on this blog that rules are made to be broken. However, let me clarify on that very topic. Rules are made to be broken within reason.

Bad design

Now mixing up chairs is always a good idea….mixing the wrong chairs, well that is a bad idea. There are so many things wrong with this design. The hostess chairs are way to big for this space. In other words scale is all wrong. The side chairs are way to small….making your guests feel inferior to those who sit at the ends. And the style, let’s just say it is good to mix them but this is way off. In my opinion, the one that counts, this room needs help. If this is your room give me a call, I can give you the 411 on how to decorate this space properly and not make your guests feel like midgets.

Good design

Instead choose a scale that is appropriate to your room, and in context with the other furniture pieces, like above. It is good to mix and match, however, not to the point of falling into wonderland….even Alice herself would feel out of place in the first dining room!

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image 1, 2

Shower niches

I have done many, many shower remodels over the years and one of the best installments any bathroom addition can have are shower niches. They are easily built into the 2×4′s and can be as tall as you like. It creates a wonderful storage solution for all your shower accessories and keeps them neat and tidy. Having shampoo bottles and soap all over the shower floor and shower seat just looks messy!

While this ledge (shown above) does provide some storage it limits you on overall storage space and can use up valuable shower space; not to mention looks messy. If the option is available always install cubbies to maximize on your shower solutions.

Another recommendation is to add a small shaving niche. If your shower is small and does not have a seat it can prove to be difficult to shave if you are a woman. Add a small cubby for your foot to make shaving comfortable and easy!

What are some of your favorite shower features?

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…..So here it is 2013. I cannot believe another year has passed! Where does the time go? As We step into this New Year, and we all profess resolutions that we may or may not stick to I hope all of you, my readers have a spectacular and abundant year. Heres to moving onward and upward!

xoxo

Amanda

pic

Tools for a Harder-Working Garage

While Webster defines the garage as “a shelter for automotive vehicles,” most of us use our garages for much more than that. Dad stores his tools, tires, and to-dos; mom pulls in with the minivan and piles up potential craft projects; and the kids create chaos with endless amounts of sports equipment and toys. In the end, we often don’t even have room for the cars.

Short of shuffling all your gear to the trash, how can a garage fulfill its storage responsibilities when so many users are demanding space? Well, with a handful of creative solutions and clever organizational strategies, you can transform your space into a multipurpose marvel that holds a three-car garage’s worth of stuff in a two-car garage’s amount of space, no garage sale needed.

Use Your Walls to Double Your Space

Clearing clutter from the floor is the first step to getting the garage in working order, and that means utilizing every inch of the walls and ceiling. Here are a few tricks for getting the most out of your available space:

• For items that don’t get accessed often (such as holiday decorations and luggage), either install a cable-lifted storage rack or create a sliding storage system for rimmed plastic bins along the ceiling. This makes use of previously dead space and gets larger containers off the ground. Pulley systems for raising bikes are also available.
• Install a two-foot-deep shelf around the upper perimeter of the garage to provide additional storage space for bulk paper items and dry goods, small plastic bins, paint supplies, etc. With the typical two-car garage boasting three 24-foot long walls, mounting shelves like these roughly gains an extra 150 feet of usable space.



• Pegboards have long been a go-to for garage gurus, but have you ever thought about them three-dimensionally? By hanging several separate framed pegboards perpendicular to the wall on vertical hinges (sort of like leaves in a book), you gain plenty of surface area for hanging tools without taking up much wall space. Plus, the divided pegboards make categorizing items a breeze. Consider painting outlines of the tools in their appropriate spot on the pegboard so everyone knows what goes where.
• If your garage walls are unfinished, screw small hooks on the ends of neighboring studs, then stretch a few short bungee cords between them to create a makeshift crate for tall garden tools, sports equipment, or balls.

Give Storage Spaces a Dual Purpose

Once you’ve established a place for all of your items, find ways that you can make your garage goods do double duty. With many users vying for usable space, your storage solutions have to do more than just contain things in order to hold their own:

• Whether you have repurposed kitchen cabinets, plastic bins, or a large metal storage locker, paint the outer doors or lids with a coat of inexpensive chalkboard paint then affix a cup nearby to hold chalk. Kids will love being able to “color” on the garage furniture, Type-A moms can quickly scrawl labels describing what’s inside, and your resident handyman will appreciate being able to jot down measurements for whatever project’s in progress.
• Enrich your shelf’s life by utilizing the space underneath as much as you do that on top. Screw small hooks to the underside of a shelf to hold hanging tools and toys, or glue the lids to several jars to the bottom surface and twist the containers into them for stowing small items like nuts and bolts, sidewalk chalk, and nails.
• Save yourself some drawer space and add magnetic strips along the back of your cabinet doors to hold lightweight metal tools and paintbrushes in easy reach.

Give Yourself Room to Grow

On a clear day, punching the garage door opener quickly doubles or even triples your workspace, depending on the size of your driveway, so make expanding to the outside simple and easy:

• Include one or two mobile workbenches (essentially carts on casters) that can be rolled out into the driveway when needed. Whether you create your own or purchase one ready-made, you can also set larger tools like chop saws and drill presses onto wheeled stands.
• With little more than a piece of plywood and a couple of hinges, you can build a flip-down workspace that folds out of the way when not in use. Such a desk is ideal for walkways that must be kept clear when you’re not working.

What other ways have you found to stretch the boundaries of your garage as a multi-purpose room?

Jessica Johnson works for www.extraspace.com and contributes to the Extra Space Storage blog, exploring various aspects of organizing and storing possessions. Extra Space Storage has locations across the U.S., including a Lakewood self storage location.

I’m thrilled to have been chosen again to be a Verizon Ambassador for their new Windows 8x phone by HTC. My role over the next few months is to test this phone and give y’all my honest opinion on how it works, and how user friendly it is. So far so good. Now we did have a fabulous webinar explaining the different applications and functions of our new phones, but I have to say this is the first time I have been excited about a phone since the launch of iPhone.

One of my favorite features so far are the tiles on the home screen. They are easy to customize and they include everything from fun to use aps, to Facebook to the latest and breaking news. I also love the fact that the tiles themselves can be customized. They can be as big or small as I want and I can place them anywhere I choose on the home screen. The best part? I was able to do this without instruction. A phone that is this user friendly and easy to use…one that is what I consider intuitive, is a phone that I can recommend.

Now I am off to use the camera…and BTW, it has photo features to customize my pics and it has different lenses! OMG, I am in heaven!

**As part of the Verizon Wireless Ambassador program, I received a free device and service in exchange for my honest opinions. Thoughts and opinions here are 100% my own. **

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Choosing an exterior color palette for your home can be tricky because many factors need to be taken into consideration. Mistakes can be made easily and if you overlook three key things you’re sure to fail before you even get started.

In the past few months I’ve been working with a local contractor on his new spec house. (I also helped him with the exterior of his farmhouse.) The colors of this spec house were extremely important to me for three reasons. I wanted something different, I wanted to honor the houses architecture and I also wanted to respect the subdivision. This french inspired home felt fresh, modern and I wanted the exterior to feel the same. When Choosing colors there are 3 things to consider:

1) What is the theme in the neighborhood you live in?

2) What is the style of your home?

3) Where is the homes location? For example, are you in the Arizona desert or Mountains of Vermont?

Choose your main exterior color first. This is the start of your palette.

Choose accent colors for drains and trims, and decide on a stain or paint color for your doors

For me I wanted classic with a spin. Drains and trims were done in a charcoal brown and shutters in a deep forest green. Fresh, different and Awesome!

If uncertain of your color choices paint your blueprints. It’s a great way to get an overall feel of what your color palette will look like.

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This past weekend I was in a Marriot in Florida and was disappointed to find such poor lighting in their main bathroom off the lobby. Now to the naked eye most would not see the issue, right?

Poor lighting example

It’s like a finding waldo example only this game might end badly when you go to apply your lipstick. Here’s the issue: The can lights are about 3″ past the the vanity. This effect highlights the vanity beautifully, but without additional lighting around the mirror the woman looking to fix her make-up, fluff her hair or pull that object out of her eye is going to be completely in the dark. As soon as I leaned in over the 24″ vanity to fix my lip gloss I might as well have been putting it up my nose because I couldn’t see anything. And when I stepped back to grab some light…..well I was so far away from the mirror I couldn’t tell my nose from my ears.

Design tip: Always layer your lighting especially in a bathroom. Put everything on dimmers and make sure there is plenty of light no matter where you stand. Have questions or comments? Email me at info@abhomeinteriors.com

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About a year ago I wrote an article on The Secret To Perfectly Organized Bookshelves. Bookshelves may seem like a utilitarian place to store books and odd ball items for display but they really are not for the faint at heart. Our homes have beautiful architectural details that if styled right can instantly give your room a face lift, and showcase your most prized objects with style. Today I helped a client style her book shelf for with items she already had and  the results were stunning.

Before

After

Don’t be afraid to edit. Many of my clients over decorate their shelves and want to show off everything. Instead, rotate your collections and books for a more organized look. Use like minded items, like pottery, colors, finishes or objects that display well and are easy on the eyes. Always leave room to add new books or found items and remember to have fun with it! And if you’re not entirely sure what to do, give me a call! I am happy to help. My team and I can come out ourselves, or I can do a virtual appointment with you to get you on your way.

What is the most challenging aspect of designing and decorating your bookshelves?

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I talk a lot on this blog about how we need to slow down as a society and embrace more of the moments in our lives. So many of us rushing around thinking about what we need to do or worrying about what is behind us, instead of focusing on what is in front of us. How many times have you gotten in your car and drove home completely on auto pilot? I did this very thing today! Coming back from an installation all I could think about was all that needed to be accomplished by end of day. Not even realizing that I got off on the wrong offramp. Doh!

Todays post comes from my yoga instructor, Nora, who discusses this very thing:

I find color trends to be a funny thing. All paint companies have them, Pantone being one of the biggest and most followed, but ultimately no matter how much you like or dislike the choices we eventually are all sucked into drinking the kool aid. Why? Because it appears in fashion. We see it in the clothes we buy and it trickles down into shelter magazines and into stores like pottery barn, West Elm and every other home decor store. Without even realizing it you suddenly start liking blue despite never really being fond of the color.

Orange was one of those colors ten years ago. I remember when I lived in Las Vegas my design team and I were starting to put it into our model home projects. It was a rising trend even though everything on the shelves was still red. By the time I moved to Tennessee, many were still hanging on to the red trend but orange was fast approaching every where. Now people love it and dislike red. Funny how that happens.

Pantone’s color for 2013 is Monaco Blue. Eh, can’t say I’m really fan. It’s a bit too beachy blue for my tastes…..or is it? Without even realizing it the last two homes I have built design concepts for have incorporated a strong blue palette. Interesting!

This morning as I flipped through my emails I received Benjamin Moores top color for 2013: Lemon Sorbet

Eh, can’t say I’m really a fan of yellow…..hmmm, guess we will see where this takes us! What do you think of the proposed upcoming colors? Like or dislike?

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There is nothing I love more than fun and clever ways to update my home, especially when they make me smile. Here are some fun and quick updates that are inexpensive!

1) Maps

Inspired charm

Maps are inexpensive and easy to find. Use them to line drawers or hang on the wall for interesting and easy art.

2) Create an outline

Apartment therapy

With ease of a contrast paint, outline doors or molding for a deep contrast and added drama!

3) Use Wallpaper

Many design places sell wallpaper remnants. You can also call a local paper hanger for left over rolls. Use them in smart ways to line bookshelves, make framed art or create a smashing closet door!

4) Change out Shades

Shades are easy to find and inexpensive. Change them out for a quick update and a splash of color.

What are some of your favorite updates that are quick and easy?

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Linen closets have become little jewel boxes in our homes. They store all the important things in our lives that equal decadence. Here are 5 things you can do to instantly spruce up your linen closet to feel organized and snazzy.

Rural socialite

1) Add shelf liner

[/caption]

Shelf liner is a great way to add pattern and style quickly and affordably to your space.

2) Bundle your sheets

Martha Stewart

The container store

Fold sheets into one of it’s matching pillowcases for easy storage and grab on the go. For an added bonus include a lavender sachet for a good nights sleep.

3) Keep things fresh

Casa Sugar

Have linen sprays and eco cleaners on hand for quick clean-ups and fresh aromas.

4) Contain it.

Martha Stewart

To make life easier, fill bins with your guest in mind. Have towels, wash cloths, soap, sprays and other toiletries within the bin. Easy to grab and place in their room when guests arrive.

5) Quilts and Blankets

Houzz

Always keep extra blankets and quilts handy for over night guests, or to snuggle up on the sofa for a great movie. To keep them neat wrap them in scraps of old ribbon or fabric scrap to keep them frsh and organized.

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It’s been about five weeks now as a Verizon Ambassador. I really enjoyed having my phone with me while in San Francisco and also in Houston. The kindle feature as I have mentioned before is one of my favorite features. The phone has an enormous screen making it easy to read, but it is much smaller than most electronics making it very easy to carry. A true win, win. It also takes great photos!

Us girls had a fantastic time in San Francisco getting into all sorts of trouble. We went to the beach (above just before we went) and we went to a great bar called the office, where we met some great locals to party with,

After I got home from San Francisco I was off for Houston. Where I laid by the pool, and enjoyed mamas favorite kool aid

All in all a great little vacation before the eye of the storm: Better known as Holiday season for interior designers! My phone worked great! Pics are easy to take, email and share with friends in a snap. It is also easy to create video and share amongst friends and family too!

I have slowly started using it to text…but the auto spell on it drives me nuts! It never spells the words I want and I waste a lot of time getting to accept the word I want, rather than the word it wants me to have. If you know how to turn this feature off, let me know!

Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Ambassadors program and have been provided with a wireless device and 3 months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the device

Wishing everyone a fantastic and safe holiday this Fourth of July!!

Eat, drink and be merry today…and don’t forget to enjoy those fireworks.

Happy Fourth of July!

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image: Martha Stewart, El Civic (feature photo)

This delightful recipe fell into my inbox today via Vegetarian Times. A perfect recipe for our hot summer days, with a cool beer (vodka for me) and it has all the right ingredients, equalling yummy!

1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and chayote, and cook 12 minutes, or until chayote is tender and onion begins to brown. Stir in garlic, then corn, beans, and green chiles; cook 5 minutes, or until heated through. Stir in cilantro, then stir in 1/3 cup Jack cheese. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

2. Divide chayote mixture among warmed tortillas. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup Jack cheese and 1 Tbs. queso fresco, if using, over filling. Roll up tortillas, leaving one end open. Serve with lime wedges.

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I recently started chatting up a fine fellow here in Nashville about education and what it’s worth. Interestingly enough most Americans are spoon fed that education is everything…and yet those who have degrees and hundreds of thousands of debt to prove it, are not sure they would do it all over again. While they love the idea of saying they have a Masters, or like this fellow, a fancy PhD an education doesn’t always compute to guaranteed success and or money.

For example, most recipients of a Masters degree average sixty to seventy five thousand dollars a year. Depending on locale. Those with PhD’s can get upwards of $150K, depending on profession and locale, however, it also comes with the high price of school debt, and various loans. Not to mention various insurances, continuing education requirements etc.

Now fast forward to the question of whether you think education and is it worth the cost. Is it? I for one believe that the first few years of college are absolutely necessary. It teaches us so many things like people skills, responsibility, resourcefulness and valuable friendships. And I have to say I had no clue what my social security number was until I had to repeat five thousand times over the course of four years. But I digress. College for me taught me how to tip toe into reality and become an adult. It also gave me an education of sorts because I barely paid attention in high school…who has time for all that non sense when there are cute boys, basketball games and proms to prepare for.

What I find fascinating is this concept that education, dangled like a carrot for those who crave success, is the magical answer. As if it is the golden key in the magical land of fast cars, driven results, and super stardom, is simply education. The reality is success is not measured in text book studies. Steve jobs, Bill gates, Richard Branson, Ralph Lauren, Mark Zuckerburg and Michael Dell are just a few names that did not finish out their education in the proper societal channels. Would they not be considered the epitome of what Americans consider success?

This topic has been on my mind for months. Especially from a woman’s perspective. I have spoken with so many women entrepreneurs over the past couple of years and interestingly enough many women fail to believe they can be “successful” because they don’t have the proper education. Which has nothing at all to do with what they are capable of. The aforementioned are proof of that. It comes down to belief, and a dream, knowing that you have a product that people want and selling it. For women this often becomes a worth issue. Not feeling like they are enough to play with the big boys. In reality it has nothing to do with education, it has to do with taking risks, working your ass off, good customer service and not buying into the ideal that you have to fit a square shape in a round hole. In fact most successful entrepreneurs today barely passed high school, could never make it through college and would be considered least like;y to succeed. Hmmm, and most likely to succeed from the class of 84, where is he now?

I started doing yoga over a year ago. At the time I had not worked out in over five months and that little voice within me was really kicking in, wreaking havoc on my thoughts, especially when I went straight for the fries and cakes, instead of the salad. I had done yoga before but wasn’t really impressed. However, prior to my five month lapse I had been working out consistently at a gym for six straight years; and frankly I didn’t want to see another treadmill or bench press again. No longer hiding in sweaters, as I walked to the pool I was really beginning to see those tasty cakes and fries taking shape on my……insert imagination here.

[/caption]

I can’t tell you why I ended up in a yoga studio, but I can tell you I wanted a different experience than the gym. And I am also very lazy when it comes to things outside of work so if it’s convenient even by one mile I’m sold! I decided to start doing bikram hot yoga. It’s miserable, really. For an hour and a half you flow through 26 asanas in a room that averages 110 degrees at 60% humidity. Many of the poses are based on your own body weight which helps build strength,and even breath. While my goal was to loose those extra “cakes and fries” there was something else I was loosing too, my emotions.

Core power yoga

yogi jessi

Recently I added flow vinyassa yoga to my practice. Not only does it combine meditation within the practice but it is much faster paced and focuses on breath and chakras. Every time I would get into childs pose or the instructor would guide us to our heart center my emotions would bubble up within me. “Why on earth is this happening? What is wrong with me? Am I loosing my mind?” Well a few days ago Yoga Journal released a wonderful article on this very thing. According to Joan Harrigan, Ph.D:

“Yoga is not merely an athletic system; it is a spiritual system. The asanas are designed to affect the subtle body for the purpose of spiritual transformation. People enter into the practice of yoga asana for physical fitness or physical health, or even because they’ve heard it’s good for relaxation, but ultimately the purpose of yoga practice is spiritual development.”

“This development depends on breaking through places in the subtle body that are blocked with unresolved issues and energy. “Anytime you work with the body, you are also working with the mind and the energy system—which is the bridge between body and mind,” Harrigan explains. And since that means working with emotions, emotional breakthroughs can be seen as markers of progress on the road to personal and spiritual growth.” Read article here

Bikram has been my Everest. Some days I can get half way up the mountain and others days I barely get across the lowlands. Vinyassa however has been a great addition, and I consider it to be my Grand Canyon. Sure there are difficult parts but there is so much beauty and enjoyment in it I hardly notice that I am doing 400 push-ups, and it has really allowed me to tap into those subtle energies for spiritual growth.

Have you tried yoga?

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I am excited to announce some of our upcoming events here at AB HOME Interiors. Mind you, it took about five takes to make this video and I am beginning to think it would have been faster to type it…but my coach keeps telling me y’all prefer video. So for all of those that would rather SEE and HEAR me in person, this is for you!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Onw-0cKG0[/youtube]

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Find out more about Virtual Interior Design HERE

For more information feel free to contact my team here

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While color is the predominant hiccup for most of my clients, Style is definitely number two. Where do you find it? How do you get it? And is it something you buy off a shelf, or innately own?

Well it can be both but it is typically something you innately own. In order to get style you have to know what you like, and that doesn’t include the entire store. Most of my clients that I work with struggle with editing, because they like everything. Don’t worry your not alone, I like everything too, but I am an expert at editing in order to get the desired look.

Before you start putting down your hard earned dollars you first need to know what that style is, and how to edit it for the desired look you want. Take stock of what you already own. What do love, and what are so-so pieces that you don’t want defining that space? Next is color, which one is predominant in your space? Do you like it, or was it the color you picked out ten years ago before you were married and had kids? It’s important to remember that we evolve as we get older and our style and tastes change. Edit accordingly and allow your space to evolve with you.

Style

My tips to get the best style for your home:

1) Never buy suites of furniture that match. Allow your collection to grow and mix it up.

2) Mix colors to keep the style interesting and aeclectic

3) Buy the best you can afford. Quality is the study and appreciation of Style, Quantity is a vapid attempt at unattractive kitsch, (that makes it look like you’ve tried too hard!) so know the difference before you buy.

What is your style?

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Image: Stylebyemilyhenderson.com

AB HOME Interiors has been offering online design for over two years but after reviewing our survey from a week ago, we discovered that a majority of our readers don’t necessarily need detailed design plans, but rather prefer quick and easy phone consultations to get their design questions answered now.

AB HOME Interiors

You asked and we responded! Starting Monday February 6th I will  start offering phone consultations to help you choose the right paint, position your furniture correctly, make the right purchases and get you going in the right direction on your design project! And to show my appreciation I will be offering  *phone consultations for $197, roughly 35% off until February 29th! After that they will be $300. For more information or to book your appointment now, please contact Katie @ info@abhomeinteriors.com. Look forward to working with all of you!

* All consultations will be 45 minutes to one hour. Phone consults will be recorded and sent to you within 24-48 hours. Phone consultations will also include an email action sheet and a conversation wrap-up. AB HOME Interiors accepts all major credit cards.

The very convenient truth about our carbon footprint is that each and every one of us have the ability to make an impact. For years the task at hand seemed daunting to me. How on earth (pun intended, Har!) can I make a difference? After watching Al Gore preach to us about Global Warming, and celebrities running in flocks to trade in their 911’s for more efficient options, I wasn’t sure I wanted to join the revolution. Seriously, it was just too much work…. or is it?

Recycle and reuse

We are all busy people, but if we just stop and take stock in the little things, WE CAN make a difference. National Geographic recently published that there is now 7 billion people on the planet. If 10% of that population makes a few conscious decisions every day we can reduce our carbon footprint, and imagine if 25% of that population participated! Think you can’t do it? Try these 12 EASY things around your home over the next thirty days and join in the revolution….it’s fun, you’ll see!

The EASY 12 step eco-home plan

Turn off your lights

1) Turn off the lights-if you leave a room, turn off the lights. During the day, utilize as much natural light as possible and forgo artificial.

2) Vampire energy- Random cords plugged in all over the house charging NOTHING. (Computer plugs, cell phone chargers, drills, iPods…any wireless device that requires a recharge) All those cords that charge stuff shouldn’t be plugged in when they are not CHARGING.

Post consumer

3) Recycled-Buy products that contain post consumer product. Bottles, egg cartons, toilet paper, general packaging, cat litter etc. Most of us visit a grocery store at least twice a month, make a conscious effort to buy at least three items with reused or repurposed material.

4) Reuse newspaper- Use it in compost, for cleaning, burn in the fire, packaging, or combine with cat litter.

Homemade

5) Gifts-Most of us have at least 5 events each year for celebration. The average household has 15. In stead of buying a NEW product as a gift, give the gift of something homemade, secondhand or antique. In order to make true change the supply and demand chain needs to shift. Stop the insane media driven consumerism.

6) Toilets-Put a brick or two filled water bottles in every toilet tank in your home to reduce your water consumption footprint. The average person uses 15-20 gallons of water per day, the average household uses 50-60. Imagine removing the trap under your kitchen sink and having to remove a 3 gallon bucket every time it was full…..you’d be running out to the garden 5-10 times a day.

Showering 1 minute less

7) Showering-Make it a point to shower 1 minute less or more. Put a clock in your bathroom for a week and determine how long you typically bathe. A 10 minute shower wastes 5-8 gallons of water. Think of how much you could save by cutting off an entire minute, and you will save on your water bill.

Printing-Instead of printing every single piece of paper, consider putting the info on a file in your computer. Temporary things like hotel confirmations and flight itineraries can be stored in your phone. If printing is absolutely necessary, reuse and recycle the paper.

Made from scratch

9) Make from scratch-Instead of buying harsh commercial cleaners, make your own at home. They are safer for the occupants and gentler on the environment. Remember, your soaps, detergents and scrubs all go down the drain into our water supply and get absorbed by our earth.

10) Buy local and buy organic-If our food travels an average of 12,000 miles to get to your local grocery store think of the fuel, crude oil, and resources necessary to make that happen. If the farmer down the road has the same product it is a much healthier option for you and the environment…and probably tastes better too!!

Use rags not paper

11) Paper towels-Instead of using 20 paper towels a day, recycle old t-shirts, rags, socks or buy some from a thrift store. Rags can be used over and over and can easily be rinsed in the sink, or thrown in with the laundry without producing a ton of waste.

12) Reuse containers-Instead of buying more containers (media driven consumerism), reuse milk jugs, wine bottles, sour cream containers, egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, jelly jars etc…get creative! A gentleman in my yoga class uses a recycled/repurposed wine jug to bring water to class. Whatever it is use what you got!

Have a great green idea? Share some of your great tips, and I will feature them here on the blog!

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images: Ab home interiors, blogging america

Household odors

In the past twenty years consumers have been inundated from shiny, media-driven ad campaigns, to FEAR odors. I guarantee if you sit down and watch 30 minutes of TV, you will see everything from odor controlling garbage bags, aerosol room sprays, to contraptions that emit froo froo smells every time it senses movement. The ads are intriguing and meant to play on all sorts of emotions-A HAPPY home smells good, A well organized home isn’t complete without vanilla apples, (and my favorite,) What must your neighbors think! So for 25 seconds you watch an over joyed housewife running through the bedrooms, to family rooms destroying all evil odors.

Air fresheners

What most of you don’t realize is these marketing gurus are carving out a money train, putting the fear of odor in your brain, that must be replenished every thirty to sixty days, Cha-Ching! Kinda like those prescription drug ads: Does your house have dirty socks? How about a trash can? Does your kitchen smell like food?….OMG! They are talking about me, I have that! So you run out and buy up every apple cinnamon air freshener on the shelf. The good news is your home will now smell like cinnamon apple dirty socks, and kitchen trash! yummmm!

Commercial air fresheners are toxic. They contaminate the air and have major health hazards thanks to petroleum distillates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, ketones and other dangerous solvents. Some will deaden unwanted odors but as Carla Emery states in her book, Country Living, “most are designed to deal with you.” Air fresheners basically mask natural odors by overpowering them with highly concentrated commercial chemicals, or worse designed to COAT your nasal passages with an oily film to impair your ability to smell. Some even consist of nerve-deadening agents called phthalates, that attack your nasal passages so you may not be able to smell that cat box, but your guests can. Phthalates are starting to be phased out of the US and Canada thanks to birth defects, infertility and being carcinogenic. Not to mention the Center for Disease Control did a test on numerous women of child bearing age and found 7 different types of phthalates in their urine….but that was in 2006 and you can still buy apple cinnamon and a myriad of other flavors at your local market.

The Solution:

Instead of buying the commercially driven, air freshener death wish, opt for a homemade, DIY, environmentally safe option instead.

Air freshener alternative

What you’ll need:

1C vodka or isopropyl alcohol

1C water

1 Spray bottle

essential oil or oils of your preference

I always make my DIY linen and room sprays with vodka because it is one of the most prevalent ingredients at the AB HOME office, and at home…but isopropyl alcohol works too! In a large container mix all the ingredients together and add in your essential oils last. Gently shake or stir the ingredients. With a funnel pour what you’ll need into a small 2 or 3 oz bottle and keep the remainder in an air tight container in a dry cool place. Will keep up to two years if stored properly.

Simple and easy to make, safe for you and the environment.

images: Debbie Atwood, Time health,

Todays post is brought to you by Jessica Phan from Balsam Hill, a high-end manufacturer of Christmas trees. Jessica is out of San Francisco and just before the holidays got into high gear I had one question for her: What do we do with all these beautiful porches come January? I mean let’s face it, even the grinch can get into the spirit of throwing a pumpkin next to his front door. But after all the festivities are over, and the decorations torn down, does that mean our porches go naked until next December? Here are Jessica’s tips to decorate your front porch even after the holidays are over.

Winter Front Porch

Inspiring and Welcoming Winter Front Porches

Winter is a wonderful time of the year to celebrate a bountiful harvest and to showcase your design creativity. While there are many places around the home to decorate with the beauty of Winter, the front porch is the first (and perhaps, only) place that creates a lasting impression upon visitors. Decorating the front porch for the Winter can be a tricky proposition, but you can elicit oohs and aahs from your guests with these simple do’s and don’ts.

DO: Prepare your front porch for a make-over.

The front porch gets plenty of traffic all year long. Make sure your porch is always clean by sweeping away debris from the floor and steps. You can also use one-part cleaning solution mixed with three-part warm water to scrub your porch floor clean. For wooden floors, consider using mild soap or an oil-based cleaning solution to retain the natural beauty of wood.

DON’T: Decorate only for the Holidays.

Fall and Winter is associated with “porch decorating”. While the iconic pumpkin is a fantastic decorating piece and a default that many homeowners use, opt for decor that is festive for the time of year but also compliments the style and decoration of your home.

You can also transition your fall decor into winter by adding sculptural items like pinecones on your wreath. Tie on sprigs of berries or poinsettia and you have a beautiful front porch wreath that spans seasons.

DO: Make the colors of Nature your inspiration in your design.

The bright hue of falling leaves dominates the color scheme of autumn. Draw inspiration from these rich colors to complement your front porch design. Yellow, red, orange and brown look divine against a backdrop of dark green. Put faux green apples on gold urns and place them on opposite sides of the porch. You can also use rectangular planters or hay bales as the foundation for your other front porch decor. Mix and match shapes to create an attention-grabbing visual element on your entryway.

If you have outdoor furniture, cover it with fabric that matches the hues of Winter. Tinted glass jars with pillar, taper or luminaria candles also add a touch of color and coziness to your home exterior.

DON’T: Go crazy with color.

It can be tempting to throw in all the colors imaginable to make your front porch enticing and festive. There is no need to use all the colors of the rainbow to make your outdoor space look fantastic. Limit the color scheme on your front porch to a maximum of three. Repeat the hues all throughout the space.

Keep color simple

DO: Revamp your outdoor furniture.

Winter is a wonderful time to get cozy with family and friends. While it feels great to be able to throw yourself on a bean bag, remember that you will be receiving visitors. It’s time to update your outdoor furniture and select pieces that are classic and also comfortable for your guests year round.

Since most people do not have the time (and budget) to shop for new furniture, look for creative pieces from auction sites, used furniture websites and stores, or thrift shops to save dollars. It doesn’t hurt to peek at your neighbor’s garage sale. Who knows, you just might score the porch swing of your dreams without going very far!

DON’T: Go over your budget when choosing furniture and accessories.

Shopping for furniture, accessories and other decorations for the home is bliss to many. However, searching for great pieces often means that there’s some form of overspending involved. Before heading to the stores to purchase decor, make a list of all the items you need and plan to use on your design. This helps to curb reckless spending and stops you from putting out a plethora of unnecessary items on your porch.

Front porch lighting

DO: Light up your doorway

The path leading to your front porch is just as essential as the entryway itself. Spruce up exterior lights by adding surprising embellishments that keep with the colorful theme of Winter. Tie a colorful bow or a burlap ribbon on a post mount and secure colorful decorations for a whimsical touch to your outdoor lighting. You can also accent wall sconces with fresh flowers or berries.

Decorating your front porch for Winter is an exciting project and doesn’t have to expire simply because the holidays are over! Draw inspiration from Nature for color schemes and use old furniture to dress up your entryway year round.

Jessica Phan is a designer for Balsamhill.com a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

Images: Cleverly inspired, House of Hawthornes, Besco Lighting

Give Thanks

I hope that everyone has an incredibly great and wonderful Thanksgiving. Take this day to spend time with friends and family, and eat lots of food!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Image: Good Housekeeping