You always get what you pay for

For those of you that read my blog you know how much I preach about good design rather than budget design. Well last week I got a taste of my own medicine. Thats right, I tried to save a few dollars on my hair and boy did I pay for it. Literally.

Every May I always get my hair lightened for summer. It is one treat I give to myself and I love how it brightens my face. When a deal came across my desk I thought it to be a win win. I get my hair lightened and have a few pennies left over for a cup of coffee, perhaps two……or so I thought.

When I went to the salon this is what I wanted:

From pinterest

Cute cut, side swing and blonde, perfect for summer! I’ve been getting my hair done for 20 years and this photo above seemed simple enough, right? Assuming that anyone could do it. Ah, yes….ANYONE could do it…..

My color (middle pic) clearly had zero blonde in it. In fact I left with darker hair than I arrived with.

Me two hours before my hair appointment

Despite me mentioning and showing the stylist this picture (above) of me from that morning she clearly had no intention of fixing it. In fact she told me it would take two to three trips to lighten it up to the level of my “wanted” photo. Ummm, my hair was close to that color when I came in! So with my tail between my legs I went back to Erin, my trusted stylist at Paige Simmons. She got me in right away to give me my summer blonde. The lesson here? I ended up paying three times what I would have normally paid and I was mortified having to explain all this to Erin. Thankfully, she was very kind and understanding. And after it was all said and done I finally got what I wanted……minus my left lung and a kidney to pay for it all.

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How To Plan Your Perfect Room

When it comes to interiors there are a few things that separate the novice from the expert. I tend to see the same rookie mistakes over and over and over again. If only there were vodka and or money involved when I hit the WHAMMY button! (Here are a few examples of this very thing.) What sets designers apart from the average joe, aside from experience and schooling, is typically the approach of designing a room. We are quite methodical in our practice, despite being known as “right brains.”

Often to avoid mistakes and for fear of the unknown, novices will typically over indulge in one thing, possibly two things to over compensate for their inability to pull it all together. For example, buy EVERYTHING in a neutral color, or buy up Michaels entire inventory of fake ivy to shove in every corner of the house…..Yes Paula, that one was for YOU! ~wink~ The problem with this theory is that it looks dull, and you end up wasting money.

Most of my clients are fantastic at 85% of all their design, and have a terrific vision of what they want……but it’s that last 15% that makes or breaks the space, and and green ivy will not save the day. In order to make your space look like the pros you need to plan for the perfect room starting with 3 simple tips.

1) Make a plan!

How to plan the perfect room

Seems simple enough, I know, but most people seem to skip this step. It’s essentially like planning a trip to Hawaii without booking your travel plans or packing your suitcase until the day you leave. Things get expensive and chaotic real quick! What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to experience in the room you are decorating? What can you keep, what do you want to buy?

2) Budget

Everyone HATES this question, but it is a part of the process. Do you decide to purchase a car and go straight to the Porsche dealership? I’m gonna guess no. Everything has an average cost. These numbers don’t come out of thin air and are not easily manipulated. A sofa costs, what a sofa costs. And yes, just like cars there are different levels of economy and luxury, which do you want, and which can you afford?

3) Timing

Timing

This is a huge rookie mistake that I see a lot. Homeowners will live with the same room for ten years and then suddenly want it completely redesigned in a week because of a huge event. Even worse, they won’t consult with a professional and they end up buying in a sense of spastic urgency only to hate everything they purchased 6 months later…..ultimately wasting a lot of money. Yes design can be done quickly but only if you have a plan and a solid budget.

SO what can you walk away with? Decide what it is you want to do, how much you are willing to invest to get it, and give yourself enough time to attain the room you’ve been planning to avoid rookie mistakes. Seems simple, but sometimes we say things like “if it were a snake it would have bit me” for a reason!

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4 Mobile Apps To Boost Your Design Project

As our lives grow increasingly difficult from lack of time and overworked schedules, nothing creates more chaos than trying to manage a new home project in the midst of it all. Whether you are working on a vast home remodel or redecorating the living room, home projects take time, money and great tools!

1) Sherwin Williams Color Snap

Sherwin Williams Paint

OK, this app is brilliant and just might save lives. The Color snap app allows you to capture real items in your everyday world and match them to Sherwin-Williams paint colors; for free! The app also lets you choose coordinating colors or you can Ask Sherwin-Williams for recommendations. WIth a tool like this you can easily create a color palette from all your favorite things and keep them at your fingertips.

2) iHandy Carpenter

iHandySoft

iHandy is the easiest and most convienent tool kit in the world. Why? Because these days who doesn’t have their phone? This app gives you 5 tools in one app and it is easy to use. Not to mention handy! It comes with a plumb bob, a surface level, a protractor, ruler and once calibrated the plumb bob, surface level and level bar become an inclinometer. Ok I have no idea what that means or is, but the level and plumb bob have proved to be life savers for me!

3) Pinterest

If you’re not on Pinterest you are living under a rock. It is the quintessential tool to use if you are doing any kind of remodeling or redecorating to your home. It is the best tool to find inspiration and organize and share your findings. Essentially an online scrapbooking of sorts that allows you to keep all your ideas at your finger tips. I honestly do not know how I ran my business before this tool!

4) Houzz Design Ideas

Houzz Design Ideas

Houzz is an upscale website offering more than one million high resolution photos of anything and everything interior design. Cnn called it the Wikipedia for interior design. It offers a place to create idea books, surf through categories by room and collect inspiration on everything imaginable. It also offers up terrific articles to help educate you on what to expect on your next custom build to how to hang a chandelier.

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Are You Doing It? Avoid These 3 Design Mistakes

When it comes to design I often say there are no rules,…. but…… and this is a big BUT…. I say this with an err of caution. There are no rules when certain things are taken into consideration like scale, depth and harmony. A trained eye can easily throw items together that seemingly don’t work at all but marry and mingle quite well like a fun party. Luckily, I see the same mistakes over and over and I am here to the rescue!

1) Floor lamps- Dont skimp on floor lamps!

Floor lamps

I see this over and over again. Most of my clients decide they want to purchase a floor lamp and make decisions solely on price, not product. Why? Floor lamps are damn expensive! And often you don’t know that you are not comparing apples to apples. The lamps above are a great example, the one on the left is from Target. A steal at only $69.99 especially when the Restoration Hardware lamp on the right is a whopping $400. But my friends you get what you pay for. The Target lamp is a whisp of a creature made of plastic, wiring is questionable and it barely makes the height requirements for a disneyland ride. At only 59″ tall this little guy will barely make a difference in lighting your room. Instead, opt for the investment piece that is better made, won’t eat through bulbs and at 72″, you’ll actually be able to read your book and avoid stubbing a toe.

2) Pillows-avoid poly fills at all costs

Pillows

Unless you are allergic to down, never ever buy poly filled pillows. Yes they are less expensive but the materials break down giving you lumpy pillows that cannot be fixed. They are hard to sit on and frankly uncomfortable. Down filled pillows are pliable and easy to form on all your upholstery, they are comfy to sit on and just look better.

3) Rugs-size accordingly

How to size a rug properly

This is another mistake I see over and over. The photo above is a great example of what the homeowner has, and the tape shows what she should have. Rugs create congruency with all the pieces in the room. When the rug is under scaled the furniture doesn’t make sense. See how her chair in the upper right corner is just floating in the room? It’s like a junior high dance where all the girls are on one side of the room and the boys on the other side. We want our furniture pieces mingling and having fun. Now imagine if the rug went all the way to the chair like the tape. The room would instantly feel more comfortable, it would feel larger and all the pieces wouldn’t be angry for being left out. Size accordingly.

Make sense? If you have questions or comments, email me, I’d love to hear from you!

Images: Target, restoration hardware, #mce_temp_url#, 3

Easy Makeover Ideas In 10 Minutes Or Less

Ever wonder if there was an ‘easy’ button for your next decorating project? Maybe you have family coming for the weekend or you’re planning to have friends over for dinner but you hesitate because your living room just isn’t up to par. Doing a quick change doesn’t need to take a lot of time or money, just simple planning. Heres how to get a quick change in 10 minutes or less.

Lamp art by John Richards

Take a picture of your room. I suggest using your phone, it’s quick and easy. Taking a picture is the best way to really see how it looks and where it needs a facelift. Luckily there are a few tried and true elements sure to update your space in a flash.

1) Lighting-add a new floor lamp or table lamp. This can be something new or a lamp pulled from another room

2) Pillows-Most furniture comes with pillows or you already have some to work with. Move them around, pull from other rooms or add to your existing collection. this is a great way to add something new, a pop of color and more comfort.

Candles

3) Most of us have candles around the house. Candles are a great addition to any room because they uplift and embrace it with ambience. They are great mood enhancers especially in scents of lavender, vanilla or rose.

4) Throws-Adding a throw to your sofa or chair is a great way to add depth, color and most importantly comfort. When a guest sees a throw they subconsciously think comfort and relaxation, they also feel well taken care of.

5) Decorative tray- Trays are great for a room especially when you are entertaining. It keeps your party offerings all together and easy to move around. It can also collect any small spills from pouring tea or scooping sugar.

Furnished living room

Adding color, texture and lighting to a space will greatly enhance the mood. Add just a few elements and your room will be ready in a flash!

Would you like AB HOME to help you with your next project? If you’d like us to help you achieve an amazing interior that uplifts you and helps you live better, contact us to set-up an appointment.

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Image Horchow, 2, Decor pad

Fun, Flirty Rooms-What To Buy Now!

Colorful bedroom

Design has taken a hard swing to the left in the last five years. What once was dark red, golden yellow and deep brown has now turned to flirty pink, soft griege and playful aqua. The mediterranean look swiftly took a leap to the back burner and 1950′s aqua and pink have become the new red and brown. To update your space in a flash you’ll need to buy a few new things.

Floral + Wallpaper

Wallpaper-Whether you do one wall or a whole bathroom, wallpaper is one of the coolest and fastest trending design items on the market. And not that cheesy vinyl stuff your grandma had, you know the stuff that took dynamite to remove and it smelled like plastic. I’m talking good stuff like Schumacher, or Graham and Brown. Truly the quickest way to add instant chic to your home.

Striped hostess chairs

Fully upholstered hostess chairs- With bold patterns and fun details over sized hostess chairs add great style and depth to any dining room, not to mention over-the-top comfort!

Patterned drapes

Drapery- The hottest trend now is to go bold, or as I like to say, GO BIG, OR GO HOME! Whether you go with big, bold, patterned drapes or a terrific bold color don’t ever skimp on dressing your windows. It’s the equivalent of wearing a Chanel dress and forgetting your shoes…it just looks off.

Outdoor Living

Outdoor living-Bringing the indoors out has been a trend for quite some time, however, never have spaces been so colorfully designed and fun. Traditionally outdoor spaces were treated more formally. Todays patios and outdoor spaces have cleaner lines, better fabrics to choose from and much more color, so dive in and have some fun!

Which one is your favorite trend? I’m a designer I simply cannot choose!

Image: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

3 Foods To Better Skin

When it comes to our skin we rarely think about the effects of what we eat as the culprit to dry dull skin.We assume that some topical product can be whisked across our faces and like a magical day at Disney we will immediately start glowing. While some topical products do in fact ASSIST in that overall glow, (going to Disney doesn’t hurt either) the food we ingest plays a bigger role: What you place on the inside affects the skin on the outside. Here are three game changers:

1) Avocados

Seriously do you need an excuse to eat this yummy fruit? These suckers are abundant in B-complex vitamins like Niacin (B3) which is an anti-inflammatory that soothes our skin and eliminates dry skin.

2) Almonds

Yum, another fav of mine. Almonds are chocked full of vitamin E which is great for your overall complexion. They help moisturize dry skin and all of it’s antioxidants protect against premature aging and skin damage.

3) Cottage Cheese

Now I know all the cool kids are deleting dairy from their diets, but if they jump off a bridge are you gonna follow too? Cottage cheese is not only a healthy food but full of an essential mineral called selenium. Mix this with tons of vitamin E and you have a very powerful free radical/antioxidant duo that is ready to kick some serious anti aging ass.

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Image: 1, 2

Photo 1

Hall of Books-How to decorate a hallway

Was thumbing through the internet over the weekend and came across this lovely book shelf built into a hallway. What a great use of space and a great decorative item to add to a non descript area of the home. Like ceilings, nothing should be left undone including your hallways. Love this! What do you think of this design? Makes me want to start reading real books again!

Can also say I adore the lighting too!

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Via

How to Decorate an Entry

Every home has a point of entry to welcome its guests. Some are small and require creative ways for big impact and others vast demanding key pieces to cement style and grace. No matter which you possess both require five key ingredients to command order for good reception.

AB HOME Interiors entrance

1) Color- Every home should have flow and your entry sets the stage for what’s to come. Wow your guests with an enticing backdrop that shows you and your personality off. Are you calm and elegant or bold and eclectic? What ever your style it all starts with color!

2) Art- I’m a huge advocate for art. It is what I consider to be the “wild card”. It can be abstract, traditional or somewhere in between. Choose pieces that you love and create conversation. If ever you invest in art this is one place that calls for quality.

3) Console-If you have an entry that is plentiful in space, always include a console or side table. It is a great place to dress up your entry with my next suggestion: lighting. It is also a great place to set keys or mail should you need it along with other favorable decorative items.

To continue reading this article click here!

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Designer Do’s and Don’ts

I would like to thank DefySupply for featuring me as one of their experts for their latest sales infographic. If you are looking for furniture they are the place to go! As one of their favorite designers they stroked my ego by including me in their latest ad. So thanks defysupply, you rock. But honestly, I am pretty great so listen to what I recommend, it will change your life-promise!

6 Designing Secrets from an Interior Designer

When it comes to design there are few rules to adhere to. I mean let’s get something straight here, it’s about creative expression and really showing off your true personality. Setting up a list of rules on how you should and shouldn’t design your home is like telling a painter how they should wave their brush strokes. We all do it differently, approach it from all directions but the end result is always magic. So when designing your home, whether you’re a complete novice or fifteen years into the business always live through creativity but keep a few things in mind.

1) Always have flowers

AB HOME Offices

I am a huge fan of flowers and talk of them often here on the blog. Arrangements do not have to be difficult and can make a huge impact on a room with little effort.

2) Every home should shine

AB HOME Interiors

Just like the photo above, all homes and spaces should have some bling. Add sparkle where ever you can. Whether it be chandeliers, candle holders, decorative accessories, any item that reflects light helps lift a room.

3) Add beauty

Art

Simple things in our lives add beauty. It is about honoring your specific lifestyle and the little things that make your house special. It could be an expensive art piece over the fireplace or your five year olds drawing from school. Beauty comes in many things, learn how to define what your is.

4) Buy quality, buy once

Quality

My mother instilled this in me growing up. She would wait a year to buy a chair or furniture piece if it meant she wouldn’t have to ever buy it again. To this day she still has all of our original furniture from our small house in California from when I was a kid. To her quality far out weighed quantity.

5) Always buy natural

All natural

I have a particular client who is a bachelor and thought it was high way robbery to spend $40 on sheets. However, his $40 sheets were 100% polyester and sand paper would have been more comfortable for sleeping. When I suggested he upgrade to $400 sheets his 30 year old heart stopped. But when I explained to him that the benefits of all natural far out weighed the price, not to mention he’d sleep better, he was sold. Now he tells everyone he knows that better quality sheets are the way to go.

6) Get rid of the clutter

Clean and easy

So many homes I go in are stuffed with unnecessary things. Over cluttered with paper, magazines and items that rarely see the light of day. A space needs to breathe and be enjoyed. Choose items carefully and chuck the rest. You’ll be amazed at how well you feel!

Ready to get your room started? Need some help? Contact us. 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!

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Designer Resources-Where I like to shop

I’m often asked by clients where I like to shop. It really depends on the project and client, which may not always be what you want to hear. So many factors play into my decisions on designing a room, but ultimately it comes down to selecting products that fit into my design concept for that particular project. One of my favorite new resources for clients is Pure Home.

It is a site that offers my clients, and every day folks like you, the necessary tools to execute your project with ease. With just a few clicks they will ask you questions that help you figure out your style and colors with out the hassle of weeding through thousands of products that you probably shouldn’t be looking at or buying.

home_page_category_banner

Their process prevents you from being overwhelmed or buying unnecessary items by asking you questions ahead of time. This helps you understand your preferences and then directs you to the exact items that meet your needs. Awesome! You’ll know paint, furniture and accessories all with the click of a button. I love it when shops make our lives easier.

Another one of my new favorite crushes is Furbish. I love my interiors to have a mix of new and old so it feels collected. This shop gives me the ability to do just that. With a great mix of new and vintage pieces it’s easy to add that spunk to any interior with a pair of vintage candlesticks or a fun new rug from this site.

Furbish

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This shop does require a little more expertise on creating that thing I like to call design magic. Without a plan you might end up buying the wrong thing, however, with that aside, it is the perfect place to cozy up your home with unique items that other places won’t have!

What are some of your favorite places to shop? DO you have a particular style that a particular online store caters to?

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Gluten Free Salad – Blackberry, Jicama and Apple

When I was fourteen years old my parents took me to the fanciest restaurant in a nearby town called Shugrues. It was the fancy going to meetin’ place for those folks looking for a night out on the town (population 10,000… we’re talking big time here). As any teenager would do I wore the perfect outfit, coiffed my hair just so and adorned the perfect shoes hoping for a cute waiter…..that typically turned into a middle aged woman who smiled too much. Oh the life of a teenage girl. However, beyond crazy waitress lady, to my delight Shugrues offered up vegetables as a pre dinner snack rather than bread. This was exciting because it was my first introduction to Jicama. A delicious snack with a texture similar to a coconut and a taste that’s mild and sweet. Immediately I was hooked.

Since those days I have bought Jicama numerous times, always looking for new recipes to use it in. Today Vegetarian Times highlighted this delightful recipe with Jicama for a seemingly perfect summer salad.

Blackberries are perfect salad berries because they’re sturdy enough to stand up to tossing and substantial enough to be speared with a fork. In place of jicama, you can use seeded cucumber.

2 Tbs. nonfat yogurt
4 tsp. lime juice
4 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. raspberry champagne vinegar
2 tsp. agave nectar or honey
½ tsp. poppy seeds
2 cups arugula
1 cup blackberries
½ jicama, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks (1 cup)
½ Granny Smith apple, cut into thin matchsticks (1 cup)

Whisk together yogurt, lime juice, oil, vinegar, agave nectar, and poppy seeds in bowl. Combine arugula, blackberries, jicama, and apple in separate bowl. Toss with yogurt dressing, and serve immediately.

Combine this delightful salad with Big Shrimp, maybe some avocado fries, and a delicious cocktail and you have yourself a party! YUM!

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Remodeling series-Week 13

Can you believe it’s been three months? I have to say I am loving all of your comments. I have been doing this for 12 years and I approach every project as if certain things are known, completely forgetting that this is my 400th remodel, and possibly your first! Mrs S will ask me a question that if I were in her shoes, I would want to know too, however, since the entire blueprint is in my head it’s as if everyone including Ritchie can just crawl in there and grab what they need. Unfortunately I am not programmed like google to spit out facts at all hours of the day and night. I typically need to be present to share my hard drive. But it is a valuable lesson for me. As a designer I always give progress reports to my clients. I hate surprises, and I hate working with someone who is considered an expert in their field ( whatever that may be-A mechanic, graphic designer, insurance agent) and they fail to clue me in on what is happening with my project, and dollars. Not to mention I hate having to contact someone, when I have already reached out to them once before. ( But I digress) My point is, I do my very best to keep everyone, especially my clients in the loop. But I cannot help but laugh at myself when I diligently cross every “T” and dot every “I” and I forget to share something as simple as: How to clean the shower door. Believe it or not, even me the Queen of simple and easy can make things too complicated!

This week seemed to come and go in an instant and we are being held up by doors. Tile completed, we now await for the doors that were suppose to be in on Friday……and then Monday…..and now they will be here this Friday. Vanities are due to be completed at the end of this week and then the jewelry ( better known as plumbing) can start to go in! yay!

1) Tile

Completed shower

Here is the completed shower. You’ll notice blue tape inside of the shower on certain tiles. After an item has been installed Ritchie and the homeowner (Mrs S) go through everything to make sure everything is up to par. Blue tape shows the installer what needs to be fixed, and typically has notes on each piece.

Shower

I am so pleased with the way this came out. From my chicken scratch (shown below) to the completed project.

Chicken scratch

Shower ceiling

This was an ‘on site’ decision. The tile originally was planned to stop at eight feet. (About 14″ shorter than shown) However, since I wanted Ritchie to raise the ceiling to make the shower feel more expansive, we had to decide if we wanted the tile to stay at eight feet, and have open dry wall above it, or tile the whole box…I think we made the right decision!

2) Floors

Finished Floor

How many times can I show off the floor? I am thinking as many times as I want. Here is the completed floor….again……but I just love how it turned out. The marble is stunning and the border equally so. Now we continue to wait for the doors, and vanities, but no time is lost because the floors in the bedroom are going down.

3) The Bedroom

Master bedroom

While the bulk of the construction has taken place in the bathroom, the bedroom has been the hub of activity for tools, tables, and stuff. All of this will be removed to lay the floors, and once they are laid they can be stained. Tune in next week to see it completed!

That is week 13.

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Laundry rooms-The DIY cure to organize them, and keep them tidy

Let’s face it, we have to do laundry. As much as all of us can attest to hating one of the most basic and utilitarian household chores, it’s a necessary evil. Most clients that I work with never touch this space. Furnishing it as if it were lucifers closet, the laundry room truly gets the least amount of love and dollars. And rarely does it get any weekend DIY consideration. Poor thing. The good news is, when this space is fun and efficient it makes doing the wash less of a chore and more of an enjoyable space. Really!

I am always talking about energy and how our homes should uplift and rejuvenate us. If you leave your home in a flurry with dirty dishes, an unmade bed , toiletries all over the house and a pile of laundry everywhere, you hardly want to rush back home. My point? (Yes I do have one), when you leave your home in a frenzied mess, you come home to a frenzied mess. Same goes for the laundry room. When you enter that space with disgust and loathing, it hardly makes for a fun chore. Every time you enter that space you are already geared up for the worst! So how can you get out of the laundry room blues? Get out a can of paint, get rid of the clutter and get organized. Heres some great DIY tips to save your Laundry room from disgust and loathing, to pleasing and delightful! Heres my tips to get it organized and efficient:

1) Color coded laundry bins

Color coded laundry

Simplicity is key here. Use a light bin for white laundry, a black bin for darks, and a red bin for delicates. This example above by My Antique Barn is a perfect example. She took three antique flour bins and converted them into laundry room work horses; DIY magic!

My entire world is organized by color. Everyone in my office knows if they want me to participate in any admin responsibilities, they have to first speak my language. What most people don’t realize is that organization is a fairly simple practice to follow. Especially if initiated early on and everyone is programmed. But too often the Martha Stewarts of the world make it too difficult and way more arduaous than it needs to be. Keep it simple and simply organized and you’ll have great success.

2) Arrange your products accordingly

Cleaning supplies

laundry room cleaning products

We all know the term, “birds of a feather, flock together”. Keep this in mind when organizing your cleaning supplies. Keep detergents, softeners, stain treatments, household cleaners, what ever it is you like to use, keep them in close proximity of each other. Having detergent in one place and softener in another doesn’t make sense. Button up your efficiency and keep like-minded products together. Make your laundry room work for you.

I prefer open shelving for items I grab daily or weekly. Another great tip from Real Simple, line your items up according to how you use them. If aesthetics are a high priority, place the items in an area that is easy for you to use, won’t hinder your efficiency, and meets your visual needs. I used to transfer all my liquids to pretty bottles. But honestly, we all use these products, so if you have a few of them on a shelf it won’t be the end of the world. Plus I tend to make a lot of my own cleaning products so the bottles tend to be pretty basic.

3) Folding tables

Laundry room folding table

Every laundry room needs a place to fold. Probably the most arduous thing about laundry is the many steps it requires….folding being one of them (This is probably where the loathing and disgust come from). Once the laundry is complete, it has to be folded. Always create an area to fold your laundry with ease, and make sure the counter surface is at least 36″ high. If you have a family of four and your counter is below 36″, you will strain your back and wear yourself out. If you don’t have space for a folding table, keep an ironing board in a handy place. It can double as a surface and be neatly put away when not in use, like the one shown above.

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Another great tip. If you have the room, devote a laundry basket to every member of the household. When their laundry is folded they can come get it, instead of you having to go to every room of the house to drop it off. Put labels on the baskets with their names on it. If you are a DIY connoisseur, you can make bins out of fabric to coordinate with your beautiful new laundry room.

4) Drying racks

Laundry drying area

Laundry bins

An area to hang up delicates is always preferable in a laundry room. I typically hang everything I own to preserve the life of the garment. The best thing is to choose something that works for you and your lifestyle. So whether you choose to have a garment rack or an area devoted for hanging several pieces, always include a portion of space for drying outside of the dryer. If you are limited on space but need a space to hang up your clothes (outside of the treadmill or strung all over the house, Urban clothes line has many options to choose from, whether you have 2 feet of space or 2″ of space. Another wonderful DIY option is to take an old ladder and hang it from the ceiling.

5) Seating

Large laundry room

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If you are lucky enough to have the ample space, a seating area in a laundry room can be quite utilitarian. It is a great place to plop down to sew on buttons that need repair, fold in comfort, or a place to relax and read a book while the dryer finishes. It creates a more inviting environment, and makes the space more homey and less chore oriented.

What are some of your best tips for organizing your laundry room?

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Images: My antique barn, real simple, houzz, all doing,#mce_temp_url#, the inspired room,

New home decor trends that everyone will love

Every year new things hit the home decor market and they are considered a trend until the market has had a chance to respond to it. Lately, that means most folks are going to respond as quick as a Debbie Gibson concert coming to town. However, if that trend is strong and the general public creates a demand, that trend officially becomes a movement. Like a Justin Bieber youtube video. (AHHhhh, it’s so exciting!) I saw this occur with the blue and brown trend, a color combo that was introduced in 2001/2002. My staff and I were utilizing this trend in our model homes in Las Vegas. Profiles given to us by the builder as to the type of homeowner that was considered their key target market to buy that specific home. Husband and wife, two kids, a dog….etc, as Leave it to Beaver as it gets.Most of our model homes were geared towards young urban couples, so we always used up and coming trends that were considered fresh and new. Blue and brown combos were just that. A small trend we were seeing in art and fabrics, but hardly anything we considered a craze. We had no idea that five years later the blue and brown trend would still be a very strong movement in home decor and still prevalent today. Apparently the market liked and demanded it!

In my opinion,( the one that really counts) trends in small doses are wonderful ways to update your home. They freshen it up, and don’t break the bank if they have ran their course. So what are this years fashionable trends in home decor that seem to have sticking power?

1) Horses

Black and white stallion

Yee-haw! OK not exactly. This has been a trend that I have seen growing in popularity in the last year. Now I realize that Ralph Lauren made equestrian lifestyles uber cool and chic as a brand, but not everyone feels they can hang a horse on the wall unless they live in Arizona, or Colorado. However my friends that is just not true! I have seen horses in many art galleries, accessories, and fabrics, all in very new chic ways. This piece above is a high quality giclee in a beautiful white and black textured canvas, stretched to 47×47. This piece would work beautifully in any style home, and is a great conversation piece in the dining room or family room. Can y’all say, Giddy-up!

2) Vintage Throws

Apartment therapy

Vintage sari throws

This trend started about two years ago and has progressively grown more and more popular. Vintage sari throws are hand stitched by women in India using fair trade practices, that pay them fairly for their craft. Sari throws are perfect blankets to keep in the family room, or bedroom to cozy up to. I recently added them to the store and they have been wildly popular. What I love most about them is they are very colorful, are similar to a quilts, but have a more updated and chic feel to them. They are also a fabulous way to add color and texture to a room that doesn’t have to match your existing decor, love that!

3) Wallpaper

Wallpaper

This paper by anthropologie ,shown above, is actually two trends in one. (see pink below) Wallpaper, yes I said it, is a huge trend that is coming back in a big way. I know many people cringe at the thought, and have bad memories of floating fairies, or angelic fat babies floating in clouds with harps. You may even envision nightmares of trying to get the stuff off the wall with a belt sander and the cat, but wallpaper is making a huge comeback, and with new technologies in adhesives, you no longer have to worry about permanent damage to your walls, or end up with a hairless cat. Pretty, stylish and super fun. ( No harley’s were harmed during the typing of this post.)

4) Pink

Pink

Another huge trend, pink! Pink is a lovely color that is often overlooked, and underestimated. It is a soft, soothing color that is great in small doses around your home. It is a color that goes with everything,( yes everything), and is also an uplifting color. Couldn’t we all use a little of that in our homes?

5) Collections

Cocktail shakers

Sid DIckens memory blocks

Whether you collect cocktail shakers, art , or bugs in acrylic molds, collections that are displayed well are very smart for your bank account and great for home decor. Bugs in particular have been a huge growing trend in the home decor industry. I will spare you a picture because personally, they give me the creepy crawlies, but collections have become very cool. And I ain’t talking precious moments here. I am talking a collection of something that is vintage, uber cool or retains a value once no longer available. Take a vintage cocktail shaker. Great for booze, but even better as an investment,… some go for a cool stack of High society, (that’s 10 g’s for all y’all laymen’s) Cha-ching! Bugs? Well depending on what type, and who’s asking, can go for several hundred bucks. And art, well that always goes up in value. Sid Dicken tiles are one of my favorites. They are accessible to the masses at an affordable price, but once retired, go up in value. Some go for three to six hundred dollars! And since the banks can’t seem to give interest above two pennies a year, collections are definitely a trend I would invest in!

What are some of your favorite trends this year?

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images: AB HOME, apartment therapy, anthropologie

How to update your home without the cost of adding on

According to this article by STL today, in order to get the best return on your home there are five remodeling projects that get you the most bang for your buck. But like most cities, Nashville is a city with a lot of history, style and small homes. Maxwell coffee started here, Vanderbilt’s, and of course, country music. At the turn of the century many every day folks lived in wonderfully small bungalows, not in the suburbs where many of today’s urbanites find sprawling square footage! Thankfully, because of our history we have some of the most quaint neighborhoods and homes that I have ever seen. Edgehill, Sylvan park, 12 South, Berry hill, Downtown Franklin, just to name a few. Several of my client’s live in these beautiful areas, and they take pride in their wonderfully small bungalows. But how do you maximize and update a cracker jack lifestyle, two kids, and a dog when trying to salvage your homes original charm? It’s hard to imagine a massive remodel, that includes exploding that home’s charm out into the garden, just to suit the needs of your 21st century lifestyle. So what do you do if you live in a smaller space and a remodel is not an option? Heres how to get an update without the cost of adding on!

1) Taller doors

Tall doors

Taller doors give the illusion of more space in your home. Have you ever walked into a small family room that had vaulted ceilings? Often, when there is added height, the space creates it’s own optical illusion and you don’t feel cramped. Same goes for the doors. Taller doors give you the illusion that there is more space, and they also allow more light to flood into the space. An added bonus is painting them something special. Like the photo above, this home’s kitchen is very small, however, the beautifully tall, GREEN, doors take your attention away from the obvious, and makes the space spectacular! Here is a great place to find stylish doors, that are tall and affordable.

Designer tip: Can’t afford to replace and remodel your doors from 6’8 to 8′? Add pediments, antique windows or mirrors above your doors. It will give you the added affect, and won’t break the break.

2) Raise the drapes

Tall drapes

Just like raising the doors, raise your drapes all the way up to the bottom of the crown. Drapes add softness to a space, and draw your eye upward. For additional illusion select colors for your walls, trim and drapes in a similar color.

Designer tip: Add features to the top of your drapes like grommets, ribbon, or buttons. The added texture creates shadowing and more weight to the top of the drape.

3) Extended cabinets

Taller cabinets

Instead of choosing the ever-popular and standard 42″ upper cabinet, opt for the 36″ cabinet and top it with a 12″ upper with glass. As with the drapes and doors, it extends the eye up and the glass adds sparkle. The 12″ uppers can have lights placed inside them, grabbing the eyes attention with light. It is a great way to display some of your more special china, and also makes your space look more custom.

Designer tip: Already have a good kitchen in place and not about to remodel your kitchen? Paint your ceiling the same color as your wall, and add rope lighting or LED ribbon to the top of your cabinets. It will be harder for the eye to discern where the wall and ceiling meet, and the lights will help expand the space up.

4) Mirrors

Vintage mirrors

Mirrors add sparkle, grab and bounce light, and reflect objects from different angles. They are superb weapons for a small space.

Designer tip: You can never have enough mirrors!

5) Rug

Small Rug

Instead of choosing a small rug, go for the largest one that your room can fit. The photo above is a great example, by Southern Living, on making a too small rug, work.

Large rug

Many homeowners want to put a small rug in their small room, for fear of covering the floors! Above, this photo is a great example of extending the eye with a sisal rug, and then adding color and texture with a beautiful hide. If the rug option you have is too small for the room, layer it with one or two rugs to add texture and color. Otherwise the eye will only devote attention to the rug thats in a small room.

What are some of your favorite tricks?

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images: houzz, kitchen cabinets, elements of style, simply seductive, emily clarke

3 ways to add decadence to your bathroom

Let’s face it, we spend a lot of time in our bathrooms. It is a space that is typically used individually, so why not adorn them with decadent luxuries that uplift your mood. Here a few things that I like to always have in a bathroom for added decadence.

Rustic bathroom

Vintage faucet

1) Add fresh flowers, a rustic or flea market mirror, and a special faucet. Faucets add bling, whether a shiny new find, or a vintage masterpeice.

White bathroom

2) Add white. Bathrooms in white are timeless, and feel soothing. Compliment your faucet with a chandelier or a pair of sconces to add glamour.

White bathroom

Bath accessories

3) Dont forget the details! A fluffy mat, fresh cut flowers, a ruffled shower curtain and a pop of color from a side table make the first photo above feel inviting. Always have on had sumptuous thick towels, bath salts, and personal care items that are easy to find. As an added bonus I always like to add a jar of chocolates or mints and have a tray of bottled water. This is very decadent for your guests as well!

What do you think of white bathrooms?

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Harley the harlequin

I find that I prefer black in my spaces with lots of papers, Very homey and decadent. I always find that a good nap never hurt no one!

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Organization in new ways

As Mondays always approach at warp speed…and Fridays seem to run in the opposite direction, I decided to share some great organization tips in an unlikely medium: food! As Spring approaches, and we shed a layer or two of clothing, we are graced with warm weather B-B-Ques, get-together’s, and plenty of excuses to eat. Here are some terrific ways to multi-task your way to a full belly!

1) Cupcakes on a stick:

Cupcakes on a stick

How fun is this? From Sweet Paul magazine, this idea keeps your party goers filled with surprise and excitement. Easy to eat, and a throwback to our child hood.

2) Old favorite in a new way:

Eggplant fries

From use real butter, courtesy of the Hungry Mouse, the perfect appetizer for an afternoon of family chit chat and relaxation. Easy to make, tasty, and healthier than it’s potato counterpart. And wrapping a small portion in wax paper stuffed into a cup is the perfect casual presentation for your guests, and hints at appropriate portion control!

3) Beer multi tasking at it’s finest!

Beer drinking multi tasker

Oh my holy heaven I think this is brilliant. Talk about having your beer and drinking it to! The GO plate, from Keg works, makes the party practical, and you never have to set your drink down again! And works with all types of drink bottles. Absolutely brilliant!

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Highpoint trends from Brentwood designer, Amanda gates

This year traveling to Highpoint Market was more fun than ever. Market not only helps me see upcoming trends and recognize new ones, but most importantly it gives me the opportunity to connect with other designers. Being able to sit down with them allows me to talk shop about top design trends and current swings in our industry. It is also a great way to discuss popular buying habits in different regions. For instance, talking shop with one of L.A.’s hottest designers, Brooke Giannetti of Velvet and Linen I learned that her shop cannot keep Swedish antiques and vintage finds in stock. Maria Killam, an expert at design and color and author of Colour Me Happy rarely sell’s an antique because in Vancouver the style is very sleek and modern with great pops of color, her specialty. Kim Grigg from Knotting Hill Interiors is a luxury Interior designer who is an expert at combining inexpensive finds with beautiful treasures for a beautiful layered look unique to her and South Carolina. Each area has a unique buying focus, but High Point Market always sets the tone.

Here are some items that we all agreed were going to make a big splash in the upcoming year:

1) Scallops:

Table from Lexington

I saw scallops in many showrooms. The biggest trend was scallops on dining tables, coctail tables and cute little side tables. Suzanne Kasler

made this design very popular a few years ago with her Quatrofoil chair from Hickory Chair

Suzanne Kasler by Hickory Chair

2) Painted furniture in bright hues:

Painted chair by Sam Moore

Hello beautiful! Doesnt this chair look like it is saying “how do you do?” Fun, curvy and a great pop of color for any room!

3) Purple and gold:

Leftbank art

Yellow and plum were seen everywhere. This is definitely an upcoming trend. If you missed my podcast with Lori Sawaya on this trend, The Colors you need now for Instant Holiday Glamour, Lori and I discuss why this color conmbo works and how to integrate it into your home. I love this color combination for many reasons. It is fresh, and easily works with many other colors.

4) Retro Furniture:

Remember this post about vacation bliss, and finding treasures? Remember these chairs shown above that I found at a flea market? Well look what I found at HP Market as a big hot seller in none other, the color Purple!

Rowe Furniture

Retro furniture is coming back in a big way. Classic lines from the 60′s and 70′s are a strong trend.

Becasue I have my gold chairs from the flea market I passed on these beauties above, but I did purchase these chairs below for the studio:

Purple…hmmm. Are you seeing the trend here??

I put these in this fun floral

The sofa I purchased will be in the solid orange in the upper right. The chairs in the floral and the stripe and solid blue will be 20″ pillows. How fun is that?

I really enjoyed meeting everyone at Market. It is so much fun to meet other designers and share in all the treasures. We all turn into kids in a life size candy store.

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If you are interested in purchasing any of the peices listed above contact us for more info!

First photo LEE Industries

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Cleaning 101: How to clean in record time

I hate cleaning and as a child I always daydreamed of adulthood. It would bestow upon me no responsibility, reckless abandonment, and a carefree lifestyle. As an adult I could do whatever I want…

Fast forward seventeen years and now I daydream of being a kid again doing little to no chores and stressing about whether Shane B. from the football team really likes me.

Cleaning is awful, but we have to do it. Well actually you don’t have to do anything, but when I come to your house and it’s clean, I really do appreciate it! Not to mention a clean house lessons your stress load, and lifts your mood. Think about it. When you leave the house in a hurry and forget to make the bed, clean the dishes and pick up your clothes, what do you come home to at the end of the day? Chaos. And when it’s a bad day, the last thing you need is more chaos! Here are my top tips to lighten the load and make it a breeze to do.

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1) Stay focused

This has got to be the best tip I have and if you take my advice on this, you will save an hour. I am about as ADD as they come. I start to pick up and straighten the house and five hours later I have accomplished nothing and started 20 different tasks. Get out the kitchen timer. Write down all the things that need to be done in a weeks time. Break it down into two to three items at 30 minutes tops a day. Knowing that the timer is going will keep you going, and the list will keep you focused.

2) Flash Cards

I learned this trick years ago and still use it today. Keep 7 flash cards for all the chores that need to be done in a week for your home. Limit 2-4 chores per card. Keep the flash cards in a recipe box, junk drawer or cupboard. Randomly pick out a card each day. Whatever the chores are on the card is what gets done that day. Set your timer (preferably 30 minutes) for the flash card pulled. Once those chores are complete separate that card from the rest of the chores that have not been done for that week. This keeps chores manageable, and not so routine. Sometimes I vacuum on Tuesday’s and sometimes is gets done on Saturday.

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3) Straightening up

Keep baskets, or attractive tubs around the house that are labeled or distinctive in some fashion. For example, keep baskets at the top and bottom of stairs, if items need to be taken upstairs they can be thrown into the baskets and hauled upstairs when someone uses them or vice versa. Also, keep baskets or tubs in various rooms for quick clean up. Toys, magazines, and misc items can be quickly thrown into them to organize and straighten up a room until you have time to distribute the items to their original location.

4) Lint rollers

Like Vodka, these little guys are multitaskers. They can quickly clean upholstery, lamp shades, headboards and chair cushions at record speeds. They are great at quickly rolling over placemats if you don’t have time to wash them.

Handheld Vacuums
Invest in the best you can afford because these are perfect for in between cleans. They can quickly pick up crumbs, dust bunnies, little messes and allow you to go longer without the big mammoth vacuum.

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5) Newspapers

Get out the cheap Vodka and wipe down all your counters and glass surfaces with newspapers. It is the greenest way to clean possible, cheap, and won’t leave streaks!

Baking Soda
Whatever the Vodka can’t clean the baking soda will take care of. Mixed with water it has the necessary grit to scrub anything clean, but is gentle enough to not harm hands, pets or kids. It is also a green product and wont hurt the environment!

Unfortunately it is a part of adulthood no one ever told us about. I was under the elusion that it meant eating ice cream for breakfast, pancakes for dinner and staying up till 3am just because I felt like it. And while I can do all those things, no one told me I’d have to clean up the messes I made at 3am. ( the pancake syrup really sticks if it isn’t cleaned up right away!)

‘If you want to see me, come on over. If you want to see my house, call ahead.’”

Melissa Taylor, Denver, Colorado

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Easy cleaning tips

Each one of us leads a hectic life. Whether you are a mom juggling household management, career and family, or a recent grad working and devoting extra time to the community. None of us has enough time in the day to achieve everything we need to do. Ever find yourself saying “if only there was more time in a day.” Or wishing that there were eight days in a week?

I myself am an entrepreneur, designer, wife and among other things a little crazy at heart. Time constraints are complete madness in my world, and I constantly ask myself why I can’t have just a little more of that valued gold, otherwise known as time. SO when I have a few moments to myself the last thing I want to do is CLEAN for hours! I want to indulge in simple luxuries, coddle a warm cup of coffee with friends, and take a nap on linens that feel like milk and honey.

My goal of this menu is to provide some of the top tips that not only I use, but some of the best that I have found in the industry so you too can indulge in the finer things.

by Melissa Taylor:

“If you want to see me, come on over. If you want to see my house,..call ahead!”

3 ways to make party punch more interesting and fun

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Most adults will agree that the school dance without punch just wasn’t a dance at all. And thanks to Angie Sanders, the coolest senior in High School, I learned that punch was way more interesting and fun with booze! But between you, me, and the fencepost, I’ll never admit that to my mother because according to my bent truth, I didn’t start drinking the magic juice until my early twenties. ( but I swear that woman has eyes in the back of her head and she knows more then she’s saying!)

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Fast forward to now and most adults still like punch but eventually the day comes when punch just isn’t enjoyable and we forget to make it. In this A.D.D generation of the ‘grass is always greener elsewhere’ we crave variety. I personally crave all things easy and find my thoughts wandering to an easier time of school dances, endearing crushes on boys like David Thompson and fruity punch. As we approach this fall season amidst record breaking highs, punch not only seems appropriate, but refreshing and fun!

AB HOME’S Adult Party Punch

1 C Sugar

1 C Water

4 C Orange Juice

1C Lemon juice

1 C strong tea

6 Sprite zeros

As much vodka as you need

(I recommend generous amounts)

1) Tip number one- Roll lemons or limes on a hard surface with the heel of your hand before cutting. This softens the fruit from the protective wall, and makes squeezing fresh juice much easier.

2) Tip two-For this holiday season, make punch more fun by hollowing out a pumpkin and using it as a punch bowl for Halloween. Serve up in mason jars filled with a few slices of fruit for extra flavor

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3) Tip 3-Soak apricots, fresh or frozen in Vodka for three to four weeks and store in the fridge in a sealed mason jar. The day of the party put flavored fruit into the pumpkin with punch and let sit for an hour before you serve. Use remainder of vodka (as much as you need) to flavor punch.

Boil sugar and water together for approximately ten minutes. Add tea and chill. When you are ready to serve punch mix everything together and pour into the pumpkin with ice. For extra amusement, you can also float strawberries, cherries, lemon and orange slices on top for decoration; in my opinion this makes the punch a nutritious and a well balanced meal!

Gulp Drink up!

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4 little known facts to maintain your painted walls by Nashville designer, Amanda Gates

You’ve dreamed of repainting and finally get the courage to do it. You’ve done your homework and managed to narrow down the paint selection to a few hundred choices. You’ve even hired a color professional to narrow the chaos down and help you select THE best paint combo known to man; and the transformation begins. Excited you see your space take shape…*swoon*

Samantha Friedman

The change is amazing, and you can’t beleive it took you this long to repaint. And then it happens. You turn the corner from your hallway to see your beautiful wall has been marred by the black scuff monster.

source

In panic you grab a rag, papertowel anything you can find to rub it off the wall…and it only makes it worse. YIKES! Now there is a big shiny patch in the middle of your wall the size of Equador.

Wall mainteneance 101-First things first DON’T PANIC!

When a scuff monster has attacked your wall don’t attack it with gusto. This will cause the paint to burnish. What does that mean, you ask? Simply put, it means you have stripped off the smoothed out top coat of the original paint. And you have rubbed TOO HARD. To keep walls clean try to remove stains quickly. They will generally come off easier.

How should you clean them?

Start out with clean water on a nonabrasive rag. If that doesn’t work, dip the rag or sponge into a dilution of water and dishwashing soap. For more stubborn cases, you can apply soap directly to your sponge and gently wipe. Keep in mind that the more moisture applied to the wall the softer the paint will become.

There are two types of stains

Oil based and water based. If the stain is a water based stain than a wet cloth with water will do. But generally for oil based stains the dishwashing soap will help break it down.

How to clean Permanent marker

You can try diswashing solution, however the chemical that makes them “permanent” is the same chemical that makes paint permanent. More aggressive solvents like comet on a sponge, or a sponge with an abbrasive side may help. Get as much of the marker off as you can, but most likely, you will need to repaint that section of the stained wall.

Overall scratches and dents on the walls

Most dents can be avoided with furniture bumpers. They can be purchased at big box stores like Home Depot, or I like to buy mine from Rockler woodworking. You can also install chair rails. And remember the glossier the paint, the easier to clean.

Are some paints easier to clean?

All paint manufacturers have paints that are considered more durable. Many on the market today have high-performance finishes that are amazingly easy to clean—you just sponge them off as if you were wiping off a countertop, {instead of experimenting like a mad scientist with water and various solvents that may not work!} Ketchup, food, scuff marks, mud—all just wipe clean. Sherwin Williams has Duration Home, Behr has Premium plus and Benjamin Moore has AquaVelvet; and all are easy-clean products. Each manufacturer has a scrubbale flat or a high-performance eggshell ready to take on your homes dirt and grime. Just ask your local paint supply company and they will be happy to let you know which paint is the best for your lifestyle.

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What to avoid to prevent painting mistakes
Often times when a consumer takes on the task of painting (in an effort to save money) they rush to the finish line without warming up. What does this do? Causes major cramping, dehydration, and profuse sweating. Ok, not exactly, but without proper preparation the surface can’t be prepared correctly. Make sure you:
1) Wipe off your walls, especially around light switches.
2) Remove all cobwebs.
3) Remove grease, lotion, or any smoke residue that can be found on kitchen and bathroom walls. (If walls are not cleaned properly the paint will stick to the above items causing your paint to fail.)
4) Use good tools. Don’t skimp on quality brushes and rollers. If you do, they will shed into your paint, giving you unwanted textured walls!

What are some of your painting woes?

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Posted: September 7, 2010 by Amanda Gates |Filed Under: TIPS | paint | cleaning walls, maintaining walls, painted walls, wall maintenance 1 Comment AB Homes Interiors Blog

A lady always wears PEARLS!

My grandmother is a force to be reckoned with. Still is. At 80 she still scares the living daylights (and midnights) out of me. She prances around blurting out absurdities like ” A woman’s beauty lasts only as long as her disposition stays sweet”. YES, I shall remember these warm fluffy thoughts when Im divulging salacious and COLORFUL words to the truck driver who drop ships broken accessories to my store, and then so eloquently tells me to stuff it like Sunday Turkey.

Grandma is THE essential girl’s guide to modern manners and etiquette. Never mind the fact that she bottled her enterprise in the 40′s. Polite with a capitol “P”. Her dynasty built entirely on class, sophistication and a 1950′s Continental Mark II Lincoln. She is the epitome of excellence. Like some corset restricting denomination, she is all things protocol, and accepted behavior. THE template of homemaker perfection,to which Martha Stewart would deem undeniably as exemplary and unrivaled perfection. And to go against this way of thinking, well that would be THE gravest of errors.

I called up excessive Grandma on Friday to see how she has been. Incredibly, or should I say unsurprisingly, still her enchanted self. Always polite, with a capitol “P”, this woman never misses a beat. With moonstruck exaggeration in her voice, and a five 0′clock toddy in hand, everything is just wonderful and fabulous. My GOD she must know Barbie; contestants in their own pageant to all things pleasant.

Her sugary sweet perfection is absolutely exhausting and exhilarating. How does she hold it together? How does she multitask and make the most minuscule task look extraordinary? I find it difficult to persuade myself each morning that anything other than flip flops, pony tail, and chapstick is outlandish. My most polished days of improvement are carried out with a pair of flats and TINTED chapstick. Unsettled and perturbed my Grandmother, to no avail will remind me, ” you know dear, a LADY always wears pearls”…….”and a little lipstick never hurt either”.

I will never understand this divine and unnatural creature. Always stylish, and gracious Grandma never misses an opportunity to vocalize how to conduct oneself with unabashed formalities. Don’t get me wrong. Grandma is the finest most formidable woman I know, to which I deeply respect. But her paradise of cultivated elegance is a bit too calculated and precise for my unbalanced, uncoordinated existence. Everything ending with a smile, as if auditioning for a broadway play she glides with poise, and a twirl with her arms in the air ” remember dear, always be pleasant!” Yes PLEASANT with a capitol “P”. I will TRY to remember these important indigestible words. Especially when my husband leaves his fourth, (no fifth) pair of shoes in the hallway for me to fluidly and gracefully step on for the tenth time, the car for which he leaves me NO GAS (on the day that I am late for THE MOST important appointment of my life),and the truck driver that throws my accessories into the ambiguous black hole he calls a truck resulting in Hurricane Katrina devastation. I will try to remember these important words of wisdom. Be Kind, Be pleasant, and always wear pearls!

Posted: June 17, 2009 by Amanda Gates |Filed Under: TIPS | 1 Comment AB Homes Interiors Blog

1) Tile

2) Floors

3) The Bedroom

1) Color coded laundry bins

2) Arrange your products accordingly

3) Folding tables

4) Drying racks

5) Seating

1) Horses

2) Vintage Throws

3) Wallpaper

4) Pink

5) Collections

1) Taller doors

2) Raise the drapes

3) Extended cabinets

4) Mirrors

5) Rug

1) Cupcakes on a stick:

2) Old favorite in a new way:

3) Beer multi tasking at it’s finest!

1) Scallops:

Table from Lexington

2) Painted furniture in bright hues:

Hello beautiful! Doesnt this chair look like it is saying “how do you do?” Fun, curvy and a great pop of color for any room!

3) Purple and gold:

4) Retro Furniture:

Remember this post about vacation bliss, and finding treasures? Remember these chairs shown above that I found at a flea market? Well look what I found at HP Market as a big hot seller in none other, the color Purple!

Retro furniture is coming back in a big way. Classic lines from the 60′s and 70′s are a strong trend.

Becasue I have my gold chairs from the flea market I passed on these beauties above, but I did purchase these chairs below for the studio:

Do you need decorating assistance? Want your home to be filled with warmth and joy? Contact us about our online 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!

1) Stay focused

2) Flash Cards

3) Straightening up

4) Lint rollers

5) Newspapers

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