Southern Living show case home-Bedding fit for a queen

As I finalize my details for the Southern Living show house guest retreat, I am getting more and more excited! A few weeks ago I went to the fabulous store Bella Linea, one of Nashville’s premier high-end luxury linen stores, and selected my linens for the show house. A little apprehensive and intimidated about the process, I went in with my swatches and no clue what I wanted to do. I cannot thank the team enough, especially Amanda, for all their help. I was so afraid that the vision I had for the guest retreat would be diluted if the bedding was not absolutely perfect. I did not want the look and feel to be interpreted incorrectly if the bedding failed to capture the essence of Southern glamour. But these gals helped me get exactly what I wanted and more! In fact it is safe to say I walked away with way more than I expected and I am THRILLED!!! So incredibly thrilled and I cannot wait for you all to see what we did. Here is a sneak peak!

Duvet:

Southern Living Duvet

Louwie Organic Duvet- 100% Linen

louwie bed copy Louwie Bedding Organic

Louwie Organic Duvets have two 1/2″ flanges running down the center of the duvet.

Available colors -100% Certified Organic Flax or Organic Based White

Available sizes – King & Queen

Queen Duvet – $500

Bedskirt:


Southern Living bedskirt

Organza over Silk Charmeuse Dustruffle

A dreamy combination of Silk Charmeuse with a Silk Organza overlay available in

over 50 different color combinations. Beautifully coordinates with any bed ensemble

and available in 3 piece panels or decking. Bed Skirt – $750

Sheeting -

Southern living sheeting

Crisp white sheets framed in tailored rows of satin greige stitching, (and will last through endless washings!)  Sheets & Pillowcases. Starting at $345

I have a few more things up my sleeve, that I will wait to reveal at the show. But as I said before I am thrilled with the results, and I think Marilyn herself would feel dripped in decadence.

Thanks again to Bella Linea for all their help. For info contact them at:


Grace’s Plaza – 2133 Bandywood Drive | Nashville, TN 37215

615.352.4041 | beds@bellalinea.com

Click here for directions to Bella Linea

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Remodeling series-Week 16

Stained doors

Last week Mrs S was on vacation. I wanted to mention this because my inbox was flooded with emails from concerned readers wanting to know what happened to the series! Afraid they had missed something. No need to worry, we are back on schedule!

For those of you following this remodel you know that our latest hiccup was the doors. As the story goes in my line of business:  ”it will be two weeks.” But then two weeks comes and goes and it suddenly becomes another “two weeks.” At any rate our two week turn around for doors turned into almost five. So all of us were thrilled when they got here!

Mrs S and Co. immediately poo-poo’d the idea of the stained doors, but I am not past begging and pleading if I know it is perfect for the design. Ritchie, accustomed to working with me silently raised an eyebrow and just couldn’t envision it. But he trusted my judgement and when they went in today, everyone was thrilled with the idea of staining them! Yay!

Mrs S and Co. doors

Stained walnut doors will be THE epitome of luxury and decadence in this refined bathroom. The perfect solution to grounding the space, warming it up and adding that touch of elegance……………..but then the grim reaper ALWAYS has to play the devils advocate and ruin everything. ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this is how it unfolded:

Monday: The doors are here! The doors are here! YAY!!!

Tuesday: The doors are hung! The doors are hung! They are awesome Yay!

Wednesday: Ring, ring, ring ( 7:02 AM)  Amanda-”Helloooo”………..”Ummmm, Amanda, it’s Ritchie we have a problem……”    Amanda- “What do you mean we have a problem, what’s going on?”………Ritchie- “Ummm, you may want to check your email and get over to Mrs S and Co. ASAP!”……..

This is what I EXPECTED to see, and what I had PLANNED for:

Walnut door

But I of course wouldn’t be that lucky! This is what I got:

Mrs S and Co. doors

Mrs S and Co. doors

Mrs S and Co. doors

If I were decorating a barn these would be superb….unfortunately I AM NOT DECORATING A DAMN BARN!!!!! The manufacturer sent THE WRONG doors. To make matters worse the painter thinks these were actually rained on, which is causing the stain to speckle and adhere to the doors inconsistently. I WANT TO CRY!!!

The manufacturer can replace the doors………………..but it will be another five weeks! Mrs S and Co. cannot wait another five weeks. Or rather they REFUSE to wait another five weeks, so the only thing we can do is CRY……..and just paint them! Tune in next week when I share the custom vanities that I designed….and painted doors…..

Harley the cat

“Don’t worry mom, paint will be purrr-fect!…..oh wait that’s me!”

Come and join me and all my adoring fans!

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AB Homes Interiors Blog

Style secrets from our Southern Living show house design team

The design team is in full swing at the Southern Living show house and I wanted to get the inside scoop on some of their best ideas,and tricks! Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of a designer? Ever wonder what their approach to a project is? As designers we all have different philosophies and opinions on what makes a space unique and special. But put all of us in one house and soon you’ll find  that we all follow very similar ideologies. Thursday I sat down with three of the designers from the Southern Living show house to get some of their best designer secrets and trade tips.

Jerome Farris

from Peddler Interiors is decorating the show house living room.

Jamali Southern Living Showhouse

1) What is the best investment when designing a home? “Original Art is THE investment that makes YOUR space an Original!  Against the calming neutrals of this Showhouse, original works by renowned Artists such as Jamali provide that all-important “wow factor.”  Bold statements in art define the tone of a room and tell the story of who it’s owners are!  Always buy the best art you can afford as these pieces become valuable investments both financially and emotionally to be handed down throughout the years.” ~ Jerome Farris

He doesn’t know it yet, but Jerome and I are going to be best friends. For those of you who read my blog regularly, all I do is rant and rave about the importance of art, and how it transforms a space. Art truly is the best investment you can make in your home!

2) What is Jerome’s philosophy on being an interior designer? “No successful design is achieved without time and careful research.  You must take time to physically discover fabrics, accessories, and furnishings that reflect originality and that will remain unique to your space.  No client wants to invest in decor they may also find at their friends’ homes.” ~ Jerome Farris

3) How did you come up with the design of your space? “While the basic elements of the showhouse living room are each neutral in color, careful attention to diverse material selection is a must. Velvets, linens, metal, glass and wood must all mingle successfully to achieve texture and depth.  The way these selections blend are what makes the design interesting and unique.” ~Jerome Farris

Dana Tucker and Brooks Tucker

from Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes are doing the Southern Living show house’s powder bath floor, the range hood, a ceiling in the girl’s bedroom, a custom concrete overlay patterned finish on the floor of the covered porch and the entrance to the guest retreat. Here she offers up their best tips from a painters perspective:

Ceilings | Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes

Bella-Tucker Decorative finishes

1) What are some great tricks with paint when designing a space? “When painting, don’t forget the ceiling. Ceilings are another opportunity to introduce a little drama into a room. If you want the ceiling color to be the same color as the walls, in most cases you will need to cut the color by 1/2 strength since paint tends to look darker on a ceiling.  Choosing a color that is a few shades darker than your wall color can drop the ceiling a little.  Choosing a few shades lighter will elevate a ceiling. Adding pattern and texture to a ceiling will add warmth and depth and complete a custom look.” ~Dana Tucker

2) What are some great tricks to make walls a little more custom? For a completely custom look consider designing your own custom wallpaper. This can be done with a stencil, paints of the same color with varying sheens, metallic paints, and texture mediums. There are lots of great tutorials on the web. Here is a recent one from Rosemary on the TV” ~Dana Tucker

3) Any new products on the market that we must know about? “There is a new paint on the market revolutionizing the furniture painting category. It’s called Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It comes in 24 colors and it is perfect for furniture because it does not require a primer and it distresses beautifully. The only thing standing between you and a beautiful swedish, parisian or shabby chic look is a creative eye, a quart of chalk paint, and a lovely piece of furniture.” ~Dana Tucker

Caroline Weigel

from Castle Homes, designing the kitchen for the Southern Living Show case home

Castle Kitchen

1) Why is the kitchen so important to a home? For many families the kitchen is the center or “hub” of family life, serving as a place not only to prepare food and dine, but to read mail, do homework or catch up with friends over a glass of wine. With so much living happening in today’s kitchens, it’s important that the room’s design is both functional and inviting.

2) What are some things to consider when designing a kitchen? If you’re building your dream kitchen or remodeling your current one start with the layout, considering appliance choices and positioning. You want to create a functional work triangle with your range, refrigerator and sink. Also, consider what views you want from your kitchen. When you’re standing at the sink do you want to see the kids playing in the next room or would you like to look out your window.

3) What is one of your best weapons? Never underestimate the importance of good lighting. It can make or break a room. Consider the many different ways you can introduce lighting into your kitchen. Consider task lighting which can mean under-cabinet or pendant lights, ambient lighting which sets the mood of the room and could be a grand chandelier or a funky art piece, and general lighting which typically means recessed or ceiling lights.

I really cannot agree more! I would like to thank the designers for taking the time to chat with me on their best trade secrets!

What are some of your favorite designer tricks?

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The show will be open Oct 22-Nov 6. For more info click here


AB Homes Interiors Blog

Southern Living showcase home, Nashville TN

Nashville’s Southern Living show case home is well on it’s way. Slated to open late October, this home will offer the ultimate in designer tips, tricks and trade secrets for your home. Not to mention, it’s a sure way to get this seasons best home ideas from the greatest minds in Nashville. Seriously, this design team has some of the best tricks up their sleeve that I have ever seen!

Only a few designers (11 to be exact) were chosen to participate, and  I am honored to have been chosen to do the guest retreat. It’s kinda like winning the miss America pageant only I don’t have to done the dreaded swim suit or wear more aqua net than my grandma. And trust me she wears a lot!

As written in this recent press release:

“A team of the Nashville area’s best designers has been chosen to bring the charm and beauty of Southern Living magazine to this fall’s Southern Living Showcase Home, being built by Castle Homes in Dorset Park”~  Cool Springs news.

Being miss America is tough business. There are so many details that go into a home like this. Coordination, collaboration, details, and designing to the standards of Southern Living, one of the South’s best magazines! Wow! No pressure at all! But don’t worry, Aqua net aside, I can totally do this!

The Southern Living showcase home is fast approaching completion. I went out to the house just a few weeks ago and this is where it was at:

Exterior of showcase home

Holy cow! From the outside it seems the house is almost finished! But the interior was still fairly raw. Still just sticks and metal, (Phew, plenty of time to procrastinate) this was in early July:

Guest retreat, Southern Living showcase home

Guest retreat, Southern living showcase home

However, Thursday we had another design meeting at the house, our fourth since the announcement of selected designers in May and I couldn’t believe the progress in just a few short weeks. Dry wall was up, trim installed and windows and doors finished out. Okay, Miss America is gonna have to wear roller skates!

Miss America, aka: Amanda Burdge

Here I am all smiles, knowing all the secrets that will be revealed at the opening. Prepare to be amazed! These designers, including myself, have done an incredible job with the wow factor. Having so many creative minds under one roof is extraordinary. We are all feeding off of each others expressive imaginations and it’s like Disneyland in here. ( Weeeeeeeeeee!) I cannot wait for you to see these jaw-dropping spaces when they are completed. Ingenuity and clever talent don’t even describe it!

Southern living showcase home meeting

After our quick meeting of updates, and stunning reveals,  I headed upstairs to the guest retreat.

Guest retreat, Southern Living showcase home

My room (above and below), fully drywalled, displayed my paint swatches, trim, and windows. Big difference from the sticks I had a few weeks ago in July! It’s time Miss America kicks it into high gear!

Southern living showcase home nashville

Accessible beige

Castle homes, accustomed to working with designers, has graciously put my paint swatches on the wall and ceiling to get my approval. Designers hold a lot of magical powers when it comes to decorating. Choosing a paint from a 2×2 swatch is not one of them. My wall color will be accessible beige by Sherwin Williams, and a custom pink for the ceiling. Choosing these paint colors was a difficult task. I chose my fabrics in a snap but trying to match a Southern Living, best in the South magazine paint color was making me dizzy. I finally called in the experts! I have amazing friends, and lucky for me, most of them are color experts. Nothing like being a part of the cool kids, or as I like to call them: Color Geeks! Even more lucky for me, one happens to live down the street from my office, Kristie Barnett.

Kristie and I in Show house mania

Kristie and I hashed it out, taking into consideration all the options. She agreed that my accessible beige selection from Sherwin Williams was perfect, (hallelujah)  but thank-god for me, she was finally able to get the pink right! Can I just say that being a part of the cool kids has it’s advantages.

Today after seeing the swatches in the room I have to say the accessible beige is PERFECT, and the custom vintage pink is stunning. ( Thanks Kristie) I would also like to share a special thank-you to Kelly Berg from Arte Styling, Barbara Jacobs from Integral Color, Lori Sawaya from Color Strategies, and of course Kristie, from the Decorologist for running down to my office to save me! Y’all are the best!

If you need color help, Kelly, Lori, Kristie and Barbara are amazing! The four of them easily cover the entire country, and all do color consultations anywhere in the United States. Just watch out for that Lori, she’ll give you an education in color that will make you dizzy!

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6 things you can do now for an instant home makeover, that won’t break the bank

So you have decided it’s time to decorate, or maybe redecorate your home. You are excited, overzealous about all the things you’re going to do, and you are equipped with all the necessary inspiration: the magazine clippings, the home shows set on your DVR and plenty of decorating books to boot. There’s no way you can fail! Then you realize how much one room will cost. Oh dear, you think, I was planning on doing the whole house! SO what can you do? Here are my top tips to get the biggest bang for your buck with the best impact.

1)  First rule of thumb-dont try to do everything all at once!

Trying to do it all at once

One of the biggest mistakes most homeowners make, they try to do it all at once!  Believe it or not, decorating your home is overwhelming. There are a lot of decisions that need to be made, it takes a lot of time, and it can get expensive. Instead of trying to do several rooms all at once, keep your sanity and do one room at a time. Trust me, when you do it slowly you have more focus and actually enjoy the process. It isn’t a race so take your time!

2) Paint-least expensive with the biggest punch

Paint

Designers and the like preach this over and over again. Paint is by far the most prolific tool we pocess. Why? Nothing can transform a room like a fresh, new coat of paint. Think about it. If your room was white and you paint it a deep eggplant, that has an immediate look that changes that space. Nothing can create mood, drama, and change better than paint. And if you are trying to keep things budget friendly, or simply test the waters, paint is the best improvement to start your decorating.

3) Moldings. Base, crown, and waincoting

Molding

Molding

Never underestimate the power of moldings! It can add instant sophistication and detail to a room. Molding is inexpensive, and easy to install. Designer tip: Many homeowners want to do their own moldings to save cash. But keep in mind that your resources are limited compared to a professionals. I alone have three molding companies in my back pocket, that provide beautiful moldings that few have ever seen! Not to mention I get terrific pricing on those materials. Most homeowners run to their nearest home improvement store to find their materials. While they have moldings to choose from, their selection are limited, and costly. I would also recommend hiring a professional to install them. My contractor can install a rooms molding in one day. If you are really short on cash and you are a terrific carpenter, then install it yourself. However, my experieince has seen that when a homeowner installs it, it turns into a month long project. One day of labor to hire a professional installer is much less than a months worth of your valuable time.

4) Move your furniture around

Repurpose and move furniture

Don’t stay married to your furniture arrangements. Mix things up! For some reason I find that clients can’t envision their sofa in the next room, or a chair from the living room placed in their bedroom sitting area. Tear everything up, place it in the center of the room and then rearrange everything in other parts of the house. It sounds scary, but I promise it creates a fresh and exciting look, without costing anything other than time!

5) Move art

AB HOME art

Like furniture, most of my clients hang their art on a wall and only envision it on that first wall it was ever hung on…until of course they move. Don’t feel like your art has to be stationary. Move it around. Like paint it is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to update your home, and give it an instant facelift!

6) Paint your cabinets

Painted cabinets

Don’t have the budget dollars to remodel? Update your kitchen by painting your cabinets. In the past three years I have had many clients opt for this update, instead of completely remodeling and gutting their kitchen. This is a great way to update, change and spend a third of the money a typical remodel would cost.

Harley

‘Scuse me! Why have I not been on the blog???? Hmmmm? I am the most important contributor to this space on the web!

Thats right, I am the best putty cat on the web. Damn straight! Find more of my awesomeness on facebook!

Ready to get your room started? 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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images: flickr, design sponge, oh happy day, small shop studiotraditional home, quinntessence

AB Homes Interiors Blog

Southern Living Showcase Home


Southern Living showcase home

Southern Living showcase home by Castle Contractors, Nashville.

I am honored and excited to have the privilege to participate in the upcoming Southern Living Showcase home in Nashville TN, debuting this fall in Dorset Park.

The charm and beauty of Southern Living magazine will be on tour this fall when Brentwood-based Castle Homes constructs the Southern Living Showcase Home with the latest in new building products and interior finishes in southern Davidson County’s Dorset Park neighborhood.

Alan Looney, president of Castle Homes, said the Southern Living Showcase project will be infused with new home building and design ideas providing great inspiration for folks remodeling or building in the future.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Southern Living magazine and LP Building Products in presenting a $1.2 million, French Country style home with a select group of interior designers showcasing their most exciting work in rooms throughout the home,” Looney said.

The last Southern Living Idea House in Middle Tennessee was built in Brentwood’s Governors Club over 10 years ago. This year’s house will be open Oct. 22 through Nov. 6. ~Brentwood Home page

AB HOME is thrilled to be a part of this exciting opportunity. And we are thrilled to be working with Castle contractors again. For up to the minute info on the project, go to the showhouse facebook page here.

And of course check back here at our blog!

Ready to get your room started? 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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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

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!

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