Marianella Soaps available at AB HOME Interiors

As we moseyed into 2010 we realized that it was time to put on our game face's. All shiny and rested from a holiday full of guilty pleasure, and SUGAR, we were ready to start movin'! First on our list was the website. Now we love our little website. But it was brought to our attention (by Scott our computer guru with fancy terms, and IMPORTANT tasks ) that our little engine that could, isn't so little anymore! We have grown up to be a very successful full grown adult website. ( and I don't mean the dirty kind!)

ABHOMEINTERIORS.COM

One of our biggest goals for the year: find NEW and UNIQUE products. Add new categories, delete old ones, and just give some good ol' lovin' to our website. One of our most exciting additions to our product line is Marianella Soaps. These beauties not only LOOK beautiful and decadent but they SMELL incredible! Marianella soaps are 100% natural and handcrafted with pure ingredients such as vegetable oils, cocoa butter, oatmeal, honey, goat's milk, and vegetable glycerin, only colored naturally and scented with all natural plant essential oils and the highest quality skin-safe fragrance oils.

Lemonwood

"When I left my native country of Venezuela and moved to Dallas, Texas, I brought with me the memories I cherished of the world I left behind. These memoirs of sweet years of the past inspired me to continue an old family tradition of soap making. I never thought something that started as a Sunday afternoon practice with my sisters, in our mother’s kitchen, would turn into such a lush and exciting family business." Jaboneria Marianella

Marianella and her Son

We have had incredible success with these fantastic soaps. What has been most exciting is to see the joy that people get when I GIVE them as a gift. The 10 oz pouches are wrapped in a linen handkerchief that can be reused for numerous things, and the packaging on the individual soaps are pure eye candy!

Aranciata

Not only does Marianella capture your sense of smell, and create a visual dance of excitement, she even appeals to our strongest sense-emotion!

"Sitting on a wooden bench with my sisters in the parco degli aranci in Rome, watching a magnificent sunset that resembled an Aurora Borealis" thats just a little snipet from the inspiration of Aranciata, oh-la-la!

Desert Gardenia

"My mission is to create a soap that lingers in your skin and in your thoughts;that stirs your own memories and that you cannot do without. Our soap is One of a Kind and its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is handcrafted. We take pride in our collections because they are as beautiful and timeless as the ideas behind them." - Marianella Now through the end of February, buy one Marianella soap, get the second half off! Have a great Friday everyone!
			Marianella Febres - Cordero, President.

Transparency, are you doing it?

About a year ago I officially teamed up with my architectural firm to embark on a wonderful journey together. Our goal was to develop a company that supports and integrates all facets of design, and to help clients expedite their projects quickly and smoothly, all under one roof. Excited about this approach, I looked forward to a cohesive and collaborative effort to achieve great design success, and most importantly accountability. Everyone involved would be required to pull their weight and be responsible for the jobs successful completion. Fantastic. That means I no longer have to bear the weight and responsibility ALL-by-myself. Maybe I will get some sleep!

In mid 2009, still in it's infancy, our company seemed to be going in the right direction. At our third meeting while ironing out all the details one of the members emphasized the importance of transparency. Im sorry? Is this a new sort of vellum I haven't heard of? Or are we talking glass? What do you mean transparency? Well apparently it is THE new buzz word amongst companies. Little did I know that after that meeting I would start seeing this NEW word and concept EVERYWHERE!

Just today I saw the new business trends for 2010, and guess what was high on the list? You guessed it. Here are a few quotes that I have seen just in the past couple of months:

Consumers will demand "marketing provenance" as part of the trend toward demanding more authenticity and transparency from companies."

--Lynn M. Parker, "Branding for Real" columnist, principal of Parker LePla

Womenentrepreneur.com

“It (transparency) is the new operating standard,” Debbie Weil says.

Transparency is about being open, honest, and accountable. It’s about responsibility. People are listening to you and making evaluations and decisions based upon what you say, and as such, it’s important to take responsibility for the messaging you put out there.

--Debbie Weil, Social Media Consultant http://mashable.com

To maintain the respect of the public, we need to provide clear and specific information and make our field (interior design) more user friendly. Young people are attracted to transparency. From the book, The Challenges of Interior Design.

--Mary V. Knackstedt, Author and interior designer

I have noticed a HUGE shift in my client interaction just in the past several months. I and my company's integrity are under constant scrutiny. Clients are questioning products, vendors and PROFITS. I have had two incidents just in the past two months of clients demanding to see numbers. I understand this mentality given our economic climate. I also understand that with corporate America crumbling it's no wonder no one trusts anyone.

"It was easy for us to see that 2009 exhibited an unconscionable corporate mentality. People were left as collateral damage due to corporate greed. I predict an entrepreneurial wave will occur in the U.S.--from cottage industries to fabulous internet opportunities and franchising.

--Cynthia McKay, "Building a Million-Dollar Business" columnist, principal of The McKay Group LCC

I think that it is imperative to have an open and concise dialogue. Consumers want authenticity and their trust has been severely broken, thanks to so much greed on Wall Street. But consumers also need to understand that small business' are the back bone of America. We supply the most jobs, and give back to our local communities. And we support other local business. I alone support my local upholstery shop, drapery shop, furniture makers, repair shops, painters, and the list goes on. When I get a job, I hire them, and we all support our city when we put our hard earned dollars back into the community with our purchases. I highly doubt the small profits we bring in are going towards a 'get rich quick' scheme. We are all just trying to put bread on the table, not buy a house in the Hampton's with a matching helicopter and Maserati.

Small business will continue to lead innovation in the marketplace.

--Chia-Li Chien, "Financial Independence" columnist, principal of Chien Associates

It is definitely a new day. But I wonder how many other companies are jumping on to this band wagon. Will it become common practice to disclose your business to anyone who chooses to see it? Whose to say what a logical profit is? Everyone's circumstances are different. And how will we keep privacy top of our list? I guess only time will tell.

Let me know your thoughts on this issue. Will you have an open book policy with your clients? Will you disclose profits, vendors, and do it with ease?

Want to become more transparent? Here are 5 ways you can be transparent

Amanda Burdge suggests The best floor colors

I have never worked on a home that allowed me the freedom (and creativity) to paint a floor. Primarily because the male counterpart in the relationship appreciates natural wood, stained in all it's glory. Eh, what do men know anyways?

I was surfing the internet this morning and came across an article on painted floors. I really think it gives a room that graphic punch of unexpected color. I also think it can become art, and create a focal attention grabber. See for yourself.

BENJAMIN MOORE DEEP OCEAN 2058-30

BENJAMIN MOORE DEEP CAVIAR 2130-20, SILVER LINING 2119-60

All images compliments of house beautiful

Blue Rooms; Interior Designer, Amanda Burdge

Well the lovely Tobi Fairley has graced the cover of House Beautiful for their upcoming March issue. Huge congrats to her! I went online to see more about this fabulous room and discovered some old pics of other blue rooms that House Beautiful captured in the 40's, 50's and 60's, and couldn't believe how easily those rooms could transpire into todays interiors.

All photos courtesy of House Beautiful

It's officially mainstream! by Expert Nashville designer Amanda Burdge

When I went to Market last summer I saw a growing interest in animals at every showroom. Every vendor had owls, fossils, fish, birds, and horses. I also noticed a strong trend in natural materials, vintage materials, jars, reclaimed wood and linen. Well my friends it's hit mainstream! I received a pottery barn, restoration hardware, West Elm AND crate and barrel catalog, today in the mail, and all four have encompassed this trend. See for yourself.

Crate and Barrel

West Elm

Crate and Barrel

Pottery Barn

Pottery barn

Restoration Hardware

AB Home Interiors

Nashville interior designer, discusses Abandoned architecture

A few months ago I was parading around on the internet (like a pro) researching for ideas for a new contract job for a local Dr's office. I never know how, or why, ( A.D.D.) but somehow I end up off track and two hours into another subject that has nothing to do with my original goal. But I find it fascinating and hard to turn away from. As I perused the web for architectural ideas I came across the subject of abandoned architecture all around the United States. Since this discovery, I have been obsessed with books, blogs, and pictures detailing the subject. Amazingly enough, several of these old buildings are in tack, but in major decay and disrepair.

Lavished with detail, incredible ideas and even some things shocking, the ingenuity and respect these architects put into their buildings, is admirable. What is so disappointing is that these beautiful dilapidated masterpieces, sit, crumbling further into nothing, worn and matured beyond their years. I have found many books and blogs dedicated to these tattered champions. Here are a few of my favorites:

Central State Hospital, Milledgeville, GA

Connector hallway between ward pavilions, Buffolo State Hospital

French Second Empire Surgeons residence 1864

1864 Surgeons residence, 2nd floor

Very little is known or available on this hospitals building, within the Fort Totten landmark district in near Bayside Queens, built in 1864.

A large room on the second floor contained what was by far the most bizarre artifact found within the hospital – a child’s riding grasshopper

Grand stairwell at daybreak, Brooklyn Navy Yard Hospital,

Samuel R. Smith Infirmary building The first floor lobby

Photos compliments of the fabulous blog, The Kingston Lounge

Interior Designer Amanda Burdge discusses Handmade Felt Goods

Felt Pin by SMEETA

Felt Pillows by ISLA CORBETT

Felt Ottoman by GRAF AND LANTZ

I have noticed a big shift in consumerism in the past year. Albeit the economy has played a major role in this shift, I have seen a strong desire for handmade, handcrafted and all natural. Maybe as consumers we are realizing the importance of this anti industrialism ideal, especially with so many corporate company's scheming to get rich quick, at our expense. I have noticed a shift in my own buying habits, and crave for the unique, hidden treasure that is SPECIAL. I also crave home grown, all organic foods, especially since seeing the documentary, over the christmas holiday, Food Inc. I no longer want the item that everyone else has. My mother keeps saying to me "welcome to the 60's" "you have officially become a hippie". Hippie or not, I appreciate the skill, and love that goes into something handmade. I also appreciate that my handmade item is unique, and nothing like yours. I also appreciate that a 4 year old is not working in a sweat shop a gazillion miles away making the item Im wearing, and your wearing, and the neighbor is wearing.

Felt bunny by ETCETERA MEDIA

One particular item that has caught my eye is one of THE oldest crafts around, FELT. Used for centuries for it's durability, strength and warmth this age old product has been popular for obvious reasons, and its also inexpensive. Im loving the creative uses Im finding everywhere and it seems that Im SEEING it everywhere! I love the charm and simplicity of each item. Here are a few of my FAVORITES!

Felt Brooch by SOLEIL GIRL

Felt Brooch by KAMIMONO

Laurel Canyon Make over; by Amanda Burdge

I had really IMPORTANT tasks to get done today. A whole list of VERY important "to-do's" and "must get done". That list, currently glaring at me from the corner of my eye, on yellow note pad paper, is giving me the stink eye as I roam about on the internet. Now in all fairness I have accomplished, lets see... five things on the list. That my friends is a GOOD day. A FOCUSED day. Never mind the fact that the list is two pages long, neither here, nor there. I will just turn my head that much further to the left. There all better.

Ok lets get down to it. As I mentioned I have been doing "research" on the internet (before that stupid list got in the way) to find something to inspire, captivate and intrigue me. Well my friends I have found it! If these pics don't captivate your imagination I'm not sure anything can. This home, featured by HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, and written by Alexandria Mott is breathtaking. So pull up a chair, take a looksy, and pour yourself a cup of tea for our "Accomplished 5 things, and were done for the day" tea party!

Nashville Interior design on Barbara Cosgrove lamps

The classics:

(I would say one of their most popular lamps)

(In the line since the beginning)

We here at AB HOME are so pleased with the new direction of the company. We feel grounded, and very assured that the economical debacle is behind us, and we can FINALLY focus on fun, pretty THINGS that make us HAPPY!! Ok so maybe it is a bit fantastical to live in candy land, but 2009 is in our rearview mirror and CANDY is SO much better to focus on. Remember students it has SUGAR in it! The greatest and most significant of the food groups. That could be why we are so bloated...I mean grounded....

Our trip to Market unearthed many new finds, and brought us back to some of our tried and true basics from years past. One of my most favorite discoveries, Barbara Cosgrove Lamps. My first encounter with this beautiful line was 7 years ago when I lived in Las Vegas. Her original catalogs were leather bound with beautiful black ribbon ties. Obviously a true creative, Barbara left no stone unturned. Everything from packaging, presentation all the way down to the actual product was certainly thought out. My first purchase was on looks alone. Yes a vain designer choice, but show me something SHINY, colorful, and FANCY and I turn into a giddy screeching three year old!

I had not forgotten about my beloved lamp line, but merely set it aside in my nest of thoughts. They are rather expensive but very unique. I felt that it just wasn't time to introduce them. So I waited, and waited and you guessed it; I waited. At this past Market I made my way to their showroom and purchased some very cherished and NEEDED candy! Alas, my lamps arrived and we are very excited! Have a looksy, give us your thoughts. We hope you likey.