Are you living or are you existing?

I constantly talk about living a true lifestyle on this blog. And I am a stickler for living a glamourous life. Too often potential clients have a preconceived notion that design has to be expensive. That is has to be over the top, and essentially out of their league. But what most people don't realize is design is not about expensive. It is about luxury. 
What do I define as luxury? 

Luxury is about indulgence, whether big or small, but gives the smallest things grandeur. Luxury is charming, beautiful, and spellbinding. But most importantly, luxury is about magnifigance, easy splender, and guiltless laziness. ~ Amanda Burdge

Source

Luxury is not about money, it is about the simple pleasures in life that influence your mood. 

A good night's sleep, a wonderful cup of coffee, or fresh flowers on your nightstand. It is a rich meal with friends, or a fabulous pitcher you found at a flea market for $2, yet makes your heart skip a beat. No, luxury is not about money but rather a realization that the finer things really do come in small packages, and none the less, take your breath away. That is true luxury. 

Nicole Yee

Here are a list of AB HOME's favorite things to add a little luxury in your life:

1) All things vintage like this smith corona 1970's orange typewriter

I just LOVE THIS!!

$395 on etsy

2) Numi Tea

Numi Tea out of San Francisco has an array of organic teas

to die for!

3) Versai Linens

Versai

These are a wee bit expensive. A set of sheets will set you back

about $500, but well WORTH it! 

(you may never get out of bed...Is that so bad?)

4) Paddywax Candles, The Classic Collection

Paddy Wax Candles $24

There is a reason I carry these in my store. These candles are hands down the 

best in the business. They are soy based, burn clean, and just so happens

the company is ran and operated by women. LOVE that!

5) Memory Tiles by Sid Dickens

Sid Dickens

I adore art, and I adore collections. 

Sid Dickens memory blocks are the perfect combo for both! 

They are handmade peices of art at an incredible price,

and they make great gifts!!

What are some things in your life that make it luxurious? 

What are some things that make it glamourous?

On another note. I am so excited to report that AB HOME Interiors' blog is getting remodeled!! We have SO many exciting things in store for all our faithful readers in the month of October. Stay tuned for more details, and don't forget to sign-up for our newsletter (fill in the form below)  to recieve up to the minute info on sales, decorating how-tos and secret giveaways for the month of October, November and December! 

Don't miss out! It's so exciting I can barely contain myself!

Don't forget to follow us on twitter!

And become a FAN on our AB HOME facebook fanpage!

AB HOME is offering FREE Holiday Decorating classes in October
contact us to sign up!

The best cheat sheet for buying lamps.

Source

Here in the elbow of the world, otherwise known as Nashville, Tennessee, lamp stores are hard to come by. We have some great stores like Graham's lighting, and Lumen Lamps, but our lamp stores are few and far between. That is one of the reasons I go to Market so many times a year, to see trends, and  FIND resources.

Everything I purchase, whether for me or a client, I always approach with my first motto, GO BIG OR GO HOME. Now I am sure my inbox will be chalked full of discontent, but I don't subscribe to short squatty lamps. (Not. Gonna. Do. It.) Isn't the whole point of a lamp to SEE things? I would rather SEE the cocktail table before it bites me and leaves me with a big red toe; BEFORE I walk into it. But hey, who am I to say that short squatty lamps are pointless....Gaaa! ok I am going to say it, "Short squatty lamps are pointless!"

Stray Dog

If you missed my post on how to select the right lamp, I would highly recommend you read it. This post is an excellent guideline to follow when searching for a lamp, and how to shop effectively to get the results you want, and the light you need. Also, many consumers like to have options and as a result many manufacturers sell lamp bases and shades separately to give you choices. As good as options and choices are, the manufacturer suddenly turned purchasing a lamp into rocket science. If you would like to skip the aero physics degree I would recommend you read How to select the right lamp shade to help you get through the mud of buying a lamp and shade separately.

Robert Abbey

In my opinion lamps are like cars,.... f-a-n-c-y cars! And I have a theory on purchasing a fancy, expensive car. If you are going to be extravagant and throw a ridiculous amount of money at a car, 

GO BIG OR GO HOME! For example, I have a client that waited six months for a special Mercedes that came from over seas. He went on and on, AND on about how fabulous this thing was and all the features. He almost had me convinced that I needed to rob a bank, and sell my right kidney to get one. Finally, the day came and it arrived, and I ran out side to see a big white car that looked like my assistants KIA. In fact, I mistakenly walked to her car! YIKES!! 

Really, I thought? You spent the equivalent of my lifes income on one vehicle and you got WHITE. I'm sorry, but if you are going to buy a big fancy car, buy a big fancy car with the paint job to show it off. If that wasn't your point in the first place (to show it off) you would not have purchased it in the first place. (and waited six months for it!) A nice white KIA would do. The same goes for lamps. I believe that lamps are like jewelry and they should be shown off. Keep them big, and find lamps that are unique, exotic or have fancy paint jobs. Make them as unique and special as possible! Vroom, Vroom.

Arteriors

Lamps are special accessories. Not only can they provide light so you can SEE, ( so you don't end up with a red toe) but they are jewelry to your home. Make it count. A special lamp gives you wow factor, and helps you achieve a well appointed home. Always keep your lamps tall, and buy quality. Ever wonder the difference between one lamp and another? Ever wonder why a lamp at Target costs $100, and a boutique lamp costs $500? There are many factors, and just like linens buy the BEST you can afford. Factors that can affect price can vary a lot, but typically it is the way they have been wired, how they were made, and the material that is used. 

So now that you know what to look for, and how to buy, where can you find the best lamps? I have listed a few of my favorites above with attached links, and here are a few more of AB HOME's trusted list of lamps that we would rob a bank and sell our right kidney for:

Zia Priven

Jamie Young

Four Hands

Shine Everyday 

Keep a binder or notepad with you at all times that is small but easy to find. Keep dimensions, and lamp needs handy so you know what you are looking for. Keep in mind the scale of the room, and furniture the lamp will be used on. Try to have a lamp in mind that you are looking for, but don't set your sights so high that you spend a year looking for something that doesn't exist. And don't overlook other great styles that could work even better. GO BIG OR GO HOME should be at the front of your mind. Look for unique styles, fancy paint jobs, and if you would rob a bank and sell your right kidney for it, I'd say it is the perfect lamp!!

Don't forget to follow us on twitter!

And become a FAN on our AB HOME facebook fanpage!

AB HOME is offering FREE Holiday Decorating classes in October
contact us to sign up!

Need design help from an experienced design professional with over 12 years experience? Want to work with someone who listens to your needs and sticks to your budget? Call our office for a design consultation that will change the way you live and think about your home. Contact us @ info@abhomeinteriors.com or call us @ 

615-750-2763

Like decorating but don't know where to start? Want to learn the insiders secrets, tips and tricks? Sign up for Design Strategies 101! (Sign up today to reserve your seat.  September is SOLD OUT!! Reserve your seat for October!)

4 little known facts to maintain your painted walls

Don't forget to read my article 
18 steps to design success 
over at Housewife bliss!




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.  

Source

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?

Don't forget to follow us on twitter!

And become a FAN on our AB HOME facebookfanpage!

Need design help from an experienced design professional with over 12 years experience? Want to work with someone who listens to your needs and sticks to your budget? Call our office for a design consultation that will change the way you live and think about your home. Contact us @ info@abhomeinteriors.com or call us @ 

615-750-2763. you can also visit us online @ abhomeinteriors.com

Brown~The always "it" color

I have been in the design business for over twelve years. I have seen fads come and go, and trends thrown to the wayside for the next up and coming thing. One thing that never seems to lose it's luster is the color ~ brown. I know the new, shiny, fun color for the year has been grey. BUT, like green, brown never goes away. The grey undertone may become more prevalent this fall, but brown is here to stay. People just gravitate to it. Brown is organic, rich, and earthy. It goes with every thing and look in any book from the 1950's to now and what do you see over and over? Brown. It is a timeless color, and one of my all time favorite browns is by Benjamin Moore,

It's oh so bittersweet.....

Benjamin Moore Bittersweet Chocolate 2441

Source

Curious, I contacted my friend and color expert, Kelly Berg over at Arte Styling. I wanted her take on the color, and why she thought it had such sticking power:
"I think browns, in general, have staying power because they are grounding. Humans strongly associate browns with the earth, so using brown in our spaces can help to create a very solid, stable environment."

"Deep, rich browns remind us of chocolate and coffee...while pale golden imbued browns can look like a sandy beach. Deep “espresso” and “chocolate” browns have had particular staying power in the past 10 years, especially in furniture-wood finishes. West Elm has nearly built an entire brand with these chocolate-y hues!"

  West Elm

"While beiges have their time and place,  I feel that most of them lose their grounding quality when they are lightened, making them kind of wimpy, indecisive hues."

Louis Di Calla

"Deep browns are like a softer alternative to black. They allow us to get the depth and drama of black but with a softer, warmer edge. Too much brown - wood or other materials - can be heavy. In an interior space we have to have balance. In nature, browns are balanced with many other colors. Sometimes a color novice will overuse brown and mess up that balance, making the space feel off. We've all been in that house with wood-paneled walls, and dark brown shag carpet, better known as "the 1970's." "None of us need to revisit that trend." ~Kelly Berg, Color Expert

Jessica Dauray

I agree with Kelly and her statement, "...it can help to create a very solid, stable environment."  This is very true, especially in a time when society needs stability more than ever! 


"Brown has a quality that no other color can provide. It is rich, and can be associated with many things, but most importantly it connects us to nature. Ever wonder why brown and green together are so popular? Think about it..." ~Amanda Burdge, Interior Designer, Nashville Home and Garden, 2008.

Thomas Lavin

I agreed with Kelly one hundred percent, but I wanted to dig deeper. So I contacted Lori Sawaya over at Color Budz to get her take on this theory of ours on Brown. 
According to Lori: 

"Much of brown's appeal lies in it's ability to simultaneously reinforce notions of formational possibilities and create well-rooted security.  It's that unusual juxtaposition of feeling that attracts many to the color brown."

"When I think about using brown interior or exterior my mind immediately reaches for its elegantly purposeful side.  Done right, brown is well-edited and organically edgy." ~Lori Sawaya, Color Expert

Candace Cavanaugh

 Brown says stability and reliability. It is the color of our earth and all things organic. It gives us a sense of orderliness and connection. It is no mistake that companies like UPS has Pullman Brown as it's iconic trademark color. And what do you think of when you hear Hershey's chocolate? Not only does this word signify a rich brown color, but it also entices our taste buds.

Adrienne Neff

Paint is a dynamic creature. It can be energetic, active, serene, bold, and the list of adjectives goes on. What is unique about brown is it's ability to be all things. Brown allows us to be bold and dramatic, but due to it's suggestion to nature, it is soft, easy and luxurious.

God has a brown voice, as soft as brown sugar and full of beer." ~ Anne Sexton

What does brown signify to you?

What is your favorite Brown Color?

Dont forget to head over to Housewife Bliss
to read:


18 Steps to design success and 5 bonus tips for the DIY'er

Don't forget to follow us on twitter!

And become a FAN on our AB HOME facebook fanpage!

Need design help from an experienced design professional with over 12 years experience? Want to work with someone who listens to your needs and sticks to your budget? Call our office for a design consultation that will change the way you live and think about your home. Contact us @ info@abhomeinteriors.com or call us @ 

615-750-2763. you can also visit us online @ abhomeinteriors.com

Love the ones your with...

Because this is a design blog focusing on interior design, I always post things about up and coming ideas, design trends, decorating tips, and how-to's. I rarely delve into my personal life because I have been told by my marketing "experts" that it is unprofessional and unfocused. My readers are looking for quick and easy tips to help them through their decorating woes, not a post on me stubbing my toe. Unfortunately for the experts I do not listen or take direction well, and my emotions have taken over and I am going to write what I feel today.

Very SAD.

Twelve years ago I was wandering aimlessly in the abyss of my twenties trying to figure out what to do with my life, pretending along the way that I knew exactly what to do with my life, (and I of course knew everything, but really knew NOTHING!). Recently engaged to Mr. B, I wanted to make our humble apartment cozy, so I got in my car and headed to the junkyard, I mean the pound, to find me a black and white kitty. My entire life growing up I had cats and every one of them was black and white. Apparently I have an affinity for them, and I just LOVE them!

Once at the pound I searched through all the young sporty models (AKA, kittens) and couldn't find any that were black and white, nor were they special. When I turned the last corner I saw a black and white kitty that was full grown. The volunteer standing next to him was saying to a mother, "oh you don't want this one, he has been returned twice for bad behavior." I immediately went to his cage and told her I would take him. Fifteen dollars, and twenty minutes later, I was the proud mama of a cranky black and white, fluffy kitty; and he was perfect! Now all I had to do was convince the male figure (AKA Mr. B) that we HAD TO HAVE him. HAD TO!!!

At that time my soon to be husband was very athletic and addicted to all things Nike. So in an effort to convince and persuade the male figure that he was indeed perfect, I named him NIKE. I was so excited to have him. Perfect in every way I loved him up to the point of suffocation. Later that year we moved into a very large home, and ironically as I was standing at the pound looking for Nike's new friend my now husband called me to come pick up an abandoned kitten from the vets office by his work. "Is he black and white?" I asked. "Yup, he's perfect, you'll love him," Mr. B replied.

Ahem,....(Houstan we have a problem) he wasn't exactly what I would classify as a Black and White. He was more a white, with a little black. But I quickly learned to love my sensitive, adorable white with black kitty, (named Inky) and ten years and several moves later we were one big happy, foursome. 

Then in 2008 the hubs and I returned from the post office and this came running up to us like we were long lost buds.

"Hello! Hi! I am cute can I come in?" the unknown kitty said.

"I have a very strict black and white policy. Unfortunately my dear, I don't do tabby's." I replied.

"yea, ok lady. I'll just sit here on this very comfy couch (in YOUR house) while you ponder that thought.".... 

Ok, so 11 years, and one move later, we were one big happy and cuddly, fivesome. 

But in early 2009 my big kitty, (A.K.A-NIKE), was not doing very well. He was very lethargic, and loopy. After a visit to the vet we discovered he had diabetes. This last year and a half included many up's and down's with his health, and despite thousands of dollars of care, and medicines, my beloved boy gave up the good fight.

You can't see me

It was unexpected and we were both devastated. I feel like I have lost my closest, and dearest friend, and that a decade of my life is gone. If any of you have pets, then you know what it means to lose your closest friend. Full of unconditional love, they are there through it all, no matter what. Good times, and bad. So as a reminder to all of those that read this blog, 

remember to love the ones you are with.

Here are some awesome photos of my kids over the years:

Seriously, no paparazzo 

"...so you got it?," 

"yea, I got it," 

"So we have an understandin' then?"

Lord has it been a long day, phew!

What was it you was sayin'? No tabbies? Uh-huh...

me be the queen sheba

Boys gone wild

Girls gone wild

Good night my love.
  You were perfect in every way and as I sit here sobbing, my heart stricken with greif, it is hard for me to beleive, even fathom that you are gone. Returned twice to the pound in those early days, they had no idea how special you were.  
You will forevermore hold a special place in my heart and I will love and miss you dearly.
Love always, and forever ~mama

I hope all of you have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend.