AB HOME Interiors by expert designer Amanda burdge

We are wrapping up the May Savings Event in the studio today. You can still find products online at their discounts until midnight tomorrow. And while I so enjoyed having a three day weekend last week, I am paying for it today. I forced my poor tired staff into the studio today to move our shop around to get ready for our new promo. Being a designer I have severe A.D.D and nothing can stay the same more than a week, maybe two; and oh how my staff begs for three or four. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I like things fresh, new and exciting. And we are starting our Pick Your Savings Event on Monday the 1st! Im so excited for this event. Unfortunately it is only open for locals, but when you come in you will be given an envelope that contains those magical words, DISCOUNT! Four lucky folks will receive an 80% off envelope. I had several people slip in today wanting to get a head start on the promo, but patience is a virtue....so you must WAIT! I hope all of you have a fantastic weekend. I must leave the studio before I move another thing. If I don't leave I will tinker until I collapse!

The 3/50 Project by Cinda Baxter

Cinda Baxter the creator

I recently came across an article that I found intriguing. I only got a a small portion of info before I had to rush off to a clients house. But it had my wheels spinning. When I returned to a computer I started to research. I was amazed and thrilled with my findings!

Cinda Baxter is a retail business consultant. Her passion thrives on retail business and finding ways to make it more profitable and more successful. Being a small business owner myself, I loved her all ready!

In March, Rieva Lesonsky wrote an article, Support Your Local Business. As a result of an experiment done last summer Rieva came to the conclusion, "Which three stores would I hate to loose most?" This article got Cindas wheels turning. Why not tie the two concepts of, the $50 dollar challenge and the three store challenge, into a campaign to save local business. Spend $50 in your local community and boost the economy.

So how does this work?

Choose 3 independent (meaning no franchises, or big box stores) mom and pop type stores and spend $50 a month total. Pretty simple right?

The best part, if half the employed population spends $50 bucks locally each month you will generate $42 billion dollars in Revenue. And for every $100 bucks you spend, $68 bucks goes back into YOUR community through taxes.

Think about it folks. When local business is strong we sponsor the little league games, donate products and services, and we support local community functions. We have the resources to give back. When business is slow and we are struggling to make payroll and rent, there isn't any money to support little Brandon's baseball league, or Susie's basketball team. As a business owner I have been asked at least 30 times this year to donate products and services and with great disappointment, I have turned many of them down.

Sign up for the cause. It's simple!

PICK 3, SPEND $50

SAVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

Want more info? Click below

http://alwaysupward.com/blog/save-the-economy-three-stores-at-a-time/

http://www.the350project.net/home.html

Jack Daniels Memorial Day

The most famous label of Whiskey.
Barrels sit in barrel houses for 4-5 years to age in sugar maple barrels to absorb a rich taste.
Added to the historic register in the 70's.
The barrels are only used once to create the smoothest tasting whiskey. The used barrels are sold to other wineries, and whiskey houses, or you can buy one for a planter or souvenir.
The main museum of Jacks paraphernalia and original start into whiskey.
The entrance into the distillery. At this point your nostrils are burning of Jack Daniel's. The smell wafts all over the grounds. So if you are not a whiskey fan this may be as far as you go!
Mr Jack himself. Only 5'2 inches he wore a size 4 shoe! He had special shoes made in a size 6 to prevent him from falling over.

All week my family and I were trying to decide what to do for Memorial Day weekend. We didn't want to do the typical B-B-Q get together. So as the week went on it occurred to me that we are located 50 miles North of Lynchburg TN. Now what better way to spend a day with family then to learn the history of Tn's most famous booze!

Good ol' Jack was mentored by an Uncle (at age 7 I might add) on how to make moonshine. The booze was quite popular with the locals, and turned into a profitable business. But the lady of the house stepped in and said, " you choose the booze or you choose the church and moonshine better not be your decision!" So like any good uncle, he handed the business over to Jack. By age 13 Jack was a thriving moonshine distributer. By age 16 he had mastered his craft and discovered that sugar maple charcoal and aging made the smoothest Whiskey. By the time Jack turned 21 his first barrels of aged Whiskey were ready to distribute. And so began the Legend of Jack Daniel's TN Whiskey.

The company officially registered with the state of TN in 1866. He purchased his land in Lynchburg , which provided him iron free spring water, crucial to the smoothest tasting Whiskey, where the company still makes the Whiskey today. If you see a bottle in Australia, Hawaii, or China, it came out of Lynchburg.

Jack never married. He was always considered the most desirable bachelor and was known as a ladies man, having 7 girlfriends. Jack had a sharp temper, and in 1906 kicked a safe in his office when he couldn't remember the combination and this ultimately killed him. He broke his large toe and it caused him to have a blood infection known today as gangrene. Jack died in 1907 but not before handing the company over to his favorite nephew, Lem Motlow.

Lem was able to run the distillery for 3 years, however, when prohibition hit in 1910 it forced the distillery to shut down. Prohibition was not lifted until 1938. At a ripe old age of 69, Lem started up the distillery again and continued his Uncle's legacy. It is still legal to distill Jack Daniel's, but illegal to sell because the distillery is located in a "dry county". The company has since been sold to new owners. But the life sized 5'2 Statue of Jack is still present on the property today. And if you have a few dollars to throw around you can purchase a barrel of aged Single Barrel TN Jack Daniel's for a cool $20,000. Oh and don't forget, you get a fancy plaque on the wall for dropping that kind of cash on a barrel of booze.

So what is single barrel you ask? And why is it so special? Well it never touches another barrel of whiskey, like the bottled version does. This means you get a unique barrel every time. Your barrel of whiskey will be completely different than the next persons. For consistency the barrels are mixed to retrieve the same flavor every time before it is bottled. I think I will stick to the consistent $17 dollar version. No need for a fancy plaque.

Memorial Day

After the Civil War many States set aside a day in May to celebrate a memorial for the soldiers who died in War. Originally observed as Decoration Day by slaves who decorated graves to honor fallen soldiers, the alternative name of Memorial Day was started in 1882. The term Memorial Day did not become common until after WWII, and wasn't declared an official holiday until 1967 when federal law passed it through Congress, as a day of observance. Memorial day is now observed on the last Monday of May. It commemorates US men and women who died while serving our country.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend. I dedicate this to my own father, who is a veteran, and fought to keep us safe and honor our freedom.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy

Darryl Carter interior design;a love story by Amanda Burdge, interior designer

Darryl's home in Virginia
Part of his new collection for Thomasville
Thomasville ( these wing chairs look like they are winking at you! )
It is hard to believe that a decade ago Darryl Carter was practicing law in Washington DC. But when Metropolitan Home featured his own home in their magazine people were calling to commission him for work.

Carter is known for mixing unassuming, farmhouse-rustic with sophisticated simple luxuries. He oozes relaxed style. Neutral palettes with bold accents creates his authentic trademark. He creates depth, texture, strong character and does it all with a modest, humble approach. So sexy and cool.

Jamie Drake Interior Design

Jamie Drake is one of my FAVORITE designers. His style is fresh, crisp and always colorful. His eye is impeccable down to the last detail. He is fearless when it comes to colors like fuschia, canary yellow, and acid green. Loves him!

Jamie do you happen to need an intern?? Im available!

Nick Noyes architecture by Nashville designer Amanda Burdge

This home recently won the prestigious AIA Sunset West Home award. Nick Noyes, the architect, is undoubtably creative and disciplined. His look is always in the details, (and there are always so many details), but yet the finished product is clean, simple and refined. Located in Healdsburg California, Nick chose to use Plywood as the wall surface. And while most people may not think to use this as their finished wall surface, it works in this room because of the windows, soft white palette and high ceilings. Its superb!

Expert designer Amanda Burdge on Cocktail Tables

Lee Industries, available at AB HOME Interiors

Platner Cocktail Table available at DWR.com

Design Within Reach Cocktail available at DWR.com

Motina metal leg table with 3" acacia slab top available at AB HOME Interiors

Metal cocktail with Nickel Finish available at AB HOME interiors

Cocktail tables are more then a surface to plop your water cup and cheese dip. They add style, function, and they are the Elmer's glue that holds a furniture grouping together. It creates scale and gives the grouping a purpose. They can also house beautiful accessories, books and the occasional cheese dip bowl.

More designers are taking notice to this work horse, and adding details that scream "look at me!" So many factors go into designing a room so doesn't it make sense to have a cocktail table that adds style and grace with absolute ease?

May Savings Event

So I cannot get this darn thing to come up legible. This is our current newsletter. We are having a fantastic SALE offering 30%-50% OFF until the end of MAY. We need to move out our merchandise to bring in the new. I am hoping to have the sale prices on the website by this weekend, however we have been slammed! Which is awesome, but I have limited time. If you see something on the website you like and would like to know pricing just send us an email and we will get back to you promptly. Thanks!! info@abhomeinteriors.com

Amanda Burdge on her favorite things from High Point

Undoubtedly eco-friendly, super fun and savvy! An intriguing lamp by Yanko Design features a crank handle in which a few turns creates 40-60 minutes of bright light using a process of magnetic induction.

This four-post canopy bed is part of Kincaid Furniture’s Alston collection. Seen here with a curved leather headboard, the group is made of solid European beech and comes in a dark chocolate mocha finish. Im seeing a strong resurgence in canopy beds popularity.

The new Magis table from Leif Petersen wowed everyone stateside, including me. The beauty of this table is it's versatility. It could easily be used as an everyday table or used in a formal dining room with a modern chandelier and a 1950's sideboard, insert martini here!

Laser cut leather makes this stylish, liquid silver ooze with classic sex appeal. This chair is uber cool and oh so Jetsons! And it feels like soft suede. Available at AB HOME Interiors 615-750-2763

Nashville decorator Amanda Burdge talks about Thistle Farms

Due to an overwhelming response we are starting this promo today April 30th! This would make an amazing Mother's Day Gift. Thanks for all your support!!

Thistle Farms is a non-profit business operated by the

women of Magdalene. Started by Becca Stevens, an

Episcopal priest who serves as chaplain at St

Augustines chapel,Thistle Farms is run by women who

have survived lives of violence, prostitution, and

abuse. Thistle Farms products are hand-made by the

very women they benefit. All wholesale proceeds

go back into Thistle Farms and the residential program,

Magdalene.

Into every product goes the belief that freedom starts

with healing and love can change lives. By hand the

women create natural bath and body products that are

as kind to the environment as they are to the body. All

sales proceeds go back into supporting the residents

that live at Magdalene, a two year reform program.

Through Thistle Farms, the women of Magdalene gain

much needed job skills, and responsibility. Into every

product goes the belief that freedom starts with

healing and love can change lives. Our dream is that

people will come to see Thistle Farms as a humble but

powerful business that is synonymous with womenʼs

freedom.

10% of all Thistle Farm purchases made

in the month of May will be donated to Magdalene

to help benefit the women in their community.

Join in our effort to make a difference one dollar at a time!

Shop @ ABHOMEINTERIORS.COM and click on

Thistle Farms

or visit us at:

7104 Crossroads Blvd. Ste 108

Brentwood TN 37027

615-750-2763

This would make an amazing Mothers day gift!

Free Shipping to local Nashville residents call for details!

Gardening trends by Nashville designer Amanda Burdge

Smith and Hawkin Gardening Planter

I have seen an increasing number of home grown fruit and vegetable gardens. Every time I open a magazine, the newspaper or flip on the T.V., I'm hearing about another garden. What brought it to my attention was the nagging feeling that I needed to run to Home Depot to buy some 2x4's and build a garden. Why on earth do I have this urge to build a garden, I thought? Never in my life have I had a garden or desired to have one. But as I see and hear more about them I'm beginning to think this is a trend that isn't going to go away. With many families struggling to make ends meet and the rising costs of food, doesn't it make sense to partake in this bygone tradition?

Is gardening a thing of the past?

During World War I and especially World War II, many Americans were willing to spend time each week gardening out of patriotism and solidarity with the troops. The government launched a nationwide campaign in the 1940s, much like the well-known “Uncle Sam Wants You” military recruiting posters, to remind citizens that gardening was an all-American way to contribute to the war effort. Household victory gardens reduced everyday demand for food at a time when the supply was strained by the needs of soldiers fighting overseas in Europe and the Pacific. Gardening was a way to win the war from the home front.

On March 20th, first lady Michelle Obama hosted the groundbreaking for a White House kitchen garden on the South Lawn. The 1,100-square-foot garden will include 55 kinds of vegetables, including peppers, spinach and, yes, arugula. (The selection is a wish list put together by White House chefs.) There will also be berries, herbs and two hives for honey that will be tended by a White House carpenter who is also a beekeeper. The chefs will use the produce to feed the first family, as well as for state dinners and other official events.

You may not have the White House staff to help you along your unfamiliar path of gardening, but there are several websites that can help. For starters look to the majors like Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living. Also, look at Smith and Hawkin for supplies. Its worth the effort to try. You may find yourself a new hobby and your kids will love it!