7 killer resources to shop like a designer

Ever wonder why a designer can find the coolest things? And somehow, the homes we design just look different, but you can't put your thumb on it? Someway we find the most unique furniture, unusual accessories, lamps, art, etc, that you just can't seem to find. I know, we are just special in that way. Well it's because we have been trained by the CIA in a secret laboratory, and given classified information on a hand shake that only we know.... oooor it's because it's our job to present the best to you. We thrive on acceptance, and validating approval from you our devoted clients, because we love it when our magic creation makes you happy. {But I am certain it's the secret handshake.}

Christopher Guy

I am here to tell you, handshake aside {although a snazzy hand swing, jiggle, or jim-jam, of the wrist never hurt advancement here in our office}, we have our trusty go-to's at AB HOME that always make us look like rockstars, superstars and everything in between...cause that's how we roll!

Pal and Smith

This company has the most amazing collection of furniture, lighting, wallpaper, lighting, and rugs. A true go-to, for all things unique, and special.

Elizabeth Bauer

Elizabeth has a wide selection of ordinary pieces with a twist. Bright colors, unusual shapes, and always a surprise ending!

Christopher guy

This line is the BEST line of furnishings when you are looking for high-end tradition with an alice-in-wonderland interpretation. His pieces are over exaggerated, distinct and exclusive. Nothing says designer like Christopher guy.

Bungalow 5

This line was developed by a group of designers and architects out of New York. They have so many awesome pieces that are stylish, unusual and super fun colors.

oly studios

This line is a true favorite. The collection is the epitome of California cool and classic. It mixes raw woods, patina finishes, and oozes cool, easy style.

Shine everyday

Everyone could use a little more bling in their life, right? This line is fashion forward, multifaceted and offers numerous unexpected surprises, even capable of wowing your mother-in-law!

Lee Industries

I cannot say enough about this upholstery line. We use it again, and again, and again. It is the most consistent upholstery line I have ever used in quality, lead times, and customer satisfaction. I have client's that have LEE pieces they purchased thirty years ago, and still love them. Everyone who has a LEE piece loves it, and I have yet to receive a chair, or sofa that wasn't ridiculously comfortable!

Don't forget these favorite posts, to help you shop at your favorite stores, like a rockstar.

How to design a room like an expert

How to select the right lamps

How to design a room on a budget

Where to go shopping in Atlanta

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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 @

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How to take charge of your laundry room with these 7 easy steps

Laundry rooms are often the last source for inspiration, so few homeowner's put effort into making them special. But talk to any mom with a house full of kids, pets, and various other "life" happenings, and they will tell you that they do some serious laundry!

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When designing a laundry room it is important to get the necessities in, and make it functional, but why not make it inspirational, and inviting? If you walked into the room above to do your laundry, wouldn't you be a little more excited to spend your day there?

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Last Friday I met with some homeowners who have two kids. They do two to three loads of laundry a day, and share their laundry room with the powder room. It is a very small space. The toilet and door touch, and in order to get to the bi-fold doors, that house the washer and dryer, they have to walk around the door and shut themselves into the room....amidst a pile of clothes consuming the floor like Jabba the hut, just to do laundry. How do you think they feel about doing laundry? {Not real good.} It is a hassle, hard to move, and a challenge not to trip and fall with so much chaos. This is not a functional and happy place. But I see this ALL the time. And few people want to invest in a place that no one sees, and does such hard, and dirty labor. Remember that post I just did on a glamourous life? Well it is the simply luxuries, like a fabulous laundry room, that make life glamourous.

So what can you do to make your space better?

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1) Plan your room carefully. Think about how you use the space. How much room do you have? Can you expand the space? How can you make the space better?

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2) Give yourself as much storage as the space will allow, no matter how unique your storage needs are or little the space is. You can never have too much! Think about how you will use the space and how you can make it better.

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3) Choose lighting that is appropriate for the room. Don't use harsh lighting if you don't need it and use fixtures that make a beautiful room. Layer your light, and put everything on dimmers. Laundry is not rocket science. If it has been a long day, you just need a little light to start the load, and a little light to fold. ( I went to Arizona a few years ago, chandeliers and sconces were in laundry rooms everywhere and I thought it made a beautiful and unexpected surprise!)

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4) Add electronics to your space like a TV, or a place to sit and do work on the computer. These distractions can double as entertainment, and make doing laundry a little more fun. Especially if you can catch up on that guilty pleasure that you swear you don't watch!

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5) ALWAYS put in the biggest utility sink you can. It needs to be as deep as possible, and prepared to handle war!

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6) If possible add a built-in ironing board or have a place to put one. Few people iron anymore, but it nice to have one when you need it, and they don't take up a lot of room.

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7) Combine the room with something you love. Don't let the extra room go to waste. It can double as a craft room, office, homework station, reading spot, TV room, etc. A client came to me with this photo above three years ago. They were building a custom house and she loved scrap booking so we duplicated this room down to the tile. Because the room is so colorful and fun she LOVED being in here! Can you blame her?

What are some things you could add to your laundry room? How can you make it better?

And remember there are no rules when doing laundry! Unless you do it in public....

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5 things for a glamourous life

“Everything you want should be yours: the type of work you want; the relationships you need;

the social, mental, and aesthetic stimulation that will make you happy and fulfilled;
the money you require for the lifestyle you want; and any requirement that you may need

for achievement to service others. If you don’t aim for it all, you’ll never get it all.

To aim for it requires that you know what you want” ~ Richard Koch

After reading this beautiful quote it reminded me how important a true lifestyle is. Not all the fancy schmancy things, the little things. What makes a lifestyle truly glamourous and rich?

1) Travel- Always be spontaneous and break habits.

2) Take up a hobby. Learn japanese, take guitar lessons. Do something you never thought you could.

3) Add more fresh flowers to your life. They are God's gift to us, and they will brighten your day.

4) Buy the best linens you can afford. We spend half our live's in bed, make them count. And yes that pun was intended! They are the epitome of luxury, and the best night's sleep, which we all need.

5) Be good to yourself, Laugh often and look for inspiration in everything you do because you will need it to service others.

Travel

Take up a hobby

Fresh flowers

Fine linens

Be good to yourself, laugh often, and always remember that your worst

day CAN be your best day if it equals change.

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And become a FAN on our AB HOME facebook fanpage!

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Like decorating but don't know where to start? Want to learn the insiders secrets, tips and tricks? Sign up for Design Strategies 101! (August classes are sold out! Sign up today to reserve your seat for September,

only a few seats left!!)

How to win friends and influence your designer

It is no surprise that our industry is constantly changing. Thus, the reason for so many posts in the blogosphere that designers are never able to do their own homes. Any one of us will tell you that when a client walks in our doors we can pull their project together in a snap. We know exactly what it is they need, and how to get it. But when it came to designing my own home, I completely fell flat. How is this possible I thought? I have 12 years of experience and most jobs I can do in my sleep! I am an expert at creating magic through design, and getting results that even Houdini couldn't master. Magical tae-kwon-do design has become my specialty. So why is it that none of us can design our own homes? With so many products coming into the market that indulge our senses, and wow us it is no wonder that we get A.D.D when it comes to our own spaces. So with one hand buried in office paper work and the other delving through the industry pulse for the top must haves, here are my top pick's that will help you win friends, and influenece your designer.

Includes but not limited to:

1) Cree LED CR6 Down light

Cree LED CR6 Down light

Why is this fixture so special? Two reasons. This 6" recessed LED downlight fits into any standard recessed lighting can, (including the Halo H7, which is THE most common housing unit for new construction homes) and replaces your old 6" 75/100W, known as the builder standard for decades! Why is this good? This drops your energy costs significantly. This fixture uses 10.5W and delivers the same light output as a 65W bulb! The second reason this fixture is awesome? Two of my clients have listened to my podcast:

with Lori Sawaya and Kelly Berg, and knew immediately that instead of replacing all of there fixtures they would recycle the ones they had, and replace them with this greener option. It is so awesome to be a rockstar-even if I just play one on this blog!

2) Lutron's Wireless Occupancy Sensor

The Lutron occupancy sensor automatically turns lights on when a room is occupied and off when a room is vacant. So what's in it for you? Increased convenience, Substantial energy savings and Compliance with building energy codes. I always plan on putting Lutron Dimmer's throughout a house ( they provide up to 60% savings to your energy bill AND decrease your carbon footprint, see chart above) but adding these sensors are a perfect solution to a house full of busy professional's, kids, friends and family who may otherwise leave the lights on!

3) Sanyo's HIT power solar panels

Most of us think that Sanyo just sell's T.V's and appliances, right? Nope, they are way more advanced than that. They are just a bunch of good ol' hippies trying to save the planet and hug a tree. The HIT Power solar module's are the most advanced of their kind. They offer improved efficiency and energy output, and more power per square foot than ever before. As president of Sanyo's U.S. energy system technologies Charles Hanasaki is quoted:

“The industry has advanced to the point where home and property owners understand that the solar energy solutions they purchase will not only reap them enticing tax credits and environmental incentives, it will be working for 25 to 30 years to virtually eliminate their monthly electric bills,” added Hanasaki

Seriously folks, this is the future. Remember the Birkenstock wearing, granola crunching hippies from the 70's? How they preached about free love and saving the planet? Well it finally caught up us! So grab a cliff bar, and let's find some nubby trees to grab a hold of with moon beam and sunshine and share some free love, AND energy savings!

4) Tabrasa

Tabrasa is an idea paint offered through MDC wall coverings. It is a high-performance, dry-erase paint that transforms any space into an idea/communication platform. This paint can be used not only in commercial spaces, but in residential applications as well. How cool is this for the kiddo's? Drawing on the walls was never this much fun, especially with fruit scented markers!

5) USF Contract

This floor company, USF contract, offers cork and bamboo that is not only great to look at, but are durable and available in an array of color options. Bamboo hues, their newest line is sustainable, durable and also certified by green guard! The great thing about this line is that it is commercially rated. Think your kids are tough on things? This floor can withstand a heard of elephants and a crowd at Circus, Circus in Las Vegas, so let little Jimmy run wild on skates, don't worry the floor can handle it!

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6 people everyone needs to know for colour

Today in my inbox I received this great article from Sherwin Williams about color. The article, Material color: When color takes the driver's seat, discusses how integral color is to the design process. "Color is always an important part of any design process, but it's important to be judicious- sometimes subtly or boldly." I cannot agree more.

When designing a home, I always start with color. Questions I will ask-What is the story that the client is trying to achieve? What is the feeling they want to accomplish? Does the architecture speak to me in unusual ways? But most importantly-What is the client's lifestyle, and what inspires them. A great example of inspiration is a post, The little things by Anne from Annechovie. She shows what pieces speak to her and how they make her happy. Another post on eye candy sure to inspire is Sassy, by Deliciously Organized. I also look to beautiful photos to jump start my creative color ideas:

Nathan Turner via Everything LEB

Decor Demon

Clark County Parade of homes

Clark county Parade of homes

Right off the bat, the article states: "... color inspiration can be drawn from something as inconsequential as a pebble to something as forceful as a mountain range." -Amy Kim

In my opinion everything in an interior is an integral part of making the recipe work, but without the right color, the space lacks character and ambiance. ~Amanda Burdge

Want help on your next project? Having difficulty with choosing the right color? Here are some excellent reads you can't miss on everything you need to KNOW about

Colour:

Colorbudz by Lori Sawaya

Arte Styling By Kelly Berg

Color Marie by Marie Brady

Color Sizzle by Kelly Porter

Hue by Rachel Perls

Colour Me happy by Maria Killam

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