Welcome to the Portland project’s party central…the ground floor media room. It’s 540 square feet of family fun. We really thought about how to present this lady, trying to figure out how to make its reveal “editorial” but something about saying “how to design the ultimate entertaining space that’s as large as some people’s apartments” just didn’t feel right. Sure, there are takeaways here for anyone who has even 1/4 of the space (color palettes, how to slice up the areas, etc.) but I know this is a pretty aspirational room, and I didn’t want to sell it as anything but that. It would be like putting eyelash extensions and a matte red lip on a beaver and passing it off as a beauty queen. Wait, no…backwards? Because this is a beauty queen, not a beaver, so whatever the opposite of that would be. So, I thought it would be best just to show you this baby in a “look at this eye candy” way and walk you through the room. Ready? This whole bottom floor felt like a bit of a waste when we got our hands on it. The home already had a pretty sizable garage, so a GIANT storage area (the bottom half of this floor plan) was itching, nay, crying out to be repurposed. Unless the new owners were somehow going to be an Amazon distribution center, it just didn’t make sense. We shifted the smaller bedroom down into the storage area (and where we also built out a laundry room area and moved the stairs), so that we could open that whole area up to be a kick-butt media room and wet bar. It ended up being 36 feet long by 15 feet wide, and the French doors open up to the backyard so it can feel really indoor/outdoor (you know, when it’s not raining in Portland). The space above the mechanical/storage room is actually a little different, where we landed. It could have been one big closet (like in the floor plan), but we built-in a daybed nook on the right half, leaving the left half open to be used however the new owner wanted (for staging, we put in a games cabinet for board games and other fun family things). We really wanted the vibe to feel casual yet sophisticated yet a little funky and special. Tall order, but I feel good about where we landed and how we got there. You know I love a bold wall color, so we brought the same shade from the powder room upstairs down here (Sherwin-Williams’ Waterloo) because it looked so, so good streaked with natural light. And because we didn’t want it to be too cave-like (which wouldn’t have been the worst thing, frankly), we designed a “feature ceiling” to draw the eye up and add in that little bit of “funky special” that was on the checklist. Because I envisioned this being used as a family space, I wanted the color palette and textiles to be playful and not as serious as they were upstairs. A striped rug from Dash & Albert is subtle but adds a nice graphic punch (as does the black and white pillow on the armchair) and the throw pillows and blanket bring that bright but comfy pop with some earth tones (and of course, lots and lots of wood, because I can’t help myself and every room benefits from the warmth of wood). Wanna see one of our favorite little details in this whole house? This was originally going to be a closet, but then we thought WAIT THIS SHOULD BE A BUILT IN DAYBED. Perfect for impromptu naps, as a reading/coloring corner, or a place to hide nooked into a corner talking to boys late at night (you know, for the teenagers…or grown women). I think maybe a tree wallpaper or mural should be my calling card. Never leave a project without plastering some tree trunks up on a wall somewhere. I do very much love this soft blue paper by Sandberg mixed with the striped and graphic Schumacher fabric from the throw pillows. Altogether, it’s sweet but not saccharine. If you have a nook like this to work with, I say treat it like you would a powder room…have some fun, take some risks, it’s just a tiny little corner. We made sure to build in some shelving to make this the ultimate reading nook (you need a place to set a drink, maybe glasses…other books). Plus, it doubles as a “nightstand” if you want to use it as an extra spot for a guest to sleep (it’s an actual twin-sized mattress in there covered with Schumacher’s Olympic fabric…Arlyn can attest because it’s where she slept—very comfortably she says—during the open house event this summer). On the other side of the daybed nook wall is this inset area that would and could easily be a closet but we left it open and used it more as games central. I highly recommend adding art and creating a “moment” on any horizontal surface you can get your hands on, so we brought in three pieces—the left two from MaryAnn Puls, and the embroidered piece by Annie O’Dorisio—and rounded it out with a brass “small” (as we call little decor pieces like that in the styling arena). I’m not sure what it’s for, but I’d like to imagine it’s a giant coaster that holds your beer while you open this beautiful Room & Board cabinet to grab one of the 438 available ping pong balls or prep for a riveting game of Bingo. Speaking of ping pong, is this not THE most unnecessarily beautiful ping pong table you’ve ever seen? I mean, the net is LEATHER (as are the paddles…well, leather and wood). I’m sorry, I just can’t. If you’re on the market for an “artisan” games table and have a spare $6,000, I highly recommend this one from City Home for your home (no, seriously). We are not entering the wet bar area of the room and I’m not afraid to admit that it’s so very beautiful. It has all the essentials of a wet bar: wine/beverage fridge, ice maker, sink and faucet, easily cleanable hard surfaces (and the added bonus of a dishwasher, keep reading). Can we take a moment to admire the detail of this sink and prep faucet by Kohler? We could have gone with a traditional sink here, but if you have the opportunity to do something a little extra special, why not? I went with the polished nickel here as I did the rest of the house, which I’m loving because it’s traditional but warm (unlike chrome that can feel very cold). A beverage refrigerator with side-by-side compartments that have their own temperature control lets you keep “adult juice” in one at some fancy “perfect for rose or white wine or cabernet” temp I won’t pretend to know, and, well…more “adult juice” in the other…just in canned form…but extra cold! Or of course, a bunch of La Croix or sodas for the whole family. A smaller dishwasher is perfect for a wet bar area, especially on a floor removed from the kitchen. It’s just roomy enough to throw in glasses, popcorn bowls, plates crusted over with pizza cheese…you know, typically family area things (this one holds 10 place settings). We went with a panel-ready option so the bottom cabinetry wasn’t just a line of stainless steel and we could show off that dreamy blue paint color. And, of course, like a good tree mural, I can’t leave a room untouched by an ice maker, for all my icy cold water/beverage dreams. This compact guy makes 45 pounds of “restaurant quality” clear ice a day and I don’t know what that really means, but it sounds like you’d never have to make an emergency ice run mid-party again. Oh, and a pretty cool feature is the door is reversible, so you can decide to make it left or right opening, whichever feels best for your kitchenette or wet bar. A ledge made of the same material as the slab backsplash blends in but also keeps the counters more easily clear (where else will you put the pizza boxes, otherwise?). And there you have it. The ultimate family party room from soup to nuts (TV to ping pong table?). We put together two Get the Looks, one with all the furniture and styling, and another for the wet bar with all the details of everything we used here. As always, we’d love to hear from you…any questions, comments, concerns, loves, hates (kidding, don’t hurt my feelings)…leave for us in the comments below and we’ll chat back! 1. Maxwell Custom Sectional Sofa | 2. Custom Drapery and Drapery Rod by Decorview | 3. Window by Milgard | 4. Hourglass Stool | 5. Tripod Coffee Table | 6. Woven Cotton Rug | 7. Floor Lamp by Rejuvenation | 8. Pender Charme Chair | 9. Metal Tray | 10. Ceramic Salt Cellar | 11. Ceramic Match Striker | 12. Lumbar Pillow Cover by Rejuvenation | 13. Canvas Pillow Cover | 14. Block Printed Pillows via Mantel | 15. Tweed Throw by Rejuvenation | 16. Stripe Pillow (fabric available here) | 17. Cotton Throw | 18. Sconce by Rejuvenation | 19. Media Console | 20. Coffee Table via The Good Mod | 21. Wood Containers by Thos. Moser | 22. Vase | 23. Abstract Art by MaryAnn Puls | 24. Abstract Art by MaryAnn Puls | 25. Abstract Art by MaryAnn Puls | 26. Embroidered Art by Annie O’Dorisio | 27. Ping Pong Table | 28. Glass Door Cabinet | 29. Wallpaper | 30. Faux Leather Storage Bin | 31. Lamp Shade | 32. Dipped Ceramic Small Lamp | 33. Abstract Art by MaryAnn Puls | 34. Abstract Art by Mary Ann Plus | 35. Abstract Art by Mary Ann Plus | 36. Zoila Fabric by Schumacher | 37. Rania Stripe Fabric by Schumacher | 38. Cusco Ikat Fabric by Schumacher | 39. Olympia Fabric by Schumacher | 40. Ribbed Sculptural Vase via Mantel (similar) | 41. Sculptural Vase via Mantel | 42. Wooden Chest via Aurora Mills | 43. Wood Flooring by Hallmark Floors | 44. Waterloo by Sherwin-Williams | 45. Pure White by Sherwin-Williams | 46. Baseboard by Metrie | 47. Window & Door Casing by Metrie 1. Faucet by Kohler | 2. Tile by Pratt & Larson | 3. Sink by Kohler | 4. Marble Countertop | 5. Abstract Art by MaryAnn Puls | 6. Abstract Art by MaryAnn Puls | 7. Vase | 8. | 9. Textured Carafe | 10. Cabinet Maker | 11. Pull by Rejuvenation | 12. Knob by Rejuvenation | 13. Sconce by Rejuvenation | 14. Serving Bowl by Rejuvenation | 15. Napkins (set of 4) | 16. Marble Tray | 17. Ivory Knives (set of 6) | 18. Bronze Bottle Opener | 19. Wine Glasses (set of 4) | 20. Textured Lowball Glass | 21. Trapeze Glassware (set of 4) | 22. Beverage Fridge | 23. Ice Maker | 24. Dishwasher ***Photography by Sara Tramp for EHD Design and styling by Emily Henderson and Brady Tolbert (and team). JP Macy of Sierra Custom Homes was the General Contractor, and Annie Usher and the architect. The post The Ultimate Family-Friendly Media Room + Wet Bar appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2MFLviI
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Over the weekend, I announced on my Instagram that I’m officially starting my second book. If you are like anyone in my family, you might be asking: A. What took you so long? B. Why are you adding this to your workload? The answers are connected. For a few years, my publisher has been politely begging me for another book. Styled was a success so the natural thing to do next is another book. But my answer was always “Listen. I want to in theory but I have no time, too many young kids and more importantly no new ideas.” The amount of work/time/effort/resources/energy and ABSOLUTE PASSION it takes to write and publish a good book is unfathomable. Besides, I write every day! What do I have left in me??? So then why pitch another one? Why, masochistically, add this to my already very, very full plate? Here’s how it went down: I was taking a shower on a Sunday morning, feeling so overwhelmed by the renovations of 2018 (mountain, Portland) and subsequently feeling really stupid about the mistakes that I had made (and had to pay to fix) and wishing so bad that I had one resource, ONE BOOK that I could reference instead of every single day googling “how do you design a _________.” And I stopped. and said OH SH*T, THAT’S MY BOOK. In that second, I knew I had to write it. I was the person that could transparently write an entire book about lessons, mistakes, rules and breaking them. How to do it, how to not do it, but in a way that really empowers and educates. Not because I’m a pro now, but precisely because I had to put myself through design school in the field, researching aggressively along the way, troubleshooting at every turn, making mistakes, trying to be perfect and reminding myself how boring “perfect” actually is. My hope is that this book will be the resource that I needed and wanted so desperately during the last few years. But don’t worry, I won’t be all floor plans and construction photos. It will still be beautiful (a la Styled) and done in a way that I think is really creative and fun. It all came to me that day. Almost ALL of it. I wrote the 3-page pitch that day, sent it off on Monday and my editor said “This is exactly what the world needs from you; let’s do this,” which made me feel good. Three months later, my contract was signed and we are OFF. I’m very excited. I have a pretty clear vision for it that I didn’t even really have with Styled and frankly, I’m just so excited to read this book. I don’t want to put too much out there because frankly, I don’t want someone to steal my ideas, but I still want to know what you guys would want from a design book, and what you feel is missing out there. This book is more macro than Styled. It’s less about styling pillows (but obviously there will be beautifully styled pillows) and more pulled back, dealing with the things that are a bit more terrifying to commit to, those things that are more permanent that create nothing other than design exhaustion and absolute home anxiety. Okay. I’ll say no more. Please send suggestions of some of your biggest questions, struggles, things you literally have no idea about in terms of renovation and design and heck, if they don’t make it into the book, we’ll log them as suggestions for the blog. Also, we are looking for homes that are interesting and have something special about them. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just special either in architecture or decor, with ideas that people can learn from. We’ll come in and style it out (for some houses, we are adding furniture, but most we are bringing a ton of accessories and pillows) and yes, you’ll have the chance to buy them (unless it happens to be something personal of mine that I can’t bear to sell). You’ll get a copy of the book (duh) and credit on the page of the book (different than Styled). You can be a designer, an architect, a dog walker—I don’t care, we just want pretty spaces, with good light and a lot of ideas that we think others should or could learn from. Some houses might be PERFECTLY designed and others show a good way that they broke the rule and why we all love it. We went on a scouting mission throughout LA last week to some homes I knew could work for the book, and Sara snapped some shots from the day (you know I love a good sneak peek): For house submissions (ideally in the greater LA or SoCal area…we’ve already had a ton of submissions elsewhere), email [email protected] with the subject line EHD BOOK 2 HOUSE SUBMISSION + your name and location, with some shots of your home for consideration inside. And leave all your book tip requests below. Tomorrow, we have a huge 8-hour brainstorming session to finalize the outline and I’d love to integrate as many of your requests that make sense so ASK AND COMMENT AWAY. The post Announcing…Book #2!!! (+ We Need Your Questions) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2G8s94O Velinda here again, welcoming you to my home. Sort of. I welcome you to the 400-square-foot tiny hobbit-home that my 980-square-foot bungalow sits above…likely the basement at one point. Revealing this “Makeover Takeover” as the introduction to my home is like skipping to read the final page of a novel. You’ve missed chapters. Here are the CliffsNotes: In 2012, I called my mom and said “Guess what! I just bought a sh**hole!” The place was bank-owned and left unlocked, having sat on the market for months with no interested parties. Nobody wanted her and for good reason. She was neeeeeeeedy. The hobbit-home looked like this: We found a contractor willing to teach us, help us and loan us tools. My mom, stepmom, 11- and 13-year-old step sisters (pro tip, child labor is cheap) and a couple of very good friends put on their construction hats (kidding…we couldn’t afford those) and made the house a home, or at least liveable-ish, at first. It’s taken YEARS to become truly comfortable and stylistically, it’s still mostly filled with decent Craigslist purchases I made in my mid 20s…but I love it! (Speaking of being comfortable, anyone want to donate a central heat and air unit to someone in need?). Throughout the years, these lower 400 square feet have provided storage during endless construction, a getaway for roommates during years of co-living and even a private place for a friend of mine to shag a long-time crush. But now I’m all grown up (?) and it was time to clean this space and make it a welcoming place for my new mother-in-law, Nancy, to stay when she visits from Nebraska. So, skimming all other chapters for now, let’s skip straight to the glass slipper fitting, the beast becoming the prince, the basement becoming a beauty: I’m going to share a fantasy with you guys: Tiny. Home. Design. If I could find a way to make a living designing interiors for Airstreams and tiny homes, I’d ditch Emily YESTERDAY (secrets stay here). The standard kitchenette with only a microwave, mini-fridge and tiny sink sounded like no-fun. I wanted Nancy to do everything she could do in her own kitchen here, in under 50 square feet. Besides worrying over function, style was of course priority. Since my house is a 1926 bungalow with a bit of Spanish flair, I wanted something classic with touches of rustic (which was hopefully achieved through styling)…pulled together in a modern way. These were inspirations: The very first thing I knew about this design was that I wanted a Smeg fridge. If the fridge was going to take up 20% of this kitchen, it HAD to be pretty! No appliance designer pulls off classic yet modern the way Smeg does. Being a European company, they offer several space-saving solutions. I chose the Fab28 because it was compact but still includes a freezer compartment. A tiny kitchen doesn’t have to have an itsy-bitsy refrigerator. This fridge is the sexiest appliance in my entire house and I’ll probably have to venture down to hug it now and then. I mean, how cute would this little guy be in an airstream? When I renovated my upstairs kitchen in 2016, I was scratching plans (not to scale) on notebook paper trying to determine how to maximize function while fitting in standard sized cabinets. This nightmarish process sent me running for design school (100% true). Because who wants to Google when you can handover $20K to UCLA instead?! For this tiny kitchen project, I found Cliq Studios, first because I was drawn in by the fact their site didn’t say “call for quote.” A phone call??? Aggghhhh! Pass the Xanax ;). I was able to shop and find the pricing right there, online. I was hooked. Turns out, Cliq Studios could’ve spared me that college fortune because their cabinet order comes with professional design plans, measuring and RENDERINGS. Even as a designer, having a specialist’s help was invaluable (thanks, Jayelynn!) because she was familiar enough with their products to get creative (we flipped a standard cabinet—the one holding the oven—upside down to provide a drawer for baking sheets). I can’t say enough good things about working with these guys! The only difficult part was choosing between their color options. I LOVE moody colors and they had several that were tempting, but I ultimately opted to keep the shade light to avoid further shrinking the already tiny space (which can happen with darker colors as they absorb light). Speaking of using light to spatially trick the eye, I turned to Clé tile. Look how light bounces off that Zellige tile! I cheated here because we used the same tile on a floor in the Mountain House, but I’ve seen first hand how reflective yet classic these handmade tiles are. They’re subtle but not boring thanks to the organic variations that come from being handmade (shout out to my contractor, Pete at LA Doors & More, for not murdering me when he found out each tile is laid individually. Anyone in LA looking for an amazing contractor? He did everything except install the resilient Bedrosians Magnifica Basalto porcelain countertop slab, which I LOVE! For that, I thank Perry Masonry). Keeping in theme with “light and reflective,” I chose nickel finishes, which I hadn’t used before but liked how timeless yet warm it felt. I found the knobs and pulls at Schoolhouse and loved the minimalistic details (like the hatching on the simple knob). I found the Rohl polished nickel faucet on eFaucets where I ended up also easily finding the sink, garbage disposal and accessories (polished nickel towel bar, cutting board etc). The cutting board fits over the sink opening, adding to the limited surface space. There’s also a roll-over-the-sink drying rack for dishes to save the space on the countertops traditional drying racks can take up. And now for the choice that I thought might cost me my job. I didn’t want the standard, mini-kitchen sink. I wanted something that’d fit a stock pot or dutch oven but still maximize counter space. So I turned a standard-sized sink sideways…meaning the drain isn’t centered. Uncouth, I know, but this utilized every inch allowed by the narrow 20” wide (yet 24” deep!!) base cabinet. PLUS, it maximized the storage space below by positioning the garbage disposal (which was one of my must-haves) off to one side instead of centering it, freeing up half the cabinet! Note that a wall-mounted faucet allowed maximum space for the sink. I tried and tried and tried to also squeeze in a dishwasher drawer here (a great space-saving solution!), but would have had to sacrifice the garbage disposal and I care too much about our plumbing, so alas. But if any reader has ever pulled off that single-cabinet trifecta: kitchen sink, garbage disposal and dishwasher call me…I’ll marry you. (Disclaimer, I come with a wife…but a two-for-one deal!)
Utilizing vertical space for storage is a common small-space hack. But low ceilings add to the limitations of our tiny hobbit headquarters. That meant thinking even smaller. Instead of mounting pot racks, I used a towel bar mounted to the ceiling beside the range hood and a tie rack with S hooks on the exposed end of the cabinet for small, low-profile storage solutions. I also incorporated a magnetic knife strip above the cooktop to free up additional drawer/counter space.
The MVP of freeing up vertical space (and the detail that makes my minimalist heart drool) is the quarter-inch bracket-less open shelving. I found the maker, Shelfology, on Etsy…and boy are these guys detail-savvy! The shelves (I used their Tromso shelf system) are powder-coated metal and come in standard sizes or custom designs and can be made in any color (they’re linked in black in the below Get the Look, but I had mine made in white to blend in with the backsplash). They attach to wall studs and fit beneath drywall, so they have to go in during construction, but they are as sturdy as they are sleek! (The folks at Shelfology were kind enough to extend a promo code specific to EHD readers for $25 off $100 or more on the Tromso shelves, using code TROMSO25…expires March 31st).
I don’t cook, but I’ve heard rumors that a kitchen needs more than a microwave. Research suggests it also needs a convection oven for baking, a stove, a grill, a broiler, a speed oven and more. Basically, a lot of space-sucking contraptions I didn’t have room for. Oh, and a range hood/fan to keep the chef, who is generous enough to dedicate time to each of these machines, from suffocating in clouds of smoke (explain to me again why people enjoy this? Fitting all of these things into 49 square feet was the biggest challenge. The easiest part of the solution was a built-in two burner stove. Even you chefs have to admit all four burners are rarely used at once, so a four-burner would have been wasted counter space. My first instinct was to place a microwave above for both cooking and fanning solutions, but it seemed the heaviness of such a box might be too eye-assaulting in such a tiny space. Instead, a charcoal-filtered, recirculating hood provides a concealed, ventless fan solution. And the Beyoncé of it all, the Oprah of this kitchen, let’s all bow to the coolest, affordable tiny kitchen solution I’ve found: the Master Chef 5-in-1 oven. Multi-purpose appliances are a must if a kitchen is spatially-challenged! This oven is the size of most microwaves but the interior is designed to fit a full cookie sheet. It bakes, grills, broils, cooks and microwaves…and can fit in a 24” cabinet. It’s the whole kitchen in one small box. MAGIC. The last design piece that excited me is the flooring, which isn’t particular to tiny spaces but is a fantastic solution for kitchens/basements…any room that’s prone to water exposure. It’s a vinyl plank flooring from Cali Bamboo and it’s 100% waterproof on all sides and easy to install over uneven subfloors. And it’s affordable.
I’ve mentioned “affordable.” Honestly, some of the design was budget and some a splurge. Overall, it’s a mid-level renovation and the most expensive of any my house has seen, coming in at $23,000. That’s thousands more than my micro-budget, much larger upstairs kitchen reno. As a result, I didn’t have funds left to shop for styling, so I pulled from what I, Bowser and Emily already owned. Since a lot of these items are older/unavailable, the Get the Look includes similar, budget-friendly pieces. Take this micro-kitchen and the attached 350-ish square feet; throw it on a couple of acres within reach of a city, toss in a dozen adopted dogs, a cat and some chickens and you’re looking at our retirement plan. In the meantime, Nancy gets to enjoy her newly-earned retirement in The Shire of the city…she’ll just have to excuse my occasional invasion to kiss an appliance or two. 1. Refrigerator by Smeg | 2. Countertop | 3. Knife Holder | 4. Wood Flooring | 5. Tile | 6. Cabinets | 7. Faucet | 8. Hood | 9. Electric Burner | 10. Knob | 11. Drawer Pull | 12. Sink | 13. Garbage Disposal | 14. Roll Up Dish Rack | 15. Oven | 16. Paper Towel Holder | 17. Cutting Board | 18. Hanging Rack | 19. Thin Wall Shelving 1. Village Print | 2.Rimmed Dinner Plates (set of 6) | 3. Dish Towel (set of 4) | 4. Silverware Set (20 pc) | 5. Pitcher | 6. Glass Goblet | 7. Wine Glass (set of 6) | 8. White Wine Glass (set of 6) | 9. Stoneware Mug | 10. Ceramic Tumbler | 11. Coffee Press | 12. 3 Piece Container Set | 13. Serving Platter | 14. Rectangle Serving Platter | 15.Wood Cheese Board | 16. Salad Bowl (set of 4) | 17.Ivory Bowls (set of 6) | 18. Grid Print Bowl | 19. Wood Ceramic Salt Grinder | 20. Wood Ceramic Salt or Pepper Grinder | 21. Salt and Pepper Shakers | 22. Cast Iron Skillet | 23. Slotted Spoon | 24. Cooking Spoon | 25. Adler Serving Spoon | 26. Cast Iron Enamel Skillet | 27. Wooden Tray | 28. Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven | 29. Knife Set | 30. White Creamer | 31. Sugar Bowl with Lid | 32. Spice Jar (set of 6) | 33. Vase | 34. Utility Baskets | 35. Basket with Lid | 36. Measuring Cup Set | 37. Paper Towel Holder | 38. Canister (set of 4) | 39. Glass Oil Bottle | 40. Glass Cruet The post Velinda’s Tiny Kitchen Makeover Takeover (With Tons of Smart Storage Hacks) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2SeQSdY Okay, that is not it, YET, sadly. This room is from the Mjolk house which has been a source of inspiration for me throughout this whole process, but on to the real mountain house update. We spent over two weeks up there over Christmas and I can say without hyperbole that it was the best two weeks of my life. The energy was so good and calm. The kids didn’t fight and barely asked to watch TV. We crafted, had scavenger hunts, went on one million walks and bug hunts, made forts, cooked so much soup, hung out with friends, and I took 8-10 micro bubble baths. I didn’t open my laptop except to order vacuum bags. At one point, I realized that I hadn’t been in a car in FIVE DAYS. The point is, that house is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing for me: forcing me to relax and unplug, and providing a space away from LA to connect with my family. Also, let’s face it, the sweet, sweet satisfaction of being done with the most stressful renovation of my life doesn’t hurt, coupled with the fact that I truly love, love, love the design. I suppose I felt a lot of pride in it and the only pain I felt was fulfilling your survey request to NOT show you too much on social media. The day before we moved in back in December, my team and I went up there to set it all up. We brought up a combination of leftover furniture from my house, the Portland project (that I had shipped down) and then we brought what was over from our storage unit up in the mountains. We placed it all and I realized that it looked PRETTY DARN GOOD. Was I expecting to use my old sofa up there? No, but I really loved it in the family room. Did I think that my wood armchairs that were originally in LA would be so comfortable and feel right in the living room? Nope. And while all of it might get moved around, it made me really reconsider something…wait, why am considering replacing all these pieces that I actually like? Why not just see if I can make these work in the design of the house and then if they can’t, move on from there? It was such a relief to make that decision, and little did I know that it was aligned with the feedback from you about more approachable ideas and less “look at my custom sofa that took six months to design.” But this does mean something else and I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about it… …We are officially done with the “I Design, You Decide” series for furniture and decor (of course the Vacay Giveaway will still happen and everything that has been recorded thus far will still count). There might be some projects along the way to vote on, but it stopped making sense for where we are right now because I really only wanted the house to look and feel one way and creating two design plans that look almost identical just seemed like a marketing gimmick. It was awesome for bathrooms and somehow made more sense, but showing you two very similar white rugs and being like “I don’t know guys, I just can’t decide” seems well, offensively obvious and condescending. So I’ll be approaching decorating this project just like I do with most—using my three main steps. I’m starting from scratch in a way, but loosening up the perfection reigns for what I have that already works. HOW DO I WANT IT TO LOOK & FEEL?I already knew the style: the Rustic-Scandinian-Modern-Mountain-Minimalist-Contemporary-California-Chalet-Cabin look. It only took me one year and 82 “debates” with Brian to figure that out, and I’m literally an interior designer that should win all design wars (except Brian is typically right). As a reminder, here are some reference photos (some you’ve seen, some new) for the vibe I’m after: Most of the time, your style is derived from a combination of a few things:
For me and this house, I want it to feel the following things: Calm. Quiet. Relaxing. Airy. Full of space and light. Comfortable. SO COMFORTABLE. Happy, but not loud. In fact, so, so, so quiet…but interesting, with some quirk and unpredictable moments. So I created a fantasy mood board that we love…let’s call this a “feelings board.” Great. I’ll take it all. A huge part of the design process is this step because it really to helps you understand what you are going for, EVEN IF you/I can’t actually purchase all or any of those things. It’s aspirational and it’s important to do because it’s a good reminder of how to stay on track, and, of course, to remind me to search and find the more affordable versions of those things. That was our first board, but as it felt a bit unattainable, we redid it to feel more achievable—something I might actually be able to do. It’s not totally different, and yet it’s more realistic for me right now. Next up is… CHOOSE YOUR COLOR PALETTEYou have your “look and feel” and some style semantics to help you explain it to others, so next, it’s time to come up with a color palette. You might actually be able to pull your palette from your inspiration board, with some tweaks, so let what you’re drawn to in your aesthetic vibe guide you if you’re stuck. For me, well…before you see mine you might want to alert the authorities but please don’t bother because the Associated Press has already ran the “Emily Henderson shocks nation with revolutionary color palette” story. But it’s different this time, I SWEAR… The blues are muted and more grayed out. The grays are softer, more heathered. The whites are creamier. There is more black but in tiny moments (well, except for that sexy black bathroom), and the green is more earthy, less poppy. There will nary be a bright color in this house, with the exception of the kids room. That is a pretty paired down palette and I know there will be some blushes and warmer tones involved, but you get the idea. BRING IN TEXTURE
Besides colors, you have the all-important textures that round it all out, that can add depth where colors can’t. Our wood is light, reclaimed and with a matte finish. The black iron is thin (and also matte). The schmear on the fireplace and the plaster is soft and even the stone is subdued and softened by being leathered instead of polished or honed. I forgot to put the brass up there, but hopefully you can get it (and we’ll edit it). Last? SHOP WHAT YOU HAVEUse what you’ve got. Before you start all over, assess your situation. I ALMOST FORGOT THIS STEP. Instead of ditching everything I have, I took an inventory of what I was already storing in my garage or in my house that really fit the mountain house vibe. Sure, I shopped some at the flea market, but at first, I pulled from what I already had and brought them up there. I didn’t know where things would go or in what room, I used my “pretty looks good next to pretty” rule and brought up anything that I loved in the vibe/feel, color palette and look we were going for. So here is what I have up there right now. Maybe all of it won’t stay and maybe it will be moved around and around and around, but I was shocked at how great it all looked together. The vintage Børge Mogensen chair and ottoman looked bad in its original fabric in our LA house, but up there near the family room fireplace, it sings. My Target tripod lamps (both floor and table) are great. I shipped home the most beautiful mirrors (from Thos. Moser) from the Portland Project and last year, I snagged the Rejuvenation tables for a makeover that never ended up happening. The tall blonde one looks so great with our sectional. The soft rug from Dash & Albert that you might recognize from the Portland living room is looking great in the family room. The Article chair is next to our master fireplace (although I think it would shine more not so close to a big black steel square) and the Katy Skelton sofa is currently trying to find a home up there (but I might just put it in Birdie’s old room down here since they share a room now…more on that later). Oh, and that little black table from Target, which I’ve used all over so far…I just love its updated traditional shape and matte black finish. The navy sofa (from Interior Define), wood armed chair, vintage Saarinen coffee table and Schoolhouse lamp are all things I’ve had FOR YEARS. I’m SO glad I kept all of them. They are honestly looking so good up there. They are all so practical and comfortable (and kid-friendly) and yes, in my color palette. The one good thing about being consistent in color palette is that things date a lot less quickly. Lastly, the world’s most comfortable shag rug (it was Brian’s only real demand) will likely make its way into our master bedroom. I’ve used this I think five other times in a project and I can’t wait to dig my toes into the cush of it in the morning before having to have the “awful” debate with oneself of whether I take a bubble massage bath or a steam shower…Also, the universe’s most beautiful chair (by Fernweh Woodworking out of Oregon) was a gift from the Portland project that will likely don the most perfect corner near a window somewhere. Regarding the Article sectional…I have shopped and searched for something super interesting and conversation making, but ultimatley this one that already sits in the room is kinda perfect for the vibe and style. Plus, it’s VERY comfortable. Someday I might find that perfectly weird low ’70s sectional that steals all of our hearts, but until then, I love this guy. Honestly, sometimes I wish it were in my living room here, too, but then I think “surely I can’t use the same sofa twice…” But can’t I? So that’s where we are. It’s furnished, but not finished. It’s comfortable but not perfect. It’s getting there and throughout the next 6-9 months, we’ll be finishing the rooms and revealing them. As much as I’d love to wait to reveal EVERYTHING all at once, I just don’t think I’m willing to wait that long to start showing you (and I doubt you want to wait that long either). I literally can’t wait to show you. As a massive over-sharer (duh), it’s hard to keep it all to myself so instead, I’ll just do my best to finish it more quickly so that you (and I ) can get the satisfaction we both need. Thoughts? Comments? Opinions? *And again, we are working out what the rest of “I Design, You Decide” and Vacay Giveaway’looks like but the more you comment and share, the more entered you are and YES that will still happen. I can’t wait to host any of you who have been invested enough in this project to share it…and trust me…you’ll have a good time at this house. It’s my absolute happy place and maybe yours. The post My Actual Design Process (and Yes, a Mountain House Update) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2HBPIoW Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you’ve had a great weekend and are getting in that last bit of R&R before we all kick off another week…the LAST week of January. I just realized that as I was typing…Can we call someone to sloooow this time thing down? Is there an app for that I can download? Until that’s figured out, we should all squeeze our loved ones tight and snuggle up to enjoy these chillier winter days. Now, just sit back and enjoy all of our week’s exciting discoveries. Over Thanksgiving, I was RIVETED and couldn’t put thisarticle down about why people aren’t having as much sex (or kids). I kept the magazine it was in like a hoarder but I’ve already referenced it a few times since. Then, in the same issue was an article about why exorcisms are up??!!!! People are getting or reporting being possessed more than they have in decades…SO INTERESTING. The ENTIRE teams loves this candle (Voluspa French Cade Lavender). But Arlyn revealed a super secret that if you burn that candle and this candle (Capri Blue’s Volcano) in the same room (in different areas), your space will smell like an Anthropologie…so basically heaven. It feels like all anyone could talk about in the zeitgeist was this documentary (Netflix’s take on the Fyre Festival clusterbuck)…well both competing documentaries on Netflix and Hulu. Arlyn was ENTHRALLED (voting the Netflix one as the better doc) and said it’s the kind of thing that it’s impossible to take your eyes off and you watch with your jaw on the floor the entire time in disbelief. Jess and Julie are truly obsessed with this Instagram account by the insanely creative Mandi Johnson. It’s miniatures on a whole other level (which you know I love…future collaboration in the works?!?). In an effort to reduce waste at home, Sara bought these baskets (one black and one white) to store and separate her clean and dirty rags. They are cute and easy to clean. This system helps her stay organized and away from paper towels:) Joy’s layout ofher new house is SO SO FUN. I love being a bystander and watching a friend build a house. If you haven’t seen it yet, GO NOW. Grace saw this article last Sunday and it caught her eye because she and one of her friends were just discussing this topic a few days prior. It talks dining out with parents and how sometimes it’s really not worth the effort spending hours looking for restaurants, looking at the menu, scoping photos online because they only like what they already like and anything new is not welcomed. Is this just our parents?? From Julie: “I tested these wool dryer balls I just ordered and it took half the time to dry a load of towels with them. I’m shocked and amazed.” I can’t wait to put this jumpsuit I ordered recently on all of my body parts (I like that it’s slimming so it MIGHT actually be flattering). I’ll let you know. Arlyn has another amazing house tour recommendation. It’s the type of place you stare at in disbelief that someone could actually have a home like that, wondering if you’d ever actually want to live in a space like it, but dream of what it would be like if you did. I started watching ‘YOU‘ on Netflix and it’s creepy but so far pretty great (a few other EHDers also give it the “so good, so creepy” seal of approval). This lotion (Paula’s Choice: CALM Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant) has been Ryann’s favorite recent beauty purchase. She says that because her cheeks and forehead have a natural redness and her skin is dry, she hasn’t found a foundation that lasts the day. This lotion is really great for helping to combat that issue. It’s lightweight but soothing and reduces redness. Jess almost impulse bought this BEAUTIFUL dinnerware set (the Kaloh Dinnerware Set) from West Elm this past week. It’s the perfect blend of modern and rustic all the while being dishwasher friendly. It’s honestly so pretty in person. What has you excited this week? What are you reading, watching, buying (and then forcing on all your friends)? Talk tomorrow. Xx The post The Link Up: The Week The World Got ‘FYRED’ Up appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2UiXsO4 It’s #SoupSaturday, my favorite day of the week. It’s no secret that the turkey meatball soup we included in the very first soup recipe roundup this month is one of the big favorites in the EHD office. We were all inspired by the same initial recipe (via the Savory Lotus), but now we’ve each taken the recipe in a thousand different directions. It’s the soup that many of us have said “Yup, I could eat this every day” about. It’s the soup that can be dressed up or down, mixed up depending on what veggies are in season (or in your fridge), and keep us all full and happy. Today we’re bringing you another meatball soup variation packed with bright veggies, all swimming in a flavorful broth. Also, to all our friends across the pond (and our neighbors to the north), we’ve heard you on the measurements! We concede that the American/imperial system of cups can be…confusing (is it 1 cup of carrots cut in large chunks or small chunks? Is it okay if some stick out over the edge? NO ONE KNOWS!). So we’ve done our best to add weight measurements to our second recipe (the first one isn’t so exact). Not only are we bringing you a new soup recipe this week, we’re also going to share with you all how to make bone broth from scratch—the base for ALL my soups. It sounds intimidating (at least it did to me), but trust me, once you savor your own homemade bone broth, the store stuff just won’t taste the same. Am I a super organized person who always has homemade bone broth on hand for my weekly soup making? Nope. I’ll use a boxed broth when I haven’t had the 8-16 hours it takes to boil my own broth. But when I do, I can really taste the difference and it’s totally worth it. I’ve been riffing off a recipe from Rebecca Katz’s Clean Soups cookbook, but have tweaked to my liking as I’ve done it more. WHAT YOU NEEDVegetables
Herbs & Spices
Bones
Liquids
HOW TO COOK IT
And now that you’ve created a true labor of love—homemade bone broth—it’s time to put that savory broth into action. I highly recommend using it to make this meatball soup variation, which serves about six heaping bowls of soup (8 if you’re not starving monsters like me and my staff): WHAT YOU NEEDFor Broth Vegetables
Herbs & Spices
Liquids
For Meatballs
HOW TO COOK IT
If you’re into this soup movement and desperate for more than one recipe a week, may we suggest some of our favorite soup cookbooks below? These are the books that EHD team members and I are reaching for time, and time again. Eating Well Soups | The Simply Real Health Cookbook | The Ultimate Book of Soups and Stews | The Soup & Bread Cookbook | Clean Soups | The Pho Cookbook The post Soup Saturday: Homemade Bone Broth & Chicken Meatball Veggie Soup appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2TgQsB4 I’ve been “Tidying Up” (thanks to the Marie Kondo show) with the rest of the universe, trying to convince myself to let go of some pieces in my house, asking all the “spark” and “joy” questions. I have a lot of stuff (more in storage) so it seems like I wouldn’t regret donating or selling a lot of it. Sadly, I’ve realized that over the years (pre-Marie), there indeed HAVE been things that created a hole in my heart that were never filled. You see, once or twice a year (always after the holidays) “Purging Emily” emerges due to extreme home clutter body. I want to get rid of EVERYTHING and I often just go too far. I usually don’t regret it immediately because purging Emily likes her space, but normally a year or two later, I find myself thinking about that piece and all of a sudden having the very real realization that it’s gone. Like…gone and likely no hope of ever seeing it again. Anyway, as I was lamenting about my past purge regrets to my team, their reaction wasn’t comfort or grief counseling, but more “Wait, which pieces?” It’s like asking someone to talk about and show photos of ex-boyfriends. Dead boyfriends. Buried but not forgotten. But let’s face it…I’ve had a lot of “boyfriends” over the years. Remember when I thought that taking a photo of a piece and hoarding the photo would suffice? I was wrong. I have all the photos. They just remind me of them and make me wish I hadn’t given up on them. I think it’s obvious to say but in case it’s not, I don’t regret giving up anything that I can get again or anything mass manufactured. Sure, every now and again there will be a shoot where I’m like “ooh, I wish I still had that pillow from Target that I donated to the rummage sale” but it’s not something that brings me real sadness and deep regret. I can shrug it off. The six pieces that follow though…they weigh heavy on me. The ones that got away (that I let go of, which makes it even more painful). #1: “The” Blue SofaThat tufted and teak unicorn haunts me every day. Every time I Google myself (gross), it pops up (grosser), looking all authentically mid-century in a simple but unique way. The perfect navy. Indestructible poly that felt like velvet. A wood base that has the perfect curve that says “I was made with care and I will pass that care on to you.” Why???? Why did I sell it??? Because I had owned, styled, sat on and shot it for four years and when we moved into our first home and I started thinking about the furniture and decor, I wanted to do something different, show something different. SUCH a regret. That sofa was unique in shape, and perfectly comfortable (although you could feel the springs inside on the back). I’ve actually never seen another one and while many new companies have tried to replicate the shape, they can’t get it quite right and it just looks like a mid-century wannabe which is fine, but not her. Plus, it’s sentimental to me. I bought it right after Designstar and it was the biggest purchase I had ever made to date. Something like $700 or maybe $900, but I don’t actually remember because it was nine years ago…definitely under $1,000. I kept it for five or six years. I think the person who bought it was a reader and lives in San Francisco. I’m serious that I’ll buy it back for a large profit. I miss it and it means a lot to me. It brought me SO MUCH JOY. Maybe what I should do is talk to the new owner (PLEASE SHOW YOURSELF, I WILL NOT STALK AND ROB YOU) and get exact dimensions then find a furniture maker to recreate exactly, but a slightly updated version. Maybe the base is white oak instead of teak. But otherwise the dimensions and style would be attributed to the original designer. I know what you are thinking, and I have no intensions of then selling the design because A. it will likely be an investment custom piece with a wood base like that is special and can’t be mass manufactured and B. then other people would have it, thus losing the uniqueness. Thoughts? Should I redesign it? Or are you guys over it and you think I should be, too? Am I too emotionally connected to it to be objective? Is it dated? Too mid-century? Oh and where would I put it? Our LA living room. I was trying my hand at “traditional” in our 100-year-old English Tudor and while our sofa is beautiful, it’s just too traditional for me. I swung too far and I want to come back. I NEED MY GIRL TO HELP BRING ME BACK. #2: A Coffee Table You Probably Won’t Think Is SpecialEven longer ago, 10 years or so, this was my living room (as many of you know) and while I have most of that art still, I do regret donating that coffee table. It doesn’t look special but it was solid and simple, with drop leaves on the side (so it could be a side table, too). It’s just nice and simple. I also miss my pouf (but I gave it to my friend so I can visit it) and if someone could give me back the painting of the sailor, I’d be psyched. But THANK GOD I still have my birdcage ladder (not joking…I love that thing). Next up…a piece that doesn’t quite garner the same emotional reaction as the sofa (well, nothing does)… #3: This CredenzaI was literally just shopping online for a vintage piece for the mountain house family room when I said “Ideally it would be mid-century, Danish, with cabinets for toy storage and mixed finishes…like wood and caning or natural material and…oh man!!! I used to have this!!” So NOW I want it back. So stupid of me. It was functional, unique and simple. I believe I got it at the flea market for $500 which sounds like a lot but it was in perfect condition and credenzas are expensive. Side note, I also miss those chairs as they were comfortable and graphic with a bit of whimsy (the round cushion) but I recently found my dream chairs at the flea market that I have yet to show you. I’m sitting in one right now and while they aren’t as comfortable as those up there, they sure are beautiful. Stay tuned And P.S. I still have the pair of lamps, the painting, the frame and the collection of wooden fingers/hands. Also in the same room (but styled/staged to sell) is… #4: My “Cool People” Painting I LovedI bought this piece at the flea market years ago (I have a lot of this artist’s pieces, actually) and the composition and colors are great. Now, again I didn’t think it would “go” in this new house but when you find good art that is unique and in a color palette that you’ll love forever, you KEEP IT FOREVER. #5: My Safari ChairsThe safari chairs. The perfect caramel leather chairs I bought right before the trend hit hard. I bought them for $900 for the pair in Salt Lake City 8 or so years ago and I panicked when I spotted them in the store. They were so comfortable, kushy, large scale and stylish. I held onto them for a long time but one was increasingly falling apart and as we were moving and I was donating a bunch to Pop-up home to sell, I think I just sold them. For like nothing. I think I had just stared at them for so long and I wanted to be more ‘refined’ or something. Big mistake. Big. HUGE. Followed by another one… #6: Birdie’s DaybedBirdie’s daybed was vintage. No, it wasn’t just vintage, it’s FRENCH, you guys. Now, there are new versions, sure, but I miss my vintage one. It is also sentimental to me as that room is, frankly just kinda perfect for us. It’s one of my favorite rooms ever…I miss my daybed and want it back. Whoops. It was hard to write this post. Reliving the past, staring at lost loves can hurt. Especially when you were the one that broke up with them. But lessons were learned today. For all those pieces, I had a visceral reaction when I first saw them—yes, love at first sight. And like most relationships, after a few years some boredom snuck in and I couldn’t see how amazing they were any more. I had moved on, and it’s only now that I realize how wrong I was. Those pieces were so “me.” But moving on, folks. I’ve licked my wounds and my love hole can be filled by others (I hope). So, I’ve been on the hunt to find that visceral, guttural reaction for vintage pieces. That’s the way I felt about my blue cabinet (from Round Top), our piano, my blimp, my antique Shaker chair…all still alive and kicking. And for the mountain house (and updating some of our house here), I’m going to shop and wait for love at first site. Again…and hopefully again and again. Also, please regale us with tales of “one that got away” pieces from your design history in the comments. Let’s all mourn (and move on) together… The post 6 Vintage Pieces I *Seriously* Regret Getting Rid Of appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2DyOwP5 Oh boy do I love honest feedback and many of you gave it during the reader survey earlier this month and subsequent comments. I know that all of you didn’t fill it out but there were enough consistencies for us to think/know what you love and what you don’t. You’d think that the numbers tell us (and they do to an extent) but running a blog versus say, owning a store, means that engagement (and perceived value) is equally as important as traffic. While there will always be a little bit of a sense of “we write what we want to read” (mostly because that’s more fun, and the more fun we have creating posts, the better things usually turn out), we do care so much what you think, what you want, what you love, what you hate…and for anyone who isn’t sure if we listen to feedback, WE PROMISE WE DO. We hear you. When you beg and plead in the comments for us to stop making all the graphics flash, we have a conversation about it and make that call. Simple as that. We weren’t originally going to dive into the reader survey and parse out our findings with you guys, but someone actually asked recently if we ever shared the results (we hadn’t, obviously) and I thought…yeah, that would be a good idea to talk through what you guys said, what we’re going to change, what you want us to change but maybe we’re just not totally able to yet. Some things were kind of surprising and some things were like “yup, we get it, we feel that too.” This stuff is fascinating. What We Learned:This whole category could have been LOOOOONG (I mean, THOUSANDS of you responded and had such useful feedback), but there were some things specifically that made us all go “oh! interesting….reallly?!? interesting” like… 58% of surveyed readers had children, which for me was NOT a surprise, but for my team gave a group gasp. So, we have a follow up to this…do you guys want to see more family-friendly design, or posts related to decorating for children (what ages??). Nursery design? Where do you fall on that? Since we’re on percentages, 86% of you were open to hearing from a good mix of writers on the site, which is great, because so many at EHD want to talk to you guys. You’re probably already pretty used to hearing from Arlyn and Jess at this point (and were definitely welcoming to Brady and Orlando when they were around), but there are a few others who might pop in to say hello, talk about things that they have a point of view on, show us their homes, etc. We are creating a TEAM page as we speak and I’m excited to introduce you to the entire team, as they are a talented group of people with diverse backgrounds and styles. I wasn’t surprised to hear that the two most popular posts types were anything about my house and any reveal, but was a little shocked to see that our Budget Room series was the third most liked thing we do on the blog. Question though, did you know we meant the official Budget Room series, or did you mean budget rooms in a generic sense…like more budget content? Either way, consider it done. The whole topic of Portland and why you guys didn’t seem that interested in general has some clarity now…our pacing was off and the whole thing just took too long. We were blogging as it was happening (and then not blogging everything because the process was a little tricky with being down in LA), and I know we kept giving sneak peeks on the blog and on social, so…I do get it now. Listen, if we could go back, we probably would have done it differently. And actually, if I could go back, there’s no way I would have done both that and mountain house at the same time (both for my sanity and for the blog). Maybe I would have held onto all the posts (process, renovation-heavy, reveals) and then done like…Portland Project month. I’m not sure, but listen, we still have some reveals left to roll out and then you’ll never have to hear about it again. Which leads to… You guys want faster, quicker “micro” projects and reveals. (ME TOO). Not surprising, really, but I wanted to bring it up because I want to hear more about this from you. Are you talking like super small things like….refreshing a corner in my living room, picking and putting up curtains, restyling a bookcase, or just rooms in a variety of projects kind of like we used to do when the design side of the business was open? PLEASE TELL ME MORE. Also, it’s been so hard not to say the word “content” so far because you guys HATE IT. It’s one I do understand a bit…it kind of cheapens the whole editorial process and makes it feel scientific. In the days of print, “content” used to be feature articles, pictorials, columns…but now it’s just a word that means creating something for instant consumption and basically just for that. It feels like things are done “just for content” and that feels gross to you (us, too). I think we all need to refamiliarize ourselves with what “content” means, but also get that it’s just a word for video, articles, Instagram stories….but again, I’d love to hear more from you on this. And finally, you guys want shorter posts with less fluff (unless it calls for it) and only want one a day. We considered going to multiple posts a day but I’ve held off because I wanted to make sure it felt right and was GOOD, not just a page view grab. For now, we’ve gone up to publishing seven days a week (have you noticed??) and yes, the thought is still there to do maybe two posts a day, but we’re not there yet. So it’s good to know you all are happy happy with the one article a day. Blog Post Suggestions:We don’t want to totally spill the beans on all the new things we’re cooking up (mostly because we don’t want to overpromise and underdeliver…another feedback point you guys brought up and is probably my trait that frustrates myself the most in the world), but as soon as we polish some concepts and new column ideas up, we’ll start rolling them out. BUT, because we can’t help but do a little tease, there are some story ideas you collectively seem to be on board with us bringing back to life or just starting fresh, including… What I Pinned For _____ Inspiration: We did this post last year for the mountain house and you guys seemed so pumped about it (both when we actually posted it, but also tons of you brought it up in blog suggestions, so we’re listening). Plus, they’re so much fun to put together and talk about, frankly…the design team and I Pin like mad women all the time for just about every facet of decorating, so we have SO MUCH TO SAY and show you. Why ____ Didn’t Work: We’re pretty comfortable with walking through the “whys” for just about everything around here, but tend to lean heavily on talking about what did work and what we ended up choosing, and tons of you talked about wanted to also see the flip of this. What 10 rugs did we consider for a room and why we didn’t choose them, etc. This is less about the renovation process (which don’t worry, we’re not doing away with it even though it feels more specific and we get that that information is probably less useful for a greater amount of you at any given time, just doing a little less this year) and more the thought behind how and why we end up with a certain design at the end of the day. More quick makeovers, smaller projects, fast reveals: If there was one GIANT takeaway from the reader survey, it was that you guys thought Portland dragged on and on and on…we get it. It did for us, too. Ha. We have several EHDers Makeover Takeovers planned for the first few months of the year (Velinda’s teeny tiny basement kitchen in her rental unit, Jess’s living room and kitchen, Arlyn’s living room and dining room, Emily Bowser’s master bedroom, Sara’s parents’ living room…see…so much fun stuff). Plus, we’re going to be creating so much fun, short, how-to type pieces for social as well so you don’t feel like you’re getting the same stuff on every platform. Please let us know what you’d want me to cover (how to hang a gallery wall? How to “level up” cheap store-bought curtains? Let me know). Design Mistakes: Here’s a series we all love but just kind of stopped doing because other things took priority last year with blogging about Portland and Mountain, but IT’S BACK. Feel free to request specific topics in the comments so we know what you want to read about. Craigslist Finds: Oh man are we excited about this one. Remember those Trolling Craiglist posts from like 3-4 years ago? Yup…we’re resurrecting this. Shout out in the comments what cities you want us to make sure to hit! Site Suggestions:Videos and ads: Okay, this is the trickiest one of all because it actually affects my bottom line, but that’s not to say that your complaints about all the flashing ads that won’t go away and the autoplay video that pops in and out aren’t heard. When you guys say things like “I used to come here all the time, but now it’s a chore because of all the flashing and annoying ads and I can’t see anything ever,” that REALLY bums me out, but I also have, you know…a staff to support. So, while I can definitely say more on this subject, in an effort to NOT open the door super wide inside our kitchen where we’re making editorial sausage (per your request), it’s a necessary evil without charging subscriptions but I promise I’m looking into ways to make this all less painful for you without taking a huge financial plunge. Honestly, I waffle every day … Portfolio: It was funny that so many of you were like “we wish there was a place we could go and see all the photos of all your projects” because it’s exactly what we’re rolling out next (this month, actually). We’ve always had a portfolio section (that I had our tech team take down recently because it just wasn’t working and hasn’t been updated in forever and I was kind of embarrassed by it, but even that is different than what we’re doing. If you want to go to one spot to see all the posts from my old Glendale home, the Griffith Park project or Portland, now you’ll be able to. So hang tight, it’s coming, folks. SO, if you missed our reader survey, it’s not too late (it’s never too late). We will always want to know what you want, what you don’t want and your feedback. We read EVERY comment on every post (even if we don’t reply to all of them) and listen, so…if you have something to add (or want to expand more even if you already took the survey), spill the beans. We’re listening. Xx The post Reader Survey Feedback: What We’re Changing & What We’re Not (& Why) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2AZA3K9 Written by Jess Bunge Pillow combos are an easy enough concept right? You go out to your favorite pillow retailer, choose a few pretty ones, then bing, bang, boom DONE. They all magically work together the first go ’round. HA! Well, my friends unless you are a pro pillow combo-er either by birth or have lots of practice (Emily qualifies for both), it’s usually not that simple. After months of thinking on it/hunting, only THIS WEEKEND did I myself find a pillow combination that I really love for my sofa, so I get it as a simple human. Now, I took my tiiiiimme with it and played with at least four different combos before I felt it was right. Lucky number five…that’s a thing right?? I promise it won’t take you as long if you put your mind to it….I’m just classically indecisive (not my favorite Libra trait). BUT enough about that. We have actually written about this topic a couple of different times: One with rules and one budget combo post. We love to refresh everyone on our styling rules because who doesn’t need a helpful reminder from time to time, so we’re back without another iteration. As you all may know, Emily and the design team are finally in the decorating stage of the Mountain house (YES) and are currently eating, drinking and sleeping…throw pillows. That pinboard is FULL of neutral and textured beauties. We thought that since they were doing all that great pillow hunting, we could get double the reward and round up some awesome combos. Win-win. But before we get into the combos, I wanted to refresh you on our pillow combo-ing rules first. These guidelines apply to any time you go to put together a pillow combo (not just the neutral kind like we are focusing on today). Of course, feel free to go off-book if you’re feeling like a pro, but for those who need a more 101 rulebook, here we go: 1. Keep a cohesive color palette: This is the first rule for a reason. If you don’t have a cohesive color palette then you are setting yourself up to fail (or at least make the job much harder full of second guesses). We get it, we love color, too, but choose some tones you want on your sofa or bed then buy within those colors. Just make sure to leave room for neutrals and deeper/lighter hues of your palette, meaning it doesn’t all have to be the same exact shade of blue or green. If your palette is teal, yellow and rust, feel free to pick a punchy yellow than maybe a pattern with a lighter shade…same goes for all the other colors. This will help give dimension right off the bat. 2. Vary sizes and shapes: Mix it up with size. Buy large square, medium and smaller rectangles/lumbars, circles or you could get real funky and try the trending pyramid. Regardless of the shape, just make them different sizes (having three pillows in three different shapes and sizes is a good place to start/build upon). Again, it’s key to give you that visual dimension. 3. Add in textures: If you are mixing solids or wanting to stay pretty neutral (like we are in today’s post), go for a variety of textures or some pillows with interesting details. That could be anything from the material, interesting hems, tassels, pom poms, or weaving variation. A neutral color palette can be just as exciting as a bold color combo if the textures are varied. 4. Balance out colors evenly: Spread the love people. This rule applies mainly to sofas and benches. Don’t have all the blue pillows on one side and all the cream pillows on the other. Make sure to have the colors you have chosen balanced on both ends. Your eyes will be much happier. 5. Vary scale of patterns: Copy and paste from last week’s bed styling post because the pattern scale rule is the same in every room. Has anyone ever told you to either pick your eyes or your lips when it comes to doing your makeup? Well, the same goes for pattern scale. No one wants their pattern combo to look like it has a dark smokey eye with a bold red lip. It’s just too much to take in. So don’t have all your patterns be small-scale or all large-scale. Using both will create that visual tension that we are all striving for. And yes, we’re all here for some shopping picks, but let’s do a quick “why these work” exercise to drive home the rules… Why these combos work: 1. When Brady did his living refresh after his boyfriend moved in, he wanted to go from darker neutral to a lighter neutral feel….just not too light. As you can see, he choose three different sizes and two different shapes. The large cream pillow, although a solid color, has a ton of personality with the woven pattern. That pattern is also a larger scale than the medium sized dark pillow. The dark pillow balances perfectly with the art behind the sofa and adds in more texture with those fun tassels. Then to bring in a “bright” neutral he finished off the combo with that beautiful warm leather lumbar pillow. The leather adds another texture to the group and the shape adds that last bit of visual contrast and interest. 2. This combo was from the house tour we did of Amy Oppedisano of Salt Coastal Interiors. She kept the color palette on the lighter neutral side with again three different sized pillows in patterns with varying scales. Notice though how those tassels help to add texture just like it did with Brady’s. If they weren’t there it wouldn’t be as dynamic as a combo. We also love that she paired that larger more traditional patterned pillow with the two more boho patterns, but they all work together because they share a cohesive palette. It adds that hint of surprise that we are BIG fans of and makes for a more interesting combo. 3. Sometimes simple just works best. In Mel’s first living room reveal, she used two pillows of different sizes and textured materials on her bench and it looked great. The combo still pops because there is enough of a color contrast to spark your eye’s attention. Plus, the sheepskin throw brings in added texture to round it out. Why this combo works: When Emily styled her best friend’s living room, she kept to neutral but still colorful. What we really wanted to point out here is the perfect balance of color. You don’t need to have every color on both sides of your sofa but the majority should be. It’s more about having a balance of tone. Make sure to mix lights and darks on both sides. But for the purposes of the rule and this room, all the colors are all represented on both sides of the sofa. Alright, now it’s time to shop. We know that beautiful pillows exist at all price points, but sometimes it feels like they’re all $300, and before you know it, you’re spending $1,000 (at least in your mind). To remedy this, we picked three price points that each include three pillows and a throw, starting at $150 for the whole package. Now, there are a few combos (particularly in the $300 category that go a smidge over budget, but not really by more than $10 or so). 1. Camel Faux Suede / Black and White Pillow / Woven Strip Lumbar / Wool Stripe Throw | 2. Sanela Pillow / Waffle Square Pillow / Velu White & Black Pillow / Emmafrida Throw | 3. Loom Pillow / Diamond Throw Pillow / Copper Velvet Lumbar Pillow / Waffled Throw | 4. Quilted Velvet Geo Pillow / Washed Linen Pillow / Cotton Stripe Lumbar Pillow / Vagmalla Throw | 5. Cozie Black and Natural Pillow / Natural Mudcloth and Faux Leather / Quilted Velvet Lumbar Pillow / Crinkled Cotton Throw | 6. Dorthe Pillow / Gray Velvet Pillow / Balla Sheepskin Pillow / Kaveldun Throw 1. Pleated Textured Pillow / Lucci Macrame Pillow / Maxen Lumbar Pillow / Taupe Throw | 2. Tillie Wool Pillow / Velvet Pillow / Jantar Lumbar Pillow / Wool Throw | 3. Stripe Pillow Cover / Chet Pillow / Toodle Pillow / Vårkage Throw | 4. Selma Pillow / Pamela Wiley Stripe Pillow / Wool Evie Pillow / Fleece Fringe Trim Throw | 5. Weave Ivory Pillow / Ripple Pillow / Sanela Pillow / Sycamore Wool Throw | 6. Jaynie Pillow / Navy Pillow / Sheepskin Pillow / Plaid Throw 1. Chunky Weave Pillow / Nigel Pillow / Velvet Cover / Fringe Throw | 2. Bias Natural Pillow / Wool Tweed Cover / Suma Pillow / Riley Oversized Throw | 3. Sunrise Black Pillow / Blue Moon Suede Cover / Velvet Oversized Lumbar / Nevin Throw | 4. Sherpa Pillow / Wool Plaid Cover / Cognac Leather Pillow / Sable Throw | 5. Weave Ivory Pillow / Darcy Pillow / Kentfield Pillow Cover / Stonewash Throw | 6. Moody Pillow / Beso Pillow / Textured Loop Cover / Contigo Throw There you have it. 18 combos that are neutral, textured and downright cozy. We are all basically bursting to see the finished styled version of the Mountain House but until that glorious day, Emily and the team will keep sharing her inspiration. If you have any further questions about the pillow combo-ing world just comment below and we will do our best to help. Have a great day. xx The post 18 Neutral (and Textured) Pillow Combos + 5 Rules for Guaranteed Combo-ing Success appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2CD8yWX ***Written by Arlyn Hernandez We’re on the trend train this January, and while we’ve already touched on what we think is going to be “in” for kitchens, bathrooms, and furniture and decor, we’ve been itching, nay violently scratching, to talk about colors, specifically paint. Last year, I wrote about my desperate cry for more colored walls in design, after years and years of white being the gold standard and I’m happy to report today that I’ve absolutely noticed a slide into other colors. I don’t think people have run out all of a sudden to their local paint counter and bought up all the brights and bolds they could get their hands on because of my article. Not by ANY means, but I sniff a shift, and it smells really good. So, I’m quite happy to report that this post is not full of a bunch of different shades of white and gray (though we are always talking about the perfect white and should probably go ahead and do a round up of some of our go-to shades), but actual color. Truly and honestly, and I know we’ve said this so many times before, paint is the cheapest and most reversible way to make a HUGE impact in a room. That, and some subtle architectural details like molding. If your walls could talk, I promise they’d beg you for a nice warm coat of some sexy, sexy paint. Which brings us here. The editorial and design teams put their heads together to drill down and dig up the colors we’re seeing and loving, and are going to move forward on calling out as a “trend.” This is not to say that should you choose something not called out in this list, you’re somehow wrong, but if you’re on the hunt for something fresh and new for your home, we hope this will be a good guide for you. Mossy GreenMoody greens were not up for debate. It was the first color out of at least three of our mouths when we were sitting around, braiding each others’ hair and talking about paint trends (though Michael petitioned HARD for a clearer, brighter emerald green, but it didn’t win out today, sorry). If you’re doing a little dance in your chair right now, be sure to head to this post where we really dove into the whole green-is-the-new-white idea. Deep almost blue-ish greens have been super popular lately, but we’re really excited about this more mossy, dusty green with slight olive undertones. We personally don’t think a tone like this would work very well in anything other than a super matte finish (unless you pair that on a wall with the same colored molding in a higher sheen). You can always bring in a touch of glam with shinier velvets, marble or polished woods (or a fox) if the chalkiness falls flat to you. It also comes off so, so lovely and Old World when the palette built around it is also rich and moody. It’s definitely a heavy look (some might call it “granny,” except I hate the use of that word…as if grandmas can’t be really cool and full of style…). Schoolhouse GreenFor anyone that was bored by that last green, thinking it was dull and dour ::cough MICHAEL cough::, we present you with a much happier, zippy green. It’s what we’re calling “schoolhouse green” because it’s kind of that tone that can be found in chalkboards and seats in grade schools the world over (though I highly suspect schools don’t even have chalkboards anymore and have been replaced with something much higher tech like dry erase boards or holograms). The color in the above photo is ALIVE people, and while probably too bold of a move for most, it can be a seriously fun jolt in a room with mostly neutrals. Here’s a hot tip on bringing in a color that might feel like it would just be too suffocating on a whole wall: paint window and door trims in it, and leave your walls a lighter shade or even white. It’s a really European touch that we give the thumbs up to. TealI can already hear all the “this reminds me of the ’80s and I’m not going back” outcries, but just because it was done in the decade that gets the worst rap for design and fashion doesn’t mean it can’t work in 2019. It’s all about how it’s used and what it’s paired with. In the room above, combined with mostly wood tones and soft neutrals in interesting silhouettes, it feels sharp, modern and sumptuous. This color works particularly well on a wall + molding + built-ins situation in a satin or high gloss. It’s already such a rich, showy color that you might as well get even flashier. Teal welcomes the attention (it’s like the Kardashian of the paint deck. It begs you to look at it, watch it, want to be it, buy its lip kits). Ashley from The Gold Hive house tour we ran earlier this month painted her den this deep greenish blue that had us all oohing and ahhing over (it’s Benjamin Moore’s Salamander, which is actually much more of a hunter green in real life, but it photographs nearly teal and still wanted to show it to you for inspiration). It’s particularly chic with the equally striking blue velvet sofa set against it. Dusty BlueA slate-y blue like this bedroom feels perhaps the most “EHD” shade here, but hey…we aren’t a one-trick pony, okay? And basically, any deep shade like this is definitely made even more eye-catching with molding painted the same color. The more we looked at these cabinets, the more we saw the strong purple undertones, but actually, that’s kind of what’s nice about it. It’s a kind of hue you can’t quite place your finger on…is it blue? Is it purple? IS IT GRAY? We all wish we were as mysterious as this cabinet color. CoralWe’re currently working on a post about all the things we’re seeing that we’re told are “big,” but we’re just not there yet with. Coral is kind of that. We were passing around paint decks to vote on paint colors we liked best for this post and it kept having to be introduced as “I mean, not for your actual house, but like, if it were, which would you pick?” It’s a hard sell to the EHD squad, but just because we aren’t 100% there yet with it doesn’t mean it’s not happening in the zeitgeist. It can be very pretty and invigorating in the right space, paired with the right colors (so far, we can swallow it when it teams up with warm neutrals or is colored blocked with rich oxblood reds and or rusty oranges…it’s fluid, it can go both ways). It does also work very nicely with other soft pastels, like lilac, periwinkle and blushy pinks. Hot tip: when you have a color like this that’s an attention hog, be sure to pair it with plenty of natural textures like wood, linen, nubby wools. It’ll ground it and make the room feel much more welcoming, and less like a showpiece. YellowThis dining room GIVES ME LIFE. The pairing of colors feels so good and solid and not too matchy matchy and that’s all I could ever want in a room. Bravo Dabito. And the star here is of course the Babouche yellow from Farrow & Ball that somehow doesn’t come off insane and like you’re inside the sun. The low white wainscotting treatment mellows it out, as does the wood dining table and credenza. Dabito’s dining room was a touch mustard (super popular right now across furniture, textiles and decor, too), but this kitchen right here is like the happiest sun-shiny yellow we’ve seen and it brings a smile to our face. I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s for someone okay, and if you’re that person, I want to be friends with you (and have breakfast at that table). Dusty RoseThis color goes out to those of you who just can’t quit blush, but are maybe looking for a more grown version of it. Again, this absolutely brings back memories of late ’80s and early ’90s design, but like anything else, it’s how you work with it. It can be really beautiful in an unexpected spot like the kitchen, elevated with rosy golds and marbles but balanced with rough-sewn and live-edge wood. Oh man does this whole kitchen make my eyes pop out of my head (in a good way). Is it CAH-RAZY? YES, and that is precisely why I love to look at it. Living in it might be a bit of a different story, but a milky pink concrete kitchen island and BRASS CABINET FRONTS is the kind of boldness I wish I lived my life with more, right? Before we go, we put together some EHD-approved paint decks for each of the colors we talked about. Oh, and we’re sharing these with the caveat that while some of the picks we know and love IRL, others we haven’t tested, so pretty please buy samples before painting a whole wall and then cursing us when you end up hating it. Hopefully, it’s all love and rainbows and happiness, but ALWAYS TEST YOUR PAINT before committing (you want to see how it looks in your specific room, with your specific amount of light). Okay, agreed? Half Moon Bay by Portola Paints & Glazes | Breakfast Room Green by Farrow & Ball | Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams | Night Watch by PPG Stardew by Sherwin-Williams | Pelican Bay by Portola Paints & Glazes | Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball | Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore Cape Cod Summer by Portola Paints & Glazes | Sockeye by Sherwin-Williams | Red Earth by Farrow & Ball | Firenze by Benjamin Moore Pale Cherry Blossom by Benjamin Moore | Pressed Flower by Sherwin-Williams | Strawberry Mousse by Pratt & Lambert | Sulking Room Pink by Farrow & Ball Indian Summer by Portola Paints & Glazes | Forsythia by Sherwin-Williams | Babouche by Farrow & Ball | Stuart Gold by Benjamin Moore Alright, now it’s time to hear from all of you. What do you love? What do you veto? Beyond these 7 general hues, what else are you seeing that has you feeling like you can’t breathe when you see it because of its sheer beauty. Share links below or even just paint colors you know and love. We can’t wait to hear! The post 2019 Paint Color Trends appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson http://bit.ly/2W89RGa |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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