Due to my general laziness with fashion, accessories have always been an afterthought. But I realized that while I don’t have a big inventory, I wear the same types of accessories almost every day. They amp up my basic outfit, and are functional or they distract from say, bad hair. I’m not a big cocktail ring person and for work, I can’t be bothered with bracelets, but these six types of accessories are apparently my go-tos that I didn’t even realize I had. Layered NecklacesMy friend Suzanne taught me how to do this – you buy a set of three then add in one more that is either chunkier or somehow visually different (like a locket or a fishbone chain). I basically just let her tell me what to buy and how to wear it, but now I add them to almost any outfit I wear. 1. Set of 2 Pendant Necklaces | 2. Sofia Chunky Chain Layer Necklace | 3. Ball & Medallion In Worn Gold Layer Necklace | 4. Mystic Layered Necklace | 5. Bria Delicate Layered Necklace | 6. Treasure Pendant Necklace Set Rancher HatsThis year I posed the question to myself – are we still wearing hats? And while I’m not as into them fashion-wise as I was 3 years ago the answer is YES, mostly because of function. They make a bad hair day look OK and provide shade. Of course, they add style, but I wear them more out of necessity (and lately I’ve been wearing a ton of graphic baseball hats).
BandanasI started wearing neck scarves when Birdie was a baby because I couldn’t wear necklaces, and I just haven’t stopped. I feel like they’ve gone in and out of style, and aren’t for most people but I love how they dress up – or down – an outfit.
Leather TotesI’m not a huge handbag person so I either carry larger indestructible ones that fit my laptop and likely about 95 hair ties mixed with loose almonds on the bottom OR belt bags when I want something smaller. I’ve been using that Parker Clay bag for almost 4 years and recently got that brown leather tote from Able and it is my current go-to. Both have easy to put on straps, some interior pockets and age so well (and are sustainable and high quality).
Belt BagsWhen I want a smaller tote (for weekends and nights mostly) I opt for the statement belt bag, because they do feel a bit more young and fun than a cross-body. Clare V. makes some really good ones (all three of the ones I am wearing are Clare V.) but they are on the expensive side, so we rounded up some more affordable ones. You’ve seen me wear that red one a lot because I am obsessed with it and I like that the color adds an unexpected element to my outfits.
Patterned SocksI absolutely did not understand the love of patterned socks until this year and once I added them to my repertoire I started thinking about socks as part of my outfit. Socks!!! Shocking, I know. My team also loves them and “where did you get your socks from” is a phrase often uttered in the office. Come join our sock party.
That’s all she wrote, folks. Now I am curious – what are your go-to everyday accessories?? Are there any new styles I should know about? Let me know in the comments. xx ** all photography by Veronica Crawford The post My 6 Favorite (And Mostly Affordable) Fashion Accessories That I Wear All. The. Time. appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/39bPFt8
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Consider this is a “what we wish we had known before” post. It’s a combination of design mistakes (Emily’s specifically), design rules and style hacks. It’s about cords and it’s riveting. In this age of technology where devices are king (I even did a post about it) and iPhone chargers are plugged in every two feet, hiding electrical cords is not for the faint of heart. As lovers of design, we consider ugly outlets and long cords our Achilles heel, and as such we are always searching for ways to hide, completely rid of, or disguise them in the home. Ironically we try to avoid showcasing these ugly necessities to you, but today we are breaking down how to place outlets in the first place, disguise what you do have and implement some easy hacks to eliminate these eyesores. EHD is no stranger to disguising and designing around our technological nemesis’ so consider this Cord Management 101. Alright class, let’s begin. For The Renovators: Prevention Tips And TricksIf you are in the process of renovating, congratulations and I am sorry. I have to apologize because you are likely thinking of a million things at once so I hate to add one more thing to your plate. However, I have it on good authority that if you consider electrical outlet placement during the renovation process your future self will thank you. So for our first lesson… Install outlets strategically so furniture can cover themFurniture can be great for hiding cords and outlets so it helps to think about where in your home you will want access to an outlet (e.g. on both sides of your bed) and how you can design around them. But don’t just take it from me. Let’s compare some past EHD projects: During the renovation of the mountain house master bedroom, the contractor suggested placing outlets behind the bed (which is definitely an option), but Emily and the design team knew that this would make accessing the outlet more difficult. Instead, they opted to place outlets where nightstands would eventually be. This is a matter of preference, but I think we have all experienced the dread of having to reach behind a bed frame, blindly search for a plug and hope a 127 hours situation doesn’t occur. We can compare this to Emily’s LA master bedroom, where she shared with me that she wishes she would have put an outlet on the far wall where the nightstand is. Clearly the outlet, in this case, is in view because furniture can’t be placed there, and if the lamp were plugged into it, the cord would be difficult to conceal.
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Before you decide on outlet placement in the bedroom, consider the size of the bed and add 4 inches on either side to account for the bed frame and nightstand arrangement. Match outlets to the color of your kitchen islandIn the mountain house kitchen, they used Forbes and Lomax outlets that blend in with the ebony stain of the kitchen island. Since nothing is visually breaking up the wood, your eyes can gloss over the presence of the outlets and instead fixate on everything else that is beautiful in the space.
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Know the potential places you can have your home wired for outlets while you are in the renovation process. Think about your needs and general ideas for where big devices will live and go from there. Consider installing floor outletsAgain, consider where you will want access to an outlet, and if one on the floor makes sense for a specific room, why not go for it? It’s 2020, baby. Just know that if you don’t have a crawl space, the wiring and installation will need to be done before wood goes down, but if you do have a crawl space, you can put an outlet in at any time as long as there is some prewiring already in place.
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If you haven't installed flooring yet and you have the depth, we recommend using recessed outlets. Since they sit a few inches below floorboards, it will allow any plugged in cord to lay flat under a rug. Place outlets where TVs will be mountedIn the mountain house family room, they installed outlets where the TV would be, so the wires would be securely hidden behind the screen. Luckily smart TVs have SIGNIFICANTLY reduced the number of wires required for a Netflix viewing experience (praise be) but, EHD is no stranger to creative problem solving when it comes to TV placement. If your outlets aren’t where you’d like them to be, you’d be surprised what a drill and some courage can do. Recently, Emily decided to revisit the “Should we put a TV in our Master bedroom” debate. Their room wasn’t designed for a TV so mounting one called for some creativity. With no preventative measures taken during the reno, and to avoid unattractive wires from hanging down, they had a handyman thread the cord through the wall (by making two new holes) and plugged it into the outlet behind the dresser. No electrician needed. Now boys and girls, we’re moving on to Chapter 2… For The Renters (And Homeowners): How To Hide And DisguiseAs renters, we aren’t as enthusiastic about drilling holes into walls or gutting floorboards to install fancy floor outlets. It’s more about innovative solutions and creative disguising when pesky cord conundrums are in our midst. Let’s hack it out: Disguise cords by running them underneath a rugSometimes our things need to be plugged in but plugs are out of reach or in really awkward places. This is why I personally own about 10 extension cords, just in case. But getting the cord to the plug is not the problem as we have (painstakingly) discussed so far. In order to hide a cord that will need to travel a few feet to reach an outlet, EHD will do whatever it takes. This has included cutting a small hole in a rug and running the cord through underneath it. It’s a little lawless, we know, but it does the trick of hiding the cord and getting rid of tripping hazards. Wrap cords as small as possible and tape to the back of furnitureOnce again, furniture is the best partner in crime when it comes to combatting cords. Whenever possible, wrapping up cords and taping them to the back of a furniture piece with something that is easy to remove (like masking tape) is such an easy and renter-friendly fix. Zip tie cords together and use conduit coversCan you believe this living room has a very intense TV projector set up and nearly all the cords are concealed? It’s true. Here’s a close up of the magic: For something as intricate as the TV projector in Emily’s living room, a cable cover and zip ties did a great job of concealing the number of cords required to get this puppy up and running. Stringing cords along baseboards and then threading them through covers can make them nearly invisible – just make sure to paint the conduit cover the color of your wall paint so it blends in easily. Tape power cord to underside of a tableWho says power cords have to stay ground level? Not us. Again in Emily’s living room, they snaked the cords along the baseboard, attached a power strip to the bottom of the table, and slipped the excess cords into a fabric cover. This isn’t completely invisible, but it could be SO MUCH worse. And with something like this you can place a beautiful basket in front so the wires are hidden for the most part (and who’s looking under your table anyway?? Tell them to mind their business!) Product Solutions:Congratulations, you made it to the end of today’s class. Unless you didn’t, and I am just here talking to myself. Well, if you are still here consider yourself my star pupil. A+++. But before I resign my teaching abilities for good, I would be remiss if I didn’t share the cord management products we love: 1. Cord Cable Management Organizer Storage Box | 2. Cable Box | 3. GO-Oblong Cable Organizer | 4. Cable Management Box | 5. Cable Management Box with Rubberized Feet | 6. Power Strip Organizer 1. Parsons Tables with Tabletop Power & Charging Outlets | 2. Freedom Desk with USB Ports Made of Solid American Oak | 3. White Helferich Simply Glass Credenza Desk Now I hand things over to you. Have you any creative cord hiding secrets? What kind of hacks would you like to learn about in the future? Meet me in the comments and let’s discuss. The post How To Hide Cords and Outlets In Every Room – No Photoshop Required appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2Vy8BhN The Soulful House Tour Of Our Dreams The 7 Key Elements to Designing The Perfect Craftsman Home2/27/2020 If you are a fan of this blog, I think it’s safe to say that you have a deep love (or at least hefty fondness) for a home full of soul. It’s basically our main goal to inject as much of it as possible into any home, regardless of when it was built. But let’s be honest, there is just nothing like a home with actual history…like 100 years of it. A home that has seen some sh*t. I find that when the phrase, “they just don’t build em like they used to” is uttered, I either slightly roll my eyes and halfway smile in silent defense of my generation or I immediately (and audibly) agree because well, it’s the truth. So when I opened my email a few weeks ago and saw this beautifully restored craftsman home, my heart filled right up. I was immediately struck by its visible soulfulness and needed to know more. Enter the “soul keepers,” Jamie and her husband, Craig. These two are no strangers to a historical home remodel. They actually do this more or less as a hobby or as Jamie says, “it’s an addiction… but it’s an addiction to beauty and craft.” So never mind that Jamie had given birth to their second child one month (yes, ONE MONTH) prior when they saw this house for sale. Because as soon as they saw it they knew they had to bring it back to life. This house is now for sale (I know!) because Jamie and Craig already have a beautifully restored home they aren’t ready to leave. So after they restored this beaut, they called upon one of EHD’s favorite staging and design firms, A 1000 X Better to really make sure that it felt as welcoming as possible for their potential buyers. And since we are all about beautiful homes AND teaching you how to create them, we are going go through the 7 main design elements you will want to consider when designing the perfect (and slightly unexpected) craftsman home. In Jamie’s words, “you don’t open up a Craftsman home and make it an open concept. You embrace their quirky personalities and enhance them where you can. It’s a labor of love really.” We couldn’t agree more. So let’s talk about the ways to design a historical home that will stand the test of time, so the tradition of bragging to future generations will stay firmly intact:) Embrace The Original Wood and Keep It MatteThe wood mouldings and accents are what make craftsman homes so darn special. The warmth and texture they bring are off the charts. I mean, just look at this living room. Instead of painting and/or putting a high gloss finish all over that stunning wood, they brought it back to its natural state. Does it look super modern? No. But that’s what makes it special. It’s like the wood is basically naked, bearing its soul to you. Here’s what they did to restore the wood back to its former glory: “We stripped all the wood on the first floor, and had real historic wood artisans do the work to make sure the wood had the right feeling, stain, and patina. We had alder baseboards specially milled to match those we found in the home. We had gorgeous decorative crown moldings cut that match those we found. We trimmed the house in Douglas Fir, because a house smells better when you use real wood trim.” Paint The Walls Light Or Really DarkWhen Emily and I were looking at these photos we realized that in terms of painting a craftsman home you really only have two options when it comes to colors – really dark (like in that stunning parlor room above) or pretty light…like white or light gray. Especially when you are dealing with a lot of natural wood this is key. For example, a warm reddish color would look too similar to that medium wood tone. Of course, there are exceptions and wallpaper is a whole other story (we will chat about that later) but choosing a high contrast color is the best way to make the wood accents pop. Before we move on, I think we need a moment to take in the overwhelming beauty of these windows. I mean HOW?! They really knew what they were doing 100 years ago:) Highlight Special Architectural MomentsIn a home like this one, there are so many special architectural moments. By highlighting a few of them with paint you visually elevate the entire home. Take the killer arch and stair rail in the photo above. The dark paint makes that whole moment pop and actually helps to make the natural wood stand out more in contrast. Had they not been painted it still would have been beautiful but way less of a wow moment. This built-in bench is another great example. It really pops because of the paint color and gives the space a fresh feel which is important in a historical home. You want to care for its history and bring it back to life BUT also make it feel like it belongs in today’s world. Pepper in Unexpected Decor to Balance Out Traditional FeelIn true EHD fashion, we LOVE any opportunity to “mix it up” and create unexpected moments. A 1000 X Better is no stranger to the “unexpected moment” but in my humble opinion, they knocked it out of the park with that cool mint wicker desk and that sofa. I honestly don’t know if I can live a truly happy life until that sofa is in my possession. To me, you (sofa) are perfect. But like the desk, this sofa is a very different style than the home. But because they are within the color palette of the home and have natural textures, they work perfectly and make the space feel unique.
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You can mix any style as long as it falls within your chosen color palette. Keep Kitchens and Bathrooms ClassicThe two places to keep your freak flag temporarily at ease in a craftsman home are in the kitchen and bathroom. By all means, have fun with the decor once all of your hard (and permanent) finishes are in place but as Jamie said, “we chose finishes that would have been used in 1905. Marble, soapstone, real wood cabinets that get painted and feel like wood when you touch them.” Truly the last thing you want is to regret a countertop choice because it feels out of place. So now that we have that little hot tip out of the way, let’s take a sec to appreciate this kitchen. There’s not one thing I don’t love in here. There is just the right amount of detail in the cabinet feet and island legs to pay homage to the style of the home, but everything else has a sleeker, more modern traditional feel. It looks updated (in the best way). Also, those stairs are too beautiful, right? I want to shower in this bathroom so badly. It’s another example of Jamie and Craig’s talent for making modern updates but honoring a home’s original architecture. Notice how every material has visual texture. The tiles, countertop, aged brass, and wood all bring life to the space. Nothing feels sterile which is always our goal when we are designing. The same goes for this smaller bathroom. They used beautiful materials and fixtures that are akin to the home but elevate it in the best way. Also, that marble tub surround is all heart eyes for me. Choose Light Fixtures That Stylewise Are In Line With The HouseYou may have noticed that throughout all of these photos, all of the hardwired light fixtures are more on the modern traditional side. We think this is the way to go (and it’s what Em did in her English Tudor Home). Keep those more permanent types of design elements in line with the style of the home for longevity and overall homage to the style. I mean you probably chose your historical home for a reason right? Don’t Be Afraid of Fun WallpaperI know we talked earlier about only using very dark or very light paint colors inside of a craftsman home (which we still stand by all these photos later) but we also think that wallpaper is a great way to make a room more special. We would suggest choosing a pattern that has a nostalgic feel like the awesome one they chose for the powder bath. Otherwise, just choose a texture but don’t go too modern unless of course, you are completely throwing the vintage baby out with the historical bathwater. Well, there you have it. A stunning home tour with tips that can hopefully be helpful and transferable to any type of historical home. A huge thank you to Jamie and Craig for letting us feature their beautiful project. We are so happy that there are people who want to celebrate design history and take such good care of it. Let’s talk about this incredible house in the comments. Thoughts, feelings, and sofa yearnings are all welcome:) Love you, mean it. Restored and Designed by Jamie Haller and Craig Ekedahl Styled by A 1000 X Better Photos by Lauren Moore Check out some of our other house tours: Tour a Stylist’s Mid-Century-Meets-Traditional “Farmhouse” Full of Thrifted Treasures | An Exclusive House Tour From (Design Girl Crush) Leanne Ford | House Tour: Original Woodwork, Moody Walls & A Gasp-Worthy Wallpaper | House Tour: A Home Crush a Year in the Making ….click HERE for more:) The post The Soulful House Tour Of Our Dreams + The 7 Key Elements to Designing The Perfect Craftsman Home appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3adpZfJ We joke that after this post goes live, we’ll do a collective blog mic drop and retire. For some reason it seems hilarious to me that we’ve never written a “how to design a room” post – one article can’t encapsulate it all, obviously, but I will be referencing this post for years. My creative process is not the only way, but if you follow these steps, you can get a room that is functional, comfortable, cohesive, stylish, will reflect your personality, AND meets your needs without it taking years or costing a fortune. I’m not saying it’s easy or that anyone can just pick up and do it (even we still make mistakes, and there is a reason why if you are going to hire someone you will likely save a lot of time and stress) but this post WILL HELP. Some of these can be done in a different order. For instance feel free to take measurements first, or find your jumping-off point before you start pinning inspiration. This is really for a beginner, someone who has never designed a room before and truly doesn’t know where to start. But let’s be honest even if you aren’t a total beginner, it’s always nice to a little refresher STEP 1: FIND AND PIN INSPIRATIONStep 1 is truly where most people get paralyzed and they stop before they start. Yes, you are likely a mix of styles. And yes, mixing your mix of styles with a partner’s mix of styles is indeed challenging (and brain melting). But it can be done and it will make your home look more like your collective selves. Your style has and will continue to evolve and it’s hard for it not to be tied to the greater zeitgeist, but that’s ok! So think about what styles you are most consistently drawn to, whether it’s mid-century modern, traditional, modern farmhouse, etc., or a mix of them. Just know that all styles can be mixed together if you have a consistent color palette.
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Don't know your style? Here's what we have clients do - Go to Pinterest (it's a design life saver) and pin any room that you are really drawn to. This doesn't have to be even the same type of room. Don't look at specific pieces as much as the overall vibe. Once you have 40-50 pins then look for commonalities. Maybe they are all full of wallpaper and unexpected furniture, or maybe they are all super calm and neutral. You don't have to label your style if you can get closer to the general vibe, color palette, and shape of furniture that you are drawn to. Get specific with your “pins search” to sort through all the generic photos. Don’t just put in “bedroom,” put in “bedroom cozy emily henderson” or “bedroom colorful domino”. Try brands and designers that you like (who will likely have clear and elevated photos), otherwise it can be very daunting. Some brands we use are Elle Decor, Amber Interiors, Studio Mcgee, Domino, and of course Emily Henderson. There are a million more, but it sends a message to the Pinterest algorithm that that is the type of pin you like so it will be able to give you more of what you’re looking for.
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras sodales arcu ac massa accumsan euismod. Nullam accumsan tellus vel ipsum pharetra posuere. Nulla tincidunt augue est, ut dignissim ipsum malesuada sed. Nam venenatis efficitur tincidunt. Sed at aliquet enim. Phasellus eleifend felis quis mi aliquet, at sodales ante fermentum. Nunc pulvinar, elit nec mattis tristique, arcu felis pretium dui, sed pharetra eros velit at nulla. Nunc ornare gravida sem et gravida. Mauris eget consectetur dui. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Donec ullamcorper mauris justo, nec auctor enim tincidunt non. Nullam sit amet felis placerat, auctor ante sit amet, pellentesque turpis. Also, within this first step, you want to ask yourself what mood do you want to provoke? What you want your friends to FEEL when they walk through your door. Use expressive adjectives to answer that. Designing a room that is “exciting” is different than “calm.”
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Ask yourself how you want it to “FEEL,” not just “look.” No matter WHAT style I choose for a space (I’m a special case because I design so many rooms in such different styles) I ALWAYS use the adjectives “happy” and “inviting.” Sometimes it’s followed with “calm,” “fun,” “exciting,” or “quiet.” It’s usually “eclectic, storied and collected,” but it’s always “happy and inviting.” Sometimes those adjectives are more important than specific styles, especially if you are someone like me and literally loves the great parts of EVERY SINGLE STYLE. You can make any style provoke any feeling. It all has to do with your color palette and how much energy you put into it via color, pattern and contrast.
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The more contrast in colors and patterns in a room, the more energy it will have. The opposite is also true. A lot of contrast can look too busy, and no contrast (just neutral matching furniture) can often look boring. Step 2: Consider Your Functional NeedsAsk yourself some questions to determine your true needs: What are you going to use this room for? This determines the scale and comfort level of the furniture. Do you want blackout curtains? Do you want people to be able to lay on the rug? Do you want to worry about lemon and wine on your countertop (read our guide about this)? How much storage do you need? How many people do you want to sit in here? Do you like to face the window when you are working? Balancing style and function can be very challenging, especially when you have kids. Some rooms need to be multi-functional (for us our living room is our only family/tv room). It was so much easier before kids – but now comfort, durability, and storage are much more important to me. So if you are struggling know that you aren’t alone. This may seem like common sense, but making a space truly functional is important for you wanting to actually use it. Try to give yourself a few pieces that are more statement-y and stylish, then ensure that all the others really work. Step 3: Measure and Know Your Limitations (and Opportunities)This is the very important but boring part. Take measurements and do a simple drawing. I have not always done this and many “wrong” pieces have been returned because of it. Some rooms truly don’t need fancy renderings, but others do. Rugs, sofas, dining tables, and beds – you should know the ideal size of the big stuff before you shop. You can literally do this on graph paper using a 1 square to 1′ scale and it can be rough unless you are measuring for window treatments or things that need to be VERY accurate. If you have a small space, are dealing with awkward niches/corners, or have odd architectural elements don’t forget those. Lay out your furniture on the drawing and if you really want to be sure – tape it out on the floor with blue painters tape. We primarily use Sketchup (AutoCAD too) but there are some great, simple (and free) programs you can use for creating floorplans. Sara used Floorplan Creator when she was first designing her new home, Brady used SmartDraw when we were decorating the Portland Project, and Ginny just shared on her IG that she loves VectorWorks (but she is obviously a professional designer so I’m not sure how easy this one is to learn if you aren’t computer savy). Take time to know what your opportunities and limitations are. Where is your junction box for your lighting? Where are your outlets? Can you do inside mount shades or only outside mount? Can you wall mount your TV? Add a sconce? Lastly, think about your budget. If it were a client we’d likely have this conversation earlier, but before you start shopping have a hard conversation with yourself. Pulling together a beautiful room either takes a lot of time or a lot of money – so don’t be discouraged if it takes a lot of time. Thrifting over time, or working with awkward pieces, can actually make your room have more personality. But yes, it can be painful in the interim. Step 4: PICK YOUR COLOR PALETTEAh yes, the color palette. Now, this can be done earlier or even after step 7, but at some point you need to think about color palette. This is what will make your room have the energy and feeling that you want, plus ensure that it looks cohesive. Now real design pros or people who like a ton of color can kinda do whatever they want, there are no real rules to your creativity. But for most of us, knowing the “world that we want to live in,” the colors we choose will make the difference between a room that looks chaotic or cohesive. How do you pick a color palette? Well, I’ve written a few articles about it, but they need some updating (here is one from 2012 and the facts are right, but the photos are dated). You’ll likely find what you are attracted to while you are pinning. But if you love every color, then these are some basic tips – you want a mix of cool and warm tones (blues/metals like polished nickel are cool, and reds/woods/leathers are warm), you want to include neutrals somewhere, have a few pieces that tie the colors together (rug, art, pillows), and don’t be too strict. This isn’t the time to bring Pantone chips around shopping – have a rough sense of 3-5 colors but let yourself be free with those. Oh and here’s a big color palette mistake to avoid. STEP 5: Shop And Find Your “Jumping Off” PieceYou’ve heard about the “jumping off point” on those old HGTV shows but it is actually super, super helpful. My favorite rooms I’ve ever designed have had a clear jumping off point – our patio (the tile), Birdie’s first bedroom (that forest wallpaper), etc. It doesn’t mean that you HAVE to have a big statement, but it’s just so nice to have something that you LOVE to start with. It could even be a pretty white tile for your bathroom or maybe that perfect shade of indigo that you know you want to paint the walls because you’ve seen it enough to be sure. Your “jumping off point” could also be some imagery of rooms that really, really speak to you Rooms with a feeling you want to emulate. It could be that you are letting the architecture be the star and want everything to complement that (like the mountain house). I think about our master bedroom and there really wasn’t one thing that I bought first. It was more the feeling of comfort and being hugged by my favorite tones of white, denim-y blue, olive green, leather, and wood. So whether you find your perfect “jumping off piece” or “a feeling” you know you want to evoke, start to shop and pin individual products. Think about your color palette and materials you want to use. Then once you have a bunch of shoppable products, head on to the next step. Step 6: Create Your “Working” Mood Board With Real Pieces And Start PlayingThis is where the fun really begins, but it can be messy and that’s ok. You have your pinboard, sure, but now you need to see all the pieces together to make sure the room as a whole looks good. You want to put pieces together to ensure that it’s visually balanced, that you don’t have too many stripes or too many pieces of furniture with legs (it’s nice to have a couple that have a solid base for contrast). We use Keynote and Google Slides. Of course, you can use Photoshop if you know how (my team ultimately puts any of the slides we want to show in Photoshop for the blog or for clients). But the playing around should be easy and fast, and I promise it’s SO MUCH FASTER in Keynote or Google Slides. Here’s how we do it:1. Simply screenshot the piece you want to play with and the image should appear on your desktop. Press down command + shift + 4 at the same time and a little plus sign will come up so you can trace around the piece of furniture or object you want. 2. Open Keynote or Google Slides and then select “new presentation” – I always choose the white horizontal one, then delete the text boxes. 3. Drag and drop the pieces that you have screenshot and are considering onto that new board. 4. Size and rotate each piece to look more like a room. Don’t be strict about it. Just make the sofa bigger than the lamp, make the rug horizontal at the bottom of the board, not vertical at the top – you get it. 5. Play with WAY more than just one rug or sofa. You want to see what all of your options are. Here is what I do – I have a few main boards (you can right-click and copy the entire board to have a few to play with so you can try different combos), then additionally I have a whole board of lamps, rugs, sofas, etc., so I can copy and paste them in to experiment. If you think you are nixing something don’t just delete it. Instead, copy and paste it onto a different board just in case something changes, and you want it back. 6. MAKE SURE to also pin these pieces from their source/store/website. Otherwise, you may forget where they come from. 7. Screenshot pieces that are similar to what you already have and want to use to ensure that you can mix it in. OR take a photo of a vignette or piece on your phone that you are happy with, upload that photo onto your desktop and then drag the photo onto your mood board. 8. Incorporate in dream vintage pieces. Every room needs some vintage – I go to Chairish and 1st Dibs for vintage pieces and inspiration. 9. It doesn’t have to be pretty but I promise it’s so helpful to visualize your future space. 10. Work within your color palette, make sure you are creating enough contrast (i.e. you’d likely want a sofa to “pop” off the rug) and ensure visual balance in the room. A.k.a. Make sure all the heavier pieces color-wise aren’t on one side of the room, leaving the other looking empty. Step 7: Start PurchasingWe are getting so close to your beautifully designed room. Now, professional designers order almost everything at once, but that’s after rounds of edits and approvals. Don’t feel pressured to work that way!. If you are feeling less confident in your overall design, order the big stuff and build the room more slowly to ensure it’s truly working. But before you purchase, make sure they will fit (tape off rug, bed or sofa on the floor). Nothing is a bigger bummer than finally getting your beautiful sofa delivered and realizing it can’t fit through the door. So, always check the specs (measurements) of a piece with an actual tape measure in your space, don’t just guess by looking at the online photo. Step 8: Accessorize, Style, Play, And Have FunThis is the REALLY fun part (or at least I think so). Once you have all of your main pieces in place it’s time to make the room special, full of soul, and unique to you. Know that things might change, mistakes will be made, but don’t be afraid to try something new. Put art in an unexpected place, frame an object in a clear box – really just play around with your lamps, pillows, books, decorative objects, etc. We have a whole section on the site dedicated to just this topic so be sure to check it out and get all of our tips and tricks. Well, there you have it. It’s not “hard” to design a room but it takes time and patience (and usually some money). But boy is it worth it when you get to come home to a space you love. Now trust me when I say there is A LOT more to dive into but that’s why we are here, to answer your questions and give you info you didn’t even realize you needed. So let’s chat in the comments and let us know if you have any questions. We are here to help xx For our more in-depth Design Rules series check out these posts: Living Room Rules| Bedroom Design Rules | Dining Room Rules The post How To Design A Room: The 8 Steps You Need To Know To Create Your Dream Space appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2PldPtk A short and sweet week it was (and for us, PACKED with shoots). But now that we are all about to embark on a full 5-day work week together let’s make that transition a little easier with this week’s link up… From Emily: If you are a fan of Armchair Expert like all of us here, you know Monica Padman and Dax Shepard. Well Monica, and their other best friend, Jess, have a new podcast of their own about their love lives (well it’s a short series). It’s literally like sitting in the car with two good friends who are as willing to share as I am about all the juicy private stuff. For example: I was at a good part of an episode when I pulled up to Target, but I waited for the story to be over. I could have just pressed “paused” (it’s a podcast, not a radio show), but I was so riveted that I had to wait ’til that segment was over. And a quick vouch for Monica, we recently hung out and I can say that she (and her mom KB) are as lovely, normal, warm, funny and down to earth as they seem. I’m always interested in hearing about how “real” someone actually is, but I’m happy to report they are exactly who they seem (i.e. GREAT). This past Friday morning felt like a bonus Christmas because right there on ArchitecturalDigest.com was Athena Calderone’s newly renovated Hamptons home. And just like her Brooklyn home, it’s stunning and we suggest you look at it ASAP. Also, can we talk about that rope ceiling??? In case you missed it, Emily wants everyone to stop what they are doing immediately and go look at Leanne Ford’s insanely cool new collection at Crate & Barrel. Emily and the entire team want basically everything. Congrats Leanne! Since we are talking about all things design, Emily got to be a part of helping Apartment Therapy decide on their pattern of the year. Check it out! From Sara: I recently got this cookbook in an effort to eat less animal products, while also making easy meals during our renovation. Last night I made the ratatouille and it was KILLER. We ate spread on thick slices of crusty toasted bread and I was in heaven. Tonight I’m going to be tossing the leftovers with pasta. Guys, this might be the best vegan cookbook I’ve come across. From Mallory: Jess showed me this more affordable line by Jonathan Adler and it’s literally become the inspiration for my entire apartment. Plus it’s one of the only furniture brands my boyfriend and I both love everything about. From Ryann: I’ve been spending my nights scouring the internet for really COOL vintage dining chairs. My goal is to mix and match and currently have my eyes set on this beauty for my first pick. Julie got pretty inspired by Jess’ color trend post the other week and bought this cool mint jacket to put on her body. Speaking of cool mint, Jess and her cousin were shopping last weekend and they both fell head over heels for this jumpsuit. It’s so freaking cute, flattering and perfect for spring with its short sleeves and pastel color. Veronica stumbled upon this Instagram account and just… wowowowow From Caitlin: YOU NEED TO WATCH LOVE IS BLIND ON NETFLIX RIGHT NOW and then CAN WE PLEASE TALK ABOUT IT IN THE COMMENTS??? (Yes, the all caps are necessary because this is the best/worst show I have EVER seen. The Bachelor meets 90 Day Fiance meets Married at First Sight meets Bachelor in Paradise? ARE YOU KIDDING? PS. I wrote this link 8 DAYS early after watching just two episodes because I was so excited about what a good/bad mess this show is.) Ok, happy Sunday everyone and see you tomorrow.
P.S. Don’t be too sad the weekend is almost over because we have a BIG and very EXCITING surprise for you bright and early;) The post The Link Up: Sara’s Favorite $17 Vegan Cookbook, The Color Julie & Jess Can’t Stop Buying and Caitlin’s Dream Netflix Show appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2VgtMoC I’m a perpetual fan of the “One-piece-of-clothing” outfit, otherwise known as “the dress” (or romper, but that’s another post). Make that dress easy to wear (good drape), affordable (less risk) and WITH POCKETS (it swings!) and you had me at “howdy” (there is an accidental theme as you will soon see). I went to the mall with my friend Suzanne, tried on 30-40 dresses, and came home with these 7. Here. We. Go. Dress (available in store) | Shoes (similar) I LOVE this dress and it looks far more expensive than the $27.99 (yup, that it is). Plus I wore it three times without washing or even really hanging it up. It’s thick enough that it doesn’t get wrinkled easily AND YET DRAPES SO WELL. Likely it’s because of the princess sleeves and more fitted bodice, but I am a massive fan of it in every way (the cute cuffs, the simple collar, I could go on and on). I’ve had the clogs for a year and still love them. 1. Denim Fit and Flare Dress | 2. Utility Denim Shirt Dress | 3. Denim Wrap Smock Dress | 4. Short Shirt Dress | 5. Denim Patch-Pocket Popover Shirtdress | 6. Lyocell Shirt Dress Now let’s get whimsical with some ruffles… This dress comes in white, teal and this pretty pink and it was a hard choice to make. The ruffled sleeve, the casual drape, the tiered length, and the pockets make it SO easy to throw on (and it’s lined and the lining even drapes/falls well). It certainly has a prairie vibe that I obviously leaned into with the bandana, snakeskin boots, and hat. WHEN IN ROME. 1. UO Hanna Embroidered Maxi Dress | 2. Women’s Floral Ruffle Dress | 3. Haverford Frock Midi Dress Dress | Shoes | Dog (sorry he’s taken:)) Sensing the theme? This tiered dress is a heavy rayon that ALSO drapes really well. The print makes it really forgiving, the rouging flatters the bodice (and would even more if you were less endowed), and the big sleeves are like a fun accessory. Throw in Boris in lieu of a handbag and you’ve got yourself AN official outfit. This is a great work/church/brunch outfit and is even as cute with thick-soled sneakers (like these or the black version of my snakeskin pair like these). And yes, this also has pockets. 1. Liza Long Sleeve Smocked Midi Dress | 2. Polka Dots Long Sleeve Dress | 3. Apparent Long Sleeve Dress | 4. Floral Smock Dress | 5. Creped Dress | 6. Sister Jane Tiered Dress This one is not a show stopper but I found myself opting for it on the weekend because it has this casual utilitarian vibe that is still cute, but so easy. I also think it would be a GREAT swimsuit coverup what with the zipper. It’s oversized in a good way, with huge pockets and screams “weekend dog walking or park with kids”. I had no idea how often I would wear those snakeskin sneakers, but the answer is 3-4 times a week. 1. Cloth & Stone Eryn Utility Shirtdress | 2. Topstitched Utility Shirtdress | Utility Mini Shirtdress This shot is not properly displaying the joy that I feel wearing it. It’s thick, quilted, powder blue with massive sleeves and even a tie in the back. I feel so happy and just GOOD in this dress. It can obviously be dressed up for Easter, or down with sneakers. Its a whimsical statement but yet so easy to throw on. It is on the more splurgy side of affordable, but because it can be even worn to a wedding I think it’s worth it. 1. Puff Sleeve Mini Dress | 2. Puff Sleeve Babydoll Dress | 3. Mallorca Tiered Babydoll Dress | 4. Laura Ashley Mel Puff Sleeve Dress | 5. WeWoreWhat Puff Sleeve Polka Dot Romper | 6. Puff Sleeve Dobby Cotton Mini Dress We joked that this outfit is my “go to church, then brunch, then if brunch leads to a night out” dress. The dress itself is fairly tame (HA) but with the boots and belt, it felt even kinda nighttime. It’s thin, but forgiving (the fabric hangs so nicely) and has princess sleeves and a tiered skirt. 1. Patterned Satin Dress | 2. Floral Long Sleeve Midi Dress | 3. Levita Georgette Midi Dress | 4. Button Front Dress | 5. Creped Dress | 6. Patterned Dress Lastly, MAYBE my favorite – this orange/red maxi. It has all the things – princess sleeves, good drape, built-in lining for the skirt, a V-neck so I’m not totally covered head to toe, AND POCKETS. It’s $39.99 and I’m going to wear it ALL THE TIME. It’s so voluminous and fun, while being so easy to wear. Dress it up like I did with cowboy boots, or down with vans. Or dress it up even more with heels (although I’d opt for platforms or something chunky rather than something delicate). Head to stories later to see these guys in action (I always find it easier to assess clothes on a moving body). Happy dress shopping! 1. Casual Cotton Maxi Puff Sleeve Dress | 2. Chiffon Dress | 3. In The Moment Dress | 4. Tiered Gingham Dress | 5. Poplin Smock Midi Dress | 6. Black/Pink Creped Dress *As we’ve stated before – we at EHD try to promote good fashion for all budgets from companies that we love and believe in, so while I at times might splurge on those boots for instance the ones in the photo above (that I wear probably four times a week), we also love the accessibility of these dresses for our readers that simply want a new spring dress to make them feel happy, express themselves creatively and bring them a burst of joy regardless of their budget. We encourage you to buy what you think you’ll wear for years and years, season to season, regardless of the price. Now, Hey Spring it’s time to SPRUNG. The post My Favorite AFFORDABLE Winter to Spring Dresses, (Almost) ALL WITH POCKETS appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2v5THVd
All dogs are perfect, but they aren’t always the best roommates. They shed, they climb on furniture, and if they’re an American Bulldog named Gus, they drool and lick themselves incessantly. But, as the proud mother of said bulldog, I know there are few joys greater than coming home to a 60 lb slobbery mess that wants to jump on me and lick my face as soon as I walk through the door. Yes, I am that kind of dog mom. I let my dog jump on me, lay on the couch, and sleep in our bed because he has me wrapped around his little paw. But as whipped as I may be, there is no denying that a dog in the home causes some challenges, design-wise. As I coming to find out, designing a dog-friendly home requires thoughtful consideration and those who’ve lived through it are our best resource. So I did what anyone would do. I asked my boss to ask you, the real experts, how you keep your homes dog-friendly and clean. Now I’ve gathered the results and can’t wait to share all the tips and tricks. We’re talking best and worst fabrics, best cleaning products, easy hacks, and more. Let’s get to it: The Best (& Prettiest) Dog-Friendly SofasLeather: I know there are people out there who live in “no dogs on the furniture” households. These people deserve this recognition and will likely announce themselves in the comment section (please do and please give me all the advice on how to accomplish this). The rest of us need something a little more foolproof than that. I was recently in the market for a new couch and because my life revolves around my dog, I had to ask what is recommended for dogs (specifically ones that shed a TON). I was told leather is the #1 recommended for dog owners which is no surprise. Leather is easy to wipe clean and hair isn’t going to stick to it. Obviously, real leather will hold up better to scratches, but faux leather is just as easy to clean – just not as durable. 1. 2. Texada Sofa | 3. Hoxton Black Leather Sofa | 4. Leather Sofa | 5. Sven Charme Tan Sofa | 6. Brown Leather Modern Square Sofa Tightly Woven Fabrics: If you aren’t into leather and want something cozier, have no fear. There are some woven fabrics out there that are very durable and stain-resistant. My research tells me the tighter the weave the better (think chenille and herringbone – fabrics with texture that will hide hair – but watch out if your dog is a digger as their nails can cause damage). Also, synthetic fabrics like microfibre are high on the pet (and kid) friendly list because they can be spot-cleaned with most carpet cleaners and pet hair is easier to remove with lint rollers and vacuums. If you are going for a woven fabric though, you might consider matching the fabric to your dog’s hair color as best you can unless you don’t mind seeing hair everywhere. And I mean everywhere. 1. Shelter Sofa | 2. Sven Birch Ivory Sofa | 3. Sloan Custom 3 Seat Sofa | 4. Ever Slipcover Sofa | 5. KIVIK Sofa | 6. Amherst Cobblestone Sofa Velvet: About half of you swear by velvet and the other half will be calling me crazy in the comments section. We actually wrote a post about this last year, and we learned that synthetic velvet is more dog and kid-friendly because it holds up better to scratching and is easier to clean and keep hair-free. So, if you are in the market for velvet furniture go for synthetic or performance velvet for best results. 1. Mirage 75″ Sofa | 2. Calais Channel Tufted Sofa | 3. Olsen Sofa | 4. Rivet Aiden Tufted Mid Century Velvet Sofa | 5. Shelter Sofa | 6. Shelia Velvet 80″ Sofa The Best & Most Stain Resistant Rugs:Cowhide: I have a white cowhide rug and even between my wine spills and my dog’s occasional throw-up spells, it somehow remains stain free. This is no exaggeration when I say it is the easiest thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of cleaning (and I hate cleaning). If you get to the accident fast enough, a rag and some water will usually get the stain right out, but if it is a more stubborn stain laundry detergent works like magic. In my experience, even faux cowhide is easy to clean simply because the hairs are spread out far enough so you can scrub the hide and you can rub back and forth without worrying about damaging it. Emily also swears by cowhide rugs for messy kids and pets. 1. Palomino White/ Beige Cowhide Rug | 2. Carbon Loft Tan/White Cowhide Rug 3. Honey Cowhide Rug Vintage Persian Rugs: If you’ve ever had a vintage Persian rug you know they can take a beating but what’s even better is their age and wear are a part of their charm. This makes accidents and scratches less of an issue and if it does stain, the intricate patterns do a good job of masking it. We know they are an investment but Emily and Sara vouch for the Persian rug stain-resistance and even though they are cat owners, I trust their judgment. 1. Antique Heriz Serapi Rug 2. Vintage Persian Rug 3. 1900s, Handmade Antique Persian Mahal Distressed Rug Ruggable Rugs – The people have spoken. The days of getting on your hands and knees and furiously scrubbing pee stains are over. Machine washable rugs are the future, my friends, and I am happy to report that we received tons of DM’s praising Ruggable. Our work here is done. 1. Hudson Stripe Black Rug | 2. Vintage Daisy Bordered Blue Rug | 3. Cambria Ruby Rug Best Cleaning Tools:Now, for the cleaning portion, aka the dog owner’s biggest hill to climb. It is safe to say that ordinary cleaning tools do not cut it for the dog friendly home. We need heavy duty, and specifically designed tools to 1. clean up hair and 2. remove odors and pet caused stains. Here are the top picks: Chom Chom Roller: EHD Alum Emily Bowser recommended the Chom Chom Roller a while back and it has since become a most talked about product in the office. Cat and dog owners alike agree it is the only pet hair remover that 100% removes hair from fabric surfaces. Germ Guardian Air Purifier: It’s quite shocking how much air becomes compromised once a dog enters your home and life. The sheer amount of dust and debris that accumulates is unlike anything I have ever seen or experienced. An air purifier is essential to filter the hair and dander that accumulates so the air in your home stays fresh and breathable. Roomba Vacuum: I am not sure if robots will be doing all our chores in the near future, but I am pretty happy the robots have taken over vacuuming. In a dog household, vacuuming hair is a DAILY chore, so thanks Roomba for taking one thing off our to-do lists. Dyson cordless animal vacuum: Of all the products recommended to us, those who told us about this Dyson animal vacuum were by far the most enthusiastic. It is cordless and designed to pick up animal hair, so even those tricky needle-like hairs are goners. Folex: If accidents are frequent, this will keep your carpet clean and will remove the odor completely, so your dog doesn’t mark their territory over and over. Nature’s Miracle: Dogs can smell bad. Can we talk about this? It is awkward to say because it sort of suggests that our homes also smell, but that does not have to be true. Enter Nature’s Miracle, which eliminates pet odors from fabric surfaces like no other. The Dos, The Don’ts, & The Easy Everyday Hacks:1. Cover furniture. Invest in a few inexpensive yet stylish blankets or quilts that you wouldn’t mind seeing every day. Slipcovers work as well, but blankets can add more visual interest and do not need to be taken on and off all the time. With a few large blankets, you can drape them over furniture and if an accident does happen or it starts to get too dirty, you can swap with another one. I do this for my sofa and my bed, so when it’s time for the humans to relax, it’s as simple as removing the dog blanket. 2. Have throw blankets everywhere. Dogs will curl up wherever the most snuggly spot is. If you want to try and keep your pup off the furniture, arranging a throw or two over a rug will almost guarantee a snooze in that spot. One of you suggested getting an oversized IKEA sheepskin rug and cutting it up into small sections, then layering around the house. I just want to say I LOVE this idea and will be stealing. 3. Keep trash enclosed. I know you seasoned dog parents know this, but it’s worth highlighting. Covered trash cans are non-negotiable, even if your dog is the most well-behaved. No one wants to come home to yesterday’s pizza box ripped to shreds all over the carpet. If your little “angel” is a little more mischevious, keep the trash in a cabinet if possible. We’ve all seen what dogs can do when they put their minds to something, so it’s best to keep the scents as sealed off as possible to avoid any temptation. 4. Set up a paw cleaning station. Most of us don’t have mudrooms, so taking a dog for a walk on a rainy day (or any day) can be chaos – especially when they run straight towards your white sofa. Not to be dramatic, but setting up an area in your entry where you can rid paws of any dirt or mud is life. changing. This can be as simple as keeping wipes or a small rag and water bottle in a storage bench near the door. 5. Put on music when your dog is home alone. If your pup tends to get extra anxious when you leave them alone, it helps to leave relaxing music on for them. When a dog is anxious or has separation anxiety, they tend to act out in ways that might cause harm to your furniture and other belongings. Multiple dog parents that I know do this (including me) and it really does help soothe them and make them less likely to wreak havoc. 6. Keep your schedule as routined as possible. Dogs adapt to our habits and routines. It took me a while to figure this out but I have noticed my dog is 10 x more ~chill~ when he can anticipate when it is walking/playing time and when it is sleeping time. Now that he knows my schedule, he has less nervous energy which in turn keeps his behavior tamer. 7. Match your furniture and/or rugs (and flooring if you can help it) to a similar color to your dog’s hair. Some dogs shed more than others but all dogs do shed and the hair gets everywhere. The visual reminder that you haven’t done your chores in a day or two is a lot less obvious when their hair blends in. 8. Be careful with essential oil diffusers unless you’ve done your research. A ton of essential oils are toxic for dogs, and their noses are super sensitive so these concentrated oils are a lot for them to inhale. We want our homes smelling amazing but not when it might incite a panicked trip to the vet. 9. Stay away from jute rugs. Jute may seem cool and durable, but it is a monster to clean. It collects dirt and hair and if an unfortunate mess happens, getting the excess “stuff” out is nearly impossible. 10. Leave expensive or breakable items out of the “tail wagging” zone. Pretty straightforward but we’ve all been there, and we can only blame ourselves. Okay, there you have it but now I want to hear from you. Have we scratched the surface or do you have more secrets to share? Tell me everything. The post Everything You Need to Know About Designing A Dog-Friendly Home: Advice, Easy Hacks and Tons of Decor Recommendations From Our Readers appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2SXKeas If you’re anything like us, you’ve always been curious about IKEA cabinetry. I mean they look pretty in pictures but how do they hold up? How much do they really cost? Are they worth the savings? How comprehensive is IKEA’s cabinetry customer service? The list of questions goes on but today ALL of them will be answered now. Enter Amanda (a fellow blogger and past EHD contributor). She and her husband decided that they would cash in on the undeniable savings and go the IKEA route for their kitchen cabinetry. Today she is showing us her beautiful kitchen and giving us all the juice. Amanda, take it away…
Hello! I’m so honored to be sharing a post with you today about my experience using IKEA Kitchen Cabinets for our kitchen renovation. But first, let me properly introduce myself. I’m Amanda Holstein, a blogger turned interior designer specializing in Airbnbs and small businesses here in the Bay Area. Here’s my story: My husband and I bought our little 1960’s cabin in Mill Valley in 2017 and have spent the last few years renovating it from top to bottom. And since this was our first home and our first renovation, a lot of questions came up. Most of them ending with, “WTF are we doing?”. That was especially true when it came to the renovation of our kitchen. With a tight budget (thank you, very high Bay Area real estate prices), deciding where to splurge and where to save was a big part of the discussion. When we saw that IKEA was having a deal on kitchen cabinets (you’d get 30% back in the form of a gift card), we thought what the heck. Since my husband will choose saving money over time any day, and I don’t quite have the patience for that, this was a fun one for our marriage. Let me tell you, we learned a lot. About the cabinets, I mean. So I thought I’d share what I learned during this specific part of our reno process for those of you in renovation mode! Let me start with the pros of IKEA cabinetry. THE PROS OF IKEA CABINETRYAffordableYup, they really are pretty significantly less expensive than other cabinet options, especially custom cabinets. But this will really depend on the size of your kitchen and the extra fixings you throw in. Our cabinetry and appliance total came up about $6,500 and we have a pretty large space so I’d say that’s not too bad. (Emily here. If she had gone custom, these cabinets would have easily cost $25k and not including any appliances… So a HUGE money saver.) Good SelectionFor the price, I’d say they have a decent selection of finishes and designs. Of course, they’re not super high-end, but I wouldn’t expect that anyway. IKEA does seem to have somewhat of an eye on what’s trending though so we went with the most shaker-looking option they had. While it may seem like a “con” that each design only comes in a limited number of finishes & colors, but that also made our decision-making process much quicker (big pro). Extra FeaturesThey actually offer a lot more than just cabinets. You can get affordable drawer pulls and cabinet handles, slow close drawers, and panels for your dishwasher or fridge so they blend in with the rest of the cabinetry. They even have decent appliances. We got our fridge from IKEA and it’s great! They also have pantry cabinets which we took advantage of. We went with another countertop company to make sure we chose something durable but they do have a decent selection of countertops (I just can’t vouch for the quality). 3D Layout PlannerIKEA has its own easy-to-use 3D Kitchen Planner on their site that is a must. I highly recommend going in-store and using it with one of their customer service people. There are certain details I didn’t realize I’d need that the customer service rep made sure we included. I wouldn’t say they’re very useful in coming up with layouts for tricky spaces or anything, but for a basic kitchen design, they are knowledgeable for sure. The system then pulls from your design and creates an itemized list of exactly what you need to purchase (and since it’s IKEA, that’s a whole lot of parts). THE CONS OF IKEA CABINETRYLogistics Are ComplicatedHaving a million different boxes show up to your house is probably the worst part. This is if you choose to have your own contractor (or husband, which I do not recommend) install the cabinetry. It felt incredibly disorganized and took forever to keep track of each little item and then build it all (it is IKEA after all). Also, if you are missing an item, which is hard enough to figure out, we all know their customer service isn’t great. For example, we were missing these bars that go on the side of a deep drawer to hold everything in and the process to get them was so difficult that we just gave up. It Takes LongerBecause of the difficult logistics and the DIY aspect of IKEA, the install takes longer than you might expect. However, I have heard that if you have IKEA install it themselves, it goes a bit more smoothly. Our timeline was June 2018-October 2018. This also includes taking down a huge fireplace and the wall between the kitchen and living room. So it would have been quicker if we didn’t have structural changes. (From Emily: For reference, if you get custom cabinets made then you have, on average, a lead time of 4 -10 weeks. This is after your kitchen is fully demoed and precisely measured. Basically it’s also a lengthy process but probably less of a headache since someone else is building and installing.) Not High QualityWe’ve only had our kitchen for about a year and you can already see some wear and tear. For example, our dishwasher just barely hits the drawer next to it when you open it and I can see the paint starting to chip off. You can also feel how lightweight the doors are, which sort of gives it away that they aren’t real wood. I’ve never had anyone notice though! I guess that is to be expected when you go the more affordable route. They’re Not CustomBecause the cabinetry only comes in specific sizes, it can be tricky to configure into your unique space. It took a lot of trial and error with their 3D Planner (we were in-store for at least 3 hours. It was miserable, even after 2 hot dogs.) So, if you’re trying to figure out if IKEA cabinets are for you, here’s what it comes down to. You’ll save money but probably not time (or headaches). My suggestion and what I wish we had done now is gotten our cabinetry from IKEA, but our cabinet doors from somewhere else (like SemiHandmade). That way they would wear better and we could have gotten a more high-end finish. But overall, I’m super happy with how our kitchen turned out. I think mixing in some more expensive pieces like our Fireclay tile (Moorish Knot) and Caesarstone countertops (countertop total was $4,500) helped elevate the cabinetry. In the end, it was nice to find some savings somewhere in our renovation! Before I go I thought it would be fun to show you a before and after… Better right? Well, be sure to comment if you have any other questions about my cabinetry experience or if you have any of your own tips and tricks you learned from going the IKEA route or just want to connect. You can find me at www.amandaholstein.com and @amanda_holstein on Instagram. Come say hi!
Kitchen Resources: Fireclay tile (Moorish Knot) ***After photos by ComePlum The post Are IKEA Kitchen Cabinets Worth The Savings??? A Very Honest Review One Year Later appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/32dvw37 February – It’s the time of year, for most of you, where the romance of winter has waned (hard), and the holidays are over. So what’s next? Only the fantasy of spring, of course. I’m from Oregon (rains from November to April), lived in New York for 10 years (freezing from November ’til March) so despite living in LA (I don’t want to tell you what it’s like here), I still get it. This post is for those of you who: A. Are ready to fantasize about your life in brighter, warmer days. B. Are just realizing that the reason they call it a “spring break” is because if you don’t go on vacation to somewhere that resembles “spring” soon, you are going to break down and light your puffy, once-cozy sleeping bag coat on fire hoping that it provides much-needed heat. Or maybe… C. Like easy styling hacks and entertaining tips, that involve (faux) flowers, wine, bright colors and a lot of affordable (and durable) Target pieces. Or if you just like staring at pretty, inappropriately early seasonal photos, keep scrolling – we are here for that, too. Whatever your reason, we’re gonna tackle all of the above: Embrace the Pastels and FlowersIt’s a simple theme that is highly effective at getting the message across. Just when I think I’m too cool for pastels (January Emily), I remember that there is truly so much happiness provoked by blues and pinks. Color makes me happy, it just does and often when I try to go ‘chic’ and too neutral I don’t feel the same level of positive energy (but that’s just me). Let’s also not forgot the years of my blue and blush craze because it’s at least temporarily back for spring. There is no shame in my blue and pink game, and we used these colors all over the table, including textiles, plates, flowers. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE those melamine floral plates (yes, they are unbreakable!), and plan on snagging the small and large for backyard parties all spring and summer. Plus the contrast of the gingham patterned plates under them is almost too good. Don’t Be Afraid of the Faux FlowersHere’s my advice when it comes to choosing between real and faux flowers (plants or trees) – Faux is ultimately less expensive, less mess and lasts longer – It’s like choosing engineered stone over marble. Sure, we all love the real deal more but real marble is vigilant upkeep. In the end, it’s a lifestyle choice. I was hesitant before I saw these blossoms in person because I generally prefer real. I thought we’d style them in the background, opting for real on the table. But when no one was looking I put them on the table and we were like “oh shoooooot” because they looked so pretty. So here’s my case for them:
Stylists are generally against faux anything, but after the ease of faux garland and tree up at the mountain house over the holidays (versus the mess and expense of real), I’m going to the dark side when it makes sense for my lifestyle. They also come on those wreaths, which we simply hung with command strips and made us look like we were professionals (fine we are, but it was easy). Layering and Mixing Patterns is the Key to Life (and Style)Most of you who are here are less interested in the “fussy” and “formal,” so assuming you are aligned here is what I like to do: Start with your tablecloth or runner. And here’s a good styling hack: We used what you might have thought is a “too small” tablecloth and put it on an angle, thus exposing the pretty wood underneath (adding texture, warmth, and depth), and showing off the pretty fringe of the tablecloth. I think this is a much more fresh, casual and “daytime” way to style a cloth and is one of my “go-to moves.” Once you have the table cloth set, layer different patterned plates in the same color palette and theme. Or you can simply layer more “spring” plates on your basic whites for something easy that makes it feel special. HOT TIP: Layer your napkin in between your plates and let it hang off the table. I realize that there are a million different ways to “style the napkin” but this is our favorite because it breaks up the line of the table, and doesn’t take up more room on the surface. For the maximum amount of texture and style, bring any pillows outside (or to your dining room table) and pepper them on the chairs. This adds so much warmth, interest, texture, pattern and says “we are cozy, casual and fun people who aren’t afraid to rebel.” They do NOT need to match (see below). Just have them be within a cohesive color palette. And don’t be afraid to bring in a throw, too. We used square, rectangular, and round pillows and made sure that the patterns didn’t compete too much (i.e. putting the large floral near the busier stripe is good). Honestly, the more the merrier because nothing gets you out of the winter blues faster than brunch food, wine, happy pillows, and throws. That’s why I also love having a “seating area zone” when I have a gathering. It’s another place for your friends to relax instead of clumping in one area (usually the kitchen, am I right?). Plus it’s another great excuse to bring in more pattern and texture to your overall space. Can I also just give a shout out to those awesome lanterns?? They are so good and the dark color also helps to ground the flowery, pastel textiles. Ground the Pastels with Wood and GoldListen, if everything were white, pink and blue on your table it might be too much (and just not necessary). Use your normal flatware (could be silver, don’t worry), and cutting boards to bring in some wood to ground all the colors and pattern. Even a basket of bread would work, and would be more delicious. Another great way to bring in some “wood warmth” is a bar cart (which also provides ample wine storage). It’s visually awesome, contrasts with the pastel party, and is crazy functional. As a hardcore fan of the outdoor bar cart, this one from Opalhouse is great and says spring with its woven rattan details. Also, (as I spoke about just a second ago) you want “zones” so people don’t cluster in one area. This bar cart is a perfect “zone” for your friends to pour themselves a glass of wine. SO functional. Add a Personalized Moment That Says “I Care Even Though It Only Took 2 Minutes”Isn’t this “name card” so cute? And trust me when I say it was so incredibly easy that even Birdie could do it. Except for the fact that her penmanship is terrible and not photoshoot acceptable. Also, this is a great close up of my new favorite plates. This year may be dubbed “The Year Emily Henderson Used Floral Prints On Everything” because I am into them hard. But back to our little, easy DIY… Here’s how we made the name cards:
I really want to start doing things like this more when I have small parties because nothing (style-wise) puts a smile on my face faster than thoughtful little details. Plus with this little leaf DIY, it adds an additional texture and pop of color that livens it up even more. Win-win. What is also a win is when your best friend’s dog comes over to crash your photoshoot because dogs are truly the best models and everyone loves dogs. Thanks, Boris. So there you have it. Hopefully, this has taken you out of the winter slump and catapulted you right into spring planning. Cheers to warmer days, outdoor meals, and constant laughter about those freezing temperatures when your sleeping bag coat ruined any outfit you tried to put together. Target has once again nailed it with this spring line and seeing all of these amazing new products makes me a stupid amount of happy. So happy (almost) spring everyone. We are so close. xx 1. Cherry Blossom Wreath | 2. Ceramic Serving Bowl | 3. Oblong Serving Bowl | 4. Traditional White Wine Glasses (set of 4) | 5. Glass Clarte Tumblers (set of 4) | 6. Gingham Dinner Plate | 7. Floral Melamine Large Plate | 8. Globe String Lights | 9. Square Solid Pillow With Fringe | 10. Round Floral Pillow | 11. Compacta Pink Dry Stems | 12. 5pc Stainless Steel Izon Mirror Flatware Set Gold | 13. Wood Round Serving Board | 14. 20 pc Unscented Candle Set | 15. Check Table Throw | 16. 11″ Stoneware Floral Cake Stand | 17. Flower Petal Bowl | 18. 4pk Napkins Stripe Sour Cream Multi Stripe | 19. 4pk Hearth & Hand Cloth Napkins | 20. Mulberry 2pk Patio Chair | 21. Modern Wood Dining Table | 22. Modern Wood Dining Chair | 23. Cherry Blossom Arrangement | 24. Cylinder Glass Vase | 25. 6oz Porcelain Stripe Ramekin White | 26.Woven Stripe Pillow | 27. Outdoor Lumbar Pillow | 28. Chunky Knit Throw Blanket | 29. Floral Lumbar Pillow | 30. Floral Embroidered Square Pillow | 31. Faux Concrete Indoor/Outdoor Accent Table | 32. Britanna Patio Bar Cart Natural | 33. Small Metal Outdoor Lantern | 34. Metal Outdoor Lantern | 35. Fernhill Metal Patio Loveseat Linen The post It’s Time For Warmer, Pastel Inspired Gatherings with Target’s New Spring Collection appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2UWArUN Today we are announcing our first Feel Good makeover of 2020, and guess what? It’s a contest – the Brighten Up Any Room Design Giveaway – in partnership with Velux Skylights that YOU can win. We do these Feel Good Makeovers throughout the year for a variety of families (some with partnerships, some not), and I’m not sure I want to be doing anything else in my career other than these. Our goal is to find someone (one of you) who could use some brightening up, both in your physical space as well as emotionally/mentally. It’s no surprise that I LOVE my natural light and fresh air, so I’ll be transforming one room in one of your homes with a custom design refresh from me, including the installation of up to two VELUX No Leak Solar Powered “Fresh Air” Skylights with solar-powered blinds. So maybe your bathroom needs some love, or your living room is in need of some new furniture (and natural light). Have a dark, dreary room in your home that you avoid? If you win, YOU CAN STOP IGNORING IT. I’ll be here (along with my wonderful team) to help realize the potential of one of your spaces… and whatever we come up with will be awash in sweet, sweet sunlight from overhead. If you’re already chomping at the bit to win your own set of skylights and a flash makeover, you can enter here. (And then come back and read on for some design inspiration.) Last year, my team brightened up the bedroom of our winners, Kristen and Raeann. Kristen was battling a rare form of genetic cancer and was spending a lot of time in bed, recovering from aggressive chemo. They were both long-time readers and the entire design and installation process with them was so touching and fulfilling. This was their space before and after. It was a transformation, to say the least. Myself and the design team, led by Julie and assisted by Emily B., transformed their bedroom by bringing in natural light and sky views, which made it the most comfortable bedroom for healing. (You can see the full reveal here.) Helping another family no matter what they need is the next goal, and we can’t wait to do it again. Now for my thoughts and feelings on skylights in general, why I am a fan and where the heck you can put them. (There are more options than you’d think!) I learned very early in my career as a prop stylist that for photography, natural light is truly the #1 element you need for a room (or shot) to look alive. But what happens if your house has a huge overhang that blocks sunlight? What if your window opens straight into another building? What if your windows only face north and you are in dire need of bringing some sweet, sweet sunlight inside? What if you’re in an interior room that doesn’t even have a window to begin with? Skylights to the rescue… Skylights in a BathroomOne of the most ideal places to use a skylight is in the bathroom. I love that you can put them in places where traditional windows can’t (or shouldn’t) go, like in showers. Showering with a skylight overhead is MAGIC. Velux’s skylights can also be opened via remote control to let out warm air (it rises, remember?), which prevents lingering humidity and brings in clean, fresh air. Plus, it’s great to have even more light throughout the day if you’re the type of person who applies makeup in your bathroom. Skylights in a KitchenGuys, you don’t have to sacrifice cabinet space for windows. Skylights are a no brainer for spaces where you desperately need wall space for functionality but don’t want to give up natural light. And just like in a bathroom, smells and moisture need to go somewhere, so a quick open of the skylight is ideal for releasing odors, steam, and sometimes, accidental smoke Skylights in Interior RoomsThose rooms that don’t share a wall with the outside are desperate for light and can feel dead (think laundry rooms, offices, hallways, stairways, entryways, etc.). Truthfully, I’d even forego an attic space if you have it in favor of vaulting a ceiling to bring in more light from overhead, like we did in the Mountain House. Your eyes are drawn upward, which makes a room feel so much taller and bigger overall. Plus, it’s a great way to amplify brightness while keeping things private. And if you *don’t* want to vault your ceiling, skylights can still be installed in flat ceilings. Your Velux consultant can help you figure out how to configure the light shafts (the drywall between the skylight and the ceiling) around the skylights to help that natural light spill further into the space (like we did in the stairwell of the Portland house).
And of course, we’re obviously HUGE fans of skylights in a bedroom. With traditional windows, you might get full sun or full shade depending on the time of day. Sure, you will get direct light when the sun lines up with the placement of your skylight, but that’s what remote control shades are for – light control that still gives a lot of soft, diffused light. And if you need total darkness, room darkening shades are available to make sure your precious ZZZs are protected. These skylights and blinds can even be programmed to have the blinds close and open at certain times. We just had ours programmed at the mountain house and I don’t even have to think about it. So, It’s Entry TimeAre you excited about skylights yet? After both Portland and the Mountain House, I’ll probably never design another home without them and I constantly look around our LA home and wonder where we could install a few (I will always regret not putting it in the kid’s bathroom). We are so excited to partner with Velux on another “Brighten Up Any Room giveaway” — please, please enter here. Tell us your story, and why you need some brightening up (OR feel free to nominate someone). I’m not totally sure how to say it, but I can’t just not mention this. Kristen passed away a few months ago after a far-too-short battle with cholangiocarcinoma. It was more rapid than anyone thought possible and not exactly expected because she was so young and vibrant. It’s pretty damn shocking. I’m so sorry for Raeann and Kristen’s family for their loss. We are so grateful that we could be part of that special person’s life, be in her light, and help make her last few months more comfortable (not to mention provide a fun distraction). We hope that what we did with the bedroom now helps Raeann in her healing. Let’s all send Raeann a big hug, and Kristen, if you’re somehow reading, know that you are so missed and thought about often. We’d like to invite anyone reading to make a donation to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation here. The post Our First Feel Good Makeover Could Be You And Make Your Life Much Brighter appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/38zmuzP |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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