Hi everyone and once again, happy Sunday! After a pretty action-packed design week on the blog, we are ready to rest up to prep for another one… hope you’re ready:) So to do that, I think all of us on the team are going to be following in Cailtin’s self-care footsteps, take “the perfect shower” and let you enjoy this link up. To be honest we may have mentioned this truly mesmerizing house tour before but now it’s getting full-on top billing (as it should)! There isn’t one thing we don’t love about this home but there is one feature that is going to be a hot topic this week;) From Emily: Three years. THREE YEARS of wearing the same running/hiking/biking jacket year-round. The other day Caitlin pitched a post called ‘What Clothes Make Me Feel Really Good Right Now’ and while I didn’t verbalize it on the call I was internally thinking ‘uh, my running jacket?’ You’ve seen me wear it FOR YEARS and the reason it’s more superior than others is A. it’s warm (puffy vest) but still really flattering (fitted but not tight arms), B. it has zippered pockets, and C. since it’s only puffy on the front I can layer it under all my coats without adding armpit bulk (you know what I mean). I have a couple other summer jackets but to wear the same piece of clothing for three years, 3-4 times a week, and have it still be in great condition is pretty remarkable. So while I’ve linked it up a lot over the years, I wanted to give it more love right now. And yes it’s expensive for a running jacket, but if you are into sustainable purchases then know that this one lasts and gets true use. Also from Emily: Oh shit. A victorian skirted wicker table at a pretty affordable price compared to all the others on the market. Nate and Jeremiah did it!! From Caitlin: I just figured out how to send all my friends a $30 coupon to Charlotte Stone Shoes and since y’all are my friends…I had to share it here, too!!! (Click that link and a code should pop up.) I know this is kind of weird or lame to say, but I have a ton of pairs of shoes from this brand and they just make me feel kind of like, POWERFUL. I started my collection with this pair of platform boots, picked up a ton of deeply-discounted, super awesome pieces in a recent sample same including these sandals (like an adult version of the plastic Birks I’ve worn into the ground over the past couple of years – I’m growing up!), but I’m most excited about my recent purchase of these clogs, which are SUPER DUPES for the clogs everyone is ALWAYS asking Emily about. Just truly obsessed with this small business and I just want everyone to feel as good in their shoes as I do in these! (PS. The customer service was SO NICE when I DM’d them on IG and pleaded to know when these would be back in stock in my size. If anyone wants to send me a half birthday gift – 4/14 – those are #1 on my list.) From Jess: Guess who just launched a sustainable personal care line at Target??? Drumroll please… Jada Pinkett Smith! It’s a gender-neutral line called Hey Humans that is both super affordable and 99% plastic-free. To top it off it was inspired by her kids which makes it that much more meaningful. I have my eyes on the Coconut Mint body wash and the Cedarwood Sage deodorant Also from Jess: The samples got me again! In my last round of skincare purchases, I used some of my Sephora points to get a sample of Dr. Dennis Gross’ Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads due to all the recs in the skincare post comment section. Well, you all were RIGHT. Holy crap they are amazing and I only had three packets. My skin was actually glowing and stupid soft after. I opted for the “regular strength” ones instead of the “extra strength” since they burned a bit while using but honestly, they both cause some amount small of burning. Now they do also have ones for sensitive skin so maybe I’ll try those next. However, while I am sure everyone will simultaneously scream “NO!” at me, if it requires a little bit of discomfort for the results I got, so be it. I can’t wait to use them over a longer period of time. From Mallory: I did it. I finally bought a subscription to NYT Cooking and oh boy, oh boy do I LOVE IT. I had no idea what I was signing up for (and for $14 a month I hoped it was good considering that’s more than a Netflix or Spotify account which are obviously essential services), so I truly went in blind. If you’re like me and have no clue what it is or why it exists, it’s basically a platform where you can find awesome recipes along with photos and sometimes videos. You also get an email sent to you weekly (sometimes twice a week) with awesome recipes you can make and you can also save recipes to your recipe box so when you have no idea what to make you can use it as your little toolbox. The best thing I’ve found about it is that you can search for items you want to cook with. Let me give an example…the other day I realized I had a bunch of ground chicken in my fridge (so random) and I had no clue what to make with it. I went to NY Times Cooking, typed in ground chicken, got a bunch of awesome recipes, and ended up making one it suggested: HONEY CHIPOTLE TACOS. I had all of the ingredients just sitting in my house but I never could’ve come up with that on my own. If you cook a lot, this is a great resource!! Also From Mallory: These hair clips are back and are my new favorite everyday WFH accessory. I bought this one, this one, and this one. No shame in my lazy hair styling game. From Ryann: I never really understood the big deal with Airpods. Two expensive loose headphones that I am supposed to keep track of??? No thank you. That is, of course, until I was given them as a gift (thanks to my angel future MIL) and immediately I understood. If you have them you know what I mean, but still, having to keep track of them AND the charging case is a huge ask for someone like me. I knew I would need to save me from myself so I bought this case that I attach to my car keys. I have the cow print one and it’s so cute and puts me at ease knowing I won’t lose them (until I misplace my keys of course!!). Ok, well that’s a wrap for us. Have a wonderful Sunday and see you all tomorrow. xx Opening Image Credits: Design by Byrdesign | Photo by Laure Joliet | via Remodelista The post The Link Up: The Jacket Emily’s Been Wearing For 3 Years Straight, The Perfect Hair Clip, And The Side Table We ALL Want appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3kteebF
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Have You Heard of The Special Shower?? Your Happiest Skin And A Confidence Boost Guaranteed2/27/2021 I have finally taken a shower SO SUBLIME that it has made all other showers pale in comparison. The shower that makes me feel like a million bucks. The shower that makes me look like a glassy, freshly-glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut. The shower that makes me want to curl up underneath clean sheets and rub my ultra-soft shins together for eternity like some kind of cursed cricket. If you saw me out and about after this shower, you’d say, “WOAH, is that a sleek, smooth land dolphin in front of me? Or wait…no…just a really clean woman?” And guys, it’s okay – it’s just me, Caitlin, a really clean woman! Here’s the deal: I know that as a fellow adult person, you’ve probably showered at least a couple of times in your life. And hey, after decades of experience, you’re probably pretty good at it, too! But I’m not here to talk about our standard bleary-eyed, auto-piloted, in-and-out morning rinse or the classic oh god, just let me get this gunk off so I can go to sleep nighttime soak. This one is BETTER. After almost 30 years of constant experimentation (with, uh, some questionable breaks between like, March and June of last year), I’ve nailed the formula and order that just works. I take this shower – hereby deemed the “special shower” – once a week, and it’s the closest thing to a reset button that I can create in my own life. I emerge feeling SO CALM on the inside and with skin that is (a.) glowing, quenched, and happy and (b.) fortified to stand another week of me bumping into things. I’m going to jump right in and I’ll share the tools and products that have worked for me, but if you have any favorite shower essentials, please drop a name or link in the comments. Last week, you helped me find an everyday moisturizer (praise be) so I know y’all are a wealth of information. I’m just one gal with dry skin (part lizard over here), so let’s share our favorites so EVERYONE can find the perfect products for them. SPECIAL SHOWERS FOR ALL!!! Timing Is EverythingThis baby has to happen in the afternoon. (I start mine around 3 or 4 PM on Saturday.) Two reasons:
Make it SpecialThere are really 3 things you’ll need to set the scene – a beverage, lighting, and some music. I know that line sounds like it came straight out of a post called “Ah, Someone I Have a Crush on Is Coming to My House for the First Time, What Do I Need?!” but stick with me, okay?
Break out the Dry BrushYeah, buddy, we’re putting in WORK before we even turn the shower on. Dry brushing was new to me and I only started because I wanted to slough off some winter skin manually, but it turns out that it’s SUPER good for you – dry brushing actually helps drain your lymphatic system and it increases circulation. (In fairness, I, a lover of woo-woo nonsense, had written this off as some wellness-y woo-woo nonsense until I googled it and found doctors confirming that yes, this is actually good for you BEYOND exfoliating. WIN/WIN.) I’m sure there are fancier brushes, but this one is $7, has a loop for your hand, and it works fine. I do my dry brushing facing a window and I really like it because I can see the skin cells floating off of me while I scrub. It’s simultaneously very gross and very satisfying. (Also, it’s nice motivation to deep clean my bathroom more frequently.) Exfoliate Dry (& Apply Other Specialty Masks)This is where our actual routines may diverge a bit, but the ~general spirit~ will remain the same. If you have any specialty masks or cleansing products, break them out now! You can probably turn on the shower and let it start to heat up at this point. But for me, I love starting with this cleansing balm – it simultaneously gets rid of dirt/grime/makeup/buildup while moisturizing. (I also love NOT washing my face in the sink, so being able to rinse this off in the shower is a real treat.) Second, I really like this underarm mask. It’s not essential for everyone, but it’s $16 and really makes a huge difference – whatever’s in this definitely helps made my pits less stinky overall. You also really only need it once a week, so it lasts forever. But third, AHHH. Let me sing the praises of this exfoliator. I’ve never found one I loved or that really worked for me – they oftentimes feel a little too oily or not gritty enough to get the job done. But this one, from Skinfix, is the perfect texture AND it’s applied pre-shower to dry skin. GUYS, I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. If you can splurge on a new exfoliator (it’s $30), I’d recommend this one in a heartbeat!!! But if not – or if you’ve already found a product you love – try applying your exfoliator of choice while you’re still dry. Newborn baby skin is en route! Hop In & Shave (Round 1)FOLKS, WE HAVE ENTERED THE SHOWER. We all have our own routines and preferences here, so skip ahead if shaving isn’t your thing! That said, the next step here is to rinse off – you’ll already be amazed at how baby-soft you feel after just dry brushing and exfoliating – before going to work on your legs. You can save any other bits for later (we’ll come back to them). Pre-quarantine, I was a pretty vocal advocate for waxing (it’s so much easier for me because I am lazy), but I’ve grown to enjoy the process of shaving as I’ve perfected THE SPECIAL SHOWER process. These three razors were recommended to me by my own waxer and they all serve different functions: this super tiny one is great for intimate areas (ew, sorry for using that phrase, but I’ve tested and can confirm), this one is a great store brand product that does double-duty, and this metal one is a real top of the line investment piece that you’ll keep forever. (I don’t normally use shaving cream though, so if you have a good one to recommend for folks who need it, please drop it in the comments!) Massage in Your ShampooAlright – you’re brushed, masked, exfoliated, and (partially) shaved. Next up: shampoo. You know your hair better than I do, so use whatever you have. My one ~special shower tweak~: add a massaging scalp brush. I asked for one of these for Christmas via a Link Up (what good is the website if not for soliciting presents from your family???) and my mom delivered. Y’all, I love this thing, and I’ve been using it long enough to tell you that it’s actually stimulating baby hair growth. That’s not why I got it, though – it’s awesome at lifting your hair at the root and ACTUALLY getting your scalp clean. This thing’s a 10/10 and it’s the best $15 I have ever asked someone to spend on me. Apply Your Conditioner (Or A Mask!)Ah, yes, the familiar order of shampoo and conditioner. Again, you know your hair, so use whatever conditioner or treatment makes the most sense for your hair. But speaking of treatments, this is a great time to apply them – you’ll be in here for a while longer, so it’ll actually have time to work. (“Uh??? How??? Do I get in the shower and then get out???” – me, any time a hair mask says “apply to damp hair.” But NOW is the right time, pals! Your hair is damp and you have at least 10 minutes! Get wild!) According to my hairstylist, my hair is pretty thin but very dense (tiny hair, lotta follicles – “like constantly walking through a spiderweb,” if you want a description from a boy I used to date), and this is a great treatment that adds moisture without weighing it down. Serious Scrub-a-Dub-Dub ActionSTOP READING. IF THERE IS ONE THING I CAN EVER CONVINCE YOU TO BUY, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LET IT BE A SCRUB CLOTH. Your loofah is garbage and it needs to go. This is WAY more effective, soap actually rinses out of it (no more standing around squeezing and rinsing, waiting for the water pouring down from loofah to run clean – girl, it never will), it dries super fast, and it’s also great for folks with mobility issues. A scrub towel is rougher – it’s not necessarily like being kissed by kittens, like, you’ll feel it working – but it’s a game-changer. I could write another 1,000 words on how my scrub cloth changed my life (turned my skin a piece of silk) and how I use my scrub towel (folded up at first, then like a cartoon of someone scrubbing themselves after it’s fully lathered) or how much soap my scrub cloth has saved me (A LOT), but I’ll let the reviews do the talking. PLEASE GET A SCRUB TOWEL. The pack of 3 is $13 and it will turn you into an evangelist, too. This is the secret sauce of the special shower – it was my final, previously-missing piece. My whole body feels like your shins and ankles do after you get an awesome pedicure. I am smooth FOR DAYS. When it comes to soap, though (you know, the stuff you have to put ON the cloth you’re about to fall in love with), I’ve been really surprised by the quality of this $7 Target find. It’s my mom’s go-to and I gotta say…Brenda’s got good taste. It’s super moisturizing and it smells awesome. I like to follow that up with this $8 underarm soap from Megababe because I am weirdly obsessed with the way my armpits smell – especially after switching to natural deodorant – and am on an eternal quest to make them smell like nothing all the time. (This helps.) Shave (Yes, Again)Yeah, just do it again. Full disclosure: I went to Catholic school and aced the whole “shave from the top of your knee sock to the bottom of your skirt” lesson, but clearly missed the whole “here’s how you get the entirety of your leg in one go without missing enormous patches” class. Plus, if you’re trying to shave anywhere else, your skin is super warm and open and it’ll be more receptive thanks to all the prep you’ve done. Good job!!! Cleanse Face & Rinse OffThe final step: start your skincare routine in the shower! I normally use Clinique’s cleanser because I love the exfoliating texture, but I recently grabbed one of these cleansing sponges to use with smoother cleansers, like this one from Glossier. If you’re super into skincare, you can see a ton of recommendations from a BUNCH of different EHD women with different skin types right here! And pat yourself on the back, because your time IN the shower has come to an end. Now, it’s time to treat yourself outside of the shower. The Cozy EssentialsA nice towel really is everything, folks, so I’m here to shout at you a little bit about the wonders of the bath sheet. TOWELS BE GONE, THIS IS A SHEET-ONLY HOME. Bath sheets are enormous, plush, cozy, and you’ll feel like a little kid getting wrapped up after a bath. They’re such a luxe, everyday indulgence – I grabbed these from Boll & Branch last year (thereby retiring the neon Target Room Essentials towels I’d had since 2009, RIP) and while I had originally balked at the price tag, they were absolutely worth the splurge. I also love a memory foam bath mat – stepping out of the shower and on to something soft, drying, and bouncy NEVER gets old. This one from Target is only $22 and it’s not ugly (trust me – finding affordable, aesthetically pleasing, memory foam bath mats is a TASK). And last but not least: the robe. THIS IS THE ONE. I’ve purchased this one from Brooklinen in a few colors (for what it’s worth, the white stays more stiff and “hotel,” while the colors seem to soften up a little bit more) and truly, NOTHING COMPARES. It also cleans up like a dream – I may or may not have splattered A LOT of plum sauce all over myself while wearing the white robe this morning (you DON’T eat dumplings for breakfast???) and the stains came right out without any special treatment. You’ll have this for a LONG time, so it’s 100% worth the investment. Get MoisturizedBreak out the body butter, guys. This is not the time for your everyday lotion – this is the time to use your special occasion, super-hydrating moisturizer. You’re going to be so soft and smooth – even if you didn’t shave – and now, it’s time to lock that feeling in. (As a side note, I cannot recommend grabbing a set of these $4 silicone brushes enough to help with application. I use one for face products and one for body products, and the brushes mean that I (a.) don’t waste any product under my nails and (b.) don’t have to stick my little paws in a million different containers. I oscillate between these three moisturizers, but this whipped argan oil butter is my all-time favorite. I have it in the vanilla apricot scent and it is SO UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. The first time I used it, I woke up in the middle of the night and in my disoriented haze was like, “what smells so good?” and y’all, IT WAS ME. I WAS THE THING THAT SMELLED SO GOOD. Since Josie Maran’s products really work for my dry skin, I also love her body butter with retinol. And I need to thank you, the readers – last week, I put out a call for a great, affordable, daily moisturizer and you delivered with the recommendations for Vanicream. It’s a great choice for every day and it means that I can keep my special moisturizers on hand for use after SPECIAL SHOWER. Thank you!!! The End: Oil It UpWE’VE MADE IT. THE FINAL STEP. I know that it’s been a long process, but this one was a surprise to me (even though it shouldn’t have been). Look, I know that oils help lock in moisturizers on your face…I just didn’t realize that it’d do the same thing for your body. These are products that I like, but I’m sure you could also just use, like, an ACTUAL oil of your choice. First up: Fur Oil. If you have any body hair, this stuff makes it SUPER soft. (They also have a life-changing ingrown concentrate and if these two products sound like something you’d be interested in, I can’t recommend this duo enough.) My final oil choice depends on what I have on the docket for the rest of the day. If I eschew my own advice and take a special shower early in the morning before spending a lot of time outdoors, I’ll top myself off with Supergoop’s Glow Oil. This stuff makes you look like you’re fresh off a beach – it’s just a little bit of long-lasting shine and I LOVE IT. (Plus, can’t hate on the SPF.) But if I’m staying indoors, this shimmering oil has been a life-changer. It’s a super splurge for me so I only bought it per Em’s recommendation and dang, THAT LADY KNOWS HER BEAUTY PRODUCTS. She was right!!! This oil has a super subtle shimmer, locks in my moisturizer, and not to put too much value on a product, but like, wearing this stuff boosts my confidence by SEVERAL notches. I really, really, really love it. I will continue to pay $90 for this for the rest of my life because of what it does for my mental state. Proceed as a Glowing, Dewy, Dolphin-Skinned BabyThat’s all, folks. For me, this takes about an hour and a half if I’m not rushing but it’s the best hour and a half of my week! Follow this with your standard skincare routine and leave the room as a whole new dolphin/person hybrid. Actions speak louder than words, so give this process a try and then let me know what you think. (Please!) I can’t really describe how delightful I feel after finishing this whole process, so I just want to spread the joy. But in the meantime…what are YOUR shower essentials? Any splurges that are worth it? I think this is my routine for the long-haul, but y’all are a persuasive bunch, so I could be swayed to add some new products to the arsenal…LET’S CHAT??? xx Opening Image Credits: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Portland Reveal: Creating the Dreamiest of Master Bathrooms The post Have You Heard of “The Special Shower”?? Your Happiest Skin And A Confidence Boost Guaranteed appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2Pir4xS When I set out to create my own course for Skillshare, I had two goals in mind – busting some interior design myths, and giving students the confidence they needed to get started on designing their dream space. Because oftentimes, interior design can feel so daunting! I mean, sofas can get expensive, and when was the last time you tried to move one? No thank you! I’d only like to do that once. Okay, back to myths. The biggest myth that I hear over and over again may be one that you believe yourself – that luxe-looking interior design has to cost a fortune. A big part of what I do as an interior/set designer, and what I always recommend people who feel stuck do, is spending a little time studying magazines. Now listen, I wasn’t exactly an A+ student, but when it comes to the home, I’m Elle Woods studying for the LSAT. I will sit down with my big stack of magazines, scissors, and a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine if it’s after 5 PM) and get to work! By taking this time to just look and play without any pressure, clients can really start to get a better sense of what they’re drawn to. I’ll then tell them to find a room in one of the magazines that’s similarly laid out to the room they’re looking to design (but ignore the furniture at first). Now look closely. Where is the furniture placed? What about the lighting? What about it made you stop at this page in the first place? Are you drawn to a color, a texture, or maybe just a specific shape? I will literally rip a page out of a magazine and take it into HomeGoods, Target, and even The Dollar Store to see what I can find that will give me a similar look and feel, for a tenth of the price. So, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to turn your home into a space that you really love, you’re in luck. I am here honey, and I am writing permission slips. In my brand-new course on Skillshare (click through to watch it for free for 2 weeks!), I will give you the tools that you need to turn your house into a home that really reflects your style, all without breaking the bank. We’re going to make it chic, we’re going to make it affordable, and we’re going to make it “wow” – because if there’s one thing I cannot stand, it’s a basic you-know-what! In my course “Interior Design: Hollywood Chic on a Human Budget”, I will guide you through 7 lessons that will leave you feeling both inspired and confident to tackle your home without fear. After all, this is design, not brain surgery – almost any mistake can be cured with a can of paint or a trip to HomeGoods. Who is this class for? Anyone who’s looking to get luxury on a budget, learn how to DIY and shop their own home, or even someone who doesn’t consider themselves especially creative! That’s what magazines and online inspiration boards are for. If you’re struggling to find ideas, replicate something you’ve seen online and then move things around to make it your own. Oh, and this course is also for someone who wants to feel like Marie Antoinette walking through The Louvre on the way to eat cake in bed. Interested? We thought so. Before you dive in, here’s a little bit of what you can expect, and some behind the scenes gossip: Lesson 1 — IntroductionA little bit about me! Fun fact: I kind of do everything. From working in retail to designing celebrity homes, I have pretty much been-there, done-that. I actually started my design journey in 2012 on HGTV Design Star – and am still rocking the same vest that I wore on the opening credits of the show! Today, you can find me co-hosting Quibi’s new show Murder House Flip and running my interior design business, Mikel Welch Designs. Oh, and breaking news! I’ll be participating in the Kips Bay Designer Showhouse this year, which has been a life-long career goal of mine (Like, seriously – it was even on my vision board from last year!). You need a vision board. Maybe that will be my next Skillshare course…. Lesson 2 — Planning Your “Wow Moment”What is the secret to making your space feel grand and fabulous? In this lesson you’ll learn my philosophy around the “wow moment” — what it is, why you need one, and how to find your own. When I created the “wow moment” (shown in the course), I really just went into deep Brooklyn, found some scrap lumber, and called a contractor to bring it to life. Lesson 3 — The Secret to Affordable DesignLet’s keep it real, everyone does not have a celebrity budget to be spending on interior design – but that doesn’t mean everyone can’t achieve that look for less (and we love a bargain in this house). In this lesson, I share my insider secrets for finding hidden gems online, which big-box store makes customization easy, and how to not let labels hold you back. I am currently sitting next to a wet lamp covered in dirt as I write this, because I’m waiting for it to dry. Then I’m going to brush off the dirt and be left with a gorgeous, rustic texture in the paint underneath. DIRT! Affordable! Lesson 4 — Making Your Space Luxurious: Luxury is for everyone!In this lesson, you’ll learn the golden rule for knowing if an item is worth the splurge, as well as some rental-friendly hacks to elevate your space, how your current drapes may not be doing you any favors, and why you need to become best friends with your local dry cleaner. Trust me, I have purchased the Ikea mattress before, and it truly did not work out well. Oh! And bonus tip just for you lovely readers – when looking for expensive décor, try to find the weightier objects. That big, heavy urn is from HomeGoods?! I thought you dragged it back onto the plane from your vacation to the Amalfi Coast! Good for you! Lesson 5 — The Art of Mix and MatchPack your lunch because it’s field trip time! In this lesson, I will walk you step-by-step through how to actually create a gallery wall that looks great (and your landlord will thank you). When I was creating this lesson for Skillshare, I fully took over the hallway of my apartment to show you how to make a gallery wall. So, if you were to walk into my apartment right now, you would walk directly into the ladder from the course! Lesson 6 — Final ThoughtsTime for your exam! But don’t freak out, it’s open book. By this point, you’ll be ready to take all the tips and tricks you’ve learned and start working on your space. Once you’re done, there are even more classes to explore on Skillshare – from how to create a mood board to how to photograph your new space and really show it off. And don’t forget to share your photos in the project tab! (Pro Tip: If your space isn’t finished but you’ve got your vision nailed down, you can always draw or mock-up your plan on paper or in PowerPoint to share with other students!) Lesson 7 — Q&A with Emily HendersonEmily and I go way, way back. In this fun bonus lesson, you’ll hear about how I translated my set design experience into designing for the home and which tips and tricks Emily taught me. Stay until the end for when Emily shares her two main tips for beginners starting to design for clients or for even their own house, and even an unexpected idea for how to know if something is really right for you in the store. To be totally honest with you, I actually learned a lot about design from putting this course together. It forced me to sit down and really think about how I could explain my process for making decisions. Design is a process, but if you map it out and think it through, you can accomplish your vision. I’m so happy I got the opportunity to teach this course on Skillshare. My hope is that these lessons get rid of any fear you may have around interior design, because it can be so much fun! Whether you’re playing with pillow shams or arranging some of those amazing vessels we picked out together, it’s all about trying something, stepping back, and seeing how you feel. So if you want to dive into my class head here and get two weeks free! Opening Photo Credits: Design by Mikel Welch | Photo by John Bessler The post Got Some High-End Taste With A Less Than High-End Budget? You Need This Post appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3uznEqH Someday, I hope whatever legacy I leave behind on this earth will reflect my deep love for finding vintage treasures on Etsy (which might not be hard to achieve considering how often I write about it). Browsing Etsy is a beloved hobby of mine that gives me comfort and so much joy. It really is my happy place as far as online shopping goes, which may not come as a shock to some. It’s not like it’s the only online resource out there that offers curated vintage furniture, decor, and clothing nor is it the only place to buy handmade things and support small businesses. But the magic of Etsy is that it has all of those things in one stop. It’s a place I’ll go to find a personalized gift for my Maid of Honor and while I am checking out I may as well get those vintage Levi’s that I’ve been eyeing. Truly, there are few things I love more than finding the perfect vintage piece that I’ve been searching for and with Etsy, I always feel like I’ve struck gold. There is just SO much good stuff out there so I basically begged the team to tell me their favorite shops so I can round them up for you (and for me). And I know what your thinking, but no, this post is #notsponsored. I really am just a geek about Etsy so without further ado, let’s head to my favorite place floating around the interweb! LightingNino Shea DesignBookmark For: Affordable handcrafted Mid-Century Modern sconces and table lamps made in California. Spark And BellBookmark For: If you’re looking for black or gold minimal lighting options, look no further. F and F VintageBookmark For: Amazing vintage lighting, great custom shelving, and it all ships for free! Lille Froken SolskinnBookmark For: The coolest Mid-Century Modern treasures organized by color. Deco Creation StudioBookmark For: Art Deco pendants and chandeliers that will absolutely turn heads. 98e VintageBookmark For: Lamps and objects that will be the perfect addition to your WFH space. FurnitureABT ModernBookmark For: An enormous collection of vintage furniture based in DeLand, Florida. Vintage LA FurnitureBookmark For: A huge curated collection of affordable vintage furniture. Divider RecordsBookmark For: Hand-built Mid-Century record storage for every space and any size collection. F and F VintageBookmark For: Amazing vintage lighting, great custom shelving and all free shipping! Rocket City RetroBookmark For: As the name of the shop suggests, here you’d find awesome retro finds you won’t see anywhere else. Betsu StudioBookmark For: Extremely fun, colorful post-modern furniture and decor. DejaVu DecorsBookmark For: Fabulous vintage furniture based in Los Angeles, CA. ArtBlue Jay Vintage ArtBookmark For: Gorgeous downloadable Victorian-style seascape and landscape prints and minimal drawings that will bring life to your walls. SlavArtVintageBookmark For: Original oil paintings and portraits to bring some vintage soul to any space. Startdust Print ShopBookmark For: Affordable unique prints for every style. This is one of my favorite places to source art from (I have this and this print) and you may remember this one from Julie’s colorful and bold bathroom refresh. KJensenArtBookmark For: Beautiful and affordable original oil paintings (one of Sara’s favorite:)) Jordan Grace OwensBookmark For: Really sweet prints that Jess featured in her living room reveal. City And Flower CollageBookmark For: BIPOC collage art canvas & prints by a small business that supports Color Of Change. Any one of them will make you and your home 1000x cooler. 88 PrintsBookmark For: Printable Boho minimalist drawings and prints. Ukrainian Fine ArtBookmark For: Curated and original oil paintings from the 1950s – 1980 (another Sara find!) You Sentimental IdiotBookmark For: Affordable, really special prints that Jess found via one of our favorite inspirational design sites SFGirlbyBay. West WovenBookmark For: Really classic and vintage-looking printable art. Rosies Vintage PrintsBookmark For: Quality and affordable prints (like, seriously affordable–I am talking starting at $15 a print). I have this tattoed man and love it! DecorLe Krazy HorseBookmark For: Unique Scandinavian finds and pleated lampshades galore!! Studio AjetoBookmark For: Retro home decor (if you are looking for an AWESOME vintage clock this is your place to get it). Miami Vintage DecorBookmark For: Incredible unique traditional and modern vintage decor and art. ArtrelictBookmark For: Really fun 80s/Art Deco decor and lighting Rocket City RetroBookmark For: A highly curated source for Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, Modern, and Post Modern pieces. Lackluster CoBookmark For: Rustic/Industrial eclectic vintage finds that have a lot of soul. Indian Home TextilesBookmark For: One-of-a-kind pillow covers, quilts, and rugs. I discovered this shop when I wrote about this incredible home tour. I fell in love with their cushion covers first but when I saw their vintage Kantha quilts it was all over for me and it’s one of my favorite pieces in my home! House of Palm ShopBookmark For: Romantic 70s decor and vintage furniture (I have AMAZING Thonet Bentwood chairs from this shop that you will see in a reveal coming soon!!). KLNDRABookmark For: Really sweet handmade coasters and trays. Quilts By CasterBookmark For: Colorful hand-sewn one-of-a-kind quilts (seriously, these are the coolest quilts out there). Ever Dream CraftBookmark For: Beautifully crafted minimal vases and kitchenware. 98e VintageBookmark For: Retro lighting and decor that will make your heart stop. Seriously. Simply ChiBookmark For: The most charming vintage kitchenware and vases. Eeli Art StudioBookmark For: Really cute pottery that would make any shelf look good. RugsBerber Stuff ArtisanantBookmark For: Your resource for all things checkered rugs + vintage Moroccan rugs at great prices. Plus they are customizable:) Mous Carpet ShopBookmark For: Handwoven Moroccan rugs that are so beautiful they may as well be considered art. Nashmil RugBookmark For: Affordable vintage handmade Turkish Rugs that ship free to the U.S. Beni Ourain CarpetsBookmark For: Incredible one-of-a-kind vintage rugs (like the one I bought after I asked you all to vote on my living room rug options). FashionRawson StudioBookmark For: Handmade utility clothing (think effortless cool French girl staples). The Vault 1969Bookmark For: Really cool vintage designer finds like these classic Chanel pumps that I am obsessing over. Kay J StudioBookmark For: The everyday dainty gold jewelry that you will never want to take off. Hank and OliveBookmark For: The BEST resource for vintage Levi’s and jeans. Seriously, the BEST. ZOUXOUSHOESBookmark For: Footwear that is just as chic as anything you’d find at Zara but 1000x better because everything is ethically made and Black- owned. Hello EanaBookmark For: Statment earrings that will prove to everyone that you are the life of the party. SHOPEVRENBookmark For: Beautiful handcrafted jewelry that has a ton of personalizable pieces. OKAY. That’s all from me. Do you guys want more Etsy roundups? You know I am game to browse my favorite site and call it work so just let me know in the comments. xx **Browse more of our favorite places to shop online here. Opener Image Credit: Photo by Erin Francois | Design by Lea Johnson of Creekwood Hill | From: Tour a Stylist’s Mid-Century-Meets-Traditional “Farmhouse” Full of Thrifted Treasures The post 46 Of Our Favorite Etsy Shops That We Keep Going Back To Again And Again appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/37LHO6P Emily here – today, I’m so excited to share Keyanna’s office progress with you. She’s such a talent with so many exciting ideas (uhh, rope partition? Incredible!) and it’s been so fun for myself and my team to work with her, cheer her on, and see this room unfold in real-time. Before we get too in the weeds, I just wanted to say a quick ‘thank you’ to KILZ, a brand that heard the story of this room and its oil-based paint nightmare, said ‘yikes, let’s fix that,’ and gave Key their blessing to freely design a bright, happy, personal retreat (a dream for any blogger). So without further ado, I’ll let Key fill you in on how far this room has come…and stick around to the end because of course, we have a big design dilemma for you. Keyanna, take it away Well, that escalated quickly! It feels like just yesterday I was here introducing my office makeover project and now, here we are just a few weeks away from the final reveal post. In all honesty, I’m not as far along with the progress as I’d hoped, which has kind of been a recurring theme in my life lately (#PandemicProblems). But, I want to give you guys a little update and have you help me with the most important design decision, yet! First, I just have to say THANK YOU for sharing all your suggestions, tips, and advice on my last post. This was my first time having a huge community of folks weigh in on my design ideas. Initially, I thought having a ton of eyeballs examine my (novice) work with a fine-tooth comb would be nerve-wracking… and it was! BUT, overall I loved hearing all your suggestions and gained so much insight and direction for the design plan. So if it turns out bad, you guys are to blame I kid… They say it takes a village to raise a child. Perhaps that’s also true when it comes to design, because the EHD village is definitely helping me “grow up” this office (or as the cool kids say “glow up”)! So needless to say, I’ll be soliciting more of your advice later in this post. When we last spoke, I was having a bit of a design identity crisis, having newly discovered an interest in more colorful, maximalist design styles, yet being born and raised a neutral, minimalist. Shout out to reader RachieT who diagnosed me as “design-poly”. There is no cure. Also, another one you made an interesting analysis that the reason I/people may be craving more color in their home is because of quarantine, and prior to the pandemic we would get visual stimuli out in the world, so we wanted our houses to be calm and serene. But now since we’ve been trapped inside (with less stimuli), we crave color. I’m not sure if that’s been scientifically proven, but it makes complete sense to me and can totally be the cause of my “design-schizophrenia” (diagnosed by reader, Meredith). Who needs WebMD when you have EHD readers for a consult! In my quest for answers, I created a bootleg “I Design You Decide” series on my blog, and asked you guys to vote between the two different (yet somewhat similar) mood boards: Organic Coastal Cottage VS Understated Maximalist. Organic Coastal Cottage resembled my tried and true, neutral, California casual’esque aesthetic that I know, love, and trust. While Understated Maximalist embodied my newfound attraction to color, pattern, and layers of styling. I spent hours (exaggeration) tallying up all your votes. I doubled, tripled, and quadruple-checked my count. And to my surprise, Understated Maximalist won by a landslide! A lot of you guys mentioned that although Organic Coastal Cottage was “pretty,” it’s a very popular style, which makes it start to feel “generic” and “overdone.” But Understated Maximalist felt more “inviting” and “unique”. Which I completely agree! I should have left it there and just went with UM, but in attempts to be a star EHD Blog School student, I decided to also do a poll on Instagram (like I’ve seen Em do)… and then I forgot to save the results so I could share it here (rookie blogger mistake). But strangely enough, Organic Coastal Cottage took the lead on IG. Not sure how/why my Instagram audience votes were polar opposite from my blog audience? Are you guys even on Instagram? Or is everyone on Clubhouse now… (sigh: I can’t keep up) All that said, what was intended to be a solution to determine a design direction for the space, led me right back to indecision. So in true bipartisan fashion, I decided to combine the two mood boards (as some of you suggested) to create a room that can appeal to both my love of neutral and colorful, generic and unique design. I hereby introduce you to Understated Organic Coastal Maximalist Cottage! I’m still tweaking, but the plan is to keep the foundational pieces neutral and then add in (bright?) pops of color with textiles and art. I want the space to have a bit of a boho vibe and feel fun and playful (but not juvenile). And of course, no (understated) maximalist space is complete without plants. Lots of plants. Which makes me question if someone with a black thumb, like myself, can even be a maximalist. Now for some real-life progress. THE WALLS ARE PRIMED! That may not seem like a big feat for some, but this has been a task I’ve been dreading because 1: all the trim, windows, doors were painted with oil-based paint and 2: blue is notorious for being a hard color to paint over/conceal. But KILZ came to the rescue, yet again! For those who don’t know (because I surely didn’t until a painter told me), you cannot put latex/water-based paint over oil-based paint without preparing the surface and using a special bonding primer. Take a look at exhibit A…and exhibit B… and exhibit C. All areas in my home with peeling paint because the previous painter did not prep the surface and/or use a good bonding primer. I’m also working on making over my living room (and will be revealing that space over on my blog in a few weeks #ShamelessPlug) and had to spend hours scraping peeling paint off the fireplace before I could (re)paint it. ::insert expletives here:: To anyone else dealing with this, I feel you. I’m here for you. And I’m making it my life’s mission to educate as many people as possible on how to properly paint over oil-based paint so no one has to go through what I went through. But, before I get into the steps you first need to check whether you have oil-based paint on your walls/trim. All you need is rubbing alcohol and a cotton pad or cloth. Rub it on the surface and if the paint does NOT come off, that means it’s oil-based paint (proceed to prep steps below). If the paint does come off that means it’s latex/water-based paint (proceed to enjoy your stress-free paint life). Disclaimer: I am not a professional painter or paint expert, but I scoured the interwebs and this is what Bob Villa says is the proper way to paint over oil-based paint: Step 1: Sand/De-gloss the SurfaceUse 180-220 grit sandpaper and lightly sand down the surface. You’re not seeking to remove all the paint, you just want to rough up the surface some for better adhesion. Non-expert Key popping in. Ol’ Bob-O didn’t mention this, but if your home was built before 1978, there could be lead-based paint, so be sure to take any necessary precautions before sanding surfaces. Also, fun fact: although I’m not a professional painter, I’m actually Lead-Paint Certified. I used to work for a construction company and it was required for employees to be EPA certified in lead-paint removal. Okay now back to Bob… Step 2: Deep Clean with TSPYou want to make sure the surface is free from dust, dirt, and grime (all of which reduce adhesion) so wipe down the surface with TSP. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions and safety guidelines. Step 3: Prime with a Bonding Primer (Read: KILZ 3 Premium Primer)KILZ 3 is specifically formulated to cover all types of paint, which I love. Being able to use the same product on my trim and walls made the whole process so much easier. It also helps adhesion, so my top coat of paint will stick better. I followed these steps when I painted my kitchen bedroom and living room and so far so good, no peeling! I like to use two coats on all the trim to ensure maximum stickage. Thankfully, the walls in my office are not oil-based, but boy are they blue! I had already witnessed the “power of primer” on Chandler’s living room reveal, so I felt confident that covering these blue walls would be no battle for KILZ. I obviously also used the same KILZ 3 Premium Primer here and as soon as I poured it into the tray I knew this was a quality product. It wasn’t thin and runny like other primers, but very thick and glided on with ease. And similar to Julie, I was shocked by the coverage of just one coat! It’ll also help my new paint color stick better and it’ll block any medium or heavy stains. Win/win/win. Look how much better the room looks with just primer! Now that I have a blank canvas to work on, it’s time for me to make my toughest decision, yet. WHAT COLOR DO I PAINT THE WALLS??? There were a few comments/concerns that the room doesn’t get enough natural light to paint the walls white. But contrary to popular belief, the room (and really the whole house) gets a good amount of sunlight. Obviously not as light-filled as some of the inspo photos, but enough to not make white walls look drab and dreary. Last year, I painted our bedroom (which is adjacent to the office and receives the same amount of natural light) white, and I love how light and airy that room feels. And I just painted my living room white (did I mention that reveal is coming to my blog soon? ;-)). And my kitchen is also white. Although I can’t deny my love of all-white spaces, I think 3 white rooms in one house is enough! Or is it? Lately, I’ve really been drawn to subtle peach/salmon/blush hues. Even Orlando’s vibrant peachy pink gym gave me heart eyes, although I don’t think I’m ready to clad my walls in that much color, yet. KILZ has some really pretty options in that color family. I got a few samples and made swatches on white paper (in true EHD fashion). And now I need your help (again)! Initially, the plan was to paint the walls white/off-white and then load in color with art and textiles. But now I’m thinking maybe I should paint the walls one of these pink/ peachy hues. It’s so hard to get the color to read accurately in these early swatch photos, but some of the swatches are a very close match to the above inspo photos that I’m so drawn to! What do you guys think, do I stick with the original plan and just paint the room a shade of white or do I shake things up a bit and go with color? I’ve narrowed it down, and I think these 6 are my front runners. 1. Family Heirloom | 2. Blushing White | 3. Cameo Coral | 4. Arizona Clay | 5. Conch Pink | 6. Angelic Pink But would love to know which one of the above colors on the wall speaks to you! Would the swatches on the top left make a nice, neutral base for some bright and maximalist layering? Or should I just dive in with the color? What do you think??? xx Em again. OH WOW. Get a load of those gorgeous peachy pink picks – they look so warm and glowy in Key’s space! As always, a huge thank you to Keyanna for letting us into your creative process, for working on this project alongside us, and for being so darn talented. And thank you to KILZ, our favorite primer, for helping us bring this makeover to life – we literally could not have done this without you. (Like, literally – this room would have been periwinkle and butter forever.) And last but not least, thank you to YOU for reading, commenting, and for supporting the brands who help us bring new room reveals to your eyeballs – we are so, so, so grateful. Now hop down and fill us in – what say you?? Xx Opener Image Credit: Design and Photo by Laura Resen The post We’ve Hit The Halfway Mark On Our Mentee’s First Partnership – Here’s how It’s Going (+ An Ask The Audience) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3upM8CJ Hey there EHD family. Arlyn here, back to discuss the mushy gushy side of design, as I’ve been known to do. If you missed my last post around these parts, you can read that here to see what I mean. That post is also where I gave you a sneak peek into the moodboard I put together for my bedroom MOTO (Makeover Takeover for anyone not familiar). And guess what, friends? Not much has changed since then. Quick recap: My living room and dining room have been good and designed for, oh…two years now. Invigorated by the rocket fuel that is a room that’s finally “done,” I dove right into my bedroom that was essentially a hodgepodge of furniture pieces leftover from my cross country move a few years back and well, in full transparency, a bunch of junk. I’m talking a set of four unfinished dining chairs—I’m proud to say I finally gave up on that now inhabit a new loving home—numerous pieces of luggage, empty storage containers (why?!?), shelves turned on their side I never got around to hanging anywhere, a box for an old memory foam mattress topper size full…I have a queen bed…I welcome you to do the math there. I digress. The room was a sizzlin’ hot mess. Or should I say, the room IS a sizzlin’ hot mess. The years pass quickly when you’re pinning, folks, and sidestepping decision making. But when the pandemic hit and weekends went from game nights with friends to binge-watching Top Chef tucked into my bed, phone in one hand and a bowl of Annie’s mac and cheese in the other, I looked around and said ENOUGH. Not of my actual Top-Chef-watching-mac-and-cheese-eating behavior, but of the giant WOMP WOMP that floated around the room, visible only to me. So I got to work, mining through my Pinterest boards, bookmarks on Instagram, reconnecting with the designer that had gone dormant inside me. I moodboarded, I blogged about it, I had a design existential crisis, I moodboarded some more. And then I arrived. Here’s a reminder of where I landed: Bed | Plug-in Sconce | Nightstands | Cabinet | Dresser | Paint | Mirror | Curtains | Fabric Swatch | Rug | Lumbar Pillow | Duvet Cover | Quilted Set And then guess what happened? I thought too hard about it. Who could blame me, after all? There was NOTHING ELSE TO DO. My eyes started drifting… “oooh look at that neutral room over there” and “wait! Green walls!” and “Am I already tired of peach before I even decided on a peach?” But I do this. I know this about myself, so I forged onward. I ordered paint samples, got them up at my wall, stared at them day in and day out. I played the part of “good designer” and “tested” the paint colors…checked them out at different times of day, held fabric samples up to them. All the while fighting my inner design demons. “What if I end up hating this?” that testy little voice kept whispering, just loud enough not to ignore. “Ah, but what if you love it?” the other little voice said, sometimes louder, sometimes not. Here’s the thing: That moodboard up there. I want to LOOK at that every day. I think if I walked into my bedroom and saw that, I’d think “Oh! So fun!” Fleshy pink wall! Burlwood accents! Rust-colored velvet! Yes! I’d “Pin” that bedroom, absolutely. But when my mind wanders and I stop to wonder how I’ll feel in the room, or rather how I want to feel in the room, I’m conflicted. If I had to pick the one thing the EHD community does best, I’d say it’s helping to psychoanalyze along with the writer to land at the best decision, even if that looks a bit different than where the writer thought they’d end up. So, 600 words in, this is where I ask you for help. I’m going to walk you through a few different versions of my room I moodboarded that I put together to scratch a few itches I had. I needed to know what a full-color version of my room could look like, what a neutral version could look like, and then a middle ground. I’ll explain what I like about each, throw in a little inspo to show you where I’m coming from, and then either convince myself along the way of what direction to move in or plead at the end for your genius advice. Deal? I hope so because that’s precisely what I’m about to do. I hope you’ll come along ::grab’s your hand, giving you no choice in the matter:: and help me answer the big, juicy question: How exactly do you decide between what you want a room to look like/what you want your eyeballs to see, and how you want that room to make you feel, particularly if both of those options are actually very different things? Look, no one said this would be easy, but I hope you’re up to the challenge. I am! Arlyn’s Bedroom: Full-Color EditionHere it is again, so you don’t have to scroll back up: Bed | Plug-in Sconce | Nightstands | Cabinet | Dresser | Paint | Mirror | Curtains | Fabric Swatch | Rug | Lumbar Pillow | Duvet Cover | Quilted Set There is so much about this room that I love. The paint color, which I’m still deciding on, is warm and glowy. The light in my bedroom is so soft and nice that I think a hue like this would look wonderful at all hours of the day. I had the idea in my mind of juxtaposing it with an earthy rust velvet—that bed would be the statement of the room, surely. The fabric would catch the light just so. What’s not to like here? I’ve been staring at this moodboard for months on end, and then I saw this room that Dabito of Old Brand New designed recently and I thought “yes! This is what I’m going for…it works!” (It’s also the space in the lead of this post.) Take a look: His peach is a bit pinker than I’m going for. The white wall appears to be there as a balance, perhaps? In fact, I might like this room even more if it were enveloped in that peachy pink, instead of broken up with the white. This image makes my heart sing. This is who I am in my heart, in my soul. Also, this: My affinity for pink-toned rooms lately catches me by surprise. I spotted this perfect little sitting room over on Bobby Berk’s Instagram account, though it originally was featured in Architectural Digest, and thump thump went my heart again. While anyone who follows me over on my personal blog might know, I’ve been dealing with some personal health struggles lately. I spent the majority of August through December in bed. I did everything there: ate, worked, slept, “relaxed” whatever that means when your body feels like a stranger to you. Being surrounded by boring beige walls, a mess, and not a lick of design can really make you feel even worse, so these happy blush rooms, with their hits of ochre and rust and blue and sage make me feel alive. This is why I don’t want my wandering eye to pull me too far from this, to be honest. It feels good right there in the center of my chest. But the head and the heart can sometimes be at odds with one another. Had I never looked at another photo on the internet, I’d probably already be slathering a fleshy apricot paint all over my walls, waiting on my rust-velvet bed to arrive. There’s something to be said about making a decision and just going for it, surely. However, while I was brushing nice little squares of peach and blush and dusty pink on my walls in the daytime, I found myself regularly bookmarking rooms that had almost no color at all at night. Which brings me to… Arlyn’s Bedroom: Neutral EditionThis bedroom, by Studio McGee, just brings so much peace to me. While my original bedroom design kept the blood pumping through my veins, these lower my blood pressure. Yet ANOTHER little voice in my head says “isn’t that how you want to feel in your bedroom?” Yes, okay little voice, YES. However, it cannot go unsaid that my bedroom has absolutely zero architectural interest (you can see it here). Where the front of my 1920s Mediterranean apartment has plaster walls, arched pass-throughs, coved ceilings and original oak floors, my bedroom has beige carpet, beige orange peel walls, and very standard ceilings. Truly, the only nice thing about the room is the light it gets through the original casement windows. If I go this neutral route, the whole thing may fall flat as adding any kind of molding or paneling to jazz things up isn’t an option (this is a rental…I hopefully didn’t lose you there because I realize I may be overthinking all of this for a “temporary” space; however, I believe in loving the space your in no matter how long or short of a time you plan on spending there). But let’s play the game, alright? Here’s a neutral moodboard option I put together, just to say that I did: Bed | Plug-in Sconce | Nightstands | Cabinet | Dresser | Paint | Mirror | Curtains | Fabric Swatch Color | Rug | Lumbar Pillow | Duvet Cover | Quilted Set I like this. It’s very soothing. I could go to bed and wake up here quite happily, mind you. So could my husband Charles. He’s a factor in all of this (though he likes all versions of these rooms, by the way). A subtle blush on the walls--Farrow & Ball Dimity—just enough color via an ochre velvet I’d use to reupholster an old French armchair I have, mostly neutrals throughout with a grounding mossy green linen duvet. It reminds me of this room I pinned a while back of Molly Madfis’ home that was featured on Camille Styles’ website: Ahhhh…didn’t you just breathe a deep sigh of relief? I sure did. IS THIS WHAT I NEED?!? HALP! Of course, both ends of the spectrum are not the only answer. There is a middle ground. “Arlyn, please say you did a potential ‘Goldilocks’ moodboard!” Why yes, yes I did. Arlyn’s Bedroom: The “Middle Ground”Before showing it, though, I want to share a photo from Brooke Wagner Design that might be that happy place between color-on-color and all-in-neutral: I like this for a few reasons:
So, taking all those things I liked about the above room and marrying them with my first and second moodboards, I get something like this: Bed | Plug-in Sconce | Nightstands | Cabinet | Dresser | Paint | Mirror | Curtains | Fabric Swatch | Rug | Lumbar Pillow | Duvet Cover | Quilted Set Not bad, right? It brings in rust and mustard and ochre and blush, it feels textural but easy on the eye. But…is it just me placating myself? Design doesn’t need to be this heady. I promise you. Had I been designing this space for someone else, I could have helped them decode their innermost desires and delivered a plan on a beautiful burlwood platter. But this is a room I have to live in every day. That I spend so much of my life in. Do I want to feel ALIVE, do I want to keep my pulse at a nice, soft 60 bpm, or do I want a little jig in the ol’ ticker but maybe not enough to feel like I’m being true to who I am as a designer/person? I have a lot to think about, and while I’m leaning toward an answer, I want to pass the mic to you, dear EHD readers. Not really knowing me, but kind of knowing me…what do you see for me that possibly I’m not seeing for myself? Do I design my room for my eyeballs and my heart, or do I design it for deep breaths and my head? So curious to hear what you all think. Who will win? Colorful Arlyn? Neutral Arlyn? Somewhere in the middle Arlyn? Oh and, uh, Emily, when you read this, please feel free to ALSO chime in…you’ve got my number…I expect a text. Opening Image Credits: Design and Photo by Dabito for Old Brand New The post Design Conundrum: Do You Design For What You Want to Look At or What You Want to Feel? Arlyn Explores appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2MqcGTe FOLKS, I HAVE FOUND THE SOLUTION TO YOUR LARGE SCALE ART WOES. (Well, I guess that technically Bowser found the solution – thank you, Bowser – but I want to break it down for you, show you a few of my favorites, and explain why it works.) Now buckle up, because this may be a wild turn for all of you long-time readers, but hear me out: it’s the diptych. GASP! I know. I know! Historically, I have been a little apprehensive when it comes to the diptych – they can be hard to get right – but that’s where the Fine Art Duo (aptly named, TBH) from Minted comes in to play. Guys, these pieces STUNNED me. They’re created by incredible artists – a few of whom I’ll introduce to you below – and the finished product just looks so luxe, expensive, and special. First, though, I want to talk about how my diptych-revelation came to be. We’re long-time lovers of Minted here – you’ve seen them in Arlyn’s home, in Jess’ home, and most recently, in my home – so when they reached out about highlighting their art in a new space, it was perfect timing. We’d long been waiting to shoot Bowser’s guest room/office/gym, but it just needed the finishing touches (i.e. the art. A final zhuzh, if you will.) The spot over the bed had been a particular problem area – it needed something large, but we worried that a solid piece would be too overpowering or fussy. Boswer, the brilliant stylist that she is, ended up selecting this Fine Art Duo (again, somehow feels more fitting than “diptych”) and it really was the finishing touch we needed so we could shoot and share with you. We gave Bowser a gift card, she bought the art to finish the space, and the rest is history. THANK YOU, MINTED. So let’s take a second to break down what changed my mind, why this style of art works in this space, and how it can work in yours, too – ok? So now, I present to you the tiny (but official) breakdown for why this art makes this space sing:
Since I was so inspired by Bowser’s space, I obviously ended up poking around and pinning a few of my favorite works. Here are the Fine Art Duos that I’ll be hoping to use in a future project… (New year, new me, new diptychs.) Rosy Tomorrow I | Rosy Tomorrow II I mean, how could I NOT want these after seeing them styled so beautifully at Bowser’s? They’re calm and serene, especially with that natural wood frame. At The Door I | At The Door II A lot of folks ask about the vintage art that hangs in my dining room, but this has a really similar energy. It’s graphic and interesting but it’s also neutral, which can be hard VERY hard to find. I’d love to see these above a credenza with some sculptural wooden objects on top. Step Up / Step Out I | Step Up / Step Out II Playing around on the framing for this one is SO fun. The work looks totally different and new colors jump out depending on which frame you pair with it. (I am partial to the white, walnut, matte brass, or natural wood option for this one.) Nature, You and Me N.4 I | Nature, You and Me N.4 II This is a great compromise if your partner really wants to hang a Joy Division poster in the record area and you really don’t agree. This duo is bold and tension-filled and dynamic, but it’s also still really light and beautiful and easy to digest. ADD TO CART. Birthday Bouquet I | Birthday Bouquet II How sweet would this be in a (very cool, very stylish) kids’ bedroom? Or in the entryway of a mid-century home that’s filled with beautiful wood paneling? Or in a warm, cozy, rust-colored dining room? I just really like how it’s saturated, but not overpowering. Oh my, I just really like Jennifer Daily’s work! Y’all know I love a collage (like in that Sotheby’s room a few years back, or like the few I have in the mountain house) but these are next level. Just so, so, so interesting to look at. Would be an incredible jumping-off point for those getting ready to start designing a new space! Abstract Botanical Navy Shadows #2 | Abstract Botanical Navy Shadows #1 Oh, modern abstract and a new take on a timeless subject matter. I also just really like the color palette here – the soft baby blue, the deep rusty oranges, and the mossy brown leaves. Would love to see this fully styled out in a really vintage-inspired study or library. Divergent Journey I | Divergent Journey II GUYS. You can actually customize your colors on this one – the above is variant is called “day dream,” but they also offer this work in “rainforest,” “out to sea” (my personal favorite, I think, after a lot of flipping through all the options for a few days), and “sedona.” I’ve just really been enjoying a mountain/nature motif lately and the torn tissue paper is a really light, pretty take on the theme. And there you have it: my transformation from wary to totally-in-love with the diptych, including a brief on how to pull off the look in your home and all the pieces I pinned for future use. As a quick reminder, you can grab pieces from Minted:
Geometric Piece | Portrait Piece | Landscape Piece That’s it from me, a newly changed woman, for today. A million thank yous to Bowser for letting us show off her space, to Minted for partnering with us as the art provider for this room (yes, those 3 pieces above the TV are also from Minted and are linked above!); and to you, our readers and friends, for reading and for supporting the brands that keep EHD running. Thank you. Now, what say you – have you also been sold on the diptych? Let’s chat. xx Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | Design by Emily Bowser The post Our New Favorite Large-Scale Art (Why It Works & 8 of My Picks) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2NyuaNF HI EVERYONE!! It’s been a minute. I am so excited to talk to you about this random room that has taken me So. Dang. Long. to figure out. We are going to talk about its evolution from Psycho Parkway to The Bad Boi Room to The Foster Room to Andrew’s Dungeon to my Recovery Space to its present, multipurpose, hardworking, 100 square foot room everyone (including the cats) want to be in 24/7. Let’s start at square one, the day we closed on the house: And now you know why we called it Psycho Parkway. The footprint of this room has remained pretty much the same. We removed the closet, seen here on the left, in order to make space for a bed in the primary bedroom (my headboard is on the other side of this wall). We also lowered the left window to even them out and replaced them. Other than the living room, this was the only other room with original wood floors and as you can see, not in the best condition (Water damage! Termites! Woohoo!). The drywall had to be removed throughout the house in order to replace all the electrical and install AC/heat. If you haven’t read the financially insane saga of buying this house, you can read it here. The short story is that we were almost completely financially ruined by the “end” of the reno (is it ever really over?). The point is, by the time we were living in the house, we didn’t have ANY money to do, well, anything. Before living here we actually have lived in bigger apartments (square footage wise) but never in a 2 bedroom. We simply didn’t have anything to put in this space. I couldn’t even find a picture of it finished because what ended up happening is, they fixed the floors, closed up the walls, painted them the same color as the rest of the house (Polar Bear by Bher) and we shoved a dresser we owned previously that didn’t fit anywhere else and everything that we didn’t want our cat Puck to get into. This is when the room was dubbed “The Bad Boi Room”. Puck is our difficult baby that we love dearly. He has a lot of…quirks? He’s gotten a bit better with age, but when we moved here he was still pretty young and if he can find even the tiniest piece of plastic, he will eat it, vomit and then pee in/on it. Also he generally will treat anything he can get inside of like a litter box (ask my friend Ashlee who had her suitcase used as one). ALSO any pile of things. Vague, I know. But if it resembles a pile, he would pee on it (ask my friend Jenna, her jacket was tossed on a chair and sort of was like a pile?) They are super fun quirks and only a mother could love him. Truly. Good thing when you move to a new place and nothing can go into your garage that’s flooding, you definitely don’t have any plastic or boxes or piles. You also have a TON of patience when said garage is flooding and you owe your contractor $80,000 and have zero dollars. It was also November of 2016. It was a dark timeline. So, this room became the room we were able to put sh%t in and shut the door – which of course made Puck all the more obsessed with it and he would sneak in whenever possible, all he wanted to do was go in there and be BAD. This lasted…a year? I don’t know, time is weird. Eventually we were able to get one of those pull out couch situations from IKEA and it was a pretty sad, but completely fine guest room. And by guest room, I mean cat room. Cats were the main guests. In fact, we were fostering the best cat in the world in February of 2019 when we used the space (because it was basically an empty room) to shoot a removable wallpaper project for Target. (Sherman pictured in window. He was “the one who got away”. Not literally. He’s happy in a home, just not mine, which is sad, for me.) This wallpaper isn’t exactly my personal style vibe, but shooting in this space made me realize a few things: 1. The more stuff that was in the space, the bigger it somehow felt. I don’t know if I mean literally bigger, but I was surprised by how much could fit in there which made it FEEL bigger, if that makes sense (?). It definitely felt cozier and more welcoming. I wanted to be in it. 2. I really liked that high shelf moment and wanted to incorporate that into my design. 3. I wanted the walls to make a statement like this wallpaper. About a month after the shoot, my husband went freelance and needed a proper office. I had our friend Shade paint the room Laurel Woods by Sherwin Williams which is an INTENSELY dark green. I didn’t know it at the time but it’s also the color of the exterior of the Mountain House. I went. for. it. I had him paint the trim, the inside of the door and the ceiling. My dream was to turn this into a guest room/office/workout space/TV room and it was all in my head. I wanted it DARK for lots of reasons, Andrew likes it dark when he edits videos (he’s not an editor but has to do edit passes regularly), for TV watching, and also I prefer a dark room when I work out (cardio specifically because it makes me zone in). We had to trash the IKEA couch. During the wallpaper shoot it rained, no, it POURED – and my trusty-most-floodingest garage (where we were storing the couch) did its thing and flooded, like, A LOT. On the bright side, this made us have to make some decisions about furnishing the space fast, which isn’t really my MO. I had a vision of this custom wrap around desk that incorporated a bed which we did DIY but then, crickets. 2019 was CRAZY. We produced SO much at EHD AND I finally pulled together my primary bedroom, bathroom, living room, and dining room for reveals. THEN in November, I left EHD to work on Orlando’s HGTV show, Build Me Up, and worked on that literally into the beginning of the pandemic. “THE SHOW MUST GO ON, no, literally it must – we can’t just leave these people without houses!” Cut to me, maskless, going into every store as the world was shutting down. “GET OUT OF MY WAY I NEED THROW PILLOWS.” Ironically, by the time I was in quarantine, we didn’t have any toilet paper. Why I couldn’t navigate my 2 carts full of tchotchkes to the toilet paper aisle? I’ll never know. Suffice to say, the office was pretty low on my priorities. I felt like I was barely home the entire year. Like, I know I slept there just about every night but it really didn’t feel like it. Andrew, however, was home ALL the time and if there’s one thing I’ve learned by being with Andrew since the summer of 2000 (yes, you read that correctly) – Andrew should never, ever, be left to his own devices. No, seriously, forget the before from before and BRACE YOURSELVES. Y’alllllllllll. This is what happens if you let Andrew loose. He brought WFH to a whole new level. I mean, you could spend a long time finding all the gems in this photo, but my favorites include: 1. the robe being used as a window treatment on the left 2. the monster hands on the ground, and 3. the Elvira pin up on the wall. He never turned off that bat light or the red light so when you got up to pee in the middle of the night (the bathroom is directly across the hall) whatever that thing is that’s wearing a fez would stare at you while you were relieving yourself. TERRIFYING. He is constantly creating so that room was pretty much always in a state of chaos even though I made him “pick up” regularly. But I mean, if you can imagine this picked up, it’s still WILD. Rewind for just a sec…another fun thing that happened in 2019 (riiiiiight as I was starting the show) was that I found out I had fibroids. Not your run of the mill fibroids (not sure what that means) but a fruit basket of fibroids. Well, I liked to call them that because doctors LOVE describing sizes as fruit like we’ve never heard of a centimeter before . I had a grapefruit, an orange, a lemon, a kiwi, and a grape. Cute right? (Shoutout to Arlyn for making me go to the doctor!). If you aren’t aware, uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in or on your uterus. Not much is known about why they occur and I won’t get into it because honestly, this isn’t my field and this post is already long enough, but let’s just say gender and race factors around this particular health condition are very much so WHY we don’t know much. Unfortunately, I was one of the women where a myomectomy was my only option. But fortunately, I was able to pull together enough money to pay for my health insurance out of pocket (as I was now freelance). The doctor was all, “Damn. How’d you NOT know about these? They should come out PRONTO” and I was all “Uh. No. Gotta work. V poor. Paying for insurance out of pocket, bought a house, it’s a long story…ALSO DOCTOR HAVE YOU SEEN I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS PREGNANT???? DON’T @ ME”. And then the pandemic started right before I was supposed to take them out (April) which kinda threw a wrench in things. I digress. The reason I’m telling you this really personal information is that knowing I had a major surgery coming up as soon as hospitals weren’t completely overrun made me pull the space together a bit more. A myomectomy has an 8 week ~mostly~ bedridden recovery. You are supposed to move around a little bit after a couple of weeks but you have to be crazy careful. It’s like having a c-section but “worse” (according to the doctor) because you have the incision, plus all the other internal incisions. Ugh. I wish it was socially acceptable to post pics of them, you KNOW I made the doctor take pics. Ok, now I’m sharing TMI just for funsies. I wanted my TV room dream for my recovery where I could watch every documentary on NXIVM and Scientology, take edibles, watch everything vampire (missed the bus a decade ago) and fill my glorious museum on Animal Crossing. Spoiler Alert: I did all those things In a stroke of luck, our former tenants moved out in August and the newbies that moved in didn’t want/need their side of the garage. The words were barely out of their mouths before I started moving Andrew’s office down there. Daffy and I simply cleaned up the space and moved in… At first, it was nothing crazy. Daffy and I made the bed, Daffy and I patched the walls (the monster had used gaff tape to hang things, you can guess how that turned out), and Daffy and I bought this handy dandy bolster off of Etsy. I bought the king size in “Toast”. (Pro Tip: the length of a full mattress is the same as the width of a king bed) and – voila! Take it off for guests to sleep at night and during the day…wait is that why it’s called a daybed? It actually makes a HUGE difference in the comfort level of using a bed like a couch. Highly recommended. Really, and I #paidforthis. During Amazon’s Prime day in mid-October, I finally bought myself a Samsung Frame and we had it installed right in time for my surgery in mid-November (I was very lucky to get in right before the holiday Covid surge). The rest of the room stayed as is and I got to spend a lot of time dreaming up what I wanted to do to the place. Let’s get to some reveals already! OK – so there’s a lot going on in this room so I’ll break it up and go through my favorite parts. The Wrap Around Desk/Shelf/BedRug (vintage) | Chair (vintage | Woven Basket | Wall Color I wanted something that made the most of the small amount of space in this room. It’s a simple construction, doesn’t really warrant a tutorial because it would vary based on the space you have. I used the cheapest wood I could get at Lowe’s (I think it’s pine?), a lot of Matte Black Stain, quite a few L brackets (big ones to hold the desk to the wall and smaller ones to attach the sides and shelves) and some 2x4s to help secure the desk to the wall. I could have bypassed this and just gone for more L brackets but I liked the idea of being able to attach the whole back piece all the way around. In retrospect, not sure if I would do the 2x4s again. It’s definitely secure but maybe overkill? I was making this up as I went so I think there’s better and more refined ways to do this for sure. I decided to make the desk 18” deep (two 9” wide pieces of wood connected to each other) on the right side. The part that wraps around (under the windows) is just one 12” wide piece of wood. The right side ends so there’s about a foot of breathing room for the door to open all the way, which is even with the end of the bed, making the desk/shelf/bed sitch an imperfectly perfect U shape with the area rug (HELLO JEAN PALMER HOME), my $50 vintage chair (that is in desperate need of an upholstery job – recs?), and my “Trashcan” sitting in the center of the U. Table Lamp | Diffuser | Vase | Wooden Tray | Lidded Dish | Knot/Checkered Tray | Stapler | Ladder (Vintage) I put shelves on the right side of the desk (by the door). The top shelf holds the box for the Frame TV, the two other shelves have vintage Hearth and Hand faux leather bins (no longer available) with workout gear in the top one, and our Peloton shoes in the bottom. On the desk, I keep my favorite lamp ever by Human Home. It gives off good diffused light for this dark space and has a built-in dimmer (a must for me). My Terracotta Vitruvi Stone Diffuser is among my favorite purchases for my recovery time. The Grove scent is my personal favorite. (reminder: I #paidforallllllthis) Because of the very limited storage, I keep office supplies in creative spaces. We always say this at EHD, but a good tray is hard to find and this Rounded Wood Tray by West Elm is gooood. It’s a great size, has handles, and the rounded edges gives it that detail that makes it not too basic. Love this Studio Mcgee for Target vase, I use it in practically every shoot I do because it’s neutral, versatile (is it a vase or the perfect crock?), and luckily for you, still available. The Trinket Dish I pulled from my prop collection and it lives here now because it’s so cute while holding receipts that need to be scanned (a regular part of my life). That checkered tray holding my tape dispenser, stapler, and vintage ruler is none other than Tramp Ceramics, as is the knot on the wall hanging above it! Natural Woven Box | Cement Head The “shelf” that wraps under the windows is the perfect side table for the Daybed as well as where I keep my box of small office supplies (extra pens, pencils, erasers, clips, washi tape, etc), my mancala board, and a cement head (obvs). The smokey globe light is IKEA. I’ve had it forever and it’s lived just about everywhere in my house which is good since it’s just a placeholder for a vintage lamp I have coming. The bedframe is the cheapest wood IKEA frame, with stained wood pieces screwed in around the side and bottom, making it look continuous with the desk. It *may* be the Neiden but it didn’t have a headboard at all so I’m not sure? There’s a shelf on the side that is even with the bedframe (so slightly lower than the mattress). I have a stack of our favorite games and puzzles, along with 2 of my favorite Target coiled rope bins. In one I keep extra bedding and the other is a catch-all for things I use on the reg. But when not in use I want them out of sight/mind eg: laptop, iPad, journal, a pouch with misc chargers, and the current book I’m reading (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance if you were wondering). In the back corner of the shelf and on The Citizenry side table on the other side, I have 2 power strips that are running from a plug that is directly in the middle of the bed, behind the bolster and impossible to get to. Honestly, I have to share because having a plug for laptops and a phone charger at arm’s reach is so clutch when there is a sleeping cat on top of you, which for me is basically always. On the side table, I also have a vintage container where I keep the oils for my diffuser and a tray to corral my clickers. The vintage sconce above the side table is actually Sara’s. I had bought my dream sconce, the Le Klint 204 Mushroom Wall Lamp and it didn’t arrive in time. Actually, quite a few things didn’t arrive because of covid/storms across the US, which was sad but I guess it just means I’ll have to do another photoshoot?? Comforter | Stripe Pillowcases | Quilted Sham (similar) | Quilt (similar) | Faux Leather Lumbar As far as bedding, I went with mostly solids with different textures. The grey comforter base is Hearth and Hand. I decided for the shoot to purchase 2 king pillows because I realized that the length of the daybed wanted longer pillows. I purchased these terracotta linen stripe pillowcases to bring a little interest. I thought about purchasing a different quilt/sham set so that both sets of pillows were king, but honestly, I like what I have, they are vintage West Elm and I’ve had them for yearsss. They are no longer available but it’s very similar to this quilt and this sham set from Casaluna. I think because it’s supposed to feel like a couch I don’t mind that there are different sized pillows? What do you think? Should I spend $$ so that they match? My favorite part of the bedding, however, is the throw blanket from heaven. I told Sara that I love it so much that I can’t tell if it is ugly or not, it’s beautiful to me! Of course, we all know and love the faux leather lumbar from Target. Before moving on, I would be remiss to not mention my FULL COVID HAIR. WHOA. I mean, I knew it was intense but this pushed me over the edge. DIY haircut coming to my insta soon! At least I gave you all a middle part that all the young people think they invented… The High ShelfShelf Brackets | Wood Shelf | Planter | Bookend | Potted Faux Eucalyptus Not too much to say here, just that I’m a huge fan of a high shelf, especially in smaller spaces that need storage. I’m about to do something similar in my kitchen. If you don’t have a lot of floor space, go up! I bought three 12” brackets from this Etsy shop (currently partially shut down because of weather) and used a beautiful piece of white oak from Ross Alan Reclaimed, cut it to size (from the corner to the end of the bed), made sure to adhere the brackets to studs because this thing is HEAVY and styled away with mostly books (because I don’t have space for a bookshelf and I have so. many. books. My big trick for this shelf is faux plants. 1. It’s dark in here and 2. That shelf is high – I will for sure forget about any plant that is up there and it will die. The one on the right is this super convincing fake by CB2, the one on the left is real from another part of my house because this one hadn’t arrived from Target. I actually previously owned this Hearth and Hand fake but I had to buy it AGAIN because every time I bring it to set someone wants to keep it because it looks that good. I just cut the hang-y things off and cheated it inside of that same planter. I returned the asparagus fern to my bedroom and the shelf is now safe from becoming a plant graveyard. Cutie bookend by West Elm. Wood object is vintage. Magazine RackI know there are going to be questions. This DIY may be the best DIY I’ve ever come up with and made Shade build for me hahahaha. This was one of the first things I envisioned for the space and it turned out SO DAMN NICE and honestly, I didn’t exactly wield the tools myself but I’m gonna make it seem sooooo easy. These were some of my inspo pics: I had some leather from the Casaluna Shoot That we did at Sara’s a few months ago so I wanted to try my best at recreating something similar. I looked at these pics and I was like, sure, wood? Screws? Nails? Easy enough. And guess what? It kinda was! HOW TO BUILD THE SWEETEST MAGAZINE HOLDER OF ALL TIMEStep 1: Buy wood. I went fancy and bought Walnut wood from my friendly neighborhood Home Depot. 2.5” wide x 0.75” – a few long pieces and one piece of 1.5” x 0.75? (just make sure the pieces are longer than what you need so you can cut them down Step 2: Determine size. For mine, I wanted it to fit nicely between the two windows with a little breathing room – 44”, and I wanted it to be tall enough to hold some larger magazines I sometimes have – 14” Should you do step 1 and 2 be swapped? Probably. This is how we did it. I mean, I had an idea of how long I wanted it *holds arms out* This long! Like I said, making it up as I go (an Emily Bowser Story). Step 3: Cut Wood (see cut pieces above). I had two, 2.5”, cut to 44” for the length. Two 2.5” in cut 13.25” (the 0.75” will be made up by the 13.25” sitting on top of the bottom piece of wood) and one 1.5” cut to 42.5” (this will hold the magazines in at the bottom, sit on top of the bottom piece and between the two side pieces, when next to the side pieces it will be 44” wide. 42.5”+0.75”+0.75” = 44” Stay in school kids! *We used my table saw to cut the pieces. Step 4: Be an overachiever like our friend Shade and lightly sand the pieces before you put them together (I tried to make him skip this step)! He used my orbital sander with a fine grit paper. Should fit together like this! Top and very bottom – 44”, sides – 13.25”, mini piece sitting on top of bottom piece – 42.5” Step 5: Nail gun that ish together! Step 6: Realize Emily’s nail gun is not as nice as your fancy one (speaking from Shade’s perspective) and walnut is HARD. Drive a half-hour home and a half-hour back. Step 7: NOW nail that ish together while Emily runs to the closest hardware store to get wood filler because is it really a DIY project if you only had to go to the hardware store ONCE?? Step 8: Fill nail holes and wait 30 mins or so. Step 9: Lightly sand, wipe with dry cloth Step 10: Oil, you know, if you want. We used Feed-N-Wax Step 11: I found the same nails that I *think* may be for laying carpet. I honestly just liked the look of them, they were matte and raw looking. I checked on a spare piece of wood that it wouldn’t split it, I marked the spot I wanted, pre-drilled teeny tiny holes to help the nail along, and carefully nailed one side of the leather in (I used 2” wide), measured to make sure it was level and nailed the other side in. It’s helpful to have someone to hold the leather taught while you do this. And yes IIIII actually did do this part. Step 12: Carefully drill holes for attaching to wall. We used gold screws I had, with anchors of course, and they blended in pretty well. Step 13: Attach to wall! YAY! Window TreatmentsIf you’re interested in a window treatment tutorial, I may be documenting (made them at night, horrible lighting). They are basically the outside mount version of the ones Orlando made with his mom, and very similar to the ones Julie and I (ok, mostly Julie) made for the mountain house kid’s room but without a liner. They are the same fabric that I used for the temporary wallpaper post and underneath them, I have inside mount, light-blocking roller blinds for when people sleep here or if we are watching TV during the day. The roller blinds are practical, but not cute. When rolled up, the DIY shades act as a valence for covering up the roller blind unsightliness. When down they offer more privacy while still letting light in. Wall DecorAbove the magazine holder, I have a simple wall grid for pinning my REAL LIFE inspo board. I’m a visual person (obviously) and I’m also tactile. I prefer things I can touch to the digital and flipping through magazines and cutting things out that catch my eye is very relaxing to me. I like how the grid disappears into the wall making the clippings look like they are floating. The Gym NookWood Hooks | Bala Power Ring | Yoga Rug Behind the door, I came up with a simple way to store more of my workout stuff. I bought some simple wood hooks and have my resistance bands, yoga rug, and bala power ring (a cute and more versatile version of a kettlebell). It’s nice that it tucks behind the door but I don’t get mad about it when I have to see it either. Little known fact about me, I was a Bar Method instructor for a number of years and actually early in my assisting days with Emily I would teach the very very early morning classes (5:30 WHAT) and then go work on set. The space between the desk and the bed is perfect for teaching myself some classes (with the desk as my makeshift “bar”) or for taking online classes with my former Bar Method bosses who have started their own fitness studio, Chrysalis, when they needed to pivot during the pandemic. I am also a Peloton spokesperson. Well, unofficially, but, I’m open – HMU. We’ve had ours since the end of 2018 because I was looking for something that wouldn’t take up too much space or be an eyesore. It’s one of the reasons that I like the reason the room is dark, the bike sort of disappears. I have a tray that attaches to the top of it and I will free ride and check emails for about 20 mins in the am and then do a quick 15 min climb with my BFFs Ally Love or Emma Lovewell. It’s a good workout, low impact, doesn’t have a big footprint, and isn’t ugly. If you can finance it, it costs less than a gym membership for 2 people (in LA anyway) and ours is now paid off. Wait, MORE ArtOf course, I can’t NOT mention the beautiful Minted art (the only items in this room that were gifted). When picking out this art I had a conversation with my friend Orlando about how and when to choose to have something put on canvas and framed vs not (traditional framed art with glass). I had chosen this art and I felt like I wanted it on canvas but wasn’t sure if that was ok. He gave a simple answer that felt like a “duh” moment but I didn’t think of it until he said it. He said, if framing art that looks like it could be painted on canvas, like this “painting” it makes sense to put it on canvas, whereas if it were a modern print that was obviously made digitally, it should not be. I like that rule but also, rules are arbitrary do what you want Rosy Tomorrow I and Rosy Tomorrow II by Stephanie Goos Johnson I actually have a headboard DIY planned (of course I do) but for now, this diptych is holding its place, because we all know how long I take to get to projects. I think they will just relocated next to the Peloton to pretty up that naked corner in the future. Drop the Ball by Keren Toledano | After the Bath by Patricia Robitaille | Wetland Wall by Field and Sky The other 3 pieces of art in this shoot are also from Minted. My original idea (to cover up the mess that was made of my walls – thanks gaff tape) was to get the Frame TV and surround it with an entire gallery wall full of art, objects, and vintage mirrors perhaps? Because this is my space and I can take my time, I’m using this as an excuse to slowly build a small art collection. Art (and framing!) is pricey though so this will take a while. As my collection grows I will have no problem integrating the gifted Minted art because the colors and textures are very “me”. In the meantime, I’m really digging this asymmetrical look. I feel like it’s balanced with the flowers, knot, and vintage bird ladder on the opposite side but I feel like it may be controversial. What do you all think? Alright friends, it’s been fun. Let’s talk about cats, fibroids, my monster of a husband, Pelotons, cats that (figuratively) got away, fuzzy blankets, the solutions to life’s biggest problems, cults, Vampire Diaries (problematic! But Ian Somerhalder!), mancala and I guess design stuff. Until next time! *Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp The post Emily Bowser’s BEAUTIFUL Hardworking, Multipurpose Room Reveal (+ Get Ready For Her DIYS) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2Mktlrg It might be said that the inspirational design process of this house (and this post) is an emotional convergence of my three biggest interests – history, interior design, and religion. It’s a personal journey that ended in my own Oprah/Tom Cruise/couch jumping ‘Aha moment’ with a few extra excited expletives, and even some tears. I also don’t want anyone to get worried when they see the pics in this post. It’s again a part of the design journey and boy is it interesting! This is just the first of two design direction posts so you can come on the FULL ride with me:) Let’s start at the beginning – well, 5 weeks ago… Five Weeks Ago… What Style Is Our House Anyway??Early on Anne from Arciform informed me that our house was a classic foursquare (a box with two floors – bedrooms on top, kitchen/living on bottom) with a lot of PNW Craftsmen elements. When I sheepishly asked her if I had to stick to the Craftsmen trim/molding, knowing that we had to replace them anyway, she said ‘nope’. As you can see above this wasn’t some architectural masterpiece by one of the greats. It was a wonderful, sweet house with basic finishes of the era (and a lot of updates not original to the house). So while we wanted it to feel era-appropriate, we could also reimagine it. Four Weeks Ago: Our Design Mission Statement – “A Good But Average Saturday Morning – 24/7”Despite my slight attraction towards romantic Victorian everything, this is the Henderson family farm and the foundation and architecture of it needs to feel like “us on an average Saturday morning”, not a Bridgerton corseted ball in the 1890s (that comes in the accessories and novels on my nightstand). We want this house to be full of warm quiet energy, casual finishes, and a lot of soul. We want to feel at ease, relaxed and casual, grounded yet light and airy, with high-quality materials done in a humble way – aka not fancy, but beautifully executed. Three Weeks Ago: “I Think You Want Shaker”Like most of you, I THOUGHT I was highly familiar with Shaker style. But after Anne pointed out that all my ideas were very “Shaker” i.e. simplicity, natural light, interior windows, interior shutters, etc I realized she was right. Two Weeks + 6 Days Ago: Researching The Shakers – A Religious Sect Founded By A WomanI went on a 3-hour wine-fueled research rabbit hole needing to know more, followed by a documentary and many books from eBay. Now as the foremost historian on the Shaker religion, it’s clear to me that not only was the Shaker style already what we were going for, but there is SO MUCH more to that ‘style’ and religion than you would think. It’s not just peg rails, ladder back chairs, and nesting boxes, friends – it goes deep and far beyond all of that. And for a religion that didn’t value beauty, they sure made some stunning architectural spaces. Cliff-notes history coming at you. I was riveted so hopefully you are interested, too. The ‘Shaker religion’ (A sect of Quakers that danced erratically, thus the name) was founded by a woman, Mother Ann Lee. That’s right, a religion founded by A WOMAN… but not without a sad origin story. As a girl, Mother Anne had been forced to marry really young in England (early 1700s) and had four children, all of them died – how they passed is not documented. But I think regardless, we can presume that it was tragic, every. single. time. I’m going to editorialize and psychoanalyze a bit by saying that I wonder if the deaths of her children, by way of an older man, led her to later in life leave the Quakers in England to create a celibate religion in America, dedicated to redemption and repentance, but with no sex and no childbirth. Maybe I’m reaching, but what I really want to do is go back 300 years and give that sweet girl a huge hug and say, “that shouldn’t have happened to you. It wasn’t your fault“. Talk about trauma. If that happened to me I would either do the obvious or start a no-sex/no-birth religion, too. But maybe I’m just projecting. We don’t know too much about her – she never wanted to be documented, by photograph, portraiture, or writing, so we know very little about what a special woman she was to have such a legacy, even if the religion was short lived. A Totally Egalitarian Religion – God Was Both Man And WomanPerhaps despite, or because of what happened to Anne, the Shaker sect was completely egalitarian. First and foremost they believed that God was dual in nature – both a man and a woman. They believed in social, economic, racial, and spiritual equality (they believed that anyone could talk to God, even non-Shakers). They were pacifists, conscientious objectors to war, and total feminists. I suppose if you take away the power of sex and thus the patriarchy that indeed society would feel more equal. HUH. They were 100% communal – shared everything, lived together but separately and everyone worked every day for the common good. Men on one half, women on the other – but designed completely the same (i.e. symmetry + equality). “Hands To Work, Heart To God”The Shakers believed that the harder you worked, and the better job you did at this work, the closer you are to God. Perfectionism isn’t exactly a trait I value, but they strived for perfection not out of personal performance or wanting credit (not one person signed one chair) but they communed with God through their attention to working hard and doing it right. Not unlike many people of their time (reminds me so much of Mormons, holla) they bought very little and made most everything they needed from scratch. Fun facts that impressed me:
What Happened? Where Are Our Shakers??The whole celibacy thing really screwed them, ironically and not surprisingly. Growing their population was always going to be a problem without sex. They adopted many orphaned children (also many widowed dads dropped off kids) as well as wayward adults with whom they gave so much love. But once those kids were 21 years old they left and didn’t come back for the religious part of it. And not shockingly, most men weren’t that into the whole ‘never ever having sex again for the rest of your life’ thing. Then the industrial revolution began and the factories made their goods harder to sell as cheaper products were machine-made so their economy collapsed (Ring a bell?). So basically they just died off (I believe there are two alive now). You can see below how near the end there really weren’t any men left. But Listen…Thomas Jefferson once said, “If the principals they (the Shakers) maintain and sustain were joined with the practical (having sex) it is destined to overthrow all other religions.” The egalitarian, hardworking, and self-reliant principals are obviously awesome and ones that I admire and would love to lean on for our family (and very much like my upbringing). It was utopian yet totally flawed, not dissimilar to a lot of other religions. But listen, that doesn’t mean it can’t still be an inspiration. Its egalitarianism, simplicity, hard work, and joy are pretty great things to bring into our lives and homes. Whatever this is hits me hard in the parts of my brain that hadn’t felt touched in a while – design-wise. I think I need to go back to church. Fine – It’s A Cool/Weird Religion And You Are Still Having An Existential Crisis But What About The Cute Pegs? What Drove The Shakers Design-Wise?The Shakers wanted to create chairs perfect enough for angels to sit on. Literally. How sweet is that? Whey wanted rooms that transformed earth into heaven. They wanted to worship God without ornamentation. I don’t know what I believe but I want chairs that angels feel comfortable sitting on and yes to a ‘heaven on earth’ feeling. These are big goals, and saying they are ‘lofty’ would be an understatement. But when your spiritual and personal worlds combine in the form of designing your home maybe this is a rectification you are ready for? WHO KNOWS, I just love this convergence, and it’s bringing me all sorts of good vibes. Everything Had To Be NecessaryFirst and foremost they were the original American minimalists. Sure other people back then didn’t have “stuff”, but this was their pure intention not just out of ‘lack’. The Shakers rejected ornamentation and didn’t believe in beauty (“beauty was absurd, order was of heaven”). So you’ll see no extra details for beauty’s sake – everything was simple, practical, and had to have a purpose. Abundance Of Natural LightThis is part of the whole ‘heaven in home’ thing. I had already planned a ton of interior windows to bring light into the rooms that don’t get enough so when I read that they were big into interior windows I freaked out. Here’s why – because their homes were also their meeting houses they were really big, but the middle of the house (the meeting room) got very little light. Enter interior windows. I’m a big fan and have used them twice (dining room and our main closet) and planned on a lot of these in the design of the farm before even realizing they are indeed a staple of Shaker design. They also employed windows on the ceiling (yes, that’s right – the OG SKYLIGHTS), So while I was nervous that bringing in some skylights would be odd with the vintage nature of the house, I feel like this gave me permission. Symmetry, Literally EverywhereI love this fact. So the men and women lived in different (but equal) sides of the home so they basically just repeated the halves, mirroring each other. And Symmetry goes along with ‘order’ obviously so they employed this everywhere they could. Painted TrimworkIt seemed most of the color that they brought in was through the trimwork – something I was planning on doing, but in a softer way (with less contrast). You can see up there the doors/peg rail and high baseboard brought in the only color in the whole space. Interior ShuttersThis was another thing that I was already designing into the house, so when I read the Remodelista article that included their use of interior shutters I was so happy/surprised. I’ll be writing all about how and why to do this, stay tuned. I love how simple those are above. Designed To Be Easy To CleanThey designed not just for practical living but focused on how easy it was to clean. This is where the peg rail came in – they could hang their chairs while they swept and mopped. They could hang all their tools to have easy access. By having a peg rail literally around the whole room they could design their cupboards to be hung (so not have to be installed permanently). They even designed many of their dining chairs to be the same height as the table so you can push it in and not have to move around each chair as you wipe. I’ll be honest that I never really designed a house to be easy to clean before because for the last few years I wasn’t the one doing the deep cleaning. I feel like a real privileged dummy, but now that I do all the deep cleaning you bet I’m going to take this into consideration. Muted Color PaletteThey employed all neutrals with varying shades of blues, greens, and yellows to make it feel calm and cohesive. Same! I’ve never ever ever painted with yellows before but I’m like maybe there is a way to bring it in as it’s such a happy color to make sense for our family. Incredible Storage SolutionsALL CLOSED, no clutter (because they didn’t have anything they didn’t NEED). They created so many built-ins instead of furniture to take up less space. Their peg rails even housed their candlesticks and medicine cabinets (something I want to copy for sure). Perfectly Designed Iconic FurnitureThe ladderback chair is certainly iconic and designed and built to be ergonomic in every way. For a group of people who denounced beauty, they sure did make beautiful tables, dressers, and cabinets. And my goodness the railing on their stairs were stunning. Does This Mean You Are Doing Shaker Everything?Nope! It’s an incredible intention and inspiration but I’m not locking myself into it completely. I LOVE LOVE LOVE having this foundational inspiration, rooted in history. It gives a really strong direction that I can go back to with every single permanent decision to make sure it aligns. But I also want flexibility to play with color, other styles, and texture for the rest of my life (or however long we live here). I also need far more comfort than the Shaker furniture can provide. So when I say the house is going to be heavily ‘Shaker’, I’m talking mostly in the architecture and all the permanent finishes – not the furniture or accessories and of course, I’m still allowing myself to have fun anywhere I want to. We have this super quiet foundation of muted pretty tones, a lot of natural light, so much function and practicality. Then I can layer on my pieces that do have decorative details. I mean my art is certainly not ‘necessary’ and my layered bedding for ultimate softness isn’t ‘required’ for sleeping but obviously, our house will be filled with meaningful art and very cozy beds. It’s also just awesome that I have a connection to the style, through the spiritual aspect of it. I’m hoping it can just become this positive guide to make the home what it can be to help my whole family thrive. It’s helping me be more purposeful and always check back with my “intention”. You know how at the beginning of yoga class how they ask you to set an intention, I think that for this house it aligns so much with what the Shakers did – both in how they lived their life and their timeless design. So there you have it – the Hendersons Shaker Farm (with a big dose of eclecticism on top), and you bet there will be dancing, in every form. Stay tuned for inspirational interior photos of what this will actually look like (the research part of this post took over – hopefully, you history enthusiasts enjoyed it), as well as a roundup of Shaker pieces you can buy now, all the other elements (we haven’t even talked about Shaker cabinetry!) and how I’m layering ‘Victorian’ on top of it all. Because if there is one group of people who the Shakers didn’t agree with aesthetically it was the Victorians… THERE WILL BE DRAMA. Opening Image Credit: Image Source The post The First Layer Of Our Farmhouse Style – A Deep Dive Into The Modern Shaker Style To Find Our Design Direction (And Trust Me It’s Not Just Peg Rail) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3dzo4ao Hi everyone! Welcome to another Sunday full of some really great links. But before we dive into it, we wanted to say our hearts go out to everyone in Texas. If you’re looking for ways to help you can click here, which is a spreadsheet via Jessica Yellin’s #NewsNotNoise, on where you can donate and help (plus it’s constantly being updated). Stay safe and know we are sending our love and support xx Now let’s get into the links for this week… Our home tour for this week single-handedly found a tone of purple we can ALL get behind. Not an easy feat. That purple drenched office, by Heidi Caillier Design, made us stop scrolling on Instagram full stop and we knew we had to check out the whole home…little did we know we’d fall in love with the kitchen and bedrooms. Check this space out –– it’s VERY good. From Emily: It’s been a year since a professional touched my hair (I’m planning an appointment soon). Over the summer, I used lemon or sun-in, mixed with the sun, it does work (I know it’s not great for your hair but pretty sure neither is highlighting or going to an indoor salon a few months ago). Then I discovered this product which did make a subtle but noticeable difference and was super easy to use. It’s only for blondes and only for the areas where the sun would hit, but after applying it and blow drying it definitely brightened up the strands around my face that were looking super dull. It only lasted a few rounds and it is pretty expensive compared to sun-in ($28) but I love DP hue’s products in general so I trust it. From Jess: I have found my perfect sweatshirt and it’s only $18!! Why is it my favorite? Well, it’s the perfect amount of cropped (and also doesn’t have that not always flattering waistband), looks real cute a little baggy, soft, comes in a bunch of colors, makes me look cool (at least I think so), and again is only $18! I first bought the gray and then ordered a black and red one:) From Caitlin: I NEED TO SING THE PRAISES OF THE PAPIER WELLNESS JOURNAL. I just got another one of these – in snake print, if you must know, though I did consider bright marble or this minimalist colorblock – and I love them so, so, so much. There’s a two-page spread for every day with sections to track your sleep, your water intake, your mood for the day, meal planning, self-care goals, intentions, gratitude…IT’S ALL IN HERE. These journals have been so good for my mental health and I’m in love with all the new designs and GAH. 10000000/10! PS. I also ordered these fine liner colored pens to test out since I left most of my gel pens in LA – ew I’m so sorry for recommending pens this many times this year – and the 5 star reviews all speak for themselves. So bright, so fine, so beautiful!!! (I wonder if I’d have a boyfriend if I actually left my house and stopped writing sentences like that about pens every week!!) Also From Caitlin: Does anyone have a recommendation for a super-hydrating daily body moisturizer? I use this one right now and I loooooove it, but it also has retinol in it so I try to only use it at night, which isn’t super convenient as I’m normally a morning shower gal. (Also it feels kind of expensive because I am a dry AF and my body just soaks up all lotion instantaneously like an old, cracked, tough sponge so I think I need a bigger container. #beauty) I love butters and am open to any scent – please advise!!! From Mallory: I’ve been on a major hunt to find “my scent” for over a year now. I thought I had the perfume of my dreams locked down into place (and I do still use it often because it’s really the most fabulous smelling perfume), but apparently, it’s HIGHLY well known…you guessed it…it’s Santal 33 by Le Labo… if you google the word “perfume” it’s like the first or second one to come up so that’s how you know. I thought I didn’t care that it was “basic” and I was fully prepared to make it “my scent” until a year ago when I was at a bar (remember those?) and I met this cool girl standing next to me (remember friends?). She was one of those really cool girls that for some reason you desperately want to like you upon meeting. The first thing she said to me was “omg is that Santal 33 you’re wearing??” I was like “yes it is!” and then she said, “I used to wear that but then I realized everybody had it so I switched to a different Le Labo perfume.” I was like okay, that’s a little backhanded and I KNOW she didn’t have bad intentions, but I’ve never felt the same about wearing Santal 33 ever since that fateful night. I guess it’s a good conversation starter? Regardless I’m moving on and the hunt to find my new sent has been in full swing. I’ve been trying out lots and lots of perfume samples, but none of them have felt right. I’m discovering that I’m a sandalwood or cedarwood or some kind of wood girl, because I want to smell a lil smokey & sexy versus super floral-y and sweet. I recently got this perfume sample in the mail with one of my skincare purchases and was SHOCKED at how good it smells. I spritzed it all over my body and then all over my house because I think I love it. Then when I went to check out the price I was like ouch…is it worth it?? I’m gonna keep wearing this sample for a few days to see how I feel about it before I pull the trigger, and of course, I wanted to get your valuable opinions first. Has anyone tried this perfume??? Do you like it? What other perfumes should I try if not?? Thanks everyone for coming to my ted talk. From Ryann: I wish I had this painless hair remover in my life when we did our recent skin care essentials post because it has become the MOST important step in my routine. It is not your typical skin care tool but hear me out. Usually, when my mustache starts to get out of hand I run to the nearest drug store and buy these waxing strips which A) hurt and B) irritate my skin. That is all in the past my friends since my future MIL introduced me to this baby. It has a circular electric razor that removes hair so flawlessly and doesn’t tug or hurt AT ALL. I don’t need to use it every day, don’t worry, but I like using it at least once a week because I recently heard that electric razors like this one are also great for removing dead skin! Thanks for joining us this week and listening to our rants and reviews. We’ll see ya tomorrow Opening Image Credit: Design by Heidi Caillier Design | Photo by Haris Kenjar The post The Link Up: Emily’s At-Home Hair Coloring Product, Jess’ Favorite Sweatshirt (Psst It’s $18), And The Non-Painful Hair Removal Tool We’re Obsessed With appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2MglnPW |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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