As I sit on my bed writing this, I am reminded how fortunate I am to have this space that acts as my own personal oasis. Quarantine, if nothing else, has opened my eyes to how much peace a bedroom can bring. Now more than ever comfortability and security have been top of mind and what is more comforting than a bed?? I can’t summon a better comparison (though my boyfriend will argue that’s because I love sleep more than the average adult human. OKAY FINE. Sue me). But nevertheless, I know I am not alone because today EHD is all on board to talk about the best and most fun part about designing a bedroom. These are our dream bedding combos and I would gladly cuddle up in every one of them. But first, if you’ve ever wanted to know Emily’s everyday bed styling techniques (I know I have) this video will give you the inside scoop: Emily
I love my bed and bedding, so I’m just going to recommend what I have up here at the mountain house. The pillows and duvet are my favorites in weight and fluff (they are fluffy but really squishy so they look big and full but really aren’t). Brian likes pillows that are like 4 years old and lumpy…. So we don’t need to talk about them. I love this quilt, it’s so soft and that punch of color makes me really, really happy. I definitely pull it up in the middle of the night when I get chilly. And lastly, if we are talking about bedding we might as well talk about pajamas too. You guys know I love a pajama set and this one is my absolute favorite (so thin but not see-through, drapes really well, easy to layer, doesn’t cut-in and so cozy. I wear it year-round). Sara
I was super excited for this assignment, mainly because I love bedding. But I didn’t really know where to start, so I started combing through my recent bedroom pins to see if there were any trends I was subconsciously into. Turns out that trend is neutral bedding – are we surprised? NOT REALLY. But one thing that did surprise me was that a few of those pins had a trendy new color popping up – rust. So I used that as much starting point. Bring in a rust piece, and build around it with softer neutrals. I call this look the muted graphic. I personally abhor stonewashed linen on my bed – I’ve had it before and it’s so heavy and stiff. And I need my bedding to be soft and instantly warm, so I went with soft wrinkle friendly cottons, and warm gauzy materials in my dream bedding board. Veronica
Ok after seeing all that, you are probably thinking “whyyyy so much white?” and it’s because my room is literally a black hole (not literally, but you get it. It is very dark in there most of the time and my roommate jokes that “we live in darkness”), and I would love nothing more than to give it more life and light with a brighter color palette. I have no windows in my room, only one door out to the balcony, and it can get a little doom and gloom sometimes, ya feel me?? The reason I picked this color combination/inspiration is because I am super into the Boho style of rooms and my current room is the exact opposite (I mean how cute is that winky pillow?! It’s giving me major Parisian Cafe vibes. And the orange fringe blanket?! Come onnnn). Even though I am a very warm sleeper as I’ve discussed before, I still love to cuddle up with blankets when called for; Hence, why I have two very fun options! My color pallet right now is pretty dark and I think it’s time to change that! The Boho style is super vibrant and cute, and I need something that’s going to add some sunshine to my day the second I wake up to get me going. And yes, I do plan on getting hanging plants to bring in even more life Jess
I know that my inspo pic doesn’t look a ton like my actual combo. To be honest, I don’t particularly love a lot of the pieces in the photo itself. However, I love how I feel when I look at it, which sometimes is just as much of an inspiration starting point as what your inspiration literally looks like. Fun fact: I actually pinned this photo years ago and still have the same feeling every time I look at it. What feeling is that? Happiness. I loved the array of colors, the unexpected mix of styles and overall personality. Plus I really love that mustard comforter. So for my combo, I kept the mustard color but toned down the other colors to make it feel more modern. I wanted it to feel layered, cozy and not too serious (but still cool). I also made sure to play with pattern scale so it had a balanced visual dimension. I think my favorite piece is that burgundy and blue throw because it’s basically a large scale gird (a pattern that I am very much still in love with:)). Julie1.Cultiver Linen Duvet Cover Set in Bluestone | 2. Printed Cotton Percale Sheet Set | 3.Urban Outfitters Slip Eye Mask in Caramel | 4. Rory Tufted Throw Pillow |5. La Duna Lumbar Pillow | 6. Round Velvet Cushion | 7 .Slowdown Studio Arthur Throw | 8. Waffle Black and White Throw After I finished picking everything out I realized that this bedding combo is VERY similar to the one I already own but like someone turned up the saturation. So I guess we all know for sure now that when it comes to bedding I love some green, mixed with a graphic throw and a neutral lumbar pillow. Hey, at least I added that pop of yellow and burnt orange in the throw pillows (see it’s “new” Jess, so don’t make me re-do it cause it’ll probably be just a crazier variation of this one). When I start to design I don’t really like to begin with an overall inspiration photo of a room. I will get too stuck on the details of that space comparing it to my own and then get disappointed if I can’t find something as cool (because of budget) or don’t have the room. Like my own bedroom design, I like to start with an individual piece for the inspiration and in this case, I bet you can tell which object I gravitated towards first. If you guessed that amazing graphic throw from Slowdown studio then you just won a virtual hug from me. Ryann
As I was scrolling through my Pinterest board looking for bedding inspiration, sitting amongst way too many all-white and neutral bedding combos (am I really THAT boring??) was this rustic Spanish room. This was the only photo I could find that felt calm, cozy, but also full of life which is exactly what I want in a bedroom. I am extremely attracted to the lazy yet sophisticated look of it. The color palette + how the sheets are wrinkled and the pillows are not perfectly arranged makes me so happy. Someone LIVES in this room and gives it the love it deserves. Needless to say I want my bedroom to look and feel exactly like this, so I did my best to create a bedding combo that accentuated what I love about this room. I needed pops of color with whites and neutrals sprinkled in for that added layer of coziness. I also chose products with different fabrics and textures so it would feel natural and “lived in”. That is all we have for you today. Now we all want to hear from you. Do you love pulling together fantasy bedding combos as much as we do or are we complete interior design nerds who have nothing better to do? What other fantasy pairings would you like to see from us in the future? Meet us in the comments and let’s talk all the best cozy bedding. xx The post All The Bedding Combos EHD is Coveting (And Some Products We Have And LOVE) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/33Xd93B
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Caitlins Minimalist Maximalist Makeover Takeover Style Intro Things Are About To Get COLORFUL3/31/2020 We are getting WEIRD and BRIGHT today, folks. It’s the introduction to my MOTO and an overview of my interior style, which I’ve hereby deemed “Minimalist Maximalist.” Also if you don’t know what a MOTO is, it’s short for MakeOver TakeOver. The basic gist is that each member of the EHD team gets to design their homes and show them to you on the blog. It’s truly the coolest. Now back to me explaining my style:) Minimalist maximalist isn’t sparse, but it’s not cluttered, either. What it lacks in stuff, it makes up for in color, shape, and texture. It’s clean and bright — a little space age and a little 80s, with some geometric and biomorphic shapes, peppered in for good measure. I’m going to walk you through what makes the minimalist maximalist style work, how I’m planning to implement it into my own home, and why you should hop on the color lover train with me But before we get into all that goodness, I want to take a second to transport you to my childhood bedroom in Wilmington, Delaware. Yup, here she is — painted in 2004 and lived in through 2009. This is my stylistic rosetta stone. Don’t adjust your monitors — that is, in fact, a chartreuse wall that has been paired with pink and orange stripes. And guys — this was the COMPROMISE. (I can’t even begin to describe what my original paint plan was!) If you’re thinking, “wow, that definitely wasn’t even a little bit cool back in 2004,” you’re definitely right. If you’re thinking, “WOW, Caitlin’s mother is an earthbound saint for not painting over that immediately when Caitlin moved out 11 years ago,” you are RIGHT AGAIN. But despite my questionable (read: horrible) execution, a lot of these stylistic elements still ring true for me: I love brights (and I’m about to show you the adult version of this color palette), I love simple basics (hello, classic 90s wicker bedroom set), and I love timeless patterns (stripes and florals, though I now aspire to mix them in a way that won’t make you grimace when you see it — time will tell). I am nothing if not consistent. Enough about me. LET’S GET INSPIRED. Minimalist MaximalistHere it is: my OG inspiration. The photo that launched a thousand pins. Recognize that color palate? It’s almost like what I could have achieved if I had any stylistic inclinations when I was 14. I’ve consistently revisited this house tour over the past 3 years and it’s ignited a DEEP LOVE of low, chunky furniture and burl case goods. The surfaces are clean (a dream to dust!) and there’s a ton of consistency in the choice to use solid velvets across all of the seating. If you reimagined this space in all neutrals and pale beechwood, it’d be an 80s-inspired Scandi hideaway, but the super-modern color palate bumps this straight into maximalist territory. Historically, my number one mistake has always been shoving TOO MUCH furniture into my space. That’s what I love about these pieces: they’re so special that you don’t need to crowd them. (They’re also so inherently weird that they also lend themselves to easy risks — who knew I’d love an off-centered rug so much?) My true MOTO challenge: figuring out how to capture this vibe on a regular person’s budget. (Because despite my deepest wishes, rugs and chairs like that do not just show up on Craigslist or at the flea market.) When you start a MOTO at EHD, you pin wildly and haphazardly until you start to identify some key trends and repeating elements. A truly shocking repeating element for me? PINK CARPET. I’ve spent my whole life thinking I’m a hardwood girl — I was wrong. Who knew? But here, we have another minimalist space that’s also doing THE MOST. The velvet chairs, the geometric lamps, the cylindrical table legs — I love seeing basic shapes combining in a way that’s fresh and new. Bold ColorYou knew it was coming — we established our baseline for “Minimalist Maximalist,” so we’re amping up the saturation now. (Side note: there’s another pink rug, y’all! The true value of pinning is picking up on these weird nuances in your tastes, I swear.) Something I totally love: bold color without pattern. We’re getting enough texture from the coffee tables (ugh, even the books are color-blocked, swoon) and the shutters that it doesn’t feel totally one-note. I’m working on something similar to this for my bedroom (but maybe toned down, a little, because…sleeping). I love this apartment because it feels the most achievable, especially when I consider the pieces I already have. Everything in this shot has breathing room (remember, that’s my struggle) and the home just looks fun. The end tables aren’t crowded, it looks like swiffering would be a breeze — it’s special and comfortable and maintainable, which is my true goal. The key to playing with color like this is sticking with things that are similarly saturated — if you’re going bold, stay bold. If you’re going dusty or pastel (like the room 2 photos above), try and keep the rest of your large pieces in that same family. Weird, Whimsy, and Biomorphic ShapesMinimalist maximalist isn’t ALL just open space, bright colors, and geometric furniture — it’s also the special extra pieces that give a room life. There are a lot of things that could have been paired with this bookcase, like a gallery wall or a collection of plants. I love the choice to keep it simple — the sole piece of hanging art balances out the shelves below and gives room for the giant tulip to shine. This one is a GOODIE. The color palette is a little more refined (a welcome reprieve for all of you who are like, “wow, I can’t believe I’m looking at THIS MUCH NEON before 8 AM”) but BOY, I’d be lying if I said my heart didn’t stop any time I see a special chair. Plus, as the resident of a classic LA 1930s art deco building (moulding and a non-working fireplace for DAYS, y’all!), it’s nice to see how such modern pieces can play with some timeless architecture. And now for a tonal version of minimalist maximalist, featuring a jaw-dropping light fixture. This room is already STUNNING, but now imagine it with a more standard mid-century globe chandelier — it wouldn’t be nearly as special. These biomorphic pieces just finish the space. …and Accent Ceilings?And now that you’ve seen my childhood room and my inspiration, it’s not surprise that I’m a sucker for a striped accent ceiling. (“Stripes? For Caitlin? Groundbreaking” – me, to myself, as Miranda Priestly.) The photo on the left is a little more traditional maximalist and the photo on the right is a little more earthy, but WOW, what an impact. My living room wasn’t built with any overhead lighting, so it’s basically like I have to paint an accent ceiling, right? THAT’S IT, FOLKS. Welcome to the crazy world of minimalist maximalist interior decor. Over the past few years, I’ve slowly but surely collected some key furniture pieces that have begun to transform my apartment into the grownup version of Toontown. I can’t wait to show you how it looks in a regular person’s house (especially after being assembled on a regular budget). But now, I’m curious — what are your thoughts? Is this TOO much color for you? (Or, conversely, do you wish there was more stuff a la traditional maximalists?) Did these spaces brighten up your morning? Let’s chat! The post Caitlin’s Minimalist Maximalist Makeover Takeover Style Intro – Things Are About To Get COLORFUL appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2ygXY9u Now that we’re spending so much time inside, we are confronted, face to face, with our own disgustingness. (Showering with disappointing frequency? Same here. Eating cheese straight out of the bag? Thought it was just an archetype, but nope, here we are…) But today, I want to shift blame and focus on something else: our cats’ disgustingness. Unless you’re one of the few who have trained your cat to use a toilet (which, I know you can do, but HOW?), you probably have to deal with the litter box and all the grossness that inevitably comes along with it. But honestly, it’s not the litter — it’s the aesthetics of this gray, lumbering, plastic monstrosity. It’s just…so THERE. All the time. Today, we are going to work together to tackle this problem. Here’s the truth: this is a new annoyance for me. I adopted my cat, Buffalo, nearly 7 years ago and have never had an opinion about her litter box — I’ve always acknowledged it as a necessary evil and tolerated it as one of the things that just goes along with cat ownership. But y’all, I now desperately need some help because I AM NOW LOOKING AT THIS BOX ALL THE TIME. I know someone out here has a smart fix that I can implement and I WANT YOUR HELP. This is it. Welcome to my kitchen — linoleum floor, 1930s cabinets (nothing says “vintage LA apartment” like 90-year old doors that don’t close), tile countertops, and my new nemesis: the litter box. This is truly the only spot in my house where I can keep it — and size-wise, it does feel like a perfect little alcove — so I’m trying to make it work. But here’s the root of my problem: when I walk into my kitchen now (which is probably about once every 30 minutes, if I’m being honest), it’s ALL I can look at. It simultaneously takes up too much space (it sticks out a little, length-wise) and not enough space (there’s a ton of room on both sides). I need your help here because it feels so easy and fixable and I just want to cross SOMETHING off my to-do list. Here’s what I’m considering:
In an effort to solve this conundrum, I asked some fellow cat owners from team EHD how they manage their litter (read: I wrote a bunch of complaints about it in Slack and asked someone to figure out a fix) but it turns out that we all have our struggles. (Just like everyone else, baby!) Sara“I truly CANNOT believe Caitlin convinced me to take a photo of my current litter box situation and then post it on the internet for everyone to see. There are at least 10 different health code violations happening in this corner of my house, and about 7 of them are related to the color palette of my kitchen. Do we think it’s disgusting to have our litter box in our kitchen? Yes. Do we think it’s even more disgusting to have our litter box under our open pantry? Extremely yes. But where else does it go? In our living room? Our BEDROOM? We’ve no room for it in our bathroom. We also have the fun chore of figuring out where to hide a second litter box, because we have two cats (the second one is currently in our empty master bathroom, which is literally just a box with subflooring and drywall). HELP.“ Veronica“My roommates and I were very lucky to find an apartment with an enclosed balcony even though we didn’t have the plan of getting a cat when we moved in. We adopted our sweet lil’ kitten about a month ago and keep his litter box on the balcony. My roommate and I share the balcony and both have doors that lead out there, so one of us always keeps a door open so he can access it. Pros are that it is out of the way and any litter that gets out of the box is already outside. Cons are that the second we go to clean that baby, the smell hits us HARD. “ Emily’s Solution“Now I, Emily, was able to customize a piece that worked about 50% better than a normal litter box, but the flap didn’t work and inside that cabinet, the litter collected everywhere. Sometimes Bear would just get lazy and pee on the floor, basically ruining our cement tiles. It is a fancy solution that I liked because we didn’t have to look at it, but it wasn’t a perfect solution. “ “In our last house it was in that small closet in the middle of the hallway, making it basically a poop closet and we had to keep it open all the time (we could have/should have just put a cat door on that I realize now). But we sacrificed a whole closet AND the litter would get all over the hallway as they would hop out which was the more disgusting part. Now, I personally think that Caitlin should build that breakfast table and I actually love her tension rod ” curtain” idea underneath. There is something really cute/funny about a cat having to go behind a curtain to use the restroom.” Ok, it’s Caitlin again. As Sara embarks on her kitchen remodel and I stare aimlessly at the gray plastic lump in my kitchen, what is actually our best option? (Any time I write a question like this, I feel like Carrie Bradshaw.) Should Sara consider building a permanent litter cabinet in her next pantry? Should I consider trying to build a longer version of Emily’s custom piece (maybe it could be a window seat, albeit a narrow one)? THOUGHTS? At the end of the day, there is so much I will endure for my cat — I will pick up tumbleweeds of fur; I will embrace her preternatural ability to shed the tightest-woven upholstery fabric; I will cheer as she channels her inner Usain Bolt at 2 AM and employs my home as her track (though I am kind of starting to understand the impulse, TBH). But this is litter problem is so SMALL and fixable and I think changing something will actually make me happier. Please advise. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. (And also thanks to Emily, who let me hijack her blog for an afternoon so I could crowdsource opinions. There’s no one I’d trust more to design AND decide than y’all :)) Buuuut if you are also at your wits’ end and are looking for a quick and easy solution, here are some pretty stellar options that Emily and the team rounded up:
The post Where Do You Put Your Litter Box?? appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3ayiVey In the spirit of shaking up our visual sameness, I am craving spaces that are inspirationally weird, and yet doable. I want approachably odd, refreshingly brave, with some risks taken that can take me on a fantasy during these lock down times. We shot this house for Styled, and you may have seen some of the photos but never seen it all together. It’s the former home of vintage picker Mike Andrews. It’s a loft apartment that looks 100% personal and yet totally timeless (HOT LIFE TIP – when it’s personal it’s always timeless). I love a creative non-designer’s home because there is a level of brave risk-taking that can easily be trained out of a “Professional Designer” in the name of function and sophistication (speaking from personal experience, I assure you). So while we all can’t go out to thrift and garage sale search right now (although Chairish, Etsy, eBay, and Instagram are all up and running), we can get some visual fantasy going to keep our eyes interested during this monotony. So Jess is going to walk you through what Mike did RIGHT, how this loft looks interesting but not insane, and the style risks taken that succeeded in making this space worth looking at 5 years later. Ok, so this apartment is nothing but visually exciting. It’s beautifully chaotic, yet with everything having a specific place and working together harmoniously, not chaotic at all. How? Well, there are a lot of things that Mike did right. He kept a relatively tonal color palette with pops of bright color, LOTS of visual texture and seamlessly mixed in different styles of art and furniture like a true vintage ninja. However, there is one main element above all that makes this home, work… That “element” is his incredible array of collections. From art pieces to objects, this house is full of “visual abundance”. I’ll explain what I mean in a second. Yes, when you want your home to be filled with your timeless treasures, the best way to show them off (in a way that will be impactful and not look like disorganized random clutter) is by displaying them in bulk. Think Costco but if Costco was a beautiful vintage heaven. Side note can we first applaud that adorable little easel (it’s so cute it hurts). Then we need to seriously high five him (high five? What am I bro now?) that he not only put those mini 3-D busts in those cloches but also chose art with a different “type of bust” in the two lower pieces of framed art right behind them. It makes it feel so cohesive, multidimensional and very cool. Now for some food for thought. When you go to a flea market or thrift store there is that moment when your eyes pop out of your head because your brain is overloaded with the joy that can only come from vintage decor shopping (in person). And at these flea markets and thrift stores, vendors typically display their goods in collections of similar items. It’s that intense sensory stimulation that you want to be able to bring back into your space. The sad part is you usually don’t because you will likely only buy “one cool decorative plate” instead of the whole set. Money sadly does not grow on trees, as I have been told my entire life. But I am still crossing my fingers for it to one day reveal itself to us so all of us so we can buy the whole set if we so choose. This theory is not mine. So back in November, I was listening to a Goop podcast episode with designer, Ingrid Fetell Lee (yes, I am one of those annoying people that refer to podcasts WAY too much). She and Elise started talking about this idea of sensory stimulation and visual abundance. All of a sudden it all made sense! How many of us have gone to the flea market and grabbed a special but simple little object only to feel a little less in love with it when you got home? Ya, me too. Likely the reason why was the “visual abundance” of the collection of those objects ALL together made you feel overjoyed and is actually why you fell in love – it was the collection, not the individual object. I bet you didn’t expect us to get this deep with a house tour, did ya? Well, don’t worry the theories are done and now let’s just focus on this incredibly unique home again.
Hot Tip
When you have a lot of collections in one space consider displaying them in grids like Mike did all over his loft. This way you still get to show off your treasures but they will look less visually chaotic. Another reason why this home and its collections work is because almost all of them have an old world feel even if they are actually new world. That could be the shape, material, an/or patina. Em has this general rule/belief that anything can stylistically go together if they live within the same color palette and the materials speak to each other. Honestly, I think this a big ingredient in the secret sauce of her success. A room will look far more interesting and special if you play with styles that “don’t” traditionally go together. One example in this home is that beautiful, traditional dresser placed next to that giant red toothbrush. Unlikely friends? Sure. But does it look so fun and cool? “Yes. yes. A thousand times yes!” The moral of the story is that homes filled with personal treasures take time to create. But that is also the beauty of designing your own space. It’s always evolving and becoming more you as you change and grow. The important thing is to take risks (why not?! buy the toothbrush!) and if you want to start some collections be intentional about them. This way, someday when you walk into your home your eyes pop out of your head because your brain is overloaded with the joy. Once again normal is boring, let’s get weird. So the real question is WHAT COLLECTIONS DO YOU HAVE? Do you plan to start one now? What are the little things that make your heart skip a beat? Do you agree with the “visual abundance” theory? I want to hear all about it. Love you, mean it. **Styled by Scott Horne and Me The post A Totally Thrifted (and Weird) House Tour Full of Fantastical Style Risks appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2wMdQR2 Our Personal Design Projects What We Are Designing Styling Or Redoing In Our Own Homes This Weekend3/29/2020 Just because our bigger design projects are currently halted, does not mean that we aren’t working on personal projects – stuff in our homes. I was so curious about what my team was planning to restyle and/or design and figured if I was curious maybe you would be, too. There is no weekend requirement to design their homes, but as editors and designers for a design site, you can imagine it’s a hobby of all of ours. So here is what the EHD design and editorial team is up to in their homes. Me. Emily HendersonAt the mountain house there isn’t too much to do design or style-wise (at least not that doesn’t require shopping and its too cold to start the deck or landscaping). All I do is cook, clean, craft, clean, play, clean, etc. But I have been hoarding this chair for a couple of years, so I had Brian bring it up the last time he ran home to get “supplies” (a much needed 5 hours of car time alone). I have a bunch of vintage fabric and while I don’t want to waste the really good stuff on a chair that I don’t even know where it will go, I might do it out of sheer boredom. I’ll story it, don’t worry. JessOk here is my super real, pretty sad “bedroom”. I feel naked on the internet showing it off. Once again, I am one year and one month out from my first reveal. HOW?! Wasn’t it last week? Well, it wasn’t and due to a little self-design burnout, self-imposed expectations and a lack of funds, I have still not designed the other half of my apartment. I know, I broke my promise that it would be done with the year. But guess who has all the time in the world now?? Ya, it’s me. So aside from the potential monetary issue with some likely necessary custom elements (why do I insist on doing this to myself?) I am going full force and letting my creative juices flow. There will be a fun and pretty blog post on what I’ve decided/choosing between. Maybe I’ll do an ask the audience! Lord knows I am indecisive. MalloryFEAST YOUR EYES. This is the first time you’re seeing my MOTO in any form and I could not be more excited to be sharing this little moodboard with you all. As you can maybe tell by this photo of me lovingly staring at my computer screen, this is my baby. Let me give you the backstory for how it was conceived. My boyfriend Chase and I (this isn’t a “birds and bees” conversation, I swear) moved into a small studio apartment located LITERALLY on the walk of fame. It’s aggressive but convenient and there’s something magical about having Michael Buble’s star as your front doormat. This is our first “real” apartment (aka the first apartment we’re ready to invest time and money into), so we’ve detailed out every inch of our apartment via Google Slides and this is a very small sneak peek into that incredibly complex and time-consuming process which I can’t wait to show you more of. I know what you’re thinking. A studio apartment? With your boyfriend? How are you going to add TWO different styles/personalities in one place? I know that probably wasn’t actually the first thing that came to mind, but it felt like a good transition sentence for what I wanted to say next. Here’s the great news, we don’t really know WHAT our styles are yet since we’re sort of new to this whole thing, but we do know one thing: we are obsessed with the vibe of Palm Springs. SPECIFICALLY, The Parker Hotel. It’s what set it off for us (Jonathan Adler is my life motto and has been since I was little). Then we saw the Sands Hotel and it was over. We needed to inject this vibe into our space. You’ll see more inspiration photos and my reasoning for all this in my MOTO intro coming soon, but for now, here’s a look into our little escape from Hollyweird wrapped up in a 500 square foot studio apartment. Alright, onto the next project! CaitlinHonest truth: NONE of my apartment is designed and it’s kinda overwhelming when I think about how to start (WHERE DO I FIND MY “JUMPING OFF POINT,” YOU GUYS? What if I’m constantly oscillating between “I have great basics” and “I need to burn everything down and start again”???) So I decided to tackle my smallest space with the hopes that I’d get some momentum going. First up is my balcony, which poses a fun (read: awful) challenge because 1. It looks like a prison, 2. I have no privacy (hello, drive-thru!), and 3. I have a screen door that opens outward into the space and leaves about…none inches of clearance. My original dream was to center a lil sofa and face it towards the apartment, but OOF, the door kinda kills that hope. Maybe I should just take it off? Alternatively, I’m thinking about building a shelf like this for my plants OR putting a trellis up to get some privacy, but I’m worried about losing light (and I have super strong eastern sun in the AM, which basically fries all the kinds of plants that would actually work on a trellis). IDK. Please help if you have any balcony experience (especially if yours is also of the 1930s cage persuasion). This one’s about 10’x3′ and I’d appreciate all the guidance I can get. RyannI can’t tell if I love our front door or absolutely hate it. Part of me loves it because it presents the only architectural charm in our entire space. But the color is this dark almost purple-y wood that I am not a fan of and the stained glass is dated as hell. PLUS, the painters were not very meticulous when painting our place, and did get a decent amount of paint on the door frame and door. So, I talked to my dad about it (he is a contractor and has his own construction business so having him in my back pocket is a real godsend) and he informed me of a few things: 1. We’re renting, so replacing the door would be costly and (perhaps) stupid. Also, the landlord would have to approve. 2. You can’t replace the stained glass in this type of door. Great! Everything is going as planned. It’s safe to say I am not going to replace the door but I would like to get rid of the paint drips at the very least. My dad ordered me to sand and then stain it with a wood finish. Pft, construction is EASY. But, my other problem still remains unsolved. I really want to somehow update the stained glass. Does anyone know how to do this? Or are there some innovative ways I can cover it up? Do I put another stained glass over it?? Do I put art over it?? Please send help. SaraIf you saw my living room and dining room reveal last week, then you’ll remember these shelves. But they’re looking a little different these days. Why? Well, when Mac (my boyfriend and co-homeowner) first saw the shelves his response was “they’re very… neutral.” YES THEY ARE, AND I LIKE THEM THAT WAY. Apparently, though, when you share a home with someone the styling has to reflect both of you at least a little. So we’ve been incorporating more of “Mac” into the house as we pull more of our old stuff from out of the garage. Which means our shelves are getting bigger doses of color and personality. We’ve also brought in a console and added Mac’s record player into the living room. Listen, I know a few of you are going to be all “oh, but I actually like them better now! With more color and personality!” *narrow eyes in your direction* How dare you side with Mac. After all our time together? In truth, the shoot and reveal really reflected more of “me” and not a whole lot of Mac, and I want him to love where he lives as much as I do. So compromises must be made, and neutral styling must be sacrificed, and I suppose no one will suffer too much. Alright, well that’s it from us today. We clearly have a lot of work to do. Hope these projects got you a little excited for some future content and please if you have advice, we want it! Also, we would LOVE to hear what your current plans are. Otherwise, we hope you have a safe and healthy rest of your Sunday and see you all tomorrow. xx The post Our Personal Design Projects – What We Are Designing, Styling Or Redoing In Our Own Homes This Weekend appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2wCaIHy Hello friends and welcome back. How is everyone doing? We hope you are getting enough rest and staying safe. And before we get to today’s link up, we want to extend an enormous thank you to all the healthcare workers, first responders, grocery store workers, and everyone else who has been putting their lives at risk day after day. The world is indebted to your service. THANK YOU. If you were looking for a home tour that is all things happy, colorful, eclectic, grannmillenial AND full of wicker, look no further. Today’s home tour is straight EYE CANDY and the pick me up that we all needed. From Emily: “Birdie has worn this 4 days in a row (gross) and is OBSESSED with it. Brian bought it for Easter a while ago, but we pulled it out early for fun and so glad we did.” From Ryann: “Have you guys watched Tiger King on Netflix yet??? OH BOY. My boyfriend and I started watching it and tore through 4 episodes in one night. There is so much to unpack but I NEED to find out what happened to Carole’s husband!!” From Julie: “If you’re a Wes Anderson film lover like I am then you should follow this instagram that I came across the other day. It is filled with beautiful, picturesque photos of places that looked like they fell out of one of his iconic films.” From Jess: “One of my favorite writers on the internet is Haley Nahman. She was recently ManRepeller’s Features Editor before she decided to part ways with MR (the week we all went into Quarantine) to go freelance. Anyway I’ve gushed about her before but on Friday she announced that she is starting a weekly newsletter called Maybe Baby. It was the piece of news that I didn’t know I needed until it happened. So please go and support her because she is truly great and her words always end up somehow being an escape into myself. The good kind:)” From Caitlin: “This candle from Target isn’t an exact dupe for Anthropologie’s signature Capri Blue ‘Volcano’ scent, but it’s only 9.99 and definitely exists in the same sort of tropical, fruity family. I also burn Bali Sunrise in my bedroom and Coconut Sea Salt in my kitchen. I bought all 3 in late October and just finally finished (and re-purchased!) all 3 — have any of you tried any other scents in this line? (Or do you have any other cheap candle recs? I’m all ears!)” From Sara: “My link for this week is actually just a playlist I made on Spotify. It’s filled with almost three hours of my current favorite upbeat music that I’ve blasting – perfect for when you need to take a dance break in order to keep morale high. But be warned, not all the songs are kid friendly (language). Hot tip – If you want to create a semi-DJ experience you can turn on your ‘crossfade’ in your settings which means that songs will fade into and out of each other rather than having a clean break between songs. You just go to your settings, and then click on ‘advance settings.’ I have my cross fade set to 5 seconds.” From Veronica: “Tender Greens has four new grocery boxes for very affordable prices that you can get delivered right to your door (items vary depending on availability), but this is awesome! Might have to try it out. :)” That’s all for now. Thank you, as always, for continuing to support the blog and sharing your time with us. It means the world. xx The post The Link Up: The $15 Dress Birdie Wore 4 Days In A Row, GREAT Candle Recs From Caitlin, & Another Show To Binge appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2Up4PWY That shot is the the blogger version of a swimsuit model leaning on a sportscar. Oh, the Instapot. I succumbed to cultural peer pressure last year and bought one only to find out that they turn what should be a 45-minute delicious chicken soup into a 45-minute MUSHY chicken soup. Nobody really told me that the time it takes to warm up, pressure cook, and then steam release is THE SAME amount of time as cooking soups on the stove (but without the therapeutic romance of stirring and tending to your soup). I was enraged, and banished it to the back of the closet, by the juicer that has 17 parts. UNTIL NOW. Last week I found a lot of recipes in books that only had a slow cooker or Instapot recipe and I felt left out, sad that I couldn’t participate in what was the domestic version of a PARTAY. So when Brian went to LA to grab supplies (our janky bikes and more underwear) he snagged the Instapot and now I, too, and donning my prom dress, ready to dance. Like you, these days we’re all trying to rely more on pantry staples like dried beans, and frozen veggies or meat, which is what this slow cooker/Instapot is supposed to excel at. We remembered we’d actually written a post all about slow cooker meals, and decided it was time to give it a pantry friendly update (I’m still learning the benefits of the Instapot, but at least I can cook pulled pork in it). So here you go – some pantry friendly, slow-cooker recipes that are family-friendly (we hear). And at the end there is a video from earlier this week that you guys MUST have missed of me acting like an idiot chef – not a character, just me playing myself. HERE. YOU. GO. (And take it away Sara.) Sara here and I cook a lot. Now that my commute in the mornings and evenings has been greatly reduced (i.e. non-existent) I’m fully taking advantage of it. Maybe in two more weeks I’ll be tired of constantly washing dishes, but for now I’m psyched to replace my drive time with kitchen time. But I’m also trying to make my ingredients stretch in order to minimize shopping trips. So here’s what we were going for with these recipes: 1.) The ingredient list had to be small, and mostly things someone might already have sitting in their fridge and pantry. 2.) The instructions had to be simple. Otherwise, it just defeats the purpose. 3.) The meals needed to be decently healthy. Em can make her kids cheese quesadillas, but what she needs are more delicious recipes with vegetables. 4.) And finally, the recipes had to be meals that the whole family could eat—not kid-specific but not adults-only either. Slow cookers/crockpots/Instant Pots are great for so many reasons, but the biggest one is the time they can save you. You can dump everything in that thing before walking out the door (or just, you know, walking to your couch “office”) and come home to a dinner that’s basically ready to serve. Slow cookers sound old fashioned, but they might just be heroes we need. The real question is, do these recipes work (as in, are they yummy, easy, and kids will ACTUALLY want to eat them)? We knew before we published this post originally we had to try at least one of them out. So, I picked a recipe that sounded tasty and Em and I took it for a test drive in her kitchen. Friends, it was so easy and so delicious. (This was pre mushy chicken soup which I guess happened later). We decided to try out a recipe for White Chicken Chili from food blog Gimme Some Oven. It only called for five essential ingredients—chicken breasts, chicken stock, canned great northern beans, store bought salsa verde, and ground cumin. We bought everything from the Trader Joe’s and spent about $30 getting enough for two batches. I also grabbed sour cream, shredded cheese, avocados, cilantro, tomatoes, lime and chopped onion as garnish options, but tweak this as you must to make what you’ve got work. The method of attack was this: Pull out the slow cooker, place the raw chicken breasts at the bottom of the pot, pour over the salsa, chicken broth, and cumin, then cover and let cook for 3 1/2 hours on high OR 8 1/2 hours on low (check out the recipe for all the right amounts, etc.). When your timer goes off, add in your canned beans (drained), and let cook for another 30 minutes on low (the perfect amount of time to set the dinner table, pull out the garnishes, and wrangle toddlers). Did it work? Yes. Was it delicious? YES. Any notes? We found the recipe called for a little more liquid in our chili than we would have liked, so we’d recommend omitting 1 to 2 cups of chicken stock for a thicker chili. And when we make this again, we’ll also be adding huge handfuls of spinach right before serving, to get in some iron and vitamins. There’s no dairy or sugar in this recipe, and you can top bowls with extra veg like diced onion or avocado, whatever you’ve got on hand. Most importantly, it was approved by Birdie herself (who was 2 at the time). The recipe checked all our boxes. (Exceedingly cute side note from Emily: The first thing she said was “what are these?” to the cherry tomatoes and when I reminded her what they were, she said, “oh, I DO NOT LIKE TOMATOES.” We’ve had this conversation so many times, by the way. Cherry tomatoes are deceptive. I get it.) Now, we haven’t tried the rest of the recipes in this post, but they all sound as simple and delicious as the chicken chili. And they’re all pantry friendly, meaning they rely mostly on ingredients that can be found and stored canned, boxed, frozen, or dried. Think canned beans, frozen veggies and meat, and boxed stock. Shredded Chicken (Via Gimmie Some Oven)What makes this recipe pantry friendly? The fact that it only calls for THREE ingredients – Uncooked chicken breasts, one can of salsa, and one packet of taco seasoning (Trader Joe’s has a great taco seasoning packet, FYI). Pork Pot Roast (via SweetPhi)This dish is going to make you look so much fancier and put together than you actually are (this is a broad generalization—disregard if you are currently very fancy and put together). All you’re going to need is uncooked pork roast, potatoes (I always have a few leftover potatoes rolling around in my pantry), garlic salt, an Italian seasoning packet, and chicken broth. But imagine all the added veggie options you could sneak in here. Beef & Broccoli (via Creme de la Crumb)This recipe technically calls for nine ingredients, but we almost guarantee you that you probably have at least four of them sitting in your pantry and fridge. A bottle of soy sauce that’s rarely used? That box of cornstarch from a past science experiment that’s sat untouched in the back of your pantry? And what about a frozen bag of broccoli? I have one of those hanging out in my freezer. They’re about to become useful again. Crock Pot Tortellini & Spinach Soup (via Lil’ Luna)This is another recipe that leans on a pre-packaged item to round it out. Just seasonings, a bag of spinach (feel free to use frozen if needed), chicken broth, canned tomatoes, and a package of chef’s choice tortellini (the chef being you). The recipe calls for a block of cream cheese as well, and while that sounds SO GOOD, I’m sure it can be omitted in the name of “health.” Make it vegetarian by using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. Slow Cooker Whole Chicken (via Oh Sweet Basil)There’s nothing more versatile than a whole juicy chicken. Cooked up for dinner one night and the leftovers are easily used in wraps, sandwiches, salads, or soups for days to come. Garlic Butter Chicken and Veggies (via The Magical Slow Cooker)You can’t really go wrong with chicken, carrots and potatoes covered in a herby butter. I would probably sneak some extra veg in the form of green beans. Vegan White Bean Soup (via Just What We Eat)This vegan and dairy-free soup relies mostly on dried herbs and dried navy beans to create a warm and filling dinner.
Hot Tip
I'll bulk chop onions, carrots, and celery and store in mixed baggies in my freezer, so I don't have as much chopping to do when I want to make soup. But Trader Joe's also has a great pre-packed mirepoix. Taco Chicken ChiliChicken Taco Chili (via Skinny Taste)Between the canned veggies and dried beans, this recipe is truly a pantry’s best friend. Serve it over rice, in a burrito, or as fillings for tacos. Plus, there’s a lot of room for improvisation. Instant Pot Dahl – aka Lentil Stew (via Bon Appetit)Dahl (lentils) are one of the most versatile dried legumes. If you’ve got an Instant Pot (or equivalent), water, and dried lentils you’re in business. Then throw in whatever spices or veggies you have on hand to add flavor. Serve covered in yogurt, with naan, or over rice for a hearty vegetarian dinner. This post has a handy graphic that helps you understand exactly how different lentils can be cooked. Back to me, Emily. Now I can see my problem, I clearly have no ingredients in my pot!!! In case you missed it from earlier this week, here’s my latest delicious chicken tomatillo soup. It’s not a slow cooker recipe, but it is wildly delicious and if I can prepare it, anyone can. But we were also thinking that it easily COULD be made in a slow cooker – once you get to the step about adding your chicken to poach, just throw a lid on your slow cooker and let it simmer away for a few hours. It’s only going to soften your veggies more (great for blending), and deepen the flavor of the tomatillos. And don’t miss my extremely professional, highly produced step-by-step video at the end of the post. Bon appetit! PrintChicken Tomatillo Soup
Ingredients6–8 tomatillos (peeled and washed) or 1 16 ounce can of tomatillos Instructions1. Peel and clean tomatillos, then roast in oven at 350 for 20 – 30 minutes (until soft with brown marks) Ladle into bowl, throw on all the garnishes to your pleasure. Put in your mouth. Chew, swallow and enjoy that warm healthy heat in your tummy!!!
Keywords: chicken, soup The post My Emotional Journey with the Instapot #nonspon (+ A Round Up Of Pantry Friendly Recipes) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2JmITpb Relationships Under Quarantine: Twenty Years Together vs Two Months Of Dating. HOW IS IT GOING?3/28/2020 Well, here we are trapped together. When we get married or move in together we all love each other a lot. “Best Friends!” We say. But what if you were told that someday you’d be quarantined together, for 10 weeks or more, essentially trapped in your home. And what if inside this pretty “trap,” you have children that you have to entertain, feed, bathe, TEACH ALGEBRA TO, all while staying on top of work so you can pay your trap bills??? Before you say “I do,” do you like this person THAT MUCH? I obviously think the answer would still be yes, because cracks in relationships don’t present themselves til hardships do, but still… it would be an interesting scenario to present before the vow exchange. This is hard no matter what. Brian and I are super lucky in so many ways but have still had to find our footing and some days are fine, even good. However, the days when I have to work a lot (trying to, you know, survive this financially – THANK YOU for being here) he has the kids far more than 50%, which he is honestly fine with and amazing at, but it’s still very trying. I’ve never been more grateful for him, truthfully. I just think about all the couples that didn’t share responsibilities before this, all the men or women that were gone 50 hours a week (now home 100% of the time and expected to help with all of the chores). Brian and I were talking about how much this is going to test and change relationships. Will this speed up divorces by couples that didn’t know how disconnected they had become? Or bring them back together? Will it create a super solid “we can get through anything” bond? Will the partner that works outside the home finally empathize and really SEE the work that the stay at home parent has always done? As the cracks in the relationship start to widen with such claustrophobic pressure some might not make it out. OR again will the fact that we are spending so much time together actually help some relationships become more close and healthy? Will people learn to communicate better because they are forced to or will the fights just now start? What’s it going to be???? We are only 2 weeks in so it’s hard to make big statements, as we have weeks to go. But as a family who was actually lacking time together, we are getting a lot of it which is the current silver lining. We are doing things together that we used to do separately – working out, cooking every meal and yes shooting for this blog. I’ve secretly always wanted to work with Brian, have him shoot the video content and go full “Young House Love” (a husband/wife family blog) or “Chris Loves Julia“. So last week as I was crying about how to keep this blog up and running, he totally stepped in and he’s actually pretty into it. He’s been shooting the DIY photos, videos and actually likes being in them – and he’s so funny so he adds a lot (in my opinion). We don’t know what we are doing and of course, I miss having my professional team with me in the same room. But I suppose being forced to do this (not having my team to rely on) has made us do it together, with kids around, and it’s a new shift in our relationship. Ha, hopefully for the good (I can hear John and Sherry and Chris and Julia about to email me with the warnings of running a blog with your spouse). But there are challenges. I’m writing this with headphones in but can still hear his frustration trying to get the kids to sit and do the one hour of reading and writing that we do every morning. And we both feel like we clean all day every day, but at least we can see that each other is doing their part whereas in normal life it’s hard to really see what each other does all day and how much each is contributing. So much goes unnoticed that now is noticed – there is no hiding, which I think has to be a good thing. Ultimately I realize what a lucky position we are in, I promise. I know that just having each other and a nice space that has nature nearby is keeping us not only sane but enjoying this time together. So no real complaints here – just lots of conversations about it. Ultimately right now we are focusing on the gift of time together and trying to only read the news once a day. But since talking about relationships is my favorite thing to do, I’m so curious about how a couple who is relatively new in their relationship was handling it and Julie was happy to chime in. So if you want to hear about a real interesting situation, let’s hand it over to Julie… I officially/unofficially moved in with my boyfriend about ninety days ago. Um, excuse me? Oh, you say it’s only been nine days? Cooooool. A day before LA went on our version of a lockdown my boyfriend, Sean, came over to discuss our options for the quarantine. He suggested that I move in with him temporarily so that we weren’t separated during this time. But in my head, that meant that we would be spending 24/7 with one another for who knows how long. Were we really ready for this? That is A LOT of time together, in an apartment with 3 other roommates who I had never met before. Mind you that we have officially been together for only 2 months although we have known each other since 2016. We were friends that never lived in the same city until January of 2019 when we started our round one of dating which lasted for about 5 months (the timing was off). Then last October we started hanging out again as “friends,” hahahaha. That quickly turned into a full-blown relationship and here I am writing this from his bedroom. Yes, that’s right I gave up that cute desk set up to sit either squished between his bed and dresser or straddled across from the bed to type (it’s kind of a good leg workout though. Don’t tell him that). But that is love, people. Since I’ve been here we have spent a ton of time in his 10’x13’ room. When I’m not working, we are filling the days with “fun activities” like yoga, workouts, reading, hangboarding, playing Magic the Gathering (which is brand new to me so I’m still learning), binge-watching The Outsider and meditating. But if I’m honest it’s beginning to feel a bit like I’m living in the movie, Groundhog Day. To shake things up earlier this week we had a dinner and a movie “date night” where we ordered pizza and rented The Invisible Man on Amazon, which I would highly recommend. So, why didn’t we decide for him to just stay with me, you ask? Good question. Don’t you have more stuff that you’d need to bring over, you wonder? Yeah, I did. And there are of course the mini-projects that I wish I could be doing at home like painting my bathroom or finally organizing the storage unit. At the same time though I hate to be stuck inside all day and his apartment has a huge patio and backyard with a garden. That ultimately was a big yes in my book. Oh! Did I mention that there are FOUR cats and FOUR dogs on the property?? As an equal lover of cats and dogs you know I am taking my breaks from work playing with those cuties. The reality is that as much as I wanted to sleep in my comfy bed at my house that didn’t matter as much to me as being with my person. This is not an easy time but Sean has been there for me to make it as easy as possible. Still, every day I question if this was the best decision for our relationship in the long run. I guess only time will tell. Literally. Emily again! So let’s make this is a conversation – obviously with any tips you guys have for keeping the peace and the love strong. Nobody on my team has kids so admittedly it’s going to be easier for them – or maybe harder because kids actually break up the day? I don’t know! But for those of you trapped in your house with your partner with or without children, tell us – HOW IS IT GOING??? (and yes you can be anonymous). Is being trapped together actually going to be good for your relationship, parenting or marriage?? The post Relationships Under Quarantine: Twenty Years Together vs Two Months Of Dating. HOW IS IT GOING? appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2wKPBCF Welcome to another installment of Afternoon Snacks: SMALL BUSINESS EDITION. Today marks two weeks since the EHD team has started working from home. At this point, we’ve all finally started to lean FULL FORCE into some new hobbies. We’ve decided to learn calligraphy (Jess), paper mache (Emily), and embroidery (truly, so many of us that I’m starting to wonder if EHD will pivot to an EM-broidery studio when all of this is said and done. Get it? Em-broidery?). Since we’re a small business and know how much your support has meant to us during this time (SO UNBELIEVABLY MUCH), we have been making a conscious effort whenever possible to also support other small businesses. And guess what?! Small businesses and independent makers absolutely kill it when it comes to providing fun and beautiful distractions. That’s not really a big surprise, but we all can’t stop talking to each other the awesome things we have found. We will likely have a Zoom Happy Hour Show and Tell. But today we are sharing all of it with you So if you’re looking for some family-friendly activities, some self-care ideas, or if you just want to take a second and window shop for your home you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled a BIG OL’ LIST down below, so you can help support a real person’s dreams AND learn something new. (You ready to start bookbinding? Maybe you can turn your whole family into a group of bookbinders. WHAT A SKILL!) What We’re Learning and PracticingFrom Emily: I know this is so “mom” but I really want to ramp up my paper mache sculpture skills with the kids so I’ll be downloading this kit. From Jess: I really dislike my handwriting and have always dreamed of being able to write in calligraphy. So I found this awesome handbook kit that is perfect beginners (so perfect for me) to maybe help fix my ailment. Guys, I am determined to come outta this insane time with at least one new skill. From Julie: Now seems like the perfect time to slow down and spend a few hours learning how to make my own candle. (PS. from Caitlin – Gretchen, the shop owner, has TONS of awesome craft kits available!) From Emily: Birdie is on a real unicorn kick right now, so I know she’ll love painting all over these signs. I can pick up one for Charlie, too. From Ryann: I’ve been wanting to take up knitting for years so I finally pulled the trigger and bought this big blanket knitting kit. Alert my family. Everyone’s getting blankets for Christmas! From Jess: I bought this cool a$$ puzzle from LA local business Slowdown Studio and cannot wait to spend hours making my brain think away from a screen. ALSO after Julie peeked into this post yesterday (sneaky, sneaky:)), she told me her friend works for them and said that they are coming out with a NEW PUZZLE likely next Friday. So I guess I will be the owner of two beautiful puzzles come next Friday as I have no will power over beautiful things. From Julie: I took a bookbinding class at my art college and haven’t tried my hand at it since. It’s surprisingly fun to do and you can journal about these crazy time in it once you’re finished. From Jess: This embroidery kit made my heart leap with happiness. I bought it immediately. This vendor, Miho, has a ton of really special kits that you should grab now. From Julie: Embroidery is also something I have always wanted to try since I saw the one’s my mom did when she was a teenager. This Washington-based shop is stocked up with options for all you nature lovers out there How We’re Treating Our HomesFrom Caitlin: I’ve been upping my plant-care game and trying to propagate some succulents. I found this brand, Likha, and am crying because everything is SO CUTE. Can’t wait for my next baby shower cause someone’s gonna be getting a planter shaped like a puppy!!! From Mallory: I NEED THIS VASE IN MY LIFE. Her whole shop of handmade ceramics is insanely adorable. From Sara: I LOVE crocheting, I learned from my grandma, and right now feels like a great time to get back into it and make me a blanket. Wool & The Gang is small, independent company working to make knitting and crocheting modern and easy. From Veronica: I have been wanting to get framed paintings to bring my room to life, and I plan on using my weekend time at home to do just that! I’ve had my eye on these babies because they are digital downloads and printable meaning you have free range when picking frames. From Caitlin: My version of self-care includes me window shopping (read: pinning everything) on the Cool Machine website. I could stare at these ceramics for hours. (Update: I *HAVE* stared at these ceramics for hours. If you can support these indie artists and you add one of these pieces to your home, please do it and then send me a million photos.) From Emily: If you’re mid-renovation (and a fan of the beechwood we used at the Mountain House), Ross Alan is offering 10-20% off orders. Check this IG post for details. …and How We’re Treating OurselvesFrom Emily: Here in LA, the Reckless Unicorn is making custom kid survival kits filled with activities, books, and toys. And they can do Easter baskets! Call or send them a DM and get 20% off and free delivery when you mention us From Veronica: First of all, who doesn’t love coloring books? Even as an adult, they are so fun and calming. I think this one is hilaaaarious because I was a huge One Direction fan as a teen and Harry will forever be in my heart. (If you haven’t listened to his new album, wyd?!) From Mallory: I’m one for dainty jewelry so you bet I’ve been eyeing this necklace for QUITE some time. From Sara: This independent wine company is doing deliveries in LA. From Caitlin: I’m having a REALLY FUN TIME growing out my gel manicure right now. One of my friends recently introduced me to Habit, which is an indie, non-toxic, vegan nail polish brand — they have a ton of cute colors and I love their bottles. From Ryann: After reading yesterday’s afternoon snack, I was #emfluenced and felt compelled to buy myself these sweatpants from Sundry. Emily always raves about Sundry and their quality and comfort so I am REAL excited to try them out. Who’s Giving BackLast (but not least!!!), we wanted to highlight some of our favorite businesses who are going above and beyond to help out their communities, first responders, and volunteers everywhere. Let’s close with a quick roundup, yeah?
That’s it for us, but do you have any favorite small business brands that you’d like to share? Have you picked up a new skill (or started practicing an old skill)? COME CHAT WITH ALL OF US IN THE COMMENTS. The post What We’ve Bought From Our Favorite Small Businesses To Help Our Sanity (Activities, Beauty and A Little Decor) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2UGfED5 We feel like there are two kinds of people right now. First, are those who desperately need house projects to fill these days (and give us purpose) and make their house even homier. Then there are those who don’t want to feel guilty about watching the news and marathoning shows (and should feel no guilt – we all process our own way). This post is for the former. I’m in the “have to stay busy” camp and now that the kids are older I LOVE making things with them. So now more than ever I’m looking for easy fun projects that we can do together to create a memor, keep them and us busy as well as add style and personality to our house. So here we go – our first DIY challenge is for those of you who are interested in creating an easy, affordable piece of art for your home or at least watch us do it. I suggest you take Julie’s into high consideration because we all LOVE it and undoubtedly you will too. We also (to keep things super fresh) searched the internet for some of VERY cool and fun ideas. This post is packed, people. Over the years the EHD team has created a lot of art, mostly because art is a great way to bring in some personality to your home. We all know that art can be expensive, so we are always looking for affordable ways to create our own (and bonus points if the supplies might be in your garage already). Let’s get to it: Taped Pattern on a Drop ClothYears ago Orlando and I made that massive piece of art with a drop cloth and a frame we built. Then we taped out a pattern and framed it. Now, this is a BIG project, but the idea behind it is so simple and could obviously be much smaller in scale. Also, you don’t have to have a fancy canvas, most fabrics could do (and a painters drop cloth is honestly GREAT). Potato Stamp InspoNow I want to be VERY clear – this stamped art is by Rebecca Atwood (who we love) and was not DIY’d. But we saw that she is even promoting it on her blog as a great DIY and has outlined how to do it. She is THE master so you are in good hands. It’s made with a potato and paint, two things a lot of us have lying around (maybe). Pressed FlowersMaybe one of my favorite pieces of art that involved the kids is the pressed flowers that we framed (in Ikea frames) above. They collected them last spring from the backyard. Some we pressed traditionally (with wax paper and heavy books, over weeks) but most we sped up the process by using this press that you can microwave. Then we simply used super glue to lightly attach to the paper and keep it really quiet and minimal. It is so pretty, such a good memory and the kids signed it at the bottom with a ‘spring 2019’, too. Kids Art (Upgraded)We have a whole sentimental art wall in our house and it brings me serious joy (said as a true mom, no sarcasm at all). On it, we have kids art (the big blue piece), a framed origami (a playful sculptural cat), self-portraits of them (done with a mirror at their school) and framed kids polaroids (I love my polaroid printer so much). And now let me hand it over to EHD’s Lead Designer and our resident DIY aficionado, Julie… From Julie: Adding a DIY into a design project is nothing new around here. Whether it is big one like the window treatments and tent canopy for the kid’s bedroom in the mountain house or small like the pillowcase cover I am always up for it because that extra bit of customization to a space will make it feel more personal and unique to you. That’s why for my own MOTO I included a couple of my own DIYs, one of which is the art piece below, take a peek! Layered Torn PaperThis piece is so subtle that you might’ve missed it in my bedroom reveal earlier this year. I already had a lot going on in that small, small room of mine but I still wanted to hang something above that vintage folding chair to balance it out between the windows. So, I decided to make one of the most simple yet time-consuming pieces of art I’ve ever done. It’s basically layered torn paper adhered together with some double-sided tape. I already had a left over frame and picked up a kid’s art roll on my last (fingers crossed) trip to IKEA. Initially, I wanted to do something similar to this but then realized that the scale is what made that piece so cool. So instead, I channeled my design fundamentals year in art school and ended up with this. What You’ll Need: Step One: Measure the length of your frame. I used the 19″x27″ Ribba Frame from Ikea so my initial length is 27″ long. Next up, another innovative GIY from our lovely EHD alum, Emily B: Mixed MediaAt the end of 2019, Emily B. revealed her cozy living room which included three original artwork pieces above her sofa, created by none other than herself along with the help of Velinda, me and a couple of bottles of wine. This DIY art has no rules except for one, every time you contribute something to the paper you must shout “ART” and take a sip. So grab all those random pieces of paper, some string, paint and just have fun with it. PolaroidsIf you have a ton of old Polaroids or old vintage photos in a shoebox under your bed (or high up in that closet), you can create a large and personal art piece like Sara and Arlyn did for their living rooms. Just make sure your photos are all the same size to create a perfect grid! And not to keep plugging this magical machine, but if you don’t have a bunch of polaroids handy and but want to create something like this with old photos from your photo then this printer is your answer. We aren’t the only creative souls on the internet (duh), so we wanted to share some of our favorite seasoned DIYers and man do they have some ideas that we would love to recreate while we are all staying indoors. And actually I think some of us will this week…stay tuned:) Dimensional GeometricOur very own Mallory has been eyeing this 3D wall art DIY (we are big fans of nontraditional art) from Design Sponge for a long time now and is ready to give it a go this weekend. It’s made from balsa wood which was one of my favorite materials to use to build models in school since it’s so easy to use and doesn’t require any heavy machinery. I would love to see someone recreate this in a colorful version as well. Vintage ModernIf I am ever in need of some DIY inspiration you know that I am checking out Paper & Stitch blog by Brittni Mehlhoff. We met her while working on the Invitation Homes project in Atlanta. She is so crazy talented that she DIY’d this desk on-site for under $100. Whoa. I was thoroughly impressed with her. This simple and yet effective DIY proves that those vintage portraits aren’t just meant for lovers of the Eccentric English Grandma trend. A few pieces of construction paper later and you have yourself a mixed media contemporary piece of art. AbstractAnother easy one by Paper & Stitch is this abstract statement art which you can make to be bold and colorful or neutral and textured. She also did this post about 5-minute Art Hacks that are so achievable with items lying around the house, like a pretty tea towel or leftover wallpaper. Wrapping PaperLeave it to Oh Joy! to come up with a chic way of displaying your leftover wrapping paper scraps. This one looks like such a fun project to get your kids involved in and for those of us who don’t have kids then down that wine cause you’re not babysitting anyone but yourself this weekend. Paint Stir StickYou know when you go to the hardware store for a gallon of paint and leave with 8 paint stir sticks of which you’ll use just one of them?? Well, Almost Makes Perfect has a chic solution for the leftovers. Along with some string, a drill and saw, you will have this hanging on your wall in no time. Fiber Wall HangingAnother macrame free wall hanging from Almost Makes Perfect that actually looks soothing to make & is easy to customize. When a material list is only 3 items long I know I’ve found my weekend project. This one requires a small dowel, yarn & a pair of scissors. Tying the yarn to the dowel is the easy part. Cutting it in a straight line after might mean you leave to wine til after unless that’s the lewk you’re going for, then you do you! Leaf PrintingSimilar to the pressed flowers that Emily did in her mountain house, this is a DIY project from Remodelista is fun for all ages. Collect a variety of leaves in your backyard or while taking a walk around the block. Lay them out onto a piece of paper and with another paper on top gently hammer away some of that pent up energy until you see the whole of the leaf on the paper. Slowly peel the paper away and hang it up! Block PrintingBlock printing has been around for hundreds of years so, in my opinion, it can never truly go out of style. That’s why we are showing you this oldie but a goodie (it’s five years old) from Remodelista on how to achieve a budget-friendly block printing. It’s also an easy one to customize with different shapes and paint colors. Honestly, at this point who just wants to finger paint this weekend??? Silhouette ArtEmily again! So if you are like me and want something to do, we are going to create at least one piece of art this week (maybe two). I’m tackling silhouettes of the kids for both their bedroom and a grandma’s birthday present. Wish me luck. We’d love for any of you that are up for creating a DIY piece of art to show us what you are working on (or if you have previously made something) by using the hashtag #showemyourDIY on Instagram. Then next week when I reveal what we all did we can feature yours, too (as well as repost on stories so don’t forget to hag me (@em_henderson)). I suppose now is as good a time as ever to make art, and I think we can all use a bit more inspiration these days – so we’d be honored if you share your pieces and your original ideas with us. xx The post GOOD DIY Art Inspiration + A How-To of Julie’s Original Piece (And A Kickoff of My Weekly DIY Challenge – Wanna Join?) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/39j9P3T |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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