There she is. Right now, post-demo, the farm resembles a set built specifically for the new “Saw-meets-Blair-Witch” mashup horror film. The production designer really nailed this one. It’s rather shocking that we ever did or will call this our dream house, but despite its current condition it was still exactly where I wanted to be a couple weeks ago when we visited. THANK GOODNESS, because turns out you can’t return a house (not that we would want to OBVIOUSLY… Ha Ha… ha:)). Sure, when we were there it was 75 and sunny (rare for April in Oregon) but there is something about that plot of land that makes me overlook what “condition” it’s in and just want to live there, with the kids running around getting lost amongst the blackberry bushes and future chickens. It’s magical. It’s almost like the trees block any real harsh wind, allowing only sweet breezes, and there is literally no street noise, despite being in a neighborhood. It’s mostly flat and usable, totally gated, with the house in the middle, an old sports court, so many trees, a barn, paddock, carriage house/sheep’s barn/garage, secondary victorian farmhouse, 2 oddly adorable sheds, a grove of rather ill fruit trees and so much more. It needs a lot of love (and a plan) but honestly, the kids love playing there as-is and part of me wants to make it better (update fencing, remove some blackberry bushes, power wash the sports court) but just keep it super rural and rough except where it’s close to the house (because we need a deck and some pretty native plants that are intentional). What if I just threw a bunch of wildflower seeds and see what happens? I’m also intimidated by the extent of work and I’m scared of myself because once I start “designing” something it gets to be VERY expensive unless I can DIY it – it’s a real gift I have and one that is an occupational hazard as a design blogger (chicken or the egg???). At the same time, we didn’t properly “design” the backyard here and we made some pretty annoying mistakes while rushing that we can’t really undo. So there is something to be said for having a plan before you just go for it (duh). THE DRIVEWAYYou drive up a long tree-covered driveway that definitely needs to be paved, but because it’s not, you bounce around on dirt, potholes and gravel, and INSTANTLY you are transported to an old country farm. I want to keep it as-is, Brian wants it to be wider (why do men think they need such huge body clearances? It’s like, uh, dude, you aren’t THAT BIG. There is a (paved) roundabout driveway that connects the original victorian house to the main house and in the middle is a grove of fruit trees that is not in the best of shape but I’m determined to bring it back to life (and by ‘I’ I mean hire an arborist). As I’ve said before, the house itself was a four-square box with a 1960s addition. It had mismatched windows from different eras, tiny plastic shutters and vinyl siding covering the original tongue and groove. Once it was all removed I actually loved it even more – the vintage windows popped and it felt just more what it should be. Pulling up to the state of our home while in a white convertible mustang was, well, a hilarious mix of worlds that made us all LOL a lot. Most people driving that car would not look so lovingly at the state of our home, but not us. The Hendersons are a real special mixed breed of wanting some luxury for us, and yet desperate to stay grounded and quietly punish our kids for being far more privileged than we were (I’m JOKING (??)). Nothing like sitting in a convertible Mustang, some Taylor Swift blasting (Brian’s choice, he’s obsessed) and a six pack of fancy microbrew beer next to a dilapidated “dream” farmhouse to further confuse our identity. Back to before demo… That breezeway has so much potential. You might remember that a few iterations of the design ago we were going to add a port cochere (fancy carport) to the kitchen side of the original house, but as we were there last week we nixed it hard and fast. We love this connection between the two houses and we are just going to have a quick path to the kitchen and build a carport where they had theirs. This side of the house (above) was one that sure we loved, but we thought we’d be playing way more in front of the living room (near the sports court). But as the sun was setting we realized that this is the most beautiful shady area near the kitchen that might be more of our family hangout space. Oh, we’ve got rooflines for days. Four different ones that really don’t line up but these are the moments that we are strangely into. The odd, the quirk, a certain level of jank that screams “there is no way we are a new-build modern farmhouse” (nothing wrong with that, but this isn’t that). You know what else brings that sweetness? This basement entrance with that cute little storm door on it. While this has to go because it’s falling apart, little moments like this say “I’m old and cute”. We’ll replace or rebuild something even more cute and charming (unless we have to remove for any reason). I also love those pretty wood storm windows on those two lower windows. It makes them inoperable but they are so pretty. This is when I fell back in love with the original windows. Without the dumb shutters and vinyl siding, you can really see what this house wants to be, despite looking like a horror house. And if you want to straighten out or line up those windows I see you, but we have decided those kinds of awkwardnesses are actually so unique to an old house (like the rooflines). So while we might change them and it might feel silly not to line them up at that point, if you have these kinds of oddities just know that we think they are sweet, despite being architecturally “wrong”. Now to the sports court. The biggest selling point for Brian. This guy is MASSIVE (like AA professional tennis sized court). It has a basketball hoop at one end with a big wood and wire structure to help balls stay in, and a tennis wall on the other side. It’s not in the BEST shape, but we have no intentions right now of jackhammering it and making it smooth. It likely will never be flat enough to play regulation tennis, but we are hoping that with a powerwash and maybe a skim coat the kids can do everything they want to do there (which includes rollerblading – they are VERY into rollerblading). While I did play tennis in high school I think we are more interested in biking, scooting, playing basketball and maybe even four square. THE SHEDS (IT’S ABOUT TIME)There are two cute sheds next to each other on the property. I’ve never had a shed before and now I know why my brother INSISTED on putting in a shed at the Portland project a few years ago – there is just so much stuff that kids play with outside that looks like total garbage when its not stored. This will house all things sports equipment, but I do have a fantasy of putting in an infrared sauna in a few years (with maybe an outdoor shower/toilet, too??). I’ve been using my sauna blanket a lot lately and it gives me something to look forward to every night so if I keep it up that might be something down the road. But for now, it has bins of tennis balls and a tennis ball shooter that the former owners left for us (thank you!). It’s pretty darn cute and might be a great place to repurpose the original windows that aren’t energy efficient from our main house. THE BARNOn the other side of the sports courts lives the cutest little barn you ever did see. It’s separated into two sides – one for livestock to actually sleep and feed, and the other (on the left) could be really anything (its so cute!!!). Oh the potential. We do want to have some animals (we are still thinking Alpacas and definitely chickens as of now but not pulling ANY triggers until we live there for a while). On this side of the barn is the paddock (an enclosed pasture). It housed a massive skate ramp (that you can see the markings of above) as well as a trampoline that has seen better days and a treehouse that could use some renovation). It’s a lot of work, friends. It’s also a lot of space. On this side of the paddock is another pasture down from the sports court that is pretty much overtaken with blackberry bushes (which we are currently having cleared so we can see what we are working with). I think that since there are so many “zones” it actually feels MASSIVE despite being only a little over 2.5 acres (which is big, don’t get me wrong, but most people say it feels closer to 4 or 5 acres). Of course, what we don’t have is a small body of water – a pond or stream and you KNOW my propensity towards water features. Our kids play for HOURS in our fake stream up here so I do have a 2-4 year goal to find the right place for some sort of natural looking body of water. Frogs are a must THE VICTORIAN HOUSEI’ll give you a full tour of the victorian house, but as you can see on the south side of the house is another field that the victorian house looks over. It’s so sweet and cute. Inside this house we will eventually have a media room with games, etc for when the kids are older, maybe a basic kitchen for like popcorn and drinks AND then upstairs likely there will be our office. Full tour coming soon The CARRIAGE HOUSE/SHEEP’S BARNThe last building on the property is what used to be a carriage house (I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea that functioning carriages were put in here for transport.) It is MASSIVE and has so much potential (if not currently deadly). It’s really big (could fit 6 cars or like 40 sheep). But 1/2 of it is definitely uninhabitable and unsafe. It’s pretty close to the property line, so Arciform thinks that if we wanted to tear down and rebuild we wouldn’t be able to, so we might have to rebuild from the inside but keep enough of the original walls to get past the city stuff. It’s definitely phase 2 or 3. We have dreams of this being a dope workout area, storage and then just not knowing what my career future will be, I may want to start hoarding vintage finds again for big pop-up curated flea market once a year or so – Any excuse to keep thrifting and creating content around thrifting, upcycling and vintage, but knowing that I don’t need all this stuff for our home… I’ve got storage FOR DAYS Y’ALL. It could also be a photo studio, a place to host workshops… the sky’s the limit, but it’s currently rotted and well, dangerous so… The video is really where it’s at – it’s super hard to understand where everything is so jusr watch through the ad (thank you) to see me giving you a full tour of the farmhouse property: Right now I’m barely thinking about the property because I’m too focused on the house (and financially it would need to be a phase two). However, here is our rough plan of action … 1. We need a landscape designer to help with the decking design, the stairs, the hardscape – so we are looking for a landscape team that will be in it for the long haul knowing that we can’t tackle it all at once but we need to have an overall future plan (ish) so we don’t make short term mistakes that would affect our long term ideas. The problem about doing landscaping in phases is just like doing an interior renovation in phases – once you open up to do electrical and plumbing, it’s the best time to do it ALL. Irrigation is the main culprit here (and electrical out to the barn and landscape lighting) – it’s like if you are going to dig up everything to put in proper irrigation then you need to know where it’s going and to what plants need what level of water for however long a day/week/month. So that’s why we are barely pinning ideas for now while we fix problems. We’ll make the area around the house pretty and then not extend irrigation further out knowing that Oregon rains a lot so we likely will only have to water a couple months of the year and if it’s not too close to the house then the grass can be a bit brown and no one is going to die, except maybe the grass… Check IGTV and Stories Sunday for a full tour (or the video above) because you can get such a better sense of it through video. IT’S A LOT to do, and I would say I’m overwhelmed but we aren’t. There isn’t a rush, we love the ruralness of it now, and part of loving an older home is committing to the long-term restoration of it. Also, remember my #1 mantra when it comes to renovation to negate the stress and keep the complaining at bay – renovating is a privilege, renovating is a privilege, renovating is a privilege (and it is). So Questions For You:
Mostly I can’t wait for the kids to get lost (together) in the woods like we did and build weird forts and worlds with just trees and bushes. Free-Range Parenting FTW!! (hopefully). The post The Farmhouse Full Property Tour – See What We Are Working With (It’s Pretty Exciting) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3aPI0DV
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When Earth Day Should (And Can) Be Earth Life 23 Easy Tips To Make Every Day A Little Greener4/29/2021 So, pals, we’re starting to wrap up Earth Month…but we wanted to keep this momentum going for the rest of the year (and our whole lives), too. The best part: we’re not alone in that quest! Later this week, Em will be dropping an IGTV that we shot in partnership with the awesome folks at Imperfect Foods and Mrs. Meyers Clean Day, where she’ll be sharing some easy tips or swaps you can make in your life to get you living a little greener every day. But y’all, there were SO MANY GOOD TIP IDEAS – and so many things that I didn’t know that didn’t make it into the video – so I wanted to pull everything that I learned from these two brands over the past few weeks into one non-sponsored master list so we can all benefit from their knowledge in perpetuity. There are so many easy-breezy changes that you can make right now that can help make the world a little bit cleaner and less wasteful! OKAY, ENOUGH YAPPING FROM ME. Let’s learn!!! In The KitchenSocially Distance Your Onions & Potatoes: Let’s start with an easy one, yeah? Keep these guys in separate cool, dark places to reduce your food waste. Stand Up for Broccoli Stems: You can blend these into hummus OR thinly slice them and stir-fry them. My favorite hack, though: TURN THEM INTO PICKLES. Pro tip from a pickle/vinegar/fermented food-addict: use this NYT recipe and then get that extra fiber in your diet, pal! Upcycle Your Coffee Grounds: Y’all, coffee grounds are one of the most commonly thrown-out food items in America!! Now that you’re in the know, you can turn your grounds into a DIY body scrub (#luxury – this 3 ingredient one looks lovely), food for your houseplants, a natural fridge deodorizer, or a helpful scrub to get burnt-on gunk off your pots and pans. Switch to Biodegradable Trash Bags: Traditional bags can take centuries to decompose, which is obviously bad. And we’re super lucky now, because this is a totally easy switch you can make today that can make a huge difference! After doing some testing to find my new go-to brand, I would definitely recommend these kitchen-sized trash bags, which are just as strong and functional as my standard black plastic trash bags. Turn Veggie Scraps into Stock: Oh hey, soup lovers. Try adding leek greens, scallion roots, fennel tops, and herb and mushroom stems to your vegetable stock. Start practicing now so you’ll be ready for Souptember, Crocktober, Novembroth, etc. You know, all the cool and normal holidays we celebrate here at EHD. Store Herbs Like Flowers: Extend the life of herbs like parsley, mint, and cilantro by keeping them in a jar of water in the fridge. (And check out this full post on preventing all kinds of food waste if you want to get really in the weeds!) But Give Basil a Vacation From the Fridge: Basil is a special exception because it does not like cold temperatures! To keep it fresher for longer, keep this one in a jar of water on your counter. (Bonus: it smells delightful.) Get Scrappy with Herbs: But if any of your herbs are in danger of going to waste, try poaching them in oil to make an infused oil. You can also create an herb butter (very fancy) by letting butter soften before mixing with herbs. Here’s a great recipe for rosemary olive oil and here’s some herb butter ideas! Eat More Plants: So uh, as it turns out, what we eat has a huge impact on our environmental footprint. Plant-focused meals take way less water/land/fuel to produce than animal-heavy ones, so if you’re able, try adding one plant-forward meal a week. (FWIW, Jess switched to a plant-based diet last year and Imperfect Foods delivers a ton of plant-based meats, cheeses, milks, etc. in addition to their veggies which has made her switch easier!) Use Lemons to Get Rid of Smelly Hands: Okay, we’re getting a little niche here, but if you’ve squeezed out all the juice, you can use a lemon peel to get rid of any fragrant smells (think onions or garlic) that linger on your hands. Hit ’em with the peels, rinse them off, and you’ll be good as new. Give New Life to Old Condiments: Don’t discard your almost-empty end condiments! Use leftover jarred mustard to whip up a vinaigrette or marinade some pork or chicken in your leftover pickle juice. (TBH I drink straight pickle juice after workouts because I don’t love bananas and it’s full of potassium and sodium, which helps me feel less sore!) In any case, get creative with those leftovers!! Rethink Expiration Dates: This is your official sign from the universe to trust your eyes and nose. Confusion around expiration dates causes millions of pounds of waste every year. These dates are just an estimate of peak quality, and they don’t indicate when a food will become unsafe. You really can tell! You got this! Teach Kids About Food Waste: Start them young, folks. This is the world’s cutest downloadable coloring book for a kid-friendly introduction to preventing food waste. (Also, fun for adults who find something really soothing about coloring in sweet illustrations of food. You know. Like me.) Give Root Veggies a Haircut: You can keep your vegetables fresher for longer by removing the tops from beets, carrots, and radishes! (Since the tops are a water suck, they’ll make your veggies go bad faster.) But wait, there’s more: you can also use the beet tops how you’d use chard AND you can swap in carrot tops for parsley in recipes to mix things up. WHO KNEW? Around the HouseUpcycle Your Candle Tins: Once you’ve enjoyed your candles, empty the tins – there’s a great tutorial here – and turn them into planters, make-up brush storage, or a coin catch-all so you can empty out your pockets at the end of the day. (I love this soy lavender tin candle that’s only $4.49 and perfect for winding down before bed!) Air Dry Your Clothes: I can hear the EHD heavens opening up and angels singing as I type this. Like, yeah, sure, you can save money and energy but I recently learned that the sun’s UV rays can help deodorize your clothing (!!!). So if you’re still, uh, let’s say…wearing the same sweatpants 5 days a week (definitely not a personal anecdote), maybe give them a rinse and then let those bad boys breathe outside for a second? Use Lavender to Mothproof Clothing: No. more. mothballs!!! Try hanging dried lavender in your closet or drop some in your sweater drawer – it will perfume your clothing (so you won’t smell like a haunted house) AND it can repel moths without pesticides. WIN/WIN. (I actually scooped this scent sachet from Target after learning this! When I flew back to LA after 4 months on the east coast, I ended up discovering that some moths had moved into one of my closets. This tip was, in fact, a total lifesaver.) Wash Your Clothes with Cold Water: Another hot topic on the site lately – washing machines. Here’s something WILD I just learned: 90% of the energy used by your washing machine actually goes to heating the water! Even switching a few loads a month to cold water can save a bunch of energy (and it’s nice for your clothes, too). Outside the HomeShop Secondhand: OH BABY, MY FAVORITE. We’re huge lovers of all things vintage here at EHD – if you’re confused on how to get started, I wrote a pretty comprehensive guide on how to find the best used furniture online near you! Mulch Smarter to Prevent Weeds: To prevent weeds from overtaking your vegetable beds, you can mulch them with grass clippings or rhubarb leaves! It’s a super easy way to get extra life out of the things you already have while protecting your beloved lil’ veggie patch. Turn Eggshells Into Planters: Give your eggshells a second life as a nursery. Fill them with potting soil and a veggie seed before placing them somewhere warm to sprout. Transplant them into a bed once they’re big enough. Plus, this is a super fun activity for the little ones Start Composting: Ah, yes, the en vogue topic on the site right now. There are so many helpful composting tips in the comments on Em’s recent kitchen planning post! But if you want to get join in the composting fun, you can start a pile in your backyard, get a worm composting kit, grab a countertop composter (this one is pricy but awesome because it has no smell!), or find a curbside service near you. Fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells are great candidates for home compost! It’s Not Just Earth Day: Sure, it’s great to really celebrate the earth once a year, but try to keep sustainability at the front of your mind every day. An easy way to help is by supporting your favorite local charity working to make our planet better and stronger. We were recently introduced to Edible Schoolyard through our upcoming partnership, which provides hands-on cooking and gardening education for kids (amazing!!), but we’d love to hear about your favorites, too! Now, if you’ve learned something and have a second to spare, you can make an even BIGGER difference. Our old pals at Imperfect Foods & new pals at Mrs. Meyers Clean Day already donated $10,000 to Edible Schoolyard, but they’ll give an extra $1 for every post that includes one of these tips…so if you have any time today or tomorrow, grab your phone, shoot a quick photo, and tag @imperfectfoods and @mrsmeyerscleanday to raise funds a great cause. I can’t wait to share what Em created and THANKS to these brands for letting me hijack all their smart, thoughtful work so I could turn it into a post for my internet pals. ANY OTHER EASY TIPS? Let’s chat! Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: The Five Cooking Mistakes I’ve Been Making (As Told To Me By A Chef) The post When “Earth Day” Should (And Can) Be “Earth Life” – 23 Easy Tips To Make Every Day A Little Greener appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3eIUhuY Last Friday Emily did a call out on Instagram asking what you Moms out there actually wanted for Mother’s Day. We didn’t want to do a roundup that was dull, off the mark or just like every other guide we’ve seen. Reading all of the feedback was probably the most fun thing I’ve done in a hot minute (excluding going to the beach to watch “the sunset” with my friend in the cloudy, freezing cold and faceplanting after chasing a runaway napkin. But seriously we laughed the whole time at how bad we are at living in LA.) ANYWAY, I couldn’t get enough of your answers! Some were totally understandable, some very surprising, and some actually were the quintessential “mother’s day” ideas. But hey, if you want a robe then a robe you should get. You survived a year in quarantine! With kids! Let ALL THE MOTHER’S HAVE CAKE! Me Time and Services
LoungewearI was really surprised how many moms wanted loungewear and new PJs. But I guess there is something very renewing about a new, pretty set of pajamas and these are the ones you and we love: 1. Washable Silk Tank Set | 2. Siro Draped Jogger | 3. Pima Drape-Back Top + Pima Classic Pant | 4. Beautifully Soft Short Sleeve Pajama Set | 5. The College Sweatshirt + The Cropped Sweatpant | 6. Washable Silk Button Down Pant Set 1. Lunya was the #1 requested loungewear company by far. It makes sense. They are VERY special pieces that a mom might not normally buy for herself. But also… washable silk?? Heck yes! This is a great set for those warm upcoming months. RobesSO many of you just want a nice robe to start and end your days in so here are some great options from both you and us: 1. Solstice Organic Relaxed Robe | 2. Waffle Robe | 3. Lemon Zest | 4. Super-Plush Robe | 5. Women’s Cloud Weave Robe Coat | 6. Beautifully Soft Robe 1. This is my robe and I can’t tell you how much I love it. We all got one for this shoot back in 2018 and it may be one of my favorite (and definitely most used) things I’ve gotten as a gift since I started. 10/10 SkincareYour mom wants some cool skincare tools! So we will get into those in a minute. But a GREAT thing to do that some moms asked for was just a restock of what they already have. How fun would it be to give her a basket of her hair products or skincare routine. It’s a GUARANTEED great gift! But also a Sephora or Credo (an exclusively clean beauty shop) gift card would be awesome and give her an opportunity to try some new things:) If you or she needs product inspo, here is a post with all of our favorites. Onto the tools: 1. Elite Mirror Ten Brush Set | 2. Trinity Facial Toning Device | 3. Nail Glow Nail Enhancer | 4. LightStim for Wrinkles | 5. The Mani System | 6. Sephora Collection Deluxe Brush Set 1. This was the first time I had heard of this brand but boy do these brushes say luxury! A few moms were VERY excited about them. So if you have a makeup-loving mama and want to splurge, this is a great idea. JewelryHere’s the DL on Mother’s Day jewelry. It was split pretty 50/50 on moms wanting nothing to do with their kid’s names or “mom” jewelry and moms who REALLY wanted their kid’s initial(s) on the necks and fingers. So moral of the story…know the kind of mom you are gifting jewelry to. I know that may seem like common sense but I don’t think it is for everyone considering we’ve alllll gotten some “head-scratcher” gifts. Amirght?? Delicate Necklaces and LocketsYour mom or partner (like the moms who responded) just want a touch of glam that they can wear every day. Delicate gold jewelry is our favorite accessory too! Heck, we even wrote a whole post about it. But let’s get into these first: 1. Personalized Yue Necklace | 2. Mama Necklace | 3. Dollhouse Locket | 4. Paperclip Chain | 5. Bali Antique Locket Necklace | 6. Diamonds Station Necklace 1. For the initial loving moms, this necklace is such a pretty and very delicate option. Even with a few charms, it’s still very simple which I love. Honorable Mention: Morse code necklaces were mentioned a couple of times and I found this one that I think is really pretty. It’s a secret way to have a personalized piece of jewelry:) Stacking and Signet RingsThese two styles of rings are what the moms want, people! We got so many answers that specifically asked for stacking and signet rings and these are the ones we all love: 1. Micro Signet Ring | 2. 3 Bold Zoe Set | 3. Twist Ring | 4. Small Heirloom Signet Ring | 5. 1. First off, GLDN was the most talked about jewelry brand in the feedback and I get it, it’s all so pretty. And this ring is both signet AND stacking. Dream team! It is a personalized one though so make sure your mom or partner wants those little initials on their hand at all times:) FashionMoms also want a little revamp in the accessory department and the #1 request? Birkenstocks! Let’s get to it: Birkenstocks1. Arizona Colorblock Sandal | 2. Arizona EVA Sandals | 3. Arizona Torty Big Buckle Sandal 1. Moms are ABOUT this two-toned new look! So many asked for them specifically. They are comfortable and CUUUTE. I love this blue/pink look but also the coral/tan combo is awesome. It was very hard to decide which one to feature. SunglassesSunglasses are a little hard to buy for someone unless they tell you specifically what they want. BUT these are all VERY cute and returns are always possible if need be. But also gift certificates, y’all:) 1. Peyton-104 | 2. RB2448N | 3. Wright 1. Does your mom have a vintage flair? Well, Coco and Breezy have incredibly cool and unique sunglasses. These ones are on the more streamlined/classic side but go check out their site! Everyday PursesYour mom probably needs a new everyday bag (at least that’s the vibe I got from the other moms) Here are our picks: 1. The Canvas Medium Transport Tote | 2. Midi Sac | 3. Eden Carryall 1. Who doesn’t love a Madewell tote?? I love my black leather one but this one is in that GREAT green canvas fabric and would add a little fun to any outfit without overpowering it. Activities and FitnessI of course wasn’t super surprised that moms wanted to get their fitness on. BUT when the requests for paddle board kept coming in I was like well damn that is fun and really good to know! So let’s just start off there: Paddle BoardsI’ve only been paddle boarding once but I really loved it so I see why the moms want to paddle all summer long. What I love about these options is that they all come with paddles! So you don’t have to worry about piecing everything together. But do a little research but sadly I am not a paddle board expert…yet. 1. PathFinder Inflatable SUP Stand-up Paddleboard Set | 2. Pau Hana Malibu Classic Stand Up Paddle Board with Paddle | 3. Boardworks SHUBU Solr Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board with Paddle 1. This inflatable guy is highly rated and very affordable considering the research I’ve done. Plus it comes with a pump! FitnessPaddle Boarding wasn’t the only fitness-related item on our mom’s wishlist. Let’s get into the main ones: 1. Peleton Bike | 2. Aaptiv Subscription | 3. Theragun 1. Peleton is still the king (or Queen) of the at-home fitness world. It’s a splurge but if your mom or partner has been begging for one I think you would be the favorite:) Decor (But Really Art)
Ok that’s it! You made it! What do you think? Do you agree? Now we of course HIGHLY value thoughtful gifts over material things so here is a post FULL of ideas in that category. But sometimes a nice robe is really just…nice. I think in addition to maybe one of these gifts, your mom or partner just wants to be told they are doing a good job. Even in the best of relationships, we can forget to say how much we appreciate everything our loved ones do for us. So even though all of you aren’t our moms, we want to say that you are doing A GREAT job. This past year was mind-blowingly hard and the fact that you are still here standing is honestly a big deal. Happy early Mother’s Day<3 Love you, mean it. Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: EHD At-Home Spa DIYs with Culligan The post What Moms REALLY Want For Mother’s Day (Seriously, We Asked And You Delivered) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2QxFBH5 Wow, hello! Here’s the thing: last year, I wrote this guide to the best online plant delivery resources…but the sector has grown a lot, so I wanted to give it a little refresh. I’ve jumped back in and added 11 new big, small, and BIPOC-owned businesses at a variety of price points – the 2021 additions are designated by a cute lil’ asterisk, like this * – which can help make your in-house jungle dreams a reality. Let’s get to it, yeah? HAPPY WEEKEND, PALS. Earlier this week, Emily showed you her (not really) IKEA-hacked desk. The entire post is gold, but one line REALLY caught my attention: “I need a tree, guys – any online plant resources?” As EHD’s resident plant owner (at least, I think I’m in the lead — I have 18 very live plants and only 1 very dead tree currently living in my 1 bedroom apartment) and as a compulsive internet window shopper and bookmarker, I was like, “HEY BOSS, YES, I DO HAVE ONLINE PLANT RESOURCES TO SHARE!” And since we’re all kinda going through #TheBigQ together, I figured that maybe it’s not just Emily who’s on the hunt for a new plant friend — maybe a master list of the best tried-and-true online plant-shopping resources could be helpful for all of us. So today, I’ve pulled together my all-time favorite destinations (ranging in size from one-woman Etsy shops to West Elm), so you’ll be able to find the plant — and planter — of your dreams, within your budget, from the comfort of your own home. But first — because I am nothing if not a broken record stuck on an unending loop of a track titled “support your local small businesses” — I’d urge you to research your neighborhood nursery and find out if they’re offering curbside pickup or delivery options! A few weeks back, I asked for help on what to do with my balcony and several of you suggested planting jasmine. (THANKS!) I DMed my local nursery, Mickey Hargitay Plants (#notsponsored, but highly recommended if you’re in LA), and they’ve been helping me turn my tiny outdoor prison into a scented garden oasis. Anyway, it’s great and important to keep money in your community! But if your nursery is closed, or you want to send a present to a friend or family member (Mother’s Day is COMING QUICK, y’all), or you just want a beautiful plant delivered to your house in a cute pot with explicit care instructions and a money-back guarantee in case you accidentally kill it (yeah, some of these places actually HAVE THAT) — this is for you. (Or if you, like me, are a compulsive online window shopper and you just want to look at some beautifully merchandised websites… it’s for you, too.) LET’S GO! The SillConfession: I’m leading with The Sill because they’re my personal favorite. They offer monthly subscriptions (the best ones: this one for low-light plants, this one for beginners, and this one for pet-safe options), the best selection of pots, and affordable plant-care classes. They ship to the contiguous United States. (As a side note, if any gentleman callers ever want to send me a gift, I wouldn’t be angry to get something from the Sill in their Dolores planter. Just throwing it out there. 2021 update: I did, in fact, get sent plant in a Dolores planter and it was better than I had dreamed. #manifested) Bloomist *Oh my! We already love Bloomist for their affordable, high-end, organic decor and their eco-faux greenery line, but they’ve recently expanded into live plants and the quality is very, very, very good. They’re sustainably grown, the selection is great for beginners, and any of these would make the perfect present. Jess recently grabbed a fiddle leaf for her own apartment and we were blown away by the product – the planter is luxe, the plant was thriving, and they’re even topped with moss, which made for a really beautiful and finished look. 10/10. Bloomscape (and West Elm)Bloomscape came up a few times in the comments of Em’s post and with good reason: it’s an incredible resource. They have a broader selection with plants of all sizes (I have my eye on this XL tree, which they label as “perfect for beginners”) and also offer up bundles of herbs alongside tomato and pepper plants if you’re looking for an easy entry to the urban gardening game. Orders over $50 ship free! (They also have a few offerings available over on the West Elm website.) Isha Plants *This year, I fell in love with the IG feed for Isha Plants, which is a masterclass for anyone looking to learn more about propagation. To that end, Isha sells propagated versions of tons of gorgeous, rare, and healthy plants for you to grow at home (which is amazing, because these tiny plants can adjust much better to your specific environment). She even offers a monthly subscription so you can support a BIPOC-owned business while adding to your collection in a manageable, measured way. TerrainAH, Terrain. The literal Anthropologie of plant sites. This one’s more for the true, die-hard gardeners or backyard owners — you can grab a plant, sure, but what you REALLY wanna do on this site is poke around and look at the beautiful watering cans. And the beautiful chiminea. And the beautiful garden aprons. Ugh. In my next life, I want to be reborn as the type of person who needs a garden apron, instead of the type of person who accidentally forgets to water the tree I sit next to every day. BUT ANYWAY, this is a great Mother’s Day pick if you have a mom with a green thumb! The Bouqs Co. *You may know The Bouqs Co. from their flower arrangements, but did you know that they now sell plants, too? This is one of my favorite sources if I’m looking to buy a gift for someone who loves a fun, playful decor – how charming is this whimsical face planter? And get a load of these cute, happy little pink and mustard arched babies! Added bonus: since Bouqs is well-versed in shipping delicate flowers, you can trust that your plants will show up in tip-top shape. Leon & George (and Williams Sonoma)I think Leon & George may be the OG plant startup — they’re the first one I remember, at least, and I’m kinda obsessed with tracking this stuff. Their offerings are clean and simple and mid-century (and TBH, the prices for a plant + a Case Study-style planter + free shipping are not unreasonable). Small and medium plants ship nationwide; anything larger is limited to white-glove delivery in San Francisco and Los Angeles. They offer a 30-day guarantee AND lifelong plant support, though, so you’ll have an actual pro to turn to if an edge of a leaf starts lookin’ a little funky. Leon & George also sell through Williams Sonoma. Floom *THIS IS MY FAVORITE NEW ADDITION!!! Plug in your zip code and Floom will show you a huge variety of plants available for fast delivery via a local small business. In LA, I could grab a beautiful succulent arrangement or super-healthy orchid for delivery TODAY. I just love that Floom can empower tiny businesses with tools to help them compete in an on-demand economy – please check this out and see if there are any participating retailers near you! (They’re also a great source for finding floral arrangements.) MonroviaOH BOY, we LOVE Monrovia over here. This isn’t your traditional “online plant shop” — Monrovia is actually the nursery who grows all the plants that you actually find at your local nursery. We’ve worked with them closely before (like on the landscaping at the Portland project!) and guys, their stuff is top-notch. If you head to this website and enter your ZIP code, you can buy plants and have them delivered to you by your local garden center (and, as you recall from the intro, I’m A BIG FAN OF THIS OPTION). This is the ideal solution for all of you hoping to work on some bigger outdoor projects while you’re home! Grounded Plants *Grounded is an awesome BIPOC-owned business with a curated selection of plants designed to “elicit a sense of mindfulness and tranquility.” My personal favorite is their ponytail palm – a pet-safe choice! – because I have one at home that (a.) requires virtually no maintenance and (b.) that my cat can gnaw on/bat at without causing me an arrhythmia. Grounded also stocks some really gorgeous accessories, like this show-stopping watering can. In closing, I think this line from the website sums it up best: “Sometimes, when the world around you seems a bit chaotic, the synergy between plants and humans are a natural progression in helping us to remain grounded.” Leaf and ClayHUNDREDS OF SUCCULENTS. And affordable ones, too! My favorite offering here is the $20 monthly subscription, which lands you 3 special succulents (including shipping!). They also have separate pages for their weird (the page is called “weirdos,” which somehow makes it MORE CUTE) and rare plants — both are great resources if you either want something special or if you’re looking for a gift for a super knowledgable plant-loving friend. Urban Stems *Oh baby, another bouquet-delivery service that has expanded into the wild world of plants. When it comes to gift-selection, Urban Stems is pretty much unparalleled – there is absolutely an affordable plant/planter combo here for any taste and decor style. From whimsy unicorns to full, lush, English-garden-esque live wreaths to neutral textured boho ZZ plants…there’s a slam dunk present for EVERYONE here. Bookmark this site for the next time you’re stumped on what to give your pal who has everything! EtsyAnnnnd now I’m gonna share my secret: Etsy is home of 2 of the most affordable plant shops on the internet. It’s always hard for me to share my sources, but it’s also my job, so I guess it’s fine. Tropical Plants of Florida has 2′ monstera plants (and a ton of beautiful flowering plants and trees) for under $50 — yes, that is a good deal — and HouseplantJunkie offers a ton of basics for under $10. Both offer free shipping for orders over $35. Please let me know if you have any other favorite Etsy vendors! These are just my two tried-and-true favorites. Tal & Bert *So uh, Tal & Bert is technically a vessel/housewares store that also sells air plants, buuuuuut…COME ON. LOOK AT THESE PLANTERS, GUYS. They’re the perfect finishing touch for a bookshelf or a nightstand or a coffee table vignette. And air plants are sweet, more manageable, happy, perfect hits of greenery and life for those with black thumbs. Modern SproutI just can’t. I’m lost for words on this one. Our entire team wants to buy EVERYTHING HERE. Seed lollipops! PLANTING YOUR OWN POPCORN. You can grow a flowers in a jar!!! Tree kits. Push pops to attract pollinators. I know my job is to distill the best products and tell you the best things on each site, but EVERYTHING HERE IS THE BEST THING. (The thing that I, personally, am most excited about is the self-watering herb kit, which apparently also got Oprah’s seal of approval. So basically, I have the same tastes as Oprah, which is a huge compliment to me. Also, this wall-mounted planter/grow-light combo that is actually beautiful.) Breck’s *Breck’s is over 200 years old – founded in 1818 – and they are an amazing resource for any large-scale outdoor projects you have going on (check out their homepage for custom plant recommendations based on your geographic area!). But they also have a special offshoot, Breck’s Gifts, for folks looking to grab a potted, indoor plant with a variety of planter options for themselves or a loved one. While their site doesn’t have the same IG-aesthetic, this is hands-down one of the most affordable options out there (e.g. full plants & planter combos for $45 instead of $80+). Lula’s GardenPRESENT TIME. Lula’s Garden is the best option for gifting — your order can come in a super cute sleeve with a message like “Just Because,” “Congrats,” or “I Love You.” You can buy one succulent (in a really beautiful, minimalist pot), but their best options are these Verdant Gardens. Each contains 3 hand-potted succulents and they can be shipped nationwide (or hand-delivered in LA). Bookmark this one for all future holidays! Plants.com *If you’re like, “wow, dummy, I can’t believe you didn’t include a website literally called plants.com in the first iteration of this roundup,” well…I’m right there with you, TBH. The plant selection here is unparalleled – everything from bamboo to bonsai trees to huge, standalone plants to orchids to cactuses. (My personal favorite page is the curated “Feng Shui plants” collection.) PlantshedThis one’s for our NYC readers only (I know, I know, but there’s enough New Yorkers that I gotta include it!). I’ll keep it quick since it’s pretty exclusive: flowers and plants with some same-day delivery available. If you live in NYC, click through for more details. Greenery Unlimited *Two in a row – NYC residents, you’re in luck. Two specialty services just for you. Enjoy! Zen SucculentI’m SO EXCITED to share this one with you. The Zen Succulent checks all of my boxes: a North Carolina small business with 2 retail locations that’s 100% women- and BIPOC-owned. They’re currently offering a great collection of DIY Terrarium kits and I’m also very into their hand-made steel air plant stands. Home Depot *The well-loved, tried-and-true garden center resource now ships plants straight to your door, too! While some plants are still in nursery pots, the prices for delivery here are unbeatable and the variety is unmatched. Plus, maybe you can add a few of our favorite starter tools to your cart so you can beautify your space AND take on a DIY project all at once Nature Hills NurseryAnd you know I have to give one more recommendation for my exterior landscapers. Nature Hills has an enormous selection of bushes, trees, and flowering plants if you’re trying to tackle a backyard project or add some curb appeal. (Or, maybe you just like gardening for fun and it’s not about aesthetics, which is VERY COOL, too.) PlanterinaIf you already have your preferred pots on hand, Planterina is a great choice. They offer ceramics but they can also just ship a plant in a grow pot (the normal black/green plastic thing that plants normally live in), too, which can save a ton of money. Planterina also offers a great Daily Deals section AND free shipping on all orders. ALRIGHT, Y’ALL. That’s all of my plant resource knowledge and it’s officially been bestowed on you. If you’ve had an experience with any of these companies or a review to share, I’d love to hear it. If you know a different site that I didn’t mention, let me know! And if you’re in a city or town with a nursery that is currently delivering, feel free to share the knowledge so your neighbors can help support, too. LET’S CHAT, OK? Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Zeke Ruelas | From: Modern Art Deco Kitchen Reveal The post The Best Online Plant Delivery Resource List – UPDATED!! appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/34NPwut Whether you are a maximalist, minimalist, book lover, or styling master, the right type of shelving can make all the difference in a space. Especially in a small space where every centimeter counts, you want to make sure you are utilizing vertical space efficiently but in a way that is not visually overwhelming. Bookcases are wonderful for storage and showing off style but sometimes standalone, enclosed bookcases are bulky and can take up too much room (and visual real estate). Don’t worry, I am not knocking bookcases (I’m a book lover after all) but I have been seeing a surge in wall-mounted, open bookcases and shelving happening right now and it is good stuff my friends. This style of bookcase can create the illusion of built-in shelving while also keeping the space feeling airy and open. Allow me to demonstrate… Lea’s bookshelves (similar) in her basement reveal are a perfect example of applying wall-mounted shelving to create the illusion of built-in shelving. The wall-to-wall shelving looks architecturally interesting and they don’t take up any extra floor space. Win-win!
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Lea recommends using extra brackets as too much weight can cause the shelves to bow. This warm wood-filled mid-century home (via design files) proves that airy, open shelving is simple yet packs a punch and can work with so many styles. Even when filled to the brim with books, the area doesn’t feel overcrowded or bulky which is so important in smaller homes.
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Your bookcases don't have to be wall mounted to get the look. We just recommend they be on the visually lighter size and that you use at least two for them. Shanty’s stunning remodel of this Japandi style home, also shows that a free-standing open bookshelf can have the same visual impact as a wall-mounted one. The above home tour is what convinced me to go with this bookshelf for my living room. I really wanted built-in shelves for all my books and the wall-mounted bookcase was a great compromise and it gives off this “grandpa’s library” feel that I was going for. If you are looking for something similar, I highly recommend them as there are several sizes and height options so you can customize the shelves to fit your space perfectly. Again, the wall-mounted bookcase is so impactful because you can as much shelving to playing around with as you want but the openness makes it feel less massive and overwhelming. These shelves are styled bright and minimally which feels cohesive with the rest of the space. And before we move on let us never forget the beautiful design and styling of Key and her office makeover! If you are short on storage and space, a wall-mounted shelf with a little closed storage can provide styling options and storage without being too visually bulky. Julie sourced this one from CB2 for this Madmen inspired mid-century living room reveal and it is perfect for the space and style. It complements the rest of the space without feeling too heavy in this corner since it has a relatively “open shelf” look. Another plus with this type of wall-mounted bookcase is the shelves will be flush with the wall even if you have thicker moulding, so not even a centimeter of space is sacrificed.
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A wall-mounted bookcase is perfect if you have thicker baseboards. This way you won't have that awkward gap between your bookcase and wall. Do you guys remember Velinda’s awesome DIY wall unit? She DIY’d them based off of this tutorial because she wanted a visually lightweight storage solution and it offered so much room to play with styling and by using baskets on the bottom shelf she created space for closed storage as well. A wall unit like this so is awesome for living rooms because you can fit your TV in the shelving as Velinda did which makes the TV less of a focal point. Here in this living room reveal there’s a custom wall-to-wall shelving unit which demonstrates how the open shelving can be a piece of art/architecture in and of itself. This reveal is always a hit because of the awesome shelving but if you don’t have the budget or wall space for this type of unit, worry not because there are so many great wall-mounted and non-wall-mounted (aka renter-friendly) options on the market right now that can give off a very similar effect. Here are some of our favorites: 1. Alana Bookshelf | 2. Mesa Bookshelf | 3. Beckett 6-High Shelf Sable | 4. Baxter Etagere | 5. Gold Teak & Metal Bookcase | 6. 1970s Boho Bamboo Etagere | 7. 1970s Mid-Century Rattan Wrapped Etagere | 8. Antique Gold Metal Aaliyah Bookshelf | 9. Natural Wood 5-Shelf Bookcase | 10. Floating Lines Metal Wall Shelf | 11. Arco Shelf in Dark Walnut | 12. Irving Bookcase | 13. Shelf Loring Leaning Bookshelf | 14. Tall Natural Rattan Arched Nylah Bookcase | 15. Kalmar Ten-Tier Wall Mounted Shelf I am absolutely ga-ga over the double arch detail of #11 and in fact, an arched bookcase is a simple, renter-friendly way to add an arch detail in your home. Conversely, #7 and #14 are really cool boho options and I could see #5 working with almost any style home. If your home is feeling a little too boxy, #2, #6 and #12 are unique options to add some dynamic and movement to the space. But wait, there’s more… 1. Helix Walnut Bookcase With Drawers | 2. Jenny Lind Black Bookcase | 3. Wall Shelving | 4. Springville Bookshelf with Drawers Black |5. Triple Modular Wall Shelf | 6. Kalmar Ten-Tier Wall Mounted Shelf | 7. Scout Bookshelf | 8. Solid Wood Etagere Bookcase | 9. Knox Tall Open Bookcase | 10. Stay Bookcase |`11. Helix Bookcase | 12. Diana 4 Tier Etagere | 13. Mid Century Danish Rosewood Wall Unit | 14. North Avenue Tall Bookshelf Charter Oak | 15. Modular Wall Unit How special and cool is #2?? And at that price?? I might need it for my bedroom (which I am tentatively thinking will be heavily French-inspired). Now, if you are looking for a wall-to-wall shelving option #5 would definitely do the trick and #15 is extra versatile as you can mix and match the size and shelving options. Which one is your favorite? What other roundups would you like to see from us? Meet me in the comments and let me know. Until next time! xx Opener Image Credit: Design by Sarah Zachary |Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: How To Add The Right Amount Of Color For Every Room In Your House The post Hot Design Tip: Open Shelf Bookcases Create Visual Drama And Add A LOT Of Style (+ 30 Of Our Favorites) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3dWTk2J From Em: This is the first time we’ve worked with an outside design team and it’s SUCH a different experience, I can’t even tell you. I feel a shared pressure, a shared workload, and Anne and her team bring skills, expertise, and experience that I just don’t have. It’s been a DREAM and while there is time for things to get hairy as they likely will at times, Brian and I feel so safe in this relationship. But I know that working with me is certainly a different experience – not just because I’m a designer (and designing for a designer is SO HARD) but because all of you are watching and weighing in (thank goodness – you’ve really affected certain decisions for the good). So Anne said she wanted to write about the experience thus far and of course I was down for it. What could possibly be the harm?? Take it away Anne. It’s not often that I get to work with another designer on her future home, so I’ve embraced this experience with Emily to the fullest. Here are three things I’ve learned so far about designing for an influencer and fellow designer. Please bear with me, this is my very first blog post. Being an introvert and a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of person, I always love hanging out with storytellers. I love stories. I am just not confident about being able to tell a story myself but really wanted to take on this challenge. But here I go. Considering that I love organized thoughts in bullet-points, numbers, and no-nonsense systems, this is going to be challenging for me. (Ok, there will still be numbers)! 1. Working On This Farm Is So Much FunEmily and Brian are kind, self-deprecating go-getters, and eternally enthusiastic and creative. I am having so much fun. We have been spending countless hours remotely together exploring many ideas. Not having a social life due to social distancing, I have been “pretend-living” their lives in their new home looking at it from every possible angle, including through the many eyes of Emily’s very kind and inspiring audience, her brother, and my husband. It is like having a million best friends. I always tell my clients that the fewer cooks in the kitchen, the better, not to design for their friends and family, and to be careful of following trends as they tend to date a project. Well, in this case, Emily, Brian, and I are confusing ourselves by looking at every trend, listening to all our friends and families, and going in circles like there is no tomorrow. While this is not an efficient way to design by any stretch of the imagination, the three of us are having so much fun in the process! The other day we had one of our 3-4-hour meetings. I am having to put my foot down so we can finalize the window and door sizes and locations so we can get the framing plan wrapped up. Well, I thought we had a lot of windows before today’s meeting, but ohhh nooo, Emily and Brian were able to find room for more skylights! Emily and Brian also decided last week to move the mudroom from one end of the house to the other. We carved this out of their large main bedroom, which, for the longest time, they convinced me they needed. We actually added onto the ’60s addition to make the bedroom larger. Well, it was a great change to the spaces and we even added a gallery… with more windows (of course) and we found a space for a library ladder… again. The dog washing station keeps going into and out of the plans. I decided to stop designing yet another version but just write a note into the plans that it might come back. So, 1st lesson to remember, Anne: there is a lot of fun to be had by not being your German, efficient self and instead, taking the long, explorative route to the destination. 2. My One-Step-At-A-Time Approach + Emily’s Exploratory One = Great Creative ChallengeArciform’s 20-plus years of experience has taught us that, if we do not have most of our ducks in a row before we start with a remodel, we all hustle to make final decisions on the fly, financial predictions are harder to make, and the result might not be quite as thought-out. Well, working with a social media influencer/blogger who goes at rapid speed and loves a lot of different ideas (we have this very much in common), we are approaching this project from all sides. We are still designing windows and door sizes and layouts while we have the engineer doing structural calculations and the demo phase has begun. Granted, doing the demo early in this case is smart, as the Henderson family is not living in the house. We are calling it the “Discovery Phase”. Homes that have been remodeled often tend to have hidden “treasures” behind the walls, or under the ceiling and floorboards. By uncovering those early on, we can make more informed decisions about the home’s new structure. Emily, Brian, and I were a bundle of nerves about having made the right decision with regard to demo-ing the front porch when we did. We have peeled back layers of past trends and can now see through the framing with x-ray vision towards the future of this old home. It is funny when Emily and I fret over tile layouts, plumbing, and lighting fixture choices while we are not even sure if the space we are designing these details for will exist the next week! I must admit I have gone down the design rabbit hole in most every option we have come up with. Not efficient at all! Stephyn Meiner, Arciform’s Design Associate, keeps telling me to hold my horses, but it is hard when one is having fun. The 2nd lesson learned: stepping out of my more structured comfort zone by exploring so many more options than usual and demo-ing before the scope is set has pushed me creatively. It does confirm to me that I love this momentum and Emily and Brian should keep it up! Here are some of the “hidden treasures”: 3. Emily Has A Lot Of Industry Partnerships And Works Hard For Those RelationshipsIt is incredibly impressive to see how hard Emily and her team work to promote and support their partners. Emily wants to make it worth everyone’s time to team up with her and does she ever! She is loyal to a fault, and we all must be sure she makes decisions that are best for her and her family in the end. She also admitted to me that we must keep her in check so she does not design just for a photo op. This is a new one for me, but I really like the way she looks at a space through the lens of a camera. It balances the practical with composition and the element of the story she wants to tell. So, in addition to designing for a family that is re-inventing themselves by moving from sunny California to less-sunny Oregon to live on a mini-farm for the first time, we are also looking at the project through the lens of promotional opportunities and the many ways Emily can tell her stories. So, the 3rd lesson that I have learned is that looking at designs through a camera lens, or as if I were promoting a product, is a great additional tool to help design spaces. Spinning and twirling and exploring and considering has been the norm for the last 3 months and it has been nothing but fun! ‘Til next time! The post The 3 Lessons Our Design/Build Team Has Learned Working With Me (A Fun, Fast, And Yet Often Indecisive Social Media Design Blogger) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/32PFx7M 5 VERY Relatable Kitchen and Bathroom Reader Design Agonies (And A Special Guest Is Here To Help)4/26/2021 A month or so ago, we did a call-out on Em’s Instagram for your design agonies. We deeply understand the mental torture that a design agony can induce so we love helping! There were so many awesome submissions that I decided to break them up. Today is all about kitchens and one dated bathroom that I think A LOT of you will relate to. But don’t worry, I (someone who has never remodeled anything) won’t be dishing out the main advice. My dear friend and design sister (and EHD Lead Designer Alum) Julie Rose was consulted heavily so everyone can feel extremely taken care of:) I decided to pick kitchens and bathrooms as the first post because we know a lot of you are renovating those spaces (and I think we’ve said that a thousand times this past year but IT’S TRUE). And as I am sure like me, most of you feel they are extremely intimidating spaces to make decisions on. More than any other space those decisions feel so permanent and ARE more expensive. Making a mistake doesn’t feel like an option. So, by helping these wonderful reader’s agonies, hopefully it will give the rest of you some solid insight and confidence to get that kitchen and bathroom the way you want:) Let the problem-solving being… Kitchen Remodel While Keeping Meaningful Spanish Tile Floors:The Agony:“Here’s my design agony: We’re about to finally do a kitchen remodel in our 1900 farmhouse in Massachusetts, a farmhouse with terracotta tile with Mexican tile accents and I have no idea what color cabinets and countertops to apply to the remodel. It’s been four years in the decision phase because I still don’t know how to incorporate the current tile. The previous owners put in a terracotta floor with Mexican accent tiles back in the 80s. While I’ll admit this floor is one thing that drew me to the home when purchasing, it is quite beautiful and unique (despite the fact it belongs nowhere near a farmhouse), it’s been a huge thorn in my side while trying to design a kitchen upgrade. We cannot afford to replace it because the tile is not only in the kitchen, it connects to an entrance hall, another hallway where it is in three rooms (laundry, pantry, and bathroom) as well as two landings of a stairwell. Plus, after meeting the owner of the tile shop who installed it, it would break my heart to have it removed (it was apparently his favorite floor he’s ever worked on and one of the tile shapes is no longer made).” The Plea:“What color cabinets and counters would you do with this flooring? As you can see in the detailed tile that’s scattered throughout, the main colors are royal blue, orange, green, and yellow. I’m not a primary color person, but want to be sure we do this properly as it’s a huge expense and can only be done once. It’s currently a very cavelike room with the dark cabinets and soffits – but doing it all white may make the floor pop too much? Do we try to blend the floor or do we forget that it’s there? My favorite rooms are those with pops of color, which sums up the rest of my house aside from a darker cozy tv room which is off the kitchen.” Julie’s Solutions (with Jess Commentary):
Yep, it’s beautiful and is such a great idea! I really hope that this helps with some of Jennifer’s indecision. The Classic Kitchen & Trim Agony:The Agony(s) and Plea(s):“1. Paint! I can’t decide if I should paint our trim? We have gorgeous trim and I’m struggling with painting it dark so it stands out more and my walls can be white… painting my walls darker so the white trim stands out… or painting the walls and trim the same color and being moody and fun. Another issue is that the trim goes all over our first floor including on pretty glass doors- so I feel like I have to commit for the whole house. 2. Our kitchen! This is my least favorite room in the house.. and where I spend 1/2 of my time. It’s dated, has no storage, is small, and generally blah. Here I’d love any thoughts on how to make it feel bigger (how to make it bigger? Fairy godmother?), what colors to paint at least the lower cabinets as well as a basic palette that might work, and how to get more storage. Also, what do people do with this awkward space above cabinets?? The cabinets are in great shape so I don’t want to replace them but ughhhh.” Julie’s Solutions (with Jess Commentary):
Vintage/Dated Blue Tile Bathroom Agony:The Agony/Plea:What do I do with this vintage all-blue bathroom!? How do I modernize it without ripping out the tile? Julie’s Solutions (with Jess Commentary):
All Wood Kitchen with Skylight:The Agony:“Let’s call this design agony “I have a perfectly fine, high quality, super functional kitchen that I hate”. As much as I love the idea of tearing out our perfectly fine, high-quality, super functional kitchen, filling up a landfill with its corpse, I’d much rather… not? 1. It’s incredibly wasteful and as a family we have always tried to take steps to be conscious of our impact on our environment. 2. We all know kitchens are a beast in terms of budget and I’d much rather spend that money on something more worthwhile like, say, the kids’ college fund, travel, or something super practical like a garage (we live in a Boston suburb where you can blow $1m on a house and STILL NOT GET A FREAKING GARAGE) 3. This kitchen is PERFECTLY FINE, HIGH QUALITY, AND SUPER FUNCTIONAL!!!” The Plea:“There are a couple of bigger issues that need to be resolved here, for instance, we need a backsplash and a proper range hood above the cooktop, and we are currently consulting with a Velux (!) specialist about expanding the skylight/chase to encompass the entire island area, but other than that we’d like to keep this update as budget-friendly as possible, utilizing the existing cabinet boxes (although replacing those arched doors is 1000% in the plan) appliances, and countertops. Julie’s Solutions (with Jess Commentary):First here is a photo of “the lounge” so you can have a sense of why Julie is making certain suggestions: So cute right??! Ok now onto the kitchen…
Kitchen With Soon To Be Replaced Counters Agony:The Agony/Plea:“Help! After a year of living and working at home, we are desperate to modernize our 90s kitchen by painting the cabinets, changing the hardware, etc. We are experienced painters, and have read/learned a ton about best practices for painting cabinets and are SO READY to take this on! Here’s the rub: we can’t afford to replace the countertops at this point, so we need a paint color combination that works with our current countertops (Silestone Kalahari, pictured), but would also work with our future countertops (we’re thinking a white/gray silestone). The plan is for the island to be a different color than the cabinets, but we’re stymied beyond that.” First here is Mary Beth’s future kitchen inspo and her current countertops: This is a good one because so many of us aren’t able to financially replace countertops and this type of stone is in SOOOOO many homes (my old apartment too under the plywood cover my dad made me). So I hope this is an example to help many of you struggling with the same agony! Take it away Julie… Julie’s Solutions (with NO Jess Commentary:))
Ok great now everyone in the world’s kitchen and bathroom agonies are solved. Thanks, Julie! What a great way to start the week. JUST KIDDING! But if you still have questions (and of course you do) we have A LOT of kitchen and bathroom content coming your way. But in the meantime here are some great posts to hold you over: Your Pre-Weekend Dose of Serious Eye Candy: 10 Reader Before & After DIY Kitchens | 12 DIY Reader Bathroom Renovations (Full of Budget-Friendly Tips, DIYS + Real Cost and Timing) | Tile 101: Everything You Need to Know About Buying & Picking Tile | Countertops 101: All the Details on Marble, Quartz, Quartzite (& What’s Right for You) | Are IKEA Kitchen Cabinets Worth The Savings??? A Very Honest Review One Year Later | The RIGHT Way To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets and Save $$$ (Factory Finish Guaranteed) Thank you as always for spending a little of your day with us! Love you, mean it. And seriously… THANK YOU, JULIE. Left Opening Image Credits: Home of Joanna Saltz | Photo by David Land The post 5 VERY Relatable Kitchen and Bathroom Reader Design Agonies (And A Special Guest Is Here To Help) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3vkyCjn We hope everyone had a wonderful week filled with love and laughter. This link up has lots in store including some fun articles, a mother’s day gift idea, and a very very good house tour (as you can see from the opener image above). So let’s dig right in, shall we? The verdict for the Derek Chauvin case was announced early last week and was finally held accountable. Here is a great article on what to do next if you’re looking for resources. Also, our hearts are broken over the completely unnecessary death of Ma’Khia Bryant. So while Derek Chauvin was held accountable, it’s clearer than ever the system that needs to be changed. We’ve been talking about this home tour all week and once you click on it it’s not hard to see why…Troye Sivan’s Melbourne home is like walking through a well-designed, warm hug. It’s perfectly blends texture with pieces of interest and is soooo easy on the eyes. Amazing work, Troye and Flack Studio. From Emily: The necklace I bought myself a few years ago is still available (and on sale). I wore it on stories last week, so thought I’d share it here too because it would make a great mother’s day gift if you’re looking From Mallory: Ya know how girls often love wearing their boyfriend’s clothes?? I’ve taken it to a whole new level because I discovered that I love wearing my boyfriend’s SOCKS even more. And, no not the thick ankle or taller kind of socks, I’m talking men’s no-show socks specifically. Chase has been wearing these vans socks for YEARS and I recently discovered that they are so much better than women’s no-show socks. They’re thick, soft, wonderfully lucious and since they’re men’s socks they’re a little big so they don’t slip off your foot. Honestly, I don’t know why I’ve been buying those horrible thin women’s no-show socks because they ALWAYS end up slipping off your heel while in your shoe and it’s SO annoying (now we fight over these socks). Seriously, everyone go get yourself a pair of these no show socks and experience the luxury. From Jess: For probably a bunch of reasons, both known and unknown, I’ve been feeling pretty down the past couple of weeks. And while “things” in no way solve your problems, sometimes they can help lift your mood. So lighting these candles (both the Palo Santo Suede and Wild Fig Vetiver) while I work and painting my nails this happy pink colored nail polish (color: SE) have done just that. Walking is also a massive help and I highly recommend it too:) From Ryann: I was just introduced to Good On You thanks to a commenter on my last post (shout out Suzanne!) and it is an amazing resource to search for ethical and sustainable clothing brands. They do all the research and give each brand a rating so you can be confident in your purchases plus they have tons of articles on the fashion industry as a whole and it’s all so fascinating and informative. I just spent over an hour searching every brand I love and it’s VERY eye-opening but I feel so much more informed because of it. I can’t recommend them enough! From Caitlin: My eyebrows basically flew up and off my face while reading this piece about American tree brokers who cater to the super wealthy. I, someone who is rarely lost for words (as many of you know), am lost for words. Really wild and quick and surreal read. (Also, this isn’t the point of the story, but look at that book-matched marble behind the Tuscan-imported olive tree!!!) Also From Caitlin: It only took a FULL YEAR of trying to find a litter box solution that didn’t make me want to claw my eyes out (remember this treasure trove of awesome feedback?), but I FINALLY DID IT. And it’s AMAZING. It’s like freakin’ Apple made a litter box (and I was FaceTiming with Jess when I opened the shipment, so she can confirm that it’s also packaged like Apple made a litter box). Here’s why I love it: the shape is so nice and modern, the optional “shelter” adds height and prevents litter from flying everywhere, the built-in tools are actually stunning, and best of all: PEE DOESN’T STICK TO IT. I was originally drawn to the aesthetics but now that I’ve used it for a month, I can confirm that it’s beautiful AND functional. I know I’m screaming, but cat owners, hear me out: I never have to chip at any cake-y corners anymore!!! It has 13 pages of 5-star reviews from similarly-enthused folks because this thing is ALL THAT and so worth it. Like, truly, it made cat ownership about 80% less frustrating. I LOVE THIS BOX. (Most importantly, my kitty does too! :)) One More From Caitlin: My favorite Madewell bandana is only $4.89 right now!! It’s navy – so it works great as a neckerchief with most outfits – but it’s also astrology-themed, so it’s like a fun little secret. (There are a ton of others available, too, but this one is my favorite.) Highly recommended for anyone looking to spice up their wardrobe without spending on all-new pieces! Thanks, everyone for reading –– we’ll see you first thing in the morning. Xx Opening Image Credits: Design by Flack Studio | Styling by Joseph Gardner| Photo by Anson Smart | via Architectural Digest The post The Link Up: The Sweet & Affordable Necklace Emily Has Worn For 3 Years, Mallory’s No-Show Sock Secret, And An AWESOME Sustainable Clothing Brand Resource appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3vhFu10 This week, I was looking for a good comfort-watch TV show – you know, a show where you already know what’s happening so you can pay half-attention and there’s no love lost if you accidentally dose off in the middle – and I landed on What Not To Wear, which I loved as a kid. Surprises! Money! Makeovers! Reveals! I remembered it being so glamorous and fun…but it hit a bit differently as an adult. It felt kind of mean – every contestant on the show is delivering a master class in “smiling while feeling really sad and uncomfortable” – especially when compared to the makeover shows of today, which are admittedly WAY more about building someone up instead of, you know, ambushing them in an incredibly public place, telling everyone that their friends hate their wardrobes, throwing all their prized possessions in a trash can, and forcing them to stand in a mirrored room while two beautiful folks tell them how “big” and “rectangular” they look. Every episode really focused on figuring out how to “flatter,” but the rules felt really arbitrary – when one guy wore oversized outfits, they bawked at him and called him “chicken legs,” but when women wore similarly-sized clothing, they were immediately told that it made them look enormous and that they instead needed to be taught how to wear things that flattered them. That word has always brought up a little bit of controversy here on the blog – because honestly, what is flattering? The What Not To Wear definition was basically “things that make you look smaller and like you have an hourglass figure,” which leads me to be like…with that extremely specific and kind of unachievable definition, NO WONDER WE ALL HAVE SOME SORTA BODY ISSUE. Ryann’s post this Wednesday struck the deepest nerve with me and it seems like a lot of you related, too. So this week, I wanted to update the 2021 definition – almost two decades after WNTW – and state, for the record, that flattering pieces are the ones that make YOU (or, in this blog case, the EHD team :)) feel best. I look back at all the time in my early twenties trying to draw attention to my waist or trying to make my boobs look balanced with my wide hips and now I’m just like…why???? So some boy who lives with a million roommates and sleeps on a mattress on the ground will notice? Why did I spend so much time concerned with the traditional definition of “flattering” and worrying about scaring folks off if I didn’t wear something waisted? (“Oh gosh, no, this flowy top/dress will make me look like a tent,” – me, 2003-2019ish, forgetting that tents are always fun AF!!!) How many fun pieces did I miss out on wearing? How many parties did I spoil by standing in the corner because I wore something that I thought was cool, but then felt was unflattering? Why did I let 2 TV hosts from 2003 shape my opinion on myself?!?! To that end, this week I asked the team to show me the outfits that made THEM feel like their coolest, happiest, most powerful self. None of us bought anything new for this post – we just wanted to show you the things that make us feel like we’re on top of the world. The team picked wide, fancy dresses and comfy rompers and tight leather pants and loudly printed pieces and it was just fun for me to see all of us proudly rocking our favorite things, without worrying about some self-imposed fashion rules. LET’S LOOK AT HOW CUTE MY TEAM IS, OKAY? From EmilyI call this my “Mrs. Doubtfire” Zoom dress. Here’s why – it’s so cute but so baggy that I can throw it over pajamas at a Zoom moment’s notice (which I do). Then I throw it off and spend the rest of the morning in my PJs. Then I change into my workout clothes and when I come back I often have to throw it back over my workout clothes (including over the t-shirt) for another Zoom call – looking all pulled together. I feel like Robin Williams playing two characters, but I don’t have to take off ANYTHING underneath – just throw it over!! I’ve worn it probably 25 days since I got it. It has GREAT puffy sleeves, an incredibly good cut that drapes so well with contrasting stripes. I can dress it down (flip flops) and up (mules – if I ever wear heels again). I can wear it in winter and summer (and spring/fall, duh). I wasn’t going to get it until I tried it on at my friend’s house (who works for The Great) and I was like “oh shoooooot”. It’s a splurge, but I know historically I wear The Great’s clothes for years and years (their older stuff was remarkably timeless) and will do the same with this one as well. It makes me feel happy, pulled together, and comfortable. From JessI am pretty sure I found this brand, Lucy Paris, through one of you and to whoever it was THANK YOU! It’s been a hot minute since I ordered a dress online (or any clothing for that matter) that fit like a glove as much as this dress (and was under $100). Those puff sleeves have just the right amount of volume, the neckline is both modest yet sexy, and I love the length on my almost 5’4” frame. I feel like I could wear this a ton of different ways both dressed up and down (hi sneakers!) which makes it just an ideal purchase that will last me. Honestly, it just makes me feel pretty and feminine which is something I haven’t felt in a long time and I didn’t realize how much I needed it. This is by far the most “Jess outfit” out there. I wear a variation of this (switching out t-shirt colors) almost every time I leave the house. Do I dream of dressing in bright colors and fun/cool patterns? Sure. But I think I’m a little averse to dressing “loud.” I think it’s both that I’m a casual person and also that I am afraid of bringing too much attention to a body I’m working on loving as-is (Ryann’s post was beyond relatable to me too). Anyway, my love affair with these jeans is very real. I literally am excited every time I slide them on. I am heartbroken that t-shirt is no longer available and those clogs just make me feel cool. All in all an easy yet stylish enough outfit that puts me at ease. From RyannI am still at home 80% of the time and I just can’t quit being comfy. I bought this thermal romper after seeing it on Ali Tate’s instagram and it really is the perfect lounge-around-the-house-but-make-it-cute piece (but heads up, it runs big so definitely size down). Of course, I am wearing it with my trusty tan ballet flats that I can’t get enough of and when it starts getting warm again I can definitely see wearing this to the beach during sunset (cause I totally do that all the time…HA). When I tell you I feel good in this dress, I mean I feel BANGIN in it. I love how flowy it is and the sleeves are super cute and whimsical plus I can’t say no to a plaid pattern. I love wearing it with my favorite loafers for a “sophisticated” look but it’s also really cute with sandals or platforms. I can’t wait to wear it all summer long! From MalloryI’ve been LIVING in this dress for 2 months now and it’s the perfect winter to spring to summer transition dress because it looks GREAT with tights or boots by itself (I usually wear it with boots that look like this but tbh I couldn’t find them and they’re not available anymore but just so ya know). I was actually really happy with how they looked with these lil heels though and I can’t wait to wear this dress with these shoes to make it more of a summer dinner or a –how do you say– brunchy look Anyway, I wanted you guys to know that this dress is great because it’s not tight ANYWHERE but comes in at the waist to make it feel like you’re not drowning in fabric. Plus it’s lightweight and I like that it’s long-sleeved so I can secretly wear my apple watch under it without feeling like I’m ruining my outfit (I love the apple watch but she aint that cute). All in all, I love this dress I love it so much. This shirt was an impulse buy and boy I did not anticipate how much I would wear it. It’s super comfy and if your girls are smaller up top (like me!) you don’t have to wear a bra because there’s a lot of fabric up there. It’s comfy AND cute so that’s a real win. I am fully on the leather pant train and I’m not planning on getting off. These pants I bought from a thrift store I think?? I honestly can’t remember but I wear them so much that they’re starting to look uh not great, so I’m considering splurging on a nice pair that will last me forever like this one or this one. Just know I am on the market so if anyone has recs, I’m all ears. Lastly, I’ve had these snakeskin boots for over a year and they’re now formally known as my “walking boots” because they’re in fact comfortable enough for me to walk for long periods of time in (great for bar hopping/sightseeing if I do say so myself). From CaitlinShockingly, these are NOT pajamas and I wear this outside (!!!) in front of people (!!!) on purpose (!!!). I think it may because I’m nearing 30, but all of a sudden, I like…really don’t care what other folks think? When I was younger, I never would have worn something like this – my mind would have been a full cacophony of is it too weird? too loud? unflattering? can only thin girls wear this? am I cool enough? – and now, I have a new mantra: IF IT’S NOT FUN, I’M NOT WEARING IT. I love a bold print and a matching set, but this top and this bottom are my personal favorites because they’re made of eco-viscose, which literally feels like wearing a cool, silky waterfall. I just really feel like ~myself~ in this, which is great Weird esoteric phobia time: I really DO NOT like bellybuttons (for reasons I still don’t understand today) and so one of my least favorite things is when I wear something form-fitting and get a bellybutton imprint (someone please chime in and confirm that you know what I’m talking about!!!). I grabbed this smocked + sleeved dress for a July baby shower and was a little wary about trying on something so tight – my quarantine 15 and broken back extra 15 are real, and clearly I still have some personal self-acceptance work to do!!! – but the special details, like the puff sleeves (you can wear them up, too), the fruit print, and the banana-shaped beads up top just made me happy and excited to return to the world of in-person gatherings. (And there’s no bellybutton imprint!!) It just feels like a fun celebration/party dress as I start to see my other fully-vaccinated pals again over the next few months And there you have it – some of our favorite outfits that make us feel like we can take on the world. I know it’s been a pretty introspective few days on the blog with a lot of self-reflection – and this post was no exception! – but it just felt like a fun and fitting way close out the week. Hopefully, you got some outfit inspo, or read a review of a piece you’ve been eyeballing, or at least got to know the cool ladies I work with every day a little bit better…and now you also know what to look for when you spot us in the wild NOW CHOOSE YOUR FIGHTER. WHO IS BEST DRESSED? JUST KIDDING…have a great weekend. xx The post What If We Stopped Worrying About What’s “Flattering”?? – 5 Women on The Outfits That Make Them Feel Great appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3dK4fwG The Henderson’s love of natural wood comes only second to our love of natural light. In fact, it’s my personal thesis that you NEED a lot of wood in conjunction with natural light in order to still feel cozy. But can you have too much wood? Specifically in a kitchen? I think the old me would have said “Yes” because I love mixing things up and I love color. But I look at our kitchen here and so many others online and I think – I actually don’t think you can have too much wood – when done right. Wood is classic and timeless, warm and organic, not to mention (and why I’m here today) so much less maintenance. The reason for us leaning into wood isn’t just aesthetics – painted cabinets chip so much easier than wood, and I prefer a camouflaged ding that you can barely see in the wood grain over an obvious paint chip. Now when I presented this agony to Anne’s husband, Richard, who owns Versatile (the sister company to Arciform that custom makes windows, doors, and cabinetry) he assured me that the painted cabinets can be practically chip-less if done right (and that’s all in the hands of the cabinet fabricator and painter – many of which do not do it right for long term). I have hired many “professional” cabinet finishers on many kitchens and all of the cabinets have still chipped within the first year. He was shocked and said that he’s never had that complaint. I even checked in with the Silverlake Hills house client yesterday and asked them if their cabinets have chipped – this one: They said that “yes they chip” and that every other year they pay the original painter $150 for touchups. Now that is not that much, but I think it’s rare for the original painter (with the original exact paint color and finish) to do this. But I know for a fact that we had these custom cabinets professionally built and painted off-site, they cured for days between coats. To me, they shouldn’t chip! That’s all to say we are skeptical about painted cabinetry (although Rashida’s post gave me hope and Richard said she is doing it EXACTLY right so only time will tell). Our wood cabinets at the mountain house are real wood, and just sealed with a matte wax, the black is stained reclaimed wood. I KNOW that we beat them up HARD, but nary a chip in sight. Sure if you look close you can see a ding or… 20, but it’s just different than a chip. The Farm Kitchen (Kinda)Now here’s an old rendering of the kitchen that was not even close to done and a billion things have changed, but just wanted to give you a sense of what we are working with – a big island, perimeter cabinetry, and fridge column next to a bar. NOTHING HERE HAS BEEN DESIGNED, meaning this is just for space planning and layout, no finishes have been selected. Thus the beginning of the exploration. After speaking to Richard yesterday I feel more confident that they can deliver a practically chip-free painted cabinet, but I still want to explore with you how an all wood kitchen would look like. I’m officially obsessed with this island. On that floor (note the awkward wood floor patching that looks AWESOME) and the knobs and framing that is a bit darker wood (looks like cherry?). Just so stunning. Now, what if the cabinets on the perimeter of that same kitchen were wood? Would it be too much? See here: They did white on the perimeter but wood on all the counters. Now if they had done wood cabinets with marble on the countertops would that be too much wood? I think not. Also yes, note the wood pendants – these people love wood as much as we do Now, this kitchen is a bit darker than we’d go but I think the all-wood look is just so pretty. The glass cabinets, farmhouse sink, and stone backsplash shake it up but otherwise, it’s a lot of wood (and it looks so pretty!). While this kitchen might be a bit too modern for us, the use of the exact same wood on island, perimeter, and fridge columns is something I would NOT have done, but seeing it I’m like, “yah… this looks GREAT”. This is the kitchen I keep going back to. Wood island. Wood island top. Wood cabinets and wood windows. The only thing that isn’t wood is the floor, countertops, and tile – but even if the floor was wood I think I would love it. I know that you might be like “this isn’t farm-house-y” but I disagree. It’s just not “modern farmhouse” and instead has a more simple shaker vibe. As much as I love charming old details (which I do and we are still playing with how to bring them in) this looks warm and simple and just stunning. The more I look at all of these the more I think I actually love all the wood. Sure it’s not eclectic or eccentric but I can do that with the styling. I love how that above kitchen shook up the profile of the drawers on the right cabinetry. So pretty! So after much thought, my official conclusion is that you CANNOT have too much wood. I think for a more traditional/eclectic style you’d want to mix the wood tones (maybe the island is darker than the floor, for instance) but the seamless look is awesome for more contemporary spaces (like the mountain house). But like anything in design – you can DO ANYTHING if done right which is not super helpful but sadly it’s the truth. But what do you think? Would a “too much” wood kitchen be too much (or little) for you? Opener Image Credit: Design by studio Lifestyle | Styled By Gena Sigala | Photo by Sam Frost The post Farmhouse Design Process – Can A Kitchen Have Too Much Wood? A Deep Exploration Into The Pros Of Wood Cabinetry… appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/32E0KBR |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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