Since the year began, I’ve already attended two weddings, I have one next month, and then one almost every other month for the rest of the year (including my own). With 2020 and the majority of 2021 postponing weddings left and right, it seems EVERYONE is trying to squeeze their wedding into 2022. I get it, and no one besides a completely unprecedented pandemic is to blame, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that wedding season is about to get pretty nuts. So, because most of us at EHD have been googling “wedding guest dresses” for the past few months, we all decided this is a post we needed to write, in hopes that it’ll help keep a little bit of the attending-a-wedding-stress at bay. So we all got together and pinned the wedding guest appropriate dresses that we would want to wear, and broke them up into their appropriate dress code categories. If you have a wedding (or several) coming up on your calendar, we hope this post will help you check one thing off your list. 1. Flower Print Dress | 2. Knot-Front Cutout Halter Midi Dress | 3. Green Animal Strappy Frida Dress – Curve | 4. Adabell Dress | 5. MISA Mesh Midi Dress | 6. Cowl Neck Slip Maxi Dress | 7. Selkie Princess Dress | 8. Knot Detail Dress | 9. Puff Cottage French Dress | 10. My So Called Life Nightie | 11. The Way to Love Black Floral Print Ruffled Maxi Dress | 12. The Elsa Dress | 13. Betsy Midi Dress – Curve | 14. Gitane Long Sleeve Smocked Linen Midi Dress | 15. Davenport Dress When it comes to a casual wedding dress code, this is where (I believe) you should get a dress that you would absolutely wear again. It should be dressy enough that it’s not an “everyday” dress, but casual enough that you could also wear it to non-wedding events. I love black so I am extremely attracted to #2 and #4, but if I were a color gal, I wouldn’t skip #13. #7 is also a very sweet option, by a brand called Selkie that I’ve recently discovered and love. 1. Instant Impression Sage Green Asymmetrical Midi Dress | 2. Diana Gown | 3. x REVOLVE Ava Dress | 4. Long Sleeve Roma Dress | 5. Resounding Beauty Dusty Purple Surplice Maxi Dress | 6. Roxanie one-shoulder fil coupé chiffon mini dress | 7. Knotted silk-satin mini dress | 8. Twist Front Long Sleeve Dress | 9. Lilac Vienna Mini Dress | 10. Sierra wrap-effect Dress | 11. Rina Dress | 12. Noah Wrap Dress | 13. x Revolve Camo Dress | 14. Scala layered ruched jersey midi dress | 15. Aaliyah Midi Dress From what I understand, a cocktail wedding dress code means you can wear shorter-length dress but it must still be fancy and a bit formal. This is actually the most popular wedding attire choice, so here’s to hoping one dress in this category will get you through all of wedding season. I personally love midi dresses so #2, #12, and #15 are all on my list. But for a short option, I can’t help but love a one-shoulder look like #6. 1. Forest Green Midi Dress | 2. Boat Neck Maxi Dress | 3. Evening of Elegance Navy Blue Floral Jacquard Wrap Midi Dress | 4. Black Lottie Dress | 5. Printed Crepe de Chine Gown | 6. Westerly Dress | 7. Niesha Handkerchief Hem Midi Dress | 8. Private Kiss Midi Dress | 9. Midnight Sky Child Midi Dress | 10. Steel Sky Child Midi Dress | 11. Silk Wrap Midi Dress | 12. Meadow Maxi Dress I think semi-formal is the most confusing wedding guest attire category. Semi?? Formal??? I don’t know what’s happening. But after much research it has come to my attention that it is very similar to a cocktail dress attire, except with semi-formal the length of the dress should be at least below the knee. Also, according to brides.com, a semi-formal wedding calls for “darker, more formal colors for an evening wedding, and light colors and fabrics for a daytime event”. Fair enough. For this category, I am loving #2 but if I were a person that the color yellow looked good on, I would absolutely go for #5. For a nighttime wedding that might get a little chilly, #11 is a great long sleeve option. 1. Sunset Views Midi Dress | 2. Rory Velvet Dress | 3. Burgundy Maxi Dress | 4. Soa Dress | 5. Mara Velvet Maxi Dress | 6. Amelie Dress | 7. Cami Gown | 8. Mina Dress | 9. Tasteful Dress | 10. The Rianna Dress | 11. Embellished Sequin Maxi Dress | 12. Twist Back Cap Sleeve Dress | 13. Summer Cinderella Midi Dress | 14. Simone Maxi Dress | 15. Words of Warning Maxi Dress A formal dress is either a floor-length gown or a fancy cocktail dress. I think of this category as what you would wear to prom but make it #matureadult. You don’t want your dress to scream “I am in the running for prom queen” but the level of “fancy” is about the same. I wore #9 to a wedding last month and received a ton of compliments on it. It’s very tight and form-fitting, so just know that you have to feel confident about flaunting your curves :). If I had to buy another formal dress though, I’d go for #14 or #15. Which one is up your alley? 1. The Rosabel Maxi Dress | 2. Queen Gown | 3. Sequin Cowl Neck Gown | 4. Sandra Plunge Crepe Trumpet Gown | 5. Victoria Maxi Dress | 6. Drina Gown | 7. Hit the Mark Gown | 8. Velvet Applique Tulle Dress | 9. Magali Pascal Side-Slit Maxi Dress | 10. Multi Tie Maxi Dress | 11. Low Back Slip Mermaid Fishtail Gown | 12. Cape-Effect Metallic Gown | 13. Cayla Side Drape Gown | 14. Off-the-Shoulder Gown | 15. Draped Stretch Satin Gown Black tie weddings are intimidating. A black-tie dress is a floor-length gown, full stop. If you have a black-tie affair coming up, and don’t see yourself wearing a gown more than once, I cannot recommend services like Rent The Runway enough. It was literally created for instances like this and will save you from buying something you’ll never have the chance to wear again. And they have HUNDREDS of designer dresses to choose from. But if you do have multiple fancy affairs going on, any of these dresses will have you looking perfect for the part. Mallory wore #3 to a formal event last weekend and loves it. It’s affordable but dressy so it’s completely appropriate for black tie events. I am a sucker for black or red dresses so #1, #4, and #11 are living rent free in my head. Oh, and #12 is so chic it almost hurts. So there you have it. If you are wedding guest dress shopping we hope this post helped to narrow down some options. Cheers to surviving wedding season! Opener Image Credit: Photo by Veronica Crawford The post The Wedding Guest Dresses We Scoured The Internet To Find…Because Wedding Season In 2022 Is About To Go OFF appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/nWtpTGm
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Happy Friday, cuties! First up: we just shared an AWESOME feel good makeover, so be sure to go check that out first. Second up: The new summer Studio McGee collection just landed at Target and it’s destined to sell out in like…I don’t know, probably 4 minutes MAX, so we convened as a team, pulled the 10 best picks, and I’m sharing them with you now. It’s a decor-heavy drop, which RULES as any of these pieces could make a BIG change in the feel of your home for not a lot of cash. Can I show you what caught our eye? Abstract Framed Wall CanvasThe impact:price ratio on this piece is OFF THE CHARTS, gang. This canvas is huge – 36″ x 36″ – and the whole thing comes in at a sweet $85, which feels really reasonable for such a huge piece of art. The quality is impressive, too – Em actually grabbed this super moody Studio McGee landscape piece last year for the Mountain House last year, and it still looks like a million bucks up on that fireplace mantel. This is a great finishing touch that won’t break the bank – what else could a gal ask for? (PS. If you love the size of this piece but you’re not crazy about the actual art, there are a few more great options right here that are all in the same price range. Well done, product design team!) Washed Cream VaseIt’s wabi-sabi, it’s luxe, and it’s 10% off through Saturday!!! The vintage-inspired finish on this is so well done – it looks like something that our team would have scooped at the Rose Bowl Flea Market, right? – and the shape is so timeless and classic. This vase is pretty freakin’ big, too, so it’d be a great (and grounding) vessel choice for those looking to style out some big, dramatic branches (aaannnddd here’s our how-to guide that’ll turn you into an expert branch arranger, in case you missed it). Oversized Cotton Woven Striped Square Throw PillowWE LOVE A PILLOW WITH OPTIONS. This one comes in green, blue, and cognac (the blue is pictured above, but the green actually reads pretty gray to me – it’d be a great choice for those who want to try bringing in a liiiiiittle bit of color in their home for the first time!). Its oversized proportions make it SO easy to play with, too – it’ll look great next to any tinier pillows you already have at home. The texture is also even better up close – there are like, 5 or 6 different stitches going on – and the cover is removable, so you can wash it after someone absentmindedly rubs their microwave popcorn butter fingers all over it. (I have never done that.) (I actually may have done that.) Miringa Artificial Tree GreenI KNOW, I KNOW. If possible, you should buy a real plant! But hear me out on this one for a second: I recently realized (like, within the past 3 months – I was working on an estate clean-out) that there are a lot of folks who don’t necessarily have the mobility or strength to actually take care of plants (like, hauling water around your home gets tough when you’re using a walker, you know?). To that end: do I think that we should all rush out to buy fake plants? NO! But do I think that this is a great, beautiful, cheery option if you aren’t currently in a place to keep up with a real, living thing for whatever reason? Yes! (There’s only one review right now, but they included photos and it does look great IRL, for what that’s worth.) Light Woven Oval MirrorWhere couldn’t this go? The more I look at this mirror, the more I think that it may be like, the decor equivalent of the titular pants from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books. It’s classic AND fresh, graphic AND quiet, neutral AND statement-making. It’d look great with any of Em’s new paint choices, or against ANY of the super-loud wallpapers in my home, or in Jess’ elevated modern office, or in Ryann’s dark and moody living room…like, you get it, right? It’s hands down my favorite piece from the new collection – I feel like we’ll be seeing this one in IG posts for years to come. Sand Dune Framed Wall ArtUM, OKAY. When Jess threw me this link, I for sure thought this 36″ x 24″ piece was gonna be at least ~$200 – the frame and matting and glass alone are worth more than that! – and I was BOWLED OVER when I opened up the product page. I can see this above a credenza in a super high-end mid-century-inspired dining room with lots of bright touches (but it looks great in this living room, too. Also, that’s also the green pillow I mentioned earlier! It reads as gray-ish, right?!). Oh and for those that remember Cup of Jo’s old living room that Em designed there’s a super similar piece on the tv gallery wall! Striped Gauze Throw BlanketThis one also comes in cream and taupe, but that sage-y/olive-y green is SO good. It can work anywhere! I love the textured finish on the side (it’s easier to see on their website, TBH) and the construction on the bottom tassels looks so luxe – feel like we’d see this blanket marked WAY up in one of the ~fancy~ design stores on La Cienega here in LA. It’s not a big “snuggle up” blanket (I mean, unless you’re into something that’s a little lighter, in which case it may be perfect!) but it’ll be the perfect touch thrown over the arm of some seating or at the end of a bed. Oversized Cotton Slub Woven Jacquard Lumbar Throw PillowI mean, this just feels like CLASSIC Studio McGee to me. An elevated print, a classic neutral, in a goes-anywhere shape…what else is there to say? This would be the perfect finishing touch in any pillow-scape (BRB will I trademark that word). Oversized Textured Asymmetric Striped Square Throw PillowThis one’s my favorite pillow from the new collection!!! I love the size, the broken stripe, and the texture is AWESOME. This pillow is enormous – 24″ x 24″ – so while it looks great on a sofa, it would also be a great choice for those looking for a bigger decorative bed pillow. I wish this came in more saturated colors, because I WOULD BUY OUT TARGET’S INVENTORY. (Is anyone listening??? Can I get this in some brights, please???) Melamine Rectangular Serving PlatterNothing says “OMG CUTE” like a sweet little irregular edge in a soft blue!!! This feels surprisingly grandmillennial for the collection IMO – like, a little more English-leaning than the CA cool I’ve come to expect from this collaboration – but I LOVE IT. I’m especially stoked that this is in melamine instead of stoneware, because (a.) I have been known to break ceramics and (b.) melamine’s a great, outdoor-friendly, dishwasher-safe option which makes this PERFECT for all your summer soirees. It’s cute to see outdoor-friendly dinnerware that like, doesn’t have a bunch of pictures of flowers or illustrations of bugs on it or whatever. 10/10 MORE OF THIS, PLEASE. That’s where I’ll leave you – HAPPY FRIDAY, MY PERFECT PALS. I have a bunch of friends in town this weekend (from Vermont and Texas!), but I’m still trying to squeeze a little Target trip in there to grab a few things IRL (mainly that freakin’ mirror!!!). What’s on your docket? (Or we could, like, talk about this decor drop. Either way.) See you down in the comments – LET’S CHAT, YEAH? xx *Photos via Target The post Our Top 10 Picks From The New Studio McGee X Target Collection (There’s A Mirror We Think Everyone Is Going To Want) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/x6WzUs0 We always say The Feel Good Makeovers are our absolute favorite part of this job. In the past, we’ve worked with the amazing Pen + Napkin team to furnish and decorate homes for families transitioning out of homelessness, and last year we partnered with them to help these Feel Good Makeover Takeovers go national. Recently our friends at Pen + Napkin wrapped another project where they completely furnished and decorated two four-bedroom houses in partnership with another amazing organization called CherishedLA. If this project sounds at all familiar, you may have seen it promoted on our Instagram stories, and if you are one of the many who donated, THANK YOU. If up until now you haven’t heard of CherishedLA, I want to first highlight the incredible work they do. I chatted with Kayla, their program coordinator, to get the story behind this organization that changes lives: She explained, “CherishedLA is a two-year, faith-based residential program for single, female adult survivors of sex trafficking. We walk alongside women on their journey to recovery, healing, and stability. Our Founder, Kate Wedell, is a survivor herself and we emphasize trauma-focused narrative therapy in our programming. Kate started CherishedLA in 2011 with outreach and support groups to help other women in similar situations to what she had experienced. We have since grown to include our residential program and a social enterprise. In the social enterprise, residents receive job training making organic bath and body products, fair-trade jewelry, and clothing.” After seeing and hearing about the work they do, we were not at all surprised that CherishedLA and Pen + Napkin would make a great team. When I asked how the two organizations came together, I learned Catie (Founder of Pen + Napkin) saw Kate (Founder of CherishedLA) speak years ago before Pen + Napkin even came to exist. She felt that God was connecting them even back then. When CherishedLA needed help with their two safe houses, Kate spoke with the Pen + Napkin team about what a partnership would look like. She explained the importance of creating beautiful spaces for survivors to have, to do their healing during transition. This sentiment obviously resonated with Pen + Napkin who know how a furnished home can change lives. Catie presented the project to their Pen + Napkin 101 Class that is full of passionate designers eager for project assignments and soon had enough people sign up for both installs. Then they got to work. Both homes were mostly empty and needed some love. The first home was completed by two design students who go to SFSU (which speaks to the fact that you don’t have to be a professional designer – you just have to be willing). This second home design that you are about to see was led by Catie, with help from CherishedLA and eager volunteers. Together, they created a fully furnished and decorated home for the residents to heal and enjoy. Poly & Bark donated all the large pieces for the living and dining room. The two sofas and accent chairs create a cozy conversational space that is big enough for all residents to enjoy. A large area rug adds another layer of warmth. Bright and happy colors were essential to creating an inviting oasis, which was achieved through art, decor, greenery, and of course, paint. Oh, how CUTE are these place settings? I love the multicolor floral napkins and that flower arrangement centerpiece is a beautiful touch. Each bedroom is painted a different color because when the project began, several residents who had been with the program for a while wanted to get involved with the design. Each resident chose the color for their room and painted it themselves. Then the designers who helped with the project worked within the color palette to build designs that would be happy and welcoming. Catie and the Pen + Napkin team wanted to do more than just furnish the home. Furniture is obviously important in making a house feel like a home, but decor is also essential to bring personality and life to a space. She wanted to transform a generic room to a room that can really provide an environment for hope and healing with beauty and intention. We love the neon light signs and plants that bring literal light and life to the rooms. Not only is each room a different color, but they are also decorated differently to feel welcoming and personal. Each room has its own display of art including motivational typography, photos of different cities, and abstract paintings. There’s Pen + Napkin’s fearless leader, Catie, hanging some art in one of the bedrooms. Motivational art and typography are sprinkled throughout the home to encourage the residents to stay positive. This area of the home is equipped with art supplies so the residents can create art and explore their creativity. This “Never Give Up” neon sign adds a playful touch and acts as an uplifting reminder to the residents. The last thing they did was create a beautiful garden (unfortunately not pictured) that was a dream of the CherishedLA team ever since they opened the homes. They had a painting of this dream backyard and one of the designers (Jenae Noonan) saw the painting and decided to help make it a reality. She took several of the elements in the painting and created an amazing garden. It is always our honor to promote Pen + Napkin and share their mission and work with the world, and today that’s especially true because we’ve been introduced to another incredible organization. We know these two homes will bring so much joy and healing to the residents, thanks to the devoted staff and volunteers from both organizations. Now we’d like to give a huge, tremendous, overwhelming thank you to everyone at CherishedLA and Pen + Napkin for devoting their time, energy, and focus to make the world a better place and for allowing us to have a small part in sharing their incredible work. We cannot sing their praises enough and encourage everyone to follow both CherishedLA and Pen + Napkin, and consider volunteering or donating if you can. You can check out Pen + Napkin’s next project here. *Lead Design by Catie of Pen + Napkin The post The Latest Feel Good Makeover Reveal By Pen + Napkin x CherishedLA Is Here appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3LVqht4 When I put out the call last year for sustainably sourced Oregon wood flooring, a couple of you recommended Zena Forest Products, so I went ahead and checked out their site. I immediately connected to their mission (among other things) and requested a sample — despite my doubts that their floors would aesthetically be “the one.” I’m not sure why, but I just thought there was no way it could be the trifecta of what I wanted: sustainable/locally grown, stylistically on point for our home, and milled/assembled to our durability specifications. I had shopped around a lot and met with many other great sustainable companies, but they either shipped from the East Coast (which is fine, but a bit less carbon-friendly) or they didn’t have the species that we wanted (a light hardwood). I just kept thinking, This is Oregon…surely we can buy wood floors made from Oregon trees?!. When I got the sample, I was like, “Brian, look!” And I have never seen Mr. Henderson want a floor so badly. Why? What’s so great about this flooring? Well, first off, it is absolutely stunning, high quality, and exactly what we wanted stylistically. We dreamt of a more seamless, light, Scandinavian flooring with character and knots, but we didn’t want it to be too rustic. We didn’t know if it was actually possible to get everything we wanted, but it turns out that with Zena, we definitely could. You’ll see for yourself in a bit, but beyond looks, the company is incredible and doing great things for the trees, the community, and the planet. We’re super excited about it…so much so that we made a video: That’s Ben Deumling, who owns and runs the mill (along with his family that serves as the board of ZFP). We spent the day touring the forest and mill, learning more about the company, their ethos, and seeing what goes into harvesting and making their wood flooring. Brian came, too, and took video of it all while we spent the cloudy day in this beautiful forest, learning about a process I’d always taken for granted. Let’s get into it, shall we?
We wanted real wood, white oak preferably, “but their engineered product is highly durable, with a more seamless appearance (plus you can sand and refinish it 4 or 5 times within its lifespan). We’ve done solid wood flooring in all three of our previous homes, and all three times we’ve had issues with them — buckling, warping, swelling, cracking — which are not deal-breakers at all and have solutions (plus they were beautiful), and we might opt for solid wood again in the future. But Brian specifically requested we find beautiful wood that might also have an engineered backing, to avoid these problems. Zena’s engineered wood is assembled with nontoxic glues and has been VOC tested and Declare Label certified. Some engineered woods out there — most, actually — aren’t very good, and the technology is just now coming around. But Zena is leading the way and doing it right. BUT HOW DOES A TREE GET TURNED INTO WOOD FLOORING?STEP #1: CHOOSE AND CHOP THE TREEThis was so fun to watch and shoot. Ben chooses the tree based on the health of the forest — a tree might be blocking the light of growing saplings underneath it, or possibly leaning and might fall. We shot this in winter, but in summer the canopy would be large, full of leaves, and creating a lot of shade. He keeps big, healthy old-growth trees, letting them grow and grow until they are ready to come down and open the path for a new canopy to thrive. It was really special to get to walk the forest with Ben. Brian shot the video while we learned exactly where our wood floors were being sourced from. Lots of good feelings. That’s me, speaking and communing with the trees. Like everything, when they get chopped, the energy has to go somewhere (that’s just physics), and these trees have very happy energy. (Can you tell that’s VERY important to me?) STEP #2: MILL INTO PLANKS -- HOW A CIRCLE BECOMES A SQUAREWhat you see above is how they take that long, round trunk and mill it back and forth through this massive machine, cutting it in the middle and turning it over and over in different directions to get all the planks you see in the cross-section. The idea is to get as much usable wood out of the tree as possible, with minimal waste. The person running the machine has to be really experienced and know how to turn the log just the right way to get the next cut. It’s awesome to watch. STEP #3: AIR DRY (ONE YEAR MINIMUM)You can’t build with wet wood or it will rot, swell, etc. — it has to be dry to be stable. And the thicker the wood, the longer it will take to be ready to use. (P.S. That is why there was a massive wood shortage last year. It wasn’t that we were out of wood, it’s that lockdown shut down the milling/drying process, which meant once we were out of dry wood, the supply plummeted while the demand surged, until the mills caught up. Thus the quadrupled cost of wood for all of us remodeling.) STEP #4: KILN DRY IN HEATTo ensure that all moisture is out of the wood, as well as eliminate any bugs, it is transferred to the kiln and dried until the moisture content is as low as 8%. (They say they are mainly in the moisture mitigation business, lol.) STEP #5: PLANED AND SMOOTHED OUT — ALMOST READY FOR FLOORINGPlaning is where they take the wonky but fully dried board and essentially shave a small layer off the top and underside so it’s perfectly flat, smooth, and almost ready to become flooring. STEP #6: FINAL PREP FOR FLOORINGWhile you can just lay wood on the floor and call it “wood flooring,” that’s like mixing ice with cream and calling it ice cream. It’s just not how it works. (You could do it that way — it just won’t stay together, may splinter, and will swell, shrink, etc.) For the best flooring product that feels solid and doesn’t come apart, you want it to be milled to connect with a tongue and groove on the sides as well as on the ends, butt to butt (“end-matched”). This makes for an extremely tight and solid fit. Zena does this without a microbevel between the planks, so that when it’s laid in place, it looks extremely seamless. That might not be your look, but it is what we want this time around. (No splinters, no chances of cracks, and no busy lines). Do I lovesolition a 12″-wide-plank reclaimed wood floor? Sure! But I also love a really smooth solid simple surface that is easy to maintain and requires no bandaids for our splintered kid’s toes). Zena then sends out the wood to another local mill for the 4mm hardwood layer to be applied to engineered plywood backing. Finally, their ¾” flooring blanks come back, where those go through the previously discussed tongue & groove + end-match processing, and are bundled/stored in their dryroom for the client. At the end of the tour we got to see our very own flooring bundled up and we were SO EXCITED. It’s the perfect tone, with all the character and tons of wood grain. Fun fact – a knot is where a branch once was Our wood flooring is Oregon-grown white oak, with “character” (not clear or ‘select’ grade). It’s a mix of 4.25”, 5.25”, and 6.25″ variable widths, once shoved together via the tongue and groove you can’t even see the seams, which we love. They have average lengths of 6-8 feet. They’ll be sanded/stained in place (after installed). Our flooring starts at $10.75 a square foot and the lead time can be as little as 1 week, (if the inventory is in stock), but could be 6-10 weeks if your order requires further accumulation and production of the selected hardwood species…having said that, I am anticipating that after this post they won’t be able to keep their floors in stock so hurry while this gem of a company is still flying under the radar with their truly exceptional products! The knots. The grain pattern. The color variation. Does it look like some other white oak out there? Maybe, but it’s not. It’s special, solid, and smooth. Zena also makes custom wood heat and AC registers and returns, which we are very excited about, and they have wood for stairs and countertops as well (including butcher block). It was like going on a field trip in elementary school — I learned so much and came home fulfilled in a way that I hadn’t in a long time. Not only was I even more excited about the flooring, but I felt hope for the planet with people like Ben and his family tending to this forest. Please, if you are interested, head to their site and watch the video, learn more about what they do and how they do it, and see what other products they have. Maybe they are the right fit for you, too? My goal with the post and partnership is to a) create awareness around Zena’s forest and beautiful ethos, and b) remind the world what really goes into making quality products. We are so used to things being cheap and fast, which typically means they aren’t made with people or the planet in mind. And while no one should be shamed for their budget (low or high), I think we have a skewed perception of what things cost, based on home shows on TV and Amazon-priced everything. If this is outside your budget, I totally get it, and I want you to have a home you love, too, so get the flooring that fits your budget. But if you are privileged enough to be renovating with these stand-out factors in mind then I hope you can see that Zena flooring is absolutely worth it. Head to Zena Forest Products’ site to see more, and watch the video without ads here. Thanks for reading along, folks. I hope you learned even 10% of what I did. xx *Photos by Kaitlin Green The post Introducing The Most Beautiful Wood Flooring In The World, By An Oregon Run, Family-Owned, Sustainably Sourced Mill – (Zena Forest Products) For The Farmhouse appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/fFusqkW My standard “where to start?” advice that I’ve been repeating for over 10 years is simple: “First, ask yourself how you want a room to ‘feel,‘ then how you want it to ‘look.'” And I still stand by this. But lately, I’ve gone even further down the descriptive rabbit hole, adding “What do you want your experience to be while inside this room? What are you going to DO while in this room and then how do you want to feel while doing it?” Essentially y’all, what mood do you want to be in when you are doing the thing you want to do in this room??? Because, your emotional state will be affected by the colors in the room. Once you can lock that down you can back into it and choose design elements, including colors, that support the best version of that experience – or your mood. It’s a great exercise that has really given me some clarity and keeps me focused on what this house should be like, versus what design styles/furniture/colors I’m currently into. Because, while I love every style and (almost) every color out there, the internet often distracts us with incredible inspiration, which causes us to lose focus. Luckily for us, you have almost endless paint color options to support all of your moods. For this home, I’m partnering with Sherwin-Williams to show you where the color palette is headed and give tips on how you can choose colors based on how you want to feel in the room – and with so many incredible colors, we feel very covered. Some quick notes on color theory – while there are some obvious anecdotal suggestions like “bright red makes us feel energized,” and “muted tones are more calming,” what a color does to you might be different than what it does to me. I might find a blue tone “warm,” even though it’s technically cool and I might find dark brown to be cold and dark, even though it’s “warm.” A lot of it might just have to do with your “comfort colors” (I wrote a whole post about that), and words are just words, so be sure to lean into what makes you feel the way you want to feel. To help narrow down color selections for the farmhouse, I turned to Sherwin-Williams color samples – both the paint chips as well as the larger (and beloved) peel & stick samples. I got a little greedy with these, knowing that I was going to paint so many rooms in the house (they are mess-free and so much easier to use than wet samples). They have these in their most popular colors, and frankly, they are all REALLY GOOD. I found a lot of comfort in the fact that they had narrowed it down to their most popular colors, it’s how I like to shop “best sellers” from my favorite fashion brands, because you know that many many people have been happy with the product. Since I’m going to be using them for a few months as I choose colors I mostly just peeled off the corner so I didn’t use the entire sticky back. It’s just so helpful to see it on a wall, in a larger format than my fan deck. You can shop their super-affordable peel & stick samples and order FREE color chips online. Still not sure where to start with colors? You can request a free Virtual Color Consultation with one of their experts for some personalized color recommendations for your project. Overall Mood/Desired Experience We Want In This House:CALM, COMFORTABLE, EASY, AND WARM. On repeat. There are so many rooms I see on the internet that I LOVE and I want them to be mine, but then I remember that what I want is CALM, COMFORTABLE, EASY, AND WARM. These were not my adjectives 8 years ago – it was more light, airy, youthful, fun, etc. But now it’s all comfort and warmth and making sure the house functions for US. This keeps me from buying another sculptural chair that no one wants to sit on or more random tchotchkes that will clutter up a shelf (I have a lot, trust me). It’s been very freeing actually and while I know it’s not everyone’s style, having experienced living in a home that was calm, comfortable, and warm I feel confident it’s what I want. Now, where we might get a bit nuttier is in the kid’s room (they are not into this neutral minimal thing and begged for more color at the mountain house) so stay tuned for some fun color risks in their spaces. But for the main living space, kitchen, family, mudroom, and our bedroom – I’m trying SO HARD to stick to that mood. The Family/TV RoomThe Desired Experience: To chill and relax, while feeling cozy, warm, snuggly, comfortable as if enveloped by a fluffy bear – and not like Leo did in The Revenant, more like one of those massive stuffed animal bears from Costco. After living here for 7 months I’m dying for a cozy den of a room, especially on the darker wetter days/nights. Here we’ll chill after dinner, play board games when it’s just us, watch family shows/movies, and maybe a Saturday rainy day snooze. I’ve never desired “coziness” and “warmth” so much before and this is the room for it. I’m learning to lean into that winter darkness up here, and embrace my homebody-ness. To do so, I’m choosing a paint color for the family room that will make it feel cozy and warm year-round. It will be a low-energy color, a medium-toned vibration that just feels like that bear hug (probably not as intense as Sara’s in that photo but it’s hard to find inspirational cozy family rooms on the internet). Sherwin-Williams has A LOT to choose from, which you’ll see below. Quick note – The comfy sectional has been ordered and it’s a denim-y blue – cozy fabric, so I’m still on the fence between just making it tonal (more blues) or contrasting the blue and embracing some warm tones (darker mauves) or going lighter so it’s still cozy but less cave-like. Here you can see the bare bones of the room – a TV, and stove fireplace with a storage bench underneath it. What you can’t see (yet….stay tuned) is the paneling, the flooring, and of course, the color that we are getting closer to choosing. This room only has one source of natural light (which is a covered porch) so I really have no idea how these paint swatches will look until I get them in the room with drywall. Colors change wildly if/when light hits it (or doesn’t). So while I’m leaning towards a darker tone right now, that mood might be achieved through a medium color (and a dark one might go crazy dark). Another factor we’ve talked about a lot is that you will see this room from the living room when the door is open, so the color in here should look good to your eye when sitting in the living room. Saying that makes me nervous to do a warmer mauvier tone, but I also know that warmth can be achieved through medium/dark blues, warm grays, and greens even though those are technically “cooler” colors. You know I love blush and copper tones, so in a way these are just really dark versions of that – so warm and fairly neutral. I don’t want a bold burgundy or aubergine, but these in-between colors have a lot of earthiness to them while still leaning on the “pink” side. I was VERY much leaning towards the color Mink, but I want to wait till we get in the space with the swatch of fabric for the sofa. But that Auger Shell and Intuitive really get me going, too. Another part of me wants to lean into the blue and make it a full dark blue room – and I just might. I find that tonal rooms where the furniture, walls, and rugs are the same color feel so calming due to the lack of contrast. Your eye doesn’t have to bounce around and figure things out – the room just says “shhhh…blue” to those eyes and then you just sit and the TV is already set to Bridgerton or Love is Blind. How pretty are those colors? The only one above that I’ve used is Waterloo (Portland house, basement) and it’s EXCELLENT so I have a feeling it will end up somewhere in the house. The rest are excellent options that I am very tempted by as well. THE MUDROOMThe Desired Experience: I want to feel “pleasantly productive” because a lot of utilitarian and annoying housework will happen in here. I’ve never had a truly functional-sized mudroom/laundry room before so I’m fantasizing that I might enjoy being in here while cleaning, doing laundry, putting stuff away (for hours a day, right? Parents??), and washing the muddy pups. I want it to be pleasant but not precious. In here we are going to have this dark teal tile on the floor and white oak cabinets, that all feel very “Pacific Northwest” to us (green + wood = trees). The question is do we take the color up the wall and put it on the paneling and casings, or go lighter and let the floor be the main color? The room has a ton of natural light so it could handle a darker color, and we’d likely do it in eggshell so it’s really wipeable for those long-haired post-walk pup shake-offs. There is something simple and Scandi about just bringing the color from the floor up (think DeVOL), especially if there is contrasting grout in the floor tile showing off the pattern (which I’ll show you later) and then releasing into a solid tone on the walls. So here are the colors we are still thinking about. I think I’m headed towards a neutral on the walls, letting the floor ground the space in a deep color, with the cabinets warming it up with wood but we won’t decide until the cabinets and tile are in. The back and forth between light and dark will only be solved once we are in the space with tile/cabinets, but I love all the above for different reasons. Once we know how the colors dance (or don’t dance, rude) around the room we can get a lot closer to the tone. While “gray” is never the recommended color in Portland, these have blue and green undertones and I think once light hits it the room will look happier (not gray). The Powder RoomThe Desired Experience: A calm surprise (pink!) that provokes a tiny bit of happiness during the few quiet personal minutes in here for guests. I want it to be simple, not precious, but with some design elements that feel thoughtful and purposeful. I’m surprised at how much pink I’m bringing in the house – not bright or hot pinks (yet… Birdie’s room is TBD) but more muted, rose-y, and mauvey. Where others love taupe, I suppose I’ve always leaned towards blushier neutrals – but have refrained from using any on the walls before….until now. The powder room is the perfect contained space to take a paint color risk. We are paneling in here (not like the inspiration shot above, although I love it) and that rendered vanity is NOT confirmed, nor is the skirt. The design is still a bit TBD, but I feel 80% sure it’s going to be pink (20% might be a powder blue – depends on the rest of the design). We’ve already confirmed that Dressy Rose and Artistic Taupe are going somewhere – they are very very calming, warm, and pretty. I pitched them to Birdie for her room since she wants pink and she said, very politely with this “I know what you are trying to do” look on her face, “no thank you, mama. I want more colorful.” So expect some hot pinks coming at you sooooon… The Living Room (Trim/Paneling)The Desired Experience: “Comfortably fun” or “relaxed enjoyment.” I’m sure in another language there is a singular word for that, but you know, the kind of fun that feels like home – not performed, hard-won, or put on. Fun in your jammies. Sunday – Thursday I want it to be conducive to hanging out with kids while I cook, we listen to Hamilton/Greatest Showman/Encanto, play games at the coffee table, listen to the fire crackle, but come the weekend it will be ready for small lively group hangs with other families. I want people to sink into conversations with areas of design/decor that feels intentional without being distracting or busy. Now, most of this will be achieved through the furnishings/textiles/art as it’s too big of a room for me to paint a strong color (I’ve only done that once, and it was too much for me). So the color, in this case, won’t necessarily create the experience, but it will give it some contrast and design interest. It will be more of a foundational neutral. Remember that one of our biggest goals in this room was to lighten it up, and it’s a huge room so as of now we are going to paint most of it a really light tone of white (including the ceiling). But don’t worry. We are applying a low wainscot paneling that will be painted a light blue/gray tone, as well as along with all the window/door casings. The intent is that this helps the room feel grounded despite being such a big room, and that it unifies the zones, while also giving it some slight color contrast. I’m seriously considering painting the ceiling but nervous A fun “fact” about light blue/gray is that almost ALWAYS it’s bluer than you think it’s going to be once on the wall. The undertone of gray is always a different tone, and I usually lean towards the bluer tones. So many times, especially earlier on, I’ve painted a room a “light blue-gray” that turns out totally “baby blue.” So while those above look like “gray” on your screen, they actually have a decent amount of blue in them and will read as such. Not saying I don’t want a baby blue or powder blue because there are times when I do, but I also don’t want too much contrast on the walls to remain more minimal and calm. THE PANTRYThe Desired Experience: Surprise, joy, and some drama. I’m so excited to have a dedicated pantry and be able to style it out, play with vintage jars, my collection of still lifes fruit paintings, etc. As a stylist, I have so many wooden spoons, platters, footed bowls (!) that I love and I don’t want to clutter up the kitchen so this is my hoarding moment. It feels like a fun opportunity/space to do something that pulls you in and takes more of a risk. You’ll see the pantry through the vintage windows in the kitchen, but obscured enough that you don’t see too much of the mess. My hope is that the dark tone is going to pull your eyes in there, expanding and deepening the space and make you smile. I also think that food packaging might disappear more in a darker pantry – the room might become more of a shadow, than a big bright space where you can see all our jerky wrappers and canned goods. This is the only room in the house where the paint color has been chosen and there is no going back because we had to give it to the cabinet makers when we ordered them months ago. It’s a color that draws you in and makes you happy, but still works with the rest of the moody tones in the house. And it’s going on all the walls, window casings, and the ceiling. I’m so excited. The color will be revealed soon (in a “pantry design plan” post) and don’t even try to guess from these swatches. As most of you might know your computer screen will not show accurate paint colors as it can’t really read the pigmented tones correctly. And inspiration photos really don’t do it too much justice because those are often doctored themselves. So our plan is once drywall is up (and possibly primed), we’ll be able to properly hang swatches on all the walls, comparing them to tile, fabrics, etc. You’ll see the whole process, I promise. I generally like to choose paint last if I can because Sherwin-Williams has far more paint colors than there are rugs out there, for instance. So I like to lock down more of my major design elements before confirming the exact color and right now way too much is still up in the air. But now you know where we are headed, what mood we want to be in, and how it has affected our color choices. I’m EXTREMELY excited to get to the point of even thinking about paint colors. It means the end is near, RIGHT? Painting won’t happen till July so I have a bit of time but I wanted to at least figure out where I’m leaning so I can continue to pull together the rest of the design. Stay tuned… *Farmhouse Photos by Kaitlin Green The post The Paint Colors I’m Considering For The Farmhouse (And My New Tactic To Help Me Choose The Right Ones) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/IWH6na7 HELLO THERE, PALS. I’m gonna need you to come with me for a second (going to make a point, I swear, just one obligatory weird analogy first): you know how the Cheesecake Factory menu can get kind of overwhelming? Like, you show up, and you know that you’re hungry, and you know everything there is good, and then they hand you a literal CHAPTER BOOK of options and you’re like…”UH, HOW CAN I CHOOSE when everything here sounds phenomenal right now?” That’s kind of how I feel when I look at the Brooklinen website – it’s a veritable smorgasbord of awesome bedding and bath options. But with incredible choice comes debilitating analysis paralysis (for me, at least – it took THREE DAYS to decide between Percale and Sateen sheets when I placed my first order a few years ago). So today, to mark the start of Brooklinen’s HUGE annual birthday sale, I wanted to gather the team to give some honest feedback about our favorite Brooklinen products – you know, the things we’ve actually opted for in our own homes – peppered with a feeeew extra pieces that we’re also hoping to snag before the sale ends on May 4th. We’ve got reviews of Brooklinen’s linen, and percale, and flannel, and heathered cashmere, and bath sheets, and plush towels, and quilts, and blankets, and comforters, and duvets, and mattress toppers, and SO MUCH MORE. (You may also see some sneak peeks into the bedding we’re planning on using in our upcoming bedroom reveals!!!) So without further ado, let me toss it to the team so we can all walk you through some of our favorite tried-and-true pieces, yeah??? EmilySuper-Plush Robe in White | Super-Plush Hand Towels in Cream | Super-Plush Bath Sheets in Ocean | Flannel Hardcore Sheet Set in Blue Buffalo Plaid | Down Alternative Comforter in All-Season | Heathered Cashmere Duvet Cover in Cream | Lightweight Quilt in Navy and White Graham | Luxe Pillowcase in Cream Let me start with the duvet insert: I’m sure there are a lot of good ones out there, but Brian and I much prefer this one. I crave it when I’m not in our bed because it’s so fluffy and yet we don’t overheat. I can squish it down between legs, under my armpit, in all my appropriate crevices, and yet it is still big and fluffy. I think the key is good ingredients, but since I’m not a bed scientist I don’t know what those ingredients are (real feathers are annoying to me, but synthetic can be hot and hold more heat). So whatever this is, it’s the perfect “fluffy but squishy” combo because we truly love it. I’ve also always loved those windowpane printed sheets in percale you can see up above – they’re the ones we also ended up using in our Mountain House primary bedroom because they’re so cool and comfortable – but this buffalo check in flannel is a great alternative for those of us in chillier climates. Similar graphic punch (and that blue is great) but MUCH toastier, which is key when you’re living in a cold and rainy place. I know we’re heading into summer, but after years of talking about percale, it’s exciting to have some different bedding needs and these flannel sheets are a great option. That lightweight quilt is great at the end of a bed, too. It’s quiet and pretty and a nice weight, if you want just a little extra warmth without overheating. The heathered cashmere cover is so special, too. We’ve historically been a cotton duvet-only family (because Brian doesn’t love linen) so this is such a nice way to bring in some soft, lovely texture. Lastly – we shot those robes and towels late last year and they are truly better than hotel quality. SO luxe and plush. All the colors are easy to mix and match and the size of that bath sheet is awesome if you like feeling totally wrapped up after a bath (I do). Hope this helps!! JessLinen Duvet Cover in Latte Stripe | Linen Core Sheet Set in Haze | Linen Pillowcase in Haze | Linen Pillowcase in White | Lightweight Quilt in Black Graham | Down Comforter in All-Season | Down Mattress Topper | Down Pillow Insert in Plush So fun fact. I actually haven’t fully designed my own bedroom since college… so over a decade. Either I didn’t have the money or moved too quickly to really make a design dent. However, my bedding was the area that I did always manage to complete since it was the spot in my room where I clearly spent the most time. While I love to make bold statements in my designs, I like to keep my bed simple and look/feel very cloudlike. Who knows maybe a day will come where that will change but as of now I’m strictly pro-cloud bed. I want fluffy. I want light colors. And I most definitely want cozy. So when I’m building a bedscape, those are my main requirements. Don’t get me wrong, I love all-white bedding but I love something that gives me that same feeling but a bit more fun. Let’s start with the inserts. I come from a “down” family. ALL of our inserts were down growing. So naturally, that’s what I gravitate towards since snuggling up on a down mattress topper, with a down comforter (the all-season version since the weather is mild but can get cold in LA), and resting my head on down pillows (plush only) makes me feel safe. And honestly, if there’s one place I want to feel safe, it’s my bed. I would give anything to have my mom make my bed right after she washed our bedding. She performed some kind of mom magic where everything was perfectly fluffed so that you would just melt into it. FYI I made my own bed daily, that was just a special treat:) So now that the inserts are covered, let’s talk about the pretty stuff. Once I saw that striped duvet cover I knew I wanted to add it to my cart immediately. I love a simple pattern and that light coral-y/tan color is so pretty and soothing to look at. But I didn’t want to make a “pretty but safe choice” and just choose a white sheet set. Instead, I love the Haze color and thought that the undertone of blue really contrasts well with the duvet cover colors. A little unexpected but still soft and light. Then for the pillows, I did add a white pillow to tie in the other stripe color and finished it off with that wonderful lightweight quilt. The scale of the pattern totally works with the stripes, the black string adds some depth, and the white also goes with the white pillowcase. All done! But wait. Let’s talk about linen. Personally, I love it. I love how it feels a little heavier and cozier and simply looks beautiful all the time. You basically can haphazardly make your bed and it looks chic. That’s the real dream:) I love how all of these are so easy to combine and mix and match. They’re my favorites! CaitlinSuper Plush Robe in Mustard | Super Plush Bath Towels in Aqua Blue | Classic Duvet Cover in Cream | Classic Core Sheet Set in Toffee | Throw Wool Blanket | Weighted Comforter | Classic Pillowcase in Graphite Stripe I have already purchased pretty much everything pictured here – well, except for that throw blanket, which I’ve been saving up for after spotting it at a friend’s house – and Y’ALL, IT’S ALL EVEN BETTER IRL. (If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you’ve probably have heard me talking about all of these things before…but I just know what I like and I love hyping it up ad nauseam, you know?) Let me start with the bath: I bought the spa robe in 2020 as a gift for myself, and then I bought one for my mom because I loved it so much, and then I bought ANOTHER ONE to keep for myself at my mom’s house because I missed it too much when I was away. This thing puts hotel robes to shame!!! It’s the best – it’s like, soft and thick and still kind of starchy, so it just always feels clean and fresh and cozy. The bath towels are great, too. I was turned on to these after seeing how Max styled them up in Oregon and the name is SPOT-ON – they are, in fact, super plush. I also love the special edition colors they have right now – this blue is so happy and vibrant Next up: THE BEDDING. I’m about to celebrate my 2-year anniversary with my weighted comforter (it’s in June!) and I cannot tell you how much this has TRANSFORMED my sleep. I would literally buy this again at ANY PRICE. I’ve long struggled with some pretty gnarly recurring nightmares (not awesome when you’re, you know, a grown adult) and this knocked them down by at LEAST 50%. Weighted blankets can often be kind of big and bulky and, uh, less than aesthetically appealing (sorry, someone had to say it) so finding one that could be camouflaged with a duvet cover just RULES. When it comes to the rest of the bedding, I’m a huge sucker for the classics – the percale sheets are comfortable and sleek and not too hot, which is awesome when you live inside of an oven (and/or old apartment). And man…that blanket??? It’s gotta be seen to be believed – it’s so saturated and colorful without being loud. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT OVER HERE. (Lucky for you, there are some styled out shots on the product page that are ::chef’s kiss::.) I vouch for everything here 100% – tried it, own it (or almost own it), ADORE IT. You won’t go wrong with any of these, I promise!!! RyannMulberry Silk Pillowcase in Blush | Luxe Pillowcase in Cream | Luxe Core Sheet Set in Graphite and Steel Oxford Stripe | Luxe Duvet Cover in Cream | Lightweight Quilt in Black Lorimer | Weighted Comforter | Down Mattress Topper | Down Pillow Insert in Firm If you happened to catch my recent bedroom design agony post, you know that I currently have my bed in the corner of the room, against a wall, just like an angsty teenager is wont to do. Since this layout does feel slightly youthful, I am on a mission to prove beds in the corner can be an adult bedroom trope. The first step to achieving this is with luxury bedding of course. And what’s luxury bedding without Brooklinen’s luxe core sheet set to start??? The sateen sheets are SO buttery soft and I’m planning to grab a new set in this Graphite and Steel Oxford Stripe to add a mature pattern. I really love cotton bedding and I like my sheets and comforter to be the same fabric, so I also went with the luxe duvet cover. For my pillowcase to sleep on, I very much prefer silk because it’s better for my hair and skin, so I highly recommend the Mulberry Silk Pillowcase in Blush. I’ve always wanted a weighted comforter so, of course, my new bedding plan includes that (and I trust ANYTHING that Caitlin vouches for to be honest). It helps reduce anxiety and promotes better sleep (two things I very much struggle with!). And the lightweight quilt really is light and soft (surprising for a quilt) so it adds a nice cozy layer. MalloryHeathered Cashmere Duvet Cover in White | Luxe Core Sheet Set in Graphite and Steel Oxford Stripe | | Linen Pillowcases in White | Classic Pillowcases in Navy | Lightweight Quilt in Navy and White Graham | Down Comforter in All-Season | Down Mattress Topper | Down Pillow Insert in Plush I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’ve had my eyes on these classic core sheets (my personal favorite texture) in the Oxford Stripe for QUITE some time now, so this sale feels like the perfect time to finally add them to my collection. I’m someone who loves a hotel-feeling bed, so I also love this classic crisp white heathered cashmere duvet cover, especially when it’s paired with some textured but still classic and soft white linen pillowcases. I LOVE pairing these light colors with some hits of navy (but subtle hits, like these percale pillowcases) to give it a little depth, plus I love the way the navy quilt and the stripe sheet look together. The down comforter, mattress topper, and plush pillow inserts make for SUCH a comfortable base layer too. I can definitely get a full 8-hour night sleep here (maybe more). OK GANG. (Can you tell that we love using Brooklinen in our shoots AND in our homes? Has that come across yet?) But seriously – now that you’ve heard about our favorites, what say you??? Hoping that hearing some honest feedback about the best of the best has made you feel more confident in your choices (it’s helped me, for sure – I know that the heathered cashmere duvet cover will be the FIRST thing I grab once I get my king-sized bed this summer!). And remember, you can now grab 20% off now through May 4th. Would love to hear about your bundles or the sheets you have at home – let’s chat, yeah?? Opening Image Credits: Creative direction by Emily Henderson | Design and Styling by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: New Reveal: This Organic, Punchy Bedroom Might Be Our New Favorite Makeover The post So You’ve Probably Heard About Brooklinen A Lot… Here Are Our Actual Favorite Products appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/9bXV3ZG Sarah Zachary-Jones has easily become one of my favorite designers. Remember this home and this home?? They are exciting, inviting, and full of custom details (a gal after my own heart) that let you know you are in a home that was uniquely handcrafted for that person or family. They are all different but just have that special touch that makes it clear they are hers. So when I saw this new project start popping up on her Instagram, being the true fangirl that I am, I asked her if we could feature it. As you likely can conclude, she said yes. What’s extra cool about this space is the history behind it. It’s clear from the photos that this house had historic elements so I needed to know the story. This is what Sarah said: “The house was built in 1951 and designed by Chinese-American architect Gilbert Leong. He studied at USC, worked under Paul Williams before starting his own firm, and designed several buildings in LA’s Chinatown. It is located near the Silver Lake reservoir. The house has some cool original details including the wood and amber glass room divider in the dining room and tv room wallpaper. Also some not-so-cool ones, like ugly giant recessed lights that we removed. The style is mid-century modern with Chinese decorative motifs throughout.” Well, you are about to see those cool original details? Buckle up! Wallpaper | Rug | Pendant | Mirror We are clearly wallpaper lovers over here so this entrance was a big 10/10 in our book. But I know that while a lot of people love design, a big wallpaper moment can still be a scary risk. I asked Sarah what were the things the clients ask for, what did they not want, and what was on their wishlist, and here’s how it went down: “My clients gave me the greatest gift a designer could ever receive. They literally told me “Just do you!” A dream come true. I figured that they liked color and weren’t afraid to go bold at our initial meeting because I spotted neon Yeezy slides in the entry and one of the clients was wearing orange and yellow tie-dye sweatpants. I sent them some inspiration images with bright colors, tons of patterns, and modern furniture and they let me go for it.“ Emily always says to look in your closet for decor inspo because likely what you put on your body is the same vibe you will like in your home. So what a smart way to figure out if or how much color a client is going to probably like! Both Ryann and I loved that she took advantage of that ledge and leaned some very cool art that totally speaks to the western motifs of the wallpaper. Also, I always like to ask where designers get their art because I LOVE ART and want everyone’s secrets (and then share them with you all). This is what Sarah said: “Most of the art in the home is from Lawson-Fenning. A mixture of vintage artists such as a Josef Albers and contemporary artists like Anna Ullman and Todd Magill. The framed pieces in the entry are blueprints and illustrated landscape elevations from the house.“ Bench (custom) | Round Pillow (similar) | Green Pillow (similar) | Tray | Hand Sanitizer | Candle Ugh, how cool are those blueprints?! Especially since it’s such a special home that’s kept so much of its history. But let’s now look down to the concrete floors. I wanted to know if they were original or if she chose to install them. When I asked she said that they were concrete when she came on the project but in the Redfin photos they were oak floors. So it’s a mystery as to why they were replaced. I’m sure they were in pretty bad shape since the owners seemed to care deeply about maintaining the history. But honestly, I really love how they turned out. I think it balances out all the beautiful warm-toned woods and adds to the modernism of the home’s architecture. That screen!! It’s just so cool. I couldn’t imagine the clients or Sarah wanting to remove it but I’m just so happy that it stayed. And not just the screen, but look at that railing. Those two features let you know right away that this isn’t your average home. I think the rice paper lantern was a perfect choice, giving that textured natural and light feel. The screen and railing work with the lines of the rug, the wallpaper talks beautifully to the plants the simple lines of the bench, the accessories and planter add that modern touch, and the elevations give that fun blue pop of color that’s perfectly unexpected. Plus the oranges, rusts, and olive greens work perfectly with the gold film of the screen, making it not shout at you when you first walk in the door. You have a chance to slowly take it all in… which I love. Ready for the next space?? Sofa (custom) | Mustard Square Pillow (similar) | Rust Square Pillow (similar) | Yellow Print Pillow | Table Lamp (similar) | Floor Pillow (custom) | Coffee Table | Striped Box (similar) | Art Ooooo baby I have to say this might be my favorite room. That sofa is TO DIE FOR. Plus there are a couple of fun surprises I think you will also freak out over in the next couple of pictures. But first, I want to talk about the color palette and how Sarah came up with it. Did the era of the home dictate the palette? Was it the clients? Here’s what she said: “Not so much the color palette, but definitely the style of furniture. My client actually showed me a postcard (he collects postcards) with a color palette he liked which was a picture of poppy fields with tones of orange, purple, and green. We did a lot of green and hints of burnt orange, but decided to ditch the purple.“ The postcard thing is something you should get excited about. But let’s see more of this room first. Art (on left) Simple, cozy, inviting, and has the “Sarah Zachary-Jones Expert Color” touch. The sofa is custom and looks like you just want to sink your whole body into it. Then for the art, rug, floor pillow, etc., she keeps it simple enough that your eyes are at ease but patterned and textured enough to keep the space interesting and fun to be in. Also big shout out to those woven shades. I love the warmth they bring into this home. If you are thinking about a woven shade I say do it! If you want to see more of what’s on your left, you are in for a TREAT. Black Tray | Table Lamp | Mural (original to home) This shot makes my heart stop a little. That custom credenza, that MURAL (which is ORIGINAL), the styling that Bowser did… it’s all perfect. But let me have Sarah tell you all about it: “This is my favorite piece in the house. I wanted to include some furniture and decor that called to the Asian heritage of the original architect. This cabinet is inspired by the designs of George Nakashima (although he was Japanese American). The cabinet is a custom design for the space made out of walnut and grasscloth. The piece is a whopping 11 feet! It is meant to store the large book collection of the clients. The mural was original to the house or at least installed quickly after completion. The clients still have extra rolls of wallpaper in the original packaging. Here is a photo (see below). It appears to be made by James Seeman and I think it is handpainted. We did minor repairs to the paper where speakers were previously installed and built the cabinet to land right at the base of the tree trunk.“ Is it not all just breathtaking? And how cool are these hanging instructions? I love this stuff so much. See how the lines of the cabinet talk to the lines of the dining room rug?? It’s details like that which will make an open concept floorplan look interesting and unique but still look like that spaces belong in the same home. But let’s now talk about design challenges because I don’t think there’s ever been a home design project that’s been completed without one. These were Sarah’s: “We did have to turn a dining room into a sitting room/future screening room. The layout was tough because it butted up to the kitchen and dining room. We decided on a modular sofa with ottomans so it doesn’t feel too overwhelming in the space. We also replaced a lot of the old recessed lighting with pendants and fixtures and had to do quite a bit of electrical and patching work.“ It’s wild to think this wasn’t always the layout because it makes so much sense. Dining Table | Dining Chairs | Rug | Pendant Did you gasp when you first saw this shot? It’s so happy I can’t stand it. The color palette makes my heart sing. I grew up in a warm-toned house so maybe I’m partial but regardless it’s so pretty. Now, my first question to Sarah was about that wall treatment. I couldn’t tell if it was wallpaper or special paneling or something else so here’s the 4-1-1:) “This was here when the clients moved in and from what I can tell it is a brushed plaster treatment that has a ribbed effect. We painted the walls in Ash Grey by Farrow and Ball.“ Also those mustard-colored drapes!!!! Postcards (vintage) | Postcard Rack (vintage) Here are the postcards! Collections are such a great way to show off your personality. But the fact that they displayed it how you would buy a postcard usually in a store is truly such a perfect and out-of-the-box way. So while her client already had the holder, Sarah decided to put it in the dining area so that they could be enjoyed more readily. It’s just the coolest and now I want to collect postcards. What a glorious angle of that screen. That pendant (which Julie also used in her bedroom reveal) calls to the pendant in the entry but has a geometric shape that calls to all of the lines in the dining and sitting room. Also, I love how Sarah played with a few different wood tones BUT they all have a warm undertone so that’s why it works so effortlessly. Here you can get a better look at that plaster treatment. I don’t think it’s for every style of home but I love it in this one. Now let’s enter into the final room that Sarah designed. And as you can see it’s a pretty special one. Wallpaper | Sofa | Coffee Table These jewel-toned colors, that sofa (the same one Emily had in her LA house), the blue planter, the coffee table, the everything… At first, I thought this was just the coolest office ever (see next picture) and wanted to know the details of the decision to not wallpaper the ceiling and drop ceiling… “This is actually a living room with a desk that we haven’t fully shot because a few large art pieces hadn’t arrived. So it’s a really big room with a ton of wallpaper and I didn’t want it to feel overwhelming or for there to be too much reflection of the green from the wallpaper.” Desk | Desk Chair | Lamp | Art I also noticed in both rooms that there were recessed drapery tracks for the mustard drapes. SO beautiful and chic. I clearly needed to know more… “I had never done this before so I’m glad I have this one under my belt now. I had my handyman cut out the drywall and install the tracks flush with the ceiling and then patch and paint the entire ceiling. Then the window treatment fabricator installed the drapery. Some companies will do the entire process, but our window treatment installers do not.” I think it’s such a nice detail because of how seamless it looks. Especially perfect for modern or mid-century modern style homes. Shelving Unit (custom) If you know anything about Sarah she is a custom-furniture-loving gal (which again, speaks to my soul). So I asked her to walk me through all of the custom pieces to make sure we got them all: “The sitting room cabinet, the entry cabinet, the green sectional, vintage kilim floor pillows, built-in walnut shelf in the living room, blue Moreno Sofa from Lawson-Fenning in Holland, and Sherry performance velvet and drapery.“ Well, my friends, this tour has sadly come to an end. I feel so inspired and I hope you do too. Thank you Sarah for letting us feature this wonderful project! Ok now let’s chat about out favorite parts in the comments:) Love you, mean it. *Design by Sarah Zachary The post A Historic Mid-Century Modern Home That Was Completely Brought Back To Life (Hope You’re Ready For Some COOL Original Details) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/HkhBspl Hi everyone and welcome to this week’s link up!! The EHD team was insanely lucky this past week and got to go on a three day team retreat up in Northern California (Grass Valley and Nevada City to be exact). You may have caught it on Em’s stories. We are going to do a whole post about it but we want to say a HUGE thank you to Holbrooke Hotel and The National Exchange Hotel for making our trip unforgettable. If you are in need of a special getaway these are two incredible options. Now, let’s jump on into the link up! This week’s home tour is a STUNNING property in upstate New York designed by the extremely talented (and owner of lifestyle concept store Sincerely, Tommy) Kai Avent-deLeon. Some News! Our EHD Mentee, Key’s show “Rental Redo” has been picked up for a full season! And even better news – they’re casting!! If you’re a renter interested in getting a home upgrade, apply here! From Emily: We went on a team retreat last week and I was so excited to pull out 2 new fashion pieces I had been excited to wear (and they’re great for going back to the office). First, this work jacket/shirt from Alex Mill could not be cuter & I love that the pockets are big enough for a phone. Next up this boxy button-down from Everlane has my ideal silhouette & I love how comfy it is. Also From Emily: A super sweet rom-com book that helped me manage my travel anxiety this week (that I read over my 3-day work retreat). The Soulmate Equation (here to order from an independent bookstore and here for your Kindle) is the perfect travel read – light, easy, sweet, hard to put down clever, and comforting. Also Also From Emily: After I was done with that book I dug into this month’s Atlantic Magazine (Huge fan over here, HUGE) and read this article about how social media has really made us all dumber (not to mention threatened democracy, quelled healthy dissent out of fear, and making us all have anxiety!). There is a lot of new data and even some solutions. It’s a long, but a good read (that can also be listened to). From Mallory: I went to a fancy event recently and needed another fancy dress but didn’t want to spend a ton of cheddar. I found a Nordstrom gift card I had from Christmas and went a browsing. I was so stoked to come across this beauty – it looks so pretty in person and I felt like the sparkly life of the party! This brand Nightway has a ton of really pretty dresses (and for $100 price range). I was super impressed with them! If you’re going to a wedding or formal event soon, check them or Lulus out for affordable (but still decent quality) dresses! From Caitlin: IT’S (ALMOST) SHORTS SEASON, which means it’s time for my annual celebration of Madewell’s pull-on shorts. Arlyn introduced these to me when I first started at EHD back in 2019 and I have never looked back!!! They’re under $40 (though you can often snag them for 20% off during sales – I think there should be one this weekend, too), they don’t ride up, and they’re just SO freakin’ comfortable without looking sloppy. I have black and olive, but I am loving the two other colors they rolled out this year!! (And if you REALLY have shorts on the brain, UO is offering 25% off all their shorts this weekend – lots of really great wide-leg options, like these.) Also From Caitlin: May be a little late on this one, but I’m OBSESSED with this long read about a former US intelligence officer who pulled off the biggest heist of classified intel in American history, made plans to sell the aforementioned documents to other countries for 13 million bucks, and whose entire plot was undone by a TYPO. Make sure to set aside some googling time afterward because you will ABSOLUTELY wanna dig up what happened next!!! From Ryann: Guys, I bought a real bra for the first time in like 5 years. I’ve been wearing bralettes for so long but lately, I’ve wanted a little extra support as gravity keeps working its magic on my ladies if ya know what I mean. I went to Target with very low expectations, found this one, didn’t even try it on in-store, said what the hell, and bought it. I was SHOCKED how well it fits and how comfortable it is. It’s not a push-up and it’s wire-free but still gives me the lift I needed. Oh, and it’s $15 DOLLARS! I have it in black but have ordered it in tan so I can wear it with white tees. 10/10 folks!!! From Jess: This is one of my current favorite albums, Drama by Rodrigo Amarante. Songs switch between English and Spanish and it’s just beautiful and soothing. I got to see him in concert and it was incredible. HIGHLY RECOMMEND if he’s performing in your area. Also From Jess: A few weeks ago I said that I had purchased the Ilia The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette to continue my neverending commitment to “my glow”. Let me just tell you this is my most favorite palette EVER. The colors are so pretty, giving you a natural look with a hint of drama. I also bought the travel size of the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter Primer & Highlighter and I really love it. I kept hearing about it and figured the travel size was a safe way to try it. The coverage is light but still evens out my skin tone in the nicest way. If you are curious like I was, I am here to say give it a go! I think it’s worth the hype. Opening Image Credits: Design by Kai Avent-deLeon | Photo by Chris Mottalini | via Clever The post The Link Up: Em’s New Romance Novel She LOVED, Mallory’s Affordable Evening Wear Line Rec, And The Primer-Highlighter That’s ACTUALLY Worth The Internet Hype appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/ezIWQFE It’s swimsuit review time over here – one of the oddest yet hopefully helpful content ideas we’ve added to our roster. This year, though, we wanted to shake things up a bit…so when Summersalt (a brand that’s been all over our IG for years, marketing their cheerful suits that have been developed using real measurements from thousands of women) reached out, we asked if they’d let the EHD team – along with some of your favorite contributors – do an honest review of their three best-selling swimsuits: the Sidestroke, the Ruffle Backflip, and the Perfect Wrap One Piece. I personally have bought Summersalt suits in the past many times and loved their quality, especially the thickness and compression, and have always admired that they carry such a great range of sizes (0-24, and with long torso options available, too). So the rest of our team was excited to try them out (and as always, no photoshopping here, but a spray tan or two might have been involved:)). Without further ado, here we go… EmilyThe SidestrokeThis one really surprised me. First off, it COMPRESSES and I would have said too small, but once it’s on it’s in place and doesn’t move – in a really good way. In hindsight, I think I should have opted for a long torso option because this one comes in a tiny bit in the bikini area, but not bad at all (as you can see in my butt shot). I found this very flattering and that compression really created a lovely shape. It holds you in and you can’t see any tummy action underneath – AT ALL. I am a little sensitive about my armpit area but honestly, the asymmetrical arm was so flattering and fun. I felt very sporty and very confident in this suit. I see now why it’s a bestseller (I didn’t think I was going to love it). Hoping it comes in that cherry red color sooooon. The Ruffle BackflipThis is what I’d call a great ‘in-law’ suit. This suit is so flattering – creating a lovely curvy shape, the pattern so forgiving (you can’t see any tummy through the two layers of compression AT ALL, which I love) and the cut has just the right amount of support and modesty – if you are into that (I am, when I’m around Brian’s family). BIG fan of this suit for beach playdates with the kids. I felt SO supported, taken care of and confident. I don’t remember having my butt on the internet being one of my original goals in life, but here we are! My butt!!! Selfied in a mirror of a hotel for the whole internet! This suit (all of them actually) stays in place nicely and I personally find the cut very flattering. This one has less coverage in the butt which I love way more than full coverage (I think fuller coverage suits tend to make my butt look flatter, if that makes sense). I liked how my butt looked in this one The Perfect Wrap One-PieceThis one is GREAT in the back (good 1/2 coverage, no movement) but being on the larger side breast-wise, my boobs felt a bit more lifted in the other two suits. This one is definitely supportive in the sense that they felt guarded and not going anywhere, but if I’m comparing this one to the Sidestroke and Ruffle Backflip, I think the others were a better fit for my figure. (Again, I’m now wondering if getting this in the Long Torso would have helped with the support, since Caitlin has a similarly-sized chest and this one was actually her favorite.) So I’m giving this one to my little sister who loved it – she has a more athletic build, with a smaller chest – also fun fact she’s big on TikTok!!! What a world! BONUS: The Ruched BackflipSo I bought this suit from Summersalt in February for our trip to Palm Springs and I loved it. It’s not one of their bestsellers, but I think it could be so I figured I’d review it for you. It has a supportive shelf, so it holds up those love pillows, and thick arm straps which I think read more like a sporty tank top (it’s super cute with shorts – looks like a fun summer bodysuit). It has a double layer (but doesn’t hide the tummy cellulite as much as the polka dot one). The back is a good, sexy scoop. I LOVE that bright blue color. BONUS: The Halter PlungeI ordered a halter suit, mostly because I love a halter cut (and that red is so good), but goodness, it really did highlight those ladies Being raised during the era of puritanical cleavage shame my first reaction was a strong, ‘oh, goodness, no’ but then when I looked at it more objectively, like it was someone else’s body I had a better opinion. I do think this is likely too small (I’m yoyo-ing right now between a 4 and 6 – this is a size 4). My boobs did feel supported (as in lifted) but there wasn’t enough fabric for me to run around with the kids without a right or left nip slip. So this is definitely more of a Brian and I vacation suit. On to the rest of my team – looking like regular smoke shows!!!! RashidaThe SidestrokeThis was by far my favorite out of the three. The brown, black, white, and one-shoulder details are just so sophisticated. It supported the girls really well, and I want this one in every color. This is the kind of bathing suit you wear and make sure you’re seen haha with cameras around. I think any body shape will look and feel great in this. I got all of my suits in a size 14. The Perfect Wrap One-PieceI loved the wrapped detail on this one. It gave the illusion of a more cinched-in waist which is great for someone like me with a large breast. I’m a G cup and I was surprised how well it supported me. Now, this is not the bathing suit to swim laps in hahaha, but it’s definitely one to sit pretty and do a little dip. The Ruffle BackflipThe ruffle shoulders were so cute. This one does have a dipped back so wearing the cover-up for me felt most comfortable. I do have waterproof boob tape which I would wear with this swimsuit since there’s not too much strap support from the low back scoop. JessThe Perfect Wrap One-PieceTraditionally I’m not a one-piece person. I’m trying to get a tan all over here people!! (Also thank you Emily for funding this spray tan:)) So while I was really excited to get to try Summersalt’s bestselling suits, I was definitely curious to see if I would be really in them. Let’s start with this little wrap number. Is it totally my style? Not exactly. BUT I have to say that I felt so comfortable in it, I love these fun, bright colors (Hibiscus & Grapefruit) and the more I look at it the more I like it. It will be a perfect suit to wear around my family while still feeling fun (hello, plunge). And you can see it better in the next photo but I really love that cover-up! It’s so soft, I love the length and the no-collar collar. I feel very chic in it:) The SidestrokeThis one was a real surprise! I thought it was going to be my least favorite, but it’s actually my #1! The cut is both modest yet super sexy and you can’t beat a simple black (color: Sea Urchin) suit. The one-shoulder is just so good. There’s ruching that you can’t really see that I also really like. Let’s just say this is coming with me to my bachelorette party #2 this August because it makes me feel super confident. Oh, and see how cute this cover-up is?! The Ruffle BackflipHere’s the deal. I think this suit is extremely cute. The colors are even prettier in person (Seaweed & Seaglass) and the secret sexiness of the neckline plunge and medium-low back is awesome. But ultimately ruffles aren’t my personal thing so this one wouldn’t necessarily be one I would buy. However, the conclusion I have come to is that since all of these suits are extremely flattering, comfortable, and so well made, I would feel extremely confident buying any of their other suits after trying these on. Also, I got a size 8 in all three. CaitlinThe Perfect Wrap One-PieceI take this review stuff REALLY seriously – and we want to offer a full spectrum of experiences – so before I took these shots, I decided to consume the following: a huge airport beer; a fried chicken sandwich; a bunch of fries; and, like, half of Ryann’s tater tots. You may have already inferred this, but I also took a flight down the West Coast after the aforementioned meal because like, why NOT add some potential airplane swelling weirdness to the mix? Let’s up the ante and see what these suits are made of, you know??? And like, guys, if I feel comfortable posting swimsuit pics for 2 million people after (a.) a day of travel and (b.) consuming about a quart of vegetable oil, THEY MUST BE REALLY GOOD SWIMSUITS. I was between sizes on the chart – my waist was a 10/12, my boobs were a 16, and my butt was an 18 – but I ended up splitting the difference with a 14LT (long torso) and it worked out GREAT. This was my favorite of the bunch because my F cup boobs felt super supported and the extra length prevented any digging in at the top or bottom. If you also have a bigger chest and butt, I would absolutely recommend opting for an LT suit. WOULD BUY AGAIN, no questions asked!!! The Ruffle BackflipYOOOOO. Like, sure, this is a cute swimsuit, but I will *for sure* be wearing this as a top with my favorite silky leopard midi skirt this summer. All of these suits feel like a hug and the boob support on this one is SO GOOD, even with an open back, (I literally do not understand how that works??? Normally an open back means that there is NO support up top??? How did they do that??? Wizardry, maybe???). The butt cut (cute phrase) on this is also fun – it’s a nice balance to the more modest ruffle sleeve. It’s super comfy AND super multifunctional, so you’ll absolutely get a huge bang for your buck with this one. I can’t wait to wear it out to a bar this summer!!! The SidestrokeI know I’m a woman in her 30s, but I STILL LOVE BOOGIE BOARDING. And y’all, this is a GOOD boogie boarding suit!!! I was a little nervous about the one-shoulder – this isn’t a cut I normally would have thought that I could wear because, like, I’m worried about slippage and not particularly interested in accidentally flashing anyone at the beach (crazy, right?). All fears were averted when I put it on, though – I think the general consensus amongst the team was that this one felt the most compressive, which RULED as it means that this top isn’t going ANYWHERE. Absolutely gonna be bringing this bad larry to Rehoboth Beach this summer – does anyone wanna boogie board with me? AjaiThe Ruffle BackflipIt’s that time of the year again – swimsuit season! Last year I was still healing from a c-section, so I’m much more excited for swimsuits this year! Last year, I also discovered the true power of a one-piece. That said, I was thrilled to try on Summersalt’s best-selling swimwear. Let’s start with the Ruffle Backflip – I love the plunging neckline on this! It has a timeless design and the contrast in hues works wonders for my waistline and bust. Also, how sweet are the shoulder ruffles right?! The Perfect Wrap One-PieceFunny thing is, wrap dresses, tops, and skirts don’t typically work for me, but I’m feeling this one-piece! This wrap swimsuit stays in place and doesn’t leave an enormous amount of fabric left gathered beneath it (like other wrap clothing does to me). It hugs all of the areas just right, and I’m a fan of the front-tie detail. Also loving that side-v detail – this swimsuit won as my top favorite! The SidestrokeThe Sidestroke swimsuit is giving me real Baewatch vibes, and I feel compelled to run slow in the sand wearing this one. The single-shoulder strap makes me feel sassy, and the pleated fabric makes me feel classy – we’ve got ourselves a sassy and classy one folks! I loved pairing this one with the cover-up as well. The Sidestroke will be coming with me to Mexico for my family’s annual resort trip! RyannThe Ruffle BackflipIf you are looking for a bathing suit that makes you feel comfortable, this is it. The pattern does wonders to distract and so does the neckline if you know what I mean. I am usually not a ruffle person but because I like the shape so much, I don’t mind the ruffle sleeve at all. It’s definitely supportive enough to swim and do activities in, but I don’t feel like I am being full-on modest. It’s a little sexy and a lot supportive which is really all I want in a bathing suit. The cover-up is simple but so good. I usually wear a mens button-up as a swimsuit cover-up and this is basically that but way softer and more feminine. I am a big fan. The SidestrokeIn hindsight, I don’t think this white color was the wisest choice for me, but I do like this suit a lot (Now I know if you are going with a white suit, a wax is probably a good idea :)). I am very into a one-shoulder silhouette and this is probably the most supportive and active-friendly swimsuit I’ve tried on. You can run, hop, skip, and jump in this bad boy and you’d feel invincible (and YES Caitlin, I’ll boogie board with you!). My only wish is that it would have a higher leg cut, because I think that’s the most flattering for my body type. The Perfect Wrap One-PieceDespite looking like the unhappiest woman in America (this photo was taken after a day of traveling, whoops) this is my favorite swimsuit right now!!! It’s my fiancé’s favorite too, so I know I’ll be wearing it a ton this summer. I love the wrap because it allows me to really cinch my waist if I so desire and the plunge neckline is so flattering. It has the perfect amount of padding in my opinion, because it supports without pushing the gals up too much. I’m not the biggest fan of pushing up my boobs to my chin because a nip slip becomes almost inevitable. Instead, I like when my boobs look natural yet supported and this checks that box. 10/10!! MalloryThe SidestrokeSo I, like Jess, have never really worn one-pieces and what better way to get into them than with Summersalt! This Sidestroke suit was certainly the suit I was most excited about – I love the one-shoulder action and I think the back is super well-designed. It has a decent amount of coverage on the bootay if that’s something you are wanting & it SERIOUSLY hugs you – like this one felt like maximum support (even more than the next two), so if you want your suit to keep all the goods in, this is for you (which is nice because most suits will expand a bit when they get wet, so I’m into it). I like how Jess put gold jewelry with it – such a nice resort wear kinda suit. LOVE IT. The Perfect Wrap One-PieceThis green is SO PRETTY. I’ve always loved a wrap dress, so this is a cute swimsuit version of that. I found this suit super comfortable & has lots of solid coverage. It’s not quite as thick as the last suit (I’d give the last suit a 10 for support), but in terms of swimsuits in general I’d put it as an 8 for support. The neckline is so chic though, PLUS it has boob pads for the girls! So you don’t have to worry about any nip fest when you’re getting out of the pool and it’s a lil chilly. V cute!!! The Ruffle BackflipThis suit has my favorite back out of the 3 because I LOVE an open back. It’s slightly less covered on the booty than the other 2 (but I think in a good way), and it’s overall VERY comfortable. The ruffles are super cute plus it also has boob pads which is great for me who doesn’t got a lot going on in that department there ya go! – Emily here! Just wanted to say one big THANK YOU to Summersalt for allowing my team the chance to finally review some of these suits we’ve seen all over IG for years. To see everything we showed you in one easy-to-navigate spot, click right here. But everyone looks great, right? If you’ve spotted a suit that YOU love, be sure to use code STYLEBYEM10 to apply $10 towards your purchase. And if anyone has any questions about fit or sizing (again, they offer 0-24 with long torso options), please sound off below. We’ll be more than happy to give some more feedback. Here’s to feeling great in our swimwear, no matter the place (lake, ocean, pool, bar, etc. Wherever life takes you.). Now, what say you?? The post Unphotoshopped Women Honestly Review Summersalt’s 3 Bestselling Swimsuits appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/P2QgNHf Our Vintage and Antique Pieces For the Farm From Rejuvenation Sustainable and Soulful FTW :)4/22/2022 One of the reasons I partnered up with Rejuvenation for the farm (beyond the locally made, timeless, high-quality lighting and furniture), was also because this company has continued to curate and invest in their vintage and antique lighting, furniture, and decor department. It’s pretty unique and as far as I know, the only larger retailer who does this. When you can manufacture new goods – a scalable business, I imagine dealing with one-offs can be hard to remain a priority (I know this first hand from when I had the online flea e-commerce store). But Rejuvenation’s roots were founded in helping people restore their homes, so vintage is part of their DNA, and they are thinking about sustainability in every way. We all know that buying vintage/used/antique is really the best thing you can do for the planet (and your home) and frankly it makes the most personal and soulful home. So three big local cheers for their renewed efforts here. They invited me down to the factory which is where they assemble all the lighting, and also where they keep all the Rejuvenation Vintage inventory and have their antique and vintage restoration studio. My dopamine soared just thinking about it, and needless to say, it was an absolute dream day. They were founded in 1977 in Portland, Oregon (two years older than me, ha) as an architectural salvage, lighting, and hardware restoration shop — and they have been dedicated to the process of authentic restoration ever since. I remember shopping there as a teen and got the same sense of the hunt when I was there for this trip. They are re-launching today (happy Earth Day) and really leaning into the importance of appreciating vintage as being highly sustainable. So on to what I really really want (and have) for the farm from their Rejuvenation Vintage Collection. Our Dining Nook TableThey had aisles and aisles of vintage everything – chairs, tables, pots, cutting boards. Many of which are just launching today on their site. Somebody needs to snag that coffee table. I think it’s too small for either of our rooms, and have thought about it for the kid’s playroom (while they share a bedroom), but it’s too splurgy to get glitter glue all over it. But it’s excellent, made of pine, which I’m really into right now, and has round legs. This trestle table had just come in and is still on hold for me for our dining nook. Right now I’m thinking we might need something with a single base (like a pedestal) but it still might work. These are on 1stDibs for $2-3K but mostly in Europe (they are Swedish or Scandinavian trestle tables) so to be able to find it locally was huge (and not deal with customs – trust me, you don’t want to – I’m still waiting on my hutch). That dining nook shrunk a bit because the track from the sliding doors was wider than predicted (so the walls came into the room more). The table might still work, but an oval might be better. Either way, I LOVE that trestle table and if it’s not mine they’ll put it up for sale, and could be yours. Our Dining Nook SconceFor the sake of matching/ease/affordability, most of our light fixtures are new from Rejuvenation, but we wanted to add a few vintage pieces where it made sense (and where we didn’t need multiples, although sometimes they do stock multiples). I absolutely panicked once I saw this on their site. It is INSANE and yet exactly what we needed. The sconce in the rendering was just a placeholder for height, as this is a perfect opportunity to do an articulating sconce over the dining nook. Something casual and vintage was exactly what I had in mind. Here is why it works so well, our dining nook is going to be in the great room where the ceilings are exposed, so while we can rig up a fixture and hide the cord in a conduit (which we are doing in the middle of the room for our chandelier) I LOVE the idea of this sconce coming out from the wall, instead. We can lower it when we are puzzling, and raise it up when we are eating dinner there. I forget if we decided to hardwire it or leave it as a plug-in, but trust me that it’s going to be amazing. I love that it marries the black and brass that we have in the other Rejuvenation light fixtures, while being vintage and totally unique. Just picture it where the brass double sconce is now… Killer (and no, we haven’t designed the nook yet – all TBD and on my list for next week to start tackling). Our Entry LightThen I found this incredible milk glass disk, that they are going to hardwire onto a stem with a vintage triple bulb fitting (and of course, we’ll put pretty bulbs in it since they’ll be exposed – RJ has an incredible bulb selection). It’s so simple, classic, pretty, and appropriate since our entryway is really small. They have loads and loads of vintage lighting parts to be able to assemble them together and look authentic. It was totally thrilling to watch. The profile for that pendant is much flatter than the rendering but you get the idea. Brian was underwhelmed by it until he saw it with the vintage brass fittings and pictured it with the pretty light bulbs. I LOVE IT. Super simple and understated, utilitarian yet unique. Plus being so high and flat it doesn’t compete with that stunning window pattern. Our Vintage Kitchen PendantsOnce we chose that main fixture we went back to look for our kitchen island pendants a couple of weeks later – and we found three of these smaller versions that could hang together. I LOVE THESE, but I’m slightly worried about scale because while I love a micro-pendant even over huge islands, our sconces are normal scale so I wonder if they are going to feel off… or maybe just awesome. These could be tricky for a few reasons, but I really want to try them. Our island is a freestanding piece and we aren’t sure where it’s going to exactly land yet so we have decided to do just one J-box in the middle of the ceiling and then swag the fixtures. So we aren’t sure exactly how long the twisted cords should be. We are going to do a mockup with cardboard and rope as soon as the drywallers are done. Possibly like this: I know stuff like this (antique lamp parts) might not get most people going, but it sure does me. The fact that they are so invested in restoring period lighting – fixtures that aren’t in production anymore which old home purists obsess over, gives them so much credit in my book. I nerded out hard with Jordan and Justin, from the Rejuvenation Vintage team on all things vintage, makers, and told them what I’m on the hunt for, etc, while I plotted to get their job. They literally scour the world for vintage goodness to curate, and believe me I’ve pitched many many shopping trips together France? Italy? Sweden? RoundTop?? C’mon!! Charlie would LOVE that trunk, but I hit my trunk quota – 5 – last week…soooo). It has a hand-painted ship on the inside and was so playful and whimsical. I’m still tempted… I’m obviously not done shopping for vintage pieces for our home, (I may never be) and I’m always on the hunt to find the right piece – so I’m VERY PLEASED that Rejuvenation is not only continuing to invest in vintage, but doing it with a renewed efforts. Today they are launching a huge new collection as well as re-launching the whole Rejuvenation Vintage Collection, so we shopped and rounded up my favorite pieces – things I’m seriously considering for the farm unless you buy them first 1. Antique French Large Folding Table | 2. French Factory Lockers | 3. Antique Oval Mirror on Scissor Arm | 4. Vintage Primitive Side Table | 5. Danish Curved Couch | 6. Mountain and River Framed Painting | 7. Antique 2-Door Cabinet | 8. Antique Adjustable Sconce | 9. Traditional Single Drawer Desk | 10. Lyhne Task Lamp | 11. Double-Sided Vintage Sign | 12. Pair of Upholstered Chairs | 13. Bamboo Coffee Table | 14. Victorian Drop Leaf Table | 15. Mid-Century White Oak Coffee Table | 16. Worn Vintage Workbench | 17. Danish Black Leather Sofa | 18. Vintage Industrial Copper Pendant A huge thanks to Justin and Jordan from the Rejuvenation Vintage team as well as the lovely Rejuvenation marketing team (Negina!), for a real dream day. Nerding out with other vintage furniture and lighting lovers, dishing about what past makers we are collecting, and witnessing how they are restoring pieces (that they’ll continue to add to the website) is truly a dream. Head over and see the pieces for yourself, and if you are an online vintage shopper like I am make sure to add them to your list of online sites to check. xx *Photos by Kaitlin Green The post Our Vintage and Antique Pieces For the Farm From Rejuvenation… Sustainable and Soulful FTW :) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/QsWAkEY |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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