At the beginning of the pandemic, Brian started looking for a dog. Notice that I didn’t say “Brian and I” or “we”. We were not on the same page regarding this situation because A. He was ready and I wasn’t and B. He specifically wanted some sort of “oodle” to avoid shedding, be kid-friendly, trauma-free and I wanted a rescue. He was scared of the unpredictability of a rescue dog and I was set on rescuing. I was literally a dog walker in New York when I was 23 because I loved dogs so much. But I was pretty afraid of adding chaos to our life and while I love animals, I don’t want every animal as a pet in my house, under my responsibility and obligation to love, and getting the wrong dog just for the sake of having a pet sounded very stressful to me. So I did the obvious and texted Kristen Bell. I had met her and her rescue pups last year and as we were chatting about the idea of rescuing she said “When you are ready, text me. I know where to do go and how to pick the right one for your family”. So on a random Saturday morning during quarantine, I did. She seemed genuinely excited and gave me a ton of good advice (yes, she is extremely lovely and just as generous as she seems – and yes, she reads this blog). She emailed her favorite rescue organizations, helped introduce us, and asked me a ton of questions about size, demeanor, age, expectations, etc. and followed up with advice. I took her advice and we started looking. But we weren’t the only people looking for rescues during the pandemic as you’ve probably heard. Like most people, Brian’s argument was that since we never left the house we actually had the time to put into training one right now (HAHAHA) and I couldn’t argue with that. We live in the country with a ton of space. We both work from home. The kids are almost 5 and 7. He’s currently working way less (video production has shut down and no theater work) so he said he would do the bulk of the annoying stuff. He promised. I also knew that he really needed the pick me up that dogs can give humans. Ok. I’d just look. Now the rescue organizations that Kristen recommended (Mutt Match LA, Wagmor, and The Dog Cafe) had so few dogs, but by looking at their faces online Brian fell in love with the idea of a rescue pup. Not to shame anyone who adopts a bred dog, AT ALL, I just felt that it was what our family should do. I grew up with rescue dogs that we literally found on the side of the road on a road trip. And one of the things that changed Brian’s mind re rescues was that Kristen said with a rescue dog (versus new puppy) is you actually DO know more what type of dog you are going to get, rather than a puppy whose personality you can’t even see yet. So he started shopping every. single. day and they were getting adopted so fast we kept missing them. We went to an adoption fair (drove 2 hours back to LA near LAX) only to be told that they were all spoken for despite having an appointment. The kids were devastated and confused, obviously, but it was a good lesson for them, too. Those kids need more rejection in their life anyway. The other fair was similar – none left that were good for kids (by the nature of being rescued a lot of them need rehabilitation and training and yes, could still be traumatized and be aggressive). We were pretty open about breed, size, and age. Our main requirements weren’t small though – we wanted calm, affectionate, not jumpy, not loud and barky, happy energy, and most importantly for the kids, not aggressive. It took months… So we found a couple of shepherd mixes still available at a rescue in San Bernardino and took the kids down to check them out. It was a situation out of the movies. We saw these two dogs on our way in, but we weren’t there to see them and were guided to keep walking while looking back. As we walked past the rest of the dogs, they were all barking and jumping at the site of people, but those first two… they were chilling. The guy led us into the meeting area and brought the first shepherd mix over and while super sweet even the guy that worked at the rescue was like, “oh no, he’s not for your kids” as he jumped all over them and knocked them down. We asked about the other dog and he said, “no, he’s even bigger and can’t stop jumping”. The kids were disappointed but, like the feel-good family movie that we were apparently acting in, Brian and I looked at each other and said “What about those two?” The man replied, “Oh those? Yah, they came from a litter of 7 puppies that were bred for Christmas money but were born too late. They are the last two left”. I didn’t know that was a thing which is sad on many levels, obviously. He said this happens every year:( Christmas puppy rejects? Born too late? Or maybe born exactly when they should have been?? Perhaps this is more a hallmark holiday movie than Disney movie and by golly will we have a happy ending?????? So they brought the rejected “Christmas” pups over and it was like a DISNEY and HALLMARK “meet cute” moment. They didn’t jump but were so excited and happy and sweet. It was a big sweet love fest and the kids were so excited. They were brother and sister of the same litter (twins!). They had been there for a while (I have no idea how they were still available) and we obviously couldn’t just adopt one and leave the sibling. They were 8 months old (Kristen told me to not get under a year, sorry KB) and the rescue said they were full-grown (not true). We don’t know what they are but they said “husky poodle mix”. We immediately said we would foster and see if they were the right fit for our family (thus staying quiet for a bit). I was still nervous about making sure that these pups were right for us and wanted to live with them for a bit. People give back rescue dogs frequently when they aren’t the right fit (especially with kids involved) so I was nervous and didn’t want to tell the world until we KNEW. Well, the dogs out the bag, and I can solidly tell you that these two pups are indeed HOME. And not because they have the same hair color as their human siblings and match the wood flooring in our home (it’s actually ridiculous). No, it’s because they are so sweet, so affectionate and cuddly, they love the kids, love each other, are obsessed with Brian (and me) and have indeed added so much joy to our lives in the short time they’ve been with us. They have the exact right chemistry of energy for us – enough to want to play with the kids, but then they come inside and nap and chill. Or maybe dogs just match the energy needed by their parents. They are achingly cute. The fact that they were the last two left of the 7 pup litter begs the question – If these were the rejects, what did the other 5 look like??? We’ll never know and I don’t care. These are OUR PUPS!!!!!!!! So, world, I’d love to introduce you to Oscar and Buttercup Henderson – named by the kids, obviously. Oscar has the black tips on his ears and Butter looks like a stick of butter. We have thought about renaming him Ralph because he throws up every time he gets in a car. And she came to us with two large ticks (the rescue isn’t one that I’d recommend if you know what I mean – more of a pound). We are still training them to walk on a leash and to not treat our home like a two-story litter box. But all in all, they are actually such great dogs. I don’t know how it happened. But maybe it’s like having kids – once you are in love, once they are part of you, every parent looks at their kid and thinks, “I can’t believe how special you are and how much I love you”. That’s what love does to you, and thank god because the 5 am barking to go out and the pile of dog shit on top of the pile of clean clothes ON TOP of the guest bed can only be tolerated once in love. We took them on a hike the other day in the car and I prepped my lap with two towels. As Oscar ralphed multiple times in the 15-minute drive I just quietly kept scooping it up, and making him more comfortable by blasting the AC. Listen, “not pukey” wasn’t on my requirement list and you can’t have everything. Is it strange that I can handle lap puke so much more than a dog that barks all the time? We all have our things. So get prepared to get to know them and see them on social and here now and again. And if you are on the fence about rescuing or adopting, just give rescuing a whirl first – it can work out! If you have your heart set on a purebred or a designer mixed dog there are a ton of rescue agencies that take the “rejects” and find them homes. So with a bit of research, you might be able to rescue a pup that is actually the best fit for you and your family. We did. Ok, one more – INTRODUCING OSCAR AND BUTTERCUP HENDERSON!!!!!!! The post Two More Hendersons Kids… Because We Weren’t Done With The Big Life Decisions :) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3bnxzqh
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This past week left us speechless… yet again. While beautiful reveals help to create moments of escape, we have to continue keep our eyes wide open and actively fight against injustice. So before we get into another small dose of escapism, if you can donate to Jacob Blake’s GoFundMe and if anyone has information about how to help the victims of the Kenosha protest please put that info in the comments. Okay, let’s get to the link up… Today’s home tour comes to us from The Design Files (duh!). This home is a masterclass in pops of color. Homeowner, interior decorator Phoebe Rolleston and architect Lucy Bowen really created something beautiful. From Emily: The new Studio McGee collection for Target is better than imagined. I need nothing right now which pains me because I want this table, this pouf (in blue), and this console so bad. Yay to my friend Shea for such a great collaboration with my other friend, Target. Lastly… Woah, this is a VERY GOOD LADDER. From Ryann: This piece by Jazmine Hughes awoke my soul and made me feel excited about reading and writing again. It is beautifully written, full of personal reflection and social commentary, all while celebrating personal triumph and new experiences. It’s probably the best thing I’ve read all year, so if you are in the mood for a very poignant and intoxicating read, I can’t recommend it enough. From Jess: If you love arches and stunning architecture you are going to LOVE this Modern Spanish home. I can’t stop looking at it! From Julie: From Julie: “Earlier this summer my sister, Val, and her family decided to make a big move up north to Bend, Oregon after a year of traveling the world. And yes, they did get quarantined abroad for about a month before traveling home to Los Angeles but that is a whole other story. They are becoming true PNW-ers and have even started a small business on Etsy selling butterfly habitats. Why butterfly habitats you may ask? After the move my sister got talking with an old high school friend, Julie, (another Julie!) about her beautiful garden in LA (check out her IG here: @this_bountiful_life) and how she had so many monarch caterpillars but couldn’t find a shop that was selling affordable habitats. So, being the creative, ambitious and currently unemployed (after traveling for a year) person my sister is she decided to create @ButterflyCasita. Here’s more info about their products from Val: Our Butterly Habitats are an easy, exciting new item to bring home and begin a lifelong love of nature’s most beautiful pollinators. The Butterfly Cottage is our smaller design. Perfect for a balcony, small patio or for anyone who would like to hang their butterfly habitat on an outdoor wall. Whereas, The Butterfly Brownstone is our larger design. Tall and slim, just like the New York buildings they are named after. Perfect for a garden or outdoor space. Are you an avid gardener who wants to bring beautiful pollinators to your plants? Are you a parent of curious young ones who love to learn about creatures? Are you focused on how you can benefit the environment with simple everyday practices? Our Butterfly Habitats are perfect for anyone who has a love of nature! Our habitats provide caterpillars with a safe home during their metamorphosis process. Get ready to watch one of nature’s most beautiful transformations. Egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly! From Caitlin: I love Korean food. (I picked an apartment within walking distance of Hae Jang Chon for a reason — it is THE best all you can eat KBBQ place in LA, I will debate it with anyone, and their bulgogi is SO GOOD that friends from the South Bay will drive all the way up to meet me there for a meal. Shoutout Hae Jang Chon!!!) Anyway — I wanted to start learning more about ways to incorporate more Korean food into my everyday meal rotation, so I picked up this cookbook by Maangchi which I LOVE. There are tons of ingredient and equipment lists at the beginning so I haven’t felt super overwhelmed (my normal food prep lately has been like…toast, so ANY cooking is a stretch) and it’s also just fun to read and super educational. She also has an awesome YouTube channel if you’re more of a visual learner:) 10/10!!! Also from Caitlin: A friend sent me this video on Friday and it made me happy cry. SO SWEET. Since Nisolo can’t hold their annual warehouse sale in person, they’re holding it online… and this is GREAT NEWS for us, because we are all Nisolo super fans. We own (and can vouch for) these open-toed mules, these d’Orsay oxfords, these 2.5″ block-heeled mules, these slip-ons, and our everyday mules. They also have a ton of cute keep-forever bags and earrings available. It’s our favorite sale this week! From Mallory: I’ve never owned a yoga mat before last week (which is really weird of me) so I did some research and decided to splurge on this one in green sage. Worth it. From Sara: My mom is a teacher of 35+ years, so we’ve been chatting A LOT about the distance learning and zoom class situation. She’s currently teaching TK, and if you have TK aged children, first of all BLESS YOU, and second of all I have some recs straight from my sweet mom. Even if you don’t have TK aged kids, these app recs are great for all young and elementary school kids! First up is my mom’s favorite app, VOOKS. From their site – “It’s a kid-safe, ad-free streaming library of read-along, animated storybooks.” My mom says she plays one of these every morning for 15 minutes while kids trickle into their zoom session, and she loves it. Second is Deep Space Sparkle Art. These online art classes were actually a special recommendation for Birdie because I told her how much she loves doing art. My mom is very art-based (she also used to teach art classes on the weekend, as if spending 5 days a week with children was just not enough! SOME PEOPLE ARE TRUE ANGELS!), and she thinks the classes and activities this site is putting together are really awesome. LASTLY – My mom works in a majority low-income school district in Los Angeles, and distance learning has been a really tough transition for many of the kids in her class. Many of their parents are working essential jobs which keep them from being home, they have limited access to the internet, and limited access to basic school resources and supplies at home. And if you didn’t already know this, public education is severely underfunded and teachers spend SO MUCH out of their own pockets. This year my mom put together kits (that included art supplies, books, supplies, etc., all out of pocket) and personally dropped them off at each student’s home. So I asked my mom what would she LOVE for her kids to have this year. What are the things that she really wishes she could give her kids to just make their educational experience that much better, and not just the bare minimum. She came up with two things – First, she’d love to get each of her 15 students headphones with microphones. She says it helps their focus tenfold when they’re able to block out noises from the rest of the house (including siblings who are also trying to distance learn). SO, I created a Target registry where anyone can purchase a pair and have them directly shipped to my mom, who will then deliver them to each student! Secondly, she would love to give each student one new book a month. Ownership of books is so empowering to kids on their journey to reading. She’s set up a Scholastic donation collection here in order to be able to fund this goal of giving each student in her classroom one new book every month for the entire school year. These two things would make a huge difference to 15 kids this year. And I know the teacher is my mom, but I can’t tell you enough how AMAZING of a teacher this woman is. It’s rare that someone knows at the age of 5 so passionately what they want to do, and then spends their entire life pursuing that passion, getting two masters (one at age 53!), and doing it all in a second language (my mom is an immigrant whose first language is Spanish). OK I’M DONE CRYING NOW, and thank you anyone and everyone who can donate to help in any small way. That’s it for today! Have a happy and safe rest of your weekend. See you tomorrow xx Opening Image Credit: Design by Phoebe Rolleston and Lucy Bowen | Styled by Annie Portelli | Photo by Eve Wilson | via The Design Files The post The Link Up: Emily’s Target Studio McGee Line Picks, Our Favorite Yoga Mat and Sara’s Very Important (and Personal) Charity appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2QCCzO2 It is no secret that Emily (and the rest of EHD) love a single garment no-fuss outfit option. Jumpsuits are the unofficial EHD uniform and we are all big fans of comfortable, flowy dresses. But there is another cousin to these easy to throw on pieces that have not had their time to shine. That’s right, it is high time we give proper tribute to the overall. Why do we love them? Well, they are great for being on set because they are comfortable and easy to move around in, plus they are ideal to wear while moving around furniture and shlepping props because they can withstand some wear and tear. They are versatile (we wear them all year long) and work with boots, mules, Birkenstocks, sneakers, you name it–and yes it is totally possible to wear them without feeling like a farmer (though that’s never a bad thing IMO). If you need more convincing than that, allow me to introduce you to the ones we have our eyes on right now: 1. Lizzie Culotte Overalls | 2. Denim Dungaree | 3. Lacey Dungarees In Black | 4. Women’s High-Rise Cropped Raw Hem Overalls | 5. Denim Overall | 6. Boyish Kenny Overall |7. Rosalie Overalls | 8. RJ Overalls | 9. Levi Vintage Overall | 10. Citizens of Humanity Christie Wide-Leg Denim Overalls | 11. EDWIN Sadie Utility Denim Overalls | 12. Denim Overalls | 13. High-Rise Cropped Raw Hem Overalls | 14. Brooklyn Denim Dungarees | 15. Straight Leg Overalls I love an oversized overall with a wide or straight leg such as #1, #6, and #12 because I am a comfort gal at heart. In fact, I’ve been coveting these for over a year–ever since I saw Emily wearing similar ones in this post. Our resident overall champion, Julie, has these and loves them for styling days and shoot days so you can bet they are comfortable and durable. Now let’s move on to shortalls as the weather is not getting any cooler anytime soon. 1. Eyes On You Shortall | 2. AE Denim Tomgirl Short Overall | 3. Mercury Rising Shortall | 4. Denim Overall Short | 5. Lucky Brand Shortalls | 6. Lee Relaxed Short Overalls | 7. Aerie Twill Knot Shortall | 8. Denim Tie-Waist Patch Pocket Short Overalls | 9. Denim Shortalls With Raw Hem | 10. Denim Shortall | 11. Denim Overall Shorts | 12. Denim Button Dungarees I am very into these classic ones from Gap (honestly pretty sure my mom owned this exact style in the ’90s) and these super cute distressed ones are very similar to the ones Emily wore here. For less casual but still comfortable look, sign me up for #7 and #12. So, are you team overall? Or what is your favorite no-fuss outfit? Please, do tell. xx Opening Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: My Summer Wardrobe The post The Long-Awaited EHD Approved Overalls Roundup appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/31DTsy8 The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is happening right now and while I’d usually be taking this time to stock up on some new fall sweaters and boots, I felt a little bit lost this year. Am I still living in sweats? Will I ever go outside again? What do I actually need? What’s actually worth buying now as we head into what is going weirdest holiday season of our lives? LUCKY FOR ME, I have a team who was ready, willing and able to share their picks from the sale with me (and now with you!). As a whole, we’re eyeballing some skincare, some athleisure, some comfy sweaters that make sense for both home AND the grocery store, some boots for kickin’ Ms. Rona to the curb. I even ended up finding some cute home stuff (honestly, I didn’t even know Nordstrom *carried* home goods…a whole new page to stalk!). So without further ado, here is a totally #notsponsored look at what our team ACTUALLY put in our carts from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale… From Emily – Fall Refresh EssentialsThis year, I’m just adding a few classic basics to my cart – jeans, boots, plain t-shirts, and workout clothes that will last me a long time. They’re comfy enough to wear at home all day with the kids, but I can still go out in public while wearing them and feel good and put together. Aspe Bootie: I have last years version of these boots by this brand and I LOVE THEM. The ones that I have are specifically light and I’m not sure if these are, but I can vouch for the brand and comfort (two of my friends bought these and love them). Waterproof Rain Boot: This gray and orange combo if SO CUTE and takes what is super classic (who doesn’t love Sperry) and makes it fashionable. We are all going to be going on more walks and hikes this fall and winter (I’ve never been a hiker before and now I’m SUPER into it). I have enough rain boots, but the move to Portland might require another pair at some point. High Waist Cigarette Jeans: I like the cut and lack of holes, and having a new non-blue wash is never a bad thing. I don’t know the fit of this brand though, so if any of you can vouch for it let us know. Cotton Blend T-Shirt: I have this shirt in three colors. Def size down, its super oversized which I know is the style, but it’s like THAT oversized, so size down. Track Jacket: I have this in blue (I bought it last Nordstrom sale) and work out in it ALL THE TIME. There are cute little thumb/finger holes that make me feel like an athlete for whatever reason. Slim Fit Boyfriend Jeans: I love the Dre cut of these jeans (I’ve had two pairs for over two years that I still wear often), so I’m curious if this cropped one has the same really good fit…. The normal Dre jeans fit low and slouchy in the crotch, but then more fitted in legs – not full drop crotch, but just a really good cut. From Sara – Mix and Match BasicsThe main thing I want this fall – MIX AND MATCH BASICS. I want timeless pieces that I can wear over and over again, that don’t feel trendy, and that will transition between multiple outfits. Combat Boot: These boots are a classic warm leather that can work with loose flowy dresses, with tights and cute skirt, or with any type of jean. Its heel makes it just a little elevated, but it’s unadorned leather keeps it basic and timeless. Racerback Bodysuit: I’ve been really into body suits recently. They don’t bunch like tucked in shirts when worn with jeans or shorts, they give a smooth silhouette when worn with skirts, and they’re perfect for layering under sweaters. I HATE wearing camisoles or tank tops, but I’ve realized that’s just because I’m a bodysuit person! It’s probably all those years doing ballet… High Waisted Jeans: Wide-legged pants have really found their way back in my outfit repertoire recently, and these look an ideal pair. Casual for with a cozy sweater and sneakers for a dressed-down look, or paired with those high heel boots from above, that black body suit from above, a leather jacket, and some winged eyeliner for the perfect fall evening lewk. From Ryann – SkincareI know we were all supposed to figure out our skincare routines month 1 of quarantine but I’ve always been a bit of a procrastinator. But, I think now’s the time I get the ball rolling so here are some products I am itching to try out: Supergoop! Defense Refresh: I can’t tell you how many times I have applied makeup only to realize I forgot the most important step: SUNSCREEN. Up until now, I assumed there was no way to remedy this amateur move until I found out Supergoop Defense Mist exists. You simply spray it over your makeup for full SPF 40 coverage. GENIUS. FAB & Flawless Kit: I have dry as the desert skin so I require really strong and effective misturizer. I’ve used First Aid Beauty in the past and it hydrates my skin like no other. This package is perfect for me and it’s only $50!! Needless to say, I purchased it within seconds. Clean Facial Cleansing Device: I’ll admit I am really bad with my skincare routine because, well, I don’t have one. I don’t have a favorite cleanser and end up just trying a new one any time one runs out. This device won’t fix that fact BUT I hope it will motivate me to get serious about my skin. From Jess – Cute But Comfortable TopsAs proven in my month 5 quarantine wardrobe, comfort is still very much king. It’s likely part loving to be comfortable and part putting on those super fun quaran-pounds, making my normal clothes less than comfortable. But I don’t want to sit in my apartment, feeling frumpy because it’s just not good for my mental health or self-esteem. So I want to invest in some tops that are cute comfortable and are the kind that look good give or take those 10 lbs:) You know the ones. That way I am buying tops that have longevity which is important to me, the environment, and my wallet. Tie Neck Peasant Top: This top follows a lot of Em’s blouse formula. I love the happy but neutral color (great for most seasons), the flowy body (wonderfully forgiving), detail of the neckline and of course the tie at the top to make it a little sexy if need be! PLUS it’s under $30. Done. Catch Me If You Can Top: I’m surprised how much I love this top because the pattern is VERY busy but I maybe that’s why I love it?? I prefer the darker color combo and with a cute pair of jeans, this shirt looks like it feels like a vacation. Plus it’s flowy and the cuff ties are super cute. V-Neck Nep Wool Blend Sweater: Ok so this isn’t a blouse but with fall coming up quick, I want some pretty but slouchy sweaters. They are my kryptonite. I LOVE the light blue color and honestly it just looks really comfortable. It’s seems great a warm winter (like we get in Southern California) or with some added layers perfect for a cold, snowy winter. From Caitlin – Fall Decor AccentsI’ve cooled it on my fashion purchases seeing as I have devoted myself to a lifetime of joggers, tank tops, grocery delivery, and only leaving my apartment to meet with my realtor. (Wearing a mask — or, even better, a mask/sunglass/hat combo — makes me SO BRAZEN when it comes to being a scrub in public! I dress like a college student headed to the gym! Will I ever be able to actually put on regular clothes again???) Anyway, I’m late to the party because I had no idea that Nordstrom carried home goods so I had a fun time falling down the rabbit hole and bookmarking some favorites!! Throw Blanket: It’s a confetti print in a more muted, toned down, fall-appropriate pallet. (I know what it looks like from the image, I promise that zooming in will clarify.) There’s some nice olive, mustard, and navy in there so it’s colorful without being jarring or super saturated. I LOVE IT. Toaster: Does anyone already own this? The reviews are good, but is it ludicrous to spend this much on a toaster? For what it’s worth, a core staple of my quarantine diet has been english muffins, so my toaster gets daily (if not twice daily) use…and it kinda would be nice to look at something that’s cute and rose gold, instead of a black box I picked up 6 years ago. Is this a good upgrade???? (Because if so…I’d obviously buy it on sale.) Votive Candle Set: OMG Y’ALL. These candles in these sizes are SO HARD to find. (They’re usually $55 for the full-priced versions.) I’m normally a fan of clean or citrus-y scents (like cotton/linen or Capri Blue) buuuuuut I make an exception in the fall for these. I know what the descriptions say and I would NEVER normally gravitate to any of these scents just based on their names, but woooow they just smell warm and crisp and spicy and woodsy. Since fall is so short in LA and the burn time on these small versions is great, the votives are the best size to get me through a few weeks before I head straight into Christmas candle territory From Mallory – 90s-Inspired PiecesSatin Cami: I’ve been searching for a good cowl neck top for QUITE some time (like actually years) and I finally found a good one. Plus because of this insanely great sale, it’s only $20! 10/10 Recommend grabbing it before it’s gone (and if you’re like me and don’t have larger ladies up top then I’d size down or that cowl neckline ain’t gonna be a neckline if you know what I mean). Flare Trousers: I’m a CPO kinda gal right now, meaning “comfortable pants only” of course. But just because ya pants are comfy doesn’t mean they can’t be CUTE. Nordstrom proved it with these and these (and they’re only $25 a pair)!! Slide Sandals: I bought these shoes prior to the Anniversary Sale in pink and have been wearing them literally any time I leave the house (which I’ll admit isn’t much right now, but they are in fact comfortable enough to wear to a grocery store or to a restaurant’s outdoor patio so it’s a win win). While the ones I bought were a really good price (especially for Jeffery Campbells), I love these with the clear heel maybe more, and they’re 40% off right now, so take advantage while you can!! SO THAT’S WHAT WE’RE EYEBALLING. (Or what we already own and what we can vouch for.) The sale ends this Sunday, so you have a couple days to pick out your own favs! HAVE A GREAT AND RELAXING WEEKEND. Opening Image Credits: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: A Fashion Review: New Clothing on My Body and How I Like Them (Or Not) The post What We Have Our Eyeballs On From The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2EDNJQ2 Today is Sara’s last day as an official EHD team member and after almost 6 years she is getting a proper goodbye in the form of unbridled sentimentality by yours truly. In case you missed why she is leaving here’s a quick recap: She is ready and excited to become a full-time freelance photographer, and I seriously couldn’t be happier for her. The rest of the world now gets to hire her and experience the wonderfulness that is my friend, Sara. She is taking her favorite part of her job and making it full time, expanding her client list from just me (what? are you sick of my face?) and working for herself. I’m so proud of her. It’s kinda all you want for your friends after so much hard work. I remember her interview 6 years ago, clear as day. She came to me entry-level, almost right out of school, with one internship under her belt, I was impressed with how her resume looked and how willing she was to work and learn. She was quiet at first, but when she spoke she said important things and had this confidence and lack of fear that made me feel safe and comfortable as a boss – both in her as an employee and as a friend. I just knew I could trust her. I remember saying in our reviews, “I just want to clone you” because she was willing to do anything, had so many skills, worked so hard, and had so much integrity – owning her mistakes, and was so honest. She worked more than she was asked to which I personally think is the smartest thing to do while building your career – you simply will get where you want to go, faster. She is a GREAT testament to that (honestly so many of my former and current team members are). She also was willing to teach herself anything, like photography – it’s actually super inspiring and we should all learn something from this. By watching a billion videos, taking online classes, and obviously a ton of experience shooting with me, she became a professional photographer with a lot of clients lined up, teaching herself over 3 years. As I write that I’m wondering if I should teach myself how to shoot. About a year and a half ago after Brady left, I promoted her to basically VP although I often called her my president (and integrator). And she took on a much larger role running all of production, helping with HR, making sure someone had made reservations for our birthday happy hours, managing invoices, mileage, tracking PTO days – literally ANYTHING that I was bad at, she took over. At that point, I had 13 employees and I wasn’t managing them well (HOT TIP: You can’t be the creative and the executive at the same time… or at least I can’t). She also helped me figure out salaries, sat in on really hard conversations, and I think made everyone feel so much more secure and safe here. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITHOUT HER??? Well first off, we aren’t actually going to be without her. She will continue to contribute to the blog on her house projects (closet, office, and kitchen all coming up!) and we have her booked on two big Target shoots already – producing and shooting. And now that the team is much smaller (we thrive with a smaller team) we can manage a lot more and some of my team will be taking on the roles that she had. Besides, now she can be my friend and continue to contribute here a la Orlando, Brady, Ginny, Grace, Tessa, Mel, Erik, Arlyn, Velinda, Veronica, Emily B., etc and shift and grow the relationship in other ways. I apparently really don’t like saying goodbye to former employees and beg them to stay around as contributors and freelancers, and I’m so glad you guys agree. (Isn’t it fun to have Arlyn back here??). So Sara, thank you for 6 years of hard work, SO MUCH FUN, lots of laughs, lots of cheersing, so much growth for both of us (she started when Charlie was a baby!!! She’s known Birdie since birth!) and for being an amazing leader and example for me and everyone else at EHD. Your face will be missed daily but we can’t wait to continue working with you and hanging out for the rest of my life If you also love Sara and have enjoyed her talent and voice on the blog, feel free to show her some love in the comments. Let’s send her off with LOVE and make her day!!!! P.S. Obviously if you are looking for a photographer in LA I can’t recommend her enough (she also does BEAUTIFUL portraits) and you can reach her by contacting her here and check out her work here. I love you Sara and you’ll always be family Thank you for 6 amazing years. xx The post A Happy “See You Soon” Send-Off To Our Sara After 6 Incredible Years At EHD appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/34GSB1q Well, I’m super excited to get this going – giddy even because after almost 11 years of blogging and content creation we have learned a thing or twelve thousand. Welcome to our “Design Blogger” mentorship program – it’s blog graduate school, really – where the entire EHD team will help coach a beginner or up and coming design blogger through every part of this weird and exciting job. And it is a job, trust me… Heck, it can even be a career, if you are up for it The goal of this program is two-fold: 1. To use our skills, experience, and resources to help coach, guide, and advise an aspiring design blogger through a makeover project of their own, to set them up for success and introduce a new talent to the world. We have a wealth of knowledge that I’m frankly dying to share before I die. I’ve thought about writing a 3rd book about it, but I’d rather have the satisfaction of tactically helping individuals that I have a connection with. And 2. To share the same information that we do with this mentee, here on the blog for all of you, too. I have no secrets, and I’m happy to share in a way that will help anybody feel less alone, helpless, and crazy – possibly even confident and empowered – in this digital media field. There is always room for more great content creators and design bloggers and I’ve been so fortunate and privileged to have a successful one (due to also a ton of hard work and an amazing team) – it’s time to share the space and the partnerships with those coming up in this field. As I’ve said before, digital media and content creation feels like the wild west and it changes every day, and sometimes you feel so frustrated, alone, vulnerable, and like you are doing it all wrong. I’m not saying we have all the right answers or that we’ve been perfect – HA – but we can certainly help guide you from our experience as well as simply be a friend with a big shoulder to lean (or cry) on. Being a design blogger is my dream job (the influencer part of it, not so much) and I truly can’t wait to use our knowledge, our experience, my mistakes, and resources to help others reach their dreams, too. SO LETS DREAM BIG IN 2021, SHALL WE??? Here’s what this mentorship will include: BloggingThis program will focus on documenting one big makeover project that you pitch to us. Bloggers are storytellers – both visually and in written form, which is why it’s frankly not as easy as it looks. You need to be able to connect with readers through your unique voice as well as have a unique design perspective that is also relatable and educational to your readers. You are a teacher, fun friend, transparent designer, relatable writer and well, ideally someone that doesn’t hate looking at numbers or running a small business (this is why there are so many family or couples blog – it is A VERY HARD a one-person job and requires multiple types of brains). We’ll help you from start to finish with your makeover project – how do you tell the story of your project in a digestible way so that readers connect, engage, relate, and also can visually understand your project. This will include tips on how to capture content, the formats you need to shoot things in for different platforms, and the information that readers need to know to really understand a 3-dimensional project on a 2-dimensional screen. You are a storyteller, so how you tell the story is an art and craft that has to be both unique and universal. It’s a lot – WE CAN HELP. Jess, Ryann, and myself will consult on all things blog and editorial – and we have lots of tools to help. Social MediaBetween Instagram, Stories, Lives, Reels, Pinterest, Facebook, Tik Tok, Youtube, Twitter … I mean, it’s a lot and one can actually go mad and give up trying to figure out how to manage it and do it “right”. Mallory and my team can help create a strategy that optimizes your goals in a way that is hopefully efficient, manageable, and even fun. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Sorry, I just find that last sentence actually hilarious… One of our goals would be to help you not lose your mind but instead, drive traffic and meaningful engagement. You’ll also be on our platforms, driving traffic to your blog and hopefully growing your own audience. Partnerships and RevenueOk so say you want to actually be able to support yourself, OH and even make money for your hard work? WHAT A NOVEL IDEA. Blogging can start as a fun hobby but in order to keep it up consistently, you’ll want to pay yourself at some point. This is where partnerships and collaborations come in – and our partnerships and revenue star Caitlin can help. We will help you pitch out to brands as well as help you negotiate offers when they come in. Since we’ll be amplifying your blog posts here, there is built-in traffic (like a MOTO or like Orlando’s parent’s project) and we’ll be able to leverage our traffic and resources to get you the partnerships and products that make sense for your makeover, as well as help negotiate the fees, deliverables, etc. We do everything from product placement to large makeover stories and each one is negotiated totally separately by Caitlin who will be your coach in this realm. It’s exciting and intimidating and full of words like deliverables, assets, contracts, and deadlines. I’m making this job sound very scary (it can be) but I suppose that’s why we want to do this – we want talented designer bloggers to have the help that I wish I had had 6 years ago. Partnerships aren’t the only way that we monetize – we have ads and affiliate links (commission). So we can help set you up with those revenue sources that can become “passive income” – I say that in quotes because nothing is really passive – it’s based on traffic, engagement, and authenticity. A lot of companies won’t work with blogs until they have a certain amount of traffic. But we are using our connections to pull strings and get ads placed and affiliate programs in place. While it might take years to grow revenue, if you want to do this as your career and not just a hobby, we can help start getting you paid for your hard work. Design and StylingThroughout your design process, we want to be a resource when needed to help with all things design as well as the styling for the final “reveal”. I can teach you what “styling to camera” even means and what makes a successful photograph that really tells your story and “POPS” with an audience. I can help weigh in on design if that’s something you’d like – lord knows that I need like 2 million people to weigh in on some of my design decisions… It’s kinda terrifying to put your work out there (as any of my team members can tell you during their MOTO reveals) so we want to be a resource to help you feel confident that your work will be well received. PhotographyThe wonderful Sara Ligorria-Tramp, while freelance, is offering to be a part of this mentorship program too, and help teach you how to shoot your projects – both process and reveal. Camera tricks, settings, angles, lighting – I mean, I want this too – this is so valuable. I’m not sure how this is going to work – if you are local ideally this would be in person, but if not then there might be a lot of Facetime photoshoot time happening. But photography is an important part of people really being able to see and understand your project (plus it’s important when pitching to other media outlets for press). So who can become a mentee? ANYONE. I don’t care if you went to college, or if you did what you studied. We are ideally looking for people who have a unique voice, passion for design, and the desire to tell great stories. Tell us who you are, why you have a story to tell, what makes you so unique? It’s like a college admissions interview – for a really irreverent arts program – and we aren’t interested in a resume full of good grades, more a well-rounded story full of hard work, perseverance, passion, and quirk. Impress us with your tenacity, humor, and unique design or style perspective. That could mean a moodboard of your project, an essay about your life, etc. You don’t even have to have started a blog yet, or you could be 5 years in blogging once a month and ready to turn that hobby into a career. You could be 17 years old or 52. We just want to hear from people with interesting perspectives. And you’re going to need to be transparent and honest because so much about being a GOOD design blogger is about transparency, authenticity, and relatability – both in personality and style. A huge part of growing an engaged audience is them forming a connection to YOU, so this is not the time to be overly professional or cagey. Tell us who YOU are, we want to be your friend. You don’t need to own your home, and the project that you pitch doesn’t even need to be your own – it could be your sister’s or neighbor’s (or if you have a feel-good project to pitch – some sort of charity project, you know that’s always interesting to us but not mandatory). We are going to start with one mentee, documenting one project and hoping to add more and more once we get it down. So email [email protected]. Include a note about who you are and why you want this mentorship, links to anything you have – social media, blog, Pinterest. Include before photos and description of the project that you’d like to document and why. And if you are a design blogger with decent traffic already, don’t be bummed! We are still amassing a pretty amazing crew of paid contributors and looking for a few more – so please send through a sample of your work if you are looking to contribute. You might be too far ahead to be a mentee, but we’d still love to work with and promote compelling and amazing voices and designers of all levels. If interested your first “deadline” is Monday, September 14th. We’ll review all the applications then and reach out about a week after for an interview. I’m dripping with excitement and information. Are YOU ready for a career as a design blogger???????? And remember regardless we will be sharing the same information here as we are with the mentee, theirs will just be more tailored to them but by doing this we’ll create a comprehensive guide on how to be a successful design blogger. Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Staging my Dream Parisian Hotel Suite with Sothebys The post Introducing Our New Mentorship Program (And Basically Our “Design Blog School”) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2FVNj7Y Sure, we started designing the bathroom years ago (like 2) but it shifted down and down the priority list and I was willing to spend less and less on it even before we decided to move and sell the house. When the pandemic hit I was like, “Let’s just do it. We’ll make it cute for cheap and besides, eventually we’ll need to…. for resale”. Brian and I found ourselves saying “….for resale” more often than we thought (which tipped us off to the idea that maybe we were ready to move). Regardless it had been demo’d out for months and it was time to finish this sucker off. Here’s the full story if you missed it. We needed to change out the vanity, lay flooring, paint, and then just see what some good old fashioned decorating could do (with stuff I already had). And hopefully all without spending too much money. We put down the new Cali Bamboo waterproof flooring (same as the bedroom/office), waterproof baseboard, painted the walls in a warm denim-y blue (Good Jeans by Clare Paint), took off the glass door, switched out the faucets and replaced the vanity. I guess that is more than I thought, but the point is no tile installed, we didn’t TOUCH the vinyl shower surround but its white and TOTALLY FINE. We also didn’t do anything with the recessed cubbies and then just decorated it all cute. And yes, we used the same toilet. It’s ok guys, this is the basement bathroom… it just wasn’t worth the $400 to us because even before we decided to sell, it was just Brian using this space if that. That guy doesn’t give a crap about toilets if you know what I mean. For all of you who are wondering, the vanity sits on top of the motor for the sump pump that you can access through the cabinet although my handyman who installed it didn’t totally understand that we wanted him to cut out the bottom so that still needs to be done. The vanity is pretty great for how inexpensive it is ($260 including the countertop). Now I never saw the paint color or the vanity in-person before they were totally done (covid designing!) and I might have gone with the white vanity had I seen them together, but everybody thinks I’m crazy. It actually looks great here!!! That’s a better representation of the wall color, but when the light is on its brighter. The great thing about Clare paint is that they send you large stickers of paint swatches that you can stick on your wall instead of tiny paint samples that you have to paint (DUH … SO SMART, NICOLE!). The vintage art and mirror are coming with me and yes, you bet that I should have switched out the outlet cover for a black or bronze one – OH WELL. PANDEMIC STYLING AND PHOTOSHOPPING. Sure, we left the outlet, but that little lamp on mister’s head is a clip light that yes, has a cord but it didn’t work anyway so we photoshopped it out because I really just wanted that in there to add quirk. Thank you for understanding why I cheat sometimes:) Technically there could be an outlet behind the piece of art so I’ll stick with that story. Like I said that vintage mirror is coming with me. The faucet (sink and shower) were both super affordable and pretty great for the price. I bought that vintage towel hook on Etsy, and already had everything else (the footed pot is from Jonathan Adler, I believe). NOW. The one thing that was supposed to happen that didn’t was the baseboard and the cubbies were supposed to be painted the blue to keep it more tonal and modern. My guy didn’t get that note and we showed up the night before to style and shoot. Brian disagreed and said it should stay white and I wasn’t in the mood to push back, and I was ready to shoot it. So I thought it would be fun to show you what it would look like IF the whole room was painted the Good Jeans blue that I had wanted. Again, not a big deal and not worth changing, but I just want you guys to know the intent So here you go – the photoshopped version of the bathroom as originally intended. Huh. I think Brian was actually right and it might be better with the white baseboards – or at least just as good. I just realized that all the dark moody bathrooms that I loved, the photos have never showed a bright white toilet OR a vinyl “tile” surround, so I actually think the white ties it together better. I wish I had tallied it all up, but I can’t imagine we spent more than $3k including labor. It was all kinda tied with the basement bedroom as well as some painting upstairs, and my handyman doesn’t itemize for this kind of stuff, so I’m not totally sure. But the materials were affordable and the labor was under a week so I think we succeeded it making it “cute” and affordable and yet WILDLY better. If you didn’t see the basement reveal head over here to see how the rooms tie together. xx In case you missed any of the other reveals so far check them out: The Living Room | The Kid’s Shared Bedroom | The Basement Guestroom/Office | Elliot’s Room | Kitchen and Dining Room **Reveal Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp The post Budget Basement Bathroom – The One Where We Tried To Not Spend Money… (And Now You Know Why) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3b1kt1u I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – a “super fun” and “easy” game is to pretend that you are selling your house and then spend weeks if not months making all the little changes you meant to for years then NOT MOVE, just so you’ll be happier living in your home. I think this is the premise to Love it Or List it, right? Not shockingly, this is Brian Henderson’s, least favorite game so it’s one I mostly play by myself (happily). Don’t be confused, we are still selling/moving, but I like some of these spaces SO MUCH MORE after I made a couple of changes to be more “sellable”. It took our realtor coming in to say, “hmm do you have a smaller entry table?” and “maybe add more color” for me to make some changes that I wish I had made years ago but just didn’t prioritize or had looked at it with the same eyes, therefore losing objectivity. The dining room is the subject of today’s styling to sell post. We actually only really made two major changes… But first, this is likely my favorite room in the house. The two walls of vintage charming windows and french doors (all of which open) overlook the prettiest patio in the world (IMHO) and the backyard. So if you sit at the dining table (and say write a blog and drink coffee) you are flooded with soft light and you can literally hear birds chirping and see hummingbirds floating around. Obviously having it be open to the kitchen made life easy for our family and, I don’t know, it’s just light and airy and warm all at the same time. So I wasn’t unhappy with it at all, but by making a couple of changes I love it even more. But first, let’s take a look back… The photos of the kitchen are deceptively “big” (shot with a wide-angle lens), it was tiny, if not totally adorable. When we shot it for Real Simple (the first reveal 3 years ago) we had those pretty upholstered dining chairs and a larger light fixture (no longer available). I liked it a lot, but couldn’t handle the fabric armed chairs with my double toddler situation, and then when I found my dream vintage Cherner chairs at the flea market I dropped those blue chairs off at my friend’s (she still has them) – I sit in them often and I’m jealous of how comfortable they are compared to mine. A couple of years ago I got that Target glass cabinet that acted as a storage bar and held glassware and wine (and cocktail makings). I love it, but it always kinda bugged me that the grid on the face of the cabinet mimicked the grid of the windows on the left and right. It reflected the light nicely but I wished it had been either solid or at least a color so that it had more contrast. But the function and scale of it were perfect and as a piece it was great. Last year I was like, “I wish this room had more color” but I didn’t know where to bring it in. I thought about reupholstering the Cherner chairs in a colored fabric, but thought that long term these would simply be prettier and more timeless in a caramel leather that matched the wood of the chair (this is debatable, maybe a navy blue would have been equally awesome but I’m sticking with that story). We upholstered them in Crypton leather, Seville in Caramel from Goose & Miles (doesn’t get oil stains, so pretty) and BuildLane reupholstered them. I do love them very very much, and no the chairs never stopped creaking. I actually had to put mittens on the bottom of the legs so they slid around easier because the legs were too narrow to nail in a little slider thing (and felt didn’t stay on). Putting $1 Amazon brown mittens on your important vintage Cherner chairs is both offensive and hilarious, but well, that’s what we did (sorry, not pictured). This is where we are now and I love it the most. I got that light fixture for $350 (now $450) and it’s GREAT. I love that it’s minimal, feels antique-y but engages the length of the table. Back to bringing in color. I thought about replacing the curtains in a color or pattern, but they were custom and expensive. I have to say they faded a lot. They were originally a green and cream pinstripe and now are just like a beige and cream pinstripe. Still pretty and they just recede which is good to show off the windows, but I didn’t notice till I was styling them that on the inner folds they are green and I had forgotten!!! Art. Yes, that’s how you bring in color. So I found these two pieces by Angie Dickerson-Lee of Bonita Interiors at the Pasadena Antique Mall. I actually thought they were vintage, but they are contemporary (check out her work). I love them. I hung them vertically on the far wall and loved seeing them from the view from the living room through the arch. So when Howard (our realtor) was like, “maybe more color?” I thought, “tree?” but that would take up space and we loved how open and big the dining room is and didn’t want to obstruct the view to the backyard. I had forgotten about this demilune that I bought on Craigslist years ago for $60 and painted it that pretty blue. So I plugged it in the corner, hung the paintings above it, and put the vintage Thonet mirror (thrifted from the mountains for $60 I think, maybe $80) on the other side. Y’ALL. It’s so much better!!! Of course, I have less storage so maybe I would need to find a different solution for our wine and glassware had we actually lived like this but having that burst of blue over there in a lighter/leggier piece of furniture is just so happy and pretty. It makes the room bigger and really pulls you into the room. I made us take this shot (that I love) to show how you can cook WHILE seeing the kids play in the backyard. You have full castle vision while souping! HOT TIP: Pieces with more visual weight to them can actually make your room feel bigger because it draws your eye to the corner telling your brain “this is a BIG room”. Those were the only major changes. The rest was just styling for the shoot and for walkthroughs with potential buyers. We employed my “footed bowl, open book” TM formula that works for photos (but less so for real-life unless you like to read the same page over and over and over). I brought in a couple of potted plants, including what I sadly learned is called a “shrimp” plant (the red on the island) that is AWESOME but c’mon! Don’t call a plant a shrimp plant! It’s like how we used the paint color “elephant’s breath” or “dead salmon”. Branding, folks. Branding. I still love it, but will refer to it here on out as “wild orchid table bush”. I will ALWAYS miss this room – the light from all sides, the openness to the backyard, patio, living room, and family room. It’s quintessential indoor/outdoor living in a really charming and sweet way. And the simple changes – adding in more saturated color and vintage pieces made it feel more modern, fresh, quirky, and just more “us”. I will hoard these photos forever, thank you Sara for indulging my obsession with this house before we leave it. xx P.S. If you are interested or you know a serious buyer contact Howard Lorey at Nourmand & Associates, [email protected] DRE # 01263717. **Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp The post Styling To Sell: How We Staged Our Dining Room And Kitchen (With The Changes I Should Have Done Years Ago!) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2YAz2nG Choosing Curtains For a Small Space: Ryann Has 3 Different Style Options And Needs Your Help8/25/2020 Welcome to another episode of “Ryann can’t seem to make a design decision without writing a whole post about it”. This week’s dilemma is all about window treatments so you can expect a rollercoaster of emotions and of course a healthy dose of fear and anxiety over making the wrong choice. THE FUN AWAITS. The last time we chatted about my living/ dining area I was so young and naive, thinking that deciding on a paint color was going to be our biggest hurdle. Ha. ha. ha. Cut to now, I’ve spent weeks agonizing over curtains and wish it were as easy. My problem is I have a small space and two windows (well, technically 3) within 8 ft of each other that require window treatments. Also, surprise! We finally painted and we love it. So once again, here’s the layout: As you can see we have a fairly wide window behind the TV and two corner windows where my beautiful new desk is (from Sunbeam Vintage). The windows have been undressed and exposed for over a year now because I have been putting off this part of the design process for as long as possible. Curtain shopping is terrifyingly difficult but after months of searching I’ve narrowed down my choices (for now). Here we go: OPTION 1: MOODY ECLECTICI know someone will hate that these are not blackout curtains but let me explain why. We get a fairly good amount of natural light in this room which I love, and I worry blackout curtains will darken the room way too much. This area is also where I work so the last thing I want is for it to feel like a movie theatre in here. Yes, it makes it hard to watch TV during the day but cutting down our TV consumption is never a bad thing. That said, in the corner where my desk lives is where the most sunlight comes through and at certain times of the day it is blinding. So, I’d prefer thicker curtains there so I can finally work without sunglasses on (true story) while leaving the living area brighter. Now, I can’t wait to talk about the knotted curtains. I am in love with the shape and the elegant drape of them. I’ve never called curtains dreamy, but these totally are. I really love the look of them paired with these diamond patterned ones that have a really special delicate design. My only worry is how they will look paired with our current living room rug. The rug is multicolored and does have some hints of purple so it could work well or it could very well clash with the busyness… should I take the risk? OPTION 2: ELEGANT MONOCHROMEThis option might be my favorite (though it’s my boyfriend Rocky’s least favorite of course). Here we have my favorite dreamy curtains this time in this beautiful muted green color paired with simple olive green linen curtains. Going monochrome with all the green seems pretty cool and calming for a workspace, plus it would give us so much freedom to play around with art and decor. OPTION 3: BRIGHT & BOLD TRADITIONALWhen I wrote about my living and dining room, I was contemplating between these velvet mustard curtains or these matte velvet ones. Clearly things have changed since then but what hasn’t changed is my attraction to these crushed velvet curtains and how I imagine they would look against the paint color. I think they’d really brighten up the space and complement our old-world art and decor very well. The living room curtains are simple enough but still have some really special detail with the tassels and subtle design that I love. This is Rocky’s top choice so if it’s your favorite too I wouldn’t blame you because he has really great taste. In the spirit of designing for real life as the ever-wise Arlyn urges us to do, I want to assure you that I did consider roman shades for the corner windows for the sake of practicality. I was told it might be annoying to have long curtains where my desk is, but after much contemplation, I came to the conclusion that it will be manageable because I just really love the look of curtains. The desk is very light and easy to move and there is enough space there that it does not need to be flush with the wall. With some tie backs, I can easily pull them aside to let some sunlight in when need be. So there you have it. If you have made it this far and are wondering why I wouldn’t have all the curtains match, truthfully, that had not crossed my mind until just now. Ha! I guess we always pictured them being mix-matched to add some more style and dynamic to the space. As always, I want to hear what you think! What is your favorite option? I’d love to pick your brilliant brains. xx Opener Image Credit: Design and Photo by Emily Cosnotti | From: House Tour: Original Woodwork, Moody Walls & A Gasp-Worthy Wallpaper The post Choosing Curtains For a Small Space: Ryann Has 3 Different Style Options And Needs Your Help appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2Egp1oZ What’s up EHD world?! It’s Arlyn (ex-Editorial Director, forever friend of the blog) and I’m happy to report that I’m baaaack. No, not in a full-time capacity, but when Jess and Emily reached out to ask if I wanted to contribute the occasional post, how could I say no? So here I am, and here I’ll stay; a few times a month you’ll see my byline pop up and I hope you read and engage because I’ve missed you. Today, I’m sharing my take on what I can only imagine will be a bit of an “unpopular opinion” though I mean it more as a thought-starter for us all. Let’s get to it. I feel an interesting wave catching on in the design world and it’s one I want to ride into the sunset. It’s not a tsunami of a trend yet necessarily; maybe it never will be, but that might make it even better, actually. Let me explain… Earlier this month, my editor friend Taryn Williford over at Apartment Therapy launched a new series called Comfort Decorating. “Comfort Decorating is like comfort food: It’s familiar, sensory, nostalgic, and maybe a little bit impractical—but it will always hit the spot.” Such goes the introduction to the package of 20 stories from real people divulging about the “comfort” items—an old crocheted tablecloth, nostalgic fridge magnets—that, albeit “ugly”, at least by traditional Pinterest standards, nourish their owner’s souls. Try not to feel all emo while reading that. Soon after, I stumbled upon Domino’s newer podcast, Design Time, in which they “explore spaces with meaning,” followed shortly by my discovery of designer Megan Hopp’s initiative she’s sharing over on her Instagram: #goodenough—exactly what it sounds like…#goodenough design tips for #goodenough rooms. I’M INTO IT. I write all of this, of course, from a literally picture-perfect living room (well…in its best form, certainly not in its current state with packages leaning against the hearth and deep butt-shaped indentations in the sofa that’s gone unfluffed for too long). While I’m really quite happy with the spaces you all have seen around this neck of the woods, I can step back and say out loud, honestly, that I think the rooms are…too perfect, too designed. My living and dining rooms are likely not the kind of spaces my future children will conjure back up in a spiral of nostalgia one day. It’s hard to imagine them smiling as they think back to the Anthropologie coffee table or the somewhat generic art dotting the gallery wall in the same way I do remembering the chartreuse and silver (yes, silver) striped wall I helped my mom paint in the family room of my childhood home. There was always something changing, some kooky idea she had that she just went for, long before any photos would ever be snapped for the Internet judging panel. It makes me wonder if my sponge-painted moon and star bedroom motif from my teenage years, with all its flaws—and the large overstuffed cow in the corner I loved well past the age someone should love such a thing—would have been more pristine, tamer, if someone was “watching.” This wasn’t “good design” by any means. It was just my mom, myself, having some fun in the spaces we lived in every day, LITERALLY not caring what anyone thought. Easy to say when NO ONE WAS LOOKING, I know. I’m possibly going a bit too deep here—look, I’ve been locked inside for 5 months so I’m giving myself the space to do that, I make no apologies—but I’ve been wondering lately if I’ve done myself and my future family a disservice by being overly manicured with my design. I want to create a home with legacy, with quirk. I no longer aim to decorate with the hope that people seeing it “get it,” or can even recreate it. The best, most meaningful abodes can belong solely to the people that cooked them up, imperfections, “comfort design” and all.
Please don’t take what I’m writing here today and misconstrue it as not appreciating a well-designed and decorated home, however. I LOVE A WELL-DESIGNED AND DECORATED HOME. I’ve literally made a living around it. But something happens to me, viscerally, when I see a not-perfect space that has come together over years, maybe even decades. No styled “shelfie” in sight. Just a bunch of well-loved books stacked on top of each other in haphazard piles. Maybe a worn-in skirted armchair in a toile fabric I’d NEVER pick for myself. Family photos in whatever frames they originally came in filling wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor of a hallway like they do in my grandmother’s house in Puerto Rico. She didn’t plan her gallery wall…it just grew into the epic showcase of my memories, using the design secret weapon that is time. To me, at least right now at this moment, the goal of a finished space is far less enticing than a home that’s maybe never actually done. Never “ready for its close up.” At times, I envy those who are creating their homes for *just* themselves, outfitting rooms that will never grace the pages of Architectural Digest or the crevices of Instagram virality. After all, I think “comfort design” comes together at a pace no one would be interested in following on the ‘gram. Here’s the big question though: How does one bridge the gap between loving highly curated spaces, “comfort decorating” and a hodge-podge mess of a room with no basis in design? It’s one thing to say I’m looking for some fluidity as I design my own spaces, and another to feel like nothing is ever concrete, always in (messy) flux. I’m afraid I don’t quite yet have the answer to this, but you’ll be the first to know when I do. If you follow my blog, Arlyn Says, you’ll know I’m currently in the process of redecorating my sad, design-lacking bedroom. I’m in the “moodboarding to death” phase that makes me excited but incredibly frustrated at the same time because I really don’t want to land in the same “picture perfect” spot I got to with my living and dining rooms. I’m trying to reference other rooms far less while I work on this space, and just do what feels right to my eye. Fewer rules, more gut. Less inspiration, more do-whatever-I-want. But I recognize the oxymoron that is writing about a bedroom design on my own blog at the same time as I write an article on another blog about how I want to create a space no one wants to blog about. It is complicated and a bit nonsensical. I’m not entirely sure you even followed that sentence because it was that chaotic. So perhaps this piece is just a catharsis for me; a place to explore my need for side-stepping perfection during a time where everything feels anything but. I’ll likely go back to bookmarking magazine-worthy rooms and Photoshopping version 3, 4 and 5 (6, 7, 8) of my bedroom--which I’ll be revealing right here on this blog in the coming months so STAY TUNED—knowing deep down that while it will feel good and nice and “complete-ish” when it’s ready to be photographed by the amazing Sara Ligorria-Tramp (miss you!), I’ll look forward to the years to come where the space gets a layer of LIFE mixed into it. There is, after all, room for both comfortable, non-design-y rooms and professionally presented spaces. The admiration for each does not need to be mutually exclusive, I’m finding. Let’s honor them both for what they bring to our lives, knowing that each “hits the spot” in their own ways, regardless of who’s watching. Reveal Photo Credits: Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Arlyn’s Bright & Happy Rental Living Room Makeover and Arlyn’s Moody Dining Room Reveal Is All About the Insane Power of Paint The post We Should Design Like We Should Dance: Like Nobody’s Watching (At Least That’s What Arlyn’s Trying to Do In Her Latest MOTO) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3goaIf3 |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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