Welcome to our latest blog experiment where one of my designers (Velinda) became the official designer to Sara, my head of production. Sara and her boyfriend Mac bought a house and frankly needed help. As a reminder, I thought it would be fun to really show you the design process from both sides. I also knew it would be great experience for Velinda as she builds her portfolio for her own future clients. So we (including me, Emily) get to sit back and watch…today, it’s the design board presentations. Let’s go. Velinda here, and welcome back to Sara’s house. After a bit of gutting and lots of measuring, we’re about to dive into the fun part! Residential design collaborations are usually fun because they’re so intimate. And they’re challenging because they’re so intimate. Unlike many commercial projects, the spending of every dollar is felt, so each decision is under severe scrutiny and debate. Often there’s more than one person fighting for a presence within this space they call “home.” It’s not uncommon to get 10 pm, worried texts from a second-guessing client. (Note: Sara, this isn’t permission to do this.) The faint of heart sometimes deem residential clients “not worth the hassle.” But each project is as varied as the client, so the job stays spicy. And in the end, you get to hand over a finished canvas to someone who cares passionately about the space and sees themselves in the details. That’s what we’re hoping for here, as we delve into visual concepts and sourcing. When I initially met with Mac and Sara for a full low-down of wants and needs, I learned art has been their biggest fight (to mix or not to mix styles) and in their last apartment, Sara won. (She’s a stubborn one.) But they both love mid-century lines and vintage rugs. Sara described wanting a “fresh, traditional, warm, curated, minimal space.” Mac is hoping for a space that’s “inviting, intentional, sharp, comforting and lit.” I’m pretty sure he actually means “light,” not “drunk (or maybe it’s just what the youths are saying?),” but just to cover our bases, a bar of some kind is definitely in the works! They really see themselves using these two spaces as entertaining areas for playing games with friends or cuddling by the fire. One of the first things we did together as designer and client was scroll through inspiration images they had both approved of and previously pinned, and I had them talk me through what from each image they were drawn to. I think it’s important to note that while a client might pin a room it doesn’t necessarily mean they love everything in the room; they might like airy feel, or the color palette, but not the actual furniture in the space. Here are some pins from their “Dining Room” board: From these pins, I picked up a lot of traditional vibes, a pretty stark lack of color (they both tend to lean very minimal in their color palette), and a bright fresh, organic feel overall… but with punches of black. Moving onto some images they pinned for the living room: They seem to both be drawn to images where textures are mixed in rather than mixing lots of different colors or patterns. And again, strong traditional aesthetics with hits of minimal modern. I kept their boards open to refer to throughout this phase of the design, checking back frequently to see if concepts felt on track, even if they presented new spins on their own ideas. And I always want the finished space to fit their desired description, so I checked back in with their questionnaire along the way, too. Again, there are great samples and explanations about creating initial boards in our recent “Design Process” post, so I won’t go into a ton of explanation on what we’re doing in this step of the process. In short, here’s where the shopping starts. I immediately turned to some of our favorite go-to sources (Article, Lulu & Georgia, AllModern, Rejuvenation, Clad Home, and Sunbeam Vintage to name a few), hunting for pieces that fit the vibe and that I thought might excite my duo. Since Mac and Sara aren’t planning on repurposing much of what they currently own for these two spaces due to size constraints (don’t worry, all previously loved furniture is going to good homes), I approached concepts by seeking high-impact/anchoring pieces first to build the rooms around. I also knew two important things:
Rugs felt like the best “design-guiding” place to start, due to Mac and Sara’s love for them. It can be hard to find a vintage rug in the right colors and size needed, much less two that work together. Another aspect that makes shopping for vintage rugs tough is the fact that they’re often odd sizes and listed under general broad size categories (i.e.: “Area Rugs” or “Large”). We knew the exact sizes we needed (thanks to spatial planning!), so I started by shopping Esmaili Rugs because they have a site feature that lets shoppers sort by exact sizing. I made a rug options board within a couple of minutes. How did I do this? Am I a Photoshop magician? No, my friends. While I still use Photoshop skills for final presentations, back when I started at EHD, Brady (uh EMILY actually) taught me the trick of using Keynote or Google Slides to make fast vision boards for the designer as they home in on designs. It saves so much time (and money for my clients) because it’s easy to just drag and drop/easily crop, without spending extra time cutting out backgrounds in Photoshop for every object being considered. Keep in mind these aren’t the final boards, just process concepts. Photoshop comes back into play to make things pretty to present to the client. Speaking of, remember when I said some designers avoid taking individual clients at all… well, I couldn’t get away from mine! My “client” (boss) was always just a pane of glass away (and was often sending me links to stunning sofas far too large for their space). And stubborn lil’ Sara couldn’t resist peeking over my shoulder. No pressure. So this (typically private) part of the process got a little incestuous. Normally clients would see two, maybe three design concepts with everything perfectly cut out to really help them visualize. But it didn’t seem fair that Sara was getting all these sneak peeks while Mac was all the way in Culver City everyday, so if Sara was going to get to see these so was Mac. In the end it wasn’t actually that bad, and I was able to get pretty instant feedback on my initial directions, which looked something like this: Concept #1Concept #2These first two options both present a dark rug in the dining room and lighter in the living. The dark green square in the dining room area serves as a reminder of the moody color they’re leaning towards painting the TV room, which will be visible from both the living room and dining room. It’s a small house and the design should all speak to each other, even if there are variations. Concept #1 has a smaller sofa and really is suited to the space. The longer, leather sofa is low and lacks an arm, so it’s not as visually heavy as a lot of larger sofas. I already knew Sara wanted a rectangular dining table big enough for six, so I made sure to source big tables perfect for game nights (concept 1 & concept 2) It was already determined through layout planning that we wanted a bench and I loved the one in these boards due to the fact that it has a back (comfort), minimal lines (sleek) and a lighter tone to speak to the hutch and lighter rug tones. Concept one’s dining chairs have a mid-century feel. In concept two, I choose chairs that have more organic shape. Feedback For Concepts 1 & 2:Sara and Mac agree that they like the green pops of both designs and were open to something bold like a velvet green sofa, which I wasn’t sure would meld with their request for minimal (but liked a lot given it’s a craftsman house). Mac didn’t love the blue tones in the rug of Concept 2 as much as Sara did. The very simple/neutral living room chairs in Concept 1, while pretty, didn’t end up feeling like their vibe. If we went with a layout that includes chairs, Mac would prefer something dark. Sara, at this point, still leaned slightly toward a chaise/daybed. They both dug an arched mirror but leaned towards the more modern metal framed mirror. For these next two boards, I swapped rug tones and placed a darker rug in the living room with a lighter rug in the dining room. Since they rarely eat at the dining table and board games don’t often stain fabric, I feel pretty safe about going light in the dining room: Concept #3Concept #4In Concept 3, knowing Mac would be excited by as much black as possible, I explored black chairs in the dining room. However, seeing the dark chairs with a dark cabinet and a dark pendant was a lot of DARK. The white sofa in the living room is actually a chaise, which I love, but it’s really more to show the concept/feel. It’d actually be oddly deep for their tiny space. If they loved the idea and feel of it, there’s always the option of something custom. But how cool are those chairs in concept 4? They’re wood and leather, so I can’t imagine anything more “sharp,” for Mac. Plus, they’re narrow and low, providing plenty of visual flow space between the living room and dining room (which is what a chaise would provide). Feedback For Concepts 3 & 4:Mac was obsessed with the lounge chairs in Concept 4. I showed him an option with the leather in a lighter caramel tan, too, but he was hooked on black at first sight. He also loved the black dining chairs. And the dark rug. Basically, if it all could be black, Mac’s in. Sara also loved the chairs, but I positioned her to be on my side with “it can’t all be black.” Concept #5Concept #6These two concepts are where I wandered the most. “But…do you like yellow? What about a really modern pop of color for a coffee table?” The bench/lounge in Concept 5 is a perfect size, but ultimately, our power couple (Mac + Sara = “Sarmac?”…sounds like an ointment. “Macara?” Let’s just round up to “Mascara”)—Mascara had become pretty obsessed with the chairs from Concept 4. Which meant we finally had a layout decided on! Sofa across from two chairs it is. Finally, in Concept 6, I explored all neutral rugs since they specified wanting “fresh and light.” Feedback For Concepts 5 & 6:Sara nixed an all-neutral rug concept and while she loved the yellow sofa in style, she would prefer to stick to blues and greens. Mac reiterated his leaning away from blues…and then he broke my heart. That gorgeous, theoretical “we gotta find this vintage piece” photo displayed in most of the boards? He let me know he doesn’t want anything that “solid” for the bar area. Instead, he’d prefer a cart. I pushed back a baby-bit, pointing out a vintage “cart” doesn’t take up much visual space, so it doesn’t quite serve as the “vintage heart” of the room in the same way. I love modern and I love new, but I think we gotta have that unattainable quality that comes from something that’s seen some sh*t, too. So we agreed that we’d still look for a vintage bar cart option and find other way to bring in a bit more “old” in some of the remaining details (like original art and accessories). Just for fun, let’s examine the varying styles in communicating preferences: Mac: “I’m actually into this vibe, not sure if it is too big to bridge the gap between living and dining rooms, but I like the utility—don’t like light gray.” … That’s incredibly helpful, Mac, I hadn’t considered how much you care about utility before, but now know exactly how to adjust. Brilliant! And then Sara: “LIKE ALL CHAIR OPTIONS” or “NOT AS INTO THIS”…uhhh, Sara that’s…equally helpful? Sara’s worked in production too long, and really knows how to cut to the chase. ::palm slapping face emoji:: The slab of clay has been tossed, the general form carved out and now after all the peeking over the shoulders, I think I know how to adapt. It’s time to start carving in the details, hopefully with a balance of his and her preferences. But you’re going to have to come back to see the final design choices…next week! In the meantime, let’s look at all options all together in case you wanted to, I don’t know…study them? See you next week for the final design board. ::waving emoji:: The post Sara’s House: The Design Process…Part II (Time to Pick Some Furniture) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2NnEFzp
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Welcome back to our two-day stretch of MORE mountain house “reveals” except they’re all kind of “refreshes.” The kids’ bedroom was actually the first room in the entire house that we revealed back in March but it was styled and shot for Target using their Pillowfort collection and after some living, there needed to be a few updates…for two reasons: 1. the kids now share a king-sized bed and 2. I felt that the white headboard could be more playful and exciting. Here’s what it looked like when we first revealed it: I loved it all (especially that DIY canopy), but the twin bed thing just didn’t last (for now). We ended up shoving them together so we could read together and FINE, maybe I’m bad about resisting the urge to go in there in the middle of the night when they call. They’ve got my number and at least four nights a week, I ended up laying with them for a bit or hours if I fall asleep. I was sleeping in the crack so uncomfortably and was like, this is ridiculous. We bought one of those kits that puts them together and fills the gap (and as you can see we still have two twin bed frames because we know that this situation isn’t forever). Plus, for renting this out, this could be another grown-up room, and the memory foam carpet is honestly soft enough that you can literally put a sleeping bag on the floor for kids, if needed. Days before the reader event, I looked at this room and just thought that headboard could be better. We found THE PERFECT fabric from Minted by artist Beth Schneider and Emily Bowser and Julie spent a day DIY-ing that long headboard wall by reupholstering over the white canvas. Because the headboard is so wide, they had to spend time carefully finding a way to pattern match, which is far more complicated than you think (hot tip: if you plan on doing something like this, always account for more fabric needed for the pattern repeat because there is waste). We had bought those nightstands as options for the upstairs guest room so we tried them in here and loved how they modernized the space. They popped off the busier headboard in a graphic but playful shape and tone. And we switched out the bear for the moose because the dark brown was feeling heavy. We had to switch out the bedding because the green blankets were twin (and the pirates couldn’t live with the animal headboard, duh) so we kept it calm but playful with that Rebecca Atwood blanket, long striped lumbar, and tiny delicate striped shams. I loved how it turned out. But there was still something on the other side of the room that was bugging me. This is how it looked when we originally revealed it: It always bugged me that there was nook on nook and that bottom nook was meant for a custom pull-out closet that we never executed due to budget (the renderings are here if you want to see). It just felt busy to me. So the day before the reader event (nothing like a last-minute deadline, huh?) we thought, what if for now, we just put a white curtain with leather pullbacks there? So day-of, Julie (bless her) figured out how to make that work and this is what she came up with: It did help, I promise but we all agree that it’s not necessarily permanent. I think I want to get someone to make two white cabinet doors for now and turn it into a secret cupboard. If we wanted to call it a closet, we could even install a rod somewhere. We had leftover fabric and Julie had the sweetest idea to sew a pillow for this nook. She stayed up the night before the event to sew it—hopefully with wine in hand. THANK YOU JULIE. It really did help bring that side of the room to life and work well with the other. Then I found that bunting at Lulu and Georgia and those colors worked perfectly with our new animal print. There we go. An update on a room that wasn’t quite there when we shot and revealed it originally. As we live in the house, we realize what tweaks need to be made because designing a home isn’t necessarily a start to finish process. I still need to tackle the dining room back cushion and light situation and I might play musical rugs downstairs… Ooh also we aren’t done with the play attic, which we spend SO much time in and as soon as we are I’ll show you. Meanwhile, if you are interested in renting out the house for shoots (or very vetted vacation trips), let us know. ResourcesFurniture: Side Tables | Bed Frame | Toy Bin Bedding & Fabric: Lumbar Pillow from Filling Spaces | Shams from Pom Pom at Home (similar) | White Pillowcases from Target | Duvet from Target | Blue and White Coverlet by Rebecca Atwood | Green Throw from Target | Headboard Fabric by Beth Schneider from Minted | Reading Nook Cushion Fabric by Crypton Decor: Bed: Nightlight from Target | Unicorn from Target | Sconces (above bed) by Schoolhouse | Cloud Shelves from Target | House-Shaped Wood Blocks from Amazon | Papier Mache Moose Head by Crate&Kids Reading Nook: Garland from Lulu & Georgia | Throw from Target | Octopus from Target | Lumbar Pillow from Target | 2-Tier BookShelf from Target | Sconce by Jones County Road Under Stair Nook: Lantern from Target | Faux Fur Pillow from Target | Wood Side Table from Midcentury LA | Sheepskin by Article | Stuffed Bunny from Target Climbing Wall: Floor Pillows from Target | Climbing Holds from Metolius ***photography by Sara Ligorria-Tramp, design by me, DIY canopy and headboard by Julie Rose and Emily Bowser Check out all of the Mountain House reveals here: The Kitchen | The Kitchen Organization | The Kitchen Appliances | The Powder Bath | The Living Room | The Downstairs Guest Suite | The Loft | The Kids’ Room | The Upstairs Guest Bath | The Upstairs Guest Bedroom | The Dining Room | The Family Room | The Master Bedroom | The Master Bathroom The post Reveal: A Refresh of the Kids’ Room in the Mountain House appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2q4xX9b I bet you thought mountain house reveals were over? WRONG! We’re back in the upstairs guest bedroom, which we sort of showed you in this post, but now it’s fully done. We got weird with this one, and I’m so happy we did. A king and a queen bed in here, first on accident and then intentionally. Here’s how it went down: we messed up in the design process and didn’t make the windows wide enough to put a king bed in between the windows. We thought we did, but I think we didn’t account for the frame (this and other lessons in my next book that my team and I are spending 8 hours a day writing right now). So any king bed would hit the frame in the most awkward accidental way. If you know me at all, you might know that I hate when things barely touch awkwardly (generally in life, actually). It needs to look intentional, so they can overlap just not barely touch. We started looking for wider beds to rectify this, in search of a headboard that would go so far over the window that it would be obvious that we weren’t trying to make it fit in between. Julie reminded me about the extra wide king bed from Thos. Moser that we used in the Portland project, and we were like “oh dear, that’s our bed.” We thought about all these DIY headboards that could have been a janky solution, but truly this bed made the most design sense (and needed to look good because it was going to be in a magazine, and on the blog, of course). So we reached out to see if they’d work with us again. But first, a bit about the company: Thos. Moser has been around for decades—generations almost says it better; read about the history here. I’ve loved them since I was a stylist in New York, 15 years ago. They are a heritage, artisan furniture company based in Maine that makes their beautiful products right here in the US. It’s how we used to make and buy furniture: from a furniture maker that made high-quality classic pieces, then we’d pass it down from generation to generation. We reached out and pitched the trade, knowing that this bed was beyond our budget (that is how a lot of these partnerships work). If you have the budget, please support companies and makers like this. I didn’t due to being so far over budget on this house, but I’m proud to be able to support them in the ways I can, like exposing their work to our large audience, getting them press, social media and, best of all, photography for their usage. We work hard to create beautiful rooms for makers and brands we love and Thos. Moser is truly one of them. Okay. Back to the dilemma. They didn’t have a king made (they are made to order, after all) at the time, only a queen, but we (all of us) REALLY wanted to try to get it in the House Beautiful feature. So they shipped the queen and we shot it here: We could only shoot this vignette and not the pulled back room because the queen headboard did hit the windows awkwardly so we cheated it to the side so it would “clear” the window frame and just shot this side (a little smoke and mirrors). Meanwhile, we put the king mattress that we originally had on the floor on the other side of the room and guess what? All summer long this room, with two big beds, got more use from families than any other. All our friends and family with small kids loved that they could sleep near them. It’s almost a grown-up (and more beautiful) bunk bedroom. So when the king was ready and arrived, we realized that both would fit—the king between the windows and the queen by the closet. It would mean little space for too much else, but at this point we realized that we were so over budget that indeed we would be renting out this house and having more places for people to sleep comfortably is a huge selling point. It works and is somehow still so open and calming because everything is cohesive. All the wood matches, and the tones of the textiles and carpet all coordinate so well. Having the beds be lighter, visually (they are EXTREMELY heavy by the way, in a good way that you know will last probably hundreds of years) helps keep it feeling big despite having two beds. Now, trying to coordinate bedding on both so that they worked well without matching was a challenge that took me, Emily Bowser and Julie WEEKS to figure out, but we did and we loved how it turned out. We tried to have the same amount of “visual weight” on both beds so it felt balanced and we used the same types of textiles on each so they coordinated but mixed up where they went. One bed has that pretty mauve on the pillows, the other on the blanket. The window shades, which are Hunter Douglas from Decorview, are blackout shades, on remotes and super simple and lovely. As for the wall-to-wall carpet…well, I never thought I’d do beige wall-to-wall in my life? But here we are. It was supposed to be light gray but we accidentally ordered the wrong colorway (ha a lot was happening fast, guys) and when it arrived, we were actually so pleasantly surprised and love it way more. It’s from Stark Carpet and we hacked it by putting 2″ memory foam underneath it (density 7 lb which was about $200 more to install than a standard install pad), so while it’s a low pile, it is EXTREMELY comfortable. Bouncy, even. We knew that we wouldn’t have a ton of space for lamps, and wanted to add something architectural to the room, so we ordered this sconce from One Forty Three and we love what it did to the room. It’s quiet but really interesting (please note the wood ball on the bottom arm, which ties in with our light wood throughout). For anyone who wonders if nightstands have to match, the answer is no, not really. Here, we used two sets (one for each bed), though it’s a visual lesson that they could also be mixed and matched if there were just the one bed. The round wood ones above are from IKEA (which are so great and obviously affordable). Once the king bed came in, we didn’t have room for that sherpa chair (from Target and awesome), sadly. On the other side of the room, we have two smaller nightstands (mostly for a glass of water) from CB2. We hung these awesome sconces from Humanhome that saved space but provide the light that those guests would need. The cord hangs and attaches to the wall (and you turn them on/off from a button on the floor). I repurposed my Jane Denton pieces from Birdie’s old nursery here and, of course, still love them. Between those and the mirror and sconces, that’s all the room really needs. It’s soft and minimal. The closet doors are by Ross Alan and yes you have space to open them. We put a dresser inside for the guests to be able to put their clothes away. Excellent bed styling ladies. Pulled together, cohesive yet soft and inviting. The shams in that photo are actually euros that we cheated for the shot, so if you are on Pom Pom at Home’s website, know that they don’t exist in standard or king size (although we think they should and technically, if you’re handy with a sewing machine, you could just size them down). This room has its own bathroom (reveal here) and while I love no room more than our master bedroom, this room is fought over. That beautiful vase is from Sheldon Ceramics (how perfect is it?) and fun fact, those branches lasted for months and are dried so we didn’t even have to buy new ones for this shoot. There you go. The most beautiful bed in the world in what might be the coziest bedroom I’ve ever designed. Come back tomorrow for another mountain house update (we played around in the kids’ room and did something maybe a little controversial??). See you tomorrow for that. ResourcesFurniture: Foreside Queen & King Beds by Thos. Moser | Small Ivory Hex Nightstands by CB2 | Tiered Wood Side Tables by IKEA Bedding & Decor: King Bed Area: Swing-Arm Sconce by One Forty Three | Round Mirror by CB2 | Mini Nub Dish by Ben Mendansky | Terra Cotta Vase by Sheldon Ceramics | Table Lamp from Finnish Design Shop | Lumbar Pillow from Filling Spaces | Shams from Pom Pom at Home | Blush Pillowcases from Target | Linen Blend Duvet Set from Target | Berry Quilt from Pom Pom at Home Queen Bed Area: Plug-In Sconce by Humanhome | X Art (above bed) by Jane Denton | Art (above bed) by Jane Denton | Lumbar Pillow from Filling Spaces | Berry Shams from Pom Pom at Home | White Pillowcases from Target | Cream/Gray Duvet Cover from Pom Pom at Home (similar) | Diamond-Stitch Velvet Mauve Quilt from Target | Blush Blanket from Pom Pom at Home Hardware & Finishes: Closet Hardware by Schoolhouse | Door Hardware by Rejuvenation | Light Switch by Forbes & Lomax | Pure White Paint by Sherwin-Williams Windows & Doors: Hunter Douglas Room Darkening Solera Soft Shades from Decorview | Treemont Stria Carpet by Stark Carpet | Contemporary Windows by Marvin | Beechwood Doors by Ross Alan Reclaimed And lastly, I wanted to give Thos. Moser another shout out (this post isn’t sponsored, I just really love them) and show you all my other favorite pieces, some of which haven’t changed since I loved them 15 years ago. If you are in Freeport, Maine, New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., or San Francisco, you can check out these pieces for yourself at their showrooms. 1. Foreside Bed 2. Wishbone Extension Table | 3. Hoop Mirror | 4. Hancock Table | 5. Continuous Arm Chair | 6. Dr. White’s Chest | 7. Eastward Bench | 8. Table Minimus – Oval | 9. Ellipse Arm Chair | 10. Vita Blanket Box | 11. Continuous Arm Bench | 12. Pencil Post Bed | 13. Continuous Arm Rocker | 14. Hartford Sofa – One Place | 15. Foreside Mirror ***photography by Sara Liggoria-Tramp, design by me with assistance from Julie Rose, styling by Emily Bowser and Julie Rose The post Mountain House Reveal (Yes, Another One!): The Coziest Upstairs Guest “Bunk” Bedroom appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2MT8toz Hello friends and welcome back (from yesterday’s fall boot post). If you follow us on Instagram (which we hope you do and if you don’t for some reason…click here QUICK), you may have noticed we’ve been celebrating birthdays A LOT around here. This is evidently what happens when the majority of the team are Virgos and Libras who love a reason to celebrate. Hence why our office looks like a unicorn threw up balloons, streamers, and glitter EVERYWHERE, not to mention it’s also workaversary season, so we have Deskorations® (decorations…for the desk) going up left and right (*term trademarked by Bowser). It’s very fun, but pretty soon Sara’s going to run out of things to bake and we won’t have any more restaurants to go to for our birthday happy hours, but it’s a tradition now so we’ll always find a way. But birthday season aside, we still have lots to recommend so let’s get into this week’s rendition of The Link Up: Today’s featured home tour is courtesy of The Design Files and will have you dreaming of neutrals. And yes, it will convert you to into an all-brown home enthusiast. You have been warned. Emily is pumped to start watching Modern Love on Amazon Prime. Anyone out there get through it yet? Should we start a “watch club” (instead of a book club)? From Arlyn: “I’d rather spend my money on home and kitchen things instead of fashion, and I have an affinity for slowly growing my Staub collection. This might be my favorite piece I own. It’s HUGE (fits a whole chicken), the glass top lets you see what’s happening in there, and it works both in the oven and on the stove. Plus, it’s SO pretty.” For anyone who doesn’t want to drop $200+ on cookware but likes to put their money where their face is, Arlyn also recently fell in love with this $14 highlighter and this $8 mascara. “I’ve always struggled to find a highlighter that works on tan skin. It’s either too white, too powdery, too glittery. This one is JUST right and makes me look like I’m glowy. As for the mascara, I’m super impressed with L’Oreal Lash Paradise as a dupe to Toofaced Better Than Sex mascara, which is basically the best thing on the market I’ve tried. No raccoon eyes, no spider lashes, just lots of volume and length.” Jess doesn’t need this incredibly cool salad bowl from cb2…or does she??? Sara has three sauces she always keeps in her fridge and this one has just been added to the list. Over the long weekend this month, Julie, Jess and Sara went on a road trip and stayed at one the best glamping “hotels” right outside of Zion. The company is called Under Canvas and they have locations all over the US typically near a national park. From Julie: “When we drove onto the property I was instantly so excited to be camping in some form again. Then I was just downright impressed. When we checked in, the woman gave us a full tour of the property, she brought up a golf cart to take us and our bags to our tent and then continued to do a tour of the tent and show us how everything works including tips on how to build the fire in one of the cutest stoves! The food was great and they offer free s’mores at night. I am sold and will be visiting another location very soon.” Veronica bought this candle from Bath & Body Works last weekend and now she catches herself burning it all day, everyday. “It smells like Christmas and fall wrapped into one, and makes everything feel so cozy.” Mallory finally decided to get some trendy clips and she went with these from Nordstrom rack. She’s worn them into the office every day since she bought them, so it’s safe to say it was a great purchase. Caitlin’s really annoyed because no one in the office watches Succession and it’s been like, two weeks since the finale and she NEEDS to talk about it with someone. “Can y’all chime in and convince the other members of Team EHD to START WATCHING?! (And if you haven’t started watching, you have missed out on the best-written show in recent memory. It’s SUPER easy to get in to and Greg the Egg is a gosh dang angel.)” Baking season is almost upon us, and Sara has a great yet simple cookie recipe for you. From Sara: “I’ve been making this recipe recently— and it’s just the Nestle Tollhouse recipe! But with a few key changes: 1. I replace 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract with 1/2 a teaspoon of almond extract. 2. I use block chocolate that I rough chop with a knife to get bigger chunks and little flakes throughout that give a more elevated feel. 3. I make the dough and let it sit in the fridge overnight/24 hours to allow the sugars to caramelize and the flour to moisten (a tip from Food52’s baking book). 4. Finally, I sprinkle Maldon salt flakes on top of each cookie before they bake. The salt just brings a nice contrast to the sweet, and makes your cookies feel extra fancy. These are office approved.” And a quick “in case you missed it” from this week: Emily’s ridiculously good styling class on Skillshare can be watched for free with a special promo code found in this post, Nisolo (our favorite ethically made shoe brand) is offering EHD readers 20% off all styles in this post, and if you’re wondering who all those names up there are, head here to put some faces to those names. Alright, that is all for now. We hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and can’t wait to see you back here tomorrow. xx
The post The Link Up: A Classic Cookie Recipe (With a Twist), $8 Mascara That’s a Perfect High-End Dupe & Julie’s Glamping Experience appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2WhP7fA In today’s episode of Emily Henderson: World-Famous Parisian Runway Model, I grabbed clothes from my actual closet, put them on my body, then posed in and around my home. I didn’t even really clean or style my house for you this time because I’m just that edgy. And because clothes are really only 3/4 of an outfit, there had to be some shoes, right? Last week, I did a giant boot haul review and touched on my love of the Nisolo Chelsea Boots above, but today, we’re going all-in to show you how effortless it is to wear their very beautifully made shoes with normal, everyday clothes. This isn’t the first time I’ve sung the praises of the brand (remember this all-team summer favorites post?), but besides very well-made super versatile styles, their ethos are something I think anyone could get behind (like paying all their workers living wages). No skeletons in that shoe closet. They are the type of brand I don’t even have to think about, I just know I love their product and keep buying again and again. You can read more about how they’re a Certified B Corporation here and how they offset carbon emissions for every product sold here. So yeah, no gross feelings about giving my money to a company like Nisolo, but also, I really do wear their shoes all the time. They were kind enough to send through a few new pairs of some of my staples, which I could have actually just worn, minor scuffs and all to show you how they wear-in (they kind of get better with age), but I suppose knowing what YOU would be getting is a good thing. Get The Look: Jeans | Sweater | Boots These are the Chelsea Boots I talked about in my boot review that I love (I left them at the mountain house so they sent me this new shiny pair to show you guys). They really are the star of any outfit, so it is easy to dress casually when wearing them. That is why you will see some older clothes that you’ve seen on my body before to model these shoes because again, their boots are so special that they elevate a somewhat “basic” outfit to feel fresh and sophisticated. How pretty are those? They are (and have been for quite some time) my go-to Chelsea, and while I have found others I like, I keep coming back to them because they are comfortable, long-lasting and aesthetically great. They have that classic silhouette that never gets old. Get The Look: Pants | Shirt | Jacket (similar) | Belt | Boots | Socks (similar) Now, these are the same boots in black with a leather sole, which I love (they have an all-black water-resistant leather option with a rubber sole, as well). I paired them with my favorite jeans and their Noemi Belt, which is simple and classic with the perfect size and shape brass buckle. That is what is so great about Nisolo, they make the classic items that everyone needs in their wardrobe, and they do it so well. I found myself wearing the brandy version of these boots (above) over and over last fall and winter and still love them, so I can bet these black ones will be a fast favorite in my closet. The height is that perfect 1-inch boost and they are pointy and sleek enough to make your legs look longer, if you are into that. They are also fitted at the ankle and tuck in nicely with cropped pants, but are still easy to get on and off. Get The Look: Pants | Shirt (similar) | Jacket (similar) | Belt | Boots | Socks (similar) Now for the Heeled Chelsea Boots that I was so excited to try. They are extremely versatile and I can see myself wearing them with the majority of my wardrobe which makes getting dressed so easy. Also, I’m wearing braided belts now which is a pretty big fashion plot twist for me. Nisolo sent me this one to try and I forgot how great braided belts are because you have total control in their tightness. I think this outfit represents “professional me,” which just means a Victorian ruffle collar, plaid jacket, skinny non-ripped jeans, playful socks and shoes that say “I care,” without looking too try-hard. Oh shoot. I just realized that’s the key to any good outfit…or relationship: showing you care, without trying too hard to prove it and looking false. You’re welcome. Side note: my kids are obsessed with that terrifying cat statue because it reminds them of our beloved Bearcat (RIP) and when they found it in the Halloween bin, they squealed with nostalgic joy for the best cat that ever lived. So I didn’t have the heart to take it away, and now here it is as my stylist assistant for this shoot. I wore these boots for a shoot last week and walked around in them for hours, styling and moving furniture. They are VERY comfortable and just feel solid. Plus, you know how I feel about laces (who’s got the time), and these slide on and off easily. Get The Look: Skirt | Shirt | Sweater (similar) | Hat (similar) | Shoes | Bag Lastly, the Paloma Mules. I have the smaller heeled version that I still wear all the time, but the higher one is just so versatile and pairs really well with skirts/dresses. I am also wearing their Clara Crossbody Purse in the rosewood color (which is a rich dark brown), and I love the look and feel of it so much. You can tell it is made to last, and is the perfect size and shape for an everyday bag. I opt for these mules almost every day now because they are comfortable enough to work all day in but give me some height, which I like. And the soft nude color is so pretty (and they come in other colors, as well). Nisolo mules are an EHD favorite, and if you run into my team, I can pretty much guarantee one of them will be wearing a pair. They are that good. These shoes are solid, they last a long time, are super classic and I love knowing that we are supporting a brand that is trying to make the world a better place by reducing waste and treating people with respect. YAY. Bravo for working to help make the fashion industry more sustainable. Thanks to Nisolo for partnering on this post. They are so great and are offering 20% off all Nisolo styles until 11/22 (!!!) at 11:59 CST with code EHDFALL20. Happy shopping, everyone. xx **photography by Veronica Crawford **This post is in partnership with Nisolo but all words, designs and selections are our own. Thanks for supporting the brands we love that support the blog. The post Shopping My Closet for Fall & Wearing Some (Ethically Made) Shoes That I Love appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/341nt9s Today is very exciting as I’m finally releasing my styling class on Skillshare. When they first approached me to do this, I reacted like I have historically to teaching styling workshops—intimidated by the prospect of trying to boil down how to find your style and execute it in your home, in digestible steps. But I’ve wanted to do it forever, and heck, I wrote a whole book about it. Besides, I love Skillshare as a creative platform for learning and sharing and once I got over the initial fear, I got so excited. So with the help of my team (led by Velinda), and the very lovely and thorough Skillshare Originals production team, we came up with and shot 11 lessons for my first styling class. I typically hate watching myself on screen, strangely (watching Design Star was painful) but as I reviewed these, even I was like, I LOVE THIS. Let’s break it all down: True to what we stand for here on the EHD team, the class is called Style Your Space: Creative Tips & Techniques for Interior Design (and if you want to jump right to it, head here to sign up for a special offer of 2 free months of Skillshare Premium, and then you’ll be taken straight to the class!) (P.S. Once you’re a member, you can watch it all, every lesson, right away, right now!) The goal of this class is for people, anyone (not just designers) to learn the basics of styling their home to look like them. It breaks down styling versus interior design, how to find your style, what styles are really out there and then how to execute it in your space. It’s approachable, fast and the way they shot and produced it was so casual and fun. I was scared it was going to be this scripted lecture or that I would have to have a billion props, but it’s really more me just having a conversation with you, which made it so fun and easy for me to shoot. We shot up at the mountain house a few months ago, right after it was done (did you know that you can rent it out for shoots? Yep, it’s basically the best set house with amazing light; more details here). My team worked really closely with senior content producer Rebecca Cloyd to hone in on what people really want and frankly can learn from a styling class. We broke it down into eight lessons: Lesson 1: Introduction. If you’ve been reading this blog, you might technically know some of this information but don’t think I’ve ever actually told you in person how I got to where I am. This is basically my life story condensed into 2 minutes. Please enjoy. (Bonus! Anyone can view this intro without having to log in or create an account, so check it out here.) Lesson 2: What is Styling? The line between styling and interior design is often blurred, but there are some major differences, folks…as I’ve learned (sometimes) the hard way. It’s kind of like the difference between cooking and baking. One is suggestive…play around with spices until it feels/tastes right; the other is a total fail if you forget the baking powder or get the proportions wrong. I’m going to get down to the nitty-gritty of what I actually do every day and how it differs from the term “interior design.” Lesson 3: Quiz: Find Your Style. This is huge you guys. It’s an all-new updated version of my style quiz (remember that? I mean, it’s kind of what put me on the map…style diagnostics)! This was everyone in the office’s favorite part of the entire class (and most of them already know their styles…). Have fun with this. And for those of you who took it in Styled (the book) and got “Zen” throwing you into a style identity crisis, that’s because the first printing of the book had it wrong. This one from Skillshare is actually accurate and is a totally different format. Here’s your chance to set your design life back on track, former “Zen” people. Lesson 4: Identify Your Style. There are 12 DIFFERENT STYLES you could potentially be. So to help with your quiz results, I literally explain what each style is (with visuals) so you can learn each one and assess which one (or ones) best fits your personality based on your answers. Lesson 5: Develop Your Style Confidence. You might have more than one style, heck, you might have three to four styles. I get it, I like to say I’m “Footloose meets Marie Antoinette” so I can empathize. This lesson is basically to help you refine your style a little and gives you tips and tricks to home in on the perfect style for your personality. Lesson 6: Stock to a Color Palette. HERE I TEACH YOU THE NUMBER ONE TIP OF LIFE. I can’t tell you what it is though. You need to check out the course. Obviously. Lesson 7: Mix Your Favorite Styles. Now, you may have found one style you’re really leaning toward or you might feel torn between two or three. Here, I teach you how to find elements you like from your top styles and combine them all together in a tasteful way so they don’t look like a thrift shop (no offense to thrift shops—they’re great). Lesson 8: Use Trends Wisely. Trends can help, or trends can hurt. BUT learning what to do with them is a great first step. This sounds like a commercial for some new prescription drug or something, but really I just teach you about tastefully using trends so you don’t hate how you decorated your home in a year. Lesson 9: Source Items You’ll Love. Okay, guys. Now you have all of this great information but what are you supposed to do with it? How do you find interesting items that don’t make your home seem generic? What should you splurge on? I know the questions will continue to flow. But they’ll be answered in this lesson. Lesson 10: Shop for Vintage Finds. Everyone here probably already knows I’m a fiend for vintage finds. But I know better than anyone how tough it can be to actually choose pieces at flea markets, antique malls or on Craigslist that are really beautiful and are ACTUALLY worth the price. So, to help, I walk you through, step by step, how I go about choosing vintage and antique pieces on sites like Craigslist so you can start confidently shopping the second you finish this course. The buyer’s remorse ends here. Lesson 11: Style a Space With Emily. I take you with me as I restyle the mountain house living room. I show you my messy but effective process and share all of my thoughts that go through my head while I style a room. I really really want you guys to watch it. It’s a format I haven’t done before with new information and presented in a conversational way. It’s neither a lecture nor a ton of me throwing pillows around, it’s like we are hanging out and you learn along the way what it’s like to do what I do…and maybe figure out how to do it for yourself (whether for your home or for clients). Plus, the best part? The reason I chose to bring this class to life with Skillshare is because they have THOUSANDS of creative classes that you can explore alongside mine. Interior design, photography, illustration, design, journaling…this platform is the perfect way to get that creativity spinning and find the perfect pathway for you. Once you’ve joined me in styling your home, there are so many more classes to help you photograph it, sketch it, and share it on Instagram. If you want to take that step forward in creating your own brand (or even if you just want to learn new things for fun), seriously, there’s so much to explore and dig into over on Skillshare. So…you’re into it. Great! Click here to join my class and sign up for 2 FREE months of Skillshare. The link will take you to a checkout page to redeem the special offer, and then straight to my class so you can start styling like a pro right away (once you start playing around at home or for a client, I’d love it if you could share your images at #ShowEmYourStyled…because we all want to see the fruits of your creative labor). See you there! The post Secrets From a Stylist: Introducing My First How-To Styling Series (On Skillshare) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2JBbwjd I don’t know about you but I am legitimately mystified by what custom things in the design world really cost. Even me, a person who has actual access to most of the answers gets overwhelmed at just the idea of “the cost” when it comes to things like custom drapery, reupholstered furniture, CUSTOM furniture, etc. I am usually in a “there’s no way I could afford that” camp despite everything I want being nearly a bajillion dollars. I toyed A LOT with this issue during the design process of my Makeover Takeover (MOTO). I was having such a hard time finding what I wanted that I was ready to become my own personal product designer. Dramatic? Sure, because I ended up finding items I loved but I did need to design and have some pieces made by my very gracious and (free-labor) father. I have started to tease my bedroom MOTO for a while and I am sorry to report that it’s nowhere near done. One reason there has been a holdup is that I need custom drapes to hide my very/too tall “closet.” My dad is a button sewing wizard but curtains are sadly a no go. If only I had paid more attention when my mom was sewing all of my middle school’s Dickens’ Carolers costumes maybe I could attempt it? Now, I am also in a unique position that there may be a chance a company would be willing to work with me to gift drapes but there is never a guarantee on that front. Also, transparency is one of EHD’s most valued commodities so I wanted to know what this sort of service really cost outside of a very incredible potential job perk because if I’m curious, I bet a lot of you are, as well. That being said, welcome to our new “The Real Cost of…” series where we do the heavy lifting of asking the questions and getting the quotes so you’re armed with more information on the front end before embarking on your own “custom” project (or maybe even it’s more of an “oh, wow, I thought that would be more” scenario which is as nice as finding a crisp 20 in the pocket of a jacket you haven’t worn for a year). In my first “investigative report,” I spoke with three of our current go-to custom drapery companies Decorview, Tonic Living and (most recently) Barn & Willow. Each has a slightly different approach to their custom drapery services and were gracious enough to answer all of my burning drapery questions. But actually, before we get to the cold hard facts and professional tips, let’s talk about these three companies so you can get a better idea of where they are coming from and what they offer. Also just to be clear, this post is in no way sponsored. These are truly three companies we love and use and like I just said, were kind enough to answer my questions. Okay, here we go.
Alright, now let’s get to the goods… Overall CostThe first thing I wanted to know (and I’m sure everyone reading this) was what a rough all-in, full-on window coverings budget should be before starting a project. Between the three companies, they said that $1,500 to 2,500 is a good place to start. That number sounds scary, right? Well, they reassured me that there are a bunch of ways that that number can go up or (thankfully) down depending on how many windows you need to cover. You also have to consider things like fabric choice, type of drapery (curtains, Roman shades, stationary side panels, etc.), size, lining, special features like type of pleating or even automation. SO much to think about but also that’s the beauty of customization right? It’s going to be exactly what you want. When I asked about the price point, Tonic Living said, “We often get clients who have ‘cheapened out’ on window treatments and regretted the decision.” That makes a lot of sense to me. Been there, done that. Now I’m not suggesting to go ham and throw your drapery budget to the wind but much like anything custom, the point is that it’s an investment in quality and making reasonable financial choices to make sure you are going to love them for a veerrrry long time is ultimately the right call. It’s like ordering a burrito and skipping the guacamole. Is your wallet and maybe waistline pleased? Sure. But are your tastebuds sad? YES. You should just spend the $2….or in this case more like a few hundred. Tomayto, tomahto. Starting Cost of a Standard Size WindowNext, I wanted to get a little more specific and see what a starting price of standard window-sized curtain and Roman shade would be. Again, there are a lot of variables but the base price for a pair of simple linen panels from Tonic Living and Barn & Willow is under $500 and a Roman shade is under $450. Yes, when you compare that to the cost of ready-made options, it might feel steep, but even some off-the-rack curtains can run several hundred dollars unless they’re truly budget picks. So, for high-quality custom window treatments made to your exact needs and specifications, it’s not a far jump budget-wise from standard retail. Add-onsBut now let’s kick it up a notch and see what “add ons” you might want to consider. Privacy or blackout lining was recommended by all three of the companies for rooms that need it, like a bedroom (or a living room where you’re trying to block glare for TV viewing). Decorview said, “A blackout liner would be a couple hundred as an extra cost.” Tonic also echoed this sentiment saying that blackout lining is nearly double the cost of a muslin lining. Despite the sizable increase of cost, sunshine and sleep are not great together so that may be an add on you don’t want to skimp on where needed. Other things like top pleating, added fullness (more fabric), and type of hardware are other details that will increase your bill. The last thing that Tonic Living enlightened me on was pattern matching. “Large pattern repeats can greatly increase the amount of fabric required and therefore the price will increase. You will get more value with a solid or simple stripe.” Who knew?! Well, now we all do. Fabric SelectionSpeaking of fabric, Decorview said “when it comes to pricing, fabric makes a big difference. The more ornate the fabric, the more expensive.” When I asked Tonic Living if there was a big price difference between say linen and velvet fabrics, they noted that their “most popular Tuscany Linen fabric runs at $20.95 USD per yard while our Mason Velvets comes in at $43.95 USD. It’s important to note, many velvets cannot be made into drapery or may have limited options on the top pleat style. Double check the listings to see which is appropriate for window treatments.” Double the price…good to know! However, the great thing about Barn & Willow, who focuses on neutral and natural tones fabrics, is that there isn’t a big difference between the price points of their offerings. All in all, it really just depends on what you are looking for and then deciding if it can fit into your budget. Avoiding Sun DamageCustom drapery is an investment (is the dead horse beaten enough yet?) so protecting them and making sure they look great longterm is of the utmost importance. Enemy number #1 is the sun. To help with this nemesis, Barn & Willow says that “adding blackout lining and interlining will provide the most protection against the sun and elongate the lifespan of your drapery by creating a barrier between the harsh sun rays and the fabric.” Now, Decorview has a great rule of thumb when it comes to choosing fabrics and fade resistance, “man-made fabrics or synthetic fabrics are generally more color resistant due to either the color being ‘built-in’ to the fiber, or the ability to take stronger more caustic dyes. As with anything, the darker and more saturated the hue, the more prone to fading it is.” But as Tonic Living pointed out, even with the right lining, “all drapery fabric is susceptible to fading/damage over time.” Ways to SaveAlright, let’s get into the insider tips on how to save. As we’ve already learned, fabric choice was number one. Lots of dollars can be saved by simply choosing a more budget-friendly option. However, Decorview says don’t skimp on the hardware. The last thing you want is to have put all of your budget into the drapery and then only have enough money for a poor quality rod that might sag or even break. Then according to Tonic Living, “a hidden back tab and grommet style are more expensive compared to pinch pleat or flat panel.” Fullness (or less) is an easy way to cut costs because, well, there is less fabric. Going from a 2x to a 1.5x is a simple switch if you still like a full look. Also, another option is stationary side panels or a faux Roman shade. Yep, if you really just want that “wow moment” or decorative touch and don’t need the actual function of privacy then both those options will save money because again, less fabric is needed. Another tip is to choose a solid, neutral fabric or one that has a small pattern because according to Tonic Living, “choosing something classic and neutral will make the style more timeless and long lasting.” And as we learned earlier “a solid fabric or a fabric with a small pattern repeat saves on waste/fabric required to pattern match.” Lastly Barn & Willow makes the overall point that, “by purchasing quality window treatments, you’ll save a hefty amount not having to change out tattered and faded window treatments after a year or two.” Final ThoughtsThe last question I asked was if they had any final thoughts or advice for someone who is considering custom drapery. Here’s what they said:
Man, pulling back that custom curtain feels great (there’s my one pun, okay?). I hope, like me, you learned a lot and if you have been thinking about investing in some custom drapery that now you have a better idea of what that entails. Also, if you all are into it, we would love to make this a series and dive into other topics like reupholstery, custom furniture, built-ins, custom closets/shelving, etc. If you have any suggestions of what you would like us to dive into, let us know in the comments. And thank you again to Decorview, Tonic Living and Barn & Willow. There are truly wonderful companies that we can’t recommend enough if you are looking. Love you, mean it. For more on all things window coverings, here are more posts to dive into:
The post Design Myth Busters: The “Real Cost” of Custom Drapery appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/31JF4RL Alright, folks. It’s Sara, I’m back, and this time I’ve brought someone else with me. But first for a very quick recap – I’ve told you how we bought our house here, and I’ve shown you what we’ve done with it so far here. I’m pretty proud of how far our little ragtag renovation team (comprised of my father, brother, boyfriend, and self) has taken this 1921 bungalow. I feel really confident about designing a handful of the spaces myself, and I’m even pushing myself and designing a bathroom, mostly by myself. I’m growing a lot in terms of my design know-how and confidence after 5 years at EHD. AND YET… There are some things I was feeling really at a loss about; fireplace hearth material? Building a built-in bookcase in our TV room? (My uneducated, non-specific drawings aren’t getting us nearly as far as my embarrassing bathroom vanity drawings did.) And there’s the biggest design brain melter: our open floor plan living room/dining room. One of the first things we did when we started renovation was knock down a partition wall between the living room and dining room. It made the space feel SO much bigger, SO much brighter. AND SO MUCH MORE DAUNTING TO DESIGN. I was waxing poetically about my home design woes one day at the office and Emily interjected with “you literally work at a company with professional interior designers, this shouldn’t be an issue. In fact, let’s just assign someone to you, document it, and share it on the blog!” Don’t let anyone tell you complaining doesn’t get you anywhere. Enter Velinda from the design team, who we’ve been working with on the living room and dining room with since September. She’s been assigned as our design caseworker (aka design couples’ therapist), and I thank her every. Single. Day. for putting up with me, because it turns out I have a lot of opinions. Her first order of business was getting a sense of the functions these rooms will serve so she could tackle this long, narrow open space monster that Mac and I created. But, I’ll let her tell you how she did it… Velinda here now, ready to run you through my section of this relay-race post. “New client” Sara is technically my boss, so no pressure. We’re only one month into this project, but so far Mac and Sara are still together, the house is still standing and I still have a job. So all in all, we’re off to a great start. But where exactly did we start and where are we now? (Side note: for those of you following this series for tips on the designers’ end, I’ve got a few treats here for you. For you super experienced designers, leave a few tricks in the comment section along the way for me. Tricks and treats for all! Happy October.) Let’s rewind to September and take it slow. Figuring out the function then layout of a space (spatial planning) is really the first step in the process. That means meetings and measuring, measuring, measuring.
In this first meeting, I sat down to learn more about Sara and Mac (utilizing a brief questionnaire… see Step #2 in this post if you’re curious). Here’s where the designer must play therapist… or pretend to be the special guest in a threesome and remember IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU! The couple is the core. This moment is about their thoughts and desires (design desires, people). So listen before you bombard them with your surely-brilliant ideas. Just for fun, and because I know them as more than just ‘clients’, I adapted our standard, simple questionnaire introduced in a recent process post by adding additional, inciting questions just to stir up trouble. Like, “What’s been your partner’s worst design idea so far”? Y’know, just taking the professional approach. I learned that when Mac hates an idea, he squints and says ‘mmmmmmmm’ for a long time as if trying to imagine it… or hoping the idea fades from topic. Sara, when given an answer or opinion she doesn’t like about one of her design ideas, just re-asks the same question a few days later as if she never got an answer in the first place. Less juicy, I realize, but I also learned they don’t actually eat at their dining table, but want one big enough to seat eight for game-nights. And they don’t need a television anywhere in this space because they have a dedicated TV room in the works off their master suite. (Still, Sara deemed “TV above the fireplace” as Mac’s “worst design idea”). They want to create as open a flow as possible from room to room to unite the rooms while entertaining (the biggest assignment for these two rooms), but still want them visually defined as separate spaces. Seeing and Measuring the SpaceIn our first meet and greet, I also took in the space – first visually, and then inch by inch. Since we very recently covered our general design process here, I’ll try not to bore you with repeats. Instead, I’m gonna list out every measurement I took while exploring Sara and Mac’s space. Also boring? How about we just take a quick look at my go-to, time-saving tools for this step of the process and why I love them:
Later, I’ll refer to these images and measurements to create a 3D model. Visually inspecting, I immediately loved the true-to era touches of their 1921 house… the built-in shelves, the fireplace and the newly-added window casing that matched original windows elsewhere in the house. I love that they went with a classic wood floor, too. I personally veer toward staying true to a home’s original character for the more permanent design decisions, which allows for more room to play with trends/modern elements in the furnishing and easy-to-update details. Mac said he wants a “sharp”-feeling space and is wary of anything too traditional (all of which confuddled Sara). To me, that means modern pops are in store, but this classic “blank slate” is a great canvas! But let’s not get too carried away with “pops” until we even know what fits in this space! Quick reminder, here’s what we’re working with:
Layout is one of Mac and Sara’s shared challenges, and I see why. Long, narrow spaces are always hard, plus the opening to the dining room isn’t centered to the living room, further reducing allotted space for furniture in the living room’s size due to needing to keep a clear path for walking from room to room. They’ve tossed their hands up when it comes to where to place their sofa and how to include any other furniture in such a narrow room, without closing it off to an open flow. My first instinct was that their sofa isn’t necessarily in the wrong spot, but it’s definitely the wrong size for the narrow space they have due to their front door (see above). But they are obsessed with their sofa (by Article), so that’s great insight to have. I also noted the rug (from Neon Dove), though perfect in style for the home wasn’t anchoring the space well due to it’s size (but should work well in a different room). And while I love their vintage coffee table, it might also serve better in another space. I started thinking that using a round coffee table in here could immediately permit better flow. They also have a LOT of mantel space to cover so immediately started brainstorming something that could be a moment for that area. I love using mirrors in small spaces (visually expanding) and that mantel looks like the perfect plot of real estate for such a thing. And as far as the living room and dining room flowing, there would need to be some sort of piece or pieces in the middle that worked for both areas or was low enough to create a visual bridge… or both. Research & ModelingNow, it’s my turn to play (within their boundaries). From my measurements, I created a quick, simple model, within which I played with furniture scale and layout (The program I use is called SketchUp! My life-saving tool of choice). Designers, let’s not forget “space planning” didn’t start here, behind your computer screen. “Walk around” imaginary furniture and feel the room while you’re in it measuring, as space isn’t a 2D process of discovery! Going into this, I knew Sara didn’t love an “asymmetrical” look to a room (i.e. a single chair opposite a sofa) so symmetry was kept in mind. Here are the possible layouts I proposed: And here’s a sketch I made of an idea they had proposed in our initial meeting: When I took the ideas back to Mac and Sara, I was able to show them that placing the sofa in front of the fireplace would mean visually closing off the room and invading the path to the dining room. It would mean walking into the side of a sofa when entering the front door. Seeing the diagram, they immediately understood. Magically, and I don’t think I did tooooo much nudging, we all ended up sharing the same favorite two options: Layout C and Layout D. Layouts A and B divided the spaces too much due to a visual “wall” created by the floating sofa. In a bigger house, this could be fine. But we need all the visual space we can get. They were pretty torn 50/50 between the favorite layouts. I leaned visually toward option C, but functionally toward Design D. Design C was the best solution for truly opening up the space and a chaise/daybed could be utilized from either room. It’s a less-predictable setup and would break up a series of chairs in the visual line from living into dining room. But functionally, a bench-like daybed is never going to be as comfortable as something with back support. Chairs could rotate between rooms if needed and just the right chairs would mean even a “predictable” setup is still “sharp” (don’t worry, we’ll go deeper into their design desires in another post next week). Regardless of ultimate layout, to break up said “series of chairs,” I pitched a bench at the dining table to reduce our chair-footprint. Mac and Sara both went for it. They’re still torn on layout, though. I know either layout could work, so we’ve moved forward sourcing for both options and we’ll see if there’s a piece or pieces that speak to them and solidify this decision. Knowing the scales of what I’m shopping for and armed with lots of Pinned imagery and description from their questionnaires, I’ve leapt into the fun part. SOURCING! But, more on that next week. We’ll dive into the directions I’m steering toward and some of the initial (and abundant) feedback received from our backseat drivers; the eloquently-spoken Mac and the “bit-more-curt” Sara. Who will be left most satisfied? (Sara here one last time with an answer to that question: Me *thumbs up emoji*) Stay tuned! The post Sara’s House: A Long Narrow Floorplan Design Agony + Designing Begins appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2W5eIIN We have officially decided to rent out the mountain house when we aren’t staying there. Brian booked another play so our weekends will be in LA for a while and it actually makes me sad to know that it’s JUST sitting there. And sure, of course, it could help offset the cost of the world’s most over-budget project. Last week, we had a furniture and decor company rent it out as a location to shoot their pieces and well, it was super easy and just a general win-win (plus, really fun to see how they put their pieces in our space). So, for anyone wondering the who, what and when, here are answers to what I think might be FAQs: Q: Who can rent it out? A: Production companies to shoot film, TV, product advertising or editorial. This could be a one-day or 10-day shoot. We are super open to what makes sense. It can be used as a location for whatever scene needed like maybe someone needs to shoot a fancy ski weekend getaway for a film and need to show their characters in a Scandi home like this. We are also open to vetted groups for vacation as it can sleep three families fairly comfortable. If that’s interesting to you, here are the details: there are two bedrooms with king beds and attached bathrooms, one bedroom with a king AND a queen bed (so great for a family with small kids that want to sleep near parents), and the kids’ room that also has a king bed. We also have two roll-out twin mattresses. So there are beds for 10 and then you could easily bring a pack’n’play or sleeping bags as the carpet in the kids’ room has memory foam under it. There are a ton of toys and games, an art room in the attic, a (small) climbing wall and it’s just generally very kid-friendly. Plus, the backyard has access to hiking trails and acres of private woods. Additionally, small companies for retreats or off-sites. The EHD team has done this but of course, this means people sharing king beds which we’re comfortable doing. Maybe a couples therapy retreat? Q: How much is it? A: It will vary based on lots of factors. Generally, production companies know the rates (they are in the thousands per day), but it does vary on size of crew, how many rooms they are shooting in and generally how disruptive it is to our lives and the house. Brian has made it clear, though, that he doesn’t want college parties there because we all know what happens (because we’ve been there). So it will be vetted and with 3,500 square feet and all those luxuries you get (the pebble ice machine alone!), yes it will be a high-end rental. Q: Are you scared of people trashing it and stealing stuff? A: Yes… and no. I’m generally very trusting so I’m the wrong person to ask. But Brian was, and then I had to remind him of this: 1. most people are actually good, 2. Production companies have to have insurance for real damages, 3. Our children will be with us and everything else are just “things,” 4. We designed it to be relatively family-friendly. Sure, the white carpet in our bedroom is getting dirty with traffic to the deck that I didn’t predict, and there is cream wall-to-wall in the guest room that makes me nervous, but otherwise I designed it to withstand a ton of wear and tear. Besides… 5. The little wear-and-tear that often isn’t covered by insurance could be worth the money that we’d get out of the rental of this house. Q: Why would someone want to rent it out? Why this house? A: First off, because it’s magical. It’s so quiet, has the best energy, amazing flow and the prettiest light. Secondly, speaking as a producer, it’s very easy to shoot here. Almost nowhere in the house does the sun blaze through and make it impossible to shoot. Even in the master where there are skylights, we can shut them and the windows still light the room beautifully. It’s not chopped up, it has such good flow and really easy access to garage and front door (hey art department, only four steps to walk up in the front and none in the back). The architecture is obviously really pretty, but simple enough to let whatever they bring into it shine. Q: Can we remove all your furniture, bring in ours and then just put yours back? A: Yep, that’s the point. As a stylist, I did this for years. We (art department or the styling team) put down layout board on the floor, take pictures of every room, then wrap and carefully remove each piece to store in a big truck or a room that’s not needed for the shoot. Will they accidentally bang the walls with a sofa leg? Probably, which is why it’s expensive. Then we would shoot whatever company’s furniture and accessories and after we wrap, we would have the very fun job of putting everything back. Maybe that’s secretly why I didn’t put a lot of stuff here—less to move and potentially damage (and hey producers, because there’s less “stuff,” loading in and out is fast, which saves on time). Guys also, hanging out here is fun. Q: Are you going to put it on one of those rental websites? Airbnb, VRBO, One Fine Stay, Peerspace? A: Yes, likely. We are currently researching and figuring it out. Back in the day when I did production, there were location agents and really big sites that let you “shop” for locations meant for TV/film online. But I don’t know where those are or who I should talk to so if anyone knows, let me know. Or maybe you are just a group of ladies who need to get away and have a girls’ weekend, and this house very much feels like a retreat. With three fireplaces, four king beds, a fire pit on the deck, a couple hammocks and a running stream, it’s so peaceful. There is also a surprisingly good spa in town and some decent antiquing. But honestly, it’s the house that you kinda don’t want to ever leave. The kids’ room now has a king bed that they share with colorful animals on the headboard instead (we are shooting it next week and yes, I typically fall asleep in the middle while reading books). I’m kind of excited. It’s like a new business venture that I didn’t necessarily think I’d pursue, but after renting it out once, it just seems so crazy to let it just sit there if we can’t be enjoying it. People have always asked if we are ever going to sell this house and our answer is always “no, never (well, unless we leave LA)”, but maybe this is a good way to use it as part of the business, and since I’ve been on the other side so much working in production, I actually really trust and respect how they treat location houses. If you are interested, email [email protected] for any inquiries. Have you guys ever done this? I know there are horrific stories about weekend renters stealing or doing extensive damage, which keeps a lot of people from doing that but has anyone rented their house out as a location for film/tv or photo shoots? Do tell … (and also help me with the rates, we are guessing over here). ***photography by Sara Ligorria-Tramp Psst…if you think you missed one of the mountain house reveals, head HERE to see them all.
The post We Are Renting Out the Mountain House…But To Who? appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2pK4WPY A Midcentury Magical Fairy Bedroom Project Intro A Completely Reversible Paint Trend Were Trying10/22/2019 Hey all, Julie from the design team here to quickly intro you to one of our latest projects, but mostly to talk about a new take on a longstanding trend we plan to implement in that space. In case you missed it on Emily’s Insta-stories the other week, we have a very high profile client we are working with…her name is Violet, she’s 6 and this girl knows what she wants. The theme is fairies, there will be wallpaper and some color blocking in a new way we haven’t done before here at EHD. I have a deep love for the mountain house project and all its moody yet neutral moments but this project is the 180 of it and I am pumped. A little bit about our client’s parents, they are close friends of Emily’s and who I want to be when I finally decide to grow up (I still think of myself as a mature 12-year-old…and I dress the part). They own a store called The Reckless Unicorn which pretty much sums up their design style. Their mid-century home has an unspoken rule: Each room has a minimum of three patterns/colors and it just works. Yes, we did shoot their house for Emily’s new book so you will see sneak peeks of it soon. It is basically my dream home. Will you be my parents? Great, moving on! Now, let me introduce you to Violet’s space so you can see what we were working with (and to help you envision some of the ideas I’m going to walk you through): There is a lot happening in here: the toys-fairies-color-princess theme covers every inch of the space. The plan is to simplify and unify these elements through larger scale items like the aforementioned wallpaper that will allow all of our eyes to be drawn to a “bolder moment” and then layer in the quieter elements like extra storage pieces and a custom wrap-around headboard which we will dive into another time. During our initial design meeting, Emily asked our 6-year-old client what she wanted the theme of her room to be, princesses or fairies. She chose fairies which I was very pleased with since that leaves more room for design interpretation. Once that was decided, I spent more than a few hours sourcing and putting together a presentation for our next meeting, which took Violet a total of five minutes to quickly go through and circle her favorites and ‘X’ out the rest. We all need to start taking notes on how to be as decisive as this little one. To give you a some context on where the design direction is headed, here are the two wallpaper options we narrowed it down to which will cover all four walls. These are from two of our wallpaper vendor favorites, Bien Fait and Rebel Walls. Both of them would add so much personality to the space and to be honest the office is pretty split so we might have to throw it to you guys and do an Ask the Audience post soon (with a little more design context so you can make an educated decision). Let’s talk about that art nook and the design element I think it is begging for (which is why we’re all here today for this post). This nook is already such a special moment but with a room covered in playful prints, this space would feel like a white box afterthought. In comes the color blocking! During the “let’s pin a bunch of inspiration images” phase of the design process, this entryway by muralist Racheal Jackson popped up on the “more like this” section on Pinterest. Thanks (creepy) Pinterest! I quickly stalked Jackson’s Instagram @banyanbridges and for all of you tired of white walls, this one is for you. Her use of color and how she applies it is like an optical illusion for the eye, and I’m into it. This trend is coloring outside of the lines (Jess you’re not the only one who loves a good pun) highlighting the architecture of the space in a fresh modern way. I see you blue doorway. It also doesn’t have to be age-specific, meaning, this isn’t just for kids. If you’re a person looking for bold and three-dimensional design done in a simplistic way that is easy to change later on (hello paint), bookmark this now. The photo above shows the trend done in a very simplistic way with the use of just two colors. The design ends purposefully above the doorway to lead your eye into the adjoining space. This layered look and the combination of colors is what I ultimately want to bring to that nook. I think letting colors “spill out” onto the walls and the ceiling above the reading alcove would add some dimension, but also make it become “part” of the rest of the room’s design. What do you all think about this layered color block look? Do you love it for the space? Are you worried about mixing it with such bold wallpapers? Or are you excited for a new color palette? If you have a link to one you love, leave it below, along with any comments (just be kind because this is my first time around here). Stay tuned for a deeper dive into the design of this project, mood boards, renderings and the design “works” once we settle on some of these more “out of the box” (ha) elements. The post A Midcentury “Magical Fairy” Bedroom Project Intro + A Completely Reversible Paint Trend We’re Trying appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2JcySvj |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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