OKAY, OUR TOP 10 POSTS OF THE ENTIRE YEAR. Thank you so much to all of you who read, share, comment. Seriously, we read all of them and it does truly impact and inform what we do next. While we know throughout the year what is doing “well” traffic-wise, it’s always interesting to see what really HITS, both on that day as well as picked up in page views throughout the year. I’m glad that this truly showed a variety of posts: hair (ha. always), reveals of the mountain house, informative roundups and a couple of really personal posts. Thanks to my incredible editorial team Arlyn, Jess and Ryann for all they do for these posts. It takes SO MUCH time to produce each one, but I’m still so proud that we are doing such high-quality content that you guys seem to like. THANK YOU. Here goes: #10: Turns Out I’ve Been Blow Drying My Hair All Wrong—Here’s How to Get It RightOur big staff hair transformation reveal from last year was on 2018’s top posts of the year, so…no real surprise here that hair made the list again. Any requests for hair stuff in 2020?? #9: Mountain House Reveal (Yes Another One!): The Coziest Upstairs Guest “Bunk” BedroomHECK YEAH. I love this room. There were a lot of mountain house reveals this year, and this was one of the last ones we did, so a little surprising to see this one make the “top 10” cut but it did show some good ideas for fitting multiple beds in a room that works so well for guest rooms catering to families. Which was your favorite mountain house bedroom? #8: Are We Done Having Kids?Ha, juicy stuff. This was what we like to call a “Dead Cat” post. Last year, when I wrote about the death of Bearcat and Mimi, it kind of blew up in such an insane way page view wise, so any post that went gangbusters got the “Dead Cat post” moniker. We don’t write these for traffic, but I know what I would want to read and that informs how much I share. #7: 15 of Our Absolute Favorite Go-To White & Gray Paint ColorsPaint color posts always seem to do well for us over time (thanks Pinterest) and there’s nothing more universally needed then basic, neutral paint colors like whites and grays. Makes sense. #6: It’s Finally Here: The Reveal of the Mountain House KitchenOne of our first mountain house reveals (after the kids’ room which was in partnership with Target for Pillowfort). Man was there a lead up to this one, and according to page views, it was worth it. Quite possibly the most time-intensive project of my life, I’m SO grateful that you guys actually liked it. THANK YOU. (I love it, too, so much in case you are wondering). #5: #Janstewary: How Soup Changed My Life (& Body)…Really2019 was the year of the soup at EHD, and I’m not stopping in 2020. Stay tuned (and share any of your favorite recipes in the comments). In case you are catching up and wondering why I’m the unpaid ambassador for soup, it’s this: soup is the easiest way to cook and stay satisfied while eating healthy (and yes likely shedding the pounds you might want to…I mean it’s eating vegetables, protein and water). Some people responded HIGHLY to it, others were annoyed that we were delving into food content. #4: The Ultimate Budget Living Room Furniture RoundupIf you need a sofa, coffee table, media cabinet, side tables…any kind of furniture for your living room and you’re on a budget, this is your post…and you all agreed if your visits to this article had anything to say about it. #3: Mountain House Reveal: Our Light-Filled Neutral & Textural Living RoomI’m glad you all liked this room as much as I do because being in there really just feels so good. The light, those windows, it’s all to warm and inviting and a place I never want to leave. The effort put into this design and post was far more than I could ever explain. So THANK YOU. #2: 10 New Bathroom Design Ideas We’re Super Pumped About for 2019There are two rooms in a home that are essentially kryptonite to Pinterest: kitchens (hang tight) and bathrooms, hence, our 2019 bathroom trends claiming our #2 top blog post of the year. #1? Well… #1: 9 Kitchen Trends for 2019 We’re Betting Will Be Huge…Kitchens (not a huge surprise). We’re working on our 2020 predictions now, but kitchen design moves pretty slowly due to the investment that goes into them, of course, but we’ll see what we can dig up/predict and we’ll check ya later in 2020 to see if it takes the top spot again next year. That’s the year. We don’t plan our projects based on “popularity,” but it’s hard to not let it influence our brains. Obviously, please let us know any feedback you have. The page views and shares on these proved that indeed you guys liked them but any more we can hear from you is always great. And thanks again for reading, sharing and commenting. In a digital world full of noise, know that we listen to you as much as you read us…likely more :). Thank you. xx The post Most Popular Blog Posts of 2019 appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2QxIGTo
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As part blog, part design company, it’s understandable that our readers would want to tap into that second “part” and ask for our design advice…as much as possible. We get A LOT of questions via email and Instagram, but the thing is, so many of those quandaries and pleas for help start to feel universal. As in, you all seem to have issues in a lot of the same areas. So, putting on our blog hat, we decided it best to boil down what we think are our top five most asked design questions and put the answers we’ve already crafted in one place. Question 1: How do I lay out a rectangular living room?In all fairness, living rooms are usually rectangular in shape anyway, so this isn’t really that specific but given that pretty standard shape, you’d be surprised how many whammies it can pack…weird window or fireplace placement, not enough wall space because of too many room openings/transitions, functionality issues (where to put the sofa in relation to the TV when there’s no real place to actually put said TV)…the list goes on and on. Here’s my very own biggest takeaway from just life: furniture does not always have to go up against a wall. Float that sofa in a room if you can, move it out of a corner, angle some things…do what works best for YOU, not what you think you have to do. To help you along, here are some stories we’ve done in the past that aimed to answer this very popular question:
Question 2: What Color Should I Paint This Room?Picking a paint color has to be one of the most “design paralysis-inducing” things for most people. It feels SO permanent, but guys, it’s totally not. Is prepping and painting a hassle? Yup. Is it reversible if you end up hating it? Also yup. So with that said, go forth and be bold, but if you also just want a tried-and-true white, we also have you covered.
And as an added bonus, here are two paint-related posts that will help you when it comes time to actually picking a color in case you need inspiration or just useful info:
Question 3: What size rug should I use?If I had to rank the question I get myself from family and friends most, aside from paint colors, it’s absolutely about rug size. I’m talking, no exaggeration, maybe one text a week about this. Here’s what I’d advise most people: when in doubt, go larger than you think. Deciding between a 5×8 and an 8×10? If budget allows, always do the 8×10 for an area rug. As much of your furniture as you can place on the actual floorcovering will always be a cleaner look. Anyhow, I pulled all of our “room rules” posts that each have a section on the rug, as well as a great video (vintage Emlando) and design mistakes from the past.
Question 4: What do I do with this blank wall?Ah yes, the every popular “blank wall” conundrum. What is it about a blank space that makes people’s minds go as empty as the wall they’re trying to fill? Show me a room full of stuff and I can tell you 10 things I’d change. But bareness, now that’s daunting. Good news, though: We have plenty of experience and ideas in the art department, from creating gallery walls, to where to buy large-scale art (for cheap) and even unexpected “non-framed art” options for when you want to get a little edgy.
Question 5: Where do I buy lighting & what kind do I need?This was a particularly popular question for renters because hard-wired lighting is not feasible for most of us on year-to-year leases. We can’t exactly opt to add more can lighting if a room is too dark, you know? Enter all the floor, table and wall lights we can afford to buy. We have some go-to resources, a handful of “power couples” so you can easily know how to pair things and lots of budget picks. Keep in mind some of the links on the shopping-focused posts might be dead which I know is a bummer BUT I thought it was still useful if it helps you find a new brand to check out…I’m sure you’ll discover all kinds of new goodies.
Also, don’t forget to check out our curated lighting section on the Shop page for some of our favorite picks and resources. I hope that was helpful to have that all in one spot, and I encourage you to keep the questions flowing because we’re here to serve. Xx The post We Answer the 5 Most Common Design Questions You Ask Us Again and Again appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/39sSdE2 Welcome to the LAST link up of 2019. Don’t worry it will not be the last because you all seem to love them as much as we love sharing what we like. It’s a true win-win. So take a deep breath, know that we all have almost made it to 2020 and enjoy this little Sunday read… There was A LOT of interest in the red sherpa pullover that Emily was wearing in her Insta stories earlier this week (and for GOOD reason). It’s incredibly cozy and comes in four awesome colors. But the red is obviously Em’s fav. Mallory and her boyfriend have been scrounging around for furniture for their new apartment on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc. They recently got a solid deal on this table which they LOVE and highly recommend. If you haven’t heard Julie’s sister Val and her family of 4 are living the life by traveling the world for a WHOLE YEAR. If you want to fully be jealous of them you can follow along their journey on Instagram @littleworldadventure. Val and her husband Trent are taking this time to reassess life and to help they’ve started reading Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans. This book is the equivalent of Marie Kondo-ing your closet but for your life, to create a meaningful and joyful life. Risky and bold design is probably our favorite kinds and Studio Shamshiri is one of our favorites in that department. Take a look at the truly stunning hotel they designed in New Orleans. Never ever have we wanted to take a “work trip” more. ‘Tis the season to be warm ‘n cozy!! Veronica’s roommate introduced this hot cocoa to her last year. So naturally, she bought some over the weekend, and then was pleasantly surprised to see that Julie brought some into the office this week!!! It is THE BEST. So tasty, and makes you feel ready to snuggle up and watch all the Christmas movies. Ryann bought this sweater after almost a year of searching for the perfect one. It is pretty perfect and now she wants it in alll the colors. We called the pleated shade trend last year but we had no idea how big it would get but we are pumped. Jess (very pro pleat) stumbled upon this awesome and reasonably priced french vintage lamp shop on Etsy that has a ton of pleated shade table lamp options. This one is one of her favorites…and is very much trending for 2020 (stay tuned on that). Sometimes Arlyn finds that refrigerator “organizers” actually steal space from you. It might look good and tidy, but when you’re already tight on space, what good does that do you?? However, she does LOVE these clear bins for her refrigerator. It’s easy to see how much of something she has, she can compartmentalize like foods, and they fit really well in her too-small rental apartment fridge. Caitlin is on a HUGE candelabra kick after seeing this one in Jess’ apartment, and she is now newly in love with this lil guy. If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for Caitlin (or if you just wanna bank some ideas for future reference), please get her one of these. This is definitely NOT Caitlin writing a veiled message to her family with explicit present requests. Alright, this is where we leave you to enjoy your Sunday. Have a beautiful, cozy day and see you all tomorrow. xx The post The Link Up: Emily’s Fav Affordable Pullover Sweater, Jess’ Vintage Lamp Shop Find and Arlyn’s Best Refrigerator Hack appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2F4WJuq This year, we expanded into posting seven days a week, keeping fashion and lifestyle mainly on Saturdays (which you seemed to like) so it didn’t take up a day of design content. While I’m not a model, I do have fun with these posts. We are honestly always trying to figure out how to do fashion in a way that is indeed meaningful or informative, not just pushing to buy new clothes all the time. We know that fast fashion is an industry that produces a lot of waste, so we really try to approach it like, if you are going swimming and literally don’t have a swimsuit, then here are some that I can tell you are good instead of just buy more swimsuits. Fashion posts end up being a decent amount of revenue because we make a small commission off of anything you purchase through the blog, so I’d love your input on how we can do fashion posts in the best way possible, all budgets, all styles, all shapes/sizes and of course mixing in vintage and thrifted (hello, January). A huge thanks to Ryann, Veronica and Mallory for helping produce these posts and for making me feel more comfortable when I’m on the corner of sunset junction and swinging a bag, laughing at air and feeling very self concous for how serious I appear to be taking myself. I’m not. but I appreciate how serious you do your job, But, for now, we’re taking a look back on this year’s fashion posts and which ones made it into the Top 10. Here goes. #10: Six Fall Sweaters I’m Loving + How To Wear ThemComing in at #10 is FALL SWEATERS. This is the first year I truly embraced the sweater and boy did I. My friend Suzanne helped style this one which is so fun, and judging from comments, you guys seem to love when Suzanne is involved in these shoots (and I am, too). #9: A Fashion Review: New Clothing On My And How I Like Them (Or Not)This was my first review-style post and I think you guys liked that I gave my opinions on when something wasn’t quite good or I bought but planned on returning for whatever reason. I think that’s the kind of information that isn’t always the easiest to find and might better inform your shopping. #8: 12 Sustainable Fashion Brands To Try If You Love Clothes But Also The EarthI’m SO HAPPY that this post did so well. We highlighted sustainable brands (and boy are more and more popping up every day which is AWESOME) and you guys were into it. YAY. Would love to hear if you have any other sustainable brand suggestions, if you have them. #7: My “Casual, Comfortable, Cool” Spring Weekend WardrobeI’m pretty sure this only made it in the top 10 because of Boris (the dog, obviously), but there are some great outfits in this one including one where I try wearing a sweatpants/beanie combination in a cool way (and again, Suzanne helped out which was so fun). #6: I Let My 20-Something-Year-Old Staff Dress Me In The Latest Fashion TrendsI LOVED this post, and while you guys didn’t really buy any of the pieces, the concept sure was fun and I want to do more like these. If you skipped over this one originally, it’s worth reading just for the laughs alone. #5: 18 Pairs of Fall Boots: A Review Of The Good, The Great, and The So-SoYAY FOR REAL REVIEWS. Next year, we might actually go to the stores and review them as I’m trying them on to save one step (if we can shoot in the store), so shout out what you want me to review in the comments and we’ll try to make it work. #4: 8 Pajama Sets That I Will Be Wearing All WinterWe joked that we should just become a pajama blog because the traffic on this post was so much more than we thought it would be (over 50,000 views). But okay, got it…you guys like pajamas (and reviews). #3: 51 Affordable Spring Dresses (& One Awesome Jumper I Couldn’t Resist)I think people were just so ready to think about summer, that this spring dresses post really hit. Just seeing someone else dressed for warm weather lets everyone know and get excited that it’s coming soon. #2: The 3 Stylish, Comfortable Pants I Wear All The TimeI was glad that this one hit. My team was skeptical because they are kinda boring pants, but I truly loved wearing them all the time and you guys really responded to that. Sometimes it’s the basic stuff that resonates the most, I guess. #1: Active And Modest Swimsuits That Make Me Feel GoodNeedless to say, I was VERY nervous about putting 15 photos of myself in a swimsuit on the internet, (and as you know, we don’t Photoshop people at EHD). So thank you for clicking on it, sharing and making me glad I did it. We are brainstorming a lot about what 2020 lifestyle and fashion posts look like, and I’m not a fashion expert so I generally don’t love to give out tips, but please let me know what you’d love to see, and what you come here for, fashion-wise. We did a few team fashion posts and I’d love to diversify even more and incorporate other people’s style, not just mine. Thoughts? The post Our Top 10 Most Popular Fashion Posts of 2019 appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2Q4dts4 This is a larger conversation. Truly. Chasing “likes” is never a good thing as a creative--OR A PERSON. It’s like chasing “cool,” or worse, chasing “youth.” It’s the opposite of authenticity and wreaks of try-hard. So I haven’t chased likes, cool or youth, but maybe I’ve also not really put it all out there. I’ve focused my time here, on the blog where you guys know me and I feel frankly comfortable and safe. But the Instagram platform is the trickiest despite my perceived success. People ask me all the time what the key to social media success is and besides the most overused words of 2019, “authenticity” and ” unique,” which aren’t wrong, I truly don’t know. Our “likes” are down, and I don’t really know why (though if you follow other “influencers,” you’ll hear the same thing across the board in the same sentence as “algorithm”). I think I lost my voice (because I wasn’t writing enough) and created too much perfect looking content. It isn’t personal enough. I’m listening and lord knows I love “a note.” The thing is, that I can do personal. It’s actually all I want to do, but writing a personal post, getting the tone right, making sure I’m neither too flippant, sarcastic nor sentimental/cheesy takes me a long time, at least for me. I think I’ve been phoning it in, hoping that a nice shot of me setting down a plate in a pretty room would garner that thumb-stopping double tap. But it doesn’t anymore. Very few things do. So next year isn’t about chasing those things. It’s about simply making space and time for more conversations that I want to have. I have to create space to write to you. Full stop. So you want to see what our top 10 Instagrams from the year are, here you go. They aren’t my original images (thus the introspection) but they are VERY GOOD: #10: This kitchen by Alyssa Kapito Interiors.#9: This kitchen via House and Leisure.#8: The mountain house kitchen (and the inside of the drawers).#7: The Portland project mudroom pantry.#6: YET ANOTHER KITCHEN, this time designed by Jean Stoffer Design.#5: The media room bar from the Portland project.#4: This killer dining room/arched window.#3: The accent wall heard around the interwebs, by Molly Britt.#2: This black-and-white breakfast room gallery wall (so good).#1: Diane Keaton #TBT.I recognize that only 4 of the top 10 are my work (besides with a celebrity) and for that, I’m pretty bummed. I know that producing incredible design work takes so much time, but I have to ask myself why some of my other projects that we posted throughout the year didn’t garner more of your love, or “likes.” I’m re-asessing so much right now and into this new year and I’d honestly LOVE your feedback. I’m moving back to my roots, with far more personal, casual, colorful spaces full of approachable meaning and FUN. But listen, I’m not a kitchen. So, who knows how I’ll do… The post Our 10 Most Popular Instagram Posts of 2019 (Plus My Unexpected Feelings) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/39iPzR6 While often a “maybe I should cut my hair” post that requires almost ZERO time will get a ton of page views, we don’t value it higher, because our design projects are what we stand for. Between the design planning/work, the styling/production/photography work, the writing, the editorial linking, the editing of me and the pitching out to press, we at EHD care about publishing these projects so much. It’s what keeps us excited and inspired. We revealed 47 projects (yes, 47) in 2019, and it’s always interesting to know what really “hit “and then to analyze “WHY?” Let’s dissect. #10: MOTO Reveal: Emily Bowser’s 32-Square-Foot Bathroom Is Packed With Small Space HacksI saw Emily Bowser’s bathroom and said “we have to shoot it.” When people do small space in a smart way that we are all impressed by, there is an obvious need to share. But to be fair, if anyone was going to come up with incredibly smart and chic ideas, it’s Bowser. #9 New Reveal: A Colorful, Happy Home Makeover For An Incredibly Deserving FamilyI’M SO HAPPY. I hoped that this Feel Good Makeover was popular because it was a good story of a family in need of a happy home, one that we’re able to execute quickly and use our resources to create. But I also know that it was full of really good ideas for anyone in a smaller space and a modest budget. Velinda did an incredible job. YAY for more of these this year. #8: Mountain House Reveal: Our Calm Scandinavian Master BedroomMy favorite bedroom in the world wasn’t a flop. THANK YOU. I am living in this room all through the holidays and if I could “double-tap” the bed with “likes” all day every day, I would. #7: Reveal: A Budget and Rental-Friendly Living and Dining Room (With 80% Thrifted Finds)I LOVE this room. We shopped mostly local and thrifted and my team (Emily Bowser and Julie Rose) really brought their creativity. There were so many great solutions that anybody can do in this reveal. #6: Reveal: Arlyn’s Bright & Happy Rental Living Room MakeoverArlyn’s living room struck a chord with a lot of us who needed a burst of personality, sentimentality and color. As our editorial director, I know that it’s a lot of pressure, so I’m so glad that you guys loved it as much as we did. #5: Velinda’s Tiny Kitchen Makeover Takeover (With Tons of Smart Storage Hacks)This tiny kitchen worked HARD and therefore I’m not surprised that it performed. If you didn’t see Velinda’s second kitchen (rental) you should; it’s full of a lot of VERY smart hacks and storage/appliance solutions that I wouldn’t have thought of. Another example that sometimes the smallest spaces have the biggest ideas. #4: Makeover Takeover: Jess’ Long-Awaited (Small Space) Living Room RevealJess’ apartment blew all of us away. She is our senior market editor and has no ego so we didn’t know what to expect. I remember the team being like “uh, should you be on the design/styling side of things”? It’s a tiny studio apartment full of more style than I’ve seen in a long time. (You’ve got to see her kitchen/dining room.) #5: Mountain House Reveal (Yes, Another One!): The Coziest Upstairs Guest “Bunk” BedroomI guess people really responded to wall-to-wall carpeting, and guess what—ME, TOO. As a former carpet snob, I realize that when done well, comfort trumps all (plus check out my memory foam carpet hack to ensure 100% bounce-ability). #2: It’s Finally Here: The Reveal of the Mountain House KitchenThe mountain kitchen was the first reveal of what was the most stressful project of my life. So, THANK YOU for making this #2. While I regret not styling it with more life and energy (flowers, food, people), at the time I was overwhelmed and in a more minimal phase. And frankly, I wanted to show off the work, not the stuff. But, thank you. #1: Mountain House Reveal: Our Light-Filled Neutral & Textural Living RoomThe mountain house was five times over budget, which I kinda knew despite my denial amongst the chaos, and well, it gave me shame and embarrassment (and anxiety). So when you guys saw it, commented that you REALLY liked it, and shared it, I started to realize that my choices were good, that despite my failings, this project was an actual SUCCESS. Thanks for watching and reading the reveals. We obviously learn from what you love the most this year and while there will NOT be another mountain house reveal, small space ideas/hacks and spaces full of personality and sentimentality will be our focus. But certainly, let us know how you feel in the comments…(and thanks for commenting :)). **Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp The post Our Top 10 Most “Popular” Design Projects of 2019 appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2soBwZo Merry Christmas from our crazy family to your and yours. We are up at the mountain house, all a little sick with colds, so we are snuggling hard, playing games and making a lot of soup and broth. We survived the final days of work and I have no intention of doing much work the next 10 days or so – but my wonderful team planned a lot for the next week – so check back if you get bored. We do our annual ‘wrap up’ with the most popular posts on every platform (and my reaction to it). But today my usual wordy self has to cut it short to go see Santa (yes on Christmas Eve – cutting it VERY close to the big day). Let’s just hope that the kids don’t all of a sudden ask him for any unrehearsed toys…. Merry Christmas. I say that with glassy eyes as I’m seriously so grateful for that man, those two kids and you, a community of people who have made my life and career truly very fulfilling. It’s a pretty darn great Christmas, already. xx
The post Merry Christmas … appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2QfPgOj This post is brought to you in collaboration with my former weird self. I’m having a real resurgence over here, it’s been bubbling up for a while but it’s taken me a bit to understand what I miss about my former self. If you are sensing a mid-career crisis, you are right. With the blog turning 10 in two weeks, I’ve been deep in self-reflection, looking at every single year with a personal, design and business lens. Here’s one thing I miss: I used to be SO BRAVE, stylistically. No rules. So many risks. I PLAYED. Looking at all my past Christmases, I see so much creativity despite all the fails. She’s back. We aren’t going to call her “old Emily” because that implies A. I’m old AND I’M NOT, I’M VERY YOUTHFUL and B. one can become a former version of oneself. You can’t. It’s been 10 years and I’ve changed. So, we’ll call her “Weird Emily.” Hmm…I think I need to work on the branding of that, that’s not quite it. Maybe it’s Emily The Brave? Stay tuned. So as we close out this holiday season, I thought it would be fun to revisit all the weirdest things I have done for my holiday decor and hear my current thoughts about it. 10 YEARS AGO. Probably my favorite and WEIRDEST holiday DIY was the GLOBE snow-person family. Don’t let that shitty photo fool you, we had to source a lot of likely expensive vintage globes to create those three lovers. We drilled holes in them, put long bars (I don’t remember out of what) through them to keep them together and created a base to hold them still. I don’t recommend butchering vintage globes to do this, but I do love the creativity they came from. We also took thrift store books, ripped off the covers and spines and turned them into snowflake-shaped accessories. We had readers who wanted to craft. I can’t find that episode of Secrets From A Stylist anywhere, but maybe that’s good. However, it was full of off-the-wall ideas that Orlando and I created. Including a huge vintage map that said JOY TO THE WORLD. That map inspired many, many people to do something similar and I have to admit, adding simple white letters that read JOY TO THE WORLD was brave and had the sense of humor that only Orlando and I together like to come up with. Also, we didn’t stop there with our subversive DIYs, we did a “wreath” in the shape of an oversized peace sign, we also put birdhouses all over that tree and made those yarn ball ornaments…those last two ideas I still love. I love taking traditional holiday icons and doing a weird twist on them. Hot pink had a huge moment nine years ago. Remember when I did a Celebrity Holiday Homes episode for Cheryl Burke (and HGTV)? If you don’t, see the post here. Well, she loved hot pink, or more accurately I loved hot pink at the time, and I really went for it with a GROVE of hot pink and white trees in her living room, which was admittedly nuts but undeniably striking. More importantly, I found that vintage nutcracker lamp in Palm Springs and spray painted it white (Cherly loved nutcrackers). I wish I had that so badly for me now, not that you need to switch out your normal lighting for holiday-themed ones, but man was it fun (and stood over 4-feet tall). I also believed in untraditional wreaths at the time (and putting a lot of ornaments in cloches). We made that paper wreath out of tissue paper and while I didn’t have a good photographer at the time, I think this idea would transcend time if we made it now. I painted a ton of thrift store tchotchkes and candlesticks in our color palette, including a ballet dancer as holiday decor. I also painted those cakestands with marbled paint. They weren’t good, but the idea was solid (and likely NOT food-safe or long-lasting). We created MORE Christmas themed DIY art, with our Now Dasher, Now Dancer piece (again, Cheryl Burke was a dancer). You are about to see a theme… That same year, I decked my house out in more hot pink (clearly inspired). I left NO surface undecorated; balls EVERYWHERE. I continued my “snow” in place of real greenery likely because we shot way before December and didn’t actually have access to real greenery. Also if you have a 200lb cement dalmatian, I clearly recommend putting a wreath collar on it. Could also be a huge bow around the neck (see below). Brass deer + snow does say “glam holiday” in a way that I apparently wanted to. BY SCREAMING IT. ‘Sup, hand chair? That was the same year that I made a wreath out of REAL flowers, which cost probably $200 (peonies in December are $$$$) and lasted two days. I do NOT recommend this and did not predict its quick demise. But I did put my vintage Ban.do headpiece on one of my many busts (and note the same DIY marble painted cake stands). I also hand-painted all the “wrapping paper” and stacked up presents in the shape of a tree. QUICK NOTE: This was before any sort of Instagram backdrop moment “OPPORTUNITY.” I just wanted to show how you can make a big impact with easy DIY’d presents. Imagine that??? Orlando and I kept up our subversive “art project” by painting a Ho Ho Ho, Ho art piece. It still makes me smirk. More than I reminiscing about weird holiday decor, I love that man (who helped me create said weird holiday decor). I am extremely excited to collaborate with him more in 2020, stay tuned for that but it’s likely more in the form of a podcast, not holiday fashion posts where we wear different forms of bows around our tiny necks. I’m not saying that these ideas were amazing, nor that I would do them again. But boy do I appreciate the former creativity and lack of effs. I also know that I had SO much more time to DIY, and willingness to put my ideas and creativity out there because my audience was a lot smaller, and therefore rarely a troll in sight. Anyway, seeing these projects, despite their bad photography and questionable color palettes does inspire me and make me want to, you know, be more creative, write more editorially, and do more “Emily The Brave” in 2020…and not just in holiday. Perfection is boring. LET’S GET WEIRD. What do you think? I know that there are a lot of you out there who remember, who have been there since day 1 (THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU), and more than likely weren’t here and don’t remember. What do you all think? Should you want this type of brave DIY and odd innovation from me/us? Or does this just strike you as amateur creativity and bad DIY? I’m honestly open. I guess for me I just appreciate the risk and the lack of traditionalism and conformity. Also, I know you guys are busy, it’s two days before Christmas, so thank you for taking the time to write any comments or feedback. Happy holidays. See you tomorrow for my Christmas post. The post All The Risky (and Questionable) Holiday DIYs I’ve Done (and Maybe I Want To Do More Of) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2sUqU4F We know that most of you are probably done with all of your shopping and holiday prepping, right? Just kidding, we are still picking up our final gifts and wrapping up a storm too. So in case you need those final suggestions or just some fun reads then we’ve got you. Let’s get right to this week’s link up… Emily can’t wait to read The Likability Trap, after hearing the author on this podcast episode talk about how many women feel they are presented with two options: being a good leader or being liked. Let’s call it serendipity (and not that Jess is a sucker for the newest and coolest) but somehow Domino knew she was out of shower gel and this article popped up in her email. Did the google machine tell them?? Anyway, it got her good when they said the Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash smelled “like taking a walk through a lush forest.” Like how could she resist, right? Plus the bottle is beautiful and the soap itself organic, biodegradable and lasts for 80 showers. The other day Julie calculated on average how much she has spent on kombucha in the past year and the result was pretty horrifying. So, she consulted a kombucha brewing expert aka her brother-in-law to get his approval on this Kombucha Brewing Kit. Julie is excited to test it out & will report back on how her first batch goes. Wish her luck. From Arlyn: “For the “design history nerds” out there, a reader recently emailed me this article from the New York Times (entitled The 25 Rooms That Influence the Way We Design) for my entertainment and I thought I’d pay it forward. I love seeing things like this because with Pinterest and Instagram these days, it’s easy to feel the “same same” of the current design scene and this was a serious palate cleanser.” Ryann’s skin is not suited for cold, dry weather. So the past few weeks she has been breaking out like no other. In an attempt to save herself time and money, instead of running to Sephora for a new cleanser she researched some home remedies. She found this face mask recipe that is SO SIMPLE and EFFECTIVE it is stupid. It’s simply 1 tbsp of honey and a 1/2 tsp of turmeric (she skipped the lemon part) and it not only cleared up some blemishes but made her skin so so soft. 10/10 would recommend.
From Mallory: “Ever since I started working here at EHD, all my friends and family have been asking for design advice. So for Christmas, I’m planning to give everyone something for the rooms they’ve been asking me about. My sister needs a color palette, so I got her this painting to jump off of. Heads up Society 6 is having a great sale on their framed prints. I hope she doesn’t read this.”
Velinda shares a very small bathroom with her wife, so these incense matches serve a sacred purpose. So much better than Poo Pourri, and they’re also so easy to carry around in a wallet.
Caitlin got these boots back on Black Friday and has been wearing them NON-STOP since. From Caitlin: “I’m not a super boot person because I always feel like they make my legs look weird, but YO, THESE RULE. They are SO COMFORTABLE and I’ve worn them with everything from cropped pants to socks and dresses to socks and skinny jeans and y’all. They changed my life. I’m annoyed I waited so long to bite the bullet on these.”
Veronica recently discovered that her new favorite color is cobalt blue, which is where this baby comes in. Sooo warm n cozy and perfect for the cold weather these days. She usually doesn’t like a cinched waist, but this one is acceptable as it keeps all the warm in.
And there you have it. Now, go enjoy your Sunday and see you tomorrow. xx
The post The Link Up: Emily’s Next Must-Read Book, A Face Mask Recipe That Changed Ryann’s Skin, & The “Discrete” Bathroom Necessity appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2sVAOTG Welcome to the last fashion post of the year, folks, and for those of you actually on the internet on this VERY busy Saturday, this is for you. Let me be clear, our New Year’s Eve will be spent up at the mountain house, having our now-annual scavenger hunt in the woods with the kids, and celebrating with some friends at 6pm. So I likely won’t be wearing a strapless jumper or a sequin jacket, but instead of buying more clothes (we are done buying over here, for a while) we came up with some fun hacks that I could try to convince you of. Hopefully, this serves as a “how to amp up” what you maybe already have – either dress it down or dress it up for a more ‘I’m going to party and hit rock bottom so I can really start my resolutions’ vibe. #1 T-shirt Under Strapless Dress (Or Jumpsuit)Here’s the case for this outfit: I saw my friend Jen Gotch do this on her stories with a vintage 80’s prom dress and thought it looked rad. I can’t wear strapless dresses (I feel like I explode out of them and show too much flesh) so this is a solution that I LOVE, that actually looks very cool. I borrowed this jumper from my friend (it’s old, sorry – but SO RAD) and with a t-shirt underneath I actually love it. It just feels a little more intentional and fun. So if you have an old strapless bridesmaid dress that the bride promised “was so cute and you could totally wear it again” maybe this is its moment. The key is that the shirt has to be a casual (and fitted) and I think that if it were vintage or had a cool graphic on it that would be even better for that 80’s vibe (but I like the simplicity for this one). I think that it makes strapless look cooler, especially when it’s a sweetheart neckline. But I’m sure not all of you will agree. I apologize for that ill wrapped present – the kids keep ALMOST opening them …. little drunk raccoons. Now that I think of it, the shirt under the dress thing reminds me SO much of growing up LDS where we had to cover our shoulders and we would put T’s under all our spring dresses (dresses that definitely weren’t meant to have T-shirts under them). I think the rules have changed now, but I know this look is “in” at the moment. Here are some options in case you don’t have a strapless dress or jumpsuit and want one. 1. Women’s Sleeveless Sweetheart Jumpsuit | 2. Isn’t It Iconic Strapless Dress | 3. Lioness Old Flame Strapless Mini Dress | 4. Elia Strapless Jumpsuit | 5. Women’s Animal Print Sleeveless Mini Dress | 6. Boss Jumpsuit | 7. Royal Blue Strapless Jumpsuit | 8. Hayden Strapless Velvet Jumpsuit | 9. Chic Red Jumpsuit #2 Socks With an Open Toe ShoeI don’t know guys. I’ve wanted to try this for a while, and I think it is fun but is it ridiculous? Or just fun and different for New Year’s Eve? I’ve seen it done where I’ve liked it … maybe I needed to slouch them more – you tell me… But I do think I would leave the house like that, at least on New Years, because it feels like the right occasion to do so. The key (I think) is not having them be tube socks and I suppose they also need to be thin with some sparkle or special detail. I’ve been on Man Repeller so many times looking for ‘how to style socks with open-toed shoes’ and it’s hard to find ANY inspiration or rules so I don’t know if I’m pulling this off exactly. It actually inspired me to answer more of those questions for you in the home space, those questions that may seem obvious to me but may not be for most people. Here are some fun sock options in case all you have are those classic tube socks:) 1. Scallop Sheer Crew Sock | 2. Chenille Velour Cuffed Trouser Socks | 3. Pieces Purple Glitter Sock | 4. Soft Roll Top Sock | 5. Starry Night Sheer Slouch Socks | 6. Sparkle Party Crew Sock | 7. Ankle Socks In Black & Glitter | 8. Richer Poorer Salem Quarter Sock | 9. Elvira Fishnet Socks #3: Dress Up a Vintage T With Awesome Earrings and a Leather SkirtThis look is super not me, but I’m still pretty into it and it was SO easy. I figured that most people have a black leather mini, and for my style, I like them to be styled more casually (I wouldn’t wear a super tight, revealing top with a leather mini because I think the skirt already has that vibe). So I’ve always worn it with a boxy sweater, but for NYE I love the boxy T, as it leans into the ‘I didn’t really think about it, but don’t I look pretty cool’ vibe that maybe you are going for? I showed Brian these photos because I stole his vintage Grateful Dead shirt and, I don’t know, I hoped he would think I looked cool or something in it but instead, he was like ‘ha, that’s not vintage, it’s from Target’ which was HILARIOUS. I think I’d rather it be a lighter color, like white with some band graphics on it, to give it a bit more contrast (but that’s just my personal taste). I borrowed those earrings from Veronica who always wears EPIC earrings. They really do take any simple or casual outfit to the next level. I’ve been slow to get on the earring train mostly because A. I’m going to lose those them, and B. having usually big blonde hair and big boobs, big earrings just feel like a lot, and can go too cheesy and 80’s mom. But I’m going to try more, especially now that my hair is shorter (sadly – didn’t cut, just took out my extensions) and I always wear it up anyway. Everyone in the office decided that earrings either need to be BIG or make some sort of statement, to really be cool. Or if you have multiple piercings a bunch of tiny earrings are so cute mixed and matched. I have seriously been thinking about getting a few piercings up my ear, a la Emily Schuman, in 2020 and think it would go nicely with my current mid-life crisis. You? Here are some affordable favorites if you are looking. 1. Contessa Tassel Earrings | 2. Long Earrings | 3. Anne + Julia Duo | 4. The Oblong Hoops | 5. Poppy Puffy Heart Drop Earrings | 6. Geometric Organic Shape Minimalist Earrings | 7. Essential Large Chunky Hoop Earrings | 8. Drop Earrings | 9. Sibilia Spotted Hoop Post Earrings #4 Pair Sequins With an Everyday OutfitYou have jeans and a t-shirt I am sure, and MAYBE you’ve joined my snakeskin shootie train (all aboard?) so all you have to do for this one is add sequins or a BIG old pop of red. If I were just going to over to hang with my friends on NYE this is what I would wear and I LOVE it. (Yes, we shot this a while ago for that makeup post, but just realized it is a great talking point here). It’s comfortable, but still festive and party appropriate. In case you don’t have a sequin top in your closet… 1. Luna Sequin Blouse | 2. Madeline Sequin Top | 3. Sequin Blazer Dress | 4. Sequined Jacket | 5. Sequined Diana Sequined Blazer | 6. Sparkle Blazer I personally think that sequins are best dressed down, even if it’s a dress. I would wear a sequin gown with sneakers or weird boots instead of strappy heels – it is so glam and attention-getting already that unless you are going to a ball, I think it just looks cooler to make it more casual and give it an edge (aka, don’t style it like #6 – that looks cheesy to me). #5 Pair a Belt Bag and Animal Print Shoes With a More Formal DressYou’ve seen this dress because I’ve worn it like 5 times now, but this is a good example of a dress that can go in a few different directions, vibe-wise, based on styling. If I wore it with heels, it would go more ‘wedding’ or ‘opera’, but with the snakeskin western boots it feels younger and cooler (IMHO). I liked adding a color block belt (it’s my red fanny pack from Clare V. that is sadly no longer available). Anyway, I’m not saying that is the perfect NYE outfit, but again, the animal print takes something that feels more feminine, ruffly and conservative into an edgier direction, which I love. Here are some great belt bag options if you are in the market. 1. Emma Convertible Belt Bag | 2. Georgia Belt Bag | 3. Faux Leather Belt Bag | 4. STATE Crosby Fanny Pack | 5. Detachable Leather Belt Bag | 6. Detachable Leather Belt Bag Now, if you are looking for some makeup inspo or recommendations, I’m not one to wear what looks to be A LOT of makeup so I did a post a couple months ago with a makeup artist who taught me how to do three different ‘party’ looks that I really liked. The one on the left was more rose gold and shimmery, the middle had this awesome cobalt blue eyeliner and far-right had a glossy lid and a bold pop of red lip. All the products we used are linked in that post. I feel like there are a million different ‘highlighters’ and ‘glittery cream eyeshadows’ out there so to get her favorite recommendations and actually see them on my face was very helpful (Thank you Noel!) By the way, IF you wear a t-shirt under your strapless gown or jumper or IF you try out socks with open-toe will you please tag or DM me? I want to see how others do it. I am so curious if these are an actual thing that only I think are cool, or maybe some of you are into them, too. Also if you have ANY other hacks for party outfits our last-minute looks let us know – new ways to amp up what you already have seems to be a theme over here in general, so we’d love more ideas. xx **photography by Veronica Crawford The post NYE Party Outfit Hacks That I Tried (and Maybe Pulled Off?) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2Mh5CF7 |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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