T-minus one day until we say farewell to collectively the most challenging year of our lives. Now we don’t know about you, but buying a new “New Year’s outfit” felt as necessary as Tayshia giving a second chance to Ben (clearly the woman was fully in love with Zac, DUH). But hey, you might have woken up this morning in the mood to dress up “a little” using what you already have in your closet. It might just be the pickup we all could use, right? So since last year’s post was all about this repurposing idea we thought, why not repost for the fun reminder? So hopefully this post gives you a couple of ideas that make you feel festive and beautiful to bring in this hopefully (if not just slightly) better new year. xx 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 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 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 ’80s 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
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Kitchens and living rooms are always highly pinned, so it’s very telling to see some offices (and even some artwork!!) in the top 10. Actually, offices haven’t ever been on the list until this year. Clearly, it’s because we were all thrown into our homes and now we can’t or don’t want to leave them. We needed (and still need) to maximize FUNCTIONALITY above all else, and it’s really the time to see just how functional your home can get. But don’t worry it’s not all offices but number one might completely shock you like it shocked me… HERE WE GO! 10. From: Recognizing Juneteenth (Plus, Resources To Learn More & Take Action)I’m SO glad Melissa Koby‘s awesome artwork made it in the top 10! Now someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think any artwork has made it into our top pinned before (probably because people mostly come here to look at pretty pictures of interiors –– we get it and we’re here for that sometimes too). But anyway, if you don’t follow her on Instagram yet, it’s most definitely time to get on that…her artwork is TOO GOOD. 9. From: Have An Unused Nook Begging For Some Attention?? Make It A Beautiful At Home Office2020 was truly the year of the at-home office…and an impromptu one at that. No one could’ve called that WFH was going to be such a motif in 2020, and many of you (like us) might now be going back. So probably similar to Emily, we started with tables on paint cans but now we’re looking at creating more permanent workstations in our home. This one, created by Tiffany from Pretty Real Blog, is one of my all-time favorites because she took an unused wall/nook area and built this crazy cool shelf and desk situation. The best part is it creates more than one work area so her kids can simultaneously do homework here, which is a plus with everyone being at home. No surprise why it was a popular image. 8. From: 20 VERY Affordable Pillow Combos & Our 5 No-Fail Combo RulesOur sweet Editorial Director, Jess has MANY skills, but combo-ing pillows might just be one of her strongest (which says a lot because her skill level on everything else is also VERY high). Pillow picking and combo-ing is a real challenge for most everyone –– even designers/decorators –– so this guide is VERY helpful (plus it consists of our 5 no-fail pillow combo rules). The affordable angle is always a hit because man, pillows can be expensive. I’m sure that’s also why this was such a pinned imaged. 7. From: How to Lean Into Eclectic Granny The Minimalist Way (Via A Vintage Lover’s Dream Home Tour)This home tour popped OFF on Instagram, so I’m not surprised to see here that it popped off on Pinterest as well. This room pretty much single-handedly made me want to turn my studio apartment into a library…it’s SO dreamy and how do I fit that ladder too because I need it. 6. From: 20 VERY Affordable Pillow Combos & Our 5 No-Fail Combo RulesSee? I told you Jess was good at pillow combo-ing. Not only did she make one killer affordable pillow roundup, but she made TWO and both of them were repinned many times for obvious reasons. Also if you have a moodboard for a room you are designing, you could screenshot the pillow combos you like and drag them in to see which one you like the best. All the hard work is done for you, so all you gotta do is hit “add to cart” to make it happen in your home (which is kinda awesome). 5. From: Evolution Of An Aesthetic – Design Discontent or Design Enthusiasm? (And Also, Is A Room Ever Truly Done?)I noticed something I hadn’t before while looking at this kitchen picture again: THERE ARE HOLES IN THE COUNTER SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO OPEN YOUR TRASH CAN TO THROW SOMETHING AWAY. I think it’s kinda genius but also I would worry about accidentally throwing away food that I was prepping (I have really bad spatial awareness which wouldn’t help). But imagine chopping vegetables and you could just slide the scraps into this hole. It’s pretty cool. I totally get why this made the list at #5 because it really makes you think, doesn’t it? Not to mention it’s insanely beautiful. 4. From: A Moody, Movie Themed Office Design On A Tight TimelineAnother pin that proves my point about 2020 being the year of the home office…we need IDEAS on how we can all work/school/generally live 24/7 in one space. This moody office personally slays me and I like how industrial and chic it is (I think many of you do too given that it’s come in a whopping 4th place). 3. From: Sara’s Kitchen “Update” Spirals Into A full Renovation (Plus – Help Her Choose A Design Plan)In 3rd place we have this gorgeous kitchen inspo, which feels good to look at. I love a pretty kitchen as much as the next gal, and Sara filled her kitchen intro post with LOTS of pretty kitchen photos. Sara’s kitchen is a reveal that I’m HEAVILY looking forward to seeing and hopefully you are too 2. From: How to Lean Into Eclectic Granny The Minimalist Way (Via A Vintage Lover’s Dream Home Tour)This living room, back at it again. I mean COME ON IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL. Of course she deserves to be here. Then at number one we have…*drum roll please* 1. From: The Unexpected 2020 Tile Trend That A Very Unlikely EHDer Is Putting In Her House…Plus An Ask The AudienceHahahaha. I’d title this photo “when you can’t dance at the club, bring the club’s dance floor to you.” Anyone else feeling some Saturday Night Fever vibes from this tile? We’re the first to admit we all LOVE a good trend and this rainbow tile trend is not one to go unnoticed, clearly. Jess wrote this post on how she was planning to use it in her apartment bathroom until she, well, moved apartments (can somebody say #pivot?) and now I guess it’s nothing but a distant memory that will forever live in the form of this photo being our #1 top most pinned post of 2020 (unless she figures out a way to get it in her new place, which I would be first in line to see because everything Jess touches turns to gold when it comes to design). So there you have it, our top pins of 2020. Lots of home offices, lots of pretty rooms, and a funky tile trend that some love, some not so much. What are your thoughts?? Let’s chat below. Happy almost new years!! Opening Image Credits: Staging by a 1000 x Better | Photography by Scarlett Macdonald | Creative Direction by Gillian Lawlee The post Top 10 Pins of 2020 + An Unexpected Trend Comes In 1st Place… appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2WUUGSr Looking back at this year is disorienting to say the least. Where did the time go?? I know we say that every year, but this one I am quite sure wins and definitely proves that “time flies when you are in the middle of a global pandemic”. Oh well, that’s life I guess, and I am pretty ready to say goodbye to 2020 but not before I look back on EVERY room we revealed this year. Despite a pandemic that delayed and/or stopped production on many projects, we still managed to post 41 REVEALS this year. It’s actually pretty wild and some of the reveals I am about to show you feel like a lifetime ago. I am beyond excited to talk about every one of these rooms so with that said, let’s get to it: Makeover Takeover: Julie’s HUGE (and DIY packed) Bedroom UpgradeJulie’s bedroom reveal kicked off the year (this was even published pre lockdown if you can believe it–remember those times??). This makeover is packed with fairly easy DIY’s including an awesome art DIY and encapsulates Julie’s calming, nature-inspired style and personality. It’s such a serene space with so much warmth and soul. Our Bedroom Update (Also How I Feel About Having A TV In The Bedroom)In this bedroom refresh, Emily played around with new bedding, decor, and art PLUS revealed a controversial design decision: she put a TV in her bedroom. Definitely head to the comments section to see how everyone reacted to this bold move + read Em’s thoughts on why she made the switch. Okay, once you are done with the ~drama~ please note how good that bedding combo is!! I’ve always loved that blanket which brings just enough pattern and boldness to the space, while still keeping it calm and cohesive. It’s Time For Warmer, Pastel Inspired Gatherings with Target’s New Spring CollectionOh how I love a patio reveal. This one makes me want to jump through the screen and hang out with the lovely people in this shoot again but me being starved for human interaction aside, this pastel tablescape SENDS ME. It’s gorgeous and a real treat for my eyeballs. Sara’s Living Room & Dining Room RevealI remember anxiously awaiting this reveal. Sara and I have a similar living/dining room layout so I couldn’t wait to see how she and Velinda executed it. Of course, Velinda killed it and it’s actually one of my favorite reveals of this year. I love how she created a break between the two sections by using two armchairs facing the sofa, and the dining room table and chairs are to die for. Also, the color palette they went with makes the space feel so inviting and warm. I’m a huge fan. How To Make Your Smallest Room, The Coziest Room In Your Home + Sara’s TV Room RevealI have a serious love affair with dark and moody paint colors, so of course, I love this room. It probably subconsciously inspired my living room paint color decision that I am obsessed with, so for that I am forever grateful. Again, EHD alum Velinda designed this room which had a few design agonies/hurdles to overcome. But of course she nailed it and even designed a killer built-in shelf/media cabinet section that you must see. A Little One’s Mid-Century Magical Bedroom RevealThis bedroom is pure magic and there are so many exciting things to talk about here. I mean, can you believe that bedframe?? Or the mural wallpaper?? Or that PENDANT??? This is truly a fairytale bedroom for a little one and Julie did an incredible job designing it and bringing a 5-year-old’s vision to life:). Grab A Drink And Come Explore This EHD Stylist Alum’s Treasure Filled Living Room RevealI’d be shocked to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy Erik’s unique style and voice. This living room reveal actually inspired me in a lot of ways to simply go for it, take risks, and lean into my design instincts in my own home. I love the colors and all of the vintage items he’s collected over the years makes this room so special. It has so much soul and life and looking at these photos just reminds me of Erik’s incredible spirit and brings me so much joy. The Pink Dining Room Erik Designed BEFORE He Found His ApartmentThis is, of course, Erik’s dining room. No surprise there! It’s honestly so dreamy and glamourous, just like he is, and it makes a STRONG case for pink walls. Everything about it goes to show how talented and fearless he is, especially since he had been sitting on the vision for this room before he even moved into the apartment. Trust me when I say, you must give this room another look because it’s gorgeous and so, so fun. Living Room Update – AGAIN – Our New Sofa, My Dream Floral Chaise And The Pop Of Red I Always Wanted In My LifeIf you’ve been around here for a while, then you’ve certainly seen many iterations of Emily’s LA living room. It’s one of those rooms that she never felt looked “finished”, which goes to show that design discontentment can happen to anyone! This version involves a stunning floral chaise, new decor, and much-needed pop of red. It’s a real treat and reading about Emily’s design process is always so educational and exciting. How To Build A Backyard Lounge From Scratch For Less Than $1,000This little diddy happens to be Mallory’s design AND photography debut on the blog. It’s a little backyard oasis that she designed and styled for her boyfriend’s parents backyard which beforehand was bare and never used. She managed to make a space for them to actually use and enjoy AND kept her budget under $1,000. SHE’S A STAR, PEOPLE. REVEAL: Our Boy/Girl, 2-Twin Bed Shared Kids Room… With A HEAVY Dose Of Mama DramaWhen Emily’s kids, Charlie and Elliot, decided they wanted to share a room, Emily began envisioning what their boy/girl room would look like. Designing a boy/girl bedroom is not for the faint of heart and I know Emily went through a TON of trial and errors while designing this room. But of course she ultimately ended up with a room with so many fun patterns, colors, and a ton of charm. It’s such a cool bedroom that I think any kid would love. Styling To Sell: How We Staged Our Dining Room And Kitchen (With The Changes I Should Have Done Years Ago!)There is definitely a science to styling a house to sell and if you are like Emily, you might make changes that you wish you’d have done YEARS ago and fall in love all over again. (HOT TIP: pretend you are moving, style your home to sell, and then DON’T MOVE.) Anyway, this is Emily’s favorite version of her kitchen and dining room and I can totally see why. Like, oh man, those chairs. Who could not love those chairs?? Styled To Sell: Elliot’s “Bedroom” That No One Has Actually Slept In, But It’s Still Pretty Darn Dreamy…As you just saw above, Emily’s kids desperately wanted to share a bedroom which left Elliot’s room unattended. It was a makeshift office for a while, but in order to sell, Emily made it into a gorgeous pink filled guest room (that no one actually slept in..ha). This version of the room really accentuates the wall to wall windows and makes this room feel peaceful, which is perfect for a guest room. And who doesn’t love that wallpaper?? Styling to Sell – The FINAL Entry Reveal (That’s Real Estate Agent Approved)This entryway design came to be when Emily’s real estate agent asked, “Can you make the entry any lighter and brighter?” and of course Emily was like, “YES”. That rug is so perfectly bright and vintage and the dresser fits like a glove on the wall. I’d definitely fall for this home if this is the first thing I saw. My Secret Front Yard Is Finally RevealedYou all had never seen Emily’s front yard before because, well, that’d be kind of creepy to know exactly where she lives. So for obvious she kept this a secret until they knew for sure they were moving. But I am so glad you can see how beautiful it is now! It truly looks like a fairytale cottage and might be my favorite part of her LA home. Our Secret Closet Turned Play NookThis play nook is almost too cute. This was another reveal that stemmed from the styling to sell series and as it is actually a hall closet, it was actually used for storage purposes when they lived there. But imagine if it could stay a play nook?? That’d be so fun for a little one to play in and the slanted ceiling makes it all the more whimsical. Styling To Sell: The Playroom/Family Room And The 4 Lessons I Learned Along The Way…This is another room that has gone through many iterations over the years. That wall mural is so cute for a playroom obviously, but with that Article sofa and ottoman, it actually translates well into a family room space, too. The green sofa also keeps the room bright and fun but really, this room could be almost anything (which I think is why Emily played around with it so much :)). Our Guest Room/Office Basement Suite Reveal … + How To Make A Basement (Office) Feel Warm, Happy And FunctionalThis is the only “room” in Emily’s LA home that never made it’s way to the blog before. The basement was originally going to be an office space, but in order to style it to sell, Emily ended up making it into a guest room/office suite. It turned out SO GOOD and I’d gladly live here. Budget Basement Bathroom – The One Where We Tried To Not Spend Money… (And Now You Know Why)This bathroom also had never appeared on the blog before because Emily had been working on designing it for 2+ years but it kept being pushed down the priority list. When it finally came down to it, she wanted to make it as budget-friendly as possible because well, they would be moving anyway. It turned out GREAT and really rounds out the guest room/office suite. A Mid-Century Eclectic Living Room with Kilz Primer and Paint – The Dark Room Problem SOLVEDOh man, this reveal was probably one of my favorites of the year. It’s masculine yet polished, and just also extremely “grown up”. I really love the warm tones and pops of brass that make it inviting but sophisticated. Julie really knocked this one outta the park. Malcolm’s Deck Reveal: How He Created A Year-Round Outdoor SpaceThis was our first contributor reveal of the year, designed and written by the absolutely lovely and talented Malcolm Simmons. The design stemmed from his brilliant brain and vision to make it a semi-private year round space and it’s GOLD. One of Emily’s Best Friends Gets The Cozy Yet Sophisticated Bedroom Makeover She Really DeservesNow that I am ALMOST finished with my living/dining room makeover (expect a reveal in early 2021!!) I am now slowly moving my attention to my bedroom. This one Julie designed for Em’s best friend Suzanne is so dreamy and I will no doubt be referencing it once my bedroom design is underway. How To Design Your Bedroom For The Best Night SLEEP (+ Introducing Target’s New Casaluna Line)Ok, so this is a half reveal. Is this Sara’s primary bedroom? Yes. But was this her design and how it will look forever and ever? No. Sara let us use her bedroom to work some Target magic (which Bowser performed). So even though it’s kind of a ‘fake’ reveal, it’s still beautiful and deserves to be included. How Ajai Transformed Her Parent’s Dark And Cluttered Living Room Into Their Dream Minimalist Mid-Century Glam OasisI loved reading the story behind this room reveal. Ajai wanted to give her mom a comfortable and serene, and not at all dark hang out area since Ajai and her husband moved into the aforementioned “girl cave”. Again, the before and afters are NUTS and it is so satisfying to see the transformation. Ajai’s Back (With Some Big News!) + How To Make An Apartment Bedroom (Quickly) Feel Like HomeIn a sudden turn of events (pregnancy-related), Ajai and her husband moved into their own apartment but she wanted to create a beautiful and warm bedroom before her baby arrived. She designed her rental bedroom in record time and it’s SO good. MOTO REVEAL: Julie’s Anything But Beige, Amazing DIY Bathroom RefreshOur DIY queen Julie Rose does it again. Her rental bathroom was dreary, lacked personality and color. So she DIYed and styled it and transformed it into anything but boring. She actually HAND-PAINTED the walls to bring in some character and color. If I ever get to my bathroom makeover (ha), I will be revisiting this post for sure. Sara’s Haunted (But Happy) Halloween House with Affordable New and Vintage FindsOkay, mark my words, 2020 is the last year I don’t decorate for Halloween inside my home. Sara managed to decorate her home in such a cool and elevated way AND a lot of the decor are vintage from Ebay. The bats along the wall absolutely kill me and now I am team black cobwebs forever. It’s too good! Sara’s Closet Reveal – The Bold Design Moment She’s Been CravingThis is what closet dreams are made of, and folks if you want to go bold in your home but not sure where to start, a closet is a great place to try it out! Sara loves the way hers turned out and it satisfied the bold moment she was craving. Velinda’s First Freelance Client Reveal: Molding The ‘Builder-Grade Budget’ + Where They Saved & SplurgedVelinda’s first freelance client makeover completely blew us away (no surprise there) and this post is FULL of expert advice on where to splurge and where to save when you are working with a builder-grade budget. Velinda’s First Freelance Client Reveal Part II: Her 7 Expert Tips On Mixing A LOT Of The StylesI LOVE BOTH OF THESE ROOMS SO MUCH. Velinda nailed mixing a myriad of styles while making the spaces feel cohesive and special. I can’t get enough of that gallery wall and love how everything feels so bright, comfortable, and happy in both rooms. A Refresh Of Our Favorite “Child Client’s” – Bedroom 8 Years LaterOH MY. Can you imagine having this bedroom as a teenager? I love the very elegant and Parisian vibe happening here and that bed frame is STUNNING. I want to be this room when I grow up! Plus it’s a project very close to our hearts since Emily designed it the first time 8 years ago! Our Scandinavian (And Easy, Mess-Free) Holiday Living Room Reveal + How I Finally Figured Out My Biggest Styling Problem… And Solved ItThe mountain house living room never misses, and it’s basically the most ideal canvas for holiday decorating. It screams elevated cozy cabin so a Christmas tree and twinkling lights just add to the whimsy and coziness already present in the space. Emily’s “Messy” But FULL Of Memories Christmas Family RoomThis Christmas reveal is so fun and happy. I love that they decorated this tree with homemade and personal ornaments so it’s more cheerful and carefree. Head over to see how she transformed it into a family-friendly Christmas wonderland and see the most adorable family in matching plaid pj’s :). How Sara Created Her First Traditional But Youthful Christmas (With All Target)Okayyyyy Sara did some serious Christmas decorating this year and I am obsessed. She did an excellent job making this space feel elevated but not boring or stuffy. It’s youthful and bright and would be a perfect space to throw a holiday party if that was a thing (RIP all the 2020 holiday parties that never came to be..better luck next year right?). Sara & Mac’s Office/Guest Room Reveal – LOTS Of Function + Even More Color and StyleI love how Sara created this dual home office/guest room space for her and her fiancé Mac. They managed to make this feel like a space you can be productive in AND totally relax in. Plus, the paint color is everything and makes this room pop in the best way. What Happens When You Design Your Living Room and Then MOVE?? You Make It Work… Albie’s New Living Room Round One!In this post another lovely contributor, Albie, answers the age old question “What Happens When You Design Your Living Room and Then MOVE??”. The answer is, simply, you make it work but you must head over to see how she worked with what she had and made it a stunner. It’s bright and happy and we can’t wait for the official reveal when she’s able to do the big upgrades:) Lea Johnson’s Basement Reveal: Workspace by Day and Family-Friendly Living Room by NightI am head over heels for this room. Lea did an amazing job transforming her basement. into a space that can be used for multiple purposes (work, fight night, etc.). I love a wall to wall bookcase filled with books as it makes them space feel extra cozy and lived in. That sectional is also INCREDIBLE and brings in the perfect amount of color and life to the space. Orlando’s Totally Creative “Great For Now” DIY Guest Room – The FIRST Londo Lodge RevealWe couldn’t end the year without an Orlando reveal. Duh. This bedroom reveal is from his NEW home (rightfully named Lando Lodge) that he designed for when his parents stay. He has plans to renovate but in the meantime he wanted to create a space that felt beautiful and comfortable so this is what he came up that is a perfect and totally unique “for now” space. Shavonda’s Feel Good Makeover #1 – The Twin’s Room (Pure Joy ALERT)This feel good makeover with Target and Shavonda Gardner was definitely our favorite project of the entire year. Emily and Shavonda co-designed three Christmas bedroom makeovers for Shavonda’s niece and nephews over zoom and then the plan was to safely install and shoot the project together. Then there was a huge spike in Covid cases so it no longer felt safe or responsible to travel or work on a project indoors with 10+ people. SO, Shavonda did the bulk of this makeover on her own and it turned out SO. GOOD. and looking at the happiness on these kid’s faces is absolutely priceless. Shavonda Feel Good Makeover #2 – Devin’s Star Wars Themed BedroomHere is the second Target x Shavonda x EHD kids bedroom reveal that is Star Wars Christmas themed. How cool is that?? The wallpaper is honestly a game changer and I loved how they brought in the decorations but you can still see how awesome the room will be post-holiday season. Our Last Feel Good Bedroom Makeover This Year – A (Pre) Teen Jewel Box Of A RoomLast but not least, this pre-teen colorful and bright winter wonderland-esque bedroom reveal is so special. I love how it came together and am so impressed with how they were able to combine Ariyah, Shavonda’s niece’s, favorite color (neon yellow) with bright blues and teals and A SILVER TREE. It’s such a fun room and 12-year-old Ryann is a little jealous. Whew, if you’ve made it this far, thank you for joining and walking down memory lane with me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and just for fun, I’d love to know what your favorite reveal is. I’ll see you next year. xx The post All The Room Makeovers We Revealed This Year (You Won’t Believe How Many There Are..) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3aQmJdZ On the first Thursday of every month, I sit the team down and run them through the past month’s revenue. We start with advertising (basically how much each post was worth, the standouts, the flops, etc.) and continue on to partnerships (who’s helping us reveal more rooms!), but the REALLY fun part that we all look forward to the most is our product breakdown. (We also look forward to cheers-ing together, because the revenue meeting is also our monthly happy hour. Not to throw shade on anyone else’s meetings, but I lucked out with this time slot. We have a BLAST.) I kind of feel like a drama teacher putting up a cast list when I reveal the month’s top sellers – each person is credited for their picks and as we go through, item by item, there are LOTS of “yays!!!” and “great pick!!!” and “you have such good taste!!!” circling in the zoom. If this sounds very tender, it’s because IT IS But today, in the interest of transparency – and also because everyone else was writing their year-end roundup and I wanted to be included, too – I wanted to share with you the mega-ultra-list: our best sellers of ALL of 2020. As readers, you surprise me every month with your favorite pieces, and this roundup is no exception – items ranged from $3 to $2,900, so there was a BIG spread. Without further ado…here’s what you loved the most this year. 25. A Bold Kelly Wearstler LampIn true 2020 fashion, we’re starting off with a surprise item: these incredible statement lamps. (Stunning? Yes. One of the most expensive items on this list? Also yes.) We highlighted these in our Labor Day and Black Friday roundups – Burke Decor has awesome sales – and I am SO STOKED that some of you took advantage of the deals to bring these home for the holidays. Email us pics, please? 24. Our Go-To Graphic RugWhere haven’t we used this rug? You may recognize this piece from a 2019 makeover in Atlanta, but did you see how Bowser styled it in her space last month? To quote Bowser: “This rug is SO FUN and versatile. The stripes aren’t too orange, and the lighter ones have a little something to them.” This piece is simultaneously graphic and neutral and it can work anywhere – WE LOVE. 23. Caitlin’s Pet BedI bought this bed because my cat is permanently attached to my person and while that is VERY TENDER, it is also occasionally a little biiiit cumbersome. (And sometimes, it’s a lot cumbersome.) After eschewing every pet bed in the world, this was the first to reach lap-equivalent status, so I obviously had to sing the praises in a Link Up. My mom also ended up buying one of these for her dog – in his size, of course – and there’s something to be said for the anxiety-soothing properties. (Plus, all the photos on the listing are SO. DARN. CUTE.) 22. A Timeless (Human) BedFirst, a bed for your pet. Now, a bed for you! This piece is STUNNING – it’s American-made, signed by the craftsman, and like…get a load of those turned post legs. WOWIE. You can also grab one of these with a footboard if you want to double down on the modern-sleigh feeling. It’s such a solid, keep-forever, future-family-heirloom-style piece. Y’all have good taste 21. Classic Textured NightstandsOoooh, these are a dream – a little classic (that shape!), a little beachy (that woven texture!) and a little glam (those brass ring pulls!). These nightstands offer closed storage without being too visually heavy and they also come in a wheat and a fog color way, so they’re a natural fit for nearly any bedroom. 20. The Tan France and Etsy Collab2020 was the year of the Etsy collab and we LOVED IT. In case you missed it – basically, the site partnered celebrities with makers to release small capsule collections and EVERY DROP WAS SO GOOD. Tan’s collection was a standout – it did an awesome job of blending recent trends (i.e. squiggles) with grounding, traditionally “masculine” elements, like leather and stone. 19. The Tia Mowry and Etsy CollabFOUR ORDERS. There was only a FOUR ORDER difference between Tia and Tan’s collab. Wild. Her collection – which was the brand’s first, I think! – is sold out now (it was very well-curated), but here’s to hoping you were able to scoop something special from her page. 18. Jess’ Monthly PlannerJess linked up this small, $3 monthly planner back in February, writing, “Anyone else late to the 2020 planner game? Cool, so was Jess. She also finds that she never uses the daily section and just likes the month overview. So this year instead of spending at least $20 on a fancy planner, she went for this simple but cool monthly little fella.” If you’re still in the market, this feels very timely as we head into 2021 (!!!). 17. Sara’s Rattan Towel LadderYou saw this piece being used as a blanket ladder when we revealed Sara’s bedroom. JUST KIDDING, loyal pals – we only used her bedroom as a staging ground to highlight Target’s new Casaluna collection. (In addition to all the beautiful product shots, including that ladder, Em also wrote an insightful piece on how she actually designs and optimizes bedrooms for sleep – worth catching up on if you missed it the first time!) 16. A Step Stool for the KidsBoss says it the best, so I defer to her: “We’ve had this one step ladder that we bring from bathroom to kitchen back to bathroom and kitchen for both hand-washing and to help cook and it was driving me NUTS. We also didn’t have one in their bathroom and it’s time for them to start brushing their teeth at the sink, not us chasing them around and pinning them down in bed (lovingly). In LA I have one from Serena & Lily that I love, but I found one 1/3rd the price on Etsy that is equally as cute and comes in all black, white/wood, and all-natural wood. The stool schlep is over.” 15. Julie’s Cropped PantsNot to play favorites (she said, before absolutely playing favorites), but I was OBSESSED with this incredible makeover that we revealed this year. I was even more obsessed once I learned that the yellow pants Julie wore for her portraits made it into our top-sellers of the year. Like, it’s a beautiful makeover, done with a partner we loved working with, AND you even liked the fashion. As our revenue person, this is all I’ve ever wanted and I’m still so happy with how the whole thing turned out :’) 14. The Pillow Em Travels WithThis was the big seller from Em’s favorite household basics post. (There are SO many good things in there, so it’s always fun to see what the folks REALLY loved.) Em writes, “I thought that I was sleeping on a Brooklinen pillow. But before this post, I opened it up and realized it was Fieldcrest from Target. I remember thinking “yay, that’s affordable.” But then I looked up my exact make and model and realized it was $70…not so affordable. However, when you will fumble around in the middle of the night and even search your kid’s room, threatening to wake them up, just in case it was moved in there, well, then it might be worth it.” While this is currently out of stock, the Casaluna down pillows good dupes. 13. The World’s Cutest Wooden Music BoxesThese super-sweet custom music boxes were featured in Em’s Kid Gift Guide this year. They picked up steam FAST and turned into one of our best-selling pieces over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend, which means that y’all really loved them. She ended up scooping two – one for Charlie and one for Birdie – that she personalized with each of their names and the year. 12. Ryann’s Favorite $8 T-ShirtRyann rocks a white t-shirt better than anyone I’ve ever met and she definitely has the whole “cool French girl” thing going for her (RYANN ARE YOU READING THIS? I LOVE YOU!), so when she recommends a go-to tee, WE LISTEN. She linked this up last month and wrote, “I am involved in a deep love affair with plain white tees. I have one for every day of the week and I am VERY particular about what constitutes a good t-shirt in my eyes. Folks, I am so thrilled to let you know that this shirt from Target is a WINNER. It is the softest shirt I have ever put on my body (no, really), it’s the perfect sleeve length and torso length, and it is only $8!!! It runs a bit large so size down for sure (I am usually a Medium and I wear a small).” 11. Caitlin’s Rainbow ShortsI grabbed these on sale over the summer and y’all, they were a WINNER. High waisted, roomy legs, flattering, and they don’t do that thing where they ride up between your legs when you’re walking. (I have written about this phenomenon SO MANY TIMES on this site and no one has ever confirmed that this also happens to them, but like…it can’t just be me, right???) I can’t believe they’re still available (AND deeply discounted!) – highly recommend scooping for next summer. 10. The Henderson’s Indigo Face MasksAHH WAIT I’M SO EXCITED FOR THIS STORY. These masks made their blog debut when Em wrote about Birdie’s broken arm and y’all ended up FLOODING Jessica, the maker, with orders. She was able to hire a few more local seamstresses in her area to fulfill the orders (and this was back in April/May, right as a lot of people were being hit by furloughs and layoffs). The pandemic sucks, and Birdie breaking her arm is awful, but it’s wonderful that y’all were able to create some jobs. SO MUCH LOVE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, READERS. <3 9. An Office Chair That’s Actually BeautifulHere we have another Black Friday/Cyber Monday pick! After 8 months of making do with your makeshift setups, it seems that a whoooole lot of you used last month’s big sale weekend to upgrade your WFH situation. This leather chair has some special details (the wrapped arms!) and it nails the comfortable:beautiful ratio. 8. Charlie & Birdie’s RugAh, the rug from the most controversial reveal of 2020! It was technically too big for the space, but Em forged ahead and made it work for her shared kids’ room space. This lightly-textured indigo and cream rug is timeless and pretty much a neutral as it can work in SO MANY different rooms. If you brought this one home, how did you style it? 7. Malcolm’s Beveled Accent MirrorAH, WELCOME MALCOLM! We brought Malcolm onto the team this year as a contributor and while you loved his deck reveal and his spot-on men’s gift guide, you apparently REALLY loved this mirror he included in a link up right before Black Friday. We have even more original design content coming from him in 2021 (bedroom and closet reveal, anyone?) and CAN’T WAIT to share more of his great taste with you! 6. The Armchairs That Work EverywhereNo surprise to see our go-to accent chairs here. You’ve seen them in Em’s LA home and in the Mountain House (holding its own next to that vintage teak and leather rocker – no easy feat TBH), but they were a shining star in Chandler’s living room reveal earlier this year. (For those keeping track, that’s two hits from my favorite post of the year! AM I DREAMING?) These are such a great work-anywhere piece – they’re neutral enough to blend, but the curved wooden arm makes them a little special. 5. Em’s New Favorite ScentEm wrote about the under-$50 gifts that she bought for herself and others and boy, that post HIT – it’s such a universal scent (“My MIL was here and after she smelled it on me she basically begged for it for Christmas,” Em wrote) that we sold Nordstrom out of both the roller- and full-size perfumes. If you still want to try, they’re 20% off at one of our favorite home and decor stores right now 4. The Comforter We Never Stop Talking AboutYES – here’s another one from Em’s household basics post that got an extra boost after she continued to sing its praises in Erik’s first MOTO post. While we’re open to testing out all kinds of bedding, this is *the* duvet insert we cannot do without – it’s lightweight and comfortable AND it actually stays put inside a duvet. What more could we ask for? 3. Em’s Famous Coffee TableThis is the NUMBER ONE piece we get questions about – it’s been the centerpiece of the Mountain House living room and it’s so good. Actually, Bowser said it best in this living room post, so I’ll quote her here: “I love a coffee table that’s not a rectangle. Ovals are usually the most versatile. Generally – and I mean, it depends – couches are more squared, so when you’re looking at a space, you want to think about differing your textures and differing your shapes. Here, the sofa is a rectangle, the chaise is a rectangle, the rug is a rectangle, the room is a rectangle – it just gives a different flow. So I do love this coffee table – the white top, the wood bottom, the black iron legs. It’s versatile, a good size, and a good shape. There’s a lot of styling capabilities. I get why Em picked it for her own home.” 2. Jess’ Universally-Loved Madewell JeansLast week, Jess wrote about her surprise post hits and misses. Today, I’m here to tell you about my biggest surprise hit: this jeans post, which blew up. HOLY LORD, Y’ALL. In all honesty, I had to amend this post to remove all the other denim because otherwise it would have been like, 9 consecutive pairs of jeans, which probably would have been a less interesting read. SO MANY PAIRS OF PANTS WERE PURCHASED. The real winner, though, was Jess’ 10″ rise skinny jean, which made our best seller list for THREE MONTHS IN A ROW. (Did you scoop any jeans from that post? Did you like the selfie format?) 1. Mallory’s Holiday Dream DressAND WOW. Seeing this dress surge ahead was like watching a horse sprint from behind at the Kentucky Derby. (My mom rides horses – MOM IS THIS A GOOD ANALOGY?) In any case, Mal shared this in a link up pre-Thanksgiving, citing its sweet print, flowy shape, and pockets (!!!) and I have never seen something pick up steam so fast. And not only did we sell a lot of these – it also became the highest-grossing item we’ve ever had on the site. EVER. In a matter of weeks!!! It was such an incredible way to close the year. AND THERE YOU HAVE IT. Any surprises? Upon review, I wonder if any of you are taken back by the number of fashion and beauty items – I know those posts can be very polarizing (our comments tend to be an even split between “yes, more fashion content ASAP please” and “I never want to see you talk about clothing ever again!!!”) so it’s nice to share the actual data we’re seeing on our end to inform our editorial calendar. But all that being said…did you bring home any of these pieces this year? (And seriously…can you BELIEVE those gorgeous $700 lamps from #25 made the list? There are secret postmodernists in our midst!!!) Anyway – let’s chat, you stylish and wonderful folks. Happy last Monday of the year!!! xx The post Because It’s Fun And SO Interesting – The Top 25 Most Purchased Items Of 2020 appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2WOG4nx Hi everyone! Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday. We still have one more holiday coming up (New Years wahooo!) and I think we’re all excited to bid 2020 adieu. Hope everyone stays safe & merry this week! Now let’s get to it This week’s home tour is a VERY fun one brought to us by Lonny Mag. When we saw it, it totally reminded us of Caitlin, so we had to share. Corrin Arasa, founder of Patina Rentals, is NOT afraid of color in the best way. Her approach to using strong pops of color is just so good. So do yourself a favor and check it out (you don’t wanna miss this one). From Emily: The kinda dumb but super fun ‘new years lights’ that the kids are obsessed with (and admittedly I love them, too). They are $30 for 8 and they each need 2 AA batteries, but once they are on you can hang them like mini chandeliers around your house (doorways, over your island, etc). We might hang a few outside since we are doing a scavenger hunt. Like the curtain string lights that I convinced a lot of you to buy, I was skeptical, but they are fun and reusable (you just comb them all back straight). The only bummer is that A. they have remotes that make them do 8 crazy settings that the kids are OBSESSED with and some of them are seizure-inducing and B. they are battery operated which means of course you can put them anywhere, but not sure how long the batteries will last. Regardless 3 of them hanging over our peninsula between the kitchen/living room is giving us a nice shift from “Christmas” to “new years” because nothing else is going to this year!!! From Caitlin: If you’re trapped inside with family and unsure of what to watch now that the holidays are over, might I suggest Ted Lasso? This was HANDS DOWN my favorite show of the year, so I forced my mom to sit down and re-watch it with me a few weeks back. For context: Brenda and I are both blessed with very good sleep genes and we’re usually conked out on the couch by 8:30 most nights (like mother like daughter), but we stayed up til midnight and cranked through all 10 episodes in one go. HIGH PRAISE FROM TWO SLEEPY LADIES. There’s so much heart, it’s laugh out loud funny, and Jason Sudeikis is a national treasure (though I guess it’s probably PG-13ish, just to be safe). From Albie: Every small space needs a retractable clothesline — whether it’s because you have a small laundry room like me but still want to have a place to hang things or you need more hanging space for your plant babies in your studio apartment. It’s super chic, super cute, and super compact. The triple super C’s. I was torn between the brass & the black for the laundry room, but if I could justify putting one in every room, I would make a case for every single color they offer. I may or may not currently be eyeballing the white for the mini’s room. From Ryann: I am going through a phase where I want everything to be linen. Does this happen to anyone else??? I want linen sheets, tablecloths, napkins, clothes, EVERYTHING. I love the natural look of it and the fact that linens are always a bit wrinkled. It’s so romantic! Anyway, what started this obsession is this etsy shop. They make really simple yet elegant linen basics and I basically want to swap all my clothes for everything they sell. From Jess: I keep seeing this AirPods chain and I want it more every time it pops up. It’s the 2021 version of the reading glasses chain but WAY cooler. Plus it’s just practical! Keeping those Pods together is a daily struggle. Has anyone tried these? Also From Jess: In my quest to find the right skincare routine, I was told to not combine too many “active ingredient” products on my face at once. So when I apply my retinol serum at night, I use this moisturizer. It’s highly moisturizing, clean, and vegan. I’m still learning about all the ins and outs of skincare but all in all my sensitive skin really loves this product. Plus it’s made in California! From Arlyn: What I’m about to say is going to sound obnoxious, but stick with me: My hair is already pretty smooth and shiny (BARF), but I’ve been spotting tons of people talking about this “Wonder Water” and I couldn’t help but try it. Okay, they were right. They were allll right. Application is a little strange but it’s fast and you’re left with silky, glossy tresses once you dry your locks. Anyone else use this before?!? From Mallory: 2 things. I went to Ulta recently (I had a gift card that I accidentally left at home and didn’t realize it until I was at checkout paying…what’s new), and I finally gave in and bought the self tanner Em always talks about. The verdict is: IT’S GOOD. I also got this 1 hour tanning kit too that came with the tanning mitt (because you really do need the tanning mitt) which is great when you wanna be tan but don’t have a lot of time on the clock. I’m wildly impatient so I value an express tan a lot hahaha. That’s all we got for this week, folks. Thanks for sticking around and we hope everyone has a very happy new year!! MERRY ALMOST 2021!!! Opening Image Credit: Design by Corrin Arasa | Photography by Angel Tucker for Lonny | via Lonny Mag The post The Link Up: The “New Year’s Lights” Emily’s Kids Are Obsessed With, Jess’ Vegan Moisturizer, & The Hack Every Small Space Needs appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3hpi8k7 There are all sorts of metrics and data that we have for every post but what we care most about is the fact that you all dedicated time to read all the way through (THANK YOU) – and this we can tell by average ‘time on site’. It’s like an artist selling a painting or a furniture maker selling a chair – these words are our ‘product’ and when they actually get read, we feel really really good. So these are the top ten ‘longest time on site’ posts which is different than most highly trafficked or even ‘popular’. These have nothing to do with google or any algorithm – just good old fashioned ‘reading’ and almost all of these are very personal. In many ways some of these are our favorite posts of the year. 10. The True Cost Of Moving Into A New Neighborhood, Sorry I Mean Gentrification . . .I LOVED Sara’s honest post about her buying her home in a gentrifying neighborhood (and what you can do to not be part of the problem while still trying to get into the market with your first home). 9. Our Guest Room/Office Basement Suite Reveal … + How To Make A Basement (Office) Feel Warm, Happy And FunctionalBasements HIT this year – especially office/guest room basements for obvious reasons. I loved how ours turned out, after 3 years of living with it as a storage room we styled it right (just to sell it). OH and the house is going BACK on the market in January (we wanted to do some repairs that came up in inspections during both escrows). So if you know anyone… 8. REVEAL: Our Boy/Girl, 2-Twin Bed Shared Kids Room… With A HEAVY Dose Of Mama DramaI’m so glad you guys loved our kids room – I LOVE it even though the kids have never actually slept in it. We are taking all of that to Oregon (even though now that I think of it we’ll likely do full beds in their non-shared rooms…). 7. The Hendersons Are Homeschooling… On Our Own (Here’s The “Plan” Or What We Really Hope Will Happen)I’m a little surprised about this, but at the same time as a pandemic mom, I would read the crap out of someone else’s home school situation. An update: we found part time childcare 9 am – 12/1 pm a few times a week and she is GREAT with having them do reading/writing/math in the morning then Brian and I share afternoons with them for cooking class, PE, and lots of nature. Some weeks are fine, some aren’t but we know that so many other parents with less flexibility/privilege are struggling so hard so there is no complaining from me (publicly anyway). We are VERY excited for in person school to start in the fall. 6. Like Most Guys, I Didn’t Want To Go To Therapy. I Did, And It Saved My Marriage.That man is the best and this year he’s just gotten more and more open. He’s made it his own personal goal to normalize guys going to therapy with all our friends and his family by just talking so openly and frequently about it. 5. All The “Hows”, “Whys” And “How Much’s” Of The Turf At The Mountain House + Introducing My Landscape Designer – Brian HendersonI had no idea that you guys would love reading about turf so much! Update – we love it and I just wish I had done it around the now hot tub and made the fire pit area smaller, but oh well 4. Happy 10 Year Anniversary, Brian (Plus a 20 Year First Date Anniversary Update)Like me, you all love getting inside other people’s relationships (have you guys seen the Showtime show called ‘Couples Therapy’?? It is just that and it’s on Hulu now and totally addictive and real and sad and hopeful). In this post, I wrote about our ups and downs over the last 20 years (spoiler, after some downs + therapy the last 4 years have been the happiest we’ve ever been, we aren’t ‘cured’ but we’ve finally figured some things out!). 3. Caitlin’s Roller Coaster House Hunting Saga Continues…Oh yah, I was riveted by this post. Caitlin is such a funny writer with such a great voice and her saga was THRILLING. You HAVE to read it. 2. Why I Went Back To Church (Even Though I Don’t Know If I Believe In “God”… Yet)One of the big things that I’ll miss when we move to Oregon (besides friends) is this church we found. It’s so accepting and inspiring (all due to an amazing pastor, pastor Kyle who is in AA and is just so nonjudgemental, open, vulnerable, and funny!). If you live in LA and are curious about a Christian church where I didn’t even have to believe in a the traditional Christian God to feel accepted and to learn so much about myself and the world, Silverlake Presbyterian Community Church on Hyperion is wonderful. I looked forward to it every week, which I didn’t know was possible. Brian even loves it and he’s totally agnostic – so that says a lot. When the world opens up I hope the kid’s nursery that I designed actually gets some use!! I actually need to finish it now that I think about it. Anyway, I didn’t want to advertise the church before for privacy reasons but now that we are leaving LA I’d love for that sweet place to grow (Kyle just started there a couple of years ago). Tell him ‘Hi’ for me 1. We Are Moving!!! But To Where???It’s hard to resist a major life update post and many of you read the heck out of this. We announced we are moving back home to Oregon and in the new year you are going to hear about where, what, and when it’s all happening (we finally closed on the property two weeks ago). It’s all VERY exciting on every level. Those of you renovating are going to want to watch the blog this year – a ton of major reno content coming at you soon!!!! Thanks again so much for reading this year. We hope that these more personal posts kept you entertained or distracted from what was certainly a challenging year for us all at home. xxx The post The Top 10 Posts That You All Read The Heck Out Of This Year appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3nPWkAP WE MADE IT. Despite the fact that we started decorating November 1st the holidays once again FLEW so fast and here we are – with too many presents to wrap, meals to prep and movies to watch (I’m WAY behind and have a lot of catching up to do over break, thanks Caitlin for the movie roundup). Every woman/mom out there I know is dripping with exhaustion and ready for an excuse to watch good/bad movies, cuddle with literally anything and maybe just stare at a wall while, say, a 5 year old performs ‘salon’ on her head (it’s a pretty great manipulation tactic to get your kids to play with your hair for 1/2 hour). 2020 was transformative both personally and universally and my self reflection muscle is pulsing with excitement to analyze the year, but I’m staving it off, making it wait just a few more days so I can figure out how to zoom with Santa and make my own egg nog. Christmas this year will be different for everyone – some being able to isolate and insulate, and others having to work hard to help our country heal, both preventatively and frantically. If you work in healthcare, THANK YOU. I want to give a HUGE THANKS to my incredible team who adapted quickly and helped us survive in the digital world (and made working still fun). I’m talking to you Jess, Caitlin, Mal, Ryann for being here and working so hard with a positive attitude. And they weren’t alone – all of our contributors, both former EHD (that all still work together – I could cry – Sara, Julie, Veronica, Velinda, Orlando, Erik, Emily B. and Arlyn) and new contributors Lea, Albie, Rashida, Malcolm, Ajai and Key. Collectively they have really helped me transform this from an unsustainable personal blog to a more dynamic community supported site with a wide variety of daily content. My team and all our contributors have made this a place I truly look forward to coming every day to read, laugh, learn and get inspired and we have much more in store for 2021. THANK YOU EHD FAMILY. And lastly THANK YOU, our readers who have hung with us loyally through what has been inarguably one of the most challenging years of your/our lives, perhaps in recorded history. I’m fully appreciating how much time I get with my family, while my kids are so young and actually WANT to hang out with me, but BOY are we excited to move to Portland and start school next year. Speaking of … We closed on our property in Oregon this week (phew) and after some fun new years roundup posts (most popular blog posts, most pinned photos, etc) we’ll come back in 2021 with two big project launches (not immediately, but expect early January). Who knows what 2021 has in store for us all but with a vaccine and a new president the EHD team and my family are feeling very hopeful that things are looking up. Regardless we’ll be here to distract, relate, commune, and support you and each other. I might even try to entertain you with my ‘lash journey’ and Brian keeps threatening to write about his SIX NEW TATTOOS and ongoing hilarious midlife crisis that led him to tracking down his 1980’s high school truck, amongst design content of course. Also y’all, I’m going to need some advice on chickens and alpacas and yes, that is a hint on where my family is headed next year. More to come in 2021 so for now, have a happy, happy, happy holiday and consider this one huge hug from my family and the EHD family to you and yours. Thank you for being here. Seriously. Thank you. xxxxxxxxxxx Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Our Scandinavian (And Easy, Mess-Free) Holiday Living Room Reveal + How I Finally Figured Out My Biggest Styling Problem… And Solved It The post Happy Holidays From My Family And The EHD Team…And A Big THANK YOU. appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3hhaMPv Netflix Holiday Originals Reviewed And Ranked By Someone Who Has Actually Watched Them All12/23/2020 Guys, my mind is a steel trap of Netflix Christmas original movies. And, well, usually all the knowledge about fake countries that sound like supplements and or Vanessa Hudgens’ rise as *the* holiday rom-com star of the decade is pretty much worthless…but not today. For one day only, this knowledge is relevant and useful and I am READY to help you pick the films that will set the scene for the next three days. Now, this is a personal film ranking, so here are the parameters:
In any case, I’ve done my best and I’d love to hear your picks, too. Let us begin… 22. A Christmas Prince: The Royal BabyVibe: Straight-to-VHS sequel of 90s smash hit movie ANYWAY, I will tell you that it’s about a pair of royals who have to renew a truce, but the document is stolen, the thief is trapped inside the palace after a snowstorm, and then a curse threatens their baby, but that actually kind of makes it sound interesting. Overall, it’s fine. If you’re looking to binge something for a few hours, you could do worse than the 3 films that encapsulate this nice little royal romance, but it’s not really a must-see. 21. The Princess Switch: Switched AgainVibe: “Oh no, there’s too much going on here” There are just so many weird things not addressed in this sequel. Like, your best friend is in love with your doppelganger and it doesn’t affect your relationship at all? You have marriage troubles that get cleared up in 30 seconds? Folks go on ONE date and then get married? The fact that THREE WOMEN look exactly the same despite not really being related and everyone in this country is just like, “ah yes, totally normal, of course that happens all the time.” All this being said: this is fun to chirp at with friends and family, but you’re not going to walk away being like, “WOW WHAT AN INCREDIBLE HOLIDAY FILM!” 20. Operation Christmas DropVibe: “Military history in gentle romance” – Common Sense Media It’s a beautiful location, it features a powerful woman in a lead role (she’s in charge of deciding whether or not this project gets shut down!), and it’s nice to see a ton of people trying to help others, buuuuuuut…something about it really rubs me the wrong way and I’m still having trouble putting my finger on it. Maybe it just feels a little savior complex-y? Anyone else? 19. Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the SquareVibe: Kind of like if Dolly Parton made the Muppets Christmas Carol on the Wizard of Oz set. All that said, I feel like Dolly may have made a classic – it’s just not one for me right now. Like, maybe I just needed something hopeful and was not expecting her to star in a film about a woman evicting everyone from their home as the country faces an enormous eviction crisis? I could probably see this sitting alongside the Muppets Christmas Carol – it has that same sort of campy spirit – but I’ll actually need to stay awake through it to confirm. WOOPS. 18. Free Rein: 12 Neighs of ChristmasVibe: If you were REALLY into the Babysitter’s Club, you’d probably like this. Should you actually watch this one if you’re an adult and alone? Eh. But if you have a child or pre-teen who’s looking for their very own Christmas movie, this may check the box. I leave you with my favorite review from Google, which made me snort from laughing so hard: “AMAZING MOVIE IT WAS HORSEOME” 17. Christmas InheritanceVibe: HALLMARK. CLASSIC. But wait: GIRLFRIEND IS ALREADY ENGAGED. And for some reason, despite this being a feel-good movie, we like…never really address that she’s kind of flirting with the idea of cheating on her fiance within HOURS of meeting the hot innkeeper. (Of course, it wraps itself up in a neat little bow). I guess there’s a little more spice here than the normal holiday movie, so it’s pretty fun – worth a watch if you have some time this year. 16. El Camino ChristmasVibe: For some reason, I am convinced that dads will LOVE this – it’s not overtly Christmas. This is a classic for me – it fills a pretty special niche, so I’ve enjoyed bringing it back year after year – but it’s definitely not for everyone. #16 on the list, #2 in my heart of hearts. 15. Let It SnowVibe: 90s teen movie about high school seniors ~living life~ It’s sweet, basic, escapist teen love with a surprisingly diverse cast (like, dang, well done Netflix) and I’m actually pretty sure that Em would enjoy this as a guilty pleasure. EMILY, PLEASE WATCH AND RELAY YOUR THOUGHTS, YEAH? 14. KlausVibe: High-brow cartoons (like, it was nominated for an Oscar – it’s legit). There are a ton of great one-liners about the meaning of friendship and the value of selfless acts and obviously it’s all combined together in this surreally animated package. (As a side note, the animation kinda reminds me of Anastasia except BETTER, which is really saying something. Watch with your whole family!). 13. A Very Murray ChristmasVibe: INDIE INDIE INDIE. If you are (or know) a hipster, this is the movie for you. That said, the cast and crew speak for themselves: Sofia Coppola directed, Bill Murray stars, and there’s a who’s who of celebrity appearances – George Clooney, Amy Pohler, Michael Cera, Chris Rock, Miley Cyrus, Jason Schwartzman…GOOD LORD. I could go on but there are literally too many celebrities to mention. It’s simple (there’s a snowstorm in NYC and Bill Murray is worried no one will make it to his TV show in time) and short (under an hour) but it’s a fun watch and you can tell that it was made with love by folks who genuinely enjoy each other’s company. I do not know why this isn’t more famous. 12. The Christmas ChroniclesVibe: The Santa Clause but 2020 and with a better Santa. But truly, what a sweet story. A “true believer” gets to meet the actual Santa (she ends up climbing into his sleigh with her older brother) and they end up having to save Christmas. (As one would expect. As a spoiler, they also get to save Christmas in the sequel. The elves are SO CUTE, the story is full of heart, and just to reiterate: Kurt Russell is AWESOME and brings enough adult humor to make it fun for the whole family). 11. A Christmas Prince: The Royal WeddingVibe: The Prince and Me, cold feet and all. ANYWAY. Amber gets cold feet and worries that she’s not ready to be queen of a small country. Fair enough! Will she make it through to the wedding? OF COURSE. It’s formulaic and comforting and a decent sequel. 10. A California ChristmasVibe: The classic Christmas rom-com with a twist (that’s an alcohol joke, because wine country). Also, I just learned that this is a real-life couple, so they actually do have great chemistry. A nice, classic holiday rom-com with a not-cliche farm background – I’ll take it. 8. Holiday in the WildVibe: Charlotte (of SATC fame) does Eat, Pray, Love. There’s a little bit of tension (who is this mysterious blonde woman competing for Derek’s heart?!?) but it’s a slow build peppered with SO MANY very, very, very cute baby elephant shots and scenes. Will they end up together? Will they save the elephants? I’m sure you can guess!!! 9. The Holiday CalendarVibe: Kinda like About Time, in that there’s some magic and love going on. Ron Cephas Jones is SUCH a star (you may recognize him from his role on This Is Us). You will leave this film WISHING that you had a wise grandfather who could give you magic stuff and guide you to the right partner for Christmas. 7. A Christmas PrinceVibe: The Princess Diaries 2. Like, beat for beat. Watching critically, I love imagining what an absolutely BAD king Richard would be. He spent a year shirking his responsibilities, he blows his only two major commitments, and he ends the week by (spoiler!) proposing to a women he’s barely known for SEVEN DAYS. But hey, it’s Christmas, and it’s cheesy, and it’s the film that really LAUNCHED the holiday rom-com on Netflix, so…it gets a pass. I love it despite the flaws. 6. The Christmas Chronicles 2Vibe: Like kids get thrown into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, except Willy Wonka is nice and not murderous. We see Belsnickel – in this film, he’s a former elf that is more “disgruntled teen” than “Dwight Schrute in rags” – attempt to hijack Christmas as his own holiday; we see a kid grappling with her dad’s passing while saving Christmas; we see an anxious little boy learning to be courageous; and maybe most importantly, we see SO MUCH sweet love between Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as Mr. and Mrs. Claus! Please cast them in these roles in every Christmas movie moving forward, THANKS. 5. The Princess SwitchVibe: A little Parent Trap, a lot of Prince and the Pauper, plus holiday But also, who hasn’t dreamed of swapping places with someone for a while? And like, hey, it’s a bonus if the person with whom you swap 1. is royal and 2. leads you to meet a handsome prince. Cheesy, formulaic, and basic shenanigans ensue – it’s the exact kind of comforting and predictable film we NEED during crazy holiday seasons. 10/10! Okay now that we’ve made it to the final four, I am giving you trailers so you are even more enchanted to watch… 4. HolidateVibe: A traditional rom-com where Christmas is a side-note. Two people agree to be each other’s dates for a whole year. We see Christmas. We see New Years. We see St. Patrick’s and 4th of July and all the other ones, too. And of course…they come full-circle and they fall in love, because DUH. In a year without cheesy rom-coms, this scratched an itch. Does it really deserve to be #4, or am I just in lust with the novelty? We’ll find out next year, I guess. (Although this does have some good staying power for future holidays – any thoughts on whether or not Netflix will re-promote this around Valentine’s Day? Let’s take bets). 3. The Knight Before ChristmasVibe: Like if Kate and Leopold was a Hallmark special. My mom and I had to pause the movie on our first watch as we laughed so hard we were crying. Where are this woman’s friends?! Instead of being like, “girl, no, that dude needs professional assistance,” they’re like, “WOW, he’s perfect, his only flaw is that he thinks he’s a time-traveling knight!” AS IF THAT ISN’T AN ENORMOUS DEALBREAKER. It’s so good, and so bad, and so funny, and my personal favorite Christmas classic. Give Vanessa Hudgens an Oscar for this. She is the Mariah Carey of holiday originals. 2. Jingle JangleVibe: Greatest Showman meets Christmas meets Wall-E. I’m assuming you’re a fan of interiors, so you’re in for a treat – the set design on this film is EXTRAORDINARY. Actually, the whole thing is stunning – the costumes, the makeup, the choreography, the soundtrack…SO GOOD. It’s also super empowering for kids (they save the day!) and Keegan-Michael Key is so fun to watch as a Jafar-style villain. LOVE. 1. Alien XmasVibe: Classic claymation goes 2020. It’s silly, fun, a quick watch, and good for the whole family – I can see folks coming back to this one year after year. Despite my initial impressions, Alien Xmas has longevity – maybe consider swapping out one of the classic Rankin/Bass films for this Netflix original this year. OKAY, PLEASE TELL ME YOUR FAVORITES. I know this is a long one – thank you for meeting me down here – but I have so many of these thoughts floating around in my head and this is truly the ONLY TIME of year that I can finally talk about them!!! Have you watched Alien Xmas? Did I do Dolly dirty by throwing her so high in the list? Anyone have another take on one of these? Bueller?!?!? In any case, I hope you have a WONDERFUL holiday, no matter what films you end up watching. xx Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Emily’s “Messy” But FULL Of Memories Christmas Family Room The post Netflix Holiday Originals Reviewed And Ranked By Someone Who Has Actually Watched Them All appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3hcjpek I keep getting these photos popping up in my feed that make me stop and be like, wait, is that….?? Last October (over a year ago) Lulu and Georgia asked to rent our house for a location for their catalog for two days. It was sitting empty that week I was like ‘yah go for it’ (they paid a location fee obviously). Every day people text me saying ‘wait, is that your house?’ So I figured I’d show you guys and write about my feelings real quick. And no, this is not sponsored by Lulu and Georgia – just a fun post about renting out my house for a location shoot. Wreath | Lumbar Pillow | Rug | Credenza The one above (on the right) took me a while to figure out where it was in the house. It’s wild how used to shooting and seeing certain angles that you literally don’t even recognize your own house. Sectional | Lumbar Pillow | Knit Throw | Ottoman | Rug | Coffee Table | Candlestick | Stockings And this one of the living room made me want a bigger sectional. I was complaining the other day on the insider community that our modular sectional keeps coming apart likely because the kids play with the pieces like they are blocks and my monthly carpet taping them back together is getting old. And then Brian told me that it’s too low for him to sit on and that he ‘actively avoids sitting on it’. So when I saw this sectional above in our living room I was SO JEALOUS. And yes, btw I’m going to likely sell ours if you are interested. It’s awesome, just don’t have kids that jump on it all day. Left Photo: Sofa | Rug | Coffee Table | Candle | Candleholder | Right Photo: Sofa | Rug | Knit Throw | Stockings | Candlestick So cozy and now I’m wondering if I need garland up the railing… Rug | Dining Table | Dining Chair | Candlestick | Credenza | Stockings It’s truly SO weird (in a cool way) to have a room you associate with one purpose be staged as something totally different. This shot actually kind of got me excited about future (and safer) times when we can maybe have a huge Thanksgiving here. We would probably need to make this a big dining area, right?? Man I want that to happen someday. It would be so fun. I think we all need to take a moment to appreciate this wood. The movement is so good. With any sectional in this room, this window setup wouldn’t happen but I do like it:) All of the colors are pretty but I still vote for a light and neutral sofa. What do you think? Bed | Knit Throw | Rug | Nightstand | Lamp So fun fact. That bed is our actual bed and is from Lulu and Georgia. It’s so beautiful in person. I also really like the rug and chair but for me, they would feel a little too modern traditional for the overall feel for this house which obviously isn’t the point of a catalog shoot. For them, it’s about creating awesome vignettes. I actually love those chairs with our table (I like how the back is taller – our back is basically the same height as our table, which I can’t tell is a good or bad thing.) Bed | Rug | Nightstand | Waffle Blanket | Throw Blanket When I stumbled on this one on Instagram it took my breath away and while I know that it can’t be my bedroom (and I love my bedroom) it is just so dreamy. So that’s most of the shots but in case you are wanted to compare how I styled these spaces vs them – we did some fun side by sides. This is why design and styling are so cool and can actually transform a space. MY OFFICEI want to be in both of these spaces. If only I could click my heels 3 times when I needed a 5-minute break from work and flip the rooms. Also, update! I’m working from here again now that we have a much better routine in place with the kids (which makes me very happy because I love those windows). LIVING ROOMLulu and Georgia dining on the left, our living room on the right – so fun to see!!! and now I wish I had a bigger tree. Again, we need a bigger sectional because I love how this looks. DINING ROOMIt’s also interesting to see the different lighting used in photography. Their photographs are warmer (on the left), and ours are much ‘cooler’. I like both! DOWNSTAIRS GUEST ROOMNot only is it super fun to see my house styled differently and compare the design (like do I need bigger nightstands in there? (p.s. yes, but I’m not going to). So hope this was as fun for you as it was for me:) Would love to hear your thoughts! xx *Styling by Lulu and Georgia The post How I Felt About Seeing My Home Styled For The Lulu & Georgia Catalog appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3pkWIav Emily thought it would be fun to let you all in on a bit more of our editorial world by examining what posts knocked it out of the park and which ones didn’t. I mean why not?! We think it’s pretty interesting:) Let’s start off by saying that truly every post is in some way “a gamble” in terms of success. There have been posts that we were sure would be a hit because they were great reveals or posts that y’all had asked for. But then publish day comes and well, maybe they weren’t a flop per se but definitely not the banger we had anticipated. Sometimes these “flops” are due to things totally out of our control like the time of year, politics, weather (not kidding), major world events, etc. But other times, they may not have resonated because of the title, opening photo, the actual content. All of it is good for us to learn from because we want is to give you what YOU want. Something that also comes into play is… Google. We aren’t the type of people or company that cater to Google trends. Why? Well, for me, the special sauce to EHD is that we talk to you about what is happening in our lives (both design and personal) and those things aren’t always trending but are super relatable to you which then strengthens our really awesome connection. We’re just romantics are the core:) But sometimes these topics are trending which is when the internet stars align and we get a Google pickup that brings up our numbers usually by a lot. We never know what’s going to get a pickup but it’s always exciting. If anyone knows that secret codes we are alllll ears:) So let’s go through this year’s big hits and unfortunate misses and see if we can make sense of them. After you… THE SHOCKING MISSESThe UPDATED Ultimate Budget Living Room Furniture RoundupThis was a HUGE success the first time around for obvious reasons. Who doesn’t want to see what affordable furniture options out there?? But the second time around I think maybe it felt less special? It was only one month into the pandemic which was understandably a very difficult time for most households. So while the intention was to give you affordable options to make your home feel really good in a scary time, it’s more than understandable the appetite and ability to buy a new piece of furniture wasn’t there. My Favorite AFFORDABLE Spring Dresses (all with pockets)To be honest this one mistifies me a little bit. In the past, our “affordable dresses” posts have always big hit. And this one was pocket focused. POCKETS. I have two thoughts. 1. We might have just jumped the gun a little on this one posting it in late February. It’s such a delicate balance of not posting too early but not too far “in the season” that most everything is sold out. 2. We didn’t have any new photography. This one is hard because we want to do fun fashion posts that don’t create unnecessary purchases and returns but we also know that new photos are obviously really exciting. What do you all think? The Most Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Places You Can Shop For Furniture Right NowThe unfortunate truth of sustainable furniture right now is that outside of thrifting (which has been tricky this year) and a couple of awesome new decor companies, it’s $$$$. So there is currently a disconnect between wanting to support newer sustainable furniture brands and the reality of affording them. I think that’s what happened here. I know we all want to buy sustainably but in a pandemic when thrifting isn’t as easy as it used to be and shipping sustainable furniture is typically pretty expensive, it feels dim. So if you can afford to be sustainable PLEASE DO IT and thrift safely if you can. But if not just purchase with intention and look at this post because it’s great. Kids Play Clothes: Hacks, Ways To Save + Some Basics Our Kids LoveEvery year we do a fun survey getting info about you and what you’d like to see. Guess what? About half of our readers are parents! So since we get a lot of kid clothes requests (and they are usually big sellers when we do promote) we thought that a post about budget-friendly hacks during a financially hard time would be really helpful and a big hit. Well, it didn’t. It’s a mystery but regardless it didn’t hit the mark and that’s ok:) The 15 Reveals You Might Have Missed But NEED To See (Consider This A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up:))These reveal roundup posts are another type that typically do really great. I mean who doesn’t love awesome reveals?? So with this one, it could have been the end of the year timing and being just a little too close to Christmas when people’s attention is elsewhere. Maybe the title felt a little too thirsty? Who knows?! Do you? hah Starter Tool Kit Guide: The Basic Tools You Should Have in Your Home (Plus Our Go-To Power Tools)I don’t know if I would call this one a miss but we thought it would be bigger. It was such a great and thought out post, but likely a lot of you already have a decent amount of tools since you are design lovers so it wasn’t actually a great post for our audience. Maybe more niche tools would be helpful? The Definitive EHD Paint Post Round Up (And Why This Is The Perfect Time To Paint)Paint posts also typically do really well for us because most people are brave enough to pick up a paintbrush and get to work (plus it’s affordable). But despite the ease of having all of our paint posts (recs, trends, and styles) in one place, with ones you probably forgot about, this didn’t tickle the masses’ fancy. But again that’s okay. We are here to make your lives easier and hopeful you will bookmark it for your next paint adventure:) THE SURPRISE HITSHow To Choose The Right Rug Size For Your Living Room – 5 Formulas Guaranteed to WorkThis post has a real Cinderella story. She was originally published on March 12. If that date sounds familiar but you can’t quite put your finger on why… it was the week the country shut down. It was reallly confusing at the time because this was a post that everyone had been asking for and we didn’t fully understand what was going on in the world. But then we gave her a repost in August and Google picked her up, so this lady really got her day in the sun. Are IKEA Kitchen Cabinets Worth The Savings??? A Very Honest Review One Year LaterWhen Amanda pitched us her kitchen, we loved the design and really loved the idea of a true IKEA cabinet review. I mean, at least 90% of people renovating their kitchen have considered using IKEA, right? But little did we know that not only you, the readers, would be curious and read but Google also (and continues) to send us new readers all of the time. So it wasn’t a surprise that it was a success with you, but it was a surprise when Google turned into reader Santa Claus. Do you have any other IKEA cabinet questions? The Painted Trim – High Impact, Low Cost (One Girl’s Journey + All The Tips & Tricks)This post was one that Sara pulled out IN A DAY. We needed to shift the calendar around and needed a post the following day. This type of mad dash doesn’t happen a lot but does from time to time. So Sara had been thinking about painted the trim in her house and thought it could make a fun post. Then at around 6 pm, she told me it’s ready. I finished up some linking, crediting, etc since she had plans and as I was reading it I was taken. It was SO GOOD. Look Sara is a real renaissance woman so dreaming up and writing a great post is no surprise. BUT writing a great post in one day with photos and researched info is not easy. Needless to say, you loved it (because it was GREAT) and Google loved it because well I guess people were searching about painted trim. How To Make A Dark Room Feel Lighter and “Brighter”We were sure that this was going to be a BIG hit. Like no question because it’s another TOP question we get asked about all of the time. Maybe it was the darker photos (not as appealing to the eye)? Maybe the title wasn’t clear? Maybe our audience prefers cats on sofas instead of dogs?? Just kidding that’s impossible. But then Google came in and really saved the post from its almost “Miss” destiny. P.S. If you haven’t read it you should! Styling to Sell – The FINAL Entry Reveal (That’s Real Estate Agent Approved)Emily’s “Style To Sell” series was definitely popular but we didn’t imagine the entryway to be SO popular. It might have been that it was beautiful but still felt like you could achieve it in your home. You tell me! And although it was already a success amongst you, Google did also like it which we appreciate. That might have been something to do with the “real estate agent approved” part:) Thanks, Howard! Caitlin Found A House In The Hills For $299K And This Is What HappenedI think if there’s a 2020 MVP award for writing extensive and wilding engaging posts IN A DAY, it’s Caitlin. This was an idea she had pitched but was supposed to have another week to pull it together. But another calendar switch needed to happen and we didn’t have a post that was in good enough shape with the time constraints we were under. So with the info all in her head, she powered through to write this rollercoaster story that has A TON of incredibly awesome advice. Also, this post was probably a little too niche for Google so its success is all you! THANK YOU CAITLIN. Where Do You Put Your Litter Box??Another Caitlin hit! A true problem she was having that both you and the people searching on the internet related to. So fun, so specific yet universal, and a true surprise hit. We half joke all of the time that we need another litter box story (fun, easy lift, and VERY relatable). Any other similar animal design woes?? The Unexpected 2020 Tile Trend That A Very Unlikely EHDer Is Putting In Her House…Plus An Ask The AudienceI actually can’t believe this was a hit but am so grateful! The word “trend” doesn’t always hit with you guys but always has potential:) This was a wild and intriguing trend that I had been noticing and wanted to do in my bathroom rental (I’m so sorry I moved but I promise cool things are coming!!). I also think it was the color we all needed at the time (and still do). Wake Up When You Want: Super Affordable Blackout Shades and CurtainsI can’t remember whose idea this was (Emily?) but I remember thinking “O that will be really helpful but probably won’t be a big success.” Well, I was wrong! People (and kids) need to sleep in darkness and loved getting affordable options to do so. Makes sense. That’s it! Did any surprise you? Did you know that Google can really affect traffic that much? It’s pretty fun and interesting to see these lists because we are always trying to figure out how to bring you the posts you want. Please leave us suggestions of what you’d like us to write about and need in 2021! Is it too big to dream for zero misses?? Only time will tell:) Love you, mean it. Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain House Reveal: Our Soft Yet Secretly Sultry Downstairs Guest Bed + Bath The post The Posts That Surprisingly HIT And The Ones That Unexpectedly Flopped in 2020 appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/34A2I7w |
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