Emily Henderson's Blog

We’re Doing It AGAIN: The VELUX Brighter Days Makeover Giveaway 2025…Could It Be You???

I’m extremely excited to once again give a free room makeover to (hopefully) one of you. Quite possibly my favorite part of my job and what I really live for. As a massive skylight fan, I can tell you that the natural light and fresh air that VELUX skylight systems bring in can really transform your experience in your home (and not just in summer). We have done two free makeovers in the past, and VELUX is offering another one – – and I really want one of my readers to win it!

lead design by julie rose | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: reveal: how we brightened up a room (and some deserving lives) with velux skylightslead design by julie rose | styled by emily bowser and assisted by lauren day | photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a dark attic becomes the most joyful bedroom for three kids – thanks to velux skylights and some clever storage solutions

As a reminder, you would get a room totally redone – including my design services, furniture and decor budget, installation, and of course, the right amount and size of skylight systems for your room. We’ll work with you to make sure we meet your needs and wants, and then of course surprise you with the design :) You can submit any room (remember that it can’t have a room above it), and there are some rules/regulations and stipulations that VELUX explains over on the sweepstakes landing page. I am personally hoping for a kitchen (cosmetic, not remodel), living room, family room, or office makeover as I’m obsessed with my skylights in my kitchen and in our sunroom, where I write all day. And we always love a good feel-good story, so tell us about yourself :)

See? The transformation can be pretty incredible, and it’s work that I’m so proud to be a part of. You simply need to take photos of the before and write up what a skylight and room makeover would mean to you and your life. We likely wouldn’t install til after the holidays (just in case you are like me and the next few months can get cuckoo with holiday stuff). Any style and any location in the US welcome!

lead design by julie rose | photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: reveal: how we brightened up a room (and some deserving lives) with velux skylights

So, look around your home. Is there a room that is dark and neglected but has potential? It doesn’t have to be vaulted like ours; VELUX installers can create a drywall shaft that brings the light down from the roof into the room.

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse kitchen reveal

In case you are wondering, all skylight systems are now installed with room-darkening shades, and the size and orientation will be specific to your home, ceiling, and roofline, determined by the professionals. They are operated by remote or app, are solar-powered, and move so seamlessly. We are currently putting two in Kaitlin’s bathrooms (one with zero natural light), and it makes such an incredible difference – trust me.

photos by kaitlin green | left from: farmhouse sunroom reveal | right from: farmhouse mudroom reveal

You could also be like me and put them in rooms that also have windows to add even more natural light and a sense of bright, airiness at all times (which is especially wonderful in the PNW in the winter).

So head over to and enter before October 31! VELUX will be vetting and picking a winner, but I personally would LOVE it to be a loyal blog reader, so definitely mention that you are a long-time follower (if that’s true :)). It’s especially rewarding to do these makeovers when I know that someone has invested time in me and my team – it’s such a fun way to return the love. xx

Opening Image Credits: Lead Design by Julie Rose | Styled by Emily Bowser and Assisted by Lauren Day | Photography and Production by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: A Dark Attic Becomes The Most Joyful Bedroom For THREE Kids – Thanks To Velux Skylights And Some Clever Storage Solutions

MOTO REVEAL: How Mallory Made Her Boring Living Room Feel Homey In Just One Month

Welcome to my new apartment!! You last saw my 500 sqft studio in Hollywood, and now you’re entering my 2-bed 1950s Los Feliz pad. This apartment has been in my friend group for about 4 years, and we just keep passing it down to each other because it has a ton of perks: it’s rent-stabilized, month-to-month, and in the perfect location (super walkable to all the fun restaurants here and my friends just down the street). The only issue?? It’s super old and run down, but it has incredibly charming vintage tile in the kitchen/bathrooms and SO MUCH POTENTIAL. I moved in here in June 2024 and had pretty much nothing in terms of furniture (I sold/donated most of it after a cross-country move and a ~dramatic~ breakup) but our friends had graciously left some hand-me-down pieces so it was liveable and then in June 2025 the AllModern angels came down from the heavens and asked us to partner on a 1-month living room makeover which was a challenge I was very much ready for!! I’m SO thrilled to show you the reveal today after a wild few weeks – but first, let me take you back to where we started. Here’s what the space looked like when I moved in:

The living room isn’t giant, but coming from a studio apartment, it felt huge to me (and it’s open to the dining room behind it, so it’s pretty long and narrow). As I said before, this apartment is super charming, but the living room is definitely the space with the least amount of charm architecturally, plus the fugly brown wall color wasn’t helping – that’s for sure. So yeah, I didn’t have much when we started, but here’s what I did have: original flooring, a big window that let in a lot of natural light, and a dream.

I knew the design direction of this apartment pretty much right away, and it was this: imagine a grandma that’s single and ready to mingle – she has some antiques and maybe Papa’s old sitting chair, but she’s kinda edgy and trendy for a grandma…and she’s ready to get back out on the town and get frisky. I wanted that energy mixed with clean modern lines and a touch of vintage Los Feliz, since that’s where we are after all. I love doing research on the area I’m in when I start a project, and then I like to pull elements of the history into my design plan. For example, there was a classic old Hollywood restaurant called the Brown Derby in Los Feliz in the 1940s (around the time this apartment was built). It was where all the MGM movie stars used to visit, and if you want a really fun fact, it’s where the Cobb salad was invented. It was a place where they had a wall of caricatures of all the famous celebrities that would visit, and the interior had so many classic elements I wanted to pull into the space. So we did the one thing that college frat houses and interior design firms have in common: we named the house. Ladies and gents, welcome to “The Brown Derby.”

Sofa | Coffee Table | Rug | Tapestry | Candle Sconces | Ottoman | Side table | Floor Lamp | Chair | Metal Dome Lamp | Media Center DIY | Curtains | Brown Fringe Throw Pillow | Tan Throw Pillow

It’s crazy to think this room all really came together in 1 month. Prior to starting the living room makeover, I had only made a few small upgrades to the space to make it more liveable – painted the walls white, added new curtains, and then my roommate and I found that gorgeous Baldwin piano for $175 at a thrift store (shoutout society of St. Vincent de Paul) so that was about all we had in here when we started decorating a month ago. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve prioritized decorating some the other rooms in my apartment before decorating this living room (and stay tuned because you’ll also be seeing the reveals of those other rooms over here on the blog in the next few weeks), so this living space really was a total blank slate just a mere few weeks ago.

Then, when AllModern reached out, I started pursuing their website and immediately fell in LOVE with this incredible Rosso Levanto marble coffee table – it became the jumping off point for the entire room.

Sofa | Coffee Table | Rug | Tapestry | Candle Sconces | Lamp | Ottoman | Side table | Floor Lamp | Brown Fringe Throw Pillow | Tan Throw Pillow

It looks PERFECT in the space – and how cute is that little ball ottoman?! Because the coffee table is such a statement, I wanted a sofa that was a bit more neutral, so I went with this one. It has a great depth to it, and I love the wide arms, plus the fabric is unbelievably soft. It’s a great napping/guest sleeping on the couch kind of sofa – it’s a bit on the firmer/supportive side, but it breaks in well, and while it’s modular, it has clips that attach so it actually stays together. The entrance to my front door has a tight turn that won’t fit a single bench seat sofa – so this modular option was perfect for me!

For the rug, I went with this tonal rust/brown wool 9×12, which is perfect because this living room is super high traffic since it’s a pass-through space. It’s the room you walk into when you enter through the front door. So the rug definitely needed to be durable and mid-toned. It leans a little more brownish red in dark lighting and a bit more rust in bright lighting and has just enough variation to not show stains (which is also great because we entertain a ton). Also, that floor lamp is so pretty, solid, and dimmable. It’s so perfect in this space!

Coffee Table

Here’s a closer shot of the coffee table so you can see just how stunning that marble is. FYI, it’s HEAVY and amazing quality – it gets delivered in 3 pieces, so you can take it apart if you need to move it, which is super nice. Also…anyone notice The Brown Derby book?? I spent forever looking for this cigar box but it was too expensive and rare, so I went with the book and some vintage Brown Derby postcards I found on eBay for a little touch of Los Feliz Brown Derby history. The postcards are in my dining room (which again, you’ll be seeing super soon!)

End Table | Sofa | Rug | Tapestry | Candle Sconces | Lumbar Pillow | White Throw Pillow

I said it once, but I’ll say it again since this photo really does it justice – doesn’t that sofa fabric look soft?! BECAUSE IT IS SO SOFT. I also love the modern lines of that side table and how it contrasts with the vintage pieces in the room. Also anyone recognize those candle sconces?? I had them in my studio apartment, and they came to New York and back when I moved because I love them that much. Originally, I had planned to put up a gallery wall above this sofa, so I collected a ton of art, but then, when I started hanging it, we all agreed something just felt off. Also, functionally, the back of this sofa is on the lower side, so it’s nice to be able to lie your head against the wall, which you couldn’t do with a ton of frames there. So at the last minute, I found this amazing tapestry and had it express delivered to get here in time for the shoot! I was SO RELIEVED when I put it up and it looked this good – large art can be hard to find without selling off your firstborn child to pay for it, and this one is pretty reasonably priced in my opinion.

Now it’s time for you to meet my roommate, Jade! There is nothing quite like living with a roommate who becomes a best friend. We already knew each other before we started living together and had similar life paths – we both grew up in OC, both went to LMU for college, and both broke up with our boyfriends of 7 years around the same time – so we were in really similar places in life when I moved in. But we’ve already grown so much in this apartment, and what used to feel like an “in-between phase apartment” now feels like a home, and that’s not just because of the beautiful decor and furnishings (although that has helped A LOT). It’s also a home because this roommate vibe is one I’ve never had before. We have tickets in the front row for each other’s peak career successes and utter failures. We’ve processed big feelings together from past experiences, and we’ve been side by side and championing each other when we found new relationships with men who treat us the way we’ve always deserved but never expected. I’ll never take for granted how amazing female friendships are and how special it is for us right now to walk into the next room over when one of us needs a good cry or if just wants to throw on “A Cinderella Story” and quote every line. It’s a time in life that a lot of people rush through to get to the “buy a house and get married phase,” which don’t get me wrong, I’m excited for that too – but right now I’m just happy to have some of my best gal pals close by and the incredible support system that this place has brought me.

Speaking of these gal pals – they’re in for a real treat because the Bachelor/Love Island watch parties just got a whole lot better. Let’s turn our attention to the DIY media center, shall we?

I wrote a whole post on this if you want every detail – but here’s the gist. This media center/bookcase situation was a labor of love and took a village. I found this ready-made bookcase online for $360 (it was on clearance so it’s out of stock now – I’m sorry!!), which was an insane price for how huge it was – the only problem was that I didn’t love the grey color it was originally, and I wished it had trim/was enclosed on top to make it look more like a built-in. I added it to cart anyway since it was on clearance and decided I would DIY it to make it look custom (for even less than an IKEA hack). My amazing boyfriend (and my personal TaskRabbit), Austin, built it, and it surprisingly didn’t take too long (maybe 3 hours at most). I paid Aus in pasta salad and tipped him well ;). Note that he’s also really good at building things (which is why I bought him this shirt), so it might take the average human a bit longer.

Then I painted it and enlisted my parents to bring up their circular saw and help me install the moulding (and that was a thing for sure). I paid them in margaritas for their troubles. I had extra wood crown moulding around, but the learning lesson was definitely to use a foam moulding if you can, because wood is definitely not as easy to work with – again, full details are in this post if you want to see the cost breakdown and all the details!

The bookcase also came with glass doors, and while I love the closed storage, I didn’t love being able to see everything inside of it. So I found these thin perforated metal sheets and attached them to the insides of the doors, and voila! It’s a much cleaner look and made the bookcase look way more custom.

Leather Chair | Rug | Drink Table | Black Bowl | Silhouette Art Frames

Ah, there’s “Papa’s chair”. I absolutely loved the joinery on this leather accent chair – it has the prettiest details. Then I added a vintage magazine rack next to it (to hold more records, cause we have a lot) and this slim, modern end table to set down a drink. I tied it all in by adding hits of black on the bookcase, like that awesome, sleek modern bowl that would look good anywhere. That art piece is an original I got for $250 by an artist named Mucci, who I found at the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach (truly a sleeper hit for art, you guys). It’s a sketch of the corner of Sunset and Maltman in Silver Lake, just down the road from me.

I also made little silhouettes of my roommate and I by taking iPhone photos of our face profiles, and then I put them into Photoshop, cut them out and and did a color overlay in black (see the whole process on Instagram here). Then I put them in these little $15 frames, and they make me laugh so hard – definitely the grandma moment the space needed. Behind those, you’ll find my coat closet turned speakeasy, which we also photographed, so I’ll be doing a full post on that soon too :)

Tall Ceramic Vase | Lamp

I had my handyman/lover drill a hole in the shelf for that cute little lamp with a drill attachment he had, and then that Abraham Lincoln bookend was hand-gold-plated a while ago by my 94-year-old grandma – another grandma touch from my actual grandmother, who is just the best. The art on the top shelf is Jade’s childhood home that her boyfriend hand-drew – it was too sweet not to frame and put up here front and center. Then, below it is a piece Em gave me years ago by MaryAnn Puls, layered with a family photo of Jade and I from an epic night at the Soho House. On the right is a detailed shot of our gorgeous piano (which has the cutest subtle diamond pattern on the music stand!), and those candles are from Pierce and Ward’s amazing storefront on Hillhurst in Los Feliz.

Leather Chair | Rug | Drink Table | Dining Chairs | Mirror

This is a peek at the dining room for context (the one that we photographed and will be giving you a tour of soon!)

I cannot thank you guys enough for reading, following, and supporting! HUGE thank you to AllModern for sponsoring this makeover – I could not love their products more, so if you’re in the market for some amazing pieces that can get there fast (like fast enough to finish your living room in 1 month fast), I definitely recommend checking them out xx

*Design by Mallory Wackerman
**Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

The Link Up: Em’s New Favorite Cargo Jacket, The Wireless Bra Arlyn Owns FIVE Of , And Two House Tours We Love

Happy Sunday, everyone. Even though our hearts are still in a summer state of mind (technically, the season hasn’t changed yet!), we are slowly preparing ourselves for cozier nights and warm-toned decor coursing all through our feeds. You should definitely start expecting that from us too very soon:) But for now, here are this week’s links!

This week’s house tour has us wishing warm summer days would last forever. This Australian farmhouse that resides on 15 acres is happy, warm, colorful, and full of life. Needless to say, we are very envious of the three little ones who get to grow up here!

From Emily: The most “throw-on-able” cargo jacket that both Kaitlin and I bought (now on a big sale). I bought this jacket for our fall shoot and wore it for the next four days in a row. Then I showed the team, and they all loved it as well. I think it was refreshing to see a small stripe on the utilitarian jacket, and it’s definitely oversized, so I was able to throw it over everything (sweatshirts, even) and rolled up the sleeves and lived in it. When I bought it, it was $99, and now it’s down to $60, so I’m assuming it’s going to be gone soon. It has a million pockets (giving fishermen), and the shape of the bottom and the collar both add stylish elements. While it’s not breaking the jacket mold, it’s just really easy to wear and makes us feel stylish while also being just super basic. It’s VERY oversized, so I’m wearing an XS, and it’s still big, so don’t expect it to be fitted:)

From Gretchen: For Labor Day weekend, I popped over to visit my parents in Bend, OR, and had the best time with them! Mom and I did some damage shopping at Walmart, of all places. We found, weirdly, a lot of cute pieces there, including this cute Reebok, v-neck sweatshirt and matching skirt set, this adorable black eyelet top, and some fun camo pants (that were sadly out in my size). My mom scored in the shoe section, finding these adorable and comfy walking shoes that look eerily similar to my HOKAs but for a MEGA fraction of the price. They’ve got a great, extra-thick heel support, similar to my Bondi 8s. Probably not as quality as those walking shoes, but she couldn’t be more excited to test ’em out, for less than $30!

From Marlee: As sad as I am about summer ending, I’m excited to start pulling out pieces from my closet that haven’t seen the light of day in months – this lightweight puffy jacket is by far the item I reach for the most in the fall and winter months. I’ve had it for about 3 years at this point – my cost per wear must be down to pennies. It comes in a whopping 27 different colors – I just have it in black, but I’m thinking about getting a fun color for this fall. It’s pretty lightweight, which makes it great for that time of year when there’s a cool breeze, but it’s not freezing. The fit is slightly boxy and oversized. I’m 5’8” and wear a small. I also love that it packs down into a tiny square, which makes it super easy to throw in a bag as your “just in case” jacket – I’ve convinced multiple people in my life to purchase this and everyone loves it just as much as I do!

From Arlyn: I wrote about this wireless bra a few months back, but it’s made me want to get rid of ALL MY OTHER BRAS, so it’s worth linking to again. By now, I own five of these, and it still doesn’t feel quite like enough. No other wireless bra I had prior to this and liked holds up anymore. It’s the only bra I want to wear, and as someone who is very chesty, that’s saying something. It lifts, it doesn’t bunch, it keeps the girls in place nearly all day, it’s soft and comfortable, and the straps are super supportive without looking like they’re ready to hold up bowling balls. If you’ve thought about it before, GET IT NOW. You won’t regret it.

From Mallory: My FAVORITE skirt right now is this awesome little number from Sezane – I have it in the navy blue patent leather and it’s just so unique. I truly haven’t seen anything else like it!! I’ve been wearing it with a white tank and leopard flats, but can’t wait to wear a monochrome navy sweater with it (like they do in the website photos) when it becomes a bit chillier outside.

From Jess: Last Friday, I had to last-minute find a new outfit for my friend’s birthday dinner because my original dress somehow got something caked onto it, I guess in the wash?? I was BUMMED! But I ran to the mall and, after a few stores, found this dress in Sagesse at Aritzia. The dress code I was told I MUST abide by was “sexy chic,” so this fit the bill for me perfectly. It’s double-layered, so it really holds you in and smooths you all over, which I loved. I felt so confident, secure, and dare I say, sexy chic. The only thing to know is that there isn’t a slit at the bottom, so your stride length is limited a little:) I might see if it’s worth adding a slit to help with that because it’s the only thing I would maybe change.

From Caitlin: This hour-long house tour left me attonitus. (That’s right – I’m linking a house tour whose description transcends the English language. “Awe-struck” or “enthralled” just don’t do it justice, you know?) Spoiler: its an 18th century English estate (and barn, and botanical garden) owned by an absolute power couple of Anthro’s former CEO and Anthro’s former buyer-at-large (this is a fancy way to say “full-time antique buyer,” and it’s a job I’d love to learn more about. Do you think I could be EHD’s buyer-at-large?). The property is unreal. Their taste is unbelievable. The collections are fantastic. IT’S ATTONITUS. You’ll get it when you watch it, I swear. 

Thanks for spending a little time with us today, and come back tomorrow to see Mallory’s living room reveal! xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Ryann Trombetti | Styling by Emily Bowser | Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Ryann’s MOTO Reveal: A Moody Multi-Functional Living And Dining Room With A Lot Of Soul

Fall Fashion Trends Are Here – 11 Easy To Wear New Outfit Ideas That I LOVE (Mostly Affordable)

I’m not alone in my love of fall fashion – the ability to layer makes styling (and looking stylish) so much easier. I went to the mall for HOURS and shopped in stores I rarely go into. I tried it all on in search of what is really good out there and mostly affordable (knowing that word is different for everyone). Some of these are basics, others are part of trends that are honestly just really fun to play around with. Here are my new favorite fall outfits.

Jacket (Small) | Sweater (Small) | Scarf | Shorts (Size 2) | Belt (Medium) | Boots (Size 7)

The only takeaway from our trip to New York was “everyone wears long shorts,” which I don’t think is just universally the best move, but still, I took note. I found these jorts from American Eagle, which I think are still really flattering, and by pairing them with these EXCELLENT boots, I felt like I found my version of this style that felt SO fall-appropriate (especially for early fall). The short trench jacket is a huge trend, and I saw $600 versions at Nordstroms that I liked, but didn’t get obviously, and so was extremely pleased when this one jumped out at Aritzia (which is still splurgy, but it has a ton of structure and the fabric feels strong – like it’s not going to wrinkle easily). It’s just so perfect for fall and spring.

The boots; I shopped long and hard, and ya’ll tall boots have gotten expensive – even Madewell’s are in the $350s. I was happy to find a couple of pairs that felt reasonable, but they are going to be an investment for real leather (although these Walmart ones look good). That’s all to say that I LOVE these Seychelles boots – the leather feels thick and high quality, the block heel is super classic (and still on trend), and it’s a great height and width. Easy to pair with skirts, over pants, and of course, with JORTS, should that be your thing. The belt is perfect (and as you’ll see, I wear it a lot now).

Sweater (Small) | Top (Small) | Scarf | Shorts (Size 27) | Belt (Medium) | Boots (Size 7)

Here we go again with the long jean shorts and I think I cracked the code – I love the proportions of the perfect tall boots with these more cutoff baggy shorts, giving the perfect amount of leg. It looks cool, it feels cool, and I think it’s the perfect weight for the late summer/early fall weather. This sweater is chunky (but not crazy heavyweight), easy to wear, and has the cutest fall pattern. We were all obsessed with it during the shoot, and if I could only keep one sweater from today, it is 100% my favorite.

Sweater (Medium) | Belt (Unavailable) | Jeans (Size 26 Short) | Shoes (Similar + Size 7)

Welcome to the widest jeans that I actually really fell in love with. I didn’t know that American Eagle has a higher-end brand, which, of course, I was accidentally attracted to. Now, these are a statement for sure, but I loved that they fell straight down and didn’t puddle (I can do baggy, but I can’t do gumby). My old Korkease clogs are less available, but these versions are just as rad and comfortable. The sweater is fantastic and so affordable – covered buttons and all.

Top (Extra Small) | Necklace (Unavailable) | Jeans (Size 26) | Shoes (Size 7)

Madewell has three tops that I’m wearing the hell out of right now – fall colors, but in breezy fabrics, which is perfect for early fall (still warm up here for another month at least). This navy blue balloon shirt has great pleating details and white trim, but is just so easy to wear. And I guess I also paired it with Madewell’s jeans and flats (whoops, didn’t mean to make a whole Madewell outfit). I love the tone of red of the shoes – not bright red, which I find is just harder to make work.

Scarf | Sweater (Small) | T-Shirt (Small) | Jeans (Size 27) | Belt (Medium) | Shoes (Size 7)

The prettiest, chunkiest fall sweater in such a perfect color. I love the cable knit, obviously, and the drop sleeve. And cheers to these jeans that are a really great clean mid-tone denim color, with that sew-in big cuff (so it’s not going to lose its shape/style). My favorite boots for fall that I recently repurchased after Buttercup ate them last spring :)

Jacket (Small) | Long-Sleeved Tee (Medium) | Necklace (Unavailable) | Skirt (Size 2) | Boots (Size 7)

The head-to-toe denim look is not one that I’m sick of yet – it just works and is so easy. I have an event in October in Texas, and I’m going to wear this – it feels polished but still stylish and current (and you can wear them separately, obviously). The over-the-knee boots were a splurge from 2-3 years ago (Sezane), and they are so classic, high quality, and stay up high (they don’t slouch). A splurge for sure, but on par with other leather thigh-high boots, and I find that they make an outfit when I wear them.

Scarf (Similar) | Long-Sleeved T-Shirt (Large) | Sweater Vest (Small) | Skirt (Size 2) | Belt (Medium) | Boots (Size 38)

That sweater vest is so cute, in the effortless French fall way. You can wear it as a tank top too, which I think would be so cute for early fall. This denim skirt is from Old Navy, but honestly competes with the J.Crew one (that one has front pockets, of course). These boots are incredible – the pointed toe and lower heel feel really modern and polished.

Scarf (Unavailable) | Top | Jeans (Size 25) | Belt (Medium) | Shoes (Size 7)

I’ve worn this outfit no less than 6 times – it’s just really, really easy. Again, easy breezy top, more structured jeans (size down in these), and the ballet flats that I just can’t quit (so comfortable and easy to throw on – almost like flip flops).

Sweater (Small) | Jeans (Size 27 x 30) | Shoes (Size 7)

This sweater is CRAZY soft and fluffy. I loved the fall motif (and it comes in a few other colorways). Aritzia is on the splurgier side (similar to J.Crew), but if you are in the market for a great cozy fall sweater, this is awesome. The dad jeans aren’t for everyone, but if you like that slouchy, baggy vibe, these Levi’s are awesome.

Flannel (2 Extra Small) | Jeans (Size 27) | Boots (Size 7)

I have been wearing the same flannel from The Great for the last 5 years and was ready for a new one. There is a reason we wear them up here – cozy, warm, and yet not just a solid color. I love this one, but a warning, it is very oversized (I’m wearing a XXS). It’s menswear-inspired and could easily be a shacket, too. The western-inspired boots are about as “cowboy” as I get up here. These are fantastic.

Scarf | Top (Extra Small) | Jeans (Size 25) | Belt (Medium) | Boots (Similar + Size 7)

I was so impressed with these jeans from J.Crew that fit like a GLOVE and made me feel great. They are high-waisted and wide-legged, but the front pockets really work! They look really great with heels (I’m wearing my clogs). The white button-up from Old Navy is awesome – boxy and wide, with menswear details that are chic and feel way more expensive. Clearly, I’m wearing the belt and scarf A LOT right now, which is making me really happy :)

If you want to see some of these moving on my body, head to stories :) And any requests for fall fashion posts, let us know. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

6 Design Trends That Will Make Your Home Cozy For Fall (And Beyond)

While I have slightly mixed feelings about letting summer go, there’s really nothing like fall. I mean, we say it every year, right? So, to fully shed my sandals’ tan and dreaming of swimming in the ocean (of which I only did once this summer…FAIL), I thought we could look at the design trends that are here, happening, and helping us get in the cozy mood. If nothing else, I guarantee your serotonin levels will rise from looking at all of these beautiful rooms. Let’s start with a bolder one:)

Outlining

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This one has been sneaky, but over this past year has been slowly growing. These first two examples are the “higher-end versions”. Both of these “outlines” are done with, I believe, wood and look incredibly chic. Obviously, high contrast is the name of the game. The example on the left is more of a classic contrast moulding detail, but it gives the effect that the trend is trying to accomplish…drama. I think that dark but warm wood moulding against warm white walls is going in my dream home. The example on the left is a much more intentional outlining of the room and is SUCH a statement without a lot of color or materials. Something to consider is remodeling:)

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But you don’t need expensive wood to give a room this look. Both of these examples used paint! The example on the left created its own outline with extra detailing, which is so creative. Then the example on the right simply followed the ceiling and gave it a little something extra, both subtle and a statement. Actually, if you follow our girl Mallory, she did a version of this on her bedroom closet cabinets, and it looks so great!

Slightly Sheer Taupe Curtains

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Taupe, natural, flax, etc, are all colors included in this “trend”. These warm neutral curtains are really everywhere! Not a new idea in the slightest, but especially in the high-end homes, people are swapping white and cream for taupe. Seeing all of these homes even got me, and I made the same decision in my bedroom (the shoot is happening in 2.5 weeks!!!!!). See how happy Bobby Flay is in her taupe-draped living/dining room? We should all be that happy sitting in our homes:)

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If you want to go blackout, that’s totally great and your call. However, this “trend” is about the semi-sheer. You want that warm sunlight to pass through those curtains to create a happy, warm glow. I can’t tell you from personal experience, it’s magical. This iconic Eames House is the perfect example to show that (obviously) this is not in any way new but is completely timeless and inviting.

Burgundy

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Burgundy has been making its way onto our feeds and into our homes for a minute, and we see no sign of it slowing down anytime soon. I adore it when people and designers go bold and cover a whole room with it. It’s moody, sexy, and so inviting. How stunning are those spaces?! Personally, I love a burgundy that leans a little brown, but there are lots of different options to try out.

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Maybe painting an entire room is a little too much for you, personally. What about a piece of furniture like these beautiful sofas? And if you scroll through the photos, you’ll see the coolest cylinder bar cabinet in a similar burgundy tone. To me, burgundy = cool sophistication.

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Of course, you can go even smaller with it. These two spaces have furniture-based burgundy accents, but pillows, vases, throws, candlesticks, etc., are all great ways to add this color into your home, whether it’s for the fall/winter season or indefinitely. This color isn’t going anywhere.

THE Color Palette – Burgundy, Olive, Blue, And Ochre

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Now, Caitlin gets all the credit for this one! She’s got such an incredible eye for color palettes, and as soon as she mentioned it, I realized that it was all over my saved photos in different variations. Take the bedroom on the left, the tones are more subtle, so it’s softer on the eye, but still so fun and eclectic. Shapeless Studio is always ahead of the curve. Speaking of trendsetters, Flack Studio is another UNREAL design studio that is always bringing creativity to the forefront. This furniture factory turned home is a feast for the eyes and very much abides by this overall color palette. But like the bedroom, it isn’t visually too overstimulating because the colors are all pretty mid-toned and not overly saturated. Just incredible.

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Clearly, people are really feeling this color palette in a bedroom. What I love is that you can really make it your own based on the color you want to highlight, versus what colors are more secondary. I’d say green is a main color for both spaces, but the room on the left leans more into the burgundy/purple, while the room on the right leans more into the blue.

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Reath Design is another studio I would trust wholeheartedly with mixing colors because every room they design is, well, perfect. This is a more liberal take on the trendy color palette, but all of these spaces are done so beautifully that there’s no way they’ll feel dated anytime soon.

European Tapestries (It’s A Takeover!!)

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Those pastoral tapestries are bigger than they’ve been in a while! I can’t scroll on anything without seeing a handful of rooms with one in them. Just so we’re clear, I am a huge fan. If you’re lucky enough to find a big one (at a reasonable price, which is subjective, I guess), then it’s the most beautiful statement piece. I love how these two bedrooms use them to almost give the illusion of a huge headboard. Also, stylistically, they are versatile. The room on the left is very clean, slightly moody, and purposefully gives a high-end luxury hotel look. While the room on the right is still beautiful, it has a lighter, “happier” color palette and looks more relaxed feel. Both tapestries really make the rooms sing.

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I wanted to include this because I love the paneled tapestry look:)

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But bedrooms aren’t the only ideal room for this type of tapestry. Give me a large tapestry in a living room any day. It’s just wild how much movement, texture, and soul they add to a space. Of course, you don’t have to just have them on your walls. Pillows and furniture pieces also come adorned in the same kind of fabric, which is a really fun twist.

Whimsical Beds

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My last observation is that a lot of beds I’m seeing are becoming more whimsical, and why not?! I love it. This room is a suite at a stunning hotel, but that canopy style has been popping up more on my feed. Remember the first shared kids’ room Em designed for her kids in their Los Feliz home?

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This is not in a hotel but in a magical home. The kids who get to sleep in here are very lucky. I also love that the canopies are placed in the traditional way, and instead, coming from the side.

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There’s also the option of creating a DIY framed draped headboard like design influencer, Marco Zamora did in his bedroom. It’s all very romantic!

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But it’s not all about big pieces of draped fabric; I’ve also been noticing more whimsical detailing in wooden headboards, too. Both of these are great interpretations of that. So if you’ve needed a sign to go whimsical with your bed, I say go for it:)

That’s all I have for you today. Any thoughts? Are there other trends you’ve noticed? Let’s chat.

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Designed by Shane & Pierce | Photo by Michael P.H. Clifford | From: Why You Should Choose Bigger Art (As Proven By A Beautiful Italian-Inspired New Build)

Summer 2025: Our FULL Farmhouse Property Tour (With Before + Afters Galore)

Well, summer 2025 is almost a wrap, and we used the heck out of the yard since we finished in spring. It’s a pretty ridiculous property at this point. We know how lucky we are, and it feels most like the home we always dreamt of (when we lived in NY and LA) when there are at least 6-10 kids running around, four men playing corn hole and a bunch of ladies gabbing. While we aren’t DONE done, we have checked so many boxes that were big construction, and the rest of the rehab can be done WAYYYY over time. These photos were taken at different times over the summer (we shot different areas in different months), so you’ll see the plants grow in, etc.

We thought it would be fun to show you the whole property layout from above because it can be confusing to know how it flows. We have about 2.75 acres, mostly usable and flat with pockets of extreme overgrowth that we aren’t touching for a bit.

The Driveway/Entrance

Walking down the driveway felt magical 5 years ago, and we still love it. It’s full of invasives (Hawthorne trees lining both sides, ivy, and blackberry everywhere), but I can’t bring myself to get rid of it all – it’s too much of a project right now, and we’d lose so much of the rustic nature. If money were no object and if we could just snap our fingers, would we clear it all out and plant big beautiful non-invasive trees and clover? Sure! But it’s pretty great for now.

It’s funny, people in Oregon don’t find the driveway nearly as charming as our California friends when they visit (they don’t say anything, you can just tell). Everyone from other states reacts consistently like we did – so green, so rustic, so charming, but I think if you’ve lived here for decades, it’s just an old-looking long Oregon driveway:)

Once you round the driveway, you get the reveal of the house, which always strikes me as WAY more “adult” of a house than I ever thought I’d own. As the chronically 27-year-old that I feel inside, this still feels wild that it’s ours. I really, really love her so much.

I love seeing the covered walkway at the end of the driveway – still one of my favorite features. You MUST slide the before/after slider below – it’s so satisfying and pretty wild to see where it came from 4+ years ago.

To the left of the driveway is the grove of fruit trees that are in such sad shape over grass that is full of weeds (and brown now as it has no irrigation).

Since this part of the property is so front and center, this might be somewhere we tackle next spring – bring in a proper arborist to trim and heal these trees (they are sooooo overgrown, crowded, and don’t bear the best fruit). We have plums, pears, and apples. Then I think we’d demo out the unhappy lawn and seed for clover. Simple, but better, and have everything be healthier. It actually looks fine in the winter/spring, but by the end of summer, it looks like kindling.

This is the view that you see the most of the house – and I still want to rework the plants here – the grasses are MASSIVE and unruly, but nothing seems to really grow well here besides that! We have since trimmed the Japanese maple that was looking pretty dang wild along the house. Dennis’ 7 Dees had some great ideas of what they would do, but we are pausing on execution for a bit (we also wonder/know that any construction at the guest cottage might be hard on the surrounding plants).

I really love the vibe of the back – all the hydrangeas make me so happy, so I’d love to bring some of those up here. Just something with more structure and lose those wild grasses (that are awesome, but just MASSIVE).

This is the view most people have when they enter (because most neighbors/friends come through the back gate). Having the garages all done means that people aren’t staring at all our trash, recycling, and compost bins upon entry. Seriously, a HUGE win as those things are such eyesores.

The guest house is up next – I’m dragging my feet a bit right now (mostly nervous financially – it’s such a beast!) but it’s moving forward, I promise!

The cutest 4-car garage ever (that is full of props). You should know that all those plants were there for the shoot, but without irrigation, I knew they wouldn’t last (too far from the house for a hose to even reach). As a content creator with partners, it’s our job to create the prettiest photos for their usage, thus adding those pretty hydrangeas and the bench. But for those of you worried if the plants are all still alive, they are! Just on the front porch now (actually, I think two of them didn’t make it – sorry).

Rounding the front of the sunroom, you get into what feels like the backyard – a big patch of grass that gets a ton of play from kids and cornhole, and is the entertaining hub.

Many a game of Ghosts in the Garden has been played here after dark (no idea what it is or how it’s played, but the group of 16 kids that play sure do seem to have fun).

Maybe someday I’ll paint and attach the wood post cap on the mudroom entrance :)

Over the long weekend, we spent all three nights in the pool – first night when it was super hot out (water was 75 degrees) and then the next two nights we turned it into a 95-degree hot tub, which we all stayed in for hours. There are times when I can recognize the kids would likely play longer in a big pool, but we still LOVE that it can be a hot tub and is used more year-round.

We usually have two umbrellas shading the pool (the stones can get super super hot), but they wouldn’t stand up straight for these photos, so we nixed them (there is a real hole in the heavy-duty umbrella stand on castors market, BTW – they all get so rusted and then crooked!).

She’s a small pool, but we love her so much. Soake Pools is the company if you weren’t here when I was documenting it – see this post here!

I really failed at the garden this year – overplanted, got greedy, and everything grew into each other. Plus, what did get harvested didn’t really taste that good! Ballerina Farms, I am not, Lol. Next year, I’m going to try harder and likely turn at least one of the beds into a pretty cutting garden. Plus, the truth is that some of the best organic produce comes from a few miles away in Oregon, and we simply prefer their lettuce and tomatoes over ours – it just tastes so much better and stays for much longer in the fridge.

We moved those chairs to the pickleball court for people to watch close by. I love that they are all-weather and we can keep them out year-round (not real wicker, it’s the all-weather wicker).

One of the changes we are going to make is turning at least one of the picnic tables into a seating area. I noticed that at all three huge parties we had that people don’t like to sit on these – maybe they feel too locked in? So I brought down the seating from the back porch and BOOM, people sit down and are much more comfortable.

So next spring, I’ll likely add a more conversational seating area where the bottom picnic table is. It’s so nice to have them there right now.

I believe they are going to reseed the clover on the left of the path soon – it didn’t take because we didn’t water it as much, and then the pickleball cover guys put all their stuff on a big tarp over there and killed the clover that was growing. No biggie, but we’ll add more.

The rest of the clover is THRIVING, by the way. Hopefully it doesn’t take over in a way that we’ll regret :)

Remember when this was a broken asphalt tennis court?

The Trampoline…

So this photo really pained Kaitlin to take, but I wanted to show you how we actually use the yard – and that trampoline was the MVP this summer (I don’t need to tell all you parents out there). I’m still glad that we didn’t install it into the ground (we can move it around for shoots, which is great), and it’s a massive eyesore, but they genuinely love jumping – solo or with friends.

The tumble track also gets a ton of use by the cheer crew. This side yard is where all the kids gravitate (and the sports court), and we can easily keep an eye on them from both the kitchen and the backyard.

This part of the yard was what we finished first and could probably use some editing, but I love all the wild, tall perennials here – Studio Campo and Yardzen were both a part of this side yard. The kitchen patio is looking a little less happy than when we shot it, so I might spruce it up with more plants this spring. We don’t really sit out here much, but it’s a nice vibe to greet you (Brian jokes that he wants a ping pong table here for flip cup, which I think we both know got nixed). Also, yes, the dogs pee on the lawn and leave yellow spots! Rude!

I still want to plant more climbers on the covered walkway. I planted some more mature clematis last year, and they started taking off when they caught “scales” which had to be eradicated.

Here we are back at the front. It’s a lot of property and, of course, a lot to maintain (which we have help from Dennis’ 7 Dees). I’m sure it will morph over time, and we’ll pare things back when they get a bit overgrown or add more when we see what is really thriving. We love it so much and feel extremely grateful to live here. We worked with many local experts to get this far, and they deserve more call-outs – A huge thanks to Studio Campo and Northwest Native Landscapes (phase one), and most recently Dennis’ 7 Dees for such incredible execution. My hope is to take photos of every season so you can see the seasonal change, but don’t hold me to it – shooting here in January is pretty brutal and unpleasant (although so lush and green). But fall is around the corner, so I’ll try to show you how it looks when the leaves change and things start getting cut back or dying out. That’s a wrap:)

Here are all the individual posts for the reveals and a couple of process ones (in case you wanted to deep dive!):

2023: Our Back Patio Reveal2023: Our Very Cute Front Porch Makeover2023: Our Farmhouse Back Porch Reveal – The “1st Summer” Edition!2023: Our Soake Pool Review (And Reveal)2023: Our New Driveway – A Gravel/Concrete/Asphalt/Regrind Debate2023: The FULL Before And After Backyard Makeover2024: Our Home Gym Reveal2024: Our Back Porch Reveal2024: Our Outdoor Living Room + Firepit Area2024: The Art Barn Reveal2024: The Art Barn Floral Mural2025: Our Built-To-Last Outdoor Kitchen Reveal2025: BIG Landscaping Update – Phase 2 Is Done2025: Why We Chose A Clover Lawn Instead Of Grass2025: My New Prop Garage Reveal2025: We Found The Best Garage Doors Ever2025: Our Regrind Driveway Review2025: A Front Of House Tour2025: Our 2025 Summer Landscaping Reveal2025: The Carriage House Exterior “Before” Tour2025: The First Tour Inside Our 1850s Carriage House2025: The Pickleball Court Reveal

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

How Mallory Created A Renter-Friendly Built-In Bookcase For Only $600

My main goal in life has always been to have a custom built-in bookcase in my living room. You know the ones – they’re all over Pinterest and Instagram. They instantly make a space look super elevated and cozy. Bookcases and built-ins are among the most high-impact design elements, and they can take a boring blank white box and instantly transform it into a cozy home. My dream, however, felt so far away because my god, they are EXPENSIVE, time-consuming, and invasive. It’s why so many people do IKEA bookcase hacks to try to achieve that luxe built-in look (which those hacks, FYI, also typically cost $3k or more depending on the size). The other issue, beyond the cost, is the fact that I live in a rental – so I can recognize that it would be unwise of me to hire a contractor and install a whole shelving/storage system that I can’t take with me to my next place. But once I get an idea in my head, I make it happen one way or another, so I started doing some research on how I could get a similar look for much, much less. But first, let me show you where I wanted to put said bookcase:

This is what my living room looked like when I moved in a year ago. My boyfriend, Austin, and I gave the entire apartment a fresh coat of white paint since the walls were originally a weird light brown color (and we did it all on a weekend where it was like 90 degrees and I didn’t realize the AC unit in here was broken – so bless this man). Also, shoutout to Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams – it’s such a good white paint color. The apartment I moved into is a month-to-month, rent-controlled place in my perfect location in Los Feliz, and it’s been in my friend group for a while, so I know deals on apartments like these don’t always come easy. While the place was such a good find and checked so many boxes, the condition of my new apartment certainly wasn’t what my last new-build, studio apartment was, and it desperately needed a clean, blank slate. Here’s what it looked like a year ago after we painted it:

That smaller, skinnier room in the photo on the right is the dining area – I wanted to give you a sense of the entire space so you can understand that my precious dream bookcase had limited wall options in which to live. The wall that needed the most love and could best handle the statement of the bookcase was clearly this space between the two doors (the door on the left is the front entrance to the apartment, and the door on the right is now my closet speakeasy – which we just took professional photos of and have a full blog post reveal coming soon!!) This wall is also definitely the right spot for the TV in the living room, so I needed to find a bookcase that had room in the middle for said TV. There are A TON of ready-made media unit/tv console bookcase options online, so I felt like it should be a fairly easy thing to find until I realized…they’re also SUPER expensive! I wasn’t surprised by the cost of the Crate and Barrel, West Elm, or Article – the quality from those brands is great, and it’s a big space to fill, so I get it! It makes sense that these pieces range between $3k and $7k. I’ll show you – here are some of the pieces I found (and really love and actually considered purchasing) that would be great alternatives if you want to invest in quality but don’t want to pay for a full built-in bookcase/you can’t do a built-in bookcase because you live in a rental…

Left: Crate and Barrel Rattan Media Unit | Right: Article Torme Media Center

See? They’re so pretty and are truly not bad options when you consider the quality and how high-impact they are. BUT my main issue (again) was that I won’t be in this apartment forever, so I didn’t want to invest that much in this bookcase – especially since I wasn’t positive that I could take these pieces with me to my next place. The other small issue that bothered me with these readymade options was that they generally weren’t enclosed on the top. It’s a subtle thing, but I really wanted this to look more like a built-in, and the openness above the TV area just feels a bit unfinished to me. So I went back to the drawing board and started looking for options at more affordable furniture brands. And you guys…it’s crazy out there. I learned that even the IKEA media units are about $1,500 or more – WILD!!! I REALLY didn’t want to spend over $1,000 for this (and even that felt like too much). I wanted to spend more like $500 or $600 max because again, I knew this bookcase was most likely not coming with me to my next place, and I would probably just leave it at my apartment for whoever is coming in next. So I needed to find a balance of A.) not setting up a bookcase that’s actual garbage, B.) making sure it looked cute and stylish because I do design content creation for a living after all, and C.) not spending a crazy amount.

But after A TON of searching, I ended up finding THE PERFECT bookcase on clearance for $360, which was insane (it’s out of stock because it was on clearance). Don’t worry, I’m sharing super similar options at the bottom of the post, should you want to attempt something like this! It checked almost every box – enclosed storage on the bottom, and all of the bottom cabinets were uniform (which I think looks most like a real built-in bookcase). The size was perfect so that I could fit my 65-inch frame TV in the middle, and the bookcase itself would take up most of the wall space between those doors. The problems? For $360, you best believe there were a few. It was grey, first off, and it had glass doors so I couldn’t hide the messy TV box and such inside the cabinet, and it was still open on the top. For $360 bucks though (still a crazy deal to me), there was nothing I couldn’t fix – so I added to cart SO FAST and started my DIY journey to make it look custom.

Once the bookcase arrived, it was actually pretty easy to set up – my TaskRabbit/boyfriend helped, and he’s great at building furniture, so it only took about 3 hours from start to finish, which was surprising to me. For $360, I was impressed with the quality – but that said, it’s still mostly MDF, and anything you buy for this kind of price is not going to be the same level of quality as the pieces I linked above. I’m prioritizing budget, style, ease, and the impact this piece will have in the room. But even though this is where I decided to “save” instead of “splurge” in this living room, it truly did make the biggest impact in the space. The second it was up (even with the grey wood and openness above the TV), it already felt so much cozier. See for yourself:

Once I put the doors on, I started mocking up how I could enclose the top – and then I got ambitious and thought…wait, could we build shelves on top of this and take it all the way to the ceiling?! I highly considered it, but then decided maybe it’s not wise to have that much weight on a budget-friendly bookcase when I live in an earthquake-prone state… So I thought about how I could reinforce it a bit instead. I had some trim left over from another project and thought, “omg that’s exactly what it needs!!” So we screwed in an 11 in wide x 8ft long piece of primed wood on top of the bookcase (which conveniently was the exact width of the top and we didn’t need to cut it down at all). It looked like this:

As you can see, before I installed the trim, I started painting the bookcase the same white as my walls to give it more of that “built-in” effect. I would highly recommend sanding and then using a shellac primer. I ended up just sanding and then painting because I watched this video, which showed scratch tests, and it seemed like just sanding was the best route to go, BUT after finishing this project, I wish I had sanded AND used the primer because I think it would have been even more durable. After my paint dried, I would say it’s hard to scratch the paint off, but if you REALLY try to scratch the paint, it will come off. All this to say – if you’re attempting this – learn from me and just sand and prime to be safe. Since I didn’t get the primer, I ended up getting – but if you sanded and primed properly, you could likely just get a normal paint in a semigloss finish and it should be fine!

Then this is where things get crazy. I enlisted my parents to bring their circular saw up to help me miter the trim pieces (no, I’ve never done that before, but how hard could it be? Boys do it…) We followed this YouTube video and couldn’t stop quoting the part where they say, “Now that’s a tight fit, Tommy,” the entire day. And this was pretty much a full-day experience – lining up the moulding was so much harder than we anticipated. If you are attempting this project, I’d honestly give the foam/lightweight mouldings a try (might be easier?). This was definitely the most difficult part, but seriously, once I get an idea in my head, it’s happening no matter what. We also screwed in a few smaller pieces of wood to the larger, primed wood piece we screwed in on top (which you’ll see made the weight of the wood droop down in the middle a bit for a second, but once we finished putting on the smaller wood pieces and the moulding, everything straightened out, so it doesn’t droop anymore. So – I would also just make sure that the top wood piece is really solid if you attempt this – definitely don’t get something too flimsy. The photo might scare you for a second, but I promise it’s perfectly straight and looks great at the end (this was a total trust-the-process moment).

I also would highly advise using a nail gun to nail the trim in if you’re using wood crown moulding like this – my dad brought one that was 15 years old (bless his heart) and it died on us mid project so we finished hanging the moulding with a few smaller wood screws and nails (which I would not advice for a seamless look but it worked when we were in our time of need – and starving and very much over it). I caulked and painted over the nails/nail holes so you can honestly barely see them, but again – DEFINITELY use a nail gun if you’re going to attempt this with wood trim! If you don’t want to use a nail gun, the foam/lightweight moulding and some heavy-duty adhesive are going to be your best friends!

Once the trim was up (which was a miracle since my mom, dad, and I are NOT woodworkers per se) – this is what it looked like!! I’ll be honest we struggled to get the “tight fit tommy” aka the pieces to perfectly line up over on the left side as you can see (but somehow we did the corner cuts perfectly and so that was good) but once I sanded it down and caulked it – the joining pieces were not super noticeable (again, would probably have been easier with lighter trim). I was proud of my parents and I, so we celebrated our accomplishment with some margaritas, and overall it turned out SO great!! Such an upgrade from how it started. Now it was time to finish caulking the gaps, plus painting the trim and the bottom of the bookcase. Oh, and did you see those glass cabinet doors that hide nothing?? Yeah, don’t worry – I fixed those!! Check it out:

I found these perforated brass metal sheets for $20 each on Amazon, and they were the perfect size, so I ordered them and secured them to the back of the door behind the glass. I actually really liked the hardware that the bookcase came with, but remember, you could always swap that out if you found a bookcase with hardware you didn’t love as much! But anyway – ready to see the before/after?! Here you go!!

So here’s the full cost breakdown: Bookcase: $360 ($400 after tax)Paint: $70 (I bought the fancy, expensive trim-specific paint since I didn’t prime, but this could’ve been more like $45)Metal Sheets: $20 each (I got 8)Trim: $42 each (We used 3 of them! I already had these)Shellac Primer: $30 for 1 qt (Might need more depending on how big your bookcase is – again, I didn’t do the primer, but wish I did in addition to sanding!)Orbital Sander: $30+ (I already had this one!)Nail Gun: $40+ (Could rent or borrow! Or use until it dies and then give up and use some wood screws lol)

Total I spent: $630 (I already had the trim, but it would be more like $755 if you included that cost)

MAN, I’m so happy I was able to achieve my bookcase dreams for that price! I thought it wouldn’t be possible, but you can do anything if you just believe. It turned out so cozy and custom – you would never know this bookcase started as a $360 ready-to-assemble piece. But curious to know your thoughts – do you think it was worth it?! Would you attempt something like this? Let’s chat in the comments.

Also sharing some ready-made bookcase options if you want to DIY and customize them on your own. Note, some of them might not need to be painted/they don’t have the glass doors (those metal sheets added up!), so also factor the elements you may or may not need into the cost of DIYing these! Most of these run around $400-$500. You could also take the doors off if you want open shelving on top, and don’t forget you can always swap out or add hardware. Just thought I’d share some ideas, but get creative and have fun with it! xx

Left: White Oak Colored Bookcase | Right: White Bookcase With Glass Doors

Left: Industrial Black Bookcase | Right: White Bookcase With Enclosed Doors

And lastly, here’s a sneak peek of the pretty photos EHD alum and amazing LA-based photographer, Sara Ligorria-Tramp, took of my full living room makeover with AllModern – which I’m going to be sharing with you next week! Stay tuned, friends!

Thanks so much for reading and for your support!! You guys are the best xx

Opening Image By: Sara Ligorria-Tramp | Design and Styling by Mallory Wackerman

How To Choose Paint Colors That Are Happy But Not Too Bold – The Full River House Paint Color Palette

If you like big macro “how the sausage is made” posts, this one is for you. The art direction of this house was pretty clear from the get-go, four years ago. The intent was to create a warm, contemporary home that was family-friendly. It’s similar to the mountain house, but with more color. When you live in sunny southern California, you can get away with a lot of white walls, the light bouncing around, delighting your eyes, but in many other places (I’m learning), you really need color to make your eyes happy year-round. And when I say “color,” for this house we leaned more tonal – nothing BIG or bold. Of course, a pink bedroom might be bold to you, but not to us :) We partnered with Sherwin-Williams on this house because they have an incredible assortment of paint colors that are very high-quality, many of which I have relied on in the past over and over. I’m pretty obsessed with this color palette and would use it all over and over again.

Choosing the right white…

Living Room/Kitchen/Dining Area/Hallways – Alabaster SW 7008from: river house move-in tour

I have found my new favorite white!!!! If you have ever been driven crazy by staring at a billion different white tones that look identical to a non-expert, you are NOT alone. This is why designers have their go-to whites that they use over and over and over again. Well, I’ve found mine. We obsessed about this white for the right amount of time – we chose 10 peel-and-stick samples, stuck them all over the house, at different times of the day, on different walls, and stared at them like psychopaths. We finally chose Alabaster SW 7008. A very balanced white – slightly warm, without being yellow, more on the taupe side (but don’t get me wrong, this lady is white). It has an 84 LRV, which means that it reflects a lot of light. It looked great with the wood floor, which was mostly what mattered because this color would be in all the open spaces that flowed together – the entry, living room, dining room, kitchen (where there is drywall), and hallways. So yes, I had to really really like this white. Point is, if you need a new white, I think this is really universally good, while still having a slightly warm undertone.

The Mudroom – Rocky River SW 6215 (Cabinets) | Alabaster SW 7008 (Walls)from: river house mudroom reveal

Rocky River SW 6215 was the first paint color we chose, and we all liked it immediately. It was actually our favorite. I didn’t have to hem and haw, and easily moved on. Thrilling! It’s a fantastic, darker green that is still subtle, while having impact. Technically, it’s green with a lot of blue/gray undertones, with a reflective value of 15 (so it’s not going to reflect light well). It looked so pretty with the white oak flooring.

Library Shelves – Malabar SW 9110

A sneak peek into likely my favorite room, the game room. This room is clad in wood, so we wanted the cabinets and shelves to pop a bit, but not be the star. So we chose a neutral tone, which we properly obsessed over. We wanted to pull the lighter tones of the wood out without going to pink, yellow, or brown. It was hard!! Thank goodness it was exactly what we wanted because the labor for painting custom cabinetry is so expensive (regular drywall can be easily DIY’d, but cabinetry is specific). Malabar SW 9110 is a light taupe, they call it a “sandy beige” with slightly yellow undertones and a 54 LRV.

Family Room – Evergreen Fog SW 9130

This room is meant to be a darker, cozier retreat of a family/TV room, and yet it has a lot of windows, so it can actually get a lot of natural light. So the trick with this is to choose something that has an undertone that you love, but not so much pigment that with the light it becomes overly bold. In my family room, for example, we used Still Water SW 6223, which is perfect in our dark, low-light room, but that same color in a brightly lit room would be so bold and scream TEAL. So we had to choose a color that looked cozy in the dark but also lovely in the light – enter Evergreen Fog SW 9130. This was the Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year a few years ago, and I can see why. It has so many undertones – green, brown, blue, and is just so flexible. I will say that we tried a sample of it in Brian’s office, and it read as gray there, with just a small window providing natural light during the day. It’s a color that gives a lot of movement with a little bit of natural light. But in here, it’s a really inviting green/gray neutral that everyone responds so positively to.

Frank’s Room – Studio Blue Green SW 0047

I have wanted to use Studio Blue Green SW 0047 for a long time – it’s so good. Frank’s room (my nephew) is on the south side of the house and gets pretty low light despite having two windows. So we embraced the coziness and painted it (and the ceiling) this darker blue/green. It’s so high impact while strangely being soft on the eyes. I can’t wait to decorate this room (up next!).

Guest Bedroom – Cocoa Berry SW 9078from: river house guest bedroom

I didn’t mean to use the same warm pink twice, but we accidentally chose it again because it’s that good. Cocoa Berry SW 9078 is in my powder bath, and I love it – so soothing and inviting. It’s extremely womb-like in the best of ways and is the dominant reason why this room is where everyone wants to go when they need alone time or take a sick day. Just incredibly cozy and warm. 10/10 this color.

Laundry Room – Eventide SW 9643from: river house laundry room

Once I saw these cabinets being painted this color, I vowed to use it in my home somewhere. Eventide SW 9643 is so soothing and calm and has the perfect amount of blue/green and gray in it. It reads as light blue, but not baby or powder blue. Getting the right blue/gray blue at times feels impossible, but this one is so pretty.

Pantry Nook – Rain Cloud SW 9639 (Cabinet) | Alabaster SW 7008 (Walls)

If you are in the market for a good navy, this one is fantastic because it is more complicated than your typical “dark navy” that often looks one-note. Rain Cloud SW 9639 is deep and rich, then cut with enough gray that it doesn’t look too bright.

The entire house flows so well, despite using blues, greens, and pinks. The warmer white is the throughline (as is all the wood), and we pulled the same colors from the paint and plugged them into all the fabrics, textiles, and art. I’m so excited to show you all the styled-out shots. A huge thanks to Sherwin-Williams for partnering on this project – it was a long time coming, and we technically aren’t done, but the colors are dialed in and we love every single one of them so much.

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The Link Up: The Sunglasses The Henderson Family Fights Over, Gretch’s New Fav Shop, And Truly Great Sofas ON SALE:)

Happy Sunday, everyone. We’re all in a little disbelief that tomorrow is SEPTEMBER, but that’s how time works! But one great thing about it being September 1st is that’s the day we all get to celebrate Emily Henderson’s birthday. She’s not one for wanting gifts (she always says she has more than enough), but will always appreciate a kind word. So please feel free to send our truly wonderful boss some much-deserved love. Lord knows, we all could use more of that. HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY, EM!!!!!

This week’s house tour is a NYC rental that will make anyone want wall-to-wall curtains. It’s calm but colorful, fun but not overwhelming. It’s a VERY fun story of how it came to be, and you can see/read all about it here!

From Emily: I’ve been gatekeeping these sunglasses for a while because I thought they were only sold at Target and were always sold out, but Brian and I both came back from different stores (me DSW, him Dicks) with 3 each, stocking up because our entire family wears them and fights over them. We had a real laugh at our collective bounty. They are called Goodr, and you see, they are excellent everyday sunglasses that are so lightweight and stay on your face (they are meant for people who like to be really active) and yet have zero glare (I don’t know too much about sunglasses, but these just cut the sunlight really well and stay on so well). Some are $25 and others are $35, and we all have our preferred styles, but honestly, they are all pretty great. While I want to be someone who treats sunglasses with respect, I just don’t (I lose them before I break them), and so these have been my go-tos since I discovered them before our Belize trip. I love the “Amelia Earhart Ghosted Me” (aviators) and “Bosley’s Basset Hound Dreams” (which is also Brian’s favorite). The kids like any of the black ones that they can get their hands on (which fit us, too, so it’s a real family affair).

From Caitlin: Has anyone tried the in-shower moisture treatment from Hanni? I’m going to be honest: I’ve been slipping on the moisturizer lately. Sometimes you just have more important priorities, you know? I gotta get out of the shower and sprint to whatever I’ve scheduled next! There’s not enough time in the day to sit around and wait for my ultra-rich moisturizers to sink in, especially as we head into the hottest month of LA’s summer. (Pray for my electricity bill next month – we don’t have insulation!) I’ve been doing my research, and the Hanni balm seems to be much beloved, but I’m very open to any other in-shower moisturizer suggestions. Any tips?

The amazing Caitlin has once again put together the best Labor Day Sale post out there! If you have items on your list you need, LOOK AT THIS POST FIRST! There are so many amazing discounts and she truly puts so much time and work into it<3

From Jess: I’m typically not one to buy clothes for the next season before it starts. I need to feel a chill in the air before I start thinking sweaters, you know? But for some reason, I got into my head that I wanted a leather jacket now. Mind you, it’s a million degrees in LA currently, so I am future planning! I decided to check out The Real Real, which I often forget about. What a treasure trove of heavily discounted leather jackets! I got an $800 Anine Bing Moto Jacket for $130, and the best part is that I can return it if it doesn’t fit (that’s not always the case with second-hand businesses). So I guess this is more of a PSA to not forget about The Real Real, especially for staples like a leather jacket:)

As a fun little reminder, our new sofa and chair collection, Room Service by Emily Henderson, is on sale, like right now:) Yes, beautiful sofas on sale! We are incredibly proud of these pieces and hope that if you are in the market for beautiful and comfortable seating, you’ll take a look. Here’s a blog post where Em talks about each one!

From Mallory: I’ve been LIVING in this lightweight, boxy summer tank – the collar is SO cute and it fits so well – flowy enough so it doesn’t cling to your skin (and if you’re in the small boob club like me, it’s the perfect top to not wear a bra, just saying). I’m SO glad I got it!

From Arlyn: My sister was here visiting recently, and all week, I was eyeing her cute new sneakers. She wore them all day throughout Disneyland and was the only one not complaining that her feet hurt. They looked sporty and fun with everything she wore (especially with that hint of green), and she now has me convinced I may need them, as well. I especially like that they aren’t overly bulky like some other 2000s-style trainers are. And if the green details aren’t for you, yes, they come in other colors!

From Marlee: Last winter, I shared the cardigan that I searched my whole life for. That sounds so dramatic, but I seriously have been looking for a VERY specific type of cardigan for years – it’s the perfect boxy fit, with simple lines, not itchy, the buttons are discreet, and now it’s become one of my most complimented clothing items. By the time I realized how valuable of a purchase it was for me, they were all sold out, and I wasn’t able to invest in more colors. BUT I waited patiently, and the brand just launched their fall line, which includes a great new lineup of colors of the same sweater. I just picked up another one in this super pretty muted brown color, and I love it. I have a feeling I’m going to go back for the “Mole” color as well. I’m 5’8” and got a small (my other one is a medium), and they fit pretty similarly – the small is just a little less roomy in the body of it, but sleeves and crop are the same. 

From Gretchen: I just returned from an AWESOME trip visiting some of my best friends who live in Toronto. We spent the weekend lakeside–boating, paddleboarding, back-diving, and sharing some beautiful meals together. It was a dream. Then we all headed back into the city where I kept myself busy by…shopping, duh! Toronto has some incredible vintage shops, some of my all-time favorites. I scored a bunch of cool, old t-shirts, some vintage hats to add to my collection, and even found some new jewelry! But I was also happy to stumble upon some amazing boutique and retail stores I’d never heard of. I really fell in love with this shop called KOTN. Apparently, they also have stores in NY and LA (plus everything is available online), but their shop in Toronto is the flagship store with so many beautiful pieces on display. I picked up two collared shirts on sale; this 100% cotton, cream jersey polo that drapes perfectly, looks great tucked in, and is super breathable/comfy. And another collared shirt, which was way more fitted, black, and came with the cutest buttons. I almost walked away with a pair of jeans, but wasn’t sure I’d be able to stuff them in the suitcase, but now I might just buy them online. I’m so glad this place is on my radar now for well-made, classic closet staples.

Please take care of each other, and thank you for stopping by. See you tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Announcing Our First Furniture Collection: ROOM SERVICE By Emily Henderson

46 Years Young (And A Recap Of Our Summer)

My birthday is always over Labor Day, so I’m usually with friends and kids outside in nature for a few days – my preferred state of being. But I’m not going to lie that 46 feels a lot older than 45, and inching towards 50 has made Brian and me definitely think more about our future, future. We adulted hard this year (with help). We finally did a proper will/trust (so annoying but so nice to have it down). We both did extensive preventative blood work (Function Health – mixed reviews TBH), and now I’m starting a statin (genetically high, persistent bad cholesterol) and possibly some HRT. I have inflammation around the heart and low white blood cells, with no symptoms, which was rather enlightening/scary. It feels good investing in our health, but our first colonoscopy is in a couple of weeks, which doesn’t sound terribly fun. And whenever I think about amping up work, doing something bigger, growing in the design/media world, I remind myself that I have 6 and 8 more years with the kids at home and then decades afterwards to explore any career stuff I want. I listen a lot to Daniel Pink (The Power of Regret) and Arthur C. Brooks (From Strength to Strength). Everything is an “opportunity cost”, and the opportunity to hang out with my family over trying to explore my career is winning for the next 6-8 years while they are home (which I realize is a privilege, obviously). Anyway, this summer was all about family, connection, and nature – the PNW is glorious and we try to STACK it all in (including a lot of long shoots while we have so much beautiful natural light). So here’s what we did:

June: Brian And I Alone Trip To New York

Brian and I realized that this summer was our 25th “dating anniversary,” which he laughs is not a thing, and I absolutely disagree – still really liking/loving each other after 25 years is special, so you BET we are going to celebrate. The kids flew down to Sacramento to stay with Brian’s parents for a week (truly a gift), so Brian and I flew to New York just the two of us for fun for 5 nights or reliving our 20s. Brian planned the entire thing, full of food, three Broadway plays, and a trip down memory lane.

We visited our studio apartment in the East Village we lived in in 2001, had drinks at the same bars (wild!), and were so reminded of how energetic and diverse that beautiful city is.

We were lucky enough to see Cole Escola in their last weekend in Oh, Mary (speechless, so hilarious) as well as The Outsiders (so many tween/teen boys in the audience, which made me cry!), and Maybe Happy Ending (excellent, Brian and I both cried – incredibly moving).

The restaurant highlights were La Mercerie at The Guild (stunning and delicious), The Corner Store (super sceney in a fun way and also delicious), Cafe Mado (worth the trip to Brooklyn), and Kabawa (mind-blowing – #4 in all restaurants in the NY Times).

We also had some restaurant misses and didn’t sleep very well (not used to the city sounds), and we likely stayed out WAY too late most nights, but boy was it fun. We had an incredible trip, but were so drained at the end and excited to be home with the kids. I love that city and hope that our kids want to live there in their 20s, but once you’ve moved away, it’s hard to picture your life again there (in good and bad ways). So excited to take the kids when they are teenagers – it’s really so inspiring.

White Fish, Montana

While we honestly don’t need to leave the PNW in the summer (people come from all over the world to be here), we wanted a change of scenery/vibe and took the 1-hour flight to Whitefish, Montana, for a 6-night stay.

We hiked Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park (on a guided hike, which I wouldn’t recommend, but we didn’t have parking passes). The payoff at the end was awesome, but 6 miles was a lot for the kids.

We zip-lined at the ski resort (so fun), paddle boarded the river (serene), went white water rafting (do NOT do the full day, the 1/2 day was great/long enough), and rock climbing (with a guide). We made a couple of planning misses (where we stayed was kind of a bummer), and I think I overplanned our days, and spent too much time in the car driving to Glacier (staying in a lodge there would be rad). We transferred to the lodge on the water for the last night, and it was so fun to have a reading/pool day. All in all loved the town and vibe, had great food, and explored so much in nature. Also, next time we are taking the train from Portland – that looks so fun. Montana is really sooooo special.

Lots Of BBQs, Pickleball Ball, And Family/Neighborhood Hang Time

While the summer felt like it flew by, we had a lot of weekends where we just planned a really big Saturday – either a BBQ or a big hike/lunch/biking trip out with the kids.

The weather up here (mostly in the 70s and 80s) is hard to beat, and so many bodies of water to explore.

The kids had a lot of free rein with their friends (thank you, Jonathan Haidt) and mostly played outside until 3 pm with their friends (rewarded with some downtime – i.e., screens).

A 5 Night Cycling Tour On The San Juan Islands

While Brian planned New York, I was busy planning our first “lightly supported” cycling trip while the kids were in sleep-away camp in August. I could write many pages on why this was so awesome (happy to answer questions in the comments!), but it checked almost all boxes for us – all day in nature, active, dopamine/endorphins pumping, bonding, beautiful scenery, challenging, delicious food, exhausted bodies at the end of the day with so much bonding/talking and reading time. We stayed one night in Anacortes, took the ferry to Friday Harbour, biked 75 miles on San Juan over two days (south and northern loops), then 18 miles on Lopez Island (so beautiful and serene), and 30 miles on Orcas (but we rented the E-bikes that day – our bodies were DONE and it was so windy and hilly). We spent our last night at La Conner (adorable – we want to go back with the kids). Shout out to the incredible vintage store – Smörgåsbord on Orcas – I bought like 10 things I didn’t need.

I have mostly good reviews on the program we did (Lifecycle – self-guided), the routes, customer service, our guide Tom, and the app was great (just didn’t love the first bed & breakfast as much as we wanted to for the price). Again, it was self-guided, with support if we needed (so it was just the two of us on our own – they just helped move all our luggage or arrange reservations, etc). But you don’t need to do the program if you don’t mind schlepping your own stuff around (on bike or backpack) and researching and booking way out in advance. I was glad we did the program our first time because it forced us to actually do it (because it was expensive and non-refundable, lol), but next time, now that we know our limits/skills, we’ll try to just do it on our own (unless in a foreign country).

We had never done anything like this before so having a guide to ask questions was nice, as well as better understanding how many miles a day is perfect for us (20-30) and how many days in a row we’d want to do it next time (four days in a row was a bit much without a down day in the middle). We met so many people in the second half of their lives, seeing the world on bikes that honestly just seemed so happy and youthful (E-bikes have really opened up this world in such an incredible way).

I am SOLD on cycling trips every summer in our future, and it gives me something to look forward to when the kids go to college. It felt so enriching, fulfilling, and healthy – and that first ice-cold draft beer when you are all dirty and sweaty with your partner was pretty magical. And yes, we wore bib shorts with padded crotches and everything :)

We also went to Brian’s brother’s beautiful wedding weekend in Tahoe (so beautiful), spent three nights camping with a bunch of school friends (the best three days of the summer for the kids), and now we are hosting two of our closest long-time friends and their kids for my birthday weekend. Horsetail Falls, Scamania, Sugarpine, and the Dhalia festival – we’ll see all you this weekend.

I wrote a very long, rambling wanna-be profound essay on how it feels to be officially mid-life, career insecurities, feelings about external and internal age, and my emotions about the kids getting older. Maybe someday I’ll formulate it into the articulate essay that I’m brave enough to publish :) As we all know, there is no perfect life, no perfect marriage, no perfect school or place to live. But boy am I so grateful to still be here, able to spend time with you all, my team, my husband of 19 years now, and my two favorite kids on the planet. Here’s to 46, I’m just so happy to still be here (in all the ways) and have you here :) I really, really appreciate you all more than I know how to express.