Emily Henderson's Blog, page 102

January 26, 2023

Our Mudroom Reveal: A Dog + Storage-Focused Space That Is Possibly My Favorite Room In Our House

OH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY DO I HAVE ONE FOR YOU. This lady, Mrs. Mudroom, is quite possibly my favorite room in the house (rivaled by the kitchen, sunroom, and our bathroom, TBH). I’m not joking that every single time I walk into it I feel joy and happiness through the sense of light, space, and sheer ease of function. All the design elements came together just as they did in my mind – NO, even better. At this point in the farmhouse reveal/progress postings, you’ve heard me walk you through my regrets and disappointments (to an almost painful degree…for all of us) so I hope that when I say I truly love something you believe me. I’m not trying to brag or pat myself on the back here, although to hell with it – I’m going to celebrate this room today and every time I walk into it because pulling together a room that you truly love, after putting so much hard work into a space, especially in the midst of a larger stressful renovation is worthy of a GD local parade. Floats! Fireworks! If you can relate to this at all, I encourage you to CELEBRATE EVERY SINGLE WIN. I made and own a lot of my personal mistakes and regrets in this house that I have to fix publicly (and am now excited to) but this room, this wonderful hardworking space that I’m so lucky to call ours, had (almost) nothing I would change about it when we moved in this past September. Sure, there is the hilarious and totally permanent overlook/mistake that none of us caught which I’ll explain below, but it doesn’t bother me anymore, and hell, maybe it is even better. If you really want to know what’s happening in this brain, I just got back from a 4 day spiritual/wellness retreat with two of my closest friends because this last year and a half I was not my best self, and I feel totally realigned with joy, capital L Love, the universe, God, nature – all of it/us. And y’all, I’m going to try to bring that energy here every day. Starting today with this happy hardworking space that I can’t wait to tell you about.

The Design Plan + Functional Needs

We’ve never had a mudroom before because in Los Angeles the need is more for a “drop zone” which we barely had, but it was fine. Up here in the PNW, mud and wet shoes are a part of our daily lives so people often carve out mudrooms from other spaces if they don’t have one. Same with us. This room was very much prioritized to mitigate the mud/dirt/coats/shoes in the rest of the house. I feel like I can’t say with full honesty that the kids and dogs solely use this room because we are still landscaping and the flagstone path to those exterior doors just got installed over Christmas. But yes, as of two weeks ago we are now trying to ONLY use those doors when we go in and out to walk the dogs or play in the backyard on nice days. To accomplish this lofty goal, the kids are getting a piece of candy every time they come in via that room. Like seals. They do their trick, they get a candy. More specifically every time they drop their shoes/stuff in the mudroom, take/unload their lunchbox to the sink we throw them their tiny treat. It’s absolutely questionable parenting and yet totally working.

We thought about all design elements through the lens of durability and ease to clean. In the name of not being boring, I still compromised here and there for beauty, as I’ll explain in a different post (and dabble in today). Btw if you want to watch a video walkthrough of this room, I’m giving you the full tour here (just wait for the ad to play, please and thank you :))!!

The Incredible Dark Teal Herringbone Tile

Tile

This tile was chosen very early on as the perfect “mudroom” floor color because it felt fresh and clean but darker, textural, and forgiving. It is a custom color through Pratt + Larson in their brownstone collection – is really handmade with more surface movement. We chose 2×8 bricks to be herringboned with a straight run border of two tile widths. I know this detail (the border) might not be something that everyone will notice, but my goodness, to me it makes the whole room feel more pulled together and special. I don’t LOVE when herringbone ends against a wall and prefer for a border to stop it (not a huge deal btw if you have done this, just a slight preference that is, yes, more expensive to execute).

We hired Level Plane to install the tile and they were extremely meticulous in making sure it was balanced. They did the border first, then calculated the brick herringbone to make sure that it looked as intentional as possible. We used a 3/16th grout line (which is on the larger end of “very small” and the smallest that Pratt + Larson recommended for this size of handmade tile) and opted for Slate for the grout color. The grout color is super important y’all because had we gone lighter you would definitely have seen the dirt or it would turn brown, but really dark (which we did a sample for) changed the entire look of the room to be more intense and super serious.

The White Oak Floor To Ceiling Cabinets

Cabinets

A real dream, made true by Unique Kitchens and Baths. We customized these to be pretty darn special if you ask me with specific storage for each drawer or cupboard. They did an incredible job building them and 8 weeks later came shipped on a truck in blankets where Jamie and the ARCIFORM team installed them. They are white oak with a clear natural sealant and they are extremely durable. We chose a natural wood in here, like the kitchen, mostly for durability after years of dealing with chipped paint on cabinets (which is avoidable but in my personal experience, fairly inevitable if they are painted wood). Plus the wood hides dirt should the dogs shake off and I don’t wipe it up immediately.

We shook up the design of the cabinets with the metal grates at the top. This is mostly an aesthetic choice, but certainly adds venting should there be future sports uniforms in there. We originally had them on the bottom of a couple of the cabinets but apparently, they can easily be kicked and damaged down there. We will absolutely do a show and tell of what’s in all the cupboards as soon as I organize them (but yes, there is a pull-out dog food bin). ARCIFORM (shout out to the incredible Stephyn and Anne) did the first round of drawings and helped us dial it all in with UKB, but what is so great about UKB is that you don’t have to have a designer – they will design the kitchen with you and do all the drawings (thus saving you a crucial step). If you are interested in their cabinets they are giving my readers a 10% discount with code EH2022 (yes I got a discount, too).

Cabinet Hardware

Drawer Pulls | Cabinets Handles

Latches | Knobs

While we are here I wanted to show you the cabinet hardware from Rejuvenation, which is echoed in the kitchen and is just so classic and perfect. We chose the unlacquered brass which has already patina’d PERFECTLY in 3 months and looks so beautiful against the white oak (it’s a quieter look, less of a big pop which I also love, but for this room and our kitchen, I loved the brass and wood tonal look). I chose a mix of knobs, bin pulls, and latches so it looks special but cohesive. We used similar hardware in the kitchen and the Oil Rubbed Bronze version in the pantry. I just love how you can mix and match and really dress up the cabinets.

The Most Soothing Paint Color Yet – Dew Drop By Sherwin-Williams

Wall Color | Paneling and Trim Color

My new goal in life is to feel the same about all paint colors as I do this one. I walked in and it was an immediate “oh my gosh this is so good”. Literally, everyone who walks in has the same reaction. It’s an extremely soothing pastel that has both green and blue undertones. It’s light and bright, but with the white above it, you can see the tone more. I think this in a darker room would probably lose some of its power, but in a room full of natural light it just envelopes you in this soft song of wonderfulness. We are also so glad we went with wood paneling and semi-gloss in here – it’s SO DURABLE and has wiped up so easily as the pups shake off mud all over it. Even if I let it dry, it comes up easily without leaving any mark at all. Some of the other paint colors I could “live with” because they were good (like the kid’s bath and the powder bath), but through this process, I realized that for all the hard work that was put into this house by so many people and companies, I need to love every color as much as I love this one (which is so much). So in a way, my love for this prompted me to muster up the energy and money to paint the others (which I’m SO HAPPY WITH THANKS THE UNIVERSE ABOVE). Sherwin-Williams has so many to choose from and I’m getting better and better at understanding both undertones as well as homing in on what I really want in this house after living here. More to come, but if you are in the market for a super fresh, soothing, and still totally sophisticated light pastel color – Dew Drop by Sherwin-Williams is your new best friend.

The Dog Wash Station

Faucet | Sconce

There is a lot to tell you about this which is why it deserves its own post in regard to size, function, and tips I’ve learned. But as you can see we have this dog washing station and so far we’ve used it no less than 5 times a week. Not necessarily for a full bath (mostly because Brian likes to shower with them which keeps them more contained), but it is excellent for the daily paw cleaning after walks which is what it was designed for. We fabricated it out of stone (the same Carerra as the rest of the house) and it turned out beautifully (Alpha StoneWorks was the fabricator for anyone local). The faucet is from Rejuvenation in polished nickel mostly because I felt that the gold in here would be too garish for a dog washing station. The hand shower works so well to get the dirt out of their paws and they even kinda like it! Likely because I say, “good boy” and “good girl” over and over in that annoying voice that somehow comes out when I talk to my dogs. Ask all of the details in the comments re this area so when I write that full post I can address all of them.

The Washer And Dryer

So here’s a funny story. About a year and a half ago or hell, even more, we had the mudroom where the kitchen is, but much smaller. It was going to be a drop zone with a small washer/dryer for more of the wet soccer clothes, dog towels, etc. We were also going to have another laundry set up on the bedroom floor for most of the clothes and sheets. Then we changed the layout, moved the mudroom into this corner of the house to make the kitchen bigger and better (so glad we did by the way), and dragged and dropped these units into this new room in the drawings. We designed the rest of the room with all the specs in place. You know where this is going. We didn’t catch until later that we hadn’t upgraded to a larger size. We already had the washer and dryer and the more we thought about it we figured that most of the laundry would be upstairs – kids’ clothes, their bathroom, and 3 bedrooms of sheets. So as long as we had a larger size up there then we’d keep this one for our clothes and kitchen/dog towels (not to be mixed, btw). I was worried it would look out of scale with the room and maybe it does but I’m so used to it and I really like it. This Miele set is really famous in Europe for being so energy efficient, using such little energy. Two things I’ll note: the capacity is smaller than a normal size, and often I have to do a timed dry to get it all fully dry (I’ll likely line dry more in the summer). But I love that the soap is integrated and they are just so pretty, clean super well, and relatively quiet. We worked with Build With Ferguson on all of these appliances (and handpicked the brands we wanted in our home). The washer also speaks German with a sweet little “Willkommen” instead of “Welcome” which is real cute.

Laundry Basket | Dutch Blue Towel | Striped Towel (similar)

Pendant And Sconce Lighting

Pendants | Pendant Bulbs | Planter

As you know I love these pendants so much (we have the same in our kitchen) because the flat proportion with the round bulb is playful and modern. I love how utilitarian and simple these are (plus gives off enough light that we don’t need recessed lighting). They hang about 16″ down from the ceiling with a cord (which was our preference, so they felt more casual). These are from Rejuvenation and are often used for covered outdoor areas, but I loved them inside in this space so much. They are perfect for in here and for us.

Sconce

The Tolson cage sconces are the ones that I’ve loved forever and are so classic without being boring at all. I especially like them in hard-working areas as the glass shade and metal cage are obviously durable and can handle moisture so well. We matched the polished nickel of the faucet and it’s so lovely with the white oak and the Dew Drop walls.

Windows And Doors

Windows and Doors

Do you need a lot of natural light in your mudroom? Not technically. But with north-facing light (which is so soft and pretty) we knew this room could be so lovely and bright with no harsh light. So we worked with Sierra Pacific on the windows with a modern 2×2 configuration, with paint grade on the inside so we could paint them the same color as the paneling. The french doors are also Sierra Pacific and they lead to the backyard with the flagstone path that the pups walk on to go on our walks through the neighborhood. All excellent quality with some operating and some fixed. The light in here is pure magic even on the cloudiest and rainiest of days.

Velux Skylights

In the name of getting the best natural light for most of the rooms, we added two skylights in here which to no one’s surprise just really helps it feel bright, airy, open, and even more connected to nature (seeing the sky while in a room is really joyful). Velux never disappoints – both in function and making a space so much better through natural light.

Anything I’d Change?

NOPE. Besides needing a better dog mat for the door and tray for the food. I couldn’t bear to shoot what we had which was plastic, rubber, and ugly. I am shopping for a great version of both of those that won’t take away from the design and yet function better than these super cute wood trays (that I got from one of our favorite stores JP General in Multnomah Village).

More To Come…

This post is already pretty darn long, but I want to break down the dog washing station as well as the rolling ladder for you in separate posts. So let me know any questions in the comments and I’ll address them 🙂

Thanks for reading, always. I don’t think I say it enough but those of you who dedicated time to read this and get here in the post just know I really really appreciate you. CHEERS TO ANOTHER REVEAL and more reveals to come very soon. This one was a big win for me personally, a room I feel so proud of and grateful for. Thanks for letting me share. xx

Mudroom Resources:
Cabinetry: Unique Kitchen and Baths
Wall Paint Color: Extra White by Sherwin-Williams
Paneling and Trim Paint Color: Dew Drop by Sherwin-Williams
Floor Tile: Pratt + Larson
Tile Installer: Level Plane
Dog Washing Stone: Bedrosians Tile & Stone
Appliances: Build by Ferguson
Skylights: Velux
Stone Fabrication: Alpha StoneWorks
Hardware: Rejuvenation
Light Fixtures: Rejuvenation

*Design by Emily Henderson and ARCIFORM
*Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on January 26, 2023 01:00

January 25, 2023

What Orlando Has In Store For The Londo Lodge Kitchen And 5 Debates He Wants Your Feedback On

The kitchen at Londo Lodge, my home near Yosemite, was one of the main reasons I bought it. The house sits in an area where most of the homes are either small cabins that have been owned by city dwellers for decades, full-size homes for full-time residents, and a few larger homes that are used as vacation rental homes. My goal for Londo Lodge is to eventually just have it as a vacation home to share with my friends and family. But my plan for the foreseeable future is to rent it out on Airbnb to help pay for all the renovations I want to do to make it into my dream home. I’ve been fixing it up continuously since I got it in October 2020. But the first true renovation on the docket is the kitchen.

I’m prioritizing the kitchen for a few reasons. Firstly, I’m convinced that the kitchen really sets the tone for the rest of the house and has the ability to make the whole home feel higher-end when renovated correctly. When I updated my parents’ Sonoma County kitchen years ago, it changed their house from feeling like a dated, suburban house into a beautiful, sophisticated place. I don’t plan on selling Londo Lodge soon (or ever, really) but every realtor out there will tell you, to renovate your kitchen and bathrooms first if you want your home’s value to go up.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp

As I’ve said before, the kitchen is actually FINE as-is. But I didn’t buy this house because I loved the style. I bought this house because it was an incredible deal. It’s 3000 sq/ft and it was $590,000, which is what a house about half that size would cost in my town today. That probably sounds crazy to anyone who doesn’t live in California but yeah, it’s expensive here! I’ve always been a fan of the “buy the ugliest house in a nice neighborhood” ethic – the idea that you get more value if you buy something that’s not turnkey but has the potential to be beautiful.

I never met the sellers of this house, but I can tell they were the kind of people who loved gathering in the kitchen – it’s a space designed for many people to be in it at the same time without getting in each other’s way. And I think it’s a really nicely designed kitchen. When it was new in 1992, I’m sure it was top of the line. The appliances are fancy for the time, it has a lot of space, and it just feels really nice in there.

Before I get to my plans for the kitchen, I need to explain my master plan for the house. The eventual plan is to convert the current garage into a new, large-scale living room, add a mudroom off the front of the house, and build a garage on the right side of the house. Now if you look at the elevation of the front of the house with that addition, it’s a bit awkward. But the saving grace is that it’s actually very hard to see the whole house from the outside. It’s mostly blocked by trees, especially from the road. So while I’d love to have the exterior of the house make sense, I think swapping out doors and windows, adding some wood accents, and changing the siding to a shingle, it’s going to look a lot more historic and romantic than it does now.

The Dream Renovation Plan

This angle of the house shows what the exterior looked like when I moved in. I’ve since painted it a luscious, rich blue (Goodnight Moon by Clare) and that’s completely changed the way it feels – it looks a lot more elegant now. Basically, my stylistic issue with my plan is that I’m going to basically be tacking a ranch house onto a two-story box. But I’ve gone over a number of different concepts (adding a second floor everywhere, putting the garage in the back of the house, and so on) and none of them make as much sense or are as cost-effective as just making the garage into a living room and plopping a garage on the end of the house. Is it a beautiful and perfect front elevation? No. But will it give me the interior spaces I want? Yes. And I think it’s going to be so hard for people to actually stand back and see the whole thing because of the woods that I don’t think the awkward design would be that noticeable.

The eventual vibe I’m going for is a combination of Craftsman and Cape Cod styles. Rather than feeling like you’re walking into a 90s box when you arrive, I want people to feel like they’re coming into a home built in 1929, the year the house in Yosemite Valley where I grew up was built. Of course, there are going to be some giveaways that it’s a newer build, but the overall goal is to just make this feel like a place with some history. And luckily, the architecture is rectangular and simple enough that re-skinning everything should make it look vastly different. Again, I don’t want any historic preservationists coming for me being like “well technically that’s not the kind of joinery you’d see in a 1929 Craftsman!” The point is to create a home that tells a romantic story. If I wanted to create an actually historically accurate Craftsman home I would have to start from scratch and that’s way out of my budget.

A lot of friends and designers who have seen the house have been like “why not just make it super modern since it has all these contemporary lines?” And the answer to that is that I am not really attracted to contemporary spaces. While I love beautiful, modern cabins like Emily’s, my association with homes in the woods is that they are old, historic spaces like the homes me and my friends grew up in Yosemite. Plus, quite frankly, I think it’s a lot harder to create a truly timeless look when going modern in a cabin. The goal here is to create spaces that will look just as inviting and relevant in twenty years as they look when they’re freshly remodeled.

The footprint of the kitchen is not gonna change much. As I said, I really like how the space feels and generally how it’s laid out. The main differences are that I’m adding an exterior door (which will eventually become a hallway when the home’s addition gets built), I’m moving the range to the wall where the refrigerator sits, and I’m building an entire (beautiful) refrigeration wall where the broom closet and cabinets are currently.

Okay, sorry if all that was boring! I just needed to explain the backstory because some of the above facts impact how I designed the kitchen. Let’s see what the actual plans are!

The Overall Kitchen Design Plan

The style I am going for the house is historic and traditional. Often, people tell me they think my style is “clean and modern” but I have always been a lot more attracted to historic homes than to modern ones. For my dream house, I want something that feels like it has some age and history. One of the things I noticed after moving into the house was that the kitchen has a LOT of cabinets. Like borderline too many cabinets. Especially for a vacation house. I’m not sure I’ll ever live in this house full-time again so I know I definitely don’t need that many cabinets. Half of them currently have nothing in them. So my first decision was to get rid of the upper cabinets on the east side of the house and replace them with windows. For a home in the woods, this house has a perplexing lack of windows and doors, almost as if to keep you away from the outdoors. A goal is to make the property a more integrated outdoor/indoor experience.

The Range Wall

Before I even closed on the house, I reached out to Bertazzoni to pitch the kitchen to them. I was honestly surprised when they agreed to sponsor (i.e. send appliances in exchange for a set of deliverables) because they’d already sponsored my parent’s kitchen and my LA chateau’s makeovers. Most brands will engage with an influencer once, but after they’ve done so they’re kind of over you – they’ve gotten what they need out of you (your audience’s eyeballs). But I’ve met the actual Bertazzoni’s. It’s a family company and they’re pretty loyal to their partners, so I was delighted to get to work with them again (especially because I’ve been coveting my mom’s Heritage Range ever since she got it). Quite frankly, without the Bertazzoni sponsorship, this kitchen would NOT be possible so I am VERY thankful for it.

Range

I can’t even believe this gorgeous range is going in my new kitchen. Like I feel oddly not worthy. I’m doing the Bertazzoni Heritage Range (that’s the brass accents all over). The Metalli accents also come in copper and black, but I loved how warm the gold was. The color I’m going with is Avorio, which is a warm ivory that is going to set the tone for the color palette of the whole room.

I’m also doing the matching Heritage Range Hood with Metalli accents. It has a hang bar at the back and I may do something SHOCKING with it: hang pots! But probably only if I get really cute copper pots and pans to hang there that I will get mad if anyone touches unless they sign a contract agreeing to polish them once finished. Hi, I like looking at pretty things and I like things to be perfect all the time. SO SUE ME!

The Tile Choices! (And Orientation Question)

Wall Tile

Behind the hood and the range, the walls will be tiled with Fireclay Tile’s Chaine Homme (the color is “Mist.” Because of all the cabinetry, appliances, and windows, there actually isn’t a lot of wall space in this kitchen. So I decided to just tile all the way up to the ceiling around the room. I used Chaine Homme in the Orcondo kitchen years ago and I have always loved it. And I wanted to bring in some color while keeping everything light and airy, so I decided to go with a faint version of a color I’ve been using all over the house since I moved in (it’s kind of a gray-blue-green).

Floor Tile

For the flooring, I’m going with another Fireclay Tile. It’s their Brick in the 2.5” x 8” proportion (in the color White Mountains). My original idea was to do this in a weave pattern, but the brand doesn’t technically advise that because the tiles are designed to be irregular and organic (meaning some tilers will have a problem with keeping a grid pattern because the tiles have slightly varying lengths and widths). This is because they’re handmade, which is the whole point and makes them feel a lot more earthy. As of now, my plan is to stagger them but I also LOVE what my friend Shavonda did in her kitchen, which was the pattern I was originally thinking of. Yes, there’s a little bit of a rustic, organic edge to it. But I like how it turned out in her house. I think ultimately I’ll make the decisions based on what the tile installer seems comfortable with. Because even though Shavonda’s floor *looks* like it has a lot of random things happening in it, you can tell it was done by someone who knows what they’re doing and intentionally created the kind of line variation she has.

DEBATE #1: How should I lay the floor tile?Stagger itLay it in a weave patternStraight stack itThe Island (And Prep Sink Debate)

I love the amount of prep space in the current kitchen and didn’t want to lose any of it. So I plan to keep an island in the middle of the room. But I wanted it to feel more like a piece of furniture than a cabinet, so I’m having Justin, a longtime friend and the carpenter from my show “Build Me Up”, build me a custom, large island out of white oak. Originally I contemplated doing a chop block top or just wood, but I decided that I wanted something a little more resilient because I will be renting this place out.

The plan is to have the island sit off the floor about 6” so it feels lighter and more open. The island is going to have a sink so there will likely be some piping that goes through the bottom of the island, but it won’t be visible from most places because the sink itself will be far enough in that you’d have to be pretty close/low to see the pipes.

DEBATE #2: Should I buy a bigger sink?

Now, here’s where another debate item comes in. Originally, I simply wanted to replace the bar sink in the current island with another bar sink. So I ordered the very cute Porto Fino bar sink from Kohler and called it a day. But the longer that sink sits in my garage, the more it haunts me that it may end up feeling too small once installed.

In my parent’s kitchen, we installed a beautiful bar sink thinking that’s where we’d put the water filtration system. We ended up NOT doing that (I can’t really remember why) so then we ended up with a smaller sink that had a stationary faucet. It is fine unless we’re all over there cooking and we want two sinks that are fully functional for cooking and washing dishes. The thing that ended up being wrong with my mom’s sink is that we wanted a pull-down faucet so we could rinse things down the drain (for some reason we had the foresight to put a disposal in that sink but not the foresight to put a pull-down faucet). So my mom actually has added a spout that pivots to this faucet (don’t be mad, Kallista! It doesn’t look half bad!). But that whole experience taught me that if you have sinks in your kitchen, you probably are going to want them to be fully functional if you ever plan on having multiple people helping with cooking and cleaning at once.

In sourcing my own sink, I had the foresight to choose a pull-down faucet (the beautiful Kohler Artifacts Pull –Down in Brushed Brass). But now I’m thinking I messed up on the size of that sink. The main sink on the window wall is the Kohler Bakersfield sink, which is 31” wide so I’m now thinking I may want to swap out the island sink for something in the 25” range like the 25” wide Glen Falls sink or something similar.

The pros to keeping the Porto Fino sink are:

I already have itI love the cute round shape and how it differentiates it from the main sinkWhat if I never end up using that island sink to wash vegetables or do dishes?

The pros to getting a bigger sink are:

It’ll be big enough to wash pots and pansIt’ll be big enough to soak dishesIt will be rectangular and match the shape of the main sink

What do you think?

A Wood-Fired Oven????

Okay, while we’re still on this side of the room, I want to throw another debate item at you and this one is kind of a curveball because I literally just thought of it. SHOULD I BUILD A PRETTY BUT MOSTLY DECORATIVE PIZZA OVEN/FIREPLACE THING? I’ve never put these in a kitchen for a client so I have zero experience with them, but I guess the correct term for them is “wood-fired oven.” They were common in the European kitchens of yesteryear (or yestercentury more like it). But they’re not often found in modern kitchens. For some reason, everyone who has a pizza oven puts it outside. But why let the yard have all the fun?

Here’s my thinking here. And yes, it’s going to be long-winded because I’m incapable of telling a short story. Have any of you been watching that Netflix show “The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals”? Well, I spent all week VERY SICK with food poisoning and/or salmonella (yay!) and I have watched pretty much the whole thing now. I have some notes about how absolutely bonkers the hosts’ responses to everything are but I’ll keep those to myself (oops I said it!). But it’s a fun show and the hosts are really charming even if it seems like their heads might pop off from excitement every time they walk into a new room.

photo by alexandria monette

Anyyyyywayyyy, in one episode the show went to Sunstone Winery, which is a beautiful property in Santa Ynez that looks like it’s in the Mediterranean and is a thousand years old. It’s really beautifully done and in one shot, they showed the kitchen (above). And in that kitchen was… A fireplace? A pizza oven? Both? It was a wood-fired oven. And I was like, “MA’AM! I WANT THAT!”

Now, will I ever cook a pizza in that oven? Probably not. Will I burn fires in it and feel cozy? Absolutely. I could just install a fireplace in the kitchen but I think the novelty of it actually functioning to cook is pretty fun. In the light research I’ve done, in California, you’re allowed to build a wood-burning pizza oven in a kitchen but not a regular wood-burning fireplace (I’m pretty sure you can’t put those in anywhere). Which is fine, I could just do a gas fireplace in there. But I think it would be mostly just something to look at, something that occasionally gets used, and hopefully something that leaves the faint tint of smoke and wood in the air. I just like the presence of something that feels old-world like this in the kitchen and it also would allow me to bring in another element – stone.

So here’s my question. Is it stupid to install an indoor wood-fired oven just because I want to look at it? Even though I’d probably only make like three pizzas per year in it and maybe one loaf of bread? It could also be fun to roast marshmallows in with my niece and nephews. But mostly I’d probably just have it styled with a few logs and look at it all the time. There are companies (like this one) that make the inserts so I could just build it into a corner and pretend I live in the olden days (which sometimes I do because the power goes off a lot here and quite honestly I’d probably use this wood-fired oven to cook in those cases).

I’d also have to get rid of the appliance garage to make way for the wood-fired oven, but I think I can find another place for that. I’d probably relocate it to the space to the left of the refrigeration columns.

design by the fox group | photo by scott davisDEBATE #3 – Should I add a wood-fired oven just for fun and literally no other reason?

So let’s all vote. Is the wood-fired oven thing?:

Totally a waste of money and cabinet space.A fun way to bring in something novel and another finish, stone!My Grand Fridge Wall

One change I’m really excited about is the integrated refrigeration columns on the west wall of the kitchen. I wanted this kitchen to feel as old-world and warm as possible, so I am going with Bertazzoni’s Panel-Ready Built-In Columns and I could not be more excited about it. As it’s laid out now, the refrigerator will be on the right, a glass-fronted wine fridge will be in the center, and a freezer column will be on the left. Each column is 24” wide and at first, I thought that might not be enough refrigeration but once I thought about how tall the units are (83”) I realized I was gaining a lot more space than I have now with a full-size refrigerator/freezer combo.

To the left of the refrigeration is something I really wanted in the kitchen: glass-fronted cabinets. Now, this is not something I recommend to clients most of the time. I only really recommend this to designers, stylists, and people who love arranging things. Because these cabinets will have to be expertly styled all the time or they will look terrible. But I wanted a place to store my “pretty-but-please-don’t-touch” pottery collection. I have a lot of pretty dishes and one-of-a-kind pottery I would like a place to display. And I also want a reason to start collecting more. Like a lot of you, I am obsessed with beautiful handmade pottery. Since this house will be a vacation rental, and also to add some style and charm to these cabinets, I may have the cabinet maker add those old-timey brass locks with the old-timey keys so I can make sure no one accesses these shelves when I don’t want them to. They’ll also be a source of light for that side of the room. The shelves will be glass to let light through and the shelving will be illuminated from above.

This side of the room involves one of the only real demos we’re going to have to do in here – knocking out what is currently a broom closet in the adjacent hall so I can sink all that refrigeration into that wall. I’ve had to do some drywall work in the house myself and honestly, it kind of taught me that drywall is a lot easier to work with than one would expect.

Pretty Yet Super Durable Countertops

As I said in describing the island above, the idea with it was to make it feel like a standalone piece of furniture. One of the ways I’m planning on doing this is with the countertop. For most of the counters in the kitchen, I plan to use Cambria’s Inverness Frost. This is a REALLY beautiful new pattern from them. The technology and artistry with these countertops keeps getting more and more impressive year after year. And this particular pattern features debossed veining that makes it look impossibly real. I wanted the main counters to feel light so I’m going with a marble look everywhere except the island, where I’m using their Clare design. I’ll also likely differentiate the finishes (you can do them matte or polished) to drive home that they are two different things. And finally, I’m planning on edging them differently. For the perimeter countertops, I’m planning a more traditional profile in a 1.5” depth/thickness:

For the island, I’m looking to do something simpler like this at a ¾” thickness:

Originally I wanted the entire island, including the top, to be wood, but the more I thought about it the more I didn’t want to deal with water damage around the sink or having to be “that person” who always yelled at everyone to wipe up any moisture around the sink.

I’ve oddly never done a non-rectangular edging on a countertop in any of my projects, so I thought this was a good opportunity to try something new.

Lighting And Some QUESTIONS

Quick note before this next discussion: that thing over the current island is NOT a skylight. It’s fluorescent lights and it kills my soul every time it’s turned on. I’ve cooked in the dark many a night rather than be bathed in that blue, blaring light of death.

Now, here’s something fun to talk about: LIGHTING. My overall plan for the house is to avoid recessed lighting anywhere in favor of having pretty, practical lights wherever possible. I have a general disdain for the way recessed lights have become a fix-all for lighting issues because they’re often installed in haphazard and careless ways. My pet peeve is going into a house and seeing a ceiling where there are recessed lights all over with no pattern or sense of symmetry. It’s as if people think just because they’re recessed, they’re invisible. So you look at many a modern ceiling and you see something that looks like swiss cheese. And the light itself is harsh and directional. Which, yes, is fine when you’re not looking at it. But oh man, when you look at it! My eyes!

I’m not fully anti-recessed, I just wish they were installed with more care, in more intentional patterns, and with softer light. So in a room where you need lots of light to see what you’re doing, and where there are no cabinets to hide under-counter lighting in, where do you put lights? I decided to do four to six large milk glass pendants (these are from Rejuvenation but I’m not sure I’ll be able to afford them so the exact fixture is TBD). These will provide a wash of light for the whole space. And like all the lights in my home, they’ll be on a dimmer.

For the “work” lights, I’m looking at something kinda weird. Outdoor lights. I was playing around with the absolutely stunning Wildwood Sconce from Rejuvenation but unfortunately, it turned out to be way too big for the indoor application I was looking for (they’re not fully to scale in the render above, they’re a bit bigger than that in person). It might work for a bigger kitchen, but the sconce would project too much into the space and make it feel too tight.

In the renders, I’ve shown these interesting/borderline weird wall sconces from Arroyo Craftsman. Here’s what I like about them. Firstly, I love that they bring in some rustic warmth with their verdigris finish. It feels somehow appropriate for a cabin to have a nod to the outdoors here and there so the fact that they’re not indoor fixtures seems unexpected and novel to me. I also love that the green color calls back to the faint green in the wall tile. These sconces come in a number of different sizes, including one small enough that it won’t impede the workspace. And because they are meant to go outside, I think they’ll be way easier to keep clean than something with a cloth shade. Finally, they also come in a hanging pendant in the exact same proportion as the wall sconce so if I want to create a perimeter or light for working around the room, I can keep it consistent. If you’ll notice, all the scones and the two pendants of the same style are hung at the same height to give some symmetry around the room.

DEBATE #4 – Are outdoor sconces an edgy addition or will they make me look like I don’t know what I’m doing?

1. Burnham Single Light 13″ Tall Outdoor Wall Sconce | 2. Dartmouth | 3. Bryant Large Tail Sconce | 4. Glasgow GW Outdoor Wall Sconce

Okay, so here’s what I’m going back and forth on and what I need your help with. Firstly, is this idea weird in a cool way that’s like, “Oh fun, he did something inventive by using exterior lighting inside!” Or is it more like, “Does that man whose literal job it is to know, not know that that’s an exterior sconce he just put in his kitchen?”

If I do choose an exterior sconce, should I go with something more rectangular and less edgy than the Dartmouth sconce? Maybe those would drive the Craftsman nod home a little more efficiently? Or should I go a completely different direction and go with something like the Bryant Sconce (the one with the shade) to take the kitchen in a more approachable, aspirational Nancy Meyers direction? Finally, Build.com and a number of other sites sell cheaper versions of a craftsman-style sconce. The Dartmouth is about $350 in the size I’m looking at, which adds up when you multiply it by six. While I’m really attracted to the finish of the Dartmouth, there’s something really clean about the Build.com version that may feel a bit more appropriate in a kitchen. What do you think?

If it helps with your decision, the ceiling lights I’m currently looking at are these:

Pendant Light

I love mixing in a little deco with some of the craftsman elements. Craftsman came about a little earlier (1901, Art Deco around 1910) but they coexisted for a while and I think they complement each other nicely. Which brings me to two more debates…

The Big Style Question…DEBATE #5 – Does Art Deco go with Craftsman?

Firstly, do you think these Art Deco-inspired wedding cake pendants go with the angular-yet-still-blatantly-Craftsman Dartmouth sconces?

The second debate in this section is slightly harder to explain but I’ll try. One of my friends thought it looked weird to match the pendants over the peninsula to the sconces on the walls around the room. He thought they should match, at least stylistically, the hanging pendants on the ceiling because they are ceiling fixtures. My thinking was to match the light fixtures based on height. But I’m also a sucker for creating a system of logic in a home and sticking with it. For example, “the doors are black in this house.” Creating simple rules like that tends to put peoples’ minds at ease – people like symmetry, continuity, and cohesion. So I am very swayed by the “the pendants should match the style of the bigger ceiling pendants” argument, but I also really like how the Dartmouth pendants currently look contrasting the larger ceiling pendants. I’m not totally settled on the ceiling fixtures but I know for sure I want something large with a milk glass/white shade so that the light is soft yet abundant. So no matter what, it will be some large fixture in brass (I gotta bring in those Bertazzoni Metalli accents!) with a glass white shade/globe of some sort.

So what do you think?

Ceiling fixtures should match to create a more logical system of design for the kitchen.The Craftsman pendants that match the sconces work best because they are at the same height around the room.Today’s Final Thoughts

Sorry, are you exhausted yet? I know I am. A few general things about this design. Firstly, I had the renderer add those beams for effect but I don’t know if they’ll actually make it into the room. My plan for the whole house is to clad the ceiling in wood, so I know I want something warm up there, but I don’t know just yet if that’s going to involve beams. The reason I’m waiting on paneling the ceiling is that I have some renovations upstairs that will involve breaking through the downstairs ceiling for piping, etc so I don’t want to do anything before then.

Second, the style of the cabinets is likely gonna change back to a simpler shaker-style cabinet front, likely with a lot less drawers and more cabinets. The reason for the style change is really that I was just trying too hard NOT to do shaker because it’s become so ubiquitous. So I did shaker with a bead on it for these renders, which I think is really pretty but doesn’t feel as appropriate to bring into a Craftsman-ish space. As a content producer, sometimes you feel pressure to do things just so that they are noteworthy and interesting, not because you think they are actually right for the space. I want to share ideas and takeaways with people that are helpful and interesting and haven’t been seen over and over, so I was just trying to do any cabinet style aside from shaker. But shaker just makes the most sense, it’s the style of cabinet we had in the little Craftsman bungalow in Yosemite where I grew up, so I’m going with that.

I basically put drawers everywhere, which is they’re all over the rendering. And I do really love a drawer vs a cabinet. But they’re just way more expensive, so in order to afford the cabinetry I may have to nix most of the drawers in favor of more budget-friendly cabinet doors. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t bum me out, but I’m hoping if it really bothers me someday I’ll be able to replace them with drawers.

And finally, I’m adding the door to the kitchen because the plan is to make it into a hallway that will be part of the home’s northern addition. There’s a big chance I’ll never be able to afford that. So I have to approach the design of this room with my master plan in mind, while also being mindful that it may never happen. It’s a weird feeling, not being able to renovate your house all at once. You’re constantly telling people, “well this will make sense when ____ happens!” It’s all a leap of faith that things are going to continue going in the right direction.

I’m pretty confident that I will be able to figure out how to do the full home renovation I envisioned the first time I set my eyes on Londo Lodge. But sometimes talking about it I feel foolish–like I’m somehow talking about a fantastical future that may never be. But, as with other parts of life, I think it’s good to be ambitious even if there’s the chance you’ll never meet your own grand plans. So the course I’m taking with Londo Lodge is one of tackling projects as I can afford them. It’s not always easy to keep house projects in digestible chunks, but that’s the tact I’m trying to take so I can pay for things as I go.

Will Londo Lodge ever turn into the grand, historic space I want it to? Will this kitchen turn out to be the mountain version of Coastal Grandma? Will having this kitchen turn me into a Nancy Meyers character who wears ivory cable knit sweaters, drinks white wine, and is constantly hosting giant yet effortless dinners in my home? FOLLOW ALONG WHY DON’T YOU AND FIND OUT!

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

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Published on January 25, 2023 01:00

January 24, 2023

The Cleaning And Organization Essentials For Messy People That We Own And Swear By

If you’ve always been Type A, super neat, or preternaturally orderly, today’s post is not for you (but come back tomorrow for a very exciting farmhouse reveal, okay?). Today’s post is for the stragglers – the folks who drag their feet and put off cleaning and organizing until it’s a seemingly gargantuan undertaking that feels hopeless and impossible. I was that way, too! Case in point (brace for horrifying 2009 dorm room photo)…

WOOF. You know where this picture was never supposed to go? The internet, for millions of people to see. But sometimes when I read cleaning or decluttering advice, it’s from folks who have never stared down a beaver-like dam of junk in their house (or their dorm, or their apartment, or wherever). And when you read posts or watch videos from folks who’ve always been neat, it’s easy to feel like you’re just missing the organization gene, or that you’re lazy (because it seems so easy for others, right?), or that you’re always going to be living out of piles on the floor. It can be really overwhelming to feel like you’ve dug yourself into a hole that you don’t understand how to climb out of, you know?

my linen closet | my bathroom vanity cabinet

my dresser drawers | my closet

But pals, there’s hope! It took a long time (not joking – a whole 27 years, I think), but I did finally nail down the routines and products that work together to keep my house tidy. Are any of the systems or products I’ve discovered IG-worthy? No! Am I going to end up on a cute and well-curated ~org porn~ Pinterest Board? LOL, NO. But this clean(ish) life is achievable and it can even be fun to maintain (!!!), which is necessary when you happen to have a pretty incredible tolerance for, uh, kinda gross living situations. (Speaking about myself here, hereby known as the Princess of Piles).

The first step? Changing my relationship with clutter. (And honestly, that doesn’t require any new purchases – if you’re feeling really overwhelmed, I recommend starting on that post and coming back here in a month or two when you’re ready). The second step? Finally taking the time to seek out tools that would work for me.

So today, I want to present my favorite cleaning and organization essentials (because they do go hand-in-hand – cleaning is SO much easier when you’re not trying to vacuum under a pile, I promise!). These are all products that I have in my apartment, use frequently, and genuinely enjoy. Each of them made a huuuge difference in the way that I’ve been able to maintain my home (and everything in it, TBH) – maybe one of your new favorites will be on here, too 🙂

Organization Essentials

1. Chaos Cart: I’ve heard about a lot of strategies for corralling clutter that involves schlepping a laundry basket around every night and filling it with misplaced objects. You know what I, a lazy person, am never going to do? Pick up a heavy basket and drag it around my home. Like, there’s a reason that hospitals have crash carts and not “just a bin of lifesaving equipment.” Roll it around your house, pick up items that are in the wrong spot (or that don’t have a home), and work from there. Shove it in a closet or cabinet when you have company. This was game-changing for me.

2. Drawer Dividers: I love these and they feel really sturdy – no sliding when I’m putting away bunches of clothes! – and they’ve optimized the dresser space I do have. LOVE.

3. Honeycomb Organizer: If you told me that one day I’d be a person with an organized underwear and sock drawer, I would have NEVER believed you. You can see mine in action above – it’s quick to assemble and you can make it as big or small as you need.

4. Linen Boxes: I have two of these – one for my regular bras, and one for my sports bras. Both are popped in a drawer. Finding the bra I actually want/need to wear is so much easier now.

5. All-Purpose Bins: There are a lot of bins out there, but these are a great size at an even better price. (I use them in my bathroom and in my linen closet).

6. Wire Bins: Target discontinued my favorite Brightroom bins (no!!!!), but these are similar (and honestly, a little chicer). I have 5 of these for towels, washcloths, sheets, duvets, and pillow covers. Reaching into the closet and being able to grab the bin I need (vs. destroying a neatly-folded pile, and then shoving the remnants back into the closet) makes life much easier.

7. Under Bed Bins: I have 4 – one for Christmas sweaters, one for swimsuits, one for leotards/body suits, and an empty one. None of them are particularly full, but I didn’t anticipate how good I’d feel knowing that I have room to grow (if I need to) without cluttering up my closets.

8. Hanging Organizer: I use mine for my shorts and jeans, but I also have two of these in my second bedroom closet for guests – it’s nice that folks can have a place to unpack a little bit, you know?

9. T-Shirt Folder: I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. It’s like a gateway to having an organized wardrobe, I swear. (And it’s awesome for those who struggle with folding, too!). Once you see your stack of perfectly matched shirts, you’re going to want to take care of them! It’s like magic.

10. File Box: Get a portable container for all your important documents (even if you’re not looking at them, or even opening them – guilty over here!!!). This is the one I have, and it does the job. Insurance info, health stuff, bank things – all into the box for when I need them one day!

11. Flocked Hangers: After 13 years of mismatched and collected hangers, I upgraded to a set of these and I love looking into my closet now. Sometimes it’s the little things 🙂

12. Tiny Trays: Nail polish! Hair ties! Tweezers! Zit patches! Pins! Bows! Clips! Kitchen tools! These come in a ton of sizes and they’re useful in every room.

Cleaning Tools

1. Dyson V15: I recommended this vacuum after doing my Black Friday research, and it’s BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT’D BE. I anticipated that it’d be pretty effective, but I’m blown away. My dark blue Nordic Knots rug, once covered in a thin layer of irremovable shedded pet fur, literally looks like it did on the day that I got it. (I’ll post some before and after pictures in the Link Up this week, cause I’m THRILLED).

2. Little Green Machine: Again, a dream. It got orange animal vomit out of my antelope-print runner with NO EFFORT on my part. Also, make sure you empty out the water after each use. (I always do, but the few complaints I read are always like “it smells bad!” and it’s like…yeah, I mean, there’s stuff in there, so that does make sense).

3. Extended Arm Duster: I do not know what is in these little Swiffer duster pads, but they’re INCREDIBLE. When your apartment gets as much major roadway pollution as mine, dusting can get old real fast – these make it kind of fun. I love the extended arm for fans, light fixtures, moulding, etc., but the traditional wand is great, too.

4. Mop: Hands-free wringing, a telescoping handle, and a triangle-shaped tip for getting into corners. I know that a Swiffer seems easier, but this mop in particular shockingly takes less work – just fill it up and go to town (no bending, no constant need to adjust any wet Swiffer cloths!).

5. Dish Rack: One day I’ll reveal my kitchen and y’all will finally see this dish rack (my favorite quarantine purchase). Actually having enough room to dry the pile of dishes in the sink makes me want to do the pile of dishes in the sink.

6. Over the Door Drying Rack: You know what makes laundry easier? Not having to dry items by throwing them over an open door, or a chair back, or your shower rod, or balanced on top of whatever other bizarre surface provides adequate ventilation for clothes drying. (I keep mine in my living room closet so as to not cannibalize any bedroom door space – that’s valuable real estate!).

7. Scrub Sponge with Handle: Hi, I live in an apartment that’s covered in decaying 100-year-old tile, so I think I’d have some sort of hand ailment or injury if I did not use a scrubbing sponge with a handle. I keep one in the kitchen, one in the bathroom, and one in the shower.

8. Deep Clean Brush Set: One day, you’ll wake up a changed person with too much free time and you’ll find yourself in your kitchen, on your hands and knees, cleaning the crevasse between your floorboards and your toe kick. You’ll want these. (Another quarantine purchase, for the record).

9. Power Grout Brush: Again, I live in an apartment that is covered with worn, mostly butter-colored tile that looks dirty after about, uh, 15 minutes. Old grout is often disgusting (please confirm in the comments so I know I’m not just gross) and this is kind of fun and meditative to use.

10. XL Lint Roller: Great for sofas, rugs, and clothes, honestly. You can spot the top portion of mine in my closet above (it’s in the dedicated “lint roller” bin. Pet owners can relate :)).

11. Lobby Broom: No joke, this is the piece of cleaning equipment that singlehandedly changed my life. It was the first time I’d realized that maybe I didn’t hate cleaning, I just hadn’t looked for the tools that were the best fit for me. It’s not like sweeping is my favorite hobby, but it’s quick and painless (though I have in large part replaced my daily broom routine with the Dyson – it’s so easy to carry around!).

12. Toilet Brush: This is the one I have. It’s cute and inoffensive. I like that the design hides the bristles, too.

13. Gloves: Two pairs – one for cleaning (so you don’t get dissuaded by having to touch gunk) and one for dishes (HACK: put on lotion beforehand and it’s like a little spa treatment–except you’re not in a spa, you’re in your home and doing chores. But it’s still nice to come out with soft hands, I guess?).

14. Magic Erasers: I mean…they’re magic.

15. Microfiber Cloths: For all your cleaning needs! I like this set because it comes with three different textures.

Cleaning Products

1. Baking Soda: I do, in fact, buy the 12-pack. I mainly use it in the fridge and sprinkled in my cat’s litter box, but there are a ton of great DIY cleaning solutions that call for baking soda. If you have the room, buying in bulk is worth it.

2. Odor Removing Gel: Miracle worker – I also use this near my cat’s litter box and it really does soak up any escaping smells.

3. Barkeeper’s Friend: The best bleach-free all-purpose powder cleaner. (Awesome for getting gunk off a lot of my flea market finds, too).

4. Comet: My monthly deep-clean involves clearing all my counters, shaking out some Comet, and going to town on the tile and sinks (often with the aid of that spinny brush, or that scrubber I mentioned earlier!).

5. Vinegar: It’s natural, it’s affordable, and it’s multi-functional (clean your windows, dress some cabbage – vinegar can do it all!).

6. Wet & Forget: Another lightbulb product for me: I could literally spray this in my shower and eliminate the need for heavy-duty scrubbing. (I did also swap out my shower head for this one so I could spray the product off easily).

7. The Pink Stuff: The only way I can think to describe this is the “spray/paste version of a Magic Eraser.” When all else fails, the Pink Stuff works. (It is also very cute, so I actually like looking at it when I use it!).

8. Shower Spray: Keep it in your shower and spray all the walls and surfaces down after bathing. It won’t replace the need for deep cleaning, but it’ll keep any gunk or grime or soap scum from accumulating.

9. All-Purpose Cleaner: You know, for most of the things in your house. I prefer disinfectants for the higher-touch surfaces in my home, but this is great for most dining tables, bar carts, bookshelves, coffee tables, etc.

10. Dishwashing Liquid: If Dawn is good enough to get oil off a penguin, it’s good enough to get spaghetti sauce off your dishes. (But really, any kind will do).

11. Wood Cleaner: VERY IMPORTANT, but oft-overlooked! Don’t use an all-purpose cleaner on your real wood pieces, folks – it’s too wet (who knew?) and may damage or erode the finish. This spray is awesome as it leaves surfaces feeling glossy and clean, but you can alternatively grab this version to use with a mop for hardwood floors 🙂

12. Castile Soap: The real MVP here – if you need a product that can clean your body, your clothing, your fruits and vegetables, AND your house…well, baby, you’re in luck! The use cases here are pretty endless (and people are figuring out new and effective mixtures all the time).

That’s it for my transformational products – anyone out there have any cleaning or organization items that positively impacted their day-to-day life? I’M ALL EARS. xx

Opening Image Credits: Art Direction by Emily Henderson | Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | Styled by Emily Bowser | From: IT’S TIME TO ORGANIZE – Small Entry Organization Hacks For Those Of Us Who Are “Mudroom-Less”

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Published on January 24, 2023 01:00

January 23, 2023

The 8 Design Upgrades Ajai Made To Make Her Home Renter-Ready (HINT She Did Her Own Market Research)

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since we found and purchased our Las Vegas condo. Now that we’re feeling like the condo is in a good state for a tenant, we are finally saying goodbye to Las Vegas and beginning our journey back home.

To refresh your memory a bit, a little over a year ago, my husband and I were on the hunt for our dream home in Los Angeles. There were slim pickings, with most of the homes being in poor condition and overpriced. We searched high and low for a reasonable place to buy, but never quite found it, so we moved on to the next plan, and purchased a condo at a great price, utilizing the great interest rate being offered (at the time). We decided we’d buy it, fix it up, live in it, and eventually rent it out, then head back home to Los Angeles once the condo was in good condition. We’ve made several improvements so far, and most of them were made considering what would be most durable and best for a tenant. That said, here are some of the biggest and most beautiful updates we made with a tenant in mind. But we did have a little help on what was worth it or not…

Market Research (Instagram and Tiktok)

We took our time working on this place because we wanted to make sure the tenants who reside here feel at home. We want them to love where they live. Though we realize the love and care we have given to the condo will not likely be demonstrated by tenants, we just could not find it in ourselves to half-ass the job. That said, we took to social media to create polls where my audience could give their input about what updates were worth it and which ones weren’t. This led to thousands of replies with renters sharing their sentiments towards their apartments and voicing what type of place they felt was worth caring for. To my surprise, I found that a lot of these renters were much like me – taking pride in where they live and thrilled to keep up their spaces. Even with this feedback, we plan to do our absolute best when it comes to vetting the tenants that will be moving into this condo.

LVP (Luxury Vinyl Planks) Throughout – Durability, Waterproof, And Scratch-Resistant

LVP (sold by floor & decor and is no longer available)

We didn’t have much choice on whether or not we would be replacing the original laminate floors throughout the house, as they were bubbling in several spots in the kitchen and had burn marks on them in a couple of the rooms. We correctly assumed that the floors were bubbling from prior water damage, which also played a factor in our decision to get LVP (luxury vinyl planks) throughout the condo. We wanted to ensure that the floors were waterproof (just in case) lord forbid there are any plumbing issues in the future *knocks on wood*. Along with being waterproof, LVP is also scratch-resistant, extremely durable, and won’t harbor any smells the same way carpet could. The type of LVP we choose is light enough to brighten up the space as well to ensure the place doesn’t feel too dark. Our condo is 1,100 square feet and we were able to lay flooring throughout the entire house (excluding the kitchen) with the LVP material costing $800.

When receiving social media feedback regarding the flooring, I was very surprised to find how many people loved the LVP. I received several thousand responses complimenting how it looks so similar to wood. This is due to the pattern/print added to the top of the LVP. In fact, people are sometimes surprised that it isn’t a different material. Receiving these responses makes me so happy because this helps to validate the choice we made, aesthetically. It’s a beautiful thing when durability can meet beauty. This leads to why we chose our kitchen flooring.

Brick In The Kitchen (More Durability, More Waterproof, More Scratch-Resistance

As was the case with the rest of the home, the floors in the kitchen had water damage and needed to go. The condition of the old kitchen floors also steered us towards a waterproof and durable material and we decided on brick. We considered some of the memories of traveling and distinctly the time we spent in Italy and our fondness for their use of brick in high-traffic areas. We wanted something that would last a long time and we felt the brick would match the aesthetic we had in mind for the kitchen while matching up to wear and tear.

We used a sealer that had good reviews – we found it at our nearest home supply store and will seal it every five years from here on. The brick floor cost us a few hundred dollars, but brick would typically be a bit on the expensive side. We saved lots, as we had quite a bit of this floor leftover from a previous design project. This floor has been the most asked-about thing on all my social media platforms. To be honest, the decision to get brick floors has been the most praised tenant-friendly design update I’ve received. When people find out we intend to rent this place out, they are putting themselves forward as future-potential-renters (and I haven’t even uploaded an application yet). It’s quite sweet and gives my husband and me a lot of hope as it pertains to finding a renter. If I can be candid, I’ll also share that this flooring is my most clicked and sold affiliate link/product. In a recent blog post, I shared how we installed and maintained the floors, and I’m happy to give a brief update and share that we are still loving and enjoying our brick floors.

Upgraded Lighting

Black Sconce | Sofa Pillows | Knit Throw (unavailable)

Pendant Light | Dining Table | Dining Chairs | Design Anthology Books

The original lighting was dated and in desperate need of replacing. The goal was to update the lighting with timeless options that were inexpensive – keeping in mind that these may have to be replaced again at some point (if a tenant gets a bit rough with them). We love the lighting we chose and believe it adds character to each space, without us having to break the bank to do so. Because the lighting was inexpensive, we are also comfortable replacing it if and when that time should come. I also turned to social media for their opinions on lighting and found that most renters gravitate towards brass fixtures more than any other finish. Black was runner-up to the brass. That said, I chose to do brass in the bathroom and kitchen areas, and went for a black matte option in the higher-traffic areas. I believe black is timeless and people won’t get sick of it, but I still wanted to adhere to the majority, adding brass to a couple of spaces. The total cost of materials to replace lighting throughout was around $300. This was made possible as I participated in a few partnerships where I’ve been blessed enough to receive most of our lighting as a gift when working on these campaigns. Nonetheless, I will say these lights are still very affordable options. Another characterizing feature we chose to add to a couple of spaces was beadboard.

Added Beadboard In The Living Room And Dining Room

I wanted to bring character to the living and dining room without forcing my way of design on any future tenant. This means I’d have to find a simple way to make each space aesthetically unique and not too overwhelming. We decided to add beadboard to the living and dining room. This turned out to be a fun weekend project. We cut and installed the beadboard Friday, caulked Saturday, and painted Sunday. We also made a custom picture ledge in the dining room space. The picture ledge is a custom and subtle way for our tenant to display keepsakes, pictures, and picture galleries, without having to make too many holes in the walls. We believe the picture ledge will encourage our tenants to be creative and decorate to their liking.

We chose to paint the beadboard in these spaces black, as they are the high-traffic areas of the home. The kitchen opens up to the dining area nicely, and we wanted these two spaces to transition well, so we opted for the black color-blocked beadboard to run throughout. There are no windows in the kitchen or dining room areas, so leaving the dining room white just wasn’t working for us. The white simply reminded me how open and dark the area was (it was quite sad) so I decided to play on that darkness and paint the lower part of the wall black. The black makes it feel moody, cozy, and intentional. This design update also made a positive impact via social media. I would say this was more of an aesthetic update but can help with protecting the lower levels of the wall, acting as another protective barrier. The beadboard gives the house a more stylish and elegant appearance and I’ve learned (from selling our last home) that updates like this can add quite a few dollars when an appraiser walks through the house. The total cost to add beadboard to our living room, dining room, guest bathroom room, and main bedroom cost $450.

Black Paint In The Kitchen And The Living Room

In addition to the living and dining spaces, we decided to paint half of the kitchen cabinets black for a few different reasons, one being to aid in the prevention of any unwanted stains on the cabinetry. Some of the aesthetic reasons come from a desire to play off of the fact the kitchen also has no windows. Trying to brighten up the entire space using white, cream, or taupe throughout would have left us wanting more from the space. So, we embraced the windowless kitchen and went for a sultry and sophisticated vibe akin to a Parisian cabaret. The brackets, lighting, marble countertops, and faucet all tie together with the black cabinets and brick floors in the kitchen to provide the aesthetic we were seeking.

Now, whenever we do the dishes or cook, we are reminded of some of our favorite lounges and taverns from our travels. While I love the black cabinets, in an effort to provide a balance and not make the kitchen feel too heavy, we decided to paint the peninsula and the breakfast bar cabinets cream. We believe the kitchen will provide a nice balance for our tenant to cook, host, and relax – that will also stand the test of time. We opted for a lighter color in the main bedroom as well. I was quite surprised by the feedback I received from choosing to paint the one side of the kitchen and the beadboard black. I’ve learned that renters prefer white spaces. They’ve stated that white makes them feel like they have a fresh palette/canvas to work with, but when I asked if I should go black, so many renters were on board. After painting the lower cabinets black and the dining room beadboard black, my videos actually went viral (in a good way) – people loved it! The black paint was around $30 per gallon and I needed two gallons to get the job done.

Beadboard And Spanish Sand Paint In The Bedroom

The main bedroom is another area we chose to add beadboard (another weekend project). This was actually the first room we worked on, which gave us the option to cover more wall (length-wise) with beadboard (we used the leftover beadboard from this project in the living and dining rooms). In the main bedroom, we swapped out all of the outlet plates, the ceiling fan, and added a custom picture ledge. The picture ledge in this room is the reason we decided to cover more area of the wall with the beadboard. We wanted any bed to clear the height of the picture ledge, giving tenants the option of putting their bed on this wall as well. Our headboard is a bit on the tall side, so I’m positive any other bed would fit under the picture ledge just fine. Because the bedroom is not a high-traffic area, we thought a lighter color would complement this room well. I’m big on the bedroom being a tranquil space, so opting for lighter palettes here is what I typically gravitate toward. There were so many positive responses regarding our choice to paint the bedroom Spanish Sand, but I’m not surprised, as I’ve learned that many renters prefer neutral colors, as it gives them the option to add their own colors/personal touches to a space. We used one gallon of paint for this space and this cost around $40. Lastly, we decided to replace the current ceiling fan with a new one, fighting the temptation to add a chandelier. It can get very hot in Las Vegas, so having a ceiling fan in each room is more ideal. This topic got pretty heated via social media, but the general consensus around having a ceiling fan over a chandelier was that function beats out aesthetics.

Reglazed Bathtubs And Swapped Out Hardware Instead Of Buying New Tubs

Matte Black Bathroom Accessories | Shower Curtain | Wood Stool

I learned early that reglazing bathtubs can be an effective and inexpensive option for a landlord. When I moved into my very first apartment, it had the most disgusting bathtub I’ve ever encountered. I wasn’t even comfortable standing in it to take a shower, so I reached out to the management company asking for them to replace the tub. You can imagine how that went over, so I sought out an inexpensive resolution that both the landlord and I would find accommodating. I interviewed a few tub reglazing companies near me, asked about the process, and chose the best one. They came in, stripped the tub of its grossness, and applied the new layers of glaze. I stayed with my parents for a few days, allowing the bathroom to air out, and then returned to a brand new tub (figuratively speaking). I lived in that condo for a couple of years and the tub never gave me any issues. Back then the reglaze only cost around $100, so of course the landlord was on board for this.

Fast forward to our condo and its bathtubs – they were in poor condition, and we wanted to avoid replacing both tubs entirely. We remembered our first apartment and decided to go the reglazing route. We had both bathtubs reglazed and swapped out the hardware. We researched and contacted a nearby bathtub reglazing expert and a plumber. The reglazing expert was able to reglaze both bathtubs within a couple of days and once he was done, the tubs looked brand new. The price of reglazing is a fraction of the cost you can expect for replacing a bathtub, but will leave you feeling like you have a new tub to soak in. Once the bathtubs had been reglazed we had the hardware in both baths swapped out by our plumber and put up new curtain rods. This transformed the two bathrooms into spaces we wouldn’t mind spending time in. Keeping a tenant in mind, we understand the value of having a clean place to bathe and our tenant to live in a place with bathrooms they feel comfortable using and relaxing in. This was yet another viral design update/video. I had no idea people would react this way to such a simple update. People loved the idea and shared with me that they’d be reaching out to their landlords requesting a bathtub reglaze. That said, we were able to get both bathtubs reglazed with just $300.

Upgraded/Replaced All Appliances

New Refrigerator

Hood | Range

There were several reasons why we didn’t simply replace the appliances but upgraded them as well. We’ve lived in several apartments over the years and have always had the fortune of having either brand-new or moderately new/modern appliances. Having reliable appliances is something we’ve grown accustomed to and we want our tenants to experience having the same peace of mind. We decided to get a black and cyber gray Samsung bundle that would match the aesthetic of our kitchen and that was familiar to us. Besides the reliability that we’ve experienced with these appliances, we’ve found all the apartments we’ve lived in used the same ones. For this reason, we figured our tenant would very likely be used to them. Last, but not least, we wanted to purchase new appliances so we hopefully won’t have to get any maintenance or repairs on them for a while. My husband and I learned to look for appliances with bundle deals back when we purchased our first home, and these deals have come in handy for this home as well. We saved lots on bundling these items. We haven’t had any issues with the appliances (thank the good lord) so I would absolutely recommend these choices. The last thing any landlord would want is to constantly have to replace or have maintenance done on appliances.

After spending a little over a year in Nevada working on this place, we are beginning to make our return back to Southern California. I like to think that working on this home, during this time in our lives will make it a happier place to live. The memories we have with our son here; learning to walk, run, and talk, have truly been some of the sweetest. I’ve always been a believer that a home maintains the energy and happiness that occur in its walls, and I know that this place will feel that much more special because of the care that went into it.

With this chapter of our lives coming to a close, the next story I plan to share will be our reemergence into the SoCal home market landscape during our hunt for our next home. Stay tuned friends, and please wish us luck!

*Design and Photos by Ajai Guyot

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Published on January 23, 2023 01:00

January 22, 2023

The Link Up: Ryann’s Stanley Mug Dupe, Jess’ Stylish Art Wall Mount, And The Perfect Skincare Kit For Beginners That’s Actually Good

It’s Sunday and Happy Lunar New Year!! A couple of big shoots happened this week at the farmhouse so get ready for some exciting reveals coming to a blog near you! To help with the wait, let’s just get straight into this week’s links…

via devol kitchens

This week’s home tour (shown above) is actually not a full house tour but a truly beautiful kitchen designed by none other than EHD favorite, deVOL Kitchens. The home itself is actually an ancient barn that has been carefully restored. We can’t decide what’s our favorite design element…the stunning brick floor, the cabinetry, the natural beams?? What’s yours?? Head to deVOL to see the rest of the photos and we can’t recommend enough watch For the Love of Kitchens on HBO Max or Discovery+. It’s the best.

From Emily: I know this is kinda cheating because I wrote an entire post about it yesterday but my link this week is my sauna blanket. It’s one of the best things I do for myself. If you’re curious read about it here🙂

From Jess: One Christmas present that my dad got for me that I love is this wall mount! I’m not sure how I’m going to use it yet but it’s going to add a really cool 3-D element to whatever wall I put it on.

Also From Jess: My best friend got me this candle and I really like it. It’s the perfect transitional candle from holiday winter into regular winter. It still stirs up cozy feelings but with woodsy lavender/vanilla instead of pinecones and cinnamon. Plus it’s so pretty!

From: Mallory: Skincare generally intimidates me a lot and for that reason, it’s not something I typically splurge on, but I got this set as a gift for Christmas and I am shocked at how much I love it and actually use it!! It’s an easy 4 step process and the products are really really good (I’m especially a fan of the under-eye cream). If you’re in the market for some new skincare, this is an awesome set for $35, and it’s a great way to try the products out without a huge initial investment.

From Caitlin: I’m currently obsessed with fun needlepoint pillows (anyone else?) and I just ordered a pink and orange pair that I’m so excited about!!! They’re from a small business in Texas, they shipped much quicker than anticipated, and the price is UNBEATABLE. I say this as a person who spent about $110 bucks back in 2017 on the now-famous Furbish Studio “got it all together but I forgot where I put it” needlepoint pillow – it was worth the splurge and I still love it, but dang, it feels great to find the look for about half the price:) Hoping they make it into one of my reveals this year!

From Ryann: If you have ever opened Tik Tok you have probably seen the now viral Stanley mugs that every Gen Z and Millenial influencer has. And these influencers deserve a proverbial raise because I found myself ready to hit purchase until I saw they are $50 and basically sold out of every color. So I gave up on the dream until I was wandering through Target and saw this. It’s a Stanley mug dupe and I am sure not as heavy duty, but it’s the same size and idea AND half the price. So I bought it and I now have to run to the bathroom every hour on the hour because of how much water I am drinking. Big fan.

That’s it for today and we will “see” your beautiful faces tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Courtesy of deVOL Kitchens

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Published on January 22, 2023 01:00

The Link Up: Ryann’s Stanely Mud Dupe, Jess’ Stylish Art Wall Mount, And The Perfect Skincare Kit For Beginners That’s Actually Good

via devol kitchens

That’s it for today and we will “see” your beautiful faces tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Courtesy of deVOL Kitchens

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Published on January 22, 2023 01:00

January 21, 2023

Is My Sauna Blanket Still Effective After Three Years?? Here’s My Review

Two years ago I did a super low-budget, last-minute “fun” review of this HigherD O S E sauna blanket shot with Mal’s iPhone (some pandemic content still haunts me and yet makes me smile). I had been using it for a year and a half at that time, and since every single person who saw it asked me all about it, I figured you’d be curious as well. So I wrote the OG post with more of a minute-by-minute review (and in that post, I talk about the benefits – both the ones you can prove and the ones you can’t). And listen, I get this isn’t for everyone and that’s fine! Simply come back tomorrow. So when they reached out recently to sponsor some social with their newest version I said yes (despite obviously not being a home or design partnership) because it’s still something I really like and use, and maybe you are into this stuff, too. I, personally, have found that is a huge mood booster (in the winter months, especially) and gives me something to look forward to every night. And I’m not alone – saunas are obviously taking off in America (long since loved in Northern Europe) and are universally credited for being good for your physical and mental health. This isn’t pseudo-science, y’all (while many other things I agree can feel like that). But many of us don’t have the room or budget for a home sauna (although, I’m working on it TBH) so this blanket is IMHO is a GREAT alternative for those of us wanting the physical and mental benefits of a sauna, but on our sofa or in a bed.

How It Works:

Sauna Blanket

Again, the first post is more detailed, but essentially it’s a sleeping bag that uses infrared heat to penetrate deep into your body through your skin (a traditional steam sauna is also really good for you). The benefits that I feel are mood-boosting, sweating (which always feels good), and most scientists accept that it’s great for circulation and cardiovascular health (the blood flow expands and loosens your blood vessels like a workout does). Yes, you burn more calories than if you were just laying there, but that’s hard to track and not why I do it. I just love the happy hormones released (especially after) which stay with me for a few hours and I tend to sleep deeper and longer at night. This is all my personal experience and perspective (and this post is not sponsored by HigherDOSE, just the social media on Instagram – so yes, we are giving them a free post but I HAD to redo the first one to give better photos).

So What Do You Do?

Well, you choose your temperature (I’m a solid 8 or 9) and it takes 10 minutes to warm up before you need to get in. In that time you get dressed, head to toe in something light but full coverage (Including socks) or if you have their towel you can go naked inside it (I haven’t done this yet but will next week as I just found my towel again and this sounds pretty darn fun). Before you get in make sure to have all your necessities (kindle, remote, water, phone, apple watch, or heart monitor if you do that) within reach, and lay in it for 50 minutes (make sure to track what time you pressed the button to begin because it turns off 60 minutes after that but there is no timer or count down indicator on the plug thing, which I wish there were).

I highly recommend watching mindless TV (either Magnolia Network design shows but realistically something in The Bachelor franchise) as I find concentrating on a book, podcast, or a good show to be more difficult. Or maybe it’s because I never get to watch TV and I have at least an hour or two of podcast time a day walking the pups and Brian and I read every night in bed, so this is MAMA’S GARBAGE TV TIME.

Here I’m looking all peaceful like I’m napping, but trust me, Love Island is on right in front of me. The new blanket model, as you can see, has a zipper instead of velcro which is so much better. If you are curious about a minute-by-minute breakdown, again read the first post. But the summary is that it’s super pleasant for the first 30-40 minutes, but the last 20-30 can be challenging (but so worth it). Obviously, you can do a lower setting if you just want it to feel pleasant, but I like to sweat it out and really know that my body was being challenged (but I’m also an endorphin junkie and love to cold plunge in my bathtub, so again, this isn’t for everyone).

By the end, I was extremely sweaty, felt hot as hell, and ready to get out and get that burst of “relief endorphins”. I was in an excellent mood for the rest of the night. And a lot of people wonder if it’s gross and smells and the answer is “mine doesn’t”. Most of my sweat is on my clothes and hair or on the towel, but the bag itself stays dry, but they do sell a spray cleaner for those just wanting to, you know, not be disgusting.

And there you go. Usually, I do this at night – either 6:30-7:30 pm after dinner if the kids are watching something in the family room or 8:30-9:30 pm after they are down. But this day we shot it during work hours with Kaitlin and Emily, and I have to say it made the rest of the night of solo parenting so much happier and healthier. It’s like doing a mini workout at the end of the day which I find checks a big box and totally curbs my desire for a glass of wine.

The Infrared Face Mask

Red Light Face Mask

Now for one of the most terrifying-looking wellness inventions out there – the red light face mask. I, like many of you, have been hearing about this for a while and it seems like the anecdotal evidence is mounting on the benefits of this as well. I’ve only used this a couple of times so I can’t honestly say that it changed my skin but I will say that there are so many people who say it increases collagen (something I’m very into in a non-invasive way) and helps with acne.

You strap it on your head (which isn’t uncomfortable) and it penetrates with infrared light.

Feel free to terrify your dog or child while wearing it. My kids are NOT a fan 🙂

So basically you just sit there and wear it, either for a 10 or 20-minute session. I found that I didn’t like to have my eyes open (it comes with tanning salon-style eye covers if you want) so it’s more of a podcast time for me rather than working or watching TV. I’m not a scientist so I’m unsure if the light is bad for your eyes, so please be sure to read the instructions and wear the goggles.

But all in all, I’m giving this a serious GO this year because I keep reading more and more articles (not by any brands, but by dermatologists) saying that it’s highly effective in producing collagen (which keeps your skin looking full and bouncy and what we get depleted of as we age). So maybe in a year I’ll have an actual review for you where I can say this easy twice-a-week terrifying mask aged me backward. IMHO the problem with topical beauty products is that it’s really hard to track what is truly effective unless you isolate its use, take photos every day, or don’t change anything else in your routine (including diet/nutrition/lifestyle). I can tell you how much I love how a face lotion feels on my skin, but saying that “Lotion XYZ” reduced wrinkles in a couple of weeks is hard to say if I am also trying out other products or not staying consistent. That’s all to say that unless I commit to using this twice a week for six months I won’t be sure what positive effects I can attribute to it and see its effectiveness for myself. So that’s my plan this year – use it more frequently in hopes that I can see a difference. And if I do notice improvement, like a lot of other people have, I’ll tell you, I promise.

Thanks for going along with me on this odd pursuit of reviewing new wellness products that I know some of you roll your eyes at while others really appreciate my experience. It won’t become a habit, but I sure do enjoy it all. And thanks to HigherDOSE for sponsoring the reel and stories (not this blog post). Now, I can’t stress this enough – this blanket is not cheap and she’s big, so it’s not something you want to own and NOT use. If you can go to an infrared sauna spa before you buy for a session or two and make sure you like it before you make the investment (that’s what I did). If you don’t enjoy being really hot, you likely won’t use this and I don’t want you to waste your money on it:)

*Oh and lastly, if you bought the first one that has a velcro closing, I don’t think you need to upgrade to this newer zipper version. Sure it’s more streamlined and sleek without the air gaps that can happen, but the first model for me still works splendidly.

Goodbye from me and my happy, sweaty face:)

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on January 21, 2023 01:00

January 20, 2023

The Cozy House Slippers We Want To Buy Right Now

I kind of hate to admit it but I am a shoes-on-in-the-house kind of person. I don’t know why I am like this. I guess it could hearken back to growing up in a shoes-on household, where my parents didn’t drill into my brain to immediately take my shoes off as soon as I walked through the front door. But I want to change! I love the idea of having designated house slippers so I don’t track dirt and debris into the house and so I can feel cozier. Quick aside: I recently bought Crocs when I was at Disneyland because it was raining and I needed shoes that could get wet (I don’t recommend buying them at the most expensive place in the world btw, but it is what it is). I never thought I would enjoy wearing Crocs but now I wear them around the house every day to the point where they sort of act as slippers for me. But the problem is, I wear the Crocs outside to walk my dog so they are outside shoes too, plus I wouldn’t describe them as “cozy”. IT’S NOT THE SAME! So, to hopefully change my ways, I am vowing to become a house slipper person right here and now. I think my wood floors will thank me for it. So to begin, I asked Mallory and Caitlin (two vocal slipper-wearing people) what slippers they actually have and love:

Caitlin

Women’s Wicked Good Moccasins: Oh, hey, I’ve had these slippers permanently attached to my feet since March 12, 2020, and I WILL NEVER TAKE THEM OFF. (Well, not these exact ones, but this style -while my mom started gifting me a new pair every Christmas in 2017 or 2018, the transition to working from home full time REALLY solidified their place in my daily wardrobe). They have super solid soles (so they’re great if you need to make a quick run outside to the garage or trash can), they’re toasty and soft (obviously, I mean…look at them), and the support is pretty unrivaled (in slippers that I’ve tried, at least). My favorite part is how well they conform to my foot, though – they mold perfectly to the shape of your arches and toes (so when I’m home in Delaware and I try to wear my mom’s, I can tell that they’re hers!). They’re not too hot in the summer, even in my 90-degree apartment, they never make my feet feel sweaty or uncomfortable, and they don’t smell bad despite me wearing them non-stop (like, 16 hours a day, 7 days a week when I’m home – I wish this was a joke, but it really isn’t). I know I’ve written about them on the blog before and I’ve highlighted them in every gift guide I’ve ever written, but THEY’RE UNBELIEVABLE. I literally will not walk barefoot in my apartment anymore and I’m thrilled to slide into them every time I come home, which has been awesome for keeping more floors a little cleaner. I WILL NOT STEER YOU WRONG, I SWEAR. If you only consider one of my recommendations in 2023, THIS IS THE ONE. I love them so, so, so much.

Mallory

UGG Coquette: Let’s chat about UGG slippers for a moment – I’ve had these (in chestnut) for YEARS. Probably like 6 or 7 years to be exact and I STILL wear them every day (speaking of, it might be time for a new pair). They last forever and are so comfortable, plus I love that they have a solid sole so you can take the trash out or run to the grocery store in them (I don’t always go to the grocery store in my slippers but hey it’s nice to have the option). They’re splurgy for slippers ($120) but they last so long it’s absolutely worth it.

Wool Knit Slipper: For the more affordable slipper option, I was gifted Nautica slippers once and THEY ARE SO SOFT I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. The sole is less sturdy than the UGG slipper sole but for $9, I’d say there are no complaints here. They’re lightweight so they’re more house slippers than grocery store/errand running slippers (which is not a con since that’s what most people use slippers for, I just thought I’d let you know lol). If you’re in the market, these are awesome and SO AFFORDABLE.

To add to their list, I found these highly-rated, cozy slippers that have piqued my interest:

1. UGG Classic Slip-On: I’ve only heard great things about UGG slippers and I love the all-black look of these.
2. Women’s Wicked Good Clogs: These L.L. Bean slippers look extremely comfortable and durable and I am really into the shape and color.
3. Women’s Cable Knit Gripper Slipper: You already know we love Bombas socks so I am pretty interested in trying these slippers (I love that they have a grip sole).
4. UGG Maxi Curly Slide: Here is another highly reviewed UGG slipper and as far as house slippers go, these would be perfect (because I do worry the hard sole slippers would tempt me to wear them outside…).
5. Women’s Luella Scuff Slippers: Emily recently bought these and says they are SUPER comfy, and the leopard print is pretty dang cute.
6. EMU Australia® Shearling Jolie Slippers: I like these Madewell slippers as a less expensive alternative to the UGG slippers.

That is all! I hope this short and sweet jaunt helped anyone who is looking for good, quality slippers right now. Thanks for reading and happy Friday! xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Kaitlin Green

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Published on January 20, 2023 01:00

January 19, 2023

A Quick Trip To Target: The Little Things That Make Me Feel Good And Pulled Together

I’m a real sucker for all the seasonal mood changes, and this time of year I’m hunkered down cleaning, organizing, purging, and starting fresh where appropriate. So I performed the fantasy ritual that I rarely get to do – the 10 am Monday Target run, when the aisles are quiet, the parking lot is empty, and the shelves are fully stocked (as always shout out to the Beaverton and Washington Square Targets for being so clean and organized). Coffee in hand, podcast in ears, I got to touch things, picture them at home, try them on – just take my time (I think we should make this a national holiday). I had pitched this post to Target for January – all the little things, post-holiday that make me feel pulled together, organized, and like a fresh start. They loved it and were excited to sponsor this post which made me even happier:) I mean, aisle after aisle I found such good stuff so I ended up getting more than I likely needed but I wanted to do a bit of show and tell. Here. We. Go.

My Work Area (My Home Office + Meeting Space)

A few big changes you might notice in the sunroom immediately – the Christmas tree is gone and in its place is the dresser from our closet which now houses all my paint/wallpaper samples. So this “office” is definitely starting to feel pulled together with less “stuff” all over the table. The big Target additions here are the wicker lamp (so good) and that white squiggle pot (also so good – see below).

Look at that pot (it’s in the outdoor patio section which is just now being put out on the shelves so grab it before it’s gone). And not to brag about my kids, but my new baby monstera plant is really nailing the vibe in here. Regarding the lamp: now that it’s dark at 4:30 it’s nice to have lamp light in here versus just the overhead. I’ve been throwing that on for a better ambiance when I work past sundown. I was so surprised to find this faux leather desk pad which protects the table and holds my charging cord. So good. I’ve had those faux leather coasters forever (they match my placemats that I also have had for a long time and wipe up so well). The green Shagreen tray is so pretty with a lovely texture (and has a matching box if you are into that).

Family And Task Calendars

Desk Lamp

I desire to be a “planner” person but I’m not. Here’s what I use instead: 1. My shared Google calendar for meetings, deadlines, shoots, and travel, 2. A weekly calendar for To-dos, tasks, and stuff that is happening at the house (this would be too much to put on each day of the Google calendar). And 3. A monthly calendar for family and kid stuff (sports, birthday parties, days off school, kids baths/showers – twice a week – and any travel so the kids know). My kids love to look at it and see what is up – we even put their cooking night on there with whatever dessert they want to make. This means that on Sundays I sit down and plan for the week and add all the things to the calendar. Twenty-seven-year-old me would be SHOCKED to know that I do this pretty reliably while I meal prep and listen to podcasts (Sunday Funday is not exactly what it used to be but I sure do LOVE IT). If you are wondering what the kids are doing while I do this (everyone always asks) the answer is ‘who knows’, they just do their own thing and know if they make it hard for me to cook and organize on Sundays then I’ll put them to work, (they are 7 and 9, y’all). That usually solves that problem quickly.

On the weekly pad (with Monday-Sunday as separate columns) I put mostly “email ______” or “buy gift for June’s bday party” – the little stuff that I’ll forget. I find it wonderfully helpful to have a place to jot down and I put little boxes next to each task and relish in the check-off.

Fresh Cozy Pillows

Throw Blanket | Lumbar Pillow | White Pillow

The Studio McGee collection is just so great, consistently. That warm mauve printed pillow with fringe screams “me,” with the other pillow being so soft and squishy. I had like nine pillows in my cart but decided to be conservative since I’m still decorating, but put all my favorites in my Target storefront if you want to shop for others that I love.

And yes, you might notice the new “piano” in the background – more on that later 🙂

Cozy Clothes (And New Matching PJs, Always)

Sherpa Jacket

How cute is this cozy jacket? It has this brown trim detailing that mimics the look of leather, a super high collar that is oversized and very cool, and it’s just as soft on the inside as it is on the outside.

High-Waisted Joggers | Striped Socks | Slippers

The high –waisted joggers are also new and very comfortable (wide waistband + pockets), but size up – I think that most companies these days aren’t accounting for us not wanting things to feel tight or cut in (I’m wearing a medium). The striped socks come in a set of 6 that are thin enough to wear with my slippers and slide into my tall boots easily (they are the ones I always buy for this purpose).

Pajama Set | Striped Socks | Slippers

I’ve been buying and loving their pajama sets for years now because they are so soft and drape so well. Again, with underwear and pajamas with any sort of elastic waist I like to size up (these are small but I returned for mediums). These come in other colors but my Target was out – there are lots of cute options to choose from. Also YES, that is a sneak peek into my bathroom and I love it so very very much and can’t wait to show you!

New Beauty And Bathroom Organization

I’m going cupboard by cupboard and drawer by drawer and finally organizing, which I didn’t have a chance to do when we moved in. It feels so darn good. In here you can see that I used some of the bright room baskets (white with wood handles – so pretty) and I also used a lot of the wood bi n s in this cupboard for larger hair products.

Bamboo 4 Compartment Lazy Susan | White Wire Baskets | Round Vanity Organizer with Wood Handles

There are lucite, wire, and wood organizers for every room, so over the next few months I’ll be dialing them all in. The organization products are spread all over the store, by the way – I found some in the bathroom section, in the laundry section, the kitchen area, and even in the kid’s section.

New Year, New Candle…

Candle | Pink Cropped Sweatshirt

This is the candle that I’ve been burning since Casaluna launched a few years ago. I take 3-5 baths a week (often more) and have found that this candle lasts for almost the year. Yes, it smells good, it’s so pretty (and I only burn it in the bath – so 30 minutes a night), and it’s just part of my ritual. Also, that hot pink sweatshirt is boxy and wide, with dropped shoulders, and very cute. They were out of the matching bottoms in the same color, but the sweatshirt itself is awesome.

Oh January, how I do love the excuse to really just stay at home, nurse our introverted selves that maybe extroverted too hard over the holidays, and take care of our homes through cleaning, organizing, and refreshing. After the nuttiness of December I am LOVING doing these little things to make myself, my house, and my life feel pulled together.

Here are some of the products I bought and loved but ultimately didn’t need. But how good is all this??

1. Stay on Track Undated Planner 8″x10″ | 2. Moleskine Narrow Rule Notebook 8.25″x5″ Hard Cover | 3. 2023 Planner Weekly/Monthly 7″x9″ 30-Day Challenge | 4. Lined Journal Safety Wirebound Non-Dated 5.75″x8.5″ | 5. 2023 Planner Weekly/Monthly 4.875″x7.75″ | 6. 2023 Planner Weekly/Monthly 6″x8.5″

Again everything is linked up in my storefront (amongst other things I love but didn’t buy yet). Check it out!

This post was sponsored by Target but all words and opinions are all mine🙂 #targetpartner #targetfam
*Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on January 19, 2023 01:00

January 18, 2023

The Best, Highly Reviewed (And Prettiest) Desk Chairs For 2023

Last year when Jess posed the brave question, “Do beautiful yet comfortable office chairs exist?” the very real yet slightly unsatisfying answer appeared to be “it depends”. Like so many things in life, it depends on the person and their needs, wants, and desires. If you need a desk chair that you can comfortably sit in for 8 hours Monday-Friday then the perfect desk chair might not be magazine-worthy beautiful. On the other hand, if you only require a desk chair that you’ll sit in a few hours a day or less you might get away with a more stylish-looking chair. That illuminating post made us all realize that there are so many options out there because the perfect desk chair is subjective. So of course, we wanted to pull together some of the best desk chair options from the very beautiful to the top-rated, most ergonomic chairs that are on the market right now. So if you are in the market, we hope this post can help you get exactly what you need. Here we go.

Really Pretty (But Non-Traditional) Desk Chairs

design by jess bunge for ehd | styling by emily bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: moto reveal: jess’ home office

If your desk is in a common area, you might be searching for a comfortable chair that is also pretty to look at and you are not alone. Jess discussed this very problem here, and I also work from home at my dining table so a traditional desk chair just doesn’t make sense for my current situation. The solution? Comfortable yet attractive-enough-to-stare-at-all-day dining/accent chairs (and perhaps some lumbar supporting accessories just in case). And look, if not having the perfect desk chair means I have to get up, stretch, and make myself walk around a few times a day, that might not be the worst thing in the world. Here are some of our top picks:

1. Pula Modern White Boucle Dining Chair: This dining chair has a foam seat for optimal comfort and the boucle fabric adds a beautiful texture. The solid wood legs are really special, too.
2. Talbert Pillow Top Slipper Chair with Casters: We knew this chair was special as soon as we laid eyes on it, but after reading reviews we are even more convinced. A lot of them revere the quality for the price and one reviewer mentioned, “This chair is a steal. $250.00 for a chair that is so comfy, and looks and feels like West Elm quality. I wish I had a need for every color, I’d buy them all.”
3. 1980s Mario Bellini 413 Cab Armchair: This 1980s Mario Bellini chair deserves a good home, don’t you think? This is a vintage gem with some wear and tear, so it might be best suited for someone who doesn’t sit at their desk all day, but is looking for a chair for light sitting and decorative purposes. But oh boy, it is beautiful and I’ll be jealous of whoever ends up snagging it.
4. Azalea Green Velvet Chair: This green velvet armchair is a beautiful modern option. It has sleek legs so it doesn’t take up a lot of visual space and for added comfort, you could add a lumbar support pillow.
5. Foley Faux Mohair Dining Chair: This chair is gorgeous. I love the modern block legs, the deep blue color, and the reviews are raving. One customer said, “I ordered these a few weeks ago and am obsessed! They are absolutely stunning, the design is so unique and modern. The material is soft and luxurious, the blue is so vibrant.”
6. Salome Dining Chair: From the looks of it, this is a very plush dining chair that could act as a comfortable desk chair. The description notes that it is upholstered with buttery top-grain leather and oh, so pretty.
7. Mid 20th Century Danish Leather Office Guest Chair: You can never go wrong with a vintage midcentury modern armchair. For your Mad Men-inspired home office, this is your guy.
8. Avont Upholstered Metal Dining Armchair: This beautiful upholstered, metal armchair has 5 stars and one reviewer commented that they could sit on this chair for hours.
9. Mazie Chair: We love Room and Board for their quality and beautiful pieces and this chair is no exception. One customer raved: “WOW! So many perfect things about this chair – insanely comfortable seat and back, sleek design, has armrests, easy to clean.”

Design Forward Desk Chairs

design by pricilla frost and emily henderson | styling by emily henderson | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a teen bedroom reveal! + 7 budget-friendly ideas gen-z loves

If you know you can sacrifice a little comfort for style, then a design-forward but still comfortable desk chair might be the right fit for you. These picks are not recommended to be sat on continuously for extended periods of time, so just be mindful of that. You can also add a standing desk converter to your WFH setup, so you can rotate between sitting and standing if that suits you.

1. Zarek Mid Century Upholstered Office Chair: Once upon a time I had to temporarily store this chair at my house for a shoot, and I remember being extremely impressed with how comfortable it was. A reader who has this chair apparently thought the same and had this to say about it: “I bought this one near the end of 2020 in a WFH panic purchase. I often sit with my leg bent and foot on the chair, and this one is wide enough for that, which is a weird requirement I know! It is comfortable for long periods of time, but in the office chair way, not in the lounge chair way.”
2. Winged Arms Swivel Office Chair: I am obsessed with how stunning yet traditional this office chair is. The high back is really nice and elegant, and the description includes that it has high-gauge sinuous springs for extra seat cushion support.
3. Graham Grey Office Chair: This one is a classic, stylish-looking office chair that I can see looking really nice in a moody MCM-style office.
4. Renato Modern Chenille and Burl Wood Chair: This is my personal favorite. I love that it is stylish but still reads ‘office chair’ and the circle base is slightly more aesthetically pleasing as long as you don’t mind not being able to roll your chair to and fro. For some extra lumbar support, you could add this lumbar support pillow.
5. Orsen Modern Saddle Leather Office Chair: This one could be filed under: You don’t sit at your desk 8 hours a day but you want something that looks office-appropriate, is adjustable, but also has a little edge. I wouldn’t expect this one to be ideal for long-term sitting, but if you are looking for an attractive option that you won’t need to sit in all day long, this could be the one for you.
6. Finley Swivel Office Chair: I could picture this in a teen bedroom or a luxe glam office. I love the brass legs paired with the muted green upholstery.
7. Upholstered Wraparound Office Chair: I really love the back cutout on this one, plus the dual textures make it a little more elevated than your standard office chair.
8. Vintage Pollock Executive Swivel Chair in Black Leather: Oh I love this vintage option so much. If I had a real work-from-home office it would be REALLY hard for me to not choose this one.
9. Nyle Suede Office Chair: I love this one for its simplicity and the camel suede provides a lovely color/texture. Just be careful with spills because suede is not the most forgiving:)

Top Rated And Ergonomic

design and photo by keyanna bowen | from: blue walls be gone! key’s totally transformed office reveal – maybe the most dramatic before & after ever (?)

Now we are getting to the real meat and potatoes. Of course, if life was perfect we would all have the space/means/maturity to own real, ergonomic, non-back-ruining office chairs. I truly hope to get there one day. And if that is where you are at currently I commend you and want to share these top-rated, highly endorsed options that some of YOU, our very own trusted readers, have suggested to us in the past. And if you aren’t ready for this stage yet, perhaps bookmark this post for when that time comes (I know I will!).

1. Gesture Ergonomic Office Chair: On Jess’ desk chair post, a reader gave this chair high praise saying: “I recently got the Steelcase Gesture and love it. It’s expensive but it is very comfortable and very adjustable. I’m 6ft so not super tall but I think it would work well for even taller people. It has an adjustable seat pan and the arms have tons of adjustment options: going low enough to be completely out of the way or high enough to comfortably rest your elbows at any height. It’s got some nice color combos that I think look attractive but it’s not going to be as cute as anything from this article. After going through some uncomfortable cheap chairs I decided that it was worth investing in a high-quality chair since I spend so much time using it.”
2. Autonomous ErgoChair Pro: This one was rated one of the top desk chairs for 2023 for its comfortability and longevity. One customer said, “I have gone through a lot of chairs, two gaming chairs, two office chairs. and now finally autonomous. I love this product with a passion. this chair is both comfortable on the seat and on my back. It provides nice support along with amazing comfort. “
3. Aeron Chair: Several readers recommended this one including Jennifer who commented: “After about 1.5 years of working from home due to the pandemic, I finally caved and bought the Herman Miller Aeron office chair. Six months later and I don’t for one minute regret my decision to go with the Aeron. It’s an investment piece that is completely worth it.”
4. Ergonomic Chair: If I do eventually get my very own work-from-home office (the dream) this is the real desk chair I can see myself purchasing due to the price point and glowing reviews. One person claimed, “The chair has been an absolute game changer to working from home. I no longer have extreme pain from sitting during the day. It’s super comfortable, stylish, and was easy to put together.” Another reviewer praised the several adjustable features but my favorite review has to be, “The only downside is the chair is so comfortable I forget to stand up now.”
5. Steelcase Series™ 1 Office Chair: A number of readers also recommended this chair and it also has glowing reviews online. I personally found this one very helpful: “This chair is ideal for plus size/big and tall. It’s extremely easy to assemble, lightweight but heavy-duty construction, certainly worth the cost. I would also recommend adding a headrest. Overall great functionality. The lumbar support is excellent. I would rate 20 out of 10 for comfort. You can sit in this chair for hours”
6. Tic Toc Chair: I love this cute review: “The best stool I’ve ever sat on. I smiled ear-to-ear the moment I sat down the first time and began to oscillate. The stool is ergonomically sound – I was skeptical of working from a stool but I can no longer imagine going to a traditional office chair. 10/10“
7. aeris Swopper New Edition Ergonomic Stool: On Jess’ famous desk chair post, one reader suggested this backless stool which really intrigued me. They claimed, “The best chair I ever had was at my previous job, and it was actually a backless stool that had a sort of rocking function. I wish I could have brought it with me! It made me use my core to support myself instead of slumping, and I was able to move around easily. “
8. Gaiam Ultimate Balance Ball Chair: If you are someone who needs to move around a lot during the day, this ball chair might be the one for you. One reviewer noted, “I’d tried other ergonomic chairs, but the ones that seemed ok for my back had firm seats that bothered my hip. While I’m working at the computer, the ball allows me to do small exercises recommended by my physical therapist”
9. Capisco Chair by HÅG: I was hesitant about this one due to the odd shape, but the more I read about it the more I was convinced. This review pretty much sold it for me: “Love having a bunch of options for how I sit – I can perch at the edge, sit cross-legged, sit back for a “normal” office chair experience, … I was skeptical that this would be comfortable because it’s such a wacky shape but I’m really happy with it!”

Okay my friends, that concludes are 2023 desk chair picks. If you have tried any of these options, or have other recommendations to add, please sound off in the comments below. xx

Opener Image Credit: Design by Melanie Burstin Design | Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: An Office Reveal That Happens To Be A Full-On EHD Alum Family Affair…

The post The Best, Highly Reviewed (And Prettiest) Desk Chairs For 2023 appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on January 18, 2023 01:00

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