Emily Henderson's Blog, page 121

The Link Up SPECIAL EDITION: Emily’s Ultimate Swimsuit Guide (+ TWO Shaping/Sculpting Swimsuits AND Her Fav Self-Tanning Resources)

I had no intention of showing the internet my body in a swimsuit so much, but it was born out of my own discomfort in being in one (not having the right supportive suits EVER) and figuring if I’m this frustrated by the industry (and the lack of non-model body representation) then others must be, too. I mean, of course. So it’s been 3 years since my first review and we are so happy to report that FINALLY, the smart brands are showing suits in many different sizes and shapes. WAHOO. Not only does this help people of different shapes and sizes make better choices for their bodies, but it just helps normalize the beauty of all bodies and reduces the pressure to look like models with totally unattainable/photoshopped bodies. The more we see cellulite, the less ashamed of our own we are. I’m also SO impressed by the female-founded brands who are changing the industry and making more supportive suits with compression technology to help show off what we love and conceal what we maybe don’t love as much.  

So despite gaining some covid weight, today I’m showing you two last suits (I think) that I find VERY comfortable, flattering, and supportive (as well as rounding up all the posts we’ve done about suits for those of you with different body types) and talk all things spray tan. 

The Sustainable and Sculpting One

Emmi One Piece

A supportive, flattering compression suit (whatever that means to you) that shows off what I’m relatively proud of (for me a supportive boob area) and diminishes what I’m sensitive to (a very soft belly, with a lot of dimples). Lucky for us, the technology of suits has come a LONG way and there are many companies designing suits with this in mind. The compression of the Vitamin A suit is EXCELLENT (FYI the bikinis, which I also tried on, run so small that even the large was pretty tight). I wear an M/8, I’m 5’4” and around 132lbs. The Summersault one-piece suits, same thing – so good. And great news! Summersalt is having a 30% off sitewide sale with code: SALE30. We did a whole review if you want to check them out on a bunch of different bodies.

The Sculpting Corseted One (Designed By A Mom!)

Plungey Swimsuit

Today, what you can see above is the new shapewear suit invented by a mom in Silverlake (where we lived in LA) and it’s GENIUS. Her whole thing is why have shapewear for under your clothes and not for swimsuits! I bought one because I was being heavily Facebook marketed by it and I’m glad I did. Now, one of my best friends tried it on who has a much longer torso and is very small-chested and it didn’t work for her. We decided it’s mostly for people who carry more weight in their midsection and need more boob support. I LOVE it and before this post, I ordered the high-waisted sapphire in “short” Medium just in case we sell it out. That’s how much I stand by these suits.

The Swimsuit Posts

But that’s just my body, so this year and last year we did a few swimsuit posts to help you with other body types find a suit that could work for you (long gone are the days of swimsuit shops where you can try them all on). So let’s start from the beginning…

Active & Modest Swimsuits That Make Me Feel Good (Plus, My Thoughts On Body Image) Plus Some Updated Favorites

This was my first ever swimsuit post where I modeled cute but modest one-pieces (my preferred style). I was real nervous putting my body on the internet but the response was so positive that it kicked off what would be an annual post!

Swimsuit Review (On My Actual Body) – Supportive Swimsuits That Make Me Feel Comfortable, Confident, and Stylish

Same opening photo, different swimsuits. This one is filled with mirror selfies, more affordable options, and a couple of bikinis.

Another Swimsuit Review: This Time On 27 Different Women With Different Bodies & Swimwear Needs

As I said above, my body is just one kind of body. So I hit you all up on Instagram and asked whoever was willing to send in a photo of them in their favorite swimsuit. We were so grateful for the amazing ladies that sent in their photos and gave us some incredible options (my team included!).

Unphotoshopped Women Honestly Review Summersalt’s 3 Bestselling Swimsuits

We got to do a sponsored post with Summersalt to review their 3 bestselling one-pieces and it’s fair to say that we were all impressed! Go take a look and there are a ton of other cute ones on the site.

Where To Buy ALL The Best Swimsuits (Affordable, Black Owned, AND Size-Inclusive) – Because I’ve Been Heavily Insta-Marketed, Believe Me

If you are just looking for a list of great places to find a great new suit, this post is for you!

Now onto getting that summer glow…

Self-Tanning

I can say without hesitation that I’m an expert in this category. I’m extremely pale as I have shown you before and was called “Powder” growing up. 

When I was a tween I prayed (literally) for the day when I could be tan like other people in the summer and I’m happy to report that God exists:) The difference between me being confident in a suit and me not being confident is having color on my body. I’m not proud of that and I wish I could just be me, but societal beauty conditioning is extreme and often feels irreversible so here we are. Self-tanner is basically foundation for your body that works with your PH to bring out color, and reduces the appearance of cellulite, bruises, veins, etc. Listen I don’t want promote this idea that pale skin isn’t beautiful because it absolutely is or that anything is wrong with cellulite because we ALL have it so it should be 100% normalized despite its lack of representation in the media. I’m just saying that I feel more comfortable in a swimsuit if I have self-tanner on my body and in case you do, too, then here is what I do. 

Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse | Double Sided Luxe Tan Applicator Mitt

I have done (and will do) a custom spray tan from a person (which can last a full week), a spray booth (4-7 days and I prefer the Versa brand of booths so call around), or at-home self-tanning foam/lotion (2-5 days) with varying degrees of success. My hands-down favorite is St. Tropez self-tanner mousse and be SURE to use the mitt. I also love Coco and Eve (get medium unless you are very dark – it makes me SO DARK) and recently bought Il Makiage which doesn’t get on your clothes as much and works more quickly but doesn’t get as tan or stay as long. All self-tanners come off your clothes and sheets but it can be super gross on day one (wear dark and loose). On vacation, I’ll bring my St. Tropez and reapply every night because if you are in the water it will come off pretty quickly. Chlorine will all but take it completely off which is a bummer (you can’t see it in the water, I promise). If you have more natural color and just want it enhanced then you don’t need the expensive stuff – go for L’Oreal or Jergens

Actually, I talked about the St. Tropez self-tanner mousse so much that my team was extremely curious. I decided I would get it for all of them to try and they loved it too. Here it is on Jess and Mallory:

So there you have it. All the swimwear and tanning picks and advice I have. I hope that we can all spend as much time as possible outside and in the water this year, feeling as good as possible. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: The Fun, Easy To Wear And BOLD Dresses I am Opting For This Summer

The post The Link Up SPECIAL EDITION: Emily’s Ultimate Swimsuit Guide (+ TWO Shaping/Sculpting Swimsuits AND Her Fav Self-Tanning Resources) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Farmhouse Thrift Store Haul – From Facebook Marketplace, Antique Malls + Local Vintage Stores

To no one’s surprise I “enjoy” the decorating process more than the renovation process. To be clear, I appreciate the renovation process as it’s more creatively challenging and pushes me further and harder, thus can be more rewarding in the end. But OOF, the decoration and styling process is just more enjoyable. The stakes are relatively low, nothing has to be permanent, and everything is a lot less expensive. As you know I’ve started investing in a few new pieces – an extremely comfy TV watching family sectional, our perfect dining table, and our special counter stools, but if I can find the right thing that’s vintage, I WILL buy it. On the weekends when I feel overwhelmed with the renovation and want to “have fun” I jump on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, head to the antique malls, and even have a few pickers shop for me. So here are some of my latest scores…

Post Modern Pine Chair And Nightstand

Look at that chunky little monkey. This chair and matching nightstand were by far the splurgiest FB marketplace thing I’ve bought thus far. They were $500 for both (including delivery) and the only reason I felt ok about it is because I had been eyeing many that were similar on 1stDibs at 4 times the price, many in Europe which could cost a lot to transport (and I do want to be careful about ordering from so far away for carbon footprint reasons).

These two are generous in size (bigger than a kids’) and once stripped, sanded, and sealed will be a pretty light pine like our nightstands at the mountain house (which were much more expensive). I obviously love the rounded legs and while this is a trend, I feel very comfortable buying this trend in a high-quality vintage piece rather than a new mass-market piece (nothing wrong with that, but this is my preference). Here are similar vibe options: This one is a modern option, this is a budget-friendly option, and this one is a cool vintage set option:)

The Aged Planters

Big heavy planters are expensive, so when I find unique ones like this I JUMP. These were $225 each which is also splurgey but I could see them so perfectly in the kitchen patio area. Paired with a taller-footed gentleman and perhaps my 7′ wooden bird sculpture, these feel so happy and whimsical, especially in the winter months.

The Vintage Basketball Hoop Inspired Chair

I was drawn to this immediately because it looked playful and so fun. We were shopping after Mother’s Day brunch, forcing my children to come along after 2 mimosas obviously, and when Charlie and Elliot saw this they both freaked out. I sat in it, ensuring comfort and it is really comfortable! Way more than most sling chairs, actually. It was $245 and worth it, IMHO (and no, I rarely try to bargain with vintage dealers as I know that their profit margin is slim already and I have the budget to pay in full. Urbanite gives designers a 10% discount which is lovely). If you are into postmodern design, follow THNGS on Instagram and see what they are collecting. They are out of Portland and it’s all my kid’s dream furniture.

Vintage Metal Garden Table

What you can’t tell from this photo is that the dark paint underneath is the perfect blue. I loved those chunky round legs (again) and could picture it in not one, not two, but THREE different places making it a worthy versatile investment (kitchen patio, next to our bathtub, as a plant holder in the sunroom). I believe this was $115, again not cheap, but LOVE.

Tromp L’oleil Ghost Table

I told Annie, from Shop Wilma that I was shopping online for a ghost side or console table and a few weeks after that, lo and behold. She was about to have a sale that day so I snagged it for a cool $700 which is actually a deal as they are on 1stDibs for $4,500. Of course, they are being knocked off now which sucks (and is understandable) but the real ones do look better.

Scallop Console Table

I bought this the first week we were here for around $100 including delivery. I had ideas of making it a bathroom console, cutting out for the sink, but it’s pretty shallow. I bought it anyway because it’s so cute and I have plans to paint it a fun or dark color.

Blue Architectural Swing Lamp

Sixty bucks. Cute color. Not sure where it’s going to go but likely a kid’s room.

Popsicle Lamp

This is a very specific movement that some of us are VERY into. So into, in fact, that they go for $2500 on 1stDibs. So I told Annie (Shop Wilma) that I was desperate for one, she texted me a month later, finally finding one for $285. Still a lot for a lamp, but they are hand made from, you guessed it, popsicle sticks in a tramp art type of way. This one isn’t perfect (dusty and maybe janky) but there is still something so whimsical and rebellious about them. To take something so elementary (popsicle sticks) and painstakingly turn them into works chic lamps through such engineering precision is really special.

Antique Maple Dressers

Elliot wants “SO MUCH COLOR, RAINBOW, AND UNICORN EVERYWHERE”. So to help foster her creativity (without literally committing to it), I am buying used furniture to experiment on and she has to help do it. If she wants a hot pink dresser, we’ll paint a hot pink dresser TOGETHER. Like me, she needs to understand the work that goes into making something, and not just willy-nilly get what she wants. She wants drawers of different colors and I’m not going to custom-make something like that for her. Instead, we are going to do it ourselves. So again, these dressers are our experimental pieces and I’m SO excited to do it together. They were both $200, including delivery.

This is more vanity sized, but look how sweet that scalloped shape front is. Love.

Mid-Century Art Desk With Storage

So this is where I might have really gone too far. I was so excited about this desk where the wheeled chair (that birdie is sitting on) pushes in flush. It has so much storage (underneath her seat and on the side) and she is OBSESSED with it. It’s been 5 months and she does art at it most nights. My plan was to paint it, but I did the “can you deliver it for $20 today” thing where I didn’t inspect it (it was $60). Upon further/later inspection it is not exactly super well made. We can still paint it (thinking a light color) but the outside is not solid wood so it’s never going to be this crisp awesome piece that I had envisioned when I found it. I still love the idea of it, but not sure I can strip and paint it to make it as good as it was in my head when I found it.

Head to stories to see more videos of this haul and if you have any other popsicle lamps, wicker ghost tables, Jacob’s ladder or Irish square quilts – hit this lady up.

The post Farmhouse Thrift Store Haul – From Facebook Marketplace, Antique Malls + Local Vintage Stores appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Ryann’s Parents’ Budget Dining Room Makeover Update: 3 Unexpected DIYs And An Ask The Audience

Back in December, I introduced my parents’ dining room refresh, a project that started as a bonding/healing experience for my parents and I. When my brother passed away last August it was devastating, so working on a home project together felt like an uplifting distraction. I think we all know how an inviting, beautiful home can do wonders for your soul and mental health so I wanted to help my parents achieve that in their home starting with their walk-through dining room.

While this is still joint project between my parents and I, my parents deserve most (if not all) of the credit so far. I’ve learned that when you are designing a space that you aren’t living in (me) you might drag your feet with design decisions. That might make your “clients” (my parents) go ahead and make decisions without you and ask forgiveness later. I can’t blame them and to be fair, this makeover is coming along much faster than my living and dining room which took almost two years to complete. My parents are nothing if not decisive, so as a team our design process mostly looks like this: 1. my mom and I look for furniture options 2. I take too long to find something I really like 3. she finds something she likes and shows it to my dad 4. if he likes it she texts it to me 5. I tell her my opinion 6. sometimes she listens to me sometimes she doesn’t. It never surprises me when they go ahead and make a decision but more than a few times I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how good it’s all turning out. But I am getting too ahead of myself. Let’s circle back to the very beginning.

How It Started

The last time we chatted, I shared our plans to give this space a good old fashion refresh, non-renovation style. My parents want a modern farmhouse-style dining room so my dad started by building a barn house door that separates the walk-through dining room from the family room. Once the barn door was up it put the rest of design in motion. The design plan was simple: replace the dated furniture, the light fixture and style with fresh decor and art.

I knew we needed a jumping-off point so we focused on getting a new dining table first.

1. Rachael Ray Monteverdi Dining Table | 2. Farmhouse Table

This is one of those instances where I wasn’t making decisions fast enough so my mom went ahead and bought the Etsy farmhouse table. I wasn’t sure if it was the right wood tone or shape for the space but we were going to just see how it went and go from there. But as fate would have it, the table never shipped so after a couple of months my mom got a refund and looked at more options. Again, she and I looked for a table and she found this one on sale. She ordered it (she loves a good deal) and before I knew it the table arrived. Once we saw it in the space we loved it and it was clear that black dining chairs would be a perfect contrast to the light wood tone.

THE DIYS

Many of you commented on the last post that we shouldn’t buy new chairs and instead should simply paint the existing chairs black. I admit I was skeptical and honestly wanted to skip this idea and go straight to purchasing brand new spindle back chairs. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this project so far, it’s that you might as well try the DIY first. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But if it DOES then you are likely saving money and being more sustainable. As a lot of you predicted, a little black spray paint really turned these chairs around.

They are solid chairs and it’s amazing what paint can do. The black color made them instantly more modern and the cross-back design aligns with the modern farmhouse style we are going for. So thank all of you literal geniuses for telling us to do this. Where would we be without you?? (probably $1000 poorer).

We did the same for the bar stools and they look brand new. You can purchase stools that look exactly like this for $110 each, and this easy DIY probably cost a total of $50 in spray paint. I just love it when a DIY actually pulls off.

The next DIY came out of nowhere but ended up turning out better than any of us could have expected.

My dad has had this desk in his garage for as long as I can remember. It was his dad’s desk and we don’t know how old it is or even what era it’s from, but our guess is it’s at least 100 years old. A few weeks ago my parents were going to sell it and had an interested buyer who told them she was planning on painting it and using it as a credenza. She never showed up to pick it up, so it gave us the idea to try and refinish it for the dining room.

It was originally about the same height as the table so to give it more height, my dad added two bun feet to each leg (one square and one round) which also gave the legs a more interesting shape. He then attached a piece of wood under the drawers to create a shelf and finally sanded and spray painted. Voila. This thing actually looks brand-new in person. It’s stunning.

Charcoal Spray Paint

It truly turned into a SUCH a cool piece that I am so glad we salvaged. It has a unique shape and the matte charcoal color made it feel more industrial and modern. Our only challenge now is how to style it. It’s pretty wide (about 1.5 feet) so there’s a lot of space to play with but too much decor could make it feel cluttered fast. But that’s a problem for future Ryann.

How It’s going

Dining Table | Chandelier (similar)

Here is what it looks like currently. It’s not styled out perfectly but we all LOVE how it’s turning out so far. The light wood table ended up being PERFECT and all of the black and wood finishes are complementing each other so well.

It actually looks like a brand new room which a few months ago did not feel possible at all. Now that the large furniture pieces are here, we have a solid base and just need to add color and texture with decor.

The new light fixture is from Etsy and really pulls in elements from the barn door making the space feel more cohesive. It’s industrial (which is what my parents wanted) but sometimes I wonder if it should be all black so it doesn’t match the barn door so much. But on the other hand, all black could be too heavy and darken the space. What do you think?

Pendant Lights

On the opposite side, we replaced two old fixtures with these farmhouse pendant lights. They are also industrial and dark, so to keep the space feeling bright and airy decor the plan is to keep the decor light and simple.

What’s Next?

I am still advocating for a rug here despite some protests. Even though the floor tile is looking better than ever and fits the aesthetic and color palette, a rug would help ground the space and bring in texture and color. While a rug in the dining room can be cumbersome and messy I think it’ll look too good to pass up. Here are a few options I am eyeing:

1. Modern Oushak Grey Blue Pastel Turkish Style Wool Rug | 2. Kamran Blue Quartz Rug | 3. Kathy Ireland American Manor Medallion Bordered Indoor Area Rug

If it isn’t obvious, the main color I want to insert here is a blue. I love a soft almost gray-blue so I am very attracted to all of these options. Which one would you go with?

What to do with the space above the credenza has already proved difficult to figure out. We played around with a gallery wall because the original plan was to use this space to commemorate my brother and his military achievements, but we ultimately decided this isn’t the right space for that. A gallery wall with family photos is another option but that can be tricky to execute in a modern and fresh way (but it’s definitely possible). The last option is to hang a large painting or ornate mirror which is what I am leaning most towards. Since this is already a busy corner a single piece might be the best idea to keep the space feeling as light and airy as possible.

Although we aren’t done yet, a little side-by-side is in order because the progress is already looking 1000x better than the before.

So that’s where we are now and I am practically giddy with excitement because it’s turning out better than I expected. Huge kudos to my parents (Cheryl and Kevin) for getting the job done and making decisions faster than me. Now be sure to sound off in the comments about whether we should get a rug and what you think we should do above the credenza. I’d love to hear your thoughts. xx

The post Ryann’s Parents’ Budget Dining Room Makeover Update: 3 Unexpected DIYs And An Ask The Audience appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Emily Bowser Is Back With Another WILD Reno Rollercoaster: The Front Yard (PART ONE)

Hello my friends, it’s good to be back and I’ve missed sharing my thoughts and feelings around my epic adventure (?…traumatizing event?) of buying and renovating a home in a wildly expensive city. It’s been almost exactly 2 years since I gave you a process post on my backyard. I considered it a journey then because it had been almost 4 years since we bought at that point. We’re still not “finished” (are you ever really?). In the meantime, I want to give you an intro post for our front yard. I want to talk demo, construction, real numbers, the creative process, urban gardening, furniture design, and of course, cats. This will be a multi-part series that will end in a full outdoor reveal which *may* even include our back unit’s outdoor space. So come along, why don’t you?

It’s hard to know where to start, but let’s try a quick recap for anyone who needs a refresher or if you don’t want to read all my past dissertations 🙂

the first day we had the keys to our house

My husband and I own a 2-on-a-lot property (bought in late 2016), the front unit is 863 square feet, the back unit is 680 square feet. We live in the front and rent the back. At the moment our friends, Hope and Daniel, live there with their sweet pup, Nora. The property is laid out like so: the front has a 2-car driveway, with 2 separate 1-car garages, there’s a side gate that leads through our side yard (where we keep our many trash cans), and the pathway will lead you through our backyard to a gate for the back unit. The back unit has a concrete outdoor space that wraps around the side and back like an upside-down L. When I looked at this house initially all I saw was this potential: we don’t have to share a wall or an outdoor space. After renting in LA for 7 years, the idea of that kind of privacy while maintaining a sense of urban closeness seemed SO nice. Sure, the space is small but no shared walls and your own fenced-in yard? I know for those of you reading this in suburbia it must sound silly, but this setup is GOLD here. Turns out, it’s especially golden when a pandemic hits and you live in a studio apartment with your dog (just ask Hope and Daniel).

my literal concrete jungle, october 2016

The potential I saw was just that – potential. In its current 2016 state, my entire 5000+ square foot lot was made up of concrete that had been poured haphazardly over the past however many decades. Trees were popping up out of holes in the concrete that were mere inches wider than the trees themselves. In short: it was an ugly, uninspired space that was largely unusable, especially the front unit’s backyard (middle yard?) because it was concrete, but on a hill so you couldn’t even put a chair out there without feeling like you were going to slide out of it. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), what I didn’t foresee is how much $$ and how long it would take me to fully realize this potential. Tale as old as time? As mentioned, I wrote a “process” post 2 years ago and that only included one-third of the outdoor space.

Long story (very) short, after doing what we needed to do to make both units safe and liveable (termite and mold damage, damaged roofs, wrong-sized pipes, not to code electrical, replacing almost every window, an unusable sewage line between the back and front house, etc, etc, etc) we had NOTHING left for the outside besides a coat of paint. Even though we knew there were things that shouldn’t go too long without being addressed, namely the rotting front steps and garage doors, a persistent garage flooding issue, and a 100-year-old sewage line with a few, um, holes. We were left with no other option than hoping and praying nothing major would happen while we tried to save back up. We painted the front white and back black and called it a day…or a 2 years.

“good enough” january 2017 

In 2018 we were forced to deal with a foundation issue which, as it does, snowballed into other projects. In order to get to the root of the foundation problem we had to rip up almost all of the backyard (hereafter when referring to the backyard I mean the front unit’s backyard, not the back unit’s backyard – the middle yard, if you will). If you have to rip up most of a space that small you may as well rip up all of it while the machines are there. You can read more about it in the backyard progress post but I am bringing it up here to mention that one of the things we decided to do while building out the back patio was to tear down the fence/gate situation and do that at the same time since it was the same materials as the patio (concrete blocks and stucco).

fence/gate when we bought the house, october 2016january 2018, pre rip outduring the stucco process, january 2018, peek-a-boo to my hedgejanuary 2018, after foundation was fixed but before patio was put in and march 2018 “after” (until we did landscaping in june of that year)front fence/wall seen on left side of both photos

At this time I decided to plant my beloved hedge, so we moved the gate over to leave room for them to come all the way up to the new stucco wall so that they would cover the entire fence in the side and backyard.

“finished” spoiler alert: this gate gets replaced. may 2018

To be honest I’m not sure exactly what the cost was of doing just the gate/wall because it was lumped in with the foundation/patio. The total invoice for that job was $33,000 so I know we didn’t have the money to do anything special with the gate. I had originally wanted to do an arch, but Ron’s (my contractor) guys just whipped this up with scraps of wood and we painted it with the leftover paint in the garage (Squirrel by Behr). If you are curious, the whole reason I was able to do this job was that Ron was willing to wait for me to refinance (end of 2018) to pay him for most of it. The financials are outlined in more detail in my very first blog post. 

By the end of 2018, we had finished the first installment of our backyard (& paid off Ron!) and it really changed the way we were living. When you only live in 863 square feet, adding outdoor space, especially in a place where you can spend a lot of time year-round outside, it really adds value to your life. Unfortunately, we still didn’t have the funds to do the things we needed and wanted to do in the front yard. We knew that it would be like the backyard and snowball into a much bigger project. From 2018-2021 our home looked pretty much exactly like this photo taken September 2020:

Isn’t she the silliest looking girl (house)? look at that hedge go!

Three things happened in September of 2020, 1. We replaced that gate because it was not made well and kept getting stuck. (You will see in an after later on) 2. Hope and Daniel moved in and didn’t have a need for a garage (we had previously been renting out the right 1-car garage to the back unit). After making it through 6 months of lockdown with us both working from home in such a small space it took about 1.5 seconds flat to make the decision to move Andrew’s whole situation to the garage so we could have more living space upstairs. 

The situation:

it’s a cornucopia of horror. don’t worry, i fixed it.

3. The shuffle made me start thinking about the front “yard” (if you can call concrete a yard). We had started having some sewage/plumbing issues (weird smells coming back up our drains, mysterious toilet noises), my garage (left side) flooded every. single. time. it rained, and the rotting stairs were definitely not getting better. I had been told not to let the sewage line burst or I would be in for a world of financial hurt. I was getting both nervous for those reasons and anxious for a new project to distract me – even if temporarily – from living in 2020 and frankly sick of living with the lack of curb appeal. 

My very responsible and totally safe way of doing business (per usge) 

Here is the laundry list of things that needed to be addressed in the front yard/garage/driveway area:

All concrete demo’d and removedStairs demo’d and removedFence along left side, demo’d and removedReplace sewage lineInstall french drain in front of garage doorsInstall a drain on the left side of the house to help usher water down and under the driveway vs straight down the side of the house into the garageGrade yard AWAY from the garage and towards the street. At the time, rainwater would run halfway down the driveway, turn around and go into our garage. Yes, we live in the most unrainiest place and yet still somehow have flooding.Extend the patio (up by the front door) to the end of the house and widen it about 20 inches. We did this so we could….Pull the garage doors out to the depth of the stairs (adding about 60 square feet of garage) and still have an overhang to…you guessed it, help with flooding.Install new stairs and railingPull permits and replace apron of drivewayPour a new driveway and walkway to side gateBuild and stucco wall to replace the half stucco/half fence situation on the left side of the propertyBuild an L-shaped, half (height) stucco wall on the right side of the property to create an area for green spaceBring plumbing into the front yard so that we could have irrigation/a hose out frontInstall electrical outlet near the hose (for irrigation purposes)Install electrical outlet by the front door (for Holiday lights mostly)

I started getting quotes in September and ultimately decided to use the devil I knew (Ron). He came in cheapest at $60,000. It’s a lot but it’s also something we knew would have to happen since 2016. Back in the ole saddle with Ron. You should have heard the resignation in my friend Lauren’s voice when I told her. I made Ron pinky promise (because you have about a 50/50 chance of getting a contract from the man – he prefers used napkins from his car) and swear on his firstborn son (that he sends to pick up his checks from me) that it would not go one cent over $60,000 (spoiler alert: it did). I’m here for you to learn from, or to judge, whatever.

Because of the steep price tag and the impending rainy season, we waited until April 2021 to start the work. For cosmic reasons that I don’t understand: I went out of town for weeks the day before it all started. This seems to be a bit of a bad habit. I get us deeply entrenched in a project and for one reason or another (mostly outside of my control) I have to leave town and am left to try to talk remotely through a husband who thinks this is an acceptable way to style a space:

he’s in a costume…probably.In The Shit, Quite Literally.

Andrew sends me this absolute BEAUT on day 1:

april 19th, 2021, hereafter known as THE LORD’S DAY

You spend every day of 4.5 years dreaming of this day, only to not be there in person to have the satisfaction. UGH. Day 1 also came with the awesome news that we have a completely corroded water line we need to replace as well, OF COURSE. Wanna know something REAL gross? The busted sewage line was backed up to a, let’s just say, unsettling degree AND it also had many holes in it. Not to mention it shares the same general area as my water line that also had holes in it…I’ll let you do that DISGUSTING math. I wish I had some pics of this to show you. However, my husband was in charge and mostly sent me videos. I’ll post on my stories or something so you can come watch and gag if that’s your thing.

the only pic I have of an example of *1* of the many gaping holes in my sewage line. for reference, I could probably fit my fist through there. making this job both metaphorically and literally, a shitty one.

We had no idea about the water line needing to be replaced so it’s day 1 and Ron is talking about how this is going to add to the budget (pinky promises be damned I guess) so we decided to not do the driveway apron because if you don’t know – it’s weirdly expensive. I had a couple of people that came out and gave me quotes say that *just* the apron could cost up to $15,000. Ron, in his unending optimism despite this house costing twice as much to fix up than he thought, wasn’t quoting me that much for the apron. However, when I told him $60,00 total was still firm and could he swap out the water line for the apron, he said yes. So alas, my apron still looks like sh*t. Someone please tell me why the city makes me pay for it anyway?? It’s technically their property but I have to not only pay to fix it but also pay the city a separate fee as well?? Tell me a scam that’s become more normalized.

Day 2 they started the stucco wall along the left side (if you’re looking at the house), ran the new sewage and water line, and laid the french drain. Again, limited pics but I found a video of Andrew promising he “saw the new line before they buried it” so that’s reassuring, I guess. I literally cannot believe I’m writing about such boring things. So let’s move on.

can’t lie, this fresh sewage line got me more hot and bothered than i’d care to admit. god, the boring shit you love to see when you’re an “adult”stucco wall in process, thanks for the cool pic, dad.

By day 7 they had finished all the trenching for the half wall, framed out the walkway/steps leading to the side gate, graded the driveway, and did, I don’t know, whatever you do before you pour concrete? I guess just put rebar in a grid pattern? I’M NOT A SCIENTIST. (pics below for reference). I can’t tell you how long I spent trying to figure out how/where the walkway steps should go and what was the appropriate amount of space to leave for cars and walking around cars. Actually, I can, and will I’m sure in another post. I have some regrets, I think. I don’t know. We’ll see and find out together! I depended on Ron’s judgment a lot here. We talked through how much space we would want on the right side of the driveway for people to walk up to the house or to the gate. Where the steps should be considering us coming from our cars and people walking from the street. We discussed if someone was moving furniture in or out of the back house, how much space they would need to maneuver around on the steps, and the area we call a “landing” (between the initial steps and next to what would be the green space). All that said, I ended up with a lot less space for landscaping than I imagined in my head and now that it’s all there I wonder if I could have pushed for a *little* less concrete. I have some ideas on how to fix this visually, and we will get there in a later post.

when they started laying out where the steps and l-shaped wall would go. if any of you all are hurtin’ to work with ron, there’s his info.ready for concrete!this photo was taken from the edge of our previous patio (landing really). the post coming up is for the new patio.spooooky nighttime pic with a sweet white kitty in the window if you squintComing Together

You know the point in a project where you start to really see it come together? That was the new driveway for me. Luckily I was home for a few days while they were laying the concrete. Not to take away from how satisfying it was to see that finally happen, but I was mostly here to make fun of these nerds:

Did you all know that all men become dads even when they don’t have kids? Something happens overnight and one day they are tucking their shirt in their shorts and you catch them standing with their arms folded watching construction workers on your street. To say this was a real treat for Andrew would be an understatement.

They poured the steps, driveway, and inside of the new wall all in a matter of hours. It was actually very zen to watch them even it out.  

driveway, taken from our living room window on the right | from the street on the leftwalkway (steps and landing) up to side gate from driveway, taken from outside the front door on the left | taken from the street on the right

They had put in the support they needed for the new patio pre-concrete so all of that was ready for the next step, which was to build a new wall on the far left and continue the middle wall between the two garages. They built those walls and did the L-shaped wall along the perimeter of what would become “the green space”. You can’t exceed (I believe) 4 feet high along the sidewalk without a permit so we kept it low, 29” tall to be exact. That random measurement was how high however many cinder blocks made that height because adding another one would have made it too high. I knew I wanted to plant something on the inside and have it grow up to match the height of our neighbor’s fence and I liked the idea of seeing some green from the street vs seeing just a white wall.

first cinder blocks being laid for far left wall | wall complete, framing for new doors going in
l-shaped cinder block wall made for green space, you can see neighbor’s fence on far right, i know i want to match that height with some type of hedge on the other side of the wall

Why the wall at all you ask? Why not just plant a hedge and call it a day? The reason is that the house sits on a hill so I wanted to be able to block off that space and add dirt to even out the ground in that area. Originally the plan was to make an L-shaped planter out of the concrete blocks and have the planter be the divider with plants coming out of it. When we measured it out we realized that it would eat even more into the already not huge space (16’x16’) and decided this was a better direction. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do with the space at the time but I knew if it was going to be on a hill that was going to restrict my options. Now if I knew just how much dirt I was going to have to add in order to make it level, I probably would have added the extra row of cinder blocks, but that’s a story for another day.

Let’s talk patio and garage doors. In order to avoid having an engineer come out, we kept the upper patio pretty narrow. The original steps were 40” wide and we kept the basic structure there but replaced all the rotted wood. This made it a “repair” and not a new build which would have cost a lot more money and required a few permits. We pulled the new wall out to match the width of the stairs. They did all of this after they had already made the new doors so it could happen quickly and all of our garage contents wouldn’t be exposed to anyone who walked by.

I told them to make the doors to match the new gate, which was a simple design of vertical wood and no trim, so when these bad boys went in I was not too pleased. I felt like the trim made it look like a barn. Also – they were made terribly. They don’t look so bad here but look at this close up: 

EW. What and why I ask. WHAT AND WHY. So not only did I hate the trim but the trim literally made the function of the doors…dangerous? We had a few splinters to prove it. And on this emotional cliffhanger, I will leave you today. Will I reach past my fear of confrontation and demand the hardworking men fix this mistake? Do I trust the people who thought this was ok to fix it? Will rain come before they put the patio/roof back on my garage??

Ha, it’s actually not that wild, but I need a place to split this up. Up next: the patio design and execution and my 16’x16’ urban garden dreams coming true with Down to Farm!

Here’s where I leave you: It’s May 8th, 2021 and I have a very much improved driveway situation, peace of mind of all the boring stuff taken care of, and with lots of questions regarding the patio and garage doors:

AMA in the comment section!

The post Emily Bowser Is Back With Another WILD Reno Rollercoaster: The Front Yard (PART ONE) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Choosing Our Kitchen Counter Stools – Our Splurgey (And Sustainable) Choice

I feel like I’m being super slow at choosing major pieces for this house because until we live in it there are so many unknowns. Which way do we want to face in the living room? Will we want a light sofa or a dark one to ground the room once the ceiling is painted white? Two sofas? A sectional? Swivel chairs or comfy club chairs? Etc. So I’m waiting on a lot of those, but with lead times being long I’m trying to just decide on the things we DO know we need (like our family room sectional and our dining table). Today we are talking counter stools and showing you what we wanted and why.

As you can see the kitchen is open to the living room so I had to design both at the same time. The counter stools will be faced away from the living room but they would be very visible when you are in that room, thus the back of them needs to be right.

Our Counter Stool Needs And WantsMinimal in Style – Again. To stick to the original vision of the house we don’t want anything too busy or distracting. But “minimal” can be cold and uncomfortable if not selected right.A Supportive Back. The most minimal thing we could choose would be a backless stool that shoves in and disappears, but I know this will be a big conversation area and I want backs. I’m picturing hours of my friends hanging with me while I make unnecessarily complicated meals (my favorite lockdown activity that I hope to do more of on the weekends once we move in) and I’ll need their emotional support while doing so. Comfort. Yes, we want minimal but comfortable. I LOVE our comfortable stools at the mountain house kitchen and thought about using those again, but we want something more classic and traditional for this home. I really loved our stools in our L.A. house, too, and they didn’t even have cushions which gave me hope that there are more stools out there that are designed to be comfortable sans upholstery (we sold them with the house and since there were only three of them and discontinued I knew they wouldn’t work at this house). Visually Interesting. We love wood around here, and while I love a mix of a metal/wood situation we were leaning towards wood on this one.

When possible, for this home I want to work with local makers and this seemed like a great opportunity. I knew this would be the more expensive route, but one that I think is important to go down if you can afford it. So I reached out to Fernweh Woodworking as I LOVED working with Justin on the chairs for the Portland Project.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project: the living room reveal

Those chairs are incredible sculptures and the craftsmanship is so exceptional. But to be honest we are in the “almost every piece of furniture has to be super comfortable” stage of our lives. So without sitting on these stools how could I guarantee that they are comfortable?

I posed my concerns to Justin to which he said he was coming to Portland for a delivery and he would be bring a couple of dining chairs and a bench for us to test- designed very similar to the counter stools.

Oxbend Bench

Both Brian and I were extremely impressed with the chairs. They are very hefty and solid – not crazy heavy so it makes them hard to move, just solid. They are generously proportioned – they aren’t dinky little stools that you feel like you are spilling over. And the shape of the seat and the shape of the back are so comfortable. Despite not being upholstered they are shaped in a way that just feels so good!

Oxbend Stool

And almost most importantly, they strike the perfect balance between minimal, modern, classic, and warm. They are absolutely STUNNING and yet so simple that I don’t think I’ll ever ever ever get sick of looking at them.

charcoal ash | white ash | walnut

Now for what color? To decide that we had to reference our island as that’s the wood that it’s going to be up against.

the island

It’s a white oak, but with a pretty warm/red stain (which we really like). The floor and cabinets are a natural white oak so while we could have done the walnut to add in another tone, we decided the black would contrast so nicely against the island, speak to the black in the light fixtures, and yet still be quiet and calm.

black | olive green | saddle brown

Oxbend Chair Seat Pad

I was SO excited when they brought us samples of their new seat cushions in November. They hadn’t launched them yet, but are now available. The reason they are so special (and genius) is that they are designed to sit without straps or any adhesion – they are so bottom-heavy and sculpted into the seat of the stool that they stay in place. I’m not sure if it’s wood on the bottom or what, but whatever it is, it works. I ordered the black ones for our black stools.

What Seat Height Is Best For Counter Stools?

Well. This became a thing. I almost wish they had just “counter” and “bar” height because we actually really fixated on the height for a long time. We measured the difference between our dining chairs’ seat height and the underside of the table and based on that we were going to go with 24″. However, Brian claimed (and felt very passionately) that you want to sit higher at a counter than you do at a dining table. He demonstrated this posture many many times when debating this. He says that you want to sit up and put your elbows on the table, to lean your chin on your palm while reading, say, the paper. He is generally right about this stuff and I didn’t feel nearly as passionately about the height as he did so we ended up ordering the 26″. The height of the island is 36″ so that gives 10″ clearance, 9″ if you minus the surface of the island. The amount of time we measured from our thigh to an imaginary counter to see if that felt good was baffling and hilarious.

that’s justin and his stunning chairs!

Now, these stools are handmade in Bend, OR, and I can’t say enough great things about Justin and his Oregon maker team. Their price point is reflective of their quality, so yes it’s high. They were kind enough to offer me a discount for press and usage, which I was so grateful for but it was still one of the biggest purchases I have ever made, and took us 9 months to convince ourselves to invest. We are SO EXCITED and it feels really good knowing that we are supporting Fernweh. Justin’s furniture is beautiful and so high quality and these are classic enough heirloom pieces that we’ll keep forever and pass down to our kids. We also feel like long-lasting pieces like these will appreciate like art does knowing that they aren’t mass-manufactured. These aren’t pieces that can be produced on a mass scale because they are made by the maker themselves. Not only are they not mass-manufactured, but Justin’s company also prioritizes sustainability. They strive to be waste-free and will be carbon neutral by the end of THIS YEAR. They source all of their wood from the pacific northwest and any wood scraps are put into storage for Justin to use in his home on an efficient wood stove. They even use their sawdust on their 5-acre property and all of their finishes are plant-based. It’s all just so awesome and Fernweh is such an incredible example of how to run a business that tries to protect our resources as best they can.

My hope is that in 40-60 years from now Fernweh will be another “Paul McCobb” or “Borge Morgenson”. At least that’s my fantasy, even though we’ll likely be dead 🙂 So if you have the budget, supporting local furniture makers and artists is a great way to spend it. I’m happy to say that their small business is thriving currently because enough people are starting to prioritize smaller high-end makers like this. Go, Justin!

Now I know that these stools won’t be in most people’s budget, so we wanted to show you the other counter stools I was thinking about and frankly very tempted by before deciding on ours.

1. Rye Counter Stool | 2. Harpswell Stool | 3. Proper Bar Stool | 4. The Delancey Stool | 5. Maison Upholstered Swivel Counter Stools | 6. Eastward Stool | 7. Netro Counter Stool | 8. Cobb Counter Stool with Back | 9. The Delancey Stool | 10. Jackson Stool

More farmhouse purchases later this week…stay tuned:) xx

The post Choosing Our Kitchen Counter Stools – Our Splurgey (And Sustainable) Choice appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Introducing A New Pen + Napkin Feel Good Makeover Here In Portland…And We Need Your Help!

Today I’m VERY excited to announce a local Portland Pen + Napkin makeover for a family of four (and we need your help). Last year we took Pen + Napkin national and got HUNDREDS of volunteer designers, many of which are located here in Portland. Two such designers, Amy and Katie Newcomb (not sisters, married to twin brothers!) have volunteered their time to help decorate a home for a family of four (two young girls). The photo above is one of their designs! If you are new here (welcome) Pen + Napkin helps families who are transitioning out of homelessness, usually coming from a shelter. They coordinate (or do it themselves) the furnishing and decorating of the homes as it greatly reduces recidivism. After the makeover, they feel proud, welcome, safe, and warm in their house. As a parent, we all know how important that is and how unsettling it can be to not have those feelings in your home. We do this for the moms who usually are coming from traumatic relationships and for the kids, who are desperate for stability and safety. But we need help – aka some funding to get it all executed. I’ll turn it over to Katie and Amy who can tell you about the project, the design, and the needs. If you can spare $10 they’d GREATLY appreciate it as furnishing a home from nothing can certainly add up (as we all know). 

Melissa, Braulio, Mariah, and Alanna are a sweet family transitioning out of houselessness. Since 2019 they have been through the turmoil of living in motels and campgrounds and being separated multiple times. Covid brought job loss and school closures, and the lack of routine and childcare sent them into a bit of a tailspin. Since 2021 Melissa and Braulio have fought through all that was stacked against them and have both gained full-time employment and a home. The girls are in a stable and permanent home for the first time in recent years and the whole family is excited to be where they are and making strides toward getting back to the life they envision. Their new home is close to their work and the girls’ school. They don’t have a lot to furnish a home so we’re excited to help them turn their new place into a home that reflects this new start. Mariah is in 3rd grade. She loves participating in the chess club at school, learning about science, especially the solar system, and flowers – she was proud to show us the rose bush in her yard! Alanna is a first grader with lots of spunk! She loves dolls, dancing, and the gardening club at school. The girls show such resiliency and happiness; it is hard not to be excited for them to have this opportunity. 

As a small interior design firm in Portland, we are excited for the opportunity to give back to our community.  While what we do as interior designers can feel a bit materialistic, it is undeniable that having a home environment that makes you feel safe and happy affects people in such positive ways. We want everyone to have a stable home, and whatever part we can play in this is important to us. Personally, the two of us have children the same ages as this family. These girls are peers to our kids and part of our future generation. We feel an emotional connection to helping set them up for the same success and stability as our own children. We are so excited to be a part of bringing this family a new beginning.

If you are able to contribute (THANK YOU) you can donate directly to Pen + Napkin here, or you can purchase one of the below items from the wishlists:

1. Acrylic Round Desktop Organizer | 2. Set of 2 Paper Drawers Cream | 3. Dean Desk Lamp Black  | 4. Higgins Modern Horizontal 6 Drawer Dresser | 5. Color Block Faux Cashmere Throw Blanke | 6. mall Fabric Storage Box with Faux Leather Accent  | 7. Crosby Schoolhouse Desk Lamp Black | 8. Small Stackable Storage Wood Bin | 9. Sling Stacking Patio Chair – Gray | 10. Terrazzo Solid Bookend – Threshold™ | 11. Wrentham Beadboard Farmhouse 3 Drawer Nightstand | 12. 12″x20″ Oversize Poly Filled Faux Mongolian Fur Pillow | 13. Set of 2 Paper Trays Yellow | 14. Astrid Mid-Century Dining Bench | 15. 95″ Blackout Tassel Curtain Panel

1. Ivilon Drapery Window Curtain Rod | 2. Heritage Plush Velvet Curtain | 3. Modern Adjustable Swivel Chair | 4. Area Rug | 5. Bathroom Storage Cabinet with 2 Doors | 6. Tealight Candle Holder Set of 3 | 7. Akame Galaxy Purple Teal Turquoise Throw Pillow Cover | 8. Artificial Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree | 9. Ivilon Drapery Window Curtain Rod | 10. Tufted Dining Chair | 11. Ceiling Fan | 12. Pillow Inserts | 13. Jute Plant Basket | 14. 6 Drawer Dresser | 15. Room Divider

Emily here. We appreciate any support you can give whether it’s donating or simply spreading the word. Again, thank you to our friends at Pen + Napkin for all the incredible work they do, and to the designers Amy and Katie for taking the lead on this special project. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Kith and Kin Interior Design | Photo by Folk Family Photography

The post Introducing A New Pen + Napkin Feel Good Makeover Here In Portland…And We Need Your Help! appeared first on Emily Henderson.

7 Ways To Make Your Shower Look Better – No Renovating Required!

So you’ve got a gross/not ideal-looking shower and you wanna make it look cleaner, nicer, and more organized, huh?? You’re in the right place, pal. If you partake in showers, then your shower is probably one of those areas in the home that get used HARD and OFTEN…so maybe it’s time for a light refresh. We’ve got a few ways that you can make your shower look nicer so you can enjoy your bathing time even more. No renovating required! Let’s begin 🙂

First…Deep Clean design by elspeth benoit and arterberry cooke | photo by alex zarour of virtually here studios | from: a master class in using color in your home without it feeling like a colorful home

Starting with probably the most obvious (and free) way to make your shower look better…just give it a deep clean! Before you buy anything new or add something to it, you gotta see the difference a good clean can make. It will make you feel SO much better when you’re showering and the results will immediately release some dopamine. I’m not trying to be your mom telling you to clean up and do your chores, instead I’m gonna give you some secret & helpful ways to make your shower SPARKLE.

First up…a lot of people love a natural cleaning solution. Jess recommends using water and vinegar (go here for more details), and I’ve heard that works super well!! I don’t love the smell of vinegar, so I recently tried using dishwasher detergent like they did in this video to clean my shower and I was very impressed at how well it works. If you have a glass shower, this video and this video only use 3 ingredients to deep clean their glass door and make it SPARKLE. I’m so excited to try these to get the water stains off!! Here are some other common cleaning products we use to clean our showers…

1. Method Cleaning Products Bathroom Cleaner Tub + Tile Eucalyptus Mint Spray Bottle (smells SO GOOD) | 2. Tub and Tile Extended Scrubber (highly reviewed) | 3. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Cleaner and Soap Scum Remover (magical) | 4. CLR PRO Industrial Multi-Purpose Restroom Cleaner (trusted) | 5. Drill Brush Attachments (very cool) | 6. Microban 32 oz. Citrus Scent Bathroom Cleaner (no more germs)

design by emily edith bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily bowser’s 32-sq-ft bathroom revealA Pretty Shower Caddy For Ulitmate Style And Organization

Next up, it’s time to sort through the millions of products you’ve collected over the last few months (many of which we know don’t get used that often). Toss what you don’t need and organize the rest. If you’re someone that has a lot of products OR if you only have a small shelf and niche and are running out of room, opt for the shower caddy. There are TONS of sleek-looking caddies out on the market (I have a modern-looking black one that I love – sadly it’s no longer available). Highly recommend gettingg one (especially if you share a shower with a significant other who has an entirely different set of products). See below for some shower caddies we love right now!!

design by priscilla frost | styled by emily henderson | photos by sara ligorria-tramp

1. Bamboo Hanging Shower Caddy (so chic and minimal) | 2. Preston Flex Shower Caddy (modern and cool) | 3. Pyron Tension Pole Shower Caddy (great for shower used by more than 2 people) | 4. Hose Round Wire Shower Caddy (classic but better) | 5. The Solid Teak Hanging Shower Caddy (unique shape and pretty) | 6. Eldred Shower Caddy (a hint of glam!)

Decant Shampoo/Conditioner

Similarly to the last point, if you want all your crazy shower products to feel more clean and organized, then try decanting them (and use a funnel). I LOVE the feeling of a hotel shower when they have the shampoo/conditioner/body wash on the wall for ya. It makes the routine easier since they’re all lined up in order and keeps your products away from the shower niche or shelf (so you have more room for the bar soaps, razors, etc). Plus then it’s all wet and soapy it keeps your bottles from flying all over the shower which I think is a win. If you’re gonna grab a shampoo/conditioner dispenser make sure that plastic is a safer bet than glass (just in case it falls or you drop it & also be sure to check if it’s a “drill-free” wall mount or not (especially if you’re going into tile!!)

1. Drill Free Shower Soap Dispenser Wall Mount with 3 Bottles (chic and you can choose the wall mount spacing) | 2. The Shower Essentials Kit (comes with product inside but bottles are so cool) | 3. Pump Bottle Dispenser (set of 2 and love a pop of color) | 4. White Shampoo and Conditioner Bottles (for our scandi style lovers) | 5. Metal Luxury Soap Dispenser Holder (again very chic. look at that brass, baby! | 6. Amber Pump Bottles (set of 2 and fun shape)

Shower Curtains

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to refresh your shower is by getting a new curtain for your shower. It can add some color, texture, or pattern into your space and is one of the best ways to soften up a cold or hard bathroom. The shower curtain should not be taken for granted, so make sure you get a good one!! Remember you can also put a shower curtain in front of sliding glass doors (especially if you don’t love the look of them). It adds more privacy too! We’re gonna link some of our favs below 🙂

design by william hunter collective | styled by velinda hellen, erik kenneth staalberg, emily edith bowser, and julie rose | photo by sara ligorria-tramp

1. Black Dash on White Shower Curtain Set (fun and graphic and comes with a liner!) | 2. Monique Lhuillier Lily Of The Valley Organic Shower Curtain (a very romantic option) | 3. Geometric Watercolor Shower Curtain (colorful and extremely cool) | 4. Capri Back Border Shower Curtain (perfectly classic) | 5. Black Windowpane on White Shower Curtain Set (an EHD favorite pattern) | 6. Relaxed Linen Shower Curtain (linen always looks good)

Bath Mats

I LOVE a good bath mat. There’s something about getting out of the shower and stepping on a cushy memory foam something or just anything so your freshly cleaned warm feet don’t have to step on the cold tile. I recently have been hearing good things about the bamboo bath mats that are more “spa-like” because apparently, they don’t get dirty that often because the water just drips down through them so you don’t have to constantly wash them like you would a fabric one. However, you do need to wipe the excess water off the floor if there’s a lot. I also LOVE the look of a vintage runner or rug like in the photo underneath this paragraph…it’s so chic and brings in so much personality (just prepare to wash it a decent amount & it probably won’t be the most cushy, comfy. It’s more for the style than function, which is okay sometimes!) If you have a bath mat you love, comment below because I am in the market!! We also have some cute ones linked below!

design by kirsten blazek | photo by alex zarour of virtually here studios

1. Ernestine Bath Mat (tell me that’s not the cutest?!) | 2. Harvest Garden Bath Mat (love a subtle pattern) | 3. Lateral Black Teak Bath Mat (love this dramatic spa look) | 4. Organic Triangle Sculpted Bath Mat (fun and modern and comes in a ton of colors and sizes) | 5. Bamboo Bath Mat (adds a ton of texture) | 6. Green Earth® Quick Dry Bath Rug (quick dry? yes, please)

Add A Stool Either Inside Or Outside Of Your Shower

I LOVE the look of a stool in or next to a shower. If you have the space, then definitely add this in. It’s a great spot to sit and shave the leggys, or to just have another place for extra storage. A lot of the stools you see in interior photos are not the most water-proof, so just be wary when you’re choosing a stool that it’s one that can actually take the wetness & steam of a shower (like these linked below!) 🙂

design by shaun crha | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: home tour: how this designer built a a beautiful modern traditional guest home for his dad to age in place

1. Bone White Manzanita Bath Stool (simple and modern) | 2. Teak Stool (love a live edge!) | 3. Hinoki Shower & Bath Stool (cute modern farmhouse vibes)

Place For Bar Soap

There is nothing worse than loose bar soap in a shower. You might not even realize just HOW annoying it is until you get an actual, designated dish or soap tray for it, that way it doesn’t end up slipping and sliding all over the place. I’m done chasing bar soap…so if you are too, we’ve linked some awesome soap trays below.

photos by tessa neustadt | from our classic modern primary bathroom reveal

1. Eco-Friendly Self-Draining Soap Dish (how cute are those legs??) | 2. Wave Soap Dish (a great opportunity for a pop of color) | 3. Oval Soap Dish (maybe the coolest) | 4. Soapstone Decorative Tray (great texture) | 5. Package Free Wooden Soap Dish (good for the earth, cute for your shower) | 6. Farmhouse Pottery Bullseye Soap Dish (basically a piece of art)

Thanks everyone for reading all the way through. Hopefully, this inspired you to get your shower clean, organized, and beautiful. If you have any other hot tips on making your shower look better please comment them below! Have the most amazing rest of your Monday, friends. We’ll see ya in the mornin!

Opening Image Credit: Design by Priscilla Frost | Styled by THE Emily Henderson | Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

The post 7 Ways To Make Your Shower Look Better – No Renovating Required! appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Em’s Ideal Summer Shirt, Ryann’s Chic $20 Sandals, And A WILD Article About An Architect That Blew Our Minds

First things first, Happy Juneteenth! Last year, Juneteeth was finally recognized as a national holiday. This is in no way to say that our deep systemic issues are all fixed, clearly not. However, the national celebration of this monumental day is grossly overdue. One wonderful way to celebrate this day is to support Black-owned businesses. Here is a post that has a ton of wonderful places to check out! So again, Happy Juneteenth and let’s get into our links!

design by handelsmann + khaw | styled by joseph gardner | built by verdecon | photo by felix forest

This week’s home tour designed by Handelsmann + Khaw is a straight-up fantasy. It has a villa vibe and is filled with patterned tiles, mixing in modern decor, a painted border in the living room that adds a ton of whimsy! Check out the rest of the home here!

From Emily: This is my new favorite shirt that I’ve been wearing A TON. It’s a little splurgy but it drapes great, is a lightweight linen, and is super breathable. Plus you know I love a good stripe. So it’s great for summer but also a great piece for all seasons because it’s really layerable. Highly recommend!

Also From Emily: My first-ever RETRACTION. It’s my sincere apology that I recommended something before I fully vetted it. A couple of weeks ago I was excited about the show “Under The Banner Of Heaven” and I said I was VERY interested in it. At the time we had seen 3 episodes and they were good. As the season went on Brian and I both found ourselves extremely annoyed at how they interpreted John Krakauer’s book. They fictionalized and editorialized it in a very negative way towards Mormons. As a former Mormon, I felt that this show wanted to be slanted and negative, and while extremist religion can’t be excused, how they ran this show felt wrong in a journalistic way.

Read the book. It’s excellent. But don’t watch the show. The acting is great (for the most part) but they took too many liberties by editorializing this horror. They exaggerated and extrapolated the truth to prove the director’s and producer’s point – one that was totally slanted. And doing that can be very damaging and frankly inaccurate.

designs by david quarles iv | left photo: via house beautiful | right photo: photo by sarah bell

From Jess: If you haven’t had the pleasure of following David Quarles IV then today is your lucky day. We got to meet him at the Meridian Experience Conference last week (we will do a FULL blog post soon) and his kindness and style will knock you over in the most wonderful way! As a multi-hyphenate, he is a wildly talented designer (as shown above), an incredible Zumba instructor (Mal, Ajai, and I took his class and had the best/very sweaty time), and a wonderful jewelry designer! His jewelry company is called IV and you should go check it out now!!

Also From Jess: A couple of weeks ago I told you that I ordered this primer that the TikTok makeup gals swear by. Well, I also ordered this HIGHLY reviewed setting spray. Now that I’ve been using them I can confirm that they are awesome and my makeup actually lasts! FYI I am SO new to all this so if you are like me and are easily intimidated by makeup stuff don’t be. I’m just a girl that wants her minimal makeup to last most of the day and wants some simple good options:)

From Caitlin: Bowled over by this reporting about a retired octogenarian architect whose professional credentials were used to FAKE APPROVAL ON BUILDINGS HE DIDN’T DESIGN. (On huge buildings, too – we’re talking skyscrapers here.) It gets crazier, though: basically, NYC requires that an architect signs off on all new construction to ensure buildings are, you know, safe (wild, huh?). But after this guy retired in 2016, he started to receive quarterly payments from his former employer, a major developer, in exchange for usage of his (literal) seal of approval. BUT WAIT! If that sounds sketchy, it wasn’t inherently weird in the original contract – the architect’s agreement originally stated that he’d need to review the developer’s plans within 48 hours. That’s still not standard, but it is slightly less shady than “your credentials in exchange for cash, no questions asked.” Naturally, though, the developer NEVER shared any plans and a huuuuge 51-story hotel has since been erected – with two other buildings in the works! – and all have the architect’s seal of approval, despite the fact that he never reviewed any plans. BUT WAIT! It turns out that the architect had been practicing illegally at times (who knew this would get so nuanced?) and now the whole thing is an even BIGGER mess. Such a tangled web and an incredible story, right?!

From Ryann: Last year when I bought these sandals, I truthfully didn’t know they would become such a staple in my wardrobe. I think I bought them in-store for a last-minute event I was going to that day. Cut to today, I now wear them at least once a day because they are so easy to slide on and go. They are $20 but look so expensive and look good with any jeans, shorts, dresses, etc etc. The band is soft and not too tight so they are very comfortable to walk in too. 10/10!

From Mallory: I LOVE a good candle (and I’ve gone through a lot in my life) but I hate the feeling of throwing away the waxy jars. Luckily there’s a new brand that’s fixing this problem – meet yuno candle…it’s a REUSABLE CANDLE where you can pop out the wax insert & replace it with another. Now we can have candles that are less wasteful!! Huzzah!

As always have a great rest of your Sunday and see y’all tomorrow!

Opening Image Credits: Design by Handelsmann + Khaw | Styled by Joseph Gardner | Built by Verdecon | Photo by Felix Forest

The post The Link Up: Em’s Ideal Summer Shirt, Ryann’s Chic $20 Sandals, And A WILD Article About An Architect That Blew Our Minds appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What To Wear To Work – The Business Casual Looks We Actually Wore And Loved

One thing I miss about going into the office is that feeling you get when you walk in to work knowing you are wearing a really good outfit. Now as I work from home, the only audience I have to witness my outfits is my often sleeping, snoring American bulldog who (rudely) couldn’t care less. It’s been two years since our team has worked from an office, so when we were invited to Albie’s awesome Meridian Experience conference we were almost too excited to pull together some real business casual looks. It was a great excuse to swap leggings and sweatshirts for blazers, blouses, and wide-leg pants. So if you are curious about what the team wore and/or are looking for some “what to wear to work” inspo, we hope this post will help.

Emily

Jeans | Cardigan (similar) | Blouse (left) | Blouse (similar – right) | Shoes (similar) | Bag | Necklace

Last week at the conference I wore a striped button-up (this one is awesome and new – splurgy but GREAT drape and quality), then combined it with a varsity-style cardigan (I love the Alex Mill version, too). I wanted to get into the balloon pant game and I like these, but honestly, they weren’t worth the price tag. I bought them in New York and I think I got caught up in wanting to be on-trend, and they are cool, but again too expensive as I don’t think they are timeless enough. I’ve worn them 4 times the last month which isn’t nothing. It should be noted Brian is not a fan – they aren’t exactly flattering but that’s OK 🙂 

1. Birchmoor Cardigan Sweater | 2. Cashmere Nico Cardigan | 3. The Texture Cotton Cardigan

Jeans | Blazer | Vest | T-shirt | Shoes (similar)

At the “happiness” conference I wore this vest and jacket combo (from Wildfang – 4 years ago but still available) with a T-shirt, distressed jeans, and white pumps and I felt kinda like a badass in it. It felt powerful and casual at the same time. 

1. Josley Pointed Toe Pump | 2. Leather Pointed Loafers | 3. Charlotte Beige

Jeans | Cardigan (similar) | Button-Up | Boots (similar)

Lately, I’m leaning into more business casual vibes and in general have replaced my blousey blouses for menswear-inspired button-ups and dare I say “suits”. I love this button-up and find myself wearing it a lot.

1. Classic Linen Shirt | 2. Classic-Fit Soft Gauze Shirt | 3. Cito Stripe Short Sleeve Linen Blend Button-Up Shirt (in case you want short leave for summer:))

Jess

Vintage Long Sweater (similar) | Pants (similar) | Boots (similar) | Glasses

This is probably my new favorite outfit combo! That incredible vintage St. John cardigan duster was a gift from an old boss that I interned for in New York. I could not love it more but didn’t have the guts to wear it until last year. Shameful. That baby needed to see the world! But it felt too “flashy” for me which is pretty comical. But I’ve been trying to dress more boldly (at least bold for me) and a structured navy duster with big gold buttons really does it for me. This piece could easily go formal so to make it more casual and fun I paired it with these old Target wide-leg pants that I WISH they still sold and my faux snakeskin boots…that I also wish were still available. Oh, and you can’t see but I have on a dusty light blue sock that is a fun surprise. Took that one from Em:) Lastly, I LOVE wearing 2-3 statement rings because it’s such an easy way to make your outfit more luxe-looking and put together. Mixing high and low, as well as vintage and non-vintage pieces, can really make a fun unique look. Just take a little step outside of your comfort zone because it will likely pay off! Oh, and I did have a thin black tank under in case I got hot but luckily I was totally fine all day:)

Here are a handful of actual vintage St. John dusters as well as a couple of similar (and “less flashy”) options:

1. Vintage St. John Basics Navy Knit Long Sleeve Butt | 2. Vintage St. John Basics Black Knit Classic Mod Coat Dress | 3. St. John Evening Jacket | 4. Linen-Blend Duster Cardigan Sweater | 5. St.John Basics Evening Jacket | 6. Long Cardigan in Cashmere

Black Top | Turtleneck (similar) | Gold Necklace ( similar) | Jeans | Shoes | Cutie in the Background (she’s MINE! similar does not exist)

What, you thought I wasn’t going to have an outfit with one of my beloved shoulder-padded top?? Ha. No way. I wear them so much that I’m pretty sure my friends think I threw away the rest of my other shirts. But I digress. This is a real “jeans and a t-shirt” twist. It’s all about the angled shapes for me. I love the broad shape of the top and the balance it brings to the wide-leg jeans. And since I’m a mere 5’4″, I think it helps that the jeans are slightly cropped so the look doesn’t swallow me up. I do think that my favorite clogs help that too since they’re a few inches tall. And I literally just noticed that the clogs also have a fun angled toe! Now I normally wear this top without a long-sleeved shirt but since I was headed to slightly chilly Seattle, I threw it under. I really like the color contrast that also ties in the shoes. Plus it’s a great option if you want the look of a shoulder pad but have a freezing office or just don’t want to show off your arms. Oh, and if you can get yourself a Caitlin it really finishes off the look in the best way.

Vintage Red Blazer (similar) | Vintage Tee (similar) | Jeans | Boots (similar)

This one was REALLY outside of my comfort zone colorwise but I loved it! Again, don’t be afraid to take a risk. They’re just clothes! This blazer was my mom’s that I recently found after cleaning out my dad’s warehouse and the shirt was refound (used to wear it in college) and was actually my dad’s! Sorry Les, it’s mine forever. The shirt was from when Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, was planning to put up stadium lights for night games. My dad grew up next to the stadium and was part of an opposition group called C.U.B.S. – Citizens United for Baseball in the Sunshine. They clearly thought they were clever:) Anyway, a vintage tee, a fun blazer, jeans, and a cool shoe is a very easy and fun way to look put together while still feeling not too dressy.

I’m pro red blazers and in case you are now too here are some cute options:

1. Stretch Waffle Knit Blazer | 2. Linen Blazer Suit | 3. Kira Notch Lapel Oversized Blazer

Ryann

Shirt | Pants (similar) | Jacket | Shoes

I know what you are thinking… this doesn’t look like a conference setting! And you’re right. As fate would have it, I ended up getting Covid days before the conference so I stayed home and had a bunch of FOMO (fear of missing out). But when Jess told me I should still participate in this business casual post, it was a good motivator to actually put on the real outfits I was planning on wearing. I haven’t done business casual in over two years so I felt a little rusty at first and even convinced myself that I don’t own anything that would be considered “business casual”. But once I started playing around I realized I have more than enough to get by (as long as jeans are allowed–they are allowed right??).

Anything wide-leg feels business casual to me so these Nili Lotan x Target jeans (sadly sold out) really called to me. I paired them with a plain black tee and then layered with a chore coat and block heels and felt very cute and ready-for-the-office.

1. The Getty High Waist Wide Leg Jeans | 2. Maeve Wide-Leg Jeans | 3. The A Wide Leg Jean

Shirt | Pants (similar) | Shoes

As you can tell by the wrinkles I haven’t pulled these bad boys out of my drawer in what feels like years. These are also a Nili Lotan x Target collab and yes, another wide leg with the same plain black tee. I am a big believer in wearing the same articles of clothing over and over so if we were in the office, my lovely coworkers would see this t-shirt (and probably this outfit) A LOT. A matching blazer over this would be really cute too but I don’t have that. Maybe it’s time to get one?? You tell me.

Button up (similar) | Pants (similar) | Loafers

This feels like a Wednesday office look. Picture this: it’s mid-week, you’re feeling a little stressed and ready for Friday, so patterned pants may be the only thing to lift your mood. These pants in particular (sold out in this pattern but still available in other colors here) are SO comfortable and have so much stretch so sitting in them is a breeze. I paired them with a simple mens button-up from Goodwill and my trusty GH Bass Weejuns.

1. Brown Check Home Long Pants | 2. The Wide Leg Trouser | 3. Plaid Jules Pants

Jeans | Button up (similar) | Shoes (similar)

This is a very “me” outfit. If I were in the office every day, I realistically would have 5 or so button-ups that I’d rotate with jeans every day of the week. The shoes are my cherished vintage Manolo Blahnik‘s and what my mom would call “sitting shoes”. They are very hard to walk in but I love them and I do have a desk job so if we were in the office, I can see myself wearing them every once in a while (with flats in my purse just in case).

Jeans | Blazer (similar) | Shirt | Shoes (similar)

Did you think I’d leave you without a blazer look?? I could never. Again, as long as jeans are acceptable this is such an easy look to pull together but still a looks-like-you-tried outfit. I dressed up the jeans with heels and paired the same black tee with a vintage blazer. This is a business casual outfit formula I would repeat over and over. I’d also wear loafers with this exact outfit if I didn’t feel like struggling to walk all day 🙂

1. The Oversized Blazer | 2. Double Breasted Oversized Blazer | 3. Wool-Blend Blazer Coat

Mallory

Pants | Shirt | Shoes

I’ve been on the hunt for a good wide-leg trouser for quite some time now, and I’ve officially fallen in love with the effortless pant from Aritzia. They come in like 100 colors and are so comfortable. I was thrilled when I tried on this pair and it was a perfect fit. Don’t size down on these (I tried on a 2 and they gave me a camel toe no one should ever have to witness) but the size 4 (which is my usual size) was a perfect fit. I highly recommend!

1. Effortless Pant | 2. Mason Wide Leg Pants | 3. Suzanne High Waist Wide Leg Trousers

Shirt | Pants | Shoes | Jacket (similar)

This look was what I wore when we spoke on the panel at the Meridian Experience conference (which was SO much fun). This shirt is the perfect shirt to go from the office to date night. I love the way that it drapes and the sleeves are so good…it’s the perfect “peasant/romantic/renaissance-esque” top without going too overboard. It’s still modern, super lightweight and I love the color scheme and square neckline. 10/10 for a top like this…it’s the real star of the show here.

1. Tie-Sleeve Smocked Waist Top | 2. Smocked Embroidered Top | 3. Florian Top 

Dress | Boots (similar)

Ah, my go-to dress yet again on this blog. I firmly believe everyone needs a dress like this. You can wear it for EVERYTHING. For example, I literally wore this to the conference and then straight to the airport…that’s how comfy, flowy and easy it is. Plus it’s SO lightweight that you don’t get too too hot in it, but it’s still long sleeve so you don’t get cold really either. Gah, I love this dress. Of course, I bought it full price for $75 and now it’s like $20…SMH. Get this dress. It’s amazing for every single occasion and everyone is probably sick of seeing me wear it and link it all the time but sorry not sorry!

Caitlin

Skirt | Bodysuit | Clogs | Denim Jacket

This is actually what I wore to our panel at Meridian before a gnarly case of food poisoning and a lingering kidney infection landed me in urgent care for the weekend. (Let me know if you guys wanna see a slideshow of my “sick as a dog and sleeping nonstop for 4 days” fashion picks, because that’s more my expertise.) I went with an ice skating leotard as my base layer (why spend money on bodysuits when I’ve spent 20 years patronizing Capezio?) which worked out way better than expected – something about this fabric is awesome at keeping you warm OR cool, which I love. I paired it with a pretty simple leopard midi – this one is from Farm Rio, but there are tons available out there! Footwear-wise, I had to go with my trusty Charlotte Stone clogs. (Someone at the conference asked how many pairs I had and I thiiiink it’s at least 10 – being so tall makes me feel really in charge, you know?) It’s not groundbreaking or particularly like, fresh and chic, but it did make me feel comfortable while sitting in front of 100 people and that’s all I really wanted 🙂

1. Marlo Fandango | 2. The Jordyn Clog | 3. Women’s Peony Pumps

And that’s a wrap! We hope you enjoyed our “EHD does business casual” journey and stay tuned for a FULL post on the incredible Meridian Experience conference. xx

The post What To Wear To Work – The Business Casual Looks We Actually Wore And Loved appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What To Wear To Work – The Business Causal Looks We Actually Wore And Loved

One thing I miss about going into the office is that feeling you get when you walk in to work knowing you are wearing a really good outfit. Now as I work from home, the only audience I have to witness my outfits is my often sleeping, snoring American bulldog who (rudely) couldn’t care less. It’s been two years since our team has worked from an office, so when we were invited to Albie’s awesome Meridian Experience conference we were almost too excited to pull together some real business casual looks. It was a great excuse to swap leggings and sweatshirts for blazers, blouses, and wide-leg pants. So if you are curious about what the team wore and/or are looking for some “what to wear to work” inspo, we hope this post will help.

Emily

Jeans | Cardigan (similar) | Blouse (left) | Blouse (similar – right) | Shoes (similar) | Bag | Necklace

Last week at the conference I wore a striped button-up (this one is awesome and new – splurgy but GREAT drape and quality), then combined it with a varsity-style cardigan (I love the Alex Mill version, too). I wanted to get into the balloon pant game and I like these, but honestly, they weren’t worth the price tag. I bought them in New York and I think I got caught up in wanting to be on-trend, and they are cool, but again too expensive as I don’t think they are timeless enough. I’ve worn them 4 times the last month which isn’t nothing. It should be noted Brian is not a fan – they aren’t exactly flattering but that’s OK 🙂 

1. Birchmoor Cardigan Sweater | 2. Cashmere Nico Cardigan | 3. The Texture Cotton Cardigan

Jeans | Blazer | Vest | T-shirt | Shoes (similar)

At the “happiness” conference I wore this vest and jacket combo (from Wildfang – 4 years ago but still available) with a T-shirt, distressed jeans, and white pumps and I felt kinda like a badass in it. It felt powerful and casual at the same time. 

1. Josley Pointed Toe Pump | 2. Leather Pointed Loafers | 3. Charlotte Beige

Jeans | Cardigan (similar) | Button-Up | Boots (similar)

Lately, I’m leaning into more business casual vibes and in general have replaced my blousey blouses for menswear-inspired button-ups and dare I say “suits”. I love this button-up and find myself wearing it a lot.

1. Classic Linen Shirt | 2. Classic-Fit Soft Gauze Shirt | 3. Cito Stripe Short Sleeve Linen Blend Button-Up Shirt (in case you want short leave for summer:))

Jess

Vintage Long Sweater (similar) | Pants (similar) | Boots (similar) | Glasses

This is probably my new favorite outfit combo! That incredible vintage St. John cardigan duster was a gift from an old boss that I interned for in New York. I could not love it more but didn’t have the guts to wear it until last year. Shameful. That baby needed to see the world! But it felt too “flashy” for me which is pretty comical. But I’ve been trying to dress more boldly (at least bold for me) and a structured navy duster with big gold buttons really does it for me. This piece could easily go formal so to make it more casual and fun I paired it with these old Target wide-leg pants that I WISH they still sold and my faux snakeskin boots…that I also wish were still available. Oh, and you can’t see but I have on a dusty light blue sock that is a fun surprise. Took that one from Em:) Lastly, I LOVE wearing 2-3 statement rings because it’s such an easy way to make your outfit more luxe-looking and put together. Mixing high and low, as well as vintage and non-vintage pieces, can really make a fun unique look. Just take a little step outside of your comfort zone because it will likely pay off! Oh, and I did have a thin black tank under in case I got hot but luckily I was totally fine all day:)

Here are a handful of actual vintage St. John dusters as well as a couple of similar (and “less flashy”) options:

1. Vintage St. John Basics Navy Knit Long Sleeve Butt | 2. Vintage St. John Basics Black Knit Classic Mod Coat Dress | 3. St. John Evening Jacket | 4. Linen-Blend Duster Cardigan Sweater | 5. St.John Basics Evening Jacket | 6. Long Cardigan in Cashmere

Black Top | Turtleneck (similar) | Gold Necklace ( similar) | Jeans | Shoes | Cutie in the Background (she’s MINE! similar does not exist)

What, you thought I wasn’t going to have an outfit with one of my beloved shoulder-padded top?? Ha. No way. I wear them so much that I’m pretty sure my friends think I threw away the rest of my other shirts. But I digress. This is a real “jeans and a t-shirt” twist. It’s all about the angled shapes for me. I love the broad shape of the top and the balance it brings to the wide-leg jeans. And since I’m a mere 5’4″, I think it helps that the jeans are slightly cropped so the look doesn’t swallow me up. I do think that my favorite clogs help that too since they’re a few inches tall. And I literally just noticed that the clogs also have a fun angled toe! Now I normally wear this top without a long-sleeved shirt but since I was headed to slightly chilly Seattle, I threw it under. I really like the color contrast that also ties in the shoes. Plus it’s a great option if you want the look of a shoulder pad but have a freezing office or just don’t want to show off your arms. Oh, and if you can get yourself a Caitlin it really finishes off the look in the best way.

Vintage Red Blazer (similar) | Vintage Tee (similar) | Jeans | Boots (similar)

This one was REALLY outside of my comfort zone colorwise but I loved it! Again, don’t be afraid to take a risk. They’re just clothes! This blazer was my mom’s that I recently found after cleaning out my dad’s warehouse and the shirt was refound (used to wear it in college) and was actually my dad’s! Sorry Les, it’s mine forever. The shirt was from when Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, was planning to put up stadium lights for night games. My dad grew up next to the stadium and was part of an opposition group called C.U.B.S. – Citizens United for Baseball in the Sunshine. They clearly thought they were clever:) Anyway, a vintage tee, a fun blazer, jeans, and a cool shoe is a very easy and fun way to look put together while still feeling not too dressy.

I’m pro red blazers and in case you are now too here are some cute options:

1. Stretch Waffle Knit Blazer | 2. Linen Blazer Suit | 3. Kira Notch Lapel Oversized Blazer

Ryann

Shirt | Pants (similar) | Jacket | Shoes

I know what you are thinking… this doesn’t look like a conference setting! And you’re right. As fate would have it, I ended up getting Covid days before the conference so I stayed home and had a bunch of FOMO (fear of missing out). But when Jess told me I should still participate in this business casual post, it was a good motivator to actually put on the real outfits I was planning on wearing. I haven’t done business casual in over two years so I felt a little rusty at first and even convinced myself that I don’t own anything that would be considered “business casual”. But once I started playing around I realized I have more than enough to get by (as long as jeans are allowed–they are allowed right??).

Anything wide-leg feels business casual to me so these Nili Lotan x Target jeans (sadly sold out) really called to me. I paired them with a plain black tee and then layered with a chore coat and block heels and felt very cute and ready-for-the-office.

1. The Getty High Waist Wide Leg Jeans | 2. Maeve Wide-Leg Jeans | 3. The A Wide Leg Jean

Shirt | Pants (similar) | Shoes

As you can tell by the wrinkles I haven’t pulled these bad boys out of my drawer in what feels like years. These are also a Nili Lotan x Target collab and yes, another wide leg with the same plain black tee. I am a big believer in wearing the same articles of clothing over and over so if we were in the office, my lovely coworkers would see this t-shirt (and probably this outfit) A LOT. A matching blazer over this would be really cute too but I don’t have that. Maybe it’s time to get one?? You tell me.

Button up (similar) | Pants (similar) | Loafers

This feels like a Wednesday office look. Picture this: it’s mid-week, you’re feeling a little stressed and ready for Friday, so patterned pants may be the only thing to lift your mood. These pants in particular (sold out in this pattern but still available in other colors here) are SO comfortable and have so much stretch so sitting in them is a breeze. I paired them with a simple mens button-up from Goodwill and my trusty GH Bass Weejuns.

1. Brown Check Home Long Pants | 2. The Wide Leg Trouser | 3. Plaid Jules Pants

Jeans | Button up (similar) | Shoes (similar)

This is a very “me” outfit. If I were in the office every day, I realistically would have 5 or so button-ups that I’d rotate with jeans every day of the week. The shoes are my cherished vintage Manolo Blahnik‘s and what my mom would call “sitting shoes”. They are very hard to walk in but I love them and I do have a desk job so if we were in the office, I can see myself wearing them every once in a while (with flats in my purse just in case).

Jeans | Blazer (similar) | Shirt | Shoes (similar)

Did you think I’d leave you without a blazer look?? I could never. Again, as long as jeans are acceptable this is such an easy look to pull together but still a looks-like-you-tried outfit. I dressed up the jeans with heels and paired the same black tee with a vintage blazer. This is a business casual outfit formula I would repeat over and over. I’d also wear loafers with this exact outfit if I didn’t feel like struggling to walk all day 🙂

1. The Oversized Blazer | 2. Double Breasted Oversized Blazer | 3. Wool-Blend Blazer Coat

Mallory

Pants | Shirt | Shoes

I’ve been on the hunt for a good wide-leg trouser for quite some time now, and I’ve officially fallen in love with the effortless pant from Aritzia. They come in like 100 colors and are so comfortable. I was thrilled when I tried on this pair and it was a perfect fit. Don’t size down on these (I tried on a 2 and they gave me a camel toe no one should ever have to witness) but the size 4 (which is my usual size) was a perfect fit. I highly recommend!

1. Effortless Pant | 2. Mason Wide Leg Pants | 3. Suzanne High Waist Wide Leg Trousers

Shirt | Pants | Shoes | Jacket (similar)

This look was what I wore when we spoke on the panel at the Meridian Experience conference (which was SO much fun). This shirt is the perfect shirt to go from the office to date night. I love the way that it drapes and the sleeves are so good…it’s the perfect “peasant/romantic/renaissance-esque” top without going too overboard. It’s still modern, super lightweight and I love the color scheme and square neckline. 10/10 for a top like this…it’s the real star of the show here.

1. Tie-Sleeve Smocked Waist Top | 2. Smocked Embroidered Top | 3. Florian Top 

Dress | Boots (similar)

Ah, my go-to dress yet again on this blog. I firmly believe everyone needs a dress like this. You can wear it for EVERYTHING. For example, I literally wore this to the conference and then straight to the airport…that’s how comfy, flowy and easy it is. Plus it’s SO lightweight that you don’t get too too hot in it, but it’s still long sleeve so you don’t get cold really either. Gah, I love this dress. Of course, I bought it full price for $75 and now it’s like $20…SMH. Get this dress. It’s amazing for every single occasion and everyone is probably sick of seeing me wear it and link it all the time but sorry not sorry!

Caitlin

Skirt | Bodysuit | Clogs | Denim Jacket

This is actually what I wore to our panel at Meridian before a gnarly case of food poisoning and a lingering kidney infection landed me in urgent care for the weekend. (Let me know if you guys wanna see a slideshow of my “sick as a dog and sleeping nonstop for 4 days” fashion picks, because that’s more my expertise.) I went with an ice skating leotard as my base layer (why spend money on bodysuits when I’ve spent 20 years patronizing Capezio?) which worked out way better than expected – something about this fabric is awesome at keeping you warm OR cool, which I love. I paired it with a pretty simple leopard midi – this one is from Farm Rio, but there are tons available out there! Footwear-wise, I had to go with my trusty Charlotte Stone clogs. (Someone at the conference asked how many pairs I had and I thiiiink it’s at least 10 – being so tall makes me feel really in charge, you know?) It’s not groundbreaking or particularly like, fresh and chic, but it did make me feel comfortable while sitting in front of 100 people and that’s all I really wanted 🙂

1. Marlo Fandango | 2. The Jordyn Clog | 3. Women’s Peony Pumps

And that’s a wrap! We hope you enjoyed our “EHD does business casual” journey and stay tuned for a FULL post on the incredible Meridian Experience conference. xx

The post What To Wear To Work – The Business Causal Looks We Actually Wore And Loved appeared first on Emily Henderson.