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The “Mosaic Tile” Journey And How It Took Me 11 Months Of “Designing” To Land On Something Totally Classic

If I were charging myself my hourly rate I would have billed/spent around $12,500 in design time for sunroom mosaic floor, followed by quickly firing. That’s 50 hours at $250 and is easily how many hours I put into this endeavor. You see copying or applying something you’ve seen before, even if it’s just classic, is just too easy at times especially when, say, if you are in lockdown in early 2021 dreaming of your future home. Even if I were in a hurry I like to use my own home as an experimental lab, and doing something too classic feels like a missed opportunity to challenge myself (and show my skills to the world). And I’m not alone, many designers obsess about how to reinvent a classic in all art forms. Sometimes it’s worth it (that stained glass from Fig House is a great example) but sometimes it’s not. Maybe sometimes “the classic” was actually the best route anyway and maybe you don’t need to customize everything just to prove that you can do something more special. And while what I landed on won’t have been seen before (because they’re custom colors) I think we can all agree that I spent far more time on this mosaic floor than was probably needed. And that’s ok because it was honestly so much fun and I got to deep dive and learn something new. Remember “the obstacles are part of the journey” and the creative process is super messy if you are doing it right. So today’s post is “the case of the mosaic tile – the one where I spent so much time to actually design something you’ve kinda seen before”.

The Inspiration – My Old Patio

photo by tessa neustadt | from: the finished patio (with the tile!)

Before we get started – I’m not sure if this is healthy or not but there are certain past rooms of mine that I have loved so much that I find myself wanting to recreate a new version in this home (think Elliot’s first two rooms – this one and this one). Maybe it’s “homage”, maybe nostalgia for that period of time, or maybe they were so “successful” that I want to bring that success into my new home. The tile of our patio in LA is one of them. I LOVE THAT TILE, I love that courtyard. I loved being out there every single second we lived there. So when we bought this farm I was like, “Where is my patio here?? Where is that magical space that feels old-world and eccentric? Most importantly where do I put my 7′ bird????”

Thus the “sunroom/writing studio” was born and at times I fear that we added this room onto the house for the sole purpose of me getting that tile moment that my heart and eyes wanted so badly. Sure, I could have put it in a bathroom but it wouldn’t have gotten the public attention it deserved. I knew that I didn’t want the kitchen to have this busyness and the dogs didn’t deserve this splurge in the mudroom. This room, since it’s an addition, can be its own style/moment, like a conservatory/sunroom styled with plants, for summertime dinners, meetings, photoshoots, and it’s where I’ll write/design/blog during the day. There is nothing about this room that is “shaker” but it honestly feels separate from the house (different window pattern, different exterior material and it even steps down). I CAN’T WAIT.

So with that patio inspiration in mind, I wanted to come up with this house’s version of my favorite outdoor space. I knew I wanted a larger pattern and I know this is shocking but I was leaning towards the oft-overlooked color combination of, are you sitting down? Blue and white. It’s my “Anna Wintour black dress and big sunglasses” uniform and I’m comfortable with it.

So I obviously asked myself “what is the farmhouse/Victorian version of that tile pattern?’ And knowing that I was working with Pratt and Larsen the challenge became what new pattern could I make with all of their classic tile shapes? Like an evil mad designer from a marvel movie I thought, hands wringing, I will create a new pattern the world has never seen before!! (said every designer, ever before realizing that, spoiler, most things have been done).

So I did what all internet famous designers do, I googled “Victorian patterned tile floor” and my screen was once again flooded with intricate old-world patterns. Most of them are on the busier side which I love but don’t want. I wanted a fresh take on it, and something that (at the time) felt more appropriate for a farm.

Wanted: A “Farm-Inspired” Mosaic Tile Floor

…But, like, one that isn’t dorky. And that, my friends, can be very tricky and risky. Of course, there are farm motifs that make sense – plaids, stripes, and florals, but I didn’t want it to be lame! Then I had another aha moment… Quilts!!! I love quilts!

19thc Fine Blue & White Feathered Star Quilt | 19Thc Teal Calico & White Shoe Fly Quilt | Antique Quilt, Mid-19th Century Blue Resist Eight Point Stars

Instantly I was like ooh, that’s so appropriate and could it be done? Of course! The below are “star quilt-inspired Victorian floor patterns” and they are indeed awesome.

Wait… How Expensive Could This Risk/Mistake Be?

Glad you asked because we aren’t shopping for scrunchies if you know what I mean. Installing a mosaic tile will be extremely expensive. We don’t have a quote yet but we are talking between $5-10k just for this room. It was always a tile install I had planned to splurge on (and since it’s my writing/design studio I can write off a large percentage of it) but even so, it’s expensive and it makes a normal pattern decision even weightier. FURTHERMORE, how much is it to potentially replace the tile if it looks bad? Answer: EXTREMELY expensive. Like a year of gut punches. I’d have to change my profile pic on every platform to the hand-to-face emoji. Tile is the most expensive “hard finish” to replace if you get it wrong. It’s not “switching out a faucet” or a sconce. It requires a very messy demo process that is full of waste. I applaud all of you who take tile risks, but in an older home, I’m just VERY nervous to do something risky. I’m not proud of this cowardice, and I do think there are other places I’m willing to take tile risks… but not in a 12’x17′ room that I’ll be spending 6 hours a day in.

Meanwhile, I had gotten all the tile shapes from Pratt and Larson and it was time to “play puzzle” on the floor of my office/loft at the mountain house. This first photo documentation of this is dated April 7th, 2021. Almost 1 year ago.

I experimented with a “plaid”, a broken stripe, and a mixed checkered pattern. None felt right. Ultimately I gravitated to most was the picket shape and forming flowers with it, with a contrasting color as the spacers between.

I tried it in white with blue squares and blue with white squares, both with a Victorian border. This became VERY exciting to me and I thought I had absolutely nailed it. I love flowers so much so that I named the blog originally “The Brass Petal” (and fun fact, I actually wish I never had changed it to my name – word of warning). So a flower-shaped mosaic tile? YES!!!! EUREKA!!!!!!

So I did what any professional designer does in 2021, I had my kids paint different blue tones on paper and cut out the “tile” so that I could play with the repeat on a larger scale. If only there were a way via technology that I could have gotten a visual …

TBH it was still lockdown and it’s not that I was bored per se, but with the kids not in school it was a super fun way to get them involved in the design and do “arts and crafts with mama”. And it was super helpful to see it repeated over and over. Until …..

So, confident as a cucumber (?) in my never been seen before mosaic floor pattern, I sent the specs of the tile to a magical person (Stephyn) who knows “computer programs” (chief architect) to render it out in the space, mostly to calculate tile take-offs (square footage per tile) because we were that sure.

HUH. Our first reaction was not a “hell yes”.

HMM…. still nervous.

We all had the exact same reaction. Uh, no. And listen, Stephyn didn’t finish rendering it out because I think they had a sense that this wasn’t going to be a “yes”. Looking back, I think that renderings are very very hard to get a sense of how it will be in IRL, especially when it comes to texture. How could I love something so much in person, feel so confident in person but then have an immediate negative reaction once rendered out? IDK. It’s frustrating. Sometimes I feel like I should have just gone with it and it would have been beautiful. But this render made it look like polka dots, not flowers and too much white. But this render doesn’t show grout or texture of the tile. That’s all to say that maybe it would have still been awesome, but none of us felt confident to take the risk. I do want to take more risks going forward, but for our permanent residence, I would hate to be confronted daily by a mistake (thinking I’ll take more risks in the Victorian house on our property once we tackle that).

So we went back to the drawing board, wanting a larger scale pattern because we think that that was what we loved so much about the patio. But most companies, Pratt and Larson, included don’t make ceramic tiles larger than 8″ because of waste and fragility. So we created a “square” pattern that is bigger with 2×6 + 2×4 + 2×2 (all separate tiles). This is a classic tile that I did not invent.

We saw it rendered out to mixed reactions. I really liked it but thought it was too, like, regal or something for this house. Too much, too fancy, too formal, not the right vibe. Brian and Anne totally disagreed with me. And needing the actually pull the trigger soon (it’s a 4 month lead time and we were past our deadline) I said OK, thinking that I was wrong.

Then Brian and I went into Pratt and Larson to finalize our kitchen tile and show Suzanne (the wonderful head of marketing who I’ve worked with for years). After going through the rest of the tile choices that were already chosen, we showed her this mosaic flooring and all three of us at the same time had the same reaction – this is a different house. Now we always knew that this room was going to feel different than the rest, but I still wanted an element of simplicity in here – and the ornamental/intricate pattern really made it feel fancy, not classic.

So that day at Pratt and Larson, Brian and I pulled the trigger on the classic diamond shape pattern, in our custom blue that is so happy without being too bold, with a Victorian-style border.

How do I feel about it? GOOD. What you can’t see here is that the border is about 8″ wide so it’s thicker than the renderings, and it includes a light blue/gray accent in it. So it’s more substantial than seen here and it has another tone which we love. Do I wish that I had created something that no one has ever seen? YAH. But I KNOW that this will not date, that this is classic and by keeping the pattern pulled back into just a diamond it still feels restrained and easy for your eye to understand (which is always important to me these days). I find that things that are busy make me mentally slightly more exhausted I think because my brain is trying to understand what is going on. I’m not sure if this is an age thing, a personality type, or a design philosophy that is rooted in truth, but I feel better, more settled in spaces that are less busy. Don’t get me wrong – this floor pattern is BUSY but the experience we want to have in this room is more fun – for dinner parties, creative business meetings, or where I write/design so that added dose of energy is welcomed. I’m just glad we didn’t go overboard. Plus, this install will be probably 30% less than the previous design since it’s just 2 tiles back and forth versus a more intricate pattern.

So that’s the mosaic tile journey. I’m finding myself doing this more and more – going further just to pull it back. And I’m fine with it. It’s like exercising my creativity but being secure in the fact that it may not be what I actually want in life right now for this house anyway. It also aligns with my ethos of designing something once, and for the long term. I just want to make sure that I’m not always being too safe or boring. So my goal (as it has been) is to keep the permanent hard finishes (flooring, tile, lighting, and plumbing) on the safer side, with furniture/decor, art, and textiles with more risks – but only if they make sense for comfort and function. IT’S HARD Y’ALL. Thanks for indulging me in my tile journey. I’m having a SERIOUS blast and thanks to Anne and Stephyn for trying out all these different renders to land where we did.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Alessandro Agrati | Photo by Elena Rosignoli | via Vogue Italia

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Published on March 14, 2022 01:00

The Link Up: Mallory’s Comfy Clogs, Jess’ Favorite New Pants, And What’s Hopefully The Future Of The Restaurant Industry

Like a dear friend you can always depend on, we are here with The Link Up. We hope you had as good of a week as possible and did something just for you. If you didn’t… then let’s get on that this next week, ya? Even just a walk with some music playing can do wonders. Ok, now let’s link!

This week’s home tour has our names written all of it. We clearly didn’t design it, Meghan Eisenberg and Jeff Troyer were the creative geniuses, but boy does it have everything we love – floral sofas, vintage chairs, cool art, the perfect dose of eclectic English granny, the green bathroom of our dreams, etc, etc. Just go take a look. We promise it’s stunning.

From Emily: Portland’s new best restaurant (Cafe Ollie) is also co-founded by one of my closest friends (talking about you Dirks) and is employee-owned. But most importantly it’s INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS. Ryan co-founded a restaurant with a few other highly respected Portland restaurant folks during the Pandemic with the super optimistic goal of having it be the first employee owned restaurant in Portland (and maybe even in America). Having worked myself in restaurants/bars from 15 – 25 years old, I was so curious and impressed by this business model. Basically, ALL employees will receive 50% of the profits, allocated by how much they work and how long they’ve been there. And yes this of course extends to the back of the house – line cooks, dishwashers, bussers – EVERYONE. Obviously, the goal is to democratize the restaurant industry more and pay all restaurant workers a living wage (they have a generous hourly, not tips – just a 20% service fee to all tables). So yes, I feel very good supporting it. In fact, last week I supported it TWICE because it was so good. My recommendations are the beef tartare (crazy, crazy good), the Rotini pasta (rolled up like a cinnamon roll), the spring greens/fennel salad (Sara said it was the best salad she’s ever had), and oh my lord the chocolate cake was INSANE. I’ve never really freaked out over a cake before, but we all couldn’t believe how good it was. Also, the meatballs were divine. We have yet to try the pizza, but it’s what they are known for. Basically, it was so good that I brought Brian back 3 nights later and we tried everything else. It was all delicious, great wine and cocktails and of course wonderful service. Y’all, head to Cafe Ollie if you are in Portland. Good people making straight-up DELICIOUS food. xx

Former EHD alum, Ariel Fulmer designed The Try Guy’s studio and we love it!! It’s full of color, pattern, but very cool and professional. Congrats, Ariel!

From Mallory: I strained my calf this week (booo) and basically can’t straighten my leg if my foot is flat on the ground so that means I literally have to wear heels when I go anywhere because it’s the only type of shoe that doesn’t make it hurt when I walk (it’s cool to get injured and have to wear heels lol). I’ve been resorting to my comfy clogs and I realized I missed wearing them SO much. They have a rubber sole so they don’t slip around when you walk (like a lot of clogs do) and they have a foamy lining so walking is actually comfortable. PLUS they have an ankle strap, so if you’re klutzy (or just injured) like me, this is an AWESOME shoe…I’ve had them for years and have worn them every day this week without being uncomfortable!!

From Ryann: When I work out, I want to sweat A LOT. I want to feel like I am getting all the toxins out of my body, but I don’t sweat that easily (I just turn bright red :)). For weeks, I was seeing waist trimmers all over my Tik Tok feed and since I started going to the gym for the first time ever a month ago, I decided to try one out. I love this one so much and wear it every time I work out and sometimes just around the house while I am doing chores. As soon as you put it on you can feel it heating up and when you take it off, you are soaking wet. It also acts as a back support and helps with my posture while running.

From Jess: I did a little bit of shopping last weekend and wanted to share with you what I got because I am PUMPED about them. This mesh patterned turtleneck top is exactly what I’ve been looking for. I’m a real simple, neutral top kinda gal, and while that’s great, I want to mix in some more fun. I will warn you that it’s a little more see-through than it looks on the model (which makes it a fun secret sexy top) and I have the “RED” one. It doesn’t have any red in it so not sure why that’s the name. Actually, if you read my design inspo post this week, the fact that I bought this top is real on the nose. Then I got these wide-leg cognac-colored pants and I don’t want to take them off. They are chic, super lightweight, and soft. I did need to get them hemmed but I couldn’t love them more. Oh, and when you go to the site they are less shiny in person.

From Caitlin: Airbnb waived all their fees in Ukraine, so people have been booking AirBnbs in Kyiv (and around the country) with a little note that they’re not coming and just wanted to support and those funds have been going straight into the pockets of Ukrainian folks! Pretty easy way to help.

That’s it for today. Have a great rest of your day and see you tomorrow with a fun farmhouse update!

Opening Image Credits: Design by Meghan Eisenberg and Jeff Troyer | Photo by Haris Kenjar | via Architectural Digest

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Published on March 13, 2022 01:00

4 Easy To Wear (Read: Comfortable) Dress Trends + Great Shoppable Picks

Here’s a hot debate: Are all dresses easy to wear? The whole single garment thing should point to yes, but it’s not that simple. I think for a dress to be easy to wear it needs to be at least two of the following: 1. Non constricting so you can move around, eat, and live your life unencumbered. 2. Patterned, colorful, OR structural so on its own it feels like a cute pulled-together outfit. 3. Bra-friendly or easy to wear without a bra. (At least for me, as a larger chested woman, I tend to want some shelf support whether it’s built into the dress or not). 4. Bonus points if it’s a fabric that doesn’t wrinkle easily (i.e. stay far away from linen unless you like the wrinkle look – which I actually DO but I think I am in the minority here). Is that too much to ask for?? Maybe. SO that is why the EHD team worked together to find these easy to wear, on trend dresses for Spring.

Trend #1: The Puff Sleeve

Emily Henderson is the queen of easy-to-wear dresses as you may know, and is no stranger to the puff sleeve. From Emily: “Remember last year when I bought that blue/white striped dress from The Great then proceeded to wear it (and continue to) 30-40 times in one summer/fall? Well, this (#4) is this year’s version. Delicate buttons show off that decolletage, while the puff sleeves distract from my “Covid 10″ if you know what I mean. And that floral is so pretty but not tooooo floral – just spring and summer enough to make me happy without making me feel like a little girl.”

Well, I am sold. I am also very drawn to #2 and #3 of course because I am still a fan of the prairie trend. I just want a dress that will make me feel like frolicking through a meadow. You know, normal stuff.

Trend #2: The Roomy Denim Dress

You might not think denim and comfort are synonymous but these dresses might just change your mind. They are all roomy or have good amount of stretch so you won’t feel like you are wearing a denim straight jacket. I love the structured sleeve denim trend so I particularly love #1 and #6. #5 is also really catching my eye. Which one is your favorite?

Trend #3: The Maxi Floral

(Miranda Priestly voice) Florals for spring? Groundbreaking. But seriously, if you are looking for a VERY easy-to-throw on-and-go dress that still looks cute and stylish, any of these picks will hit that mark. If you love pattern and bold color, #4 and #9 are great picks from one of our favorite brands Farm Rio (Caitlin is basically their spokesperson). #1, #5 and #8 are great examples of the micro floral trend and I am a fan.

Trend #4: The Transitional

A transitional dress is one you could wear in winter with layers or in spring with a light sweater if needed. They are simple but cute and the key with all of these picks is they are flowy and not restricting. I love #5 that has a button-front silhouette with pleating at top and a very cute pin stripe detail. I still love the shirt dress trend so #7 and #8 are great, too. Which is your favorite?

That is all from team EHD. Happy Saturday and happy shopping!

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: 51 Affordable Spring Dresses (& 1 Awesome Jumper I Couldn’t Resist)

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Published on March 12, 2022 01:00

How To Make Your Curly Hair Look Cool (+ Learning How To Embrace My Very Naturally Curly Hair)

I have very, very, very curly hair – I had no idea. Sure I’ve let it air dry before but it always just looked so bad that I almost didn’t see it as curly, but more big and frizzy. Obviously, I now know that this is because I wasn’t using the right product or process to let these golden ringlets shine. But curly hair is special and when done right I think looks far cooler than a blowout – no matter what society tells me. So yes I had to be re-programmed from thinking that blown out smooth/ wavy hair is how I look “good”, and likely I would have gone on forever blowing it out once or twice a week except for these TWO facts:

It rains a lot in the winter in Portland and even when it’s not raining it’s humid, so there is no point in blowing your hair out if you are going to say, walk the dogs 2 hours a day (which has become my winter anti-depressant). I’m desperate for my hair to be long and healthy, and heat styling it is so damaging and causes breakage.

So my options are to A. never leave the house or B. figure out how to style my curls to look good.

My Curly Hair Fears:

I’m just going to say it because it’s my truth: I was scared that shoulder-length curly blonde hair would read as “middle-aged MOM”. Which I am. I’m in that phase of life where 1/2 the time I have the mature perspective to not consciously chase “youth” or care if I look “cool” but y’all, but the other 1/2? I still do. I want to look as young as I feel (27 years old) and like I have a sense of style because I do. But I am not Keri Russel in year one of Felicity. I’m a 42-year-old mom who mostly wears athleisure, a baseball hat, and has a super messy car. So when I do my hair, a wavy blowout is what society has deemed is “pretty” and I know that it makes me feel/look good. We all know that what is actually “cool” is not only embracing who you are, but feeling confident in that. And I was neither embracing nor feeling confident with my curls 2 weeks ago – thus the blowout. We all have a lot of deprogramming to do. I don’t want Elliot to have the same thoughts feelings about her hair/skin as I have and I don’t want her to look at herself naked in the mirror with the same thoughts that I do. It’s part of a larger conversation that most people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s find themselves in – this “how do I look on the outside the way I feel on the inside (young, cool, fun) without giving in to societies dubious expectation of women, shoved upon us via marketing, celebrity culture, and the patriarchy??” I still get lashes extended, skin self-tanned, and gray hair covered (amongst other things tbh) but maybe this is step #1 to self-acceptance? Learning how to style my curly hair to look cool, thus getting closer to embracing myself how I naturally am. I mean, it’s worth a shot.

Janine Jarmon is a friend of mine who owns a salon in LA (and fun fact came in second on Bravo’s Sheer Genius around the same time I was on DesignStar). She has been working for years on behalf of curly-headed folks (of all ethnicities) to create a great product and method. It’s called Curl Cult and I’m an official member now. So with my humid atmosphere and with her new product, it was time for her to teach me how to make my curly hair look cool two different ways.

THE EASY, EVERYDAY ROUTINE

The wash and let air dry thing always mystified me as mine was more “wash and prepare yourself to look like a lion for the rest of the day”. But Janine knew that it was a matter of product and method. So here is what I do most days when I have time to let it air dry.

STEP 1: WASH/CONDITION WITH REFRESH SHAMPOO & REVIVE CONDITIONER

Refresh – Hydrating Shampoo| Revive – Hydrating Conditioner

First, wash your hair start with a quarter size of the Refresh shampoo (if you have curly hair you need curly hair shampoo). You may need to rinse and repeat up to 2 times. This is a sulfate-free shampoo so don’t look for suds (that’s what sulfates help produce) instead look for the hair to feel clean. Follow with a silver dollar amount of the conditioner and apply to the middle of your hair to the ends and rinse.

This is pretty standard procedure – just with good product that is paraben & sulfate surfactant-free. Janine told us that a lot of shampoos can actually be overly hydrating, meaning that it is not water-soluble. With straight hair that can be okay and really helpful to keep it straight, but with curly hair, you need water-soluble stuff so that it reactivates the curls and doesn’t just build up on your hair. FYI, Curly hair is naturally dryer than most, so Janine recommends that you don’t wash your hair as much (she washes hers once a week). I work out every day so I was washing my hair almost every day but now I just rinse and condition and then wash with shampoo once or twice a week per Janine’s advice. Basically, frequent washing with curly hair agitates the cuticle layer and makes your hair frizzier. Whoops.

STEP 2: PAT DRY WITH 100% COTTON TOWEL

Whatever you do, do NOT use a terrycloth towel to dry your hair. Janine used a flour sack type towel which is delicate, lightweight, and absorbent. You can also use a microfiber towel or a cotton T-shirt, so don’t think you need to go out and buy new towels.

STEP 3: SPRAY WITH MAGIC SPELL

Magic Spell

Magic Spell is their leave-in conditioner spray that you can use every day to refresh your curls. If you are spraying it after a shower, it’s best when you spray it on soaking wet hair but you can also spray it on dry hair throughout the day (I do). This leave-in conditioner is not just for curly hair folks. You can use it on any type of hair because it’s a natural heat protectant and helps prime your hair for any other product you put on top of it. It is vegan and paraben-free so it’s safe to use on all hair and on kid’s hair too (Birdie uses it too!). This stuff is AWESOME. I have used it even on the days that I do blow my hair out and it detangles and conditions like no other.

STEP 4: COMB WITH WIDE TOOTH COMB

For my kind of curls, without some detangling it will get VERY frizzy so Janine taught me to use a wide-tooth comb like so. You can also use a wet brush but not a regular brush as that will amplify the frizz. I know that most of you curly hair’d ladies know how specific the process is but I’m just now learning it and boy is it specific.

STEP 5: APPLY CURL CREAM

Enhance – Moisturizing Curl Cream

To help support the curls, use Curl Cream which enhances and controls natural curls. Use 2-4 pumps, rub on your hands like lotion and then with a clawing motion apply throughout your hair to the ends. With a curl-enhancing product like this, you don’t need it on your roots, just where your curls start. This product you shouldn’t use every day but more so every other day and ONLY on very wet hair.

STEP 6: LET AIR DRY

That’s it? I just let it dry? So I sat there for 3 hours while Ryann got a perm (coming at you soon) and waited to see what would happen.

STEP 7: ONCE DRY, SHAKE IT OUT AND USE FINGERS TO MASSAGE ROOTS TO GIVE MORE VOLUME

CHECK OUT THOSE CURLS!!! GAH! Can you believe it?

I mean, the difference is actually wild. Clearly, the right products and technique does wonders.

THE ELEVATED SCULPTED LOOK

Now before I left Janine wanted to teach me how to do the “sculpted look” which is basically just bigger curls by using a brush to control the ringlets. This is higher maintenance but boy did I love the look.

REPEAT STEPS 1-5

Steps 1-5 are the same, remember the product and process is just so important.

STEP 6: SEPARATE INTO SECTIONS

Here’s where it gets more complicated, but it’s still very doable. You have to put it into sections and just work with one strand at a time.

STEP 7: APPLY THE SCULPTING TECHNIQUE

The sculpting technique is huge on TikTok, guys. What you do is feed strands of hair through the brush so it twirls and also perfectly detangles it. (This is step is probably better explained on camera, so definitely check out the video below (just wait for the ad to play).

Here’s me trying it out which took me a second to figure out. SO fun. It is a very involved process as you have to go strand by strand but the result is so pretty (as you’ll see ;)).

It’s like training your curls to create this unbelievable shape – which curly hair can do easily (whereas straight hair can’t).

Now Janine helped me in the back, where it is harder to do, but just takes some practice. At the front, I sculpted it away from my face (parted in the middle) because I love that look.

STEP 7: LET AIR DRY

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The key is to not touch the sculpted curls AT ALL. This part was killing me. You must just sit and wait for them to air dry so I picked up a gripping new thriller.

My hair takes a long time to dry (especially underneath) so I think this was an hour under the heat lamp or 2 hours normal.

STEP 8: SHAKE OUT THE CURLS

I was excited and nervous to see how it would look (we did this look first, with the everyday look after).

I LOVED IT and more importantly, I couldn’t believe this was mine and ZERO styling beyond the sculpting and then using my fingers to comb it out (i.e. no product after, no curling irons – nothing). And the best part is that both hairdos get better every day – just like a blowout day 2 is better than day 1.

Day 2, 3, and 4 I just used the conditioning spritz and it controlled the frizz and it didn’t make it curlier – just less frizzy which I was happy about. I actually loved the sculpted look more but it was more work.

SO, WHICH ONE DO I LIKE MORE?

I honestly love both – I think technically the sculpted is my preference but it’s not that much better to sacrifice the time. This does make me want to go blonder though Since I learned this, I wore it curly for the first 10 days but we were in Palm Springs and it was dry out there so it looked AWESOME. My main/only issue with it is that it takes a while for my hair to air dry so that if I have a 9 am Zoom I have to shower at 6:30 am for it to dry and loosened up by then. By 2 pm it looks awesome if I’ve done it right. So much respect for Janine for spending the years and likely a lot of money in research and development on this project.

Complete Curly Kit

Thank you, Janine!!!! All of us naturally curly-haired ladies are better because of you. Janine is giving us 10% off if you purchase the products through any of the links in this post (the price is already marked down). I seriously love every product and use the leave-in conditioner almost every day.

Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

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Published on March 11, 2022 01:00

Sara’s Galley Kitchen “Update” Turned Into A Full Renovation (And The Result Is Well Worth The Wait)

This reveal wouldn’t be possible without the support of a handful of amazing brands, who partnered with us. Thanks to KitchenAid, Caesarstone, Kokeena, and Rejuvenation for helping this kitchen come to life.

I’d like to open this blog post with a quote…

“And it makes more sense to hustle and get it all done. It’s a really small kitchen, and he [my dad] thinks it will only be a 5-week project.” – Sara Ligorria-Tramp, blog post dated 5.26.20

Well. Here we are folks. The end of the line. Wrap it up. We’re sending Bilbo off to the Undying Lands. It’s time to reveal my kitchen renovation that started exactly 1 year, 9 months, and 15 days ago. I am 105% ready to let your eyeballs scroll all over this kitchen. But first, a little trip down memory lane.

It was a kitchen that was literally crumbling apart at the grout lines. There were holes in the walls, at least three different paint colors between the cabinets, walls, and trim, and more than a few shelves and drawers that were falling apart. I have a hard time remembering the kitchen this way. It honestly feels like a lifetime ago. Time’s gotten weird in the last few years… gooey almost.

So, back in May of 2020 I thought “hey, let’s make this a challenge and update our kitchen, and let’s set a budget of $3k to do it, and, you know… see how far we get.” Oh, young me. Still so self-unaware. That idea snowballed fast (as most of my home projects do) into “hey, let’s renovate this whole kitchen, while we’re home all the time, and as every supply chain comes to a grading halt. How about that?” Here’s why – My dad was home too (a rare occurrence) since all film and TV production was on hold, and he was ready for a project.

Once we’d made the leap from well-intentioned and naive update, to fully unhinged renovation, I went down a design rabbit hole. I still love all of those above design directions. What we ended up going with was a modified version of Option #3, but with a lighter, less saturated green. And honestly, I can’t imagine my kitchen any other way. Green it was, is, and will be forever.

Forgetting all the emotional breakdowns, doubt, existential dread, and work over the past two years, I’m so happy we ripped off the bandaid and just went for it with the full renovation. Because now we have THIS…

A kitchen of my dreams, that I can’t believe I get to cook in. I’ll level with you – is this what our kitchen looks like all day, every day? Yes. It is the most beautiful kitchen in the world, a dirty dish has never touched that sink, my produce is always ripe, and my counters are always clear and clean. I am the most aesthetic person in the world. Thank you for reading today’s post.

“Oh, she thinks she’s a comic…”

In fact, our kitchen does not look like this every day. Think of a shoot day like school picture day, but for interiors. You clean the space up, curate it, zhuzh it. You bring in the stylist, and the hand towel you’ve never used because it’s too beautiful, but makes you look cool. You kinda live out this fantasy of what the space could be. Seeing it at its full potential. So for today, this is the version of my kitchen I’m sharing. But because I am benevolent, I will be sharing some photos of how our kitchen actually looks (…on a clean day). Including the insides of all the cabinets and drawers. But that’s content for a different post (coming soon).

Ok. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so start reading faster…and check out this video we made showing the whole space (just wait for the ad to play):

KitchenAid Appliances

Going in alphabetical order, let’s start with the appliances. All of our major appliances (fridge, dishwasher, and range + hood) were provided by KitchenAid, and all three are a pleasure to have in our home. Emily Bowser has a KitchenAid fridge in her home, and I have always really liked the functionality of it. Plus, I already loved my KitchenAid Stand Mixer. So when it came time to choose appliances for the kitchen, they were my first choice. The range is my favorite, and is a KitchenAid 30” Commercial-Style Range. This line of ranges comes in several different colors – I have the ink blue model, which allows me to add an extra hint of color in my kitchen. After all, I am a “more is more” kinda person. It’s also just a really great range – it’s got smart capabilities so I can preheat the oven from my phone without leaving the couch, powerful burners, and an endless array of cooking capabilities. I cook at least two meals a day, so the Commercial-Style Range is a huge part of my life.

Dutch Oven

Runner Rug | Flushmount

Next up is our KitchenAid, counter depth panel-ready fridge with interior dispense French doors. The freezer drawer has been the biggest upgrade in terms of food storage, and I love how spacious it is, as it lets me organize my food better.

Lastly, our KitchenAid dishwasher with panel-ready design (which blends seamlessly into our cabinets) has a third-level rack for things like spatulas, serving utensils, and measuring cups, freeing up space in the lower two racks, which helps keep our counter clear and our sink empty. And when you have a narrow kitchen, things can start feeling claustrophobic fast. Every inch of clear, clean space counts. If you’re in the market for some dreamy new appliances, check out more from KitchenAid(R) Suite Collections.

Cabinet Fronts | Brass Hardware

Next up – They are beauty, they are grace, they are our cabinet fronts by Kokeena in collaboration with Townsend Interiors in “Moss Green.” Solid wood, smoothly lacquered, and ready to pop right onto our self-installed Ikea cabinets. We went with their “Modern English” style cabinet fronts – essentially a shaker style cabinet to vibe with our more traditional style home. What drew me to these fine pieces of lacquered craftsmanship? Well, first of all they were green. The most lovely, perfect shade of warm, dark olive, cozy cottage green. They are also very nice people who run this small business out in Portland, and made the whole custom cabinetry front process very lovely.

Knife Block

And I can tell you that after about a year, they’re still holding up great. Yes. It took that long to get in all the finishing touches. But that also means that we’ve lived with our kitchen, and almost everything in it, for about a year. So I really do know how everything is holding up. And our beautiful cabinet fronts are checking all the boxes: gorgeous (duh), easily cleanable, and durable. We also used Kokeena’s brass hardware on all of the fronts, minus the fridge.

I really feel like the cabinet colors and the hardware shape keep this kitchen from feeling too modern, and really grounds the space in some vintage *emotions*.

Sconce

Speaking of emotions, this photo gives me lots of them. Mostly because this kitchen was such a labor of love, and I can remember the installation of each and every piece, down to Bowser tying that kitchen towel into the most elegant knot on that tiny brass hook. But also because I feel like this kitchen really is me. Obviously the green cabinets, and brass hardware. But also the random, slightly chaotic, but cozy and lived-in feeling that I get from being in the space.

Brass Rail System

Counter Dust Bin and Brush

Each of those cutting boards has a personal story – The round one is a hand-me-down from Bowser, the arched one was a wedding gift from a friend, the tall one was the first nice cutting board I ever bought for myself, and the little pig was my grandmas. Does that shelf have a lot going on? Yes, but it feels warm and inviting and used. Do the brass rails and hanging baskets add a lot, visually? Definitely, but they also offer me the option of a lot more counter space by hanging items that I otherwise wouldn’t have room for. And sure, there are a lot of little things in my kitchen that probably don’t make practical sense, but they make me happy.

Window Valance | Curtain Rod | Brass Outlet Cover

Like hanging this tiny little piece of art below my kitchen window, so my cats can also enjoy my vintage oil painting obsession while they eat – which is normally right under the window (painting gifted to me by the lovely Rosa Beltran after I photographed the CLAD Home storefront).

Brass Switchplate | Rattan Tray | Honey Jar | Countertop

Our countertops and backsplash are from Caesarstone, in the color Statuario Nuvo with a honed finish. These counters were probably the smartest choice we made in our kitchen – they have never chipped, cracked, stained, or warped in any which way. They feel oh so velvety smooth, and I love rolling out dough on them. And they look so good. The veining throughout is delicate, the color is just slightly creamy. We went with natural stone in our bathroom, and I’m kinda wishing we had used Caesarstone again. I dunno how much more I can recommend it.

I thought the counters were going to be a really scary part of the reno, but they were actually super easy because they were the one thing we didn’t install ourselves. I connected with a fabricator in my area that Caesarstone recommended, showed them my kitchen layout, they sent someone out to measure, they told me how much stone I would need, and Caesarstone shipped the stone directly to the fabricators. The fabricators then cut the stone, and came to install it. Considering everything else that went into this kitchen (I’m looking at you floating wood shelf), it was a gentle breeze.

All that glitters isn’t gold, it’s brass. And it all comes from Rejuvenation. We’re talking the Eastmoreland arched wall sconce, the Foster flush mount ceiling fixtures, the Fenton outlet covers, the Brookside brass rail systems, the Descanso pull down faucet, and the matching dish soap dispenser that makes me feel very fancy. Even the window curtain rod that you can’t see in any photos, but I know is there. Beautiful, timeless, well crafted, and made right up in Portland. I like the outlet and switch plates so much, I didn’t even photoshop them out of the photos (I usually refer to outlets as the zits of walls). Also please, enjoy Emily Bowser’s aspirational herb drying station. We laughed about this, but she’s also serious about drying her own herbs and I’m a supportive friend.

Faucet | Soap Dispenser | Sink | Arched Cutting Board

This faucet and sink combo has proven wildly successful in our home – I nabbed that deeeeeep, Kholer, drop-in sink on Craigslist knowing I would need a kitchen bathtub for produce cleaning, washing out big pots, and maybe a kitty or future baby bath. Paired with our brass faucet that has a suuuuuuper long hose neck that can reach every nook and lustery enamel corner of that sink with either a gentle flow or powerful spray, there’s no contest.

Brass Bookends | KitchenAid Stand Mixer | Seagrass Woven Hanging Baskets | Rattan Hanging Baskets | Black Garlic Keeper

Ahh, we’re reaching the end. Have I talked enough about my love for chaos? Have I even mentioned that hilarious vintage painted dog tray I bought in Atlanta and drove across the country with me?? Do you understand my love for my KitchenAid Stand Mixer which I use at least once a week?! I brought that tiny blue and white pitcher (and the matching sugar bowl) back from Guatemala in my carry-on because I was scared I was going to break it. And I found that wood pedestal bowl at a thrift store in Oregon on the road trip where Macauley proposed to me. THIS KITCHEN HAS EMOTIONS & MEMORIES. Unhinged ones, clearly. But they run deep.

That basil will probably die pretty soon though, so I’m trying to actually use it.

Now it’s time for everyone’s favorite section of the post – before and afters:

Are you not entertained???

WOW. WE DID IT. I revealed this kitchen (that’s me, up there), and you scrolled through this whole blog post. I think we’ve both achieved something. But now it’s time for the applause round – Thank you to my brother and dad who literally installed this kitchen with their own four hands. Thank you to Julie Rose, who took my iPad drawings and measurements and turned them into something that I could actually use. Thank you to Velinda Hellen who answered 1 billion questions, and held my hand as we measured for the floating shelf because I was terrified to get it wrong (literally came over and did it with me, and by the way V, it fit perfectly). Thank you to all the brands who believed in my vision and helped it become a reality by gifting us beautiful kitchen items – KitchenAid for the appliances, Caesarstone for the counters, Kokeena & Townsend Interiors for the cabinet fronts, and Rejuvenation for so many shiny brass things. Thank you to Emily Bowser for knotting that hand towel so perfectly (and styling everything else). Thank you to the EHD team for tolerating me, and my brand of editorial chaos. And my husband Macauley for doing this whole home renovation thing with me.

So now you’ve seen the kitchen and you feel the feelings. This post was really about how I made this kitchen feel like us. But stay tuned, because in my next kitchen post I’m gonna share how I made this kitchen work for us. AND, I’m gonna be sharing photos of what it looks like on a more normal day. Because yea, we live with a rice cooker on the counter at all times. It’s a Zojirushi. It does not live in a cabinet.

*Design and Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
**Styled by Emily Bowser

The post Sara’s Galley Kitchen “Update” Turned Into A Full Renovation (And The Result Is Well Worth The Wait) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

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Published on March 10, 2022 01:00

Sara’s Kitchen “Update” Turned Into A Full Renovation (And The Result Is Well Worth The Wait)

This reveal wouldn’t be possible without the support of a handful of amazing brands, who partnered with us. Thanks to KitchenAid, Caesarstone, Kokeena, and Rejuvenation for helping this kitchen come to life.

I’d like to open this blog post with a quote…

“And it makes more sense to hustle and get it all done. It’s a really small kitchen, and he [my dad] thinks it will only be a 5 week project.” – Sara Ligorria-Tramp, blog post dated 5.26.20

Well. Here we are folks. The end of the line. Wrap it up. We’re sending Bilbo off to the Undying Lands. It’s time to reveal my kitchen renovation that started exactly 1 year, 9 months, and 15 days ago. I am 105% ready to let your eyeballs scroll all over this kitchen. But first, a little trip down memory lane.

It was a kitchen that was literally crumbling apart at the grout lines. There were holes in the walls, at least three different paint colors between the cabinets, walls, and trim, and more than a few shelves and drawers that were falling apart. I have a hard time remembering the kitchen this way. It honestly feels like a lifetime ago. Time’s gotten weird in the last few years… gooey almost.

So, back in May of 2020 I thought “hey, let’s make this a challenge and update our kitchen, and let’s set a budget of $3k to do it, and, you know… see how far we get.” Oh, young me. Still so self-unaware. That idea snowballed fast (as most of my home projects do) into “hey, lets renovate this whole kitchen, while we’re home all the time, and as every supply chain comes to a grading halt. How about that?” Here’s why – My dad was home too (a rare occurrence) since all film and TV production was on hold, and he was ready for a project.

Once we’d made the leap from well-intentioned and naive update, to fully unhinged renovation, I went down a design rabbit hole. I still love all of those above design directions. What we ended up going with was a modified version of Option #3, but with a lighter, less saturated green. And honestly, I can’t imagine my kitchen any other way. Green it was, is, and will be forever.

Forgetting all the emotional breakdowns, doubt, existential dread, and work over the past two years, I’m so happy we ripped off the bandaid and just went for it with the full renovation. Because now we have THIS…

A kitchen of my dreams, that I can’t believe I get to cook in. I’ll level with you – is this what our kitchen looks like all day, every day? Yes. It is the most beautiful kitchen in the world, a dirty dish has never touched that sink, my produce is always ripe, and my counters are always clear and clean. I am the most aesthetic person in the world. Thank you for reading today’s post.

“Oh she thinks she’s a comic…”

In fact our kitchen does not look like this every day. Think of a shoot day like school picture day, but for interiors. You clean the space up, curate it, zhuzh it. You bring in the stylist, and the hand towel you’ve never used because it’s too beautiful, but makes you look cool. You kinda live out this fantasy of what the space could be. Seeing it at its full potential. So for today, this is the version of my kitchen I’m sharing. But because I am benevolent, I will be sharing some photos of how our kitchen actually looks (…on a clean day). Including the insides of all the cabinets and drawers. But that’s content for a different post (coming soon).

Ok. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so start reading faster…and check out this video we made showing the whole space (just wait for the ad to play):

Going in alphabetical order, let’s start with the appliances. All of our major appliances (fridge, dishwasher, and range + hood) were provided by KitchenAid, and all three are a pleasure to have in our home. Emily Bowser has a KitchenAid fridge in her home, and I have always really liked the functionality of it. Plus, I already loved my KitchenAid Stand Mixer. So when it came time to choose appliances for the kitchen, they were my first choice. The range is my favorite, and is a KitchenAid 30” Commercial-Style Range. This line of ranges comes in several different colors – I have the ink blue model, which allows me to add an extra hint of color in my kitchen. After all, I am a “more is more” kinda person. It’s also just a really great range – it’s got smart capabilities so I can preheat the oven from my phone without leaving the couch, powerful burners, and an endless array of cooking capabilities. I cook at least two meals a day, so the Commercial-Style Range is a huge part of my life.

Next up is our KitchenAid, counter depth panel-ready fridge with interior dispense French doors. The freezer drawer has been the biggest upgrade in terms of food storage, and I love how spacious it is, as it lets me organize my food better.

Lastly, our KitchenAid dishwasher with panel-ready design (which blends seamlessly into our cabinets) has a third level rack for things like spatulas, serving utensils and measuring cups, freeing up space in the lower two racks, which helps keep our counter clear and our sink empty. And when you have a narrow kitchen, things can start feeling claustrophobic fast. Every inch of clear, clean space counts. If you’re in the market for some dreamy new appliances, check out more from KitchenAid(R) Suite Collections.