Emily Henderson's Blog, page 136

Malcolm’s DIY-FILLED Office Reveal: How To Lean Into Color And Create A Stimulating Work From Home Space

Is there anything more “adult” than a fully custom home office?! Well, there probably is, but stick with me. When I was younger, my family was lucky enough to live in some of the most beautiful places in the world. Nigeria, Honduras, and Brazil—to name a few—were countries in which my sisters and I spent our formative years. Different societies, ALL sorts of people, and a variety of unique cultural experiences informed who we would eventually become as adults. Unbeknownst to me when I was younger, those varied experiences would shape my sensibilities—in both life and design—in ways that continue to reveal themselves to this very day. Very unexpectedly so, sometimes.

Many of those sensibilities came out to PLAY during this office remodel, folks. This project forced me to flex muscles I didn’t even know I had and led to some of the proudest (read: riskiest) and most challenging (read: exhausting) design decisions I’ve ever tried to make. There’s something wildly healing about exploring your most visceral, inherent, and spontaneous design ideas and letting them take over a space, but the challenge for me in this office was to do that in a tailored and intentional way. I’ve said it here on the blog before and I’ll say it again: I’m nothing if not a study in personified contradictions… Particularly when such contradictions can yield something as BEAUTIFUL as this space; which respects the places I’ve been, acknowledges the place I am currently, and [cue the foreshadowing] leaves room for the places I have yet to go.

BUT ENOUGH OF THAT EMOTIONAL AND INTROSPECTIVE MUMBO JUMBO. LET’S JUMP INTO SOME OFFICE DESIGN, GENTLEPEOPLE.

If you read my introductory article about my office plans, you might recall that I set out to create a moody, stimulating, and energizing office space that would allow for multipurpose uses in the future. To do that, I challenged myself to make some uncomfortable design decisions, studied various methods of incorporating “traditional” design elements, and leveraged the past to enhance the current state of my design sensibilities.

MAKING UNCOMFORTABLE DESIGN DECISIONS

Hi. My name is Malcolm, and like most designers these days, I like green.

However, I never thought I’d paint nearly every surface of a room it. Green is practically utilized as a “neutral” these days, and I decided to go all out in this office and paint the walls, trim work, ceiling, and doors all in the same tone. I….love it. I was heavily inspired by “Green Smoke” by Farrow and Ball, but I ended up creating my own custom mix at The Home Depot with a Behr Marquee base. I used a satin finish on the doors, bookcases, and trim work, a matte finish on the walls, and a flat finish on the ceiling. I think the subtly varied finishes help to create a sense of movement throughout the space despite it all being the same color.

The door to the office—just like many of the doors in the rest of my house—is painted in “Black Magic” by Sherwin Williams, also in a satin finish. I love this combination of tones, particularly in addition to my brass door hardware and glass knobs.

Back when I was brainstorming paint choices for my bedroom makeover, I asked Emily for some advice about paint choices. She challenged me to paint the entire room in a dark and moody color, which I must admit, terrified me at the time. I didn’t end up taking the plunge in my bedroom, I remembered that advice when it came time to make paint decisions for the office (I also remembered Sara’s TV room), and I’m so glad that I trusted my instincts and went all out. The color—and the way it’s applied—evokes a sense of energy and mental stimulation that I was really yearning for in this space. I’m writing in this space as we speak (it’s honestly a vibe, y’all), and the color of the room has helped keep my creative juices flowing for hours on end.

Desk | Chandelier | Desk Chair | Rug | Drapery

The green pain continues on this built-in structure I made from hand (with some help). I AM TREMENDOUSLY PROUD OF IT.

Ok. There is a lot to discuss here. If you’re following me on Instagram, you will have seen this project in various iterations over the last few months. This project pushed me out of my comfort zone in a myriad of ways. Here was the initial vision for the built-in system that I spoke about in the introductory article about this room…

While many parts of my initial plans changed from the original schematic, I’m very proud of how it came together! There are a few different components to talk about here, so let’s begin from the ground up.

I’m excited to be partnering with Semihandmade for this project, and they were kind enough to send me two of their new paintable Quarterline cabinet doors to complete my built-in system. These doors were designed in collaboration with Sarah Sherman Samuel (who has been a perpetual inspiration of mine for years), and they offer Shaker traditionalism to the space with a slightly modern edge. The thin detailing feels just different enough to set it apart from the Shaker trend, while still working seamlessly with the classic style of the rest of my home. I painted the cabinet doors in the same green as the rest of the room, and they blend in sooooooo smoothly. I attached vintage, solid, brass knobs to each cabinet door, which finished them off in a beautifully tailored and classic way.

The doors from Semihandmade are attached to Ikea Sektion base cabinets, which I elevated—literally and figuratively—off of the floor just high enough to add the base and shoe molding present throughout the rest of my house. This small detail truly makes this built-in system sing, and makes everything feel incorporated, intentional, and integrated. When I tell you this step was challenging to get right, I mean this step was CHALLENGING TO GET RIGHT. I wanted both cabinets to be level with one another, but with wobbly floors in an old house, it was a major task. But, we did it, Joe! With the cabinets level and beautifully adorned with Semihandmade Quarterline doors, it was time to move to the next step…making the concrete countertops!

Originally, I REALLY wanted to use soapstone countertops in this space. I love how soft, buttery, and saturated soapstone is… but I don’t love how expensive it is (even for two little baby slabs). As such, concrete countertops seemed like a good alternative! They offer the same rich feeling as soapstone at a tiny fraction of the cost (I paid roughly $30 for both of my countertops, combined). The only downside was, well, I had to make them myself. BUT! The process was highly satisfying, if not slightly fatiguing, and yielded exactly the product that I was searching for. I used a fairly basic fiber-enforced concrete mix and a black colorant to get the tone just right. There are plenty of YouTube videos about this process if you’re interested in learning more about it (or you can check out my process on my highlights on Instagram). I think it was completely worth the time and labor it took to make these countertops.

That leads us to the height of our discussion (hehe) about the built-ins: the tall bookcases. I knew I wanted full-height woodwork in this space, so I taught myself how to build these showstoppers. Their construction is fairly simple: I used plywood on the sides and back, primed strips of MDF for the face panels, and solid red maple wood for the shelving. The shelves are held up by simple shelf pins to complete the bookcase! The ceilings in my house—just like the floors—aren’t at all straight or square, so getting these bookcases just right was yet another skill-building challenge in measuring, cutting, and finishing.

I originally wanted to paint the bookshelves green, but I opted to finish them naturally to bring in a touch of warmth that reflects the color of the floors. The height of the bookcases is also reflected in the height of my Everhem drapery in a very “designer” way. Everhem made these curtains and sheers custom for my office, and their tailored pleating adds just the right amount of soft and subtle detailing to balance some of the harder, colder elements of the built-ins.

Let’s get into this built-in, DIY console table with me for a momenteroni.

Lamp | Outlet Cover

I went through approximately 101,393 ideas for how to handle the empty space between my two bookcases. I thought about placing my Rejuvenation desk there, but I didn’t want my back to face the door to the office. A Murphy bed seemed like a viable option, but didn’t quite feel like me. Extending the concrete countertop would have been a nice touch, but that would have been too heavy and cumbersome to maneuver into place. Ultimately, I wanted to add a feature here that would be easily removable so that in the future, someone might be able to fit a queen-size bed between the two bookcases.

Then, I had an eye-opening conversation with my partner:

Him: It’d be great if you could find a perfectly-sized console table, saw it in half, and install it between the bookcases.

Me: Good idea! I’ll search through some vintage and salvage stores to see what I can find.

Me: …I found nothing. I could just build something… but that’s more work than I want to handle…

Me: Come over. We’re building a console table.

During this office makeover, I chatted briefly with Emily about designers’ tendency to add TOO MUCH WORK to our plates, even if we’re already drowning in obligations. She told me “it’s honestly a good place to be. Lots of growth in hustle mode”, and I think this DIY table encapsulates that mentality pretty succinctly. Was it challenging to build? Absolutely. Am I a better designer because of it? Abso-frickin-lutely.

I opted to secure a butcher block countertop for the surface of the table, which happened to be on sale for $100 at The Home Depot. I used a butcher block conditioner to finish off the top of the table, and drilled a hole into the top for wires to drop down to the outlet. I also grabbed these beautifully turned butcher block legs for the base, and after much internal (and external) deliberation, I decided to paint the legs in the same green as the rest of the room. The painted legs finish off the table in a way that is both quiet and eye-catching while speaking to the original posts featured on my staircase.

Speaking of the inherent “traditional” aspects of my home…

A STUDY IN TRADITIONALISM

Something that has always interested me about the design-o-sphere is the perception of “traditional” style. If you look up “traditional design” on Pinterest, you’ll mostly see an amalgamation of American- or European-inspired elements: wainscoting, tufted furniture, oil paintings, and the like. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like those elements just as much as many other designers do. However, I’ve been increasingly aware that “traditional” design is completely dependent on any number of factors: geographic region, time period, derivative interpretations of OTHER traditional styles, and countless other considerations. During this office remodel, I found myself choosing artwork and features that incorporate various versions of traditionalism (I’ll give you a cookie if you can count how many times I say “traditional” in this article), and I’m ecstatic about what I’ve collected.

Take this original Nigerian batik, for example. FIRST OF ALL, HOW BEAUTIFUL IS IT OMG. My family procured this stunning piece by Wahab Oyebode in Nigeria circa 1988 (one year before I was born), and I immediately thought of it when planning the artwork for this space. The scale of it is perfection. The balance of the vibrant green background and the warm, saturated patterns is stunning. The energy of the figures represented is full of life and movement. This batik feels right at home here, even though it’s notably a different style than its surrounding elements. My partner created a custom frame for this piece using primed MDF, which we finished using a paint that was color-matched to one of the lighter tones in the artwork. Synergy, my friends!

On the other hand, we have this large, neon interpretation of Michelangelo’s David. YES, a neon sign. I can’t quite explain it, but I’ve always envisioned a neon sign of some sort in this space, and I decided to lean into that visceral feeling and follow my instincts. BOY, AM I GLAD I DID. The energy that these two pieces of art create in the office is palpable. Even though they appear to be vastly different, there is a similarity to the linework in both pieces that allows them to have a conversation with one another–based, I think, on the relative traditionalism inherent within them.

Neon Sign

Earlier in this article, I discussed how the execution of this room was an exercise in letting my most visceral design ideas run rampant, but doing so in a tailored way. That’s where the magic happens, and I think this piece encapsulates that mindset pretty well. A traditional subject to be sure, but with a modern sensibility. It also lends an appropriate amount of FUN to the space! Who doesn’t want to have fun while they work?! I’ve spent a few nights working in the office, and the lighting has really been key to establishing a unique, moody, and inspiring space. Every time I glance at the neon sign of David (particularly when it’s lit), my stomach jumps a little bit. It’s exciting. It’s energizing. It’s different. It motivates me to think creatively while embracing how profoundly the past inspires the future.

LEVERAGING THE PAST TO DESIGN A MOTIVATING WORKSPACE

Contrary to some of the other artwork I’ve sourced in the space, the vintage elevation plans of my neighborhood are as unique to this house as possible. When I moved here in April 2020, I stumbled upon these architectural drawings in one of my kitchen cabinets, and was immediately enthralled by them.

The drawings here show the elevations of my exact unit, and I’ve always known that this set of documentation would eventually land in the office. The tradition of this house is based on colonial architecture, so it feels appropriate to give these vintage drawings a significant presence.

Chair | Floor Lamp | Side Table

The vintage elevations anchor this cozy little section of the room, which I LOVE. The Lulu and Georgia floor lamp, Target accent chair, and Rejuvenation side table (which is making a guest appearance after being showcased in my deck remodel) round out this corner of the office in such a beautifully intentional way. I incorporated black, sleek, metal accents into this corner, which contrast against the vintage drawings in a way that creates a beautiful sense of balance.

In my introductory article about the office makeover, I mentioned that I felt the need to secure a barrister bookcase for this room. FIRST OF ALL… many of you sent me listings to bookcases you found in my area, for which I’m eternally grateful and mildly emotional. I found this one at Community Forklift in Maryland, and the walnut color of the wood works perfectly with some of the other furniture pieces in the space.

Clock

I just love it! There’s something so beautifully classic about a barrister bookcase. The shape, glass paneling, and mechanics of it work together to form a perfect addition to this office. It’s studious. Handsome. Utilitarian. And just a little bit extra. Side note: this beautiful floral arrangement was crafted by Andrew Hill of Blakemore’s Flowers in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I challenged him to create a beautiful bouquet that felt “wild” but also spoke to my “tailored” design sensibilities, and he delivered in spades. Ten out of ten.

Shall we dive into some before and afters?! We shall.

*Design by Malcolm Simmons
**Photos by Malcolm Simmons and Andrew Hill

The post Malcolm’s DIY-FILLED Office Reveal: How To Lean Into Color And Create A Stimulating Work From Home Space appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on February 09, 2022 01:00

The 17 Iconic Wallpaper + Fabric Patterns Any Design Lover Should Know

Welcome to my new favorite day of the week: TRIVIA TUESDAY. Today’s mission: we’re going to review 17 classic wallpaper and fabric patterns that I can all but guarantee you’ve seen before. The goal: one day you will offhandedly point at an Instagram post, film set, magazine spread, or some other form of media and you will be able to say, “oh, that? That’s (insert impressive knowledge of specific timeless pattern here).”

Let’s jump right in with a freebie, yeah? (And keep track of all the patterns you recognize – I want to know how many are familiar to you!)

Zebras by Scalamandré

design by maria united | via ad magazine russia

Try this scenario on for size: you’re a popular New York City restauranteur in the 1940s with a tiny budget, shoebox-sized establishment (The Times’ review, not mine), and big dreams of one day embarking on an African safari. That was the situation that Gino Circiello found himself in when he enlisted a friend to create a standout pattern to deck the walls of his eponymous restaurant, Gino, in 1945. The spaghetti-sauce red background, leaping zebras, and miniature arrows were an instant hallmark.

design by madre dallas design | photo by emery davis photography

left: design by lauren l caron, photo by claire esparros | right: design by maddie hughes designs, photo by nathan schroder photography

…until a fire ravaged Gino’s restaurant in the 1970s, that is. Gino then turned to the husband-and-wife team of Franco and Flora Scalamandré, who painstakingly redrew each Zebra and hand-cut each screen to create a spitting image of the original. And, well, the rest is history.

Citrus Garden by Schumacher

left: design by amanda reid, photo by michael j. lee | right: design by gen sohr, styling by suzonne stirling, photo by alison gootee

In the mid-1930s, architect and designer Josef Frank left his native Austria to escape a rising tide of anti-Semitism. He headed north to Sweden, his wife’s homeland, and spent the next two decades creating whimsical, charming, bright, hand-drawn textile prints (and furniture, and decor, and more – his output was unprecedented). Case in point: the cheery Citrus Garden, which was based on one of his illustrations from 1947.

home of allison pierce | styling by velinda hellen & erik staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: working with what you’ve got – An $8k budget kitchen makeover with a lot of vintage charm

Josef was really passionate about accessible design – “the house is not a work of art, simply a place where one lives,” he wrote – so his designs make an ideal backdrop for those who love to mix, match, and curate their home slowly. Sara shot the above space for Em’s new book and the print is even better up close, don’t you think?

Les Touches by Brunschwig & Fils

design by michael s. smith | photo by davies roger | via architectural digest

A decades-old pattern that feels ultra-current? SIGN ME UP. This animal-esque polka dot was developed from a set of post-WWII photographs and is now offered in 18 different colors. Michael S. Smith, the designer of the above room, offers this: “It’s like chic camouflage – Upper East Side camouflage.”

left: design by danielle drollins, styled by michelle wong, photo by lesley unruh, via one kings lane | right: photo by rachel whiting, via house & garden

And he’s right. Les Touches plays well with others – it can read as a relaxed polka dot, a quiet floral, or as a punchy geometric print. Each roll, which is hand-screened in America on cotton backing (yes, that is as fancy as it sounds), is sure to stand the test of time.

Raphael by Sandberg

left: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: the ultimate family-friendly media room + wet bar | design by virginia cheek, photo by rustic white, atlanta magazine

An EHD favorite! Raphael had two very diverse inspirations: it’s 50% Central Park – a leafy haven in contrast to a bustling city – and 50% antique tapestry, where stylized leaves are often shown in fields of light and shade. It’s a quiet, easy-to-love pattern for those who may feel a little scared of committing to a permanent wall covering. (It looks great as an accent wall, too.)

Acquario by Cole & Son

design by number forty two

When a surrealist artist (or, uh, their estate, I guess) combines forces with a prolific wallpaper maker, GREAT THINGS HAPPEN. Piero Fornasetti used a ton of fish motifs in his early work – he was fascinated by how marine life was simultaneously so simple yet so mysterious – and MAN, do those motifs look great as a wallcovering.

left: design by les ensembliers, photo by brittany cambridge | right: jane and michael deflorioset, photo by thomas loof, via elle decor

Acquario is a great option for folks looking to balance a bit of whimsy with a timeless, refined color palette. We usually see this print in refined children’s rooms and bathrooms, but how great would one of these darker colors look in an office?

Martinique by CW Stockwell

left: design by langlois design, via houzz | right: via house beautiful

Great story alert: In 1905, a pharmacist named Clifton Stockwell from Armstrong, Iowa moved to Los Angeles and started a wallpaper business. His daughter, Lucile, and her husband, Remy Chatain – both Parsons graduates – eventually joined the business and created this design after a vacation to the South Seas.

design and photo by gray malin

When fashion and interior designer Don Loper stumbled upon the CW Stockwell showroom in 1942, he knew he’d found the look he wanted for his Beverly Hills Hotel redesign. Don re-created the mural-style installation he’d seen in the showroom and expanded it to fit the corridors of the hotel…and that’s how a pharmacist from Iowa became responsible for one of our all-time favorite film and TV backdrops of the last century. FUN, RIGHT?

Hicks Hexagon by Cole & Son

left: design by fiona kotur, photo by simon upton, via clever | right: via decorpad

Speaking of film backdrops – does this pattern ring a bell for anyone? Famed interior designer, David Hicks’ mod geometric patterns helped define 1960s style. His son, Ashley, worked with Cole & Son to bring a small, livable version (the edges on the print are slightly curved to be less stark!) to walls worldwide.

via wallpapercave

Oh. Yup – that’s why it looks familiar. The big, slightly-less-livable version played a starring role in The Shining. So, uh, feel free to namedrop the Hicks Hexagon next time you’re watching this movie, I guess?

Strawberry Thief by Morris & Co.

left: design and photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara’s closet reveal – the bold design moment she’s been craving | right: via lulu and georgia

Before it was an iconic wallcovering, Strawberry Thief started its life as a textile print in 1883. (And if you ever want to read about an interesting guy, google its designer, William Morris – a quick bio describes him as follows; “British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, architectural conservationist, printer, translator and socialist activist…” – hello, jack of all trades!) You’ll be able to spot this one in the wild seeing as it’s, well, a bird stealing a strawberry. Aptly named. 10/10.

Artemis by House of Hackney

design by emily henderson | photo by keyanna bowen | from: all the details of the primary suite at the real simple home

Annnnd here’s a print inspired by the work of William Morris (and also by Diana Vreeland’s 1955 ‘Garden in Hell’ room, where she told her designer that she wanted her living room to “look like a garden, but a garden in hell,” – a directive that is simultaneously impressive in its clarity and terrifying in its creativity). Artemis is an old-school motif with a little bit of bite.

left: via anthropologie | right: design by alisa bovino

The craziest part? House of Hackney launched in 2010. THIS MILLENNIUM! Classic patterns with ultra-modern interpretations – this is a total go-to pattern if you want to add a little edge to a traditional space.

Toile de Nantes by Pierre Frey

left: design by sarah bartholomew | right: design by danielle drollins, styled by michelle wong, photo by lesley unruh, via one kings lane

Toile de Nantes was inspired by 18th century Ikat fabrics, but it was made famous after Estée Lauder chose the print for her Hamptons home in the 1970s. The pattern toes the line between beachy and regal, which is an incredible balance to strike.

design by beverly field

And if you’re a fan of the elevated mix-and-match…look no further. This one’s a winner that will still look chic in 50 years! (Have you also noticed that all three of these designers chose to style their Toile with big hits of leopard print?)

Brazilliance by Dorothy Draper

left: design by dorothy draper | right: design by brett leemkuil, via curbed

If you’re like, “hey, dummy, we already looked at banana palm wallpaper,” SIT TIGHT – this one is different! The key giveaway? The Brazilliance print also features clusters of trailing sea grapes. (Also, this one predates Martinique by about 5 years!)

Dorothy Draper originally designed this for the Arrowhead Springs Hotel – an A-list celebrity getaway just outside of LA that fell out of favor after the resort was used as a navy hospital in World War II – and the print made its way onto the walls of a bunch of other iconic properties. Saturated, glam, and anything but boring – what else can you ask for?

Nuvolette by Cole & Son

design by kirsten blazek | photo by virtually here studios | from: tour creative director and founder of a1000xbetter kirsten blazek’s soulful, vintage-filled home

Oooooooh. Here’s one more from our favorite Italian surrealist, Fornasetti, and my favorite wallcovering maker, Cole & Son. (I have two of their wallpapers in my home and yes, I am very biased.) This print, Nuvolette, kinda speaks for itself, doesn’t it?

left: design by philip gorrivan, photo by maura mcevoy, via quintessence | right: design by janine carendi macmurray, photo by peter murdock, via cottages & gardens

The detail on each cloud is incredible and the sense of movement this print brings to a space is pretty unprecedented. We see this pattern pop up time and time again in all kinds of room reveals – living rooms! Kitchens! Kid’s rooms! Bathrooms! – but it always feels fresh and refined.

Pimpernel by Morris & Co.

left: design by kimberlee marie, photo by miranda estes | right: design by studio mcgee

One more from our multi-hyphenate William Morris! He designed this pattern in 1876 and used it in his own dining room at Kelmscott House, which is now a historic landmark. Pretty much every Morris & Co. wallpaper or textile is a classic, but this one gets extra marks for being so flexible – it can go dark and moody or light and airy, which is AWESOME.

Bowood by Colefax and Fowler

design by cameron ruppert interiors | via ang decorates

Another great origin story here: Bowood was based on a mid-1800s fabric fragment that decorator John Fowler discovered while staying at the Bowood Estate (hence the name – it’s not “boxwood,” as some folks assume!).

left: via house & garden | right: design by peter pennoyer architects, photo by eric piasecki

There are a lot of chintzes out there, but few have the longevity and recognition of Bowood. Remember that old saying “leaves of 3, let them be?” Well, it’s kind of like, “clusters of 3, must be Bowood by Colefax and Fowler.” (Less rhyme, less memorable, similar sentiment – this pattern has staying power.)

St Laurent by De Gournay

left: via de gournay| right: design by hannah cecil gurney, photo by simon brown, via house & garden

Let’s be clear: de Gournay has no shortage of stunning hand-painted wallpapers, but St Laurent is a liiiiittle extra special. This print, in particular, was inspired by a 1700s wallpaper in the Parisian home of Yves Saint Laurent. Next time you see a classic Chinoiserie wallcovering, see if you can spot the peacock – it may be St Laurent.

Fireworks by Hinson

left: design by nick olsen, photo by pieter estersohn, via architectural digest | right: design by joni lay

HELLO, cute and playful! This one reminds me a lot of Les Touches (remember, the abstract-animal-dot one?), except it feels a little more pristine, organized, and buttoned-up. That tracks because Albert Hadley (the mastermind behind this print, in collaboration with Harry Hinson) also decorated spaces for Jackie O. (Clean, chic, simple, classic. It all makes sense.)

via lonny

Finding wallpaper patterns that work with existing elements can be such a nightmare, but Fireworks is a great, goes-with-anything option. It comes in 6 different colors, too, so you’re sure to find one that works for your home and style.

Chiang Mai Dragon by Schumacher

left: design by jenn feldman, styled by barbara schmidt, photo by jessica sample, via one kings lane | right: design by carrie hayward, photo by bethany nauert, via apartment therapy

Oh man – every single color of this pattern is an absolute slam dunk. Chiang Mai Dragon is based on a 1920s Art Deco block print and it brings so much color, vibrancy, and life to each space it inhabits. This is another one of those use-anywhere patterns – it just goes, you know?

That’s it from me and my little ol’ noggin for our first-ever Trivia Tuesday and I gotta know – how many of these did you recognize? And even more importantly…which classic patterns am I missing? These were the 17 timeless options that came to my mind when I thought about classic textiles and wallcoverings, but I know there are SO MANY other goodies out there. Feel free to drop a link or a name (or even an involved anecdote!) if you’d like to share your own knowledge!!! See ya down there. xx

Opening Image Credit: Design by Jason Reeves of Highlander Mountain House | Photo by Maggie Braucher| via Remodelista

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Published on February 08, 2022 02:05

A Jess’ Living Room MOTO Update: We’ve Got A Lot To Talk About – Successes And A Possible Mistake

I promise this was supposed to be my MOTO that didn’t take a year and half (and IT WON’T) but my optimistic 4-month plan has come and gone…and left well, forever. The initial culprits were the crazy shipping delays and boy there have been a lot of them. And now I am in the process of getting an exciting custom thing made but I figured it was high time for an update. I’ve got a lot of thoughts, ideas, and fun developments (but also at least one sorta mistake). I am sure I have said this before but historically I don’t like to do MOTO updates where anything is “given away”. Maybe it’s the showbiz gal that’s still in me that wants as much “shock and awe” as possible. But process is what we do here. I’d like to think that’s what makes us special and keeps everyone connected to our reveals and especially our MOTOs. So baby, buckle up. We’ve got stuff to talk about.

But let’s go back for a little refresh since it’s been a minute…

The Layout Agony

This was my first big hurdle considering I couldn’t really plan everything until my layout was locked in. While I LOVE having a fireplace and a turret window, this particular layout isn’t an easy one if you also need it to function as an office. These were the three most doable options:

And here is the one I picked (option two) PLUS the sofa of my dreams:

This was right after it was delivered and it was a game-changer from that moment and here’s why. First off, the back is lower than my old white sofa which really opened up the space. I was shocked. When you look at the older photos, the white sofa kinda looked too big. This seems wild because this new beaut is almost a foot wider and feels perfect. Point being, definitely consider the height when buying a sofa for visual openness. Oh and for those who are tall or have tall people in their lives that are wondering if they can comfortably sit on this sofa I had it “tall person approved”. When my friend saw my sofa, he said, “well it looks nice but I hate low back sofas. I’m always too tall so they are pretty uncomfortable”. But when he actually sat on it he quickly changed his opinion because of its deep cushion. That made all the difference to him. Basically, it’s an incredible sofa and I fall asleep on it a lot because it’s like the size of a twin bed. The second reason why this particular sofa lady was such a game-changer is the color balanced my not-so-pretty brown fireplace. Aside from the heart-stopping moment when I saw it on the Lulu and Georgia site, having it in the space makes my fireplace’s color look less terrible! Do I magically love the fireplace color now? No. BUT, the white sofa really made it stand out in not a great way. It was like a magic trick. So really this sofa is a peacemaker in my home. And speaking of my fireplace let’s chat about that next…

The Fireplace Fiasco

please ignore the styling

Where we last left off, my DIY dream was to cover my fireplace. DIY Dad (Les Bunge, the legend) was on the job. I gave him measurements, he pre-cut the wood at his house, and down in his beloved airstream he came to Pasadena (seriously that airstream is his actual pride and joy. My brother and I are a distant memory now).

But then, after testing it out (and him accusing me of not telling about some part of the fireplace’s structure), he deemed my dreams impossible without it looking really weird in the end. Les Bunge is a yes man so while I, of course, tried to prove him wrong… he was in fact right.

hope bungo isn’t mad his hair is lookin a little crazy:)

There was just too big of a gap for the look I wanted because of how far the mantle jutted out. And while I’m not someone who gives up easily on an idea, when it’s not’s working you’ve got to pivot.

So what’s the plan now? Well, I’m seeing if just tiling inside and on the hearth (on plywood so damage to the fireplace) could work. I really love the idea of dark blue zellige tile so stay tuned.

The Window Treatment Conundrum

This is what my nook used to look like. I still needed a desk and I was coming to terms with the fact that white curtains looked very blah in this space. If not white, what color?! I still wanted the space to feel peaceful but also warm and inviting. Enter my then existential pink curtain crisis question.

Guess who decided to get over herself and her silly biases? These truly gorgeous curtains and a single curved rod were graciously made by Decorview. I won’t gush quite yet about what an incredible experience it was (I’ll save that for the reveal) but my lord am I in love. And to Lisa, who commented that her mom read somewhere that pink curtains mimic the light babies see when they’re in the womb and would be calming, was right. My “womb room” is both calming and is making a bold design choice. Win-win.

You also might have noticed that utterly spectacular desk…

The DREAM Desk

TA-DA. Finding this desk felt like a magic trick I somehow performed but have no idea how I did it. But more accurately Crate & Barrel simply has my heart and what they have been designing is truly so beautiful. So not only is this chic and textured, it’s stupidly functional (yes, Jess has a functional piece of furniture). Let’s break it down:

1. It’s a desk that doesn’t read: DESK when you first look at it. This was important to me since it’s such a main piece in the space.
2. Both sides independently twist from the center so I can have them angled, straight, or nested together. This means it can also work as a skinny dining table if I want to have a dinner party!
3. IT HAS STORAGE. The center is a full-on cabinet. Oh but if I don’t want to see the cabinet door for some reason I can twist it around to the back.

When Emily first saw it her exact words were, “This is an Editorial Director’s desk!” and honestly I feel very lucky and powerful every time I sit at this desk. A massive upgrade from the folding table to say the least.

A DIY Desk Chair Challenge

Welcome to my pending DIY desk chair project. My current chair is from our old studio and while I completely appreciate getting to use it, it’s kinda falling apart and the materials mixed with everything else in the space (ie pink curtains, crystal chandelier) are making the space feel glam which really isn’t my personal style. So when I was visiting my cousin up north we went thrift shopping and each bought one of these chairs for only $15!! In its current state, I am not a fan. BUT, the wheels are great and roll super smooth. And, it’s wide so I can sit criss-cross and I like the cane. My plan is massive surgery to make it look more modern but if I totally mess it up then I can use the wheels on a different chair. And again how could I pass it up for $15?!

A Rug Burn(ing) Question

Y’all I am having a time finding the perfect rug. I love love love my checkered rug but I think the pattern scale is too small. So not finding the right patterned rug, I thought I would go for “big texture” which is why you see that cream natural flokati shag rug. The rug itself is great, very pretty, was under $400 for at 6’x9′ on Etsy but I am having some buyer’s remorse for it in this space. I was trying to avoid having the space feel too “cold and modern”, so I thought this would really help. Maybe a thick rug pad would do something but honestly, I think it’s just not it. Maybe it would be great in my bedroom (where the checkered rug currently is) or maybe I can make some of my money back by selling it to a good home where it would thrive. IDK. Stay tuned on that too. I am, however, pretty pumped about those little art pieces:)

I’ve Still Got Secret Plans

Did you think I’d give it all away?! Never:) I have something really amazing (at least I think so) planned for this wall. Just know that this will be the very definition of a “statement wall”… and that sconce will be replaced.

So that’s where I am at. Lots of moving pieces and beautiful decor are being sourced to make it feel as comfortable yet inspiring to me as my last home. The style of this apartment building is definitely leading the charge but I’m determined to make it feel like me.

Love you, mean it.

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Published on February 07, 2022 01:00

A Jess’ Living Room MOTO Update: We’ve Got A Lot To Talk About – Successes And A Possible Mistakes

I promise this was supposed to be my MOTO that didn’t take a year and half (and IT WON’T) but my optimistic 4-month plan has come and gone…and left well, forever. The initial culprits were the crazy shipping delays and boy there have been a lot of them. And now I am in the process of getting an exciting custom thing made but I figured it was high time for an update. I’ve got a lot of thoughts, ideas, and fun developments (but also at least one sorta mistake). I am sure I have said this before but historically I don’t like to do MOTO updates where anything is “given away”. Maybe it’s the showbiz gal that’s still in me that wants as much “shock and awe” as possible. But process is what we do here. I’d like to think that’s what makes us special and keeps everyone connected to our reveals and especially our MOTOs. So baby, buckle up. We’ve got stuff to talk about.

But let’s go back for a little refresh since it’s been a minute…

The Layout Agony

This was my first big hurdle considering I couldn’t really plan everything until my layout was locked in. While I LOVE having a fireplace and a turret window, this particular layout isn’t an easy one if you also need it to function as an office. These were the three most doable options:

And here is the one I picked (option two) PLUS the sofa of my dreams:

This was right after it was delivered and it was a game-changer from that moment and here’s why. First off, the back is lower than my old white sofa which really opened up the space. I was shocked. When you look at the older photos, the white sofa kinda looked too big. This seems wild because this new beaut is almost a foot wider and feels perfect. Point being, definitely consider the height when buying a sofa for visual openness. Oh and for those who are tall or have tall people in their lives that are wondering if they can comfortably sit on this sofa I had it “tall person approved”. When my friend saw my sofa, he said, “well it looks nice but I hate low back sofas. I’m always too tall so they are pretty uncomfortable”. But when he actually sat on it he quickly changed his opinion because of its deep cushion. That made all the difference to him. Basically, it’s an incredible sofa and I fall asleep on it a lot because it’s like the size of a twin bed. The second reason why this particular sofa lady was such a game-changer is the color balanced my not-so-pretty brown fireplace. Aside from the heart-stopping moment when I saw it on the Lulu and Georgia site, having it in the space makes my fireplace’s color look less terrible! Do I magically love the fireplace color now? No. BUT, the white sofa really made it stand out in not a great way. It was like a magic trick. So really this sofa is a peacemaker in my home. And speaking of my fireplace let’s chat about that next…

The Fireplace Fiasco

please ignore the styling

Where we last left off, my DIY dream was to cover my fireplace. DIY Dad (Les Bunge, the legend) was on the job. I gave him measurements, he pre-cut the wood at his house, and down in his beloved airstream he came to Pasadena (seriously that airstream is his actual pride and joy. My brother and I are a distant memory now).

But then, after testing it out (and him accusing me of not telling about some part of the fireplace’s structure), he deemed my dreams impossible without it looking really weird in the end. Les Bunge is a yes man so while I, of course, tried to prove him wrong… he was in fact right.

hope bungo isn’t mad his hair is lookin a little crazy:)

There was just too big of a gap for the look I wanted because of how far the mantle jutted out. And while I’m not someone who gives up easily on an idea, when it’s not’s working you’ve got to pivot.

So what’s the plan now? Well, I’m seeing if just tiling inside and on the hearth (on plywood so damage to the fireplace) could work. I really love the idea of dark blue zellige tile so stay tuned.

The Window Treatment Conundrum

This is what my nook used to look like. I still needed a desk and I was coming to terms with the fact that white curtains looked very blah in this space. If not white, what color?! I still wanted the space to feel peaceful but also warm and inviting. Enter my then existential pink curtain crisis question.

Guess who decided to get over herself and her silly biases? These truly gorgeous curtains and a single curved rod were graciously made by Decorview. I won’t gush quite yet about what an incredible experience it was (I’ll save that for the reveal) but my lord am I in love. And to Lisa, who commented that her mom read somewhere that pink curtains mimic the light babies see when they’re in the womb and would be calming, was right. My “womb room” is both calming and is making a bold design choice. Win-win.

You also might have noticed that utterly spectacular desk…

The DREAM Desk

TA-DA. Finding this desk felt like a magic trick I somehow performed but have no idea how I did it. But more accurately Crate & Barrel simply has my heart and what they have been designing is truly so beautiful. So not only is this chic and textured, it’s stupidly functional (yes, Jess has a functional piece of furniture). Let’s break it down:

1. It’s a desk that doesn’t read: DESK when you first look at it. This was important to me since it’s such a main piece in the space.
2. Both sides independently twist from the center so I can have them angled, straight, or nested together. This means it can also work as a skinny dining table if I want to have a dinner party!
3. IT HAS STORAGE. The center is a full-on cabinet. Oh but if I don’t want to see the cabinet door for some reason I can twist it around to the back.

When Emily first saw it her exact words were, “This is an Editorial Director’s desk!” and honestly I feel very lucky and powerful every time I sit at this desk. A massive upgrade from the folding table to say the least.

A DIY Desk Chair Challenge

Welcome to my pending DIY desk chair project. My current chair is from our old studio and while I completely appreciate getting to use it, it’s kinda falling apart and the materials mixed with everything else in the space (ie pink curtains, crystal chandelier) are making the space feel glam which really isn’t my personal style. So when I was visiting my cousin up north we went thrift shopping and each bought one of these chairs for only $15!! In its current state, I am not a fan. BUT, the wheels are great and roll super smooth. And, it’s wide so I can sit criss-cross and I like the cane. My plan is massive surgery to make it look more modern but if I totally mess it up then I can use the wheels on a different chair. And again how could I pass it up for $15?!

A Rug Burn(ing) Question

Y’all I am having a time finding the perfect rug. I love love love my checkered rug but I think the pattern scale is too small. So not finding the right patterned rug, I thought I would go for “big texture” which is why you see that cream natural flokati shag rug. The rug itself is great, very pretty, was under $400 for at 6’x9′ on Etsy but I am having some buyer’s remorse for it in this space. I was trying to avoid having the space feel too “cold and modern”, so I thought this would really help. Maybe a thick rug pad would do something but honestly, I think it’s just not it. Maybe it would be great in my bedroom (where the checkered rug currently is) or maybe I can make some of my money back by selling it to a good home where it would thrive. IDK. Stay tuned on that too. I am, however, pretty pumped about those little art pieces:)

I’ve Still Got Secret Plans

Did you think I’d give it all away?! Never:) I have something really amazing (at least I think so) planned for this wall. Just know that this will be the very definition of a “statement wall”… and that sconce will be replaced.

So that’s where I am at. Lots of moving pieces and beautiful decor are being sourced to make it feel as comfortable yet inspiring to me as my last home. The style of this apartment building is definitely leading the charge but I’m determined to make it feel like me.

Love you, mean it.

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Published on February 07, 2022 01:00

The Link Up: Emily’s Favorite Chocolate Bar (With No Refined Sugar), Mallory’s Favorite J-Crew Denim, And Anti-Anxiety Dog Treats That ACTUALLY Work

Hi all! Welcome to this week’s link up. We’re happy to have ya here, and we hope you’re excited to be here. So let’s start the engine and get this thing going.

This week’s home tour is the home tour shown round the world, it’s Gwyneth Paltrow’s home! Designed by the INCREDIBLE Romanek Design Studio and architecture firm Roman and Williams, plus styled by powerhouse Colin King, this home was destined for greatness. It’s insanely beautiful and peaceful. Looks like a hotel and spa and BOY are we down to check-in!

Target is celebrating Black History Month with these awesome small business collabs! Check it out and go support the incredible brands.

From Emily: I FOUND THE BEST CHOCOLATE EVER (and a great V-day gift for literally anyone – friends, too). During my attempt to stay away from refined sugar (and all wine/alcohol) in January yet wanting something sweet at night one of my best friends said, “Oh, you have to try Honey Mama’s”. It’s Portland-made, vegan chocolate that is INSANELY GOOD. I have never in my life freaked out over chocolate and I’ve been evangelizing about it ever since – telling everyone I know. I buy it locally (in the fridge department of New Seasons or Basics) but they will ship to you. And not only are they supporting a small local business, but it’s dairy-free, gluten-free, no refined sugar, and yet CRAZY delicious and full of flavor. Ok, that is all. Get the 8 pack and give them to all your friends or coworkers for V day.

From Mallory: I’ve never had jeans this color and now I’m SO GLAD I DO. I bought these j-crew jeans on sale when I was at their store and boy are they so good (and still on sale FYI!) I wear them every day with this sweater and some people may be tired of it but I do not care!

From Jess: As a BIG card lover, I love this card for Valentines Day<3

Also From Jess: I love this brand and I LOVE LOVE LOVE these shoes (in chrome) and everyone should know they exist.

From Ryann: My son (aka my 60 lb American Bulldog/Boxer mix) is not what you would consider a chill dog. He’s lucky he is so handsome because he’s never on his best behavior. He loves to jump on any human he sees and loses his mind anytime he sees another dog. It’s fun. He also has separation anxiety (likely from being abandoned before we adopted him) so I wanted to get him some natural relaxing dog treats to see if that will calm his nerves a bit. I am absolutely shocked to say that I have noticed a considerable difference since giving him these treats! They don’t cure his bad behavior (only divine intervention could do that!!) but he is 10x more relaxed on a daily basis. I’ll say this: on Christmas, there were about 20 people at my parent’s house and two children under 2 years old. I was freaking out not knowing how our dog would act but he was, for once, a very good boy! These treats, it seems, just make him less anxious and less starved for attention. I don’t know the science behind it but I sure am happy I tried them out.

From Caitlin: Really going out on a limb here, but is there anyone in the Lancaster, PA area (really, anyone stretching from South Jersey – Maryland) interested in adopting a cat? Trying to re-home two cuties directly after their owner passed away – both are spayed indoor/outdoor cats, but lately they prefer just hanging inside with someone who loves them. If this rings a bell (or if you can recommend an awesome no-kill shelter in the area!), please drop me a note in the comments or shoot me an email to caitlin@emilyhendersondesign.com.

Thanks, everyone for tuning in!!! ALL OUR LOVE TO YOU AND YOURS!

Opening Image Credit: Design by Roman and Williams and Romanek Design Studio | Styled by Colin King | Photo by Yoshihiro Makino | via Architectural Digest

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Published on February 06, 2022 01:00

My Reaction To Seeing Book IRL + More Sneak Peeks (And My Hard Sell On Why This Book Might Be Useful to You :))

This week I received my first physical copy of my new book, The New Design Rules, and it felt real. As I was unwrapping it (video below) I was very nervous. I kept thinking, after so long will I even like it? After working on it for so long, “my second book” had become so nebulous, a mirage in the distance while running the rest of the business/life. It wasn’t until it was in my hands that I thought, “Oh right. It’s here. And this is actually a HUGE deal“. Working on something, anything, for 4 years, to be officially done with it and put it into the world in a very public way is a major feat. Part of me doesn’t want to promote it a lot, I don’t want to over-hype it, instead put it into the world and see how it does. Maybe I’ll give copies to my interior blogger friends, spread the word, but just let natural sales do their thing. The other part of me (the one that is winning today) quickly gives me a pep talk. It goes like this:

“Listen, ma’am. You and others have spent years of your life on this book, researching, writing and rewriting, fact-checking, re-writing it again, over and over and over to give universally useful information distilled into a digestible physical book, making sure that everything in it was not only correct, but easy to understand. You spent months and more money than will ever be calculated shooting original homes of incredible creatives all over the country with a team of hard-working EHD team members/freelancers who also worked their assess off for this book (Sara, Velinda, Erik, Emily Bowser, Hina, Shade – I’m looking at you). You arranged and rearranged the photos over and over to get the most information across in the most efficient ways. You wanted to give up many times because once again you overwrote, over-shot, over-produced the whole thing, buried in your own words, and stayed up until 2-3 am many times to hit deadlines. You did this really big thing, you need to tell people about it.“

The final straw in the “YOU GO AND PROMOTE THIS BOOK” camel’s back is reminding myself that it’s not just my book or my work. The EHD team worked so hard, I can’t say this enough – Sara Ligorria Tramp (photographer) and Velinda Hellen (producer/stylist), my editor Angelin Borsics and freelance writer/copy editor Jessica Cumberbatch Anderson worked so hard, our graphic designer La Tricia Watford revised and revised every time I wanted to move a photo or add a caption/tip. AND last but not least all the incredible designers, creatives, and homeowners invited us into their homes for 1-2 days (which is an invasive process) letting us shoot and share their work for you because they were excited to be in a successful, best selling book (Styled did very well and was a NY Times bestseller so there are expectations for this one). It’s not just about me, or the blog, I owe it to these people to not be shy. SO, y’all, THIS IS ME – IMMA SELL THIS BOOK.

top left photo: design and home of jamie haller| styled by velinda hellen | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | bottom left photo: design and home of ashley coelho | styled by velinda hellen & erik kenneth staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | right photo: design and home of sara ruffin costello | styled by velinda hellen & erik kenneth staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-trampAm I Happy With The Book?

YES. I’m very happy. I’m extremely proud of how useful it is and how well my team and I did finding gorgeous houses to represent my vision (not to mention homes that inspired so many more ideas). But, I didn’t open the hard copy of the book on day one. I was nervous. I was scared I would scrutinize it, and at this point not one word can be changed (which is such a relief, also Angelin was going to actually murder me).

For instance, one of the reasons it got pushed past the usual 2 years (besides the constraints of covid and supply/shipping delays) was that during the pandemic I finally realized the importance of green design/sustainability. I feel I have a responsibility to help others do their best when renovating, especially having so many people watch/listen to me. So I begged to shift the date so that I could re-write a lot and wrote a whole chapter on how to renovate in a more responsible way. I, frankly, would have criticized it hard without that information. That chapter then got broken up and dispersed throughout the book into tips and ideas per the corresponding chapter (which is way more effective). I’m so glad that the blog can be a place for additions, updated information, and where I can share the stuff that got cut (let me remind you the first draft was 900 pages haha). While the book is finite, this site is live.

And if you’re interested, here’s a video of me seeing said book for the first time:

At this point, I know and simply have to trust that the right information got into the book. Every time I look at it, I think THERE’S JUST SO MUCH USEFUL INFORMATION.

left photo: design and home of sara ruffin costello | styled by velinda hellen & erik kenneth staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-tramp

left photo: design and home of sherry shirah | styled by velinda hellen & erik staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-tramp| right photo: lead design by emily henderson, design assisted by velinda hellen, julie rose & grace de asis | styled by emily edith bowser & erik staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-trampWho Is This Book For? Renovators (First-Timers Or Frequent): You might know the difference between casement and double-hung windows for instance, or how high to place sconces in your bathroom – but even I love being reminded of that information, with beautiful photographs attached to the tips. Homeowners – Future Renovators: Those embarking on their first remodel or thinking about updating after years of indecision, who want to feel more educated and empowered before starting. This book is for you.DIY-ers and Renter: We made a real effort to call out ways to DIY something and to showcase projects that were renter-friendly or fun hacks. This is not just for renovators with big budgets, I promise. Design Enthusiasts or Future Designers: If you are super into design you might geek out like I do/did at diving deeper into the facts. I LOVE knowing vocabulary that historically has been hoarded by people “in the industry”. I like knowing what a ‘stringer’, ‘treads’, and ‘risers’ are. I like not being mansplained about the “coursing of tile”. Maybe you want to say confidently how high a chandelier should be over your dining table. If you are into learning about how a house is put together, then you’ll be into this book. Design “Tweakers” You know what I mean. Maybe you don’t want to DIY a headboard or kitchen countertop but you want a new interesting way to hang your art – while this is covered far more in Styled , there is still a LOT of fresh styling inspiration. Anyone Who Loves Pretty Pictures of Pretty Homes: Skip the words if you are done renovating for life or will never buy another chair. Just flip through and stare at the beautiful homes, captured so well by Sara, Velinda, (assisted by Erik, Emily B., Hina, and Shade.)

home and design by ben medansky | styled by velinda hellen & erik staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-tramp

Even though I know every word in this book (because I wrote it) there are so many rooms that are full of good ideas – too many ideas to call out in the text. Sometimes I’ll simply stare at the photos of Ben Mendansky’s living room (above), or Sara Ruffin Costello’s New Orleans converted church and I’ll get inspired with new ideas. It’s like shopping at a flea market – you can’t physically look at everything at the same time so maybe you flip through and focus on what you need to find today (tile layout, for instance) but the next time around you flip through, looking for wall paneling ideas (even outside of that chapter) or to see where others put the hand-shower (next to shower head? Opposite wall? Facing the glass?). While not every call-out was able to make it in, all the photos show endless additional IDEAS. You could read it 50 times and still see something new.

So, yes I LOVE WHAT IS IN THIS BOOK.

The Mom Test

A few months ago my mom was over and I showed her the almost done PDF copy of the book. Being renovation-averse, due to intimidation and cost, she flipped through it and after 30 minutes was like, “Oh. This book is for me. It’s exactly what I need. I feel like I get it”. I felt so relieved. Easy to “get” is a huge compliment when you are trying to combine both creative ideas and technical information. Then last week my mother-in-law was over and she wanted to see it knowing that I had just received it in the mail. But the Rams game was on and we were all hanging/talking so she said, “Well, I’m not going to read it right now, of course, I’ll just flip through.” Then an hour later she was still reading and blurting out, “Ha! I didn’t know that I need 24” seat depth sofas because we do like to sit up straighter”. And then later, “Bob, I think we should take down the shutters to let in more natural light”, which prompted a “well thanks a lot” glare from Bob.

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

It’s not just for newbies or boomers. My friends/colleagues that are super into design (many shot in this book) love it for the inspirational photographs of these incredible homes (some mine, but mostly new homes you haven’t seen). I agree. There are some houses in there (Dee Murphy’s, A craftsman from A 1000 x Better, Rosa Beltrans own home, a gorgeous home by Victoria Sass) that I can’t stare at enough.

I personally love this book because I can bring it to site and show my contractor (instead of trying to pull up a pinboard) and say, “See how they did this? That’s what I like”, or “See how this grout looks seamless with the tile? How did they do that? I want that”. While many people won’t necessarily use it as a field guide, that was what I felt was missing in the world. A visual field guide/handbook that I can bring when I’m window treatment or sofa shopping. A book I can reference when I’m taping out furniture layouts on the floor of the farm living room and then can show Brian the goal. I know this stuff so well, but there is something so comforting about having a book (in addition to other awesome books) that helps remind you and gives you a visual reference to show others instead of trying to explain what you are thinking.

I’m extremely nervous/excited for April 12th to see what you all think. I am so proud of the information, meticulously edited words, and photography of inspirational homes that created this book.

left photo: home and design by corbett tuck| styled by brady tolbert | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | right photo: design and home of scott horne | styled by velinda hellen & erik kenneth staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-trampSo Now What? If This Sounds Like A Book For You …

Ok. So here’s my pitch – ha, it might seem like that was my pitch, but nope, here is the “call to action” as we like to say in marketing. If you are excited about this book, if the ideas behind it speak to you, and you are going to order it in April, consider pre-ordering it. We would be EXTREMELY grateful. Pre-ordering The New Design Rules will help make the book a huge success.

I’m extremely proud of this book and I know that my compulsion to put it out in the world would have never gone away had I not done it. It was a box I had to check. So again, if you are interested – there are some ways to support early on. Throughout the next few months I’m going to give incentives for purchasing (donating to charity based on sales) so keep track of your receipt (a screenshot is fine) so that when those go up you can retroactively be a part of them should you want to. And for all of you who pre-ordered already, THANK YOU SO MUCH. Seriously. xx

BUY THE NEW DESIGN RULES HERE!

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Published on February 05, 2022 01:00

Do You Have An Unorganized Bathroom Situation? Here Are the Best Storage Solutions (And Products)

A few weeks ago I was searching for closet storage solutions and found something I wasn’t aware I needed. It’s such a simple product and there are likely thousands similar on the market right now–It’s truly nothing special. But when I saw it I was like, “Oh, this is exactly what I need to organize the bathroom cabinets”. It’s this stackable slide-out drawer and no, this post is #notsponsored. I am just passionate about these drawers because before them my bathroom cabinets were in complete disarray. I bought two of them plus this clear bin and the result is that I can actually find the things I am looking for. What a concept!

So now like a kid in a candy store, I just want more practical and efficient storage solutions. Since that fateful day, I’ve thought a lot about all the bathroom products that can make my life easier and more beautiful. So if you are in the market and whether you have a small bathroom or a large suite, I hope these product solutions will help you visualize a more organized future.

Over The Toilet Storage

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our soft yet secretly sultry downstairs guest bed and bath

The wall space above my toilet is probably the part that I’ve spent the least amount of time thinking about. Perhaps this is why I’ve been underutilizing that precious real estate. In a small bathroom with abysmal storage, you must think vertically (she says to herself). This spot can alleviate so many storage woes. You can hang shelves for open storage, or get an over the toilet cabinet stand for some added closed storage. You can also hang towel bars or towel hooks. No matter what, if you are like me and need more storage, do not skip this step.

Here are some great options to start with:

Because I lack storage in general, I love #5 and #12 for closed storage. #6 and #7 both offer ample open storage, or you can add baskets for a little bit of both. Of course, these types of shelving units are not a new idea so we always recommend shopping for vintage ones from Etsy (like this), Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.

Under The Sink

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the riskiest bathroom i designed—with a “how i’m feeling now” update

You know how folding your clothes allows you to fit more clothes in a suitcase? Well, think of the under-the-sink cabinet as a suitcase and stackable containers or drawers as folded articles of clothing. When everything is simply placed under there, no matter how neatly, you just aren’t taking advantage of the space as well as you could be. Drawers or stackable containers will help you keep your products organized and in plain view.

These are ones I am personally eyeing:

Two-tiered organizers are ideal for under-the-sink organization. They are great for storing cleaning products on the bottom and rags or sponges on top. On the other hand, if you have a lot of hair styling tools #4, #7 and #8 are all good options.

Cabinet Organizers

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the upstairs guest bath that used to be a closet

In my rental bathroom, we have 3 very tall and very deep cabinets. As much as I complain about a lack of storage, these cabinets are actually too tall and deep to be used efficiently. It was always a mess until I got the aforementioned stackable drawers. When you have a lot of cabinet space, you want organizers so you can access everything and see everything at once. I love these options:

I think the most underrated org solution is a lazy Susan and that is the next purchase on my list. They are ideal for skincare products and makeup that you use every day. Again, I have #4 and love it so much but could probably also use one like #3 too.

Stand Alone Drawers & Rolling Carts

design and home of allison pierce | styled by velinda hellen & erik staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-tramp

When you are really short on cabinet storage don’t be afraid to add stand alone drawers or a rolling cart. We’ve used this storage solution in many bathroom makeovers and not only is it smart, it looks pretty and unexpected too. I love the above drawer solution in this bathroom by Allison Pierce (Our gal Sara shot this home for Emily’s new book, which if you haven’t heard is available for pre order here!!!!). If my bathroom had the space, I’d be considering any one of these picks:

If you are like me and have limited space, a lot of these are thin and sleek so you can squeeze them into small spaces. You can also opt for a corner shelf like #8 to save on floor space.

Vanity Trays

co-designed by keyanna bowen & emily henderson | photo by keyanna bowen | from: all the details of the primary suite at the real simple house

If there is one bathroom accessory team EHD stands by it’s the vanity tray. In fact, as long as space allows, I bet there is a tray in every bathroom EHD has ever done (but don’t fight me if I am wrong okay?). And although a tray isn’t the holy grail of bathroom organization, you would be surprised how much more organized your bathroom counter will feel when your items are arranged on a tray.

The go-to EHD formula is:
1. Start with a large tray as a base
2. Layer in a small dish or bowl
3. Add a cute vase for height
4. Use canisters for everyday products
5. Opt for candles in a sleek container or matches in a pretty cloche

And here are our picks:

I love any one of these tray options but I am especially drawn to #10. It’s special, unique, and vintage and that checks all my boxes.

Okay, my friends. That is all from me but I am curious, do you have an all-time favorite organization product? Inquiring minds want to know so drop them below. xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Portland Reveal: How the Bathroom I Was Most Nervous About Turned Out to Be My Favorite

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Published on February 03, 2022 01:00

Got An Unorganized Bathroom Situation? Here Are the Best Storage Solutions (And Products)

A few weeks ago I was searching for closet storage solutions and found something I wasn’t aware I needed. It’s such a simple product and there are likely thousands similar on the market right now–It’s truly nothing special. But when I saw it I was like, “Oh, this is exactly what I need to organize the bathroom cabinets”. It’s this stackable slide-out drawer and no, this post is #notsponsored. I am just passionate about these drawers because before them my bathroom cabinets were in complete disarray. I bought two of them plus this clear bin and the result is that I can actually find the things I am looking for. What a concept!

So now like a kid in a candy store, I just want more practical and efficient storage solutions. Since that fateful day, I’ve thought a lot about all the bathroom products that can make my life easier and more beautiful. So if you are in the market and whether you have a small bathroom or a large suite, I hope these product solutions will help you visualize a more organized future.

Over The Toilet Storage

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our soft yet secretly sultry downstairs guest bed and bath

The wall space above my toilet is probably the part that I’ve spent the least amount of time thinking about. Perhaps this is why I’ve been underutilizing that precious real estate. In a small bathroom with abysmal storage, you must think vertically (she says to herself). This spot can alleviate so many storage woes. You can hang shelves for open storage, or get an over the toilet cabinet stand for some added closed storage. You can also hang towel bars or towel hooks. No matter what, if you are like me and need more storage, do not skip this step.

Here are some great options to start with:

Because I lack storage in general, I love #5 and #12 for closed storage. #6 and #7 both offer ample open storage, or you can add baskets for a little bit of both. Of course, these types of shelving units are not a new idea so we always recommend shopping for vintage ones from Etsy (like this), Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.

Under The Sink

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the riskiest bathroom i designed—with a “how i’m feeling now” update

You know how folding your clothes allows you to fit more clothes in a suitcase? Well, think of the under-the-sink cabinet as a suitcase and stackable containers or drawers as folded articles of clothing. When everything is simply placed under there, no matter how neatly, you just aren’t taking advantage of the space as well as you could be. Drawers or stackable containers will help you keep your products organized and in plain view.

These are ones I am personally eyeing:

Two-tiered organizers are ideal for under-the-sink organization. They are great for storing cleaning products on the bottom and rags or sponges on top. On the other hand, if you have a lot of hair styling tools #4, #7 and #8 are all good options.

Cabinet Organizers

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the upstairs guest bath that used to be a closet

In my rental bathroom, we have 3 very tall and very deep cabinets. As much as I complain about a lack of storage, these cabinets are actually too tall and deep to be used efficiently. It was always a mess until I got the aforementioned stackable drawers. When you have a lot of cabinet space, you want organizers so you can access everything and see everything at once. I love these options:

I think the most underrated org solution is a lazy Susan and that is the next purchase on my list. They are ideal for skincare products and makeup that you use every day. Again, I have #4 and love it so much but could probably also use one like #3 too.

Stand Alone Drawers & Rolling Carts

design and home of allison pierce | styled by velinda hellen & erik staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-tramp

When you are really short on cabinet storage don’t be afraid to add stand alone drawers or a rolling cart. We’ve used this storage solution in many bathroom makeovers and not only is it smart, it looks pretty and unexpected too. I love the above drawer solution in this bathroom by Allison Pierce (Our gal Sara shot this home for Emily’s new book, which if you haven’t heard is available for pre order here!!!!). If my bathroom had the space, I’d be considering any one of these picks:

If you are like me and have limited space, a lot of these are thin and sleek so you can squeeze them into small spaces. You can also opt for a corner shelf like #8 to save on floor space.

Vanity Trays

co-designed by keyanna bowen & emily henderson | photo by keyanna bowen | from: all the details of the primary suite at the real simple house

If there is one bathroom accessory team EHD stands by it’s the vanity tray. In fact, as long as space allows, I bet there is a tray in every bathroom EHD has ever done (but don’t fight me if I am wrong okay?). And although a tray isn’t the holy grail of bathroom organization, you would be surprised how much more organized your bathroom counter will feel when your items are arranged on a tray.

The go-to EHD formula is:
1. Start with a large tray as a base
2. Layer in a small dish or bowl
3. Add a cute vase for height
4. Use canisters for everyday products
5. Opt for candles in a sleek container or matches in a pretty cloche

And here are our picks:

I love any one of these tray options but I am especially drawn to #10. It’s special, unique, and vintage and that checks all my boxes.

Okay, my friends. That is all from me but I am curious, do you have an all-time favorite organization product? Inquiring minds want to know so drop them below. xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Portland Reveal: How the Bathroom I Was Most Nervous About Turned Out to Be My Favorite

The post Got An Unorganized Bathroom Situation? Here Are the Best Storage Solutions (And Products) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on February 03, 2022 01:00

Floorplan Rules: Where To Put All Your “Rooms” For The Best Layout And Flow (+ A BIG River House New Build Update)

The difference between a renovation and a new build is similar to altering an antique wedding dress versus having one custom-made. They both have extreme pros and cons. For instance, the vintage dress might unravel once you start unstitching the threads, possibly even disintegrating in your hands, but even that dust has so much history and soul (oh dear, not really selling it here). The custom dress on the other hand will likely fit you like a glove if done right, but the beginning concepts for it might be daunting and getting it perfect isn’t always easy in the planning stages – and if you hire the wrong seamstress it could be a disaster. Taking the time to do something ‘new’ means just that – you need to do something NEW (or else just buy one off the shelf) which is why architects are so hell-bent on moving design forward, not recreating an older style home. And I get that and agree. The vintage dress has a lot more risks and guess what? It can cost just as much as the renovation (true story! hahahaha!!!), but you hopefully have a historical and sentimental connection to it (plus it is hopefully better for the earth). The new build/dress requires finding the best players to make sure that if you are starting from scratch it will be worth it. Designing both a new build and a historic remodel at the same time is a true new level of education. I LOVE MY JOB right now because I’m learning SO MUCH. And right now if I had to choose between living in Ken’s new construction river house or our vintage remodeled farmhouse it would be a real tossup. Ultimately we want chickens and alpacas, so farm it is. But you’ll see through this process the benefits of building something new.

First Off, Where Are We At With The River House?

We finished the initial floor plan months ago in order to even submit for engineering and thus permits to start, but I wasn’t sure how to blog about the floor plan in a way that is useful to others. Every new build is different based on the location (ours is a skinny long lot ending in a river), the needs/size of the family, and of course the homeowners budget (normally calculated per square foot). So just showing you the final floor plan didn’t seem very helpful nor universal. But then I realized that while Annie Usher (Architect), Max Humphrey (co-designer), myself (Lady Emily Von Henderson) JP Macy (contractor), and Ken/Katie (Bro + SIL) were pouring over the final floor plan details there were some really good takeaways for any new build or extensive remodel in regards to floorplan planning. Quite plainly the question is: WHERE DO YOU PUT ALL YOUR ROOMS FOR THE BEST LAYOUT AND FLOW AND LIFE? It’s both so basic and so broad but that didn’t stop us from coming up with some solid tips. And yes these are tips based more on personal lifestyle than they are architectural rules. I had Annie weigh in on them and she absolutely agreed. Your architect will of course know to put a bathroom off the main bedroom, but do they understand the needs of your family enough to know exactly where the all-important mudroom should go????

First off – I really like doing this new build – FAR MORE than I thought I would. To be fair, Annie Usher, the architect, is doing the bulk of the work thus far (planning, permitting), and Max Humphrey is heavily involved in materials and elevations, but it showed me that if I were ever to do one (which I will now) I would just hire a dope architect. They are the ones that do all the intimidating stuff – engineering, permitting, schedules, surveys, etc. And as a designer/homeowner you have SO much more control over how your house ‘works’. There are days where Ken/Katie and Brian/Myself want to trade places – I see how they will get EXACT home what they want, while they see that living on a flat farm will be full of charm that is hard to put into a new build. But the #1 thing I’ve learned is that the new build process is much more difficult at the beginning than a remodel, but once you have the permits you can GO FOR IT with FAR less unknowns.

So here are our floorplan rules, no matter what style or age of home you have:

The Mudroom Should Be Between The Car/Garage or The Back Entrance And Ideally Also Near Kitchen

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: 8 steps to building a smart, organized pantry & mudroom

I loved where it was in the (above) – it was right off the kitchen, with its own entrance, close to the main entrance (but further down) and inside it was near the garage so if they came in via the car they could quickly pop into the mudroom and drop their garbage/shoes before entering the living areas.

And oh how I wish we could have done this at the farm, but we would have had to sacrifice the best natural light in the house and given it to the mudroom – something we simply weren’t willing to do (we wanted it for the kitchen and our bedroom). For Ken and Katie’s house, since it’s elevated due to flood planes, their first floor starts on top of the garage, so the mudroom is at the top of the stairs after you park in the garage. There is also an exterior entrance so if kids are playing outside and muddy/sandy they can go around the house from the river and straight in the side (and clean off in the outdoor shower).

This will just make the flow and your house better and more importantly, cleaner:)

Ideal Bedroom Locations – Near Kids Or Your Own ‘Wing’?

I think universally people want to be close to their kids when they are sweet and little but farther away when they are gross teenagers. This makes the new build process a bit more difficult as you have to predict the future, but I love what Annie came up with for them – same floor (the second) – but at opposite ends for some privacy. This is obviously a lifestyle question only you can answer – how close do you want to be from your kids? I’d recommend AT LEAST a bathroom in between or on the other side of the whole house – you don’t want to actually share a wall with your eventually grown kids (nor do they, you). So this was a high priority that they are the perfect distance away from their kids – enough for privacy, but not so far that they feel nervous.

Us on the other hand at the farm, oof, we are NOT close to our kid’s rooms and we are very curious how this is going to go down. We think they’ll get the dogs to sleep with them (our kids get “scared” 3 nights a week). Do I wish our bedroom was closer? YES. But there was literally no way to do it UNLESS we forewent having the bedroom and bath of our dreams, and frankly we weren’t willing to do that with this extensive of a remodel. We are playing the long game in this house and it’s going to be fine. But if I were building new I sure would have done it differently (but I think we’ll be psyched in 7 years).

Family Room Near Kitchen (But Not Too Close To The TV)

The pandemic changed the ubiquitous love of the open concept – people are wanting more separation. I still love the kitchen being open to a hang-out room so you can feel connected to the family pre and post-dinner, but not TOO close to the TV. The reason is doing dishes y’all. It’s REALLY ANNOYING to hear someone bang around doing the dishes 7 feet away from your head while you are trying to carefully rewatch Felicity for the 12th time. Our has a great setup – the family room/kitchen are close, but around a corner and the sound doesn’t carry. Another option is to be able to close off the doors or of course have a separate TV room altogether, away from the family room. There are just so many times when you want to send the kids off to watch something so you can do the dishes in peace (how sad?) and there is nothing more enraging than your kids complaining about your loud dish cleaning while they watch The Thundermans. NOTHING. It makes me want to chuck a plate at that dumb magical rabbit’s face. So just think about creating some sort of separation to the TV, while still not caging yourself in by yourself if you like cooking/cleaning (which I do).

For this home, the kitchen shares the space with a family room (no real formal living room in this house) but there is the rompus room/media room at the other end. Basically, they have options when it comes to wanting to hang or needing some TV/kitchen cleaning separation.

Washer/Dryer Near Bedrooms

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how i transformed an awkward space into my dream work loft

This seems obvious but back in the day people put washer/dryer in the basement mostly for water/plumbing purposes, which makes sense. But these days there is more trust in the technology and the pipes to go ahead and throw them near the bedrooms even if on the second floor.

Our laundry closet at the mountain house was put in secondary to our larger laundry closet on the first floor (where it originally was). IT IS AWESOME. ALL of the clothes – clean and dirty – belong on that floor, as well as all the sheets/towels so there is minimal schlepping. If you are building new or totally remodeling DEFINITELY think about putting your washer dryer near the bedrooms.

Here are Annie’s thoughts: “For washer and dryer, yes usually up by the bedrooms, but know yourself and your environment. Muddy or sandy zones, you might want to think about having W/D in the mudroom location to make sure you are not tracking sand/mud through the house. Or in these locations, try not to have carpet between the backdoor and the laundry room so the floor is easier to clean. This comes from someone who lives in a very very very muddy family:)”

We are doing it at the farm…

And at the river house. Can you tell we’re fans?

Powder Right Off Entrance, Yet Tucked Away And Especially Not Too Close To The Dining Room (Ahem)

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: 6 key elements to create the exciting & fun portland powder bath

Y’all were up in arms about the location of our powder room at the farm and while it’s not “ideal” it’s gonna be totally fine. Listen, I think it’s rather old-fashioned to have the need for a more ‘public’ washroom for ‘guests’. This need was for back in the day when people would invite and entertain strangers (WHAT? gross) who didn’t know their way around your house. So indeed a more centrally located and obvious powder was the WC of choice. Ideally, it’s in a hallway off the living room and kitchen – central but tucked away for privacy. What you don’t necessarily want is right off the dining room or kitchen. We’ve all been on either end of that situation and even if they are your brother or a stranger, I’d go for tucked away over ‘central’ any day.

Annie’s powder room thoughts: “Powder bathrooms need privacy. I try to make it so that the door of the powder bath can not be seen from any of the major rooms like the living room, dining room, or kitchen. Nothing like walking out to the bathroom and the entire dinner party is staring at you. Or when you have guests over and your kid goes to the bathroom without shutting the door.”

Dining Room (Or Family Room) Not In Western/Afternoon Light

Have you ever had a room you couldn’t use during certain times of the day – the times when you actually really wanted to use them? THIS IS WHY YOU HIRE AN ARCHITECT. Architects (and now me) think about where the light is going to blast into at all times of the day, throughout the seasons and place rooms accordingly (along with maximizing the view and general good flow). You can’t avoid it all of the time (especially in a renovation, like ours) but what you don’t want is hot western afternoon light blasting the areas that you want to sit during that time – like the family/hang out room or especially the dining room. Having to shut the shades on a sunny day because your architect didn’t shield you from the elements is a real bummer. Our living room faces west and there was nothing we can do about it, but we made sure to tuck our dining nook into the corner that will be shaded by the roofline. If you are doing a new build – make your living areas face north or south, not east or west.

Avoid The ‘Pass Through’ Living Room

For a lot of us that are renovating older homes there is no way to totally reconfigure your layout based on existing staircases, foundation and well, the OG footprint is likely too expensive to move all walls, electrical, plumbing, entrances, etc. There were so many times at the farm I wished we could pick up our house walk it 100 yards west turn it 180 degrees and face it south or north (better/softer light), but that can only be realized through the hiring of the strong Encanto sister which has gained so much popularity through the success of her movie that she is booked years in advance. We are happy for her! But if you can control it, give yourself space to walk properly behind a sitting area to get from one room to another, either through a hallway or bisecting an open space. In this new house the hallways dead end in between the kitchen and the living room – thus disrupting neither area, and providing excellent flow. I’m very jealous. Trying to layout a living room that people will have to walk through to get literally anywhere else is HARD.

Annie’s thoughts on the matter: “For me, one of the big items in a house is the different kinds of circulation. And the circulation to the kitchen always seems to need to be as efficient as possible, as you are taking that route more than any other, and it is usually more purposeful. I like to avoid going through other rooms to get to the kitchen, and I love the hallway to the kitchen. This frees up the furniture layout in the living room and dining room, and gives you a quick route to the kitchen, which we all want.”

There you go. New or vintage, thinking through these kinds of things will only make your life in your home better. Are there any layout plan decisions you made that were awesome (or not so much)? Let’s talk about it. xx

The post Floorplan Rules: Where To Put All Your “Rooms” For The Best Layout And Flow (+ A BIG River House New Build Update) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on February 02, 2022 01:00

What We Did With Our Perfectly Usable Kitchen Cabinets And Appliances From The Farm

When we first bought the house we were going to leave the kitchen as-is. They were in really good condition – not original to the house but from the ’90s and good quality (still over 30 years old… isn’t that nuts!). When we decided to move the kitchen into the living room we were going to keep the bank of cabinets below as a large pantry/mudroom. But the more we pictured our lives here, the more we realized that to have the layout and flow that we wanted, we would need to kinda start all over and have more flexibility with the kitchen footprint.

There comes a point where you realize you are going to be spending so much money doing the renovation that not getting the kitchen you want feels dumb. But the kitchen cabinets were so nice and I did not want them in a landfill. So instead of demo-ing them out with our demo contractor, we paid ARCIFORM to painstakingly remove them in-tact so that they could be repurposed somewhere else. Thank you, Jamie

Once in the garage, we thought about moving them to the new mudroom, but functionally they weren’t going to meet our needs as much, and they didn’t fit size-wise so we would have had to cobble them together or move some walls. All doable, but I feared that we would be annoyed long-term. Forcing this was likely not going to get us the results that we want.

SO HOW DO YOU KEEP GOOD STUFF OUT OF A LANDFILL?

So first off – again you need to be very careful removing anything that you want to salvage (and some stuff is very hard to – like flooring and tile). If you aren’t careful, it’s unusable. Next – research your area to see if there is a used building supply resource. I heard about The Rebuilding Center in Portland by literally walking by it on Mississippi and immediately knew it was a great solution – not just for our cabinetry but for any of our appliances that were older, but still totally functioning. We reached out and were so impressed with the whole organization and honestly so relieved to have this option.

What Does The Rebuilding Center Do?They sell usable building supplies at an extremely affordable price in hopes of updating homes that don’t have a large remodel budget. While anyone can shop there they are creating a grant program so that lower-income families can apply and have preference. The goal is democratizing home design (as the renovation process is just so expensive), and helping people to update their homes to have more generational wealth. We love this very much. They have classes to train and educate people how to fix up their own homes (carpentry, electrical, plumbing and wall framing, etc) – a lot of people can lose their homes because they fall into such disrepair and are full of code violations. So by teaching people how to do basic maintenance they are helping add value to their homes long term. They’ll come to your job site and remove the usable building supplies (again, not junk – it has to be usable) or any overages you have. It was an extremely easy process for us (they want me to point out that it is much more streamlined than it used to be).

our old fridge and hood

It’s pretty awesome and the people that run it are so lovely and really thinking big picture and long term.

our old range, washer, dryer!How Much Do They Sell Things For?

They make it very, very affordable. Our cabinetry was in really good condition and they sold the whole lot for $950 and it sold immediately. It makes me SO happy to know that they went so quickly to a home to be rebuilt and used (They are trying to track down the buyer so we might see it in their home when it’s installed). They bought the entire set (including the soapstone) which warms up this heart.

more that we donated. very cute medicine cabiniet and sink

and soooo much lighting

Now you do need to get your items approved before they come to pick up – they aren’t a dump and they are being more selective now to make sure that the inventory is full of usable pieces. But they did say that there are things people think are unusable but actually aren’t. So getting them to come out and let you know what is good is a great idea.

such a great process

But if it’s in good, usable condition they’ll take doors, windows, wood, leftover tiles, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, sinks – all of it. Some of it is cute and vintagey and others are just boxes of subway tile for $5.

y’all it’s huge

look at these tubs!

They actually had some super fun doors and windows, which might be hard for a full remodel, but if you are just wanting to say add a window (even an interior one) they had some good ones.

That was my fridge – not sold yet – but all the rest of the appliances went immediately so I didn’t get a photo of them in the store.

My goal with this is to bring awareness to this awesome non-profit and help people understand a WAY better option than just sledgehammering out perfectly usable building supplies. I was honestly so relieved when I heard that our cabinets when immediately to a family’s home. But listen, demo crews aren’t gentle and they are paid to be fast and basically just destroy everything. So doing it in a thoughtful way will be more expensive, but for us, we felt like it was our responsibility to ensure that these could be used and appreciated by others as well as stay out of the landfill. While the renovation process is still full of so much waste, having resources like The Rebuilding Center is incredible. They calculated that they kept 700 tons of materials out of the landfill last year. Incredible!!!

Calling Oregon Building Material Partners

I also want to help them get more commercial partners – i.e. more local companies that can donate deadstock supplies that are in really good condition, or overages. They already work with Rejuvenation and Pratt + Larson, but if you are a local Oregon or Washington building supply company (could be flooring, molding, windows, tile, siding, plumbing – anything) they are SUCH a lovely place to donate to (and of course its a tax write-off).

We even had some fun ideas on future collaborations – like pairing the families up with a design intern from the local design schools to help them with their projects. The future designer can get some real-life hands-on experience, and the family who likely doesn’t have the budget for a designer (because so few people do) can get some support and help with the remodel process (and I could oversee it and be of additional support). We also talked about how there is a real need for handypeople these days so it seems like a training program to help teach people the basics would be beneficial to the job market.

So moral of the story is that if you are renovating, do as much as you can to reduce your waste. It may cost a little more but if you can afford to, it’s the best thing to do. There are lots of places like this all over so with a little google search you can do A LOT of good. Happy salvaging. xx

For those wanting to know more about the Rebuilding Center specifically (they are awesome so please check them out) here are a bunch of great resources:

Class information General Mission Racial Equity What we sell

The post What We Did With Our Perfectly Usable Kitchen Cabinets And Appliances From The Farm appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on February 01, 2022 01:00

Emily Henderson's Blog, page 136

February 9, 2022

Malcolm’s DIY-FILLED Office Reveal: How To Lean Into Color And Create A Stimulating Work From Home Space

February 8, 2022

The 17 Iconic Wallpaper + Fabric Patterns Any Design Lover Should Know

February 7, 2022

A Jess’ Living Room MOTO Update: We’ve Got A Lot To Talk About – Successes And A Possible Mistake

A Jess’ Living Room MOTO Update: We’ve Got A Lot To Talk About – Successes And A Possible Mistakes

February 6, 2022

The Link Up: Emily’s Favorite Chocolate Bar (With No Refined Sugar), Mallory’s Favorite J-Crew Denim, And Anti-Anxiety Dog Treats That ACTUALLY Work

February 5, 2022

My Reaction To Seeing Book IRL + More Sneak Peeks (And My Hard Sell On Why This Book Might Be Useful to You :))

February 3, 2022

Do You Have An Unorganized Bathroom Situation? Here Are the Best Storage Solutions (And Products)

Got An Unorganized Bathroom Situation? Here Are the Best Storage Solutions (And Products)

February 2, 2022

Floorplan Rules: Where To Put All Your “Rooms” For The Best Layout And Flow (+ A BIG River House New Build Update)

February 1, 2022

What We Did With Our Perfectly Usable Kitchen Cabinets And Appliances From The Farm

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