Emily Henderson's Blog, page 143

How To Hang Lights, Garlands, And Wreaths Without Destroying Your Walls – Our 5 Go-To Hanging Hacks

Just yesterday I got a very exciting package in the mail–one that I’ve been waiting by the window for ever since I clicked purchase. It was the Christmas stockings I ordered for Rocky, Gus, and I!! I ripped the packaging open like a bear and couldn’t wait to hang them up. I of course quickly realized that I did not have any adhesives or hooks that would allow me to do so which is the worst feeling when you are so excited to start hanging holiday decor. Instead of hanging them up right away like a little kid, I had to run to the store and get the proper materials for such a task. This got me thinking. What are the best ways to hang decor without making holes or ruining furniture? A few weeks ago I bought some indoor lights and I did the childish thing which was nail holes in the walls that future Ryann will need to come to terms with. Surely there’s a better way! Well, folks there is. So if you are also looking for the best non damaging ways to hang decor, this is the post for you. Let’s get to it.

Hanging Wreaths With A Ribbonleft: photo by veronica crawford | from: 5 easy ways to create a holiday mood | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how to have a great holiday cocktail party

I love this hack. Not only does the ribbon add another whimsical holiday element, but it is also the prettiest way to hang your wreaths. I also appreciate that this hack allows you to hang wreaths in some non-traditional places. Jess hung hers over a window in her kitchen and Emily hung them asymmetrically along her staircases in the mountain house (she used very small nails in the stairs so it wouldn’t leave a random hole– you can also use strong double-sided tape or putty). I’ve also seen them hungover kitchen cabinets which is VERY cute. The sky is the limit, my friends.

1. Antique Gold Swiss Velvet Ribbon | 2. Double Faced Satin Ribbon | 3. Double Face Satin Ribbon 20 Yards  Gold | 4. Double Face Satin Ribbon 20 Yards Green | 5. Black and White Buffalo Check Plaid Ribbon | 6. 2.5in 21ft Velvet Black – Wondershop

Use Command Strips Or Putty photos by sara ligorria-tramp | art direction by emily henderson | styled by emily bowser | from: target’s holiday assortment is here to make all our gatherings look and feel extra special this year

We use command strips all the time for photoshoots and they work incredibly well and are so easy to remove. With white walls, the white ones are hardly noticeable but we tend to opt for the clear ones. If the decor you are hanging doesn’t require a hook you can also use putty. I personally love putty because it’s reusable but they don’t work for everything (like stockings for example).

Funny story. I was about to stick some command hooks on our record cabinet to hang our stockings and my fiancé stopped me as if my hair was on fire and said “don’t just stick them on! What if it pulls off the finish!!!” Oh, right. So we read the packaging to see if there were any warnings about sticking them on wood furniture (there wasn’t) so I chose a spot you can’t see and did a little test run. I VERY MUCH RECOMMEND YOU DO THIS. The strips didn’t do damage to the record cabinet but when I tested one on our front door, the finish did indeed tear off a bit. Emily also suggests following the directions and pull down to remove so you don’t rip paint off your walls. So that is a little cautionary tale for ya.

1. Command Large Sized Decorative Hook with Strips Clear | 2. Museum Gel, Clear | 3. Command Clear Medium Hooks, 7 Hooks | 4. Scotch 2oz Removable Mounting Putty | 5. Command Outdoor Light Clips, Clear, 20-Clips | 6. Collectors Hold Museum Putty

photo by veronica crawford | from: 5 easy ways to create a holiday mood

Believe it or not, these curtain lights were hung with clear command hooks! If you’ve ever used command strips before then you know they are not invisible but your eye isn’t drawn to them as you would think. The fairy lights distract from the hooks and you’ll have no holes to worry about.

Tape Twigs And Garlands To Wall Art Or Mirrorsleft: photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’s berry infused, cozy holiday apartment | right: photo by veronica crawford | from: 5 easy ways to create a holiday mood

Here is a way to display your garlands without using any hooks. Just simply use double-sided tape or any adhesive and stick them to the top or around the border of any wall hanging. It’s such an easy hack and it makes your holiday decor look intentional as it blends with your regular decor.

Use Zip Ties Or Fishing Line photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how we decked our halls for christmas

Zip ties are great for hanging garlands on curtain rods, staircases, or even for hanging wreaths. You can get zip ties in any color so if you are hanging a garland for example you can get green ones so they are less noticeable.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: my first refined traditional holiday look…target style

If you really want to seem like a magician you can use fishing line which is basically invisible. Emily used fishing line to hang that wonderful oversized wire wreath above and it looks like it’s suspended in mid-air. I love it. Just make sure you leave some wiggle room to remove them when the holidays are over. If the wire is too tight I can imagine it being a real pain to undo.

Over The Door Wreath Hangers photo and design by studio mcgee

For a quick and dirty wreath hanging option, an over-the-door hanger will get the job done and requires no holes or adhesives. Just like any over-the-door hook, they slip over the top of the frame and are usually thin enough that you can still shut your door all the way AND you will have a beautiful wreath to show for it.

1. Sterling 1 X Metal Wreath Hanger 12″ L Black | 2. Home Leaf Wreath Hanger in Metallic Gold |3. Modern Metal Wreath Hanger. | 4. Over-The-Door Wreath Hanger | 5. 13.5in Wreath Hanger Matte Red | 6. Wreath Hanger, Copper

Now I hope you feel confident and ready to hang your holiday decor without doing a ton of damage. I know I am! xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: 5 Easy ways To Create A Holiday Mood

The post How To Hang Lights, Garlands, And Wreaths Without Destroying Your Walls – Our 5 Go-To Hanging Hacks appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Find GOOD Furniture On Facebook Marketplace For Cheap (+ The Search Terms To Use)

OH BOY. Try this scenario on for size: it’s the weeklong stretch between Christmas and New Years. You’re enjoying some time off work and looking at your home with fresh eyes. With the New Year around the corner, you make a mental checklist of all the little tweaks and refreshes you’d like to knock out in 2022. SOUND FAMILIAR?

Well, if it does…HEY, ME TOO. And today, I want to show you how to fix your Facebook Marketplace so that you’ll actually see good stuff – you know, furniture that’s your taste! – so when the urge for a refresh strikes, you’ll have the entirety of your local vintage and antique listings at your fingertips. LET’S GO!

photo by zeke ruelas | from: introducing my living roomYou’re Luckier Than You Think

HEY, HEY, HEY. We’re going to shush that whole “easy for you to extoll the virtues of Facebook Marketplace when you live in a big city! There’s NOTHING good listed in my tiny town!” talk right now.

Because here’s the thing: sure, big cities do have a lot of variety. You know what else we have a lot of? Competition. And price gouging. There’s a reason that vintage dealers take big, empty cargo vans on buying trips to the so-called “middle of nowhere” – it’s because that’s where all the best, most affordable pieces are hiding. So pals, don’t lose faith!! We’re going to optimize that FB algorithm so your Marketplace feed is an actual collection of cheap, quality furniture and not, like, your neighbor’s random junk.

Get Familiar With The Lingo

When you can look for anything, how do you figure out what terms you should actually be entering into the search field? My solution is simple: spend some time building out your favorites on Chairish. (Here’s mine – lots of brass case goods, weird wrought iron chairs, and biomorphic shapes!)

Think of this less as a to-buy list and more as a way to hone the language around your taste. Take a peek at your favorites and make some notes around the words the vendor uses, both in the title and in the description. For me, a quick glance at my own favorites reveals that I have a huge preference for pieces from the 1960s or 1970s and all things regency (Palm Beach, Hollywood, French – it’s all good to me). These are both great jumping-off points for getting into the Facebook search weeds!

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

Alright, here’s the real secret: to optimize what Marketplace shows you, you’re going to need to save EVERYTHING that strikes your fancy. It doesn’t matter what you’re actually in the market for – if the algorithm serves up a piece that’s to your taste, you need to reward it with your engagement. Once Marketplace starts to learn your tastes, it’ll get smarter over time, I promise. To speed up the process, try to scroll through all your recommended pieces at least once a day. (To quote Kendall from Succession: “go nut nut.”)

Keep in mind that when it comes to the pieces you’re saving, close enough is good enough. In my case, here’s a super fairly-priced 1970s mint velvet wingback chair that I saved yesterday. Do I have any desire to, you know, buy it? Nah. But do I want FB to continue to show me affordable, colorful, weird upholstered chairs from the 70s? YES.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our favorite and design-friendly ways to display family photos (so that your home and family look their best)Search By Descriptor

This is my all-time favorite vintage-buying hack and I can’t believe we aren’t talking about it ALL. THE. TIME. Before we jump into some more specific search terms, let’s take a second to break down some of the words and phrases that I’m looking up daily…

Grandma or grandmother: As in “this was my grandmother’s” – these pieces are almost always in the best condition. Must go: Desperate times make for the best prices. This one is best towards the end of the month when folks are moving out of their rented properties. Funky: I know that Emily isn’t the biggest fan of this word, but it’s GREAT for my FB Marketplace searches. (If your style is a little more classic or subdued, you can substitute “funky” for the descriptor of your choice – maybe “timeless” or “elegant”? Vintage or antique or old: Oftentimes, I find that “old” is a treasure trove (literally) of men offloading family heirlooms. Heavy: Furniture is one of those fun things where bigger (in this case, heavier) is unequivocally better. SOLID: Yeah, in all caps, and in the title only – these are the BEST pieces to negotiate on because casual browsers read this as “SOLD” and scroll on by. Cabriole or fringe or piping: Basically, think about the details of the piece you want to find and search for those. I’m going through a traditional phase, so these are top of mind for me. Your terms may be different based on your style! (Maybe you’ll go with “skirted” or “tufted”?)photo by david tsay | from: styled Search By Alternate Terms

I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that, well, you probably already know the kind of piece you want to buy. Maybe it’s a coffee table or a set of armchairs – regardless, you should swap in a few bonus search terms and see what comes up.

For Armchairs: Try “upholstered chair,” “comfortable chair,” or “lounge chair.” For Sofas: Try “couch,” “settee,” “loveseat,” “sectional,” “daybed,” and “bench.” For Coffee Tables: Try “cocktail table,” “end table,” “side table,” “floor table,” and “small table.” For Dining Tables: Try “dinning table” (yes, misspelled) or “kitchen table.” For Credenzas: Try “sideboard,” “buffet,” “hutch,” “cabinet,” “TV stand,” or “media storage.”For Dressers: Try “chest,” “commode,” (be warned: there will be some toilet aids), “armoire,” or “drawers.”

But wait – there’s more! We can get even MORE specific.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: ban.do: the front roomSearch By Material

This is when those Chairish favorites come in REAL handy. Is burl your thing? Or maybe some flame mahogany, instead? How about boucle or velvet or leather? Basically, there are five big categories for you to master.

Woods: Walnut, oak, hickory, teak, beech, maple, mahogany, cherry, or pine are great places to start. Full disclosure, though – if someone knows the type of wood their piece is made with, it’ll oftentimes be reflected in the price tag. You can’t beat a well-crafted piece of solid wood furniture, though! Metals: Think chrome, brass, wrought iron, silver, gold, copper – what’s your favorite? See if there’s something out there!Stone: Marble, terrazzo, cement, travertine. Sometimes even “stone” or “stone top” works if the seller isn’t confident in their own identification skills.Other: This is the catch-all for lucite, acrylic, glass, plaster, or laminate. Fabrics: Linen, velvet, microsuede, leather…the list goes on and on, and you’ll know what works best for your family. Another hot tip? Try searching by fabric maker or pattern – “Schumacher” and “chintz” are two of my go-tos. photo by tessa neustadt | from: my house tour from good housekeepingSearch By Color

So simple, so underutilized. This is one of my favorite Craigslist hacks that translates well to FB Marketplace. When you have some time to dig and sort, simply type in some of the favorite colors for your home – my standard searches are for pink, green, orange, and blue. (If you’re feeling really ambitious, try getting more specific on the shade. We’re talking, like, “mint,” and “rose,” and “seafoam,” and all that jazz.)

Search By Year

When I have a lot of time, I just type in every decade from 1880 through 1980 and favorite everything that I’d want to show up in my feed in the future. When I don’t have a lot of time, I just combine the year with an actual search term, like “1970s bar cart.” (You know, like a normal person.)

design by ryann miller | styling by emily bowser | photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: ryann’s moto reveal: a moody multi-functional living and dining room with a lot of soulSearch By Designer or Style

TBH, this is a great option for finding exactly what you want…but it comes with a cost. (Like, literally.) Here’s the thing – you’re always going to get a better deal from a vague listing than from someone who knows exactly what they have. Case in point: a few months ago, I found a pair of Sarreid nightstands AND a matching dresser for $50, INCLUDING DELIVERY. Y’all, let me tell you…I SCREAMED. This was a $6,000 find listed under the simple search term of “dresser.”

Buuuut it turns out that I, tragically, am not the only person who neurotically stalks Marketplace. After my brass dresser dream poster was slammed with messages, he re-listed the pieces at a much more appropriate price (about 5 grand, if I remember correctly) with the brand name. It’s a double-edged sword – it’s great and quick to find what you need, but you’re sacrificing cost for ease. At the end of the day, my wallet prefers the vague searches.

If you’re determined to try some brands and styles, though, here are a few worth typing into that search bar…

If Your Style Leans Traditional: “Hendredon,” “Herendon” (we love a typo!), “Ralph Lauren,” “Louis XV,” “Gustavian,” “French,” “Venetian,” “Rococo,” “Chinoiserie, and “Federal.”If Your Style Leans Glam: “Baughman,” “Draper,” “Mastercraft,” “Springer,” “art deco,” “regency,” “campaign,” “Chippendale,” “lacquer”If Your Style Leans Organic: “Breuer,” “Noguchi,” “boho,” “coastal,” “minimalist,” “rustic”If Your Style Leans Mid-Century: “Knoll,” “Eames,” “Prouve,” “Broyhill,” “Drexel”If Your Style Leans Modern: “Sottsass,” “van der Rohe,” “Kagan,” “contemporary,” “postmodern,” “Italian,” “Bauhaus,” “Memphis”

This is by no means exhaustive, but they are search terms that I’ve personally had luck with.

Make a Combo

To that end, you now have a whole arsenal of terms to mix-and-match. Start broad to hone your algorithm – remember, save EVERYTHING that looks vaguely interesting – and then try pairing phrases and descriptions together. Maybe “old heavy metal table” will pull up the all-brass cocktail table of your dreams. Perhaps “antique stone commode” will bring you the perfect marble-topped entryway storage piece.

Combine terms, search, and save. Before you know it, the algorithm will start recommending similar pieces – based on aesthetics (isn’t the internet wild?) or based on the item’s description – and you’ll be able to snag those perfect picks for a song.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: staging my dream parisian hotel suite with sothebysCheck Other Items

When you DO find something interesting, make sure to do some exploring. First, open the seller’s profile in a new tab and see if they’ve listed anything else – I’ve found some great pieces this way. Next up, close that tab and return to your original page. Scroll down, look at all the similar finds, and click on anything that looks close to what you want. Again, we’re always trying to reward the algorithm for showing us what we want and we’re training it to get closer and closer every day. WIN/WIN, FRIENDS.

Change Your Radius Frequently

This is the weirdest part of the search that doesn’t really make any sense. When you’re poking around, you’re going to want to play with the search radius as different items WILL pop up. I usually have my radius set to 60 miles, but I’m shown a TOTALLY different swath of items when I switch it down to 20 miles.

No one I’ve talked to can really explain this, but play around. If you’re in a less populated area, the difference may not be as marked…but it’s worth giving it a try to get that deal, right?

design by velinda hellen & sara ligorria-tramp | from: 6 easy hacks from sara’s houseTiming Is Key

To no one’s surprise, most folks are listing items on the weekend. You’ll want to check daily (TBH, I often check once when I wake up and once before bed) but SO many great finds are listed on Saturday and Sunday. If you have any free time, try and pop the app open a few times over the weekend – if you’ve started to optimize what’s being shown to you, the “Just Listed” section may be filled with treasures.

Negotiate Nicely

And as always, go for the deal! I’d like to present to you the only phrase you need to know for haggling (in person, online, anywhere): “Do you happen to have any wiggle room on the price?”

About 80% of the time, you’ll get a deal. Sometimes, it may be worth it to buy the piece at full price. Oftentimes, it’s worth holding out for another. Know what you’re willing to pay and stick to your budget – the right piece at the right price will come along as long as you have some patience. Building a home is a marathon, not a sprint, after all

That’s it for me (for now) but please share ANY of your pro tips or recent successful finds in the comments. Collectively – with all your knowledge and learnings – I think we, as a team, can compile enough info to ALL earn our internet master’s degree in online vintage shopping. SHARE WITH THE CLASS, PLEASE. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Styling To Sell: How We Staged Our Dining Room And Kitchen (With The Changes I Should Have Done Years Ago!)

The post Find GOOD Furniture On Facebook Marketplace For Cheap (+ The Search Terms To Use) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

How To Make Your House Smell Good

Does your home have a ‘signature scent?’ Mine sure doesn’t, and that was proven true when I walked into my friends house the other day and was like “WHAT IS THAT INSANE (in a good way) SMELL?” It was like Christmasy cinnamon, cozy, apple cider deliciousness. And every person that walked in after me said the same. exact. thing. Wanna know the best part? It wasn’t just a candle, it was the smell of apple cider in the stove and a DIY room spray she MADE (plus there was a candle or two that probably helped) but still. I was blown away. Returning to my home later that night was somewhat of a dissapointment. It smelled a lil musty and just, well, like the scent of ‘nothing.’ So, I decided to come up with ways to make my house smell INSANELY DELICIOUS beyond just lighting a candle –– and just in time for the holidays

design by jess bunge | photo by veronica crawford | from how to have great holiday cocktail party in a tiny apartmentPut Spiced Apple Slices In The Oven

My mom is a real estate agent and this is her open house/showing hack she’s used for YEARS. She said it’s an old realtor trick that lots of people have used, but it’s time it goes beyond the real estate agents and you can count me in. Basically what you do is slice up some apples, sprinkle cinnamon and even a little vanilla if you want and put it in the oven at 250 degrees for up to an hour. You can also make mulled wine or apple cider on the stove or in a crockpot (which is great for holiday parties anyway). Melissa (that’s my mom) specifically said she’s done apple cider on the stove with cloves poked into oranges & a cinnamon stick

Make Your Own Chicken Broth

Emily SWEARS by this. She specifically said this makes her house smell insanely good for 24 to 36 hours and it’s part of the reason she makes her own broth so often. Here’s what she had to say: “I’m not sure anything smells better or more homey than roasted chicken, but that’s not where it ends. I started ‘Brothing’ in the original Souptember, 2018 mostly to save money. I was making 4-5 soups a week, using 1-2 boxes of organic broth which was costing me around 100 a week in JUST broth. $400 a month!!! So I started roasting a happy (pasture raised + local) chicken every sunday for dinner and then brothing overnight to can up enough broth for the week (and often more that I would freeze). I bought this soup book (which I can’t recommend enough) and it has a lot of different broth recipes in it – but its so easy, I PROMISE. One of the added benefits is that it makes your house smell so good for a full day and now my kids associate the smell of chicken soup to home. It’s my hope that even when they are grown and gone they’ll smell chicken soup or broth somewhere and think of their mama and her crazy love of soups.”

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from “how soup changed my body and my mind”

Okay enough with the ‘making stuff’ on the stove, here are some other even easier, more instant hacks…

Drop a Lemon in the Garbage Disposal

Grab a lemon, cut it in half or quarters, then throw it in your garbage disposal and crank that baby ON. I love to do this with lemons that are almost dead, so they don’t go completely to waste. If you have more than 1 lemon that is about to go bad, you can also put them in a pot of water and just simmer them on the stove for hours – it will make your space smell amazing too!

Put Coffee Grounds in The Fridge or Freezer To Absorb Bad Smells

Step one should be to clean out your fridge, then once you get the gross moldy foods out, put a little bowl of coffee grounds in your fridge and it will absorb the grody smells. I tried this for the first time the other day and was so surprised with how well it worked!!

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from “it’s finally here, reveal of the mountain house kitchen”Put Baking Soda In Your Trashcan

I just tried this for the first time too and was shocked at how smart it was. Part of making your house smell GOOD is eliminating the BAD, so while you might not notice an instant difference, eliminating the gross trash can smell can make all of the other good smells shine.

Add Essential Oils To Your Air Conditioner Filter

This is genius. If you add a few drops then your AC will just pump delicious smells through your house…SO SMART. Hot tip: make sure you test out the essential oil first to ensure you really like it…I had an oil diffuser once and realized I hated the smell of the essential oils I bought. It would be a disaster if you put it through your house and THEN realized the smell gives you a headache. Test before you try on this one, guys.

Hang Eucalyptus On The Showerheaddesign by emily edith bowser | photography by sara ligorria-tramp | From “emily bowser’s 32-sq-ft bathroom reveal”

I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST FOR LOOKS, FRIENDS BUT IT’S NOT. Apparently if you hand eucalyptus on your shower head then when you turn on the shower the steam will make the smells waft perfectly through the air. Might get annoying to have on your shower head if it’s TOO big, but it’s definitely something to try (or just get a small bunch). Comment if you’ve tried this!

Make a DIY Room Spray

This would make such a cool and affordable gift!! Use a water-base with essential oils, citrus, herbs or anything else your heart fancies. The Spruce has a whole list of really good ideas for DIY room sprays that you can check out.

Oil Diffusers and Incense

If you want the ‘candle’ feeling but don’t want a flame for peace of mind (or to avoid an incident from small kids/dogs) then these are awesome stress free options.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from how to design your bedroom for the best night sleep

1. Scarpa Incense | 2. Essential Oil Diffuser | 3. Lavender + Eucalyptus Diffuser | 4. Casaluna Diffuser | 5. Japanese Incense Pack | 6. Incense Sticks

A Deliciously Smelling Candle, Obviously

Nothing sets a vibe like candle light, so we’ll never not love a good candle (and a good lighter), especially for the holidays. Some of our favorites are this one that Jess loves, this apple cider target one that’s VERY affordable and cute, and lastly this one that Caitlin is obsessed with.

design by jess bunge | photo by veronica crawford | from how to have great holiday cocktail party in a tiny apartment

1. Scented Candle | 2. Replica Candle | 3. Citrus & Cedar Candle | 4. Capri Blue Volcano Matte Black Jar Candle | 5. Black Leaves Candle | 6. Escapist Votive Candle Set

So, hopefully this is helpful and has inspired you to get your home smelling it’s best during the holidays and beyond (I know I’m inspired). If you have any more hacks on how to make your house smell good let me know in the comments below! This is fun!

Opening Image Credit: Design by Emily Edith Bowser | Photography by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From Emily Bowser’s 32-Sq-Ft Bathroom Reveal

The post How To Make Your House Smell Good appeared first on Emily Henderson.

How To Make Your Dining Room Look Better + Ryann’s Parent’s Dining Room Refresh Intro

My mom is always asking me “How do I make this room look better?” and I get it. It’s hard! This is why blogs and websites like ours exist. The sinister truth is you can have the best taste in the world but that doesn’t mean it will result in a well styled home.

Every home is different and every person brings in their own style and personality but there are some guidelines you can follow to make the design process easier. After studying many dining rooms in preparation for my newest project (more on that down below) I noticed some simple but effective Do’s and Don’ts that absolutely make a dining room look better. I am at my core a giver, so I am gonna share those tips before we get to my real life project. Sound fair?? Alright, let’s talk dining rooms.

Don’t Overcrowd with Too Many Chairs photo by sara ligorria-tramp

A dining room can feel cluttered or visually heavy if you try to squeeze in too many chairs. No one wants to be bumping elbows at dinner and too many chairs will actually make the room feel too bottom heavy.

Here is a seat guideline for rectangle tables:

48″long table: seats 460″-72″ table: seats 680″-87″ table: seats 892″-108″ table: seats 10120″ table: seats 12

And for round tables:

42″-48″ diameter table seats 460″ diameter table seats 6-8DO HANG ART

We don’t talk about hanging art in the dining room enough. Displaying art in every room instantly adds charm and brings life to your walls. As a general rule of thumb, the art, whether it’s one piece or a gallery wall, should be at least 2/3rds the size of the side of the table it’s on but typically not any larger than the table.

DON’T HAVE A TOO SMALL RUGdesign by arlyn hernandez | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s moody dining room reveal is all about the insane power of paint

Are you team rug in the dining room? I know this is a hot debate so let me know down below. If you do opt for a rug in the dining room it is absolutely imperative you go big. All go your chairs should be completely on the rug so you can easily scoot your chair in and out. The goal is to allow at least 36″ from the edge of your table to the edge of the rug. The average dining table will need a rug that’s at least 8′ wide. This let’s gives you room to pull out your chairs without falling off the rug.

Don’t Hang Your Light Fixture Too Lowdesign by sandy alexander of dessa lea productions | photo by kelly shea | via rue mag

The bottom of your light fixture should be at least 30″-36″ above the table. This way no one’s vision is blocked and everyone can see each other plus there is less risk of bumping your head.

Do Center Your Light Fixture Over The Table (Not in the center of the room)photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: griffith park formal dining room reveal

A dining room will easily look off if your light fixture is centered in the room rather than centered over the table. Think of your dining table as the stage and your light fixture as the spotlight.

If you are opting for a chandelier it should be about half the width of your dining table. You can also add the room’s length and width in feet and that number in inches suggests an approximate size for the diameter of your chandelier. So, if you have a 10′ x 12′ room your chandelier should be about 22″ in diameter.

Also, scale is everything. Having the right scale light above your table will help the entire space to feel more pulled together. Unless your fixture is a more abstract or sculptural piece – stick with something that is to scale with the size of the table, otherwise, your room could feel overpowered by the fixture. Now I know what you are thinking. But what if the junction box is not in the right place?? If you do have a junction box that is off-centered to where your dining table is the easiest trick is to swag the chandelier over. If that isn’t your vibe you can of course have the junction box moved so that the light falls directly over the table.

Do Vary The Heights of The Furniture In The Roomphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the portland dining room reveal

If you have room for more than a dining table and chairs, it is important to vary the heights of any additional furniture. Your console table or credenza should be at least higher than your table so your eye can easily take in everything in the room.

Do Style Your Dining Table photo by sara ligorria-tramp | design by ryann miller | from: ryann’s moto reveal: a living and dining room with a lot of soul

This is 100% optional but opting for an everyday centerpiece or some vases will make your dining room feel more styled and personal. In my home we always have a large footed bowl filled with lemons and garlic plus two candlesticks and it really does make a difference.

As far as tablecloths go, an EHD personal rule is to never have a tablecloth on a table unless the table is set. Instead, use a table runner for everyday casual use.

So now that some guidelines are in place, allow me to introduce you to the project.

The Real Life Project: Refurnish and Redecorate My Parent’s Walk Through Dining Room

Ever since I started working at EHD my mom has been asking me to help her redecorate her home. I’ve always wanted to of course, but I didn’t know much when I first started working here and then by the time I sort of knew what I was doing, it was time for me to work on my own MOTO (makeover takeover). But now that my project is finished, I am so ready and excited to use my knowledge to help my parents get the home they deserve.

I’m going to get personal for a minute because I think you should know why this project is so important. On August 8th 2021 my brother Mac passed way unexpectedly. He was 29 years old, a Sergeant in the Army, a Sapper, a husband, father to his now 11 month old baby girl, son, brother, and so much more. He was and always will be our hero and the pain of losing him is at times unbearable for all of us. It’s been a hard year for the Millers. We’ve been to far too many funerals this year and I desperately want to do something for my parents that will hopefully bring them joy everyday. So as a part of my Christmas present to them, I am helping them redecorate and refresh their entire house starting with the dining area. It’ll be a gift that keeps on giving as this will not be finished by Christmas this year but will be an ongoing project for my parents and I to work on together and hopefully a way for us to heal as a family.

The Style Diagnostic: Modern Farmhouse With A Hint of California Casual photo by amy bartlam | design by katie hodges | via rue mag

I remember my mom telling me she figured out her style is “modern farmhouse” and I was so proud. I think a lot of people (myself included) are attracted to many different styles but one great thing about both my parents is they know what they want. Cheryl (my mom) has been thinking about this redesign for many years and I think that helped her really nail down the aesthetic she wants to go for. Now that we are officially in the mood board/shopping phase I periodically send her photos and furniture to see what she’s really in to, so I’ve narrowed their style down even more to “Modern farmhouse with a hint of California casual”. I am drawing a lot of inspo from Studio Mcgee, Lauren Liess, and Emily Henderson (of course) and this part is VERY FUN. I love putting mood boards together, showing my parents, and watching them get just as excited as I am.

I look at theses photos and feel so much serotonin rush in my brain but eventually I have to return to reality. We aren’t working with an unlimited budget. We aren’t going to renovate (for now) so the space won’t look like these million dollar homes. But that’s not the point of this project anyway. The point is to make the space beautiful, to give something back to my incredibly deserving parents, and work on this project together. SO, here is the space:

At first glance, I think you will agree that this room is too dark and has the same overall color palette as The Cheesecake Factory. You can’t blame my parents, though. The last time they got new furniture and decorated was the early 2000s. And the early 2000s were a rough time.

My dad, a retired fireman and general contractor, built that barn door and this really got the design plan going. Now we just need to compliment it with some neutral furniture and decor and we are in business.

Since this is a walk through dining room the kitchen will be in view no matter what. It is unfortunate that we can only focus on one room at a time therefore this project won’t come out picture perfect but hey, that’s life right? It’s far from perfect.

On the other side we have the living room that will be my next challenge. It’s going to be hard for my ADHD brain to focus on one area at a time but I know it’ll be worth it if I stick to the dining area for now.

The design plan:Get new dining table and chairs

Obviously we need new dining table and chairs. My parents want a rustic, wooden farmhouse table and we think black spindle back chairs paired with a thick farmhouse table will bring in the modern element. I definitely want the dining table and chairs to have different finishes so it doesn’t look too cookie cutter or predictable.

Replace pendants

Lighting is so important and as I noted above, this room is really too dark. My parents want an industrial style chandelier which I think will work great with their style plus it’ll complement the industrial vibe of the barn door.

add a rug (maybe)

I want to add a rug in here because the tile is dated and I think it would be a great way to bring in some color as well. The problem is this space gets a lot of foot traffic so my dad is not a fan of the idea of cleaning a rug all the time. I believe a rug would help elevate the space and make it feel more finished but I understand his reservations. Is it too weird/impractical to get a rug but only pull it out on special occasions or when guests are over? I’ll let you guys vote on that down below!

replace cabinet

That cabinet is not terrible but it could be better. I’ve been eyeing this glass display cabinet and think it will be great for storage plus the black finish will complement the other black elements I want to bring in here.

hang art

There isn’t a ton of wall space here but I want one fairly large piece of art to put over the cabinet. I am thinking a vintage seascape would be wonderful to bring in some color and a California casual element.

display family photos and my brother mac’s achievements

I know my parents will want some family photos and I think framed black and white photos can look really tasteful if done right. The more difficult challenge will be displaying the army memorabilia as red white blue is not necessarily a part of the desired color palette. If we do use the glass cabinet I mentioned, we can perhaps display them in there but I am still unsure of the execution but that is a problem for future Ryann. Suggestions welcome!

The “Rough” Design:

Again, this isn’t a renovation project due to budget (this project will be fully funded by my parents and I) so I did my best to create a design mock-up that resembles the elements that we won’t be replacing for now (i.e. the tile, back doors, kitchen cabinets, and countertops). It’s definitely possible that my dad will do a kitchen reno in the future but as we all know that costs money and a lot of it. That is why right now this project is a more of a refresh than a makeover which is probably a good thing since a full kitchen reno is in no way my expertise.

So what do ya think?? Any tips? Comments, questions, or concerns? Let me know in the comments. xx

Opener Image Credit: Design and styling by Emily Henderson and Brady Tolbert (and team) |Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: The Portland Dining Room Reveal

The post How To Make Your Dining Room Look Better + Ryann’s Parent’s Dining Room Refresh Intro appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: The Unique Napkin Folding Idea Emily Is Stealing, Jess’s Surprisingly Soft & Well-Fitting Top, and A Very Merry Record Recommendation

Hello all!! Happy Hanukkah to those of you who celebrate! Hopefully everyone is celebrating this holiday season with lots of family, friends, and love filling the air. We have some fun links for you, so buckle up buttercup and let’s jump right in:

This week’s home tour is a gorgeously renovated 1907 California craftsman that is full of awesome paneling and warm tones. The home is inviting yet modern, and has a cozy but updated vibe. The home is designed by Patrick Bernatz Ward, and is just spectacular. Plus that hood in the kitchen is chefs kiss…

From Emily: I can’t tap ‘like’ any faster on this instagram account called @westwingde who folds napkins or wraps presents in such beautiful ways. Its wildly satisfying to watch and its something we all could do and kinda need to do soon so the task is so achievable versus a lot DIY I know i’ll never do. Birdie is super into table styling so i’m going to steal her tree shaped cloth napkin tutorial for christmas. It’s just oddly refreshing to find a new content creation account that is mesmerizing, doing high quality work in a really unpretentious yet beautiful way. It’s inspiring

From Caitlin: My old friend Tommy published a book and it’s a must-read for any lovers of history or politics! I worked on a record for Tommy’s band almost a decade ago and learned YEARS later that he was a Harvard law graduate who was, uh, SUING THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF BOLIVIA for his role in the massacre of indigenous people. (Casual. NBD. Totally normal. He won, too – it’s the first time an ex-president was held accountable in a U.S. court for human rights violations!) Anyway – he’s been working and living in Bolivia for years and just wrote this incredible account of the October 2019 coup and the year-long struggle to bring democracy back to the country. It feels especially prescient in these times – if you’re also a fan of Sarah Kendzior, this would probably be right up your alley. (Alternatively, if my grandpa were still alive, this woulda been right up HIS alley, too. Great read for all, TBH!!)

Also From Caitlin: I grabbed this silky leopard midi skirt in a Black Friday sale and it’s a winner!!! Sometimes I feel like this material can cling in a way that makes me feel self conscious or uncomfortable but this one is a miracle. It sits at my natural waist but there’s no belly button imprint even though it’s really lightweight. Excited to wear it with tights this winter and then all summer!

From Jess: I am a forever fan of Katie Gong fan (the creator of the wooden squiggle) and I wanted to remind everyone that she started making ornaments last year and is back at it. So for around $15 you can have or gift a little piece of art and support a small business:)

Also From Jess: As you are reading this I am back in my favorite city, New York. I’m surprising one of my best friends for her birthday:) However, I was in serious need of a couple winter-friendly clothing items. I bought this top from Madewell hoping it would fit well but also not holding my breath (traditionally fitted button ups aren’t great on me…too much awkward pulling or too baggy). So boy was I surprised at the great fit, softness and really nice weight of this top! Highly recommend if you are looking for cute, casual, and warmer tops.

From Mallory: Who’s ready to get merry AF??? I love the holidays more than most people (also Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate! I just celebrated my first one last night and it was very fun :)). So if you celebrate Christmas, I have a very good record for you. I found this bing crosby album at my local record store a few months ago (it was too good of a deal to pass up) and I just played it on my record player for the first time and it is INCREDIBLE. The sound of Christmas on vinyl is also just a fantastic experience. I highly recommend this for anyone looking to get in the holiday spirit!

From Ryann: I’ve linked this tinted serum before, but since I just finished the bottle and am ordering a new one I figured it deserves another shout out. I don’t know how they made the lightest formula that gives great coverage AND lasts all day long but they did it. It’s pretty affordable at $20 and it actually helps keep my skin hydrated too. 10/10 my friends!

One More (Again) From Caitlin: Ordered my first-ever set of holiday cards this year after being #emfluenced (yeah, it even happens to me…but like, did you SEE how beautiful the Henderson family is???) and was blown away by how quick and easy the process is. The envelopes came pre-addressed and everything – all I have to do is pop them in the mail!! Just a gentle reminder in case you’ve always been, like, the “I wish I could get it together enough to send cards but I have too much to do” type. You can do it (if you want)!!! I think Em’s discount code still works, too – EMILYHCARDS.

Opening Image Credit: Design by Patrick Bernatz Ward | Photography by John Daniel Powers | via Remodelista

The post The Link Up: The Unique Napkin Folding Idea Emily Is Stealing, Jess’s Surprisingly Soft & Well-Fitting Top, and A Very Merry Record Recommendation appeared first on Emily Henderson.

My Infrared Sauna Blanket Review – One Year Later. Is It Actually A Weight Management And Mood Boosting Tool Or A Really, Really Hot Sleeping Bag?

If you have ever wondered what it’s like to sweat your pants off in a crazy heated plastic sleeping bag while watching bachelorette, then I’VE GOT A POST FOR YOU. So many of you have asked about my infrared sauna blanket, because it’s frankly totally weird so a few weeks ago when Mal was visiting she saw it, asked me all the normal questions and then INSISTED on seeing it in action, and of course shooting/documenting it for y’all (in a highly unproduced way as you can see). So today I’m going to answer all your questions. BY THE WAY I’m not a scientist or expert in any way – this is just my personal experience with the product. Like you, I was very curious and skeptical when I heard about this, wondering ‘is this just another expensive LA wellness gimmick that privileged women fall for then end up in a landfill and make us feel bad about our bodies when they don’t work?

My “sauna blanket journey” started 2 years ago, after reading about infrared saunas on lots of lifestyle blogs. Curious and open (but skeptical) I wanted to try without a big investment. I used to live near Shape House in Larchmont in LA and a friend of mine and I started going there for a healthy night out where we laid in their sauna blanket, sweating, while watching TV with headphones next to each other. As you do in LA! (If you want to have a true LA experience start at yogaworks down the street, then Shape house, then eat at Cafe Gratitude across the street after, it’s HILARIOUS and delicious – I can’t tell if restaurants like that are what made me want to leave LA or what I actually miss the most:)).

Anyway sweating feels and is REALLY GOOD for you, regardless of how you sweat. But it was also very expensive to do the shape house (like $60 a pop) and not really sustainable (I think you can get a membership). Around the same time (pre-pandemic) we were talking about infrared sauna blankets as a more long term option with one of our friends, Whitney (the one that knows everything about beauty and products) and she was like “I did the research, I have the best one, it’s amazing’ and then sent us the link. She was very convincing and talked a lot about EMFS and safety, so convinced, both of us “asked” and got it for Christmas. When I say I ‘asked’ I reached out to them to see if they did influencer marketing and they shipped it immediately with zero strings attached (after they vetted me of course). So while product was gifted, this is NOT a sponsored post (I do not work for them and there was no guaranteed trade for press) it’s been a year since I’ve been using it consistently and I have a very honest review for you today. I’ve gotten so many questions from friends/family and those who’ve seen me doing it on social so I thought it was about time. So today, with the help of Mal, you’ll see how its done, what you need to do it, the pros and cons (and warnings), and my review.

First off – WHY?? What is the point Of A Sauna Blanket?

For me, it’s to feel good – both mentally and physically. Sweating is good for you – we know this scientifically. It’s good for your skin, getting your heart rate up is good for your cardiovascular system (it stretches your veins making them more flexible which is good to avoid plaque build up) and it boosts your mood. They claim other things about it on their site that I’ll get to at the end, but after a lot of research those facts convinced me to try it and indeed it DID boost my mood. You feel SO GOOD afterwards. As someone who likes to have something fun to look forward to every night (I’m an enneagram 7, it’s annoying) this has become a great substitute to having a glass or more of wine. It was a ritual that I could do while watching bad TV by myself and then afterwards I take a shower, crawl into bed and I’m OUT. So while people have other reasons why they do this, I do it because it makes my brain and body feel really really good and it’s a healthy substitute to less healthy nighttime wind down habits.

So what do you do exactly in a sauna blanket?

You literally just lay in it, velcroed like a straight jacket for 50 minutes and it makes you sweat. A LOT. You will not look like one of the models on their website. Not even for a second. You can have one arm out to change channels, drink water, etc, or sometimes I’ll just do my bottom half if I want less of an effect, but to still feel super warm. Its very very very easy, although if you get claustrophobic it might not be your thing.

STEP ONE – Prepare your bed and get situated

You will be unable to get out or up so you HAVE to be prepped and dressed properly. You MUST cover your body with medium weight loose fitting clothes. No workout tights and not thin pajamas – I like thinner sweats or joggers (I’ve done it in lightweight pajamas but my body was red underneath – it was too hot). you have to wear socks (again, not too thin or thick). You get it – baggy and loose, long sleeve and never tight. Then you lay a towel inside to catch the sweat – make sure its under your neck where it will be the worst and you don’t want that sweat on floor/bed/sofa.

I like to do it while watching TV so not fully reclined, but you can lie flat and even put a pillow under your knees even. Just make sure you are comfortable.

STEP TWO “Pre-Heat” your blanket Choose heat setting with the dial. I started out doing level 8 and it was hot AF, but now I’m up to a 9. If you are a newbie I’d start at 6 or 7 – no matter what you’ll be hot. Read the manual, I’m just giving you advice from my personal experience but I’m NOT an expert or an ambassador for the brand. Turn it on – It’s like preheating an oven. You don’t really want to get in until its fully warmed up. You have 10 minutes to get situated while it warms up. It will go for 1 hour – 10 minutes warm up then 50 “active” minutes at the right temp, and then turn off on its own and you can’t extend it, so make sure you are ready to go at minute 9. I usually lay it down, get dressed, turn it on, gather my stuff, then get in. STEP 3: Gather your ingredients

Make sure to have a side table that is easy to reach and near your right hand (as that is where the velcro opening is – sorry lefties!). On it you’ll need:

Any and all devices you might want – TV remote, iPhone, kindle, music player, etc. (no books as you’ll only have one hand)Water in some sort of grown up sippy cup so you don’t have to sit up – and a lot of it. Heart monitor – OPTIONAL. I only just got my iWatch for my bday so I didn’t watch my heart rate the first 9 months of doing this, but it is satisfying (although now that I say that should apple watches be in such hot environments like a sweaty sleeping bag?). Y’all, I’m NOT a scientist nor am I an ambassador for the brand in any way, again, so read the warnings and use common sense. Make sure you can see the red light on the control panel from your position so you can see when the time is up. Trust me, in about 50 minutes you are going to be desperate to see that little red light turn off, indicating its over (there absolutely should be a timer on it – more on my product notes in the review at the end). STEP 4: Just lay, sweat and watch TV

Some people really love to just listen to music or meditate but I like to watch gripping reality TV. I’ve found that it can’t be something I have to pay too closely attention to or a serious drama because you will be distracted by the heat/sweat and if you are bored you’ll be watching the clock and desperate for it to be over. I watch Bachelor or RHOBH, mostly (the kids are in bed, obviously).

If you’re wanting a video visual of this whole process, feel free to watch it here (after the ad)!

The First 10 minutes 7:30 PM

At first you are going to be so snuggly and warm and you might even think that this is easy. And yes, if you want to jump in just to get warm you can but getting out before the 50 minutes is up defeats a lot of the effects (more on that below).

7:50 – Heart Rate At 110 bpm

This is where it starts to get pretty hot and you realize that you have 30 minutes left. Again I’ve done this probably 40 times and while you mentally know what to expect it doesn’t actually get easier. I’ve gotten better at setting myself to be the most comfortable (thus the first 3 steps) but the heat is what it is – and it’s hot. Twenty minutes in though you feel hot and sweaty but good.

8:00PM – 30 Minutes In & It’s Really Hot. (still at 110 BPM)8:10PM – The Last 10 Minutes Are The Hardest (128 BPM)

I don’t really have anything new to say except it gets hotter and hotter and your body is working harder and harder to keep you cool, thus the high heart rate. This is where I often take one arm out and fan my face, and start staring at my phone every two minutes, willing the time to go faster.

I’m laughing, but 45 minutes in you aren’t having “fun”. But, again the point of this is not FUN, it’s to get your heart rate up and sweat so that afterwards your body feels amazing. Like a lot of things that are physically good for you, there is a little bit of suffering or pain and that has to be worth it to you (it is to me).

8:20 PM – The Grand Finale (167 BPM) – DON’T GET OUT EARLY

I made it. Normally when the timer turns off I rip myself out of blanket, literally panting desperate for fresh air. Now from what they say it is very important to do the entire 50 minutes because the last 10 minutes are the most effective. So slipping out early can negate the last 40 minutes of work and you might not get the effect (again, this part has not been scientifically proven with evidence).

HOW DOES IT FEEL?

SO GOOD. As you can see I’m CRAZY sweaty, dripping. And you keep sweating for a while. At the Shape House they would tell you NOT to shower for a while – hours even, to let your body cool itself down naturally and that if shower you aren’t getting the benefits of that work. The Shape House claims that you continue to burn a lot of calories as you cool down, which I didn’t find any scientific evidence on and Higher Dose (the blanket) doesn’t say that so who knows. I usually watch TV for another 15 – 30 minutes or longer just in case, then I take a quick shower. This is not my favorite part – because I usually sauna blanket after kids are down and by the time I’m done it’s at least 8:45 or 9 and I just want to get into bed, so waiting for my body to cool itself down is sometimes annoying. But trust me, you can’t get into bed without showering it off (and annoyingly I can’t go to bed with wet hair so then I’m drying my hair at 9:30 when I really just want to be in bed).

I really appreciated the flattering photos, Mal. So as you can see my ending BPM was 167, which is VERY high. Mal did it after me (clean towel, I promise) and her plug accidentally came out of the wall so after we plugged it back in we think she accidentally stayed in for 55 minutes and her heart rate at the end was 184 – which is CRAZY. It’s also VERY not safe to be in more than 50 minutes, which is why it automatically turns off.

final heart rates: 167 bpm (me) & 184 bpm (mal)My official review

I mean, as you can see I love it. On a good week I’ll do it 3-4 times, but rarely less than once a week. So I must really like it to commit that kind of time. Like I said above, it gives me something to look forward to, I love the dumb TV ritual, and my body feels so good afterwards. I feel like I’m doing something good for me while I’m literally just laying down.

Yes, it’s a massive mood booster

What I feel confident in telling you is that everybody I’ve ever talked to about infrared or normal saunas love how they feel afterwards, so I think it’s very safe to say its a guaranteed mood booster. It’s like doing a cold plunge (which I started doing in the lake in winter) – it’s really effing cold, but the feeling afterwards is unbeatable. Pushing your body to do something hard (as long as its healthy) gives a release afterwards that gives you a hit of dopamine, which makes you feel happy.

Pro: #2 – You’ll probably sleep better

Now while sleep science has a lot of factors like diet, excercise and mental health common sense tells me that when your body is THIS relaxed, and has worked hard for 50 minutes, not to mention warm you are more likely to sleep better, harder and longer. I sure do.

Do you really burn more calories? Is it really like a workout while lying down?

Well, like a lot of these new wellness tools there really isn’t any evidence because in order to get ‘evidence’ backed by scientists and the FDA you need years of research, control groups, etc. and this stuff is too new. Like I wrote at the top science supports that sweating is good for your skin and that getting your heart rate up is good for your cardiogascular system. Some scientists say sweat releases toxins, but that is not a consensus yet (I’ve read that it’s nominal as most toxins are released through our bodies natural biological processes).

BUT what I did a deep dive on is if your heart rate is as high as a cardio workout are you actually burning a ton more calories? Can you call this a “workout”? And there really isn’t any evidence for it, but it honestly doesn’t seem like they know. So I’m going to give you my common sense perspective. Let’s compare hot yoga to normal yoga (same class just one in a heated room) – while I coudln’t find a study on this either its my belief that if you sweat a TON MORE that yes, your body is working harder to cool itself in addition to the muscular work. But how much to make it actually worth it? Who knows.

My common sense perspective

So without scientific evidence yet we can rely on our common sense. Do I think that I’m burning more calories watching TV in the sauna blanket than I am when I’m just watching TV not sweating in a sauna blanket – YES. My body is working MUCH harder, struggling to keep me cool and there is no way that doesn’t translate into some calories. Do I believe 50 minutes laying in a sauna blanket is the same as 50 minutes doing physical cardio? Not really. because you aren’t moving your body or activating any actual muscles. So I feel like there are some weight management benefits if you are into that or seeking that, but I do NOT think it’s a guaranteed way to lose weight. During Souptember I lost my “hazy IPA weight” and I was doing it 3-4 times a week, but I was combining it with other healthier lifestyle choices – no sugar/alcohol, mostly plant-based and doing a lot of real cardio so of course the scale moved. But I want to be clear that without evidence I think it’s hard to believe that you are burning the proclaimed 600 calories by just laying there. If i’m wrong and there is evidence out there then WHOOPIE (and please send article in the comments!). I also don’t think we or the companies should highlight that as the biggest benefit, when there are other benefits of the sauna that feel more substantial, important and healthier.

When I do the sauna blanket I do feel like I’m taking care of myself more than if I were just watching TV, and when I’m kind to to my body/mind and prioritizing my health I feel less guilt, shame and anxiety. In conclusion, for me its one of the easiest ways to feel proud of myself, like I’ve checked a ‘good for me’ box, while just watching TV xx

*This post was not sponsored by anyone. I’m not an ambassador to the brand nor a scientist. Just a privileged lady who has enough time and resources to review controversial wellness tools. EHD uses affiliate codes throughout the site which can lead to commission on any potential sales, but we do that with anything we love and genuinely want to recommend.

The post My Infrared Sauna Blanket Review – One Year Later. Is It Actually A Weight Management And Mood Boosting Tool Or A Really, Really Hot Sleeping Bag? appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The AD House Tour That Took Over Our Last Zoom Meeting – Here’s What We Thought Photo By Photo

Well, it turns out love can pay the bills when you cofound an extremely popular dating site! Within a matter of hours, we were all pouring over the photos of Tinder’s co-creator, Sean Rad, and his wife, Lizzie Grover Rad’s, newly finished home designed by the wildly talented Jane Hallworth (She is also responsible for Kirsten Dunst’s home). While being a fairly neutral-toned home, the amount of out-of-this-world vintage, special details, and bold moments really suck you in. You simply can’t stop looking around, noticing all the treasures.

Naturally, we had A LOT of opinions, observations, and questions. So we thought, “Hey, this should be a blog post!” We immediately began recording our Zoom call as we chatted through each photo and I am here to spill:)

Emily’s initial response to this photo was that it was the prettiest and safest of all the rooms. She didn’t mean that it was in any way boring, but more that it’s soft and easy on the eyes. Jane and the clients took some awesome risks in most all of the other rooms which we will definitely get to but that is why she feels this one is “the safest”. She also pointed out/said how much she loved that wood door casing. It’s just a beautiful touch and in a later photo, you’ll see this really awesome detail on the top piece. Em thinks it’s decorative and I thought it might be a vent.

We all freaked out over that tree and planter. The planter is a 16th-century marble water-well head from Italy. WHAT?

Caitlin also pointed about that given the room’s sheer size, that it’s really impressive how cozy it feels in comparison. I thought it was a smart choice to not add any art about the doorway into the next room. I thought it helped to keep it airy and doesn’t take your eye too far up thus making it potentially feel less cozy.

Mal pointed out the little pendant that looks like it’s hanging from the tree (?). She loved it but some of us weren’t 100% on board. But hey, it adds some playfulness which we are always a fan of.

Lastly, the floor. Well, the actual floor is STUNNING but I want to talk about the rug. I pointed out that it’s in line with the solid rug trend I spotted at the beginning of the year. Em even said she is finding she only wants solid rugs in the farmhouse. Insider info!

The first words out of Ryann’s mouth were, “Oh, that chandelier.” And we seconded. However, it was quickly followed by Mallory asking how often do you actually like those candles, to which Em said it’s really just a piece of art. But also how cool would it look lit up?! So we aren’t sure where the main lighting comes from. There is a console with at least one table lamp but we don’t know. Secret can lights?

The next hot topic was the table and its slender width. Caitlin found it not super practical as it looks only about 24″ deep. But since Em was literally just looking at a farm table about the same size (and her and Brian sat at it), she said that’s actually the average width of a restaurant table and is totally comfortable. Of course, you run into the issue of possibly not having enough space for platters but otherwise not that impractical.

But we do have a question for you though. How do you feel about armchairs for every chair?? Do you love it or is it not your preference?

Lastly, while the look is BEAUTIFUL, we were surprised by the rug choice. A white shag is only for the most responsible adult eaters. O and the scale of the art piece was a slam dunk in all of our books. Emily made the excellent point that with every piece being a high-end vintage piece or one-of-a-kind, this room couldn’t be repeated. It’s all spectacular and supremely special. It’s also why you hire a designer like Jane:)

Here’s another little shot of the dining room. Ok see, one lamp (we loved the shape and scale) but still no sign of overhead lighting. It shall remain a mystery. The planter though is awesome. Em rightly noted that this home had “really great planter game” and pointed out the beautiful moss at the base of the tree. We also loved the screen. It’s art that doesn’t hang on the wall:)

This piano was controversial. Mal and Caitlin LOVED it while it wasn’t the rest of our favorite. But it’s nothing if not unique! Ryann also really dug the piece of art and “chalkboardness” of it. I made a dumb joke that it was the coding for the original Tinder app. We all loved the plant and bench because duh.

Em immediately pointed out how great the positioning of the two off-centered sconces was but that they probably weren’t reading lamps but instead a cool lighting feature for the wall. We then noticed the table lamp on the other side which Caitlin, Mal, and I dug.

We didn’t notice the chrome side table at first but thought it was a fun, modern contrast to all of the other organic elements.

Then I asked how everyone felt about the bed styling. Em thought it looked super cool but not one she would actually want to sleep in. She personally likes it more plush:) Caitlin called it Monastery chic.

Also that tree game, again! Caitlin was worried about it being a little too close to the edge but I loved that choice.

That vanity!!! It’s vintage from the 50s! We all loved it so much and it was Mal and Ryann’s favorite room. The marble is crazy cool but Em said it would be a little much for her if it were her home. But WOW. Also, do you see that etched-out line border on all of the walls??? What a detail! Em was sure that the fabricator must have been stoked:)

Another thing to note is that the floor is actually large cut-out marble diamonds and not a single slab. O and the rest of the vintage is just stupid good.

Ryann: “Give me all the marble.”
Caitlin: “I would die to have a marble room.”

Caitlin: “This makes me want to die I love it so much. This could be my room in the house. They wouldn’t even know I was there”
Ryann: “I know.”

That’s how this room convo started. We all just immediately fell for that lounge. At first, Em was a little confused about how the fabricator curved the marble but then we looked closer and it seems like they cut that slab into tiles, making those curves possible. Em pointed out that this must have taken a lot of figuring out how to execute given that you can’t mess around with marble that expensive and in a bathroom where you need to consider the potential moisture issues. So impressive.

The only other main question we had was about the pendant. It looks vintage so how is it damp-rated?! Is there a way to do that to any light? Em didn’t think so. I want to know!

Mallory immediately swooned over these chairs because they are SO cool. I was a little bit concerned about the white fabric. But if you can do it/don’t mind a possible stain then you should! Would you??

My initial reaction to the whole kitchen, while I thought it was beautiful, I mean look at that marble, was that it felt a little small for how grand the rest of the house feels. Maybe it’s just the photo, IDK. Caitlin wanted to see the storage/pantry. How fun would that have been?! But we all loved that vintage table.

Em: “This room is a showstopper. Look at that marble valance! They really went for it. I also can’t believe that tub was made out of a single piece of stone.”

I couldn’t get over the secret door and Caitlin loved the hardware and noted that this bathroom would likely be pretty easy to clean. Ha. Ryann also pointed out that this home’s stool game was on point. Go look back at all the photos when you finish and you’ll see what she means.

Mal did question the heaviness of the door which is a good point. However, if I had the money I would totally do that regardless.

Em’s actual favorite part of this room was that sick plant. Yikes, it’s so special. Does anyone know what it is?

At first, we thought this was Sean’s office. While that would have totally been fine we all liked it a little more when we found out it was Lizzie’s due to the fun racy art and torso. Not saying that’s the right response but interesting how it could make us have that mental shift.

Em: “This one is by far the most controversial. It has my favorite thing in the whole house and the thing I find most challenging for me.”

Can you guess her favorite thing?? It’s definitely that giant vintage disco ball. It’s so rad. Fun fact! Lizzy hand-distressed it with espresso powder. It gives it just a cool, sexy effect. What Emily wasn’t so sure about were all the sheepskins on the floor. It just wasn’t her thing but said that she loved staring at this photo.

Ryann said she would spend all of her time in this room. She loved the books on the floor, the sofa, and the general more maximalist, eclectic vibe in here and hopes Lizzie just lays on the floor all of the time. I don’t disagree. It’s awesome.

Again, these trees.

We all loved this furniture so much but really want to know if it’s actually weatherproof. Regardless I want it all.

This office was a collective “hell ya!”. The paneling, the mix of medium and dark wood tones, those green chairs (!), and the OG Apple computer.

Em really loved how cozy and warm it felt and especially was loving those wood walls.

Mal pointed out the awesome joinery on the desk. Oof, it’s good. Another space we would love to work in:)

We loved this shot! That chair and desk art pop so perfectly in the space.

So in addition to the disco ball and the plant in the primary bathroom, Emily said she would steal this chair too. It would look awesome in the farmhouse. The patina is perfect, the color is beautiful and warm, and those arms. Hubba, Hubba!

Mal couldn’t get enough of the pendant and how they hung it. They just made a simple choice that made the room so much cooler. Caitlin noted that this could have been a fun design agony solution if someone had angled walls with junction boxes in not normal places.

Em also really liked the color of the room because it’s calm but cozy. O and look at how sweet those short curtains are??

Ryann really wants this sculpture! I mean it’s beautiful!!

I also loved this shot because I felt like it married all the elements that are consistent throughout the house – the wood paneling, plaster walls, very old vintage, and modern vintage with the playful yellow and white scones!

It’s just so pretty.

Here you can see the doorway detail I talked about earlier! What do you think it is?? Decorative, a vent, a speaker??

As for the design of the room, what’s not to love? It’s beautifully curated vintage furniture.

Last but not least, the stairway landing.

Emily obviously loved the fact that the railing poles went directly into the wood.

Ryann was super curious about those pendants. We felt that with the owner’s tech background that they really vibed with that side of him.

Well, that’s all folks! It was so fun going through these photos together and hearing everyone’s thoughts. This home is incredible and needless to say Jane Hallworth is beyond talented and such a thoughtful designer.

But what do you think?! Let’s chat.

Love you, mean it.

Credits: Design by Jane Hallworth | Styled by Michael Reynolds | Photos by Sam Frost | via Architectural Digest

The post The AD House Tour That Took Over Our Last Zoom Meeting – Here’s What We Thought Photo By Photo appeared first on Emily Henderson.

A Farm Update – Because It’s All Finally Happening!!!!!

It’s show-and-tell day and I’m raising my hand high, ready to get up in class and SHOW YOU MY FARM UPDATE. We have officially passed through the hardest stage – the stage that feels slow, expensive, visually boring to look at, and yet stressful. While I’m incredibly grateful to be in the position to renovate, like a lot of you who have been through it know – it’s also very challenging, even if you’ve been through it before. Remember how Anne (founding designer of ARCIFORM) wrote about the emotional renovation rollercoaster? Well, we are back up top for now! We’ve entered a new arena of hope, where I get a serotonin burst just visiting.

The ARCIFORM team – Jamie, Adam, Tourin, Taylor, Adam, and Alex have been very busy behind the scenes the last few months doing things that aren’t particularly visually interesting, but obviously extremely important to make the house sound and safe (and to city code, etc). THANK YOU, YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WHO DESERVE FREE PIZZA FRIDAY EVERY FRIDAY FROM NOW ON. Per our engineering plans, they put in all the new support beams, reframed many roofs/ceilings, framed for all the windows and skylights (but still covered in plywood so it’s hard to really get a sense).

I also want to say thank you to you all for your patience. This stage is all about making all the final decisions for every single permanent fixture for every single room and it’s a domino effect. So you think you have time to say, choose a paint color, but if it’s going on the cabinets then it has to be chosen now while they are in production. Everything has crazy long lead times now, so me taking 3 days off to pull together a “how to do an electrical plan for your whole house” post would literally set us too far behind on the actual house (plus we need to finalize the electrical plan to even help come up with the tips that make sense and that are actually important to know). Same with choosing tile and lighting for the whole house. I have to actually have firm decisions before I can look at it and think “ok, this is how I did it”. There are some decisions that I made once and never changed, but there are so many that I waffled on, or once we saw in a rendering we were all like “uh, no” (like the mosaic tile floor in the sunroom – I designed that MONTHS ago and was SURE it was perfect until it absolutely was not). I’m just so lucky to have ARCIFORM as creative partners to bounce ideas off of and also keep us on track, help call out red flags that I might not have noticed, and just lean on in every creative way. Anne and Stephyn have been truly incredible.

our future writing room/sunroom!!

The foundation had to be poured for both the 8′ extension and the new writing/sunroom. All important stuff!!! The house was in OK condition but some walls still needed extra support (for seismic) and the original foundation needed some help. But while the windows are being framed, ready for the arrival of the product, the openings are still boarded up and no drywall in between rooms – so it’s really hard to see what is happening. But it’s now in hyperdrive. The rain let up enough for them to finish the foundation of the writing/sunroom, they finished framing out the new addition with real walls, they finished all foundation upgrades, etc and then BOOM the windows arrived.

THE FRAMING IS (Almost) DONEour future mudroom!!

Jamie and his crew are killing it. While it just looks like wood, they are master carpenters and are making this house STRONG, accurate, and as we saw the windows going in you could see how important it is to know what you are doing, have experience and be able to execute a plan.

THE WINDOWS ARE GOING INthe sierra pacific windows arrived (here’s me for scale)

And OMG they are so pretty – just so pretty. We worked with Sierra Pacific to do white oak interior and aluminum clad exterior and customized some with a diamond pattern. More to come on that – I can’t wait to show you. We knew they were big (natural light y’all) but the scale of them is magical. Again, more to come!

Check out the diamond pattern we created to join the upstairs original windows with the more simple grid pattern we used downstairs – I LOVE IT. This is the entry

entry!

Gah, the new window against the old siding is HARD to handle and it makes me so excited to get the new siding up so everything looks fresh and the design is more seamless.

O and hello kitchen windows!!!!!!

THE M.E.P.S ARE ABOUT TO START: (MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING)

So every sconce height, every pendant location, every light switch, outlet, and register is accounted for. I will walk you through all of these things in the new year as we are honestly just so busy meeting the deadlines, making decisions, and ordering everything as to not stall the construction. I’m once again learning SO MUCH and feeling frustrated with myself that I don’t know any of these programs to help with the renderings, but generally excited about all the decisions. I’ll be happy to not talk about HVAC and insulation decisions anymore!!

It’s all the stuff that is SO IMPORTANT and mistakes are extremely expensive to change, but it’s just not my strength. I am excited that we are going to be as electrified as possible – I’m working with Rheem on a lot of that content to walk you through what that even means and what the pros and cons are.

THE SUNROOM/WRITING ROOM IS ALMOST BUILT

I can’t wait till this…

Is this!

THE EPIC UPSTAIRS SKYLIGHT IS FRAMED OUT

I go back and forth between a lot of emotions A. Needing more help and wishing I had more skills, B. So excited/grateful, and C. Feeling underwater as a mom and content creator during the holidays – even without the farm renovation it just feels BUSY. And that’s ok, and I know I’m not alone. My team has been incredible holding down the blog while I’ve sat on daily 3-4 hour Zoom or in-person meetings for the design of the farm. I feel so behind in life right now, but also having SO MUCH FUN actually shopping in person again and doing it with Brian who is so involved. I think my favorite thing about doing this job is how much you learn every single day. I had a 2-hour conversation about canned lighting and why we can’t put the gimbal recessed in our kitchen like I wanted – truly my brain hurt, but now I know and can walk into the next historic remodel understanding the height limitations if you are vaulting a ceiling.

I’d seriously LOVE to know what posts you want. As soon as we have time to interview and onboard a local assistant up here we’ll be planning consistent farmhouse content, produced far better than this one because hopefully, we’ll have someone who can visually help me tell the story on social and the blog that makes it the easiest to understand. Here is on my list so far that we are going to start prepping:

The kitchen design plan reveal – We are still finishing up some decisions (hardware, paint color, shelf height, but SO CLOSE) and I can’t wait to show you what we’ve cooked up with Unique Kitchen & Baths (cabinetry). Bathroom/mudroom, etc design plans – These will be showing you the finishing choices and layout, and walking you through the design and decision-making process. How to lay wood flooring throughout your house (orientation and transition is always a fun challenge) – We have the most beautiful white oak from Zena which is harvested sustainably right here in Oregon. I’m SO EXCITED. How to choose paint colors based on the mood you want to create (revealing ours) – I hope you guys are ready for some moody and happy Sherwin-Williams recommendations. Our walk-in pantry layout – (I’m SO EXCITED). THE EXTERIOR PLAN – Omg. I can’t wait to share the most important architectural details you can NOT skip if you are restoring a historic home. I learned so much from ARCIFORM. The landscape plan (ish) – This has been back burner for obvious reasons but the yard is a 100% mud pit so while we wanted to put this off, we ultimately have to do something around the house and we’ve booked our crew for March so it’s time to finalize plants and hardscapes, etc. We are working with Yardzen around the house and a local landscape Architect, Studio Campo, for the greater homestead property. It’s a lot but I’m so excited. How we designed a custom mosaic tile floor (with all the iterations its been the last few months) – Pratt + Larson has been once again a dream to work with for this customization and while this is the room that we could have absolutely skipped doing altogether, we see it as a year-round patio (like our LA patio). I was desperate for a fun pattern to bring that to life. How to execute period-appropriate molding and casings in a modern way How to design new windows that work with your original vintage windows – This was SO FUN and I’m so proud of the designs we came up with. Room by room window plan – How we came up with the design, function and scale with some tips on all of that.

And we haven’t even gotten into decorating yet. I think we found our media room sectional (this one – we freaked out when we sat on it) and of course I’m using a lot of what we already have. But I haven’t pulled many triggers on the stuff that we need, mostly because I want crazy expensive vintage pieces from Sweden that we can’t do. So I just stare and stare at this unattainable furniture and try to figure out what it is about them I love, and how I can get those elements in a way that is affordable and makes sense for my family. Its very fun, but it’s a slow process that I’m trying to enjoy and not rush.

Oh and timing-wise, our lease is up at the rental in May so we are hoping to be living in part of the house by then, knowing that there will definitely be construction both in and outside for months. We are hoping to finish decorating in the fall and shoot as rooms are ready. I’m trying to be a REALLY REALLY good client to ARCIFORM and not rush them or put undue stress on them (being on the other side I know how frustrating it can be when clients just think it can happen overnight). We have to be patient, knowing that a lot is happening behind the scenes but also help bring that sense of urgency and problem-solving solutions in hopes of catching any of the potential delays far in advance. I can’t thank the ARCIFORM team enough, seriously, it’s been amazing working with them.

But please tell me what parts of the design process you want a deep dive into. A lot of the organic content happens in the field as we realize something is a challenge – like how to panel an awkward vaulted ceiling, how to paint stairs so they never chip (possible?). But again, would love to know what you guys would love to learn/see and have me not skip (like do you really want to know all our roofing options or why we are choosing cement stairs outside?). And THANK YOU again for your patience. Getting our new life (kinda) set up in Oregon was overwhelming in and of itself with the kids back in school Then jumping into this project while running the blog and producing partnership content left zero time to hire someone and that’s the missing piece here. So as soon as I can get help to document and manage visual materials, prep blog posts, we’ll be able to turn around process posts so much faster. PERMANENT DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE SO NOW THE FUN STUFF IS HAPPENING SOOOOOOOON!!!! YAYAYAYAY

Photos of Brian and I by Suraya Barbee

The post A Farm Update – Because It’s All Finally Happening!!!!! appeared first on Emily Henderson.

So You Just Wallpapered… Here Are The 7 Tips You Need To Choose Art That Will Work With (And Not Against) It

If your first response to this post’s title was, “ummm I just spent a pretty penny on this patterned wallpaper and you are telling me I also need to pick out and hang art on top of it??” that is 1000% reasonable. Also no one is saying you have to do anything. BUT if you want to jazz up those walls just a little more and give a tiny bit more dimension, you’re going to need to pick out some art. I promise though that these tips are going to make it sooo much easier.

So, I’ve been keeping a secret from you. I’ve been designing a project for the past month that we haven’t said a peep about but is getting revealed in two weeks (I KNOW). It’s very close to my heart but also a little out of my design comfort zone in the best way. I’m one of those annoying people that love surprises (well good ones) to the point that if I’m given the option to know information early I refuse. So I’m still going to keep this mostly mysterious;)

OK FINE. One sneak peek at the end of the post. But that’s it.

So because of this “secret project”, I have first-hand, very recent experience in picking art for a wallpapered room. So while I have my own thoughts, I also consulted with Julie because when you got a pro/friend at your fingertips you use them.

design by reath design | photo by laure joliet

As I now intimately know, there’s a pretty wonderful and overwhelming joyous feeling when your wallpaper goes up. As someone who has never been a mother, I equate it to seeing your baby for the first time. The same, no?? It’s so perfect, you love it so much, and you want to do everything in your power for it to have a few holes in it as possible. See the analogy totally works… no holes (pun intended). So when it comes to choosing art, you gotta make sure it’s right, doesn’t compete but also doesn’t get lost in the pattern of the wallpaper. It’s a lot to think about. But through my experience and research, here’s what you need to know to dress up your baby to perfection…

You Don’t Need A Lot Of It

This one may be obvious but a good reminder. I know how easy it is to accidentally overdecorate and that’s what we want to avoid. Of course, if you are a maximalist that wants all the things everywhere then by all means. It can obviously look awesome. But if that’s not what you are looking for then this is for you. Plus the wallpaper itself is art! Don’t put baby in an overdecorated corner, ok?

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

Ah, the beautiful Portland Project dining room. This wallpaper is from none other than Rebecca Atwood. It’s neutral, extremely fun, and playful. Basically, it adds a ton of movement to the room while still being soft on the eyeballs. But by throwing in those two MaryAnn Puls pieces, they give the room a focal point and a little more personality.

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

Notice how those are the only two pieces. You’ll actually notice the minimal use of art in a lot of the photos below. It’s all about choosing your moments and not overdoing it because you really don’t need to. It’s a harmony, not a fight.

Mats And Floats Are IMPORTANT (AKA Negative Space)design by caitlin higgins | styled by emily bowser | photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: caitlin’s first moto reveal – a vintage bathroom gets a modern update

A no-fail tip when picking art is to make sure you have “negative space” around the piece or that the piece has some blank space around the edges. This could easily be a mat but we also love a float mount (when the art sits on top of the matting). Why? Well, it’s the most effective way to visually “separate” the art from the wallpaper and gives your eye a little break. Example A and B are above in Caitlin’s bathroom. On her vanity wall, she hung a wonderful little neutral piece with matting to gently make it stand apart from the wallpaper pattern. Then for the one above her bathtub (by Elissa Barber), it’s slightly more pronounced with the darker tan color. Imagine if the tan filled the whole frame. It would have gotten lost in the wallpaper.

photos by ryan liebe | from: my powder room reveal

First off, this art is incredible. Emily always has the best art. I’m not even a cat person and would gladly hang this piece in my home. But you might notice that it’s not matted or float mounted. The piece itself has a lot of negative space which really makes it pop off that beautiful saturated blue Farrow & Ball wallpaper.

design by jungalow

Leave it to the Jungalow team to create the most happy and vibrant spaces! I know we are here to talk about art and wallpaper but can we take a moment to appreciate this tonal pink desk and chair?! Ok back to the task at hand. The art is in the same “pattern scale world” as the wallpaper. So those mats are super important to help give them the visual attention they deserve!

Contrast The Pattern Scaledesign by julia marcum

You don’t always have to have negative space around your art. Another way is to have the scale of the art’s subject (or scale as I also call it) be fairly larger or smaller than the print of your wallpaper. See how Julia Marcum hung those wonderful horse paintings in her daughter’s room? The art itself isn’t very busy and the horses are a much larger scale than the wallpaper pattern. That and the dark colors really make them pop off the way in a really nice way! Then notice how the mask art has a lot of negative space:) The flag banner’s pattern scale is a little on the smaller side but again the dark color contrasts really nicely with the light wallpaper. All in all so cute!!

home of allison pierce | styling by velinda hellen & erik staalberg | photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the no-reno house that looks completely renovated

This wallpaper (from one of our favorite homes that is also in the book!) used this suuuuper small scale patterned wallpaper and paired it with two pieces of larger scale, graphic pieces. I love the contrast of styles (traditional and modern) and how they are visually powerful but work so harmoniously at the same time. Sorry, I can’t find the wallpaper source:/ If you know, drop it in the comments:)

Contrast The “Pattern Busyness”photo by tessa neustadt | from: eclectic traditional bedroom reveal

Pattern scale contrast is a big one to consider but another option is the general “busyness” contrast. Wallpaper tends to be busy in the best way. So an easy way to balance that out and have your art also shine is to choose “calm” or “minimalist” style art. Take the room above (one of my old EHD favorites as a big toile fan). This toile (like all toile) is busy. So by choosing art the is super minimal and in the same black and white color scheme, your eyes happily bounce around and your mind hopefully laughs at those great prints:) Basically, the wallpaper is still the star but the art gives you a little visual break.

design by marynn udvarhelyi

The “busyness scale” (and actual large size) of this awesome piece in front of that very pretty small scale wallpaper is what makes it work so well. The art is simple with large blocks of color (yet has beautiful movement). Minimal art doesn’t mean visually boring. Great job, Marynn!

design by hendricks churchill | styled by dorcia kelley | photo by chris mottalini | via architectural digest

Ugh, I love this totally modern, very minimal art on top of this super traditional and busy wallpaper SO MUCH in Eva Chen’s home. You can feel the tension! Also, those colors in the art piece are simply the same but more saturated versions of the colors in the wallpaper. This brings me to my next tip…

Cohesive Color Palette But Duhdesign by jane hallworth | styled by colin king | photo by laure joliet | via architectural digest

I am sure you are TIRED of this broken cohesive color palette record but it’s going to help you narrow down your art selections. By all means, break the color rules here and there! But keeping to a decided color palette will always work (you just gotta mix the tones and textures to keep to interesting:)) But let’s talk about it when it comes to choosing art for wallpapered walls…

The magic that is Kirsten Dunst’s home is just, well it’s wonderful and if you haven’t seen it go right after you read this post! But here, in her little boy’s room, is olive green heaven. The wallpaper is so fun and that cowboy (?) art is perfect over it. What is great about this piece is that the olive and brown colors are in the center and then you have this beautiful sky blue and gold toward the edges to make it really stand off the wall. It matches while having a good amount of color contrast.

design by brittany jepsen | via domino

This post might as well be called “The Wallpapered Rooms That Jess Fangirls Over And Also It’s About Art” because WOW does this room lift up my whole spirit. No surprise that it’s designed by the super talented Brittany Jepsen. With the art here, she decided to zoom in on the colors from the wallpaper and went bold so they could contrast yet complement. Notice how that dark green and white abstract jumps off the wall but helps to highlight the greens and whites in the paper. I think it’s super smart since the red and yellows are so powerful. It’s a balancer:) Now for that incredible leaning piece. I love how it has a more pronounced red, and white! This mixing of scales is the freaking best. Oh and take a little peek at those two stacked matted pieces. She’s doing it all and I love it.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: elliot’s nursery reveal

Has there ever been a more color-coordinated piece of art for a room?? It’s a least top three. This piece works so wonderfully because it plays up the softness of the wallpaper mural, has enough varying tones of pink to not be too matchy-matchy, but also enough cool tones (hi greens and blues!) to contrast and make it visually diverse. Also, this is one of my all-time favorite shots. Those two wallpapers together? Forget about it!

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

Color balance at its finest! With the wallpaper being on the lighter side and the furniture/decor darker, the large dark-toned pieces of art seamlessly marry the whole space together! Try to imagine this room sans art on the walls…doesn’t really work huh? But then again, I expect nothing less from the ever-talented, Kirsten Blazek.

Frame Color (And Style)photos by tessa neustadt | from: our classic modern master bathroom reveal

Finally, we are talking about frames! For me, this is probably only second to having negative space around your art piece. The right frame really assists in bringing your art “off the wallpaper”. Unless you want a very tonal look, contrast, contrast, contrast. I love this vintage gold frame above for two reasons. One it’s a little thicker and ornate which both stands out and works with this light neutral but movement heavy wallpaper. It also picks up on the brass fixtures;)

design by reath design | photo by laure joliet

While I love everything in this room down to the orange dinosaur, this simple modern styled frame on top of a wonderfully busy patterned wallpaper is perfect. Unlike Emily’s bathroom wallpaper, which was boldly patterned but neutral in color, giving way for an ornate frame, this wallpaper is boldly patterned AND boldly colorful, which means it would likely eat up or compete with an ornate frame. Basically, this simple black frame nicely contrasts the busy wallpaper and balances with the other dark colors in the room.

design by carmeon hamilton

A middle ground! Carmeon is the wallpaper/painted patterned wall queen so clearly she had to be included. The black wallpaper she chose for her hallway is awesome and busy and the frame is bold and detailed. It works so beautifully because the gold frame makes those gold cheetahs stand out. Plus with such a dark wallpaper color you want to make sure the frame pops off. The gold color and detailing make that happen. White could have worked but let’s be honest, it had to be gold.

When In Doubt Use A Mirrorphoto by tessa neustadt | from: eclectic traditional bedroom reveal

Y’all mirrors are THE EASIEST way to give some dimension to your wall and break up the pattern a little. Plus you can see the wallpaper reflected in it AND it will bounce around any light. It’s a win, win, win. There will definitely be a mirror (or two) in the room I’m working on. But let me take you through your options.

You can go classic and simple like in the bedroom above. A round mirror is also an easy way to shake up the shapes you might have in your space. If you got a lot of rectangles, get a circle in there:)

design by justina blakeney

But you can also have fun with it and do something like Justina did in her old bathroom. She already had a ton of pattern with her wallpaper and tile, so to let those be the star (but still keep it Jungalow), she added in those very cool differently shaped mirrors. So creative, unexpected, and totally balanced.

left: design by studio mcgee | right: design by megan hopp, photo by kelsey ann rose, from: love wallpaper?? then feast your eyes on this nyc apartment (there are 5 and they are all awesome)

Another thing to think about is texture in mirrors. It kinda does the same thing as art (in terms of adding another layer of dimension) but in a quieter way. I mean look at that beautiful wooden mirror Shea McGee put in her daughter’s room. The frame is special, stylistically works perfect with the wallpaper, and that wood has a ton of movement and super sweet beading. Ok, well if we want to talk about “mirror movement” then actually I should escort your eyes to the right photo where Megan Hopp installed this incredibly cool rattan wall mirror. And because it’s a natural material it really adds a unique texture over the wallpaper. I also love that you can see the pink roman shades in the reflection:)

Well, that about does it! I hope you are now even just a little more confident in your art/wallpaper combo-ing. If all else fails, less is more, contrast is your friend, and/or get a mirror:)

Ok now for the sneak peek!

Sorry, I don’t want to show you the color yet because I love suspense and my stupid phone was not getting the glory of its actual color. But I promise it’s going to be really special. Also after re-reading my “baby analogy intro”, I promise it’s NOT a baby’s room (or my room:))!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Studio McGee

The post So You Just Wallpapered… Here Are The 7 Tips You Need To Choose Art That Will Work With (And Not Against) It appeared first on Emily Henderson.

We Are Hiring (In Portland!) – Social Media And Content Creation Assistant + Design Team (Or both)

I always knew I’d need help up here, but wasn’t sure what the holes would be until we got here and boy am I experiencing the holes right now. I’m a swiss cheese version of myself. While we have the wonderful ARCIFORM team leading on the bulk of the renovation, and I have my team in LA running the blog and my production team still doing shoots down there – I am ready to hire some local help for ME and more importantly THAT FARM. I need help with daily in-person content on all platforms and help decorating the farmhouse. This could be one person or two, or four – here are the holes we are looking to fill:

Social Media Assistant/Visual Media Manager – This is kinda a big job because now that the fun stuff is happening at the farm we need to be properly documenting and organizing it via photos, video, reels, and TikTok videos – to both post in real time and bank for reveal before/afters. Reels and TikTok videos will be huge for us this year so this person needs to be pretty obsessed with social media creation, come with new/creative ideas on how to shoot, be able to edit them together in creative ways, and take the lead on production. Ideally, they’d know what is happening at the farm, come up with a list of ideas on what to shoot and how to shoot it, then shoot it with or without me, edit it all together, organize footage securely and work directly with Mal to plan the posting schedule. This person must also have basic photography, editing, photoshop skills. Any extra skills (illustration, copywriting – hahahahaha – etc) is a huge plus!! Design/Editorial Assistant – This person would help execute the decorating of the farmhouse, work with myself and ARCIFORM to help get samples, order fabric swatches, take photos of furniture, and any drawing/rendering skills a plus. This person will also help prep posts in the backend of the blog, create floor-plan renderings, add graphics onto the photos/renderings when necessary (photoshop), help curate the posts based on the design process and work with ARCIFORM on getting assets, for those posts. Design school isn’t necessary, but must have photoshop and basic photo skills. A real editorial brain on how to tell a story is more important.

I can’t imagine finding all these skills in one person but heck maybe you exist out there in Portland? The pay is based on experience, and it might be two part-time people or one full-time person, or more. No College education or corporate training necessary – just have basic computer/photo/social skills that can grow, a lot of creativity and passion for interior design content creation, be highly organized (as I am not) and a really good, positive attitude. Both of these people will spend so much time with me so chemistry is also important …but we’ll have fun, I promise

Tell me and show me how you thrive, what you would create if you were in charge of documenting the farmhouse renovation, and give me a glimpse into your life. That means far more to me than any fancy education.

To apply, email Mallory at mallory@emilyhendersondesign.com by next Friday 12/10. If you are applying for the social media position please send a fun design-based TikTok/reel example.

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