Emily Henderson's Blog, page 153

My 5 Go-To (Easy And Affordable) Fall Decor Items That Surprisingly Make A Huge Cozy Impact

HOUSTON WE HAVE SEASONS. And it’s making me want to do just a tiny bit more in our rental home that says “hey, it’s fall, let’s get cozy”. When I walk the dogs here at 6 am it’s a brisk low 50s but BEAUTIFUL and the trees are about to turn. In LA, I never really felt inspired to bring in any “fall decor” in and simply went straight to Halloween decor on October 1st. Well, now I get it. So I told my team I was in the market for a few things, just these little symbols of “fall” to put us all in the mood. Here’s what I’m thinking:

Wreathsphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | art direction by me, styling by emily bowser | from: make your home fall ready with 7 simple tricks (using all target)

I’m hoping to find a wreath at the farmers market, something made by a local florist (know anyone in Portland?), but there are good ones on the market, too. Just stay away from anything plastic-y unless you promise to use it year after year.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | art direction by me, styling by emily bowser | from: make your home fall ready with 7 simple tricks (using all target)

The exterior of our rental house is black so I think a mustard wreath would look really cool, with a few pumpkins next to it.

1. Dried Grass and Grain Hoop Grapevine Wreath | 2. Lit Natural Pumpkin Wreath | 3. Fall Pumpkin Wreath | 4. Ashn Earth Textured Neutrals Wreath | 5. Faux Grasses Harvest Wreath | 6. Pampas Grass Wreath

Fall Candlesphoto by sara ligorria-tramp |from: see how ehd brings fall into our homes (and yes, there are *chic* pumpkins involved … target does it again)

I found myself smelling all of the pumpkin spice candles at Target wondering how this happened. I NEVER thought I would be a “seasonal scent” lady but after my Christmas candles from last year, it just WORKS. It creates such a vibe and mood, especially when I’m not roasting a chicken and then brothing (the usual delicious cozy scent we have going on in our house in fall for SOUPtember and CROCKtober).

1. Autumn Splendor Glass Candle | 2. Harvest Spice 5-Wick Speckled Ceramic Fall Candle | 3. Spiced Pumpkin– 7.2 oz Soy Candle | 4. Mulled Cider Soy Candle | 5. Harvest Spice Scent Collection | 6. Pumpkin Spice Candle | 7. English Pear & Freesia Travel Candle | 8. Anecdote Autumn Glass Candle | 9. Black Leaves Candle – Freres Branchiaux

Vasesphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | art direction by me, styling by emily bowser | from: target’s new threshold collection is hitting the “elevated prairie” trend hard and good

Right now I have this Target vase (it’s VERY VERY GOOD) with sunflowers in it on my dining table making me so happy. I will likely just clip fall branches once these die, but there are some good dried ones on the market that will last longer, too. I have enough vases, but if you don’t here are some good ones that can be versatile (not just for fall).

1. Carved Ceramic Vase Gray – Threshold designed with Studio McGee | 2. Indoor/Outdoor Set of 2 Black Metal Urn Vases | 3. Posey Bud Vase | 4. L’impatience Hand Crafted Black Stoneware Bouquet Vase | 5. Terracotta Vase with Handle Brown Clay – Opalhouse designed with Jungalow | 6. Handmade Stone Pitcher | 7. Artificial Berry Plant Arrangement in Ceramic Vase | 8. Ribbed Glass Vase Amber | 9. Sullivans Glass Vase Set of 2

Throw Blankets photo by sara ligorria-tramp | art direction by me, styling by emily bowser | from: make your home fall ready with 7 simple tricks (using all target)

It’s shocking to me that I have no cozy blankets in a warm tone. Or maybe it’s not shocking, but they are all blue and I’ve had them all for a long time. I would love a mustard and white pattern, something cozy and either knit or fur (Brian has forbidden me from buying any more Pendleton style wool blankets because he finds them itchy). So here are a few out there:

1. Windowpane Printed Plush Throw Blanket with Sherpa Reverse | 2. Happy Habitat Maze Throw – Gold/Linen | 3. Buffalo Check Waffle Woven Throw | 4. Nep Yarn Knit Throw Blanket | 5. Checkered Throw Blanket Brown | 6. Throw Blanket with Fringe | 7. Heathered Boucle Throw | 8. Commune Blue Quilt | 9. Farridoro Wool Plaid Blankets | 10. Brushed Herringbone Throw | 11. Heathered Knit Throw Blanket | 12. Happy Habitat Italian Floor Throw – Ochre and Grey

Pumpkinsphoto bysara ligorria-tramp | from: see how eHD brings fall into our homes (and yes, there are *chic* pumpkins involved … target does it again)

Pumpkins aren’t at the farmers market yet, but soon. Meanwhile, I have these wood ones and the raffia ones from the last two years that I’ll put out on the mantle, dining table, and/or front stoop. But when the pumpkins start happening, yes I’ll be all over that. Everyone up here has a backyard garden and I see the pumpkins growing as I’m walking the pups so I’m excited to see what will be at the markets this weekend.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | art direction by me, styling by emily bowser | from: make your home fall ready with 7 simple tricks (using all target)

1. Seedstitch Pumpkin Shaped Pillow | 2. Small Ceramic Pumpkin Cream | 3. Medium Dark Woven Pumpkin | 4. Woven Corn Husk Pumpkin Figurine Cream | 5. Harvest Tweed/Plaid Speckle Fabric Wrapped Pumpkin | 6. Handmade Coffee Tweed Fabric Pumpkin | 7. Pumpkin Halloween Decorative Sculpture | 8. Woven Cattail Leaf Pumpkin Figurine Brown | 9. Faux Pumpkins

So there we are. A measure of true adulthood. I’m not buying any “thankful pillows’ (yet) but living in a place with seasons and having young kids (still) makes me totally GET IT. Just remember – shop what you have first and see what you can pull out from closets rather than buy – oh and a hack I recently learned is to put a fall pillow cover over a normal “summer” pillow for instance so you don’t have to deal with storing the pillow and cover, just take off the seasonal cover as it changes. This weekend is full of rain and the kids have asked to decorate early for Halloween (I swear, it wasn’t my idea) so we might light our first fire in the fireplace and get our pumpkin on. Have a great weekend. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | Art direction by me, Styling by Emily Bowser | From: Make Your Home Fall Ready With 7 Simple Tricks (Using All Target)

The post My 5 Go-To (Easy And Affordable) Fall Decor Items That Surprisingly Make A Huge Cozy Impact appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Here’s How Much Caitlin Spent Installing Permanent Wallpaper In Her Rental (With All Your FAQs Answered From Prep To Finish)

Three weeks ago, I stood before you and asked a simple question: “have I lost my actual mind?” At the time, I was talking about my newfound love of (read: borderline obsession with) vintage vegetable-shaped dinnerware, but I was thankful to find that most of you were like, “nah girl, you’re okay, you do you!” Today, though, I’m kind of worried that your opinions will shift a little bit…because guys, I installed permanent wallpaper in my apartment. A LOT OF IT. But my (temporary) loss (of sanity) is your gain because I learned a ton about the whys, hows, and how much-es of installing wallpaper that I’m eager to pass on.

The Quick Debrief

You’re probably familiar with all the different types of wallpaper applications (you know, since you’re on a design blog and everything), but I wanted to share some quick pros and cons for each. (You can scroll all the way down if you’re just like, “LADY, HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU SPEND?”)

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a home office makeover with threshold removable wallpaper by targetPeel & Stick Wallpaper

Think of this like a giant sticker, in both the good AND bad way. You can DIY an install and oftentimes it is removable and reusable…but if your walls aren’t properly primed, pulling it down can do some damage. Anecdotally, our pals at Pen & Napkin recommend their designers work with thinner, more affordable peel & stick options as they’ve found that the glue is a little more forgiving and the paper isn’t meaty enough to, you know, bring a chunk of a wall down with it upon removal. Getting bubbles out can also be kind of tricky, but you can’t beat the price and flexibility here (especially for renters).

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

This comes with glue already attached to the back, and you’ll activate it by hitting it with a spray bottle or dunking it in some warm water. This is a dream as you don’t need to spend money on separate tools (pasting tables, actual paste, etc.) and it’s a little more forgiving with application – you can slip and slide it around to match up seams – but the hanging process is therefore way more technical. You also need to hit this with some steam and water to bring it down, so you’ll need to plan a whole day for removal.

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

This is the preferred permanent wallpaper method for most DIYers since, well, you’re just throwing glue on the wall. Paste-the-wall paper is often constructed a bit different because it’s made of non-woven material that won’t expand when it gets wet, which means that hanging is a bit easier – what you see is what you get. That said, it’s super easy to go a little heavy with the glue which (you guessed it!) can make removal a pain.

design by elspeth benoit and arterberry cooke | photo by virtually here studios | from: a master class in using color in your home without it feeling like a COLORFUL home (it’s not the decor)Paste-The-Paper Wallpaper

All three wallpapers I selected were paste-the-paper, which is definitely the most involved and nuanced application method. I really, really, really recommend going to a professional for this type of wallpaper – they’ll have a full slew of tools to make sure that your paper is evenly covered in paste (it’s very Goldilocks – you want it to be just right) and they’ll be able to ensure that your wallpaper won’t shrink up or peel off as it dries. Coincidentally, this was hands-down the type preference of all the wallpaper installers I grabbed quotes from – their general consensus was that if prepped and installed correctly, this would be the easiest type of permanent paper to remove.

now we’re gonna talk about my house!!! Hot Tip

Make sure to always store your wallpaper horizontally - standing it upright can lead to creasing and subsequent headaches during install! (Learn from my above mistake, please.)

The Why

Let’s break down some frequently asked questions, yeah?

Why not just get peel and stick for a rental?

Peel and stick is GREAT for most renters and there are so many incredible options out there, but I after months of searching, I just couldn’t find anything that quite compared to the permanent options. And while there are ways to make regular wallpaper removable – this tutorial by Studio DIY that uses a grid of double-sided tape is awe-inspiring – I lack the DIY skills necessary. If I was going to go with some high-end wallpaper, it deserved the high-end installation treatment, you know?

Did you ask your landlord?

AH, YES. Zach, my landlord, came over to re-ignite my pilot light and saw a ton of wallpaper samples I had taped up to the walls. I was anticipating (and dreading) an emphatic “no” from him, but when I expressed interest in maaaybe hanging some wallpaper in a few rooms, he was just like, “cool, email me some pics to show my family when you’re done decorating, bye!”

I’m not sure if it’s always that easy or if he gave me extra leeway because I am a normal, quiet tenant who hands him a stack of rent checks every few months (pro tip: postdate your checks, send them all at once, and you’ll never be late again!) but either way, I am very grateful.

there’s a little balcony sneak peek for ya, too!!!Is wallpapering a rental worth the investment?

Right now, my answer is a VERY emphatic “HECK YES.” It was not cheap (we’ll get there) but my mental gymnastics led me to three big points:

I’ve paid $1,900 a month to live here since July of 2019. That’s almost $50,000 (OH GOSH, do not calculate how much you’ve spent on rent if you do not want to have a mini existential crisis)…so if I’m already dropping THAT much money, why not make my home a place that I really want to be, regardless of how long I’m here? Thanks to WFH, I’m now spending 8 STRAIGHT MONTHS PER YEAR inside these walls. I’m home for at least 16 hours per day – 8 hours for work, 8 hours for sleeping, and you know all I wanna do on the weekend is lay on the ground and look at the internet – so when I did the math, it felt like a nice investment in myself to commit resources to my space, you know? I didn’t even consider the impact it’d have on my mental state and not to be dramatic, but BOY, it has made a huge difference in my mental state!!! I actually do my skincare routine every night because I love standing in the bathroom. I’ve lost 9 pounds (!!!) because now I actually like using my kitchen. I’m ready to hop on a Zoom 24/7 because sharing this dining room makes me so happy. Weren’t you like, trying to buy a house or something?

YUP. And I’ll be back at the end of the year with an update. It’s very complicated (somehow more complicated than the dilapidated house/not house on the hill, if you can believe that), but this apartment will be my LA home base for a while. I can’t wait to share more with y’all!!!

The Wheres

So you’re considering taking the plunge – where do you even start? SAMPLES. I bought over 70 (maybe a little excessive, but I’m glad I did!) from Wallpaper Direct. The first two were free, but the rest were about $1 each and the shipping time was super fast.

I know that maybe this is pretty obvious, but I just remember being so surprised that samples don’t always come in slices that represent the whole strip. Case in point: the above sample of Cranes in Flight, which, uh, lacks the cranes. This is SUPER common no matter where you buy samples from (and some brands cut a set sample that they’ll send out, so buying more won’t help – learned that the tough way!), so it’s just important to manage your expectations – you may not be able to predict EXACTLY how every color will look in person.

Obviously, I now need to take a second to call out a few EHD tried-and-true favorites to fulfill any sourcing/dreaming/web-stalking desires:

Wallpaper Direct: I mean, they have EVERYTHING. If you’re looking for something classic, it’s here. If you need something modern, it’s here. Their prices are unbeatable, too. Work & Sea: This is an LA-based studio and the place where I sourced my bathroom wallpaper. Their designs are so fun and special (plus, they can help you figure out how much you need to order…and they’re STILL very nice when you send them numbers that don’t make sense because you don’t understand how to measure your walls). Bien Fait: Remember Charlie’s nursery? That’s Bien Fait, baby. If you want bright, happy, and modern, this is your go-to spot. Hygge & West: I mean, they’re iconic for a reason. Their Back To The Future Toile (you read that right) makes my heart skip a beat.Rebel Walls: NO ONE can do a bold floral or a serene tree line quite like Rebel Walls. Case in point: Birdie’s first nursery, Birdie’s LA Tudor room, the LA “playroom”, this magical rainbow-colored little girl’s room…you get it, right? BEAUTIFUL. Minted: If you’re dreaming of a mural, STOP LOOKING. It’s here. Farrow & Ball: I’ll never get over that hand-painted paper in Em’s old LA powder bath, primary bath, and the kids’ Jack and Jill bathroom. Plus, you have coordinating paint options right at your fingertips – what else could you ask for?You can also grab wallpaper via a few other classic go-tos: Target, Lulu & Georgia, Rejuvenation, Serena & Lily, Wayfair, Chasing Paper, Tempaper, Sheila Bridges, and Juju Papers. (If you have any favorites, please drop them in the comments!) i saw my opportunity to share a gratuitous cat photo and i took it (this was her first look and she approved of the changes. and please excuse the floating tuft of hair, she is a very furry lady!)The How

So you’ve figured out your dream wallpaper, you’ve ordered a sample, and it looks stunning in your space. CONGRATULATIONS. Let’s break down what to do next in order, yeah?

How to Order

Time for the nitty-gritty stuff: figuring out how much wallpaper you actually need. I am going to EMPHATICALLY recommend this calculator with the caveat that you should order ONE more double roll than the number it suggests. And yeah, to make things even MORE fun, wallpaper is often bundled into “double rolls” (a fun turn of phrase, because they’re on the same tube!), so you need to buy 2 at a time.

My rooms were kind of complex – walls of windows, walls of cabinets, alcoves galore! – so figuring out how much paper I actually needed was TOUGH. At the end of the day, here’s where I ended up:

The Dining Room – 15′ x 10′ with 2 doors to the kitchen and hallway, a wall of windows/doors to the balcony, and a 6’x7′ entrance to the room next door: 5 double rolls of Flamenco Fan (10 rolls total). The calculator suggested 8 (so 4 double rolls!) but Mark, my wallpaper installer, asked me to grab one more to allow for my weird, occasionally lopsided ceilings and for the doorbell cutout you saw earlier.The Kitchen: 15′ x 8′ with a 10′ wall of cabinets, a 6′ wall of cabinets, a built-in ironing board cabinet, and two windows. The wallpaper calculator suggested 8 rolls of Orange Blossom (which shocked me, because the cabinets take up SO MUCH real estate – I thought it was going to be much less!) but it’s because the paper I used wasn’t as wide. Upon giving his quote, Mark again just asked me to grab another double roll so we had a little more room for error. (If you find that you need to order more wallpaper, the batch number should be available somewhere on the packaging – you can request from the same batch so your colors match!).The Bathroom: Measuring this room is a freakin’ nightmare, but it’s about 9’x8′ at its widest point. The kind folks at Work & Sea did the math and sent over the right amount and I am forever indebted. Being able to ask for help when you need it is a real perk of sourcing directly from a small, local business!!

It’s also worth noting that a ton of the wallpaper installers I had out told *ME* how much paper to order, because they didn’t realize that I had already ordered my supplies. If you’re feeling totally lost, it’s VERY common to have someone out for a quote before you even have your materials – they can help you navigate the process and save you from some sticker shock on the backend (it’s coming, we’ll get there!!!).

here’s a sneak peek of my kitchen, which has had the glow up of a century (literally – my 1930s apartment is thrilled)How to Find an Installer

Yeah, sure, Yelp is great, but I’m about to go REAL gung-ho for word of mouth here. Now is the time to ask for a recommendation on Facebook or to post an Instagram story asking if anyone has any leads. The best installers are often too booked to need to worry about marketing themselves. Case in point: Mark, the installer I hired, is THE go-to guy in LA for those ~in the know~ (which now includes me and you – lucky us!!!).

You’ve seen a ton of his work on the blog before (he’s been Em’s favorite for years and he told me that they go all the way back to Design Star!) but he’s also worked with almost every LA-based design influencer (Oh Joy, Amber Interiors, etc.) and he’s constantly on-call for TV shows and celebs (whose names he did not disclose, because he is good at his job). The best part? When you google his name, NOTHING COMES UP. Emily mentions him in a 2014 blog post (!!!) and that’s pretty much it. Mark is #bookedandbusy, and I never would have found him without asking for someone’s recommendation. (If you want his email, drop a note and I’ll send it to you!) In any case, just put out a FEW feelers first. For what it’s worth, I also got nine quotes from installers I found on Yelp but nothing held a candle to Mark’s attention to detail – he was the only person to bring up priming and prepping the walls for smooth application and safe removal.

how can i NOT be happy in here every day? How to Prep

This is where we get VERY into DIY territory, which is NOT MY MINISTRY. I ended up hiring Mark to sand and prime the walls, and he paid special attention to the rooms that were coated in semi-gloss paint (read: the kitchen and dining room). I just wanted to be as cautious as possible, you know? He did say that I could save money by doing it myself, but I’m not playing games when it comes to drywall damage. If you ARE a DIYer, check your wallpaper retailer to see if they have any suggested primer available – it can vary depending on the type of paper you choose.

How Long It Takes

AH, okay. This was my big question: can you knock out all three rooms at once? How long does hanging paper actually take? In my case, Mark came over 3 different times, but installers who work as a team may be able to knock out a project a bit quicker. Budgeting a day per room feels like a safe bet, though. Here’s my timeline…

Day 1: Sanded and primed all the walls, hung all the bathroom wallpaper. He arrived around 7:30 AM and was all packed up and outta here by 1:30 PM. (I know that’s VERY specific, shoutout to timestamps on all my photos!)

Day 2: We decided to tackle the dining room and about 1/4 of the kitchen. Mark arrived at 7:30 AM and left at 2 PM. He decided to come back the next day and was gracious enough to trust me with his pasting table, which saved a ton of setup time the next morning!

Day 3: Mark finished the kitchen in a flash – he arrived at 7:30 AM and was outta here by 10 AM.

one day i’ll remember that i work for a design blog with an enormous audience *before* i take the photo of my house looking like a tornado hit

I also wanted to take a second to show y’all a pasting table, since I had never seen one before. It’s neat, right? Mark would measure, cut, and roll a bunch of pieces and store them all on the lower shelf. That blue portion up top is filled with wallpaper paste and when it was time for install, he’d run the paper through – kind of like how you’d run a sheet of lasagna through a pasta maker – and he’d get the whole thing evenly covered in paste. Then he’d fold it over onto itself and let it fall naturally – it’s hard to explain, but there’s a Boomerang of him doing it on Em’s stories this morning

this morning dapple lowers my blood pressure so hopefully it will help yours, too!The How Much

AH, YES. The moment you’ve been waiting for: the big number reveal. And guys, it’s PRICEY. (At least it was if you’re operating on my budget, which can best be described as “I only buy vintage home goods and anything over $400 starts making me anxious.”) A good rule of thumb that I found to be true, at least in our major city: wallpaper installation will cost you about $4 per square foot.

Every quote I received was between $1,900 (the lowest) and $2,500 (the highest). This is how my actual spend broke down:

Sanding & Prep: $260 The Bathroom: $550The Dining Room: $650 The Kitchen: $700 LABOR TOTAL: $2,160

In a very fortunate twist, Mark’s bid was tied for the lowest and I would have saved almost $300 had I prepped myself, but I do feel WAY more confident knowing that a professional took the reins. The normal range I got was $500-$750 for the bath, $500-$950 (!!!!) for the dining room (a few installers balked at some of the tiny spaces between the windows, which Mark handled like a dream!), and $600-$800 for the kitchen.

I ended up breaking it up into two installments – Mark did the prep and bath in July and the latter two rooms earlier this month – so I could save up over time. That still doesn’t include the wallpaper, though, which was SO GRACIOUSLY gifted by Wallpaper Direct and Work & Sea. (I asked them both for help after buying samples from each and am eternally grateful for their generosity – it’s because of them that I’ll be able to reveal these rooms this year!!!). Had I paid, here’s what the numbers would have looked like:

The Dining Room – 5 Double Rolls @ $185: $925The Kitchen – 5 Double Rolls @ $154: $770The Bathroom: ?????? This was a custom amount and I’m not totally sure of the retail value, but it’s SO beautiful and special that I know it wouldn’t have been cheap, you know? OUR GRAND TOTAL VALUE: At least $3,855!!!!

Looking at that number is kind of scary, but it’s still absolutely worth it to me – I would have saved up either way (and revealed my rooms in, like, 2023, hah). I don’t spend on furniture (you can do it too – I wrote all about it here!!!) and only grab decor from the flea market, so I feel more comfortable investing in wallpaper – it’s my lone big splurge for this home.

THAT’S ALL, FRIENDS!!!

I feel so lucky to live in an apartment with such beautiful bones (like, you saw my dining room moulding, right? PINCH ME!!!) and even luckier that I had the means to make it feel even more like home – I’m only young in LA once, you know? I wake up every day feeling SO jazzed to live in my own little movie set, even if it seems wild to invest in a temporary space. In a weird way, I almost feel like that makes me appreciate it even more – I know I won’t be living in this little 1930s deco dream forever, so I better get to enjoying it now!!

GEEZ. Got a little navel-gazey while thinking about how much this all means to me, but it’s super earnest. (Which may make it worse??? HAH. Just so lucky, you know?! :)) Signing off for today from my bathroom and anxiously awaiting your feedback: HAVE I LOST IT? Was this too much to spend on a rental, or would you have done the same thing? Anyone have any other specific questions that I could help answer or pro-tips for other wallpaper-ers out there? I’d love to see some of your spaces if you’re open to sharing, too LET’S CONVENE, YEAH? xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: The Griffith Park Master Bedroom Reveal

The post Here’s How Much Caitlin Spent Installing Permanent Wallpaper In Her Rental (With All Your FAQs Answered From Prep To Finish) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Who WE Would Hire To Design Our Homes If We Could… Any Guesses??

I feel pretty confident in saying that in almost every home reno or even room makeover, there’s that point of despair and when the creative juices are at an all-time low that you think to yourself, “Ugh, I wish _______ could just design this space for me.” It’s equal parts design fatigue and total admiration for “fill in the blank” designer. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE getting to design my own spaces and tapping into that creative side of myself… but I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t jump at an opportunity to get into the brains of some of my absolute favorite design firms. Wouldn’t we all???

This blog post idea came out of our EHD Offsite (we like calling it an offsite because it makes us sound undeniably legit:)) Emily posed the question, “Who would you want to design your house if you could hire anyone??” At first, my mind went blank and literally the only designer I thought of was Emily. That’s not to be a total suck-up but I’m sure nearly all of you rolled your eyes and I get it and it’s fair. I just know that woman knows how to make a comfortable, fun, yet extremely beautiful home. But with Emily off the table and a minute to actually think, I was FLOODED with designers/firms that I adore. Honestly, I don’t know if I can even name them all without making this post a million words long (especially since I’m not the only one contributing to this post).

So let’s start with Emily because I think we are all dying to know:)

Emily

I want to be clear that there are a million designers out there that I would recommend hiring, for sure. Last year for the farm I hired ARCIFORM because Anne and I totally jived, but we have different expertise – hers in architecture (especially vintage houses) and me in decorating and styling. There are no toes stepped on, or if they are, no pain felt or expressed (on either of our sides).

FUN FACT: I’m going to help her style and shoot their homes because they usually stop at the built-ins and that’s kinda where I love picking up the most.

design by workstead | photo by matthew williamsdesign by workstead | photo by matthew williams

But what if I was unable to do any of it and had to hand it off to someone to just let them execute my vision completely? Who would I hire???? It’s so hard and truly depends on the home. I suppose for the mountain house I would have hired Workstead. Their high-quality warm minimalism is ridiculous and will never age.

design by jessica helgerson design | photo by aaron leitz | via architectural digest

For the farm, it gets harder and harder to choose. I guess I have to go to the designers that always impress me, where I can see they are obsessing about the details as well as the overall art direction, that they are executing very custom, very laborious ideas. Obviously, I’d hire someone that is better than I am, and that would push the design further into unsafe territory where the visual wow pays off. So I think it would be a combination of Jessica Helgerson and Studio Shamshiri. I want the vintage warmth and soul that Jessica can do – I witnessed it first hand in the old firehouse that we shot for Styled. That tiny but smart bedroom with the built-in upholstered alcove with storage was so beautiful and genius.

photo by david tsay | from: styled

And for reference, we shot that 7 years ago, and it was designed even before then. I’m not saying that we should be surprised at how un-dated it is (it’s only been less than a decade) but I’m so impressed with how fresh it still feels. And maybe that’s because it’s appropriate for the house, with some risks and restrain. 

design by studio shamshiri | photo by stephen kent johnson | via elle decordesign by studio shamshiri | photo by stephen kent johnson | via elle decor

My love of Studio Shamshiri can be credited to their unexpected layering of vintage weirdness, upon a really masculine base. There is something super grounded about their style, but with levity in the furniture. Granted every single piece of furniture is 10K +, with collectible classics that the future will knock off badly, so in a way, they create this gallery of design that I want to be surrounded by. 

design by heidi caillier | photo by haris kenjar

Also, fun fact – Heidi Caillier was high on my list, and fun fact – one of my best friends, best friends just hired her for her kitchen in Seattle which I’m VERY excited to see, and now that we are less than 3 hours away maybe I’m due for a visit …. 

Jess

You are about to see a bigger list than the rest of the team because it was painful to even limit it to these five. But you all have lives to lead and didn’t want to take up your entire day with ALL my fantasy collaborations.

Studio Shamshiridesigns by studio shamshiri | photos by stephen kent johnsondesign by studio shamshiri | photo by stephen kent johnson

Having Studio Shamshiri design a home of mine would be the dream of all dreams. They don’t specialize in a style as you can see from all of these photos. What they DO specialize in is creating truly special spaces that speak to the architecture of the home and are LAYERED with stunning details and wonderful surprises. You can tell it’s a “Studio Shamshiri” design because every moment is highly considered, very special, and yet feels effortless and comfortable.

designs by studio shamshiri | photos by stephen kent johnsonReath Designdesign by reath design | photo by laure jolietdesigns by reath design | photos by laure joliet

When I first was told about Reath Design and saw their portfolio I couldn’t believe I didn’t know about them sooner. HOW WERE THEY NOT EVERYWHERE YET??? I love how not afraid of color and pattern they are, but I also love that it doesn’t feel visually overwhelming. There’s somehow a casualness to it that I love so much. Take the color-blocked lounge chair cushions and the color-blocked tiled backsplash! Simple, easy, but so fun and not the norm. I think that they would really push me to take more risks in that regard, keep the design feeling cozy/welcoming while still keeping my love for modern, European-inspired design alive.

Arent & Pykedesign by arent & pyke | photo by anson smartdesign by arent & pyke | photo by prue ruscoe

I have adored Arent & Pyke since my early days at EHD. They definitely lean more modern but still create cozy spaces that are surprising and textured. I also love their attention to shapes. Whether that’s a staircase, bed frame, lighting, whatever. There’s almost this dreamy visual ride you are taken on as you scan each room. It’s quiet but I think that’s also the point. “Modern Ethereal” is a great way to describe it and that sounds like something I also want to live in:)

designs by arent & pyke | left photo by felix forest | right photo by prue ruscoeTali Rothdesign by tali roth | photo by caitlin mills | via the design filesdesigns by tali roth | photos by nick glimenakis

Tali Roth is kinda a blend of Reath and Arent & Pyke in a way. She designs insanely cool spaces that are modern but ones that also look extremely livable… at least how I want to live! They are playful, high-end, a little risky but also cozy. I am also a big fan of her art choices (which is a big deal to me since I am forever #teamgallerywall)

design by tali roth | photo by sean litchfieldYSG Studiodesigns by ysg studio | photos by prue ruscoedesigns by ysg studio | photos by prue ruscoe

The queen of a modern custom design detail and the pinnacle of cool. YSG Studio is truly all about the unconventional and for me, it’s so important to have an element of that in all of my spaces. I don’t want my space to feel totally expected and in the hands of this incredible firm and Yasmine Saleh Ghoniem there’s no way that would happen. I mean look at that beautiful kitchen cabinet????

RyannBeata Heumandesign by beata heumandesigns by beata heuman

The first designer that popped into my head was Beata Heuman. She is at the top of her game, her designs are bold, exciting, fresh, and they always maintain a hint of English country charm which I LOVE. She is a designer that truly excites me and reminds me that design can be (and often times IS) so fun, colorful, and playful. She is THE master of mixing pattern and color in a way that just looks and feels effortless.

A1000XBETTERdesigns by kirsten blazek | photos by virtually here studios | from: tour creative director and founder of a1000XBETTER kirsten blazek’s soulful, vintage filled home

Talk about DREAM COLLAB. I’ve had the pleasure of writing about two home tours by A1000XBetter. First, I fangirled over this minimal eclectic granny home that they staged, and then I adoringly wrote about founder Kristen’s own home that she renovated and designed with her husband. Her home is actually my favorite home tour we’ve ever featured on the blog. She has an amazing curated vintage style and she knows how to use exciting wallpaper like nobody’s business. If she designed my home I just know I’d feel like the coolest girl in town.

design by kirsten blazek | photo by virtually here studios | from: tour creative director and founder of a1000XBETTER kirsten blazek’s soulful, vintage filled homeChroma SFdesign by chroma | photo by stephen kent johnsondesign by chroma | photo by stephen kent johnson

OKAY. Chroma is an interior design firm based in San Francisco and there is just something about this female-run studio that makes my heart skip a beat. Their designs are sophisticated and timeless but there is a western country (read: elevated horse girl) element that I just simply die for. If I ever win the lottery and buy a farm outside San Francisco, I am calling them up.

design by chroma | photo by shade deggesRomanek Design Studiodesign by romanek design studio | photo by douglas friedman

I’ve always loved Brigette Romanek’s designs but after hearing her on the Design Time podcast I fell in love with her as a human being. She is wise and eloquent and her designs reflect the her expertise in mixing multiple styles with ease. I love how her designs are often minimal and modern but she always brings in life and intrigue with bold colors or unexpected shapes. This Laurel Canyon home in particular is one I go back to time and time again when I am feeling uninspired.

designs by romanek design studio | photos by douglas friedmanLea JohnsonJulia Miller of J Miller Interiorsdesign by j miller interiors | photo by amanda birniedesigns by j miller interiors | photos by amanda birnie

I have been a long-time fangirl of Julia’s (before she created her design firm) – also I’m a huge fan of supporting local talent and Julia NEVER disappoints. The way she mixes patterns, textiles, woods, finishes, periods, etc. the list goes on and on. If ever I could afford a J Miller project she would be first on my list to reach out to! Her work is fresh and inspiring and full of aesthetics!

Prospect Refuge Studiodesign by prospect refuge studio | photo by wing hodesigns by prospect refuge studio | left photo: source | right photo by wing ho

Another local favorite of mine – I don’t even know where to begin with Victoria and her team of superstars – I love their work and I try to study every inch of what they share. Their approach and creativity are mesmerizing and I find my eye is captivated in every detail. 

Tsai Designdesign by tsai design | photo by tess kellydesign by tsai design | photo by tess kelly

My dream in life is to work with an architect/design firm and build or renovate a true masterpiece in an architectural home. Where mid-century meets Japan in a modern way and plays with all sorts of levels, layers, shapes, lighting, and shadows and where technology blends seamlessly. This is when I laid eyes on Jack Chen’s work. He doesn’t know it but if money were no object, I would beg him to work with me.

CaitlinLuke Edward Halldesign by luke edward hall | photo by benoit linerodesigns by luke edward hall | photos by benoit linero

Like…guys, I actually think he may be a genius. I know I drop his name in almost every post I write – I think I am officially the president of the Luke Edward Hall fan club at this point – but his use of color and pattern and his general point of view is just so masterful, you know? I’m over here waffling about whether or not to buy a cabinet (or if said cabinet has the right tone of wood) and he’s just in a whole other league, confidently assembling these rooms filled with antiques and soul. They feel collected but not planned and there’s not a ton of stuff – all the pieces are left to sing for themselves. (Also, as the owner of a water rower, I dream of a workout space like this.) I truly love everything he does so much and feel SO WEIRD for having this much of a talent crush on someone who is basically the same age as me. 

Etc. For Shortdesign by etc. for short | photo by laura resendesigns by etc. for short | photos by laure joliet

So, uh, apparently I love color. SHOCKER. I love how much joy and warmth this team brings to their spaces. Example A: the architecture in that first shot is SO stark and modern, but Sally transformed it into a totally layered and happy and playful space. I know that if faced with a similar blank slate, I’d have been totally overwhelmed (which is probably why I’m just an observer and not, ya know, a full-time superstar designer). I also love the whimsy in their projects – that light at the Firehouse Hotel (RIP) is so fun and special and obviously, anything leopard is a HECK YES from me. Love love love. 

Black Lacquer Designdesign by black lacquer design | photo by jessica alexanderdesigns by black lacquer design | photos by jessica alexander

Have you ever seen a neon quote done in such an elevated way? I am truly obsessed with Caitlin’s designs (and wish that I shared her talent for designing cheeky, IG-ready rooms in addition to her name). I love her mixing of old and new, her willingness to go there with color and print (that bathroom…big swoon from me!), and how livable her rooms still feel. Scrolling through her portfolio, I’m always in awe that the rooms feel like places you could actually congregate without like, living in constant fear of breaking/spilling/staining. ME NEXT?

MalloryCommune Design designs by commune designdesign by commune design

They are just the coolest LA design studio who use color INSANELY well in my opinion and they know exactly what to do with each project they get. They’re super versatile and just all in all have it so together & inspire me a HUGE amount.

Kelly Wearstlerdesigns by kelly wearstler | left photo by manolo yllera | right photo by sarah sherman samueldesign by kelly wearstler | photo by manolo yllera

It felt weird to not put Kelly Wearstler on this list when I feel like she is constantly pushing boundaries in design which is what I love so much about her projects. Being in the Santa Monica Proper is like going to vintage chair Disneyland – she is so good at curating unique pieces…then putting them TOGETHER and her combinations of shapes, colors and materials just make you stop and stare. I should also note she is typically working with huge budgets which is why she can have so many awesome statement-y pieces – so I’d have to assume I could afford such incredible maximalism, but hey this is a dream world so she definitely makes the list…she might even be my #1 choice.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard designs by martyn lawrence bullard | left photo by douglas friedman | via architectural digest | right photo by dominique vorillon | via luxe interiorsdesign by martyn lawrence bullard | photo via sands hotel and spa

He is an incredible designer known for mixing Hollywood glam with Moroccan patterns and shapes. In my opinion, this is what makes his designs so interesting and fun – which are 2 things that are important to me in a space. His Palm Springs house is my dream palm springs house…it’s TOO GOOD. If my house was in palm springs I’d definitely ask him to design it…or Jonathan Adler because The Parker is just so cool.

It’s clear that there is simply too much talent out there! Maybe in another life I’ll own many homes (with endless design budgets) to be able to collaborate with such wild talent. But until then they will stay as constant inspiration:)

How about you? Who would you hire? Which EHDer do you relate most to? And no you also can’t choose Emily! It’s the only rule… at least for this exercise:) xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Studio Shamshiri | Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson | via Elle Decor

The post Who WE Would Hire To Design Our Homes If We Could… Any Guesses?? appeared first on Emily Henderson.

WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK IS HAPPENING AT THE FARM??

My thoughts exactly. It’s the storm before the calm. The house version of Benjamin Button and it’s going to take a while for this old house to age backward and look like beautiful baby Brad Pitt, except stopping at the “Legends from the Fall/Farm” era, for obvious reasons. Let’s back up. For the last month, the farm has been in the back of my mind – I canceled every design meeting/post and prioritized getting our family settled into our new life. It’s shocking how overwhelming life can feel when you don’t feel tethered to or settled in your home – such limited brain space, and unhealthy coping habits (thus the fact that I’m souping again). The first time we went to the farm after we landed in Portland, two weeks ago, our “forever” home had gone from the sweet “before” of a year ago to practically post-apocalyptic and almost unrecognizable. It’s all stuff we knew would happen and had seen photo updates, but we still weren’t prepared for how it looked in person. It’s all going as planned (ish), ARCIFORM is doing a great job, our emotions are in line with where they should be at this point, but for all of you, restoring or renovating an older home we are in the “should we have just torn it down and started over?” phase (answer: NO). So here’s where we are at and how despite the terrifying visual, there has been exciting progress, and obviously some setbacks.

The Bad News – What Has Slowed Us Down

Before I get into the bad news you should know that in the history of renovations there has never been one that has gone exactly as planned. The more experience you have the less amateur hiccups there are, but we are wise enough at this point not to wonder about “if” there will be a setback, only “when and what will they be”. And remember – it is a privilege to renovate. Period.

The Permit Process

We got through the permit process in a normal manner – the ARCIFORM team is excellent about due diligence, hiring great engineers, and having the plans extremely dialed in (which speeds up the back and forth) when they submitted it. It took about two months to get the green light, and we did. We’re off!! But then there was a question regarding the trees. What none of us had predicted is that the city would care so much about the roots of all the trees on the property (and it’s a huge property). I get it, City of Portland, I also LOVE trees (thus moving back to Oregon and installing multiple tree murals in the past, not to mention the tree disaster of 2017). The city wants to ensure that we aren’t going to just bulldoze a bunch of old trees on the property to put up a McMansion and throw away the wood, so we had to hire an arborist to help identify each one and submit a report (which took weeks due to availability and the sheer time walking the property and researching). And then once the report was submitted, the verdict was that we needed to put many many chain-link fences around the root system of most of the trees to ensure that the huge heavy equipment that we needed for excavation and foundation pouring wouldn’t damage the root structure. So we had to postpone it all. This is all fine and honestly just part of living in a more progressive city – more bureaucracy, sure, but with important considerations and I too want to protect trees from irresponsible realtor developers. So not only did that slow us down, but as you can imagine the property that was once a sweet humble run-down farm with a lot of potential is now covered with chain link fence and piles of dirt. Like I said, post-apocalyptic.

The Drought = Super Dead Grass left: before | right: currently

As you might know, the PNW is no longer the climate that it was 30 years ago (true story – you have to plant different trees now that can live through the more Mediterranean climate – THE CHANGE IS REAL). Well, the 116-degree week-long streak this summer really did a number on the grass up here and the historically super green Twilight-esque grass in PNW is, well, temporarily dead. Now I think it can come back by either reseeding or maybe just via magic, but it’s super darn depressing. We did find out that we have two wells so assuming we can get those functioning we can have irrigation from our own water. But anyway, here we are now – dead, dry, brown, scratchy and 100% unfun grass to look at or hang out on. It’s totally fine, but the visual was jarring at first.

NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS:

It’s all happening, we know it. And there are some major things that have really given us hope that we might someday live here. When we were here yesterday Brian and I still felt that buzz of excitement that we have had this whole time. We can see it and feel it, we just have to be patient. So here are the big progress updates:

The Foundation Is Being Poured For Our Addition + New Mechanical Roombeforeprogress!more progress!

We decided to add 8 feet to make a larger bedroom but we also really needed a mechanical room over here to house the new Electric Heat Pump (We are using Rheem which is meant to be awesome). It’s basically a bunker that you can walk into from the side of the house that is 9′ high and has the heat pump as well as the other Rheem products to heat water, etc. I don’t totally understand it but I trust that building this here is the best way to do it, with the extension of the house on top. Next up is the new kitchen/living room which we are VERY excited about.

Vaulting (And Supporting) The Kitchen Ceiling

Vaulting 1/2 of the kitchen ceiling was something we pushed hard for. Changing ceilings in the middle of a room is often ill-advised, architecturally speaking but we’ve seen it work and frankly, we’ve fallen in love with A. skylights and B. tall ceilings.

To do that we needed to install a huge beam and hide the post by the fridge cabinetry. Then they had to reinforce all the other beams. We’ll drop the ceiling a bit to add room for insulation and electrical then panel it.

The Cutting Of The Scenic Doors And Windows

This is HUGE as the living room was just so dark and now, with the massive scenic doors (from Sierra Pacific – I can’t wait to show you) and all the custom windows in the kitchen and entry, we’ll have a ton of natural light even on the cloudy days (like today). I understand that not everyone is obsessed with natural light, and that’s fine. But we are and I have zero regrets about adding more windows in the main living spaces.

Living Room Openingsleft: before | right: currentlyso happy.Entryleft: before | right: currently

We feel so much better than I did 2 weeks ago – in a million ways. Two weeks ago I wondered if we had bitten off more than we should have. And that yes, we should have just leveled it – something most people would have done. But being here yesterday, with the windows framed and cut open made us so excited AGAIN. I have so much to tell you – so many blog posts are in the works – how we designed our custom windows to work with the original ones, how we designed the kitchen cabinetry, how we are designing the mosaic floor in the sunroom, and the landscaping – oh the landscaping. It’s all coming at you soon, as soon as I turn in the final edit of the book (which should have been last Friday). Getting “settled” is taking far longer than anticipated, but this week feels like maybe it’s the first real week of living here. Soccer practice, farmers markets, and LOTS of walks with the pups in beautiful neighborhoods full of trees. More to come on the farm, soon, I promise. xx

The post WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK IS HAPPENING AT THE FARM?? appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Our Dining Room “Rules” Cheat Sheet

We decided to break down some of the Dining Room rules you should be adhering to in your own home. The purpose of these posts is not to give you hard rules to follow (or reprimand you if you don’t follow them) but more to give you guidelines that can assist you in helping the room feel as pulled together and harmonious as possible. Think of it as the cheat sheet for what your dining room should be doing. As we mentioned last time, there are always exceptions to the rules but in order to break the rules… you gotta know them first. So let’s get into it. 

In case you need more design rules, check out: Bedroom Design Rules | Living Room Rules

Furniture Placement:photo by david tsay for ehd

RULE: Give 30″ to 36″ of a walkway between large furniture pieces (if your dining room allows for it) if not then at least 18″-24″.

You know how when you are sitting on a flight and the flight attendant pushes that tiny little cart up the aisle basically bumping every single sleeping shoulder on her way up? Well, it’s not the flight attendant’s fault it is the space they have to move in. Don’t let your dining room be that airplane aisle. Make sure you have at least 24″ of space all the way around your dining room table so that people can move freely around it without having to bump everyone at the dinner party on their way to use the powder room.

design by sarah zachary | styled by emily bowser | photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: afraid of designing a boring home?? this designer will steer you clear by showing you her tricksphoto by zeke ruelas for ehd | from: nicolette mason’s new home

RULE: Give about 24″ of space per person for maximum comfort and food enjoyment.

Here is a seat guideline for rectangle tables depending on size:

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

And for round tables depending on size:

42″-48″ diameter table seats 460″ diameter table seats 6-8

Similar to the last one. Rather than for the space around your table, this is for the space at your table. This isn’t a grade school cafeteria where you are all shoved on a table trying to scarf down your food. So, give your family and guests enough room to sit comfortably at their seat and not be curious which water is theirs because they are all so close together.

photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: setting the table with parachute’s new table linens

RULE: Chairs should be able to slide under the table with ease with or without arms. Ideally, there should be 7″ between the chair arm and apron of the table but that’s not a hard rule. Just for your reference dining chair seats are usually 18″-19″ high and dining tables are typically 30″ high.

This will not only help with flow when the chairs are empty and you need to move around the table, but it also helps those people that need to pull their chair in (little kids) easier accessibility to the table when they are eating.

photo by bethany nauert for ehd | from: lisa’s house: the dining room makeover

RULE: This one is more of a guideline than a hard rule. The back height of your chair should be similar in scale to your table. For example, if you have a small round 36″ table you should stay away from a super large scale 4′ tall dining chair because it’s going to look really off. In terms of how short is preferred it doesn’t really matter as much as long as scale-wise it looks right to the table and room. Benches are a great option and have no back:)

This rule can be broken and technically still look good, but use your best judgment when it comes to proportions between your chair and dining table and don’t make the chairs too tall for the size of the table.

Rugs:photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: griffith park formal dining room reveal

RULE: 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.

Not every dining room needs a rug, but if you do have one make sure there is plenty of room to pull the chairs in and out without having the chair half on and half off the rug.

photo by david tsay for ehd

RULE: Give at least 12″ between the rug and wall if you have the space.

Rugs are rugs, not wall to wall carpet, so make sure that there is some breathing room between the rug and the walls so that it doesn’t feel too tight in there.

design by carli alves | photo by rusty williams photo | from: can anyone vault their ceilings and what does that cost?? (plus see carli alves’ dark living room get a bright makeover)
photo by tessa neustadt | from: a modern makeover with method

SUGGESTION: Flatweave rugs are in our opinion the best choice for dining rooms. They are the easiest to move chairs around on as well as clean. If you don’t want a flatweave then tufted or low-pile rugs can also work. We just suggest avoiding shags and thick piles. They will catch everything that falls off the table and are much harder to clean.

Lighting:photo by david tsay for ehd

RULE: Pick a chandelier about half the width of your dining table. You can also is to add the room’s length and width in feet. That number in inches suggests an approx. size for the diameter of your chandelier. So if you have a 10′ x 12′ room your chandelier should be about 22″ in diameter.

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.

photo by david tsay for ehddesign by arlyn hernandez | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s moody dining room reveal is all about the insane power of paint

RULE: Center a chandelier or pendant on the table, not the room.

You would think this is obvious enough, but we are including it just so that it is clear. If you do have a junction box that is off-centered to where your dining table is then either swag the chandelier over or have the junction box moved so that the light is directly over the table.

photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: mel’s living room reveal

RULE: Hang your light fixture so the bottom is 30″-36″ above the table. This way no one’s vision is blocked and everyone can see each other:)

You don’t want to feel like you’re in an interrogation room with the light directly overhead, and you also don’t want to lose all sense of atmosphere. So keeping your light at the right distance from your table will help both worlds to work well together.

Photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a modern and organic dining room makeover

RULE: For rectangular chandeliers give at least 6″ from the edge of the table to chandelier on both sides.

Your chandelier should never go past the edge of your table in any direction. Anything bigger than your table and the room could feel top heavy.

photo by tessa neustadt for ehd| from: gather around … + target fall roundup

RULE: For multiple pendants above a dining table we recommend hanging them about 26 to 28 inches apart.

If you choose to do a few different pendants or a row of pendants above your table this rule will help you to space them so that they don’t feel too close and claustrophobic next to each other. It will also help the light to diffuse evenly around the room rather than in one spot.

photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: a modern makeover with method

RULE: Place wall sconces between 5′ to 6′ up from the floor. If using multiple sconces in dining room (or any room) space them ideally 48″ apart but at least 24″-36″.

This rule not only is for aesthetics but also helps to keep the light bouncing around the room evenly so that you don’t end up with any dark corners.

Console:photo by zeke ruelas for ehd | from: dining room makeover

RULE: Your console table or credenza should be at least the same height as your dining table but ideally higher.

When you enter into a room, your eye wants to see the surfaces that objects are displayed on so having your credenza slightly taller than the height of your table will help things to feel proportional and well placed.

Art:photo by mike garten for ehd | from: my house tour from good housekeeping

RULE: 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.

This rule can be broken, but typically any sort of art on the walls will look best if it is slightly more narrow than the length of your table. If your collection extends beyond it, the proportions in the room can start to feel off.

Tabletop:photo by tessa neustadt | from: the design milk family room reveal

RULE: Keep centerpieces 15″ or lower so again everyone can see each other across the table.

This isn’t a gala, save the crazy centerpieces or floral arrangements for a party. When you are seated at the table you don’t want to have to try and peer around a centerpiece to see who you are sitting across from. And, last but not least and EHD suggestion when styling…

photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: setting the table with parachute’s new table linens

SUGGESTION: 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 if you need something on your table.

Let us know if you have any other questions or things that are confusing you when it comes to dining room layout and design, and let us know which room you want us to talk about next.

Check out the rest of our design rules: Bedroom Design Rules | Living Room Rules

Opening Photo Credits: Design by Velinda Hellen for EHD | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Sara’s Living Room & Dining Room Reveal

The post Our Dining Room “Rules” Cheat Sheet appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: The Cream That Made Ryann’s Hair Shine, Caitlin’s Fav Bachelor Podcast, and A Gift For Gen-Zers That’ll Make You “The Cool” Aunt Or Uncle

Hey all!! EHD team here ready to welcome you to another link up. We’ve got some fun links for you this week (per usual…we hope:)) so let’s not waste another moment of your time and dig right in:

This week’s home tour was styled by our very own EHD alum Emily Bowser!!! What is it you ask? IT’S JAY-Z’S FRICKEN OFFICE ON AD!!! And it’s beautiful. We’re just so happy and excited for her because it. is. awesome.

Is anyone looking to volunteer for an incredible (and an EHD favorite) organization and is social to LA or the near surrounding areas?? Well, Miry’s List is looking for a buyer! They need to bring someone onto their volunteer team who can shop for families. This would need to be someone for LOVES shopping around for the best deal. Someone who enjoys online shopping and has a sense of style….and could shop on behalf of someone else’s style and taste. They have a distinct process for assessing their families’ needs, tastes, preferences, and priorities over the phone. Now they need to bring on the right person (or people) to take those directions and turn it into a household full of beautiful things that will feel like home.

From Emily: When Max told me that he had a new custom window treatment line I didn’t necessarily freak out – historically patterned window treatments aren’t my favorite thing (mostly when they are custom because they are so darn expensive). But I saw them this week and I LOVE THEM and am seriously considering some of them for the farm. There are some really beautiful cable knit motifs, plaids that feel totally classic (not 80s), ginghams, and QUILTS (and solids). Sure he is my friend and colleague, but that’s not why I’m posting about it – I am genuinely impressed by this collection (and it’s made in Portland by Hartmann and Forbes).

From Jess: I’m not someone who wears a lot of makeup but I am a girl who has used under-eye concealer nearly every day (2020 excluded) since 2001 (?). These dark circled puppies are hereditary but also maybe a few more vegetables and hours of sleep could help a little. Who’s to say? Anyway, I’ve been using the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer for so many years now but I really want this concealer from a brand called Merit. The reviews are really great, it’s vegan and clean but I wanted to know if any of you have tried it! Is it really that good??

Also From Jess: My friend wrote her first book! It’s called Six Days In Rome by Francesca Giacco and it’s available for pre-order now. If you don’t know, pre-orders are extremely important to authors since it lets booksellers and readers take notice of them (and for sellers, to order accordingly). It’s especially important for debut authors like her. Here is a review to give you a taste: “In this decadent, deeply evocative novel, a young artist travels to Rome to heal a broken heart, where she ​confronts loneliness and intimacy, rage and desire: ‘Sensorial as hell . . . A stunningly cool and stylish debut’ (Paul Beatty, Man Booker Prize-winning author of The Sellout). So if this sounds up your alley (and if you’re a reader here it probably does), pre-order now for a great future present to yourself:)

From Ryann: On Tuesday when we had our weekly team Zoom meeting, I received a Slack from Caitlin asking if I had done a hair mask because she thought it looked so healthy and shiny. I was of course flattered and shocked because the answer was no, I just hadn’t washed my hair in a couple days and to mask my greasy locks I haphazardly applied this soft shine grooming cream to my roots and ends. That’s when I had an “Oh sh*t”  moment and realized my hair DID look crazy smooth and healthy. I usually cannot go a day without washing my hair but this product makes my greasy unwashed hair look like I just got a crazy expensive blowout–and it’s only $12!!!

From Caitlin: I also recommend Ryann’s grooming cream because her hair has looked so luscious on two consecutive Zooms!!! But actually – is anyone else watching Only Murders In The Building? It’s so good and fun and somehow feels like the perfect show for fall, you know? Never in my life would I have been like “you know who I need to see together? Selena Gomez and Steve Martin in a TV show about a podcast” but now I need them in every single show I watch. (I’ve always wanted Martin Short in everything TBH.)

Also From Caitlin: Two media links this week! I’ve recommended it before, but 2 Black Girls, 1 Rose is THE BEST Bachelor podcast. It’s $5 a month (or more, if you want!) and worth every. single. penny. It’s laugh out loud funny, it feels like you’re just sitting there and catching up with friends, and their Paradise recaps are not to be missed!!! If you sent me to a desert island and said “you can only bring one entertainment podcast,” this would be it without question. LOVE LOVE LOVE. (You should follow them out on IG, too – their account is SO fun.)

From Ajai: Can you ever really have too many pillows? I’ve been obsessed with stripes lately and have been eyeing this pillow. It’s versatile and can easily be used as a comfy accent piece during any season. 

From Mallory: Have you ever been into oddly satisfying videos?? That’s what this Instagram account is, but make it DESIGN. It’s called ‘The Buildsters’ and I’m way too into watching their videos. Seriously I could spend hours.

Also From Mallory: Did you catch the post we wrote on what design styles gen-zs into right now? Well, since I’m TECHNICALLY Gen-Z I decided it was time to lean a lil Avant-Basic because it’s fun…so I bought this cute bubble candle and I’m obsessed. For all the cool aunties that commented on that post, this candle would also make a great gift for your nieces or nephews!!

Ok! Thank you for giving us a few moments of your Sunday (or whatever day you choose to read) and see you tomorrow!

Opening Image Credit: Design by Perron-Roettinger | Styling by Emily Edith Bowser | Photo by Shade Degges | via Architectural Digest

The post The Link Up: The Cream That Made Ryann’s Hair Shine, Caitlin’s Fav Bachelor Podcast, and A Gift For Gen-Zers That’ll Make You “The Cool” Aunt Or Uncle appeared first on Emily Henderson.

A Current Tour Of Our New Rental House In Portland

The rental market in the neighborhood we wanted to be near was slim pickings and trying to secure one, sight unseen, from Lake Arrowhead became Brian’s daily mission (and source of stress). Moving states, during a pandemic, and not knowing where we were going to actually live made everything feel unsettled (and our kids were nervous about re-entering schools so we REALLY wanted to not couch surf for the first couple of months and instead make it feel like home asap). We originally got an adorable little bungalow closer to our school, but once we came up for a visit (after we had movers move a lot of our stuff in) we realized that the lack of yard and the proximity to heavy traffic was something that would be really hard for me (and the pups). After 2 years in the mountains, I need outdoor space without cars whizzing by (LA has permanently scarred me).

So we looked for a new one, and it was HARD (the first one got re-released quickly thank goodness – HUGE SHOUT OUT to my brother for spearheading coordinating with movers AGAIN to keep everything in storage until we found a new place). I think everyone who had a rental property last year wanted to take advantage of the insane market and sell at the top of it. So we feel lucky that we found one that is in a beautiful neighborhood, near a big park, near two of my best friends that is clean, fresh, and with good natural light. We rented it sight unseen which is always tricky but we have settled in with a lot of our things that have made it feel like home.

So let’s just say we are here for 8-9 months, investing in this house doesn’t make sense, at all. And while the old me would have designed all the rooms in the name of “creating content”, the current me is really trying to not waste my time, energy, and any planetary resources unless it can be taken to the farm as well. Don’t get me wrong, if you are renting for years – MAKE THAT HOME ONE THAT YOU LOVE, but it simply doesn’t make sense for me right now, when I have a whole farmhouse to design, book to finish and promote, blog to run, new city to explore and settle into, and kids/husband to stay connected with. So I have two goals – A. Make it functional for our family needs, and B. make it super comfortable, cozy, and fun for the darker winter months. And even though we brought up a lot of our furniture from our LA home, we sold a lot with the house or left some pieces at the mountain house. Needless to say there are some gaps that need to be filled in the meantime.

By moving in here I’m reminded of the temptation to just check boxes – buy a rug for the bedroom because waiting to find the right one could take weeks/months and right now it feels so cold without it. Order a cheap media unit until we find the right one. It’s SO tempting, but I’m trying to best to make do with what we have until I either A. find something used off Craigslist, or B. find something that I love that could also work at the farm.

Let’s take a tour though, shall we?

The Living Room

The upstairs has the living room, dining room, and kitchen all open which we love and has made nighttimes and mornings really pleasant. It gets good natural light and I’m enjoying cooking here while the kids play legos or draw at the table. This is by far my favorite area of the house and really the one I enjoy being in the most.

We brought over the sectional we’ve hoarded for years from Article. As you likely saw on my insta stories it got pretty water damaged in storage (our fault, we didn’t know the movers would drop off without any protection and didn’t ensure they were putting it in a protected area) but we’ve covered it with blankets and it’s working well enough:) I can’t say enough good things about the versatility and the comfort of this sectional, BTW. We originally used it to stage our Glendale home 5 years ago, then used it at the mountain house before we renovated (and post-renovation before we got the vintage sectional) then played with it in the LA living room – and every time Brian’s like “wait, why don’t we just use this?” and it’s because I always want something that is super unique and more of a statement sofa. But this one is just so comfortable (both for loungers and sitters) and the color is easy, the fabric historically cleaned up well, it’s stylistically so versatile, the seat depth is perfect, the arms are low, etc. Anyway, I’m so glad that we moved it up here because the delays on furniture are so long and we would have just sat here with nothing for a while had I not continued to hoard it. It’s a good one, water damage and all.

The rug is our rug from the living room, too, and I was tempted to sell it to the buyers of that house who wanted it, but I’m SO glad I didn’t. I love this super plush rug and wish I could find a duplicate online (I got it at HD Buttercup). It’s massive and fits this space so well. This house was just renovated and has mostly blank white walls and windows so we need coziness.

I secretly love this built-in bench/sofa in the living room. Even the color of the cushions is good! We might need some morning curtains/shades because the sun blasts if you are sitting on the sofa, but mostly we just move and read the paper at the dining table when that happens (it’s just a bummer on the weekends).

For now, we are using the base of the Katy Skelton bench as the media stand (for that massive new Frame TV, which we wasted no time getting) and then using a woven leather bench from the Rose Bowl I had been hoarding as the coffee table. Brian wants a more solid coffee table so I’m keeping my eye out for a vintage one, but it’s not a high priority. The custom upholstered Target trunk from our bedroom houses legos and we brought up my favorite 3 legged table from Chairish (here’s a super similar one if you are in the market), a Schoolhouse Electric lamp and we are pretty much calling it a day in this room. If I were staying here more long term I’d likely find a big credenza to put on that blank wall, art above it, and lamps on it but unless I find a piece I can take to the farm then I think we’ll just live more minimally in this room. But who knows, the needs might change and we might want more storage (the shoe situation isn’t ideal, IS IT EVER???). I added throws and pillows to make it cozy and good lighting for nighttime.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is lovely to be in – good natural light, a nice blue in the cabinetry and it checks all the boxes.

The dining area is all good, except the overhead light is that super bright/cold LED that this mood-lighting lady can’t handle. So we might either A. replace it with something softer or B. buy an arch lamp that we sneak into the corner. Brian also really wants a rug in here which I historically don’t do, but agree with him here – the space is kinda cold and loud (floors creak, chairs creak, things echo) and a rug would solve most of those problems (especially for winter months).

Upstairs there are three small bedrooms. One that will likely be my office, one that the kids are sharing, and a guest room.

Kids Room

We got two kids full beds from Ikea which I am tempted to do a DIY to (upholster the back and sides, so they are kinda corner day-bed-y things. But I think we all know that first priority is the window coverings. Right now they mainly just sleep in here since there’s a lack of toys and space, but I need to get on the shade situation. The window is up high and 10′ long (with three divided windows) which is a hard window situation to tackle – curtains would gather on the bed, shades would have a decent amount of light leak and very few roller shades or cellular shades are that wide (they tend to be too heavy). So I’m tempted to do individual shades, then maybe figure out how to do a chic cute cafe curtain. Do you guys remember when I did that at Joy’s nursery? I feel like my mission in life is to solve the world’s “light leak” situation. Newer windows make this so much easier, but older frames/houses often just have a lot of blackout window problems.

I don’t mind the blue and doubt I’ll paint it, but I might see if I can find some sticker decals to make it fun for them. Also, that vintage dresser is going to be the vanity in their bathroom so in a couple of months that will need to be replaced. And right now we definitely need more storage in the closets – everything is just on the floor and it’s a real bummer to keep things organized. I like that massive sheepskin in between the beds but am looking for an area rug for the room (again, rugs and textiles are your best friend to make a home cozy, especially in rainy/cold months). As I’m writing this I’m getting slightly more excited to design this room and put some effort in. Besides, as we possibly make new friends I can’t really have people coming into their room for 9 months thinking that this window treatment situation is acceptable. I am an internet-famous design mom after all. LOL.

Oh and yes their bedding. We bought these duvets from Ikea that I already regret (too hot and strangely stiff) and wish I had just waited to order Brooklinen. Same with the mattress – we bought these from Ikea (which are definitely too firm for me) and wish I had the patience to order more plush ones from Tuft & Needle (the kids were just so depressed sleeping on thin twin mattresses on the floor and we wanted them in beds before school started). Or more accurately Brian and I felt so guilty/ashamed that they were on the floor – they were probably fine. So yes, this room is going to get some love at some point…

Small Office

The office is a white box and I think I’m just going to put my Ikea pedestal table in there and a laptop. I need an office chair and might just buy the World Market chair that I loved at the mountain house, unless I can find something vintage that is comfortable. We have a lot of art but as of now, I don’t feel like hanging it up just to bring it down. What I might do is start a mood board for the farm on the days where I need a little pick me up. And I’m sure in winter I’ll want better lighting – a nice warm lamp. Who knows, maybe I’ll be motivated to do a cute window treatment and round rug. Again, right now it’s bright and sunny out, but as the winter comes (the great dark!) I may need some color, pattern, and coziness in here.

Upstairs Bath

The lovely owners of the house hadn’t gotten to this room yet to renovate when they got transferred to a different state, so this bathroom could use some more extensive updating. It’s totally fine for the kids and they like the shower and tub being separate as Charlie has reached alone showering age, and Birdie still likes to play in the tub. I can’t imagine I’ll do much in here unless we have a party and I had cute styling.

Basement

The owners just redid the basement last year to make it a functional space. Down here we have a media/toy room, a big open area (maybe for workouts? or for a craft table?), and laundry. This space in the summer is fine, but I’m thinking that for the winter I’m going to want to make it more inviting – more color/textiles and warmth. I’m so glad I kept that massive Serena & Lily rug and the memory rug pad from the living room. While this area isn’t getting enough use right now I know that we are going to want it. In a perfect world, I’d paint it a cozier color and put in another massive rug (this is why I love wall to wall in a basement). The ’70s knew what they were doing – wood paneling and wall-to-wall is really cozy and inviting. Priscilla and I just finished one of my best friend’s basements with yes, wood paneling and wall to wall (but done in a modern way) and it’s SO AWESOME. Stay tuned:)

We have, yes, another massive TV that we didn’t think we would use here but then realized that the kids watch annoying shows on the weekends and having that upstairs was a bummer. So we just send them down here to listen to Pokemon or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

I don’t know what color I would paint if I end up feeling like it – the wood vinyl flooring is gray so a blue/green would mean two cold colors – I think I just need to spend more time here and see what it wants. Maybe it’s just window treatments and art around the TV? I actually really like that little secondary paneling detail.

Again, I’m glad we shipped up this sofa. It’s clearly too big to be here but it’s a super solid, comfortable piece, and it’s not like the kids care. We bought that stupid gray rug on an impulse at Ikea because we needed a rug “RIGHT NOW”. We didn’t want a super shag because toys/food would get stuck in it but wanted something cozier than a flat weave. But now I think we need a plushier rug in a fun pattern to liven this place up. I keep being Facebook marketed by the Jonathan Adler Ruggable collection which is very tempting.

Primary Bedroom

They put the main bedroom in the basement last year when they updated the house. It’s big enough, just needs some/a lot of warmth. I have not been sleeping well in here as-is and while I didn’t want to invest time in making this cozier and more inviting, I think I need to in order to physically sleep better. We accidentally put the bad mattress down here and the good mattress upstairs, which we are switching (the good mattress is latex and virtually impossible to move – it folds up like a taco and is insanely heavy). I also left all of our best bedding at the mountain house thinking that I had shipped some up here but I didn’t. So we are sleeping with the worst mattress, sheets, pillows, duvet cover (that has way too much texture for us), and no headboard. Shocking that I’m not sleeping well. We bought this rug at Ikea for the kid’s room (likely a mistake) and put it in here for now but I think it needs a massive rug – almost wall to wall to take away the “storage room” vibe of a renovated basement.

There is also this odd area where the dresser is that we need to address. Not sure what that becomes or what need could be filled. Again I don’t want to bring over a bunch of accessories and art just to pack them back up in 8 months, but this area is making me sad and I have cute stuff in storage that could help. It’s also very cold down here, physically so we might need to buy some space heaters. Ideally, we’d paint it a cozier color, we’ll see.

There is a bathroom down here that has a big shower, but no bath and yes I’m missing my bathtub a lot (I would bathe most nights even just for 15 minutes) but I’ve been using my Sauna Blanket on the sofa as a nightly ritual.

So there you have it. Our home for the next 8 months that we are honestly very grateful to have. And again, who knows? Maybe I will do some fun easy projects that aren’t wasteful but only time will tell… likely in the winter:)

The post A Current Tour Of Our New Rental House In Portland appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What You Bought Last Month: Including 6 Home Decor Items That Are Seriously Good

It is always interesting to us to see what products y’all actually add to cart and purchase but these roundup posts are not just for us. You all have told us to keep them coming and we understand why. Put simply, it’s fascinating to see what makes the list and more often than not, the things that do are great deals. August was a long month and we linked up over 100,000 products so to see what makes the top 10 list is pretty dang exciting.

Often these top ten lists are more fashion and beauty heavy, simply because home decor items tend to be pricier/more of a risk to buy online. But NOT TODAY FOLKS. Last month we found and recommended some seriously good home decor products so it is no surprise they made it to the top ten. Today’s list includes 6 awesome home decor pieces, a Caitlin-endorsed massaging tool, plus fashion picks that are crazy affordable and EHD approved. Curious what made the list?? Let’s get into it:

10. Emily’s “Sexy” Summer Sandal

Emily is officially on the Teva-like sandal trend. She recently bought these after one of her best friends who is a fashion stylist convinced her, and she insists they will be your summer shoe for life. The leopard print makes them a little edgier and right now they’re on sale from $68 to $49! If you didn’t buy the first time around, now is your chance. Mallory has them in tan and also can attest to how great they are.

9. Mallory’s $29 Denim Shorts

We are all hugs fans of Madewell shorts and these bad boys were first on sale at $44 and now are down to $29 (originally $74!) so if you’re in the market for some affordable cute cutoffs these are it, folks. They have ample legroom and the slouchy, relaxed fit makes them an effortless summer staple. There are only a few left so act fast my friends!!

8. Caitlin’s Wave Duo & Revive Stick Massage Bundle

Caitlin insists that if you’ve never tried a Theragun out, they absolutely live up to the hype. She has used the Pro before (it usually costs around $600) at workout classes here in LA but the Prime included in this kit is just as good. The Prime packaged with the Wave is such a good deal and the stick of CBD oil is a great touch.

7. Jess’s Minimal Log Holder

Jess bought this log holder for her fireplace which must mean fall weather is around the corner (or at least we hope). She loves it because it’s perfectly simple and modern AND has a removable base plate to easily clean up messes. We think it could also be used to stack books or magazines because it has such a simple, rectangular design.

6. Emily’s Round Vase For $35

While Emily was shopping in person at Target, she stumbled across this gem and had to share. It’s nearly perfect. It’s a great shade of blue (Em’s fav color, duh) and the small mouth and round body makes it really easy to arrange things in. It’s pretty much guaranteed to look great on any shelf.

5. The $75 Wall Art

This Studio Mcgee x Target Piece is SO good and at 36″ x 36″ for only $75 it’s an absolute steal. The moody colors and abstract landscape makes it a stunning yet understated accent piece. It would be a great addition to a gallery wall or on its own as a focal point over a fireplace or credenza. Spoiler Alert: I bought it for myself and cannot wait to see how it looks against my dramatic green walls.

4. Mallory’s $25 Workout Shorts

Mallory always recommends the best workout clothes and these shorts for only $25 do not disappoint. She says the fabric is VERY soft and thin and they don’t have the stupid built-in underwear that most workout shorts have (can we officially get rid of the built-in underwear by the way? It serves no purpose am I right?).

3. The Duvet Cover & Sham From Justina’s New Line At Target

If you haven’t checked out Justina‘s new collection with Target yet, you are seriously missing out. We linked all of our favorite picks in here, but honestly everything in the collection is too good. This black and white stripe duvet cover and sham set can be kept minimal with neutral colors or can be mix and matched with colorful sheets and throws, making it a versatile and exciting bedding option.

2. The Etsy Shop That Has Milking Stools For Days

Emily first introduced this Etsy shop in this post, and after hearing about the existence of milking stools I quickly hopped on board. I thought for sure they would be hard to find but nope, they are all over Etsy and this shop, in particular, has tons of great ones. Now I am curious how many of you bought a milking stool?? Please let me know in the comments!

1. Mallory’s Battery Operated Rattan Pendant Lights

And coming in at #1 are these extremely cute, extremely affordable, and extremely renter-friendly pendant lights. What’s better than that? Mallory found them on Etsy and I am SO glad she did because the world needed to know they exist.

So there you have it. Let us know if you purchased any of these items because we’d love to hear your real reviews. See you in the comments and have a wonderful Friday and weekend. xx

Opener Image Credit: Design and Photo by Keyanna Bowen | From: Blue Walls Be GONE! Key’s Totally Transformed Office Reveal – Maybe The Most Dramatic Before & After Ever (?)

The post What You Bought Last Month: Including 6 Home Decor Items That Are Seriously Good appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What Are Your Biggest (And Funniest) Parenting Fails? I’ll Start…

One of my favorite topics of conversation amongst our friends is our worst parenting fails. Not the ones where someone actually gets hurt or stems from any sort of malice, but just the everyday “whoops” that are funny. Most of mine revolve around not having good judgment about what “fun stuff” is appropriate or safe. This is usually when Brian isn’t home as he has far better judgment than I. For instance, the time I let them play with a big bag of baking flour (outside, but still – I was cleaning it up for weeks and no, adding water does NOT HELP) To be fair IT WAS SO FUN!! Understandably they threw it everywhere like magic dust and covered their entire bodies and hair in it. It made its way inside and was all over the furniture and rugs – for weeks). Brian came home and was HORRIFIED.

Or the time that I let three kids (2 were mine) stab a big cardboard box with screwdrivers (I thought that assigning them each a side would somehow negate the violence in which they yielded their stabber). It got out of control almost immediately with violent stabs near all their hands (not at each other). Whoops. I had to apologize for that one for a while (and to the other mom) and the fallout sucked. When I desperately screamed at them to stop before there was an injury (realizing my mistake), I had 3 pissed kids on my hands because I had just given them a taste of something they had always wanted to do, it was the most fun 2 minutes of their lives.

Then there was the time (and this one is scary) that I wanted to turn our new castle slide into a waterslide, so I put the hose at the top of it to let it flow down. Charlie got up there and before we could see what was about to happen, he flew down, caught so much air – like 18″ off the slide, and came within inches of slamming his head against a boulder and knocking out all his teeth or worse (he was 3). To be fair, I was with two other parents for that one who also thought it was a “fun” idea, and we hired a boulder mover the next day and never did it again. We were all out of our minds terrified at the poor judgment. It was a very close call and was 100% my fault.

We joke that I need a hotline when I’m alone with them – someone to call and ask if it’s ok if they, say, use blue tape to create a matrix-style trap system throughout the second floor of our house. I mean that sounds like fun!!! Of course, the bummer is that everything that is super fun as a kid is also extremely messy. The mud party in the backyard. The time we filled a mini pool with these I’m sure highly toxic and never-biodegradable jelly balls (sorry, planet), the time I let them have a silly string fight outside (sorry, planet – don’t do this, we cleaned it up for WEEKS). The “apartment complex” we made out of 9 boxes (and I didn’t check the weather so they were all disgusting and soggy after the rain and couldn’t even be recycled). Unfortunately, but not surprisingly the consequences can make me feel like quite the idiot sometimes.

The problem is that I’m a 7 enneagram (driven by what’s fun with high enthusiasm for it) and I’m also the 4th out of 6 kids from the ’80s with very little supervision so I know what I did at certain ages, and it’s hard for me not to let them repeat the fun, even if it’s dangerous by today’s standards. FYI, I’m super strict/scared around cars, fires, and bodies of water. I don’t let them just play in the front yard without supervision and the fact that they can both swim now is the biggest weight gone (pools without gates gave me nightmares). I’m also not a “yes mom” when it comes to sugar, inappropriate TV or video games (yet), etc. See? I’m not the worst…

When You “Lose It” In A Hilarious Way

One time, when I was SO FED UP at them for not helping clean up their play attic, it’s like a demon took over my body. It was unbelievably messy, and it wasn’t the first time (duh). I was up there helping them (HOT TIP: kids can’t really clean by themselves till they are around 7-8), I put on a musical to listen to, I made it a game, I gave them specific jobs, tons of encouragement! Team Henderson! blah blah, blah – ALL THE TOOLS, they STILL wouldn’t listen to me and I just lost it. I looked around at how spoiled these kids were, how many toys and crafts they had, and how disgusting it was that they couldn’t even clean up after themselves and take care of their disgusting toys that they got because they are so spoiled. Of course, I’m mostly mad at myself for those things, I lost it. But I didn’t know how to get their attention or “lose it”. How does a hipster parent who doesn’t believe in corporal punishment get their kids to listen to them??? I didn’t know!!! So in my fit of rage, I picked up one of their favorite stuffies – the one that was closest to me and f***cking CHUCKED IT so. hard. at its “bin”, violently, like with my whole body. I may have audibly screamed/roared while doing it. They both started bawling, ran to me apologizing then I started bawling and apologizing and it was quite the family moment. I even apologized to “kitty cat” the stuffy, who wasn’t hurt because it’s a stuffed animal, but she didn’t deserve to be the victim of my parent temper tantrum.

We talked a lot about our feelings that day, what signs of frustration are and now it’s like a cautionary tale – like don’t let me get to the “stuffy” point. Days later it was actually hilarious and I know that many of you are thinking “that’s what you call losing it?” But it was terrifying to them because it’s not how I usually lose it (usually bursting into tears) and when your parent acts totally out of character kids get scared. I also realized afterward that I was on a round of steroids for an allergy-related asthma attack at the time, so I actually think I had roid rage, which makes it even funnier.

Desperate Things We Say??

What about the time that I was so frustrated about them not listening that I showed them footage of military schools and while I didn’t tell them that we were going to send them to one, I implied that most parents would if their kids didn’t listen like this. They started crying that we were going to drop them off, that they wouldn’t live with us anymore and they were SO SAD. We felt AWFUL (Brian was in on that one, it wasn’t planned but we just let it get out of control together).

What about the time where I was so tired, so exhausted that I offered Charlie $20 to put him and his sister down (I think they were 3 and 5). I was totally desperate and serious. He said yes at first but as you can imagine no, my 5-year-old did not put himself and his toddler sister to bed.

I could actually go on but I’m starting to feel, you know, shame. So it’s your turn – it can be anonymous, but I think the world needs to hear more parenting fails – not the serious ones where someone actually gets hurt or worse, but the hand in the face ones where the kids aren’t necessarily scarred but you learned something about yourself and you have a funny or crazy story – you know, like me and my poor “fun judgment”. But seriously there is a hole in the market. We need a ‘”Is it ok if my kids do this?” hotline? …

The post What Are Your Biggest (And Funniest) Parenting Fails? I’ll Start… appeared first on Emily Henderson.

After Working For Leanne Ford, Anita Yokota, AND Living In A Van For 6 Months, You GOTTA See What Bronte Athearn Did To Her DTLA Loft

Before I dive into talking about the loft, I’d love to share a few moments leading up. Last summer when Covid became a harsh reality, my partner Jordan and I bought a van, and decided to leave Los Angeles for six months. We explored 32 states, took very few showers, saw dozens of National Parks, and eventually ended up in Brooklyn. We had become true nomads and had completely altered our habitual routine.

Living on the road, I had fallen in love with two things: the big city and the wilderness. I’m so grateful to have gone from exploring rural Montana where your only neighbor is bison and tall pine trees to exploring the Big Apple where your neighbors are street vendors and tall buildings.

We thought about staying in New York for a while but ultimately with my and Jordan’s work, we decided Los Angeles would be home for the time being. (Jordan is a filmmaker and I’m an interior stylist).

I didn’t always know I wanted to pursue interiors. I just knew I needed to do something creative with my life. 

After college, I was floating. Questioning what to do with my Studio Art degree. I considered painting or even graphic design. Then, my career aspirations ended up completely changing when I became interior designer Leanne Ford’s assistant. Watching her transform a blank canvas into a masterpiece people could live in was an entirely new art form to me – one I was completely enamored by. I knew I would have A LOT to learn but that this was the path I wanted to pursue.

After working for Leanne, I decided to try out interior styling. I love interior styling because you get to collaborate with designers and other creatives. I’m currently a freelance interior stylist and have been consistently working on a range of projects with interior designer Anita Yokota. 

As every creative knows, it’s important to give yourself a balance of space and time to grow to find your own creative voice. I saw our future LA apartment as the perfect canvas to play with a creative approach that was uniquely my own.

Once we made our way back to Los Angeles the apartment hunt began. We toured at least 10 apartments before stumbling across a loft listed on Craigslist. We set up a tour, fell in love with its character and charm, applied then got approved to move in the next day. 

Crazy how some things just work out.

Moving day was a hilarious sight – picture a 1,200 sq ft open space with the only piece of “furniture” a queen-sized mattress on the floor.

It was time to start from scratch and I was ready for the challenge.

First Project: The Kitchen

I went back and forth on what to do. After all, this loft is a rental. Our landlord gave us the OK to paint the cabinets. Which then led to the question: “What color?!” I knew I’d be keeping the majority of the space neutral with tons of plants – so I wanted to tie in an earthy green that reminded me of the many trees we saw on our road trip. Jordan was hesitant to paint the cabinets… so I actually waited to paint when he was out of town to surprise him LOL. He came home to a very green kitchen. Don’t worry, he loves it.

Paper Lantern (ellipse) | White Kitchen Knobs | Cabinet Paint

The color I chose is Evergreen in Semi-Gloss and I also replaced the hardware with very affordable white knobs from Amazon. The green cabinets ended up complimenting the existing countertops so I decided to leave ’em be.

Second Project: Designing The Bookshelf

Rug

When it came to designing the space, I wanted to highlight what was already there – the tall windows, original hardwood floors and brick walls, the wood burning fireplace, and 12ft ceilings. I ended up sketching an 8 ft long, 12 ft high open bookshelf to wrap around the ceiling beams. This would divide the bedroom and living room space while still maintaining the loft/studio vibe.

Paper Lanter (large round) | Bed Frame | Bedding | Nightstands (no longer available) | Circle Vase

We consulted four different contractors/woodworkers to build the bookcase and all of them quoted between $4,000 -$7,000. Which was too expensive, especially for the loft being a rental. Then it dawned on us that maybe Jordan’s dad, Mark, could build it! He’s flipped dozens of houses and is very talented. Mark had all the pieces cut so that all we had to do was install. On the day of install we realized our old floors are slightly slanted – so he ended up having to cut each post to fit the slant in the floor. Somehow each post is a different height but all the shelves look straight. Still don’t know how he managed to pull that off but so happy he did. The entire bookshelf ended up costing us less than $500.

Filing Cabinets |Desk Chairs

Another fun piece we made was our 10-foot desk. It was important to Jordan and me to have a nice spacious workspace. However, it was hard to find a long desk. I ended up going to a local lumber yard and got a 10-foot slab of butcher block then bought three IKEA filing cabinets. This was the perfect solution and cost less than $500.

Third Project: Choosing The Furniture

(vintage) | Drink Table

Left Art: Vintage from Saasaan | Right Art: Desert House Party by Slim Aarons

When it came to choosing the furniture, I remembered our time in the van – waking up in a different state every morning with a different view of nature. I couldn’t help but want to bring natural elements into our industrial loft. So, I styled the space with branches and rocks I found from our road trip mixed with aged leathers, woven rugs, and vintage furniture. Some of my favorite finds are our vintage cane dining chairs from , and of course Leanne Ford’s chairs she designed for Crate and Barrel. I also befriended this guy named Saasaan who travels to Europe every couple months and brings back a shipping container full of vintage furniture. He has a warehouse a few blocks from our loft. I got our coffee table, dining table, leather chairs, and artwork from him.

I love vintage shopping because you get to have one-of-a-kind pieces making any space extra special. I’ve learned a few tricks to vintage shopping:

Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you should buy it – I used to buy cheap decor or furniture all the time just because of the price. Reality is, you’ll only use it for a few months before it ends up in the back of your closetIt doesn’t have to be in perfect shape – I am all about pieces that look lived in. My favorite is vintage leather… I love the way leather ages, it’s timeless.Look for local mom-and-pop thrift shops/flea markets near you – I’ve come to find that “Trendy” thrift shops are overpriced and local thrift shops or flea markets tend to have better finds.Facebook Marketplace is your new best friend – to be honest, the only reason I still use Facebook is for FB Marketplace. I found our HD Buttercup leather sofa there for 80% off the original price.Don’t rush – It’s almost impossible to find anything when you’re under pressure. Take your time and visit your local thrift shops frequently. When you visit consistently, you avoid settling for something you’re not completely in love with.

Dress

I’m so excited that the loft is complete and to be back in Los Angeles. Though, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about where we’ll explore next.

*Design by Bronte Athearn
**Photos by Veronica Crawford

The post After Working For Leanne Ford, Anita Yokota, AND Living In A Van For 6 Months, You GOTTA See What Bronte Athearn Did To Her DTLA Loft appeared first on Emily Henderson.