Emily Henderson's Blog, page 16

Trend or Timeless? This Classic Pattern Is Everywhere Right Now (Dot, Dot, Dot)

There I was innocently shopping with one of my best friends and I spotted a polka dot mini skirt that my heart was telling me to try on. But “heart,” my brain said, “We don’t really wear polka dots. It’s not our style.” To that, my heart said, “Hush, let me try something new!” And try I did. Actually, my friend tried on that very same skirt and we both walked out of the store with new matching polka skirts. Since then polka dots have been everywhere I look, from Old Navy to Sezane to Hanifa. Polka dots are obviously not new in any way, a true classic if you will, but this version, a potentially fresh version where the dots are bigger and bolder has me veeeeeery interested in a way I’ve never been.

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So yes, this polka dot resurgence trend isn’t the tiny dots of yore. They are larger and tend to be more spaced out. Even the celebs are out here all dotted up (don’t worry that incredible chic set Jackie Tohn is wearing is below:))! There truly are so many incredible and cool options online that it was extremely hard to make cuts. I might even consider grabbing another piece for myself. So whether you have loved polka dots since birth or like me are just warming up to the idea, I think there is really something for everyone here. Let’s take a look!

Martina Jacket | Camillo Trousers

I had to put Jackie’s outfit up first because it’s perfect. And what’s even better is that not only can you obviously wear them together for a bold but chic polka dot look, they are so fun as separates. Plus, Sezane’s quality is so so good. I really love the brown and cream mix because it feels so versatile for spring, summer, and fall!

Lorenza Blouse | Marlo Knit Top

It was hard not to include all of Sezane’s new polka dot items but I had to put in this button-blouse (and a few more down below and you’ll see why:)). The slight puff sleeve, the adorable neckline, it’s just one of those versatile tops that can be a little dressy or dressed down more casually. Regardless you will look effortlessly put together. And see what I mean about these medium to large dot sizes. They feel fresher which is why I think I’m now all of a sudden more drawn to them. Now, this sleeveless black top is giving sexy but in a modest way. I have one of their tops with the same neckline and I love it. It’s simple and sophisticated. But adding in those big cream dots makes this top so fun (I love how cream is less of a contrast to bright white)! Another one you could put under a blazer or just wear with jeans.

Draped Mesh Top | Short-Sleeve Tie-Front Top

And speaking of sexy polka dot tops these two are right in that category. The cuts are modest but if you want to show a little skin that option is there for you. I love the angled hemline of the mesh top a lot and if you aren’t up for the bra look, I think a thin black tank top would totally work under this too. Now, the white puff sleeve cutie is very deceiving which is kinda what I love most about it. It looks very sweet and modest but you will be showing a little skin down the middle;)

Cause a Scene Wide Leg Pants

If you prefer the more classic black and white polka dot look, I LOVE these pants. Some of the sizes are sold out but this brand goes up to a 3x! I really like the size of the dots and how spread out they are. These make me want to continue my journey of being a “cool pants and top” person rather than a “cute top and jeans” person:) Both “people” are great but having fun pants, whether that be a cool print or a fun cut, has been such a blast.

Beverly Cream Spot Strapless Top | Beverly Cream Spot Pant

Like, what!? CHIC!!!!! I know this style of a two-piece set isn’t for everyone but I do want to be her. Again, there’s a lot of negative space between the dots which I’m clearly a fan of, and the loose, easy breezy vibe/fit also makes the polka dots feel different. I guess I’ve always associated polka dots with 1950s (?) style which is so cute but has never been my personal style. So to see them in styles that are more current is also why I think I’m coming around to them more.

Stella Jumpsuit

Sezane? Why, of course! This is a beautiful but playful jumpsuit that again, could be dressed up or down! The draping effect they did on the bust is so cool and it’s just such a cool look. Below is the beautiful model, Jennifer Atilémile, in this jumpsuit so you can see it in action:

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A post shared by Jennifer Atilémile (@jenniferatilemile)

Claire Skirt | High-Waisted Taffeta Midi Skirt

Now let’s talk skirts, shall we? Both of these are wonderful but have some differences. The skirt on the left has those bigger dots (my fav), is a little less full, and has that sweet button detail on the side. It’s also $168. The skirt on the right is a little fuller, has pockets, is high-waisted, and is only $40. Both great!

New Gwyneth Slip Skirt

This one is of course extra fun because it’s blue! The dots are bigger but closer together which makes it visually a little busier but also so fun! And not for nothing, J. Crew’s site is 40% off right now and this best-selling skirt is included…

Pierra Skirt | Soelle Skirt

Well, I can’t be stopped. These are both Sezane and make me want to walk around Paris popping in and out of cafes. I don’t think I have to say much because the photos speak for themselves. But what I will say is this may need to be a polka dot Easter with all of these cute options! And we haven’t even talked about the dresses yet.

Cecily Dress | Alexa Linen Maxi Shirt Dress

I mean, if these two dresses don’t scream Easter or just springtime in general I don’t know what does. The dress on the left not only has the prettiest cut but it’s J. Crew so this puppy is over $50 off! Then that linen shirt dress might be one of the most joyful dresses (casual category) I’ve seen in a minute. That blue is stunning, the large dots are awesome, and all of the other details are so pretty. It doesn’t come in other colors but this is the only polka dot option. Oh, and it’s a Boden dress which I know so many of you love:)

Colourblock Halter Jumpsuit

And because we love Boden too, look at this jumpsuit! Again, the color is the best and the contrast belt + neckline somehow makes it better. I think it would be very difficult to have a bad day if you were wearing this.

Harper Maxi Dress

Ok. This one isn’t your average polka dot dress and my god is it something special. It’s from a brand called Hanifa and if you are looking for A LOOK that’s beautifully made look no further. I have a piece from them and it’s incredible. But this dress, in particular, is nothing short of a showstopper.

Ultraviolet Dress | Aurelia Dress

For some polka dots that lean a little more classic, the brown dress is so pretty, a bestseller, and has a slightly open back for a little surprise. The dress on the right is perfect for a spring wedding, right? It’s so fun, stretchy, and slightly colorful. You are also pretty covered with just those shoulders popping out to say hi. Oh, and both are under $150!

Rosie Dress | Shyla Dress

Both of these beauts are super classic and elegant but also versatile for different occasions. These are a little more expensive than the last two but given the retailers, great quality. And you can’t tell from this photo but the black one has the CUTEST scalloped collar (?) along the neckline. You should absolutely go to the site to see it.

Satin Cowl Maxi Dress | Laura Black Spot Silk Maxi Dress

And here we are at the end. For those who love a slip-type of dress, I love these two. The one on the right is a little dressier and the bra situation could be tricky but if you can believe it, it’s from OLD NAVY and is only $50! I was so impressed when I saw it on the site. The other option is definitely more expensive but it looks like you can easily wear it with a standard bra and looks like you could wear it more casually to like say brunch:)

That’s it for me today! Did I gently sway my fellow non-polka dot-wearing friends? Did any catch your eye? Do you still prefer the mini-sized dot??

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Styling by Suzanne Trudelle | Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: Six Fall Sweaters I’m Loving (+ How To Wear Them)

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Published on April 12, 2025 01:00

We Tested 11 Rug Pads For Keeping Your Rugs In Place And Padded (And You Bet We Found The Best Ones!)

Throwing down a rug is one of the easiest ways to cozy up a room and as you know cozy is a top priority over here. A rug can help define a living space, soften up a bedroom, or provide some cushion under your feet down a long hallway. Rugs are versatile and impactful, but they’ve had a decades-long problem of staying put or even staying comfortable. Buying a rug pad is intended to solve this problem, but can become a problem all on its own when trying to figure out which one is best for you. Different rug pads are meant for different things and we’ve tested a bunch across the board to find the best ones to recommend. This was a VERY important post for us to research and write because as you know Emily has been a cushy rug pad fanatic for years now and wants all of you to experience the joy it can bring to your feet.

We did the real deal, in-person research so please read on to see the full breakdown for each one, but to save you some scroll time…

Here Are Our Top Picks!

BEST THIN & GRIPPY: nuLOOM Eco-Friendly Rug Pad | BEST VALUE: Mohawk Home Non Slip Rug Pad Gripper

BEST THICK & GRIPPY: RUGPADUSA Dual Surface | BEST LUXURY CUSHION: RUGPADUSA Memory Foam

Okay, now let’s break it down!

The Classic Rubber Grip Pad

If your main concern is movement, a rubber gripping pad works well under a rug to provide more traction. These are best used under runners or smaller kitchen and bathroom rugs–areas where rugs see a lot of daily movement. Overall, these rubber grips don’t provide a ton of cushion or extra comfort to the rug like a felted pad might. But they can do a good job of keeping a high-traffic rug in place. Here’s our thoughts on the three we tested:

RUGPADUSA Super Lock Natural

The RUGPADUSA brand came up a lot in our search, and for good reason. Their products are really great quality. This rug pad worked exactly like it said would. The material felt very durable, gripped well to the underside of the rug and the floor, was super easy to trim, and provided a little bit of cushion, too! But at almost $70 for a 2’x8′ runner size, this gripper was way more expensive than the others we tried.

Vekken Rug Pad Gripper

This rug gripper felt pretty cheap right out of the packaging and held onto its creases from being folded up. But once down, it did hold the rug in place pretty well and you couldn’t feel the folds when walking over the rug. That said, you couldn’t feel anything because this gripper was super thin. It was very easy to trim, comes in many sizes, and was the most inexpensive option of the three. BUT it’s made of polyvinyl chloride and cannot be used on certain flooring types, like natural stone or concrete, without leaving a residue.

Gorilla Grip Extra Strong Gripper

The Gorilla Grip rug pad was soft and squishy and provided a very strong grip under the rug. It comes in many sizes, was also super easy to cut, and came at a decent price. The larger spacing between the grippy blobs and the bits that connect them is said to help with airflow, but it does feel like it creates more potential for ripping or deterioration because of this. Not to mention, this rug pad smelled pretty bad. Very chemically right out of the package, but it was only super noticeable up close.

Even though it was the most expensive, the winner for us in this category was the RUGPADUSA Super Lock Natural. Our photographer Kaitlin even took it home with her to use under her entry rug because she liked it so much. HOWEVER, below you’ll find that for about the same price, some of the other felt pads (with grips) work just as well or better than rubber alone for a better value.

Felt And Cushioned Pads

Nowadays, many people are looking for added cushion under their rugs. Especially for larger area rugs, a layer of squishy batting can feel so luxurious under your feet. But not all felted pads are created equal. Some are meant to be super cushion-y with no intention of providing anti-slip technology, while others are thin enough the cushion goes undetected and grippy enough to keep that rug locked down. We tried a handful of options here:

1/8″ Cushion

Enjoy Holiday 1981 Non Slip Rug Pad

This Enjoy Holiday 1981 rug pad came recommended across some other internet lists. It’s pretty thin at only 1/8″ and with its rubber backing, it gripped to the hardwood quite well. But the felt side was too soft and didn’t hold to the rug itself very well. We tested it in the runner size, but other customers have complained about the larger sizes (like a 6’x9′) coming with a hefty, visible seam, leaving a lump in the rug. At about $30 for the runner size, it was fairly inexpensive, but this one just wasn’t our favorite.

nuLOOM Eco-Friendly Rug Pad

If you’d like a minimal cushion felt pad that also grips, we recommend going with the nuLOOM. Looks can be a bit deceiving with this one. The grip pattern on the underside is unlike the previous four–not very rubbery at first glance–and the material overall felt a little cheap in hand. But once we put it to the test, we were pleasantly surprised. The tiny flowery grips pack a punch and the scratchy felt side really latches onto the rug. We ran and jumped and slid across this runner/rug pad combo and she didn’t move. Annoyingly, this one doesn’t come in a standard 2’x8′ size, but we bought two 2’x4′ pads and laid them next to each other and they worked great. Also coming in at about $30 for a runner, this one is our winner in the thin category.

1/4″ Cushion

BAGAIL Felt And Natural Rubber

Bumping it up to the next cushion level is the BAGAIL 1/4″ felt pad. This one, much like the nuLOOM, has that super scratchy felt, gripping tightly to the underside of the rug. It comes with a rubber underside that stood up pretty well against the hardwoods and our running/walking tests, but we did see some movement with the Tom Cruise Test (the run and slide a la Risky Business). It came a little big but was super easy to cut to size. This one is a good choice, a fair price, and comes in all the sizes, but we’d say it’s best suited for slightly larger or thicker rugs where the weight helps to keep it in place.

Mohawk Home Non Slip Rug Pad Gripper

Next up is Mohawk Home, and with a name like that, there’s no way this pad isn’t rockin’! It has a minimal but decent 1/4″ cushion, that same scratchy felt that we love, and a similar but slightly more robust rubber grip side than the previous contender. It passed all movement tests with flying colors and was also an easy trim job. There was a faint factory smell right out of the package, but hardly bothersome to us. Offered at the same price point as the BAGAIL, but lower than many others on our trial list, we’d choose this one.

A 1/4″ cushioned pad is perfect for adding just a little, but not too much cushion to a flat-woven rug. However, Mohawk offers the same pad in both a 1/2″ and 3/8″ thickness as well. Thicker pads like these don’t work as well with super thin rugs as they can kind of make them look like they’re mysteriously floating on the ground. But you can (and should) give your thicker rug pad about 2″ of space on all sides to allow the rug to cascade down to the floor.

3/8″ Cushion And Up

RUGPADUSA Dual Surface

Speaking of a thicker cushion, next up is the RUGPADUSA Dual Surface. This pad provides a hefty 3/8″ cushion AND a grippy underside. The felt is scratchy (our preferred) and the rubber grips well to the floor, with only very slight shifting in our run/walk tests. It felt great to walk across it, definitely providing a new level of padding.

RUGPADUSA Dual Surface

But at 3/8″ thickness, this bad boy was tough to cut. Felt this thick tends to be, but with the addition of a rubber grip, it was even more of a challenge to trim. If you have the patience for this, an area rug that needs some good padding and some stay-putness, then this is a great option. That said, it’s a little bit on the pricier side, but the quality feels worth it. The brand also offers this Dual Surface gripper in 1/8″ and 1/4″ thickness for slightly less, but this was our winner for best lux cushion WITH a grip.

RUGPADUSA Basic 1/2″

Sticking with RUGPADUSA, their Basics line is where it’s at when it comes to cushion. If what you’re looking for is added noise suppression or extra comfort, and only if your rug is large and heavy enough (or you have furniture to keep the pad in place) this 1/2″ rug pad is great. The scratchy felt once again latches nicely to the rug, but the super soft felt side keeps your floor protected. The only downsides here are that the soft felt tends to pull a little and due to its thickness, it’s another tricky one to trim–but not impossible. But we would not recommend this rug pad if traction is your goal.

RUGPADUSA Basics 1/4″

We tried this Basics line out in two sizes and both were great for adding padding. If more cushion and comfort are what you seek, go with the 1/2″ or 3/8″. But if you’re okay with just a little extra oompf, the 1/4″ thickness still made a noticeable enough difference in comfort. Again, though, no added traction with these! Best used in places where the rug is anchored by furniture already.

RUGPADUSA Memory Foam

For our final cushion act, may we introduce you to the RUGPADUSA Memory Foam option? Talk about some cushion! This rug pad has you feeling like you’re walking on a cloud (or a mattress topper). You sink into it as you walk across and it feels nice. The product is quite heavy and the material has a natural stay power so we’d argue that this is a good grip option too. It’s 7/16″ thick, putting it just barely under the 1/2″ mark, but arguably feels more comfy/cushiony. This is also the one that Emily has and LOVES.

It’s a pain to cut, about as annoying as the thicker felt options. Plus, the price point here is steep! It’s more than double what the Basics 1/2″ felt pad costs, but if money isn’t your concern, we really love this rug pad for its luxury feel. The one pictured under our Merrick rug is currently at the River House and they swear by it.

Rug Tape And Sticky Grips

To round out this long list of options, we’ve added a few quick-fix treatments if a full-sized pad just isn’t your jam. Sometimes the issue with rugs is less about padding or traction and more about keeping the rug laying flat. Often the corners on rugs, especially a woven rug, can curl up over time. We tested three products intended to keep corners down and rugs in place. Here are our thoughts:

Gorilla Grip Sticky Pads

These corner grips are SUPER sticky. Like extremely so. The product adheres strongly to both the rug and the floor and goes nowhere! It shouldn’t leave any residue on your hardwoods (it didn’t when we tested it) but it WILL take off fibers from the back of your rug when removed. These grips are best used only once, intended to keep the rug stuck in the same place. It can be a little cumbersome to make sure the corners are aligned the right way, and placed on the correct side, but they’re a fairly inexpensive option at around $2/sticker if your main concern is corner flippage.

Home Techpro Grippers

These Home Techpro Grippers are less of an adhesive and more of a vacuum suction to the ground. The grooves in the stick-on pads help to grip onto the ground. There is a slight stickiness feeling to the pad, but felt like it was getting less sticky with every touch. It did seem to work as it claims, staying in place with our movement tests, and it didn’t leave behind a floor residue. These are probably the safest bet for holding down tricky corners if you’re fearful about adhesive transfer.

Carpet Tape

This rug tape was our least favorite of the three in this category. While the one pro is that you can cut it to any desired length, it’s really easy for this crazy-sticky tape to cling to itself before you even get the chance to stick it down. It’s inexpensive, sure, but there are reviews about it leaving behind a sticky residue (which may cost you more in the long run) and questions about its sticking longevity. Kaitlin has used this tape previously and had a hard time with both.

So that’s our official rug pad review round-up! A few great winners, some in-betweeners, and some definite NOs. If you took the time to read through every review, we thank you! But regardless, we appreciate you taking a look and let us know if you like these types of posts. We hope this helps you find the rug pad right for you!

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on April 11, 2025 01:00

How To NOT Design Your Kid’s Room – A Cautionary Tale

I love a good cautionary tale, where you get to hear how someone else messed up their life in the name of you avoiding repeating their mistake. I hesitate to write this like I do all things where I have to go back on a design decision, but it has come up a lot with my friends recently, and a warning to you all felt necessary. So here is your dose of “blogger Schadenfreude” for the month – If my failures make you happy then today is your day. I feel pretty dumb, but all design failures are great lessons to learn, risks are taken, and therefore pitfalls are constant. You see my wonderful daughter who I honestly can’t say enough good things about now “strongly dislikes” her wallpaper (she knows not to say hate, but that’s the sentiment). Her room is so freaking cute and she will absolutely admit it, but to her, it feels like a little girl’s room. And she is 9 1/2 – NOT a little girl anymore. So let’s back up and go step by step on how we got here:

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a refresh of the kids’ room in the mountain house

2020 – We finally got into escrow on our home and we were so excited. We lived in lockdown at the mountain house which is famously neutral. “why doesn’t our house have any color” was the consistently taunting question.

2021 – We moved up to Portland and while renting a house nearby I started designing their rooms – desperate to start doing the fun stuff (and to avoid thinking about the daunting renovation that felt neverending at the time). Elliot LOVES design, color, and pattern – she wanted to be very involved and boy was it fun to do it with her. I know we shouldn’t label our children but this girl is extremely enthusiastic and easily excited about all the things (likely a 7 enneagram like her mother, although she has STRONG 3 tendencies – also like her mother). She wanted to be a huge part of the process and honestly, it was just so fun for me – zero regrets on how I went about it, by the way. She is so hard to say no to. We went on Pinterest together and most of what she loved was a hard no for me (unicorns, fairies, etc – both of which I like but I knew she would regret those as wallpaper) but what I gleaned from her is that she wanted color and pattern – AND SO DID I!!! But as she aptly puts it now, “I was six, Mom. Who lets a 6-year-old make a long-term decision?”. LOL (She’s 9 1/2 now).

photo by kaitlin green | from: birdie’s wallpaper room + what’s next

We decided on this awesome butterfly wallpaper by Schumacher which I honestly thought had more negative space, but regardless it is indeed fun as heck. While it was busier than I could handle in my own bedroom she loved it and we designed the room around it. We didn’t use temporary wallpaper or pre-pasted and I’m not even sure if the wallpaper installer primed it beforehand (which would make it easier to remove). That’s all to say this paper isn’t permanent, but it’s not easy to take down either.

photo by kaitlin green | from: birdie’s bedroom reveal

2022-2024 – She loved her room – I mean, it’s incredibly cute. I won’t claim that she knew how lucky she was to have her mom be a designer who creates this as her job (she’s a kid, it’s not her job to instinctively know how the world is run and how privileged she is). But I do know that she loved it… for a while and felt really thankful. She showed it off to her friends proudly and we gushed together about how fun it was and how it represented so perfectly her personality.

2024 – Now. Well, she grew up. Starting about a year ago (so like a year after it was done) she got it in her head that the wallpaper is for little girls and no one wants to be older, bigger, or more teenager-y than an 8-year-old girl. It started small and not bratty at all, just comments like “When will I be able to redo my room?” and I didn’t shame her for those comments, I want her to express what she wants, but I also didn’t comply. While I was of course annoyed with an internal “WTF??”, I realized quickly that the annoyance was with my past naive self, not her.

It’s My Fault…I Know!!

So let me be very clear, the culprit here is ME, not her. She is a sweet pre-tween who wants her room to have the flexibility to grow with her changing styles. I was the mom that wanted to put hot pink butterflies on my 6-year-old’s walls without playing out the long game. It’s totally normal to reject the “little girl” style as you are trying to find your own voice and independence into the tween years. DOH.

What Does She Want To Change It To?

Purple. Chartreuse. Lavender. It changes daily and with passion. She currently HATES hot pink, but I think that’s because her cousin currently hates it. She also is “over” Taylor Swift in favor of Olivia Rodrigo, which she will likely be over soon. Now you might have a kid that doesn’t care about design/style in which case you might be able to take a big design swing and they won’t want to change it ever. But I think because of my job, my kids actually want their rooms to look like them, they care about style. Their brains are rapidly growing, therefore their personalities are developing daily, which means their personal style is shifting at warp speed. These tween years are wild (I love them so much) because they still sleep with stuffies and yet fight me about not letting them be YouTube Stars (nope). She’s begging for crop tops and to wear heels and makeup, claiming she’s “almost a grownup” and I have to actively shut my mouth to not blurt out “Girl, you don’t like vegetables yet”. She’s just being exactly the age that she should be, stretching and pushing and doing it totally respectfully by the way. I LOVE watching them right now become their whole own person. (If you don’t follow Lisa Damour you HAVE TO – she is the best teen psychologist on the internet and loves celebrating all things teen and is FULL of incredible mantras and advice).

Kids are meant to grow, change, push back, seek their own identity away from their parents…Which is why I feel badly about my mistake – I should have never made a big semi-permanent style decision in her room when she was 7, even if she did want it. I locked her in to hot pink butterflies and cute or not, they don’t feel like her anymore.

What Should I Have Done Instead?

photo by kaitlin green | from: my niece’s colorful tween bedroom reveal

Just painted it a relatively neutral color or white and let her decorate it however she wanted it. It’s what I did for her cousins’ bedroom (seen here) which I think is the right move. furniture that can grow with them, but enough negative space for them to show off their personality – nothing stylistically permanent. The rooms that they love on TV are full of posters, polaroids, and SO MUCH CLUTTER – these little relics they collect that provoke emotion and start to build their identity. So by putting a busy pattern on her wall, with butterflies, and in bright colors she feels locked in and she’s not wrong. She still puts posters all over it and rearranges everything all the time to look a bit “cooler”. I love that she cares and that she feels empowered to have a personal style and to voice it. I just wish I hadn’t locked her in so much.

So What Are We Going To Do? Change it?

Nothing for now. I mostly deflect (it comes up a lot) but when pushed I say that when she is 13 we can revisit the conversation (which will be 6 years from install – she does NOT like this answer as it feels like 50 years away). When REALLY pushed I’ve told her she can save her money to take it down and paint, but we both know that’s dumb and unfair. This was my fault, not hers and I am the one that needed to be taught a lesson that she gets to witness. Now don’t hold me to the 13-year-old thing, who knows, but as of now, it’s not changing anytime soon. She also recently mentioned wanting to move into the guest room when she’s a teen so she can have her own bathroom because “Mama, a boy and a girl teenager can NOT share a bathroom” which is 100% not true (but with two bathrooms up there she’s also not wrong to conclude they might each have their own space at some point). If she moves into the guest bedroom then we could keep this one as a really whimsical guest room or maybe by then I’ll let myself off the hook and peel it off. But for now, we aren’t doing anything about it. It feels far too wasteful to only have it for soon to be 3 years especially when I should be a far better example on the internet. I have to live with my mistake (it’s also so cute still so it’s not as painful for me:))

Lesson Learned…

But what I won’t do again and what I urge you not to do is lock your kid into a very specific style especially when they are entering their tween years. I actually think her first or second nursery (both light tree murals hilariously) had more longevity than this one, so I really did make an egregious choice. I love the energy of this wallpaper but it’s a lot, it’s everywhere and it does skew younger (especially if you do NOT want to be little anymore). I think some patterns and colors have more age/style flexibility so if you are inclined you could probably still go for it. And I think changing a room is not abnormal, especially for those of us who really enjoy doing it with our kids. But giving them room, space, and time to find and change their style in their one and only personal space is really important to them and I kinda blew that one.

photo by kaitlin green | from: charlie’s room update/progress with a thrifted 80s vibe

With Charlie (my 11-year-old boy), he LOVES his room as-is (neon lights, skateboard lamp, posters, a big round chair) so until he wants to shift or asks for my help I won’t be investing time/energy/money into it (I think he’s afraid I’m going to make it too girly which I get, LOL). Every now and again he says “I want a hammock in my room” where I say “Ooh that would be cool” but I’m making no such moves for a while.

Had I not wallpapered her room, Elliot, my bright, happy, extremely fun to be around 9-year-old would have decorated the hell out of those walls, peppering joy everywhere in there with or without me. It wouldn’t look as well designed, balanced, etc, but it would have allowed her to experiment and have more fun in the only space she owned. I got caught up in our collective enthusiasm for color/pattern which is dangerous when I’m the one that is supposed to be the reasonable adult with a fully formed brain. So when she says with a smile “Mama, did you really let a 6-year-old make such a big decision…aren’t you the grownup?” I can’t help but laugh. She’s totally right.

The Moral Of The Story

photo by kaitlin green

While most of you probably wouldn’t do this in the first place, but just paint the room a simple color. Make some style choices with lighting, rugs, curtains and bedding – all things that are easier to move to another room or store should they tire of it. But don’t lock them in while their personalities are changing so rapidly.

Also…stencils and wall stickers FTW. Paint a stripe or a scallop – there are so many either really temporary or more timeless choices out there:)

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily and Elliot Henderson (and ARCIFORM) | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Birdie’s Bedroom Reveal!! Designing WITH (Not For) Your Kids, And How We Exploded This Room With Color

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Published on April 10, 2025 01:00

Is Wood Veneer Furniture A Style Steal Or A Red Flag? We Dug Into The Research To Find Out

Veneer is like the boob job of the furniture industry. It can look amazingly natural and fool fairly discerning eyes, or it can stick out like a ~~rock-hard and overly perky boob~~ sore thumb. Not to even get started on the “this is cheating” discussion on either topic. And readers, as someone with both a very large born-with-it chest and a penchant for preferring solid wood every time in the name of “better,” I’m here to say, after some thorough research, that “fake” isn’t always the cop out you think it is.

Let me rewind.

For as long as I can recall, solid wood furniture has reigned supreme in consumers’ minds and held up top in their mental pedestals, while veneer tends to get the stink eye for being cheap, low-quality, and destined for the landfill. I get it. I was that person for most of my purchasing years, but I’m not so sure I side with this perspective anymore.

I wanted to learn more and get the real intel from people elbow-deep in the sawdust (a.k.a. in the furniture-making world). So, I reached out to a handful of companies, both new, hip and direct-to-consumer and dyed-in-the-wool American classics—think Bassett, Baker, Century—to ask them all about the inside track of veneer versus solid wood. Is it as bad and cheap as so many of us think it is? Is it…totally fine?

And then…

No one got back to me. Seriously. This seldom happens. So I plucked around my contacts and found a few more people to ask, and finally heard back from someone at Hedge House Furniture, but that was it.

I was determined to get this story going, so I put on my “took-one-investigative-reporting-class-in-college” hat, and got to researching. If the experts wouldn’t come to me, I’d go find what the experts have already written on the subject.

Readers, design lovers, friends…I learned so much! And today, I’m sharing with you all the truths I found about veneer during my Internet deep dive. Some things I knew. Some things I didn’t. Some things surprised me.

anything burlwood or in a similar rare grain like my beloved armoire is almost always going to be veneer, FYI.Fact #1: Veneer is real wood.

As mentioned, there were some facts I already knew, and this is one of them, but it’s important to start off here because not everyone knows this. Veneer is indeed real wood, if only just a very thin sliver of it. I think it’s a common misconception that veneer is fake. Printed or paper or faux. Nope, that’s laminate, and we’ll talk a little more about that in a bit. But yes, the wood grain in veneer is real. This thin sliver is bonded to a backing material such as plywood or even solid wood.

Fact #2: Veneer isn’t always used as the “cheap cop-out” by manufacturers.

By far, this talking point educated me the most. So, here’s the thing: We often think veneer is some kind of cop-out. Like using polyester for a blouse instead of silk. But it’s simply not true. While solid wood has so many merits, veneered furniture does, too. For instance, many furniture pieces that have a more complex design than just straight angles might require veneer to make it possible. All of those sinuous curves we all love so much right now? Not so easy to accomplish in solid wood. It can be done, yes, but the cost to cover the craftsmanship would be greatly limiting to most.

This point isn’t just for modern furniture. Veneer has been used for centuries—it literally dates back to Ancient Egypt circa 3000 BC—though it reached its heyday during the mid-century. So many collectible favorites like Eames lounge chairs, Broyhill Brassilia case goods, Kent Coffey Perspecta pieces…they all use veneer to accomplish their elevated design. Even some of the most renowned furniture designers like Chippendale used veneer techniques like marquetry. And back in those days, veneer was hand-cut, which made it even more of a labor-intensive process than using solid wood. So in fact, it wasn’t a cop-out but rather a specialty technique to make more unique furniture!

Another consideration is that some wood types are just not available in the size you need for, say, a dining table top or the long stretch of a credenza. This is especially true in rare and exotic wood species, like burl, rosewood, teak, macassar ebony, zebrawood, wenge, even walnut. Using veneer of these wood types actually helps to preserve these trees as one cut goes endlessly further in a veneer application than using it solid.

Fact #3: Veneer is superior to laminate, so read closely.

Let us be clear. Veneer does not equal laminate. If you took a veneered nightstand and looked at it side by side with a laminate nightstand of the same coloring, you would instantly see the difference. An IKEA Besta or Hermes? Laminate (hence the cost). You can see from the screenshot below that it uses marketing speak like “white stained oak effect” instead of “white oak laminate.” Laminate is a printed picture of the wood either in paper or vinyl. Hence, not natural materials.

When buying furniture online, you’ll want to be sure to dig through the specs. Typically, somewhere on the page, you can find the materials used to make the furniture piece. It’s not always straightforward, mind you, but you can read between the lines often. I pulled the details of that IKEA Besta with the “white oak stained effect,” and you can see that it’s made of particle board and fiberboard (a kind of MDF) with a “paper foil and plastic edging,” which means laminate.

If you can’t find this information on the website, you can always reach out to the manufacturer and request it. Buying through a vintage/antique dealer? They should also be able to tell you about the guts of the piece, though keep in mind that if you’re purchasing second-hand from just some regular Susie on the internet, you might not be able to get this level of detail.

Fact #4: Veneer can be much more stable and less prone to warping than solid wood.

I watched a handful of furniture restorers on YouTube show solid wood dressers, for instance, where the top had completely warped and was no longer flat. I mean, I’ve never personally seen this but I likely just haven’t owned anything for long enough or even been alive long enough. But it happens. Especially if the wood is a thinner piece, like on bookshelves, for instance. Something like plywood is much more stable, which is why many cabinet doors both on furniture and in kitchens/bathrooms are made of veneer-wrapped plywood. I always dreamed of having a solid wood kitchen, but now I’m wondering if that’s even the most durable choice.

Susan Bower of Hedge House Furniture said the following: “Plywood maintains structural integrity better and is lighter than solid hardwood. Veneer contains real wood grain patterns, for the same visual appeal. Plywood is generally stronger and more durable than MDF, especially in moisture-prone environments. Plywood is also strong and resistant to bending, warping, and impact.”

Fact #5: Most furniture is made of a combination of solid wood and veneer over plywood, MDF or particle board.

I own Article’s Seno sideboard and these are the material specs. It’s a solid piece of furniture that still looks and feels beautiful since I got it about seven years ago.

By “most” furniture, I mean most modern furniture, by the way. For a wood storage piece, you’ll often find veneered plywood or MDF on the backs, undercarriage, and even the bottom of drawers. Bower mentioned even using it at Hedge House, who makes beautiful heirloom-quality furniture almost exclusively out of solid hardwoods. “We use high-quality plywood with matching veneer for our backings on pieces with doors, as well as the bottoms of drawer boxes and for some parts on other items, like the sides of our Avers pieces. The veneer is glued onto the high-quality plywood, with the plywood itself also made from thin wood layers. Technically, it’s an engineered product containing real wood.”

According to Dashner Design & Restoration, 80-90% of American factory furniture uses some veneer in its construction, especially if it’s walnut or mahogany). Birch, maple or oak has a better chance of being solid wood.

Fact #6: Veneer isn’t always the cheaper option as compared to solid wood.

I used the comparison of polyester to silk previously because it feels apt to this conversation. And I know some people will still think veneer is crap after reading this BUT, because it is in fact a natural product and used often to accomplish some higher design pieces, don’t assume that just because something is expensive that it’s free of the “dreaded” veneer.

Take the Maiden Home Rivington Dresser above, for instance. (I reached out to Maiden Home for comment but I heard nothing back, sadly). This piece is over $4,000 but features a white oak veneer. The shape and style of this dresser would probably just not be made using solid wood. And from what I understand, Maiden Home does not make low-quality furniture, so while this is veneer, yes (and quite pricey for a dresser), as long as the craftsmanship is there in the materials and construction, it will likely last just as long as something similar in solid wood.

Fact #7: Veneer can be fixed and refinished, but not as easily as wood.

There are craftsmen dedicated to fixing and restoring veneer furniture, as it is an art form. Where a solid wood piece could just be sanded, restained, and holes filled with putty, something with veneer takes a bit more finesse (but yes, it can be done).

Fact #8: Just like solid wood, veneer furniture can last for centuries, if well-maintained.

At this point, I feel like I’m working for “Big Veneer” trying to convince people that it’s “just like wood!” As in every corn syrup or Splenda commercial from my youth, I’m about to say something to the sound of “It looks like wood because it comes from wood!” But well, it’s true. Remember that many pieces, especially from the Art Deco period and onward, had to use wood veneer to accomplish a design like the Bo Lindahl cabinet below. This one uses Rosewood marquetry—a wood that is highly regulated now because of being endangered—and it absolutely stunning. It’s in exquisite condition from the 1950s. And yes, it costs just south of $28,000, the same as an entry level Ford Escape, though I guarantee this cabinet will last longer than that car.

What to look for to make sure your veneer is high quality.

Alright, now that I’ve laid out the facts, I want to dive into what you need to know if assessing a veneer piece of furniture. Just because it’s veneer doesn’t mean it’s low- or high-end. With anything in the furniture world, there are levels, and the same plays out here.

#1: What’s under the veneer is most important to longevity and durability. You’ll want something that has a frame made of real wood or plywood. Particle board or MDF are prone to moisture damage and just aren’t as high quality (not to mention much harder to recycle after the end life of the product).

#2: Well-made veneer furniture should have smooth, even edge finishes and consistent grain patterns. Look for something at least 0.6mm thick if you can find that information. You shouldn’t even notice seams or a change in grain pattern unless it’s cheap. Dashner Design & Restoration says that if you follow the grain pattern over the edge and it continues, it’s solid wood. If it changes, it’s veneer. A high-quality piece will have the same veneer piece along the edge, but a low-quality one will have something different; you’ll notice a different color or even wood grain.

#3: Construction matters still, whether veneer or solid wood. Look for dovetail joints or mortise and tenon joints on drawers.

Still just want solid hardwood? Read closely and ask questions.

Really well-done veneer can fool a lot of people, yes, even you. BUT, I get if you’re still just like “nah, no thanks.” “Big Solid Wood” has us all convinced it’s the excelsior level of furniture for a multitude of reasons. Read product descriptions closely. Anything made of solid wood is going to wear it like a badge of honor, so look for that. If it’s an existing company, ask questions about construction. Is it entirely solid wood? Are there any parts that are engineered? You may have to jump through a few hoops to get your answers, but it’ll be worth knowing for sure.

—

So that’s it, friends. My deep dive into the misunderstood world of veneer. I hope we all learned something together and can have a greater appreciation for the material, whether we ultimately want to spend our money on it or not. To leave us with a final quote from Susan Bower, “I believe the main issue with veneer is public perception. The vendor and manufacturer process determines quality. If properly cared for, veneer will last for many, many years.”

Until next time…

Opening Image Credits: Left: Design by Arlyn Hernandez | Styled by Emily Edith Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: 3 Years In The Making Then An Unexpected Move: Arlyn’s Bedroom Reveal Is A Lesson In The Beauty Of “Unfinished” Design | Right: Design by Arlyn Hernandez | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Arlyn’s Bright & Happy Rental Living Room Makeover

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Published on April 09, 2025 01:00

Here’s The Official EHD Paint Sheen Guide (Based On Room)

When you’re designing a house or heck, even a room, there are so many little decisions that need to be made all at once. And just when you think you might be close to being done a question like “What sheen do you want for your cabinets?” comes up. Or wait, does the trim need to be a different sheen than the walls? It’s a seemingly small thing that can cause A LOT of stress…until now. With this post we are giving you our preferred paint sheen recs for every space in your home (with a fun graphic too:)). Emily tends to go for a lower sheen option as it’s usually her personal preference. There are always exceptions and we absolutely recommend testing your options out BEFORE you make any large paint orders. We know it can be an annoying step, especially when you are mentally done making decisions, but better that than hating the sheen of our walls!

I figured if you wanted to just get the guide graphic quickly here you go:

We wanted to focus on the sheen you’d use per room (or accent). You can easily save this, take quick glance, and see where you should start in your sheen journey. The simplest takeaway is that the higher the sheen (the shinier it is) the more durable it is…and the more imperfections can stand out.

But now let’s go room by room and get into the nitty-gritty of the wild world of paint sheens:)

Living Room – Flat, Matte, or Eggshell

styled by velinda hellen, erik kenneth staalberg, emily edith bowser, and julie rose | photo by sara ligorria-tramp for the new design rules

I have an embarrassing confession to make. Until talking with Em and doing some extra research, I thought flat and matte were the same thing. Turns out…they are not. Flat actually has zero sheen, while matte tends to be richer in color with the slightest sheen possible. I am a no-sheen gal whenever possible when it comes to my living room, bedroom, and hallway walls. But if you are someone who likes a light sheen then eggshell could be your perfect fit. Again, the more sheen the more durable so I understand that if you have kids or pets, this might be a smart option. I do want to point out that in my research, many people said that the higher the sheen the more imperfections can show since they bounce light around. So for textured walls (and if you want them to look less textured) go for less sheen!

Fireplace & Moldings – Satin or Semi-Gloss

photo by kaitlin green | from: my best friend robyn’s living room reveal

Now, fireplaces and moldings are different. I am all for some sheen there(and so are all the experts). You want those areas/details to be easily wipable. Dust and smudge collectors, amirite? Plus, it can be nice to have a little light bouncing around.

design by velinda hellen | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara’s living and dining room

If needing a sheen bums you out then go for a satin. But if you can handle a little more, semi-gloss will simply be more durable. You also want to consider the style of your home. Traditional homes look natural with a little more sheen, while a modern organic style home would potentially feel better with less shine.

Doors, Trim & Paneling – Satin or Semi-Gloss

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse living room reveal

Really the section above and this one are nearly one and the same. Traditionally, these accents call for a bit more sheen/durability. In the farmhouse, all of the wall paneling was painted in a semi-gloss. Stylistically, it was the right call and functionally, given they are a family of four with two dogs and host people nonstop, it was necessary for easier upkeep.

Ceiling – Flat (Bedroom & Living Room) + Eggshell or Satin (Kitchens & Bathrooms)

design by emily bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily bowser’s living room reveal

But now let’s talk ceilings. When we’re talking bedrooms, living rooms, and hallways, go for a matte or flat. Especially, since most ceilings have light fixtures or canned lighting, and any amount of sheen is going to be accentuated by those lights when they are on. Any imperfections in your ceiling are also going to be highlighted. So since those are areas where you don’t have to worry about wetness or cooking fumes, keep the sheen to a minimum. But in a kitchen or bathroom, you want a little sheen for durability.

Kitchen & Bathroom (Walls) – Eggshell or Satin

emily henderson and brady tolbert (and team) | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the portland kitchen renovation reveal

The same goes for the walls. You want a bit of sheen to be able to clean them easier. Think of tiles behind stoves, those are basically high gloss (depending, of course) because they are easy to wipe down. It’s the same idea with paint (except only use high gloss if you really love that look. It’s a real design statement and not for everyone).

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse primary bathroom

Bathrooms are in the same camp. And this goes for any room, but usually, your cabinetry has a higher sheen than your walls. You can of course paint everything the same sheen (I’m pretty sure that’s how my bathroom was painted). But if you want a more varied look, go a sheen or two higher on your cabinets/trim from your walls.

Cabinets – Satin or Semi-Gloss

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse pantry

You don’t want to risk the durability of cabinetry because they are either very expensive to repaint or a very involved DIY (go to Rashida’s post here if you are curious about how to do that). This means go for a satin or semi-gloss! I’m sorry I can’t say with absolute certainty, but I feel 99% positive that these cabinets in Emily’s pantry are satin. Satin gives off that pretty pearl-like finish but isn’t too shiny. Rashida used the same sheen in her kitchen too!

Bedroom – Flat, Matte, or Eggshell

photo by kaitlin green | from: river house guest room reveal

Of all the rooms I think bedrooms are the ideal place for a flat or matte sheen. For me, I’m in my bedroom the least (if you don’t count sleeping hours) and it’s a very low-traffic room (as compared to a kitchen, bathroom, or living room). I also want to note that it’s a good idea to check what sheens the paint brand you’re using has and check what they consider flat vs matte vs eggshell for instance. Usually, they have brand guides/recommendations that could be helpful and might be slightly different from other brands. Now back to our recs, it’s understandable that you might want a slight shine or have kids’ rooms to paint that could use a little more durability…that’s when you should use eggshell.

Exterior – Eggshell or Satin

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse front porch reveal

Painting the exterior of a house can be the most daunting because it is NOT cheap! We recommend an eggshell or a satin sheen and make sure you are using the proper type of exterior paint. These are great options because they are durable but won’t make your house look too shiny and show all of the potential imperfections when the light hits it! Emily used eggshell for the farmhouse if that’s helpful. However, the door looks like it’s a semi-gloss:)

When To Use High Gloss

design by ben medansky | styling by velindahellen and erik staalberg | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: step inside artist ben medansky’s colorful, modern-industrial home

I wanted to include high gloss because it’s a great option for a highly stylized look. It can look so cool like in Chris Loves Julia’s study. But it’s a choice that’s going to show all the fingerprints, smudges, etc, so it may be a bit more high maintenance depending on where you use it.

That’s the guide! Hope this takes away any sheen stress so that you can confidently paint your beautiful walls and have them look exactly the way you want them.

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Farmhouse Living Room Reveal

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Published on April 08, 2025 01:00

A Pink Breakfast Nook Of My Dreams (My Friend’s Makeover I’m Jealous Of…)

Apparently pink rooms are having a moment over here (my guest room, my brother’s guest room) and while technically this room was painted before I took over decorating I will happily take credit for how pretty it is. Nicole and Curtis, two of our best friends, chose Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball for this super classic and beautiful dining nook. This room is so beautiful and was frankly pretty easy to furnish and decorate because they had a great start with that color, light fixture, and the black shelving.

This was the room before. The windows are just as beautiful but those brown walls and ceiling really weren’t their style.

It just wasn’t living to its full potential but I feel pretty confident in saying that now it is…

Wall Color | Door Color | Table | Dining Chair

See?! Ok, let’s get into some of the main pieces. The shape of the window lent itself to a large round pedestal table, but I didn’t want it to be white which was harder to find than predicted. I found this table randomly on Frontgate, and it’s 60″ with a pretty dark marble top and a lovely traditional base. There are a lot of trendier post-modern pedestal tables out there, and certainly mid-century styles but they didn’t feel right here (plus, we wanted to use these more modern chairs) so I love how the base is so classic and traditional. The chairs are from Soho Home and the color is perfect (it talks to the green in the more formal dining room) and the cut-out in the back is a really lovely detail.

Candlestick Holders | Taper Candles (similar) | Wood Salt and Pepper Shakers

Because this room is small and pretty simple, design-wise, we decided to set the table to add some styling elements. I really love that vase (with green interiors) and used Crate & Barrel plates with Anthro bowls and World Market glasses to deck it out.

See how the two (well, three) spaces talk to each other? All have their own personalities but are definitely a part of the same family.

White Footed Bowl | Black Shelving (similar)

Nic and Curtis had this black shelf/cart already along this wall which totally works but we recently talked about adding more pantry space to the nearby kitchen (which they desperately need) and bringing in two deVOL-style cupboards here. I like this vignette, but I think a prettier piece with closed storage would work better. The photo art is one they’ve had for a long time which reminds them of when their girls were little on skateboards:) I mostly edited and curated what they already had there, making it look better (which is my favorite thing to do), and added that pretty footed bowl, and a live jasmine plant which we all became obsessed with.

Chandelier

The chandelier is so perfect in here – it holds the space so well, but it’s reflective and airy (not visually heavy) which keeps the room balanced.

I will never tire of this room and the only thing better than looking at the photos is being in here in person. Thanks, Nic and Curtis for making my job so easy. xx

And as a reminder, here’s a pretty great before and after:)

*Styled by Emily Henderson (me!)
**Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on April 07, 2025 01:00

The Link Up: The Movie Emily Openly Wept Watching On The Plane, Gretchen’s Easy Hack To Make Any Lamp Dimmable, A MUST Listen Podcast Episode

Happy Sunday everyone! We’ve got our Emily back safe and sound (and tattooless;)) Aside from that, we held up just fine and hope you didn’t feel the Emily void. How about that living room reveal huh?! We also made sure to get a lot of fun content while she was away for your blogging pleasure so stay tuned. Ok, let’s link!

This week’s house tour is more of an estate with multiple extremely cool structures. It’s a property you just need to go see to believe because it’s so unique, so collection, and full of so much soul.

From Emily: Two things I binged on the plane home from Belize (amongst others – 9 hours in the air, y’all! ). If you want to weep openly in public, if you like splashing your plane neighbor with your tears then why not watch The Life List?? It’s a new rom-com on Netflix (with Connie Britton amongst others). I loved it and even would say “enjoyed” it despite my shoulder shaking weeping, but my goodness I couldn’t stop crying (it’s about a mother/daughter relationship, TW – the mother has/had cancer and it’s incredibly sweet and heartbreaking). Of course, all I could think about was how much I hope I have a relationship like this with my daughter when she is grown (and then I would spiral about dying and not being able to see her through life challenges, etc). I’m really not selling it, but in the same world as Steel Magnolias (and yet totally different) I will TOTALLY rewatch this movie when I want a good cry (and it did make me rethink some of my relationships and life choices in a good way).

From Caitlin: When I started listening to Wednesday’s episode of The Daily, I thought I was in for a fun, light, kitschy 30 minutes. The subject? Shen Yun, the Chinese dance troupe with ubiquitous, unmissable, overwhelming advertising in every major American city. The billboards, posters, and radio ads have become a staple in urban life – they float above our freeways, plaster our construction projects, and it’s impossible to miss the calls to “experience China before communism” on any FM station. So imagine my surprise, just a few short minutes in, when I learned that Shen Yun is – and this is a spoiler art – the equivalent to a modern-day religious cult. (If that isn’t crazy enough, even Kash Patel is involved – this “dance troupe’s” international impact goes so much deeper than anyone imagined.) If you’ve also seen the Shen Yun ads coat your city streets, this is a MUST-LISTEN – it feels like only a matter of weeks before this gets turned into the next big Netflix or HBO documentary.

Also From Caitlin: Looking for a great transitional weather tee? I’ve been wearing this one for the past 5 months and I’m a huge fan – it’s light enough to replace my tanks this summer, but it offers a bit more coverage than a traditional tank top for these in-between days. (I’ve rocked it everywhere from sweltering Australia to snowing Delaware – it’s perfect for layering and made from 100% cotton, so it cleans up beautifully.) Don’t knock that sleeve cut until you try it, okay? It’s quickly become my favorite top to edge up a basic outfit (and the compliments from cool girls on the street don’t hurt, either!). I got an XL and love the slightly drapey fit – would stick with your standard size here if you’d like to try it out!

From Jess: Between Arlyn and I, we might need to become underwear influencers! Just kidding:) Now, as much as I would love to try one of the nicer brands, I can’t justify spending $20 for a single thong. And since I’m trying my best to not put my money into Amazon (my usual go-to place), I hopped on over to Old Navy. For $21 you can get a 6 pack of seamless underwear! I like the lowrise no-show thongs, but they have a ton of different types if that cut isn’t your preference.

From Arlyn: I really don’t know who I am anymore. One week I’m asking about a weight bench, and this week I’m recommending a protein powder. I’ve been using Be Well By Kelly for well over a year because I prefer a protein powder with really simple ingredients. Truthfully though, I never really liked it all that much, as the taste of monk fruit was so intense and something you had to get used to. My dietician recommended one by Just Ingredients so I ordered some samples to test out before dropping $60 on something I didn’t end up loving. Well, I love it! I got the chocolate because that’s just who I am, and while it does have some stevia and monk fruit, you really do not taste it AT ALL. It’s so creamy, mixes well into just plain almond milk or water and is super creamy and not grainy. It feels like drinking an indulgent chocolate milk!

From Gretchen: My link this week comes stolen from our sweet photographer, Kaitlin! I feel like every time I see her, she has something new and incredible to recommend. One of these days, we’ll give her a guest spot on here to tell you all about her best finds, but until then…I’m poaching! We got together to shoot a few things this week and somehow started talking about lighting. Specifically, her bedroom sconces, which are these stunning ones from Crate and Barrel. In 2023, we gave her bedroom a floral facelift (check out that awesome transformation here) and though she has loved almost everything about it, her only complaint was that the sconces were just a little too bright and exposed for nighttime reading. She tried a few different lower-lumen bulbs to no avail until it finally clicked–literally–just buy a dimmer switch! This switch allows you to plug your lamp in and adjust it to the perfect brightness. And it totally worked for her! What’s funny is I actually own the same pair of sconces (I too had them as bedside lamps in my last apartment) but I haven’t found the right spot for them in my current place because I had the same complaint–everywhere I wanted to hang them, the bulb just felt too exposed. But with the addition of a dimmer switch, my options for placement are limitless! I snagged two from Home Depot but I’m pretty sure you can find them at just about any hardware store.

From Mallory: I sampled what felt like hundreds of paint colors to complement this wallpaper before I finally landed on Shaded White by Farrow & Ball and man, it’s PERFECT. I only painted the trim so it was worth it to splurge on Farrow & Ball…but also let me tell you their paint is so thick you really only need one coat which is so ideal. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a greige:)

From Marlee: I have a shoe recc that is not for everyone but they’re definitely for me. They’re the Keen Jasper Sneakers – I’ve had them since last summer and I looove them. I’m always looking for shoes that are somewhere between a casual sneaker like Sambas or New Balances, but more sporty or athletic without going full running shoe/Hoka style and these are exactly that. They’re my favorite walking shoes – you can wear them with leggings and go for a more athletic look on a long stroll or hike, or with jeans for a day of bopping around town. They definitely have a unique look but I love that they come in so many different colors and are a fun/funky shoe. I have them in a muted pink (which might be OOS) but there are SO many other colors that I love (more options on REI) and they also have them for men! SO comfortable.

As always thanks for hanging with us today and see y’all tomorrow for another pretty exciting reveal. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: I’ve Been Secretly Decorating My Best Friends House – Living Room Reveal Today!

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Published on April 06, 2025 01:00

The Link Up: The Movie Emily Openly Wept Wathcing On The Plane, Gretchen’s Easy Hack To Make Any Lamp Dimmable, A MUST Listen Podcast Episode