Emily Henderson's Blog, page 166

Are Zellige Tiles Trendy Or Classic? And How To Use Zellige In Different Styles Of Homes (Plus A Roundup Of Our Favorites)

One must engage in some sort of some design fortune-telling in order to even try to predict what will still be “in” in 30 years when you are renovating. And it’s worth the time/thoughts because searching for timelessness is a valid goal that we should all be after. Luckily for you, predicting what design elements will look dated is an obsessive pastime of mine and it’s especially important when something reaches a certain almost peak level of popularity. It is my assertion that there are some things that just don’t date. That doesn’t mean that they are always as “in” or fresh as they might be at other times, but they are as timeless as possible. Is the Zellige tile one of them???

What Is Zellige Tile? design by hiedi caillier design | photo by haris kenjar photography

Today’s subject is the Zellige tile. The beautiful glossy, striking Morrocan tile that has been spread throughout the world (and internet). While it certainly feels fresh and “now”, it is not new and has in fact been around for over a thousand years – getting better every day. Why do we love it so much? It’s just so perfectly imperfect. They are traditionally hand-glazed in Morocco on roughly made special clay, fired in a particular way. This process from those materials come together to bring SO much movement and organic texture to a simple solid color. Every single one is different in both texture and color, even within the same color choice. They create a statement without any busyness – just movement. Additionally, these glossy tiles reflect so much light without feeling “glam”. They are easy to clean, can be configured many different ways, and are super versatile in their application – herringbone, parquet, horizontal or vertical, stack or stagger. In short, the Zellige tile is the far more exotic and beautiful older sister to the basic white subway tile. But as they are everywhere right now, are they truly for every house?? Let’s explore…

Is Zellige Tile Too Trendy? design and photos by hommeboys

FIRST OFF, I have a universal belief that most things that are well crafted out of high quality materials, and in relatively neutral palette/finish do not date (easily). I can give you a million examples of things that I don’t think are ever dated (should this be a blog post?) and this is one of them. Just because one thing is popular, it does not mean we should be over it – in fact, it’s popular for a reason. Terrazzo didn’t hit like this. Even the popular patterned cement tile hasn’t quite “hit” like this. The Zellige does have more of a universal appeal, in my opinion. When it comes to things that are super “trendy”, it’s only the cheap versions or knock-offs that don’t have the longevity and therefore can be avoided. But thus far I haven’t seen very many knockoffs of the Zellige because by nature it’s handmade in Morocco and hard to replicate on the cheap. Don’t believe me? Take the live edge dining table for instance – Sure you can find cheap and faux versions at major retailers, but that still hasn’t cheapened the BBDW table that launched the movement 15 years ago (and the use of live edge has been around forever). In short: Beautiful high quality materials and craftsmanship in simple materials have serious longevity. Period.

Can I Put Zellige Tile In Every Style Of Home? left: photo by tessa neustadt, from: our modern english country kitchen | right: photo by tessa neustadt, from: our classic modern master bathroom reveal

YES, with some caveats. I had Zellige tiles in our English country house in LA in both our bathroom and the kitchen. Chosen in 2016 I’d say these tiles weren’t a secret then, but we were at the beginning of the Zellige tile dominance, at least on the internet. I still love them.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house reveal: the riskiest bathroom i designed

In fact, I have the same tile in the kid’s bathroom of our modern cabin in Lake Arrowhead – a totally different style, installed in 2018 (we actually had overage from the first time and then just ordered floor tile to match in a smaller scale).

One of my best friends has the same ones in her bathroom in her Uber contemporary home – square stacked in the bathroom. And another of my best friends just put them in her midcentury California-style home, stacked in the kitchen. (We shot both for the book so I can’t show you that yet :))

I think we all chose Clé tile in weathered white (which they literally can’t keep in stock right now) and all of us still LOVE it. Sure I see it a lot, but it’s just so good.

How I Would Install Zellige Tile In Different Styles Of Homesdesign by arent pyke | photo by anson smart photography

Listen, you can do ANYTHING and if you do it right you can pull it off and it can look stunning. But if you want some guidance, here are my opinions on where and how to install Zellige tile based on your style of home.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: our modern english country kitchendesign by elizabeth robertsleft: design by patricia greene isen, photo by simon upton, via elle decor | right: design by leanne ford, photo by erin kelly

If your house is traditional, colonial, farmhouse, craftsman, country/cottage I personally would lean on the more traditional brick shape (think subway, 2×4 or even better 2×6) and stagger it horizontally in a more traditional way. That’s what I did in our kitchen and it absolutely worked with the English cottage vibe we wanted. Again, you can totally stack it but for older (or older style) homes I’m still a fan of the stagger (we debated the whole stack versus stagger here).

left: design haus love interiors, photo by ash & co creative | right: design by juniper tedhams, photo by alexandra rowleydesign by reath design | photo by laure jolietdesign by alex mccabe of kip&co | via domino

If your house is Mediterranean, Spanish, Moroccan, more bungalow-y, etc – you have far more leeway to take risks in shapes, orientation, and even colors (and adding borders and decorative details). Go for a hex, scallop, a mosaic, in addition to the traditional brick shape. This tile was crafted and designed to go in this style of home so it won’t feel out of place to have more fun with it. You can do a checkerboard or different colors and again I LOVE adding a border around the edge of a room in a contrasting shape/color to add an old world design element.

left: design by taylor + taylor, photo by tiffany gentry | right: design by cleo murnane of project m plus and joy cho, photo by bethany nauert design by luke and joanne bartels | photo by mariko reed | via domino

If your house is midcentury, postmodern (70s, 80s, 90s style), or contemporary then this can absolutely work for you, too. You can take the “old world” vibe out of it by stacking it horizontally or vertically, even switch those orientations (like 1/2 way up a wall for instance), play with color blocking them, and absolutely play with squares both big and small. I’d just keep it simple within there – don’t get too decorative with the details or mix too many different styles or shapes together. Mix it with wood and simple metals, for a warm but modern look (think mountain house).

Be Wary Of Tiles In “Risky” Colors…IMHOdesign by etc.etcetera | photo by laure joliet

Another one of my overall assertions is that certain bright colors have less longevity and universal appeal than neutrals, thus making them riskier to “date” and challenges their “timelessness”. In my experience with people, readers, and clients, 99% of people love neutrals (whites, grays, creams, and blacks) and most people really like muted blues and greens. A lot of people can handle certain tones of bright colors for sure but there are some colors (oranges, yellows, purples, reds, or any sort of crazy bright neon) that are riskier. I’m not saying not to do them, but I am saying that make sure you REALLY, REALLY love them and can see them and you in your house for decades. They are simply less guaranteed to be loved for as long, and by as many. Take risks in art, textiles, even wallpaper. But tile isn’t something you want or should “switch out” easily.

That being said, there is a good chance I might use a rose-colored tile in our powder room, but that’s because I know that it’s a color that I’ve loved and will love for a long time and it feels appropriate to the mood of the house (not in Zellige, by the way). But if you want to be super safe, stick to whites, grays, warm neutrals, blacks, and tones of blues and greens to ensure longevity and resale. Again, I’m NOT saying to not use that rust color, mustard, or aubergine Zellige tile – I’ve seen them done and they can be STUNNING, but if timelessness is your goal then just know you are taking more of a risk (check out this bright yellow – SO AMAZING I WANT TO TAKE A SHOWER IN AN ALL YELLOW SHOWER SO BAD).

Like with most things that are “classics” it’s not “if” you should use them because they are so popular, it’s how you put your spin on the room. How you design with that classic yet popular element to represent your personality and home. Often with something so simple like a weathered white brick tile, it’s all the other less permanent accessories and textiles that can make it look totally unique while still being timeless.

A Few Warnings About Installing Zellige Tile…design by amber lewis | photo by jess isaac | via all sorts of
Check the thickness of the tile because it is thicker than most. This is fine if you know early on, but we’ve run into problems with this where the plumbing didn’t stick out far enough past the tile, or the door to the bathroom had to be shaved up because the thickness of the tile made the floor higher. Mix your boxes. One of the things we love about this tile is its unpredictable colors and textures but you want to make sure you open up all your boxes and mix them together. You want it to feel random, not 3 quarters up the wall to all of a sudden turn into a different color, looking like a total accident or like a different “dye lot”. Open all boxes and insist that your tile installer pull from them equally while installing. Zellige can be slippery so go for smaller scale on the floor so the grout lines provide traction. We have them on our floor in the 2×2 and it’s totally fine.

I feel like I just wrote a love letter to Zellige and yet there is an 80% chance that we aren’t even using it in our farmhouse (mostly because I’m leaning into a different handmade vibe). But no love letter to a design element is complete without a roundup of where to get your hands on these tiles. We’ve historically loved and used Clé tile so I want to give them an extra shout-out. We love Clé tiles. But we also want to provide other places that might for you in color, size, style, and budgets (but be warned, Zellige is not a budget tile, nor should it be). Here you go…

1. Idris by Ait Manos Mosaics | 2. Iron Grey – Zellige | 3. Authentic Zellige Tile | 4. Steel Hex | 5. La Riviera Rose | 6. Battled Armor Square | 7. Black – Zellige | 8. Idris by Ait Manos Mosaics | 9. Moroccan Mosaic Solid Color Off-White | 10. Cloe 5″ x 5″ Ceramic Tile in Green | 11. Natural Bejmat | 12. Square La Riviera Rose | 13. Natural White – Zellige | 14. Vintage Rose Square | 15. Sea Green – Zellige | 16. Montauk Sky 4×4 Ceramic Wall Tile | 17. Snow – Zellige Hex | 18. Weathered White Square

Opener Image Credit: Design by Amber Lewis | Photo by Jess Issac | via All Sorts Of

The post Are Zellige Tiles Trendy Or Classic? And How To Use Zellige In Different Styles Of Homes (Plus A Roundup Of Our Favorites) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Ikea, Thonet, Kilim, Terrazzo, and A Bunch of Other Design Words You May Be Mispronouncing (Yes, Even IKEA!)

Have you ever taught yourself something only to realize that you like, kinda sorta taught yourself the wrong thing? Here’s my example: when I was 24 and working at Apple, I discovered through an errant typo that the shift key could be used to capitalize letters. I had taught myself how to type as a kid and being a child, I took things very literally. I saw the caps lock key, decided that you needed to use it to capitalize a letter and then hit it again to return to lowercase, and figured that this was how everyone also typed. After my discovery almost 20 years later, I still remember walking around the Cupertino office proclaiming “YOU CAN USE SHIFT TO CAPITALIZE” while everyone was like, “yeah, duh, wow, are you the dumbest person to ever work here???”

So to that end, I realized that this thought process has proliferated my life a little bit – when I’m reading design terms, I use context clues or I sound it out and I just assume that it’s right, and it turns out that I am oftentimes VERY, VERY WRONG. Today, I wanted to walk you through some very commonly mispronounced words so you can really dazzle folks with all your knowledge.

But before we really dive in, I just want to clarify that this isn’t written to shame anyone! I’m generally of the opinion that if you’re trying your best and folks can understand what you’re saying, it’s all good – perfect pronunciation or not. That said, I’ve tried MY best to break words down for ya, but keep in mind that I’m not a dialectic expert and that some things are best pronounced with a little accent or affect and some confidence. In any case, maybe remembering the Swedish pronunciation of “Ikea” or the correct way to say “Thonet” will come in handy at a bar trivia night one day. WE COMMENCE!

Kilim design by studio diy | photos by jeff mindell

What It Is: A handwoven, pile-less, flat-woven rug from Turkey or the surrounding area.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Key-leem, with the main focus on the second syllable – the “key” sound is pretty quick.
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Kill-‘im, like I was some sort of disaffected mob boss. OOPS.

Zelligephoto by tessa neustadt | from: our modern english country kitchen

What It Is: A glossy Moroccan ceramic tile with a handmade, perfectly-imperfect charm.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Zil-eehj, with the second syllable pronounced like “legion.”
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Uh, turns out that Zelle-lig is not a thing, but thank you to everyone who listened politely and just used their context clues to figure out what I was talking about.

Bergeredesign by kasha paris

What It Is: An upholstered 18th century armchair with a wooden frame.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Brr-zhehr, like you’re cold AND about do to some professional zhushing. (“Me? I’m not a stylist. I’m a full-time zhehr.” – you, maybe, if you wanted to take some creative liberties with job titles.)
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Even a broken clock is right twice a day! I did know this one. (That said, the bar is low.)

Serge Mouille photo by tessa neustadt | from: brady’s bedroom makeover

What It Is: A French industrial designer most famous for his mid-century insect-inspired lighting.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Sairge Moo-yay – with an “air” sound in the first name and said with the last name said with an air of confidence.
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Ser-jay Mool-yay, which, upon writing it out, makes me feel SO AMERICAN that it hurts a little bit. I’M SO SORRY, I TOOK LATIN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
A Side Note: I have been told by two native French speakers that even they can disagree on the pronunciation of this one, so…this is our consensus for now, but I’d love to hear any feedback!

Chaise Longuephoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: living room update – again -our new sofa, my dream floral chaise, and the pop of red i always wanted in my life

What It Is: A chair with a lengthened seat used for reclining.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Chez lawng, like “pez” and “long.”
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Hello, reporting live from the “chase lounge” convention, where it appears that ::checks notes:: everyone has said this at least once.

Etagerephoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: in defense of the comfy sectional

What It Is: I know that you’re thinking of a really specific piece of furniture – you know, like a decorative bookcase – but technically, an etagere is any piece of furniture with open shelves for displaying objects.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Eh-tuh-zhair, and it rhymes with “chair.”
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Et-a-gere. But like, as “gere” as in Richard Gere. It’s been tough over here.

Pied-a-Terredesign by jackie kai ellis | via apartment therapy

What It Is: A small apartment or house kept for occasional use.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Pea-ay-duh-tear, which I promise sounds better than it looks once you say it out loud.
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Despite my horrifying American accent that I’ve made very clear over the last few examples, I actually also knew this one! NBD.

Ikatdesign by jacquetta wheeler | photo by isabel parra| via architectural digest

What It Is: A fabric made using an Indonesian decorative technique where threads have been tie-dyed before weaving.
How to Actually Pronounce It: EE-kaht, so basically the hard “e” sound from “bee” combined with a softer version of “cot.”
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: EYE-CAT. To be honest, I still read “eye-cat” every time but I do now know how to say it out loud when I talk to others.

Objetdesign by studio prineas | photo by chris warnes | via yellowtrace

What It Is: A decorative object meant to be exhibited. (EHD calls these “smalls” in our neck of the woods.)
How to Actually Pronounce It: Uhb-jay, like the first syllable of “obsidian” meets “jay.”
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Ob-jet, but like…the first syllable of “obstetrician” meets “jet.” Wrong and strong.

Toilephoto by tessa neustadt | via eclectric traditional bedroom reveal

What It Is: While “toile” technically means “fabric,” it’s evolved to encapsulate a design aesthetic depicting pastoral scenes, floral arrangements, or other nature-inspired images.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Twaal, like ball.
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: I do need to pepper in a few easier ones – just for my own ego – so you don’t think I’m a total lost cause.

Rattanphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a boho ’70s inspired bedroom with opalhouse by target

What It Is: The thin, pliable stems from a palm plant used for furniture and wickerwork.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Ruh-tan. I still remember seeing a video of Nate Berkus pronouncing this word and my jaw DROPPED.
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Rat-in, as in “there’s a rat in the middle of the sidewalk.” OH GOSH. Someone else please commiserate with me, I can’t be the only one who thought it was said this way!!!

Sisalphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: velinda’s first freelance client reveal: molding the builder-grade budget + where they saved & splurged

What It Is: A Mexican agave with huge leaves that’s cultivated for fiber production and used for ropes, mats, and rugs.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Sigh-sul, as in “sigh” and “sulk.”
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Uh, well up until writing this post, I thought it was pronounced as see-sal or sis-all so…cheers to being a perennial learner, I guess.

Chinoiserie design by gunnar larson | photo by cheyenne ellis | via domino

What It Is: An western interpretation of Chinese or east Asian motifs in furniture, decor, or wallpaper.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Sheen-wah-zuh-ree – for what it’s worth, once you get through the “sheen,” the rest feels easy breezy.
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Chee-noise-air-ee. I apologize for my crimes against the French language.

Ikea photo by keyanna bowen | from: blue walls be gone! key’s totally transformed office reveal – maybe the most dramatic before & after ever

What It Is: Everyone’s favorite meatball retailer (I guess they sell some other stuff, too).
How to Actually Pronounce It: Ee-kay-uh, which is truly mindblowing.
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: I LOVE this example because enough people in the English-speaking world just started saying eye-key-uh that a whole brand was like, “well, sure, I guess we can roll with that.” Apparently different pronunciations of the name are run in commercials in different parts of the world, too.

Hygge via my scandinavian home

What It Is: A Danish word referring to cozy, comfortable design that creates a feeling of contentment.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Hue-guh (sometimes thinking “hyoo” can also help!).
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Hi-ghee, like a friendly greeting for a butter substitute. (TBH I still read “hi-ghee” every time I see the word written online.)

Trompe L’oeil design by elvira solana | photo by casa josephine

What It Is: A painting intended to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Tromp loy
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: I had a very strict and cool European history teacher in high school who also taught art history, and by some miracle, I did retain this information.

Hans Wegner photo by kelly merchant | from: a greenhouse makeover with ‘the frame’ + get the look

What It Is: The Danish designer who brought us the iconic wishbone chair, the Flag Halyard chair (as seen above), the Papa Bear chair, the Circle chair, the shell chair, and more.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Hans Veg-ner, but more like “hands” (vs. like, uh, Han Solo, or Kathryn Hahn, depending on your entertainment taste).
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Hahns Weg-ner. A rookie mistake for any vintage furniture lover!
A Note: Apparently inside Denmark, the folks who still manufacture Wegner products say “Vee-ner,” but they use “Veg-ner” abroad. FASCINATING.

Bauhausphoto by tessa neustadt | from: griffith park sunroom reveal + get the look

What It Is: An early 20th-century design style with a focus on streamlined design, simple and geometric shapes, basic color schemes, and industrial materials.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Bow-house, but it rhymes with “wow” (or as in Lil’ Bow Wow, since I’ve entered the “extremely esoteric entertainment descriptions” part of the post).
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: A lifelong obsession with music means that I locked this one down early. Bless.

Parquet design by workstead | photo by jeff holt | via architectural digest

What It Is: Wooden flooring arranged in a geometric pattern.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Par-kay, as if you’re on the phone trying to say “I’ve been circling for hours and I can’t find a park-ay!!! I got one!”
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Par-ket. I do almost feel like I need to be at a barbecue and like, shooting off fireworks for how flat and stereotypical I am when it comes to pronouncing French words.

Thonet photo by kelly merchant | from: a greenhouse makeover with ‘the frame’ + get the look

What It Is: The 19th-century cabinetmaker who invented bentwood furniture.
How to Actually Pronounce It: TOE-NET. WHAT!!! Incredible!!!
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Tho-nay. Doesn’t everyone, though? I still can’t get “toe-net” through my thick skull, TBH.

Terrazzo design by ginny macdonald | photo by sara ligorria-tramp

What It Is: Chips of marble or granite set in concrete, used for tiling, flooring, or slab surfaces.
How to Actually Pronounce It: Tuh-rat-soh, but with an “uhhhh” and a nice little mellifluous transition between the “rat” and “soh.”
How I Used To Pronounce It Incorrectly: Ter-ahs-oh, which has become VERY commonplace – even terrazzo retailers have adopted this pronunciation!

That’s it for me, but WHAT AM I MISSING? Anyone else struggle with a word or recently correct a pal on their pronunciation? Any surprises on the list? LET’S CHAT. xx

The post Ikea, Thonet, Kilim, Terrazzo, and A Bunch of Other Design Words You May Be Mispronouncing (Yes, Even IKEA!) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Introducing Malcolm’s “Sooner Than Anticipated” Bathroom Remodel: When A Leak Leads To A Life Upgrade

Have you faced a situation in your home where a hidden problem causes cascading issues that force a remodel that you’re both enthusiastic about (because renovations are exciting) but also thoroughly unprepared for mentally, emotionally, or budgetarily? Yes? No? Maybe so?
Well, this is where I currently find myself:

Ok, ok, ok. I shall explain.

When I bought my home last year, one of the major aspects of my offer was that I would waive the inspection contingency. If you’re generally unfamiliar with real estate lingo (like I am…even after buying two homes), that means if the home was revealed to be in poor condition or required major repairs, I wouldn’t be able to ask the seller for financial assistance to cover any of it. Essentially, it meant that I delivered an “all or nothing” offer (even though a “nothing” decision would still mean forfeiting a deposit, but I digress). Was this a risky move? Absolutely. Did I really want this house? Absolutely. Decisions were made in consideration of the latter, and I remained blissfully ignorant of some clear issues that existed. 

Which brings us back to the matter at hand: the gaping, ominous hole in my kitchen ceiling. A couple of months after moving in, I noticed some slight water damage on my kitchen ceiling, which sits directly underneath my bathroom. It didn’t really register to me as water damage at the time (admittedly a fairly big oversight on my part), and, of course, the damage kept getting worse and worse. Once I fully realized what was happening, I called in the experts to diagnose the source of the leak–fearful that a plumbing or pipe issue was the root cause. Eventually (and after ripping a hole in the kitchen ceiling), we realized the leak occurred as a result of old, cracked tiling in the bathroom above and a poor caulking job around the perimeter of the bathtub. In that grand scheme of things, that didn’t seem so bad, but it led to a series of intensely contemplative decisions about what exactly to do about it. 

PIVOTING EXPECTATIONS

I didn’t originally plan to overhaul this bathroom. I actually quite like the character of the floor tile, and figured that I’d just keep all the tiling throughout the bathroom and update the space by switching out the vanity, mirror, and other fixtures. BUT, ALAS. Life hit me in the face with a curveball, so I’m throwing a curveball right back at it. I’m lucky enough to be in a position to afford this renovation (I’m knocking on the rotted wood in my ceiling that more unexpected issues don’t arise…which is very naive of me) even though it wasn’t necessarily planned at this point, and I’m able to reprioritize some financial obligations to make it happen sooner than expected. HOWEVER, I do owe some of my position to proper preparation and planning (…you know I love me some alliteration):

I’m a fairly stingy person with my money, and I save pretty aggressively in anticipation of these sorts of unexpected things. It pains me deeply to pull money out of my savings account for this project, but if there’s a place to spend it, it’s on the remodel of a space that I spend tons of quality time sitting in…TMI?Over the last year, I’ve iteratively conceptualized and/or purchased bathroom fixtures that I knew I’d eventually use, even though a specific renovation timeline wasn’t established until, like, last week. For example, I purchased this vanity before I even moved in (I’ll go into more detail about it shortly), and I sourced most of the other fixtures ahead of time as well.

Now, perhaps the biggest pain point here is that this is my only bathroom. I’m planning to stay elsewhere during parts of the renovation that make the bathroom inhospitable, but what happens if it takes longer than expected? Well, I don’t really know the answer to that, if I’m being honest. I’m planning to wait until all functional components of the new bathroom are delivered before we start tearing things apart–in an effort to minimize the time I’ll be without a bathroom–but I’m certain that unexpected issues will prevent things from going as smoothly as I’d like. I’ll be learning a little (a lot?) about what it takes to tackle the renovation of the single bathroom in a house, and I’ll definitely report back with lessons learned! Let’s hope I’m not couch surfing for months. Flexibility is the name of the game right now, whether I like it or not.

After reframing my expectations and pivoting the planning phase of the bathroom, I consulted Emily to help me think through some of my plans–most of which center around the idea of maintaining the original character and quality of the space.

MAINTAINING A 1930s FRAME OF MIND: AKA STICKING TO THE ERA OF THE HOMEdesign by jessica helgerson | photo by jeremy bittermann | via architectural digest

If I had to boil down my style into three words, they’d be tailored, classic, and collected. Much of that mindset was manifested in my bedroom remodel from earlier this year (check out that series if you haven’t!). My house was built in 1939, and I don’t ever want to take it to a place aesthetically that doesn’t align with its vintage charm.

Some of the qualities of my home that I LOVE are the elements that [I think] are original. I love the vintage door hardware, the original hardwood floors, and in this context specifically, the quality of the original features in the bathroom. As such, I want to maintain as much of that character as possible, while bringing the space into 2021 in a way that feels authentic and tailored to me.

1. Wallpaper | 2. Lewis switch plate | 3. Palmer medicine cabinet | 4. Glass bottle | 5. Rollins cross handle sink faucet | 6. Vanity | 7. West slope double towel bar | 8. Kohler toilet | 9. Connor faucet supply lines | 10. Pink vase | 11. Yaquina glass shelf | 12. Connor tub/shower set | 13. Organic waffle shower curtain

Tailored? Check. 
Classic? Check. 
Collected? Chickity chickity check.

Now, one of the biggest questions that I have for this space is what kind of lighting I want to use. I’m caught between hanging a single pendant from the ceiling above the sink like a beautiful little piece of jewelry and maintaining the placement of the light that exists currently. The single pendant option just feels like me, but it might not provide for enough functional light, and it would be expensive to move electrical wiring to make it happen. Maintaining the current placement–but updating the fixture–feels like the fiscally responsible option and perhaps more authentic to the space, but would it be interesting enough? I posed the question to Emily when I shared these plans with her, and she shared that there are some great sconce options out there to choose from, and going that direction would allow me to keep the junction box where it is. 

Here are general illustrations of both options (along with options for wall treatments):

Option 1: Painted Walls & A Multi-Bulb SconceOption 2: Wallpaper & A Single Pendant

What do you think? Single pendant, or multi-bulb sconce? Also, wallpaper, or painted walls? So many decisions to make!

Another thing I am very excited about is my plans for the floor tile. As you can see in my mood board above, I am going for a frame tile design that just SCREAMS “classic” to me, and I’ve been spending a lot of time detailing exactly how it’ll look. I’m opting for a marble floor to turn the timelessness up to an eleven, but also utilizing a pattern very similar to the original tile as an homage to this bathroom’s humble beginnings.

design by sean macpherson | via remodelista

I should address the elephant in the room (unless I’m projecting said elephant…): opting for a pedestal sink in the only bathroom in the house. I will fully admit that is definitely not the most viable option for a vanity when it comes to storage. BUT. I personally never use things that I keep under the sink. There is also a linen closet directly outside of my bathroom that I plan to outfit with novel storage solutions as a part of this bathroom renovation (would you be interested in hearing more about that?). I’m also generally very, very, very drawn to the look of a brassy pedestal sink. It hits all of the right marks, in my opinion. I think it’s important to underscore the power of designing your home for you–and not for the outlook of resale in the future–because honestly, future homeowners will likely move in and make their own changes regardless. Do you! Make yourself happy! 

photo by paul massey | via c tendance

You’ll find that most of my interior inspiration usually is centered around hospitality design. That’s the case for a few reasons: because my love for environmental graphic design usually results in an appreciation for well-branded spaces, because hotel rooms are generally designed with an intense intentionality that resonates with me, and because they’re generally designed to be easily conducive to establishing pragmatism and routine.

UNDERSCORING ROUTINE-BUILDING BEHAVIORSdesign by sean macpherson | via ludlow hotel

If you read my primary bedroom renovations series of articles, you might recall that establishing routines is extremely important to me. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and mental health, daily patterns create a strong foundation on which I can start my days, end my days, and center myself (it’s a good thing I established my bedroom as a space of calm, because I’ll definitely need it to get me through this bathroom renovation!).

While the bedroom is where step one of my nightly routine takes place, the bathroom is where the [longer] second part of my routine occurs. I usually shower at night (I’m curious–are you a night showerer or a morning showerer?), tend to my beard, indulge in some self-pampering if time allows, and organize any toiletries I’ll need in the morning–all while listening to some amalgamation of Adele, Sam Smith, and other similarly melodramatic artists. Suffice it to say, it’ll be SO NICE to have a bathroom that is conducive to this aspect of my day.

design and photo by the gold hive

With all that being said, a medicine cabinet is going to be CLUTCH in this remodel. I’m eyeing this one from Rejuvenation, which seems like a healthy alternative to the toiletry bag that I currently use to store all of my bathroom things. Also, the mirror currently in my bathroom is VERY LOW on the wall, which has inspired me to invest in a tall mirror that will make it easier to trim my beard and cut my hair. On that note, I’m brainstorming a multi-mirror solution that will allow me to easily see the back of my head while I’m shaving it. Perhaps that can take the form of an accordion mirror, like so:

design by juliet feehan | photo by john gruen | via design sponge

At any rate, you can see that I have a TON of decisions to make! The real work in this space will start over the next few weeks, and I’m excited (and mildly anxious) to get this project started. In true fashion, I’ve asked for lots of opinions in this article…so please, let me know your thoughts down below!

Opener Image Credits: Design by Sean MacPherson | via Remodelista

The post Introducing Malcolm’s “Sooner Than Anticipated” Bathroom Remodel: When A Leak Leads To A Life Upgrade appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Is Your Bathroom Counter Bumming You Out?? Here Are The 6 Accessories That Will Level Up Your Bathroom Styling Game

Bathrooms, much like kitchens, can sometimes be overlooked and forgotten about unless a renovation is on the table. We tend to focus styling efforts on bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms because furniture and decor can go a long way even in the most basic, boxy style homes. When it comes to bathrooms, we are working with permanent fixtures and limited space so design paralysis can be strong. If you are staring at tile you hate or a medicine cabinet you’d like to throw in the garbage but can’t, it’s easy to just write off a bathroom altogether. Well, I am here to say that your bathroom deserves some styling love and I want to help get you there. Luckily for all of us, bathroom styling can be real simple and still pack a punch.

You guys are of course familiar with the soap dispensers, hand towels, and bath mats that are bathroom decor staples, but this is about the little extras that can make a world difference. These are not necessities but fun and stylish pieces that you may have overlooked. I am talking about 6 styling accessories that we use over and over that are both functional and stylish and are guaranteed to brighten up your bathroom and your mood. Let’s get into it:

Start With A Large Tray As A Basephoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house reveal: our soft yet secretly sultry guest bed and bathroom

Think of the tray as the foundation of bathroom styling. When you use a tray for even the most simple bathroom accessories, the styling feels much more intentional. When using this method, make sure to mix and match the height and scale of your items so you can create dimension and visual interest. We love to style bathroom trays with cute vase with flowers or branches, a small canister, a little dish (for rings, etc.), and a grooming tool or two. Here are some trays we are coveting right now:

1. Leather Catchall | 2. Riad Tray | 3. Large Concrete Tray | 4. Vintage Round Tray | 5. Simone Trays | 6. Edge Plate| 7. Two of Hearts Tray | 8. Hand-painted Terra Platter | 9. Green Marble Tank Tray

I love the rustic and weathered look of #4 and think it would add some interest to a boring bathroom vanity. A brass tray like #6 is a perfect addition to a bathroom that’s lacking in pretty finishes but honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of these picks.

Layer In A Small Dish Or Bowl[image error]left: photo by tessa neustadt | from: classic modern master bathroom reveal | right: photo by tessa neustadt | from: refreshing your bathroom with target’s project 62 line

To add even more depth, a small jewelry dish or bowl goes a long way and allows the jewelry you already own to act as decor. This is especially helpful if your bathroom is lacking in brass or silver finishes as you can create the illusion of metal finishes with your jewelry. If you are in need, these small cuties are our favorites right now:

1. Round Jewelry Tray | 2. Brass Curio Display Box | 3. Soapstone Bowl | 4. Metal Brass Tray | 5. Sea Biscuit Bowl (Set of 2) 6. Small Catchall Tray | 7. Concrete Jewelry Tray | 8. White Marble Cloche Base | 9. Red Clay Mini Piglet Tripot

A matte black tray such as #1 would be a great addition to a modern bathroom vanity as would #7 but if you are looking for something fun and fresh (maybe for a kid’s bathroom?) #9 is your guy.

Add A Cute Vase For Heightphoto by tessa neustadt | design by melanie burstin design | from: an office reveal that happens to be a full-on ehd alum family affair

Vases are instrumental in bathroom styling because they add height and texture plus you can play around with whatever pattern or color you want. We love flowers in vases of course, but foraging for interesting branches outdoors is such a fun and cost-effective way to fill your vases and bring life to your bathroom. If you have the space for a larger, sculptural vase do that! But if you have limited counter space, go for a little bud vase with a single stem. All that matters is that you are creating levels (stem included). So make sure that even if it’s small, it’s still varied in height from your other countertop pieces. These are some vases that will give your bathroom style instantly:

[image error]

1. Pleated Stoneware Vase | 2. Glass Bud Vases (Set of 3) | 3. Monolithic Tadelakt Vase | 4. Little Gem Vase | 5. Tiered Stoneware Vase | 6. ‘Just Because’ Grid Vase | 7. Capstone Bud Vase | 8. Ceramic Bud Vase | 9. Canopy Trio Vases (Set of 3) | 10. Mini Porcelain Vase | 11. Camden Bud Vase | 12. Gray Stoneware Vase

Obviously, #7 is extremely cool and intriguing and would look good on any countertop. If your bathroom is lacking something textured and sculptural #1 and #5 are great picks but honestly I love the classic glass look of #9. Now if you are tight on space #2 is a pretty and affordable option.

Use Canisters For Everyday Productsphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | design by emily bowser | from: emily bowser’s 32 square foot bathroom packed with small space hacks

We love freeing up closed storage space by decanting things that are used daily and displaying them in stylish canisters. Using canisters reduces clutter and it is such a simple way to make your bathroom feel more elegant and modern. These are the ones we have our eyes on:

1. Ribbed Glass Canister. | 2. Cane Storage Box | 3. Porcelain Bathroom Accessories | 4. Alabaster Storage Jar | 5. Glass Apothecary Jars | 6. Glass Jar with Stand | 7. Small Glass Canister | 8. Large Bijou Canister | 9. Glass Container

#2 is so cute if you want to add more warmth to your bathroom and a set like #5 is a great choice if you have enough counter space to display several canisters.

Once you have a jewelry dish, vase, and canister it’s time to configure them on your main tray. We suggest making sure each is varied in height and assembled in a way where the heights and widths are not too close together. We also like the dish “in between the vase and canister in case you wanted our go-to:)

Opt For Candles With A Sleek Containerphoto by keyanna bowen | design by jess weeth

Candles are a bathroom staple (because, well, you know..) and a great hack is to buy candles that have an already sleek or stylish container. Always having a candle in your bathroom makes it feel like a spa and will lift your mood anytime you enter.

Hot Tip

When your candle is finished, use the container as a canister to reduce waste!

1. Wood Plank Candle | 2. Maison Louis Marie Candle | 3. Joshua Tree Candle | 4. Lavender Soy Candle | 5. Night-Blooming Jasmine Terra Candle | 6. Beratan Scented Candle

I could not not include #1 in this round up because how cool is that wood detail? I am really into it. #2 is super chic and smells INCREDIBLE (and EHD go-to) and #4 is made by an awesome queer-owned brand that we love.

Complete The Look With A Match Cloche Or Match Striker[image error]photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how to design a modern, dramatic powder room

Matches are the perfect mate for your stylish candle and can be used as decor too. They are an unsuspecting yet impactful prop that are useful and cute when decanted in a stylish cloche or striker. Here are some of our favorites:

1. Match Cloches | 2. Match Striker | 3. Black Line Ceramic Match Striker | 4. Ceramic Match Striker | 5. Beach Stone Match Striker | 6. Farmhouse Pottery Match Striker

I’ve been eyeing #1 for way too long so I think this is my sign to finally snag it. I also love the shape and line detail of #3 and #4 is very similar to what Emily used in this bathroom reveal.

And that’s all for now! What other styling posts would you like to see from us? Would you want a full bathroom combo post like we used to do? Drop your suggestions in the comments and have a lovely Wednesday, my friends. xx

Opening Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: How To Design A Modern, Dramatic Powder Room

The post Is Your Bathroom Counter Bumming You Out?? Here Are The 6 Accessories That Will Level Up Your Bathroom Styling Game appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The House That Pinterest Won’t Build (Em’s River House Co-Designer, Max Humphrey And His “Backwards” Design Process)

Max Humphrey and I are in the beginning stages of co-designing this new river house (along with our architect Annie Usher) and boy do we have different design processes. The way he approaches a renovation is SO DIFFERENT than me, and I thought that I was a design rebel, being formerly “untrained”. He does whatever he wants to whenever he wants and it’s WILD to witness. I feel like I used to do this in decorating but my love of ALL styles made my homes too chaotic (especially before ) so when it comes to renovation and picking permanent finishes, I HAVE to have my process in order for it to look cohesive. Anyway, it’s all to say that where I begin (pinning an overall look and feel, setting the vibe and style for the whole art direction) he DOES NOT. It was totally baffling at first but I’m into it. Luckily, we have GREAT working chemistry and neither of us have much of an ego, so it is so fun to work with him and witness his process – but it’s SO DIFFERENT than mine (and so similar to the style diagnostic!) and yet it totally works!!! Anyway, Max, you punk, take it away and teach the people how you design totally backwards (IMHO). ALSO, BUY HIS NEW BOOK BECAUSE IT IS SO GOOD.

Hi it’s your new friend of the blog Max Humphrey, Emily’s co-interior-designer on the River House project and recent author of the book Modern Americana. Emily said we need to do a River House post and it was my turn so here we go. I’m supposed to be talking about my design process in this post but I’m procrastinating. Writing blog posts is super hard btw I don’t know how Emily and her peeps churn these out every other day. I’m turning this post in a day after, two days after, three days after EHD editorial director Jess said it was due, sorry Jess!

I joined the River House team a little after the project kicked off. When Emily gave me the whole download she invited me to a secret Pinterest board shared with Em, architect Annie Usher, and our “clients” aka Emily’s brother and sister-in-law Ken and Katie. On this secret board, there are THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY pinned images and all of them are super awesome but in my own design process I tend to start backwards by sourcing specific items and specs and building homes up piece by piece and THEN maybe eventually ending up with inspiration to reference. I like to go shopping first and pick some tile, then source a few key plumbing fixtures, a pendant light or sconce or two, get flooring samples, eyeball some bathtubs and shower, door hinges, doorknobs, garbage disposal buttons and on and on and on until we have a whole house worth of stuff picked out. I don’t think about if things go together, I only think about if we love each piece individually. It all goes together because we say it goes together. Colors don’t clash. Hardware finishes don’t need to be matchy-matchy. We can mix art deco with mid-century modern with industrial and arts and crafts if we want. Some of the clients I work with love this approach because they feel very involved in the process and we can pinpoint exactly when and where we selected each item together. This way there’s a journey from beginning to end. Some clients don’t love this process and say things like, “we like this tile sample or chair you’re showing us but we don’t see how it fits in with THE BIG PICTURE.” That’s usually when we figure out we’re not a good design/client match and this is why I charge hourly instead of having a flat fee.

emily is pin happy

I relate my design process to clothing shopping. How often do you go buy an entire outfit (pants, shirt, shoes, socks, jacket, hat, bag, whatever) from one single store and wear all of it together? Probably never. When I buy clothes it’s because I need a pair of pants for some reason, so I get some pants and wear them with a shirt I already own and then maybe get a sweater a few months later when it’s colder and it’s usually from a different store by a different brand than the rest of the stuff. If you get the J.Crew catalog in the mail or walk past one of the storefronts and try and recreate the exact outfit the mannequins have on, it never looks as cool because those are mannequins. Same deal with designing a house by starting out with inspiration – you’ll almost never get what you want because that’s not your house. I got an ad on Instagram recently for an L.L.Bean camo sweatshirt with Snoopy on it that I HAD TO HAVE, even though I had no idea what I’ll wear it with. And I found some cool vintage chrome chairs on craigslist the other day that I know will be perfect for a remodel project I’m designing in Lake Tahoe but I don’t know which room they’ll go in yet or what fabric I’ll use to reupholster them in. I just know that they’re cool and I’ll make them work.

now you see me now you don’t. snoopy come home.

Camo Snoopy Sweatshirt

Designing For Myself

I try to design for clients the same way I design for myself. It’s no surprise that most people respond to projects on interior designers’ portfolios that are the designer’s own homes. For my own house, I buy one thing at a time as my budget allows, constantly reuse and move stuff from one room to another, do little DIY projects here and there, hire contractors when I’m out of my depth, and figure things out as I go. I’ve heard about designers who do whole 3 ring binder type presentations for their own homes – with every lampshade and cabinet knob picked out from the start but I can’t see that far into the future. I wouldn’t have even thought about creating a Pinterest board when I bought my house. I just took inventory of what I already owned and then pounded the pavement to fill in the blanks.

b4 = total snooze fest

This is a before and after of the living room here in Portland. It was a vanilla, drywall box when I bought it and piece by piece I started DIYing and decorating and scrapping and scrounging.

after = cabin vibes

Flush Mount | Shelter 2-Piece Terminal Chaise Sectional

Flooring can dictate a lot of the tone of a house, and is a big chunk of change, so that was the first decision I made. I found an engineered white oak that fit the bill and the budget and gave me a jumping-off point design-wise. Then I started buying unfinished knotty pine tongue-and-groove planks and installed them on the walls. I did this myself in phases as my $$$ and weekends permitted. The planks go directly on top of the drywall with a little glue and some nail gun brad nails so it was a pretty easy DIY. Eventually, I wanted to go full-on cabin vibes so I installed cedar (that’s the 3rd wood species in this room for everyone counting) on the ceiling. All the wood tones are cohesive IMHO but don’t actually match. Then I had some plywood (4th wood!) bookshelves and cubbies built, painted the fireplace, trimmed out the wall planks with baseboard (hemlock! #5 wood species!), and finally got around to decorating. I’m not sure starting with inspiration images would have helped me in all this. Likely the photos would have things in them I couldn’t afford to buy, materials I couldn’t source, details I couldn’t recreate – and why would I want to anyway? That’s someone else’s house.

Knotty Pine Edge V-Plank Kit

The sectional sofa I found at a floor sample sale at my local West Elm and on paper it might look like the orientation would cut the room in half but in reality, I think gives definition to the space. There was almost no lighting when I moved in and at this point I called in an electrician to add some junction boxes on the ceiling and walls and started searching for fixtures around town. The overhead flush mount is from Schoolhouse (with a brass finish canopy to go with the black iron drapery rod because why not).

Edgecliff Pull | Tile

When I finally saved up enough extra cash to renovate my kitchen I first decided on plywood cabinets and then stumbled on the polka-dot backsplash tile, then the faucet (stainless steel!), and then the hardware (satin brass FTW!). If I put all of those materials in a sample tray it would probably look like a hodge-podge. I dig all the elements individually which makes me extra dig everything as a whole. At the start of the process, I wasn’t sure where the design was going. It was fun and surprising to figure it out as I went, with each decision helping guide the next.

Denim Shirt | Blue Tile

When it was time to remodel my bathroom I was inspired by a chambray shirt with brass buttons I had found on a work trip to NYC. The blue tile is from Ann Sacks and then I went full brass everything with the plumbing, lighting, and medicine cabinet. My next big house project is replacing all my windows. The existing ones are vinyl and were installed poorly by whoever lived here before me.

i love window seats. stay tuned for a whole lotta window seat action at the river houseDesigning For A Client – Same But Different

For clients, I need to be a little more strategic since I have to include an itemized timesheet on my design fee invoices. Explaining my process can be tricky and it usually takes a few months of working together before there’s some design trust established. Here’s a before and after at a basement renovation I designed. I met this family through Emily actually, they’re friends of hers and she introduced us when I first moved to Portland and was scrounging for clients. The goal was to open things up and create a multi-functional space with different hang out zones.

Sectional | White Stool

I think the jumping-off point was when they saw this leather sofa at Rejuvenation and texted me a photo. We talked a bit about the different uses the room would have (games, movies, extra work-from-home space). You can see in the before photo that the existing ceiling was low and popcorn-y and once their contractor got on board I asked him if he could rip out a section of the sheetrock overhead to see if anything cool was hiding underneath. As it turned out there were exposed joists that I knew would look awesome with a fresh coat of paint. Even though we only gained a few inches of headroom it really makes the ceiling look taller than it actually is. There had been recessed cans in the dropped ceiling so the next step was drawing up an overhead lighting plan. There was going to be nowhere to hide the cables or conduit so I had the electrician run everything along the joists for an industrial look and then paint the conduit and junction boxes white. The next element I suggested was adding vertical shiplap to the walls which creates another illusion of taller ceilings since the lines draw your eyes up. We had to figure out what the flooring was going to be and I had originally thought about using some sort of large format patterned tile but we all agreed it would look busy. Instead, the contractor was able to clean up the concrete that was underneath the old carpet. This involved patching the concrete and then grinding it smooth and then it was stained gray with a satin finish. Area rugs were brought in to soften things up and define the ping-pong zone from the sofa zone. I taped the sizes out on the floor with blue painter’s tape to make sure all the rug sizes worked. I had sketched an informal furniture plan at the start that included the sectional and the family said they wanted some built-in seating along the back corner that could be used as a table for eating or working.

The banquette I designed for the space creates a bookmark across from the sectional since both are opposite L-shapes. The gingham fabric came way later after I started noticing a black and white theme happening with some of the artwork we found and even the little rubber caps on the metal stools that surround the banquette table. We finally had to figure something out with the now exposed HVAC duct that used to be covered by a soffit (you can see it if you scroll way back up to the before photo). These ducts are typically left in the original galvanized steel finish when you see them in commercial spaces but this is a home for a young family so I asked the contractor if it could be spray painted pink. Why pink??? Why not. And so it wouldn’t jump out as the only pink thing in the room I brought pink pillows and pink artwork to tie everything together. I wasn’t planning on a black, white, and pink (and tan leather) room but that’s where it ended up.

Designing The River House – Same But Different But Same (+ Emily)

This brings us back to the River House. As Annie finalizes the overall architectural plans, Emily and I have been able to dig into some kitchen design elements. We’ve been throwing ideas and specific products at Ken and Katie and it’s super interesting to see what they’ve responded to so far.

Tournant Single-Handle Semi-Professional Kitchen Sink Faucet | Purist Two-Hole Deck-Mount Bridge Kitchen Sink Faucet

Here’s the main sink faucet selections narrowed down – any guess as to which one we all decided on? Bzzzzzzt it’s the pull-down one on the left although we’re still nowhere near deciding which finish (if I had to put my money on it I’d say it’ll be dark but who knows!). This was my favorite of the faucet options but for some reason I thought Katie and Ken would be into the more modern bridge style one on the right. This faucet choice helps gives me something to springboard off of design-wise more than comparing inspo all day because it’s a SPECIFIC decision.

Pendant Option One

Pendants | Faucet

Pendant Option Two

Pendants | Faucet

For the kitchen island pendants, we all like the “modern farm” style ones from Kohler but depending on which finish we select for both the lights and the faucet it could take the whole vibe in totally different directions. The dark nickel pendant finish is one way we could go, the matte white finish is another. I kinda like the white ones right now since they’re a little unexpected.

For a ground-up build like this, my first step even before product selections is drawing the main kitchen wall elevation. Putting pen (or crayon) to paper (which then get translated into Autocad drawings by my talented colleague Jordan) helps get my head in the game and it’s almost like free association and helps spark creativity. I read Justina B’s post a few years back about how she does single-line drawings where she keeps her hand moving without hesitation. This is helpful for me when I start to overthink my design sketches. I just draw and see where it goes.

My Fancy Drawingyou folks have nothing to worry about. i’m a professional.The Actual Fancy Autocad Drawing By Jordan

Here’s the first draft of the main kitchen stove wall and then the more flushed-out cad version. As you can see we’re planning on a pretty clean layout with plenty of breathing room around the section of upper cabinets. There’s more storage opportunities elsewhere in the kitchen so this area didn’t need to be maxed out. And we’re going big with tile by taking it up to the ceiling and wrapping the hood. Until we go tile shopping it’s anyone’s guess as to what the final look will be. Will we pick out a white subway tile or will it have some pattern? Or a bold color even? And what do you think the cabinets are going to be… all wood? painted? METAL? I sure as hell don’t know.

Green Snoopy Sweatshirt | My Book

As you can see I have my process. Emily has hers. You have yours. Some people are mood board people. Some pin the night away. Maybe you’re like me and just figure it all out as you go and design entire rooms based on button-up denim shirts. The point is there’s no “wrong way” to design. AND btw by the time I hit “save draft” and gave Jess and Emily a heads up that I was done writing this post I got an Instagram pop-up ad for another novelty Snoopy sweatshirt. Thanks everyone for reading and hopefully I’ll be back again soon sharing more River House non-inspo. And if you want to see more of my DIY vibes and design work please grab a copy of my brand new book Modern Americana HERE or at your favorite local bookseller.

***From Emily – Working with Max has been INCREDIBLY FUN, truly. We are friends. We laugh a lot at each other. It’s awesome. Getting to witness a different creative process provokes my creativity and challenges everything (in a good, fun way) and my brother/SIL actually loves just being shown product. I made a bad judgement call in an earlier version and condoned something that isn’t funny (speeding tickets). My mistake, my fault, my stupidity and it’s been deleted. Hee’s the truth – Max is a dad, doesn’t drive dangerously, but got two photo tickets that he didn’t even know about going 30 in a 20 near his upholsterer. So he jokes about it on his insta-stories and my just dropping it in the intro made it sound like we think driving too fast is cool. It is not. I’m sorry for my bad judgement and not fully explaining the situation. We hope you can appreciate the intent of the post which is showcasing a different creative process, how fun it is to work together and can forgive my bad judgement call. Thanks everyone for your positive support. Max, I LOVE WORKING WITH YOU and so does my brother, and my friends that havehiredhim. It’s a true joy to do my first new build with you (and thank god for you)

The funny thing is (still me, Emily) this is how I style, just not how I renovate. The style diagnostic was a LOT like this – showing people ‘style indicators’ and letting their response to teach me something about their likes and dislikes of a style, as semantics can get hard! Especially when clients don’t know the language, so this backwards approach can totally work (as seen above) and I think can help curate a more interesting home. xx

*All Designs by Max Humphrey
**After Photos by Christopher Dibble

The post The House That Pinterest Won’t Build (Em’s River House Co-Designer, Max Humphrey And His “Backwards” Design Process) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The House That Pinterest Won’t Build (Em’s River House Co-Designer, Max Humphrey Refuses To Look At Her Inspo Board)

Max Humphrey and I are in the beginning stages of co-designing this new river house (along with our architect Annie Usher) and boy do we have different design processes. It should be noted that Max was in a punk band before he worked for a big design firm in LA and he’s had so many speeding tickets (as a 40-year-old dad) that he currently isn’t allowed to drive between midnight and 5 am. So that gives you some insight into how he navigates life – however he wants to. The way he approaches a renovation is SO DIFFERENT than me, and I thought that I was a design rebel, being formerly “untrained”. He does whatever he wants to whenever he wants and it’s WILD to witness. I feel like I used to do this in decorating but my love of ALL styles made my homes too chaotic (especially before ) so when it comes to renovation and picking permanent finishes, I HAVE to have my process in order for it to look cohesive. Anyway, it’s all to say that where I begin (pinning an overall look and feel, setting the vibe and style for the whole art direction) he DOES NOT. It was totally baffling at first. Luckily, we have GREAT working chemistry and neither of us have much of an ego, so it is so fun to work with him and witness his process – but it’s SO DIFFERENT than mine (and so similar to the style diagnostic!) and yet it totally works!!! Anyway, Max, you punk, take it away and teach the people how you design totally backwards (IMHO). ALSO, BUY HIS NEW BOOK BECAUSE IT IS SO GOOD.

Hi it’s your new friend of the blog Max Humphrey, Emily’s co-interior-designer on the River House project and recent author of the book Modern Americana. Emily said we need to do a River House post and it was my turn so here we go. I’m supposed to be talking about my design process in this post but I’m procrastinating. Writing blog posts is super hard btw I don’t know how Emily and her peeps churn these out every other day. I’m turning this post in a day after, two days after, three days after EHD editorial director Jess said it was due, sorry Jess!

I joined the River House team a little after the project kicked off. When Emily gave me the whole download she invited me to a secret Pinterest board shared with Em, architect Annie Usher, and our “clients” aka Emily’s brother and sister-in-law Ken and Katie. On this secret board, there are THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY pinned images and all of them are super awesome but in my own design process I tend to start backwards by sourcing specific items and specs and building homes up piece by piece and THEN maybe eventually ending up with inspiration to reference. I like to go shopping first and pick some tile, then source a few key plumbing fixtures, a pendant light or sconce or two, get flooring samples, eyeball some bathtubs and shower, door hinges, doorknobs, garbage disposal buttons and on and on and on until we have a whole house worth of stuff picked out. I don’t think about if things go together, I only think about if we love each piece individually. It all goes together because we say it goes together. Colors don’t clash. Hardware finishes don’t need to be matchy-matchy. We can mix art deco with mid-century modern with industrial and arts and crafts if we want. Some of the clients I work with love this approach because they feel very involved in the process and we can pinpoint exactly when and where we selected each item together. This way there’s a journey from beginning to end. Some clients don’t love this process and say things like, “we like this tile sample or chair you’re showing us but we don’t see how it fits in with THE BIG PICTURE.” That’s usually when we figure out we’re not a good design/client match and this is why I charge hourly instead of having a flat fee.

emily is pin happy

I relate my design process to clothing shopping. How often do you go buy an entire outfit (pants, shirt, shoes, socks, jacket, hat, bag, whatever) from one single store and wear all of it together? Probably never. When I buy clothes it’s because I need a pair of pants for some reason, so I get some pants and wear them with a shirt I already own and then maybe get a sweater a few months later when it’s colder and it’s usually from a different store by a different brand than the rest of the stuff. If you get the J.Crew catalog in the mail or walk past one of the storefronts and try and recreate the exact outfit the mannequins have on, it never looks as cool because those are mannequins. Same deal with designing a house by starting out with inspiration – you’ll almost never get what you want because that’s not your house. I got an ad on Instagram recently for an L.L.Bean camo sweatshirt with Snoopy on it that I HAD TO HAVE, even though I had no idea what I’ll wear it with. And I found some cool vintage chrome chairs on craigslist the other day that I know will be perfect for a remodel project I’m designing in Lake Tahoe but I don’t know which room they’ll go in yet or what fabric I’ll use to reupholster them in. I just know that they’re cool and I’ll make them work.

now you see me now you don’t. snoopy come home.

Camo Snoopy Sweatshirt

Designing For Myself

I try to design for clients the same way I design for myself. It’s no surprise that most people respond to projects on interior designers’ portfolios that are the designer’s own homes. For my own house, I buy one thing at a time as my budget allows, constantly reuse and move stuff from one room to another, do little DIY projects here and there, hire contractors when I’m out of my depth, and figure things out as I go. I’ve heard about designers who do whole 3 ring binder type presentations for their own homes – with every lampshade and cabinet knob picked out from the start but I can’t see that far into the future. I wouldn’t have even thought about creating a Pinterest board when I bought my house. I just took inventory of what I already owned and then pounded the pavement to fill in the blanks.

b4 = total snooze fest

This is a before and after of the living room here in Portland. It was a vanilla, drywall box when I bought it and piece by piece I started DIYing and decorating and scrapping and scrounging.

after = cabin vibes

Flush Mount | Shelter 2-Piece Terminal Chaise Sectional

Flooring can dictate a lot of the tone of a house, and is a big chunk of change, so that was the first decision I made. I found an engineered white oak that fit the bill and the budget and gave me a jumping-off point design-wise. Then I started buying unfinished knotty pine tongue-and-groove planks and installed them on the walls. I did this myself in phases as my $$$ and weekends permitted. The planks go directly on top of the drywall with a little glue and some nail gun brad nails so it was a pretty easy DIY. Eventually, I wanted to go full-on cabin vibes so I installed cedar (that’s the 3rd wood species in this room for everyone counting) on the ceiling. All the wood tones are cohesive IMHO but don’t actually match. Then I had some plywood (4th wood!) bookshelves and cubbies built, painted the fireplace, trimmed out the wall planks with baseboard (hemlock! #5 wood species!), and finally got around to decorating. I’m not sure starting with inspiration images would have helped me in all this. Likely the photos would have things in them I couldn’t afford to buy, materials I couldn’t source, details I couldn’t recreate – and why would I want to anyway? That’s someone else’s house.

Knotty Pine Edge V-Plank Kit

The sectional sofa I found at a floor sample sale at my local West Elm and on paper it might look like the orientation would cut the room in half but in reality, I think gives definition to the space. There was almost no lighting when I moved in and at this point I called in an electrician to add some junction boxes on the ceiling and walls and started searching for fixtures around town. The overhead flush mount is from Schoolhouse (with a brass finish canopy to go with the black iron drapery rod because why not).

Edgecliff Pull | Tile

When I finally saved up enough extra cash to renovate my kitchen I first decided on plywood cabinets and then stumbled on the polka-dot backsplash tile, then the faucet (stainless steel!), and then the hardware (satin brass FTW!). If I put all of those materials in a sample tray it would probably look like a hodge-podge. I dig all the elements individually which makes me extra dig everything as a whole. At the start of the process, I wasn’t sure where the design was going. It was fun and surprising to figure it out as I went, with each decision helping guide the next.

Denim Shirt | Blue Tile

When it was time to remodel my bathroom I was inspired by a chambray shirt with brass buttons I had found on a work trip to NYC. The blue tile is from Ann Sacks and then I went full brass everything with the plumbing, lighting, and medicine cabinet. My next big house project is replacing all my windows. The existing ones are vinyl and were installed poorly by whoever lived here before me.

i love window seats. stay tuned for a whole lotta window seat action at the river houseDesigning For A Client – Same But Different

For clients, I need to be a little more strategic since I have to include an itemized timesheet on my design fee invoices. Explaining my process can be tricky and it usually takes a few months of working together before there’s some design trust established. Here’s a before and after at a basement renovation I designed. I met this family through Emily actually, they’re friends of hers and she introduced us when I first moved to Portland and was scrounging for clients. The goal was to open things up and create a multi-functional space with different hang out zones.

Sectional | White Stool

I think the jumping-off point was when they saw this leather sofa at Rejuvenation and texted me a photo. We talked a bit about the different uses the room would have (games, movies, extra work-from-home space). You can see in the before photo that the existing ceiling was low and popcorn-y and once their contractor got on board I asked him if he could rip out a section of the sheetrock overhead to see if anything cool was hiding underneath. As it turned out there were exposed joists that I knew would look awesome with a fresh coat of paint. Even though we only gained a few inches of headroom it really makes the ceiling look taller than it actually is. There had been recessed cans in the dropped ceiling so the next step was drawing up an overhead lighting plan. There was going to be nowhere to hide the cables or conduit so I had the electrician run everything along the joists for an industrial look and then paint the conduit and junction boxes white. The next element I suggested was adding vertical shiplap to the walls which creates another illusion of taller ceilings since the lines draw your eyes up. We had to figure out what the flooring was going to be and I had originally thought about using some sort of large format patterned tile but we all agreed it would look busy. Instead, the contractor was able to clean up the concrete that was underneath the old carpet. This involved patching the concrete and then grinding it smooth and then it was stained gray with a satin finish. Area rugs were brought in to soften things up and define the ping-pong zone from the sofa zone. I taped the sizes out on the floor with blue painter’s tape to make sure all the rug sizes worked. I had sketched an informal furniture plan at the start that included the sectional and the family said they wanted some built-in seating along the back corner that could be used as a table for eating or working.

The banquette I designed for the space creates a bookmark across from the sectional since both are opposite L-shapes. The gingham fabric came way later after I started noticing a black and white theme happening with some of the artwork we found and even the little rubber caps on the metal stools that surround the banquette table. We finally had to figure something out with the now exposed HVAC duct that used to be covered by a soffit (you can see it if you scroll way back up to the before photo). These ducts are typically left in the original galvanized steel finish when you see them in commercial spaces but this is a home for a young family so I asked the contractor if it could be spray painted pink. Why pink??? Why not. And so it wouldn’t jump out as the only pink thing in the room I brought pink pillows and pink artwork to tie everything together. I wasn’t planning on a black, white, and pink (and tan leather) room but that’s where it ended up.

Designing The River House – Same But Different But Same (+ Emily)

This brings us back to the River House. As Annie finalizes the overall architectural plans, Emily and I have been able to dig into some kitchen design elements. We’ve been throwing ideas and specific products at Ken and Katie and it’s super interesting to see what they’ve responded to so far.

Tournant Single-Handle Semi-Professional Kitchen Sink Faucet | Purist Two-Hole Deck-Mount Bridge Kitchen Sink Faucet

Here’s the main sink faucet selections narrowed down – any guess as to which one we all decided on? Bzzzzzzt it’s the pull-down one on the left although we’re still nowhere near deciding which finish (if I had to put my money on it I’d say it’ll be dark but who knows!). This was my favorite of the faucet options but for some reason I thought Katie and Ken would be into the more modern bridge style one on the right. This faucet choice helps gives me something to springboard off of design-wise more than comparing inspo all day because it’s a SPECIFIC decision.

Pendant Option One

Pendants | Faucet

Pendant Option Two

Pendants | Faucet

For the kitchen island pendants, we all like the “modern farm” style ones from Kohler but depending on which finish we select for both the lights and the faucet it could take the whole vibe in totally different directions. The dark nickel pendant finish is one way we could go, the matte white finish is another. I kinda like the white ones right now since they’re a little unexpected.

For a ground-up build like this, my first step even before product selections is drawing the main kitchen wall elevation. Putting pen (or crayon) to paper (which then get translated into Autocad drawings by my talented colleague Jordan) helps get my head in the game and it’s almost like free association and helps spark creativity. I read Justina B’s post a few years back about how she does single-line drawings where she keeps her hand moving without hesitation. This is helpful for me when I start to overthink my design sketches. I just draw and see where it goes.

My Fancy Drawingyou folks have nothing to worry about. i’m a professional.The Actual Fancy Autocad Drawing By Jordan

Here’s the first draft of the main kitchen stove wall and then the more flushed-out cad version. As you can see we’re planning on a pretty clean layout with plenty of breathing room around the section of upper cabinets. There’s more storage opportunities elsewhere in the kitchen so this area didn’t need to be maxed out. And we’re going big with tile by taking it up to the ceiling and wrapping the hood. Until we go tile shopping it’s anyone’s guess as to what the final look will be. Will we pick out a white subway tile or will it have some pattern? Or a bold color even? And what do you think the cabinets are going to be… all wood? painted? METAL? I sure as hell don’t know.

Green Snoopy Sweatshirt | My Book

As you can see I have my process. Emily has hers. You have yours. Some people are mood board people. Some pin the night away. Maybe you’re like me and just figure it all out as you go and design entire rooms based on button-up denim shirts. The point is there’s no “wrong way” to design. AND btw by the time I hit “save draft” and gave Jess and Emily a heads up that I was done writing this post I got an Instagram pop-up ad for another novelty Snoopy sweatshirt. Thanks everyone for reading and hopefully I’ll be back again soon sharing more River House non-inspo. And if you want to see more of my DIY vibes and design work please grab a copy of my brand new book Modern Americana HERE or at your favorite local bookseller.

*All Designs by Max Humphrey
**After Photos by Christopher Dibble

The post The House That Pinterest Won’t Build (Em’s River House Co-Designer, Max Humphrey Refuses To Look At Her Inspo Board) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

How Jess Is Overcoming Her “Basic B” Bias Against A Personal Pink Decor Statement – An Existential Color Crisis About Curtains

When I typed out this title a real big, “God Jess, you are dramatic and you overthink EVERYTHING, it’s a just freaking color!” voice came to me. But I have a strange emotional block with using pink in my home in a big statement-y way (I do realize I just bought a neon pink swimsuit very much on purpose). So when it comes to planning and decorating, using pink as a “statement color” feels somehow personally unacceptable. For some reason, I can and do love it from afar but in my home, I feel like it exposes me as “too girly” or “juvenile” or “basic” or even “weak” which is the dumbest one of all. That thought doesn’t even cross my mind when seeing pink in beautiful spaces on the internet. However, my inner misogynist is telling me that if I use too much pink then the world will somehow write me off as “not a serious person” (something that I desperately wanted as a kid and clearly still do). WHAT A WILD AND STUPID STATEMENT. Also, I do know that pink was not always associated with uber femininity but for all my life it was so here we are. I feel like Gen Z is saving us. Fingers crossed.

This whole “pink decor fear” thing isn’t new for me, but it recently reared its ugly head when I was choosing my curtains a few weeks ago. As you may have seen from my past posts about my new apartment, I have three incredible curved windows in a turret. Those window frames and their glass are curved which is apparently not done anymore because it’s real expensive (and why I have been told I can’t open them because they are too fragile). But maybe in the early 1900s, it was super affordable? Who knows? So while I wouldn’t trade them for the world, they do require custom drapery hardware because of their shape/rarity (or at least the kind of hardware I want). Coooool.

Naturally, I asked Decorview if they might consider helping me with this design agony. They agreed, which I was over the moon about, BUT that meant this indecisive Libra needed to pick a curtain color fast… I mean have you seen these lead times? I need this reveal to go up in 2021!

fyi the current rods were originally straight and then bent in the center…

Here’s the thing about my living room. It actually doesn’t get a ton of direct natural light because of the beautiful trees outside. I am honestly SO grateful for them because on a couple of 91 degree weather days we recently had, I was pretty ok without an air conditioner. Pop the champagne! However, this does mean that it’s not the brightest of rooms (but totally bright enough for me). So when it came to choosing a curtain color, I was afraid of going too dark and making the room feel too moody. I work in here so I need “happy”. But a white color was also a no-go as proven by my white-ish IKEA curtains that I have been using. They completely get visually lost in the walls and also look kinda sad. What’s a gal to do?? Dare she go pink????????

Why not, right? So much of what I pin, bookmark, and like on the internet have an element of pink in it. Pink can be so freaking chic and is just a really happy color that apparently makes me happy to look at. For instance, I can’t imagine Malcolm’s bedroom without that mauve blanket or not wanting to cozy up in the most fun and pink Mountian House bunk room ever. So what is this existential color crisis? I want to break free from what is likely just patriarchal BS. I shouldn’t worry that if I have a guy I’m dating over, that he will somehow make assumptions that don’t actually represent who I am (not a big but slight anxiety I have… HARD face to palm emoji). Will pink curtains tell someone that I’m high maintenance “girly-girl”? ANOTHER VERY STUPID STATEMENT. For example, Caitlin is the chillest, low-maintenance, fun person I know and she’s got pink all over her place. Also, there is nothing wrong with being a “girly-girl”! Ay yai yai, Bunge.

Colors are emotional. (Ha. As if this entire post doesn’t prove exactly that). And it’s important to choose intentionally. Emily is being very intentional with the farmhouse colors because while blues and grays make her and her family happy (see this post on comfort color palettes), Portland is rainy and gray so some warmer pops of color are going to be incorporated to bring in “more life”. And you know what?? More life is what I want in my shady living room. I keep telling myself that pink curtains are going to be chic AND make me happy every time I step into this room. Pushing myself outside of my weird emotional color block is oddly a real growth moment for me (even though it felt like I did enough “growing” for 5 decades this past year).

So I thought we could kick this therapy session up a notch and look at some beautiful spaces that didn’t shy away from pink that I love and continue to hype me up for incorporating a little more pink. And hey, if you want, do a little shopping if you are in need of some “happy pink” in your home too. This is now a Pink Appreciation Post so let’s get into it and maybe I’ll be fixed by the end. Anything is possible, right??

design by shapeless studio | photo by kate sears | via remodelista

This room came on the scene years ago but I have never stopped loving it. It’s warm, calm, sweet, and yet chic. The tonal palette and minimalism are the reasons why it’s so effortless but it really gets me on that muted pink train. How about you?

design by caroline gayral | via natalie catalina

This is another oldie but goodie and was also a big initial inspo for my last apartment (even though I used white curtains because I was scared). Think if those curtains were white…. it would still be a pretty room but the pink brings it to life!

design and design by allison wu

These textured pink walls are BEAUTIFUL and very much made me want a pink kitchen when I first saw this space years ago.

You also might be catching on that “my pink” is more soft, sandy pink (and sometimes a saturated mauve), not the bubble gums or hot pinks of the rainbow. This makes make “hang up” even sillier. IT’S NOT EVEN THAT PINK.

So yes I prefer a more soft pink if I’m going big but I don’t mind going a little more saturated when it’s in small decor pieces or art. If you need some pink in your life too, I have taken to the internet and found some pretty great options for you to either continue indulging in your love for pink or get over your issues with it like me:) Also there’s A LOT more inspiration!

Curtainsdesign by reath design | photo by laure jolietleft: studio jaaf, styled by kim de groot, photo by anke leunissen, via | right: design by hayley and james pannekoecke of kip&co, via mydomainedesign by arent & pyke studio | styling by olga lewis | photo by pure ruscoe

Not everyone needs to go custom because of vintage windows from the early 1900s. So if you want pink curtains too, I love these ones:

1. European Flax Linen Curtain | 2. Dusty Pink Stonewashed Linen Curtain | 3. Luxe Linen Blend Curtain | 4. Velvet Dusty Orchid Curtain Panel | 5. Cotton Canvas Fragmented Lines Curtains | 6. Heathered Thermal Room Darkening Curtain Panel

Paintdesign by annie sloan | photo by benedicte drummond | via house beautifulleft: via ad germany | middle: design by studio tate, photo by armelle habib, via the design files| right: design by guillermo santoma, photo by ricardo labougle, via sfgirlbybaydesign by phoebe nicol | photo by dave wheeler

I may not by painting my walls pink but all of these rooms prove that it is a REALLY cool choice. Here are my favorite options:

1. Odessa Pink | 2. Setting Plaster | 3. Fairest Pink | 4. Rachel Pink | 5. Tissue Pink | 6. Middleton Pink

Tiledesign by india mahdavi | photo by francois halard | via architectural digest

Pink tile is a real commitment but also a has huge payoff when done right… like in the photo above. That kitchen makes me smile every time I look at it. Don’t you want the coolest kitchen or bathroom in your neighborhood???

1. Zellige Blushing Mistress | 2. Dawn | 3. Cement Arc White + Mocha Square | 4. Imperial Pink Gloss Ceramic Subway Wall Tile | 5. Zellige Vintage Rose Square | 6. Beaded by Barbara Barry Field Tile

DecorArtdesign by lauren li | photo by louise johansen | via the design files

I plan on having plenty of art with pink accents because a. it will help to balance the curtain color with the other side of the room and b. it will be a subtle but fun way to punch up my wall’s style. So if you want to bring in some pink without painting the entire wall, just start with a piece of art like one of these:

1. Sunday by Mary Ketch | 2. Death Valley Mountain #21 by Jordan Sullivan | 3. Abstract Tapestry Wall Art | 4. The Self Love Art Print by João Incerti | 5. Cotton Candy Leftovers by Cathy Sunu | 6. Urban Desert Series 1 by Lisa Sundin

Fun Miscellaneous design by leanne ford | styled by kate berry | photo by nicole franzen | via domino

Wall art is good but so are unexpected pink pieces of decor! A lamp is awesome but so is a taper candle… or a velvet lampshade:)

1. Joy Clay Table Lamp | 2. Pauline Candle Holder | 3. Simple Wood Candle Holder | 4. Picnic Geo Candle | 6. Bedside Carafe

Vasesdesign by phoebe nicol | photo by dave wheeler

Vases needed their own category because they can be both functional pieces for flowers AND sculptures. Plus all of these are just really cool and that’s also why they got their own special section.

1. Berry Budvase | 2. MoMA Raawii Strom Ceramic Large Vase | 3. Mid-Century Ceramic Vase | 4. Eda Vase | 5. The Pink Collection | 6. Cecillia Small Pink Glass Vase | 7. Linne Carafe | 8. Willow Decorative Vase | 9. Ceramic Stoneware Vase Pink

Textiles design by lauren li | photo by louise johansen | via the design files

Lastly, we have the “curl up with your pink decor” section. I didn’t talk about it before but for most people (like Emily), pink is basically a neutral now. A really happy, soft neutral. So adding a pink throw or pillow to your sofa or bed will only add to your color palette in a quiet yet unexpected way.

1. Pink Waffle Throw | 2. Handmade Wool Shag Pillow | 3. Pink Stitched Lumbar Pillow | 4. Leah Singh Daphne Pillow Cover | 5. D’Abord Cushion Cover | 6. Cotton Canvas Round Pouf | 7. Mongolian Lamb Pillow Cover | 8. Linen Throw Pillow | 9. Windowpane Throw

Despite the fact that my curtain color was finalized last Friday and I really love it! I also actually do feel better after writing this post. I guess that’s why journaling is so effective. Writing down your thoughts and feelings, as well as searching the internet for beautiful pink rooms and products, WILL show you that you are an overthinker that just needs to choose what YOU love. Designing to push yourself creatively is one thing. Designing out of fear and weird old hangups is another.

I’m curious. Do any of you have any outdated or useless hangups when it comes to designing or decorating your homes? Colors, materials, shapes, etc? Let the group therapy session begin:)

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Rachel Castle | Photo by Caitlin Mills | Styling by Annie Portelli | via The Design Files

The post How Jess Is Overcoming Her “Basic B” Bias Against A Personal Pink Decor Statement – An Existential Color Crisis About Curtains appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Jess’s $25 Linen Summer Pants, Caitlin’s Non-Clumping Mascara, and ACTUALLY GOOD Faux Plants

Hey everyone and welcome to the link up. We’re here to chat about some fun random things we’re loving this week, so if you’re interested stay tuned because here it comes…

is so so special. I mean if this ping pong/dining table doesn’t clue into how cool it is I don’t know what will. The masterminds of Workstead and Matiz Architecture & Design just did the most beautiful job. We don’t want to give anything away so go look now!

From Emily: Hilton Carter partnered with Target (two of my favorites) on a new faux plant line and FYI they’re ALL VERY GOOD. Good faux plants are impeccably hard to find, so if you want to be a plant person but can’t keep them alive… these are for you.

From Caitlin: It feels like everyone I know has asked me for a recommendation on a good weekender or carry-on bag over the past few weeks, so I just want to make a formal declaration that I live and die by this travel backpack. I got mine in 2018 and I have two anecdotes to illustrate how functional it is: it’s the only piece I brought when backpacking Europe one winter (cold) AND it’s the only thing I brought when doing MOH duty at a best friend’s wedding cross-country from my house (needed to bring everything I’ve ever seen just in case). I am VERY CONFIDENT in the Mary Poppins-like packing quality of this bag. You unzip it for the first time and you’re like “shoot, I’ve goofed, this can’t possibly fit that much” and then BOOM, you’ve suddenly packed a capsule wardrobe (or like, 2 weeks of summer clothes). I know hardshell suitcases and monogrammed duffels are cuter, but this thing is a workhorse that is super comfy to wear and it can be jammed under an airplane seat if necessary. People are always amazed that I can travel with one bag and I swear that it’s just because this one is SO GOOD. If you’re planning a little summer vacation and in need, this is your keep-forever, always-looks-brand-new backpack!!!

Also From Caitlin: AHHH! This mascara is also SO GOOD. I’ve always read about other folk’s holy grail makeup products and have just thought, “yeah, I mean, it’s all kinda the same on me,” but after a few months of using this one I have been CHANGED. This brush like…GRIPS??? And it’s perfectly shaped to get the inside lashes? And I really only need one coat? And there’s no clumping?!?! One billion stars from me.

From Ryann: Last week I went to the Glendale Galleria (Valley Girl anyone??) and walked into Zara not really expecting to find anything but feeling excited about shopping IRL again. Well, jokes on me because I found the perfect pair of shoes that I have been searching for, for months and even waited 45 minutes in line just to purchase them. These clogs are so cute and comfortable because of the platform and I wear them with everything. They are truly perfect for summer so if anyone wants to invite me to a summer soirée, this vaccinated gal is ready to strut her stuff.

From Jess: I’ve deemed this summer, THE SUMMER OF SLOUCHY PANTS. Look I still love my skinnies and my leggings, BUT the more I put on pants that let my legs breathe, the happier I am. Enter these $25 linen pants that actually feel like a vacation on my body! I was innocently making an early morning Target return when I stumbled upon them. They only had my size in the gray so I grabbed them to see if I liked them. Well, moments after I put them on, I ran to my computer to buy the tan ones. They are just the ultimate dress up or down pant that also feels like pajamas. FYI the models on the site are wearing them more fitted but I wanted a slouchier look so I went up a size which was a 12 for reference. They are still high enough waisted but are way roomier:)

Also From Jess: So I maybe didn’t just hit the clothing section of Target… I obviously took a gander in the home section too. And boy did I see some things I’m trying everything in my power not to impulse buy because I don’t have a place for them yet. But you might. So here if you need a beautiful oval mirror, a truly awesome moody painting, or the cutest round stone container you are in luck. Enjoy them for me!

From Mallory: I went to this cute little store in Malibu a while back called Glamifornia and met the nicest lady there who told me about this really cool tanning product…it’s basically an instant self-tanner oil that’s made with henna and I’m a HUGE fan. Now that it’s starting to feel like summer I’ve been using it A BUNCH. Basically my problem with regular self-tanner is that it smells bad and I never plan far enough in advance for when I wanna be tan. Insert this lovely lady where I can just slap it on anywhere I wanna pretend like I’m tan and voila! Plus it makes you not smell like a tanning addict, which is a plus.

Also From Mallory: You know when you’re at a salon and your hairstylist pulls out some magical smelling bottle of god knows what before blow drying your hair?? Well, I recently got my hair done (THANK GOD), and this time when that happened I took a photo of the product my hairstylist was using. HELLO HERE IT IS. THIS SMELLS AMAZING. I’m buying it and using it every single time I blow dry my hair now.

That’s it for this week! WE LOVE YOU ALL. xx

Opening Image Credit: Design by Workstead and Matiz Architecture & Design | Photo by Matthew Williams | via

The post The Link Up: Jess’s $25 Linen Summer Pants, Caitlin’s Non-Clumping Mascara, and ACTUALLY GOOD Faux Plants appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Another Swimsuit Review: This Time On 27 Different Women With Different Bodies & Swimwear Needs

The swimsuit review post is always the #1 fashion post of the year (traffic-wise, it’s up to almost 500,000 views now), but the problem is that it’s just one body (me) and it’s not like I can or want to shop from all the brands out there to review them. There were so many great recommendations in the comments for other suits for different body types, and a follow-up post felt very necessary. So I came up with an idea: I’d ask readers (and those close to EHD) if they wanted to review a swimsuit they love for the blog (even my team) and in exchange, I’d Venmo them $100 for their time. They just had to have a current suit that they LOVED and tell us why it makes them feel good, and of course, be willing to be on the blog and social.

Look at these beautiful women, that yes are also brave because regardless of your looks unless you are literally a model, putting a selfie on the internet requires true confidence and bravery. I am HERE FOR THIS. Seeing real suits on real bodies, hearing about how they fit, and what is so great about them will hopefully get us all closer to feeling comfortable and beautiful in a new or old suit this summer. Thank you, ladies. Let’s change swimsuit marketing one review at a time and hopefully, more companies will start putting a greater variety of real bodies in their suits (and clothes) and stop photoshopping. It helps literally no one.

Ok now let’s get to these gals!

The Colorful Bikinis With Some Support That Are Also Kinda Sexy (At High and Low Price Points)

Left: Top (size 12) + Bottom (size 14) | Right: Top (size L) + Bottom (size L)

From Jess: Yes, these are two different suits on my real body, in a fake spray tan (my first one ever (!) but after 16 months of being a vampire it was just the only way to get me to be “brave”… and the sadness I feel now that’s it’s fading is truly ridiculous). Anyway, here’s the story behind my two blue suits. Vitamin A (one of Em’s favorite swimsuit brands) sent a few of us suits to try-on. I was SO EXCITED because I’ve been dying to check them out! We also loved the idea of showcasing a great, sustainable brand on a few more shapes of bods. Buuut I thought I was getting a black suit so I bought that cutie on the left at Target and cut off the tags. But honestly, I love them both and if you want a blue suit here are two awesome options at two very different price points. The quality of the Vitamin A suit (on the left) is unmatched and the style of this combo is super classic. My 34D boobs feel very secure in the top too:) The bottoms are also good but I think are actually meant to be more of a high leg cut because I did have a slight “baggy butt” situation with how I have them on in this shot. Also, 14 is the largest size they have which I REALLY hope they change soon. In normal clothes, I’m a 10 to 12/30 in pants to give you an idea of the real sizing. Then my Target suit (on the right) is fun, textured (the material is ribbed) and the bottoms make me feel kinda sexy. After this past year, I didn’t think that feeling would ever come back. I was actually shocked that those bottoms don’t cut in and that those straps just lay nice on my hips. Highly recommend.

WARNING! It wasn’t until a few days later did I realize that my Target top and bottoms were slightly different blue hues. It’s truly very hard to tell, even in person. The reason is, the top is from the Xhilaration (their juniors line) and the bottoms are from the Shade & Shore (their adult line which is why I got a large and not an extra-large like you will see below). Here is the link for the Shade & Shore top if you for some reason want matching colors:). The Xhilaration one is just a teeny bit brighter which I like but they don’t have the same sexy bottoms available. UGH. So choose your own adventure.

Left: Top (size M) + Bottom (size L) | Right: Top (size L) + Bottom (size XL)

For some reason, I was jonesing for a hot pink suit this year. I think I’m needing to be in happy colors in 2021. But after this spray tan, I think I might be getting a little too “GTL” minus the “G” (Jersey Shore throwback in case you forgot THE phrase of 2009/10… Gym, Tan, Laundry). But maybe I don’t care! The suit on the left is J. Crew (in Neon Flamingo) and I definitely like it. It’s not a home run for me but I like the support of the top and the color is super pretty. I don’t love the bottoms. The fabric looks a little too baggy but going down a size would for sure be too small. Also, the fabric is a little too thin for me. Now the Target suit on the right is my ideal pink hue for a swimsuit. It’s kinda that 80s/90s neon pink that makes me feel fun and very ready to be by a pool (she feverishly looks for Airbnbs with pools). The top is the same as the blue one. They do have pads but you can take them out which I normally do but didn’t mind them for this one. Also, the bottoms have a little V cut in the front which is a pretty cute small detail. FYI both of these are from the junior’s line and I don’t think there are bigger options in this color. But seriously Target has SO many suits that are great. Oh, I actually might even mix and match my blue and pink suits. I’m about to be WILD this summer (very much JK).

The Simple And Easy To Move Around In One Piece

Square Neck One Piece (size S)

From Ajai: I wanted a swimsuit with a simple design, but a bit of color. I’m a new mom, and I imagine going to the beach and pool this summer with my little one will be quite the workout, so I needed a suit I could move around in without having to constantly adjust it. I had a c-section, so two-piece swimsuits aren’t very comfortable for me just yet. This one-piece feels good up against my incision and I love the low back on it. 

The Vintage & Classic Looking One Piece That Is Super Fun & Form Fitting

Positano Stripe Orange Cross Front Multifit One Piece (size 4)

From Anita: I love this swimsuit so much because it’s comfortable and makes me feel confident! The combination of the stripes and ruching is just so flattering to the bust and tummy areas – and I love the classic, vintage, look! Who says a one-piece can’t be fun? When I’m shopping for a new swimsuit, I look for something that is going to make me feel my best, a suit that makes me feel confident in my own skin!

The Simple & Classic Black Two-Piece That Comes In A Variety of Sizes

Lightly Lined Twist-Front Bikini Top (size 36D) + Bottoms (not online, size L)

From Cristina: I purchased this swimsuit from Target recently and I love it. I like the simplicity of an all-black bathing suit and I feel like it’s slimming in the waist area because of the color. I also like that this particular top comes in a variety of sizes, which has always been an issue for me when buying swimsuits. This particular size top is a 36D and the bottoms are a size Large.

The Supportive Top With Great Coverage & A Fun Pattern Swim Skirt

Matte Black Top Knot + Pursuit High-Waisted Swim Skirt

From Diana: I like the top because it holds everything together in place in case I need to race after my boys in the pool. The bottom is the absolute best though… it covers my work-in-progress butt and the pattern camouflages my [belly] pouch! I feel cute and I’m comfortable. 

The Best Bikinis (And Brand) For Big Chested Gals

Etna Bikini (size XL)

From Caitlin: After like, two years of recommending clothes and undergarments by writing, “I have 36F boobs and a big butt,” it feels kind of surreal to be like “AND HERE THEY ARE!” But now, please let me tell you about Andrea Iyamah (aka the only place I will be purchasing swimsuits for the rest of my life – also a Black-owned business!). The Caitlin of yore would have been feeling insecure about posting bikini pics at her highest-ever weight but the Caitlin in *THIS* swimsuit DOESN’T GIVE AN F. Like, uh, WHERE IS MY CABANA BOY? Where are my grapes???? Someone fan me!!! I love it – I’m very pale and the color doesn’t make me look like I’ve recently climbed out of an ice chest in a morgue. PLUS the detailing just feels so special and the top is really sturdy. This is definitely more of a “Vegas suit” (read: to be worn while you’re standing around or sitting in a hot tub) but it makes me feel really good. I got an XL top and XL bottom (which is supposed to be high-waisted, but I have a really long torso, so it tried to be high-waisted and just fell short). Highly recommended.

Yassa High Waist Bikini (size XL)

From Caitlin: (The slippers were an accident. And I guess my spare Birk, too. Woof.) In any case, I love this suit because my boobs are SECURE. I first discovered this brand through one of my favorite fashion influencers, @simimoonlight, who wore this exact suit in an IG post and I was like “WOW I WISH I LOOKED LIKE THAT AT THE BEACH.” Only caveat is that the top is a little difficult to get on (so many straps and components!) but it makes me feel awesome. The high-waisted bottom is SUPER high (it’s hard to find one that can cover my belly button) and I think you can tell from the back shot that my boobs are like…UP. They’re LOCKED AND LOADED. If you’re a curvier gal who has struggled finding something unique and fun, look no further than Andrea Iyamah – TBH I had never spent that much on a swimsuit before and now I’m like, “OH, YEAH, the quality is worth it.” So happy with them!

The Ultra Supportive One Piece That Is Comfortable & Stretchy In The Right Places

Aerie Ribbed Tie Back One–Piece (size XL long)

From Danielle: I have the pleasure of being tall and midsize (6′ tall and anywhere from 14-18 with a 36D bra size and purchased a size XL long if that helps anyone who will read this swimsuit roundup) and can relate to every woman everywhere in that finding a comfortable swimsuit that’s simultaneously cute is about as rare as stumbling across a $50 bill on the ground. If you do happen upon a lucky $50, it just so happens that’s all you’ll need to buy this suit. Allow me to introduce you to the Aerie Ribbed Tie Back One–Piece swimsuit. This is my favorite suit I’ve ever owned for 4 core reasons: 

It has built-in cups so you have the support you need without being obnoxiously compressive. It’s perfect for throwing on a flowy skirt or jean shorts to wear around town before you head to the beach/pool without feeling like you’re prepared for a swim meet. The fabric is truly the perfect amount of stretch and compression so you feel supported rather than the usual oscillation between feeling constricted or like you may as well be wearing a wet t-shirt. It has perfectly sized leg holes for my fellow distinguished derriere/thick-thighed ladies, meaning it’s very adaptable to the type of fit you like. Whether you want the suit pulled low over your hips and backside or up higher for an almost high-cut look, this suit can do it all. Few swimsuit situations are worse than being stuck in a wet suit all day while it squeezes your underbutt and/or legs. The tie back is a super cute way to zhush up the classic silhouette of this suit and it’s not just for show! You can tie it tighter or looser to better fit your shape. The Bikini With Removable Straps That Is Ideal For Tanning

The Rio Top + The Bikini Bottom

From Sarah: This bikini is my favorite two-piece because it highlights all my glorious fat. As someone who hid their fat belly for years (26 to be exact), I ADORE the way the sun warms it up in the summer. I also appreciate that I can remove the straps and even out my tan. Plus, with my breasts being two different sizes this is the only bikini top I own that fits perfectly. 

The Unexpectedly Sexy One Piece With An Open Back

Leah One Piece (size 14)

From Ryann: I will forever love a red one-piece and yes I do feel very Baywatch in this in the best way. It almost looks like I photoshopped the color but I promise I did not — it really is that bright and showstopping in person. This is definitely a swimsuit I would wear on vacation when I know I won’t be running around or doing rigorous activities (but honestly, I think I could have sized down to a size 12). It has a low scoop back that is very sexy and there is no shelf support so it’s not a sport-friendly suit, but damn does it look good and make me feel good. The fabric also feels incredible (hence the high price point) and it doesn’t cut in on the thighs which is so nice. This is a swimsuit I will be pulling out on my honeymoon for sure.

The Super Affordable Two-Piece That Comes In SO Many Patterns

High Waisted Ruffle Bikini Set

From Mackenzie: You can buy this one on Amazon and it’s only $26 and comes in all different kinds of prints. It’s so flattering! I’m a 5′ 10″ and quite rectangular in body shape – but this made me feel so pretty and curvy in the right spots! Highly recommend!

The Adjustable One-Piece With A Shelf Bra For Extra Support

Ribbed Side-Cinch One Piece

From Kelsey: My sister approached a girl on Miami Beach to ask her where she got this suit — she knew it would look good on us and she wasn’t wrong. Aside from the super fun and summery color, this suit is adjustable! With ties in the back that control the height and width of the suit, it’s easy to make this work well for my body. There are also ties at the bottom of each side to adjust the leg rise/coverage. It includes a shelf bra for extra support and I love that I still feel sexy shaking skin but am supported well enough to hang at the beach with my kids! 

The Bikini Top With Great Support But No Padding (That Is Great For Small Chests)

Demi Top (size 4) + California High Leg  (size 8)

From Mallory: When I shop for swimsuits I often make it a goal to find tops that make it seem like I have more boobage than I actually have. It’s harder than it seems because if you get one of those pushup suits with padding then there’s a highly awkward gap that can occur between the suit and your actual chest which is not ideal in my personal opinion. I’m highly in love with this top from Vitamin A because it’s not only VERY cute, but it has an underwire without a bunch of uncomfortable and awkward-looking padding. The material is seriously silky smooth and good quality while also being super thin but not see-through… it’s just very very comfortable and good. Another thing I look for in a suit is when I can buy different sizes in the tops and bottoms (I usually need a medium on the bottom and a small on top), and since I could choose my size for each, they fit perfectly. I 10/10 recommend this suit, but size up if you want more coverage (especially in the bottoms because they can definitely run small) this is a 4 top and an 8 bottom for reference.

The High Waisted Bottoms That Don’t Bunch Up

Tie-Front Bikini Top + High Rise Hipster Bottom

From Heather: I bought my first two-piece suit since I’ve had my two kids, and here I am sending pictures of myself in it across the internet. I’ve found it very hard to find simple high-waisted bottoms that weren’t ruched to death or otherwise bulky. I feel great in this suit!

The Reversible & Adjustable One Piece

Reversible One-Piece

From Hana: I feel like I have a true pear-shaped body. With a very small chest and a larger bottom, making one-pieces difficult sometimes. This top is completely adjustable and fits incredibly well. Also, the suit is completely reversible! 

The Supportive & Modest Suit With A Built In Bra

The Ginger Romper

From Brittney: I looove this suit because as a mom of a preschooler, I need both support and coverage to run after her, and this has a built-in banded bra. I also have thick thighs, and I love that the romper accentuates them (while also stopping any thigh rub chafing!). Lastly, I love that it has pockets! So I can keep our sunscreen stick or my phone in my pocket poolside. 

The High Waist Stripe Bikini With Great Coverage

Triangle Bikini Top (size S) + Medium Coverage High Waist Bikini Bottom (size S)

From Elizabeth: As a mom of two who is about to turn 41 years old, I couldn’t believe how much I liked this striped bikini! The high waist is comfortable and the coverage is great. I got a small in the top and tried both the small and the medium bottom but decided to keep the small. Thanks for helping me get out of my comfort zone!

The Comfortable & Modest Enough To Wear In Front Of In-Laws Bikini (That’s Still VERY Cute)

Cap Sleeve Bikini Top (size XS) + Hi Waist Bottom (size XS)

From Keyanna: Okay, so in theory this suit probably isn’t the best option for sunbathing by the pool (because who wants cap sleeve tan lines?) but, I love how stylish it looks. This is definitely a suit I would feel comfortable wearing around my in-laws –modest, but cute. Although “support” is not necessarily something I have to worry about, the top is padded and gives me a little bit of lift. And the ruched knot detail gives the illusion of more cleavage, which if you’re a member of the itty bitty titty committee like myself, that’s a plus! I have a long torso and short legs (eye roll) so I like how the high-waisted bottoms make my legs look longer and the front overlay detail adds a little compression and added coverage to the tummy. 

The One Piece That Shows Some Skin And Fits Right On Long Torsos

Leopard Wrap One Piece Swimsuit

From Kristin: My name is Kristin and this is my new favorite swimsuit. It is the Aerie wrap swimsuit. I’m a mom of 4 and have parts of my body I’m still learning to love, like my tummy. I also don’t feel comfortable in a bikini. This swimsuit is a one-piece but looks like a high-waisted two-piece, so I can highlight what I am confident about! It also works with my tall 5’9” frame and it’s the perfect amount of booby, haha. So flattering on every shape! I tell everyone about this suit! 

The Top That Looks & Fits Like A Bra

Women’s 1993 Underwire Top + Women’s 1989 High-Leg Bikini Bottom

From Adrea: Since I am small busted, I wanted a suit that fits well in the top and does not gape. I ordered the J.Crew (on the left) because the top looked like a bra and you can order the top in Bra sizes (Genius Points). The fit feels like an underwire bra which I am used to. The suit is a simple, classic look which I loved. The bottoms are a lil cheeky but my husband begged me to get something a bit sexier this year – this is still wearable with in-laws and husband-approved.

The Super Cute Swim Skirt & One Shoulder Top

Swim Crop Top + High Waisted Swim Skirt

From Jana:  I LOVE my suit from Albion fit! I love to wear swim skirts but they sometimes aren’t as flattering. I feel so confident in this! I never ever wear two-piece suits and feel like a million bucks. Super high quality and confidence guaranteed! My tiny shadow loves it too

The Two-Piece Great For Chasing Around Toddlers

The Caraway

From Tara: Feeling beach ready in my new suit! Loving the cute style of this suit but still feel covered and comfortable. Great for chasing my toddlers around the pool or down the beach. It has extra support in the top to keep you secure. The lemons are so adorable and unique. Can’t wait for pool season this year! 

Two One-Pieces That Give The Illusion Of Curves

Left: CUPSHE Deep V Neck One Piece Swimsuit Ruffle | Right: SweatyRocks One Shoulder Cutout One Piece Swimsuit

From Marie: I like this suit (on the left) because it is a simpler/sportier version of the trendy monokini style that is flattering on my body type. I am fairly rectangular shaped with little difference between my waist and hips, but this suit gives the illusion of a little more curve. It also has good coverage, which is necessary when I’m playing on the beach alongside my kids and protects more of my skin from the sun. 

I like this suit (on the right) because it’s a flattering one-piece that actually makes me feel really sexy while still having extremely small boobs (32A). The back is fun with some ruffles and intricate ties. I also love the ruffles on the front as they hide that annoying “armpit fat”. 

The Modest, Comfortable, & Super Cute Suit That Is Size-Inclusive

The Sage Swimsuit

From Tiffany: I am a currrrrvy girl and finding a swimsuit I feel good and comfortable and confident is the hardest thing for me. In fact, last year I didn’t swim at all because I didn’t have a swimsuit I was comfortable in. FAST FORWARD to this year and the brand Honeymark! Not only is the owner the most darling person I have ever seen, she’s made her line super size-inclusive and perfect for me. For anyone. This swim romper is super modest, comfy, and darling. Every single thing on her site is! I’ve never spent as much money on anything as I did this swimsuit. Not even my wedding dress (honestly) and I’m so excited to play at the splash pad and play in the swimming pool and at the beach in this little thing! 

The One-Pieces That Offer Great Coverage

Left: Zip Front Long Sleeve Tugless Sporty One Piece Swimsuit | Right: One Piece Swimsuit

From Bryn: The LandsEnd suit (on the left) is great quality and full bum coverage. I like that the front zipper locks in place, so I can pull it down for a little bit of cleavage to counteract all the coverage elsewhere. Sewn-in cups mean I don’t have to wear a bikini top under a rash guard, so that’s a plus for me. I wish the legs were slightly higher cut, but I love this pattern combo.

The second suit (on the right) is from Amazon. I’ve owned it in blue and now pink. This is my favorite suit to wear to the beach or lake because I won’t be mad if it gets ruined. My blue one got sun-faded after I left it on the balcony at a beach rental and I was sad, but honestly, didn’t care much because of the price point of this suit. I sometimes pull the one-shoulder strap down and tuck it in for a different look. Quality is fine (it hides imperfections well), but this isn’t a suit that can last for seasons and seasons like the LandsEnd suits or J.Crew suits.

The Active & Body Contouring One Piece

Nike Hydralock Sculpt One Piece

From Ashlea: This is one of my favorite swimsuits because I feel like it fits well, it doesn’t cut into my butt and I feel like it is body contouring around the belly area. I have two boys that like to put on my shirt and so it’s nice that this is also high enough for that

The “Sisterhood of the Traveling Bikini”

Eva High Waist Two-Piece

From Sarah: This is my YouSwim bikini. It’s a DREAM COME TRUE. YouSwim is based in England and designs suits that fit 7 sizes! No joke. People size 2-14 will fit glamorously in this suit without slippage. The material is super comfy and stretchy, and has a ribbed detail to add dimension. Plus, all their packaging is sustainable and recyclable! 

Full transparency, I hadn’t worn a bikini in 5 years before I tried this one. Now, I’m ready to buy out all the stock in every color. I’ve never felt so beautiful while showing so much skin. It’s pricy, but you’re paying for a suit that changes right along with your body—even through pregnancy! My roommate is a size 2 and I’m a size 6/8, and truly, it fits us both super well. (Sisterhood of the traveling swimsuit? Anyone?) 
The different colors go in and out of stock often, but the customer service is great and I never have to wait too long before what I’m looking for is back. The style I’m wearing is the Aplomb high-waisted two-piece in Garnet, but all their style options have the same inclusive sizing. 

The Affordable Bikini For Tall Athletic Body Types

Textured Bandeau Bikini + Textured String Bikini Bottom

From Daisy: I’m the tall (5’9″), athletic body type and not super curvy, but I think this swimsuit is very flattering on many body types. I’ve never bought a swimsuit at Target before but it was very affordable and, I have to say, actually better quality than many of the more expensive swimsuits I’ve had. It’s a beautiful color on all skin types, feels very secure top and bottom, and also comes with straps you can attach to the bandeau for even more support. 

Huge thanks again to all these beautiful and confident ladies for contributing to this post. We hope it helps you feel amazing in whatever you chose to put on your body this summer. xx

The post Another Swimsuit Review: This Time On 27 Different Women With Different Bodies & Swimwear Needs appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Ideas I Want To Steal (But Won’t) From Another TRUE MODERN Farmhouse

I’m deep in the farmhouse design phase – you know where you whiplash around with every new idea and what started out to be so “simple” is now me just quietly chanting “too many ways to skin a cat” over and over. But I keep leaning back into what I really want – quiet + high quality, simple + special, with the foundation of it being shaker and not too much fuss. But it is SO easy to make that boring and too safe and even easier to copy deVOL or Plain English, which are INCREDIBLE but definitely too of the moment. How to be unique and yet universal/timeless? Well, as I was scrolling on our California road trip this week I re-stumbled upon this farmhouse in Canada on Instagram called Building Walnut Farm and fell in LOVE – AGAIN. Angela executed so many stunning details, with such quiet perfection and I can’t imagine this ever feeling dated. She hasn’t done a full reveal yet (I’m sure some print magazine will scoop her up now) but we got her permission and snagged my favorite shots from her Instagram to call out what I love so much. Here you go.

1. Simple/Stunning Wood Cabinetry

As you know I still want a hefty amount of wood cabinetry but how to make it not look basic or too “of the moment” requires the right species, finish, and details. I LOVE the wood she used – the mixed thickness of the railes and styles (the horizontal and vertical shaker paneling), the chicken wire (would be great in the mudroom to put anything that needs to breathe. Just stunning. I won’t copy, but I sure wish I could just show it to our cabinet maker and say, “this, just do this”. P.S. I know so many people (readers and friends and family) who have taken the mountain house kitchen or powder bath and done just that – replicated it and I am honestly SO EXCITED to see it every single time. Normally it’s not exact because custom materials are hard to replicate, but it’s so close and so fun. Of course, I can’t do that (plus I want to do something new) but I think it’s perfectly fine for homeowners/non-designers to do that, by the way.

photo by stephanie brown

I love the variety of the drawer heights and that deep warm wood. I’m assuming it’s oak or a light walnut? Dunno I will reach out because our floors are light wood so I want to mix up the tones of wood this time for a more vintage/eclectic (not like the mountain house where I wanted it more seamless – which I LOVE).

2. Sweet Kitchen Curtainsphoto by stephanie brown

Now I was already going to do this so now I’ll have to reinvent it a new way – Thanks A lot Angela :), but how sweet are those curtains on that tiny brass rod?? I plan on something like this in front of the tub in the main bath (but not full window, just cafe so I can see above it) and in the kitchen as well. But the cafe curtain is back and I am loving it.

left photo by stephanie brown

Also cheers to her for painting the window frames different colors in the SAME ROOM. I would never have had the boldness to take that risk. And I love that hood so much. This is also making me more open to having one or two open bottom shelves for my pots and pans (and of course I’m going to hang some behind the range). While I am intentionally designing this house for NO CLUTTER, a moment or two like this is great.

3. Paneling + Pegrails (And I Love The Mixed Width Paneling and The Double Peg Rail)photo by cody ulrich photo for homebody design by joanna gaines

I 100% want to copy that mudroom. Yes to the paneling (different widths), YES to the double peg rails (with the sweet little trim beads), and YES to that wood AGAIN. I know that ARCIFORM has a great sister company, Versatile Wood Products (or more like husband company since it’s Anne’s husband Richard who owns it) that does exceptional custom cabinetry. And so much of the reason why this is so stunning is the quality of the wood and the quality of the craftsmanship.

photo by stephanie brown

Ladies, if you are single and looking around, I STRONGLY suggest you start persu-ing a carpenter/cabinet maker.

photo by stephanie brown

That found sink. LOVE. SO GOOD. She put a slab backsplash on it, it’s big enough for flowers/plants AND DOGS (don’t get me started on the dog washing station fiasco – I think we’ve found a solution that won’t cost like $10k and take up so much space, but it’s been hard). Why not just a super large utility sink like this???

STOP!!!! So good. I’m loving this color too and so is Elliot. Just excellent (and what’s behind that little arched door???)

4. Fun Floral Fabricphoto by stephanie brown

Angela, like me, is still into some patterns, and while I’m likely not going to go curtains (for some reason a sofa feels like a safer choice, but Brian TOTALLY disagrees). I’m obsessed with House of Hackney (I keep seeing all over the place – NO!!!) and am fantasizing about finding a vintage piece to recover. I actually want a huge custom sectional for the media room in a floral but Brian is scared. I’m not. I think when you really only have one huge piece of furniture in a big room, it can be a pattern if it’s PERFECT – plus pattern is super forgiving.

[image error]photo by stephanie brown

But I love her curtains, she kept the rest of the room calm so this is her dose of whimsy and play.

5. The Sink “Mantel”

YES. she broke up the wood with a “Sink Mantel” which I don’t know if that’s a thing (calls publisher, adds sink mantel – “sinkel” (?) into book) or if she just named it that, but it’s great. The plaster is such a nice texture, it’s a bit playful – adding a curve and a focal point. Then she custom-made these black iron doors for underneath. Genius.

6. Abunane Of Wood, That Hood And Those Micro Pendantsphoto by cody ulrich photo for homebody design by joanna gaines

Brian is still iffy on this micro pendant trend which I still LOVE in the right application (i.e. when there is enough going on that the lighting becomes more minimal and not the star). Anne (ARCIFORM) is from Germany and Europe has always scaled down the lighting more than Americans (per usual, Americans LOVE BIG THINGS) so to her it’s not a trend, it’s just lighting. Of course in a kitchen, you want ample lighting so this means recessed, track, or spot in addition but that’s ok. Also note the kitchen table is the island, all wood and just so inviting.

From this shot I’m realizing she did inset drawers (not overlay) with flush lines horizontally between the drawers but exposing the face frame of the vertical stile. And I love those minimal round knobs – I can’t tell if they are wood or a bronze, but they are GOOD. No lip or bullnose on the thin stone and whimsy on the hood.

Thank you Angela Wheeler for being such an inspiration, for giving me so many good simple design ideas that I won’t steal, but have inspired so many other new ideas and helped me not miss some opportunities. If you guys are into this idea let me know – I have about 4-5 houses that I keep coming back to for this house that help remind me where I want to go, what the possibilities are, and setting a pretty darn high bar for what this “Shaker Modern Farmhouse” can be.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Angela Wheeler | Photo by Stephanie Brown

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