Emily Henderson's Blog, page 168

Tour Mel’s First Home, See Her Plans, And Learn What The Heck A TIC Property Is

Hi Emily Henderson family, it’s Melanie Burstin (aka Mel of course), interior designer and EHD alum happy to be back with you again! What a year it has been. How are you? I hope you’re as okay as one could be with the state of the world, right? Anyway, I want to update you on my life because I need to introduce you to my new home!

I’m so grateful to (fingers crossed) be on the cusp of exiting this pandemic mostly unscathed (social skills TBD) and I’m also so thankful to have had work throughout this last year. Working through it definitely kept me sane, and it also gave me the opportunity to purchase my first piece of real estate! Which is something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember. 

An important part of growing up though is adjusting one’s expectations. So, though at this point in my life I’ve dreamed of having a gorgeous indoor-outdoor modern house with doors that open to a stunning pool, the reality of California prices means I needed to take some baby steps first. Baby steps that are truly awesome and in reality, the perfect next step for me. I am really grateful for where I am. Anywho, in real estate, there is this relatively new thing called a TIC (I believe Caitlyn’s discussed it in her last house hunting post) and though TICs are really only popular in San Francisco, they’ve started to enter the LA scene as well. And a TIC my friends, is what I bought. 

In short, a TIC (Tenants in Common) is kinda similar to a Condo and kinda similar to a Co-op. Right now the TIC’s in LA are pretty much a single property made up of a scattering of bungalows. Everyone owns a percentage of the entire property with the rights to their own unit. It’s a bit confusing, but the point is, you can purchase a slice of LA at a potentially more accessible price point. I viewed a bunch of TICs on the East Side of LA and ended up with one I knew was mine all along. I had seen it, loved it, wasn’t really ready, saw others, took a friend back to see it, she kinda talked me out of it by accident, I decided to put an offer in on another, but then as I was typing up the offer I realized I knew this one was mine. I mean, I had been joking about the fact that it hadn’t sold yet because it really was mine. I had been doing floor plans in my head for months. So um yeah, it was always mine, and now it officially is thanks to a good old-fashioned loan!

The Floorplan

My TIC is on a property with three bungalows. The first two are single stories and the third is two stories with my unit being the top floor. What I love about the space is that it feels like a private sunny treehouse. Every single room is drenched in sunlight. A lot of TICs have cute little yards between the units but I decided that privacy and light were paramount to me over a larger outdoor space. I feel I definitely made the right decision. I’ve noticed this for clients, and I definitely noticed it in myself but it’s so funny how our past places really delegate what we look for in our next homes. I needed more privacy- so the second story feels perfect. 

Okay, enough real estate backstory right? Let’s start talking about DESIGN and FURNITURE! As you first walk up my charming stairs you land upon a small porch. I’ve decided to put a custom daybed in the corner here for Moose and I to curl up on to read, to listen to birds (there are so many birds over here), and to maybe occasionally have the perfect sunset glass of orange wine. Are you all impressed it took me so long before I mentioned the love of my life my dog Moose? Same. I had my handyman build me out the bench and then had outdoor cushions made as well. There’s been a foam shortage lately so I only had the bench for a bit and panicked that I had made the wrong choice as it felt enormous. But thankfully once the cushions were finished it felt right and cozy. My parents recently came to visit me (hadn’t seen them in over a year, thanks Covid) and so I enlisted my Dad to help me hang some string lights. Next up for out here will be some more accessories and definitely some plants. I’m starting with a blank color pallet out here knowing I’ll jazz it up. For now, though this is the most pulled together area. 

Then as you actually enter the space you’ll see one large great room. To one side is my tiny tiny tiny tiny (did I mention tiny?) kitchen and on the other is where I’ve decided to put my living area. Before I even purchased the place I knew I wanted a corner sofa under the windows. That’s truly the only thing I was set on for a long time. 

The Kitchenphoto from staging

Anyway, let’s talk about the kitchen first. I love it, I mean white appliances and charm are all a girl needs, but, it’s really small. I need some more storage space (my dishes are currently just stacked on the counter) and I’d also love to have somewhere to hide my trash can. I have a thing about being able to see a trash can from your sofa, I wonder if it’s a feng shui thing. I’m pretty sure I’m going to add a small island on wheels here for dishes and a pull-out trash, but so far I haven’t found the perfect solution yet. I’ll most likely go custom but the reason I’m dragging my feet is because I also really want to change the faces of my cabinets. Yes, it is super charming and done well, but, I’m not really a farmhouse girl (as shown above). I definitely skew more modern or scandi. Wanna see a lazy/not great photoshop job of how I want to change them? 

my photoshopped dream sandi cabinet fronts

So then the issue is how to do that. My regular cabinet maker that I hire for client projects gave me a quote that was out of my budget. I mean, this is not a necessary change, this is just a designer wanting to change something for themselves that won’t really affect any type of resale value so I need to be smart about the costs of it. So now, this is where I am going to crowdsource… I am typically more of a buyer than a DIY-er but I think I’m going to have to get my hands dirty a bit. Any ideas? Comment below if you’ve refaced your own kitchen cabinets! When I first bought the place I was hoping the kitchen was Ikea since there are a bunch of companies that have fronts for their boxes, but alas, it’s not. I’m excited to show you my eventual solution in my reveal post in a few months, but also I’m more excited for one of your amazing readers to share this solution ha. 

Another predicament for this space is that there’s no real area for a dining table. The front door is pretty close to the kitchen and then the hallway and door to the second bedroom mean there is no real nook or corner to throw a table into. For the first month I lived here I decided I was just going to skip having a table because I didn’t love how the floating table the stagers used felt, but now that I’m figuring out more of the space, I think I’m going to go off of some scandi inspo and just put a small table against the wall between my front door and sofa. Next step will be for me to memo a table from a local store and see if I like how it feels. This is definitely the most up in the air decision I have so maybe you’ll all be blown away in my reveal post when I have a dining table on a pulley system that comes down from the ceiling. I am definitely not going to do that but I also don’t really know what I am going to do. Now if this was a client’s house I would have decided a month ago and been 100% confident. But it’s definitely more challenging to be doing this for myself. Thankfully I’ve already left the ‘I need this to be done perfectly’ stage of this adventure and am now onto the ‘make it as me and happy and liveable as possible’ stage. We’re all lucky I’m writing this now and not then!

The Living Room

Okay, let’s talk about my living area and most importantly that I bought this place because of these windows. It is bright in here all day folks and they also provide an incredible cross-breeze situation. As I mentioned, I’m going to do a corner sofa under the windows, the exact design of which is almost decided but again, I am my pickiest client apparently. The one thing I know is that I’ll be making my sofa with Clad Home. Rosa Beltran, the owner, was one of my first mentors and I love that I have a place in LA where I can make any upholstery piece I dream up. I am very excited to share this final design with you. I’m guessing a lot of you will be running to get one for yourself! I’ve also designed a custom media cabinet that I am in love with that my carpenter should be installing in two weeks meaning I will finally start to see some progress soon! I haven’t settled on a coffee table yet and I cannot wait to place my art and pottery as the bigger pieces arrive. 

The Main Bedroom

Next, let’s talk about my bedroom. Again, tons of light, it’s tiny and I love it! I have designed a custom bed frame (should also arrive in two weeks yay!) and found an awesome vintage dresser on Etsy. I must say I’m doing my usual of mixing vintage, new, and custom and it’s going to be great. I’m having a rug made from an Etsy shop in Turkey and got vintage lamps off Instagram. I am loving the influx of smaller Instagram vintage accounts; are you guys deep-diving there too? I’m going to keep all these exact design bits secret for a little bit so you can be surprised by my reveal but I’m shocked this room has come together so easily/quickly. 

For my nightstands, I have found this dream pair by Domenic Fiorello Studio who’s based in Ohio. The nightstands are dare I say perfect? They must be inspired by vintage and yet they’re also streamlined and updatedly modern. If you recall in my last place I opted to pass on standard nightstands and though I loved it, I’m pretty excited to be able to keep my kindle in a drawer! (wow I live an exciting life). Okay back to Domenic Fiorello, they have so much stuff I love. I wish I had room for the coat rack (again perfectly modern and perfectly minimal), their dining table, what? They have so much good stuff. I highly recommend checking them out. After seeing the nightstands in person, let me tell you, they are beautiful and very high quality. I love finding studios like this who make everything by hand. You can really see the difference between pieces like these and more ready-made furniture. 

The Second Bedroom/Office…Or Sample Library

Let’s talk about my second bedroom now, or should I say my ‘office’, or should I say my ‘sample library’. I am so excited to have the space to organize all my fabrics and wood blocks and paint chips and such. Under the windows, I’ve designed a custom corner desk that will be big enough for me to use a desktop computer and have pages of drawings open at the same time. It will also have some much-needed file storage to organize all my designs.

Now most importantly, what I really need in this room is a major storage situation and boy have I found one. I have found the most beautiful storage cabinet in the world. I am not exaggerating. My solution comes from a company called Reform CPH. I have finally found a company that not only brings good European designs to the US but they even have showrooms in Santa Monica and New York! They are the #1 place for sophisticated and accessible kitchens in my opinion and I can’t wait to do a full kitchen with them for clients one day soon. 

For now, we’re focusing on a pantry meets office cabinet storage solution. Aesthetically I’ve decided to move forward with their basis line in the color mushroom + wood details and it feels very me. We’ve designed three cabinets with an extra special design detail that I think I want to leave as a surprise for now. Just know Reform is the best and you can customize pretty much everything. Not only am I going to have a way to finally organize everything but it’s also going to be beautiful to look at! And maybe have a cute way to display some of my enormous pottery collection (hint hint at the special design element). I cannot wait for this piece to be installed. Mostly because it will be so pretty, but also maybe because then there won’t be piles (albeit organized piles) of stuff on the floor of this room for the rest of eternity? 

I do believe this brings us to the end of our tour and design introduction. It was super fun to share my ideas with you while still in the process of figuring out what I even want. I hope you enjoyed reading along, and I hope you have some ideas for my few tough spots! Follow me on Instagram and check back here in a few months for my reveal. I’m so excited to make this place my home. 

xoxo Gossip Girl. 

(anyone else my age constantly tempted to end every email with that sign off?)

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: House Tour: Mel’s New Place Makes Us Want to Declutter Immediately

The post Tour Mel’s First Home, See Her Plans, And Learn What The Heck A TIC Property Is appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Malcolm’s Wood And Marble DIY Headboard Tutorial: How He Executed It To Feel Timely, Classic, And So Unique

One of the main goals for my primary bedroom makeover was to make the space feel on-trend, but not trendy. While fluted casing and trim are extremely popular at the moment, I decided to elevate the trend by adding a marble shelf and brass ledge details, which I think really take it to a truly unique and tailored place.

A lot of you were very interested in seeing a DIY tutorial for this design element, and I’m here to deliver! I’ve outlined the steps for you here and detailed the specific materials and tools that I used to make my dream headboard come true (I actually did dream about this before building it). If you’re interested in following along, hunker down, grab a snack, and prepare to take some notes! 

This headboard has three main components to it—fluted wood, a marble ledge, and brass details—so I’ll structure this tutorial accordingly. Let’s jump right into it, shall we?! We shall.

The Fluted Wood

Here is what you’ll need for the fluted wood component:

Three 2x4s (cut to the width of the entire headboard)Fluted casing (as many as you’d like, cut to your desired height of the headboard. I required about 40 pieces cut to 4′ heights)Shoe molding (cut to the width of the entire headboard)Cordless nail gun (or any nail gun, but I LOVE this one specifically)Oscillating toolConstruction screws and anchorsCordless drillCircular sawWhite, paintable caulk and caulk gun

1. Measure the space where you’d like to install the headboard.

This is an important first step, as it’ll determine how much wood (and other materials) you’ll need to procure. It was super helpful for me to draw a quick sketch of the space to keep track of measurements and materials. For me, the width of the wall was about 10.25 feet, and I knew that I wanted the height of the headboard to be 4 feet.

2. Take a trip to your local hardware store for the wood pieces.
After jotting down my measurements, I drove over to my vacation home (The Home Depot) to grab the wood that I needed. For me, that meant buying all of the fluted casing (this can be quite expensive—depending on the size of your headboard—so I actually built the headboard in stages to budget the expense of the wood). The lovely employees at The Home Depot will be able to cut your pieces to your desired length. You’ll also need to buy your 2x4s, but I had enough leftover from a previous project to facilitate the headboard.

3. Excitedly bring home your wood and start installing!
The installation of this project is best described with illustrations, so enjoy these little schematics that I’ve worked up!

Start by installing the 2x4s, which act as the underlying framework for the entire structure. Using a level, drill the 2x4s into studs behind the wall using your construction screws to keep the structure as sturdy as possible. If you can’t find any studs behind the wall, you can use wall anchors instead, but I’d HIGHLY recommend drilling these into studs for the most durability possible. Furring the structure out in this way will also allow us to add the marble shelf later!

After your foundational 2x4s are installed, you can start installing the fluted casing! Using a nail gun, attach the vertical pieces of fluting to the underlying 2x4s, one at a time. You could hammer in nails by hand, but the nail gun makes things SO MUCH EASIER AND FASTER. AND MORE FUN. An investment worth making, in my book.

I used an oscillating tool to notch out the baseboard and shoe molding so that my fluting would fit snug against the wall. This probably isn’t a necessary step, but it makes the whole structure feel more custom and intentional.

You’ll likely need to trim the last piece of fluting to fit into your space (unless your space is exactly the proper width to accommodate a full end piece). I used a circular saw to strip the last piece to fit. Take a moment to marvel at the beauty of what you’ve accomplished so far and send me a picture so that I can marvel at it with you.

To finish off the bottom edge of the headboard, install shoe moulding (using a nail gun) that matches the rest of your room so that it looks seamless and intentional. This will also cover up any accidental gaps that might be caused if the vertical fluting pieces weren’t all cut exactly to the same length. I also installed a decorative moulding to the top of the headboard, but I didn’t install that piece until after the marble shelf was installed… WHICH LEADS US TO THE NEXT EXCITING CHAPTER OF THIS JOURNEY:

The Marble Ledge

Here’s what you’ll need for the all-important marble ledge:

2″x36″ marble thresholds (I needed eight pieces for my project)Construction adhesiveCircular saw and diamond blade

1. Consult your measurement sheet!

Above, you can see a quick side view of how the marble and wood fit together. You’ll need one marble piece for the ledge surface and a second marble piece for the “backsplash”, multiplied by the amount of pieces you’ll need to cover the width of the wall.

Using your previously obtained measurements, find out how much marble you’ll need. Marble thresholds come in a variety of lengths, depths, and colors, so the world is your oyster! For my purposes, I required eight pieces of white 2″x36″ thresholds.

2. Cut marble to the appropriate lengths, if necessary.

For me, this was an extremely intimidating step. I didn’t want to mess up the marble, but I really wanted it to fit perfectly into the space, which required some customization. As such, I needed to cut two pieces of marble down from 36 inches to 16 inches. Using a circular saw and diamond blade (and consulting this guide to help me), it was fairly easy to do! They didn’t cut perfectly, but since I caulked the edges as a final step, that was okay! Caulk fixes everything!

3. Hone the marble, if you’d like.

before and after honing

These marble thresholds come polished, which didn’t quite feel appropriate in this context. To hone the marble (which essentially means knocking off the polish for a matte finish), I let the pieces sit in a tub of vinegar for a few hours. Yes, my house smelled like vinegar for a few days. And yes, it was worth it! 

4. Glue the pieces down.

Using your construction adhesive, glue the back marble pieces to the wall, and the ledge marble pieces to the top of the fluted panels. You’ll want to apply pressure on the marble (grab some heavy books or tools) so that they’re well-adhered. Let it cure for a couple of days if you can.

That does it for the marble component of the project! You could leave it just like this if you wanted, but I wanted to raise the stakes a little bit by adding a functional brass bar detail to keep picture frames securely placed on the ledge.

The Brass Details

I think the brass elements of this piece really set it off in a subtle, but highly effective way. Here are the supplies you’ll need to make it happen:

36-inch solid brass rods (I needed four for my purposes)Brass telescopic tubing (these are just hollow brass tubes)Metal tube cutterSuperglueCordless drill1/4″ drill bitCircular saw and diamond blade

1. Take out that trusty dusty measurement sheet–I told you it’d be important!

As a foundational reference, the illustration above shows how all of the brass pieces will fit together. Start by determining how many brass rods you’ll need. They tend to come in 36″ lengths, which serendipitously matches the lengths of our marble thresholds. For my purposes, I needed four brass rods.

2. Cut brass rods to the appropriate lengths, if necessary.

Because they matched the lengths of my marble thresholds, I had to cut one brass rod accordingly. Using my circular saw and diamond blade, I cut one of the 36″ rods to about 16″ inches. There is probably a better tool for this, but the circular saw and diamond blade worked out pretty well for me. Let me know if you’ve cut metal before, and how you did it!

3. Cut the brass telescoping tubing into small pieces.

Since the brass rod detail is so long, you’ll need small pieces of the hollow, telescoping tubes to keep it stable. The tubes will hold the rods together and elevate it from the brass ledge. Using a metal tube cutter makes this EXTREMELY easy (it’s my new favorite lil’ tool). You’ll want to cut six pieces to about one inch each. The pack of tubing will come with a variety of sizes, so test each size to see which one will best accommodate your rod.

4. Drill 1/4″ holes on both sides of the headboard.

I wanted the brass rods to seamlessly float into the walls, so I opted to stick the rods directly into the walls—similarly to how I installed my curtain rod. Consistency makes the world (or a room design) go round! Using a 1/4″ drill bit, I simply measured where I wanted the brass rods to be inserted, and drilled holes for the rods to fit into. 

5. Assemble all of the things!

Start by installing the right- or left-most rod into one of the pre-drilled holes in the wall. Once inserted into the wall, push one of your 1″ hollow tubes into the exposed end of the rod, and attach the next rod into the other end of the hollow tube. Continue these steps until you reach the other wall, and can push the last rod into the second hole-in-the-wall. Once all pieces are connected, place the remaining 1″ tubes vertically under each connection. Use your super glue to adhere the horizontal and vertical hollow tubes together, and the vertical hollow tubes to the brass ledge underneath. Let it cure for a couple days without disturbing it!

Finishing Details: To finish everything off nicely, make sure to caulk, caulk, caulk! I used white, paintable caulk where the wood and brass met the walls, and a clear caulk in the seam between the flat and vertical pieces of marble.

AND VOILA! You’ve made a tailored headboard that is timely, classic, and unique. There are so many different ways to customize this and I’m soooo interested to see how you make it your own! Let us know how you plan to customize this DIY for yourself or if you have any lingering questions for me!

*Design and DIY by Malcolm Simmons
**After Photos by Keyanna Bowen

The post Malcolm’s Wood And Marble DIY Headboard Tutorial: How He Executed It To Feel Timely, Classic, And So Unique appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Brian’s Favorite Pieces We’ve Ever Had In Our Homes and What It Says About His Style – The Truth Comes Out.

Iron Man. Falcon. Black Widow. The Hulk. They all have their strengths and their special powers. They’ve got distinct backgrounds and fighting styles. They’re various sizes, genders, ages, and colors. Taken separately, it’s hard to see any unifying thread that runs through them. But once you put them together, they form The Avengers. Well, in my ongoing struggle to define my design style, I’m going to try a new approach. I’m putting together a team of all my favorite pieces and aspects from all the different “Emily Henderson-Designed” homes I’ve lived in throughout the years, and maybe… just maybe, they will form some sort of super team, and I’ll finally be able to define my style. So I can stop writing about it.

Maybe.

I’m Nick Fury and I’m putting together my team. But it’s actually much harder than you’d think for me to be the Nick Fury of our past furniture because we’ve had so many pieces rotate in and out over the years! I have a hard time remembering what was there. Or like, what was temporarily there for just a photoshoot. So I’ve started going through the projects on this site to look through everything. Which is a totally normal thing. For a person to have to check a website to see what furniture he’s had in his house.

First Member of the Team: The Natural Wood Coffee Tablephoto by tessa neustadt | from: how we styled our living room to sell

Super Powers: Brings in raw wood, which makes me feel manly. Has a cool, unique shape which makes me feel special. Thick and chunky, which again, manly. 

Weaknesses: It kinda wobbles. Not great to put your feet on, or if you have a small child who wants to lean on it. I do wonder if I’d like it more if it had four legs. Probably.

Next Up: Duck Manphoto by tessa neustadt | from: custom framing for our home office with framebridge

Super Powers: I mean, do I have to point them out? Look at him! He’s vintage, he’s hilarious, he’s holding a duck and a ticket to something? What’s that ticket to? Doesn’t matter because he’s so happy! He brings in an old-timey vibe while reminding us that there were drunk weirdos even back then too. I love this guy.

Weaknesses: I guess if I had to nitpick, I’d say he could use a little more color, but that’s coming later.

The Big Guy: Our Mountain House Kitchenphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the reveal of the mountain house kitchen

Super Powers: So this isn’t so much a “piece” but it’s one of my favorite rooms ever so I’m using it as a big guy like the Hulk. I love the integration of the wood from the floor into the cabinets. I thought it was gonna be too much wood but I love it (Hat tip to Ross and Georgie over at Ross Alan). It’s cozy and warm without feeling stuffy. I think the angles help with that. If it was rounded edges I don’t know that I’d like it as much. I also love the big black island. If that hadn’t been painted it would have been too sterile for me. The pendant over the island is like my favorite light we’ve ever had. It is very hard to beat that one. It’s got leather, manly, and a really unique shape. I love it.

Weaknesses: Risk of splinters.

Sleeper: Mountain House Bedphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our calm scandinavian master bedroom

Super Powers: Low to the ground, sturdy. Not too fussy with little spindly rods or dainty little details like some of our other beds. This one is wide and comfy, with a simple fabric headboard that is calming and anchoring. I like how it looks like one piece.

Weaknesses: If you spill some morning coffee on the fabric, you’re kinda screwed.

Silver Surfer: The Vintage Mirror from LAphoto by tessa neustadt | from: my powder room reveal

Super Powers: It’s old and a little run down, like me. I love the shape and the details in the frame. I like that it’s messed up, like wavy and spotted, but still functional enough to see yourself after you pee and wash your hands.

Weaknesses: You may walk out of the bathroom with something on your face, it’s not a perfect mirror.

Brass Stuff in Bathroom Manphoto by tessa neustadt | from: our classic modern master bathroom reveal

Super Powers: I feel very fancy when I use aged brass faucets. I like them a lot, because I like to feel fancy. But they’re not too fancy. Like, they have a certain strength to them. And I think adding brass pulls to drawers is cool. This vanity wouldn’t be as cool without all the brass.

Weaknesses: You have to actually clean them. Ugh.

The Weirdo: Little Side Table from Glendalephoto by tessa neustadt | from: how we styled our family room and kitchen to sell

Super Powers: I have no idea. I just like it. It’s not functional, you can only put three little things on it, but I like the shape and how it’s odd.

Weaknesses: I may end up hating it the more I think about it.

V is for Vignette: Glendale Flag and Dresserphoto by tessa neustadt | from: how we styled our living room to sell

Super Powers: Striking color, blue, which I love. It goes really well with the vintage dresser. I really like the unique handles of the dresser. The light blue pieces are much more fun than if it was all just white.

Weaknesses: I couldn’t handle this all over the house, just in one statement somewhere. We’ve lived in both splashy and conservative homes, and I prefer the latter, but I think there’s room for “little pops of color” like HGTV would say.

Fly Guy: The Blimpphoto by tessa neustadt | from: my house tour from good housekeeping

Super Powers: Vintage, simple, trippy. I feel like one of my fellow Deadheads came out of a show in like ’71 and drew their experience. It’s such an awesome piece. It’s enormous, so it definitely makes a statement, but the fact that it’s just black and white makes it easy on the eyes.

Weaknesses: It will drive you insane trying to make heads or tails out of all its meanings.

Abstract Man: Painting from Commonwealthphoto by zeke ruelas | from: introducing my living room

Super Powers: This abstract is one of my favorites. Bold colors but not overwhelming, calming yet interesting. The little hits of yellow make it really amazing. It can put up a fight with any piece of art it’s up against and win.

Weaknesses: May feel a little aggressive depending on what room it’s in.

Comfy On Toes Man: Rug from LAfrom: trying out reader suggestions for what to do with my living room (no shelves? new layout?)

Super Powers: Neutral tone, keeps me feeling calm. Super soft, great for laying and wrestling. Thick pile but tight, good for bare feet but not shedding.

Weaknesses: We put a huge rug pad under to make it even softer. Not sure how it would feel without it.

Trio of Terror: LA Chairs and Trunkphoto by tessa neustadt | from: our modern english tudor living room

Super Powers: Those chairs were by far my favorite out of the twenty thousand that cycled into that spot of our living room. The design was cool, nothing fancy but definitely not boring. And they were actually comfortable! Imagine that! Having chairs that you actually enjoy sitting in! And the trunk is dope. It’s a great vintage touch for a table.

Weaknesses: The chairs are kind of tied with the darker vintage version below, I could be swayed either way. I like the angles and color of the dark chairs and they were comfy. I guess they’ll have to get locked in a room and fight it out to see which set gets to join the team!

Trim: Mountain House Woodphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the dining room built-in dilemma (+ the 3 mistakes we made)

Super Powers: The thin wood trim around the windows and doors at the mountain house are modern and rustic at the same time. Ooooh, I think that’s a close version of what my style is – modern rustic. I like how unfussy they are, but how grainy and natural they feel. This picture in general is pretty great, the mix of leather and wood is nice. Maybe a little heavy.

Weaknesses: I just wrote it, a little heavy. Also maybe could use a little color?

Power Twins: LA Paintingsphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our updated living room

Super Powers: This photo has my two favorite pieces of art in our past living room. The blue abstract is just messy enough to be engaging without going too crazy. It’s a dark blue, that is soothing, and you can see the brushstrokes which make it one of a kind. The black and white graphic piece is a mind-bender – it seems very simple at first glance, but it’s a trip, and very striking.

Weaknesses: Size. I wish they were both a bit bigger.

Wild Card: The Sofa should be like the Captain America of the team – the leader, the anchor, the one who takes charge and gives the orders…

Unfortunately, I’m not sure there’s been one true Captain yet. We’ve had lots, and they all had their pros and cons, but I’m not comfortable awarding a top slot to anyone. Here are a few of my top contenders. 

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our updated living room

Powers: Color and scale. Traditional shape.

Weaknesses: The legs are too frilly, and it wasn’t that comfy.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our light-filled neutral & textural living room

Powers: Dope shape. Vintage and has attitude. I like the look of no legs and how low it is.

Weakness: Not the most functional, the backs move on you and the components move too.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a quick update: the changes i’ve made to my la living room

Powers: Good shape and color, low to the ground. Sectional for lounging. Simple.

Weakness: Could be more of a statement.

photo by zeke ruelas | from: introducing my living room

Powers: Love the shape and style. The color. The mix of wood in there.

Weaknesses: Not robust enough (Emily is considering trying to buy it back).

Ok. Phew. I think that was the longest I’ve ever spent looking at furniture online. I don’t know how you guys do it. I think maybe there’s a pattern starting to form? Not totally sure. I’ll leave that to the expert. We’re planning on doing an old-school Style Diagnostic on me this weekend so I’ll keep you posted. Until then, keep your eyes out for the new elite fighting team on the block – The Style Squad. Oh, and stick around for my post-credits scene, featuring the main villain… 

Opening Image Credit: From: Trying Out Reader Suggestions For What To Do With My Living Room (No Shelves? New Layout?)

The post Brian’s Favorite Pieces We’ve Ever Had In Our Homes and What It Says About His Style – The Truth Comes Out. appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: The Page Turner Novel Emily Finished In One Day, The $18 Denim Shorts Ryann Didn’t Think She’d Love, And A Really Great Mother’s Day Gift Idea

Are the May flowers here? It’s the 2nd! We are extremely ready. I’m sure you are also ready to enjoy your Sunday (we hope the weather is nice where you are) and kick all the way back. So to start off this day of leisure, let’s first get to our links. Y’all Em’s is VERY good (hit on Kindle link and add to cart;))…

This week’s house tour, designed by Jason Mowen via The Design Files, feels like home we needed to see today. Like a hug from a really beautiful and soulful friend. The scale gallery wall of the galley wall art is amazing, the open shelf bookcases are such a beautiful feature (and only proves what we said in this post), and the rest of the space is just so perfectly layered, curated but completely unpretentious. Enjoy:)

From Emily: It’s no surprise to my friends that I’ve been nose deep into romance novels since the pandemic started – I grew up on them, unbeknownst to my parents and I think they seriously shaped who I am. I’ve read close to 40 romance fiction books this year (everything from The Wedding Date series, American Royals, The Union of Rakes series – all SO GOOD). Some are literally the 4.99 soft-backs you see at CVS (which I just download on my kindle, duh).  When I picked up Beach Read at 9 pm on Monday, after putting the kids down (and seconds after finishing The Duke Heist) I was immediately into it. I stayed up till midnight (not advisable) and then read it every second I could in between meetings on Tuesday, concluding on Tuesday night at 7 pm (yes, it was poor parenting). It’s funny, witty, smart, relatable, and yes STEAMY with so much almost kissing (and a lot of actual kissing). Emily Henry is doing the modern romance genre RIGHT and I actually just preordered her next book – first time in Emily Henderson history. I NEVER preorder a fiction book but am so excited for May 11th when her next book comes out. Anyway, if you want to escape, feel good, make your tummy feel warm (says my 12-year-old version of myself), and maybe spice up your nighttime mood, read BEACH READ.

Did you check out our Mother’s Day gift guide?? Well if you still need ideas we asked our Instagram community what they actually wanted and let’s just say the list is good and thourogh.

Now we are going to talk to Max Humphry’s (Co-Designer of the River House) new book in much more depth later but it’s out and you should BUY IT! We are SO happy for him and can’t wait to dive in!

From Ryann: After reading Em’s swimsuit post yesterday I felt inspired to find the right suit that I would feel good in for summer, and then I remembered that I’ve been wanting to try out You Swim for some time now. I am super intrigued by them because their swimwear is one size but fits U.S. size 2 to 14 or UK/Aust. size 6 to 18! I think this is very cool and I love seeing a range of bodies so I can envision how it will look on me. I hope that by supporting them they can make even more inclusive sizing past a size 14 so I ordered their Eva Standard Waist Two Piece in Aster and will report back on how it fits!

Also From Ryann: I am admittedly a bit of a denim snob so when I was looking for new cutoff denim shorts for summer (mine don’t fit like they used to :)) I was skeptical to try these from Target in Medium Blue. I decided to try them out anyway and I was shocked at how well they fit! I like that they have a longer hem and the stretch fabric is super comfortable but doesn’t look cheap.

From Mallory: Chase and I made these healthy enchiladas for dinner with some DANK flour tortillas (these are my all-time favorite) and they were amazing! We also started using greek yogurt in place of sour cream for almost everything because we like it better and apparently it’s a lot better for you…do you guys do this?? What a life hack IMHO. Also, since we’re on the subject of food, I’ve been craving buffalo sauce an insane amount recently, so we’ve been making some at home. We use Sam the cooking guy’s recipe (go to like 5:30) as a loose guide to make ours and MAN it’s good. If you’ve never made homemade buffalo sauce this is your sign to start!!

From Caitlin: If you’re into skincare and not following @namvo on Instagram, you are missing out!!! She’s fun to watch, very relatable (e.g. open about not drinking enough water, eating foods that can cause breakouts, etc.), laugh-out-loud hilarious, and SO DEWY AND BEAUTIFUL. She’s also really passionate about the NuFace and I just found one on sale right now – I’ve been doing a ton of research and am pretty much ready to enter my credit card details, but I’d love any first-hand accounts from you pals! Has anyone else tried one? (PS. Sometimes she also posts the most oddly satisfying spa videos and they make me SO JEALOUS.)

From Jess: This is my third time this week talking about Bloomist’s new live plants because that’s how much I LOVE them. They come to you completely beautiful and potted which for someone who isn’t great with plants (aka me) it’s so awesome. And guess who’s having a sale? They are! So if you use code MOTHER15, you get 15% off and it runs until the end of day Monday. FYI you’ll need to select express shipping to get your plant to your mom in time and Monday is the cut-off. I also want to mention that they only do two sales a year so if you’ve been eyeing anything now is the time to get to it.

Also From Jess: Do you love bread, delicious toasts, wonderful small businesses, AND live near Napa? Well, one of my best friends and her husband just opened up an incredible bakery in Napa, CA called West Won Bread. This has been SUCH a labor of love and my dad even built the fence of their outdoor cafe area! My dad also officiated their wedding so it’s pretty awesome there’s a piece of him in their first brick and mortar:) Anyway, if you live in the area or are planning a trip in the future go see them and eat some really good bread!

Ready for another wonderful and joy-inducing Etsy collab?? Well, designer Prabal Gurung has brought pastels and springtime to the scene in such a beautiful way. Go check out this awesome collection!

While we are extremely lucky to have ample vaccines in the US, India is in a COVID crisis. Via Sara’s Instagram stories, I saw this post that gives a handful of organizations we can donate to. Until the entire world is rid of this horrible virus, it’s not over. We are truly in this together.

Well, that’s all we have for you today. Hold your loved ones close and be good to each other. See you tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Jason Mowen | Photo by Nicola Sevitt | via The Design Files

The post The Link Up: The Page Turner Novel Emily Finished In One Day, The $18 Denim Shorts Ryann Didn’t Think She’d Love, And A Really Great Mother’s Day Gift Idea appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Swimsuit Review (On My Actual Body) – Supportive Swimsuits That Make Me Feel Comfortable, Confident, and Stylish

In case you don’t remember, two years ago I did the first swimsuit review here and as I was looking at the unedited photos (we don’t photoshop) my reaction to my body was alarmingly not as positive as I actually felt IRL. I then realized (and wrote about) it was a result of only seeing photoshopped cellulite-free models online, so any sort of non-model on the internet feels like, “Woah, why are they on the internet?”. I got a lot of “you are so brave” comments which I found to be this HILARIOUS confusing compliment, if not accurate. I laughed them off with an “uh, thanks?“. But in retrospect (and going forward) I actually appreciate the compliment far more than any others. Well, in the span of two years I have to say that things have ALREADY shifted and there are so many shapes and sizes of women’s bodies all over websites and social media (still not enough), hopefully making us feel far less self-conscious and more empowered to just be in our own skin (online or off). We all have bodies. They are all beautiful and I’m just SO HAPPY to see brands putting beautiful shapes, sizes, and colors into swimsuits for us to admire and to make more accurate purchases (I’m looking at you Target, Summersalt, a few on J. Crew, Vitamin A, Andie Swim). Not only does this help people of all sizes shop for the right fit, but also just normalizes all body type imagery giving all of us more confidence both online and in-person.

An additional rant: I think my generation (Gen X) got specifically EFFED in this department because we grew up with magazines/advertising photoshopping “perfection” (if you don’t know how I feel about that read this article from years ago) coupled with the explosion of diet culture (of which I’ve certainly participated), but before the self-empowered, anti-body shaming movement. Our mom’s generation grew up before diet culture, before being rail-thin was expected as a “model” (remember that Marilyn Monroe was a size 10-12). Those of us in our 30s -40s truly only saw “perfect” bodies in media our entire lives. So let’s give a huge HELL YES to all the executives out there hiring and celebrating models, actors, and content creators that are helping normalize all the unique shapes and sizes of the beautiful body (and for God’s sake, STOP PHOTOSHOPPING BODIES).

Now on to me. I like supportive suits, that show my shape and have style but where I don’t have to keep track of my boob location, worry about a nip slip or a sneaky little ass cheek all day. I also have suits just for hot tub dates/vacation – (not shown) and suits for us with friends, family, and kids – for playing. So today most of these are in the latter category – great SUPPORT, flattering compression, comfortable, easy to wear, and still fun. Some are super affordable and some are very splurgy.

Everyone I know is shopping for a suit right now and since you can’t try on in a store (in CA anyway) I thought I’d at least give you my opinion and you can see it on my body to help you make a smart, lasting choice (and if you don’t need a new suit, just scroll without buying). What didn’t work I carefully returned or will give away to friends that need a suit, so no, I’m not keeping 12 new suits. Here we go…

Cutout One-Piece in Stripe

Cutout One-Piece in Stripe

First up might be my favorite new suit. Navy and white stripes, cute cut-out, very supportive and thick enough to mask my extra tummy-warming layer (tummy dimples!). BIG FAN of this. I bought a 6 which fit great (but I haven’t gotten it wet yet). It also has a matching rashguard which I LOVE. This is a very “me” suit that I know I’ll wear all summer and was PSYCHED to find it.

Ruffle Plunging V-Neck One-Piece Swimsuit

Ruffle Plunging V-neck One-Piece Swimsuit

Gingham and ruffles are a thing. Both J .Crew and Target had very similar suits and both were pretty darn great. Let’s start with J. Crew.

The more delicate ruffle strap and the texture of the fabric are so great. My only beef is that the straps are “adjustable” but they come at their max point (the ruffle makes the strap too thick to go through the piece of hardware to tighten it). Now I loved this suit so much beyond that that I’m going to likely sew it tighter to bring the ladies up. But if you have a long torso I’m sure it would fit just fine (I ordered a 6). I still felt supported (but after two kids I enjoy higher support). The legs didn’t cut in, the double-layered fabric masked my layer of tummy warmth (tummy cellulite + belly button indention) which by the way is MY thing, feel free to show that off, I just feel more comfortable with it a big disguised.

Ruffle Gingham High Coverage One Piece Swimsuit

Ruffle Gingham High Coverage One Piece Swimsuit

The Target version is GREAT, too! It’s a more traditional spandex material, but lined so it is also very flattering and compressing in the right places. It was actually more supportive than the J. Crew one. I ended up choosing the J. Crew version because I loved the texture of the fabric, the slightly darker color, and the more delicate straps but it’s also 3 times the price so if you are on more of a budget the Target one is GREAT (and I almost kept both but then Mal talked me out of it saying I don’t need literally 2 of the same suits).

Ruffle Underwire Bikini Top in Gingham + High-Cut Waist Bikini Bottom in Gingham

Ruffle Underwire Bikini Top in Gingham + High-Cut-Waist Bikini Bottom in Gingham

Ok so I love this one in theory, but it’s not fitting right. The top is so cute with the delicate ruffles and again you can order your bra size which is great. The bottom is a medium and far too big (I’m so frustrated with swimsuit sizing, y’all) so I returned it and am ordering the bottoms in small. It’s not tight so even a small I think will not cut in too much. But it’s so fun and classic, with a bit of a pin-up vibe and the top is supportive despite having small straps. (Also the reason I’m laughing in this shot is that I kept whispering the “you are so brave” comment, which just CRACKS ME UP…. because it’s such a funny backhanded compliment (that I totally appreciate, don’t worry). Imagine going out to a party in a cute dress you love and having everyone say, “you are so brave for wearing that”. I’m SO not sensitive so it honestly. Just makes me LOL as you can see.

Gaia One Piece

Gaia One Piece

I LOVE THIS SUIT. I have collected it in black and light pink over the years. I don’t think I would have ever bought it had I just looked at it online – it looks simple and cute but nowhere near worth the $240 price tag. I was at Ojai Valley inn and spa 2-3 years ago and shopping at their strangely well-curated spa store. I spied it and tried it on and was like, “oh shit”. It was the first swimsuit in a long time that I legit loved. It is thick but not tight, it has these seams that run diagonally across the waist indeed making it look smaller and compressing your tummy down in a comfortable way (if you are into that). AND it has full shelf support (not just dumb cups that brands think are enough support for our larger love pillows). It’s a little cheeky (the bum only covers 1/2) but it is so modest otherwise that I think it’s fun to have a little surprise reveal. I had never bought a black suit before (because I’m so pale and feel so self-conscious about it STILL – more deprogramming needed) but I bought it and then when it came out in this sapphire blue last year I POUNCED. But then I lost the blue version (I’ve searched EVERYWHERE) and it wasn’t online anymore, but it’s BACK. The medium is already sold out (which is my preferred size) but the small (this one) fits well enough. I also ordered two of their other suits (they are a sustainable company, made in California and I want to support) but their sizing is so off that the 6s were CRAZY small on me – like I couldn’t even pretend to pull on the S/6. So I returned them, but just FYI size up like 2 sizes. The black is on sale by the way, but the blue in XS and S6 is still available and hopefully, they are making more as we speak.

Rib Square-Neck One-Piece

Rib Square-Neck One-Piece

Before I saw that my Vitamin A suit was back-ordered, I ordered this best-seller blue suit. I like it well enough (I love the thick straps, Mal didn’t for tan line reasons), but it only has cups and not shelf support. So it adds volume to the breasts without really supporting it. The ribbing is a great feel and it’s thick enough to not have good coverage. I obviously didn’t need both so I’m returning this one. I think it’s a good suit if you have smaller love pillows and still want something that is sporty without being too “gymnastics”, in a really good color.

Women’s Tie-Front High Coverage One Piece Swimsuit

Women’s Tie-Front High Coverage One Piece Swimsuit

No surprise that I LOVE a red suit and this one is very supportive with enough of a reveal. It has full coverage, has some forgiving double layering rouging on the front, and definitely enhanced the curves (and made some curves look bigger if you know what I mean). This is one that I would be absolutely comfortable walking around in the daytime without a cover-up (which says a lot about how contained and supported I felt). It’s not the sexiest, but it’s pretty darn great for $35.

Underwire Bikini Top in Classic Seersucker + High-Cut Tie-Waist Bikini Bottom

Underwire Bikini Top in Classic Seersucker + High-Cut Tie-Waist Bikini Bottom

Here’s my first bikini in like 8 years. Admittedly it’s a safe one, but I like it! The top is sized by bra sizes so I could actually order my size (this small, medium, large thing does NOT work for swimsuits) and then I ordered a medium for the VERY full coverage bottom which is too big, but the tie on it makes it actually fit very comfortably. I’m concerned that when wet it will get too baggy so I’m going to order the small just in case (and FYI there is XXS, XS and S so it can be confusing). But I felt fun and fresh and a bit young despite it being so high-waisted. I kept this one for sure and even added the sportier top to also pair with it.

Gingham Side Cinch High Waist Bikini Bottom + Gingham Cinch Front Bikini Top

Gingham Side Cinch High Waist Bikini Bottom + Gingham Cinch Front Bikini Top

This one is a pretty great competitor to the one above (and much more affordable). It made my ladies look a lot larger than I’m used but it was VERY supportive. The bottoms had ties that could be loosened a bit (this was a small, top was a large). But very supportive for a bikini IMHO.

Triangle High Coverage One Piece Swimsuit

Triangle High Coverage One Piece Swimsuit

When I lifted up this one out of the bag (Mal went shopping for me) it looked so much bigger. I thought it would be FAR too long for me (size medium) but then when I put it on it fit! Again super supportive in the breasts, double layer fabric for disguising tummy bumps, and full coverage. It’s a great “mom” suit that feels like it’s not going anywhere but is a bit revealing.

Mesh Front One Piece Swimsuit

Mesh Front One Piece Swimsuit

This one was fine, and I liked the mesh cutouts, but the fit didn’t enhance or support enough. I think I could have sized down for it, but I wasn’t sold on it anyway.

Women’s Plunge Tie-Front Wrap One Piece Swimsuit

Women’s Plunge Tie-Front Wrap One Piece Swimsuit

I didn’t like this one when I held it up, but tried it on anyway and it really enhanced the curves. It was so supportive (I think it was in the “so supportive” section at Target, not joking) and it compressed in the right areas. I think I personally like revealing without a lot of mushed together cleavage so I prefer the “lift and separate” method versus the “pushed up and together”. Great for more medium-sized chests if you want to enhance that feature

Lightly Lined Twist-Front Ribbed Bikini Top + Ribbed High Leg Extra Cheeky Bikini Bottom

Lightly Lined Twist-Front Ribbed Bikini Top + Ribbed High Leg Extra Cheeky Bikini Bottom

Mal bought me this bikini with the tiny bottom and I was like WHO DO YOU THINK I AM??? I told her to consider bikinis while shopping at Target for me but this felt tiny! But I tried it on and was pleasantly surprised, but not sure how brave I am going to feel, sober in the sun. Now I think that I’m more comfortable and confident in showing less of my stomach, especially when sitting down, post-burrito. But Brian wouldn’t let me return this which I appreciated. So yes, now I have an actual bikini that MIGHT just sit in my drawer ready for hot tub nights but who knows. I’ll report back in September

Underwire Bikini Top with Criss-Cross Straps

Underwire Bikini Top with Criss-Cross Straps

The bottom of this didn’t arrive until after the shoot but strangely this top kinda flattened my boobs despite being my bra size. So I prefer the sizing of the Target version (but this one has a really cute back, too).

The Maternity Ribbed Current (similar)

The Maternity Ribbed Current

This one is from two years ago but I just want to give Sumersalt a shout-out for how they make their suits, which is with strangely good compression and support (but not tight and doesn’t cut in!). I have a few of them that I still love and wear, like this one. I don’t know if this exact suit is still available but check them out for sportier styles that are still really comfortable and supportive. This one has a big scoop back, but since it has thicker straps and a cute square neck I feel totally supported and it enhanced my shape.

The Cove (similar)

The Cove

This is another one from a couple of years ago that I still wear (specifically when I’m only with the kids and I know I’m going to be super active at the beach). The optical illusion is highly effective so even though it’s very full coverage, it still feels cute and fun (great for diving in off the dock, nothing is going anywhere).

Tie-Front Underwire Bikini Top + High-Cut Waist Bottom

Tie-Front Underwire Bikini Top + High-Cut Waist Bottom

This is the same fit/cut as the above gingham one which I prefer but this is cute, too. Again I ordered a Medium bottom, which is too big and the straps are too long on top (I want to hoist the ladies up more) but it comes with adjustable straps that I didn’t open because I knew it wasn’t a “hell yes” and would go back. But Mal really liked this one as it did feel more “young and palm springs” and the style of the top will enhance your breasts (with potential overspill which I don’t love).

Mauritius Racer Back One Piece

Mauritius Racer Back One Piece

Three years ago I bought the red version of this suit and felt like I FOUND MY SUIT. In bright red, it’s super fun, with a gold zipper that is enticing but still modest, a great shelf breast support, cute racer back style. Plus the ribbing masks all bumps and dimples underneath. My red one got almost ruined due to “tinted” SPF spray – don’t use it) so it got discolored. I searched for it online and it’s not to be found. So I bought this version last year instead which I don’t love as much as the red but I still wore a ton and will wear it a lot this summer. It’s one that I wear around confidently without coverup or sucking in or wondering which ass cheek is hanging out.

Before we go, two new cute cover-ups:

Long-Sleeve Rash Guard in Classic StripeI forgot to take mirror selfies in this one so here are screenshots from an IGTV we shot

Long-Sleeve Rash Guard in Classic Stripe

After about 3 hours in the sun even with SPF, I can get sun rash so I have to put on a rash guard like a little kid. I usually just throw on a blouse, but how cute is this rash guard??? It felt sexy and sporty at the same time. HUGE FAN.

Button-Up Cover-Up Shirtdress

Button-Up Cover-Up Shirtdress

The cover-up I’m opting for this summer is the oversized thin men’s style drapey button-up. I feel pretty cute in this and it’s so easy to wear with enough transparency to still cute and fun. I have a “my summer uniform” post coming up next week with my favorite Levi shorts rounded up there, but these are them.

So there you have it. I know that we all have different body types and that this post is likely more helpful to some than others. But just seeing the suits on A BODY without photoshopping, editing, and describing the level of support and coverage/slippage I hope is helpful making your decisions and finding the right fit that makes you feel comfortable and confidant. Because if being “sexy” is your thing we all know that the sexiest outfit you can put on is unabashed, unapologetic confidence, and self-ownership. I wish I knew this when I had my 22-year-old body, where I wore a cover-up at all costs and avoided the beach or hot tub night (which is CRAZY because I was tiny, and is further proof how bad the programming was and still is). Ironically now at 42, with two kids, I can own it so much more, likely because I just place so much less self-worth on my body and I really really really want to be one of those moms that plays with my kids in a swimsuit, that doesn’t shy away because I feel too self-conscious. May we all strive to be deprogrammed and own our beautiful unique shape and size. Every year I give less f*cks, which means by 50 y’all can expect “Emily GONE WILD, the G-string Bikini edition” Still with likely far too much self-tanner Let’s be BRAVE!!!

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: Active & Modest Swimsuits That Make Me Feel Good (Plus, My Thoughts On Body Image) Plus Some Updated Favorites

The post Swimsuit Review (On My Actual Body) – Supportive Swimsuits That Make Me Feel Comfortable, Confident, and Stylish appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Farmhouse Full Property Tour – See What We Are Working With (It’s Pretty Exciting)

There she is. Right now, post-demo, the farm resembles a set built specifically for the new “Saw-meets-Blair-Witch” mashup horror film. The production designer really nailed this one. It’s rather shocking that we ever did or will call this our dream house, but despite its current condition it was still exactly where I wanted to be a couple weeks ago when we visited. THANK GOODNESS, because turns out you can’t return a house (not that we would want to OBVIOUSLY… Ha Ha… ha:)). Sure, when we were there it was 75 and sunny (rare for April in Oregon) but there is something about that plot of land that makes me overlook what “condition” it’s in and just want to live there, with the kids running around getting lost amongst the blackberry bushes and future chickens. It’s magical. It’s almost like the trees block any real harsh wind, allowing only sweet breezes, and there is literally no street noise, despite being in a neighborhood. It’s mostly flat and usable, totally gated, with the house in the middle, an old sports court, so many trees, a barn, paddock, carriage house/sheep’s barn/garage, secondary victorian farmhouse, 2 oddly adorable sheds, a grove of rather ill fruit trees and so much more. It needs a lot of love (and a plan) but honestly, the kids love playing there as-is and part of me wants to make it better (update fencing, remove some blackberry bushes, power wash the sports court) but just keep it super rural and rough except where it’s close to the house (because we need a deck and some pretty native plants that are intentional). What if I just threw a bunch of wildflower seeds and see what happens? I’m also intimidated by the extent of work and I’m scared of myself because once I start “designing” something it gets to be VERY expensive unless I can DIY it – it’s a real gift I have and one that is an occupational hazard as a design blogger (chicken or the egg???). At the same time, we didn’t properly “design” the backyard here and we made some pretty annoying mistakes while rushing that we can’t really undo. So there is something to be said for having a plan before you just go for it (duh).

THE DRIVEWAY

You drive up a long tree-covered driveway that definitely needs to be paved, but because it’s not, you bounce around on dirt, potholes and gravel, and INSTANTLY you are transported to an old country farm. I want to keep it as-is, Brian wants it to be wider (why do men think they need such huge body clearances? It’s like, uh, dude, you aren’t THAT BIG. There is a (paved) roundabout driveway that connects the original victorian house to the main house and in the middle is a grove of fruit trees that is not in the best of shape but I’m determined to bring it back to life (and by ‘I’ I mean hire an arborist).

As I’ve said before, the house itself was a four-square box with a 1960s addition. It had mismatched windows from different eras, tiny plastic shutters and vinyl siding covering the original tongue and groove. Once it was all removed I actually loved it even more – the vintage windows popped and it felt just more what it should be.

Brian “surprised” me with a convertible mustang rental for our trip that was 100% not for “ME”

Pulling up to the state of our home while in a white convertible mustang was, well, a hilarious mix of worlds that made us all LOL a lot. Most people driving that car would not look so lovingly at the state of our home, but not us. The Hendersons are a real special mixed breed of wanting some luxury for us, and yet desperate to stay grounded and quietly punish our kids for being far more privileged than we were (I’m JOKING (??)). Nothing like sitting in a convertible Mustang, some Taylor Swift blasting (Brian’s choice, he’s obsessed) and a six pack of fancy microbrew beer next to a dilapidated “dream” farmhouse to further confuse our identity. Back to before demo…

That breezeway has so much potential. You might remember that a few iterations of the design ago we were going to add a port cochere (fancy carport) to the kitchen side of the original house, but as we were there last week we nixed it hard and fast. We love this connection between the two houses and we are just going to have a quick path to the kitchen and build a carport where they had theirs.

This side of the house (above) was one that sure we loved, but we thought we’d be playing way more in front of the living room (near the sports court). But as the sun was setting we realized that this is the most beautiful shady area near the kitchen that might be more of our family hangout space.

Oh, we’ve got rooflines for days. Four different ones that really don’t line up but these are the moments that we are strangely into. The odd, the quirk, a certain level of jank that screams “there is no way we are a new-build modern farmhouse” (nothing wrong with that, but this isn’t that). You know what else brings that sweetness?

This basement entrance with that cute little storm door on it. While this has to go because it’s falling apart, little moments like this say “I’m old and cute”. We’ll replace or rebuild something even more cute and charming (unless we have to remove for any reason). I also love those pretty wood storm windows on those two lower windows. It makes them inoperable but they are so pretty. This is when I fell back in love with the original windows. Without the dumb shutters and vinyl siding, you can really see what this house wants to be, despite looking like a horror house. And if you want to straighten out or line up those windows I see you, but we have decided those kinds of awkwardnesses are actually so unique to an old house (like the rooflines). So while we might change them and it might feel silly not to line them up at that point, if you have these kinds of oddities just know that we think they are sweet, despite being architecturally “wrong”.

Now to the sports court. The biggest selling point for Brian.

This guy is MASSIVE (like AA professional tennis sized court). It has a basketball hoop at one end with a big wood and wire structure to help balls stay in, and a tennis wall on the other side.

It’s not in the BEST shape, but we have no intentions right now of jackhammering it and making it smooth. It likely will never be flat enough to play regulation tennis, but we are hoping that with a powerwash and maybe a skim coat the kids can do everything they want to do there (which includes rollerblading – they are VERY into rollerblading). While I did play tennis in high school I think we are more interested in biking, scooting, playing basketball and maybe even four square.

THE SHEDS (IT’S ABOUT TIME)

There are two cute sheds next to each other on the property. I’ve never had a shed before and now I know why my brother INSISTED on putting in a shed at the Portland project a few years ago – there is just so much stuff that kids play with outside that looks like total garbage when its not stored.

This will house all things sports equipment, but I do have a fantasy of putting in an infrared sauna in a few years (with maybe an outdoor shower/toilet, too??). I’ve been using my sauna blanket a lot lately and it gives me something to look forward to every night so if I keep it up that might be something down the road. But for now, it has bins of tennis balls and a tennis ball shooter that the former owners left for us (thank you!).

It’s pretty darn cute and might be a great place to repurpose the original windows that aren’t energy efficient from our main house.

THE BARN

On the other side of the sports courts lives the cutest little barn you ever did see. It’s separated into two sides – one for livestock to actually sleep and feed, and the other (on the left) could be really anything (its so cute!!!).

Oh the potential. We do want to have some animals (we are still thinking Alpacas and definitely chickens as of now but not pulling ANY triggers until we live there for a while).

On this side of the barn is the paddock (an enclosed pasture). It housed a massive skate ramp (that you can see the markings of above) as well as a trampoline that has seen better days and a treehouse that could use some renovation).

It’s a lot of work, friends. It’s also a lot of space. On this side of the paddock is another pasture down from the sports court that is pretty much overtaken with blackberry bushes (which we are currently having cleared so we can see what we are working with).

I think that since there are so many “zones” it actually feels MASSIVE despite being only a little over 2.5 acres (which is big, don’t get me wrong, but most people say it feels closer to 4 or 5 acres). Of course, what we don’t have is a small body of water – a pond or stream and you KNOW my propensity towards water features. Our kids play for HOURS in our fake stream up here so I do have a 2-4 year goal to find the right place for some sort of natural looking body of water. Frogs are a must

THE VICTORIAN HOUSE

I’ll give you a full tour of the victorian house, but as you can see on the south side of the house is another field that the victorian house looks over. It’s so sweet and cute.

Inside this house we will eventually have a media room with games, etc for when the kids are older, maybe a basic kitchen for like popcorn and drinks AND then upstairs likely there will be our office. Full tour coming soon

The CARRIAGE HOUSE/SHEEP’S BARN

The last building on the property is what used to be a carriage house (I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea that functioning carriages were put in here for transport.) It is MASSIVE and has so much potential (if not currently deadly).

It’s really big (could fit 6 cars or like 40 sheep). But 1/2 of it is definitely uninhabitable and unsafe. It’s pretty close to the property line, so Arciform thinks that if we wanted to tear down and rebuild we wouldn’t be able to, so we might have to rebuild from the inside but keep enough of the original walls to get past the city stuff. It’s definitely phase 2 or 3. We have dreams of this being a dope workout area, storage and then just not knowing what my career future will be, I may want to start hoarding vintage finds again for big pop-up curated flea market once a year or so – Any excuse to keep thrifting and creating content around thrifting, upcycling and vintage, but knowing that I don’t need all this stuff for our home… I’ve got storage FOR DAYS Y’ALL. It could also be a photo studio, a place to host workshops… the sky’s the limit, but it’s currently rotted and well, dangerous so…

The video is really where it’s at – it’s super hard to understand where everything is so jusr watch through the ad (thank you) to see me giving you a full tour of the farmhouse property:

Right now I’m barely thinking about the property because I’m too focused on the house (and financially it would need to be a phase two). However, here is our rough plan of action …

1. We need a landscape designer to help with the decking design, the stairs, the hardscape – so we are looking for a landscape team that will be in it for the long haul knowing that we can’t tackle it all at once but we need to have an overall future plan (ish) so we don’t make short term mistakes that would affect our long term ideas.
2. We also need to get all the trees healthy asap so we will be hiring an arborist (anyone know anyone?) so they can start bearing fruit (I have a canning career to think about).
3. There is also one bare area of the fence, about 20′ long that is a bald spot of chain link fence into our neighbor’s yard that needs to be planted for privacy (Ken’s gardener is doing it next week).
4. We want to clean up so we can see what we are working with – the blackberries and ivy have absolutely taken over this property so we are currently clearing enough blackberries to be able to see (and leaving a bunch in the back for picking, duh) and clearing the ivy off of the trees, but leaving it on the ground for ground cover (for now). We’ll leave all trees and all bushes for now and then next time we are up there we’ll be able to really assess the property.

The problem about doing landscaping in phases is just like doing an interior renovation in phases – once you open up to do electrical and plumbing, it’s the best time to do it ALL. Irrigation is the main culprit here (and electrical out to the barn and landscape lighting) – it’s like if you are going to dig up everything to put in proper irrigation then you need to know where it’s going and to what plants need what level of water for however long a day/week/month. So that’s why we are barely pinning ideas for now while we fix problems. We’ll make the area around the house pretty and then not extend irrigation further out knowing that Oregon rains a lot so we likely will only have to water a couple months of the year and if it’s not too close to the house then the grass can be a bit brown and no one is going to die, except maybe the grass…

Check IGTV and Stories Sunday for a full tour (or the video above) because you can get such a better sense of it through video. IT’S A LOT to do, and I would say I’m overwhelmed but we aren’t. There isn’t a rush, we love the ruralness of it now, and part of loving an older home is committing to the long-term restoration of it. Also, remember my #1 mantra when it comes to renovation to negate the stress and keep the complaining at bay – renovating is a privilege, renovating is a privilege, renovating is a privilege (and it is).

So Questions For You: Landscape design/architect team in Portland? Anyone? Arborist? Green product recommendations (I’m being highly marketed right now based on my cookies, so I’m curious what electrical products are out there, what plant products, etc are good to know about.Has anyone affordably fixed a large sports court? And a follow-up question, we want to cover part of it for winter/rain so any great inspiration for making that look actually GOOD?I just read that Ipe wood isn’t sustainably sourced – anyone know of any decking material that isn’t orange-y that I can feel good about using for the big porch?

Mostly I can’t wait for the kids to get lost (together) in the woods like we did and build weird forts and worlds with just trees and bushes. Free-Range Parenting FTW!! (hopefully).

The post The Farmhouse Full Property Tour – See What We Are Working With (It’s Pretty Exciting) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

When “Earth Day” Should (And Can) Be “Earth Life” – 23 Easy Tips To Make Every Day A Little Greener

So, pals, we’re starting to wrap up Earth Month…but we wanted to keep this momentum going for the rest of the year (and our whole lives), too. The best part: we’re not alone in that quest! Later this week, Em will be dropping an IGTV that we shot in partnership with the awesome folks at Imperfect Foods and Mrs. Meyers Clean Day, where she’ll be sharing some easy tips or swaps you can make in your life to get you living a little greener every day.

But y’all, there were SO MANY GOOD TIP IDEAS – and so many things that I didn’t know that didn’t make it into the video – so I wanted to pull everything that I learned from these two brands over the past few weeks into one non-sponsored master list so we can all benefit from their knowledge in perpetuity. There are so many easy-breezy changes that you can make right now that can help make the world a little bit cleaner and less wasteful! OKAY, ENOUGH YAPPING FROM ME. Let’s learn!!!

In The Kitchenphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: about those integrated appliances in the mountain house kitchen

Socially Distance Your Onions & Potatoes: Let’s start with an easy one, yeah? Keep these guys in separate cool, dark places to reduce your food waste.

Stand Up for Broccoli Stems: You can blend these into hummus OR thinly slice them and stir-fry them. My favorite hack, though: TURN THEM INTO PICKLES. Pro tip from a pickle/vinegar/fermented food-addict: use this NYT recipe and then get that extra fiber in your diet, pal!

Upcycle Your Coffee Grounds: Y’all, coffee grounds are one of the most commonly thrown-out food items in America!! Now that you’re in the know, you can turn your grounds into a DIY body scrub (#luxury – this 3 ingredient one looks lovely), food for your houseplants, a natural fridge deodorizer, or a helpful scrub to get burnt-on gunk off your pots and pans.

Switch to Biodegradable Trash Bags: Traditional bags can take centuries to decompose, which is obviously bad. And we’re super lucky now, because this is a totally easy switch you can make today that can make a huge difference! After doing some testing to find my new go-to brand, I would definitely recommend these kitchen-sized trash bags, which are just as strong and functional as my standard black plastic trash bags.

photo by veronica crawford

Turn Veggie Scraps into Stock: Oh hey, soup lovers. Try adding leek greens, scallion roots, fennel tops, and herb and mushroom stems to your vegetable stock. Start practicing now so you’ll be ready for Souptember, Crocktober, Novembroth, etc. You know, all the cool and normal holidays we celebrate here at EHD.

Store Herbs Like Flowers: Extend the life of herbs like parsley, mint, and cilantro by keeping them in a jar of water in the fridge. (And check out this full post on preventing all kinds of food waste if you want to get really in the weeds!)

But Give Basil a Vacation From the Fridge: Basil is a special exception because it does not like cold temperatures! To keep it fresher for longer, keep this one in a jar of water on your counter. (Bonus: it smells delightful.)

Get Scrappy with Herbs: But if any of your herbs are in danger of going to waste, try poaching them in oil to make an infused oil. You can also create an herb butter (very fancy) by letting butter soften before mixing with herbs. Here’s a great recipe for rosemary olive oil and here’s some herb butter ideas!

Eat More Plants: So uh, as it turns out, what we eat has a huge impact on our environmental footprint. Plant-focused meals take way less water/land/fuel to produce than animal-heavy ones, so if you’re able, try adding one plant-forward meal a week. (FWIW, Jess switched to a plant-based diet last year and Imperfect Foods delivers a ton of plant-based meats, cheeses, milks, etc. in addition to their veggies which has made her switch easier!)

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the five cooking mistakes i’ve been making (as told to me by a chef)

Use Lemons to Get Rid of Smelly Hands: Okay, we’re getting a little niche here, but if you’ve squeezed out all the juice, you can use a lemon peel to get rid of any fragrant smells (think onions or garlic) that linger on your hands. Hit ’em with the peels, rinse them off, and you’ll be good as new.

Give New Life to Old Condiments: Don’t discard your almost-empty end condiments! Use leftover jarred mustard to whip up a vinaigrette or marinade some pork or chicken in your leftover pickle juice. (TBH I drink straight pickle juice after workouts because I don’t love bananas and it’s full of potassium and sodium, which helps me feel less sore!) In any case, get creative with those leftovers!!  

Rethink Expiration Dates: This is your official sign from the universe to trust your eyes and nose. Confusion around expiration dates causes millions of pounds of waste every year. These dates are just an estimate of peak quality, and they don’t indicate when a food will become unsafe.⁠ You really can tell! You got this!

Teach Kids About Food Waste: Start them young, folks. This is the world’s cutest downloadable coloring book for a kid-friendly introduction to preventing food waste. (Also, fun for adults who find something really soothing about coloring in sweet illustrations of food. You know. Like me.)

Give Root Veggies a Haircut: You can keep your vegetables fresher for longer by removing the tops from beets, carrots, and radishes! (Since the tops are a water suck, they’ll make your veggies go bad faster.) But wait, there’s more: you can also use the beet tops how you’d use chard AND you can swap in carrot tops for parsley in recipes to mix things up. WHO KNEW?

Around the Housephoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: working with what you’ve got – an $8k budget kitchen makeover with a lot of vintage charm

Upcycle Your Candle Tins: Once you’ve enjoyed your candles, empty the tins – there’s a great tutorial here – and turn them into planters, make-up brush storage, or a coin catch-all so you can empty out your pockets at the end of the day. (I love this soy lavender tin candle that’s only $4.49 and perfect for winding down before bed!)

Air Dry Your Clothes: I can hear the EHD heavens opening up and angels singing as I type this. Like, yeah, sure, you can save money and energy but I recently learned that the sun’s UV rays can help deodorize your clothing (!!!). So if you’re still, uh, let’s say…wearing the same sweatpants 5 days a week (definitely not a personal anecdote), maybe give them a rinse and then let those bad boys breathe outside for a second?

Use Lavender to Mothproof Clothing: No. more. mothballs!!! Try hanging dried lavender in your closet or drop some in your sweater drawer – it will perfume your clothing (so you won’t smell like a haunted house) AND it can repel moths without pesticides. WIN/WIN. (I actually scooped this scent sachet from Target after learning this! When I flew back to LA after 4 months on the east coast, I ended up discovering that some moths had moved into one of my closets. This tip was, in fact, a total lifesaver.)

Wash Your Clothes with Cold Water: Another hot topic on the site lately – washing machines. Here’s something WILD I just learned: 90% of the energy used by your washing machine actually goes to heating the water! Even switching a few loads a month to cold water can save a bunch of energy (and it’s nice for your clothes, too).

Outside the Homefrom how to haggle (or not) at the flea market like emily henderson

Shop Secondhand: OH BABY, MY FAVORITE. We’re huge lovers of all things vintage here at EHD – if you’re confused on how to get started, I wrote a pretty comprehensive guide on how to find the best used furniture online near you!

Mulch Smarter to Prevent Weeds: To prevent weeds from overtaking your vegetable beds, you can mulch them with grass clippings or rhubarb leaves! It’s a super easy way to get extra life out of the things you already have while protecting your beloved lil’ veggie patch.

Turn Eggshells Into Planters: Give your eggshells a second life as a nursery. Fill them with potting soil and a veggie seed before placing them somewhere warm to sprout. Transplant them into a bed once they’re big enough. Plus, this is a super fun activity for the little ones

Start Composting: Ah, yes, the en vogue topic on the site right now. There are so many helpful composting tips in the comments on Em’s recent kitchen planning post! But if you want to get join in the composting fun, you can start a pile in your backyard, get a worm composting kit, grab a countertop composter (this one is pricy but awesome because it has no smell!), or find a curbside service near you. Fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells are great candidates for home compost!

It’s Not Just Earth Day: Sure, it’s great to really celebrate the earth once a year, but try to keep sustainability at the front of your mind every day. An easy way to help is by supporting your favorite local charity working to make our planet better and stronger. We were recently introduced to Edible Schoolyard through our upcoming partnership, which provides hands-on cooking and gardening education for kids (amazing!!), but we’d love to hear about your favorites, too!

Now, if you’ve learned something and have a second to spare, you can make an even BIGGER difference. Our old pals at Imperfect Foods & new pals at Mrs. Meyers Clean Day already donated $10,000 to Edible Schoolyard, but they’ll give an extra $1 for every post that includes one of these tips…so if you have any time today or tomorrow, grab your phone, shoot a quick photo, and tag @imperfectfoods and @mrsmeyerscleanday to raise funds a great cause. I can’t wait to share what Em created and THANKS to these brands for letting me hijack all their smart, thoughtful work so I could turn it into a post for my internet pals. ANY OTHER EASY TIPS? Let’s chat!

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: The Five Cooking Mistakes I’ve Been Making (As Told To Me By A Chef)

The post When “Earth Day” Should (And Can) Be “Earth Life” – 23 Easy Tips To Make Every Day A Little Greener appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What Moms REALLY Want For Mother’s Day (Seriously, We Asked And You Delivered)

Last Friday Emily did a call out on Instagram asking what you Moms out there actually wanted for Mother’s Day. We didn’t want to do a roundup that was dull, off the mark or just like every other guide we’ve seen. Reading all of the feedback was probably the most fun thing I’ve done in a hot minute (excluding going to the beach to watch “the sunset” with my friend in the cloudy, freezing cold and faceplanting after chasing a runaway napkin. But seriously we laughed the whole time at how bad we are at living in LA.) ANYWAY, I couldn’t get enough of your answers! Some were totally understandable, some very surprising, and some actually were the quintessential “mother’s day” ideas. But hey, if you want a robe then a robe you should get. You survived a year in quarantine! With kids! Let ALL THE MOTHER’S HAVE CAKE!

Me Time and ServicesAlone Time at Home – This was BY FAR the most requested gift from moms with kids that still live at home. Surprising? Not to us when collectively this was likely the most intense year of mothering in our lifetime. I also asked my best friend (mother of a one-year-old) what she wanted this year and said that all she wants her husband and baby out of the house so she can binge Chinese food and watch season two of Broad City on repeat. That sounds like an ideal day if you ask me.photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: my girls weekend at the ojai valley innA Hotel or Airbnb Room Alone – Another big request. I mean who doesn’t want a luxurious room they don’t have to clean, can indulge in whatever activities they want. AND get room service. Bonus points if you pay for them to get a spa service:)A Girls Weekend – Another BIG request. Now that vaccines are here, a girl’s weekend isn’t out the picture this year! So maybe block out a weekend and give your mom (or partner) the time to go spend time with her friends where she doesn’t have to think of anyone but herself. A Massage or Facial – This was the #2 most requested and DUH. I just booked my first since 2019 and I could truly cry thinking about it and I don’t even have kids soooo, ya. It’s a slam dunk. I really love HeyDay for facials which is in LA, NYC, and Philadelphia. Then there’s Massage Envy that has locations all over the US. But honestly, Groupon has incredible spas and is always worth checking out for a great place and a great deal. A Car Detail – I think this is an AWESOME idea but was surprised by how many moms said this. Again Groupon is a great place to go if you don’t have a local favorite. So make your mom some breakfast and go take her car for a makeover. Bonus points for changing the oil and filling it up with gas. But if money is a little tight you could always do it for yourself. House Cleaner – Yep, your wonderful money is SO tired of cleaning 24/7. So even if it’s a one time deal, she will LOVE coming home to a clean house. We used to use Handy for our office and they were great! But a quick search on yelp will give you a bunch of options. Do Her “Get Done” List – Has your mom or partner been asking you or some to fix xyz? Sound familiar?? Well, this Mother’s Day TO IT! Or you can hire someone (Handy and Task Rabbit are great for that too). I promise this will make her extremely happy, heard, and less stressed. Loungewear

I was really surprised how many moms wanted loungewear and new PJs. But I guess there is something very renewing about a new, pretty set of pajamas and these are the ones you and we love:

1. Washable Silk Tank Set | 2. Siro Draped Jogger | 3. Pima Drape-Back Top + Pima Classic Pant | 4. Beautifully Soft Short Sleeve Pajama Set | 5. The College Sweatshirt + The Cropped Sweatpant | 6. Washable Silk Button Down Pant Set

1. Lunya was the #1 requested loungewear company by far. It makes sense. They are VERY special pieces that a mom might not normally buy for herself. But also… washable silk?? Heck yes! This is a great set for those warm upcoming months.
2. More Lunya and one of Emily’s favorite joggers. Pretty draping and pockets deep enough for your mom’s phone. Win!
3. If your mom is maybe a bit more modest and classic then this is SUCH a pretty set (top and pant). I love how the top has that lovely cross drape that makes it really special.
4. Both Emily and I have this set from Target and love it. I’ve had it for years (in a different color) and is always my first choice if it’s clean:)
5. This is a set (top and bottom) that Emily lives in (or did in the thick of lockdown) and said that she just felt cool in it. Hey, your mom or partner deserves to feel cool too. It’s definitely splurgy but if it’s in your price range is extremely worth it. There’s also a bunch of other colors:)
6. Ok the last Lunya:) This is a BEAUTIFUL option that gives a bit more coverage and honestly looks good that I would wear this out.

Robes

SO many of you just want a nice robe to start and end your days in so here are some great options from both you and us:

1. Solstice Organic Relaxed Robe | 2. Waffle Robe | 3. Lemon Zest | 4. Super-Plush Robe | 5. Women’s Cloud Weave Robe Coat | 6. Beautifully Soft Robe

1. This is my robe and I can’t tell you how much I love it. We all got one for this shoot back in 2018 and it may be one of my favorite (and definitely most used) things I’ve gotten as a gift since I started. 10/10
2. A LOT of the robe requests was this waffle robe from Parachute. It comes in a few other neutral tones and I’m sure it’s very cozy.
3. Do you have a fun mom??? Well then get her a fun robe like this one. PrintFresh is a new company to me but they have a ton of great prints and sizing that goes up to 4X!
4. Now this is Caitlin’s robe that she couldn’t stop talking about for weeks. She loved it so much that she bought one for her mom soon after. So if your mom loves a very plush robe then this is the one for her.
5. Another big follower rec that looks totally wonderful and comes in a variety of colors.
6. You know we love a Target PJ and this is the robe version of that suuuuper soft fabric we can’t get enough of (modal) and this one is under $25.

Skincare

Your mom wants some cool skincare tools! So we will get into those in a minute. But a GREAT thing to do that some moms asked for was just a restock of what they already have. How fun would it be to give her a basket of her hair products or skincare routine. It’s a GUARANTEED great gift! But also a Sephora or Credo (an exclusively clean beauty shop) gift card would be awesome and give her an opportunity to try some new things:) If you or she needs product inspo, here is a post with all of our favorites. Onto the tools:

1. Elite Mirror Ten Brush Set | 2. Trinity Facial Toning Device | 3. Nail Glow Nail Enhancer | 4. LightStim for Wrinkles | 5. The Mani System | 6. Sephora Collection Deluxe Brush Set

1. This was the first time I had heard of this brand but boy do these brushes say luxury! A few moms were VERY excited about them. So if you have a makeup-loving mama and want to splurge, this is a great idea.
2. As a fellow gadget-loving lady myself, this advanced-microcurrent toner is a great gift and was DEFINITELY requested on the call-out.
3. Another item I didn’t know about but really want to try. Basically, this clear “polish” just enhances your mom’s already pretty natural nails. So if she’s not a big nail polish fan but wants her nails to look nice then this is it, folks. Plus it’s under $30!
4. FDA-approved and mom wanted. Light therapy is very popular right now and is a really easy way for your mom to feel a little more confident in her skin. This is a great device to do that!
5. I was NEVER one to do my nails on my own. They were either beautiful or…not. But then I got this kit for my birthday last year and it’s wild how much I love it and love doing my nails now. I’m a changed woman! Olive and June also has a pedi set I am dying for. Both are seriously great gifts.
6. More brushes but at a way more affordable price. I love my Sephora brushes and can totally vouch for their quality.

Jewelry

Here’s the DL on Mother’s Day jewelry. It was split pretty 50/50 on moms wanting nothing to do with their kid’s names or “mom” jewelry and moms who REALLY wanted their kid’s initial(s) on the necks and fingers. So moral of the story…know the kind of mom you are gifting jewelry to. I know that may seem like common sense but I don’t think it is for everyone considering we’ve alllll gotten some “head-scratcher” gifts. Amirght??

Delicate Necklaces and Lockets

Your mom or partner (like the moms who responded) just want a touch of glam that they can wear every day. Delicate gold jewelry is our favorite accessory too! Heck, we even wrote a whole post about it. But let’s get into these first:

1. Personalized Yue Necklace | 2. Mama Necklace | 3. Dollhouse Locket | 4. Paperclip Chain | 5. Bali Antique Locket Necklace | 6. Diamonds Station Necklace

1. For the initial loving moms, this necklace is such a pretty and very delicate option. Even with a few charms, it’s still very simple which I love.
2. This was a requested necklace and while it’s very on the nose, it’s so pretty (and high quality)! Think how sweet this would be, especially for a new mom.
3. STOP. I want this too. Lockets were a big request and so was the shop Catbird, making this a perfect gift. The locket is very small which I think makes it really special.
4. Paperclip necklaces are very on-trend (I have one myself) but they don’t scream “Look how trendy I am!”. Instead they are delicate and are great for layering.
5. From Emily: “I bought this locket for a fashion shoot and am so surprised by how much I love it. Also, Birdie says every day “but mama, when are you going to put a picture of me and Charlie in there?” SOON. It’s just pretty (and $65 is pretty affordable for special sentimental jewelry).”
6. Splurgy but I mean look at it. This necklace so pretty and while it’s not for everyone, I think most moms would LOVE this.

Honorable Mention: Morse code necklaces were mentioned a couple of times and I found this one that I think is really pretty. It’s a secret way to have a personalized piece of jewelry:)

Stacking and Signet Rings

These two styles of rings are what the moms want, people! We got so many answers that specifically asked for stacking and signet rings and these are the ones we all love:

1. Micro Signet Ring | 2. 3 Bold Zoe Set | 3. Twist Ring | 4. Small Heirloom Signet Ring | 5.

1. First off, GLDN was the most talked about jewelry brand in the feedback and I get it, it’s all so pretty. And this ring is both signet AND stacking. Dream team! It is a personalized one though so make sure your mom or partner wants those little initials on their hand at all times:)
2. I LOVE these simple rings and think they are so simple but so chic. Perfect for the casual, no fuss but still stylish mom that isn’t an “initials person”.
3. Elegant, simple but with a twist (pun intended:))
4. Very splurgy but sooo freaking special. I would never take this ring off and a bunch of moms talked about this wonderful shop.
5. Another GLDN pick! This ring is technically “personalized” but instead of an initial, it’s a birth month flower. And maybe instead of a kid’s birth month flower, it’s hers. Juuuust an idea;)
6. Now this is a very cool, chunky signet ring for the mom who likes more of a statement. Also. it’s adjustable so you can’t mis-size her finger. Pretty great right!?

Fashion

Moms also want a little revamp in the accessory department and the #1 request? Birkenstocks! Let’s get to it:

Birkenstocks

1. Arizona Colorblock Sandal | 2. Arizona EVA Sandals | 3. Arizona Torty Big Buckle Sandal

1. Moms are ABOUT this two-toned new look! So many asked for them specifically. They are comfortable and CUUUTE. I love this blue/pink look but also the coral/tan combo is awesome. It was very hard to decide which one to feature.
2. Another specific ask were the plastic (aka waterproof) ones. Y’all this is the perfect summer shoe and it comes in a tone of other colors.
3. Tortise Buckles! Are you kidding me?! These might be my first pair of Birkenstock sandals and I needed you to all know that they exist.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a little hard to buy for someone unless they tell you specifically what they want. BUT these are all VERY cute and returns are always possible if need be. But also gift certificates, y’all:)

1. Peyton-104 | 2. RB2448N | 3. Wright

1. Does your mom have a vintage flair? Well, Coco and Breezy have incredibly cool and unique sunglasses. These ones are on the more streamlined/classic side but go check out their site!
2. These are Em’s new favorite sunglasses! And as someone who’s not really a “sunglasses person,” I think that says a lot. Plus they just look cool and timeless.
3. You might know this but Warby Parker has GREAT sunglass options. Plus if your mom needs prescription sunglasses this is a one-stop-shop! How cute are these?

Everyday Purses

Your mom probably needs a new everyday bag (at least that’s the vibe I got from the other moms) Here are our picks:

1. The Canvas Medium Transport Tote | 2. Midi Sac | 3. Eden Carryall

1. Who doesn’t love a Madewell tote?? I love my black leather one but this one is in that GREAT green canvas fabric and would add a little fun to any outfit without overpowering it.
2. Clare V was heavily requested and if looking that this stinking cute bag doesn’t explain why then I don’t know what to say. It’s SO PRETTY.
3. Whenever Em isn’t sporting one of her belt bags, this is her all-time favorite carryall. It’s the perfect size for a laptop but isn’t too big if you need to go from day to night. Plus it’ll last forever which is always a good thing:)

Activities and Fitnessphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: working the ehd crew out with culligan water

I of course wasn’t super surprised that moms wanted to get their fitness on. BUT when the requests for paddle board kept coming in I was like well damn that is fun and really good to know! So let’s just start off there:

Paddle Boards

I’ve only been paddle boarding once but I really loved it so I see why the moms want to paddle all summer long. What I love about these options is that they all come with paddles! So you don’t have to worry about piecing everything together. But do a little research but sadly I am not a paddle board expert…yet.

1. PathFinder Inflatable SUP Stand-up Paddleboard Set | 2. Pau Hana Malibu Classic Stand Up Paddle Board with Paddle | 3. Boardworks SHUBU Solr Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board with Paddle

1. This inflatable guy is highly rated and very affordable considering the research I’ve done. Plus it comes with a pump!
2. So this one is solid and weighs about 31 lbs but is apparently VERY durable and your mom doesn’t have to spend any time inflating.
3. This is another great inflatable option to check out! It is more expensive than the first one so I would just make sure your mom really wants to get into paddle boarding:)

Fitness

Paddle Boarding wasn’t the only fitness-related item on our mom’s wishlist. Let’s get into the main ones:

1. Peleton Bike | 2. Aaptiv Subscription | 3. Theragun

1. Peleton is still the king (or Queen) of the at-home fitness world. It’s a splurge but if your mom or partner has been begging for one I think you would be the favorite:)
2. A few moms just wanted a fitness subscription and our favorite is Aaptiv! It’s super approachable and fun. Very affordable and something that she would actually use (if she wants it of course).
3. Whether your mom is really working those muscles or just suffers from aches and pains, a Theragun is SUCH a good gift. I got one for my dad for Christmas and it was his favorite gift. He uses it all of the time.

ToolsPower Tools

My heart sang with how many moms want power tools this year. They are ready to DIY their hearts our and we can’t wait to see what they do! If you also want to start building your tool kit but don’t know where to start here is a post just for that.

1. RYOBI 18-Volt ONE+ Lithium-Ion Cordless 6-Tool Combo Kit with (2) Batteries, Charger, and Bag | 2. 15 Amp Corded 12 in. Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw, Blade Wrench & Material Clamp | 3. RYOBI 1,600 PSI 1.2 GPM Electric Pressure Washer

1. Talk about a really awesome starter kit! RYOBI is a great brand for beginners because its price point is great without sacrificing quality. Also HOT TIP: Having your power tools from the same brand makes it so can use the same battery for multiple tools. It’s a win-win!
2. Lots of asks for miter saws and this one has over 4.5 stars with almost 3,000 reviews. So do with that what you will:)
3. Who doesn’t want a power washer?? They are so useful and it’s sooooo satisfying to see how much dirt they can remove. This was a real request, I promise (and I love it)

Decor (But Really Art)photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a modern and organic dining room makeoverVintage Art – So many moms asked for vintage art and WE GET IT. Vintage art is so special but also veeeeery personal. So if you know your mom or partner’s style then go for it and here is an Etsy resource post to get you started. Also, Chairish is great for vintage art (and haggling:)). But if you have no idea then a gift card to either Etsy or Chairish would be a dream. You could also plan to take them to a Flea Market with the promise of a paid for piece of art! FYI the Rose Bowl is happening on Mother’s Day for anyone near LA. Original Art – Second to vintage was original art. Our favorites are Uprise Art, Tappan, Saatchi Art, and Minted (these are prints but beautiful). Don’t forget that gift cards are your friends!photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how we designed our super kid friendly family roomFramed Kid’s Art – Moms (Emily too) love displaying their kid’s art but in a pretty way. So find a piece you think she’ll love nicely framed and go to either your local frame shop or Framebridge. But also Target or Ikea (we love the RIBBA frames) are great too and we use them a lot.Professional Photo Session – We’ve talked about this before but a lot of moms just want some nice family photos. So get on the google machine and find a great photographer so she can stare at the wall her beautiful family is on as much as she wants.Digital Photo Organization – And in the same vein as family photos, a free thing you could do that the moms asked for would be to organize all of the photos on her computer. It’s time-consuming but would be SO nice to do for her.Candles

Funnily enough, A LOT of moms said they really DO love candles and that makes me happy as I have been trying to fill the beautiful shoes of one Sara Tramp as the EHD candle lover. Here are six candles that are truly incredible and I would be so happy to receive:

1. Tatine Forest Floor Glass Candle | 2. Palo Santo 14 Classic Candle | 3. Paddywax Palo Santo Suede | 4. Redoux Candle “529” | 5. Paddywax Parks – Glacier | 6. Tatine Garden Mint

1. I blame Sara for turning me onto this candle company. Every scent is heaven and this one is no different. This candle just makes you feel special.
2. A splurgy classic that I will never tire of. Le Labo knows how to make a beautiful scent and this one is earthy and wonderful.
3. This is a new one I just got, love and it’s only $24! It’s light but masculine and I’m already sad knowing it will be done soon. O and the shape of the vessel is so cool!
4. Welcome to my summer candle (that I burn year-round). This one is brighter but has a ton of depth and ultimately is just really unique. I LOVE it so so much.
5. I originally got this gem at Whole Foods and when it was done immediately ordered it again. It’s fresh and makes you feel like you are in the woods.
6. I HAD to call out one more Tatine candle. This was the first one I smelled at Sara’s and I don’t know how to describe it but it changed how I felt about candles forever. Basically, it started my sickness.

Ok that’s it! You made it! What do you think? Do you agree? Now we of course HIGHLY value thoughtful gifts over material things so here is a post FULL of ideas in that category. But sometimes a nice robe is really just…nice. I think in addition to maybe one of these gifts, your mom or partner just wants to be told they are doing a good job. Even in the best of relationships, we can forget to say how much we appreciate everything our loved ones do for us. So even though all of you aren’t our moms, we want to say that you are doing A GREAT job. This past year was mind-blowingly hard and the fact that you are still here standing is honestly a big deal. Happy early Mother’s Day<3

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: EHD At-Home Spa DIYs with Culligan

The post What Moms REALLY Want For Mother’s Day (Seriously, We Asked And You Delivered) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Best Online Plant Delivery Resource List – UPDATED!!

Wow, hello! Here’s the thing: last year, I wrote this guide to the best online plant delivery resources…but the sector has grown a lot, so I wanted to give it a little refresh. I’ve jumped back in and added 11 new big, small, and BIPOC-owned businesses at a variety of price points – the 2021 additions are designated by a cute lil’ asterisk, like this * – which can help make your in-house jungle dreams a reality. Let’s get to it, yeah?

HAPPY WEEKEND, PALS. Earlier this week, Emily showed you her (not really) IKEA-hacked desk. The entire post is gold, but one line REALLY caught my attention: “I need a tree, guys – any online plant resources?”

As EHD’s resident plant owner (at least, I think I’m in the lead — I have 18 very live plants and only 1 very dead tree currently living in my 1 bedroom apartment) and as a compulsive internet window shopper and bookmarker, I was like, “HEY BOSS, YES, I DO HAVE ONLINE PLANT RESOURCES TO SHARE!” 

And since we’re all kinda going through #TheBigQ together, I figured that maybe it’s not just Emily who’s on the hunt for a new plant friend — maybe a master list of the best tried-and-true online plant-shopping resources could be helpful for all of us. So today, I’ve pulled together my all-time favorite destinations (ranging in size from one-woman Etsy shops to West Elm), so you’ll be able to find the plant — and planter — of your dreams, within your budget, from the comfort of your own home.

But first — because I am nothing if not a broken record stuck on an unending loop of a track titled “support your local small businesses” — I’d urge you to research your neighborhood nursery and find out if they’re offering curbside pickup or delivery options! A few weeks back, I asked for help on what to do with my balcony and several of you suggested planting jasmine. (THANKS!) I DMed my local nursery, Mickey Hargitay Plants (#notsponsored, but highly recommended if you’re in LA), and they’ve been helping me turn my tiny outdoor prison into a scented garden oasis. Anyway, it’s great and important to keep money in your community! 

But if your nursery is closed, or you want to send a present to a friend or family member (Mother’s Day is COMING QUICK, y’all), or you just want a beautiful plant delivered to your house in a cute pot with explicit care instructions and a money-back guarantee in case you accidentally kill it (yeah, some of these places actually HAVE THAT) — this is for you. (Or if you, like me, are a compulsive online window shopper and you just want to look at some beautifully merchandised websites… it’s for you, too.) LET’S GO!

The SillLeft | Middle | Right

Confession: I’m leading with The Sill because they’re my personal favorite. They offer monthly subscriptions (the best ones: this one for low-light plants, this one for beginners, and this one for pet-safe options), the best selection of pots, and affordable plant-care classes. They ship to the contiguous United States. (As a side note, if any gentleman callers ever want to send me a gift, I wouldn’t be angry to get something from the Sill in their Dolores planter. Just throwing it out there. 2021 update: I did, in fact, get sent plant in a Dolores planter and it was better than I had dreamed. #manifested)

Bloomist *Left | Middle | Right

Oh my! We already love Bloomist for their affordable, high-end, organic decor and their eco-faux greenery line, but they’ve recently expanded into live plants and the quality is very, very, very good. They’re sustainably grown, the selection is great for beginners, and any of these would make the perfect present. Jess recently grabbed a fiddle leaf for her own apartment and we were blown away by the product – the planter is luxe, the plant was thriving, and they’re even topped with moss, which made for a really beautiful and finished look. 10/10.

Bloomscape (and West Elm)Left | Middle | Right

Bloomscape came up a few times in the comments of Em’s post and with good reason: it’s an incredible resource. They have a broader selection with plants of all sizes (I have my eye on this XL tree, which they label as “perfect for beginners”) and also offer up bundles of herbs alongside tomato and pepper plants if you’re looking for an easy entry to the urban gardening game. Orders over $50 ship free! (They also have a few offerings available over on the West Elm website.)

Isha Plants *Left | Middle | Right

This year, I fell in love with the IG feed for Isha Plants, which is a masterclass for anyone looking to learn more about propagation. To that end, Isha sells propagated versions of tons of gorgeous, rare, and healthy plants for you to grow at home (which is amazing, because these tiny plants can adjust much better to your specific environment). She even offers a monthly subscription so you can support a BIPOC-owned business while adding to your collection in a manageable, measured way.

TerrainLeft | Middle | Right

AH, Terrain. The literal Anthropologie of plant sites. This one’s more for the true, die-hard gardeners or backyard owners — you can grab a plant, sure, but what you REALLY wanna do on this site is poke around and look at the beautiful watering cans. And the beautiful chiminea. And the beautiful garden aprons. Ugh. In my next life, I want to be reborn as the type of person who needs a garden apron, instead of the type of person who accidentally forgets to water the tree I sit next to every day. BUT ANYWAY, this is a great Mother’s Day pick if you have a mom with a green thumb!

The Bouqs Co. *Left | Middle | Right

You may know The Bouqs Co. from their flower arrangements, but did you know that they now sell plants, too? This is one of my favorite sources if I’m looking to buy a gift for someone who loves a fun, playful decor – how charming is this whimsical face planter? And get a load of these cute, happy little pink and mustard arched babies! Added bonus: since Bouqs is well-versed in shipping delicate flowers, you can trust that your plants will show up in tip-top shape.

Leon & George (and Williams Sonoma)Left | Middle | Right

I think Leon & George may be the OG plant startup — they’re the first one I remember, at least, and I’m kinda obsessed with tracking this stuff. Their offerings are clean and simple and mid-century (and TBH, the prices for a plant + a Case Study-style planter + free shipping are not unreasonable). Small and medium plants ship nationwide; anything larger is limited to white-glove delivery in San Francisco and Los Angeles. They offer a 30-day guarantee AND lifelong plant support, though, so you’ll have an actual pro to turn to if an edge of a leaf starts lookin’ a little funky. Leon & George also sell through Williams Sonoma.

Floom *Left | Middle | Right

THIS IS MY FAVORITE NEW ADDITION!!! Plug in your zip code and Floom will show you a huge variety of plants available for fast delivery via a local small business. In LA, I could grab a beautiful succulent arrangement or super-healthy orchid for delivery TODAY. I just love that Floom can empower tiny businesses with tools to help them compete in an on-demand economy – please check this out and see if there are any participating retailers near you! (They’re also a great source for finding floral arrangements.)

MonroviaLeft | Middle | Right

OH BOY, we LOVE Monrovia over here. This isn’t your traditional “online plant shop” — Monrovia is actually the nursery who grows all the plants that you actually find at your local nursery. We’ve worked with them closely before (like on the landscaping at the Portland project!) and guys, their stuff is top-notch. If you head to this website and enter your ZIP code, you can buy plants and have them delivered to you by your local garden center (and, as you recall from the intro, I’m A BIG FAN OF THIS OPTION). This is the ideal solution for all of you hoping to work on some bigger outdoor projects while you’re home!

Grounded Plants *Left | Middle | Right

Grounded is an awesome BIPOC-owned business with a curated selection of plants designed to “elicit a sense of mindfulness and tranquility.” My personal favorite is their ponytail palm – a pet-safe choice! – because I have one at home that (a.) requires virtually no maintenance and (b.) that my cat can gnaw on/bat at without causing me an arrhythmia. Grounded also stocks some really gorgeous accessories, like this show-stopping watering can. In closing, I think this line from the website sums it up best: “Sometimes, when the world around you seems a bit chaotic, the synergy between plants and humans are a natural progression in helping us to remain grounded.”

Leaf and ClayLeft | Middle | Right

HUNDREDS OF SUCCULENTS. And affordable ones, too! My favorite offering here is the $20 monthly subscription, which lands you 3 special succulents (including shipping!). They also have separate pages for their weird (the page is called “weirdos,” which somehow makes it MORE CUTE) and rare plants — both are great resources if you either want something special or if you’re looking for a gift for a super knowledgable plant-loving friend.

Urban Stems *Left | Middle | Right

Oh baby, another bouquet-delivery service that has expanded into the wild world of plants. When it comes to gift-selection, Urban Stems is pretty much unparalleled – there is absolutely an affordable plant/planter combo here for any taste and decor style. From whimsy unicorns to full, lush, English-garden-esque live wreaths to neutral textured boho ZZ plants…there’s a slam dunk present for EVERYONE here. Bookmark this site for the next time you’re stumped on what to give your pal who has everything!

EtsyLeft | Middle | Right

Annnnd now I’m gonna share my secret: Etsy is home of 2 of the most affordable plant shops on the internet. It’s always hard for me to share my sources, but it’s also my job, so I guess it’s fine. Tropical Plants of Florida has 2′ monstera plants (and a ton of beautiful flowering plants and trees) for under $50 — yes, that is a good deal — and HouseplantJunkie offers a ton of basics for under $10. Both offer free shipping for orders over $35. Please let me know if you have any other favorite Etsy vendors! These are just my two tried-and-true favorites.

Tal & Bert *Left | Middle | Right

So uh, Tal & Bert is technically a vessel/housewares store that also sells air plants, buuuuuut…COME ON. LOOK AT THESE PLANTERS, GUYS. They’re the perfect finishing touch for a bookshelf or a nightstand or a coffee table vignette. And air plants are sweet, more manageable, happy, perfect hits of greenery and life for those with black thumbs.

Modern Sprout Left | Middle | Right

I just can’t. I’m lost for words on this one. Our entire team wants to buy EVERYTHING HERE. Seed lollipops! PLANTING YOUR OWN POPCORN. You can grow a flowers in a jar!!! Tree kits. Push pops to attract pollinators. I know my job is to distill the best products and tell you the best things on each site, but EVERYTHING HERE IS THE BEST THING. (The thing that I, personally, am most excited about is the self-watering herb kit, which apparently also got Oprah’s seal of approval. So basically, I have the same tastes as Oprah, which is a huge compliment to me. Also, this wall-mounted planter/grow-light combo that is actually beautiful.)

Breck’s *Left | Middle | Right

Breck’s is over 200 years old – founded in 1818 – and they are an amazing resource for any large-scale outdoor projects you have going on (check out their homepage for custom plant recommendations based on your geographic area!). But they also have a special offshoot, Breck’s Gifts, for folks looking to grab a potted, indoor plant with a variety of planter options for themselves or a loved one. While their site doesn’t have the same IG-aesthetic, this is hands-down one of the most affordable options out there (e.g. full plants & planter combos for $45 instead of $80+).

Lula’s GardenLeft | Middle | Right

PRESENT TIME. Lula’s Garden is the best option for gifting — your order can come in a super cute sleeve with a message like “Just Because,” “Congrats,” or “I Love You.” You can buy one succulent (in a really beautiful, minimalist pot), but their best options are these Verdant Gardens. Each contains 3 hand-potted succulents and they can be shipped nationwide (or hand-delivered in LA). Bookmark this one for all future holidays!

Plants.com *Left | Middle | Right

If you’re like, “wow, dummy, I can’t believe you didn’t include a website literally called plants.com in the first iteration of this roundup,” well…I’m right there with you, TBH. The plant selection here is unparalleled – everything from bamboo to bonsai trees to huge, standalone plants to orchids to cactuses. (My personal favorite page is the curated “Feng Shui plants” collection.)

PlantshedLeft | Middle | Right

This one’s for our NYC readers only (I know, I know, but there’s enough New Yorkers that I gotta include it!). I’ll keep it quick since it’s pretty exclusive: flowers and plants with some same-day delivery available. If you live in NYC, click through for more details.

Greenery Unlimited *Left | Middle | Right

Two in a row – NYC residents, you’re in luck. Two specialty services just for you. Enjoy!

Zen SucculentLeft | Middle | Right

I’m SO EXCITED to share this one with you. The Zen Succulent checks all of my boxes: a North Carolina small business with 2 retail locations that’s 100% women- and BIPOC-owned. They’re currently offering a great collection of DIY Terrarium kits and I’m also very into their hand-made steel air plant stands.

Home Depot *Left | Middle | Right

The well-loved, tried-and-true garden center resource now ships plants straight to your door, too! While some plants are still in nursery pots, the prices for delivery here are unbeatable and the variety is unmatched. Plus, maybe you can add a few of our favorite starter tools to your cart so you can beautify your space AND take on a DIY project all at once

Nature Hills Nurseryimage sources

And you know I have to give one more recommendation for my exterior landscapers. Nature Hills has an enormous selection of bushes, trees, and flowering plants if you’re trying to tackle a backyard project or add some curb appeal. (Or, maybe you just like gardening for fun and it’s not about aesthetics, which is VERY COOL, too.)

PlanterinaLeft | Middle | Right

If you already have your preferred pots on hand, Planterina is a great choice. They offer ceramics but they can also just ship a plant in a grow pot (the normal black/green plastic thing that plants normally live in), too, which can save a ton of money. Planterina also offers a great Daily Deals section AND free shipping on all orders.

ALRIGHT, Y’ALL. That’s all of my plant resource knowledge and it’s officially been bestowed on you. If you’ve had an experience with any of these companies or a review to share, I’d love to hear it. If you know a different site that I didn’t mention, let me know! And if you’re in a city or town with a nursery that is currently delivering, feel free to share the knowledge so your neighbors can help support, too. LET’S CHAT, OK?

Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Zeke Ruelas | From: Modern Art Deco Kitchen Reveal

The post The Best Online Plant Delivery Resource List – UPDATED!! appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Hot Design Tip: Open Shelf Bookcases Create Visual Drama And Add A LOT Of Style (+ 30 Of Our Favorites)

Whether you are a maximalist, minimalist, book lover, or styling master, the right type of shelving can make all the difference in a space. Especially in a small space where every centimeter counts, you want to make sure you are utilizing vertical space efficiently but in a way that is not visually overwhelming. Bookcases are wonderful for storage and showing off style but sometimes standalone, enclosed bookcases are bulky and can take up too much room (and visual real estate). Don’t worry, I am not knocking bookcases (I’m a book lover after all) but I have been seeing a surge in wall-mounted, open bookcases and shelving happening right now and it is good stuff my friends. This style of bookcase can create the illusion of built-in shelving while also keeping the space feeling airy and open. Allow me to demonstrate…

design by lea johnson | photo by sage e imagery | from: lea Johnson’s basement reveal

Lea’s bookshelves (similar) in her basement reveal are a perfect example of applying wall-mounted shelving to create the illusion of built-in shelving. The wall-to-wall shelving looks architecturally interesting and they don’t take up any extra floor space. Win-win!

Hot Tip

Lea recommends using extra brackets as too much weight can cause the shelves to bow.

styling by annie portelli | photo by caitlin mills | via design files

This warm wood-filled mid-century home (via design files) proves that airy, open shelving is simple yet packs a punch and can work with so many styles. Even when filled to the brim with books, the area doesn’t feel overcrowded or bulky which is so important in smaller homes.

Hot Tip

Your bookcases don't have to be wall mounted to get the look. We just recommend they be on the visually lighter size and that you use at least two for them.

design by shanty wijaya | styled by a 1000x better | photo by jenna peffley

Shanty’s stunning remodel of this Japandi style home, also shows that a free-standing open bookshelf can have the same visual impact as a wall-mounted one.

design by sarah zachary | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how to add the right amount of color for every room in your house

The above home tour is what convinced me to go with this bookshelf for my living room. I really wanted built-in shelves for all my books and the wall-mounted bookcase was a great compromise and it gives off this “grandpa’s library” feel that I was going for. If you are looking for something similar, I highly recommend them as there are several sizes and height options so you can customize the shelves to fit your space perfectly.

design by bachman brown design | photo by max burkhalter | via clever

Again, the wall-mounted bookcase is so impactful because you can as much shelving to playing around with as you want but the openness makes it feel less massive and overwhelming. These shelves are styled bright and minimally which feels cohesive with the rest of the space.

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

And before we move on let us never forget the beautiful design and styling of Key and her office makeover!

design by julie rose for ehd | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a mid-century eclectic living room with kilz primer and paint

If you are short on storage and space, a wall-mounted shelf with a little closed storage can provide styling options and storage without being too visually bulky. Julie sourced this one from CB2 for this Madmen inspired mid-century living room reveal and it is perfect for the space and style. It complements the rest of the space without feeling too heavy in this corner since it has a relatively “open shelf” look. Another plus with this type of wall-mounted bookcase is the shelves will be flush with the wall even if you have thicker moulding, so not even a centimeter of space is sacrificed.

Hot Tip

A wall-mounted bookcase is perfect if you have thicker baseboards. This way you won't have that awkward gap between your bookcase and wall.

design by velinda hellen for ehd | photo by sara ligorria-tramp| from: velinda renovated & furnished her “fixer upper” for under $55k…here’s how

Do you guys remember Velinda’s awesome DIY wall unit? She DIY’d them based off of this tutorial because she wanted a visually lightweight storage solution and it offered so much room to play with styling and by using baskets on the bottom shelf she created space for closed storage as well. A wall unit like this so is awesome for living rooms because you can fit your TV in the shelving as Velinda did which makes the TV less of a focal point.

design by emily Henderson design | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: in defense of the comfy sectional

Here in this living room reveal there’s a custom wall-to-wall shelving unit which demonstrates how the open shelving can be a piece of art/architecture in and of itself. This reveal is always a hit because of the awesome shelving but if you don’t have the budget or wall space for this type of unit, worry not because there are so many great wall-mounted and non-wall-mounted (aka renter-friendly) options on the market right now that can give off a very similar effect. Here are some of our favorites:

1. Alana Bookshelf | 2. Mesa Bookshelf | 3. Beckett 6-High Shelf Sable | 4. Baxter Etagere | 5. Gold Teak & Metal Bookcase | 6. 1970s Boho Bamboo Etagere | 7. 1970s Mid-Century Rattan Wrapped Etagere | 8. Antique Gold Metal Aaliyah Bookshelf | 9. Natural Wood 5-Shelf Bookcase | 10. Floating Lines Metal Wall Shelf | 11. Arco Shelf in Dark Walnut | 12. Irving Bookcase | 13. Shelf Loring Leaning Bookshelf | 14. Tall Natural Rattan Arched Nylah Bookcase | 15. Kalmar Ten-Tier Wall Mounted Shelf

I am absolutely ga-ga over the double arch detail of #11 and in fact, an arched bookcase is a simple, renter-friendly way to add an arch detail in your home. Conversely, #7 and #14 are really cool boho options and I could see #5 working with almost any style home.

If your home is feeling a little too boxy, #2, #6 and #12 are unique options to add some dynamic and movement to the space.

But wait, there’s more…

1. Helix Walnut Bookcase With Drawers | 2. Jenny Lind Black Bookcase | 3. Wall Shelving | 4. Springville Bookshelf with Drawers Black |5. Triple Modular Wall Shelf | 6. Kalmar Ten-Tier Wall Mounted Shelf | 7. Scout Bookshelf | 8. Solid Wood Etagere Bookcase | 9. Knox Tall Open Bookcase | 10. Stay Bookcase |`11. Helix Bookcase | 12. Diana 4 Tier Etagere | 13. Mid Century Danish Rosewood Wall Unit | 14. North Avenue Tall Bookshelf Charter Oak | 15. Modular Wall Unit

How special and cool is #2?? And at that price?? I might need it for my bedroom (which I am tentatively thinking will be heavily French-inspired). Now, if you are looking for a wall-to-wall shelving option #5 would definitely do the trick and #15 is extra versatile as you can mix and match the size and shelving options. Which one is your favorite?

What other roundups would you like to see from us? Meet me in the comments and let me know. Until next time! xx

Opener Image Credit: Design by Sarah Zachary |Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: How To Add The Right Amount Of Color For Every Room In Your House

The post Hot Design Tip: Open Shelf Bookcases Create Visual Drama And Add A LOT Of Style (+ 30 Of Our Favorites) appeared first on Emily Henderson.