Emily Henderson's Blog, page 170

April 17, 2021

All The Shoes We’ve Recently Purchased – Transition Shoe Season Is Here And We Are READY For It

Oh my god SHOES! Welcome to another fashion post where we show you the REAL things we’ve bought and love in REAL LIFE on REAL bodies! And this time we’re chatting shoes, guys. A few weeks ago we were in a team meeting and Caitlin told us how she can’t stop buying statement shoes (and this was at the time where she could hardly walk due to back issues). Then we chatted about how we’ve all been buying fun out on the town kind of shoes although there aren’t that many places to go still. SO we thought…why not round up all the shoes we’ve purchased and have been wearing and then share it with you all??? Are ya ready? Let’s do this.

Emily’s Shoes

Checkered Slip-ons | Flat Mules

From left to right here we go. Obviously, these are classic, but make any “boring outfit” look intentionally casual and cool (not ANY, but you get the idea). I throw these on 3 times a day and the more they are worn, the better they are. These are the mules I bought for the Target shoot a few weeks ago and I’ve been wearing them almost every day since. They’re EXACTLY what I need for running around town doing errands, plus they’re incredibly affordable.

Caitlin’s Shoes

Printed Clog | Black Strap Clog | Tan Clog

HELLO, IT’S ME, YOUR FRIENDLY EHD GIANT. Not to be dramatic, but discovering these clogs kinda like…changed my life? Maybe you can relate – I’ve always been a little self-conscious about taking up too much space (shoutout to my fellow tall & curvy pals!), so the idea of investing in 4″ platform shoes for “everyday-wear” was LAUGHABLE. But last year, I discovered Charlotte Stone and now I’m the proud owner of 8 (!!!!) pairs of BIG ASS SHOES. They make me feel really confident and powerful (but maybe that’s just because I’m now 6’ tall and I can step on anyone who is mean to me before smothering them with my surplus of tops with balloon sleeves) – and beyond that, they’re just really comfortable and easy to pull out for daily wear. I have two pairs of Marlos (the printed clog and the tan leather clog – the latter is such a good dupe for Em’s infamous clogs) but I’m most in love with Bonnie, the one with the back strap, because they’re so secure and I truly feel as if I could run a mile in them. LOVE LOVE LOVE. (I think this link generates a special coupon code and then we can both be giant women, taking up a ton of space together!!!)

Jess’s Shoes

Clogs

I had been eyeing these clogs since Em got them! Then when she so generously let us raid her garage, there they were and are now mine. They are SO cute on, the perfect amount of height and are “a statement” without being a statement. They are still available at Madewell so if you have been wavering, waver no more. Thank you again, Em! (P.S. These were those jeans I talked about two weeks ago!)

Mallory’s Shoes

Flats | Pumps

I wrote about these bad boys in the link up last week (BEFORE I KNEW WE WERE DOING THIS POST, OKAY?) But they’re both so good that I just had to tell you about them again. The flats on the left are my everyday running around summer shoes and the wild statement shoes on the right are my sassy brunch shoes. Both are SO comfortable and so cute!! I’m such a shoe hoarder.

Ryann’s Shoes

Ballet Flats | Loafers

I have these ballet flats in tan and blue and I wear them almost every day. I love how they go with everything in my closet and I feel very cute and ~effortless~ when I wear them. Over on the right…THESE are my favorite flat shoes ever. They surprisingly go with everything, they can be dressed up or down, and they are just classic and so cute.

Now onto the shopping…

That’s all for this post! Drop the link to your favorite shoes right now in the comments below

Opening Image Credit: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: My Favorite Clogs Right Now

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Published on April 17, 2021 01:00

April 16, 2021

Bringing The Movie Theater Home With Your Family In Mind (It’s A REVEAL Y’all!)

Y’all, this reveal feels like the most overdue project coming out of the hygge ranch, and it really has been a long time coming, especially from whence we came! In Fall 2020, for the first time ever, I was chosen to be a featured designer for the bi-annual One Room Challenge event. In this unprecedented edition of the event, I was charged with highlighting High Point Market vendors to create a one of a kind virtual design. I was absolutely GEEKED because (1) getting tapped to be a featured designer was a huge honor and (2) virtual designs are my whole jam! This was the best of all possible outcomes.

What most people didn’t know at the time, however, was that we were house hunting at the time. I decided to base the design of my “must be nice” rooms on one of the homes we were considering… spoiler: it’s the home we ended up buying! Using the home’s space plan, I concocted a design for a media room and study.

As part of the One Room Challenge, I worked with a 3-D Render Studio, Duke Renders, to bring my design to life… and after seeing their photorealistic renderings, I wanted to actually bring the project to life! These designs, being based on a real space & with my family in mind, were ideas that I felt like I could totally translate into something real. By the time we actually closed on the house, I was fully committed to making it happen, especially the Black Panther-inspired media room.

Sounds easy right? Wrong!

In case you’re not familiar with High Point Market, it is essentially the fashion week of the home industry, where vendors and retailers showcase new product lines, and designers and buyers come to take it all in. High Point Market vendors are, more often than not, inaccessible to the general public. Instead, you’d have to go through a designer and/or retailers to source their products. That said, sourcing High Point Market to create my virtual design meant sourcing trade only and/or custom items. How could I maintain the high-end, bespoke vibes of the space while being able to shop more accessible, go-to options?

Having something like a media room has always felt like it belonged on my dream home bucket list — nice to have but never really knowing if it would actually happen. When we chose this house, after the way 2020 kicked us around, I specifically had it in my mind to create a home I’d never want or need to leave… I.e. creating a dedicated space for games, movies, and fun.

Just like my living room design, I started with the largest piece in the room — the sofa — both for the virtual design and the real-life iteration. While I didn’t anticipate actually having this design in my home, I thought through the design with my family in mind, starting with their love of recliners & leather sofas.

On the heels of wrapping up my living room with Apt2B, I saw that they’d recently released a new power reclining sectional…in leather! YAHTZEE! This was one of the many design elements I was adamant about keeping in my real-life remake, including the lighting, my coming attractions wall, use of pattern, and balancing contrasting hues.

From here on out, there was no turning back…except every time we had to pivot.

By the way… I’m just gonna go ahead and let you guys know now that I am officially the queen of the pivot…and the iconic Ross, Rachel, and Chandler Friends scene is permanently embedded in my head. While making final decisions for the media room & study, we also decided to flip the two spaces — after opening up the wall to the laundry room. This meant, the media room would go from having no natural light to a ton of natural light coming in.

The vibe of the virtual design was very “dark and moody” because of the tone on tone but also infused with warm elements & textures so that the space could feel bold & dramatic while still being cozy & chill. The flip actually made this contrast even more impactful. A total design win!

Record Player | Swivel Chair (home goods) | Floor Lamp | Velvet Level Pillow

How did I create this swanky hygge vibe?…

Paint. Lighting. Texture.

I opted for Sherwin-Williams’ Cyberspace instead of the wallpaper from Fabricut & Sherwin-Williams’ Tricorn combination from the virtual design, which perfectly complemented the sectional’s Battleship leather upholstery.

P.S. I am very amused by the fact that the upholstery is called Battleship & the paint is called Cyberspace.

The blue undertones turned out better than I could’ve imagined in the space — thanks to the natural lighting — while the plug-in picture lighting paired with the acrylic framed coming attraction posters add a layer of drama that only lighting can create.

The balance of light and dark finishes make this space a total nighttime destination for movie nights, while also very comfortable for an afternoon game of monopoly. And no room at the hygge ranch is complete without a cozy corner!

I made deliberate layering choices to elevate the more subtle design elements.

One of my favorite moments from that design was the nod to Black Panther and so being able to honor this design element is one of my proudest moments of this transformation.

Play Kitchen | Curtains (home goods)

What started as a design that was totally inspired by my Pinterest boards and design daydreams, is now in my home in real life… from actually shoppable retailers… without sacrificing any of the bespoke vibes from the virtual reveal last year.

As a former e-designer, I am used to bringing digital designs to life, or guiding my clients on how to do so, but this one felt different… this one was different. I had to work around two renovations and unexpected delays, while trying to create something as close as possible to my Fall ORC design. I can’t promise that I’ve stopped messing around with this room — I already know I want to upgrade the projector and possibly add a mini-fridge… maybe even a popcorn maker. The ideas really never stop coming, lol. Nevertheless… I am happy with calling this complete for the moment, because this transformation is giving me exactly what I wanted…a real-life at-home destination customized for our family for fun & entertainment.

Oh and before I go here are a couple before and afters!

*Design by Albie K. Buabeng
**After Photos by Ellie Lillstrom

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Published on April 16, 2021 01:00

April 15, 2021

The RIGHT Way To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets and Save $$$ (Factory Finish Guaranteed)

One of the best ways to transform just about anything, is to paint it. Whether you go from dark to light or light to dark, or any hue in between you’re bound to transform a space dramatically with just a couple gallons of paint. The same is true for your kitchen cabinets. Painting cabinets a very specific color has become trendy to bring a custom-looking kitchen to the everyday home. It’s also more cost-effective than replacing your cabinets all together which can run about $10,000 on the low end. Today, I want to give you the 411 on painting your cabinets and getting a factory smooth finish. You will learn about the supplies I used, and every single step in the process from beginning to end. I even discuss refacing your cabinets which is still a cost saver compared to fully replacing them. This post is one you will want to bookmark and save for when you’re ready to tackle this project for yourself. It’s the tell-all for cabinet painting. So enough with the pleasantries, let’s just get to it shall we!?

Refacing Cabinets And Your Style Options

Before we get into the process of cabinet painting, let’s talk through refacing cabinets. Cabinet refacing is the process of changing cabinet doors, drawer fronts, hinges, and/or hardware while keeping the cabinet box (or frame) intact. There are three different fitting options to consider for your cabinet doors: partial overlay, full overlay, and inset. Partial Overlay is when your cabinet doors only cover a part of the frame. Full overlay cabinet doors cover the entire frame, and inset cabinet doors fit flush with the frame and has a more built-in aesthetic.

left to right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: jess’ kitchen reveal | photo by veronica crawford, from: velinda’s diy kitchen reveal | photo by tessa neustadt, from: emily’s la kitchen revea l

My former cabinet doors were a partial overlay. And while that’s not a bad look at all, I wanted my kitchen to look and feel more custom. So I decided to reface the cabinets, with new doors that will cover the entire frame. Here are the befores:

I came across a company, Nieu Cabinet Doors, and I love that they make custom cabinet doors for any cabinet frame. Nieu has 16 door styles available to choose from. I knew that I wanted to keep the modern shaker style, but I wanted it to be special so I went with the Super Shaker Style, which has a beveled feature that just elevates the kitchen in an understated way. After sending in my new measurements, it took about 4 weeks for the newly primed doors to arrive. Now keep in mind that if you want to keep the size of your current cabinet doors, and instead just change the style, you can totally do that. There are three reasons why you may want to reface your cabinets: 1. You want to change from partial overlay to full overlay. 2. You want to change the style of your cabinet doors. 3. You want to replace a cabinet door with a cabinet drawer. Nieu gives you the option to have the doors arrive raw, primed, or painted. Yes, you read right, you can totally skip this tutorial and have your new doors painted for you, but where’s the fun in that!? You will only be responsible for painting the cabinet boxes. I’m glad that Nieu Cabinet Doors gives you that option to consider. Definitely, check them out!

Now let’s talking about painting…

Step 1: Organization

1. Sticky Notes | 2. Sharpie

This step is so crucial to the success of cabinet painting. Before removing doors and drawer fronts, even if you’re refacing, you need to label every door by number or letter. This will be considered the “door name”. Naming your doors/fronts will ensure that each door goes back to its original location and there’s no guessing when you’re ready to reinstall. You also want to have a designated drying area, and label each area with its corresponding door name. I also added the name of the door to its corresponding cabinet box. I also kept the hinges and any other hardware with the cabinet box it will be reattached to. Staying organized is KEY!

Step 2: Remove Cabinet Doors And Hardware

1. Drill | 2. Caulk

Now that you’ve learned about refacing, and labeled and organized your drying station, it’s now time to start removing cabinet doors, hinges, and all other hardware such as knobs and pulls. This process is easier and faster with a drill. Remember to keep your hinges and hardware with the corresponding cabinet box so that reinstallation goes smoothly. If you plan on using new hardware on your cabinet doors, go ahead and fill those holes with wood filler. In my case, I’m using new hinges, so I filled the old hinge holes on the cabinet frame. In this step, you should also use caulk to fill seams in the doors or frames.

Step 3: Cleaning Your Surface For Paint

Whether you decide to reface your cabinets or not, you still have to clean your surfaces, and clean them well!! Our cabinets take a beating from everyday use; there’s grease from cooking, fingerprints, dust, and more layers of God knows what! So the cleaning step is important. One may ask, “Why not just skip to the sanding part?” The reason is that you don’t want to press oils or dirt into the wood grain. So scrub and clean first and then sand. I used Spray Nine with a scour pad to first degrease the frames and doors (If you’re refacing you only need to degrease the cabinet boxes, not your new doors). Then after scrubbing the surface I used TSP solution with a microfiber cloth to wipe down the Spray Nine solution. You want to repeat this step on every area that will be painted, that includes any existing trim or moulding.

Step 4: Sand And Prep

1. Drop Cloth | 2. Painter’s Tape | 3. Builder’s Paper | 4. Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape

Now that your surface is cleaned and degreased it’s time for prepping your kitchen. I taped off the inside of the cabinets, the floors, the counters, the appliances, doors, and windows. Any area in close proximity to the cabinets that will not be painted, needs to be covered. You will be surprised where paint could end up, so cover up even if you feel like it’s not necessary. For the floors, inside of the cabinet boxes, and countertops, I used painter’s paper. The paper roll comes in various widths so get what works best for your space. For the appliances, windows, doors/doorways I used plastic. You’re probably wondering why I have blue tape and green tape listed, and it’s because they function differently. I used the blue tape to lock down the paper to the floors and to tape the plastic, and the green tape is for extra blocking protection and to create sharp lines. At the toe kick of the cabinet bases, I added the green tape because I didn’t want any paint getting on the new floors. Any area that needs extra protection or sharp crisp lines use the green tape.

Sanding helps the paint adhere best to the cabinets. I started with a 120 grit sanding block to scuff up the cabinet frames. Then I used a dry/wet vacuum cleaner (you can use any vacuum cleaner) with a brush attachment to pick up the dust from sanding. I followed behind by wiping the surface with Denatured alcohol applied with a microfiber cloth.

Step 5: Prime

If you have wood cabinets, you will need an oil-based primer. I suggest using a respirator mask, or a regular mask with the windows open to protect yourself from the fumes. The smell goes away after a few hours but it is pretty intense so wear a mask. Since oil-based primer is really thick, in a separate plastic container, measure out the amount of primer you need, and then thin the primer by 20% using paint thinner. To apply the primer, use a velour roller and a brush. You want to do this a section at a time. Next, you need to smooth out your roll/brush strokes. Take a fine bristle brush, I purchased mine from a craft store and brush over the area you just primes. This will smooth out the primer, and create a smooth surface when it comes time to paint. If you don’t want to take all that time rolling and brushing, you can also spray the primer on with a paint sprayer.

Once your primer has dried, use a 220 grit sanding block to smooth out paint lines. Vacuum out the dust using a brush attachment, and wipe down your frames and doors with denatured alcohol using a microfiber cloth. You can apply another coat of primer if you need it.

Step 6: It’s Time To Finally Paint!

Now to the fun part…PAINTING! Everything you’ve done up to this point, is to get a factory smooth finish with your paint. For painting the final color, I highly recommend investing in a paint sprayer. You don’t need a professional-grade sprayer, but you definitely want to spray this finish. Places like The Home Depot have a rental department where you can rent a sprayer but honestly, you can just buy one for the same price you’ll pay in rental fees. I used the Graco Magnum X5 sprayer with the 311 Tip (sold separately), but here are a couple of other cost-effective alternatives that work really well: Graco Truecoat 360 paint sprayer and HomeRight Super Finish Max sprayer. Using a sprayer will make your job so much easier and give you the results you want.

The star of the show is the paint color but most importantly the paint brand and type. I’m using Benjamin Moore Advance Paint in the satin finish. This paint is a waterborne alkyd paint that acts like oil-based paint. The key component to this paint is that it self levels which is the reason why you have to wait 16 hours between coats. The extended open dry time gives the paint time to settle and level out, giving you that factory smooth finish in the end. It does dry to touch in about 3 hours, but it’s best to allow your doors and frames to fully dry before touching them and painting a second or third coat.

My husband and I created a turntable out of wood to make it easier to spin the cabinet doors while painting. It’s so much better spinning the doors than walking around the table. We screwed down paint pyramids to the turntable so that the doors had a raised surface to sit on during painting.

The best technique for painting your doors is to first tack down the surface using tack cloth. This will be your last attempt to fully remove any dust from the surface. Start with the backside of the door first (do both coats) and then flip to the front side of the doors. I prefer to spray the doors laying horizontally versus hanging them to avoid runs (see Em’s Instagram for a demonstration). Once you’re finished, carefully slide your hands underneath the doors, and place the door in its designated drying area. As you will see below, I used cups to elevate the doors while drying. You can use paint pyramids but you will have to buy a lot. The cups were a great alternative. Then move on to the next. It took approximately an hour and a half to two hours to spray each coat. It may take you less time or more time. Don’t rush this part. Take your time to avoid making mistakes.

While the doors dried, I masked off the kitchen area with more plastic and sprayed the cabinet boxes. I’m so glad I did because the process took about 30 minutes to spray vs hours with brushing or rolling. Use whatever method is convenient for you. Repeat the paint process one more time with a second coat. The doors took 4 days to paint: The first two days were for the backside, one coat per day, and the last two days, for the front side, one coat per day. It is not necessary to sand between coats, however, if you see any small imperfections, used a 320 grit sanding block to smooth it out. Remember if you decide to sand, you have to use the vacuum to pick up the dust, and tack the door or frame with tack cloth before applying paint.

Step 7: Reinstall Your Cabinet Doors

When using Benjamin Moore Advance Paint you want to be sure to leave the doors to dry for about 2-3 days before handling them. It takes 30 days for the paint to completely harden, so be gentle with your newly painted cabinets once reinstalled. Use gloves when reinstalling because who wants fingerprints on their newly painted doors??

Speaking of newly painted doors:)

I am so happy with how it turned out. Yes this may be a long process, but it’s doable and will save you a lot of money doing it yourself.

Let’s Talk Dollars And Cents

Let’s take a look at the cost breakdown and comparison. The total cost of paint supplies for the entire project came to about $700. And a big chunk of that amount went towards investing in an airless paint sprayer (about $350). In the Washington DC area, it costs about $3200 on average to have your cabinets professionally painted. That’s a savings of $2500 that can be saved or allocated to other things on your renovation budget. Now, I did opt to get my cabinet doors refaced and primed which cost a little over $2000. The cost to get brand new cabinets on the lower end is $10,000. Refacing my cabinets, and painting them myself saved me $7,300. To add an even more custom look to my cabinetry, I hired a subcontractor to add double crown molding to my bulkheads to make it appear as if my cabinets go all the way to the ceiling, trim to my side panels and build out a shelf for a microwave in my peninsula. The cost of labor and materials came to $1000. But I still saved a ton of money. Doing things yourself may cost you time, but the savings in money can allow you to bring more custom elements to your kitchen.

I hope this post gives you the knowledge and confidence to do this yourself. Painting your cabinets can really transform your kitchen in a major way. As always if you have questions, you can ask them in the comments section, DM me on Instagram or email me. I’m always happy to answer and help. Now I’m going to wait a few more days before installing my unlacquered brass hardware from Rejuvenation. It’s the jewelry to the cabinets. My next post will be the kitchen reveal, so stay tuned for that!

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Published on April 15, 2021 01:00

April 14, 2021

A Bright And Minimal Laguna Beach Home Tour That Emphasizes Texture And The Power Of Marble

When designer Amy Oppedisano sent us her latest residential project and asked if we’d like to feature it, I couldn’t type YES fast enough. I will always be a fan of neutral minimal homes (even though I am more of a self-proclaimed maximalist nowadays) because it’s the style that sparked my love for design and from experience I know it’s not an easy style to achieve. In case you aren’t familiar, Amy’s signature minimalist-California-casual style is warm and elevated (as seen on this blog here and here) but what I love most about her designs is they are never without a ton of soul and charm. So today, instead of simply sharing what I love about this home (which is A LOT), I wanted to chat with Amy directly about her design process and how she achieves this coveted style so flawlessly. Let’s get into it:

Bookshelf | Tonga Baskets

What were some of the challenges you came across while renovating?

During our first inspection with the city the inspector told us that our house essentially had no structural support and that one major earthquake could be catastrophic. The house is very old and apparently things were done quite differently when Laguna Beach was just a remote little village in the middle of nowhere! We brought in an engineer and ended up having to trench out the slab throughout the entire first level and pour fourteen new concrete footings. All of the exposed beams you see in the images are actually new and were part of the engineer’s plan to shore up our support. Oddly enough we felt like the new beams added to the overall “original” cottage vibe we were going for. While this added unexpected costs and time to our job, it ultimately helped us safely rework the floor plan while ensuring that this house will remain sturdy for decades to come. In a town where many homes are overlooked and considered “tear downs” I feel like our efforts and design work saved this incredible home by giving it a second life.

Barstools | Pendants

I love how the vaulted ceilings and wood beams give off a rustic cottage feel. Were they a design choice or something you had to work with?

The white beams (in the living room) are part of our aforementioned engineering “happy accident” and are not original, but we definitely feel like they look it! The design of those beams is entirely structural and was done by the engineer. We only added the finishing touch in deciding how to treat them afterwards. We debated on whether to paint them white or potentially treat them with a reclaimed wood wrap. Ultimately, we decided since they are somewhat intrusive into the spaces our best bet was to stick with white. Our goal with vaulting the ceilings was to “lift” them and make the rooms feel bigger, so in painting those beams white I think we maintained our goal there. The reclaimed wood beams in the dining room are essentially superficial and we added them to sort of “frame” out the dining room since there are no walls to differentiate it as its own space. We also liked the contrast of the reclaimed wood against the crisp white shiplap to continue marrying the cottage vibe with a modern aesthetic. We bought flat strips of old barnwood for those beams from US Reclaimed, the same place we bought the slab for the desk. Our contractor built a u-shaped box out of the strips to cover a piece of lumber that created the shape and structure of the superficial beams. For anyone who wants affordable reclaimed wood beams this is a great way to do it as the strips of barnwood cost much less than a solid reclaimed beam.

Table | Embroidered Art by Sam Gluck | Dining Chairs | Vase | Cowhide

Were there any big changes to the original floorplan?

This home sat on the market for a very long time before we bought it, presumably due to a poorly functioning layout and design that made the rooms feel small and cramped. My husband is not a designer by trade, but we have renovated many homes together and he is a bit of a space planning savant. Together we reconfigured the kitchen, laundry room, main and two bathrooms to drastically upgrade the function of the layout. We also removed all interior walls in the living room, dining room and kitchen to turn the main living areas into an open concept. In the living room, guest bedroom and kid’s room we vaulted the ceilings to make the spaces feel larger and more open. Originally there was a second stairwell in the back of the house and by eliminating it we were able to add a second walk-in closet in the main bedroom as well as a huge walk-in pantry and wine room in the kitchen. The laundry room originally contained a second smaller “butler’s kitchen”. By eliminating that we were able to make a sizeable mudroom and laundry room with ample storage space that better suited our needs. In the kid’s room and game room we reconfigured the bathrooms by moving the doorways and reworking plumbing to give each a second sink and more functional layout. Most people who had seen this home before our remodel cannot believe it is the same house! As a designer, my number one tip for making a small space feel larger is to vault your ceilings if you can (just be sure to consult an engineer before you cut your joists!). This is such a simple way to add space visually, even if you cannot expand square footage.

The built-in wine cooler is stunning! What inspired the use of marble on the inside? And why did you choose a more dramatic veined marble instead of the kind used in the kitchen?

Here is my husband’s big design blog debut! While I wish I could take credit for it, this wine room was pretty much all him. From the outset of this project he wanted to figure out a way to work in a wine room with a dramatic marble. Since we had no real space for upper cabinets and had a very white palette, we loved the idea of adding some contrast with the wine room. We both fell in love with this dark slab he found at the marble yard and knew it fit our vision perfectly. We loved that the veining added drama and tied together the black & white palette we used throughout both the interior and exterior. It is now one of our favorite design elements of this home.

You mentioned the cabinetry in the laundry room has a unique story behind it. Can you tell us more about that?

Initially Laguna Beach was an artist’s colony and vacation enclave for many residents of Los Angeles. This neighborhood has seen many celebrities as part-time residents over the years, including Ozzie & Harriet Nelson. When their home was sold by their estate, the buyer had plans to tear it down, so each neighbor was gifted mementos from their home to keep the nostalgia alive. The original cabinets in our laundry room as well as a swinging door on a media closet we tore out had belonged to Ozzie & Harriet. Neighbors had many fun stories to tell about them and we kept these items in a craft room we set up under the garage for nostalgia’s sake.

It looks like there are a lot of built-in cabinets and shelves in the home! Was storage a concern when renovating? And how did you prioritize carving out storage space?

As evidenced by the neutral palette, I am a bit of a minimalist and I HATE clutter, so the cabinets were all added. When I design cabinetry for myself or a client, I take a full inventory of everything that will need to be stored and design according to that. I have received some very blank stares when asking clients “how many linear feet of plates do you own?” But I do find that if you plan ahead it is easy to keep your home organized and clutter free this way. If you are going to the expense of new cabinets, you might as well make them perfect! To keep the kitchen organized I installed rollouts, built in spice racks, and long vertical pullouts for sheet pans. One side of the island is made of deep drawers that keep items easier to see and access as opposed to traditional reach-in cabinets. The laundry room cabinets are set up so that each family member has a cupboard for bags, hats and jackets with their own dedicated shoe drawer beneath. In my kid’s room I took the closet slider out and created a built-in with hanging space on top and deep drawers below – this keeps their closet much more organized than giving them a giant open space to stuff things into. In my bathrooms I prefer vanities with drawers instead of cabinets, again it makes it so much easier to find things and to keep my kids less messy. We also added the small angled cabinet by the front door after we found a smidge of space hidden behind the drywall after demo. It is a perfect little spot for keys, umbrellas, sunglasses and extra items you need on your way out the door. If “Cabinet Storage Expert” is a job title I think I could qualify!

Mirror (similar) | Vase (similar) | Bowl | Cabinet Pull

Table | Chairs | Cowhide | Pendant

What decisions were made in order to preserve the original cottage charm?

The house was built in 1941 and still contained many original elements – both good and bad! What I loved most were the original windows and after much begging I was able to convince my husband that we could repair the leaky spots and keep them. We also loved how this home had so many window benches. Those sort of built-in details in older construction feel very charming to me! We also kept the façade, the overall footprint of the house, the brick pathway in the front and the old brick chimneys original.

Towel | Moth Art (similar) | Flower Drawing

Bean Bag Chairs | Rug | A-Z Bookend (similar) | Barn Door Rail System | Baden Barn Door Pull

Were any of the renovation decisions made with Covid and stay-at-home orders in mind? I.E. making space for a home office, or carving out multifunctional spaces?

We completed most of our remodel before Covid, so no. That being said, the built-in desk in the kid’s room worked very well for Zoom school and the multiple seating areas throughout the house helped us to function with four people working and learning from home.

Vessel Sink | Faucet | Sconce | Cabinet Pull | Mirror

Surfboard | Dresser (similar) | Window Treatments

Do you have any general tips for designing a neutral home? Any tips for making a neutral home feel special?

A neutral palette is very calming to me and I find that texture is EVERYTHING when keeping color to a minimum. We used reclaimed wood on beams and fireplace mantles as well as shiplap on walls and ceilings throughout to add texture to the all-white paint palette. Marble brings a lot of depth and richness to a neutral space, so we opted for dramatic veiny slabs in the master bathroom, kitchen, and wine room. Layering natural woven textiles is one of my favorite ways to introduce luxurious texture to a neutral space. I love that Etsy easily connects me to makers all over the world for beautiful handmade items at affordable prices. Most of my favorite things are from Etsy! In this home chunky Turkish hemp pillows, soft fouta towels, handwoven African baskets, and handmade pottery pieces all add texture to the finishing touches while directly supporting small businesses and artisans. My good friend (and sometimes design partner) Sam Gluck makes the most beautiful embroidered artwork and tapestries. When I felt stumped by a very long, boring white wall in the dining room I enlisted her to do a series of neutral geometric embroidery pieces on scraps of vintage linen. These were the perfect way to add interest without color. I also look for pieces that can naturally patina with wear and tear – basically in my life that is a cuter way to say these items still look good after getting smothered by two kids and three dogs! Rustic wood pieces, distressed leathers, and cowhides are all durable textural options for families like mine who might be a “little rough” on things. Last, I always use a warmer wood tone in my neutral designs to keep the space from falling too cool or flat. In this home we opted for white oak flooring and millwork to warm up each room.

It’s a little hard to tell in photos, is that a built-in fireplace in the bedroom that also connects to the outdoor space??

Yes, it is! All of the fireplaces in the house are original so we kept them in place and just refurbished them a bit with paint and new doors. We have an amazing welder who built these doors as well as the doors for the patio fireplace and our iron stair railing. The doors were ultimately designed for safety around kids but also gave the fireplaces a finished look and a measure of continuity between exterior and interior. It is actually quite chilly living on the beach, so we use them a TON.

The house is very modern traditional but still has a cottage charm feel. How did you go about mixing the two styles?

I find that the neutral color palette combined with our vintage mid-century modern pieces help bridge the gap of old and new by marrying worn-in texture with modern silhouettes. Parisian design is a perfect example of this, the old apartments with parquet floors, ornate Baroque plaster painted white and Serge Mouille fixtures – that kind of decor really makes my heart sing! Most of my mid-century antiques were my grandmother’s – the Drexel bench, the mid-century lounger, and Russel Wright dishes were all things she got the year she got married. I was 11 years old when I asked her “can I have these when you die?”. Fortunately, she was not at all offended and was kind enough to give them to me when I graduated college and got my first apartment. I have toted these pieces with me to every place I have lived since and no matter how my style evolves, they always seem to work! As a designer I definitely get swayed into following trends here and there, but I consistently love a vintage collected aesthetic. I have always been drawn to the same muted color palette so even though Wedgewood plates and mid-century pieces are wildly different stylistically, the palette helps bring it all together.

I love how much marble is used throughout the space. What do you think the impact marble finishes can have in a home?

I am a bit of a marble junkie – I just love it and feel like it has a timeless appeal. Since this house is cottagey, we decided to do marble tiles in the baths but opted for modern shapes like herringbone and hexagon for an updated take on a classic style. I also like that marble adds so much depth and dimension to a neutral palette. I think for anyone looking to renovate a kitchen or bath you cannot go wrong with marble. I have never gotten tired of it or felt it was too trendy. In the kitchen, marble has a reputation for being “fussy”, but I think that is all perspective. So many of my vintage pieces are very imperfect– the mid-century furniture has scratches, nicks and dings, my vintage pottery has a few chips – and I think that just shows that they have been lived with and loved. I don’t want to own anything that is too precious to use. I love the way that marble in the kitchen wears the way it does. I cook daily and have never had an issue with staining, but we do get a decent amount of etching from water. A quick wipe and a little bit of bleach will lift a tomato sauce or wine stain, and I think that the etching evens out over time and adds to the charm. My favorite book growing up was the Velveteen Rabbit and I think of marble like that – perfection is overrated and items that show their imperfections and wear are more beautiful for it because it shows they were lived in and loved.

Tub | Mounted Tub Filler | Soap Dish | Custom Roman Shade | Glass Canister

Bed | Rug | Sheepskin | Flags | Ragdoll Monkey

I must know where you sourced the live edge table! And how did you install it?

I’m so happy you love it! I was inspired by an image I had seen on Pinterest and found this gorgeous slab of wood at US Reclaimed in Laguna Niguel, CA. The owner of the shop sanded it down and removed the bark from the edge to ensure it is splinter-free for little fingers. Our contractor applied a very light stain with a slight gray hue over the top and then mounted it to the wall with metal brackets to keep it sturdy. This desk is part of a window nook, so the slab spans edge to edge and actually seats two so both kids can do their schoolwork together. We did not foresee the Covid lockdown during our remodel, but this desk certainly was put to good use once we began distance learning!

Floor Tile | Shower Tile | Bath Mat (similar) | Faucets | Mirror

Chairs | Coffee Table (similar) | Hanging Planters | Doormat (similar) | Rug (similar)

How did you go about designing and renovating the outdoor space? What materials were used? Was weather a factor in how you designed it?

Emily Henderson’s outdoor style heavily influenced this space! We painted the fence Sherwin Williams Iron Ore and aimed for a layered and textured feel with our choices in décor pieces. Since this house is at the beach it has a very indoor/outdoor lifestyle vibe. For that reason, we wanted the exterior of the home to feel like an extension of the inside. Through a similar color palette, and repetition of the fireplace doors and reclaimed wood beams from inside I think we achieved the continuity we were seeking. I also wanted this space to feel fun, so I went with a pop of pattern on the rug while the quirky face planter and tequila cart full of pretty painted bottles give it some personality. I pulled in texture with the rug, pillows and rattan coffee table to keep it from feeling flat or boring. The hanging planters are such a small detail, but I absolutely love them! This patio is completely covered so weather was not a huge concern, but the rug is specifically an outdoor rug since the floor can get some water runoff when it rains. We sit in this patio nightly as it is one of our favorite spaces in the home. We tiled the patio and walkway in a natural limestone because we wanted the hardscape to mirror the warm tone of the wood flooring inside the house. My husband designed all of the landscaping himself, and again stuck to a fairly neutral color palette blending modern succulents with wispy grasses. The grasses sway in the wind all day and give the yard so much life through motion, which is one of my favorite things about the landscape design. That huge fiddle fig around the base of the palm tree was already there when we bought the house and I am so mesmerized by it – mostly because I have never been able to keep a fiddle fig alive and this one is just LIVING all by itself with zero interference. I’ve no idea how to please those fickle guys, but apparently hugging palms is their jam.

There you have it. Huge thanks to Amy for her insightful answers but before you go, you MUST see the shocking before and afters:

I don’t know about you, but I am very inspired to start decluttering immediately. Minimalism is alive and well, my friends, as this home tour most certainly proves. Thanks again to Amy for allowing us to showcase her work and for answering all my questions about this incredible home. Until next time. xx

*Design by Amy Oppedisano
**Photography by Alison Bernier

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Published on April 14, 2021 01:00

April 13, 2021

Want Shavonda To Design The Room Of Your Dreams For Free? It’s Now Possible (Thanks Velux!!)

Welcome to another episode of my favorite game called “Internet ‘WIN, WIN, WIN and WIN’“. A true testament to a partner that GETS IT and knows what we content creators want to do (make people feel good by making their home better through good design) and what you readers want to read (ditto). We have been working with Velux for 3 years and while we are still finishing our second ‘Brighten Up Any Room’ makeover (Covid derailed the original schedule – stay tuned for a fall reveal) today we get to pass the torch, or more accurately pass the BRIGHT BEAUTIFUL LIGHT to another lovely blogger and another lucky winner. This time Shavonda Gardner will be partnering with Velux to makeover one lucky winner’s dark space and turn it into a bright happy room. I, like you, get to watch with a big happy smile while it all goes down. Shavonda, take it away.

Hi Everyone! VELUX Skylights has been a brand partner here at SG Style since our bathroom renovation and I couldn’t have imagined back then that today I would be taking the reins from Emily Henderson and working with them to continue singing the gospel of the transformative power of natural light and fresh air in the home. I’ve got some super big shoes to fill here, but I’m ready!

I was first introduced to the power of VELUX skylights when we were desperate to try to incorporate both natural light and ventilation in our bathroom. We didn’t have the option to add windows because of its interior location, so a skylight had been on our dream list for transforming the space. Once we realized just how impactful it was we were hooked! It gave us so much more than we could ever imagine. Not only did it give us our coveted natural light and much necessary ventilation, it also turned the bathroom into my favorite space in the house. I really leaned into my love and preference for moody spaces and chose black tiles, a bold wallpaper, and luxe finishes to give me that boutique hotel feel I desired. Having basically an entire ceiling of light was the icing on the cake! We love being able to control the skylight with the remote control and through our smartphone. We have the light filtering blinds set to automatically open in the morning and close again at night. We don’t even worry about weather conditions because the skylights have an integrated rain sensor so they automatically close at the first sign of rain!

design by shavonda gardner | photo by dave adams photography

Once we got our first taste of that skylight life I sought out to find even more areas to incorporate them into our home, and we also partnered with VELUX to include one in our bungalow kitchen!

design by shavonda gardner | photo by dave adams photography

I LOOOOOVE having the “Fresh Air” skylights in the kitchen because it keeps it cool, helps cooking smells escape, and provides even more amazing light. We were pretty lucky in that we already had 4 windows in our kitchen so we have lots of light, but adding the skylight gave me the opportunity to reimagine the space and sparked the start of our current kitchen renovation! I’m so so excited about it, friends! We actually closed up one of the windows to change the layout and we don’t feel any loss of light because of the skylight.

We’ve also added a VELUX Sun Tunnel in the hallway to sneak in even more natural light in our home! It was the perfect solution in a spot where a skylight wasn’t possible.

design by shavonda gardner | photo by dave adams photography

As much as I love having VELUX in our home, what I love even more is seeing how many of you have also benefited from adding skylights in your homes. One of my favorite things about VELUX is their quarterly giveaways where someone gets a shot at winning two solar-powered “Fresh Air” skylights plus installation. It’s such a fun giveaway and one of my followers has actually won before!

VELUX has upped the ante and today I’m so excited to announce my partnership with them on the VELUX Brighten Up Any Room Giveaway where one of you will have the chance to transform a room in one of your homes with a custom design refresh from yours truly! Yep, that means I’m coming to your house and working some magic on a much-needed space. The giveaway includes the installation of two VELUX No Leak Solar Powered “Fresh Air” skylights with solar-powered blinds and a VELUX Active kit (the same skylights I have in my home) alongside a fresh new look that fits the style and needs for the room. This is the perfect opportunity to finally show some love to that space you’ve been dreaming of addressing for forever but just didn’t know where to start. I got you boo! Head on over to VELUX’s site for entry details and all contest rules. * You do need to be a homeowner to enter and win. Good luck friend! I can’t wait to be skylight twins!

Until next time…..

*This post is in partnership with VELUX Skylights. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Opener Image Credit: Design Shavonda Gardner | Photo by Dave Adams Photography

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Published on April 13, 2021 11:00

The Case Of The Kitchen Island – Can We Use A Salvaged Piece Without Regret?

It’s my current and firm belief that the kitchen island is the most popular place to hang in the home – both as a parent and as a guest (at least in ours). And if you use the “popularity = importance” teenage formula, that means that it might be the most important design and functional decision you are going to make. And after two months of debate, we are in a total island conundrum and feel stumped, lost, and dare I say stranded.

In a deliberate attempt to A. use as much vintage/used as possible in this home and B. add age and soul to what might feel like an almost too-new renovation, I want to bring in salvaged pieces where we can in architectural moments (not just furniture/decor). At the same time, I don’t want to make a practical mistake and end up replacing it anyway if it doesn’t really work. An awesome looking island that isn’t functional isn’t exactly the solution to wanting to be sustainable. Need to know what I’m talking about? Here you go:

sources unknown

left: image source | right: source unknown

The right piece could totally make the space and then the rest of the cabinetry can be simpler, but it has to be RIGHT. Almost immediately after we got the first round of floorplans (where the island was in the middle of the now-debunked new great room) I found this salvaged apothecary store piece. Here she is:

So Anne threw the piece into the renderings and scale-wise it fit – it was actually the length that would work for that layout. We would’ve faced the drawers out towards the living room so you could see them. We liked it in the renderings but there were some issues:

1. We would need an overhang for stools so we worried that we wouldn’t be able to see the beautiful drawers enough (or maybe it would be more subtle and pretty?)

2. If we still wanted functional cabinetry on the back half of it (cabinetry, drawers, and pull-out trash), it would need to be very deep – 4 1/2 feet at least. A 10′ by 4′ 1/2″ is VERY BIG (please tell me if I’m wrong and if it’s actually a great size).

3. If we did back it with cabinetry, how we were going to design that transition from the side? Anne and I were quickly confident that we could make it look intentionally designed, but after weeks of thinking about it I was concerned it would look weird and even worse – “try-hard”.

4. The piece was located in Texas and around $8,200 before shipping, so around $10k. That is a lot of dough if it doesn’t work – aesthetically OR functionally. I was very slow to pull the trigger. I really wanted to find something in Portland and was working with Aurora Mills to see if they had anything (thank you Britney for your patience). I don’t want to ship something (ideally) and I want to support Oregon small businesses, but every time I kept coming back to that piece.

5. I had a secret worry that it was TOO aged, and I was so scared that at one point it had been fauxed and shabby chic’d, despite knowing that it was a real antique (the antique dealer assured me that they didn’t faux it). But what if we get it shipped here and it looks like someone fauxed it?????? Not seeing in person is kinda terrifying. But then…

Change Of Kitchen Location = New Island Anyway… ??

Welp. Then we moved to the kitchen altogether (thanks to you all) so everything had to be rethought. Could that same piece fit back here? Did it even make sense anymore having it so big if it wasn’t in the great room? Moving the kitchen forced us to revisit a lot of engineering and move an existing load-bearing post that would have made a large island impossible (which is why we didn’t do it in the first place). But once the engineer signed off on “no post needed”, technically we COULD fit this huge island (we have to put in more headers and footings to hold up the second floor FYI). But again a 10′ x 4 1/2′ island seems VERY big to us and we don’t want a big ostentatious McMansion – we want a big island with a clean but charming farm vibe. Ours here at the mountain house is 7′ 1/2″ x 44″ and while it could be another foot longer and 4″ deeper to accommodate 4 big comfy stools and more prep space, adding 2 1/2 feet felt REALLY BIG, greedy even. Nine feet felt big enough (especially without a sink or cooktop) for Brian and I to both be prepping and 4 people hanging.

So Brian and I went on a long eBay, 1st Dibs, Craigslist, Chairish, and Etsy dive on Saturday morning to find ANY salvaged piece that could work that was a little bit smaller. We realized we had few options:

1. Find a piece deep enough that you don’t need a cabinet bank on the back half of it – just add a slab on top and give it a 16″ overhang. This would mean that we would face the “front” of the salvaged piece towards the kitchen door/window and it would be seen when you walk through the backdoor but not from the living room. This sounded much prettier to me. HOWEVER, it means that whatever piece it is likely won’t have some of the functional needs that we want (we keep coming back to pull out trash as we would be doing most of our chopping there). But would it be worth it? To have something really beautiful and special, but lose some practical storage and function?

some other options to give you the look we want

The pros of this are finding a 30″ piece with a 14 – 16″ stone overhang was easier (so total depth would be 44 – 46″ which is nice, but possibly too narrow for the space?). No need to try to overdesign the side. And yes we have thought about waterfalling the stone to cover the transition, but that is a pretty contemporary move. However, with the right natural stone, it could work but then you’d only see the front, and does it feel even worth it at that point? The cons are that we’d have to use whatever function the salvage piece had to offer or try to retrofit it which may or may not look good. For example, we love this piece:

But the back of it is cubbies that are slanted. Now we COULD add straight shelves on the top row making it more functional and then just put pots/pans or other things that could work on the bottom shelf. The top of that piece is AMAZING and to cover it with stone would be a shame, so then we thought about doing wood + stone (mixed material island) and maybe do soapstone so it wasn’t such a harsh contrast, but ugh that is starting to feel really “too hard basket” (a colloquial term my friends and I use when there are too many “hard” elements of doing a task – we just put them all in the “too hard basket” and leave it – i.e. taking 9 kids to a dinner across town with terrible parking and likely the young ones would meltdown as we hit their bedtime – sometimes it’s just too much effort, too many hard things to overcome to have it make sense anymore – “too hard basket”).

Then we found THIS piece, which is getting even closer:

So this one would face the kitchen (and remember we have 5′ between the island and the sink cabinet bank, so it would actually get GREAT visibility. It’s deep enough that we could just put a slab on top, posts to hold up the overhang (maybe deepen the overhang to 18″ if it doesn’t look weird), and add a couple of posts. This piece provides decent drawer storage for mixing bowls, uh tea towels, some pots and pans, but are these drawers as functional as newly constructed kitchen drawers would be? NO. We would miss the trash drawer and the ability to really design each inch of the kitchen to house what we need to. Now we DO have a lot of storage on the other side and the range side (even though we have no uppers). So maybe we’ll be fine?? I also love that piece but I’m not FREAKING out about it. It’s really good, but is the oak wrong? I want to mix woods in this house, more than we did here (to add more vintage feel) but is an oak filing cabinet the salvaged island of my dreams? Not really. The first one was…

2. Choose a piece narrow enough to add a bank of cabinets to the back (like originally planned) but face it towards the living room and figure out a transition. Pros of this would be we could keep all the function in the kitchen, cons are we have to deal with the transition and perhaps it would look backwards (for whatever reason I think when it was in the middle of the living room it didn’t feel wrong that it was faced towards the living room but now it does???

UGH. This is definitely a form versus function thing. I want the look/feel/soul of a reclaimed piece, but I want super intentional function. I don’t want it too big, but big enough that it really grounds the kitchen and makes it an even better hangout spot than ours is here. In LA it’s where EVERYONE hung out and we loved it. Same with here when we had friends up. We cook, guests hang, our kids draw, everyone has drinks and it just feels like the warm home that I want.

I know that Brian has been predominantly reading all the floorplan post comments (and he has read every single comment – he just doesn’t respond to them) but this is seriously more of an advice question where I could use some guidance. My two questions are:

How big is too big of an island? My gut answer is it’s a personal preference based on lifestyle. But we’ve never had older kids, we don’t know how much action can take place on an island? And no we don’t plan on eating dinner at the island (I hate all facing one direction). Has anyone had a vintage or salvaged island piece and either A. enjoyed the look over the function or B. wished they had the function of custom cabinetry instead of a quirky piece?

Thank you in advance and hopefully this will help us FINALLY decide one way or the other. xx

Opening Image Credits (from top left clockwise): Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | Emily’s LA Kitchen | Emily’s Mountain House Kitchen | Portland Project Kitchen

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Published on April 13, 2021 01:00

April 12, 2021

The Relaunch Of Target’s Pillowfort Collection Is SO GOOD (And No, It’s Not Just For Kids)

I wish this was my room – look how happy I am! Maybe it was being with my team again producing (safely) a fun, styled out shoot. Or maybe it’s the energy from this new collection breathing new life into my world of neutrals. Five years ago, Target launched Pillowfort to universal praise. Moms (and dads and kids) across America celebrated their favorite major retailer launching affordable stylish kids decor. And now… they’ve totally redesigned it, with fresh colors, modern patterns, extremely playful and chic accessories (that mirror!) not to mention non-gender specific designs and furniture cute enough for all ages (that bed! and nightstand!). I chose a bunch of my favorite pieces from the collection and my team and I styled them for your viewing pleasure.

Bedding And Super Sweet Pillows

I always lean in hard on Target for their bedding and accessories – especially when I want something fun for kids. The patterns make them very easy to mix and match as you can see in the duvet and sheets. That olive green quilt could easily be on a sofa or a grownup’s bed, too (“the color is VERY GOOD” says our stylist Emily B. and she is to green as I am to blue). The white pillow with the pom-poms is SO GOOD and soft and now resides on our sofa in the family room (but can go on beds).

Furniture That Makes All Of Us Happy

The headboard and nightstands just launched and clearly just as cute for a tween or teen as a kids’ room. Lucky little ducks. This is a far cry from the fake brass daybed I had as a kid (which sounds much cooler than it was) and it can grow with your kid until well past college.

The blackout shades with little tassels are playful and functional and come in many different colors (and see how it works with the rug? Not “matching” but goodness it looks good).

Both my kids came to see what we were working on and after a “don’t get any big ideas” lecture about not jumping on the bed until we were done, they both really responded to this room. Charlie loved the jungle-inspired bedding, they both wanted the cheetah “pillow” and they were strangely obsessed with the nesting suitcases (inside the nightstand). Likely because they need more “secret” places to keep all their “treasures” (random things like an old car key of mine, a compass, and two rocks that look like gold). The black and white leopard lamp is awesome and that hit of black really edges up the space.

Practical Cute (And Modular) Storage

We’ve had those bins forever and they are great because the front lip keeps toys in without needing an additional basket. Having your kids be able to see their toys is strangely important or else they forget that they have them. These are stackable and just really great if you are in need of something like them.

The mirror and hooks are solid pieces of simple design (we installed these at the back door, finally). The pom-poms around the edge feel modern yet playful and the little painted detail on the hooks is fresh without being too loud or young.

A Cozy And Cute Corner

Kids get strangely into these canopies and I love them more than tents because tents take up so much real estate when not in use (with a canopy you can just gather the fabric together and tie it in a knot to save space). Even they need some alone time these days We layered a soft shag rug, bean bag, and those cute pillows to create a cozy look nook.

Favorite Pieces Alert: the standing lamp is ridiculously cute. Bowser had a good grownup hack for it, just to spray paint it black – the shape is that good.

The hanging shelf would be great above a bed, next to one or to add to a reading corner when you don’t need a full bookcase.

I was surprised by how soft the rug is the multicolor flecks make it easy to mix with other colors. I love the mustards mixed with the pink – always an unexpected combo that I love. Also, a direct quote from Birdie when she saw these dolls in this photo, “Look! It’s me and Hero” (her best friend from school). Let’s hear it for inclusivity in all toys, eh?

Another Vibe, Ready To Mix And Match

The new collection has so many pieces in it – patterns, themes with the whole idea to mix and match as much as possible all with really playful details and quirk that sets it apart. Please note the hand-drawn planets on the comforter, and we know that navy mixed with that mustard is one of my favorite color combos.

The whole collection has a modern playful feeling that was absent in the affordable kids decor world. I love that lamp (it’s the table version of the floor lamp in the canopy vignette) but the standout accessory here is this bed pocket. We styled it here so you could see it (and it looks so cute) but you can also put it into the bedframe near the box spring and it can hold books, little stuffies, even a small sippie cup.

The headboard and nightstand are part of the new furniture collection (and there are a LOT of new pieces). It’s all so affordable, simple, and can age with them for years.

Big shout out to Sara and Emily B. who worked hard making the kid art on the wall. There’s nothing more endearing and hilarious than when you pop by the location to see how everyone is doing and the photographer and stylist (your friends) are sitting on the ground and coloring.

I want to reiterate the great pattern play here – the bed, rug, and sheets are curated so well – organic, graphic, and playful. Just add hammerhead shark and another GREAT pom pillow – all the details are so good.

Welcome to our little reading and corner. The bookshelf has a lot of versatility (can hold cubbies when they are little and books/games as they get older) and the cloud bookends are heavy enough to hold those tall thin kids books that don’t stay up on their own.

The kids and I snagged that new nightlight that gives off soft starry light – and speaking of light, that modern lamp is definitely not just for kids (but so good).

The Star – Finally An Egg Chair For Kids (Or My Dogs???)

IT’S ABOUT TIME. I took a photo of me inside of it (you know, for scale) that is on stories – but trust me that I went through every room in our home figuring out where I can possibly justify needing it. It’s even in an outdoor fabric so it could go outside. It’s solid and so well made and basically going to sell out asap. So if you have a lonely corner in your kid’s room, and are in need of a cute reading chair that will bring everyone joy, this is it.

The final shot of this awesome new collection features the rug I wish I had had for our kid’s room in LA (I was looking for a playful animal hyde for weeks) and an art/paper wallboard that is a great scale.

When we shot this story, the collection had just launched and now even more pieces have rolled out. So before we end this cuteness, here are some other of our favorite pieces from the new Pillowfort collection.

Happy shopping

This post was sponsored by Target, all words are my own.

*Photography by Sara Ligorria Tramp
**Art Direction by ME! Emily Henderson
***Styling by Emily Bowser

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Published on April 12, 2021 01:00

April 11, 2021

The Link Up: The $20 Sweatpants Ryann Swears By, Mallory’s Summer Shoe, and The Design Book We All Just Ordered

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! Welcome back to another link up where we tell you about all the great (and sometimes not so great) things we’ve seen/bought/love that we want and NEED to tell you, our readers, about. Forget about all you got going on for a few minutes, sit back, relax and dive right in

This week’s home tour is a really REALLY fun one via domino. Look at all the colors!! Emily Wassall and her family moved to Los Angeles and were inspired by the “warm weather aesthetic” as she calls it. They took the whole house to the studs, flopped the layout and made it so colorful and unique. Guys could you imagine growing up here??? Your kids probably have a 90% chance of being EVEN COOLER because this is what they lived and grew up in. How fun, right??

From Emily: My friend, Justina just came out with her THIRD BOOK. Reading through it I felt so proud, inspired and impressed. She is such a powerhouse and creative genius. This book is more personal, with a lot of anecdotes about her childhood and creative process. It’s also GORGEOUS (a lot of photos by Dabito) and would be a lovely gift.

From Ryann: I am not sure why it has taken me so long to recommend these sweats to y’all but maybe that’s a good thing. I have had them for about 4 months and basically wear them every night and LOVE THEM so I can confirm they are great. I love that they don’t have a drawstring so you don’t have to deal with that thing where the string gets all wonky and they hold their integrity surprisingly well. Sweats that I wear usually stretch out so fast that I have to wash them after a couple wears but not these. They are my favorite sweats and look very cute too so you can wear them to the grocery store if you are so inclined. I am actually about to purchase another pair right now. See ya there!

From Jess: If you’ve read any of my blabbering about skincare you know I am a HUGE Shani Darden fan. I use three of her products pretty religiously (cleanser, eye cream, and retinol) but a month or so ago, after saving up, I finally purchased her facial sculpting wand (she’s a very big proponent of vibration therapy). I truly love it so much. Not only do I just feel more toned after I use it, it’s also a relaxing massage for my face and neck. I like that I’m forced to slow down a little and enjoy the process. And yes, it’s not at all cheap but I’m really extremely happy with my investment.

Also From Jess: I know I am not alone in the deep org dive that happened in 2020 (or 2021 when some of us maybe had some more energy). So during my effort to organize, I went through all of my realllly old documents that I don’t need or WANT taking up space but have personal info I’d like to keep personal. I was desperate for a paper shredder. You know, the sexiest of the everyday office machinery. So actually Em doesn’t know this but I kinda borrowed the one we used to have when I went to the garage once since it was just sitting there. Em when you read this, know I PROMISE I will give it back. Anyway, this little cutie works great and will likely be my hot date this Saturday night. I know, my life is overwhelmingly exciting. I won’t brag again next week, I promise.

From Mallory: I went down a shoe-buying rabbit hole that was 100% fueled by stress and wine, but boy did I get some good finds. I bought these shoes that I’ll gladly be living in all summer (plus they’re not very tall so I can comfortably walk around which is ALWAYS a nice to have. Then for a less walkable but still very cute shoe I went with these that I had been eyeing (and I wore them all Easter) and even though they’re tall the platform is so big that the heel itself is totally comfortable to stand in for hours at a time. I guess my love for wicker furniture has now landed on my feet, literally. I’ll be wearing them to brunch all spring/summer. And then lastly I bought these because I’m in need of a good, comfy, black summer sandal but when I put them on I realized they look a lil too harsh on my large foot, so now I’m still in the market for a solid, flat black everyday sandal (which is the whole reason I went shoe shopping in the first place!!!) I always end up with statement shoes and not enough shoes that go with everything *PALM IN FACE* please give me your black or neutral summer sandal recs if you would like!!

Thanks for joining us on this fine Sunday…now go enjoy the rest of your day!! LOTS O’ LOVE!

Opening Image Credit: Home by Justina Blakeney | Photography by Dabito | via Decorate Wild

The post The Link Up: The $20 Sweatpants Ryann Swears By, Mallory’s Summer Shoe, and The Design Book We All Just Ordered appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on April 11, 2021 01:00

April 10, 2021

My All-Target Fashion Haul – And My Honest Reviews

I don’t think I’ve ever done a Target fashion HAUL, and I really didn’t intend to, but a couple of weeks ago I was doing a Target shoot up here and Emily Bowser shopped for some clothes for me to wear on camera (in addition to props for the shoot you’ll see on Monday). Now, I only needed to wear a couple of outfits and right now I don’t need any clothes, but as I was trying them on I kept being like “well this is so cute… and well this is so cute”. So before she returned what I didn’t end up wearing (and whatever she can’t return will be sent to the Pen and Napkin Rummage sale) I figured I’d show you what I got and why I liked it so much. Now just a reminder that to buy what you are lacking and needing, not just to have more

Blouse | Jeans | Paper Clip Chain | Shoes

I was very surprised at how good this shirt is with the ruffle sleeves (it comes in a brown plaid, too, which I wore on camera). The jeans are VERY VERY GOOD – slouchy, comfy, boyfriend fit (are we still saying that?). Such good Covid and summer pants. I kept the slides as they are exactly what I want to wear both around the house and while running errands.

Dress | Paper Clip Chain | Shoes

GAH. So cute!! This dress was too small for me (Bowser got me an XS) but had it fit I would have been tempted to keep it. I still wouldn’t have because living up here I just don’t need more cute dresses, but all my LDS ladies – this is a good one for church

Blouse | Paper Clip Chain | Shorts | Shoes

Note the leg pop. I thought this top would be too see-through or hug in wrong places but nope, it was super easy to wear, draped nicely, I didn’t even have to iron it. If I didn’t have 12 white blouses I would have kept it for summer.

Dress | Paper Clip Chain | Shoes

Now I’m not really selling this in this photo – but this dress is super oversized and comfy and flowy. The fabric drapes really well, not sticking to you but falling easily.

Blouse | Paper Clip Chain | Pants | Shoes

I loved the idea of these high-waisted pleated pants but they aren’t for me (what with my short torso and the front pleat kinda accentuated my tummy, but if you are long torsoe’d I think these are VERY CUTE. The shirt is the same as the blue stripe and pretty darn great.

Blouse | Shorts

Now THIS shirt I wore and kept. It’s both lightweight and structured and with my cutoff white Levis I’ll be wearing it a lot this summer. The ruffle is very structured and sticks out in a good way. Never not wearing ruffled shoulders.

Sweatshirt | Jeans

This cropped zippie was surprisingly good – especially if you are short torsoed. I wish I had sized up to at least a medium because I think it’s cuter oversized (mine is an XS and I regret not exchanging it for a M). But I also don’t love fitted sweatshirts and always choose oversized. Those are the same jeans as #1.

Blouse (no longer available online) | Jeans | Shoes

Sorry for the blurry pic but this is such a cute shirt (but sadly not available online). It has princess sleeves, a victorian collar, black and white gingham. CHECK CHECK CHECK. Size up if you have “healthier” arms like me, because the button closure is a bit small, but I love this shirt and have worn it on Zoom a lot because it has cute/fun details around the neck/shoulders – you know where it matters these days. The jeans are cute (but I can’t wear tight jeans right now) and the mules are GREAT if you need a mule. I’m all set but these are cute!!!

By the way, Pen and Napkin announced the rummage sale, April 24th. It is in Lancaster which is 50 minutes north of LA but I know that I for one gave 5 rolling racks of clothes and a garage full of good props so it might be worth it. It’s just lovely to know that anything we don’t need will either go to a family transitioning out of homelessness or a sale to pay for the needs of the family. Win/win. xx

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Published on April 10, 2021 01:00

April 9, 2021

Tour Creative Director And Founder of A1000XBETTER Kirsten Blazek’s Soulful, Vintage Filled Home

Once again, I have the distinct pleasure of walking you through a home that may as well have flown straight off my mood board and into my lap. It’s not every day you get to write about a dream home and for anyone who knows me and my style, it should come as no surprise that this is home of Kirsten Blazek, founder and creative director of A1000XBETTER. If you remember this home tour staged by AXB that I was head over heels for, you can probably guess I am a huge fan of them and everything they do. To say I am fangirling over featuring this home would be absolutely right, but what’s even more exciting is I got to pick Kirsten’s brain about her home, her inspiration, and her design processes. Of course I would never keep all that juicy knowledge to myself, so let’s get into it what makes this home so special:

Starting with the family room which underwent the biggest transformation (make sure to read until the end to see the very shocking before and after), you can see how every shape, color, and texture speaks to Kirsten’s impeccable eye for curating vintage and soulful homes so I had to ask how she does it:

Clearly, you have an eye for mixing patterns and textures. What’s your advice or mantra on mixing the two?

I think it is all about the balance of blending something bold with something quiet and finding that happy spot where there isn’t too much of anything and just enough to add that extra layer of interesting. If you have a bold pattern like a wallpaper then think about what will go with that, maybe it is just a solid or something with less pattern that matches the color story in the room. If the room is more quiet then bring in some pattern in the layering items like throw pillows and other textiles.

Sectional | Pendant | Cowboy & Western Framed Art

Can you tell us a little about the background of this home? When did you buy it? How long was the renovation process? What made you fall for it in the first place?

I bought the house with my ex partner. We bought the house right before Thanksgiving in 2017 but didn’t get access to the house until early Jan 2018. We had moved our family into temporary accommodation which was small and were in a big hurry to get out of it and into the house. We hired an experienced construction team, Bayside Builders, who had a large team and we were able to do a very large renovation in 5 months- including moving walls, re-working the floor plan, raising the ceiling in the family room, complete kitchen and all bathroom renovations, new plumbing, electric, etc. The reason I fell for the house was the untapped potential and the fact that it was in an amazing neighborhood (Linda Vista) with less than a block’s walk to the edge of the Arroyo overlooking the Rosebowl.

Merrick Swivel Chair | Large Abstract Art

The open concept living/dining area looks like it might have been tough to layout with that corner fireplace! What was that process for you?

This room went under the largest transformation, the ceiling was flat, there was only a small opening into the kitchen adjacent to the fireplace and there was a 60s style corner bar . There was also an opening from the front bedroom (which was previously the dining room) into the kitchen. After looking in the attic we realized we could pitch the ceiling in there and that was a total game changer- we took the ceiling up to a height of 13ft and opened up the area completely between the fireplace and kitchen. Once the room was opened up then it became obvious that the fireplace area could be it’s own seating and that we would also have plenty room for a good sized dining table!

Dining Table via Midcentury LA | Pendant

Amongst many other things in this space, the fireplace is simply stunning. I love how she went with a black finish instead of going for a neutral color that would have blended into the background so I wanted to know what sparked this decision.

What inspired your decision to paint the fireplace black?

I painted the brick the same color as the window trim so that it would tie in with them and then capped the mantle with a lovely white oak so it would offset the dark paint.

Ball Pendant | Stools

You have some really wonderful unexpected art moments (like the ship painting over the side table in the living room). But you also hung a few pieces of art over tile like in your kitchen and bathroom. How did you secure those? Was it an adhesive or a good ole screw?

I love to hang art at unexpected heights and in what would typically be seen as odd locations. I use art to fill gaps in the wall or in the lines between furniture! When it comes to art hanging I don’t like to follow too many rules, just what feels right to me. With the art on top of the tile we used 3M hanging strips and they hold really well.

HOT TIP: If you are renting or don’t want to drill a ton of holes into your walls (especially if you are planning a gallery wall) adhesive hanging strips are a great alternative and some can hold up to 16 pounds!

What were the challenges while designing the home?

Time!! We did the whole remodel in less than 5 months so time was my biggest challenge. At the time my business was focused on staging so I would work all day then spend the evenings catching up on what product the contractors needed to keep moving. I had to make very quick decisions and not second guess anything!

Wallpaper

How would you describe the style of your home? Have your years of staging houses influenced your own style or are you similar to Emily where you of course have style preferences but like to stick to the style of the home’s architecture?

The style of the house when we bought it was a traditional California Mid Century Ranch with board and batten, brick and stucco exterior. I have always loved Ojai and my vision for the house was to bring the house up to date but to enhance it’s California ranch style. The architecture of a home always influences the choices I make because I do believe that if you fight too much with what the house innately is then it can be an odd pairing, I believe has a soul and essence and it is best to pay attention to that.

All of the vintage pieces you have are so so special and likely you spent many years sourcing them. If you could give people one tip for vintage shopping what would that be?

My big tip for collecting vintage is travel when you can and when you do, never pass a thrift shop, It is amazing what you can find in every little town in California!! Also don’t forget the Rosebowl and the PCC flea market, it is impossible to leave either venue without vintage treasure.

Rug via Mehraban

Don’t ask why, but I think this is my favorite room in the home. Maybe it’s the green bed frame that is totally unexpected yet works so well or the fact that this room is like the effortlessly cool person I want to be. Whatever it may be, this bedroom will remain on my mood board for life. Ah, but I digress…

Wallpaper | Rug via Mehraban

I am dying over all of the amazing wallpaper moments. How did you decide which rooms to wallpaper?

I have a love affair with wallpaper, I love the added depth and character to a room. I started with the formal living room which was a large but awkward room with an off center fireplace and all the windows at the end of the room. I choose the Cole and Son Fornasetti cloud paper for in there because I wanted a black and white paper that had pattern and movement and was a statement but isn’t overwhelming. In my daughter’s room I decided on the cactus wallpaper (from Milton and King). In the front bedroom, I wanted to add some character but scaled it back by just doing one wall! (Lulu and Georgia, Sarah Sherman Samuel) and in the powder room I was lucky enough to have remnants of a House of Hackney paper that we had used on a job so I decided to use it in the smallest room which was the powder. It was kind of an organic process on deciding and I just added it over the 3 years we were in the house when I wanted to add a little extra moment to the room!

She’s so right. The wallpaper (especially large-scale wallpaper) adds so much depth and character to a room that it allows the rest of the decor to remain minimal.

See, the decor is simple but impactful which compliments the busyness of the wallpaper.

Pendant | Rug via Mehraban | Rope Wall Hanging

The principal bedroom is so dreamy and calming! Did the natural light come into play when you were choosing the paint color?

Yes for sure, the principal bedroom gets really beautiful light especially towards the end of the day and I wanted the bedroom to feel encompassing and warm, like a kiss from the sun. When I saw the new Kelly Wearstler collaboration with Farrow and Ball I decided that the Faded Terracota was perfect for the room. I also had warm toned art in there and knew it would highlight the tones in the art.

Do you have a philosophy of how to balance vintage and new pieces in a home? In your opinion how much vintage is too much before it actually feels dated instead of soulful?

I believe that vintage always should have a place in your home and brings a grounded element to the newer furniture. Like anything you don’t want to overdo anything so I like to use mainly new pieces for the big furniture items and then pop in key vintage items from different eras- I think blending vintage from different decades is the key to not making it too themed.

Wallpaper | Coffee Table | Floor Lamp

It’s also clear you love large scale wallpaper patterns (because they are awesome). Do you have a method of how to go bold with the pattern yet have it not feel overwhelming? i.e. how to pick colors, furniture pairings, etc.

I love black and white as a grounding color in all spaces and in the wallpaper I used this same theory, even if the pattern is large and potentially busy the black and white/ ivory provides a neutral backdrop for art and furniture in any color way. My daughter’s room was the most specific in color but I had selected Black Fox as the trim color for all the windows and new that even though it was bold it would make sense together.

Sofa | Pouf

Can you tell us about this fireplace? What made you go with a black finish here?

Black was one of my through colors throughout the house. I wanted black tile to compliment the wallpaper and as grounding moment in the room. Not to mention black is such a great color to anchor a space.

I love how you mixed up the light fixtures throughout the home. What was your strategy for making them cohesive yet different and special?

Thank you! I love to mix up lighting in all my designs, for me it is the jewelry on a room and it is a place that you can afford to take a little bit more a risk. I like to select modern and 70s inspired fixtures as a juxtaposition to my more electic southwestern and bohemian leanings.

Wallpaper | Rug via Mehraban | Table Lamps | Pendant | Bench

Each room is so different but still maintains a similar style/feel. How did you plan out the designs for each room? Was it more one at a time or did you have an idea of what you wanted from each space?

Honestly I work very organically when designing a space, I listen to my gut of what feels right but something that is very important to me is a consistency in colors. I do think a lot about how colors make sense flowing from room to room and ultimately I use this as my guide. I will start in the most important spaces and let the colors and feel of the rooms flow from there. I love earth tones but my ex partner also had a very important piece of art that he inherited from his mother that was green based so I made sure to incorporate green into the formal living room because I knew it would hang there and then tie that in with pops of green in the family room since they were visible to each other.

Dali Poster (similar)

Those bulb sconces are the coolest! What kind of light do they give off or are they meant for a moody bathroom ambiance?

I bought them from a seller on Etsy and wasn’t sure how much light they would cast but I wanted the option to take a bath (a favorite pastime of mine) without bright overhead light. They ended up being kind of perfect and gave off a really nice soft light that wasn’t too dim.

Your studio is so impressive! Any little pieces of advice for anyone wanting to create a studio of their own (electrical needs, soundproofing, etc.)

My ex partner is a musician and Cinematographer and needed a place to play drums and also have his edit bay. So we took the California basement (that was previously open to the underside of the house) and moved the water heater to the exterior and transformed this space with cedar cladding into a full finished studio. We didn’t sound proof but I would advise when possible if you are creating a space for music in your home. The wood cladding did however help to absorb sound and softened the whole room!

What was the process of choosing your exterior color like? It’s such a big and expensive decision that our readers would definitely love to hear about.

I am a long time fan of Black Fox by Sherwin-Williams, it is a perfect dark but not black paint with a brown base that reads differently in different lights. Even though it is dark, it is not harsh and I love that about it. It is always hard making a decision on exterior paint because it is such a big expense but I knew I wanted the house to be dark. It was previously and off white color. We also had all the paint stripped off the board and batten on the front porch which revealed a beautiful and original redwood which we had sealed with a colorless sealer to not alter the color at all- it is one of my favorite things about the house.

Lastly, Do you have a favorite room?

My favorite room is the family room, it is the room where we spent the most amount of time and I loved the pitched ceiling in there and the tongue and groove we had installed which added a lot of depth and character. I am also very glad we opened up the space but the fireplace created a natural division between the kitchen and family room so that it wasn’t too open, I am really not a fan of spaces that are too open- you need the dividing elements to make furniture easier to place!

Now for our favorite part. The almost unbelievable before and afters:

Huge thanks to Kirsten for allowing us to feature her home and for allowing me to bug her with a million questions:). Now, meet me in the comments if you want to fangirl over her home with me.

*Design by Kirsten Blazek
**Photos by Alex Zarour of Virtually Here Studios

The post Tour Creative Director And Founder of A1000XBETTER Kirsten Blazek’s Soulful, Vintage Filled Home appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on April 09, 2021 01:00

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