Emily Henderson's Blog, page 174

March 12, 2021

Are You A Renter?? Learn All The Ways You Can Design Big (And Get Your Deposit Back:))

Just over 3 years ago, I published my very first YouTube video specifically on renter-friendly design as I shared resurfacing the counter of our bathroom with marble contact paper. The thumbnail currently reads “reversible rental bath transformation” because I knew that while there are countless renters that hate & want to upgrade their bathrooms, I also knew that they needed to know that they could undo it later… aka get their deposit back.

As a renter, I called everything I did “renter-friendly” design because I wanted people to know that they could rent without sacrificing design; but it was never lost on me that the real significance of this type of design was the fact that I could un-design it when it was time for me to pack up and move on.

This urge to un-design goes way back, like before I was paying my own rent, because I’d always wanted to design my spaces… and these were never spaces I owned. By the time I was a rent-paying adult with a family, I leaned even deeper into the notion of renting being an opportunity for experimentation, and not a limitation. Buying a home was a long way away — wasn’t even on our radar! — so I needed to find effortless ways to create a home I would love while acknowledging that at some point I’d be leaving and my landlord was going to want this place back to the way I found it.

From that first video back in 2018, I’ve shared a few other renter-friendly design upgrades, with our last apartment serving as the design lab — self-adhesive backsplash tiles in our kitchen, peel & stick wood planks in our bedroom, removable wallpaper in our daughter’s room, and plug-in sconces in our bedroom. Sharing these projects on my blog and youtube were my way of inspiring and teaching how easy it could be to design your home even if you don’t own your home; OR, if you did own, that you could change your mind as often as you’d like because they are options that aren’t as labor-intensive.

I was teaching.

Little did I know that after three years, half a dozen projects, one book, and countless blog posts, I would actually be teaching this very thing called “Reversible Design”!

By now you know all about Emily’s series of Skillshare, the follow-up to her styling course from 2019. I’ll never forget the day Caitlin messaged me asking me if I was interested in being part of the series. Full disclosure: if the message came from anyone else, like someone I’d never spoken to, I would’ve absolutely written it off as spam! “Me? Teaching a Skillshare course? A Skillshare Originals course?” These were just some of my initial thoughts. In theory, I love sharing, teaching, and inspiring, but I never considered myself an actual teacher. I’m just a girl who knows a little about a lot. Not to mention, I’d seen Emily’s course and all the behind the scenes deets she shared, so naturally I thought that this doesn’t make any sense because, “Who am I to teach?” But then I had a follow-up thought… “What do I have to lose?”

Now hopefully you caught that I had two distinct thoughts when it came to teaching on Skillshare — teaching a Skillshare course and teaching a Skillshare Originals course.

What Is A Skillshare Originals Course?

This is going to be an oversimplification but in short, anyone can create and upload a course to teach on the Skillshare learning platform. Again — this is an oversimplification. A Skillshare Originals course, on the other hand, is a course that is created and produced with Skillshare. This means the Skillshare team would be handling ALL of the logistics of getting my course together, versus me filmining, editing, and uploading a course myself. This was a pretty big deal for me. Skillshare wanted to put their name on and behind MY content… my expertise. Say what?!

While I was no stranger to showing up in print and/or on video to talk about renter-friendly and reversible design, this felt different. Skillshare, first and foremost, is a massive platform! It’s def a whole lot more far-reaching than my blog, You T ube, and Instagram channels combined. Having a class catered to my love of reversible be produced — like professionally produced — by an entity of their size if a whole other level. Keep in mind, as a content creator, I am the talent, the photographer, the videographer, the editor, the copywriter, and the marketer, among a few other hats I wear. Doing this with Skillshare, however, I just had to be the talent. That’s it.

What Would I Be Teaching?

When this opportunity first presented itself, to be clear, it wasn’t an opportunity for reversible design. It was an opportunity for me to teach what I know… what I love… what I want to share. If you know me even a little bit, you know I have a lot of passions, but a pretty short list of go-to areas of expertise.

After one short & sweet meeting discussing what I wanted to teach, we unanimously decided that reversible design would be perfect for the series.

This was also right on the heels of purchasing my first home, transitioning from renter to homeowner, and so it would be the perfect chance for me to illustrate how these design solutions would be applicable to any and everyone. I wanted to teach a class that could speak to multiple groups of design enthusiasts, not just one category.

Of all my passions and fav topics to talk about, I knew that reversible design is one that, especially now, would connect with so many people — renters, homeowners, people living with roommates, students returning to campus… you name it. If 2020 gave us anything, it gave us all a deeper appreciation for our homes and a newfound desire to actually care for those homes. Having found that most people tend to resist designing because they’re afraid of dealing with it down the line — i.e. ruining their walls, losing their deposit, etc — this felt like a great opportunity to encourage people to take calculated risks and to love their home now.

Getting Ready To Actually Teach

Now that we knew what I would be teaching, however, I had to mentally prepare myself for actually teaching on such a large platform. Skillshare couldn’t help me with that. Emily couldn’t help me with that. That was mindset work that I would have to do all by myself… and with my therapist. I remember having a conversation with Arlyn about our respective courses and just how nervous we were about filming our content. Aside from having to work around my family’s schedule, I was all too happy to push my filming day as far out as possible to give myself as much time to prepare… #sorrynotsorry… #impostersyndromeisreal.

I will forever be thankful for how the Skillshare team handled my spoken and unspoken insecurities. Kaye was super great about partnering me with a video operator that I’d be comfortable with, in addition to following COVID-19 induced protocols because, in case you missed it, we were def already in the middle of a pandemic when all this went down. The Skillshare team sent ALL the equipment to film straight to my house — like you guys… HUGE packages with everything from cameras to lenses to memory cards to things I couldn’t even readily identify. I just know it was a lot, it was heavy, and it was appreciated. I could just be the talent.

Typically when filming anything, be it for my YouTube channel or for IG stories, I get all in my head and anxious about the video quality. I record a lot that, honestly, never sees the light of day. In this instance, to know that I wouldn’t have to worry about lighting set up and video equipment and post-production or any of that was such a huge relief. To film, all I had to do was give them my address and then show up looking video ready. And to actually teach, I provided them with a breakdown of the projects, that they then broke down into sections to fit the parameters of a Skillshare course. This would also later serve as the outline for filming day.

Let’s Get Into Filming Day!

We did everything remotely, with the Skillshare production team being on Zoom and one operator being on-site with me. He was awesome, by that way. As someone who had been creating video content, on and off, since 2017, that day was a HUGE crash course in all things video. I knew I was a novice but, man on man, everything about how the two days unfolded was truly illuminating and has stuck with me ever since!

Day 1…

…was all about the set up and blocking so that the next day we could focus exclusively on filming. I had the advantage of having recently (at the time) completed our living room design, so this part of the house served as the backdrop for most of the series. It also worked out that the living room was the only completed room, so the very empty dining space right next to it was the perfect place to set up all the equipment… and boy was there equipment! The dining room was the staging area for everything, including some of the course content. Knowing that there was a wall we would eventually be demolishing as part of the kitchen renovation, it was the perfect place to test ideas and execute reversible projects.

Day 2…

…was the longer of the two days because it was actually filming day. We kicked off at 7 am! Thank goodness I’m a morning person because this, otherwise, would have ended very badly. After he did a quick check on all the equipment and did all the things that videographers do, I got dressed, put on a face, and was ready to rock! The Seattle area isn’t exactly known for its bright and sunny days, especially during the winter, but we had the good fortune of clear skies throughout the day and were able to film without a hitch. Even with the mini home with me, we got through over 8 hours of filming pretty effortlessly, which is really a testament to the professionalism of the Skillshare team but also not having to wear all the hats. Mentally I could focus exclusively on my words and this helped in squashing most (even if not all) of my nervous butterflies… and there were LOTS of nervous butterflies. I mean, how could there not be… this is video… on the internet.

The End Result

After months of anticipation, all of that hard work is finally out in the world and over 500 of you amazing humans have actually signed up for the course. And in case you haven’t, feel free to just go ahead and do that here… thanks! This experience, in itself, is one that lands easily on my list of top 10 career moments, and to share it with people I actually know — Emily, Arlyn, and Mikel — makes it all the more special. It’s almost like a full -ircle moment, for me at least, as they also shared in the Share The Mic Now: Home Edition with me last summer. Little do they know, we all basically go together now! And little do the good folks at Skillshare know is that they’re so stuck with me… because if there’s anything people love more than an original, it’s a sequel *hint hint*.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Ellie Lillstrom | From: What Happens When You Design Your Living Room and Then MOVE?? You Make It Work… Albie’s New Living Room Round One!

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Published on March 12, 2021 11:30

Our Outdoor Furniture Picks To Get You (And Your Outdoor Space) Ready For Spring/Summer

It’s that time of year again folks…time to think about our outdoor spaces and count the days till summer. Or maybe that’s just me, always dreaming of summer. In any case, in both big and small ways, the great outdoors is more crucial than ever so it is high time we give our outdoor spaces some love. I know I said I was going to completely revamp my backyard last year but life happened and let’s just say I can really only focus on one project at a time. But this year my backyard is going to get the makeover she deserves, and I know a lot of y’all have been home thinking about doing the same, so if you are envisioning transforming your outdoor space, here’s your sign to start. And if it seems too early to be talking about outdoor furniture (it’s even raining here in LA after all) need I remind you how quickly things sold out last year?? We don’t want anyone to miss out on the new collections this year so today I am sharing our favorite outdoor furniture on the market right now so you snag something beautiful for your space while ya can. Let’s get to it.

Lounge Chairs

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how to style out your outdoor space so you’ll actually use it

Here’s how to be as chill and relaxed as Velinda’s sweet lil baby pictured above: get yourself a comfy lounge chair, make yourself a refreshing drink on the rocks, bask in the sun, and have no worries besides where and when to nap next. Step one is finding the perfect lounge chair for your space, so let’s start with these beauties:

First off, sign me up for #7 because I am apparently still an infant at heart and love a rocking chair. Can you imagine rocking in that beauty while reading a book in the sunshine and sipping on a marg? That’s heaven. Then there’s #2 that is SO cool and sculptural which I love and #11 looks comfy as hell. You really can’t go wrong with any of these picks.

Chaise Lounge Chairs

Now if you are really ready to set up a relaxation station (who isn’t at this point?), you can level up to the chaise lounge chair. These chairs are nap-worthy and will make your backyard feel like a vacation in no time.

#7 and #5 are both gorgeous but I personally prefer a chaise that reclines allll the way back. Basically, I want a chair to double as a bed because naps outside are amazing. Do you agree?

Dining Chairs & Benches

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: 5 outdoor ideas & hacks that’ll instantly add style

Back when I first started at EHD, I developed a real passion and appreciation for chairs. There are so many different shapes, styles, sizes, colors, PATTERNS to explore and they can really bring home a style. Not to mention I love a good ole fashion mix and match to even further liven up a space. Now, outdoor chairs may be more about function than form, but that won’t stop me from sharing some of the most beautiful outdoor chairs on the market right now.

How cool is #5?? I want to sit on it whilst enjoying an outdoor dinner party with friends and feel like a queen. Also, you have the space for a long outdoor dining table, benches are GREAT and bring in some more visual interest. But if you are a comfort lover, #7 is definitely your guy.

Dining Tables

photo by melissa oholendt |from: a foolproof way to create an outdoor room with target

Anyone else missing intimate dinner parties with friends?? It’s been far too long so maybe now is your chance to set up an outdoor dining area so you can enjoy company safely once the warmer months come along. I know this is what I am looking forward to greatly so these are the dining tables are on my radar right now:

I need a new outdoor dining table that will be durable and last a LONG TIME so I love the idea of #5, #9, or #14 but I also love a long rectangular outdoor dining table like #15. What do you think?

Coffee Tables

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the portland outdoor living spaces and a lot of styling tips

If space permits you can absolutely create an outdoor lounging/entertaining space like Emily did in the Portland project pictured above. Bonus points if your home has a patio covering so you can enjoy the space year-round (ok, maybe that’s just us on the west coast..sorry!). But either way, a sitting area will guarantee your outdoor space gets a lot of use.

Concrete drum tables like #1, #5, #6, and #7 are great for outdoor spaces so you don’t have to worry as much about inclement weather but teak tables such as #8 and #11 are also great too.

Side Tables

If you want a really functional outside retreat, you must sprinkle in a few side tables. Ideally, for every sitting area, there should be places to set a drink and these side tables will certainly do the job:

You may recognize #3 from Emily’s LA home living room and yes, it is technically an indoor side table but I think it could totally work outside (although I’d protect it from inclement weather FOR SURE cause it’s a damn beauty). In fact, if it rains a lot in your area, #1, #7, and #11 are great concrete options. I for one love the elegance and simplicity of #5.

Sofas & Sectionals

photo by tessa neustadt | from: the patio makeover + patio decor roundup

Have you ever accidentally fallen asleep outside, in the sun, on a sofa? It might be the best feeling ever. I am definitely dreaming of summer (clearly) and these outdoor sofas will make any outdoor space feel homey and inviting.

Since I am a sucker for patterns, I am of course super drawn to #12. It would definitely make a statement and would make any space feel cool and eclectic. For a more functional sofa for entertaining (that’s gonna happen again right???) #6 is killer and so is #7.

Love Seats

Even if you have a small yard or even a patio, a loveseat will make you want to enjoy the space 10x more. Here are our favorites:

How cool is the shape of #2? I’d love to curl up with a book and my dog, although he’d probably love #10 because he prefers anything that his white fur will stick to indefinitely. Which one is your favorite?

Patio Sets

I am definitely a patio set kind of gal because all of the furniture options out there can be overwhelming. An outdoor dining set or lounge chair/side table set will definitely get a lot of use this year and there are so many great options out there.

1. Dark Gray Barrel Wood Byron Outdoor Furniture Collection | 2. 3pc Faux Bamboo Patio Chat Set | 3. Eucalyptus Keon 3 Piece Outdoor Furniture Set | 4. Set of Two Lounge Chairs and Table | 5. Antique White Woven Rope Nevis Outdoor Furniture Collection | 6. Eucalyptus And Concrete Reza 5 Piece Outdoor Dining Set | 7. Oak Park 4pc Patio Conversation Set | 8. Solid Acacia Wood Outdoor Patio Sofa Furniture Set | 9. Martin Small Space 3pc Patio Chat Set | 10. 3 Piece Patio Furniture Set | 11. Paden 3-Piece Wicker Outdoor Patio Bistro Set with Grey Cushion | 12. Alda Lounge Set, Black/White

For a small patio or backyard, cute 3-piece sets are an easy (and most of the time, more affordable) way to furnish your outdoor space. For bigger spaces, if you are looking for conversational sets #1, #5, #7, and #12 will certainly do the trick.

Alright my friends, that is all for now but what other outdoor-related content would you like to see from us? Should we do a roundup of furniture covers too?? You tell me. xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Melissa Oholendt |From: A Foolproof Way To Create An Outdoor Room With Target

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Published on March 12, 2021 01:00

March 11, 2021

Our Tried And True Gardening Essentials Guide – From The #1 Best Tool To The Prettiest Watering Cans Maybe Ever

HELLO, SPRING. I have officially survived my first east coast winter since 2012 and guys, I have to tell you the controversial truth: I did not care for it one bit. If you can truck through freezing temperatures year-after-year, you’re a stronger person than me and you deserve some sort of special commendation.

But the weather has finally started warming up over here, and now I feel like I have a newfound understanding for my mom’s love of gardening. Y’all, Brenda is a PRO when it comes to the outdoors. Sure, our house is filled with plants, but she’s also landscaped the front yard, the back yard, AND she has a plot in a local community garden where she grows fruits and vegetables. (Brenda also sits on the board-equivalent of this community garden and helps them plan events for things like “bee awareness,” which is very cute, but tragically not the point of this post. Onward!) This year, as the temperatures have risen, I’ve found myself accompanying her more and more on her outside adventures.

And as it turns out, she’s right – gardening IS pretty great! The chance to be outside, enjoying the sun, after months of snow? Designing and planting and watching your ideas grow and unfurl in real life? I’M FINALLY SOLD! Now, since I have perennial access to this lady with the greenest of green thumbs, I wanted a second to pick her brain on the must-have tools for any burgeoning gardener. What would I need to get me started? What tools have been most helpful, and what would you recommend to others? Do beautiful, functional tools actually exist? Did she hate all the gardening-related gifts I’ve given her, or have some of them been useful?

So below, you’ll find some field-tested and approved gardening essentials, straight from the yard/garage/basement/general vicinity of the Higgins household. Also included: watering cans that are beautiful enough to keep out on display in your home, gloves that turn your hands into talons, the first-ever EHD endorsement of Crocs, and a garden cart that is PERFECT for pulling double duty at the flea market. Let’s just DIG IN, shall we???

1. Everyday Gardening Gloves: These sell out every year right before Mother’s Day. I know this from experience.

2. Apron & Glove Set: HOW CUTE AND NANCY MEYERS IS THIS??? Click through to get the close up – there’s a super simple yet elevated crossed back. Like, this apron gives me extreme “Diane Keaton taking a lemonade break in a gorgeous kitchen before a mysterious suitor knocks on her door” vibes. LOVE IT.

3. Leather Gardening Gloves: At only $20, these all-leather gloves are a steal.

4. Khaki Garden Apron: If you’re heading outside with a lot of tiny packets or hand tools, this is a great apron choice.

5. Gloves with Claws: I know these look absolutely terrifying, but they’re a dream for tiny projects – you can dig, till, or aerate soil without having to break out any handheld tools.

6. Crocs: A confession: I think Crocs are great and I’m tired of pretending they’re not!!! They’re affordable, sublimely comfy, and super easy to clean (the trifecta for outdoor labor).

7. Rubber Garden Clogs: If style is really important to you, these are classic and similarly durable.

8. Garden Waist Apron: A lifesaver for those folks who seem genetically predisposed to constantly wiping their hands on their pants (i.e. me).

9. Hat: I mean, honestly, any hat works, but there’s something so official about committing to a straw gardening hat. This one has a stretchy inside band inside, so it can stay in place while you’re leaning down.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our backyard evolution

1. Hori Hori Knife: This is the be-all, end-all tool and my mom’s number one suggestion for new gardeners. If you’re going to invest in one piece, this should be it. A hori hori knife can saw, dig, cut, and more. 10/10, highly recommended.

2. Rubber Mallet: A surprise favorite – use to hammer stakes into the ground or even to like, reattach gutters to your house (just speaking from experience here).

3. Pruners: These are THE MOST beautiful pruners out there.

4. Dutch Hoe: You can weed quickly without breaking your back! These are especially awesome for large raised beds – if you can’t reach with your arms, you can reach with this hoe.

5. Garden Cultivator: This is a surprisingly high-quality piece for the $5 price tag. It’s sturdy and great for mixing in fertilizer or breaking up hard winter soil in preparation for spring planting.

6. Potting Scoop: Potting scoops have big sides to help transport soil from bag to pot. Like, sure, you can grab potting mix with your hands, but this is a lot quicker and cleaner.

7. Steel Bulb Planter: A little niche, but oh my gosh, THIS IS A GAME-CHANGER. Digging perfectly-sized bulb holes with precise depth and accuracy? SIGN ME UP.

8. Ambidextrous Pruning Shears: Okay, these are very ~traditional garden tool~ looking, but they’re great for right- and left-handed folks.

9. Spade Transplanter: Basically, this is a tiny shovel made by a company who’s been manufacturing garden tools since 1780 – you’ll have this forever.

1. Foldable Wheelbarrow: Do not buy a full wheelbarrow when you can have this awesome, compact, transportable version instead!

2. Garden Tool Tote Bag: Haul around a lot of things in an organized way with separate pockets for seeds, tools, and general miscellany.

3. Plant Dolly: I was raised with a DEEP LOVE for plant dollies. Roll your outside plants indoors for the winter! Roll your heavy plants in and out of the light that they love! Balance heavy furniture on top and roll it around so you don’t need to ask anyone for help! Some dollies can be flimsy or garish, so this is a sturdy and unobtrusive option.

4. Garden Bucket Bag: This guy is collapsible, so it’s great for folks with limited garage or storage space.

5. Cart with Tubtrug: I gifted this for Mother’s Day last year and it’s a total winner!!! The cart and tub are awesome for hauling weeds or newly-picked vegetables.

6. Stair-Climbing Rolling Cart: This is my secret weapon. It can climb stairs, which is already incredible, but it’s so multifunctional. Sure, you can use this guy for garden stuff, but it’s also awesome for hauling clothes to the laundromat or for flea market finds.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the portland outdoor living spaces

1. Garden Kneeler: Another Mother’s Day gift win!!! My mom broke her femur a few years back and I worry about her non-stop, so I wanted to grab her something with arm bars to help her get up (despite the fact that she’s like, totally fine, way stronger than me, and was crushing Orange Theory classes with her broken femur). In any case, this is deep and comfortable and it turns out that everyone likes arm bars when given the option!

2. Knee Pads: If you’d rather just wear knee pads instead of hauling around a separate piece of equipment, these are SO. FREAKING. CUSHY.

3. Garden Kneeler with Pouch: In full transparency, I haven’t actually tried this one out…but it does seem to be a more affordable dupe of the one I got my mom and it has a pouch for your tools/seeds, so I figured it was worth passing on.

1. Large Watering Can: My mom has over 40 plants inside her home, so this is the one we use inside. It holds a ton of water – we can get all the plants done with about 3 1/2 trips.

2. Small Watering Can: How tiny and cute, and it comes with a sweet warm wood handle! This would look great in any Scandi/minimalist home.

3. Pastel Glass Watering Can: This watering can comes in pink, yellow, and blue and the shapes are SO COOL AND SPECIAL. I bought the pink for myself

4. Self-Watering Plant Globe: Procrastinators or frequent forgetters, this is for you!!! Keep those plants alive with a self-watering globe!

5. Pastel Watering Can: I love the modern shape of this watering can, but I’m also generally obsessed with this Etsy shop – they also carry these incredible Pantone pots and trays.

6. Glass Watering Can: So fun and graphic and clean, all at once! A few years ago I lamented that I couldn’t find a single watering can that fit the earlier description, and now there are SO MANY GOOD PICKS. We are living in the golden age of plant accessories!

1. Vertical Canvas Organizer: The size of this is so awesome for making use of empty wall space. Bonus: it’d be an awesome choice for wrangling laundry or bathroom bits and bobs!

2. Storage Strap: At $6, this is a GAME CHANGER for cords, hoses, wires of all kinds. Tears will be prevented at Christmas if each of your outdoor extension cords is wrapped in one of these, instead of thrown akimbo on a random decor piece in the garage. (Hanging up holiday lights is VERY STRESSFUL for me, you guys.)

3. Potting Bench: A potting bench with tons of shelving space and additional side hooks and it can work with nearly any decor style.

4. Corner Double Tool Rack: This thing is AWESOME because you can use it in a semi-circle, as shown, but you can also split it in half and shove each portion into a corner of the garage. So, so, so helpful for storing any rakes/shovels/brooms.

5. Wall Organizer and Apron: I love a multifunctional piece!!! Y’all, the bottom part of this is an apron!!! Pack everything up and get organized while it’s still hanging on the wall before removing what you need and heading out to the garden. SO GOOD.

6. Hose Cabinet: Never get your hose tangled again! And when it’s time to get your hose back into the box, this crank is actually not annoying or painful to use.

OH BOY, THAT WAS A LOT. Obviously, you don’t need all of these things to get started – all it takes is some dirt and seeds – but if you’re interested in diving deeper into gardening, these are the things that have made it easier, more enjoyable, and more fruitful in our experience.

To that end – what tools do you love? Has anyone started planning their 2021 gardens? Can you name a tool better than a hori hori knife? Is anyone else as excited as I am about the new market proliferation of beautiful watering cans? Can someone prompt me to write more about Brenda’s bee initiatives? LET’S CHAT??? xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: My Secret Front Yard Is Finally Revealed

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Published on March 11, 2021 11:56

Why Passover Is Such a Beloved Holiday (and Some Seriously Beautiful Seder Plate Ideas)

Oh hello again, friends! Apparently, time flies when you’re writing for Emily’s blog. The last time I was here, we were just preparing for Hanukkah…and now it’s nearly spring. Whaaaa?!

Anyway, just in case we didn’t have a chance to meet back in December, allow me to quickly reintroduce myself: I’m Rebekah Lowin, and I run a Jewish-focused lifestyle blog, aptly titled RebekahLowin.com (find it on Instagram here). On the site, I share crafty, creative ideas for beautifying Jewish holidays and everyday life—everything from DIYs to home décor and new twists on old-school recipes. I’m incredibly passionate about it, and so grateful to the EHD team for giving me a chance to share some of that world with all of you.

Today I’m here to chat with you about—you guessed it!—Passover. And I’m pretty excited about that, because celebrating this special holiday is one of my favorite things in the world, right up there with sour candy and Meg Ryan movies. I’m aware that not everyone celebrates Passover, of course, but I hope you’ll hang out with me for a minute regardless. No matter who you are, I think you’ll find some of this really interesting and beautiful.

So…let’s dive in! It’s easy enough to tell you what Passover is—an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorated with a holiday meal known as a “seder” that focuses on themes like freedom, tradition, and faith. I mean, a quick Google search yields as much. What’s a little more difficult to explain is what Passover feels like. But I’ll try.

You know that magical feeling when the lights go down just before a performance begins, and the violins are tuning, and you’re sitting there clutching the program and a box of chocolate-covered raisins in anticipation of something really, really special?

Yes. Well, that’s exactly how Passover always feels to me—incredibly special and meaningful, gloriously theatrical, and filled with all sorts of anticipatory feelings. (Namely, hunger. The seder is notoriously long, and you have to wait to eat the real meal until after all the ceremonial stuff is done. By the time the delicious assortment of traditional food does arrive, you are ready for it).

Oh, and sometimes you’re asked to jump up onstage and join in. So to speak.

And…sorry, ma’am, but you’re actually going to have to wait to eat those chocolate-covered raisins until after the show.

(As I said. Lots of hunger.)

Really, though, it’s hard to talk about Passover without mentioning the sheer theater of it all. After all, the entire point of the seder is to re-tell the Passover story from a script of sorts known as a haggadah. We even take on roles: There’s usually an obvious “director,” someone wise and all-knowing who sits at the head of the table and makes sure we’re all on the right page, reading the right thing…and that Great-Aunt Sasha isn’t holding her haggadah upside-down again.

(It’s okay, Sasha. You’re doing great.)

And though the cast of principal actors varies from family to family, there are a few characters you’re likely to encounter at any seder. The youngest person in the group typically recites the “Four Questions,” the most musical leads a rollicking “Dayenu,” and the funniest (or hungriest, as it were) provides much-needed comic relief as the hours pass, making joke after joke about the fact that we still haven’t eaten anything.

There’s one other thing that stays the same, no matter which production you’re attending: the set pieces, i.e. the incredibly beautiful ritual objects that have decorated the seder table for thousands of years. And the most significant of these is undoubtedly the seder plate. You can think of this as a sort of symbolic centerpiece, filled with six not-for-actually-eating ingredients that serve as metaphors to represent various aspects of the Passover story. While some seder plates are heirloom pieces passed down “l’dor va-ador” (“from generation to generation”), in recent years, many young families have looked to revamp their current Judaica set with newer pieces. This, plus the advent of online shopping and the general accessibility offered by the internet, has led to what might be seen as a Judaica renaissance. Exciting!

But where does one begin when looking to buy a new seder plate—or even just dreamily window shop for one?

I’d start by saying: Don’t overthink it. Just select something that really speaks to your personal style; something that you’re naturally drawn to. From there, remember that this item might, in fact, remain in your family for generations to come (noooo pressure!), so splurging a little within your means to get a handmade or otherwise high-quality, thoughtfully made product might be a nice idea. Then again, there are plenty of stunning, special seder plates to be found within any budget—so don’t let that be a deterring factor here.

Beyond that, this should just be fun. There are so many fabulous options out there to choose from, and it can be exciting to poke around online simply to see how varied and creative the selection is nowadays. I do want to give a shout-out to The Jewish Museum—in their shop, they’ve got a gorgeous, finely curated selection of seder plates from some of the most well-known and renowned Judaica artists in the world. (Actually, all of the seder plates you see in the images here can be purchased in their digital store.) But beautiful, artisan-crafted seder plates are all over the web right now, and they can also be found at your local Judaica shop. Really, the options are endless, and they represent the extraordinary diversity and vitality of the global Jewish community.

What’s more, shopping for a seder plate, whether for your own family or for a friend, is just one of many easy, important ways to support the Jewish community at large. And because these items are featured so prominently during the holiday meal, shopping with care and thoughtfulness offers a real opportunity to enhance and elevate your entire Passover experience.

Here are a few other ideas—for both the real-life shoppers and window shoppers among you:

Alright, let’s start with the plates you’ve already been eyeing: the ones in the photos here! The stunning Isabel Halley Ceramics version (#1) is a personal favorite. I just love the organic look of the whole thing, the subtle dimpling, and of course the gold rim. But the splatter paint plate (#8) holds an equally special place in my heart. It’s beyond cool—lightweight, delightfully imperfect, with some obvious handcrafted details. Meanwhile, the earthy clay seder plate (#10) is an excellent choice for those who prefer a more subtle look, and the pink and watercolor blue seder plates (#2 and #4) would look beautiful on any modern seder table. Finally, I thought the star-shaped stoneware plate (#11) could be a fabulous idea for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of all of those extra bowls.

Minimalists will appreciate that soft blue modern seder plate (#6), purists will gush over the new option here from Williams-Sonoma (#13), and New Yorkers, I think you’re going to love that all-black option from Etsy seller Bini Naor (#3). There’s really something for everyone here.

Okay, all, I think that’s it for today! I hope this little shopping adventure got you excited for the upcoming holiday—or taught you something new about it. Whether or not you’re going to be sitting around a seder table this year, there’s so much to appreciate about this exquisite holiday—from the lessons it teaches us about freedom to the fascinating, history-laden artifacts you see here. (And the food, of course. Matzah ball soup for the win!) I’m wishing you all a beautiful, safe, warm season ahead.

P.S. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, you can always check out my blog or follow along on Instagram—on both platforms, we’re talking about Passover all day, every day. I’ve got you covered with Passover dessert ideas, a single-serving mug cookie that’ll cure your Passover cravings, the cutest heart-shaped matzah ball soup, tips on hosting a virtual seder, edible place cards, lots of inspiring Passover quotes, and so much more.

***Design and Photos by Rebekah Lowin

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Published on March 11, 2021 01:00

March 10, 2021

Introducing My Brother’s New Build Dream Home – Designing My First “Contemporary” Riverfront Home ( + Meet The Design Team)

It looks confusing, I know. That is not us. We did not trade the farm for a river property. That is my brother and his family and without further ado WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RIVER HOUSE INTRO POST. A project we’ll be documenting here the next 6-8 years, JK KEN, but seriously at least 2 -3. It’s exciting and challenging, and while I’ve enjoyed the last year and a half of not having a massive renovation to, you know, stress me the hell out and occupy all my daily and nightly thoughts so I can instead read romance novels and make homemade falafels, the farm and the river house sure are “tickling my brain” as Brian would say. There is a lot to tell you so I’ll break down the who, what, when, where, why and, of course, HOW. And then I’ll introduce the major players because like our farm project I couldn’t do it alone, and have teamed up with an awesome interior designer, architect, and of course GC to make this happen. What makes it an experiment? Keep reading…

But first, a teaser video that Ken shot and Mallory edited! (Just wait for the ad to play:))

WHO: My Brother Ken, My SIL Katie + Kennedy (5) And Frankie (3)

hello there spray tan! i’ve missed you dearly!!

My brother and I did the first together (Ken/Katie were investors and helped project manager onsite, myself and my team were offsite project managers/designers/decorators). And while there were a lot of fun “challenges” and “learnings” to doing such a high-end investment property far from LA, ultimately we really LOVED working together and can look back and really LOL and LOL… on all the challenges we overcame. A lot of you warned me about investing or working with family and I think it’s an extremely good warning (and I generally don’t do this) but am happy to say we are the exception and it really does depend on your chemistry. The communication was so open (yes even talking about mistakes and money) and we had so much fun together that we actually want to do it again, even before this home we were looking for another project to do together. Ken and I, while being really different, are actually kinda the same person in how we approach life – both 7s, very enthusiastic, very loyal, love to admit faults, own up to mistakes, believe in fairness + right/wrong, really into common sense, have little ego, and love having a lot of fun. So while, sure, I might have “drained some of the budget of the portland project by adding far more custom pieces and herringbone tile that you EVER would to a flip,” we are all good and chalk it up to a lot of lessons learned. Also, I’m not sure I’m “house flipper” material nor do I know how I feel about doing that anyway – as enlightened by Sara’s post about the ethics of house flipping. Turns out doing a renovation on the cheap, fast, and from another state, is not my strong suit nor should it be.

This time, this portland project that we are now dubbing “The River House” is going to be their own home where they want to raise their two young kiddos. They, like us, want a more rural existence so here we are – the Starke kids have apparently come home to roost in settings far closer to how we were raised – the damp, damp, yet beautiful Oregon country:)

WHAT: A New Build Home On A 3-Acre Riverfront Property

This property is SPECIAL. You feel like you are far away, but it’s still only 15 minutes to Portland. The current house that sits on the property is not so special and due to permitting issues, any renovation costs/add-on costs cannot exceed more than 50% of the house’s current value of $44,000. It’s also in very, very, very very very bad shape. The property is magical though and the potential is huge.

So the reason I’m extra excited about this is because it will be my first new construction home – something I’ve always wanted to try but, like not for ME, (yet). We’ll do this from the ground up. From scratch. Skys the limit, right????!!! Maybe that’s why it always felt daunting, without an architectural reference to what it should be or a footprint to launch off – you have even MORE options – a stylist’s true kryptonite.

In fact, as we’ve gotten into it I’ve realized that it’s so fun in a different way – you get to choose the style that makes sense for the property and the family – it’s not like we are going to build a Mediterranean palace or a Colonial farmhouse. A home built in 2021 in Portland on a river kinda has to be a contemporary river house. Now there are many versions of what that can look like, but it narrows things down a lot.

Another reason I always hesitated to do a new build is that seems like they’d cost more than a big renovation, but it also very well might not. Now this new-build will not be builder grade and surely it will add up, but what I keep hearing is that starting fresh is actually easier in a lot of ways once the permits and plans get approved. Ken and I *joke* that we should make this a race. See who moves in first and stays closer to their budget. Team River or Team Farm??

The real winner here (besides Ken and his family OBVIOUSLY) is y’all because with the new challenges of designing a new build comes lots of new mistakes and fresh information for us to document here. (Don’t worry, Ken/Katie, we are in good hands with the team, see below).

Now I know you want to see the house before it gets demolished. It’s falling down and really not reparable.

I actually never even went inside the property, as it was locked up when I visited in the fall and was deemed dangerous to walk through.

WHERE: On A Sliver Of A Property On The River (With A Shared Island)

Without obviously giving out their address it’s on a river near Portland. One of the reasons they bought the property is their good friends live next door and as they were hanging out with them they realized that this house and piece of property was not exactly living its best life. They made an offer off-market and the owner was happy to sell it. It’s awesome because like our farm it has a totally country/rural feeling, but it’s still in a great school district and again, only 15 minutes from Portland.

HOW: With A Team Of Design Pros, A Hefty Budget, And A LOT Of Planning

Ken and I had this idealistic fantasy when he bought this house and when we were still in the infant stage of buying the farm – that I’d design his house and he’d be the GC or at least project manager for mine. An easy/fun trade, right? Then once we realized the massive scope of both projects and our individual bandwidths (mine – lack of time, his – lack of experience as a GC) we had to find some pros.

Now I’ve gotten a lot of questions about why I would make my brother/SIL hire another designer in addition to me. We have a great architect. We have a great GC. I’m technically capable of designing this house, but here’s why – I don’t have the bandwidth to do the best job on my own. Especially not from a distance (even though we are moving up there in summer). Because of my schedule and how busy I can get, I’ll end up being behind schedule and disappointing everyone. And one thing I’ve learned in my life (and one of the reasons I just started therapy) is that I have a chronic issue with not wanting to disappoint people. But even more importantly I don’t like designing by myself. It’s not “fun” for me and as you know as an enneagram 7 (literally the only blogger or female entrepreneur I know that’s not a 3 – seriously, although the jury is still out and many people think I am a 3) I need work to be “fun” for me to want to do it. ANYWAY. That’s all to say we needed to find a co-designer that was the right fit. The right chemistry. The right experience level and with lack of ego enough to share the credit with me.

*Our Co-Interior Designer – Max Humphrey*

Now a lot of you have heard of Max Humphrey because he’s an awesome designer with a great following and well, cool fresh style. I met him at the furniture show in Vegas 8 years ago when we were both speaking on a panel, him as an experienced interior designer, me talking trends. We hit it off and really liked each other. He worked for years for Betsy Burnham – a pretty famous and legit LA interior designer. This was when I had design clients and really didn’t know how to charge or how to, say, run a business. I would text Max all the time with questions like “how do you charge for travel time??” or “how do you charge for vintage pieces that you buy at the flea market” and he would generously give me the answer. Then he moved to Portland right when one of my best friends needed a designer and I didn’t have the bandwidth (and I hate charging my friends and potentially disappointing them) so I recommended Max for the job. They couldn’t have been happier and their home turned out BEAUTIFUL.

He then went on to do a friend’s beach house in Oregon that we stayed in recently that was SO STUNNING and as we were lounging around in that gorgeous house three weeks ago I was like “Max! YES! I want to design the river house with Max”. After a 2 hour call he was down to do it with me.

design by max humphrey | photo by christopher dibble

This is my friend’s basement he designed that I LOVE – I’m going to do a full tour of it soon. The befores are WILD and he turned it into an epic space that is actually so exciting to hang out in despite the exposed HVAC and low ceilings.

design by max humphrey | photo by christopher dibble

I love this project of his so much, too (it’s his actual home). He has a bravery about him that is really inspiring. Before design, he was in a punk rock band which I find to be one of the more exciting career pairings ever.

[image error]design by max humphrey | photo by christopher dibble

He even recently launched a wallpaper line (that cute bandana print) that is sooooo cute and has a lot of styling and collaborations in the works. He’s looking to grown his online presence, I’m looking to work with someone I not only trust design-wise and experience, but legit enjoy being around. This is going to be a long project – we need to like each other.

So I introduced him to my brother and Katie and they hit. it. off. It’s their house and their budget so it had to be the right fit for them and so far it is GREAT.

*Our Architect – Annie Usher*

design by annie usher | photo by kraig scattarella

Annie worked on the first Portland project, so Ken and Katie already knew her well, really trusted her, and hired her for this project. Her background is legit – born and raised in Portland, U of O architecture school, and has worked at GBD, a renowned commercial architecture firm for 18 years. Now she works part-time (project to project) and can take on some residential projects on the side. Ken and JP are so likable that she keeps working with them. Having never done a new build before, the idea of doing the space planning was nothing short of brain-scrambling for me. So she is is the architect and visionary behind the overall structure, how it flows, works and functions. When it comes to space planning, I know what doesn’t work but I don’t know how to make it work. That’s why you hire a great architect.

design by annie usher

Max, Annie, and I will all work together on the overall look and feel, weigh in on major material selection and architectural details (stairs, ceiling design, etc), and she’ll help with all the drawings, get us through permits, etc. After all that, Max and I will be more involved when it comes to executing the furniture and accessories (while we’ll keep her in the loop). She brings tons of experience that I just don’t have. I’ve already learned a lot from her in the process and y’all, doing a new build is REALLY FUN so far. I keep writing down quotes and have a blog post I’m writing called “How to Think Like an Architect” because it’s just so different from decorating, and frankly VERY important.

[image error]

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | left form: portland bookcase/landing reveal, right from: portland entry & staircase reveal*Our General Contractor – JP Macy – Sierra Custom Homes*

JP was the General Contractor for the first portland project and we LOVED working with him. Not only did he tolerate some of my less than sound ideas for a flip, but he was really really great to work with. He’s rad and experienced and communicated well and consistently in a very down-to-earth way. He’s done a ton of new construction homes, and he knows the ins and outs of how to get it done well. He’s also very high quality and because he’s so gosh darn likable has really incredible subs that will happily prioritize his projects.

It’s a pretty great team that has so far been wonderful to work with. It’s a long project, there will be mistakes and pitfalls throughout, but I feel like we are set up with at least good major players that can produce the best project for my brother.

What we are so excited about is with a new build the only real design parameters are codes (boring) and budget (boring-er). This particular property is tricky because it can’t be wide (so we have to build up and be more long and skinny) and it is on a flood plane so we almost have to build the garage to withstand a river flood. As you can assume as creatives (I consider GC’s creatives) we want to do something that hasn’t been done before, not a track new build, but there isn’t an endless budget. Annie/Max and I want it to be uber-modern, and yet Ken and Katie want to make sure that it’s also timeless (FINE). So there will be more conversations on how and where we take design risks and what their priorities are in both style and function. First and foremost it has to work for their family. Secondly, LET’S HAVE SOME FUN?????? Can this be my design lab? A place for us to experiment with some new techniques? Likely not do anything too wacky, but really obsess about those details that make a house feel special, long-term. Ceilings. Flooring. Tile treatments. Lighting. Windows.

We also want to design this to be super energy efficient and sustainable. While I can’t control this house as much as I can my own (because it’s not my budget) we want to lean into ways that make sense for long-term energy efficiency and just be SMART. And I’m already learning so much through research. If you have the privilege and wealth to build a dream house from scratch, I personally believe it’s our responsibility to do right by the local community and the planet.

What’s It Going To Look Like??

Well, we are still figuring that out. We are trying to create a contemporary river cabin that feels really warm and family-oriented. They, like me, don’t like anything too pretentious, fancy, or ostentatious but want high quality and long-lasting. Here’s a quick moodboard of where we are headed, but you’ll have to follow along for the next few years to see how it will turn out.

Now, I’d love to know what you’d love to read about with this new build? Knowing that this isn’t my home (nor my budget) I may not be able to deliver all your requests, but I’d love to pass down as much information about this process as I’m allowed to.

AH! I’m so excited and can’t wait to share more of this new and awesome challenge with you. And if you want a sneak peek of the exterior’s design go check my stories this afternoon:) xx

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Published on March 10, 2021 01:00

March 9, 2021

Our “Go-To Comfort Color Palettes” – 5 EHD Designers Share What Is Their Go-To Color Palettes For Their Home And Why

I recently had a personal revelation about color palettes…and age…and embracing what makes you happy even if it’s predictable and basic. Sometimes I’m embarrassed at how predictable I am especially because my work and the design of our own homes have been so public – so out there. If you have eyeballs and are reading this right now you likely know my “palette” – Different shades of blues, whites, wood, brass hits of black, gray, and the occasional accent of blush and/or green. But as I looked around on the internet, I realized that I’m not alone, most designers have a go-to palette, at least for our own homes. And maybe most of you do, too.

When I did Secrets from a Stylist, I had to do a different color palette for each episode which was SO FUN (Lavender walls, yellow hand chair, orange! I used orange! With purple! In the same room!). But in our own home, anytime I’ve strayed too far away from that formula I’ve ended up changing it. As I’m designing the farmhouse, I once again am finding myself putting all these blues/whites together on mood boards and even I’m like, “Really? Again? You don’t say” and I’m ashamed I’m not trying something new. But then I realized that those colors not only make me really happy to look at but even more important I feel very comfortable surrounded by them. And these days isn’t that what we need most out of our homes? Comfort?? YES.

Even as the mountain house is more neutral, where I include color, it’s different shades of blue/green and blush. So today I’m owning my color palette and while the shades of blue have and will always change and shift, I’m just really grateful that I have a go-to color palette that does bring me any comfort. So let’s dissect WHY this color palette brings me comfort. Blues and greens are colors found everywhere in nature (green trees, blue sky). They feel calming and grounding and yet happy and youthful. They are cool-toned colors, which is why I’ve always gravitated towards accenting in brass, wood, and leather – to add warmth and balance. And bright whites and blushes add a lightness that keep it feeling airy, soft, and sunny.

So I’m here to tell you that having a go-to color palette in your home is not only OK, but actually GREAT. Listen…while we are at it, I like soup, like far more than is normal. I also like historical romance novels, like the ones with naked embraces on the cover. Oh and coming of age teen movies or series that involve a lot of gentle face touching and almost-kissing. I also like wearing athleisure and uggs and you know what???? I love walking on wall-to-wall carpet. I love Alamos Malbec even though I know that Malbec is a wine full of different grape varietals that wine connoisseurs joke about. I’m 41 and ready to own and really appreciate what makes me happy, and if putting a lot of different shades of blue in my home makes me and my family happy then gosh darn it that’s what I’ll do!!

So to prove that I’m not alone in having a go-to comfort palette we asked a few friends of EHD to weigh in on what their comfort color palette is and why it brings them comfort. Here you go.

Brady Tolbert

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: brady’s living room refresh with the citizenry

photos by tessa neustadt | from: brady’s kitchen reveal

photos by tessa neustadt | from: brady’s bedroom makeover with parachute

“I’ve always been one that has gravitated towards a neutral palette vs anything that is too bold or colorful. Don’t get me wrong I’ve dabbled in a few different colored palettes over the years and if you remember my DIY headboard then you’ll know that I do love a good olive green. But as my style has evolved I’ve leaned more into layered textures in neutral tones than a colorful space. Having a space that feels neutral, bright, layered, and textural will always be something that I’d like to call home.”

Emily Bowser

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily bowser’s “refreshed for function” small living room makeover

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | left from: emily bowser’s bedroom reveal | right from: emily bowser’s beautiful hardworking, multipurpose room reveal

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | left from: emily bowser’s 32-square-foot bathroom reveal | right from: emily bowser’s happy dining nook reveal

“My ideal color combo for the spaces I live in and my wardrobe has been: black, white, beige, olive green, and rust (sometimes a rusty-brown in a form of warm wood). I think it’s a pretty trendy combo right now but it’s actually been my go-to for most of my adult life. In the way that Emily Henderson is into blue, I have always been drawn to greens, and I prefer a beige to a grey. I think it’s the earthy nature of the colors, l feel very grounded in my space which is very important to me. Some people prefer to feel “light and airy” (blues and greys) for example or “bright and happy” (pops of color) or “chill and tranquil” (whites) and I definitely like to feel like my feet are planted firmly in the earth and that always seems to bring me back to some version of that color combo.”

Orlando Soria

photo by zeke ruelas | from: orlando’s primary bedroom reveal

left photo by orlando soria, from: orlando’s diy guest room | right photo by zeke ruelas, from: casa soria’s guest room reveal

photo by orlando soria | from: how to create a home gym (or nook) you will actually enjoy using

“I think the reason the color palette (pink, ivory, beige, and other light neutrals) keeps coming to me is that it feels simultaneously vibrant and neutral. Pink is an exciting, lively color but it can be light and airy which means you can keep a space bright. And I love what happens tonally when you start mixing different hues of ivory and beige – it’s almost tone on tone but really shows subtle contrast without feeling busy or too graphic.”

Max Humphrey

photos by christopher dibble

“I grew up in the woods in New England so my comfort color palette is a combo of natural wood tones mixed with pops of Americana colors like red, white, blue (and sometimes green). I’m most comfortable wearing jeans and chambray shirts every day so it’s no surprise I use navy and denim-toned fabrics on upholstery and window treatments around my house. I love using red as an accent color either in artwork or textiles like a throw pillow or old quilt- just a hit of red is enough. Red reminds me of old barns and I’m always on the hunt for the perfect red paint color to freshen up a vintage find like a dresser or table. Bringing the outdoors in with the color green is a trick I’ve been doing since I lived in a downtown loft and needed a lil connection to nature.”

Ajai Guyot

photos by ajai guyot | left from: moving back to your childhood home… | right from: primary bedroom reveal

photos by ajai guyot| from: ajai’s neutral living room refresh + how her design choices parallel her journey becoming a black interior designer

“I love color palettes that inspire comfort. I’m a big fan of neutrals and hues, and my go-to’s are brown, tan, taupe, white, black, and gray. Brown, tan, and taupe are grounding neutrals that evoke feelings of warmth. Black makes spaces feel more intimate. White is simple and calming, and grey is tranquil. The perfect color combo for relaxation if you ask me. Because I work in an industry where I’m always having to enter other people’s world and home, it can feel a bit complex at times. So I like to come home to a color palette that inspires warmth, relaxation, and simplicity – this palette does just that for me.”

Jess Bunge

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ living room reveal

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ kitchen reveal

“I am someone who is comforted by warm tones. Being surrounded by them feels like the daily hug I need. Growing up, my home was filled with browns, rusts, reds, terra cottas, tans, you get it. It doesn’t require a therapist to draw the very obvious conclusion here. But like any “rebellious young adult,” claiming their individuality, I filled my first couple of apartments with cool tones because I wanted to be my own person dammit. HA. Well, while I of course love a heavy blue color palette, when I was designing my first MOTO and really imagined how I wanted it to feel in my home, I knew I needed a good dose of warm colors…and just a dash of blue. Again, there’s just a sense of coziness and calm and “at-homeness” I feel when in the presence of them. Now, I know my last MOTO wasn’t the poster child for a “warm-toned” color palette. That’s because, despite my childhood color pallete leanings, I have taken a quieter approach. See! I am kinda my own person. I love a more soft, neutral space and then I like to add those pops of glorious sunshine colors. I really don’t think that will ever change. Rust = Refuge… to me at least:)”

Ok, I’m back. See?! Having a color palette that can nearly guarantee a sense of comfort, safety and connection is pretty awesome. I think it’s important to check in with ourselves to see if how we are designing (or living for that matter) is truly in line with what we want and not a fear of being deemed “not bold enough” or “creative enough” or “cool enough”. So let’s hear it. What is your comfort color palette? And why do you think that is?? xx

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Published on March 09, 2021 01:00

March 8, 2021

Design Mistakes: The Starter Home Reno Decisions You THINK Will Translate Into Resale $$$… But Don’t

I can’t believe it’s March already! Around this time last year, my husband and I had decided to sell our home in Atlanta, Georgia (what we considered our starter home). We purchased this home with the full intent to raise our first child in it. We were on the hunt for a home in a friendly neighborhood. One where the neighbors waved every time we pulled into the driveway (which is not a big ask in Atlanta… seeing as how almost everyone waves at you, even if they don’t know you… it’s a southern hospitality thing, and we love it), and one where almost everyone owned a dog and took frequent walks and jogs. We also wanted a home in a good school district and close to our church. The only thing was, we’d have to find a fixer, as the neighborhoods we had our eyes on were pretty pricey.

We researched the best and safest neighborhoods to raise children in, then drove around for months looking for our special home in these neighborhoods, and just when we were about to throw in the towel, we saw it. The house was accompanied by a sign that read “For Sale By Owner” and seemed to be like it could use some love. We immediately searched for the home’s listing on several real estate websites but found no current listing price for it. This made us so giddy because we knew no one else would be looking at this home considering its special circumstances. At the time, it was a buyer’s market and homes were flying off the shelves, but there would be no bidding wars for this one. I hopped out of the car, took down the number, called it, and the rest was history.

We moved into the home that July and boy did we have our work cut out for us. The home hadn’t been occupied (by a person) in a year, so there was lots to do. The kitchen needed a full gut, the bathrooms needed new toilets and sinks, the wooden floors needed life brought back into them, and there were so many creepy crawlers occupying the space (enough to consider the home infested). That said, the first order of business for me was to get rid of the unwanted guests… the roaches and spiders (also found out there were squirrels and rats living in the attic). I called around to get quotes and ended up spending around $1,500 to have a wildlife company come in to catch the squirrels and another $4,500 to get rid of the roaches. That was my first major design mistake.

DESIGN MISTAKE #1:Not knowing the ecosystem of your area

After finding out our home was infested, I had our entire crawl space redone. We updated the insulation, added a vapor barrier throughout (to control the moisture in the space), added fans, and replaced all the vents for high-tech vents. All to find out that roaches were common in the area we lived, especially because we had a creek that ran through our backyard. Growing up, I’d always assumed that roaches only came to places that were filthy and unprotected (without any barriers). In Atlanta, Georgia, having roaches does not mean that your home is not clean or unkept, it just so happens because of the weather and location of a home, you can have all sorts of critters visit. I wish I would’ve known this, as it played a major role in trying to sell our house for top dollar.

After a few renovation projects completed and a little less than a year living in our home, came the big announcement… a global pandemic that is. Afterward, it only took a pregnancy and two months of being on lockdown to realize we wanted to be closer to our family. So we made the decision to put our house on the market. We learned so much during the time our home was listed, mistakes that have helped me evolve as a designer and homeowner/seller. I’d have to say the crawlspace mistake is by far the biggest one though… This taught me to look at design through a completely different lens (an ecosystem one).

My husband and I spent so much money on trying to make sure snakes, spiders, roaches, and other critters couldn’t come inside our home, when in reality, there was no way to ensure this. Having that creek in the back of our home was an open invitation for all of the above. In fact, there was one night (a few weeks before our home sold) when I kept hearing bumping coming from the bathroom toilet. It ended up being a snake… that same week, there were balls of snakes mating in our backyard and crawlspace. All this to find out the buyers did not care about the crawlspace updates, as they were already accustomed to having these sorts of creepy crawlers in backyards and crawl spaces (considering the area and its ecosystem), leaving them very nonchalant about the $4,500 we’d spent on the crawlspace updates. I wish we would’ve put that money into other areas of the house. We also made a couple of mistakes when updating our kitchen. Mistakes that would make it harder to sell our home in the long run.

DESIGN MISTAKE #2:Not maximizing ALL the storage options (aka adding a washer/dryer instead of a pantry)

I’m actually a person who enjoyed going to the laundromat. I found a really cute one near our house that had a cafe right next to it and even an outside patio to lounge in while I waited for my clothes. I love having all of the open and dedicated space to fold my clothes and get organized. I also enjoyed the company of people around me who were there on the same mission. I’d read a book, hop on my laptop and work, or just chat with someone next to me over a coffee. Now I can’t say the same for my husband. He loves the convenience of being able to do laundry at home, and going to a laundromat was the last thing he wanted to do on a Saturday (he dreaded it). This was a debate that went on for weeks… should we open the kitchen and add a washer/dryer unit to the hallway closet?

Floor Tile | Subway Tile

Bar Stools | Dining Table | Chairs | Chandelier | Rug (unavailable)

My husband ended up winning this one. So we tore out the walls, joisted two beams together, and laid the plumbing for the washer/dryer – which ended up being adjacent to our peninsula/bar area and bar stools. We added a barn door to conceal it. This was definitely the biggest reason people passed on our home. They all felt like the kitchen should have remained closed off from the hallway and elongated (taking up the room where the dining area was). But I liked having a designated area for our dining table and chairs, I loved having our chandelier over the table as well, it really set the mood when entertaining guests. However, like a lot of the buyers, I believe we should have used the hallway closet for a kitchen pantry. This would have been a better selling point. Creating storage is always something to consider when preparing to sell a home. Another mistake we made was the decision to add open shelving in the kitchen.

DESIGN MISTAKE #3:Open shelving in a tiny kitchen

Hear me out…I’m from Los Angeles, California – born and raised. This means open shelving is not the first thing on a kitchen reno to-do list because you know…earthquakes. So I jumped at the opportunity to add open shelving to our kitchen design. I’m a collector of artisanal mugs and beautifully sculpted ceramic bowls. They are true works of art to me, and I love being able to have my collections out on display. Having an extremely long peninsula to house our dishwasher, dishes, silverware, and other items seemed to be storage enough for us. Also, let me reiterate, we thought we’d be in our first home at least five years before having to upgrade because of our growing family, and I wasn’t considering anyone else enjoying our kitchen except for us. However, we learned quickly that people who are looking to buy, want plenty of storage and ways to conceal their cups, plates, and bowls. Not everyone likes having their everyday items on display.

After Photo: Faucet | Sink and Vanity | Mirror | Sconce | Shelves

We also learned that for many ATLiens, they preferred having the original sinks and toilets in the bathrooms (as they believed this gave the space more character) but leaving the original sink and toilet was just plain-ol’ gross to me. I did a mini bathroom update where I painted, updated the faucet, sink and vanity, the mirror over the sink, and toilet. I also added a new sconce to go over the sink and shelves, only hear (via our Ring device… I wasn’t eavesdropping or anything… Someone rang the doorbell when we were away and I checked it) folks complaining about the new toilet and sink additions. I learned from that incident, and from our real estate agent, buyers preferred the original sink and toilet. This was odd to me, as the sinks were rusted to no return and had a lot of unknown build-up. The toilets had rings in them that bleach ran away from… I should also mention that in our county it was mandatory to replace toilets and sinks and make sure they were up to code (for water efficiency standards). The toilets and sinks in our bathrooms were originals, and had been in usage since 1957, thus why they needed to go. Nevertheless, let’s get on to my next design mistake during this reno – the kitchen counters.

DESIGN MISTAKE #4:Using butcher block in contrast to quartz for countertops

I’m a big fan of designing with functionality in mind and thought it would be perfect to have a butcher block on one side of the kitchen, and quartz on the other. I would just cut right on top of the butcher block (using it as a cutting board). I was okay with the wear and tear. I figured it would just give the countertop more character (which I’m a big fan of). So I added quartz to one side of the kitchen and butcher block (similar) on the other. Nonetheless, when it came to selling the house, this was a huge issue. A slew of buyers filled out notes stating they preferred to have quartz throughout the kitchen, and didn’t care for the marks in the butcher block. This led to my husband and me sanding down the butcher block and putting a new finish on it. This process took a few weeks, and taught us a major lesson – NEVER add a butcher block countertop if you’re planning to sell your home. Buyers were looking for a more durable material and felt like the butcher block didn’t work with the quartz we had on the peninsula.

Amongst the valuable lessons learned during this process, we found that if you’re trying to build the value of your home and plan to sell, some personal preferences must go out of the window, as creating a standard space for the majority is more important. Another rule of thumb would be to check out the homes in the neighborhood around you, to see what your neighbors are doing. This is ultimately the reason we chose to keep a galley-style kitchen layout (All the other homes in our neighborhood had them). We didn’t want to spend all of our money creating a huge kitchen that would not allow our home to appraise any higher than the comps in the area (since we were planning to sell within a few years of living in our home).

As many things in life, these mistakes are valuable lessons learned and that I would absolutely consider in the future (if the end game is to sell my house). I’ve found that many people can run into similar situations when selling their home and I’d love to hear of changes you made to your home that later, you wished you’d done differently. Please share any of your design mistakes/regrets below. We all can learn together.

Opening Image Credits: Design and Photo by Ajai Guyot

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Published on March 08, 2021 01:00

March 7, 2021

The Link Up: Caitlin’s Favorite Madewell Item Is Back In Stock, Jess’s Fun (& Sustainable!) Shirt, and The Podcast Emily Can’t Stop Quoting

Hey everybody and welcome to another Sunday Link Up. It’s kinda like the Sunday paper, except for it has way less “news” and way more ladies telling you how excited they are about random things in their life. Oh and good house tours sometimes too. We’re just gonna dive right in this week…

This week’s home feature is a stunner Brooklyn brownstone designed by Estelle Bailey-Babenzien for Adrian Grenier’s mom (heeeyyy Devil Wears Prada we see you) via Domino. The home renovation took 4 years to complete and they focused heavily on environmentalism and sustainability which you can’t not love. Head over and check it out because Estelle killed this design!

From Emily: The podcast I’ve quoted 7 times already – Nurture Vs Nurture. I LOVE talking about parenting and anything that can help give me tools to be a better parent (especially now). I also love watching other people in therapy (I started last week BTW, FINALLY). So this podcast is a clinical child psychologist giving advice to real parents about their kid’s very normal issues (hereby relatable, like every episode I’m like “my kid does that!”). Some are slower than others, but I’ve already learned a lot and have quoted it back to friends multiple times this week (phrases like “parent deaf” and “task blind”). There is an episode where the family lives on the farm that got me very very excited for that in our future. Plus another episode about being strict (something Brian and I are particularly not good at being).

From Jess: When my friend Casey sent me a link to Orenda Tribe, an incredible indigenous-owned clothing brand, my immediate thoughts were I desperately want this shirt and I need to share this with the readers. Talk about fun, colorful, powerful, cool, AND sustainable clothing. Go look now!

Also From Jess: I think it’s fair to say that the design world (especially the Instagram design world) greatly overlooks the needs of the disability community. Actually, that’s a wild understatement. We are not exempt from this either. So when I came across a blog post from designer, Meagan Blau, about the importance of wheelchair transfer heights, I thought to myself “duh! we should all be thinking/know about this!” It’s a great and informative quick read and you should also go check out her designs:)

Have you seen Joy’s new house? Emily talked about the House Beautiful article but Joy revealed her living room on her blog. It’s playful, colorful, and yet so sophisticated. Go look now for an instant mood boost!

From Mallory: Everything I link up these days seems to be something my sister told me about and this week’s link is no exception. My sister bought this perfume set and if you read my previous link up about my perfume struggles, you know this could not have come at a better time for me. I’m SO into this because it has 5 different scents and they’re all awesome and totally depend on your mood. My favorites are the 3 on the right: indigo, ombre, and beau…especially for a lil outdoor patio smokey nighttime vibe. The other two on the right are a little more floral-y and daytime-y. All smelled sooo good. I’m obsessed!

Also from Mallory: THIS LITERALLY BLEW MY MIND SO QUICKLY I BOUGHT IT SO FAST WITHOUT ANY HESITATION. Have you ever been targeted for an ad on Instagram and thought “wow this solves a BIG problem in my life and I can’t believe I’ve gone on this long without it?” That was me with the Elevated Craft cocktail shaker. I didn’t even REALIZE how much I was bothered by the process of making a cocktail at home until I saw this. Once I saw the video, I IMMEDIATELY bought 2 of these cocktail shakers. It doesn’t make your hands cold, the lid is easily twist-off-able (so it won’t freeze and stick together) and it has a built-in measuring system within the lid so you don’t have to use a jigger AND you can make multiple cocktails at once. FRICKEN GENIUS HOW HAVE I NOT HAD THIS BEFORE.

From Ryann: I know I am not the only one who struggles with body image and body positivity so I wanted to share this book I started reading that has helped me reframe my perspective and the way I chose to view my body. It’s called More Than a Body: Your Body Is an Instrument, Not An Ornament and I won’t lie, it is very self-helpy BUT it does provide great insight and I’ve noticed a change in my thinking around body image already

From Caitlin: Madewell’s short overalls are finally back in stock and if you can’t tell, I’m very excited about it!!! I love, love, love Madewell’s full-length overalls – they’re my go-to piece when I need to wear real clothes because they are super flattering on me. Also somehow they ALWAYS fit, regardless of any fluctuations, like some sort of magic Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants garment – so I am THRILLED that their spring/summer equivalent is now available. Imagine this: no risk of plumbers’ crack, a front fit that makes you feel like you’re being cuddled and smoothed instead of stuffed, and you’ll never have to stand up and take a second to pull up your pants again. I never thought that the jumpsuit/one-piece life would be for me (big boobs, big butt, big hips) but I’m so glad that I was inspired by my fashionable coworkers because they’re a total slam dunk and I’m never looking back. OVERALLS FOR ALL FOLKS IN ALL SEASONS!!!

That’s all for now. Thanks everyone for reading and we’ll see you later! Have an awesome week xx

Opening Image Credit: Design by Estelle Bailey-Babenzien | Styling by Francesca DeShae | Photog By Max Burkhalter and Emily Andrews | via Domino

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Published on March 07, 2021 01:00

March 6, 2021

15 DIY Projects That Are Guaranteed To Make Your Home Even Prettier (From Decor To Furniture)

It may be for the fact that I am on season 7 of Scrubs in a timeframe that might horrify you or that I’ve done the same puzzle TWICE within the past 8 months (I only have one so that’s on me), but I have been itching to DIY something. My eyes desperately need a break from the screen! But like a lot of people nearly exactly one year into quarantine, peeling my eyes away from that sweet sweet blue light requires a VERY good and engaging distraction. Sooo ya, getting “crafty” for the sake of filling time won’t really be enough to interest me and I have the 1/4 finished cross stitch to prove it. I want to create something that’s cool, beautiful, and that I want to display proudly in my home.

I figured that since I’m likely not the only one feeling this way that it was high time for a good, and dare I say chic, DIY roundup! We’ve done DIY posts before and obviously have featured countless genius projects from EHD alum and our contributors, but I realized I had saved a bunch on my phone from non EHD creators that I really wanted to share. I also tapped the rest of the team because 8 eyeballs scouring the internet are better than one, right?

So get ready to put those hands to work because I doubt you will leave this post without some inspiration to do something cool to liven up your space:)

Decor $15 Large Scale Wall Art By Paper & Stitch

Affordable large scale art isn’t easy to come which I probably why our updated repost of this post last month did SO WELL. The people want big art and I am no different. Cue in Brittni Mehlhoff, a DIY genius. Her site is always one of the first places I go for a great (and great-looking) DIY. You obviously get it by looking at that somehow $15 (!) piece of art she made. Now what you can’t tell about it from those photos is that those blush shapes are sewn on! That means it’s not only beautiful but textured and multi-dimensional. Don’t worry, she has options for people that can’t sew:) Anyway, if one of your walls needs some lovin’, this is a great project that can be as big as you want to fix that asap.

Architectural Planters By Peony And Honey

This one came from Mallory via The Lone Fox Journal (but created by Erika of Peony and Honey) and now I just might be making some planters this month. Man, these are chic, affordable, and would elevate anyone’s home. Actually, they would also make really heartfelt gifts that you could safely drop off to your friends or family. Think how nice and cool you would look!

Staircase Runner Makeover By Rebecca And Genevieve

I mean. What. A. Transformation. The entire space is wonderful but I am focusing on those stairs. If you don’t follow Valeria Jacobs of Rebecca And Genevieve then go do that right now. She is currently renovating her home and it’s full of pattern, texture, and so many great ideas.

As for this stairwell, she doesn’t give a full step by step but if you are handy and look through this post and this reel, I have every bit of faith you will nail it!

Textured Table Lamp By This House 5000

Elena of This House 5000 is another must-follow. Why? Well her home is beautiful and her content is fun/inspiring. So when I stumbled upon this little DIY challenge she did with a few other influencers I was down for the ride.

What started out as a simple little lamp, turned into a completely custom and textured functional accent to add to her already awesome desk. So with some clay, raffia, paint, and baking soda you too could have the cutest lamp ever on your desk too. Here is her step-by-step reel.

Fabric Paper Mache Bowls By Paper & Stitch

Brittni is at it again with these sweet bowls. Want a splash of unexpected pattern? Have some fun fabric you don’t know what to do with? Y’all make some unique bowls! She has a full step-by-step tutorial (as does all of her projects) and if you do them right, after only one hour you will have a great little dish. HOT TIP: As shown in her examples, we think small-scale patterns are probably going to look best for a small dish.

Upgrade Any Vase By Simplicite Design

This great DIY is very much in the same vein as Elena’s lamp by Mansa Krishnamurthy. If you have a vase or planter, just add a pottery texture to it! Mansa, took a couple of pieces and simply mixed baking soda and paint to create a high-end looking finish. Her secret though is adding pepper for added texture. Go to her site for all the info.

Wall TreatmentsThe Non-Removable Removable Wallpaper By Studio DIY

RENTERS REJOICE! Caitlin get props for this one! I think ALL of us were SO excited about this wall-saving DIY from Kelly of Studio DIY. She basically shows us (and now you) how literally any wallpaper can be made “removable”. This is not to take away from the great companies that sell temporary wallpaper, but when you have your heart set on that one print that only comes in a permanent option it’s a bummer. Well, until now that is! Go to Kelly’s post for how she did and also to happily stare at her son’s closet makeover:)

O and here’s another way that Kelly credits in her post from Amal Iqbal that uses Elmer’s Glue!

Painted Wall Pattern by Sarah Sherman Samuel

Are you surprised this is a Sarah Sherman Samuel wall?? Probably not because it’s chic and effortless (well, effortless-looking… I am sure it took a decent amount of effort:)) I love how subtle it is as opposed to this version which is bolder (which I actually love too). It’s such an affordable way to really make a statement while highlighting something that is already on the wall.

Family Command Center By Anita Yokota

If you and your family have a tough time keeping your drop zone and schedules straight (isn’t that most everyone?) then take notes from Anita Yokota’s command center. It’s a pretty beautiful and straightforward way to keep your life and house in order. Head to her blog for how she made it look so great!

FurnitureTHE One Drink Table By Made By Carli

I know that the holidays are over but I am NOT OVER those one-drink nesting tables by Carli Alves of Made by Carli. They are both rustic and modern, adding just the right amount of warm texture to a space. I typically see these similarly shaped tables with a marble base like in Lea’s reveal from earlier this week which looks so pretty, but this all-wood version is pulling at my heartstrings. In Carli’s post, she shows you exactly what you’ll need and how to do it. This is another DIY that having some power tools and some general handiness is going to help.

Awkward Nook Turned Secret Door By Luke Arthur Wells

Ryann was the one to turn me onto Luke and WOAH, this transformation makes my brain explode in the best way possible. Luke took what was an awkward nook in his dining room and made the coolest looking secret storage closet probably ever. This is for sure labor-intensive (he show you how here) but if you also suffer from awkward nook syndrome then I hope this really inspires you!

Tablecloth “No Sew “ Headboard By Luke Arthur Wells

Luke again and it’s true… no sewing machine was used for this incredible DIY. Just two H&M Home tablecloths and a staple gun.

I love how he covered the entire frame and not just the headboard. It makes such a cool impact. Tablecloths are not just for tables.

The Cabinet Makeover By Made By Carli

I just. I just sometimes can’t handle some people’s creativity. Here Carli is again (for a Drew Barrymore Show design challenge) and KILLED IT with transforming that very plain dresser into the most cool and functional bar cabinet. She goes into the whole process in this post so you can do something similar if you are up for the DIY challenge. Also, the look of worry and anticipation for what paint color Drew sent her to incorporate is too comical lol. P.S. It’s the yellow hiding in the back of the bar:)

The Cutest Daybed Ever (?) By Panels Of My Home

Imelda is at it again (remember this play kitchen inspired by her personal dream kitchen we featured?). I still can’t believe she MADE THIS for her One Room Challenge. Handmade, this would cost thousands of dollars. But in true Imelda fashion, she was having none of that and did it herself. Check out her process here. She doesn’t go into too much detail but since anyone wanting to attempt this would need some experience anyway, I think there’s enough for you to get the idea!

Arched Headboard By Paper & Stitch

Did you think I would leave you with a DIY post in 2021 and NOT include an arched headboard?? I think we all fell hard for the one in Allprace’s Japandi reveal and now you can have it in your home if you want AND it only costs $150! Brittni of Paper & Stitch is of course the mastermind behind this stunner so you only know she has detailed instructions. I think this is so pretty and especially if you are an arch lover but either rent or don’t want put arches in your home’s architecture then this is your solution.

Inspired? Wired? Fired…Up? Rhyming isn’t my forte so I will leave you here to enjoy your Saturday and hope that you now take a good long break from your screen and maybe even DIY a little (that’s my plan:))

Love you, meant it.

GO HERE FOR A GAZILLION MORE IDEAS!

Opening Image Credit: Design by Luke Arthur Wells

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Published on March 06, 2021 01:00

March 5, 2021

How to Beat Pinterest Paralysis & Actually Design Your Dream Space

Alternate title idea: Imposter Syndrome is Real, But I Didn’t Let it Stop Me…Oh and Let Me Teach You How to Moodboard! Whew was that a mouthful, hence why it didn’t make the cut. Hey EHD world. It’s Arlyn, ex-EHDer who just can’t quit this blog. I’m here today to do a little storytelling and a little self-promotion. The former being something I’m perhaps too comfortable doing, and the latter something I’m, eh…working on.

Earlier this month, Emily introduced you to the Skillshare package of classes from the wonderful Albie Buabeng, Mikel Welch, and me. While I’ll definitely go a bit deeper into what my course is about, what I hope everyone will come out of my lessons equipped with, and even what my process was to put the workshop together, I thought it would be fun to get a look at some of the behind-the-scenes. Before my experience filming, I would have had no idea what went into working on something like this. I’m a writer, design-lover and professional behind-the-scenes-er, so when I was asked to yank myself out of the warm embrace of that very cozy (invisible) place and be an in-front-of-the-scenes-er, it was quite the journey through the treacherous land called Imposter Syndrome. Oh, the peaks and valleys. Settle in, it’s storytime.

(Article express lane alert: For anyone who doesn’t care a lick about behind-the-scenes, feel free to scroll down to the section called “The class I wish I had for myself 5 years ago.” I mean, you’ll miss all the fun, but I understand if you just want to get to the meat of it.)

do i look confident?What It Was Like Working with Skillshare

First and foremost, I want to say that the team at Skillshare is full of such wonderful humans, and I promise I’m not writing this because I’m trying to get on their good side. I had the luxury of getting a small glimpse into the method back when Emily filmed her styling course. Velinda from our team at the time (oh what a wonderful time that was) was helping Em pull things together for the workshop and she always mentioned how lovely they were and how easy they made everything. She wasn’t wrong.

My first meeting with the team was before I accepted the project officially. It was a “feel it out” video call that I took from my bed. I was in the midst of some physical limitations (I injured myself back in August after falling off a bench…trying to rid my house of a pesky spider. The spider won). Worried filming would be too demanding for my weak, ailing back and legs, I was upfront and honest with them about it all. Some say “fake it ‘til you make it” but I prefer to put all the cards on the table and then see if someone is still interested. They were so gracious, saying they’d work with me however it suited me best, even if I needed to be seated the whole time. Lots of breaks would be built in, filming could be spread over a few days if I needed it. I mean, serious red carpet treatment, folks. They gave me a few days to think through it as I wanted to discuss it with my husband. He encouraged me to do it, and I said I’d see how I felt by the end of the weekend to make my choice. The truth is, I was partly using my injury as an out because I didn’t entirely feel “worthy” of the ask. Who was I to teach anyone anything? Keep reaching.

Anyhow, you know when you tell yourself “if so and so happens, then I’ll take it as a sign I should do so and so”? Yeah, half my decisions are made as a result of this practice. By Sunday, I felt not horrible (a miracle at the time), and delivered my excited yet very nervous “yes” the next day. A handful of calls and emails were exchanged over the next month, and filming would take place just before Thanksgiving.

What had I gotten myself into?

part of “b roll” was sitting on the couch, smiling, pretending to look at stuff on my laptop. i think i was convincing. The BTS of Filming

By the time all my surfaces had been restyled, fresh flowers arranged, sofa velvet evened out, pillows fluffed, I had walked back some of the imposteriness of the previous weeks. Once I knew the Skillshare team wanted me to teach on the subject of moodboarding, I felt a little more comfortable. I had been moodboarding for years, sometimes for fun, sometimes for work, mostly to get out my design itches. There was even a dinner I had with a very close friend soon after I arrived in LA when she said, and I quote: “If only you could figure out how to make money teaching people how to do those design boards you do so well.” Ha, foreshadowing much?

The night before “the big day,” I could barely settle my pulse below 100 bpm. I wouldn’t call it panic so much as anticipation (and okay, a tiny bit of panic). While I was grateful there was no script, I was almost more nervous that I didn’t have something to go off. You see, we had established an outline together on what the lessons would be about, and the delightful Kaye from the Skillshare team kept assuring me that the filming would run like a conversation. She’d ask me questions, I’d answer them and talk through things, she’d ask more questions, I’d keep answering, and then we’d be done! Easy peasy-ish.

The two fantastic women who would be my on-site film crew (shout out to Stav and Kayci!) came by the afternoon before to set up lighting, do sound checks, move around furniture. I hadn’t had anyone in my home for months as I was a stickler about social distancing (and by that, I really mean social isolation), so I threw open all the windows for air circulation and prepared to hover at least six feet away from them at all times. For anyone who is curious, anyone on the in-person camera crew is regularly tested for COVID, wears a mask all day, and 100% abides by all the necessary protocol. For a dyed-in-the-wool hypochondriac and worrier, it felt risky, but I was resolved to trust the precautions being taken.

To them, it was a regular Wednesday afternoon, but to me, it was like watching someone else’s totally regular Wednesday afternoon through a TV screen…a layer of “unrealness” separating me from it all. It’s a funny thing that happens when you suddenly become the subject. I had spent my entire journalistic career on the other side of the recorder/phone/camera/inbox. To flip-flop the situation was 100% out of my comfort zone, but my mantra through it all was “why not me?” Those three words echoed in my head anytime imposter syndrome would kick in. I’d be lying if I said they didn’t still.

That night, I settled into the steaming tub of water I ran for myself, sprinkled in lavender-scented bath salts, and tried to relax. I rehearsed some thoughts out loud, trying to get comfortable with my own voice, trying not to sound questioning of my own statements. Teachers are confident, helpful, understanding. Did I sound that way, too?

not shown: the six or seven times i filmed the part where i tell the class that i’m a “writer and designer.”Lights, Camera, Zoom Call, Action

This is where we jump to the part of the story where I tell you it was SO easy, a dried-up cactus could do it! While the team definitely made the process smooth, talking off the cuff to a camera with lights pointed at your face and a laptop not that far away with several faces floating on a Zoom call (the NY-based team videos in to make sure all is going according to plan) is not a natural feeling for a quasi-introvert. I stumbled, I asked to restart numerous times, I stared up at the ceiling envisioning my brain flatlining even more times. I remember a point where Kaye (my head producer if I haven’t mentioned that already) asked me to do another take of something “for options” and I sat there for what felt like 12 years, eyes blinking, not able to remember what I had just said. Through the laptop, she fed me back my lines with the patience and benevolence of a Buddhist monk. Bless you, Kaye.

I’m happy to report that once I got through the discomfort of talking about myself and got to the actual teaching, I settled in and felt natural. This is what I do. I’ve been instructing in one way or another in written form for over a decade. I got into the groove of walking through all the nitty-gritty steps of how I build my moodboards, how you can do it, too. Any lingering symptom of imposter syndrome cleared up. I remember telling my husband Charles at the end of the day how proud I was of myself. “I DO know things. I CAN teach people.” He nodded his head; he already knew both those things about me, he said back to me.

My last word on the behind-the-scenes is this: Skillshare is legit and they take the courses they release and the production that goes into said courses to release very seriously. I’m honored to have been picked to teach a workshop.

a super quick glimpse into my class. curious yet?!?“The Class I Wish I Had For Myself 5 Years Ago.”

If you made it this far, congratulations! You just lived through what I jokingly said to Jess before turning this post in would be best titled “Arlyn: The Skillshare Years.” If you skipped ahead, hey, welcome, you missed all the fun (I warned you).

Like I wrote at the start of this post, I thought it could be fun to pull back the veil. The whole undertaking was a whirlwind to experience as a “normal” person (meaning, not someone who is used to being the “talent”). But let’s finally—GOOD GOD FINALLY—get to the topic of my class. While I won’t go line by line and essentially reteach everything here in the written form (gotta leave something for you to learn in the course!), I’ll give you a brief overview. Essentially, my Skillshare class takes you through the “pre-design” process, from inspiration through moodboarding, a.k.a. everything you need to do before you actually dip into your bank account and accept a delivery on anything.

I have been putting together moodboards for years, figuring out the kinks myself in how to do it best along the way. “The class I wish I had for myself 5 years ago,” is how I would loosely describe this to anyone who asked. When I was working through the syllabus with the team, I tried to think about areas where I struggled before I solidified my system. Mostly, they were organization, action, and the dreaded Pinterest Paralysis . If you just thought “that’s all the things to struggle with, Arlyn,” you’d be correct. I’d pin pin pin pin pin without knowing where to go next. Products and images across numerous boards that I’d stare at for months, years. Then I’d just buy something and hope for the best. THIS IS HOW PROFESSIONALS DO IT! (I’m kidding).

Not a single time before I finished my living and dining rooms did I actually create a space that felt cohesive and well-rounded. And I finally know why that is: because I didn’t do enough planning. Even if it’s not in your budget to finish a room all at once, I implore you to go through the moodboarding process. It’s my fail-safe way to “date” products and paint colors, see how everything works—or doesn’t work—together before ever spending a dime. I also found that splitting up the room you’re designing into multiple moodboards (what I call “vignettes” in the course) was crucial to not overlooking something. A lot of the designers I follow seem to plot out a room all on one board, but for a non-professional, I think that could be overwhelming.

a moodboard vignette looking toward my sofa.

on the opposite wall, an iteration of my fireplace and tv set up.

the finished product. ooohh aahhhh.

Another thing I go through is how to get from the save-all-the-inspo phase to actually shaping a room’s design. There’s a purging process, a “trend-spotting” part, and the pre-moodboard vision board. That last part is something I’ve added recently that has seriously helped me avoid wandering decorating eyes or distractions.

Now, something I want to say for anyone who has taken or will take my course is the following: You do NOT need to know Photoshop to do what I did in my course. I walk through the steps in Photoshop because that’s what is most comfortable to me, but you could apply all the same principles even if you printed and cut things out and taped it all together on an old school poster board. I promise. If you have Adobe knowledge, then great! If not, find the method that works for your skillset/program access, and proceed. (Skillshare has great courses to help you learn Photoshop, too, so take my workshop then get the most out of that membership and keep on learnin’!)

my zoom with em:)Wrap It Up, Arlyn

Thank you for ingesting 2,000+ words up there. Hopefully, you had some fun, or at least scratched some curiosity itches, with all my behind-the-scenes details. And I’d be lying if I didn’t also hope you might want to head on over to Skillshare to take my class and learn how to plan out your perfect room! I spend time in the discussion boards over there and have had some great chats with some of my students, too!

Oh, and the best news: Don’t forget that you can get two free weeks of Skillshare (to take my course, Albie’s, Mikel’s, and a ton more, of course) with this link. I hope to see you over there, soon!

Opening Image Credits: Left – Arlyn’s Pinterest | Right – Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp, From: Reveal: Arlyn’s Bright & Happy Rental Living Room Makeover

The post How to Beat Pinterest Paralysis & *Actually* Design Your Dream Space appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on March 05, 2021 12:50

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