Emily Henderson's Blog, page 181

We Bought A (Mini) Farm!!!! Introducing Our New/Old Oregon Home

I honestly can’t believe I’m actually writing this post. It’s been a year and a half of trying to buy this home for our family. Here’s how it all went down. Two summers ago (2019) we made the very emotional decision to move back to Oregon, to raise our kids near family and friends. For whatever reason LA has never felt like our forever home so we realized we should just stop putting it off. Why wait to start the next chapter in our life? The older your kids get the harder it is to move (we’ve heard and I moved when I was 16 and can personally attest to it being an absolute nightmare). So we started looking for properties online (well, we had looked for years, actually in both Portland and Bend) and within a few days found an unusual one that checked a lot of boxes.

HERE’S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR:Space and nature – We want our kids to grow up in nature so we wanted at least an acre. Good public schools nearby – At least for elementary. After living in traffic for 12 years we really didn’t want a long commute to take our kids to second grade. Still near the action – To be honest, I could have gone deep country – an hour outside of Portland, but Brian didn’t want to for our sake as well as the kids. He’s right – eventually, we’ll want to “go out to dinner” or “see friends”. Also when theaters open up Brian will start acting at night again so being near the city is a good thing. So our ideal/fantasy property was a country home in a family-friendly neighborhood, not far from the city. OOf, that’s not easy. A compelling special property that would be a creative project for me, long-term – I know that is hard to identify with but to make us move up there we really needed something that excited us daily, to our core. WE FOUND IT

So we found a property online that checked a lot of those boxes and we flew up the next day (just Brian and I, in August 2019). We drove into the long tree-lined property and immediately knew it would be ours. It was our EXACT match. We walked the property for THREE hours and made an offer the next day. It had been on the market for 8 months with no offers, so we offered low, only to be rejected. The owner, Tom, didn’t feel motivated by the price so we quickly just came up to the full price knowing that we wanted it that badly, long-term. He then realized that he wasn’t ready to sell it and while deeply apologizing, took it off the market. We were extremely disappointed but I KNEW that it was just a timing situation. The Universe had a different plan. Maybe we needed to stay in LA for one more year? Maybe it was a test to see if we really wanted it (I’ve read about manifesting a lot and this is part of the process and one of the ‘steps’ to getting what you want in life – you get tested). Brian and Tom (the owner) texted for a full year about it, checking in every couple of months to see if we were still interested and us being completely transparent that YES we sure were.

THEN COVID HIT

People started coming at him to buy it mostly to develop it because now more than ever people want land. You see, it is a strangely secluded THREE ACRES in the middle of an incredible old suburb 15 minutes from Downtown Portland and 5 minutes from cute SW restaurants. It’s an incredible piece of land full of old-growth trees, groves (and more) and the location is SO good, making it extra desirable when people want more space. So Tom texted and asked us if we were still serious because he probably saw that the time was right for him to sell (this was August of last year, 2020) and we freaked out. YES. Even more than ever because at this point we were 80% sure that we were permanently leaving LA, and while we had since fallen in love with living in Lake Arrowhead year-round (we thought we would be bored before, but not at all) we still knew Oregon was where we wanted to eventually raise our kids. He raised the price in order for him to not put it back on the market (anything with land was going so far over asking) and we agreed to buying it as-is, but still worth it to us (mostly because of what I do).

So it’s taken from August til mid-December to finalize the sale. We went back up in October to make sure that this was the right move, not having been on the property for over a year – were we really sure???? We had been talking about it with the kids openly and we really wanted THEM to see it for themselves. The second we got to the farm it was that instant feeling again. It was OURS. ENOUGH WITH THE BACKSTORY LETS SEE THE PROPERTY!!!!!!

driveway and pathway connecting the housesIT’S A MINI FARM Y’ALL WITH TWO VINTAGE HOUSES

It has two farmhouses – one from 1860 (a kit house that is dripping with charm – and totally falling down) and the main house from 1910 that hasn’t been updated too much but is in strong shape. It has a barn, multiple super cute sheds, and a massive carriage garage. It has a dilapidated sports court, a million apple and cherry trees, and even a super cute treehouse that is likely a death trap but just so cute. It has 2 paddocks and a pasture and the entire property is fully fenced – the kids and dogs can have free rein.

left: sports area | right: (scary) treehouse

It feels like you are in the middle of the country but IT PRACTICALLY BACKS UP TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. You can see it from the back fence, just a public park away. Essentially the kids can walk on ONE sidewalk without having to cross the street to get to school and I can watch them from the back fence and wave – never having to leave my little farm (I’ve become QUITE the homebody). It is such a sweet neighborhood, so quiet, barely any through traffic, but not ostentatious. We walked the neighborhood multiple times when we were there a year ago and there were so many families with young kids riding bikes, and playing in the park and the general review of the neighborhood and school was AMAZING. It’s just where we want to raise our kids and live until they are grown (barring unforeseeable life changes, of course).

Ok, that’s all the good news. And there really isn’t any bad news because of what I do – document projects… but not just anyone would have been up for this project…

main house back entryHOW DOES A 100-YEAR-OLD HOUSE (AND ALMOST 200-YEAR-OLD HOUSE) INSPECT?

Well, listen, we knew what we were getting ourselves into – the biggest project of our lives, possibly a 5-year project. The inspector was there for 6 hours and at the end pulled us aside to give us the news. He genuinely raved about the property for 10 minutes (as a historic home enthusiast himself he couldn’t believe it still existed) using the word ‘magical’ over and over (we agreed) and then he broke it down…

left: main house upstairs bedroom | right: main house kitchen

Ahem. The main house would essentially need a new foundation, all new plumbing, all new electrical, sewer line, it has mold, water damage, asbestos, every window needs repair or replacing, a new chimney… and it just went on and on. But he said all those things with a ‘of course you know this’ vibe as if it wasn’t bad news. He was still so enthusiastic about the home and property. I nervously asked, ‘so what is good about it then?’ and he basically said what we knew, too – that it actually had great bones, it’s solid and since it hasn’t really been renovated in 100 years you know what you are getting. We had already agreed to buy as-is so, strangely we weren’t phased. We knew we were going to renovate and once you open the walls, we knew we wouldn’t find perfection. You have to walk across the upstairs bedrooms to turn on the only light source – the single pull chain sconce, for example. There weren’t light switches, no ceiling fixtures. We didn’t care. We loved it. It’s spacious and charming and really does feel solid and loved.

THE VICTORIAN HOUSE (1850)the victorian house exteriorleft: the bathroom | right: the kitchen

The ‘kit house’ from 1850 is absolutely falling apart, literally 1/2 of it only has a dirt floor that slopes down into at like a 30 degree angle. It doesn’t have plumbing tied in (has the cutest shower stall, though) and barely has electrical (these cute exterior wires pinned to the ceiling installed in 1920). But again, we already knew this. None of this bummed us out, nothing surprised us and we were still HYPED for this house. It’s SO cute and charming and once restored will be the cutest guest house/office ever. It wouldn’t be everyone’s dream property, but as a designer and someone who loves to and yes, gets to go to work every day documenting my own projects it is our dream job and, more importantly, it will be our dream home.

THE FACTS main house living roommain house living room fireplace view

The main farmhouse is where our family will live. It is 3500 square feet, with 3 bedrooms upstairs and a shared hall bath. They are all corner rooms so they have great light and are a good size.

Downstairs includes a huge living room, kitchen and sunroom. And then in what seems to be a ’60s addition, there’s a family room, two small offices, a laundry room, and a bathroom. I’ll get into the layout more next week with lots of photos and show you floor plans galore, but essentially we want to turn that whole wing into a family room and our primary suite. The only thing we are struggling to figure out is how to add a family room and make the house flow long-term for our family. So yes, some walls will shift around. Right now it has a massive living room but no family/tv room and since this is our forever home we really want to have two separate hangout areas (having a separate living and family/tv room here has been something we’ve greatly appreciated).

our architects! meet arciform AM I NERVOUS??

YES… This hasn’t been without a decent dose of nervousness and before we hired Anne and Arciform I would wake up frequently being like, ‘wait, why are we leaving??? Am I just adding years of stress doing this highly expensive and very stressful renovation????’ We love living in Lake Arrowhead, in this beautifully DONE house, A LOT. Like a lot, a lot. It’s sunny 300 days a year and I bike around a lake most mornings. But long term, and when the world opens up, I know that we want to be closer to family, culture, neighbors that aren’t empty airbnbs and even restaurants and vintage shopping. I don’t think I would have moved up for just any house though, I want to live in the country, away from the hustle and bustle, and Brian wants to live near the city – And somehow SOMEHOW we found it (more on manifestation later, I literally followed the steps).

left: main house downstairs bathroom | right: main house upstairs bedroomWHAT IS THE TIMING? WHEN IS THIS HAPPENING?

We closed right before the holidays and hired Arciform to be our design/build team (read this post on how we are doing this project differently and why we hired this amazing company). We’ll get as-builts first – drawings of how it is right now, and then we’ll go to town with reconfiguring it to make it work long term for our family. I’ve already come up with a pretty solid design vision and elements that are a ‘non-negotiable’ – beautiful windows and doors, many fireplaces to keep it cozy all winter (yes, we are scared about leaving California for the rain), lots of locally made fixtures, tile, etc. We hope to start demo in early spring and hoping to be in a portion of it when school opens up in the fall.

WHAT CAN YOU GUYS EXPECT?

Well, tackling this project will be full of one million challenges and lessons and we will share all of them with you. I’m not promising any sort of ‘I Design, You Decide’ engagement strategy. Instead, we’ll tell a story of how to do this right, once and long term – truly the most sustainable way to renovate. Of course the team, Arciform, that we’ve hired has done so many historic homes, not to mention old churches, lighthouses, and covered bridges so I’m in GREAT hands.

the main house kitchen

We are going to tackle the main house first, investing in it to work long-term for our family. I’ve learned a lot of how I like to live in my house and what I need to stay sane, so even though it’s a vintage style house full of charm it will have a more minimal approach. The older home (from 1850) that will serve eventually as our office/guest house will be way different. We’ll make it safe (foundation, electrical, plumbing, and temperature control) but then it will be far more budget, thrifted and eclectic – I have to have somewhere to put all my beautiful things!! It will be where I have fun, take more risks in styling and decorating as we’ll leave all the walls and general layout as-is, and just get weird with decor. I’m hoping that there will be something here for everyone – those of you you want inspiring new and solid design ideas for your renovations, and those who love the ‘work with what you got and thrift a lot’ way of life. I love them both so much THUS THE EXTREME EXCITEMENT.

more exterior:)

And I haven’t even mentioned the exterior yet!!! The property feels totally rural and the kids can get totally lost (and it’s flat, fenced and full of trees and so many native edibles). We’ll likely landscape some parts of it, get some goats in to clean up so many blackberry bushes (I’m pro blackberry bushes because I grew up picking them, but Brian says there are too many). We also want to put in some garden beds, but keep it fairly unruly and rural so it doesn’t turn into a big landscaped McMansion yard. Right now because of the trees it feels endless, like you could roam for hours before you get to the perimeter and I think if we open it up too much we’ll lose that sense of wonder. We’ll likely do the hardscape areas when we renovate but tackle more of the exterior in phase 2 (or 3 or 4) as landscaping is far more expensive than I would have ever thought 5 years ago.

Again, we are doing this once, so we are going to do it RIGHT for the long term, which means a lot of planning, fixing really boring/non-sexy expensive things and requiring a lot of experts. I want to renovate this house so it literally never has to be fixed or renovated again. Sure I might switch out furniture, but let’s give her another solid 120 years of quality design and craftsmanship, with kids chasing chickens and building forts the whole time.

The real challenge is how to design a 120-year-old farmhouse to be timeless, authentic, modern yet INTERESTING. I’m certainly not the first person to design a ‘modern farmhouse’ right now, HAHAHAHA, so how do I design it (and inspire you all) to be really special without bending into a trend I’ll regret or going too far in one direction. How do you stand out without trying too hard? How do you create warmth in simplicity?? Interest without busy-ness???

Y’all. I have a vision, I do. And I’m SO excited to share that vision, and the entire process with you. 2021 will be a BIG YEAR and while I’m nervous to go from no projects to two massive projects (and finishing the book), I’m also really ready to be creative again and dive into these projects. I’ve found myself pinning for hours on the weekend, working overtime because it feels like so much fun. I have missed that this year.

Thanks for coming along thus far in my life. The proverbial doors will always be open to you, my kind, supportive readers and for that I’ll give you all the honesty, transparency and design info, resources and lessons possible. Let’s do this together.

The post We Bought A (Mini) Farm!!!! Introducing Our New/Old Oregon Home appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What We ACTUALLY Bought This January To Start Our Year Off Right

OK, gang. Here’s the deal: there is a lot of hardcore design content on the books this week. Ryann analyzed how recent world events shifted the design world, Jess revealed 2021’s biggest kitchen trends, Emily taught you how to find and vet an architect or contractor, and tomorrow, we’re FINALLY unveiling our next huge project. It’s a big week on the blog!

But you know what??? It’s hump day and my brain is slowly turning to mush this week and sometimes A GAL JUST WANTS TO GAB WITH HER PALS ABOUT STUFF. (Yes, I do also talk like this in real life, and yes, I too am amazed that I still have both friends and a job.) We’re about halfway into the first month of the new year and while some of my resolutions are a total wash (LOL DRY JANUARY WHO??), I started poking around to see if anyone else on the team had picked up anything interesting to aid them on their quests for self-betterment.

Turns out, we have all scooped up some things – running the gamut from skincare to ornament organization to composting bins to toilet brushes to underwear – that we’re feeling excited about, so I pulled them all together into one neat little post so we could ALL GAB about stuff. If you haven’t caught up on all the good posts this week, scroll up and read those first…but then come and chat with me, okay???

From Emily

UGG Short Boot: It’s a lot like buying the new Jordans. When the navy blue Uggs launched this year, I NEEDED them. If myself and 95 million tween girls from 2002 haven’t convinced you yet of the pleasure of the Ugg, I’d love to show you my new ones that I got for Christmas (my old ones were 3 years old, being worn almost every day). I don’t know. Maybe I’ve fully lost it, but I do think these are more flattering and when I wear them with my black athleisure (DEAR GOD WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN), it lengthens my legs more than my brown classic ones did. Listen, I don’t have stock in Uggs, but the support they give my feet while keeping my ankles and shins warm is beyond the abilities of other slippers, it just is.

Round Glass Storage Bowls: My tupperware situation, like my sock drawer, is a baffling mess where we were down to 1 normal sized dish with a matching lid (lots of tiny ones but what do people actually use those for? Homemade aioli?). With JanSTEWary in full production, I needed some new glass tupperware (good for reheating so I don’t have to transfer into an additional bowl to warm up). These were out of stock in December and are back (and mostly well-reviewed). I just bought 2 sets of them to redo my whole drawer. Also, I felt personally connected to this tweet that both shamed me and has made me LOL in the middle of the day.

Ornament Box & Figurine Container: It’s a level of ‘mom-hood’ I didn’t know I could reach and yet based on my passion towards ornaments it feels long overdue. If you are behind in putting things away, no shame here, but if you want help not only for this year but next year unpacking, Birdie and I had a BALL carefully wrapping up our family tree ornaments. Now all of my favorite ones are secure in one bin (and we are leaving it in the garage, not the attic in case of fire we can grab). One must protect ones sentimental things and this case held a lot, is super solid and made it very easy (even though it’s an investment).

From Jess

Looped Bath Rug: Fun Fact: I was temporarily using my small Moroccan wool rug as my bath mat for the past two months. Naturally, I would avoid getting it wet thus making it completely pointless to keep in there. So I finally ordered this proper bath mat and it’s great! It’s the perfect rich navy and is just the right amount of cushy. Small change, BIG difference. 

Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum with Champaca Essence: So I took the plunge and started at-home micro-needling. I’ve only done it twice but so far it’s great (I’ll keep you updated). I was extremely nervous to try it and mess up my face so I did a lot of research. Aside from needing a good rubbing alcohol to disinfect your tool, hyaluronic acid is recommended to use before and if you’d like, after (and twice daily for optimal skin hydration). Kerry Benjamin, owner of Stacked Skincare, is very into micro-needling so I decided to go for her hyaluronic acid and so far it makes my skin feel so good and so soft. It’s expensive (I got mine on sale) but I know there are a lot on the market so it’s something everyone can try. 

Vanity Fair Illumination String Bikini Underwear: I finally gave in and ordered like 10 of these the other week. I’ve had a pair forever and always grab it first because it’s so comfortable. I originally held off from buying more because the seam is real. But at this point who cares. I’m at home 99% of the time so why not just be comfortable?? And despite the panty line issue, the “string” part on the sides gives a dash of sexy (well as sexy as full coverage bottoms can be:)). They are also apparently the #1 selling panty in America. Who knew??

Indian Kala Namak Mineral Salt: Since last July I’ve been nearly 100% plant-based. FYI not standing on a soapbox because everyone should do what makes them feel best when it comes to their food. Anyway, it’s been pretty fun diving into recipes I would have never considered before like Tabitha Brown’s Vegan Deviled Eggs. Now I haven’t made them yet but I honestly can’t wait. But to make then I needed to buy this salt (Tabitha says it’s what gives it its egg taste). Any vegan recipes you love and I should try next? Let me know!

Kitchen Cabinet Lid Organizer: For Christmas I got a new set of pots and pans (YAY) and of course want to treat them very well. I have a pegboard to hang all of the pot and pans but the lids were just fending for themselves in my cabinet and taking up too much space. So I ordered this organizer and love it. It’s simple, affordable, and makes me feel like I have it a little more together. 

Pumice Stone Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Extra Long Handle: I’m not sure if it’s because my toilet is really old but it stains SO FREAKING QUICK. So I decided to try a pumice stone wand and it worked great. Plus it’s a natural way to clean your toilet (or tub, or sink, whatever)… not that I’m against using chemicals. Sometimes you need them. Anyway, 10/10 and I so happy to have a nice-looking toilet again. Sorry, this was gross but hopefully helpful.

From Mallory

OUAI Spray: I’ve never used heat protectant on my hair before (that was a mistake) and now it’s breaking off and looks bad…so “get your life together” means start wearing more sunscreen and actually protect your hair before you crimp it at a ripping 400 degrees. It’s the little things this year.

Fast and Free Tight: The one thing I’ve needed for SO LONG but have just never invested in is a good pair of high waisted black leggings. I had some very specific requirements…they NEEDED to have pockets and they NEEDED to not fall down at the waist (is that too much to ask?). Lululemon gave me all this and THEN SOME. These leggings are snug at the waist and have a drawstring to tighten them even more if you want to, so the stay up factor is at an all-time high. In the pocket department, they have two side pockets (that aren’t bulky) and 5 – yes 5 – pockets around the waist. Plus they pass the squat test which slaps. These are the best ever.

Organic Lavender Hand Sanitizer: I’ve been needing a good, light, but effective sanitizer that doesn’t smell like straight rubbing alcohol. This is my ABSOLUTE FAV. It really made me ready to go into another pandemic-y year. I feel on top of it when I spray this baddie.

Coola Sunscreen: I talk about this sunscreen a lot but it’s TRULY the best. So light plus every time I wear it people say I smell good. It’s like taking a shower while also protecting your face. 2021 I’m gonna wear sunscreen DAILY, LET’S GOOOO!

From Ryann

Composting Bin: One of my biggest, most shameful secrets is that I don’t compost despite having the resources to do so. I’ve talked about doing it for years but have chickened out because I worry I won’t keep up with it. I know myself enough to know that I need a system that is pretty self-sufficient, so when my friend suggested this worm factory compost system I was super intrigued. Turns out it is the type of thing that is extremely easy to use and manage so I purchased it immediately and can’t wait to try it out. Any tips for a new composter would be greatly appreciated!! 

Small Monthly Planner: I am not a big resolution person per se, but I always always love a new planner, notebook, or journal. Last year I bought myself this journal with the intention to bullet journal like the influencers who have their lives together do (HA). It lasted about a month so this year I tried to stick with something a little more suited to me and my personality. I got this monthly planner via Jess’s recommendation and love how minimal and simple it is. It’s basically a block calendar in notebook form and I love it and have used it every day so far! 

Vanity Mirror with Lights: In an unexpected turn of events, towards the end of last year I got really good at doing my makeup and I am super into it??? It’s still a new revelation for me but I decided to lean into it so I bought this makeup mirror. I am sort of terrified of it and am not sure if this means I am becoming a beauty blogger now, but I am also very excited to use it. That said, send me all your makeup/skincare recs!! I am a new born baby trying to learn! 

Chemex Coffee Maker: I tend to think of myself as a big coffee drinker but in reality, I only drink 1 cup in the morning and 1 in the afternoon which ends up leaving half of my coffee mate untouched. In an effort to reduce that waste, I purchased this pour over coffee maker so in the mornings I can make myself a cup as needed. And as an added bonus, it looks very pretty on my kitchen counter and I actually enjoy the process of making coffee now. 

From Caitlin

Massaging Shampoo Brush: I asked my mom to buy me this for Christmas in a link up before the holidays (because what is the site for, if not writing extremely specific gift requests to your family?) and I LOVE IT. Sometimes I feel like my hair can get kind of gunky underneath – even when it’s newly washed – and it’s a real hit to the self-confidence to be like “oh, yeah, I’m almost 30 and still haven’t learned how to get all my conditioner out, cool” but this SOLVES THE PROBLEM. It feels awesome (it’s battery-powered so it actually vibrates on your noggin!) and it makes my hair cleaner for longer. 10/10.

Night Moisturizer: Not sure what it is about mid-Atlantic climates, but I’ve been in Delaware for almost 11 weeks and my dry skin has been a wreck THE. WHOLE. TIME. I’ve been spoiled by the perfect blend of LA warmth and ideal humidity! Fresh has historically been one of the only moisturizer brands that doesn’t make me feel like my face is falling off (anyone else turn bright red with 99% of moisturizers? Just me?) but it’s kind of pricy for every day wear so I like breaking this out a little bit at night when my cheeks are getting extra lizard-y.

Seat Cushion: OH BABY. Nothing says “design editor” like a bedpan-shaped cushion! Can’t wait to highlight this in a MOTO. But really – I love this thing. I kinda sorta maybe broke my back about 6 weeks ago (my first-ever ambulance ride AND a mid-pandemic emergency room stay? I’m a lucky gal!) and have been literally laying flat ever since. I still cry when I have to sit up straight, but this cushion is a game changer – I was able to do 3 hours in a car for Christmas while sitting on it and I use it in a recliner for a couple of hours every day so I don’t turn into one of the grandparents from Willy Wonka. If you have ANY kind of back pain, please know that someone with a literal broken back supports this cushion. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

But what about y’all – any exciting purchases lately? Are you finally organizing your cabinets or tackling your tupperware problem? Diving into making your house more eco-friendly? Finally cleaning that grimy space you’ve been putting off for months? Treating yourself to a little bit of self-care or organization? Please talk to me, everyone else on the team is very busy cooking up EVEN MORE really great design content for the rest of the month and I’m kinda lonely. xx

The post What We ACTUALLY Bought This January To Start Our Year Off Right appeared first on Emily Henderson.

How To Hire The Right Design/Build Team For Your Renovation + Who We Hired For Our Portland Home (And WHY Them?)

Hiring the right people in every single aspect of your life can make a massive difference not only for the job they are hired for but your emotions and stress. Hiring the wrong person/team can add so much more stress than not having anyone at all. It’s an art, really, knowing who is right for YOU (I’m talking nannies, employees, accountants, every. single. person. can either make your life easier or more stressful). Historically I’ve been pretty good at it, TBH and this isn’t any different, but I did go about it in a different way. I feel like I finally did a smart “business” move. Learning from past experiences, not repeating patterns/mistakes – look at me!!! As we were closing on our property in Portland (official intro post comes tomorrow!!!) we made the decision to renovate the home in Oregon while living here, in Lake Arrowhead as opposed to renting a house in Portland during Covid. Schools aren’t open, we can’t really enjoy Portland or even be with friends/family right now so we’ll continue to hide out here while the reno is happening. So if we are here, in CA – a 16-hour drive away – who is going to manage this renovation? Who will help assist with the photography and content creation, help make on the fly design decisions when they arise? I’ve been to the property twice, and sure have spent probably 20 hours there total, but who is going to really be there to oversee the design? I put it out there in this blog post and from your suggestions (THANK YOU) I started reaching out to compile the team.

As you know, I no longer have an in-house design team (Fun fact: Velinda, Julie, and Grace (and Bowser as freelance) are all working together – hire them! They are so talented and more of their projects are coming soon:)) so doing two major projects out of state on my own is not an option (remember I’m helping with my brother’s new build in Portland too). I thought about hiring a few design assistants in Portland but, realizing I like a smaller team of employees, I had a new idea… what if I didn’t hire a team of assistants that work for me? What if I instead hired a professional with their own team????? Instantly at that thought my stress level DROPPED. I pitched the idea to Brian and he could see on my face that this is the only way he’s going to get his wife to stay sane for the next two years (and he seems to really enjoy my sanity). More on that below…

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project: the entry & staircase revealWhat Type Of Team Do We Actually Need – Who Are The Players? A pro-space planner – either an architect, interior architect or a designer who excels in laying out a challenging house. Obviously, they need to be proficient in floorplans, be able to do all the accurate drawings and work closely with an engineer. It’s crucial that this person considers the way the light moves through the house, the views, the flow and knows how a family really functions – not just putting rooms next to each other. I’ll show you tomorrow, but the first floor has to be very much reworked and I was stumped. Floorplans are not necessarily my expertise (although I am getting more and more confident with every renovation which is very empowering). A general contractor/builder – We want someone specifically who has done a lot of historic homes (turns out there are a lot in PDX as there are so many historic homes). The right GC would have a lot of experience, be FIR certified (a PDX pass to help licensed contractors get homes renovated faster by dedicating 1 inspector throughout the whole process). We wanted someone super familiar with the codes, permits and could get things through the city the most efficiently. We wanted high quality, a huge attention to detail, knowledge of the artisans, subs, vendors in PDX, and experience enough to tell us where we are spending too much unnecessarily, etc. We want a real pro. Project Manager – Some GCs have project managers, some don’t. I knew that we would need one, for sure. This person could check on the property, keep orders going, make sure things arrive in time, think about budget/deadlines, etc. Bri and I don’t excel in organization so we need just someone being SUPER on top of it. Blog/content /social media assistant – Not being there means that I need someone up there to help take photos of the process, videos, timelapses – all the things and help communicate to my team what is going on, so we make sure all the social lines up with the blog post. Design help – yes, I’m a designer and I had a pretty clear vision for this project but I like having someone else to bounce ideas off of and really feel ‘into’ the project with me. This is where I started fantasizing – what if I could have more of a creative partner? Someone who had MORE experience than I do, especially in the renovation/architectural finishes world. Someone who was as creatively invested in the project, someone I could share both the glory and the blame with? Ha. What if that someone could take my ideas and make them better because of that experience??? To help me avoid mistakes, to help keep things streamlined, keep me from unnecessarily changing my mind (not an easy job), to help give me confidence in huge design decisions so I stopped going back and forth? What a DREAM. While I truly love all the ‘I Design, You Decide’ and ‘Ask the Audience’ posts, what if I did have someone to help me pull the trigger or tame my ideas when I go off course?? Better yet, someone who would take the reins of the project and almost treat me like a client? What if they presented the electrical plan and window schedule, to ME, and I approved it instead of me coming up with it and hoping I did it right. What a fantasy. So yes, we went for the fantasy to see if it could be our reality.

We took your suggestions, did some further reach-out from friends/family, and started compiling our favorites.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the riskiest bathroom i designed—with a “how i’m feeling now” updateHere’s What We Were Looking For In The Right Team: Good chemistry – That’s really #1 especially for people like Brian and I who really value relationships and personally liking who we are around. This isn’t a lawyer or a surgeon. We are going to be working with whoever this is for at least a year (if not WAY more, you’ll see), very closely and very publicly, so I can’t dread a meeting, or be annoyed at poor communication. It has to be fun (remember I’m a 7, enneagram). This project will be stressful as every renovation is, but I don’t want this relationship to add to the stress – it should actually decrease it. Our conversation needs to be easy, not fraught or strained and we really like “friendly directness”, not placating us because we are the client, nor being annoyed at the fact that I care so much about details. We just need to be on the same page as much as possible in how we communicate. In short, we need to have good chemistry. Experience – While I think there is so much creativity in young people straight out of school, this is a HUGE project and likely our forever home, and it’s A BEAST. I know from my own experiences that the only way to really know what you are doing in the field of renovation is YEARS of doing it over and over. It’s directly proportional – the more experience, the less mistakes (or as who we hired has said a few times – we’ll make our mistakes early, on paper not later when it costs so much more to fix). We knew that hiring someone with a lot of experience would cost more – AS IT SHOUlD – and we are happy to pay to have that confidence. Creativity and a shared vision – Designing and building a more standard house is easy for most professionals but taking it to the next level, doing something that no one has seen before but in a timeless way is HARD. I need to know that who we are hiring can take it to the next level at the same time understand our design intent and help me STICK to it. Ideally, they would see the art direction deck and just ‘get it’ so that I wouldn’t have to consistently say ‘no, that’s not what we are going for, remember????’ It’s a lot to ask, but if you are hiring someone on the architecture/design side this is EXTREMELY important to make sure you really get what you want long term. Shared values/intent – We want a team that would respect the history of the home/s and while we want to make it more efficient and functional for our family, having a passion for older homes was pretty important. We also want a team to help us be as sustainable as possible – to help advise what we can reuse where, who to donate to that will give to the right resources, where we can source the best reclaimed everything, and most importantly how to design it so we never have to replace anything (truly the most sustainable thing you can do). Obviously, we want to conserve water, energy, etc too, so having experience doing that would be extremely valuable. *Here’s a fun anecdote, while we were doing an electrical walkthrough up here, at the mountain house, Velinda asked if a particular fixture was up to the CA code for energy efficiency and the electrician quickly and gruffly responded, ‘we don’t let the government tell us what to do up here’ and we looked at each other and were like ‘uh, dude, we just want to conserve energy, we aren’t trying to take away your guns’. We made sure it was, of course, but we were also told that the inspectors up here don’t check it because they don’t like government regulations – SO THAT’S COOL. Anyway, we just want a team that is going to be mindful of the planet, long term (not a problem finding in PDX, by the way – people up there CARE). Professional and organized – Managing a renovation like this is A LOT and having systems and protocols, as boring as they are, is extremely important – especially for budgeting and timing purposes. Brian and I are TERRIBLE at contracts, paperwork, organization, and this hasn’t bode well for us in the past – we’ve avoided hard conversations and paid more knowing that it’s partly our fault for not being on top of it. So having a team that is so on top of it that there aren’t any questions on where the time and money goes will make us feel, well, safe. Excited about the press, social media, and portfolio opportunity – While this wasn’t going to be a deal breaker, I did want to find a team who saw and valued the benefits of this project media-wise – who was excited (not annoyed) at the fact that it’s going to be all over social media and the internet (not to mention Pinterest) forever. I knew that if they were into this opportunity that they would be even more emotionally (and personally/professionally) invested in it, knowing that their work, their process, their creativity would be so widely seen. Not everyone is up for that kind of pressure and exposure, so it was important to find people who not only were up for it but were EXCITED by it. I didn’t want to have to shyly ask for photo updates for insta-stories, but instead someone who would enthusiastically text me updates knowing that documenting this all will be a huge part of my business and theirs the next two years. Honesty and transparency – You can get a sense in interviews, but knowing whether a team would be forthcoming with mistakes, bring up uncomfortable conversations early (i.e. money) and just be human about the whole thing is important (to us at least). Yes, this is “business” with “contracts” in place, but it’s not just transactional – it’s a bunch of creative people dedicating their time, energy, and their lives to OUR home. Brian and I are the least litigious people on the planet, we don’t nitpick with money instead valuing reason and fairness, therefore we need to work with people who we trust, and who speak the same language (FYI this has never – knowingly – bit us in the ass – I know what you are thinking). When a big mistake arises and something has to be fixed or replaced, we want to know that the people we are in business with will be like us – just open to figuring out the best and most fair solution, rather than litigating blame. You know what they say ‘don’t marry someone you wouldn’t want to be divorced from’, i.e. know that even when shit hits the fan and stressful times arise, we’ll all work through it and solve problems in a grownup and fair way with a lot of reason, transparency, and open conversations. It’s highly important to me that everyone feels like the solution is fair for all parties or else the relationship and thus project become toxic and that kind of resentment is insidious, corrupting every part of the project. I’ve been on the other side of that where I felt forced to agree to something that didn’t feel fair to me and it just became super negative and infected the whole project and my life for months. I think being on the other side, as a designer with clients I know first hand how important this is and I’ve VOWED to be a “GOOD” client (I’m writing a whole post about how to be a “good client” by the way). photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the portland dining room reveal WHAT DOES A TEAM EVEN LOOK LIKE?Option #1 – Compile A Team Of Expert Professionals

This is the most typical way to go about it. We/you could find and hire a general contractor, an architect, a project manager, and an interior designer – all separate companies and people. With this, you get experts with different perspectives, experiences, histories, and processes. You get to choose the right fit for each part of the job. You’ll find that when they all have different companies they are juggling, many clients, subs, and other commitments so finding meetings and walk-through times might be harder. They all need to communicate VERY frequently early on in order for everyone to have a shared vision and make sure that boxes are checked at the right time, that there is a shared time schedule with clear deadlines, etc. This is the typical way it’s been done for years for most small to medium renovation projects. The best way to go about this is to find an expert that you really love first (could be GC, architect, or interior designer) and let them recommend to you the other players. A benefit of this is that you might get recommended an architect, designer, or GC that specializes in YOUR type of house, often saying ‘I have an architect that is perfect for this project’.

Option #2 – Partner Companies

This is kinda an in-between situation. We found a lot of companies that are say a GC but they work almost exclusively with a designer or a designer that works almost exclusively with an architect. They have separate companies but their workflow is very symbiotic and they have a great working relationship. Often on their site, it will say ‘check out our sister company’. Like Jessica Helgerson, for instance, her husband is an architect that she obviously usually works with but it’s a separate company. With this, you get two experts that have a great working and creative relationship and their experience can help hire the other players that they think are best for the project. And frankly, if you go with their partner company (especially lots of husband and wife teams we found) you’ll get prioritized over clients that might not hire both companies.

Option #3 – Hire A Full Service ‘Design/Build’ Team

If you are doing a major gut renovation or building new and you say, have a job/kids, you might want to consider this option. Design/Build companies have multiple experts and contractors on staff. It’s often a team that consists of (almost) everyone that goes into building/renovating a house – General contractors, architects (or interior architects), carpenters, project managers, site leads, and of course designers and design assistants. This is more full service and very streamlined. Obviously, the communication is efficient and everyone knows what’s going on at every stage because they are all in the same company, on the same team. There is only one set of paperwork, contracts, and likely one project manager from beginning to end that handles all communication. They likely have very good relationships with subs, vendors, and carpenters. If you are thinking that these are “bigger” companies and you wanted to hire more small business, most of these that we found were still small, even ‘mom and pop’ feeling, they just like having the ability to have everyone who is working on the project in-house, both for shared creativity as well as efficiency. Knowing everyone you work with so well creates this sense of family, and thus everyone feels invested in your project. Your project should go faster (but yes, this might be more expensive because more staff means higher overhead, which we fully expect/understand). But also maybe not, hiring out separately can also be expensive depending on different rates and quotes.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the reveal of the mountain house kitchenHOW DO YOU FIND WHO IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

We still didn’t know which of those options we wanted – we wanted to interview to see who we ‘fell in love with’ first. But we did some preliminary research to not waste everyone’s time. Here was my process:

Look at the website/portfolio and social media, but know what you should be looking for – Don’t worry about the photography, styling, or even the furniture/decor (unless you are hiring an interior designer obviously). Know that most of those aesthetic decisions were based on what the client wanted. Sure if there are some huge red flags, don’t disregard them, but if you don’t like the sofa but you love what they did to the ceiling, then focus on that. And know that getting good photography for contractors and architects is hard because it’s intrusive to the family, very expensive, requires styling, and often what the family might put in the house after might not reflect well on their work so they just skip shooting it completely. For our renovation, we looked at the quality and creativity of the house, not the decor. We stared at the windows/doors, moldings – the architectural details, creative design ideas in the kitchens and baths, and how well the permanent finishes (tile, flooring, ceiling, fixed lighting) worked with the architectural style and era of the home. I also looked at versatility and variety, which to me shows creativity and passion. Try to find reviews and references – Yelp and Houzz typically have reviews and Sweeten for general contractors is GREAT (not available everywhere but in more cities every month). Since most that we were interviewing came from the blog (aka word of mouth) we already felt like there were some hearty endorsements. Often they’ll have client testimonials on their site, which of course are curated, but you can still glean something from them. Interview – Video or in-person is obviously best. Have a list of questions that are important to you and your project. Here are some of the questions that we asked – 1. Tell us about your company and the kind of projects you love to do? 2. What kind of clients do you love to work with? Are there any of your projects that stand out as far as favorites? How do you typically bill or charge for a project? (this is more of a test to see confidence and transparency, there isn’t a right or wrong answer, it’s more of how they answer than what they say, if they offer up their systems, org flow, etc – that’s all a good sign that they have their stuff together). 4. What is your experience in _________? Whatever is specific to your project – for us it was historic homes, sustainability, local artisans, and PDX codes. VERY IMPORTANT – for people/companies who are very successful and in-demand know that they are interviewing YOU, too. They likely have the pick of the litter with jobs/projects, and how much they like the client and are excited about the potential project helps informs their decision to take the job. Remember you are dealing with creative people who of course care about business, but at a certain point in careers (once a certain level of success has been reached) most of them/us value the need to be creatively and emotionally fulfilled and really enjoy the work (not so much at the beginning when you are just desperate for new client and portfolio work). So don’t try to play hardball or think that you are in the driver’s seat – in this market they are going to need to like you Who Did We Hire????photo via arciform

Our first interview was with a design/build team called Arciform. They came highly recommended from many sources especially in the historic home world (even our inspector told us about them months ago). We hopped on a Zoom with Anne (owner/lead designer) and Adam – the lead GC.

me and anne:)

Now before the interviews, I had put together a 15-page presentation – full of before photos, inspiration, and scope of work. I did this to A. show how serious and involved we are and B. get everyone excited for the potential creativity (and challenges) of the job. The second we started talking it was clear we liked each other a lot, so they checked that chemistry box immediately. Lots of laughter and just a casual vibe. But that wasn’t just it. They have 24 years of experience in PDX restoring historic homes. Anne and her husband Richard have compiled a team of experienced contractors, carpenters, project managers, and designers. Richard owns their sister company, Versatile, which makes custom windows, doors, and cabinets/built-ins. They are a solid group of PROS. Their reputation was outstanding so I knew that booking good subs would be easy for them (subs like working for good GCs and will prioritize them, and often what slows down a project is the subs schedule). When Adam (lead GC) said that he’s worked for Anne and Richard for over 10 years (and their rapport clearly showed they really respected each other) I couldn’t help but smile – that says to me that these are good people that respect their team a lot – and he’s not the only one, so far everyone we’ve met has seemed to genuinely love working there and the way that Anne and Richard give them credit for their talents on our Zoom calls makes me feel really good.

photo by blackstone edge

But what about their quality? Their portfolio was full of good projects with creative ideas. I combed through each house and they all looked so tasteful and period-appropriate, with really good craftsmanship and some cool/weird ideas (like repurposing a bank of antique refrigeration as the garage storage, restoring an antique murphy bed, or creating a trap door to an amazing basement wine cellar).

During our call as I was talking about the art direction and wanting help to make sure I don’t ‘miss opportunities’ when Anne was like ‘I’ve got to show you my house’ and she took the laptop around while on Zoom and gave us a tour of the house they just built. The entire house was built from the trees that were originally on the property and it looked INCREDIBLE. We are going to style and shoot it to show you, but Brian and were both like ‘whoa’ and not because it was flashy, just really special and thoughtful architecture with a lot of unexpected salvaged moments, beautiful windows and doors (she even has a glass door within a huge arched window. I wanted her creative brain on my house).

photo by shannon butler

Additionally, and what likely sealed the deal, they had an unbridled enthusiasm for our project – a trait that I apparently REALLY respond to. They WANTED to do this job so badly and they were not embarrassed to say it. Adam even made us a music video of their projects (with a lot of video clips of them working, an amazing timelapse of them lifting a whole historic home to redo the foundation and setting it back down). It was so personal and yet showed off their team and what they can do. We were honestly so touched and impressed. And while some of their team members follow the blog (hi Marty!) They just kept saying ‘this is the exact project we love to do’. It actually really taught me that showing enthusiasm for jobs you want is a GOOD thing. Generally, that’s part of my personality anyway (which might be part of the success of my company) but it just reminded me – when you want a job, don’t be afraid to just say it.

O here is the timelapse of them moving that house. It’s incredible. Just wait for the ad to play:)

I had to resist reaching for the first impression rose the entire interview. We still had 5 interviews to go (they were our first). After the call, Brian and I looked at each other and we were like ‘oh yeah, it’s them…hey are amazing’. It was a ‘cancel the rest of the season, we are ready to propose today’ sort of thing.

And a few weeks into working with them we quite literally couldn’t be happier. Obviously much more to come on this all, but there is this massive relief, this huge confidence I have knowing that there is this team of creative pros up there who are in it with me, that are so invested in making our home the best it can be for our family (and full of so much more knowledge about the area, the era the home). We feel VERY taken care of, and that is an absolute gift these days.

It’s time. Tomorrow is the day. Come back to see the property that myself and Arciform are going to restore and transform for our family… IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING.

The post How To Hire The Right Design/Build Team For Your Renovation + Who We Hired For Our Portland Home (And WHY Them?) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The 11 Kitchen Trends In 2021 That Are Both VERY Exciting And Totally User-Friendly

I decided it would be “fun” to read the intro of last year’s kitchen trend post before I started to write this one. Let’s just say it was “fun” in the same way that it’s fun to look back at your diary from highschool – comical, cringe-y, and you’re constantly thinking, “Oh baby, you don’t even KNOW what’s ahead of you.” HA. I think we can all say we did not under any circumstances know what was ahead of us. So because of our truly “unprecedented” 2020 year, it may or may not surprise you that a good amount of the predicted trends never really took off. Why? Well, the pandemic made us look at design differently. Comfort and real longevity were at the top of everyone’s list. Investing in things that were “hip” for the sakes of being cool felt and still feels quite literally like the least important thing in the world.

Sure we still want ideas that are new and exciting because if you are reading this post you too are a design lover. Don’t worry we have lots of ideas for you to sink your teeth into. But I think this post will be surprisingly refreshing in that it’s far more inspirational than aspirational. Kitchens are BIG this year and this year’s trends are far more doable which gives actual, tangible ideas (unlike some from years before… looking at you, cylinder hoods even though you were and are awesome).

Let me show you what I mean…

Floor to Ceiling Tiles: Subway Tiledesign by patricia greene isen | photo by simon upton | via elle decor

Did I hear your heart skip a beat when you saw this photo?? Me too. This floor to ceiling, wall to wall zellige subway tiles are SUCH an impactful way to make a bold but timeless design choice. It has so much texture, is easy to clean (yes please), and is just really beautiful (plus paired with that black and white diamond floor your eyes just keep happily bouncing around.)

design by adam lippes | styled by carlos mota | photo by stephen kent johnson | via architectural digest

But zellige tiles might now be in your budget so even choosing a more traditional white subway tile can still be awesome. I love how Adam Lippes chose a darker grout for contrast and also tiled THE CEILING. I think the trick is to make sure that you either have another bold pattern on the floor like in the first photo or contrast the walls with a nice wood floor. That way your eye has a break and with wood flooring you get instant organic warmth.

design by mandy cheng design | photo by madeline tolle

But remember that you can use color too! I love how Mandy Cheng chose this green (still a favorite cabinet color amongst the design world) and flipped the tiles vertically. It’s excited without being “too in your face”. Also, those swings are also super cool.

P.S. Albie might have something cooking with this trend in mind:)

Floor to Ceiling Tiles: Non-Subway Tile

Subway tiles are a great and likely more affordable option but if you like to design even further outside of the box then don’t worry this section is for you.

design by bosco sodi | photo by alex krotkov | via architectural digest

Ok, I know these are technically the actual walls of this home but I love how these bricks bring so much organic material into this kitchen while still having an awesome pattern. Just an idea for those organic lovers:)

decorated by patrick mele | photo by miguel flores-vianna | via architectural digest

These tiles are busy but so beautiful and still feel classic. I think this would work best if you have an enclosed kitchen (aka not an open concept floorplan). That way you get your big pattern moment without having to look at it 24/7. Also, I would consider only using one, maybe two materials for your cabinets/countertop, like in the photo above. The simple stainless steel balances out the busyness of the pattern so it’s not too visually overwhelming.

design by rebecca gibbs design | photo by the good things | via domino

Now if small, detailed pattern isn’t your thing but you don’t want to do a simple subway, do something like this. Rebecca Gibbs decided to play with shapes instead of pattern and it really paid off. It’s beautiful, interesting but doesn’t overwhelm you.

Large Scale Diamond Flooring: Tilesdesign by chiara de rege| photo by max burkhalter | via

I think this is the biggest trend of the year (even outside of the kitchen). Well, the large scale diamond shapes at least. Well, get to more options in a minute. It’s truly the perfect pattern and size to be timeless, bring in a bold pattern, and contrast the size and shapes of small wall tiles. It’s the dream and I’m SO glad it’s back in full force.

design by polly harbison design and arent & pyke | styled by steve cordony | photo by anson smart | via yellowtrace

This example is a bit more of a modern take with its color and terrazzo secondary pattern (is that a real term?) It feels really formal at first glance, then gets a bit trendier as you look closer:)

Large Scale Diamond Flooring: Painteddesign by landed interiors & homes | styled by cj sandgren | photo by haris kenjar | via the eye agency

EEE! This is might be my favorite version and if you are brave enough a VERY doable DIY. Emily has been eyeing this painted wood pattern for a minute and we really can’t get enough. It’s just so damn charming.

design by hilary robertson | photo by dana gallagher | via remodelista

Now, natural wood and white aren’t the only color options. You can do a classic black and white too. There are no rules. Heck, try a navy even!

Large Scale Diamond Flooring: Vinylleft photo: design by medina grillo, photo by amvio photography | right photo: design by jordan ferney | photo by dane tashima | via domino

But for those of us who are renters, don’t have the funds, or just want to try before you buy, vinyl is always a great option and is affordable. These are two great current examples but let’s not forget Brady’s kitchen floor from three and a half years ago. See it’s completely timeless.

Large Scale Checkered Flooringdesign by bridie hall | photo by paul massey | via house & garden

So while diamonds might be at the top of the 2021 trend list, checkered kitchen floors are next in line. I mean the checkered pattern has been exploding in general (I have been a huge fan) so why not put it on the floor?? Plus when it’s in a color it’s so happy.

design by adam bray | photo via | via remodelista

But when it’s in a soft black that’s also great. Again, no rules.

design by studio mcgee | photo by lucy call

What’s great about the checkered versus the diamond pattern is that checkered feels a bit more “modern” and/or “trendy”. So when you have a traditional style kitchen like the one Studio McGee designed above, the checks make it feel a little fresher and dare I say, more 2021:)

Glass Enclosuresdesign by casa josephine | photo by mirta rojo

This trend, in my opinion, is completely informed by the pandemic and the need for a little more privacy. Here you get the illusion of privacy without completely shutting off your kitchen to the rest of your home. The best of both worlds, right??

design by crystal sinclair designs | photo by sean litchfield

Even if it’s just one window like in this kitchen above, you have the option of cooking in peace. Plus you also get a beautiful architectural moment. Accordion glass interiors windows? Yes, please.

design by sarah poniatowski | photo by nicolas mathéus | via architectural digest

With this example above, it gives us two ideas. 1. you can take an existing wall and add an interior window for more light and flow or 2. you can build a wall for more privacy but add an interior window for light and flow. That way it’s not completely closed off. It’s your house so play with all of your options.

Dark Stone Countertops With Medium Wood Toned Cabinetsdesign by commune design | photo by stephen kent johnson

We’ve talked about a lot of countertop/cabinetry combos in the past but have yet to dive into this one. Personally, I really love it. It continues the “warm toned” kitchen trend of last year but adds in the depth and dimension with the dark stone countertop. It’s pretty darn inviting, right?

design by a 1000 x better | photo by virtually here studios

This wood is slightly lighter but it still works. Had the wood been any lighter it wouldn’t have that same visual warmth. I think warmth and coziness are what we’ve been craving in our homes this past year in particular which is why I think this pairing is trending.

left photo: design by agnes rudzite interiors, photo by mikhail loskutov, via yellowtrace | right photo: design by brian w. ferry, photo by civilivn, via remodelista

These two photos not only sell it for me but also show its style versatility. I’m a big fan if you can’t tell.

Single Material Vertical Stove Backsplashdesign by ysg studio | photo by prue ruscoe

This was one I asked Julie about. Sometimes you see something pop up that catches you off guard and you aren’t sure if you’ve been seeing it forever or if it feels new. Julie confirmed I wasn’t seeing things and that this vertical single material oven backsplash is indeed a 2021 trend. Look at that marble, it’s perfect.

design by phoebe nicol | photo by felix forest

It’s great because it’s simple, doable, and more cost-effective since you aren’t trying to cover an entire wall and you can use metals or tile.

design by sara and sohail zandi | photo by tim lenz | via clever

I really love it when it’s only behind the stove and there isn’t a border along the perimeter of the counter like in the photo above.

design by craig and katherine johnston | photo by james deck | styled by jackie brown | via the design files

However, a little border never hurt anyone because this tile situation is very sweet.

Mid Rise Single Slab Backsplashdesign by sanders & king| photo by sharyn cairns | via est living

Ok, so I confirmed with Julie about this too. Two Libras are better than one!

With this backsplash trend, there is no need for multiple heights and subsequent cuts. All you need is one long low to mid-rise single slab piece. I love that it’s taller than the popular skinny trim backsplash but lower than the mid-wall version. The goldilocks of backsplashes if you will.

design by landed interiors & homes | photo by haris kenjar

See how it looks great in a traditional kitchen…

design by suzanne gorman | photo by prue ruscoe | via the design files

And a super modern one?? V.E.R.S.A.T.I.L.E.

Range Cubbiesdesign by devol kitchens

If I were doing a kitchen reno I would 100% create a range cubby. What is a range cubby you ask? Well, it’s a little (or large) structure in your kitchen that holds your range and hides your vent. So a total dream and can be totally customized.

design by jean stoffer design | photo by stoffer photography interiors

These rounded corners are perfect and I love the extra-wide counter space on either side of the range.

design by studio mcgee | photo by lucy call

This one is both modern and traditional and I love the counter to ceiling cabinets flanking the cubby. Such pretty clean lines.

via farrow & ball

What’s also great is that you can choose any shape of cubby you want! This one is so beautiful. I also love the teal cabinetry with the navy island together:)

design by and and and design and studio life/style| styled by kate flynn | photo by stephen kent johnson | via domino

This cubby is also very linear like a couple of the ones above but I think this kitchen just needs a moment in the sun. How pretty is it??? This is from the same designers that designed the kitchen with the round island from last year’s trend post. They are so talented.

Wood Cubby Accentsleft photo: design by velinda hellen design, photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: velinda’s first freelance client reveal | right photo: design by ginny macdonald design, styled by cj sandgren, photo by sara ligorria-tramp

Boy oh boy do we love a good wood accent and these are no exception. I think all of our jaws dropped to the floor when we saw Velinda’s first client project and those wood cubbies (and canned backing). So simple but such high impact. And then later last year, our other EHD alum, Ginny showed off one of her client projects with similar (but different) wood cubbies in the kitchen.

design by home studios | photo by brian ferry | via dezeen

The trick is for the wood to be a medium tone (sense a trend??) and for the wood to be about 2 inches thick. That way it adds visual warmth in a bolder way than if you used a thinner wood.

design by altereco design | photo by nikole ramsay | via dwell

They also need to look built-in and contrast with the colors and materials it’s next. If you’ve don’t that then you are all set.

The Kitchen Skirtdesign by leanne ford | styled by kate berry | photo by nicole franzen | via domino

I always like to make sure that there’s at least one trend that doesn’t require a reno. For example, last year it was table lamps on countertops and the year before that one was kitchen mirrors (which is honestly also big this year…see above photo)

So this year, skirts are back. Leanne Ford’s new kitchen (above) is SO charming and that shirt most definitely adds to it. I love how a skirt can soften a kitchen. I’m actually planning on adding one in my kitchen this year:)

design and photo by carlos sánchez-garcía | via domino

Same goes for this kitchen. What a fun burst of pattern at what was probably a very affordable price (or could be:))

I also noticed in these two photos, they both have small tiled sink backsplashes. I am here for it! It’s so sweet and a great way to find and use cool vintage tiles since you don’t need a ton of them.

design and photo by studio laloc

I also like this slightly more refined skirt option. It’s on a brass bar with hooks so that the pleating is more unified. Plus that backsplash is also adorable.

The Single Shelf (The 2019 and 2020 ALL STAR)design by amber interiors | photo by jess isaac

Em felt that the single shelf needed to be mentioned because it is still going STRONG. When Athena Calderone’s kitchen hit the internet at the end of 2018 all of our design hearts melted. Not only was the whole kitchen (well entire home) stunning but that single shelf was the star we all couldn’t get out of our heads. And it still lives on in various iterations like in Amber Lewis’ new kitchen above. Also, Sara’s new kitchen might have one of these beauties in it…coming soon:)

design by brigette romanek | via architectural digest x black interior designers network

Brigette Romanek even included one in her Iconic Home kitchen rendering. Man, I wish that beautiful kitchen could someday be built out for real.

design by studio mcgee

Studio McGee is also still a big fan. I mean it’s both beautiful and practical. Why wouldn’t she still be?

design by crystal sinclair designs | photo by sean litchfield

And our last example is that of Crystal Sinclare. She is SUPER talented and you all should check her out. Also, this is the same kitchen with the interior accordion windows. Very Athena inspired:)

So those are the 10 (plus 1) kitchen trends of 2021…so far. While we are all cautiously entering this new year, we are SO excited to see all of the insane creativity that is most definitely going to come out of it.

With all this said are any of you in the middle of or planning a kitchen reno? Are you implementing or now wanting to implement any of these ideas? Have you noticed any other kitchen specific trends? Let’s chat!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Photo Credits: Design by Landed Interiors & Homes | Styled by CJ Sandgren | Photo by Haris Kenjar | via The Eye Agency

The post The 11 Kitchen Trends In 2021 That Are Both VERY Exciting And Totally User-Friendly appeared first on Emily Henderson.

How The Pandemic Has Officially Changed How We Design Our Homes (…And The Interior Design World In General)

Last week we had a meeting that turned into a 2-hour crowdsourcing session on how we at EHD think the pandemic has changed interior design. This isn’t a trend post per se–it’s more a reflection on the lifestyle shifts that have made their way into how we view our home spaces, thus changing how we design and even renovate. It’s tough to know how long our lives will be affected by Covid-19 (wear a mask! stay home!) but we are certain that some shifts in the design world are here to stay. When life changes so drastically in a single year, some things are bound to shift permanently in both good and bad ways (but don’t worry, we think all these are good things). Let’s get to it, shall we?

We Are Taking WAY More Risks And Having More “Fun”design by beata heuman | photo by simon brown

We are painting rooms bold colors, mixing patterns, leaning into new styles, and DIYing because why the hell not?? We want excitement in our homes more than ever so we are taking risks and having less company over means design choices aren’t on display right away. We can sit with our ideas without feeling pressure to impress anyone which ultimately helps us figure out what we really love. This might be our favorite because feeling free in your home is how it should have always been. Let’s keep this up…forever.

We Want Our Spaces To Be Multi-Functional design and photos by tiffany of pretty real | from: have an unused nook begging for some attention??

This is a 2020 trope, no question about it. Whether you are working from home, teaching from home, or learning from home there has been a SURGE in home office spaces. All of us at EHD for example will be working from home permanently so we’ve all made considerable efforts to carve out office nooks or sections. I think this is happening with a lot of companies (especially those in the digital media world) and it helps to create zones so you can separate “work mode” and “binge-watching-the-crown-mode”.

We Are Designing More For Ourselves (And Our Families) AKA Severe Comfortphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house reveal: how we designed our super kid-friendly family room

Comfort and function are more of a priority and a lot of us are loving this new shift. We are feeling less pressure to have a “perfect” home and in general, we want to make the most out of the spaces we have. Family rooms should be designed with comfort in mind, but an office or living room could be more bright and eclectic to inspire creativity. It depends on individual needs and we are all paying more attention to those needs now.

Em even mentioned on our call that while she will always visually love her more “special” sculptural chairs, they just aren’t great it sit in for an extended period of time which is a massive no-go when you are spending 99% of your time indoors and every inch is precious. So maybe this seems like common sense but no longer will we be buying pieces we don’t actually want to use. Comfort is king.

We Are Making More Thoughtful Purchasesphoto by sara ligorria-tramp| from: my la living room update – again

Ordering furniture or decor online brings up a whole set of anxieties and challenges. Especially with big ticket items such as sofas and coffee tables, we are all REALLY doing our research. We are reading reviews by people who have actually owned or tried out products for a period of time so we can be more confident in our buys. Some of us were already doing that but it’s shocking how many people don’t and then are disappointed when they get it delivered. Whoops. Plus, returns in a pandemic are extra annoying and can even be dangerous. So we all just want to be as confident in our purchases as possible.

We are also collectively paying attention to important things like sustainability and company ethos so we know who and what we are supporting. Particularly, we are making sure that a portion of our purchases are from companies owned by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ people. Unless we make a true effort to diversify our purchases, nothing will change. Thankfully we are starting to make that crucial shift.

In addition, retailers are catering to our needs more by providing more detailed information (one of our favorite examples being how Interior Define has videos of people of different heights sitting on their sofas). This is important info we need to know!!

There Is a Call For Straight To Consumer Custom Products photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara & mac’s office/guest room reveal

Custom furniture, or custom anything really, can be so intimidating. It’s almost always worth it, but many people don’t have the time or expertise to figure out how to get what they want. This past year we have noticed a surge in companies who are offering custom straight to consumer products and services due to the fact people can’t go in-store. A few we’ve worked with and love are Wovn Home and Clare paint, which both have super easy to use online services so you can get exactly what you are looking for. I worked with both of them in my living room and I cannot recommend them enough.

We Are Feeling More Confident To DIY (And Saving Contractor Funds For The BIG Jobs)photo and design by orlando soria | from: orlando’s guest bedroom reveal

Confidence to try new things and experiment more is at an all-time high (like I said in the first example). We are seeing a lot of people “go for it” which is so refreshing and exciting. I saw so many DIY art pieces, headboards, murals, and even furniture in 2020 and hope that never ever changes.

But more so, we are seeing people tackle “harder” DIYs like lighting and tile installation because A. we are trying to stay safe and not have unnecessary people in our homes and B. saving money on things we are finding the confidence to be able to do ourselves leaves more money for the projects we need contractors for. Albie is on this train. Her husband is tiling their laundry room floor because well, it’s small and pretty straightforward. Why not, right? It’s pretty empowering to DIY if you haven’t done it yet. The internet has SO many resources. Don’t be afraid.

We Are Shifting Away From Open Concept Layouts photo by nicki sebastian | design by brigette romanek | via the haven list

Creating zones is so important when you are home more than ever and for those renovating, an open concept layout may be a lot less appealing than in previous years. It’s simply not practical for stay-at-home life when your home is now an office, classroom, home gym, crafting studio (??), etc etc. The ability to shut a door has likely saved A LOT of relationships this past year. Julie actually already wrote a post about this idea in June. Any new thoughts???

We Are Designing For Actual Wear And Tearphoto by: sara ligorria-tramp | from: 8 steps to building a smart, organized pantry & mudroom

If you follow Emily on Instagram, you know that the lack of mudroom in her mountain house has been a struggle. With two muddy pups and two kids who are home all day, upkeep is constant but this is something she couldn’t have predicted. Before Covid times, when most of us were not home 24/7, the wear and tear on our homes were not as expedited as it is now. It’s pretty simple–we are home twice as much so our homes are getting twice as much wear. That said, we are wanting more durable furniture, fabrics, and if renovating, we are designing more practically based on lifestyle (i.e. if you live in snowy/rainy climates, a good mudroom is KEY).

We Want To Make The Most of Outdoor Spaces (DUH)photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara updates her backyard

Shortly after the stay at home order was put into place, a lot of us were craving functional and beautiful outdoor spaces. We simply missed being outside and for those of us who had backyards and patios, we felt VERY motivated to create an outdoor oasis. Sara pulled together hers in record time and even transformed a storage box into a kiddie pool (as one does).

Now that winter is here and a lot of us are stuck inside, are any of you planning for an epic backyard makeover this spring?? Are you feeling Em on the turf and jacuzzi?? What are your must-haves a year in?

Make Use Of Every Single Room Even If It Goes Against The Flow Or Architectural Integrity Of The Home photo by jessica alexander| from: looking for a home “update” project? This home has 5 ideas that will inspire you hard

This point came up when we were talking about Domino’s new podcast and particularly the episode with Brigette Romanek (someone I am so incredibly inspired by–she’s brilliant and I love her style). Brigette was talking about the historical elements in her home that she wanted to enhance, but also how she dealt with renovating and making the home the most functional and safe for her family. We are also noticing that we are more focused on making the most of our homes and really asking ourselves, “how do I want to use this room? What do I want it to feel like and how can I make that a reality?”. Sometimes this means not adhering 100% to the architectural integrity of a home and that is O.K.

We Are Making More Of An Effort To Use What We Havephoto by sara ligorria-tramp| from: my la living room update – again

A lot of us are buying less but still have the itch to style and play. We are seeing a lot of repurposing antiques, DIY art, and “making things work” which is refreshing and very fun. It makes our homes more unique, personal, and less predictable. I’ve personally been so much more creative by playing around with art and framing things that inspire me so I can display them in my home. There are no rules!

We Are Buying From Small Businesses And Seeking Out New Ones All The Timelolly lolly ceramics | estelle colored glass | ekua ceramics

Small businesses needed more support than ever in 2020 and I know all of us at EHD discovered so many that we love and will continue to support. With all of us ordering decor online we were nervous that we were going to see all the same pieces over and over, but seeking out small businesses has kept that from happening (thank god) and we are seriously hoping this is a permanent change.

We Are Designing A Mood And Vibe (We Want An Experience) photo by kim thomas of kpfusion | design by carmeon hamilton

How do you want your space to feel? This is a question a lot of us are contemplating and trying to execute. I know my living and dining room is 100% based around a mood I want to experience when I walk in. I am already very ~sensitive~ to moods and energy so I try very hard to have my surroundings and environment reflect a positive and comfortable feel. We all agreed we want to feel more of an “experience” in our homes by mixing wallpaper, murals, colors, and generally just taking more risks.

That’s all from team EHD but we’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you agree? Disagree? Have more to add? Meet me in the comments and let’s chat. xx

Opener Image Credit: Design by Shanty Wijaya of Allprace | Photo by Jenna Peffely | From: The House Tour That Took All Of Our Breaths Away – Shanty’s JAPANDI Style Oasis

The post How The Pandemic Has Officially Changed How We Design Our Homes (…And The Interior Design World In General) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

How The Pandemic Has Officially Changed Interior Design?? Well A Lot Of Ways

Last week we had a meeting that turned into a 2-hour crowdsourcing session on how we at EHD think the pandemic has changed interior design. This isn’t a trend post per se–it’s more a reflection on the lifestyle shifts that have made their way into how we view our home spaces, thus changing how we design and even renovate. It’s tough to know how long our lives will be affected by Covid-19 (wear a mask! stay home!) but we are certain that some shifts in the design world are here to stay. When life changes so drastically in a single year, some things are bound to shift permanently in both good and bad ways (but don’t worry, we think all these are good things). Let’s get to it, shall we?

We Are Taking WAY More Risks And Having More “Fun”



design by beata heuman | photo by simon brown

We are painting rooms bold colors, mixing patterns, leaning into new styles, and DIYing because why the hell not?? We want excitement in our homes more than ever so we are taking risks and having less company over means design choices aren’t on display right away. We can sit with our ideas without feeling pressure to impress anyone which ultimately helps us figure out what we really love. This might be our favorite because feeling free in your home is how it should have always been. Let’s keep this up…forever.

We Want Our Spaces To Be Multi-Functional



design and photos by tiffany of pretty real | from: have an unused nook begging for some attention??

This is a 2020 trope, no question about it. Whether you are working from home, teaching from home, or learning from home there has been a SURGE in home office spaces. All of us at EHD for example will be working from home permanently so we’ve all made considerable efforts to carve out office nooks or sections. I think this is happening with a lot of companies (especially those in the digital media world) and it helps to create zones so you can separate “work mode” and “binge-watching-the-crown-mode”.

We Are Designing More For Ourselves (And Our Families) AKA Severe Comfort



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house reveal: how we designed our super kid-friendly family room

Comfort and function are more of a priority and a lot of us are loving this new shift. We are feeling less pressure to have a “perfect” home and in general, we want to make the most out of the spaces we have. Family rooms should be designed with comfort in mind, but an office or living room could be more bright and eclectic to inspire creativity. It depends on individual needs and we are all paying more attention to those needs now.

Em even mentioned on our call that while she will always visually love her more “special” sculptural chairs, they just aren’t great it sit in for an extended period of time which is a massive no-go when you are spending 99% of your time indoors and every inch is precious. So maybe this seems like common sense but no longer will we be buying pieces we don’t actually want to use. Comfort is king.

We Are Making More Thoughtful Purchases



photo by sara ligorria-tramp| from: my la living room update – again

Ordering furniture or decor online brings up a whole set of anxieties and challenges. Especially with big ticket items such as sofas and coffee tables, we are all REALLY doing our research. We are reading reviews by people who have actually owned or tried out products for a period of time so we can be more confident in our buys. Some of us were already doing that but it’s shocking how many people don’t and then are disappointed when they get it delivered. Whoops. Plus, returns in a pandemic are extra annoying and can even be dangerous. So we all just want to be as confident in our purchases as possible.

We are also collectively paying attention to important things like sustainability and company ethos so we know who and what we are supporting. Particularly, we are making sure that a portion of our purchases are from companies owned by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ people. Unless we make a true effort to diversify our purchases, nothing will change. Thankfully we are starting to make that crucial shift.

In addition, retailers are catering to our needs more by providing more detailed information (one of our favorite examples being how Interior Define has videos of people of different heights sitting on their sofas). This is important info we need to know!!

There Is a Call For Straight To Consumer Custom Products



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara & mac’s office/guest room reveal

Custom furniture, or custom anything really, can be so intimidating. It’s almost always worth it, but many people don’t have the time or expertise to figure out how to get what they want. This past year we have noticed a surge in companies who are offering custom straight to consumer products and services due to the fact people can’t go in-store. A few we’ve worked with and love are Wovn Home and Clare paint, which both have super easy to use online services so you can get exactly what you are looking for. I worked with both of them in my living room and I cannot recommend them enough.

We Are Feeling More Confident To DIY (And Saving Contractor Funds For The BIG Jobs)



photo and design by orlando soria | from: orlando’s guest bedroom reveal

Confidence to try new things and experiment more is at an all-time high (like I said in the first example). We are seeing a lot of people “go for it” which is so refreshing and exciting. I saw so many DIY art pieces, headboards, murals, and even furniture in 2020 and hope that never ever changes.

But more so, we are seeing people tackle “harder” DIYs like lighting and tile installation because A. we are trying to stay safe and not have unnecessary people in our homes and B. saving money on things we are finding the confidence to be able to do ourselves leaves more money for the projects we need contractors for. Albie is on this train. Her husband is tiling their laundry room floor because well, it’s small and pretty straightforward. Why not, right? It’s pretty empowering to DIY if you haven’t done it yet. The internet has SO many resources. Don’t be afraid.

We Are Shifting Away From Open Concept Layouts



photo by nicki sebastian | design by brigette romanek | via the haven list

Creating zones is so important when you are home more than ever and for those renovating, an open concept layout may be a lot less appealing than in previous years. It’s simply not practical for stay-at-home life when your home is now an office, classroom, home gym, crafting studio (??), etc etc. The ability to shut a door has likely saved A LOT of relationships this past year. Julie actually already wrote a post about this idea in June. Any new thoughts???

We Are Designing For Actual Wear And Tear



photo by: sara ligorria-tramp | from: 8 steps to building a smart, organized pantry & mudroom

If you follow Emily on Instagram, you know that the lack of mudroom in her mountain house has been a struggle. With two muddy pups and two kids who are home all day, upkeep is constant but this is something she couldn’t have predicted. Before Covid times, when most of us were not home 24/7, the wear and tear on our homes were not as expedited as it is now. It’s pretty simple–we are home twice as much so our homes are getting twice as much wear. That said, we are wanting more durable furniture, fabrics, and if renovating, we are designing more practically based on lifestyle (i.e. if you live in snowy/rainy climates, a good mudroom is KEY).

We Want To Make The Most of Outdoor Spaces (DUH)



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara updates her backyard

Shortly after the stay at home order was put into place, a lot of us were craving functional and beautiful outdoor spaces. We simply missed being outside and for those of us who had backyards and patios, we felt VERY motivated to create an outdoor oasis. Sara pulled together hers in record time and even transformed a storage box into a kiddie pool (as one does).

Now that winter is here and a lot of us are stuck inside, are any of you planning for an epic backyard makeover this spring?? Are you feeling Em on the turf and jacuzzi?? What are your must-haves a year in?

Make Use Of Every Single Room Even If It Goes Against The Flow Or Architectural Integrity Of The Home 



photo by jessica alexander| from: looking for a home “update” project? This home has 5 ideas that will inspire you hard

This point came up when we were talking about Domino’s new podcast and particularly the episode with Brigette Romanek (someone I am so incredibly inspired by–she’s brilliant and I love her style). Brigette was talking about the historical elements in her home that she wanted to enhance, but also how she dealt with renovating and making the home the most functional and safe for her family. We are also noticing that we are more focused on making the most of our homes and really asking ourselves, “how do I want to use this room? What do I want it to feel like and how can I make that a reality?”. Sometimes this means not adhering 100% to the architectural integrity of a home and that is O.K.

We Are Making More Of An Effort To Use What We Have



photo by sara ligorria-tramp| from: my la living room update – again

A lot of us are buying less but still have the itch to style and play. We are seeing a lot of repurposing antiques, DIY art, and “making things work” which is refreshing and very fun. It makes our homes more unique, personal, and less predictable. I’ve personally been so much more creative by playing around with art and framing things that inspire me so I can display them in my home. There are no rules!

We Are Buying From Small Businesses And Seeking Out New Ones All The Time



lolly lolly ceramics | estelle colored glass | ekua ceramics

Small businesses needed more support than ever in 2020 and I know all of us at EHD discovered so many that we love and will continue to support. With all of us ordering decor online we were nervous that we were going to see all the same pieces over and over, but seeking out small businesses has kept that from happening (thank god) and we are seriously hoping this is a permanent change.

We Are Designing A Mood And Vibe (We Want An Experience)



photo by kim thomas of kpfusion | design by carmeon hamilton

How do you want your space to feel? This is a question a lot of us are contemplating and trying to execute. I know my living and dining room is 100% based around a mood I want to experience when I walk in. I am already very ~sensitive~ to moods and energy so I try very hard to have my surroundings and environment reflect a positive and comfortable feel. We all agreed we want to feel more of an “experience” in our homes by mixing wallpaper, murals, colors, and generally just taking more risks.

That’s all from team EHD but we’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you agree? Disagree? Have more to add? Meet me in the comments and let’s chat. xx

Opener Image Credit: Design by Shanty Wijaya of Allprace | Photo by Jenna Peffely | From: The House Tour That Took All Of Our Breaths Away – Shanty’s JAPANDI Style Oasis

The post How The Pandemic Has Officially Changed Interior Design?? Well A Lot Of Ways appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Em’s New Favorite Daily Read, Ryann’s Perfect (And Affordable) Jeans, And The Resurfacing Face Mask That Changed Our Skincare Game

Well, it’s Sunday and we’re happy to have you here. While we all take a breath and learn from this traumatic week/what we need to do to fix our deeply broken system, we thought it might be nice to have some consistency this Sunday with our link up. Before we continue, it’s important to talk to your kids and if you’re a teacher, your students, about what happened this week. Here’s an article from NPR that’s a good read if you’re trying to navigate that conversation. Alright, now let’s dig in to our favorite things this week.

This week’s home tour comes to us from Lonny. It’s an oldie but a goodie that we wanted to revisit. Vintage furniture collector, Cailin Wunder enlisted the help of Transition State Design to help make her 1937s home feel unified. It had been renovated several times by many previous owners before she moved in, so the task to make it flow together was a major feat. But they turned out with this sculptural, captivating beauty and we are NOT upset about it! We want every chair in this house.

From Emily: One of our favorite people (and former EHD editorial director) Arlyn is doing a daily journal (yes every single day) on her blog. I used to approach blogging like that – just wrote about whatever the heck I wanted to that day, but things shifted and grew and you know the story. But there is something so refreshing and real about just reading someones daily journal. If you want to connect to someone who we feel is DEFINITELY worth connecting to head over there and check out Arlyn Says.

From Ryann: I am one of those psychopaths that wears jeans every day, even while working from home. They just simply make me feel good, look good, and thus I perform better and am more productive. My new ALL TIME favorite jeans (that are under $100!) are these that I’ve been wearing every day for like a week straight. I love them so much I even bought another pair so I can wear them non stop. They have a good amount of stretch but are thick and have that classic denim look, they are perfectly high waisted and the inseam is a bit longer so they really elongate your legs. It’s like someone finally figured out how to make a classic looking jean for curvy girls. Praise be!

From Mallory: When earth-shattering news events happen, most of our team checks to see what one of our favorite bloggers, Joanna Goddard has to say. Her posts are incredibly articulate and nail how we’re feeling every time. The best part is she leaves her posts open-ended so others can comment and give their insights as well. Her post following the events at the Capitol this week was wonderful and the comments section is filled with awesome links and various resources from her readers. Check it out if you missed it. We’re also here for anyone who needs a hug right now

#JanStewary: How Soup Changed My Life (& Body)…Really…AND CONTINUES IN 2021

Two years ago I began a real soup journey. Much like finding your soulmate and the right career for you, soup has been quite fulfilling in many, many ways. And good news! The journey never ends!! I figured it was time to A. give you an update on where I am with my “soup journey” and B. Reshare the original post because too many of my friends are texting me, asking for recipes that are all clearly written in this post and is just a google search away (hint hint – bookmark this post:)). Here goes, it’s been 2 years since my 2019 JanSTEWary, but it really all started three months prior, in SOUPtember, obviously (you may remember SOUPtember, CROCKtober, STOVEmber, DecemBROTH and yes now we are again in JanSTEWary .. it keeps going). Well, I’m happy to say that two years in I’m just as in love with soup as I was, if not more (rarely do I even buy broth these days, making all my own). Even when I’m not being healthy in other ways I still make 2-3 soups a week because I enjoy the act, the lack of cleanup, and the result – both the taste of it and how my body feels (when I say soup, think Stew – these things are HEARTY and filling – see below). Sometimes I’m more extreme (now) and have a different soup every day and sometimes it’s just a supplement or reset when I’m indulging (over the holidays). If you didn’t read this the first time around and you are rolling your eyes at this (I get it) please keep reading. This isn’t a weird LA thing – it’s a healthy vegetables and protein thing made in the most comforting way possible, easy to digest, with a one pot cleanup under an hour.

“But do your kids like soup?” this is the #1 question I get when I Instastory one of my soups and I totally get it. At first, no, but I found a pretty awesome hack that I’m going to shoot this week and post next weekend. They still won’t eat some of them (and I honestly don’t blame them, some are pureed spinach with beans and broccoli) but the chicken and beef ones (and the mulligatawny, curries, and chilis) they are fine to eat (no not celebrating, but fine). Birdie LOVES helping me make them and it’s become our thing, but even when she doesn’t I put on an apron, listen to a podcast or portal with my friend. It’s so relaxing. At this point, I can make some of my favorites with my eyes closed (maybe that should be the video), but while I’m prolific (I produce A LOT) I still haven’t become a great cook mostly because soups are so forgiving, most other recipes are not. Brian can attest to that, but that’s ok. He’s GREAT at everything else. Me? Just soups (and salads). So here is the original JanSTEWary post and if you guys are into it I’ll show you the soup hack I do that is super easy and gets the kids to eat it as well.

If you are curious about my favorite cookbooks and tools here they are:

Favorite cookbooks: Clean Soups – by Rebecca Katz & Mat Edelson and Eatingwell Soups: 100 Healthy Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food by The Editors of Eatingwell
Favorite New Knife: Five Two Essential Knife
Favorite Cutting Board: Epicurean Nonslip Slate Cutting Board
Favorite Pot: Still on the hunt and would LOVE your recs

Also here are all of the soup related posts I’ve done so you have them in one easy to find place: A Vegan Chickpea and Roasted Cauliflower Curry Soup | Homemade Bone Broth & Chicken Meatball Veggie Soup | Fast & Simple Veggie-Packed Vegan Pho | Roasted Tomatillo Shredded Chicken Soup Recipe | 11 Easy & Healthy Slow Cooker Meals Your Kids Will Love (We Hope)

I’ve changed. I discovered how fun and relaxing it is to cook and at 39, I’m a new woman. For anyone who is about to stop reading and likely never come back, I promise that brand new design content starts all next week, so don’t worry. But it’s the first week of the year, and it’s natural to look inward and try to “be your best self.”

But meanwhile, I have to address how my life has changed for the better since September, or I should say SOUPtember. So, here is the story…

I had hit bottom in terms of how I was feeling on my insides over Labor Day/my birthday so I wanted and needed a reset. We had spent 10 days with friends on vacation and I just felt so unhealthy and my body needed nutrients, vitamins, and less processed foods, sugar, alcohol, etc. So naturally, the answer was ONLY EAT SOUP. Soup in the morning, soup in the evening, soup at supper time. Instead of grabbing crackers and cheese for a snack, I warm up a small bowl of soup. And these soups did not have any grains, starch, dairy or gluten, just vegetables, broth and lean protein.

Before you freak out at how weird and boring it is, you have to hear me out: this is truly the easiest and most satisfying change I’ve ever made in my eating habits, and more effective than ANYTHING I’ve ever tried. I hesitate to call it a “diet” because it truly is more than that, it’s my new lifestyle. Essentially, it’s a way to only eat vegetables and protein without sugar or dairy which we all know is generally what we should be doing in life, but eating it in the form of soup is far EASIER and more satisfying than it sounds. Not sold yet? Hear me out.

Here are the benefits of soup (as per my years/weeks of expertise):

Soups can be SO hearty. The ones I’ve been making are so loaded with lean proteins and vegetables with richness and depth, and after a huge bowl, I’m FAR more satisfied than I am with a huge salad. I normally add WAY more vegetables than the recipe calls for and my goodness, it’s so filling and these veggies are full of texture and crunch…we aren’t eating a bowl of mush, I promise.You can meal prep. I joked that “soup is the salad you don’t have to make again and again.” Unlike the always popular salad, a soup can be made the night before and it stays good for days so it’s SO much easier to bring to work and warm up. I make a big pot of soup and eat it for every meal ’til it’s gone, then I make a new one. It’s not normal, but it’s so easy. I don’t have to think about it. I don’t have to wonder how I’m going to have a healthy lunch. It’s just me and my soup.They are easier to digest. Soups have cooked vegetables, therefore, they are so much easier to digest than salads (for me). I was SHOCKED at how my body reacted. No digestive issues AT ALL, if you know what I mean. Raw vegetables can be hard on your tummy and bloat or give you gas, but cooked is at least what my body wants. You get all the nutrition without the side effects.Soups are EASY to cook (generally). All you need is a cutting board, knife, pot and spoon. The chopping can take a while, but otherwise it’s all in ONE POT. You aren’t juggling a million sauces on different burners. Just one. August Emily would be SHOCKED at how good of a cook I’ve become and it’s all thanks to soups.Soups are naturally lower in calorie. I’m not talking clam chowder, of course. Avoid anything cream-based, but if you make one of the soups we are recommending, they are simply full of vegetables, lean protein, and water. Yes, there might be some avocado oil or olive oil, but it’s just straight up nutrition. My goal was not really to lose weight, just feel better. I cannot stress that enough here. I don’t actually have a scale but all of a sudden all my clothes were fitting differently and what was tight around the tummy was no longer. I’ve always carried weight there but all of a sudden, 10 days in, it was gone (it’s back now, but will be gone soon).There’s tons of variety—trust me. There are a million types of soups so while you might think “aren’t you sick of soup yet?” the answer is NOPE. I’ve only started to enter the world of soup recipes.You have a ton of control over all the ingredients. Obviously, we aren’t buying canned soup here, it’s just fresh vegetables and lean organic meats. That’s it. No dairy. No grains. No gluten. You feel like a good person when you cook like this.Soups are full of water…so A. it fills you up fast and B. you are drinking more water than you usually do. Again, no big cream-based soups and I’ve really stayed away from the chili world. Most of my bases are either chicken broth or tomato-based.

To be fair in September, I also didn’t drink for a month (with the exception of one cheat night for our anniversary) and ran probably 3-4 times a week, so all my friends were like “uh, it’s not a secret why you feel better…you are just super healthy” but I’m telling you, it’s never been this easy or fast. And in CROCKtober when I went back to more normal habits, I kept it off just by keeping up my soup habits.

Now, after taking the last six weeks off from being healthy (not working out, drinking too much over the holidays, eating crackers and chips all day) I’m so excited to get healthier again, but I will say that I normally feel WAY grosser after New Years and I think the reason I don’t feel so unhealthy is that I was still eating more homemade soups than anything else. But yeah, I miss my SOUPtember body (inside and out). Like most vegetable/protein-based diets that eliminate processed foods, carbs, and sugar, of course, it’s going to work, but by making it in the form of soups, I LOOK FORWARD to each meal and I actually ENJOY this life. I don’t feel like I’m missing out. I don’t make eyes at bread as if it’s an ex-boyfriend that I crave to be with. I’m perfectly happy eating my healthy ass soup (I will miss my wine, however).

If you’ve made it this far in this post, thanks for sticking around, but I’m not just talking about the brothier me for the sake of blabbing about soup. Enough of you asked me (like every day, I got so many DMs on Instagram) for recipes when I started storying about my soup journey (or telling me they thought I looked leaner and asking me how I lost weight), so it’s time to start sharing…it all started with SOUPtember. Then CROCKktober, then STOVEember, followed by DecemBROTH and yes, we are finally into JanSTEWary.

I wasn’t the only one on this lifestyle change. Sara and Arlyn at the office also started souping (to feel better inside, but also to prep pre-holiday for what was to come). So we are going to share with you our FAVORITES and then starting next Saturday, we’ll post a new healthy and hearty soup on the blog every Saturday for you to try with us the following week (and of course we are wanting your recommendations, too). For today, I’m going to share my go-to that I’ve literally made again and again and again, followed by a handful of some of Arlyn’s that she made while adopting the souping lifestyle (that she also used while doing a fall Whole30).

30 Minute Turkey Meatball and Kale Soup via Savory Lotus

Okay, so…my #1 favorite soup was inspired by THIS recipe, but I’ve tweaked it and now made it probably 12 times over the last couple of months. I’m so proficient, I don’t even have to look at the recipe anymore.

I do have to mention I’ve tweaked it to my liking, and while the original recipe is great, here is how I doctor mine up:

Add sauteed sliced mushrooms and celery, as well as spinach. For the meatballs, I sometimes chop up extra spinach to sneak in some more veggies (kid-friendly!), add in dill, oregano and thyme to the ground turkey, and use bone broth instead of chicken stock (it gives it a heartier, richer flavor). Arlyn suggests drizzling a little olive oil atop the soup once it’s served with a shake of red pepper flakes, but if you don’t want to add any extra fat, it’s great without it, too.

I’m going to save the rest of my favorites for the weekends like I promised, but to get you started on your soup odyssey, I’m going to hand it over to Arlyn to share six of her dairy-, grain-, sugar- and soy-free soup recipes that she promises she cooks all the time for her and her picky husband (with her notes).

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Detox Immune-Boosting Chicken Soup via Eat Yourself Skinny

Hi guys! I’m so excited to be talking about soup…wait…have I been brainwashed?

Anyhow, say hello to my favorite insanely easy and healthy weeknight soup. The first time I made this soup, I really didn’t have high expectations. Like…it’s just chicken and kale and broth and some veggies. But I’m telling you, it’s INSANELY fast to bring together (as long as you use a rotisserie chicken or pre-shredded roasted chicken), really satisfying and somehow feels nearly magical with the combination of turmeric, red pepper flakes and…everything else that comes together. The chickpeas make it filling, the mushrooms give it really nice texture, OH and use bone broth for extra richness. I’ve played around with this (adding nutritional yeast, hot sauce, and other add-ons) but it’s pretty solid as-is.

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Simple Lemony Chicken & Spring Veggie Soup via The Cozy Apron

Sometimes, you just want a soup that’s light, fresh and you know won’t make you feel like an overstuffed trash bag of a human. This is that soup. I’m pretty sure I skipped the leek every time I’ve made this and it was still great. Not sure how this would fare with picky kids because there are a lot of green things floating around here, but I bet you can swap out most of these veggies for whatever you/your household prefers and it would still be great. The lemony broth will not be stopped by your decision to ditch the zucchini in place of broccoli. It’s a fighter. The quinoa rounds out the whole thing to make it a full meal and filling.

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Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili With Sweet Potato via Paleo Running Momma

During my September Whole30, I made this soup about three times (that and slow cooker buffalo chicken dip over sweet potato…life changing), and I have to admit, it turned out differently every time I made it and I can’t figure out why, but overall, it was a solid addition to my go-to list of “what on earth do I cook this week without making my tight pants even tighter or going broke” solutions. Definitely use bone broth if you can (it makes it richer and more complex than regular broth or stock), and if you can’t find a white or Japanese sweet potato, it would be just as good with regular sweet potato. If you make it as-is, a bowl of this yummy goodness (which is less of a chili honestly and more of a soup) is dairy-free, sugar-free, and grain-free (which sounds like a snore-fest but I promise it’s super yummy…once you double the nutritional yeast).

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Easy Thai Shrimp Soup via Damn Delicious

I remember when I first made this for myself and DH, he said “this tastes like it could have come from a restaurant”, so I knew it was a winner in his eyes (funny how home-cooked meals are top rated if they could have come from a restaurant, while restaurant food gets a gold star if it taste homemade, oh the ironies of life). I think you could easily swap out the rice for riced cauliflower and butter for ghee (to make it Whole30 approved), but as-is, it’s super simple, comes together in under 30 minutes (if you’re a fast prepper/chopper), and satisfying.

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Gluten-Free Zuppa Toscana via Noshtastic

Another Whole 30-approved soup here (i.e. dairy-, sugar-, grain-, and happiness-free). Okay, it’s not happiness-free because this one made the cut for this article. I’m more of a pasta e fagioli girl myself, and I will never deny my love of Olive Garden’s soup, salad, and breadsticks combo, but buttery logs of bread soaking up heavenly, narcotic-like dressing are absolutely off limits during a tortuous totally doable month-long healthy eating stint. This lady freezes really well, so I usually make a big batch and then parse it out into one-serving containers for easy meals when I don’t have the will to even glance over at my knife block. I’ve always used curly kale, but I think dino kale (the darker, bumpier but straight variety that looks like, well, a dino could have noshed on it) might actually be better. FYI for any newbie Whole 30ers, Pederson’s makes a pretty rad sugar-free bacon (I get mine at Whole Foods when I’m feeling rich, obviously, or Sprouts when I’ve brought myself back down to earth).

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Heart Vegetable & Beef Soup via I Heart Nap Time

Okay, I really love this soup. This is not a soup that leaves you starving in 20 minutes. This is a soup that pulls its weight as a stand-alone entree. Sometimes, the potatoes go rogue and thicken it up while it sits in the fridge before I eat leftovers the next day (I just add chicken or beef broth before heating up), but overall, it’s pretty low-maintenance. I tend to OD on the balsamic vinegar (I exaggerate all spices and other flavor additions when I cook because I never find what a recipe calls for to be enough), which renders down into a super yummy flavor. And DO NOT SKIP THE BASIL. I did last time and it just fell flat. The basil at the end makes this pot of richness totally sing. I’ve never tried this with anything but ground beef, but I bet it’d still be pretty yummy with ground turkey or chicken. Give it a whirl, because this one is a winner for all (except vegetarians).

UPDATE: So many of you commented this morning that we didn’t provide any vegetarian options, and we happened to be cooking up a vegan Zuppa Toscana for lunch during our editorial retreat. All the vegetarians on staff went back for seconds, so it definitely got the seal of approval. Sara drafted up the recipe to share with you below. Take it away Sara:

There are a LOT of “Zuppa Toscana” recipes out there. But they all kind of have the same base—onions, garlic, red pepper, broth, a leafy green, and an Italian sausage. I’ve been making this soup for years now, and I don’t follow a specific recipe anymore. To be honest, I switch it up a little every time I make it based on what sounds good or what I have in my fridge. Sometimes I use spinach instead of kale, sometimes I make it creamy (traditional style) but sometimes I keep it spicer and broth-y, the list goes on and on… 

And this time I’ve made it super hearty and totally VEGAN (vegetarians and vegans, we heard you, and we have a lot more veggie soups coming your way in the upcoming weeks). It’s kind of like a good chicken soup or chili, after you make it once, you can make it again and again, a little different each time.

Ingredients:

8 cups vegetable broth1 bunch green kale (de-stemmed and torn into small pieces)1 can coconut milk (1/2 this to keep it lighter, or sub 1 can light coconut milk)Two large carrots, chopped2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed1 cup potatoes, choppedTwo heads chopped garlic (or as much garlic as you want, I will use two tablespoons minced sometimes)1 tablespoon avocado oil (for sautéing)1 white onion, chopped1 tsp red pepper flakes1 tsp garlic powder1 tsp herbs de Provence Salt and pepper to tasteJuice of one lemon

Sauteé onion, garlic, carrot with salt, pepper, garlic powder, red chili pepper, and dried herbs until onions are translucent and soft. Add veggie broth and bring to boil, add potatoes and let simmer until potatoes are soft (about 20 minutes). Add coconut milk, mix in. Add drained cannellini beans and kale, and bring to a boil for 5 minutes (until kale is tender). Finish with lemon juice and garnish with red pepper flakes if you like it spicy. If you’re not vegan, add some cooked spicy Italian sausage. If you prefer a softer green, swap spinach for kale. If you want a lighter soup only use half a can of coconut milk, or use 1 can of light coconut milk. No matter what you do, it will be delicious.

Okay, back to Emily…

Before you do anything else, be sure to pin the above image so you can refer back to this post. It’ll save you on a Sunday morning while you’re meal planning for the week!

So, all I really have left to say for today is…welcome to #JanStewary. Absolutely make sure to follow along on Instagram Stories, use the hashtag to share your favorite recipes (and throw them into the comments, too!) and please come back on Saturdays during January for more of our tested and approved (and modified) soup recipes. Happy souping everyone. xx

The post #JanStewary: How Soup Changed My Life (& Body)…Really…AND CONTINUES IN 2021 appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told You Before Renovating Or Designing Your Home???

We clearly aren’t a news source (and have no intention of being one) but we are Americans which means going on like Tuesday never happened felt well, UnAmerican. So this is how we feel. A. we are elated about Georgia and the historic Senate wins that hopefully mean that Biden and Harris might be able to really push through some of their solutions to help the environment, racial and economic inequality, and the pandemic B. we are unbelievably disgusted by what happened at the Capitol, the hypocrisy of ‘law and order’ with how it was handled versus BLM protests and, well, everything about it. And finally, C. Are so thankful that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will officially be our next President and Vice President in 2 weeks!!

So while there is so much work to do in the fight for justice and the continuation of our democracy, we are a design blog that is here if you need a momentary breather.

I have a big question for you… As I’m researching for my book I’m texting, calling, and emailing a lot of my designer/contractor friends to get more inside information on renovations. I obviously don’t know everything (thus the impetus of this book), I only know my own experiences in renovations and you can’t really find this kind of stuff in typical textbooks or school. I have a LOT of them already included in the book from my experiences, but I would love to hear yours – what do you wish someone had told you before you renovated or designed? What are the ‘good to knows’ or ‘buyer bewares’ that you’ve experienced first hand?

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: styling to sell: how we staged our dining room and kitchen (with the changes i should have done years ago!)

Here are some examples:

Choosing a flat wall finish will cost you exorbitantly more than a ‘hand trowel’ finish on your walls because it’s WAY more forgiving. Every time you have to change anything with the drywall (move holes, etc) the contractor has to be brought in, whereas with ‘hand trowel’ finish a painter or even a project manager can usually patch it well enough. Teenagers don’t like scooting in and out of dining booths (I still don’t know why but an architect friend, Annie Usher, told me that so confidently that I believe her). As we are designing my brother’s house, we were going to put in one and she was adamant that we’d regret it in 10 years (instead we are doing a bench with two chairs)Large fancy two-person showers (like the ones with two shower heads) are actually SUPER COLD unless all shower heads are on or there is a steam shower. They are just too big to stay warm unless you live in Hawaii (or so says some of our Insider Community members).Drawers are much more efficient and comfortable to use than cupboards on your lower kitchen cabinets (are we done with cabinets on your lowers except for like cutting boards, baking sheets and under your sink storage?)



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: inside all our (super organized) drawers & cabinets in the mountain house kitchen



Solid dark rugs (and solid light rugs) both show a lot of ‘mess’ with pets and/or kids (I previously thought dark rugs would be fine!). It’s textured and patterned rugs for the win – even if light, that are more forgiving. Older folks (and a lot of men in my life) don’t love to sit on deep loungey sofas in the living room because they are hard to get in and out of, or to quote Brian “I want to be able to put my legs on the ground and not sit ‘criss-cross applesauce”. HAHAHA.Know where you are placing the furniture before you choose expensive upholstery fabric – if it’s near a window you better check that it’s not going to fade (more poly blends, don’t), and maybe that hand-washed french linen should not be your choice.



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how to make your smallest room, the coziest room in your home + sara’s tv room reveal

These and a million more ‘good to knows’ or ‘buyer bewares’ are in the book, but heck, I think we are just cracking the surface here. A lot of contractors and designers might not even know this stuff because maybe it’s newer technology or a newer style but they put it in or recommend them on your approval and then 2 years later you realize ‘well shoot, I wish I had known that’ (which is why I think it’s important as a client to let your designers know feedback – we can all learn!).

This could be about decor, renovation, kitchen/bath, literally anything that has to do with the home that you wish someone had told you… (and if we use it in the book or on the blog we’ll quote you so if you are a designer – or if you want credit in any way – make sure to give your info!) xx

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

The post What Do You Wish Someone Had Told You Before Renovating Or Designing Your Home??? appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Our Favorite Planners, Notebooks, Journals, And Pens For Getting Your Life Together

** No scheduled design post this morning because we are taking a minute to sit/process/read what happened what with the storming of our Capitol and the threatening of our democracy. Huge congrats to Georgia for its historic win!! Stacey Abrams is a national treasure. WHAT. A. DAY. Hoping today, Thursday, is a better one for all of America.

Is there anything that unites folks quite as much as the allure of a new notebook or planner? I don’t know (or fully understand, TBH) what dopamine receptors are being triggered whenever I see school supplies – is it the reminder of simpler times? The hope of one day actually getting my life together? The general siren song of the dollar spot at Target? – but it’s POWERFUL and, for reasons unknown, seemingly universal. (Feel free to confirm that you also have this love of notepads and that I’m not totally losing it, thanks.)

See, at the beginning of this year (i.e. earlier this week), Sara posted an Instagram story featuring her new daily calendar – notepad sized with gold-leafed edges – and it sent me down an organizational spiral. NEW YEAR, NEW ME. I’ve long been a proponent of the tiny, pastel-colored legal pad (and it’s still a favorite!) but little pleasures these days are few and far between so like, why NOT treat myself to some new notebooks with REAL covers and pages that won’t get torn when I toss them in my backpack?

We ended up putting out a call on Instagram and y’all responded in DROVES with your favorites. Mallory and Ryann culled them down into the best of the best (every post is a true team effort here, y’all). Then, in the spirit of really GOING FOR IT, I ended up pulling together 9 of my favorite pens because I’m the type of boring person who eats spaghetti with butter, goes to bed by 10 PM, and can actually list 9 different favorite brands of pens off the top of their head.

To that end: planners and notepads and bullet journals and gel pens and ballpoints and rollerballs galore are below! All tested and loved by the fine, stylish, organized (I assume), design-minded folks of the EHD blogosphere. LET US BEGIN GETTING OUR LIVES TOGETHER, together. 2021 is already looking up, right?

1. Customizable Notebook/Planner | 2. Unlined Fabric Journal | 3. Year Task Planner | 4. Unlined Field Book | 5. Goal-Oriented 2021 Planner | 6. Moleskine Monthly Planner | 7. Colorblock Hardcover Planner | 8. Dotted Softcover Notebook | 9. Desktop Notepad | 10. 30 Day Challenge Planner | 11. Large Lined Journal | 12. Goal-Setting Planner | 13. Small Monthly Planner | 14. Time Block Task Sheet | 15. Undated Weekly Planner | 16. Lined Hardcover Notebook | 17. Faux Leather Journal | 18. Everyday Notebook

SO MANY BEAUTIFUL CHOICES. Let’s break it down a little bit by task, yeah?

Best of Undated Planners: These are a dream if you’re the type of person who’s like, “oh, I’ll start doing that at 1 PM,” and then when you look up and realize it’s 1:05 PM, you’re like, “I guess I’ll do it at 2 PM.” There’s no fear of looking at missed pages or swaths of empty months with these – you start exactly where you are and you can tweak the days as you see fit.

Our personal favorite is #13 – it’s only $3, Jess recommended it last year, and it was a best-seller in 2020 – but if you’re looking for something larger, #9 is sized for a desktop. #10 is also VERY goal-oriented (breaking things down into 30-day achievable goals), and you can’t beat the aesthetics of #15.

Best of 2021 Planners: I’ve long been a loyalist to Bando’s selection of planners and calendars, so I was very, very, very stoked to get some new brands and recommendations from y’all. Fun little tip before we break down the favorites: if you’re not great at remembering to journal and if you can’t remember what you did last week (those things seem related, but I digress), planners are super fun to use as journals! I like to put down 2-5 bullet points on big (or small) things that happened that day and then read it back at the end of the year. EASY DIARY HACK.

No matter the impetus, if you’re looking for a 2021-specific planner, we’ve got you: #5 and #12 are great for intentional goal setting and #6 is the classic Moleskin but BOY, AM I IN LOVE WITH #7. I just bought one for myself – it comes in a ton of well-curated colorblocked options and it’s just a dream. A million thank yous to the fine folks who sent us this one!!!

For General Note-Taking and Journaling: Ah yes, notepads for the rest of us. A few standouts here – #2 and #4 are unlined (if that’s your thing), #8 has dotted insides (for those who can bullet journal – props to you), and you can customize the inside of #18 to be lined, blank, dotted, or gridded.

#11, #16, and #17 are good old-fashioned standard notebooks, but were recommended for their paper quality/weight/texture. (I ended up going with #16 to replace my own legal pads. NEW YEAR NEW ME IS RIGHT.) But now that we’ve got our notebook situation taken care of, it’s time for the true star of the show!!!

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland reveal: a light & bright home office

If you’re like, “hey, is this person neurotic enough to write tiny descriptions about all of these???” the answer is YES, and the pen of your dreams is below. Please enjoy smooth writing, no smudging, and no bleeding. Magic!

1. 60 Glitter Gel Pens: There’s a meme I saw once that said that Libras are the type to sign legal documents in gel pen…and it’s not wrong. Many EHD contracts have been signed in colored glitter pen!!! (Please don’t judge me.) These are my personal favorite – they don’t dry out or get scratchy and they’re fun and vibrant which makes red-lining documents a real treat!!!

2. Calligraphy Pen Set: This was actually a Ryann recommendation and it’s a good one! $8 for a variety of pens with all different weights and brush tips is a great deal. (Also, like, maybe you’ll pick up a new skill, which is even better!!!)

3. Be Nice Pen Set: Sometimes a gal just wants a cute purse pen to lend to strangers. (I guess, like, when it’s not a pandemic, though.) This is that pen. Also VERY cute for desk styling.

4. Ultra-Fine Tip Pens: NUMBER ONE PEN. Will die on this hill. If you want your notes to be TEENY TINY and VERY NEAT, this is the pen.

5. Chroma Ballpoint: It’s fun AND it has a happy face stamp on the end. Big fan of this one if you’re trying to check goals off a list because the stamps are 1. cuter and 2. more uniform, therefore more satisfying, than regular checks.

6. Refillable Pen: Just a real beautiful one with this leafy green print AND she’s refillable. I see you, mother nature!!!

7. Gold Ballpoint: This pen is on sale for $5.95 but it feels like something VERY FANCY. It’s really weighty and feels like a pen my grandpa would pull out of a pocket to do important business dealings (you know, like, in a magical situation where my grandpa was still alive and a rich businessman).

8. Needlepoint Pen: Niche interest alert – this is the pen version of the clicky lead pencils we all grew up with. This one is really great if you’re writing A LOT (e.g. handwritten essays or books or something).

9. Set of 6 Ballpoint Pens: Sweet, classic, super affordable, pretty to look at, and nice ink flow. Can’t go wrong!

And there you have it. Those are our favorites – did we miss any of yours? Let’s talk about school supplies because they’re tiny bright spots on a weird and long winter. CAN’T WAIT TO CHAT WITH YA. xx

Opening Photo Credit: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Custom Framing for our Home Office With Framebridge

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