Emily Henderson's Blog, page 188

Jess’ Gift Guide: “I Just Want Useful (But Pretty) Things This Year”

I’m not sure if it’s the fact that it’s 2020 and “things” feel less and less important or if it’s that I’m in my 30s and get more excited over a cordless Dyson vacuum than a pretty pair of new heels. Now don’t get me wrong I LOVE a beautiful shoe but I’m just going to get waaaaayyyyy more use out of that vacuum (FYI I have and love that vacuum and highly recommend to anyone who is thinking about making the purchase). So that’s the idea driving this gift guide. Now as we go into the first section you might be confused as to why it’s home decor… “Jess, you JUST SAID this was a ‘practical’ gift guide” here’s my explanation…

Beautiful home decor fills my soul and likely a lot of you too since you are reading a design site. I also think we can look at something being practical and something being an investment as the same thing. I know that they are different at first glance but isn’t it practical to invest in something you love (or know your loved one will love) due to its higher quality??? Ok, justification time is over so let’s talk about these special decor items:)

1. Not Work Related Wing Vase | 2. Vase Wall Charm | 3. Landscape Collage 40 | 4. Moroccan Checkered Rug

1. Not Work Related Wing Vase: A sculptural vase will ALWAYS be an amazing gift and last you forever. I love the bold yet simple angles and while I’m not a traditionally “purple person” I love the unexpected softness of the lavender (but it also comes in black and white). Plus it’s handmade by ceramicist, Sarah Hussaini. I know this may sound a little “out there” to some of you, but I am telling you that there is a different and special energy that you can feel from a piece that’s handmade.
2. Vase Wall Charm: I saw these a few months ago and have been obsessing over them ever since. They are 9″ wall charms. How cute is that name?? Plus for those of you who have design living friends, these are the perfect “3D” element to a gallery wall or would look awesome framed. Oh, they are also handpainted:)
3. Landscape Collage 40: I have been eyeing Jordan Sullivan’s work for a while now. I love how calm it makes me feel when I look at it. This one in particular is a collage so it has texture too! Art is one of those things that I think a lot people don’t think they need. Gifting art is such a personal and beautiful way to make someone feel loved and makes their space better.
4. Moroccan Checkered Rug: Did you think I would go without recommending at least one checkered item?? Ha, no way! Y’all this rug is so freaking cool and comes in a bunch of different colors and sizes. The reviews are amazing and say that it’s super soft. Basically, if I got this as a gift I would be over the freaking moon.

1. Standing Knots | 2. Line Drawing Series | 3. Metal Wire Basket | 4. Loren Pillow

1. Standing Knots: These are the mini (and more affordable) versions of my beloved squiggle by Kaite Gong. This is another REALLY special, handmade piece that would make an incredible gift. I really love the braid but you really can’t go wrong with any of the options. So go give a beautiful piece of art to a special person in your life AND support a female-owned small business. Win-win!
2. Line Drawing Series: Another reeeeealllly special piece of “non framed” wall art by the extremely talented Cindy Hsu Zell. There has yet to be a time when I’m scrolling through Instagram to not stop and stare and one of her pieces. They are textured, elegant and so unique. I would probably scream, cry and then jump up and down for longer than socially acceptable if I unboxed one of her pieces on Christmas morning (or any morning for that matter).
3. Metal Wire Basket: Baskets are also ALWAYS useful. And this one from H&M is so cute, it’s under $20 and could be used a ton of different ways. And if you wanted to up the ante, you could fill it with something else that’s fun (like compliments:))
4. Loren Pillow: As I’ve been pinning for my new apartment (!), I’ve been really into vintage (or vintage-looking) florals. This pillow is colorful without shouting at you, gives a very romantic vibe, and just looks like I want to cozy up to it by the fire. I just think it’s beautiful and if you have a friend or family member that has similar taste, this would be a great gift.

Now let’s move onto my promised “practical” gifts…

1. Bubble Umbrella | 2. A5 Softcover Notebook | 3. Black Step Ladder | 4. Secateurs

1. Bubble Umbrella: Last week, my brother called me and told me that his fiancée wanted a clear dome umbrella for the holidays. They live in Portland so an umbrella is likely the most practical gift I could give. So I went searching and found this cutie. It’s simple, protective, and super affordable. Sam, if you are reading this I hope you like it!!
2. A5 Softcover Notebook: This notebook is made out of recycled STONE!!!!!! Like the pages are stone. WILD. I think we should all be writing down our thoughts and feelings about this time. I mean we are living in a very historical moment. But back to the notebook. How cute would it be to write little notes on random pages as an unexpected surprise for your giftee. I did that once in a cookbook I gave my best friend for her bridal shower and she loved it.
3. Black Step Ladder: I’m not a tall person and have yet to live in an apartment that didn’t require me to own a step stool. I doubt I’m the only one. So as I was searching, this one popped up and I have to say that it’s one of the prettiest ones I’ve seen. It’s black, sleek and if I ever have had a hope in looking cool on a step ladder, it would be on this one hands down. So do your friend or family member a favor and replace that old one they have that’s falling apart. They will thank you AND feel super cool doing it:)
4. Secateurs: Everyone should have a good pair of secateurs. I’m not in any way a gardener but every time I buy a bouquet of flowers I wish I had a pair. These are beautiful and classic and anyone would love them.

1. The Trio of Knives | 2. Silpat Premium Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat | 3. Plissé Electric Kettle | 4. Bamboo Mixing Bowls | 5. Ninja 4qt Air Fryer | 6. Handmade Distressed Blue Ceramic Plates

1. The Trio of Knives: This is a gift that I never thought I would love so much. But they are AMAZING! I actually own them and not only are they beautiful but they have made cooking more enjoyable. I’ve heard that good knives are a game-changer but as a non-chef, I didn’t understand until now. These also come in a black and dark gray-blue (which would have been my second choice:)) If you want to really knock this gift up a notch, they sell cutting boards in very pretty colors. Also if my dad is reading this (he’s definitely not) I would like this copper core stainless steel pan.
2. Silpat Premium Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat: I own these and love them. Mainly because they create less waste for the environment but also because to me, they just look chic. Plus they also sell these storage bands that are nearly identical to a slap bracelet. Man the 90s were a time:)
3. Plissé Electric Kettle: My god is this a beautiful electric kettle! I haven’t owned one in a long time but since I now have a human-sized kitchen I think it’s time to reinvest. This is for sure a “leave out on the counter” kettle and would be a great gift for anyone who loves tea, Cup Noddles, hot chocolate… so everyone. But actually how funny would it be to give this beautiful kettle paired with a box of Cup Noddles??
4. Bamboo Mixing Bowls: So I had big plans to show you how I made my old kitchen functional for real cooking because apparently until quarantine I wasn’t doing that. Unfortunately, my move happened so it didn’t make sense to shoot it. But these mixing bowls were a part of the design and I love them. Full disclosure though, I bought the black ones (same maker) only after seeing the colorful ones which I might have opted for had I known. Either way they are great, sustainably-made, and dishwasher safe.
5. Ninja 4qt Air Fryer: I just want one so bad. I have heard so many great things and this one is highly reviewed. Think how easy making sweet potato croutons could be! If you have any thoughts let me know in the comments.
6. Handmade Distressed Blue Ceramic Plates: I know Emily already recommended these in her post, but I guess that just makes these VERY EHD approved. They are so freaking beautiful and special. If I still had open shelving they would have been my first purchase easy.

1. Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash | 2. Compostable Sponge Cloths | 3. Farmhouse Pottery Salt & Cellar Gift Set

1. Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash: Ok, hear me out. $42 for handsoap feels like an actual crime and I only purchased it initially because the guy working at the shop was SO helpful and I was the only customer in the store so I felt like I couldn’t back out after hearing the price. BUT with that said, it was one of the best purchases. It feels like a treat every time you wash your hands because it smells incredible and is a mini exfoliant, making them so soft. Oh and it lasts a very long time so again, an investment initially but ultimately pretty practical. Plus we need to keep washing our hands!
2. Compostable Sponge Cloths: Sustainable and beautiful. After Caitlin sang their praises I have wanted them ever since. I am a paper towel person and realllllly want to kick that bad habit in 2021 for good. So these are a great gift for anyone because we all wash dishes and make messes.
3. Farmhouse Pottery Salt & Cellar Gift Set: I can’t remember if I got this for Christmas last year or the year before but it has been an unexpected kitchen MVP. I remember opening it thinking “o wow beautiful but am I really going to use it??” And boy do I! The easy salt access is a dream and it is indeed beautiful. Such a great gift.

1. Black Fig + Rose Candle | 2. Tatine Forest Floor Glass Candle | 3. Redoux Candle “529

1. Black Fig + Rose Candle: Ok, this is going to sound weird but this candle smells like Brady circa 2016 which means it smells like the EHD office when I first started. My dad gave it to me for my birthday this year and after a couple of hours of trying to place the scent, I was like, “It’s the old office!” First off, Brady is one of those people that always smells awesome (something I’ve never been able to achieve. Does anyone else feel like perfume only lasts like an hour on them?). Because of this the office always smelled really nice. So it’s a very nostalgic scent for me personally but is also just a great smelling candle.
2. Tatine Forest Floor Glass Candle: Sara introduced me to this candle brand and it’s easily one of my all-time favorites. Luxury at its finest and comes in the prettiest glass container. I would have them in every room if I could… they aren’t cheap but they are worth it and a crazy wonderful gift.
3. Redoux Candle “529”: In case you missed my love letter to this candle a few months ago (was there wine involved when I wrote it? I’ll never tell), this candle smells like pure joy. Plus it’s more on the affordable side for a luxury candle so it’s a great one to buy for a few people or stock up yourself.

1. Portable Ceramic Space Tower Heater | 2. Kodak Luma 150 Pocket Projector | 3. Lexon OBLIO UV Sanitizing Wireless Charging Station

1. Portable Ceramic Space Tower Heater: No fireplace? No problem! Space heaters (while should be used carefully) can be a godsend. In case you’ve never lived in New York before they turn the heating pipes on or lived in LA and forgot it actually does get pretty cold, space heaters are everything. I love that this one also looks like a mini fireplace.
2. Kodak Luma 150 Pocket Projector: I think I’ve decided that until I can afford The Frame tv, I’m going to either use my computers (what I’ve been doing for years, except when my ex and I moved in together and that was his non-negotiable) or get a projector. And look at how cute and small this little guy is! Perfect for storing away until it’s showtime. It also looks super easy to use which I need when it comes to anything tech-related.
3. Lexon OBLIO UV Sanitizing Wireless Charging Station: I am the quintessential “sorry, my phone is dying” friend. I have also now turned into the “all I do is stare at a screen and now need a stronger glasses prescription” person during this pandemic. So with that said this little gadget could be THE answer. I mean it chargers, sanitizes, AND prohibits you from looking at your phone while working its magic. It also comes in white!
4. 2-Port Wall Charger: Like I said, my phone is somehow always dying but for some reason I have yet to buy more than one charger. It’s so dumb. So if I got a charger for Christmas I would be pumped. Likely someone in your life would feel the same.

1. Offline Activities | 2. Actually Curious – Happy Hour Edition | 3. HOOD CENTURY: 16 Modern Architecture Style Flashcards | 4. John Derian Playing Cards

1. Offline Activities: Ok maybe these shouldn’t be categorized as practical but they are necessary. Now that we are month 2893475343453945 into this pandemic, it can feel hard to think of fun random things to do that aren’t tech-related. We all need a break! So this fun (and also pretty) book is such a great gift.
2. Actually Curious – Happy Hour Edition: There are few things I love more than having deep conversations with friends. What’s more special than getting to know the people in your life even better. These cards are such a great way to bust out of the “well, how is your quarantine today?” routine. And what a fun way to continue to connect with your long-distance friends!
3. HOOD CENTURY: 16 Modern Architecture Style Flashcards: First off follow this Instagram account now. Then if you have any architecture or design-loving friends in your life, these flashcards are for them. It’s easy to drive past old buildings in neighborhoods that have been historically disenfranchised and not understand/fully appreciate their history and architectural significance. Jerald “Coop” Cooper decided to change that by making education and fun (and really cool) flashcards.
4. John Derian Playing Cards: There is something so nice about playing cards and these are BEAUTIFUL. So beautiful the giftee will probably leave them out all year.

1. C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil | 2. Deluxe Microneedle Dermal Roller | 3. The Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm | 4. Texture Reform | 5. Supergoop! Jet Set SPF Travel Kit | 6. Mesh Body Exfoliator

1. C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil: I’ve already recommended this in a link-up but it’s back because that is how much I love it. It just makes me and my skin feel glowy and for some reason putting on an oil makes me stop and take a deep breath in a way none of my other skin products do. That might just be me. But if you have someone in your life that wants to take care of their skin or loves skincare, this is a GREAT product.
2. Deluxe Microneedle Dermal Roller: The first time I heard about this roller was on Whitney Cummings’ podcast because people ask her about her skin all. the. time. This little roller apparently makes teeny tiny holes in your skin so all of that expensive product you put on your skin can actually get through and do its job. In case you didn’t know, neither Whitney or I are dermatologists so keep that in mind but I REALLY want to try it!
3. The Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm: This is THE lip balm. It has lanolin in it (which is used in nipple creams, fun fact) but will actually hydrate your lips in the most real way. I swear by it. A great small gift for anyone in your life.
4. Texture Reform: I consider this my “I’m a grown-up” skincare item and I love it. Retinol is apparently THE thing you want to be putting on your face to help make it look and feel awesome. This one, in particular, was created by celebrity esthetician Shani Darden whose clients include Jessica Alba and Shay Mitchell. All I want is awesome skincare/skin and if I got this I would be SO happy.
5. Supergoop! Jet Set SPF Travel Kit: Speaking of taking care of your skin, sunscreen is actually the most important. Especially if you are using retinol! Don’t use retinol if you aren’t dedicated to wearing sunscreen. Anyway, Supergoop is an EHD favorite, and for good reason. It goes on so light and is reef safe. So while no one is really jetting off anywhere this is a great gift for honestly anyone and is such a great price.
6. Mesh Body Exfoliator: I don’t know why I have yet to purchase this because it’s been on my list for a year (?). My body needs some exfoliation asap. So no need for a loofa anymore because this is apparently SO much better and also affordable!

1. Quip Smart Starter Set | 2. AquaHomeGroup Luxury Filtered Shower Head | 3. Olaplex Hair Repair Trial Kit

1. Quip Smart Starter Set: It took me a long time to get on the “Quip train” but now I never want to go back. The timed brush vibration made me realize I was not brushing long enough (sorry that’s a little TMI) and getting a new head every few months makes me not have to ask… Should I replace my toothbrush? Also, the holder also acts as a travel carrier!
2. AquaHomeGroup Luxury Filtered Shower Head: I am all about a filtered showerhead and with just over 7,000 rave reviews this one will likely be my next (I’m leaving my old one in the apartment. No need for the new tenant to have the gross old one). It’s crazy what a difference it makes on my hair!
3. Olaplex Hair Repair Trial Kit: I love love love this brand and this trial kit is only $25!! So if someone you know loves hair products or has been wanting to try Olaplex, I can’t recommend it enough.

1. The Mani System | 2. Boy Brow + Generation G Duo | 3. Skywash – Sheer Matte Lid Tint

1. The Mani System: I got this for my birthday this year (with these colors) and I am VERY happy to report that the hype is true. I love it so much and has made my at-home manicures so much better/easier. I now want all of their products… like the brand new Pedi System. Practical, a money saver in the long run, and a way to make you feel a little prettier.
2. Boy Brow + Generation G Duo: I have now tried a couple of brow gels and this one is still my favorite because it goes on light which I prefer. I also LOVE this lipstick. It says on the website that it gives the perfect “blotted lip” and that is 100% true. This is really an awesome and not too over the top but nice gift.
3. Skywash – Sheer Matte Lid Tint: I honestly just want to try this. Not the most practical but I really love a matte makeup look.

1. Eclair Card | 2. Windowpane Elmcourt Coat | 3. Ditsy Floral Sheer Ankle Sock | 4. Embroidered Button Up Scallop Midi Dress

1. Eclair Cardi: I have this sweater in cream and I wear almost every day. It makes me feel like I look cool but very cozy and it has the perfect amount of slouch. But man that green is GOOD.
2. Windowpane Elmcourt Coat: A good coat is never not a GREAT gift and this one is good. I love the color, the bold pattern, and the length. I feel like most everyone would feel amazing in this coat.
3. Ditsy Floral Sheer Ankle Sock: Socks are my next fashion accessory. Emily, Julie, and Bowser love to rock their cute striped socks with their slightly cropped pants and I want in. It feels like a very low but impactful lift and these floral ones are the first on my list.
4. Embroidered Button Up Scallop Midi Dress: I love that this dress is both neutral but special and very versatile. Perfect for work (if you are going into an office), family dinners (safely) and even grabbing a coffee (masked, of course).

1. Dylan Rancher Hat | 2. Reusable Loop Mask Set | 3. Sunglasses | 4. Women’s Striped Cuffed Beanie

1. Dylan Rancher Hat: This hat is beautiful (do you see that suede band??) and its light tan color makes it perfect for any season. AND it protects your face from the sun:)
2. Reusable Loop Mask Set: It wasn’t until I saw Yaminah Mayo and Erika Hart sport these that I knew I had to get them. They are happy, cool, and PROTECTS YOU AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU FROM GETTING SICK.
3. Sunglasses: I’ve tried to stray from my Ray-Ban aviators but always go back. BUT these are aviators with a twist and I am down!
4. Women’s Striped Cuffed Beanie: So while a rancher hat is very cute, when the temperatures drop and you need to cover your ears, a beanie is what you want. This one is only $15 and adorable.

1. Sweatsuit Set (Top & Bottom) | 2. High Rise Undies | 3. Rec Room Sweatshirt | 4. Compressive High-Rise Leggings

1. Sweatsuit Set (Top & Bottom): My friend Emily (yes I am blessed with many Emilys in my life) recently bought this set and can’t stop talking about it. I also saw it on her in person and it’s so flattering and very soft.
2. High Rise Undies: More checks! These have been all over Instagram and I need a good pair of undies. I know these would make me feel really good (and cool). These are also 100% dance around in your house undies and THAT is a necessity if you ask me.
3. Rec Room Sweatshirt: I’m typically not one for a graphic tee or sweatshirt but this one is so cool and looks so comfortable. I’m also pretty positive I heard about them on Armchair Expert so thanks Monica!
4. Compressive High-Rise Leggings: I have talked about these MANY times before but it’s because they are that good!! So soft, so comfortable yet flattering AND, sustainably made. I am about to order my 4th pair.

1. Boots | 2. Ankle Socks | 3. Checkered Slides | 4. Fuzzy Slippers

1. Boots: I mean just look at these! They are beautiful and the perfect balance of city meets mountains. As someone who needs some boots, I only want these.
2. Ankle Socks: So I don’t own these but my cousin swears they are the best ankle socks. You know, one’s that don’t show but actually stay on properly. Who doesn’t need these?
3. Checkered Slides: I think in 2020 it’s almost mandatory to have at least one color of these slides. They are easy, make any outfit more fun and lastly… the checkered obsession is real.
4. Fuzzy Slippers: I want to be a slipper person in my new apartment and these are ridiculous but awesome and will keep my feet very happy and will provide endless laughter every time I will look down. Can you put a price on that? Yes, it’s $10. SOLD.

WHEW! This post might be one of my longest but as Emily said earlier, we all want and should make more conscious purchases this year (and all the ones after). So I hope that this loooong gift guide helped you in your search for some perfect holiday gifts. Thanks for making this far and happy Monday!

Love you, mean it.

Want more gift guides? We’ve got you covered: 82 Of Our TOP Picks From Etsy (Everything From Fashion To Furniture) | My Favorite Things Ever Gift Guide: (Home and Tech Edition)

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Jess’ Bold Berry-Infused, Cozy Modern Holiday Apartment

The post Jess’ Gift Guide: “I Just Want Useful (But Pretty) Things This Year” appeared first on Emily Henderson.

My Favorite Things Ever Gift Guide: (Home and Tech Edition)

Oprah gave full permission for us to co-opt her ‘favorite things’ because calling it a ‘gift guide’ is just not good enough, and frankly inaccurate in its labeling. These are truly my FAVORITE THINGS for me, for Brian, and for our home. Everything here I either LOVE, have and use often, or REALLY want/need in my life. The world is too full of “stuff” to buy more to either store, return, or throw away. And shopping in-person is challenging this year so I know that trusting someone on the internet is very important. You can trust me, I promise. I actually refer to my own gift guide from last year and the year before when I’m looking to buy anyone a gift. And while I haven’t purchased every single one of these, I have spent HOURS whittling down my very long list. So long actually that today we are starting just with home and tech/books, and part 2 will be fashion and beauty (I’m still testing out bath oils, don’t worry) and of course I’ll get to kids. Some are splurgy and some are more affordable, but this isn’t a “cheap gift guide” because often things that are cheap won’t last and frankly we all should just be buying fewer things, that can last a long time, get a lot of use and love and actually WORK. Forego the $12 imported keychain gadget that will break in 3 weeks. Buy local when possible, support makers and stores in your community, buy green and sustainable when you can afford to, and go out of your way to buy more BIPOC owned stores, makers, and artists to ensure we are all doing our part to grow and lift up more voices in our community and world.

Ok, the consumerism lecture is over, I know that many people will shop for others this year so my hope is to help you buy things that are VERY, VERY GOOD with less regret and less waste (yet full of style and function). Here goes.

1. Cloche with Matches | 2. Totem Pillar Candles | 3. Fig & Vanilla Soy Candle | 4. Bergamot Candle | 5. Stoneware Match Strike | 6. Crackling Wooden Wick Candle

1. I don’t want “just matches”, I want darn beautiful ones that I can display. How pretty is that footed glass match vessel? Transport it to my bathroom, please.
2. I have a lot of these sculptural pillar candles. I don’t light them, it’s true, because they do such a good job as my coffee “table sculptures” to fire them.
3. This candle looks so high end and special, what with the clear glass and transparent look and I think it could go literally ANYWHERE. So affordable and good. I haven’t bought or smelled it but that could go in my English bathroom any day.
4. If you don’t know by now footed vessels are my kryptonite. It’s almost an involuntary need to immediately purchase when I see one. The good news is this one is beautiful, affordable, AND a candle. Form and function.
5. Here is another really good match striker. A little bolder, but has that almost handmade look about it that makes it work with almost any style.
6. If you want a solidly awesome but affordable gift, this candle is it. It smells amazing and the wood wicks make THE BEST crackling sounds.

1. This “tray” is actually a fruit bowl but could easily be a tray in any room. It’s a great gift for the “handmade ceramic lover” in your life.
6. This black and white box adds energy to any room, but in a classic way. Entry. Coffee table. In shelves. I could use it anywhere.

1. Small Shallow Lidded Jar | 2. Nomad Box | 3. White Ash Baskets

1. This round black and white box (with the leather detail – so cute!) would be so cute on your desk or on top of a stack of books.
2. This box is another Skagerak piece that I love. Quite but special and with just enough function.
3. I know that giving a laundry basket seems weird, but I’ve had this basket for years and it still brings me joy. I personally don’t want to spend so much money on a laundry basket, which is why it would be SUCH a good gift. Throw a pretty blanket in it, and wrap it in a bow.

1. Handmade Lamp | 2. Hand-Turned Maple Lamps | 3. Modern Table Lamp

1. The heavy black base and simple shape would look pretty great on a desk or shelf.
2. I’m OBSESSED with this lamp and while I don’t have it, it is something I would be so happy if it was wrapped under the tree for me.
3. I have this lamp and I keep wanting to put it in every room. It was the impetus for the ‘winter lighting’ post because not only is it an interesting shape and has great mixed materials, but it’s fully dimmable so it just gives off great light.

1. Laurie Maun Print | 2. Honest History Magazine | 3. White Marble Chain | 4. Linen Tissue Box | 5. Oak Piano | 6. Wine Glass Vase

1. I love this art print – calm, movement, simple, and just the perfect shade of blue. Seriously I wish that I had that paint color.
2. Honest History is a subscription book for my kids actually (don’t worry kids guide coming soon) but as you can imagine it’s a monthly history book that I’m assuming has an important perspective.
3. Everyone at EHD has some form of a chain sculpture and this is a great one that is affordable. What do you do with them? Put them on top of a stack of books on your coffee table, of course.
4. I meant to pin this tissue box on my ‘boomer’ gift guide (my MIL tipped me off to this), but listen we ALL want to cover up ugly tissue boxes, right?
5. If we were to splurge on a piano for this house, THAT WOULD BE THE ONE. Of course, it’s not the BEST gift for anyone, but I want it so bad.
6. Such a pretty bud vase for a bathroom vanity, with a special little flower in it. So sweet and that shape, in the blown glass, can work with any style.

1. Facebook Portal | 2. Black Steamer | 3. Leather Desk Blotter | 4. AirPods Leather Case

1. I’ve successfully convinced 10-15 people in my own life to buy a portal because I have found it to be the best way to stay connected during quarantine. I haven’t tried the rest of the video phones on the market but with this one you don’t have to sit, it’s like being on the phone – you press ‘call Suzanne’ while chopping veggies and then you can both make dinner and walk around and still see/hear each other. Suzanne’s mom got it and said it has changed her life. Me, too Kathy!
2. If I were in the market for a steamer… how awesome is this all-black one?
3. I want this leather desk pad for me/Brian – such a great home office gift.
4. How awesome is this AirPods holder? That carmel leather is awesome and takes it from a piece of tech, to a decent gift.

1. Charging Hub | 2. Polaroid Photo Printer | 3. USB Rechargeable Lighter | 4. Phone Sanitizer & Charging Hub

1. The fact that I don’t have a charging station is so stupid. This is the one that I’m going to send to Brian and say ‘can get please get matching of these?
2. I LOVE THIS PRINTER. I got it for Christmas last year and it basically takes your iPhone shot and prints it into a polaroid. It’s easy, the kids love it and we use it all the time. Don’t forget to buy this film.
3. We keep buying these janky long lighters from the gas station for our gas firepit, I want this simple and cool black one.
4. Ha. I guess I was super into charging stations… I like the black leather one more but it is way more expensive. But this one supposedly also sanitizes your phone, so if you are in the market check this one out.

1. Ceramic Tumbler | 2. Stoneware Mug | 3. Glass Tumbler | 4. Cobalt Stripe Pitcher

1. How cute are those tumblers? And you can also split up the set and give them separately as gifts, maybe with a little succulent?
2. We’ve been drinking out of these pottery mugs for 4 years now. They are just good and a set of 6 to someone with a new home would be a solid purchase.
3. These straight and modern tumblers came out this year and I think everyone I know bought them. Maybe not an amazing gift, but if you need drinkware that looks cool, that is VERY affordable, and also doesn’t break easily I recommend them.
4. Handdrawn stripe pitcher (and comes in black/white, too). I love a pitcher, mostly as a vase.

1. Halston Pitcher | 2. Barack & Michelle Mug | 3. Freezable Beer Glasses | 4. Everyday Mug

1. I LOVE The Citizenry pitcher. It’s the perfect shade of blue, such a pretty shape and that little ring of matte white makes it look super special. (Can also be a vase for flowers).
2. This mug keeps selling out, but I just want to have coffee with Obama so badly.
3. Ice cold beers, in a cool shape and finish. I’m buying a few of these for Brian for sure.
4. For a splurgy mug and those who like to collect, I LOVE this one, but it keeps selling out.

1. Stoneware Salad Tongs | 2. Handmade Distressed Plate | 3. Edge Salad Servers

1. I think salad servers seem like a boring gift, but if they are pretty then I ALWAYS love them. This pottery set is affordable and goes with every style.
2. Look at these blue pottery appetizer/service plates with that stunning edge!
3. I have these Skagerak ones with the little gold tips and they make me really happy.

1. Danish Paper Towel Holder | 2. Canvas Apron | 3. 18-Pack Spice Kit | 4. DIY Sushi Kit | 5. Italian Kitchen Graters & Slicer | 6. Epicurean Cutting Board

1. I know that a paper towel holder shouldn’t be one of my favorite things, but it is. That light wood and leather top works so well and makes me happy.
2. Time for a new apron and I’m very into this one with leather details. I hope the straps aren’t too complicated.
3. I don’t need this spice collection (you saw my spice drawer) but if someone is just starting out this is a GREAT collection that is also so pretty.
4. I’m ready to tackle sushi. Over quarantine, we’ve made Indian, Thai, and Chinese food because there is none of that up in the mountains. I haven’t had sushi in so long, and while I KNOW that what makes sushi good is good ingredients, I still want to try.
5. I need a grater and this is so much prettier than the plastic triangle we are using right now. So pretty.
6. I know it looks boring, but we have a set of these black cutting boards and they are our favorite – super lightweight, easy to clean and in the black, I think they look modern.

1. How To Be An Antiracist | 2. The Vanishing Half | 3. The Wedding Date | 4. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

1. For the last 5 months I’ve dove into educating myself on a few fronts by way of racism. While I’ve read others, Ibram’s book is still my favorite that I reference all the time. If you want the cliff notes listen to his episode on Armchair Expert. But it should be required reading for all people, especially white people. So listen AND read.
2. I also started reading more fiction that I also found enlightening. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett was both RIVETING (a mystery, spanning generations) and still culturally educational. I also read Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid (really good).
3. And The Wedding Date series which, listen, you can’t not enjoy it.
4. I just downloaded Caste by Isabel Wilkerson to go cover to cover, but I’ve listened to her on a couple of podcasts and I’m sold (and as someone deeply interested in history I’m excited).

1. EatingWell Soups | 2. Home Style Cookery | 3. Clean Soups

1. + 3. I meant to include so many others so I’ll just call them out. Both of those soup cookbooks (Eating Well: Soups and Clean Soups) I reference weekly, they are so well worn in a way that makes me happy.
2. Now the Matty one is pretty fun in a ‘pigs ears’ kind of way. Brian likes it and if you have someone in your life that wants to eat all parts of the body, in a lot of butter, get that (we just love his personality so much).

I also love Half Baked Harvest by Tieghan Gerard and Simply Real Eating by Sarah Adler.

1. Faux Leather Lumbar | 2. Dotted Palm Bolster Pillow | 3. Iota Blanket | 4. Round Cushion with Pompoms

1. The leather long bed pillow is SO GOOD. It kept selling out but it’s back right now.
2. I love a tassle but mostly in neutral or classic color palettes (for longevity).
3. This blue throw looks SO PRETTY. Not shocking, I love that color of blue and it just makes me happy.
4. When I spotted that pillow I was like, I don’t know very many people in my life who wouldn’t like this. Playful, works well with squares, but in a nice chunky cream.

1. 2-Piece Sedona Pillow Set | 2. Abstract Throw | 3. Campo Pillow with Stripe | 4. Textured Faux Fur Blanket

1. This floor pillow/meditation pillow combo was truly a shocker to me. I got it in the mail from their marketing department last year and was like ‘woah this is big, and the round one is SO heavy’. It is splurgy and yet over the years, I GET IT. It’s by far the best floor pillow out there because of its scale, (big and loungey) what it’s filled with (so cushy, but not bouncy), and pretty grey linen.
2. If you want a patterned throw for over your sofa to make it look RAD? I love this one that has unexpected shapes and colors.
3. Simple shape, pretty black stitching, this pillow can go ANYWHERE.
4. The faux fur blanket I keep talking about and referencing because we had to buy 3 because we all fought over it.

There you go, guys. I definitely put a few things in my cart, for me, obviously. Now I still have my beauty/fashion and kid guides coming up – I’m still trying out some product to properly recommend them.

I’d LOVE to know the best gift you’ve ever gotten in all categories or one that you have given that you knew you nailed. This could be both a sweet idea that we can share, or just a product that you are like ‘everyone likes this’ and we’ll include them in my next gift guide. Do share, why don’t ya?

Opening Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Our Living Room, Dressed Up for the Holidays (With a ‘And How I Feel About It’ Running Commentary)

The post My Favorite Things Ever Gift Guide: (Home and Tech Edition) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Jess’s $10 Entryway Hack, The Beanie Emily’s Wearing All Winter And Our New Favorite Wallpaper Design

If you’re reading this that means it’s Sunday and it’s time for another rendition of the link up. This week we’ve got all sorts of goodies coming your way, and boy are we excited about them… we’ll we’re not here to waste your time so let’s get right into the meat of it.

From Emily: When I was shopping for holiday decor, I came across this sweater at Target and let me just say it’s SO good. Also, it’s very affordable which is always a plus. I’m very into how it looks with my new favorite beanie too.

Today’s house tour is the epitome of “unexpected rustic neutral minimalism” (ha, there’s probably a better more concise name for it). It’s what your eyes need this Sunday. Also, make sure to check out the cafe curtains. They are so pretty.

From Jess: As I’ve been packing up my life to move into my new apartment, I think the best and most affordable thing I did was buy these peg racks and spray paint them black for my entry. They are so pretty and EXTREMELY functional. They are perfect for hanging hats, coats, purses, and of course, masks. A serious 10/10.

From Ryann: I am involved in a deep love affair with plain white tees. I have one for every day of the week and I am VERY particular about what constitutes a good t-shirt in my eyes. Folks, I am so thrilled to let you know that this shirt from Target is a WINNER. It is the softest shirt I have ever put on my body (no, really), it’s the perfect sleeve length and torso length, and it is only $8!!! It runs a bit large so size down for sure (I am usually a Medium and I wear a small).

From Caitlin: I just want to give a shoutout to my all-time favorite travel backpack. I bought it in 2018 before I embarked on a quarter-life crisis backpacking/hitchhiking trip – I couldn’t afford a plane ticket home for the holidays but I somehow could afford to fly to Europe using only points, so I obviously did that instead – and I was able to trek through a couple of countries DURING WINTER with this as my only suitcase! I just flew home to quarantine for a couple weeks so I can spend the holidays this year with my mom (hooray!) and as always, this basically fit everything I needed to bring. I just did the math and it’s been my carry-on on nearly 100 flights (!!!) since, and it truly still looks brand new. If you’re also a light traveler who dreams of one day being able to fly somewhere again in a post-pandemic world, this would be a great addition to your holiday wishlist!!!

Also From Caitlin: Maybe it’s just because I have LITERALLY NO PLANS as I sit in my childhood home and wait to be done with quarantine – my mom is enjoying a nice time down at the beach with her dog #blessed – but I am obsessed with filling the time by scrolling through website’s gift sections! ANYWAY, this week’s standout goes to Urban Outfitters and to two favorites in particular: this acrylic chess set (it’s like Queen’s Gambit meets Jonathan Adler…I’m into it) and this Dunder Mifflin Book and Mug Set, which seems like an easy slam dunk gift for anyone who likes The Office (so basically…all my friends!). What other sites have super fun gift sections right now??? I’M SO ALONE AND I HAVE ONE MORE WEEK TO SIT HERE, PLEASE ADVISE.

From Mallory: HALP. I have a random design question. Have you guys ever DIY’ed a custom cushion? I’m wondering if it’s worth the $$$ to have some professionally made or I can make it look equally as good if I do it myself. Thoughts? Please help me.

Also from Mallory: We posted Carmeon’s kitchen reveal 2-ish weeks ago on our IG grid and EVERYONE wanted to know about the “wallpaper” in her dining area. Well, the sad news was that ya couldn’t buy that wallpaper because it was actually hand-painted by Carmeon herself…but WAIT… she finally turned it into a wallpaper in collaboration with City and State. Oh, and did I mention it comes in peel and stick?? After my long peel and stick wallpaper roundup you guys should know how much I love it. I cannot get over how good this is though. Seriously check it out.

Opening Image Credit: Design By Lisa Przystup, Photography by Christian Harder, via Rip & Tan

The post The Link Up: Jess’s $10 Entryway Hack, The Beanie Emily’s Wearing All Winter And Our New Favorite Wallpaper Design appeared first on Emily Henderson.

2020 Gift Guide: 82 Of Our TOP Picks From Etsy (Everything From Fashion To Furniture)

Welcome to gift guide season folks! It is absolutely wild how fast this year went by and I scarcely remember the before times (i.e. living in a world pre-pandemic), but we’ve just about made it through a very challenging year so it feels good to be thinking about gift giving, holiday cheer, and warm fuzzy feelings. For our first gift guide installment, I am so thrilled to share our picks from my personal favorite place to shop. Etsy has long been my go-to for almost all things. I’ve purchased everything from vintage furniture, to art, to pet supplies, to jewelry, to clothing from this site and perusing new items with a glass a wine in hand is a beloved past time of mine.

What I love most about shopping on Etsy is that it’s a worldwide, easy to access marketplace where I can find new artisans and makers, vintage retailers, and small businesses to support. I also love that when you buy something on Etsy, you are usually buying something original, vintage, or made in small batches so you can avoid buying something thats ~everyone~ has. It’s truly a magical place to shop, so let’s get straight to it, shall we?

1. Priti Light Fixture: I love this light shop, studioPGRB, and if I had the need for a pendant in my home, I’d go for this one. The designs are very modern yet minimal and per their customer reviews, they are absolutely stunning in person.
2. Tan France x Etsy Chunky Knit Blanket: It would be hard to find someone who doesn’t want a cozy blanket as a gift, and this chunky knitted one will provide comfort for you and style for your sofa.
3. Wave Concrete Vase x Tan France: If you have someone on your list that is hard to shop for, I can tell you that a unique vase is a fantastic gift. It’s one of those items that everyone enjoys receiving and this one from Tan France’s collection is selling FAST, and for good reason.
4. Neela Single Bulb Pendant: One more pendant from studioPGRB because their products are that good. If you are looking for a more subtle pendant for your giftee, this exposed bulb one would be a great choice.
5. Limited Batch Marbled Glass Coaster: Coasters are one of those unexpected gifts that no one really thinks to ask for, but special ones are an exciting gift to recieve. These are handmade marbled kiln fused glass coasters that will look good on anyone’s coffee table.
6. Seed Starting Container Gardening Kit: Are we all still trying to start our own gardens?? I think yes so this Eco-friendly Seed Starting Container Gardening Kit is a great start for those a little late to the game.
7. Concrete Hands Catchall Card: We love a hand-shaped jewelry catchall. I am so impressed with the attention to detail on this one and because it is handmade, you can bet that each one is special and one of a kind.
8. Ceramic Bowl, Cup, Vase Gift Set: Ceramics are always an appreciated gift for any designer/design enthusiast. It can take a long time to curate a good collection of ceramics to style with, so why not help someone out with this unique set that comes with a bowl, cup, and a vase?
9. Large Ceramic Vase: Again, a vase on its own is a great gift, but if you want to make it even more special, we suggest filling it up with compliments. This is an EHD birthday tradition and it is so sweet and personal.
10. Vintage Beige Gooseneck Desk Lamp: Any vintage decor lover would be psyched to receive this vintage mid-century style desk lamp. It would add some charm to any desk, home office, or bedroom.
11. Scandinavian End Table: Anyone decorating their apartment knows how exhausting finding the right furniture can be. This side table would be perfect for any minimal Scandinavian styled home (like the ).
12. Plague Doctor Art Print: You may recognize this print from Julie’s recent bathroom reveal. It is such an intriguing piece and perfect for someone who wants to liven up thier walls with some interesting art.
13. Tia Mowry x Etsy Striped Storage Basket: Who doesn’t love a handwoven basket?? This one is from a limited edition collection designed by Tia Mowry (star of the Disney channel show Sister, Sister, duh) and the minimal but sophisticated design would work seamlessly with a range of styles.
14. 10 Pcs Set of Vintage Kantha Cushion Pillow Covers: Remember this home tour that I was head over heels for?? Well, many of the pillows and textiles are from this very shop. I even bought a quilt from them a month ago and it is one of my favorite pieces in my home.
15. Black Coil Basket: These handmade baskets are made with a Native American coil weaving technique that is very special and it would be another great vessel for compliments :).
16. Modern Original ContemporaryArtwork Commission Art: This piece by artist Dina Dee Art is such a cool, modern abstract painting that would be a special and unexpected gift.
17. Square End Table: Again, furnishing a home can be tricky/exhausting/expensive. Any help is welcomed and this sleek, modern end table can fit seamlessly with a wide range of styles.
18. Vintage Moroccan Floor Rug: Etsy is my favorite resource for vintage rugs so you are going to see a few options here. This one is a splurge for sure but it is too special not to share, plus if you check out the shop, you can find even more options that would add the perfect amount of charm and color to any space.
19. Hanging Terracotta Ceramic Lamps Set of Three: HOLD THE PHONE. This incredible ceramic pendant comes in a set of three so you can hang them in clusters for a mobile-type feel. I am obsessed.
20. Macrame Wall Hanging: Per Emily’s styling rules, it is said that every room needs a good mixture of varying sizes, shapes, and textures of art. Wall hangings like this one are one of the key elements that make a room and act as unique conversational pieces.
21. Vintage Turkish Kilim Rug: I LOVE VINTAGE RUGS AND I DON’T CARE WHO KNOWS IT! This guy is on the smaller side (3′ 1″ × 4′ 10″) but could easily act as an interesting bathroom, kitchen, or entryway mat.

1. Vintage Textured Cream Ceramic Table Lamp: It might be important to point out that I have recently fostered a deep love for vintage lamps. There is something very exciting about finding a rare lamp that no one else has and picturing the lamp shade options to play around with.
2. Minimalist White Vases: We have linked iterations of these vases many times this year so it only felt right to include it in our Etsy Gift Guide. We are all big fans of this postmodernist minimal style happening right now, and these are the perfect accents to show off that style.
3. Ivory and Black Beni Ourain Long Lumbar Pillow Cover: You are going to see a few pillows in this roundup because guys, Etsy has soooo many great options. I love this lumbar pillow cover and am secretly deciding if I should buy one for my sofa.
4. White Ceramic Vase: Here are some more unique vases because as I mentioned before, vases are a fantastic gift for someone who is a little hard to shop for.
5. Vintage Mid Century Danish Modern  Rocking Chair: I truly did not know how much I need a rocking chair until now. This is would be an incredible gift for someone who douses their home with vintage mid-century furniture.
6. White Oak Coffee Table: In case you weren’t aware, Etsy is home to SO MANY handmade furniture shops like this one. Most of the shops are small businesses that do incredible work and make quality, made to order products designed to last like this coffee table.
7. Body Outline Print: A female form print is a great addition to any minimalist room, and this one is from an awesome black-owned shop that handmakes each print.
8. Burnt Orange Round Circle Pom Pom Pillow Cover: Again, everyone interior design enthusiast needs a collection of throw pillows. Our sofas and beds are not complete without them!
9. Authentic Beniourain Rug: This is the shop I purchased my living room rug from and I am beyond happy with my purchase. They have the best prices on vintage rugs I have ever seen and they offer free shipping to the U.S.!
10. Antique Wood Basket: As we all know, every home needs vintage accents, so why not have it be an antique wood basket from the 1900s??
11. Black Girl Art Print: Prints like this one are very special and I love the soft neutral colors that are very calming.
12. Vintage Anatolian Distressed Turkish Handmade Oushak Rug: This is the last vintage rug, I promise. Clearly, I have a love affair with them and I hope my passion for them extends to you and your potential giftee :).
13. Mid Century Chair: These chairs are drool-worthy and you may remember this style of chair featured in Emily’s Dining Room.
14. Mid Century Magazine Rack: We are pretty much convinced that print-media is making a comeback, so magazine racks are finally relevant again. Praise be.
15. Dash Mudcloth Pillow Covers: Here is another throw pillow because you can never have too many pillow options, right?
16. Bud Vase: These vases are so fun and would be loved by anyone who is into the post-modernism trend happening right now.
17. Artist Print: How cool is this abstract face print? I’ll answer. Very cool. I am deeply into the colors and can see it being an awesome piece on someone’s gallery wall.
18. Antique Eyes Print: This print is from my favorite print shop on Etsy. I have had this particular one in my cart for a while, but am waiting to see if I have a good place for it in my home.
19. Vintage Art Printable: One of EHD’s best tips on saving money is buying printable art. I recently bought one from this shop and had it printed by Artifact Uprising and I am SO happy with the result.
20. Vintage Art Printable: Here is another printable piece from the same shop that I just adore. I love the blurred image of this mysterious woman and you just might see it in my home very soon :).
21. Acrylic Art: Last but certainly not least, is this original painting by the talented Dina Dee. Again, art is a FANTASTIC gift if you can swing it.

1. Micropleat Wrap Blouse: This blouse is so similar to many shirts I’ve seen on Free People and & Other Stories, but it’s half the price AND vintage! That’s what I call a double win, folks.
2. 70s Pendleton Wool Plaid Button Shirt: My fiance has been wanting a Pendleton jacket for some time now, and the price for this one is very reasonable. THIS IS WHY I LOVE ETSY GUYS. You can find such great deals on vintage items that would otherwise be very expensive.
3. Levi’s 501 Jeans: I just discovered this vintage shop and I love everything they sell. Just great prices and really cool vintage finds. I am a huge fan and have many of their items favorited.
4. Vintage Butter Cream Ribbed Thermal: I have been following this shop (Rawson Studio) for a while now and I love all the designs they come out with. They create such timeless silhouettes that are perfect basics for almost any style. I love the oversized fit of this shirt and can see it being a huge staple in my wardrobe.
5. Vintage Hickory Brown Overdye Chore Jacket: This is a very good looking, classic utility jacket and I am very into the chocolate brown color. I love the shape and it can easily be unisex (aka you can buy it for your partner and totally share it :)).
6. Satin Lined Knit Beanie: This is not just any chunky knit beanie. Nope. This one is satin lined which seems very ~luxurious~ making it the perfect gift for a fancy friend.
7. Green 80s Army Shirt: I love an army green button-up (haven’t you heard that men look better in uniform??) and if the dude in your life needs to spice up his shirt game, this is a nice option that is not too “out there” for the only-wears-work-wear type of guy.
8. Crop Knit Sweater: I am admittedly deeply into anything knitted lately (hello winter) but this handmade crop turtleneck sweater seems like a real treat. It has wide sleeves and a very cute ribbed detail on the neck and sleeves.
9. Levi’s 501 Jeans: Etsy is my all-time favorite resource for vintage jeans. Instead of paying $200+ for good heritage weight denim, I will search for vintage Levi’s and have found my absolute favorite jeans this way.
10. The Siena Tank: This is another basic staple from Rawson Studio. It is a simple ribbed tank top (made from deadstock material) and I have multiple pairs that I seriously can’t live without. They are perfect for layering or pairing with denim shorts and gold jewelry on a hot day.
11. Mickey Tee: This shop has tons of really great vintage tees like this Mickey Mouse tee that your friend who LOVES Disneyland would absolutely die over.
12. 80s Taupe Single Button Blazer: I love wearing blazers in the fall/winter. I work from home now so I am rarely wearing business attire but a blazer paired with jeans, a turtleneck, and chunky gold jewelry is a great look for going out to dinner (or in our case–getting dressed up to have diner at home).
13. Plain White Tee: I hope y’all love basics as much as I do (ha) because clearly, this is a theme here. I love a plain white tee and whenever I can find a solid vintage one, I have a hard time keeping myself from hitting purchase–which might explain why I have 23287683141 white tees.
14. Vintage Checked Unisex Boyfriend Blazer: SURPRISE, Another vintage blazer! I couldn’t help but include this one as well because I love the plaid pattern (plus it’s from another really great vintage shop that always has unique finds).
15. Vintage Suede Jacket: This style and color jacket is timeless and is an especially great gift for the person in your life who has that “effortless cool” style that we all strive for.
16. Upcycled Minimal Denim Overalls: Who doesn’t love the ease of an overall? I can tell you with confidence that team EHD does because it’s basically a designer’s uniform on set when moving furniture and shlepping props is involved.
17. Claire Dress: I found this dress when I was helping a friend try and find a dress for a wedding (see, I told you I use Etsy for everything!). This dress is very cool and I think it could be worn to a wedding, on a date, or even to work if you are fancy like that :).
18. Fire & Wine Cowl Hood: This is for people who live in places that have four seasons and/or snow. It’s a handmade cowl hood that is just so fun with the happiest colors. If I ever went anywhere that was cold, I’d need this because I am a huge baby when it comes to weather under 60 degrees.
19. Levis Vintage Trucker Jacket: We truly love a classic denim jacket. You can find vintage Levi’s jackets allll over Etsy which means there is no need to buy a newly made one (thus being more sustainable! Woo!).
20. Sylvie Loose Boyfriend Pants: Although I love wearing jeans, they are not as applicable nowadays as I am at home 90% of the time. I’ve been leaning towards comfortable pants that could possibly double as pajamas and I assume I am not the only one. These pants have an elastic waistband but still look sleek and professional.
21. Cora Puff Sleeves Blouse: In my never-ending quest to find cute, comfortable, versatile blouses, I came across this one and fell hard.

1. Thank You Phone Case: I was recently reminded how essential phone cases are when my poor fiance dropped his phone and his entire screen shattered :/ Anyway, this phone case is awesome because it’s made with biodegradable materials and the “Thank You” grocery bag design is very cool and millennial in the best way.
2. Leather Watch: This extremely attractive watch would be a welcomed addition to any person’s wardrobe. It is simple enough that it can be worn everyday but elegant enough that it could be worn for formal occasions as well. That’s what I call versatility my friends.
3. Vintage Calvin Klein Belt: For anyone who loves vintage designer clothes, this Calvin Klein belt would be a wonderful gift (just make sure it’s the right size). TBH, If I actually needed a belt at the moment, I would have been selfish and purchase this one for myself.
4. Watercolor Flowers Phone Case: Here is another phone case (that is also made with biodegradable materials) because I think phone cases are an underrated accessory and they are an easy but personal gift to give to anyone in your life.
5. Leather Tote: A quality tote bag is an EHD staple and anyone who is on the go and is usually lugging around a laptop would greatly appreciate this gift.
6. Personalized Toiletry Bag: Everyone deserves a quality toiletry bag IMO. This paired with a few skincare items would be a wonderful gift for anyone in your life.
7. Minimal Gold Pendant: Oh I am soooo into these pendant necklaces. My obsession with gold jewelry is a little out of hand at the moment, but it’s only because I believe one can never have too many gold accessories :).
8. Rose Necklace: Okay, full disclosure: you are going to see a lot of gold jewelry here and I’ll tell you why. Etsy has, I kid you not, THOUSANDS of jewelry shops that sell chic, reasonably priced jewelry. My entire jewelry collection is thanks to Etsy and I know that I’d be psyched to receive this gold rose pendant necklace for Christmas. Just saying.
9. Vintage Silver and Gold Watch: I think giving someone a watch is such a romantic, thoughtful gift. In fact, I bought my fiance a watch for his birthday and he still raves about it and says it is the best gift I have ever given him.
10. Handmade Canvas Leather Backpack: A backpack like this one would be a great gift for someone who travels a lot and is adventurous, but never sacrifices style.
11. Leather Belt: Similar to a nice leather watch, a leather belt is a very thoughtful gift, plus this one is hand-stitched and can be customized to be the perfect fit.
12. Toggle Clasp Necklace: I really like the clasp on this chain necklace and would gladly add it to my jewelry collection (wink wink @ my fiance).
13. Dome Croissant Ring: I am a tiny bit obsessed with these chunky rings. I had to physically restrain myself from buying the Dome Croissant ring but will definitely be adding this to my own Christmas list.
14. Quartz Earrings: These earrings are the much more elegant version of the simple gold hoop that we all love. The quartz charm adds a special touch making this a lovely gift for someone who is into the finer things in life.
15. Custom Letter Necklace: Everyone loves a custom piece of jewelry. You can personalize this one however you chose but I have to say the “Mama” sentiment is so darling. Emily has a similar one and it goes without saying that it would be a lovely gift for any mom or mom to be.
16. Gold Coin Drop Earrings: Earrings are never a bad gift. No one has ever complained about having too many earrings and these coin drop ones are simple yet very elegant so they can be worn casually or formally.
17. Double-Up Coin Necklace: I will reiterate that necklaces are a great gift for almost anyone. Receiving jewelry as a gift feels thoughtful and personal, plus every time they wear it they will think of you.
18. Zodiac Necklace: This is my favorite zodiac necklace that I have had for years. It is perfect for layering with a simple chain necklace or pendant and I NEVER take mine off but the gold has not faded one bit.
19. Sage Lucite Earrings: I could not end this gift guide without including a statement earring. That would be criminal, and this pair is handmade and is lightweight enough that they can be worn daily plus just look at that color! It’s stunning.

Well folks, we made it to the end of the first gift guide of 2020. This is the first of many, but please do let us know what kind of recs you’d like to see from us. Happy Saturday and happy shopping! xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Arlyn’s Warm (& Sort of Last-Minute DIYed) Holiday Reveal

The post 2020 Gift Guide: 82 Of Our TOP Picks From Etsy (Everything From Fashion To Furniture) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Orlando Bought A HOUSE!! And He’s Here To Talk About His Life, The Process and His BIG Plans…

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE! Literally the most exciting thing to ever happen in my life just happened! I bought a house! 

And quite honestly, it kind of came out of nowhere. 

If you’d asked me at the beginning of this year what the chances of me buying a house within the next few years was, I would have said SLIM TO NONE. But then, well, 2020 happened and literally everything got flipped upside. In terrible ways but also a few good ones. And then all of a sudden I found myself as something I dreamed of being – an actual homeowner.

Since you read this blog I probably don’t have to explain to you that California (particularly LA) is a pretty hard place to get your foot in the door of the real estate market. I’ve wanted a house since I was, I dunno, seven. But it always seemed absolutely impossible until I did it. But I’ve kind of known it was like that – homeownership does truly seem impossible from the outside, until you do it and you’re like OH THAT’S IT?!? I kind of learned this from watching Emily and Brian buy their first house years ago. Like, LA seemed like an impossible place to find a family home in and then BAM, their careers and real estate prowess aligned and they found a place! 

So I guess I knew in the back of my head that someday I’d probably be able to randomly buy a house but I had no idea when that day was coming or how on earth I’d do it fully alone with no help from family or my wealthy, gorgeous husband (because he doesn’t exist). But in my wildest dreams, I never expected it to happen this year. And then Covid came basically right as I was finishing up shooting my HGTV show “Build Me Up” (which you can still watch on HGTV Go!) and I kind of looked around like, “OH MY GOD WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?? HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE MONEY???”

Because it can be kind of confusing to understand the way people like me make money (or quite honestly, what my actual job is) let me break it down for you. While I started as a designer, for the last few years I’ve made most of my money hosting TV (mostly HGTV), brand partnerships, and content creation. So, mostly I was paid to design stuff and then yell at everyone about it. But when Coronavirus hit, brands all stopped spending money so one of the main ways I was making money evaporated into thin air. 

Luckily, I had already begun to pivot back to working with design clients again AND had just started making and selling art and home decor products via my website (please go buy them right now!). I realize how incredibly lucky I’ve been this year (and, quite honestly, I have no idea if it’s gonna keep up, running your own little business is ROUGH). But somehow magically as the economy was tanking I managed to continue bringing in an income and because I was spending money on literally nothing, I was able to save a bunch. I actually hadn’t really processed how much money I had been spending on travel, clothing, and God-knows-what the past few years and without anywhere to go or any real reason to get dressed ever, I kind of saved a lot. Thus, this year, I magically found myself in a financial position where I finally had a chunk of change to use as a down payment. 

photo by zeke ruelas | from: “revenge body for the home”: the juicy backstory to orlando’s show unspouse my house

Meanwhile, the city of LA was falling apart around me. Everything that I loved about it was closed (museums, parties, the gym, etc). Restaurants were open, but they were full of people BREATHING DIRECTLY INTO EACH OTHER’S MOUTHS whilst drinking mimosas, spitting into the air. Half my friends had become full-on shut-ins (like me) and the other half were going to ‘Rona Raves’ every weekend. Quite honestly, I’ve had a really hard time processing this year. It’s made me realize that I am extremely judgy and puritanical about some things – mainly following rules that have to do with keeping other people safe. So seeing people party and not take the virus seriously started to REALLY grate on me. And I hated that part of my personality, I hated having to confront my own judginess. But it also pissed me off that people were just acting like nothing was going on, getting on planes to go to Mexico, getting covid, then bringing their covid back with them on the plane potentially infecting (and killing?) people in the process (some friends of mine literally did this and I’m clearly still furious about it). 

I’m a city guy, kinda always have been (even though I grew up in the woods – I’ll get to that) and always will be. I probably have too much FOMO to want to live somewhere that isn’t LA or New York permanently. But, I came to the realization this year that if there were ever a time NOT to be in one of those two cities it’s probably the next 1.5-2 years (please God let this be over by summer!). I simply have no interest in paying LA rent to be trapped inside my apartment as people parade outside my window licking each other’s faces while a terrifying virus ravages the city (sidenote: there are people in high-risk categories in my family who I see regularly, so it’s really less about my own fear of the virus than my fear of contributing to community spread that could lead to someone getting ill or worse). 

Now, because I am the least efficient storyteller ever and incapable of keeping it short, here is where the story gets even DEEPER. I grew up in one of the most magical places on earth, a place that haunts my soul daily and dreams nightly. I grew up in Yosemite National Park. If you’ve been following along for a while you probs know this. But if you haven’t you’re probably like “WHAT? IN THE PARK???” Yes, I grew up in a tiny cabin underneath Yosemite Falls. And I didn’t truly appreciate it until my parents retired and had to move (the homes inside Yosemite are rentals for current park employees only so once you retire you have to GET OUT). 

When my parents left the park in 2014, it kind of felt like losing a member of the family. Yosemite had been so ingrained in my personality that it felt weird not to have any sort of ties to the area anymore. Over the years I’ve come back a number of times and it’s always felt super weird to stay in hotels. For me, this is an area I come “home” to, so not having a “home” to cook dinner and relax by the fire in was very strange. 

Ever since my parents left, I’ve dreamed about buying a house in the area where I grew up. There are a number of communities outside Yosemite National Park (and some within) where you can own a home: Yosemite West, Wawona, Foresta closeby, and further out Mariposa (where I went to high school) and Oakhurst. I’d always thought it would be nice to own a home in Yosemite West, about 40 minutes from Yosemite Valley where I was raised, where some of my friends from grammar school lived, but I’d never seriously looked at properties in the area until this year.

Now, since this story has gotten kind of long, let’s recap:

I have always dreamed of owning a house.LA is expensive and I’m probably a lot less rich than you’d imagine.I basically lost my main income source and had to figure out new and old magical ways to make money this year. Wheee!I ended up saving a ton of money, enough for a down payment, by doing literally nothing fun all year long.Coronavirus took away all the things I loved about LA and turned my friends into irresponsible idiots.I grew up in Yosemite and missed it.I wanted to get out of LA until Coronavirus ended.

Honestly, at this point the story can be solved with simple arithmetic. If you add all of the above together you end up with the following:

I BOUGHT A HOUSE IN YOSEMITE (ADJACENT)!

Like many design lovers in Coronatimes, I’ve spent quite a bit of time fantasizing about moving to a far off place while browsing Zillow every night. So when I came across a rare steal in the town of Fish Camp, just two miles from the Southern Gate of Yosemite, I jumped on it and drove up to take a look.

When I saw the house, I fell in love with it immediately. Sure, it’s kind of a strange ’90s box. But it had many attributes that are VERY hard to come by in this area:

Size (3000+ square feet)Flat lot (many of the homes in this area are on dark, steep hills meaning that they have to be super vertical, often up to four or five stories tall)It was in relatively good condition structurally, meaning I could spend money on fun things you can see rather than boring things like rebuilding a foundation.It had land (half an acre) with space around it.It would make for a great “before/after” story (hey, I love a Cinderella story!)

Okay, so here’s how this whole house deal went down. I found the listing and was immediately like OH MY GOD I NEED THIS. Somehow, I’m guessing through Zillow, I reached out to a real estate agent who met me at the house and showed it to me. I found out when I toured it that someone had already come in over asking, which was annoying because the asking price ($595K – a steal by LA standards) was at the higher end of my budget and I wasn’t sure I could go any higher. I felt pretty discouraged but I’d heard that writing a letter could help and also being super easy to work with (ie not making a ton of demands of the seller) could be really helpful if you truly wanted the house. So I basically told them I wouldn’t come in with a ton of contingencies and that I’d make amazing use of the house and carry on its tradition of being a place for family to gather (previously, this house was a shared vacation house between siblings). 

needed to blur out the sensitive personal info so one comes to murder me!

From start to finish, the buying process was 2.5 excruciating months. Which, in the scheme of things I know is ridiculously short. When you think about it, it’s actually kinda wild that the very first house I ever looked at, and the one I really wanted because of the size/lot/etc ended up working out. Both of my siblings bought houses in Sonoma County near my parents in the past two years and had a much different experience, getting outbid over and over and having a really hard time finding homes within their budgets. So I consider myself pretty lucky that I looked at a house, inquired about it, and somehow magically ended up getting it.

Oh, one thing I’m not mentioning here because honestly just thinking about it exhausts me, is that the second I closed on it, it nearly burned down in a terrifying wildfire. You can read more about that in the post I wrote over on my blog.

So, what’s next? Well, the end goal with this house is to create a large space where my family can gather and be close to Yosemite, to have a physical tie to the place that holds such an important place in each of our hearts. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS SO CHEESY BUT IT’S THE TRUTH I’M SORRY OK??? My eventual goal, and to be honest I’m not TOTALLY sure when this is going to happen because I spent literally all my money buying the house, is to renovate this house to look as if it were built in the same year the house I was raised in was built, 1929. 

My plan is to change every single surface in the home, from the windows and doors to the siding and even the finish of the interior walls. So, basically this project is gonna be super expensive and I’m gonna need to get some big paychecks to afford it (read: it might be a while). To get an idea of the vibe of the project, head on over to my Londo Lodge Pinterest board:

I really want to make this place, which currently feels just like a big, boring box, into a place that evokes nostalgia, that feels like an old, historic home. I want it to be a place my family gathers for holidays or that my parents and siblings feel free to come use for weekends away. And maybe someday I want it to be an heirloom property that goes to my future child that doesn’t exist or to my niece and nephews.

The first phase of move-in has involved a LOT of learning. For being a first-time homeowner, I chose kind of a difficult house. Here’s a list of some of the things that make it challenging:

It’s on a well. So when the power goes out (which is not uncommon here) the water stops flowing.The only thing that is connected to any sort of municipal grid is the electricity, so I have to make sure water and propane systems are operating/refilled/maintained.There is no trash service, so I have to drive my trash and recycling 45 minutes to a dump where I dispose of it myself. You can apply to get your own dumpster (which I did) but it’s $260 a month and there’s a super long waiting list. It’s on a septic system, which had to be rebuilt before I moved in because tree roots had grown into it. Oops. It has central heating, but the heater malfunctioned the first time I turned it on and had to be repaired. Another few thousand dollars down the drain…It’s rural so services (ie handyman, delivery, general help) are difficult to come by. You can’t just look something up on Yelp. Our version of Yelp is going to the general store and asking the people who work there if they know anyone who can help you.

The list kinda goes on, but I won’t bore you. I actually like the distraction of all of this problem solving (most of the time). But the point is I chose kind of a hard house as my first one, so it’s taking me a minute to get fully settled in. For example, I spent the afternoon today chopping wood, then stacking it, then moving a small portion of it into the garage so it would be easy to grab to add to the fireplace (this is a big ass house, it’s hard to keep it warm when it’s 9 degrees out!). 

My plan, as it relates to You Personally Reading This Blog Right Now, is that I plan to make the house cute ASAP by doing a series of mini-makeovers throughout the house that work with the house as-is but spruce it up with paint and some new furnishings (which I plan to keep for the final, renovated look). I’m doing this A) Because I view this house as kind of a fun design lab to play with ideas in B) Because I know a lot of you out there, including literally me right now, can’t necessarily afford to fully renovate their homes and I want to provide some tips on how to work with your house in its current state and C) Because I can’t help myself, I literally can’t resist playing around with the design of my home while I wait for a bigger renovation.

So, FOLLOW ALONG WHY DON’T YOU? I’ll be documenting this whole journey here on Emily’s blog and on my blog as well! Okay goodbye!

The post Orlando Bought A HOUSE!! And He’s Here To Talk About His Life, The Process and His BIG Plans… appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Ajai Gave Her Parent’s Patio A Major Facelift Just In Time For Thanksgiving (And Her Due Date)

Who else has been stressed and anxious lately? I know I sure have. With the pressures of a pandemic, pregnancy, and election, I’ve been feeling on edge, which has left me really anticipating the holidays. For me, the holiday season is a beacon of hope. The holidays incite cheer and most importantly, quality time spent with family.  

A quick recap; we moved back to California after selling our Georgia home. This entailed us moving in with my parents to save on rent, but the deal was that my husband and I offer a helping hand with updating my parent’s home. We’ve already updated their living room, and now have completed the patio area so that we can host Thanksgiving strictly outside this year. 

For Thanksgiving, my family and I typically try to use all the spaces we can to host family members. This means aunts, uncles, and cousins coming together in the dining room, living room, kitchen, and outside area – gathering around any and every table we can – California-style (the weather usually allows us to hang out in the front and backyards). 

But this year, due to COVID, we’ll only be eating outside, as we feel this will be a safe way for us to gather. However, when we came to the realization that we’d be spending our Thanksgiving outside, we knew we had to whip it into gear with getting the patio ready for such a thing. Especially with my due date being Thanksgiving day. I know. What timing.

Did I mention I’m one of five children? Well, with that said, I should also mention I’ve only had the chance to see my siblings a few times since I’ve been home. Everyone in my family has been very sweet about not crowding me during such a timid and vulnerable time in my life – pregnancy during a pandemic. I’ve seen my youngest brother one time, and he hasn’t been back around since I freaked out after he hugged me from behind (without a mask). He is also an EMT and always dealing with sick people… so you can probably imagine why I freaked out when this happened. I should also mention that I’m asthmatic and have been dealing with lung issues during my pregnancy – back and forth to the ER for breathing issues (to further provide you insight as to why I went crazy during the no-mask-sneak-attack-hug). I think I may have scared my little brother a bit, so he hasn’t been back over to my parent’s house since. 

My older sister (second to oldest) has been over once, she has a couple kiddos of her own, so she’s been playing it safe and staying home). My older brother gets the award for being the most cautious around me. He only waves to me from afar when I see him, and always talks to me through some sort of blockade (i.e. the car window, the house security system, window, or house door). Now my older sister is the one I communicate with the most. Her and I facetime, DM, text, Marco Polo, you name it! I believe she gets the most frustrated behind my pregnancy paranoia. Lately, she’s been making comments like, “I guess I’ll just see your new apartment when I read about it on the blogs,” and asking questions like “will I be meeting baby Jack via Instagram?” Nicole, if you are reading this, I miss you too. My older sister has been dropping sweet hints that she doesn’t want me to be afraid of the world right now, just because I’m pregnant. She really wanted me to have a baby shower, but I refused because I didn’t want people bombarding me and trying to rub my belly. All that to say, I haven’t seen her much since I’ve moved back to Los Angeles. My dad and mom have done their best to protect me during this pregnancy thus, we are not having all of our cousins, uncles, aunts, and friends over this year to celebrate. For the few people attending the gathering, they’ve been gracious enough to agree to get tested for COVID a few days before the gathering, and have even gone as far as getting the TDAP to keep baby Jack safe from whooping cough when he arrives. I’m pretty excited to see everyone. 

The patio had been an area where items like toys, bikes, easels, and furniture had been housed (things my siblings left when they all moved out, and decided to use this area as their own personal storage). The concrete on the patio was red, and had never really been updated since my parents purchased the home from my dad’s late uncle. So my husband, dad, mom, and myself went to work on it! We emptied out the patio and made tons of donations.

The toughest part about this update was the work we did with the concrete, there was so much ground we needed to cover (pun intended). The concrete was originally red and peeling. There were also various cracks throughout. The red color really wasn’t pleasing to the eye, and did not work at all with the new vision we had in mind for the space. We wanted to keep a neutral theme going, as the outside paint color of my parent’s home is a light beige. We also wanted to lean more into a minimal look here – my mom was tired of having stuff clutter the patio over the years and was really looking forward to an open space where she could actually see the ground. We filled in the cracks then primed the concrete with an all-surface primer. Afterwards, we painted the concrete with a granite grip (this took two layers of paint). 

Once the concrete was complete, my mom ordered a new gazebo with a canopy to cover the view of the neighbor’s house (these homes were built a tad bit strange, where you don’t get much privacy in the backyard). Plus on chiller nights it will keep us a little warmer. During COVID, we all need to take advantage of every available space for as long as possible. Ok, back to the process. We even painted the exterior wall the color Aspen – to lighten the area and have it coincide with the outside of the house.

To further create consistency in the color palette, we got rid of the current eye-sore we call the garage door, and my mom and dad updated and customized a new garage door, replacing the outdated and broken brown one with a bright white functioning door. The garage is my dad’s working area (where he builds things like stools and desk tables).

Which brings me to how wonky the layout of the patio area is. The patio area is in between a five-car driveway and the garage, so we’ve never parked cars in the garage because of this layout. We’ve always preferred utilizing the patio space for family gatherings, rather than blocking it with cars. The new garage slides up in sections instead of letting out and lifting straight up, so we don’t have to worry about knocking over the gazebo. Updating the garage door led to repairing the gutters over the garage as well. A lot of great and needed updates.

We gave ourselves plenty of time to prepare for Thanksgiving, as we had a good idea that we’d need this area to host comfortably (given the current situation with COVID). We considered the fact that everyone who typically joined our thanksgiving celebration would not be in attendance this year, so only minimal seating was required to host immediate family. 

I’ve always dreamt of the perfect outside get together and table-scape. In this dream, there are plenty of candles, whimsical florals, and warm golden tones. I imagine a wood table that seats plenty of people gathered around and market lights strung over us. My dad is more on the modern side, and my mother is really working towards minimalism, so the furniture from Article really helped to create a balance between all three of our ideal outside spaces. The Atica table from Article is like a good partner: sturdy, reliable, and a bonus, it’s gorgeous. It’s made from solid Acacia wood. It’s definitely ready to hold an Olympus-worthy feast, or a simple coffee date. Now the chairs were a personal favorite of my mother’s. The Caya chair is seriously light. It is built from steel and powder-coated, and if you ask me, it brings considered elegance to the patio space.

I was able to incorporate the whimsical feel I’d hoped for with the floral arrangement, large vase, and small vase used to set the table. The warmth I so desired was brought in with the champagne and gold flatware sets (spoons, forks, and knives).

Hot Tip

Mix and match flatware sets to make a more visually interesting tablescape.

I also loved adding warmth by mixing in the new pillar candle holders and the vintage taper holders with tapers I’ve collected through the years. My dad appreciates the modern feel of the dinnerware set we selected (cups, bowls, and plates), and is a big fan of how light and airy the table runner and linen napkins are.

The rest of our family will be joining our Thanksgiving celebration via Zoom this year. We’ve all decided to keep the gathering to the immediate family members, and eat at our homes while tuning in for a dinner prayer, meal, and a few toasts. My cousin Ariel is the queen of facilitating and creating games to bring everyone together, and she’s got some really fun activities planned for us during our Zoom meal. I’m thinking I’ll grab Jenga and the werewolf game for the immediate family to play (if you haven’t played werewolf yet, you must partake – it’s a real hoot!). We are all doing our best to make this year’s dinner a fun one. 

This year also looks a little different as we are celebrating earlier than usual. Baby Jack is due on Thanksgiving, and I definitely don’t want to risk not being able to have a plate of my mom’s infamous macaroni and cheese or cornbread before I go into labor (that would be a real tragedy – as I’m sure my siblings would eat it all and I’d never get the chance to have some). This brings me to my next concern – not being able to partake in my mother-in-law’s potatoes (I call them Tonya’s Taters). These potatoes are simply the best carb I’ve ever eaten. Every bite is filled with herbs, spices, onions, buttery potatoes, with the occasional bite of sausage. It is truly a hygge dish if you ask me (must be her Scandinavian roots at play). In summary, the dish is so good I have literally given her the nickname Momma Taters.

With our economy’s current state, I reiterate the importance for us to gather around the table and spend time with our loved ones. I’m very grateful as to how my family has gathered around me to uplift and support me during such a sensitive time, a lot of this support has consisted of meals and cooking for me. My husband has stepped up in a huge way, constantly preparing meals during my pregnancy and checking in on me and the baby. When we lived with my parents, we spent a fair amount of time gathered around the dinner table. Instead of remaining anxious and stressed about what is taking place in the world currently, I’d like to spend this Thanksgiving focusing on setting the table, gathering around, and gratitude.

I photographed this tablescape on a really windy day, getting whipped by gazebo fabric throughout the entire shoot and constantly relighting candles because of angry winds, but I needed to get it done ASAP as Jack could come at any minute! I did love creating this, and my mom is still swooning over the setup. Creating this space filled me with joy and already has me looking forward to the next Thanksgiving when we get to share these special moments with our son. Though these tablescapes could eventually be replaced by birthday decorations and kid-themed decor (such a scary thought).

Design and Photos by Ajai Guyot

The post Ajai Gave Her Parent’s Patio A Major Facelift Just In Time For Thanksgiving (And Her Due Date) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Our Next Feel Good Makeover With Designer/Blogger Shavonda Gardner And Her 4 Awesome Nieces and Nephews

Oh I’m VERY EXCITED. Four kids. Three bedrooms. A full makeover for a military family with a huge dose of holiday cheer. We need this right now, the country needs to celebrate military right now (and always) and Andrea, a single mom who is an Air Force ICU nurse – an essential worker who has been deployed in hospitals since Covid hit – DESERVES to not to have to stress about decorating her kid’s bedrooms right now. Let’s celebrate Veterans Day properly. And perhaps even, (less importantly so) IN STYLE.

First off, I’ve always wanted to do a home for an active vet as their job is HARD, the lifestyle is challenging and their sacrifice to our country and for our safety runs deep. I’m not saying that pedantically, I’ve been known to start the applause at airport terminals for active military when they are invited to board the plane early. That should be a standing ovation every single time. I’ll clap for them forever. A simple THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE is never enough, so a makeover is in order.

Here’s how it went down. In June, Shavonda and I zoomed to talk about the ‘share the mic: home edition‘ initiative (coordinated by the amazing Albie) that we did on Instagram. We are mutual fans of each other so a brainstorm began about how we could collaborate consistently, and a feel good makeover was our goal (because it’s always my goal). If you follow Shavonda (please do, she’s authentic and brave) you’d know that her sister Andrea and her 4 kids just bought a house down the street from her. They were starting over and didn’t have a lot to furnish the space (and she is so busy with working on the front lines + 4 kids, so decorating her house can’t be her priority right now). The timing was pretty perfect and Shavonda and I know how to decorate rooms.

Target has told me to come to them with any Feel Good Makeovers as they would love to support, so I pitched it to them and they said YES immediately because they are wonderful people who also want the world (and families) to feel good. Off we went to design the bedrooms of these beautiful kids together. Thank you, Target – I’m so grateful for this company, always. Now, let’s meet everyone.

Shavonda Gardener is a FORCE. After 6 years in the Air Force, actually. she is now a designer/blogger/content creator with a very engaged Instagram following and a bold, awesome, maximalist aesthetic. Lord knows I love seeing design courage and a fresh approach on the internet and she has it (check out her living room and bathroom) – we need more of this and the world needs more of her.

Her sister, Andrea is, active in the Airforce as an ICU nurse that has had to be deployed nationally for Covid (away from her kids) because hospitals were struggling to help patients and needed more professionals. She is literally on the front lines of this pandemic, keeping people alive and keeping us safe while we quarantine – which is the least we can do. So I want to again say a collective ‘THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE’. These are the people who deserve our love, attention, and service right now. This is how we should be spending our energy. And it felt like a pretty darn great way to spend some of my time. Plus these kids…

Andrea’s family (Shavonda’s niece and nephews) includes 12-year-old Ariyah, 7-year-old Devin, and two twin 3-year-old boys – Isaiah and Jayden. That’s a lot. I have two kids, a live-in partner and I don’t work 12-hour shifts an hour away so I can’t imagine how busy Andrea is (spoiler, her “new neighbor”/sister Shavonda helps a lot). It takes a village. Andrea’s girlfriend, Syphone, is also in the military (Army, stationed in Washington State) and is holding a very cute puppy in that photo. Here they are not holding puppies

Jess Is MOVING! Wanna Sneak Peek Of Her New Apartment??

I promise this move hasn’t been a deep dark secret I’ve been hiding for the past couple of months. It all happened really fast. Just 3 days if you don’t count the two weeks of waiting to hear when I could see it in person. I guess the renting process is always really fast which I think is why I’ve always had a hard time with the transition (emotionally I mean:)). Even with apartments I haven’t loved (i.e. east village bed bug apartment round one), I always get really sentimental. So much happens in our homes and leaving those memories is not something I like to jump at unless it’s really time (or a bed bug infestation). And let me tell you it was TIME.

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

This incredible, tiny studio apartment means A LOT to me. It was the first place I lived by myself (a dream since I was little), the first place I was able to show the internet my design chops, and the place that keep me safe during the very terrifying start of the pandemic. But now that I work from home it’s tight. My dreams of having enough space for a nightstand next to my bed and the tiniest of an outdoor area would not stop nagging me. So I started the search and immediately got… depressed. I mean I shouldn’t have been surprised. RENT IS WILD OUT HERE. And for not that much more room than I already had. But the very lucky part for me was that I didn’t need to move so I could wait as long as I needed to find the right place. Buuut I had decided I was ready so my impatience was at an all-time high.

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

Enter my dear friend, Franchesca. We had a belated my birthday/her first wedding anniversary celebration. (Hot tip: Have your friends get married on your birthday! It’s a huge party with free alcohol, dancing and you don’t have to plan it). During this wonderful picnic she put together, I mentioned that I was ready for a bigger place but I had a long list of wants (with a not huge budget) so it was laughably hard. Just for fun, so you can see my crazy in writing, these were my requirements:

A real one bedroomEnough space in the living room for a desk and not feel crampedHardwood floorsGood natural light in every roomSome private outdoor space (honestly just enough to fit a single chair)No “scary” tile in the bathroom or kitchenA decent amount of storageA building with characterOnsite laundry A walkable neighborhoodNot impossible parking for me or guestsStill on the east sideNot one million dollars

See? A hilarious list for those who live in LA and know the market (and my budget). But again, I still loved my current apartment and only the dream apartment could tear us apart.

Ok, back to Franchesca. As I was listing my requirements her eyes lit up. After I was done talking she said that her downstairs neighbors were moving out THAT DAY. Now when she said this I hadn’t seen her apartment since she and her husband moved in this past April. But after seeing one photo (apparently normal people don’t take a thousand photos of their homes) I was extremely intrigued. From what she said it sounded like everything on my list was getting checked off. WHAT WAS HAPPENING?! This kind of thing only happens in the movies or to a friend of a friend’s cousin who knows a guy. Not to me.

Obviously, you know how this story ends because I clearly got it and it was everything I wanted (plus friend neighbors which wasn’t on my list because it seemed way too impossible). Let me take you on a tour as we go through my list of checked off demands.

The Living Room with Enough Space For a Desk

Just so you all know I have been pinching myself every day since walking into this apartment and seeing those turret windows. I simply have no words to describe how much I love them and have dreamed of living in a home with them since birth. Plus there’s a fireplace??? It doesn’t work but I really don’t care. The layout is absolutely going to be a challenge but the one and only Julie Rose is already on the job and a post about that will be happening soon (we have a solid alcohol payment plan in place). But as of now, I’m pretty sure my desk is going in the turret because I spend about 10 hours a day at my desk so I might as well be in my favorite area.

The Real One Bedroom (with room for not one but TWO nightstands)

Now as much as I love the turret, this bedroom is beyond my wildest dreams. Ok sure, air conditioning is going to be interesting next summer but that’s future Jess’s problem. Until then I am just going to sit and stare at those windows until the end of time. Also, I am going to finally upgrade to a queen-sized bed! I have been rocking the “full” life for 20 years so this is a very big personal win.

Here we have the entrance to the bathroom (the mirrored door) and a very sizable closet (the other door). I’m thinking that a small tall dresser would be perfect right in between but we’ll see:)

No “Scary” Tile in Bathroom or Kitchen

A lot of the places I saw online had some very “interesting” tile work. And since tile replacement and renting don’t really mix, this is something I always look out for. Ok, sure there are stick and peel options but if I can avoid having to do that I will.

So let’s start with the kitchen. Charm up the wazoo (And SO MUCH STORAGE I COULD CRY). The counter and backsplash tiles are super neutral which I honestly like. It feels way more like a clean canvas to really make your own. The flooring is questionable but with a deep grout clean and a rug it might be totally fine. But there is always stick and peel flooring (even if it’s not my first choice). I mean both Brady and Keyanna have made VERY good cases for it.

Onto the bathroom. I LOVE this tile. It’s beautiful but not too loud and apparently very old. Did I mention the house was built over 100 years ago? I don’t think it’s original since this was initially a family home turned into apartments but still really old. Now for the really fun part…

The toilet. I didn’t think I could love a toilet until now! Can you handle that detail?! Is it possible to feel like a Grecian goddess while peeing? I am here to tell you it is.

A Little Private Outdoor Space

Now back to the bedroom because outside of those incredible doors is a very skinny but very long… balcony!!!!! I’m thinking a bunch of plants and a simple bistro table and two chairs. I could cry knowing I will have a space to sit outside, get some fresh air, and not have to worry about wearing a mask. Again pinching myself, hard.

Initial Inspiration

This is just my initial inspiration board. In this last apartment, I really had to create the story of the space because aside from a few cute architectural accents, it didn’t have a specific style. But with this home, it has a clear historic story that I want to pay homage to while still making it feel like me… if I even know who “me” is anymore. That’s a convo for another day:) The really wonderful thing is that so many of my current pieces should work seamlessly in this new space (VERY sadly not the bench or the banquette so email jess@emilyhenderson design if you are interested in purchasing either or even if you are looking for a place in Silver Lake near Sunset Junction. The location is amazing).

I think the bedroom will be first on the list to tackle because it’s the first time I’m designing a bedroom. Wish me luck and I will keep you all updated!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Photo Credits: Design by Jess Bunge | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Makeover Takeover: Jess’ Long Awaited (Small Space) Living Room Reveal

The post Jess Is MOVING! Wanna Sneak Peek Of Her New Apartment?? appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Struggles of A Stylist: Emily Helps Stylist Lea Johnson With Her Open Concept Living And Dining Room Design Agony

Hey friends, Lea here! I’m so excited to be here and thank you all for welcoming me while I open up and share my home, thoughts and voice. I cannot thank Emily enough for this opportunity!

I’ll begin with a little intro to help get us acquainted again (kind of like speed dating). You may remember my home tour that was published here on the blog a little over a year ago (I can’t believe it’s been that long already!) but I want to fill you in a little more about my home and lifestyle. Like many families today, my husband and I still share our home with our millennial children (one is in their fourth year of college and the other who went straight into the workforce) as well as two cats and a dog. During this pandemic, it’s been a bit of a challenge with two of us working from home now and a third who has online classes. This year has forced me to look at our home in a whole new way and on another level, to say the least. Well… here I am again, facing my design dilemma: our living room. Let me preface this with the fact that our living room has seen many iterations – all of which I have loved (at the time) but after living with my choices they never felt quite right.

When Emily was going through a similar situation with her living room in their L.A home I could completely relate. In fact, her admitting her own challenges helped me face mine. So this time, Emily and I thought it would be fun to tackle my living room together (social distancing of course – I mean she’s in CA and I’m in MN, so we’re fine). 

First, let’s take a walk down memory lane so you can witness the evolution and struggle of styling our living room:

Arm Chairs | Mirror | Credenza

Here is where we started from. That beautiful mid-century style sofa by West Elm (sadly no longer available) was my dream sofa at the time. It also quickly became one of our cat’s dream sofas as well and he shredded that thing like a cheese grater. Note to self: stay clear of a boucle sofa if you have a cat with quick hands. I also loved this rug because it was made of recycled material and if you know me, you know how much I advocate for sustainability but, sadly, it never recovered after an unfortunate cat puke incident. 

After living with this space for about two years I was ready for a change and wanted something more sophisticated, besides we needed a new sofa and rug so that was a good enough excuse for me to re-design this space. This is the version you have seen on Emily’s blog before and when I reference back at comments, I think it was favored by the majority.

Sofa | Table Lamp | Bookshelves | Fig Tree | Rug | Coffee Table (similar)

I have to admit looking back, I still have so many favorite parts of this design, namely the rug. I love an antique rug and this one is gorgeous. Where did it go? I still have it, it’s stored away for another day because I’m afraid one of our cats will pee on it. However, a bonus is it was very forgiving to cat puke.

Hot Tip

Let cat puke dry, pick up what you can and then sort of comb/brush out the rest and vacuum. That and a little mixture of Woolite always did the trick for us.

Then, it’s like the sky opened up and the stars parted by chance because I just so happened to take a trip to Emily’s Mountain House last year and fell head over heels. So naturally, when I came back home, I did what anyone would have done. It was time for another living room makeover!

Sofa | Table Lamp | Bookshelves | Fig Tree | Rug | Coffee Table (similar)

The Holidays rolled around and I wanted to incorporate a Scandinavian feel in our home similar to that of . I craved more simplicity and I had to have the same rug as Em (it is that gorgeous). The only problem is it is not the most pet friendly. See that love nugget on the sofa? Yeah, white dog fur and dark blue rugs are not BFFs. This quickly turned into a very high maintenance situation where vacuuming became an everyday necessity. Also, our front door opens immediately to this space and well, first impressions are important, right? I want to appear somewhat civilized if someone comes for a visit. I may be having dog fur anxiety as I write this right now.

Alright, now that you’ve seen the current state (as well as the before and the “before before”)  here is my very basic floorplan so you can envision the layout we are working with. It’s about as professional as a stick figure drawing of Hangman but you get the gist.

THE CHALLENGES



Not Enough Natural Light

My first question for Emily was, how do I create more light? Even with a west-facing window it still feels dark in here when you are looking from the kitchen and dining room into the living room.

From Emily: “This is such a struggle. I have some bad news for you – it’s truly hard to ‘add natural light’ to a darker room. The overhang on your front patio is blocking it from coming into your window too much, and so what can you really do? There are some tricks of course, that we wrote about here (mirrors, reflective surfaces, etc.) but I think the best thing you could do ‘add life’, not light. You want to pull your eye over towards a darker color to ground the room. I know that your new sofa is white and with white furniture on a white wall, your eye has no real draw over there – there isn’t enough contrast to make that room ‘pop’. What if you did curtains that contrasted against the wall? I’m not saying you have to have a crazy pattern or even saturated or dark color, but just something that pulls you over there, visually (a medium tone could work, or a subtle pattern). Same with the pillows. Get a darker or patterned throw and put it over the sofa and see how much it changes the room and if it pulls your eye over there more. Maybe a good new mantra is ‘when you can’t add light, add life’.”

She gave it to me real folks. But, she gave me some really good suggestions like adding reflective surfaces and thus ‘adding more life’ to the space. Now onto my next issue…

Our pets rule the roost (and thus the space must be pet-friendly)

Now that Emily has two dogs I think she may be feeling my pain a bit. My very short hair dog sheds like a you know what, especially when she blows a coat and since we live in 4 seasons, it’s a constant hassle.

The main issues here are the rug and the sofa. While the size of the rug for this space works per Emily, we’re going to table this one a bit and research some rugs that may be a better solution and taking into account that this is a high traffic room.

From Emily: “I think you need a more inviting living room sofa. That one seems like it’s on the smaller and more formal side, making it less conversational and less of a hangout space. I’m a huge advocate of trying to figure out how to make every room as usable as possible and giving every room a solid purpose. A larger more inviting sofa with a chaise I think can give that room more of a purpose- it says, ‘come on over and relax and hang’”.

As far as making the space even more pet friendly, she suggested I read this post, which has tons of awesome pet-friendly recs from you guys :).

The open concept doesn’t feel cohesive

Here’s what I struggle with in my home. I love textiles as much as the next person but I also don’t aspire to have a million and one throw pillows, so I lean more minimal in this category. After some self-reflection, I realized it’s because I don’t know how to pillow talk. What I mean is, I don’t feel confident in selecting pillows, rugs and window coverings that all flow together and look collected vs. independent selections without consideration of their counterparts. Guess what? Emily knows how to do this well and together we’ll work through the sourcing and selection process while I also learn the How To’s.

From Emily: “Since you’ve been reading the blog for a long time you’ve heard me write about color palette cohesion so many times

Sara’s Dream Galley Kitchen Cabinet Layout (IKEA Boxes, A Cabinet Fronts Company You Should Know About & Some Very Special Details)

Well friends, the kitchen renovation that was only supposed to be an update is well underway. We’ve ripped out the old floor, put in a new floor, removed the door, put in a new window, and installed the cabinet boxes. So much for a quick, not permanent “update”.

But I am SO happy that we decided to go for the full reno. Now that we’re nearing the finish line it all feels worth it, and soon I’m going to have a beautiful kitchen that truly feels like me to cook and bake in (thanks to Julie, my dad, and all the partners that we’re working with). So today I thought I’d check in with y’all and just give you a tour of the design plans, while we all anxiously await the completion and reveal of this kitchen.

As always, let’s start at the beginning – Here’s what the kitchen looked like when we moved in:

It was weird for sure, but had its charms. And for a year and half we lived with it as was. It’s also wild to think that we’ve owned our house for TWO years now. Time really does fly when you’re pouring all your energy and resources into a renovation.

And this is how it was once we were living in it. Totally functional, but not at as pretty as it could be:

And here is what it looks like RIGHT. NOW. Surprise reveal! You’re welcome!

OMG, don’t you love it? It’s minimal, bright, and open. We felt that going with open cabinets everywhere was a bold, risky design move that we wanted to take. Not only did we do open cabinets, we did shelf-less, open cabinets. Is it functional? Not at all, but we love it. And the exposed plumbing is something I’m sure is going to be a huge 2021 design trend. The final touches are the bare bulbs hanging from the ceiling which imbue the space with an industrial vibe.

… Obviously, we aren’t done yet. Far from it. But all the DIY-able stuff is done.

Hardwood floor has been installedNew drywall has been installedNew electrical has been installed throughout the entire kitchenThe previously existing back door has been removed, and a new window has been framed into the back of the wallOur Ikea cabinet boxes have been installed Plywood sub counters have been installedThe sink has been dropped in and connected to running water

Now it’s just about lead-times and scheduling. The cabinet fronts take 8-10 weeks to be fabricated, the appliances similarly have varying lead-times, and the stone countertops and open shelf that we actually are doing can’t be installed until both the cabinet fronts/panels and appliances are installed.

But as a little amuse-bouche, let me walk you through what it is going to look like (hopefully by January *fingers crossed*). I started by building out the kitchen cabinet plan in the Ikea kitchen planner, since we’re using Ikea cabinet boxes.

DO YOU SEE MY VISION based on these drawn on Ikea plans?! My dad didn’t. I was like “LISTEN, it’s gonna be great, so good, just…we’re gonna wing it!” JK, I immediately took my Ikea cabinet plans to Julie and begged her to help me with professional drawings and plans that I could actually pass along to the professionals (like the counter fabricator).

THANK YOU JULIE – This kitchen literally would not have been possible without you. She took my Ikea plans and modeled them in SketchUp so we could play around with different ideas:

And now here are the REAL renderings (and technical drawings, in case anyone is interested in seeing what we’re actually staring at most of the time!), along with some deets.

STOVE SIDE (The Pretty Version)







STOVE SIDE (The Technical Version)

WOW SO PRETTY. I’M SO EXCITED. Ok so here’s what’s happening on this side of the kitchen.

Biggest news – I’M GETTING A NEW STOVE, one that will bake bread majestically, broil chicken golden-y, and pre-heat at the touch of my finger via my phone while I’m on my way home. I’ve somehow convinced KitchenAid, my dream kitchen appliance company, to partner with me for our main kitchen appliances and I could not be more excited. My KitchenAid Stand Mixer is my absolute favorite kitchen appliance after all. All the Ikea cabinet boxes we bought are getting custom facelifts courtesy of Kokeena, a small custom cabinet front company in Portland. Remember when I was going to go with a taupe color for the cabinets? Well, I fell in love with an absolute perfect sage green color that they fabricate for their Townsend collection, and never looked back.Julie can take credit for this next aspect, because not only are we doing Caesarstone countertops, we’re taking the stone all the way up the backsplash and all the way up to the hood behind the stove. It’s going to create such an elegant, seamless lewk. Mac and I are pretty stoked on the stone choice too.

This side of the kitchen is filled wall-to-wall with storage – tall cabinets flank either end, and lower and upper cabinets frame the stove. The cabinet closest to the window will be pantry storage, along with a shelf in the middle serving as an appliance shelf for a toaster and coffee maker. And our microwave is going to go in the upper cabinet to the left of the stove. The cabinet on the very right will be more pantry storage, along with storage for our broom and vacuum. The best part about all the Ikea cabinet boxes is the shelves are totally customizable, so if we need more or less storage for anything we can always modify it.

SINK SIDE (The Pretty Version)







SINK SIDE (The Technical Version)

And here’s the other side of the kitchen.

Because we have wall-to-wall cabinets on the opposite side of the kitchen, Julie suggested we go for open shelving on this side. Originally we were going to do two shelves centered on the wall (per my earlier drawing), but decided a little later that one shelf that spans the entire open wall space would cleaner and give us more options of what could sit on the shelf. Right now the plan is to put some cookbooks, a piece of art or two, and the bowls, plates, and glasses we use every day. The rest of the dishware (extra plates, bowls, glasses, and bigger dishware) will continue to live in the bar cabinet in the dining room.The Caesarstone counter and backsplash will mirror what’s happening on the other side, and run all the way up to meet the floating shelf. I bought our sink off Craigslist – It’s a giant enamel beauty from Kohler that would have cost us $800 new, but I got it for $350. We picked it up new and in the box still from a new build site. The contractor said the client had ended up changing their minds about it. LUCKY US.But we’ll soon have the option to skip hand washing our dishes because WE’RE GETTING A DISHWASHER (thank you KitchenAid). I haven’t had one of these since I lived at my parent’s house. To be perfectly honest, we don’t use enough dishes every day to warrant using a dishwasher all the time. But for those nights when we have guests over it’s going to be amazing. It even has a tiny top rack perfect for cutlery, which really helps maximize space.Finally getting a pull-out trashcan drawer. I have no idea why, but having a non-visible trashcan has always been a real dream of mine. And it especially makes sense in our narrow galley kitchen, where there isn’t a ton of open floor space to put a trashcan.We’re getting a beautiful, panel-ready refrigerator. Yep, we’re going for integrated appliances in our kitchen, which means that both the dishwasher and the fridge will be covered with panels that match our cabinets, so they become invisible when they’re closed! Kokeena has the ability to custom make panels specific to just about any panel-ready appliance, and KitchenAid has a some really great, panel-ready appliance options. It was a dream team situation and is really helping me create the type of kitchen I was envisioning. We’ll be installing a brass rail and hook system from Rejuvenation under the floating shelf, which will span almost the entire length of the counter. Our faucet is also a beautiful brass piece from Rejuvenation, and we’ve got stunning brass light features to match. Sconces on the wall above the floating shelf, and flush mounts for the ceiling.

Originally I had wanted to do something a little wild in there, like wallpapering the ceiling. But I was told by Mark, our wallpaper installer who I really trust, that the wallpaper I wanted to use would be a bad option for a room with a lot of grease and steam. So we’ve decided to leave the ceiling white to match the walls. But I feel a lot better about the kitchen having personality now that we’ve chosen a color for the cabinets, rather than a tone.

Plus there are still a few places to bring in warmth with the roman shade choice and a runner. Haven’t decided on either of those yet.

So that’s where we are right now folks. Our kitchen is currently totally functional, with our old appliances (which came with the house), and plywood sub-counters. But already it feels miles brighter and more open. The final reveal is still a ways off (good things take time, especially when you’re doing them yourself), but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Athena Calderone | Photo by Nicole Franzen

The post Sara’s Dream Galley Kitchen Cabinet Layout (IKEA Boxes, A Cabinet Fronts Company You Should Know About & Some Very Special Details) appeared first on Emily Henderson.