Emily Henderson's Blog, page 197

EHD Insider Design Agony Group Chat with Julie & Jess (Because Two Is Better Than One)

We were originally going to call this post, “Julie and Jess: The Design Agony Crushers”… too much time by ourselves in quarantine?? Probably. BUT that sentiment is real because all we ever want to do is help (or crush) all of you with the design challenges plaguing your lives. We also think it’s almost impossible to design alone. Everyone needs at least a second eye. With us, it’s always collaborative in some small way. Mainly like, “Hey what is this room missing?” or “Do you like this? I can’t tell if I do.” So since we heavily rely on each other’s opinion for all of our design issues, questions, and panic attacks, we thought that we would tackle this post together. I mean we were going to consult each other anyway, so might as well divide and conquer.

Let’s start crushing…

The Dark Accent Wall In An Open Plan Space

From Jess: I thought this one was a great one to start with because it touched on something that Emily JUST talked about in her family room post… painting a high contrast color in an open (or open-ish) plan home. We totally get wanting to make a room feel cozy by painting it a moody color (especially blue, have you seem our site? Blue is our thing). Hooowever, this is Emily’s rule of thumb, and Julie and I agree.

RULE: Painting a high contrast color on only some of the walls in an open concept home will cut off the visual flow. The only time it really works is if the color is painted in an architectural feature (like a nook, see here). You want your eye to happily bounce around without it abruptly halting (and not the good kind).

So as much as we love this moody blue view from Alessa’s dining room into her entry, she noted that the entry opens up to the kitchen which opens up to the living room and she doesn’t want to paint it all dark. Our conclusion then is to keep the house all the same light color for maximum flow. This means some repainting might be in order. But as we always say, it’s your house so it’s your rules. If you like it then it’s perfect.

The “Not Ready To Renovate” But “Can’t Live Like This” Bathroom

From Julie: The Insiders had some great suggestions for Betsy that included painting the floor tile, replacing the wood mirror, getting rid of that “interesting” blue wall color, putting up some fun wallpaper, and painting the vanity.

She took your suggestions and decided to lean into the EEG trend (Eccentric English Grandma) to make it work for now so she can one day brush her teeth in peace. Betsy sent over some initial mood boards to Jess and myself which were on the right track but she felt something wasn’t quite working. So, of course, I couldn’t help myself and came up with the one below.

Wallpaper | Sconces | Mirror | Vanity Color | Trash Can | Towel Bar | Towel | Window Treatment | Rug | Art | Toilet Paper Holder | Paint Color

First off, let’s give this room a coat of white paint on the walls to start off feeling fresh. Then with using a latex paint, Betsy could take those tan floor tiles and paint them a soft gray. Some floral wallpaper behind the vanity and a dusty pink accent color in the toilet nook would add life back to the walls without it being too overwhelming in the space. As for the vanity, I think it should be a dark navy which again plays off the color in the wallpaper to tie it together. Then swap out the mirror and sconces for a more simplistic/modern shape and sprinkle that brass throughout the rest of the room in the towel bar, trash can, toilet holder, and other accessories. A bit of unexpected art above the toilet overlapping the paint would bring in some fun quirk and of course placing an amazing vintage cane upholstered bench (Betsy found this one and I am in love!) under the window adds some character into the space. For some texture, she could install a natural woven window treatment and a tree will of course add warmth. Last but not least, throw down a large rug in a smaller scale pattern (to nicely contrast the large scale wallpaper) which ties into the color palette. Betsy, I hope this temporarily solves your bathroom blues…literally.

The “Wait, Is This Art Generic??”

From Jess: Buyer’s remorse is real. Sometimes it’s a few days after it’s too late to cancel or it happens once the piece gets into your home and clearly doesn’t work. One of the best things about having friends whose taste you trust is avoiding this potential issue. And if you don’t have a friend like that or instead prefer to ask hundreds of design enthusiasts in a design-loving community like Carly did with her art purchase, then the EHD Insider Community is for you.

Buying generic art is one of our official design mistakes. We wrote about it here. And while I totally understand the second-guessing of a large purchase, Carly’s prints are beautiful and not at all generic like she was worried about! The key to making any home look unique is A. Loving pieces you own, B. Varied textures/patterns, and C. A little bit of vintage because it always adds soul.

So congrats to Carly and her new pieces and we hope you feel at ease after asking your many new design friends if they were keepers. Lastly, if any of you are looking for some special prints here are some current favorites (some are printable!):

1. Lost & Found Again – Quarantina 5 & Lost & Found Again – Quarantina 4 | 2. Rocky I & Rocky II | 3. She Split the Earth That Day & This is Mine. You’ve Taken Enough. | 4. Pale Pink Stripes Print| 5. Flying Birds & Minimal Landscape | 6. Paths II & Paths I

The “Does My House And Detached Garage Need To Match?”

From Julie: This one seems to be all about personal preference and here is mine.

The Kitchen Essentials EHD Are SERIOUS About

A few weeks ago, before I knew the love of my life was going to propose to me, I started getting serious about the items in my kitchen. Namely, I wanted to have nice, reliable kitchenware so Rocky could enjoy cooking and I could start getting excited about it. We recently bought our first set of good, essential pans and it truly has made such a difference. Fast forward to now, we are one week engaged and VERY committed to upping our kitchenware game. Domesticity is in full effect.

We currently have a tiny arsenal of cookware we like to use and A LOT of old hand-me-down things we can’t wait to replace because they were hand-me-down for a reason. So, I did what anyone would do and asked my coworkers to shed some wisdom on this area and begged them to allow me to make it a post because likely we’re not the only ones that need help in this area. We can consider this Ryann and Rocky’s wedding registry until further notice (ha). I’ll start with what Rocky and I have and use almost every single day (which is admittedly a very small list).

1. Cast Iron Skillet: I asked for a proper cast iron skillet for my birthday because I knew I would never buy one for myself. We have the 11 5/8″ size and it’s great for making meals for two (or more) people plus it’s SO much more lightweight than any other cast iron I’ve ever used.

2. Equal Parts Cookware Set: Rocky bought these for us about a month ago and they really have changed my attitude around cooking but more importantly, they are SO easy to wash. My least favorite chore is doing dishes so anything that is painless to wash is a win for me. I also love that the lids work for both the skillets and the saucepans so you don’t have to rummage around trying to find the right lid. They also make a knife and it’s BONKERS how good it is. It’s so sharp that I pricked myself while admiring it when we first got it (it was not the knife’s fault I promise).

3. Wooden Spoon: Ever since Rocky started making his own pasta sauce from scratch, he’s been coveting a nice wooden spoon. He finally bought this one from Staub and LOVES it. Now, all we need is a spoon rest…

I wasn’t kidding, Rocky and I have a small arsenal of cookware we like so I’ll pass it along to the rest of EHD to help us get the ball rolling. Take it away, ladies.

From Emily:

1. Thick Glassware: I needed to part ways with my pretty and delicate glassware because they were breaking too often. So I bought this set and I LOVE it. They are still pretty but are thick, very durable AND stackable.

2. Cutting Board: While I love a big beautiful butcher block cutting board as a stylist, they just aren’t practical for my everyday chopping. So anytime we need a cutting board for actual cutting we use THIS. It’s extremely lightweight but super durable. The cut marks don’t look super scratchy, and the black really works in our kitchen so it’s not like it stands out. Still highly recommend!

3. Ninja Blender: Now the size we have isn’t for a large amount of anything, but it’s great for smoothies, sauces, dressings, you name it. I actually love that it doesn’t take up a lot of room and is so easy to store. Plus it works great and you can’t beat the price. 

4. Wooden Spoon: It’s a classic for a reason. I love how it feels in my hand, there’s nothing sharp on it so it’s super safe for the kids and it’s just pretty. If you don’t have one, it’s a must. 

5. Mixing Bowls: If you have ever tried cooking with kids you know that accidents are GOING to happen. Mixing is one of their most loved cooking activities so these bowls are perfect. They are plastic so not only are the lightweight but unbreakable. Plus I love the neutral colors. 

6. Knife: Emily B. bought this knife for me for Christmas a couple of years ago and it happened to be the one that we also use in LA, so I brought it up to the cabin and it chops so well, clean and fast. I’m sure there are a million great knives out there, but this brand is GOOD.

From Jess:

1. 3pc Poly Essentials Cutting Board Set: As much as I wanted a beautiful and expensive cutting board, I had a good talk with myself and said “SAVE YOUR MONEY, DUMMY”. So despite this trio of boards being almost too affordable, I love that they weigh about as much as a feather and take up almost no space in my cupboard. 

2. Sunbeam 2 Slice Toaster: I love a simple looking small appliance and this little black toaster is just that. Nothing family but at $16.99 it has lasted me years. But if little pumpkin stopped working, this beauty would be at the top of my list!

3. Vitamix Blender: For my 29th birthday, I got a Vitamix Blender (I was very lucky). Needless to say, I was EXTREMELY excited. My 21-year-old very sweet roommate and her girlfriend looked at me utterly perplexed, not understanding how someone could be so excited about a blender. Kids, amiright? Just kidding because I still feel and act like a child. But if this comment section in this post isn’t a testament as to the magical powers of this machine then I don’t know what it. If you are able to invest in a blender get a Vitamix. They are incredible. (RYANN put this on your real registry!)

4. Vitamix Blending Bowls Starter Kit: Also, I just saw these attachments and I REALLY want them. If anyone has them are they worth it?

5. Solid Cherry Wood Nesting Bowl: The vintage wooden bowl on top of my fridge is one of my favorite and most useful things in my kitchen. It basically the junk drawer but a bowl…so it’s at least pretty. In it are my coffee pods, random potatoes, avocados, maybe a bag of chips, and my onion goggles. 

6. Safety Goggles: Ok, they aren’t officially “onion goggles.” They are the goggles you get for science class so chemicals and frog guts don’t get in your eyes. I got them for an event (it was cool I promise) but they are actually perfect for chopping up onions! They fit right over my normal glasses so that I can see what I’m cutting and won’t shed a tear. Stop suffering, people.

7. Blue Stripe Kitchen Dish Towels: After being on the hunt for dish towels for far too long, I decided to go classic. These blue strip ones are simple, pretty, and are the perfect balance of sturdy and soft. 

8. 5qt Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven: I bought this for my Christmas shoot and have loved it ever since. I mostly love it because of how well it cooks my food but it’s also pretty enough to display on my stove (which is KEY when you have a tiny kitchen).

From Julie:

1. Boos Cutting Board: My sister has had this cutting board for 10+ years now and I’ve just purchased one of my own (which I found ON SALE). I am so excited cause my pet peeve when cutting is having your board slide all over the place and this does not plus it holds up very well if you take care of it.

2. Breville Tea Kettle: I’ve owned this kettle since 2009 and it’s still holding up! If you are into teas like I am or want to make your morning cappuccino then get this gadget. There are 5 temperature controls and it can keep the water at that temp for 20 mins with a touch of the button. It’s definitely a small appliance that I would replace if and when it ever stops working which doesn’t seem to be anytime soon.

3. GIR Silicone Basting Brush: This is such a random kitchen essential that I never knew I really wanted until I was living at Emily’s house during quarantine and it was a game-changer. My boyfriend and I were very into making these smashed potatoes so we used this brush a lot. 

4. Microplane: Another big game changer was the microplane! Once I started getting more into cooking I realized this is something I was wanting to use for every meal and if you have ever watched a cooking show you see they use it a lot too. Hot Tip: If you want to know what are true kitchen essentials watch cooking shows and get what the pros use!

5. Pyrex Measuring Cups: When the pros use it, you use it. That’s the rule. I only use these to measure out my ingredients which makes for less stuff cluttering up my cabinets. 

6. OXO Hand Held Mandoline: This thing seems so scary to use at first but once you get the hang of it there is no turning back. The hand held one is like the beginner model if you don’t plan on using it for every single meal and don’t want to invest in a high-end version. Plus, Anthony Bourdain said that this should be a kitchen staple for every chef and I trust his word.  

7. Cuisinox Wide Spatula: This is my most used spatula because it’s so wide and makes it easier to flip all those pancakes, quesadillas, crepes, or again smashed potatoes (really I am obsessed with them). It’s also great to use with kids because of the wide surface area it’s easier for them to learn how to flip things, that way they can start making their own meals or maybe yours too. 

8. Cast Iron Griddle: Another item I didn’t know I needed in my kitchen life until I used it at Emily’s. It’s just great to have a large flat surface that heats evenly. I made scallion pancakes (one of my favorite foods) on it for the first time and can’t wait to get one of my own to perfect the recipe.

From Mallory:

1. Cutting Board: The best thing I never knew I needed until I moved into my apartment was this IKEA cutting board. It’s $20, very useful, oh and it has a little shelf thing that lets it rest on your kitchen counter so for us it just lives out all the time and it’s SO functional. If you guys want one that’s a little fancier and doesn’t have a giant Ikea logo on the side (I get it) here’s another one that serves the same purpose but it nicer (I’ll splurge on this one day):

2. Shun Classic Western Chef’s Knife: If you like to cook, I hear you should really invest in these two things: 1. A good knife and 2. A cast iron. I’ve been cast iron shopping for far too long (question: should I get a STAUB or nah??), but I recently got Chase this knife for our anniversary and WE LOVE IT (it’s by Sam the cooking guy x Nakiri but you’ll be on a waitlist for literally forever, so here’s a great Nakiri alternative). Spend like $80-$150 bucks on a good knife and it will last you forever and you can use it for everything. This one from Shun (the ultimate knife brand) is on sale for 55% off right now

3. Stainless Steel Tongs with Soft Grip: This is the best $3 you will ever spend. Breakup with your spatula cause the tong train is way more fun and it’s just all-around better (unless you’re making pancakes or something, then fine you can keep your spatula).

4. Core Stripe Hand Towel Copper: Having kitchen tea towels around is one of the best things in life to get you to stop using paper towels 24/7. I picked up this hand towel from Target for the backyard shoot I did a few weeks ago and loved the color and thickness of it, so I brought it to my apartment kitchen and have been using it ever since. I just found out it’s actually a bathroom hand towel, which explains the thickness, but I think this is an insanely good hack everyone should know…use hand towels in the kitchen cause they’re 10x more absorbent than the skimpy linen lame-o towels.

5. Breville VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee & Espresso Machine: I cannot even begin to express to you how much joy this coffee machine brings me. I drink a lot of coffee a day (which as we know a latte is like $7 for no reason at all these days). So instead, I’ve been buying Nespresso pods in bulk (which rounds out to be around $1.00 per coffee and it’s SO GOOD). If you want deliciously rich espresso shots, go with this machine, and if you want big ol’ cups of velvety coffee go with this machine. You really can’t go wrong. 

6. Mega Insulated Aluminum Cookie Sheet: Everyone should have one of these. That’s all. 

7. Garlic Peel and Press: I had no idea that a good garlic press was so essential, but my grandma got me this for Christmas last year and WOW is it an amazing gift. If you know someone who likes to cook, gift it to them! Or gift it to yourself!

1. Colander: Oh my gosh, can I link all of Squish’s products??? I finally bought one of these a few years back after walking past it at Target every week (it is truly the brightest thing in the kitchen section) and now I could honestly be the Squish spokesperson. This strainer is my FAVORITE because I can use the handles to extend it over my sink (a dream for those of us who maaaay have a few plates just sitting there) and when I’m done, it packs flat and takes up no cabinet space. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (I also make pasta/mac and cheese literally EVERY DAY, so I’m SUPER SERIOUS about this one. If lime green is a little too much for you, definitely check-in at your local Target — I’ve been able to grab them in both teal and in orange.)

2. Silicone Lids: These are SO GOOD and multifunctional. Missing Tupperware lid? Grab one of these. Want to keep a pot warm while you decide whether or not to go back for seconds? Grab one of these. Dream of microwaving something without splatters? SILICONE LIDS TO THE RESCUE. They also nest and fit perfectly in a drawer so storage is a BREEZE.

3. Dish Rack: I have been known to let a few dishes pile up in the sink, so the double-decker rack is an essential. In the past, I’d look at my pile and feel kind of overwhelmed (how did these all get here??? If I actually build up the moxie to wash them, where will I dry them???) or I’d just end up only washing a few, since that was all I had space for, so this was a game-changer for me. This one has a TON of space, adjustable hooks, a flatware compartment, and a movable spout that drains straight into the sink. It’s compact, stable, and pretty enough to leave on your counter 24/7.

4. Compostable Sponge Cloths – I have written about these before, but BOY, I LOVE THEM. They come in sets of 10 and just one cloth can replace 17 rolls of paper towels!!! They’re good for doing the dishes or soaking up spills (I have different uses for each of the colors), they’re so absorbent, and when you’re finished you can just rinse, wring, and let them air-dry. I still haven’t hit the point where I’m ready to retire any of mine, but you can just toss them in a compost pile when they’ve reached the end of their life. These were a LIFESAVER when all my local grocery stores ran out of paper towels earlier this year and now I’ll never go back.

Annnd we made it! I, for one, feel very confident about the future of my kitchen and I hope you do too. I love a personal recommendation, so please drop your favorites below. xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Zeke Ruelas | From: Modern Deco Kitchen Reveal

The post The Kitchen Essentials EHD Are SERIOUS About appeared first on Emily Henderson.

A Crisp And Bright Kitchen Renovation That is Super Kid-Friendly From One Of Our Very Own EHD Insiders

Back in June, we launched our EHD Insider Community to give readers access to more behind the scenes content as well as offer a space for design enthusiasts. Members can share their projects, design agonies, ask questions, generally talk about design with the awesome members, and pitch ideas for future stories on the blog. It has been SO fun but the most rewarding part is seeing the amazing and talented designers that make up our readership. One of those people is today’s featured designer, Chris McGovern. In 2018, Chris launched McGovern Project, an NYC based full-service residential and commercial interior design firm, following a decade long career in finance. When he reached to share this project with us, we knew it was something our readers should see, especially with its emphasis on small space and kid-friendly solutions.

This project came about when a former colleague of Chris’s reached out to explore a kitchen renovation. Chris began working with the family on designing a kitchen that was kid-friendly for the couple’s two young boys but didn’t skimp on design. The kitchen already had good bones but the client wanted a clean, uncluttered, light kitchen with optimal storage with durable countertops and cabinetry. Here’s what he was working with:

One of the main focuses (besides durability) was making the kitchen more functional and optimizing storage space. Especially in New York, every inch of the apartment counts so he wanted to make use of any unused space.

Brick Veneer |  Cabinetry | Pendants | Dishwasher | Range and Hood | Refrigerator | Countertop

He kept the original layout of the kitchen but utilized light-colored materials and cabinetry to brighten up the space. What struck us most about this project was the transformation that occurred with the choice of materials and integrated appliances. So I wanted to chat with Chris about his design choices that brought his client’s dream kitchen to life:

Brick Vaneer | Microwave

We love the brick veneer! Do you have any tips for using this material?

With any brick veneer product, the goal is to make it look as authentic as possible. From my perspective, the dead giveaway is the external corners. We joked that we just didn’t want it to look like a Pret-a-Manger or other commercial space where sheets of faux brick are used. The Brick-It veneers come with corner bricks that wrap around any external corners.

Can you tell us more about the other materials you used? What makes them so durable?

For the cabinetry, we opted for a premium door – a high gloss acrylic door from Ultracraft which is stain and scratch resistant (as pictured above, you can even write on it with marker!). However, given the open, galley layout of the kitchen, we didn’t feel compelled to take on the expense of a full custom kitchen. Ultracraft offers free, custom size modifications for most of their stock cabinetry, which allowed us to achieve a custom look, where necessary.

For the counters, we used Dekton by Cosentino, which has all the benefits of quartz but is also heat resistant. It’s typically used in outdoor and commercial applications. The product demo at the showroom, where the sales manager poured nail polish on the countertop and lit it on fire, only to reveal a pristine counter underneath, sold my clients. If the homeowner or any of their guests forget to use a trivet for a hot plate or don’t immediately tend to spilled red wine, they can rest easy that the counter will look as good as it did upon installation.  

Wine Refrigerator | Pendants | Faucet

Were there any design hurdles or roadblocks when designing the space?

The previous refrigerator was full-sized, and the previous cabinetry made an effort to appear built-in. As such, the cabinetry extended around 6” beyond the counters to accommodate a full-size refrigerator. In a spacious suburban home that works fine, but in an apartment, every inch counts. It made the galley of the kitchen feel tight. We opted for a panel ready, counter depth refrigerator, and flanked it with a pantry the same depth for a seamless, integrated look that was flush with the counters.

What was the most important thing to your client besides making the space kid-friendly?

One of the most important aspects was storage. We maxed out storage by using all of the vertical space with cabinetry up to the ceiling. We also extended cabinetry an extra 12” on the back wall, previously unused wall space, and extended the peninsula to line up with the back wall. In doing so we gained enough space to squeeze in a pull-out trash bin.

Their previous kitchen lacked drawers and most base cabinetry contained shelves. Drawers were added for utensils on the base cabinetry on either side of the range, and the cabinet doors conceal two pull out trays for pots/pans. Similarly, the previous pantry contained only shelves, making it difficult to access items in the back. The new pantry has pull-outs for all lower shelves to better
access to ALL the snacks.

We also replaced the above-range microwave with a simple stainless hood and added in a drawer microwave (with concealed buttons) to the peninsula. It creates a nicer focal point on the range wall and overall is less visually heavy. Minimal edge pulls were added to the cabinets throughout. We opted for hardware with rounded edges to avoid the potential snag on a pocket or sharp corner for the kids, while not detracting from the simplicity of the new cabinetry.

Big thanks to Chris McGovern for allowing us to feature this amazing space. If you want to see more of his work be sure to give him a follow on Instagram. xx

Design by Chris McGovern | Photography by Sean Litchfield

The post A Crisp And Bright Kitchen Renovation That is Super Kid-Friendly From One Of Our Very Own EHD Insiders appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Styling To Sell: The Playroom/Family Room And The 4 Lessons I Learned Along The Way…

Today is full of good lessons, but listen, there is no way to learn and grow without making mistakes, and sometimes they are unavoidable ANYWAY. But first, let’s walk you back from the beginning. When we first bought the house this room was considered a bedroom, even though it didn’t have a door. When we renovated we reconfigured that area to make a better laundry room, powder bath, and decided that this room should be either a family room, TV room, or playroom (all three?).

It’s simple and cute and was covered in ivy so you couldn’t even see out, but that sweet little architecture was nice, if not awkward to design around. It’s narrow, which is harder to design, as I’ve written about here, but doable.

It’s been through a lot of iterations because its purpose kept changing.

LESSON #1 – IDEALLY YOU’D KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO USE THE ROOM BEFORE YOU MAKE MAJOR DECISIONS

At first, we wanted it to be a cozy TV room so we painted it dark blue. I had a 1 and 3-year-old and no TV room, so we thought this could kinda be 1/2 playroom, 1/2 TV room and I love a dark TV room (Sara’s is a much better example).

photo by tessa neustadt | from: family room update (and a lot of changes)



LESSON #2: DARK COLORS CAN BREAK UP FLOW OF AN OPEN SPACE PLAN (IF NOT DONE RIGHT)

While I love this blue (I think Stiffkey by Farrow & Ball), it was a mistake because it was too open to the rest of the house and cut off the flow making the house feel chopped up and small. Whoops.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: family room update (and a lot of changes)

We took a shot of it because that’s what we do, but it never really worked. Here’s where it got weird.

At one point we needed it to function as a guest room AND tv room and playroom and we had these curtains leftover so we hung them over the entrance for privacy and coziness.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our play room – an update + a tv choice



LESSON #3: Don’t let desperation lead the design process

I’m pretty sure desperation should never guide any long term decisions (marriage, career, house buying) but it often does because we are human beings. That curtain created privacy and coziness (the TV was behind the curtain) but it was also TOTALLY WEIRD. Admittedly while you were inside of it, watching TV with the curtains “closed” it did feel really cozy. But from the back (the entrance) you just saw liner for a long wall.

I chalk this up to having two small kids and making weird decisions to make my life easier. This was before we got the projector screen in the living room and a TV in our bedroom, solving both of our problems. We wanted a cozy place to watch TV when really what we needed was a playroom for our then 2 and 4-year-old. It’s open to the kitchen and is the perfect place for then to play. Meanwhile, the living room became our big TV room (projector not annoying at all), and adding the TV into our bedroom satisfied my “cozy nights without Brian” problem (he was gone a lot at nights doing rehearsals and performances). So after about 2 months or so of this weird “curtain theater room” we put in the projector, gave that sofa to this feel good flash makeover (the rug is now in the basement), gave my best friend the curtains and I started over.

Once this didn’t need to be “The TV Room” I was able to focus it on what we really needed with two small kids, like I said, a playroom.

So I started transforming it slowly… Stage One.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our play room – an update + a tv choice

Stage one we kept the window curtains, rug, and added all the storage. As any parent knows when kids are super young (toddler age) they need space and cubbies (not closed storage because they strangely forget that they’re there). So this didn’t look AWESOME but sure, they played in it.

But then I remembered that I’m a literal interior designer and should try to make a space look “good”. So the answer was a custom ship mural, obviously. We needed something to “anchor” the space (going on the road with that one) and pull you in there, without being super loud or a big busy pattern. I LOVE IT.

photo by veronica crawford | from: our la playroom update with solutions that work for us + another diy fail

I also switched out the ceiling fixture, the sconces to match the rest of the house and rearranged the room to create an almost pre-school like separation of the space. Now, while this isn’t visually the most amazing space it worked at the time. The architecture of the space really lent itself to that separation, they each got a side with four cubbies and they would sit in there for hours and play legos. I think kids feel really safe when they have a contained space and it really allowed them to focus on one thing/activity at a time.

photo by veronica crawford | from: our la playroom update with solutions that work for us + another diy fail

The other side of the room was a bench full of art supplies, that vintage mirror (that is now in the kitchen) a play table big enough for me to sit with them, and a big round rug (no longer available) that really opened up the space (and held up strangely well until the pups really claimed it on our one and only trip to LA with them).

NOW TO STAGE THIS ROOM TO SELL

This room was a very controversial space to style to sell. We had to ask the same things we ask ourselves every single day. What is its purpose? Who are we trying to sell to? How should it be styled to appeal to most of the people without having to totally redo it and spend a bunch of money???

So, at first, I styled it like a playroom but more paired back, letting in more light and making it feel bigger and brighter.

I gave away the cubbies with the rubber band peg wall on the back to an Insider Member (via our Garage Sale topic) and just had one bookshelf that I had been hoarding forever from Target (so cute – going to Portland with us). I liked how it looked but I also feared that I had lost all objectivity of this room.

So I enlisted opinions: A friend came over and said, “This looks dismal” which I thought was a bit harsh, but I appreciated the honesty. My stylist friend Scott said, “Wow, you are really appealing to like, just moms with small kids.” And finally my realtor Howard said, “Listen, we’ve got the ‘mom’ demographic already what with the two very styled out kids bedrooms and the PLAY CASTLE and swings – so let’s make this more of a grown-up room”.

LESSON #4: WHEN STYLING TO SELL DON’T MAKE EVERY ROOM A PLAYROOM

While I felt that this home would be bought by a family I also had to face the fact that it might NOT and by styling it too “kid” we were reducing our chances of a DINK buyer (double income no kid – my favorite acronym I learned this year). Fine. I’d redo it to make it more of a room that could be either a family room, den, older kids’ homework area, office, breakfast nook, or yes – a TV ROOM.

Sofa | Wall Mural

There you go. And I think for staging purposes it’s pretty cute. I didn’t have an extra small scale sofa on hand, but I reached out to Article and they lent me one for the month (THANK YOU). I will say that the proportions of this sofa are very comfortable (seat depth, height, arm height – comfortable and ergonomic) and it comes in many different configurations and colors. It is a good one and very popular for a reason. Sara has it in Pacific Blue in her TV room:)

I bought that IKEA round pedestal table (but wish it were antique pedestal instead) and pulled everything else from storage. Again, it helps to be a hoarder.

The rug was originally in Birdie’s room but we just left a sheepskin up there and brought this one down here. I’ve had that antique store drawer piece forever, but the lamp – OH THAT LAMP – is amazing because it is all fabric so it’s lit from the base through the shade. It’s from Human Home and we bought it for my friend’s makeover (coming soon!), then I stole it for myself once I saw it.

Table | Cabinet | Planter

I added some vintage Paul McCobb chairs that I’ll hoard forever, and we swapped the cute house bookshelf that was here with the simpler one that was in Elliot’s room.

I feel like no photos can do this room justice. When I was sitting there writing the blog I was like “this is a special little spot,” but for whatever reason it doesn’t pop on camera. I think that it needs more visual weight at that end of the room – like a wood table or a wood or maybe colorful bookshelf. But I used what I had on hand besides the table and it totally works and I knew that adding a “heavier'” table could also make it look smaller so I erred on the side of “simple, light and open.”

The other side of the room opens to the kitchen and I finally found a place to hang that amazing painting by Colin Scott Glasgow that was homeless until that day.

Flushmount | Cacti Art | Round Rug | Sheepskin | Pouf | Graphic Painting

The goal was for us to show people that you can have this little den/tv room if they wanted one, not just a playroom. But either way, it’s open to the kitchen and dining room which is indeed a big plus.

There you go. Our playroom turned family room, with a few lessons learned along the way. With more time and money I could have dialed this in more to make it more portfolio worthy, but at a certain point I had to let my perfectionism go to make way for “sleep” and “feeling sane.”

A Case For Mixing and Matching Lamp Shades (Plus The Rules You Should Know)

You’re online shopping. You come across the perfect lamp base. You can’t imagine life without it so you add to cart and immediately impulse buy. It was a good decision –– one you don’t regret, but soon after that confirmation email comes through you realize something, something big…it comes without a shade. There’s terror in your eyes and a pit in your stomach. What kind of shade do you even put on a lamp??? What are the types of shades –– WHAT ARE THE RULES?

Don’t cry, this post is here to help you out. And it’s not just for those of you who are in this very specific picture I painted above (you should know by now I like to be dramatic), it’s for those of you sitting at home right now (*cough*everyone*cough*), looking around at your house wondering how to add a lil more spunk and personality. I have an idea: let’s start with that “less exciting” eggshell-colored lamp shade in the corner.

The sky is the limit when it comes to lamp bases and their shades. They can add so much to a room when done right (as demonstrated 1 million times by the pleated lampshades that have been flooding your Instagram feeds for the last year, and yes, pleated shades will be involved in this post). We love a lamp, and we love it even more when it has a cool shade, so let’s chat about what you need to know:

THE RULES

So I poked around the internet to do a bit of research on what size your lamp shade should ACTUALLY be, and here’s the general consensus:

Your lamp shade should be about double the base of the lamp and around one third the total height of the lamp. Need a visual? Me too.

Hopefully that makes some sense to ya…now that we’ve grasped the rule, let’s talk about how to break it. Cause rules are meant to be broken, after all:

OVERSIZED LAMPSHADES



design by athena calderone | photo by nicole franzen | via architectural digest

Who doesn’t love Athena Calderone aka EyeSwoon??? In my eyes, she can do zero wrong, so if she’s using an oversized lamp shade (woah) and putting it in her KITCHEN (double woah and one of our 2020 kitchen trend predictions) then you probably should too.

This example of an oversized lamp shade is so good that I think I should just stop here while we’re on top…so let’s just move into the next section and I’d bet you’d never guess where we’re goin next:

TINY LAMPSHADES

Now THIS is a tricky one to pull off, but it can be done and it can be done well. Let’s start with this example:

design by amy shirlaw interiors | photo by alix mcintosh

Chunky base, tiny lil lampshade. It’s cool, it’s vibey and honestly, it’s all-around perfect. Emily’s also been pulling off the too-small lamp shade thing and I have to say, I think I really really like it:

left: our final living room reveal | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | right: our budget basement styled to sell | photo by sara ligorria-tramp

Speaking of Emily’s latest living room reveal (photo above on the left), please note there is not ONE lamp with a white lamp shade (and no I’m not including sconces because that’s a whole different post) Basically the woman loves a colorful shade:

COLORFUL LAMPSHADES



from our final living room reveal | photo by sara ligorria-tramp

So the point I’m trying to make is: vary your lamp shade color and size, you won’t regret it. HECK why not even throw a pattern for a real pop??

Now we encourage you to play around and break your own rules, but if you need a starting place we (of course) have 36 of our favorite lamp and shade pairs that will hopefully make your heart happy…

1. Moroccan Cross Lamp Shade & Tripod Floor Lamp | 2. Black and White Stripe Lamp Shade & Tray Table Floor Lamp | 3. Burnt Orange Zig Lampshade & Window Pane Floor Lamp | 4. Cream Linen Knife Pleated Lampshade & Arched Floor Lamp Set | 5. Modern Half-Dome Metal Lamp Shade & Mix and Match White Floor Lamp Base | 6. Butter Creme Hardback Empire Lamp Shade & Minimalist Tripod Floor Lamp | 7. Linen Navy Blue Lampshade & Faux Wood Floor Lamp | 8. Mustard Linen Lamp Shade & Isobel Floor Lamp | 9. Cream Linen Knife Pleated Lampshade & Pamela Floor Lamp | 10. Red Dome Fabric Lampshade & Madrot Glass Globe Floor Lamp | 11. Textured Gallery Straight Sided Shade & Stand Floor Lamp | 12. Maratodd Fabric Drum & Rustic Black Metal Manvi Floor Lamp

1. Black Linen Drum Table Lamp Shade & Stacked Marble Table Lamp | 2. Navy Velvet Drum Lampshade & Mini Stick Table Lamp | 3. Anais Pleated Lamp Shade & Gesso Ring Table Lamp | 4. Black White Kente Lampshade & Kendall Matte Gray Ceramic Table Lamp | 5. Tufted Bungalow Lamp Shade & Angelo Rattan Table Lamp | 6. Dusky Pink Ivory Stripe Lampshade & Natural Wood Sierra Table Lamp Base | 7. Black and White Stripe Lamp Shade & Small Lamp Base | 8. Gallery Straight-Sided Linen Drum Lamp Shade & Teal Table Lamp | 9. Linen Trim Drum Chandelier Shade & Delavan Tripod Table Lamp | 10. Metallic Lamp Shade & Capone Lamp | 11. Rust Velvet Drum Lampshade & Terra Table Lamp | 12. Riverbed Drum Lamp Shade & Large Ribbed Glass LED Table Lamp

1. Nordic Grey linen Knife Pleated Lampshade & Electa Table Lamp | 2. Butter Creme Hardback Empire Lamp Shade & Rattan Table Lamp | 3. Navy Blue Mushroom Pleat Lamp Shade & Small Lamp Base | 4. Black Chimney Empire Lamp Shade & Bennett Table Lamp | 5. Modern Half-Dome Metal Lamp Shade & Ingrid Table Lamp | 6. Cream Linen Knife Pleated Lampshade & Capone Lamp | 7. Gingham Buffalo Check Lamp Shade & Louis Ceramic Globe Mini Table Lamp | 8. Raffia Scalloped Lamp Shade & Glisan Table Lamp | 9. Linen Empire Lamp Shade & Asymmetry Mini Table Lamp | 10. Matilda Goad Signature Scallop Lampshade & Natural Acacia Wood Table Lamp Base | 11. Pink Knife Pleat Lamp Shade & Pink Terrazzo Table Lamp | 12. Dark Blue Cone Shade & Margie Table Lamp

So did I make my case? What do you think about the mixing and the matchings? Would you try this at home?? Comment your thoughts and I’ll meet ya down there

The Link Up: Emily’s New Favorite Jean Shorts, Julie’s Genius Mask Hack, and The Best Clothing Sale This Weekend

Welcome to September and our first link up of the month. It’s shockingly already Labor Day (well tomorrow)…time is really flying by this year. One good piece of news is that you are going to see our contributors popping up in the link ups and today we are starting with someone very special:) So with that said we hope you’re having a great Labor Day weekend filled with fun but also lots of safety (geez we sound like your mom but seriously wear a mask). Anyway, let’s get right into it.

We missed looking at Reath Design interiors so we just had to feature this awesome living room they designed in Bend, OR. Everything they do is SO GOOD. Can you even handle the perfection of those mixed fabrics???

From Emily: I just got THE BEST LEVI DENIM SHORTS. Sure, it’s late in the season but that’s because I wore out all my others this summer. This one is still “distressed” without one million holes and such a good fit. Just make sure to size up unless you want them to be super constrictive (I never do with Levi shorts).

From Arlyn (YES ARLYN!!): I’ve had back issues since I was about 13. I’ve tried every cream you can imagine—Tiger Balm, Bengay, SalonPas, CBD balms…all of it. But a few weeks ago, I seriously inflamed my sciatic nerve after a back sprain and in desperation looked around for something else and found this stuff. While yes, I was on a cocktail of prescription drugs for the pain, I also know that when I would rub this in a few times a day, I quickly had noticeable relief. It doesn’t sting, it doesn’t smell, and I will now and forever have a tub on hand.

From Sara: 1 BILLION THANK YOUS to everyone who donated last weekend to my moms classroom. When I told her she’d be getting all the headphones she needed, had passed her funding goal for books, AND had Target GC to help keep her students supplied this year she was overwhelmed by the generosity of the EHD audience, and straight up got teary. So did I. Y’all made this happen, and it means the world to us and all of her students. THANK YOU!

From Julie: Meeting at the park with friends for a social distance picnic has become the new brunch spot. I personally am one of those people that once I leave my house even if it’s just to check the mail I am masked at all times so I was very excited when I got a DM on Instagram from Megan Harrington. She not only is a Cali girl who moved up to the PNW like I did 8 years ago now, which honestly feels so much longer than that but she also is an entrepreneur who started a new company called Sipping Safely. Megan has developed a sustainable mask in which you can enjoy your iced coffee, tea, or your favorite cocktail safely in public. She was so lovely to even send me a mask to try out for myself in the very cute dainty daisy pattern and I am here to tell you all, it’s a game-changer! The valve is very discreet but works with any metal straw (hello earth, love you!) and makes it so easy to stay hydrated throughout the day when I don’t feel comfortable enough to safely remove my mask for a sip (read: many sips) of water. Thanks Megan and to all others who are thinking up new ways to make life feel semi-normal again!

From Mallory: I’m slowing becoming a quarantined-trained bartender and chef (hire me for your parties once it’s legal to have parties) and it’s all thanks to Sara Adler’s cookbook, Simply Real Eating. She gave a copy to Emily a while back (who became obsessed with it) and now our entire team is obsessed with it (we’re often #emfluenced too). Maybe you relate to this, but I’m not usually the kind of person that has “go-to” recipes since I like to try out new ones all the time, but the stuff in this book is so good that I just make it over and over and over again. Specifically, I’m referring to the spicy chicken burgers, the everyday chicken salad (with avocado mayo), and the maple old fashioned (aka the drink that made me like old fashioneds). I’ve made those 3 recipes so many times that I don’t even need to look at the cookbook recipe anymore (well I still look through it sometimes to get new recipe ideas of course). Anyway, that’s my review of this cookbook and you should all buy it cause it’s life-changing. Bye!

From Ryann: My FIANCE (still not over that tbh) and I have been listening to this song nonstop. It’s the latest single from his best friend’s band that just so happened to drop the day he proposed, so we are calling it our official engagement song. Give it a listen if you love a gushy love song.

From Caitlin: I looked at about one million discounted items to pull together our recent Labor Day sales post, which requires EXTREME SELF CONTROL. But in case you missed it, the best deals in the ~ fashion ~  section came from Madewell, and I AM VERY EXCITED because they are heralding the return of the high waisted flare jean! As a large butt-ed, wide-hipped person who loves feeling like my pants are near my belly button, this is THE. BEST. NEWS. ALL. YEAR. These jeans in particular have an 11″ rise (praise be) and they’re 40% off with code HIFALL. I didn’t include it in the Labor Day roundup because I didn’t want it to sell out…but I’m telling y’all here because it’s too good to keep to myself.

From Jess: Lots of personal lifestyle changes have been taking place (especially in my kitchen) and actually meal prepping is one of them (I’ve even been making sauces and dressings…Jess, is that really you?). So this shift called for some adult food containers because my four medium-sized plastic ones were not cutting it. I did a little digging and found this glass 12 pack with white lids for $30. I feel like calling food containers pretty is weird but they really are. If you are in the market these are GREAT.

That’s all we got for you this week. Go enjoy your Sunday-scary-less Sunday & have a happy Labor Day! See ya on Tuesday

My Secret Front Yard Is Finally Revealed

After FOUR years it seems appropriate to show you that we do indeed have a secret front yard. Despite my apparent (obvious) lack of privacy, I kept this off the blog since we are in a walkable neighborhood and no one needs to know exactly where my children sleep. But now we aren’t there anymore (in escrow, crossing fingers but still showing if you are serious) I wanted to show you what it looked like when we bought it and how we turned it into an almost Disney-like, butterfly friendly, birds chirping, hummingbird bathing private magical English country front garden.

the original listing photo

When we saw the original listing, above, we loved the house immediately. It’s covered in ivy, has such pretty architecture, original brown coat stucco and it’s set back from the road. It is one of two houses first built on this hill in Los Feliz by two brothers, both architects/carpenters, both covered in ivy. It is SPECIAL. We loved it immediately.

But we were excited to make it our own, not to mention create some privacy and more purpose for all that space. So over the last four years. we did the following: 1. Replaced the path, 2. Upped the landscaping (including trees), 3. Put in irrigation, pathway and landscape lighting, 4. Fixed all the drainage issues and put in a french drain, 5. Replaced the garage doors, 6. Painted the trim, 7. Put in a citrus grove, 8. Added a water feature and 9. The most expensive yet worth it – created a privacy fence with electronic driveway and pedestrian gates.

Right before we sold it I amped it up even MORE because this property is dreamy and I frankly have too much home pride to release it to someone else and show you guys without it being at its absolute best. Brian didn’t agree with my investing in it at the last minute, but I did and I’m so happy that I’m leaving it at its most beautiful for someone to take over. You don’t buy this house for the closet space, you buy it for the magic. The charm. The yards. The butterflies and hummingbirds. So over the last few years, I dedicated a lot of time and money to making the front yard special and magical to match the backyard and the inside. At times it was almost ridiculous–with multiple butterflies flying, birds chirping, and hummingbirds bathing at the same time so I guess it worked.

A 3-Day Weekend Is Only Made Better By A Massive Labor Day Sale Roundup (Just Kidding… But It Doesn’t Hurt)

Happy long weekend, everyone! (Or at least, I hope you get to have a happy long weekend.) This week, my email inbox was full of hundreds of variations of the following note: “Here are our Labor Day Sale details. We rarely do a site-wide sale and it will be our last push before the holiday season,” and BOY. THAT’S SOMETHING. Reading that over and over really did something to my psyche.

Y’all, our next big sale roundup won’t be til Black Friday — that’s after the next presidential election. I literally cannot imagine that far into the future. To that end, I’ve added a small selection of sales from awesome gift retailers to the end of this post (in addition to our classic home & decor and fashion & beauty section) — you know, just in case you want to start holiday shopping a little early. If nothing else, it’d be nice to end the year without a huge honkin’ credit card bill, since I’m sure we’ll be grappling with whatever else 2020 is planning to throw at us. (The return of murder hornets, maybe?)

As always, if you’re a small business owner and holding a Labor Day sale of your own, feel free to drop the details in the comments. We’d love to support you! OK, enough chatting — LET’S GET TO THE DEALS, YEAH?

Home & Decor



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our guest room/office basement suite reveal



AllModern

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: Up to 40% off select items, plus an extra 15% off
Code: EXTRA15
Our Picks: Airy Barrel Chair | Luxe Lucite Cocktail Table | Minimalist Shelving/Media Unit

Apt2b

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: 15% off site-wide, 20% off orders over $2,499, 25% off orders over $3,999, free delivery on all orders
Our Picks: Channel-Tufted Sofa | White Lacquer Dining Table | Honeycomb Sideboard

Artfully Walls

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 25% off site-wide
Code: LD2020
Our Picks: Retro Beach | Desert Song | California Cool
Caitlin Note: Hi! Helpful tip: If you’re totally lost on where to start a gallery wall, Artfully sells pre-designed sets. They’re great jumping-off points but maybe more importantly, the merchandising is SO HELPFUL – definitely take a peek at how they’ve styled all their walls (there are like, hundreds right here) if you’re feeling stuck and in need of inspo.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the ultimate family-friendly media room + wet bar



Article

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 40% off select items, all orders over $999 receive free basic shipping
Our Picks: Architectural Bench | Modern Scandi Lamp | Houndstooth Loveseat

Barn & Willow

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: 10% off orders of $599, 15% off orders of $899, 20% off orders of $1,399
Code: LABORDAY12, LABORDAY15, LABORDAY20
Our Picks: Flat Roman Shade | Soft Top Drapes | Blackout Roller Shade

Bed Bath & Beyond

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 50% off select items
Our Picks: KitchenAid Stand Mixer | Roomba | Our Favorite Steamer

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: 3 practical, simple, comfy bedding combos we’re loving for fall



Boll & Branch

Deal: 20% off site-wide
Code: 20EMILYH
Our Picks: Spa Bath Sheet Set| Waffle Bed Blanket | Everything Here
Caitlin Note: Our EHD exclusive offer is currently the brand’s best one available – happy shopping!

Brooklinen

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 15% off site-wide
Code: LABORDAY-15
Our Picks: Lightweight Duvet Insert | Weighted Comforter | Plush Robe

Build.com

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 30% off select items
Our Picks: Wine Fridges | Kohler Balanced Shower System | Oak Herringbone Flooring
Caitlin Note: My mom has a small wine fridge and it’s my favorite part about going home. It’s on my list for a future place – such a small detail and definitely worth it IMO.

Burke Decor

Dates: Through Friday, 9/11
Deal: Up to 30% off select items
Our Picks: Woven Cane Sideboard | Charcoal Velvet Wing Chair | Kelly Wearstler Table Lamp

The Container Store

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 25% closet essentials
Our Picks: Sara’s New Custom Closet System | Clear Shelf Divider | Magic Slider Discs

Crate & Barrel

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 70% off summer clearance, up to 20% off upholstered furniture
Our Picks: Boucle and Oak Bench | Channel Tufted Sofa | Circle Chair a la Em’s Living Room
Caitlin Note: I know “clearance” can often be dicey, but this is ACTUALLY good clearance stuff. It’s a fun browse!

HD Buttercup

Deal: Up to 75% off select items
Our Picks: Matte Green Pendant | Minimalist Vanity Mirror | Modern Clothes Rack

Home Depot

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 40% off select appliances and bath, up to 30% off select tools and furniture
Our Picks: Google Nest | Hugely-Discounted DeWalt 7 Piece Tool Kit | LG Stainless Steel Kitchen Package

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: it’s finally here: the reveal of the mountain house kitchen



Industry West

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 25% off site-wide, 35% off select items
Code: LABORDAY
Our Picks: Fig House-Style Lounge Chair | Playful Counter Stool | Modern Pill Sofa

The Inside

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 15% off site-wide, 20% off orders over $199
Code: SAVEMORE15, SAVEMORE20
Our Picks: X Bench | Scalloped Room Divider | Modern Platform Bed

Interior Define

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: 15% off site-wide
Our Picks: White Oak Coffee Table | Tegan Sofa | Timeless Leather Ottoman

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: living room update 



Jayson Home

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 30-75% off closeout sale items
Our Picks: Half-Priced Graphic Concrete Tile | Sweet Pendant Lights | All-Marble End Table

Jonathan Adler

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: 20% off site-wide
Code: SUNSET20
Our Picks: Huge Statement Sconces | Glam Burl Cocktail Table | Ice Cream Match Strike
Caitlin Note: Hi! Thanks for making it this far! An easter egg – I accidentally worked late while assembling this post because I had so much fun looking at this site. Adler’s pieces are still aspirational for me (read: $$$) but WOW, so much great inspo and whimsy here!!! If you have a couple minutes, def worth exploring every category.

Lowe‘s

Dates: Through Wednesday, 9/16
Deal: Up to 35% off select appliances
Our Picks: Washers & Dryers | Refrigerators | Dishwashers

Lulu & Georgia

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: 15% off site-wide, 20% off orders of $1,500, 25% off orders of $3,000
Code: LABORDAY15, LABORDAY20, LABORDAY25
Our Picks: Curved Sideboard | Clean Upholstered Bed | Em’s Go-To Coffee Table
Caitlin Note: Another easter egg! Lulu & Georgia rented out the Mountain House last year to shoot a ton of product – including that sideboard, which is stunning – so if you ever see Em’s house with different styling in one of their ads on IG, that’s why!

Lumens

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 50% off select items
Our Picks: Nelson Saucer Pendant | Mitzi Chandelier | Minimalist Outdoor Path Light

Minna

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 15% off site-wide
Code: SUMMERSEND
Our Picks: Catch-all Woven Basket | Green Abstract Throw | Sweet Piglet Bowl

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ long awaited (small space) living room reveal



Minted

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: 15% off baby & kids and wedding orders
Code: LABORDAY
Our Picks: Baby & Kids | Weddings

McGee & Co.

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 15% off site-wide
Code: FALLREADY
Our Picks: Come On In Doormat | Splurge-worthy Leather Chair | Navy & White Wool Rug

One Kings Lane

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 20% off site-wide
Our Picks: Moss Green Velvet Sofa | Antiqued Gold Leaf Lamps | Canopy Bed

Overstock

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 70% off select items
Our Picks: Mountain House-esque Wood Bed Frame | Lucite & Brass Bar Cart | Vintage-Inspired Settee

Pottery Barn

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 10% off orders of over $100, 15% off orders of over $250, 20% off orders of over $500, 25% off orders of over $1,500
Code: SAVEMORE
Our Picks: Stained Black Wooden Dresser | Tambour Round Storage Coffee Table | Leather Sling Stool

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland kitchen reveal



Rejuvenation

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 20% off site-wide, 25% off orders of $1,500 or more
Our Picks: Spun Cone Pendant | Deep Frame Arched Mirror | Danish-Inspired Sofa

Rugs.com

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: Up to 80% off select items
Our Picks: Braided Jute Rug | Simple Monochromatic Gray Rug | Tonal Geometric Rug

Saatchi Art

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 10% off all originals, 15% off originals over $1,000
Code: ENDOFSUMMER10, ENDOFSUMMER15
Our Picks: Organic Relief Sculpture | Minimalist White Horse Drawing | Terrier Watercolor

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our boy/girl, 2-twin bed shared kids room reveal



Serena & Lily

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: Prices as marked on select living room pieces
Our Picks: Fresh Side Table | Leather Sling Chair | Simple Oak Coffee Table

Sixpenny

Dates: From Monday, 9/7 through Saturday, 9/12
Deal: 20% off orders over $1,000
Code: SUNUP20
Our Picks: Neva Sofa | Gabriel Chair | Amelia Daybed

Target

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 30% off bedding, up to 20% off select furniture
Our Picks: Studio McGee Ottoman | Classic Round Tulip Table | Affordable Striped Sheet Set

Tempaper

Dates: Through Wednesday, 9/9
Deal: 15% off single rolls, 25% off double rolls
Code: refresh15, refresh25
Our Picks: Flamingo | Jess’ Rust Marble Ceiling Favorite | Moody Floral

Tuft & Needle

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 10% off site-wide
Our Picks: The Mint | The Hybrid | Dog Bed

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara’s living room & dining room reveal



Urban Outfitters

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: An extra 30% off sale items
Our Picks: Natural Wood Chair | Wavy Lidded Container | Chrome Lamp with Pleated Shade

Wayfair

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 70% off select items
Our Picks: Portable Air Conditioner | Matte Flush Mount Lights | Deeply Discounted Modern Ceiling Fan

West Elm

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 15% off orders over $150, 20% off orders over $500, 25% off orders over $1,000, 30% off orders over $3,500, plus an additional 30% off select items
Code: SAVEMORE
Our Picks: Deco Dining Chair | Watercolor Rug | Ceramic Totem Vases
Caitlin Note: #notsponsored, but this is the best sale on the list – the stacking discounts really add up. Also, they’re the first retailer I’ve seen with a holiday section, so if you wanna stock up…now’s the time, I guess.

Williams Sonoma

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 20% off tabletop, bar & wine, extra 20% off clearance, free shipping on orders over $79
Code: EXTRA, SHIP4FREE
Our Picks: Estate Stemware Collection | Hammered Copper Mug | Harry Potter Cookie Cutters

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: styled to sell: elliot’s “bedroom”



World Market

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 40% off select furniture, plus an extra 10% off curbside pickup orders
Our Picks: Em’s Rattan Daybed Frame | Vintage-Inspired Entry Table | Seafoam Upholstered Bench

Y Lighting

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 40% off select items
Our Picks:

Fashion & Beauty



from: night to day lounge wear – our new wfh uniforms



Andie Swim

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: An extra 25% off select styles
Code: STILLSUMMER25
Our Picks: The Eco Laguna | The Eco Tulum | The Eco Havana
Caitlin Note: It’s still summer here (105 in LA this weekend #blessed) but these suits are SO CUTE and I love all the normal models on their site!

Anthropologie

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: An extra 25% off sale items
Our Picks: Navy Paper Bag Pants | Marble Dyed Midi Skirt | Red Silk Dress

Bloomingdales

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 60% off regular price items, take an extra 50% off select sale items
Our Picks: Shoe Section | Dress Section | Bag Section
Caitlin Note: There is SUCH GOOD browsing available here. Kill some time!

COS

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 20% off orders over $200, 25% off orders over $250, 30% off orders over $350
Our Picks: A-Line Cotton Dress | Relaxed Crop Sweatshirt | White Printed Button Up

Express

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 40% off site-wide, free shipping on orders over $50
Our Picks: Textured Satin Cami | Balloon Sleeve Cardigan | High-Waisted Leopard Midi Skirt

photo by veronica crawford | from: the 3 stylish, comfortable pants i wear all the time (that don’t feel like i’m wearing pants)



Gap

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Extra 50% off sale styles, 40% off everything else
Code: SALE, SHOP
Our Picks: Relaxed Denim Overalls | Olive Utility Jacket | Poplin Jumpsuit

Farm Rio

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 20% off site-wide, 25% off orders over $200, 30% off orders over $400
Code: SUNNY20, SUNNY25, SUNNY30
Our Picks: Beach Palm Blouse | Garden Mix Romper | Green Banana Shorts

J. Crew

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 40% off site-wide, plus an extra 60% off sale styles
Code: BYESUMMER
Our Picks: Cashmere Crewneck Sweater | Barn Jacket | Vintage Cotton T-Shirt

J. Crew Factory

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 50-80% off site-wide, plus an extra 60% off clearance and free shipping on orders over $50
Code: LASTSQUEEZE
Our Picks: T-Shirt Dress | Chelsea Rain Boots | Leopard Calf Hair Peep-Toe Flats
Caitlin Note: I live and die for J. Crew Factory because they sometimes have Madewell dupes at like, 1/3 of the price. (Is it a dupe if they’re the same company? IDK but I LOVE A DEAL.)

Kate Spade

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: An extra 40% off sale styles plus free shipping
Code: HEATINGUP
Our Picks: Cloud Cuff Bracelet | Eyelet Blouse | Statement Stud Earrings

L.L. Bean

Deal: Up to 60% off clearance, with twice daily added markdowns
Our Picks: Moccasin Slippers | Shearling-Lined Bean Boots | Plaid Flannel Shirt
Caitlin Note: I own all of these things. 10/10. Will last forever.

Macys

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 60% off select items, plus an extra 10-20% off with code and free shipping on orders over $25
Code: WKND
Our Picks: Hugely-Discounted 12-Piece Pyrex Storage | Instant Pot + Air Fryer Combo | Bag Section

photo by veronica crawford | from: why ehd loves a jumpsuit + our tried-&-true recommendations



Madewell

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 50% off site-wide
Code: HIFALL
Our Picks: Pull-On Crop Pants | Leather Skimmer Mule | Dolman-Sleeve Tie-Waist Dress

Nordstrom

Deal: Up to 60% off clearance items
Our Picks: Split Shaft Bootie | Calpak Spinner Carry-On Luggage | Chunky Hiking Boot |

Skinstore

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: Up to 70% off on select brands plus a free PCA Skin Moisturizer with orders over $130
Code: LABOR
Our Picks: Buy 2 Get 1 Free Bonus Promotion | CARAT Face Skincare Tool | Body Scrubber

photo by veronica crawford | from: 51 affordable spring dresses (& 1 awesome jumper i couldn’t resist)



Target

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 20% off select clothing and shoes
Our Picks: Em’s 3/4 Sleeve Chambray Dress | Polka Dot Maxi Dress | Puff Short Sleeve Blouse

Ulta

Dates: Through Saturday, 9/19
Deal: 50% off new must-haves every day
Our Picks: Today’s Offers

Urban Outfitters

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: An extra 30% off sale items
Our Picks: Classic Herschel Backpack | Paperclip Post Earrings | Long Sleeve Frock Dress

Verishop

Deal: Up to 80% off Warehouse Sale items while supplies last
Our Picks: Satin Slip Midi Skirt | Scalloped Tote Bag | Pleated Jumpsuit
Caitlin Note: My birthday is October 14 if anyone wants to send that tote my way…

Gifts



photo by veronica crawford | from: shopping my favorite gift shops in our neighborhood for small business saturday



Always Fits

Dates: Through Monday, 9/7
Deal: 25% off site-wide
Code: LABORDAY25
Our Picks: Moira Rose Mug | Handheld Oregon Trail Game | The Big Fat Activity Book for Pregnant People

Apple

Deal: Free AirPods with the purchase of a MacBook or iPad
Our Picks: MacBooks | iPads

Best Buy

Deal: Savings on select appliances and electronics, changing daily
Our Picks: Smart TVs from $99.99 | Powerbeats Headphones | Roku with Voice Remote
Caitlin Note: I used to work at Beats by Dre and can confirm that Powerbeats are great for working out. If your AirPods are falling out while you’re exercising, these are an awesome alternative.

Etsy

Dates: Through Wednesday, 9/9
Deal: At least 20% off editor’s picks
Our Picks: Custom Kids’ Name-Shaped Crayons | Shibori Dog Bed | Leather Laptop Sleeve

Rifle Paper Co.

Dates: Through Tuesday, 9/8
Deal: 20% off site-wide (excluding wallpaper)
Code: LABORDAY
Our Picks: Greeting Cards | 2021 Appointment Notebook | Wireless Charger
Caitlin Note: Supporting the USPS has never been more important! I hope you all receive an influx of holiday cards with notes from friends this year

Consider This: A Stylish Candle Can Add The “Design Fire” Your Room May Need

Welcome to another EHD style hack. Like all great hacks, it is one that is so simple yet impactful that it’s often overlooked or under-appreciated. As the title suggests, I am talking about candles. If you’ve been staring at a shelf or console or dining table for far too long and haven’t found the missing piece, might I suggest not just any candle, but a stylish or sculptural one?? They can add height, visual interest, or a much-needed pop of color to a bland surface. Better yet, they are usually more affordable than a decorative object or bust but offer the same styling effect, not to mention they can smell good. It doesn’t get much better than that.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: the finished patio (with the tile!)

Over here at EHD we love a tried and true taper candle and have used them in tons of projects (especially blue ones:)) but right now we are noticing more exciting colors and shapes on the market. Here are some of the stylish (traditional and not so traditional) taper candles that have caught our eye as of late:

1. Nanao Taper Candles, Set of 5 | 2. Rope Taper Candles | 3. Cone Taper Beeswax Candles | 4. Tapered Beeswax Candles (Set of 8) | 5. U Candle | 6. Beeswax Single Spiral Taper Candle | 7. Lex Pott Twist Duo Standing Taper Candle | 8. Striped Dinner Candles | 9. Fluted Pillar |10. Color Drip Candlestick Set | 11. Blue Taper Candles, Set of 2 | 12. Beeswax Spiral Twisted Taper Candles 

If you love a classic taper candle like us but are missing some color, you can’t go wrong with #4, #8 or #11 but if you want something a little edgier #3 and #12 are your guys. Personally, I love the dual taper candles like #5 and #7 for a candelabra effect.

Now let’s check out the sculptural candles that I need to actively stop myself from buying…

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: styling to sell: how we staged our dining room and kitchen

1. Light My Fingers Candle | 2. White Emoji Candle – Mushroom | 3. Block Candle Phare Antique Celadon | 4. Female CURVY Body Torso Candle | 5. Candle David Bust | 6. Knubby Beeswax Candle | 7. Geo Pillar Candle | 8. Victory Hand Gesture Candle | 9. Goddess Bust Candle | 10. Totem Pillar Candles (Set of 3) | 11. Milk Candle | 12. Goober Candle Eph in Pink | 13. Marie-Antoinette Bust Candle | 14. Totem Candle Earth Tone Bundle (Set of 9) | 15. HIM Candle

The idea for this post came to me when I stumbled upon the curvy body candle on Etsy. It was the subtle and affordable decor option that I had not yet considered and it opened up a whole new world of styling options. Once I found that candle busts existed, it was all over for me. #9 is sitting patiently in my cart while I contemplate the right time to buy and I have no doubt I will be incorporating totem candles in my living and dining area. Emily has used them in a couple of projects and they are SO GOOD.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project: the living room reveal

Another hack to try with these sculptural candles is to actually burn them so they melt and look even more interesting as discussed in this article on Domino. There is something totally unexpected and dare I say romantic about a half-melted candle that adds a touch of intrigue to a space. I will definitely be trying this out once I procure my sculptural candle collection (and will, of course, let you know how it goes).

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: grab a drink and come explore this ehd stylist alum’s treasure filled living room reveal

That concludes my soliloquy on stylish candles, but I’d love to hear what candles you love to display in your home. Let’s chat! xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: The Portland Dining Room Reveal + How to Create A Room That Is Interesting Yet Sophisticated

The post Consider This: A Stylish Candle Can Add The “Design Fire” Your Room May Need appeared first on Emily Henderson.

3 Practical, Simple, Comfy Bedding Combos We’re Loving for Fall

It’s September (I know, WILD) and with fall knocking on our doors, getting cozy is basically my top home priority. So today I want to talk about the importance of a cozy bed, the easiest way to make it, and how to choose the perfect bedding. At this point in my styling career, I can say that I am a bed-making (styling) expert, just like my parents dreamt for me as a child. All of those years of chores weren’t for nothing! But like anything, when you’ve done something for years and when you’ve made HUNDREDS of cozy looking beds, you forget that it’s not that simple for everyone. There are a million ways to make a bed look inviting, but I want to tell you my NO-FAIL formula that hits the mark every. single. time. But before you learn how to make a bed look so good you just want to jump in and ruin it…you need the right bedding.

I know that we’ve talked a lot about adding more color into our homes this year but your bed can (and maybe should?) be exempt. Lately, I’ve been finding myself pinning a ton of textural neutrals – the kinds of things that will work just as well in a bedroom today as they will in 5 years, no matter what decor style I end up transitioning to next. (Any bets on the style of the new house???) Right now, I’m a big cheerleader for bedding that’s simple, practical, and sustainable. 

There really isn’t anything like a neutral-toned bed, full of luxurious textures. I’m getting sleepy just thinking about it! (The good kind, of course). I think most of it comes from really wanting a calm place to retreat at the end of the day – so if you’re in this same boat and just want to feel like you’re collapsing into a hotel bed at night, I AM HERE TO HELP. We could all use a bit more relaxation in our lives about now…right?

The Formula

My go-to formula for styling my bed this fall is so simple and I promise you’ll be able to pull this off in your own home. There are a lot of ways to make your bed – and we’ve written about a lot of them before – but we’re going with the low-maintenance, I woke up like this plan for Fall 2020. Ready? (Also, in case you’re interested, all the pieces in today’s post can be found right here.)

Sheet setDuvet (yes, and use the matching standard-sized sham)Accent pillowLumbar pillowTextured throw

This is a formula that ALWAYS WORKS and is actually so simple and minimal, while making the bed look pulled together and cozy. Hand me the Pulitzer Prize, please.

The key here, though, is the texture. Neutral bedding and simple styling can run the risk of being a little boring and one-note without lots of texture. The chambray sheets, the waffle-knit blanket, the gauzy duvet cover, the knit pillow above – it all just screams hey, come on in. Take a little nap here. New-to-me brand, Boll & Branch does this type of simple, keep-forever, mix and match bedding SO RIGHT, and they graciously partnered with Team EHD so we could play designer again and get our styling legs back under us. (Shoots? Reveals?? What are those??)

“Hot

When it comes to neutral textures, layer them on. Unlike colorful patterns, you don't have to worry about layered textures competing. The more you've got the more organic and cozy your bed will look and feel.

Pillows

You may or may not know this about me but I tend to skip the euro sham (the big square ones) and head straight for the “sleeping pillows.” They make the bed look more modern and relaxed but still pulled together. So just get four pillow inserts (king-size are always my personal favorite option, even in a smaller bed). And for this shoot, we kept it simple with just two types of accent pillows…and I mean, look how inviting that bed looks.

The chunky knit pillow here has that beautiful bold texture and perfectly complements the Boll & Branch lumbar pillow’s simple embroidery. You can see that they don’t compete for attention. Also, let me say again that a lumbar is truly the unsung hero of any bed situation – they can polish up any bedding combo instantly. My love for them has been well documented.

And let’s not forget to mention that with this pillow strategy, it’s just less to assemble in the morning. This means you’re actually more likely to make your bed and get to experience that ahhhh moment when you curl up every night.

Hot Tip

A large lumbar pillow is the easiest way to achieve bed styling perfection without adding 6 extra pillows to your bed (because we all know those extra decor pillows end up on the side of the bed every night anyways). Boll & Branch sells a perfectly sized 14 x 34 lumbar insert, with several different and pretty covers to instantly make your bed look styled every morning.

Blankets

When it comes to picking your own duvet/blanket combo, we have a rule of thumb for that, too: we usually go for a “fluffy” duvet or comforter with a “flatter” blanket. Double points if the “patterns” can speak to each other in some way like these did – the smaller scale waffle-knit and the larger scale window-pane both look like they’re in the same family…but they’re cousins, not sisters. It was also so easy for us to mix colors within this tonal, neutral palate. Oatmeal? Sand? Chambray? White? Gray? EVERYTHING WE PLAYED WITH WORKED TOGETHER, which made styling so fun. (10/10 for color curation, Boll & Branch.) Ah, we missed shooting new things for you! 

It’s also so easy to make your bed look super inviting: just fold the comforter/duvet (and potential flat sheet, even though you don’t need one) forward far enough that it clears the back “sleeping” pillows. It does NOT have to clear your decorative/accent pillows, in fact, it is better if they’re layered on top, thus bridging those two surfaces. This adds depth and texture…plus, if your fitted sheet is a pattern or color, then it pops out more which is more fun. It’s like the cuff of a sleeve underneath your sweater – it’s just a little spice of something else that makes it look interesting.

As a side note, we’re also huge fans of how gauzy, soft, and natural Boll & Branch’s bedding is. When you’re working with textured bedding, you don’t have to worry about wrinkles – they’re PART of the charm. The brand did an awesome job at crafting these ideal base pieces that are so easy to throw on your bed and go – there’s no fuss. (And honestly, that’s perfect – seeing as the Henderson household has a no-fuss policy.)

Besides being genuinely comfortable (if you can’t tell by the literal cat nap happening above), a majority of Boll & Branch’s products are ethically made from fair trade, 100% organic cotton. If you’re curious, you can read all about the many efforts they’re making to build ethics and sustainability into every part of their process here. This bedding was not only great to shoot but after a quick test drive, we can wholeheartedly say it is COZY and LUXE. Since we are now huge fans, we didn’t want the bedding combos to end here.

P.S. Boll & Branch has graciously offered to take 20% off your order with the code EMILY20 and the first 20 orders will receive a free Adirondack blanket with their purchase. This is better than their Labor Day Sale offer, so if you’re in the mood for some new super-soft bedding, the timing has never been better