Emily Henderson's Blog, page 203

Design Agonies BE GONE… 5 VERY Universal Problems, Solved Via The EHD Insider Design Agony Group Chat

Our design agony posts are extremely near and dear to us. We LOVE getting to have a more personal connection to you all, getting to answer your exact questions, and helping you tackle your most troubling design issues. I mean room layouts are tricky, knowing what to do with a blank wall can feel like a graduate-level algebra question, and sometimes a second opinion can put you at total ease. We know that last one to be VERY true because y’all you have been just as much as a support to us in helping make some very important design decisions as hopefully, we have been to you. SO it was a top priority for when we created the EHD Insider Community that a “Design Agony” section was included so any member could upload a photo and ask the community for help. And let’s just say it might be the best part. Everyone has such great and insightful advice and knowing there is a place to ask, “Hey, is this rug a good fit for my living room” or “Any suggestions for my fireplace reno mishap” or “What is missing from making this room look awesome??” is pretty freaking great. But to be fair we may be partial:)

So with their permission, we wanted to take a handful of the agonies our Insiders posted that are pretty darn universal. Let’s jump right in…

I want to start with my old friend, Martha. Ok, so sadly we don’t “formally” know each other and hang out with wine, chatting design into the wee hours of the morning. That’s what normal friends do, right? BUT if you head to our ShowEmYourDIY: Kitchen Edition you will see her wonderful kitchen remodel where a light facelift made a HUGE difference. This time though she was inspired by our headboard sconce trend post and DIY’ed one herself. It looks awesome!

But she is now stuck with the ever baffling question of “What do I put above my bed??” This is actually a question we get all. the. time. so if you need some examples here and here. But let’s talk about Martha specifically. Here is here bedroom and question:

How wonderful is this?! Now in terms of the art question, one Insider was curious about the depth of the ledge which Martha replied was only one inch…so not an ideal depth for an art ledge. Another reader thought that something like the MQuan beaded wall piece that Em has used in the past would look great (and it for sure could) BUT Martha wants something a little calmer in texture so here is what Julie (and then seconded by Bowser) recommend:

The point Julie made about balancing out the “grid” look of the headboard with a single large scale is a winning match. One reader recommended this awesome print that we love and could be a perfect pick. However, Martha wants something that’s unique to her… so vintage is on her mind. We think that’s a great idea since buying vintage is for most of us, our design love language. I also personally think a large scale horizontal textile (vintage or not) could look awesome and also cozy:)

Next up is a window treatment dissatisfaction…

Buying window treatments can be intimating and when you aren’t in love with what you bought is SUCH a letdown. But despite Emilie feeling blah about her relaxed roman shades, we think that they are totally great. The Insiders had a ton of great ideas. Some of which included trying normal curtains, faux panels, a patterned roman shade, rotating the bed to be in front of the windows, etc. But we think her lackluster feelings are coming from a lack of texture and decor in general. By adding in a furniture set up like the one below (one of my all-time favorite EHD rooms) between the middle and far-right window, Emilie would bring in a ton of visual interest which would take that pressure off of the shades to fill that visual hole.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: eclectic traditional bedroom reveal

Or simply hanging some large framed art pieces or a large wall hanging would also bring in that dimension without the need for more furniture. Lastly, we agree with another Insiders suggestion to try the bench at the foot of the bed

Saving For Your Dream Kitchen? DIY A Mini Version For Your Kids (Imelda’s Here To Show You How)

In an editorial meeting a few weeks ago, Sara asked us if we had seen this play kitchen by Imelda Cervantes. We all quickly grabbed our phones, scrambled to Instagram, and saw what Sara was so excited about…The coolest play kitchen ever. So we reached out and asked if she would walk our readers through the steps and boy did she ever! Now, this isn’t necessarily a DIY for beginners but whether you are a seasoned pro or a newbie you will get A TON of ideas and very helpful tips. Imelda, take it away…

This year I was faced with the reality of having to celebrate Eid, a holiday observed by Muslims following the end of Ramadan, in my home due to COVID-19. My DIY buddy Hana, and I challenged ourselves to create an awesome Eid gift for our loved ones and that’s when I decided to build my kids their own personalized play kitchen. Ever had a dream kitchen design in mind but knew that it was far from reach?! Yup! I know that feeling too well! Inspired by what I envision my real kitchen to be, this play kitchen presents itself with a modern and boho feel!

i mean how cute?!

The first thing I like to do when starting any new project is sketch up a draft. I took my tape measure and held it up against my bedroom wall to get an idea of how tall and wide I wanted this kitchen to be. My initial measurements were 40 inches wide and 42 inches tall, but I made a few adjustments along the way and ended up with 38” tall and 36 ½” inches wide. I decided to sketch my kitchen in 2 pieces, top and bottom. Once I had my measurements and sketch done, I began to make a list of all the supplies that I would need. 

I began by cutting some leftover ¾” birch plywood into 2 pieces. These pieces will serve as the sides of the play kitchen and measured 14” wide by 17” tall. I set the pieces to the side and cut my 2 square balusters to make 4 legs that measured 19 ¼” each. 

I had a team member from Home Depot cut my 4 x 8 ft Sande Plywood in half to make the transportation easier. I then took my circular saw and cut the back of my kitchen. My initial back piece was 40” by 40” but I modified the measurements and changed it to 34” wide and 37 ½” in height. I took my measuring tape and drew 2 outlines that will serve as a guide to cut out 2 sections from kitchen back to attach and connect the sides.

I outlined 2 openings on each side measuring 1 ¼” wide and 17 ¼” tall for where the legs would go. To cut these openings I used my jigsaw and a spare 1” X 3” board to help get a straight cut.

Once these pieces where cut I began working on connecting the legs to the sides of the kitchen. I made a total of 6 pocket holes, 3 on the right and 3 on the left, on the 2 side pieces using my kreg jig and drill. I used my clamps to hold the jig in place while making the holes. 

I then connected the legs and sides using 1 ¼” Kreg pocket hole screws. I left a 2” clearance space on the bottom of the legs because I preferred an open space between the floor and the play kitchen. I then took my ½” sande plywood and cut the bottom piece of the kitchen, 14” in depth and 35” wide. 

Before connecting the pieces, I took a picture and tried to visualize what the kitchen layout will be like. The following step was to connect the sides and bottom to the back. Once again I made pocket holes, this time to the back and the bottom of the kitchen. 

Now that the structure was done, I cut out the face frame using 1” X 3” Primed Pine for the top, where the oven knobs would go, and 1” X 2” for the remainder of the frame. 

I ended up adding two more pieces on the sides of the frame. I made a total of 7 cuts:

(1) 1 X 3 – 23 1/8”

(1) 1 X 2 – 35”

(1) 1 X 2 – 12 1/4”

(1) 1 X 2 – 9 1/2″

(3) 1 X 2 – 13”

Before installing the frame, I built the shelves that will be inserted in the middle of the kitchen. I wanted to add shelves in all 3 sections but only did so for the middle section. I cut my 4 pieces and put them together using my kreg jig and screws. 

I installed the shelves and then worked on the front face trim. I took all my 7 boards and used pocket holes and 1” kreg screws to connect them. I added a few pocket holes to connect the front face trim to the sides of the kitchen.

I attached the face trim with both pocket hole screws and 1” brad nails. I used my 18 gauge nail gun because it makes the nail holes very small and easy to cover. After the face was installed, I painted the back top of the kitchen with primer and white paint using a brush. At this point, I was considering a honeycomb backsplash but ultimately decided to go with shiplap. I am so glad I did! 

While the paint was drying, I cut my primed MDF casing boards. I used a total of 16 pieces for the shiplap style backsplash and they were 17” in length. To install these boards I used my nail gun and 1-inch nails. To space them out I used a pile of 4 business flyers. 

I used my ½” plywood to create a box that would be used as the sink. I put it together using nails and wood glue. I covered my holes and gaps with plastic wood. The sink measured 12” wide, 15 1/2” in-depth, and 6 ½” in height.

I used my router to round up the edges of the sink and then sanded it. I used my bullseye spray primer to prep for painting. Once dried I sanded and applied a second coat of primer. For the paint, I used a basic trim white color to go over it and it only took one coat to cover well. 

I set the sink aside and built my door frames. I used 1 ½’ primed pine and used wood glue and pocket holes to put them together. I made 2 smaller doors that would go under the sink and 1 bigger door that will be used as an oven door. For the oven door, I wanted a clear “glass” look. I decided to use an empty laminated pouch and used thumbtacks to secure it to the back of the door. 

Once built I painted the doors and installed the everbilt hinges. For the door handles, I used 5/8” square dowel. I decided to leave them natural and did not stain them. I used wood glue and 1” nails to add them to the doors and plastic wood to fill in the holes.

For the color, I mixed 2 paints. I used Behr Pinecone Hill and added a bit of white to lighten up the green. I then painted the frame and doors. 

Next, I worked on cutting my countertop. I used ¾” birch plywood and sealed it using Minwax Matte Water-Based Polyurethane. To cover the plywood edges, I used my wood veneer edging. I also added the same edging to the floating shelf that I made and attached with pocket holes. I attached both the counter and sink with my nail gun and wood glue.

Finally, I began working on the small fun details: stove grates, knobs, sink faucet, and floating shelve! I was finally realizing that all the work was worth it! Because seriously guys, this took a lot of patience!! Haha

I used my circular jig and router to cut out my circles for the stove grates and stove knobs. I used 1/2” plywood for both. I painted a simple design to get my look complete. The stove knobs were left natural and both grates and knobs were installed with wood glue and my nail gun. For the faucet, I made a simple design using my square dowel and for the knobs, I used two 1 ¼” Birch Wood Round Cabinet Knobs. I attatched these pieces to a board and then nailed the board to the shiplap.

At last, my play kitchen was done! I have never been more proud of my work and my kids were so excited to play with it. Made with nothing but love, this play kitchen is now a token of joy in my home. 

Credits: Design and Photos by Imelda Cervantes

The post Saving For Your Dream Kitchen? DIY A Mini Version For Your Kids (Imelda’s Here To Show You How) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

A Moody, Movie Themed Office Design On A Tight Timeline

Designing a space for yourself can be challenging in a whole host of ways. Even if you’re an experienced designer (which I am not), when it comes to your own home deciding which direction you want to go in can feel like you’re trying to shove everything that represents you into one house or space. Adding another person and their design aesthetic to that mix can make it feel almost impossible to design a space that you’re both happy in. Trust me, I’ve been trying for the past 4 years, and still haven’t found the best method for designing a space that both Mac and I feel equally represented in.

office version 1.0 – from our old apartment

And so far the designed spaces in our home have definitely leaned more into my own aesthetic (which is a whole other issue of its own). So when it came to designing the office, I really wanted to bring Mac into the design process in a more meaningful way. This is the room that he spends the most time in on a daily basis, so I want it to be a space he really loves and enjoys. A space that feels like him. But Mac isn’t an interior designer, so asking him to design the office of his dreams and letting him have full design-freedom wasn’t going to work either. He’s not an interior designer and doesn’t know where to start – from where to look for pieces, to figuring out how they go together in a space. Mac is actually a designer (he’s an associate art director at Scholar, an animation and advertising studio), so he has a very strong design eye, and a good sense of what he likes and doesn’t like. But translating a pinboard of ideas he likes the “vibe” of to a real room, piece by piece, wasn’t something he knew or even wanted to do.

photo left: unknown | photo center: skylab architecture via flodeau.com | photo right: photo by brian flaherty for dwell.com

After combing through a lot of “interior” inspiration photos, it was clear that the architecture and overall “vibe” of space was what spoke to Mac the most. He might not like a single piece of furniture from the photo, but the giant floor to ceiling windows, an insane custom built-in, or some other awesome architectural element was what he was drawn too. And clearly, we have none of those things on our office, nor the capability to do those things. The office is just a box, with orange peel walls. It does have two big windows though!

my little desk set up in the corner of the office (which is now living in the living room) – pretty window, but standard in most other ways…

But ultimately, it’s about as standard a room as you can get, so we were going to have to try and translate Mac’s inspiration to attainable design elements. So I decided to try and treat Mac like a design client. I asked him to pin a few images that weren’t so much aspirational as they were functional – what were things he’d actually to see in the office? Here’s what he pinned:

photo left: gridfiti.com | photo right: design by louise liljenkrantz, photo by erik lefvander, via d-vsl.com

Desk space – and lots of it. He has two monitors and a laptop open 24/7 on his desk for work, and a needs to be able to spread out. He also wants storage – he hates the idea of having a stuffed attic or garage. If we can’t fit it in the house, why have it? So some sort of shelving where he could display important things he’s collected, but also had closed storage that could house other items (like all his D&D stuff) would be important to incorporate.

photo left: design by goshen-based skiles architect, via athomearkansas.com | photo right: ultralinx

Mac’s taste definitely leans more modern and clean than mine, but he also loves vintage, so he’s not purely about that modern minimalism that’s sharp and desaturated. I think “organized” would be a better way to describe his aesthetic. So desk organization and functionality will be something he would really value in this space. We had chatted about a possible dark accent wall or paint color, and that was something he was open to, since he usually tends to opt for dark tones when given the choice.

photo: room & board

We had also chatted about having the office double as a guest room. So a sleeper sofa would provide both lounging space and functionality. But the office is small, so we were going to be super limited on what would work. All I knew is that it couldn’t be another velvet sofa, for Mac’s sake.

The first thing I had to figure out was a floorplan layout. The room is small and square, and we wanted to fit a lot in there. My new favorite hack? Using the Ikea Planner online software to block out floorplans. I’m not using any Ikea products in the room, just literally using the software to layout the floorplan. I just create my room, and then use “floor obstacles” to see how big all the pieces are, and if they’ll fit. If you look at it in the 3D view it’s just a bunch of boxes, but overhead it’s perfect for getting a good spacial idea. This helped me figure out which pieces I had pinned would work, and which were just gonna be too big.

The next step was putting together design options to have him go through with me. I’d love to say that this was a super easy process of presenting him with two options, having one conversation about which pieces we both liked from each, and settling on a final design plan. It wasn’t. First, I’m not a designer with client experience. Second, he’s not really my client, he’s my partner so there are a lot of emotions involved. And third, we both want to like this space, so it’s not as easy as a designer just trying to please a client. I was, in a way, always a client of the space too. And we both generally have different ideas of what we want our spaces to look like. And me repeating “I just want you to be happy in the space” translated more to “this is your generous crumb of design input, the room where you get to do what you want, so just tell me what you want.”

But, in the simplest terms, I did present two designs to him, we discussed, and we combined elements from both designs to create a final design plan.

DESIGN OPTION #1

For this first design I proposed painting the walls “Goodnight Moon” by Clare, but keeping the ceiling and window trims white to keep it from feeling dark and monochrome (a look we intentionally went with in our TV room). Mac had pinned that sturdy wooden desk from Article a while ago, and we’re planning on reusing the office chair from our previous office. We’re also going to keep the vintage coffee table we used in our previous office, but I wanted to throw in a more colorful vintage rug to bring in some more color to this space (but also something with a flat pile so if Mac’s office chair had to roll over it there wouldn’t be any issues).

That sofa from Blu Dot is actually a sleeper, but not a traditional sleeper. Between Mac’s desk and the sofa we could really only accommodate a sleeper sofa that opened up to 70 inches max. That’s not a lot of room, but this sofa opens up to only be 66″ long. It’s like a hybrid between a futon and a full-size sleeper bed, and will work perfectly for the few nights a year we have guests. Plus, I liked the contrast of the modern sofa design with the vintage rug and coffee table. Same goes for the ceiling light fixture (from Rejuvenation), which I liked that it tied in a brass element to the brass globe lamp from Article, and all the wood in the room, but still felt modern.

Mac has tons of awesome movie and design-related art that he wants to display, so the art is gonna be all him. He has a Pinterest board filled with vintage posters he’s been wanting to get, so we’ll be sourcing a few cool things and getting them framed with Framebridge.

Lastly, that cool wall shelf from Rejuvenation is wall-mounted and so pretty. It provides both display space, but has a section with doors for storing more unsightly items.

DESIGN OPTION #2

In this version, I opted for a paint color I’m obsessed with called “Current Mood”, also from Clare. It’s a bit lighter than Goodnight Moon, but still has that moodier tone I thought Mac would be into. I paired it with a bit more of a subdued vintage rug (I searched through just about every vintage rug Revival Rugs had and there are a lot of good ones), that still has a lot of deep saturated color. And brought in the same Blu Dot sofa, but in a darker option to jump off the walls a bit.

Mac really loves that shelving option from Article – it’s got a cool modular feel, and lots of little areas that feel like display spots. But even more closed storage (this guy has a lot of D&D material, ok?). I paired the shelving with a black and brass standing Article lamp, and a super modern ceiling fixture from Rejuvenation in a color I knew Mac would be into – Black.

I also brought in a leggier desk (from Lulu & Georgia), in a dark color, to try and reduce some of the brown wood in the room.

THE FINAL DESIGN PLAN

After reviewing all the options from the first two designs, we finally pulled together a final design. It took a LOT of conversations, mixing and matching pieces from the two design boards, and just like, only a few frustrated tearful events. All in al, this was one of the smoother design processes.

We’re gonna go with Goodnight Moon on the walls and baseboards, and keep the window trim and ceiling white. We’re using green in a lot of other spaces in the house and felt like we needed to shake it up a bit. Blue isn’t Mac’s favorite color, but this inky navy hit a sweet spot of dark and moody, while not being ultra-saturated.

And even though we’re using a darker color on the walls, we decided to go dark on the sofa as well. We’re really into the fabric, and kind of liked the cohesive dark look that the sofa had against the wall. Plus the rug, with its deep colors, brings a bit of lightness and saturation to the couch area. Mac spent DAYS deliberating on which vintage posters were going to grace the walls of this space, and after agonizing for too many hours, he’s settled on these two vintage Japanese posters in more neutral tones. He’s also got an amazing A24 poster, that’s already framed, that will go on the wall next to his desk.

Mac really wanted to go for something sturdy in the desk department, so we’re going for the warm wood desk, which also is 71″ long so will provide a lot of great desk space for him. And we’re going with his dream shelving to make sure he’s got enough display and storage space. The shelving will come into the window a bit, but functionality is going to win out on this one. We’re also going to add two art ledges above Mac’s desk to bring in more space for smaller art and collectibles. It’ll be one more spot Mac can share a bit more personality in the space.

Lastly, Mac liked the first ceiling light fixture just a touch more, but felt that the brass and wood felt a little too mid-century for him. SO, I popped an all-black version on the board and we both kinda nodded our heads like, “yea, that’ll work.” It was one of our cohesive design decisions, haha.

And that’s where we’re at now. We have some baseboards to finish up, and then it’ll be painting and installing. It’s a super quick project, but one I’m really excited to tackle. Is our couple’s design method seamless? No. And I don’t know if it ever will be. But I definitely don’t want Mac to just throw in the towel and let me have carte blanche because I want this house to feel like both of us. And he doesn’t want to hold up every single design decision by making me feel like he hates all my ideas. But this room did come together a little easier than the last one, so maybe with practice we’ll get there. And then I’ll write a book and become famous and solve this same issue for couples everywhere, and people will ask me to officiate their weddings and name their babies after me. Until then . . .

Opinion time! Who thinks we’re crazy, who’s on board, and who has the secret to cohesive couples designing?

Opening Photo Image: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Sara’s Office Reveal

The post A Moody, Movie Themed Office Design On A Tight Timeline appeared first on Emily Henderson.

“The Kitchen Coronavirus Built”: A Jaw-Dropping, DIY Kitchen That Truly Proves The Sky’s The Limit

Whenever I reach out to a designer for a potential home tour or a new contributor I’ve never met I get a little star-struck. As I am writing the first DM or email, I can feel the adrenaline and slight nausea taking over. It’s completely comical but I mean, who wants to be cool and collected all the time?? I guess not me. Ha! So when I first caught a glimpse of artist, Katie Sarokhanian’s DIY ORC kitchen, I DMed her immediately asking if she would consider letting us show off her insanely brilliant kitchen (y’all just look at that first photo!). And you can bet I was holding my breath as I hit send because this kitchen is what imagination, a love of design, and some real DIY confidence can produce. So basically magic.

Katie will give you the whole story about this kitchen but ultimately what was originally supposed to be a non-DIY kitchen reno, was flipped on its head because the pandemic hit. So instead of letting herself get defeated, she did it on her own at night while her kids were asleep. I only dream of that kind of productivity! Ok, enough from me, here is Katie answering my 100 questions about her totally special kitchen…

Did you have any specific inspirations for these two spaces?

My inspiration comes from my love of the old world European design, like an English countryside manor, but ironically fused with a funky sculpture from the 1980s. A tension lies there, but a happy one for me.  

Are you a “plan everything out before” kind of designer or “play as you go”?

I’m a play as I go designer, and a play as I go person. I’m terrible at making life plans, and, likewise, it feels unnatural to make design plans. For me, creating a room and a home is more like an ebb and flow of “eureka moments” and “let’s-just-try-it-out failures” that organically, eventually, (and perhaps melodramatically), grow into a comprehensive design. 

Did you always plan on a pink and mustard color palette?

Not at all! I had lived with some cabinets and pink lower walls in the kitchen for a few months, and I knew I loved the color in there. So I just continued the pink. The mustard yellow ceiling was a completely last-minute decision (actually it was the last thing I did in the kitchen!), and I decided on yellow after sitting and staring brooding, and thinking that the room needed some pizazz. I used my artist acrylic paints, to mix a yellow that I liked on pieces of paper, and then brought the paper to the store to have color matched. 

Umm GENIUS! And talk about a hot tip.

As an artist is it crucial to have your space be inspiring to you or do you look at it more as an expression of your artistic self?

I think that the answer is both! Though, I am not sure that the decor of my home is completely an expression of myself. At least I hope it’s not! Perhaps as a whole it might tell you a bit about me, but I prefer to include a lot of things in my home that are an expression of another person or of another time. For instance, choosing art by an artist unlike myself, old furniture made in a time I never lived, artifacts of past decades that I only have read about or seen in movies. The culmination of which inspires me; it all together instills a sense of wonder. What was that artist thinking when they painted that? Sculpted that? Designed that? And who bought this antique chest, and what did they put in it? What was the artist thinking when she weaved the colorful story into this antique Persian rug all those years ago? 

More importantly, I want this symphony of human creativity (to make an overly grand description of the decor in my house), to instill a sense of wonder in my children. The house that makes the background of their young lives becomes the fabric of their happy, golden-hued childhood memories. It shapes the way they think, and the way that they view the world, and perhaps shapes what beauty they will pursue in their life. I can still remember what my wallpaper looked like in my childhood bedroom, the furniture, and the sound of the creaks in the floorboard, even after all these years. A home becomes a part of you, no matter what. 

More than anything, I want my children’s home to give them that– to make them wonder about the deeper things of this world, and to marvel at the beautiful things of this world. I firmly believe that interior design is an art, and what could make people wonder about the world more than being surrounded by beautiful art? For instance, consider the tile on the wall of the kitchen, with the different marbles and onyx and the contrasting arch. I want my kids to look at that and to wonder what marble it is, to wonder where it comes from, to ask why it has lines and different colors and striations. I tell them that marble is beautiful because it has suffered. It is beautiful because it endured periods of intense pressure and periods of peace, it was made from ordinary limestone that suffered through intense pressure and fire. I explain how there are small impurities in the calcite of limestone, that, though they are impurities, metamorphose into beautiful colors, but only after undergoing intense pressure while growing under the earth. So, when my children eat breakfast and stare at that marble wall their weird mom made, I want them to remember that there is beauty in suffering, and I want them to remember that their whole lives. So–yes, I firmly hope and believe the design of a home can be inspiring! 

What was the intention behind your wonderful scallop details? Was it to add some extra whimsy, are scallops a motif in your home elsewhere, or do you just like them and wanted to add them into the design?  

I saw a scalloped, metal, vintage range hood in a fabulous designer’s kitchen on Instagram (@astridreifer). I scoured the internet and the flea markets for a long time looking for a similar one to use in my kitchen, but I never found one. So, thus, the scallop trim idea was born. 

I know you are an incredible artist but for the scallop border did you freehand paint them or use a stencil?

First, for one side of the trim, I tried to use a compass, tracing with a pencil then going back with an angled paintbrush, and it worked well! But it was terribly monotonous and boring. So, I free-handed the rest. It turns out I liked the look of it being almost perfect, better than looking perfect. (Or perhaps I’m just making an excuse for my laziness.) 

Were you able to do basically whatever you personally wanted or were there choices that the family chimed in on?

In a moment of creative rage against a kitchen I did not love, I splatter-painted the kitchen floors red about 6 months prior (and when my husband was out of town!). I absolutely loved the red floors. My husband did not. Our compromise was that I got to remodel the kitchen myself if I returned the floors to walnut-stained hardwood. Or, as my husband called it, “normal kitchen floors that normal people have’. 

It looks like you DIYed everything! Is that true or did you hire out for anything?

I hired out the fabrication and installation of the quartz countertops. That was all! The rest was me, after the kids went to bed. (And my husband helped too!) 

I am in total awe.

before and after



What is the story behind your floors? I know that in your dining room you did that awesome splatter paint design. Did the kitchen have that same flooring? What was the replacement process like?

I know I already touched on this, as I explained the marital compromise on the kitchen over the choice of flooring but if I knew how grueling the restoration of the wood floors was going to be, I might not have agreed to do it! I still get horrid flashbacks whenever I hear the sound of a drum sander… The whole process involved scraping the paint, renting a commercial floor sander to finish, and spending way too many hours trying to strip the stubborn bits of paint remaining under the toe kicks. Then staining, and sealing.

So you seemed to have kept all of your original appliances. Did you vinyl wrap all of them?

The fridge is painted (I did that a few years ago using self-etching primer, matte black paint, and a brass towel rack.) On the oven, I used vinyl cling, in matte black, and a brass grab bar.  

How did you install the brass handles to your appliances?

Both times, I just made sure to search for a replacement handle that had the same hole-to-hole measurement as the original appliance handle. For the oven, it was super simple and easy. On the fridge, the bottom freezer handle, although the right hole-to-hole measurement, would keep getting loose because it would be pulled up and out, and the upward motion was not designed for a towel rack. So I just used a bit of epoxy and added two small matching brass screws, and screwed them right into the fridge door. It has been over two years and still solidly attached! 

I read on your blog that you had to replace/add some cabinetry. Was it hard to find the matching cabinet fronts to our original cabinetry so you decided to really make them different with the shapes? Or did you always want to add the shapes to some for the cabinetry?

I took out the upper cabinets over both sinks and removed the soffit that went all the way around the kitchen. The cabinets over the oven I mostly kept, but they needed new doors, and new cabinets to replace the space left when I removed the soffit. I don’t know why I added the shapes, it just seemed a bit boring with the slab doors. I always loved the mid-century brutalist dressers and credenzas, and that’s what I was thinking of when adding the shapes. I tried a lot of different renditions before deciding on the circles and arches. This house was also built in the 1980s, and I wanted to give a nod to that. 

What tool did you use to cut out all of those amazing shapes (on the cabinets and scalloped hood trim?)

The wood cutouts on the cabinet doors I made with a jigsaw, and the scalloped wood trim I bought from a woodworker on Etsy. 

My eyes are so wonderfully overwhelmed with each incredible detail but your marble walls are just, well I don’t have the words to describe my love for them. In terms of the process, how did you go about breaking up the pieces and installing them onto your wall?

I installed the tile as you would normally, with mortar and grout. But I made the tile by breaking square tiles apart with a rubber mallet (several at a time), grinding the sharpest parts with an angle grinder if necessary, and adding them piece by piece. Not at all methodically. It was adding one shape here, then one shape way on the other side, then waiting until the right piece broke in just the right way to fit it where it belonged. It took a long time, and made a big mess, but it was so much fun. It felt a lot more like an art installation than a home improvement DIY. 

What was the grouting process like and what kind of grout did you use?

I used large format tile mapei grout with the pink marble in a sand color, and used white mortar with the other marble (the same that I used to glue the tiles to the wall.) I did that because there were some larger gaps between the tiles that regular grout may have not done well with because the white mortar looks more natural to me than the colorants added to grout, and I because had to sand down the whole wall after installation (because of the irregular shape and thickness of the tiles), then seal it all together afterward so I knew the mortar would be sealed. 

Now I only ask this because I know our readers are going to want to know how do you keep the marble clean, mainly behind the stove. Is it pretty low maintenance? 

I hope so! I jest, but yes, it’s all sealed and easy to wipe down. Someone once sent me a photo from Pompeii, Italy, of a centuries-old room with this kind of marble installation. Needless to say, my backsplash will probably last a good while. I had previously laid marble tile in the same manner on a floor in my bathroom, and it’s very durable and easy to clean, even with my rambunctious children, dog, and cat. 

What made you want to do your natural wood accent nook? 

I’ve always drooled over a deVol kitchen (their New York showroom) that had a shelf and rod set up like this, so I tried to recreate my version of it. My instinct was to paint it all, but I think the natural wood adds a more masculine look in contrast to more feminine-feeling pink and brass. Not to mention it is an incredibly useful set-up for my busy kitchen. 

I’m also pretty obsessed with your plaster pendant and may need to make one of my own. For a medium level DIYer would you say it’s pretty doable? Any tips? 

For sure doable! I had no idea what I was doing and just went with it using the materials I had on hand. Since then, I’ve played with other plaster sculptures, and if I did it again I would use a product called Plaster Cloth, which would be way easier, faster, and less messy. 

Is the awesome swan faucet (?) vintage? It’s SO cool!

No, I bought new! Found on Amazon actually, and it is great quality. It is a normal faucet, and we had to make some changes to make it work for our water filter line, but it was worth it. 

Were there any ideas you had to shift or compromise due to the quarantine?

This was originally going to be a complete gut-job on the kitchen. But since COVID happened, we couldn’t make a remodel happen. So it was either push it back a couple of years or do it myself. It took a bit longer to get building the materials, since I ordered it all online–even the lumber– but a lot of what I used I had on hand or could order delivered. 

What was the biggest challenge/undertaking of the kitchen?

Definitely the wood floors! I would rather spend a year doing nothing but installing marble tile on the floors piece by tiny piece, than sand and restore wood floors again. 

Do you have a favorite part?

The marble is what I’m most proud of, but the shelves and brass kitchen rod wall has been the most life-changing. It organizes everything I need to prep every snack and meal, and looks beautiful too. 

I know you used so much vintage but if possible would you be able to share any of the resources you used. Paint colors, stain color, hardware, lighting, etc? Also the wood shelves and brass hook and rod storage:) 

The wood wall can all be found on my blog post here with linked sources (scroll to the end of the post.) Otherwise…

The Pink paint is Rosewater by Behr 

Pendants are West Elm 

Marble tile is from Floor and Decor 

Sinks are black granite from Amazon

Campaign Hardware is from Home Depot

Is there anything you would want to change down the road?

Eventually, I want to replace the old appliances if they ever break, but until they do I’m satisfied with the way they look. I need to fix some paint and drywall work now that it’s all said and done and I notice the imperfections… but otherwise, it turned out to be my dream kitchen that I never actually dreamed of! 

What would you say the over budget came out to for this?

It’s hard to say, since a lot of the materials I already had (most of the lumber, even about half of the marble tile I had leftover.) 

But with materials I did buy, (stock pantry cabinet box, tile, wood, renting the floor sander, paint and stain and installation materials, lumbar, sinks and new faucets) it cost me about $1800, plus the cost of the countertops and installation, which was $1900. 

Lastly, I am in utter awe that you not only completed this insanely beautiful and creative kitchen while under quarantine in eight weeks but ALSO while needing to be a parent. I live alone and after nearly three years only have half of my apartment done. Any tips?

Oh easy! I just ignored my children for a couple of months. (I’m joking!) 

People ask me all the time, and I honestly don’t know the answer, I just do it! I don’t watch TV hardly ever, and I cut out showering and sleeping, and that helped a lot. But in all seriousness, when life gets more challenging (and it definitely was more challenging once the kids had to be kept home from school and learn online via me and we couldn’t hire childcare, inter alia,) I think it is in those times when creativity is needed the most. Working on the kitchen gave me the much needed creative outlet that allowed me to get through the first couple months of the pandemic– in fact, I don’t think I could have done it all without the kitchen remodel. “The kitchen that Coronavirus built!”, or something like that. 

Jess Again! All I have to say is that obviously Katie is an artistic superhuman. I can’t thank her enough for letting us make everyone’s Monday better by featuring her kitchen. And I don’t know you, but all I can think about is where can I put a marble mosaic in my apartment?? Happy Monday everyone.

Love you, mean it.

Credits: Design by Katie Sarokhanian | Photos by Kelly Christine

The post “The Kitchen Coronavirus Built”: A Jaw-Dropping, DIY Kitchen That Truly Proves The Sky’s The Limit appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Caitlin’s Comfiest Romper, The TV Show BOTH Emily and Brian Like, and The Perfect Lip Stain

It’s Sundaaaaaayyyy! We hope you’re doing something like making chocolate chip pancakes and listening to the classic hit ‘Sunday Morning’ from way back when Maroon 5 was… well, let’s just say that song is from their best album. Anyway, we hope you’re having a great weekend, and let’s get right into this week’s goodies.

UP FIRST, we have an absolutely stunning home tour. And can we talk about the kitchen pendants?? We must have a crush on them because they’re giving me butterflies. Also, make sure you scroll to the last photo because that paint color is absolutely delicious. To quote Arlyn’s new blog (which you should most DEFINITELY check out if you have not already), “I like my rooms like I like my hot dog: with mustard.”

Now on with the show…

From Emily: I just started watching The Great and it may be one of the few shows that Brian and I actually both like equally right now. The writing is insane and the production design sends us to a world far outside our four walls, which I think we all are looking for right now.

From Jess: “Good” scents (I use quotes because that qualifier is subjective) are more than just a way to make your home (or body) smell good. They can be time machines that slam you back into time or feeling that was really special to you. Heck, I still take a quick sniff of my mother’s perfume whenever I feel like I need a hug. It’s been very useful during quarantine. But this past Monday I received my order from Redoux – a bar of soap and a candle. It was my first time ordering from them so I didn’t know what to except (aside from rave reviews) when I opened the box. I put my nose to the candle and was immediately at ease, but not in a “ooo this smells good” kind of way (which it did) but in the “why do I know this smell?” way. Then I looked at the card that accompanied the candled and the scent was described as “The nostalgia of summer in New York.” In an instant I realized that’s what my ease was. A scent of happy memories of warm summer evenings in New York. I almost got misty before I was like, “Jess, it’s a candle. Get ahold of yourself.” Basically I am now a forever customer. Actually I’ve already ordered two more. I’ve truly found my summer candle and cannot recommend it enough. I know this sounds like a totally biased review but with the combo of Bergamot, Geranium, Ginger, and Sandalwood, it’s a no-brainer amazing candle and I hope that it too can remind you of simpler, beautiful summer evenings. (Also the soap smells AMAZING but in a normal, not tear-inducing kind of way:)) 

Also from Jess: I need help! My favorite t-shirt is no longer available and most of the ones I have are not doing great. Apparently wearing them non stop for four months will do that. So I would LOVE some suggestions. Here’s what I want: Flattering for a larger chest, longer than a cap sleeve, doesn’t have a boob pocket (sorry Madewell), lightweight, and is a medium length. Too much?? Fingers crossed it isn’t. I really appreciate any and all recommendation:)

From Caitlin: 4 months ago, back when quarantine was just starting (it feels like YEARS ago), we did a roundup of our favorite comfy clothes for staying inside. Sara recommended this lightweight sleeveless romper and AHH, I have loved it ever since! I’ve literally worn it almost every day this week (the team can attest from our daily Zooms). It’s so flattering for regular life (I ordered an XL because I was worried about it shrinking or being clingy but it does neither of those things! Honestly could have gotten away with a medium or large) but also IT’S A GAME-CHANGER for laundry day. It has such deep pockets — I use one for my detergent pods and one for all my quarters — and it’s breathable enough that I don’t feel like I’m going to pass away as I haul 60 pounds of weighted comforters and towels down the street to my laundromat. Target is just SO GOOD at making rompers that work for straighter body types AND can actually fit boobs and butts. (Remember when all of EHD bought the same one and wore it for Halloween? Remember standing in close proximity with friends?) ANYWAY I have my eye on this short boilersuit next and will probably size up again just to be safe unless anyone has any feedback!

From Mallory: Sara filmed some IG stories for Em’s Instagram a few weeks ago and when she sent them over to me, I responded with ‘your lip color looks so good what is it and where can I buy it?’ She said it’s this sheer lip stain which I then immediately bought because her lips looked THAT GOOD (hope that doesn’t come across weird). It leaves your lips feeling lusciously soft, cool, and velvety. BOY oh BOY, I love wearing this baddie on the daily. Enjoy!

From Julie: In my personal opinion, it’s too hot these days to burn a candle all day while I work. So instead, I just bought this very pretty oil diffuser to keep my office/bedroom/yoga studio from smelling like whatever I had for lunch that day. There are four different scents to choose from and I went with ‘Harmony’ (the world and myself needs a bit more of this right now) which is a blend of amyris – had to do a quick google search for that one, bergamot – like my morning tea, & olibanum oils which gives off a woody, subtly floral and slightly spicy scent. Everyone! My room smells delicious!!!

Also from Mallory: I bought this lantern I found on sale at World Market and it is an AWESOME outdoor addition. I had no idea the power of a supple lantern glow until now…10/10 recommend if you can find it in a store near you!!

From Sara: Since eyeliner is kind of the only makeup I can wear these days that shows up above mask, I’ve been rocking these little brights in emerald, cobalt, and orange.

One more from Caitlin: I just got off the waitlist for Tote, which is an online wishlist that’s currently in beta and Y’ALL I LOVE IT. It’s like a personal gift registry and SO MUCH BETTER than Pinterest for keeping tabs on all the things I’ve found and want to buy! (My Tote is currently just filled with Lex Pott candles and these statues that I keep getting targeted IG ads for but can’t really justify splurging on, and now I can’t wait to send my Tote around at Christmas instead of being like, “uhhh, I don’t need anything???”) ANYWAY highly recommend popping on that waitlist!!!

Effortless Composition (very cute home decor) is having an online sample sale on August 2nd – August 4th! Mark your calendars…it’s gonna be a good one!

Well, that’s all folks. We’ll see you next week! xx

Opening Photo Credits: Design by Sascal Studio | Photo by Angus Williams | via Apartment Therapy

The post The Link Up: Caitlin’s Comfiest Romper, The TV Show BOTH Emily and Brian Like, and The Perfect Lip Stain appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Comfortable Shorts In Our Carts And On Our Bodies Right Now

It is high time we talk about shorts. Summer is regrettably almost over (HOW?) but some of us at EHD realized we were still searching for the perfect pair of shorts and the heat will be here into fall. But not just any pair of shorts. We are searching for cute and comfortable shorts that we can wear while WFH or sipping margaritas in our backyards reminiscing about summers past. These shorts must be multi-functional and possibly double as pajamas. THERE ARE NO RULES ANYMORE. We are living through a pandemic so shorts can be work attire, pajamas, and general loungewear right??

If you are in the market and you’ve been also weirdly specific about the shorts you are looking for as of late, I hope some of these picks can do the job. So without further ado..let’s shop shorts.

photos by veronica crawford | left from: i let my 20-something-year-old staff dress me in 2019 fashion trends | right from: this one pair of shorts worked on all of our bodies

1. Zoya Tie-Belt Shorts | 2. Hemp Summer Shorts | 3. Pull-On Shorts | 4. Linen Pleated Shorts in Gingham Check | 5. Olympian Blue Hifa Shorts | 6. Mid-Rise Tie-Front Utility Shorts | 7. Papaya Short | 8. Culotte Shorts | 9. Linen Pleated Front Shorts | 10. Doro Tie Belt Short | 11. Semira Sky Tie Belt Shorts | 12. The Easy Chino Short | 13. Mia Loose Shorts | 14. Paloma Shorts | 15. Nova Broderie Shorts  | 16. The Brody | 17. Miriam Hemp Wide Leg Spot Print Shorts | 18. Lottie Shorts

When searching for comfortable shorts via the internet I focused on two things: fabric and customer reviews. I’ve found that cotton and linen are the most breathable fabrics and anything with elastic waist is going to be a bit more forgiving. #2 #5 #6 #12 and #17 all have elastic waistbands and are super cute options for a day at home catching up on Outlander (my new favorite hobby). #3 is an EHD all-time favorite after so many of us purchased when Arlyn recommended them last year and #6 has great reviews.

Now let’s move on to denim!

photos by veronica crawford |from: this one pair of shorts worked on all of our bodies

1. Frayed Hem Shorts | 2. 501 Mid Thigh Short  | 3. Indigo Upcycled Denim Shorts | 4. Relaxed Denim Shorts | 5. The Denim Short | 6. High Waist Shorts | 7. Niels Short | 8. Premium Blue Denim Mom Shorts | 9. The Cut Offs | 10. 90s Boyfriend Denim Short | 11. Good Curve Short | 12. Cecilia Classic Short | 13. Vintage 501 Levi Shorts | 14. Cheeky Short | 15. High Rise Distressed Jean Shorts

You might be thinking denim shorts are NOT comfortable but I think of myself as somewhat of a denim connoisseur and I can’t imagine life without a good pair of denim cutoffs. I have gone through many denim shorts in my day and have to actively refrain from buying vintage Levi’s shorts from Etsy, so I’ve found out a thing or two from my years of purchasing these bad boys. First, If you are buying nonstretch denim (a.k.a. 100% cotton) and are used to stretch denim, definitely size up for the best and most comfortable fit. Secondly, you should always always always measure your waist, hips, and thighs and compare to the product measurements. This will ensure the best fit and save you from the awful returns process. That said, stretch denim shorts will always be the most comfortable option. #9 #11 #12 and #15 are all stretch denim and will allow more movement and be more forgiving post a lunch burrito. Something like #2 or #4 would be more rigid (so size up!) but they have a good amount of legroom and have great reviews.

Alright, that’s all the shorts talk I have for you today. You know I am DYING to know if you have any favorite shorts at the moment so please share in the comments. Happy Saturday and happy shopping. xx

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: Turns Out My “Uptown Prairie” Style Is All Over The Internet (And Affordable, Too)

The post The Comfortable Shorts In Our Carts And On Our Bodies Right Now appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Evolution Of An Aesthetic – Design Discontent or Design Enthusiasm? (And Also, Is A Room Ever Truly Done?)

Is a room ever truly done? Is there a point when you place that last piece of art, step back, and think “that’s it, I’m finished” and walk away never to touch it again? Or are rooms ever-evolving, design playgrounds that are meant to be constantly tweaked? More importantly – what do you do with those feelings of design discontent?

Maybe you know what I’m talking about – the experience of walking into a room in your home that is supposed to be “finished” . . . but doesn’t feel finished in your soul. You may look around the room and think “what does it need? Why aren’t you there yet?!” And the majority of the time you spend in that space you’re just trying to figure out what you could do to the room, what you could replace in the room, or what you could bring into the room that would just give your design brain satisfaction at long last – “THIS is the way this room is meant to be.”

looking back at this room now, from our first apartment, all i can think is how EMPTY it looks

And truly, what is the difference between design discontent (where you don’t feel satisfied by the design in a space and possibly frustrated that the room “isn’t there yet”) and design enthusiasm (where a room is never truly finished, because you as a human will never truly finish evolving your design aesthetic)? By the way, these aren’t official scientific terms. These are just the terms I’ve assigned to help myself grapple with my own mental tug-of-war on the topic. 

Personally, it can be hard for me to separate out feelings of design discontent, design enthusiasm, and just design restlessness and impatience because our house isn’t fully renovated yet. So even though we’ve “finished” certain spaces in our house (our living room and dining room & our TV room), they can’t truly be at peace because now we’re renovating our kitchen and office, and suddenly the dining room is just kitchen storage. And the primary bedroom and both bathrooms are still on the list.

do i need a floor to ceiling gallery wall where those two big pieces are? or linen curtains with french ticking over the big dining room window? bigger art over the bar cart? wallpaper on the ceiling???

Let’s dive a little deeper into my own issues, so maybe y’all can play design therapist in the comments and help me sort my life out. When Velinda designed our living room and dining room Mac and I were coming out from under an almost year-long renovation. And before that Mac and I had spent the last year and half living in non-permanent situations, surrounded by unpacked boxes, rolled up rugs, and suitcase closets. I was tired of clutter, mess, and just wanted our home to be clean and fresh. Both she and Mac wanted more colorful and bold art, and I said no. I really pushed the design in a muted and minimal direction – and she delivered! The living room and dining room are bright, open, clean, spaces with a neutral color palette. And I LOVED it.

photography by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara’s living room and dining room reveal

But now I’ve been spending all of my time in these rooms, 24/7 (I’ve been extremely lucky to be able to work from home) and I’m feeling a lack of something. When I walk into these spaces I look around and feel at my core that it’s not done yet. That it needs more . . . something. But what that “something” is, I’m not sure yet. I love all the pieces Velinda picked, and the layout of the rooms she designed works so well. So is it the art I picked? The empty wall space or all white walls? Classic design discontent.

photography by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara’s dark and moody tv room reveal

In contrast, when I walk into our TV room it feels DONE. My heart feels happy in that room. But that doesn’t mean my design eye is at rest. I’ve already come up with two elements I want to add to that space and one element I want to change (keeping these under wraps in case we actually get around to implementing them *wink*). Classic design enthusiasm – there’s no uncertainty or frustration, but there’s still this sense of “but it could get even better.“

I think both of these design afflictions are the results of several key factors:

First, I am naturally a really decisive person. I make quick decisions, and am a big gut instinct, emotional reactionary. But I’m not necessarily a person of great conviction. If you present me with more options or information I’m just as quick to change my mind. In design terms, this means I’m also really quick to pivot directions. I can only imagine it gives Mac design whiplash, because by the time he’s come around to agreeing to my first or second design idea for a space, I’m already working on design idea 33.Second, I’m surrounded by design trends all the time. It’s part of my job. My eyeballs are constantly being pulled in different directions and I’m falling in love with different styles and aesthetics over and over again. Figuring out what is just an infatuation versus what feels true to my identity and will be a long term appreciation can be really difficult. Thirdly, a recent widening of my view of design has me craving design MAXIMALISM. It’s no secret that at the start of June many of design enthusiasts (myself included) were made explicitly aware of how narrow and white our view of design has been. And how much of the design content we consumed via editorial content and social media algorithms just further reinforced that narrow view of design. My feeds were the same versions of minimal, bright, light-colored, neutral design over and over. The issue of racial inequity in the design industry is obviously a much larger and important topic, but needless to say, my feed has drastically changed since June, because the diversity of designers and content creators I follow has begun to drastically change. I’m still seeing those bright, minimal spaces, but I’m also seeing spaces with deep colors, busy patterns, bright tiles, and just so many more design aesthetics.



peek that next door room, my moms true aesthetic

This last point hit an especially personal note for me. I was raised in homes decorated by my mom – a Latina woman from Guatemala, and renovated by my dad – a wonderfully talented self-taught craftsman whose appreciation for historic detail is second to none. So our homes were always filled with a mix of traditional details, and bright textiles and pattern. I loved it. My parents let me paint my walls mint green growing up. But after several years of working in the interior design field, my idea of what was “elegant and elevated” design had been so skewed that I had lost appreciation for my own parent’s design aesthetic. And when I designed their living room, I really pushed the design in a direction that eliminated a lot of the color and vibrancy that reflected them (my mom especially). She had wanted to paint the walls a color, and paint the ceiling blue – I pushed for all white (we compromised by going with white walls and a soft yellow ceiling). She wanted a brightly colored sofa – I pushed for leather. She wanted colored frames for the art with colored mats – I went traditional with wood, black, and white frames. She wanted a rug with lots of yellow and red – I found a white rug that had “pops” of yellow and orange. I told myself I was bringing in enough of her design with textiles and small moments of color.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara gives her momma’s living room a mother’s day refresh

I essentially designed her living room in a way that I felt would make it more acceptable to this narrow view of design I had formed. Unpacking even this one small instance of white-washed design has been difficult. But reflecting on it, along with a recent exposure to more varied design perspectives, feels like it’s cracked me open to appreciating, respecting, and craving more of the design I grew up with. This isn’t to say I’m ready to paint my living room orange (my parent’s family room is a bright orange, with yellow painted woodwork, and cobalt blue trim). I definitely know that my design aesthetic skews more quirky, traditional victorian. But I’m ready for bolder patterns, more deep color, and less minimal neutrals. I want wallpaper, contrasting trim colors, vintage rugs with deep colors, painted walls, and walls more filled with vintage and traditional art.

By the way, my mom has since painted the ceiling of that living room blue

Meet Malcolm! And His Soon To Be “Collected and Classic” Outdoor Deck (Because This Hot Weather Isn’t Going Anywhere)

Hi! I’m Malcolm. I’m a designer by day and an interiors enthusiast pretty much 24/7 (check out my blog!). I live in Arlington, Virginia, where I recently purchased a colonial-style condominium built in the 1940s. I’m in a perpetual process of making it my own, which has involved a lot of intentional design choices meant to maintain the original quality of the home (mixed with tons of elbow grease and many, many, many, gallons of black paint).

After spending a few months focusing on interior choices, I’ve decided to pivot to designing my back deck! We’re all spending …tons… of time at home these days, so I figured that I should create a little outdoor oasis at home while we’re still baking in the heat of the summer. Back when I was looking for a new home, the number one item on my wishlist was an outdoor space. My mom instilled in me an appreciation of flowers and landscaping as a kid (although her green thumb was NOT passed down…more on that later), so I’ve always envisioned having a space to cultivate and curate a little plant collection of my own. Also, I work on so many home projects that require an outdoor space for the sake of my sanity, so honestly, it needed to happen.

When I toured my condo for the first time, I fell in love with the little back deck and shared backyard space. It’s quiet, nicely shaded, cozy, and cute little woodland creatures are THRIVING back there. Honestly. My neighbor’s bird feeder is the place to be. However, I knew pretty immediately that it would require some work to make it work for me. The wood was old and covered in moss. Spiders were running amok (…not the woodland creatures I wanted). Its small size would require some seriously intentional thought and consideration. A challenge! Sold!

Let’s dive into some “before” photos.

I already pressure washed the wood in these pictures, so most of the moss and grime are already gone. Pressure washing—by the way— is now one of my favorite and most satisfying pastimes. 

I’ve deemed the general vibe for my home “collected and classic”, so the design plan for my deck follows suit. I want it to feel lived in, layered, and modern, but also have a sense of individuality so that it doesn’t feel too cold. I mean, nothing is cold in Virginia in July, but you catch my drift. With that in mind, there are a handful of major elements that I’ll be sure to incorporate:

ZONES

My deck is pretty small (roughly 10 feet by 11 feet), but I would still ideally like to create three distinct zones: a lounge area, a grill area, and a gardening area. While planning the layout, I’m putting a lot of consideration into the pieces that I choose. Size, placement, and proximity will be integral to making it not only appropriately styled—but appropriately functional. Here are some layout options that I’ve considered:

I initially wanted a huge, comfy sectional to take up most of the deck. However, after laying it out, I noticed that it wouldn’t leave much space to comfortably move about. It also didn’t leave any room for my little gardening area. I realized that I needed to opt for something a little less obtrusive, which leads us to option number two…

I decided to ditch the sectional and opt for a loveseat, coffee table, and armchair instead. It still wasn’t quite right, though, as the lounging area was still taking up more of the deck than I liked. It was at this point that I truly realized how affecting the small footprint of the deck is, so I had to rethink the general concept of the layout (this is the perk of working through layout options like this—it’ll tell you a lot more than you’d learn otherwise!).

I played around with the idea of a bench as the anchor of the seating area, and everything else fell into place. The shallower depth of the bench allows for adequate flow, and the longer width still provides ample seating opportunities. A small armchair and coffee table round out the seating area, with space remaining for a bar cart (that can double as a gardening center! Huzzah!) We now have three dedicated zones that feel separate, but connected. Synergy.

GREENERY



photo and design by therese knutsen

My backyard space already has a ton of natural appeal. My deck is shaded by a huge tree, the ground cover is nicely grown in, and beautiful hostas are speckled about. As such, I won’t do much landscaping around the deck, but I do want to add some potted plants to add a bit of liveliness. I don’t want the potted plants to feel foreign to the natural environment, so I’ll add them in a way that doesn’t feel too structured. I’m thinking Boston ferns. I’m thinking vibrantly-colored impatiens. I’m thinking a little herb garden. Can you see it? I can see it. Now…I don’t have a great history of keeping plants alive…but it’s a new day! I’m ready to learn! Some foliage will also provide a bit of privacy, which leads me to the next element.

PRIVACY



photo and design by wendy correen

My backyard space is shared with about a dozen other units—aside from my personal deck. While I generally don’t mind that, it would be nice to have just a wee bit of privacy when I have company over. I’m not planning to do any major construction on the deck, but I think that there is a way to use simple trellises or privacy walls to create a little bit of separation from my immediate neighbors. My plan is to incorporate trellises only into the corner of the deck, so that I get some privacy without completely sacrificing the views in the backyard area, like so:

LIGHTING



photo and design by jessica garvin

Is there anything more intimate and cozy than an outdoor space dimly-lit with fairy lights?! I think not. The real challenge here will be determining the best way to hang them with no overhead structure, but I think that the trellises will make it easily doable. There is one existing wall-mounted light fixture on the deck. It doesn’t provide much light, so the additional string lighting will serve both ambiance and function. A recurring theme!

LAYERS

Rugs. Pillows. Textures. I love an outdoor space that feels grounded in comfort for cozy summer and fall nights. As I mentioned previously, the style of my home is “collected and classic”, so intentional layering will be integral to making the deck gel with the rest of the house. With all of these glorious things in mind, I sought to pick out the fun stuff!

1. Lights |2. Pillow | 3. Pillow | 4. Bench | 5. Grey Planter | 6. Table | 7. Armchair | 8. Rug | 9. Bar cart | 10. Grill | 11. Grey Planter | 12. Garden Kit | 13. Black Planter

This is feeling pretty collected and classic to me. It’s. All. Coming. Together.

Comments? Questions? Interested in a little DIY tutorial of the privacy fence? Let me know! I thrive on dialogue. And stay tuned for the reveal in a couple of weeks!

Opening Photo Credit: Design by Megan Gilger via The Fresh Exchange

The post Meet Malcolm! And His Soon To Be “Collected and Classic” Outdoor Deck (Because This Hot Weather Isn’t Going Anywhere) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

3 Simple MUST HAVES For The Ultimate Rooftop Deck (The Sunset Is Calling!)

I’m not sure if we have a mission statement here at EHD, but if we had to make one for right now it would be something like: “we strive to teach others the art of zhuzhing their outdoor space for a pandemic summer.” Outdoor content is useful right now because well, for the obvious reasons and we firmly believe that your patios, yards, and balconies can all be living their fullest life!

So we’ve chatted budget backyards, styled out 3 new outdoor spaces, did a reader-submitted DIY post, talked tiny balconies, and even showed you our own team’s backyard plans. So what’s missing? Come with me, we’re going to the ROOF people!

A lovely reader from in our EHD community (sign up here if you haven’t already) asked this insightful question on our “join the brainstorm” page:

To which I replied something like: NANCY, YES THIS NEEDS TO BE A POST! because I genuinely love to use all caps to show people my excitement and hopefully they feel like I’m not screaming at them. But seriously, townhouses with rooftop decks seem to be popping up all over (I know from experience), so why not talk about the best practices for designing a functional one? Okay so now that you know this incredibly fascinating and detailed backstory on why I’m writing this, let’s get into it. 

A while back my family moved to the most “city-esque” area of suburbia (what a contradiction) and set up home in a tall and skinny urban townhouse that’s lacking any sort of “yard” type thing that would come with any traditional suburban home. There are, however, 3 nontraditional outdoor spaces: a small front porch, a little side balcony, and a BOMB rooftop deck that spans the entire length of the house. So NATURALLY, the outdoor deck is where we’re focusing our time and energy, because that’s our backyard replacement.

So we’ve been working on getting this rooftop deck together for about a year, and we’ve officially landed at a place where it’s VERY functional. Now please don’t yell at me because it’s not perfectly styled & photoshoot ready. I know we could add some more fun pillows, throws, plants and maybe do a cute wood DIY wall instead of all the stucco, but this is real life and #organic:

So today I’m not teaching you how to style out the perfect rooftop, but I am teaching you how to BUILD IT FROM SCRATCH to make it FUNCTIONAL so you and your (virtual) guests can use it every day.

STEP ONE: Decide what function the space should serve, then build the layout

This can be the hardest part because much like a lot of backyards and outdoor spaces, there’s a big square and endless possibilities. Think about what function you want this space to serve. Do you want it to be an entertaining space? Think about adding lots of comfy seating and maybe a bar. Do you want it to be a space for you to read and relax? Create room for a hammock or hanging chair. Think about what function will best serve you, then create zones for each area you want, this will break up your square and make it feel more intimate and inviting. Here’s the layout we decided to go with for our roof:

So for our space, we knew we wanted a lounge, bar area, and an outdoor dining area (bbq area would be a plus). For the sake of time and the fact that our dining area is a complete dump right now, we’re going to focus on the lounge/bar side of our rooftop since it’s closer to being done (dining table zone on the other side is for another day, sorry!)

STEP TWO: Add a “floor” and a “ceiling”

So you’ve created your zones. Again, that could be a hammock and dining area, a bar and firepit lounge, an outdoor movie zone with a bbq/outdoor kitchen. You have the layout idea that works best for you and your needs, so now make it feel like a room. The EASIEST way to do this is to focus on the foundation. What’s below you and what’s above you? Most rooftops (like ours) have this nasty stucco floor and walls or other alternatives that aren’t so “design-oriented” because, well, they’re roofs for christ’s sake and they’re just trying to keep the rain out of your house. So this is where you come in. From budget-friendly to not so much budget-friendly: add a rug, paint the floor, add astroturf (real grass is ideal if you can figure out a way to do it), add a wood deck or tile across (like Em did on her patio). This gives your space some instant style and will make everyone feel more comfortable up there. Here are some roof flooring ideas:

image source | image source | image source

And if you want to get real fun and crazy…

image source

See what I mean?? It’s hard to ooh and aah at a design that’s filled with gross flooring. It’s truly an essential.

Next, think about what’s above you. There’s no ceiling on a rooftop, so what can you put up there that makes the space feel cozy and intimate?? Some good “ceiling” options would be: string lights (very budget-friendly), an umbrella (also budget-friendly) or a pergola (not usually that budget-friendly but looks nice). Creating the ceiling is a good time to think about when you’ll be using the space most, which leads me perfectly into my next step:

STEP THREE: Add heat or shade (or both)



via mr. kate

Are you going to be using this space mostly in the day, night, or split evenly?? Weather on rooftops is way more extreme than in any backyard because you’re up HIGH and you’re that much closer to anything coming down from the sky. We use our roof mostly at night for a pre or post-dinner hang, so we focused on making it warm when it gets cold and windy. So we invested in a firepit and two standing heaters that provide the MAXIMUM amount of warmth we need for any rooftop gathering. If you’re using your roof more for day time activities, I highly recommend getting an umbrella or a pergola if you have the budget for one. This will give you the most shade (and you’ll most likely need a lot of shade). Just make sure you seriously secure these either by getting a strong base or using hooks secure them into the roof’s structure to make sure they don’t go anywhere when it gets windy.

via domino | via domino



BONUS STEP: ADD A CONVERSATION PIECE

We had a huge debate over what a conversation piece actually is on our insider community and in our EHD zoom meetings because I was utterly confused. I asked everyone: what the heck is a conversation piece? Is it just something weird and unexpected? Or is it just something that people comment on when they show up to your house? Does it have to be an oversized thing? I’m still confused about the real definition, but for this post, I’ve landed on “something that makes your space unique & adds interest” and a second definition is “one of the first things people comment on when they walk into a room”

So I guess it’s those two things..but now how do you find those things??? Finding a conversation piece for any room can be a real challenge, and now you have to find one that can work outside which is way harder (weather is a real thing to think about). You really do have to think OUTSIDE THE BOX (no pun intended but yes it was bc outdoor content). Can you guess what Emily’s conversation piece is on her patio?

 

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily’s patio reveal

If you guessed the giant bird, I believe you’re right.

So when it came to getting a conversation piece for our roof, unfortunately, I couldn’t find any giant birds at the flea market and besides, the wind would probably blow it off the side anyway (wouldn’t THAT be a sight to see). So instead we invented our own luck and had this sign created for the space. If you didn’t look at my name in the byline and laugh already, you can laugh now: my last name is Wackerman. So obviously, we had to lean in when my boyfriend came up with the idea to hang a sign that said “Wack Shack.” It was too good to not immediately contact an Etsy seller and see what the deal was for getting a sign. And thus, our conversation piece was born:

I’m not kidding when I say this cheesy but VERY fun sign made our rooftop go from drab to fab. I know there’s still a ways to go with this roof but boy when we threw this sign up there, it CHANGED THE GAME. It’s such a statement piece and every time someone comes up here, they have to say something about it. So heck yes that meets our conversation piece definition! Wow I’ve always wanted one of those and it feels good.

So there you have it! The 3 (with an optional 4) main things you need to build a functional rooftop. The design we’ve created thus far was fairly budget-friendly (especially compared to any tiling or pergola construction options). So if you want a budget-friendly method of getting the lounge of your dreams without ANY renovation, feel free to follow the steps we did

Rules For Picking An End Table + 3 Fool-Proof Styling Formulas (+ A Billion Options…JK It’s Only 90)

HI PALS. Let’s start this one off with a trivia fact (you know, in the event that trivia is ever a thing again, but I digress) — you know when you see or hear something for the first time and then you notice it everywhere? That’s called the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, aka the frequency illusion. (I’ll hold for a second while you break out your pens and pencils.)

My frequency illusion kicked in recently when I was looking for styling inspiration for some new end tables. I was feeling overwhelmed with making my tables work in my space — my lamps felt way too big and tall, the surfaces felt crowed with ephemera, and I was just NOT feeling it — so I decided to peek through our archives to see how the actual pros on our team do it. AND Y’ALL, THERE’S A FORMULA. AND IT’S SO EASY. AND I LOVE MY TABLES NOW.

But WAIT! Before I get to the details, let’s just go over some classic living room rules on how to pick a side table that works best in your space:

Size: There aren’t a ton of rules on height — if you can, try to keep the top of your table roughly in line with the arm of your sofa or chair, give or take a few inches — but you definitely DON’T want your end table to be too deep. Make sure the depth of your table isn’t bigger than the depth of the sofa or chair it’s next to! Materials: If you have a wood coffee table, consider bringing in a cement or metal end table. Mix things up to give your room a little bit of texture! Visual Weight: If you’ve got a chunky sofa, bring in a piece with legs. If you’re trying to balance some open accent chairs, go for a drum table to ground the space. Family Ties: Jess once said that you want your living room pieces to be “cousins, not siblings,” and BOY. THAT’S TRUE. Try and keep a common thread — whether that’s color palette, the era they’re from, or a structural detail — so you’re space will have that “who, me? I just naturally have great taste” vibe.

OKAY. Now that you know which end table will work in your design, let’s talk about how to make it look REALLY NICE, okay?

Hot Tip

Keep about 2-3 inches between your seat and your end table. You want to be able to set that glass, book, or whatever else you are holding down with ease.

For Small Tables: Book + Nature + Floor Lamp



left: photo by tessa neustadt, from: the design milk family room reveal | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: how target’s fall threshold collection nails the “updated classic” trend

FOLKS. IT’S THE FLOOR LAMP. The floor lamp is the thing that makes tiny side tables work. Open any design magazine for the next week and let that frequency illusion sink in. Every. single. tiny. table. will look like this: a book, a plant (or flowers, or incense, or anything natural) and a floor lamp…and it looks GREAT every time. It’s such a common mistake to try and over-style end tables, but y’all, take a deep breath and clear some stuff off.

And let’s also take a second to look at what makes each of these rooms above work: both leggy tables are balancing out a chunkier, grounded sofa. The round table on the left speaks to the hits of black in the room, the light wood coffee table (the full reveal here is so good), and it echoes the geometric shape of the pillows. On the right, we’re seeing a traditional silhouette that reflects the black metal base of the coffee table.

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | left from: jess’ long awaited (small space) living room reveal, right from: sara’s living room & dining room reveal

You didn’t think I was gonna let you get to the next styling formula without looking at some EHD projects, did you? I’M A HYPE MAN, BABY. Jess’ malachite end table is the perfect example of playing with scale: it’s a little lower than what we normally see, but it’s balanced by the height of the floor lamp. Similarly, Sara’s drum table is a small grounding force for her lighter-weight chairs in this open concept space. And minimalists can rejoice: look at that styling! So simple, so easy.

PS. If you’ve been similarly awakened and now you’re like, “holy crap, I just need to clear off some space and grab a floor lamp to make my space work,” Julie rounded up 39 of our favorites. (You know what else you’ll see in that post? End tables styled with books, one natural element, and a lamp nearby.)

For Larger Tables: Book + Nature + Framed Art + Table Lamp



photo by zeke ruelas | left from: silver lake hills living room reveal, right from: ginny’s living room reveal

“But Caitlin, I’m smart and bought an end table with enough space for a lamp!” GIRL, I have styling tips for you, too! Kicking it off with a big one: if you’re doing a lamp with a lot of visual weight, like the two above, pop that puppy next to your sofa and style towards the outside of your end table.

When you have such a tall piece, levels are the name of the game. On the left, we have a tall lamp, a mid-sized piece of the art and piece of nature, and a low stack of books. But on the right, with a narrower table, Ginny was able to fake the illusion of additional levels by grounding her art and nature with a bold printed book. In any case, WOW, I have been way over-styling my tables!!!

left: photo by bethany nauert, from: fdr chic – a dude’s mix of antique, mid-century and bohemian style | right: tessa neustadt, photo by from: a modern makeover with method

DIFFERENT RULE: you know how I just told you to put your lamp next to the sofa? NOT SO FAST. If you’re rocking something with a super thin base, the opposite applies. Why? IT JUST LOOKS BETTER. Again: it’s the frequency illusion. I could not find a single photo of lighter-weight lamp that wasn’t on the outer edge of the end table. THESE ARE THE SECRETS FROM A STYLIST THAT THEY’VE BEEN HIDING FROM US.

But again, y’all get it: less is more. Break out a book. Break out some flowers. Bring in a framed piece of art, if you have one (and if not, just bring in extra height with a few more books). That’s all you need! Step away from the HomeGoods — you do not need more knickknacks to fill up your space! (Someone please print this out and show it to me when I’m standing in line at HomeGoods.)

For Doubles: Fake a Coffee Table



photo by tessa neustadt | from: a living room refresh with the citizenry

MY FAVORITE USE. End tables are often a little more affordable than their full-sized coffee table cousins, so grab two (or three, if your space is enormous) and let them live in front of your sofa. Added bonus: if you want to shake things up a bit, you can repurpose these lil cuties as nightstands (or, you know, as actual side tables), which make them a more budget-friendly choice for those of us who are frequently shaking things up at home.

I could probably write a novel on coffee table styling, but a picture’s worth a thousand words…so here’s a 30-second step-by-step video that Emily made on how to decorate your coffee table, which is probably the educational equivalent of about a billion of my blog posts.

ANYWAY. Now that we’ve gone over how to pick an accent table and how to style it, let’s dive into some EHD-approved picks! (PS. Thanks to my whole team for helping me assemble these graphics and links. Sometimes I go a little overboard with the pinning — there are just so many good tables, guys!!! — and I need help assembling everything. That said, I looked literally everywhere on the internet and these are the cutest ones for every style at every price point!)

Kicking it off with our tiered options, for those who need (or want) a little storage space:

1. Bar Cart | 2. Rattan 2-Tier Tray Table |3. Ferdinand Round Wood Accent Table |4. Smoked Glass End Table | 5. Cyrus Side Table | 6. Peggy End Table | 7. Hillside Side Table |8. Terrace Pill Side Table | 9. Costa Mesa Rattan Wrapped Table |10. Sayer End Table | 11. Profile Side Table | 12. Haverhill Round Wood End Table | 13. Cane Nightstand | 14. Glasgow Metal End Table |15. Mid-Century Art Display Side Table |16. Porto Round Wood Accent Table |17. Eclipse Side Table | 18. Wyatt Nightstand |19. Terrace Side Table | 20. Geo-Marquetry Side Table | 21. Tanner Round End Table

I own #14 and have used it both as an end table and a nightstand — it’s the perfect price and size. (Also, how cute is number #1? Talk about double duty!) I also love how Em styled #19 in this classic weekend makeover.

1. Ceramic Drum Side Table | 2. Chandler Stool | 3. Pyronia Rattan Cage Accent Table |4. Braeswood Wicker Side Table | 5. Scalloped Ceramic Side Table | 6. Profile Ceramic End Table | 7. Bruciata Blackened Wood Side Table | 8. Fiberglass Terrazzo Side Table | 9. Stassi Side Table |10. Hourglass Concrete Accent Table | 11. Fluted Side Table | 12. Ivan Round End Table

How handy are the storage capabilities on #4? And as a postmodern lover, I’m such a fan of the shape of #9 and the fluting on #11.

1. Mayfair Side Table | 2. Happy Natural Bunching Table | 3. Vintage Rope Side Table |4. Taylor Bone Inlay Side Table | 5. Cyrus Side Table | 6. Building Table (High) | 7. By Your Side Table | 8. Maggi Side Table | 9. Horseshoe Ivory Lacquered Linen Side Table | 10. Side Piece in Neon Orange |11. Charee Mirrored Cube Table | 12. Ghita Glass Top End Table | 13. Slit Table Oblong |14. Glasgow Metal End Table | 15. Oxford Black Marble Side Table

SURPRISE, I LOVE A WATERFALL TABLE. #2, #9, and #10 are speaking my language! (Also, is orange having a moment? I feel like I love it all of a sudden.) I also know that Em had her eye on #4 back around Memorial Day…did she grab it? Stay tuned for an upcoming living room reveal and find out