Emily Henderson's Blog, page 231

From 2010 – 2020: Styling The Same 10 Year Old Pieces For A New Decade

New Year, Old Me. This is the theme of 2020, now that we are 10 years into me putting myself out there and celebrating the blog’s 10 year anniversary. In conjunction two things are happening right now – I’m purging my closet and yet at the same time hoping to shift back into a wardrobe that is more colorful and fun, and random and weird. After years of chambray (due to having too many kids and not enough time), I’m ready to try harder with my wardrobe, take a few more risks and have more fun with color and pattern (while not necessarily purchasing anything). AREN’T MID-LIFE CRISIS’ FUN TO WATCH???

A good friend of mine, Jen Gotch, definitely uses her wardrobe as an expression of her creativity and every time we hang out I get inspired. It says something about her and if I didn’t know her already I’d want to get to know her. I miss wearing vintage and color, even if I do look less sophisticated and even a bit nutty.

So, I dug deep into my closet and found some old pieces, pieces from over 10 years and two of them are vintage so they are like 30 years old. I thought I was over them but kept them for nostalgia purposes because I wore them on DesignStar or Secrets From a Stylist. So the question became – do I even like these anymore? Are they dated or just ‘too young’? And if I do still like them (I do) how would I style them differently in 2020?

Let’s start with a Secrets From A Stylist staple…

I remember vividly buying this dress. I was 29 and I bought it at American Rag for my birthday. It was $200, which was 4 times the cost of my wedding dress so it felt like such a splurge. But then I was like ‘wait, my wedding dress was only $60 so maybe I deserve to splurge a little on this’. I’ve joked before that if this career ever dries up I could have a ‘justification and rationalization hotline’ where you call and ask me how to justify a purchase. I wore it on DesignStar too and even through Elliot’s birth (it was a strangely good maternity dress).

I didn’t know if it was dated – but then I thought why? I still love blue – and this bright blue is making a comeback. I still love ruffles and this silhouette is one that I’m still very comfortable wearing (I love a deep V, large shoulders and more fitted on the bottom).

So I paired it with my statement knee-high snakeskins and all of a sudden it did feel 2020. I’m shocked it’s still in such good shape and can see myself wearing it all the time like I used to.

Onto another Emily Henderson classic. It’s another blue dress. Shocking I know…

I’ve had this dress for almost 20 years. It’s from the ’80s and when I bought it at a thrift store I shortened it to make it more fun and youthful. I wore it on DesignStar (the first and the last episode- see below) and the photo above was my headshot on the blog (back when it was THE BRASS PETAL) for a while.

When I threw on that dress a few weeks ago I was like ‘yes, I love this cheap bright blue, 100% polyester dress and always will’. I paired it with my western boots, shoved up the sleeves and I felt good and happy.

The princess sleeves, color and ’80s vintage secretary vibe is indeed still me (I think).

Lastly, this ’80s red victorian number that I had so many headshots in:

My hair is blonder, I have more brows (thanks to your help) and I’ve perfected the spray tan but I think my love of red, puff sleeves blouses is the exact same.

This time I styled it with high waisted, straight cut light blue jeans (way better than the dark jeans) which dressed it down and modernized it a bit. It’s such a fancy costume-y shirt, so it needed something to make it less serious. Again I paired it with the pony western boots to take it into another direction (uptown prairie) and then matched my fanny pack for a cute, color-block moment.

I am trying to be more conscious of what I buy new in 2020 (and maybe you are too?). But we did want to give some similar shopping picks in case any of these pieces caught your eye, and you want something fun to buy now, so in ten years you can nostalgically pull them out of your closet and realize you still love them:

1. Draper Ruffled Dress | 2. Balloon Sleeve Jacquard Skater Dress | 3. Ruffled Jacquard Midi Wrap Dress | 4. Moliere Tiered Tunic | 5. Bianca Dress | 6. Maternity Ruffle-Trim Wrap-Front Tiered Midi Dress | 7. Luna Corded Puff Sleeve Dress | 8. Wrap Dress 9. Rhiannon Dress

1. Stella Shirtdress | 2. Kingsley Floral Snap-Front Shirtdress | 3. Cotton Shirt Dress | 4. Rochelle Shirtdress | 5. Long-Sleeve Striped Cotton Shirt Dress | 6. Floral Print Long Sleeve High-Neck Smocked Dress | 7. Petite Alex Spectator-Stripe Button-Front Long-Sleeve Shirtdress | 8. Tall Cotton Mini Shirt Dress | 9. The Cotton Shirtdress

1. Sheer Ruflle-Trim Shirt | 2. Twyla Top | 3. Long Sleeve Satin Shirt | 4. Bow Polka-Dot Blouse | 5. Carma Silk Ruffle Blouse | 6. Double Ruffle Long Sleeve Deep V-Neck Top | 7. Chiffon Ruffled Flounce Shirt | 8. Eva Blouse | 9. Bow Satin Blouse | 10. Leopard Jacquard Pussy Bow Blouse | 11. Petite Mock Neck Bow Blouse | 12. Long Sleeve Collared Drapey Tie Neck Blouse 

Now, please comment below what pieces in your closet you’ve loved forever and cannot get rid of- and if you are still wearing them. I’d love to hear your stories xx

The post From 2010 – 2020: Styling The Same 10 Year Old Pieces For A New Decade appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Mountain House Kitchen Organization One Year Later – How Well Have I Kept It Up?

My annual flare-up of ‘clutter body’ has sent me into a nighttime and weekend frenzy to organize EVERY SINGLE cabinet in . There are sharpies in the vitamin drawer, extension cords next to the saran wrap (not that I have saran wrap, of course, I don’t), I saw a rogue pacifier (??) in the entry drawer and don’t even mention ‘Tupperware’ – nary a matching lid to be found.

So, I’m needing some org porn, some inspiration. I’m revisiting how we fully organized the mountain kitchen (with the expert help of NEAT Method) and assessing what really worked, and what was harder to keep up (along with some hacks and product recommendations along the way).

The Pull Out Trash Bin

I’ve never started a blog post with a shot of trash, but today is the day. It’s because that pull out trash/recycling is having its birthday and needs to be celebrated for how much it has helped our life.

It’s not that the trash/recycling cans were so genius, it’s that right next to it we have room for MORE backup trash bags (different types, even) and even better – shopping bags. This is a luxury of a big kitchen that we don’t have in LA as that kitchen is super small, but knowing where your shopping bags are before you run out of the house is an absolute joy.

A year later we don’t have it as organized, but it still functions GREAT. We use one of our shopping bags to hold the rest (we have so many) and then the white garbage and black garbage still fit snuggly.

The Fully Visible Pantry

Now onto one of my favorite parts, the pantry. It’s just so beautiful. We made it so you could see food instead of packaging which helps to really know what you have. Everything was labeled, and “like things” were put together.

The stackable, clear containers with lids make life easier, and the baskets are definitely used, jam-packed (and easy to clean). Here she is now:

Not bad, guys. I’d say it’s still about 60% organized. Once you invest the time and money setting up your system, it’s not that hard to maintain even for people as messy as we are.

Where we succeeded: I still love to decant snacks and cereal into the clear containers (when I remember). We definitely use the baskets and love those pull out drawers with the dividers, although now they have mostly broth and canned goods (those beautiful bags of green peas somehow never made it in our stomachs). But cheers to clear plastic stackable containers and see-through baskets. (We had excess beers leftover from new years so we shoved them back there, they don’t normally live there).

Where we failed: I’m not good about keeping up with the snacks in the spinny round things (that’s mostly because it’s hard to keep up with the snacks, period).

I’m honestly now more motivated to keep it up, being reminded by the photos of its beauty. Maybe I should tape a photo of it to the inside of the cabinet. That would likely help– kinda how people used to tape photos of themselves skinnier on their mirrors to “motivate” themselves? (don’t do that).

The pride I felt when people opened up the pantry the first few weeks to innocently get their kids a snack was embarrassingly high. I instantly told everyone how professional organizational experts did it for a shoot because NO mom wants to see another pantry look like that effortlessly. I would have lost friends.

The Junk Drawer

Now here is a staple in any kitchen and what was once my favorite feature (and still kinda is, just messier). The command strips are no longer stacked neatly and there are very few cords housed in a ‘ leather cord taco‘.

Now it is more a place for truly everyday things – chapsticks, keys, sunglasses, Brian’s antacid/Pepto Bismol, super glue, tape, 5 pairs of scissors (??), hair ties, 4 flashlights for night hikes, a rogue walkie talkie and most importantly non-decanted batteries. I’ve relegated most tools to a toolbox and office supplies to the office (when do you really need a stapler on vacation?).

But as I said, we still LOVE THIS DRAWER and the lucite dividers do indeed help. We charge our devices in here all the time and I love that I can just shove my phone in a drawer and say goodbye to technology while it charges.

The Utensil and Baking Drawers

I cook SO MUCH up at the mountain house it’s actually odd. I know where EVERY single thing in this kitchen is and everyone who cooks up here says it’s very intuitive (thank god because it took forever to design and we labored over the function of it so much). Having a ‘baking’ drawer seemed weird to me, but knowing that all these things (including my apron) belong here makes cooking so simple.

This particular drawer is great. So pretty. So lined up. The in-drawer knife holder is awesome and the clear boxes truly do keep things more organized. I have no idea why we have paper bags – (oh wait, of course I do – they make pretty, simple and ‘earthy’ props to contrast the ziplock bags).

How’s she looking now?

Again, not bad!!! Everything is still there, just jumbled a bit and that’s ok. The useless brown paper bags are still holding court but I’m proud to say that that knife holder is GREAT, all the Made By Design cooking supplies are simple and easy (although we got a new garlic press) and apparently, we absolutely need 2 potato mashers?

The Tupperware Drawer

There should be a special swear word for the Tupperware drawer. I need to go through and clean it out and reorganize. It’s not that it’s not working, it’s just a ‘hard-working’ drawer that gets tired and gives up.

The Under-Sink

I’ve never had someone take care of me so much as Krisztina Galambos (from NEAT Method Los Angeles) and Nicole Loiterstein (from NEAT Method St. Louis) when they organized the area under my sink. That is something that I am going to do this weekend but typically wouldn’t think of doing. It’s honestly been SO easy to keep at least somewhat organized because of the shelf, tray, the sponge/brush shelf and the towel holder.

I’d give us a success rate of 7/10. Everything still has its place and we put things back where they should be, just not very neatly. No rags are ‘folded” (who do you think we are?) but we KNOW where they are.

Lastly, I have no ‘now’ shot for this but I wanted to give proper homage to….

The Dedicated “Kids” Drawer

Every mom probably knew this before I did, but if you can put all the kid’s stuff where they can access it then there is no reason for them not to help set the table or get themselves a glass of water when they are old enough (ours are – THANK THE ACTUAL UNIVERSE). Top drawer houses flatware, then our plates/bowls/cups live on the bottom two for ‘all things kids’.

By the way, our favorite kids’ cups and plates are these from Re-play.

The plates have the right height of rim and the glasses are short and heavy and easy to grip (and thus don’t topple over easily). The bowls match, everything stacks, and they clean really well, even when covered in marinara (and are BPA free, too). Anyway, it’s messier now (I forgot to take a photo of that drawer), but we’ve kept that drawer up pretty well.

Lastly, I forgot to take a photo of the spice drawer because we aren’t very good at decanting our spices, but it’s fine because maybe I’m not the ‘spice decanting type’.

So that’s where we are, a year later. The top products that we love and highly recommend are these:

1. Plastic Storage Containers | 2. Plastic Tray Organizers | 3. White Storage Baskets (similar)

… and head here to the original post, for all our pots, pans, flatware and utensils.

If you guys have ANY other questions, tips or products please leave them in the comments. xx

**photography by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

The post The Mountain House Kitchen Organization One Year Later – How Well Have I Kept It Up? appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Makeover Takeover: Julie’s HUGE (and DIY packed) Bedroom Upgrade

Welcome back to my ‘old man library’ bedroom with a modern twist and to the first reveal of the year 2020! This tiny, cozy room has been about a year in the making while working on many other EHD projects (, Velux, Invitation Homes, etc). I’ve been slowly designing a space of my own on my off hours, which now finally feels like home. For any of you that might’ve missed yesterday’s post check it out here, where you can see what inspired the space and how I’ve come to terms with the fact that I don’t have a ‘signature style’. The main takeaways I learned from designing my own room are: 1. Color is wonderful and oh, how we’ve missed you. 2. I’d rather be surrounded by objects that have a story than just from a store. 3. Take a ‘big risk’ in a small space, see risk below…

Window Treatments | Chair (vintage) | Side Table | Green Paint

Say hello to my purely decorative green door. Sometimes you just have to go for it especially when it’s just paint and this door was my moment. As you saw yesterday, I loved how Helen Cathcart painted her window trim in a bright and happy green. I decided to take it up a notch by using Farrow & Ball’s Breakfast Room Green not only on the baseboards and decorative door but also the headboard wall (more on that in a minute). Remember my room is only a little over 100 sq ft so this felt like the perfect balance of adding color into the space without it being overwhelming.

  Green Paint | Window Treatments | Chair (vintage) | Side Table | Coffee Mug | Small Plate

This is one of those ‘a little bit of everything shots’ that really shows off the mix of the old and the new elements that I’ve been collecting over the past couple of years. And for those of you who saw the sneak peek shot in yesterday’s post, I finally got the chair of my dreams. I’ve been eyeing that Siesta chair for over five years and have come across a fair few that were way out of my budget. Then a couple of months back Caitlin (our vintage deal-finding queen) slid into my DMs with the perfect match. If any of you are local to LA then I urge you to go check out Saasaan. He’s been traveling to Europe and shipping back some amazing pieces (and is even sourcing locally now). I can also vouch for the comfy factor, even tested it out for you all by reading the first two Harry Potter books in it over the holidays. You’re welcome

Introducing…Julie’s Bedroom Makeover Takeover

image sources: top left | middle top | top left | bottom right | bottom middle | bottom right

Hey all, Julie here to start off the new year with everyone’s favorite series…Makeover Takeover! In case you are new around here and don’t know what that means, it’s when someone on the team gets to show you their personal style and reveal a space in their home to Emily’s loyal readers (YOU)…no pressure. There is definitely no added pressure when you are Emily’s lead designer on the team and haven’t truly decorated your own space since the time you were going through a huge purple phase at the age of sixteen. To be honest I am still a fan of the right shade of purple and think that it is finally having its moment. Let’s just say that there might be a very fun custom purple velvet bed for this project we intro’d awhile back coming soon, but more on that another time!

About six months into working at EHD the topic of personal style came up during a brainstorm. I remember Emily directly asking me what mine was and I honestly couldn’t tell her. To be 100% transparent, I still can’t really tell you. I think this partly has to do with the fact that I am a Libra which makes it difficult for me to make any decision for myself and the other part is because I went to school for Interior Architecture, so I fell in love with all of the styles. I wish there was a “select all” option because I truly love them all, even the crazy ones. Yes, I am looking at you postmodernism.

But, I didn’t want the fact that I hadn’t honed in on my personal style yet to keep me from starting my own space because design paralysis is real you guys, especially when it will eventually be shared with an audience as big as Emily’s. Again, no pressure.

So, when I finally started to work on my MOTO almost a year ago I decided to treat myself as the client. I created a pinboard and added anything to it that caught my eye (rooms, art, furniture, etc). I made a list of the items I already had and decided what to keep, what to donate based on how I wanted the space to feel. The design came quickly and that was great until I found out that one of my roommates would be moving out in a couple of months and I could take over her room which had its own bathroom, aaaaaahhhhhhh! Being 30, living with roommates AND sharing a bath…ya, I did not mind starting the design process over if it meant I could also pretend that I was living on my own (for the same rent). My old room also had shoji sliding doors that directly faced the dining/kitchen area so I was ready to say goodbye old room and HELLO privacy.

Let me show you the new space I am referring too…

She isn’t much to look at coming in at 116 sq. ft. but the trim is cute and the windows weren’t slatted glass like the other room. I was very happy about that since that meant I could get a window AC unit for the hot LA summers. There is also a little hallway that has a cute cupboard moment with shelves below for some storage and cute decor. Then on the opposite wall, I knew I wanted to come up with something creative & low cost (cause I’m frugal) for that coveted doorway shot. Oh, do you see that other door? The one by the window? Where does that lead to you ask? Answer: My old room… it’s one of those doors you’re just like, hmmm alright what to do with you? Well, I figured something out that was easy and impactful for the space that you will get to see tomorrow in the reveal! Stay tuned.

Last February, Emily Bowser and I were deep into designing, DIY-ing and vintage hunting for “adventure” items (does the kid’s mountain house bedroom ring a bell?) and while we were at the Long Beach Flea (an EHD favorite), I came across the ‘jumping-off point’ for my room. This guy was selling these amazing vintage nature photographs for $7 each. Bowser convinced me to buy 7 of them because they were “so on-brand” for me which was a bargain for only 50 bucks. She wasn’t wrong (see sweatshirt above). I am kinda known as the ‘outdoorsy’ one in the office which is ironic since I design interiors for a living. Hence the title of my memoir, The Interior Designer Who Lived Outdoors

Big Changes to Our Small Team (and Some You Can Hire)

There is no shortage of fun and love on the EHD team, and when this team changes, it can be very emotional for all of us. But nothing makes me happier than when my employees leave to go on to pursue their own work or make a positive career shift to better their lives. Orlando, Ginny, Mel, Brady, Bonnie, Carolina, Michael, Tessa… I could go on and on. They all have left me (on such good terms, thankfully) to become more successful and fulfill their own career goals. So it’s time to celebrate a few people whose careers are making such a shift right now (and yes, some you should hire). I’m refocusing/shifting the blog and company in a few ways this year and the stars aligned for a few people who were ready to take their career next level (thus the post – hire them!)

Velinda Hellen: This designer, writer and producer (a true power player) is going freelance. She will forever be a contributor here, so you’ll see her around (she’s still working on her , stay tuned), but she is also ready to take on her own work, have her own clients and fly as the talented creative that she is. I’m hiring her to help me finish the book, she’ll be producing some of our major shoots, and we have another big TV project in the works that she will be on if it moves forward. But for now, she is also taking on her own design and styling clients. I know the second I put this out there, she’ll get snatched up and become unavailable to me, but you’d be lucky to have her designing your space or styling out your shoot. Plus as you can presume correctly, she’s funny, smart, grounded and generally a gift to the world. To work with Velinda you can contact her via her website velindahellendesign.com. She wants everyone to know that her first few clients, if they come as referrals from the blog, will get a special discounted “friends and family” rate. So if you have any new personal or professional projects in the new year, grab her fast.

A Few of Velinda’s Top Posts:

Velinda’s Tiny Kitchen Makeover Takeover (With Tons of Smart Storage Hacks)

Velinda’s Under-$20000 DIY Kitchen (& Laundry Room) Gut Reno

Velinda and Katie’s Love-Filled Backyard Wedding + Their Genius Budget Tips

Emily Bowser: After over three years here at EHD, Emily Bowser is also ready to style on her own. She came in as a new-to-styling assistant when Charlie was 2. CRAZY. Despite her inexperience in this world back then, she worked really hard, never stopped, would do any part of the job and had a great attitude (plus, she is extremely fun to be around). If I haven’t given you my “work hard with a smile” lecture in a while, that’s the key to get where you want to go fastest. Emily exemplifies that. She has been an integral part of our production team, she has SUCH GOOD IDEAS, can DIY most anything and knows the styling world in and out. EHD will forever be hiring her if she is available to style shoots, and she will continue to contribute here on the blog. We discussed this move to freelance starting in January a while ago, so that both parties involved could get ducks in a row. Literally the day that this idea of going freelance was on the table, Orlando texted me asking if I had any production/styling people I could recommend for his TV show. INDEED I DID. She got the job, started almost immediately, and she already feels like she’s grown so much. Hilariously, she is working with Rebecca Zajac, my former intern from 10 years ago on “Secrets From a Stylist”. We’ve also kept in touch, and well, it definitely felt like the universe was telling us this was the right thing to do. The show is wrapping up soon though, and Emily will be taking on private clients (styling shoots and residentials) in 2020. You can contact her via her website emilyedith.com. She is extending the same “friends and family” rate as Velinda and they may even have some ideas for teaming up in the new year!

A Few of Emily Bowers’ Top Posts:

MOTO Reveal: Emily Bowser’s Bedroom “After” is Unrecognizable from the “Before”

New MOTO Reveal: Emily Bowser’s “Refreshed For Function” Small Living Room Makeover

What It REALLY Costs to Buy an Income Property in LA

If this were goodbye, I would be bawling right now, but it’s not; it’s just a shift to hiring these two experienced stylist/designers and producers on shoots (or to write posts) on a freelance basis (and thus higher rate for them), rather than full-time employees. It’s scary for everyone involved, but I’m so confident that these two are going to TAKE OFF. I literally can’t recommend them both enough.

Arlyn Hernandez: A month ago, Arlyn told me that after nearly 13 years in the editorial world (half of that time in digital media producing daily content) that she needed a big shift in her career and was taking a new job. Creating daily content is hard. The burnout is real, guys, and I would be lying if I didn’t relate to her. She was ready to try something new and will now be the marketing director at a furniture company, on the other side of this industry. I’m so happy for her, truly, despite the panic of how we’ll move forward. She’s helped grow this blog exponentially in the last two years. When blogs were folding, our traffic is up almost 40%. She’s also really helped lead the team in ways that I don’t know if I can. The team bawled when we announced it at our holiday party. She has been such a beloved part of our team and our office culture. Arlyn, we love you and you will be missed.

A Few of Arlyn’s’ Top Posts:

Reveal: Arlyn’s Bright & Happy Rental Living Room Makeover

Arlyn’s Moody Dining Room Reveal

House Tour: A Home Crush A Year In The Making

Chandler Frame: Chandler was my wonderful executive assistant and aside from being incredibly smart, kind, funny and resourceful, she is super fashionable. And that fact helped her to realize that while she was a natural fit for our team, because she’s awesome, she wants to pursue her love of fashion (and things shifted for me personally as well). That’s what your 20’s are for right? Trying on “different hats” and seeing which one feels the best. So our Chandler is up for hire and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about her so HIRE HER. Here is a link to her LinkedIn and her Instagram.

Chandler wasn’t an editor with her own posts,  but she was a HUGE help/model in this post:

I Let My 20-Something-Year-Old Staff Dress Me in 2019

So, how will we move forward?

I don’t fully know, but I do know this: I have an excellent team. We are smaller now, but I’m also more comfortable leading a smaller team. Besides, with some major projects behind us, I’m excited to take over as editorial director again and write more posts. Working in digital media and running a daily design blog means being super nimble and shifting all the time. As a company owner and human being, I know that every challenge, every shift, whether it’s positive like these changes or scarier (more on that soon), it’s an opportunity for growth. I get to learn lessons that others haven’t yet.

So readers, let’s give a “see you soon” to Emily and Velinda and a “fare thee well” to Arlyn and Chandler… four more EHD team graduates. If you’ve enjoyed them, feel free to let them know in the comments. I’m so lucky to have known and worked with them and again, if you are in LA and need a designer/stylist, I hope you can benefit as I have.

Okay ladies, now that I’m no longer your boss, WE GET TO BE REAL FRIENDS.

The 9 Kitchen Trends We Can’t Wait to See More of In 2020

photo by the ingalls | design by and and and | via dwell

It’s a new decade and with this extra fresh start, we wanted to kick off 2020 with what has proven to be THE crowd favorite – people really like kitchens and we do too. There is a fantasy that the kitchen holds that makes us want to double-tap, at the same time they are hard and stressful to design so you want to have one that looks unique and creative, but not dated or actually trendy. It’s where we gather to cook, eat, laugh, create school science projects that will likely explode, etc. So getting to dream about what your future kitchen can be is intoxicating.

Now this year, in particular, is filled with some very unexpected, very cool trends or ideas that even I am surprised I really like. So with any trend piece we do, these trends are simply here to spark your creativity and let you daydream a little. It’s about new ideas but not negating how much we like classic kitchens, too. So let’s kitchen dream together, shall we? It’s 2020, the sky is the limit.

1. Unexpected Shapes
photo by genevieve lutkin | design by sella concept | via ad spain

One element that a designer almost always tries to implement into their designs is something unexpected. And in 2020 we predict that this must-have element will be hitting the kitchen in a bigger way than ever. For example simple but impactful curve in the cabinetry and island in that stunning green kitchen above.

photo and design by bri ussery | via domino

We do understand that taking that leap into “unexpected element land” can be daunting as a kitchen is an expensive space to remodel so risks can seem like a very bad idea. But think of it as a chance to show a little bit of your personality. Take Bri Ussery’s pill-shaped wall cutout. It’s a simple “unexpected” shape that gives her kitchen that wow factor (like I audibly said, “WOW” when I saw this photo).

photo and design by dries otten and emma thyssen

You can even rethink the shapes of your cabinetry like Dries Otten and Emma Thyssen did with their very modern house-shaped cabinet. While this shape isn’t a style that can easily translate to jusy anyone’s home, the idea of thinking outside the box when it comes to cabinetry is extremely cool.

design by beata heuman | photo by simon brown | via domino

Another way to get your unexpected element game on is by playing with your backsplash shape. This marble keyhole backsplash by the very talented Beata Heuman is so good and potentially fairly doable if you are already having a stone custom cut for your kitchen. Why not right??

photo by the ingalls | design by and and and | via dwell

Lastly, I want to leave you with this rounded island by And And And. Words can’t describe our love for it because that’s how good it is. Plus, it’s kid and clumsy people friendly since there are no hard edges. So if you are renovating your kitchen please consider a rounded island because it’s the coolest and all of your friends will think so too.

2. Cylinder Hoods
photo by tom ross | design by fieldwork architecture | via the design files

Last year we called “the statement hood” trend and this year while VERY much a statement, the hoods are more specific. I am talking cylinder hoods. They aren’t brand new to the kitchen design world (Europe and Australia have been on it) but they are making much more noise than ever. I mean they are truly awesome so I am not surprised by this one. But what I also love about this modern but simple yet grand hood is that there isn’t just one way to install it. You can take this hood off of the wall and over a kitchen island with ease and grace. It literally doesn’t have a bad side.

photo by tom roe | design by finnis architects | via wallpaper

Another option is to double up with two of these cool beauts. The option to install two is not only a cool choice but handy if the scale doesn’t look right with just one.

photo by eve wilson | design by milieu | via the design files

I also want to show you that while these are a pretty modern choice of hood, they can still look right at home in a kitchen that sports a lot of rustic woods. This particular hood above somehow at the same time makes a statement while also being visually quite quiet. Pretty awesome if you ask us.

3. Tumbled Tile/Stone Done Right
photo by tessa neustadt | design by amber interiors | via all sorts of

Tiles with faux worn edges got a bad rap because they were overused in “French Mediterannean’ McMansions in the ’80s and ’90s, looking pretty fake and gaudy. But good ones are being made and when designed right, we love it. Granted this is stone floor and is a much larger scale, but the edges are worn and have that tumbled effect. Emily seriously wanted to use it in the mountain house master bathroom but ended up using slate, instead because she didn’t know where to find it.

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

So while Emily couldn’t find the right stone tile for the master bath floor, she did use smaller faux tumbled tiles from Bedrosians for the coffee station backsplash in the mountain house. It just gives that unexpected (bonus) texture that we all love.

design by pain english design

As you can see when done right and paired with simple but modern cabinetry it’s beautiful. Buuut maybe not great for bare feet?

4. Wood and Plaster Cabinets
photo by ruben ortiz | design by muñoz arquitectos | via ad germany

Since we were just talking about a way to add natural texture, let’s keep the good times flowing with our next trend… wood and plaster cabinets. This trend while not new to the kitchen scene, they have seemed to be exclusive to magical faraway places like Mallorca or the coasts of Mexico. Well, not anymore because they are popping up in homes all over.

photo by swiley interior photography | design by natalie saunders and louis litrenta | via sunset

Take Natalie Saunders and Louis Litrenta. They built their dream house in Joshua Tree complete with those beautiful plaster and wood cabinets. It’s the ultimate style for those who love that elevated euro rustic vibe and seeing it in a space like this makes it feel actually doable in a remodel or new build. Also if you haven’t seen Jessica and Mike Kraus’ home remodel go now. They did a beautiful version of this type of kitchen in their Southern California themselves.

5. The Updated ’80s White and Wood Cabinets
photo by josh robenstone | design by olaver architecture | via the design files

Ok, this little kitchen trend was pretty crazy to me as I have avoided the dated version of this style of cabinetry with all my might. But I have to say that after these modern types of kitchens started showing up more and more on the design interwebs I thought, “Wait, I think I kind of dig them.”

design by commune design

Now I will tell you why. The wood is less lacquered and rounded than it’s out of touch older sibling. It’s sort of nuts that all this style needed was a little less gloss on those lips. Matte is here for the win. I really think this style would look great in a midcentury modern leaning home or a minimalist style home as well. But hey, break the rules and do what you want.

6. Stone Backsplash
photo by amy neunsinger | design by leanne ford

This trend might as well have a big EHD Approved stamp on it as we are no stranger to the stone accent. Does Emily’s mountain house fireplace ring a bell?? So when we saw Leanne Ford’s Rock The Block stone-walled kitchen we knew this was about to blow.

design by ml-h design | via houzz

We, of course, don’t discount the likelihood that a backsplash like that is probably pretty impossible to clean. But there must be some kind of matte sealant to put on that right? I hope so because it is beautiful and we are pretty sure we will be seeing it a lot in 2020.

7. Warm Toned (ORANGE??) Accented Kitchens
photo by kirsten francis | design by jesse parris-lamb | via domino

Terracotta or dare we say orange is popping up and we are enjoying this shift into the warm. Not only is it inviting, but you can see that warm depth it brings to this kitchen. Something important to note here is that it still feels modern because of the very modern, simple cabinetry and chic accessories. A team effort if you will.

design by commune design

Don’t worry we still love white kitchens, black kitchens, blue kitchens, light wood kitchens, but there is something seriously good about an almost cherry wood-accented kitchen that says, “delicious meals filled with love are made here”. The trick is to make sure, if you are using wood, to not have the finish be too lacquered. Instead, let it show some that natural texture and knots.

photo by matthew williams | design by sarah sherman samuel | via domino

Now “the warmth” can come from anything in your kitchen (as long as it’s a big feature). It doesn’t have to be your cabinetry or wall tiles, it can also be something like your ceiling as the ever talented Sarah Sherman Samuel has in her newly remodeled home. And yes, it is AMAZING. This kitchen is light and modern, with a hint of glam but is perfectly balanced by the warm, almost orange-toned wood on the ceiling.

8. Colorful Window Frames
photo by gieves anderson | design by high street homes | via domino

This is kind of a little secret trend that has been slowing entering our Pinterests and Instagram feeds…The Colorful Window Frame. It’s a fairly easy way to bring in a pop of color without committing to a big dramatic statement. It’s like a “fun hello” instead of a “HEY YOU LOOK AT ME NOW”.

photo by rikki snyder | design by curtis and ani spoerlein of made | via domino

Now, of course, unless you have a closed-off kitchen to the rest of your house, you will likely want to paint all of your window frames so the whole space looks cohesive and just not a random kitchen moment. But hey isn’t it fun??

9. Lamps in Kitchens
photo by sarah elliott | design by athena calderone | via martha stewart

Now we have come to the final kitchen trend of 2020 (well for now:)) And this one is for everyone. Yes, I mean the renters, the unable to renovators, the “I just renovated but want a little something-ers.” I am talking about the kitchen lamp.

photo by felix forest | design by alexander & co | via est living

I had been seeing these little guys showing up in kitchens but it wasn’t until our wonderful old EHD photographer, Tessa talked about the pros of having a kitchen lamp because she is currently designing her own kitchen and wants one. It was then I was like, “Hey this is totally happening and it’s so easy and cool.”

photo by james stokes | design by form makers | via sf girl by bay

Emily stands by the fact that stylists have been doing this forever because they add visual interest and add a beautiful soft light when you want the lights low. But now the public is finally appreciating this look on a more mass scale and we like it a lot.

Ok, that’s it for today. 2020 is here and we couldn’t be more excited to see these trends hit hard as well as whatever other awesome trends pop up throughout the year. But now for the moment of truth…What trends do you love? Are there any you can’t deal with and will fight them off with your trusty spatula in hand? Have any of these sparked some ideas for your own potential renovations? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for more 2020 trend predictions.

Love ya, mean it.

The post The 9 Kitchen Trends We Can’t Wait to See More of In 2020 appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Have A Great Weekend …

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: The Ultimate Budget Living Room Furniture Roundup

My family is still in vacation mode up at the mountain house, with the team back in the office prepping out (and planning) 2020. But in case you missed a lot of our ‘year in review’ posts we thought we’d throw them all here for you. We use our analytics to figure out what the most highly trafficked blog posts, makeovers and instagrams are and BOY is it interesting.

So here you go:

Most Popular Blog Posts (they weren’t all design)
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: Mountain House Reveal (Yes Another One!): The Coziest Upstairs Guest “Bunk” Bedroom
Most ‘Liked’ Instagrams (with some feelings about Instagram)
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: All The What’s, Why’s and How Much’s Of The Portland Kitchen (+ Big Reveal)
Most Popular Fashion Posts (yay for swimsuit reviews!)
photo by veronica crawford | from: Active And Modest Swimsuits That Make Me Feel Good 
Most Popular Makeovers (thank god the mountain house made it here :))
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: It’s Finally Here: The Reveal of the Mountain House Kitchen

 

See you Monday, folks.

xx

Emily

The post Have A Great Weekend … appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Happy New Year – With Some Big Thoughts About The Past And Future

Happy new year. Hell, happy new decade. It feels pretty appropriately timed, actually.

This year I turned 40 and TODAY the blog turns 10 (more on that later), so my levels of self-reflection and toleration of bullshit are both at an epic high. You’ve all heard this – Turning 40 does something to you. You can recognize your successes, sure, but also see more clearly your failings and the growth you get from that is un-calculatable. This kind of growth is where life actually becomes interesting – like you are watching a movie of your own life, cringing at so many uncomfortable moments, sad for some of the characters, cheering on others. Sometimes you are bored, other times riveted but ultimately you can’t wait to see what happens – how does it all end????

Failing becomes a huge part of the plot, and like anything in life, it’s how you react (or not) that defines you. You’ll read all about it, in more in-depth “10 years of starting, building and running a creative business” series that I’m already deep into writing (it’s like my kind of self-indulgent porn). I started writing my “10-year blog anniversary post’ and it was already at 7,697 words so my team helped me break it up into the things you really care about – less full-blown memoir, more useful information – because you KNOW I can’t wait to share how I really think I got here, looking back what steps really helped build this business, and of course the mistakes/lessons I got to learn along the way.

I’m approaching this new chapter of my life and business with so much excitement, relief, giddy anticipation, and more confidence than ever, armed with a now tighter team of awesome creative women, an extremely supportive husband and a mountain load of GRIT. I may not have gone to business school, but let me tell you this – you can’t teach or learn how to do life/business/marriage at even the best ivy league university. Sure, they can tell you how to operate a “successful” business, but no one can teach you how to be fulfilled or even define what that means for you. I’m taking what I’ve done and learned in the last decade and flipping it towards the future. I’m using it as a friendly weapon, a proud ax to clear the brush, and break open something totally new for me, my business and yes, you if you want to stick around (please do, it’s going to be goooooooooddddd, and if not at least interesting?).

Just that.

Gosh, I really meant this to be a short ‘see you on January 6th’ post, but per usual I’m a wordy lady.

I’ll get more into this later, but I need to do a quick thank you so much for following along, whether its been just a few times, only the last year or from the beginning. My connection with you gives me and this blog purpose, typed with glassy, grateful eyes.

THANK. YOU.

See you next week, where the next chapter/act begins. I, for one, can’t wait to see what happens.

Most Popular Blog Posts of 2019

OKAY, OUR TOP 10 POSTS OF THE ENTIRE YEAR. Thank you so much to all of you who read, share, comment. Seriously, we read all of them and it does truly impact and inform what we do next. While we know throughout the year what is doing “well” traffic-wise, it’s always interesting to see what really HITS, both on that day as well as picked up in page views throughout the year. I’m glad that this truly showed a variety of posts: hair (ha. always), reveals of the mountain house, informative roundups and a couple of really personal posts. Thanks to my incredible editorial team Arlyn, Jess and Ryann for all they do for these posts. It takes SO MUCH time to produce each one, but I’m still so proud that we are doing such high-quality content that you guys seem to like. THANK YOU.

Here goes:

#10: Turns Out I’ve Been Blow Drying My Hair All Wrong—Here’s How to Get It Right

Our big staff hair transformation reveal from last year was on 2018’s top posts of the year, so…no real surprise here that hair made the list again. Any requests for hair stuff in 2020??

#9: Mountain House Reveal (Yes Another One!): The Coziest Upstairs Guest “Bunk” Bedroom

HECK YEAH. I love this room. There were a lot of mountain house reveals this year, and this was one of the last ones we did, so a little surprising to see this one make the “top 10” cut but it did show some good ideas for fitting multiple beds in a room that works so well for guest rooms catering to families. Which was your favorite mountain house bedroom?

#8: Are We Done Having Kids?

Ha, juicy stuff. This was what we like to call a “Dead Cat” post. Last year, when I wrote about the death of Bearcat and Mimi, it kind of blew up in such an insane way page view wise, so any post that went gangbusters got the “Dead Cat post” moniker. We don’t write these for traffic, but I know what I would want to read and that informs how much I share.

#7: 15 of Our Absolute Favorite Go-To White & Gray Paint Colors

Paint color posts always seem to do well for us over time (thanks Pinterest) and there’s nothing more universally needed then basic, neutral paint colors like whites and grays. Makes sense.

#6: It’s Finally Here: The Reveal of the Mountain House Kitchen

One of our first mountain house reveals (after the kids’ room which was in partnership with Target for Pillowfort). Man was there a lead up to this one, and according to page views, it was worth it. Quite possibly the most time-intensive project of my life, I’m SO grateful that you guys actually liked it. THANK YOU. (I love it, too, so much in case you are wondering).

#5: #Janstewary: How Soup Changed My Life (& Body)…Really

2019 was the year of the soup at EHD, and I’m not stopping in 2020. Stay tuned (and share any of your favorite recipes in the comments). In case you are catching up and wondering why I’m the unpaid ambassador for soup, it’s this: soup is the easiest way to cook and stay satisfied while eating healthy (and yes likely shedding the pounds you might want to…I mean it’s eating vegetables, protein and water). Some people responded HIGHLY to it, others were annoyed that we were delving into food content.

#4: The Ultimate Budget Living Room Furniture Roundup

If you need a sofa, coffee table, media cabinet, side tables…any kind of furniture for your living room and you’re on a budget, this is your post…and you all agreed if your visits to this article had anything to say about it.

#3: Mountain House Reveal: Our Light-Filled Neutral & Textural Living Room

I’m glad you all liked this room as much as I do because being in there really just feels so good. The light, those windows, it’s all to warm and inviting and a place I never want to leave. The effort put into this design and post was far more than I could ever explain. So THANK YOU.

#2: 10 New Bathroom Design Ideas We’re Super Pumped About for 2019

There are two rooms in a home that are essentially kryptonite to Pinterest: kitchens (hang tight) and bathrooms, hence, our 2019 bathroom trends claiming our #2 top blog post of the year. #1? Well…

#1: 9 Kitchen Trends for 2019 We’re Betting Will Be Huge

…Kitchens (not a huge surprise). We’re working on our 2020 predictions now, but kitchen design moves pretty slowly due to the investment that goes into them, of course, but we’ll see what we can dig up/predict and we’ll check ya later in 2020 to see if it takes the top spot again next year.

That’s the year. We don’t plan our projects based on “popularity,” but it’s hard to not let it influence our brains. Obviously, please let us know any feedback you have. The page views and shares on these proved that indeed you guys liked them but any more we can hear from you is always great.

And thanks again for reading, sharing and commenting. In a digital world full of noise, know that we listen to you as much as you read us…likely more :). Thank you. xx

The post Most Popular Blog Posts of 2019 appeared first on Emily Henderson.

We Answer the 5 Most Common Design Questions You Ask Us Again and Again

photo by sara liggoria-tramp | from: a budget and mostly thrifted living room reveal

As part blog, part design company, it’s understandable that our readers would want to tap into that second “part” and ask for our design advice…as much as possible. We get A LOT of questions via email and Instagram, but the thing is, so many of those quandaries and pleas for help start to feel universal. As in, you all seem to have issues in a lot of the same areas. So, putting on our blog hat, we decided it best to boil down what we think are our top five most asked design questions and put the answers we’ve already crafted in one place.

Question 1: How do I lay out a rectangular living room?
photo by sara ligorria-tramp: from: a quick update on the changes I made to my living room

In all fairness, living rooms are usually rectangular in shape anyway, so this isn’t really that specific but given that pretty standard shape, you’d be surprised how many whammies it can pack…weird window or fireplace placement, not enough wall space because of too many room openings/transitions, functionality issues (where to put the sofa in relation to the TV when there’s no real place to actually put said TV)…the list goes on and on. Here’s my very own biggest takeaway from just life: furniture does not always have to go up against a wall. Float that sofa in a room if you can, move it out of a corner, angle some things…do what works best for YOU, not what you think you have to do. To help you along, here are some stories we’ve done in the past that aimed to answer this very popular question:

How to Lay Out a Narrow Living Room
How to Arrange Furniture With Two Focal Walls
Trying Out Reader Suggestions For What to Do With My Living Room (No Shelves? New Layout?)
How to Design a Pass-Through Room
A Long Narrow Floorplan Design Agony

Question 2: What Color Should I Paint This Room?
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s moody dining room reveal

Picking a paint color has to be one of the most “design paralysis-inducing” things for most people. It feels SO permanent, but guys, it’s totally not. Is prepping and painting a hassle? Yup. Is it reversible if you end up hating it? Also yup. So with that said, go forth and be bold, but if you also just want a tried-and-true white, we also have you covered.

My Favorite Non-Neutral Paint Colors
My Go-To Neutral Paint Colors
15 of Our Absolute Favorite Go-To White & Gray Paint Colors
12 Bold Blue and Green Paint Colors We’ve Tested (& Approved) So You Don’t Have To

And as an added bonus, here are two paint-related posts that will help you when it comes time to actually picking a color in case you need inspiration or just useful info:

Painting Soon? Here’s a Crash Course on Paint Finishes So You Get It Right the First Time
2019 Paint Color Trends

Question 3: What size rug should I use?
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our light-filled neutral and textural mountain house living room reveal

If I had to rank the question I get myself from family and friends most, aside from paint colors, it’s absolutely about rug size. I’m talking, no exaggeration, maybe one text a week about this. Here’s what I’d advise most people: when in doubt, go larger than you think. Deciding between a 5×8 and an 8×10? If budget allows, always do the 8×10 for an area rug. As much of your furniture as you can place on the actual floorcovering will always be a cleaner look. Anyhow, I pulled all of our “room rules” posts that each have a section on the rug, as well as a great video (vintage Emlando) and design mistakes from the past.

The Living Room Rules You Should Know
Design Mistake: The “Too Small” Rug
Bedroom Design Rules
Dining Room Rules
Video: How to Choose the Perfect Rug Size

Question 4: What do I do with this blank wall?
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ small space living room reveal

Ah yes, the every popular “blank wall” conundrum. What is it about a blank space that makes people’s minds go as empty as the wall they’re trying to fill? Show me a room full of stuff and I can tell you 10 things I’d change. But bareness, now that’s daunting. Good news, though: We have plenty of experience and ideas in the art department, from creating gallery walls, to where to buy large-scale art (for cheap) and even unexpected “non-framed art” options for when you want to get a little edgy.

Affordable Large Scale Art & How to Get It in Your Home
15 Ideas We Got From You Guys for Hanging Art 
The 7 Things You Need to Know Before You Try to Hang That Gallery Wall
Best Online Art Resources
How to Fill an Empty Wall With Unexpected Art Ideas
Design Mistakes: Generic Art
Sentimental Art: Is This the New Gallery Wall?

Question 5: Where do I buy lighting & what kind do I need?
photo by geneieve garruppo | from: 120-year-old barn makeover 

This was a particularly popular question for renters because hard-wired lighting is not feasible for most of us on year-to-year leases. We can’t exactly opt to add more can lighting if a room is too dark, you know? Enter all the floor, table and wall lights we can afford to buy. We have some go-to resources, a handful of “power couples” so you can easily know how to pair things and lots of budget picks. Keep in mind some of the links on the shopping-focused posts might be dead which I know is a bummer BUT I thought it was still useful if it helps you find a new brand to check out…I’m sure you’ll discover all kinds of new goodies.

Where to Buy Affordable Lighting Online: 18 of Our Go-To Resources
The Messy Process: How I Chose ALL The Lights For the Mountain House “At Once”
19 Lighting Combos + The Rules of Lighting
The Ultimate Budget Home: Rugs & Lighting Under $200, Art Under $100 and Decor Under $50
A Roundup of Affordable Pendants Under $100
My Favorite 37 Online Lighting Resources
Power Couples: Floor & Table Lamp Combos That Work

Also, don’t forget to check out our curated lighting section on the Shop page for some of our favorite picks and resources.

I hope that was helpful to have that all in one spot, and I encourage you to keep the questions flowing because we’re here to serve. Xx

The post We Answer the 5 Most Common Design Questions You Ask Us Again and Again appeared first on Emily Henderson.