Emily Henderson's Blog, page 234

Sara’s House: Her Awkward-Yet-Soon-to-Be “Downton Abbey” TV Room

Welcome to the post all about our future TV room. It’s not much now. BUT ONE DAY SOON it will be a cozy, intimate, moody room where we cuddle to watch TV and take afternoon naps. Because this room is so small, we decided it was a fun place to take a few risks, and trust me when I say we’re getting RISKY. But first, let me walk you through the room’s history…

This is what the room looked like when we bought the house, back in October 2018. There was a single bed in one corner, and it felt a little depressing. But those two big windows were pretty awesome and I knew this could be turned into something cool.

This room was added as a strange little addition either shortly after the original house was completed or sometime in the ’50s. We’ve gotten differing answers from different people and haven’t really done the research to find out the truth. Regardless, it was done in a baffling way that created a deep, sharp angle in one corner of the already long and narrow space which had be turned into a closet (below).

When we decided to reconfigure the layout of the house a bit, we had to make a big decision about this area. Technically, it did count as a bedroom. It had storage and two forms of exit (a window and a door). Apparently the bar is pretty low these days. But the only entrance to our master bedroom and bathroom was through the kitchen, which was not only weird but used up a decent amount of kitchen space in an already small and narrow kitchen (can you sense the theme of our house?). So we made a decision that I know not everyone will agree with, but was the right one for us: We closed up the entrance to the master areas from the kitchen, turned that space into a master closet, and opened up an entrance to the master from this small addition room, turning this “room” into a pass-through space. Already the layout feels so much more functional for actual life, resale decisions aside.

The truth is, having that third bedroom on the listing when we sell the place would definitely make it more attractive on paper. But once you saw the space in person, you would be BUMMED. On the other hand, all the renovations we’re doing (central heating and AC, new hardwood floors, renovated bathrooms, updated electrical and plumbing) will be FAR more attractive than one weird “third” room. That’s our thought process anyways. It also provided a great solution to our TV problem. This house was built in an era when TV was not everyone’s nightly ritual, so the living room really lacks a good piece of real estate for it. We were going back and forth about where to put that huge thing until we realized we could just…put it in another room. Sure, moving the TV into a smaller room means we’re not going to be hosting any huge movie parties anytime soon, but 99% of the time it’s just Mac, me, and the cats. Now we can have our living room laid out for entertaining and hanging out with friends, and our TV room as a cozy space to cuddle and binge Outlander.

It’s also going to serve as a bit of a library. I’ve always wanted a library, just like in Downton Abbey. A room where, on a rainy day, I can go lounge on a lush couch reading my regency romance novels until I fall asleep to the sound of the pattering rain outside all afternoon (not that there are many rainy days in LA, let alone ones on weekends when I have nothing else to do). This room is going to be my mini Downton Abbey, done Craftsman style. It’s not a big space, but we’re going to shove as much moody old library into it as possible.

The first issue we needed to address was that sharp corner now that it was no longer a closet, and I came up with what I think is a pretty genius solution (if I do say so myself…which I do). We’re going to build a cabinet and bookshelf in that space. The cabinets on the bottom will use the depth of the space so it’s not wasted but keep it all hidden behind cabinet doors, while the shelves on top will give the room that library vibe. It will also serve as a method to flatten that area out without putting all that wasted space behind drywall. I did the first rendering on InstaStories, and I’m proud to say it’s the version I showed Velinda to help her understand my idea:

You can totally understand what I’m explaining and would know exactly how to build this, right? HIRE ME FOR YOUR RENDERINGS. Sadly, this is not what we passed along to the cabinet builder. Velinda took this idea and ran with it, making it her own and bringing in a lot of nice details along the way. As well as adding things like “measurements” to the rendering *eye roll*. But you’ll have to tune into the post she’s writing about it to get the juicy design details. All I can tell you is that it’s going to be amazing, and there may be a hidden whiskey bar in the works (if we can swing it—literally. UGH, you’ll get this joke later if we can pull it off). Then I’m going to fill those shelves with my vintage oil paintings, vintage books, and vintage objects.

It’ll look something like this…

The next thing we’re doing to make this old library-inspired space feel cozy and moody is going for a monochrome look. It’s very much a trend right now, but one that I’m fully behind and excited to explore myself. And this room feels like the space to do it. We once wrote a post over here about why you shouldn’t paint your small rooms white, so I’m using that as my hard evidence to go dark and moody in this small area.

Image sources from left to right: Livingetc Magazine | Design: Emily Henderson, Photo: Tessa Nuestadt | Craftberry Bush | Mia Ahlskog

This means the shelves, molding, cabinet doors, walls, window and door frames, baseboards, and back door will all be painted the same color. EXCITING! We haven’t yet decided if the door between the master bedroom and the TV room will be painted this same color on the TV room side yet, and here’s why. If we DO paint it the same color, it would create a very seamless monochrome look in the TV room when closed. But because the door will swing into the bedroom, when we have it open instead of having a pretty stained wood door swinging inwards toward our bed we would have a dark green rectangle sitting inside our room…but not painting it on the TV room side and instead just staining the door does rather disrupt our monochrome lewk on the TV room side. Happily taking opinions in the comments below.

We also haven’t yet decided on what color to do, but there are some strong contenders (all from Sherwin Williams, because looking at more than one paint deck is emotionally exhausting for me):

1. Foxhall Green | 2. Olympic Range | 3. Rookwood Dark Green | 4. Rookwood Shutter Green | 5. Jasper | 6. Roycroft Bottle Green

Paint caterpillar at the bottom so you can really see how all the greens differ…

Paint is one of those tricky things that you really have to try in a room, and stare at over the changing light of the day to make a decision about. Our walls don’t have plaster on them yet, but I already have all my paint samples. So as soon as those bad boys/walls are plastered up, I’m going to be painting big swatches of each above color and then spending an entire day sitting on the floor of that room just staring. I want something deep, rich, and green but not swampy and not so dark that it appears black. It also has to compliment our couch, which is a slightly teal velvet. It’s going to be a tricky tight rope to balance on, but that’s what makes it fun.

And now, so you’re all on the same page as me and my brain (aka Velinda), here is the current TV room mood board:

Sofa from Article Modern | Rug from Neon Dove (Vintage) | Leather Pouf from Lulu & Georgia | Table Lamp From Target | Roman Shade from Decor View (Custom) | Ceiling Light from Schoolhouse Electric | Side Table from Chairish (Vintage) | Paint from Sherwin-Williams in Rookwood Shutter Green

This isn’t 100% complete because we are trying to source a lot of vintage for this room, and that takes time. But the vibe is there. Right now I have Rookwood Shutter Green as the wall color and I love it, but the computer screen can vary greatly from a real wall. We do have that couch (from Article Modern in Pacific Blue) already sitting in the back of the house awaiting its new home. Will we have TWO velvet couches in our home? Yes. Is this a good idea? YES. I have no evidence that disputes this, and it turns out performance velvet is actually a very pet-friendly fabric. You won’t be able to see both couches at the same time, so we decided that it wouldn’t be an issue (and by “we” I mean me). The vintage rug is from Neon Dove, and was a gut reaction order several months ago when I didn’t even know where it was going to go yet. We’ll be installing custom blackout Roman shades from Decorview in a dark charcoal fabric on both the window and back door (for optimal TV watching ability). And I just made my first ever Chairish purchase by way of that little side table. It’s a vintage French piece, currently painted a gray-blue. But we’re going to paint it black and polish up the hardware to bring in a lot of old-world charm in a cool way. Plus, the drawer will provide remote storage in this no-coffee-table room.

Why no coffee table? Because this room is too narrow for both a couch AND coffee table. We’re opting against a coffee table and instead bringing in our leather pouf for feet resting, and our vintage side table for drink resting. Speaking of TV and narrowness, what is our plan for the TV? This single photo really sums it up:

Design: Shanti Crawford | Photo: Heidi’s Bridge

It’s going to take some behind the wall electrical cord configuring and running, but we want to keep that wall as minimal as possible. Just the TV, wall-mounted, and a small custom-built shelf for a candle and some tchotchkes. We have one of those smart TVs that already has all the Netflix/Hulu options built in without requiring an AppleTV or Roku. But there are three things we’ll have to run to the TV: the power, the internet, and our PlayStation (which is how I play all my Harry Potter DVDs). The hope is to run all those wires behind the wall and either over to the side of couch or into our new cabinet. It’s still a work in process, but we’ll get there.

We’re going to be installing recess lighting on dimmers throughout the back part of the house, just like Em did up at the mountain house. But we’ll also have a ceiling light and fan, sconces on the bookshelf wall, and a table lamp in the corner so there will be lots of options for soft, cozy lighting. And we’ll be getting rid of the door between the dining room and the TV room, so it’s just a clean pass through. You’ll be able to see the living room and dining room from the back of the TV room and vice versa, so it was really important to Velinda and I that all three of these spaces feel like they can relate to one another. Even though this room is going to be dark and moody, the living room is going to pick up its green vibes through the couch and rug. And we’re bringing some dark hits into the dining room to help transition from a bright white space to a moodier one.

And that’s where we’re at! There’s going to be a LOT of work going into the room over Christmas break but hopefully, by February of 2020, I’m in this room living my moody romantic Downton Abbey dreams.

The post Sara’s House: Her Awkward-Yet-Soon-to-Be “Downton Abbey” TV Room appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Best DIY “Batch” Handmade Gifts

Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: How We Decked Our Halls For Christmas

Gift-giving happens to be a pretty big part of the holidays. Have you heard? Heck, we’ve made NINE gift guides this year alone. And while buying a gift for your loved one who “has everything” seems like an impossible mountain to climb, we find it can be even trickier finding gifts for the neighbors, teachers, coworkers crowd…that doesn’t break the bank. So to show that you care, why not make a gift that you can give ALL of those people? Say it with me…Batch Gifting. It comes from the heart, but you are saving time, money and a whole lotta brainpower. Today we have rounded up seven of our favorite DIY handmade (and thoughtful) gift ideas that will make your gift plate look muuuuuch lighter. Shall we?

1. Scented Candles
Design by Caroline Burke of Burkatron 

We genuinely did not know making candles could be so easy. You basically find a cute vessel, heat up some wax, add essential oils, and let it harden (definitely go to the tutorial for all the deets). So simple and a wonderful gift (and pretty gift) everyone will appreciate. No candle burning at both ends for you with this idea.

2. Homemade Flavored Salt
Design by Lauren Hendrickson via Popsugar

I’m pretty sure that if we took a vote in our office of what we could give up, either salt or sugar, sugar would win because everyone LOVES salt. These three handmade flavored salts are the cutest and I know that I would think this was such a fun and useful gift. So if you love to cook and your friends like to eat (I’m sure that’s at least 99% of your friends) then start prepping these babies asap.

3. Coconut Sugar Scrub
Design by Lea Johnson of Creekwoodhill

We are already a big fan of Lea Johnson (remember her stunning home we featured??), but now she’s teaching us how to make a beautiful scrub that would be a wonderful gift to truly anyone in your life. Who doesn’t need a little self-care every now and then (more “now”, less “then”)? She says this one is great for getting rid of dead and dry, itchy skin.

4. DIY Lip Balm
Design by Caitlin and Mandy of The Merrythought

This is another one that seems intimidating but according to the lovely ladies of The Merry Thought, it’s a breeze. They lay out all the steps and make it incredibly easy to follow. Then once you are done, you have an incredibly thoughtful and useful gift to give out. Say no to the winter chapped lip.

5. Color-Blocked Soap DIY
Design by Laura Gummerman of A Beautiful Mess

Sara actually gave us beautiful handmade soaps a couple of years ago and I loved it. It was so nice to be able to display a really pretty bar of soap and these ones are so fun. EHD approved!

6. Homemade Infused Olive Oil
Design by Luci Petlack of Luci’s Morsels

These puppies are perfect for those in your life who like to cook or dip bread.

How to Style Your Dining Table for Everyday Living

photo by zeke ruelas | from: ginny’s dining room reveal

Earlier this year, while working on my , there was one area where I felt like I had a little bit of a blind spot. I had a pretty good sense of the style I wanted to achieve, the blue velvet sofa was dialed in, but when it came to figuring out what to do with the top of my dining table, I was stuck. In the grand scheme of the design, it felt like an afterthought…because it kind of was. On an everyday basis, it’s normally the spot where my piles of junk mail land (until they topple over and I have to deal with it) and where our Amazon boxes collect, well, the smaller ones. It’s a bit of a “life” wasteland, so I didn’t want to super fake it with anything too set. I wanted to do something that, post-shoot, could still work for how we live. So I dug through our archives for inspiration and it was super helpful. So helpful, that now, months later, I think it’s time to share with you guys in case you’re tabletop-challenge like I am.

Read on for six different approaches to the “everyday” dining table, though leaving it clear is also a very real option…so let’s call that style #1. Now, for style #2:

Centered Vase
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s bold rental dining room reveal

I figured let’s start with where I ended with my dining table: the “centered vase” look. Yes, I also have a candelabra and some plates, but really that was more for styling the shot. In real life, you’ll mostly find just one thing sitting right there in the middle of my table (absolutely NOT surrounded by a bunch of other junk like my husband’s headphones or a random sweater and clutch I threw there one night after going out)…

photo by tessa neustadt | from: sara’s living room reveal

I went tall (it was a vase I had on hand from Target years ago), but you could also go much shorter, like Sara did here in her old apartment. You can go the fresh florals route, or, for something much lower maintenance, pick a potted plant (as long as your room gets the right light to keep that thing kickin’).

photo by tessa neustadt | from: the griffith park dining nook reveal

This is maybe my favorite dining space from our archives because BOY THAT WINDOW IS GOOD. But besides that, the one centered vase with organic, asymmetrical greens feels so liveable and laid back, and isn’t that exactly what you want in a breakfast nook like this?

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ DIY-filled rental kitchen reveal

When you have just a little surface to work with, like in the dining nook (which she DIYed people…incredible) of Jess’ rental apartment, I personally think simple is best, so all hail the subtlety of the “centered vase” for spaces like this.

Collection
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the portland dining room reveal

For larger tables, I’m ALL about the “collection,” like Emily did in the Portland dining room. It’s an 8-seater, so there was a lot of table surface area to cover and empty, it might have felt a bit bare and unfinished.

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

Something to note with the “collection” of things is how it looks from all angles. You’ll want to make sure you’re spacing things out so that whether you’re seeing it head-on or from the side, it doesn’t end up looking like the bargain table at your local thrift store.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a modern organic dining room reveal

In Portland, they went with a set of same-colored sculptures, but in this “organic modern” dining room, it was a mix-and-match collection of vases and vassels. Note the tight color palette and variety of shapes and sizes to keep things interesting. Always remember, just because your “collection” has 10 things in it doesn’t mean they all have to be displayed together. If it works, great! But you can always split things up if you’re after something a little more curated and edited down.

Grouping of 3
photo by stephen busken | from: a modern yet warm loft reveal with project 62

The “grouping of 3” is a close cousin to both the collection and the centered vase. All the same ease as the centered vase, more of the visual interest of the collection (but without thinking too long and hard about the set up). Three candleholders in varying heights is a great option (and typically are sold in a set just like this).

photo by tessa neustadt | from: sylvia’s surprise makeover, dining room reveal

If you don’t want to go the candlestick route, there’s always the three-vessel route, like they did in Sylvia’s dining room for that surprise reveal. I think the key here is the varying heights like I mentioned previously. That way, you can more casually cluster things in the middle of the table, though if you have three things of all the same size, I’d go with something a little tidier such as lining thing up across the long-way of the table.

High/Low
photo by melissa oholendt | from: the curbly family dining room reveal

Here’s another option that I really love (I tend to like the more non-symmetrical stuff because it gives the eye a lot to play with). This one I’m calling the “high/low” because, well, there’s one high or tall thing (ideally with some greenery to exaggerate the height even more), and one low and wide thing (in this case, a footed bowl of produce…I think).

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house dining room reveal

You can either go the way of putting your high/low goods in the center of the table, or off-setting them to one side if you are casually placing anything else on the table if you find yourself entertaining.

Tray + Gather
photos by zeke ruelas | from: ginny’s dining room reveal

There might be a chance you found yourself thinking anything up there I showed you previously felt a little too “floaty” so you, my friend, are the “tray + gather” type. You’ll want to be sure your tray is on the larger side (about 1/3 the wide of your table is a good rule of thumb) or else you risk things looking a little dinky. Now, what exactly do you put ON that tray? Well, that’s up to you. Ginny did a high/low thing with florals which I think feels really nice and not overly stiff, a low bowl of nuts and a small carafe, but you can go with a candle, a small collection of things…there are no rules!

photo by mike garten | from: my house tour from good housekeeping

In Emily’s previous Glendale house, she went with the tray + gather, too, but in this case it was styled out more like a refreshments/snack tray with a drink pitcher, some glassware and, again, a bowl of nuts (never underestimate the power of a bowl of nuts for styling, ha).

Casually “Set”
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house dining room reveal

And lastly, our final category here…the “casually set” table. This one is less for everyday, I think, and more for “company’s coming over and I have a few snacks but not a full sit-down dinner happening.” You can use all the same ideas for the main anchor pieces, but shift them a little to make room for a stack of appetizer plates, napkins, glassware and anything else you want to set out.

photo by zeke ruelas | from: casa soria dining room reveal

Hopefully that was helpful for you all. I know it can be easy for us to forget to talk about these little everyday styling questions and conundrums that come up for EVERYONE, design novices all the way to the pros, but the key is to tap into inspiration, see what you think would work best for your life (and you like, of course) and play with what you have to get there.

Please let me know in the comments what other “no-brainer” type styling ideas you guys might feel stuck on and we’ll round up that inspo to help you out. Thanks for stopping by and see you this afternoon.

For more styling ideas, head to our ROOMS page for all the scoop and help you need!

The post How to Style Your Dining Table for Everyday Living appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Our DIY Ornaments—Some VERY EASY Ideas and Some Pinterest Fails

I’ve started crafting. It’s could be part of a larger post titled “My Shocking Shift into the Parody of a Domestic Housewife” that I’ll write later, but for now, I’m very happy to report that my crafting blood has been ignited by a 4 and 6 year old. FINALLY, they are old enough to participate and enjoy it. The weekend craft sessions are truly living out a fantasy that I didn’t really know I had.

Now I want to be very clear, this is a hobby, I love the process far more than the result. I have decent taste, but lack skill and attention to detail, as you’ll see. I won’t be setting up a booth at an artisanal market anytime soon. I’m more doing this with the kids to have something that we can do together that we actually ALL enjoy (plus I get adorable mementos for trees or scrapbooks that will help memorialize this time together).

Sitting at that table together, creating garbage ornaments feels incredibly bonding. The energy is so happy, the creative freedom has no restrictions and there is ZERO pressure on the results.

I went on the Pinterest and found some ornaments that kids could make, some inspired from the mountain house, others just looked like fun.

Top Left to Right Clockwise: | | Design by Handmade Charlotte | | | Design by Naptime Buttons

Then I popped over to Michaels early on a Saturday morning and trolled the aisles for inspiration. The first time, I brought Birdie with me, accompanied with a fantasy that we would get creatively inspired together, that she would be drawn to the same colors and finishes that I would. I was brought back to reality when she somehow found the only Frozen related everything in the store and then tantrumed when our “craft” wasn’t coloring in Elsa’s hair on an already drawn ornament. Shockingly she wasn’t impressed with my raw wood embroidery hoops that I envisioned as wreaths or my white buttons to make snowmen.

The next week, I did a solo mission that was wildly more productive. I hadn’t gone to a craft store in forever, to just look for me, in a leisurely way. Up and down every row I felt a rush of serotonin that screamed I’m back.

So here we are. Currently joining the ranks of domesticity by way of haphazard DIY ornaments that I’ll cherish likely for the rest of my life.

I’ll show you the ‘inspiration’ first and then ‘what we did’ – although it will be obvious.

Self-Portrait Dioramas
Inspiration:

There really wasn’t much of an inspiration out there for this, but our preschool has them do self portraits all the time as art, so I figured why not have them do it on a little wooden person, instead. It turned out SO sweet, if not a little janky.

What We Made:

We used plastic jars (so they are cheap), mini bottle brush trees (that you can buy in bulk), cotton for snow and wooden bead letters for their initials. I did the bulk of the assembling but the kids chose the trees and colored in their faces and clothes. You might think they are creepy, with little charlie leaning almost dead-like against the side of the jar, but I will always remember the afternoon that we did this together and as I look at them on the tree, I feel very happy. (I used hot glue to secure the ribbon, its kinda messy but that’s okay).

Button Ornaments
Inspiration:
Design by Naptime Buttons

There were a lot of inspiration on these and I liked the simplicity of just one material, stacked. I thought that the kids could do it…

What We Made:

I literally made all of those because despite using a low heat glue gun they still hate getting burned by hot glue (boring) and inevitably you do get burned when using a glue gun. We had to buy a decent amount of bags of buttons from Michaels (here) to have enough that really stacked so this isn’t the most cost effective. But we all know that crafting with kids is rarely about saving money and more about creating something together. So much hot glue all over that top snowman, but again, I love the process and memory not the result.

Please note that I signed and dated mine making it clear that while it looked like a child crafted this masterpiece, it was indeed the “skills” of this mama, in 2019. That one has broken a couple times as its fell (the hat coing off the body) so I would stick to the stacked ones.

Embroidery Hoops/Wreaths:
Inspiration:

How sweet are these? I thought that they would be great for the mountain house, so Scandi and pretty. They currently live on this tree but when we go up for actual christmas we’ll bring them up.

What We Made:

I actually LOVE how these turned out. The kids found their initials and chose the tree, but I did all the hot glue-ing. I don’t think they’ll last for long with the cotton being so fragile, but I think I’ll just rip it off and replace it when it gets gross. Easy peasy. I did one for “mommy” and “daddy” to practice before we did the kids’ ones, and it turns out having a custom ornament that says “daddy” feels totally creepy for unknown reasons.

Shrinky Dinks
Inspiration:
Design by Handmade Charlotte

Sure, I thought it would be fun but I had no idea how much my kids would love shrinky dinks. Hours, HOURS of drawing on different occasions.

What We Made: 
photo by veronica crawford

The biggest hit by far. At first, these turned out way too small to even be readable, but then I had them do larger ones that took up the whole page and once shrunk down were big enough for ornaments. 100% the most fun for them. Watching them curl up and then flatten out in the oven is always nerve-wracking and then so satisfying. We use colored sharpies or paint but please let me know if you can use other mediums to do this. We are ever-expanding our shrinky dink portfolio.

One night, when they were out of town, I took some of my favorite drawings of theirs from this year and traced them to memorialize them as ornaments. They didn’t see the fun in that when I first proposed it, but once I showed them how a drawing could be a hard permanent ornament, they felt very special, like artists whose work was worth the effort.

You really have to use one big page for each shrinky dink. We made so many the size of our hand which turned into tiny ornaments the size of my fingerprint. If you want a white background get the matte white paper, but if you want to color all of it then get clear. Google how to do it, but I set my oven for 340 degrees and do it for about 3 minutes until they flatten out. Darker colors go even darker so stay light if you want bright.

When the kids saw the above ornaments, they were sooooo happy.

Nordic Style Ornaments
Inspiration:

These wood circles are at every craft store and are incredibly cheap (or you can saw your own, obviously). The potential is certainly huge, but I kept it simple as this was our first one and just put their initials and the date on them. The letters were readymade and just used hot glue and ribbon.

What We Made:

So easy. Not very impressive, but so pretty. Next time maybe I’ll do the date on the back or in something more intentional.

So here they all are…

This is just a snapshot from my iPhone of all the ornament types we made together this year and they all make me (and us) so happy. If you go back and look at my living room holiday reveal here, you’ll absolutely see these on my more “personal” tree and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We are moving on to snowglobes next weekend and the kids are VERY excited.

We’d love to see yours so DM us on social (or tag #showemyourholiday) especially if you try any of these “ideas” that we can repost on stories.

I know ornaments can be a big tradition for some families, and I’d love to hear about yours in the comments…

Our Living Room, Dressed Up for the Holidays (With a ‘And How I Feel About It’ Running Commentary)

In my constant internal (yet playful) battle between “low-maintenance mom of two” and “internet stylist,” “mom” is currently in the lead, as she should be. Meanwhile across the street at the sofa battling arena “traditional navy blue” sofa has won for the month of December. Typically we DRIP over here in holiday decor, on every surface (mostly to give inspiration/ideas) but I tried to pull it back while still feeling festive and fun and VERY COZY. This Christmas, I made the shift towards A. More personal and sentimental pieces (let the ornament obsession begin!), B. Using what we already had (you’ll see a lot from years past), C. Easier maintenance (yes I used a real garland and tree, but less cedar everywhere) and didn’t replace/store as much art and accessories, and D. cozy, cozy, cozy (thus the return of the dark sofa and those big gray chairs).

I was in New York for work last week, and, as I wrote this, I had like 30 minutes to get it all down, so I approached it with an old school blog style “brain dump.” Hopefully, you’ll glean some tips and get some inspiration throughout said dump.

The Link Up: A Romantic Comedy Emily LOVED, Ryann’s Secret To Sleeping Well & A Mimosa Recipe Perfect For Christmas Morning

image via Rue Mag | design by Louisa Roeder

Are you all knee-deep in your holiday decorations whilst watching your favorite holiday movie? We sure do hope so. It probably needs no reminding that December is FLYING by, so we suggest taking your mind off decorating and gift wrapping, to check out what team EHD has been gabbing about this week. Let’s giddy on up.

Today’s home tour is brought to us by Rue Mag, and if those side chairs are not reason enough to click on over, you should know that this space has MULTIPLE colorful and wonderful wallpaper moments that are worth your eyeballs’ time.

From Emily: “I watched Plus One while writing on the plane and I LOVED it. A really relatable romantic comedy that made me laugh and cry, with great actors and so many authentically funny moments. TWO THUMBS UP. Oh, and I didn’t know it but my friend Cristine plays who they credited as ‘passive-aggressive maid of honor’ (and it was hilarious, by the way).”

We are all very excited to share that Block Shop has officially opened their first retail location within their studio in LA’s Atwater Village. The store will be open Fridays from 12pm-7pm and Saturdays from 11pm-7pm. Go check it out because not only are their things really beautiful, but they are the nicest people. If you pop in, say hi from us.

Like many of us, Julie has been trying to cut down on the amount of single-use plastic that she buys/uses throughout the week and a helpful reminder for her is this Instagram @plasticfreefridays. Their posts showcase alternative plastic-free products and highlight why this movement is so important. Give them a follow and go plastic-free on Fridays.

Speaking of plastic-free, Sara has a new lotion alternative to share. “I just got this solid lotion stone and am pretty happy with it. Since I started ceramics, my hands have been so so dry and I rub this into them every night before bed (and also use it on my whole body when I get out of the shower). I really appreciate that it’s a plastic bottle-free option to body lotion (they even have a refill subscription option so you don’t get a new container each time you purchase a new one).”

Ryann recently read this article on why everyone should go to bed at 8:45 pm and she is SO pleased that someone is spreading this good news around because she has been saying this for years. Go to bed early, friends! You won’t be missing out on anything that is more important than 8 hours of sleep.

From Arlyn: “I have a new healthy soup recipe to share. Now that we’re in that limbo between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I try to squeeze in as many easy to make and also not glutinous meals during the weekdays as I can and this soup fits that bill. I’ve made it three times already in the last month. I add a few glugs of balsamic vinegar to the pot at the very end, then a little more to the bowl when serving—plus parmesan, duh—to really round out the flavor (oh, and I’ve used both fresh and frozen corn and both were great but frozen corn was WAY easier).”

Velinda was at a friend’s when she tried Bitchin Sauce and couldn’t believe it was dairy-free (therefore, safe for her wife to eat). “What to say about it? It’s all in the name, really.”

Veronica bought this cardigan in burgundy and cream over the weekend (and will be buying the charcoal soon). Super soft and cozy, and perfect for layering!

From Mallory: “Now that my sister and I are both old enough to party with our parents (which is in fact, very fun) I’m making these cranberry mimosas for the fam to celebrate Christmas morning in a festive manner.”

Lastly, on Friday December 13th from 10am-6pm and Saturday December 14th from 11am-4pm, The Streicher Sisters are kicking off their STRIIIKE Holiday Market that will feature all their favorite brands to shop under one roof (some brands include: Beautycounter, Dosist, Eriness,  Fleur Marche,  Lady & Larder,  Livana, Makers Mess, Mille, SALT, Stephanie Anders piercings,  Olive + June). Click here for all the details.

That is all for now, chickadees. We hope you have a lovely Sunday, and hope to see you back here tomorrow. xx

The post The Link Up: A Romantic Comedy Emily LOVED, Ryann’s Secret To Sleeping Well & A Mimosa Recipe Perfect For Christmas Morning appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Highlighting A Brand We LOVE (Plus My Thoughts On Ethically Made Things)

In all the insanity of consumerism, and knowing full well that we contribute a part to its perpetuation, we love knowing about and promoting a new brand that is using consumerism to do something. It’s a larger, layered conversation I know, but today I’m happy to partner with ABLE, to showcase some of their well-made, high-quality basics—in clothing, shoes, jewelry and bags.

But first, things you should know about the brand and what they are striving to do:

It started with scarves. In Ethiopia, they met with women coming out of the commercial sex industry who asked for help finding jobs. They trained them to make scarves and after selling over 4,000 of them in 2 months, they knew they were onto something. People understood that if you’re committed to ending poverty, you must create jobs, and do so for women. ABLE has grown from hand-woven scarves to a lifestyle brand with leather bags, clothes, shoes, and jewelry.
Women comprise 95% of the staff at ABLE, but globally women who work in fashion often hold the lowest-paid, least-secure jobs. Yet we know women invest twice as much of their income into their families compared to men. When a woman is economically empowered, her children and community thrive, making her crucial to eradicating poverty. ABLE is committed to ensuring every woman receives treatment and compensation reflective of her immense worth.
Fashion is one of the largest industrial employers of women worldwide, yet only an estimated 2% of fashion workers are paid a livable wage. They want to change that but know one of the quickest ways companies will change their practices is if their customers demand it. They published their lowest wages in order to give consumers a clear choice to protect the people making their products, and they want other companies to do the same.

I really love that they publish their lowest wages to prove that they are really walking the walk. That’s impressive.

In fact, while I have you talking about this, five years ago, I did help produce, design and curate The Mercantile, the gift show for brands just like this—C-corps who have it in their business model to give back. It was a bit ahead of its time and fizzled out, ironically not very sustainable, but man do I wish it existed now. ABLE would have definitely been featured.

Get The Look: Jeans | Shirt (similar) | Sweater (similar) | Boots (similar) | Purse

Now let’s talk about the goods. This bag is GREAT, far greater than I thought it was when I first unwrapped it or saw it on their site. But that’s how it goes with basics. They are not meant to be showstoppers and don’t “wow” you until you realize that you are opting for it every day because it’s done right. I started using this bag the day after this shoot and am now sitting at a bar in New York, writing this post, with it on the hook next to me. It is extremely lightweight (good for travel) but sturdy (I loaded it up). It fits a laptop easily and has nice side and inside pockets for phone, wallet, etc.

It’s already getting a really pretty patina and is understated but looks expensive. It’s not your holiday bag, it’s not your statement purse. It’s a good basic that I’ve been opting for since I opened it.

The jeans are black skinnies that you see on the site and think, “yep, those are black skinnies.” But once I put them on, I felt supported without being suffocated, an important distinction in skinny jeans. And I am not sure if you know, but hole-less jeans are back in (this will delight my father-in-law that delights in his oft-told joke about maybe one day I’ll be able to afford new jeans).

I liked the black buttons, too. Again feeling supported without being uncomfortable.

Next up, some really great wide-leg large-hemmed jeans.

Get The Look: Jeans | Shirt (similar) | Blazer (similar) | Mules

How cute are these jeans??? I didn’t know this type of wide structure could truly exist. They have such a good cut that keeps its shape, regardless of how you are standing. I haven’t washed/dried yet to be honest, but we were all shocked at how no matter how I stepped or stood, the straight shape of the leg persevered.

I, again, opted for these jeans the next day and on the plane. They are so comfortable but have some style unlike the typical high waist, wide leg that tells your lunch “no vacancy.”

You might be thinking what I am: the last thing Emily Henderson needs is another pair of mules. This is true. But these are also really great. They are pointy (and thus elongating your leg) and come up higher on your foot which makes it look edgier, plus the heel is big, wide and COMFORTABLE.

They are headed in a timeless version of the cowboy/gaucho trend but easier to pull on and off (literally, you know how I feel about laces…who’s got the time?).

And if you are looking for a simple yet beautiful gift to give your mom, daughter, sister, secret Santa or what have you, here you go:

Necklace | Earrings

A pretty necklace that says “mama” (I have it and it’s so cute) and extremely delicate gold hoops that I tried to put on but the left ear didn’t cooperate (apparently it’s closed up, despite my 20-year-old nose ring hole still gaping).

Wallet

The wallets are a great gift (and at $60 I think it’s a good price for such nice quality). I need a zipper to imprison my chaos, but if you can handle a snap then these are so pretty. They were nice enough to gift my entire team wallets and they love them.

Lastly…I get casual. And happy. And also, we need to talk.

Get The Look: Pants | Shirt (similar) | Sweatshirt | Jacket | Necklace

That’s a cute hoodie with white ties, a jean jacket with pockets and a big mouth of laughter. Why? Well, I have some thoughts.

If you believe that objects like furniture, accessories or clothing carry energy (like I do) then you’ll agree that when they are thoughtfully and ethically made, that happiness can be felt by those around those pieces or wearing those clothes. There is little scientific proof of this, YET, it’s more of a spiritual thing for me—believing that all energy transfers, but yes, I believe that a (truly) pasture-raised chicken is better for my family because it hasn’t, well, been tortured its entire life. Its negative energy and hormones aren’t transferred into my or my kids’ bodies. It’s a larger conversation and one that I’ll likely get a lot of push back for, but the gist is that I do care about where things come from.

Sure, with chickens, we are literally consuming it into our bodies, bloodstream, and digestion. But most of you here might agree that antique or vintage furniture and original or handmade art brings soul to a room. That’s “energy,” people. The history of the piece, who crafted it, where it was 10 steps before you ate it affects its energy. Thus, my belief that ethically made fashion makes us feel good when we wear it. Proof, in that photo above.

I realize I’m a walking paradox, contradicting myself at all turns. We create our gift guides, promoting consumerism, then chastise its wastefulness. We love affordable mass retailers because it democratizes design and makes people of all budgets feel proud of their home (thus raising children in warmer, happier homes) but then we tout the benefits of more expensive ethical brands.

My current point of view is truly to offer the best options for all knowing that everybody is in a different place in their life, whether that be in their budgets, style and how they see the world. We support companies that do good things, whether it’s big ones that support our economy and give generously to public education, or small ethically made fashion brands whose mission it is to empower women to end poverty, like ABLE.

I think you know the point here and we are truly trying our best: If you can afford to buy or gift ethically and sustainably with companies like ABLE, please do. The world needs you/us. And if that’s not your budget, we still got you.

Below are some of mine and the team’s favorites, or you can also visit my special landing page over on ABLE with all my picks. Oh, and don’t forget to use code EMILY25 for 25% off your purchase (valid today, 12/7, through 12/9). xx

1. Perez 90mm Booties | 2. Chaltu Top Zip Crossbody | 3. Olga Breton Striped Tee | 4. The Carla High Rise | 5. The Axian Wide Leg Crop | 6. Rojas Western Boot | 7. Navya Dolman Tee | 8. Emnet Foldover Tote | 9. Sonu Feminine Sweatershirt | 10. Celina Ankle Boot | 11. The Adreina Sherpa Jacket | 12. Emerson Scarf | 13. | Alem Continental Wallet 14. Bali Hoops | 15. Postino Earrings 

***photography by Veronica Crawford

The post Highlighting A Brand We LOVE (Plus My Thoughts On Ethically Made Things) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Friday Finds: The Good Kind Of Left Overs From Cyber Monday

Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain House Reveal: Our Soft Yet Secretly Sultry Downstairs Guest Bed & Bath

According to American tradition, last week was the week to be thankful and this is the week to buy stuff. I don’t know who made this up and to be honest, I’m utterly confused by it so I did some Wikipedia research (which I know is hardly real research) but hear me out. Black Friday has been around since 1952 but its name back then was “Oh snap! It’s officially the holiday season and I should start buying gifts.” Then retailers started catching on, began to lower prices to attract shoppers, and shoppers really leaned into the idea (who wouldn’t!?). Then fast forward to now where the digital world has taken off and cyber sales are on the rise. Thus: the birth of Cyber Monday. Okay, I know you probably didn’t click on this post for a history lesson and I’m definitely not qualified to teach one. So let’s get on with it. Much like leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner, the sales from these holidays are still here and they taste even better than they did the first time around.

We used a boatload of great things from Lulu and Georgia in the Mountain House. Not to name names, but this platform bed we used in the guest room and this coffee table in the living room are 20% off. Wait. Everything on their site is 20% off right now! Use code: CYBER20

The Anthropologie gods have spoken. They’re having a MASSIVE sale on tops and sweaters and I’m just about ready to cozy up in every single one. This sweater, in particular, piqued my interest because it’s super versatile and only $59.

One of our favorite furniture brands, Industry West has extended their Cyber Monday sale to run through December 8th. The sale is 25% off sitewide and you get free shipping with the code IWCYBMON. Do these stools from this post jog your memory??

I’m a big fan of over-the-knee boots and a big fan of snakeskin boots and these kill two birds with one stone. But I’m not alone guys, all of DSW’s tall boots are 30% off right now.

We’re planning a really fun top-secret shoot next week and all I can say is that a lot of the team got some deals from ASOS up to 50% off party dress sale.

Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: 9 Personalized & Targeted Workouts You Can Do at Home

If you didn’t know, Emily is a Nike loyalist since she’s from Portland and two of her best friends work there. Her favorite running shoes are 45% off, but since there aren’t many sizes left for those we thought, you should know that all Nike is up to 45% off at Nordstrom Rack right now.

This sweater AND this cardigan Emily LOVES for winter are 30% off. P.S. you might recognize them from the Small Business Saturday post.

If you’re in need of kid gifts, Target is having a sale where toys are up to 50% off. If your kids/nieces/nephews/etc. are like Birdie and are wildly obsessed with Frozen (and now Frozen II) here’s what you need to know: Disney toys are buy 2 get one free (which is perfect for buying gifts for multiple kids). Here’s an Elsa doll Em has her eyes on that’s perfect for any Frozen-obsessed child that now wants to be an ice queen.

I’ll leave the sales section with this: if you haven’t started holiday decorating (which most of EHD has except for me and a few stragglers) don’t worry because it’s not too late. There are still cool and affordable decor ideas out there and we’re here to help. For example, here’s a cute little Christmas ornament from West Elm that’s 40% off (and since it was $10 originally) it’s only $6 now! Start with that and we’ll have more Christmas coming your way SOON.

New Brands We Love

ZZ Driggs is a company that’s doing things the sustainable way. They have a community of craftsmen that make high end, gorgeous and incredibly unique furniture that you can rent or buy. (If you rent it means you basically never have to move furniture yourself again since they deliver it and pick it up). The only current catch with this one is that you need to request an invitation to enter the site. But trust us IT’S SO GOOD. What do you guys think about renting furniture month to month? There’s a new wave of furniture rental companies popping up and I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The Number One Design Question We Get Asked…Answered

Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: MOTO Reveal: Bowser’s Bedroom

Sometimes, blog post ideas are birth in Emily’s mind, maybe Arlyn’s, possibly mine or Ryann’s. Other times, it’s collective…we start one place and end up somewhere else together. And still other times, YOU tell us what you want, hence why we’re here today. During a time where it feels like our lives are put on “holiday hold,” there are plenty of other design things to talk about, so here we are. After digging through blog comments and Instagram DMs, what we were surprised to find is that many of you are still mystified by what to hang on your walls that isn’t a framed piece of art. It’s honestly our number one asked question on the blog and social, again and again. Unexpected ideas for art/how to fill a wall. We get it, it can be intimidating but we are here to help with some serious inspiration. Let’s get to it…

Flags and Tapestries
Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Good Housekeeping Tour

Now using a flag or tapestry may not seem revolutionary but don’t knock it. I still look at the photo above of Emily’s old living room and literally hearts come out of my eyes. Just like the emoji. Sure, there is an art to finding the perfect flag because you should probably choose a vintage flag due to the fact that it is visually going to have more soul and depth than a brand new one. But regardless of its age, a flag is simple and can easily cover a lot of empty wall space.

Design by Gabriele Salini | Photo via Est Living

Flags are a great classic but you can also have some fun with a tapestry. If you would have asked me a few years ago how I felt about the word tapestry, I would have probably said no thank you. Visions of “boho” college dorms would have flooded my brain. That is no longer the case. The one above is from the G-Rough boutique hotel in Rome and is a super playful yet cool tapestry that I would LOVE to have in my possession. It adds great color and a wonderful texture to a beautifully modern space.

Left: Design by Gabriele Salini, Photo via Est Living | Right: Design by Sarah Sherman Samuel, Photo by Matthew Williams

The G-Rough hotel really knows how to use a tapestry because they are also the mastermind being the tapestry over the mirror look. It is not a look for every space but it is SO interesting and covers nearly the entire wall as if it’s a mural (but with more dimension…and less install fuss). SO GOOD. Then to the right, we have the ever talented Sarah Sherman Samuel and her new home where she used a beautiful piece from Küdd:krig Home. It helps to add a ton of quiet texture (and cover her TV…genuis). Oh and yes she also used a Katie Gong Squiggle (my favorite) which I will talk about in a minute. Moral of the story is that sometimes a beautiful piece of fabric is all you need to liven up your big empty wall.

Sculptures
Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: MOTO Reveal: Bowser’s Dining Happy Nook

Let’s be honest, every wall hanging is a sculpture. But for all intents and purposes, I am making it a separate category. You can hang almost anything on the right wall and it will look awesome. Take . In her master bedroom, she used a vintage buoy line she found in Seattle and it’s THE coolest (it’s the top photo in this post). Then as the wall hanging veteran she is, Bowser also chose to hang that incredible ribbon piece by Angela Chrusciaki Blehm. It brings the whole nook to life. No need for a gallery wall here.

Left: Design by Gacho Studios, Photo by Nicole Franzen | Right: Design by Darroch Putnam, Photo by Or Harpaz via Clever

These next three photos are all examples that show/prove that you can put nearly anything on your wall and call it art whether it be a massive 3-D artboard, skeletons, arrows, or a stunning salvaged wood piece. They all bring the wall to life in an interesting and unique way that isn’t in every home.

Design by Gabriele Salini | Photo via Est Living

So if you are someone that likes to think outside the box and shake things up then start mounting cool and meaningful things on your wall. Just remember to think of scale. Be wary of going too bitsy if you are mounting a collection together. Vary the scales or chose one big piece.

Keep It Natural

I told you the squiggle would be back! It’s still my favorite piece in the world. Aside from its general awesomeness, I think the reason is that it brings a really interesting yet natural element to my space. It makes me feel light and happy. And that should be examined I think. If you are someone who really resonates with calm/natural textures and colors, then put it on your walls.

Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: MOTO Reveal: Jess’ Living Room

Something as simple as a wall basket or ceramic hanging like in the photos below can add great depth and visual interest to your space. Also to be clear, you don’t need to have an all-white neutral minimal home to have natural wall hangings adorning your walls. So either search the internet for a beautiful handmade natural wall hanging (there are SO many options) or…

Left: Design by Gordana Golubovic, Photo by Lauren Moore via Est Living | Right: Courtney and Michael Adamo, Photo by Kara Rosenlund via The Design Files

GO OUTSIDE and find pieces of actual nature and mount them like the newly renovated Featherston House did that I featured in our shell trend piece. Just be careful so it doesn’t end up looking like the “beach wall” in the 1995 movie, Man of The House (Beautiful sentiment? Yes. Actually beautiful? No).

Design by Mary Featherston | Photo by Amelia Stanwix via The Design Files
Woven Beauties

Woven wall hangings are probably the most popular or “thought of” types of wall hangings in the game. They are synonymous with the eclectic, boho style and when done right, look incredible. What I love now is that there have been some modern additions that are really stunning. Basically they are still very cool. Take Brady’s beautiful piece he used in his bedroom MOTO.

Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: MOTO Reveal: Brady’s Bedroom

They are also great for covering a lot of blank space which I know is the big issue for a lot of you. Plus THAT TEXTURE your eyes get is undeniable and makes a space instantly welcoming. In the three photos below, they each feature a different type of woven wall hanging, one bold, one soft and one somewhere in the middle. While they are each different they all bring the same amount of life into the room that they are in. (Um I think this is turning into a woven wall hanging ad). Also FYI the wall hanging on the far left is a DIY. What?!

From left to right: Design by Liz Kamarul | Design by Laura Fulmine, Photo via The Modern House |  Design by Alexis Brown and Elizabeth Roberts, Photo by Floto+Warner via Arch Digest

But not all woven wall hangings need to be the only thing featured on the wall. Smaller ones are a perfect addition to add depth and texture to a gallery wall like in the photo below. Don’t you want to hang in that room?

Design by Dani Nagel, Photo by Jenna Peffley via Clever

So there it is, some visual inspiration to “glow up” those empty walls that are probably driving you crazy as you read this. Honestly just start with something if you are having a creative block. It sounds counter-intuitive to make a possible permanent hole for a non-permanent piece of art but I promise you will feel better. Head to the internet, the flea market, Craigslist, Chairish, a garage sale, nature, etc. and choose something that you love and through it up on that wall. It’s the only way you’ll know. Hope you are inspired and are filled with something other than holiday cheer.

The Personalized Under-$40 Gift I’m Getting My Family This Year

I used to believe that there were two kinds of people in the world: those who have calendars hung in their kitchen and those who don’t. Like many other lessons I’m learning about motherhood, I didn’t really get that as your kids get older with more activities, you need a physical calendar, so now we are pro-calendar. And listen, it’s gifting season, I like personal gifts so obviously you know where this is headed. A cute calendar with my kids’ faces all over it. Enter Artifact Uprising. We’ve, of course, worked with them in the past (here and here for reference) so when they reached out to partner with us again for a new product launch, it was an easy “yes.” Their products are good (for real their photo books are top-notch with pretty linen covers) and made in the US, their site is easy to use, and I’m always extremely happy with what comes in the mail.

They recently just released a new customizable calendar. thus the reason we are here today. Obviously, this would be a great gift for someone else, but since I actually really needed one, I made one for our family this year (and it’s $39, super affordable for how cute it is).

So, their new calendar…like all of their products, it was super easy to put together right on their site. When you start, it literally walks you through every step you need upfront so you know what you’re getting into…it’s pretty much tech-dummy proof and hard to mess up. What’s great is you can start by picking the month you want your calendar to begin with, for instance, if it’s a gift for someone and you want them to start with January, you’ve got that option. If it’s a gift to yourself and you want the fun to start RIGHT NOW, select “December”…and so on and so forth. From there, it’s really just deciding what photos go on what month (and you have 6 photo layouts to choose from), and if you want to write anything at the top of each month’s page.

Here’s what I did:

This isn’t your standard glossy flip calendar, folks. It’s super thick modern matte paper, so it’s perfect to write on (special dates, things to remember, etc.). The photo section is perforated, so at the end of each month, you can neatly tear off the photos and keep them for scrapbooks/frame them. THIS IS GENIUS AND MORE COMPANIES SHOULD DO IT. Personalized calendars can be so sad once the month is up. Like…you’re just throwing away people’s faces because keeping a calendar from…three years ago is really just hoarding and I promise, no one is going to go back and look at it (wait, I actually would).

HOT TIP: Decide on your images before building the calendar to make the process so much faster. You should probably look through the formats to figure out how many pictures you want for each month, but that way it’s a quick drag, drop, crop and write once you get on the site. I picked photos straight from my camera roll on my phone (then AirDropped them on my computer and easily uploaded them to the site).

In addition to being a full-time photo hoarder, I’m also a journaler, so on my calendar, instead of doing professional beautiful family photo after perfectly curated family photo, I treated it more like a journal with the bigger moments of each month, i.e. what happened in June (school’s out, go to mountain house, i.e. the best summer of our lives), what was going on in October (pumpkin picking, Birdie’s birthday).

I used the text field on each month to add notes relating to the photos I picked, mostly for the kids to read and remember last year but also get excited for what’s to come this year.

A lot of these photos came straight from my iPhone, which is where most of your photos are going to be taken throughout the year. But the calendar’s design is really crisp and modern, so it all looks good even if you think your photos aren’t bright. Once you drag and drop your photos where you want them, you just click on the image in place and crop it to your liking (so no need to have Photoshop or another editing tool to get the photo just the right size).

It comes with a matte black steel hanger (each calendar page has little punctured holes so the pages are easy to put on and take off) and measures 19.5″ x 9.5″ so it’s a unique wide landscape size (looks great over a desk, above an entryway table, I’d say even in a kitchen).

While I still have to have a digital calendar for my work schedule, we have joined the ranks of a family calendar and hopefully with the text and photos that indicate the year before, the kids will get excited to see what is potentially coming up (i.e. birthdays, holidays) or see how much they’ve changed in a year.

To make your own (for yourself or as a gift), Artifact Uprising is offering 20% off their site with code EHD20 through December 19, so that can apply to the new Modern Wall Calendar, or any of their other great personalized photo gifts like their books, photo holders, frames, and holiday cards. Keep in mind that there are some cut-off dates to get things printed and delivered in time for Christmas. Order by December 15 for USPS and December 19 for FedEx 2-Day shipping; more specifics on that here: https://www.artifactuprising.com/shipping-guidelines-101. (FYI, it’s one coupon code per person and doesn’t apply to shipping, bundle deals or Artifact Uprising’s Wedding Design Services.)

Let us know if you have any questions about the calendar (or even just Artifact Uprising products in general since we’ve tried a few) in the comments. Happy to answer them all.

*photography by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

**This post is in partnership with Artifact Uprising but all words and thoughts are our own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help support us. 

The post The Personalized Under-$40 Gift I’m Getting My Family This Year appeared first on Emily Henderson.