Emily Henderson's Blog, page 240

The Link Up: Jess’ New Morning Addiction, Ryann’s Favorite Longwear Eyeliner, & An App That Makes Buying Wine So Easy

image via Architectural Digest | home of Marlien Rentmeester, design by Alexander Reid

Happy Sunday folks. It is November already and we are not sure how we got here SO FAST but we are just going to roll with it. But, before we say goodbye to October 2019 forever, head here to see what team EHD dressed up as for Halloween, if you are so inclined. We are very proud of how well it worked out, and we love a reason to wear jumpsuits. It was a win win and also, SO fun to be matching all day.

Now, before we get into our regularly scheduled programming, we feel compelled to acknowledge the fires that have affected our home, Los Angeles this week. We especially want to thank our firefighters and first responders who have worked TIRELESSLY to save homes, contain the fires, and keep us safe. We hope any readers that are local are safe and unharmed.

Today’s home tour is brought to you by Architectural Digest, and it is probably the coolest seaside cottage we have ever laid eyes on.

From Emily: “I bought Birdie this dress and she LOVES it. She is in a huge princess phase and only wants to wear her Elsa or Ariel dresses (or nightgowns, yes, she’s gone to school plenty of times in an Anna or Elsa nightgown. This is not a battle I feel is necessary to fight). But since this dress has a ruffle skirt, she still loves it (and I would absolutely wear this dress, too). ”

When Julie’s sister, Val, left to go travel the world for a year with her family (I know we are all jealous, take us with you!) she gave her so many skincare items. One of them was this eye cream she end up loving…and with this windy weather lately it has come in handy!

Veronica bought these overalls from American Eagle a few weeks ago, and they are the perfect combination of comfortable without being too baggy. She’s usually a size small, but went with the medium so the top is a little baggier, but that’s easily fixable with the adjustable straps.

Welcome to Jess’ full-on morning addiction…the La Colombe Oatmilk Draft Latte in a can. It’s truly her most favorite coffee drink in the world and would drink it every day if she had it her way. She prefers her’s with ice because it is very creamy.

Mallory‘s life goal is to be a sommelier (but not really because it costs $600 to take the test) so instead, she’s settled with just teaching herself random facts about wine. From Mallory: “My FAVORITE app of late is Vivino, because it can scan any bottle of wine and tell you ratings, tasting notes, and other random comments. No more feeling aimless in the grocery store wine aisle! Cheers to that!”

From Arlyn: “Every year, I wait until a few days before Thanksgiving to casually decide it would be nice to have a roasting pan. And every year, a few days before Thanksgiving, it’s all kinds of roasting pan surge pricing online. This year, I thought ahead, and just got this bad boy in the mail. I gave it a roast chicken test run and it performed GREAT and so pumped to pull this out for the big day. Plus, you can hardly go wrong with All Clad (and the price point is basically “budget” for the quality you get).” 

Ryann bought this eyeliner recently and loves how easy it is to apply. As someone who has never mastered the art of makeup, she appreciates products that are easy to use, and lasts all day so no re-applying is necessary.

Sara is obsessed with Derry Girls on Netflix. “It feels original, the episodes are short (21 minutes), the dialogue is witty, and I laugh out loud.”

Caitlin knows this is not necessarily the sexiest recommendation, but she just got her first flat-plug power strip and it’s LIFE CHANGING. She was finally able to install some bookshelves and they are flush to the wall, instead of jutting a weird inch and a half into the room! It is insane how much joy she has gotten from a surge protector. (To balance out this not-sexy rec, she also LOVES this dome lamp because 1. it’s very affordable and 2. it kind of reminds her of this one currently in Em’s living room. Dome lamps for all budgets!)

That is all for now. Thanks for hanging out with us, and come back tomorrow for an exciting blog update xx

The post The Link Up: Jess’ New Morning Addiction, Ryann’s Favorite Longwear Eyeliner, & An App That Makes Buying Wine So Easy appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Why EHD Loves a Jumpsuit + Our Tried-&-True Recommendations

The EHD team likes jumpsuits—on any given day, I can almost guarantee that someone shows up in a jumpsuit and is immediately greeted with a flurry of OMGYOULOOKSOCUTE—and not just because they create a great Halloween costume (see below). No. We are fans of the singular-piece-of-fabric fashion moment because for us, it just makes sense (and might be the future of women in the work-field…buh-bye dresses, meat the new one-piece). Why? I am glad you asked. Behold my case for the jumpsuit:

They are wildly comfortable. Anyone who loved overalls at any point in their life knows they ride up in unfortunate ways when sitting. Jumpsuits, however, do not have this issue. They are roomy and something you can sit as easily as stand in. Imagine that.
Add some accessories or cool shoes and you can go from work to night, whereas you can’t as effortlessly in an overall. It always says “cute daytime.”
They have storage. As stylists, we need to have pockets and the ability to hold a lot near our bodies including phones, measuring tapes and extra credit for a hammer or screwdriver. They are overalls, but cooler. Everyday basics, but chicer.
They are a whole outfit and a very easy one-click purchase that you will actually wear. Why try to put together a curated work outfit when you can look legitimately pulled together and even chic by wearing one piece of comfortable clothing?

I like a shirt and pant combo as much as the next person, but I’m leaning far more into the jumpsuit arena of life. It’s roomy, comfy, functional and it looks like you thought about what you put on your body. Case closed?

Get The Look: Jumpsuit | Boots (similar)

I’ve had this one from Madewell for a year and a half and still LOVE it. I couldn’t find any other socks so know that I don’t endorse those socks with that jumpsuit, but that one piece is so flattering and yet roomy in the waste (I don’t like a snug jumpsuit since the whole point for me is comfort + looking cool).

Get The Look: Jumpsuit | Shoes

This one is more splurgy, but yes, it is rad. It is more special because of how it fits and falls so well, but honestly that Madewell one is pretty darn great for a 1/3 of the price.

Now, don’t just take it from me. My team is just as passionate about these “outdoor pajamas” as I am and are going to tell you why. Take it away, guys:

Caitlin:

Get The Look: Jumpsuit | Sandals (similar)

Why I love it: I always thought jumpsuits were not in the cards for me. I’m 5’8” with a long torso, F cup boobs, and an ice skating butt (read: big). Anyway, I pulled this on a whim at Target when I was looking for something to wear to my best friend’s rehearsal dinner at an aerospace museum. I needed something that could serve double duty: look fancy enough for a wedding walkthrough, and not show my bits while I’m climbing in and out of jets. When I put this on in the dressing room, I. WAS. SO. HYPED. First, it fit—no awkward pulling around my boobs or in the crotch. Second, it felt like GOSH DANG PAJAMAS. Third, it was perfect to dress up OR down and this green color was awesome (especially with the holidays coming up! But it also comes in black!). There are some reviews from people with narrower/shorter/more petite frames who have struggled with filling it out, but if you’ve historically been like, “holy crap, why can’t I even fit ONE LEG into this jumpsuit?” then Y’ALL, this is the PERFECT pick for you. And it’s only $30, so like…worth a shot, right?!

Ryann:

Get The Look: Jumpsuit | Shoes

Why I love it: There is something magical about an article of clothing that is simple, classic yet elevated enough that it says, “I tried but not too hard.” That is how I feel about this jumpsuit. It works with boots, mules, heels, sneakers…pretty much anything you want, so getting dressed is so damn easy. I have had it for a year and have not grown tired of it in the slightest, which is saying a lot. It runs true to size (I am wearing a medium) and yes it is annoying to have to pee when wearing it but that is the price one pays when you can get away with wearing a single garment to work. This particular one is from last year (though they still have a few left!) but I have my eye on this newer version that looks just as comfortable and chic.

Veronica:

Get The Look: Jumpsuit | Belt | Shoes

Why I love it: This jumpsuit Urban is super comfortable and flattering, and you can wear it plain or dress it up a little with a neck scarf, belt, and booties. It’s easy to move around in but also so great for if you’re sitting at a computer all day. I am usually a small, but ordered a medium, so the legs/butt are a little baggier than I would have liked, but the bust/arms are tighter, so the medium fits perfectly in that regard.

Mallory:

Get The Look: Jumpsuit | Sandals

Why I love it: Story time: I came across this jumpsuit as I was waltzing through Forever 21 to meet up with a friend before a show. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted something bright, something red, something…special. “Could it be…a jumpsuit?” I thought to myself. Why yes, yes it could and it was. I instantly snatched it up and sprinted through the piles of neglected clothes that had accidentally fallen off their hangers and I headed straight for the dressing room. I had a total of 3 minutes to try it on and make a decision if I was going to buy it or not. You might’ve already guessed how this story ends: I bought it. I must say, this jumpsuit fits the whole checklist of jumpsuit requirements: it’s comfy, stylish, and super affordable (which is a must for me). The color is a bold statement, yes, but I have a theory that red looks great on just about everybody and honestly, this jumpsuit has gotten me more compliments in the times I’ve worn it than any other article of clothing I own. Plus, it’s a great one to layer a striped shirt or turtleneck under. Oh, and she’s on sale. 

Now for the trifecta, a.k.a. the jumpsuit that Sara, Julie, and Velinda all have and LOVE (can you tell that we love matching??)

Sara:

Get The Look: Jumpsuit | Shoes

Why I love it: It’s the perfect versatile piece: you can dress it up for a dinner or wedding with heels and jewelry, or down for work with flats. And it’s a really unique color that you don’t see that often. Plus it’s very comfortable and you can’t beat it for the price.

Velinda:

Get The Look: Jumpsuit | Shoes (similar)

Why I love it: I have deep feelings about this jumpsuit that are best described as follows:

Dear Diary,

My jumpsuit is comfortable as hell but chic enough for work. I’m super into the fall color.

Promise to write tomorrow,

Velinda

Julie:

Get The Look: Jumpsuit | Shirt (similar) | Boots (similar)

Why I love it: I am all about wearing something to work that is comfortable (read: pajamas) but I still look professional enough for a meeting and this jumpsuit meets the criteria. My favorite color is actually purple (sshhh…don’t tell team EHD) especially to wear, and the “eggplant” color is definitely passable by their standards.

Since we are on the subject of jumpsuits and because we love a team pic, please enjoy team EHD’s Halloween costume:

We had so much fun matching all day and walking around like some sort of cult of real-life Rosie the Riveters. It was great.

Jumpsuit | Bandana 

It is worth noting that part of the reason we went with this costume is because SIX people on the team already owned this jumpsuit. It is that good and checks all our boxes: comfy, easy to wear, and cool. We all can collectively vouch for its versatility and we highly recommend. Be matching with us!

Here are some more picks that we have/want/are dying to try:

1. Sacred Hawk Denim Boilersuit | 2. Sleeveless V-Neck Corduroy Jumpsuit | 3. UO Elyn Corduroy Jumpsuit | 4. Cloth & Stone Laney Chambray Jumpsuit | 5. As You Wished Jumpsuit | 6. Pocket Corduroy Dungarees | 7. Everything And More Wide Leg Jumpsuit | 8. Super Sailor Jumpsuit | 9. Cotton Overall | 10. Contrast Stitch Retro Jumpsuit | 11. Texture & Thread Wide-Leg Wrap Jumpsuit | 12.Contrast Stitch T-Shirt Jumpsuit | 13. Belted Denim Jumpsuit | 14. Button Or Nothing Check Jumpsuit | 15. Gia Coveralls | 16. Alexa Boilersuit | 17. Striped Long Sleeve V-Neck Jumpsuit | 18. Izzy Organic Boilersuit | 19. The Modern Utility Jumpsuit | 20. Square Neck Denim Jumpsuit | 21. Luella Jumpsuit 

Are you guys on the jumpsuit train? We’d love to hear your recommendations for jumpsuits or other outfits that also feel like pajamas. xx

**photography by Veronica Crawford

The post Why EHD Loves a Jumpsuit + Our Tried-&-True Recommendations appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Budget Hacks: Caitlin Furnished Her Apartment Basically For Free (& You Can, Too)

*not caitlin’s apartment full of “free” furniture | photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: a budget and renter-friendly makeover

An admission: even though I work here, an interior design website alongside a multitude of preternaturally gifted real-life professional interior designers, I still do not understand the new furniture buying process. How does anyone afford it? Did I miss this lesson in school? Are some people just super good at budgeting? Did you buy from a store with financing? Throw purchases on a 0% APR credit card?

Guys, I have a hot take and I’m not ashamed to share it: EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE AND I FEEL ANXIOUS WHEN I SEE A WHOLE PAYCHECK LEAVING MY BANK ACCOUNT AT ONCE. Furniture is expensive—and rightfully so, seeing that it’s kinda permanent and we LIVE on it—but I prefer spending my money on Postmates and bills (unfortunately, oftentimes in that order).

Now…in my last post, I walked you through the ins and outs of finding the best-hidden vintage gems without leaving your house. But today, we’re taking it to the next level: I’ve re-furnished my whole home for (“technically”) free and it’s time for me to bestow my best-kept secret upon the masses. Buckle up, because it’s anecdote time.

A few years back, I was really riding the mid-century wave and got a little out of touch with myself and my own interior style. One day I came home from work and realized my apartment was just so RED and had so much WOOD and oh my gosh, why was I 25-years-old with three Persian rugs? And yeah, it looked fine together…but it just felt wrong for me. Has anyone else ever had that? Getting so caught up in the pursuit of an aesthetic that suddenly one day you see your space with fresh eyes and you’re like, “OH NO. I love the ’80s! Why am I buying Chinoiserie tables and ginger jar lamps?!”

I wanted to refresh my entire apartment, so I got to work listing everything on Craigslist. Long story short: it was hard and I didn’t want to do it. There’s so much WORK that goes into selling your own furniture: photographing, listing, uploading the photos, setting the price, negotiating with lowballers, avoiding scam texts from people who want to “send you a check and then send someone to pick it up,” refreshing the listing, coordinating a pickup, transporting the item…ugh.

That’s when I stumbled upon my favorite secret: YOU CAN PAY FOR THINGS BY OFFERING UP YOUR FURNITURE AND DECOR. It is 2019 and folks, bartering is still alive and well!

Y’all know I’m a big fan of selling directly to local vintage shops (and if you don’t, it hurts my feelings that you haven’t read my opus here on how I made money sitting on my couch and sending dealers photos from Craigslist), but you can take it one step further and straight-up TRADE your furniture for their current stock. Here are some step-by-step instructions on how it worked for me, so you can follow in my footsteps:

I spotted my dream dresser in a local LA vintage shop. It was pink and modern but also weird and kind of hideous (my favorite), so naturally I fell absolutely and irrevocably in love with it. It was SO FAR out of my price range ($2,250, to be exact) that it felt irresponsible to even be looking at it. You know how they tell you not to try on wedding dresses you can’t afford on Say Yes to the Dress? Kind of like that. 
I texted the shop buyer—you can also try sliding into DMs on Instagram or sending an email to the address on the website—a photo of the dresser I had been planning on selling. I knew I could get about $400 for it on Craigslist with some persistence, but knew that with their reach, they’d be able to move it relatively quickly for about $800. I asked if she’d be willing to trade for my dream pink dresser. 
The owner sent a counteroffer: give her my yellow dresser and 400 dollars. Progress!
I looked around my apartment and spotted an old rug I had planned on selling and sent her the photo. Again, I would have probably made about $600 if I had posted it around, but knew that this retailer would be able to move it quickly for about $1,200. 
We had a deal. The shop owner SENT A TRUCK the same day and her employees picked up my items, carried them downstairs, AND delivered my dream dresser. Overall, negotiations took about 30 minutes over text…and I didn’t have to lift a finger. 

This was LIFE-CHANGING FOR ME. I didn’t have to meet a stranger. I didn’t have to send a thousand messages back and forth. There were no delivery fees. I didn’t even have to leave my house! And most importantly, I SPENT NONE MONEY. No dollars! I started using this strategy for everything. My mid-century credenza, some side tables, a leather club chair, and a travertine coffee table were traded in for a huge ’80s laminate buffet, a velvet lavender waterfall bench, and a black-and-white striped sofa. In another case, I negotiated a pair of ’70s chairs down from $1,000 to $300 by throwing in a ton of vintage art and vessels.

Now, there’s not a ton of incentive for any vintage shops to tell you about this seeing that like money is generally the preferred payment type for all goods and services…but there’s a ton of value for business owners in moving inventory and bringing new pieces into the store, for free, without having to head out on a buying trip. And there’s also a kicker: you do need to start out with some vintage pieces in fairly good condition. The bright side? I already wrote a guide on HOW TO DO IT for VERY CHEAP. (Have I plugged my last post enough yet?) This won’t necessarily work with your furniture from CB2 or West Elm…but I don’t even understand how to afford any of those things anyway. 

So y’all, next time I walk into my apartment and have a total meltdown (“WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE TOONTOWN IN HERE?” — me, one day in the future, maybe?), I’ll be able to swap everything. For (basically) free. It’s sustainable, a win-win for both me and my local retailers and I CAN’T BELIEVE NO BLOG EVER TOLD ME ABOUT IT. So now, my friends, please go into the world: next time you want to refresh your home, make it easier on yourself…and your wallet. Reach out to your local shops and offer up your pieces as collateral. Report back with your findings. I hope my life hacks serve you well. 

The post Budget Hacks: Caitlin Furnished Her Apartment Basically For Free (& You Can, Too) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Sara’s House: The Design Process…Part II (Time to Pick Some Furniture)

design by amber interiors | photo by tessa neustadt

Welcome to our latest blog experiment where one of my designers (Velinda) became the official designer to Sara, my head of production. Sara and her boyfriend Mac bought a house and frankly needed help. As a reminder, I thought it would be fun to really show you the design process from both sides. I also knew it would be great experience for Velinda as she builds her portfolio for her own future clients. So we (including me, Emily) get to sit back and watch…today, it’s the design board presentations. Let’s go.

Velinda here, and welcome back to Sara’s house. After a bit of gutting and lots of measuring, we’re about to dive into the fun part!

Residential design collaborations are usually fun because they’re so intimate. And they’re challenging because they’re so intimate. Unlike many commercial projects, the spending of every dollar is felt, so each decision is under severe scrutiny and debate. Often there’s more than one person fighting for a presence within this space they call “home.” It’s not uncommon to get 10 pm, worried texts from a second-guessing client. (Note: Sara, this isn’t permission to do this.) The faint of heart sometimes deem residential clients “not worth the hassle.” But each project is as varied as the client, so the job stays spicy. And in the end, you get to hand over a finished canvas to someone who cares passionately about the space and sees themselves in the details. That’s what we’re hoping for here, as we delve into visual concepts and sourcing.

When I initially met with Mac and Sara for a full low-down of wants and needs, I learned art has been their biggest fight (to mix or not to mix styles) and in their last apartment, Sara won. (She’s a stubborn one.) But they both love mid-century lines and vintage rugs. Sara described wanting a “fresh, traditional, warm, curated, minimal space.” Mac is hoping for a space that’s “inviting, intentional, sharp, comforting and lit.” I’m pretty sure he actually means “light,” not “drunk (or maybe it’s just what the youths are saying?),” but just to cover our bases, a bar of some kind is definitely in the works! They really see themselves using these two spaces as entertaining areas for playing games with friends or cuddling by the fire.

One of the first things we did together as designer and client was scroll through inspiration images they had both approved of and previously pinned, and I had them talk me through what from each image they were drawn to. I think it’s important to note that while a client might pin a room it doesn’t necessarily mean they love everything in the room; they might like airy feel, or the color palette, but not the actual furniture in the space. Here are some pins from their “Dining Room” board:

from left to right: design by carter design | photo by joe schmelzer, design by katie hodges | photo by haris kenjar, design by amber interiors, design & photo by the lisbonas

From these pins, I picked up a lot of traditional vibes, a pretty stark lack of color (they both tend to lean very minimal in their color palette), and a bright fresh, organic feel overall… but with punches of black.

Moving onto some images they pinned for the living room:

from left to right: design by amber interiors | photo by tessa neustadt, design by Catherine Kwong, design by unknown

They seem to both be drawn to images where textures are mixed in rather than mixing lots of different colors or patterns. And again, strong traditional aesthetics with hits of minimal modern.

I kept their boards open to refer to throughout this phase of the design, checking back frequently to see if concepts felt on track, even if they presented new spins on their own ideas. And I always want the finished space to fit their desired description, so I checked back in with their questionnaire along the way, too.

Again, there are great samples and explanations about creating initial boards in our recent “Design Process” post, so I won’t go into a ton of explanation on what we’re doing in this step of the process. In short, here’s where the shopping starts. I immediately turned to some of our favorite go-to sources (Article, Lulu & Georgia, AllModern, Rejuvenation, Clad Home, and Sunbeam Vintage to name a few), hunting for pieces that fit the vibe and that I thought might excite my duo. Since Mac and Sara aren’t planning on repurposing much of what they currently own for these two spaces due to size constraints (don’t worry, all previously loved furniture is going to good homes), I approached concepts by seeking high-impact/anchoring pieces first to build the rooms around. I also knew two important things:

Mac and Sara are both Team Vintage Rugs (and, like me, they like a dining room rug! Gotta protect those new wood floors)
Sara had already picked out two pieces for the dining room: A bar cabinet and this pendant light (which she bought months ago)

Rugs felt like the best “design-guiding” place to start, due to Mac and Sara’s love for them. It can be hard to find a vintage rug in the right colors and size needed, much less two that work together. Another aspect that makes shopping for vintage rugs tough is the fact that they’re often odd sizes and listed under general broad size categories (i.e.: “Area Rugs” or “Large”). We knew the exact sizes we needed (thanks to spatial planning!), so I started by shopping Esmaili Rugs because they have a site feature that lets shoppers sort by exact sizing. I made a rug options board within a couple of minutes.

How did I do this? Am I a Photoshop magician? No, my friends. While I still use Photoshop skills for final presentations, back when I started at EHD, Brady (uh EMILY actually) taught me the trick of using Keynote or Google Slides to make fast vision boards for the designer as they home in on designs. It saves so much time (and money for my clients) because it’s easy to just drag and drop/easily crop, without spending extra time cutting out backgrounds in Photoshop for every object being considered. Keep in mind these aren’t the final boards, just process concepts. Photoshop comes back into play to make things pretty to present to the client.

Speaking of, remember when I said some designers avoid taking individual clients at all… well, I couldn’t get away from mine! My “client” (boss) was always just a pane of glass away (and was often sending me links to stunning sofas far too large for their space). And stubborn lil’ Sara couldn’t resist peeking over my shoulder. No pressure. So this (typically private) part of the process got a little incestuous. Normally clients would see two, maybe three design concepts with everything perfectly cut out to really help them visualize. But it didn’t seem fair that Sara was getting all these sneak peeks while Mac was all the way in Culver City everyday, so if Sara was going to get to see these so was Mac. In the end it wasn’t actually that bad, and I was able to get pretty instant feedback on my initial directions, which looked something like this: 

Concept #1

Concept #2

These first two options both present a dark rug in the dining room and lighter in the living. The dark green square in the dining room area serves as a reminder of the moody color they’re leaning towards painting the TV room, which will be visible from both the living room and dining room. It’s a small house and the design should all speak to each other, even if there are variations. Concept #1 has a smaller sofa and really is suited to the space. The longer, leather sofa is low and lacks an arm, so it’s not as visually heavy as a lot of larger sofas. I already knew Sara wanted a rectangular dining table big enough for six, so I made sure to source big tables perfect for game nights (concept 1 & concept 2) It was already determined through layout planning that we wanted a bench and I loved the one in these boards due to the fact that it has a back (comfort), minimal lines (sleek) and a lighter tone to speak to the hutch and lighter rug tones. Concept one’s dining chairs have a mid-century feel. In concept two, I choose chairs that have more organic shape.

Feedback For Concepts 1 & 2:

Sara and Mac agree that they like the green pops of both designs and were open to something bold like a velvet green sofa, which I wasn’t sure would meld with their request for minimal (but liked a lot given it’s a craftsman house). Mac didn’t love the blue tones in the rug of Concept 2 as much as Sara did. The very simple/neutral living room chairs in Concept 1, while pretty, didn’t end up feeling like their vibe. If we went with a layout that includes chairs, Mac would prefer something dark. Sara, at this point, still leaned slightly toward a chaise/daybed. They both dug an arched mirror but leaned towards the more modern metal framed mirror.

For these next two boards, I swapped rug tones and placed a darker rug in the living room with a lighter rug in the dining room. Since they rarely eat at the dining table and board games don’t often stain fabric, I feel pretty safe about going light in the dining room:

Concept #3

Concept #4

In Concept 3, knowing Mac would be excited by as much black as possible, I explored black chairs in the dining room. However, seeing the dark chairs with a dark cabinet and a dark pendant was a lot of DARK. The white sofa in the living room is actually a chaise, which I love, but it’s really more to show the concept/feel. It’d actually be oddly deep for their tiny space. If they loved the idea and feel of it, there’s always the option of something custom. But how cool are those chairs in concept 4? They’re wood and leather, so I can’t imagine anything more “sharp,” for Mac. Plus, they’re narrow and low, providing plenty of visual flow space between the living room and dining room (which is what a chaise would provide).

Feedback For Concepts 3 & 4:

Mac was obsessed with the lounge chairs in Concept 4. I showed him an option with the leather in a lighter caramel tan, too, but he was hooked on black at first sight. He also loved the black dining chairs. And the dark rug. Basically, if it all could be black, Mac’s in. Sara also loved the chairs, but I positioned her to be on my side with “it can’t all be black.”

Concept #5

Concept #6

These two concepts are where I wandered the most. “But…do you like yellow? What about a really modern pop of color for a coffee table?” The bench/lounge in Concept 5 is a perfect size, but ultimately, our power couple (Mac + Sara = “Sarmac?”…sounds like an ointment. “Macara?” Let’s just round up to “Mascara”)—Mascara had become pretty obsessed with the chairs from Concept 4. Which meant we finally had a layout decided on! Sofa across from two chairs it is. Finally, in Concept 6, I explored all neutral rugs since they specified wanting “fresh and light.”

Feedback For Concepts 5 & 6:

Sara nixed an all-neutral rug concept and while she loved the yellow sofa in style, she would prefer to stick to blues and greens. Mac reiterated his leaning away from blues…and then he broke my heart. That gorgeous, theoretical “we gotta find this vintage piece” photo displayed in most of the boards? He let me know he doesn’t want anything that “solid” for the bar area. Instead, he’d prefer a cart. I pushed back a baby-bit, pointing out a vintage “cart” doesn’t take up much visual space, so it doesn’t quite serve as the “vintage heart” of the room in the same way. I love modern and I love new, but I think we gotta have that unattainable quality that comes from something that’s seen some sh*t, too. So we agreed that we’d still look for a vintage bar cart option and find other way to bring in a bit more “old” in some of the remaining details (like original art and accessories).

Just for fun, let’s examine the varying styles in communicating preferences:

Mac: “I’m actually into this vibe, not sure if it is too big to bridge the gap between living and dining rooms, but I like the utility—don’t like light gray.” … That’s incredibly helpful, Mac, I hadn’t considered how much you care about utility before, but now know exactly how to adjust. Brilliant!

And then Sara: “LIKE ALL CHAIR OPTIONS” or “NOT AS INTO THIS”…uhhh, Sara that’s…equally helpful? Sara’s worked in production too long, and really knows how to cut to the chase. ::palm slapping face emoji::

The slab of clay has been tossed, the general form carved out and now after all the peeking over the shoulders, I think I know how to adapt. It’s time to start carving in the details, hopefully with a balance of his and her preferences.  But you’re going to have to come back to see the final design choices…next week! In the meantime, let’s look at all options all together in case you wanted to, I don’t know…study them?

See you next week for the final design board. ::waving emoji::

The post Sara’s House: The Design Process…Part II (Time to Pick Some Furniture) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Reveal: A Refresh of the Kids’ Room in the Mountain House

Welcome back to our two-day stretch of MORE mountain house “reveals” except they’re all kind of “refreshes.” The kids’ bedroom was actually the first room in the entire house that we revealed back in March but it was styled and shot for Target using their Pillowfort collection and after some living, there needed to be a few updates…for two reasons: 1. the kids now share a king-sized bed and 2. I felt that the white headboard could be more playful and exciting.

Here’s what it looked like when we first revealed it:

I loved it all (especially that DIY canopy), but the twin bed thing just didn’t last (for now). We ended up shoving them together so we could read together and FINE, maybe I’m bad about resisting the urge to go in there in the middle of the night when they call. They’ve got my number and at least four nights a week, I ended up laying with them for a bit or hours if I fall asleep. I was sleeping in the crack so uncomfortably and was like, this is ridiculous. We bought one of those kits that puts them together and fills the gap (and as you can see we still have two twin bed frames because we know that this situation isn’t forever).

Plus, for renting this out, this could be another grown-up room, and the memory foam carpet is honestly soft enough that you can literally put a sleeping bag on the floor for kids, if needed.

Days before the reader event, I looked at this room and just thought that headboard could be better. We found THE PERFECT fabric from Minted by artist Beth Schneider and Emily Bowser and Julie spent a day DIY-ing that long headboard wall by reupholstering over the white canvas.

Because the headboard is so wide, they had to spend time carefully finding a way to pattern match, which is far more complicated than you think (hot tip: if you plan on doing something like this, always account for more fabric needed for the pattern repeat because there is waste).

We had bought those nightstands as options for the upstairs guest room so we tried them in here and loved how they modernized the space. They popped off the busier headboard in a graphic but playful shape and tone. And we switched out the bear for the moose because the dark brown was feeling heavy.

We had to switch out the bedding because the green blankets were twin (and the pirates couldn’t live with the animal headboard, duh) so we kept it calm but playful with that Rebecca Atwood blanket, long striped lumbar, and tiny delicate striped shams.

I loved how it turned out.

But there was still something on the other side of the room that was bugging me. This is how it looked when we originally revealed it:

It always bugged me that there was nook on nook and that bottom nook was meant for a custom pull-out closet that we never executed due to budget (the renderings are here if you want to see). It just felt busy to me.

So the day before the reader event (nothing like a last-minute deadline, huh?) we thought, what if for now, we just put a white curtain with leather pullbacks there? So day-of, Julie (bless her) figured out how to make that work and this is what she came up with:

It did help, I promise but we all agree that it’s not necessarily permanent. I think I want to get someone to make two white cabinet doors for now and turn it into a secret cupboard. If we wanted to call it a closet, we could even install a rod somewhere.

We had leftover fabric and Julie had the sweetest idea to sew a pillow for this nook.

She stayed up the night before the event to sew it—hopefully with wine in hand. THANK YOU JULIE. It really did help bring that side of the room to life and work well with the other. Then I found that bunting at Lulu and Georgia and those colors worked perfectly with our new animal print.

There we go. An update on a room that wasn’t quite there when we shot and revealed it originally. As we live in the house, we realize what tweaks need to be made because designing a home isn’t necessarily a start to finish process. I still need to tackle the dining room back cushion and light situation and I might play musical rugs downstairs…

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

I bet you thought mountain house reveals were over? WRONG! We’re back in the upstairs guest bedroom, which we sort of showed you in this post, but now it’s fully done. We got weird with this one, and I’m so happy we did. A king and a queen bed in here, first on accident and then intentionally. Here’s how it went down: we messed up in the design process and didn’t make the windows wide enough to put a king bed in between the windows. We thought we did, but I think we didn’t account for the frame (this and other lessons in my next book that my team and I are spending 8 hours a day writing right now). So any king bed would hit the frame in the most awkward accidental way.

If you know me at all, you might know that I hate when things barely touch awkwardly (generally in life, actually). It needs to look intentional, so they can overlap just not barely touch. We started looking for wider beds to rectify this, in search of a headboard that would go so far over the window that it would be obvious that we weren’t trying to make it fit in between. Julie reminded me about the extra wide king bed from Thos. Moser that we used in the Portland project, and we were like “oh dear, that’s our bed.” We thought about all these DIY headboards that could have been a janky solution, but truly this bed made the most design sense (and needed to look good because it was going to be in a magazine, and on the blog, of course).

So we reached out to see if they’d work with us again. But first, a bit about the company: Thos. Moser has been around for decades—generations almost says it better; read about the history here. I’ve loved them since I was a stylist in New York, 15 years ago. They are a heritage, artisan furniture company based in Maine that makes their beautiful products right here in the US. It’s how we used to make and buy furniture: from a furniture maker that made high-quality classic pieces, then we’d pass it down from generation to generation. We reached out and pitched the trade, knowing that this bed was beyond our budget (that is how a lot of these partnerships work). If you have the budget, please support companies and makers like this. I didn’t due to being so far over budget on this house, but I’m proud to be able to support them in the ways I can, like exposing their work to our large audience, getting them press, social media and, best of all, photography for their usage. We work hard to create beautiful rooms for makers and brands we love and Thos. Moser is truly one of them.

Okay. Back to the dilemma. They didn’t have a king made (they are made to order, after all) at the time, only a queen, but we (all of us) REALLY wanted to try to get it in the House Beautiful feature. So they shipped the queen and we shot it here:

We could only shoot this vignette and not the pulled back room because the queen headboard did hit the windows awkwardly so we cheated it to the side so it would “clear” the window frame and just shot this side (a little smoke and mirrors).

Meanwhile, we put the king mattress that we originally had on the floor on the other side of the room and guess what? All summer long this room, with two big beds, got more use from families than any other. All our friends and family with small kids loved that they could sleep near them. It’s almost a grown-up (and more beautiful) bunk bedroom. So when the king was ready and arrived, we realized that both would fit—the king between the windows and the queen by the closet. It would mean little space for too much else, but at this point we realized that we were so over budget that indeed we would be renting out this house and having more places for people to sleep comfortably is a huge selling point.

It works and is somehow still so open and calming because everything is cohesive. All the wood matches, and the tones of the textiles and carpet all coordinate so well. Having the beds be lighter, visually (they are EXTREMELY heavy by the way, in a good way that you know will last probably hundreds of years) helps keep it feeling big despite having two beds.

Now, trying to coordinate bedding on both so that they worked well without matching was a challenge that took me, Emily Bowser and Julie WEEKS to figure out, but we did and we loved how it turned out. We tried to have the same amount of “visual weight” on both beds so it felt balanced and we used the same types of textiles on each so they coordinated but mixed up where they went. One bed has that pretty mauve on the pillows, the other on the blanket.

The window shades, which are Hunter Douglas from Decorview, are blackout shades, on remotes and super simple and lovely.

As for the wall-to-wall carpet…well, I never thought I’d do beige wall-to-wall in my life? But here we are. It was supposed to be light gray but we accidentally ordered the wrong colorway (ha a lot was happening fast, guys) and when it arrived, we were actually so pleasantly surprised and love it way more. It’s from Stark Carpet and we hacked it by putting 2″ memory foam underneath it (density 7 lb which was about $200 more to install than a standard install pad), so while it’s a low pile, it is EXTREMELY comfortable. Bouncy, even.

We knew that we wouldn’t have a ton of space for lamps, and wanted to add something architectural to the room, so we ordered this sconce from One Forty Three and we love what it did to the room. It’s quiet but really interesting (please note the wood ball on the bottom arm, which ties in with our light wood throughout).

For anyone who wonders if nightstands have to match, the answer is no, not really. Here, we used two sets (one for each bed), though it’s a visual lesson that they could also be mixed and matched if there were just the one bed. The round wood ones above are from IKEA (which are so great and obviously affordable). Once the king bed came in, we didn’t have room for that sherpa chair (from Target and awesome), sadly.

On the other side of the room, we have two smaller nightstands (mostly for a glass of water) from CB2. We hung these awesome sconces from Humanhome that saved space but provide the light that those guests would need. The cord hangs and attaches to the wall (and you turn them on/off from a button on the floor).

I repurposed my Jane Denton pieces from Birdie’s old nursery here and, of course, still love them. Between those and the mirror and sconces, that’s all the room really needs. It’s soft and minimal.

The closet doors are by Ross Alan and yes you have space to open them. We put a dresser inside for the guests to be able to put their clothes away.

Excellent bed styling ladies. Pulled together, cohesive yet soft and inviting. The shams in that photo are actually euros that we cheated for the shot, so if you are on Pom Pom at Home’s website, know that they don’t exist in standard or king size (although we think they should and technically, if you’re handy with a sewing machine, you could just size them down).

This room has its own bathroom (reveal here) and while I love no room more than our master bedroom, this room is fought over.

That beautiful vase is from Sheldon Ceramics (how perfect is it?) and fun fact, those branches lasted for months and are dried so we didn’t even have to buy new ones for this shoot.

There you go. The most beautiful bed in the world in what might be the coziest bedroom I’ve ever designed. Come back tomorrow for another mountain house update (we played around in the kids’ room and did something maybe a little controversial??). See you tomorrow for that.

Resources

Furniture: 

Foreside Queen & King Beds by Thos. Moser | Small Ivory Hex Nightstands by CB2 | Tiered Wood Side Tables by IKEA

Bedding & Decor:

King Bed Area: Swing-Arm Sconce by One Forty Three | Round Mirror by CB2 | Mini Nub Dish by Ben Mendansky | Terra Cotta Vase by Sheldon Ceramics | Table Lamp from Finnish Design Shop | Lumbar Pillow from Filling Spaces | Shams from Pom Pom at Home | Blush Pillowcases from Target | Linen Blend Duvet Set from Target | Berry Quilt from Pom Pom at Home

Queen Bed Area: Plug-In Sconce by Humanhome | X Art (above bed) by Jane Denton | Art (above bed) by Jane Denton | Lumbar Pillow from Filling Spaces | Berry Shams from Pom Pom at Home | White Pillowcases from Target | Cream/Gray Duvet Cover from Pom Pom at Home (similar) | Diamond-Stitch Velvet Mauve Quilt from Target | Blush Blanket from Pom Pom at Home

Hardware & Finishes:

Closet Hardware by Schoolhouse | Door Hardware by Rejuvenation | Light Switch by Forbes & Lomax | Pure White Paint by Sherwin-Williams

Windows & Doors:

Hunter Douglas Room Darkening Solera Soft Shades from Decorview | Treemont Stria Carpet by Stark Carpet | Contemporary Windows by Marvin | Beechwood Doors by Ross Alan Reclaimed

And lastly, I wanted to give Thos. Moser another shout out (this post isn’t sponsored, I just really love them) and show you all my other favorite pieces, some of which haven’t changed since I loved them 15 years ago. If you are in Freeport, Maine, New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., or San Francisco, you can check out these pieces for yourself at their showrooms.

1. Foreside Bed 2. Wishbone Extension Table | 3. Hoop Mirror | 4. Hancock Table | 5. Continuous Arm Chair | 6. Dr. White’s Chest | 7. Eastward Bench | 8. Table Minimus – Oval | 9. Ellipse Arm Chair | 10. Vita Blanket Box | 11. Continuous Arm Bench | 12. Pencil Post Bed | 13. Continuous Arm Rocker | 14. Hartford Sofa – One Place | 15. Foreside Mirror

***photography by Sara Liggoria-Tramp, design by me with assistance from Julie Rose, styling by Emily Bowser and Julie Rose

The post Mountain House Reveal (Yes, Another One!): The Coziest Upstairs Guest “Bunk” Bedroom appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: A Classic Cookie Recipe (With a Twist), $8 Mascara That’s a Perfect High-End Dupe & Julie’s Glamping Experience

image via The Design Files | design by Emma and Tom Lane

Hello friends and welcome back (from yesterday’s fall boot post). If you follow us on Instagram (which we hope you do and if you don’t for some reason…click here QUICK), you may have noticed we’ve been celebrating birthdays A LOT around here. This is evidently what happens when the majority of the team are Virgos and Libras who love a reason to celebrate. Hence why our office looks like a unicorn threw up balloons, streamers, and glitter EVERYWHERE, not to mention it’s also workaversary season, so we have Deskorations® (decorations…for the desk) going up left and right (*term trademarked by Bowser). It’s very fun, but pretty soon Sara’s going to run out of things to bake and we won’t have any more restaurants to go to for our birthday happy hours, but it’s a tradition now so we’ll always find a way. But birthday season aside, we still have lots to recommend so let’s get into this week’s rendition of The Link Up:

Today’s featured home tour is courtesy of The Design Files and will have you dreaming of neutrals. And yes, it will convert you to into an all-brown home enthusiast. You have been warned.

Emily is pumped to start watching Modern Love on Amazon Prime. Anyone out there get through it yet? Should we start a “watch club” (instead of a book club)?

From Arlyn: “I’d rather spend my money on home and kitchen things instead of fashion, and I have an affinity for slowly growing my Staub collection. This might be my favorite piece I own. It’s HUGE (fits a whole chicken), the glass top lets you see what’s happening in there, and it works both in the oven and on the stove. Plus, it’s SO pretty.” 

For anyone who doesn’t want to drop $200+ on cookware but likes to put their money where their face is, Arlyn also recently fell in love with this $14 highlighter and this $8 mascara. “I’ve always struggled to find a highlighter that works on tan skin. It’s either too white, too powdery, too glittery. This one is JUST right and makes me look like I’m glowy. As for the mascara, I’m super impressed with L’Oreal Lash Paradise as a dupe to Toofaced Better Than Sex mascara, which is basically the best thing on the market I’ve tried. No raccoon eyes, no spider lashes, just lots of volume and length.”

Jess doesn’t need this incredibly cool salad bowl from cb2…or does she???

Sara has three sauces she always keeps in her fridge and this one has just been added to the list.

Over the long weekend this month, Julie, Jess and Sara went on a road trip and stayed at one the best glamping “hotels” right outside of Zion. The company is called Under Canvas and they have locations all over the US typically near a national park. From Julie: “When we drove onto the property I was instantly so excited to be camping in some form again. Then I was just downright impressed. When we checked in, the woman gave us a full tour of the property, she brought up a golf cart to take us and our bags to our tent and then continued to do a tour of the tent and show us how everything works including tips on how to build the fire in one of the cutest stoves! The food was great and they offer free s’mores at night. I am sold and will be visiting another location very soon.”

Veronica bought this candle from Bath & Body Works last weekend and now she catches herself burning it all day, everyday. “It smells like Christmas and fall wrapped into one, and makes everything feel so cozy.”

Mallory finally decided to get some trendy clips and she went with these from Nordstrom rack. She’s worn them into the office every day since she bought them, so it’s safe to say it was a great purchase. 

Caitlin’s really annoyed because no one in the office watches Succession and it’s been like, two weeks since the finale and she NEEDS to talk about it with someone. “Can y’all chime in and convince the other members of Team EHD to START WATCHING?! (And if you haven’t started watching, you have missed out on the best-written show in recent memory. It’s SUPER easy to get in to and Greg the Egg is a gosh dang angel.)”

Baking season is almost upon us, and Sara has a great yet simple cookie recipe for you. From Sara: “I’ve been making this recipe recently— and it’s just the Nestle Tollhouse recipe! But with a few key changes: 1. I replace 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract with 1/2 a teaspoon of almond extract. 2. I use block chocolate that I rough chop with a knife to get bigger chunks and little flakes throughout that give a more elevated feel. 3. I make the dough and let it sit in the fridge overnight/24 hours to allow the sugars to caramelize and the flour to moisten (a tip from Food52’s baking book). 4. Finally, I sprinkle Maldon salt flakes on top of each cookie before they bake. The salt just brings a nice contrast to the sweet, and makes your cookies feel extra fancy. These are office approved.”

And a quick “in case you missed it” from this week: Emily’s ridiculously good styling class on Skillshare can be watched for free with a special promo code found in this post, Nisolo (our favorite ethically made shoe brand) is offering EHD readers 20% off all styles in this post, and if you’re wondering who all those names up there are, head here to put some faces to those names.

Alright, that is all for now. We hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and can’t wait to see you back here tomorrow. xx

 

The post The Link Up: A Classic Cookie Recipe (With a Twist), $8 Mascara That’s a Perfect High-End Dupe & Julie’s Glamping Experience appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Shopping My Closet for Fall & Wearing Some (Ethically Made) Shoes That I Love

In today’s episode of Emily Henderson: World-Famous Parisian Runway Model, I grabbed clothes from my actual closet, put them on my body, then posed in and around my home. I didn’t even really clean or style my house for you this time because I’m just that edgy. And because clothes are really only 3/4 of an outfit, there had to be some shoes, right? Last week, I did a giant boot haul review and touched on my love of the Nisolo Chelsea Boots above, but today, we’re going all-in to show you how effortless it is to wear their very beautifully made shoes with normal, everyday clothes.

This isn’t the first time I’ve sung the praises of the brand (remember this all-team summer favorites post?), but besides very well-made super versatile styles, their ethos are something I think anyone could get behind (like paying all their workers living wages). No skeletons in that shoe closet. They are the type of brand I don’t even have to think about, I just know I love their product and keep buying again and again. You can read more about how they’re a Certified B Corporation here and how they offset carbon emissions for every product sold here. 

So yeah, no gross feelings about giving my money to a company like Nisolo, but also, I really do wear their shoes all the time. They were kind enough to send through a few new pairs of some of my staples, which I could have actually just worn, minor scuffs and all to show you how they wear-in (they kind of get better with age), but I suppose knowing what YOU would be getting is a good thing.

Get The Look: Jeans | Sweater | Boots

These are the Chelsea Boots I talked about in my boot review that I love (I left them at the mountain house so they sent me this new shiny pair to show you guys). They really are the star of any outfit, so it is easy to dress casually when wearing them. That is why you will see some older clothes that you’ve seen on my body before to model these shoes because again, their boots are so special that they elevate a somewhat “basic” outfit to feel fresh and sophisticated.

How pretty are those? They are (and have been for quite some time) my go-to Chelsea, and while I have found others I like, I keep coming back to them because they are comfortable, long-lasting and aesthetically great. They have that classic silhouette that never gets old.

Get The Look: Pants | Shirt | Jacket (similar) | Belt | Boots | Socks (similar)

Now, these are the same boots in black with a leather sole, which I love (they have an all-black water-resistant leather option with a rubber sole, as well). I paired them with my favorite jeans and their Noemi Belt, which is simple and classic with the perfect size and shape brass buckle. That is what is so great about Nisolo, they make the classic items that everyone needs in their wardrobe, and they do it so well. I found myself wearing the brandy version of these boots (above) over and over last fall and winter and still love them, so I can bet these black ones will be a fast favorite in my closet.

The height is that perfect 1-inch boost and they are pointy and sleek enough to make your legs look longer, if you are into that. They are also fitted at the ankle and tuck in nicely with cropped pants, but are still easy to get on and off.

Get The Look: Pants | Shirt (similar) | Jacket (similar) | Belt | Boots | Socks (similar)

Now for the Heeled Chelsea Boots that I was so excited to try. They are extremely versatile and I can see myself wearing them with the majority of my wardrobe which makes getting dressed so easy. Also, I’m wearing braided belts now which is a pretty big fashion plot twist for me. Nisolo sent me this one to try and I forgot how great braided belts are because you have total control in their tightness.

I think this outfit represents “professional me,” which just means a Victorian ruffle collar, plaid jacket, skinny non-ripped jeans, playful socks and shoes that say “I care,” without looking too try-hard. Oh shoot. I just realized that’s the key to any good outfit…or relationship: showing you care, without trying too hard to prove it and looking false. You’re welcome.

Side note: my kids are obsessed with that terrifying cat statue because it reminds them of our beloved Bearcat (RIP) and when they found it in the Halloween bin, they squealed with nostalgic joy for the best cat that ever lived. So I didn’t have the heart to take it away, and now here it is as my stylist assistant for this shoot.

I wore these boots for a shoot last week and walked around in them for hours, styling and moving furniture. They are VERY comfortable and just feel solid. Plus, you know how I feel about laces (who’s got the time), and these slide on and off easily.

Get The Look: Skirt | Shirt | Sweater (similar) | Hat (similar) | Shoes | Bag

Lastly, the Paloma Mules. I have the smaller heeled version that I still wear all the time, but the higher one is just so versatile and pairs really well with skirts/dresses. I am also wearing their Clara Crossbody Purse in the rosewood color (which is a rich dark brown), and I love the look and feel of it so much. You can tell it is made to last, and is the perfect size and shape for an everyday bag.

I opt for these mules almost every day now because they are comfortable enough to work all day in but give me some height, which I like. And the soft nude color is so pretty (and they come in other colors, as well). Nisolo mules are an EHD favorite, and if you run into my team, I can pretty much guarantee one of them will be wearing a pair. They are that good.

These shoes are solid, they last a long time, are super classic and I love knowing that we are supporting a brand that is trying to make the world a better place by reducing waste and treating people with respect. YAY. Bravo for working to help make the fashion industry more sustainable. 

Thanks to Nisolo for partnering on this post. They are so great and are offering 20% off all Nisolo styles until 11/22 (!!!) at 11:59 CST with code EHDFALL20. Happy shopping, everyone. xx

**photography by Veronica Crawford 

**This post is in partnership with Nisolo but all words, designs and selections are our own. Thanks for supporting the brands we love that support the blog.

The post Shopping My Closet for Fall & Wearing Some (Ethically Made) Shoes That I Love appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Secrets From a Stylist: Introducing My First How-To Styling Series (On Skillshare)

Today is very exciting as I’m finally releasing my styling class on Skillshare. When they first approached me to do this, I reacted like I have historically to teaching styling workshops—intimidated by the prospect of trying to boil down how to find your style and execute it in your home, in digestible steps. But I’ve wanted to do it forever, and heck, I wrote a whole book about it. Besides, I love Skillshare as a creative platform for learning and sharing and once I got over the initial fear, I got so excited. So with the help of my team (led by Velinda), and the very lovely and thorough Skillshare Originals production team, we came up with and shot 11 lessons for my first styling class. I typically hate watching myself on screen, strangely (watching Design Star was painful) but as I reviewed these, even I was like, I LOVE THIS. Let’s break it all down:

True to what we stand for here on the EHD team, the class is called Style Your Space: Creative Tips & Techniques for Interior Design (and if you want to jump right to it, head here to sign up for a special offer of 2 free months of Skillshare Premium, and then you’ll be taken straight to the class!) (P.S. Once you’re a member, you can watch it all, every lesson, right away, right now!)

The goal of this class is for people, anyone (not just designers) to learn the basics of styling their home to look like them. It breaks down styling versus interior design, how to find your style, what styles are really out there and then how to execute it in your space. It’s approachable, fast and the way they shot and produced it was so casual and fun. I was scared it was going to be this scripted lecture or that I would have to have a billion props, but it’s really more me just having a conversation with you, which made it so fun and easy for me to shoot.

We shot up at the mountain house a few months ago, right after it was done (did you know that you can rent it out for shoots? Yep, it’s basically the best set house with amazing light; more details here). My team worked really closely with senior content producer Rebecca Cloyd to hone in on what people really want and frankly can learn from a styling class. We broke it down into eight lessons:

Lesson 1: Introduction. If you’ve been reading this blog, you might technically know some of this information but don’t think I’ve ever actually told you in person how I got to where I am. This is basically my life story condensed into 2 minutes. Please enjoy. (Bonus! Anyone can view this intro without having to log in or create an account, so check it out here.)

Lesson 2: What is Styling? The line between styling and interior design is often blurred, but there are some major differences, folks…as I’ve learned (sometimes) the hard way. It’s kind of like the difference between cooking and baking. One is suggestive…play around with spices until it feels/tastes right; the other is a total fail if you forget the baking powder or get the proportions wrong. I’m going to get down to the nitty-gritty of what I actually do every day and how it differs from the term “interior design.”

Lesson 3: Quiz: Find Your Style. This is huge you guys. It’s an all-new updated version of my style quiz (remember that? I mean, it’s kind of what put me on the map…style diagnostics)! This was everyone in the office’s favorite part of the entire class (and most of them already know their styles…). Have fun with this. And for those of you who took it in Styled (the book) and got “Zen” throwing you into a style identity crisis, that’s because the first printing of the book had it wrong. This one from Skillshare is actually accurate and is a totally different format. Here’s your chance to set your design life back on track, former “Zen” people.

Lesson 4: Identify Your Style. There are 12 DIFFERENT STYLES you could potentially be. So to help with your quiz results, I literally explain what each style is (with visuals) so you can learn each one and assess which one (or ones) best fits your personality based on your answers.

Lesson 5: Develop Your Style Confidence. You might have more than one style, heck, you might have three to four styles. I get it, I like to say I’m “Footloose meets Marie Antoinette” so I can empathize. This lesson is basically to help you refine your style a little and gives you tips and tricks to home in on the perfect style for your personality.

Lesson 6: Stock to a Color Palette. HERE I TEACH YOU THE NUMBER ONE TIP OF LIFE. I can’t tell you what it is though. You need to check out the course. Obviously.

Lesson 7: Mix Your Favorite Styles. Now, you may have found one style you’re really leaning toward or you might feel torn between two or three. Here, I teach you how to find elements you like from your top styles and combine them all together in a tasteful way so they don’t look like a thrift shop (no offense to thrift shops—they’re great).

Lesson 8: Use Trends Wisely. Trends can help, or trends can hurt. BUT learning what to do with them is a great first step. This sounds like a commercial for some new prescription drug or something, but really I just teach you about tastefully using trends so you don’t hate how you decorated your home in a year.

Lesson 9: Source Items You’ll Love. Okay, guys. Now you have all of this great information but what are you supposed to do with it? How do you find interesting items that don’t make your home seem generic? What should you splurge on? I know the questions will continue to flow. But they’ll be answered in this lesson.

Lesson 10: Shop for Vintage Finds. Everyone here probably already knows I’m a fiend for vintage finds. But I know better than anyone how tough it can be to actually choose pieces at flea markets, antique malls or on Craigslist that are really beautiful and are ACTUALLY worth the price. So, to help, I walk you through, step by step, how I go about choosing vintage and antique pieces on sites like Craigslist so you can start confidently shopping the second you finish this course. The buyer’s remorse ends here.

Lesson 11: Style a Space With Emily. I take you with me as I restyle the mountain house living room. I show you my messy but effective process and share all of my thoughts that go through my head while I style a room.

I really really want you guys to watch it. It’s a format I haven’t done before with new information and presented in a conversational way. It’s neither a lecture nor a ton of me throwing pillows around, it’s like we are hanging out and you learn along the way what it’s like to do what I do…and maybe figure out how to do it for yourself (whether for your home or for clients).

Plus, the best part? The reason I chose to bring this class to life with Skillshare is because they have THOUSANDS of creative classes that you can explore alongside mine. Interior design, photography, illustration, design, journaling…this platform is the perfect way to get that creativity spinning and find the perfect pathway for you. Once you’ve joined me in styling your home, there are so many more classes to help you photograph it, sketch it, and share it on Instagram. If you want to take that step forward in creating your own brand (or even if you just want to learn new things for fun), seriously, there’s so much to explore and dig into over on Skillshare.

So…you’re into it. Great! Click here to join my class and sign up for 2 FREE months of Skillshare. The link will take you to a checkout page to redeem the special offer, and then straight to my class so you can start styling like a pro right away (once you start playing around at home or for a client, I’d love it if you could share your images at #ShowEmYourStyled…because we all want to see the fruits of your creative labor).

See you there!

The post Secrets From a Stylist: Introducing My First How-To Styling Series (On Skillshare) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Design Myth Busters: The “Real Cost” of Custom Drapery

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

I don’t know about you but I am legitimately mystified by what custom things in the design world really cost. Even me, a person who has actual access to most of the answers gets overwhelmed at just the idea of “the cost” when it comes to things like custom drapery, reupholstered furniture, CUSTOM furniture, etc. I am usually in a “there’s no way I could afford that” camp despite everything I want being nearly a bajillion dollars. I toyed A LOT with this issue during the design process of my (MOTO). I was having such a hard time finding what I wanted that I was ready to become my own personal product designer. Dramatic? Sure, because I ended up finding items I loved but I did need to design and have some pieces made by my very gracious and (free-labor) father.

I have started to tease my bedroom MOTO for a while and I am sorry to report that it’s nowhere near done. One reason there has been a holdup is that I need custom drapes to hide my very/too tall “closet.” My dad is a button sewing wizard but curtains are sadly a no go. If only I had paid more attention when my mom was sewing all of my middle school’s Dickens’ Carolers costumes maybe I could attempt it?

Now, I am also in a unique position that there may be a chance a company would be willing to work with me to gift drapes but there is never a guarantee on that front. Also, transparency is one of EHD’s most valued commodities so I wanted to know what this sort of service really cost outside of a very incredible potential job perk because if I’m curious, I bet a lot of you are, as well. That being said, welcome to our new “The Real Cost of…” series where we do the heavy lifting of asking the questions and getting the quotes so you’re armed with more information on the front end before embarking on your own “custom” project (or maybe even it’s more of an “oh, wow, I thought that would be more” scenario which is as nice as finding a crisp 20 in the pocket of a jacket you haven’t worn for a year).

Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: The Griffith Park Master Bedroom Reveal

In my first “investigative report,” I spoke with three of our current go-to custom drapery companies Decorview, Tonic Living and (most recently) Barn & Willow. Each has a slightly different approach to their custom drapery services and were gracious enough to answer all of my burning drapery questions.

Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Elliot’s Nursery Reveal + Get The Look

But actually, before we get to the cold hard facts and professional tips, let’s talk about these three companies so you can get a better idea of where they are coming from and what they offer. Also just to be clear, this post is in no way sponsored. These are truly three companies we love and use and like I just said, were kind enough to answer my questions. Okay, here we go.