Emily Henderson's Blog, page 253

Why Designers Hate Most Medicine Cabinets (+ Some Genius Alternative Bathroom Storage Solutions)

Like most cultural and political debates in our country, that of choosing whether to have a medicine cabinet or not reigns both controversial and contentious amongst designers and homeowners alike. To actively choose NOT to have the most convenient storage for the daily annoyances of teeth brushing and face washing seems outright absurd, and yet I have never in my life opted for this convenience. The mountain house was my big opportunity. It was more modern (which I think works better for something streamlined and inset) so it could have handled it whereas our 100-year-old Tudor might have looked a bit, well, clunky in a design sense.

So today, I’m going to dive into the internal (and external) debate to have or not have the ultimate convenience of a medicine cabinet. If you just fell asleep, I suggest you stand up, walk to your medicine cabinet (or not), slap yourself in the face to stay awake. Perhaps drink a 5-Hour Energy because you don’t get to nap while the rest of us are trying to change the minds and world on this subject. You can’t pretend it’s not a problem. It is. It’s real. We need to know why someone like myself and even my friend Nate Berkus (and a few other designer friends like Amber Lewis) have historically hated the medicine cabinet.

Let’s start with some basic photos of inset medicine cabinets and why they get a bad rap. Here is why I’ve been historically anti:

image via overstock
image via emilymccall.com
image via lowes

I don’t like medicine cabinets for the following reasons:

They can look generic and builder grade. They feel cold, contemporary and lacking real style.
Their frames are often too big and chunky (see new good alternatives in our roundup below).
To do inset/recessed, they have to be semi-permanent because it requires construction and that’s scary if you aren’t really into something in the first place.
The good ones are really expensive (see some below) and typically even custom, so then you are spending a ton of money on something you don’t really love anyway, and it’s permanent. That’s a hard commitment to make especially if you are someone who likes to change things up.
Wall-mounted medicine cabinets are great for the right small bathroom but it does project into the room and therefore eats up real estate (but I like a lot of them far more than the inset options).

But mostly I don’t use medicine cabinets because I love a BEAUTIFUL mirror. Mirrors are the artwork of the bathroom so, of course, I’m going to opt for that over something that provides boring “storage solutions.”

I know the idea of going with form over function is infuriating to most of you, but designing a beautiful space is important as, you know, a designer. Now before you all say “it’s also your job to design a functional space” there are other options (I’ll talk about more below). Typically, in a master bathroom, vanity space will have be sufficient that you don’t NEED the dinky shelves on a medicine cabinet, but I couldn’t help but think…Was I alone? Do other designers feel this way? I asked a few friend/experts in this field:

Nate Berkus: “I’ve always avoided them but now the trade-off for storage has me slowly converting…I wish someone would invent one that universally works with a vintage mirror.” Now, Nate just recently moved back to New York to an apartment that I’m sure is big and beautiful but with two kids in New York City living, I get why he might be converting.

Amber Lewis: “I am not a fan or a heavy user of the Medicine Cabinet.”

Orlando Soria: “I am fully on Team Medicine Cabinet. I know they can be a bummer for some designers who would rather have a pretty decorative mirror above a sink, but there’s just stuff you can store in one that doesn’t make sense anywhere else. And they provide storage at the most convenient height to access while you are standing getting ready in the morning. They also do something that I like in that they provide dual functions: they are storage AND a mirror. Ideally, you’d be insetting them, but even surface wall mounted can look great (I like to frame them out in wood trim to make them look more integrated if they can’t be fully sunken into the wall)…like this:

photo by Tessa Neustadt courtesy Homepolish | from: Orcondo’s Kitchen & Bathroom Reveal

“I like replacing crappy mirrors that are just glued to the wall with medicine cabinets. Having everything in drawers is annoying. In an ideal world, you’d build the medicine cabinet flush with the wall and put a decorative mirror on top.”

Sherry Petersik of Young House Love: “Personally, we’ve never added a medicine cabinet during a bathroom reno, and always find the storage in the vanity to be just fine, and then we can use a pretty mirror over the sink. I especially love a round one to break up the squareness of most vanities (which isn’t exactly readily available in medicine-cabinet-form). So yeah, I don’t hate them or anything, I just don’t generally find myself adding them ever…and I’m still alive without one.”

Maxwell Ryan of Apartment Therapy: (Had a long convo with him on the phone but here’s a summary of what he said): He didn’t even think of them for his Scandinavian style country house because he didn’t want anything that they could put any clutter in and stylistically they would have been wrong. And yet he and his daughter recently moved into a new apartment in New York which had them already installed and well, it’s his daughter’s favorite thing in the home. He wouldn’t have chosen them but he’s pretty psyched he has them now. His general thought is this: it’s found space, previously unused, and you should use it if you need it, but stylistically he understands why designers, stylists and editors don’t opt for them. He, like me, loves what a special mirror does to a room and typically they just aren’t that special.

Now, I want to add a caveat that they can ABSOLUTELY work, and if you truly need storage solutions then it can be done. This is a good example of an inset medicine cabinet in a modern space that works.

image via habitus living

It’s sleek, goes wall-to-wall (and floor-to-ceiling) so it’s relatively seamless, plus that vanity is epic so it’s not the focus. But for the record, that one is custom (I think you push the glass to pop it out) and was likely thousands of dollars.

image via house beautiful | design by arent & pyke

Same. Everything here (including their choice of medicine cabinet) is so pretty so that bathroom is still stunning even though the mirror itself isn’t a “work of art.”

image and design via mim design
image via 555 west end ave
image and design via clare kennedy interiors
image and design via mim design

But it’s rarely done right and honestly I don’t think inset should be done in a vintage style home (again, I think the wall-mounted ones can work well in older homes). My pickiness is just so specific and it’s hard to explain. All the circumstances have to be there to pull it off and that’s just hard. And yet it can be permanent which is terrifying.

So what do I prefer? Why do I consider mirrors the art of the bathroom? Exhibit A (and beyond):

left: image and design via handelsmann + kaw | right: image via remodelista, design by richardson architects and katie martinez interiors
image and design via jean stoffer design
image via houzz | design by run for the hills
image via southern living
image via stokperd
left: image via my domaine, design by robson rak | image via my domaine, design by jessica helgerson

Why must something tear apart my insides as the medicine cabinet has?? They are the recliners of the bathroom. The microwave of the kitchen. I long to reach out my arm and easily pull a hidden toothbrush out of a medicine cabinet, and yet I have never opted for this joy.

I thought that surely there could be an in-between, a happy medium: storage without the contemporary facade. We tried for the mountain house but first went through some storage alternatives:

SO WHAT ARE THEY? Let’s explore.

THE SINGLE SHELF:
image via atlanta homes & lifestyles

Well okay. This is certainly a cute opportunity for, say, displaying your most beautiful product and as a stylist I know I can make this look pretty, but is this an actual storage solution? It’s a stretch. While it does provide more surface area, you can’t really display your necessities unless you are president of the lifestyle mafia and have like $250 face cream decanted into blown glass vessels. And let’s face it, we aren’t.

image via realestate.com.au
image and design via decus interiors
image via instagram | design by laine & layne
image via hunker | design by breathe architecture

While certainly cute, where on earth do these people store ANYTHING but their toothbrush?

image and design via casework

There’s also the “shelf ON the mirror” situation, but it’s the same issue in terms of where to put the ugly necessary stuff? The vanity surely, but I guess pretty glass lidded jars for cotton balls and whatnot would go here…

THE BUILT-IN SIDE SHELF OR CABINET:

Next up is one that I felt could be an option: you get the massive pretty mirror that you want and then on the sides of the vanity, you add easily accessible storage. And yes, you could even put a door on this and make it a cabinet.

right: image and design via katie martinez design | left: image via design travel and design by shane thompson

I think this is a good solution, but unless there is a door it’s not hidden and your gross vitamins and crest strips will junk it up pretty fast. But if you want a massive mirror (that likely can’t never be hinged) then I think this is a good alternative. I love digging into any walls for extra storage throughout the entire house.

image via mydomaine | design by jake arnold

It can look pretty but it can also look busier and junkier. But if you need to display your Aunt Jonie’s studio pottery from the ’90s like those people did, then stop reading right here!

image via becki owens

Let’s be clear that no one actually lives in the above bathroom (right?). It’s a hotel without any almost-empty bottles of mouthwash or toothpaste overflowing because someone doesn’t like to put lids on things (me, it’s a thing/problem).

image and design by studio mcgee

The side cubbies could work to provide more storage, but it’s not the kind of everyday stuff that your medicine cabinet should hold. No one wants to have to dig through a huge bin to find the eye cream you promised yourself you would start using every night.

SLIDING DOORS (AKA BARN DOORS):
image and design via catherine kwong
image via maple hawthorne
image via cabinet style

For the master bathroom of the mountain house, we wanted a huge mirror to reflect light/trees (or at least no frames between mirrors) and for a hot (and possibly feverish) second, I thought that maybe something like this could work. Now, I know that people have beef with barn doors, I do too, but I do think that if done right in the right house (modern farm/industrial) this could be a solution. Be careful, don’t let it be too chunky (which they tend to be) and make sure it’s the right style. Ours was not, but I wouldn’t have done this anyway. It would have been something custom and worked well with our style.

Okay. So while I do think some of those are solid options that can look pretty, they aren’t the best alternative. What is? HERE YOU GO:

THE BEST STORAGE ALTERNATIVE TO THE MEDICINE CABINET:

The custom or readymade mirror over hidden shelving on hinges. Sounds complicated. Keep reading.

image via clever | design by winwood mckenzie

YES. It’s hard not to get behind this but it’s clearly custom and likely more expensive (I’d bet around $1,200, not including construction). But BOY am I glad there is a solution out there.

So did we do that in the mountain house?

Well, I’ll be honest and say that we don’t need the storage at the mountain house like we do in LA because we have so much less stuff, PLUS our vanities have GREAT storage. In the master, we wanted a huge mirror to reflect light and trees from the opposite windows. In the powder, we didn’t see the need for more storage since it’s a powder room. And the guest bathrooms, well, they are just for temporary guests and they have tons of vanity storage so we opted out. If you don’t need storage (ha, who are you?), then don’t suffer through the pain of figuring out how to integrate it in a stylish way. Full stop.

I did, however, want to show you guys a genius storage solution for editorial reasons so we came up with this plan for the kids bathroom. I figured of all bathrooms, the kids could use somewhere to put their disgusting toothbrushes that they chew on like Jolly Ranchers daily.

So during construction phase, our plan was to dig into the wall and build shallow shelves between the studs in the wall above the vanity and then place two pretty hinged mirrors overtop. YAY. A SOLUTION.

Now, our plan wasn’t communicated well enough to our contractor (we were moving fast and two hours away so not on site as often as we wanted) and then all of a sudden the whole wall was tiled with no shelves (isn’t it funny how some things take forever and you are like “what’s the holdup?” and other things happen faster than they were supposed to before you could give proper direction? so hilarious). Having them rip out the tile and find the space between the studs to build shallow shelves seemed totally unnecessary so we didn’t, but that was our plan.

I didn’t have any reference photos at the time, but I just found this and it’s PERFECT.

image and design via old brand new
image and design via old brand new
image and design via old brand new

GENIUS. Dabito from Old Brand New took a pretty readymade mirror and dug out shelves behind it and put it on piano hinges.

HALLELUJAH.

DO THIS. IT’S THE PERFECT SOLUTION TO YOUR MEDICINE CABINET WOES.

While it does require some research and I’m sure there are some restrictions (frame size and width)—and yes, it also requires skills by you or your contractor—it is the best solution in my eyes if you need the storage space, want a pretty mirror AND don’t want to spend thousands on a custom-built solution.

HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT WALL MOUNTED MEDICINE CABINETS?

Well, they’re hit or miss. There are some pretty beautiful ones out there, for example…

image via est living | design by watts studio
image and design via almost makes perfect
left: image and design via robson rak | right: image and design via gia bathrooms & kitchens
image and design via decus interiors

My medicine cabinet fantasy (which is also shared by Nate Berkus and is a million-dollar idea): We need to have a universal hinge system that works with most new or vintage mirrors. It could come in different sizes to ensure that it can be hidden, but then you or your contractor hook it up to a beautiful vintage mirror that you can yes, open and close where it previously didn’t. Kind of the idea of what Dabito did that I showed you above, but like…mass-produced for everyone.

Okay, but does that mean that there aren’t good ones on the market? Of course not. There are some and I want to stress this again: IF YOU LIVE IN A RENTAL OR HAVE A SMALL BATHROOM IN NEED OF STORAGE AND YOU DON’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING EXPENSIVE OR TOO CUSTOM, WALL MOUNTED MEDICINE CABINETS ARE GREAT, AND CAN BE ATTRACTIVE AND STYLISH.

To prove it, we rounded up some that we really like and many that I considered during the “medicine cabinet journey of 2018.”

1. Seamless Medicine Cabinet | 2. Elanora Mirror Cabinet | 3. Cubiko Storage Mirror | 4. Robern Single Door Medicine Cabinet with Rosemont Frame | 5. Benchwright Wall-mount Medicine Cabinet | 6. Jacuzzi Single Door Medicine Cabinet | 7. Infinity Brass Medicine Cabinet | 8. Nel Black Medicine Cabinet | 9. Godmorgon Mirror Cabinet with 2 Doors | 10. Vintage Medicine Cabinet Polished Nickel | 11. Bayview Mirror Cabinet | 12. Pharmacy Wall-Mount Medicine Cabinet | 13. Lillangen Mirror Cabinet | 14. Ketcham Cabinets Front Keyed Lock Surface Mount Medicine Cabinet | 15. Signature Hardware Bastian Teak Medicine Cabinet | 16. Signature Hardware Teak Framed Double Door Medicine Cabinet | 17. Vintage Recessed Medicine Cabinet | 18. Weathered Oak Inset Medicine Cabinet | 19. Medicine Cabinet | 20. Plymouth Sliding Storage Mirror | 21. 23.63″ Wooden Round Mirror Cabinet | 22. Arch Top Medicine Cabinet | 23. Grayson Wall Storage Mirror Cabinet | 24. 48″ Kyra Medicine Cabinet

#2, #16 and #24 were all top contenders for the master bathroom before I strayed, and #1, #15, #17 and #21 I don’t think we’re on the market when I was shopping but I think they are stylistically GREAT.

So there you go. It’s complicated. And I really need you all to be reasonable about this. If you need the storage badly, choose the function of the medicine cabinet. My journey was more about grappling with the convenience of one, while ultimately valuing style over storage. There I said it. Yes, sometimes I value style over storage and that’s okay. I’m a stylist, not a professional organizer.

WHAT SAY YOU???? Have you any medicine cabinet woes? Do you regret not putting one in or do you wish you had this custom hinged solution earlier like I do??

The post Why Designers Hate Most Medicine Cabinets (+ Some Genius Alternative Bathroom Storage Solutions) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Emily’s New Favorite Running Shoes, VERY Fun Pillows, & The Best Dog Content on the Internet

image via the design files | styled by annie portelli

Ok, so no new team members to introduce this week but lots of quality recommendations. Let’s get in quick so we can get outside.

Friends first. The ever-talented Oh Joy! team just launched a new pillow collection of latch hook and embroidered pillows and boy are they so cute. We are currently pretty partial to this ray of sunshine (pun-intended…once you click through).

More friends second. One of Emily’s bestie’s Robyn got her these Nike Running Shoes Zoom Pegasus 35 Turbo Running Shoe and she says they are awesome. As a runner, Emily has tried her fair share of shoes and these might be her favorite. Plus, they just plain look good.

Bowser recently got this wood drying rack for her stasher bags. The best thing about the rack is that it folds up so that you can easily throw it in a drawer when not in use if you’re one of those people that hates a cluttered counter.

One of our favorite Aussie design sites The Design Files has yet another truly warm yet jaw-dropping home reveal. This modern rustic house is what cozy dreams are made of. Plus, you really have to see the kids’ room…epic bunk bed situation happening.

It finally feels like summer here in LA and that means those temps are getting in the high 80s so Julie has been testing out different aluminum-free deodorants that ACTUALLY work all day long while schlepping furniture for shoots. She’s happy to report that she has finally found the one by Type A and they have three amazing scents: Floral Linen, Ocean Mint and—the one she’s been using—Clean Crisp Citron!

Grace was thinking of seeing Miss Saigon at the Pantages Theatre (she’s only seen a regional production thus far). She loves the songs and the original production will always have a place in her heart (hello, Lea Salonga—Filipino pride!). But one of her really good friends who is Vietnamese American just shared this article about how some of them feel about the Vietnamese’s portrayal in all productions of this musical and it’s eye-opening.

Fun summer shoe alert: Mallory recently bought a pair of these Soludos mules and they became an instant staple in her summer wardrobe. PSA, if you get them, make sure you break them in before wearing them for 12 hours straight with no change of shoes…she learned that the hard blister-ridden way.

Caitlin highly recommends following the Instagram feeds of these two service puppies in training. Phil is an American pup and Boots is over in the UK. Nothing warms her heart more than watching these little guys learning and growing every day over Instagram stories. 

For any natural beauty devotees here today, Chandler loves Honest Beauty. The product that she uses every day is the Magic Beauty Balm Stick. The highlighting cream stick is moisturizing and works well by itself for those no-makeup days, as well as under makeup for a subtle glow that is lightweight on the skin. And to top it off, this product is super affordable and lasts a long time.

Sara says this is BEST Homemade Italian Dressing. She recommends adding a teaspoon of lemon juice to really brighten it. She promises it’s a thousand times better tasting and healthier than store-bought and takes just five minutes to whip up.

Jess needs SOMEONE to buy these incredible used Rachel Comey mules from The Real Real before she caves on her post-vacation spending freeze. Guys, they are on sale for $80!

Veronica feels if you’re anything like her, there was nothing more you wanted as a kid than a treehouse. This article will make all of your childhood dreams come true.

And lastly, Velinda also has some quality dog content for you…this hair-cut loving, dancing dog. She says it may end up being the best 15 seconds of your life.

Okay bye ’til tomorrow. The sunshine is calling. xx

The post The Link Up: Emily’s New Favorite Running Shoes, VERY Fun Pillows, & The Best Dog Content on the Internet appeared first on Emily Henderson.

A Fashion Review: New Clothing on My Body and How I Like Them (Or Not)

This fashion post will be a bit different than my usual ones. It’s more of an unboxing situation and full of show and tells and with the big debate as to whether I’ll keep the new pieces, or return. These are not curated outfits. Here’s how/why it went down: the big Nordstrom Anniversary Sale started and while this post is absolutely not sponsored by them—nor is everything from there—it is basically the only sale I get super excited for because it’s NEW season pieces, not the dregs of prior months, at something like 40% off for a limited time (the sale ends August 4th but things sell out INSANELY FAST). But I’ve been up at the mountain house or super busy with projects and shoots so I was unable to go try things on myself (which I much prefer to do). I ordered a bunch online to pick up in store and sadly, a lot of the things I wanted weren’t available to get here in time to shoot this (which is why we put it in a roundup at the end), but I figured what did come, I’d try on for ya’ll.

Now, remember, if it’s not a HELL YES, it’s a NO because my closet is very small and I actually hate owning clothes that I don’t wear. So it can’t be just “cute.” It has to be either something I really need or something that is just rad.

Let’s begin.

1. Solene Lace Trim Shirt | 2. Distressed Levi’s Shorts | 3. Nestel Knee High Boot

Well, it’s about time my inner Jessica Simpson circa 2002 appeared. This is one of those looks that Californians (or maybe Texans, too) wear to participate in “seasons.” It’s warm throughout the year but we want to enjoy winter clothes like the rest of you (thus the thigh-high boots) so obviously, we wear them with tiny shorts. Ideally, this would be with a dress, but I’m actually kinda into it, while knowing that there is something kinda cheesy about the whole look. I’ve had the shorts for a while, I just got the blouse (not from the sale) but we are here to talk about the boots.

I LOVE these, not shockingly because I love a nude shoe. Having thigh-high boots be in such a neutral is the perfect quiet statement that I like because it doesn’t attract too much attention and steal from the outfit, but it’s a clear style choice. They aren’t slouchy (which I have always found really unattractive) nor are they elastic. Plus, they are not a fortune. The site says to order a half size up, but I’m normally a 7 and they fit fine in my normal size.

WILL I KEEP THE BOOTS? YES.

1. The Dre Ripped Jeans | 2. Rounded V-Neck Tee | 3. Kit Wool Blend Shirt Jacket | 4. Studded Bootie

Here we have new boyfriend jeans, a Pendleton wool coat (with a soft lining) and boots.

JEANS: These are a HELL YES. Not shocking they are Rag and Bone, a brand that makes strangely well-fitting jeans. They are slouchy, but still slimming and the cuff is perfect (and I don’t have a jean that has a cuff so OBVIOUSLY, I needed one).

SHIRT: YES. At $15, you can’t beat this T-shirt. I like a scoop and a V, and I like loose, but fitted in the pits so this checks off all my boxes. I wish it were slightly shorter but that’s because I have a short torso.

SHOES: YES. I was attracted to the boots because of their cute British Invasion appeal but questioned the studs. I still KINDA question the black studs, but you guys, these boots are SO LIGHT. It says on the tag “light,” so I don’t know if there is a heavy version of them, but I’m telling you right now they are so incredibly comfortable and easy to get on and off that despite the studs, they are a “Hell yes” from me. I just really wanted to wear them all weekend. Plus, they are a great height for the jeans and tuck in really nicely (and make your ankles look strangely small—if you are into that kind of thing).

1. Wubby Fleece Pullover | 2. High Waisted Denim Shorts | 3. Cate Waterproof Lace-Up Boot

PULLOVER: HELL YES. It’s the softest, coziest ever. I have a zippy from the same brand so I’m still debating if I need two, but if you are in the market for a pullover, it is one that you will want to sleep in, trust me.

SHORTS: I’ve had these for a year or so, but yes I recommend them.

SHOES: YES. They are Sorrel so they are waterproof and while I don’t need them for LA, I definitely do for the mountain house (where it snows in the winter). I have hiking shoes but these are the perfect fall/winter shoes to go out to dinner in as they have a bit of a heel. Extremely comfortable and tight-fitting (in a good way).

1. Square Neck Sweater | 2. Ribcage High Waist Straight Leg Jeans | 3. Dakota Clog in Cognac

SWEATER: YES. The sleeves are fun, have flattering proportions and I like a square neck.

JEANS: These are not a hell yes for me, but I think that they are awesome (and my team agreed). Here’s why: I have a short torso and ample love pillows, plus I’ve had two kids so high-waisted pants are harder for me. These are literally called “The Ribcage” so yeah, they are high. They are rad though and the fit is great. I wore a 27 and should have sized down (and maybe I would have liked them more as they might have been tighter and kept things in better. But ultimately, I know that I don’t ever opt for my high waisted pants currently in my closet, so I’m not going to hoard more of them despite these being affordable and two thumbs up.

SHOES: These are not on sale in any way, but they are my new favorite everyday shoes. Yes, they are from Rachel Comey. I really should just start working there…

1. Fast Track Jacket | 2. 501 High Waist Ripped Cutoff Denim Shorts | 3. Soft 7 III Slip-On Sneaker

PULLOVER: YES. Everyone freaked out about it. It’s incredibly cute and flattering. I’ve never bought the brand Sweaty Betty before but will now. It’s definitely good for workouts but cute enough to wear anywhere. My only beef with it is that it doesn’t have a pocket for a phone. Most workout pants now have that, but still. Then PLOT TWIST, we found the pocket…in the middle of the back—YAY—but it’s slightly too small for the larger iPhones. WHY? Don’t brands test these things?!? You can shove it in there, but it’s VERY tight and hard to get in and out. But it’s still a hell yes, because the fit, color and style are so cute.

SHORTS: I really like Levi’s shorts apparently.

SHOES: YES. I needed new sneakers. I don’t really believe in laces and these are FAR more affordable than my Vince ones (which I love more but the sole is getting so dirty hiking around behind our house). These are my new “throw on and walk around” shoes that aren’t as precious to me and I can leave up here.

Now…onto the coats: 

I have no real idea why I ordered so many coats and such statement coats at best. I live in LA, although I need one for up here. Anyway, almost all of them are too big which is quite the bummer, but I can still weigh in on how I feel about them and whether I’m going to keep them (and by keep, I mean exchange for another size).

Grid Plaid Pleat Back Wool Blend Coat: I like a tweed coat and I wear so much denim that I need coats that aren’t blue. This is too oversized for me (definitely size down). Half of my team gave it a thumbs up, the other down. It’s not a hell yes for me and it’s still $200 even on sale, so it’s a no, but the back is pretty cute.

Single Breasted Wool Blend Coat: Apparently, I’m into this silhouette because I ordered the same coat in blue. We liked this WAY more but it’s still too oversized (I ordered a small) with the sleeves even being too long. Hey fashion designers, if you are going to do oversized (which I typically love), the armpits, arms and sleeves need to be slimming otherwise it just swallows you, drowns you out and is actually kinda uncomfortable to wear. They are out of XS now, otherwise, I might have tried it because the color is good, the buttons in the back are special and I like the single-breasted styled.

Wool Top Coat with Faux Shearling Collar: It’s a joke around here how many plaid coats I have, but I don’t have any WINTER coats. I also really subscribe to the Levi’s brand and recently became “Mountain Emily” so when Levi’s came out with this, I wanted to give it a go. Ultimately it’s A. too big, and B. too loud. Had it been charcoal plaid or even a navy, I would have gone for it. I love the faux fur collar, but I felt silly wearing it.

Notched Collar Faux Fur Coat: I’m trying my hand with the teddy bear look but same story: too big. But the real reason it’s a NO is that the inside is SO uncomfortable. You can feel every huge stitch so if you are into it visually, be prepared to wear a long sleeve shirt or layer with a sweater. Not sure why they would do that.

Now for the complete opposite:

Faux Shearling Moto Jacket: This coat is the single most soft and comfortable thing that I’ve ever put on in my life. And yes, the fur is on the entirety of the inside. But I don’t love love love the color and fabric of the outside. And yet, I didn’t want to take it off or hand it back over to my assistant to return. So I’m still on the fence about this one. I know I would wear it a lot up here out of comfort and desire, but I don’t think it’s that cool. I suppose the solution is to keep shopping and try to find a version that is as comfortable, but one that I like a bit more stylistically. Regardless, this one is too big so I might try a size down (definitely size down) and see if I have the same reaction to it.

So there you go. A lot of YES when it comes to the shoes, and NO on coats with a huge yes on jeans and sweaters. Now, there were a lot of other things I wanted to try that couldn’t get here in time (and we wanted to post this before everything sells out) so instead, we rounded them up for you. Again, I haven’t tried these things on sadly, so I can’t vouch for any of it, but I like it VISUALLY and maybe you will, too.

1. Little Runaway Blouse | 2. Sloan Bootie | 3. Stripe Detail Open Front Cotton & Wool Blend Cardigan | 4. Glacier Sunset Water Resistant Fleece Coat | 5. The Dre Ripped Slim Boyfriend Jeans | 6. Arletta Over the Knee Boot | 7. Ward Knit Slip-On Sneaker | 8. Stripe Cashmere Sweater | 9. Elyssa Bootie | 10. Topstitch Twill Miniskirt | 11. Nestel Knee High Boot | 12. Patch Pocket Pullover Sweater | 13. Noreen Waterproof Knee High Boot | 14. Geo Print Belted Shirtdress | 15. Melrose Genuine Shearling Bootie | 16. Scooped Neck Ribbed Tee | 17. Epic React Flyknit 2 Running Shoe | 18. Straight Leg Cord Trousers | 19. Crest Vibe Platform Sneaker | 20. The Leverage Ankle Cargo Pants | 21. Uchee Knee High Boot

***photography by Veronica Crawford

 

The post A Fashion Review: New Clothing on My Body and How I Like Them (Or Not) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

A Fashion Review: New Clothing on My Body and How I Like Them (Or Not) + Nordstrom Sale

This fashion post will be a bit different than my usual ones. It’s more of an unboxing situation and full of show and tells and with the big debate as to whether I’ll keep the new pieces, or return. These are not curated outfits. Here’s how/why it went down: the big Nordstrom Anniversary Sale started and while this post is absolutely not sponsored by them—nor is everything from there—it is basically the only sale I get super excited for because it’s NEW season pieces, not the dregs of prior months, at something like 40% off for a limited time (the sale ends August 4th but things sell out INSANELY FAST). But I’ve been up at the mountain house or super busy with projects and shoots so I was unable to go try things on myself (which I much prefer to do). I ordered a bunch online to pick up in store and sadly, a lot of the things I wanted weren’t available to get here in time to shoot this (which is why we put it in a roundup at the end), but I figured what did come, I’d try on for ya’ll.

Now, remember, if it’s not a HELL YES, it’s a NO because my closet is very small and I actually hate owning clothes that I don’t wear. So it can’t be just “cute.” It has to be either something I really need or something that is just rad.

Let’s begin.

1. Solene Lace Trim Shirt | 2. Distressed Levi’s Shorts | 3. Nestel Knee High Boot

Well, it’s about time my inner Jessica Simpson circa 2002 appeared. This is one of those looks that Californians (or maybe Texans, too) wear to participate in “seasons.” It’s warm throughout the year but we want to enjoy winter clothes like the rest of you (thus the thigh-high boots) so obviously, we wear them with tiny shorts. Ideally, this would be with a dress, but I’m actually kinda into it, while knowing that there is something kinda cheesy about the whole look. I’ve had the shorts for a while, I just got the blouse (not from the sale) but we are here to talk about the boots.

I LOVE these, not shockingly because I love a nude shoe. Having thigh-high boots be in such a neutral is the perfect quiet statement that I like because it doesn’t attract too much attention and steal from the outfit, but it’s a clear style choice. They aren’t slouchy (which I have always found really unattractive) nor are they elastic. Plus, they are not a fortune. The site says to order a half size up, but I’m normally a 7 and they fit fine in my normal size.

WILL I KEEP THE BOOTS? YES.

1. The Dre Ripped Jeans | 2. Rounded V-Neck Tee | 3. Kit Wool Blend Shirt Jacket | 4. Studded Bootie

Here we have new boyfriend jeans, a Pendleton wool coat (with a soft lining) and boots.

JEANS: These are a HELL YES. Not shocking they are Rag and Bone, a brand that makes strangely well-fitting jeans. They are slouchy, but still slimming and the cuff is perfect (and I don’t have a jean that has a cuff so OBVIOUSLY, I needed one).

SHIRT: YES. At $15, you can’t beat this T-shirt. I like a scoop and a V, and I like loose, but fitted in the pits so this checks off all my boxes. I wish it were slightly shorter but that’s because I have a short torso.

SHOES: YES. I was attracted to the boots because of their cute British Invasion appeal but questioned the studs. I still KINDA question the black studs, but you guys, these boots are SO LIGHT. It says on the tag “light,” so I don’t know if there is a heavy version of them, but I’m telling you right now they are so incredibly comfortable and easy to get on and off that despite the studs, they are a “Hell yes” from me. I just really wanted to wear them all weekend. Plus, they are a great height for the jeans and tuck in really nicely (and make your ankles look strangely small—if you are into that kind of thing).

1. Wubby Fleece Pullover | 2. High Waisted Denim Shorts | 3. Cate Waterproof Lace-Up Boot

PULLOVER: HELL YES. It’s the softest, coziest ever. I have a zippy from the same brand so I’m still debating if I need two, but if you are in the market for a pullover, it is one that you will want to sleep in, trust me.

SHORTS: I’ve had these for a year or so, but yes I recommend them.

SHOES: YES. They are Sorrel so they are waterproof and while I don’t need them for LA, I definitely do for the mountain house (where it snows in the winter). I have hiking shoes but these are the perfect fall/winter shoes to go out to dinner in as they have a bit of a heel. Extremely comfortable and tight-fitting (in a good way).

1. Square Neck Sweater | 2. Ribcage High Waist Straight Leg Jeans | 3. Dakota Clog in Cognac

SWEATER: YES. The sleeves are fun, have flattering proportions and I like a square neck.

JEANS: These are not a hell yes for me, but I think that they are awesome (and my team agreed). Here’s why: I have a short torso and ample love pillows, plus I’ve had two kids so high-waisted pants are harder for me. These are literally called “The Ribcage” so yeah, they are high. They are rad though and the fit is great. I wore a 27 and should have sized down (and maybe I would have liked them more as they might have been tighter and kept things in better. But ultimately, I know that I don’t ever opt for my high waisted pants currently in my closet, so I’m not going to hoard more of them despite these being affordable and two thumbs up.

SHOES: These are not on sale in any way, but they are my new favorite everyday shoes. Yes, they are from Rachel Comey. I really should just start working there…

1. Fast Track Jacket | 2. 501 High Waist Ripped Cutoff Denim Shorts | 3. Soft 7 III Slip-On Sneaker

PULLOVER: YES. Everyone freaked out about it. It’s incredibly cute and flattering. I’ve never bought the brand Sweaty Betty before but will now. It’s definitely good for workouts but cute enough to wear anywhere. My only beef with it is that it doesn’t have a pocket for a phone. Most workout pants now have that, but still. Then PLOT TWIST, we found the pocket…in the middle of the back—YAY—but it’s slightly too small for the larger iPhones. WHY? Don’t brands test these things?!? You can shove it in there, but it’s VERY tight and hard to get in and out. But it’s still a hell yes, because the fit, color and style are so cute.

SHORTS: I really like Levi’s shorts apparently.

SHOES: YES. I needed new sneakers. I don’t really believe in laces and these are FAR more affordable than my Vince ones (which I love more but the sole is getting so dirty hiking around behind our house). These are my new “throw on and walk around” shoes that aren’t as precious to me and I can leave up here.

Now…onto the coats: 

I have no real idea why I ordered so many coats and such statement coats at best. I live in LA, although I need one for up here. Anyway, almost all of them are too big which is quite the bummer, but I can still weigh in on how I feel about them and whether I’m going to keep them (and by keep, I mean exchange for another size).

Grid Plaid Pleat Back Wool Blend Coat: I like a tweed coat and I wear so much denim that I need coats that aren’t blue. This is too oversized for me (definitely size down). Half of my team gave it a thumbs up, the other down. It’s not a hell yes for me and it’s still $200 even on sale, so it’s a no, but the back is pretty cute.

Single Breasted Wool Blend Coat: Apparently, I’m into this silhouette because I ordered the same coat in blue. We liked this WAY more but it’s still too oversized (I ordered a small) with the sleeves even being too long. Hey fashion designers, if you are going to do oversized (which I typically love), the armpits, arms and sleeves need to be slimming otherwise it just swallows you, drowns you out and is actually kinda uncomfortable to wear. They are out of XS now, otherwise, I might have tried it because the color is good, the buttons in the back are special and I like the single-breasted styled.

Wool Top Coat with Faux Shearling Collar: It’s a joke around here how many plaid coats I have, but I don’t have any WINTER coats. I also really subscribe to the Levi’s brand and recently became “Mountain Emily” so when Levi’s came out with this, I wanted to give it a go. Ultimately it’s A. too big, and B. too loud. Had it been charcoal plaid or even a navy, I would have gone for it. I love the faux fur collar, but I felt silly wearing it.

Notched Collar Faux Fur Coat: I’m trying my hand with the teddy bear look but same story: too big. But the real reason it’s a NO is that the inside is SO uncomfortable. You can feel every huge stitch so if you are into it visually, be prepared to wear a long sleeve shirt or layer with a sweater. Not sure why they would do that.

Now for the complete opposite:

Faux Shearling Moto Jacket: This coat is the single most soft and comfortable thing that I’ve ever put on in my life. And yes, the fur is on the entirety of the inside. But I don’t love love love the color and fabric of the outside. And yet, I didn’t want to take it off or hand it back over to my assistant to return. So I’m still on the fence about this one. I know I would wear it a lot up here out of comfort and desire, but I don’t think it’s that cool. I suppose the solution is to keep shopping and try to find a version that is as comfortable, but one that I like a bit more stylistically. Regardless, this one is too big so I might try a size down (definitely size down) and see if I have the same reaction to it.

So there you go. A lot of YES when it comes to the shoes, and NO on coats with a huge yes on jeans and sweaters. Now, there were a lot of other things I wanted to try that couldn’t get here in time (and we wanted to post this before everything sells out) so instead, we rounded them up for you. Again, I haven’t tried these things on sadly, so I can’t vouch for any of it, but I like it VISUALLY and maybe you will, too.

1. Little Runaway Blouse | 2. Sloan Bootie | 3. Stripe Detail Open Front Cotton & Wool Blend Cardigan | 4. Glacier Sunset Water Resistant Fleece Coat | 5. The Dre Ripped Slim Boyfriend Jeans | 6. Arletta Over the Knee Boot | 7. Ward Knit Slip-On Sneaker | 8. Stripe Cashmere Sweater | 9. Elyssa Bootie | 10. Topstitch Twill Miniskirt | 11. Nestel Knee High Boot | 12. Patch Pocket Pullover Sweater | 13. Noreen Waterproof Knee High Boot | 14. Geo Print Belted Shirtdress | 15. Melrose Genuine Shearling Bootie | 16. Scooped Neck Ribbed Tee | 17. Epic React Flyknit 2 Running Shoe | 18. Straight Leg Cord Trousers | 19. Crest Vibe Platform Sneaker | 20. The Leverage Ankle Cargo Pants | 21. Uchee Knee High Boot

***photography by Veronica Crawford

 

The post A Fashion Review: New Clothing on My Body and How I Like Them (Or Not) + Nordstrom Sale appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Do You Need A New Podcast Rec?? We’ve Got You Covered

I was a very early podcast adopter (before anyone really uttered the word podcast). All through my 20s in New York I listened to “This American Life” and “Slate Political Gabfest” on the subway and walking to and from work. I have rarely missed an episode and would absolutely be starstruck if I ever met Ira Glass. But the last few years since I’ve lived super close to my office and had kids, I was unable to find the time, all while podcasts were blowing up. Well, this year I dove back in and now look for any excuse to run to the grocery store or clean the bathroom so I can catch up on my favorites.

If you can’t tell from our Sunday Link Up posts, I am not alone for my love of “cleaning bathrooms,” the entire office (along with the world) is in love with the podcast movement and we thought it was high time to just put all our team favorites in one place. I mean is there anything more tragic than the end of a podcast binge? You feel lost, confused, desperately searching for your next intellectual fix! To be honest, this post is for us, too. We wanted to know all of each other’s favorites so that when it was time for a new one, we had a whole list of trusted recommendations (including some really fun niche recs). Get ready to hit subscribe…

Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations: EVERY SINGLE EPISODE makes me want to be a better person/mom/writer/employer. The recent one with 17-year-old activist Amandla Stenberg was so inspiring. The one about Quantum Wellness made me stop (almost completely) buying any meat that wasn’t humanely pasture-raised. And Dr. Brené Brown’s (obsessed with her) episode about The Anatomy of Trust really helped me see things differently and become such a better boss.

Invisibilia: My two favorite episodes are ‘Fearless’ (Jan 16, 2015) and ‘How To Become A Batman’ (Jan 22, 2015)

The Goop Podcast: I love most of these podcasts because they are experts in their field, regardless of how you feel about the brand. A few have changed my life in a very good way, including:

How Soil Health is Reflected in the Gut: This is the one where I learned what pesticides are doing to the soil which affects all of us inadvertently. After this, I started only buying from organic farms near me, loading up at the farmers market on Sunday and even going to such lengths as to have my assistant find mid-week farmers markets or buying at stores such as CookBook who work with local organic farms (I even have someone drive it up to me in the mountains if they are coming up anyway so that I don’t have to buy vegetables from the local store). For me, it is not only showing support for the farms that have had to jump through an incredible amount of hoops to grow organically, but also to punish those that don’t by taking away my business. I’m still researching and learning but this guy is all about regenerative farming which I would LOVE to know more about and how I can find them near me. I’ve done a deep dive into trying to find local farms that use regenerative agriculture techniques but haven’t found any so if anyone knows of any PLEASE let me know.

How To Become Your Future Self: This one is incredibly fascinating and I have a cousin who has seen/felt the effect first hand of how meditation can help rewire your brain to help you heal physically or mentally. There is something very empowering knowing that your brain is plastic and that we have the power to heal ourselves in powerful ways. I do know that this is controversial but I thoughts and feelings are always to approach your body healing holistically in addition to western medicine. No one can argue that mediation is healing.

Armchair Expert: Dax is probably the most likable guy due to his incredible honesty and transparency. It’s absolutely refreshing and frankly the bravest thing you can be right now in media. I was RIVETED by these two episodes in particular: Dr. Alexandra Katehakis and Esther Perel. Both of them are about our current (and historical) cultural approach to sex and addiction and it’s just so fascinating. Put them on and clean your house. To confirm it’s true brilliance Jess, Ryann, Julie and Veronica are obsessed. They also want to make sure that Monica (Dax’s cohost, producer and”soulmate”) is recognized because she is the secret sauce that makes this podcast perfect. Most Tuesdays and Thursdays, the first thing they ask each other is “Have you listened to Armchair yet??” Some of their favorite episodes are Johann Hari, Conan O’Brien, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Bill Nye, Jake Johnson. John Gottman, Todd Rose and Joy Bryant. Just to name a few.

I also love checking in with Young House Love, Goal Digger, The Liturgists (the one about how former evangelicals reflecting on their current LGBTQ lifestyle was so riveting and frankly sad)   Second Life, and yes Tony Robbins. I love some self-help.

Now, I will let the rest of my team take it away…

Don’t Keep Your Day Job: Emily is probably reading this like “wait, what Arlyn?!?” but I promise it’s not only for people who want to up and leave their jobs, haha. It’s really about finding your career passions as a creative and how to catapult yourself (whether that’s as an entrepreneur or working for someone else). Host Cathy Heller is so lovely to listen to and inspiring in many ways and her guests are varied but all great. Episodes range from topics as specific as How to Start an Etsy Shop (with Etsy’s General Manager of Seller Services Kruti Patel Goyal as the guest) to more open-ended but useful subjects like How to Get Unstuck. If you’re a creative with the heart of an entrepreneur, give it a listen. I think you’ll like it! Favorite Episodes: How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome, The 3 Essential Steps to Grow Your Empathy Empire

Radiolab: Okay, if you’re a longtime podcast fan, Radiolab is NOT going to be news to you, but I couldn’t not include it mostly out of selfishness so anyone who listens can also recommend some of their favorite episodes that I can tune into. It used to cover pretty scientific topics in VERY approachable and engaging ways, but they’ve since pivoted a little to find the “science” in everyday subjects. It’s VERY well-produced and less grassroots then I feel a lot of podcasts are now, but basically it’s a whole heap of fun. Favorite Episodes: (WHERE TO START???) Dinopocalypse Redux (a new thrilling/compelling theory on what killed off the dinosaurs), Colors (I think this is one of their most popular episodes…for a reason!)

Heavyweight: This is more a “when you’re bored for a minute and don’t want to be too invested” type podcast. I don’t necessarily tune in regularly, but a few of the episodes are VERY fun, particularly my favorite Gregor, which is all about a guy named Gregor who once upon a time lent an obscure album to his then-friend Moby (the musical artist) and then got super bitter because Moby went on to make an album heavily inspired by what Gregor shared with him and he never got credit…and thus begins the journey of him trying to get his album back and talking to Moby to settle this grief. I know it sounds a little nuts, but I promise it’s super entertaining. Favorite Episode: Episode 2: Gregor

Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations: Oprah, have you heard of her? I didn’t drink the Oprah KoolAid until very recently and now I’m like…WHERE WAS I IN THIS LIFE WITHOUT HER? If I don’t interject here that my dear husband Charles introduced me to my favorite episode (mentioned in a sec), he might have a Gregor-sized grudge against me. THANK YOU CHARLES FOR CHANGING MY LIFE IN MANY WAYS INCLUDING SHARING THIS PODCAST (hopefully he heard that). I mean, just listening to Oprah’s interviewing skills alone speaks to my inner journalist, but she just has the star power to get the best people on to talk. This one leans heavily on the spiritual journey and finding your life’s purpose, so if that’s not your thing, look away. BUT IF IT IS, COME ON IN, THE WATER IS WARM AND WELCOMING. I will now stop speaking in all caps and just say if there is ever a day where I feel down, Oprah’s Super Soul Convos have never failed to turn things around and make me exciting about just life in general. Favorite Episodes: Your Own Truth (just Oprah talking in this one, no guest…SO INSANELY GOOD), Paulo Coelho Part 1: What If the Universe Conspired in Your Favor? & Paulo Coelho Part 2: Your Journey of Self-Discovery

British History Podcast: I LOVE history and will spend long stretches of time listening to this podcast. It’s one guy telling the history of Britain from literally start (before humans) to end (he’s not done yet). If you’re a history junkie like me this is a podcast for you. Favorite Episode: None, just start from the top.

Good Food with Evan Kleinman: This is the best food podcast I’ve come across and always inspires me to head to the farmers market or pull out my pasta maker. Favorite Episode: Jonathan Gold

The No Sleep Podcast: If you’re into storytelling, these episodes are horror-based short stories told by voice actors. I used to listen to a lot of true crime podcasts but eventually found them exploitative and depressing. These stories are creative, sometimes chilling, and 100% guilt-free while still hitting that addictive scary factor. Best listened to on late night drives or crisp fall days. Favorite Episode: No way I can actually pick one 

Nancy: This is a great, uplifting, and positive podcast all about queer topics and stories. It’s really helped me better understands subjects like the ins and outs of gender pronouns. It’s made me cry and laugh. Favorite Episode: Episode 5: There Are No Gay Wizards

Bulletproof Radio with Dave Asprey: If you don’t know already, I am fully indoctrinated and belong to the Bulletproof cult. When schlepping things around LA, I basically only listen to this podcast, talk to my fellow stylist friend Lauren, AND talk about this podcast to Lauren. Self helpy/health/biohacking is my jam so all I really need is this podcast. Longevity, sleep, light therapy, meditation, stem cell therapy and healing your gut are a few of the top topics. Dave will really get into anything that can make you perform better at your life in any area. Favorite episodes: (so many! But here’s some recent ones I’ve loved): Why Quality Meat Matters for You and the Planet – Michael Salguero #543, The Dark Side of EMFs – Peter Sullivan #605, Intuition is Not a Feeling – Joy Martina – #574

To Live and Die in LA: I listened to Neil Strauss’ episode on Bulletproof Radio (shocking) and have wanted to give this a listen. My husband and I just binged this in two days. It’s a story about a girl going missing in LA. Favorite Episodes: Just the one season, so start from the top 

Sleeping at Last Podcast: It’s an emo band from back in (my) day, Ryan O’Neal is Sleeping at Last. I was SO excited to learn a year+ ago that Ryan was making a song for each Enneagram type. Along with each song, he put out a podcast to go along with it where he interviewed Chris Heuertz (an author of a really wonderful Enneagram book called The Sacred Enneagram). He does a lot of podcasts and if you’re a music person, you will be into all of them. Favorite episodes: The whole Enneagram series

Pardon My Take: This podcast is a great way to catch up on sports without having to actually watch sports. Hosted by three very funny dudes who give you insight on what is happening in the sports world. The very best part of this podcast is hearing three sports guys recap The Bachelor or Bachelorette every Tuesday. This could be the only reason I listen to this podcast, but I also like listening to this so I can actually kind of know what my boyfriend is talking about when he talks about sports, without having to sit down and watch ESPN when I’m home from work. This is the ideal podcast for sporty gals who simply don’t have the time to watch sports. Of course, it’s also good for anyone looking for a good laugh and some quality entertainment. 

Second Life: I just put this podcast in last week’s Link Up but that’s because it’s that good. Second Life inspires me on my way to work to give 110%! The conversations always feel natural and the interviews are honest and real. It is such a cool insight on the journey of some of the most creative women ever. I can also vouch for this podcast and says it’s for any kind of “life crisis” or just for daily motivation.

The Post Sara Wishes She’d Read Before Buying Her First Home (+ 6 Tips to Help You in Your Own Search)

Hi everyone, it’s Sara Tramp here, EHD’s head of production and in-house photographer. A lot of you might already know me, but what you might not know is that I’ve worked here at Emily Henderson Design for over FIVE years. It’s safe to say I’ve been through a lot with my EHD family during that time (and you have probably been along for a good portion of it).

Early in my career with EHD, I moved back home for a little while and made over my childhood bedroom. Then my boyfriend (Macauley) and I decided to move in together, and we rented our first joint apartment in the Pico-Robertson area of Los Angeles. It was an amazing 1930s Spanish place, with huge windows and beautiful archway details. We shared that with you all by revealing our living room, office and bedroom. Not even a year after that final bedroom reveal, we were heartbroken to lose that apartment to an early morning fire in December of 2017.

The fire completely burned out the apartment below ours and severely damaged the front half of our apartment. BUT we were super lucky. Once the fire department arrived they had the fire out within minutes and were able to save 75% of our apartment from the actual flames. We didn’t lose anything in our office, kitchen or bedroom (and no one was hurt). The apartment itself, however, was sadly very unlivable. Not only was there actual fire damage in the living room, but there was smoke damage everywhere and the floors were ruined from water damage caused by the hoses. All the windows were broken out, and our front door didn’t exist anymore. Structurally, it wasn’t safe for us to live in.

Looking through the photos of what our apartment used to look like, the photos of the fire damage, and remembering that whole morning still gives me goosebumps. But we were safe, our cats were safe, and we had renters insurance (which saved us).

We spent the next few weeks bouncing around couches, making people’s houses smell like cat litter and a disgusting BBQ (because smoke was stuck in all of our possessions). But 5 months after the fire we finally moved into an apartment in West Hollywood. The location was great, but the apartment didn’t feel like home. We lived there for almost a year with a giant pile of boxes sitting right in our living room, unpacked.

Which brings me to the point of this whole post. My parents have been hounding me for YEARS to consider buying a house. I kept them at bay with petty questions like, “how do you expect me to afford one??” Because the idea of buying a house is terrifying. It’s expensive, time-consuming, and a whole lot more permanent than any sort of rental. But once our dream apartment was a partially charred, post-apocalyptic movie set, I started to let the idea creep into my head. And once it was there, I started trying to get Mac on board.

“Let’s just look,” I said. Well, I’ve never been very good at “just looking,” and long story short… now we own a house.

But here’s the long story anyway. I’ll preface this by saying I’m (clearly) not a licensed loan officer, realtor, or fully formed adult. All of this advice just comes from what I remember from our home buying process, and could likely be slightly off or entirely wrong due to the haze one constantly lives in during the process. But the broad strokes are there, and the biggest piece of advice I have for you is just to work with people who DO know what they’re doing. They were our real heroes.

I digress…

Who knew that the housing market was so competitive? Literally everyone except us apparently, but we were about to find out. We lost out on our first offer pretty early on, and that was only the beginning of a long, painful 8-month search filled with being outbid by cash offers, exhausted by the amount of paperwork each round of offers took, and sacrificing a majority of our weekends during that time to hours of driving around Los Angeles visiting houses that were the size of past living rooms or practically falling apart (aka in our price range).

That’s the price bracket we were in, folks—$falling apart. These places were so bad that the only people we were competing against were developers who had the cash to not only outbid us but also fix the house up to throw it back on the market at double their purchase price. It was emotionally exhausting and wildly frustrating. We never felt like we fully understood the loan process, didn’t feel like our realtor really understood what we were looking for, and around month 7 we were ready to call it quits and try again in another year or so.

But we wanted to give it one last try. We had been feeling pretty lost and uncomfortable with the loan situation for a while, so I decided to try a different loan officer. I asked Emily who she had used to buy her home and after spending 30 minutes on the phone with Andy Green, I felt like I actually understood, for the first time, how we could afford to buy a house. It was eye-opening, liberating, and wildly educational. Not only did I understand what I was looking at when I was comparing house prices on Redfin, but we realized we could actually afford to look at houses in a slightly higher price bracket then we had originally been looking, which ended up making a huge difference.

TIP #1: Understand your numbers, or work with someone who can truly explain them to you. You might be able to afford more than you think…

Switching loan officers to someone who really took the time to break everything down for us was a game-changer, and so much easier than trying to figure it out via Google. 

The truth is, we don’t own our house. At least not for another 30 years (if we don’t move or refinance). A loan company does. They fronted the real cost, and we just covered the down payment. Early on, with the guidance of our loan officer, we decided we would be able to cover a 10% down payment. That meant we were responsible, on the front end, for covering 10% of whatever the price of the house ended up being. The rest was up to the loan company. The loan company decided, based on our shared income, credit history, and assets, how much they would be willing to loan us (getting pre-approved really helps you to understand what you’ll be able to afford). 

10% still sounds like a lot when houses in Los Angeles County easily cost upwards of $400k. That’s still at least $40k that someone would have to have on hand (and for us, it was just a bit more). And we were on the lower end of the down-payment spectrum. A more traditional down payment is 20%, which I believe is considered “conventional.”

Where did we get this wild amount of money from? A few different places – Years of being fortunate enough to put away money into personal savings, and help from my parents, Mac’s mom, my grandmother, and Mac’s grandfather. It took an almost literal village, and we’re so lucky and thankful for them (thanks guys *big heart eyes emoji*).

But don’t despair if you aren’t able to afford that high of a down payment! There are options for lower down payment amounts, and we seriously considered them. If you’re thinking about buying a house but can’t afford a 10% or higher down payment, you can look into something called an FHA loan, which is “designed for low- to moderate-income borrowers. FHA loans require a lower minimum down payment and credit scores than many conventional loans.” (I got that from Investopedia). There are even home loans out there that can help cover a down payment. The number you actually want to be seriously considering is what your monthly mortgage will be after you buy the house. Our loan company approved us for a much higher loan than we actually used, but using that full amount would have given us a monthly mortgage that we wouldn’t have been able to maintain.

Because we didn’t go with a 20% or higher down payment, we’re currently paying something called mortgage insurance. But it’s temporary, and after we pay off a certain amount (or pay on time for a certain number of years), that will be removed. It’s an extra $80 a month, and it allowed us to fall into a down payment category that we could actually afford. Another thing we realized is the difference between, say $450k and $550k isn’t nearly as big as it sounds, once it’s broken down into a 30-year mortgage loan. That gave us the confidence and ability to shift up in our price bracket (without going house poor right out of the gate). Again, you really just need a loan officer who is willing to explain all of your options to you.

TIP #2: Work with a realtor who specializes in your area, who knows the other realtors in that area, and who makes you feel excited to see homes.

Our loan officer also introduced us to a new realtor. We had been working with someone who was super nice. But he wasn’t well acquainted with the area we were looking in, and it just didn’t feel like he knew the market there. No surprise, but you want to be working with a realtor who is familiar with your priority neighborhoods and needs. So on our loan officer’s recommendation, we reached out to L34 Group, and got paired up with Fawn Vu. We met with Fawn on a Saturday morning for coffee and it felt like she could finish all of our sentences. She had bought and renovated a house in an area we were interested in 10 years prior, and every house we mentioned she instantly knew the selling agent, had a good sense of how they operated, and had concrete opinions about whether it would work for us or not.

Now, I don’t honestly know if it was switching realtors, luck or the stars aligning for us, but within a month of working with Andy and Fawn, we were in escrow on our house. Here’s how it happened:

First, Fawn asked us to be super honest with her about what we needed and what we could do without. While I would have been fine with just a driveway, Mac really wanted a garage. Ideally, we wanted more than one bedroom, but decided that for a starter home we could compromise for a single bedroom if the house really spoke to us.

TIP #3: Be really honest with yourself and your house buying partner/s about what you need vs. what you want vs. what you’re willing to compromise on…

Mac and I individually made a list of our top 5 priorities, then cross-referenced our lists with each others and made those shared items our deal breakers. Fawn then took those and used them to help her narrow her search.

TIP #4: Constant Vigilance! (This is a Harry Potter reference, if you were wondering.)

Fawn let us in on a not-so-secret secret. Basically, realtors have as much of a jump on new listing as the general public. Every now and then they might get a pre-market tip-off, but with websites like Redfin and Zillow, they’re generally working with the same information we are. It’s really once you get into the actual wheeling and dealing of submitting an offer that your realtor is going to shine. That being said, Fawn and I were both scouring residential listing sites like starving rats, and sending each other new listings every day. It was exciting to see her as excited as me, and it made sure listings weren’t slipping through the cracks. Which is how we found the listing that would be our future house.

First, we went and saw the house the day they dropped the price. It had been sitting on the market for a month without much interest. It was in a good area, but needed a lot of work. The key being  it wasn’t cheap enough to be attracting developers (our sweet spot).
Second, we went slightly above the asking price. This is where Fawn really gets all the credit. She had a good recommendation of how high we should go, got a lot of information from the selling agent, and helped us stick to our guns (even when I was feeling desperate and ready to offer more).
Third, we reduced our contingencies. This part is a little tricky to talk about because it kind of falls into legal issues and really depends on your loan officer and your comfort level, so take this advice with a grain of salt.

When you submit an offer there are all sorts of contingencies, or “second chances” in place that allow you, the buyer, to back out of the sale once you enter escrow. Some of these include a loan contingency (if you’re not approved for you loan, you aren’t obligated to buy the house anyway), appraisal contingency (if the house doesn’t appraise for the amount you offered you can back out of escrow), and an inspection contingency (if, once the house is inspected, you realize there is way too much work that needs to be done, you can use this to back out). What you can do is speak with your loan officer and determine if you can remove any of these contingencies from your offer, which will make it more attractive. 

TIP #5: Try and get pre-approved for your home loan, and speak with your loan officer about what other things you could offer the seller (besides going over asking).

For example, we were able to get pre-approved for our loan, which meant we were submitting our offer without a loan contingency. Cash offers are often accepted over non-cash offers because cash offers automatically don’t need a loan contingency. Not having to wait around for the buyer to get a loan approved lets the seller know the money for the sale is guaranteed, likely reducing the escrow period (another deal sweetener), therefore getting the house off the market (and off the seller’s hands) faster. All of that makes the seller feel more secure about the sale going through. No seller wants their house to fall out of escrow or linger on the market for too long. It makes other buyers suspicious, and the house less desirable. WILD RIGHT?! I feel like an encyclopedia of house buying knowledge, but we really just went through a solid crash course of “Home Buying 101” with our loan officer and realtor.

TIP #6: Take time to write a heartfelt personal statement about what the property would mean to you, address it by name to the seller, and include photos! 

Lastly, we submitted a killer personal letter. Now, personal letters don’t always close the deal. If a seller is faced with the best personal statement in the world or $100k over asking, I’ll let you guess which they’re going to take. But if you’re neck and neck with a competing offer, having taken the time to put together a compelling personal letter could make the difference between an accepted offer and another rejection.

Fawn found out a little about the current owner from the selling agent, and let us know her name and how long she’d been living in the home. She also let us know that she spoke very little English, so I wrote out our letter in both English and Spanish. It turned out that the owner was not only Hispanic, but she was Guatemalan which is where my mom’s family immigrated from when my mom was 10. I had written about that in our personal statement and had even included a photo of Mac and I in Guatemala back in 2015 (without ever knowing she was Guatemalan). I consider that our luckiest moment in this whole house search, and I think it may have been the final piece of the puzzle. Here’s a copy of our personal statement:

Finally we got the call that our offer had been accepted, and after what felt like a whirlwind escrow period, we were slightly dazed and confused homeowners.

But the real work was just getting started.

Stay tuned to see how this…

Turned into this…

And to see all the before photos of the house, what it looks like now, and all our future plans – plus more photos of us covered in dirt, holding rat skeletons from our crawl space, and generally looking like we have no idea what we’re doing.

The post The Post Sara Wishes She’d Read Before Buying Her First Home (+ 6 Tips to Help You in Your Own Search) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

How I Overcame My (Design) Imposter Syndrome (+ 9 Things a Year at EHD Has Taught Me)

When I first started working at EHD, I knew nothing about design. I found myself here after applying for a temp data entry position that promised 1-2 weeks of work. I was seeking refuge (and some $$$) after I quit my job working for a fashion writer, photographer and stylist. Feeling defeated and licking wounds inflicted by the soul-sucking fashion world, “data entry” seemed like a decent enough distraction until I “figured it out.” A year later, here I still am, now the Special Projects Editor where I do things I actually enjoy like writing, editing and shopping (for the sake of research, of course). But it was a bit of a road to get here. 

During my first week, I would hear passing words such as toile, rendering, “vignette” (they were speaking a foreign language both literally and figuratively) and there was something called a “mountain house” that they were considering a modern-Sscandi-rustic-California-casual cabin (or something like that). There were regular contemplations about whether the fireplace needed some more…schmear (???). I was completely lost and hiding behind my spreadsheets (you have my weeks of Excel work to thank for our Rooms and Shop pages). As I am sure many of you know, feeling lost is not something you want to feel in the workplace. My former self wanted to get out of there ASAP before they all found out I was a fraud and had never heard of Domino Magazine or House Beautiful. My imposter syndrome was real. 

Needless to say, I learned on the job. I listened intently, had lots of help from my friend Google, and did my best to prove that I was a hard worker. I let go of the expectation that I needed to know everything to be good at my job. I asked for help and was honest in the areas I lacked knowledge. In the right situation, with receptive coworkers and managers, it’s okay to not pretend you know everything about everything. 

I’m coming up to my year anniversary around here (they couldn’t get rid of me), and while what I’ve learned since my first days is not exactly revolutionary, I think (I hope) that it’s proof that a non-type-A person can still do alright in the world (and that maybe we have more fun). KIDDING. It is very stressful being me, but thanks to my coworkers and incredibly fun job, my life has changed and as a workaversary gift to me, Emily and Arlyn are allowing me to reflect on what I’ve learned/changed about myself, about design, about style since I walked through that door for the first time nearly 12 months ago. Let’s get to it:

1. My Instagram feed is more inspirational (and, more importantly, less harmful).

Let me explain. I worked in fashion before this job, because fashion was my biggest passion apart from writing, and I wasn’t confident enough in my writing to risk it all to become an author. Before social media, I followed several fashion bloggers religiously and studied designers and trends, and it was fun and inspirational. Then, when IG became a marketing tool for every single brand and designer on the planet, things started to feel less fulfilling for me. Following fashion brands and fashion models started to become harmful. I unfollowed a lot of the brands I loved and all the size 2 models the industry reveres (Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, etc., etc.) because I couldn’t take the daily reminder that my body, face and style were not in line with the fashion’s world insane, unrealistic and harmful portrayal of beauty and perfection.

Emily was the first designer I followed on Instagram. Others started to follow suit, and at some point, instead of perfect bodies in bikinis and perfectly styled outfits, I was getting a daily dose of furniture, beautifully styled interiors, tile patterns, etc. I was finally feeling inspired again. A sofa can never make you feel bad about yourself. This inspiration spilled into all areas of my life, and definitely allowed me to be a little nicer to myself.

2. My style absolutely changed.

This applies to both design and fashion. Before EHD, my design aesthetic changed depending on what music I was listening to that week, what book I was reading, or what movie I had recently watched. I didn’t have a foundation. What I mean is, I never thought to nail down or really understand what my style was. The result? I spent SO much money in my first apartment buying decor and furniture with no end plan (ha, are you noticing a trend here?). I was irresponsible with my purchases. I was flaky with my design ideas and thus, nothing really got done. But I have been cured, if only by the knowledge that multiple styles can work together if you know what to do.

Similarly, how I express my style on my body has shifted. I lean more towards timeless looks and stray away as much as possible from trends (which have a whole other meaning in L.A. by the way—a trend here disappears faster than influencers get tickets for Coachella. It’s absurd). Now, I buy clothes with intention, contemplating how that piece of clothing would contribute to my wardrobe just as I would a new piece of furniture or decor. My style is always evolving but I am more conscious of what my style says about me, and what I want it to reflect about me to the world (which is what it should be all about, right?)

3. I classify my design aesthetics as contemporary-rustic-mid-century-seventies with a hint of boho…and that’s okay.

Those are a lot of words to describe a single person’s style. But like all EHD rookies before me, I learned that style isn’t stagnant and is certainly more fun when you can mix and match. And you absolutely CAN mix and match, as long as it is cohesive. Emily is very loose and fluid with regards to throwing words at a style instead of bending to ONE look, and thank goodness because that is very freeing. I don’t use one word to describe myself as a person, so how could a single word describe my style, am I right?

4. I had to let go of instant gratification.

Designing a home, (or hell, even a single room) does not happen overnight. Even around here, with 12 hands on deck to help shop and style, it takes time. It takes patience. It takes a lot of work. Now knowing this, the millennial instant gratification beast in me has quieted, if only replaced by a slightly less agitated version of itself. All good things take time and it’s OKAY.

image by sara ligorria-tramp | from: 7 tips for creating a unique home you really love
image via claire del mar
5. I found a love for decor that I used to think was fugly.

Remember in the ’90s when hideous wallpaper scarred the design world? Like, literally scarred? I do. I recall when my family moved to a new house in 1999, the ENTIRE HOUSE was covered with disgusting floral wallpaper and it took months to strip its remnants from the walls. Since then, the idea of wallpaper was so dated and tacky to me. It has been 20 years but my parents will not entertain the idea of revisiting wallpaper, despite my recent protests that it is GOOD when done right. So, yes, EHD has successfully converted me to a wallpaper enthusiast and advocate (surprise, surprise).

Also, before I worked here, I frequented flea markets but unlike Michael (who’s home is the photo up top with Spanish-style fireplace), I couldn’t picture the $5 vintage portrait paintings I’d walk by in a well-styled home. I thought they were dated and ugly, and would judge anyone who bought them for having bad taste. I am now forever indebted to EHD for instilling a deep LOVE for vintage portraits and oil paintings in modern spaces. It just works so well, and is very cool when done the right way.

And lastly, I hated Victorian-style anything. I just didn’t get it. It is 2019 and the world needs to get over the Victorian era, I thought. Ha. Now that I am an adult and understand the nuances of design, Victorian furniture and decor get my heart PUMPING. I love a secretary desk or a Victorian armoire styled in a modern way, and a dramatic wing back chair is heaven in my eyes. Though I wouldn’t attempt to try the Victorian-styled rooms I have bookmarked on Instagram, I have a real appreciation and love for the style nonetheless.

6. I use Pinterest now (outside of work!).

I remember when Pinterest became a big thing when I was in high school. It was the first online mood board but I believe my uses of it were that of strictly pinning celebrities I had crushes on and outfits I wanted to try. Pinterest has only just reentered my life because the editorial team made it so. Every single blog post you see here has its very own secret Pinterest board. Why? Because we would all be lost without it. If Excel is the holy grail program for most offices, Pinterest is ours. It is incredibly useful and has me (a characteristically unorganized person) feigning organization. I use it in my everyday life because otherwise, I forget things I want to buy. Sounds silly I know, but I get so overwhelmed with options so I absolutely have to keep my ideas in one place (with visuals!) because I am a visual gal with slight short term memory loss. Pinterest is a god-send and I can thank EHD for that revelation.

image via the design files
7. I now love me some DIY.

This is so uncharacteristic of me, or at least so I thought. I am not handy or crafty but turns out I am at least willing to try mostly thanks to #ShowEmYourDIY. As a lady always on a budget, I now have a great appreciation for a DIY moment, and may even try one one day.

8. I had to unlearn the idea that “all you need is good taste to design a well-styled home.”

I am so sorry to designers for my naiveté. OF COURSE, that is not all it takes, but now I really understand how much thought and skill goes into it. I think I have good style but man do I have a long way to go before I can come anywhere close to designing a home without help. It is certainly a coveted and TOUGH career for a reason, my friends.

9. I am a more thoughtful consumer.

Before EHD, I spent most of my money on clothes because it is somewhat easy to throw a hundred bucks here and there at clothes because they do not have to all go together all at once. Now that furniture and decor are always on my wishlist, I find myself pausing on the add to cart button no matter what I am purchasing and thinking through if it’s something that will make sense in my home (or wardrobe) long-term. Creating a purposeful home is always top of mind now and I like to think I have saved myself (and my boyfriend) a lot of money and closet space, and probably deserve some sort of award for exercising willpower.

Now that I am qualified to give career advice: Quit your job and work for a design company! Just don’t quote me on it or hold me at all responsible.

That is all I have for you today, but do not fret, you will likely see me again here soon as I am being pressured to start my MOTO now that my boyfriend and I are moving into a new place VERY soon (August 1st!). The idea of making that happen is SO exciting and slightly nauseating. Look out for this girl and her new home full of EHD lessons coming soon to a screen near you. Til next time

The post How I Overcame My (Design) Imposter Syndrome (+ 9 Things a Year at EHD Has Taught Me) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Stop Boring Sofa Syndrome: 62 Non-Basic Picks to Wake Up Your Living Room

photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: 7 fool-proof ways to design a home you truly love

Warning, hyperbole ahead: There are two types of people in this world—the kind that just resolves to buy a sofa that’s comfortable no matter how boring it looks (i.e. my husband) and the kind that toils and tinkers online and in-store for days/weeks/months on end trying to find something a little more interesting (uh, me, always and forever). At a high price point, it’s not that difficult to source something really special, but it’s far more tricky when you’re talking anything mid-range or even budget-friendly.

While designing the living spaces of the mountain house, I’d kept hearing Emily talk about the sofa selection process with the design team. She wanted something comfortable but visually different…not the standard boxy sofa available at every retailer. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a straight-forward design (which can easily be dressed up with other unique pieces in a room) and no one is going to take you to design jail for going the simple route, a silhouette with some flair can be nice to really shake things up and put your personal touch on a space. Sometimes even a leg detail that’s a little different or the slope of an arm can level up a boxy, standard design. It doesn’t have to be over the top to be interesting.

photo by zeke ruelas | from: introducing my living room

Let’s take THE sofa, for instance. That baby up there is epically iconic around here and if you’ve been reading this blog for a few years, you know it. Had this been a boxy gray number (or you know, the equivalent of pre-furnished college apartment furniture), I guarantee no one would remember it, which of course would be fine for most people but if you’re that second type of person I mentioned up there, the “me” in the situation and you’ve been spinning round and round hoping for something more sculptural, I hear you, I see you, I am you.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: my house tour from good housekeeping

Goodness, I remember when I saw this sofa from Emily’s previous living room. I mean, the leather sides and straps at the back made me weak in my knees. Most sofas are not meant to be seen from EVERY angle (particularly not the back), but floating a sofa in a space is sometimes your only option depending on your layout and something that’s interesting in 360-degrees is just going to make your design that much more elevated.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s living room makeover takeover

When I was working on , I knew the sofa I wanted immediately (the one I had before was INSANELY comfortable but kind of just a gray box and didn’t work great in my living space stylistically) and while it’s not necessarily anything mindblowing in terms of silhouette, it’s lower slung than most “standard/basic” sofas, the walnut and brass legs really take it up a level and the updated English roll arm on it looks a little different than what you expect to see in a traditional sofa so in general, it’s not CRAZY DIFFERENT but just different enough that my living room feels specific to my tastes.

Going the vintage route is always a pretty solid way to get something interesting looking. Sites like Chairish, Etsy, Everything But the House and even Craigslist might take a little digging—and reworking—but there are absolutely treasures there. We have a few picks from some of these sites below (you’ll see them marked “I’m vintage!” or “recover me!”) but also a ton of new pieces in a wide variety of price points to aid in your shopping no matter what your budget looks like.

First up, our picks under $1,500:

1. Olsen Sofa | 2. Vicente Faux Shearling Sofa | 3. Carlo Mid-Century Sofa | 4. Marissa Velvet Sofa | 5. Ruby Sofa | 6. Hoxton Stone Sofa | 7. Milo Baughman Style Midcentury Sofa | 8. Aalto Sofa | 9. Logan Grey Boucle Sofa | 10. 1960s Danish Sofa | 11. Magner Sofa | 12. 1980s Print Sofa With Upholstered Frame | 13. Greta Recycled Leather XL Sleeper Sofa | 14. Cadet Armless Sofa

First and foremost, I want to call out some of the vintage picks from this roundup: #7 is, well, boxy, but the wood plinth it sits on makes it feel like something you’d find at a super high-end design store BUT IT’S 715 DOLLARS! Leaving it in the white would be great if you have a modern vibe going on, but if you have some wiggle room in your budget, this could also be SO great in a wonderful patterned fabric or even a slate-y blue or olive linen textile. OH, and #12 looks NUTS right now (I believe it’s from the ’80s) but the stepped design of the bottom frame could be SO fun if you reupholstered. After Emily did the sherpa fabric on the sofa in the Atlanta showhome from early this year, we’ve been pretty obsessed with the cozy fabric, which is why #2 and #9 are something I’m very into (besides the fun shapes). And finally, the super fun settee with drink holder (#5) was just too cute not to include. It might be technically a loveseat, but if you’ve got a tiny little apartment, it could still work for you!

1. Remy White Wood Base Sofa | 2. Franklin Sofa | 3. Franklin Sofa | 4. Forte Channeled Charcoal Velvet Extra Large Sofa | 5. Drops Leather Sofa | 6. Drops Leather Sofa | 7. Benedict Sofa | 8. Benedict Sofa | 9. Bardot Sofa | 10. Jason Wu Custom Sofa | 11. Infiniti Curve Back Sofa | 12. Chelsea Sofa | 13. Brooklyn Down-Filled Leather Sofa | 14. Cadet Black Leather Sofa | 15. Corinne Sofa | 16. Forte Channeled Saddle Leather Extra Large Sofa | 17. Justina Blakeney Moses Sofa Natural | 18. Oak and Linen Sofa | 19. Larry Sofa | 20. Mid Century Gold Tufted Sofa | 21. Murphy Sofa | 22. Fabienne Velvet Sofa Moss | 23. Reclaimed Wood Sofa | 24. Puff Puff Sofa

Okay, this mid-range board has some of my favorite picks of the whole bunch. For instance, the base of #1 is SO GOOD if you’re into that ’80s modern thing that’s happening right now (but the charcoal keeps it super fresh instead of dated). The wood frame of #2 reminds me of Mel’s sofa which I adore, and the channel tufted of #4, #9, #12 and #16 feel super interesting to me in a variety of textures. Even the subtle slope of the back of #15 makes that rather simple shape exciting. And because curved shapes are very in now (again, I think in an answer to an ’80s and ’90s revival), #11 just really shapes up the traditional straight-edge sofa silhouette.

1. Amura Lapis Sofa | 2. EJ 880 Savannah 2-Seater | 3. Chambley Sofa | 4. Dandy 96″ Leather Sofa | 5. Casey McCafferty Bone Velvet Walnut Sofa | 6. Beice 3-Seat Sofa | 7. Donato Sofa | 8. Edmund Sofa | 9. Vintage Teak Minerva Daybed | 10. Caravan Day Sofa | 11. Douglas Sofa | 12. Mello Modular Sofa | 13. Kalmar Sofa | 14. EJ 485 Bow Sofa | 15. Moreno Sofa | 16. Rhys Three-Cushion Sofa | 17. Glam Emboss Sofa | 18. Sauvie Sofa | 19. Rivera Sofa | 20. Vintage Mid-Century Sofa | 21. Scandinavian Cognac Brown Leather and Rosewood Sofa | 22. Tepee Sofa | 23. Spindle Sofa | 24. Sense 3 Seater Sofa

And finally, while I know it’s not exactly hard to find cool, edgier furniture at price points like the above ($3,000+), I couldn’t help but show you some VERY cool pieces (some Emily pinned and saved herself for the mountain house during that furniture selection process). Man do I love SO many of these. #1 kind of looks like smooth rocks (that happened to be covered in blue velvet) but those are the coolest rocks ever, okay? The leather sides of #2 remind me a little of Emily’s vintage sofa I showed you earlier in the post. #4 is BURGUNDY LEATHER so that’s all I have to say about that and #10 is a sofa the design team has used numerous times from Katy Skelton and it so beautiful in person. The straight-up coolness of that weathered leather from #16 and #21 is for anyone who really loves that California casual vibe, and the spindles on #5 and #23 are just rad.

And this is where I leave you for today. But before I go, I’m curious where all of you land on my “two types of people in this world” statement from the beginning of this post. Let’s pretend there was no sacrificing comfort…are you more drawn to a straight-forward sofa style or are you into these different shapes? Which are your favorite? OH and also, raise your hand if you’ve ever bought a vintage/second-hand sofa and gone through the process of reupholstering it (how much did it cost, how much fabric did you need, was it worth it?). Spill the beans, folks!

 

 

The post Stop Boring Sofa Syndrome: 62 Non-Basic Picks to Wake Up Your Living Room appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Messy Process – How I Chose ALL The Lights For The Mountain House “At Once”

This post about the mountain house lighting is going to leave you with three feelings –

1. ‘Yay I got a sneak peek with lots of inside information …?’… then

2. Wow. Emily’s design process is very messy, even amateur… ending with the question…

3. Is this house even going to look good?

When I came up with the original ‘how to choose a lighting plan for the whole house’ concept last week, I assumed that all of the lighting would look good presented TOGETHER on one board, and we could show you how we seamlessly curated them all, using analogies like ‘think ‘cousins’ and ‘siblings’ but never twins’. And while it looks so amazing together in person (barring 2 that are awesome but might be changed out at some point) it actually doesn’t look that great on a board together. HOW?

Well, like anything tactile that’s because sharing 3-dimensional design on a computer screen lacks, well one whole dimension first of all. But it also lacks texture, and in this case, we are talking lighting so it’s a lot about experiencing the room with the actual light.

But before I show you the board with all the final choices, you need to see the process, my process. It’s messy, as is any creative process (and if it’s not messy, then I have to tell you it might not be that creative). But when I’ve shown it to my friends or any new employees they find it A. alarmingly amateur and B. super easy and helpful.

Again, the program and skills you have will dictate how good this looks, but I use Keynote on Mac and have very poor Adobe skills so this works for me. The reason I use Keynote? Because it’s so easy a toddler could use it. Like even my toddler who likely inherited my alarming lack of Adobe skills. You drag and drop. Hell, my kids can do that ALL DAY LONG. In fact, (may I rant? oh dear I do think I’ve been watching too much Outlander these days) my whole team used to make fun of me about my Keynote enthusiasm. FOR YEARS. But the truth is, I’m bloody fast so I need a fast program. I need to be able to switch out things super easily without turning ‘on’ and ‘off’ different layers and trying to remember which layer does what (surely there is a Photoshop joke in there somewhere). Well, one day, during the Portland project when Brady was doing a great job on Photoshop but it felt too precious for the speed in which he needed to work I suggested sheepishly that he try Keynote. He went to school for architecture – he does NOT do mood boards on Keynote, so he continued his resistance, but I was his boss so he tried it and then a week later, gone missing, we found him holding a ‘Keynote and Beyonce for president’ sign on the corner of Sunset and Hollywood. It’s just so fast and you can switch things out, move them, resize and add text so quickly. She ain’t pretty but she works well.

So here is my process:

Step 1: You scour the internet’s lighting resources for probably 65-70 hours over the course of 3 months. This is often performed best with a glass of wine while watching Younger, Sex in the City or a Real Housewives – something that requires minimal attention and makes you feel like you are hanging out with your best friends. It could even be actual Friends. The process is flexible as long as there is on-screen kissing involved.

Step 2: You screengrab any photo of any light you might possibly like within your (4) styles and drag it onto a keynote page. Since our style was/is ‘modern mountain, contemporary California, refined, rustic Scandinavian chalet cabin’ there was a vibe, but it did span both handmade pottery and linear modernist contemporary lights. So I screengrabbed them all.

Step 3: VERY IMPORTANT – You also PIN all of these onto a Pinterest board from their original store/source or you will have literally no idea where you screengrabbed it from and you will eventually take your wine glass, break it and shove the small glass shards into your eyes wishing to stop your maddening world wide web search. A wise man once said, “Better to never see at all than to look for one lamp for the rest of your life.”

Step 4: You size it down so you can see everything. You literally take the little corner thing and drag is so the picture gets smaller. Then you add page after page… I had like 15 pages of just lights.

Step 5: You play around. This ‘playing’ part can last months. To your partner, whom you might ask opinions of, it can often feel more like torture, but to you/us, it’s the fun part. However, this part can also be paralyzing. You like so many. You don’t want to be basic. You don’t want it dated, nor do you want it too traditional. You don’t want what everyone has seen a million times, but you don’t really feel like taking huge risks, especially when they can be expensive.

Step 6: Finally, you ORGANIZE. A good idea for “playing” is to organize it either by style, type (sconce/pendant) or by room. For the blog, we organized it by style to best show you what styles we were considering. Then we started eliminating and “promoting” the losers and winners. It was like fantasy football or March Madness, for sconces. I don’t ever delete, I would instead drag the rejected off the page (hidden outside of the frame, but retrievable). Then yes, I would start taking favorites and put them on a few new pages. Then even if I loved one, if it didn’t seem like it was playing well with others I would remove.

This is the part that is tricky because I think that if you love one and it is in your style then it’s ok if it doesn’t look great with a sconce 3 rooms away – you’ll never see them together. I wish I had not eliminated some of the more raw pottery pendants or wood sconces that I loved that sure, but wouldn’t have worked with much of the more linear modern pieces. However, in their own rooms could have been beautiful and added so much warmth. No real regrets here, but just a warning that if you love something don’t worry too much if it doesn’t look great next to another that you also think works.

Lighting Options 1:

Lighting Options 2:

Lighting Options 3:

Lighting Options 4:

Admittedly I’m one of the most open-minded people in every subject–yes, from politics to lamp styles–making my decision-making process often tortuous. It’s not that I’m indecisive, I just really see every side and can easily see the benefits of choosing something budget vs. custom, hand-made vs. mass manufactured, minimalist vs. decorative, stylish vs. sleek, etc. And that doesn’t even cover function. I’m by nature eclectic and like/need the occasional surprise and unpredictability of something special that doesn’t quite fit.

So then I started breaking it down by room.

I started adding the lighting to boards with some of the hopeful other design elements. We didn’t have any renderings at this point so I was actually just screengrabbing elements that kinda looked like what we might choose to see how the room would turn out. I wrote text on them like ‘I LIKE’ or even ‘YES, DON’T CHANGE’. So bossy. Funny enough I often did change and former Emily did not sue. Litigious we are not. So below you’ll see a bunch of those notes, along with spelling and grammatical errors

The Link Up: Em’s Favorite New Tray, Womens Shorts That Don’t Ride Up and Great Running Shoes

image via architectural digest

Guess what?? We have two MORE new team members that joined our team this past Monday. We have been looking for a long time for these two and couldn’t be happier they are finally here. So please welcome Mallory who is our new blog/social media assistant and Chandler who is Emily’s new assistant. Just like Caitlin (our new brand partnership manager) they are wonderful and are clearly going to be amazing assets to our team. They are also great assets to our link up.