Emily Henderson's Blog, page 258

The 7 Things You Need to Know Before You Try to Hang That Gallery Wall

Right around the time that we decided to work with Pen + Napkin on a new Feel Good Flash Makeover, this time for a very deserving family of soon-to-be five transitioning out of homelessness (see yesterday’s reveal here), Artfully Walls reached out to us to partner on a post about art and it just felt like the perfect marriage for what we had going on. Our goal for this family’s home was to make it comfortable and safe (they were removing themselves from an abusive situation), with some “life” and color (our Mama Bear’s request) and truly, there’s no better way to bring in character and a sense of place and personality than through art.

If you don’t know Artfully Walls, they’re a really great site where you can source affordable art prints of all styles, but they also have tools that make creating art setups (especially gallery walls) SO easy. With their Wall Designer, you can pull in any pieces you like and play around digitally to create an arrangement you love before committing to purchasing either the prints or the whole she-bang with custom frames. That takes the guessing out of sizing and orientation that’s so hard to figure out without doing some manual labor and/or guessing. Also, for anyone who suffers from paralysis of choice (or as a reader said a few weeks back in a post and I never forgot, “Fear of Better Choices”), they also offer pre-selected gallery walls in over 50 styles. Yay for not having to make any real choices (I mean, of course, you have to pick from the 50+ but it’s a VERY good starting point slash way easier to see someone else put something together that you can then tweak rather than starting with a blank slate). Gallery walls and more complicated art arrangements can feel like you need a Ph.D. in art history mixed with an apprenticeship at a custom framer to figure out, but we’ve put up our fair share around here and have plenty of tips so you can feel confident in doing it yourself (you CAN do this).

Before we get to that, I’m going to walk you through the art picked out for this home, the whats and whys, so you can hopefully get a sense for our thought process, i.e. LESSONS and plenty of HOT TIPS. Let’s start in the living room.

Top Left | Top Middle | Bottom Left | Bottom Middle | Bottom Right

The big art moment here was the loose grid on the picture ledges, balanced further down the wall (in the kitchen) with an overscale piece. Here, we went with a mix of frame colors (black and white for variety but still keeping things concise) in varied scales and orientations. We didn’t go with anything too large and vertical, otherwise, the shelves would have to be further apart. That would create more white space around the horizontal or square pieces and then this whole arrangement would feel too airy. Try to keep things light yet tight. We put the largest pieces in the center of both ledges then played around with the other smaller pieces to fill in (that’s typically what you want to do with any art grouping).

In terms of the prints we actually picked, you’ll notice there’s a mix of “media” (watercolor, mixed media, oil), but it’s all kept cohesive enough because we’re working within a color palette of blue, mustard, and blush, for the most part. Everything is on the moodier or muted end, so the landscape still feels like it belongs next to the ethereal portrait.

Because of the open floor plan, the pieces in the kitchen still needed to “talk” to the art in the living room. There were some things we wanted to cover up (the float-mounted circle print below actually covers up the fuse box), but for the most part, the purpose here was really to bring some life and color into this pretty neutral space. HOT TIP: If you’re in a rental and handcuffed to the style because of your lease, the easiest thing you can do to detract from what you don’t like is to bring in things you do like.

Large Abstract Print | Circles Print | Smaller Abstract Print

The photo up there on the right is a good reminder to switch up your framing. Here, we went with a float mounted piece and a near full bleed. There’s definitely nothing wrong with going all float-mount or all matted, but if you want something a little more casual and “loose,” make sure to vary up the mounting.

We kept the art in the girls’ room simpler in terms of layout, going with a big anchor piece above the dresser that felt age appropriate, then peppered the bookshelf and the wall by the window with a few other pieces:

Floral Art Print | Pear Print

These two pieces (above) felt very much in line with each other, having that painterly touch, and keeping the frames white let the art pop more against the neutral wall and bookshelf backdrop.

Lady Art Print | Arches Print

While yes, this is a room for young girls, that doesn’t mean it has to be all “baby” art. That floral portrait would work just as well in an adult-woman home, and the yellow and blush arches (monotone rainbow? …is that a thing?) would be pretty great as graphic touch to a grid of art or a gallery wall (for both grown people and littles).

Okay, now that we’ve laid the groundwork and helped you with your art arranging 101 homework, we’re graduating up to the more advanced gallery wall. Okay, I shouldn’t paint the picture (ha) like that. I have some breaking design news: GALLERY WALLS ARE NOT THAT HARD. I know they can seem super intimidating, especially if you’ve never done one before, but do you trust us? I mean, hopefully, you do if you’re here. Trust us.

This particular “salon” wall (that’s just a fancy way to say gallery wall, BTW) was a little different in that it had to visually serve both a grown mama, her teenage son and still feel appropriate for what would be the nursery in this two-bedroom apartment. Everything picked out by Velinda (who was the lead designer on this project) leaned more modern to keep it adult yet playful, with the addition of that funny little animal drawing in the middle.

Top Left | Bottom Left | Top (Circles) | Right | Bottom | Center

Let’s study this for a minute…what do we have here and why does this work?

A cohesive palette: Orange, teal, black and navy make up the colors of the pieces. It’s nice to have one piece that speaks to all those colors (like the large anchor print at the top left), than the rest individually answer some of the other hues. What this does is two-fold—keeps things jiving visually but also doesn’t feel too matchy-matchy. “Matching” can be tricky because anything too same-same is going to feel overly planned. The goal is to keep it casual. The two teals aren’t exact? Cool, totally fine (actually, that’s better).
Plenty of orientations: This is one of the biggest keys to a successful gallery wall (which was done here). You’re going to want to shake things up with squares, horizontals, verticals, and extreme versions of the two latter shapes. Also, don’t be afraid to bring a framed canvas into the mix to inject even more variety.
Different colored frames (but reigned in): Our favorite mix of frame colors in a wall is pretty simple—black, white, white oak (or another light wood). Sometimes, for impact (and if you’re building out something BIG), a brass or chrome frame adds a nice punch, but mostly, keeping everything streamlined, i.e. nothing too ornate in a sea of modern gallery-esque frames, is your best bet for GWS (gallery wall success). Here, there’s a nice variety of frame widths, too. A thinner frame will always come off more modern than something thicker, but generally, anything in the 1-inch arena will feel updated and fresh.

Now that you know how to pick your art, it’s time for a quickfire hit list of dos and don’ts of hanging a gallery wall so you get it right the first (or first-ish) time. Some of these points have already been touched on, but I wanted to put them all in one place so you can reference back as your cheat-sheet when you embark on your gallery wall journey.

How to Put Together a Gallery Wall (Without Panicking):

Pick your anchor piece and build out different frame sizes and orientations from there. I’ve probably said this, what…three times now? But anyhow, yes, this is paramount to a pulled together yet eclectic arrangement. Mix up small and big pieces (and don’t be afraid to go to extremes), horizontals, verticals, squares (squares are GREAT), canvases, etc.
Vary frame colors and finishes. A good rule of thumb is to stick to three finishes. Black, white and one wood tone is a great place to start. If your gallery wall is very large, you can get away with mixing in one more finish, like brass, but that works best if there are at least two pieces in a metallic, as one will feel pretty solitary and unbalanced. Another note in terms of frames is to not be afraid to mix up frame widths. You do not need to use the same frame over and over again. In fact, it looks less finicky if there is some variety. Going super thin will feel more modern, while a thicker frame comes off more traditional.
Play with mounting options. I’m not saying not to use all matted pieces, but a mix of matted, float-mount, full-bleed and partial bleed (with a white border) is our personal favorite here at EHD.
Pick and stay within a color palette and “vibe.” If you’re buying all new art for this project, this is pretty easy to control as you can just make sure everything you purchase will work together. If you’re putting something together from collected pieces, you’ll want to weed out anything that feels like it doesn’t belong, whether because of style or color (or add more pieces to round out that outlier if it’s super important to you). You can also just “pick” a style of art (all B&W photography, abstracts, vintage oil portraits or seascapes, for example), and go all in. That’s SUPER chic and special.
Find a flat place to lay everything out before getting your hammer. Step away from the hammer, please. You’re not ready. Collect all the art you think you want to hang together and lay ALL of it out either on the floor, a bed and dining table. Arlyn told me that in her dining room, Jess helped her with the process and she advised that she measure the area she was going to use (her ENTIRE wall), and mark it out on the floor with painter’s tape. She said it was genius and will never not do it that way. She even taped out where approximately her wall sconce is so she didn’t mistakenly plan art for that spot. Play around until you have something you like. You’ll want to make sure all the verticals aren’t all together, or all the black frames. It should feel mixed but doesn’t have to be exact. If two white frames end up next to each other, it’s totally fine if you love the way it looks. You’re not going to go to gallery wall jail. Take a deep breath. It’s going to look great!
Don’t stress about “fixed” spacing between pieces. Repeat after me: all art pieces do not have to be exactly the same width from the next. That causes a logistical nightmare when you’re working with varied sizes and orientations. It’s okay to eyeball (try about 3-4 inches between pieces). The easiest thing to do is, once you get your arrangement, pull your largest anchor piece from where you have everything laid out, and hang that, then start working from there. You’ll have to adjust as you go, and you might find that some of your measurements were wrong, but it’s TOTALLY fine.
Note where the nail actually goes. Unless you got all your frames at the same place, make sure to pay special attention to the distance between the top of the frame and where the nail will actually hang off the frame. Some pieces might have a wire, some might have hooks, some might have nothing at all, so it’ll all differ and if you want things to be precise, measure each frame individually before putting up.

Okay, I think you’re finally ready for some art. You’re all studied up, you have your cheat sheet…it’s time for some shopping. Again, don’t forget about Artfully Wall’s pre-selected gallery walls (they offer 20% off entire purchase if you go this route, too), but if you want to go at it alone, we arranged some favorites from the site into roundup categories:

1. Swyre Head | 2. #3 by Justine Moody | 3. Series 1 No. 7 | 4. Persimmon Rains | 5. Garden Carvort | 6. Poco a Poco | 7. Song | 8. Line & Shape Studies 01 | 9. #5 by Justine Moody | 10. Spring Is Like A Perhaps Hand | 11. Sunday Market | 12. Knott Cloud | 13. Wabi Sabi 16-01 | 14. Snowmelt | 15. Series 3 No. 2

1. Bait and Switch | 2. Cycle 01 | 3. Abstract No. 9 | 4. Two Loops | 5. Looped | 6. Geometric | 7. Turquoise Triangles | 8. Herba Mythologica XV | 9. Kinetic Lines 18 | 10. Red and Blue Branches | 11. Out of Shape | 12. Turn II | 13. Untitled | 14. Striped Stone #1 | 15. Black Form

1. Into My Arms | 2. Woodcut Floral | 3. Jalmia | 4. Bowl of Lemons | 5. Pot Plant | 6. Ink Floral | 7. Eucalyptus 1 | 8. Pears Black and White | 9. Yellows Roses in White Pitcher | 10. The Good Listener | 11. Bouquet Study No. 1 | 12. Freda | 13. Wild Cactus | 14. Blue Pod | 15. Lemons

1. Autumn Girl | 2. Head | 3. Woman Sitting on a Quay | 4. Prayer | 5. Afro 1 | 6. A Time of Roses | 7. PJH | 8. Comet and Oranda | 9. Just Moody | 10. The Big Leap | 11. I’ve Got You | 12. Posey | 13. Silhouette | 14. La Espera | 15. Wrestling | 16. August 1980 | 17. The Gallant Pluck | 18. Malalla | 19. Riley | 20. Monica In a Red Dress | 21. Julie

1. Negba | 2. Desert | 3. Tangerine Sky | 4. A Calm Sea | 5. Waters of the World | 6. Walk in the Woods 4 | 7. Without Expectation | 8. Headspace | 9. Six Shooter Peak | 10. Sete Cidades | 11. La Veta Farm | 12. India no.8 | 13. California Coast, Trees & Beach | 14. Petoskey Hunter | 15. Beach Huts | 16. To Richardsons Hill | 17. She & I | 18. Cherry Coast

There are literally hundreds more options in a wide array of styles and categories, so have a look.

Thank you again to Artfully Walls for providing the art for yesterday’s makeover, and let us know what art pairing, framing or arranging questions you might have. I know it can feel intimidating sometimes, but we’re here to help.

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

**photography by Sara Ligorria-Tramp, creative direction by Emily (Henderson), design and styling by Velinda Hellen with styling support from Emily (Bowser)

The post The 7 Things You Need to Know Before You Try to Hang That Gallery Wall appeared first on Emily Henderson.

New Reveal: A Colorful, Happy Home Makeover For An Incredibly Deserving Family

It’s time for another Feel Good Flash Makeover. Every one of these will be different, obviously, but this one was extra unique because the single mom of three is about to have a baby (next week), so we had to move very fast. We got this “call” (literally and spiritually) right after I listened to a podcast about how obsessed we are about having “enough.” “Scarcity” the hot button word is a larger fear that people will never have enough. An example of this extreme is the success of storage unit companies. Think about it: people have so much “stuff” that we pay for essentially a garage to put extra stuff, of which probably won’t be touched for years, meanwhile—you guessed it—so many people around us, often in our own communities, don’t have ANYTHING.

It was literally that same week that Catie of Pen + Napkin, with whom I’ve worked with in the past for the Rummage Sale, called and said, “We have a family transitioning out of homelessness that has nothing and is about to have a baby, can you help?” The timing was pretty incredible emotionally as I looked at our garage, full of beautiful furniture just sitting there and realized that instead of consuming more, buying more “stuff,” we’d give this family a lot of what we already have (as well as a supplement–I didn’t have bunk beds). So that’s where we started and what we based the design off. Velinda was the lead designer and took over once we decided what we could repurpose. After shopping my garage, our prop unit (which we technically still need for the book) and shopping retail, we pulled together this two-bedroom comfortable and happy apartment for this family of soon to be 5.

Take it away, Velinda!

“We are installing more than furniture. We are installing hope.” — Pen + Napkin

With that slogan, how were we to say “no” when Pen + Napkin reached out to us asking if we would sponsor one of their families who had just transitioned out of homelessness. Let’s be honest, we had no desire to say “no.” Flash makeovers are 400% our favorite thing to do. It’s all we want to be doing! This one was a slightly bigger challenge than our Feel Good Makeover last December. Our family of (soon-to-be) five had NOTHING but basic beds and a TV (thanks to Pen + Napkin) in their 507 square foot, two-bed apartment…for FIVE people to sleep, study, lounge and eat together comfortably. (And hopefully, have better access to their limited storage? This won’t do.)

Because this makeover was never meant to be a surprise, we met up with the head of the household and single parent, Mama Bear, to learn more about her family and their needs. Shockingly, “Mama Bear” isn’t her real name. But we were sworn to certain levels of secrecy because she and her three (almost four) children are actually in hiding after escaping an abusive home…house. An abusive environment isn’t home. After surviving a period of homelessness, it was time for them to have a home to feel safe and feel pride in.

When we arrived, the sleeping arrangements were as followed: Mama sharing a queen bed with her 13-year-old son in bedroom one (which the new baby will also share), and her two younger “girly-girls” sharing a second room (above). We coaxed Mama Bear to describe her dream home, but she insisted we “do whatever we wanted” because she was just “happy to have furniture again,” though she did drop the hint she needed more color and “life” in her world right now. She’s having a baby on Father’s Day, so we aimed to move fast (three weeks from beginning to end), so that she’d really be able to bring that new baby home.

Here’s what we learned about their needs for the space: School and homework take up most of this family’s time. Everyone living in the house is in school. But when there’s time, they enjoy doing crafts together and Mama insists they eat together as a family every night. But eat where? 

Our top functional priorities were to:

Get Mama and sons into their own beds and liven up the girls’ room
Create a shared space with color and “life” and find a way to squeeze some sort of dining surface/area for the family to eat together
Storage (always)

And of course, make it pretty!

Priority #1: Let’s get everyone in their own bed.

Here’s what bedroom one (where Mama and son slept) looked like before:

And after:

Anyone recognize that dresser below?? It was time it found a new happy home.

Bunk beds were the obvious solution for maximizing the limited sleeping space (always try to design “up” when your floorplan is smaller), but it meant swapping out standard ceiling fans (which Mama said they used often) for a safer/compact caged fan since we hoped to, y’know, avoid top-bunk decapitations. 

Stacked beds are great, but can feel very kid-ish since bunks aren’t usually an adult’s first choice (and are typically twin-over-twin). We didn’t have the budget (or landlord permissions) to construct one of those grown-up-cool built-in bunks, so instead, I looked for a simple way to upgrade your standard bunk bed-in-a-box. And it was truly so easy (thanks to our volunteer seamstress, Lillis and my friend Maura who helped make the few needed cuts). The bed becomes more of a daybed lounge, but the “headboard” could also cushion a sleeping toddler in the future.

We put together this quick graphic in case any of you out there were interested in getting a closer look to make one yourself:

“Leather” makes anything cooler and the modern design detail “adultifies” the bed a bit. But we still had the kids in the room to consider. And I FELT for that 13-year-old with no privacy! Hence the curtain design (sewed by our own Julie), which we made from Rebecca Atwood’s two-sided, woven fabric and a ceiling-mounted track system.

Bed | Rug | Curtain Fabric | Ceiling Fan | Roller Shade | Sconce

To maximize function, we repurposed (and dual-purposed) Emily’s chest of drawers by throwing a changing pad on top, creating both a changing table and dresser. Oh, and note the under bed storage! This 100-square-foot room now comfortably (and more privately) sleeps three (with a sleek little bassinet) and more storage and space. And Emily threw in noise-blocking headphones for Big Brother to use when Little Brother cries.

Throw | Changing Pad | Art: Top Left | Bottom Left | Top (Circles) | Right | Bottom | Middle

The gallery wall from Artfully Walls livens up the space and pulls together a color scheme of their combined favorite colors, green and blue. And hold onto your “how to do a gallery wall” questions, because we’ve got tips on that and more art pairing coming tomorrow in a special post.

On the other side of the wall is the shared girls’ room, and though they had their own beds, it was far from cheerful. These two girls had such vibrant personalities, and we wanted their bedroom to match that. In fact, their brother teased that they lived in a “prison cell” (brothers…). And these are girls who love pink, purple and glitter. Remember it looked like this… lacking anything shiny, bright or happy.

But after:

Mural | Curtains | Bed | Plug-In Sconce | Pink Throw | Embroidered Shams | Tassel Garland

Fan | Bookshelf | Dresser | Rope Basket | Lamp | Floral Art Print

Several key pieces came from Elliot’s former nursery and the books and craft supplies came courtesy of you readers (THANK YOU!). The bunk/new fan was the same functional solution as the other bedroom, but what makes this room SO fun, undoubtedly, is the art we sourced through Artfully Walls. The wall mural is from Minted and is a temporary, sticker solution so great for a rental.

Each lady now has a space just for her, with some shared room to play AND access to all of the room’s storage (one of the beds was blocking the closet). Toss in shiny pom-poms, a dose of sparkly lights and pink fringe and faux fur, and you’ve got a room that “glitters” (without the embedding torture of actual glitter. Oy!)  

Lady Art Print | Abstract Art Print | Round Pillow

Okay, now onto the shared spaces, where we had to check off another priority:

Priority #2: Bring “life” and color into a shared space + create a place for the family to eat every night together.

Here it is when we arrived:

They weren’t even using this space because there wasn’t even a chair to sit in. But we changed that…

Coffee Table | Round Ceramic Tray | Blue Vase | Black Side Table | Floor Lamp

Armchair | Art: Top Left | Top Middle | Bottom Left | Bottom Middle | Bottom Right

The family’s favorite colors and Emily’s were in sync (reminder: blue and green) and we got to bring a ton of fresh color and “life” from our own inventory to this little living room (longtime readers, spot the repurposed pieces?). And here, we found a perfect home for Emily’s turquoise-eucalyptus-jade-ish (??) sofa. Whatever color that is, it’s SO soft and deep; the size of a twin bed actually, which means extra bed options for the growing family.

Since it’s a house full of students, a desk or homework space would be ideal, but unfortunately, there was just no room. Not-so-secretly, I love small spaces. So many creative solutions and cleverly designed products to uncover under such limitations. And one thing any truly small space needs is a lift top coffee table. Storage (priority #3!)? Check. But look, an instant desk! No excuses for not doing homework now. Sorry, kids.

With a mission to find a new home for some of the great pieces we had just sitting in inventory, we hoped to reuse the tulip-esque table we used in our basement turned office reveal, but quickly realized in the design process it would’ve “eaten” the entire kitchen (kitchen pun). But we had to bring this family around a TABLE, considering dinner together was a nightly tradition. This table became a perfect solution thanks to a low profile (it’s just long/wide enough to seat four)…plus it’s more counter space (counter height!) and storage (shelving).

Counterheight Table | Barstools | Art

With it, the 95-square-foot space became an eat-in kitchen, anchored by a large, cheerful piece from Artfully Walls.

We WANT so badly to share the reveal moment with all of you as we usually do, but we’re keeping this family safe by keeping them secret, so you’re going to have to tap into your imaginations just a bit…

The family returned home around 5 pm on our second day of install (we had put them in a hotel overnight to keep the whole thing a surprise). We hadn’t really met the kids until the reveal. From past Flash Makeover experience, we expected them to show up cautious of a small crew of strangers in their home, but the little ladies showed up dancing, so eager to get a peek of their new rooms. The 13-year-old played it cool as any 13-year-old would do…until the surprise was revealed. Once inside, dancing became singing, with songs featuring catchy lyrics like, “Kitchen looks goooo-oood, kitchen looks goo-oo-ood”. No tears this time, all bouncing, “ooOOoo-ing” and climbing on new beds. So much joy and “life”! When we left, they were touring every room for a third time, seeing new things with each revisit as the initial shock wore off.

Flash Makeover execution days are the best days of our work-lives. This time, nearly the whole team got involved (though Sara and Bowser were on another shoot this day and Arlyn popped in not soon after this photo was taken). THANK YOU, Team. The “flash” part of the Flash Makeover was 100% possible because of your hanging and hammering.

If you guys want to contribute to the next flash makeover (and help support the lovely people of Pen and Napkin and the general overhead costs of running a non-profit) you can head to this page – typically 80% goes to the makeover and 20% goes to Pen and Napkin but EHD is foregoing any help with the budget and 100% will go towards Pen and Napkin and the next family. 

These projects are so important to us for many reasons, but mostly because they’ve taught us that when a person/family transitions into an empty home, they are more likely to return to homelessness. But with furniture, the Pen + Napkin team has seen a 100% success rate of ending the homeless experience. We believe in them and these families. Help us support them, if you can. Thank you, Catie (pictured above with Emily) and Corey (her husband) for this amazing thing you do.

Also if you are an interior designer (or enthusiast), you can sign up to help a family and raise the funds to support it. Learn more here.

***photography by Sara Ligorria-Tramp, creative direction by Emily (Henderson), design and styling by Velinda Hellen with styling support from Emily (Bowser)

The post New Reveal: A Colorful, Happy Home Makeover For An Incredibly Deserving Family appeared first on Emily Henderson.

12 Bold Blue and Green Paint Colors We’ve Tested (& Approved) So You Don’t Have To

While we’re not saying that Instagram is a tell-all for all life’s truths (ha, the opposite, really), what it DOES tell us is what you guys respond to visually on our feed. And you want to know what your interactions tell us, if we’re measuring by likes and comments? You LOVE a bold blue or green wall. One of our MOST asked questions is “WHAT PAINT COLOR IS THAT?” anytime we post something darker than a neutral gray, so today, we’ve got a treat for you. All the dramatic, bold blue and green paint colors that are tried and true for EHD, all in one place. (Don’t worry though, if a deep navy wall makes you want to curl up into a ball, we already covered our favorite whites and light grays in this post, so head there if you started twitching, but if you didn’t, keep on reading).

We say this anytime we do a paint story, but that won’t stop us from saying it again: TEST YOUR PAINT BEFORE COMMITTING. Paint colors are sneaky, sly buggers in that a swatch online will look totally different from the swatch in the store which will look pretty dissimilar from what your whole entire wall will end up looking like. We take this seriously around here, especially with darker colors, so if you chose to not heed our warning, proceed with caution.

Alright, now that I put out that disclaimer, let’s look at some beautiful photos that will hopefully help you pick some very special colors for an upcoming project of yours.

Waterloo by Sherwin-Williams
photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: the portland media room reveal

The design team loved Waterloo so much, they used it in two rooms in the Portland Project: the downstairs media room (above) and the powder room (below). This slate-y blue looks equally good on walls as it does millwork. In neither of the rooms here does it come off too dark or heavy since it has gray undertones, but is a great background to build a crisp and personality-filled room around.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: the portland powder room reveal
Cyberspace by Sherwin-Williams
photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: how to create a dream master bathroom suite

Cyberspace is another perfect Portland blue except this time, it’s a rich, true navy. It doesn’t lean too purple or come off too cyan but is definitely very saturated in a wonderful way. In a room, top to bottom, it might be a BIT dark, which is why it’s an awesome color for millwork that’s lightened up by a neutral wall and other accents. I can see this also on rehabbed furniture, say…a dresser paired with brass hardware. Ohh yes! Someone do that!

Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams
photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: the portland kitchen renovation reveal

Moving into some new favorite greens for us, this is the velvety tone we used on the cabinetry of the Portland kitchen. The design team tested out a million shades to get the right hue and ended up LOVING Pewter Green because it’s a rich, saturated green that has a bit of gray in it so it doesn’t lean teal or too jewel-toned. We haven’t tried this on a wall, but it would probably be so pretty in a powder room, smaller home office, hallway or even exterior.

Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball
photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: arlyn’s rental dining room proves the power of paint

I said this in my dining room reveal a few weeks back, but whoa is this a hard color to capture properly on camera…also, I’m OBSESSED with it. This is pretty close (after tinkering with the photo team to correct it) representation, but it still doesn’t give you the true depth. It’s my absolute new favorite paint color (if you couldn’t tell, I’m pretty lowkey about it…) because it has a je ne sais quoi about it. You cannot fully describe it, but my best effort is a chalky blue-green-slate. It’s not really teal or navy or hunter green…it’s its own person, okay? I chose to bring it up into my ceiling and if you’re into this color (or anything on this list as equally pigmented), I highly recommend trying it. It “hugs” you and really makes this color show off to its utmost potential.

French Beret by Benjamin Moore
photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: the color trend we’re very into right now

This is the kind of color you’re going to want to slather on EVERYTHING: walls, ceilings, millwork, cabinetry, doors, baseboards. It’s like Nutella: you can put it on cardboard and it would taste bomb.com. In certain lights, this can lean quite gray but it has enough blue in it that it won’t ever read as just that.

Gentleman’s Gray by Benjamin Moore
photo by geneieve garruppo | from: a 120-year-old barn makeover with samsung’s the frame tv

I’m quite baffled as to why this paint color has the word “gray” in it…it’s not gray, like…at all. Gentleman’s Cobalt maybe, but absolutely not gray. Naming conventions aside, this is a jewel-like blue that in bright light can come off pretty bright, but also quite dark with no light…it can’t make up its mind, but like a finicky riddle that had you stumped for a while and you finally figured out, it’s worth the head scratch. It’s EXTRA good with tonal blues in dense, sheeny velvets like in the shot above. Also, paired with deeper colors like the brick red of the rug and the darker tones of the art makes it feel very posh yet edgy.

Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball
photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: our classic modern kitchen reveal

Probably the least “bold” color of the bunch, we had to let things breathe somewhere. It can’t all be daaaark colors pounding your eyeballs, but Green Smoke (which Emily painted her kitchen island) is so lovely in a way that feels earthy yet fresh and not heavy at all. Obviously, it’s great on woodwork, but it would also be so nice in a bedroom paired with warm wood furniture, nubby linens, caning, maybe even some modern florals on your curtains or throw pillows.

Blue Note by Benjamin Moore

photo by zeke ruelas | from: a moody mid-century home office

Remember when I started this post and I mentioned Instagram and your likes? Well, you guys LOVE this room. Every time we post this, it blows up and I doubt it’s just the wall color alone. That paired with the gallery wall, warm wood and brass tones and the rich leather makes for a perfectly moody yet “alive” space that clearly also speaks to you guys, too. This is a VERY saturated color, so if you’re looking for light and bright, you might want to skip. It would be best in a room you wanted to punch up with some drama.

Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ball
photo by zeke ruelas | from: ginny’s dining room makeover reveal

Not only did Ginny use this in her gorgeous dining room, but Emily also painted the paneling in her master bathroom (below) the same color. It is the perfect happy blue without being too royal, and unlike some of our other favorites (like Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball), it doesn’t feel too dark or moody.

photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: our classic modern master bathroom reveal

A quick disclaimer from Michael, who, after seeing Ginny’s dining room reveal on the blog years ago, ran out and bought a gallon of Stiffkey Blue without testing it in his own dining space. It turned out much darker than he thought it would, likely because his room doesn’t get a ton of natural light, so if you’re looking for this brighter blue tone, #1 TEST TEST TEST and #2, it’ll probably work out best in a room the sun touches on the regular.

Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball
photo by tessa neustadt | from: emily’s kitchen makeover reveal

Before I ever stepped foot into the EHD offices, I loved Hague Blue from Farrow & Ball. I was on a work trip once and was in a room looking at a new furniture line when I had to ask the owners of the showroom “is this Hague Blue??” They were pretty shocked I was able to call it out, but it’s to be expected from a true paint enthusiast like myself. Anyhow, I’m not alone in my love for Hague Blue. It’s truly one of the richest, deepest navys (with slight green undertones) from any paint line. Emily calls it “the best navy blue on the planet,” so for a woman who knows her blues, well…listen up. That is her old kitchen up there, though she’s used it numerous other times and says it’s just deep, intense, modern yet totally classic.

Wolf Gray by Benjamin Moore
photo by zeke ruelas  | from: modern deco kitchen reveal

The kitchen in the Silver Lake Hill’s project from a few years back is still one of my favorite EHD spaces. I remember admiring it from afar, and thinking the shade of blue on the cabinets was that perfect chalky Frenchy blue. It works so well here with the warm brass hardware and fixtures, bet gets a punch from the motif of the cement tiles. If you’re looking for a really good slate blue that bounces light around a room and instantly brings sophistication to the space, this is your blue.

Newburyport Blue by Benjamin Moore
photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: sylvia’s makeover – master bedroom reveal

And finally, for anyone sitting at their device shaking their heads that nothing here is soothing, I present to you Newburyport Blue by Benjamin Moore. Emily used it in Sylvia’s master bedroom because it really infused a calm yet happy feeling to the room. This is a very soothing blue that plays well with warmer toned woods or decor (like the coral accents).

To make it easy to reference back to (Pin it now so you don’t lose it!), we put all the colors together in one roundup. These hues were pulled off the company websites, so they’re a little skewed as compared to how they look in the photos/IRL, but should be pretty close.

Waterloo | 2. Pewter Green | 3. Cyberspace | 4. Inchyra Blue | 5. Green Smoke | 6. Stiffkey Blue | 7. Newburyport Blue | 8. Wolf Gray | 9. Hague Blue | 10. French Beret | 11. Blue Note | 12. Gentleman’s Gray

The post 12 Bold Blue and Green Paint Colors We’ve Tested (& Approved) So You Don’t Have To appeared first on Emily Henderson.

3 Styles, $100 Budget: How to Style Your Coffee Table Like a (Literal) Pro

Welcome to a brand new series that we are VERY excited to share with you…The EHD Team Budget Challenge. This idea was really born from all of you. We understandably get a lot of requests for budget content but what we also get tons of questions about who all the random faces and voices around here are. A general sentiment of “who are these people?” has been noticed and received. While the web design team is hard at work creating a Meet the Team page (hang tight), we thought that a budget challenge with our talented team would be the perfect marriage of the two requests. Since we are first and foremost a styling blog, we thought that a coffee table styling challenge would be a really fun way to kick it off. Am I right?

Today, we have three team members going head to head (insert wrestling bell double ding) with only $100 to shop with (paired with a relatively budget coffee table). DISCLAIMER: This isn’t a competition against each other (we are all winners, ha) but boy was finding cute, shoppable items to style a coffee table for under $100 that also represented our individual styles a personal feat. But we all prevailed and are very excited about our findings. So without further ado, here are today’s players…

Yes, I included myself in this first round because I wanted in on this challenge asap. Now, 2019 was the year you all a little better what with my novel-long posts revealing my living room and kitchen a few months ago along with my other post appearances. But as a refresher, as stated above, I am the Senior Market Editor and have been at EHD for just over 2.5 years. I am a Southern California native, 5’3″ (and 3/4s), ex-Irish dancer, theatre major with a motorcycle license but who can only safely drive a scooter. Now let’s talk about my coffee table…

My “Casual Euro With a Hit of Glam” Look

About my style: Over the course of my 2.5 years here, my love for modern, European-inspired design has grown to an almost unhealthy level. And by unhealthy, I mean it’s typically extremely expensive and out of actual reach but I just want it all. Thankfully and finally, the mass market is catching up and more affordable pieces are available outside the very lucky random vintage finds. Here is how I would style my euro modern coffee table for under $100 and why.

Coffee Table: I went a little glam with this because it’s visually so interesting thus not needing a ton when it comes to the coffee tabletop decor. And maybe this is just me but chrome feels like a less in your face “glam” than gold. It’s a slightly quieter statement which I liked.
Black Tray: So I have learned basically everything I know about styling from Emily and what I have learned is that a tray is your friend. So to contrast the light colors and shape of the table, I went with a black rectangle tray. I love its simplicity.
Book: I really wanted a hit of color(s) so what better and easier way than a colorful coffee table book like this one. The colors are modern, bold and the cover design has just the right amount of visual texture.
Wood Sphere: Target killed it with this wooden sphere object. I own it myself and love, love, love it. It’s cool, brings in an organic element to this otherwise not very natural design.
Bud Vase: In keeping with this idea of adding some more organic shapes, I chose that ceramic bud vase because it looks handmade, is textured and ties in a few of the other colors, as well.
Coasters: I know I said gold was an “in your face” glam metallic but a little hit is never a bad idea when you are trying to keep things modern. Plus, these are great with their simple shape and are super affordable. I think I would maybe ditch the holder if I bought them though.

How to put it together: What’s a styling post if we don’t show you how our coffee tables are actually styled? The answer is a bad one. So we created overhead views, to scale, of how we would lay out our picks and this is mine. I wanted the tray to really be the statement so it takes up most of the table’s real estate. Then I purposefully wanted the sphere to be a bit oversized (because it looks modern) on top of the book. Not only does it give some needed, varied height but it also tones down the colorfulness of the book by covering it a bit. On the other side, there is plenty of room on the tray so I chose to place the vase and coaster in line with each other to create a loose grid. I like the idea of also not having the coasters perfectly stacked. It feels a little less stuffy. Well, that’s it for me. Let’s move onto our Special Projects Editor Ryann…

Ryann’s Modern Victorian (With $7 to Spare)

Ryann has been with us for almost a year and is fully integrated into this crazy EHD world. She started out helping us with the launch of the Rooms and Shop pages but when that was finished, we told her she wasn’t allowed to leave because she was awesome and very talented. Outside of her editorial and social duties, she is “a dedicated mother to the most perfect American bulldog, a self-proclaimed Top Ramen aficionado, and someone who can’t manage to go a full day wearing a white T-shirt without getting a stain on it.” She’s a real gem who is pumped to show you her coffee table challenge.

About Ryann’s style: Our girl Ryann was actually pretty surprised by her coffee table design because her normal go-to style is a mix of mid-century modern/’70s boho. But once she found that vintage matchbox, she quickly dove into a minimal modern Victorian style. It’s pretty awesome and here is the how and why of her coffee table challenge.

Coffee Table: “I went with this slim, charcoal gray table because I liked that it could work with a bunch of different styles. I’m drawn to the color and shape which feels industrial and I decided it could be really interesting styled traditionally with a hint of modern Victorian.”
Book: “The cover felt feminine and bold, and it added a sultry and somewhat moody aspect that juxtaposes the industrial style of the coffee table. I love it so much and am actually debating buying it IRL.”
Vase: “Knowing the styling must-haves, I knew I needed some texture and this vase delivered. It’s the perfect shape, height and color that accentuates the modern traditional style I was going for.”
Blue Taper Candle: “My imaginary coffee table was in desperate need of some height variation, so I went with a taper candle in blue for a pop of color instead of going with a traditional white.”
Candle Holder: “A simple candle holder was all that taper really needed, but I really liked this one because of the tiny hint of brass which pairs really well with the matchbox.”
Vintage Match Holder: “Bringing in some vintage was important to me (did Jess not say I was a true EHDer?), but I also wanted it to be something that could be useful or practical. I found this matchbox on Etsy and loved the cylinder shape, the Victorian woman pictured on it, and the gold-tipped matches which add the perfect amount of glam without being too loud.”

How to put it together: Ryann wanted to keep things elegant and simple. First, she chose a larger book to work with the scale of the size of the table. Then placed a simple but bold (because of the color) taper candle and holder on top of the book for height and layering purposes. The vase is placed up and off center to the book for visual dimension. Then lastly, the very special matchbox is placed next to the vase to help visually balance the vignette. Done and done. A beautifully styled coffee table with room to set down a remote or a drink (or like, your dinner plate…we get it). All we need now is for Miss Ryann to do her MOTO so we can fully indulge in her very cool style (hint hint Ryann, it’s time).

Now last but not least our Chief Marketing Officer, Michael…

Michael’s Curated Vintage Cool Picks

Michael started with us at the end of 2018 and fit right in with his love for vintage, warm spirit and serious marketing skills. You also may remember his beautiful (vintage-filled) living room and dining nook he showed us back in February. So not only is he our resident vintage deal finder but he’s an “Oregon raised and semi-outdoorsy kinda guy. Official flea market fanatic and lover of all things vintage. Dad to an English Bulldog nugget named Dottie. Owner of a lot of hats and patterned shirts.” Let’s jump right into what he was able to pull together for $100.

About Michael’s style: As you can see, he perfectly balanced his love for actual vintage things with vintage-inspired things to create this collected modern vintage style. His favorite word is vintage so saying it three times in one sentence is 100% Michael approved and preferred. Now, let’s dive into why he chose these carefully curated items.

Coffee Table: “I chose this beautiful real wood coffee table because A. it was wood B. has a vintage MCM shape and C. the blonde finish makes it feel modern and light which helps to balances the bolder colors and shapes of the accessories I picked.”
Green Book: “This book was the biggest expense in the challenge but I just absolutely loved the pop of green it adds and that strong, bold typography. I’m a BIG fan of green.”
Orange Book: “I love vintage and color, so this book was the perfect pop of happy vintage in book form.”
Planter: “The planter is clean and simple and when you add a sculptural looking plant…it adds some life (and oxygen) to your place.”
Coasters: “The coasters are modern and visually interesting and add a little personality to something that’s functional. They are from Woonwinkel, a cute store in Portland, Oregon. Plus I actually own them so can very much vouch for how great they are.”
Vintage Plum Bob: “As I said with the orange book, I, uh, LOVE vintage (I used to be a flea picker). Like so much…so I always likes to throw a random antique “doo-dad” on my coffee table. It’s graphic and super cool. If this one sells out, the point is to find something one of a kind and old to pepper in some soul.”

How to put it together: We are big fans of three’s when it comes to styling around here. Odd numbers of grouped items are typically visually more interesting and this layout very much proves that. Michael has three groupings with three different heights in each corner of this rounded triangular-shaped coffee table. The first is the tallest which is the planter, followed by the stack of books and lastly the coasters. All are either colorful, textured or graphic which keeps your eye interested and happy. All in all, it’s a great coffee table vignette that you could have for a total of $98. What. A. Steal.

Challenge accepted and challenge completed. Man, this was fun and hope you got something out of it and feel like you know the three of us a little bit better. We really love trying new things to make the stories you want so let us know what you think and what you would want to see next. The sky is the budget-loving limit.

The FINAL I Design, You Decide: Pick a Theme For the Kids Attic Playroom

Well, it’s come to this: the final “I Design, YOU Decide” of the mountain house, play attic edition. In case you are like “what is she talking about,” here’s a reminder—we renovated a mountain house and brought you into the process of this house by, well, designing each room TWICE and then letting you decide which design we execute (a poll we couldn’t rig). It was fun if not hilariously stressful because Brian and I had to like both plans equally BEFORE we presented to you. Also, if you are wondering when you’ll see the house fully shot, check newsstands in August as it’s going to be in the September issue of House Beautiful, shooting in two weeks (EEK). (And no, we are not selling this house, ever, ever, ever, unless we financially have to or leave Southern California).

Most of the rooms are finished (see the kitchen and kids bedroom posts) with the exception of the attic playroom. This room won’t be shot in two weeks, as we’ll likely work on it after the magazine shoot this summer.

Here’s what it looked like before renovation.

It was already finished, just not safe. The pull-down ladder was super dangerous and where I once wrote “cute cubby” was actually really dangerous, too. I fell from it once while trying to get Birdie down and hurt my leg REALLY bad because I was holding her and didn’t catch myself with my hands. This was the first time I got hurt while alone with two small kids and realized that this is why you have home phones to call 911. I didn’t need to but it could have been so much worse and it terrified me. So we took out the ladder, which allowed us to make the room more usable in many ways and instead put in stairs from the kids’ room.

As a reminder, this is the kids’ room downstairs. It has wall to wall carpet, folks and loving EVERY SINGLE FOOT STEP AND WRESTLE SESSION.

Back to iPhone shots upstairs…

Here’s where we are now. It’s a cute little space with fresh carpet and clean walls. We put in a window and are about to put in two operable Velux skylights for air flow (the window couldn’t be operable because it was on a diagonal).

It has not only this playspace but also a ladder to what we are calling the “clubhouse.”

That window (by Marvin) is magical and had to be a diamond due to the roofline, but we love it and the view out of it is all trees. It has a soffit bench that houses AC vents for the house, which could be a cute bench or more play space.

There is so much potential for fun up here, it could be such a magical space (though it kinda is already).

There is more room behind that wall where the cubbies are so we could do a secret door and have an additional secret room. We are obviously VERY into secret rooms around here.

That’s the space, now let’s get your vote on which style we go for. But first some information on my kids:

We have a 3 and 5 year old who actually love playing together (I mean, they call each other best friends and I want to DIE with happiness). Most of their play up at this house is imaginative, so think lots of costumes, “get the bad guy,” hiding from parents, spy adventures, etc. So this room is to help foster that kind of imaginative play.

OPTION 1: Secret Spy Headquarters/Base

Our kids love playing any sort of game that feels like a secret and involves an adventure so both plans would have elements of that. This option is more geared towards “spy/superhero” but could really be anything they imagine. We love the idea of a wall of gadgets with boxes that have locks. I already bought that wooden safe which I’ll incorporate into either design because it’s so stinking cute.

Finding inspiration of EITHER of these styles was rough and nothing really tells that story, but here are some images that we are kinda referencing:

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That mission control is so amazing and the wall of gadgets, of course, wouldn’t be saw blades; it’s just an inspiration for a sliding secret door that could house their binoculars, compass, masks, etc.

OPTION 2: Enchanted Forest

This theme is more nature-oriented, obviously but where you’d walk in and have it be a magical enchanted forest …via Scandinavia. We’d still do a clubhouse but it would be more treehouse inspired. I found those vintage mushroom stools at the flea market and they spin which is super fun.

Julie tried to find some inspiration shots for “enchanted forest themed room” and here’s what we found…

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It would be far less themed with say, trees and deer…that room CRACKS ME UP. But the trees would come in the form of a tree mural and the “stumps” would likely be the mushrooms stools I already have.

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We love the idea of a rotating circle window and that tone of wood would obviously work in the house.

But we also could paint it white if it competes less with the carpet and wallpaper.

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So it’s down to this: you choosing the theme of this room and entering to win the 5 days at this house with your friends/family (likely next spring or summer). Remember I’ll even pay $1k towards your travel, as you can tell I REALLY want you guys to enter and share and, frankly care as much as you have about this project. So many of you feel so invested and engaged and it means so very very very much to me. Thank you so much for watching, reading, voting, sharing and caring.

Now vote. It’s not a privilege, it’s a right.

The Link Up: The Perfect $8 T-Shirt, A VERY Useful App and An Eye-Opening Page Turner

image source | design by rodman primack

Well, it’s not a three day weekend again but at least we have our Link Up for you to indulge in. This coming week, we have some VERY fun projects to reveal (hint: we might be back with another I Design, You Decide and fresh flash makeover…have you been following along on our Instagram stories?) but until then, let’s get to it, shall we?

Did you catch our cruelty-free beauty post yesterday? Emily just learned that Target recently released their own line of vegan and CF products called Versed. The packaging is minimal yet still beautiful and the reviews online so far seem pretty great. Anyone try this yet?

Veronica was the first of us to dive into Dead To Me on Netflix she says it’s 100% recent binge-worthy show. 

If you into bold patterns, color and playful design then look no further than This Kentucky family home. It’s unbelievably fun.

Emily Bowser has had the app TurboScan for a few years and it was the best $5 she’s ever spent. It’s as easy as pointing and shooting. Then you can email a PDF to yourself or others. It also saves them to the app in folders so you can access at any point to add more pages if necessary, or if you want to take a look without having to take them all out individually. SO useful.

In need of a great new song? Look no further than Nostalgia from BECCAA (Jess’s amazing cousin and EHD alum). It’ll make you want to drive around in a convertible and put it on repeat.

Arlyn says she has strange requirements for T-shirts. She has a large chest so anything too tight makes her feel a bit self-conscious, plus she likes a little bit of a drape but nothing that ends up looking like a boxy tent…it’s a fine line. This Target T-shirt… she has it in 5 colors and it’s her very favorite. It’s super soft, fits JUST right for her petite yet curvy frame and uh, it’s $8.

Velinda’s superhero friend, Allison, has launched a vodka called Hera Dog Vodka that’s not only smooth and GMO-free but strives to save animals. A percentage of every bottle sold by this family-owned distillery is donated to rescues. What a great excuse to drink! 

Michael was going to try and pick one cute shirt from J. Crew’s new summer arrivals but it was legit too hard! There are so many fun and happy summer clothes.

Sara just finished reading Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover and she said it very very good, and eye-opening. Arlyn hasn’t read the book, but did listen to the Super Soul Conversation with Tara and Oprah, and also gives it the thumbs up.

Grace’s new favorite workout top is from Lululemon. It has a cute side tie detailing, a little see-through (but not a lot) so if you have a cute sports bra, it’ll still show a little bit and it’s very VERY breathable. NOTE: This top runs big. She wears a 6 for reference.

Julie’s skin is so dry and craves something to make it feel alive, this Honest Hydrogel is AMAZING! She honestly (haha pun intended) feels like she just got a spa treatment after putting it on her sad dry face. Her words, not ours.

Ryann wants these block heel sandals (in Dusty Blue Lizard) from Everlane extremely bad.

Juniper & Salt started selling this beautiful tea towel to help support Planned Parenthood Southeast and the fight to maintain the right for women to choose what is best for their bodies. And yes, 100% of the proceeds will go to Planned Parenthood Southeast.

In efforts to keep this short so you can enjoy the rest of your only two day weekend…BYE!!

The post The Link Up: The Perfect $8 T-Shirt, A VERY Useful App and An Eye-Opening Page Turner appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Our 15 Absolute Holy Grail Makeup & Skincare Products (That Happen to Be Cruelty-Free)

Saturday is normally fashion day around here (unless we have something special up our sleeves) but Em shared a big styled-out post earlier this week, so we decided to try something else. Today, we’re diving into beauty, but with a very important twist. I can’t speak for the entire team (even though I kind of am right now?), but cruelty-free beauty and skincare is a topic I’m pretty passionate about. In true transparency, cruelty-free wasn’t even a thought in my head until about three years ago when I was supposed to do a story about it for my last job. After tons of research, I was SHOOK, and vowed to myself then and there to try to make a change. I did what I always do when I newly get into something: ran to spend money and resolved to never turn back to my evil ways. Well…it was a little harder for me mentally to let go of certain products I’d used for years (specifically Kiehl’s and NARS, neither of which are considered cruelty-free companies as they sell in China…will explain more about that in a sec). It was my acne-prone and sensitive-skinned face vs. the well being of sweet little animals. You’d think that would be an easier decision to make than it was, sadly and shamefully but look, we all have our journeys and I’m pretty much on the other side of it now. 

From the get-go, Cruelty-Free Kitty was a huge resource for me to learn more about CF beauty, what it all meant, why it was important and brands that did not test on animals. They have a very useful listing of companies that are both Leaping Bunny certified and PETA approved (you can also search by specifications like 100% vegan, palm oil-free, category, store and more). Anyhow, this post is not sponsored by CFK (or anything, just our genuine interest) but I would be remiss if I didn’t talk you through this fantastic resource. If you have others, please let us know! The site taught me a lot about what it means to be cruelty-free, including not testing ingredients or the finished product on animals, and that also, the term “cruelty-free” is not regulated here in the US, so literally, anyone can slap that language on a product. Make sure to look for the Leaping Bunny or PETA cruelty-free logos to be sure you’re supporting the right brands if this is important to you. Research is very important, and one dead give away is if a brand is sold in China. It’s required by law in mainland China to do animal testing if it’s a non-domestic product such as American or European brands, and a lot of these do not want to give up this enormous market. So while a brand might say its US products are not tested on animals, the brand itself is supporting the cruel practice that, FYI, isn’t even necessary these days.

Originally, animal testing was a thing when we weren’t sure what new chemical compounds and other ingredients were safe to use by the general public, but there are now over 7,000 ingredients that are already proven to be safe and no longer need to be tested on bunnies and guinea pigs and other cute little furry creatures. Animal testing is already banned in the EU, Isreal and India…come on America…GET ON BOARD. In the grand scheme of all the issues plaguing our country, this is probably way down on the list of priorities, but…just sayin’. The good news is that it seems that more and more brands are jumping aboard the CF train (Target even has their own new line called Versed…haven’t tried it, but probably will).

Anyway, you probably didn’t come here today to hear me go on about the specifics. Chances are, if you clicked through, you already know a little (but if not, welcome!), so let’s get into some actual products, shall we? A few of us here at EHD headquarters rounded up our absolutely HOLY GRAIL products that are cruelty-free. These are makeup and skincare picks that we use nearly daily and couldn’t imagine our routines without. This is not an “oh, I just tried this and it’s pretty good, give it a whirl” situation. This is undying dedication, things we’ve purchased on repeat that should they be discontinued, might cause a revolt (a touch dramatic maybe, but don’t get in the way of this woman and her glow tonic, mkay?).

First up is our girl Emily, then I’ll go and so on and so forth. And pretty please, share your own favorites below. We’re all always looking to add top-notch “this actually works” type CF products to our arsenals, so if you have something you use that you would consider “holy grail,” spill.

Emily’s picks:

Perfekt Matte Tanning Gel: As you may or may not know, I’m a lover of the natural-looking spray tan. But it often fades on my legs in the first day or two which is really where I want it most as I personally don’t love a tan face on someone who is obviously fair skinned. This cream goes on chocolate brown, and you’ll freak out, but once it’s rubbed in, it looks relatively natural (a little darker than I think I could ever be) and washes off hands. It will definitely get on clothes so don’t wear white, but it also has SPF 30 and stays on well, and showers off at night. Anyway, I LOVE it.

PCA Beauty: This is ALL I use now. Literally, I’ve totally switched over and now use the toner, facewash, hyaluronic acid boosting serum, and moisturizer. It’s VERY effective. It’s not a highly marketed product, doesn’t have any “cool, millennial” packaging, so it looks simple, not-flashing but I don’t care because all that matters is that the products work. 

Arlyn’s picks:

Mario Badescu A.H.A. & Ceramide Moisturizer: I have used Kiehl’s for years and have been on the hunt for a replacement moisturizer since I found out they are not cruelty-free and I FINALLY found my successor…something I used years ago and totally forgot about from Mario Badescu. This brand flies under the radar but it’s solid. The formula is spot-on for my sometimes-dry-always-oily-30-something-skin, it sinks in fast, and works beautifully under foundation. Just add an SPF on top for day time, and I’m all set with perfectly balanced, hydrated skin. Oh, and at $20, it’s far more affordable than other moisturizers in its category. 

REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic: REN has wonderful products and is a “clean” brand (which means it’s formulated without all the bad stuff like formaldehyde, triclosan, SLS, etc. and with less than 1% of synthetic fragrances), but this stuff right here is my everything…100% Holy Grail status for me. I use it morning and night and since I started using it a few months back, my skin has no joke transformed for the better. It’s not dull anymore or clogged, I feel glowy and far more confident makeup-free.

Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation: I found this wonderful foundation when I decided it was time to give up my beloved NARS (not cruelty-free). It’s full-coverage and pretty thick but it still looks natural on the skin. It comes in 30 shades, doesn’t transfer AT ALL (finally my steering wheel isn’t covered in the ghosts of my daily makeup), wears beautifully for the ENTIRE day, and controls my crazy T-zone oil. I’ll probably wear this for as long as it’s produced, which is hopefully forever and ever (do you hear me Too Faced?).

Sara’s picks:

Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm: This is my favorite face cleanser. I double cleanse which I explain to people is like rinsing your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. The first rinse breaks down all the food particles and the second wash cleans away all the residues. This oil balm breaks down my makeup, sunscreens, and face oils (without stripping my skin), and then I use my favorite gel cleanser to rinse it all away. This balm gets through my mascara and eyebrow gel, leaves my skin super moisturized, and doesn’t leave the film residue that I’ve experienced with other face balms.

Paula’s Choice Anti-Redness Acne Solution: I’ve tried MANY toners. From cheap and trendy Glossier toners to wildly expensive P56 toners that you have to order from Canadian retailers. This toner seems to actually be DOING something for my skin, and without breaking the bank. This, combined with the face oil I use, have helped reduce a lot of the redness my skin experiences (I have a hard time wearing blushes or lipsticks), and it’s an exfoliant that doesn’t leave my skin stinging or bright red.

Herbivore CBD Face Oil: I love this face oil so much. I have super red skin, and this paired with my Paula’s Choice Toner have helped to significantly reduce the daily redness in my skin. It’s also really moisturizing. I’ve been using oils in place of cream moisturizers for a while, and I feel that they hydrate my skin better and give me more of a “glow.” I’ll put this oil all over my face after I cleanse and tone, and then I’ll add another extra drop to my IT Cosmetics CC Cream to help it apply smoothly and feel less cake-y, thick, or dry. It’s also a great oil to wear on a “no makeup” day.

Jess’ picks:

Tatcha Nourishing Ritual: I first heard of Tatcha on Johnathan Van Ness’ Getting Curious podcast. After listening to the founder’s story and learning about her products, I decided to give it a go and I haven’t looked back. I feel like I FINALLY, after 31 years, have a skincare system that my sensitive, dry, slightly aging skin LOVES. I started out with the starter ritual kit that I got directly from her site to see if I liked it and when I saw a noticeable difference in my skin that was it. They have products for all different skin types so there is something for everyone. I have the Pure One Step Camellia Oil Cleanser, The Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder and The Essence Plumping Skin Softener all available at Sephora, too. They aren’t cheap so I am saving up for the Silk Cream moisturizer and Violet-C Brightening Serum. Can you tell I’m hooked and they are going to take all of my money? But hey, this is the only skin bag I’ve got so I need to treat her well.

BLINC Mascara Amplified: I have previously gushed about this mascara but I have been using it for 5 years. Once I was freed from my “Raccoon Eyes” I got from traditional mascara, I vowed to never let this magical eyelash wand out of my sight. How it works is that due to magic (or science?), tiny tubes are formed around your lashes instead of painting the ink onto them. It sounds weird but go with it. Let’s just say no more nasty rings under those beautiful eyes!

Windle & Moodie Invisible Day & Night Cream: This is a “hell yes” product for me. It’s light, moisturizing, leaves zero residue, controls those flyaways and smells GREAT. Both Arlyn and Julie bought it as soon as they tried mine. It’s seriously magical. Now, Windle & Moodie isn’t denoted on Cruelty-Free Kitty (it’s not a large company) but I did some research and found other sites that confirm.

Ryann’s picks:

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair® Cream Intense Hydration: I am a simple woman when it comes to skincare. Not because I don’t have any pain points, but because I lack discipline and eagerness to try new products (and it’s so expensive to do so). I pretty much go with whatever is recommended via friends, the internet, or otherwise, but when I find something that works, I stick with it. I used to religiously use Origin’s Ginzing moisturizer, but their products are not cruelty-free (huge bummer) and they run out so fast. I went to Sephora and asked one of the gals who worked there to please please help and tell me what to do use for my dry as the desert skin. I was recommended First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream and after trying, I was sold. It’s like slathering on a cool, silky shield and it leaves me feeling fresh and smooth all day long.

Glossier Boy Brow: Some days I really don’t want to put on makeup. Especially in the summertime, I start to feel icky with a lot of product/makeup on so sunscreen and moisturizer are all I want to put on my face. Oh…and Glossier’s Boy Brow. I have thick unruly brows but I prefer them to look natural (which really just means that I don’t get them waxed). I’ve been using this for a few years and I think it works perfectly for what I want to accomplish with my brows. I apply a few strokes going toward the direction of my brows, and a few going against to ensure I get enough coverage for natural, full looking brows and voila.

OUAI Wave Spray: If you read the EHD hair transformation post, you might remember that I don’t enjoy spending time on my hair. My ideal situation is to get out of the shower, brush and go. I am lucky because my hair air-dries fine, but it needs a little product to keep from falling flat. If this sounds anything like you, say hello to your new best friend: Ouai Wave Spray. It smells AMAZING, and gives your hair that extra volume like you just came from the beach…but make it fashion.

Alright, was there anything you saw here that use, love and can also vouch for? Don’t forget to throw some of your own CF skincare or makeup favorites into the comments. Let’s discuss, recommend and share! Thanks for hangin’ out today and see you tomorrow for The Link Up.

The post Our 15 Absolute Holy Grail Makeup & Skincare Products (That Happen to Be Cruelty-Free) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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

photo by zeke ruelas for ehd | from: moody mid-century home office

Hey everyone! Contributing writer Laurren here to talk some nuts and bolts design. You ready?

The journey to finding the perfect paint color can be a long one. You flip through sample after sample until the eyes blur and everything starts to look the same (wait…how many shades of white are there?!?). Finally, somehow, you land on your top 10 or so favorites. You test drive each one, staring at them in varying times of day in case your perfect-at-10am gray starts to lean a little purple by happy hour. AND THE FUN DOESN’T STOP THERE because once you’ve found your hue of choice, you have another important—and possibly more crippling—decision to make: what paint finish are you supposed to use.

And no pressure but you better get it right because not only does sheen impact how easy your walls are to clean but it may also alter the perception of the color (and the style of the room). That crisp white you sampled in a flat paint and loved? It may come off a little sterile in a glossier finish since more of the color is reflected. To complicate matters even further, sheens aren’t standardized from brand to brand, so you can’t assume all paints display the same amount of reflectivity just because they share the same naming convention. The takeaway? Test and test and test again—not only to find your choice color but also to get a true feel for any finish you’re considering. 

photo by jess isaac for ehd | from: our favorite pastel paint colors (for adults)

To help simplify the process of finding the perfect finish for every space—and in case my dramatic commentary made you want to swear off painting forever—we tapped our friends Nathan and Heather Spaulding of Spaulding Company, a boutique general contracting and design company based in Northeast Los Angeles that are actually currently working their magic at Emily’s LA home, for their expert guidance on navigating the what and where of paint finishes. Take it away, guys!

photo by zeke ruelas | from: orlando’s master bedroom reveal

Hi! We’re Los Angeles natives and former Seattleites, Nathan and Heather Spaulding! We started Spaulding Company in 2015 in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, with the mission to help homeowners and entrepreneurs create spaces that inspire and offer a respite from the mundane. You can find our work in homes and businesses in Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Highland Park, Studio City, Malibu and more. We’re excited to be here today to talk paint finishes, but before we do, let’s go over a few things that are good to remember no matter what paint you choose.

Take your time with surface preparation, taping, and masking.

We know it isn’t fun, but properly cleaning (tape won’t stick to dusty surfaces!) and masking off walls will make the painting process go much more quickly and smoothly since you won’t need to be as careful along edges (meaning fewer touch-ups in the end).

Prime your walls.

If you’re painting walls from light to dark or dark to light, it’s important to use a tinted primer. This will help you get the job done in fewer coats and ensures your wall color is true to your swatch. You might think you’re spending more “time” or “money,” but the truth is, you’ll end up spending more of both on the back end if you skip the front-end work of priming. 

Take a photo. 

Before you crack a paint can, email yourself a photo of the label including the color code and a picture of the branded can. List out the locations where that color/sheen was used. This helps for touch-ups down the line when you’ve forgotten all the choices you made once upon a time. 

Don’t throw paint in the trash.

Many cities have a local drop off or guidelines on how to properly dispose of hazardous waste such as paint. (Note from Laurren: I list extra paint on Craigslist under the free section—someone is always happy to have it for small projects.)

Now, let’s break things down. In general, you want to use a maximum of three finishes in your home. One for high-moisture, high-traffic areas, one for living areas and bedrooms, and one for millwork. Never say never…but never use a flat or matte paint on millwork. You’ll be battling dirt, scuffs, and fingerprints for the rest of your life. It’s also important to note that some brands have additional sheens or alternative naming conventions. For example, Dunn-Edwards and Benjamin Moore have exclusive sheens, Velvet and Pearl, which we’ve included in this guide. Farrow & Ball has a finish called Modern Eggshell that is actually a bit closer to a standard semi-gloss than a traditional eggshell, and Estate Emulsion which is pretty matte but also somehow a bit satin (it’s lovely). More reason to always test a hue and finish before committing!

Okay, now, to get onto the subject we’re all here for today…how to pick a finish. Again, sometimes it’s a personal/stylistic choice (i.e. going high-gloss on the ceiling, walls and millwork of an entryway for a glam look), but you gotta know the rules before you try to break them.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: arlyn’s dark, moody dining room makeover takeover
QUICK GUIDE TO PAINT FINISHES
FLAT/MATTE

BEST FOR: Low-traffic areas (i.e. formal dining room, den), non-moisture areas
PRO: Hides imperfections of surfaces, forgiving application for the not-so-savvy painter  
CON: Difficult to clean, reacts poorly with moisture (Ever notice those drip lines down your bathroom wall from shower steam? They are super difficult to remove from flat paint.)

VELVET

BEST FOR: Bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, non-moisture areas 
PRO: Slightly more washable than flat, similar surface concealing
CON: Still not ideal for easy and regular cleaning 

EGGSHELL

BEST FOR: Bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, non-moisture areas
PRO: Historically the most popular paint finish. Balances cleanability, sheen, ease of application. Sits nicely with your standard semi-gloss sheens on millwork or other rooms. A good choice if you are concerned with longevity and cleanability in living areas 
CON: Shows slightly more surface imperfections due to higher sheen  

SATIN/LOW-SHEEN/PEARL

BEST FOR: Kitchens, bathrooms, high-traffic areas, millwork
PRO: More stain resistant and durable with a subtle luster  
CON: Shows surface imperfections, slightly more difficult to apply for the novice painter

SEMI-GLOSS

BEST FOR: Kitchens, bathrooms, high-traffic areas, millwork
PRO: Historically the most popular for wet zones, millwork—durable and easily cleaned
CON: Shows surface imperfections, slightly more difficult to apply for the novice painter

GLOSS

BEST FOR: Millwork
PRO: The most durable and easily cleaned 
CON: Enhances surface imperfections, difficult to apply (so best left to the pros)

Navigating Paint Trends
image source

We love how cocoon-like a room can feel when millwork, walls, and ceilings (and sometimes even floors!) are painted the same color. You could use the same finish throughout to achieve this look, but to make things easier on yourself, we’d highly suggest using one sheen for ceilings and walls and a more durable option for the millwork. (And don’t even think about going with anything less than a semi-gloss on floors.)

photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: 7 keys to nail the monotone paint look

Across the board, paint finishes with less sheen are trending and while beautiful, the lowest sheen we’d suggest for high-traffic areas is Velvet (Dunn Edwards), which still requires continual maintenance. If you dare to do full-on matte, be sure to shell out for a high-quality paint, always use a primer, and don’t skimp on the number of coats you apply. Be prepared to use many a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and keep a jar of paint and blue tape handy for regular touch-ups (it chips away far easier and scratches with just the subtlest move of a picture frame). We hope this helps you pick up that paintbrush with confidence.

Thank you, Nathan and Heather, for offering your expert advice.

Do you have any painting regrets? Happy surprises? We want to know! And as always, let us know if you have any questions. 

 

The post Painting Soon? Here’s a Crash Course on Paint Finishes So You Get It Right the First Time appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The ’80s/’90s Revival Trend That Surprised Even Us (Hear Us Out)

image source | design by folk architecture

I felt it coming. I saw the rumblings in the zeitgeist, especially in fashion. Intellectually, I knew it would come because everything comes back, but I suppose I didn’t know that one day, in the middle of May 2019, I would all of a sudden become fully engrossed in the GOOD stuff from the 1980s and early ’90s. I’ve loved the ’70s for so long and there are some similarities (oversized, rejection of the uncomfortable mid-century lines) so again, I shouldn’t be surprised. Even more specifically, I’m very into anything ‘80s Italian—WHAT. In case you are rolling your eyes, frustrated that design sites keep calling out these trends and shoving it down your throat that you need to adhere, DO NOT FEAR. We here at EHD believe that “good,” “eclectic” and “personal/sentimental” is always on trend and you can dabble in the newer trend or, as I tell my kids when they say they don’t like whatever vegetable I’ve made, take a “no thank you” bite.  I was reminded of this the other day by my team when I looked at the mountain house, which has all white walls, hits of gray, black, wood, etc. with very little color and said, “am I just doing what is trendy right now on Instagram? Is this going to be boring or dated in 4 years?” They said, “No! It’s right for the vibe and function of this house and ‘beautiful’ is always in, no matter what is trending.”

But like a man with many sister wives, there are times when something new catches your eye and you lean in for a bit. I’m not looking to change out much, but as I’m finalizing all the decor and furnishings for the mountain house, I’m snagging a few Postmodern pieces—a chair that I can’t wait to show you (my friends are split, some think it’s amazing, others hideous and reminds them too much of a tub of licorice) and a lamp or two.

So now that you have my point of view on the Postmodern trend at hand, I am going to pass it over to Jess (who also is surprised by her new yet deep love for this trend) to break it down for you. In the meantime, I’m going to keep finalizing this darn near finished house so I can shoot it and then officially show it off.

“Chubby” Furniture

When I (Jess, hi there!) think of the Postmodern trend, the first word that comes to my mind in terms of furniture is “chubby.” Now unless you are a cute baby with a roll for each day of the week to pinch with undying joy, chubby is a word that most people would quite easily take offense to if pointed in their direction. But let me just say that in this case, the chubbier, the better. Gimme those rolls because the more they got, the cooler they are. Yeah, you heard that right.

image source | design by arent & pyke

“Chubby” is the first characteristic to take note of but the curves/graphic shapes are what make these pieces chic. So think rounded, curved, graphic, even tubular shapes. Keep the key pieces in that world of adjectives and you will have a straight shot into achieving this style on the most basic level. I guess I should say that “graphic chubby” furniture is really the defining characteristic.

image source | design by fieldwork architecture

The ’80s phrase, “totally tubular,” has crossed over from slang to decor in 2019.

image source | design by fabio fantolino

You may have seen sofas like the one above popping up on your feeds because although originally designed in the ’70s, they are completely Postmodern and freaking cool. I was trying to figure out how to describe this style of sofa and the first thing that came to mind was that it looks like the chicest muffin top in the world. I really hope that Tacchini (the designer and yes, Italian, duh) does NOT read that and take offense because it’s a complete compliment. The overstuffed, soft nature of the piece is given a beautiful and necessary architectural structure with the tubular bars. Chubby: Check. Round: Check. Totally Tubular: Check.

image source | design by mario milana

My/our newest and probably favorite current Postmodern designer is Mario Milana. We recently linked his Architectural Digest home feature on The Link Up a few weeks ago when Emily sent it through. All of his creations are Italian Postmodern perfection (he is originally from Milan) but the chaise in the photo above is what I consider the ultimate New Postmodern-style piece. It’s round, tubular and graphic, like the original ’80s style but has a neutral and soft look about it which makes it modern and very of the current time. Does it look like a caterpillar? Yes. Do we love it anyway? Also yes.

Fluted Accents

Now that we have “graphic chubby” furniture on lock, let’s dive into the next defining feature which is fluted accents…

image source | design by sally breer

This is another design element I have noticed to be almost synonymous with the “new” Postmodern trend (modern Postmodern? Postmodern Modern?). I love it because it adds a quiet, unexpected texture to a space. I mean if Sally Breer, designer of all things cool, put fluted stools in her “ahead of the trend” loft apartment a few years ago then you know it’s something we should all take note of. Also, that pendant…more on that later. Sally, you are simply too good lady.

image source | design by andrea serboli

You don’t have to go hardcore “flute” to get the essence of it. This kitchen has probably one of the coolest stove vents I’ve seen in a while and why is it so cool? It has a slight fluted texture. It makes it feel modern without it screaming, “HEY, I’M MODERN AND COOL.” The lines in this also echo the cladding of the island and cabinetry, so…cohesion without being matchy matchy.

image source | design by freadman white and anon studio

What I personally love about this look is that it feels like a nod to the classic stripe pattern of the ’80s and ’90s but way more subtle. Take this kitchen. Aside from the tubular vents above the stove, the room doesn’t read very Postmodern until you look at the fluted paneling on the counter and island (and the terrazzo flooring outside). I think the biggest departure from the old Postmodern to the new-new Postmodern is moderation. I think initially why this style was quickly abandoned in the early ’90s was because it was A LOT, too playful if you will. Then in a vast overcorrection, it seemed like the design world collectively decided to “grow up and move to the suburbs” with their wicker, overly floral Laura Ashley upholstery and chicken wallpaper borders. But now the trend gods have learned and are better about choosing their playful Postmodern moments. And speaking of choosing your moment let’s talk about the “It” color…

Electric Blue

Remember Sally Breer’s pendant from moments ago? That bright electric blue has been rearing its attention-demanding face lately and it’s SO MUCH YES. I know this color is not for everyone but it’s absolutely a key color in the New Postmodern era. It’s like navy or cobalt, but it put its finger in a socket, luckily wasn’t injured, but came out of the experience enlightened, hip, ahead of the crowd.

image source | design by sarah sherman samuel

When Sarah Sherman Samuels helped Garance Doré with her LA home and put those vibrant blue chunky chairs in her living room, I think all of us took note. This space would have been neutral, modern and beautiful as is but was taken to another level with those chairs. What is great about this color is that it leans into its ’80s/’90s past with still being palatable to a 2019 audience. What’s more palatable than blue?

image source | design by 2lg studio

Tell me that cabinet isn’t exciting and cool. I dare you. Obviously, keen craftsmanship is key here, because otherwise, it might have been a disaster. The barely-there handles, arched top and interesting feet would have been special in natural wood but HELLO…there’s no ignoring this electric blue baby.

image source | design by artem trigubchak

The color of this table gives the space a playfulness it would otherwise be lacking. See how important having a little design fun is?

image source | design by harry nuriev

I don’t know if I’m 100% on board with an electric blue patent leather pillow but it does scream New Postmodern. And hey, if you are into it then you got for it.

’80s Inspired Patterns

It couldn’t be called New Postmodern if there wasn’t some solid pattern play happening. What would the intro of “Saved by the Bell” think???

image source | design by kelly wearstler

Probably the American New Postmodern pioneer is the one and only Kelly Wearstler. This room above that she designed mixes scale and shapes with a classic check and modern freehand line drawing. Both are modern upgrades from their ’80s counterparts.

image source | caroline lee and anne sage

Now, the Memphis trend was a big part of ’80s design but I think most of us can agree that the color palette and general “pattern play” was A LOT. Again, think “Saved By The Bell” intro. It came back around about two years ago, but it was still pretty intense. So to bring that look and feel to 2019, we have wallpaper like this. The wallpaper still sports a handful of different shapes, has a scattered feel but with a much more cohesive color palette and less visual chaos. Better, no?

image source | design by morgwn rimel and house of grey
image source | design by dimore studio

Piet Mondrian’s cubist style was also very a popular pattern in the ’80s and early ’90s. Bold primary colors are great, but a more modern muted interpretation like the bathroom walls in the Lafayette Hotel in Guadalajara, Mexico, are the perfect bridge between the old and new.

image source | design by dimore studio
image source | design by alexander & co.

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the classic grid pattern. I mean, it was one of THE patterns of that time. But in 2019, designers are making it a bit more subtle and paring with lux materials and modern furnishings. The bench in the above photo gives this space just that hint of playfulness to not take itself too seriously, which I appreciate.

Delicate and Sculptural Accent Seating

Okay, it’s not all about chub rolls and muffin tops because VERY delicate and/or sculptural chairs are very important to this style.

image source | design by mario milana

These crazy beauties are also designed by Mario Milana and are the perfect example of what I am talking about. They are actual pieces of art that have the New Postmodern playfulness (the mix and match of the varying colors is also paramount here).

image source

The Ekstrem chair was an iconic ’80s chair that is coming back and I like it. I know it looks pretty nutty at first glance but it was designed apparently in response to the idea of ergonomics. So aside from the potential benefits for your bod, the chunky, squiggly lines may be Old Postmodern but it’s here for the new.

image source | design by vuokko nurmesniemi

Pattern play is also a key element in sculptural chairs. It can be bold like these black and white striped lounge chairs or more refined and luxe like the legs of the beauty below.

image source | design by giancarlo valle

Writing this post makes me want to buy every New Postmodern chair there ever was. It’s true torture. Moving along…

Totem Sculptures

This last element is kind of a sneaky one but once you see it you can’t unsee it…I’m talking about totem sculptures and objects. As I was looking for photos, I kept seeing totems large and small and I think it’s a very unique thing about this style.

image source | design by studiopepe

The space above is from Milan Design Week this year so it’s FRESH people. Not only is this set up totally New Postmodern with those curvy, rounded blue chairs and the tubular metal chair but the baby totem sculptures on the table are right there with them.

image source | design by sivak & partners, ivanna gaidarzhy and artem trigubchak

It makes sense why totems work so seamlessly in this style because architecture, sculpture and visual interest are a part of almost every other key New Postmodern element.

image source | design by morgwn rimel and house of grey

You may also have noticed that in each of these rooms I’ve shown have almost a gallery type feel, where each piece in the space is used as a piece of art. And what is a modern totem if not a piece of art? They are also very versatile in terms of shape.

image source | design by kelly wearstler 

New Postmodern totems can be linear, graphic, curvy, large or small. But unlike their past counterparts, the totems of 2019 (oh the things you never thought you’d say) are usually solid in tone so they don’t cause too much visual chaos. The big ones tend to be very expensive so unless you have a “totem guy” that can get you a killer deal, the small ones are just as cool. Also, if you have a “totem guy” that can get you a killer deal, send him my way.

The Easiest Renter Hack: 60 (Budget-Friendly) Cabinet Hardware Picks to Instantly Refresh a Room

photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: velinda’s tiny kitchen reveal

Every article I’ve probably ever read or written about rental hacks to “level up” your home style—and there have been A LOT—involves swapping out hardware in one form or another. Whether that means changing all the knobs in your kitchen, your bathroom vanity or just some DIY furniture rehab you’re working on, evidently, the key to all sad rental woes lies in a roughly 1-inch piece of metal. Ha. But for real, the difference new cabinet knobs and pulls can make in a kitchen or bath is MONUMENTAL and oftentimes, it’s one of the only things you have any control over when you’re beholden to an uptight lease agreement.

Let’s take Brady’s kitchen MOTO for instance (below). Yes, there were a ton of other night-and-day swaps (those floors, the paint, the light fixtures) but the brass knobs he added nearly instantaneously transformed his galley kitchen cabinetry in particular.

after photo by tessa neustadt | from: brady’s kitchen makeover reveal

Jess also did a switcheroo in her rental kitchen and the matte black knobs serve to add a cool punch and edginess to an otherwise casual Cali vibe. She sourced hers from Etsy vendor Forge Hardware Studio for $8 a pop, so for under $50, her cabinetry got a totally reversible makeover. The best course of action if you’re a renter is to stick to using the same holes you’ve been endowed, that way when you’re moving out, you just need to screw back on the original handles (be sure to keep them safe and sound…I keep mine in a ziplock bag with the screws in a drawer either right in the same spot or wherever I store all my utility items). Granted, if you’re an owner, you have a blank check to do whatever you want (but you already know that).

photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: jess’ genius rental kitchen hack

The “jewelry” of the kitchen and bathroom feels like it can end up being a huge expense, and look, it can be. Once upon a time, I bought two $40 IKEA Rast chests to use as nightstands and proceeded to spend an additional $300 on brass campaign-style handles for a hack I had up my sleeve…it was like wearing Old Navy ballet flats with a Carolina Herrera gown. If the final look makes you happy (it did) then who cares, but it still feels a little…wrong. Anyhow, I don’t regret the decision, and still have those nightstands in my guest bedroom but the point is, you don’t HAVE to spend a ton of money on awesome hardware. There are so many great options in-store and online now, especially at very reasonable price points (there’s a set of 10 for under $20 in our roundups, for instance).

For the three roundups that follow (knobs, bars and pulls), we stuck to a $10 budget and many ended up coming in way under, plus all of these can work equally well in a kitchen, bathroom or on furniture. Let’s take a look.

Knobs Under $10
photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: how I transformed a dark basement bathroom into a bright modern space

Knobs are awesome for one main reason: there’s no measuring center to center or making sure whatever holes you might need to drill are level. One hole and done, people. Knobs tend to come off a little more traditional in style, but Jess dug up a 30 that are a great mix of aesthetics no matter what you’re looking for. For instance, the knurled knobs from #1 are the cool kids in school right now…matte black, textural, diminutive (all of which are very “in” right now in hardware). Wood will always lend a warm mid-century style to your space/piece, so if you’re into that, check out #3, #13 and #20. #14 is very similar to what Emily used on her powder bath vanity (a set of 2 is $9!) and I’m pretty obsessed in general with the wood-and-brass mix of #27.

1. 3/4 in. Knurled Knob in Gloss Black | 2. Successi Round Knob in Satin Brass | 3. Mid-Century Modern Cabinet Wood Knob | 4. Cosmas Bar Knob in Brushed Brass (Set of 10) | 5. Cone Novelty Knob in Black | 6. Small Oval Cabinet Knob in Polished Nickel | 7. Gathered Knob in Black (set of 2) | 8. Hex Bar Kob in Shiny Copper | 9. Large Black and Brass Drawer Knob | 10. Quincy Concave Knob in Brass | 11. Faux Marble Knob (set of 2) | 12. Black Cabinet Knob 1.2 in. dia (set of 10) | 13. Wood Handle Dresser | 14. Mossaryd Drop Pull in Black | 15. Knurled Texture Bar Knob in Brass | 16. 30mm Knob in Gloss Black (set of 10) | 17. Domestic Bliss Circle Novelty Knob in Modern Bronze | 18. Jessina Knob in Copper (set of 2) | 19. Cosmas Hardware Finger Knob 3/4 in. in Brushed Brass (Set of 10) | 20. Walnut Wood Cabinet Knob | 21. Bagganas Knob in Black | 22. Constance Knob in Blackened Iron | 23. Solid Brass Slim Cone Knobs | 24. Classic Hardware Knob in Antique Brass | 25. Southern Hills Cabinet Knobs in Satin Brass (Set of 5) | 26. Tall Mushroom Cabinet Knob in Oil-Rubbed Bronze | 27. Wood Brass Door Knob | 28. Round Aerin Knob in Blackened Iron | 29. Saturn Cabinet Knob in Aged Brass | 30. Top Knobs Nouveau III Collection 1-3/16 in. Essex Knob in Flat Black

Cabinet Handles $10 & Under
photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: portland master bathroom reveal

Handles and bars tend to be a little pricier than knobs, but they’re larger so…makes sense. Note that most of the measurements you’ll see are center to center of where the screws go (not the total length of the piece of hardware. Of course, we love us some brushed/satin brass or matte black, but polished nickel is quickly becoming one of our favorite finishes for more traditional spaces. Emily used it in the and every time I saw it, it made me question my dedication to brass. It’s warmer than chrome and has more depth then brushed nickel (you can witness that in #1). The simplicity of #2 and #15 are really nice while #10 seems so special. I think these would be particularly beautiful on a dresser or cabinet you’re re-doing. I have something similar to #11 on a console I painted a soft Swedish blue and the rose gold against the pale cool tone is pretty nice (IMHO).

1. 3-1/2 in. Bar Sash Lift in Polished Nickel | 2. Borghamn Handle (set of 2) | 3. Atlas Homewares Bradbury 3 in. Center to Center Handle in Warm Brass | 4. Knurled Steel Bar Pull in Amber Gold (varied sizes) | 5. Symm Etry 3-1/2 in. Center to Center Octagon Pull in Satin Nickel | 6. Bagganas Handle in Black | 7. Hickory Hardware Natural Woodcraft 3-3/4 in. Center to Center Cup Cabinet Pull | 8. 4″ & 5″ Center to Center Iron Cabinet Pull | 9. Cosmas 2-1/2″ Center to Center Contemporary Bar Handle in Brushed Brass (set of 10) | 10. Modern Square Drawer Pulls (varied sizes) | 11. Brainerd 3 in. Center to Center Rectangular Bar Pull in Brushed Copper | 12. Richelieu 3-3/4 in. Center to Center Handle in Matte Black | 13. Viborg Zinc Alloy Modern Cabinet Handle in Black (set of 10) | 14. Hickory Hardware Carbonite 4 in. Center to Center Handle | 15. Peggy Drawer Pull in Satin Brass (varied sizes)

Cabinet Pulls $10 & Under
photo by sara ligorria-tramp for ehd | from: mountain house kitchen renovation reveal

While knobs and pulls dominate the hardware category, one of our favorite dark horses is actually finger pulls and ledges. Traditional cup pulls like #5, #10, #12 and #14 have long been a staple of the classic kitchen and bath, but more subtle and delicate flush pulls like #1, #9 (the price on these is SO GOOD) and #13 are becoming fast favorites in spaces of all styles. For instance, Emily’s rustic-yet-modern mountain house kitchen used a combination of black metal Schoolhouse bars and ledge pulls which have just enough visual presence without taking away the focus of those insane Ross Alan Reclaimed Lumber cabinet fronts. Something leather like #11 might be best left to furniture for longevity, and these come in a few different colors, FYI.

1. Richelieu Hardware 3-5/32 in. Center to Center Pull in Satin Gold | 2. Borghamn Handle (set of 2) | 3. Wood Drawer Pull Set | 4. 1-3/4 in. Rustic Rivet Knob in Matte Black (set of 2) | 5. Atlas Homewares Successi 2-1/2 in. Center to Center Cup Pull in Polished Nickel | 6. Luna Cabinet Knob in Polished Brass (varied sizes) | 7. Bail Pull in Brass (set of 2) | 8. 2-1/2 in. Half Moon Handles Set in Brushed Gold | 9. Concealed Cabinet Pull 13.86 in. Center to Center in Matte Black (set of 5) | 10. Tinksky Drawer Pull in Black (set of 4) | 11. Leather Cabinet Pulls in Orange (set of 2) | 12. Boulevard 4 in Pull in Brass | 13. Richelieu 3-1/8 in. Center to Center Finger Pull | 14. Eneryda Cup Cabinet Pull in Chrome Plated | 15. Larkin Finger Pull in Oil-Rubbed Bronze

Alright, thus concludes our roundup of some of our favorite budget hardware pieces out there right now. We hope this comes at a good time for any refresh/renovation projects you might have up your sleeves this summer, and again, if you’re a renter, DO NOT be afraid or shy in terms of swapping out hardware in some of your spaces. It’ll make your kitchen or bathroom feel so much more personal to you and your design tastes, promise (said from experience here). Good luck and as always, let us know what other roundups you need in your lives.

Want more budget roundups? Check these out: The Ultimate Budget Living Room Furniture Roundup | The Ultimate Budget Dining Room Furniture Roundup | The Ulimate Budget Home: Rugs, Lighting & Decor

The post The Easiest Renter Hack: 60 (Budget-Friendly) Cabinet Hardware Picks to Instantly Refresh a Room appeared first on Emily Henderson.