Emily Henderson's Blog, page 262

Two Reveals, One Post: The Portland Outdoor Living Spaces and A Lot of Styling Tips

You might be thinking “wait, there’s still more to the to reveal?” Well…yes. It was a BIG house (it was three stories, after all), and by the time we rolled out the interior spaces, it was the dead of winter and it didn’t feel timely to post about lush outdoor spaces when everyone was waist-deep in polar vortex snow.

So here we are, several months later, with the very last of the spaces—the upper deck and lower patio —to show you.

The hub of the big open house party we did last year, the bottom deck steps down into the full yard, and with all doors open, feels like it’s just an extension of the media room (which was the intention all along…the design team wanted to create a very indoor-outdoor vibe here). But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. Let’s actually start top to bottom and walk you through the upstairs deck, first.

THE UPPER DECK:

Just off the French doors of the family room is this covered patio, which started out MUCH smaller and far less functional:

You can see it up there in the “before” shot of the property. It was really just a small elevated deck with no covering (so, in Portland, with all the rain, probably usable 25% of calendar days, ha). The first order of business was to extend the area and cover it up.

For context, here is the full back exterior shot where you can see both the upper and lower decks. The third floor add-on provided the covering and ceiling we wanted for the upper deck, which was pushed out to create room for an outdoor living room and extended left and right for more “zones” like dining and entertaining. Don’t mind the baby plants – they are already way more grown in.

What was a patch of mulch essentially became the lower patio, and a staircase had to go in to connect both those spaces (with the landing serving as a great open spot for a grill).

As Californians (Emily from Oregon) this exterior area is kinda a dream because it has BEAUTIFUL views of the trees with two snowy and important mountains in the distance. You have privacy and yet it feels really open. Maybe this happens more often in Portland but to all of us it feels very covetable. The focal point up here is this awesome two-way gas fireplace by Montigo, which we clad in gray Clé tile (the same as the flooring in the front porch). It’s “see-through” and Em loved it so much she also is using it in the mountain house in the master bedroom.

The other side, as you might remember, is in the family room (above) and it pumps hot air to the outside which is perfect for the chilly Portland winters. It’s WONDERFUL and Emily highly recommends it. It turns on with a light switch and if you have it on full blast it can be loud (but so warm) so at both houses we have it on around 20% and its perfect.

Here’s a tip for anyone looking to create a kick-butt outdoor room that we used here: find (or create) your focal point (whether a fireplace like the one in this house, your sliding glass doors, a water feature…whatever you have), and build your room from there.

This helps to establish “zones” (tip #2). Before running out and buying furniture and accessories, map out what “zones” you want to create – this would likely be conversation areas or dining/drinking.

Here, we knew we wanted a big conversation area and plenty of lounging (this house was designed and built with a larger family in mind, so this was key), and a spot for dining and entertaining. (The upstairs area would function mostly for everyday use since it’s attached to indoor living areas and the kitchen, while downstairs would likely work best for larger parties.)

Also the windows cranked all the way open so you could hand food outside to the dining table.

We could have gone with a large, super deep coffee tables between the wicker Article sofas, but we made these two tables work, and they can obviously be separated (these are from Target).  Those sofas are extremely comfortable, were the perfect scale for out here and the vibe of ‘modern traditional’ that we were going for.

The area to the left of the seating “zone” serves as our dining room, where we all sat for hours after the open house party last summer talking about our enneagrams, eating pizza and never wanting to leave, frankly. It’s important to remember your materials when you’re buying outdoor furniture, since it will wear far more quickly due to the elements than it would inside. This table from Article is made of raw teak, which is super durable and can stay out here uncovered. The chairs from City Home, however, aren’t recommended for constant outdoor use, so these would likely have to be stacked and stored when not in use.

Another thing to remember is lighting. We worked with Rejuvenation throughout the whole house for hardwired lighting, including on the decks. These cage lights are equal parts interesting and unobtrusive while the semi-flush fixtures lend an interior vibe that’s welcome in an outdoor room like this.

We love the idea of bringing a bar cart outdoors and setting it up with either a smaller cocktail station or something more family-friendly like a pitcher of iced tea and lemonade. This prevents you from having to run back inside every time someone’s drink hits bottom. The one we used here was from Target’s Project62 summer collection from last year, and it’s sadly no longer available, but this one is very similar with the same big circle wheel detail.

When not hosting an al fresco dinner, keep busy by delicately slicing fruit (preferable pears), of course.

Okay, ready to head downstairs now?

To avoid you having to scroll up to look at the before to compare what’s happening now as opposed to where it started, here it is again for ease of reading:

THE LOWER PATIO:

This whole area here (which spills out from the adjoining media room) didn’t exist, so it was basically carte blanche to do WHATEVER we wanted here, including bringing in a WOW moment with that medallion Clé tile and creating different levels for more usable zones.

Hot tip: With a traditional style tile like this, we love a border to help it look original. It also could have been way busy on the steps and looked messy without the black border.

Because we didn’t have the fireplace as our focal point down here, we created a few different conversation areas working within the french doors. When you can, I love two facing sofas because they are great for symmetry and easy for conversation. We kept them in coordinating pieces, just in different colors than the upper deck to better contrast with the floors.

We also set up loungers (from Article), which really amp up the “staycation” vibes of the property.

To the right side of the covered patio is another dining area:

These chairs are honestly SO comfortable, and the synthetic wicker means they can stay out all the time, instead of dragging them inside or under cover every time you think it might rain. The upholstered cushion seat is also removable, so it’s super easy to throw in the wash.

The rest of the yard needed some tending to (we worked with the wonderful Monrovia on all the plantings, and as soon as they grow in, we’ll be doing a post on the garden here), and to create even more entertaining zones, we had to flatten out a lot of the land.

From the lower deck, we added walkways out to a fire pit with seating for 10, and the nearby shed is extra storage for all the yard tools and machines. Also: HOW CUTE IS THAT SHED????

And finally, off in the distance of the above shot is the bocce ball court. We wanted to be sure the whole yard was usable space, both with activities as well as pretty plantings, flowers and enough flat grassy areas to run around.

And thus wraps up every. single. reveal of the Portland project. We know it’s been a LONG road, but we hope today’s post provided some inspiration for styling out your outdoor areas, no matter how big or small. Just remember some of the key tips we shared today: establish a focal point, create “zones” for conversation, dining and entertaining, layer in textiles to feel cozy and more like an interior space. Got it? Let us know if you have any questions, need any suggestions or more information about anything we talked about or showed you today.

Also, while the reveals are done,  Emily is writing an “all the ways we could have saved money” post about this project, assuming that is interesting to you. Let us know in the comments.

You’ll Want to Spruce Up Your Outdoor Space ASAP Once You See the Portland Patios

You might be thinking “wait, there’s still more to the to reveal?” Well…yes. It was a BIG house (it was three stories, after all), and by the time we rolled out the interior spaces, it was the dead of winter and it didn’t feel timely to post about lush outdoor spaces when everyone was waist-deep in polar vortex snow.

So here we are, several months later, with the very last of the spaces—the upper and lower decks—to show you. And while no photo can capture what it’s like to actually sit out there, hearing the swooshing of the mature trees that surround the property during the day and warming up by the fireplace by night, trust us when we say it’s magical.

The hub of the big open house party we did last year, the bottom deck steps down into the full yard, and with all doors open, feels like it’s just an extension of the media room (which was the intention all along…the design team wanted to create a very indoor-outdoor vibe here). But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. Let’s actually start top to bottom and walk you through the upstairs patio, first.

Just off the French doors of the family room is this covered patio, which started out MUCH smaller and far less functional:

You can see it up there in the “before” shot of the property. It was really just a small elevated deck with no covering (so, in Portland, with all the rain, probably usable 25% of calendar days, ha). The first order of business was to extend the area and cover it up.

For context, here is the full back exterior shot where you can see both the upper and lower decks. The third floor add-on provided the covering and ceiling we wanted for the upper deck, which was pushed out to create room for an outdoor living room and extended left and right for more “zones” like dining and entertaining.

What was a patch of mulch essentially became the lower patio, and a staircase had to go in to connect both those spaces (with the landing serving as a great open spot for a grill).

The focal point up here is this awesome two-way gas fireplace by Montigo, which we clad in gray Clé tile (the same as the flooring in the front porch). It’s “see-through” and Emily loved it so much she’s also using it in the mountain house in the master bedroom.

The other side, as you might remember, is in the family room (above) and it pumps hot air to the outside which is perfect for the chilly Portland winters. It’s WONDERFUL and Emily highly recommends it. Okay, back to our regularly scheduled outdoor content…

Here’s a tip for anyone looking to create a kick-butt outdoor room that we used here: find your focal point (whether a fireplace like the one in this house, your sliding glass doors, a water feature…whatever you have), and build your room from there. This helps to establish “zones” which is another hot tip for you. Before running out and buying furniture and accessories, map out what “zones” you want to create.

Here, we knew we wanted a big conversation area and plenty of lounging (this house was designed and built with a larger family in mind, so this was key), and a spot for dining and entertaining. (The upstairs area would function mostly for everyday use since it’s attached to indoor living areas and the kitchen, while downstairs would likely work best for larger parties.)

We could have gone with a large, super deep coffee tables between the wicker Article sofas, but two more slender tables work just as well (these are from Target).

 

The area to the left of the seating “zone” serves as our dining room, where we all sat for hours after the open house party last summer talking about our enneagrams, eating pizza and never wanting to leave, frankly. It’s important to remember your materials when you’re buying outdoor furniture, since it will wear far more quickly due to the elements than it would inside. This table from Article is made of raw teak, which is super durable and can stay out here uncovered. The chairs from City Home, however, aren’t recommended for constant outdoor use, so these would likely have to be stacked and stored when not in use.

Another thing to remember is lighting. There’s almost nothing better spring through fall than hanging out outdoors at night, except you’ll never be able to see your taco trio and ‘rita if you forgot about light. We worked with Rejuvenation throughout the whole house for hardwired lighting, including on the decks. These cage lights are equal parts interesting and unobtrusive while the semi-flush fixtures lend an interior vibe that’s welcome in an outdoor room like this.

We love the idea of bringing a bar cart outdoors and setting it up with either a smaller cocktail station or something more family-friendly like a pitcher of iced tea and lemonade. This prevents you from having to run back inside every time someone’s drink hits bottom. The one we used here was from Target’s Project62 summer collection from last year, and it’s sadly no longer available, but this one is very similar with the same big circle wheel detail.

When not hosting an al fresco dinner, keep busy by delicately slicing fruit (preferable pears), of course.

Okay, ready to head downstairs now?

To avoid you having to scroll up to look at the before to compare what’s happening now as opposed to where it started, here it is again for ease of reading:

This whole area here (which spills out from the adjoining media room) didn’t exist, so it was basically carte blanche to do WHATEVER we wanted here, including bringing in a WOW moment with that medallion Clé tile and creating different levels for more usable zones.

Because we didn’t have the fireplace as our centerpiece down here, we brought in a console table to establish the focal point, and to echo the furnishings upstairs, we used the same set up (with the facing sofas which works great for chit chatting for hours without having to awkwardly twist your body like you would a traditional L-shaped set up) and coordinating pieces, just in different colors to better contrast with the floors.

We also set up loungers (from Article), which really amp up the “staycation” vibes of the property.

To the right side of the covered patio is another dining area:

These chairs are honestly SO comfortable, and the synthetic wicker means they can stay out all the time, instead of dragging them inside or under cover every time you think it might rain. The upholstered cushion seat is also removable, so it’s super easy to throw in the wash.

The rest of the yard needed some tending to (we worked with the wonderful Monrovia on all the plantings, and as soon as they grow in, we’ll be doing a post on the garden here), and to create even more entertaining zones, we had to flatten out a lot of the land.

From the lower deck, we added walkways out to a fire pit with seating for 10, and the nearby shed is extra storage for all the yard tools and machines.

And finally, off in the distance of the above shot is the bocce ball court. We wanted to be sure the whole yard was usable space, both with activities as well as pretty plantings, flowers and enough flat grassy areas to run around.

And thus wraps up every. single. reveal of the Portland project. We know it’s been a LONG road, but we hope today’s post provided some inspiration for sprucing up your outdoor areas, no matter how big or small. Sometimes, it’s just rethinking the space you have to function for you and how you like to live. Seating and a little dining spot go SUCH a long way into extending your home’s living spaces outdoors. Just remember some of the key “hot tips” we shared today: establish a focal point, create “zones” for conversation, dining and entertaining, layer in textiles to feel cozy and more like an interior space. Got it? Let us know if you have any questions, need any suggestions or more information about anything we talked about or showed you today.

1. Painted Stripe Pillow | 2. Blue Throw Pillow | 3. Outdoor Sconce by Rejuvenation | 4. Doors by Milgard | 5. Everyday Cotton Throw by Schoolhouse | 6. Wool Tweed Throw | 7. Calo Sofa by Article | 8. Jug Vase | 9. Oceans Wood Patio Coffee Table | 10. Semi-Flush Fixture by Rejuvenation | 11. Two-Tone Rope Rug by Annie Selke | 12. Grey Furrow Planter via Room and Board | 13. White Furrow Planter via Room and Board | 14. Belgian Reproduction Tile by Clé Tile | 15. Black Metal Tray (similar) | 16. Amber Glass (set of 4) | 17. Ceramic Pitcher | 18. Buffalo Check Napkin | 19. White Plates (set of 4) | 20. Cutting Board | 21. Pedestal Serve Bowl | 22. Bar Cart (similar) | 23. Fireplace by Montigo | 24. Poplar Basket with Handle | 25. Vase | 26. Marble Tray | 27. Small Outdoor Lantern (similar) | 28. Large Outdoor Lantern (similar) | 29. Stripe Napkin (set of 4) | 30. Graph Napkin | 31. Carafe | 32. Dip Bowls (set of 4) | 33. Pure Glass Vase | 34. Teaka Table by Article | 35. Metropolis Chair via City Home

1. Tan Pillow Cover | 2. Multicolor Pillow Cover | 3. Blue Throw Pillow | 4. Everyday Cotton Throw by Schoolhouse | 5. Black Solid Square by Clé Tile | 6. London Apothecary Tile by Clé Tile | 7. Outdoor Sconce by Rejuvenation | 8. Doors by Milgard | 9. Outdoor Sofa by Article | 10. Oceans Wood Patio Coffee Table | 11. Live Edge Media Console | 12. Large Outdoor Lantern (similar) | 13. Small Outdoor Lantern (similar) | 14. Vase | 15. Grey Furrow Planter via Room and Board | 16. White Furrow Planter via Room and Board | 17. Trapeze Glassware (set of 4) | 18. Pure Glass Vase | 19. Blue Suits Dinner Napkin (set of 4) | 20. Tavola Table by Article | 21. Teaka Lounge Chair by Article | 22. Ora Basket Chair by Article

***Photography by Sara Tramp for EHD, design and styling by Emily Henderson and Brady Tolbert (and team). JP Macy of Sierra Custom Homes was the General Contractor, and Annie Usher the architect.

For more Portland Project Room Reveals: Living Room | Staircase | Office | Master Bedroom | Master Bathroom | Kitchen | Dining Room | Powder Bathroom | Guest Bathroom | Hall Bathroom | Laundry Room | Guest Bedrooms | Media Room | Family Room | Rompus Room | Secret Room

 

 

 

 

 

The post You’ll Want to Spruce Up Your Outdoor Space ASAP Once You See the Portland Patios appeared first on Emily Henderson.

An Exclusive House Tour From (Design Girl Crush) Leanne Ford

I don’t have cable so I didn’t see last night’s episode of Restored by the Fords on HGTV (yet…I plan on watching online tonight), but I did get a sneak peek a few weeks back (and by sneak, I mean like…WHOLE peek, full on look) into this Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, home designed by the kick-butt Leanne Ford and renovated by her brother, Steve Ford. I’ve long had a design girl crush on Leanne and her beautiful monochromatic spaces; that woman knows how to do neutral with serious soul, which is not easy to do, so when she reached out to us to see if we’d be up for sharing this exclusive house tour in conjunction with the episode release, I couldn’t hit the reply button fast enough to pound out an excited “YES” on my keyboard.

“I went to high school with the homeowner, so when he called about having us help with his house, I was determined to try to make it work,” says Leanne about why she took on the project, which involved completely reconfiguring and flipping the floor plan, dealing with exterior walls that were inside (the product of a previous addition), and oh…just about two months to accomplish the whole thing. For each home the Fords restore for the TV show, they “have 6-8 weeks to accomplish a renovation that in real time would probably take about a year. And then you multiply that by the number of projects we are taking on, and things get…crazy.” 

Wowza. The construction may have been a time crunch, but the style didn’t suffer one bit, and the entire downstairs (which we’re showing you today) is so warm, inviting and feels like something that’s been there for decades.

Let’s take a tour, guided by Leanne herself (with a little interjection along the way by me), starting right at the front of the home.

Entry

“This was a pretty simple fix: pretty paint—creamy white on walls (Sugar Soap in Eggshell by PPG), white on trim (Delicate White in Semi-Gloss by PPG), a vintage carpet from Swoon Rugs, and a new lighting fixture go a long way!”

“We used a lot of vintage rugs throughout the house, mainly from Swoon Rugs, to give the entire place warmth and to tie the rooms all in together.” The wooden console is vintage (just like anything you desperately want usually is) and the basket underneath is positioned to be a big catch-all for the foyer.

Flooring (in Warm Sunset) | Wall Color | Trim Color | Rug (vintage) | Chandelier (similar)

Kitchen & Dining Room

Take a left from the foyer and you’ll find yourself in the newly configured kitchen (which was originally in an entirely different place in the house).

“The homeowners had a (very dated) kitchen that was added as an addition years after the original house was there, so it was extremely unattached to the rest of the house. You actually had to weave around multiple rooms to get back there. To add to the fun, the kitchen was also on a level down from the rest of the house and separated by the original home’s exterior wall. Our main vision for the home was to open the floor plan, create better flow, and to respect the traditional style while getting modern amenities in there.”

Cabinetry | Countertops | Chandelier | Line Art | Vintage Barstools (similar) | Vintage Rug

“We ended up moving the kitchen to the front of the house, in what was originally the living room, which was being extremely underutilized. So now we have this gorgeous fireplace in the kitchen and have opened up walls so you can connect all the way to the back of the house and into the back yard!”

Sink | Faucet

“We put the farm sink in front of the beautiful leaded double windows in the front of the house, which was a bit of a to do to figure out, but so worth it.”

“We wanted the dining room to be an extension of the kitchen so we brought the cabinets all the way down the wall along with a massive range. Something tricky to deal with was that crown molding that was throughout the house. It was original and a huge problem for us because we had to figure out how to recreate it where it was missing. I was NOT going to let that molding go away!”

“We had a gorgeous old built in that we had to move out of the wall to make way for a first-floor laundry, so we salvaged the glass doors and built a new cabinet around them to use in the kitchen/dining. I loved how that turned out!” Uh, us, too, Leanne, us, too. 

Table (similar) | Dining Chairs (similar) | Vintage Rug | Chandelier (similar)

Living Room

Salvaged Doors | Vintage Warehouse Lights

“The now living room is where the old kitchen was (reminder, it’s at a lower level from the now adjacent dining room). And because we had to keep the step-down, we thought it was smarter to make that a lowered living room than try to confine the entire kitchen in there, and I love how it turned out. We also added the vintage black doors on the back wall (more on that in a bit) and extended a deck into their yard to create a gorgeous indoor/outdoor living space.”

Sofa | Coffee Table (vintage)

Console (vintage) | Green Arm Chair | Line Art | Woven Leather Lounge Chair (similar)

“The black doors were a massive to do. I wanted elements of vintage in the house, and we found these amazing, though beat up, doors that I knew we had to use! Problem with them was, everything…we had to replace the glass to be weatherproof exterior glass, we had to beef the doors up so they could live as exterior doors, so we basically overhauled them in every way, while still keeping some of the old texture safe on the inside.” 

“My brother thought I was crazy doing this project, but I love how they turned out. I also make it a habit, when painting old doors, to paint right over the textured, old, chippy paint. I do not sand them down, as I want the life to show through them, even if we are giving them a fresh coat!”

Mud Room

Vintage Club Chairs (similar) | Vintage Rug | Side Table (similar) | Chandelier (similar)

“This was the old dining room that kind of became a catch-all for the extras we wanted on the first floor (first-floor laundry, first-floor powder room, mud room, etc.). We even broke through the exterior wall and added another door so the dogs had a place to come in and out of the house. Lucky dogs!”

Art

“We had to rethink the layout of the entire house, in order to use space in a wiser way, which meant we had to move the entire bathroom to the other side of the house in order to keep a better floorplan on their first floor. In general, the whole home is kind of a big surprise. We really did a whammy on this one!”

Thank you again Leanne for sharing this gorgeous home with us here, and if you haven’t checked out this episode (or any!) of Restored by the Fords, head to HGTV for more details.

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors | Construction by Steve Ford Construction | Interior Styling by Courtney Favini Lichty |  Photography by Alexandra Ribar

More house tours this way in our ROOMS section.

The post An Exclusive House Tour From (Design Girl Crush) Leanne Ford appeared first on Emily Henderson.

51 Affordable Spring Dresses (& 1 Awesome Jumper I Couldn’t Resist)

The thing about affordable dresses (or jumpers) is often they just don’t wear/fit/drape well, and those that do are harder to find. But, everyone in the office asked for an “affordable spring dress roundup” so I went shopping with my friend Suzanne and tried on close to 65 dresses in search of some affordable ones that don’t just look good in a photo but are actually wearable, flattering, and comfortable. That’s the whole point of a dress, right? That it’s easier to wear than a whole outfit?

Dress | Sandals (Similar)

First up, this little house on the prairie number is SO CUTE regardless of your butter churning skills. Now remember, due to my secret boobs, this one is harder for me to wear (because it’s backless) but my friend who helped style me shoved some pretty intense pasties in my hands and told me to slap them on.

I’m not sure if there is a bra you can wear with it that will look cool and mostly I wish they would just design these with a big wide strap on the back to hide any bra. So if you have larger ladies and want more support, you’ll need to figure out a bra situation, or just skip this one. I wore pasties but they don’t have very much support.

Oh, but can we talk about this? There are a lot of nipples in East LA. It’s like everyone in their 20s in our hipster neighborhood is opting out of the boulder holder situation. Is this a national trend?

I borrowed both the shoes (old from Madewell) and bag (new by Claire V…SO CUTE) from my friend. Funny thing about circle bags…when you put them down, they roll over and spill. It’s hilarious. It’s like women across the world are all being punked by geometry and cleaning up their purse innards at every restaurant they sit down at. Of course, the solution is simply…a clasp or zipper, but this one didn’t have one.

That was my first strappy sandal in possibly my whole life, but I love it (probably because they are nude which I think is more flattering). Plus, those straps perfectly expose my bunion which was dying for some social media attention.

Dress (similar) | Mules

Now, this one is so easy to wear and drapes WONDERFULLY. It’s the perfect vacation dress because it doesn’t wrinkle. I didn’t test it in luggage, but it’s made out of material (probably rayon, ha) that seems to resists any sort of wrinkling, which is a dream for me.

You really can just throw this one on, is a pretty color (so it will look good in all your vacation photos) and can be dressed up or down and hides all bra/underwear lines. (UPDATE: Unfortunately we couldn’t find this dress online, but this one has a very similar shape and feel. That said, check your local H&M because if you can find this dress, it is so worth it).

I will likely wear those mules until I die. Sometimes I get bored of them, but they truly make your leg look so long and they are so comfortable but I think a sandal would have looked better with that dress, I suppose.

Now for the plot twist none of us saw coming:

PURPLE. GINGHAM. RUFFLE. JUMPSUIT.

Jumpsuit | Boots | Hat (similar)

“POLO match” is coming to mind, but somehow in a good way. We tried it with SO many shoes and it looked silly with anything with a heel. It just looked try-hard, so once we paired it with those distressed shoes (from The Great) we all loved it. It’s strangely flattering I suppose due to the proportions of the sleeves making your other parts look smaller. I rarely show an arm, but again I think because of the ruffle on the sleeve I felt more comfortable.

But if you want to avoid any kind of fuss, this dress (below) is SO EASY to wear and weighs in at $27.99 and the color is amazing.

Dress | Sandals | Hat (similar)

It’s that perfect terra-cotta tone that is ruling summer fashion (and home) right now. It drapes so well, clings to nothing (in a good way) and is forgiving (thick enough to hide underwear lines, bra lines, etc). We paired it with those bright sandals to add a little pop of color and flair, but I do think this dress could easily be worn with slides or flip flops for a really casual, easy look.

Next up, we have an office favorite:

Dress | Jacket | Boots

I’m definitely taking this one up to the mountains for spring break because it’s so easy to throw on (it also comes in a really fun bright red). It has a really great structure—the way it A-lines out is really cute (hard to tell in photos). It’s sleeveless, so I paired it with a black denim jacket but I’m actually a fan of it without the jacket, too. Right now, I’m still transitioning into summer mode, so there are a lot of booties on my feet with those dresses. Baby steps.

Shirt Dress | Boots | Socks

Lastly, we are pretty “pro-shirt dress” over here, especially for work. I just think they are VERY easy to wear and layer over which give me an excuse to wear a blazer. Because I am a very professional business woman, after all.

So those are all the ones I actually tried on, bought and can vouch for their fit (and drape-ability, which is key for me). But we wanted to give you a big roundup of all our other favorites out there for spring, in a wide range of sizes, including maternity. Quick note that since we started saving these last week, so many sold out and we had to find new options, so, basically, everyone must have spring dresses on the mind and are scooping everything up, so if you see something you like, I wouldn’t linger too long, because most of these will probably sell out FAST.

1. Tie Front Midi Dress | 2. Dress With Drawstring | 3. Long Sleeve Embroidered Mini Sundress | 4. Embroidered Eyelet Waist-Defining Tie-Belt Dress | 5. Polka Dot Maxi Dress | 6. Creped Dress | 7. Wrap Dress | 8. Maternity Midi Tea Dress With Buttons | 9. Contrast Stripe High-Low Dress | 10. Buttoned Printed Dress | 11. Long Poplin Dress | 12. Waist-Defined Striped Shirt Dress | 13. Layered Flutter Sleeve Tea Dress | 14. Cotton Collarless Belted Shirtdress | 15. Jacquard Long Sleeve Embroidered Mini Sundress | 16. Hero Floral Kimono Sleeve Wrap Dress | 17. Floral Print Long Sleeve Deep V-Neck Wrap Dress | 18. Waist-Defined Wrap-Front Midi | 19. Maternity Polka Dot Knit Wrap Dress | 20. Printed Long Sleeve Wrap Dress | 21. Print Dress | 22. Ruffled Sleeve Dress | 23. Calf-Length Dress | 24. Embroidered Dress | 25. Floral Print Dress | 26. High-Neck Ruffle-Trim Swing Dress | 27. Striped Short Sleeve V-Neck Dress

1. Women’s Asymmetrical Button Front Denim Dress | 2. The Japanese GoWeave Tank Wrap Dress | 3. Midi Jumper Dress | 4. V-neck Dress | 5. Stripe Sundress | 6. Pleated Dress | 7. The Japanese GoWeave Cami Slip Dress | 8. Corduroy Pinafore Dress | 9. Frock Around Y-Neck Romper | 10. Belt Linen Dress | 11. Petite Stripe Button Mini Slip Dress | 12. Mustard Button Mini Slip Dress | 13. The Linen Sleeveless Shirtdress | 14. V-Neck Maxi Shift Dress | 15. Women’s Sleeveless V-Neck Striped Button Front Midi Dress | 16. Linen Blend Midi Dress | 17. Pleated Dress | 18. Stripe Textured Dress

ALSO, ONE WEEK TIL SPRING BREAK WITH MY KIDDOS!!!!

***Photography by Veronica Crawford for EHD

For more of my favorite fashion, head to the Fashion & Beauty section of our Shop page. We’re adding new stuff to that every week!

The post 51 Affordable Spring Dresses (& 1 Awesome Jumper I Couldn’t Resist) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Mountain House Monday: How I Plan on Bringing In the “Weird”

photo source | design by john and juli Baker

We have the big magazine reveal of the mountain fixer on the books (shoot in June for a September issue), so it’s time to amp up this house with special pieces. Which brings me to something I’ve been meaning to tell you (it’s the key to life/design, actually): the only way to get an interesting home these days is to make it personal to you, the people who actually fill it full of life (and things). Also this: you can decorate your home with 80% relatively basic and simple pieces, even from a big-box store and you really only need a few special pieces to make it interesting.

This mountain house is a challenge because I don’t want a lot of “stuff,” but I want it to be unique and historically, I’ve done this through accessories like art, lighting, textiles, knick-knacks. I’m going for a “quiet weird” which is harder to achieve through furniture that I actually want to sit on. Typically “weird” means sculptural, whimsical, odd and I want the majority of the house to have a very high comfy quotient.

Here’s what I’m after: vintage, sculptural, kid-friendly, comfortable, beautiful, unique, Scandinavian, a little weird factor (but not loud), oh and affordable. That request is up there with a “fast, cheap and good” which I realize is an impossible feat. So since we are having so much LESS in this house, I’m going to have to drop the “affordable” and potentially splurge on a couple of investment pieces (although I’m very much on the hunt at flea markets for steals). Amazing vintage pieces don’t just fall off the truck in front of your house, sadly.

As a reminder, the sofas and rugs are relatively simple and neutral. We have this sectional and this sofa, and the bed in our master is a very simple gray upholstered platform with this amazing white cloud of a rug. So the opportunities to amp it up exist in the chairs, nightstands and some lighting (and art, but we are trying to make a lot of art up there as a family).

Here are some chairs I’m thinking about. Most of them are designs or designers that I’ve loved FOR YEARS. It might be time to come home to me.

Disregard the fabrics, obviously. The above are really comfortable and can go in the living room OR master bedroom next to the fireplace. They would almost all be recovered and I’m debating between doing something safe (linen or leather) OR going with a vintage plaid that I’ve been hoarding. The trick to this is making sure that the chair is streamlined enough to handle a plaid (aka if it’s a club chair, it could look really ’80s but a Scandi wingback could totally handle it—#3 for instance is so charming in that vintage fabric, although it needs to be changed but you get the vibe).

I think #9 could be awesome in a weird vintage plaid and while I’ll never afford an original Papa Bear chair (#5) I will love them forever (they are typically $10 – 15K).

Up next are ones that are more sculptural, less comfortable but I LOVE THEM.

I’m obsessed with 2, 3, 4, and 6 and I’m on the hunt for versions of these that are more affordable or need some work. #4 and #6 look actually super comfortable and YET sculptural so I feel like they are worth more of an investment. I suppose my rationale is that a chair that you actually want to sit in, which you extract joy from physically, has more value than a looking-at-chair (like #2 or #3 of which I LOVE). By the way, #3 is another great example of a vintage Scandi piece in a weird plaid. I have a place for that piece (the entry) that doesn’t require too much comfort so if anyone knows where I can get one of those for less than $4k, PLEASE let me know. I want it so badly, but can’t spend that on an entry bench, obviously. #2 is a dream. Just a dream but so expensive and not something you actually want to sit on but boy would it make the shot.

photo source | design by lawless and meyerson

And now when it comes to lighting I want really awesome lamps, with the key being in our color palette, but weird and cool. Here is what I’m thinking:

I’ve loved a popsicle lamp since I was 22. I love them. Full stop. And wicker. I LOVE WICKER. They are both weird and cool and odd. I love them all. Some of these are VERY expensive (like #2 from 1stdibs…I believe it’s well over $1,000 but eBay has tons of them for like $50-$60 (just search “popsicle lamp” and you’ll find a handful right now…but don’t buy them all before I get around to it, pretty please).

I want and need a statement lamp. One with weird proportions and finishes. I’m tempted by all of these. I’ve really been into the pleated shade thing like #2 and while #3 isn’t actually wood (I think it’s a walnut veneer), the shape is just so, so interesting and like something you wouldn’t easily come across at a typical retailer. Obviously, same for #1 and #4 (I’m not even sure what’s happening there with #4, but it’s natural and organic feeling and I can just see it styled really simply in a vignette on top of a credenza or something and it would just be a WOW shot, for sure).

More pleated shades (see, told you). I’m also on the hunt for a long-arm sconce or pull out sconce for an area upstairs and I like that none of these are glitzy or metallic. It’s not easy to find hard-wired lighting that isn’t brass or nickel these days, honestly, so vintage pieces are the best bet for anything made of mostly wood). Plus, three of these are plug-ins, so I wouldn’t have to worry about junction boxes if I wanted to add one to a place not hard wired-ready (because I’m DONE spending money on “construction” here).

We recently got a credenza for the family room and it’s crying for a big double-headed sconce. Brian and I both very much love #1. It’s so modern and special and editorial and pretty MASSIVE. It would look just so cool as “the piece” over it. The smaller wood one is very cool maybe for another spot in the house (maybe upstairs in one of the kids’ areas we’re tinkering around with).

And finally, to supplement all those chairs, sofas and beds, we need some side tables and nightstands:

I’m REALLY into #1 and #3 (I love Paul McCobb pieces dearly), and, spoiler alert, I bought #2 already. It’s a pretty mango wood and the shape will look so great next to one of the more streamlined sofas, I think. We were considering #4 for the master bedroom because I like the chunky shape on them, but not sure they’re the right color wood. We’ll see…Also, what’s not to love about #5 with that WICKER basket and those tiny casters. I have a thing for sewing tables.

So there you go. These are some of the main pieces I’m thinking about to bring in some personality, some interest/vintage, some ME into the mountain house. Like I said, I really don’t want to get super weird up here for the sake of being weird, but I do want to introduce moments that make you (me) stop and smile. And because in general, I’m buying less up here, I know that I’ll likely spend/invest more into pieces I know I will LOVE because there is more room in the budget that way.

Let me know what you think, what else in the mountain house you’re interested in hearing about right now, and if there are any sites/dealers/brands in line with some of the things I’ve shown you today that I should check out with the design team here… HAPPY MOUNTAIN MONDAY, FRIENDS.

The Link Up: Life-Changing Podcasts, Books, Skincare and (What Else?) Vacuums

image source

Now that April Fools is long gone (did you like the “soup” video??) we are ready to get into the serious swing of things. And by serious we mean really fun and new design stuff. It’s a new month and we are all feeling the fresh spring start we all love this time of year. Jess read somewhere that some people start making “new year’s” resolutions in April because it takes the pressure off of the January 1st, no-failure-allowed expectation. But three months in, you have a better sense of what you CAN realistically/want to achieve for the rest of the year. New goals are never a bad thing so we are on board. What would your April resolutions be? Should we actually just scratch the whole new year’s resolutions and just focus it monthly or quarterly? Something to definitely think about. But before you get too deep with the April resolution making, maybe read through this week’s links. Who knows, you may even get some new info that could help shape those goals? Let’s dive in and see…

Emily is a sucker for most things wellness oriented and is dying to try the Goop Glow Powder Packs, has anyone tried them? “Their vitamin packs are proof that marketing WORKS, I feel like I want/need every single one of them.”

Anthropologie recently launched A+ which has such great size-inclusive new pieces, and Arlyn will always applaud a line that doesn’t alienate woman based on their size.

The only thing Velinda’s wife wanted for her birthday after a friend described it as “the best machine she’s ever owned” was the Dyson V7 Motorhead Cord-free Stick Vacuum. According to them (and Arlyn, who has the older V6 version she says she loves so much she’d grab it in a fire), it’s amazing, lightweight, cordless/easy to use and effective…and they have dogs!

Grace and Sara are coming in hot with their new favorite mules, Violet Woven Backless Mules, from Target. They are so affordable and so comfy. Sara has them in black and Grace in the tan.

Ryann cannot stop talking about the show After Life on Netflix. She laughed, she cried hard, and ultimately fell in love with Ricky Gervais. It’s only six 30-minute episodes and is perfect for a weekend binge if she says so herself.

Jess is headed to Morocco for part of her upcoming vacation and has been non-stop dreaming about popping into the El Fenn, a stunning hotel in Marrakech. She’s pretty sure the internet gods are just listening to her conversations (obviously) but it has been all over her Instagram lately and she cannot wait to actually see it in person.

We are no strangers to the Goop podcast but when Julie listened to the episode, “Are We All Psychic?” on a drive down from the mountain house this past week, it struck a HUGE cord and she might have cried. Okay not might, she did. Yes, Julie was the one to tear up this time, not Jess. Cliff’s Notes version is yes we are and all you need is love.

Michael really loves these Comme des Garçons PLAY x Converse sneakers. They are cool, playful AND stylish. He hearts them. Once you see them, you’ll get that very cute pun.

Why I Am Suddenly Dressing Like a Toddler (and What Does Brian think?)

As I was shopping for our affordable spring dress roundup (coming next Tuesday), I found that I was quite attracted to so many dresses that felt, well, the words “toddler”, “baby” or “christening” come to mind. I mean, we are all already wearing one-sies everywhere, so I suppose it makes sense that “toddler-core” is a thing. Or at least it is now. So today I have some baby-inspired looks for you, how I wear them (with a tip or two) and what Brian’s reaction is to them (not that it matters, but I love a straight man’s perspective on weird lady clothes).

Up first is a baby doll dress in a tiny floral pattern of which I DEFINITELY did not think I would like on me.

Dress | Hat

But I do. A lot. It’s from Doen and has puffy sleeves, a good cut AND pockets. Now, the rule that I was given was no heels with super short dresses, but I just got these vintage heels at the flea market and since they have a playful vibe, I think it works. Anything higher or more serious can look, well, it can go the way of “sexy baby” to quote Tom Hanks.

The benefits of these baby doll dresses are:

1. You can eat nine burritos for lunch and nobody would know.

2. You can hide your pregnant stomach for 3-4 months, at least (and before you ask, no I am not).

3. You only have one tiny piece of fabric to potentially pack, steam, and cover your little body (also cute for swimsuit coverups).

Brian’s reaction to this particular dress went like this:

Me: “Hey, do you like the dress that Suzanne wore to Sabine’s birthday party because I’m thinking of getting it.”

Brian: “In what world do you think that I remember a dress that your friend wore to a kid’s party five days ago?”

This makes sense coming from the guy that literally doesn’t notice when I’ve changed rugs in the living room FOR THREE DAYS. One time, he didn’t notice for SIX WEEKS that I changed the light in the dining room. SIX WEEKS!!!

So I tried it on for him and he said “oh yeah, that’s cute.” I’m pretty sure the hemline has a lot to do with it.

Dress | Shoes | Hat (similar)

Typically, these baby-doll dresses have a higher neckline (to balance out the shorter hemline) and generally, I don’t love high necklines on me, due to my secret larger ladies. So I had to try on a lot to find a few that I felt good in. The straight-across lower neckline on this one dictates the lady area and while it is definitely a great maternity dress, (eventually your growing bump will shorten the hemline, but then just wear leggings), I really liked it.

When I showed it to Brian he said, “Yeah. Don’t return that one.” Which means he really likes it, I guess. Again, I know that there are a lot of you who literally don’t care what men (husband, partner, boyfriend or friends) think about what women wear but I like his opinion because he generally has great taste and when we are on a date I want him to (GASP) be attracted to me. (Side note: a fun game we do is show Brian the Manrepeller “What We Wore This Week” posts…and listen to his commentary—it’s HILARIOUS).

Anyway, because that above dress is blue, striped, short and has ruffles (kinda a lot happening), we toned it down with simple nude mules because I literally only wear nude mules. I have had these ones for years and they are still my favorite.

Dress | Shoes | Hat (similar)

I’m not totally convinced about this one now that I’m seeing it in photos. I mean, I think what we are all staring at is those amazing boots (they are my friends but I will borrow often). This one is a starter “baby doll” dress.It’ss definitely way less of a risk because it’s in a simple chambray and a light ruffle.

Yes, these dresses easily blow up and open, a lá Marilyn. But feel free to wear biker shorts underneath (I know the kids do this).

Next up is our actual favorite and while I was on the fence about keeping it, these photos just convinced me.

Dress | Bandana (similar) | Shoes

The dress itself is a bit, well, “baptismal.” The puff sleeves, the lace detailing, the Peter Pan collar all just scream “ready for that big church moment.”

I think if you try and dress this up (with heels) it could look very silly. But thanks to Suzanne and my styling entourage (Grace, Veronica and Ryann all weighed in), they helped make this look work. We tried it with two jackets just to see, and they really liked it with the sherpa jacket (see below).

Denim Jacket | Sherpa Jacket

But I liked it more with the black jacket.

What did Brian think?

He said, “Cute. For a picnic, right?” I asked him if he would be bummed if I wore this on a date night he said, “Not bummed, but it’s not what I’d pick for you.”

Okay, that’s all I’ve got to show you on my body but we went ahead and rounded up some of our favorite toddler-, baby-, or general “child prairie”-inspired clothes. They are all babydoll dresses OR ones that feel like only a three-year-old could pull them off (but hopefully I’ve convinced you that “gromups” as Birdie calls us, can, too).

1. Ghospell Southern Hemisphere Plaid Frock Mini Dress | 2. Mini Dress With Stripes | 3. Ruffle Bib Shirt Dress | 4. Long Buttoned Blouse | 5. Ganni Cotton Poplin Dress | 6. Embroidered Dress | 7. Ruffle Collar Mini Dress | 8. Relaxed Puff Sleeved Midi Dress | 9. Openwork Embroidered Dress | 10. Ruffled Striped Dress | 11. 3.1 Phillip Lim Striped Dress | 12. Short Chiffon Dress | 13. Slim Fit Button-Down Flowy Tiered Mini Dress | 14. Rose Embroidered Plaid Mini Dress | 15. Kate Prairie Dress | 16. Cecilie Bahnsen Alberte Dress | 17. Velvet Vesta Dress | 18. Palm Embroidered Scallop Dress | 19. UO La Petite Tie-Back Frock Mini Dress | 20. The Flutter Cami Dress | 21. UP Houston Linen Button-Front Drop Waist Dress | 22. UO Samantha Seersucker Long Sleeve Mini Dress | 23. UO Jules Gingham V-Neck Mini Dress | 24. Openwork Embroidery Dress

SOOOO, are you convinced? Would you try? Or should this be strictly left in the day care?

***photography by Veronica Crawford for EHD

The post Why I Am Suddenly Dressing Like a Toddler (and What Does Brian think?) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Why Do I Put Photos of My Innocent Children On Social Media? (And Should I?)

I’ve avoided finishing or publishing this post since Charlie was 8 months old, almost five years. Probably because it’s both relevant and yet redundant, and while typically I like to have a thesis with these kinds of posts, I don’t today. Like digital media itself, my stance and mindset shift almost daily and knowing what is the “right” thing to do is most often an in-the-moment gut decision. I like to think that I’m principled, as if I have these morals that are unwavering and these limits that are inflexible. But absoluteness, or a “never will I” attitude, is the vernacular of youth. And being unwavering in your principles is certainly easier said than done.

Needless to say, I have very complicated feelings about my kids and social media (both their involvement and presence in my social media and, looking down the line, Charlie and Elliot on social media themselves). But like any intelligent, progressive, responsible (and terrified) mom, I mostly just want them to be as far away as possible from social media. Hilarious, I know but there is a plot twist at the end.

The irony of me being who I am and what I do for work is not lost on me; in fact, I’m more sensitive to it because of what I do. You have no idea. I know what it does to my fully grown adult brain and I didn’t have the Internet until I was 18 and social media until I was 30. My brain was FORMED.

Most of parenting is modeling good behavior. Showing not telling. We are VERY good at adhering to a no phones at the breakfast and dinner tables policy and for the last six months have gotten The New York Times daily – the actual paper –  so we can catch up on the news while the kids play, but without having to be on our phones. We are trying to take the power of the phone away and show our kids that these things are tools we use for work and for information, but not something we need. So if that’s the case then why can’t I just teach them how we are being and how they can be responsible with social media?

There is a lot of research that says that my generation (xennial) and above are far worse at the daily mindless scroll than a typical 23 year old. I’ve read that the younger generation has learned to use it moderately whereas even our parents’ generation is addicted to scrolling and updating the daily feed, although in my experience, I’ve seen a lot of 16 years old locked to their phone.

While I could honestly talk about this at length (and regularly do with other parents to hear their points of views), my kids are still young, so this isn’t really about them actually using social media. I’m several years (hopefully a decade or more) away from actively having to have this conversation. They hopefully won’t have a cell phone until 8th grade, and, if I can convince all of our friends to make the same promise, not be on any social media until they are 18. Please join the #waituntil8th movement. PLEASE.

No, this post is more about how much our kids are involved in MY social media. Just writing that makes me feel gross.

“NOT AT ALL,” should be the obvious answer.  Our kids deserve their privacy and should be able to dictate where and when they are shown publicly. They are their own people.

And that was the firm answer a couple of years ago. No more kids on the blog and social media.

As Charlie started getting older, we decided that I would show less of his face in photos (like seen here – lots of back-of-heads). I would be more sensitive to the person that he was going to be once he was past baby age. Brian and I had a lot of heated conversations about it, even though we were on the same side. Neither of us wanted our kids to be in the public eye or to have a presence on social media. We want to respect their privacy. We don’t want them recognized in public. We don’t want this blog or my success to affect their futures because living in Hollywood is already hard. The obsession with fame here is potent and we want our kids as far away from it as possible. We joke all the time that while most parents “strive towards excellence” we hendersons “Strive Towards Normalcy”. We just want our kids to have the normal, safe, upbringings that we had.

So why did I move away from that staunch “our kids won’t be involved” decision? Or did I? Why do I still put photos of my two innocent children on social media even if its mostly the back of their heads? After much reflection, I think these are the answers:

1. I can’t blog without thinking about my kids. Those two are the biggest, most important part of my life. They are my only real priority. And while this blog is predominantly about design, the large following and engagement I have are likely because I’m also a human being with human reactions and honest responses. I’m not the best designer in the world, so why are all of you here? You’ve followed along for 10 years because I use this blog as a journal, documenting my self-expression and reflection, both stylistically and personally. I have the same struggles, challenges, concerns, joys, tears, tantrums and overwhelmingly happy moments as you. Therefore completely deleting that portion of my life feels like almost negating the most important part of myself. I know this sounds insane, but for the few months (a few years ago) that I didn’t talk about my kids or show them on social media, I actually think I wasn’t able to be authentic because I was shutting down the most volcanic section of my emotions and life. Brian agreed. He saw it in my mental state and in my writing. He could tell that I needed to express myself as a mom, as a professional mom, as a crying, emotional, highly joyful and sad mom. And maybe a photo of Charlie hugging me would help close some sort of door that not showing/talking about my kids left open.

2. Just like all of you, I have compulsions to photograph my kids when they are doing something really special. Taking home photos and videos of your kid is a good thing, it helps you all remember moments you will surely otherwise forget. And then at night, when they are asleep and I’m scrolling through photos, it’s like I can’t NOT put their adorableness out there. Believe me, I only put out about 1/1,000th of the photos that I want to. But I know that it’s not just a compulsion, there is obviously some sort of pride and well, EGO involved. In a day and age where people feel like they know you, you want to share and show them all aspects of your life. Like a house you worked on years to design, you want to put it on display for the world to see. You are so proud of it! You love it so much that you want other people to either recognize your work or love it as much as you, although they never will. It’s not just “being relatable,” it’s a serotonin and dopamine burst when you see a cute photo of your child doing something adorable earlier in the day, and you just want, well…I guess everyone to ooh and ahh with you. This is not a reason TO do it, but I suppose it’s been one of the reasons I have kept sneaking them onto social media—because it’s also fun FOR ME.

3. Alright, so here’s where it gets tricky. We have turned down jobs that have required my kids to be involved, so far. Sure, at times they have been in sponsored posts but I’ve never told a partner that their presence is guaranteed (well, maybe when they were infants, to me that’s different because they are just laying there, but I don’t remember). Honestly, most companies don’t even ask. Since my brand isn’t a mommy blog, they usually ask nicely if it’s a possibility but understand when I say it’s not guaranteed. But being an “influencer” is absolutely weird, you guys and life is full of slippery slopes. I realize even writing about this will take me out of jobs. Or maybe not. WHO THE HECK KNOWS (OR CARES) IN DIGITAL MEDIA.

I involve my kids when I know it’s important for our lives, like a magazine feature about our family or a post about their rooms in which they are super excited to play. That sounds like we are open to pimping out our kids for money. But we aren’t. Those don’t pay and it’s more about telling our story to a larger audience that is important to us. And we have learned how to make it really fun for the kids and we are very selective and how we do it (limit who is on set, get to the know the photographer first, have kittens, milkshakes, etc. at our disposal).

Does that mean that I’ll always say no to work that requires my kids on camera? Not necessarily. If it’s a good project, with a good message and something that we as parents feel will be a positive experience, we MAY consider it. But no, we are fiercely protective of their youth and privacy. At the same time, I can never say never. What if in five years Birdie, has some insane performance ability and BEGS to upload a video to YouTube? I shudder to think, but it’s also not that much different than taking your kid to a national talent show. My level of fear about this kind of stuff is so high that I don’t want it to cloud my ability to support my child, although I do think I can find creative ways to do this that doesn’t involve the dark web and the aftermath of comments/trolls and anxiety that will likely ensue. This is all a hypothetical and one that I hope never plays out.

So for now, it seems like I should just stick to my general parenting ideals and processes when it comes to challenging situations, the negative stuff in life. Maybe they are universal. Maybe not. Here ya go: (P.S. It’s been very good for us to really write down how we want to handle things in general.)

Protect. Full Stop. This involves physical, mental and emotional safety.
Model good behavior. We try to show them how to be good people. A good rule of thumb I remind myself all the time is ‘show, don’t tell. It’s an ‘all day every day’ situation. No pressure.

About Those Integrated Appliances in the Mountain House Kitchen

This kitchen is my pride and joy, mostly because it’s not only visually very lovely (I’m trying to be modest here, when really I just want to scream  IT’S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN IN THE WORLD) but it also really works. There really aren’t very many restaurants up there and we have a lot of weekend guests so we cook A TON. But being new at kitchen designs (I’ve only really done a handful of them), I really didn’t want to mess this up. I didn’t want to have regrets later and wish that I had put the fridge somewhere else.

My team did some painstaking research to ensure that the set up we created would really work the best it could while keeping it open and making sure the reclaimed wood cabinets and island + natural light are the star. We intentionally designed a kitchen where the appliances take the back seat to the design, visually, which I know is controversial (but I honestly don’t know why). To have a kitchen that houses everything you need, but is visually streamlined and beautiful is the future. That’s not to say that appliances aren’t nice to look at because they certainly can be (I LOVE a beautiful range like the one we put in Portland project), but you can reduce your finishes/contrast and have them integrated into your cabinetry if you are into this look. And these days, it’s not that much more expensive than comparable non-panel-ready appliances.

We worked with Build.com who has such fantastic personalized customer service (whether you’re trade or consumer level) and a huge selection of some of the best products out there in terms of style and new tech. They are all excellent in every way. Here, we used almost all Viking appliances, which made me incredibly excited, never having had a luxury brand of appliances before. Let’s get into it:

Wall Ovens:
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The double oven—the Viking 5 Series 30″ Wide Double Electric Oven—is hidden behind our cabinetry which slides back into pockets while in use (and until the oven is completely cooled down). Although honestly, this oven is pretty enough to look at all the time. We went with this versus a range because I wanted a double oven and wanted a cleaner cooktop area. I roast a lot of chicken and we bake a lot of cookies (yes, at the same time) so it was time for a double oven and now I get it.

It has all the bells and whistles it should for anyone who’s serious about their ovens (plus it comes in seven great colors and finishes). Each of the ovens has 4.7 cubic feet of capacity and the knobs are super easy to use with lots of cooking modes, including convection and broil. Something that’s REALLY useful is the Rapid Ready pre-heat feature, which basically means the oven pre-heats much faster than your standard oven (12-15 minutes to 350, and no preheat on convection mode if using center rack).

The TruConvec convection mode—a much more efficient heating method in ovens compared to conduction—is great for cooking those chickens (or cookies, or brownies) much more evenly and quickly. These babies have the largest fans in the industry (8 1/2″ inches), which maximizing airflow and just makes whatever you’re baking or roasting better (more even cooking, less chance to dry out, etc.).

Refrigerator:

As I’ve said in the past (specifically, this post from almost a year ago), I wish we had gone integrated and panel-ready in our LA kitchen instead of having the large stainless-steel refrigerator steal the show from the pretty green cabinetry, so I knew when it came to mountain house, these would be panel ready FOR SURE. While we originally had planned for the refrigerator placement to me swapped with where the dry bar is right now, you guys talked us into flip-flopping them and I’m so glad you did (THANK YOU). Basically, there were 48 inches of clearance between the wall unit and the island, and opening up the fridge and freezer drawers would have been a pain with anyone sitting at the island. This makes SO much more sense.

Having it where it is works great because we pull out what we need, bring to the island or peninsula to prep (and having the sink right there is also super convenient for washing anything off like produce), then move on to the stove to cook. It’s a flow that works really well for us, even if it doesn’t follow your traditional work triangle (we thought about this ad nauseam, trust me).

We went with the Viking 7 Series 36″ Wide Bottom Mount Energy Star Rated Right Hinge Refrigerator, and its 13.6 cubic feet capacity (in the refrigeration portion) fits all my souping necessities (plus all the leftovers). The spill-proof shelves are easily adjustable in the case I need to store a big stock pot in here or something and it’s nice to have a continuous, big crisper drawer instead of two separate ones for larger greens like kale and long turnips and whatnot. The LED interior lighting also feels very schnazzy.

There’s a “feather touch” built-in internal water dispenser with filtered water, and let me tell you, having that inside the fridge as opposed to outside is so much more aesthetically pleasing. (It’s on the left wall of the fridge right above the first shelf if you’re looking for it). Yes, it’s a few more steps to open the freezer drawer for ice then open the refrigerator for water, but it doesn’t really bother you once you get used to it and it’s a small price to pay for full integration.

Oh! And for anyone who suffers from “stinky fridge syndrome” (it riddles approx. 88% of Americans…very serious), you’ll love Viking’s BlueZone Fresh Preservation Technology, which uses patented air cleaning that strips microbes, ethylene gas, hydrocarbons and odors from the air inside your fridge.

Having freezer drawers is so much better for us than a top-to-bottom freezer sliver typical to French door refrigerators (which we had in previous houses and once we made the switch to the wider format in my LA house, there’s no going back as long as you have the space for it). So much of that space is wasted because you have like…10 inches to fit in everything you need and it’s a game of Tetris. Things get lost in the back and fall prey to the dreaded freezer burn, only to be remembered during a big freezer purge.

We liked the double drawer (as opposed to the freezer drawer within a big freezer drawer compartment) because mentally it’s easier to organize that way. When it’s the drawer-inside-a-drawer situation, it’s easier to just open the freezer and just make things fit any way they can, while the two drawers make me compartmentalize what goes into each. For instance, the top drawer here is for easy to make frozen food and veggies as well as sweet treats, while the bottom drawer (which we forgot to shoot, whoops), could be used for frozen meal prep items, or meats. The clear divider is there to help keep things organized and can be moved around (or removed) however it works best for your storage needs.

Cooktop & Downdraft:

Because we went with the double oven, we didn’t need a range, so we went with Viking’s Professional 5 Series 36″ Wide Built-In Gas Cooktop and paired it with the brand’s 36″ Built-In Downdraft Ventilation System. I knew I wanted to have the cooktop near that beautiful Marvin picture window and didn’t want a hood, so the pop-up downdraft is an unobtrusive solution I’m pretty obsessed with. It has an 18-inch rise, two-level lighting so you can create your own illumination adventure and four fan speeds. Do note that you’ll need to build in room in the below cabinet for the downdraft to be stored as well as its mechanism, so there is some storage loss there.

The six burners range from super high output (18,000 BTUs in the front left burner) to 6,000 BTUs in the front right burner, though all of the burners have variable simmer options (that allows for different pot sizes and liquid volumes) for all those delicate sauces I whip on the regular (or delicate broths, of course). The knobs are really intuitive, so there’s no futzing around, plus I like that they are off to one side instead of in the front which keeps them out of reach of little hands.

Viking is a high-end appliance brand, and this range feels like it. There’s no “click click click” to ignite the flame, plus it re-ignites automatically if the flame were to go out at any point during cooking (say, if I open up that sliding window and a gust of wind comes in), and the porcelain-coated cast iron grate is really easy to clean.

Dishwasher:

Because throwing dirty dishes out the window instead of cleaning them every day is not an acceptable way of living by any means, we need the luxuries of a dishwasher. This is the Viking 24″ Setting Energy Star-Rated Built-In Dishwasher from their 3 Series, which also has an adjustable upper rack that allows for taller items on either the top or bottom rack. Customization, folks. That’s a true luxury. It fits up to 12 place settings, though their new, even quieter model (the FDWU324, which isn’t online just yet but will be adding in a few days), has a 14-place setting capacity. It has six cycles—posts/pans heavy soiled, China/crystal, regular wash, hour wash, quick wash (35 min.) and rinse/hold—and five options (express drying, sanitize to NSF requirement, high-gloss drying, half load, and delayed start up to 24 hours).

At 50 decibels, that means you can have a normal conversation standing at the island while it runs and you’ll barely notice it (it’s actually one of the quietest washers on the market right now). For context, 50 decibels are equal to the hum of a refrigerator. It also has something called “turbidity monitors” which “senses” how clean your dishes are so everything always comes out squeaky clean.

Wine Fridge:

Now that we’ve talked through your everyday appliances, it’s time to shift into the real fun (no kids allowed). How adult are you when you have a separate wine fridge? I’m pretty sure that means you’ve “made it,” right? This puppy (the EdgeStar 15″ Wide 26 Bottle Built-In Dual Zone Wine Cooler with Reversible Door) stores up to 26 standard size wine bottles on its slide-out shelving, has two temperature zones to chill reds and wines at their own particular temps (I feel so sophisticated saying that), a door that can swing either left or right, plus an integrated door lock.

Refrigerated Drink Drawers:

The peninsula is “drinks central.” We put in these Marvel 24″ Wide Built-In Refrigerated Drawers for Brian’s beer, fizzy water, juices and kid snacks and we LOVE them. It leaves the fridge space for actual food and larger items instead of cluttering shelves with La Croix and Go Gurt. The temperature settings (which you adjust on the top drawer) range from 34°F to 42°F, which means drinks will always be so cold they’re nearing freezing point without actually freezing over. This is my happy place. As cold as possible without being a chunk of ice. THIS IS THE FUTURE.

We use the top drawer for bar carry over (citrus, tonic and seltzer, beer, etc.) and the bottom one is at the perfect level for Charlie and Birdie to be able to grab apple sauce, cheese sticks or whatever healthy snack is there on their own (by the way, both drawers have that nice soft close feature so nothing bangs shut). They wouldn’t be able to reach anything in the refrigerator really at their current age/height, so this is their little spot.

According to the specs, these offer something called “Dynamic Cooling Technology” which equates to cooling things down almost two times faster than competitors, which is great for parties when you make a drink run and want to get everything nice and cold ASAP.

But, in case that’s not fast enough for you, let me introduce you to maybe my favorite thing in this entire kitchen…

Ice Machine:

Oh man does this thing make me happy. As soon as I found out it was an option, I could accept nothing less. It’s a NUGGET ICE MACHINE.

Viking, let this be my wholehearted thank you for thinking to make this amazing machine. You know that soft, chewy, pillowy, DREAM-LIKE ice you get at Sonic or Tijuana Flats or wherever else they’re smart enough to make you a loyal customer via their ice selection? This is the stuff.

Just look at those beautiful pillows of crunchy ice up there. The things true ice-lover fantasies are made of. It produces 80 pounds of ice in a 24-hour period and holds up to 26 pounds of ice at any given moment. Is it a necessary addition to a kitchen appliance plan? Well, no, but if you’ve always dreamed of having this restaurant-style ice at your fingertips, know that it’s a possibility and will up the fun ante of your kitchen and cocktailing by about 255%.

Again, I just want to give an enormous thank you to Build.com for working with us on these amazing appliances. Everything feels like SUCH a luxury (mostly because it is) and makes me want to just spend all my time in here whipping up stew after soup after bone broth. If you’re going to be doing a kitchen remodel soon, or swapping out your appliances, absolutely consider Build.com. They are super knowledgeable and their project experts are so helpful in helping you to find exactly what you want and need for your home. They’re available to talk (phone, email, online chat) every day of the week (and advice is always free, whether you’re a customer yet or not). Plus, their prices are honestly hard to beat, and once you order, you get a dedicated account manager that helps to streamline ordering, delivery, quoting and coordination. You don’t have to be a trade professional to benefit either.

All available through Build.com: Viking Refrigerator | Viking Double Electric Wall Oven | Viking Dishwasher | Marvel Built-In Refrigerated Drawers | EdgeStar Built-In Wine Cooler | Viking Ice Maker | Viking Built-In Downdraft | Viking Gas Cooktop 

This wraps up all the kitchen posts. Phew, there was so much to talk about (hope you’re not tired of us yet). In case you’ve missed anything so far, we’ve done the big overall reveal last week as well as all the inside organization of the drawers and pantry this past Monday. We’ve been answering your questions along the way, but let us know what else you’ve got for us (or if we didn’t answer something specifically in the posts or from your comments).

*Photography by Sara Tramp for EHD

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

The post About Those Integrated Appliances in the Mountain House Kitchen appeared first on Emily Henderson.

9 Springy Front Door & Porch Combos That’ll Shake Away Those Winter Cobwebs

photography by sara tramp for ehd | from: the portland mudroom & pantry reveal

We’ve reached that time of year finally where it’s okay to talk about the outdoors! Yay us! Yes, some of you might still be calf-deep in snow, and for you, we’re so, so very sorry (they said, soaking up the rays of Southern California). But things will turn around in no time, we know it. To pre-celebrate, we’re here today to talk about front door and porch appeal because the zeitgeist is telling us that people are ready to start thinking about sprucing up the front of their homes (even if all you have is a door). The last time you probably paid any attention to this area was around the holidays—heck, there still might be remnants of your wreath lingering between your pavers…the pine needle ghosts of Christmas past—but let’s shake off the winter cobwebs and usher in that vernal spirit.

We know that not everyone has the same amount of space to work with. You might have just a little patch and a door (maybe even inside a hallway of your apartment complex), or maybe you have a small patio where you can fit a chair (that will inevitably just be a landing place for your Amazon packages) and a potted plant, either way, we put together nine combos—these span three styles across three sizes of front door real estate—that we hope inspire you to do a little spring zhush.

Let’s take a look.

Front Door Style
image source | design by arent & pyke

Living in an apartment rarely inspires you to put any effort into your front door situation, but we promise there’s something you can do to put your personal touch on the compact area to set your space apart from the same door happening right next door (because we all aren’t graced with insanely beautiful and character-ridden checkerboard marble stoops like the front porch above). A fun or graphic doormat, a small table (SO useful to perch grocery bags or packages if your hands are full) and a planter or two would be just enough to make you smile when you slink home after an interminable day at the office.

You can go the colorful eclectic route and bring in a spring-y wreath, lanterns and glam brass plant stands or keep it streamlined and modern with a tight black-and-white theme with plenty of matte black. Pick your own front door adventure!

1. Sunset Wreath | 2. Lantern | 3. Textured Planter | 4. Plant Stand | 5. Woven Planter Basket | 6. Rug

1. Wreath | 2. Doormat | 3. Small Fluted Planter | 4. Urn Planter | 5. Lantern 

1. Accent Table | 2. Lantern | 3. Stripe Jute Mat | 4. Artificial Palm | 5. Ceramic Planter with Stand

Small Porch Style
image source

Moving up in front porch square footage means you have some more room to up the style ante, whether that means bringing in planter boxes, umbrella stands, lighting, or house numbers (and a colored door never hurts). We love the natural texture on the chair in the colorful eclectic board below (and all the happy pottery which would brighten up any concrete corner), but also that pill-shaped sconce and brass hanging planter from the modern design makes our hearts pitter patter.

1. Accent Table | 2. Wicker Lounge Chair | 3. House Numbers | 4. Sconce | 5. Mat | 6. Square Staccato Pillow | 7. Bell Chime | 8. Textured Wood Planter | 9. Terracotta Planter | 10. Dash Planter

1. Side Table | 2. Chair | 3. House Numbers | 4. Lantern Sconce | 5. Doormat | 6. Throw Pillow | 7. Basket Planter | 8. Urn Planter | 9. Small Textured Planter

1. Accent Table | 2. Metal Chair | 3. House Numbers | 4. Outdoor Sconce | 5. Jute Doormat | 6. Diamond Pillow | 7. Brass Ring Planter | 8. Stripe Basket Planter | 9. Sphere Planter | 10. Footed Planter

Large Porch Style
image source | design by camille styles

We see so many large front porches heavy on the rocking chairs and Adirondack seats (which we love), but we wanted to shake things up and give some new ideas for how to use the space in the front of your home should you have space to create conversation areas or a little outdoor living room. The black spindle bench in the traditional board still leans modern because it’s so skinny, and pairing it with a rattan stool, smooth white and gray planters, and cool matte door hardware keeps things feeling updated while rooted in classic style. The teak chairs from the modern design add lots of visual interest with their simple yet interesting silhouettes, a side table invites lingering with drinks or morning coffee, and the mix of finishes on the pots feels contemporary but just varied enough. And finally, in colorful eclectic, all those pillows and textiles make this read more “casual living room” than front porch (and who doesn’t want to add another “room” to their home?).

1. Sconce | 2. Cast Iron Numeral | 3. Wicker Armless Chair | 4. Door Hardware | 5. Blue Embroidered Pillow | 6. Copper Pillow | 7. Geometric Pillow | 8. Stripe Lumbar | 9. Ceramic Planter | 10. Pattern Planter | 11. Glaze Planter | 12. Diamond Mat

1. Wall Lantern | 2. Door Hardware | 3. House Numbers | 4. Rattan Stool | 5. Metal Bench | 6. Jute Border Rug | 7. Floral Pillow | 8. Linen Pillow | 9. Stripe Lumbar | 10. Urn Planter  | 11. Radius Planter

1. Light Fixture | 2. House Numbers | 3. Chaise Outdoor Chair | 4. Metal Folding Side Table | 5. Door Knob & Lock Set | 6. Color Block Pillow | 7. Braided Mat | 8. Ceramic Planter with Stand | 9. Column Planter | 10. Brass Planter with Stand

Are you itching to refresh your front door situation? What other rooms or spaces around your home do you want us to tackle, combo or budget room style? Ask and you shall receive. Happy Wednesday, all.

For more exterior refresh ideas, head to our ROOMS page, and when you’re ready to do some shopping, we’ve got you covered in the outdoor section of our SHOP pages. 

The post 9 Springy Front Door & Porch Combos That’ll Shake Away Those Winter Cobwebs appeared first on Emily Henderson.