Emily Henderson's Blog, page 270

My Actual Design Process (and Yes, a Mountain House Update)

image source

Okay, that is not it, YET, sadly. This room is from the Mjolk house which has been a source of inspiration for me throughout this whole process, but on to the real mountain house update.

We spent over two weeks up there over Christmas and I can say without hyperbole that it was the best two weeks of my life. The energy was so good and calm. The kids didn’t fight and barely asked to watch TV. We crafted, had scavenger hunts, went on one million walks and bug hunts, made forts, cooked so much soup, hung out with friends, and I took 8-10 micro bubble baths. I didn’t open my laptop except to order vacuum bags. At one point, I realized that I hadn’t been in a car in FIVE DAYS.

The point is, that house is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing for me: forcing me to relax and unplug, and providing a space away from LA to connect with my family. Also, let’s face it, the sweet, sweet satisfaction of being done with the most stressful renovation of my life doesn’t hurt, coupled with the fact that I truly love, love, love the design. I suppose I felt a lot of pride in it and the only pain I felt was fulfilling your survey request to NOT show you too much on social media.

The day before we moved in back in December, my team and I went up there to set it all up. We brought up a combination of leftover furniture from my house, the Portland project (that I had shipped down) and then we brought what was over from our storage unit up in the mountains. We placed it all and I realized that it looked PRETTY DARN GOOD. Was I expecting to use my old sofa up there? No, but I really loved it in the family room. Did I think that my wood armchairs that were originally in LA would be so comfortable and feel right in the living room? Nope. And while all of it might get moved around, it made me really reconsider something…wait, why am considering replacing all these pieces that I actually like? Why not just see if I can make these work in the design of the house and then if they can’t, move on from there?

It was such a relief to make that decision, and little did I know that it was aligned with the feedback from you about more approachable ideas and less “look at my custom sofa that took six months to design.” But this does mean something else and I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about it…

…We are officially done with the “I Design, You Decide” series for furniture and decor (of course the Vacay Giveaway will still happen and everything that has been recorded thus far will still count). There might be some projects along the way to vote on, but it stopped making sense for where we are right now because I really only wanted the house to look and feel one way and creating two design plans that look almost identical just seemed like a marketing gimmick. It was awesome for bathrooms and somehow made more sense, but showing you two very similar white rugs and being like “I don’t know guys, I just can’t decide” seems well, offensively obvious and condescending.

So I’ll be approaching decorating this project just like I do with most—using my three main steps. I’m starting from scratch in a way, but loosening up the perfection reigns for what I have that already works.

HOW DO I WANT IT TO LOOK & FEEL?

I already knew the style: the Rustic-Scandinian-Modern-Mountain-Minimalist-Contemporary-California-Chalet-Cabin look. It only took me one year and 82 “debates” with Brian to figure that out, and I’m literally an interior designer that should win all design wars (except Brian is typically right).

As a reminder, here are some reference photos (some you’ve seen, some new) for the vibe I’m after:

image source | design by jessica helgerson
image source
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Most of the time, your style is derived from a combination of a few things:

The architecture of the space. Sometimes a house wants you to lean in a direction but do NOT let your 100-year-old English Tudor bully you as mine did.
Your own personal style. Your aesthetic preferences and what feels like “YOU” is very important.
How you want it to “feel” versus look. Maybe your style is one way at work but you want home to feel different, so it’s not just your style, it’s the feeling that you want to get from your home.

For me and this house, I want it to feel the following things: Calm. Quiet. Relaxing. Airy. Full of space and light. Comfortable. SO COMFORTABLE. Happy, but not loud. In fact, so, so, so quiet…but interesting, with some quirk and unpredictable moments.

So I created a fantasy mood board that we love…let’s call this a “feelings board.”

Great. I’ll take it all.

A huge part of the design process is this step because it really to helps you understand what you are going for, EVEN IF you/I can’t actually purchase all or any of those things. It’s aspirational and it’s important to do because it’s a good reminder of how to stay on track, and, of course, to remind me to search and find the more affordable versions of those things.

That was our first board, but as it felt a bit unattainable, we redid it to feel more achievable—something I might actually be able to do.

It’s not totally different, and yet it’s more realistic for me right now.

Next up is…

CHOOSE YOUR COLOR PALETTE

You have your “look and feel” and some style semantics to help you explain it to others, so next, it’s time to come up with a color palette. You might actually be able to pull your palette from your inspiration board, with some tweaks, so let what you’re drawn to in your aesthetic vibe guide you if you’re stuck. For me, well…before you see mine you might want to alert the authorities but please don’t bother because the Associated Press has already ran the “Emily Henderson shocks nation with revolutionary color palette” story.

But it’s different this time, I SWEAR…

The blues are muted and more grayed out. The grays are softer, more heathered. The whites are creamier. There is more black but in tiny moments (well, except for that sexy black bathroom), and the green is more earthy, less poppy. There will nary be a bright color in this house, with the exception of the kids room.

That is a pretty paired down palette and I know there will be some blushes and warmer tones involved, but you get the idea.

BRING IN TEXTURE

Besides colors, you have the all-important textures that round it all out, that can add depth where colors can’t. Our wood is light, reclaimed and with a matte finish. The black iron is thin (and also matte). The schmear on the fireplace and the plaster is soft and even the stone is subdued and softened by being leathered instead of polished or honed. I forgot to put the brass up there, but hopefully you can get it (and we’ll edit it).

Last?

SHOP WHAT YOU HAVE

Use what you’ve got. Before you start all over, assess your situation. I ALMOST FORGOT THIS STEP.

Instead of ditching everything I have, I took an inventory of what I was already storing in my garage or in my house that really fit the mountain house vibe. Sure, I shopped some at the flea market, but at first, I pulled from what I already had and brought them up there. I didn’t know where things would go or in what room, I used my “pretty looks good next to pretty” rule and brought up anything that I loved in the vibe/feel, color palette and look we were going for.

So here is what I have up there right now. Maybe all of it won’t stay and maybe it will be moved around and around and around, but I was shocked at how great it all looked together.

The vintage Børge Mogensen chair and ottoman looked bad in its original fabric in our LA house, but up there near the family room fireplace, it sings. My Target tripod lamps (both floor and table) are great. I shipped home the most beautiful mirrors (from Thos. Moser) from the Portland Project and last year, I snagged the Rejuvenation tables for a makeover that never ended up happening. The tall blonde one looks so great with our sectional.

The soft rug from Dash & Albert that you might recognize from the Portland living room is looking great in the family room. The Article chair is next to our master fireplace (although I think it would shine more not so close to a big black steel square) and the Katy Skelton sofa is currently trying to find a home up there (but I might just put it in Birdie’s old room down here since they share a room now…more on that later). Oh, and that little black table from Target, which I’ve used all over so far…I just love its updated traditional shape and matte black finish.

The navy sofa (from Interior Define), wood armed chair, vintage Saarinen coffee table and Schoolhouse lamp are all things I’ve had FOR YEARS. I’m SO glad I kept all of them. They are honestly looking so good up there. They are all so practical and comfortable (and kid-friendly) and yes, in my color palette. The one good thing about being consistent in color palette is that things date a lot less quickly.

Lastly, the world’s most comfortable shag rug (it was Brian’s only real demand) will likely make its way into our master bedroom. I’ve used this I think five other times in a project and I can’t wait to dig my toes into the cush of it in the morning before having to have the “awful” debate with oneself of whether I take a bubble massage bath or a steam shower…Also, the universe’s most beautiful chair (by Fernweh Woodworking out of Oregon) was a gift from the Portland project that will likely don the most perfect corner near a window somewhere.

Regarding the Article sectional…I have shopped and searched for something super interesting and conversation making, but ultimatley this one that already sits in the room is kinda perfect for the vibe and style. Plus, it’s VERY comfortable. Someday I might find that perfectly weird low ’70s sectional that steals all of our hearts, but until then, I love this guy. Honestly, sometimes I wish it were in my living room here, too, but then I think “surely I can’t use the same sofa twice…” But can’t I?

So that’s where we are. It’s furnished, but not finished. It’s comfortable but not perfect. It’s getting there and throughout the next 6-9 months, we’ll be finishing the rooms and revealing them. As much as I’d love to wait to reveal EVERYTHING all at once, I just don’t think I’m willing to wait that long to start showing you (and I doubt you want to wait that long either).

I literally can’t wait to show you. As a massive over-sharer (duh), it’s hard to keep it all to myself so instead, I’ll just do my best to finish it more quickly so that you (and I ) can get the satisfaction we both need.

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?

*And again, we are working out what the rest of “I Design, You Decide” and Vacay Giveaway’looks like but the more you comment and share, the more entered you are and YES that will still happen. I can’t wait to host any of you who have been invested enough in this project to share it…and trust me…you’ll have a good time at this house. It’s my absolute happy place and maybe yours. 

The post My Actual Design Process (and Yes, a Mountain House Update) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: The Week The World Got ‘FYRED’ Up

Miniature Design by Mandi Johnson

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you’ve had a great weekend and are getting in that last bit of R&R before we all kick off another week…the LAST week of January. I just realized that as I was typing…Can we call someone to sloooow this time thing down? Is there an app for that I can download? Until that’s figured out, we should all squeeze our loved ones tight and snuggle up to enjoy these chillier winter days. Now, just sit back and enjoy all of our week’s exciting discoveries.

Over Thanksgiving, I was RIVETED and couldn’t put this article down about why people aren’t having as much sex (or kids). I kept the magazine it was in like a hoarder but I’ve already referenced it a few times since.

Then, in the same issue was an article about why exorcisms are up??!!!! People are getting or reporting being possessed more than they have in decades…SO INTERESTING. 

The ENTIRE teams loves this candle (Voluspa French Cade Lavender). But Arlyn revealed a super secret that if you burn that candle and this candle (Capri Blue’s Volcano) in the same room (in different areas), your space will smell like an Anthropologie…so basically heaven.

It feels like all anyone could talk about in the zeitgeist was this documentary (Netflix’s take on the Fyre Festival clusterbuck)…well both competing documentaries on Netflix and Hulu. Arlyn was ENTHRALLED (voting the Netflix one as the better doc) and said it’s the kind of thing that it’s impossible to take your eyes off and you watch with your jaw on the floor the entire time in disbelief.

Jess and Julie are truly obsessed with this Instagram account by the insanely creative Mandi Johnson. It’s miniatures on a whole other level (which you know I love…future collaboration in the works?!?).

In an effort to reduce waste at home, Sara bought these baskets (one black and one white) to store and separate her clean and dirty rags. They are cute and easy to clean. This system helps her stay organized and away from paper towels:)

Joy’s layout of her new house is SO SO FUN. I love being a bystander and watching a friend build a house. If you haven’t seen it yet, GO NOW.

Grace saw this article last Sunday and it caught her eye because she and one of her friends were just discussing this topic a few days prior. It talks dining out with parents and how sometimes it’s really not worth the effort spending hours looking for restaurants, looking at the menu, scoping photos online because they only like what they already like and anything new is not welcomed. Is this just our parents??

From Julie: “I tested these wool dryer balls I just ordered and it took half the time to dry a load of towels with them. I’m shocked and amazed.”

I can’t wait to put this jumpsuit I ordered recently on all of my body parts (I like that it’s slimming so it MIGHT actually be flattering). I’ll let you know.

Arlyn has another amazing house tour recommendation. It’s the type of place you stare at in disbelief that someone could actually have a home like that, wondering if you’d ever actually want to live in a space like it, but dream of what it would be like if you did.

I started watching ‘YOU‘ on Netflix and it’s creepy but so far pretty great (a few other EHDers also give it the “so good, so creepy” seal of approval). 

This lotion (Paula’s Choice: CALM Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant) has been Ryann’s favorite recent beauty purchase. She says that because her cheeks and forehead have a natural redness and her skin is dry, she hasn’t found a foundation that lasts the day. This lotion is really great for helping to combat that issue. It’s lightweight but soothing and reduces redness.

Jess almost impulse bought this BEAUTIFUL dinnerware set (the Kaloh Dinnerware Set) from West Elm this past week. It’s the perfect blend of modern and rustic all the while being dishwasher friendly. It’s honestly so pretty in person.

What has you excited this week? What are you reading, watching, buying (and then forcing on all your friends)? Talk tomorrow. Xx

The post The Link Up: The Week The World Got ‘FYRED’ Up appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Soup Saturday: Homemade Bone Broth & Chicken Meatball Veggie Soup

It’s #SoupSaturday, my favorite day of the week. It’s no secret that the turkey meatball soup we included in the very first soup recipe roundup this month is one of the big favorites in the EHD office. We were all inspired by the same initial recipe (via the Savory Lotus), but now we’ve each taken the recipe in a thousand different directions. It’s the soup that many of us have said “Yup, I could eat this every day” about. It’s the soup that can be dressed up or down, mixed up depending on what veggies are in season (or in your fridge), and keep us all full and happy. Today we’re bringing you another meatball soup variation packed with bright veggies, all swimming in a flavorful broth.

Also, to all our friends across the pond (and our neighbors to the north), we’ve heard you on the measurements! We concede that the American/imperial system of cups can be…confusing (is it 1 cup of carrots cut in large chunks or small chunks? Is it okay if some stick out over the edge? NO ONE KNOWS!). So we’ve done our best to add weight measurements to our second recipe (the first one isn’t so exact).

Not only are we bringing you a new soup recipe this week, we’re also going to share with you all how to make bone broth from scratch—the base for ALL my soups. It sounds intimidating (at least it did to me), but trust me, once you savor your own homemade bone broth, the store stuff just won’t taste the same. Am I a super organized person who always has homemade bone broth on hand for my weekly soup making? Nope. I’ll use a boxed broth when I haven’t had the 8-16 hours it takes to boil my own broth. But when I do, I can really taste the difference and it’s totally worth it. I’ve been riffing off a recipe from Rebecca Katz’s Clean Soups cookbook, but have tweaked to my liking as I’ve done it more.

WHAT YOU NEED

Vegetables

6 unpeeled carrots, cut into thirds
2 unpeeled yellow onions, quartered
1 whole leek, cut into thirds
1 whole bunch celery, cut into thirds
4 unpeeled potatoes, quartered
2 unpeeled sweet potatoes, quartered
1 unpeeled garnet yam, quartered
5 unpeeled cloves garlic, halved
1/2 bunch fresh, flat-leaf parsley
1 (8-inch) strip kombu (edible kelp)
Any other veggie scraps you’ve been hiding away in your freezer for just this very moment

Herbs & Spices

1 tablespoon black peppercorns
4 whole allspice or juniper berries
2 bay leaves
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Bones

The carcass of 1 roasted chicken (I usually roast a chicken, use the meat separately, then save the carcass. I also discard most of the skin to make a less fatty broth).

Liquids

8 quarts water (or enough to submerge all your ingredients)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

HOW TO COOK IT

In a large stockpot (we linked to some good ones in last week’s recipe post), combine all your ingredients and add water until everything is submerged, cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat to low, and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and using a mesh ladle to skim the surface of your soup.
Keep partially covered and simmer on low for 8-16 hours. The water will begin to evaporate, so keep an eye on the pot and add more if any of your chicken carcass or vegetables start making an appearance above the surface.
Once you feel your veggies and carcass have given all they can give (or you’ve let everything hang out together in the simmering broth for at least 8 hours), use tongs to fish out the bigger pieces of carcass. Then switch to a slotted spoon to scoop out the bigger pieces of veggie matter. Finally, strain your broth, discarding any of the leftover mush or carcass.
Salt to taste! Let cool at room temperature then store in airtight containers in the fridge overnight. The next day, you’ll be able to skim even more fat off the top of the cooled soup. Now it’s ready to be transformed into delicious soups and stews (or freeze for use later when you’re ready for it).

And now that you’ve created a true labor of love—homemade bone broth—it’s time to put that savory broth into action. I highly recommend using it to make this meatball soup variation, which serves about six heaping bowls of soup (8 if you’re not starving monsters like me and my staff):

WHAT YOU NEED

For Broth

Vegetables

1 small head (265g) cauliflower, chopped (we mixed yellow and purple cauliflower for this soup)
1 cup (150g) rainbow carrots, sliced thin
1 head lacinato kale (stems removed), hand torn
1 8-ounce package (227g) cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 cup (225g) celery, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
2 leeks (bottom white half), chopped

Herbs & Spices

2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 bundle of fresh herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary), tied together and removed before serving
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Liquids

8 cups (64oz or 2 quarts) bone broth
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon

For Meatballs

1 lb. (454g) ground chicken (a few readers commented that we try chicken instead of turkey for a moister meatball!)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons almond flour
1 cup (30g) finely chopped spinach (optional, but it’s just an extra way to sneak in more greens)
1 tablespoon avocado oil (for browning)

HOW TO COOK IT

In a large stock pot, brown leeks in choice of oil to release flavor (3 mins on medium).
Add in carrots, celery, and garlic stirring regularly, being careful not to burn garlic (3-5 mins).
Add bone broth, herbs, and seasonings and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover, and allow to simmer until all your veggies are tender.
While that warms up, mix your meatballs (all ingredients) in a medium mixing bowl.
When the broth is boiling, saute all sides of meatballs in avocado oil on your stovetop until just brown, then gently drop the meatballs (which won’t be fully cooked at this point) into the boiling broth.
Add the cauliflower, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Boil until everything is cooked through (about 20-30 minutes. The meatballs should be cooked through by then, just be sure to check they are 165 F if you have a meat thermometer).
When everything is done cooking, quickly stir in the kale (or spinach) and allow the soup to boil for approximately 1-2 more minutes so the greens can cook down.
Remove from heat and serve! I like a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, fresh parsley and an extra squeeze of lemon to finish.

If you’re into this soup movement and desperate for more than one recipe a week, may we suggest some of our favorite soup cookbooks below? These are the books that EHD team members and I are reaching for time, and time again.

Eating Well Soups | The Simply Real Health Cookbook | The Ultimate Book of Soups and Stews | The Soup & Bread Cookbook | Clean Soups | The Pho Cookbook

The post Soup Saturday: Homemade Bone Broth & Chicken Meatball Veggie Soup appeared first on Emily Henderson.

6 Vintage Pieces I *Seriously* Regret Getting Rid Of

I’ve been “Tidying Up” (thanks to the Marie Kondo show) with the rest of the universe, trying to convince myself to let go of some pieces in my house, asking all the “spark” and “joy” questions. I have a lot of stuff (more in storage) so it seems like I wouldn’t regret donating or selling a lot of it. Sadly, I’ve realized that over the years (pre-Marie), there indeed HAVE been things that created a hole in my heart that were never filled. You see, once or twice a year (always after the holidays) “Purging Emily” emerges due to extreme home clutter body. I want to get rid of EVERYTHING and I often just go too far. I usually don’t regret it immediately because purging Emily likes her space, but normally a year or two later, I find myself thinking about that piece and all of a sudden having the very real realization that it’s gone. Like…gone and likely no hope of ever seeing it again.

Anyway, as I was lamenting about my past purge regrets to my team, their reaction wasn’t comfort or grief counseling, but more “Wait, which pieces?”

It’s like asking someone to talk about and show photos of ex-boyfriends. Dead boyfriends. Buried but not forgotten.

But let’s face it…I’ve had a lot of “boyfriends” over the years.

Remember when I thought that taking a photo of a piece and hoarding the photo would suffice? I was wrong. I have all the photos. They just remind me of them and make me wish I hadn’t given up on them.

I think it’s obvious to say but in case it’s not, I don’t regret giving up anything that I can get again or anything mass manufactured. Sure, every now and again there will be a shoot where I’m like “ooh, I wish I still had that pillow from Target that I donated to the rummage sale” but it’s not something that brings me real sadness and deep regret. I can shrug it off. The six pieces that follow though…they weigh heavy on me. The ones that got away (that I let go of, which makes it even more painful).

#1: “The” Blue Sofa

That tufted and teak unicorn haunts me every day. Every time I Google myself (gross), it pops up (grosser), looking all authentically mid-century in a simple but unique way. The perfect navy. Indestructible poly that felt like velvet. A wood base that has the perfect curve that says “I was made with care and I will pass that care on to you.” Why???? Why did I sell it??? Because I had owned, styled, sat on and shot it for four years and when we moved into our first home and I started thinking about the furniture and decor, I wanted to do something different, show something different. SUCH a regret. That sofa was unique in shape, and perfectly comfortable (although you could feel the springs inside on the back). I’ve actually never seen another one and while many new companies have tried to replicate the shape, they can’t get it quite right and it just looks like a mid-century wannabe which is fine, but not her.

Plus, it’s sentimental to me. I bought it right after Designstar and it was the biggest purchase I had ever made to date. Something like $700 or maybe $900, but I don’t actually remember because it was nine years ago…definitely under $1,000. I kept it for five or six years.

I think the person who bought it was a reader and lives in San Francisco. I’m serious that I’ll buy it back for a large profit. I miss it and it means a lot to me. It brought me SO MUCH JOY.

Maybe what I should do is talk to the new owner (PLEASE SHOW YOURSELF, I WILL NOT STALK AND ROB YOU) and get exact dimensions then find a furniture maker to recreate exactly, but a slightly updated version. Maybe the base is white oak instead of teak. But otherwise the dimensions and style would be attributed to the original designer. I know what you are thinking, and I have no intensions of then selling the design because A. it will likely be an investment custom piece with a wood base like that is special and can’t be mass manufactured and B. then other people would have it, thus losing the uniqueness.

Thoughts? Should I redesign it? Or are you guys over it and you think I should be, too? Am I too emotionally connected to it to be objective? Is it dated? Too mid-century?

Oh and where would I put it? Our LA living room. I was trying my hand at “traditional” in our 100-year-old English Tudor and while our sofa is beautiful, it’s just too traditional for me. I swung too far and I want to come back. I NEED MY GIRL TO HELP BRING ME BACK.

#2: A Coffee Table You Probably Won’t Think Is Special

Even longer ago, 10 years or so, this was my living room (as many of you know) and while I have most of that art still, I do regret donating that coffee table. It doesn’t look special but it was solid and simple, with drop leaves on the side (so it could be a side table, too).

It’s just nice and simple. I also miss my pouf (but I gave it to my friend so I can visit it) and if someone could give me back the painting of the sailor, I’d be psyched. But THANK GOD I  still have my birdcage ladder (not joking…I love that thing).

Next up…a piece that doesn’t quite garner the same emotional reaction as the sofa (well, nothing does)…

#3: This Credenza

I was literally just shopping online for a vintage piece for the mountain house family room when I said “Ideally it would be mid-century, Danish, with cabinets for toy storage and mixed finishes…like wood and caning or natural material and…oh man!!! I used to have this!!” So NOW I want it back. So stupid of me. It was functional, unique and simple. I believe I got it at the flea market for $500 which sounds like a lot but it was in perfect condition and credenzas are expensive.

Side note, I also miss those chairs as they were comfortable and graphic with a bit of whimsy (the round cushion) but I recently found my dream chairs at the flea market that I have yet to show you. I’m sitting in one right now and while they aren’t as comfortable as those up there, they sure are beautiful. Stay tuned

Reader Survey Feedback: What We’re Changing & What We’re Not (& Why)

photo by zeke ruelas | from: modern bohemian home office + decor roundup

Oh boy do I love honest feedback and many of you gave it during the reader survey earlier this month and subsequent comments. I know that all of you didn’t fill it out but there were enough consistencies for us to think/know what you love and what you don’t. You’d think that the numbers tell us (and they do to an extent) but running a blog versus say, owning a store, means that engagement (and perceived value) is equally as important as traffic.

While there will always be a little bit of a sense of “we write what we want to read” (mostly because that’s more fun, and the more fun we have creating posts, the better things usually turn out), we do care so much what you think, what you want, what you love, what you hate…and for anyone who isn’t sure if we listen to feedback, WE PROMISE WE DO. We hear you. When you beg and plead in the comments for us to stop making all the graphics flash, we have a conversation about it and make that call. Simple as that.

We weren’t originally going to dive into the reader survey and parse out our findings with you guys, but someone actually asked recently if we ever shared the results (we hadn’t, obviously) and I thought…yeah, that would be a good idea to talk through what you guys said, what we’re going to change, what you want us to change but maybe we’re just not totally able to yet. Some things were kind of surprising and some things were like “yup, we get it, we feel that too.” This stuff is fascinating.

What We Learned:

This whole category could have been LOOOOONG (I mean, THOUSANDS of you responded and had such useful feedback), but there were some things specifically that made us all go “oh! interesting….reallly?!? interesting” like…

58% of surveyed readers had children, which for me was NOT a surprise, but for my team gave a group gasp.  So, we have a follow up to this…do you guys want to see more family-friendly design, or posts related to decorating for children (what ages??). Nursery design? Where do you fall on that?

Since we’re on percentages, 86% of you were open to hearing from a good mix of writers on the site, which is great, because so many at EHD want to talk to you guys. You’re probably already pretty used to hearing from Arlyn and Jess at this point (and were definitely welcoming to Brady and Orlando when they were around), but there are a few others who might pop in to say hello, talk about things that they have a point of view on, show us their homes, etc. We are creating a TEAM page as we speak and I’m excited to introduce you to the entire team, as they are a talented group of people with diverse backgrounds and styles.

I wasn’t surprised to hear that the two most popular posts types were anything about my house and any reveal, but was a little shocked to see that our Budget Room series was the third most liked thing we do on the blog. Question though, did you know we meant the official Budget Room series, or did you mean budget rooms in a generic sense…like more budget content? Either way, consider it done.

The whole topic of Portland and why you guys didn’t seem that interested in general has some clarity now…our pacing was off and the whole thing just took too long. We were blogging as it was happening (and then not blogging everything because the process was a little tricky with being down in LA), and I know we kept giving sneak peeks on the blog and on social, so…I do get it now. Listen, if we could go back, we probably would have done it differently. And actually, if I could go back, there’s no way I would have done both that and mountain house at the same time (both for my sanity and for the blog). Maybe I would have held onto all the posts (process, renovation-heavy, reveals) and then done like…Portland Project month. I’m not sure, but listen, we still have some reveals left to roll out and then you’ll never have to hear about it again.

Which leads to…

You guys want faster, quicker “micro” projects and reveals. (ME TOO). Not surprising, really, but I wanted to bring it up because I want to hear more about this from you. Are you talking like super small things like….refreshing a corner in my living room, picking and putting up curtains, restyling a bookcase, or just rooms in a variety of projects kind of like we used to do when the design side of the business was open? PLEASE TELL ME MORE.

Also, it’s been so hard not to say the word “content” so far because you guys HATE IT. It’s one I do understand a bit…it kind of cheapens the whole editorial process and makes it feel scientific. In the days of print, “content” used to be feature articles, pictorials, columns…but now it’s just a word that means creating something for instant consumption and basically just for that. It feels like things are done “just for content” and that feels gross to you (us, too). I think we all need to refamiliarize ourselves with what “content” means, but also get that it’s just a word for video, articles, Instagram stories….but again, I’d love to hear more from you on this.

And finally, you guys want shorter posts with less fluff (unless it calls for it) and only want one a day. We considered going to multiple posts a day but I’ve held off because I wanted to make sure it felt right and was GOOD, not just a page view grab. For now, we’ve gone up to publishing seven days a week (have you noticed??) and yes, the thought is still there to do maybe two posts a day, but we’re not there yet. So it’s good to know you all are happy happy with the one article a day.

Blog Post Suggestions:

We don’t want to totally spill the beans on all the new things we’re cooking up (mostly because we don’t want to overpromise and underdeliver…another feedback point you guys brought up and is probably my trait that frustrates myself the most in the world), but as soon as we polish some concepts and new column ideas up, we’ll start rolling them out. BUT, because we can’t help but do a little tease, there are some story ideas you collectively seem to be on board with us bringing back to life or just starting fresh, including…

What I Pinned For _____ Inspiration: We did this post last year for the mountain house and you guys seemed so pumped about it (both when we actually posted it, but also tons of you brought it up in blog suggestions, so we’re listening). Plus, they’re so much fun to put together and talk about, frankly…the design team and I Pin like mad women all the time for just about every facet of decorating, so we have SO MUCH TO SAY and show you.

Why ____ Didn’t Work: We’re pretty comfortable with walking through the “whys” for just about everything around here, but tend to lean heavily on talking about what did work and what we ended up choosing, and tons of you talked about wanted to also see the flip of this. What 10 rugs did we consider for a room and why we didn’t choose them, etc. This is less about the renovation process (which don’t worry, we’re not doing away with it even though it feels more specific and we get that that information is probably less useful for a greater amount of you at any given time, just doing a little less this year) and more the thought behind how and why we end up with a certain design at the end of the day.

More quick makeovers, smaller projects, fast reveals: If there was one GIANT takeaway from the reader survey, it was that you guys thought Portland dragged on and on and on…we get it. It did for us, too. Ha. We have several EHDers Makeover Takeovers planned for the first few months of the year (Velinda’s teeny tiny basement kitchen in her rental unit, Jess’s living room and kitchen, Arlyn’s living room and dining room, Emily Bowser’s master bedroom, Sara’s parents’ living room…see…so much fun stuff). Plus, we’re going to be creating so much fun, short, how-to type pieces for social as well so you don’t feel like you’re getting the same stuff on every platform. Please let us know what you’d want me to cover (how to hang a gallery wall? How to “level up” cheap store-bought curtains? Let me know).

Design Mistakes: Here’s a series we all love but just kind of stopped doing because other things took priority last year with blogging about Portland and Mountain, but IT’S BACK. Feel free to request specific topics in the comments so we know what you want to read about.

Craigslist Finds: Oh man are we excited about this one. Remember those Trolling Craiglist posts from like 3-4 years ago? Yup…we’re resurrecting this. Shout out in the comments what cities you want us to make sure to hit!

Site Suggestions:

Videos and ads: Okay, this is the trickiest one of all because it actually affects my bottom line, but that’s not to say that your complaints about all the flashing ads that won’t go away and the autoplay video that pops in and out aren’t heard. When you guys say things like “I used to come here all the time, but now it’s a chore because of all the flashing and annoying ads and I can’t see anything ever,” that REALLY bums me out, but I also have, you know…a staff to support. So, while I can definitely say more on this subject, in an effort to NOT open the door super wide inside our kitchen where we’re making editorial sausage (per your request), it’s a necessary evil without charging subscriptions but I promise I’m looking into ways to make this all less painful for you without taking a huge financial plunge. Honestly, I waffle every day …

Portfolio: It was funny that so many of you were like “we wish there was a place we could go and see all the photos of all your projects” because it’s exactly what we’re rolling out next (this month, actually). We’ve always had a portfolio section (that I had our tech team take down recently because it just wasn’t working and hasn’t been updated in forever and I was kind of embarrassed by it, but even that is different than what we’re doing. If you want to go to one spot to see all the posts from my old Glendale home, the Griffith Park project or Portland, now you’ll be able to. So hang tight, it’s coming, folks.

SO, if you missed our reader survey, it’s not too late (it’s never too late). We will always want to know what you want, what you don’t want and your feedback. We read EVERY comment on every post (even if we don’t reply to all of them) and listen, so…if you have something to add (or want to expand more even if you already took the survey), spill the beans. We’re listening. Xx

The post Reader Survey Feedback: What We’re Changing & What We’re Not (& Why) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

18 Neutral (and Textured) Pillow Combos + 5 Rules for Guaranteed Combo-ing Success

photo by sara tramp for ehd | from: my friend’s kid- and pet-friendly family room reveal

Written by Jess Bunge

Pillow combos are an easy enough concept right? You go out to your favorite pillow retailer, choose a few pretty ones, then bing, bang, boom DONE. They all magically work together the first go ’round. HA! Well, my friends unless you are a pro pillow combo-er either by birth or have lots of practice (Emily qualifies for both), it’s usually not that simple. After months of thinking on it/hunting, only THIS WEEKEND did I myself find a pillow combination that I really love for my sofa, so I get it as a simple human. Now, I took my tiiiiimme with it and played with at least four different combos before I felt it was right. Lucky number five…that’s a thing right?? I promise it won’t take you as long if you put your mind to it….I’m just classically indecisive (not my favorite Libra trait). BUT enough about that.

We have actually written about this topic a couple of different times: One with rules and one budget combo post. We love to refresh everyone on our styling rules because who doesn’t need a helpful reminder from time to time, so we’re back without another iteration. As you all may know, Emily and the design team are finally in the decorating stage of the Mountain house (YES) and are currently eating, drinking and sleeping…throw pillows. That pinboard is FULL of neutral and textured beauties. We thought that since they were doing all that great pillow hunting, we could get double the reward and round up some awesome combos. Win-win. But before we get into the combos, I wanted to refresh you on our pillow combo-ing rules first. These guidelines apply to any time you go to put together a pillow combo (not just the neutral kind like we are focusing on today). Of course, feel free to go off-book if you’re feeling like a pro, but for those who need a more 101 rulebook, here we go:

1. Keep a cohesive color palette: This is the first rule for a reason. If you don’t have a cohesive color palette then you are setting yourself up to fail (or at least make the job much harder full of second guesses). We get it, we love color, too, but choose some tones you want on your sofa or bed then buy within those colors. Just make sure to leave room for neutrals and deeper/lighter hues of your palette, meaning it doesn’t all have to be the same exact shade of blue or green. If your palette is teal, yellow and rust, feel free to pick a punchy yellow than maybe a pattern with a lighter shade…same goes for all the other colors. This will help give dimension right off the bat.

2. Vary sizes and shapes: Mix it up with size. Buy large square, medium and smaller rectangles/lumbars, circles or you could get real funky and try the trending pyramid. Regardless of the shape, just make them different sizes (having three pillows in three different shapes and sizes is a good place to start/build upon). Again, it’s key to give you that visual dimension.

3. Add in textures: If you are mixing solids or wanting to stay pretty neutral (like we are in today’s post), go for a variety of textures or some pillows with interesting details. That could be anything from the material, interesting hems, tassels, pom poms, or weaving variation. A neutral color palette can be just as exciting as a bold color combo if the textures are varied.

4. Balance out colors evenly: Spread the love people. This rule applies mainly to sofas and benches. Don’t have all the blue pillows on one side and all the cream pillows on the other. Make sure to have the colors you have chosen balanced on both ends. Your eyes will be much happier.

5. Vary scale of patterns: Copy and paste from last week’s bed styling post because the pattern scale rule is the same in every room. Has anyone ever told you to either pick your eyes or your lips when it comes to doing your makeup? Well, the same goes for pattern scale. No one wants their pattern combo to look like it has a dark smokey eye with a bold red lip. It’s just too much to take in. So don’t have all your patterns be small-scale or all large-scale. Using both will create that visual tension that we are all striving for.

And yes, we’re all here for some shopping picks, but let’s do a quick “why these work” exercise to drive home the rules…

Why these combos work:

1. When Brady did his living refresh after his boyfriend moved in, he wanted to go from darker neutral to a lighter neutral feel….just not too light. As you can see, he choose three different sizes and two different shapes. The large cream pillow, although a solid color, has a ton of personality with the woven pattern. That pattern is also a larger scale than the medium sized dark pillow. The dark pillow balances perfectly with the art behind the sofa and adds in more texture with those fun tassels. Then to bring in a “bright” neutral he finished off the combo with that beautiful warm leather lumbar pillow. The leather adds another texture to the group and the shape adds that last bit of visual contrast and interest.

2. This combo was from the house tour we did of Amy Oppedisano of Salt Coastal Interiors. She kept the color palette on the lighter neutral side with again three different sized pillows in patterns with varying scales. Notice though how those tassels help to add texture just like it did with Brady’s. If they weren’t there it wouldn’t be as dynamic as a combo. We also love that she paired that larger more traditional patterned pillow with the two more boho patterns, but they all work together because they share a cohesive palette. It adds that hint of surprise that we are BIG fans of and makes for a more interesting combo.

3. Sometimes simple just works best. In Mel’s first living room reveal, she used two pillows of different sizes and textured materials on her bench and it looked great. The combo still pops because there is enough of a color contrast to spark your eye’s attention. Plus, the sheepskin throw brings in added texture to round it out.

Why this combo works:

When Emily styled her best friend’s living room, she kept to neutral but still colorful. What we really wanted to point out here is the perfect balance of color. You don’t need to have every color on both sides of your sofa but the majority should be. It’s more about having a balance of tone. Make sure to mix lights and darks on both sides. But for the purposes of the rule and this room, all the colors are all represented on both sides of the sofa.

Alright, now it’s time to shop. We know that beautiful pillows exist at all price points, but sometimes it feels like they’re all $300, and before you know it, you’re spending $1,000 (at least in your mind). To remedy this, we picked three price points that each include three pillows and a throw, starting at $150 for the whole package. Now, there are a few combos (particularly in the $300 category that go a smidge over budget, but not really by more than $10 or so).

1. Camel Faux Suede / Black and White Pillow / Woven Strip Lumbar / Wool Stripe Throw | 2. Sanela Pillow / Waffle Square Pillow / Velu White & Black Pillow / Emmafrida Throw | 3. Loom Pillow / Diamond Throw Pillow / Copper Velvet Lumbar Pillow / Waffled Throw | 4. Quilted Velvet Geo Pillow / Washed Linen Pillow / Cotton Stripe Lumbar Pillow / Vagmalla Throw | 5.  Cozie Black and Natural Pillow / Natural Mudcloth and Faux Leather / Quilted Velvet Lumbar Pillow / Crinkled Cotton Throw | 6. Dorthe Pillow / Gray Velvet Pillow / Balla Sheepskin Pillow / Kaveldun Throw

1. Pleated Textured Pillow / Lucci Macrame Pillow / Maxen Lumbar Pillow / Taupe Throw | 2. Tillie Wool Pillow / Velvet Pillow / Jantar Lumbar Pillow / Wool Throw | 3. Stripe Pillow Cover / Chet Pillow / Toodle Pillow / Vårkage Throw | 4. Selma Pillow / Pamela Wiley Stripe Pillow / Wool Evie Pillow / Fleece Fringe Trim Throw | 5. Weave Ivory Pillow / Ripple Pillow / Sanela Pillow / Sycamore Wool Throw | 6. Jaynie Pillow / Navy Pillow / Sheepskin Pillow / Plaid Throw

1. Chunky Weave Pillow / Nigel Pillow / Velvet Cover / Fringe Throw | 2. Bias Natural Pillow / Wool Tweed Cover / Suma Pillow / Riley Oversized Throw | 3. Sunrise Black Pillow / Blue Moon Suede Cover / Velvet Oversized Lumbar / Nevin Throw | 4. Sherpa Pillow / Wool Plaid Cover / Cognac Leather Pillow / Sable Throw | 5. Weave Ivory Pillow / Darcy Pillow / Kentfield Pillow Cover / Stonewash Throw | 6. Moody Pillow / Beso Pillow / Textured Loop Cover / Contigo Throw

There you have it. 18 combos that are neutral, textured and downright cozy. We are all basically bursting to see the finished styled version of the Mountain House but until that glorious day, Emily and the team will keep sharing her inspiration. If you have any further questions about the pillow combo-ing world just comment below and we will do our best to help. Have a great day. xx

The post 18 Neutral (and Textured) Pillow Combos + 5 Rules for Guaranteed Combo-ing Success appeared first on Emily Henderson.

2019 Paint Color Trends

image source

***Written by Arlyn Hernandez

We’re on the trend train this January, and while we’ve already touched on what we think is going to be “in” for kitchens, bathrooms, and furniture and decor, we’ve been itching, nay violently scratching, to talk about colors, specifically paint. Last year, I wrote about my desperate cry for more colored walls in design, after years and years of white being the gold standard and I’m happy to report today that I’ve absolutely noticed a slide into other colors. I don’t think people have run out all of a sudden to their local paint counter and bought up all the brights and bolds they could get their hands on because of my article. Not by ANY means, but I sniff a shift, and it smells really good.

So, I’m quite happy to report that this post is not full of a bunch of different shades of white and gray (though we are always talking about the perfect white and should probably go ahead and do a round up of some of our go-to shades), but actual color. Truly and honestly, and I know we’ve said this so many times before, paint is the cheapest and most reversible way to make a HUGE impact in a room. That, and some subtle architectural details like molding. If your walls could talk, I promise they’d beg you for a nice warm coat of some sexy, sexy paint.

Which brings us here. The editorial and design teams put their heads together to drill down and dig up the colors we’re seeing and loving, and are going to move forward on calling out as a “trend.” This is not to say that should you choose something not called out in this list, you’re somehow wrong, but if you’re on the hunt for something fresh and new for your home, we hope this will be a good guide for you.

Mossy Green
image source | design by Ste. Marie

Moody greens were not up for debate. It was the first color out of at least three of our mouths when we were sitting around, braiding each others’ hair and talking about paint trends (though Michael petitioned HARD for a clearer, brighter emerald green, but it didn’t win out today, sorry). If you’re doing a little dance in your chair right now, be sure to head to this post where we really dove into the whole green-is-the-new-white idea. Deep almost blue-ish greens have been super popular lately, but we’re really excited about this more mossy, dusty green with slight olive undertones.

image source | design by Ste. Marie

We personally don’t think a tone like this would work very well in anything other than a super matte finish (unless you pair that on a wall with the same colored molding in a higher sheen). You can always bring in a touch of glam with shinier velvets, marble or polished woods (or a fox) if the chalkiness falls flat to you.

image source | design by Billy Cotton

It also comes off so, so lovely and Old World when the palette built around it is also rich and moody. It’s definitely a heavy look (some might call it “granny,” except I hate the use of that word…as if grandmas can’t be really cool and full of style…).

Schoolhouse Green
image source | design by Kennedy Nolan

For anyone that was bored by that last green, thinking it was dull and dour ::cough MICHAEL cough::, we present you with a much happier, zippy green. It’s what we’re calling “schoolhouse green” because it’s kind of that tone that can be found in chalkboards and seats in grade schools the world over (though I highly suspect schools don’t even have chalkboards anymore and have been replaced with something much higher tech like dry erase boards or holograms). The color in the above photo is ALIVE people, and while probably too bold of a move for most, it can be a seriously fun jolt in a room with mostly neutrals.

image source | design by Helen Cathcart

Here’s a hot tip on bringing in a color that might feel like it would just be too suffocating on a whole wall: paint window and door trims in it, and leave your walls a lighter shade or even white. It’s a really European touch that we give the thumbs up to.

Teal
image source | design by Giancarlo Valle

I can already hear all the “this reminds me of the ’80s and I’m not going back” outcries, but just because it was done in the decade that gets the worst rap for design and fashion doesn’t mean it can’t work in 2019. It’s all about how it’s used and what it’s paired with. In the room above, combined with mostly wood tones and soft neutrals in interesting silhouettes, it feels sharp, modern and sumptuous.

This color works particularly well on a wall + molding + built-ins situation in a satin or high gloss. It’s already such a rich, showy color that you might as well get even flashier. Teal welcomes the attention (it’s like the Kardashian of the paint deck. It begs you to look at it, watch it, want to be it, buy its lip kits).

photo by Sara Tramp for EHD | A Before & After House Tour

Ashley from The Gold Hive house tour we ran earlier this month painted her den this deep greenish blue that had us all oohing and ahhing over (it’s Benjamin Moore’s Salamander, which is actually much more of a hunter green in real life, but it photographs nearly teal and still wanted to show it to you for inspiration). It’s particularly chic with the equally striking blue velvet sofa set against it.

Dusty Blue
image source | design by Feltus Hawkins Design & Dryden Architecture and Design

A slate-y blue like this bedroom feels perhaps the most “EHD” shade here, but hey…we aren’t a one-trick pony, okay? And basically, any deep shade like this is definitely made even more eye-catching with molding painted the same color.

image source | design by Kate Thornell-Staig

The more we looked at these cabinets, the more we saw the strong purple undertones, but actually, that’s kind of what’s nice about it. It’s a kind of hue you can’t quite place your finger on…is it blue? Is it purple? IS IT GRAY? We all wish we were as mysterious as this cabinet color.

Coral
image source

We’re currently working on a post about all the things we’re seeing that we’re told are “big,” but we’re just not there yet with. Coral is kind of that. We were passing around paint decks to vote on paint colors we liked best for this post and it kept having to be introduced as “I mean, not for your actual house, but like, if it were, which would you pick?” It’s a hard sell to the EHD squad, but just because we aren’t 100% there yet with it doesn’t mean it’s not happening in the zeitgeist. It can be very pretty and invigorating in the right space, paired with the right colors (so far, we can swallow it when it teams up with warm neutrals or is colored blocked with rich oxblood reds and or rusty oranges…it’s fluid, it can go both ways).

image source

It does also work very nicely with other soft pastels, like lilac, periwinkle and blushy pinks. Hot tip: when you have a color like this that’s an attention hog, be sure to pair it with plenty of natural textures like wood, linen, nubby wools. It’ll ground it and make the room feel much more welcoming, and less like a showpiece.

Yellow
image source | design by Dabito of Old Brand New

This dining room GIVES ME LIFE. The pairing of colors feels so good and solid and not too matchy matchy and that’s all I could ever want in a room. Bravo Dabito. And the star here is of course the Babouche yellow from Farrow & Ball that somehow doesn’t come off insane and like you’re inside the sun. The low white wainscotting treatment mellows it out, as does the wood dining table and credenza.

image source

Dabito’s dining room was a touch mustard (super popular right now across furniture, textiles and decor, too), but this kitchen right here is like the happiest sun-shiny yellow we’ve seen and it brings a smile to our face. I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s for someone okay, and if you’re that person, I want to be friends with you (and have breakfast at that table).

Dusty Rose
image source | design by deVOL

This color goes out to those of you who just can’t quit blush, but are maybe looking for a more grown version of it. Again, this absolutely brings back memories of late ’80s and early ’90s design, but like anything else, it’s how you work with it. It can be really beautiful in an unexpected spot like the kitchen, elevated with rosy golds and marbles but balanced with rough-sewn and live-edge wood.

image source | design by Kip & Co

Oh man does this whole kitchen make my eyes pop out of my head (in a good way). Is it CAH-RAZY? YES, and that is precisely why I love to look at it. Living in it might be a bit of a different story, but a milky pink concrete kitchen island and BRASS CABINET FRONTS is the kind of boldness I wish I lived my life with more, right?

Before we go, we put together some EHD-approved paint decks for each of the colors we talked about. Oh, and we’re sharing these with the caveat that while some of the picks we know and love IRL, others we haven’t tested, so pretty please buy samples before painting a whole wall and then cursing us when you end up hating it. Hopefully, it’s all love and rainbows and happiness, but ALWAYS TEST YOUR PAINT before committing (you want to see how it looks in your specific room, with your specific amount of light). Okay, agreed?

Half Moon Bay by Portola Paints & Glazes | Breakfast Room Green by Farrow & Ball | Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams | Night Watch by PPG

Stardew by Sherwin-Williams | Pelican Bay by Portola Paints & Glazes | Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball | Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore

Cape Cod Summer by Portola Paints & Glazes | Sockeye by Sherwin-Williams | Red Earth by Farrow & Ball | Firenze by Benjamin Moore

Pale Cherry Blossom by Benjamin Moore | Pressed Flower by Sherwin-Williams | Strawberry Mousse by Pratt & Lambert  | Sulking Room Pink by Farrow & Ball

Indian Summer by Portola Paints & Glazes | Forsythia by Sherwin-Williams | Babouche by Farrow & Ball | Stuart Gold by Benjamin Moore

Alright, now it’s time to hear from all of you. What do you love? What do you veto? Beyond these 7 general hues, what else are you seeing that has you feeling like you can’t breathe when you see it because of its sheer beauty. Share links below or even just paint colors you know and love. We can’t wait to hear!

The post 2019 Paint Color Trends appeared first on Emily Henderson.

To celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.

The EHD office is closed today in remembrance of this amazing man. Some years, this holiday goes by without me really thinking much about his impact on this world, but yesterday at this church I’m frequenting, they showed the below video of Mr. King and sang a song dedicated to him and I couldn’t help but feel very moved to tears, especially at the end (watch below). Talk about a mic drop. And that speech was the night before he was assassinated.

So today, while I’m hanging with friends and family all day enjoying my over-privileged life, I will be thinking about him and talk to my kids about him. I don’t have the words right now to write anything too profound, but I can tell you this: the world could really use more of this kind of man right now. He was GOOD. He was RIGHT. I never knew him. I wasn’t alive when he was. But boy do I miss him. As I was writing this post, it turned into a big thing about how we talk to our kids about current and past racism, but frankly I’m not ready to press publish (thus the late posting), so for now, I’ll just say this:

May we all strive to have a little bit more of that wonderful, inspirational, hero Martin Luther King, Jr. Not just today, but all year.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. xx

The post To celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Orlando Is BACK (+11 Other Things We’re Talking About)

image source | design by Charles Mellersh

Welcome back, everyone. Today marks the second installment of The Link Up (aka our favorite things from the past week). This is quickly turning into one of my favorite series because it requires mandatory office chatter involving swapping new product finds and stories we are REALLY into. But it’s the weekend and you are busy, so let’s just jump and get to the good stuff. Happy Sunday.

First and foremost….ORLANDO is coming back to your TV with HIS OWN SHOW. Words cannot describe my joy and excitement. He has worked so hard and beyond deserves this opportunity. Should I convince him to let me be a guest star on an episode??

I forgot this classic PR spin trick and was reminded of it in this parenting article. PR = Parents Rules now.

The home tour that stopped Arlyn in her tracks.

Target’s Project62 is coming out with some GOOD ceramics and this vase and this tray are some of my favorites.

Jess loved this article and its take on the type of happiness we value. Is one type of happiness superior to the other? Do we really change even if we can’t change our life? It’s some very serious good food for thought.

Evidently, these are the best, softest sheets ever according to Arlyn. The woman has tried no less than 10 different brands and has STRONG opinions about her bedding, so needless to say, we are listening to her.

Ryann couldn’t put this book down and finished it in ONE DAY. EHD book club, anyone?

Want to cook more but need the easiest way possible? Well, we’re buzzing about this one and done cookbook.

Speaking of cooking, this is the one spice Grace is putting on everything right now. EVERYTHING.

Michael could not believe no one else had seen this show and ordered us all to do so immediately.

This dress I wore this week seriously channeled my Mormon roots.

SPEAKING OF FASHION, here’s what I put on my body this week:

Every week, we’re going to try to share these on Instagram stories, but also here in the Sunday roundup with all the links to anything available (or at the very least, some similar items) in the fashion section of the SHOP page.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, and share some of your current favorites in the comments below. Xx

 

The post The Link Up: Orlando Is BACK (+11 Other Things We’re Talking About) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

#JanStewary: A Vegan Chickpea and Roasted Cauliflower Curry Soup

Before we jump into this Soup Saturday recipe, I wanted to respond to some of you that have taken issue with some of the terminologies we’ve been using since we started talking about souping. Some of you were put off by the idea that “clean eating” meant no grains, no gluten, no dairy, etc., and that this gives food groups a sense of morality that feeds into diet culture (i.e. vegetables are “good and clean”, rice and cheese are “bad and dirty”). We hear you. That wasn’t the intention, though my body does feel so much better and I have far less digestive issues when I cut those things from my diet. Do what feels right for YOU and your body.

Alright, all you vegetarians and vegans. Don’t think we’ve forgotten about you, because we haven’t. In fact, two of the EHD staff members are full-time vegetarians and we’d hate for them to feel left out of the soup club. One of the beautiful things about soup is that it is incredibly easy to experiment with. So many of these soup recipes can easily be made vegetarian or vegan with a few easy swaps (vegetable broth instead of chicken stock, beans/potatoes/chickpeas/tofu instead of meat, and cashew or coconut milk instead of cream to name a few). And vice versa, if you’d rather get your protein the caveman way, shredded chicken, turkey meatballs, or steak cubes are an easy add to any vegetarian or vegan recipe. Seasoned turkey meatballs were a caveman specialty, right?

Now that I’ve (once again) convinced you that soup is the world’s most perfect food, let’s get on with this week’s #SoupSaturday recipe. Today, we’re sharing our very first, totally vegan soup—a hearty, filling, and delicious roasted cauliflower curry. We made this soup as a vegetarian option while we were up at our recent EHD staff retreat and it got 4 thumbs up from our veggie-only staffers. This soup is inspired by and adapted from this recipe from Cotter Crunch, but adapted to fit our soup preferences. We’ve added red peppers to give it a little more crunch, chickpeas to make it super filling and get in some protein, swapped spinach for kale, and used a bag of riced cauliflower to eliminate the use of a food processor.

WHAT YOU NEED

Vegetables

1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
6 carrots, diced
1 bag riced cauliflower (non-frozen)
1 bag spinach
2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 1/2 a head if using raw)

Herbs & Spices

1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon red pepper (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)
3 tablespoons curry powder
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Oils & Canned Goods

3 tablespoons avocado oil (olive oil also works)
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 can coconut milk
1 can chickpeas (rinsed and drained)

HOW TO COOK IT

Preheat your oven to 350F.
Start by mixing your riced cauliflower in a bowl along with 2 tablespoons of oil, the curry powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, and salt.
Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spread the cauliflower and spices mixture onto the cookie sheet. Roast for 20 minutes, stirring at the 10-minute mark to make sure everything is toasting but not burning. When done, remove from oven and set aside.
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat, and add onions and garlic. Cook onions until translucent (about 3-4 minutes).
Add the carrots, red peppers and dried chili pepper. Cook 3-4 minutes mixing occasionally.
Next, add the vegetable broth, coconut milk, chickpeas, and riced cauliflower.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and bring to a simmer. Covered, the soup can simmer for however long you’d like, but let it simmer for at least 15 minutes (so the chickpeas and veggies can soften).
A few minutes before serving (5 or so), add the entire bag of spinach, stir in, and allow to wilt in soup for a few minutes.
Season with salt to taste and serve (top with a dollop of dairy-free yogurt or coconut cream if you’re feeling fancy)

This soup is rich, spicy, creamy and VERY filling. The chickpeas add just enough “oomph” to keep vegetarian/vegan bellies full, while adding a decent dose of protein. It’s the perfect bowl of soup for a cold winter day, especially if you like your food on the spicier side.

When it comes to cooking my soups, I’ve been using both a tall stockpot and a dutch oven. Stockpots are thinner, taller, and made to cook stocks and broths (think lots of liquid while also fitting an entire chicken carcass…or pasta). I use my stockpot when I’m making a new batch of bone broth. Dutch ovens, on the other hand, are often made from cast iron, have thicker bottoms, heavy lids, and are made to evenly heat thicker soups and stews without burning them (they’re also great for cooking things other than soups and can usually slide into the oven depending on the handle materials).

Don’t feel like you MUST have one of each to be a successful souper! Broths can be simmered in Dutch ovens, just like stews can easily be prepared in a stockpot. But whether you’re looking for one, do-everything, budget pot or you’re ready to take the plunge into the world of serious souping, here are some of our favorite stockpots and Dutch ovens at three different price points.

Stockpots: T-Fal 12-Quart Nonstick Stockpot | Cook N Home 12-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot | 12-Quart Nonstick Stockpot

Dutch ovens: Vremi 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven | Cuisinart 7-Quart Enameled Dutch Oven | Food52 x Staub 5.5-Quart Round Cocotte 

The post #JanStewary: A Vegan Chickpea and Roasted Cauliflower Curry Soup appeared first on Emily Henderson.