Emily Henderson's Blog, page 273

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.

Are We Done Having Kids?

Probably the #1 personal question I get is “are you going to have more kids?” And I get it. I wonder that often about people that I follow. So I figured it was time to give you the answer in my usual 3,794 word, “quick to the punch” way (eek that metaphor might make the male audience feel queazy upon further read). Buckle up, because we’re about to go on a bumpy ride.

This post is not about vasectomies (well, it is a little at the part when Mr. Brian Henderson makes a guest blogging appearance). No. It’s about the hard conversations you have with your spouse after a psychic tells you that if you leave your “door open,” a new soul is going to climb down into your belly and then out of your vagina. It’s about knowing your limits, more specifically me, knowing MY limits.

You might be scratching your head a little about this, but, here’s how it went down.

Two years ago, I got my palm read, and she said that I was going to have a third child. Haha, hilarious.

Then last year, I went to a tarot reader on my girls trip to Ojai and the second I sat down, she said, verbatim:

Her: How many kids do you have?

Me: Two.

Her: You want a third?

Me: No.

Her: Then you need to close that door because otherwise, you are going to have a third kid.

I freaked out and said, “well, am I supposed to have another kid?” And she said, “No! Not at all. There are souls looking for an open door, you simply need to close your door before one comes down! They’ll find another door.”

Now, there is a lot to unpack and explain here. First off, do I believe this? I don’t NOT believe anything. I’m open to literally all religions or non-non-religions and there were other things that certainly were convincing in both readings. I’m currently shopping for a belief system, but open to all. But what it did do was make me really ask myself that question: Do I want a third child?

When Birdie was 6 months old, my period was 8 days late. EIGHT DAYS. After day 3, I was physically trembling with fear, and I would sob and sob to Brian, saying “it’s like I’m awake, but living a nightmare.” Look, I love children, and this might sound like hyperbole but at the time, I was so swamped with caring for my two TINY kids coupled with my intense desire to be a super involved mom despite my increasingly demanding career. And I DON’T WANT TO PHONE IT IN AS A MOM. I want to be an excellent mom. Maybe even the best. I’d say that my desire to be a great mom far surpasses my career ambitions. I was raised Mormon in a family of six by an excellent mom (and dad). My standards for myself are high, and I want to meet them.

I knew that a third kid—3 kids under the age of 4, specifically—would mean that I would have to shift my parenting goals in order to keep my career. Or shift my career goals to be the type of parent I imagined. It’s not that it hasn’t been done (bravo and applause for all the moms and dad out there that are doing it), but I was already drowning. I didn’t know how I would possibly manage unless we seriously packed it up and moved to Portland. I’d write the blog but stop pursuing more work. We’d live off the profit from the LA house sale for a while and I’d start designing houses and maybe flipping. I didn’t know…but this is what went through my head. Not being an active, present parent just wasn’t a possibility for my particular personality, again, because of how I was raised. (It would be like being raised by academics and not caring about your intellect; we are taught what to value early and that shit is hard to shake even though there is not one right answer).

But, this time, it was just what felt like a close call. It turns out that going vegan (which I’m not currently but was at the time) affects your hormones so I was in fact just VERY ALARMINGLY late. (I had taken four tests and they were all negative, but still, EIGHT DAYS IS REMARKABLE for me.)

Okay, so cut to two years later when madame tarot card told me my “door was open,” and I had flashbacks of the whole “living a nightmare” episode. I told Brian, and while he’s far more of a skeptic about anything spiritual, because it was the second time that this theoretical third baby came up, he freaked out. You see, at this point Birdie was over 2 and while most people give 2 a bad rap, my kids are great PR for 2. In contrast, if they were sent on Good Morning America to represent what being 3 is like, they would inspire a generation that put their 3-year-olds in a one-year boarding school, ’til age four. THREE IS NOT THEIR BEST AGE. But when Birdie was 2 and Charlie was 4, we were in a REALLY good place and I, well, kinda missed having my baby bird.

It’s not that I wanted a third child specifically, it’s that I LOVE HAVING A FAMILY. I love babies. I love being a mom. I love the sibling relationship. I love traditions and rituals, and feeling like this unit that is impermeable. I love how young being a mom with a newborn makes you feel. I didn’t want a third kid, nor did I want to be pregnant (I HATE BEING PREGNANT) but I wouldn’t have said “no” to a newborn little baby if it landed in my lap (uterus?) at that point. But Brian REALLY didn’t want a third. He was and is extremely happy with our two kids, with our family of 4. He feels satisfied, happy and in his mind, it’s a “why rock the boat?” situation.

So after months of being not as smart as we should have been (and the memory of this “open door”), Brian finally made “the” appointment. He felt that after I had already gone through two births, he should be the one to have surgery near his privates. I didn’t disagree. Plus, I was feeling less motivated to prevent a third. The recovery was a bit rougher than we expected, but not a big deal and now the option is taken away.

It seems like an appropriate time to throw to the man of the hour. The male with the two-kid trail. The worm with no more sperm (DEAR GOD I HOPE SOMEONE ELSE EDITS THAT OUT)—Editor’s note from Arlyn: that’s too good to take out, sorry Em—…

Mr. Brian “no-more-kids” Henderson…

EH: Why did you want a vasectomy? How did you know you were sure that two kids were enough?

BH: We were in the thick of two kids that both needed a ton of attention and time, and it was daily chaos. We had a toddler who was transitioning into being a big kid but was still having trouble sleeping or doing things on his own without meltdowns. And we had a smaller toddler who still needed a TON of attention and focus. And I think I may be a bit of a helicopter parent, which means I focus on them a lot. We both do. But when you focus on your kids so much, it can become overwhelming. It felt like we deserved a bottle of wine to congratulate ourselves every night when we finally got them to fall asleep. But like each of us though…a bottle of wine each.

The idea of adding another child into that mix felt like adding a jetpack to a skydiving trip, which is already terrifying enough. So we talked about it then and decided it would probably be a good idea, but I kept forgetting to book an appointment. So cut to us slowly getting out of the dark kidscape as our kids grew up a bit more, and the chaos was less, but still, adding a third kid just never felt right to me. I came from a two-kid household which probably influences the decision, but I think it always came back to the fact that Emily and I are constantly trying to find ways to reduce the chaos of our lives, sometimes by doing rash things like swearing we’re going to move to a mountain town permanently and raise our kids in the forest, but also we were really happy with our four-person family. I also just knew that my wife needed me to take the option away so that she didn’t have to manage even more because her personality insists on doing a lot herself. I admire that, but it’s a lot. We were GOOD.

Plus, I was getting tired of having to find ways to NOT get Emily pregnant, none of which are fun, so off to the doc I went.

Emily: Were you scared?

Brian: I wasn’t scared of the procedure because I talked to my friend Paul about it and he said the most painful thing he remembered was that he forgot to shave, so they had to do it at the doctor’s office and they only had like a generic Bic razor and water, so he got razor burn. So I took care of that before I got there. I was fine. But then sitting in the waiting room, I started thinking about what I was actually about to do and I asked for the “relaxing drug” that they had previously offered me. I think it was Valium. I don’t do well with drugs, so I only took half, but I should have taken the whole thing because as soon the doctor settled in next to me and I saw the needles, I definitely started cold-sweating.

Emily: Did it hurt? Any surprises?

Brian: The first step is the shot. They rub iodine all around your junk and then shoot you with what I will call novocaine for your nuts, or nutocaine. They do it on both sides and it sucks. So they shoot you up, then test to see if you still have feeling in your ball bag, then they make the cut. First side, totally fine, no problem, the Valium was doing its work, my right nard was numb and the doctor finished up quickly. The left side, not so much. He shot it up with the same amount as the other side but when he started cutting, I definitely felt it. And feeling a slice on your nutsack is kind of up there with fear of drowning for most men, so I made it very clear that I needed more nutocaine. He obliged. Nope, still feel it! A little more, and one more shot for good measure… and then I felt nothing. Snip snip, burn, and sew it up. Oh did you catch that I just said burn? Yep, that’s not a mistake. They cauterize the tube so there’s no chance of it growing back together. I actually live streamed the puffs of smoke on my phone to some of my more squeamish friends. They didn’t think it was as funny as I did.

Emily: How did you feel after having it done? 

Brian: I was sore for like a week after. Actually much more sore than I had expected. I had to lay down a lot and ice myself. My baseball night was like a week away and I really didn’t want to miss it, but the doctor said no strenuous activity for a couple weeks, so I had to call it off. That was the biggest bummer of the whole thing. Not to get into the details too much, but it took a while for things to feel normal down there. Like it didn’t feel as good as it used to, if you know what I mean, and I was worried that that was the new permanent normal. But I’m happy to report that it only a took a few more weeks for things to get back to how they were before and now there’s absolutely no difference. Mentally there’s a big difference, in a good way. I no longer have a fear of an accidental pregnancy, so in a weird way it takes out a mental roadblock that I think all people have, which has made things a lot more fun and spontaneous. God, this sounds like a Cosmo article. Let’s just say I have no regrets about it. It only hurt for a bit, and the pros have outweighed the cons massively for me. I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely made things better for us which is ultimately better for our family.

Well, Brian feels GREAT (and yes, he’s been tested twice and it worked). Here’s how I feel…

Me? I’m so relieved. I also feel genuinely satisfied, in fact overwhelmingly satisfied. I didn’t feel like there was a third out there that would somehow complete our family. Maybe I’ll feel differently later but my two children are exactly what I want in life. I know that my inner desire to keep going was mostly selfish. It’s kinda fun to have that mountain of attention that pregnancy, birth and newborn-hood brings. It’s also fun to fantasize about a different version of your life, one that involves three kids. But ultimately having three under 5 would have potentially been extremely unhealthy mentally for me. I would have survived, because what other recourse do you have, but at what cost (for me, personally)?

I know that love multiplies, but TIME DIVIDES. I already didn’t feel like I gave each child, and my husband, enough one-on-one attention and that gave me stress. Add in a third that young and one of us would have had to stay home full time, though neither of us wanted to take that role, so really, adding another little human would have been actually irresponsible for our family. It’s a very individual situation whether you have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or like my parents SIX. ON PURPOSE

14 Rules for How We Style the Perfect Bedroom (+ 3 New Reveals)

We LOVE room reveals. Who doesn’t, right?! In fact, we love them so much we’re doing THREE today in one blog post. It’s a little bit of a different approach that we’ve taken with other Portland posts, but work with us. Like we said, we love us a reveal, but what we love even more is helping to empower you to take what we do and be able to translate that into your homes. For real. So in nailing down how to present the three guest bedrooms in the Portland project, we thought it best to not just be like “ohh pretty pictures, bye” but rather to get down to the nitty gritty—”back to basics” so to speak—of how to design and style a bedroom.

It’s a design show (you might remember?) inside a blog post, walking you through all the elements to keep in mind and why each of these individual rooms works. Hopefully, you’ll be able to channel your inner EHD and style a room (a bedroom for today’s purposes) hard, fast and effortlessly with solid styling tips.

Now, something to keep in mind is that these rooms were “styled to sell,” so, why although super beautiful, they all have a very similar look and feel. This just goes to show you that there are about 1,939,834,783,901 ways to style a room with one color palette and general style in mind. Let’s get into it.

Bed Styling

You need to start with the bed (duh) and color palette. Unless you want things to get real crazy real fast, keep that palette relatively neutral and cohesive. In true EHD fashion, blues, whites and grays were the main palettes for these rooms, but regardless of which hues you go with, there are some “rules” to keep in mind to make your bed look GOOD no matter what.

Mix solids with patterns/texture: This is all about visual balance and interest. Though still great (minimalism is alive and well), plain, simple bedding alone isn’t exactly aesthetically stimulating. Mix in the pattern people. A good rule of thumb is that if your bedspread is solid, bring in a patterned blanket and/or pillow and vice versa (i.e. if your duvet is patterned, make sure to have a few solid elements so things don’t look chaotic). And because we get that pattern isn’t for everyone, the same rule applies for texture…make sure to use varied textures even if all in the same color palette.

Mix up the scale of the patterns: 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 combos 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.

Pillow configurations: We styled a different pillow configuration for each bed and they all look fun yet put together. The main rule is to mix up the pillow sizes if you are using more than one (remember my new-found love of the oversized lumbar pillow?) It’s all about creating that, say it with us, VISUAL INTEREST.

How and why these beds work:

1. The bright color of the blue duvet gives the bed a bold energy while the pillows (in three different sizes) contrast the solid color with three different fun patterns. Notice that the patterns are also in three different scales. The reason they don’t look like a clueless person put them together is because they are all in a cohesive color palette.

2. Bed two (the wild child of the three with its bold quilt and FOUR throw pillows) shows that some balanced boldness goes a long way. Since the quilt is loud in pattern, the majority of the pillows are quietly patterned. Now, this bed would have still been very pretty without that jolt of mustard yellow and retro round pillow, but it’s much more fun with them. Don’t you agree?? Oh and also note the pillow sizing. Perfectly descending.

3. This bed is where texture took the lead. All white bedding doesn’t have to be boring. That white pom pom throw blanket gives the bedding dimension and makes you want to jump in and get cozy quick. For the pillows, we wanted to keep this one simple. We only used two decorative pillows but with a large size difference to create a bit of drama. The tassels on the front pillow add texture and playfulness while the velvet lumbar pillow brings just the right amount of luxury. HOT TIP: Velvet will always make a space feel more luxurious. With that said, can someone pass me my champagne?? I am simply parched.

SIIIIP (said in Orlando’s Instagram story voice)

Shall we move to the side and talk nightstand styling? Okay great.

The Nightstand

Let’s discuss how to choose the perfect nightstand for your bed before anything else. As you will see from our three bedrooms, the nightstands have an opposite visual weight from the bed. What we mean is if you have a chunkier upholstered bed then go for a more delicate looking nightstand and if you have a more delicate bed frame then go for a chunky nightstand. Also, consider the materials. Mix it up for a more interesting and “designed” looking pairing. But enough about the nightstand because we are here to talk about what to put on top. Here are the guidelines we use…

Scale: We talk about scale for everything because it’s that important. You want the pieces you put on your nightstand to vary in size. This helps the eye move around (plus just comes off more interesting, full stop).

Levels: Scale and levels go hand in hand. If all your pieces are the same height (or size) A. you won’t be able to see what you have easily and B. it’s not going to look interesting (like we said about scale). Your eye wants variety. Eye candy is a real thing people.

Shape: Mix up the shapes, too. Pair a sculptural lamp with a round dish and finish it off with a square frame. They will look eclectic and collected in the best way.

Pattern: You want to be careful and not go all out in the pattern department on the nightstand decor. Save that for the bedding, rug, art…you get the point. The nightstand should be your simple happy place where just a hint of pattern should hang out. A little goes a long way and will bring in just the right amount of fun. Plus, a nightstand first and foremost is functional (a place to leave a book, water glass, and eyeglasses for instance, so keep things simple).

How and why these work:

1. This nightstand is the perfect example of proper scale. The lamp and vase have almost identical shapes but because they are VERY different sizes (and colors) it totally works. Now, this combo doesn’t have an obvious pattern but the flowers fill that category. FYI flowers or greenery are always a good call.

24 Easy & Affordable Ways to Get a Little More “Green” at Home

photo by David Tsay for Styled | from: how to add personality to a white kitchen

Last week during our brainstorming session, the team agreed that talking more about eco-everything and aiming to make more environmentally friendly changes in our everyday lives should be a 2019 goal. Great. No problem because I for one create no waste. No boxes ever arrive at my house, and they definitely aren’t full of plastic bubble wrap. But seriously this subject can be tricky because I find that a lot of the best eco-friendly products are expensive and recommending products that are super expensive for your basic needs aren’t really my jam. Besides, is there anything we can say here that you guys don’t already know?

We’re all told to not buy disposable anything. Don’t put a chemical near a body hole or on a surface of your house, and for goodness sake, if your cocktail has a plastic straw in it, you must quickly pull it out and jab the waiter’s eyes or closest organ with it. (I’m actually extremely anti-straw but was just at a restaurant in the mountains who thought this new law was ridiculous and gave them out anyway and I was like “I DID NOT ASK FOR ONE PLEASE REMOVE IT” in my nice EH manner).

But I was quickly reminded that one of the best traits about being a millennial (of which I am not) is their persistent care about the environment. My issue is I don’t want to be preachy, pretentious, and general “liberal hipster.” Ryann, our resident passionate millennial reminded me though that going more green doesn’t HAVE to mean buying $40 hand soap and being self-righteous. It can be a lot of affordable, simple day-to-day switches that are easy to accomplish. So I’ll hand it over to her to recommend 24 products that make going green, easier in 2019.

Hey all, Ryann here, making my EHD debut on a subject that I care VERY much about. It seems as if every day, I go online I see a headline that essentially screams at me THE EARTH IS DYING AND IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT. As much as I know that is not entirely true it is hard to not to feel guilty when I, you know, use a plastic straw. The slightly embarrassing thing is, I do use plastic straws (and plastic water bottles) way more than I should despite knowing that doing so adds to a heaping amount of waste. So in the spirit of 2019 and all this “new year, new me” talk, I am finally making a real effort to go green.

If you are on the same wave, or if you are not quite on board with the eco-friendly thing yet (because change is hard and I get that), we pulled together a list of affordable products that will hopefully help you make the switch. This is not a “no plastic, zero waste” roundup, because we’re not experts and there are a lot of things to consider. What this is is a place to start with small changes. Swapping out your laundry detergent for something biodegradable; saying no to plastic zipper bags in place of reusable ones; making the move away from paper towels…small changes that can make a difference if only we all did a little every day.

Before we really get going though, I want to bring up the waste that comes with shipping and specifically that go-to online store that is notorious for using way too much plastic in their packaging (you know the one). Frankly, I understand the convenience of shopping online creates a hard habit to break, and I personally feel like if we start small with reducing waste in our own homes, then we shouldn’t beat ourselves up about things out of our control. However, if you are still feeling iffy about it, my best advice is to click the option at checkout that bundles your items into as few packages as possible (though that does mean waiting a day or two more to get it all).

Okay, now let’s get into it.

Cleaning Products:

You have your beautiful, perfectly styled home so, of course, you want to keep it clean and sparkly. The thing is, not only do we need to worry about waste, we also have to worry about polluting the environment with toxins. Luckily for us, there are brands that do a lot of the leg work when it comes to making affordable natural and sustainable products. Let’s dive in.

Organic Wool Dryer Balls: These will replace your single-use dryer sheets which basically means you have one less thing to buy at the grocery store. (Hot tip: Splash a few drops of your favorite essential oil on them for the best smelling laundry ever). Also, they are supposed to reduce drying time.

Concentrated Laundry Detergent: A little goes a long way with this detergent so you can save your money and buy yourself something nice. You deserve it! Also: Dye-free, phosphate-free, bleach-free, animal by-product-free, contains naturally derived ingredients, vegan and paraben-free.

Soap Nuts: If you’re only just dipping your toe into creating a more sustainable, earth-friendly, waste-free (or reduced) home, this one might throw you, but if you’ve been in the game a while and are looking to step things up, welcome to soap nuts. They’re actually a berry that has a natural cleaning agent. They are said to remove odors (instead of masking them) and soften clothes so you don’t need chemical-filled laundry detergent. You throw 5-6 of them into your wash in a muslin satchel, and that set can be used about five times before being spent (and are compostable after that).

Reusable Paper Towels: I am admittedly an abuser of paper towels which I realize is counterproductive to my going greener goals. I recently switched to these reusable ones and I promise you my life has changed for the better. Mostly because I am not running to the store weekly for more rolls of paper towels. They’re made of bamboo (which is sustainable), and one 20-sheet roll is said to replace 60 rolls of traditional paper towels. I have set aside a container in my kitchen to stash dirty sheets, then just throw them in the wash with my regular towels and reuse.

Natural Paper Towels: If you think reusing paper towels are too much work and not for you, I hear you but there’s still hope to be had. Consider these bad boys that are made from unbleached, 100% recycled paper. (They are also compostable for those of you that are way ahead of the game).

Glass Spray Bottle: Maybe by this point, you are already ready to start making your own cleaning solutions from scratch. If that’s the case, first of all, I applaud you and second, you’ll need to stock up on some spray bottles. This one is made from recycled, lead-free glass and is also great for stirring up concentrated cleaning solutions like this one.

Glass Cleaner: Seriously you guys, there are so many brands that are committed to making plant-derived, sustainable products, it’s making my job almost too easy. Common Good is one of those brands that you can blindly pick any of their products and you will be doing the earth (and yourself!) a huge favor. Their glass cleaner is readily biodegradable (which just means it breaks down quickly and leaves no negative traces on the earth).

Reusable Sponge: I never realized how many sponges I went through until I made the switch to reusable. Honestly, why was I buying so many sponges? Also, how annoying is it when you realize you just threw away your last sponge and you have a sink full of dishes. So annoying. This one should last you about 4 to 6 months, and we recommend throwing into the laundry every few days with your regular wash (just let it air dry, no dryer). When it’s time for another, you can recycle it (the Etsy listing says a fabric bank will take it) or cut it into small pieces and compost it.

Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap: Biodegradable and plant-derived dish soap makes for the start of an eco-friendly household. Mrs. Meyer’s products are quickly becoming my go-to (I use their hand soap, too) because they are good for the earth and smell AMAZING. To further reduce waste, buy the concentrates (like this multi-surface cleaner that lasts FOR.EV.ER.) and use a reusable glass spritz bottle with the prepared solution.

Dish Soap Dispenser & Brush Set: Made from renewable bamboo, recycled plastic and recycled sterling silver, this set is actually beautiful and goes perfectly with your environmentally friendly dish soap, of course.

All-Purpose Cleaner: This all-purpose cleaner by Method has all the certifications you’d want from your cleaning products. It is free of phthalates and parabens, cruelty-free, biodegradable, non-toxic, and plant-based. What’s even better is it’s inexpensive and can be found at pretty much every grocery store ever. Of course, we don’t live in a perfect world so this affordable, accessible option comes in a plastic bottle like so many others (ugh). BUT if you are interested in finding out why Method is a better option than other chemical-using brands, go here.

Recycled, Degradable Trash Bags: Trash bags are a necessary evil because let’s face it, it’s INSANELY hard to live a zero-waste lifestyle. So since we have to use them, it’s at least good to know there are options that are a little friendlier to our dear earth than traditional plastic ones. These are made of 100% recycled plastic, are oxo-biodegradable and degrade within 5 years (which means the stuff inside of it will also have a chance to biodegrade).

Food Prep & Storage:

So much waste comes with how we make, store and ultimately consume our food. We’ve all heard about the 600,000 SQUARE MILE island of trash that currently lives in our ocean, right? That number is horrifyingly bad so we did our best to pull products that will encourage us all to reuse, reuse, reuse. Here goes:

Reusable Grocery Bags: California banned single-use plastic bags almost five years ago now, so us hippies over here on the west coast are used to toting around reusable grocery bags. If you’re looking to re-up or grow your collection (or just want to transition from relying on paying 10 cents for each bag you take home with you from the grocery store), Baggu has really great options. They have a one-year rip-free guarantee, plus these fold up really small (5″x5″) so you can keep a few in your car, in your purse, and at home without taking up too much space.

Mesh Produce Bags: Raise your hand if you’re done with plastic produce bags. Okay, enough of you didn’t raise your hands, so we’ll help you out. This set has nine mesh bags that each hold up to 11 pounds, come in three sizes, can go straight into your fridge, and, because the mesh lets the produce breathe, your fruits and veggies will last longer (yay for less food waste).

HydroFlask: You can’t be climate-conscious without a trusty reusable water bottle. I am not kidding when I say everyone in our office is obsessed with their Hydro Flasks. Note: These are on the expensive side, so if you are like some of us and are known to lose things regularly, maybe try this cheaper option first.

Sterling Silver Utensils: Repeat after me: single-use plastics are not our friends. Stash this cute little set (that comes with a straw, too) in your purse or backpack to avoid using plastic cutlery. Your friends and coworkers will be so impressed.

Mason Jars: Mason jars may just be the unsung hero of food prep and storage. I think they are great because you can buy them in bulk, store refrigerated and non-refrigerated items in them, and they make you look super hip. Also, you can prep full blown meals in them for on-the-go lunching. That means no more buying plastic wrapped salads, sandwiches, SOUPS, etc., on your lunch break.

BPA Free Drinking Lids: Yet another use for Mason jars. Just slip these on your mason jar to take all your liquids on the go (and for bonus points, bring in your lidded jar to your favorite juice or smoothie place to avoid using throw-away plastic cups).

Glass Storage Container Set: Need I say it? These are EHD-approved and perfect for souping. Store and reheat all in one container because less dishes to wash equals less water usage and more time to spend doing anything but dishes. 

Reusable Storage Bags: If you have a habit of using plastic baggies for everything (like me), here is your solution. All you have to do is hand wash and keep on reusing (are you noticing a trend here?).

Beeswax Wrap: Say goodbye to plastic wrap, my friends. Beeswax wrap is the new everything. You can store virtually any and all foods with this stuff and avoid using plastic altogether. Just warm it up a little in your hands and when it cools off, it creates a seal to keep food fresh.

Fresh Vegetable Storage bags: Anyone else feel hopeless because buying vegetables and eating them before the time they go bad is seemingly impossible and also wasting food is equally as bad as using plastic? Say no more. 100% organic cotton vegetable bags that actually keep your veggies fresh longer. Yes, these are pricey, but we’ve heard amazing things and the money you spend here will hopefully pay for itself in less food waste.

Reusable Coffee Filter: If you still have a Mr. Coffee like me, there really is no reason to buy single-use coffee filters ever again. This reusable one works just as well AND saves you from getting in trouble for forgetting to buy coffee filters at the grocery store.

The Simply Vegetarian Cookbook: Michael and I are the resident vegetarians here at EHD and I’ll tell you why we both stick to it: cutting meat out of your diet is the single most effective thing you can do for the environment as an individual. Hopefully, you didn’t completely tune it out at the sight of the word vegetarian, because even if you eat LESS meat, you are doing a great thing for the earth. Anywho, if you are interested in cutting meat from your diet, this cookbook is a great place to get started.

EMILY HERE…See? It’s all about little affordable changes and switches but if everyone did it, it would make a big difference in our environment (and our commerce). So after reading this post, I’m going to task myself to make the following switches in 2019:

Beeswax wrap instead of plastic wrap
Mesh grocery store produce bags instead of one-use plastic
No more paper or plastic grocery bags (I’m already pretty good at this)
Buy any and all detergents and soaps in bulk when possible. I got this company’s line as a gift and LOVE how it smelled and worked and I plan on rebuying ASAP.
Try my hand at composting (and crossing my fingers it doesn’t make my house smell like garbage.)
And for THE MOST challenging one: NO MORE PAPER TOWELS. I’m not sure how a mom of two is supposed to do this but I’m going to try very hard, and worst case is if I can’t (I mean, Brian doesn’t know about this) I’m going to buy biodegradable ones and compost them.

So…what do you think? Are you willing to make some of these changes? What is something you just cannot get on board with? (don’t worry, none of us are judging). We would LOVE to hear your guys’ favorite eco-friendly products/zero-waste tips so please share in the comments below. Also, what other lifestyle changes are you making this year?! TELL ME YOUR SECRETS. 

The post 24 Easy & Affordable Ways to Get a Little More “Green” at Home appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Is This What’s Next in Furniture and Decor? (If So, We’re Very, Very Into It)

image source | design by athena calderone

***Written by Arlyn Hernandez

I have a love-slash-kinda-hate relationship with the word “trend” and something tells me a lot of you do, as well. The idea that something is “trendy” has almost turned into a bad word in the design-o-sphere, and while I do get it and have often found myself wishing that something would stop being trendy so I could go about my business using it in my home without feeling “basic,” trends are a very real part of this industry, like it or not, and frankly, pretty fun to talk about regardless. We vow to never publish an article that says “throw out everything you own because it’s now considered gross and buy all these new things” for several reasons (one being that that’s pretty obnoxious and just not real life), so don’t fret, but we absolutely will continue to talk about design ideas framed as trends because, well…that’s what they are. You do you in your home but then come back here and have fun looking at new concepts that may or may not become a “thing” eventually.

Okay, now that I’m done with that diatribe, it’s time to talk, ahem, trends. Currently, we’ve already touched on bathroom and kitchen trends for 2019 (we’ll give you a second to catch up…)

…ready to roll? Good! We’re excited. We all put our heads together and came up with a list of furniture and decor ideas we’re actually loving, not just talking about so this is less of a straight-forward “report” and more a love list of trends we could actually see ourselves implementing in upcoming projects. It’s a combo of what we’ve seen in published professional projects, things that have caught our both (both in editorial and design terms) on Instagram/Pinterest, and what we’ve seen pop up in the retail market from researching for future projects. And because we couldn’t stop there, we also had our market team add lots of shoppable pieces to the “New Favorites” section of the Shop page so if you love something we bring up today, you can get the instant gratification of bringing it home. 

Alright, let’s do this…

FURNITURE
Rust-Colored Velvet
image source | design by tiffany howell

The velvet sofa hit the mass-market design scene HARD about three years ago (a resurgence from previous decades) with a Crayola box of colors as options, and while jewel-toned blues and greens stuck from the get-go, there’s a new cool kid in town. Rich rusts and terra-cotta shades have been trending since last year when the desert palette was all the rage for a bit there, but we’re confident that this one is going to stick around for a bit. After all, you wouldn’t want to drop $1,000+ on a piece of furniture only to turn around a few months later and feel like it feels dated and passé already.

image source

The range of rust extends from deep, nearly red tones to much less intense versions like this one here from TK. On a simple, streamlined silhouette, it’s less POW in your face (unless, of course, you want that) and more liveable. As for what colors to pair this with, we like it with a mix of creamy neutrals and hints of blue, black and burgundy.

Why we love it: It feels new and like something that could transition easily into the years to come.

Biscuit Tufting
image source | design by studio guild

Speaking of sofas…and velvet…the biscuit tufted cushion is happening people and oh man is it fun. Tufting tends to take on a more traditional or mid-century vibe, but this overscale “puffy” biscuit tufting feels much fresher and “now” while adding really nice texture and dimension to a living room or den. It also works particularly well in a fabric with a high sheen like velvet because of how the light plays with all the nooks and crannies. I’m not entirely sure how comfortable this actually is for long-term lounging as I’ve only ever really sat on a handful of seating with this type of upholstery, but something I can report is they usually have a much “tighter” feel. Not firm, per se, just a little…clenched.

Why we love it: It can take a straightforward silhouette and turn it into something special—a conversation piece.

Thin Bench Cushions
image source | design by hecker guthrie

Clearly, the seating category has a lot to talk about this year. This one comes straight out of Emily’s mouth as something she’s really jazzed about. In fact, we were standing around her kitchen, souping (because, what else?) while talking through things we wanted to include in this post, and she specifically mentioned all the thin cushions she’s been seeing and loving and Pinning for mountain house inspiration. All of a sudden, a bowl-full of memories of beautiful room images featuring flat(ish) seat cushions came flooding into my mind and I knew she was right.

image source | styled by genevieve jorn

This definitely speaks more to a minimal aesthetic, but it also works in a cozy, welcoming room like the one above with a more Scandi vibe. Another talking point here is the French seam on thin cushions, which takes it from feeling maybe “low market”(because let’s get real, cheaper pieces of furniture tend to have thinner cushions) to cool, casual and lived in. I do wonder how less filling will hold up over time, though.

Why we love it: Look, we’ll never turn a blind eye to a super plush sectional or other seating, but we’re on board with the informal and simple feel the thin cushion gives a room.

The “It” Chair of 2019
image source | design by rose tarlow

Sometimes, the trend is a design idea, color or silhouette, but other times, there’s a specific item that comes up again and again and again, but in a way that excites you every time you see it. That’s this armchair, originally designed by Pierre Jeanneret.

image source | design by athena calderone

First released in the 1950s and produced in mass quantities for Chandigarh, India (a “utopian” city that his cousin Le Corbusier designed), the V-leg chair only recently saw a resurgence thanks to antique dealers that dug them up from (basically) trash heaps and designers like Axel Vorvoordt using them in sky-high-end projects. It’s funny to think that a for-anywhere-and-everyone chair made of teak and caning is now worth a fortune (good vintage authentic options run upwards of $10k+, but there are plenty of lower priced reproductions now).

Why we love it: The Jeanneret V-leg chair adds so much sculpture and angularity to a room. It’s like art and furniture had a pageant-worthy child, and that’s a baby shower we absolutely will RSVP Yes to (okay, that analogy is a bit of a stretch, but we’re giddy with feelings over here about this chair).

The Other “It” Chair
image source | design by laurence and patrick seguin

While the Jeanneret chair is like the more showy head cheerleader at the popular table, Jean Prouvé’s Standard chair is the less obvious cool girl that people are less afraid of and tend to gravitate more toward (who eventually goes on to become a badass CEO or a very important scientist making breakthroughs in quantum physics). Truly and honestly, I was saving pictures that “spoke” to me for months as I was looking for inspirations for my Makeover Takeover, and when I went back recently to see all my bookmarked picks, I was like “whoa…wait a minute.” I had ended up with 11 dogeared images with this chair in all kinds of applications: desk chair, side chair, dining chair, so I’m calling it…I declare the Standard chair “trending.”

Why we love it: It’s one of those furnishings that seems kind of unassuming, humble yet playful. Like the “nerdy” girl in a ’90s teen rom-com that just needs to take off her glasses and pull her hair out of a messy bun and BAM she’s “pretty”. Obviously, this chair isn’t going through any makeover montages…it doesn’t need it (but it does come in a handful of really fun colors that would transform a room).

Chunky Wood-Framed Furniture
image source | styled by pernille vest

Any excuse to bring more wood into a wood, we’ll give the thumbs up to. Wood adds soul and warmth, and we’ve been noticing more furniture pieces with super chunk and oversized wood bases and frames (like this chair up top that’s total heart eyes, right?). Frankly, we haven’t seen a ton of this on the big-box market (i.e. budget-friendly), but hopefully if we write about it enough, more people will start incorporating it into their homes, hence the retail sector will take notice and start making more pieces in line with this look. That’s how it works…right?!?

Why we love it: Delicate frames have had their time, bring on the chunk. Plus, it makes a quiet statement without all the bells and whistles of a bold paint or wallpaper or rug and sometimes, that’s just nice.

Mixed Modern Dining Chairs
image source | design by muxin design studio

This is not a new idea by any means, but it’s typically done with an eclectic mix of vintage chairs. This new twist is much more contemporary because it uses a mix of mostly modern silhouettes, like in this dining room from TK full of mid-century favorites.

image source

Here’s another take that’s far artsier but just as cool. In studying it (and the previous shot), I think it’s worth talking about some “rules” for making this look work for you. Some takeaways: use similar wood tones and materials (here you’ll see two chairs are rattan) across a few different pieces, keep heights mostly consistent (but don’t be afraid to break the rules a little…this is just a jumping off point) and finally, repeat forms where you can, for instance some of these chairs have more rounded silhouettes while others are very angular and sculptural.

Why we love it: We’re big fans of the eclectic over here, but more and more our collective style is being tailored and tightened, so this just feels like a natural step for us. Jess basically wants to move into the above photo, and Emily’s temporary dining room situation in the mountain house is looking a lot like that first photo.

Burlwood
image source | design by sarah gibson

So burlwood was a little bit of a hard sell to some of the team but I’m not backing down here. I know burlwood (which was originally super popular in the ’70s) came back in vogue like…maybe two years ago? but I promise I’ve seen it making the rounds again. It went into hibernation, but it woke up from its winter nap and everywhere I look, there’s a nightstand or credenza or even a smaller decorative box being used in a fresh way (mostly with how it’s styled). Also, not that what I’m about to say automatically makes something trendy or cool, but over Christmas, I went into CB2 to buy a gift for someone and they had a gift wrapping station that had burlwood wrapping paper and it was so surprisingly chic. That’s all I have to say about that.

Why we love it: Well, honestly it’s kind of hard to tell. It’s one of those things I honestly used to hate because it reminded me of horrible glossy casegoods from homes in the ’80s but then all of a sudden, I’m finding myself wanting in my home. These things aren’t always explained in words…it might be a cop-out but this is an “I like it because I just do, okay?” situation.

ART & DECOR
“Shapes” Pillows
image source 1 | image source 2

Globally-inspired throw pillows have had their 15 minutes (in fact, it’s been more like…1,827,524 minutes), and while we still very much love them over here, Jess was quick to point out that she’s been noticing more “shapes” pop up. Pyramids, circles, triangles, shells…mostly seen right now in single-hued velvets, it’s pretty fun and we’d love to see more people trying this out to see the breadth of styles it can handle. What do you think? Are you into this or is it a hard sell?

Why we love it: Plain and simple, it’s just fun. So…why not?

Mixing Framed and Unframed Art
image source

We’ll gladly take any chance to talk about a “shake up” to a beloved design feature like a gallery wall. Gallery walls are here to stay, but we’ve seen them done every which way it feels like, but something we’re noticing as of late is a mix of framed and unframed pieces. They can be propped against a wall, set atop other artworks if that works, heck, even taped if you’re not afraid it’ll ruin the piece. I think it works particularly well in a more modern set up with things like abstracts and line drawings…there’s something about the simple and monotone vibe above that feels like the whole unframed thing adds to the art setup…it’s part of the art, instead of looking like one of the many unfinished DIY projects you probably currently have waiting for you at home collecting dust (just me?).

Why we love it: It’s a new look at an old favorite that feels really unique and updated, plus…this one saves $$$ (no frame = more favorite friendly).

Pleated Lampshades
image source 1 | image source 2

Let me give you a little insight into how this conversation about pleated lampshades went:

Arlyn: Jess…what have you seen that’s exciting right now?

Jess: Pleated lampshades!

Arlyn: …………………………..

Jess: No really! Call me crazy, but I think they’re coming back.

Arlyn: …………………………………….

Jess: ::deadpan stare off with Arlyn::

Arlyn: ::stares back::

And well….here we are, so we know who won this one. Emily was on board because that woman loves herself a little “weird” and okay fine. In a fun little print like the top left shot, it’s pretty cute. Not everything has to be stiff and perfect with a linen drum shade, so sure…pleated lampshades for 2019.

Why Jess we love it: Like the pyramid pillows, it’s a take on design that’s a little less stiff and serious. In the spirit of OG Emily…perfection is boring, let’s get weird.

Rocks As Decor
image source 1 | image source 2

You want weird? We’ll give you weird…ROCKS. It’s all about rocks. Okay, so I don’t necessarily think that rocks as decor will become this big mainstream thing, but no kidding, everytime we walk into a posh decor boutique, there’s a rock somewhere recently. Both Jess and I bought the same rock match holder/strike at Shoppe by Amber Interiors this fall during our work trip out to the Pacific Palisades, Michael is basically on the marketing team for rocks wrapped in leather, and this whole “rock meets brush” thing would be such a fun doodad to style with. Useless? Mostly, yes, but cool nonetheless.

Why we love it: Like wood, stone has a way of adding a little soul to a room, so…bring on the rocks.

Again, make sure to cruise through the “New Favorites” section of Shop to see some shop-right-now picks from us, and PLEASE chime in in the comments about what you think of these. We love to share things we’re buzzing about, but love even more to hear from you guys about whether you’re just as swoony as we are or are like “are these people off their rockers?”

The post Is This What’s Next in Furniture and Decor? (If So, We’re Very, Very Into It) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

How We Designed a Family-Friendly Laundry Room in the Portland Project

This is the third laundry room I’ve designed (I think?), and it’s absolutely the largest one. I use the term “room” loosely since the first one (in my Glendale house) was a literal closet but a very functional and pretty closet at that…I mean we even wallpapered that sucker. But this one in the Portland Project will make all of your fluff and fold dreams come true. The space was originally being used as storage, so we decided to steal part of it to design the ultimate laundry room. They say kitchens and bathrooms sell a home…I think we can add “killer laundry rooms” to that statement, too, don’t you think? I want this to be my laundry room, but unfortunately, I had to leave it behind in Oregon to its new owners. But let’s move on…

I, of course, realize that not everyone has the same amount of space (or renovation budget) that we had here to bring in the same fun gadgets and add-ons that make this tedious yet necessary chore a bit more enjoyable (less miserable?). So we wanted to break down the six elements that make a room like this functional and give you tips on how you can implement similar ideas even if you have a smaller laundry room. 

A combo of open and closed storage

When you have a bit of room to work with, I think a mix of closed cabinetry and some open shelving with baskets works best in a workspace like a laundry room. Here, we imagined the owners would use a hefty amount of the closed storage for household items (cleaning supplies, bulk items, seasonal goods, tools, etc.) while the open shelving and racks were for easy access to things you use more often in this space (laundry detergent, lint rollers, iron…that kind of thing).

Small space hack: If you have the space, install shelving, but bring in containers (like pretty utility baskets) to corral everything and if you don’t have small kids to worry about mistaking laundry pods for candy and whatnot, decant what makes sense into clear containers to bring down the visual clutter. 

A utility sink

Here’s a funny “behind the scenes” story of this room: this sink right here is a utility sink, which is typically installed with mounting brackets straight onto the wall. It was designed so that the cabinet line would follow the base of the sink, leaving it to be more of an apron front, but somewhere along the way, it ended up getting installed like this and frankly…we don’t hate it. Happy accident?

Small space hack: Okay, there really isn’t a way around this one if you don’t actually have space or an extra water source in your laundry closet or area…sorry about that one. 

Another sort of “whoops” moment here is the faucet. Hot tip: Do as I say, not as I do here. While this Kohler fixture (which we got through efaucets.com) is beautiful, to be honest, looking back, it’s not as functional as it could be (nothing against the faucet itself, more just about faucet-type choice). Ideally, in a utility space like a laundry room, you would have a sprayer attachment for easy reach to clean and take out stains. You live (and design), you learn. 

Something we did do that I’m super happy about how it turned out is that backsplash. You might THINK that’s hand-glazed tile, but really, it’s a clear glass tile from Bedrosians set against white mortar on the wall. It was a much more affordable (but still good looking) design idea I’m glad we moved forward on. What do you think??

Vertical storage for tall, bulky items

An ironing board is a laundry necessity that also happens to be big and kind of clumsy, so we built a taller cabinet to keep it tucked away when not in use. You can also store brooms and your vacuum (as long as it’s not a cumbersome beast) here.

Small space hack: If you have little to no cabinetry, consider tucking away a smaller ironing board between your W/D (or just to the side of them where there’s normally a bit of a gap), or get a hanging attachment for the wall or behind the door. There are even ironing mats that are made to be used atop washing machines and dryers, eliminating the need entirely for a board. 

Designated laundry bins and hanging racks

Okay, this post isn’t called “How we designed a tiny, hyper space-efficient budget laundry room” so this is where things start getting a little “extra” as they say these days. But if you’re at a point in your life where you have the means and space to create a DREAM laundry room, things like “designated laundry bin area” is how to kick things up a notch. Here, we used three rolling baskets from Rejuvenation that you can easily assign to each kid when they are in charge of their own laundry, or come up with your own system that works for you (maybe one is for things that are clean and folded, one for washed items waiting to be folded, and another for dirty laundry hanging out before their turn in the machine??)

A rod for hanging up those clothing items that are too precious for a dryer is also great for avoiding that thing that happens when you’re walking around your home draping shirts and skirts along the backs of chairs, on the floor of a spare bedroom…we’ve all been there.

Small space hack: Let’s say you have a little more room than a typical hallway closet with stacked machines, but not necessarily enough to create a bin station like this one…try out reinforced hooks on the wall and hang a canvas bag with a grommet on each. It’s the same idea in terms of creating a spot for everyone’s laundry duties. You can also install a rod or actual drying rack on the wall space above your machines (if you don’t have those wire shelves all homes seem to force on you), or directly from the ceiling to maximize vertical storage. 

Folding surface

The space on top of your large, family-sized washer and dryers typically becomes a resting place for totally random things that you find yourself moving from machine to machine when you have to open your washer, or don’t want things flying off during a cycle, but oh man is that a wasted design opportunity (if you have front loaders). Create a permanent surface for all your treating, sorting and folding needs.

Small space hack: This is actually more of a budget saver than a space saver, but Julie found this really affordable DIY from Vintage Revivals that you can do if you aren’t building a laundry room from scratch but just trying to make work what you have. Click here for a $90 plywood waterfall surface that not only looks really good but is super practical. 

A little bit of style

I can’t tell you how happy that little pop of pattern and color from the wallpaper in my old laundry closet brought me, so while it might seem like a waste to add decor to a spot like your laundry room, it’s really not. Here, we brought in beautiful art from Mia Farrington (a local Portland artist) and a rug from Annie Selke.

Small space hack: Add a fun paint color or wallpaper to the back wall of whatever space you have (you can even use a temporary peel-and-stick paper if you’re a renter). 

And there you have it: six things that really took this old storage area and transformed it into a pretty special laundry room with tons of functionality for a busy family. Let us know what you think and of course, leave any questions you have for me or the design team in the comments below.

1. Yellow/Gray Abstract Art by Mia Farrington | 2. Woven Basket by Schoolhouse | 3. Cabinets by Crestwood Inc. | 4. Undermount Cabinet Light (similar) | 5. Faucet by Kohler via eFaucets.com | 6. Sink by Kohler | 7. Drain by Kohler | 8. Countertop by Bedrosians Tile and Stone | 9. Backsplash Tile by Bedrosians Tile and Stone | 10. Cabinet Knob by Rejuvenation | 11. Cabinet Pull by Rejuvenation | 12. Rug by Annie Selke | 13. Lint Roller | 14. Wood Hanger | 15. Small Wood Bowl | 16. Large Jar | 17. Medium Jar | 18. Interior Doors by Metrie | 19. Interior Door Handle by Rejuvenation | 20. Still Life Painting by Caitlin Winner | 21. Laundry Bin by Rejuvenation | 22. Dryer via Build.com | 23. Washing Machine via Build.com | 24. Sleepy Blue by Sherwin-Williams | 25. Pure White by Sherwin-Williams | 26. Wood Flooring by Hallmark Floors | 27. Baseboard by Metrie | 28. Crown Moulding by Metrie | 29. Door Casing by Metrie

***Photography by Sara Tramp for EHD

The post How We Designed a Family-Friendly Laundry Room in the Portland Project appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: All the Things We Couldn’t Stop Talking About This Week

image source

This was our first official full week in the office since before Christmas (last week was a half week, plus we were up at the mountain house on a team retreat) and half the team was in and out sick with something. Starting the year strong here…

But, we’re back in the swing of things and so excited to announce a BRAND NEW series on the blog. Every week, on Sunday, we’ll be publishing a quick and simple list of all the things we buzzed about during the 5 days prior: things we read, things we Pinned, things we bought and truly, truly loved…basically, things we couldn’t help but share with each other (and now all of you). It’s what we’d tell our friends, cocktail chatter, but online on Sundays.

I know we kind of started this in the summer, where we had that Sunday newsletter of all the things I loved at any given time, but this one will be a team effort. Sometimes, you might hear just from me, but mostly, it’ll be a marriage of what has Team EHD excited.

Alright, let’s kick things off…

I’m anxiously awaiting the RSVP to Cup of Jo’s Soup Group. #JanStewary is a revolution people…it’s spreading faster than spilled bone broth on a sloped countertop.

I’ve lived in this insanely comfortable T-shirt basically for three months straight, and it’s more than half off right now.

Love this girl’s blog and appreciate her honesty, especially regarding spirituality. That *ish is hard to put out there.

At least four of us, me included, are super pumped about Leanne Ford’s new lighting collection for Target that’s launching February 10 (pictured above). This one will absolutely sell out (probably at the hand of my team alone), so set your alarms. 

The end of a design-blogging era…

Everyone was convinced that this ceramic bowl was some crazy expensive (or vintage) find, but really, it was from Target (who’s killing it in the ceramics game right now).

The “holy grail” foundation that Arlyn can’t stop blabbing about to literally anyone who will listen (she wears Natural Beige).

This article about millennials being the “burnout generation”, of which Arlyn, Sara and Ryann read every word, every pull quote and discussed at length while obviously avoiding doing “work” for a solid 10 minutes. From Arlyn: “It’s the millennial mike drop.” 

Sara hasn’t stopped undoing all the benefits of souping for Team EHD since she cracked open the spine of the Food52 Genius Desserts cookbook and spoils us with sweet treats basically every day. Thanks for nothing, Sara. (If you’ve sworn off sugar and other evil things this new year, she says their other cookbook, Genius Recipes, teaches you how to conquer cooking basics in a “foolproof yet elegant way.”)

Grace really loved this article from Refinery29 about finding a healthy, physical activity that actually makes you happy (dancing, walking the dog, volleyball!). You don’t have to make it a whole thing, just start.

These are Sara’s absolute favorite pans, and the only two that she’s been using for EVERYTHING lately—soup, pasta, veggies, meat. “I’ve actually gotten rid of most of my other pans.”

Our resident outdoor enthusiast Julie saw this heart-pumping movie by National Geographic filmmaker Jimmy Chin of Alex Honold climbing one of the largest rock faces in Yosemite National Park without any ropes…this is watch-through-fingers stressful yet exhilarating.

If you’re as obsessed with Myers-Briggs as we are (and notorious for not sticking to your New Years resolutions), read this.

Alright, come back next Sunday for more of our weekly musings (and of course tomorrow, Monday, for regularly programmed design content!). OH, and please do share some of your favorite things from the week in the comments below. Xx

The post The Link Up: All the Things We Couldn’t Stop Talking About This Week appeared first on Emily Henderson.

#JanStewary: Healthy (and SO Hearty!) Beef and Vegetable Stew

In an attempt to stay clearly “in my lane,” I am putting these soup posts on a Saturday instead of taking up a weekday decor/lifestyle spot. But, for those of you who are enjoying the benefits of the soup lifestyle (it’s not purees you guys, I promise), you’ll get new HEARTY soup recipes that we’ve tried and tweaked on Saturday mornings in time for you to make your shopping list and meal prep for the week. This might be the most genius blog idea I’ve come up with since Makeover Takeover, not because I invented the soup but because now I have an excuse on Fridays to stay at home for a few hours and cook (and shoot) and feed my staff.

Now, let me be clear: I am NOT a chef, nor will I ever be a food blogger. Hell, I basically just learned the incredibly relaxation value of cooking three months ago. But here I am, now, well, legitimately excited when the kids go down for me to set my laptop up to an easy-to-watch show and chop vegetables for an hour before I tuck myself in bed.

So today’s soup is in response to some of you who are concerned that only eating soup is weird/unhealthy. I fear that your concern came from not fully reading the post and so please realize that the soups we are talking about are basically the equivalent of eating a roasted chicken with vegetables covered in water. These are HEARTY AF. I haven’t even done a pureed soup yet. So far, all that we’ve recommended are chunky, full of so much protein and a ton of texture, crunch, dimension and then brightness and flavor. One caveat is that these are clean, meaning eliminating the dairy, grain, gluten, and most starches (with the occasional potato) and cooked the vegetables enough to digest and extract their nutrients so much easier.

Writing this on Saturday means that I haven’t had anything but stews since last Sunday and I feel so great. No bloating, clothes are already looser in the areas that needed to be and my skin looks bright, etc.

So without further ado, here is today’s soup recipe (which is inspired by and adapted from this recipe from Cafe Delites, but tweaked a bit for our liking/souping needs). It’s grain-, dairy-, sugar- and gluten-free, full of lots and lots of veggies, and because of the steak and potatoes, it’s SO hearty. This is a one-bowl and done (okay, maybe two depending on how big your bowl is) type of stew. I find it easier to prep out all the veggies, measure out the spices and, you know…what they call in the culinary world, “mise en place.” That’s why the ingredients are listed out by category instead of in order of use…it felt more sensical to me that way for how I cook (and maybe you do, too?).

WHAT YOU NEED

Vegetables

1 large onion, chopped
1 bunch of celery, chopped
6 carrots (rainbow for more color!), diced
1 small green cabbage chopped into bite-sized pieces (we did half green half purple for more color)
1.5 cups fresh green beans, chopped into 1-in pieces
1.5 cup of tiny rainbow potatoes, quartered
1 head garlic minced

Herbs & Spices

2 teaspoons onion powder
3 tablespoons each fresh chopped parsley, thyme, rosemary and oregano
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Chopped parsley for garnish 

Meat & Dry Goods

2 tablespoons avocado oil
1.5 lbs ribeye fillet steak, cut into 1-inch pieces (trimmed of visible fat)
8 cups beef bone broth

HOW TO COOK IT

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat, add the beef and sear on all sides until brown, set aside.
If the pot is dry, add a touch more oil. Add the onions, cook until transparent and cook until transparent (about 3-4 minutes), then add garlic (being careful not to burn it
Add the celery, carrots, and potatoes to the pan, cook 3-4 mins, mixing occasionally
Add the cabbage and green beans and cook for another 5 minutes, mixing all ingredients through
Add bone broth, herbs and onion powder; mix well. Add browned beef.
Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium-low and cover, with a lid. Allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the cabbage and carrots are soft.
Season with salt and pepper to taste, add in more herbs, if needed. Serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh parsley (if desired).

It’s delicious, hearty and super filling. So I invited everyone from the office to come over and eat it (sorry, my two vegetarians).

Aside from soup, there are a handful of things I’m calling my “soup making essentials” and because many of you have asked on social what I’ve been using in the kitchen, we put this little roundup together to get anyone new to souping (cooking?) started. I myself am still new to this, but these are the things I pull out EVERY single time I make a pot (every day). Some are higher-end (like the knife) and others are more basic and budget-friendly. Let me know if you have any questions!

Dutch Oven: I use this Dutch oven at the mountain house because it looks GOOD just sitting up on my stove (and for $45, it’s GREAT).

Knife: Emily B. bought this knife for me for Christmas and it happened to be the one that we also use in LA, so I brought it up to the cabin and it chops so well, clean and fast. I’m sure there are a million great knives out there, but this brand is GOOD so far (Arlyn—whose love of design is only rivaled by food and cooking—also swears by Zwilling and has had a set she loves hard for the last 9 years that are still going strong).

Cutting Board: This cutting board has a slot for your phone (on the other side) and catches the juice for roasts or juicy veggies on the other side. Designed by the ladies at Food52. Nice job.

Farewell, Brady: Another EHD Alum to Cheer On

One of the all-time greats, Brady Tolbert, has moved on from EHD and is no longer with us. This post might be a sad one for many of you (as it was for me) but you have to remind yourself of what I do all the time: “Brady is not actually dead, he’s just not working for EHD anymore.” He lives in LA! I can still see him for lunch/drinks, invite him to EHD events, I can touch his flesh and it will in fact be warm and I can even watch his life on social media. That’s the good news. But after five wonderful years, this guy has found an opportunity that he was ready for and I am extremely happy for him (I promise…I wouldn’t write a big FAREWELL TO BRADY post if I was upset in any way, I’m far too transparent for that).

Yes, I could have gone all mushy, but I thought it would be EVEN MORE FUN if we took a trip down Tolbert memory lane. Shall we? Seven years ago (I’m not sure exactly when, though) while Orlando and I were shopping at the Rose Bowl for a magazine shoot, this young Brady stopped us and asked to take a picture. He loved our show and said some really nice things before letting us go on our way to shop.

A few months later. he applied for a job and after Ginny did the first round of interviews, she said “I think we found our person.” At that time, Orlando no longer worked with me (he went out on his own and has obviously created an incredible brand and we are still GREAT friends) and the company was just Ginny and I. Crazy…such simpler times. I interviewed him and I actually remembered him from the flea market which is rare because a lot of people come up to me there for photos (of which I welcome and love).

I learned in that interview that he was raised Mormon, too, and I’ll go ahead and say that I love a former mormon (and a current one).  He was obviously qualified in other ways—he was an architecture school grad, had a variety of other usable skills, had so much style, plus Ginny and I just really liked him. And when you have a super small company working out of your basement, “liking” your team was non-negotiable.

We had so much fun together (GINNY I MISS YOU, TOO, AND NOW REALIZE I NEVER WROTE A POST LIKE THIS FOR YOU even though you also worked for me for 5 years…you are still missed). And while his job was “assistant,” he really helped in all aspects of the business because he’s the type of guy that will just do anything, with a good attitude. (HOT TIP: The key to success is working hard with a smile).

So many walls were painted. So many pieces of furniture were carried up those 32 stairs. We did everything from soup to nuts before we had a larger team and more help. He always said yes with a smile and nothing was beneath him. He should seriously write a book on work ethic, because he’s an expert in it.

But to make up for it, we also had SO MUCH FUN.

The team grew and grew, starting with Sara who actually came about a year after Brady, the last year has brought on SIX others, but Brady was OUR GUY. He was like the company dad. Up until recently, he was the only guy. He was serious when I needed him to be, but could also match my work energy and need for fun. He was ALWAYS down for a good time and had such positive energy. We miss our Brady!

He wore SO many hats at one point as the editorial director, art director, writer, designer and general COO.

Last year he KILLED it at the Portland project—a design install and shoot that almost broke us (physically). He was up there for what felt like months, more than anyone else, and he was so dedicated to the project, shooting from 8 am to 8 pm (when they lost light). He really pushed himself (and me) in creativity and style for that project and I could not have done it without him.

By now, you’ve probably already asked yourself 12 times “wait, but what happened? where did he go?!?” Here goes:

Brady and I had been talking about his next steps, career-wise and while I REALLY wanted him to stay, I also could tell he had an itch. I begged him to work for himself and have me hire him as a producer on big jobs (thus giving him freedom to do his own thing but keeping him around :)). But then he told me that he got a job offer he couldn’t refuse. My first thought was honestly “that’s amazing!” forgetting that that meant he would leave me. We were both crying and he said something like”it just feels like a breakup” and I said (or thought, I don’t really remember) “No, this is an actual SUCCESS STORY”.

To have someone of his ambition work for an individual person, let alone someone with nary a work-org policy, for five years is actually so rare these days. Five years of greatness is better than none.