Emily Henderson's Blog, page 28

The Pet Gift Guide That Both Owner And Animal Will Love Equally

Ok, I know we just did a gift guide yesterday (for the people who don’t want more “stuff”) but I had to do one more before it was too late. I mean Christmas and Hanukkah are 13 days away! So here we go. Pets are a part of our families and they deserve a little treat too (or more, maybe the owner could use a pet-related treat/gift)! I polled all the pet-obsessed people in my life (including the team, obviously) as well as did a little research on my own, and baby, I have to say there are a lot of great options on this list. To preface this is a cat and dog only gift guide. I’m sorry to all the fish, bird, reptile, horse, alpaca, and beyond owners out there. To be honest, we didn’t feel equipped enough and I’m sure there are plenty of great guides out there by people who are:) So without further ado let’s get into the goods.

Dogs

Brushy Sticks Dental Bars | Frozen Banana & Peanut Butter Yogurt

If I were a dog (lol), I think actual food treats would be at the top of my holiday wishlist. I went to my cousin who is the most incredible dog and cat mom I might know for what she recommends. Here pup loves both of these. Both are really healthy and contain nothing artificial. The brush sticks come in 3 different sizes so grab the one that fits the size of your dog. Their dental health and breath will improve! Then for the frozen cups, they will help with your pup’s digestion (and gas) with the added probiotics. A gift for everyone:) Oh, I saw that the cups are available at some grocery stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts if those are easily accessible to you.

Durable and Tough Chew Toy | Baguette Dog Toy

We know that dogs, and especially big dogs, are HARD on their toys. So this yellow non-toxic, made-in-the-US, chew toy is perfect for medium to large dogs, has a place to insert a treat stick, bounces, and floats in water. Pretty perfect if you ask me. Then how cute is this baguette toy!? Cute for the home and fun for the pup – treat pockets and squeakers on each end.

Slow Treater Silicone Lick Mat | Groov Dog Training Toy

My cousin also recommended this “slow treater” mat because sometimes you either need your pup to slow down with their eating or you need them to be distracted while you bathe and groom them. This is a perfect hack! Then this other great training treat toy is a Gretchen rec. Here’s why:

“My friend feels guilty every time she has to take off for work, leaving her dog to hang out in his crate for a few hours at a time. Unfortunately, he doesn’t do too well outside of the crate, roaming around her place when he’s alone so she doesn’t have much choice. But a gift like this Groov Training Toy helps to ease both of their anxieties around the kennel! My friend can spread on some peanut butter or freeze it into a dog-friendly popsicle, attach it to the wired door of his crate, and let him go to town. Something he can look forward to that also aids in keeping him more calm until mom gets home!”

Triangle Tug Toy | Tennis Tuft

One of Emily’s requests for this gift guide was that there were non-squeaky toy options, which I get. The constant squeaking is not something I have a desire to endure either. These toys from Wild One are chic and fun for dogs! Actually, all of their products are beautiful if you are or have a dog owner friend who is very design-conscious.

Lamb Chop Squeaky Plush Dog Toy | Squeaky Beer Dog Toys

But for those who like a little more humor (and squeak) then these two options are right up that alley. Lamb Chop comes in a bunch of sizes and is a pet favorite. Gretchen sent me the beer cans and here’s what she had to say about them:

“I bought a Pabst Blue Ribbon “beer can” dog toy for my best friend’s pup last year and it quickly became one of his faves. It will never not be funny to me seeing his sweet golden retriever snout carrying around a doggy PBR. Be warned, this one does have a squeaker, but for the photo-op alone, I think it’s worth putting up with for the laughs!”

Gingham Dog Bandana

Gretchen also sent me this adorable personalized bandana! It comes in 2 other colors and 3 different sizes. The pup who wears this will be the cutest and most stylish dog maybe in the whole world. Here’s what she said about it:

“Who can say no to a cute doggy bandana? Not me. I’m a sucker for a pup in plaid! And I love that these have the option to be customized with an embroidered name. But the best part is this company gives back with every purchase; 1 order = 1 pound of food provided to shelters across the nation.”

Comfort Padded Dog Harness | Carhartt Nylon Duck No Pull Dog Harness

I’ve been told the superiority of a harness and how much safer they are for dogs’ throats. Of course, no judgment to non-harness users at all! But if you or a loved one/friend are in the market, here are two great ones. The blue one comes in a bunch of other colors and 4 sizes. It also has a 4.3-star rating with almost 500 reviews. Not too shabby:) Then the Carhartt harness was a Gretchen rec and here’s what she had to say about it:

“Did you know they make Carhartt gear for dogs? Because I didn’t until I saw my friend’s pup rocking this rugged harness! Now you can match your cool-kid beanie or workwear jacket to your dog’s walking attire. How cute? I think it could make a great dog/owner gift to give a matching get-up. Plus, this harness is super durable and comfortable, just like your trusty Carhartt human gear.”

The Henri Ombre Adjustable Cotton Rope Dog Leash | Lifetime Leash

Leashes, while needing to be highly functional also give an opportunity for style:) With that said, I LOVE this hand-dyed adjustable rope dog leash. It’s not only beautiful but you can wear it around your waist, make a handle, or walk two dogs at once. Oh, and it comes in 3 sizes. Couldn’t love it more. Then that chic green cutie also comes in 5 other colors and Gretchen is about to tell us why she thinks it’s great:

“If your pup likes to pull, then you need a leash that can withstand the tug and test of time. Two of my dog-obsessed pals swear by this climbing rope “Lifetime Leash”. They come in fun colors and the hardware and material are super robust. But if colorful climbing rope or its higher price tag isn’t really your vibe, another one of my dog-mama friends loves using this braided leather leash. It’s inexpensive, strong enough for her squirre-chasing boy, and gentle on her hands when he tries to dart.”

100% Certified Home Compostable Dog Poop Bags | Dog Poop Bag Holder

Gretchen also sent through these two and here’s why:

“Buying 100% compostable poop bags feels like a no-brainer. Many doggie bags claim to be eco-friendly, since they’re made from recycled plastic, but those will still end up in a landfill! Because these are made from cornstarch, they will actually break down and become one with nature. Plus, they have rave reviews for their quality and durability, so there’s no compromising when it comes to better-for-the-earth material. To pair with your compostable poop bags, it’s always nice to have a little pouch to hold them in that you can strap onto the leash for walks. I prefer a woven, zippered pouch like this one to a plastic holder that can be more prone to breaking or coming apart. I love that these have a rubber dispenser hole for easy, single-bag access and that they have two carabiners to hold tight to the leash so they don’t jostle around a bunch as you walk.”

Ceramic Dog Bowl | Elevated Dog Bowl

For the design lover, this food and microwave-safe ceramic bowl is stunning! I would HAPPILY have this in my home. I’m sure dogs love it just as much:) But for a more affordable, older dog-friendly, option this cute and affordable elevated bowl is great. It’s dishwasher-safe and only $13!

Forager Snuffle Mat & Slow Feeder Dog Bowl | Collapsible Silicone Dog Bowl

Back to my cousin, her Bernedoodle is a FAST eater so she actually feeds him on this snuffle mat. It slows him down perfectly so that he doesn’t get sick from eating so quickly. Then for the traveler, whether that’s to the park or on a road trip, it’s always great to have a collapsible dog bowl on hand. They’ve got a few other colors and 4 sizes!

Fable Crate

Not only is this crate one of, if not THE, prettiest crate on the market, but it’ll look great in a home and is good for your pups too since it’s highly rated. When I thought I was going to be able to adopt a puppy this crate was at the top of my list. This would be a wildly generous and awesome gift for a new dog parent.

Saatva Dog Bed | Calming Shag Fur Donut Cuddler Cat & Dog Bed

In terms of beds, these are two personal recs. The Saatva one was one item my cousin bought from Orlando’s Holiday Open House last weekend (he’s doing it again this weekend, go if you’re near LA!!). She loves the look and her pup loves the feel. Then this round one was a rec from Mal, it comes in a bunch of colors, and sizes, and is also for cats. Here’s what she said about it:

“We have a sweet little blind and deaf rescue pup (his name is Murphy!!) and he (rightfully so) has some anxiety…which is why he’s obsessed with this anti-anxiety dog bed. It swattles him so I think it makes him feel super safe & he can’t sleep without it. A great gift if you have an anxious pet or know an anxious pet owner”

Home Security Rotating Pet Treat Cameras

This is a perfect gift for people who either can’t work from home or happen to be out of the house a lot. These cameras are awesome. My cousin had one years ago and loved it. You can use an app to see your baby, talk to them, and give them a treat. It’s perfect for any separation anxiety too.

Cat

Chicken Variety Pack Grain-Free Lickable Cat Treats | Chicken Breast Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Treats

Cats love treats too and these are some good ones. My cousin said that the lickable treats, while kinda gross, are their cats’ favorites. Plus, it’s a little extra time you get to spend with them as you slowly squeeze out the mush lol. I also know this as well from a 3-week cat-sitting adventure I went on last year (just kidding it was great). They can’t get enough. She also said “Anything Vital Essentials” is also great.

Happy Skies Wand Teaser Cat Toy | Electronic Chasing Mouse Cat Toy

How cute is this chic little cat teaser wand?! Oh, and those little toys are filled with crinkle paper which is also almost always a hit. It’s just nice to see a really pretty cat teaser wand:) But if you or your pet owner wants to do even less work in the play department then this electronic chasing mouse cat toy. It spins and moves and the cat who gets this will be obsessed.

3 Layer Trackball Interactive Cat Toy | Pull-A-Partz Yarnz Assorted Plush Cat Toy with Catnip

These interactive trackball toys are gold. My friend’s cats love theirs and play with it all of the time. Then this Pull-A-Partz Yarnz says it’s a “unique, pull-a-part, 3-in-1 cat toy that satisfies hunting instincts”. As well as include crackle paper and catnip. What’s not to love??

Sisal Ball 13.5″ Cat Scratching Post | Tangerine Scratching Ball Cat Toy

I say if you have to get a cat scratcher anyway, you might as well get a pretty one and that’s exactly what these are! The spinning ball one is pretty perfect for any style. Plus, not only is the ball great for scratching, but so are the sides. Then that little tangerine is another product my cousin has and loves! It’s the most precious I think I’ve ever seen. 10/10

Plush Cat Window Perch with Removable Bolster

One of my best friends has a window perch for her cat and let’s just say if it’s daytime that cat is basking in the sunlight on her perch. It’s not this exact one but this one is pretty and washable. How can you beat it?!

Pet Bed | Indoor Heated Cat Bed

Yep, more sweet beds! Both are highly rated and style-wise are so good. I love the pattern of the first one but having a heated bed like the one on the right sounds pretty dreamy. Oh, and don’t forget that the calming round bed in the dog section is also great for cats!

Every Pet Eats Set | Ceramic Elevated Cat Food and Water Bowl

As soon as I saw the colorful set on the left I almost scooped it up for Caitlin! For the right home, it’s such a fun, modern, and playful design. But for a more affordable and neutral option, I love that little elevated set. The ball feet are just a cute touch!

The Pet Carrier (Airline Approved) | Robot 4 Smart App-Controlled Self-Cleaning Litter Box

These are 2 higher-priced items that are much more for the owners:) If you (or they) like to travel with their cat then a good cat carrier will be so appreciated! This one is by Away and is already airline-approved. It’s got a great rating and looks very stylish which makes no one mad, ha. Then the robot litter box is something my neighbors have and LOVE. It’s a big ticket item but what a GAMECHANGER for the recipient if it’s within your budget. I mean self-cleaning?? What’s better than that??

As always, hope this was helpful and please drop any recs you love in the comments.

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Our Scandinavian (And Easy, Mess-Free) Holiday Living Room Reveal + How I Finally Figured Out My Biggest Styling Problem… And Solved It

The post The Pet Gift Guide That Both Owner And Animal Will Love Equally appeared first on Emily Henderson.

11 Tried & Tested Unique Gifts For The Person Who Doesn’t Want More “Stuff”

All of us can relate to not “needing” more stuff, right? Sure, there will always be things we want but getting or gifting a thoughtful but potentially unusable gift is a bummer for everyone involved. So here’s what we wanted to do with this list – give you really amazing, thoughtful, but USEFUL gift cards that will likely make you the favorite on Christmas morning:) I’m only half kidding because seriously, I would LOVE to get any of these gift cards. And don’t worry, if simply giving a gift card feels like a bummer to you I’ve come up with some ideas to “jazz them up”. Ok, let’s dive right in!

The Gift EVERYONE Will Love

This is Emily’s #1 gift she loves giving to family and friends (the adults, of course). She says it’s always a hit and people love and appreciate them so much. An Airbnb gift card is great for a family who loves to travel, a mom or a couple to encourage a little staycation or a new graduate about to backpack abroad. I mean it’s actually great for almost anyone on your list. Any amount of money towards a vacation is always helpful and may even inspire one.

To make it a little more personal:

If you know a place they are planning to travel you can research some restaurant or shop recommendations.If you know they don’t have a passport holder or luggage tag, that could be a fun little addition.I’m always one for a heartfelt card to accompany any gift (or gift card). For The Bookworm

Another gift that could be perfect and avoid adding to their pile of books is an Audible subscription. I have loved “books on tape” for as long as I can remember. No wonder all I do know is listen to podcasts. But for those who aspire to read more (like me), an audiobook is a pretty idea since I can listen while I work, walk, whenever. What’s also cool about this is that you can gift only a month which is only $15 or go up to a year plus!

To make it a little more personal:

Depending on budget and needs, a new set of headphones would be quite the generous addition!A list of books you think they’ll love.And always a card:)For The Person Who Loves ALL Topics

Emily is a Substack FAN! If you don’t know what Substack is it’s “an online platform that allows writers, journalists, and other content creators to publish newsletters and build a subscription-based audience” (Thanks, Google AI). I think Emily subscribes to at least 5 and I subscribe to 2 (Maybe Baby, thought-starting personal essays, and Snake, design-focused interviews, info, and auction picks). It’s just such a cool way to find interesting people talking about interesting topics. There’s something for everyone!

To make it a little more personal:

You guessed it! Make a list of newsletters you think they’d like (this may take a little research but is so thoughtful).Get them a new phone or computer to read them on (JUST KIDDING!) But yes, a card. For The On The Go Lover

Lyft Gift Card | Uber Gift Card

Ooooo baby, what a gift. It may seem a little generic but I am telling you they will be singing your praises next time they need to go to a restaurant, head to the airport, get safely home from a night out, the list goes on! Who among us wouldn’t love this? Ok, maybe a few (there’s always a few…) but that’s it. A total crowdpleaser that won’t crowd any space on their shelves at home.

To make it a little more personal:

Make a list of cool bars or restaurants in their area that they could be driven to.Tips on how to improve their score (ha jk jk, unless they need the help??)A sweet card, obviously. Give An Experience!

I wouldn’t consider myself a big concertgoer. I somehow missed every major concert tour from this last year and I’m trying not to get to bummed about it (except the Charli XCX & Troy Sivan SWEAT TOUR show. I may never forgive myself). ANYWAY, what I mean is that it’s never top of mind to search for shows and I always give the reason to myself that tickets are expensive. But first off, many shows and events are affordable and if I had a gift card I would be 100% motivated to seek them out. Giving the gift of an experience is always a great idea!

To make it a little more personal:

I’m sure you guessed it…make a list of shows or events they might like in their area.If they are a purse wearer, and they don’t have a clear small bag (something that a lot of large venues in LA require), you could get them one of those too!Woah, I almost forgot to say a thoughtful card!Something For Everyone

If you’re asking “Do people still use Groupon?” the answer is yes and you are looking right at one. I love Groupon. They have so many services (and things) that you can save on that are so useful like an oil change, a carwash or detail, a message, a facial, the sky’s the limit. A gift card here will be so appreciated!

To make it a little more personal:

A list of cool services they might enjoy! Duh.A cute little card with a sweet little note. Make Meals Tastier

Want to be the real MVP? A gift card to a food delivery service. Need I say more?? Of course, it doesn’t have to be GrubHub but the service that your friend or family likes the most will be so appreciated. Personally, I don’t love to cook but of course, feel a lot of guilt when I’m spending a lot on delivered meals. This would help that;) But my cousin and her husband are still in the newborn baby phase with their son and order out all the time because you know, the newborn phase. I know they would love it too! Actually, my cousin’s husband (my cousin-in-law?) let me know that the Chase Sapphire card gives you free delivery on GrubHub, HUGE win for me now and something to also keep in mind for you:)

To make it a little more personal:

Don’t just make a list of restaurants but great dishes you think they might like that maybe you’ve had!Add in a bottle of wine or sparkling waters.Always a card:)For The Vintage Lover

Ok, this is the only rec that is technically for “things” but for that person on your list that has everything or is really particular about their home and close (Jess looks at herself), or likes to shop small then an Etsy gift card is perfect! Not only are there obviously incredible vintage finds but it’s a gold mine for anything you might need. Truly, Etsy has it all!

To make it a little more personal:

Find pieces or Esty shops that they might like!Come on, always a card!For The Art Enthusiast

This is a newsletter I signed up for and renewed once my $36 annual subscription was about to be up! It’s a daily email that introduces to you an incredible artist and their work. I feel like I’ve been introduced to so many that I love and it’s something I look forward to every day! Perfect for the art person in your life.

To make it a little more personal:

If they are also an artist maybe some supplies for the type of art they do?I think a sweet card could also be nice;)The Cinephile In Your Life Will LOVE This

Caitlin told us this HAD to be on the list! Her boyfriend is a big Criterion Channel guy and now Caitlin is too! This is what she said about the other week: “The best part about having a boyfriend with a Criterion Channel subscription is that sometimes, you’ll be sitting and feeling restless on a Sunday night, and he’ll pose a question like, “Hey, do you want to watch a documentary about the people who make 85% of the world’s carpets, including all of the crazy psychedelic patterned ones that coat hotels and airports and city busses and such?” and then suddenly, 90 minutes have passed, and you’re staring at the screen, mouth agape and in awe, because 90 minutes was NOT ENOUGH TIME. Y’all, I am begging you to add Carpet Cowboys to your to-be-watched list. I wish it had been made into a series – it captured an incredible slice of life in Dalton, GA. I loved it. (PS. Highly recommend a Criterion Channel subscription for the cinephile in your life. It’s a great last-minute gift!)” What’s also cool is that you can gift anywhere from 1 to 12 months of a subscription!

To make it a little more personal:

Make a list of must-watch shows and movies (might need to do a little Googling if you don’t have a subscription yourself).Add in a cozy blanket, popcorn, or socks to enhance the watching experience.Don’t forget the card, people!!For Your YouTube Fan

Last but not least is a Google Play gift card in order to gift them YouTube Premium (of course they can use it for other things too:)). This was another Caitlin/Boyfriend rec and it’s such a good one. It’s hard to live in a world of commercials! I should know since I sadly don’t have YouTube Premium. But what a gift to give and one that, like me, some just won’t do for themselves. Taking away daily annoyances (like commercials) might be the ultimate gift:)

To make it a little more personal:

Like for the Audible rec, a new set of headphones is a wildly generous addition!You know I have to say it one more time, a thoughtful card:)

Well, that’s all we have today! So while we love a thoughtful tangible gift, we also love an experience or a highly practical gift:) The best part about these gifts too is that they can be purchased as late as your heart desires…but maybe don’t stress yourself out and get them a little sooner. And if all else fails you can always go the compliment jar route It’s up to you though! Please put any other easy but thoughtful non-thing ideas in the comments!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Our Scandinavian (And Easy, Mess-Free) Holiday Living Room Reveal + How I Finally Figured Out My Biggest Styling Problem… And Solved It

The post 11 Tried & Tested Unique Gifts For The Person Who Doesn’t Want More “Stuff” appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Pier Mirrors Are *Everywhere*. Here’s What They Are, What They Cost & Where To Buy One

There are home design trends that are totally in your face. Some that come to mind are checkerboard patterns, zellige tile, and warm neutrals. But then there are some that have been lurking in the background, prominent but not called out. Pier mirrors are the latter. While you probably won’t find them on any “top home decor trends for 2025” lists coming up, I tend to have a good hunch for these types of things and let me tell you, they are here, they are loud, and they are here to stay.

But let’s back up first. Some of you reading might be well versed in the pier mirror, or pier glass as it’s also called. If you happen to watch Alison Victoria’s show Windy City Rehab, you know all about this as she hunts down an antique pier mirror for a project she’s working on nearly every episode in the same fashion you may pursue a glass of water after ingesting a spoonful of cinnamon. She has good reason, though, because pier mirrors are marvelous and powerful design tools for not only making a statement but the statement in a room.

Now, if that last paragraph was as confusing as jumping into an episode of Game of Thrones season 3 without any prior watching, don’t worry, I’m here to share my knowledge. Gather ’round students, for today we are going to explore what a pier mirror is (and its origins—quickly, but in a not boring way), what you need to know to acquire a pier mirror like what it should cost and where to look, and of course, ooh and ahh over beautiful images of them in play inside very stylish homes. Let’s go.

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Pier Mirror, Pier Mirror, On The Wall, Are You The Fairest Of Them All?

While I’d love to tell you that I first learned about the pier glass decades ago during my design academic days, such a time does not exist, and I originally was introduced to it when I got assigned a story during my Apartment Therapy tenure. My eyes knew what they were after years of publishing high-end interior projects, I didn’t know them by name.

A pier glass is simply a mirror that is often quite slender and tall, and ornate that would be hung on a pier wall, which is the wall space between two windows. It was typically placed above a small pier table or console. It had to be long and lean to a) fit in that narrow spot and b) maximize reflection surface area. You see, pier mirrors came to be in the 17th century (read: no electricity in homes for a looong way) and were associated with European estates, palaces, and other such elite homes. They were meant to bounce light around in rooms that often had very little natural light, not to mention make the rooms look more grand. Ceilings in the salons of these homes where pier mirrors were used were really tall, so the mirrors themselves could often be exaggerated in size.

Early versions spoke to Baroque and Rococo design eras, but they became even more popular in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Georgian and Victorian eras. Mirror technology (is that a thing?) improved, reflections became clearer thanks to mercury-backed glass, and costs came down which allowed more access and larger sizes to be made.

Depending on the period they come from, they can be made of mahogany, giltwood, poplar, bronze, and even partly of marble. Some look like giant gold mirrors full of scrollwork, urns and ribbons, while others are built into large elaborate millwork which can be found as the feature of a room or in the entrance of a home (think a brownstone).

Do I Need A Victorian-Era Brownstone Or Parisian Flat To Make A Pier Mirror Work With My Design?

I’m going to keep this one short and sweet: no!! Look, Brooklyn brownstones, Chicago greystones and any manor-like home in England, France, and the like are going to make a pier mirror feel right at home, because well, this is where many of them that are still around today originated. Would I recommend an antique pier mirror in a new-build tract home? Ehh….I’m sure someone could make it work, but that’s not to say they are a no-go anywhere but a 100-200-year-old residence. It all depends on what else is in your home. A giltwood pier mirror might be such a cool moment of drama in an otherwise contemporary room with high ceilings. The same goes for a Victorian millwork-encased version in a newly renovated craftsman. If it feels right to you, just go with it.

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What Should I Know About Buying An Antique Pier Mirror?

Googling “antique pier mirror” gives you a very wide variety of results that you may leave that search wondering if you even actually know what a pier mirror is, aesthetically speaking. There are different sizes, finishes, styles, and drastic swings in price. But I’d recommend finding something you love for your home (regardless of whether you can buy it or not), and just studying it. Get a good grasp on the naming convention, era, wood type, and size, and use it as reference on your own hunt.

Where To Buy Them IRL And Online

Much like any other antique, antique stores and dealers are a great place to start your journey toward pier mirror ownership. If you’re looking for the larger more built-in-looking pier mirrors, you’re going to want to hit up an architectural salvage dealer, instead, though. Anyone who sells old doors, windows, and architectural details is likely to have something in that realm. Oh, and never overlook estate sales, too!

With regards to online, there are, of course, the usual suspects: Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, Chairish, 1stDibs. While some dealers will have okay-ish prices for shipping, though, remember that these are large and delicate, have to be crated, and can cost as much or more to ship than you paid for the piece itself. Scoring something local is going to be your best bet both for your budget but also for the style of your home if it’s in any way historic.

What To Look For

Anything antique is going to vary drastically in price depending on many factors. Condition, restoration, size, and historical significance. You’ll want to check for blemishing on the mirror itself (though that can be pretty charming and not a deal breaker), how well maintained the wood framing is and if it needs any repairs, if it’s a reproduction or a genuine antique, what shape the backing material is in, and provenance (though that might be harder to come by if you’re buying from a peer-to-peer marketplace where sellers aren’t always educated on what they have).

What You Should Expect To Pay

Okay, ready? It’s a range as wide as the Atlantic between New York and London, but very useful to know.

On the high-end: Really rare and well-preserved pier mirrors from the 18th or early 19th centuries can run you between $4,000 or so all the way to $25,000 and well beyond (I saw a pair for six figures during my research).

Mid-range: Most pier mirrors are going to land in this category. These are more common pieces from the late 19th century and early 20th century or anything that isn’t in great shape. Here, you’re looking at $1,500 to $4,000/$5,000.

Low-end: If you find a pier mirror that’s in the range of $500 to about $2,000, you’re either dealing with a reproduction, something from the early 20th century that is pretty simple in its design, or just something that someone might not know anything about. You can also find new, decorative pier mirrors around this price.

What Words Do I Use When Looking Online?

On any marketplace, people have to know that they actually have a specific thing and list it as such. Most have no clue. Here are some ways I’ve seen pier mirrors listed:

Pier mirror/pier glassHall mirrorConsole mirrorHall tree with mirror Extra large ornate wall mirrorDressing mirror/dressing glassTrumeau mirrorMantel mirror (mantel mirrors are not the same as pier mirrors, but some people tend to confuse the two)We’ve Reached The Show & Tell Portion Of This Post

Ready to fall in love? Let’s explore some pier mirror eye candy…

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The image above is the Brownstone Boys’ room from the 2024 Real Simple showhouse. They are no strangers to the Victorian Brooklyn Brownstone style of pier mirror, and they used two in their space. As you can see from the one above, they often have other decoration like pedestals, feet (common in Georgian mirrors), tables/benches, and hooks. The image below is what’s reflected above: another, smaller pier mirror which you often see in the foyer of homes like this.

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A post shared by Mallory Fletchall | Reserve Home (@reserve_home)

Another designer fluent in pier mirror is Mallory Fletchall, the name behind Reserve Home. In her previous and current Brooklyn homes, she has had an array of enviable pier mirrors in her living room, dining spaces, even her bedroom. See below:

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A post shared by Mallory Fletchall | Reserve Home (@reserve_home)

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A post shared by Mallory Fletchall | Reserve Home (@reserve_home)

Can you even?!? Because of their size, they do such a great job of extending the depth of a room, even if it’s on the smaller side. Not to mention what it can do for helping to spread around light in spaces that might be darker than you want them to be. Just be sure to measure very carefully if you’ll be putting a pier mirror in its traditional spot (between windows). Mirrors of certain time periods have giltwood scrolls that extend past the main frame of the mirror, and because these mirrors look best when they go almost fully side to side and top to bottom on a pier wall, every centimeter counts.

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A post shared by Lex & Hudson (@lexandhudson)

This stunning entryway is in the same home I shared first in the home with that wildly gorgeous living room with the stately pier mirror painted in white. Both are by Lex & Hudson, but I wanted to show this one, too, because not every pier mirror has to be this gargantuan thing. They can be more slender and better suited to a compact floor plan, too.

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Speaking of compact floor plans, this sweet and moody dining spot above by Claudia Williams is in a studio apartment, which of course is a home size that could use any trick of the eye possible to “make” more room (or at least the appearance of it).

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A post shared by BENJAMIN VANDIVER (@benjaminvandiver)

Any space with existing plasterwork and intricate detailing is ripe for a pier mirror, especially if the windows are grand, like this room by Benjamin Vandiver.

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This is actually a brownstone that was for sale, but it’s fun to see the sheer scale of these mirrors. Also, my brain would fight me on having two such mirrors in a single space (it would tell me it was too much of a good thing), but the drama is hard to beat.

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A post shared by Patrick Janelle (@aguynamedpatrick)

The idea of painting anything made of mahogany or giltwood white makes my heart cry, but every time I see it, I get the tissues out, wipe away the coronary tears, and stop in admiration like I did in this room (the home of A Guy Named Patrick). As much as it hurts to think about, painting an aesthetically heavy piece like this in a shade of white is a quick way to lighten the load while leaving all the boldness.

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Lastly, I’m so excited I found this shot because it’s the most realistic for most of us here reading (I’m guessing). Like I said earlier, you don’t have to live in a French estate with a grand parlor to make a pier mirror feel at home. Find something scaled appropriately to your room, and you can make it work! Thank you Garrett and Leona of The Olde Standard for showing us this.

To round us out, I went digging through the internet to see what I could find, though this search made me realize how hard these are to find online (remember: in person is best!). I was hard-pressed to uncover something similar to some of the examples above, but I thought it would be a good exercise nonetheless to show you what’s out there, what prices are like, and the wide range of styles. I split the product roster into two categories: under $2,000 and $2,000+.

1. French Victorian Style Hall Pier Mirror | 2. Antique Victorian Eastlake Mahogany Hall Parlor Entry Vanity Pier Mirror 86″ | 3. Antique French Gilt Pier Mirror | 4. Early 19th Century American Mahogany Tabernacle Pier Mirror | 5. Swedish Carved Pier Mirror | 6. Labarge Italian Large Monumental Pier Mirror | 7. French Neoclassical Giltwood and Gilt-Gesso Pier Mirror, Circa 1820 | 8. 19th Century Empire Revival Mahogany Pier Mirror | 9. Danish Christian VIII Mahogany Arched Pier Mirror

1. French Neoclassical Giltwood and Eglomise Pier Mirror | 2. Walnut Eastlake/Victorian Pier/Mantle Mirror | 3. 19th Century Neoclassical Mirror | 4. Tall Pier Mirror with Console in Dark Mahogany, Baltic Region, circa 1910 | 5. 19th Century Italian Pier Mirror | 6. Rare 19th Century Giltwood Pier or Hall or Dressing Mirror | 7. Antique Giltwood Diamond Dust Pier Mirror | 8. Federal New York Pier Mirror, Late 18th Century | 9. Antique American Eastlake Style Victorian Walnut & Burl Walnut Pier Mirror with a Carrera Marble Top Base Stand

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This is where I leave you. With eyes and heart full, and a renewed love of the pier mirror. And while yes, I do think it’s “trending,” it’s such a classic piece that it far supersedes whatever a “trend” even is. When you can take something from the 18th century and put it in a 21st-century home with 21st-century furniture and finishes, you know you have something that is timeless.

Until next time my friends…

Opener Image Credit: Design by Malcolm Simmons | Photo by Keyanna Bowen | From: Malcolm’s Bedroom Reveal Is Here

The post Pier Mirrors Are *Everywhere*. Here’s What They Are, What They Cost & Where To Buy One appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Can You Put Stuga Wood Flooring On The Walls And Ceiling? You Sure Can (With Some Tips)

There are emotional priorities in a renovation – things you really, really just want that might make a difference only to how you FEEL when looking at it. We started with an intent for my brother’s house that went like this: There is no such thing as too much wood. But as the spending budget grew and grew, things got nixed and nixed. This is a normal yet dangerous part of the process because in the throes of a renovation you can’t see clearly and you might nix a once a “high emotional priority,” favoring necessities instead. Having a wood-clad room was always on the inspiration board, but at a certain point, it just wasn’t a budget priority. Then one day…

Let’s back up. We partnered with Stuga on this house because their wood flooring is extremely beautiful and high quality, a luxury product at a more affordable price point. It’s all sustainably made, originating from Scandinavia, and if you are wondering how they keep the price lower than others, it’s due to the fact that they are direct to consumer (i.e. no middleman markup). We ordered a ton of samples and chose Shell for all the flooring (a light oak with a rustic vibe and a lot of knots). As the house came together we started thinking about what type of wood would work on the ceiling, not wanting a Douglas fir or cedar (which are the more affordable options) and not thinking about Stuga at all – it’s “flooring”, not “walling or ceiling-ing”. But with a ton of samples on hand, we started wondering if this was possible (or even a good idea). The species, tone, and character were extremely important and we loved the sample of Drift so much. Could it work?

Things To Know About Stuga…

This wood flooring is engineered with enough of a wood layer on top to last through two refinishings (but the likelihood of sanding once, let alone twice, is very minimal and usually done in cases where the homeowner wants to change the color of the floor). Again, we chose Shell for the floors, but they have so many different stains, species, and plank sizes to choose from. I highly highly recommend this company and this is certainly not my last time talking about Stuga in a project of ours. I LOVE IT. We connected with them and they told us that there was no reason that this couldn’t go on ceilings as well. GREAT. Let’s go.

Will “Wood Flooring” On The Walls Look Like Someone Accidentally Put Wood Flooring On The Walls?

It’s our opinion that if it is high-quality wood flooring with no groove between the planks like Drift, from Stuga, it just looks like beautifully clad wood walls. I wouldn’t do this with cheap laminate, most LVFs, or just any wood flooring. NO. But I’m here to say that this looks FANTASTIC on all these surfaces.

See for yourself in this video (just wait for the ad to play!)

But What If The Planks Aren’t Long Enough? Is Staggering The Seams OK?

Yes…but with some tips. This was the big question and one that all of us had strong and conflicting opinions about. We all agreed that in the areas that had beams (the big bulky crosswood attached to the ceiling), the planks would need to run from beam to beam without a seam/break. This is because what we are trying to do, architecturally, is make the house look like it’s built this way, structurally – that the beams are holding up the roof and the wood planks are the ceiling “structure”. Think back in the post and beam days when the roof just sat on top of these beams and wood without any insulation or mechanical. Nowadays you have a space between the roof and the ceiling that houses the HVAC system, electrical wires, sprinkler systems, and insulation. So all the wood, even the beams, are purely decorative. And yet, you don’t want it to look that way. So from beam to beam, you don’t want a seam.

But What If You Don’t Have Beams? Are Staggered Seams Going To Look Dumb?

So this is where all the many cooks in the kitchen had conflicting opinions. Everyone wanted wood on the ceilings in the upstairs and yet the flooring planks were only 8′ long and getting super long planks (non-flooring) was going to be absolutely out of budget. Like crazy expensive (unless we went with a Doug fir or cedar which wouldn’t work in this house unless they were more “clear” which is in itself so expensive). Without beams to mask the staggering, some feared that it would really look like wood flooring on the ceiling.

It was my opinion (and my bro agreed with me) that beautiful wood + staggered seams were better than no wood at all. And I’m happy to report that we were totally right. It looks so BEAUTIFUL. We staggered the planks and the whole thing is so fluid that you don’t think “Wait there are no beams, are those planks just decorative, these people are idiots!” Instead, you don’t have time to think because your insides are screaming “My goodness that’s such a pretty wood ceiling”.

We used Drift flooring on the ceilings in the hallways, which looks so beautiful. Again, it was staggered but the ceilings are so high that all you feel is this gorgeous warm wood grain, barely even noticing the staggered seams.

In the primary bedroom, we were again worried about the lack of beam situation and even thought about adding them. But we just went for it and I’m so glad we did. It’s just so pretty.

Should Your Wall/Ceiling Wood Match Your Flooring?

Listen, not saying it would for sure look bad, but we all agreed that by choosing a ceiling wood that was complementary, but different both in tone and in size, it would help it from looking like we just over-ordered flooring and threw it on the ceiling. As you can see the flooring is 8″ wide and Drift is 6″ wide. We think that the smaller width looks better on the ceiling than a wider one. I love it so much.

Wait, Did They Get The “All Wood” Dream Room?

So here’s what happened – we realized that after they clad all the ceilings in wood there was a decent amount of overage. Around the same time, we weren’t happy with the library/office being painted blue (more about that here – the color was great, but the wrong room for it – which I always voiced, tbh). As we were deciding what to repaint it, Katie asked, with hope, “How much leftover wood do we have???” We did the calculations and in 10 minutes we went from kinda bummed about this room to being absolutely elated – I’ve never seen my SIL so excited. This room would be 100% wood and it quickly has become our favorite room in the house.

Do You Install The Wood Horizontally Or Vertically On Walls?

This was the last big question – we decided both ways could look good, but would give a different look/feel. We felt that the vertical would give it a slightly more ’70s vibe as well as accentuate the very high ceilings – both good things. But installing them horizontally would give it a cozier feel, giving “log cabin” (in the loosest sense), and since this is a “river cabin” (also loose term) we went with that. We are very very happy about it.

All the Stuga wood in the house, MAKES this shell already stunning even before furniture. It’s a no-regret situation that you dream of during a long renovation. A huge thanks to Stuga for making beautiful wood flooring (for walls and ceiling, too) and making my bro and sister’s, “you can’t have enough wood” dreams come true. I’m very excited to show you more early next year.

Flooring: Shell
Wall/Ceiling: Drift

*Architect: Anne Usher
**General Contractor: JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction
***Interior Designers: Emily Henderson (me!) and Max Humphrey
****Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post Can You Put Stuga Wood Flooring On The Walls And Ceiling? You Sure Can (With Some Tips) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

A Moody Australian Office That Only Took 2 Weeks – Start To Finish

Every once in a while we get a DM or email about an amazing space to potentially publish on the blog. So when we got a message from Smac Studio, an Australian design firm, it was an immediate YES! Their work is stunning. Take a peek at more of their projects here. And while the majority of us aren’t in need of a design studio makeover, there is so much inspiration to gather from this space. Principal of Smac Studio, Shona McElroy, designed this whole space in TWO DAYS and completed it in TWO WEEKS. Let’s all take a second to collectively pick our jaws off the floor. I really need to take a page out of their book. Actually, maybe I’ll just take the whole book:) One thing Shona said that I loved was that when designing any space, their first concept is the best and this studio/office was a testament to that. A true reminder that trusting your gut usually pays off. Ok, ready to see the befores??

Even seeing the hundreds (and maybe thousands at this point) of before and afters, I am still amazed at the power of design and transformation. I know you’ve only gotten a sneak peek of the after in the opening photo but my god are you about to be wowed.

This building is 100-plus years old and very much resembles the Victorian terrace-style homes in the Paddington, Sydney area where it’s located. Fun Fact! As a commercial building, it previously was the home to a jeweler, a florist, an organic food store, and more. Basically, this baby is rich in history and it was time to bring it back to life as well as be a showcase of their firm’s aesthetic.

And with some beautiful paint (and beautiful decor pieces), a design studio was born. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this two-story space is only about 538 sq/ft in total, 269 sq/ft per floor! Small space maximization was definitely a top priority which I’ll get more into in a minute. But as for the photo above, I’m a die-hard long art-ledge fan. I think they are so elegant and practical for say, the indecisive designer (like myself). Of course, for a design studio, they are extremely practical for displaying ever-changing art, mood boards, etc but that’s also why they are great for a home. It’s such an easy way to be able to showcase your beautiful art and then switch it out for a fresh new look. The best part is that you don’t have to make any unnecessary holes in your wall. I was just at a friend’s trying to nudge her into installing one but maybe I just should do it in my home. Actually, why haven’t I done that yet??

I had to include this photo because it’s just beautiful. I love a real-life mood board so much.

But back to the office design. The mood board you see is actually a covered-up doorway that once connected this building to the one next door, which they happily took advantage of. What a smart way to use what you’ve got. Also, the dark green color choice was important to the Shona to not only create a slightly unconventional color palette for the space but also to make it feel grander (remember each floor is just north of 250 sq/ft). Like Emily, Shona feels that painting a room white won’t always make it feel bigger. Instead, choose a deep, warm tone and add decor like mirrors to help bounce the light around. That’s going to make the space feel bigger. This is also a smart move for a design firm that can show in person a bold color is a great choice.

Oh, and that beautiful rug was designed by Shona with the Australian rug brand, Hali! From what I can tell they only ship within Australia but I could be wrong. Regardless, have a look because all of them are gorgeous.

As you saw in the before photos, this fireplace was already there which adds a ton of character (the dream) and those aviator-style chests are a great style contrast (that also gives them a ton of sample storage). Win-win.

One tip for small-space designing is to play with large-scale pieces. I know it seems counterintuitive and that you’d want to get only small pieces, both furniture and decor. And of course, you don’t want everything oversized so that your home feels completely overcrowded but pick moments where you go big. Art is definitely the easiest, and in my opinion, is guaranteed to make your room feel bigger and make you look like a design pro. I have the oversized piece of art to prove it. So another win-win.

From the before photo, this bathroom got a huge glow-up. The only thing I wish was different was that we could see more of it! But that paint color is absolute perfection and I love that she went with a silver faucet against the warm walls. Oh, and that incredible cool mirror is custom from a company called fform which is also in Australia:)

Now, moving downstairs they created a beautiful lounge/client area. The mix of materials makes my heart sing. All of these pieces above are also from fform and I want each and every one of them.

So the curves of the green bench are beautiful and that pop of pink stone is the perfect color and material contrast.

Here’s that opening photo in its full form. I really love the juxtaposition of all the styles coming together to create such a layered, unique, and yet welcoming space. The richness of the burgundy rug (also one of Shona’s designs) along with thrifted chairs (dream score!), and dark walls beautifully contrast the light-toned sofa, painting, and other decor accents. It just feels exciting but not visually overwhelming if that makes sense.

And I love this kind of rounded motif she chose for the larger pieces. Both the take and sofa are from fform and a fun fact about the rug is that colours were inspired by Shona’s favorite dress, “an Oscar de la Renta gown I picked up at a charity sale.”

Finally, we have to talk about this cabinetry – the real small space hack of the whole space. Here’s what Shona had to say about it, “I think the cabinetry is really successful. It hides all our samples, our aircon, our kitchenette and our bathroom. Even though we used 600mm to put it in, it makes the space feel bigger. The rope profiling is modern and classic at the same time, and a little bit fun.”

I couldn’t agree more that it’s a success. The mirrors bounce the light around the space, making it feel larger, the style feels like it’s paying homage to the style of the building and creating (yet again) a beautiful contrast to the modern decor pieces. Oh, and that I’m sure having all that storage is a incredible:)

That’s it for today’s beautiful design offering. Thank you to Shona and her team for sending this tour through and hope you all loved it as much as we did.

Oh, but before I go let’s just once again see the before and afters side by side for a final design dopamine hit.

Ya, I feel pretty inspired too:)

Love you, mean it.

*Design and Styling by Smac Studio
**Photos by Dave Wheeler

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The Link Up: Em’s Favorite New Christmas Decor Piece, A Chic Festive Sweater, And 7 Great Gift Ideas For Your Coworker (Under $30)

Happy Sunday and happy December if you can even believe it! We spent the week catching up from Thanksgiving week and now we are in prep mode for our winter break that Emily so GENEROUSLY gives us at the end of each year. Well actually, Caitlin is currently on her way to her annual bucket list adventure! Fingers crossed we have an exciting blog post to recap like last year Ok, links?

via devolvia devol

This week’s house tour is another stunning kitchen by the one and only deVOL. This kitchen is calm, grand, and full of character. That island is clearly the true star but the pendants and mouldings are stealing our hearts too! To see even more photos head here.

From Emily: When it comes to decorating outside of our house it’s really hard for me to put in too much of an effort because we aren’t on a street – i.e. no one sees our house besides us and friends when they come over. But I wanted something, it just needed to be easy and high-impact. Since our house is bright white we went with colorful lights (and we love them, although they are certainly bright) and then I bought what I think are the best inflatable ball ornaments on the market. I love these because they have a real-looking top (versus just being inflatable) and honestly they do not look like they are inflatables, they look like large round ball sculptures. I can use them every year (they are a bit of an upfront investment, ranging from $35-$49 each). But the kids love them, they were SO EASY and I think pop so well in our yard. 10/10 recommend.

From Gretchen: My friend is in town staying with me to celebrate her birthday and when she crashes here she requires three very specific things to make her stay comfortable: the squishiest of pillows off of my bed (I like a flat pillow, so this works out), a table or surface big enough to do a 1000 piece puzzle, and a very specific sleeping eye mask of mine I bought a few years ago from Ban.do. It’s slightly padded, very silky, and is embroidered with the phrase “HAPPY PLACE”. Since she’s visiting for her birthday, it only felt right to gift her an eye mask of her very own and thankfully Ban.do still carries them, just with different embroidery. I snagged this “Greetings From Paradise” mask for her because she loves the color green and sleeping is her favorite form of vacation. We can both attest to the comfort level of this mask (it’s like wearing a pillow on your face) and I just can’t get over how cute the design is. A great gift for the nap-lover in your life and currently on sale!

From Jess: If you’re looking for a funny but thoughtful podcast that’s all about modern dating may I introduce you to the U Up? podcast hosted by Betches cofounder, Jordana Abraham, and comedian, Jared Freid. You definitely don’t have to be single to enjoy it but if you are, you will absolutely relate:) I love their dynamic, I love when they open up, and I’m never not having a great time when I’m listening (which is most of the time right now since they have I think 7 years of episodes. The dream!).

Also From Jess: If you’ve also fallen in love with all of Emily’s striped velvet pillows (like these, this one, or this one), I happened upon this VERY affordable option while Black Friday shopping. It’s not an exact dupe but it’s totally the vibe and looks much more expensive than it is.

photo by veronica crawford | from: affordable party outfit ideas + the ehd holiday party

Jess here! So we had planned to do a full-on coworker/neighbor gift guide for this week but given that we just had the biggest sale weekend of the year and there has been no shortage of gift guides on the internet, we thought we’d pass, especially since Arlyn did such a cute, thoughtful one that was less product focused on Thursday. But as a gift guide fan myself and someone who technically already started pinning for coworker/neighbor guide I thought I’d share just a handful of great AFFORDABLE ideas I really loved in time for your holiday parties (these should all ship really fast too). Plus, Gretchen had already made that super cute opener for the original post, and the world needed to see it! Ok, here we go:

Small Pillar Candle | Brown Marble Vanity Tray | Terracotta Tray ($15)

The first item is that very cool pillar candle from H&M and it’s only $15 (there’s a green one too!)! To me it’s a win/win, you either get a non-designy person something cool but not too flashy for their desk or home OR this is an affordable piece a design-loving coworker will love! Plus, since it’s a candle it’s not something they have to keep forever if they want to light it (and not use it more as an art object). If you want to up the ante, I love the idea of adding a small stone tray like the one in the middle (only $17). This is a chic and affordable gift set they can put anywhere in their home but is also a great addition to a desk. But an extra cool catchall tray/bowl like the one on the far right as a stand-alone gift is so fun. It’s only $15 and is something that someone might see and like but never think they “need”:) Caitlin got me something similar a few years ago and I love it! It’s in my living room as I type.

Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment ($22) | Graza Drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Finishing Oil ($18)

Ok, I’ve been using this lip treatment/gloss for about a month now and it’s THE BEST. It keeps my lips so moisturized (something they usually aren’t) and they legit look fuller if I’m consistent with it but doesn’t have that annoying “lip plumping” burn (IYKYK). I forgot it in my car when I left for Thanksgiving in Santa Fe (aka the desert) and let’s just say I was begging for it when I returned. It may seem like a small gift, but your makeup-wearing friend or coworker will thank you forever. It’s that good. Then a gift that is consumable and everyone will love is a great olive oil. This one is a finishing oil but this brand has a cooking oil too (and the branding is so fun!). There’s a variety pack of both for $40 if you have a bigger budget but adding a good salt is also a perfect way to make it a little bit of a bigger gift!

Trigger Point Massage Tool ($22) | Apple AirTag (1 Pack for $30)

Another gift that people likely won’t buy for themselves but will LOVE when they get is this trigger point massage tool. I have it, my dad has it, and a sweet reader even emailed me about it when she read that my dad deals with back pain. Needless to say, it’s great! This is also kind of a perfect gift to give to a coworker since they likely sit in a chair a good chunk of the day and would love a little after-work back massage. Oh, and this magic contraption is only $22! It’s also a great white elephant gift:) Lastly, I chose an Apple AirTag. This one is the most expensive on the list at $30 but I would LOVE to get this. It’s so practical, not too big, and they’ll never lose their keys, suitcase, or whatever else they use it for again. They might even call you a hero;)

Well, that concludes our mini coworker gift guide. Hope it helps and back to The Link Up! P.S. Mal’s link would also make a great coworker gift too.

From Mallory: I recently snagged this personalized Airpod case and LOVE IT. It comes in lots of colors (I got it in black) and I love how chick it looks (especially paired with my black leather purse, ya feel??) It would make an excellent gift for someone (or for yourself)!!

One of our favorites, Dabito, did an awesome collab with Brooklinen!! The patterns are fun yet the colors are super versatile. But of course, there had to be an awesome pop of color with that great mustard throw. Go check it all out here and below are some of our favs. Congrats, Dabito!

Dabito Luxe Sateen Reversible Duvet Set | Dabito Dreamweave Waffle Throw Blanket | Dabito Luxe Sateen Core Sheet Set

From Caitlin: The best part about having a boyfriend with a Criterion Channel subscription is that sometimes, you’ll be sitting and feeling restless on a Sunday night, and he’ll pose a question like, “hey, do you want to watch a documentary about the people who make 85% of the world’s carpets, including all of the crazy psychedelic patterned ones that coat hotels and airports and city busses and such?” and then suddenly, 90 minutes have passed, and you’re staring at the screen, mouth agape and in awe, because 90 minutes was NOT ENOUGH TIME. Y’all, I am begging you to add Carpet Cowboys to your to-be-watched list. I wish it had been made into a series – it captured an incredible slice of life in Dalton, GA. I loved it. (PS. Highly recommend a Criterion Channel subscription for the cinephile in your life. It’s a great last-minute gift!)

Also From Caitlin: I bought this cherry red sweater on Black Friday and I LOVE IT. It’s a little lighter than I’d anticipated, but it works in my favor as the drape and movement are really, REALLY pretty. A lot of my sweaters leave me feeling a bit like the Michelin man – thick and dense, you know? – but this one is the perfect weight to wear year-round. I’ll be living out of a carry-on for the next 3 weeks, and it made the final cut for my travel capsule wardrobe – I swear, it’s that good. 100% merino wool, too!

From Arlyn: Since I had my daughter almost three years ago, I’ve struggled to find a way back to myself in a lot of ways, especially when it came to how I thought about my body and just general well-being. After a conversation with a mom friend about this topic, she told me she had started seeing a dietician that was more therapy than meal plan and it sounded like something that might be beneficial to me. I had worked with a nutritionist in the past that kind of just put me on a calorie deficit, told me to track my food, gave me some tips (that I already knew because I do know a lot about food and nutrition) and it just wasn’t what I needed. I signed up for Dietician Live in early October and it has been so eye-opening for me. The dietician I got paired with is so wonderful, and we get a 1-hour block every week to talk virtually. Set goals, talk through any of my mental blocks (there are many), and just generally have someone holding me gently accountable and helping me completely change the way I think about food and weight loss. I realize this sounds kind of like a weird paid promotion, but it 100% is not. I was able to process it through my insurance, and it’s fully covered under preventative care. I’m SO happy and cared for, and just wanted to tell everyone here in case you’re looking to add someone to your health team. The second part of my recommendation is this recipe she shared with me that I’ve made on repeat the last few weeks to satisfy my need for daily chocolate intake. These black bean brownies are RIDICULOUSLY good, full of fiber and protein, and don’t have any “fake” ingredients like artificial sweeteners or protein powders. My daughter and I are obsessed with them, and I know you will be, too.

Thanks for stopping by and hanging out with us! See you all tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo via deVOL

The post The Link Up: Em’s Favorite New Christmas Decor Piece, A Chic Festive Sweater, And 7 Great Gift Ideas For Your Coworker (Under $30) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

A Few Festive (And Fun) Holiday Outfit Ideas (That Feel Easy To Wear)

I struggle with “cocktail attire,” as I don’t love the pressure to look “nighttime” in a tiny little dress. But I do NOT struggle with “festive clothes,” especially during the holidays. I went shopping, hoping to find 1-2 new things, and whoops, found a few more. I hope if nothing else it gives you some ideas on what you might wear to work events, neighborhood parties, or potlucks (outside of the “ugly sweater” which I also love and mostly buy vintage).

The Velvet Jacket

Jacket | Tank Top (no longer available) | Jeans | Boots (similar) | Pearl Necklace | Gold Necklace | Silver Tote

This jacket says “I want to be holiday-friendly” but with just one piece. Of course, you could dress it up over a dress or a mini skirt, but I think on its own over jeans it still feels festive and totally comfortable (and the green color definitely has a lot of longevity, versus a brighter red). The white tank is from Free People via Shopbop, the jeans are new Madewell barrel jeans, the shoes are old, the silver bag is from Anthro, necklaces are from Anthro and J.Crew. Big fan of these barrel jeans from Madewell – I know that barrel jeans are everywhere but these have the best cut and are on the more affordable side. They aren’t toooo wide or tooooo high-waisted (more mid-rise). The cut is GREAT and I like where it hits (ankle length).

SURPRISE! We are trying out a fun new feature where instead of uploading graphics with links underneath, the graphics themselves will be clickable. So here are a few more very cute velvet blazers to check out! (They might take a second to upload, FYI).

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My First (And Maybe Last) Faux Leopard Fur Jacket

Faux Fur Leopard Jacket (+ similar) | Black Pants | Boots | Earrings | Jumbo Holiball

I’m not going to say that every woman needs to have at least one leopard faux fur coat in their closet, but I’m sure someone fancier than I would say that. It does seem like a pretty good staple for special occasions (and so warm). This one is SO SOFT and I think really well priced. It has pockets, has a great color combo, and can easily be dressed down with jeans and some pointy heels or dressed up over a dress or skirt.

The Holiday Blouse I Bought In Two Colors

Blouse | Jeans | Heels | Pearl Necklace | Gold Necklace

As Kaitlin put it when she first saw me in this shirt, “NOW THAT’S A ‘BLOUSE'”. I know this top isn’t for everyone (it’s not particularly sexy), but it’s absolutely giving 1990 Martha Stewart in the best of ways for me. It’s blue and green plaid TAFFETA!!!…. with pretty covered buttons and massive puff sleeves. It’s so fun to wear, feels very me, but in a bit of a Trad Wife costume. Of course, I dressed it down here with distressed drop crotch jeans (it’s voluminous so I like putting something more streamlined on the bottom) but I wish I had worn it with a tighter waist (it’s a really thin fabric that is easy to tuck). The patent leather Mary Jane’s heels come in many colors and are so cute. I also bought this top in black velvet which is really drapey and soft, FYI (it comes in a lot of colors).

I found A LOT of great “party blouses” so here are more that I loved (just click the photo to see more):

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A Festive Powersuit:)

Jacket | Pants | Boots (similar) | Earrings

I’m obsessed with this floral set, but TBH the legs came in so long that I didn’t have time to hem them and they are ridiculous. I put the top on the gift guide but hadn’t tried on the pants so I was happy that the quality and colors are awesome. I would absolutely wear this to a holiday function where I needed to look fun, but more sophisticated (i.e. a work party?). But I would also wear it to a cocktail party in lieu of a little dress or for a speaking engagement. It’s just powerful but still feminine. Maybe not the most festive holiday outfit, but I wanted to show it off anyway.

A Bold Mini

Sweatshirt | Mini Skirt | Boots | Earrings | Gold Necklace

Ok, this is very, very “me” if I had to do “cocktail attire”. A tiny silver sequin skirt (this one is from Reformation, but I’ve seen this Target one on social that looks really good) and a vintage-inspired sweatshirt (Anine Bing via Shopbop). Throw on some over-the-knee boots (that come in a lot of different leather colors) and some jewelry and I am totally ready to go out and feel cute, but still with that casual vibe.

I think a sequin skirt is such a good party attire investment. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, and New Year’s. Below are some more great options with some additional lengths:)

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A Sequin Sweater??

Sequin Sweater | Black Pants | Boots | Gold Necklace | Earrings

I LOVE this sweater – the color is so pretty and the inside is knit so it’s really cozy for being covered in sequins. I dressed it up a bit with black (waxed) trousers, but I would more likely wear this with jeans to a holiday event. It feels festive and fun, but since the color is more understated (a really rich coppery aubergine) it isn’t as bold. The top is a wide mock turtleneck and it’s a boxier cut (I’m wearing a small) with skinny arms. Just so easy to wear and so comfortable for “sequins”.

So while I love the sweater I’m wearing, there are a ton of great sequin tops on the market. These are some of my top pics:

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The Sequin Long Blazer

Sequin Jacket | T-Shirt (similar) | Jeans | Boots | Bag (similar) | Pearl Necklace | Gold Necklace | Earrings | Jumbo Holiball

Along the same lines as the velvet blazer, a really festive jacket like this dressed up any outfit. This sequin jacket is more of a long blazer, duster even. It has really great firm shoulders that create a nice drape that is really flattering (not trying to be flattering, instead just a straight drop in a good way. Shoes are from Madewell (I liked the simplicity and the sharper toe with the fancier long jacket). Same barrel pants and a Clare V. purse I’ve had forever.

Hope this post gave you some ideas and made you feel even more excited about celebrating the holidays. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post A Few Festive (And Fun) Holiday Outfit Ideas (That Feel Easy To Wear) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

An EHD Vintage Finds Show-And-Tell!! (+ The 3 CRAZY Steals We Got)

Per usual the EHD gals have been vintage shopping. Honestly, we’re always on the hunt but since we all had a little something to share (and three MASSIVE steals!), we thought a blog post was in order. I mean aren’t we all vintage lovers, intoxicated by the hunt?? So buckle up those seat belts and get ready for a very exciting, very versatile EHD vintage haul. Let’s go!

Emily

Someone is very proud of her vintage finds:) Let’s do a show and tell, shall we?

I have a vision for this winter moose painting, I do. You see, next Christmas we are shooting our house decked out for the holidays for, get this, Christmas of 2027. SOO, I have a year to come up with some new ideas but I know I have the best shot at these ideas while I’m in the spirit (aka now). So I found this painting and thought it would be so fun to do a winterscape gallery wall in the entry with all vintage paintings. How cute would that be?? I bought this in Aurora and love the moose

I certainly didn’t need this and for $200 it wasn’t cheap, but I loved it and honestly, I had waited in line at the Scandinavian market for a while and wanted to leave with something I was excited about. It’s a very pastoral oil painting by an artist who has sold pieces for $15k so I’ll just go ahead and assume it’s worth $15k which means it was a STEAL!

Also, I got the cutest lettuce wear chip and dip I ever did see for either $1 or $5 (I like to say everything is $1 but maybe it’s $5, I almost immediately lie to myself with vintage stuff to rationalize spending the dough).

Beautiful hand-painted broken plates for $1 each These would look so pretty hung in a kitchen and I have thought about it, but for now, I love them and just couldn’t resist spending $5 on the lot.

I love the idea of this Scandi folk art candle holder and for $5 I had to get it. Now I need to have a sweet little luncheon with these new vintage linen plaid napkins. It’s all so sweet.

Caitlin

You may have already heard me yappin’ about these lamps, but YAP I MUST. I scored these two charming wooden lamps for $20 a pop. I loved their shape, their construction, and their heft. (This photo doesn’t do their scale justice – they’re almost 2′ tall and crafted from sturdy, solid wood, so they’re BEEFY. In the complimentary way, of course.) Normally I do a first pass of the entire flea market before buying anything – I want to get my bearings, see if there are any pieces with better pricing elsewhere, etc. – but these were a first-pass score for me. I couldn’t leave them behind! (The price tag helped, obviously.)

I schlepped these behemoths around the Rose Bowl parking lot for TWELVE MILES. That’s almost a half marathon. (Which is ironic, seeing as the idea of participating in some sort of actual, intentional, planned half marathon makes me break out in a cold sweat. But if you were to say, “hey, do you want to wake up at 4 AM and then walk in circles around a parking lot for 4 hours while navigating an increasingly-growing crowd and yanking 40 pounds of lamps behind you,” I’d be first in line.) ANYWAY – they were worth the sacrifice because a bit of provenance research led me to discover that these cuties are 90 years old, French, and worth a pretty penny. (No offense, Ben Folds, but I am the luckiest.)

But wait: there’s more. You know that part of the Rose Bowl that’s kind of, like, separate? There are aisles and aisles of retailers near the entrance, and then there’s that long skinny stretch (pictured above), and then there’s a handful of 4 or 5 booths that exist in their own little quiet universe on the fringe of the parking lot? Well, that part is a bit of a trek, BUT IT ROCKS. (This information is for your eyes only, FYI. I don’t need all of your friends swarming my secret spot.)

Case in point: I made the long walk (while hauling those lamps, no less) and, at the end of my travels, I discovered this $120 antique butcher block. I HAVE NEVER PURCHASED SOMETHING SO QUICKLY IN MY LIFE. (I probably could run a half marathon if you told me there’d be a cheap butcher block at the end, now that I’m thinking about it.)

Two men loaded the butcher block onto a slipshod furniture dolly for me; I offered my two lamps as collateral. I did not consider that it might be difficult to navigate this large piece through crowds, a busy street, dirt, mud, grass, a challenging outcropping of rocks, etc. I also forgot that I, a woman who has undergone a litany of spinal procedures, lacked the physical strength to lift an antique butcher block into a vehicle. But no matter – I operated on pure adrenaline, driven by my $120 find. I was like a woman lifting a car off a baby. I do not know how this butcher block made it all the way to my car. I do not know how I lifted it, solo, INTO said car. (Scientists need to research the strength that women seem to be able to tap into when handling furniture alone. It’s extraordinary and universal, I swear.) But our newfound butcher block is safe at home now, where it’s since paid host to a bevy of wonderful dinner ingredients. Long live the Rose Bowl, amirite?!

Jess

At the start of this year, I asked my dad if he could build me a wall cabinet if I drew it out. Being the wonderful guy he is he replied, “Get me a drawing and I’ll do it. JEEZ”. It took me um four months to go pick it up (he’s a 7-hour drive away) and then it sat unfinished in my hallway till last weekend. I’m nothing if not consistent in my painfully slow design process…smh. But when he was down last month we did a little vintage shopping and popped into Liz’s Antquiqe Hardware. If you’ve never been go! It’s not cheap but it’s amazing just to see what they have. It’s there that I found my dream knobs:

Look at these beauties! The perfectly patina’d perforated brass trim and the work MCM wood center and arm, I couldn’t have asked for more. Well actually, “more” is the only thing I wanted. I needed 9 but they only had 7. My dad was generous, yet again, and bought me all 7 with 3 other new brass knobs to fill in the gaps. Now, I don’t think I’ll shoot this area for the blog and the piece isn’t done yet, but so you can see the full picture here’s where I’m at with it…

I’d like to put it on the official record that I am NOT a good wood stainer. Actually, I would describe myself as terrible — the doors are fine (I used a gel stain and it’s so much easier to use) but the body is comically bad. Also, the plan was to have the entire piece be stained that pretty warm MCM brown but my dad used a different type of wood for the doors with a green undertone and the stain looked SO DIFFERENT but not in a way that worked. I tried to ton of options but going a super dark brown was just the best and easiest option. So while it’s not exactly how I pictured it, it’s perfectly good and it’s another piece that reminds me of my dad. I don’t think the brass knobs I got for the skinny doors work stylistically so it’s back to the drawing board there. Oh, and the large door on the bottom right is too big (*cough dad messed up cough*) so I’ll be sanding that down hopefully tomorrow. But at least it’s off the floor, I can put things in it, and we’re in the home stretch, baby!

Mallory

I was desperate for some solid nightstands (they really make all the difference), so when I stumbled upon these for $250 each at the vintage store near me called Salvare Goods, I was SMITTEN. I’m heavily drawn to black lacquer (I love a CB2 kind of glam moment) and I just thought the shape of these was pretty unique. PLUS they’re more of a dark brownish/black so it’s not too intense which I love and they work perfectly with my very special pillow!!!

This qualifies less as a “vintage find” and more as a “fate brought this pillow to me find”. BASICALLY what happened was I went to a bar when I was in New York called Tigre and saw this FABULOUS fabric on the bench seating there. I did some research and found it online – it’s called Dedar Milano Tiger Mountain (and yes, you can guess by the name it is very fancy and expensive).

BUT I was chatting on IG with Stitchroom (the upholstery company that created my dining nook benches from my last apartment) and they said that they happened to have remnants of that fabric and they didn’t know what to do with it so they made me the most incredible pillow!!! I literally sobbed when it arrived. I made a full video on it here if you want to see more!! I’M SO OBSESSED WITH IT!!!

I also found these candle holders at Salvare Goods and thought they were so awesome – it was an immediate “hell yes!!” I find it can be so tough to fill awkward corners in a room, so I thought these could be perfect in my living or dining room. Plus, I love candles SO much so it’s always nice to add a little ambiance:)

It’s true. We got a piano before we even had a dining table. But hey, this piano found us. We needed each other and we didn’t even know it. We stumbled upon this beautiful Baldwin at St Vincent de Paul in LA for only $175 and knew it was fate!! I called my mom (who is an incredible pianist and has a GORGEOUS baby grand Steinway at her house) and was like, “yo should we get this piano?” and she was SHOCKED when she realized it was a Baldwin for that price. Will it be expensive to get it tuned? Probably. But most pianos need to be tuned, it’s always a thing, and at this price, we were certainly willing to try. Worst case my mom said we could swap the keys out and put a keyboard in (which I had never heard of but thought that was a genius idea) or maybe I’ll pick up piano restoration in my spare time (HA). But these bad boys sell for THOUSANDS of dollars online (like this one) and they’re not nearly as pretty as ours imho so it’s worth the hassle.

Oh and speaking of hassle. There’s something you should know if you’re thinking about buying a piano (especially an untuned one like ours) at a thrift store – the cost of delivery for a piano is wildly expensive which is why many people are throwing pianos at you for dirt cheap so you can take it off their hands because they are truly impossible to move. SO to get our piano delivered by the store we bought it at was another $100 (which was curbside only fyi). All in all, once we got it in here it was so pretty that we thought it was so worth it. Now time to look for piano tuners (if you have any recs in LA let me know!!) and a cute piano bench!

Gretch

Both of my vintage finds I picked up at different thrift stores around Portland. The basket I snagged from big-box, Value Village, and when I saw it on the shelf for $6 I about died. It’s hard to know whether or not this basket is truly “vintage,” though judging by the broken handle it came with, I think it would be safe to say. It’s a market basket, or a “bolga” basket, named after the town of Bolgatanga in Northern Ghana. I can only assume that’s where it comes from as it seems to be traditionally woven in elephant grass and the like, complete with a classic leather handle that is so beautifully worn. The colors are so me and I love that it’s slightly misshapen from years of use. Two people stopped me in the store to tell me it was “such a good find” or that they were “so jealous I picked it up first”. I did have to make a slight repair to part of the handle where it came undone. I’m not sure the original weaver/artist would approve of my E600 glue technique to fix it, but function-wise, it works great and looks like it was never busted to begin with! It’s been floating around my living room holding either blankets or lately, Christmas decorations I’m in the process of putting up.

This wooden planter looks like a ’70s dream to me. I spotted it on the floor of this funky hole-in-the-wall thrift store here in Portland called Psanctum Thrift. This shop is mostly filled with clothes but I love popping in to see if there are any hidden gems in their small homewares section. At first, I thought this was some sort of lamp until I got closer and realized it was a planter. I would’ve loved it either way. I’m pretty sure I scored it for around $8! I just think the curved legs are rad, I dig the slatted sides and I appreciate that it sort of sits like a small end table. Not pictured is the enclosed/ inset wooden top that has a hole just big enough for a 6″ pot. My monstera sits perfectly inside and how cute does it look cozied up to my market basket?

Pretty exhilarating, right? Between Em, Caitlin, and Mal’s insane deal scores and all the pretty things, I might need to do a little weekend shopping being this revved up. I mean the Rose Bowl is on Sunday…Happy Friday everyone;)

The post An EHD Vintage Finds Show-And-Tell!! (+ The 3 CRAZY Steals We Got) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Case For The Food Gift & Why It’s Always A Winner

Gift giving tends to fall into one of a few categories. You’re either buying something for someone you have totally figured out and know you nailed it, someone you know super well but after years or decades of gift giving, you’re totally out of ideas, or someone you don’t really know but either feel obligated to in some way, or you legitimately want to do something nice for but are a bit lost on what to get them.

Any time you’re giving a gift, it’s nice to feel like the receiving end either could really use the thing or really wants the thing. It’s so crappy when it’s neither of those scenarios, frankly. Not to mention wasteful.

So today, I have a winning gift idea that always hits, and since the title of the post gives it away, I’ll cut to the chase: Food gifts. Maybe you’re thinking “Arlyn, I’ve got my tin of popcorn/cookies/cellophane-wrapped fruit cake ready to go for my friend/family/kids teacher,” but that’s not really what I’m talking about here. You see, last month, to surprise my husband on a big landmark birthday, I arranged for a close friend he hadn’t seen in over a decade to come into town. It was great, and during the long catch-up part of his visit, we asked about upcoming holiday things: where are you spending it, do you have any fun traditions, are you buying all the kids gifts or does your family do something else?

styling by emily henderson | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: holiday entertaining just got a whole lot easier

Turns out, his family does something else. He went on to explain the merits of food-based gifts and why it’s basically all he gives to adults anymore and it made so much sense. A food item rarely becomes a burden for someone to have to store or find room for, it can be enjoyed right there and then with everyone present if they choose (or can be stashed and saved for a later date to be enjoyed by themselves), and it’s a great way to buy something pretty special for someone they’d likely never do themselves. He also explained how fun it is every year to find just the right bottle of wine for his brother (or maybe it was his brother-in-law) or have the cheesemonger in town put together an array of local offerings for his dad…that kind of thing, and it’s something he looks forward to doing and figuring out.

So, in honor of my husband’s friend’s great idea, and my new-found desire to give everyone in my life a food-based gift, I put together the following guide. But first, some rules:

Rule #1: Food gifts should feel highly personal and special. 

Knowing the gift receiver fairly well and what they do or don’t like to eat is pretty crucial to the successful food gift concept. Otherwise, you risk it feeling like you popped into the nearest TJ Maxx on the way over and grabbed something from their clearance food aisle. There’s a time and place for picking up a decent bottle of wine at the store—say…a neighbor’s holiday open house—but we can do a little (or a lot) better than that.

This is a chance to gift something to someone that they might not be inclined to get for themselves. Maybe you know a baker who struggles to justify buying that super fancy vanilla bean paste, or the coffee connoisseur whose been intrigued by concentrated coffee packs but doesn’t want to spend the money to stray from their everyday go-to. Let your gift of food be something that makes them feel adventurous or luxurious without the financial risk. 

Rule #2: Don’t make the gift receiver do more work. 

While there are some exemptions on my curation below of food gift ideas, think twice before wrapping up a make-your-own-mozzarella kit. The idea here isn’t to add to their to-do list (even if it sounds fun), but rather to have something ready-to-use and -eat. Maybe even something you can enjoy together, or they can easily share with other loved ones. A bag of biscuit mix from a renowned bakery? Sounds nice, but you know what’s better? Already made biscuits from a renowned bakery. Throw in a tub of pimento cheese and jam to round it out. 

Rule #3: Get something not necessarily holiday-related.

Let me explain this one a bit because it’s completely subjective to me and my low tolerance for unending amounts of sweets. Don’t get me wrong, give me a tin full of cookies and blondies and all that jazz and I’d be a happy girl in theory. But I get so sugared and baked good-ed out before Christmas even comes around because it comes from everywhere. Cookie exchanges, steaming cups of hot chocolate while strolling and looking at lights, boxes of goodies from friends, bake sales at my kid’s school…for me, it’s too much.

But give me a beautiful array of fancy tinned fish I’d admire but never warrant purchasing, and now we’re talking. Specialty olive oils for my next pizza night? Yes, please! Sure, I have chocolates on this list because some people can’t get enough, but don’t forget to think outside the confections!

design and styling by arlyn hernandez | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s warm (& sort of last-minute diyed) holiday reveal

Okay, on to some fun ideas (that frankly, I wish someone would gift to me as I’d be a gracious and grateful recipient!). Keep in mind that you can, of course, buy these specific items, but mostly, they’re to give you ideas that you can customize toward the liking of the recipient (though thankfully, a lot of these can also just be shipped directly to their home in case you aren’t seeing them in person this holiday season).

For The Big-Bold-Flavor Cook

Loisa Flavor Trio Combo, $29 | Essie Spice Signature Sauce Collection, $46 | Diaspora Co. Nadir Nahdi’s Fave Spices, $75

I can think of a handful of my friends who would love any of these, and I can think of a handful of others who wouldn’t know what on earth to do with them. So, that’s where rule #1 comes into play again. But if you have a loved one who loves cooking and exploring new flavors, any of these would be so great (spoken by a person who loves to cook and explore new flavors). The Loisa trio is rooted in Puerto Rican food but could likely work in so many other cuisines, the box from Essie Spice is all sauces, and the Diaspora collection is as potent as the tins are beautiful for anyone interested in Indian cuisine.

For The Friend With A Sweet Tooth

Levain Bakery Signature Cookie Assortment, from $29 | Compartés Chocolate Covered Fruits Assortment Gift Box, $70

A big batch of chunky, heavenly Levain Bakery cookies is one of my favorite gifts for anyone in my life who’s a cookie lover. They’re pricey per unit but so, so good. And these chocolate covered fruits from Compartés are out of this world beautiful, so could be a great option for someone extra special you want to impress.

Jeni’s Ice Creams Best Sellers Collection, $58 | Bourbon Caramel Sauce, $15

Ice cream is a perfect dessert-y gift to give this time of year because it can be popped in the freezer for whenever someone is ready to satisfy their sweet tooth, even if that’s not for a few more weeks. Jeni’s brambleberry crisp is one of my all-time favorites, and that’s a deeply rooted chocolate lover saying this. Oh, and throw in some bourbon caramel sauce for a real treat.

For The Cook Who Loves Little Luxuries

Brightland The Pizza Night Set, $89 | Flamingo Estate Olive Oil & Fuyu Persimmon Vinegar, $98

I know this isn’t a “what to buy Arlyn” gift guide, but for anyone here in my life reading this, feel free to buy me anything, especially this fun “Pizza Night” set from Brightland. The olive oil bottles themselves are already so beautiful and gift-worthy, but throw in an excuse to host a pizza party, and I’ll take it. But if you want something more elevated (and your budget has some more wiggle room), Flamingo Estate has this lovely box set of heritage olive oil and an exciting fuyu persimmon vinegar!

Maldon Sea Salt, Set of 2, $22 | Herbs de Provence in Ceramic Crock, $20

Maldon salt is my “make it a little more special” staple (I have a giant tub of it from Costco), so any cook in your life would 100% love this. Same with a great crock of herbs de Provence.

Rubirosa Sunday Sauce Kit, $70

Rubirosa is a famous red-sauce joint restaurant in NYC and they’re known for their vodka sauce (on top of other things). This awesome kit brings anyone who receives it straight to New York without the flight (or the impossible waitlist/reservation).

For The Coffee Or Tea Lover

Kloo Concentrated Coffee Tasting Set, $75 | Farmhouse Pottery Vermont Creamed Honey, $20 | Sachai Tea Co. Chai Concentrate Sampler, $35

Concentrated coffee is gaining traction even amongst coffee snobs, and this set from Kloo is so gorgeous. It would be such a special treat to receive and explore something new for anyone locked into their coffee routine. And if your recipient is more of a tea drinker, there’s a concentrate for that, too! (And the creamed honey is just so decadent no matter which way you lean.)

For The Bruncher

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit Share the Love Gift Basket, $55 | Marmalade Grove “Party Of Six” Gift Set, $54 | Vermont Farmhouse Maple Syrup, $38 for 16 oz

Biscuits with pimento cheese, swoon-worthy marmalades, Vermont-farmed maple syrup…any breakfast person in your life will absolutely love any of the above, I promise.

For The Adventurous Snacker

Fishwife The Tinned Fish Party Pack, $55 | Crave Japan Mystery Drinks And Snacks Crate, $40 | Ayoh The Works 4 Sando Sauces, $40

Just like coffee and tea concentrates, “luxury” tinned fish is kind of all the rage right now amongst those who consider themselves foodies. And there’s no more of-the-moment brand than Fishwife, imho. For something a little bit less niche, if you have a snacker in your life, I bet they’ll have a lot of fun with this mystery box full of Japanese snacks. And if that’s still not quite right, mayo and sandwich lovers rejoice, because chef Molly Baz recently released her brand Ayoh! and you get the whole flavor range for $40.

For The Baker

Heilala Vanilla Paste with Gift Box, $25 | Penzeys 4 Jar Bakers’ Assortment Gift Pack, $37

A tub of $25 vanilla paste (that’s raved about, FYI) and $37 spices (from a very beloved brand) are just not how I would spend my own money even though I bake fairly regularly. But that’s not based on the items themselves, rather that it seems like too much of a splurge. Which is exactly why they’d make awesome gifts!

For The Cheese Devotee

Cowgirl Creamery The Ultimate Cowgirl Cheese Collection, $150 | Classic Medium Cheese & Charcuterie Board, $159

Somehow, cheese is one of the most expensive gift ideas on this whole list. Who woulda thunk it? You could very easily find a great local cheese shop and ask the cheese monger/shop worker to help you put together a far more affordable spread. You could also send a fabulous assortment from Cowgirl Creamery across the country (via Goldbelly, which you should check out for a huge variety of food-related gifts) or a full charcuterie board from Boarderie.

For The Wellness Seeker

Ghia Non-Alcoholic Berry Apéritif, $38 | Stone Hollow Farmstead Strawberry Rose Drinking Vinegar, $19

Ghia isn’t new on the scene, but it’s still buzzy and feels like a fancy bottle of something with a little more thought than a Trader Joe’s bottle of wine (no hate, I love TJ wine). Plus, it’s non-alcoholic so it’s still viable for anyone in your life who doesn’t imbibe. And while I think a drinking vinegar is not for everyone, if you know someone who already sips apple cider vinegar for health benefits, this would be a thoughtful and exciting thing to try, I think.

For Someone Who Appreciates A Good Steak

Best of Porter Road Box, $145

Once upon a time, I would regularly receive a yearly box of fancy meat and cheeses from a client of a previous job. I looked forward to that box of meat every December. Everyone on my team did and it became a yearly talking point. While this one breaks rule #2 (don’t make someone do more work), I doubt any carnivores in your life would mind throwing a very good-quality steak on the flat top/grill/stove at any point in the year.

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So there you have it my friends. There are so many ways you can take the food gift and have a lot of fun with it. And if it becomes “your thing,” I can almost guarantee that it’ll become a yearly treat for the receiving end to see what you come up with for them. It’s truly just such a useful gift that requires very little burden, so to me, that’s a win-win.

Enjoy, happy gift giving, and merry everything.

Opening Image Credits: Styling By Emily Henderson | Photo By Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Holiday Entertaining Just Got A Whole Lot Easier

The post The Case For The Food Gift & Why It’s Always A Winner appeared first on Emily Henderson.

I’m Adding Patterned Wallpaper Throughout The House (Projects I’ve Been Putting Off Forever)

I am on a decision-making kick. I think with my creative headspace being freed up from most of the river house being done, I’ve had more time and desire to dig in again on the farm (more to come on the river house, obviously, but the renovation is done and decorating is so much easier). A few spaces in the house have low-key bugged me – they just didn’t feel finished but they also weren’t a mental priority. So here are a few of them and what I’m thinking…

The Laundry Closet

She’s boring and doesn’t need a lot but could use storage and either paint or wallpaper. This is on the second-floor landing and it’s where we do the bulk of the laundry (adjacent to the kid’s rooms). I realize that as a design blogger, I have a very basic-looking washer/dryer but I don’t care. Listen, I’m a little fearful of front-loading washers because they are harder to keep mold out, I’m also fearful of smart appliances because it seems like more can go wrong. So I asked my sister (who used to work at an appliance repair shop for years) which washer/dryer never needs repair (and still has big capacity) and she said without hesitation “Get the Speed Queen and only the Speed Queen”. A plumber who had to be repeatedly been called to service our front-loading washer/dryer in LA also told me the same thing. So yeah, these aren’t beautiful but we are very happy with our Speed Queens (and y’all stop it with the smart appliances and just make really, really simple and basic hardworking and long-lasting appliances again that do their actual job really well, please?).

For this project, we are going to attempt to use Spoonflower’s pre-pasted wallpaper which is supposed to be easier to install than peel-and-stick or unpasted (traditional). So I ordered a ton of samples that felt fun, and yet appropriate in a laundry closet. You might not be able to notice that there is a very subtle ticking stripe wallpaper on the landing walls (up the stairway, too) so this needed to contrast well with it.

I wanted something more fun this time – NOT subtle because this is a laundry closet and a place to do something more interesting (I was inspired by my own art barn, TBH so ready to take some risks again). Spoonflower has a ton of amazing florals but I wanted one that felt more Scandinavian than William Morris (…just for this house, I love William Morris and just used one in another project I’m excited to show you). Also, the color needed to work well with our vintage doors that lean periwinkle. I have a lot of blue in the house so I want to stay within my curated palette and also it needs to look good with the adjacent bathroom (right to the left) that will also have wallpapers (yes, that’s three wallpapers right next to each other).

1. Wonderful World of Scandi Blooms Mid-Century | 2. Chiara Rustic Green | 3. Scandinavian Flowers | 4. Pale Pink Sage and Blue on White Emma Stripe | 5. Americana Floral Stripe Blue Green | 6. Americana Floral Stripe Green | 7. Olive Green on Cream Emma Stripe | 8. Mughal Flowers Cornflower Blue | 9. Portsmouth Blue Stripe | 10. Fancy That Wispy Wildflowers Mint

For this, there is a clear winner. I loved it most when I pulled it out of the packet, then when we hung them all up Gretch had the same #1 pick. Reveal coming early January:)

Kids Bath – FINALLY

It’s ALWAYS bugged me that the creamy white tile just goes into creamy white trim, then drywall. But I was out of design steam for a while so we revealed the room as-is. The last year (no joke) I’ve had these samples up there and I finally made the decision a couple of weeks ago. Now staring at these I’m wondering if I chose the right one!!!! I love them all so much.

Left: Ruskin (Green) | Middle: Folklore Tree (Blue) | Right: Folklore Tree (Sage)

When you look at this photo, the blue one in the middle pops the most, but that is because it works so well with the curtains and the painting (and my shirt). But I actually went with the one of the right (Folklore Tree it’s called, both by Graham and Brown) that has blue undertones in the “trees” but leans more overall green. I also liked the negative space of the creamy white in between the trees and thought it would keep it from being too dark and heavy, which I was worried would just feel sandwiched with the darker tile floor. We are NOT doing the ceiling so I’m likely going to need to add some trim, i.e. crown molding. I felt so 100% about this choice (playful for a kids’ bath, but still Scandi and the organic pattern works really well with the tile, etc). I still think it’s the right choice (and it’s arrived so we aren’t going back) but staring at these here I’m jealous of the blue…

Primary Bath Toilet Room

Left: Coppice (Blue) | Right: Coppice (Sage)

I knew years ago that this tiny water closet would eventually get a wallpaper, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it because the endless house projects felt chaotic (and I just loved the quiet negative space in some of the rooms). But these walls always wanted something “fun”. I’ve loved this pattern forever and felt like it was time to just do it. TBH, I love the blue trees and leaves better than the green, but I was worried that with the blue tile on the floor (and the blue bedroom nearby) that this would feel like just too much. The trees outside all of the pretty windows in the bathroom are part of the color palette of the house and so my hope/thinking is that the green is overall the better choice to offset all the blue.

Our Tiny Hallway Before The Bedroom

1. Verte Dew | 2. Fig | 3. English Garden Blush | 4. Borastapeter Ester Grey | 5. Waldemar Blue | 6. Shirt Stripe White | 7. Waldemar Green | 8. Peonia Forest | 9. Verte Mink | 10. Verte Fennel | 11. Sorry, can’t find the link!

This has been kicked down the road for a couple of years now – mostly because in certain lights (daylight with a lot of sun) the blue paint in the bedroom is too intense for me so I want to repaint (which I quote a quote for and it was $6k so I gave up). Eventually, I want to repaint a softer color in here, paint the ceiling back white, and customize a patterned bed (this bed was designed for the guest room, not this room). So with all those design decisions up in the air (and not really a priority), I want to continue to wait on this little space.

Excited to get these done! xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post I’m Adding Patterned Wallpaper Throughout The House (Projects I’ve Been Putting Off Forever) appeared first on Emily Henderson.