Emily Henderson's Blog, page 30

Need Help For The “Impossible To Shop For Boomer Dad”? Here Are 22 Great Ideas Straight From Jess’ Dad

Jess here, to kick off my pretty great (read: wonderful) dad’s gift guide. I was so happy and touched by how many mentions he got in the EHD survey we did a few months ago. He was pretty happy too when I told him. You guys make him feel like a celeb on these post days:) So naturally, I had to ask him if he would consider writing another guide to not only help you shop for the older men/people in your life (many gifts are good for anyone) but also for you to get your end-of-the-year Les Bunge fix. Let’s just say, he was happy to oblige. I believe the phrase “I gotta give my fans what they want” was mentioned. And if this is your first time meeting my dad, you are in for a treat. And no, I’m clearly not biased. Also, check out his first, second, third, and fourth gift guide posts if you’d like even more great ideas and heartfelt words. You’ll quickly learn he’s a one-of-a-kind:) So without further ado, here’s Les.

So, I don’t believe it’s that time of year again. I swear time didn’t move this fast when I was younger. I used to wait eagerly for Christmas now it just rolls over me like a locomotive. I visited Jess after attending a concert in Los Angeles recently. We spent two days together. It was great. We went antique shopping. I actually bought a cobbler’s bench to use for a coffee table in my newly purchased cabin in the woods. I’ll include a pic or two. We had some great meals together. Our conversations were meaningful. I was only bored for a few seconds at a time. That is so pleasant to me I cannot tell you. Also, her apartment is drop-dead gorgeous. She has her mother’s taste. It is nice being a father of an entirely pleasant human being. We still fight once in a while. Can’t help that. Ha! Anyway, she asked me to cough up another gift guide so here goes. (Note from Jess: He acts as if this isn’t one of his favorite things he does all year.)

from jess: a little everlane dad fashion show with our merrick rug

The Classic Shirt in Corduroy | The Stretch Twill 5-Pocket Pant | The Premium-Weight Crew

Now, the first thing I am going to mention is a store that Jess took me to on my visit. It is called Everlane. I bought some great pants, a couple of shirts (this button-up and tee), and maybe a pair of jeans or two for Jess. Not only are their clothes beautiful, hip, and stylish, but they are reasonably priced, way below what you would expect in an L.A. boutique. (Note from Jess: Should I tell him it’s a national chain and not really a “boutique”?? Nah;) The clothes are awesome either way.)

Microplane® Pro Serrated & Straight Peelers (Set of 2)

I was peeling potatoes before I started this post and I was thinking this is the best potato peeler ever. It is made by Microplane. Everything about it is perfect. I love simplicity. (Note From Jess: If you ever get the opportunity to have his french fries they are THE best. Thank god for the peeler and therefore my stomach.)

Presto 12-Cup Cordless Coffee Percolator

Also in my kitchen sits a 12-cup Presto cordless percolator. I grew up on a percolator and it’s what I prefer. It’s attractive and easy. I got it in black. It also brews great coffee.

Espresso Cups with Wood Handle (Set of 2)

I will make espresso on occasion and found the cutest little espresso cups. They are clear glass with wooden handles, absolutely gorgeous.

my little kitchen i renovated last year (kept the original cabinets but painted the lowers)

Walnut Wood Cutting Board with Handle | Ash Wood Paddle Serving Board

Another thing for the kitchen, I believe cutting boards are display pieces as well as functional. As I travel the planet I am always on the lookout. Some artisans are just breathtaking. I have plenty of artwork in my home but the cutting boards I have hanging get just as much attention. Who knew?

Soho Pebble Sueded Jacket

Since I’m a guy who likes to be cozy, I just bought the cushiest Tru Grit shirt that I have ever had. All of their shirts are cozy but this one takes the cake. If your guy wants a soft and manly shirt Tru Grit is the way to go. Tru Grit makes women’s clothes also. I would imagine they are just as nice.

sonoma county, ca

I live in Sonoma, California. A great place to slow down when the time comes (not there yet). This past year I joined a couple of winery membership programs. Buena Vista Winery is our favorite. It allows me to bring up to 4 guests for a free tasting. I also get discounted wine. There are some purchase requirements but they are minimal. If your person is a wine lover find a local winery and buy them a membership. The first year is on you if they enjoy it then they can keep it. Explore the winery. Some are done beautifully and it’s always better if they have a light food menu. I don’t drink as I am allergic to alcohol (I break out in handcuffs). But I can spend hours at these places with friends because they are done so well. Also, some wineries make their own olive oil too. The packaging is usually unique and the oil is extraordinary. Great gift. (Note from Jess: The handcuff joke is his favorite of all time. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard him tell it. I’ve had to apologize to a lot of waiters over the years, lol.)

Rechargeable Wick Lantern | MoriMori Design Lamp with Loudspeaker

I have come to the conclusion that night lights are a good thing. When I get up in the middle of the night I have literally walked into things hanging on my wall and broke them. Finally, I said to myself “Hey stupid, it’s called a night light”. Geez! I didn’t want those ugly plug-in kinds so I started searching. I didn’t find much but my girlfriend did. She has a good eye for cutesy. One looks like a thin candle in a candlestick holder. It’s operated by touch. It has three light settings. It’s cordless and rechargeable. I leave mine plugged in because I have an outlet close. Then I don’t have to worry about charging it. She then found one that looks like an oil lamp. It has a built-in dimmer and is also rechargeable. Sometimes I will put it on the dinner table for a little romantic ambiance. Anything that makes that department easier is on my “A” list.

Jaspe Boar Bristle Hairbrush | Jaspe Nail Brush with Boar Bristles

In the beauty department, there is a company called KOH-I-NOOR. They are an Italian company of craftsmen. Their brushes are unmatched for beauty and quality. Their prices are probably unmatched also. I have a nail brush and a boar bristle hair hairbrush. Both are the best I’ve ever had. Go figure.

Cowboy Hat Rack Hanger (Set of 2)

If you wear cowboy hats there are some hat hangers for you. They are walnut and beautiful. I’ve got a lot so the come in handy.

Natural Coir Boot Scraper Door Mat

I suppose if you’re wearing the hats you’re wearing the boots. Here is a boot scraper doormat. I absolutely love these simple, great ideas. Blows me away!

Since we have last spoken I have purchased a cabin in the woods for me and my girlfriend. I did it while I was in Italy. So it’s my Roman cabin in the woods. Oh, and that’s my cobbler’s bench in the living room. Cool, right?

Hestia Telescope (Standard Pack)

The night sky is magnificent up there so I bought myself a telescope. It’s a Hestia telescope with a tripod. If you have a stargazer on your list it’s the bomb. The universe we live in is truly the most glorious entity there is. Growing up poor my Dad used to say “Keep your eyes on the ground kid, you never know what you might find.” Once I found a diamond ring. Thanks, Pop! My Mom would say, “Look to the sky and find your dreams.” I sort of compromised and started looking forward. It has served me well but today Mom wins. I look up more than I ever have. Wish I would’ve done more. Better late than never I guess.

AirTag Dog Collar

While I was at the cabin a couple of weeks ago we had a snow storm. It was great for me but my dog, Babe, freaked out and took off (she has never experienced snow). For 30 minutes I was behind her and then I lost sight of her. I figured she was gone. Quite exhausted and emotional, I walked back to the cabin thinking how the hell am I gonna explain this to my girlfriend? All of a sudden she was walking next to me. I wanted to kill her but found myself giving her a hug. Brutal to say the least. After that episode, I bought a collar that carries one of those Apple AirTag luggage trackers. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors. There’s a present for the mutt in your life. She is now always on my phone. Funny since the snow incident she doesn’t wander much anymore. Must be pretty good around here compared to a blizzard.

Stackable Wooden Egg Holders

The other living creatures in this house (not the cabin) are our chickens. They have been quite nice to have. Pretty much maintenance free and they give back. Fresh eggs do not have to be refrigerated because the protective coating on them is not washed off. So we actually display our eggs in a stackable wood holder on our table. Looks great on the kitchen table.

Dewalt Tough Box 8 PC SAE Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set

This post wouldn’t truly be by me if I didn’t have a couple of tools in here. I’m a tool guy in case this is our first time meeting. The Dewalt 8-piece ratcheting wrench set is great to have in the glove box of your car. It’s where they probably will be needed most.

Dewalt Socket Set

Then there’s the Dewalt 34-piece socket set also to be kept in the car. They will never know what good gifts these are until they are broken down on the freeway with an easy fix. On that day you should get flowers if he’s worth a damn.

Snow-Chains Auto Fixing 1 Min Quick Installation Tire-Chains

Also, when that blizzard hit at the cabin, my Ford Bronco got stuck in a ditch that I inadvertently drove into. It made me realize that even with a four-wheel drive vehicle if I’m gonna be in snow country I should have a set of tire chains. You never think of that until after you’re stuck and have a tow truck pull you out. So why not be proactive and buy your person a pair of snow chains? You’ll need the tire size but you can just take a picture of that with your phone. That’s another one of those gifts that won’t be appreciated until they are needed. 

left: jess got me that vintage piece of art of the people dancing – a good gift too | right: watching our cubbies win!

I hope some of these ideas help you. Remember jean jackets never fail. There are always concert tickets. I saw David Foster’s 75th birthday celebration at the Hollywood Bowl last month. It was great. Sporting events are good too. Taking my boy to a Chicago Bears game in a couple of weeks. How can you beat that? Oh yeah, my daughter-in-law gave birth to my first grandchild last month. Baby girl is healthy and beautiful. Do you think I’m gonna buy her any presents this Christmas? Ha! Next year I’m sure I’ll be adding baby gift ideas. Wait till these baby stores get a load of me. Ha! Can’t wait. 

from jess: he’s a star!

Have a great holiday season everyone. 

Affectionately,

Les 

The post Need Help For The “Impossible To Shop For Boomer Dad”? Here Are 22 Great Ideas Straight From Jess’ Dad appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Got An “Impossible To Shop For Boomer Dad”? Here Are 22 Great Ideas Straight From Jess’ Dad

Jess here, to kick off my pretty great (read: wonderful) dad’s gift guide. I was so happy and touched by how many mentions he got in the EHD survey we did a few months ago. He was pretty happy too when I told him. You guys make him feel like a celeb on these post days:) So naturally, I had to ask him if he would consider writing another guide to not only help you shop for the older men/people in your life (many gifts are good for anyone) but also for you to get your end-of-the-year Les Bunge fix. Let’s just say, he was happy to oblige. I believe the phrase “I gotta give my fans what they want” was mentioned. And if this is your first time meeting my dad, you are in for a treat. And no, I’m clearly not biased. Also, check out his first, second, third, and fourth gift guide posts if you’d like even more great ideas and heartfelt words. You’ll quickly learn he’s a one-of-a-kind:) So without further ado, here’s Les.

So, I don’t believe it’s that time of year again. I swear time didn’t move this fast when I was younger. I used to wait eagerly for Christmas now it just rolls over me like a locomotive. I visited Jess after attending a concert in Los Angeles recently. We spent two days together. It was great. We went antique shopping. I actually bought a cobbler’s bench to use for a coffee table in my newly purchased cabin in the woods. I’ll include a pic or two. We had some great meals together. Our conversations were meaningful. I was only bored for a few seconds at a time. That is so pleasant to me I cannot tell you. Also, her apartment is drop-dead gorgeous. She has her mother’s taste. It is nice being a father of an entirely pleasant human being. We still fight once in a while. Can’t help that. Ha! Anyway, she asked me to cough up another gift guide so here goes. (Note from Jess: He acts as if this isn’t one of his favorite things he does all year.)

from jess: a little everlane dad fashion show with our merrick rug

The Classic Shirt in Corduroy | The Stretch Twill 5-Pocket Pant | The Premium-Weight Crew

Now, the first thing I am going to mention is a store that Jess took me to on my visit. It is called Everlane. I bought some great pants, a couple of shirts (this button-up and tee), and maybe a pair of jeans or two for Jess. Not only are their clothes beautiful, hip, and stylish, but they are reasonably priced, way below what you would expect in an L.A. boutique. (Note from Jess: Should I tell him it’s a national chain and not really a “boutique”?? Nah;) The clothes are awesome either way.)

Microplane® Pro Serrated & Straight Peelers (Set of 2)

I was peeling potatoes before I started this post and I was thinking this is the best potato peeler ever. It is made by Microplane. Everything about it is perfect. I love simplicity. (Note From Jess: If you ever get the opportunity to have his french fries they are THE best. Thank god for the peeler and therefore my stomach.)

Presto 12-Cup Cordless Coffee Percolator

Also in my kitchen sits a 12-cup Presto cordless percolator. I grew up on a percolator and it’s what I prefer. It’s attractive and easy. I got it in black. It also brews great coffee.

Espresso Cups with Wood Handle (Set of 2)

I will make espresso on occasion and found the cutest little espresso cups. They are clear glass with wooden handles, absolutely gorgeous.

my little kitchen i renovated last year (kept the original cabinets but painted the lowers)

Walnut Wood Cutting Board with Handle | Ash Wood Paddle Serving Board

Another thing for the kitchen, I believe cutting boards are display pieces as well as functional. As I travel the planet I am always on the lookout. Some artisans are just breathtaking. I have plenty of artwork in my home but the cutting boards I have hanging get just as much attention. Who knew?

Soho Pebble Sueded Jacket

Since I’m a guy who likes to be cozy, I just bought the cushiest Tru Grit shirt that I have ever had. All of their shirts are cozy but this one takes the cake. If your guy wants a soft and manly shirt Tru Grit is the way to go. Tru Grit makes women’s clothes also. I would imagine they are just as nice.

sonoma county, ca

I live in Sonoma, California. A great place to slow down when the time comes (not there yet). This past year I joined a couple of winery membership programs. Buena Vista Winery is our favorite. It allows me to bring up to 4 guests for a free tasting. I also get discounted wine. There are some purchase requirements but they are minimal. If your person is a wine lover find a local winery and buy them a membership. The first year is on you if they enjoy it then they can keep it. Explore the winery. Some are done beautifully and it’s always better if they have a light food menu. I don’t drink as I am allergic to alcohol (I break out in handcuffs). But I can spend hours at these places with friends because they are done so well. Also, some wineries make their own olive oil too. The packaging is usually unique and the oil is extraordinary. Great gift. (Note from Jess: The handcuff joke is his favorite of all time. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard him tell it. I’ve had to apologize to a lot of waiters over the years, lol.)

Rechargeable Wick Lantern | MoriMori Design Lamp with Loudspeaker

I have come to the conclusion that night lights are a good thing. When I get up in the middle of the night I have literally walked into things hanging on my wall and broke them. Finally, I said to myself “Hey stupid, it’s called a night light”. Geez! I didn’t want those ugly plug-in kinds so I started searching. I didn’t find much but my girlfriend did. She has a good eye for cutesy. One looks like a thin candle in a candlestick holder. It’s operated by touch. It has three light settings. It’s cordless and rechargeable. I leave mine plugged in because I have an outlet close. Then I don’t have to worry about charging it. She then found one that looks like an oil lamp. It has a built-in dimmer and is also rechargeable. Sometimes I will put it on the dinner table for a little romantic ambiance. Anything that makes that department easier is on my “A” list.

Jaspe Boar Bristle Hairbrush | Jaspe Nail Brush with Boar Bristles

In the beauty department, there is a company called KOH-I-NOOR. They are an Italian company of craftsmen. Their brushes are unmatched for beauty and quality. Their prices are probably unmatched also. I have a nail brush and a boar bristle hair hairbrush. Both are the best I’ve ever had. Go figure.

Cowboy Hat Rack Hanger (Set of 2)

If you wear cowboy hats there are some hat hangers for you. They are walnut and beautiful. I’ve got a lot so the come in handy.

Natural Coir Boot Scraper Door Mat

I suppose if you’re wearing the hats you’re wearing the boots. Here is a boot scraper doormat. I absolutely love these simple, great ideas. Blows me away!

Since we have last spoken I have purchased a cabin in the woods for me and my girlfriend. I did it while I was in Italy. So it’s my Roman cabin in the woods. Oh, and that’s my cobbler’s bench in the living room. Cool, right?

Hestia Telescope (Standard Pack)

The night sky is magnificent up there so I bought myself a telescope. It’s a Hestia telescope with a tripod. If you have a stargazer on your list it’s the bomb. The universe we live in is truly the most glorious entity there is. Growing up poor my Dad used to say “Keep your eyes on the ground kid, you never know what you might find.” Once I found a diamond ring. Thanks, Pop! My Mom would say, “Look to the sky and find your dreams.” I sort of compromised and started looking forward. It has served me well but today Mom wins. I look up more than I ever have. Wish I would’ve done more. Better late than never I guess.

AirTag Dog Collar

While I was at the cabin a couple of weeks ago we had a snow storm. It was great for me but my dog, Babe, freaked out and took off (she has never experienced snow). For 30 minutes I was behind her and then I lost sight of her. I figured she was gone. Quite exhausted and emotional, I walked back to the cabin thinking how the hell am I gonna explain this to my girlfriend? All of a sudden she was walking next to me. I wanted to kill her but found myself giving her a hug. Brutal to say the least. After that episode, I bought a collar that carries one of those Apple AirTag luggage trackers. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors. There’s a present for the mutt in your life. She is now always on my phone. Funny since the snow incident she doesn’t wander much anymore. Must be pretty good around here compared to a blizzard.

Stackable Wooden Egg Holders

The other living creatures in this house (not the cabin) are our chickens. They have been quite nice to have. Pretty much maintenance free and they give back. Fresh eggs do not have to be refrigerated because the protective coating on them is not washed off. So we actually display our eggs in a stackable wood holder on our table. Looks great on the kitchen table.

Dewalt Tough Box 8 PC SAE Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set

This post wouldn’t truly be by me if I didn’t have a couple of tools in here. I’m a tool guy in case this is our first time meeting. The Dewalt 8-piece ratcheting wrench set is great to have in the glove box of your car. It’s where they probably will be needed most.

Dewalt Socket Set

Then there’s the Dewalt 34-piece socket set also to be kept in the car. They will never know what good gifts these are until they are broken down on the freeway with an easy fix. On that day you should get flowers if he’s worth a damn.

Snow-Chains Auto Fixing 1 Min Quick Installation Tire-Chains

Also, when that blizzard hit at the cabin, my Ford Bronco got stuck in a ditch that I inadvertently drove into. It made me realize that even with a four-wheel drive vehicle if I’m gonna be in snow country I should have a set of tire chains. You never think of that until after you’re stuck and have a tow truck pull you out. So why not be proactive and buy your person a pair of snow chains? You’ll need the tire size but you can just take a picture of that with your phone. That’s another one of those gifts that won’t be appreciated until they are needed. 

left: jess got me that vintage piece of art of the people dancing – a good gift too | right: watching our cubbies win!

I hope some of these ideas help you. Remember jean jackets never fail. There are always concert tickets. I saw David Foster’s 75th birthday celebration at the Hollywood Bowl last month. It was great. Sporting events are good too. Taking my boy to a Chicago Bears game in a couple of weeks. How can you beat that? Oh yeah, my daughter-in-law gave birth to my first grandchild last month. Baby girl is healthy and beautiful. Do you think I’m gonna buy her any presents this Christmas? Ha! Next year I’m sure I’ll be adding baby gift ideas. Wait till these baby stores get a load of me. Ha! Can’t wait. 

from jess: he’s a star!

Have a great holiday season everyone. 

Affectionately,

Les 

The post Got An “Impossible To Shop For Boomer Dad”? Here Are 22 Great Ideas Straight From Jess’ Dad appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The AllModern Pieces That Are In Emily’s Cart For The River House + More (And Are On Sale RIGHT NOW)

These last few months have been full of shopping for all the projects I’m working on up here so AllModern has been getting A LOT of my attention. I’ve always gotten such great pieces that are well-made and of course, so pretty. So since they have just started their Black Friday sale with up to 70% off, I thought I’d show you what I’m truly considering for the river house and my friend’s house. A little show and tell! Then because there were so many other great pieces on sale, I put together a little round-up at the end of some of my other favorites. Ok, let me show you what’s currently in my cart.

Now I think this might be the first time I’m showing you this photo of the entry. Isn’t she pretty?! I love all the wood (duh) and the slat feature is so powerful. That entry area is a pretty large space so I want a decent-sized round table that will visually look balanced. This is what I am thinking…

Astraea Pedestal Dining Table

So yes, I’m trying to figure out what to do with this entry area (that isn’t exactly their “entry” but nearby). Again, the railing is busy in a really beautiful way so whatever happens here needs to be simple. I’m just unsure if it should contrast and pop off the railing like this black table…

Iris 47″ Pedestal Dining Table

…Or make it feel more integrated and NOT pop, instead match the white oak like this one. Both tables come in light oak and black but this one, right above, also has a walnut option.

Ah, my favorite green paint color! So while this color and the custom built-ins are perfect, this family room needs some more styling ambiance with lighting.

Cas 61.5” Smart Enabled Floor Lamp

This room works so well with the black accents (the rods of the curtains, the black hardware on the media unit). And while black shades, like on this floor lamp, don’t give off as much light as a lighter fabric, in a room that is meant to be moody and cozy, it’s actually perfect.

Damiano Marble Novelty Lamp

We have a ton of wood in this house as you know, so as I’m starting to decorate it I’m gravitating towards pops of black, but still in a warm vibe (i.e. marble or wood, not just metal). I love this lamp.

Walt End Table

I also want to bring in fun accents like drink tables which are crucial to making a single chair not look lonely, not to mention great for coffee or a drink. Sometimes a larger side table next to a chair looks awkward unless in a corner. I have a version of this (that was much more expensive).

Talitha 47.75” Round Dining Table

We are looking for a “homework/craft” table for the corner by the window seat. This modern organic medium-sized dining table would look great in that room and let the kids spread out all of their homework. We also need chairs, ideally two, and here are some pretty great options:

Corine Upholstered Dining Chair (Set of 2) | Ambra Upholstered Dining Chair

I love the idea of the green chairs since that is such a main color in this space (and works so perfectly with the nature outside). They have good reviews, a curved back (my favorite), and have those black metal frames which goes with all of the other black in the space. OR I could lean into contrast with that really pretty lighter wood chair. Both would look amazing.

Now, let’s talk about the other side of the room and its needs.

Dakota 2 -Door Storage Cabinet

We have great built-in storage but a little more is always a good idea, which is why I’m looking for a smaller cabinet like this one. How pretty is this cabinet? I love mixing in the darker woods in here (I love mixing dark and light woods in general). Good storage and gives us a foundation for a pretty piece of art and lamps.

Rae 60” Upholstered Loveseat

That’s it for the river house and now I have one great option for my best friend’s home. She needs a 60“ loveseat that can be comfortable to watch TV on (when it’s not facing the TV) and this one looks pretty solid, and that color is so pretty. We are all pretty sure this one fits the bill perfectly so it’s been ordered and it’s getting here THIS WEEK (super fast shipping, yay!). FYI, it comes with White Glove delivery/assembly which is always such a wonderful luxury.

Rae 2-Piece Upholstered Chaise L-Sectional

I have zero use for this right now, but I just wanted to call out that this is a pretty great sectional for the price – the color is so pretty, it looks really comfortable and feels design-forward in a style not super trendy way.

And speaking of more beautiful things I don’t need but you might, here is a round-up of a bunch of our other favorite pieces.

Antigua Wood Bed | Liza Upholstered Bed | Sadarius Upholstered Bed

All of these beds are so good. The black wood one is a total classic and extremely versatile style-wise. The light brown boucle one is classic with a twist and so much more affordable than other very similar ones on the market. Then finally the tone of the velvet green is awesome and the shape is modern but playful, and also super chic. You can’t go worng.

Varkala 1 – Drawer Nightstand | Mille 1 – Drawer Nightstand | Paloma 2 – Drawer Nightstand

Next up are nightstands. I love a clean, modern nightstand. Most of my bedrooms have them. All three of these are great because they have a fun detail, all have at least one drawer (very crucial for a nightstand), but aren’t too visually overwhelming.

Alvarez 6 – Drawer Dresser | Williams 4 Drawer 38” W Solid Wood Chest | Berkeley 6 – Drawer Double Dresser

How good are these dressers?? The one on the far left almost gives a dash of organic brutalism which I think is very cool (and also comes in a white oak). Then the black one in the middle is a modern MCM-syle but a little more lux with the black and gold tones. But if you want a more classic MCM look it comes in five other colors. Lastly, on the right, this one is both sleek and chunky. The curved corners are so pretty and the drawers soft close which is such a nice touch.

Evin Upholstered Armchair | Kearney Upholstered Barrel Chair | Malin Modern Accent Chair

An accent chair is one of those super decor items because it’s functional, usually has a fun shape and/of abric, and can be used in so many different types of rooms – living rooms, bedrooms, entries, offices, you name it. These three not only show you the range of what AllModern has in terms of selection but all of them are so good. The light brown boucle-like fabric makes me want to curl up and read a book. It totally has the same feel as the one I have in my bedroom. But for a little more glam, this gray-blue velvet one is SO pretty. I love the tone, I love the shape and think it could be a fun addition to a more traditional space. Finally, that vintage-inspired MCM chair is just cool. The color of the leather is awesome and the whole piece is a functional piece of art.

Damani Desk Lamp | Calum Marble Novelty Lamp | Rosalia Marble Novelty Lamp

All three of these great lamps are under $140 and would give off a pretty, vibey light. Personally, I love using lamps as an easy and quick way to contrast the main style of a space. It automatically makes the room look and feel more interesting.

Pietro 63” Media Console | Janya 79” Media Console | Dakota 64” Solid Wood Console Table

Media consoles are a great, very functional piece of furniture. They can hold (and at times hide) so much. We can always use more storage. These three are great and all have different styles. You really can’t go wrong.

Atticus Cane Dining Chair (Set of 2) | Amadeus Dining Chair | Lucile Boucle Dining Chair (Set of 2)

Dining chairs are a great way to take a beautiful but simple dining table and make it sing. Also, since dining chairs can add up real fast, buying them during something like a Black Friday sale is a VERY good idea if you find something you love. Those cane chairs are total classics, the leather tone and shape of the middle chair are so so good, and the green upholstered chair is a wonderful modern traditional option!

Avari 88″ Solid Wood Dining Table | Block 84″ Solid Wood Dining Table | Yolanda 83″ Extendable Dining Table

Speaking of beautiful but simple dining tables, I love all of these. The left and middle ones are solid wood and the one on the right has a solid wood base but the top is extendable which is ideal since the holidays are like…now. The first one has these almost postmodern legs that give it an unexpected style edge. The middle one is such a classic shape and is so versatile. Then the last one is an MCM-inspired beauty that could easily grow with you. All winners if you ask me.

Alright! Hope that was fun to get a little sneak peek into what I’m ordering and if you are in the market for furniture or decor (they have a ton of awesome options there too), AllModern’s Black Friday sale runs through 11/30, and then Cyber Monday kicks off right after, both with up to 70% off! Happy sale shopping.. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post The AllModern Pieces That Are In Emily’s Cart For The River House + More (And Are On Sale RIGHT NOW) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

REVEAL TIME: After Years Of Flooding And Construction, Bowser FINALLY Completed Her Dream Garage(s)

I’m back with the second installment of my garage makeover! We left off with the garage flooding again, after a few weeks my contractor fixed everything (we hope), we licked our financial wounds, and after a lot of drying things out (luckily the furniture and even the rug survived) we set everything up again and NOW for the final reveal…

Sara wins the award for shooting the most cramped space of all time. Remember, that rug is 7’ wide. My husband is a character, quite literally and figuratively, so some of this content might not be exactly what design nerds are used to seeing. Like, for example, the creepy doll on the right. It’s from a short he made and he loves it. I wouldn’t exactly choose to style with it, but here we are. My job is to make it all as chic as possible and I think we hit a really nice balance. 

Desk | Magnetic Hooks | Filing Cabinets | Desk Chair (unavailable + other option) | Table Lamp (vintage) | Desk Pad | Pen Holder

Although Andrew is truly a creature of the night, we knew that we wanted to keep the desk near the front because on temperate days he likes to open the doors to get fresh air. It’s also nice for natural light while on Zoom. We went with the largest version of Article’s Madera Oak Desk because the editing setup takes up a lot of space. As mentioned, our storage is limited, so we used 2 matching Madera Filing Cabinets to help with all the paperwork you inevitably have when you are your own administrative assistant. If you click on the link for the desk you can see more easily how it has this really great cord organization cabinet. Instead of 234983 cords hanging down the back of the desk, we have a power strip inside of the cabinet and one singular cord coming down to plug in (which you can see if you look closely) HACK: I bought super hardcore magnetic hooks to use along the metal side of the desk to hold his keys that he still manages to lose

We wanted a comfortable desk chair but it needed to swivel (easy to walk by) and not roll (on multiple rugs? No thanks). This desk chair is no longer available, but this one would work just as nicely.

The art is an original sketch on butcher paper, drawn by Andrew’s favorite animator, Richard Williams. We can’t financially justify framing it at the moment, so we used some scrap wood with paint splashes to mimic the idea of an artist’s desk it sat on at one point.

Bookcases

If it aint broke… 

The shelving behind the desk worked well before, so we did it again, but better. The reason I wanted these shelves specifically is because they had some hidden storage at the bottom for the not-so-pretty things, like a printer or the VHS player that is connected to his vintage television (lower right). They add a ton of warmth.

We are firmly a “no big light” family so vibey lighting is a must. I found quite a few good vintage lights on Etsy. The “slime green” (or brat) lamp is his personal favorite. Andrew is a collector and an avid biographical reader, so the shelves are great for showing off a miniature from his movie, vintage toys, and, you know, his tarantula.

Yep. Meet Audrey:

I’m a mom 4 times over now.

Media Unit | Leather Ottoman | Sofa Bed

Welcome to the living room/guest bedroom! Again, storage is needed, so this ottoman is a perfect place to put up your feet, use as a coffee table (add a tray), use as extra seating (as you will see in another photo), and store all the bedding for when the couch doubles as a bed.

Sconce (vintage) | Rattan Wall Shelf (vintage) | Side Table | Sofa Bed | Alf (vintage:)) | Round Pillow (similar) | Mushroom Stool

There are the doors to access under the house above the couch. It was tough trying to figure out what annoying situation we wanted to make for ourselves as far as what piece of furniture would inevitably partially block the doors. If the desk was there we would have to move the computers every time and then climb over the desk and if the TV was there we couldn’t hang the TV and then would have to move the TV to crawl over the console. Under the house is unfinished, meaning dirt floors, so crawling in and out over a light couch seemed wild as well. The best thing we came up with was buying a smaller canvas and keeping it folded up in this little footstool/mushroom I had from a shoot. We simply put down the canvas and walk over the couch. It works out pretty well actually. I can’t move on without calling out the adorable mushroom vintage lamp I scooped on Etsy that sits over the Barlo side table and the vintage Ikea wall-mounted rattan magazine rack. It’s Karl Malmvall for Ikea and you can find them here and there online, it is so dope – good luck! The blue pillow is made from scraps from the sink curtain and the round pillow is old Pottery Barn, they no longer make it round but they do make a standard pillow with the same fabric. Alf is vintage

Leather Ottoman | Media Unit | Tray | Lamp | Mushroom Stool

In this angle you can see what it’s like when we put the ottoman between the shelving and credenza to create more seating, we mostly live with it this way, the round mushroom is easy to walk around.

iPhone photo incoming…

Frame TV | Tray | Leather Shaker | Green Decanter | Amber Decanter | Glasses (vintage) | Bar Tools | Cup with Tools (vintage) | Pillow on Storage Bench | Bolster (custom)

This whole art wall is based off of the ghost from Betty Boop’s 1933 Snow White that I found at a NicSon Mercantile, a staple in my neighborhood. Do yourself a favor and watch the video. It’s beautiful and at 4:20-6:00 Koko the clown is turned into a ghost where legendary Cab Calloway was rotoscoped while singing and dancing to St. James Infirmary Blues. I found that piece and knew it was the best Christmas gift of all time and knew exactly how it would frame the TV. It was hung months before we got anything else (see in unfinished shots with rugs above). We hung it up right away and taped off where everything was going to go based on it. I based the size of the TV off of it and filled the rest of the space with art that was meaningful to Andrew accented with a vintage Kit Cat clock and a vintage light in the top right corner. The credenza is filled with office stuff you don’t want to look at, and let’s be honest, probably an overflow of Andrew’s VHS collection. A tray with decanted bourbons lives on top with an Oslo table lamp. I have the charcoal, but do yourself a favor and grab it in oxblood. I totally would have if it was available back then.

see? no room for a door.

Lamp (unavailable) | Cabinet | Pitcher | Bowls | Green Wine Glasses | Tray | Green Moroccan Glasses | Electric Kettle | Soap Dispenser | Runner | Mirror | Custom Curtain Rods and Rings

I bought a wood toilet seat to go on the vintage toilet because, of course, and added a found wood shelf. I needed a little storage for tampons, matches, a candle, and an extra roll of TP (did you catch the cheeky TP holder?). 

I love how both of the curtains turned out. The workbench is pretty deep and on top of the minifridge and microwave we can actually fit a lot of storage under the sink, we even added under-bed storage drawers under the shelf because it’s so deep. The curtains make the clutter disappear while keeping the appliances easily accessible. I looked and looked for a vintage kitchen cabinet for this space but I kept striking out, I think because the ceiling is low so it couldn’t be too tall. I found this cabinet on Etsy, made to order. The runner is another custom Etsy find. 

Custom Curtain Rods and Rings | Bowls | Green Wine Glasses | Tray | Green Moroccan Glasses | Soap Dispenser | Mirror

We put a mirror on this wall for 2 reasons, 1. we don’t have a proper bathroom but I still wanted people to be able to wash their hands and check their face, 2. Andrew is often in makeup and needs a mirror which brings me to what you see in the reflection here…

Ikea Ceiling Track

It’s very 80s suburban basement and it is also very Andrew. This is his set. If you are confused as to what my husband does, same. I literally just googled him and it’s only slightly more clear. It’s easier to think of what he doesn’t do but just know for some reason he needs a set. YouTube? TikTok? Probably. We installed black velvet curtains on an Ikea ceiling track when he needs a basic background. Also, when the AC or heat is on the curtains need to be pulled to the side to let air move through, which brings me to trying to explain my space…

Speaking of ceiling tracks, we also used them, along with the rest of the fabric that matches the kitchen, near the front of the garage. Here’s an iPhone photo that shows it from Andrew’s side:

And a better, Sara photo from my side of the garage…

Notice I made a cute valence to go on Andrew’s side. Also – notice the cute baby on his side! That’s Elio! Sara’s babe and he did so good while we worked, but it may be why we will have to depend on some iPhone photos for my side After the next photo it’s all iPhone until the last photo.

See the line on the ceiling? That’s where the patio is right above, if you wanted to have an idea in your head of the space added. 

Now, this is either going to be the most interesting content or…exactly the opposite. Totally fine. I understand both reactions. Welcome to the mouth of madness aka a stylists’ hoard:

Such an upgrade. 

In the back where the green Ikea shelving is, directly behind that is Andrew’s set. We’ve found that as long as the curtains are pulled to the side behind that shelving unit as well as the curtain I just showed you to the right, the air circulates just fine. Side note: for ceiling height reference, that shelving in the back is 74” tall. Andrew and I are below that so it’s not a problem for us but, it is why the space isn’t permitted as a living area.

Imagine: Me sitting at my workbench, alone in the garage one evening, you get that feeling like…is somebody watching me?

ANYWAY.

Shelving

Does this look crazy? I can’t tell because to me it’s so organized. Being able to have a lot of things just sitting out on shelves where they are easy to find and pack up as needed, is so much better than everything wrapped and packed in plastic bins. Weird thing to be stoked on, but I really like these industrial shelves. The ones we had before, the shelf itself had that particle board type material and over time, especially with the heavy ceramics I have and moisture in the air, they started to bow and break. These are 100% metal and very tough. 

Workbench | Pegboard

On the opposite wall is my workbench with a small pegboard of things I need often, under are all the packing materials I keep and a trash can. Then to the left is my kit, cart, folding tables, ironing board, and garment rack. I like to keep all that by the door for easy load and unloading. I bought that particular workbench because it is on locking wheels, has a powerstrip attached, and is adjustable. If I ever need to use a table saw I roll that baby outside with an extension cord attached and do the work in the driveway for more space and to keep the dust out of the garage. There’s a saved story on what I keep in my kit on my Instagram from a while ago, if you happen to still be reading this and for some reason wish this wildness for your own life. Or you are a Virgo. 

New and improved towel and throw storage is a game-changer. Heaven forbid if I ever just want to use that ladder anymore though

Wood Wall-Mounted Curtain Rods | Storage Rack | Display Book | Industrial Laundry Cart

I keep my art on a storage rack (loose prints in a display book on the rack) and soft goods like pillows or duvet fillers in an industrial laundry cart. I needed both on wheels so it was easy to move them out of the way to access all the throws and the glassware that I keep in the lower cabinets. I also can move them so that I have space when I need to workout from home (shoutout Pvolve)

We’ve made it! Gremmy (in the window) and I thank you. It’s been a journey. Article is the best and they still have those amazingly comfortable patio chairs (also photographed here) and if you are curious those are Veradek planters, in white and corten steel. Stop by Instagram for behind-the-scenes stuff, and some good video content.

*Design and Styling by Emily Bowser
**After Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

The post REVEAL TIME: After Years Of Flooding And Construction, Bowser FINALLY Completed Her Dream Garage(s) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

She’s Back! Emily Bowser Talks Through Her WILD Garage Renovation Journey (Costs Included)

Here for my yearly check-in. If you don’t know me, that’s understandable, it’s been a minute. I’m Emily Bowser. I am a freelance stylist and worked for EHD for a few years pre-pandemic. I occasionally come on here and share the woes and wins of buying and owning a house in Los Angeles where I live with my husband (fellow creative and freelancer) and our 3 adorable children. 

They are cats.

i am the childless cat lady they warned you about. don’t worry (i know you were) the other two are pictured further down.

Last we talked was May 2023 where I “concluded the saga” of my front yard reno that started in April 2021. I am nothing if not proof that overnight renovations are *maybe* for the rich and for home-related TV shows that lie to us about everything (a topic for another day perhaps). We put a nice little bow on that renovation with a beautiful urban garden by Down to Farm. Update: the summer crop was great, maybe a bit out of control tbh:

Today we are going to be talking about renovating my garage. 

Quick download/history of the space: We live on a two-on-a-lot and have renters in a back house. Our small house sits above two, one-car garages. The garages are separated by a wall that holds up more than half of our home. Let’s just say, permits in 1930 aren’t what they are now. Each side of the garage is about 7’(ish) wide and 28’ deep. The left side (if you are looking at the house) was “ours”, the right had previously been used by tenants of our back house. We didn’t want our tenants to have to deal with constant flooding, so we took the left side which is lower and more likely to flood. Why didn’t we just fix the flooding? Well, it’s not for lack of trying, but rather, a lack of money. Alas, if you want to put my name in the search bar of this blog, you’ll find quite a few posts that will paint that picture for you.

In my line of work, I need a good amount of space to hoard. Word to the wise, don’t become a stylist (you could put a period right there) if you don’t have excess space (or if you could be happy doing literally anything else). The problem is, we only have 2 closets in our whole house, a small hall closet and a medium clothes closet in our bedroom, and zero attic space. The garage had to be a space for my hoard, Andrew’s hoard, tools, keepsakes, and house overflow (think paper towels, toilet paper, cat litter, etc). We did the best with what we had, it was organized chaos. Because of the frequent flooding, everything had to be in waterproof bins and/or off the floor. Every time I had a job it was like a game of Jenga. It was tough, there wasn’t enough space to move around or pack things up and often my driveway looked like this:

prepping for the home therapy shoot in jan 2021 with anita yokota. styling is not for the faint of heart.

In 2021 I started a project that took me over a year to finish: I photographed every single decor item I owned and made a spreadsheet so that I wouldn’t have to tear my garage apart (as much) every time I had to pack up for a job.

organized chaos. hard to believe, but i knew where everything was in here.

Rewinding a bit – In late 2020 new tenants were moving in and announced they had no need for the garage *cue the heavenly sound effect*. I immediately started planning Andrew’s eviction. Just a reminder, because it’s never not funny that we lived like this, THIS was his office in peak COVID times:

if you want to read about the office/multitasking space makeover (aka andrew getting evicted) there’s a post HERE about it.

The old tenants moved out and in Sept of 2020, Ron, our slippery contractor did $5,000 of “waterproofing” on the back of the garage (spoiler alert: it did NOT in fact proof any water). We painted the space, threw down a jute rug, put a piece of plywood on a set of Ikea drawers, bought a space heater, and said “good enough” for THREE YEARS.

4 years ago, when andrew moved in

In April of 2021, we began the construction on the front yard, there’s like a 34 part series about it on the blog. In one of those, I talked about how, in trying to help the unending issue of my garage flooding, we put in a french drain in front of the garage and also extended our “landing space” at the top of the steps into a full-on patio. One problem we were having was water dripping down the house, directly into the top of the garage door on the left, the patio created an overhang to help keep water out. Extending our patio inadvertently added about 50 square feet to the garage and when your whole house is only 860 square feet, every foot counts.

when we bought the house, 2016may 2021sept 2024 – cuties in the window 

To recap: Andrew moved into the garage in Sept 2020 and it was a huge improvement for him…and our relationship We catnapped Gremmy off the street in Jan of 2021 and there he lived for NINE months. Turns out he was feral and needed a lot of rehabbing. We began the front yard makeover in April of 2021. Andrew wrote a movie, launched a Kickstarter for said movie, and did all the preproduction in that garage. Don’t worry, when he left to location scout in Sep 2021 I made him rehome Gremmy upstairs. When he came home from shooting, he returned to the garage to edit his movie and got into Sundance 2023. Cat tax:

daffy (left) gremmy (right) – look at him now!

The garage luckily stayed pretty cool, until 95 degrees or so, then it became a hot box, but he was able to make it work with fans when it was hot and space warmers when it was cold, outside of a few weeks of the year where he would come work out of the dining room. Despite the efforts to fix the flooding, we only curtailed it slightly. We had many, many more floodings, too many to keep count of but it *mostly* stayed on “my” side of the garage however, there were a few times that it was so bad that it overflowed into the other side. Many days were spent wet-vac-ing, dehumidifying, and fanning out the space. We tried to keep Ron accountable but the slippery man ghosted me for real this time. It seems as though the only way I was able to keep him around fixing things for years is because we owed him money, but as soon as he had our money (about $260,000 from 2016-2021) he was gone. Le sigh, we learned a lot about a contractor relationship, that’s for sure. All that to say, we knew the water was more than a nuisance, that it probably was getting to the point where it may be a safety hazard for Andrew to continue working down there, not to mention the framing of the garage held up the living room, guest bedroom, hall, and bathroom upstairs.

After the front yard saga, long after Ron was gone, I started slowly working with a contractor named Javier, who I’ve loved working with. He did smaller projects in late 2022 for us, like the hot tub area and our mini-kitchen makeover. It was nice to be able to build trust with smaller projects before jumping into something that was a lot more expensive. At the end of 2022, I asked Javier to give me an estimate for what needed to be done in the garage. I guess one fortunate thing about the fact that we forget what rain even is for 9 months of the year is that I knew I would have until October of 2023, almost a full year later, to save up before the rain started again. I wanted to know what it would cost to raise the floor up (it was lower than the driveway, making any water that entered, pool inside of the space), truly waterproof the ENTIRE garage (which included a French drain behind the garage, under the house), put in a few more overhead lights, temperature control the space and add a toilet and a sink. His estimate came back at $25,000 and so we started scraping and saving. As these things go, the budget ballooned. We added a couple of small things, among them were adding storage under the house in the crawl space along with some shelves under the stairs and putting a concrete slab on the side of the house so that we could put in a 10’x4’ shed. Unfortunately, the biggest budget buster was one of those fun ones that happen only as you are ripping walls down and it’s too late to turn back. The prior water damage and termite infestation (we got a new roof and tented for termites when we bought the house) were on full display when the walls were removed and the framing for most of the house was exposed. If you touched the 28’ beam that divided the two spaces and held most of our house up, it LITERALLY turned to dust. I’ll spare you the nervous breakdown. $45,000 later, we had our new garage. Of course, it clearly was very important that we did this work, it is technically very good money spent but, you know, it’s $20,000 more than we were expecting. I am older and wiser now, but I just want to say this for renters in case it’s unclear to anyone: don’t buy a house unless you have a niceeeee cushion financially or you will be stressed out every month for…ever? “Throwing your money away” because of renting vs buying is not the only factor to consider. For example, there isn’t really a price one can put on the certainty of knowing “this is exactly what I am going to owe every month for this agreed-upon amount of time”. Budgeting monthly as a renter is 10000% easier IMHO. I know about the uncertainties that can exist when renting, we did it for a long time, I’m just saying there are uncertainties when you own as well, like the thing that your entire financial future is hinged on (my situation) may literally crumble to the ground unless you throw $20,000 at it, immediately. I enjoy owning a house and despite everything, I’m still glad I did it (I’ll admit as soon as I typed that I was like – “am I??”) and I would still, if I sold the house right now, make money. I just think there’s something to be said about having your money in your pocket vs tied up and I am here for you, renters, to reflect on, “Do I want that?” 

Here’s some fun transformations of the space as a palette cleanser:

same(ish) angle 4 stagestop: left (“my side”) bottom: right (“andrew’s side”) before and after construction

We were out of town, had COVID for the first time, and then out of town again for most of the construction so my process photos are few, but let me try to explain a couple of things. On the right side wall, on the right side of the garage, there are doors that access under the house, you can’t see well in the straight on but you can see a little better here:

andrew feeling *pretty kewl* about everything that was happening

That is our crawl space where we now keep keepsakes, holiday stuff, etc. The stuff you don’t need often. It’s also, for safety reasons (stays very temperate), where we keep extra paint. There’s another door partially open on the far end of the wall in the photo above, that’s the storage under the stairs where Andrew keeps a good amount of gear. Both are important to be able to access and had to be considered when deciding where to put furniture.

As mentioned, we live in a one-bathroom home, which most of the time is ok. It’s funny to me to think that the experience of most people in the US is having multiple bathrooms with multiple sinks and vanities etc. We have 2 sinks in our house: our teeny tiny bathroom sink (if you use it for anything other than washing your hands, you have to put down a towel) and our very standard kitchen sink. I wash my face in the kitchen sink. I also clean my paintbrushes in the kitchen sink. These things are normal to me and probably not for a lot of people. Adding this utility sink was *chef’s kiss*. I wanted a very “garage” vibe because I didn’t want to have to worry about the surface if I was cleaning paint brushes, for example. But like, make it chic, right? I found this old workbench on Craigslist and asked Javier if he could make it work to not only house the sink but also cut out a space to put a small fridge Andrew already had in the garage. 

The toilet. I LOVE this toilet. My grandmother had the exact one in her bathroom and it’s giving nostalgia. I bought it on eBay, it is vintage but never used. I decided against a door for the toilet room because of limited space. My plan was always a thick curtain and yes, my contractor did think I was weird. We did put in a very loud fan/light to help make it feel more private though.

Walking through that empty space was, I have to admit, very satisfying. Bank account was on E but the bills were paid, and at last, it felt like a real space that people should actually be in. The extra space we created by putting in the shelves in the crawl space and the shed on the side of the house was going to be game-changing for me particularly. The left side of the garage would finally just be mine, I wouldn’t be sharing it with all the misc storage and power tools. I would be able to organize and find props when I needed them. Honestly making space for myself and my career literally, helped me do so figuratively as well. This made my decision to go out on my own as a stylist feel more “official”.

Now we just had to put all of this away:

As you can see, we took out portions of the middle wall. Before there was no way to get from one side to the other without walking outside. We did this for 2 reasons 1) the AC had to be installed on my side of the garage unless we wanted to put it on the front of the house because it’s the only wall that is an exterior wall. We obviously didn’t want the eyesore, not to mention we didn’t want to make any of the doors non-functioning. The opening on either side of the center wall helps with airflow for the mini-split. 2) in order to fit a kitchenette in the space we needed a larger wall to put it against and the plumbing needed to be in the back right corner because of where the water/sewage was under our house (the bathroom upstairs sits right above). The layout just made sense to place an opening in the front and back. I considered just having support beams where necessary through the center and keeping a more visually open layout. After drawing everything this way and that, I realized I needed wall space. My side needed to be primarily shelves and this is an example of when having things closed off more you can actually make more use of the space thus making it feel bigger because you can fit more things in it, vs open so visually “bigger” but not as functional. I had this experience in my upstairs office/guestroom/workout room. The more stuff I put in it the bigger it felt because I could now use it for so much more than when it just had a couch and a dresser.

It was a few months before we had furniture from Article, which was ok, we needed to unpack a lot of boxes and I had a lot of measuring and planning to do on my side of the garage. One of the first things I bought was a custom jute rug for the right side. Custom rugs on Etsy are my favorite. I had a few smaller vintage rugs I wanted to layer in to warm up the space and separate out the different areas, but the jute rug helps keep it all cohesive.

left and right sides of andrew’s side of the garage

The rug is 7’ wide by 17’ long. It helps with sound, coziness, and warmth in the winter. We measured and taped out the furniture but for a couple of months, Andrew lived with folding tables as we unpacked and planned.
On my side, I picked out shelving and figured out how I could display and store my throws and towels at the same time. I settled on wall-mounted curtain rods.

ok, so I may have hung them wrong once or twice

I was fresh off of a project where the designer William Hunter and I used vintage textiles in some really unconventional ways and was feeling very inspired. I got to work finding vintage fabric for the curtain to go under the sink and to be the toilet “door”. As well as sourcing custom curtain rods and rings for said curtains.

As life goes, this is what it looked like for a few months. I wanted the space to feel textured and layered and vintage so on and on I sourced for cabinets and lights and towel hooks and toilet paper holders and trash cans etc etc while we waited for Article furniture to arrive and then…

YAY!! So exciting!! So THANKFUL!

And here’s where we would cut to pretty photos Sara took but…

bum bum BUM….

My

Garage

Flooded

Again.

…

..

.

I honestly don’t know if I have the capacity to write about this, emotionally speaking. Maybe that’s why I’ve been having such a hard time getting this blog written. I got the furniture, we set it up, we were waiting for a few vintage pieces to show up, I turned FORTY, I finally finished organizing every single prop I owned, physically and digitally, and then it rained. And rained and rained and rained. The sump pump failed (don’t they always) and that added to the problem. The 17” long rug? SOAKED. New drywall? Soaked. Beautiful new polished concrete floors? Cracked, with water coming through the seams. 

There aren’t words. 

And apparently, there aren’t photos either. I think I made Andrew deal with it while I disassociated? He doesn’t keep photos because he doesn’t believe in the cloud and saves all his photos on actual hard drives like he’s 100 years old. I have to finish this blog so we don’t have time for that. Just imagine pretty much the finished photos I’m about to show you but then also WET. It was sooooooo cool.

I do have exactly one photo of the sump pump failing:

Taken around 1 am and sent to Javier in a panic. This contractor experience was very different though. Javier came over, in the middle of the night and wet-vac-ed (not a word) for hours. Over the following weeks (as it continued to rain) they repaired all the water damage, figured out where things were still failing, and fixed them. At least we all hope. He’s actually coming over next week to look over a few things before our next rainy season starts. Y’all, I may be fighting a losing battle. We’ll see. 

I think this is a good place to pause. Tomorrow I will be back with the conclusion of this saga. Please come back and fire off any questions in the comment section below.

The post She’s Back! Emily Bowser Talks Through Her WILD Garage Renovation Journey (Costs Included) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

24 Toddler & Little Kid Gift Ideas That Are A Guaranteed Home Run (From A Toddler Parent Who Knows)

Babies are fairly easy subjects for gift-giving. Maybe a soft little book, something for them to chew on, a play mat, and something musical and they’re set. But toddlers, well…that’s a whole other ball game. The world of toys really opens up for the 1-5 age set (more like 2-5, but I’m sneaking in a few things that could be good for 1-2-year-olds, too). That’s when they start to have a say in what they like and want to play with, interests arise (hello Frozen, Bluey, and Daniel Tiger!), and the roads diverge between educational and enriching toys to just pure entertainment.

All of that to say, if you’re buying a gift for a toddler, you’re going to face A LOT of options. It can be mind-numbing, but fear not, for I, a mom of an almost-three-year-old (HOW?!?) has your back. Today, I present to you my toddler gift guide, comprised almost entirely of vetted gifts that my household actually owns and my kid loves. These are the things she reaches for time and time again. If I got rid of all the other stuff in her play arsenal, she probably wouldn’t care as long as she has these things—I say that and, of course, she’ll end up looking for the most obscure ball she got in a birthday party goodie bag no doubt.

In our home, we tend to stick to open-ended toys for about 75% of my daughter’s options. That both extends the life of the toy (meaning, it can span more ages because a child changes how they play with the thing more easily), and also expands their brains and creativity. We do, of course, also have some character-based things, some very specific “electronics,” and plenty of “babies.”

I could have made this 50+ items long, but I edited myself down to some universal “home run” picks to help you check off all those little people in your life and get praise from their parents. And if nothing here rings your bell, hey…Playdough, stickers, blocks, a giant vat of bubble solution, or Hot Wheels are always solid bets, too.

Classic 74-Piece Set Magna-Tiles | Magna-Tiles Storage Bin/Playmat

I am not the first person to include Magna-Tiles in a gift guide for young kids by a long shot, but that’s because of one reason: they are amazing. Costly, but amazing. I was lucky enough to find a 100-piece set on major sale at Lakeshore last year for about $80 (normally $120), but you can pick from a bunch of different set sizes. My girl didn’t take to them immediately when we got them around her second birthday, but at around two-and-a-half, they have become a daily toy. We bowl with them, use them over a flashlight to see colors mix, build towers and robots and camels and car garages. They are truly an amazing open-ended toy. And if you’re gifting to someone you know who already has these, don’t overlook the immense value of a storage bin!

Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set | Carrying Case Compatible with Toniebox Starter Set | Wired Kids Headphone with Led Cat Ears

The other toy on nearly constant rotation in our home (and our car) is my Evelyn’s beloved Toniebox. She was obsessed with this thing from the moment she unwrapped it last Christmas (she was just shy of 2 at that point). It’s a screen-free speaker that works with little characters you place on top. They have musical Tonies, story-telling Tonies, bi-lingual Tonies, and so many more. A nice extension to this gift if you have the budget—or if the gift receiver already has a Toniebox—is a carrying bag and wired headphones. We have these two pictured and they’ve been so great for us.

B. toys Running Water Play Sink | Mold & Play Sensory Sand Set

I’ve never met a toddler who didn’t want their hands constantly in water or sand. We don’t have this exact sink (ours came in a Lovevery subscription box-keep reading) but it’s very similar. It’s great because you add water to an interior basin and it recycles it once it goes down the drain so it’s constant running water.

Another great sensory toy is kinetic sand, and while they sell it by that name in all different kind of cool sets, I recommend getting something more like this that comes with a bin and top to keep things under control and clean up super easy.

Kid’s Kitchen | Tiny Land Double-Sided Easel for Kids

If you’re looking for a bigger ticket item that also happens to be big (kids love a large box, trust), I’d go the route of a very cute play kitchen or an art easel. We gave our daughter a similar play kitchen (hers is no longer available) for her second birthday and she can tinker with this thing for an hour.

And while we don’t actually have this easel because we don’t have room for it, our small tabletop easel is regularly out and I just know she’d love this one if we had it. It has a side for chalk and paint with a paper roll at top. I gave a similar one to my nephews over a decade ago and it was a constant in their playroom for years.

Water Wow! – Water Reveal Pad Bundle | 3 Pack Reusable Sticker Book

Not all beloved toys have to be spendy, and bonus points if they are portable. Like I mentioned at the start of this post, stickers are great (as are coloring books), but once they’re all plucked from their backing (or pages colored), the jig is up. So may I introduce you to reusable sticker books and Water Wow water reveal pads. These get heavy use in our home, but I also love to keep a few in the car, in the bag we bring to restaurants or outings that require keeping our toddler entertained, and on planes.

Micro Kickboard Mini Plus Kick Kids’ Scooter with LED Lights | Toddler Willow Rain Boots

Some days at our neighborhood park, the patch of concrete near the slide structure looks like a scooter convention rolled in. And the Micro Kickboard is by far the most common one in the crowd. We’ve tried a few other brands via friends, and even got a hand-me-down Skiphop scooter from our Buy Nothing group, but nothing feels as sturdy and durable as this one. The wheels also have LED lights in them, and boy do toddlers love things with flashing lights.

You know what else toddlers love? Rain boots. My daughter went through a phase where putting on her rain boots first thing in the morning and clomping around for hours was part of our daily routine. If I give her a choice between basically any shoe and rain boots, she’ll pick the boots 9 out of 10 times. They aren’t just cute though, they’re versatile! They’re great shoes for preschool where my kid always seems to be slathered in paint, mud, water, and shaving cream. Sneakers wouldn’t stand a chance.

Akito the Fox Kidamento Digital Camera | Bravokids LCD Writing Tablet

This digital camera is on my daughter’s Christmas list this year, so we don’t have this quite yet, but we’re pretty excited about it. It’s for ages 3 and up so it might take a moment for her to acclimate, but she LOVES looking at pictures on our phones, and she gets so excited when my husband takes out his proper camera to take photos. They also have a version that prints out a photo similar to a Polaroid.

We aren’t an iPad family (no judgment at all for those who are) but especially when we’re on the go in the car or on a plane, it’s nice to have something small, mess-free, and tablet-like to entertain our kid. We recently added this LCD writing tablet to our travel toy stash and it was a hit! She scribbled on it, we scribbled on it, we put toys on top for her to trace, we write out letters and numbers and shapes for her to recite…it’s a load of fun for less than $20.

Pretend Play Doctor’s Kit | Star Belly Dream Lites Stuffed Animal Night Light Dreamy Green Dino

You can’t go wrong with a pretend kit of any kind, as kids this age love pretend of any kind (well, most of them do). This doctor’s kit is great because it all tucks away into a zipper bag so things don’t go spilling out everywhere. Bonus points if you add some actual bandages (we love the ones from Welly) because nothing seems to capture the attention of a toddler quite like a narwhal bandage.

Oh, the hours of quiet, calm fun we have with my daughter’s Star Belly doll. She received a unicorn from a friend on her second birthday, and since then, we’ve spent many hours lying on the floor of her dark bedroom, looking up at the ceiling at the projected stars and rainbows and butterflies. Hearing the most enchanted “wows!” coming out of her mouth is the sweetest feeling in the world. It would also be good for a child who might be nervous about sleeping alone in a dark room (it has a 20-minute self-timer).

Pete the Cat Series 5 Books Collection Set | Bluey 5-Minute Stories: 6 Stories in 1 Book

Books! Books! Books! My mission in life is to get my kid to love reading, and so far, two years in, it’s working (jokes on me when she gets to decide for herself in a few years and likely won’t want to do anything I want her to do, ha). But anyhow, while we’re huge Eric Carle, Eric Hill, and Mo Willems book fans, another kid book series my girl LOVES as much as we do is the Pete the Cat collection. The stories can be a little silly but so much fun. Another story-time gold-star winner in our house is the 3- and 5-Minute Stories books. There’s one for almost any character or movie or show. We literally read the Daniel Tiger 3-Minute Bedtime Stories book every single night for like two months in a row.

Wonder Forge Eric Carle Matching Game | 3 in 1 Magnetic Puzzle Book

Speaking of Eric Carle, matching games are a great introduction into the world of “board” games. We have like four different types of “memory” games and Evelyn never tires of them. Same goes for jigsaw puzzles, but heads up…get the magnetic kind! We have both traditional jigsaw and this magnetic trio and this one is far easier to keep together and all the pieces in check.

Battat Education Bright Explorer Educational Light Box Playset | Assorted Giant Soap Bubble Makers

I’m SO excited about this light box we’re giving our daughter this Christmas. She uses a similar one at school and loves exploring all the things she can put on top. You can “color” with the tiles, create shapes from cards, and so many other things. It’s a gift that seems way pricier than it really is (it’s about $35) and is both fun and educational.

Something I just recently learned during a Parent Education talk at my girl’s preschool is that blowing bubbles is a calming activity rather than a stimulating activity, and kids need both “ups” and “downs” to their days to help keep them regulated. So anytime my daughter is all kinds of wild or dysregulated, out come the bubbles. This set makes different sizes (we’re fans of GIANT bubbles) so it keeps things varied.

Lovevery Play Kit Subscription (Or Gift)

And finally, far and away, the best toys we’ve gotten in all my daughter’s two-and-a-half years always come from Lovevery. We’ve had the subscription since her newborn days, and not only are the toys beautiful and sturdy, but they take away the weight and worry that I’m not giving Evelyn what she needs when she needs it. They have it all figured out from a developmental perspective, and include a booklet for the caregivers to learn themselves how to best play with their child with the toys provided, and how to “extend” the toys as well into older ages. The boxes are pricey but are the best investment we’ve made to her learning and engagement in terms of playthings.

—

By the time I got to the bottom of this list, I thought of about 20 more things to recommend (play tents, play tunnels, stepping stones, dinosaur and animal figurines, silicone tea set!), but in all honesty, kids don’t really need *that* many things. Just like adults, there can be a paralysis of choice that happens when there’s too much to choose from, so keep that in mind! Please feel free to ask me for more specifics if you’re looking for them down in the comments, and I’d be happy to help in any way.

Good luck and happy gifting!

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Decorating For The Holidays – Family Friendly Style

The post 24 Toddler & Little Kid Gift Ideas That Are A Guaranteed Home Run (From A Toddler Parent Who Knows) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Kaitlin’s 70s Inspired, Colorful And Cool Living Room Revealed (Y’all, I’m So Jealous)

BOY, do I feel some satisfaction with this one – every time I walk in I’m like “Damn, this is just so good”. It really demonstrates the power of good furniture, a good layout, and some color and pattern. Fine, and some dope tile and a new window. But this blank slate turned out far better than I had imagined. Like I thought we were going to make it better, sure, and more functional, of course, but for how much effort we put into it (not very much, TBH) it is a grand slam. Of course, a ton of credit has to go to my partner in design, Article, because indeed we were able to furnish every major piece of furniture and have it arrive within weeks of ordering. And the best part is that it doesn’t look like a weird set or match too much or anything. You wouldn’t know that it came from one store. Let’s show and tell.

Here’s a little fun video if you want to check that out first! (just wait for the ad to play):

The Leather Sofas

Leather Sofa | Leather Loveseat | Coffee Table | Rug | Lamp

Two years ago I sat on this sofa at my friend’s house in Lake Arrowhead and could personally attest to the comfort (squooshy, not too firm with a nice supportive back, and great height for elbows). So without much convincing, I forced these sofas on Kaitlin. We knew that we needed a lower sofa in front of the window, and leaning into the 70s vibe really worked here. We ordered the sectional (a sofa and a loveseat) and ended up separating them (for now) because we liked how it filled out the room more (plus hot tip – dudes don’t always love to cuddle with other dudes while watching a game, so it gets WAY more use during game day as two different pieces). The leather is so beautiful and SOFT (I don’t know how they do it, but it’s buttery, not tight). It also comes in a lighter, caramel color too. And yes this entire collection (the Cigar) is completely modular meaning you can “build” your perfect configuration and the pieces have sturdy attachments underneath to lock the individual pieces together or, as we have them here, slide away to be kept apart. 

Leather Sofa | Brown Lumbar Pillow | Cream Pillow | Leather Loveseat | Plaid Blanket | Cream Check Lumbar Pillow | Coffee Table | Footed Planter | Blue Candlestick Holders (similar) | Burgundy Bowl (similar) | Green Tray (similar) | Rug | Lamp

We floated it out from the wall, and while I wanted to add curtains to frame the window Kaitlin had other plant plans and bought this awesome sculptural plant from Dennis’ 7 Dees. Then we added the lamp to enhance this 70s vibe and create a great ambiance. She was right – we didn’t need curtains, just needed something tall and sculptural to soften the lines.

Media Units | Big Art on the Left | Vertical Wooden Frame Piece | Little Piece | Horse Art Print | Frame TV | Frame TV Art

The blank wall is totally transformed – two matching media units (The Torme) created a low long built-in look that not only created a lot of record and game storage but was a great surface and grounding element for a gallery wall above. Each unit features adjustable shelves inside and soft close fronts but the real kicker are the thoughtful design details – those rounded legs and beveled doors are chef’s kiss. And yes, that is a Frame TV (non-spon, just can’t stop using them) along with a few other pieces that Kaitlin sourced from The Yo Store, a vintage painting and Gretchen even made her that little painting. It’s SO GOOD.

Media Units | Big Art on the Left | Vertical Wooden Frame Piece | Little Piece | Horse Art Print | Frame TV | Frame TV Art | Lamp | Chrome Bowl | Stone Squiggle | Wood Tray | Footed Bowl

The art on the Frame TV is from this amazing artist that Kaitlin also found named Abigail Bell. Go check her stuff out!

The Coziest Green Chair

Chair | Ottoman | Pillow | Side Table | Footed Planter | Planter | Tile (in Forest and Mallard) | Rug

The green chair and ottoman are excellent and are real “stars” of the show. They’re from Article’s new Sanders collection – a striking yet minimal Scandi-inspired style for them. How good is the rich mocha brown sofa it also comes in? So comfortable, such a pretty color. Again, I know I have a lot of good stuff in my home, but everything in here looks so good together that I want it all!

The Fireplace

Obviously one of the biggest changes we made was tiling the fireplace with this incredible blue and green tile from Clé Tile. I know (from first hand experience) that these things are hard to pull the trigger on, that they aren’t cheap ($1,200 labor, $1k in tile) and the fear of not loving the outcome can be high. But all of us agreed that this tile would be perfect and lo and behold it SURE IS.

Tile (in Forest and Mallard)

Clé just does such a great job with their color combinations and the texture is always so warm. Of course, now I want to clad over our brick fireplace instead of lime wash it…I’m so easily influenced!! We had the installer just miter the edges so it had a clean line, then Kaitlin and her husband chose a really nice complementary grout color.

Tile (in Forest and Mallard) | Mirror | Bar Cabinet | Lamp | Wood Tray (similar) | Blue Martini Glasses (vintage) | Wall Art | Basket (no longer available) | Leather Sofa | Throw Blanket (similar) | Throw Pillow | Rug

We finished off the major pieces with this bar cabinet in the corner – contemporary and playful (and I love how the round elements contrast so well with the vertical and square elements of the fireplace). Popped on a squiggle mirror (your regular reminder to NOT sleep on Article’s decor) and a really graphic oxblood colored lamp and this vignette worked instantly. I bought this framed print from Form & Function, one of my new favorite stores in Portland that has a ton of Scandinavian accessories (and vintage furniture).

Left: Tile (in Forest and Mallard) | Mirror | Bar Cabinet | Lamp | Wood Tray (similar) | Blue Martini Glasses (vintage) | Wall Art | Right: Leather Sofa | Brown Lumbar Pillow | Cream Pillow | Leather Loveseat | Plaid Blanket | Cream Check Lumbar Pillow | Coffee Table | Blue Candlestick Holders (similar) | Burgundy Bowl (similar) | Green Tray (similar) | Rug | Lamp

Kaitlin did a lot of the shopping for accessories (she has great taste and didn’t make sense for me to try to guess what she’d like, lol). I brought in a few pieces from Schoolhouse that I’m obsessed with, but otherwise, she went to the usuals: World Market, Anthro and Target. She had a ton of books and trays to play, as well as the turntable and cool speakers that her husband was excited to show off.

The thing that makes me the happiest is how much Kaitlin and Corey love this room. They NEVER USED IT and now they not only use it nightly but they invite friends over to hang in, they host so much more, and they truly love their house so much more. As a friend/designer, it’s actually really thrilling to be a part of it.

Emil’s Outfit: Denim Blazer (similar) | Top | Jeans | Boots | Kaitlin’s Outfit: Top (vintage) | Jeans (Kaitlin refers to them as the “best jeans ever!”)

A huge thanks to Article for partnering on this living room – it’s always such a pleasure. We’ve used Article’s furniture for years and years in projects ranging from bedrooms to living rooms and the experience has been consistently remarkable. If anything, I think their offerings have just gotten better. The quality and value of the furniture can’t be beat, the style offered is simple with some extra edge and usually delivered very quickly. If you want to treat yourself I suggest having them put together the furniture and take away the boxes – it’s a full-service treat.

*Design and Styling by Emily Henderson (me!) and Kaitlin Green
**Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post Kaitlin’s 70s Inspired, Colorful And Cool Living Room Revealed (Y’all, I’m So Jealous) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Em’s Two Favorite Plaid Coats, Cailtin’s Must-See/Feel-Good Documentary, And Potentially The Cutest Placemats:)

Happy Sunday everyone. We have been trying our hardest to get some very exciting design content made for you and that includes three reveals within the next two weeks! And it starts tomorrow with our photographer’s beautiful living room. Hope they bring a smile to your face. Ok, let’s get to this week’s links.

This week’s house tour is in the running for our favorite home tour of the year. Do yourself a favor and step inside SNL’s Heidi Gardner’s Kansas City dream home. It’s a midcentury modern heaven complete with a disco ball range hood. We think enough said:)

From Emily: The universe is finally answering all my “plaid coat” dreams. If you have been following closely (thank you) I’ve been wearing the same plaid wool coat for easily 8-9 years and while it’s still in OK shape (the lining is ripped) I was always in the market for an additional one, based on how often I wanted to wear it. Sure, others have tempted me and I’ve liked some enough, but I recently found two that check the box, unlike most others. This plaid coat (with the pops of cobalt) hangs really well, feels tailored around the shoulders, comes in slightly, and then just drapes. It’s very flattering and so easy to throw on, which is the point! It should easily dress up an outfit but still be comfortable. I really don’t like when they try to make a body-con shape with it or have lots of ties – I want to be able to layer underneath it without it looking shlubby!! For that coat, I’m wearing an XS (I’m not an XS) because they were out of smalls and I love the fit but it’s too small to button. I was going to exchange it, but I’ve found that the cut/fit besides that is so good and I don’t really need to button it (if it were much colder I’d wear more of a parka). But point is, I think it’s perfectly sized. Now, this other one is also SO GOOD – nice structure in the shoulders, easy to button (wearing small) then open. This one is even easier to layer over a sweatshirt or thin sweater and immediately makes a basic outfit look cool, young, and stylish. I almost consider it like a thicker, longer blazer – because they are so comfortable and are medium weight – you don’t get hot when you go inside the grocery store or on the subway.

From Caitlin: This week, Den and I scored invites to the premiere of a FABULOUS new documentary, The World According to Allee Willis. Allee was a prolific female songwriter – she penned September, Boogie Wonderland, the Friends theme song, and the entire Broadway soundtrack of The Color Purple, to name a few – but she also struggled to square her massive ambition with the limited opportunities available to her as a woman. (Prescient, huh?) I laughed out loud (the celebrity interviews are incredible – everyone from Mark Cuban to Patti Labelle!), I cried (darn you, tender Paul Feig!!!), and it was a total visual treat. (The ultra-talented director, Alexis Spraic, invited us to take a tour of Allee’s 1930s Moderne home a few days before we saw the film – more on that here – and it was EXTRAORDINARY. If the story doesn’t leave you inspired, Allee’s interiors absolutely will.) The documentary was just the pick-me-up I needed – so bright! So human! So loving! –  and I have the feeling that you’ll love it, too. See it in theaters this week or stream it next weekend – it’s worth the 90 minutes, I PROMISE!

Also From Caitlin: Here’s an unsexy reminder to use your FSA/HSA funds before the end of the year! ICYMI, you can use your funds on certain Amazon purchases. We just bought this Theragun (incredible – the app makes it so easy), a seemingly neverending supply of tampons, and enough Supergoop sunscreen to stock a medium-to-large size storefront. Look for the FSA/HSA labels on the right side of each page (or just pop it into search) to find all eligible products.

Bath Mat | Super Plush Robe and Towels Bundle | Terry Slippers

Brooklinen’s extremely fun collab with KULE was such a fun surprise when we saw it! If you love a classic stripe and a playful aesthetic then this collab might be perfect for you (or someone on your list:)) Go check out all the towels, robes, mats, and accessories!

From Arlyn: I had to read The Anxious Generation for a book club I was leading at my daughter’s preschool, and I think it’s a wildly important read for all parents. Some of the participants in our book club didn’t really like the author’s voice or approach, but by the end, we all agreed it was crucial to look past any issues with the person delivering the news and digest the news for what it’s worth. The book is all about the mental health crisis our adolescents are facing, and why research shows that a shift from a play-based childhood into a phone-based childhood (heavily in part due to social media) is the culprit. It’s not all doom and gloom, as the book ends with lots of really great actionable takeaways and recommendations based on the age of your child. It’s all fairly hard to swallow and frankly, quite scary at times, but overall, I highly recommend this for anyone with young and pre-teen/teen children.

Blithe Bookends (Set of 2) | Noor Chandelier | Cascading Serving Bowl

Another incredibly exciting collaboration that was just announced is the Lolly Lolly Ceramics collab with Lulu and Georgia. Lalese Stamps, founder and owner of Lolly Lolly Ceramics, is an insane talent who mugs we’re sure you’ve seen. So to get to see more of what she can do is pretty awesome. We’re pretty obsessed with the lighting but you have to see it all.

From Mallory: I was in desperate need of some everyday placemats (which is also good timing because Thanksgiving is in fact around the corner!) so I snagged these in black when I was at Anthropologie and I am obsessed party people!! My friend who was with me when I grabbed them was apparently “very skeptical” and thought I was making a weird choice. But then once I put them on the table and styled it out a bit he said he’s never been more wrong about something lol…they look AMAZING when they’re all together because the shape is so unique and fun. Plus, they come in a ton of colors (I love the black because it’s so forgiving) and they can go from holiday to holiday. Highly recommend!

VELUX (our favorite skylight resource) is having their Autumn Glow Giveaway where you can win two solar-powered Fresh Air skylights – that’s the kind you’ve seen in our projects over the past few years – plus shades and installation. We promise they will transform wherever you choose. You have til 11/30 to apply so go now!

From Gretchen: If you’ve been looking for an affordable but expensive-looking sphere-shaped pillow, this one from World Market is a stunner! We shot Kaitlin’s living room this week (the reveal is live tomorrow and it’s one of my absolute FAVES). She bought a bunch of new pillows to style out her space and they were all so cute! A few didn’t make the cut picture-wise (too many good ones to choose from) but I walked away really wanting this little ball pillow for my own home! It’s perfectly nubby and the taupe color is a refreshing take on boucle.

From Jess: I happened to mention to my dad that I really hated my tiny freezer/lack of ice cube situation. He then went on to mention how he had this great counter ice maker for his Airstream. He loved that it was pretty quiet and the design was nice/simple. I responded with, “O that’s great, I’ll have to check it out.” Well, I didn’t even get a chance before it was at my doorstep on Monday. I am extremely lucky to have him as my dad:) I’ve now been using it for a few days and it’s great! Having ice on demand is pretty incredible lol. It’s smaller so is perfect for a single person (maybe two) who loves ice. Plus it’s under $100.

Thanks for stopping by as always and see you tomorrow for the big reveal. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design and Photos by Hilton Carter | From: Bring The Light In! Hilton Carter Totally Transformed His Attic Into Bright, Plant-Friendly, Guestroom

The post The Link Up: Em’s Two Favorite Plaid Coats, Cailtin’s Must-See/Feel-Good Documentary, And Potentially The Cutest Placemats:) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Em’s Two Favorite Plaid Coats, Cailtin’s Must-See/Feel-Good Documentary, And Potenitally The Cutest Placemats:)

Happy Sunday everyone. We have been trying our hardest to get some very exciting design content made for you and that includes three reveals within the next two weeks! And it starts tomorrow with our photographer’s beautiful living room. Hope they bring a smile to your face. Ok, let’s get to this week’s links.

This week’s house tour is in the running for our favorite home tour of the year. Do yourself a favor and step inside SNL’s Heidi Gardner’s Kansas City dream home. It’s a midcentury modern heaven complete with a disco ball range hood. We think enough said:)

From Emily: The universe is finally answering all my “plaid coat” dreams. If you have been following closely (thank you) I’ve been wearing the same plaid wool coat for easily 8-9 years and while it’s still in OK shape (the lining is ripped) I was always in the market for an additional one, based on how often I wanted to wear it. Sure, others have tempted me and I’ve liked some enough, but I recently found two that check the box, unlike most others. This plaid coat (with the pops of cobalt) hangs really well, feels tailored around the shoulders, comes in slightly, and then just drapes. It’s very flattering and so easy to throw on, which is the point! It should easily dress up an outfit but still be comfortable. I really don’t like when they try to make a body-con shape with it or have lots of ties – I want to be able to layer underneath it without it looking shlubby!! For that coat, I’m wearing an XS (I’m not an XS) because they were out of smalls and I love the fit but it’s too small to button. I was going to exchange it, but I’ve found that the cut/fit besides that is so good and I don’t really need to button it (if it were much colder I’d wear more of a parka). But point is, I think it’s perfectly sized. Now, this other one is also SO GOOD – nice structure in the shoulders, easy to button (wearing small) then open. This one is even easier to layer over a sweatshirt or thin sweater and immediately makes a basic outfit look cool, young, and stylish. I almost consider it like a thicker, longer blazer – because they are so comfortable and are medium weight – you don’t get hot when you go inside the grocery store or on the subway.

From Caitlin: This week, Den and I scored invites to the premiere of a FABULOUS new documentary, The World According to Allee Willis. Allee was a prolific female songwriter – she penned September, Boogie Wonderland, the Friends theme song, and the entire Broadway soundtrack of The Color Purple, to name a few – but she also struggled to square her massive ambition with the limited opportunities available to her as a woman. (Prescient, huh?) I laughed out loud (the celebrity interviews are incredible – everyone from Mark Cuban to Patti Labelle!), I cried (darn you, tender Paul Feig!!!), and it was a total visual treat. (The ultra-talented director, Alexis Spraic, invited us to take a tour of Allee’s 1930s Moderne home a few days before we saw the film – more on that here – and it was EXTRAORDINARY. If the story doesn’t leave you inspired, Allee’s interiors absolutely will.) The documentary was just the pick-me-up I needed – so bright! So human! So loving! –  and I have the feeling that you’ll love it, too. See it in theaters this week or stream it next weekend – it’s worth the 90 minutes, I PROMISE!

Also From Caitlin: Here’s an unsexy reminder to use your FSA/HSA funds before the end of the year! ICYMI, you can use your funds on certain Amazon purchases. We just bought this Theragun (incredible – the app makes it so easy), a seemingly neverending supply of tampons, and enough Supergoop sunscreen to stock a medium-to-large size storefront. Look for the FSA/HSA labels on the right side of each page (or just pop it into search) to find all eligible products.

Bath Mat | Super Plush Robe and Towels Bundle | Terry Slippers

Brooklinen’s extremely fun collab with KULE was such a fun surprise when we saw it! If you love a classic stripe and a playful aesthetic then this collab might be perfect for you (or someone on your list:)) Go check out all the towels, robes, mats, and accessories!

From Arlyn: I had to read The Anxious Generation for a book club I was leading at my daughter’s preschool, and I think it’s a wildly important read for all parents. Some of the participants in our book club didn’t really like the author’s voice or approach, but by the end, we all agreed it was crucial to look past any issues with the person delivering the news and digest the news for what it’s worth. The book is all about the mental health crisis our adolescents are facing, and why research shows that a shift from a play-based childhood into a phone-based childhood (heavily in part due to social media) is the culprit. It’s not all doom and gloom, as the book ends with lots of really great actionable takeaways and recommendations based on the age of your child. It’s all fairly hard to swallow and frankly, quite scary at times, but overall, I highly recommend this for anyone with young and pre-teen/teen children.

Blithe Bookends (Set of 2) | Noor Chandelier | Cascading Serving Bowl

Another incredibly exciting collaboration that was just announced is the Lolly Lolly Ceramics collab with Lulu and Georgia. Lalese Stamps, founder and owner of Lolly Lolly Ceramics, is an insane talent who mugs we’re sure you’ve seen. So to get to see more of what she can do is pretty awesome. We’re pretty obsessed with the lighting but you have to see it all.

From Mallory: I was in desperate need of some everyday placemats (which is also good timing because Thanksgiving is in fact around the corner!) so I snagged these in black when I was at Anthropologie and I am obsessed party people!! My friend who was with me when I grabbed them was apparently “very skeptical” and thought I was making a weird choice. But then once I put them on the table and styled it out a bit he said he’s never been more wrong about something lol…they look AMAZING when they’re all together because the shape is so unique and fun. Plus, they come in a ton of colors (I love the black because it’s so forgiving) and they can go from holiday to holiday. Highly recommend!

VELUX (our favorite skylight resource) is having their Autumn Glow Giveaway where you can win two solar-powered Fresh Air skylights – that’s the kind you’ve seen in our projects over the past few years – plus shades and installation. We promise they will transform wherever you choose. You have til 11/30 to apply so go now!

From Gretchen: If you’ve been looking for an affordable but expensive-looking sphere-shaped pillow, this one from World Market is a stunner! We shot Kaitlin’s living room this week (the reveal is live tomorrow and it’s one of my absolute FAVES). She bought a bunch of new pillows to style out her space and they were all so cute! A few didn’t make the cut picture-wise (too many good ones to choose from) but I walked away really wanting this little ball pillow for my own home! It’s perfectly nubby and the taupe color is a refreshing take on boucle.

From Jess: I happened to mention to my dad that I really hated my tiny freezer/lack of ice cube situation. He then went on to mention how he had this great counter ice maker for his Airstream. He loved that it was pretty quiet and the design was nice/simple. I responded with, “O that’s great, I’ll have to check it out.” Well, I didn’t even get a chance before it was at my doorstep on Monday. I am extremely lucky to have him as my dad:) I’ve now been using it for a few days and it’s great! Having ice on demand is pretty incredible lol. It’s smaller so is perfect for a single person (maybe two) who loves ice. Plus it’s under $100.

Thanks for stopping by as always and see you tomorrow for the big reveal. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design and Photos by Hilton Carter | From: Bring The Light In! Hilton Carter Totally Transformed His Attic Into Bright, Plant-Friendly, Guestroom

The post The Link Up: Em’s Two Favorite Plaid Coats, Cailtin’s Must-See/Feel-Good Documentary, And Potenitally The Cutest Placemats:) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Gift Guide – *Some* of My Favorite Things Right Now- Fashion, Jewelry, And Beauty (Including What I’m Asking For)

I’m famously hard to shop for, “impossible” they say (it’s true). But I’ve learned that saying “please don’t get me anything!!” results in stress for all. And listen, I wouldn’t want anything under the tree at all except we don’t want the kids to think that this holiday is just about them – we have to even it out a bit. So I combed all my favorite shops, and while I’m obviously not asking for all of this stuff, you bet I sent Brian and his Mom some links (she was jonesing to check some boxes). They don’t have to stress and I get some things I want

On Emily: Beanie | Parka Jacket | Jeans | Sneakers
Not on Emily: Brown Leather Crossbody Purse | Green Clutch | Boots

I did recently get a few things that I threw on for you – that puffy coat that I get compliments on every single time I wear it (which is most days). It’s hard to see the collar, but it’s an electric blue stripe – stylish, comfortable, and yes, you can wear it over pajamas for drop-off and look effortlessly cool (LOL). The clog boots in the background are excellent (very, very comfortable considering the height), and the jeans have cargo pockets that I feel are really flattering.

On Emily: Beanie | Parka Jacket | Jeans | Sneakers
Not on Emily: Brown Leather Crossbody Purse | Green Clutch

I feel like outerwear and accessories are something you can buy others and/or not need to try on in a store (i.e. a safer gift bet), so there are a lot of coats, bags, and shoes on this list.

Olive Rhodes Shearling Quarter Zip | Utility Capelet

I like a longer fleece that drapes well (versus one that makes my upper half more voluminous) – the contrasting trim on the zipper pockets are top notch and that capelet on the right is ridiculously cute (I find these are especially good for tall people).

Hawley Half-Zip Sweat | Gear Check Vest

You won’t believe how soft this Varley double soft fabric is on that brown quarter zip – it falls and drapes so perfectly – I reach for it daily, and I’ve washed it like 15 times, and it’s still in perfect shape (comes in a lot of colors, too). The vest on the right would fit over my weighted vest while I walk the dogs (y’all, I’m up to a 25 lbs vest now – a real psychopath over here).

Shearling Barritt Quarter Zip | Khaki Drew Short Trench Coat

That shearling quarter zip (I guess I love quarter zips?) is so cute, giving Aspen The short trench on the right is awesome – so good for spring and fall.

Suzy Denim Jacket | Margarita Jumpsuit

If you are in need of a new oversized denim jacket, this chore coat looks really great to layer over (I love the huge pockets, double buttons, and sleeves), I put this jumpsuit in my cart immediately – I love the ones that aren’t trying to show off curves and instead look utilitarian (Buttercup ate the crotch out of my favorite ones from The Great that I’ve worn for 8 years).

Black Waxed Large Canvas Tote | Wellington Cabana Tote

Two really great looking utilitarian bags – weekend, trunk bags, groceries, etc.

On Emily: Plaid Coat | Blouse | Jeans | Boots
Not on Emily: Brown Leather Crossbody Purse | Green Clutch | Boots | Socks | Sneakers

By far my favorite purchase of late is this plaid coat – it fits like an oversized coat but the cut is really flattering and I have found that I can mix that pattern with so many different blouses (like my favorite new blouse above). The boots I’m wearing there are also EXTREMELY comfortable and I think the pointy toe is really elongating (I love the clogs, but they are higher and therefore less “running around town” shoes, so I wear these boots almost everywhere right now).

Checked Long Coat | Bouclé Long Coat

I should do a full plaid coat roundup – there are so many great ones on the market right now. The scale and color of the blue plaid are so awesome – oversized and cool.

Oversized Double-Breasted Topcoat | Puff-Sleeve Double-Breasted Wool-Blend Long Coat | Wool Blend Oversized Coat

For those wanting more versatility, the black and gray overcoats are cool and might be easier to dress up if you work in an office.

Gun Club Check Atelier Blazer | Double-Breasted Elbow-Patch Plaid Jacket

I have to stop myself from buying everything from Emerson Fry (it’s been 15 years now of loving them). Their cuts and fabrics are supreme (and a small American-made business). The blazer on the left looks like something I would wear all the time. The “elbow patch” feature on the right one is where it’s at for me.

Sequin Longline Jacket | Natalia Velvet Jacket

Now for some fun. The sequin jacket is so fun – I love that you could dress up jeans and a T-shirt for a night out and look instantly like you care. The velvet blue color of that little jacket is perfect.

Scallop Tweed Lady Jacket | Persimmon Floral Jacquard Mirabelle Jacket

I am not as into the lady jacket trend as most people (I think my boobs are just too big) but these two felt wayyy cooler and more special than others. I ordered the set on the right and I’ll shoot it when I get it. How fun for holiday parties??

Faux-Fur Coat | Tulle Bomber Jacket

I bought that faux fur coat, rationalizing to myself that it’s a staple that I’ll love forever (it’s crazy soft and while it is bulky by nature, it’s somehow flattering. Leave it to Anthro to make a tulle bomber jacket – over a graphic T and with some drop crotch jeans and you have a festive night out that is comfortable and carefree.

Pierro Shirt | Chlo Shirt

Sezane is another brand where I want EVERYTHING. That lacy white collar would pop out so nicely under a sweatshirt or even layered under a denim shirt or dress (true story).

Lace-Inset Top | Scarlet and Hot Pink Grove Blouse

I’m not done with Victorian tops (never will be) and that lace detail keeps it interesting. The colorblocking on that red blouse is powerful – makes me want to give a TED talk about something!

Blackwatch Selena Blouse | Ivory Plaid Nicole Shirt

Holiday, but make it casual and cool (and I’d wear both of these year-round). I ordered these already, fearing they’ll sell out. The dark plaid one on the left also comes in black velvet (which I’m also very tempted by).

Taylor Crossbody Bag | Petit Moyen Bag

For a more utilitarian vibe (with a zipper) I love that simple leather boxy bag (with the charm). If you really want to ask for a splurge or surprise someone who has good taste, just go to Clare V – that navy blue purse is versatile and is totally timeless.

The Essential Curve Shoulder Bag | The Brigitte Satchel

The red curve bag is really big (and such a pretty accent color to all my blues). The checked satchel will make any basic outfit look way more fashion-forward.

Margot Ankle Boots | The Dimes Stiletto-Heel Ankle Boot

Ugh, I don’t need those patent leather boots but they are SO GOOD – the patent color is excellent, the buckle would look so cute with tights – the French really know how to dress. I can also convince myself that I’d wear these leopard stiletto boots – under jeans they look fierce, with barrel pants they’ll look cool proportionally, and of course dressing them up will elongate your leg.

Birkenstock Boston Big Buckle Shearling Clogs | Yellowstone Allistar Pointed Boots

Blue, fur, gold – check check check. Then if you have been looking for the right boots to invest in, goodness I love these cowboy boots (in collaboration with the show Yellowstone). They are the least cheesy ones I’ve seen, honestly – they look real and less try-hard than any others (IMHO).

This might seem like a boring gift to ask for or give, but I LOVE this bucket bag so much – it’s perfect for throwing anything in. I use it for design materials for work, park picnics, groceries, farmers market, laundry, and last-minute weekend packing. Strangely versatile and expensive ($90) so not something you want to buy yourself.

Bogg Bag | Waxed Canvas Gathering Bag

I love the idea of the waxed canvas bag for site visits (where I get dust on everything). Such cute pockets and straps.

Chunky Chain Necklace (similar) | Gold Hoops | Oval Medallion Necklace | Gold and Black Heart Necklace | Interlocked Necklace | Simple Heart Necklace

I’m not crazy into jewelry so this is going to be mostly what I have that I love to layer together. I’ve been wearing the medallion and the heart necklace nonstop (not together, with simpler chains – in fact, these from Target are so awesome and I forgot to put them on the list). I like how most of these have a detail – they feel special but pretty easy to throw on and dress up an outfit.

Gold Elizabeth Necklace | Gold Calder Heart Necklace

I sent both these links to Brian (and the two below). Statement necklaces are back and I tend to lean away from big jewels, but I sure can do pearls and medallions.

Scarf | Gold Necklace

That silk scarf is so easy for me to justify – you can wear it like nine different ways and the colors are so pretty.

Hair: Dry Bar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush | Ouai Anti-Frizz Creme | Dry Bar Liquid Glass Miracle Smoothing Sealant
Skin: Vial Capsules | Eye Pads | ExfoliKate Cleanser | Shani Darden Intensive Eye Renewal Cream with Firming Peptides | ExfoliKate Mask | Reusable Cleaning Pads
Makeup: Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment | Saie Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Multipurpose Illuminator | Tower 28 LipSoftie Hydrating Tinted Lip Treatment Balms | Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer | Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick | Charlotte Tilbury
Hollywood Flawless Filter | Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Well, that’s quite the list. Yes, this is all stuff I own and love (including the new blow-dryer oval curling brush that is excellent. The Merit concealer is the best (I wear Dune), the Kate Somerville mask is immediately effective, the Charlotte Tilbury highlighter is game-changing, and the ISDIN vials really do seem to add a lot of moisture.

Hair: Dry Bar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush | Ouai Anti-Frizz Creme | Dry Bar Liquid Glass Miracle Smoothing Sealant
Skin: Capsules | Eye Pads | ExfoliKate Cleanser | Shani Darden Intensive Eye Renewal Cream with Firming Peptides | ExfoliKate Mask | Reusable Cleaning Pads
Makeup: Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment | Saie Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Multipurpose Illuminator | Tower 28 LipSoftie Hydrating Tinted Lip Treatment Balms | Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer | Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick | Charlotte Tilbury
Hollywood Flawless Filter | Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Hair: Ouai Anti-Frizz Creme | Dry Bar Liquid Glass Miracle Smoothing Sealant
Skin: Vial Capsules | ExfoliKate Cleanser | Shani Darden Intensive Eye Renewal Cream with Firming Peptides | ExfoliKate Mask | Reusable Cleaning Pads
Makeup: Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment | Saie Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Multipurpose Illuminator | Tower 28 LipSoftie Hydrating Tinted Lip Treatment Balms | Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer | Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick | Charlotte Tilbury
Hollywood Flawless Filter | Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30

I don’t feel highly qualified to talk about beauty stuff, but when I went to Sephora to shop I asked the salesperson what people are freaking out about and they guided me to Tower 28 lip gloss (LOVE – so soft and plumping without stinging), and anything Saie.

NuFACE Mini+ Toning Set | Sunday Riley Go To Bed With Me Gift Set

As far as what I personally want – yes I’d like the mini Nuface – I usually spend January – March resetting myself so my nightly routine gets super dialed in, I’d love to try this. This “go to bed with me” kit sure is good marketing – I need a system otherwise I go rogue and just use so many random products that might not work well together.

Striped Cosmetic Case | Grand Vanity Case

I’m in the market for a new cosmetic case – both are so pretty.

Checkered Robe

Lastly, the robe that I bought for myself (and give as a gift). It’s not that it’s the softest or somehow dries you more magically, but I typically feel so frumpy in big terrycloth robes (not like in the movies). All I can say is that I feel good in this one – I think simply having a busy fun pattern and having it be a bit oversized looks better. Not sexy…just better.

I’m sure I forgot like a million things (like this red light face mask that I love), so perhaps more to come I hope if nothing else it gives you some ideas of what to ask for or where to shop for others. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post Gift Guide – *Some* of My Favorite Things Right Now- Fashion, Jewelry, And Beauty (Including What I’m Asking For) appeared first on Emily Henderson.