Emily Henderson's Blog, page 33

Affordable Modern Rugs That Work With Any Style – See Us Choose Some New EHD Rugs For Old EHD Rooms

This most recent collection of our Rugs USA collaboration was especially exciting to us. We, of course, LOVE the rugs in the first drop, but the colors and bigger variety of this one really felt that it was going to be able to work in even more homes, working with a wider range of styles. I mean we have greens, creams, mauves, purples, oh my! And as something who really isn’t a purple person, I would happily put this in a home I was designing. Every color is so good. You have to see all of them if you haven’t already! Colorful yet versatile collection if we do say so ourselves:) So I thought it would be a fun exercise to show the style range of our collection by taking old EHD-designed rooms and pairing them with a new EHD x Rugs USA! A little mix-and-match if you will. I do want to be clear that the rugs already in these rooms are perfect. I’m not implying that anything should change. This is just a fun little exercise to hopefully help you envision the possibility of one of our rugs in your home if you are in the market…especially since they are on a really good sale at the moment:) Ok, let’s play.

design by caitlin higgins | styled by emily bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: caitlin’s living room reveal

It’s hard to forget the absolute joy and playfulness of Caitlin’s living room. What I think she captured so perfectly was the balance of calm AND excitement at the same time! She is a libra after all so balance is in her bones:) The original rug she chose was a stunner with such a great pattern and tone to create visual texture without overwhelming the eye. I wanted to keep that same vibe but with a slightly different pattern:)

The Caitlin

I chose THE CAITLIN!! I was the one who first named this particular rug (then checked for Caitlin’s approval) because it felt like it was such a great fit for her home and her namesake. It’s bold but not too in your face and it can get along with nearly any style, much like how Caitlin effortlessly endears herself to anyone she meets because she’s the best:)

design and photo by sara ligorria-tramp | styled by emily bowser | from: sara’s primary bedroom reveal

Next up is our dear Sara’s completely inviting primary bedroom. Again, the rug she has is so beautiful and should live in this room forever but for the sake of my little exercise, I made a slightly different style choice…

The Starke

It had to be The Starke in Rust. It’s a modern rug that would offer a fun geometric contrast to all the wonderful florals in the room. But I wanted to keep the warmth that’s in Sara’s existing rug, so I went with the rust color. Still cozy but a little bolder in color and pattern.

design and photo by keyanna bowen | from:blue walls be gone! key’s totally transformed office reveal – maybe The most dramatic before & after ever (?)

This is another perfect room that wonderful Key designed. If you haven’t seen this before and after GO NOW!! However, while Key nails the “Understated Organic Coastal Maximalist Cottage” and this rug is so special and made for this room, I thought I would throw a big curve ball into the mix with one of my favorite graphic rugs…

The Merrick

The Merrick! Fun Fact…internally, we call it “The Reserve Merrick” since in the first collection “the color” was where the cream currently is. Anyway, that grayish teal is SO so pretty in person (did you see it in Kaitlin’s living room???), and given the color palette of Key’s office, I think it would also be a fun fit in there too. It would give the space a totally different vibe which is what I love about design – one decor piece can give a room a whole new life! This room, of course, doesn’t need it because the life it has is very very good:)

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the portland family room reveal

From the East Coast with Key back to the West Coast in Portland. was such an incredible home and styled to perfection…but let’s see what rugs could also work…

The Harvey

For this one I really couldn’t decide so there are two options:) The Harvey is such an awesome graphic pattern that Em already used in the river house mudroom. I love the idea of throwing that kind of pattern in the middle of this room. But here’s the thing. It’s 100% polyester so it’s great for high foot traffic (and perfect for a pass-through room) and good for pets. However, it’s not super plush since it’s a flatweave so if that’s what you’d prefer let me direct you to the other option I was thinking of…

The Southwest

The Southwest in Green was the other natural choice for me. It clearly speaks directly to the kitchen cabinets (and trees outside). Plus, it has that wonderful stripe pattern texture that keeps it from being too one-note. Oh, and of course it feels really nice underfoot. Which one would you choose!?

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse primary bedroom reveal

Now Emily already has our original Merrick in Black in her primary bedroom. It’s neutral but graphic and is the perfect pattern scale contrast to the bed fabric and bolster pillow. So why not mess with perfection with a whole new EHD x Rugs USA rug, huh?

The Mallory

I decided to go a little wild and choose The Mallory in Mauve (which isn’t really crazy at all because we LOVE a good mauve). It’s a beautiful mid-tone that would add depth but not overpower the whole room. Plus, there is some mauve in the bed fabric and also that great throw would just tie the whole now mauve-forward room together. I kinda really want to see it in there for real…Emily??

design by ryann trombetti | styled by emily bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: ryann’s living and dining room reveal

Ryann’s beautiful apartment became an instant EHD favorite! It’s warm, moody, and eclectic. I love this vintage rug and what it does to the space. But let’s say, Ryann hypothetically wanted to switch things up…

The Southwest

I would go for The Southwest in Charcoal! This is a special shapeshifting charcoal color though. It almost has a deep deep green tone that is SO pretty and why I think it would be great in this space. Ryann already has those beautiful green/blue painted walls and this rug would pick up those green tones, add to the coziness, and bring in another layer of texture.

photo by kaitlin green | from: kaitlin’s basement reveal

Another perfectly moody, cozy room that I want to hang out in so bad. I love all the textures in Kaitlin’s basement/office and as with every room I’ve spoken about, I don’t think it needs a single change. However, for a fun switch up shall we see what kind of patterned rug might be a fun addition?

The Annie

It’s The Annie for me! I adore this pattern and these colors and think they are a PERFECT match for the other brown/warm tones in the room. It would completely change the feel of the room and I think it would be a pretty fun change…only if she wanted:)

design by jess bunge | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ studio apartment living room reveal

I mean I had to choose my old apartment for this exercise, right?! For the record, I love the rug I chose originally so much. It was perfect and that rug is still with me (currently in storage)! But naturally, I had to see which of the rugs from the collection I was a part of putting together would have looked great too. One might even be the one I’ve chosen for my bedroom…

The Elliot

I first wanted to try a color and knew it had to be The Elliot in Rust. This rug also echos the check design of the original rug which I love! The rust would have really picked up the warm tones of the pillows on the sofa (which you can’t see, sorry!) and in the art. But I know myself and in my home, I almost always lean more light/neutral.

The Starke

Which is why I think The Starke in Beige would have been my actual pick! It’s still graphic and warm, but keeps the room feeling really airy which is what I wanted AND what I want in my current bedroom! This beauty is en route to my apartment and I can’t wait to see it in there. Stay tuned;)

Well, that’s it for today, and like I said at the start, if you are looking for a rug I hope this helped you decide what might work best in your home. Don’t forget they are on a great sale right now! Do you have a favorite? Let’s chat.

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Left Photo – Photo by Kaitlin Green, From: River House Primary Bedroom | Middle Photo – Styled by Getteline Rene, Photo by Mark Weinberg, From: Our Second Rugs USA Line Drop | Right Photo – Photo by Kaitlin Green, From: Kaitlin’s Living Room Reveal

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Published on November 27, 2024 01:00

My Niece’s Colorful Tween Bedroom Reveal That She Will Hopefully Still Love In Five Years :)

OK, I learned a LOT from doing Elliot’s bedroom which really informed the way I designed her best friend’s (and cousin’s bedroom) that you are going to see today. What I didn’t realize (first-time pre-tween mom here) is how much their likes and dislikes will change, like monthly. So with K’s room, I, of course, asked her her current likes and dislikes, colors, etc. but I intentionally left it so that if and when her styles or color preferences change, it wouldn’t be a big expense. And yet this room is actually full of a lot of color and so many high-quality pieces which are all from AllModern. I feel so grateful we got to give her these really special pieces that she will easily grow with. I can’t wait to show you.

The Room Before

The room has a great foundation – pretty white oak (Stuga, Shell) flooring and wood ceiling (Stuga, Drift). There are two large windows, so a ton of natural light, and two big blank walls for the bed and dresser.

Opposite the bed is a daybed with storage and a reach-in closet (that we already wallpapered and revealed for a partnership, HERE). So when AllModern reached out for a series of makeovers this year and my brother expressed that they had NOTHING for K’s room when they moved in, I knew that stylistically it would be perfect (and yes, this 10-year-old is getting really high-quality furniture that she can keep forever).

Without further ado, the reveal! We’ve also made a video tour of the space, which you can view while perusing the rest of the photos. (The player will shrink down into the corner, or, if you’re on your phone, it’ll play above the text!)

A High-Quality Base Layer – I.E. Good, Simple Furniture

Now there are a million ways to build a room, of course. For this house and this room, I wanted it to have the same warm minimal vibe as the house -streamlined and organic, but with enough color to make it feel youthful and fun. Here were the functional needs that K requested:

Green and Purple – Ok, but we’d do a non-obnoxious, more timeless version of it and not, like a LOT of it.Queen Bed – Great for sleepovers, snuggling with parents, and can double as an extra guest room.A Desk – If they could go back in time they would have turned the nook into a desk (although I hear that teens love the idea of a desk more than they actually use it), but I also got a lot of advice from you that having it double as a vanity would be really functional for them.A Dresser – While they have a reach-in closet, it doesn’t have drawers, and kids aren’t the best at hanging up clothes or stacking their folded clothes.

Because of these needs, the layout of the room and the furniture choices were greatly informed. We’d flank a powerful queen bed with a desk and a small stool (allowing space for the dresser without being too crowded) and achieve a sense of balance with the sconce on the right.

So as you can see, while we dismissed symmetry (which I typically love in a bedroom) having it be asymmetrical not only gave them the function that they needed but also made it more playful (less serious). We wanted to get her furniture that she could easily grow with which meant high-quality and timeless — exactly what you’d expect from AllModern. But to make it feel perfect for a 10-year-old we shook up the layout and added a ton of color really which brought in that fun, youthful energy.

AllModern’s pieces bring together everything I love about modern design—clean lines, unique details, and amazing quality. That desk, mirror, and sconce are perfect examples: sleek, functional, and anything but boring. The bed is another standout with its soft green boucle upholstery, fully upholstered frame, and solid build.

We knew that bedding was a place we could really add some color, so we took this awesome throw with cool very Gen Z colors on it (wait, is she Gen Alpha???) and accessorized with it. The green pillow is from AllModern and the purple and gold stripe behind it we had made (it works with the custom bench pad we made – keep scrolling). We didn’t want any white bedding (y’all, I think the decades of white bedding might be done!) and mixed this darker rose, light mauve, and powder blue. I love the mix so much.

You might be wondering what the art, butterfly, and ivy situation above it is, and I get that. We went BACK AND FORTH asking ourselves “Is this cool or try hard?” and every time we decided that we loved it! The art is a print that they already owned, and I really like it (we actually bought it for ), but the white of the print with the white frame just wasn’t enough to “hold the wall”. So by adding faux greenery and whimsical butterflies (so affordable). It draws your eye there, definitely adds some youth, and it was cheap and will be very easy to remove.

On the opposite side of the room is this round side table which I think is the perfect complement to the desk and works so well with the adjacent dresser (a proper nightstand would have been too clunky next to this). This is definitely a case of the “matching set but make it cool” because yes, all the furniture is white oak, but it’s not boring and clearly feels purposefully designed, not just put in a room.

On the other side of the room, we have this awesome dresser, also made out of white oak with push-open drawers (so no hardware needed). It’s gorgeous and so well made. Above it, you have another one of our bulletin board DIYS (this is our third now). We are doing a full post about how we did this one but it’s so huge, fun, and so affordable. It gives 90s “Nickelodeon,” right??? Step by step coming soon

All the colors play off each other so nicely and the zig-zag just gives it so much playfulness and a sense of “now”.

Curtains and Roman Shades | Flower Strands

For the window treatments, they hired Decorview for the big windows, mostly because they wanted the top-down, bottom-up function (to block the view from the street that could see into her bedroom. You can’t buy them online, it’s a full-service situation and not terribly budget-friendly but certainly high quality and they do allll the hard work. They didn’t want blackout because they wanted to let light in should they want them closed during the day (plus K is one of those unicorns that sleeps til 10 on the weekends, 11 in the summer – TRULY WILD). So we added some additional curtains to frame the windows, but they stay mostly open.

Curtains | Sconce | Bud Vase | Wall Mirror

I’m absolutely obsessed with this shot – it’s just so pretty!!! The arch of the mirror is gorgeous (and you can see it walking down the hallway – so impactful). And I love how I designed the bench cushion – green velvet on top but that same purple and gold stripe on the front. Thanks to Ivan at Alexander Matthews for executing it so perfectly.

Such a dreamy little nook. We had the bolsters made as well. The drum table was in her brother’s room and we just brought it in for the shots to have something in the foreground, but looks pretty cute.

The sconces and ceiling lights are Rejuvenation. I LOVE them – they are graphic and modern, high quality and timeless. And I love the chandelier in here.

Chandelier

We needed multiple bulbs since there are no recessed lights, so this adds a lot of light in a really beautiful way.

Bench

I’m so proud of this room and K LOVES IT. They were out of town while we shot and listen, their kids didn’t ask to be on my social anyway, so no she isn’t here. And if you are wondering where all the “Purple” is, the answer is that our new Mallory rug (which is one of my favorites) got lost by FedEx coming from our shoot at the mountain house. And then we couldn’t get it in time for the shoot, but it’s the most gorgeous color of purple, IMHO, and I’m even considering it for my living room. I think we actually called it “Dark Brown” via Rugs USA, but if you know anyone who wants a very sophisticated purple it’s for you. We are going to reshoot this room with it in the new year (and add some posters for K, which she wants). But The Elliot in Rust is also one of my favorite rugs – just much mauvier and lighter. But still so soft and pretty.

A huge thanks to AllModern for having an excellent selection of furniture, curated for those into more modern design for sure, with pieces that will last forever (think heirloom modern pieces). Sure, there are some more trend-forward pieces (like that bench) that can shake it up and help make a room not feel so safe, but as a whole, I think the room turned out so curated, fun, and easy for her to grow, change, add to and swap out the colors and accessories. Oh, and I was so happy with how fast everything arrived. Fast and free shipping means a lot these days:)

Blank To Beautiful

Here are all the links to products if you are interested:

All Furniture: Desk , Chair , Bed , Nightstand , Dresser , Bench – All AllModern
Flooring: Stuga ‘Shell’
Ceiling Wood: Stuga ‘Drift’
Paint Color: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams
Hardwired Lighting and Switchplates: Rejuvenation
Rug: The Elliot in Rust from EHD x RugsUSA
Window Treatments: Decorview
Upholstery: Alexander Matthews

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

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Published on November 26, 2024 01:00

“Sustainable Christmas Decor” Sounds A Bit Boring, But These 11 Ideas Might Just Change Your Mind

There was a time in my life when every year, I’d go to some big box store, and buy new Christmas decorations with no abandon (well, some abandon, because ya girl has always been on a budget). The storage bins in my garage are proof that I’d buy some cheap, crappy-looking wreaths and tinsel garlands and plastic ornaments just to check some box and get my place feeling festive, but I’d inevitably go and buy other things I liked better the next year.

I realize now how wildly wasteful and irresponsible that was. I would blame social media for my consumerist needs, but honestly, I remember growing up seeing family friends (and sometimes even my own mother) change their holiday decorative “theme” yearly. That required all new decorations every year, and I’m sorry…WHAT?!? And while this yearly Christmas decoration refresh has been going on for some people for a long time, social media, as it does, hasn’t made it any better. It’s some people’s job to do this very thing, I’m well aware (I’m saying for fact, not as a “bite the hand that feeds you” scenario). For example, I remember a few years ago when the sparse Noble Fir Christmas tree became all the rage, and everyone on my feeds was suddenly kicking their existing artificial tree to the literal curb and re-upping to a more “on-trend” tree style. The new trees were beautiful, but certainly not necessary.

And while I may sound like I’m shaming, I promise I’m not. It’s so easy to get caught up in all of that; after all, I have, as well. There are big emotions around Christmas for those who celebrate, and pouring ourselves into having our homes reflect our love of this time of year is such a big part of that “magical” feeling we’re all chasing. But the older I get, the more I realize there are other ways that are just as aesthetically pleasing without all the waste. So I culled the internet, including some of my favorite blogger pals’ feeds, to come up with some ideas to share today for more sustainable Christmas decor ideas. Some are a little farfetched (like renting a live tree, for instance), but others are charming avenues to tag onto your list of traditions (think making salt dough ornaments!). Let’s explore what I found.

design by emily henderson | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how we decked our halls for christmasRent A Live Christmas Tree? Yeah…Really

I’m going to start with the most crunchy-granola sustainable Christmas tree option, because I know it’s not totally feasible for most, but might be for some. According to data from Nielsen Research (via the American Christmas Tree Associate—yes, there is such a thing), approximately 21.6 million real trees and 12.9 million artificial trees will be purchased by U.S. households this Christmas season. That’s staggering. I’ll go into what I dug up about the environmental impact of a cut tree vs. an artificial one in the next section (it may not be what you think), but if you’re one of those 21.6 million real tree buyers, there’s a somewhat new option for you.

Enter: The rented live Christmas tree. The concept on a large scale is relatively new, but here’s the idea: You rent a tree from a farm that delivers a potted evergreen to your door, you use it for a month or so, take off all your decorations, and that same farm picks it right back up. It gets replanted and keeps on living its life, possibly rented the following year until it gets too large to feasibly work in someone’s living room.

This is by far one of the most sustainable concepts because the tree comes from a local farm, doesn’t have to travel across the country to get to you, and nothing is cut down.

Here’s the downside: Its availability is super limited (I only found two websites offering this service and one is in Southern California and the other is in the Bay Area). Not to mention, it’s expensive. Typically, I’ll get a 6-7 foot Noble fir or the like from Lowe’s or even a neighborhood tree lot for anywhere from $60-$100. A tree of similar size at The Living Christmas Company or Rentxmastree.com starts at $175 all the way up to $300+. That’s…a lot of money and certainly a luxury to be able to do. If you’re up for the cost, be sure to hop on placing your rental order ASAP as some of the trees are already sold out.

design and styling by arlyn hernandez | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s warm (& sort of last-minute diyed) holiday revealEven If You’re Not Renting, Go Real Instead Of Artificial

I’ve gotta be honest: I’ve always been a live tree snob. My parents often wanted the ease of an artificial tree but I was that kid who would have a fit every year saying a fake tree would ruin my “vibes.” I love the process of going to buy the tree, the small, even the ritual of regularly watering it. I love running my hands along the branches and feeling the flexible yet prickly needles. Yes, I detest those same needles lodged into my rug for years to come. I’m fairly certain my trunk has tree needles from like 7 years ago still lurking. But the struggle is worth it to me.

I’ll leave the caveat here that I realize a real tree doesn’t work for everyone. Real trees harbor mold, pesticides, and allergens that is a no-go for some homes. Also, if you live in say, a fourth-floor walk-up apartment, lugging a large and heavy tree up is a joke. According to The Nature Conservatory and Canopy.org, an artificial tree would need to be used for roughly 20 years to match the environmental impact of a real tree. This is partly because 90% of artificial trees are shipped from China, but also because they are made of PVC and will not decompose in the landfill they end up in eventually.

Real trees, on the other hand, are cut down, yes, but while they are a growing contribution to reforesting, here’s what The Nature Conservatory has to say:

“When these natural trees are harvested for sale, there are more 10 ten times as many left standing! Out of the 350-500 million growing on tree farms across the U.S., only 30 million trees are harvested for Christmas each year. Buying real trees will help keep tree farms in business—and in turn, keep their lands covered in the healthy forest habitat that wildlife depends on to survive. And what’s more, once all the festivities are done, these trees can be recycled and given a second life. Most states have organizations that use these donated Christmas trees for conservation and habitat projects in their local communities. Meanwhile, artificial trees are usually not recyclable and often end up filling our landfills.”

No choice is perfect, and there are creative out-of-the-box ideas, too like making a “tree” out of lights, cardboard, and even felt, though none of those personally appeal to me. It’s a real tree or nothing in my house, for better or for worse.

Organic Trees Exist, Too!

My last note on the Christmas tree for those who have read about all the pesticides used on them: you can source an organic tree. Tree farms going the organic route are limited right now, though not as sparse as the rental tree option. And just like those organic strawberries, a pesticide-free tree is going to have an up-charge. Check out this great resource list I found of organic tree farms by state.

Oh! And everything I wrote about artificial trees vs. real trees applies to garland, as well.

design and styling by arlyn hernandez | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s warm (& sort of last-minute diyed) holiday revealSkip The Plastic Decorations And Go For Food-Based & Natural Ornaments

I grew up with glass globe ornaments (and a healthy dose of tinsel). I think glass is still fine, but for anyone with kids or pets, there are other shatterproof options that aren’t plastic. A lot of the ideas I’m sharing below are actually food-based, so not only can you just scoop things up on your next grocery run, but they can also easily be composted or disposed of at the end of the season. Not to mention, they lend a decidedly classic Scandinavian or English country “wood nymph” kind of vibe which is not only very of the moment, but also endlessly beautiful.

design and styling by arlyn hernandez | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s warm (& sort of last-minute diyed) holiday revealIdea #1: Oranges

I’ve been making dried orange ornaments for a few years now and it’s become such a nice tradition and ritual. The house smells AMAZING while they’re frying in the oven (it takes hours), and they look so beautiful anywhere I put them. At first, I was afraid of critters but I haven’t had any issues at all. I don’t really reference a tutorial anymore, but for first-timers, Erin Francois of Francois et Moi–who will have a few appearances below because she is the queen of natural Christmas decor—has a good step-by-step.

design and styling by arlyn hernandez | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s warm (& sort of last-minute diyed) holiday revealIdea #2: Pinecones & Jingle Bells

I absolutely love using jingle bells of all shapes and sizes for holiday decor. I hang them from the tree, put them on garlands, and coral some in bowls and vessels. On the flip side, for a more natural take, you can use small or even large pinecones, as well. They sell them in stores, of course, but you could also collect them if you have pine trees where you live, just check for insects and whatnot.

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A post shared by Erin Francois | Vintage • DIY • Home (@francois_et_moi)

Idea #3: Popcorn, Cranberries & Star Anise

Click the play button above on the reel from Erin Francois and be prepared to be awe-struck at just how beautiful strung-up cranberries can look. Like, my goodness it’s beautiful draped on your tree branches! You can also gather them in a bowl, or add in some popcorn for a super festive and nostalgic take. Fresh cranberries and popcorn should last a few weeks before things go south. As for star anise, this wreath is seriously swoon-worthy, made from the spice and an old wire hanger.

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A post shared by Erin Francois | Vintage • DIY • Home (@francois_et_moi)

Idea #4: Paper Stars

Even just one large star can be enough to make a vignette in your house holiday-ready (see above, again from Erin Francois). You could also get the family (or a friend party) together to make a bunch of much smaller ones for the tree, to hang from mirrors and curtain rods, even from the ceiling. Here’s a tutorial from HGTV I found.

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A post shared by Heather Smoke | Curly Girl Kitchen (@curlygirlkitchen)

Idea #5: DIY Salt Dough Ornaments

I’m seriously adding this one into my rotation. It’s GORGEOUS. The dough is made of just salt, flour and water, and you can make any shape with them. Use existing cookie cutters you have, or even cookie presses like did in the image above. They take a few days to dry out properly before hanging, so don’t try this on Christmas Eve thinking it’ll be ready in time for the big day.

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A post shared by molly madfis (@almostmakesperfect)

Idea #6: DIY Clay Ornaments

Another route for maybe the more artistically inclined is DIY clay ornaments. Molly Madfis of Almost Makes Perfect always makes the most fun clay ornaments every year (I wait patiently each time to see what’s up her sleeve). But the pretty from above seem easy enough and so beautiful.

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A post shared by Heirloom Art Co. (@heirloomartco)

Idea #7: Wood-Bead Garland or Just Wood in General

Never underestimate the beauty and simplicity of a wood-bead garland. It’s so easy to do yourself even with a toddler like mine, and can be draped over door frames, on the tree, in bowls, along your bed frame…etc. etc. etc. Also, wood ornaments in general are a great option when compared to plastic, of course, and arguably way more aesthetically pleasing.

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A post shared by molly madfis (@almostmakesperfect)

One Final Note On Wrapping Paper

And finally, wrapping paper. Look, I’m not going to tell you to skip it altogether (though the Japanese tradition of furoshiki gift wrapping is so stinking clever and good-looking) but above all else, try to avoid paper that has foil, glitter, or any plastic components. These things (as well as leftover tape and plastic ribbon/bows), make recycling it null and void, sadly. If there’s any metallic finish, opt for something else! You can always use a pretty ribbon to jazz it up, and those can be used year after year (I keep all mine in a box to pull out each Christmas or anytime I’m wrapping something, tbh).

This is where I leave you. I LOVE decorating for Christmas, and I’m not discouraging anyone from being the same, but if we all make some effort in one or two areas of the process, I bet it could make a big impact over time. Happy holidays, friends.

Until next time…

Opening Image Credit: Design & Styling By Arlyn Hernandez | Photo By Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Arlyn’s Warm (& Sort Of Last-Minute Diyed) Holiday Reveal

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Published on November 25, 2024 01:00

The Link Up: Em’s Favorite (And Tested) Colorful Christmas Lights, Gretchen’s New Dislay-Worthy Cookbook, And An Exclusive 30% Off Code for Anthropologie

Happy Sunday everyone! We hope you enjoyed this very fun, very reveal-heavy week (Kailtin’s living room and Emily Bowser’s garages). Don’t worry, just because it’s a holiday week doesn’t mean we won’t give you one more reveal before the end of the month:) It’s a pretty special one too. So until then, have a good rest of your Sunday, and let’s hit these links.

This week’s house tour is a loft tour of multi-hyphenet, Eric Wareheim. This man is a creative in every sense of the word and the time, care, and playfulness he injected into this space is exhilarating. Oh, plus one of his passions is wine (he has his own brand) so he has a cool 2,000 bottles to pick from when hosting dinner parties. Check out this dream space here!

In other exciting news: we convinced the team at Anthropologie to open their Black Friday sale a week early! (If you missed the announcement on Friday, it was blasted out to our email list and in our IG stories – make sure you’re following those other channels!) Early access ends TODAY, 11/24, before the sale is opened to AnthroPerks members tomorrow. Code EMILYH30 will take 30% off your order. This is your best chance to grab the piece you’ve been eyeing at their Black Friday price before they start to sell out – take a peek today!

photos by kaitlin green

From Emily: HOLIDAY LIGHT REVIEW!!! We are doing what many chic designers say NOT to do (they fear it’s tacky? I call BS) putting up colorful lights because the Hendersons want colorful Christmas lights on our house. The house is bright white and during these dark months, we want color, not more cold lights. But finding the right colorful LED lights is hard so I tested a bunch on our shed. Brian came outside and immediately picked one, I agreed, so we went with it. They are the C9 OptiCore Multicolor LED-style lights. Do we love them? YES. But once they were strung up they were pretty darn bright. We chose the 100 lights for 100 feet (aka one per foot) and it’s pretty dang bright at night, so I think if I could go back in time (which I can’t) I would go with the 75 per 150 feet (aka one every two feet). Also, be warned that the 100 light package comes unassembled – you have to screw the bulb into the string – but they are shatterproof (even though they look like glass). More importantly for those of you who want legit warm LED white lights, these are THE BEST. Many white lights say they are “warm” but they aren’t – they are still kinda cold and they look corporate and not cozy. We tested these and they are legit warm and beautiful. My brother put them on their house and they love them. So in conclusion, if you are going colorful, we love the C9 OptiCore Multicolor LED-style lights (just choose the number of lights carefully) and for white lights, we love these ones.

From Jess: Unfortunately, the face wash I was using was drying out my skin a little too much recently (likely since the weather is now dryer). However, FORTUNATELY, my newest favorite skincare brand, Deuix, recently came out with a gentle foaming facewash that I love love! One of my best friends, who has more combination skin (I have dry skin), also loves it. I went with the fragrance-free skin my skin skews sensitive. Highly recommend.

From Gretchen: I loveee a good cookbook! By no means am I a natural-born chef, so having a step-by-step guide, complete with delicious pictures and a hardcover so cute it could double as a coffee table book, just really checks all my boxes. My goal this holiday break is to get my hands dirty and cross off a few new recipes. And what better way to do that than with a shiny new cookbook? I popped into Anthropologie and was immediately drawn to their cookbook section–very well curated, but this one in particular caught my eye. A beautiful cobalt blue cover, soooo many delectable recipes inside with photos I could flip through and gawk at for hours. The recipes are anti-inflammatory-focused and seem pretty approachable. I would’ve bought this book on the spot BUT our very own Emily Henderson has a 30% off code to use when shopping Anthro online and it’s good thru today: EMILYH30 if you want to join in on the fun, too! So I was able to snag this bad boy on sale and now I’m even more excited to get cookin’!

FINAL REMINDER! 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 Mallory: There are two camps when it comes to decorating for Christmas: A. the camp that waits until after Thanksgiving and B. the camp that wants to enjoy Christmas decorations for as long as possible. I’m in camp B (Christmas starts November 1st) so when I popped into Target the other day I snagged ALL the decor (and was shocked at how great some of this stuff is!) First off, I snagged this nutcracker ($15 and he’s a good size). I love the little peppermint stick legs (he’s so classic and fun!) Then I picked up this snow globe to match. These paper trees are $10 for 2 but look just like the famous $40 West Elm ones (I grabbed some in green/black and then also in white/gold). So that kicked off my holiday decor shopping (but I’m sure I’ll have more recs soon lol). Happy holidays everyone!!!

From Arlyn: As a person who works from their home, I sure do end up packing lunches and snacks and even dinners far more than you’d expect. We’re a BIG picnic-in-the-park family, not to mention having a toddler who constantly needs to eat, so I’m a big lover of an easy-to-carry tote cooler bag or box cooler. I have one from Business & Pleasure Co that I love (but is no longer sold, sadly), but I just found Decosta Verde and am pleased to read their fabric is made from recycled plastic water bottles. I just got a small lunch tote for myself in the Attraversiamo print because I love a toile, and I’m excited to bring it into my rotation. Gotta plan my next picnic, I guess.

From Caitlin: I loved this Planet Money episode about the economic impact of immigration. It distilled a nuanced, complicated topic into a digestible, easy-to-understand 15-minute podcast. I liked it so much, in fact, that I bought a book written by one of the guests, Zeke Hernandez. He’s a business professor at Wharton (Trump’s alma mater, for those unfamiliar) who’s dedicated the last 20 years to researching how the movement of people can affect economies, and his book, The Truth About Immigration, is FASCINATING. I know it sounds like a heady topic, but he’s a really skilled educator and communicator – you’ll be able to fly through this one in a sitting or two AND you’ll learn a ton. It’s non-partisan and evidence-based – totally a perfect read for this moment in time.

Also From Caitlin: I just bought two pairs of high-quality Nisolo sandals for only $130!!! (These flatforms in solid black and these cross-strap sandals in almond – it felt like it was probably time to retire my cracked, tread-less, rubber Birkenstocks after 8 years of heavy use, you know?) I don’t really have a point here – just wanted to let you know that the whole Nisolo site is currently 40% off. (If you’re looking for a seasonally-appropriate curation, I have these boots, these d’Orsay oxfords, and these heeled mules – all have held up beautifully over the past ~5 years.) If you’re looking for keep-forever leather goods made from high-quality materials, Nisolo is the ticket!

Thanks for spending some time with us today and see you tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design and Styling by Emily Henderson and Kaitlin Green | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Kaitlin’s 70s Inspired, Colorful And Cool Living Room Revealed (Y’all, I’m So Jealous)

The post The Link Up: Em’s Favorite (And Tested) Colorful Christmas Lights, Gretchen’s New Dislay-Worthy Cookbook, And An Exclusive 30% Off Code for Anthropologie appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on November 24, 2024 01:00

The Link Up: Em’s Favorite (And Tested) Colorful Christmas Lights, Gretchen’s New Dislay-Worthy Cookbook, And The Best West Elm Paper Tree Dupe