Emily Henderson's Blog, page 53

Gretchen’s First MOTO Reveal: A Tiny Bedroom Comes Alive With The Perfect Pieces From Article (And Fabric On The Walls??)

What do you get when you combine 32 yards of fabric, a beautiful bedroom bundle from Article and the world’s best boss? My very first Makeover Takeover reveal!! If you read my post from yesterday, you know how quickly this bedroom came together. Personally, I love a deadline (Em too), and though this one came at us like a 90 mph fastball, I really do think we hit it out of the park! (Insert softball emoji here) What’s so wonderful about Em–besides gifting me with an incredible opportunity such as this–is that she really let me take the reins on the design process, but stepped up for me big time when I desperately needed her eye. So when it came time for the shoot, she styled, Kaitlin photographed and I teared up in the corner as we brought my dream bedroom to life. I couldn’t be more excited to share this finished space with you all! Are you ready for the breakdown? Here we go!

Headboard | Bed Frame | Mattress

It’s not too difficult for a bed to be the focal point in any room, let alone a 9′ x 10′ box, but thankfully she’s no eyesore! I’m still pinching myself knowing that THIS is the bed I come home to every night. From the headboard to the mattress to the bedding (to the window, to the wallllll)–it’s all Article! As if they weren’t already one of my favorite places to shop for furniture (and a tried and true EHD favorite for pieces that are beautifully designed, well made, and at amazing price points), now you can literally fulfill EVERY SINGLE ONE of your bedroom needs in one convenient place. And I did!

Article has partnered with Leesa to supply you a great mattress to go atop your beautiful new bed frame. And to no one’s surprise, it’s extremely comfortable! I feel like I could recreate that classic infomercial, where the lady jumps on the bed next to a stemmed glass of red wine and it doesn’t budge one iota. Now I’m not gonna do that with this bed, mostly because I prefer a pinot gris (or in this case, an empty coffee mug), so you’ll just have to trust me on this one. It’s firm yet soft, and hugs just right without swallowing you whole. It has three layers of memory foam, each one designed to keep you cool and supported. After sleeping on the same full-size mattress I’ve had for years and years, this queen mattress makes me feel like just that–A QUEEN.

Storage Bed | Throw Blanket

Next up is the frame. I knew I wanted to incorporate this oak Pactera bed frame as soon as I saw it (the white version is also so crisp). My place has decent storage, but sadly no real spot for linens. The fact that this bed is as beautiful as it is sturdy and has hidden storage drawers, is unreal. Positioned at the front of the bed are two huge drawers, and inside them I can fit all of my extra towels, sheets, and blankets. I love that they disappear completely, tucking away into the frame’s wide base, only to be clocked by me. The added lip around the perimeter of the frame is such a nice design touch, too and more importantly, functional. Making my bed in the morning really just requires stuffing the duvet into the sides of the frame and yet somehow every time it comes out looking so polished!

Gauze Charcoal Duvet Cover | Gauze Charcoal Sham Set | Sheet Set | Left Throw Pillow | Right Throw Pillow

Speaking of bedding…Article really NAILED IT! No surprises that their new bedding launch is as good as the furniture we know and love them for. Their bedding comes in three fabrications: the delightful crinkly gauze I picked, a super soft cotton, and a classic breezy linen. Before choosing the fabric for the walls (and yes…I will get to that!) I decided on the Leni gauze bedding in charcoal. I talked about it in the Link Up a few weekends ago, but I really can’t say enough about my love for it. I just feel so dang fancy sliding into a bedding set this beautiful and high quality. And technically what you’re seeing isn’t really a set, but rather a collection of styles, which just goes to show how well their colors and materials mix and match. I snagged an extra set of gauze-y shams in taupe and cotton sheets in light taupe, too. Top it off with two cute throw pillows and this fuzzy, tasseled blanket (yes y’all Article does decor too!) and celloooo–you’ve got a bed! (Hands up if you caught either one of my School Of Rock references)

But the real show stopper is the headboard, obvi. It was a much harder decision for me to make, only because they have too many great options to choose from and I was really going back and forth on the direction of the room. In the end this one beat out the rest because the wood tone matched the other pieces so perfectly without being all from the same line. The woven rattan detailing makes it feel so high-end and lux, and I really love that it mounts to the wall. It hangs on a French cleat so I know it’s super secure, but I can also nudge it one way or the other, should I want to shift my bed a bit.

Gauze Taupe Sham Set | Headboard | Swing-Arm Sconce

Another fantastic feature of the headboard are the built-in nightstands. With my room being so small, adding nightstands into the mix could’ve made it feel clunky. Instead, the integrated shelves take up zero floor space and give me a great resting spot for my phone, a cup ‘o joe, or whatever book I’m reading–I mean, I haven’t attended book club in months, but that’s only because I had no place to set it down! I promise that’s the only reason!!

Because they’re still on the smaller side, I opted for this beautiful swing-arm sconce to keep the surface clear. I like that it provides a bit of asymmetry to the space and replaces the need for art above the bed–which I did try, but just felt like too much going on with the “wallpaper”. It’s also a plug-in so no wiring required! The mushroom lamp sitting on the other side of the bed (the previous photo) is one I stole from Em’s prop room just for the shoot, and will be going back because the sconce gives off plenty of light. But like, how cute?!

White Double Planter | Dresser | Table Lamp

That said, I’m super happy this other mushroom lamp is staying because it gives off a really nice glow and the gold shade connects well with the greenish gold of the wall fabric (I’m so close to talking about this, keep reading).

But the dresser??! Again, if you saw yesterday’s post, you’d know this was the one piece I absolutely had to have. We used nightstands from the same Vireo line in Kaitlin’s bedroom makeover, and when I realized they had the same style in a 6-drawer lowboy, I lost it. I have way too many clothes and until I get that problem under control, a dresser in addition to my closet is necessary. Whether I move or stay here for years, this is a piece that I know will be with me for GOOD. I can see it working so beautifully in my living room as a sideboard when I graduate from clothes-hoarding, that is. It just feels so timeless. The soft closing drawers are a mega bonus, but the design of the drawer pulls is my favorite element.

The one piece of art hanging in the room is something I painted. At my last apartment, someone left it in our communal free pile. It had a weird, black plastic light mounted to the top and looked like an early-stage art project left to die. I had a vision and snagged it, even though my neighbor-friends were like “Gretch, babe, that’s trash”. I’ve painted on it a few times, and I’m still not sure it’s “done” but I really love what it adds to the space, breaking up the uniformity of the wall and picking up some of the pink-ier tones in the room. References to both of my cherished apartments are hidden inside and I love looking at it as I fall asleep, reminded of the gratitude I have for those designs. There’s even a scrap of the current wall fabric pasted on the left side of it…

Okay wait, first the window and then we’ll talk wall fabric–I mean it!! This transom window (a word I learned recently, thanks Em!) surprisingly lets in a lot of light. But unfortunately, it looks directly into my neighbor’s kitchen and the awkward eye contact happened enough for me to hop on the internet and order this window film. It’s made to look like reeded glass and diffuses the light beautifully. I also don’t need anything to block the light because I truly sleep like the dead, so just a bit of privacy control was enough for me.

When Em came by to see the progress of space, she suggested I extend the window ledge to display some of my plants. Love!! So I headed to my local Ace Hardware, snagged a board, cut it to size, painted it to match, and drilled it into the sill. Done. Then Em helped me pick out a few fresh plants for the shoot and I’ll be damned if I can’t keep them alive, because they’re just too perfect!

White Double Planter

Okay you’ve made it!! It’s fabric time. This wallpaper isn’t wallpaper, but rather wallfabric, as I’ve lovingly coined it. It’s something I’ve added to many of my past rentals, and I like to think it’s my signature. I will argue ’til the day I die that it’s absolutely the best way to “wallpaper” a room because it is 100% renter-friendly and a process you can do completely solo without the need to rip your hair out along the way. Now I will admit, I’m a TEASE, because the fully-fledged, step-by-step process post won’t be coming at you until next week. But I will give you this: in my humble opinion, it’s miles better than traditional paste-up or peel-and-stick wallpaper because clean-up is a breeze–any residue left behind simply doesn’t exist–and it’s sooo much less wasteful. If I move, get bored of it, or realize it belongs somewhere else, all I need to do is peel it down and give it a wash before I’m ready to start again. And by then the opportunities are endless–wallfabric another room or sew an outfit or a bedspread or a pillow or CURTAINS. Now who can say that about sticky paper?

But to immediately contradict myself, I am thinking about ordering a peel-and-stick version of the same design to line my drawers and closet shelves, because it’s slightly easier to clean. I worked with Spoonflower to find this fabric and they offer all (we’re talking literally millions) of their designs in both fabric and wallpaper of every kind. And to them I said, “Hey, how ’bout one more application?” and they said “Sure!” and I said, “Thanks, guys!”

Anyway, I am super proud of this room and extremely grateful to be given the chance to express myself with such incredible pieces. To have a room in my new place fully designed feels so fulfilling and is driving me to rethink and refresh the other rooms in my apartment. So stay tuned! And come back next week to read all about that wallfabric process. If you have any questions about it, I’ll make sure to answer them over there!

The hugest of thank you’s to Article for partnering on this project. Every single item is an absolute hit and I am tickled as pink as the flowers on my walls to be surrounded by such beauty. To the readers, thanks for following along! To Kaitlin, the photographic magic you capture is unmatched and these are photos I will cherish forever and ever. And to Emily, just wow. The things you’ve introduced me to, the projects you’ve brought to me, and the gifts you’ve bestowed, leave me speechless. Thank you for your ongoing love, support and trust throughout this process! You are so cool.

Sincerely, Gretch

*Design by Gretchen Raguse (me!)
**Styled by Gretchen Raguse and Emily Henderson
*** Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on April 09, 2024 01:00

Introducing Gretchen’s Bedroom MOTO: A Dream Partnership, Three Moodboards & A Million Fabric Samples

I write this, truthfully, on the other side of the finish line, and the race to get here has been a bit of a blur! Three months ago I moved into a new place after living four years in a spot I loved dearly, but had inevitably outgrown. The laundry was shared and paid for in quarters, the floors so creaky they could wake the neighbors, and the paint? Well, it covered just about every hinge, knob, and hard surface in all 600 sq ft.

But I made the most of it and loved that apartment despite its many quirks. So many wonderful opportunities came my way because of it–a feature in Apartment Therapy and this J-O-B with E-H-D to name a few. And although I’m so grateful for my time lived (aka decorating) in that space, I couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling inside me that it was time for something new. Fresh blank walls, a challenge or two—plenty of room for a design project.

Cut to early December, my dear friend Janet and I are curled up sipping coffee on her comfy couch, looking around her sweet new home (a true craftsman with thoughtful updates and a touch of that “DIY” charm I love so much). I couldn’t help but envision a home like this for myself—but on my budget, that dream would have to be a little less “three floors and a mortgage” for now. I mention to her my desire to move apartments soon and she takes note of my checklist:

A space bigger than my current spot. One that isn’t inherently “modern” or “out-of-the-box-brand-new”. Read: charm. A PLACE WITH A WASHER & DRYER IN-UNIT PLEASE DEAR GOD. And I wouldn’t say no to a dishwasher. Wood floors throughout would also be ideal. Any kind of outdoor space, a plus. And hell—a second bedroom would sure make a nice studio space! Read: a place for all my collected crap.

Well it was as if we’d manifested it right there on that couch, because 5 minutes into my drive home, Janet sends me this text:

I followed the link to the listing and (metaphorically) sh*t myself. Not only did it have EVERY last thing on my wishlist but it was in my price range and funky in all the right ways (do you smell a project or three, because I did!) Spoiler alert: it’s mine now and the projects? Honey, they start today! Introducing: Baby’s First MOTO…my bedroom!

When Article reached out asking about a potential bedroom makeover, someone jumped at the opportunity right away. And it wasn’t me. Emily threw my name into the hat faster than I could say “Yes, please!” And approx. 30 seconds after seeing that Slack message come through, I had put together a deck with three potential design directions. What can I say? I was excited. I’m pretty sure I mocked these up before officially accepting her offer, and thankfully it still worked out in my favor! The only problem was it needed to be ready to publish in 10 weeks and I had big ideas (and a full-time job).

My first moodboard began with an extremely pared-back color palette and a quiet, calm vibe. I love this bed TERRIBLY, but quickly discovered it was too large for my >100 sq ft room. If you have a larger space, don’t skip this one! The reason I loved it so much was its integrated storage drawer, hidden away in the front of the bed.

My second design took a turn for the vibrant. Inspired by my beloved arched headboard I used in my last place, I knew Article sold an upgraded version of my DIY. An arched, paneled headboard done in green velvet with the nightstands built in? YUM. But I realized I was wasting an opportunity to lean into a new look, and instead pulled together a room that landed somewhere in between the two moodboards.

In the refined design, you may notice that the dresser stuck around. It was the first thing I was absolutely sure of. The lines are too goooood and the amount of storage was just what I needed. The woven rattan headboard felt like a perfect balance of the two from before–sophisticated lines, with built-in nightstands, but with the feeling it could be a timeless treasure, just like I knew the dresser would be. And luckily, I found a different bed frame with storage drawers that integrated perfectly and didn’t overwhelm the room.

I had barely started playing with accessories and additional elements. I snuck in a few Emily Henderson x Rugs USA options, but couldn’t get a larger rug to work in the actual space. In the first two boards, I included old pendant lights I had on hand from IKEA, but ended up choosing this sleek, black swing-arm sconce.

I had one non-negotiable when designing the space: Fabric on the walls. No, this wouldn’t be some Trading Spaces straw on the walls reveal, it was actually going to look good and I knew that for two reasons. 1) I’ve become a bit of a pro at this technique, having experimented with it in multiple rooms at my last place, perfecting each step along the way. And 2) because I already did it and it does actually look good. But the reveal post comes tomorrow, and for now, my process of getting there will have to suffice!

In yet another freakishly manifested destiny, days after moving forward with the Article pitch, Spoonflower reached out to see if Em had any spaces that could benefit from their vast selection of wallpaper. Well, my ears perked up, because I for one, knew Spoonflower for their infinite fabric options. This could be my “in” for enough fabric to cover the room. So together Em (and Caitlin) and I floated the idea: fabric as wallpaper–and they agreed!

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I sent for a “few” samples, a little embarrassing to say how many in total, but more than 10 and less than the 1,000,000+ options they have on their site. When the samples arrived, I held them up against my new Article furniture and took a photo of each one. My phone crashed.

Just kidding. But there were so many!! And at this point, I needed to recruit Em to help me narrow them down. We eliminated a bunch right off the bat for various reasons: wrong colors, repeats that didn’t work well, a too-small pattern that would likely read as polka-dots on the wall. Suddenly we were down to three, so I mocked them up on my iPad.

Option One:

Mid Century Eye Fabric

Option Two:

Block Print Flowers Fabric

Option Three:

Large – Baysan – Turtle/Midnight Blue Fabric

We both had a favorite, and thankfully we were on the same page! Then Kaitlin, our photographer, stopped by and also chose that one. Even my mom agreed it was the best of the three. Can you guess which one made the cut? Come back tomorrow to find out and see the whole room reveal Thanks for sticking with me through this novel!

Sincerely, Gretch

*Design by Gretchen Raguse (me!)

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Published on April 08, 2024 01:00

The Link Up: Em’s Favorite New Eye Serum, Jess’ Magical $8 Hair Brush Tool, And A Design Book We Can’t Wait To Get Our Hands On

Happy Sunday everyone. On the EHD side of things, it was a pretty special week and you’ll see why tomorrow. Let’s just say if you are familiar with the term “MOTO” then that’s our clue. Aside from that we are very happy to have Emily back from her spring break and are pretty excited that we all get to see each other in a month for our team retreat. Grateful is an understatement. Ok, let’s link!

left photo by alex zarour | right photo by michael clifford

From Emily: Today I’m so proud to help share a book by a good friend of the blog, A 1000 X Better. 2 1/2 years ago Kirstin and I were talking on the phone about the potential of her future book (while I was in the middle of promoting my last one), and I’m pretty sure I told her not to do it UNLESS she felt “called” or “compelled”. I selfishly wanted her to do it because her designs are incredibly creative, bold, and risky in a way that is riveting to witness. These are rooms that I want to stare at for hours to notice all the details. So Kirsten, a HUGE CONGRATS from the EHD team to you. We know what it takes to put out a book and we hope everyone who is into design, bold/risky/beautiful design, buys this book. Happy Publishing Month!!! Go buy it HERE!!! Officially available April 9th (so only 2 days!!)

This week’s house tour epitomizes how a small space can have BIG style! This Jersey City apartment transports you to Italy with the most wonderful vintage furniture and soft cozy hues. Also, peep the painted door panels because that is definitely an emerging trend:) Enjoy!

Also From Emily: Admittedly, I was influenced by Gen Z tweens selling out Summer Fridays stuff on TikTok. To be clear I’m not on TikTok but I read multiple newsletters about youth trends because I find it WILD (my favorites are After School by Casey Lewis and Link in Bio by Rachel Karten). Anyway, after hearing about the craze I, as a 44-year-old mom, decided that I too wanted in on how these 12-year-olds are staying moist and wrinkle-free (LOLOLOLOLOLOL). So I tried the Rich Cushion Cream Ultra Plumping Moisturizer and lordy it is moisturizing (think more affordable La Mer). I’m not sure what 12-year-old’s skin needs that level of moisture but my historically dry skin loves it and I crave it around 7 pm every day when my face has been too exposed to the world. So I went on to try the Jet Lag Overnight Eye Serum and I LOVE IT. I have a partnership with them coming up which I gladly accepted because I’m already very into their product (also vegan, cruelty-free, etc which means they are foregoing a lot of international markets that require animal testing – which are huge markets for beauty… that’s all to say if you have the budget to support these smaller brands go for it).

Also, not for nothing but the Sephora Savings Sale just started on Friday for the Rouge members who get 20% off select beauty and 30% Sephora collection until April 15th. If you are A VIB or Insider the sale starts on Tuesday the 9th. It’s honestly the best time to do some restocking of your most used products/is a good time to try something new since it’ll be a little discounted.

From Jess: Y’all the newest edition to my haircare arsenal is this hairbrush cleaning tool set and it was only $8!!!! Why didn’t I know this existed?? So I don’t know about you but my brush will quickly fill up with what looks like dust bunnies (gross). I know it’s a mix of skin cells, dust, etc. but regardless it’s been A PAIN to properly get all of that off my brushes…until now. I usually just use the little rake and it quickly grabs that hard-to-remove “dust bunnies” and of course hair. For a full deep clean, you should also soak your brush but I’ve yet to do that. Baby steps:) I primarily use this boar bristle hair brush but it looks like between the three different combs, there is something for every type of brush. I hope these are as oddly satisfying and life-changing for you as it was for me!

photos by mark weinberg | styled by getteline rene

In case you’ve been waiting, our Fountain and Rowena rugs are BACK IN STOCK!!!

From Gretchen: I have an issue with my bathroom lighting. I’ve touched on it before in the link-up, where I found a battery-operated overhead light to use in my shower, but the real problem is that my only genuine light source is a blinding vanity light–the kind with three, bare bulbs that burn away your retinas if you dare glance at them directly. I’m not super eager to swap out the fixture just yet, because the design direction of the room is unfolding somewhat slowly. I thought about DIY-ing a cover to diffuse it a little, but recently came across a different fixture that used chrome-dipped bulbs behind clear glass, avoiding the need to look away. I realized they were exactly what I needed! I ran to Amazon and bought this perfect pack of three. They look great and I can stare at them as long as I want! They come in gold, too. A great, simple fix until I eventually find a replacement fixture.

From Mallory: I’ve been very into Rumble boxing for the last year and a half (shoutout to ‘stina in Weho for being the best instructor ever) and I finally decided to invest in some cool boxing gloves so I don’t have to keep renting them. These were so stylish and made me feel like a total badass. I added them to cart immediately and then started exploring this brand Modest Vintage Player a bit more and fell IN LOVE. Their whole mission is “to create the most beautiful, yet functional, athletic goods & accessories” and their products are so fun. My dream is to have one of their leather punching bags and I just might get this jump rope and medicine ball at some point…If you have a home gym that you want to look pretty or if you just want more aesthetic workout gear check them out!!

From Caitlin: On a scale of 9 to 10, how boring am I? The answer is TEN, because I am using this week’s link to tell you all about an EMAIL APP. And it’s not just any email app – it’s one that I spend THIRTY DOLLARS a month on. That’s not even a typo. The kicker? It’s SO WORTH IT. (The other kicker? I used to think it was overhyped! Or a scam! I was so naive!) The product in question? Superhuman, the world’s greatest email client. I signed up last month and the results are in: I sent more than TWO TIMES as many emails as normal in HALF THE TIME! Basically, they’ve created an interface that keeps me focused, on track, and FLYING through my inbox at unprecedented rates (no mouse necessary – your hands never need to leave the keyboard!). I can never go back! If you also have an email-based job, this will be a total game-changer for you. The first month is free and it’s SO worth the trial. (PS. If you like these kinds of recommendations, I have a calendar app that’ll blow your mind! Let me know…)

From Arlyn: In a world of microplastic fears (it’s always something), I made an effort to change out my plastic cutting boards for something else. I have two wood cutting boards, but I like a non-wood surface for some things like meat, onions, garlic and also for a quick fruit chop for snack time. After some research, I landed on these from Public Goods made from compressed paper and wood fiber. They’ve been great so far and I’m so happy with them! The silicone corners keep it steady, the hole makes it easy to move it around (or hang it), and it even has a “moat” for reserve juices.

Thanks for hanging with us today and see you all tomorrow! xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Kirsten Blazek | Photo by Michael P.H. Clifford for A 1000 X Better: A Rebel by Design

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Published on April 07, 2024 01:00

The Sisterhood Of The Traveling $30 Target Dress (So Does It Work For Everyone??)

I sang this dress’ praises a few weeks ago as I was planning my spring break packing list. I’m happy to report that not only did I wear this 3 nights during spring break (in Kauai, 70 degrees at night after long days of being in the sun and with sticky sunscreen), but I saw TWO different women in Hawaii wearing it too. It got me thinking, is this dress great on most people? Could it be the sisterhood of the traveling dress? Gretchen had already bought it, so I told the rest of the team they could grab one and we’d do an experiment to see if perhaps this is the perfect spring/summer dress???? And FYI I’ve washed it 3 times, hung dry or spun dry, and it has held up and drapes really well – not all wrinkled or misshaped which sometimes you can get with a really affordable dress. I think there is enough poly in it to give it that seersucker look (at least the green stripe) which makes it look great without steaming. Definitely a dress you’d happily wear after eating a huge burrito or dealing with normal bloat, FYI. It’s sooo comfortable. Ok, ladies – what did you think?????

But first I’ll remind you of my initial thoughts…

The Green Striped One

photos by kaitlin green | from: 12 cute, comfy easy-to-wear spring break outfits

From my fashion post: “This dress is the real winner of the season. It’s from Target and while I love the idea of Target clothes I do find that sometimes their cuts aren’t great on me or the fabric is just meh. This is lightweight (looks heavier than it is), has a seersucker vibe that lends itself to being casual, doesn’t need to be steamed, and has that cute gathering detail at the front but nothing on the back so it gives you a sense of the waist with extreme waist comfort!!!!! Might be too warm for extreme humidity, but it’s absolutely coming with me for nighttime casual dinners. I’m so comfortable and I feel really cute (add a trendy bag to take it down a notch in the mom category).”

Dress | Jacket

This dress! I saw it at Target a few days before Em styled it for her Spring Break Outfits post, but they only had the dark blue version in my size. I tried it on and I liked it well enough, but knew I would LOVE the green stripe, so I went ahead and ordered it. To my pleasant surprise, Em showed up to the shoot with said green dress and I felt so validated by my decision!

I love the way it drapes, with slits along the sides for a leg to peek out, plus the front waist is cinch-able, so I can pull a little shape but keep the back hanging loose. And POCKETS!!! I tried it in both L and XL but opted to keep the bigger size because it’s slightly longer and reviews say it’ll shrink some in the wash. I paired it with my other “new favorite” Madewell jacket and some old (un-linkable) favorites: a round canvas Baggu bag, vintage wooden sandals and some brown sunnies!

The Blue Striped One

Dress | Gold Layered Necklace | Sneakers

This dress is SO comfy and I was stoked when I found out it has POCKETS!!! The blue and white pinstripe is a classic pattern I’ve always loved and I’ll always love this look with gold accessories. I’m wearing a small and I pulled the lil strings on the side tighter to give it a little more shape (love that this adjusts BTW). Plus this lil slit was cute – wanted to show off my janky little ankle that I sprain all the time (this is its good side). I feel like Gwenette Paltrow on vacation which is not a bad thing to feel like for only $30!!

The White One

Dress | Sunglasses | Clogs (similar) | Purse | Bandana (similar)

I’m gonna be real: I did not think I was going to like this dress on my body! The sizing chart left a lot to be desired – my measurements ranged from “medium” to “XXL” – so I figured that parts of the dress would cling to my hips and bust. NOT SO, MY FRIENDS! I split the difference and ordered the XL and I am SO STOKED with the fit. I love the drape (it’s hard to find things that actually drape without bunching up somewhere!) and I’m so glad I got it in white! It’s been SO FUN to dress up and down and probably the only piece in my closet that feels appropriate for a museum and a beach, which is a pretty tall order. I’m wearing it with some clogs here, but I also LOVE it with a baseball hat and sneakers, some flat sandals and big glasses, or with a few pops of color. More than anything, this dress makes me feel a little cooler than I am, which is really all that matters:) it’s nice to wear things that actually make you feel good about yourself, you know?! (PS. This color/fabric will come rumpled and you will need to steam it. Still worth it. I promise!!)

The Navy One

Dare I say I chose the least “springy” option but I just felt like it suited me best. Actually, the navy fabric is a little thinner than the green stripe one! So here is what I’ll say, I think this is a super cute and unbelievably comfortable dress. However, I don’t think it’s totally my style but hopefully, the way I styled it does it justice if it’s yours! I wanted to really mix it up in a classic “EHD style” way and throw a striped long-sleeved shirt under it. I know it’s still chilly in a lot of places so this could be an easy way to make it a little warmer and fun. And while you can surely dress this cutie up, I liked the idea of pairing it with a cool, casual sneaker. I also wanted to add a little structure and pattern so I threw on my beloved Clare V fanny pack with its checkered strap. TBF, it’s the only purse I wear these days so it really wasn’t a choice as much as my only option but I stand by it:) I also wanted to show you what it looked like without the striped top and then with a classic baseball hat. Three casual looks, one throw-on-and-go, easy breezy dress. I’m in a medium but we were told it shrinks a good amount so I would consider sizing up!

So there you have it! All our thoughts that will hopefully help you decide whether you were on the purchase fence or simply looking for a great, comfy, affordable spring dress. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photos by Kaitlin Green at Sunroom Studio | From: 12 Cute, Comfy Easy-To-Wear Spring Break Outfits

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Published on April 06, 2024 01:00

Struggling With How to Fill A Big, Empty Wall? We Help 4 Readers (& You!) Figure It Out

What’s that saying? Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach? Well, friends, I have a giant wall in my primary bedroom that I’ve been stumped on for the whole year we’ve lived here. So instead of figuring out what to do there, I’m going to use my brain power to help YOU figure out what to do, instead! Procrastination at its finest. (In all honestly, I *do* have some ideas but it would cost more than I want to or have to spend for a temporary rental solution, so, I’m holding off.)

For this week’s installment of Fix It Friday, we’re tackling the—dun, dun, dun…—big, empty wall. ::someone screams somewhere:: We’ve all been haunted by a stretch of wall in limbo at some point in our decorating pursuits, correct? So we put out a call to the people to send us your empty walls for us to sort through and dream up solutions.

The requests ran the gamut from people who were just looking for some art advice, and for others who were as lost on what to do as me my first time in Amsterdam trying to find the right train back to the airport (woof!). And I get it. The options for what to do on an empty wall are, in truth, endless. I sat and brainstormed general ideas for not more than four minutes and came up with the following (meaning, if I sat for longer, there would have been even more ideas, so, yeah…there’s a lot one can do).

Here’s what I came up with, in case anyone here just needs a bit of a jumping-off point:

Large-scale art (1-2 pieces)Large floor or wall mirrorConsole table with mirror or artShelves or shelving unitWallpaperMolding or millworkBuilt-ins ($$$)Gallery wallLarge-scale furniture piece (storage armoire, China cabinet, bookcases, etc.)Peg rail/rail/hooksGallery wall hung from art railPedestal + vase + artChair + lamp/side table + artBenchPlant wallFaux fireplace mantel (or real built-in gas fireplace)

See what I mean? SO. MUCH. TO. DO!

Now, some of these are very large investments that would involve a proper designer to draft out (I’m not that person). And besides, in the name of “Fix It Friday,” these should be quickish tackle-it-yourself types of solutions. So as fun as it would be to sit and try my hand at designing some custom built-in for a parents’ playroom or the dining room of a killer flat in London (you know who you are), I opted to pick homes that were more universal in their needs for everyone reading here.

Before diving into some inspiration and the reader’s home, I do want to say one thing (don’t I always?): You don’t have to fill every wall. Some walls can just…breathe. Especially if you already have a lot of art or furniture, having an empty stretch of wall might be what your room or space needs, honestly. Have it fill a purpose for you (storage, adding color through art, etc.) or leave it be.

Okay, let’s look at a few photos from the EHD archive. The funny thing, none of these are big blank walls. Obviously. Because literally every single wall in a room starts as a big blank wall before any design is done. But they all felt like they *could* have been blank walls if not for the solutions already enacted on them. Get me? From large-scale art, to many gallery walls, to peg rails over a bench, to a whole built-in, here’s some inspiration for you:

left: design and photo by keyanna bowen, from: blue walls be gone! key’s totally transformed office reveal – maybe the most dramatic before & after ever (?) | right: design by caitlin higgins, styled by emily edith bowser, photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: the reveal we’ve all been waiting for! caitlin’s mostly thrifted, postmodern regency deco living room

design by ginny macdonald | photo by zeke ruelas | from: ginny’s dining room reveal

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | left: design by emily henderson, from: living room update – again – our new sofa, my dream floral chaise and the pop of red i always wanted in my life | right: design by velinda hellen design, styled by emily edith bowser, from: velinda’s first freelance client reveal: molding the ‘builder-grade budget’ + where they saved & splurged

left: design by emily henderson and sarah weldon, styled by emily henderson and emily edith bowser, photo by steven mcdonald, from: the prettiest green and pink kitchen remodel that we completed in 7 weeks | right: design by jess bunge, photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: makeover takeover: jess’ long awaited (small space) living room reveal

Alright, let’s look at some reader homes and walk through some of the ideas I’ve cooked up that don’t involve custom work (which is always an option but not really the vibe of Fix It Friday). First up is a wall next to a kitchen, next to a living room, next to a staircase with no real purpose.

The Pass-Through Limbo Wall

From the reader: “I recently moved into an old Victorian and have a large wall in the middle. You see it as soon as you walk in the home. It is in the living room and divides the kitchen and stairway. Dimensions: 8ft wide x 8ft 10” high. I would love a large piece of artwork to fill the space and bring color into the house. Would like to stay around $1,000.”

I’ve worked with many a wall just like this in my time and they can be tricky. You don’t want to put anything too bulky there since it’s a pass-through area. Our reader specifically requested art to add color into what looks like a fairly neutral home, so that’s just what I did. Now, choosing art for someone else, especially something this size, is a strange exercise. I’m going based solely on looks (plus, I don’t have much to work from in terms of color palette because I’m not seeing much of the home). But, as we’ve discussed time and again on this blog, art is hyper-subjective and personal. I doubt this reader will buy this exact thing, but maybe they’ll like the idea of a frame canvas (which is my favorite for a wall like this).

Because the budget was $1,000 and very large art is incredibly expensive, I opted to fill the wall with two other things to get away with a slightly smaller piece (though this one from Minted is sold in a size up to 48″x70″). A picture light makes the art feel extra special and purposeful. Like this was meant as a momentary pause for the viewer. The bench underneath adds some depth and also offers the functionality of being somewhere to pause to put on shoes (the entrance is nearby) or even place something down when you need a hand. I went with something a little modern just looking at the kitchen and couch in this great room area, though the staircase and detailing to the right feels more in line with the Victorian she mentioned so she could always find something a bit more traditional.

Bench | Framed Canvas | Picture Sconce

I did go over budget here. With a discount running on Minted for the art, all three pieces together are around $1,650. I figured she could use this as a jumping-off point and find a vintage bench for less, or even a less expensive piece of art (you wouldn’t believe what you could find at HomeGoods sometimes, as much as I don’t recommend building your collection from there).

The Above-Credenza Limbo Wall

From the reader: “I desperately need help figuring out what to do with this wall! Finishing this project would really help this room look complete. The house is a small 1920s Spanish bungalow. My style is California-Neutral-Scandi. I am a big concert-goer and I’ve thought about incorporating a vintage print of the Hollywood Bowl, my favorite place in LA, into a frame wall, but I’m really open to anything. My budget is around $3-4k.”

As soon as I saw that barrel ceiling, my heart swelled. I had a (sort of) similar setup in my last home, so it was nostalgic. Let me show you the other side to get a sense of the reader’s style:

With such a large window, I think the opposite wall needs something to balance it. I originally thought of suggesting she get rid of the credenza (relocate it somewhere else, rather), and do a large, open shelving system. That or a huge leaning floor mirror with an arched top to echo the window and bounce the light everywhere. I still think that’s one of the best options. BUT, I decided to work with what she had and came up with two ways to do it.

The first involves shifting the furniture piece directly in the middle of the wall and adding a large framed vintage print of the Hollywood Bowl, which she mentioned wanting. Now that I look at the below, I think this could be much larger, considering the window size. Maybe even the full width of the credenza. BUT, I’m going to stick to my guns here for this explanation. I wanted to bring some lighting to this wall to really make it a feature, so I found these cool yet simple sconces. These are hardwired, so she’d have to get junction boxes installed, or find something she liked that were plug-in. Because I felt the right side needed something more, I adding in a sculptural side chair.

Sconce | Hollywood Bowl Print | Side Chair

I was itching to add some shelving and do something a little more off-center, so I threw in a second, albeit similar, option. Here, I left the credenza where it was and balanced it with a linear, vertical wall sconce to the vignette itself, rather than the furniture piece, was centered. The shelving unit speaks to the mid-century pieces she has (ignore that there is a tree behind it…my Photoshop skills have limitations, people), and can collect pretty things. I used the same art print from the top in a smaller size, and added in an additional vintage print above to fill up the vertical space. I’m thinking the tree can either spin to put the bulk of the leaves in front of the window, or this whole thing can flip-flop with the tree on the right, the sconce on the left, and the furniture shifted right.

Wall Shelf | Vintage Print | Wall Sconce

The Dining Room Limbo Wall

From the reader: “I have a big wall I’ve been wanting to do a gallery wall on to add some color to our all-green everything dining ‘nook.’ Fun facts: We took an old headboard from an EH DIY (used for a guest room pre-kiddos in 2018) and made it into a bench for the dining nook you see in the photos. We get so many compliments on it. Measurements: Above the ‘headboard’ bench the wall measures 12.18′ wide by 4.8′ high on the short wall and 7.15′ high on the tall part of the wall. I would love a colorful gallery wall where I could include some of my kid’s art (3 and 1). The space is adjacent/open to the living room, so we’d want it to tie in with that.”

This one is so fun. Both because of the repurposed DIY (genius!) and because I’m inclined to always help a parent with littles out. I haven’t yet reached the stage with my daughter where we’re hanging her art (she only just started scribbling and coloring), but as soon as we do, I know just what I’m going to do…beautiful frames where swapping out art (or storing art) is super easy.

Below are the adjacent rooms she mentioned, and I feel like we can bring in a touch more color:

A gallery wall can quickly become visually overwhelming, so I opted for larger, fewer pieces, including a handful of frames for family photos or kid masterpieces. The frames you see below with the grommets in the corner as from this company called Wexel Art and they’re great. They’re single-pane plexi with tiny magnets to attach your art. Got something new to hang? Just move the magnets, replace the art, put the magnets back on and BOOM, done! It’s amazing. They come in tons of sizes, too. To round it out, I picked two more Blockshop prints because she mentioned loving their stuff, a hanging canvas from Upton (such wonderful stuff if you haven’t checked out that storefront), and a big, anchoring 3D piece for some interest. I kept everything mostly neutral since I know crayon and marker art can get…colorful.

The key here is staggering the pieces so they mostly follow the angle of the ceiling to fill the space and make the impact I think she wants to make. I was also thinking of suggesting they move the location of the sconce to the art wall and continue the art onto the wall where the sconce is now. That, or change up the light fixture to something with an even longer arm to act more as a chandelier. I think it could be very cool (maybe something like this if budget allows).

Another Dining Room Limbo Wall (That’s Also A Pass-Through Wall)

From the reader: “I live in a loft condo in Chicago that is flooded with light and uninterrupted city views from floor-to-ceiling windows. The first floor has a living/ dining/ kitchen open floor plan combo great room. Because I have a corner unit, there is really only one true ‘decorating’ wall in the space, next to the dining table. When my husband and I bought our home, this wall had giant bookshelves that were too visually heavy for the otherwise airy space. Now that we removed them, we have the opposite issue with this big blank wall! The wall currently has my beloved ‘Blue Dog’ artwork on it, but the scale is not right for the space. The wall measures about 15 feet long by 10 feet tall. It is a moderate traffic wall, as we use this pathway to get between the hallway to the left of the wall and our den/tv room behind it and balcony doors next to it (on the right). There is about 3 feet of clearance between the wall and the dining chairs. For further scale references, the table is 5×5 square and the sofas are 9 feet long.”

I was really hoping for a scenario where I could recommend a wall of shelving. It’s the closest to “built-in” as we’re getting today since it’s an impactful nearly full-wall installation, but with an off-the-shelf product. This reader mentioned this being the only “decorating” wall in the whole of the living areas, so I wanted to provide lots of opportunity for their books, plants, a bar if they please, and other pretty things. Since it’s a pass-through area, whatever we put here had to be streamlined and not overly bulky. Not to mention they already removed bookcases from this wall.

Yes, they could just turn this into an art wall, and build around the piece they already had, but I felt like it could be more. I decided to take their existing framed art and shift it left (I also thought of putting a pedestal under it with a plant or vase, but didn’t want things to get too cluttered). With the remaining wall space, I found a modular and flexible shelving system from Room & Board. There are a ton of options for configurations, but I kept it simple here. This one is 80″ which should be just enough to fill this stretch of wall. It’s only 12 inches deep, so it shouldn’t interfere with the dining room furniture or with passersthrough. I gotta say, I’m into it and hopefully the reader will be, as well.

Shelving Unit

And that’s it for today! I hope something here got you to pause, think about your own blank wall and say to yourself “Oh! Maybe I can do something like that!” Even if that inspiration came from my initial laundry list of options. It really is endless, but I suggest you think about what you need or want to accomplish functionally in your space and start there. But also, just looking at something pretty is just fine, too.

We have a few more Fix It Fridays (FIFs, as I call them to myself) on the docket, but please let us know in the comments if there are small, tangible areas in your home you could use our help with. Until next time…

Opening Image Credits: Design by Velinda Hellen Design | Lead Designer: Julie Rose | Styling by Emily Edith Bowser | Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: A Kitchen Makeover That Focused On Small Changes For A BIG Impact (Julie And Velinda Did It Again!)

The post Struggling With How to Fill A Big, Empty Wall? We Help 4 Readers (& You!) Figure It Out appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on April 05, 2024 01:00

Struggling With A Big, Empty Wall? We Help 4 Readers (& You!) Figure Out The Best Ways to Fill It