Emily Henderson's Blog, page 55

March 22, 2024

Fix It Friday: We Solved Some SUPER Common But Tricky Curtain Quandries For 4 Readers

Last month, I did a cheat sheet window coverings post, and there were so many comments requesting for me to go deeper and more specific, so we decided to open it up to the masses as a Fix It Friday topic. And you all delivered! We got some really great submissions, some that were super challenging, and many that seemed to be common pain points. I tried to pull out what felt the most universal (or the best of the bunch of a certain type of problem I kept seeing in the email submissions), and offer up how I would go about it.

There are a few things I would like to convey about curtains, first, though: the options can feel endless because they are. In the world of custom draperies, individual solutions are cooked up for every window/room that best suits the design + window type + window need. There are amazing companies dedicated to whole home drapery plans (like our friends at Decorview!). But because I wanted this post to be a bit more approachable, the majority of the window coverings I suggested are ready-made (or customizable in terms of dimensions needed).

Also, keep in mind that there are many ways to slice this cake, meaning, I may offer up an idea and I could have done it three other ways (and anyone reading might also have another way to tackle the window). So much of this is preference, though there are strategies that work better than others depending on what you’re after. Not to mention the direction that your window faces. This can greatly impact the amount of light you get in a room, so let’s go over that quickly to establish the general rules:

East-facing windows: Bright, direct sunlight in the morningsWest-facing windows: Bright, direct sunlight in the afternoons/eveningsNorth-facing windows: Almost no direct sunlight, lower light conditions (but keeps rooms cooler in the summer)South-facing windows: Sunlight all day (and can be very hot in the summer)

Now that we have that established, I’m going to reshare a graphic from my original curtains post (see that here) as I think it might be helpful to everyone reading:

As is common with these Fix It Friday posts, we received dozens and dozens of submissions and trust me when I tell you I wish I could have shared all of them. But if there is interest, I could see myself doing at least two more posts on the subject, covering more specific situations like windows in a corner and transoms, as well as a whole post on windows with obstructions (A/C units, pipes, tricky ceiling slants, etc.).

Before diving into reader homes, let’s explore some EHD rooms with solid window coverings to whet our palates.

design by caitlin higgins | styling 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

Caitlin’s living room is a great example of two things: layered drapery since she used both panels and shades, as well as treating two side-by-side windows as one. Typically, when windows exist inside the same paneling surround and casing, it’s best to just go ahead and treat them as one, which could look like one long drapery rod with curtain panels, or one large pull-down shade or Roman. If windows exist housed in their own individual casing, you can still treat them as a single unit (keep reading for an example of this from a reader!), or put up multiple window coverings depending on how far away they are from each other, and how busy of a look the room can handle.

design by emily henderson with julie rose | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house: the kids’ room reveal!!

I wanted to show you another example of side-by-side windows, except this time, they are different sizes and shapes. I’ve seen this type of thing in friends’ homes and it paralyzes them. They think they have to cover both windows individually, and then don’t know how to accomplish that. But honestly, if they are close enough to each other (say, less than 12 inches or so), just treat them as one with either a shade hung at the height appropriate for the highest window if they aren’t level at the top, or with drapery panels (though a shade is my preference).

design by ginny macdonald and melanie burstin | photo by tessa neustadt | from: the design milk family room reveal + get the look

Speaking of multiple windows, I think it’s fairly common to think that all the windows in a given room need to have the same treatment, but they do not have to. A good rule of thumb is if the shape and size of the window changes, you can change up the window covering. Take the living room above, for example. The large span of windows behind the couch would have been too large for shades, so draperies were the best option there. But because there are also panels on the perpendicular wall (you can see a sliver of them to the left of the photo), having them on the TV wall would have been incredibly overwhelming. SO MUCH FABRIC. The smaller, narrower windows flanking the media center worked best with Roman shades. (You can pick the same color as your drapes or do something different with a pattern, too!).

design by emily henderson | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a quick update on the changes I made to my living room

Just another quick example of a mix of drapery panels and Roman shades in Em’s old LA living room. Make sure if you’re installing Roman shades above a window that opens in a casement style that when fully nested, they clear the top of the window so you have no issues operating the window. The same goes for panels covering French doors. You’ll want to install the rod wide enough that all the panels can collect fully to the right and left of the doors and there is no fabric in front when you need to open them.

design by emily henderson | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: reveal: our boy/girl, 2-twin bed shared kids room… with a heavy dose of mama drama

Another reason you’d want to install a Roman shade fully above a window is to prevent any light from being blocked. If you have a full-sun situation, this is less of a consideration, but for anyone concerned with blocking even a small percentage of precious sunlight, this is how you would want to hang your shades.

design and styling by velinda hellen and emily edith bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: in defense of the comfy sectional—a friend’s almost-finished family room

Welcome to my new favorite drapery type: the ripple fold. These are hung on a track system installed either on the ceiling or on the wall. There is no center support on the drapery rod which means you can move your panels fully left and right without having a mid-way stopping point. They look so clean and trim, and work best in contemporary-style rooms, especially if you have a very large span of windows or doors to cover (or even a full left-to-right, floor-to-ceiling wall).

design and styling by emily henderson and brady tolbert | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland reveal: a light & bright home office

And lastly, another example of something someone without professional experience might overthink: windows of different sizes hung at different heights in the same (small) room. My advice would be to go with a simple shade style either inside or outside mounted (depending on the sill depth) like the office in the Portland project.

Now that I’ve covered some of the inspiration posts that are directly related to the needs of our readers today, let’s look at specific trouble spots and how I would solve the design conundrum.

When Three Become One

From the reader: “I have struggled with what to do for the window treatments in this room. It definitely needs something to ‘finish’ the room but I haven’t been able to figure out what that should be. Would LOVE some help!”

Let’s start with something pretty straightforward here. The reader submitted their dining room because they are looking for some polish to the space but don’t know how to approach this trio of windows. They have a few options: blinds, shades, curtains. Since they asked for a “finish” to the room, blinds would just be functional to provide privacy. And while I’m not saying don’t add blinds, it honestly doesn’t look like the window is deep enough for them. They could install blinds at the top of the windows to go in front of the casing, and the same goes for shades. BUT…

My opinion is they go with panels for a more decorative look. Plus, three fabric shades feel like it would be a lot for the eye, especially because there are 10 chairs, a heavy chandelier, and a shelving unit packed full of bar goodies.

I think they should go with an oil-rubbed bronze or black metal drapery rod to match the other metals in the room, and hang it high and wide atop all three windows (a few inches below the crown molding should suffice). For a situation like this, make sure you will have enough panels that when you close them, there is a good amount of movement in the fabric and they aren’t just flush straight across. A good rule of thumb is to calculate the width of your window, then multiply it by 2 or 2.5 to get the drapery width needed to look full rather than skimpy. I don’t know these measurements here, but my guess is that 4-6 panels should do the trick (so when the curtains are open, they end up with either 2 or 3 panels on each side of the window grouping). IMHO, 6 panels here would feel the richest, especially if they opt for a thinner, lighter fabric such as linen.

As for what panels, enough is going on in this room that a mostly solid option might be best. This room gets nice soft light, which would be beautiful through some white or cream linen sheers. I also think a grayish-blue linen panel would work well with the art and rug if they wanted to add in some more color here, and for a little pattern and warmth, I love the beige grid pinstripe panels.

Left: Sheer European Flax Linen Curtain | Middle: TwoPages Doublewide Pinch Pleat Faux Linen Drapes | Right: Double Pinstripe Grid Window Curtain Panel

Divide & Conquer That Sun

From the reader: “The wall with two windows faces north, and there is a covered porch, and then our street. The single window faces west. This arrangement has the following result: the room is quite dark, except during dinner time in the late spring and early winter when everyone at the table gets simultaneously roasted and blinded by the setting sun. Ahhh! As a result, we’ve left a necessary but boring wooden blind on the west window, but removed them from the north side. The house is from the early 20th century and we are not afraid of color or pattern. I have considered Roman blinds for the west-facing window, but don’t want to lose light on the north ones, but gosh they should all be the same, right?”

“…should all be the same, right?” Nope! Free yourself, dear readers, of this misconception. If your windows on different walls have different functions, you absolutely can opt for mixed window coverings. In this house, since the two windows on the north wall likely do not let in much light, I think the best move is to do a long drapery rod with curtain panels for some added pattern and drama. To make sure not an ounce of light is lost, they should hang the rod wide enough so the panels can fully rest on the outside of the window. I think one panel to the left and right and two in the middle of the windows would work great. If they’re looking for privacy during the day, they can also add in some light-filtering interior-mounted Roman shades.

Speaking of Roman shades, let’s add one to the window on the left; you know, the one that roasts and blinds the diners in here every evening. Because the reader loves color and pattern, I think this window covering should be contrasting to whatever panels they choose (i.e., not the same fabric).

As for whether to mount it inside or outside, that all depends. If they are adding Romans to the north windows and mounting those on the inside, then this window should also be inside mounted. If they are just going to do draperies and skipping the shades, I’d mount the Roman here on the outside of the window so the height of it matches the curtains.

I picked three groupings of possibilities below. I am obsessed with those RHODE curtains from West Elm and think they’d be beautiful in this room with those emerald-green walls. I think they’d play nicely with a light-colored woven Roman shade. A second option would be a fun addition to the butterfly-wrapped dining chair seats with a playful botanical that would complement the wall without feeling overly heavy (though in this case, I might consider swapping rugs for something that would coordinate better). I’m equally obsessed with Everhem’s new Heather Taylor Home collection and think a sweet gingham Roman shade is a great contrast to the floral curtains. And finally, something a bit more elegant and upscale: going with a color block approach here with deep green velvet drapes for the north-facing windows which would add more texture and lusciousness to the room. A drapey Roman in a crisp white matches the vibe.

Top Left: Premier Modern Natural Wood Shades | Top Middle: Everhem x Heather Taylor Home Custom Roman Shade in Cream | Top Right: Relax Roman Shade | Bottom Left: RHODE Batik Scallop Edge Curtain (Set of 2) | Bottom Middle: Priyanka Curtain | Bottom Right: Dark Green Organic Cotton Velvet Curtain Panel

Go All the Way In (& Across)

From the reader: “We’ve got a curtain situation in our living room. I don’t know if the new window front in our home is right for it (one picture window, the other sliding door). And there’s the problem of the ceiling, I wouldn’t even know how to mount the rod (on the window frame? two rods on either side of the transecting?). We have always been sheer curtain people, and I love the extra privacy, warmth and delicious homey feeling of light curtains catching the light and flapping in the open-window-breeze. Can you maybe help?”

YES!!! I was hoping for an opportunity to suggest a full wall of glorious ripple fold drapes and THIS IS IT. But first things first, I’m full-body jealous of this gorgeous living room and that gorgeous view. Are you kidding?!? The style of this home is ripe for something modern and light yet dramatic. I know the reader mentioned not knowing where to hang things, considering the ceiling wouldn’t allow for anything ceiling-mounted. My suggestion is to move the two globe lights on the left and right of the sliding door/window combo, move the oil painting from the left side to somewhere else in the room (maybe to the right of the fireplace if room allows), and just go all in with gorgeous sheers. Hang them on a track system *just* below the ceiling beams on the wall, and go all the way across…don’t just cover the window. The space to the left of the picture window would be a perfect spot to collect all the drapes when it’s open.

This is likely the job for a custom option, which can be quite pricey. With track systems, you want to make sure you’re buying something quality if you can, so it’s secure and smooth. And with a wall this large, you want to make sure all the curtains are hemmed to exactly the same length, or else it will look sloppy. A custom manufacturer would be able to pull this off beautifully, though expect to pay a few thousand for it.

If that’s not an option, I found a more affordable version (in the center below). It gets the job done visually and still allows for some customization in terms of size so the reader can get the measurements just right.

Left: Custom Ripple Fold Sheer Drapery | Middle: Customized Ripple Fold Linen-Like Sheer Curtains | Right: Wave Fold Custom Drapes

They’re Cousins, Not Twins

From the reader: “We’ve had the mini blinds nearly 20 years and they show some wear, but also let all the morning light in (too early!). I keep waffling between Roman shades and curtains. Windows are not the same size—left is just under 50” across, right is about 1/3 smaller. Hoping to get something with a relatively clean, simple style with room darkening before the summer.”

I have to wonder why builders do this kind of thing. Honestly, WHY?!? The only thing I can think of is there is something behind the wall next to the windows (pipes, electrical, etc.) that had to go there and couldn’t fit a larger window, but in that case, just go with two smaller windows. UGH. Anyway…

Before suggesting window coverings, I do want to offer up one possible solution: move the bed. I’m not sure of the dimensions of the space or the limitations of the wall to the right with the dresser, but if the bed and nightstands fit, it could be nice to just shift everything. The dresser would fit great between the two windows.

HOWEVER, we still would need to solve some of this reader’s plight, especially getting this room darker in the mornings for them. This is the job for an interior-mounted blackout shade. And because there will always be a little light that escapes out the sides of a shade, added curtains can help mitigate that.

In terms of squaring up the size difference here, this can simply be accomplished by faking the eye. A good ol’ trompe l’oiel, if you will. Basically, the reader should add two curtain rods, one above each window, hung at the same width necessarily to cover the widest window (and for how high, just split the difference between the top of the window and the ceiling). This way, she can pull the drapes enough on each window to make them look the same size (if she wants).

I picked three different types of clean, modern shades since the reader mentioned wanting something simple: a blackout pull-down shades with a linen-like texture, a blackout cellular shade (which also helps with insulation of sound and heat/cold), and a blackout Roman with a flat front. Any of these would work with any of the panels I picked: one is a pretty celadon for some added color, one is a whispy white cotton, and the other is a neutral plaid for pattern and additional light-filtering since they are room darkening.

Top Left: Designer Elements Blackout Roller Shades | Top Middle: Premier Blackout Cellulars | Top Right: Custom Flat Blackout Roman | Bottom Left: Celadon European Flax Linen Blackout Curtain | Bottom Middle: Cotton Slub Curtain | Bottom Right: Preston Plaid Room Darkening Curtain Panel

Aaaaand there we have it! As I mentioned in the beginning, my advice isn’t the only way to go about covering these readers’ windows, but it’s a start with mostly ready-made solutions. If you’re interested in seeing more of these—like how to deal with window obstructions (A/C units, weird ceiling slopes, etc.), renter solutions, transom windows and more—let us know and we can keep it coming!

Your friend in window coverings,

Arlyn

The post Fix It Friday: We Solved Some SUPER Common But Tricky Curtain Quandries For 4 Readers appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 22, 2024 01:00

March 21, 2024

35 Spring Home Decor Steals From A Fashion Retailer You Wouldn’t Expect (All Under $100!)

HEY! What if I told you that there was an online-only home decor retailer that’s been putting out well-made, affordable products and flying under the radar for years? BECAUSE IT’S BEEN HAPPENING, and it’s time we all had a serious conversation about H&M Home. I mean…they have something going on over there. Is it witchcraft? Is it magic? I DON’T EVEN KNOW! But I do know that they’re one of my go-to resources for budget-friendly gifts, chic lamps, cheap and sturdy porcelain tableware, modernist planters, graphic vases and trays…you get the drift. It’s been one of my secret sources for years – via knowledge passed on to me by Julie, who featured H&M pieces in her bedroom m akeover! – and I’m excited to spread the word.

But before we get started, there are a few notes for the class: throughout the post, I’m going to recommend a few small business alternatives to the pieces shown. If your budget allows, go for the splurge! Some of us aren’t there yet, and that’s okay – we have H&M Home to decorate our houses. As a side note, H&M lists sourcing details and materials used for every single piece featured below. It’s a detail I really appreciate – the older I get, the more I prioritize learning about the folks who make the things I use. (GEEZ. This isn’t even a sponsored post, but it sure sounds like one. H&M, do you SEE how I write about you?!) Onwards to the goods…

For The Trend-Forward Decorator

Charming Wavy Mirror ($74.99)

Would I love to own an authentic, made-to-order Flora mirror in a punchy lacquered hue? OBVIOUSLY. But my budget doesn’t currently include line items like “fifteen hundred dollar mirrors,” so I’ve had to hunt elsewhere to get the look for less. This H&M version fits the bill – it’s a fraction of the price and I love the cheery green finish. It comes in beige and black, too.

Angled Metal Table Lamp ($67.99) | Organic Modern Lamp ($101)

Allow me to be extremely online for a sec: this is totally a decor version of the kiki/bouba effect, right? (If you’re not familiar pretty much everyone worldwide agrees that “kiki” refers to sharp, spiked shapes and “bouba” applies to soft, curved ones. Like, everyone. All languages. Neat, huh?)

ANYWAY. These affordable statement lamps can totally transform the look and feel of your home – the angled version can add some edge to an overtly feminine space; the soft, plush version can bring some interest to a boxier, more industrial space. (And yes, both come in a selection of different colors.)

Scalloped Linen-Blend Cushion Cover ($19.99)

She’s 55% recycled linen, 45% cotton, and 100% ON TREND. (ICYMI, Jess walked us through a few of our 2024 trend predictions last week, which included our pick for color of the year: light blue.) At under $20, this pillow cover is a great way to test a new tone in your home without breaking the bank.

Graphic Ceramic Tray ($34.99) | Recycled Aluminum Candlestick ($34.99)

No one’s ever said minimalism had to be boring, you know? Wrangle your coffee table essentials with an impactful tray! Set a table, jazz up a mantel, or create a calming bedroom sanctuary with a sturdy recycled candlestick! (And honestly, if you told me you bought these from Lulu & Georgia for hundreds of dollars, I’d totally believe you.)

Textured Glass Vase ($34.99)

PSST. The youths are taking these rectangular vases, throwing in a few tulips (or similarly hardy blooms), and throwing the finished product right into their bookshelves amongst the tomes. It’s fresh, it’s unexpected, and it’s VERY COOL. Good job, design-minded kids!

For The Gardener

Scalloped Plant Pot ($12.99)

This little scalloped number is only the tip of the iceberg – H&M’s selection of budget-friendly plant pots and vessels is SO, SO, GOOD right now. If you’re in the market for something a little more design-forward (think stoneware and ceramics in fresh, modern silhouettes), take a second to peek at their inventory here. And did I mention that they’re currently carrying an itty-bitty mini version of this pot for only $5.99?

Easy-to-Hang Metal Planter Boxes ($49.99) | Plant Pot on Pedestal ($39.99)

OBSESSED. I’m eyeing two of those planter boxes for my own balcony refresh – it feels like it’s about time I brought a little more life into that space and these are the perfect size (not too big, not too small. Price doesn’t hurt, either!).

And if you’re trying to capture the mid-century look on a budget, might I suggest this elevated plant pot? These actually come in a variety of heights (and colors, of course, you get the drill at this point!) and they look SO GOOD mixed-and-matched together. It’d be fun to create a harmonious little plant corner, don’t you think?

Metal Plant Pot ($74.99)

Can you imagine a pair of these square pots flanking your front door, housing some big ol’ topiaries? “Are those from Ballard?” your guests will ask. “They must be Frontgate,” they’ll whisper to each other, assuming you’ve paid a fortune. JOKES ON EVERYONE – THEY’RE FROM H&M! Who would have guessed?

For The Host

Punchy Cotton Placemats (2 for $17.99) | Scalloped Tablecloth ($17.99)

Grab a bistro table, grab a date, and throw these on top – it’ll look like you tried (and technically, you did!) but they’ll never know that it was SO DANG EASY. Will you do pink placemats and a green tablecloth, as seen above? Green placemats on a yellow tablecloth? Or maybe green ON green, for a little tonal moment? Dressing the table has never been simpler.

Stoneware Oil Container ($19.99)

I mean…COOL. It’s just cool. If I see this at your house, I just assume that you have taste and have befriended some chic underground ceramicist. (Added bonus: you’re supposed to keep your olive oil in the dark, because light can accelerate the aging process. So now I’m assuming that you’re cool AND smart, you know?)

Stoneware Mini Vases ($5.99) | Champagne Coupes (2 for $19.99)

STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING. Look how they styled a tablescape with a few of these minis! Bud vases by day, the CUTEST DANG CENTERPIECE by…other times in the day, I guess. Or night? The point stands: these are sweet when scattered around your home and they’re even sweeter when they come together to anchor a table (no matter the time!).

And some quick real talk: if you can afford the coupes from Estelle Colored Glass, please patronize that business over H&M! Estelle is owned by a Black woman and the quality and variety of their product is unmatched. But if the pricing feels untenable for you – and it’s totally okay if it does! – this H&M two-pack is a nice alternative.

Porcelain Serving Plate ($13.99)

Something about this pattern feels very Luke Edward Hall to me (scroll down to the 2019 era projects – feels kinda Greco-Disco, no?). Love the hand-drawn charm, the classic motifs with a modern refresh, and the playful hues. 10/10, would eat crackers or treats or whatever you’re serving off this little plate.

For The Parents Of Littles

A Hoppy Easter Basket ($3.99) | Little Mouse Hook ($9.99)

Did looking at H&M’s kid section give me baby fever??? Or is it just my hormones, finally kicking in at the ripe old age of 32? That’s a question for another day! Today, we’re talking cute and affordable kid stuff, which H&M is carrying in SPADES. I mean…$3.99 for a felted Easter basket with stellar reviews? $9.99 for a tender, cheap alternative to the solid bra$$ hook$ in Sara’s bathroom? (They’re not going to develop the same patina, but they’re also not $87 dollars, so I think that’s okay.)

Kids Hang-it-All ($12.99)

Eames who? I kid, I kid. (Can you imagine?!) The original Eames Hang-It-All is an iconic design with 14 hooks, a 7-week lead time, and a $300 price tag. This modern interpretation costs $12.99 and won’t cause any family-wide emotional turmoil if a child accidentally bends it out of shape. (Take it from me: leave the high-end pieces to the grownups.) Plus, this one comes in a few other shades – including beige, sage, and more – so it’s chic enough for adult spaces, too.

Toy Storage Box ($17.99 – $19.99) | House-Shaped Book Storage ($29.99)

These storage pieces are classic, simple, and they’ll make great neutral backdrops for the metric ton of brightly colored plastic toys, books, and supplies that will inevitably be strewn around your home. (PS. If you’re on the hunt for a sweet baby shower idea, partner up with some friends to fill up that book storage with a few classic – or oddball – kids’ books. Guaranteed winner. I GO TO SO MANY BABY SHOWERS NOW, GUYS.)

For The Classic Type

Refined Knotted Mirror ($34.99)

Do you have a vanity area? Is it swathed in a classic William Morris wallpaper? WHY ISN’T THIS MIRROR ALREADY ON YOUR VANITY TABLE? (I mean, you can picture it, right?) That knot detail on this piece is so simple and elegant – it’s the perfect bit of quirk to bring some sparkle and interest to any classic, timeless space in your home.

Tassled Cushion Covers | Blockprint Cushion Covers (2 for $9.99)

If you can splurge on textiles and pillows from St. Frank, do that first. But if you also can’t justify spending hundreds on a pillow – yet, at least – then these may be a welcome alternative. Love the asymmetric design of the tasseled cover; charmed by the modern block-print on that set of two covers. (That stylist really did their job, too – they look LUXE when paired with a textured blanket.) The vibe is very “Oh, I just found these on my travels,” don’t you think?

Large Marble Box ($34.99) | Marble Tray ($36.99)

You can never go wrong with a classic marble box or tray. I don’t make the rules. (And I definitely don’t follow most of them, but I will agree: you can’t go wrong with marble.) Enough said.

Floral Shower Curtain ($19.99) | Flounce Trim Shower Curtain ($36.99)

HEY, IT’S SPRING. Does your bathroom know? It does so much for you – don’t you think it deserves a little seasonal refresh? The floral print is quiet and simple and clean (albeit not totally groundbreaking, by Miranda Priestly’s standards), but I’m really drawn to the curtain with the flounce trim: it could go super farmhouse OR super glam, which is a pretty hard-to-find combination.

For Those Who Do Their Own Thing

Coconut Fiber Doormat ($17.99) | Rattan Basket ($34.99)

This section should just be called “things I put in my cart while assembling this post,” TBH. Let’s talk about it! The doormat is scratching that same Luke Edward Hall itch – he’s obviously got a really specific style and this isn’t a perfect match by any means, but it has the same spirit. And HOW COOL are the handles on that basket? It’d make some great shoe storage by the front door in an entryless apartment like mine, methinks.

Stoneware Clamshell Bowl ($29.99)

I’m on a HUGE clamshell kick right now. If you see a vintage clamshell on Facebook Marketplace, please buy it. (Or email it to me, so I can buy it.) I saw this picture a year ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it since – this bowl feels like it might have the right proportions to try something similar. What say you?

Lemon Salt & Pepper Shakers ($17.99) | Celery-Shaped Jar ($17.99)

WELL, DUH. I’m going to be real: I know my shaped tableware pretty well, and I think both of these would have fooled me at a flea market – they have a great saturation and a texture that’s reminiscent of a lot of classic vintage veggieware. The celery jar seems like it’d be a perfect tonal match with my collection of cabbageware! (I may or may not have ordered those salt and pepper shakers to go with my lemon kitchen. I just love kitsch, guys!!!)

Taper Candles ($20.99)

Hot Tip: swapping out candles is WAY more high-impact than you’d think. If you’re not much of a seasonal decorator, you can still add a lot of color and interest and sense of time and place by JUST SWAPPING CANDLES! (I mean – the dinner party with the graphic striped candle and the girl’s brunch with the precious floral candle are two totally different vibes, you know? It really is the little things!)

…so, uh, whaddaya think? See you in the comments? Any other affordable retailers you’d like to share with the class? I’m ready to hear about them. xx

The post 35 Spring Home Decor Steals From A Fashion Retailer You Wouldn’t Expect (All Under $100!) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 21, 2024 01:00

March 20, 2024

WARNING: 5 Common Design Choices To Rethink (And Potentially AVOID)

When you are designing a home or heck, even just a single room, there are so many things to think about at once. You’ve got materials, pattern mixing, scale, function, cohesiveness, budget, etc all coming at you. And look, it’s not a bad problem to have but that doesn’t mean it can’t be overwhelming. So after Emily sent me her answers to an interview a magazine requested about headboards, it got me thinking about those little design things we forget to consider. I’ll tell you what it specifically was in a second. After that, I decided to ask the team what some other common things people don’t know or forget to think about when designing a space, or even just buying a new piece of furniture. These were five of our favorites…

1. Beware Of Light Fabric Headboards

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house primary bedroom

This was the one from the interview. The editor asked Em if there were any things to think about when purchasing a bed with an upholstered headboard. The one that stood out to me the most was to potentially avoid choosing light fabric, especially in linens and cotton. Why? Well, the oils from our heads over time can get on the headboard and it can look pretty gross. I guess I had never thought of this for two reasons. A. I’ve never owned an upholstered headboard (something I hadn’t realized until writing this post) and B. My head almost never has spent time touching my previous headboards (to be fair I’m fairly short and sleep on the bottom 3″ of my floppy down pillow like a little weirdo). Emily (and Arlyn about their old bed) both said that their husband’s sides were way worse than theirs… Emily was referencing the mountain house bed. Something to think about!

This is also pretty funny timing because I am in the process of choosing a light fabric headboard but I’m not worried since my head will rarely be touching it as previously stated. But if you are looking for an upholstered headboard and know that you and/or your partner’s head will be making a fair amount of headboard contact, maybe consider a darker-toned fabric.

2. Got Dogs? Don’t Get A Loose Back Cushion Sofa

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse living room reveal

Em’s pups are maybe the cutest and sweetest dogs in all the land but boy do they just love to perch ON TOP of the back pillow cushions of their living room sofas like they are watching over everyone. As cute as it is, it does really mess up the shape of those cushions. And sure, Emily and Brian could have, and potentially still could, train them not to go up on the sofa cushions but of course that is going to take a good amount of training and is currently not a priority for them. But if you want to get AHEAD of this, consider a tight-back sofa with some cozy throw pillows. Problem avoided:)

3. Dark Flooring And Dark Rugs Don’t Hide Dirt Better

photos by kaitlin green | left from: farmhouse primary bedroom | right from: farmhouse family room

When I asked this question, Em quickly stated that dark floors and dark rugs DO NOT hide dust and dirt better than lighter floors and rugs. For some, this might be a “yes, we know that” but for others, this might be more of a head-scratcher. Again, when you’re making a ton of design decisions all at once, you might just think something like dark floors hide the diry better, DONE! Check it off of the list. Well, sadly that’s not the case. We recommend going light to medium with flooring and making sure your rugs have a lot of color variation in the threading. Even if it’s a solid color! Also, if you have pets you should also consider their hair color. Outside of the dark blue family room, the Henderson pups are good to go in most of the farmhouse with their white/blonde locks and do not leave too much visible evidence. I myself have dark wood floors and am constantly vacuuming because you can see everything (and I don’t have pets or kids!). Any future home of mine will have lighter floors despite how pretty the ones I have now are.

4. Deep Sofas Should Require An Extra Piece Of Furniture

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse family room

There’s nothing like cozying up on a big comfy sofa with a hot tea or a glass of wine. Heaven, right?! But then when you want to set your drink down, the coffee table is a million miles away! And thus the battle of deciding to move from your comfy location to set your drink down (to then have to move to pick it up again) or hold it until you are all done begins. What is the solution? Sorry, it’s another piece of furniture. But boy will it be worth it. But say your deep sofa or sectional is up against a wall, no problem. Just scooch it a little forward and slide a slender sofa table behind it. Honestly, your sofa will look better if it isn’t flush against the wall so it’s a win-win! Emily chose those awesome bookcases that fit perfectly but you could also fairly easily with some standard power tools build a DIY simple skinny wood console (especially if it’s between your wall and sofa where most people won’t even see it:))

5. Triple Check Your Dining Chairs With Arms Will Fit Under Your Dining Table

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: styling to sell: how we staged our dining room and kitchen

This was another one from Emily because she has made this mistake more than once. Oops! Make sure that if you have dining chairs with arms they will fit under your dining table. I can almost hear the symphony of “Duuuuuuhs” as I type this but you’d be surprised how often the dimensions on a site do not include the tabletop width, just the overall height. That means you may think, given the height, that your armed dining chairs will easily slide under your table but then it arrives, and no such luck. Measure twice, confirm with the retailer, and buy once:)

Short and sweet! Hope these are helpful and as always if you have any cautionary reno or decorating tips drop them in the comments.

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain House Primary Dedroom

The post WARNING: 5 Common Design Choices To Rethink (And Potentially AVOID) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 20, 2024 01:00

March 19, 2024

14 Female DIY Renovators We Can’t Stop Following

Y’ALL. Being a design content creator looks easy but it’s not (I have a large team of people who have YEARS of experience and we still scramble to get it all done). But being a DIY renovation content creator, and a good one, is so much work I can’t even imagine. What normal people (non-content creators) can’t possibly see is how hard it is to not only do the thing, but be filming it the entire time (often in multiple formats), setting up interesting shots for a fun concept, making sure you get a variety of angles, getting a timelapse when possible, and have it all actually make sense and look good. THEN you have to organize all the footage (often multiple phones are involved so that you can use your actual phone while filming), cull through the footage, edit it together, and then post it. Again, I’m not talking about myself here – I am privileged/lucky/experienced enough to have so much help from my team, but some of these solo women renovators are impressing me so hard that I just HAD to call them out here and make sure that you are following them on social. I don’t think many of them have a blog (because that is its own full-time job) so if you aren’t on social (which I get) I’m sorry. But they deserve all the follows, all the likes, all the engagement, all the comments, all the saves. I IMPLORE with you to like/comment every single time -it’s the most generous thing you can do as someone who is consuming the content because the algorithm often makes our job feel impossible and every bit of engagement helps. If you watched a reel until the end that means you probably enjoyed it, so give it that like (obviously feel free to do that on my posts as well LOL). I also want to just call out how badass these women are, using all the tools, with such expertise and command. Literally building their own kitchen cabinets with beautiful joinery! And then having the awareness and bandwidth of how to shoot while doing it. Now it might just be my algorithm but I feel really comfortable saying that women are dominating in this specific world and I’m here to watch, love, feature, and support ANY WAY WE CAN. I’m just so impressed with these badass carpenters and DIYers that we wanted to do a feature on them today so that you all could follow along with them. Jess is going to take it over, but this post was my baby and I felt compelled to pop in and write a bit. Give them all love (and if you want to steal my mantra about how to interact with something on the internet it’s pretty simple “If you liked it, please LIKE IT”. Don’t withhold your likes because you don’t want to give them up – we all have endless and it’s not a zero-sum game. Ladies, I’m very very impressed with you. Now take it away!

Renee Bruner (@reneerenovates)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Renee Bruner | solo diy home renovation (@reneerenovates)

From her sweet little bio reel, Renee bought her 1914 Craftsman two years ago and has been renovating it on her own. Just to be clear, she only started teaching herself her new skills when she bought her home! She didn’t come ready with a bag full of tricks. Her work is incredible and watching her journey has been SO inspiring. A must-follow.

Ashley Basnight (@smashingdiy)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ashley Basnight | DIY & Design (@smashingdiy)

We got to meet Ashley at the Meridian Experience a couple of years ago and were instantly taken with her and her talent. Her skills are incredible (I mean look at this closet system she built on her own…even the drawers!!) and the designs are full of texture, pattern, and clearly a ton of style. Oh, and her team won HGTV’s Battle on the Beach! This woman is unstoppable.

Fariha Nasir (@pennies_for_a_fortune)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Fariha Nasir (Fa-ree-ha) (@pennies_for_a_fortune)

This isn’t our first time talking how Fariah and it certainly won’t be our last! Her talent and creativity are endless and we can’t get enough of her warm, pretty English cottage-inspired style. Scrolling through her Instagram page will amaze you (totally self-taught) and put a smile on your face. She also has a show on the Magnolia Network called Problem Spaces that is so good and creative. Go check it out!

Brit Arnesen (@britdotdesign)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Brit Arnesen (@britdotdesign)

I’m already going to sound redundant but the talent this woman has knows no bounds! Brit’s “whimsical and collected vintage modern style” feels so special and her DIYs are so wildly creative. She isn’t afraid to take a design risk because they always pay off (well that’s what we think).

Kate Pearce (@katepearcvintage)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Kate Pearce | Interior Stylist + Blogger (@katepearcevintage)

Kate creates the coolest boldest vintage-filled spaces and renovates them. You have to go look at all of the spaces she’s done because we promise you will be blown away!

Valeria Jacobs (@rebeccaandgenevieve)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Valeria Jacobs (@rebeccaandgenevieve)

Getting to watch Valeria transform her home over the past few years has been amazing! Her style is a mix of old and new but is full of color and pattern. If you love cozy you will love her home.

Cass Smith (@cassmakeshome)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by CASS SMITH | Home & DIY (@cassmakeshome)

Cass is newer to us but we are completely stunned by her! Another self-taught badass gal who creates incredible designs and really fun content to watch. Her joy is infectious.

Carli Alves (@madebycarli)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Carli Alves| Made By Carli (@madebycarli)

Carli is such a talent and a joy to watch! We’ve featured her a bunch because she keeps creating amazing work. From large to small projects, she has something for everyone!

Danielle Guerrero (@ournestonpowell)

View this profile on Instagram
Danielle Guerrero | DIY & lifestyle | Latina (@ournestonpowell) • Instagram photos and videos

We will never forget watching a few years ago Danielle transform the doorway from her hallway to her living room into an arch and that was just the beginning. We love all of her ideas and she is such a great follow.

Claire (@claireakennedy)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Claire (@claireakennedy)

Claire is a DIY renovator that Em sent to me to include so clearly she’s a great one! Currently, she’s renovating a Victorian home, and boy is it special.

Ryia Jose (@kinandkasa)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by RYIA JOSE l Design & DIY (@kinandkasa)

In an attempt to feel grounded in a new country, Ryia decided to teach herself how to use power tools so that she could renovate her family’s home! The results are clearly stunning and the process is so compelling.

Erika (@peonyandhoney)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by erika | diy with a bow (@peonyandhoney)

Erika is unstoppable and her beautiful home is a testament to that! Her cozy, moody Victorian-style home transformation is unreal and she is full of great ideas (we did feature her in our 2024 kitchen trends post:))

Jenni Yolo (@ispydiy)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jenni Yolo | I SPY DIY (@ispydiy)

It’s hard not to fall in love with Jenni’s work! It’s so creative and awesome and because of that, she has a great show on Magnolia called Makeover By Monday where does weekend makeovers that everyone should check out:)

Amanda Walker (@dwellaware)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Amanda Walker | DIY & Design (@dwellaware)

Amanda was another wonderful DIY creator we met at Meridan and I love following her projects. They are approachable, beautiful, and fun!

Honestly, there are so many more so maybe we’ll do a part 2:) We of course didn’t include our EHD family like Ajai, Keyanna, Rashida, and more since you’ve been introduced to them more fully here:) I do have one request though. I realized that we’re completely lacking female-identifying queer or trans DIY renovation-specific creators despite searching. Clearly, I’m just not looking in the right places. Please drop any names and/or handles in the comments!!

Hope this list is as inspiring to you as it is to us and have a great week. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The Farmhouse Kitchen Design Post – A Classic + Stylish Plan For This Hardworking Room (Wish Us Luck)

The post 14 Female DIY Renovators We Can’t Stop Following appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 19, 2024 01:00

March 18, 2024

The Great Stone Debate (Again): Engineered Quartz Or Natural Stone For The Countertops At The River House??? (+ What We Chose For The Kitchen)

Of all the design debates while renovating a home, the “natural versus engineered stone” one can really paralyze you. You know the debate – natural stone can be gorgeous (and expensive), but it can stain, show wear and tear, and many people can’t stand the aged look (including my brother and SIL). Engineered stone (Quartz) is highly durable and easy to clean but has less “real” looking movement to it. It can be more affordable, comes in jumbo sizes (for large islands), and you can get multiple slabs easily.

left: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: la kitchen style to sell reveal | right: sara ligorria-tramp, from: mountain house kitchen revealMy Real Stone Rule/Philosophy…

My philosophy (which is loose because there are exceptions to EVERYTHING) is that I prefer natural stone slabs in more traditional or vintage style homes (cottages, cape cod, bungalows, farmhouses, colonials, Tudors, etc). I also think that real stone is best in homes that were built before 1950 if you are remodeling an older home (pre-mid-century) My rationale is that quartz didn’t exist then so it stays more integral to the house. The real stone patina works with the age of the house, especially if you are trying to add charm. But if you have a midcentury, contemporary, or otherwise clean-lined and modern style home then IMHO you can do either real stone OR the right simple Quartz. Goodness, that sounds nuanced, but I feel really solid about this philosophy and have for years. I have had both in different homes and love them for different reasons. I love our leathered LA kitchen, in a 100-year-old English Tudor and I LOVE our white engineered stone in the kitchen at the mountain house (and so did Ken and Katie – it’s just SO easy to clean, feels fresh, nothing stains, etc.)

So early on, since this is a contemporary style home built in 2024, clearly new construction, we could do either. Due to Katie and Ken’s hesitation about natural stone, we all decided that engineered stone was the way to go for their family. Also, they were coming from a traditional home with a huge polished piece of white carerra on their island that got etched and stained very badly so they were reacting to that and did NOT want to repeat these stains. It drove them nuts and I wanted to reduce that pain point for them. Quartz it is!! But of course there is a twist in this story…

Two years ago I reached out to Caesarstone to partner on their countertops – mostly because I was super attracted to their concrete slabs which look SO GOOD and the movement looks really real. Max had used it before and loved it so we very early on “checked that box” (LOLOLOL b/c the box became unchecked).

At first, we chose based on these smaller samples. We are all attracted to the simpler designs with some movement, but not a lot of faux veining (sometimes that really works but not in this house IMHO). Before fully making the decision, I wanted to be triple sure about these, so we then went to EleMar (Tualatin) to see the slabs in person.

The concrete look still cleans up great and isn’t porous at all, just looks like concrete. We loved this one and the Black Tempal (below). Remember that they would both be horizontal (you won’t be looking at it like this).

We loved them both. They definitely lean contemporary and a little industrial, but the texture is organic, loose, and large in scale in a good way.

We hadn’t fully decided where they were going (a big debate over if you put the darker stone on the perimeter of the cabinets and the lighter stone as the island, or the other way around).

Then as the design of the house evolved I felt nervous about the kitchen. Like couldn’t sleep nervous. You see, we chose a simple white backsplash tile for the kitchen (it’s very pretty but being so neutral it wasn’t going to make a statement). I realized that this kitchen (while meant to be minimal) needed color. Katie is a bit scared of color and when we designed this house (like 3 years ago) the design world was far more neutral than it is now. So our super neutral and warm minimal house was feeling now like there wasn’t enough going on. Was it going to look just like the mountain house kitchen??? I still LOVE that kitchen and it was the original inspiration for this house, but we are in Portland where it’s so gray outside. We needed color! You can’t have a house like this then have an overly simple kitchen!

So we had two options: 1. change the backsplash tile, or 2. change the countertop stone in the kitchen. Again, the stone order hadn’t been placed yet but we had selected six different slabs from Caesarstone that we loved a lot for the entire house. At this point, we thought that the tile couldn’t be changed or it would hold us up due to lead times (LOL again, still not installed so we could have changed the tile) so I begged my brother and SIL to go shopping with me to find a dope natural stone.

They were hesitant to do natural stone, but I convinced them that their house, which they are obviously investing heavily in, can’t have a kitchen without color or a bold design choice. White tile on gray or black stone with white oak wood cabinets just was too neutral. I promised them that we wouldn’t go for a carerra or something light and we wouldn’t go for polished (which is easier to etch). Off to shop!

We went to two stone yards – Bedrosian and EleMar in Tualatin (both non-spon, but local businesses that are great). If you are looking to see Caesarstone slabs in person head to EleMar – they have a great selection so you can choose based on the slab and not a sample.

We went on two different trips and Max and I liked some of the same ones but disagreed on others. So finding three VERY large slabs that we all loved plus would work in the design proved challenging. It just meant a lot to all of us that we completely love whatever we chose.

…And Then We Found These Lovely Ladies

TADA!!!! Three emerald Quartzite slabs. My heart tripped with delight. The wood against them would be soooo incredible. It felt so Oregon to me, so “River House”, so “foresty”. Think wood cabinets as the trunk then the green slab as the tree branches. It would integrate so well into the overall look and feel of the house and the exterior (which is all trees and a river view). I texted the photos to Max and thank god he was enthusiastic, too. We all agreed that while this was our stone. I slept GREAT that night.

They came polished, so we asked our stone guys what would be the best, most durable way to have these slabs and they said to leather them (which is essentially sandblasting them, adding texture, and making them very matte). Then they would need to be sealed. They assured us that they wouldn’t etch or stain. GREAT.

Here is the slab installed (above), but not sealed yet (which is a whole other saga with a huge hiccup that I’m waiting to tell you about once we have a solution). This photo (below) has the seal on it so it became darker which we still LOVE.

I’m so so so glad we chose this stone, it added the punch that we needed but in a super non-risky design way (green isn’t a risk to me, but might be to others). It’s not busy, just dark and organic (I even think the veining feels like the current of a river). We chose Caesarstone in the mudroom, bathrooms (some of our vanities came with countertops), the laundry room, and even a slab on the fireplace. The kitchen was the only place where we chose real stone as you can see. If you are in the market for engineered Quartz here is what we chose and really love from Caesarstone: Airy Concrete, Organic White, Fresh concrete, Blizzard, and Black Tempal which I’ll show you all soooooon.

The house is almost done, y’all. There are some hiccups that I’ll of course share, but we are in the process of figuring out how to solve them first and the even more fun part is figuring out who pays for these hiccups. More to come, soon. But we are SO HAPPY with all the stone thus far and can now see so many of the rooms really coming to life. xx

*Pretty Photos (unless otherwise noted) by Kaitlin Green

The post The Great Stone Debate (Again): Engineered Quartz Or Natural Stone For The Countertops At The River House??? (+ What We Chose For The Kitchen) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 18, 2024 01:00

March 17, 2024

The Link Up: Em’s Two “Can’t Put Down” Novels, Arlyn’s Trunk Organizer, And A Great Oil Cleanser

Happy Sunday everyone! Can you handle how wonderful the Farmhouse’s guest bathroom turned out?!! All of us (well, the LA gals) can’t wait to see it finished in person. Aside from that, we have another exciting shoot happening this coming week so only good things ahead over here. Ok, link time!

This week’s house tour, by the great Arent&Pyke team, was a VERY happy surprise when it popped up on our Instagram feeds. It’s full of subtle patterns, lots of textures, crazy special details (look at that kitchen!), and Jess’ 3-D wall art trend prediction strikes again!! Go check it out here.

From Emily: Two books that I couldn’t put down: Maybe Once, Maybe Twice. This book is a rom-com in multiple timelines (first love + love triangle = two of my favorite tropes). It’s so well written, with really good dialogue and characters that I LOVED so much (set in New York, in the music and entertainment industry). Just an overall feel-good love story that is hard not to enjoy and I looked forward to it every night. #2: Yellowface. This is an inside publishing thriller that I FLEW THROUGH. If you read American Dirt and followed the controversy around it (white author, whose novel was about the Mexican immigration experience) then from what I’ve read, this book was meant to be a response to that (in the AAPI world). It was so good, thought-provoking, very entertaining/fast, and yes, cringy. So cringe. Brian and I both flew through it (he did audio, I read it) and loved it. We are moving on to Demon Copperhead next, finally!

From Jess: It’s now been seven weeks since I officially started my “hair journey” and I can happily report it feels better than ever. Even my hairdresser noticed the improvement before chopping off nearly 4 in. While that amount of hair may be nothing to some people it’s a pretty devasting amount to me. But I also hadn’t cut my hair in a year, while simultaneously not taking any extra care of it, so that’s what I get (and needed). Historically, my hair grows sloooow but I’m hoping that can be a thing of the past with my new regime. However, with a decent amount of research, I’m now adding in a hair serum which is something I can use more than my weekly oiling/mask routine. This is the serum I decided on if you want to join in. I’ll report back in 3 months!

From Arlyn: My car’s trunk and I have a long, complicated history. It’s either my personal dumping ground or it’s a pristine temple. There is no in-between. Lately, I’m sad to report it’s gotten quite messy, with small things and reusable grocery bags and toddler books and umbrellas and bubble wands tumbling around back there. I bought this trunk organizer that hangs off the back seat’s headrests and didn’t install it for a while. Well, I finally did this week (it took literally 30 seconds), and I already feel SO much better about the space. Organizing messy things makes me happy, especially when I’ve been putting it off for weeks…months…years.

From Caitlin: Okay, I’m converted. Never thought that using an oil cleanser would be for me, but IT ROCKS! I grabbed this Hanskin oil with PHA (basically suitable for folks with dry or rough skin, like me – it’s a gentle exfoliator) back in October and it’s been AWESOME over the past 5 months. I’d assumed oils would leave me feeling greasy, but the hydration melts into my skin like butter AND it cleans, too! When I wash it off, my skin feels bright and clean and moist instead of stripped and taut (you know the feeling!). I grab mine here (or from my local market – shoutout Ktown!), which I’d recommend – Amazon doesn’t have the best reputation for shipping authentic Korean products, so it’s nice to guarantee that I’m getting what I paid for. (And if you’re new to Korean skincare, their website is SO simple and easy to understand. It’s what I used to build up some product vocab and knowledge before heading into my own local K-beauty storefront!)

From Mallory: I have a couple of old sweaters that I love which are lookin like they’ve been through the wringer so my mom told me about this sweater shaver device. You glide it over your sweater and it gets rid of all the little bally things that pile up over time and it leaves them lookin brand new. Check it out if your sweaters need sprucing!!

From Gretchen: Every time I scroll through Instagram, the same guy comes across my feed–and I’m not mad about it! His videos have me in a chokehold and I always find myself watching to the end. An easy follow for me! His account is @hansloreidesign and on it he shares a plethora of interior design tips and insights. The information is clear, beautiful and easy to follow, plus there is something about his delivery that is so calm and convincing. Usually green screening in front of a collection of stunning inspiration photos, he’ll share larger design concepts or shuffle through his favorite pieces and explain why they work, leaning heavily on great visuals to get his point across. A really great feed for those of us who can’t get enough of all things interiors!

Thanks for stopping by and see y’all tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson and ARCIFORM | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Our Guest Bathroom Reveal – A Jewel Box That Makes Me So Darn Happy

The post The Link Up: Em’s Two “Can’t Put Down” Novels, Arlyn’s Trunk Organizer, And A Great Oil Cleanser appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 17, 2024 01:00

The Link Up: Em’s Two “Can’t Put Down” Novels, Alryn’s Trunk Organizer, And A Great Oil Cleanser

Thanks for stopping by and see y’all tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson and ARCIFORM | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Our Guest Bathroom Reveal – A Jewel Box That Makes Me So Darn Happy

The post The Link Up: Em’s Two “Can’t Put Down” Novels, Alryn’s Trunk Organizer, And A Great Oil Cleanser appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 17, 2024 01:00

March 16, 2024

Is It Time For “Family-Friendly” (LOL) Cute Spring Dresses?

They are called “PG-rated” dresses – easy to wear, easy to parent in (i.e. family-friendly), modest (if you are into that), and still cute (and great for church if that’s your thing, especially for my LDS readers:)) Less Tinder date, perhaps office-appropriate but mostly just nice for us to throw on to feel good and comfortable. Now these are different than summer dresses that are likely thinner, strapless, shorter, etc – but for spring dresses we want them to be more transition-y, not super thin fabric, and with a sleeve and some length. I tried a few and then we rounded up a bunch. Also perhaps good for Easter????

The Soren Long-Sleeve Shirt Dress | Heels

This one is a long sleeve shirt dress and that pattern is very forgiving and easy to wear. Would be cute with sneakers or flip-flops, too. The fabric is a bit thicker than cotton (think closer to a thin canvas?) which felt nicely structured.

The Somerset Maxi Dress | Sandals

Now this one is certainly more fun, in such great colors, and has a great pattern with the puff sleeves. Plus I love what that waist cinch is doing:)

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

Still a new favorite for how affordable it is and how well it drapes (that gathering is only in the front, not the back which means it brings you in but doesn’t cling). Slam dunk. Also, headbands are back (which is GREAT since apparently I only highlight my hair twice a year now and I’m DESEPARATE – happening this Saturday. Yay!).

Rory Maxi Shirtdress | Flannel | Loafers

This one is from Frank & Eileen and is so great. It is on the pricey side but the quality is awesome, the drape is good, I love the distressed hem, and since it’s a shirtdress it’s the ultimate throw-on-and-go outfit. But when I want to add a little shape and pattern, I like to wrap one of my flannels around my waist.

Now here are 14 more dresses that I think are great for the “family-friendly” spring dress category:)

Mad Love Denim Midi Dress

It’s no surprise that I love this dress. It’s denim, has big sleeves, and some cool details. I also like the buttons in the front because you have options on how much skin you want to show. Plus it can easily go from day to night. I think boots like the ones she has on look great but you could easily throw on some heeled boots to dress it up.

Aurelia Crepe Maxi Dress

A great pattern, is so flowy, and has pockets. What more could you ask for an easy, cute dress?

Chambray Mabel Maxi Dress

This dress has “easy spring” written all over it. The tiers give it a little more interest than your average shirtdress, the sleeves are great (and it’s nice that they are slightly cropped), and I love a collar. The website also shows the model with a cute belt around her waist if that’s a look you’d prefer!

Amaryllis Floral Louisa Midi Dress

If you are looking for a floral spring dress I really like this one. The red is so fun and again, you know I love a puff sleeve. Plus that almost Victorian-esque collar is so good! This would be great for any party like a baby shower.

Crinkle Gauze Lace Midi Dress

For under $100, I think this one is great and olive green is a great neutral. All of the lacey details really make it special. How cute are the scalloped hems?

Tan and Green Striped Chessie Dress

This dress is so cool. It’s “springy” but modern. The color combo is chic and I really love the alternating fabrics with the one cuff and pocket. Plus it comes with a belt so you can show off your waist or not. Both options are great. I think this is a cool office look too:)

Off-White Flora Tapestry Lenzing

Ecovero

Euroflax

Maxi Dress

While this dress/pattern definitely feels super resort-wear to me, I think it’s real pretty. Caitlin on our team wears Farm Rio (this brand) all year round and she always looks awesome. So if you love a more detailed pattern then I heavily support this one. Plus those sleeves and scalloped trim are beautiful.

Puff Sleeve Belted Midi Dress

Oh, hey Target! That’s right, this romantic dress is under $50 and also comes in a bright pink if that’s more your speed. This feels more “special occasion-y” to me but could easily be worn as an everyday look with the right shoes and accessories.

Pleated Skirt Fit And Flare Dress

Eloquii is a new to me brand that is very size-inclusive and has a really great inventory, BTW. This print is so fun and I love the pleating a lot. Chic and cool.

Open-Neck Smock Long Dress

While this dress shape isn’t my favorite on my apple-shaped bod, I think it’s so cute! Those blues feel really fresh, the way the stripes are played with is fun, and the sleeves are pretty.

Frances Dress 3

I have this dress and I love how casual and easy it is to wear. Now, it is thinly lined so it wouldn’t actually be great if you wanted a good amount of warmth. Otherwise 10/10!

Smocked-Waist Midi Dress

This one from Madewell is so simple but looks so pretty at the same time. The cinching at the waist is nice and wide which is great, and the cap sleeve is really cute. Plus you know, pockets:)

Button-Front Utility Shirtdress

I like this one from Madewell, too. It’s a romantic, utility-style dress. Right up my alley:) All those pockets look really cool and since this is a satin fabric, you don’t have to worry about any bulkiness.

Puff Sleeve Midi Dress

For my final pick, I really like this affordable ($53) puff sleeve foral number. With a pattern like this, you don’t need much else to look put together which is always a bonus:)

Hope this helps anyone who has been looking for cute, easy, (but more modest) spring dresses. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post Is It Time For “Family-Friendly” (LOL) Cute Spring Dresses? appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 16, 2024 01:00

March 15, 2024

Problem SOLVED: 10 Affordable Neutral Ottomans And Poufs To Pair Up With Your Accents Chairs

A couple of weeks ago my cousin was shopping for a new accent chair for her living room. Her husband’s only request was that it needed to have an ottoman. Well, the chair she chose didn’t have a matching one as an option so she quickly texted me asking if it was weird to have a mismatched chair/ottoman combo. I responded with a resounding “NO! It can look great!”

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse living room reveal

Of course, there are matching sets like Em’s vintage chair and ottoman above that look awesome together. But personally, I prefer a more mixed-matched, eclectic look.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: new spring target collection

First off, it’s an easy way to mix up styles in the same room. Take this photo above that Emily styled for Target in her old LA house. That chair is decidedly on the traditional side while the pouf is far more organic. But together they look great.

photo by bethany nauert | from: fdr chic sunroom reveal

Or let’s look at the FDR chic sunroom Emily designed for her dear friend, Ian Brennan. While there is a mix of a few different styles in this room, the pairing of the wingback chair and leather Moroccan pouf is such a fun combo!

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house living room reveal

So while I don’t 100% think that Em intended this braided pouf to be paired with either of her accent chairs, see how good it looks with them!? That’s the beauty of choosing something that’s more neutral because well, it clearly can be very versatile.

Now, let’s real talk. There are a million stunning VERY expensive options on the market. The initial favorite my cousin and I found was over $1k. However, that price just isn’t realistic for most of us…especially for a not “totally essential” furniture piece. So below are 10 poufs and ottomans (including the one she decided on:)) that are almost all under $150!

In terms of sizing, we recommend that the ottoman is at most the same height as the seat height of your chair but a few inches lower is great:) And of course, you don’t want it wider than your chair either. Always measure before you buy! Ok, let’s look at these cuties…

Wide Round Pouf Ottoman

I really love this one! The shape is so chic (very Athena Calderone x Crate & Barrel vibes). It also comes in cream if you’d prefer it in a light color.

Teddy Fabric Footrest Ottoman

Organic Brutalism or Organic Postmodern, you decide! Either way, this is a very cool ottoman option that looks more expensive than it is ($115). It comes in two other darker options too:)

Pillow Top Ottoman

Speaking of Athena Calderone x Crate & Barrel vibes, this ottoman is under $100 and has the prettiest details. I love love the ball accent on the legs. 10/10

Ronja Upholstered Ottoman

This is the most expensive one on the list but I couldn’t not include it (also, this is the last boucle option:)). I just think this stool is fun but classic and simple. It also comes in white but is a little pricier.

Talbert Ottoman

We here at EHD say that muted greens and blues (and sometimes pinks) are neutrals! So this green velvet stunner would be a great chair companion for a room that is calling for a tiny bit of soft color. Doesn’t this ottoman remind you of Emily’s living room sofas??

Wellford Faux Leather Woven Cube

Here we go! Leather!! What an undeniably versatile material (even if it’s faux:)). What’s so great about this one is the woven element because it’s got that visual interest but not in an overwhelming way. I think this could work in almost any home.

Unstuffed Faux Leather Pouf Cover

But if you want something a little simpler and richer in color, here is a $27 pouf cover! You do need to buy filling but it’s still very affordable and so pretty.

Wool Wrap Natural Pouf

This beauty was the one my cousin chose! The texture is beautiful, the rounded shape is the perfect contrast to the square chair and sectional in her living room and it’s just pretty. 10/10 would recommend (but no shoes allowed:))

Ashalyn Upholstered Ottoman

Now, if you don’t want to have to worry about any kind of dirt showing on your ottoman then this black boucle beauty would be perfect (ah, sorry I forgot I had one more in boucle). It’s like a modern mushroom and I think is super fun and would work with a bunch of different styles. Oh, and it also comes in cream:)

Ren Black Weave Pouf

Last but not least, I thought I’d throw in a little pattern! If you want something neutral but playful then I think this is a great option.

There you have it! I hope this was helpful and have a great weekend.

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Julie Rose for EHD | Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: One of Emily’s Best Friends Gets The Cozy Yet Sophisticated Bedroom Makeover She Really Deserves

The post Problem SOLVED: 10 Affordable Neutral Ottomans And Poufs To Pair Up With Your Accents Chairs appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 15, 2024 01:00

March 14, 2024

On Limewashing The Living Room Fireplace – And The 16 Colors We Sampled (What Will We Choose?)

I like our living room, but it’s not there yet and that’s okay – I’m trying to enjoy the process of tweaking and I still LOVE being in it. I still know what I would do if I could snap my fingers (take the paneling up to the ceiling and repaint a warmer white) but that’s a really expensive and disruptive change and no one else seems to agree with me, so fine, whatever it’s staying like that for now. So one thing I’ve been fantasizing about is painting the fireplace a more grounding color – just something to contrast, pull your eye over there, be more of a focal point and make you smile, etc. I saw on Sarah Sherman Samuel’s IG stories a while ago a blue brick fireplace with the most beautiful color variation and texture and she told me it was lime-washed so I quickly ordered some samples and Gretchen and I whipped up some painted visuals.

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse living room reveal

She’s a pretty fireplace, but could it be a bit better? I don’t know! When I look at it here I like how simple and calm it is! Let’s see…

Regardless, it seems like a good opportunity to play around, and show you some pretty lime wash colors even if we decide not to do it…

So I ordered a ton from Portola Paints (non-spon) and we took it all to Kaitlin’s new studio (which we love) and got to work.

We used watercolor paper (thick, matte) and labeled each one on the back before we started painting.

Portola told us to do a back-and-forth, cross-hatch brush stroke. It was obviously super easy and fast (the samples were $10 so I don’t suggest buying this many but for content purposes, we thought would be fun).

I chose mostly blues, greens, neutrals, and a few warmer clay/rose tones…

I was really hoping that the right one would just pop immediately. We loved almost all of the colors for different reasons…

The colors really came to life during the second coat…

They are all so pretty!!! So the next day we hung them up on the fireplace.

Now, what you have to remember is that the stairs are blue (Smoky Blue by Sherwin-Williams) and while I could repaint them, which honestly wouldn’t be hard, I don’t really want to. And then remember that the kitchen tile is right to the right (a really light denim-y blue). So sure, I have my favorite colors, but are they right for the room???

Brian happened to be home and wanted to weigh in (quite the treat). We both were VERY into the dark green but it’s basically just a slightly darker version of the sofa color. Is it too matchy?? Maybe!!!

I love the blue too, obviously, but we have so much blue in here that is it overkill?

I narrowed it down to this pretty soft mauve, medium blue, and darker green. I wish the green were darker TBH.

So Gretchen mocked them all up to show me, including some mantel options. I don’t want the mantle to pop with a lot of contrast, but I have thought about doing a Scandi-inspired painted stencil, cladding it with the same brick and painting it the same color, or even finding a dope tonal high gloss square tile, almost like a tile border. But it’s really fun to see what Gretchen did. Here you go:

Dark Green

Nope. Y’all, I don’t think I love a strong mantel that breaks up the brick. I want it to be more tonal – either match it or play with texture (like a high gloss accent tile).

Nope. Fun to see, but I do not enjoy that strong white…

It’s a lot of green, but it’s a pretty green?? It’s about 3 shades darker than the sofas. I like a cohesive color palette (for my home, I love random and unexpected colors in others – it’s a mental thing). But I don’t know. It’s not a “hell yes”.

A Denim-y Blue

Sure. I love this except that the blue stairs to the left and the blue tile to the right (in the kitchen) = a lot of blue.

I don’t mind the black mantel here as much, but still not motivated to do it.

A Light Mauvey Neutral

Well, this looks sad. I don’t think it is in person, but this looks flat and boring.

It’s better with a tonal mantel, but it’s certainly not coming to life. Of course, we’d add art, something that really pops, but y’all, I thought I would love this way more.

A Darker Indigo

I thought for sure I’d love this dark indigo, but it’s just huge and heavy. Now, this could be because there is no movement or color variation (which is a rendering thing). But more importantly, I think it’s just too big to be this dark. What I have to remind myself constantly is that what you see on a small swatch card isn’t a good tell because it’s so much MORE on a larger area. Like exponentially so.

A Darker Mauve

I nixed this early on – the pink with the green maybe felt like too many mid-tone pastel colors (great for Easter!) but as I was writing this post I reconsidered it and asked Gretchen to Photoshop it real quick.

This is not a “hell yes,” but it’s not a no!! I’m interested in exploring this color more. Again, with these renders you don’t get the pretty soft mauvey texture of the lime wash paint. It does have an earthy element that might reference the original brick (that was painted over decades ago). And if you are wondering if I wish it were just pretty aged terracotta brick, the answer is YEP. Is that an option? SURE. I mean, it would have to be faux’d and would need to be the thin pieces, but bricking over this is wayyyy more work and dough than just painting (which Gretchen and I were going to do ourselves).

Y’all. I’m not stressed AT ALL, but there is no clear obvious YES. There would be if I hadn’t made so many other choices first (like the green sofas, the blue stair paint, the blue tile). I have been acting like a psychopath walking past it from different directions, during different times of the day staring at them all, and waiting for confirmation. So as of now, I’m open to all ideas and we MIGHT just try one (the gallons are $80 and it’s a day of fun) and live with a color and see how we feel. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post On Limewashing The Living Room Fireplace – And The 16 Colors We Sampled (What Will We Choose?) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 14, 2024 01:00

← Previous 1 2 … 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 … 270 271 Next →

Emily Henderson's Blog

Emily Henderson's profile
10 followers

Emily Henderson isn't a Goodreads Author (yet), but they do have a blog, so here are some recent posts imported from their feed.