Emily Henderson's Blog, page 60

The Link Up: The Podcast That Has Made Its Way Into Emily’s Routine, Caitlin’s Affordable Wide Leg Jeans, And A New Decor Line We Are Pretty In Love With

Happy Sunday everyone! Well, the best news is that we have our gal Caitlin is back and have been hearing all about her incredible adventure! Don’t worry she’s already agreed to write a whole post on it:) Otherwise, we’ve all been busy (in a good way) and can’t wait to show you the fruits of our labor. Until then let’s talk links!

This week’s house tour is the home of the incredible David Flack (Flack Studio) and his partner Jason Olive. So not only was the home beautifully re-designed (while still maintaining the integrity of the structure), but the most beautiful part is that David described the project as a love letter to Jason who bought the home before they met. You just need to go look at it

From Emily: Caitlin mentioned her favorite podcast is Pivot and while I had listened to maybe 1 or 2 in the past I am now a convert and it’s a part of my routine now. Entertaining, educational, opinionated, and very current on all things culture, politics, and society. The dynamic between the hosts is endearing despite them often arguing. If you like to stay up on all the things but want it to be entertaining we like these (note: I do not agree with all opinions and I have not fully vetted them completely, I’m just currently enjoying it A LOT).

From Caitlin: After a few months of trying on about a million pairs of wide-leg jeans, I’ve finally found the best loose cut for my larger hips and thighs. (And I know that they’re pretty cute, because two women at the mall asked me where they were from!) It’s always tricky to find trendy jeans that don’t cling, but I am officially swearing by these ones – they come in 13 different shades (some with additional details) and they’re under $100! What else could you ask for?

From Mallory: So I may or may not have accidentally dropped a bunch of my makeup out of my apartment window last week (long story). So this was a great excuse to replenish my makeup bag with some new goodies. I went to Sephora and got a new foundation that I am loving (and comes highly recommended on TikTok lol). It’s not a crazy thick coverage but it’s the perfect amount for me (I don’t love wearing foundation typically so I like that it’s lightweight but still evens out your skin). Also, while I was replenishing my fallen makeup items I snagged another mascara (this one is the absolute best ever because it voluminizes and combs the lashes at the same time) and another brow brush (if you’re blonde and need a brow gel that’s not too dark try this one!!)

Looped Mirror | Ridged Bed | Task Lamp

Velvet Occasional Chair | Bouclé Ottoman | Table Lamp

Have you seen the Kaite Hodges for Anthropologie Line? It’s described as a blend of modern and traditional with heavy California influence which we totally see but we also notice a good dose of French/Italian inspo too! These pieces were some of our favorites but you should check out the whole collection:) How cute is that mirror? Or that task lamp?!

From Jess: Now that it’s been a couple of months, I wanted to wholeheartedly recommend my Saalt menstrual cup. A handful of years ago I used the Diva Cup but wasn’t totally in love with it so I stopped. But then recently after hearing great things about the Saalt Cup, I decided to give it a try. I was told it was more comfortable and I can absolutely say that it is. I actually forgot I was even on my period yesterday which wasn’t something I ever did using the other cup. So not only does using a cup massively reduce waste (which was my main reason for wanting to try again), Saalt also is passionate about helping girls and women around the world get to access period supplies. It’s a win-win and I promise once you get used to putting it in and taking it out, it’s so much better than having to use tampons or pads.

From Gretchen: I love a good beanie (or stocking cap, as my mom likes to call it) and once swore by Carhartt’s version, but since buying this one from Columbia, I haven’t looked back! It’s become my absolute favorite! The shape is great, giving just the right amount of “slouch” up top, plus it’s not too tight, and not so loose that you constantly have to re-adjust. The ribbed material is so soft and stretchy, but really holds up–I’ve seriously worn one almost every day for the last few weeks (mostly because I don’t feel like doing my hair, but also because it’s cold out, and DEFINITELY because they’re just so cute), and they haven’t pilled or stretched out at all! They come in a bunch of colors (I bought five of them) with a variety of patch styles. The best thing is, they’re on sale right now for half off! Might need to add the Stone Green one to my already robust collection…

From Arlyn: Before I recommend what I want to recommend, I need to ask you all a very serious question: Do you buy yourself gifts for occasions such as Christmas and birthdays? I’m a huge proponent of it and have been doing it for years. You ALWAYS get what you want when you buy it for yourself. My birthday was this past Friday, and at the time of writing this, I’ve yet to pick out my present to myself. For Christmas, though, I picked up the most darling bowls from East Fork and they bring me immense joy. Until now, I’ve only had their mugs and Everyday Bowls (THE BEST BLATE THERE IS!) but I saw the Breakfast Bowl and it seemed like a good addition to the crew. What a pure treat when I opened the box and saw their size IRL. They are the perfect size for two scoops of ice cream, oatmeal, cherries, yogurt…all the small things. I’m not kidding when I say I find things to eat in them just so I can experience their pure delight. If you have an occasion coming up, I highly recommend a set of 4 as a gift to yourself. 

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow! xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Styling To Sell: How We Staged Our Dining Room And Kitchen (With The Changes I Should Have Done Years Ago!)

The post The Link Up: The Podcast That Has Made Its Way Into Emily’s Routine, Caitlin’s Affordable Wide Leg Jeans, And A New Decor Line We Are Pretty In Love With appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Knee High And Over The Knee Boots – Potentially The Perfect Spring Shoe

I know I know. Tall boots for spring, Jess??? We are trying to forget winter! And look, I get it but hear me out…and Emily. Emily is very passionate about the very tall/over-the-knee boots and I see why. They can be easily paired with a skirt (mini if that’s your vibe) or dress so that you can have a spring look while still staying warm. And let’s also be honest, they can be sexy too depending on how you style them which is nice to express every now and then:) Sounds like a versatile shoe that can be worn three out of the four seasons if you ask me.

photo by kaitlin green | from: the year of the structured mini skirt – cute skirts and how I’m styling them

I mean look at this cute little casual number Em put together for the mini skirt post she did. The boots instantly make this outfit so much cooler and chic, right? I know that when I’ve thought of knee highs or over-the-knee boots in the past it’s more of a “going OUT out” shoe, not something casual. But these babies can really do both as you can see and I will prove below. So if you are in need of some new boots or have always wanted to try some really tall ones, I have 9 great options for you.

Anaelle Thigh High Boots

These beauties are the ones that Em is wearing in the opening photo but in a different color (she also really wants this color too). They actually come in seven different colors so they have something for everyone. See more below.

via sezane

How cute are they styled in different ways? Looking at these photos makes me feel I would love wearing a boot this tall (I don’t feel super comfortable in mini skirts). I want to look as cool as these women! Now, I’m not sure about the sizing of the calves since the site doesn’t have reviews, but they don’t look super tight so they likely have a little room. Also, these pups aren’t cheap so while they are at the top of my list let’s check out a slightly more affordable option…

Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn Logan Over-The-Knee Boots

Super similar look that comes in six colors and is half the price of the Sezane ones. Oh, and they also have a wide option!!

via anthropologie

Here are a couple more ways that you can style this boot and man, they are cute. One review also noted that these boots don’t slouch down below the knee which feels like a very important thing to note in a slightly more slouchy tall boot. I think these are so great.

Virna Boot

I adore the stitching detail on these, the gorgeous rich brown tone, and the low kitten heel! These is kinda of the ideal trendy boots right now (tall with a kitten heel) but also looks and feels really timeless.

Qulie Pointed Toe Over the Knee Boot

But spring is upon us so going for a lighter-colored boot is a fun way to easily wear these boots with your spring clothes! Oh, they are also under $100 which is amazing but many of the reviewers say the calves are narrow FYI.

Deluca Over The Knee Natural Sole Boot

Keeping with the light color but in an easier material to keep clean, we have these beautiful off-white boots from one of my favorite shoe brands, Intentionally Blank! I know their quality is wonderful and I love that the heel is on the lower side. They are also a great price at $209 and also come in black.

Reserve Tall Boots

Ok, so I wanted to find an extra tall flat boot but any that I really liked were very hard to find. So when I saw these I was pumped! I was less pumped when I saw the price tag. But if you have the budget and want to invest in a cool yet classic boot I think these are amazing.

Leona Over the Knee Boot

These are a little more affordable than the ones above but feel slightly more cool and trendy to me. Notice the top of the boot. It’s the only pair in this round-up that has a tighter fit at the top. Now, I might refrain from this type of style because I prefer a looser fit (even in lower boots) but I wanted to give the option in case that’s a look you love! Just something to notice and think about when you are shopping for these kinds of boots:)

Landy

I’m surprised how into these I am! But then again I was raised in cowboy boots so maybe I shouldn’t be shocked:) I love the color, love the slouch, and love the price ($100). They are sexy but casual and just super fun without being too loud.

Wide Fit Claudia Western Knee Boots

And last but not least are these extremely cool tall black cowboy-inspired boots. I know they aren’t over the knee but they are real close and I think would look sick with so many outfits. The lines are simple and the calf space looks generous! Oh, and for $80 I think these are a steal.

Ok, thoughts? Are you an over-the-knee boot wearer? If not are you thinking of trying some like me?? Let me know!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The Year Of The Structured Mini Skirt – Cute Skirts And How I’m Styling Them

The post Knee High And Over The Knee Boots – Potentially The Perfect Spring Shoe appeared first on Emily Henderson.

FIX IT FRIDAY: We Gave 4 Relatable Entryways Some Major Design Advice To Bring Them Back To Life

Anytime we’ve talked about entryways, we always say two things. They are the first thing you see when you walk into your home so you want to create a space that instantly makes you happy, and secondly, we know they are notoriously hard to keep organized/are a dumping ground. Not an ideal combo, right? That’s why we thought entryways were a great space for our second “Fix it Friday” post.

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | left: design by william hunter collective | styled by velinda hellen and erik staalberg | from: how we staged a house (to sell) with soul | right from: design by allison pierce | styled by velinda hellen and erik staalberg | from: the no-reno house that looks completely renovated

Now remember, the point of these posts is to show you that you don’t need to throw every single piece you already own out to create a space you’ll love. There may even be pieces in other parts of your home you can move around making the whole house feel a little newer! A real budget-friendly hack that I don’t think is promoted enough.

photo by tessa neustadt | from:the 10 easy things in your space you could update this weekenddesign by velinda hellen design | lead design by julie rose | styled by emily bowser photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a kitchen makeover that focused on small changes for a big impact

But back to entries. I am now of the firm belief that entryways are like snowflakes and no two are 100% alike. We got so many awesome entries that I wanted to help but since I couldn’t, I picked 4 that felt versatile enough that they would spark ideas for a lot of you. Plus there are a lot of cute things I found in case you are in the market:)

design by pricilla frost | styled by emily henderson | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: my best friend’s basement makeover – starting with the budget-friendly mudroom reveal

Also as I was looking at all of the entries we’ve done over the years (or our designer friends) there is a ton of inspiration too! Make sure you study them. Take this basement entry of Emily’s best friend’s old home. That “built-in” was partially a ready-made piece that was customized making it a bit more affordable overall! Oh, and the color palette is very intentional and colorful, but also neutral and sophisticated.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | styled by emily bowser | from: it’s time to organize – small entry organization hacks for those of us who are “mudroom-less”

These photos were ideas from a Target shoot we did that were just as useful but even more affordable. While this is much easier said than done, once you really know your and/or your family’s needs you can clearly think through what the physical pieces you should get are and perhaps try to create new habits that will help to lessen the visual clutter (that’s the harder part, obviously:))

design by velinda hellen for ehd | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara’s living room & dining room reveal

Now, we still want it to be pretty which is probably the biggest reason you come to a design site. Funcation is great (and necessary) but a little form never hurt anyone. Take Sara’s “entry” above. It’s teeny tiny but she chose pieces that fit within her space and with her style and added pretty things like new leather pulls on the cabinets, a cute lamp, properly scaled art (more on that later), etc.

design by sarah zachary | styled by emily bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a historic mid-century modern home that was completely brought back to life (hope you’re ready for some cool original details)

Ok, let’s finally get into these real-life examples. But if you need a little more visual guidance, here’s a graphic with 5 easy-peasy formulas to help you in your home.

Helpful, right?! Ok, here’s our first reader entry…

Bigger May Be Better

Here’s what she said about it: “Our entry is not a separate space, it leads right into our open concept first floor. I love the vestibule with the moulding and wallpaper and 120+-year-old doors, but once you get inside the second door I don’t feel like the cabinet and decor relate to it very well. I feel like I keep adding more decor to make it feel more “designed” but something has always felt off. I am open to any ideas you have, but the moulding is on plaster and would be really difficult to remove so I think that is the only thing I wouldn’t do.”

Since these post are really just for light decor ideas that’s what I’m going to focus on. Plus this is such a pretty home that it doesn’t need much! But what I find is the most related issue is scale. While that Target cabinet is so so cute, it feels a little too small for me. I think something longer would be an immediate visual upgrade. But let’s get into the designs so I can talk about it more.

Combo on the Left: Mirror | Lamp | Credenza | Planter | Woven Tray | Candle | Match Striker (similar) | Boot Tray | Combo on the Right: Mirror | Lamp | Credenza | Vase | Burl Wood Tray | Candle | Match Striker (similar) | Boot Tray

I created two design options because since I don’t know what the other side of the room looks like I wanted to give an option with the light wood credenza and one that’s darker. Let’s start dark. I feel that a darker wood credenza would look so beautiful next to those vintage doors. It adds a bit more richness which could be what this reader is looking for! I also think that adding a larger mirror to lean on the top with the other piece of art would also help make it feel grander (in a good). Plus mirrors are always helpful when running out the door for a last-minute check. I love the table lamp and other accessories they already have but getting a tray would help to corral some of them to make everything feel more intentionally placed. I also added a few more things since the credenza was a bit longer:) Oh and adding a cute boot tray like that metal one could also make things look a bit more streamlined but not mandatory:)

As I said before, I don’t know what the other side of the room looks like so the lighter wood could look WAY better with the overall space. So I made another combo with the same but larger credenza with some other pretty accessories that would all look great together. Good luck!!

In Need Of A little Function

This sweet little PXD home doesn’t really seem to have a space to drop your keys or store your everyday shoes. The budget for this one was $500 and I am pretty proud that both combos are cute and nailed the budget! Now, the existing runner rug and wood cube are great. I did an option with the existing rug but feel that, while so pretty, the cube isn’t helping in the function department aside from a place to sit or place down a bag. Let me show you what I came up with.

Combo on the Left: Plug-In Sconce (set of 2) | Runner | Tray | Vase | Console Table | Storage Basket (x2) | Combo on the Right: Plug-In Sconce | Runner (similar to existing) | Tray | Candle | Planter | Console Table | Storage Baskets (set of 3)

I took a swing with the combo on the left and went more with a classic PDX style. That console table is simple but great and only $126. The rug is a little more of a splurge but it’s almost the length as the original (this one is 9′ and her’s is 10′) but is available in much bigger sizes! Then for a little color, I think this schoolhouse-y plug-in sconce is awesome and works well with the style of her flush mount. They to elevate the look a little I loved this marble tray and cool little vase. But of course, shoe storage is key and I love these baskets from Target. The weave pattern is pretty and I love the warmth of the leather straps. The total for this look was $494!

For the combo on the right, I let the style of the rug they have take charge! I chose the same console table since the price could not be beat and I really love that classic linen shade sconce because it also goes great with the flush mount. Then to space out some black accents, that tray is stunning in person (Emily has it) and the black leather straps on the shoe storage baskets tie the whole thing together. But to add a little fun, the checkered planter is perfect (and would look awesome with a plant:)), and a pretty candle always belongs in an entry…especially when it’s in a pretty vessel you can reuse after the candle is long gone. This total was $502 which isn’t too bad either!

Simple But Cool

Let’s start with what our lovely reader had to say when she emailed me: “We just moved in a couple of months ago and would love to get the team’s help. Attached are some pictures. I also included a coat rack we have but not sure if we should hang it up. Not sure if it’ll look too cluttered above the shoes. Oh, the measurements are 80in x 40in and the budget is around $300. Thanks so much!”

Isn’t this a great and almost blank canvas!?! Since the budget is small, shoe storage is clearly important, oh, and they have a gorgeous coak rack already, I kept it simple but fun…at least to me:)

Combo on the Left: Coat Rack | Shoe Bench | Rug | Storage Basket | Combo on the Right: Coat Rack | Shoe Rack | Rug

I am partial to the combo on the left but it is fairly over budget buuuut could be reduced a little which I’ll get to. Now as I said above, the coat rack is a no-brainer but if it were my home, I would try to eliminate as much of the visual shoe clutter as possible. That’s why I picked this shoe bench! It’s pretty, goes great with the coat rack, and the cushion is leather so it’s easy to clean. There is a linen version that’s almost $30 cheaper. I also added a shoe basket since the bench doesn’t hold as many pairs as the rack they have. Of course, to lower the budget by another $30 that could also be eliminated. Lastly, a rug with a graphic pattern would really inject a ton of personality! This one is probably my favorite rug in our collection and has been in my kitchen for at least 6 months so I can attest to its durability:) The total for the whole combo is $481 (I know it’s a lot over but it’s not easy finding the right pieces at the right prices! Oh, and remember it could be $420).

So for the second combo, I went with the original open-storage look but wanted to make it feel a little more modern. I think this shoe rack is very cool and also looks great with the coat rack. Then to really go graphic and match the shoe rack, I love this rug. It’s amazing how three little things can change the whole vibe of a space. This one comes to $385…

Ok wait, there’s a third option. To save A LOT of money, they could also spray paint the current shoe rack black and get the shoe show basket for more storage. Then they could pick either rug. This would put them very under budget:)

Oh and for those who love that coat rack but need a more affordable option, here’s a great one!

A Looooong Journey

From our reader: “I’m looking for any suggestions for our awkwardly long entryway. The double doors take up all the width so we can’t put furniture close to the doors or else the right door won’t open all the way. (The right door is the main one with the deadbolt.) We use the entryway to store all of our dog-walking gear. The runner is not my favorite, but I have to have some sort of rug to prevent my dog from slipping (she is arthritic). A sitting area is not needed; we just had the bench from the last house and brought it here. The width of the entryway is 74″ and depth is 24′. The distance from the doorway to the edge of the first room door is 8′.”

This one was bar far the trickiest one so I very much felt for this reader (or anyone with a very long entryway!) And sure there are way to potentially break up the length by adding some architecture but that’s not what we are going into today.

Now this reader didn’t give me a budget so I did my best to find both really affordable pieces and moderately affordable pieces. The truth of the matter is that prices have just gone up (I’m sure everyone reading this knows) so searching on sites like Craigslist or hunting in person is never a bad idea to help save some money and of course, create less waste in the future. But since that’s now really helping to any of you, here we are! Let’s dig in shall we?

Combo on the Left: Large Framed Art | Framed Art Set | Candelabra | Vase | Tray | Table Lamp | Credenza | Accent Chair | Shoe Basket | Combo on the Right: Battery-Operated Sconce | Extra Large Art Print | Vase | Bowl | Candelabra | Credenza | Runner (x2) | Accent Chair | Shoe Basket

So while this was a feat, I am pretty proud of these combos and hope this reader loves them too! The first combo is where I played off more of what I saw in the photos – very light woods and neutrals. That credenza not only has a ton of storage for all things pets and life, it’s also a whopping 120″! That’s pretty huge for one piece of furniture…but still is only half of the total length of the hallway. That’s why I added a chair that could sit on either side of it (a potted plant could work too). I imagine someone putting on or taking off their shoes while sitting in it, making the shoe basket a perfect side companion. But going back to the credenza, it’s long which means it will need some more decor to make it look not totally empty. I love how the black in the lamp talks to the chair and shoe basket. Then a vase is always a great decor piece with or without flowers and I think this tray is so cute! I didn’t realize that they already have a wicker bowl which would also be perfect. And siiiince there’s space, you know I love a good candelabra The art for this was the hardest and these three pieces are more of a jumping-off point. The reader definitely needs to measure it all out and probably add since the wall is so huge. But they also don’t have to fill up the whole wall. Oh, and since there is soooo much happening on the credenza side, I think the 4 photos they have should be moved to the opposite wall in a grid and maybe stick that little bench under them as long as there’s enough walking space. Now, I left the existing rug in this combo to make it more affordable but the other rug would also look awesome. The only thing is that they will need to get 2 since it doesn’t come in that long of a size.

OK, combo #2! I’m a sucker for that medium-toned wood so this credenza is magic to me. Plus, the brass hardware is so so pretty. Overall this is a still neutral but a warmer option. That print from Juniper Shop can be printed up to 55″x79″ (which is the size I tried to measure out in the graphic)! Can you believe it? What I also love is that you have the option for them to print it on paper or canvas OR you can get a very affordable digital download (but then you have to get it printed and framed which is something to consider if you want to go big). But I love this specific piece because it’s colorful but soft and has so much movement. It’s not going to overwhelm the space. Let this be a lesson in scale. When things are more or less the same size or too small, it almost never looks right or properly designed. So when in doubt say no to itsy bitsy and go bigger. Oh, and aren’t those sconces great? It’s amazing how many cute battery-operated options there are out there now. I just thought these linen shades felt a little softer which I wanted. The accessories each have a fun detail about them whether that’s pattern, material, and/or shape! Actually, pattern is an important element to this, including the easy-to-clean, shed-resistant, water-resistant runner (which again, they’ll need two and potentially a rug pad or some rug tape so their sweet pup doesn’t slip). It will help make the space feel more alive. But to not have too much pattern I love love the shape of that leather chair which I paired with a simple shoe basket.

Now, all this of course is going to add up so I also looked at more affordable credenza options like this wall-mounted IKEA cabinet that they could get a couple of but I worry about the mesh getting dusty or full of dog hair. I also loved this affordable extra-long cabinet (under $650) but the wood tone looked a little too yellow and the wood grain looked too similar. The last idea I had was if they were handy that they could build something like this at their desired length. That way they could fill it with books, bins, or whatever they’d like. Oh and something I didn’t mention above is that they could also add some hooks by the front door if they wanted their pet leases more accessible

Well, that’s it for me! I truly hope that these 4 readers find this helpful and for the rest of you, that you are a least a little inspired.

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Sarah Zachary | Styled by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: A Historic Mid-Century Modern Home That Was Completely Brought Back To Life (Hope You’re Ready For Some COOL Original Details)

The post FIX IT FRIDAY: We Gave 4 Relatable Entryways Some Major Design Advice To Bring Them Back To Life appeared first on Emily Henderson.

On Adding Quirk – The Case For Fun Sconce Shades In Our Farmhouse Living Room

I’m not super proud of how risk-averse I was/am in this house when renovating it, but y’all I’m comfortable with the choices (and myself LOL) because I don’t want to redo any of the hard fixtures in a house, like EVER. So with a lot of the choices, I simply asked myself what was beautiful, functional, appropriate for a farmhouse, and relatively timeless/classic (as much as you can predict that). For the living room, I chose the best lighting for the room since it was dark and we didn’t have overhead recessed lights. I went with a classic shaped sconce with a fabric shade that would be dimmable and therefore provide the exact type of lighting that I like to experience in a room (even but not bright and totally adjustable). GREAT. I love these sconces – the shape is elegant and they work well with all the lighting in the kitchen, sunroom, etc. But as I am now adding another layer of quirk that is to say, more temporary and still me, I fantasized about changing the shades on these sconces from white to well, something more interesting – whether it’s shape, color, fabric, or texture.

all 8 living room sconces

I blame my 4-H years for this fantasy. Sadly, I don’t have any photos but I recovered MANY a lampshade in calico fabric (mostly Victorian shades which are so time-consuming, but many drum shades, too). So it’s easy for me to access the possibilities.

So on a Saturday morning, while the kids are watching their precious Mr. Beast (our approved YouTube channel that doesn’t make me want to pull the TV off the wall and burn it), I set to fantasizing about what these shades could be. And let me be clear, the white shades that come with the sconces are GREAT and I def plan on keeping them, but I’m curious if there is a way to switch them out for a while that will do something interesting to the room. Me thinks yes.

Custom Scallop Shades?

Linen Scalloped Lampshade | Raffia Scalloped Lampshade

These are an easy “yes” – so cute, fun, yet this shape has been around forever (the scallop is classic in my book, the squiggle is not – no offense to any squiggles reading this). But my team was lukewarm to these – perhaps they are actually too expected at this point? This Etsy maker can make most colors and sizes, and I was most drawn to the black. But after my team’s reaction, I thought maybe these are too predictable right now?

Custom Rounded Pleated Shades?

Handmade Scallop Shades | Elongated Scallop Shades

I like these a TON. They are sweet, cool, and classic. Great. I’m specifically drawn to the more elongated ones in the mossy green (similar to our sofas). Shall we? Now something to remember is that we have 8 sconces in our living room so these would be quite the investment. Because this is my job I can write it off and justify it, but let’s be clear 8 of these are not nothing.

DIY Painted Or Hand Drawn Shades?gretchen mocked up this very cute idea!

I mean, YES. How incredible would this be if done right? Now if we didn’t need 8 in a room that already has a lot going on I might consider this more, but I’m nervous about doing anything too artistic on 8 sconces. However, a tiny stripe could be ok, but I don’t know…I fear that it will look like exactly what it is – like some amateur who wanted to make their lampshades more quirky so they DIY’d a paint job that looked kinda dumb in this house, in this room, on these particular more serious sconces. I think this could work so well on a differently shaped sconce, in a room that felt more wacky and fun. But y’all should definitely try this.

Added A Striped Trim With Fabric Tape Or Ribbon?

Gretchen threw out this idea and I LOVE IT. Obviously, we’d love to use the lampshades as-is so we are going to shop for a trim – either fabric tape (I’m totally blanking on the name but the ones that are already finished on both edges and you fold it over and iron it) or a patterned or grosgrain ribbon.

Recover in Patterned Fabric?just some pretty ideas fyi, not official options:)

Top Left Clockwise: Trail | Raindrops | Market Stripe | Mini Check

I am so not opposed to it (although a more permanent change, for sure). Now, we do need to really use these sconces for light so the fabric couldn’t be too thick like velvet (would indeed be pretty), and I don’t want anything too country or sweet like a ticking stripe. We also have enough plaid in here so unless I found a perfect floral (which is SO HARD TO FIND) I don’t know if I could do this. But now that I think about it, Kelly Ventura or Rebecca Atwood might have a print that could work???!!!

I really miss living in New York in times like these. I would go to the fabric and ribbon district and just shop for hours scouring for the perfect ribbon and M&J trimmings for these shades. While you can do a lot online, fabrics are one of the few things that you really have to touch and see in person (IMHO).

Anyway, I’m not in a crazy rush and we have a big shoot here in March that I want to have them white for so if we alter the original shades I’ll wait til after then. But you can definitely expect to follow along on the process and weigh in kindly in the comments. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Farmhouse Living Room Reveal

The post On Adding Quirk – The Case For Fun Sconce Shades In Our Farmhouse Living Room appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Best/REALLY GOOD Blue Paint Colors That I’ve Used, Experienced, And Still Love

Dear A.I. Robots/Santa, Can you please create a building where we color-loving humans can walk through and experience every single paint color (in both natural light and dark) before we commit to it on our walls? Now that I’ve designed a fair amount of houses and painted many a room I feel extreme confidence in certain colors, even as my fear of trying new ones and getting them wrong runs deep (and at times keeps me from taking some color risks). Wouldn’t it just be magical if Sherwin-Williams had a physical room for every single color??? So I could stroll in, grab Brian’s arm, and say “Ooh I love how this feels!! This is perfect for our family room” instead of painting the room, say, multiple times? Because while the amount of light, direction of the sun, location on the planet, and your hard finishes of course can change the tone of the paint color, for the most part, the fear of getting it wrong lies in whether the color itself is one that you like enough to be surrounded by while enjoying the room. And at times that is just so hard to predict from a 10×12 sample. Trust me.

So today I thought I’d start rounding up my favorite blue paint colors that I’ve personally experienced, and would ABSOLUTELY use again. This all stemmed from me helping design my brother’s river house where we painted 7 different colors – all SO GOOD, and it makes me want to invite the whole world over so you can experience the color versus just looking at it online (which y’all, it’s just hard to trust). I’m going to leak the colors we chose at the end (without photos, yet) because they are all so freaking good. But first, let’s start with what we do have good reference photos of:

Dew Drop by Sherwin-Williamsphotos by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse mudroom

Soothing, light, and airy, with some green in it – this super light blue is so dreamy, especially in a lot of natural light. I think in a dark room it might not read as a “color” per se, but here against the white and wood it’s so good. My friend painted her teenage son’s room this color and he LOVES it. It’s not baby nor does it feel pastel, just light if that makes any sense.

Sleepy Blue by Sherwin-Williamsphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project laundry room

Now for this no-natural-light laundry room, we chose something more saturated (than our well-lit room) which was the right call because it needed to have more pigment to really show up (I’ve had to learn this lesson a bunch of times!). Sleepy Blue is definitely more on the pastel side, thus being so happy and bright. Less grayed out sophisticated and more clean/fresh and happy. I think this color would be awesome in a well-lit room as well, but test it out because it might read more pastel and bold baby blue or it just might be a bright happy sunny blue.

Good Jeans by Clare Paintphotos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily’s old la basement bathroom

We used Clare Paint’s Good Jeans in our basement bathroom (a pandemic budget upgrade we did right before we sold the house). While bolder than most of my denim, this color felt saturated and calming. It might be even better in a room meant to be darker and cozy like a den or a media room.

Debonair by Sherwin-Williamsphoto by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse primary bedroom

I LOVE this color and have it in my bedroom, obviously. Now the only thing I’ll warn you about is I think it’s better in a room with less natural light so that the moodiness is embraced. it has a lot of undertones in it that play differently throughout the day and it’s so cozy at night or when it’s cloudy. Now, sometimes when the light hits it the pigment pops in a way that is jarring, which is why I think this is best for a room with less direct natural light – a room that is meant to feel cozier (dining, office, den, family room). I’ll use it again, but not in a room that has 4 windows and 4 skylights (and if I could snap my fingers I’d change it right now to Eventide – a color we used in my bro’s house that is INCREDIBLE and has the exact amount of blue pigment I want while remaining light and still neutral).

Slate Tile by Sherwin-Williamsphoto by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse pantry

Such a great blue – I wanted it multiple places after I painted this room. While the trend seems to be greener blues right now this grayed-out blue is super timeless, not bold, and has a point of view without being risky at all (IMHO). Also best for rooms with less natural light (y’all, if you want my #3 design rule it’s keep light rooms light and dark rooms dark).

Waterloo by Sherwin-Williamsphotos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project media room

The basement of the Portland Project, in Waterloo, sure is a happy yet muted blue. Admittedly, it looks like Slate Tile but lighter and perhaps a tiny bit less green? It is a good one and I think great for mid to low-light rooms (this basement looks bright in the photos but it opened to a huge covered patio so it’s def less bright on a normal day.

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project powder bath

Here it is in another room, without natural light (except coming from the kitchen). Pretty happy and great

Grays Harbor by Sherwin-Williamsphoto by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project landing cabinets

Clearly, I’ve got a type…this darker moody blue is SO GOOD. I’ve almost used it so many times and it’s always one of the top contenders, and now seeing it here I remember why. What a lovely dark yet still happy shade of a moody blue.

Blue Note by Benjamin Moorephotos by zeke ruelas | from: moody mid century home office

So dark and cool and definitely best for a room that has some but not too much natural light. It can go almost black, in a really good way.

Cyberspace by Sherwin-Williamsphotos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project primary bathroom

Another great “almost black” dark blue that was so nice for this room. It had a lot of natural light because you could see the pigment. I have found that sometimes in a room that has almost no natural light, a super dark paint color is hard for your eye to read and just looks “dark” (see Still Water commentary below) so if you want to see that it’s a super dark blue it needs some light to pick up the color.

Hague Blue by Farrow & Ballphotos by tessa neustadt | from: spanish colonial reading nook

Hague Blue is one of my all-time favorites that I haven’t used in a while! It has the slightest tint of green in it, making it a super dark indigo? I painted the exterior of this color as well. Farrow & Ball is always a splurge (and color matching can be tricky because their pigmentation process is extremely sophisticated and nuanced), but if you have the budget for certain special rooms I love this color.

Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ballphoto by zeke ruelas | from: ginny’s dining room

For those willing to go more bold, Stiffkey Blue is incredible. It’s not “BRIGHT BLUE” but it sure has a lot of solid pigment that makes it pop regardless of being in a well-lit room or a darker space. It reads as blue no matter what. Gosh, I love it so much and hadn’t thought about it for a while, but it’s for sure one of my favorites ever for rooms like this that can handle a lot of color (Ginny executed it perfectly, of course).

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily’s old la primary bathroom

I used Stiffkey Blue in our old primary bathroom in LA which by the way I hadn’t seen in a while and I love it SOOOOO MUCH. I have a bunch of that leftover wallpaper that I’m kinda inspired to put in our little tiny hallway heading into our bedroom now. It’s just so good! Anyway, so is Stiffkey Blue. A solid choice my friends and great for small rooms like this, especially if only on the bottom (it could have worked all the way up but also might have felt a little overwhelming for a small bathroom.

Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ballphotos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s dining room

Arlyn perfectly executed this super dark blue-gray-green. I love how its color drenched on the ceiling and she added all the art with white borders to break it up and add so much life.

Still Water by Sherwin-Williamsphoto by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse family room

Now this color, Still Water by Sherwin-Williams, has a lot of green in it but it still falls more in the blue category for me. This color is so unbelievably perfect in here because it’s meant to be a dark room so it still really reads as this dark blue/green/teal. If it were in a room with a ton of natural light it would have probably read extremely bold and TEAL (when we have the overhead lights on it’s a bit too much for me), but in the cozy lamplight, it’s perfect. So yes, just make sure that if you have a really bright room you like the boldness of the pigment. Here, it’s so perfect (THANK GOD).

French Beret by Benjamin Moorephotos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: william hunter primary bedroom

Now I didn’t choose this color (the architect William Hunter, did) and it’s just so good. Certainly muted and leaning towards charcoal, this French Beret blue does have a lot of gray in it, helping it read muted, sophisticated, and wonderfully moody. We LOVED it in person so much and it was great for this darker space (the doors lead to a covered patio) and made this smallish bedroom feel bigger (kudos for doing the closets and curtains in the same color, William).

If you are into this we are going to do other colors as well, and I can’t WAIT to show you what we used in Ken’s house. Spoiler – Rain Cloud (a dark blue that is sooooo pretty, bold yet muted if that’s even possible??), Eventide – the perfect light blue/gray that doesn’t read as “BLUE” or sad gray (I want it in our bedroom!) and a few greens I’ll share next time

Oh and here is a great graphic Gretchen made so you can easily pin all of these for easy access!

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Family Room Reveal – By Far The Coziest Room In The House And Here’s Why

The post The Best/REALLY GOOD Blue Paint Colors That I’ve Used, Experienced, And Still Love appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Has Silver Taken Over The #1 Metal Spot? Is Brass Out? Here’s What We Think

Now that I’m in my mid-30s I’m finally experiencing the first round of the styles from my childhood being popular again. It feels wild to me that Y2K fashion is in because it wasn’t even good then! But just because velour tracksuits, butterfly clips, and giant oversized t-shirts are back in a big way, it does not mean a classic, well-fitted jeans and a white tee shirt combo is out. This is how I feel about most trends – they are cyclical, and can be extremely fun (for me too), but don’t cancel out the classics just because they are having a moment. You could draw a similar parallel between what’s currently happening with silver and brass. It would be silly to say that brass is “out”. It’s still everywhere. But since silver/chrome and even polished nickel are having a wave of attention, let’s walk through my theories as to why along with some pretty examples and some shoppable options at the end.

photo by bethany nauert | from: fdr chic – a dude’s mix of antique, mid-century and bohemian style

I think the first and biggest reason is that gold has reigned supreme for years and people want something fresh. As beautiful as brass is, designers are here to try and breathe new life into spaces and playing with new metals is a fairly easy way to do that. Plus, let’s not kid ourselves, chromes and silvers are classic too! It’s not like hot pink hardware is taking over and is too risky for 99% of us to put in our homes. It’s a fun and fairly safe option to get into:)

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A post shared by estliving.com (@est_living)

Secondly, from what I’ve observed over the years, the rest of the world has a much bigger appreciation for silver. I feel like most of the times I’ve seen silver used in really cool and beautiful ways it’s been from somewhere abroad. Take this incredibly beautiful kitchen in Milan, Italy! So naturally it was bound to move further west. To be fair, the first time we called this silver resurgence was in 2017! Now six years later it’s back baby:)

i normally where that big ring on my other hand but i wanted to show it off and i need that hand to take the photo:)

Then the last theory was actually brought up by Emily and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it…fashion, DUH. There is so much silver and chrome in fashion right now. I mean Y2K was all about the silver jewelry so it shouldn’t be a big surprise. I think I even remember saying way back then, “I’ll never be a gold jewelry girl.” SYKE. Some years after that I swore to be an only gold jewelry lover FOREVER. But then after Emily said that I looked down at my hands and realized that I now wear exclusively silver rings, though not really on purpose (the diamond one was my grandfather’s, I bought the square one from a vintage shop in Brooklyn, and the ring temporarily placed on my thumb is from & Other Stories). Oh, and the bracelet is from Eden Hand Arts in Cape Cod I got with my mom when I was 14 (IYKYK:)).

So those are the reasons I think chrome and silver are currently HOT, or rather just getting some much-deserved respect.

As a previous “gold only” gal, this Schoolhouse floor lamp was my gateway into falling for chrome in design back when I was new to EHD. It was sent to Emily back in 2017 and I remember feeling like I was having an identity crisis. I just loved it so much. I actually loved the lamp so much that I asked for the gold version for my last apartment. I wanted the chrome but the gold just worked with the overall design of the room so much better.

And though Emily will always be a brass gal (I mean this blog was originally named “The Brass Petal” after all:)) There have been times she’s chosen silver:

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project kitchen reveal

The Portland Project kitchen has just a little sprinkling of silver. She chose a chrome pot filler because she wanted to match the range but then picked polished nickel for the sink faucet since it was a little warmer which she liked with the brass hardware a bit more. This is a great example of mixing metals:)

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | left from: downstairs guest bathroom reveal | center from: primary bedroom reveal | right from: powder bath reveal

Then here are a few more examples of chromes and polished nickel hardware from . It’s nice to see it so elevated rather than the builder-grade low-quality stuff that I’ve had in every apartment I’ve ever lived.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: velinda’s tiny Kitchen makeover takeover

Actually, speaking of rentals, Velinda designed her home’s basement unit’s mini kitchen for her renter and it would be the dream kitchen rental! This is how it’s done right. I love the satin nickel in this instance and is stunning with the pale blue. It’s really just about making sure that when you choose silver that you make sure the overall design doesn’t go too cold visually. At least that’s how we feel:)

Now let’s go through some Instagram posts I’ve saved to show you some really awesome examples of how people are using silver right now:

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A post shared by Marco Zamora (@want.zamora)

The younger generation is definitely on Team Chrome. Take Marco Zamora. While he has done a whole series about how he’s added color to his apartment rental, his love for cool chrome accents is clear:) But with all of the wonderful colors he’s added, the chrome is a welcomed and fun accent. Gold or brass wouldn’t have felt right.

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A post shared by Ajai Guyot | DIY + Home Design (@ajai_guyot)

Ajai Guyot is also very much in love with silver and chrome accents and her new home! Did you see her kitchen in the kitchen trends post from a couple of weeks ago? So while Ajai prefers a far more neutral color palette to Marco, her soft and warm tan walls make the whole space feel cool and dreamy.

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A post shared by Tamsin Johnson (@tamsinjohnson)

Tasmin Johnson is currently one of my favorite designers and I adore her intentional use of silver in this living room. It’s just two very special light fixtures and an accent on the coffee table. Just the perfect amount that unites the space.

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A post shared by Yellowtrace (@yellowtrace)

I don’t think I’d ever go for a stainless steel kitchen if I were to be able to design my own but I love love this one by DGN Studio so much so that I might consider it. The mix of steel and natural wood is such a beautiful contrast. I also love how the sconces and the backsplash are almost the exact same material. Ugh, it’s cool.

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A post shared by @soft_servings

This is another example that pulls me pretty far over to the silver side. I am absolutely in love with this design.

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A post shared by RBW (@rbw_studio)

And look how chic and modern that thick towel bar is. Makes me happy and hopeful I made the right decision to go with the silver hardware in my bathroom instead of trying to mix in brass where I could. I think an easy way to not have silver metals look too cold (like in Ajai’s house) is by using organic materials – limewash paint, wood, linen, etc.

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A post shared by Laura Hodges, Interior Designer (@laurahodgesstudio)

But you don’t have to go too “organic” if that’s not your style. Look at how Laura Hodges used silver in this stunning, bathroom suite! With the light-toned wood, everything blends together so beautifully.

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A post shared by ORIGINARIO (@originario.originario)

Now, while I’ve given a lot of examples of silvers and chromes in neutral-toned rooms, they also very much belong in happy bright spaces too! This lamp is a total star in this bold room. I am obsessed with this design concept store in Mexico City, Originario. If you are ever they you have to go visit, you won’t regret it.

via h&m

I am sure all of you are now frantically searching your homes for the perfect spot to add in a little silver. To help assist once you figure that out, here are silver lamps and decor options:)

1. TÄLLBYN | 2. Dakota Nickel 3-Light Wall Sconce | 3. Rocco Table Lamp | 4. ACKJA | 5. Damo Table Simple Lamp | 6. Blair Wall Sconce

1. Desmond Leather Chair | 2. Kalman Polished Stainless Steel Bar Tool Set with Snack Bowl | 3. Sculpture | 4. Ansel Drawer Pull | 5. Athena Polished Stainless Steel Storage Tower | 6. Fishburne Side Table | 7. BAGGBODA | 8. Kuba Metal Candleholder | 9. Mid-Century Design Wall Chrome Mirror

So what do you all think? Do you already have lots of silvers and chromes in your homes? Do you want brass to share the stage for years to come? Are you ready to see Emily’s farmhouse guest bathroom soon where you might remember she chose polished nickel for all of the hardware?? Let’s chat!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Caitlin Higgins | Styled by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: The Reveal We’ve All Been Waiting For! Caitlin’s Mostly Thrifted, Postmodern Regency Deco Living Room

The post Has Silver Taken Over The #1 Metal Spot? Is Brass Out? Here’s What We Think appeared first on Emily Henderson.

My Brother’s River House: How We Designed Their Kitchen Cabinets For Function, Ease And Storage

Welcome to the episode where I answer your most burning-nest question: Where is your brother going to put his Tupperware, XL oven mitts, and Vitamix?? Kitchens need to be first and foremost HIGHLY functional for the needs of the specific family, so as we were all designing the cabinetry I did the exercise that I like to do for all new construction cabinetry – place EVERY. SINGLE. THING. After doing this multiple times (first Portland Project, then the mountain house, then the farmhouse), I feel like I have a decent grasp on what should be within an arm’s reach and what is ok to walk a few steps for (more than you think). Is going drawer by drawer overkill? I don’t think so. And it’s honestly SO MUCH FUN because you get to fantasize about your life there. I usually take the cabinet maker’s drawings (what you’ll see below – NOT AN ACTUAL DESIGN PLAN) and I plug it into Keynote and overlay my text over each drawer and cupboard (aka nothing fancy). I think it just makes you feel really confident that you are designing the kitchen for YOUR cooking purposes.

Where Is The Kitchen In This House?

We wrote a floor plan post that shows you how the whole house was laid out last week, but as you can see above, the kitchen is smack in the middle of the house with a ton of circulation around it, with a bar on the window side and the pantry tucked slightly out of site. It has a nice large island with the sink across from the range wall.

Now before you judge too hard and balk at the design THESE ARE THE CABINET MAKERS DRAWINGS. Meaning, none of the design is in here, including the hardware, wood tone, stone, tile, etc. These are JUST for the cabinet makers to approve the layout and the measurements and not a design plan.

Kitchen: Lower Cabinets Island And Bar

I have a few philosophies to consider (if doing new cabinetry and plumbing).

Kids’ stuff should be low and in drawers and near the dishwasher if possible. Your dishwasher and garbage/compost should flank the sink (if it’s on the island or the same cabinetry run) but which side they land on doesn’t matter. I’m right-handed, I’ve had them on both sides and you just adapt, very very quickly. Sure, you might have a slight preference, but I think proximity to dishes from the dishwasher is more of a consideration (but barely). Of course, what you don’t want is to have a clearance problem or a traffic flow problem (too many people on top of each other because all the main functions are too close) but after years of stressing about which side these two elements should go, I’m happy to say they are both fine! Kitchen: Range Wall And Back Of Island

Now their kitchen is certainly a lovely size, but once you forget the bar area (which is all beverage fridges and pebble ice) then they really only have the island cabinetry (which houses sink plumbing) and the range wall. Thus we needed to have upper cabinets (which we are executing more like hanging cupboards OVER the tile when it’s installed. OH AND DISREGARD the uppers in the first opener shot, we had to redo them as the wood around the inside came too thick). I took a stab at putting stacks of matching plates and bowls up there, maybe glassware, and then at the top pretty serving bowls (that will be harder to reach but doable). We have since added shelving above the bar for glassware because it didn’t make sense to me to not have your glassware near your indoor/outdoor bar.

The Pantry: Food And Extra Appliances

I deeply encouraged them to have a medium-sized kitchen, with a separate pantry for all the food, mess, and random stuff. I have LOVED having the pantry be a place where I can shove stuff until I have time to clean (specifically when people are over). It’s definitely a luxury, but if you are designing a house with a decent amount of square footage now a more medium-sized kitchen with a separate pantry room (butler’s pantry?) is a great thing to think about. We all really love some of the same things that we have in ours, including the pull-out canned goods drawer and the deeper food drawers with half exposed (this allows you to put potatoes, onions, and garlic in there should you want to). Like so!

photos by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse pantry reveal

FYI since this shoot we have turned the upper shelves (above the drawers) into more oil and snack storage (less serveware).

Now their fridge is not small (it’s 30″ wide, side by side) but they still figured having an additional fridge/freezer nearby is a good idea (think “garage fridge” but in your pantry). Certainly not necessary, but also remember that we were designing during 2021, lockdown food prep time, and the idea of having enough food in your fridge for 10 days felt like a necessity rather than a luxury.

They have plenty of space in here, but knowing where they are putting their extra appliances and making sure they will fit was fun. And I’m not sure if that is a microwave or a steam oven, FYI (I’m not involved in the entire project and didn’t get the appliances sponsored so not sure). Our goal with these cabinet posts is to help those of you designing your own (aka not with an interiors or a kitchen designer) to get more ideas and feel more confident in your decisions. If only we could do this with all the stuff our kids bring into our house every day

*Thanks to Annie Usher, the architect on this project, and Max Humphrey co-designing! We’ll link up the cabinet maker when we are done with the project! Shout out to JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction

*Opening Image Credit: Photo by Kaitlin Green

The post My Brother’s River House: How We Designed Their Kitchen Cabinets For Function, Ease And Storage appeared first on Emily Henderson.

My Brother’s River House: The Kitchen Cabinet Process

Welcome to the episode where I answer your most burning-nest question: Where is your brother going to put his Tupperware, XL oven mitts, and Vitamix?? Kitchens need to be first and foremost HIGHLY functional for the needs of the specific family, so as we were all designing the cabinetry I did the exercise that I like to do for all new construction cabinetry – place EVERY. SINGLE. THING. After doing this multiple times (first Portland Project, then the mountain house, then the farmhouse), I feel like I have a decent grasp on what should be within an arm’s reach and what is ok to walk a few steps for (more than you think). Is going drawer by drawer overkill? I don’t think so. And it’s honestly SO MUCH FUN because you get to fantasize about your life there. I usually take the cabinet maker’s drawings (what you’ll see below – NOT AN ACTUAL DESIGN PLAN) and I plug it into Keynote and overlay my text over each drawer and cupboard (aka nothing fancy). I think it just makes you feel really confident that you are designing the kitchen for YOUR cooking purposes.

Where Is The Kitchen In This House?

We wrote a floor plan post that shows you how the whole house was laid out last week, but as you can see above, the kitchen is smack in the middle of the house with a ton of circulation around it, with a bar on the window side and the pantry tucked slightly out of site. It has a nice large island with the sink across from the range wall.

Now before you judge too hard and balk at the design THESE ARE THE CABINET MAKERS DRAWINGS. Meaning, none of the design is in here, including the hardware, wood tone, stone, tile, etc. These are JUST for the cabinet makers to approve the layout and the measurements and not a design plan.

Kitchen: Lower Cabinets Island And Bar

I have a few philosophies to consider (if doing new cabinetry and plumbing).

Kids’ stuff should be low and in drawers and near the dishwasher if possible. Your dishwasher and garbage/compost should flank the sink (if it’s on the island or the same cabinetry run) but which side they land on doesn’t matter. I’m right-handed, I’ve had them on both sides and you just adapt, very very quickly. Sure, you might have a slight preference, but I think proximity to dishes from the dishwasher is more of a consideration (but barely). Of course, what you don’t want is to have a clearance problem or a traffic flow problem (too many people on top of each other because all the main functions are too close) but after years of stressing about which side these two elements should go, I’m happy to say they are both fine! Kitchen: Range Wall And Back Of Island

Now their kitchen is certainly a lovely size, but once you forget the bar area (which is all beverage fridges and pebble ice) then they really only have the island cabinetry (which houses sink plumbing) and the range wall. Thus we needed to have upper cabinets (which we are executing more like hanging cupboards OVER the tile when it’s installed. OH AND DISREGARD the uppers in the first opener shot, we had to redo them as the wood around the inside came too thick). I took a stab at putting stacks of matching plates and bowls up there, maybe glassware, and then at the top pretty serving bowls (that will be harder to reach but doable). We have since added shelving above the bar for glassware because it didn’t make sense to me to not have your glassware near your indoor/outdoor bar.

The Pantry: Food And Extra Appliances

I deeply encouraged them to have a medium-sized kitchen, with a separate pantry for all the food, mess, and random stuff. I have LOVED having the pantry be a place where I can shove stuff until I have time to clean (specifically when people are over). It’s definitely a luxury, but if you are designing a house with a decent amount of square footage now a more medium-sized kitchen with a separate pantry room (butler’s pantry?) is a great thing to think about. We all really love some of the same things that we have in ours, including the pull-out canned goods drawer and the deeper food drawers with half exposed (this allows you to put potatoes, onions, and garlic in there should you want to). Like so!

photos by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse pantry reveal

FYI since this shoot we have turned the upper shelves (above the drawers) into more oil and snack storage (less serveware).

Now their fridge is not small (it’s 30″ wide, side by side) but they still figured having an additional fridge/freezer nearby is a good idea (think “garage fridge” but in your pantry). Certainly not necessary, but also remember that we were designing during 2021, lockdown food prep time, and the idea of having enough food in your fridge for 10 days felt like a necessity rather than a luxury.

They have plenty of space in here, but knowing where they are putting their extra appliances and making sure they will fit was fun. And I’m not sure if that is a microwave or a steam oven, FYI (I’m not involved in the entire project and didn’t get the appliances sponsored so not sure). Our goal with these cabinet posts is to help those of you designing your own (aka not with an interiors or a kitchen designer) to get more ideas and feel more confident in your decisions. If only we could do this with all the stuff our kids bring into our house every day

*Thanks to Annie Usher, the architect on this project, and Max Humphrey co-designing! We’ll link up the cabinet maker when we are done with the project! Shout out to JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction

*Opening Image Credit: Photo by Kaitlin Green

The post My Brother’s River House: The Kitchen Cabinet Process appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: The Romance Novel Em And Her Friends All Loved, Caitlin’s Dream Travel Sweatshirt, And The Best Way To Hide Your Vertical Blinds

Happy Sunday y’all! It was a pretty busy week after Portland’s weather kept most everyone at a standstill. But Em and Gretch are back in action and we get Caitlin back from Antarctica soon!! Oh and if you missed the Feel Good Flash Makeover Arlyn gifted her parents, then grab a tissue and go read that right now. Then come back for this week’s links.

This week’s house tour is from another of our favorite designers, Sally Breer. Her newly revealed LA home has so many special details (hello, ceiling!), and is calm and neutral while having the perfect pops of color to be a little unexpected. You just have to go look at it. Enjoy!

From Emily: A couple winter romance indulges to boost your mood: The book, You with a View – what a sweet and steamy book that checks all the boxes (well written, couldn’t put down, has a first love/enemies to lovers vibe and just highly enjoyable). Multiple friends have agreed that it was a standout from this year (we all read romance novels, duh). Then Brian suggested over Christmas break to go see Anyone But You, a movie with Glenn Powell and more importantly Sydney Sweeney (from Euphoria). I did a spit take – Brian, you WANT to GO see this rom-com in the movie theater??? We both know Glenn from LA (not well, AT ALL, just friends of friends) and we are both huge fans of his acting (and both crush on him). Sydney Sweeney, I recognized but had no idea who she was (Euphoria fame – which we haven’t watched and I fear would give me anxiety). It’s a very loose adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing which is helpful to know because my goodness the tropes were hard to swallow (and that’s coming from me). But once you know that it’s so enjoyable with such a great cast, with a beautiful setting, and worth the two hours. Also hot tip, we are now at the point where we can shove our kids into another movie that they want to watch while we watch our own movie and IT’S GLORIOUS!!!!!! Anyway, both of these are just fun, enjoyable, and might make you snuggle tighter in the winter.

From Jess: Emily is NOT going to be on board with this given her love of minimal chopping tools and an aversion to small appliances. BUT, when I was making soup with a friend last weekend she had electric this KitchenAid food chopper that chopped our onions so tiny and fast I could’ve cried (in the good way, not the eye-stinging way). Here’s the deal. I hate onions and only in the past couple of years have started dealing with them cooked in soup. It’s not a flavor issue, it’s a texture thing which is why I stay as far away from raw onions as possible. I wish it was different because life would be A LOT easier but here we are. Now I’ve tried hand choppers, like the one Emily loves, but they don’t cut onions tiny enough for me so I end up chopping them by hand and it takes forever because I’m slow. Now I cannot wait to make my next soup (the chopper gets here tomorrow as I’m writing this) because I just eliminated a main “pain point” that makes me not want to cook at all (I’m easily dissuaded). Plus, as someone who doesn’t have a ton of small appliances, I am happy to add it and it will be easy to stick in a cabinet. Oh, and it’s really easy to clean! I know from experience. Hope this is helpful for any other little picky weirdos like me:)

From Arlyn: Got ugly vertical blinds but can’t take them down (rental) or just don’t feel like it? BOY DO I HAVE A SOLUTION FOR YOU TO MAKE IT LOOK BETTER! I mentioned these amazing (and super affordable) brackets earlier this week in the post about my parent’s flash makeover reveal, but in case it was missed in my giant dissertation of a post, I figured it best to also share here. They take seconds to install, are adjustable so they’ll fit most overhead track rails, and the rod you chose (I got this one) ends up directly in front so you barely notice the rail anymore. Open the blinds, tuck them behind a curtain panel to the side and BOOM. A far better solution. 

Also from Arlyn: Last week, Jess talked about her hair journey for the year and asked for some recs and I’m coming this week with my hand open also asking for a favor. I was born was fairly easy hair but my skin leaves much to be desired. This year, I want to focus on fixing that, specifically the texture and the visibility of my pores. Please, someone out there, share with me a product (or service) that has helped you smooth out the texture of your skin and maybe, dear lord maybe, shrink pore size? I’m not entirely sure that’s even possible, but look, I’ll take all the recommendations. Thanks! 

From Caitlin: It’s my third consecutive travel-related link for you (and my final dispatch from Antarctica – heading back north in a few days!), but I’ve saved the best recommendation for last: it’s a soft, comfy, easy-to-move-in hoodie with a built-in eye mask. This was a Christmas gift from Brenda and she knocked it out of the park! The lining is SO soft and it’s warm without feeling thick or heavy, which is my favorite. I love the oversized, boxy fit and the built-in eye mask is a dream for long flights (or if you’re trying to sleep at 3 AM and the sun’s already risen, as is the case here!). I don’t normally love the feeling of an eye mask, but this one is large and I love the way it drapes (no elastic required). I already know that this one is gonna make my gift guide this year!

From Mallory: No joke these might have been the easiest and best eggs I have ever made!! They’re creamy with a little kick – I used this chili oil which I got from my cute little local NYC butcher shop and it is PHENOMENAL. Highly recommend you try this – oh and don’t forget to top it with green onions or chives.

Also From Mallory: So now that I live in a cold weather climate I can no longer wear my little shorts and sports bra sets to the gym – it’s time we learn how to layer!! So I recently purchased this striped workout shirt from Lululemon and I have to say I love it. It’s lightweight and drapes well which makes it the perfect layering shirt. Plus the material is slightly workout-y but it also can easily be worn around town as a regular shirt and no one would know it’s athleisure (I wear it under sweaters all the time!!). I bought it in the Yachtie Striped Black and White but it comes in lots of other cute colors too if you’re interested!! The neckline detail is also really cute:)

From Gretchen: Em loves her Bombas socks and I’ve always wanted to try them out. A friend recently recommended their Gripper Slippers, so I decided that’s where I’d start! I have terrible circulation and my toes get ridiculously cold. Socks don’t usually do enough to keep them warm and most of my slippers just feel too clunky to wear around the house. I love that these feel like the coziest socks on the planet but legit grip like shoes! A few styles are on sale right now, but the best part is that when you buy a pair, they gift a pair to someone in need. So it’s money well spent no matter what!

That’s it for today! See everyone tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Brady’s Living Room Refresh with The Citizenry

The post The Link Up: The Romance Novel Em And Her Friends All Loved, Caitlin’s Dream Travel Sweatshirt, And The Best Way To Hide Your Vertical Blinds appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What You Bought This Month – If This List Has Anything To Say About It Your Homes Must Be Looking Pretty Beautiful:)

I think by now you know we love a good show-and-tell to see what everyone has been buying (according to our records, of course). And since it’s 2024, which is still taking some to get used to saying, I thought it was high time to check in with each other…and our carts:) Now, what I love about this set of very popular purchases is that they are almost exclusively home decor items with only a few exceptions. It’s my favorite kind of list (well aside from an Etsy one) so I hope you enjoy this sweet little Saturday scroll:)

10. Allegheny Plug-In Sconce

In case you missed our top best sellers of 2023 post, then let me tell you this cutie was #3! Emily picked them for our photographer Kaitlin’s basement makeover and they were just perfect. They seemingly toe the line between modern, classic, and quirky (it also comes in 15 other colors if “butterscotch” doesn’t work with your vibe:)) Plus they are plug-ins which means they can go anywhere. Too. Good.

9. Vernon Bin Pull

A classic that you simply can’t go wrong with! Emily has these pulls in her kitchen so I can say firsthand how pretty and high-quality they are. As for the unlacquered finish (though it comes in 6 other metal finishes) is awesome. I bought an unlacquered brass finish switchplate and have loved how quickly and beautifully it has already begun to patina.

8. Merrick Tasseled Cotton and Wool Area Rug

NOTHING MAKES ME HAPPIER!!!! I know I have skin in the game on this one but man does it truly make my heart burst. I know that most of the larger sizes are sold out in this style but more are coming soon! We’ve been promised:)

7. Tufted Geo Lumbar Throw Pillow 

Another item that I’m pumped about! It was from my “Fix it Friday” post where I helped 6 followers pick out a few products to hopefully make them love their bed more. This pillow, in particular, would look great on a bed (duh) but also look awesome on a sofa or accent chair. Oh, and it comes in 3 other colors.

6. Infrared Sauna Blanket

I mean when will this TOP SELLER not be on our list? Probably never:) I reeeeally want one…

5. Niven Sofa

This beauty came to us via Emily’s awesome “traditional but still cool sofas” post and my oh my is it breathtaking. I hope that whoever ordered it is loving their life!

4. Peregrine Industrial LED Ceiling Fan

This was an expected addition to the list but hey, there were A LOT of great sales happening and while we all might be cold now, it’s going to get hot again and these fan owners will be cool as a prepared cucumber. All I’m trying to say is that planning ahead has its perks:)

3. Stoneware Kitchen Sink Caddy

Beautiful and practical, just like its recommender, Arlyn. This sink caddy is only $15 and looks so great in person (I’ll actually be seeing it tonight when I go hang with her and her sweet family :)). If you want the next best thing, check out her rental kitchen reveal!

2. Carmel Sunglasses

I was stunned and delighted when not only did I see these on the list but at #2?! In case you missed the link up where I talked about these sunglasses, they are my new Warby Parker prescription sunglasses. I finally did it and I am so happy that I can wear cool sunglasses without having to wear contacts (you can get them without a prescription too if you have perfect vision). But joke’s on me because the other week I rolled over on my regular glasses and in trying the straighten them out (something I’ve had to do on more than one occasion), one of the arms finally gave up on me and snapped. So until I get them fixed, if I want to be a part of society and go out into the world, I have to wear contacts. LOL

1. Striped Half-Zip Sweater

I am not surprised but am so happy. Congratulations to Caitlin for winning this month with the most purchased rec! If EHD and EHD readers had a uniform it would absolutely consist of a striped quarter zip sweater or sweatshirt and this cutie should probably just be it. Ha. Plus, that little pearl detail is so sweet and very on trend:)

Did anyone buy any other recs they loved? Let us know in the comments and have a great rest of your Saturday!

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson and ARCIFORM | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Our Primary Bedroom Reveal! She’s Blue (Shocking), Calm, And Ready For A Full Show And Tell

The post What You Bought This Month – If This List Has Anything To Say About It Your Homes Must Be Looking Pretty Beautiful:) appeared first on Emily Henderson.