Emily Henderson's Blog, page 61

12 Dope Etsy Decor Pieces (Almost All Vintage And One CRAZY Splurge)

As I’ve been getting dangerously close to shooting my living room (FINALLY since I just got the main feature installed YAY), I’ve been poking around looking for some final decor pieces. I’ve also been searching and pinning for my bedroom:) Basically, your girl is on the hunt and along the way I have stumbled upon some pretty great things I thought would be cool to share because it’s fun. Naturally, I want to bring in even more vintage into my home so almost everything on this list is and it’s all of course from Etsy (why leave the house if you don’t have to). Now, these things are going to be very much “Jess Coded” because they all made my heart sing:) And the easiest way to get my heart pounding is a beautiful lamp. Actually, before we dive in I HAVE to show you the PAIR of Japanese vintage table lamps I got at the Rosebowl a couple of weeks ago for $80!!! (Leaving the house does have its perks).

CAN YOU STAND THEM?!! I was nervous to commit because these cuties are going on my future nightstands which I clearly don’t have yet. But they were too perfect and too affordable to not risk it. This honestly doesn’t have anything to do with this post aside from that I really wanted to show you all and they are vintage like almost everything else in this post:) Ok, now let’s start with some lighting you can buy or just admire like me!

Stilnovo Adjustable Table Lamp

Like, get outta here! I love this sweet baby so much. Actually, part of my hesitation with the table lamps I just bought was that I originally had my heart set on a couple of Stilnovo lamps (something like these or this little mint one and find its friend!). But the pairs I’ve been seeing have cost more than I ideally want to spend (and look, I was heavily considering it but am trying to be smarter with my money. UGH). Anyway, this one still isn’t cheap but I think is SO fun and special and I want it to go to a good home, ok?

1950s Italian Table Lamp

If you can’t tell I am pretty into Italian lighting…and furniture…and art…and the food, but that’s neither here nor there. This one makes my jaw drop to the floor. The shape, the colors, the patina. I could cry. Now this sweet thing is pretty pricey but if nothing else it’s a great inspiration/something to maybe be on the hunt for a lower price if that’s even possible. Also, I think I need to book a trip to Italy. Donations are welcome:)

1970s Art Deco Geometric Blue Art

Ok, so this one is a print of the original but I love it just the same. The colors are bold but not too loud, I think the handwriting around the sides is so cool and makes it feel unique. And of course, the advantage of a print is that it’s far more affordable than the original and with this on you can request other sizes. Who knows, maybe this one will end up in my home:)

1972 Steven Boyum Drawing On Paper

I feel pretty certain that my love of quirky hand-drawn art directly came from seeing Emily’s submarine piece years ago. Actually, this piece very much gives me that vibe! Some of you might be thinking, “I could draw that” and that could be true but there’s something about a vintage piece that hits different. Take this one I found at a flea market last year that I can’t wait to finally frame:

It’s super weird and filled with nonsense but I love it.

Architectural Steel Swivel Stool

These stools desperately make me wish I needed at least one. FandFVintage is an Etsy shop I have loved for years. They both sell vintage and make things and it’s all great. These stools are new (at least to me) and might be my favorite yet. Did I mention they are swivel? Or are handmade? Or that you can customize the fabric? I just think they are so cool and unique.

Danish Oval Teak Rosewood Mirror

Another item on my purchase list is a unique wall mirror. Naturally, I want something in this world but your girl does not have that kind of cash flow. Plus I think I want something vintage with an organic material like this one or this one. But when I saw this cutie above I did perk up. It’s too small for my needs but I love it.

Small Mid-Century Brass Wall Mirror

Now this one is on the small side for my needs but if you love the vibe of these then this guy is a much more affordable option that I think lives in the same world! How great is that braided metal??

Handmade Decorative Ceramic Vase

I meeeeannnn, wow. This vase is not vintage but it is handmade and so cool. The designer actually won a 2023 Etsy award! In my hunt for decorative objects, this came up in my search and I was instantly drawn to it. It’s not quite right for my space but I hope it could work for one of you<3

Vintage Wooden Teak Cube

If you know my style then this pick should come as no surprise. It’s cool, architectural and made out of wood. I’m sure most people would see this and think, “What even is that and what would you do with it?” Well, let me tell you that all it takes is a shelf or surface and a little vision. This could be a cool bookend, could sit on a stack of books for a styled moment, or be paired with a could of other pieces for a cute vignette! So many possibilities.

Vintage 20th Century Trio Of Wood Art Objects

I have a BIG love for vintage wooden finials. They just come in so many cool shapes and sizes and are so fun to style with! Example A: Check out my little collection that’s on my window trim in the photo below:)

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ home office

Unexpected and so fun! I also bought two super tall vintage ones at the Lawson-Fenning Warehouse sale last year that will hopefully be in the next shoot because I love them. So I fully endorse these as awesome decor pieces to make your home look and feel a little quirky.

Large Italian 1950s Brass Counterweight Lamp

Another PERFECT vintage Stilnovo Lamp that I don’t have a place for. Someday I’ll have a home with more room to put all the lamps of my dreams. The counterweight design is wildly cool so I just want an EHD reader to buy it and love it for all eternity. It’s not cheap but if you have the budget it’s a no-brainer:) Well, at least to me.

Unique 1930s Bauhaus Art Deco Chandelier

OK, I just wanted to show you this one because I loooooved it when I first saw it and then I saw the price. I laughed out loud because I would never (I think) pay this amount for a small chandelier even if I had SO MUCH money. But if I ever become a billionaire I’ll let you know if I’ve changed my mind:)

I really hope you enjoyed this because it was so fun getting to show you a little bit more of what catches my eye. It’s really fun to see the differences in what we all are drooling over. Have a great weekend!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Our Guest Room/Office Basement Suite Reveal … + How To Make A Basement (Office) Feel Warm, Happy And Functional

The post 12 Dope Etsy Decor Pieces (Almost All Vintage And One CRAZY Splurge) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Birdie’s Closet Makeover (With A Funny DIY Fail)

I put off our bedroom closets for the longest time (besides mine, lol). It’s just not a priority when renovating and I didn’t know if we wanted to do a whole system or just a rod and a shelf, a dresser, blah blah so I let myself off the hook on that decision. But it was becoming a real problem (as you’ll see below). Remember my favorite quote I stole from one of you, “Without systems there is chaos”? Last year when Pottery Barn launched their closet systems (they brought back Hold Everything which I LOVED), designed specifically for reach-ins, I reached out (!!) and asked to partner with them on both Birdie’s and our guest closet. Their systems felt simpler, yet elevated and easy to figure out, order, and install. You’ll see So let’s revisit where we are, what Birdie’s room looks like and you can see the horror of the “before”.

photo by kaitlin green | from: birdie’s bedroom reveal!! designing with (not for) your kids, and how we exploded this room with color

Birdie’s room is full of color, obviously, and without a dresser in here (which we could add somewhere if we were motivated) we wanted her closet to hold all her clothes. She’s 8, going on 15, and is into sequins but not into clothes yet.

photo by kaitlin green | from: birdie’s wallpaper room + what’s next

The closet had two vintage doors, painted the SW color of the year (Upward!), and they were soo sweet. But the inside was empty and going nowhere fast.

It was QUITE the horror show. We had found these two metal drawer systems from Facebook Marketplace (that are still highly functional for craft supplies) and a cute dress-up rod that she was already growing out of (she does NOT like princess clothes anymore…until of course all her friends are over and they play dress up for hours). So we emptied it out…

One thing to remember – on the left, there is a secret door to Charlie’s room – something they begged for, but as many of you pointed out has proved to be just them teasing each other when their friends are over (and mostly cute). We def didn’t need it but when you are moving and displacing kids you promise weird shit to mitigate the fear of newness, so we promised them a secret door between their rooms. That’s all to say we couldn’t put the dresser on the left or it would block access to said door.

I did the measuring and found the right situation for us – four drawers on the right, two hanging rods on the left, and shelves. But they, of course, have basically every configuration you could imagine or need. So if you want a closed cabinet, shoe storage, more shelves, rods at different heights, etc, they have it. Everything just looks so pretty and custom. 

It took Dave, our handy guy, 3 hours to install until we realized that having it “center”, which I had asked him to do, meant that the drawers couldn’t fully open without hitting the edge of the door (because the door can’t fully open due to the wall). So he had to come back and take it apart and move it literally 2″. That was our fault, just wanted to flag it for you.

New Closet – Fully Styled Out

Closet System | Woven Baskets | Felt Hangers | Skirt Hangers | Geen Rain Boots | Silver Boots (similar) | Gold Boots | Purple Crocs

It turned out pretty dang cute! And finally having the organization drastically reduces our morning or pre-sports battle (a basket on top for all things swim and for all things cheer – yes, she is in doing a competitive cheer team and she’s LOVING it). The top drawer is socks and underwear, then tops, bottoms, and seasonal on the bottom. I’m a HUGE fan of a dresser in a closet, and integrating it this way is just wonderful.

She can reach most of her dresses as we put the most special occasion ones or costumes up top. The shelves are also great for books, trinkets, and other kid stuff that is cluttering up the room. And if you are concerned about the dead space to the right know that it is filled with Squishmallows

A Quick Scallop Fail

Months ago I had the fun idea to put a scallop “crown molding”. It bugs me a lot that this room doesn’t have a better transition from wallpaper to drywall ceiling – we either need molding or to panel the ceiling. So I found this stick-on scalloped border on Etsy for super cheap and ordered enough to go around the ceiling. GREAT!

Not only did it take FOREVER to get just one neat and smooth (like 4-5 minutes each) but you could see the wallpaper underneath it really easily and it looked so dumb. I was relieved because y’all, this was going to take me or someone else probably 2 days, and for it to then look that janky would have been a real “joke’s on us” moment.

DIY PIVOT!

While the closet was perfectly great as-is, I was sitting on $120 worth of non-returnable stickers, staring at four flat white horizontal drawers at eye level. These drawers are obviously MUCH easier to play with than the whole ceiling perimeter. BTW these stickers come in a million colors (and a few sizes) and I was so excited to use yellow in her room as it’s the one color from the wallpaper that we haven’t really embraced yet and we both love. I thought hard (and still do) about painting the ceiling yellow (how happy!!) but waiting for inner confirmation (from myself) that it’s the right move. Meanwhile, these stickers are doing the trick here.

The pretty woven bins are from Pottery Barn and I bought the kid’s hangers from Amazon (skirt hangers and normal hangers).

The only thing missing is a place to put her imaginary crop top that she is begging to wear (I compromised and let her buy with her own money a couple of sports bras to wear to cheer – WHAT IS GOING ON???). And mostly I’m embracing the last few years of having a little girl because this one is going to be QUITE the fun tween (which I’m also super excited about – assuming she’ll want to still hang out with me). For now, she and I both love her closet and Brian (who sets out their clothes for the morning) can stop grumbling trying to find her best fleece-lined pants

Closet/Bedroom Resources:
Wallpaper: Schumacher
Carpet: Stark
Door Color: SW 6239 Upward
Trim Color: SW 7006 Extra White
Closet System: Pottery Barn
Scallop Sticker Trim: Etsy
Woven Baskets: Pottery Barn

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

The post Birdie’s Closet Makeover (With A Funny DIY Fail) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Feel Good Reveal!! Arlyn Surprised Her Parents With A Much-Needed Flash Makeover…In TWO WEEKS

Back in 2020, I dove deep into inspirational non-fiction/self-help books geared toward creative people. One of my favorites was “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert and I’ve held on to the notion she shared in it that ideas are living things that jump from person to person until they get realized. I’m sure we all get ideas constantly, but I know when I get one that leaves me with no option but to move forward with it. It feels different. Like a pulsing glow inside my chest, a nervous energy that feels as if it’s buzzing out of my skin. It’s the only thing I can think about, determined to figure out how to bring it to fruition. 

I had one of these ideas two weeks before Christmas this past December. A little thought that made its way out of my mouth in a conversation with my husband, Charles, which instantly breathed life into it. “What if I redo my parents’ living and dining rooms for them when we go back to Florida for the holidays?” There it was. Alive. I was simply going to have to figure it out…from California…with essentially a week before everyone who might be willing to work with me on this would disappear for the rest of the year. Cool. Easy, right? 

You see, my parents were in deep need of at the very least a new sofa. Their two beloved cats had done what cats do best: gone to town on their upholstery. Besides that, their sofa and loveseat were about five years old but looked like they were at least twice that in age. I’d always joke that I felt like I was crawling into a crater because each cushion was so severely indented. 

a before of my parents’ living room. they bought these sofas about five or six years ago and the cats have had their way with them. plus, the cushions were in bad shape and everything else just felt a bit too heavy with the beige walls they weren’t allowed to paint per their lease agreement.

I had also heard my mom mention in passing that my dad wanted and needed a recliner, as he had been suffering from some health issues that required him to elevate his legs regularly. (They were fresh off an 8-day hospital stay for said health issues and both feeling very down, exhausted, and burdened.)

My siblings and I had toyed with the idea of pooling some money to just get them a new couch both because they needed it but also to lift their spirits and make them feel comfortable and excited about being home. But, as you already know, I had a better option: work with all the brands that have been so generous to us here at EHD to see if they might be willing to help us go further with a whole new living room setup, a new dining table (which they also needed), and some other decor to freshen things up on the first floor of the townhome they live in. 

their dining table was a bit wobbly and only had room to sit four and they needed at least six chairs to seat the number of guests that normally came over. to the left of the space was these barstools that had seen far, far better days. I had helped them pick them out at pier1 imports over a decade ago for a previous kitchen remodel. they had served their duty.

I ran the idea that same weekend by Jess, and by Monday, I got to work emailing everyone I knew was wonderful to work with but most importantly had great furniture that could get to Florida immediately. Our friends at Article came through for me BIG (HUGE!) TIME, and I rushed to get a mood board together to send them final picks within a day or two. The only problem was that I didn’t know any of the dimensions of my parents’ spaces, and I would have to be very creative to make sure everything fit properly without them finding out as the plan was to keep this whole thing secret until Christmas morning. I ended up asking my dad for a video walk-through with the excuse that I was getting “some pictures printed and framed for Mom as a gift,” and I needed to see all the walls to find the right spot and size. Another lie: I needed to know the dimensions of their tile so that I could guestimate how big the frame should be. Maybe he suspected that the request was a strange one, but he played along—18”x18”. From there, I could roughly measure out the spaces and their existing furniture, and make some educated guesses as to what might work. 

the entryway needed some more impact. a happy place to land when they walked through the door. so many of the things in the left photo were mine at some point in my design journey: the lamp, the hurricane lantern, the etc. wood sign, the pillar candle holder. blast from the style past.

There were a lot of nerves involved on my part, asking my brother and sister if they thought my parents would be offended I was going to come in and revamp everything without their approval. They both assured me my mom would love anything I did and my dad would be so grateful no matter what (both true statements). Almost nothing in their home was anything either of them cared for. Mostly hand-me-downs from me when I lived back east, thrift store finds that were never quite right, every imaginable sign that read FAMILY! FRIENDS! YOU’RE IN A HOME IN CASE YOU MIGHT BE CONFUSED, or homemade wall art my mom crafted with her Cricut. While there wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with any of that, the space didn’t get very good light and everything felt a bit dark, cluttered, and heavy with the hodgepodge of things; not descriptors you’d want for two people who could use a fresh start. 

my parents live in a townhome that’s just one giant open space and nothing felt grounded enough to create distinctive areas. this double bookcase unit tried, but it honestly felt like it was floating in the middle of nowhere. (side note: this is why I don’t like big open-concept homes…unless you know what you’re doing, nothing ever feels like a room, but that’s just me.) also, peep the word art on top of word art (and frames).

The furniture order arrival was going to cut it VERY close, and I had a lot of limitations due to this short delivery window, but we were able to nail down a design, all the appropriate pieces—World Market, Juniper Print Shop and RugsUSA were also on board to help fill out the rooms—and we just had to wait until the big day to tell my parents. The plan was to print out all my designs (see below), put them in a box to wrap, and present them with it on Christmas morning. Then, we’d wait a week until delivery (January 3rd), I’d install and style it all, shoot it and leave on the first flight out January 6.

I was SO excited, nervous, and highly anticipating their reactions. Spoiler alert: They were in such awe and disbelief, and, of course, my mom’s nearly instant ugly cry when she realized what was going to happen was amazing (I’m posting a Reel on Instagram of the whole thing today so check out my profile for it). Seeing their pure joy and appreciation was the absolute joy of not just our entire family’s Christmas, but personally of my whole year. Being able to do this for my amazing parents who truly needed it was an unbelievable gift I was lucky enough to be able to do. 

After a week of scrambling, running around to World Market (THANK YOU AGAIN!!), Target, IKEA, Home Depot, and beyond to get the finishing touches, picking a ton of photos to print and frame—my parents’ favorite art will always be family photos—and a marathon two-day install plus photoshoot with Charles, it was finished. Meer hours before we boarded a plane and headed back to California. But the final result is one that my mom and dad are over the moon about. I want to talk you through it all, so let’s start in the main space: the living room. 

Creating A Cozy Lounge Area

Sectional | Coffee Table | Rug (back in stock soon!) | Recliner Armchair | Throw | Tassel Pillow | Green Lumbar | Blockprint Pillow | White Lumbar | Rust Lumbar

My parents have never owned a sectional. They were always traditional sofa and loveseat people, but my siblings and I knew they’d end up loving something that was one solid piece so more of us could sit together when we came over. Emily has been singing the praises of the Burrard Sectional from Article for years, and it was just the right size for them. I opted for the forest green color because, if you couldn’t tell from the before photos above, my parents are not afraid of color. Green is my mom’s favorite, in fact, so I knew this would be something she might have picked for herself. It’s 112″ which ended up being an ideal size for this area and by my count, my mom could be joined on it by all her grandkids with room to spare.

Yellow Accent Chair | Floor Lamp | Brass Wavy Bowl | Wood Tray | Green Box (for remotes!) | Green Glass Vase

Remember that need for a recliner? Well, THANK GOODNESS Article sells an option that actually looks good. A rarity, people. A rarity. The leather version I wanted wouldn’t make it in time but the fabric Ellow Recliner worked out great. My dad was so, so excited about it and it was just what he needed. This sits where the loveseat used to be, so I added in the Matrix Yarrow Gold Chair to fill out the area and also give more options for seating when more people came over. We all instantly fell in love with the chair. It’s cushy, gorgeous, and just the right size for a small corner. 

Black Side Table | Blue Bud Vase | Large Canvas Art | Canvas Art Frame | Beige Knit Throw

When the furniture arrived and was set up by the Article team, Charles asked me why I chose a left-facing chaise for the sofa. It was a fair question, as I went back and forth about it. The right-facing chaise would have probably made more sense in a space that was more closed off, as you never want to walk into a chaise when entering a “room” but my parents have one giant great room downstairs that needed some help to feel cozier. The left-facing chaise closes off the living area to the dining area, essentially creating a room without any walls. Plus, I know if the chaise were on the other side, the recliner and accent chair would have to float in the middle of the room with their backs facing out and I didn’t love that. This was the right solution given the circumstances. 

I love all these side tables from Article. The wood, glass and leather sling one is SO GOOD, and I want it for myself except that my living room is tight and it wouldn’t fit. The black one between the chairs adds some visual softness. 

Dotted Blanket | Geo Pillow | Wood and Glass Side Table

Article’s Agotu Walnut Coffee Table was one of the only ones that could make it on time and it serendipitously worked out because it’s a great size and shape paired up with the sectional and also happens to be SO pretty IRL. It’s massively heavy due to the marble and super sturdy. I noted to my mom that we didn’t have a ton of options in terms of coffee tables but she kept saying, “It’s okay, I would have picked this one!” though I’m guessing she would have said that even if a cardboard box showed up. Moms, am I right?

Media Center | Woven Basket | Frames (IKEA, Assorted)

Let’s talk about this TV gallery wall situation. So many of my parents’ storage pieces were open, so you could see everything from every angle and it made me itch. I knew they’d love the Oscuro Walnut 73″ Cabinet both because it’s lovely but also the ribbed glass still felt light and open while masking what was inside a bit. Above it, the walls were ITCHING for a statement. The ceilings are pretty high, and again, there is no room delineation here, so I cooked up this gallery wall for a one-two punch of creating a big statement to balance the large sectional, line up the living room, and also satisfy my parents’ preference for photos photos photos. I weaved in some beautiful art prints from Juniper Print Shop, an old Jane Denton x Emily piece I had, and a watercolor of Old San Juan my parents have owned since my youth. 

That’s another thing. I really wanted to honor some of the things that were already here that did mean something to all of us. Some art, lots of blown glass pieces (like the one by the TV), souvenirs from their travels, and porcelain figurines my mom has collected over time. None of it is necessarily what I would have picked for the sake of styling the room, but this is my parents’ house, not a model home and it was so important to keep “them” in every little space and vignette. I drew the line at all the random birds and word art though. Sorry Mom, but you’ll have to fish your 17 frames with the words “family” and “grandchildren” on them out of the garage, okay? 

WAIT! Before moving on…there isn’t a good photo of it but it’s worth a mention. My parents’ townhome is a rental, and their landlord is very strict against making changes. No painting, no changing out lights, no taking down vertical blinds, no making holes larger than nail holes for art. But the giant sliding glass door in the back was screaming for curtains. After tons of research, I found these brackets-slash-curtain rod holders that attach to the top rail of vertical blinds. They fit the extra-long rod I ordered from Amazon which does a pretty nice job of covering the front part of the rail so it just looks like traditional drapery hardware. GENIUS!!! Especially because they’re like $20. I had curtains I never got around to using that were the right height so I brought them with me in my suitcase and now they hide the ugly verticle blinds.

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old (Furniture)

Credenza (existing) | White Table Lamp | White Lamp Shade | Plant Basket | Brass and Marble Tray | Horizontal Madrid Art Print | Vertical Moonrise Print

Moving on…I decided not to replace my mom’s existing cherry credenza (or a display cabinet in the dining area) because I knew she loved them and the richness was nice to add some depth to the new things I brought in. Her beloved Aura frame, which shuffles through digital copies of photos, stayed where it was before but I swapped out the lamp for something better scaled to the piece, added some pattern and color with Juniper Print Shop prints, and fished out some glassware from the China cabinet. A plant was also very much needed. 

Cabinet Paint Color | Brass Knobs | Inlay Frame | Rug | Wavy Water Print (Top Left)

Okay, let’s talk about this giant bookcase unit. I don’t know if the story I have of it in my head is accurate, but I doubt it’s too far off. Basically, my mom saw it at a charity shop she used to volunteer at and it sat around forever so she eventually got to take it home for either pennies on the dollar or for free. That, or she got it from her friend who got it from a thrift store. I don’t know. What I do know is that it was painted the absolute worst shade of beige with this bizarre brown brush stroke treatment that took it from blah to very bad. 

The area was far too large to get rid of this, plus they benefitted from the storage, so I came up with the idea to paint it a bold mustard yellow (Lamplit by Behr specifically) to make it a feature rather than something we all wanted to hide. I did the whole thing one night after the baby went to sleep and filled in streaky parts the next morning. Some restyling of the shelves was in order, and as easy as it would have been to go to a place like Target, and buy a bunch of random “pretty” things to fill it with, that would have been, uh…meaningless. The top shelf houses some books as well as two vintage cameras that were my grandfathers’ (each belonging to a different one). The metal trio are brass pharmacy mortar and pestles my dad—who worked in pharmaceuticals a great part of his career—has had forever, the gold Elton John-like glasses are a tchotchke my mom insisted we keep and display (“Sure mom, whatever you want”), the snowglobes were all given to my mom over the years by us kids, and the rest can tell a similar story. Porcelain angels from decades ago, collectible plates from cruise locations visited, diecast vintage cars from my dad’s Corvette enthusiast phase…etc. etc. etc.  It’s uniquely my mom and dad, and even if it’s still a little cluttered by Instagram standards, I love it because it represents so many parts of their life and our family. 

Side Chair | Side Table | Sconce | World’s Cutest Toddler (mine, not for sale)

These units used to be nearly flush with the right wall, leaving too large of an open area to the left of them before the living room area started, so we shifted them over just enough to fit in a little seating area. I grabbed art from the entryway and even the downstairs powder bath to fill it out, and added in this pretty swing-arm sconce from Article in case someone wanted to sit in the chair (from World Market) and read. 

Funny story about the rug you see in the foreground. Rugs USA was kind enough to supply me with four rugs for the spaces I needed to revamp. I shopped entirely from Emily’s line for them (more on that in a bit), and I made a mistake with the dining area. I ordered a 5×8 Blue Jay which is far too small for a 6-8 seater table. I know this. I know this without even seeing the size of the table. But everything was so rushed that this one got by me. RugsUSA tried to rush me a new larger 8×10 but it sadly didn’t make it in time for the shoot. I used the small 5×8 rug creatively just for the photos to get it in in some capacity. 

A Dining Room Fit For Family

Dining Table | Dining Chairs | Tall Vase | Short Vase | Butterfly Print | Sisters Print

Speaking of the dining room. I could regale you with yet another thrift store find story, but I’ll skip the details just to say that my parents have wanted a 6-seater table for years. However, at the time they moved in here after selling my larger childhood home, they settled on a metal and glass 4-top they got for free (I think) with chairs my mom reupholstered with a friend. It was too small for the space visually but also for their life and needs. I was so happy Article had a large table—the Conan Oval Dining Table—that was available to ship on time so I could give them what they wanted. You’ll notice the table is light wood and the chairs are dark wood, and that’s again due to the limitations of the turnaround time but it actually looks pretty okay in person and brings together all the varied wood tones throughout this floor. The blue chairs tie back to the navy part of the living room rug (the Rowena from Emily’s line which I’ve loved since the first moment I saw it—it’s out of stock right now but there are more on the way!). 

Counter Stools | Rug

The stools they had were in bad shape and also just felt too visually commanding, so I opted for the beautiful short-backed leather Sede Toscana Tan Walnut Counter Stool from Article. Honestly, no one really sits here anyway, but the wall felt too blank without them (and these turned out to be so comfortable that maybe they’ll get more use). 

Breathing Life Into A Dark Entry

Console Table | Framed Canvas | Black Table Lamp Base | White Lamp Shade | Rug | Mail Holder | Rattan Round Box | Pedestal Bowl

Moving on to the entryway. It is quite dark but at least it’s a good size. The furniture that lived in there originally was not, though. Kind of dinky, tbh (sorry Mom), and adorned with all the metal scrollwork Kirkland Signature had to offer my parents in years’ past. I knew I wanted a slightly larger console table with a place for them to store their shoes and was so happy when I found this Lincoln Wood and Jute Console Table at World Market. It’s really, really beautiful in person; everyone was fawning over it including my dad who normally pays no mind to these kinds of things. The bottom shelf now serves as a landing spot for shoes, while the top shelf houses a mail holder and some options for where to plop keys and garage door openers (they were on the kitchen breakfast bar previously). One of my sole missions in my redesign of their home was to bring in some bright, happy moments since it all felt heavy before, and this great framed canvas by Amira Rahim from World Market livens up this foyer. I love it and so do my parents. 

Vintage-Style Brass Mirror | Decorative Urn

In the little wall nook (a builder’s special here in Orlando), I went with a pretty vintage-inspired brass mirror also from World Market to help spread whatever light it can around the space. Another cute rug from Em’s line, this time the Blue Oregon Plaid Wool Rug in a 4×6 works far better than a small red bamboo doormat they had. (HOT TIP: If you don’t like your floor but can’t change it, just get rugs to cover most of it. When in doubt, hide.) 

And finally, the hallway leading from the entry into the rest of the home also houses an office nook (to the left in the above photo) where my dad works occasionally. I didn’t get around to shooting it because I didn’t really do much in there but I did add some pretty curtain panels on a tension rod (tucked behind a wall arch) so they could hide it away…and all of my dad’s papers. I moved the original foyer table into the hallway because it fit perfectly, grabbed some random things my dad had in his office nook to style it, and also placed my dad’s laptop, tablet, and mousepad/mouse on the second shelf because he normally just leaves it on the dining table (he has both a work computer and personal laptop for those wondering why he wouldn’t just put it in the office…no space). 

Wondering About Emily’s RugsUSA Line?

Oh, and because I mentioned talking more about the rugs, I just wanted to say quickly how much better these are in person than they look online. Not that they don’t present beautifully, but I was pleasantly surprised by both their quality and designs when they arrived. They do not read “affordable” by any means. These are great quality rugs that would sell for probably twice what they retail for here anywhere else. So if you’ve been on the fence about any of them, hopefully, this helps to convince you to give them a try because I think you’re going to be very happy with them. We were. (No one paid me to say this, just thought it would be helpful to share.)

Two Very Happy Parents

Parents (mine)

And that’s it! I think I got it all. These two smiling people are genuinely so happy with their new home, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. My dad ended up in the hospital again recently for just a few days and when he got out, my mom said they were both so happy to arrive home to spaces they loved so much. His medical episodes should hopefully stay in the past now as he’s on the mend and we’re all so relieved. There’s no more helpless feeling than when your parents (or any loved ones) are having health issues, you’re on the other side of the country and your only life line is a phone to check in daily.

This has been one of my greatest pleasures, and while I would have loved a little more time to make even more improvements/swaps, all that matters is how happy my parents are with it all. The two of them have given their kids their everything all of our lives. Constant outpourings of love and support, and I am who I am because of it. Mom and Dad, if you’re reading (I know you are), just know how much we all love you and appreciate you both. Your kids, your grandkids, your cats (don’t let them destroy that sofa PLEASE). Enjoy your new home, and hey…maybe next Christmas I can surprise you with an upstairs makeover! We’ll see…  

Your friend in make-it-work-no-matter-what design, 

Arlyn

*Thank you again to our friends at Article, World Market, RugsUSA, and Juniper Print Shop who were instrumental in helping me to pull this off at all, let alone SO quickly.

**Design and styling by Arlyn Hernandez

***Photos by Charles Dundas-Shaw

The post Feel Good Reveal!! Arlyn Surprised Her Parents With A Much-Needed Flash Makeover…In TWO WEEKS appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Case For Cafe Curtains Or Shades In Our Kitchen (It’s The Year Of The Farmhouse Tweak!)

Brian was out of town for 10 days in January and I was a scared little baby at night. You see, all these beautiful windows in our home (by my own choice) make the room feel like an exposed glass house in the long dark winter, where people can see in, but all I see out is our reflection and then an abyss of darkness. I closed every curtain/shade we have, which helped immensely, and of course, slept upstairs with the kids (IYKYK). We don’t need privacy (our neighbors are beyond our tall hedge) nor do we need light control (even in August these windows never get blasted more than an hour due to tree shade). But what we do need is a sense of coziness and a layer to help us not feel so exposed to the utterly irrationally dreamt-up bad guys and monsters lurking outside (Yes, we have a VERY good video security system which alerts the police/fireman immediately). While neighbors are so close, being in the middle of these 2 1/2 acres makes me feel vulnerable. So instead of buying some kind of weapon to fend off the burglars/monsters, I’ll simply do the next best defense – Cafe Curtains!!

It’s the year of the “Farmhouse Tweak” or my “Quirk Era” I’m regretfully calling it, which came after a few years of “Warm minimalism” that came after many years of “drunk eccentric grandma”. Seems like therapy is necessary to unpack this all, but that’s what this blog has always been for me (for free! er…kinda :))

Beyond solving my visual vulnerability issue, I also think it will be a lovely layer in here. I LOVE seeing the green of the trees right outside during the day, but I also know that it’s a lot of windows left bare (7 total), and maybe they don’t look quite “finished”. I propose that the extra layer would look pretty AND make me feel cozier at night. Here are my options:

Option #1: Cafe Curtains

Otherwise known as the “It Girl” window treatment of 2022 – 2024 (and beyond?) so maybe I want in on it (I have some in our bathroom, thus proving my trend and style relevancy). Cafe Curtains were invented (zero research done here) so that the street-level cafe/bar eaters would have some privacy from onlookers, the chilly cold would be reduced, and yet it would stay easy to open/close and not block all the natural light since the top is open. This was my first instinct and in many ways what I WANT to do. But here are my thoughts/hesitations:

But is that so many curtains? There are 5 next to each other (there’s one more you can’t see in the photo above), so 10 small panels total. Fine if they are airy, unlined, and not pleated, but any sort of volume there will be A LOT OF FABRIC. Will it block the visual openness to the trees I love so much? Yes. But maybe if they are lightweight enough they’ll shove enough to the sides? And they can be pretty thin/transparent (which I’d do regardless). Again, it’s like having a veil, not an umbrella. And more importantly, where do I start/stop it? The space between the windows is tiled so I while I could do inside mount rods/brackets thats a lot of permanent holes in my tile. I could also just do one long rod on the outside of the windows with three front brackets but now that I’m picturing that I’m unsure that’s what I want. photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse living room reveal

So I’m going to do what any professional internet famous blogger/designer would do which is find a stick, some tape, a few yards of hoarded fabric, and some safety pins and rig some up “curtains”. This is what we did for the cafe curtains in the living room and worked like a real (ugly) charm. It gave the instant clarity that no drawing or rendering would.

Then the question becomes would I want something just simple, sweet, and white? A small print? Vintage tea towels sewn together? (OOH!!!) Antique tablecloth with sweet little embroidery and some ruffles? (Double OOH!!!) I haven’t found the exact inspiration yet, but here are some that I’m loving below. But remember (Emily) what you see online may not work in your home – Our kitchen shares space with the living room which has my vintage indigo boro fabric cafe curtains, so while another print could be cute, it also could compete and start looking like a thrift store house (something I’m admittedly overly sensitive to since that’s what everyone called my house far after I had a literal TV show about style). Or do I want to do something pleated because it adds so much texture when the sun shines through it like below? Anyway, here are a few that I’m loving.

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Here are some really cute options I found on Etsy:

1. Striped Linen Cafe Curtain | 2. Ruffled Curtains Linen Café Curtains | 3. Striped Linen Cafe Curtains | 4. Double Pleated Ticking Striped Cafe Curtain | 5. White Linen French Bistro Curtain | 6. Striped Ruffled Cafe Curtain Panel | 7. Ruffled Ticking Cafe Curtains Ticking Stripe Curtains | 8. Sheer White Linen Panel | 9. White Linen Curtain Romantic Cafe Curtains

Option #2: Roman Shades

I love a Roman shade because it’s so simple, commands way less attention, and in this case would fit perfectly for an inside mount. I want something soft and textural (nothing too contemporary) and it would need to be corded because I can’t reach high enough to make it cordless over the deep countertop. This would obviously work really, really easily inside each one and do the job. I could do the same on the other two windows in the kitchen (not the bar window) and call it a day OR do cafe curtains in the same fabric as the shades over there.

Functionally, the cafe curtains obviously won’t close off as much but they will be much easier to just tug close than the Roman shades. And I really don’t think I need the upper window covered at night, but maybe? I also get up around 5:30 to drink coffee and write before the kids get up and while I’m not scared in the morning, I would imagine that a fully shut Roman shade would be nicer in the morning (especially if it were interesting in some way, aka not just white).

Curious what you would do??? While I want it to stay on the not-busy side, a texture or a tiny pattern sounds good to me, but so does a hand-embroidered or antique tablecloth. Weigh in!!!

Photos by Kaitlin Green | From: The Farmhouse Kitchen Reveal

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Does The Perfect Floor Plan Exist? Here’s How Our Architect Laid Out My Brother’s Family Of Four Home

Ooh, I love a floor plan post – a statement I certainly wouldn’t have said as a stylist 14 years ago. But once you “learn” to read them, the world opens up and I can geek out on them for HOURS (which is dangerous). For the blog, we simplify them and make them more visually interesting for those still getting their “floor plan legs”, but for all you design nerds and enthusiasts out there, today is dedicated to you. This is my brother’s new construction house that is being built along the river in Portland. Annie Usher is the architect, JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction is the general contractor, and Max Humphrey and I have co-interior designed a lot of it.

Layout Needs And WantsFour bedrooms – a primary suite, 2 rooms for kids, and 1 guest room. Katie (my brother’s wife) and I both love having all the bedrooms on the same floor, but on different ends for privacy (we have this at Mountain House and it’s THE BEST). Close enough to hear them, but far enough away so they can’t hear you. Four and 1/2 bathrooms – as I’m writing this it sounds like a lot, but it makes sense. 1) First floor powder room for most guests (this is the 1/2 bath), 2) Mudroom bath for post-river showers (and a secondary guest bath for crashers in the family room), 3) Primary bath, 4) Shared kids and 5) Small guest bath. If you build it they will come (and er, go the bathroom??). It was important to maximize the views of the river and yet, their property doesn’t “face” the river – it’s a sliver of land that runs perpendicular to it, not alongside it. Annie did a fantastic job of executing so many views despite this challenge.They wanted an open floor plan for living/dining and kitchen but extremely casual (for a lot of sports-watching and having people over) and also a closed-off family/play room for obviously “shoving kids and mess away”. Y’all, it’s a party house, I’m just going to say it. Ken is a big dude and likes to exist in indestructible spaces, so the height of the ceilings and the width of the hallways are generous. They wanted a great indoor/outdoor flow between living/kitchen and patios/river. While it rains a lot here, the summers are GLORIOUS at 75 degrees and green, so we live both in and out a lot from June – October. So much natural light – wonder where they got that from Annie did a great job of making sure that the light they get comes from the right direction (aka not harsh western light in their bedroom, etc.). The Biggest Challenge

The two biggest challenges were the shape of the lot and the fact that the lot sits in a floodplain. Their property, the lot itself, is actually really long and skinny, ending with the river, so while Annie wanted to maximize the view, not every room was going to be able to see it. The floodplain meant that the ground floor of living had to be at least 7’ higher than the driveway as you enter the site. Katie and Ken’s biggest fear was that because of the floodplain, their house was going to look behemoth and like a large box sitting on a hill.  So Annie’s first task was to tackle both of these issues with amassing volume that helped bring the scale of the house down as you entered the site and maximize the views from the critical rooms. (Note that you are allowed to have a garage/storage area in a floodplain, just not a finished/living area – so we were lucky to be able to stack the garage below the ground floor). So with that, Annie was able to break up the house into two sections – a two-story section where all the bedrooms are on the 2nd floor and a 1 story section to the south that allowed the living room to be vaulted.

This is the view from the river – the living room is on the left, open to the dining room and kitchen on the right, with the primary bedroom on top of it and the rest of the bedrooms behind it. All of the first floor opens to the backyard which leads to the river. Annie made sure that all of the rooms had a pretty view because both the front and back are lovely in different ways (with the sides being neighbors). Even the guest room (sandwiched in the middle) has a window that juts out to see the river.

So How Do you Lay Out Your Main Floor If It’s New Construction? Ideas From The Architect HerselfFor me, one of the big items in a house is the different kinds of circulation. And the circulation to the kitchen always seems to need to be as efficient as possible, as you are taking that route more than any other, and it is usually more purposeful.I like to avoid going through other rooms to get to the kitchen, and I love the hallway to the kitchen. This frees up the furniture layout in the living room and dining room, and gives you a quick route to the kitchen, which we all want. Powder bathrooms need privacy. I try to make it so that the door of the powder bath can not be seen from any of the major rooms like the living room, dining room, or kitchen. Nothing like walking out to the bathroom and the entire dinner party is staring at you. Or when you have guests over and your kid goes to the bathroom without shutting the door.For washer and dryer, yes usually up by the bedrooms, but know yourself and your environment. For muddy or sandy zones, you might want to think about having W/D in the mudroom location to make sure you are not tracking sand/mud through the house. Or in these locations, try not to have carpet between the backdoor and the laundry room so the floor is easier to clean. This comes from someone who lives in a very very very muddy family And lastly, there are those messy spots in your house that you try very hard to clean, but they never stay clean, and it stresses you out (drop zone, much?). Figure out what those are, and look at clever ways to keep them functional, but just out of view, so you can leave your house or go to bed without seeing them. 

We obviously made many iterations of these plans, so with already 6 cooks in the kitchen (2 designers, 1 architect, one experienced GC, and 2 opinionated homeowners) I decided a couple of years ago not to open this process to the masses. While I have always loved and appreciated so many reader suggestions to our floor plan (I still want to kiss those of you who said to get rid of our second set of stairs at the mountain house), as you can imagine it also creates more doubt, options, and stress. So this is final:)

All of us have ideas from our own experiences and perspectives based on our size of our family, lifestyle, etc. I almost feel like I’m a liability to the project because I know them so well that anytime Annie or Max would try to encourage them to do the better, more designer-y move that I knew wouldn’t work for them as well, I couldn’t help but back them up. I just really really didn’t want them to regret how the house functioned for THEM. And listen, yes, they have a fancy house but they aren’t fancy people – they are homebodies who like to have people over to watch games and kids to play. While this is a show house, too, it really really needs to be for them. I generally fall right between a designer and a mom – where I want this to look GREAT, but I also know that a family that watches sports all the time needs to have a TV visible from the kitchen (and BBQ LOL). HERE WE GO:

First Floor Final Plan

Things to know – they will MOSTLY come up through the stairs (in the middle) from the basement/garage which is why the mudroom and drop zone (across from the pantry) are there. And like Annie said, both are hidden from view.

A huge debate on the first floor was whether the kitchen or the dining room should face the river (just swap the island with the dining table and pretend there are countertops/sink under the windows). Ultimately, you can see the beautiful views from everywhere in that room and Katie/Ken thought it was more important to enjoy the best view while sitting around the table, rather than while cooking or doing the dishes (they are big grillers but not huge cooks).

The Second Floor Floor Plan

As you can see, their room is on the opposite end of the kids’ rooms but is still close enough to feel close. I love this layout so much. Annie did such a nice job with the sightlines not being interrupted – meaning the doorways line up perfectly and nothing stops your eye. This is obviously a more contemporary move (I’m sure that Annie would have a more scientific explanation) but it’s the architect’s job to maximize views, light, work with the elements (wind, sun), and think about not only how you flow through a space but what you see from where (and often clean sightlines are the preference in modern homes).

What Have I Learned So Far?

Well, namely that I much prefer to spend someone else’s money and make decisions for other people’s homes:) But aside from that, while new construction is daunting on the front end (and financially still feels a lot scarier to me), it is less stressful for the homeowner and designer because the bulk of the vision and work comes from the architect (and engineer, GC). I weighed in like a sibling/friend on this but I knew that whatever they landed on we could make the hard finishes and the furnishings look beautiful. So now I will absolutely do a new build in my future.

I’ve learned a lot from Annie and Max from their wealth of experiences which are obviously different than mine. We disagreed about some things which I find so exciting, showing that in the creative process of building a house, there are only a few true rights and wrongs (we also fundamentally and stylistically agreed on most things, thank god).

Because this is my brother’s home (and the floorplan is a done deal) you are welcome to comment but remember that they are monitored before being published, so no need to write any thoughts that might make anyone here feel badly. They are taking the risk of being exposed on the blog (and I can’t imagine they’ve grown the thick skin I have after 14 years), so yah, imma protect my little big brother

*Opening Image by Kaitlin Green

The post Does The Perfect Floor Plan Exist? Here’s How Our Architect Laid Out My Brother’s Family Of Four Home appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Em’s COZY Cold Weather Item Rec, Mal’s Oval Curling Iron, And The Jeans We Would Happily Sleep In

Happy Sunday everyone! We are in the home stretch of January which like every year just goes by soooo fast. Plus Emily and Gretchen are frozen over in Portland, Mal is trying to keep warm in NYC, Caitlin is literally in the Arctic, and Jess and Arlyn are hanging on by a thread in 60-degree LA! Hope all of you are keeping warm!! Maybe some links will help warm us all up:)

This week’s house tour is a lived-in maximalist’s dream! Fashion stylist and designer, Sarah Corbett-Winder has made every room in her home exude joy. Go take a look and tell us different:)

From Emily: One of my closest friends in LA has lived in a pretty old house for years and come winter she pulls out her electric blanket stash to sit on her sofa because the heat just doesn’t cut it. When I was there visiting recently I became rather possessive of a couple of them because it’s just so cozy and quite the mood boost. I’m starting to think that most people don’t value coziness as much as I do, but if you also just want to snuggle up all weekend and live in a colder environment might I suggest two that come highly recommended: This one has a lot of really good reviews, and this one is sherpa on one side and fleece on the other and is 1/2 the price. Do your own research (there are a lot out there) but if you are chilly on the sofa this weekend, it might be time to take your blanket game next level.

From Jess: While visiting my dad this past week, I needed to exchange a top he got me for Christmas (so sweet but not my style though normally he’s pretty good with clothes…I know he would want me to clarify that:)). So as I was browsing I stumbled upon these Frank & Eileen pants. The best part was not only were they in my size but they were on sale because they were the last pair. I decided to try them on and the fit was undeniably good. Both my dad and brother said I needed to get them. So if you are considering getting these for yourself (or someone else), I can attest that they are really comfortable and fit so great. 10/10.

Also From Jess: For the past few years I’ve really focused on getting my skincare routine down and I’m at a point where I feel really good about it. So now I’ve deemed 2024 my haircare year. I’ve been watching lots of hair oiling/hair masking videos but I would love any of your recs for a great routine to help growth and overall hair health. I have fairly thin hair that’s dry and oily…FUN! Any recs are appreciated to get the luscious locks I want!

From Gretchen: My last few link-ups have been very organization-forward, and this one is no different–sorry! I can’t help it. Getting settled in my new spot means finding places to put everything and unfortunately, many of those “places” just don’t exist yet! My shower lacks storage of any kind and I refuse to put my shampoo bottles on the little side ledges of my tub. I also can’t stand any storage that hangs from the shower head. If it works for you, that’s great! But for me, I never fail to knock everything over because it just won’t stay in place. So instead, I opted for these shelves, which are installed with the same super-strong adhesive as the organizers I shared last weekend. I love that they’re sturdy, hold plenty of weight, and are easily installed at whatever height you want! The shelf side walls keep my bottles in place even if I bump them, water drains through the bottom no problem, and the design is simple and sleek.

From Caitlin: Greetings from the Arctic tundra! (Literally, the Arctic tundra! Not a euphemism for my drafty apartment, for once!) After 96 hours of travel, I’m finally stepping foot on Antarctica for the first time today! To that end, have to call out these foot-warming insoles for anyone who spends a lot of time standing around outside (or sitting in cold spots, like ice arenas or windy soccer fields- I see you, sports parents!). They come with a remote so you can control how toasty you get and they’re just as good as the ones I bought from a name-brand outdoor store at only 1/3 of the price! Guaranteed to keep those feet nice and warm, even if you’re walking around on million-year-old ice sheets.

From Arlyn: All I want in this life is a pair of jeans that looks structured but happen to be as soft and stretchy as sweatpants. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? Please, do not give me jeggings, please. I do not want to look like I bought my jeans off an infomercial. After some due diligence, I finally decided to give Good American jeans a try and no joke, I could sleep in these jeans. They are butter but look like real, stiff, cool jeans. I got their Good Legs line and while the exact pair I bought had too high of a rise for my stature, I’m digging into their petite collection to find the right denim for my height. Also VERY intrigued by their “Always Fits” line that swears they move with you across four sizes. Perhaps the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is now a reality? 

From Mallory: I’ll be the first to say I’m not great at doing my hair or makeup (I guess suck at being a girl sry), so I’ve been curling my hair with a straightener bc I’ve been too lazy to buy a good curling iron/I didn’t know what to get. BUT the curls were always a little too tight, so when I was marketed for this XL curling iron and I immediately added to cart. It’s an oval shape so the curls aren’t too perfect and the big barrel helps give more of a beach wave than a perfect ringlet. Highly recommend!!

That’s it for today. See y’all tomorrow for a fun very design-y post. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Corbett Tuck | Styled by Velinda Hellen, Erik Kenneth Staalberg, Emily Edith Bowser, and Julie Rose | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

The post The Link Up: Em’s COZY Cold Weather Item Rec, Mal’s Oval Curling Iron, And The Jeans We Would Happily Sleep In appeared first on Emily Henderson.

My Favorite New Kitchen Tools That Are Making My Life Easier Without Clutter – Let’s Get Chopping!!

Despite having a digital job I like the analogue. Much like moving from book to Kindle, it took me six years to move from chopping with a knife to using a “chopping tool”. It’s not that it felt like cheating, it’s that I enjoyed the “one knife, one board” simple and meditative process. When I started to actually cook, in 2018 (kids were 2 and 4) I really needed the mental meditative chopping break between work and parenting (this was once they could be on their own while I cooked in the kitchen). I actually wanted the soup to take 1/2 hour to prep because I would throw on a podcast and the kids would know that that was my time. This carried through Covid where I sought out recipes that would take over 2 hours to prepare (I don’t bake and never got into the sourdough thing so I put all my kitchen energy into crazy complicated soups and gourmet salads which kept me entertained and distracted and I learned so much). That’s all to say that our nights are VERY different now (kids are 8 and 10 and they have different sports at different locations on different nights so we are out until at least 6:30 three nights a week). I do most of my meal prep for the week (for at least Brian and I who don’t want to eat only frozen chicken nuggets) on Sundays. And after also cleaning all day on Sundays I wanted to speed it up (the charm has worn off and I’ve already listened to four hours of podcasts at this point). I know that a lot of people aren’t into meal prep but here is what I do: I prep out Tupperware containers of salad makings for lunch (thinly sliced cucumber, carrots, radishes) and then I make at least one if not two soups to last us til Thursday (usually one that is more broth-based that lasts til Tuesday and one more bean or lentil based that lasts longer). But what I didn’t want was a bunch of tools with a bunch of parts that I would have to keep track of, clean, and then know how to use for what vegetable, etc. It’s just too much and ends up in a landfill (for me at least, I’m sure others can handle this complexity). I have a food processor and I’ve used it twice. I liked a big knife and a board until I found these three gadgets which are still simple and satisfying, but just speed it up a bit (and are easy to throw in a dishwasher and store).

Vegetable And Onion Chopper Dicer

Vegetable Chopper

Onions were the first culprit, the “pain point” as they like to say in marketing (and I’m a crier). So I found this chopper (via Amazon, but from Oxo which is a brand I really trust for whatever reason) and it’s SO SIMPLE, only two parts, easy on/easy off, and chops into nice large diced pieces (and equal sizing). It’s easy, and fun and the kids obviously enjoy it because it makes a powerful and has satisfying click when it cuts all the way through (they cut comically small apple snacks like this). Then the onions stay in the dish and have an opening in the back when ready to throw in the pot. I also use this with carrots, radishes, apples, and anything on the harder side that I want diced and not sliced (I’m not an expert so maybe you could use it on cherry tomatoes but anything with a tougher skin might not go through. Skip the fancy multi-part tools for dicing if you want to speed things up a bit (and then throw it in the dishwasher). I love this new tool. ****OOh I also made sweet potato croutons with this for my salads – you have to slice them into large discs first with the mandoline, but then it makes them uniform so some don’t burn while others are undercooked.

My Glorious And Perfect Mandoline

Mandoline

I’ve been using this mandoline 1-2 times a week for what feels like forever (2 1/2 years) and it has absolutely improved my life (and food). I did a lot of research before I bought this one because AGAIN so many have a ton of blades, and parts, and also what my favorite chefs recommended were over $100 which just seemed a bit nuts (I get it, I recommend high-quality home stuff, too). But I’m a basic (if not prolific) home cook for just four people so I don’t need all the options for mass quantity or too many varying shapes/sizes. I just want to cut carrot chips, cucumber chips, sweet potato chips, and radish chips. I want thin slices for salad toppings and thicker slices for snacking and dipping in hummus.

This tool adjusts SO EASILY to go thicker and thinner and has a protective slider thing that grips onto the fruit/veggie when you get down to the nub (where you can easily slice yourself). You can use this with apples, pears, red onions, and tomatoes for burgers, too – anything you want to cut thin and uniform. Using a knife to do really thin slices is virtually impossible for me and with my poor knife skills can be dangerous. Anyway, do your own research but I think this one is the perfect balance of simple to use, few parts, easy to clean, does the job so well, and isn’t crazy expensive (while also not being super ugly which is nice).

A Simple Hand Chopper

Hand Chopper

I bought this chopper to experiment with garlic and nuts and also so the kids could help more with some of their snacks (cut-up fruit mostly). This is the tool I use the least of the three (while it works for rusticly chopped garlic, I like mine minced so I use a press). But it’s a $10 purchase that is fun for kids to help with because they just have to slam, slam, turn, slam, slam turn and they can control how chopped something is (good for ice cream toppings, too). While we try to let them use all the knives at this point (they have to learn somehow) sometimes after school when we have 6-8 kids here on our days I don’t want a bunch of knives out and I like that I can hand them a bunch of strawberries and they can take turns cutting up their own. I’m sure I’ll find other purposes for this, but if not it’s small, only has two parts, is affordable, and is getting used.

Also if you are into my cutting board know that I can’t find any on the market that are large like this – almost like a 1″ wood chopping surface (butcher blocks are too cumbersome and heavy, and the thin ones don’t look good just sitting on my island), but I do love those new Made-in Knives (they make my induction pots that I love a lot, too). So pretty, a great weight in the hand, and while they are still new they sure are sharp.

If there are any basic/simple tools that I’m missing let me know. You can probably tell how I feel by now, but it seems like companies try to “make life easier” but just complicate home cooking (some garlic presses have like 4 parts, and NO we don’t need a separate avocado slicer unless you run a restaurant or do 30 person taco Tuesday nights). If you have a large family you might have a totally different opinion. It’s just more dishes to clean, more stuff to clutter up our lives and eventually more stuff to end up in landfills (IMHO). So while I’m certainly not perfect nor an expert, these tools are consistently used, nice to look at, and make my life easier without cluttering it up. I had NO IDEA that I had so much to say about these tools, but there you go.

Mandoline Here
Dicer/Chopper Here
Manual Hand Chopper Here
And don’t forget my favorite soup or healthy cookbooks are here (ha, I also don’t like looking at an iPad while cooking)

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post My Favorite New Kitchen Tools That Are Making My Life Easier Without Clutter – Let’s Get Chopping!! appeared first on Emily Henderson.

FIX IT FRIDAY: Easy Tweaks To Make You Love Your Bed More (+ Watch Us Help 6 Readers Make Their Beds Look Better )

Typically I’m not a big Black Friday purchaser. It’s mostly because I’m disorganized and don’t plan ahead for things like holiday gift buying (kudos to those who are) but also because I’ve found that I end up buying things I don’t totally need for the sake of a good deal. However, that all changed this past year because I needed new bedding…like bad. Somehow a HUGE hole had found its way into my duvet cover and it was honestly really embarrassing. I am an adult after all (she says to herself). So to the internet I went. I found a great duvet covet and sheet set I thought would look AMAZING on their own (aka no throw blankets and no cute throw pillows). So while my bed didn’t look bad, it also didn’t look GOOD. Sure, could your girl use a bed frame instead of just a mattress on the floor as she dreams up what she wants to design? Yes. But, I also knew I needed some more layers to make it look as inviting as I had originally intended. Basically, this experience is what prompted this “Fix It Fridays” series that I hope you all love (hopefully the numbers are strong enough to keep it going!). Sometimes all it takes are some small tweaks to make an area of your home look awesome. No need to start from scratch because likely you have some great stuff to work with.

Since we are starting with bedding, I thought I would point out some things that are really important to consider when making your bed a visually and physically happy sanctuary:)

THINGS TO CONSIDERMake sure to have the correct sized “sleeping pillows”. If you have a king-sized bed or larger, king-sized pillows are going to look SO MUCH better. Trust us. If your pillowcases are the same color or pattern as your duvet or comforter, make sure there’s a visual break between them with at least a top sheet. One easy way? Fold your blanket down past your sleeping pillows. Make sure the main blanket at the end of your bed is a “bed blanket”. This means it’s big enough to hang off both sides of your bed. You don’t want that blanket that looks/is too small. Proportions are important. Unless you want a one-note bedding look that’s all the same color, make sure that your duvet or comforter isn’t the same color or tone as your bed blanket. Give it a little contrast:)We think simple is better, but if you want more than one (long) throw pillow, we wouldn’t recommend exceeding three.If you want a fluffy-looking bed make sure to get a fluffy duvet insert (and mattress topper for extra credit and comfort!)photo by kaitlin green | from: a beautiful bedroom makeover reveal for my friend, with some of my favorite bedding

So while the “monastery chic” bedding trend has become very popular editorially (the one large blanket that covers the bed and sleeping pillows), we think most people want and love a super cozy looking and inviting bed. We actually wrote a post called “The Right Way To Make Your Bed – Our 5 Best Formulas” a handful of years ago and made some pretty helpful graphics to guide you. These graphics will also very much come in handy as I help our wonderful readers jazz up their bedding situation. So take a peek before we move on!

Above is all about blankets, duvets, and comforters!

And this graphic above is all about pillows. Note that we are also a big fan of sleeping pillows being stacked on top of each other as well as ones that lean against one another:)

photo by tessa neustadt | from: brady’s bedroom makeover with parachute + shop the look

Ok! Now that you have an idea of what our advice is let me show you how to put it into action with these six examples. I want to remind you that when we asked people to submit their beds, we asked people who are looking to love their beds more, not ones that needed a total overhaul. Why? Because we believe that most people don’t need to throw out everything they already have to make them love their bed more. It’s all about changing the way you make your bed and/or adding a couple (or a few) things)to make it look how you dreamed it could. Now let’s dive in!

Helping “The Blues”

From the words of our reader, “Oh man it’s even worse in photos.” It’s vulnerable submitting your home to ask for help but this is by no means a bad bed! But there are some things I think will help:)

First things first, it looks like there are standard-sized pillows on a king-sized bed, thus leaving that gap for the blue throw pillow to nestle in between nicely. King-sized sleeping pillows are going to be a wonderful upgrade. Then I think adding a duvet and folding it back past where the pillows are, with a top sheet, is the move. It will immediately make this bed happier and fluffier looking. At the same time, folding that blue quilt back towards the bottom of the bed about 2/3rds, showing more of the duvet will kick things up a notch style-wise. And while we’re down there, we are BIG fans of bed blankets. Placing one over the blue quilt will add coziness and is a big opportunity to bring in some of the other colors that are in the room. Lastly, let’s get a new throw pillow or two. I personally don’t love it when a throw pillow is taller than the sleeping pillows. However, if you do then that’s great! Here’s a little product board with some suggestions:

Green Velvet Lumbar Pillow | Leather Bolster (affordable option) | Linen Duvet Cover | Knit Bed Blanket

I love the idea of adding that sage green lumbar pillow because it brings in the color of the nightstands, it has some fun fringe, and it looks good with the modern traditional look of the space. But if they want something warmer I will forever love that leather bolster. And while it’s hard to tell the exact colors of the bedding from this photo, a white duvet will work almost every time and help to break up the darkness of the existing blue quilt. Then to balance it all out I love that cream knit bed blanket to drape over the blue quilt for a soft organic feel.

Florals Not Fully In Bloom

This was what this reader said in her email, “Splurged on a boujee King upholstered bed frame and can’t seem to get our bedding quite right!” Well, I think I can help!

Everything in the room is great! But like I said in the “things to consider” part above, you want to visually break up the matching duvet and sham pillows by folding down the duvet and showing off that cute sheet set! Even if this reader just did that it would make a big difference. But I have some other ideas…

Velvet Lumbar Pillow | Ball Pillow | Textured Bed Blanket

It seems like this reader was going for a very serene color palette so I wanted to honor that by choosing soft but really pretty pieces. I love how that light sage green pillow picks up the green tones in the room and then by adding that little round pillow it adds some chic whimsy. It’s a fun but not fussing pillow combo. Lastly, I think adding an end-of-bed textured blanket will do the trick! How pretty is that high-low pattern?? I think it would be pretty nicely folded or organically laid across. Dealer’s choice!

Beige For Days

I will always love a fully neutral bedding combo. Beds are meant for rest and what’s more calming (for most people) than soft natural tones? And this bed is so lovely but this reader wanted to tweak it a little more which is why we are here.

You might have guessed that I want them to pull down that quilt so it’s further down the bed and also fold down the duvet and top set (if there is one) past the sleeping pillows. An instant improvement without spending a dime. But if they have some dimes to spare this is what I would do:

Rust Extra Long Lumbar Pillow | Mosaic Pillow | Layered Stripe Lumbar Bed Pillow | Knit Blanket

I love the idea of adding in some rust tones (if you can’t tell by the product board). I love the contrast of pattern scales of the two pillow combo so much. Oh, and I have also seen the shorter one in person and it’s beautiful. But if they want to stay away from the rust then I think that lightly plaided single lumbar would look great and mirrors the pattern of the quilt. And look this chunky throw isn’t a bed blanket size but would still look great draped over one end corner of the bed with either look.

Almost Great

This is the feeling I can relate to! “I saw the call-out on IG to send in photos of beds in need of styling… “Help! I feel like I have good pieces in the coverlet and accent pillow but it still looks so blah…. Help!”

This reader is not wrong! They absolutely have great pieces but with some added layers it will be perfect:) I would love for them to get a fluffy duvet to bump up the cozy, do our typical folded-back duvet and even further folded-back quilt look, and add a few more accents. Wanna see?

Tufted Geo Lumbar Throw Pillow | Ball Pillow | Grid Knit Throw Blanket | Premium Breathable Relaxed Linen Duvet Cover

Well in the graphic I said to add one more throw pillow but I lied, I want two because how cute are these? I like adding the lighter blue textured small lumbar to play with some more blue tones on the bed for variation and you know how I feel about a ball pillow…I think they are the best. Plus the cream ball pillow talks to the cream quilt they have. Then again, let’s add a white duvet for some neutral tone variations but then add that navy blue knit throw to visually connect the existing pillowcases to the end of the bed. Bam!

In Need Of Life

Here’s the deal with this bed – “We just moved to a new home and would love to make this feel more like ours.” I hope this reader sends us photos when the room is fully designed! But let’s help with the bed first.

This is the “monastery chic” look I was talking about where there’s one blanket that covers the entire bed. It’s not bad at all but since this reader asked for help here’s my two cents. Aside from the duvet/folded blanket at the end of the bed you all knew I was going to say, I think let’s add in some more dimension.

Long Lumbar Pillow | Boucle Lumbar Pillow (12″x24″) | Linen Duvet Cover | Linen Sheet Set

I decided to go with the general color scheme they already have but a little brighter. I love these two pillows because they look a bit more playful but not fussy. Plus the ochre and camel are so good. But to make sure this bed stays serene, I love that oatmeal-toned duvet paired with white sheets. I think all together with their existing blanket would look layered and so pretty. Oh and let’s keep the throw they have! The pattern is great and clearly works with everything else:)

The Final Step

When I saw this room my jaw, I instantly loved it! Do you see that chandelier, the wall color, the bed frame?? Here’s what the reader wrote, “We worked with a fabulous designer (Becky Carter) for the design of the room, furniture, etc but I’m at a loss for how to make our bed up. I feel like I missed that day of Grown-up School. Right now I’ve got Serena and Lily linens on our king bed. If you’re open to giving us advice I’d love to make our bed styling live up to the rest of the lovely room!”

First off, if someone could make a “Grown-up School” I would happily attend. But none of us should feel bad about not knowing how to do everything because like most things they take practice. Secondly, Becky is amazing and everyone should check out her work (including this house which I didn’t clock until I was writing this post!).

There are so many directions to take this bedding because the room is designed in such a stunning and eclectic way. I opted for what I’m calling “quiet fun”, pulling from colors that are already in the room. But first things first, let’s pull back that beautiful white duvet past those pillows:)

Quilted Sham Pillowcases | Extra Long Lumbar Pillow | Round Velvet Pillow | Quilt | Oversized Throw Blanket

So to add a little “soft drama”, I love the idea of these dark gray-blue shams and end-of-bed quilt being folded at well, the end of the bed. As I’ve said, I visually prefer that any sham and throw pillows that sit in front of sleeping pillows are not taller than those sleeping pillows. But again, that’s just a preference. So going back to my design plan, I really love that super extra-long burgundy lumbar pillow for even more drama. But to liven things up, adding in that round fringed velvet pillow is perfect and a little playful. Lastly, I wanted to add a large throw blanket on top of the blue quilt that had a little pattern which is why I chose that pretty, organic striped one. There’s already a decent amount of small-scale pattern with the headboard and rug so a simple stripe I think balances really nicely!

Well, I think that’s about it for me today. I really want to thank everyone who submitted! I’m so sorry I couldn’t do more but hey, if you like this one enough maybe I can do more in this category:) So regardless of whether your bed was picked or if you are looking at your bed right this minute wanting to give it a refresh, I hope this helped.

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: Our Bedroom Update (Also How I Feel About Having A TV In The Bedroom)

The post FIX IT FRIDAY: Easy Tweaks To Make You Love Your Bed More (+ Watch Us Help 6 Readers Make Their Beds Look Better ) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Finally Organizing Four Huge Problem Areas (…And My Case For Loving January)

Here’s an unpopular statement that might enrage many of you – January is my favorite month. Hold your anger… I’m not saying it’s the BEST month or my favorite season, I don’t love the darkness, short days, or the rain but I crave the quiet in every way and am so happy to not leave my house for the whole month. You see, like most people, from Halloween til New Years my personal well becomes extremely depleted to the point of empty – so many shoots, work’s almost out of control, so much socializing, traveling, eating, drinking, desert-ing, extroverting 24 hours a day and it makes my house a total, unmanageable disaster. I give myself from November to December to just embrace the chaos, mess, and unhealthiness of it all (and boy I do) but then January 1st rolls around and I shut the door on anything optional, hunker down and with work at its quietest I just organize my life/house, read, cook, sleep and have quiet simple connections with my immediate family. IT’S SO WONDERFUL. This year I needed to take a week off my usual routine to go to LA for a friend’s memorial and then when we got back we had a huge snow storm. The power went out but since we have a generator we hosted a super fun, impromptu snow day neighborhood gathering that was very wet indeed (and so fun). But as of last Monday we are back, pretending it’s Jan 1 and between now and spring break I really want to try to be stay “January mode” (I always say this then my mid-February I’m done with winter, over it all, and ready to socialize again).

Now in the spirit of “January mode”, today I’m going to show you four of the most disastrous drawers in the house, where I started my cleaning (and have since tore through them all). It’s a combination of a purge and organizing and it’s highly satisfying to do and see.

My Utensil Drawer

Anybody that cooked in my house was enraged by how we were treating our knives (see on the right) by, you know, shoving them in a drawer with everything else willy nilly. It bugged me too, but just was never on my priority list. So I got to work taking everything out, assessing what I actually use frequently, storing the rest in the pantry or in the long utensil drawer and then of course buying some product to keep things more organized, giving everything a place.

Shallow Drawer Dividers | Enamel Measuring Cups | Enamel Measuring Spoons | Silver Measuring Spoons | Knife Holder | Knives

SO. MUCH. BETTER. After searching for the perfect knife holder for a long time (our drawers are only 3″ deep on the inside) I ended up buying this from The Container Store which is what we had at the mountain house, too. The soft cork is way nicer to the knives and more satisfying (and it can hold way more than just 4, but for the shot we didn’t overload it). I also want to give a shout out to my new narrow measuring spoons (top right) that can fit in every single of my herb/spice bottles (whereas the round white ones on the bottom left can’t). TBH I included the white tablespoons in there because they looked cute, but you obviously only need one set and I def opt for the “uglier” narrow measuring spoons every time since I bought them. The knives are from Made In Cookware and they are sooo pretty (and super sharp and heavy, but to be fair are also new). Oh, and I had to use these really shallow drawer dividers that have cross dividers and they are good for us, but most drawers can handle 4″ drawer dividers. Here’s a link to ours. And all our extra knifes are on a magnetic knife block on the pantry counters, in here just what we use frequently (I don’t love kitchen counter clutter, but like WHO DOES?)

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse kitchen reveal

I love this vintage island so much and the sacrifice, but the drawers stick so bad, they are so deep and really really rustic on the inside. So we used this “wood lubricant” on the sides and bottoms which totally worked! They pull and push so much easier now (thanks to all those who suggested it). So it was time to give it an interior makeover…

Our Kitchen Tool Drawer

Our whole island drawers was a disaster but I only took photos of the worst drawers. So I took everything out and realized that I needed a dedicated cooking “tool” drawer instead of my “just throw it in any drawer and spend 12 minutes trying to find it later” approach. I had two Tupperware drawers and no dedicated tool drawer. AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A HOME COOK!!

Plaid Drawer Liner

See? It’s so cute! Shout out to this cute plaid drawer liner because it’s not a weird sticker but stays in place and is neither boring (solid color) or has too much pizazz (there were some very non-farm versions out there). It’s totally wipe-able and easy to pull out and clean. I like the simple plaid, the rubber backing that sticks, and it has some padding (just barely) which keeps it in place and makes for a soft landing, less banging around. Also these were WAY more affordable than a lot that I found at The Container Store ($9.99 a roll).

I’m excited to show you my favorite simple chopping tools that I actually use frequently on Saturday…

The Tupperware Drawer

This drawer was THE WORST – the glass dishes made it so heavy to pull in and out and so few dishes had matching lids anymore (where do they go??). So I pulled them all out, matched them up, put down the same drawer liner (put wood lubricant on the drawer!!!!!) and reorganized it all.

Tupperware Bowls | Blue Top Rectangle Container | Square/Rectangle Gray Containers (similar)

Now I still love glass containers because I can warm up my soup in microwave if I need to, but I ended up buying more Tupperware (that double as mixing bowls) with lids. The square are a few years old, from Target and the new round ones are from Amazon (and very well reviewed – love them so far).

My “Shove Anything In Here So We Don’t Have To Look At It” Cabinet

I don’t know where the piles of miscellaneous come from nor do I know where all these bits of garbage should go. So listen, it was NOT pretty, but I loved that I could take anything that was on the counter that was junking up my life and just hide it in here (it’s a midcentury secretary). My mom will tell you this is how I cleaned my room, too – just shoved everything under my bed. This is dangerous because mail would get lost in there, homework was forever gone, and we had NO idea where a checkbook was. (Our house doesn’t have a dedicated home office yet, nor a dedicated play/family room strangely). So clearly we needed a place for the things we grab and shove daily.

Bamboo Organizers (similar) | Woven Basket (similar)

So much better. Here’s what we have: a basket that holds the mail (and homework or artwork), notebooks for quick permission school notes for kids, a hairbrush and hair-ties so I can braid Birdie’s super long hair while she’s eating breakfast (or least chase her out the door and have her brush her hair). I know where the checkbooks are, the pens the envelopes and at least one pair of scissors (for now). I’ll likely have to redo this org every few months but at least I have actually thought about it.

So just a quick little Thursday Org post do give you some ideas for this weekend should you be in Org mode, too. I’m now onto our mudroom next (where we kept our beanies in the same drawer as our cleaning supplies??) and will hit all our clothes closets this weekend. SEE?? ISN’T JANUARY GLORIOUS?? Also here is a fun fact that might be a total myth or urban legend – but I once heard that there was a study/scan conducted on people’s brains before they enter The Container Store and then after they’ve purchased and come out, and I guess their dopamine levels was super high. HA! Just the THOUGHT and intent of organizing their homes/lives gives people a high. I also want to caveat that I’m sure “Big Org” was behind that study, but anecdotally I believe it. Happy Org month.

*Pretty Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post Finally Organizing Four Huge Problem Areas (…And My Case For Loving January) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

7 Bathroom Trends For 2024 That Are Bold, Beautiful And Majorly Exciting

It’s that time of year again when design websites make grand proclamations about what they suspect will be “in” (and occasionally they also write about what’s “out”). It’s all very Project Runway, but the truth is, as much as I cringe at the idea of trends for the fleeting connotations they have particularly in this new TikTok era, the truth is I love picking up on similar threads in beautiful rooms. An exciting and unexpected detail that gets me excited and then OH! there it is again! Seeing a decorating concept, particularly one with as much permanence as a tile, vanity, or shower installation, gives us that little boost of confidence that it is in fact a good idea. Validation + $$$ spent = comfort.

Last week, my friend and colleague Jess tackled 2024 kitchen trends, and today, I’m delving into bathrooms. Some of the trends I spotted are less hardwired to the room (I’m looking at you, sink skirts) while others are transformative (mosaic floors, for one). All in all, it’s safe to say that traditional aesthetics including cottage chic and anything English- or old-world-inspired are still going quite strong and will continue to lean into bold colors, layered patterns, and daring moves that lean less all-white spa ambiance and more cozy, comfortable, and distinctive. And I have to say…I’m into it.

Pedestal Sink Skirts

This was the first trend I knew I’d include in my roundup because it’s everywhere right now. We’ve all watched Emily try to figure out where to put fabric skirts in the last year and she’s not the only one. I love this trend because it’s so easy to change up and walk away from if you change your mind. It’s just fabric attached to a sink basin. It’s not often a bathroom trend is so affordable or reversible.

design by ciara kenaston

Some people use it just for aesthetics, but it’s also a great solution to add a little hidden storage around a pedestal sink that typically has zero (I know this from experience). This buffalo check version is by Ciara Kenaston. You can’t see it in this photo but this room actually has two pedestal sinks with the same skirt, and looks very cute, in case you had a similar situation in your home.

design by jourdan fairchild | photo by stephanie berbec

If you haven’t been following design editor-turned-designer Jourdan Fairchild’s renovation of her North Carolina home, you still have time to quickly rectify that. Her most recent reveal was her daughters’ bathroom which had a cute vintage vibe to begin with. She went all in and I think it’s just darling. I’d be afraid of doing something like this so close to a toilet in a little boy’s bathroom (ahem, we can all imagine why) but also it’s fabric, is removable and easy to wash.

Deep Burgundy Color Palettes

I’ve been tracking deep berry shades of red for the last year (remember my obsession with mulberry?) and it’s undeniable that its favorite room is the bathroom. I find it works best in a smaller space since it packs a punch and it plays nice with so many other finishes including deep wood tones, dramatic marbling and vibrant brass.

design by anna knight interiors | photo by ryan mcdonald | styling by kimberly swedelius

I love the zellige tile in varying shades of burgundy in this bathroom by Anna Knight Interiors so much. It draws the eye, is unexpected but is the kind of color that makes you wonder why you never thought of it for your own space. Cool colors like blues and greens have held their tight grip on design in the last decade-plus, but warm tones are certifiably back and I believe will be around for quite a while.

design by anne mcdonald design | photo by wing ho/canary grey

Tile isn’t the only way rich oxbloods and burgundies are making their way into our bathing spaces. Vanities in the warm color, like the one here designed by Anne McDonald Design, are a wildly beautiful way to add gravitas and even a sense of history to an older home. I haven’t seen the hue used much in modern applications but I’m sure it would work as long as it’s paired with the right materials and colors. I’d err on the side of depth there like deep wood tones, darker stones, etc.

design by elisha kelly/our aesthetic abode

While not necessarily super modern, Elisha Kelly of Our Aesthetic Abode pulls off the color in her DIY bathroom that definitely reads more contemporary than Anne McDonald’s room. But the same elements are there: brass fixtures and hardware, dark oak mirrors, black hex floors, and then a bit of white (or light cream) to lessen the visual load.

In all the three photos above, the burgundy reads more like a neutral IMHO. If you wanted to amp things up, I’d layer in an additional color, maybe like a fleshy clay, pink, or even turquoise/peacock green.

Rich Wood Vanities

Painted, white and blonde wood vanities have had a long runway of being the most popular kids in bathroom design school, but more and more designers are opting for rich, dark wood tones instead. I think it’s an extension of all the highly traditional living spaces and architecture that we’ve seen over the last few years, not to mention everyone’s affinity for moody spaces. This wood finish sings in a bathroom that gets soft beautiful light because the sunlight catches all the subtle variations and the golden hues in the wood grain.

design by jessica helgerson interior design | photo by aaron leitz

There are few things Jessica Helgerson Interior Design can do wrong in my opinion. If you told me to imagine a bathroom with wall-to-wall dark wood paneling, dark wood trim on the ceiling, and a dark wood vanity, I’d first ask you when the demo team was arriving, but LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY. The Portland-based firm pulled this off effortlessly.

design and styling by hearth homes interiors | photo by public 311 design

Retrofitting an antique or vintage credenza, sideboard or dresser into a bathroom vanity is nothing new, but it works especially well for this design movement as many of these pieces are finished in a dark stain. I especially love the shape of the marble backsplash here that Hearth Homes Interiors chose with the wall-mount faucet. Something like this would be perfect in a powder bath where you want to make a statement but maybe don’t want to go all-in on a dramatic all-room tile or even wallpaper. It’s sweet and memorable.

design by corey lohmann design | photo by margaret rajic | styling by brandi devers

Dark wood vanities work particularly well with jewel tones, like the emerald green wall tile and sapphire blue floors in a space by Corey Lohmann Design. The dark ebony-like grain is so unique and adds a lot of movement to the fairly linear room (besides the rounded shower cut out, of course). That level of richness is hard to find in anything but a vanity material like this.

Mosaic Floors

Floors are the new status symbol in design. That’s right…I said it! And mosaic floors are back in a big way. A lot of what I’m seeing is very vintage-inspired (lots of small black and white penny tiles or hexes) but I’ve also encountered some more daring designs like the room below by Studio Laloc. Let’s take a look.

design by studio laloc

I’m smitten with the playful floral surprise at floor level here. Everything else has a lot of restraint and elegance and then bam! A mosaic stone floor with wonky white flowers. While I wouldn’t hate to see what it would look and feel like in a bolder color, I think it works especially well because it keeps with the neutral palette. That’s always a safer way to stretch your legs a little, step outside the box and try something new without things getting too wild.

design by meet west | photos by rett peek

Here are two bathrooms in the same house by Meet West. The floors are cousins, not twins and simply made from different colored small hex tiles. I wanted to show this to anyone considering a mosaic floor but they have multiple bathrooms to renovate and aren’t sure if you go with the same floor in both spaces, do something totally different or—like here—match the vibes but give each a unique design and colorway.

Plaster Walls (A.K.A. Tadelakt)

A lot of times, people think trends have to be something new, but really, it’s just something that’s repeated time and again in homes. One of the biggest trends across all rooms in home design is a plaster-like finish to walls (through Roman clay or even lime wash paint to give it the look of plaster). In the bathroom specifically, a type of plaster called tadelakt is used which is waterproof and I wrote about its emergence back in 2019 (check that out here). People like this treatment, I think, because it adds character without being overly ornate or heavy-handed like molding/trim work or wallpaper can be.

design by athena calderone | photo by adrian gaut

The queen of chic boutique design with Brooklyn vibes, Athena Calderone’s bathroom in her previous brownstone has beautiful plaster walls that ground the glossy porcelain tub and the traditional paneling. It also veers into cream territory which is a perfect partner to crisp whites often found in bathrooms.

design and photo by drew michael scott

You’d have to see the before of this room to believe that Drew Michael Scott (a.k.a. Lone Fox) didn’t demo out the subway tile that used to be on the walls in here. Instead, he plastered OVER the tile and the result is really lovely. I’m not sure of any implications of taking that approach, but it certainly seems like a cheat code to bathroom renovation I’ve never thought of.

architecture & design by grt architects | interior decoration by michael kirkland | photo by jason schmidt

GRT Architects are out here creating some of my most favorite contemporary rooms lately because they have so much soul, and color but are effortless. Not a thing too much or too little in the design, me thinks. This wet room has such a beautiful subtle shape to it that’s almost geometric but it feels welcoming and timeless because of the waterproof plaster finish.

Cabana Stripes In Tile

Some things simply are always on trend/in style, and stripes are one of those things. But for the sake of this article, I want to call out cabana stripes. It makes sense given the prevalence of checkerboard because if you think about it, a checkerboard pattern is just a cabana stripe that was broken up and shifted every few inches (did that make any sense to you because it did to me??). The look is bold and not for everyone but it definitely gives vacation beach getaway vibes and I’m all for that in the wasteland of monotony that happens this time of year.

design by heidi caillier | photo by harris kenjar

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know there is no inspiration photo roundup post without a Heidi Caillier room. Here, she created vertical cabana stripes in the tub area using large square zellige tiles (which you know we all love for their variety and imperfect quality), and then horizontal stripes but in a much smaller zellige to shake things up. (Also, uh…the cabinetry skirt people!).

design by lizzie green/popix designs | photo by charlotte lea

Something I love about this tile application is that it can be created using two colors of a fairly simple tile. And don’t be afraid to mix it with a solid install of a similar shape tile with a different finish or color, too, like in this bathroom by Popix Designs.

design by anne mcdonald design | photo by wing ho/canary grey

Here’s a similar design by Anne Mcdonald Design using a slim subway tile in both black and white. Without the bold stripe here, sure the bathroom would have been fun (especially with that utility sink) but with the addition of the graphic punch, it’s unforgettable.

Bold Brass Shower Surrounds & Door Frames

Up until recently, making a shower frame or door disappear was the name of the game. But more and more, I’m seeing designers and home renovators flip the switch and make those features rather than ghosts. And no, I’m not talking about the shiny super yellow/brassy shower frames of the ’80s because…yuck. Today, they’re patinated and beautifully aged to feel luxe like something you’d see in a Manhattan penthouse.

design by coco & jack

A lot of the bathrooms I found with stately brass shower doors and surrounds were in very grand spaces, but I’m so glad I saw this room by Coco & Jack to share here because it proves the look can work even in a smaller bathroom suited for most of us who want a beautiful home but maybe don’t have Vanderbilt blood running through our veins.

And that’s it! There are so many things I could have included but these seven are some of the biggest things I’ve been seeing and getting excited about. The bathroom has defaulted to a monotonous space for too long in the name of “spa” and “Zen” and I don’t disagree there’s a place for that, but give me a mosaic floor and a pedestal skirt sink any day. Who’s with me?

Your friend in (bold) design,

Arlyn

Opening Image Credits: Design by Anne McDonald Design / Photo by Wing Ho/Canary Grey

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