Emily Henderson's Blog, page 65

December 14, 2023

GOOD Last-Minute Gifts?? Here Are Awesome, Practical Ideas For Everyone On Your List

It’s here: the final gift guide. Have you waited til the last minute to find the perfect present? Are you still feeling adrift, despite looking at thousands of gift ideas over the past few weeks? IT’S OKAY, I’VE GOT YOU. Let me introduce you to a tried-and-true tradition in my family household: the practical present. I know that flashy gifts usually get all the hype – a dream vacation! A new car! Whatever other thing that TV commercials are pushing non-stop this holiday season! – but honestly, I love a good daily essential gift. Like, I’m receiving a thoughtful and necessary item that I don’t have to spend my own money on? A DREAM.

Below, you’ll find 16 different personas (based on my real-life friend group, for the record) along with a few corresponding gift ideas. These gifts ship quickly, they’re actually useful (verified by me, an average American woman), and they’re the kind of thing that’ll make the recipient say a tiny, silent “thank you” every time they pull it out. Let’s start out with one of my favorite recommendations forrrrrrr…

The Chronically Dehydrated

Thermoflask | Stanley Quencher

MY PEOPLE. Everyone needs water, you know? I’m partial to the Thermoflask because it’s durable (read: you can drop it a lot of times) and affordable, but the Quencher is also a guaranteed winner. (If you’ve ever heard your loved one drop the phrase “hot girl walk,” go for the Quencher – Orchid, Lavendar, and Citron are safe color bets.)

The Girl’s Girl

Wavy Talk Heated Brush | Babyfoot Peel | Heated Period Belt

She’s quick with a compliment and the first to offer a sip of her drink: she’s a GIRL’S GIRL. Maintain her locks with this affordable, uber-viral hot brush! (My hair has never gotten more compliments – full review here.) Skip the face mask grab bag in favor of this iconic foot peel! (If she likes popping zits, she’ll LOVE how gross this is. In the good way, obviously.) And honestly…everyone with a period should just have one of these cramp-relieving belts on hand, just in case. (Brenda grabbed me one in 2022 and I’m a huge fan.)

The Workaholic

Upgraded Keyboard | Multifunctional Charging | USB to iPhone 15 Cables

If they work with numbers, a keyboard with a dedicated number pad is an unexpected upgrade that’ll make daily life so much easier. This Courant charging pad will wirelessly charge their iPhone and AirPod (and it also includes a port to plug in their watch, too!). And if you’re upgrading to the iPhone 15 this holiday season (or if you’re planning to upgrade someone else in the fam), take it from experience – the world has not upgraded with you! Grab an extra USB-C to USB-A charger so you can still charge your new phone using the classic USB plug in the car, on airplanes, via your older desktop computer, with your old USB bricks, etc. It’s the little things!

The CleanTok Obsessive

Electric Spin Brush | Little Green Machine | 3-in-1 Vacuum/Mop Combo

If they spend their free time scrolling #cleantok, you can be sure that they’ll FREAK OUT over this very-famous spin brush. (Gotta admit – there is something very cathartic about watching folks scrub their showers and grout with one of these.) The Green Machine is a must-have for any pet owners and this new Tineco vacuum/mop will give them back hours of free time (it’s an especially brilliant gift for parents – read Arlyn’s review here and see Em’s vacuum in action here!).

The (Mostly) Responsible Car Owner

Portable Jump Starter | Portable Tire Air Compressor | Local Car Wash or Detail

Look – I get it! Car gifts aren’t sexy, immediately understood, or super thrilling to unbox! But let me be clear: when they’re alone and in a strange parking lot with a dead car or when they’re stranded miles from a gas station with a tire that’s basically empty, they will be ENDLESSLY THANKFUL. (No joke: that air compressor saved my life this year! And you can use it for bikes and basketballs, too!) Beyond that, give them the gift of a clean car from a local car wash or detailing pro – there’s nothing as relaxing as stepping back into a freshly vacuumed car, don’t you think?

The Decor Lover

Etsy Gift Card | Cheap Old Houses Book

Pro tip: you can’t go wrong with an Etsy gift card. They can pick something handmade, something custom, something vintage – it’s a really nice way to say, “I know that you have broad, discerning taste and I want you to be able to pick something you can’t find anywhere else.” A coffee table book is also a great idea (decor you can read? Brilliant.) and I think the Cheap Old Houses book is a great pick for this year – it just came out and features beautifully restored, architecturally-diverse homes. Super inspiring stuff!

The Frequent Flyer

Trtl Pillow | Airplane Footrest | In-Flight Wifi

The Trtl pillow is lightweight, easy-to-carry and provides great neck support; the airplane footrest is INCREDIBLE at giving some relief to sore legs during long-haul flights (it’s most recommended for folks 5’4″ and under, but I’m 5’8″ with shorter legs and it works for me – but you might want to skip this for any really tall folks). But the real coup here? IN-FLIGHT WIFI PASSES. They’re so expensive when you’re in the air ($10 for 30 minutes?!) and most folks don’t travel enough domestically to justify the enormous subscription price – grabbing a handful of passes for their airline of choice is such an underrated and thoughtful gesture! You can buy these for United, Alaska, and Air Canada flights via Wifi Onboard; other passes can be purchased directly from the airline (just google the airline’s name + “wifi pass” for details).

The Airport Dad

Packing Cubes | Toiletry Capsule System | TSA Pre, CLEAR, or Global Entry

Cue the Home Depot theme song: your Airport Dad friend is here! (You know the type – 4 hours early to the airport, preternaturally organized, carrying some sort of Mary Poppins-style magic bag that seemingly contains the contents of an entire local pharmacy, etc.) ANYWAY – treat that friend to some sweet packing cubes or some satisfying toiletry storage (Dennis gave me these a year and a half ago – they deserve all the hype and then some! So much better than bottles that take up way too much space). Alternatively, give them peace of mind by covering their fee for TSA PreCheck, Clear, or Global Entry. (Added bonus: many credit cards reimburse these charges, so it’s like a free gift!)

The Gamer

Twitch Gift Card | FC Points

If you’re loved one is obsessed with Twitch, a gift card will allow them to subscribe to their favorite streamers and it’ll unlock a few site-wide perks. More than that, though, I’d suggest some currency for their favorite video game – Dennis has been playing EA FC lately (translation: the soccer one – and with over 11 million players since its launch earlier this year, there’s a good chance that this idea might work for someone in your life, too!) so I’ve been eyeing some FC Points, which will (hopefully) help him achieve his in-game goals (unintentional pun). I’d like to think this idea is pretty nice 🙂 especially for folks who wouldn’t normally spend money on in-game purchases!

The City Dweller

Stair-Climbing Rolling Cart | Rattan Market Cart

There’s nothing I can say about these carts that hasn’t already been perfectly articulated by this tweet (I’ll wait). I’ll be singing the praises of the ultra-functional stair climbing cart until my last breath (Great for groceries! Laundry! Flea market runs! Taking my cans to the recycling!) but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t low-key (or, uh, high-key) obsessed with this chic wicker version. It’s got me HANKERING to get to my local farmer’s market for some organic produce, fresh flowers and crusty bread, you know?

The Master Chef

Adjustable Rolling Pin | Thoughtfully-Designed Apron | Ove Glove

If they know their way around the kitchen, why not give them a little upgrade? This rolling pin has silicone spacers so you can manage the thickness of any doughs or crusts; this timeless apron features built-in pot holders, extra long straps, and deep pockets; the Ove Glove is a recent recommendation from EHD MVD (most valuable dad, obviously) Les Bunge’s Father’s Day gift guide (and he knows what he’s talking about!).

The Microwave Maestro

Air Fryer Liners | Silicone Lids

This section is muuuuuch more my speed, TBH. I love these silicone inserts for the air fryer – they make cleanup a total breeze! And these silicone lids are AWESOME, too. Pop them on a bowl to keep microwave spills at bay; seal up any dishes in the fridge; keep food on the table warm – the possibilities are endless. (If there are out of stock – and they might be, because they’re that good! – here’s an affordable, highly-rated dupe.)

The Homebody

Ember Heated Mug | Doordash Gift Card | Slippers

A toasty drink, a meal on your couch from your favorite restaurant, and warm cozy feet? SIGN ME UP. The Ember is a classic (read Em’s review here!), and these Ugg Slippers are high-quality and obscenely comfortable. (If you’re a Gen Z parent, your kid may have requested the now sold-out Tasmans – these are the next best thing!) And I mean…the Doordash is self-explanatory, no? (PS. This is also my go-to gift for new parents.)

The Social Butterfly

Uber Gift Card | Lyft Gift Card

Do you know what your most extroverted friend actually needs? A BREAK from spending a ton of money on rides every month! Help them get to-and-from their many social obligations safely with an Uber or Lyft gift card (or both, honestly – they can pick whichever service is more affordable at the time so each gift will help them go a little farther, literally!).

The Media Mogul

YouTube Premium | Criterion Collection | Basic Streaming

I gotta recommend the YouTube Premium gift – that’s what I got for Dennis last year and he requested it again! The process is a little laborious (you need to buy them a Google Play gift card in the amount of a subscription – $140 – and it’ll take some effort for them to redeem it towards their YouTube subscription, but it’s worth it if they watch as many videos as my boyfriend does :)). The Criterion Collection is actually an idea I stole from Den’s current streaming services, too – he’s a big movie buff and I feel like I never see folks highlighting the Criterion Collection’s service! And of course, in a pinch, you can cover a year of their favorite streaming service (or maybe even gift them one they don’t have yet – I’d take a Paramount+ subscription since I think it’s the only one I’m missing!).

The Forever Forgetful

Airtags | Airtag Keychain

I ALMOST FORGOT. (Ironic.) Over the last few years, Airtags have proven themselves to be incredibly useful – you’ll never lose your luggage, your keys, or your wallet again! (Pro tip: include a keychain, like this one, so they don’t accidentally lose their Airtag. Take it from me, a woman who misplaced FOUR driver’s licenses in 2023. Us memory-challenged folk need all the help we can get.)

PHEW. Okay. What say you? Any other great recommendations? We’re all ears. xx

Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The OFFICIAL First Farmhouse Christmas! (+ A Great Ribbon Hack And My Dream Color Palette)

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Published on December 14, 2023 01:00

December 12, 2023

Ask The Audience: Help Arlyn Decide On Some FUN Design Details For Her (Rental) Powder Bathroom

Fresh off my rental kitchen refresh, I’m back with another project that’s (sort of) been in the works for a few months without much movement. Welcome to my powder bath: a.k.a. a literal white blank box of a room with so much potential!

Before diving into what’s already locked in and what’s not—that’s where you come in—let me show you what we’re working with. It’s as boring as a chemistry textbook which is perfect because I don’t have as many limitations to work around like I did in my kitchen. The sky’s the limit (almost)!

The Befores

Like many powder baths, it’s a small narrow space. There’s literally zero storage in here but we don’t really need any, tbh. There’s a storage closet directly outside of here for extra toilet paper and well…that’s kind of all that’s to be expected of a powder bath, yeah? Everything you see here came with the rental except (obviously) any small decor. The light fixture is a very cheap IKEA vanity track, the shelf is polished nickel and green-edged glass, the faucet’s finish is kind of damaged from the hardish water we have here, though you can’t see it in the photos.

Another thing you can’t make out in the images is that the floor is a soft happy mint green, which I love. It’s reading white-ish here inaccurately.

Here are two pulled-back photos just so you can orient yourself. The powder bath sits at the end of a narrow tiny hallway of sorts, if you can even call it that. It’s basically a two-foot long and wide nook that houses that storage closet I mentioned, and then the door to the bathroom. All of those sit just outside of the kitchen and across from the dining space.

The Plans For The Afters

When we first moved here, I didn’t think I’d do anything in here. After all, my only real options were peel-and-stick wallpaper or paint to give this baby a transformation. I just felt exhausted at the thought of either (why is painting a bathroom a torture comparable to a thousand paper cuts??). But then, one day, I saw it. The perfect wallpaper.

If there’s one thing you should know about my husband Charles and me is that we are absolute, 100% diehard Back to the Future fans. It’s essentially the backbone of our relationship. Every year, we celebrate “Back to the Future Day” where we order a pizza and watch the first movie on November 5th, the day they go back to 1955. The tradition started on October 21, 2015, the date from the second movie where they went into the future, but we’ve since made some shifts for reasons too personal to share on this blog.

And since we live near where they filmed some of the pivotal scenes of the first and second movies, it only made sense that this bathroom became a tribute to the time travel franchise.

How so? Well…take a gander at this beaut. I introduce to you Hill Valley Toile, by Hygge & West:

Hill Valley Toile in McFly Red by Hygge & West

It’s not peel-and-stick, and permanently wallpapering a rental property isn’t something I want to undertake. BUT there are so many great solutions on the internet I can try, such as using a starch solution (though I read this attracts silverfish), or using double-sided tape atop painter’s tape to adhere the paper.

I immediately reached out and wrote up an email with our love story for the movies, and Hygge & West was kind enough to send me a roll large enough to cover every wall and ceiling of the bathroom. But then the roll sat there as I shifted focus to other things in my home. I made a few moodboards to try to decide on a new light fixture mostly but never went beyond that.

WELL GUESS WHAT! IT’S TIME TO PLAY DESIGNER AGAIN.

As this is the only bathroom on the living level, it’s the one that all guests see and use. To do the wallpaper justice, I decided to make a few simple swaps to make it sing, but I’d love your opinion, specifically with the vanity light.

Here’s what I’m considering:

The Vanity Light Options

The only difference in the above four images is the light fixture, as I mentioned. The mirror is something I already have from my old apartment (it used to live over my fireplace!), and it fits perfectly here. I’ve added in some brass fixtures rather than the brushed nickel that currently exists in the room because it needs warmth and character. I like the idea of this jute scalloped rug but I have some other options below, too. And finally, the vintage shelf feels Craftsman-y, which is apropos for my neighborhood and townhouse.

I tried two colorful options and two white and brass options. The red plays off the burgundy of the paper’s pattern, the mint ties in the floor tile, and the other choices are more standard in terms of colorway but one is traditional and one is modern.

Thoughts??

To Change The Mirror Or Not?

Wood Ledge | Vintage-Style Rug

Okay, so here’s another consideration: Do I try a different mirror? There really is no other black in the bathroom design so, does it feel out of place? I have a fairly strict “every room needs a touch of black” policy but something about this is making me question whether it’s the *right* place for black.

Rattan Mirror

I played around with adding in a more natural mirror, as I don’t want more brass. I love this woven/rattan option from West Elm that is the same size as my existing Schoolhouse mirror (30″ in diameter). I think I really like it…uh oh.

Oh, and you may notice that the wall shelf is different and that’s correct! At some point, I had dragged this walnut ledge into my Photoshop moodboard and I like how sleek it is. It’s a nice counterpoint to the mirror.

My Top Picks

Plaid Rug

As much as I’d rather not spend more money than I have to, I do like the addition of the non-black mirror. And after another look, I don’t love the mint vanity light, so it’s out. And the other one might be too modern for everything else in the room and this area of my home. So these are my top two favorites. I brought back in the vintage wall shelf because I like what it adds to the design, and tried this Anthropologie rug I always swoon over when I see it in other people’s homes. I like these both for numerous reasons and while I am leaning toward one of these, I’d love to hear from you.

Are you Team Have Some Fun With Red or are you Team Keep It Classy With White & Brass?

And please feel free to chime in about the mirror, too. This is an Ask the Audience post, after all. Any and all opinions are welcome in the comments.

I also took the liberty of rounding up a few affordable accessories I’ve Pinned to style out the space. Everything is under $50 and the perfect additions to spruce up your bathroom. Remember, you don’t need a complete overhaul to feel better about a room in your home. Sometimes, all you need is a new rug and a pretty tray. Okay?!?

1. Cotton Ticking Stripe Flatweave Rug | 2. Modern Resin Stone Toilet Brush Holder | 3. Rattan Tray Light Brown – Threshold | 4. Solid Bathroom Wastebasket Tan – Threshold | 5. 2’1″x3’2″ Indoor/Outdoor Plaid Accent Rug | 6. Rubber-Coated Blue Bathroom Canister | 7. Brice Rust and Tan Modern Geo Recycled Chindi Area Rug | 8. Mid-Century Contour Towel Ring | 9. Waffle Bath Towel | 10. Mid-Century Contour Toilet Paper Holder | 11. Smokey Glass Soap Pump Blue – Threshold | 12. Weaving Village Scalloped Natural Jute Area Rug, Navy Trim, 2×3

Thanks for taking a look, and I can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks both about my plans and about the options I’m considering.

Your friend in design, Arlyn

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Published on December 12, 2023 01:00

December 11, 2023

Birdie’s Bedroom Reveal!! Designing WITH (Not For) Your Kids, And How We Exploded This Room With Color

Welcome to the reveal of my 8-year-old daughter’s room, and while she is desperate to be a teenager it truly represents her personality, her sparkle, her happiness, and her love of color. I’m really crossing my fingers that we have years with most of the pieces. And y’all it was SO MUCH FUN. I know I’m extremely lucky to have a child who is currently really into what I’m also into (design) and that might not always be the case, so for now, I’m full-on celebrating this very special 2-year collaboration and I’ll always remember the first room that we designed TOGETHER. (As a caveat, if your kid doesn’t seem to care, then just do whatever you want (or don’t), both of my kids have real design and style OPINIONS which I absolutely appreciate and want to honor so I work closely with them).

My goal was to let her take the lead, knowing that this room needed to match her personality which is very fun, energetic, colorful, and happy and she has OPINIONS about design and color, which I love. She mostly just loves all the colors – thus the Schumacher Butterly wallpaper we chose (which is the main thing I’m nervous that she’ll beg to change as a tween, TBH). I wrote about it a while ago here, but one of the bigger mistakes I almost made was trying to mute the colors and tame it down a bit, fearful that it was going to look just chaotic and not have longevity. We were working on her dollhouse together when I heard her squeals of excitement for the colors and wallpaper we were using on it (which were WILD), and that’s when I let it all go and said, “ok girl, let’s make this room YOU”. (See below at the bottom on what my takeaway from that is now). Now onto the room!!!

WAIT! You Rearranged!

Ok, so two days before the shoot (and we really try to stick to deadlines these days), I flipped the bed on the opposite wall and all our problems were (almost) solved. It fixed the nightstand debacle because we didn’t have the limitations of the windows OR the closet door anymore. HOT TIP: Kids do NOT like to come home to their rooms rearranged, I think it feels weird to them, but it only took her a couple of hours to be on board which I fully understood. Once we put the bed here we played with our furniture again, the scallop table worked in the corner. Now, one of the only things I don’t love here is my vintage white Saarinen table (on the right) simply doesn’t read enough to make it look balanced, but in person, it is actually fine. Maybe one day I’ll stumble upon the perfect nightstand (maybe not). Anyway, thanks to all for encouraging the room to flip – IT WORKED.

The Art Studio Corner

This corner is my favorite because it is so functional for her to do arts and crafts, and yet so lively and fun, stylistically. She wants to be an artist and while I don’t need to give my opinion on how good she is, she is extremely prolific (produces 2-3 pieces a day), dedicated, and passionate and will sit there for hours and draw. I don’t know what I love more – the bulletin board we made together (see this DIY post), the hanging fringed lamp we bought together at the Monticello Antique Mall, or just how we kept the IKEA pedestal table I’ve had forever and found the right art cart to hold her supplies. It took a few tries to figure out how to arrange the room but in this corner (and with just one hanging light) it works so well.

And why yes, that is a disco ball on the ground (it’s where the sun hits the longest in the morning actually) and a giant paintbrush made by local artist Purl (@total_nonsequitur). We shot on the GLOOMIEST day, with no sun at all, so Gretchen used the flashlight on her phone to reflect light on the disco ball, but when there is sun it is extremely dreamy and reflects colorful light (from the window films) all over the room.

Art Cart | Green Pencil Holder

I LOVE that now the first thing you see is that vintage painting that I bought from local art dealer Fabius Grange. My goodness, it’s just incredible. It pulls in every single color in the room.

I got the art cart from Bed Bath and Beyond. It took me FOREVER to find one that would sneak under the table that didn’t look like a kitchen utility cart. This one is more suited for paints, but we were able to take out a shelf and put in crafting tools. Both of our kids take a watercolor class after school one day a week and they LOVE it. Typically we don’t allow painting up here (carpet and all) but I might put down a washable rug and let her paint with washable watercolor (I got these watercolor pencils for her for Christmas so I’m curious if this would make it less dangerous). I would love to change the wheels on the cart to something less office-y but I probably won’t at this point 🙂 I’ve had the desk chair forever (vintage Paul McCobb) and I bought the blue task lamp on Facebook Marketplace when we first moved here for $60.

Now for the other side of the room…TBH this is my least favorite shot because the side table just doesn’t show up!! Again, in person, it looked fine but here there is a clear imbalance and it drives me nuts. So I might change the table, but I wanted you to show how the room was laid out (also nice bed pillow styling, Emily, so messy). I mean, I could just paint that vintage tulip table, I’ve had it forever and shape-wise it’s a great contrast to the blue scallop table…TBD.

Desk (vintage) | Desk Paint Color | Mushroom Stool (custom upholstery with vintage quilt)

But this vintage scalloped table is SO CUTE now. I bought this also on Facebook Marketplace and it was awaiting its moment. Well, here it is. We painted it the week of the shoot this super dark blue/green called Rainstorm by Sherwin –Williams and it turned out PERFECT. This was one of the decisions that Birdie and I didn’t agree on (she wanted a bright teal or a purple). I pulled rank and said that if she didn’t like it we could repaint it together after the shoot, but I need to do what’s best for the whole room and this darker color would ground the corner and I think she would love it more long term. She came home from school and loved it.

You are probably staring at the CUTEST mushroom stool EVER. I bought the vintage quilt from Shop Wilma (a local awesome vintage dealer) and had ADF U pholstery make it into one of her signature mushroom stools. The kids fight over this stool (Charlie uses it for his drum set) so I want to find another quilt and make another one so they each have their own because my goodness they are perfect. Farmhouse, but make it playful.

Storage Bench | Patterned Throw Blanket (unavailable)

The storage bench has her costumes and adds a little bit of softness to the bedframe (which I still want to switch out for something more simple, modern, and upholstered but she really doesn’t want to so at this point I think we are keeping this rickety bed until we need to upgrade).

The sconces though…I’ve been hoarding these for a while, unsure where they should go. And while they are far too fancy for an 8-year-old’s room, they are perfect in here so somehow she’s the winner of these 1970s Italian beauties. They are incredible.

The table/desk is one of two places where she keeps all her “stuff” and she’s collected the porcelain swans while antiquing with me. And like I said, I’ve had that Saarinen side table and the yellow lamp forever – both vintage.

Did You Change The Window Shades?

Colorful Window Film | Brass Switchplate | Window Shades

You might notice that the window shades have changed. The function of the easy Decorview shades (and how insulating they are) was not something we could give up, but I didn’t love how they looked at the top of the vintage diamond windows. So I reached out to Twopages because I was really impressed with the shades in our family room, and within weeks these custom-sized and lined white Roman shades arrived. I designed them to be fully functional, of course, but what I LOVE is that they act as a valance and actually hide the insulation shades underneath, so we leave them up for the most part! Since the glass is original (and therefore very thin) we keep the “undershades” closed most of the day in the winter to not waste heat. I just love how the Romans made the room look so finished while keeping it looking cozy and modern.

Chair (vintage) | Round Pillow | Wicker Ottoman (vintage)

On the opposite side of the room (next to the painting) I put my second vintage Swedish chair (that no 8-year-old deserves but here we are) and it’s perfect. I may end up stealing it if it works in a more prominent room (the other one works perfectly in our guest room) but the scale works so well and I love how it pulls from the pink in the wallpaper, yet is a bit deeper and richer in a good way.

Wall Mirror | Jane Denton Wall Art | Shelves | Shelves Paint Color

Now for the other side of the room – we hung these cute scallop shelves (that we painted Silken Peacock by Sherwin-Wiliams) to display all her treasures, books, and art. We actually had to take off the brackets from the shelves and screw them into the wall because they hung off the wall in a slanted way, FYI, but once up, they are sturdy and so cute (I feel like it’s a design flaw and for $80 each should sit flush against the wall so I wanted to warn you).

Shelves | Shelves Paint Color

I’m obsessed with her little clay sculptures and that painting she made of Oscar and Buttercup (with her COVID nanny who was an incredible artist).

What Do I Want To Add/Change?

I like to play a new game called “If I could snap my fingers” which is an exercise on what I would change if I could, obviously, just snap my fingers. For this room, I really want to add crown molding. We tried a DIY that totally failed the week before the shoot (I’ll show you in a bit) but it just feels unfinished. We are working on Charlie’s room in 2024 so I want to wait until we know for sure if I want it in there too. If so I’ll hire someone to do them both. And yes, I would like to simplify the bed to help the room look more like the rest of the house, but I’m in no hurry anymore. Maybe I’ll find a different nightstand to balance out the blue table, but again, would likely be something vintage I stumble upon (and sadly the wicker-skirted table is too wide and high).

Listen, it was not without some style/decision bumps along the way. We didn’t agree on everything and we had a few conversations about complaining (and entitlement, my kryptonite) but we landed in a good place – aka “No I will not buy the $13 purple and lime green polyester canopy with LED lights you found via Pinterest, but yes, of course, you can use your own money to buy what you want after the photo shoot that is for our family business and I’ll happily help you:)” Of course now it’s all done she loves it so much and I get to hear her telling her friends how she made the bulletin board and chose all the colors (selective memory, I def had to tweak them when she wasn’t noticing). And after much begging, I even let her be in the YouTube video with me (where she proceeded to tell her friends she’s on YouTube. I was legit mortified that people thought that I’m encouraging my 8-year-old old to have a YouTube channel! I am not!!).

Designing WITH your kids instead of FOR your kids can be challenging and I’m very lucky that this was easy for me to challenge (this was my dream room when I was a kid). My best advice is to limit the choices, don’t let them shop online by themselves – even on Pinterest, and let them express themselves in the lower stakes pieces (like the window films), making sure that any major investments have longevity or flexibility. And you can always do what I shamelessly do and bribe her with shopping money and a doughnut to go vintage shopping with me, where we found so many cute things in her room.

Don’t forget to watch the long-form YouTube video! Below is a fun short version (Just wait for the short ad to play:))

Bedroom Resources:
Wallpaper: Schumacher
Carpet: Stark
Door Color: SW 6239 Upward
Trim Color: SW 7006 Extra White
Windows: Vintage
Colorful Window Film: See this post
Roman Shades: Twopages
Insulated Blinds: Decorview
Switchplates: Rejuvenation
Vintage Desk Paint Color: SW 6230 Rainstorm
Mushroom Stool Upholstery: ADF Upholstery
Gold Table Lamp: Schoolhouse
Shelves Paint Color: SW 9059 Silken Peacock
Wall Mirror: Bed Bath & Beyond
Large Wooden Paintbrush: Purl Samoheyl
Bed: Vintage
Bench: Bed Bath & Beyond
White Side Table: Vintage
Sconces: Vintage
Art Table: IKEA
Art Card: Bed Bath & Beyond
Wood Chair: Vintage

*Design by Emily and Elliot Henderson (and ARCIFORM)
**Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on December 11, 2023 01:00

December 10, 2023

The Link Up: The Disco Lightbulbs Emily’s Kids LOVE, Gretchen’s $10 Cure For Motion Sickness, And A Clutch Purse That Fits A Whole Wine Bottle

Happy Sunday everyone! This week we had a mini EHD retreat in LA that was quickly derailed by the flu. Cool, cool, cool. But we had one wonderful day of blog planning (yay!), connecting, and of course, eating. We also hope you had a nice (and healthier) week! Alright, before we get into this week’s links we have BIRDIE’S YOUTUBE REVEAL VIDEO ready with a little teaser version for you below (just wait for the short ad to play).

This week’s house tour is a 575-square Brooklyn loft that designer Holly Waterfield transformed into a three-bedroom for her and her two kids. It’s full of life, vintage, and a swing! It’s a really special space that will make you smile! Go check it out here.

From Emily: OK. As a mom of two kids who both love to party hard and dance in their rooms (curious where they got that), we’ve been a disco ball family since they were 4 and 6. The truth is most kids, given the chance to blast their own music with lights dancing on the ceilings, LOVE IT. So this year I found two different disco ball rotating LIGHT BULBS, meaning you don’t have to hang anything from the ceiling and you get mostly the same (if not cheaper) effect. One plugs directly into the wall and the only issue with it I found is that if something is directly above it, it might obstruct the light source but otherwise, it’s easy, cheap, and SO FUN. The other one I bought and tried is a lightbulb that you can put in your ceiling light (hard) or just a lamp (EASY). The lamp obviously can’t be one with a metal shade but if it’s a fabric shade it worked GREAT. I did a story about these on Instagram to demonstrate both of them so head over there today and check it out.

From Gretchen: I’ve dealt with car sickness all my life. It only happens when I ride as a passenger and weirdly doesn’t affect me in any other form of transportation, except the car. When it decides to rear its ugly head, it’s bad and nothing seems to help. BUT my friend recommended these motion sickness glasses because she said they’d helped her, and as stupid as they look (VERY), they really do work! The water inside them helps to maintain a horizon line, making the motion sickness subside pretty fast. I always keep these on me now!

From Mallory: I bought this t h r o w pillow recently and think it’s so cute and fun — it looks good literally anywhere so it would make an awesome gift!!

Pacific Northwest | Farm Toile

Max Humphrey just came out with his second wallpaper line with Chasing paper! It’s another perfect PNW collection that we really love. Go see all seven new designs here!

From Arlyn: Do you constantly have random oil and food stains all over your clothes and you can’t figure out why? WELL MY FRIENDS, IT’S BECAUSE YOU NEED TO WEAR AN APRON WHEN YOU COOK! I swear, I was a magnet for destroying a shirt with a blob of oil on my first wear. Did I already own a few old, crunchy, and frilly aprons that were rolled up in a ball in my laundry closet? Yes, yes I did. Turns out, I need an apron I actually like to want to fetch it every time I cook (which with a kid is like 6 times a day). Anyhow, I’ve wanted a Hadley & Bennett apron for about a year but just can’t justify spending over $100 for one. Then I saw this one from Target’s new Figmint line which is similar in look but only $15!!! I love the pockets in the front, the adjustable neck strap and the fact that it wraps properly around my wider-than-average hips. Grab one for yourself and a friend and then have a Christmas cookie bake date. 🙂

From Caitlin: Coming in hot with one final $50 gift recommendation for all the hard-to-shop-for people on your list: THE WINE CLUTCH PURSE. I grabbed one of these for a gift exchange with my skating team and it was a total hit (I did the pink champagne clutch, but the gold champagne clutch or red wine clutch are also very traditionally festive!). It’s a really nice way to dress up the bottle of wine you might give to a (fun :)) coworker or distant relative (and it’s novel enough to DOMINATE a white elephant, too, as I’ve learned). Full disclosure: I selfishly also bought one for myself (because I lack self-control) and I’m very excited to have an easy-to-carry bag for safely schlepping wine to some outdoor Cinespia screenings in the park next summer. A win all around!

From Jess: I found a new candle I love! I needed a candle because the whole EHD was coming over to my apartment and I wanted it to look AND smell good. I decided against a “holiday” scent and wanted to go fresh instead. This candle has notes of garden mint, lily of the valley, cucumber, citrus, and more. It’s subtle but SO lovely and would be a perfect gift too since it’s only $32 (a hard price to come by with luxury-smelling candles) and the dark glass jar is beautiful (and looks expensive). I will definitely be repurchasing this one.

Thanks for reading, have a great rest of the day, and see you tomorrow for Birdie’s full reveal:) Oh and here’s the link again for the full video!

Opening Image Credits: Design by Arlyn Hernandez | Styling by Emily Edith Bowser| Photography by Veronica Crawford | From: Arlyn’s Rental Kitchen Reveal Just Might Have You Wishing You Had Brown—Or Even Cherry— Cabinets (Yes, Really)

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Published on December 10, 2023 01:00

December 9, 2023

We Asked And You Delivered AGAIN – Here Are The Best Trader Joe’s Appetizers, Dips, And Food Hacks

A couple of years ago, I crowdsourced the best Trader Joe’s appetizers, dips, and food combinations and the response was AWESOME. I was so grateful! So since this is still such a great resource for delicious, affordable apps and snacks for any holiday party (or hanging at home), we wanted to see what was new on the Trader Joe’s shelves that were things not to miss. Again y’all did not disappoint so thank you! We put all of the new suggestions at the top but you can still see everything from the original post after. Everything is still just as tasty:)

I needed help and you seriously delivered. I’m bookmarking this page forever. I shopped exclusively from Trader Joe’s in my 20s (in New York) then in my 30s in LA until we moved back to Los Feliz and I couldn’t handle the 15 minutes it took to wait for parking, not to mention the line to check out. But now that I’m back in Portland, where running mom errands is a JOY. But I literally didn’t know what to bring to an appetizer/crafting get-together a couple of weeks ago. So we put it out there on social media and y’all seriously hooked us up. What we loved so much was how consistent you were – there are CLEAR favorites and not only that but so many of you recommended a combination of two apps that we would have never done (see below). So whether you are hoping for some easy cozy snacks while playing games or serving others this year, here are some appetizer recommendations from Trader Joe’s (unsponsored obviously).

Ok, first the new additions!

1. Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread: This was maybe the #1 suggestion when we asked people for their new favorite Trader Joe’s dips and spreads. Gretchen also made SURE it was on the list because she thinks it’s incredible. That’s a lot of praise across the board so y’all this should probably be on all of our shopping lists if you eat cheese.
2. Chunky Artichoke & Jalapeño: This was a big repeat suggestion and it’s easy to see why. Artichokes and jalapeños are incredibly delicious so matched in a dip only makes sense. Then grab a bag of delicious chips and you are set.
3. Vegan Carmelized Onion Dip: Another big repeat suggestion! This also sounds delicious and it’s always nice to have a vegan/dairy-free option for people that doesn’t skimp on flavor.

1. Organic Corn Chip Dippers + Everything and the Elote: Everything and the Elote dip was suggested A LOT. Very excited to try it. But when someone suggested the corn chip dippers it sounded like such a fun and easy combo that would be a huge crowd-pleaser.
2. Organic Jalapeño Seasoned Corn & Rice Puffs: This combo was actually a Gretchen rec! As stated before the Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread is a crowd favorite, to say the least. But there weren’t a ton of recommendations on what to eat it with. However, Grethen says they are incredible with the Jalapeño Seasoned Corn & Rice Puffs. According to her, “The puffs have just the right amount of spice and the spread finished it off perfectly”. She also loves the texture combo together!
3. Buffalo Style Chicken Poppers: These poppers were also recommended by a bunch of you and man do they look good! Fried, lots of flavor, and melted cheese? Sign us up.

1. Fig & Olive Crips + Cream Cheese + Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish: Talk about a perfect seasonal appetizer! Who doesn’t love those fig and olive crisps? And then you add that season relish on top of a little cream cheese? Try to keep me away:)
2. Triple Ginger Cookie Thins + Goat Cheese + Fresh Raspberry Jam: Another little delicious snack to assemble yourself or put on a cheese board for others to make themselves! This one is a little more of a dessert since the base is a cookie which I don’t think anyone will complain about. Ha.
3. Raisin Rosemary Crips + Goat Cheese + Honey: If you love the fig and olive crisps and you for some reason haven’t tried the raisin rosemary, then you are in for a treat! This combo is a total crowd-pleaser.

Baked Lemon Ricotta Cheese: I keep hearing about this cheese and how it’s more like a dessert! Y’all recommended pairing it with a berry compote which sounds so good. Definitely is a dish that is going to look and taste fancier than the price tag.

1. Spanakopita: So many of you recommended this. Everyone swears it’s a party hit and is great to have in a pinch.
2. Parmesan Pastry Pups: Sign me up for fancy pigs in a blanket any day of the week. Great for kids and adults!
3. Samosas: The samosas were another greatest hit in our DMs. You guys insist they are a super popular at parties or for a quick and easy snack.

1. Fried Stuffed Olives: I can’t wait to try these. They are breaded fried olives with cream cheese so I can imagine they would be gone very quickly at any gathering.
2. Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese: I am not at all surprised to hear these are fantastic. Jess Note: They are actual pieces of heaven on your mouth.
3. Chicken Cilantro Wontons: I know the frozen chicken potstickers are great but I haven’t tried these yet. I am excited to buy them next time I go to TJ’s.
4. Feta Cheese and Caramelized Onion Puffs: Oh these sound so delicious. A LOT of you said these are the best so I am very excited to try.

1. Buffalo Chicken Dip: This buffalo chicken dip is another clear winner. Y’all suggest pairing with bread or crackers and I imagine there are some great recipes you can use this in too.
2. Vegan Tzatziki Dip: You all said this is great paired with veggies and is a perfect vegan alternative for a dressing or dip.
3. Truffle Dip: If you have had anything truffle based you know it is RICH so I bet this dip would pair so well with celery or carrots.

1. Baked Brie: This baked brie en croûte looks delicious. It looks and tastes fancy and everyone loves bread and cheese, right?
2. Corn Salsa: I didn’t realize tomato-less salsa is such a thing but now I know. We are told that pairing the corn salsa with their blue corn tortilla chips is absolutely delicious.
3. Spinach Artichoke Dip: Almost everyone in the DMs noted that the frozen spinach and artichoke dip is killer.

1. Cooked Lentils + Crumbled Feta + Bruschetta Sauce: We were all blown away by how many of your recommended this combination. You guys suggest putting the mixture on a crostini, crackers, or just serving as a salad. I can’t wait to try.
2. Croissants with Spinach Artichoke Dip: YUM. Bread
+ creamy spinach and artichoke dip never misses.
3. Triple Cream Brie with Raisin Rosemary Crackers: So many of you swear by the triple cream brie cheese and a huge number also suggest pairing it with the raisin rosemary crackers.

1. Roll Goat Cheese in Everything But The Bagel Seasoning and Serve with Crackers: I knew Everything But The Bagel Seasoning was popular and now I am so excited to try it with goat cheese the next time we do a charcuterie board.
2. Pair Brie with Fig Butter on Crackers: Again, the triple cream brie was a very popular suggestion and the fig butter is supposed to pair with it perfectly.
3. Blueberry Goat Cheese and Pepper Jelly: This is a very interesting pairing that I am intrigued to try! A TON of you told us the pepper jelly is a staple and pairs well with so many things.

Big thanks to everyone who sent us their recs and please if you have more drop them in the comments. xx

Opening Image Credit: Design and Styled by Jess Bunge | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: How To Have Great Holiday Cocktail Party In A Tiny Apartment (All the Hacks You Need to Know)

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Published on December 09, 2023 01:00

December 8, 2023

How We Used Colored Window Film On Birdie’s Windows – Spoiler: It Was A Super Fast, Cheap, And Easy DIY

Last summer, while at the famously neutral mountain house, Birdie and I had, let’s just say a “debate” about my use of color. She was fearful that my taste/style was rather boring. I really understood but I wanted to reassure her that I still got it (hilarious that I was desperate to prove to my 7-year-old that I can do “young” and “fun”). So I went on the internet and showed her a few of the past rooms that she hadn’t seen, including the Ban.do office – full of disco balls and colorful window film and she squealed with delight. It reminded both of us how much fun color can be and while her room was already dripping with a lot of it, I agreed that putting colorful films on the diamond pattern of her windows would be so fun (and so easily removable should it be “too much”).

As you can see the room has the most beautiful vintage windows, shaky glass and all. And while the room didn’t need more color, there was certainly an opportunity to take it up a notch and ensure that my now 8-year-old thinks I’m “the coolest, forever” (her words, not mine and she pinky swore).

So I ordered WAYYYY too much, mostly because on the internet when they were all rolled up I couldn’t tell what they would really look like.

Blue | Yellow | Pink | Green

So I ordered yellow, teal, hot pink, and green (along with some opaque ones that just looked like weird floral privacy glass).

[image error]

The whole thing was pretty easy besides making sure that the squares and triangles measurements were perfect (shout out to Gretchen for helping with that).

It’s honestly the simplest process – you just need a spray bottle of water and a squeegee. You spray the window and then place the film which attaches itself immediately. Then squeegee out the excess water, spreading it around evenly. Catch the excess water with a towel and then move on to the next. So obviously if you don’t have the grids or don’t have, say 114-year-old windows with no real 90 degrees, then it would be easier 🙂

It was so easy I clearly was taking a nap while installing on camera. Anyone can do it! In your sleep!

And there you have it (and she LOVES IT). Now the ONLY downside to this, which I didn’t notice til we were done is that window you see above, is that they are double-sided and you can also see these colored windows from the outside. So when you are driving up it looks like three windows are stained glass in non-historic pastel colors. I don’t really care because we live very off of a neighborhood road, but I suppose if our house faced the front in a neighborhood it could look weird. Again, because it’s so easy to remove I’m not worried about it (but it is screwing up my fantasy of wreathing all our windows, which I fear might just need to happen next year anyway).

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on December 08, 2023 01:00

How We Used Colored Window Film To Birdie’s Windows – Spoiler: It Was A Super Fast, Cheap, And Easy DIY

So I ordered WAYYYY too much, mostly because on the internet when they were all rolled up I couldn’t tell what they would really look like.

Blue | Yellow | Pink | Green

So I ordered yellow, teal, hot pink, and green (along with some opaque ones that just looked like weird floral privacy glass).

[image error]

The whole thing was pretty easy besides making sure that the squares and triangles measurements were perfect (shout out to Gretchen for helping with that).

It was so easy I clearly was taking a nap while installing on camera. Anyone can do it! In your sleep!

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on December 08, 2023 01:00

December 7, 2023

How We Made A Custom Corkboard For Birdie’s Bedroom

Y’all, I’m not a big DIYer, but there is a huge hole in the market for large and fun bulletin boards so we had to tackle this one and I’m soooo proud of us. Of course, it ended up being a little expensive and quite laborious (like most good DIYs are – ask all the DIY content creators out there) but it was fun and not “hard”. Just required some time/money (but I have good ideas on how you could recreate it and be much cheaper). A huge thanks to Gretchen’s mom, a former teacher, for giving me this huge school-grade bulletin board.

The vintage bulletin board we had to work with (admittedly hard to find) was 6′ x 3′ – so she was BIG and also very heavy. Initially, I wanted to redo it and lean it vertically over here. But let’s just get into the DIY steps:)

Step One: Paint It White

We used acrylic paint in a creamy white (matched to the wallpaper) so that it doesn’t look too yellow or too stark.

Step Two: Prepping The Wooden Ball Knobs

Playing off the Jenny Lind bed style (yes, the one that I might change) I wanted this beaded frame look. So playful and fun (and certainly a trend). But there weren’t any fun cork boards that were big and so many that were small. So we would have to make it.

The Inspiration:

Rowan Valley Linden Bed | Jenny Lind Kids Maple Wood Spindle Bed | Webster Bed

Unfinished Wood Ball Knobs

Instead of buying 1/2 balls, we found these knobs that almost have that “full ball look” (surely there is a more technical term) and committed to gluing them on. You can also buy strips of this look which I think is a way more affordable and easier thing to execute, but we went full balls to the walls on this one (quite literally).

Gretchen spearheaded this one and shoved them all on popsicle sticks in order to be able to paint them completely. This was the summer so we could do it outside.

Step Three: Paint Them Pink

I should say that Birdie chose the color and I didn’t push back. It’s SO FUN and I knew this could be a place where she could assert her style. Obviously, spray painting was a VERY fun place to involve her (she helped with the gluing, too).

This setup made all our guests triple-take – WHAT IS THAT? They took two coats and we got super messy, but shoving them into cardboard worked really well.

Step Four: Paint The Frame Pink

Then we spray-painted the frame itself knowing that you’d see the frame underneath the balls.

Nothing makes me happier than doing these projects with my kids, in the name of work. And we all know that involving them in the design AND hard work/process makes them more invested and value it all more. Not all kids want to be as involved, but she does which is why the room has stayed so true to her.

Step Five: Glue On The Pink, Wooden Balls

Ok here’s where we learned a few things. We popped the wood off the popscilce sticks and got to glueing. We bought two different types of gorilla glue, not realizing that one would try clear and the other beige. We stopped after like 12 balls, but they were already adhered and you could see it outside of the pink.

It was hard to keep them super straight and not wonky along the frame. The clear glue totally worked, but don’t use any non-clear glue. We still plan to go back and touch up, but it requires us to spray the spray paint into a bowl and use a tiny brush. You can barely see it, but it does bug me.

Step Six: Add Art & Hang!

Originally I wanted to just lean it, but Birdie REALLY wanted it hung. I think in her mind it would look more like a grownup board and more professional if it’s hung on the wall horizontally, which I totally get.

We centered it on the wall, knowing that her round white art table (which isn’t my favorite but so functional) makes the whole thing work for her needs (and you bet the disco ball reflects the light so perfectly.

It turned out pretty darn cute. And as you can see, using the *almost* full wooden balls versus a 1/2 ball gave it more texture and dimensions. I also think the scale of them worked really well with the scale of the bulletin board. Projecting out further like they do helps it look really “high-end” and intentional.

*Pretty Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on December 07, 2023 01:00

December 6, 2023

Stumped On Actually GOOD Affordable Gifts?? We’ve Got 50 Ideas Under $50 That Everyone Will Love And Use

Look, as much as we’d love for money to not be a factor in our gift-giving…it is. And sure, there are always those nearest and dearest that we may splurge a little extra on each year. However, the amount of gifts can add up fast! So not only do you have a list of people you want to shop for, but you also want to come up with actually good ideas because what’s worse than getting someone a gift they’re not even going to use?? This is at least what I have experienced most years. I wanted to come up with a really great list of gifts that are not only all under $50 but also can be given to anyone on your list! Ok, maybe kids aren’t the key target for these suggestions but go to our kids and Gen Z gift guides for those gift recommendations. Ok, let’s start crossing off that list!

A p p l e AirTag

I genuinely want one of these!! They are perfect for travel (stick one in your suitcase if you check your bag), and are a great way to keep track of your keys or purse. I actually had a friend who was able to track down her lost luggage because of one. There are so many ways to use them so for under $30, it’s an excellent and practical gift.

Wireless Charger | Wireless Running Earbuds

Two other great tech gifts are a wireless charger and a pair of earbuds that will actually stay in your ears. I love how pretty and simple that linen-covered wireless charger is! It’s neural and special and would look great in any home. Then these are Em’s favorite earbuds full stop! I will admit they are a couple of dollars over the $50 limit but they come SO highly recommended that I couldn’t not include them. It’s the only one over $50, I promise! Here is what Em has said about them in the past:

“As an avid podcast listener (2-3 hours a day between walking dogs, cooking, and cleaning), I have tried many headphones and it’s been hard to find any that stay in my ears comfortably without falling out, getting lost, last a long time without needing a charge, and aren’t glitchy. These are extra good because they last the longest (hours and hours – I feel like I plug in every other day) and can be far away from the phone should you be cleaning and set it in another room. I’ve tried 3-4 different others since lockdown (eventually I’ll lose one of them – I don’t know how people don’t) and these are by far my favorites (and HOT TIP! I only walk dogs and clean house with one in at a time so I can hear surroundings). They do not have a mic though, so they aren’t for phone or Zoom calls.”

NY Yankees Baseball Cap | LA Dodgers Baseball Cap

Baseball hats are such a good gift. Why? Well, if you have a sports fan in your life then they’ll likely love this kind of merch and B. Baseball hats are very on trend right now in general (I know that sounds dumb since people never stopped wearing them but they are more popular than maybe ever.) And while I don’t want to start any fights, Yankees and Dodgers hats are the most popular baseball hats to wear (fan or not). SORRY TO THE OTHER TEAMS! But what I love about these particular hats is the black-on-black. They are a little more subtle, look cool, and anyone can wear them. I do have the Dodger hats and get compliments on it almost every time I wear it.

C a r h a r t t Knit Cuffed Beanie

Look, it’s going to be cold for a while so might as well gift the coolest beanie out there, the Carhartt knit cuffed beanie. It’s that “I’m not trying to be cool” cool beanie that anyone can rock (teens are fans too FYI).

Colored Glass Cruet

Emily has said it before but gifting a beautiful cruet is SUCH a great gift! It’s the kind of thing you rarely buy for yourself because it feels like a silly luxury. But the beauty it brings to a kitchen is A LOT. My cousin actually gifted me the amber one above last year and it makes me smile every time I walk into my kitchen.

Cook This Book: Techniques That Teach and Recipes to Repeat | More Is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen

While I’ve only cooked from Cook This Book a couple of times it’s SO GOOD! Julie had long been trying to get me to buy it and once I did I understood. Molly Baz, the chef and author, explains things so easily but also includes a bunch of QR codes throughout the book that show you a how-to video of what she’s trying to explain. It’s awesome and DELICIOUS. More Is More just came out so if your person already has the first maybe snag the second. Or get both! The combo adds up to about $50:)

Pickling Kit | Triple Threat Sauce Trio

Keeping on the food train, either of these would be great for the food lover in your life. This pickling kit just sounds fun and a cool activity for even a noncook like me! And if you haven’t tried a sauce from Fly by Jing then maybe you should also buy this trio for yourself. They’ll make any dish taste better.

Gooseneck Electric Water Kettle

This is such a useful thing to have if they don’t own one. I know this because I used to have an electric kettle and now I don’t. I just need to buy one already! This is the one above is what Em has and she loves it. For $30 it’s so cute and wildly functional. For the tea drinker, the Cup of Noodles eater, and everyone in between will use and love this gift.

Mini Waffle Maker

Now, this has been on my list for a minute. Sure, being able to make a mini waffle is great but there are soooo many other things I’ve seen people make with it. Like this spicy salmon crispy rice meal! Plus it’s so small that you can easily tuck it away. Considering it’s only $15 I really just need to buy it for myself.

Abi Spoon Rest | Cotton Striped Oven Mitt and Pot Holder Set

Want more pretty kitchen accessory ideas that people tend to not buy for themselves? A big one is a spoon rest. I don’t even have one! Ridiculous, I know:) It’s helpful to know their style but this one is gorgeous and very in while being totally classic. They also have a butter dish and salt and pepper shakers if you’d prefer those instead. Or if you want to go for a super but pretty safe option, a new oven mitt and pot holder set with a simple striped pattern, like the $10 one above, goes with almost any style and always comes in handy.

Dual Sided Terry Kitchen Towels

Another useful and safe gift? Kitchen towels! These are from Target’s new line called Figment. Each one is only $3 so you can grab a few if you want for the same person or grab a few to give to different people and maybe add one of your favorite recipes on a card to go with it. Easy and thoughtful.

Raina Chalice | Bow Vases

A “simple but special” vase or planter is almost always a gift someone is going to love! I have personally bought two people the bow vase and they both loved it. Actually, that was the vase I gave Arlyn when I did the first “compliment jar” for our EHD Secret Santa years ago! The other chalice is one I have my eye on that I might just have to snag for myself:) The shape is so pretty, classic, yet a little unexpected so it’s a win-win-win.

Redwood Snips

A pair of pretty clippers is one of those things you are so happy you have when you all of a sudden need them! I love the mixed metals of this one and how classic they look. Throw in a bouquet of flowers if you want to add to the gift a little.

Wrapped Stones | Cast Iron Match Striker

More decor? Why of course! Y’all these wrapped stones are SO PRETTY and are perfect for the person who has everything and loves design. This isn’t something that you’d usually spend money on for yourself but we promise the recipient will be thanking you for making their home look and feel cooler. A matchstriker also falls into the “won’t buy yourself but want” category. This one is interesting but simple and works with any style. Who doesn’t have candles that need to be lit? Light those babies in style!

Sandalwood + Smoke Lidded Wood Wick Jar Candle | Forest Fir Jar Candle | Maison Louis Marie Candle

Speaking of lighting candles here are three we highly endorse. The first one is Threshold’s Sandalwood + Smoke. It’s earthy which I LOVE and has a crackling wood wick so it sounds like a fireplace. Huge fan and it’s only $13. Then Forest Fir is Target’s version of the famous Fraiser Fir but a bit more affordable since they start at $5 and max at $30 for the big one. It’s basically a Christmas forest in your home but in the best way. Last is one of my favorite candle brands, Maison Louis Marie. It’s a little bit more expensive at $38 but they are incredible. One of my favorites (Thanks to Sara) is the Neige De Printemps. 10/10.

Black Metal Snuffer | Brass Finished Candle Snuffer | Metal & Wood Candle Snuffer

Now to round out the candle talk, a snuffer is a great additional or stand-alone gift. These all range from $10 to $16 and are so cute! Another slightly forgotten-about but fun and pretty tool!

Brass Alphabet Coasters

Chances are your person drinks out of cups and has a first or last name. Enter these beautiful coasters! My neighbor fell in love with these coasters when we were designing her and her husband’s be d room. Of course, then we got one for her and one for her husband with each of their initials. NO STEALING! But truly, the patina on the brass is so pretty and I think anyone would love to get one or two of these.

Checkerboard Fleece Throw | Textured Faux Fur Reversible Throw Blanket

We are people that believe in cozy and beautiful things so these two fuzzy throws fit the bill perfectly. I love the subtle but graphic pattern on the blue one so much! It is on sale for $39 at the moment so if you think the person on your list would love it I would snag it sooner than later. Then the beautiful faux fur on e on the right is a Henderson favorite! They used to argue over them so Emily bought one for each family member (pretty doable since they are $25). That was convincing enough for me to buy my best friend one for Christmas last year and she loves it. It also comes in three other pretty colors!

Scalp Revival Shampoo + Scalp Massager Gift Set | Complete Scalp & Hair Oil, Air Dry Cream and Recovery Serum Set

If your person has a scalp then a little TLC will likely be super appreciated! Especially if it’s from either of these incredible brands. I’ve used Briogeo before and loved their products. I haven’t tried this shampoo yet but it has a 4-star rating from 3k people soooo…I think should. Plus with this gift set, you are also getting them a scalp massager. Win-win! Then with the JVN Essentials gift set, I have tried both the air dry cream and the instant recovery serum (a heat protectant) and truly love both of them. I am telling you either of these gifts would kill and are both under $33.

SPF Bestsellers Kit

Nothing says “I care about you and want you to live a long time” than giving someone the gift of sun protection. But seriously, our team loves all of these sunscreens. You can’t go wrong and with this set, they can see what they like best! They’ll be thanking you<3

Jet Lag Mask + Moisturizer

I bought this for my trip to London because I was trying to avoid showing up as a dry piece of sandpaper when I arrived. The internet was raving about it so I gave it a try! And well, I love it and have continued to use it as a moisturizer when my skin is extra dry. But you can also just use it as a mask. It’s very versatile and $26 for the “mini” size. I promise it’s not that mini and worth it.

Everyday Oil | Peptide Lip Treatment

I’ve talked about this body/face oil before and knew it was perfect for this list. It smells so good that one could skip their perfume. But the smell is beautiful and super natural. Oh, and it can also be used as an oil cleanser or makeup remover. What can’t it do? But if you want to go “trendy” but actually good, people have been ALL about this lip balm/treatment. It comes in clear but also a few colors if you want to try to pick one out for your person. Sometimes getting to try a viral internet product is really fun:)

Henry Rose Unisex Perfume Discovery Set

Did you know Michelle Pfeiffer created a fine perfume brand with ingredient transparency? You should really listen to her whole story on this podcast episode because it’s so interesting and inspiring. And what came out of it was a stunning unisex perfume brand, Henry Rose. My friend got their Discovery set last year and was obsessed with it! It’s such a fun gift for you person to get to play with lots of different sophisticated scents:)

Le Labo Hinoki Shower Gel | Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash

Want more wonderfully scented luxuries?? You might remember me raving about the Le Labo shower gel a few months ago and I still love it just as much. It really makes every shower better. So maybe someone in your life could use a little luxury that they wouldn’t spend on themselves…do it for them! And then while it’s not a new product, the Aesop hand wash is also just out of this world special. Yes, $41 is a lot for soap but it always lasted me so long and made me love washing my hands. The scent is amazing and your hands feel so soft. I would LOVE to get this as a gift.

Fresh Peaches Toilet Paper Gel

Maybe you’d want to gift this gift to a close friend or family member (or it’s an EXCELLENT white elephant gift). This toilet paper gel makes any piece of toilet paper a wet wipe! It doesn’t make the toilet paper too soft so there’s no breakage (I do fold a few pieces together FYI). But seriously, it’s such an amazing product and is way better for the earth since your toilet paper is actually safe to flush. It might be a funny gift at first but trust me they will be thanking you.

Indoor/Outdoor Camping Hammock with Tree Straps | Portable Garment Steamer

Mallory and Emily have convinced me of the hammock lifestyle so I highly endorse getting this hammock for any person on your list that likes to be outside. The “outside” they love could even just be their backward with two trees. Or this could be another great white elephant gift idea! Oh and one last white elephant idea or regular gift idea for that matter. I can’t tell you how much I use my steamer. It’s a godsend because it’s easy and I use my iron waaaaay less. It’s for sure a “practical” gift but a great practical gift if they don’t have one.

Hope these were helpful and you were able to cross a bunch of people off your list! Happy shopping and for more ideas you can always head to our gift guide page🙂

Love you, mean it.

Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The OFFICIAL First Farmhouse Christmas! (+ A Great Ribbon Hack And My Dream Color Palette)

The post Stumped On Actually GOOD Affordable Gifts?? We’ve Got 50 Ideas Under $50 That Everyone Will Love And Use appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on December 06, 2023 01:00

December 5, 2023

Arlyn’s Rental Kitchen Reveal Just Might Have You Wishing You Had Brown—Or Even Cherry— Cabinets (Yes, Really)

Picture this: You’re given a can of paint and told that you have to make the color work in your home no matter what it is. You prop open the lid and see a hue that you frankly just don’t like. But the rule states that sorry, gotta use it and good luck making it look good. Well…that’s kind of how it works when you live somewhere with a specific tone on your kitchen cabinets you don’t love with no power to change them.

The twist here is this is my favorite type of challenge. The challenge with hard limitations. It forces me to try new things and come up with solutions I wouldn’t have had to think through if I started with a blank slate or even had some choice in the matter.

Is this my dream kitchen? No. I can’t say that it is. But is it a kitchen that I made visually work for me that now feels so much more welcoming? I’d say so. I’m really happy with how this turned out, even if many parts of it require a “don’t look too closely” warning label (keep reading). The act of pulling open my little cafe curtains every morning to let the sun stream in is ritualistic at this point, as is lifting the Roman shades in the breakfast nook. It’s what happens just before the kitchen is saturated with the smell of brewing espresso, the rush of a family of three prepping breakfast, and the beginning of a parade of toys being scattered across the floor throughout the day. I love it. And I hope you do, too.

So, let’s take a look, shall we? Welcome to my little perfectly imperfect rental kitchen makeover.

How I Reimagined the Cherry Cabinets in My Rental Kitchen

The biggest change in this space is the backsplash you see in the above photo. When we first moved in, it was just a semi-gloss white textured wall. It felt stark against the not-quite-green-not-quite-yellow-sort-of-brownish countertop, which in turn made the dark brownish cherry cabinet stain feel even stronger. It was all too much contrast, and I knew I needed to mellow things out by bringing in tonal materials, adding a helping of lighter wood finishes and then just making it as charming as I could without veering too close to the grandmother’s cottage from Little Red Riding Hood.

Miss Honey’s cottage from Maltida, though? That…that was more in line with what I wanted. Admittedly, the visual notes were very different in my memory than they were in real life when I referenced photos from that movie, but it still works, IMHO.

As a quick reminder, this is a rough checklist of what I wanted to accomplish and/or change here:

Add a removable (peel-and-stick) backsplashChange hardware to something warmer and less 2003Swap rug to limit the amount of red in the room Get appliance finishes to match Find a better storage solution to clear off all the small appliances on the countersCreate breakfast nookReplace broken vertical blinds in the breakfast nook with some sort of drapery or fabric situationSwap mini blinds by sink windowAdd color and personality somehowMaybe improve the floorsReplace flush mount in breakfast nook with something softer (The light was intense)

You can read through all my “whys” and see more before photos in my original post as well as this update post.

Besides the floors (more on that in a bit), I was able to accomplish everything on my list. And the difference it has all made makes me *like* my cabinets. If I were my own teacher, I’d give myself an A for effort. 🙂

This little corner is where I essentially live in this kitchen. It’s where I do all my chopping, plating, and prepping for meals. I used to have my microwave caddy cornered there and every single day, I hated it. For some reason, it felt like a problem I had no control over changing, and then one day, I said ENOUGH, and moved it over next to the fridge and never looked back. Instead of two chopped-up slivers of counter to work with, I opened up a proper expanse of surface area and I don’t know why such a simple solution never crossed my mind prior. Funny how that can be sometimes, huh?

While I wish I didn’t have to eat up a quarter of my counters with a microwave, the truth is, we use it every day and there was no room for it anywhere else that made sense. Some people in my original intro post suggested I move it to the area where the breakfast nook is now, but there isn’t a plug on that wall and a giant extension cord is not something I wanted to look at every day. So this is where it lives now, and honestly, it’s fine. Everything doesn’t have to be “Instagram perfect” to work for your life. In fact, it’s usually more convenient when it’s not…

The other improvement to my workflow was creating a produce station here. Before, I had a bowl of fruit (strangely) over by the sink/coffee area, a two-tiered produce basket where the microwave is now, and another small bowl kind of propped wherever I could fit it because there were too many gosh dang things on the counter. It’s not a large space, so it didn’t cost me much to turn around and grab a lemon from the other side but still…it wasn’t efficient. Now, I use up the large, deep corner that wouldn’t be useful to me in any other way with all my produce (in real life, there’s an additional large bowl here holding even more fruit because we are a produce-obsessed household and I needed more vessels than looked pretty for a shoot).

A Serendipitous Rug And A Crappy Backsplash

I explained in this article how I got to this rug but I’ll quickly rehash it for anyone who doesn’t want to leave my pretty images to look at another process post (who could blame ya?). The red rug I used to have here was a holdover from three apartments ago. I just moved it from kitchen to kitchen to kitchen even if it wasn’t ideal, and it was *really* not ideal in here. It was a $20 vintage number I bought at ReStore nearly a decade ago and it was scratchy, produced a ridiculous amount of weird blackish lint and never looked or felt clean, even if I had just cleaned it. I picked a pretty Ruggable rug instead with the appeal of being able to throw it in the washing machine whenever it needed it. But the colors didn’t match what I fell in love with about it online, and every day I’d walk in, look down at it, and think “Bummer.”

I was OVER spending money, so I hit up Facebook Marketplace on a whim one day and saw this beauty for $100. It was exactly the size and color I wanted/needed and after a touch of haggling (I would have to drive down to Long Beach to get it which is a trek from Pasadena), we settled on $80. I put my toddler in her car seat faster than food burns under a broiler, drove the hour south and scooped up my dream rug. I’m SO happy with it and because it has a dense wool pile, it cleans very easily. So far, we haven’t had any major spills and I hope for it to stay that way.

Another bummer is actually the backsplash I picked, sadly. Yes, as a whole, I like the way it ended up looking, but it started peeling off the wall meer days after installation. Every day, I have to press in detached pieces. I’ve added more tape and other adhesives and no-go. I know the semi-gloss paint and wall texture are the main culprit here so perhaps you’d have better luck with it, but…it sucks.

Striped Drapery Fabric (gifted) | Cafe Curtain Rod | Cafe Curtain Mounting Hardware

Creating Charm With DIYed Cafe Curtains

This is my favorite photo of the entire bunch because it’s just a tad ludicrous. No one has a sink full of blooms and branches ever but I asked Bowser to make it happen (remember…Miss Honey’s Cottage inspo at work here). Besides that, the little cafe curtain moment is darling, isn’t it? I picked this pinstripe linen fabric from Tonic Living very early on, and it couldn’t be more perfect. Up close, my sewing handy work is…a bit wonky, but from afar you can barely notice that my seams are crooked! Huzzah! I bought some pinch pleat tape from Amazon, sewed that on, and then hand-sewed the pleats together at each meeting point. I hung the curtain at the point where we couldn’t see our back neighbor’s kitchen window but there was still plenty of room above for sunlight and moonlight (about 2/3 up is usually a safe bet).

The rod was such a mission that came together in quite a serendipitous moment. My friends, I ordered three tension rods to try here. The first one was flimsy and buckled in the middle. The second one didn’t even fit in the very narrow frame allowance (it’s under two inches). The third one fit but felt so bulky. It was too late to order a custom-cut rod from Rejuvenation, so I was kind of panicking. That is until a designer I follow posted about a store called Shade Doctor of Maine from which she had just bought a custom-cut cafe curtain rod. I immediately clicked over and saw the price was super affordable ($25 for the custom-cut rod and $10 for the inside-mount brackets), and it could be made and shipped on time. The owner even called me the next day to confirm all my measurements and mailed it straight away after that. It was a design godsend, I tell ya.

I opted not to worry about the fact that my faucet was still brushed nickel. Would a beautiful brass fixture have been great here? Yeah, but…I just didn’t care enough by the end. It’s totally fine, and frankly, works well to pick up the brushed stainless of the appliances.

Oh, and the hardware? Bought it for SUPER cheap on an Amazon Prime Day deal back in July. I confess I hated them when they arrived, being sort of a frosted light brass but after a few days of living with them, I was okay. I love what the cup on all the drawers adds. Traditional and hearty, like a good beef stew.

Burlwood Tray | Sink Caddy | Glass Cannisters | Striped Roman Shade Fabric (gifted)

Here’s our little coffee and tea station, which didn’t change much. I just corraled everything in a pretty tray, swapped a bulky espresso pod holder that used to live under my Nespresso machine for some glass canisters, and never looked back. It works, it’s pretty enough, and yeah…a tray is the one great design elixir of life.

I do have to admit something. A trash can typically lives between the side of the cabinet and the chair you see here. SUE ME! PUT ME IN JAIL. It’s a very slim profile Simplehuman I’ve had for five years and we are all surviving. Is it as pretty as this? No, but real life is ugly-ish sometimes, readers. Charles and I talked about putting small cans under the kitchen sink, but as we are not Rockefellers, we do not have the luxury of extra storage space and need to leave that open for other things. So alas, it lives where it lives, even if I have to lie about it in a photo on the Internet.

Yes, I Bought All My Appliances Secondhand

LOOK AT THIS BIG GIRL WITH HER MOMMY IN A VERY WRINKLED DRESS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE PACKAGING!!!! I cannot get this child off this stool. You’ll usually find her standing at the counter with my knee pressed up against her back as she cuts a banana with a butter knife. It’s the only way I can cook without having to hold her to see what I’m doing (and yes, a proper learning tower is on our list to buy which will be a better option).

Before moving on to the breakfast nook, I just want to appreciate how hard I worked (truly) to find matching appliances all secondhand on budget. I talk a little more about it here (and fully go into every single detail on a post I wrote on a different site if you’re interested), but it took me since last March to make this happen. Quick anecdote: I found a wonderful KitchenAid French door fridge for $600 that the owner just wanted out of her house (she was moving). It took days to talk her down in price because that was my max budget knowing delivery would be another $200ish. I just ASSUMED a standard size would fit, so I celebrated my win prematurely, ordered a pick-up service and when they were on their way to the lady’s house to grab the fridge, I decided…you know what…let me just measure. AND IT WOULDN’T HAVE FIT. The counter is cut just a touch too long on the right side and the opening is at max 35.5″. A standard width fridge is 36″ (but actually 35.75″ to build in space around it for ventilation). I immediately canceled the delivery service and felt awful and deflated.

The lady was nice enough to let me go to her home, measure the fridge just to be sure it was larger than 35.5″ (it was), and then I had to walk away from it. Let me tell you…finding a 33″ fridge in a counter depth (this space required that) was near IMPOSSIBLE. I’m not exaggerating when I say they make I think three models that fit that bill. ON THE ENTIRE MARKET. And then to try to find one of those secondhand, well, Everest territory.

BUT I DID IT. And the rush of exhilaration I felt is what I imagine stock brokers feel when they do stock broker things that make them a lot of money. I love our fridge, and while you don’t see it that well in these photos, it makes me quite happy every day.

Carving Out A Breakfast Nook (& My ~$35 Roman Shade Solution)

LOOK AT THIS BIG GIRL IN HER NEW BREAKFAST NOOK WITH A FREE BALLOON THE PAVILIONS CASHIER GAVE HER BECAUSE SHE WAS THE CUTEST BIG GIRL IN THE WORLD. I LOVE this breakfast nook. I LOVE IT. I sit in that same chair as Evelyn every day drinking my morning coffee, looking out onto the street and the trees and no one can steal that joy from me.

Just like everything in here, finding a table in the finish I wanted but in the size I needed was also not an easy feat. Anything wider than 32″ would not fit in here with chairs and room to open the laundry doors. West Elm came in clutch with this bistro baby I called around all of Los Angeles to find. The Craftsman-like profile is an ode to the outrageously charming original Craftsman houses on the street where I live, while the neutral wood finish nicely balances the red cabinets.

The chairs were another Facebook Marketplace find for around $60. Just a few bolts tightened, some cleaning and new upholstery were all it took to make them work perfectly in here. With banana hands constantly touching my fabrics, I opted for a bullet-proof performance Sunbrella x Pindler textile, gifted to me by its designer, Max Humphrey.

As the backdrop to it all is one of my favorite elements of the whole space: that Chasing Paper peel-and-stick wallpaper, designed by Jenni Yolo. It’s the crown jewel of the room I think, really delivering a lightheartedness that’s needed with such heaviness happening on the other side of the room. It was my first time installing wallpaper in any form and while the first panel is (purposefully and luckily) hidden behind the cabinet, the rest was super easy to get up. So easy, even a 21-month-old can do it! Because she did (I’m kidding, Evelyn just rolled the seam roller around the wall a few times and always seems to be trying to take credit for my hard work in here). 😉 I then pulled a sage green from the paper and painted the laundry doors rather than replacing them. It’s a decision I don’t regret for even a moment.

Oh gosh, and the Roman shades! Figuring out how to cover this exceptionally large window took me quite a while, but I ended up DIYing Romans from that same Tonic Living striped linen using two very cheap cordless lift mini blinds. It was so easy and I’d be happy to do a DIY for you if you’re interested (spoiler: it cost me under $75 to make both of those!). Ignore the darker spots where I got too heavy-handed with the fabric glue.

Fluted Glass-Front Storage Cabinet (gifted)

When in Doubt, Move The Pantry

This Arnika Dining Cabinet from All Modern is so sturdy and beautifully made that both Charles and I were in awe of it after building it. I thought the fronts were going to be some kind of plexi but they’re a thick fluted glass and the rest of the cabinet is metal with adjustable shelves. I decided to turn it into my pantry and use the space in the cabinets I was designating as my pantry to stash away all my small appliances and get them off my countertops. It’s been a frankly life-changing solution. Sure, it’s a little annoying to have to walk over here to grab granola or pasta or bread, but I’ll choose it any day over digging through a dark, narrow and deep cabinet to find a can of cannellini beans stacked above the tuna I forgot I had because it’s impossible to see.

Before wrapping, let’s talk about these floors, shall we? They aren’t what I wanted them to be. I dreamed of a checkerboard design underfoot and ordered many samples to try out. My favorites were by Chris Loves Julia for Wallpops but they were constantly sold out. About a week before the shoot, I reached out to them and they were going to possibly help facilitate but it just didn’t work out timing-wise. And it’s okay. Would it have felt more complete in here with a white and taupe marble checkerboard floor? I think so. But does the room still work without it? I also think so. Rentals aren’t always ideal in their design choices, and at least these aren’t offensive.

And finally, my little DIYed pleated pendant lamp that I made from an affordable shade and some clearance sheets from Target. My first attempt was dismal, but thankfully I found this instructional video that helped guide me to redo what I originally had created to this finished product. I think it adds just a touch of whimsy that I think every room needs to not take itself overly seriously. A little banding of maroon bias tape at the top and bottom harken back to the cabinetry.

In Conclusion…I Love It (+ What’s Next)

So there she is. My little sweet rental kitchen. I’m so glad to be done with it to share with you all and also to just enjoy it. When I go back and look at the before, I can’t believe how far it’s come with truly not a drastic amount of work. Yes, it took time—five months give or take—but I work and also take care of a baby and a family so such is life. Everything is going to be easily removable when we decide to leave this place, but hopefully, we’ll get to call it home for a while.

I’m in the midst of giving a similar rental overhaul treatment to my boring powder bathroom and putting the finishing touches on my dining room, which I hope to share early next year so stay tuned. Thanks for reading my thousands of words and for walking through my home with me. 🙂

Until next time.

Your friend in design, Arlyn

*Design by me (Arlyn Hernandez) | Styling by Emily Edith Bowser| Photography by Veronica Crawford

The post Arlyn’s Rental Kitchen Reveal Just Might Have You Wishing You Had Brown—Or Even Cherry— Cabinets (Yes, Really) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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Published on December 05, 2023 01:00