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We Analyzed The Fall Home Collections From Target, Anthro, CB2 + 12 More – Here Are The Best New Releases For Each

I say it every year, but the fall drops are my favorite drops of the year! Cozy is king, creativity is high, and personally, fall colors are my preferred colors. This year is no different! Well, it’s a little different. The market is constantly changing and strategies shift, you may have noticed that fewer retailers are announcing full-on seasonal collections. Instead, what’s happening now is that “collections” aren being saved for all the wonderful designer collaborations we’ve been seeing (ie Crate & Barrel x Athena Calderone, Lulu & Georgia x Ginny Mac d onald, etc.) But don’t worry, the old model of seasonal drops isn’t dead! Seasonal lines are still here but it’s just seems that a lot of retailers are simply adding AWESOME new products to their sites more frequently…and I am here to talk you through it all. Per usual I went through A LOT of sites, but it’s a hobby (and my job, ha) to see what all these brands are putting out:)

from: what’s next in fall decor from crate & barrel (spoiler: it’s real cozy) + my personal rules on designing with extreme comfort in mind

But wait, we actually already kicked off the fall collection drop last week with Crate & Barrel! Did you see the living room Em put together? It was so cute and I still am not over that candelabra! I saw it in person too and it’s incredible. Go to that post to see all of those links and more of our favorite picks…there’s a lot because a lot was so GOOD:)

Ok, now onto the others!

Target

photos via target

Tapered Banana Sheet Basket | Short Metal Lantern | Boucle Sphere Throw Pillow

photos via target

Rounded Pumpkin | Decorative Light Wood Tray

No one does affordable fall decor like Target, amirite?? I think most of the Target pieces I own are from the fall drops. So when I decided to do this post I was pretty excited to see what they had in store. Per usual I was not disappointed and a few things are giving CB2 vibes which I REALLY love.

See that I mean? That double candleholder and sphere pillow (that also comes in olive) feel very CB2 but at an even better price! I also love love that large woven basket. I think that rich brown is so beautiful and would work stylistically in almost any home, don’t you? Oh and Target’s pumpkins are the best in the biz every year.

Soho Home

photos via soho home

Maris Pendant | Duetoni Coffee Table | Carlisle Six Drawer Dresser

Soho Home is one of the newer editions to the EHD favorites list and there is no surprise as to why. While not inexpensive, the quality and designs are so special and interesting. I mean it’s where Em’s living room chair is from! Naturally, I had to check out what their fall offerings were:)

I love how iron is being used in beautiful modern ways so this mirror is RIGHT up my alley. Then if you want a rich, plush sofa, I don’t think you’ll find a more stunning option than #3. Even the legs are incredible! But what really has me swooning is that oversized pendant. Look at it in the photo above! It’s soft and bold all at the same time. I’m debating if I need it for my bedroom:)

West Elm X Colin King

photos via west elm

Ceramic Table Lamp | Kirkwood Sofa | Stripe Rug

photos via west elm

Pedestal Table | Deluxe Linen Stripe Pillow | Iron Taper Holders

I am never not wildly excited when I see a collab with stylist, Colin King. But this one might be his largest one yet! The colors are moody yet comforting, the materials are textured and unpretentious, and the silhouettes are GOOD. But I wouldn’t expect anything less. Let’s get into it:)

I love that Colin decided to make the feet of the sofa simple but in a cool shape we don’t get to see very often. The contrast of a classically shaped sofa with a modern foot is so chic. The shor t , chunky lamp is great and he also used wrought iron in a beautifully clean way with the candlestick holders (they come in three sizes). I also really appreciate the simplicity of the storage side table. If you look at his work you know he loves to style with raw textures so I love that we chose that rough wood. That tone is also just beautiful:) You should definitely check out the whole collection.

Schoolhouse

photos via schoolhouse

Cascade Pulls | Gantry Pendant

photo via schoolhouse

Milo Chair

A classic EHD fav!! Schoolhouse has always been our go-to for cool utilitarian and classic decor. It’s always exciting when they have new products! I really love how they’re leaning into brighter poppy colors for fall:)

For example, this chair and this table lamp. Really simple lines in awesome, bold colors. They both have other color options (the table lamp though has A TON of color options including a Barbie pink:)). Also, I’m sure you all love this coverlet that has been in Em’s homes for years (and is currently $60 off). Well here is a new one! It also comes in that fun bright red with blue accents. It is guaranteed to add personality to any room.

Pottery Barn

photos via pottery barn

Rowan Canvas Abstract Art | Zenia Floral Quilted Pillow | Ellis Metal Table Lamp

photos via pottery barn

Faux Queen Anne’s Lace | Rylee Nightstand

Classic, rustic, modern, and traditional! All the ways to describe Pottery Barn:) I really love how they are moving into cleaner lines and this collection is no different. Pottery Barn is another one of those brands that thrives in fall! Two peas in a pod.

I’m pretty over the moon for that nightstand. It’s a perfect example of those cleaner lines I was just talking about! Then if you love fall florals, that pillow and faux Queen Anne’s lace are GREAT ways to incorporate them. And if that photo above is any indication of how good those faux flowers are then I am sold.

Chasing Paper X Shadé Akanbi

photos via chasing paper

Kuba Geo | Berber Diamond

When I saw this new collab with Chasing Paper and artist, Shadé Akanbi, I thought it was so great! The patterns are beautiful and bold and come is such stunning colors (I told you I love fall colors:)). These papers also come in a few different types – peel and stick, traditional, faux grasscloth, and matte performance vinyl.

Berber Diamond | 2. Cleo Stripe Horizontal | 3. Kuba Geo

That rust color is my favorite in the Berber Diamond! Then I love how playful yet cool the Cleo Stripe is and the Kuba Geo is perfectly bold and neutral.

Terrain

photos via terrain

Floral Candelabra | Midnight Florals Ceramic Dinner Plate

When you want whimsy, Terrain is must stop. It’s never not extremely fun to browse through their site! This season is no different. Also I love how they are pretty into mushrooms…trending fungi? Ok, let’s get into these sweet products.

Can you handle that mailbox?? The cutest! Terrain also has florals on lock – that candelabra and plates are pretty darn wonderful. And while it’s a bigger purchase, that outdoor fireplace would be so awesome for all those cozy nights. For the inside, I love how they sell a mix of three d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f taper candles in one set.

H&M Home

photos via h&m home

Seagrass Basket | Stoneware Plant Pot

Another truly awesome affordable place to get decor. We all have H&M in our homes because we honestly love their stuff! They just have really give stylish, chic options. Here’s what they’re serving up right now…

Good, right?! The textiles are playful and patterned but totally versatile (and real affordable). I am surprised how much I love that jacquard-weave cushion cover! Then for my organic modern lovers, that planter and black wall art are right up your alley.

Lulu And Georgia

photo via lulu and georgia

Damon Chandelier | Rodolfo Coffee Table

photos via lulu and georgia

Luis Table Lamp | Philana Dresser | Morey Curio Sideboard

We could talk about our love for Lulu and Georgia for eternity. Their collabs are some of our favorites but they also just have an incredible inventory that yes, they just added to! Let’s just get into it since it’s really needs no other introduction.

That accent chair looks cool AND comfortable. Not an easy mix to find sadly. Oh and it comes in other colors too! And normally that chandelier wouldn’t totally be my style but after seeing it in the photo above I think it might be. Oh, and if you need a dining table before the holidays this is SUCH a great one. You’ll be the coolest one in your family FOR SURE:)

CB2

photos via cb2

Marble Table Lamp with Brass Shade | Armless Geometric Patterned Chair | Natural Oak Wood Credenza

photos via cb2

Bronze Brown Velvet Bench | Swivel Black Wood Floor Length Mirror

And no, CB2 did not disappoint because to me they are perfect. I am partial to their modern yet throw back vintage ways. They also work with designers/studios and feature them in the products descriptions. Cool, no? It’s been a long time since I haven’t want MULTIPLE pieces from their collections and this one is really versatile.

Both #1 and #8 are extremely cool storage solutions. Are the cheap? No. But they are quality pieces that will make your home look incredible. Then I feel like that coffee table is the modern, warmer cousin to Emily’s live wood Anthro coffee table. That chunky rounded edge is too good! Honestly, I adore every piece and I hope if you need something this helps.

World Market

photos via world market

Chestnut and Marble Bar Cabinet | Acacia Bench with Cream Cushion | Extra Long Ash Dining Table

World Market is slept on too much if you ask me. Their range of products is so great and the prices are fair. They will always have the classic “boho” style in a ton of their pieces, but they too are changing with the times and going a little sleeker. Wanna see?

That bar cabinet looks great and the shape is special! If I had space that bar would be a no brainer. I also prefer all of the closed storage:) The (extra long) dining table and bench are also examples of the modern lines that I think are so pretty. Oh, and those baskets are a 10/10.

Jayson Home

photo via jayson home

Tensira Bedrolls

Remember the post we did about the decor shops you might forget about when shopping? Well, Jayson Home was on that list but should never be forgotten! Their array of truly special pieces and vintage far has this puppy really in the running for the EHD favorite (aside from the fact that it’s already a favorite).

I have dreams of owning a mirror like that one! It’s such a stunning piece. Then those bedrolls and fringe ottman are looking very similar to the fabric trend I was talking about:) I also can’t handle that woven lamp. It would make such a great statement in any home.

Rejuvenation

photos via rejuvenation

Glencoe 6-Light Chandelier | Sedona Console Table

If you’ve looked at any project Emily (and anyone on the team) have done in the past few years, you know Rejuvenation is peak EHD! Elevated, modern traditional with a heavy dose of vintage describes us and them perfectly. We also love that they are very choosing when releasing new products (aka it doesn’t happen often) so this is very exciting.

I am really loving that polished nickel pendant! It comes in other finishes but there’s something about that metal in particular I am into. Don’t they remind you of the pendants in Em’s kitchen? Well, in shape at least. That –chair-and-a-half is one you would easily own forever and the wood framed medicine cabinet is perfect.

Anthropologie

photos via anthropologie

Beaufort Bouclé Sheba Daybed | Andrea Mirror

photo via anthropologie

House of Hackney Curio Cabinet

What you thought I’d forget Anthro? No way! Given that Terrain and Anthropologie are under the same umbrella, the whimsy only continues.

For instance, the cabinet and blanket ladder. How unreal are those?? But if you want to tone things down then you must get your hands on that lampshade if you are in need of one. It’s perfect! What is also perfect, are those salt and pepper shakers. As a collector of sorts, I am going to need to snag those asap:)

Well, there you have it. All the things from all the collections (or drops) we are currently loving! If you have any other recs let me know!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo via Rejuvenation

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Published on August 23, 2023 01:00

Farmhouse Backyard Update: All About Our New Sports Court – (It’s A Real Thing, Per Usual)

In continuing with our “first summer backyard tour,” which is less of a bunch of reveals and more of a progress/update/learnings, today I have for you all things sports court. Originally, she was big and cracked and now she’s smaller and unfinished. Check this progress out (I love watching this over and over and over).

When we first bought the property it had the world’s largest sports court on it – basically a tennis court size with like 20 extra feet in every direction – HUGE. Like many things in this house, we thought it was fine “as-is,” thinking that changing it would be daunting (and we were right!). We figured we’d hire someone to resurface it so it didn’t LOOK so cracked and call it a day. Brian and I really divided up the outside workload based on what was important to each of us – which means he took the lead on all things sports court, driveway, farm animals, and the south play lawn. At this time, I was busy designing the inside of the house so I barely thought about these things. I couldn’t clutter my brain space trying to book a sports court resurfacer. I don’t know if I have all the details right of this process TBH – or perhaps I’ve blocked them!

Here’s a quick process video for you to check out too! (Just wait for the little ad to play:)

I believe the original court was 120′ long by 60′ wide – HUGE. Our property was big so we maybe we didn’t realize it before. But as Brian had different subs come over to consult on how to make it better, they all said the same two things:

“We will not resurface this, No way”. Essentially it was so badly cracked – everywhere, that no one would put their name on resurfacing it because they all said it would just crack in a year and look like garbage. And…“This sports court is way too big”

Part of me wanted to try to just get a someone super inexpensive to do it knowing that it was a five year bandage. That’s the “let’s deal with this annoying and expensive situation later,” part of me who is a big part of me honestly.

So what were our options?
1. Hire an asphault company to just make it a big black top (cheapest and a two day process)
2. Resurface it ourselves, knowing that we don’t know how to do that and that all the experts say wouldn’t be wise.
3. Pour concrete over it, another layer and hope that it doesn’t crack?
4. Demo it out and start fresh (and smaller).
5. Wait and hope that whatever we decide wouldn’t ruin all the investment into the landscape we were about to make.

We ended up finding the most affordable concrete guy who quoted $18k (our first quote was $45k) to demo out and re-pour (but 1/2 the size), but when he came he said that unbeknownst to him there were many, many, many layers of concrete, poured over many years and it was going to be much more. I think it was up to 10″ in many places. That is a LOT to demo. And we had to do this NOW. We couldn’t decide this later because all of the landscaping was happening (irrigation, grading) and you can’t plant and landscape and then bring in huge machinery – it would literally ruin it all, break irrigation, destroy plants and trees, etc. So once again, a rushed expensive decision. The good news with this is that the hillside just off the end of the sports court was the one that we were going to bring the Soake pool up on. We were actually able ground the concrete into gravel to help get the crew trucks up. The less good news is that it remains there and we have no idea how to get rid of it.

At this point we definitely wanted it smaller and Cali put it into the plans:

That seemed like the wisest plan and obviously we were grateful that we could make this choice. Now that we are on the other side of this and we love how incredibly usable our property is, we have calmed down. But, needless to say there were huge financial implications for all of this and it was very, very stressful. None of this was budgeted for and I’m not a landscape content creator so it just didn’t seem like a great area be allocating so much money. But we would either need to pause the whole landscape project to get our brains around what to do and how to budget for it, OR deplete more of our savings from selling our LA house and just get it done so we can keep moving forward. This is also when the entire outside was mud (except for this broken sports court). Now that I’m writing about it, in hindsight, the whole year had this cloud of overwhelm over it. I’m not asking for pity, obviously – we are so privileged to be able to do this and have this space – but it’s just a reminder that if you’ve ever attempted a remodel/renovation and have felt extremely overwhelmed and depleted, you aren’t alone. If you’ve ever let your ideas get out of control and then you find yourself forced to make really expensive decisions really fast, you are not alone. And then the real question is was this even the right decision????

This kind of decision making is also hard when you have a guy there, with all his machinery to do the job! The availability of subs last year was SO HARD to lock down, especially for outdoor jobs during dry weather spells in Portland. So you make choices:) And here’s what we did.

Again, we removed the entire OG sports court, ground it into gravel, poured it like a fountain all over the then beat up driveway (which did help with the mud/machinery). “We” then re-poured the new concrete with rebar and the whole shebang – but half the size of the original. I will 100% admit that we don’t know if this was the best choice. If we could do it again were there other options that would have been better than concrete that we should have explored? Probably. I’m also not concrete’s #1 fan for a few reasons – it’s expensive, it STILL CRACKS, and it’s not porous. But is it a ground foundation for a sports court? I guess so!

We also did one smart thing and one stupid thing (at least). The day before we poured the concrete – we scrambled to trench for future electrical to go out to the barn – not knowing what we needed but making sure it can have at least lights and outlets. But we didn’t trench for plumbing/water out there, because we truly didn’t think we needed it and it was so expensive. Now that we have alpacas, we have to bring a hose (like 200 feet) back there to fill up their trough – every day. HUGE WHOOPS. We are trying to come up with a solution (and no we can’t trench now – it’s all landscaped with hardscape, french drains and plants/trees). There are options I won’t bore you with because they all kinda suck TBH.

This is the view to the now Soake pool area that I can’t wait to show you coming ASAP.

And Here He Is Now…

This is not an after, but it’s where we are now. We have yet to take it from concrete slab to sports court. But the kids certainly play on it.

We spent a night shooting photos and video for all the backyard posts (including the alpacas and pool) so we figured having some people in these shots would make it far more enjoyable to look at than just concrete.

Right now we mostly use this for pickle ball (all-four of us play), basketball, roller blading, sidewalk chalk, and they can ride their bikes but don’t as much on this.

Brian was desperate to ge the lines all drawn this summer, but I basically begged him to wait. I was so done with construction, the mud, the decisions, the WRONG rushed decisions, and this court was so usable as is – so for the love of god, just wait. I wanted to make sure we knew how we were going to use the court, where we wanted to face while playing pickle ball, where we wanted the basketball hoop – all based on the sun. We wouldn’t know this in a week of playing, we needed to experience the property for at least one summer.

So that’s where we are now – totally enjoying this court on our first summer post-mud. It’s been REALLY wonderful and we feel extremely grateful.

Do We Think It Is it Too Big?

Yes and no. If we could snap our fingers and have it be 12 feet smaller, just lining up with the shed house, I would. But I also want to wait and see how we use it before giving that full diagnosis. We have zero plans to actually demo it out anytime soon, but I do wish it had slightly less presence. I wonder if painting it green with the white lines would help? The rest of the property is just looking so pretty and natural, and it’s really hard for a concrete slab to integrate in design-wise.

But we also love it, and we don’t know what the future of this house/property will be after the kids graduate (small events? group retreats?) so maybe we would want this space for a use we haven’t even predicted yet.

More to come summer 2024 – surely by then we’ll have the lines painted (if we are even going to do that) and if we plan on installing a net maybe that will get done in the spring. Again, this is all Brian’s domain and he’s taking the lead because he cares about it way more than I do which works for us. We also have so much more to do to “finish” it – fix the backdrop behind the green wall (it’s falling down), finalize any outdoor lighting we want so we can see past 4pm in the winter, figure out where to put the BBQ (right now it’s just floating on wheels on the sports court) but I have ZERO rushes and no real deadlines. All of the timely decisions have been made so the rest we can piecemeal as we feel motivated to tackle them and take some time to actually enjoy the non-construction zone with our now 2nd and 4th graders!!!!!!

*Pretty Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on August 22, 2023 01:00

Meet The Newest Members Of The Henderson Family – Our Pet Alpacas :)

Well, WE DID IT. A few weeks ago we adopted these few alpacas and we have a lot to talk about. They are hilarious, so cute, funny, have long weird necks, hilarious hair, and act like they are being surprised every single second. It’s been a month since we got them (I wanted to make sure they were the right fit before I announced it) so there is a lot to break down. The biggest question that we have, is WAIT, WHY DO YOU HAVE ALPACAS??? Like why these animals??? And I totally get that. They aren’t the normal city-clicker/hipsters-moves-to-the-country farm animal choice, so it seems odd to a lot of people. But y’all LOOK AT THEM.

Why Did You Adopt Three Alpacas?

So many reasons. Here you go:

Alpacas are just so funny and awkward so they bring us a ton of daily joy and laughter. They are characters just by existing. It’s like having Kramer as your neighbor. I’m sure other people feel this way about other animals but we just feel so connected to these silly fellows. They are extremely low maintenance (comparatively) and obviously require daily feeding, watering and we like to pet them, but the timing is flexible and they don’t do anything that is annoying (yet). Sure, we have to do the necessary vaccinations, annual shearing, and make sure their toenails aren’t too long, but we are up for it and the kids are heavily involved. But they simply don’t need that much from humans. In fact, a lot of alpacas would prefer humans not be around them and can be really skittish, which is why we were so connected to these three (well, mostly just two of them). You have to adopt three (at least 2) because they are herd animals. So just one wasn’t an option.

Where Did You Get These Alpacas?

We went to probably eight farms in the last two years to research, felt them out and confirmed this was the right decision. We originally wanted girls because their temperament can be more mellow. But we never fell in love with any that we were allowed to adopt (many simply weren’t for sale or they were like $15k because they were 4-H prized). We ended up adopting these boys from Alpacas of Oregon which is a farm that does alpacas tours, so these guys were very much used to being pet by humans. Some of the farms we went to they would just run to a corner when humans came in (understandably) which isn’t what we wanted in pets. The little black guy, Milo, was really the reason we went for them. He is a year and a half and EXTREMELY affectionate with the kids (and with all humans). We stayed at the farm for over an hour petting him, and afterwards the kids wouldn’t stop talking about him. It was the extra motivation that we were looking for. He is such a sweet boy. He does this nose bop things with the kids that they interpret as kissing, and they nose bop him every day. Bert is funny but not as affectionate, and Otis is getting there but definitely the least affectionate out of the three (which is more typical).

Why Three Boys And Not Girls?

Well you can’t mix genders – the boys just can’t control themselves and it gets gnarly. We were definitely leaning towards girls, but we fell in love with Milo and then it was all over. I’m sure had we kept looking we could have found three ladies, and in a perfect situation we’d have a pregnant mom and her best friend, but we wouldn’t know if its a girl or boy and if it was a boy we’d have to give away when they are a year (or around breeding age because they can’t be with girls). Anyway, that’s all to say that we fell in love with Milo, he needed a best friend (Otis) and then Bert was just so hilarious looking so we added him in.

How’s It Going With The Kids?

Now? Pretty darn great. I was nervous about this whole thing and Brian was really the lead on all of this. We had a deal with the farm that we’d foster for two weeks to make sure it was the right fit for us and them (and our dogs – which can be a real thing). The day that we got them I was so excited and then I got a pit in my stomach that night. What if we made a mistake and I just have more responsibility? What if it becomes another thing for us to battle over with the kids? What if they never warm up to us and we don’t ever connect? They were admittedly pretty freaked out the first few days (like a puppy would be) and I felt really bad. Was this the right decision? But every day they got more comfortable. The kids spent hours out there at first with them, talking to them so sweetly, taking care of their water and poop. They LOVE them, and the boys love our kids way more than us (it’s a size thing we think) so it makes them feel ownership over them (which was one of our goals, obviously).

Nothing will be perfect, but as of now the kids know that they have to put on their poop pounders every morning and night to go out and feed/water, shovel poop and pet the boys. They have so far done it without complaining (we have to ask a few times because we are their parents and they can’t seem to hear us the first time no matter what). It makes me SO HAPPY to look out the window and see them in their wellies shoveling the poop into a wheel barrow without us (which is less gross than other poop TBH and they only poop in one pile).

How’s It Going With The Dogs?

Ok, so this was the big question mark and we were very nervous. Alpacas #1 threat isn’t coyotes (which we also have), it’s domesticated dogs. Not totally sure why but we were told to keep them apart because the dogs can hurt/kill the alpaca and vice versa (some farms have them mixed in so it’s very confusing). Brian installed a no climb fence in the split rail to keep them all out. When the pups first saw them they barked like crazy out the window. Hours later we invited the out and they were obviously very excited and curious, and barky in a friendl- ish way. The alpacas were a tiny bit scared, but seemed ok. We are EXTREMELY cautious about the gates/fences and tell every kid that comes over the rules immediately – that the dogs could kill the alpacas so you HAVE to shut the gate right behind you. I def feel a tiny bit nervous still which I think is probably good. The dogs most of the day now barely notice them, but probably once every other day they bark at them and we have to put them inside.

Are You going To Show Them, Breed Them, Or Sell Their Poop Or Fur?

We don’t know! The poop is worth a lot to cannabis farmers, the fiber could definitely be used to make sweaters (Birdie really wants to learn), we have zero desire to breed them, and we aren’t sure what the commitment level would be to do 4-H and show them (so I think not).

If Not, Then Why Did You Get Them?

Well, chickens give eggs, goats give goat milk – I get it. But we love animals. Our new pets don’t necessarily do anything and we definitely talked about this a lot. Is this us wanting something unique to post on social media? Nope. I’m far too old for that these days. Where we landed is that they enrich our lives with joy and help teach our kids more responsibility. Listen, we don’t make our kids take piano lessons because I think they are going to be concert pianists, nor do we have our dogs to make money off of them (although we could, those dogs are GREAT on camera) – these new pets, like most things we do as parents – are here to add value to our kids’ lives and hopefully guide them to be good citizens through daily practice, right? These funny animals make life more fun, add a lot to our home and family experience. And that’s enough 🙂

It’s also just fun and exciting to have a new challenge, for us and the kids. We had a pasture and a barn, we bought a farmette for a reason. We weren’t going to NOT have animals (and this isn’t where we are stopping). These are a good first step and then who knows, maybe we’ll do the whole shebang.

As you know, we intentionally slowed down our lives a couple years ago (involving moving home to Portland) and while animals add responsibility (and we haven’t even had them during the winter months) somehow this kind of responsibility doesn’t feel stressful – shoveling their poop, like changing a diaper or walking the pups, is just what you do. It’s the good kind of stress, not the bad kind. It’s the good stuff that takes up time and it gets us outside and moving our bodies. I mean, I hope…

So folks, meet the boys. And while I’ll organically post about them when I feel like it, Brian is far more excited to keep the world updated on all things alpaca on his instagram (OH LORDY LORDY, LOOK WHOSE ACTUALLY JOINING SOCIAL MEDIA???). So head over there to see more alpaca videos.

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on August 21, 2023 01:00

The Link Up: The New Style Of Jeans That Makes Em Feel GOOD, Caitlin’s AirPod Hack, And A Great Pair Of Affordable Sunglasses

Happy Sunday! This week we started the Farmhouse’s outdoor series and we are pumped to show you what we have. We know it’s a little late in the year but as Em said, it just wasn’t done until now and waiting to show it off until next spring is simply too long to wait! Plus we are looking at this as the “year one edition” with next year being more lived in version (and even more in bloom which is wild being it’s already so lush!). There is also a VERY fun announcement or umm, introduction tomorrow! But first, links.

This week’s house tour is a moody Brooklyn beauty designed by Augusta Hoffman! Every piece is perfectly selected to create a simple but rich home design (and was inspired by nighttime walks in the home’s neighborhood peeking into windows!). The hand painted blue bedroom mural is so beautiful that it would be a crime for the homeowners to move now! Also please note the contrast piping on the club chairs:) See it’s trending!! Go check out the whole space here.

From Emily: I tried on over 30 pair of jeans the other day. THIRTY. It was not fun. The styles out there right now… I just don’t feel good in! I know that skinny is out, but that’s what works on my body and that’s what makes me feel good (well, I love the wide leg ones from yesterday very much, too. But I found these fit and flares from Madewell (outside of my partnership, actually) and once paired with a heel I felt so GOOD. They are extremely flattering – hugging the hips butt and thighs in a good way (the shading of the denim and the seam placement makes it really flattering). Then it pops out at the bottom, balancing out the hips and it looks SO GOOD. They make me want to go out, they make me feel young and frankly just more “hot” than a “mom”. Sometimes we all need that y’all. Thank you, Jeans. I’m BACK!

From Jess: I really want to be a gal that can effortlessly rock a super trendy pair of sunglasses but classic shapes will always just be what I prefer/feel comfortable in. Enter these affordable cuties that I bought while walking around New York yesterday! They are classic but cool, slightly oversized, and for $29 you can’t beat ’em! 10/10 recommend.

From Caitlin: Do your AirPods slip out of your ears? Do you have to be constantly vigilant about headphone placement while completing normal human tasks, like “sitting still” or “getting out of a car” or “chewing gum,” lest your AirPod tumble out of your ear and into the abyss? (Or worse, into the street or the folds of an airplane seat?) BECAUSE HEY, SAME HERE. And my boyfriend found a solution! Last month, he bought me these affordable silicone ear hooks – they come in packs of three, slide right over each AirPod, and I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT SINCE. Y’all, I am napping on planes with RECKLESS ABANDON now – there are no more worries about having to fish a rogue headphone out of an embarrassing place in front of a bunch of strangers. They only cost $15 and have made wearing my AirPods so much more pleasant – I’m grateful to be dating such a good problem solver:) You can find the hooks for 1st Gen AirPods here, for 2nd Gen here (I got these!), and for 3rd Gen right here.

From Mallory: I checked into a cute apartment I’m staying in in NYC last week and coincidentally they gave us a Supergoop sunscreen in a little toiletry bag/welcome gift (on the same day that Em posted this video), so I had to try it out, of course. YOU GUYS. This is a nonspon message from me: This tinted matte sunscreen is the butteriest, smoothest, lightest thing I’ve ever put on my face. I’m HIGHLY into it and love that it gives a little bit of coverage without feeling like cakey foundation. Try this out if you haven’t. I’ll be buying this probably for the rest of my life.

From Gretchen: I stopped into Sephora the other day for no reason at all—which is typically how I wander in there—and left with a handful of stuff. I’m a low-budget kind of girl, so most of what I grabbed was Sephora brand, but I did treat myself to a Fenty Beauty cream blush and I have to say, I’m obsessed!! This specific color, Rosé Latte, is a sort of brown-tone nude that works well with my skin tone and gives me a naturally flushed look that I love. It’s super pigmented but blends out so well. I use it on my eyes, cheeks and lips—it’s become a staple in my makeup routine and I’m never looking back!

From Arlyn: I normally don’t share men’s items here but when my clothes-adverse husband buys something and actually makes comments about liking it, it’s worthy of a share. (And by clothes adverse I should say clothes-buying adverse…he’s not a nudist.) From my perspective, the s e shorts look great. Some chambray can look too shiny but these look both casual and dress up-able for shorts. Great with sneakers, boat shoes, and flip flops, T-shirts, polos and button downs. He says they’re comfortable, sized just right and hit right above the knee. In a style true to himself, I suspect he’ll go and buy every other color available because #men.

That’s it from us today. See y’all tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Our Farmhouse Back Porch Reveal – The “1st Summer” Edition!

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Published on August 20, 2023 01:00

Some Cute New Fall Clothes I’m Wearing On My Body…

If you were to guess what season seems the most like “me,” many people might scream “SPRING” and that feels pretty darn accurate (flowers, bright colors, the sense of waking up, hope but not hot, etc), but fall clothes are THE BEST. I didn’t need a lot, as my life is just so utilitarian up here (which is my preference) but I mostly needed to size up to have clothes that fit better, which gave me a nice excuse to buy a few things (and purge a lot – still figuring out what to do with a suitcase of slightly smaller excellent clothes). So if you need some good fall clothes, I can tell you that I went to most major retailers and kissed a lot of frogs to find a few good things. I would also like to rant about lighting in dressing rooms because MY GOODNESS most of them feel like they are intentionally trying to make your reflection be at its worst. They all need to take a hint from Anthropologie which has the most flattering lighting. Is this a man thing? Do the people at the top of this department not know that bright ass florescent lights make your entire body look bumpy? Is this another reason I need to run for office? Point is, I had to look past the bad lighting (and get over how it made me feel) because I did, in fact, find some cute things that I’m really excited about.

Knit Cardigan | Cropped Oxford Top | Pull-On Barrel Jeans | Loafers

I bought these pants during the last mall shopping post and continue to LOVE them. They are barrel shaped (which is what works on my body versus just baggy), with a lot of distressing and are very comfortable. They are thicker so I didn’t wear them much this summer, but come fall I will be living in these. That Madewell button-up is excellent – super thin (not see through), easy to layer, great boxy cut but with that rounded sides to give it some shape. The sweater (Alex Mill) is a beautiful year round piece – I wore it a lot in spring and sure enough we are moving into fall with it. The shoes are from Everlane and when I first unpacked them I thought they were a little too simple, but I keep wearing them! They are really comfortable and while I love a lug sole, sometimes my feet don’t want the weight on them (I also love Nisolo for this reason – light weight but still high quality).

Shoulder Pad Top | Wide-Leg Jeans | Boots (Similar) | Mini Bag

Birdie said, “You look like a teenager” in this outfit and I have to admit, that pleased me greatly 🙂 Remember when I designed my faux dorm room and dressed like I was 19 and secretly loved it!!? Anyway, this was my foray into the ENORMOUS baggy jean trend that I previously thought was not for me. I tried on SO MANY JEANS – like 30-40 pairs and this was the only “baggy” one that I liked. These are Good American (some are so great, some are so cheesy, right?) and they are CRAZY long. Like I’m wearing 6″ boots here. Nordstrom will hem for free, so I might do that. But I have to say I think the look is fun and a little outside my norm. I didn’t know what to wear on top because I know the rule – if you go big on the bottom, you can’t go big on top (or the other way around which is my usual game) so I pulled out a shirt that I bought three years ago and have barely worn but LOVE. It has intense shoulder pads which is dope, but it’s such a statement. Also, living in SW Portland and not having an office job this isn’t something you just throw on. Anyway, for all of you who do leave the house, care about fashion and live in cities where dressing up is more of a thing both the jeans and the top are awesome. The top is spandex, but thick enough that it’s really flattering (I think I bought it when I gave myself the challenge to look “sexy” for a date night with Brian – needless to say this top wasn’t exactly what Brian would have picked to check that box, but we agreed it’s cool). I think I’d likely wear it with tiny shorts and heels – that’s more my game.

Vest | Striped Shirt (Similar) | Denim Shorts | Socks | Sorel Boot

This is a little more “me” right now and likely something I’m going to wear a lot in the next two months. I can’t say enough about these vests and I want to put it out there in the universe a few more times – I THINK I SHOULD DESIGN A LINE OF WALKING CLOTHES. I have extremely specific ideas on what makes something excellent for lifestyle walking (not competitive walking) to look cute/cool/comfortable and yet have the necessary bells and whistles to get the job done (the RIGHT pockets, breathability, layerability, versatility, etc). That’s all to say that this vest is EXCELLENT and I’ve been wearing it a lot on my morning walks (before this heat wave). It has many pockets (big ones for phone/wallet, small ones for doggy bags), is super flattering (it hugs but just so lightly at the waste) and while it technically adds volume, the way that it’s cut doesn’t add “bulk” like a lot of puffer vests do (that I can’t wear because my love pillows are already big enough). These pockets and the fabric just drapes really well. Even if you aren’t a daily lifestyle walker like me (y’all, get into it – listen to one of my favorite podcasts!) this is a great fall layering piece.

The shirt is from Pendleton (bought last year) and the shorts are from The Great (bought this summer, very splurgy but I lived in them this summer because The Great knows how to make cute clothes shockingly comfortable – sags in the crotch in just the way that I love (and Brian does not LOL, but he’s gotten used to it).

Now the shoes – THE SHOES. These might be my #1 favorite purchase thus far – mostly because they are perfect for my life up here. They are Sorels, rubber on the bottom so they are waterproof/mud-proof, and yet not crazy heavy (some of my lug soles are just too annoying to like walk in). They are snug at the ankle, BUT, and here’s the kicker – extremely easy to pull on because the finger loops are big and easy to access. I get so annoyed when you have to sit down to put on a boot because they’ve made the finger hole too small OR its snapped on its third use (true story). These feel super high quality and yet they are awesome in style, very on trend, and not over the top HUGE like some others which I just can’t get behind. My goodness I have a lot to say today – I think this coffee really kicked in!

Plaid Coat (Similar) | Striped Button Up | Flare Jeans | Clogs

Ok before you get too excited, it’s a vintage plaid coat that I got at the antique mall a couple years ago (there is still a hole in the market for plaid jackets, BTW). The blouse is a cute cut with white collar and contrasting sleeves (great to layer). But the real coup de grace here are the jeans. I’m obsessed with these jeans. These are “fit and flares” which really hearken back to high school, but in a way that I’m fully down with. I felt really really cute/flattered in these and frankly I needed it – they looked good in the butt but weren’t too rigid (like my old Levis that I still love but can’t sit down in, nor button up haha). In fact, I did a partnership with Madewell for social also this week so I had to take another photo of them (wearing only Madewell). Check them out here:

White Button-Up | Flare Jeans | Kitten Heel Boots

See? They are pretty good! I wish the inseam was shorter, but apparently I’m alone in that because the denim world is just dominated by high rise (which I like the look of, but what about us short torso’d ladies!?). I’m wearing a 27 BTW (I’m a size six right now if that helps, so size down, but I tried the 26 and it was TIGHT). That’s also the white Madewell blouse I was talking about above that I love – really thin and easy to layer under a cardigan – also I’ve washed it a few times and if I grab it out quickly enough from the dryer I don’t have to steam it (it’s poplin which sometimes I get annoyed with). The boots in that shot are my new kitten heel booties that are super cute/flattering and yet comfortable.

Denim Trench | Kitten Heel Boots

I bought this denim trench the SECOND I saw it (not part of my Madewell partnership). It’s excellent – drapes really well, layers really well, and is so much more me than a classic trench. I can dress it up like I did here or down (Soccer games? Sure!). Those are the kitten heeled booties I was talking about (my kids were very confused why the heels were so tiny and they naturally loved that they were called “kittens”.

Tank | Trousers | Braided Belt

The pants are a super nice/comfortable/flattering low waisted (thank you very much) pleated wide leg. I styled them rolled up so they weren’t as big. They feel a bit spring to me, but they come in other colors as well. The tank is a great layering piece that has a cute neckline and side straps (tanks are hard for me but I really like this one and wished it came in more colors).

Denim Blazer | Striped Top (Similar) | Pants (Similar) | Sorel Boot | Bag

You’ve seen this great denim blazer before but I just want to reiterate how great it is. It has a bit of stretch making it great to layer under (not crammed in the arms) and is boxy instead of being too body-con, which I think is a more modern shape. The pants are cali demi boot cut (they have a little flare at the end). Same Sorel boots – see how fitted they are at the ankle? But not too tight, just the perfect amount that pipes up into your jeans. The striped shirt is from Lost & Found LA and I’ve had it for years (it’s so thin and soft).

Blazer (Similar) | T-Shirt (Similar) | Wide-Leg Jeans | Clogs | Bandana (Similar)

These are the last jeans that I’m officially VERY INTO. During my epic denim try-on day that I was generally bummed out about, these brought me a lot of happiness. These are fitted in the thigh/butt, with a bit old flare that has a lot of structure. These are splurgy (Mother jeans always are) but I loved the wash, fit, style and I felt really really good in them. I wanted to show you how they look with heels and with flats. (Clogs are five year old Rachel Comey but still available, Madewell makes a much more affordable version).

Cotton T-Shirt | Carpenter Overalls | Birkenstock Sandals | Bandana (Similar)

OK, this one was one that I was SO EXCITED ABOUT, but I wish I had styled it cooler. Maybe with a blousy blouse underneath). We all agreed it was extremely cute and flattering (for oversized overalls) and I know I wear them a lot this fall/winter/spring both around the house and out and about. But yah, the styling was a miss on this shot.

Striped Sweater | Wide-Leg Jeans | Loafers

See? They are pretty cute with flats, too! I think where they hit on the ankle is PERFECT. Cropped boxy, dropped shoulder sweater is an updated version of what we probably all have. Big fan. Same Everlane loafers – I think that color might be perfect.

So that’s what I’m into for my fall fashion this year. A lot of it can be mixed together, and most of it is in the name of extreme comfort. I’m camping this weekend and off the grid (look at PNW me!) but I’ll pop into the comments on Sunday if you have any questions about the fit of the clothes (beyond my ramblings).

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on August 19, 2023 01:00

Our Farmhouse Back Porch Reveal – The “1st Summer” Edition!

Alright y’all. I know it’s very late in the summer to be doing backyard posts, but it simply wasn’t ready til now and I didn’t want to wait til next year to play show-and-tell. So this is not an official “reveal” because we didn’t style it all out – mostly because I want to see how we wan to use this back porch before I furnish it – so a fully decorated spring reveal coming at you in like 6 months:) Today’s post is more about the design elements we used for building the back porch and how it came all together. A massive thanks per usual to the ARCIFORM team, both design and build (looking at you Jamie, Adam, Paul, Taylor, Steve and I’m sure many more) – there was so much work, care and expertise to get here. We are so happy and excited every single day.

In case you are just landing here – you NEED to see the before:

Yes that is the same house. Same view with a slightly different angle. Maybe this will help:

If you want a real thrill just scroll back and forth real quick between the before and afters. It’s truly incredible. So often I’m by the split rail fence and I can’t believe that not only is it over, but it turned out LIKE THIS!!!!!!!! I feel like the luckiest person on the actual planet. Thank you ARCIFORM, Studio Campo, Northwest Native, all our partners (Sierra Pacific, Velux, Rejuvenation, Sherwin-Williams) and especially all you readers who have followed along this longer-than-usual journey.

Double Porches… But Different Stairs??

We are breaking it down and per usual I’m going to point out some stuff you might have questions about (if you noticed). As you can see we ended up doing two separate porches (versus the big wrap-around deck, connecting the two). We have the large back porch and then the smaller porch, so why the different stairs? Well, the house has five entrances and exits, the stairs being exposed to the PNW rain in all of them. Wood stairs are not only more expensive to install than concrete, but they aren’t going to last as long (even the Robi wood that we used that’s meant to be extremely long-lasting but could at some point in my lifetime need repair). So doing all five in wood felt less practical and very expensive. But the idea of cement stairs off the back deck sounded harsh and depressing, so we chose to treat this differently and do wood on this big guy. Ultimately when you look at it in this shot it looks weird, but no one stands in this corner. Most of the time people are just looking straight back to the back porch and you don’t really clock the difference.

I LOVE how it turned out. We went with “steel” blue aluminum clad on the doors (from Sierra Pacific) and combined with the copper of the Carson Rejuvenation sconces, we couldn’t be happier (blues and blushes forever).

Same Porch But Two Different Railings?

Yep:) Ok so for the porch itself we wanted something classic and “sit-on-able,” meaning chunky, wood and at least 6″ deep and 30″ high. Great. Now we could have done the same railing down the stairs, but again with the heavy rains here it might rot quicker than we’d want. Plus this black railing just disappears (and it’s what we have at every other entry with the cement stairs).

We chose a very slight profile – 1 1/2″ on top and 1/2″ in thickness. I saw it on a fence in a neighborhood while is was on a walk and figured if we had to do metal (which we decided was the right way to go) we’d do it simply like that. It pretty much disappears (and we had to do it to pass inspections).

The view into the sunroom here KILLS ME. I love it so much. This is the corner that we might put a sofa because we don’t use this door too much. I do like to sit out here on the weekend mornings and read and drink coffee, but we could also keep it simple and just do two Adirondack chairs, with the same on the other side. Maybe some hanging swings? Still all TBD. We are using this summer and fall to see where people gravitate – usually having to do with kids, food, and shade.

I do have VERY good news about the mudroom – we are using it SO MUCH this summer. I feared that we put it in the wrong place, that it should have gone by the kitchen because that is certainly where the kids go in and out of most of last year. But now that we play in the backyard so much and the kids have a lot of poop to pick up and twice-a-day visits to our new secret farm animals (stay tuned for Monday!!!!), this exit/entrance gets SO MUCH USE. Muddy and poopy boots everywhere, but only on this porch or inside the mudroom, just like God intended it.

I really like how it looks like this was always how the house was – it doesn’t feel like a new build – thanks to ARCIFORM’s expertise in helping choose architectural finishes, including those sunroom windows which are just ridiculous.

She’s a happy home, y’all. I can’t believe it’s done and ours. We feel extremely grateful and thankful, most seconds of most days 🙂

What’s left for these porches? Well, we forgot to put the post cap on the mudroom post (extra credit if you caught that). Then in the spring we’ll furnish it all, style it out and get lots of shots of the living room doors open so you can get a better sense of flow. Y’all shooting exteriors is so hard – with the full sun you can’t shoot when it’s directly overhead or there are crazy shadows that are so high contrast you can’t really see what you are looking at, so we shot over two nights 6-8pm and didn’t have time to get all the shots that I wanted to (perhaps because one night we were shooting us and the kids in the pool with some wine??). When we do the full tour (coming soon!) you’ll be able to see how it all flows together and works so well. Talk soon! xx

Resources:
Architecture/Build: ARCIFORM
Landscape Design: Studio Campo
Landscape Construction: Northwest Native
First Floor Windows and Doors: Sierra Pacific
Wood Decking: Robi Decking
Copper Sconce: Rejuvenation
House Paint Color: SW 7005 Pure White by Sherwin-Williams
Adirondack Chairs: Wayfair
Pots: World Market

*After Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on August 18, 2023 01:00

What’s Next in Fall Decor From Crate & Barrel (Spoiler: It’s Real Cozy) + My Personal Rules On Designing with Extreme Comfort In Mind

I am not wishing away summer by any means, but I will always dream of cozy weekends with the kids – what we call the “soup and snuggle”. We partnered with Crate & Barrel this year (you hopefully saw the 7-week kitchen update/remodel) and today I have a living room that I curated with some of their new fall products – all in the name of “weekends at home,” (aka extreme comfort). We shot in this gorgeous house in Sonoma, (designed by the Homme Boys for a client of theirs), and with the help of Emily Bowser, we styled out this room with some of our favorite pieces. As we all know Crate & Barrel is killing it right now – with some of the best designer collaborations the design world has ever seen (Athena Calderone, Jake Arnold, and Leanne Ford to name a few) so I feel pretty darn honored to get to use their pieces on some shoots (and in my life). Today is a show and tell including some of my living room rules to live by. But first here’s the living room all set up:)

And my “rules” really just being guidelines I think are super helpful if you don’t know where to start.

Here they are:

Oval coffee tables offset the squareness of sectionals (or sofas): It’s all about mixing shapes for a fun visual contrast. No one wants all hard angles or all soft angles, right?

At least all front legs on your rug = grounding: Cozy up, folks! When your seating doesn’t at least partially live on your rug, there’s a feeling that everything is its own island and you lose that overall cohesiveness.

Lighting evenly dispersed: I LOVE lighting so making sure you space out your pieces (and that you have enough for the size of your room) will automatically make the space feel warm and of course, cozy:)

Fabric shades are best for ambient lighting: They just are! I’m not saying all of your lamps need fabric shades but one or two will give off that beautiful soft light we all love, especially when snuggling on the sofa.

Large shag rug doubles as floor seating: If you have been following me for any amount of time you know I need my rugs to be plush for maximum comfort. So adding in a shag rug is perfect for when people want (or need) to sit on the floor.

Cozy pillows soften a sofa: Cozy pillows and fall are like PB&J. They need each other. And especially with a leather sofa, they really soften and make it feel even more welcoming.

Creating zones makes a space bigger (and more usable): I learned this time and time again. When you are designing your room (space permitted) see if you can make 2-3 zones. For example, you can have a group lounge area, a reading nook, and a beautiful storage moment. This will make it so much easier to design and live in once you’ve made those decisions.

Leather Sectional | Green Pillow | Throw Blanket

I can be wary re leather sofas and at first, was nervous about using this sectional in the living room, but the leather on it is so buttery and soft with a lot of give. It is thick but doesn’t have that stiffness that so many have that feels cold and makes you bounce off of it. It’s really really soft and cushy.

Swivel Chair | Side Table | Mini Bowl | Pouf | Rug

Always a fan of swivel chairs and this one has such a pretty modern shape. We mixed so many textures in the room in the name of “curling up”.

Lamp | Art | D e c o r a t i v e Bowl | Console Table | Basket

We couldn’t believe how good that large-scale piece of art is, and the carved lines of the console are just perfection. Emily Bowser was specifically obsessed with that black chunky lamp and I, too have been trying to find a place for it. It looks like it could absolutely come from a gallery, what with its chunky brutalist design.

Head over to their site to see the video content of this all in action. It was such a fun shoot. I was only there for a day but the whole CB production team shot the entire house for their fall collection, room by room and it was all so beautiful. Here are some more of my favorite picks 🙂

1. Venezia Glass Taper Candle Holders | 2. Grace Arctic Ivory Organic Linen Blend 70″x55″ Throw Blanket | 3. Cirro White Ceramic Centerpiece Bowl | 4. Spiced Orange Mongolian Sheepskin Throw Pillow Cover | 5. Ophelia Natural Ceramic Centerpiece Bowl | 6. Black Tri-Footed Ceramic Centerpiece Bowl

1. Agen Wool Grid Light Grey Area Rug | 2. Laval Viscose Solid Blue Area Rug | 3. Telluride Wool Ivory Area Rug

And my new fall headshot (sorry the sweater is old but here’s a link to a couple of sizes!). Head over to Crate & Barrel site and see the entire project there. xx

*Styled by Emily Henderson and Emily Bowser
** Photos by Steven McDonald

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Published on August 17, 2023 01:00

How We Designed Our Covered Back Porch (+ All Of The Fun Ideas In-Between)

This back porch was never supposed to exist – it wasn’t my intention or idea, but once it was proposed (by Anne’s partner, Richard who is an architect and co-owns ARCIFORM with her) we felt it was worth exploring. I’m so glad we did. We knew that we wanted to add on this sunroom/writing room, so when Richard proposed to connect the entire house with this back, covered porch we were into it, but it took us a while to get there. This was the back of the house before:

When we bought the house they had a front porch, but the back had bushes along the exterior wall with two windows into the living room. We always knew that we wanted to open up the living room to the backyard – wanting that indoor/outdoor flow, view and of course natural light.

So we went through a few different iterations which was so fun for me, but so much work for ARCIFORM, of which I’m so grateful. Anne, the lead interior architect at ARCIFORM was so incredible during this process – she was so passionate about finding the right solution and went through iteration after iteration to help get us to where we all agreed was exactly the right design. She legit seemed to enjoy the puzzle of it all, which as her client didn’t make me feel like a burden and made it so fun to do together. What you are about to see are just screenshots of various ideas, none are flushed-out renderings.

Isn’t it just nuts?! Who’s house is this??? I think this was our first iteration, where the sunroom was actually on the back. During the design process with ARCIFORM I would just screenshot everything for future blogging, and just found this. This iteration was when the kitchen was in the living room, and our bedroom was where the mudroom is now. (That’s probably confusing unless you’ve been following along closely).

Some of the earlier ideas were clearly nixed – like painting or cladding the old 60s wing in different/darker color (and if you look closely you can see large wooden shutters on the lower windows – an idea that I was obsessed with for a while). We also nixed the hot tub. We just realized that we weren’t traditional hot tub people and it wasn’t something we wanted to invest in or prioritize in the design. We have one at the mountain house and the kids go in, but we don’t. Cut to three years later and now we have our Soake pool. It checks an empty box that I didn’t even know I had (more on that next week – reveal soon!!).

Here she moved the sunroom to connect it with the front porch and came a little into the back porch. And remember, we hadn’t lived here yet – we didn’t know how we were going to use the space. So a lot of these iterations include things like a BBQ area on the back porch or even a hot tub off of our bedrooms. We wanted a wrap-around porch at some point connecting the back porch to the mudroom porch (or in this case, our bedroom porch as the mudroom during these iterations was where the kitchen now is).

This design made sense for a bit because it was when the kitchen was right through that door and much farther into the living room – so the window would have been a pass-through space and grilling/eating out there was still really close to the kitchen (this was also before we created the kitchen patio near the future kitchen).

We ended rethinking the huge back deck. While we liked the idea of this, but this is western facing during the times of day that you want to be hanging back here (afternoon/early evening), so it gets blasted by the heat. This is when we started thinking more about the shady kitchen patio on the south side of the house, realizing that that was a great 4-7pm shady space.

Then we realized that we didn’t need the “wraparound” to the mudroom and that greenery and shrubs would be so much prettier and softer. So we nixed our main bedroom back deck (including the built-in hot tub)…

This version (above) is especially funny because this was when we had a little terrace on top of the sunroom – off of one of our kids’ bedrooms. The creative process (especially in the fantasy stage) is just so fun and hilarious. Brian even suggested a glass bottom floor (aka a glass ceiling in the sunroom). We got as far as reaching out to a company that makes them. Y’all, this was peak covid lockdown and I think we were going a little nuts and perhaps had too much time on our hands. But then we started talking about WHY we would want a terrace for a kids or guest room? This house has a million beautiful outdoor areas to hang out, and then if there was any furniture/chair/rug on it then when you are in the sunroom you’d look up and see it! And not to mention that the sunroom would have to be re-engineered (even more) to accommodate the walkable weight, etc). SO…the whole thing was canned in a matter of days, but I thought it would be fun to show you.

Here’s where we landed before construction started (not final). No big deck (just the porches) just three entrances – the back porch (which goes also into the sunroom and the family room), the mudroom porch and our bedroom exit (this was with a vintage salvaged fire escape which we never found). Of course in here there are still two things we decided to nix – the glass porch ceiling (too expensive, too modern, not necessary) and the built-in BBQ area (wrong place and too contemporary for this style of house). We wanted the back porch to be more classic. Don’t worry, the posts were engineered and added properly.

Ok so now to walk you through what we actually did:

As a reminder, that was the before – the summer of 2019 when we flew up to look at the house.

Then it took a real turn for the worst (but the blue sky sure helps).

They had to remove the plants, obviously, and most of the windows needed repair so they took some off-site to do them so that they didn’t get broken. Here you can see where they were about to add the 8′ addition to the previous addition on the right. Something I like to point out is that ARCIFORM helped us reconfigure the windows on the second floor to have more symmetry – moving one from downstairs upstair, to add a fourth.

Sometimes I can’t believe how much work went into this project. SO MUCH. ARCIFORM just did such an incredible job restoring this baby.

They cut in the opening for the huge doors, removed the windows (the two big ones became our pantry windows) and starting taking off the old gross residing. This was a fun stage to invite people over for. Those who had a design eye and had done renovation projects before were super enthusiastic and could see the potential, those that didn’t were just shocked into silence (which was super fun for me, LOL).

And then magically we had a back porch! This was the shot that I forced the ARCIFORM team to take the day after we passed our inspections to close up the walls inside (aka all rough plumbing, electrical, mechanical and engineering was approved). So as you can see the brick sunroom was added, the new windows were added to the first floor, the fourth window was added to the second floor, big posts were added to support the new covered porch, and the deck was being built.

I don’t like teasing you, I don’t. But this is already SUCH a long post and I have so much to say about how it turned out so you MUST come back Friday for the reveal (we have a different fun post for you tomorrow). Meanwhile here is another teaser, of the mudroom porch and a sweet little pup named Buttercup 🙂

*Opener and Sneak Peek Photos by Kaitlin Green

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Published on August 16, 2023 01:00

How We Designed Our Back Covered Porch (All Of The Fun Ideas In-Between)