Emily Henderson's Blog, page 86

Pantone Got It Wrong: *This* Magical Hue Is Actually the Color of the Year (+ It Could Be The Missing Piece In Your Color Palette)

Move over 2023 Pantone Color of the Year, because I’ve got something better for you EHDers. A color so rich and with so much depth that it *literally* can save nearly any color palette that feels incomplete. “Wait…remind me what the Pantone Color of the Year is, Arlyn,” you may be mentally prompting me. Ah yes, I, too, had to look it up because frankly, Viva Magenta (the actual COTY) isn’t that memorable. 

Presenting…Arlyn’s Color of the Year: Mulberry. Or if we want to get fancy with it, Ebullient Mulberry…Merry Mulberry…Cozy Mulb…let’s just keep things simple, shall we, because I’m not good at the color naming game. It’s like a raspberry and a blackberry had a berry baby; or more simply, it’s just the color of an actual mulberry fruit, but I don’t know about yours, but my supermarket doesn’t make those readily available so it’s hard to imagine. 

left: pantone’s viva magenta | right: a mulberry hue I dug around for (the number shown is its hexcode)

If we take a look at mulberry next to the official COTY, sure, it’s not *that* different from Viva Magenta. Except for a color nerd like me, it is. It’s like mayonnaise and Miracle Whip. Long-grain rice and riced cauliflower. Whitney Houston vs. someone singing a cover of Whitney Houston. Close but absolutely no cigar. If you were hoping to bite into a mulberry pie and it ended up being cranberry, your mouth would be surprised at the tartness. Similar in theory, sure, but far from the same thing. It’s hard to replicate the jammy goodness of authentic mulberry.

Color nuance is hugely important. Alter the undertone of a shade just slightly, and it completely changes the vibe. For example, a green with blue undertones is soothing, quiet, and sleepy while a green with yellow undertones is lively, verdant, and energized. Energized ≠ quiet. 

So, why do I think mulberry is actually the sleeper hit of the design world currently, and how can you make it work in your own home? Let’s get into it.

The Velvet of the Color World

This post actually started with me culling together 10 color palettes that were a bit unexpected for anyone tired of the same ol’, same ol’. While I was writing, though, I noticed something that hadn’t been super obvious to me at first. As I took a break and sat on the stoop of my front porch, bubble wand in hand to entertain my toddler, I grabbed my phone and sent Jess a nearly out-of-breath voice note. “Mulberry! It’s always been Mulberry!” was a summary of my thoughts. There it was, in nearly every photo I had plucked from the internet, from different designers, from different countries. 

It worked with blue, it melded with orange and red, it danced with yellow and green and aqua. Mulberry seemed to add a je ne sais quoi to each room that made them all feel well-rounded, rooted, and not too precise. The color is just red enough to balance warm shades, but just purple enough to be a surprising partner to cooler, analogous tones. It has just enough black to bring down a room that’s overly sweet, and punchy enough to shake up anything too neutral or monochrome. Honestly, it’s a finishing touch secret weapon and I can’t believe I’m only just becoming aware of it. The next part of my design life can begin now, armed with the powerful sangria-esque hue. 

To me, mulberry adds the same necessary richness to a room that a mahogany or walnut vintage wood piece brings or even a bit of velvet. It’s all about visual balance and subtle complexity and depth. It’s the kind of color that touches your soul in an almost nostalgic way, reminiscent of popsicle-stained tongues from childhood on a hot summer afternoon. 

I may have abandoned my initial concept I pitched to Jess, but I didn’t jilt all the beautiful photos I was going to use as examples. Just a slight pivot, so I can walk you through how mulberry works in rooms of all different styles and colors. 

Let’s See Mulberry in Actionphoto by fanny radvik | design by inuti design | styled by linda ring

First up, we have this unthinkably charming breakfast nook by Inuti Design. The oyster walls and mix of wood tones allow for a bit of play with the palette so that there’s plenty of color without feeling colorful. The fabric on the bench—a textile by the homeowner Cathy Nordström—is the star, with its mulberry and lilac checkerboard pattern. I love how it tangos with the red-toned wood of the built-in base and also works as a complementary shade to the mint and Kelly green happening in most of the other pieces. Without the fruity hue, sure, it would have been a lovely space, but the weight of it gives the whole space a presence that probably couldn’t be replicated with another color. 

photo, design and styling by dabito

Here’s a fun one: take your hand and cover that mushroom stool in this living room by Dabito for just a moment. Try to envision the room without it. Go on…that’s a nice spot energized by the drama of orange but toned down by the fact that it’s fairly monochrome (and sage green overhead and underfoot). Now, take your hand away. POW! A jolt of the unexpected. It’s easy to think maybe it doesn’t go with the existing color scheme, but it’s actually genius. The mulberry, as an offshoot of the warm earth tones, bridges the gap between the coolness of the mossy green. It exists both in a red space and a blue space that makes shakes the room out of the seriousness going this bold can sometimes create. 

photo, design and styling by jenni yolo of i spy diy

When I first asked Jenni Yolo of I Spy DIY if I could use the photo of her bathroom for this post, she sent me two images and it turned out to be the perfect use case. That first image, with its cream rug and white flowers, is so pretty. It’s calm yet dripping in drama. But the next image, the one with the burgundy rug and the fuchsia blossoms is magic. The subtlety of her palette is more noticeable. Obviously, the lighting is a bit warmer in the second photo, so the walls and shower tile lean a bit greener, but regardless, things come to life with the addition of mulberry-esque details. 

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | design by zachary-jones studio | styling by emily bowser

By now, you may have noticed a throughline. Designers love balancing light greens and poppy oranges with raisin-y mulberry. Here, it makes an appearance in the rug and it’s all the room needs to take a palette of mint and marigold to a whole other level. To my eye, it also does a wonderful job of balancing the golden oak cabinet and the deep walnut or wenge dining chairs. Had the rug just been cream, ochre, red and pink, I’m not sure there would have been enough to steady the vibrant oranges, but Sarah Zachary knew what she was doing. 

photo by haris kenjar | design by heidi caillier

At an initial glance, you might miss the mulberry moment here, but the sleeper hit by Heidi Caillier is pulling its weight without you even realizing it. If you do another “finger over the mulberry to see the difference” exercise, what you have without the sconce is definitely sweet. Timeless. Inviting. But just that touch of an effervescent merlot gives the room some edge. I love how it plays off the traditional wallpaper, and above all, I’m smitten with it in tandem with burlwood. I’m saying it now: mulberry and burlwood together are like a design elixir that can’t go wrong. 

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | design by allison pierce | styling by velinda hellen & erik staalberg

I have loved this image Sara shot for Emily’s second book from the moment I saw it on her computer screen. I’m not much of a tea drinker, but boy would I love an invite over to Allison Pierce’s home for some Earl Grey and a cranberry scone. The design is just cottage-y enough to scratch my itch for English interiors but cleaned up enough to seem livable and uncluttered. But…let’s get back to the matter at hand. 

The truth is, there is no mulberry in this photo, but the way the blue and red of the rug come together tricks my eye into thinking there is. It reads purple in some spots, which frankly, is the secret sauce of the entire design. I’ve tried to avoid repeating my use of the word balance throughout this article, but oh well: balance. If your safe space is blue and wood tones, I hope this room—heck, this whole post—inspires you to add in a touch of something else (::cough:: mulberry ::cough::) to round the whole thing out. 

So, here we are. We’ve reached the end of my love letter to the color mulberry. As I sit and rethink the color palette in my new home, I find myself so drawn to it. There were many other photos I could have shown you to keep proving my point, but I have to imagine you catch my drift by now. The shade of purply red really is the great equalizing. It works in traditional spaces, modern designs, and all the in-betweens. I tend to prefer it used in moderation, just a sprinkle to keep it special, but hey, go all in if you’re so inclined (and please DM me a photo, if you do). I’ll be sure to keep you all posted on how I plan to pivot my existing furniture (plus some new finds) in the new place by shaking up my colors, and if this post is any clue, it’ll certainly include our new friend, mulberry. 

Until next time. XOXO, your friend in design. 

Opener Image Credit: Design by Allison Pierce | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | Styling by Velinda Hellen & Erik Staalberg

The post Pantone Got It Wrong: *This* Magical Hue Is Actually the Color of the Year (+ It Could Be The Missing Piece In Your Color Palette) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: Em’s Gripping New Podcast Rec, Mal’s Favorite Cooling Sunscreen, And Two More Awesome Spring Dresses We Just Bought

Happy Sunday everyone and Memorial Day weekend! Hope you’re having a good one. Did everyone see the farmhouse back patio reveal?? I think ALL of us are ready to start eating outside full-time after seeing those pretty photos. And since it’s a holiday week for hopefully most of our American readers, here’s to an extra day of relaxation. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and of course, these links:)

This week’s house tour is a hotel! But not just any hotel, it was designed by the incredible Dorothée Meilichzon with the Experimental Group (check out their other collabs here). Montesol Experimental is in Ibiza and was designed to perfection. The interesting shapes (that headboard!), playful color palette, and wild textures make this hotel a new item on our “visit someday” list. Check it out here!

From Emily: I found a podcast series that was gripping (and makes cleaning the house or doing laundry FLY BY). I listen to 12-18 hours of podcasts a week (walking dogs and cleaning the house) and this is one of my favorites of the last two years. It’s true crime, but not in a creepy “can’t listen to while walking the dogs at night” kind of way. It’s about a murder that happened 35 years ago, and how the law enforcement may have put the wrong guy in jail for over 35 years – a real worst-case scenario situation. The journalists reported on this for over four years and it truly is so gripping. It’s excellently reported – along the lines of “In Your Own Backyard,” where the existence of the podcast itself turned the course of history for all involved. It’s not depressing (well, it’s not happy) but it’s more riveting and a cautionary tale about our justice system and how individual law enforcement can really change the course of so many people’s lives. Bone Valley, y’all.

From Caitlin: Obsessed with this article about the secret mansion located directly below the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. There are some gorgeous interior photos in there too that I NEVER expected after seeing some of the exterior’s wear-and-tear. Gotta admit that I don’t think I’d mind living there, despite the location (I mean, I do already live next to a 6-lane road, you know?). What say you???

Also From Caitlin: Coming in hot with my now-weekly dress recommendation (can you tell I’ve been trying to refresh my summer wardrobe staples?). I am a HUGE fan of this midi dress with a Swedish blue cabana stripe print! The skirt is pleated and lightweight (perfect for twirling!) and I love the way it fits on top (it has adjustable straps, so I could adjust the cleavage level to my liking). It’s another great basic that looks super cute dressed down with sneakers, but it can also be jazzed up a bit with sandals (plus, the more muted color scheme makes it perfect for year-round wear – will be so cute with a cropped sweater on top when the weather cools down!). It’s 30% off right now, too. Very excited about it!!!

From Ryann: The last day we were in Japan, literally hours before we got on the plane to go home, we happened to go to the famous Parco mall where this awesome brand had a pop-up. It’s a sustainable lifestyle brand called Puebco, that makes travel accessories, bags, and home goods out of recycled material. Everything they make has a very cool and industrial vibe that’s also eclectic and interesting. I got two tote bags and love them so much (and I think they are surprisingly affordable for the quality!). Run don’t walk!

From Mallory: As we get into warmer months it’s time to remind everyone (aka remind me) how important daily SPF is on your face!! I have a real hatred for thick gloopy sunscreen (especially when you have to apply makeup on top of it) so finding this Coola cucumber sunscreen changed my life. It’s so cooling and so lightweight, plus it smells unbelievable. The whole experience of putting it on feels incredibly luxurious. Could not recommend it enough!!!!

From Jess: Now it’s my turn to recommend a spring/summer dress:) I tried on this midi dress last weekend and instantly fell in love. It’s easy to dress up or down, it drapes so nicely, and you don’t necessarily need to wear a bra (I’m around a 36D)! I l also think the green color is so pretty. I know I’m going to get SO much use out of it. Oh, and consider sizing up one size.

From Arlyn: I’ve been using moderately not-super-poisonous cleaning supplies for a while now, but the last time I cleaned my daughter’s bathroom, the smell lingered in her room for days. Even with those “healthy” cleaners. So I went on an internet tear to find something better and I landed on Branch Basics. Anytime you can use the same cleaner on your toilet as you can your dishes or your hands, chances are, you’re in the right place (safety-wise). Basically, they use one concentrate mixed up at different ratios for the application you need. And you only need a tiny bit for each, really. I bought my own glass spray bottles because it was more cost-effective, followed the instructions on site for ratios to use, and made bathroom cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, and hand soap. I also picked up their Oxygen Boost and scrubbed the shower with it and it did a great job. I’m a convert.

Also From Arlyn: My beloved mattress from Avocado is on sale for Memorial Day! The brand rarely has a sale, so if you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time! They’re offering up to 30% off sitewide (though mattresses are 10% off). For a king-size like mine, that’s about $260 in savings. I wrote all about why this mattress works for us in my bedroom reveal last month, but as a reminder: it’s certified organic, made of natural materials like wool and latex, has medium firm support which has done wonders for my bad back, and doesn’t sleep hot like my old memory foam. In fact, maybe it’s time I Avocado-fy my pillows, too…

Thanks again for another great week and see y’all tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson, Yardzen, and ARCIFORM | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Our Back Patio Reveal! (+ How Everything’s Held Up To 6 Months Of Portland Weather)

The post The Link Up: Em’s Gripping New Podcast Rec, Mal’s Favorite Cooling Sunscreen, And Two More Awesome Spring Dresses We Just Bought appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Blanking On A Good Father’s Day Gift? Jess’s Dad Has Got You Covered With His 15 “Dad-Approved” Ideas

Hello again. It’s Jess’s Dad with another helpful (I hope) Father’s Day post. I actually had one ready for last year but the editor didn’t reach out to me. This year she did (guilt trips are a wonderful tool). I have traveled extensively since you last heard from me. Europe has always impressed me. The food, the people, and their way of life have always moved me. I got to spend a couple of months in Paris. This planet can be a grand experience if you let it (and are able). Admittedly, I found out that I probably couldn’t live so far away from my kids though. Also, they would call me in the middle of the night because they obviously don’t understand the rotation of the Earth relative to the Sun. So I’m happy to be back and writing this post. I hope it is as much fun as the last time. So let’s see what I can come up with. 

Everything I suggested last time is still a good bet. The tools, the kitchen knife, a cool T-shirt, or some of the experiential things I mentioned. I will always love a professional baseball game. BTW Minor League Baseball is professional baseball for any dads living in a non-MLB city.

Cordless Multi-Tool Kit with 2.0 Ah Battery and Charger | Sharp Pog: Oscillating Saw Blade Sharpener

Last time I mentioned the Multi-tool by Ryobi. One of the drawbacks of the multi-tool is when the blade gets dull you replace it with a new blade. The old blade would be discarded. Not anymore! Now they have come up with the Sharp Pog oscillatory multi-tool blade sharpener. What a godsend. Blades can be expensive when your only choice is to throw them away. If your dad is like me it would bug the crap out of him too to toss them. Rockefeller, I am not.

Car Diagnostic Code Scanner

My favorite new gadget is an OBD diagnostic scanner for your vehicle. Ya know when your engine light goes on and you have to head to a mechanic to see what’s wrong? Buy this tool and those days are gone. Just plug it into your vehicle and it will give you the code for your problem. Look up that code online and you’ll know what’s wrong with the vehicle. Hell, half the time you can fix it yourself. It will also keep your mechanic honest if you do need to bring it in. I like that. They range from $20 to $99. My fav is one by Innova. It’s the more expensive model but I love the buttons and bells. 

Milwaukee Battery Adapter for Dyson Vacuum | Ryobi Battery Adapter for Dyson Vacuum

Something else I have just come across is a battery adapter for my Dyson vacuum. Nothing against Dyson. It’s a great vacuum but the battery doesn’t get me through the entire house (my house is small too). Of course, when I have to plug it in to charge it I’ll stare at it so it naturally takes twice as long. There now are adapters to adapt the vacuum to your cordless tool battery. They make them for all major tool brand batteries. I chose the Milwaukee adapter. That vacuum is smoking this house now. Because I have more than one Milwaukee tool I have replacement batteries coming out of my ears. What a difference. I even bought the Ryobi one for Jess. I’m too good to her. Ha!

Scrubber Accessory Kit

As long as we’re cleaning the joint, Ryobi makes a scrubber accessory kit for your cordless drill. It’s come in handy on more than one occasion. 

Golf Pencils (My Preferred Brand)

As I said, I was living in Paris earlier this year. I ended up making all sorts of improvements to my VRBO apartment (the landlords loved me). What I missed most were my pencils. Years ago I bought a box of small pencils like the ones you see at a golf course. I have never been tasked with looking for a pencil since then. What a relief. It’s a small inexpensive gift that your dad doesn’t even know he needs or wants. I guarantee he will be calling you to thank you on more than one occasion (with apologies for the weird look he gave you when he opened them). I cannot tell you how many times I have set a pencil down and the universe ate it. Now, who cares, I have a supply that seems unlimited (there were over a hundred in the box). Make sure they have erasers. Once in a while even we make mistakes.

Torq Foam Blaster 6 Foam Wash Gun

If your Dad prefers to wash his own vehicles, Chemical Guys makes a product called the Foam Blaster 6. It connects to your garden hose and covers your car or truck in foam just like a car wash. It works great and you don’t need a power washer. Makes the chore go a lot faster. 

building jess an “english cottage” with my kids 20ish years ago

4.5″ Tools Handi Disk Deux Grinding Sanding and Cutting Wheel | 14 Piece Multipurpose Drill Bit Set

If you want to spend a little more money there is a company called Bad Dog Tools. (Less bark more bite) I just purchased a grinding/cutting wheel called the Heavy Diamond HDII. It’s guaranteed for life and will cut through anything. It runs about $170. But it’s the last one you’ll ever buy. They also make drill bits that are guaranteed for life. Bad Dog makes some badass tools. I wish I was aware of them when Jess and I built her playhouse 20+ years ago (pictured above). Quality tools are expensive but worth it to the guy that is going to use them. I’m one of those guys. I’m also a Tom Ford suit guy. Go figure.

Flannel Sherpa-Lined Shirt Jacket

I have been living in NoCal for a while now and it is definitely a chilly climate. My blood has definitely thinned since growing up in Chicago. That’s what 30 years in SoCal will do to you. I have come to rely on Carhartt clothing to keep me from freezing to death. I have grown particularly fond of their lined flannel shirt/jacket. It’s perfect for feeding them damn chickens in the morning. I look pretty good in it also. (not that anyone looks at me anymore) Geez! Their classic ranch jacket has become quite stylish these days also. I see a lot of young women wearing them too. Hell, you can match your Dad. 

Casual Kilt

As long as we’re talking clothes there is a Seattle-based kilt maker by the name of Utilikilt. They make a tool kilt (my favorite), a casual kilt, and also a formal kilt (non-plaid) among others. I own three. I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. When I am in any of those or in my formal kilt from Scotland I am a badass 73-year-old male, period (Braveheart). No clothes I own are more masculine. My wife was of Scottish descent and was of the same opinion.

can you tell we went on a family trip to scotland? this was almost my first kilt. hooked ever since.

Ultra Flex 3.0 Right Away Slip-Ins | Go Walk 6 Slip-Ins – Easy On

Another item new to the scene are my Slip-In Skechers. Believe it or not, the older we get the less we like bending over. Putting my work boots on is work. Tying my shoes is work. Damn, sometimes gettin’ out of bed is work. Those shoes are like a coffee break. Yay!

For Jess’s 5th The Little Mermaid-themed birthday party (she was obsessed), I portrayed the French chef from the movie and sang his song. Admittedly, I look more like Groucho Marx in a chef’s hat than a classic chef but hell it was fun.  

The Ove Glove

For those dads that like to cook, there is one thing I cannot be without in the kitchen. The Ov Glove is the best kitchen tool I have. For years we were forced to use oven mitts. There goes my masculinity in one fell swoop. Yikes. The Ov Glove has fingers like a regular pair of gloves. When you take the hot pan out of the oven wearin’ these bad boys you feel more like you have created a masterpiece than just a plain ole meal. It’s like wearing gloves to handle a fine piece of art. Cooking is art is it not? Make sure you get two. I couldn’t retrieve my famous meatloaf cordon bleu from the oven with just one glove. 

Magnetic Paper Towel & Foil Holder

Another item in my kitchen that saves me time and space is my magnetic foil and paper towel holder. I put it on my fridge which is next to my counter. It allows me more space to create my meals and comes in real handy when I need a piece of foil. They also make them without the foil holder. I use foil a lot to make my baking pans easier to clean. Less mess in the beginning less work at the end.  

Baseball has been a huge part of my kid’s youth. Between softball, little league, the Cubs, and Wrigley Field, Jess and Morgan are hooked. It’s a good thing.

Baseball T-Shirt

I was in Louisville, KY last month. I had to visit the Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat Factory and Museum. I found a t-shirt that just might be my all-time favorite. BEHOLD! You can also buy with any name engraved on it. I picked one up for my son when I was there. They ship anywhere. 

I hope this info helps you. Sometimes we are tough to shop for. If you still cannot decide, try something that all fathers love. TIME! A simple phone call. A visit no matter how short. Jess came to Paris for a week and I cannot tell you the joy it brought me (and her). We were truly and totally father and daughter for that week. It was breathtaking. 

As adults, my kids are my best friends. We walked the Camino de Santiago together. It made us whole again after the loss of their mother. I could not have been the father I was or am without her. I never lose sight of that.

my parenting partner and my favorite picture

Dads don’t need much. A simple card with flowers hand-delivered beats anything I mentioned here (except maybe my pencils). We understand our grown children have their own lives. That was the whole point of fatherhood. It’s ok. If you live far away from your dad how do you think a handwritten letter would go over? Breathtaking? Ha. Whenever I ask a dad with grown children when were they the happiest in their life, the answer is always the same. It’s when we were raising our kids. I look at these pictures that we’ve attached and am quite overwhelmed by that happiness. I forgot that I reenacted The Little Mermaid movie at Jess’s birthday party (I look like an idiot). I cannot imagine what the adults on hand thought (kinda didn’t care either). All I know is that being a dad is what I was meant to be. And damn, I was and am happy about it. Who the hell knew that a lack of sleep, a  lack of energy, a lack of money, and a lack of sanity would be so frickin’ enjoyable. Have a nice Father’s Day everyone.

The post Blanking On A Good Father’s Day Gift? Jess’s Dad Has Got You Covered With His 15 “Dad-Approved” Ideas appeared first on Emily Henderson.

60+ Of The Best Memorial Day Sales (+ Design-Editor Approved Picks In Furniture, Decor, Fashion, And More)

HI, FOLKS. Welcome to our biggest sale roundup of 2023! Let’s get one thing straight – the world has gotten pretty pricey lately, so I’ve been working behind the scenes to bring you an in-depth guide to the best, most relevant Memorial Day Weekend sales. If you’re looking to refresh your home, update your outdoor setup, or add a new dress that makes you feel great to your daily outfit rotation, YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

This is the weekend you’ll be seeing the biggest and best deals of the summer, and we’ve curated a bit of everything for you below – our selections run the gamut from appliances and sofas to skirts and sunscreen. Dive into our furniture & decor section below, or click right here to jump straight into our fashion & beauty picks. (And, as always, feel free to drop your own sale details in the comments if you’re a small business owner.) Happy saving!

Furniture & Decordesign by orlando soria | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: dreams do come true! the londo lodge is now a vacation rentalAllModern

Sale: Up to 60% off select items, plus an extra 20% off with code GET20.
Best Deals: Cheery Clean-Lined Sofa | Airy Leather and Wood Recliner | Scandi Beech Nightstands

Annie Selke

Sale: 20% off site-wide with code SAILBOAT.
Best Deals: Diamond Jute Rug | French Blue Herringbone Indoor/Outdoor Rug | Leopard Wool Rug

Anthropologie

Sale: Up to 40% off furniture, decor, gifts, and more.
Best Deals: Capri Blue Candle | Charming Scalloped Bathmat | Under-$90 Rattan Chair
Note: You can see 45 more of our favorite pieces from this sale right here.

Apt2B

Sale: 20% off site-wide; 25% off orders over $3,999; 30% off orders over $5,499; 35% off orders over $6,499.
Best Deals: Modern-Meets-Traditional Sofa | Contemporary Sleeper Sectional | Neutral Loveseat with Storage

Article

Sale: Up to 30% off furniture, decor, and more.
Best Deals: Outdoor Sectional | Graphic Floor Mirror | Our Favorite Sheepskin
Note: If you’re on the hunt for some inspiration, check out these ready-to-ship room combinations designed exclusively with Article pieces!

design by emily henderson | photo by kaitlin green | from: our back patio reveal! (+ how everything’s held up to 6 months of portland weather)Ballard Designs

Sale: 20% off site-wide, plus free shipping.
Best Deals: Charming Outdoor Dining Table | Standing Planters | Brass Picture Rail System
Note: To see some Ballard furniture in action, check out Em’s newly-revealed patio.

Bloomist

Sale: 20% off site-wide with code SUMMER20, plus free shipping on all orders over $150.
Best Deals: Eco-Friendly Faux Florals | Charcoal Wood Chain | Leather-Wrapped Vase

Boll & Branch

Sale: An extra 20% off bedding bundles with code SUMMERDREAM.
Best Deals: Plush Bath Sheet Bundle | Signature Embellished Started Bundle | Linen Starter Bundle

Brooklinen

Sale: 20% off site-wide.
Best Deals: Hardcore Bedding Bundles | Super Plush Robes | Emily’s Favorite Comforter

CB2

Sale: Up to 50% off furniture, outdoor, decor and more.
Best Deals: Half-Priced Lawson-Fenning Console Table | Punchy Wool Throw Blanket | French Industrial-Inspired Office Chair

design and photo by tessa neustadt | from: 1 bedroom 4 ways with the citizenryThe Citizenry

Sale: Up to 30% off site-wide.
Best Deals: Round Leather Ottomans | Earthy XL Lumbar Pillow | Handcrafted Japanese Bench

The Container Store

Sale: 30% off site-wide.
Best Deals: Chic Rolling Laundry Cart | Pull-Out Drawer Solutions | Car Organization Essentials
Note: Read Sara’s comprehensive review of her Elfa shelving system here!

Crate & Barrel

Sale: Up to 30% off select outdoor, decor, furniture, and kitchen, plus up to 70% off clearance.
Best Deals: Warm Vegan Leather Baskets | Athena Calderone Candle Holders | On-Trend Burl End Table

Design Within Reach

Sale: Up to 25% off in-stock items, plus free shipping.
Best Deals: Glass Straws | Bruno Rey Chair | Atollo Table Lamp

Effortless Composition

Sale: 50% off all orders over $25.
Best Deals: Taupe Taper Candles | Quiet Patterned Pillow | Terracotta and Rattan Bowl

styling by emily edith bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp and veronica crawford | from: how to throw an elevated garden partyFood52

Sale: 20% off site-wide; 25% off orders over $200 with code SUMMER.
Best Deals: Collapsible Woven Food Tent | The Entire Five Two Collection | French Ceramic & Cork Fruit Bowl

Frontgate

Sale: Up to 70% off select items, plus an extra 20% off clearance.
Best Deals: Beach & Pool Essentials | Classic, High-End Doormats | Em’s Patio Umbrella

H&M

Sale: Up to 60% off site-wide.
Best Deals: Affordable Kitchen Accessories | Cheap AND Good Vessels & Vases | Peachy Cabana Stripe Shower Curtain

Home Depot

Sale: Up to 30% off select appliances; $300 off refrigerators over $2,498; $100 off select laundry sets.
Best Deals: All Eligible Appliances | Eligible Refrigerators | Eligible Laundry Sets

Industry West

Sale: 22% off site-wide with code MEMORIAL22.
Best Deals: Playful Bench with Overstuffed Cushion | Effortlessly Chic Cane Bed | Industrial-Inspired Horizontal Light Fixture

design by emily henderson | photo by tessa neustadt | from: staging my dream parisian hotel suiteJayson Home

Sale: 15% off site-wide with code SAVE15.
Best Deals: Brass Lucky Horseshoe | All the Vintage Finds | The Coolest Bar Stool

Jonathan Adler

Sale: 25% off site-wide, plus up to 70% off markdowns with code HELLOSUMMER.
Best Deals: All Markdowns (They’re GOOD!) | Iconic Vice Canisters | Best-selling Statement Cabinet

Joss & Main

Sale: Up to 60% off select items, plus an extra 20% off wide code TAKE20.
Best Deals: Glam Outdoor Umbrella | Timeless Iron Spindle Bed Frame | Elevated White Entryway Table

Lulu and Georgia

Sale: 20% off site-wide.
Best Deals: The Ginny Macdonald Collection | Em’s New Living Room Sofas | Playful Patterned Pillows
Note: I do always try to throw some spoilers in for our eagle-eyed readers. Stay tuned for a living room layout update post coming soon!

Lumens

Sale: Up to 50% off select lighting, fans, furniture, decor, and more.
Best Deals: Aesthetically Appealing Ceiling Fans | Outdoor Lighting Essentials | Bath & Vanity Lighting

design by arlyn hernandez | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: arlyn’s bedroom reveal is a lesson in the beauty of “unfinished” designMcGee & Co.

Sale: Up to 25% off site-wide.
Best Deals: Em’s Dining Nook Table Dupe | Gold-Leafed Iron & Leather Pendant Light | Organic Caned Oak Dining Chair

Minna

Sale: 25% off site-wide with code YAYSUNSHINE.
Best Deals: Woven Geometric Lumbar Pillow | Cabana Striped Dog Bed | Graphic Flatweave Rug

Minted

Sale: 15% off site-wide; 25% off Save the Dates with code MEMORIALDAY23.
Best Deals: Personalized Stationery | Wedding Essentials | Fine Art Prints
Note: Don’t forget that you can work with a free art advisor! I’m still thrilled with the gallery wall that the Minted team designed for me.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

Sale: 30% off orders over $2,000; 35% off orders over $3,500; free white glove delivery with all orders over $2,500.
Best Deals: My Tried-and-True Swivel Chairs | Long, Luxe Daybed/Lounge | Textural Media Console

Neighbor

Sale: 15% off site-wide with code MEMORIAL15.
Best Deals: Modern Teak Outdoor Sectional | Durable Outdoor Dining Set | Protective Furniture Covers
Note: Remember Jess’ communal patio? Her Neighbor pieces are still holding up beautifully.

design by jess bunge | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ communal patio revealOverstock

Sale: Up to 70% off select items.
Best Deals: Modern Organic Storage Nightstands | Boucle Swivel Accent Chair | Under-$300 Spindle Platform Bed

Parachute

Sale: 20% off site-wide.
Best Deals: Vintage Linen Body Pillow Cover | Cloud Cotton Robe | Linen Duvet Cover

Pottery Barn

Sale: Up to 50% off furniture, outdoor, lighting, and more.
Best Deals: Elegant Vintage-Inspired Medicine Cabinet | Glazed Stoneware Bath Accessories | Outdoor Bistro Lights + Posts

Rejuvenation

Sale: Up to 70% off lighting, hardware, furniture and more, plus free shipping with code FREESHIP.
Best Deals: Sale Lighting Styles | Sale Furniture Styles | Sale Hardware Styles
Note: This one is REALLY good. Be sure to check out the fans in the lighting section, too!

Rugs USA

Sale: Up to 75% off select items, plus an extra 40% off clearance with code MEMDAY.
Best Deals: Charming Blue Indoor/Outdoor Rug | Flatweave Rug with Tasseled Edges | Modern Trellis Textured Rug

design by emily henderson | photo by kaitlin green | from: how i convinced my friend to paint her room really dark: a kid-dog-friendly basement makeoverSchoolhouse

Sale: 20% off orders over $200; 25% off orders over $500.
Best Deals: Em’s Favorite Coverlet | Sweetest Semi-Flush Mount Light | Our Go-To Plug-In Sconces

Serena & Lily

Sale: 20% off site-wide with code SPLASH.
Best Deals: Clean-lined Parsons Coffee Table | Scalloped Rattan Baskets | My Dream Floor Lamp

Target

Sale: Up to 30% off outdoor, kitchen, bedding, and more.
Best Deals: Minimalist Round Metal Fire Column | Threshold Bedding | $100 Metal Windsor Bench
Note: If you click on that bench link, look to the video on the left side! You may recognize a certain someone on a certain iconic patio…

Terrain

Sale: 25% off orders over $150 with code SUNSHINE25.
Best Deals: Planter Selection | Stunning Chimineas and Fire Pits | All Decor (But Especially Tabletop Goods!)

Tuft & Needle

Sale: Up to $775 off mattresses, plus up to 40% off furniture, bedding, and more.
Best Deals: Mattresses | Dog Beds | Simple Platform Bed Frame
Note: Check out Em’s recent mattress review here! (I also have the Mint Hybrid and wrote about it here.)

design by emily edith bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily bowser’s beautiful, hardworking multipurpose room revealUrban Outfitters

Sale: An extra 40% off sale items.
Best Deals: Em’s Upstairs Storage Cabinet | Cutest Celestial Tumbler Glasses | 90% Off Ceramic Bread Basket

Wayfair

Sale: Up to 70% off select items, plus an extra 20% off with code SAVE20.
Best Deals: Timeless Wingback Bed | Hall Tree with Storage | Deeply-Discounted Campaign Desk

West Elm

Sale: Up to 60% off select items.
Best Deals: Sculptural 3-Light Geo Sconce | Mid-Century Inspired Planters | Half-Priced Outdoor Lanterns

Fashion & Beauty photo by kaitlin green | from: em’s warm weather wardrobe reviewAbercrombie & Fitch

Sale: 20% off site-wide, plus an extra 15% off select styles.
Best Deals: Curve Love Bottoms | Cozy Summer Half-Zip | Pretty Toile Midi Dress (with Pockets!)

ABLE

Sale: $20 off orders over $100; $35 off orders over $150 with code SUMMERSTYLE.
Best Deals: Cognac Belt Bag | Terracotta Twill Straight Leg Pant | Chic Everyday Sneakers

Andie Swim

Sale: Up to 65% off select styles with code MDWSALE.
Best Deals: High-Necked One Piece Swimsuit | Baby Blue One Piece Swimsuit | V-Necked One Piece Swimsuit

Anthropologie

Sale: Up to 40% off sale styles.
Best Deals: Em’s Summer Maxi (In Purple!) | Wide-Leg Flare Pants | Satin Cowl Neck Midi Slip Dress

AYR

Sale: 60% off final sale.
Best Deals: Regatta Stripe Button-Up | Apertif Striped Button-Up | Pleated Twill Safari Trouser

photo by veronica crawford | from: the fun dresses i am opting for this summerCOS

Sale: 30% off select styles.
Best Deals: Contrast Panel Mini Dress | Parisian-Chic T-Shirt | Cropped Utility Jacket

Everlane

Sale: Up to 30% off select styles.
Best Deals: Way High Jeans | Leather Crossover Sandal | Square Neck One Piece

Gap

Sale: 40% off site-wide, plus 60% off select dresses, tees, tanks, and shorts.
Best Deals: This Gap x Barbie ‘Ken’ T-Shirt | $15 Structured Straw Hat | Linen-Blend Bow-Back Dress

The Great.

Sale: An extra 20% off sale styles with code EXTRA20.
Best Deals: Em’s Black & White Dress ($200 Off!) | Actually, All the Dresses | And All the Breezy Tops, Too

H&M

Sale: Up to 60% off site-wide.
Best Deals: Smocked Waist Midi Dress | Clueless-Style Houndstooth Mini Skirt | Breezy Paper Bag Shorts

photo by kaitlin greenJ. Crew

Sale: 40% off site-wide, plus an extra 50% off sale styles with code WEEKEND.
Best Deals: Half-Priced Bow Back Maxi Dress | Relaxed Fit Short-Sleeve Linen Button-Up | EHD’s Best-Selling Swimsuit

J. Crew Factory

Sale: 50-70% off site-wide, plus free shipping.
Best Deals: Cheery Striped Mini Dress | Linen-Blend Drawstring Shorts | Scalloped Active Dress

Madewell

Sale: 30% off site-wide with code WARMUP.
Best Deals: Em’s Lightweight Striped Shirt | 100% Linen Mini Dress with Pockets | Our Favorite Matching Set

Nike

Sale: Up to 40% off select styles.
Best Deals: Easy-to-Style Blazer Low ’77 Shoes | Longline Sports Bra with Back Detail | Iconic Brief-Lined Tempo Shorts

Nisolo

Sale: Up to 50% off select styles with code SUMMER25.
Best Deals: Flatform Sandals | Woven Slide Sandals | Open-Toed Clog Sandal

photo by kaitlin green | from: em’s warm weather wardrobe reviewNordstrom

Sale: Up to 60% off select womens, mens, kids, home, and beauty.
Best Deals: Ulla Johnson Styles | Millennials’ New Go-To Wedding Guest Shoe | Happy Straw Beach Tote

Old Navy

Sale: 35% off site-wide.
Best Deals: The Jean Shorts | Polka Dot Slip Skirt | Blousy Geometric Top

Target

Sale: Discounted styles from $5 and up.
Best Deals: Ribbed High-Neck Tank | Blue & White High-Waisted Swimsuit | My All-Time Favorite T-Shirt

Teva

Sale: Extra 40% off sale styles.
Best Deals: Midform Universal Sandal | Original Universal Sandal | Midform Boot

photo by kaitlin green | from: a quick trip to target: the little things that make me feel good and pulled togetherUlta

Sale: 15% off all makeup with code MAKEUP15.
Best Deals: Better Than Sex Mascara | Laura Mercier Setting Powder | Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen

Urban Outfitters

Sale: 40% off sale styles.
Best Deals: Classic Vans Sk8-Hi Sneakers | Vegan Adidas Stan Smith Sneakers | Em’s Platform Boot Dupe

Verishop

Sale: Up to 85% off select styles.
Best Deals: Rachel Comey Styles | Pleated Midi Skirt | Half-Off Linen-Blend Dress

Come back over the weekend for updates – I’ll be here, bringing the deals. Have a great Friday. xx

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

The post 60+ Of The Best Memorial Day Sales (+ Design-Editor Approved Picks In Furniture, Decor, Fashion, And More) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Let Sara Show You How She Refreshed Her Parent’s Bedroom And Bath (With Almost NO BUDGET)

It’s been a while since I last wrote a blog post, but you know what they say about riding a bike…it might be a little wobbly.

Today, for your viewing eyeballs, I have the quaint little makeover of my mom and dad’s primary bedroom and bathroom. It’s really more of a refresh since we had an almost non-existent budget to work with and very strong attachments to many of the existing pieces. Let’s start with the befores, shall we?

Please, ignore the clean laundry all over the bed. I took these photos for my own reference, not realizing it would be the last time I saw the bedroom before my dad emptied it all out to refinish the floors on a whim. He did the refinishing himself, and it turned out beautifully.

The room is on the second floor of their Spanish Colonial home, facing northeast – which means it gets beautiful morning light, and then progressively darker through the day. It was painted three different colors (peach walls, green trim, white ceiling, and closet doors), and had a bit of a hodgepodge of styles going on.

It was a little cottage, a little Spanish, and a little Craftsman. So going into this refresh, I wanted the space to feel more cohesive. I also wanted the space to feel warm, relaxing, and very much like my parents. I didn’t want to make the same mistakes I made with their living room, so from the start, they were very involved with every decision. And I took a few design L’s in order to stay true to their wishes. 

“You really want to keep the fan instead of adding a beautiful light fixture?”

You got it.

“Dad already installed the bedside sconces, and they’re extremely high and close together?”

I will cringe every time I see them, but as long as y’all are happy.

“You want to use the white Ikea shades that you already bought and installed without consulting me?”

…*deep heavy breathing*

All of that being said, I’ll still find the finished result pretty darn charming. 

Warm, relaxing, and still filled with “Ana and Eric” personality. My parents were pretty hyped on the idea of painting the room green when we first started chatting about big impact-low budget ways to really make the room feel new. They’ve never been ones to shy away from color. The design WIN here was convincing my dad that the green paint color needed to go all the way up the ceiling, rather than keeping the ceiling white. The room just has so many angles and lines, I felt that separating the walls and ceiling would make the room feel more chaotic. The color is Sherwin William’s Cucuzza Verde in eggshell, and we accented it with Sherwin William’s Classical White on the closet doors and window trim. It’s a warm creamy white, that doesn’t feel stark against the yellow-green of the walls.

Sconce

My parents were adamant about keeping all the art and furniture they previously had in the room but were open to reinterpreting where it went. I’ve seen these pieces on their walls since I was a kid, and each one is super special to them. This is my mom’s side of the bed, and where she used to have a bookshelf that wasn’t quite full enough, she now has her heirloom quilts (including the one currently on their bed!) and one of her favorite paintings of a “Madonna and Child”.

My dad’s side of the bed also used to be filled with a bookcase, only his was overflowing and had recently become a favorite scratching post of their adopted-during-quarantine cat siblings. It didn’t take much convincing to have him move all those books to the office, and instead fill his wall with family-created art. A super personal gallery wall consisting of embroidery by his sister, a painting by his niece, and other pieces by me and my brother. 

I also want to call out that beautiful stained glass window behind the bed – my dad made it! Just like the big glass tree triptych in their living room (and their front door, which I need to get a good pic of just in case). I had originally thought that we would install a window treatment either over or around it, but my parents insisted that they like waking up to the natural light every morning. That and the fact that my dad installed the sconces we picked out together very high and close to the window. They are very well-installed sconces and are not moving again. 

Table Lamp | Vintage Clear Glass Jewelry Box Organizer

I’m actually in love with these matching vintage tallboy and lowboy(?) dressers they own. My mom had always had this gray, plastic jewelry organizer sitting on the tallboy for as long as I could remember. I decided it was time for an update, and got her a gold and glass one instead. We decided to put this cute art piece over the dresser, instead of the large printed canvas portrait that used to be there, and it really brought together the whimsy cottage vibes that my mom likes. It was a gift from my aunt, who hand-colored the hair to match my brother’s and my hair color so that it looked like a watercolor of us.

The vintage mirror over the low dresser used to just lean against the wall, so we decided it was finally time it got hung. Which gave us room to display some more picture frames on the surface instead. And that vintage lamp had been living in a corner of the guest bedroom downstairs for years. They’ve always had it and always wanted to put it somewhere more prominent. Right next to the dresser felt like the perfect display spot, while also being practical.

Animal Knobs

If you looked carefully, you may have noticed that the knobs on my parent’s nightstands were little birds on branches. These are the kinds of whimsical things that my parents adore, so I decided to keep that theme going with their closet. I found these beautiful brass knobs from a seller on Etsy, and ordered a different forest animal for each closet door. We ended up going for a kind of woodsy theme in the bedroom, which tied in really beautifully with the vintage rug we brought in. It was something I had bought years ago with the hopes of using it in my bedroom, only to discover it was too large. I couldn’t bring myself to cut it down, and just hoarded it knowing one day it would find the perfect home. Now it has.

Curtains | Curtain Rod | Roman Shades | Floor Mirror | Flushmount

Continuing with that woodland theme, I found on-theme drapes covered in little taupe birds on branches. My parents had already installed stark white IKEA roman shades recently, and really loved them. I couldn’t convince them otherwise. But they were still open to keeping drapery on either side of the windows. So we installed a brass curtain rod over the window and added these mainly for aesthetic reasons. They already had a wall mirror in the original room layout, but it was unframed and unattractive. So I sourced this wood arched floor mirror to put there instead, which tied in with the darker wood tones throughout the rest of the room. And a simple linen and brass ceiling light brings that whole corner together.

It was my mom’s suggestion to hang that tiny painting over the mirror and I could not have been more excited/proud. I must truly be her daughter, and she must truly love small paintings in weird places as much as I do. And from here you can peek into the next room we’re going to visit – the primary bath. Shall we?

The primary bath was renovated originally by my dad several years back (they’ve lived in this home since 2000), and mostly without input from my mom while she was away over the summer. This isn’t to say it was BAD, just not quite what she had envisioned. And while we weren’t going to be getting to start from scratch, we were definitely going to take it in a direction that tied it in with the primary a bit more.

Here’s where we started – kind of a 50s meets Craftsman style, with bright teal walls that almost, but not quite, matched the glass tiles my dad installed. The vanity was fairly new, an amazing Reformation Home piece they found used on Craigslist. So the things we could change were the paint, lighting, and accessories.

Welcome to their new-ish bathroom. A lighter, brighter, and cleaner version of its former self. We carefully selected a paint color that truly complemented the floor tiles – Sherwin William’s Topiary Tint, which brought a really beautiful calm to the space. The trim is the same Sherwin William’s Classical White as the bedroom, so that the door and trim that touched between the two spaces seamlessly flowed into one another. 

Dragonfly Wall Hooks | Shower Curtain

To keep that woodland theme going between the two rooms, I found these silver dragonfly wall hooks, which we installed as towel hooks next to the shower. And the floral and bird shower curtains tie in both with the bathroom color scheme and the birds sprinkled throughout both rooms.

Makeup Organizer

“MORE BIRDS” my mother screamed, in a fit of bird-fueled hysteria. She didn’t, that would have been terrifying. But there are more birds. This piece fits perfectly in their bathroom and is really where I took a lot of inspiration for both rooms from. It’s a vintage piece my late aunt whitewashed and decoupaged while she was living with my parents. When she passed away, my mom kept it and moved it in here. Please note the bird knobs. It’s a really sentimental piece, and also very kitsch in the best way. I organized my mom’s make-up into this glass and gold organizer, which matches the one on her tall boy (directly opposite this piece, in the bedroom). 

First person to spot the litter box wins a cat! Actually, if you spotted it that probably means you already have at least two of your own. Yes, the litter box lives in their bathroom. This is reality. But it’s nicely hidden in the corner! We swapped out the previously installed wall sconces with these more elegant ones, and added another dragonfly towel hook next to the sink. Small changes for big impact.

And there you have it folks – a quick bedroom and bathroom refresh that make all the difference. Some new wall paint, some new light fixtures, and a reorganizing of art are really the three biggest changes we made. But of course, it’s all about the details – the heirloom quilts, the family art, the vintage pieces sourced over years. My parents are really wonderful collectors, and I think these two rooms truly represent that. They just needed a little help bringing it all together in a cohesive way.

*Design and Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

The post Let Sara Show You How She Refreshed Her Parent’s Bedroom And Bath (With Almost NO BUDGET) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Our Back Patio Reveal! (+ How Everything’s Held Up To 6 Months Of Portland Weather)

The light at the end of the construction tunnel is getting bigger and brighter every day – we are hoping to be fully blinded by June. So it’s time to start showing you some of the finished spaces – starting with our kitchen patio. We’ve already spent many nights on this patio with family, kids playing soccer in the grass til 9 pm, grownups around the table, wine aplenty and I feel a flood of hope for the future, relief that we are happy here, and gratefulness that you are all still following along. Thank you 🙂 The landscaping and exterior construction was the second phase that we tackled, and it was a beast that almost devoured me whole. But we made it! Alive and with less mud! For today’s project, we partnered with Sunbrella on this patio, knowing that we wanted cushion fabric that provided comfort for our tushies for long hang sessions and durability from the weather/wine. Let me introduce you to our finished kitchen patio.

Where Is This Kitchen Patio?

The reason this patio was even a priority is that the living room (and deck on the right in the rendering) is west facing, which means that the afternoon sun is super hot over there and shadeless (the trees are too far away). Now that’s all fine and good – we’ll have umbrellas and can sit underneath the one big oak tree with friends (and it’s only hot/sunny a few months of the year). But on a daily basis when it’s just us four, we wanted somewhere closer to the shaded south-facing kitchen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It goes without saying that we are spoiled when it comes to places to hang out, but come 4 pm this area is full of shade and so lovely (and while I’m not a meteorologist a fun fact about being in the PNW is that 6 pm is the hottest time of the day, it does NOT cool down til 9 pm – truly baffling). So that’s why we invested in this patio early.

Three Years Ago…

When we first bought the property it looked like this (above) and it was still charming. Sure, it needed work but the potential was so clear. The family that lived here before also had it as a little kitchen patio. They had a covered walkway that came from a carport with eccentric rooflines. We removed part of it because the walkway didn’t line up with the new kitchen windows and the new stairs. It had become incredibly awkward and was kinda falling down, so we took off half of it. Here’s a quick video tour if you want to walk through the space with me (just wait for the ad to play please and thank you!!!)

There she is now! It makes me soooo happy. New siding. New windows. New EVERYTHING. We decided to take the hardscape all the way to the house mostly to make this a forever mud-free zone (I think we are pretty scarred from the last two years of mud) and chose pots instead of planting straight in the ground. The brick herringbone is so pretty and classic (and Native Northwest did a great job of installing), and while the original Yardzen plan called for window boxes, once we got the corner plants and the umbrella we felt that it was enough. We will be doing more of a full reveal of this south side of the house, but the plants aren’t grown in enough so today is all about the patio and Sunbrella, our fabric partner here.

Table and Chair Set | Seat Cushions

We kept everything here pretty classic, hoping that it looks integrated with the older style home. I bought the table and chair set from Ballard Design, including the cushions made with Sunbrella fabric, and at first, I was worried the table and chairs were going to be too small or just not cool enough, but once styled out I love the vibe. The black legs tie in with the metal of the stair railing, and wood always looks good outside. Since these are teak and slatted my hope is that we can leave them out for the occasional rain and then fold them and put them away for the winter. As you know, we are not good about covering our furniture (and this is so prominent that I wouldn’t want to walk up to and stare at furniture covers six months of the year anyway) thus us choosing something that folds/stores easily and isn’t totally upholstered. While I’ve only had these for six months I can say I am very happy with this table/chair set and I’ll continue to let you know (fun fact: our mountain house upstairs deck is still in perfect condition despite harsh weather).

Umbrella

I LOVE how the black and white striped umbrella made with Sunbrella fabric ties it all together and creates a sense of a room. The pattern is super classic and adds some pattern and visual interest in one big pow. Since the herringbone brick is a pattern and the slats on the wood feel like a stripe I didn’t want to keep adding busyness, so we went with the sold white seat cushions which really toned it down in a good way. These cushions have been outside now for weeks since I got them and look brand new – Sunbrella fabric truly is just so durable, long-lasting, and weather-resistant.

The entire set is easy to take down and store for winter (and we even bought more chairs to add to when we have more guests as they were pretty affordable).

While this area does get shady by 4 pm we wanted to be able to eat lunch out here and you can see what a difference the umbrella makes. Left is no umbrella = full dangerous sun for my baby white skin and right = shady and less hot.

Enamelware (similar) | Pitcher (similar)

I styled it out with some vintage enamel camping dishes and serveware in blue to contrast with the warm tones. Blush and blue forever:)

Striped Pillows

The cushions made with Sunbrella fabric fit nicely on the chairs and are rather comfortable, and with little ties, when it’s about to rain, you pop them off and they store so well. They come in a ton of different colors and of course, are weather-resistant. Also, my brother who is not a wee man found them perfectly comfortable – I was a little nervous that these chairs were too petite for my large man friends, but the reviews are in and they are super solid and feel big enough.

I wear overalls now because FARM. And those blossoms came from our orchard and are so so pretty.

Sconce

Outdoor Sconce | Bench | Pillow | Side Table (vintage) | Lanterns | Candles | Cooper Mugs | Terra Cotta Planters | Dark Rust Planter

We kept it earthy with the pots, using the big ones that were left on the property, and adding in some pretty terra cotta and dark rust (both from Rejuvenation). I bought the lanterns from Terrain and huge candles from Pottery Barn (HOP TIP – do not leave them in the 95-degree sun – they both melted like an inflatable Gumbi). The copper exterior sconces are throughout our exterior, from Rejuvenation – Again, I love them so much and they add the perfect contrast.

This kitchen patio is a pretty darn lovely place to be, with the right balance of architectural hardness (brick, concrete, railings) and comfort-inducing softness (natural wood, fabric, plants, and umbrella). A huge thanks to the following: Sunbrella for partnering on this area, Yardzen for creating the initial design, Studio Campo for weighing in on all the things, and Native Northwest for executing it all (not a small job).

Resources:

Table and Chair Set: Ballard Designs
Seat Cushion: Sunbrella via Ballard Designs
Chair Striped Pillows: Sunbrella via Birch Lane
Bench Pillow: Sunbrella via Sien + Co
Umbrella: Sunbrella via Ballard
Lighting: Rejuvenation
Planters (New): Rejuvenation
Bench: Rejuvenation
Brick: Mutual Materials
House Paint Color: SW 7005 Pure White by Sherwin-Williams
Door Paint Color: SW 9655 Mountain Pass by Sherwin-Williams
Windows and Doors: White oak, Aspen Casement by Sierra Pacific Windows

This post was sponsored by Sunbrella but all words and opinions are mine🙂

*Design by Emily Henderson, Yardzen, and ARCIFORM
*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The post Our Back Patio Reveal! (+ How Everything’s Held Up To 6 Months Of Portland Weather) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What I Learned About Stairs, Gutters, and Hardscape (oh my) That You Might Want To Know – The Kitchen Patio Is Almost Finished!

Tomorrow we have the reveal of the patio (come back!) so I wanted to take a second to revisit how far we’ve come and walk you through some things that I learned along the way about patio construction. One of the best (and worst) things about this job is the constant learning. I’m in very good hands here, with so many different teams helping both the design and execution. In fact, with this project in particular there might have been a “too many cooks” situation if everyone didn’t work so well together (I love a buffet)! Here’s how it went down (you might need to take notes): Yardzen reached out about partnering on the areas around the house, specifically this patio area and I was so excited to see what they came up with and we hit it off. Great! Right before that Cali, from Studio Campo had signed on to design the whole homestead and our visions were so aligned, so she of course needed to be kinda involved here as well to make sure it was cohesive. We still needed a landscape contractor so we hired Native Northwest to execute the plans. They are also a design-build company, and with Studio Campo being based both in Colorado and Oregon, there were times when we leaned on them for design changes, and when plans change then the design changes…so there was a lot of coordination. Lastly, of course, ARCIFORM was at the time doing the renovation of the house, including the exterior finishes, which shouldn’t necessarily affect the landscaping, but there are some things that crossed over – i.e. stairs, hardscape, the covered walkway, lighting, etc. It’s actually way less confusing than it sounds, but I suppose being more streamlined might have benefitted my brain at times haha. So, it’s kinda hard to talk about credit here as it was such a team effort and very nuanced. OH, and then I went ahead and changed some things at the end anyway because I’m ALSO a designer. HAHAHAHAH. I will absolutely admit that I might not have been the best client this year, BTW. It is what it is. So here we go…

Covered Walkway Change

We loved this covered walkway when we bought the house but the kitchen from the inside was designed with so many windows that the covered walkway actually hit halfway through one of the windows. I don’t think that the walkway was calculated in the interior elevations and we weren’t living here. So, after the windows were installed we came to the house and we were like, uh guys. After many months of trying to figure out how to fix it (and it was rotting anyway), we ultimately decided that the kitchen would be better if we simply cut off half of it because even if the door had lined up with the walkway (it didn’t), we would be staring out the kitchen window onto a roofline. But not having a covered walkway in Oregon is pretty unadvisable. At this point, our roof was already done on our house so we couldn’t even add an overhang over the stair landing unless we ripped off part of the roof and reframed it, and since our kitchen windows are so tall there is no room to add even a bracket to do an overhang or awning. Believe me, we went through ALL of the options. Do I wish the kitchen door had a 3′ overhang so that the kids could take off their shoes before they come in? Sure. But honestly, it bothers us way less than we thought it would.

photos by kaitlin green

Where the walkway ends is a bit abrupt so we are going to mask it with a mature cherry tree that is like “look at me look at me” and eventually add more rain chains (my new favorite architectural jewelry) to bling up that awkwardness. Jamie (ARCIFORM) cut it off and made it as solid and seamless as possible but there was a while when no one knew whose responsibility it was to design or fix it and it held up literally everyone’s plans. I’ve learned this happens way more than you think and that’s ok:)

Brick Layout Obsession, Then Last Minute Changephoto by kaitlin green

Yardzen came up with a cool brick design layout, per my request, but ultimately when we got the brick on site I chickened out and decided to do a classic herringbone. We had some designs that were so pretty, but there was going to be more waste (and would take more labor) and I was like, “You will never regret a herringbone with a border, just do that”. But this is after I sourced like 55 different aged bricks of different sizes and played with like 90 different pattern configurations. Sometimes classic wins, but it’s “nice” to go through the obsessive exercise to make sure that you exhausted all the more interesting stuff, in favor of the stuff you will never regret (Brian will say that this is my true specialty – remember the sunroom floor?). We ended up using an aged 4×8 brick that you would normally stack vertically (think a wall or fireplace) but it has holes in the side and we wanted to lay it skinny side up (so 2″) for that look, which we LOVE, but it meant digging down further to allow for the 4″ of space and of course, it took more material. We knew this going into it and I’m very happy we chose what we chose, even though it cost more.

All in all, I believe that the bricks were $7k (including the long walkway) and the labor was around $10k (maybe more, it’s hard when it’s all wrapped up together in a huge job). Again, Native Northwest did an excellent job executing. Shout out to Dan’l, Scotty, and their crew for their extreme precision (which is super important when it comes to hardscape).

The Cement Stairs Decisionphoto by kaitlin green

Onto the more boring side of things – the cement stairs. Listen, I wanted more interesting stairs. I did. I wanted brick or just something, special. But ultimately we had four sets of stairs and they came in at $10k total ($2,500 each) for pouring cement, which everyone told me was by far the cheapest option. We were done spending money at that point. But this felt like a sad way to spend $10k – on something that I wasn’t even excited about design-wise and I still think that had we had more time I could have come up with a solution. But y’all, you have to have stairs to get into your house and we designed this house with five exits – one wood porch on the back, but the other four are cement. You can’t really do one brick while the others are cement (although I did fight for it). Ultimately, I said yes to the boring cement, paid the money, they came and did the mold and it was done in two days (which was great). While it’s still not my most favorite architectural feature, the ARCIFORM team was right in saying that once everything else looks done and pretty you don’t notice the stairs AT ALL and they just disappear. You’ll see tomorrow:) (but are there times when I want to clad it in the veneer version of the aged brick?? YES).

Our Siding Choiceright photo by kaitlin green

Quite possibly the easiest decision ever was the siding, and that’s because ARCIFORM was so clear about the overall vision – that it should look like the original house from 1910. Thank god for them. They reined me in when I was shouting about scalloped belly bands and shark tooth details. When we bought the house it had 3″ aluminum siding painted white, but underneath was the original wood siding (in bad condition of course – she’s old) and essentially what we put back on top – a 5″ lap siding. GREAT, DONE WAHOO! I LOVE how it turned out. We painted it SW 7005 Pure White By Sherwin–Williams which might have been one of the better days of my life. Instantly transformed! Hope before our eyes.

Our Sconce Whoopsie/Switch

Around the entire house, we have these awesome very classic farmhouse Carson sconces (from Rejuvenation) on a gooseneck in the most beautiful copper that is going to patina like Martha Stewart on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Great. Check that box. But Brian and I’s obsession with large windows (fine, we might have overdone it) meant that on the outside we didn’t have enough room to open the door without hitting the shade. So as you’ll see tomorrow we switched out the sconce for a smaller one that totally works (but admittedly isn’t as cohesive as I’d like). We have a lot of black metal around the house so you literally don’t notice it because everything else is so pretty. I feel like I have such design mistake resilience at this point. like WHOOPS, PIVOT, TRY AGAIN, TELL THE WORLD, GET IT RIGHT. It’s a cycle I’ve become very used to.

Gutters, Storm Drainage, And WHAT ARE Dry Wells???photo by kaitlin green

Another super fun way to spend $5k is gutters. We went back and forth for months about white versus copper, ultimately deciding that copper might actually be too much on this white house (looks better on darker houses IMHO). So we listened to ARCIFORM and just got white metal (not plastic). They are very important up here, I get that. But that’s not where it ends. Yes, they installed gutters, but the downspouts went directly into this kitchen patio (and the foundation). Native Northwest called it pretty quickly and suggested we put in storm drainage – something you don’t need in California, but you really do in Oregon. Water is insidious. We are not going to mess with flooding, mold, foundation problems, etc. So they put in storm drainage that led to a dry well that deposited in the middle of the lawn (admittedly I don’t totally know what that means, but there are NO water issues even on the days that don’t ever stop raining so a big thank you to Dan’l’s crew).

Rain Chains (Pretty And Practical?)photo by kaitlin green

On to good news that might make some of you enraged. I’m not a gutter purist (??) but I typically don’t like to put unnecessarily architectural things on houses (wait, isn’t that just what we do as creatives???). But the gutter was designed for the downspout to be in the corner of the kitchen patio, NOT the edge of the house where the rain chain was meant to go. You don’t need both a downspout and a rain chain – the rain chain is the downspout. So instead of re-doing the downspout or the gutter altogether, (duh) I had the rain chain installed to look like it functions, but it doesn’t. No one will know but all of you. I didn’t even tell ARCIFORM so shhh… We have three more left to hang (two on the covered walkways where they actually act as downspouts) and hang I will because they are so beautiful and special and I want them EVERYWHERE.

Stub Up For Irrigation (Why Is Borning Stuff SO Crucial)

Another thing I didn’t really know about is how important it is to irrigate underneath the patio and then stub up for planters to be watered with a drip line. This wasn’t my idea and I’m so glad it happened. We haven’t hooked them up to the pots yet, but will very soon (that reminds me I need to go water the plants).

I think that is all the boring stuff that we did, that cost $$$ and or stress but ultimately I’m so grateful to have been able to get done. Come back for the big reveal and pretty photos! xx

The post What I Learned About Stairs, Gutters, and Hardscape (oh my) That You Might Want To Know – The Kitchen Patio Is Almost Finished! appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Some Of The Boring Ways To Spend A Lot Of Money While Doing Landscape Construction (+ What I Learned That You Might Want To Know)

Tomorrow we have the reveal of the patio (come back!) so I wanted to take a second to revisit how far we’ve come and walk you through some things that I learned along the way about patio construction. One of the best (and worst) things about this job is the constant learning. I’m in very good hands here, with so many different teams helping both the design and execution. In fact, with this project in particular there might have been a “too many cooks” situation if everyone didn’t work so well together (I love a buffet)! Here’s how it went down (you might need to take notes): Yardzen reached out about partnering on the areas around the house, specifically this patio area and I was so excited to see what they came up with and we hit it off. Great! Right before that Cali, from Studio Campo had signed on to design the whole homestead and our visions were so aligned, so she of course needed to be kinda involved here as well to make sure it was cohesive. We still needed a landscape contractor so we hired Native Northwest to execute the plans. They are also a design-build company, and with Studio Campo being based both in Colorado and Oregon, there were times when we leaned on them for design changes, and when plans change then the design changes…so there was a lot of coordination. Lastly, of course, ARCIFORM was at the time doing the renovation of the house, including the exterior finishes, which shouldn’t necessarily affect the landscaping, but there are some things that crossed over – i.e. stairs, hardscape, the covered walkway, lighting, etc. It’s actually way less confusing than it sounds, but I suppose being more streamlined might have benefitted my brain at times haha. So, it’s kinda hard to talk about credit here as it was such a team effort and very nuanced. OH, and then I went ahead and changed some things at the end anyway because I’m ALSO a designer. HAHAHAHAH. I will absolutely admit that I might not have been the best client this year, BTW. It is what it is. So here we go…

Covered Walkway Change

We loved this covered walkway when we bought the house but the kitchen from the inside was designed with so many windows that the covered walkway actually hit halfway through one of the windows. I don’t think that the walkway was calculated in the interior elevations and we weren’t living here. So, after the windows were installed we came to the house and we were like, uh guys. After many months of trying to figure out how to fix it (and it was rotting anyway), we ultimately decided that the kitchen would be better if we simply cut off half of it because even if the door had lined up with the walkway (it didn’t), we would be staring out the kitchen window onto a roofline. But not having a covered walkway in Oregon is pretty unadvisable. At this point, our roof was already done on our house so we couldn’t even add an overhang over the stair landing unless we ripped off part of the roof and reframed it, and since our kitchen windows are so tall there is no room to add even a bracket to do an overhang or awning. Believe me, we went through ALL of the options. Do I wish the kitchen door had a 3′ overhang so that the kids could take off their shoes before they come in? Sure. But honestly, it bothers us way less than we thought it would.

photos by kaitlin green

Where the walkway ends is a bit abrupt so we are going to mask it with a mature cherry tree that is like “look at me look at me” and eventually add more rain chains (my new favorite architectural jewelry) to bling up that awkwardness. Jamie (ARCIFORM) cut it off and made it as solid and seamless as possible but there was a while when no one knew whose responsibility it was to design or fix it and it held up literally everyone’s plans. I’ve learned this happens way more than you think and that’s ok:)

Brick Layout Obsession, Then Last Minute Changephoto by kaitlin green

Yardzen came up with a cool brick design layout, per my request, but ultimately when we got the brick on site I chickened out and decided to do a classic herringbone. We had some designs that were so pretty, but there was going to be more waste (and would take more labor) and I was like, “You will never regret a herringbone with a border, just do that”. But this is after I sourced like 55 different aged bricks of different sizes and played with like 90 different pattern configurations. Sometimes classic wins, but it’s “nice” to go through the obsessive exercise to make sure that you exhausted all the more interesting stuff, in favor of the stuff you will never regret (Brian will say that this is my true specialty – remember the sunroom floor?). We ended up using an aged 4×8 brick that you would normally stack vertically (think a wall or fireplace) but it has holes in the side and we wanted to lay it skinny side up (so 2″) for that look, which we LOVE, but it meant digging down further to allow for the 4″ of space and of course, it took more material. We knew this going into it and I’m very happy we chose what we chose, even though it cost more.

All in all, I believe that the bricks were $7k (including the long walkway) and the labor was around $10k (maybe more, it’s hard when it’s all wrapped up together in a huge job). Again, Native Northwest did an excellent job executing. Shout out to Dan’l, Scotty, and their crew for their extreme precision (which is super important when it comes to hardscape).

The Cement Stairs Decisionphoto by kaitlin green

Onto the more boring side of things – the cement stairs. Listen, I wanted more interesting stairs. I did. I wanted brick or just something, special. But ultimately we had four sets of stairs and they came in at $10k total ($2,500 each) for pouring cement, which everyone told me was by far the cheapest option. We were done spending money at that point. But this felt like a sad way to spend $10k – on something that I wasn’t even excited about design-wise and I still think that had we had more time I could have come up with a solution. But y’all, you have to have stairs to get into your house and we designed this house with five exits – one wood porch on the back, but the other four are cement. You can’t really do one brick while the others are cement (although I did fight for it). Ultimately, I said yes to the boring cement, paid the money, they came and did the mold and it was done in two days (which was great). While it’s still not my most favorite architectural feature, the ARCIFORM team was right in saying that once everything else looks done and pretty you don’t notice the stairs AT ALL and they just disappear. You’ll see tomorrow:) (but are there times when I want to clad it in the veneer version of the aged brick?? YES).

Our Siding Choiceright photo by kaitlin green

Quite possibly the easiest decision ever was the siding, and that’s because ARCIFORM was so clear about the overall vision – that it should look like the original house from 1910. Thank god for them. They reined me in when I was shouting about scalloped belly bands and shark tooth details. When we bought the house it had 3″ aluminum siding painted white, but underneath was the original wood siding (in bad condition of course – she’s old) and essentially what we put back on top – a 5″ lap siding. GREAT, DONE WAHOO! I LOVE how it turned out. We painted it SW 7005 Pure White By Sherwin–Williams which might have been one of the better days of my life. Instantly transformed! Hope before our eyes.

Our Sconce Whoopsie/Switch

Around the entire house, we have these awesome very classic farmhouse Carson sconces (from Rejuvenation) on a gooseneck in the most beautiful copper that is going to patina like Martha Stewart on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Great. Check that box. But Brian and I’s obsession with large windows (fine, we might have overdone it) meant that on the outside we didn’t have enough room to open the door without hitting the shade. So as you’ll see tomorrow we switched out the sconce for a smaller one that totally works (but admittedly isn’t as cohesive as I’d like). We have a lot of black metal around the house so you literally don’t notice it because everything else is so pretty. I feel like I have such design mistake resilience at this point. like WHOOPS, PIVOT, TRY AGAIN, TELL THE WORLD, GET IT RIGHT. It’s a cycle I’ve become very used to.

Gutters, Storm Drainage, And WHAT ARE Dry Wells???photo by kaitlin green

Another super fun way to spend $5k is gutters. We went back and forth for months about white versus copper, ultimately deciding that copper might actually be too much on this white house (looks better on darker houses IMHO). So we listened to ARCIFORM and just got white metal (not plastic). They are very important up here, I get that. But that’s not where it ends. Yes, they installed gutters, but the downspouts went directly into this kitchen patio (and the foundation). Native Northwest called it pretty quickly and suggested we put in storm drainage – something you don’t need in California, but you really do in Oregon. Water is insidious. We are not going to mess with flooding, mold, foundation problems, etc. So they put in storm drainage that led to a dry well that deposited in the middle of the lawn (admittedly I don’t totally know what that means, but there are NO water issues even on the days that don’t ever stop raining so a big thank you to Dan’l’s crew).

Rain Chains (Pretty And Practical?)photo by kaitlin green

On to good news that might make some of you enraged. I’m not a gutter purist (??) but I typically don’t like to put unnecessarily architectural things on houses (wait, isn’t that just what we do as creatives???). But the gutter was designed for the downspout to be in the corner of the kitchen patio, NOT the edge of the house where the rain chain was meant to go. You don’t need both a downspout and a rain chain – the rain chain is the downspout. So instead of re-doing the downspout or the gutter altogether, (duh) I had the rain chain installed to look like it functions, but it doesn’t. No one will know but all of you. I didn’t even tell ARCIFORM so shhh… We have three more left to hang (two on the covered walkways where they actually act as downspouts) and hang I will because they are so beautiful and special and I want them EVERYWHERE.

Stub Up For Irrigation (Why Is Borning Stuff SO Crucial)

Another thing I didn’t really know about is how important it is to irrigate underneath the patio and then stub up for planters to be watered with a drip line. This wasn’t my idea and I’m so glad it happened. We haven’t hooked them up to the pots yet, but will very soon (that reminds me I need to go water the plants).

I think that is all the boring stuff that we did, that cost $$$ and or stress but ultimately I’m so grateful to have been able to get done. Come back for the big reveal and pretty photos! xx

The post Some Of The Boring Ways To Spend A Lot Of Money While Doing Landscape Construction (+ What I Learned That You Might Want To Know) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Huge Deal Alert: Grab Up To 40% Off Anthropologie Today With This EHD Reader-Exclusive Code (!!!)

HI, HUGE NEWS. The powers that be (read: lil’ old me) have convinced Anthropologie to open up their Memorial Day Sale a WHOLE WEEK EARLY, just for EHD readers! It’s like the digital version of being first in line at a buzzy NYC sample sale…except instead of having to stand in line, you’re welcomed in a week ahead of time and given your full pick of the litter before anyone else gets eyes on the inventory. WEIRD ANALOGIES ASIDE, THIS IS VERY EXCITING. (PS. This blog post is not sponsored, I’m just very jazzed to share.)

Here’s the deal: you can nab up to 40% off everything displayed on this EHD-exclusive sale page with code EMILY40 before Anthropologie publicly shares these deals with the masses next week. Add an item from the page to your cart, apply the EMILY40 code, and watch the discounts stack up in real-time. Go take a peek now – the inventory on sale is AWESOME. Buuuuut if you don’t have the time or bandwidth to sort through 39 pages of incredible savings today, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite deals below…

1. Meriah Gauze Throw Blanket | 2. Gilded Rim Red Wine Glass | 3. Pineapple Laundry Basket | 4. Zaha Burl Switch Plate | 5. Cecilia Curtain | 6. Capri Blue Volcano Capiz Glass Jar Candle | 7. Eyelet Agate Coaster | 8. Lascaux Decorative Blanket Ladder | 9. Riviera Bath Mat | 10. Glenna Teapot | 11. Birdcage Lidded Basket | 12. Tufted Caro Rug

…beginning with a few sweet pieces that won’t break the bank. If you’re looking to jazz up your space, you can’t go wrong with a lightweight blanket in a cheery print (feels very ‘Citrus Garden’ but on a budget, right?), a pair of cult-classic curtains, a chic bathmat, or a modern take on an Oushak rug (the 8’x10′ is $250 off!).

Looking for a gift? You can’t go wrong with those scalloped agate coasters (I bought some this morning in both white and green!), the ever-popular Capri candle (if you can afford to stock up, this is SUCH a deal!), some charming stemware, or a simple, elevated pitcher.

And, I mean, you know how I feel about wood and quirk…so I’ve been absolutely taken by those burled switchplates, the pineapple-shaped hamper (spoiler: coming soon to a bedroom MOTO near you), the graphic and modern blanket ladder, and that birdcage lidded basket that’ll make any room sing. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER GOOD OPTIONS, TOO – this collection was just the tip of the iceberg!

1. Quincy Bed | 2. Wallace Cane and Oak Sideboard | 3. Dalton Bookcase | 4. Avalene Bar Cabinet | 5. Quincy Console Table | 6. Wallace Cane and Oak Media Console

We’re getting into the larger, more permanent items and I gotta say: I was blown away by the furniture that’s included in this sale. We’ll give you a little taste in this post – starting out with these classic neutral pieces that’ll work in almost any style of home! – but WOW, there’s truly something for EVERYONE.

And the savings are ENORMOUS. The bed? $330 off. That sideboard? $800 off (and it comes in an oak tone, too, if that black finish feels too heavy for your space!). The bookcase? $540 off. The bar cabinet? $360 off. The console table? $270 off. The media console? A SWEET $500 OFF. I’m so excited that we get to offer you ALL of these options at these prices before they sell out next week!

1. Nemus Dining Table | 2. Leather Cove Bed | 3. Anya Travertine Coffee Table | 4. Cove Woven Leather Ottoman | 5. Lara Hutch | 6. Stanton Chair | 7. Kalle Sculptural Oak Console | 8. Caillen Accent Chair | 9. Sonali Oval Coffee Table | 10. Oak Farmhouse Counter Stool | 11. Kalle Sculptural Oak Bookshelf | 12. Checkered Jute Rug

One thing I really appreciate about Anthropologie is the consistent stylistic thread that runs through all of their pieces – these would all be so easy to mix and match, you know? You can build a living room around a bold statement coffee table, add in some comfortable chairs, throw in a wooden hutch, and then add a chunky console to bring the whole space together.

Or you could make a super serene retreat in a studio apartment – grab a textured leather bed, use this sculptural bookshelf as a room divider, add some classic sling chairs to keep the space light and bright, add a fun neutral rug to anchor your living space, and bring in some sweet woven ottomans to add a pop of color while echoing the texture of the bed.

1. Velvet Elowen Chair | 2. Gleaming Primrose Mirror | 3. Deco Bed | 4. Merriton Five-Drawer Dresser | 5. Fern Kitchen Island | 6. Juneau Velvet Bar Cabinet | 7. Cyrus Chair | 8. Marcelle Console Table | 9. Odetta Media Console

To no one’s surprise, I LOVE some of these classic Anthro pieces, and this is your chance to grab them at prices I’ve literally never seen before. Case in point: that iconic bar cabinet is currently on sale for $1,318.80 – that’s $880 OFF THE NORMAL PRICE.

It’d also be a great time to stock up on new dining chairs (a set of 2 of these are currently going for $586.80 – they’re usually $498 PER PIECE!) I’m sure you get it by this point, right? The savings are unprecedented and right now, they’re only available to you!

1. Ofira Buffet | 2. Delia Chandelier | 3. Fern Wall Cabinet | 4. Peacock Indoor/Outdoor Hanging Chair | 5. Kori Modular Armless Chair | 6. Washed Wood Six-Drawer Dresser

Closing out our recommendations with a few special pieces that are guaranteed to pull your room together. Whether you need an art-nouveau-inspired buffet, a whimsical lighting fixture, or a comfy hanging chair with a little extra design pizzazz…well, pal, it’s all on sale RIGHT NOW, and just for you.

As a reminder, here’s how it works:

Head to this exclusive landing page to see all the deals in one place, before they’re released to the public. Anything in this section is fair game, but it’s also not marked (as this is a special deal that’s only available for you!). Add items to your cart, then apply the ‘EMILY40‘ code on the right-hand side (just below your total) to see the discounts – there are thousands of items on sale, but everything seems to be falling in the 30-40% off category. Take your hard-earned savings and enjoy!

I’m SO THRILLED (could you tell?) that we’re able to offer this for ya – what’d you think? Should we get some more special sales going just for our readers? Did you get anything good? LET’S CHAT ABOUT IT. See ya in the comments… xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Dee Murphy | Styled by Velinda Hellen | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Dee Murphy’s Home Tour Is Giving Us All Wallpaper Envy

The post Huge Deal Alert: Grab Up To 40% Off Anthropologie Today With This EHD Reader-Exclusive Code (!!!) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

I Asked ChatGPT – AI – Design Questions… Here’s What It Said… And What Does This Mean For Design Blogs/Websites???

We knew it was going to happen, but it’s all of a sudden HERE and NOW. Like most human beings, I have mixed feelings about Artificial Intelligence taking over the world (and my job). By “mixed” I think it’s mostly going to be pretty bad socially and culturally, but it also feels rather inevitable so we need to accept, pivot, and figure out ways to adapt and enjoy our lives while we are here (and pay our bills). Being a digital creator is now being highly challenged as a lot of the information that I try to give as design education, can now be asked to AI instead of Google (which would historically send us traffic). Creativity can be copied, just not as good, and figuring out what holes can NOT be filled by AI is the new challenge. It’s all ok, I PROMISE and we are trying new strategies to stay alive/relevant and stay definitely 100% human:) But first, out of deep curiosity, I asked ChatGPT a few questions based on our most popular posts – the ones that send us “Google” traffic (versus people that come every day as true followers – thank you). These posts are what we call “evergreen successes” and we update them yearly to make sure they are still relevant as they continue to get traffic every day. Historically these posts have brought a lot of revenue as apparently, people are googling them a lot. But as more and more people use AI and TikTok as search engines these posts could get less and less traffic. So here’s what I asked ChatGPT.

My Question For Chat GPT: How High Should You Hang Curtains?

AI answer: The height at which you should hang curtains depends on several factors such as the height of the ceiling, the size of the window, and the overall aesthetic you are trying to achieve. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

Hang the curtain rod as close to the ceiling as possible: Hanging the curtains higher than the window frame creates the illusion of taller ceilings and makes the room feel more spacious. Ideally, the rod should be at least 4-6 inches above the window frame.Length of curtains: If you want your curtains to just touch the floor, measure from the bottom of the curtain rod to the floor and subtract 1/2 to 1 inch. If you want your curtains to pool on the floor for a more dramatic look, add an additional 2-4 inches to the length.Consider the style of curtains: The height at which you hang curtains also depends on the style of curtains you have chosen. For example, if you have full-length, heavy drapes, you may want to hang them higher than if you have shorter, lightweight curtains.Take into account any furniture or decorative elements: If you have furniture or decorative elements below the window, such as a sofa or a console table, you may want to hang the curtains just above them to create a cohesive look.

In summary, it is generally recommended to hang curtains as close to the ceiling as possible, with a length that either just touches the floor or pools on it depending on the desired look, taking into account the style of the curtains and any furniture or decorative elements in the room.

GAH!!! That’s all pretty correct! Now, of course, what ChaptGPT can’t yet do is add photos, personal anecdotes based on experience with things to avoid, etc. There isn’t a voice that is entertaining, but y’all the information is accurate. Of course, the irony is that it’s searching the internet for this information that is gathered from this very site. It scrapes the world wide web which includes all our past posts. HA! Jokes on us!!!

Question For ChatGPT: How Do I Lay Out My Living Room Furniture?

AI Answer: Laying out your living room furniture can be a challenging task, but here are some general steps and tips to help you create a functional and aesthetically pleasing space:

Determine the focal point: The focal point of the living room is usually the television, fireplace, or a large window with a view. Once you have identified the focal point, arrange your furniture around it.Create a conversation area: The living room is often used for socializing and entertaining guests, so it’s important to create a conversation area. Arrange your seating options (such as a sofa, loveseat, and chairs) in a way that encourages face-to-face conversation.Leave enough space for traffic flow: It’s important to leave enough space for people to move around the room comfortably without bumping into furniture. As a general rule, leave at least 2-3 feet of clearance around the seating area.Consider the size and scale of the furniture: Choose furniture that is appropriate for the size of your living room. If your room is small, choose furniture with a smaller scale to avoid overcrowding. If your room is large, choose larger pieces of furniture that can fill the space without looking out of place.Add accent furniture and accessories: Once you have the main furniture pieces in place, add accent furniture and accessories such as a coffee table, side tables, and lamps to create a cohesive look.Experiment with different layouts: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different furniture layouts until you find the one that works best for your space. You may need to move furniture around several times before finding the perfect layout.

In summary, when laying out your living room furniture, consider the focal point, create a conversation area, leave enough space for traffic flow, choose appropriately sized furniture, add accent furniture and accessories, and experiment with different layouts until you find the perfect one for your space.

Again, their response is good and correct. Is there a lot missing? Of course. Pictures, nuance, a distinct voice, humor – none of that is there. After thinking about this for months and months and months, I’ve come around to the idea that this is just a new inevitable creative challenge for us to solve. And solve, we will. So what is our strategy moving forward to ensure that we don’t all get taken over by robots and lose all our traffic to AI? Well, it’s actually super simple. We’ll lean into our human-ness. I’m actually really excited. You’ve already seen it roll out a bit, but essentially we need to be more of a platform of opinions (yes, please), trust (via actual design expertise), humor (which is more and more challenging these days TBH), connection (relatability, vulnerability, and nuance), and very specific projects (like mine, Bowser’s, Orlando’s, my team’s MOTOs, etc). It’s not that any of these things aren’t already here, but it actually gives us more permission to do them more. More journal entries and thought pieces, less tutorials and shopping roundups. Will we still do some design educational posts? Yes, but we have a new goal of making sure that how we position these posts won’t be AI-able or even something you can find on TikTok (which is also taking down Google and Instagram rapidly). I’ll be writing way more posts and we have the data on what posts by what writers you feel the most connected to so we’ll be hiring and publishing those voices the most.

I’m also excited about a new video strategy (with a new local videographer) that will hopefully create some fun ways to learn/share and connect. I have all these super juicy posts in my head, maybe not fully formed but ready to be written – stuff about social media, marriage, feminism, parenting – pieces that I think I would have been scared to write the last couple years but more and more it’s what I want to read, and therefore it’s what I want to write.

Anyway, as always I want to know what you are reading and loving (and coming back for). We can see the evidence through the analytics and the backend – some posts get great traffic, but less engagement (time on site) and others do the opposite. Some both:) We love them all for different reasons, but the goal now is to engage who is already here or here frequently, and not try to necessarily get all those Google hits because as this new tech rolls out it might be a fool’s errand (or one where I’d have to hire a full-time SEO person to execute which I’m not really interested in doing). More and more blogs are dropping like flies (this is also due to many lawsuits from photo agencies about usage – myself included) and the online and social media “competition” is undeniably fierce – just too many people, on too many platforms to follow, and you have to be posting obsessively – practically 24 hours a day – to be favored in the algorithm. But it’s not a zero-sum game and it’s actually not a competition with each other. The only way to not burn out or fold altogether is to try every single day to have a healthy relationship with the shared foe (social media algorithms and now AI) and know that the only thing you can control is your reaction to it.

I paid for five new Substacks last month that I’ve enjoyed reading. Each one is highly opinionated, personal, and mind-broadening. It seems like there is a renewed hunger for the longer form writing as long as it’s, well, really really engaging, compelling, personal, and entertaining. So does that mean that blogs are dead or are the OG personal journal-style blogs actually back? It seems to me that the “design website,” something that we claimed to be might have to shift. And if you know me (which you do), you know that you don’t have to ask me twice to be more personal. I’m excited. We have a big summer of reveals planned (shooting is currently on pause to finish everything) as we “wrap up” this house and I get to move on to documenting two other big projects.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please, sound off in the comments. We’ve thought about text notifications for farmhouse content so people don’t miss it (and still might but the idea of someone asking for my number feels hilarious, while I guess it’s successful for others). Lots of ideas floating around my head and in our brainstorming sessions. Digital media has always felt like the wild west, but now it’s gone full futuristic/sci-fi, where robots could take over creative jobs if we don’t assert ourselves and take control. RIGHT??!!!

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | Styled by Brady Tolbert for EHD | From: Custom Framing For Our Home Office With Framebridge

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