Emily Henderson's Blog, page 97

The Link Up: The Giveaway Em Can’t Wait To Tell You About, Caitlin’s Affordable Curtains She LOVES, And Ryann’s Next Drugstore Skincare Find

Happy Sunday everyone! Not a ton to report this week on the EHD front aside from the fact that exciting things are continuing to happen in our homes design-wise so we promise we will have A LOT for you soon:) So to get your mind off waiting, here are this week’s links…

This week’s house tour features an INCREDIBLE Adam Pouge curtain that we can’t stop thinking about.

photos by kaitlin green | farmhouse reveals left to right: kitchen, pantry, mudroom

From Emily: We typically don’t do a ton of giveaways because when we do we want to make sure it’s GOOD. And folks, this is a good one from one of my favorite brands, Rejuvenation. As you may know, Before we started the demo, I reached out to see if they would partner with me on all the fixtures, hardware, and plumbing for the farmhouse. It was a dream collaboration and I was beyond excited and grateful that they said YES! I’ve truly used their products for years and years because the quality and style are always amazing. So, when they wanted to do a giveaway with my readers it was an easy yes because here is what you get if you win:
1. FREE 30-minute consultation with me (but honestly they are fun and it will be longer:))
2. $2,500 Rejuvenation gift card
Designing alone is hard so let’s chat about your current or next project and then go spend your $2,500 on some beautiful Rejuvenation product. To enter just submit your email here. Good luck and can’t wait to chat with the winner:)

From Caitlin: OMG. GUYS. After a lot of trial and error, I have found THE BEST cheap curtains. They are all around $40 per panel (I KNOW!), they have a really pretty woven linen texture, they feel AWESOME to the touch, they’re weighted at the bottom, and they look WAY more expensive than they are. I got the Tuscany Green color which is a REALLY pretty deep olive (I spent a long time debating between the Khaki Green and the Tuscany; highly recommend the latter!). I hung mine with curtain rings, but they’re also constructed with rod pockets and back tabs so you can pick the look that you prefer. I bought them in the 96″ length and had them hemmed to look more custom, (which I could finally afford to do because I only spent $160 bucks on a whole room’s worth of curtains!!!). I’m so jazzed about them that I turned in this link TWO WEEKS EARLY. It’s usually impossible to find things that are fast, cheap, and good and this one is somehow the trifecta! Emphatically recommend for any renters in more temporary situations or anyone else without $$$ to drop on custom curtains. These ROCK. Ahh!!!

From Ryann: Like I said last week, I am trying a bunch of drugstore skincare because I am tired of overspending on products that are just “ok”. I am happy to report I have another winner to recommend and this one is only $8. This micellar water is the best makeup remover I have ever tried. It’s lightweight, gentle on the skin, and doesn’t dry out your skin either. It even removes my waterproof eyeliner with little effort. I 100% will be buying it again!

From Jess: As you read this I will be one day out from my trip to Paris. EEEE!!!!!!! But if there’s one thing about me it’s that I don’t understand the concept of charging my phone. It’s annoying to everyone, me included. So I decided it was time to get a proper external charge with the power cord incorporated (that’s the important part). This is the one I got. I’ve been using it already and so far it’s great. Don’t be the person with the dead phone, ok?

From Mallory: I got new party pants and I have to tell you about them!!! I went to Nordstrom and snagged the deal of the century on these fun satin trousers – originally $365 but now on sale for $146!! They’re probably the nicest pants I’ve ever owned in my life and they crushed on my valentines date. You’ll see me wearing these often. I got a size 4 and I love how they fit (they’re slightly loose in the waist but I think in a good way where they sit not super high-waisted but perfectly in the middle, I could tailor them but I don’t think I’m going to because they’re SO comfy). My favorite thing in the world is wearing pants that feel like pajamas but look fancy and this checks that box with a big fat red marker. Highly recommend snagging them before they sell out!! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by and hope y’all have a wonderful rest of your day. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Christie Veres | Photo by Keyanna Bowen | From: Suprise Home Tour! See How This Designer Transformed A Nursery, Kid’s Room, & Home Office In Her 1809 Historic Home

The post The Link Up: The Giveaway Em Can’t Wait To Tell You About, Caitlin’s Affordable Curtains She LOVES, And Ryann’s Next Drugstore Skincare Find appeared first on Emily Henderson.

New/Old Trend Alert: Ballet Flats Are Back And Bigger Than Ever (+ 5 Ways To Style Them)

In high school, you could not convince me that my Urban Outfitters ballet flats were not the coolest shoes. I would wear them every day and quite literally wore them into the ground. I think they had zero soles by the time I was done with them. That was over 10 years ago, so I can’t say I am surprised that this shoe silhouette is returning to taunt us millennials and gen Xers. Almost everything in fashion eventually makes its way back (except really low-rise jeans–PLEASE don’t bring those back!) and this year no one can deny that the ballet flat is having a resurgence. To be honest, I am not complaining. I love an easy-to-slip-on shoe, and there is something inherently youthful about ballet flats that I find endearing. Maybe the youthfulness stems from the fact that they offer zero support so you’d have to be young and reckless to wear them for an extended period of time. In any case, I think the ballet flat is going to be HUGE this spring/summer so I decided to do some digging around to see how they might be styled in 2023:

left: image source | middle: image source | right: image source

The first look on the left consists of baggy straight-leg jeans, a white T-shirt, simple black ballet flats, and a trench coat to top it off. I love the relaxed vibe and can see myself wearing this to run errands, walk my dog, or even WFH.

Next up, the middle outfit is a bit more involved but would undoubtedly grant you the title of ‘Coolest In The Office’. The simple trousers and button-up are instantly elevated by the socks and ballet flat combo. And yes, in 2023 we are apparently pairing ankle socks with ballet flats and I am not complaining, but I can only assume that to make this work you would have to size up (flats famously need to be pretty snug so they don’t slip off).

Let’s move on to look #3. The ultra-feminine silk midi skirt paired with neutral ballet flats gives an off-duty ballerina vibe that’s both sophisticated and laid back. I am a big fan of how easy it would be to throw together this outfit. All you would need is a midi skirt, a long sleeve sweater or cardigan, and a pair of ballet flats. Bonus points for the sunglasses. It’s simple yet very pulled together and elegant.

left: image source | right: image source

I love an unfussy outfit and this maxi dress look meets that criterion. This is what I’d call “Gen Z meets Coastal Grandmother“. I love the double stripes in different colors and the silver flats give an added flair that’s cool and unexpected. Last but not least, I had to include another sock and ballet flat combo because it’s too good and very 2023. I really like the short skirt paired with scrunched-up socks and matching pink flats. This look is Sporty-meets-Baby-Spice and I am here for it.

If you are into this new/old trend, here are some picks we really love:

1. Anya Scrunchie Ballet Flats | 2. Leather Ballet Flat | 3. Alohas Sway Flats | 4. Zoe Ballet Flats | 5. Arissa Metallic Leather Flat | 6. The Italian Leather Day Glove | 7. ALOHAS Sway Ballet Flat | 8. Paola Ballet Flat | 9. Aurora Flats | 10. Ballet Flats | 11. Bow Leather Ballerina | 12. Corinna Ballet Flats

So, what say you? Will ballet flats be in your wardrobe rotation this year or are you opting out of this one? Sound off in the comments and have a lovely Saturday. xx

The post New/Old Trend Alert: Ballet Flats Are Back And Bigger Than Ever (+ 5 Ways To Style Them) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Top 8 Design News Stories You Should Know About (Get Excited)

It’s time for my new favorite series – Design News. Why is it my favorite? What’s not to love about sharing the exciting things happening in the design world? I love seeing new collaborations, new ideas, new beautiful books, etc. All these things feed my love for this beautiful industry (I mean it’s literally beautiful). So without further ado let’s talk about the first collaboration with a beloved EHD brand…

Lulu And Georgia’s Hadiya Williams Collection

Lulu and Georgia have been simply killing it with their designer/artist collaborations! Last month Ginny’s and now this stunning collection with Hadiya Williams. According to Lulu and Georgia’s site, Hadiya “uses clay and other natural materials to tell visual stories inspired by the culture of the African diaspora,” and as you can see it’s incredibly beautiful. The wall art, in particular, is pulling at my heartstrings.

Winnow Wall Hanging | Apus Textile Wall Art | Course Silk Pillow

See what I mean about this wall art?!

Course Linen Napkins (set of 4) | Chassis Wall Hanging | Channel Silk Pillo

All of her pieces feel so alive and would add so much wonderful texture to any room they are put in. Lulu and Georgia know how to choose their collaborators:)

Target’s Celebrate Black History Month

‘Limitless’ Neon Light Box | Glazed Ceramic Planter | Medium Basket

I love this year’s Black History Month collabs with Target. I focused on the home decor but their fashion is also incredible! But since we are about decor, I saw that black planter in person and it’s awesome. If I didn’t already own more planters and vases than I know what to do with, I would have grabbed it immediately. It’s big too! And that neon light for a kid’s room is so cool and fun.

25pc Incense with Ceramic Holder | ‘Lift Every Voice’ Printed Pennant | Large Ribbed Sculptural Glass Vase

Then that incense holder is so chic and you can’t go wrong with a Rayo & Honey pennant🙂

Nate Home by Nate Berkus x mDESIGN

He’s baaack. Well, Nate Berkus thankfully never went anywhere but most of his recent collaborations have been in collab with his equally as talented husband, Jeremiah Brent. I love all of their lines but also love when they do their own things too. It’s cool to see the little differences and each of their own styles. So for this line, Nate created a bed and bath collection that is all him – timeless (leaning traditional), elegant, neutral (of course:)), and western European inspired. Take a look:

Ribbed Matelasse Duvet Cover Set | Velvet Pillow Bolster | Geometric Cotton Jacquard 4-Piece Bath Towel Set

See what I mean? It’s nothing over the top but also they just look really beautiful.

Block Print Percale Sheet Set | 12-Section Perforated Metal Tea Bag Organizer | Painted Stripe Cotton Quilt Set

Each piece could also easily work with a ton of different styles giving you a ton of versatility! Also, I really love that stripe quilt set.

Spero by LF

Ooooo baby you know I was excited about this one. Lawson-Fenning can do no wrong in my book. With Spero, they really leaned into fluting but in an elevated, super simple way (like everything they do:)). They say that this collection was inspired by ’60s – ’70s Scandinavian design and is meant to “evoke a sense of comfort and delight”. Well, I am definitely delighted.

Pier Nightstand | Frieze Credenza 4 Door | Span Coffee Oval Table

I do have to say though that the coffee table is my favorite piece. I’m a sucker for a circle cut out what can I say!

Colin King Studio for Troy Lighting

We all have big design crushes on Mr. Colin King so when I saw that we now can buy lighting he created I was SO excited to see what he came up with. I can say that I would happily have any of these lights in my apartment.

Alameda | Dion | Carver

The curve in that floor lamp!? I wish I needed one. So simple, cool, and yet playful.

Arden | Knight | Pearce

I also adore that fabric pendant. I love the brass accents that make it feel a little more luxe than your average pendant in this style.

Rebel Walls’ Vintage Brocade Collection

Emily has used Rebel Walls wallpaper many times, but my first time was when I designed my friend and neighbor’s bedroom. All I can say is wow and that the quality is SO GOOD. Even the wallpaper installer (who has been doing this for 20+ years) says that their wallpaper is great to work with. So if you see this very moody and romantic collection and are considering using one of them, GO FOR IT. It’s going to be beautiful:)

Fairy Tale Castle – Gold | Vintage Flora – Ebony | Song Tree – Pearl

I really love that fairy tale one!

Shoppe by Amber Interiors’ 2023 Spring Collection

It’s impossible not to love an Amber Interiors collection and this one is no different. But this is for her Shoppe instead of a collaboration with another brand which I love too. The prices are not cheap but man are they beautiful and high quality.

Alfie Bed | Summer Storm | Lewis Armchair

I can’t decide if I love the bed or the chair more. And look at the way that piece of art expresses light. It’s stunning!

Column Taper Candlestick S/2 | Bell Chaise | Ovie Picture Light

Oh, how I love a chunky moody candlestick next to a perfect gray-blue chaise sporting what almost looks like matching patches, all the while under the prettiest bronze picture light:)

Dabito’s Old Brand New: Colorful Homes for Maximal Living

And finally, we have a design book by the one and only Dabito. If you love color and great, beautiful design then you are going to need to pre-order his book, Old Brand New for an August release. I’m sure Emily and he go way back but it was the team’s first time meeting him and I think we held in our fangirling pretty well.

See anything you like? Any other news stories you want to share in the comments? Let’s celebrate design!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credit: via Lulu and Georgia

The post The Top 8 Design News Stories You Should Know About (Get Excited) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

From Hungary To East LA: Caitlin’s “Weird” Vintage Finds That Were Almost All Under $100 Each

Hello world! It feels like a good day for a little old-fashioned blogging – a few minutes of show-and-tell, if you will. Today, we’re headed around the world – briefly, at least – and checking out some of my recent vintage finds, collected from a tiny shop in Hungary to a best-keep secret vintage warehouse in East LA (with a few spots in between). It’s the nitty-gritty details, too: what I bought, what I skipped, what caught my eye, and what I wish I’d brought home – and how much I paid (spoiler: only one thing was over $100, but it was worth it). Was any of it worth it? Is my taste too weird for the internet? You be the judge. Let’s kick it off with two of my personal favorite recent scores…

A Few Pieces From Europe

But first, quick context: over the holidays, my mom and I went on a little European trip. I didn’t have a ton of room in my suitcase for souvenirs (amateur!!! What was I thinking?), but I did have enough space to bring these two pieces home! I grabbed the 1800s pear-shaped storage box at an antique shop in Budapest – I fell in love with the warm wood, thoughtful craftsmanship, and still-functioning lock and key – for about $100. The antique botanical print on the right was purchased from an old bookshop in Passau, Germany for around $20. (The original was painted in 1776 and it’s supposed to be a sea lion, in case the wild expression also threw you for a loop.) I’m so excited to get this absolute freak in a frame, though – he’s going to hang out in my kitchen, jubilantly cheering for me as I make noodles day in and day out.

We saw a ton of beautiful cutting boards at the Christmas Markets all over Germany, Austria, and Slovakia, but I was really taken by this one in Budapest – I loved how clean and graphic it was. I do remember it being a little out of my price range (I think around $80?), and I was SO STOKED when I got to open this on Christmas morning. Brenda had noticed my ogling and bought this while I was looking at some art. She’s the best 🙂

The Long Beach Flea

Annnnnd we’re back to America. This one is a classic flea market story: I spotted these Homecrest chairs when I walked in around 5 AM (does the darkness give it away?), asked for the price ($150 for 4 chairs!), and made it halfway down the aisle before turning around and racing back to Venmo the seller (@twosunbears – he does a ton of stuff in SoCal and has the best inventory!). I know they’re technically for the patio, but I plan to use them in the dining room – I love how the shape echoes the fans in my wallpaper. I’m getting some sweet little piped cushions made for the seats and I can’t wait to get them finished!

I was obsessed with this giant egg and wanted to grab it for above my stove, but balked at the price ($300!!!). The pet portrait also tugged at my heartstrings – very EHD of me – but I left it behind because the framing felt a little too ornate for the current vibe of my house.

AHH. How cool is this? I paid $50 for it, negotiated down from $80 – it felt a little high at the time (seeing as I am no Beth Harmon, in case you couldn’t tell), but I love it so much that I think it’s a fair price now. The inlay wood? The hidden chess pieces? It’s decor that’s functional (if I ever have someone to play chess with, at least) and I LOVE IT.

The bookshelf on the left sold SO quickly – I didn’t have space for it, but I loved those wrought iron balls up top. It made it feel a little extra regal and special, don’t you think? I’m also so taken by this type of mirror – the shape, the finish, the patina! – but this one was a little beyond my repair skill level (and I also don’t really have wall space for more mirrors, which is kind of insane).

Of course, I bought the old, giant, ceremonial ribbon-cutting scissors. OF COURSE, I DID. (But for $20, how could I not?) I don’t think they’ll live on top of my record credenza forever, but I do enjoy seeing them there right now 🙂 They could be fun on a gallery wall or hung against the back of a bookshelf. (My bet is that this will be the most polarizing purchase.)

Alright, hear me out: I’m starting to get VERY into embroidered and needlepoint pillows (I think a trend may be brewing here, too). I didn’t take any of these home with me, but I’m kind of regretting not nabbing the bright florals on the left or the sweet fish on the right.

Another “saw it, couldn’t stop thinking about it, had to return and nab it” situation. This burl jewelry box is HUGE, beautifully crafted, and in awesome shape. Originally the seller held firm at $80, but came down to $60 after he saw me pacing outside his booth. (Life lesson: neuroticism pays off sometimes?) This one still feels like an absolute steal to me – the newer version I’d been eyeing is less than half the size and more than twice the price. Let’s head on to…

The Rose Bowl

I’m not interested in hiking or camping, but I will HAPPILY schlep in the hot Rose Bowl parking lot for miles while hauling a whole brunch of stuff. I loved this campaign lingerie dresser, but the price was a little steep at $275. It’s technically totally fair – maybe even a deal!! – but these occasionally pop up on Marketplace for ~$40, and I wasn’t willing to splurge here. I was also super inspired by the matte black globe on the right – it’s so bold and graphic and interesting!!! – and it got me noodling on ways to repurpose some of the decor I’m no longer excited about.

I WAS very excited about this verdigris candleholders, though. I don’t think they’re actually copper or bronze (the finish feels more “painted” than “patinated”), but they felt like a fitting bridge between my previous postmodern-leaning style preferences and my current pre-1980s tastes. The best of both worlds, you know? They were $40, which felt like a pretty fair price.

OH MY GOSH. How could I not buy a little brass monkey? He’s looking at himself in the mirror, guys!!! I’ve never whipped out $5 faster in my life, I swear. And I’m such a sucker for these wicker suitcases and picnic baskets – I see them all the time on Marketplace for $10-20, but the prices are usually SUPER jacked up at flea markets (like, $60!). I lucked out here, though – the seller was super reasonable ($20) and he decided to cut me a 50% off deal in the hopes of making his first sale of the day. He made a sale, and I spent $10 AND got to ring a little bell he had set up. 10/10 experience.

SO PRETTY. I wish I had infinite rooms to decorate in my apartment (and infinite money to decorate with, I guess – that seems necessary, too). Look at the detail on the legs on that table on the left! Look at that rich pink rug on the right! GAH. I hope both of these things found great homes. That brings us to our next stop…

Urban Americana

If you’re not familiar, is an awesome vintage/antique mall (with an incredibly well-maintained IG presence, for the record) just south of LA. There are tons of booths and the curation here is TOP NOTCH – it’s all great stuff, selected by folks with really impressive design chops. Case in point: man, that antique dresser on the left really makes my heart skip a beat! I’m on the hunt for a second-bedroom dresser and this one was a great size, but it felt a little too country/sweet for the space in question. (Side discussion: dark woods are totally coming back, right? Let’s confer in the comments.) On the literal opposite end of the design spectrum, I LOVED these faux fur ottomans. So weird, so unpractical, so fun. I’m honestly still thinking about them. (Should I scoop? Is that insane?)

I was looking for a not-ugly trunk to store my little green machine and miscellaneous vacuum attachments. Both of these were SO COOL – I’d never seen anything like the one on the left, and the patina on the right was so pretty! – but both felt a little too precious or serious for my home. (I did eventually find a trunk – read on!!!)

I came home with this 1987 Haldon Group tortoiseshell ice bucket. It was $30 – about half of what it’d go for on eBay or Etsy – but I really liked the hexagon shape, lacquered finish, and space for a tassel. (I’m planning to replace this one with a tassel that’s a little more substantial.)

Vintage Junktion

OH MY GOSH. GUYS. If you live in the LA area and you have not been to Vintage Junktion, STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND REARRANGE YOUR SCHEDULE. (You’re going to have to because it’s only open from 11-3 on Wednesday and the weekend.) It’s 50,000 square feet of vintage and antiques, spread across two separate buildings – one for furniture, decor, and smalls (this building feels kind of like a giant office) and one for overflow furniture, building materials, and ephemera (this one feels like a warehouse). It’s PACKED and incredibly inspiring – how beautiful are the copper pieces on the left? Wouldn’t the mini-trophies be so sweet on a bookshelf?! – and I literally CANNOT wait to go back.

I found this Chinoiserie wicker trunk in the warehouse portion, snapped this photo, and headed to the cash register in the primary building to ask for its price. I’ve seen these listed between $20 – $200 and was hoping that this would fall on the lower end of the spectrum. The good news: it was on the lower end – $60! – and I brought it home. The bad news: the scale was a little larger than I’d imagined, so I think this will be headed to Marketplace VERY soon. That’s what I love about vintage – it didn’t work for me, but I feel great about recouping my costs here!!

I just wanted to show you a peek of part of this warehouse – it’s gorgeous. This is my kind of place 🙂 (Upon second viewing, I now realize that what I consider “gorgeous” – natural light, high ceilings, original wood, patinated furniture, well-loved building supplies – may also look like “a bunch of junk in an old building.” I stand by my initial assessment. I love it in here.) This concludes our tour of Vintage Junktion, and brings us to…

2 Marketplace Scores

Can you tell I love campaign furniture and wicker? Is that coming off? (I hope so.) I didn’t know where the Thomasville Huntley dresser would go when I bought it – at first, I thought maybe the dining room or the bedroom – but it’s landed in the living room and it’s actually the PERFECT storage piece for that space. It’s a great mix of shelving and drawers and it stores everything from board games and printer paper to old photographs and extra computer chargers. This wasn’t cheap – $400 after delivery, which I needed because it’s pretty massive and dense – but I have no doubts that I’ll be able to sell it for that price when the time comes.

And the tiny wicker dresser on the right was a $40 score for this tiny, previously unused corner of my hallway. It now stashes all my accessories – sunglasses, headbands, bobby pins, scrunchies, enamel pins, scarves, rings, etc. – and getting all of those things out of my closets/dressers/bathroom drawers and into one easily-accessible place has been pretty transformative, space-wise. HIGHLY RECOMMEND an accessory dresser. Huge fan.

This concludes my recent scores – WHAT SAY YOU? I’m ready to chat about all things brown wood, vintage pricing, and whether or not anyone else out there has a similar love of ceremonial scissors and brass monkeys. Let’s gab? xx

The post From Hungary To East LA: Caitlin’s “Weird” Vintage Finds That Were Almost All Under $100 Each appeared first on Emily Henderson.

How To Order A Rolling Library Ladder + The Price, Lead Time, And The Different Style/Finish Options

I think it’s fair to say that we all love the idea of a rolling ladder – the romance of it is seared into our brains from fantasy libraries of yore, a la Belle in Beauty and the Beast. I too was awaiting my big rolling ladder moment and figured that the mudroom was the perfect stage for its big debut. But not having ever done one before I didn’t know how to execute it and surely felt intimidated. They all look vintage but are they really? Is it one of those luxury things that is like $12k? Are they custom-made? Do you have to be a designer to do one? (no, no, can be, no). So today I’ll walk you through our rolling ladder “journey,” as led by ARCIFORM as they have lots of rolling ladder experience. I’m not saying it’s the only way to do them or the only source to get them from (totally not gifted or sponsored) but I was surprised at how not a big deal it was.

How Do You Order A Rolling Ladder?

I don’t have a bunch of options for you, just the one that we ordered. Most of the ladder is standardized – the distance between rungs, the overall width, etc. The most specific piece of information you need to provide, that only you know, is the exact height of the rolling rod/rack pole thing that it slides on and the length of that rod. It’s pure geometry. With this information, they will ensure that the height of the ladder itself is the right angle (not a right angle) to climb up as well as the correct angle when it’s not in use (it retracts much straighter – keep reading). Jamie (our lead ARCIFORM project manager) ensured that we were ordering the right rod height and length because I don’t do measurements accurately.

As you can see there are wheels on the bottom that go right to left, and hardware on top that you install on the rod that rolls left to right (and is very safe as it is secured on top and bottom).

To save space, avoid tripping, and be less of a kid-temptation, the hardware allows it to easily go more vertical and hug the cabinetry. It’s extremely easy to do this and this is how it is most of the time.

What Are The Design Options For Wood, Metal Finish, And Style?

We bought ours from Custom Hardware Services LLC, and you can click here straight into what we bought here: rolling ladders. The metal finish options are below.

We chose black because we had black in our lighting and the Oil Rubbed Bronze looked, well, brown.

We also chose the more old-fashioned brake wheel although I’m unsure how it brakes. But since it’s recommended it felt like the right thing to do.

For wood options, you have cherry, hickory, red oak, and maple. We chose unfinished red oak and it came in a very light color wood (think blonde).

There are more custom options on their site (like adding handrails), I’m really only guiding you through what we did.

If you want to know our exact order (besides the height which is totally up to you) here you go:

“Rolling ladder, Black, Brake wheel, Standard roller, Normal red oak ladder, 20” wide, Unfinished, Straight rails, Normal mount, Regular stop kit, Horizontal brackets, No accessories”

When it came in it was too light for us (to us it looked cheaper and more IKEA-like) and we wanted it slightly darker than the cabinets. Jamie put a clear coat on it and it brought out the grain more, but still too light.

So we ask ARCIFORM to send out their lead painter who is the same guy that matched the wood of our incredible top of the island. He’s been custom-staining anything for years and years and doesn’t just choose one. He’s a real mixologist.

He sampled a few and based on his suggestions (and our opinion) we went with the red mahogany which admittedly I was like, “huh” but he was absolutely right (and he says it’s the stain he uses when he wants something to age well and look older faster). It pulled the tone from the darker tones of the Unique Kitchen And Baths white oak Cabinets and said it will age very nicely.

How Much Did It Cost? And How Long Did It Take?

The ladder and rod system was $1800, with the shipping an additional $200. It comes flat-packed so that doesn’t include the install. It took a day to assemble the ladder and hang the system by someone experienced (shout out to Jamie and Taylor), plus more time for staining. The lead time was around 6 weeks (might have taken longer but it felt around that long). To me both of those things – price and lead time, were reasonable. Could you make this for less? Probably, but not me:)

We love this ladder and of course, want it in all the rooms (Closet? Should we create a library in the family room?) For those of you wondering if it’s dangerous for the kids my response is “eh…not really”. Like most things, when it got installed they were a bit enthusiastic and reckless, but we hammered out some rules quickly and they lost interest. Turns out they don’t really want access to the backup pillowcases as much as they thought they did 🙂

Mudroom Resources:
Cabinetry: Unique Kitchen and Baths
Wall Paint Color : Extra White by Sherwin-Williams
Paneling and Trim Paint Color: Dew Drop by Sherwin-Williams
Floor Tile: Pratt + Larson
Tile Installer: Level Plane
Dog W ashing Stone : Bedrosians Tile & Stone
Appliances: Build with Ferguson
Skylights: Velux
Stone Fabrication : Alpha StoneWorks
Hardware: Rejuvenation
Light Fixtures: Rejuvenation
Rolling Ladder: Custom Hardware Services LLC

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

The post How To Order A Rolling Library Ladder + The Price, Lead Time, And The Different Style/Finish Options appeared first on Emily Henderson.

A Roundup Of Our Favorite Article Pieces And A Chance To Win a $2,000 Gift Card (+ A Sneak Peek At The New Mountain House Living Room Sofa)

There are certain brands that I/my team go back to again and again and Article is one of those brands. I’ve been a longtime fan and have used their pieces in many a makeover. Their furniture and decor are well-designed, and beautiful, and their delivery and installation services are truly unmatched. We love working with them and have tried out so many of their pieces so we can confidently attest to their style, quality, and longevity. Today, in honor of Article’s Presidents’ Day Sale (happening right now!), we have a $2,000 Article gift card to give away to one lucky reader. All you have to do is check out their site and leave a comment here with the piece that you’d love to bring home. To help aid in your search, we’ve rounded up the best deals along with a few inspirational shots of our tried-and-true favorites. But before we get into that, I wanted to show you the sectional we grabbed for the mountain house. When I needed a really comfortable yet sturdy, beautiful sofa that could hold up with renters AND our extended stays with lots of guests, I turned to Article…

My New Sectional

Last summer, my sofa frustration was at an all-time high as our awesome vintage sectional fell apart anytime anyone sat on it. Literally sitting on it was a problem. My friend, Annie, so bluntly put it – “You hate this sofa, get a new one.” Yes, it was almost 3 years of tolerating the vintage sectional. I knew that I needed A. Extreme comfort – this is a vacation house for Pete’s sake. B. It needed to be family/kid/pet-friendly (i.e. dark and hard to destroy), and C. Not have a crazy long lead time or be super expensive. Even though we weren’t living at the mountain house full time we were renting it out and the guests were also complaining about how annoying our vintage sectional was. So I ordered this sectional from Article (it’s a new sofa for them), it came within 2 weeks, and after the wonderful white glove installers put it together and left I was overwhelmed with a sense of relief and joy. It is SO COMFORTABLE, with a wide whale corduroy that is so soft – and has the perfect mountain house family-friendly vibe.

Over Christmas, I would come down every morning early, throw myself on the sofa with my coffee and kindle, and say to myself about how it literally couldn’t be more comfortable and perfect for our needs there. I recently convinced my friend Kaitlin to get the green version even saying, “As your friend, I want you to have this level of comfort in your family room.” I don’t know what magic foam or filling they have in their cushions but I swear it’s the perfect level of comfort and give. Some sofas are too tightly filled so even though the cushions are high-end/quality it almost propels you off the sofa. And then other types of filling don’t have enough structure so they look like garbage after a few months of use. It’s this high quality + perfect amount of give that makes it so comfortable and long-lasting. I should know, I’ve had their other sectional, the Burrard, for almost 9 years now and it’s still so comfortable and yet structured! I hate showing you iPhone shots, but we are going to shoot this summer.

If you’re the lucky winner of this $2,000 gift card, I can’t recommend this sectional enough. But if you want to stretch those winnings a little further, we’ve rounded up the creme de la creme of their Presidents Day Sale offerings (happening now until 2/20). These items will deliver on comfort, style, and quality over and over, for years and years.

Sofasleft: photo by tessa neustadt, from: how we styled our living room to sell | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: quick changes I made to my la living room

This was the debut of the Burrard sectional in our Glendale house before it sold. It really was perfect. We then used it for our living room in the LA house, and I’ve moved it up to Portland, where it lives in our living room right now. Sure, the chaise isn’t going to work where it is and it’s the wrong orientation for this room, but it’s just so comfortable that it’s hard to buck up and buy or invest in a new statement sofa. I’m going to miss how comfortable it is!

left: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: how to make your smallest room the coziest room in your house | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: ryann’s living and dining room moto reveal

Like I said before, we’ve used Article sofas in many a makeover including Sara’s TV room and Ryann’s living room. Sara has the Sven Sofa in their velvet Pacific Blue color and loves how it completes the monochrome look she was going for plus it is super comfortable. Ryann chose their Texada Sofa because she wanted a statement sofa that had an interesting shape but would still blend with many styles. She loves this sofa and how stylish and comfortable it is (and it’s pet friendly!).

If you are looking for a new sofa these are some new styles we love that are also a part of their Presidents Day sale:

1. Abisko Sofa | 2. Timber Sectional | 3. Lappi Sofa | 4. Klara Sofa | 5. Abisko Sectional | 6. Nordby Sofa Bed

Chairsleft: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: the ultimate family-friendly media room | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp

A good accent chair can provide additional seating but also add more style and intrigue to a room. This armchair that we used in a couple of makeovers and LOVED is sadly no longer available but speaks to how Article knows how to construct a comfortable and stylish accent chair like no other. Anytime I use their chairs, I am always thrilled with their quality. Here are some new accent chair picks that are currently on sale:

1. Netro Lounge Chair | 2. Abisko Lounge Chair | 3. Chantel Chair | 4. Oscuro Chair | 5. Angle Lounge Chair | 6. Meklen Lounge Chair

Benches & Ottomansleft: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: a cozy yet sophisticated bedroom makeover | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: my friend’s kid and pet friendly living room

If you’re looking for an end-of-bed bench or an ottoman, you can’t go wrong here. In Suzanne’s bedroom makeover, we choose their Level Bench to add a sleek, modern flair. I love the U-shaped leg design on the backside and it has just the right amount of tufting. And longtime readers might remember this makeover where we paired this beautiful caramel ottoman with a blue/gray sectional. I wanted to ensure that the sofa had a warmer-toned best friend that was also pet and kid-friendly and this was the perfect fit. I still love the subtle tufting and stitching that swoops down the sides.

Lucky for us, Article has a ton of cool new styles of ottomans/benches on sale:

1. Cossa Ottoman | 2. Virk Bench | 3. Hira Pouf | 4. Oda Bench | 5. Bamba Pouf | 6. Abisko Ottoman

Casegoodsleft: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: quick changes I made to my la living room | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: ryann’s living and dining room moto reveal

Article of course makes extremely quality casegoods that provide style and storage. I had the Seno Sideboard in my LA living room since day one and loved it so much. It’s a solid Midcentury Modern piece with a lovely finish and wood grain and oh so timeless. Ryann used the Seno Media Console for her TV stand and it ended up being the perfect low-standing piece to complete her living room. It has storage on both sides and a little open shelf in the middle, and similar to my sideboard, the color and finish look very high-end/expensive.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: my best friend‘s 1970s basement gets a makeover

In Robyn’s basement makeover, we went with the black Oscuro Cabinet with brushed brass details. It complements the awesome wood paneling without being too loud and we love the fluted glass doors.

No matter your style, there’s a casegood for you that will look great in your home. Here are some new styles on sale:

1. Merto Cabinet | 2. Nera Cabinet | 3. V Bar Sideboard | 4. Floru Sideboard | 5. Vireo Dresser | 6. Seno Media Unit

Tablesleft: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: arlyn’s moody dining room reveal | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: jess’ communal patio reveal

Article has incredible indoor and outdoor tables that we’ve tried and tested for you. To balance the dark, moody walls in her rental dining room, Arlyn used one of Article’s solid oak tables (similar)  which has a light, warm wood finish and matched it with oak and leather dining chairs. She loves how the light tone pops against the dark walls and how sturdy it is. On the left, we have Jess’ communal patio where she opted for this round rattan outdoor table that can easily seat six people. It’s somehow both extremely special and unique while also being neutral and so versatile. Arlyn’s table is no longer available but here are some awesome picks (including side tables) that are:

1. Erno Round Dining Table | 2. Alna Dining Table | 3. Vena Café Table | 4. Oscuro Dining Table | 5. Crena Side Table | 6. Grale Dining Table

Lighting + Decorleft: photo by tessa neustadt, from: elliot’s nursery reveal | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: sara’s living and dining room reveal

We talk about Article’s furniture a lot but they also have amazing lighting and decor selections. Their sheepskin throw is great to layer over area rugs for a layered, cozy look. I have used it countless times. They also carry awesome lighting like this floor lamp that Sara used in her living room. It’s perfectly modern and sculptural and it adds movement and height.

If you want to browse more decor and lighting, here are some of our favorites:

1. Suru Small Pendant Lamp | 2. Beau Floor Mirror | 3. Lanna Pillow | 4. Tuva Small Planter | 5. Wyndrow Pendant | 6. Bori Lantern

Again, we are truly fans of Article and their timeless, quality pieces and we feel very lucky to partner with them. In addition to the $2,000 giveaway (enter by commenting below what Article piece you’d love to take home – open to U.S. and Canada residents), Article kindly offered to make sure all our readers get a little extra value out of the sale. Click here to get $50 off a purchase of $200 or more (valid until March 31, 2023). Discount will apply automatically at checkout.

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Quick Changes I Made To My LA Living Room

The post A Roundup Of Our Favorite Article Pieces And A Chance To Win a $2,000 Gift Card (+ A Sneak Peek At The New Mountain House Living Room Sofa) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

With A View This Good, Why Not Put Your Kitchen On The Second Floor?? (+ Dive Into One Of Our Favorite 2023 Trends)

When this kitchen was pitched to me I had a few instant thoughts. First, it’s beautiful (duh), how fun that it’s located in a town I grew up next to, and I loved that it featured one of my favorite 2023 kitchen trends without looking “trendy”. That trend being the use of darker metals. Then as I looked deeper and read more about it, I knew I had to share it with y’all. Designer, Erin Brown, not only created a beautiful, richly toned kitchen amongst a sea of homes with light, white kitchens (pun intended:)), but she also made some really cool choices that you might not catch or know at first glance. One choice being that since this was a gut home renovation, she decided to move the kitchen to the second floor so that she and her family could all fully enjoy that stunning ocean view (and the beaches I grew up loving).

So I sent Erin some questions to really dig into how she created this dreamy kitchen so let’s dig in, shall we?

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Appliance Pulls | Chandelier | Stools | Rug | Runner | Cabinets | Windows

As a former OC gal myself – light, bright kitchens are the standard when renovating, especially by the beach. What made you decide to go for a richer color palette?

Heyyy, SoCal in the house!! You are right, a white kitchen is classic and timeless. Right now a white oak kitchen is trendy and in demand. I adore a light bright kitchen, especially if natural light is lacking the light color is so important.  

Because our kitchen has a 12’ long LaCantina window that faces Southwest, we have no shortage of natural light. Our abundance of natural light combined with my love of rich tones played heavily in selecting all dark cabinets. Using dark Jacobean stained walnut cabinets combined with our black BOXI cabinets suited my personal preference of deep saturated colors. 

Additionally, I love the design tension that light and dark colors create. By pairing the richer, darker color palette of the cabinetry with light floors, countertops, and backsplash, to me, that tension actually is quite harmonious. It is a color story I carried from the exterior through the interior of our home, dark wood carpentry with contrasting lighter elements, such as light flooring, stucco, and paint.  
As an aside — the kitchen could have gone super light. Originally, I was going to put the kitchen on the first floor, an area that does not have the same bright afternoon light that we now have. I would have gone light to counter the lack of natural afternoon sunlight. And probably darker counters. 

Jess here! Now I also love a light, bright kitchen, because they are beautiful, but I think Erin really shows that color and material tension in a space is so powerful. I mean those light wood ceilings against her dark walnut cabinets, get outta here! It looks fresh yet soulful with a perfect 2023 nod to mid-century modern design. However, she definitely makes an important point about natural light so that’s always something you should consider when choosing colors and materials.

Picture Light

I think it’s so cool that you decided to take advantage of the view and moved the kitchen to the second floor. Were there any unexpected challenges or things someone should think about if they also want to move their kitchen to a second floor?

Well first, prepare yourself for people to question your decision! It’s funny, the pushback that can happen when you choose something that is not the norm. From plaster shower and bath surrounds to vanities that were higher than the standard to our kitchen on the second floor — people questioned if I really thought it was a good idea. And yes to all three! I personally believe that if you live in an area where the view exists from a certain perspective, I’d encourage you to choose to spend the most daylight hours centered on that view! An ocean view from our bedroom was the first option, but we just don’t spend a ton of waking hours in our bedroom, and I felt like the view would be neglected most of the time.

From a construction perspective, I experienced no different challenges with my kitchen on the second floor than on the first floor. However, we took our building down to the studs. Everybody’s structure is unique in terms of being able to access plumbing and proper ventilation. The only real challenge of having a kitchen on the second floor is simply getting the groceries up and the trash down. But that is not unique only to a second-floor kitchen — anyone who lives in a multi-story building deals with this. Putting the kitchen on the second floor was one of the best decisions we made. Those sunset views make doing dishes a pleasure! 

Jess again:) So as I stated in my question, I LOVE that Erin chose to flip the floors and make this house (and view) work best for them. Plus if they decide to sell, I can’t imagine any future buyers being upset that they actually get to enjoy this view for the majority of the day. But with great windows and beautiful views can also come with harsh sun for parts of the day. I spotted her very tucked-away shades and wanted to know the details.

Drawer Pulls | Cabinet Knobs

Can you talk to me about the window shades and where they are from? 

It’s so interesting you noticed the shades! They are motorized solar shades with a metal valance to echo the steel elements throughout the home. They are perfectly indiscreet when raised and so functional when down. These shades are truly for cutting the southwestern sun, heat in the summer, and glare off the TV year-round, yet we have that ocean view so I didn’t want it to be eliminated with a shade down. Fortunately, a dark color and 3% solar shade gives us sun protection, and more privacy while maintaining the view. Interestingly a lighter color shade does not allow for a very clear view through the shade. 

So drumroll please – these are Bali solar shades in “Suit” from Lowe’s. And I’m proud to share that I got them on sale during a promotion! Haha! During each renovation, the budget needs to do a lot of stretching. I am a firm believer that the most expensive finishes should be the ones that will be most disruptive to update. As a designer, I am always updating elements of my own home. So for window coverings, I got the clean aesthetic at the most budget-friendly price point. I do fully intend on swapping these out in a few years. But the motorized functionality is a game changer! 10 out of 10 recommended!

Ok, now let’s get “trendy” and talk about Erin’s decision to use steel for parts of her design…

Sconce | Black Cutting Boards (similar) | Pepper Grinder (similar) | Art (Erin is still looking for the artist and we will update asap!)

The steel in your kitchen is so stunning. Have you worked with steel a lot or is this something new you decided to try?

Thank you! I have used steel elements in commercial restaurant projects and a residential patio structure. What I love about steel is that it changes the physics and dimension of virtually everything because of its strength. In Arizona, I was able to create a shade structure that was 11 feet tall underneath, whereas if I hadn’t used a steel structure, the patio would have only been eight feet tall as it attached to the home. 

In our current home, steel allows elements to seemingly defy gravity. From our floating curved staircase to the cantilevered kitchen island, and even an L-shaped bench hovering without visible support from the ground beneath it. For me, steel’s elegance is so understated especially when it has the deep, virtually black patina we applied. 

Jess here. I think that even I would be slightly hesitant to use steel, in fear of it making a space feel cold, but as we can all see that’s just not true when mixed with the right materials. As Erin said, it’s so elegant with the patina she used and adds a quiet visual texture. So while steel may not be a fit for every style of kitchen, this is proof it’s a stunning option if it is.

Light Wood Cutting Board | Cooktop (similar) | Indcution Options | Dutch Oven | KitchenAid Mixer | Studded Bowl | Fluted Cup

Is your stovetop part gas part electric? If so what was your reasoning behind this decision?

Yes! JennAir offers modular stovetop units in both gas and induction. I went with 2/3 gas & 1/3 induction split because I wanted the best of both worlds- the environmental consciousness (and efficiency) of induction since our home has solar but the old school gas burners to mimic the restaurant cooking I love. But honestly, I wish I had reversed it- 2/3 electric induction and 1/3 gas. I use the induction far more than gas. Switching to majority induction cooking was a surprise to me! The induction cooking is so even and the cleaning is a breeze. The JennAir induction top is actually insane- it boils water in seriously two minutes. I don’t know how it happens but it’s actually bonkers. The only thing to know is that you need either new pans or cast iron pots and pans like Le Creuset.

Another endorsement for induction stovetops! But now let’s talk about a really interesting and smart decision Erin made in terms of her cabinetry. She had metal frames made for the lower cabinets so that if and when Erin decides to switch them out, the countertops, flooring, etc remain totally intact. I’ll let her explain it in more detail.

Kitchen Towel (similar)

Can you walk me through the cabinet install and the metal frames? Are the cabinets just essentially just sitting on top of the floors?

The cabinet install was a breeze! Because we received our BOXI cabinets so quickly, we were able to place them in the kitchen and build the frame knowing the exact layout of the uninstall cabinets. Once the frame was constructed we patina the steel, remember that’s the messy part! Read more for details. Then the BOXI cabinets are set on top of a toe kick, which is essentially a 3” tall wood rectangle placed on the ground everywhere we have cabinets. Our carpenter made the toe kick, but anyone who is good with a saw- a handy homeowner, a contractor, or a carpenter could make these toe kicks. Then, yes, the BOXI cabinets were placed on top of the maple toe kick and we used the facing material, ordered from BOXI, to match the toe kicks exactly to the cabinet finish. BOXI truly has thought of everything to make their cabinet offerings look, feel and function like customs! The cabinets do come with legs you can use instead of a toe kick. But that was not the aesthetic I was looking for so we opted for building the toe kick and finishing it off to blend seamlessly with the cabinets.

This might sound crazy, but I wanted to find a way for cabinets to be more easily swapped out. Essentially the idea behind the metal framework is so that I am able to change out the cabinets without disrupting the countertop, appliances, or the sink! As a designer, I am constantly inspired by new colors, materials, and finishes. So I intentionally made it possible for my kitchen to become a bit of a canvas that I can recreate in a whole new way!

Do you have any tips for working with steel or metals as a main kitchen feature?

Oh, yes! I learned a lot on this project. Because this was my own home, I was willing to experiment with exposing steel in a non-industrial aesthetic. As I mentioned the dark patina transformed the material. I even patina’d a few of the pieces myself. I was fortunate enough to be advised about applying and sealing patina by Martin De Winter of DEWINTERMETALWORKS — if you want to see someone who is truly mastering their craft, check him and his team out!  

Preparing metal for patina can take a long time and elbow grease but adding the patina requires a faster approach because the color changes as the chemicals are exposed to the air. It’s truly a humbling process. Sealing it quickly was important for the color results I was looking for and in order to keep the metal/patina from rusting. It can begin to rust within minutes. Our metal elements turned out amazing but as general advice, this kinda makes me giggle as I think about the stress of the patina application and sealing, I would recommend hiring a professional to patina metals. From a design perspective, I would advise incorporating steel where you want to create a wow factor! Steel is also great for areas you want to reclaim square footage, so an element that can float instead of be grounded – think staircases, countertops, and benches or seating areas.

However, be warned the fabrication and installation of steel is one of the messiest and potentially dangerous parts of the construction process – a.k.a. a fire hazard from all those flying sparks! So the earlier these pieces can be installed and then protected the better for the sake of the other finishes. 

Faucet

EHD gal pal here – Please note the darker-toned faucet too. I promise I’m not trying to prove that my trend prediction was right but this isn’t a bad start to the year:) I would also like to profess my love for these walnut cabinets. They completely drive home the MCM style in such an elevated way. Also, pay attention to their style too. They are inset without any visible framing which is also very MCM but also just clean and chic. Then the cherry on top is those sleek exposed double-wall ovens. While Erin integrated the fridge, she made a point to expose those ovens which also really made this makes this kitchen feel like an updated version of a mid-century modern home. I just love it.

And speaking of the ovens I had one final fun question. Well, I think details are fun so…

Hood Line | Double Wall Oven

I love the cubby above the wall ovens! Was there a purpose/function for it aside from displaying pretty things?

Thank you for noticing that detail! Short answer: that cubby came about because I am tall and my eye (and brain) love straight lines. With kitchens, there can be many constraints, appliance height being one of them. Because I am tall, I wanted the hood to be as high as possible so that I didn’t hit my head on it when I was cooking and the uppers run in a relatively straight line off the hood. I could not bring the JennAir double oven up to that height because I’d probably burn my arm on the door of the upper oven as I reached in. But the beauty of a custom space is to make every detail just right for the people living there. I suppose at the intersection of functionality and form a tension is created that allows for an interesting solution. My options were a flat panel with dead space – I am a big believer in not wasting any space so that got scrapped, a sliver of a cabinet would have ruined the proportions so it became a little nook that I just adore. As you said, I can rotate pretty things alongside whatever cookbook I’m obsessing over. That small space with a dark backdrop treats whatever object is there like it has its own spotlight. 

I want to thank Erin for letting us feature her wonderful kitchen and hopefully, if you have been toying with the idea of using darker metals in your kitchen, this made that decision a clear yes! And while we deemed “dark metals” a trend this year, when used in a beautiful and thoughtful way, it’s not going out of style. So now go follow Erin and see her rainbow tile bathroom!

Love you, mean it.

*Design by Erin Brown
** Styled by Nidia Cueva
***Photos by Zachary Gray

The post With A View This Good, Why Not Put Your Kitchen On The Second Floor?? (+ Dive Into One Of Our Favorite 2023 Trends) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: One Of Em’s Favorite DIYer’s Kitchen Reveal, Ryann’s Great Drugstore Serum, And An Article About The Importance Of Having Fun :)

Hello friends and welcome back. We wanted to start this week’s Link Up by first acknowledging the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria. Our hearts are with every person who has been affected by this tragedy. If you are looking for resources on how to help, we have linked some at the end of this post. Now if you are interested, here are this week’s links:

This week’s home tour is a “treehouse” that is like something from a fairytale so of course it is located on an 800-acre property in Herefordshire, England. Click the link to see the charming English country-inspired abode surrounded by idyllic wilderness.

From Emily: I’m constantly in awe of DIY content creators. Y’all it is SO MUCH WORK. I particularly love watching Drew from Lone Fox Home who recently redid his new kitchen by himself and revealed it in a 30-minute youtube video that is so entertaining. A big shout out to Drew (and all you DIY content creators) for all your talent and hard work.

From Caitlin: I LOVED this piece from NPR on how fun is correlated with happiness. I’m going to quote one of the experts here, because he sums it up better than I ever could: “Happiness is a state of mind. But fun is something you can do. It doesn’t require education, money, or power. All it requires is intentionality. If happiness is a mirage, fun is your backyard oasis.” The article goes on to explore some interesting paradoxes (the more you conscientiously seek happiness, the more disappointed you become) and offers up some great life advice (e.g. you don’t have to be happy to have fun, which is obvious but is often forgotten – like, who’s seeking out a theme park or comedy club when they’re depressed?). In any case, it sparked something in my brain and I hope that maybe it’ll resonate with you, too:)

Also From Caitlin: Two weekends ago I drove out to Temecula with two of my best friends (fun!) and brought home a surprise souvenir: a nail in my tire (not fun!). This portable air compressor absolutely saved the day, though – when I opened my garage after returning home and discovered a severely deflated back tire, I just had to plug this into my car’s center console, set my desired pressure, attach it to my tire, and let it do its thing. (It automatically turns off after your desired pressure has been reached.) My tire went from 6 PSI (!!!) to 35 PSI in a matter of minutes and I was able to drive myself a mile down the road to get things patched professionally. Y’all, THIS SAVED SO MUCH TIME. I wouldn’t have been able to make it to a gas station safely and getting AAA here would have taken a few hours – but instead, I was back in business SO QUICKLY. It felt like a life hack. This thing is only $32, it’s easy to stash in the trunk, and you’ll never have to fumble for quarters or feel uncomfortable while you’re standing and pumping air into your tires in front of a captive audience of fellow gas station patrons again. Is this my new go-to practical gift? (Spoiler: yes:))

From Mallory: I’m in need of good black flare jeans (since we don’t wear skinny jeans anymore) and these really caught my eye. I’ve added them to cart but then I thought, I could crowdsource!! Does anyone have a pair of black flare jeans that they love?? HMU with the link 

GOOD Sales This Week:
Article: Dates: Through Presidents Day Offer: 30% off select furniture and decor.
Lightology: Dates: 2/8 – 2/28 Offer: Up to 20% off select brands
Arhaus: Dates: 2/16-2/20 Offer: Up to 60% off select items 

From Ryann: I am on a mission to prove that affordable drugstore skincare is just as effective as their expensive high-end counterparts. To that end, I am currently trying out some basic skincare products I got from Rite Aid and so far have been LOVING them. One particular gem that I will be purchasing again is this Aveeno Triple Oat Serum. It is designed to help restore your skin barrier and after using it for a week I have noticed my skin feels so soft and hydrated. I’ll report back with more recs but so far this is a top favorite of mine!

Also from Ryann: By now many of you have probably heard of the show The Last Of Us and listen, I know zombie shows are not for everyone but hear me out. The show itself is very good, but episode 3 in particular is one of the best-stand alone episodes of any show maybe ever. It’s so full of emotion, it’s touching, and oh so human. Even if you have no interest in the show, I think it’s worth it to skip episodes 1 and 2 and just watch episode 3. You will not regret it.

From Jess: I cannot recommend the new Apple TV+ show Shrinking enough. First off, Harrison Ford is in it. HARRISON FREAKING FORD. Second, it’s about a therapist, Jason Segal, who is dealing with the death of his wife while trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter and treating his patients. The humor is dry and perfect, the acting is superb, and on a personal note it’s filmed in Pasadena/South Pasadena so it’s very fun for me to recognize most of the background:) Bill Lawrence created the show and has been responsible for other shows like Scrubs and Ted Lasso. And while I love those shows too, Shrinking might already be my #1. If you don’t have Apple TV+ I’m pretty sure you get to watch the first episode free if you want to at least get a taste. But it really only continues to get better with each episode. Enjoy:)

Also From Jess: I was checking out what was new at Target and these three things REALLY caught my eye:
1. This cute and expensive–looking drink table.
2. Need a “mini mudroom”? LOOK at this!
3. These wildly cute and chic leather round bins. 10/10

Again, we are extremely saddened by the tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria so if you are able to help, you can donate here to provide emergency services to the families affected, and for a limited time, monthly donations will be doubled. Save the Children is also accepting donations here which will help provide children with food, shelter, and warm clothing.

Thank you, as always, for being here. See you tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Rob Diaz Design & Anastasia Ratia, Builder: Diaz + Alexander Studio | Styled by Sarah Brady of The Platform Experiment | Photo by Virtually Here Studios | From: Is This The New “California Casual”? Step Inside This Modern Double A Frame Home That Is Contemporary AND Dripping With Soul

The post The Link Up: One Of Em’s Favorite DIYer’s Kitchen Reveal, Ryann’s Great Drugstore Serum, And An Article About The Importance Of Having Fun :) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

After A Year And A Half In Portland Here’s How It’s Going – Is It Everything We Predicted Or Expected? It’s A Long One…

When we moved to New York 23 years ago we immediately loved it but got physically sick from sensory overload (it’s a thing). When we moved to LA 13 years ago we both felt so bored and lonely from sensory deprivation that I auditioned for a reality show. Both times we adapted, but just like wood flooring – it takes time to acclimate properly and unlike wood flooring, adapting to a new city, culture, and weather doesn’t have a prescriptive lead time. Everyone asks, “how’s it going living in Portland?” so over the break I took a cool 10-15 hours to write about how we’ve acclimated to Portland – and similar to a journal entry, it’s full of self-reflection, with a heavy dose of self-indulgence. Moving is never an easy decision and this move was fraught with equal parts insecurity and excitement. We talked about it all day every day for months and months while locked down at the mountain house, with lots of pros and cons lists. Once we made the decision (with forced urgency) we really tried to be realistic about impending challenges. Our expectations were low for the first year because as you know, disappointment only arises when expectations aren’t met (this is my general life hack, especially with parenting or things you can’t totally control). But before I go into how reality has faired against these predictions/expectations, I want to break down the timeline a little better for you as this move was a long time coming and had some plot twists that affected our decision.

1979 – 1995: Born and Raised in Coos Bay, Oregon, way out in the country and it was cloudy 80% of my life.
1995 – 2001: Moved to Portland with family, then college at U of O. Retained same childhood best friends (and added one more). Met Brian my senior year and fell in love. Broke up once. My best friends moved to Portland.
2001 – 2007: Lived in New York, Brian went to grad school for acting then started his theater career. We broke up again for a longer separation. I walked dogs, tended bar, worked at Jonathan Adler then styled for magazines, catalogues, etc. Decided to follow the gold rush to LA for Brian’s acting.
2007 – 2015: Moved to LA from New York, my career took off, had a baby, and bought our first house. Brian’s story is in this blog post :).
2015: Had Second Baby and in a state of overwhelm with two under two and an insane schedule, began looking to move to Portland. Spent the holidays up there where it rained for 12 days straight, came back to 70 degrees LA in January, and changed my mind mostly because of the weather.
August 2019: Revisited the idea of moving (“we can handle the rain!” they said). Started looking again online (Portland and Bend), practiced some newly discovered manifesting skills (JK but not jk), found the listing for the farmhouse, flew up to see it, fell in love, and put in an offer. The owner changed his mind, not ready to sell, we were disappointed but kept in touch, and I felt it was just a matter of timing (i.e. woo woo universe stuff).
March 2020: Pandemic lockdown, we moved to the mountain house full-time and loved living there more than we could have predicted. Uh oh.
July 2020: The farm owner texted that he was ready to sell and wanted us to know first before he took it to market. We freaked out. This is what we wanted, right???

August 2020: We flew up with kids to see the property again to make sure this was “IT”. It was. We knew it in our bones (Right?? August in PNW can be very seductive).
September 2020: Put our LA house on the market. Dropped out of escrow, had to do some repairs, and waited to put it back on til after the holidays. Sold in February.
October 2020: Closed escrow on the farm, hired ARCIFORM, and began plans for a major renovation realizing this was not the DIY fixer that Brian and I had naively predicted. Decided to stay at the mountain house while renovating instead of moving up to do remote learning in a rental house.
September 2020 – August 2021: This is where it all changed. Two huge things were happening simultaneously 1. We were realizing that we genuinely loved living in Lake Arrowhead full-time. We never got bored and our lives felt grounded and full. Despite everything happening in the world, we found mountain living really agreed with our family and doubts crept in on whether we should leave. We both agreed that had we not been so heavily invested in the farm we would not have kept looking to move to Portland and we would have given this life a real shot. But meanwhile, we were also 2. Deep in a massive renovation, already demoed down to the studs, a lot of partners involved, and truly no turning back. We were still so excited about it, but yes, very much wondering if our family would thrive as well since we were so content in Arrowhead. But lockdown isn’t real life, the kids weren’t in school, etc. We couldn’t predict the future so we stopped trying.
August 2021: Moved up to Portland, into a rental nearby, and started masked school and activities. Put our house in Arrowhead on Airbnb so it didn’t just sit there empty (and as a backup plan).
August 2022: After a year and a half of construction and 3 years since we had originally fallen in love with the property, we moved into Farmhouse – not fully finished but certainly very livable. YAYAYY!!!! And we were so happy, relieved, and ready to decorate and fix some of my regrets.

**Before I go much further I’ll give the disclaimer that this post is inherently dripping with privilege – having options in life is something we are so incredibly grateful for and most might see as the ultimate freedom. If this is triggering in any way know that I have so much compassion for people who feel truly stuck in a situation. This post, however, could make you feel better or worse – sometimes choice can be paralyzing and create its own pathologies. (Hopefully, you’ll feel better, but if not I’m sorry).

This post is also full of a lot of confirmation bias – you know, you HAVE to make the case for yourself constantly that you are doing the right thing for your family, which clouds your objectivity, and perhaps amps up your judgments about the other life not chosen. It’s 100% my perspective based on my set of experiences and it’s very, very personal and flawed. So there’s that.

Wait, Backup. So Why Did You Want To Move To Portland In The First Place?

A more accurate question is why did we want to move from Los Angeles? A: To have a slower, simpler, less draining, and less expensive life. We wanted to live in a neighborhood where the kids can go elementary through high school with the same friends. We wanted to be close to my childhood best friends, parents, siblings, and their kids. We wanted what every former Angeleno wants – more space, less traffic, and crowds (which gave me low-grade all-day anxiety). We wanted to be close to a city for professional and cultural opportunities. This property gave us the possibility of living out a former city person’s fantasy – a farm in a country setting, only 15 minutes away from a city, and 5 minutes to cute neighborhood restaurants and stores. There are safe parks everywhere. It felt like this was the magical combination of what we both wanted long-term for our family. After realizing my job didn’t need to be in LA, we knew it was time to go (and we miss our friends A LOT), so once we found the farm we did. But was Portland the right decision for us? Let’s explore.

Couldn’t You Get those Things In Lake Arrowhead?

Maybe! But we didn’t know. It was all so confusing because it was the pandemic, not real life and we didn’t know how it would be in 4 years. Would we really like being in such a small town? Did the daily year-round trail runs through the forest to plunges into the lake provide enough stimuli for us after being in huge cities for 20 years? Or was that just our lockdown pandemic agoraphobia talking??? Arrowhead, historically extremely conservative (in the year-round-large-Trump-sign kind of way), is changing a lot right now and there was no way to predict how it would be in 10 years. We weren’t sure it was the right environment long term for us and our kids (we also don’t identify with some of the Portland politics TBH, but more on that below). If you did or are raising your kids in Arrowhead please don’t take this as us thinking it’s not a good place to raise kids, I actually think in most ways it’s magical and perhaps might be as close to perfect as possible. As parents, you simply try to make the choice that gives you confidence at the time of the decision, and our friends/family in Portland were highly convincing.

So again, we just didn’t know – life wasn’t “real”. The kids were 4 and 6 when we moved up full time, the ages where they just wanted to hang out with us and yet can put on their shoes and make their own cereal. Due to the pandemic, my production schedule disappeared for months, freeing me up to be present with my kids, play, cook, craft, read, hike, walk, and realize how unbelievably overscheduled and addicted to being busy I had been. I was off the hamster wheel for the first time in my life and like so many of you, I had new clarity about our priorities and values. I wasn’t going to get back on the hamster wheel, and for a while, it was working because the proximity to LA meant I could commute to shoots a couple of times a month (an hour and a half drive) and see my friends, team and get a dose of city life. We began to ask ourselves if we could live in a small vacation town year-round. “Impossible!!” They say. Or is it?? We thought. We worked from there (with three hours of help a day for the kids), I ran the blog from there, we moved our bodies in nature every day (300 days of sun up here), cooked most meals, and our life was just so simple without feeling boring at all. But the rest of the world hadn’t moved on yet and we feared that when it did we would have regretted passing up the farm and we were concerned that we were still “city people”.

Going into the move up to the rental I KNEW nothing could compare to that year. The kids would be back in school and daily activities. The begging to get their shoes on and brush their teeth and get out the door was back. The deadlines to finish this massive project began to loom. And this time I didn’t have a local team to help me…

Prediction/Expectation #1: The First Years Would Be Very Challenging For Me, Specifically.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! We were right! When people asked me how it was going I would answer pleasantly, “Well not every year can be your best or you won’t appreciate the good ones!” And I actually meant it. We were extremely lucky to have what our lockdown life was – we NEVER took that for granted. I think because I KNEW that this year was going to be really hard on me I was prepared for it, but I’m not sure that made it any easier. At first, I cried a lot and had to lean hard on my tools to keep up my endorphins and not feel depressed (and ruin the year for our kids). Renovating a house is stressful, expensive, and requires so much mental and physical time and decisions even if you’ve done it before. Doing it publicly multiplies that by 100. And I felt the weight of it all. We knew this going into it and Brian tried to share in the weight, believe me, but it’s mostly me. Meanwhile, he got into an awesome writing masters program and continued to be the lead parent so he was really, really busy, too. But the renovation, the business (where numbers dove quickly after the lockdown house building/remodeling boom), and supporting us financially is really all on me. Without a local team for daily support to make content and to help make it fun, I felt very alone and the pressure felt extreme. I missed my team (and sadly, the wonderful Jess, Mal, Ryann, or Caitlin didn’t want to move up to Portland). I feel like I had always appreciated everyone before, but now I REALLY missed everyone, present and past, all my people who helped me day-to-day create design content. I wasn’t really having fun anymore and I’m an enneagram 7 so this girl really likes to have fun:) I needed a design buddy, a creative companion, someone who was excited about social media and I just couldn’t find the right fit.

Plus at first, I missed Arrowhead, our home, and the environment/lifestyle so much. Here’s my analogy: It’s the summer fling that turned into my true love… but a true love that wasn’t sure they wanted to have kids with me, and my steady high school boyfriend that I reconnected with (Portland) was ready to settle down. So yes, we moved for our kids to provide what we sincerely hoped was a well-rounded childhood, but the doubts nagged at us if that was even true. Was that just a story that society tells us these days? That you can’t raise kids in a small town without the opportunities of a larger city?? There is no way to know and despite how much we all want it, there is no perfect place to raise your kids. No perfect school. No perfect town. No perfect house. No perfect job. The goal is to align your choices as closely with your values as possible, and Portland fell closer than Arrowhead in many categories. Once up there, Brian was more on board with Portland, seeking out culture more than myself but he was struggling, too. I also very much knew that I was being such a baby, feeling sorry for myself despite having so much. “California girl doesn’t like the rain,” wah wah. “Privileged blogger cries that renovation is so stressful,” poor baby. I KNEW and still do know that I don’t have real problems. Everyone is healthy and isn’t that all that matters? I filled up gratefulness journals (which worked), went to a happiness conference (which hilariously did enlighten me a lot to reframe the second half of my life), and when I was down I would go on long walks with my best friends or spend time with my brother’s/sisters family and kids, now 10 minutes away after decades of only seeing them twice a year. I was quickly reminded why we were here. This. Family. Community. Long-term stuff. By February it started getting easier. I actually loved going on 6 am sunrise walks with the pups, the green everywhere felt invigorating and once the drywall went up I felt some hope. Our new normal was settling in and I thought about Arrowhead and my summer fling less and less. This life could be really really good, I could feel it. A huge credit to…

Prediction/Expectation #2: We Would Find A Community For Our Kids Within Our Neighborhood

Ding ding ding!!! This has FAR exceeded our expectations. Somehow we have wiggled our way into a group of friends with kids the same ages, who all go to the same school and it’s far better than we could have hoped. I’m sure it’s weird for them to read this right now (if they do) but we feel like we seriously won the community lottery. They are wonderful. Brian took the lead while I was depressed and agoraphobic and basically hit on the dads at soccer practice, got their numbers (last September) and the friendships with the parents and kids have become truly one of the best things about living up here. The weekly playdates at our house after school, the carpool to activities because we all sign up for the same stuff, the drinks before or after the school parties – IT’S ALL SO GOOD. On the darker days (literally and figuratively) we know that THIS IS WHY WE MOVED AND IT IS BETTER THAN IMAGINED. Thank god. Community, y’all. It’s just so important.

Prediction/Expectation #3: The Rain Would Be Hard But We Could Handle It

Unfortunately, and to no one’s surprise but ours, this has been far more difficult for us than we had predicted. I’m not here to complain about the rain, I’m more disappointed in us for not handling the rain last spring well. We were fine through the winter because it’s winter almost everywhere and it makes the summers so green and beautiful. But when it was still going every day in May and then every single weekend through the end of June and early July, we found ourselves turning into terrible, negative versions of ourselves (it was an 80 record). We felt very naive, embarrassed, and dumb that we reacted so poorly. Typically, I can reframe everything and see the positive – it’s one of my superpowers, but in June I felt like I had lost that power. I was a shadow version of myself and I’m sure hard to be around. We tried hard – we went on rain hikes and played in the mud. I had to delete the weather app after seeing that Arrowhead had moved into boat weather, our friends who we share a boat with were out swimming every weekend. I felt so jealous, mad, regretful, and then ashamed and embarrassed for having those emotions as someone who is so privileged. We were genuinely worried that we bought and were investing in this awesome property that you couldn’t enjoy for 8 months of the year (at the time it was under construction, so our fears were clouded in mud).

You might ask, But aren’t you from there? Didn’t you know about the weather in the Pacific Northwest? And the answer is Yes. Kinda. Maybe not. “Knowing” something is so different than experiencing it every day. It would be like moving to LA and complaining about the traffic – you know you can’t leave your neighborhood from 7-10 am and 3-7 pm, that’s just LA. But what if you couldn’t get on the freeway on Saturdays or Sundays? What if it was rush hour all day every day? That’s how we felt last year when it didn’t stop. I was and continue to be very disappointed in myself for letting it get to me so badly last year specifically. Did I have SAD? Probably. I felt like a weak little spoiled baby. But again, it was an extra rainy year and it was our first – I’m just grateful we still have friends. We were not our best selves.

This year is predicted to be just as wet but we are ready, we are in our home and not the rental, I have a bathtub (dumb, but I’m a nightly ritual bather), and we have planned a few trips to warmer weather to help us get to summer. I’ve got my books, cold plunges, friends, workouts, sauna blanket, and soups – I’m armed up!! And oh, the long summer days and incredible fall colors are just so glorious, green, lush, and sunny that of course, we found ourselves saying, “it was all worth it” in August/September/October. This year we feel already so much happier – our situation has changed and we’ve acclimated/accepted it a bit more. We are learning to ski, doing more weekend trips, and when its nice out the Hendersons are OUT 🙂

Prediction/Expectation #4: We Would Love The City Of Portland, Knowing It’s Maybe Not Having Its Best Moment Right Now

This is pretty much as predicted and the only reason I’m attempting to address it is because literally every person asks. Uber drivers. Distant relatives. Everyone. So here’s what I’ll say: We love the people we have met so much. We love the general vibe which is unpretentious, casual, easy, family-oriented, outdoorsy, and grounded. We love so many of the neighborhoods. We appreciate the access to culture – i.e. art, theater, concerts while probably not taking as much advantage as we should (we did go to Hamilton). And the access to nature is incredible (so much beauty within a 20-minute drive). The restaurant scene is so amazing when we seek it out. Do we think that the city is handling the drug, mental illness i.e. the homeless problem well? Er, No. No one here does. And no one wants a California lady to come up here and criticize their city after living here for a year so I’m going to be brief: it’s a great lesson in the importance of having a balance of common sense and compassion. To be clear, it’s not a job I would want – it feels almost impossible to solve. And listen, every west coast major city is not exactly thriving post-pandemic, there are so many lessons that all of us are learning. There is room for improvement and certainly compassion – both for the local government trying to appease their upset constituents and especially those who are in dire situations on the streets.

But it’s also thriving in a lot of cool ways, post-pandemic. It seems to be on the upswing with a community that cares more about supporting local businesses than anywhere I’ve ever been. I LOVE that about Portland – there is so much local pride and spirit and it’s just so family and community-oriented, while still being cool and weird should you want that. The city itself is like it was when I was in high school – beautiful and quirky, with so many neighborhoods that are walkable and fun to explore. And the shopping – oh the vintage shopping is EXCELLENT. So that’s all to say that we kinda knew what version of the city we were moving into and I think everyone collectively hopes for improvement, but still loves what it has to offer (which is a lot). And y’all I’ve never felt like a New Yorker or Angeleno, I’ve always felt like an Oregonian living and growing my career in those cities. Maybe that’s just the story I want to tell myself but I do feel very, very, very at home and at ease in Oregon, specifically in the suburbs…

Prediction/Expectation #5: We Wouldn’t Mind Living In The Suburbs

To be clear – I wanted country, Brian wanted a more traditional suburban life and y’all, we LOVE living in the suburbs so much – FAR MORE than we thought we would. He was totally right on this one. Technically we are 15 minutes outside the city and in Portland, everyone knows Southwest as the suburbs (don’t try to guess or hint in the comments if you know where we are, please, SW is huge as you all know). We love it. I remember specifically the first time I went to Target which took 6 minutes to get to, 5 seconds to find a close parking spot, was joyfully empty, with stocked shelves, and no lines in the checkout. I almost wept I was so happy (I also got recognized 6 times that day and everyone was so nice!). Running errands in Los Angeles is a different experience from the sheer volume of cars on the streets and people in the stores. It’s just life there and you have to accept it and arrange your schedule around it or choose a different choice. The suburbs are everything that you think you don’t need or value when you are 25 – ease, family restaurants, lots of grocery stores with parking spots, zero pressure to look cool, cute schools, sports facilities, parks – and everything that we want now. It’s just wonderful. And like I said, we are close to a couple of really cute neighborhoods with commerce should we want to go out to dinner. It’s an incredible merging of a suburban community with a country setting that’s near a city. We feel very, very lucky. But yes, the suburban family life totally agrees with us 🙂

Prediction/Expectation #6: The Kids Would Thrive

First off, kids can thrive in most places with the right loving environment. But yes, our kids are doing really really GREAT. I think because everyone was coming back from distance learning they were able to make friends quickly (no hard friend groups to crack). They have nice teachers and enjoy school as much as any 1st and 3rd grader does. There is access to a lot of sports with their friends, lots of downtime on the weekends with us, and they get to hang with cousins which is so fun (Birdie and my niece are best friends which brings me so much joy). I’m so grateful I get to work from home and that they are the ages where they can mostly take care of themselves after school. I mean, it’s not perfect every day, and I try not to schedule conference calls after 3 pm (probably should have put in an enclosed home office, TBH) but all in all I think they are happy, healthy and love living up here. Do I still worry that my job and our situation will make them spoiled and entitled? Yep. It’s my daily/lifetime battle to fight it and let’s just say the reason we are getting alpacas and chickens isn’t for fun or food – these kids need some poop to pick up and eggs to gather, full stop 🙂 But they love living on the farm and Brian is fulfilling his dreams of seeing them ride bikes safely in the neighborhood with their friends. I didn’t grow up with neighbors so this wasn’t something important to me (thus my wanting to live in the country) but Brian did and we can both see how awesome it is for our kids to have a strong community so young.

Prediction/Expectation #7: Working Remotely In Two States Will Be Great!

Y’all I have good news and stuff I need to work on. Everything is good and I’m so so so grateful that my team has stayed with me, but I’m learning a lot about how to run a business that is 100% remote, in two different states. They are working so hard but without an office space everyone is alone and I think that is hard. I think post-pandemic we need more connection, more team hang time so this year I’m going to try more retreats and more get-togethers to ensure that everyone feels happy, connected, and moving forward in their careers.

Additionally, up until recently I have been working on my own and have realized that while I like alone time, I need creative collaboration to thrive. I think that’s where a lot of the mistakes/regrets have come from – from me feeling creatively dead and just making decisions to check a box. The good news is that I have finally found a wonderful small team up here – Emily M. and Kaitlin (my photographer) and they have brought my mojo back and helped create a balance between work and fun. We’ve got a rhythm, it’s helping pump out reveals, I’ve got my design/styling buddies, and I feel excited again. I know I can get so busy that I forget to check in enough with everyone and that is something I feel like I will work on for the rest of my life. I think this will be another year of figuring it out and trying new things and that’s ok. I consulted with a very experienced HR person this year, someone who has worked for 20+ years for large companies and she confirmed what I felt – that there is no one right way to do things and that the best companies remain flexible, put people first, try new things, take risks and change, fail, move on and grow. Of course, I wish that I was learning fewer lessons this year, but two years ago my astrological chart did say that this year was going to be remarkably challenging and I’m glad that so far it’s not due to marital or family health issues.

Prediction/Expectation #8: We Would Love Living At The Farm

WE. LOVE. IT. Every night when I cook in the kitchen or bathe in the beautiful bathroom I feel, we all feel, SO GRATEFUL. Balancing being grateful and not bragging is hard to do on the internet, but trust me that we feel so lucky that this is our home and that I get to spend years decorating, living in and hopefully raising our kids. Let’s catch you up – we are basically done on the inside, barring some paint changes I’m going to make and wallpaper going up which you’ll hear about, and of course, decorating (I haven’t even started some rooms and they only have leftover furniture). Certain rooms are already so wonderful to be in, others are more challenging to figure out for sure. Right now I’m trying to divide my time between finishing up each room and making major decisions on the landscaping.

The outside is a thing:) What the internet doesn’t tell you is that exterior and landscape construction is as expensive as the interior. It’s just so laborious and requires so much machinery. We are so grateful to be doing it and very excited for a lot of it around the house to be done by spring. But let’s just say that we bit off a lot, far more than predicted so I’m back to hustling (in a healthy way??) to be able to manage the budget. I remind myself, daily, that we are intensely lucky to have this space, but y’all, maybe we didn’t need 3 acres. Like maybe 1 acre is enough space?? Once it’s done, like giving birth, I hope we’ll be settled and can enjoy being outside, but the labor can be painful and that’s ok. It was our choice and I continue to use my “to renovate your home is the utmost privilege” mantra. Seeing grass instead of mud this spring will be GLORIOUS. When we first found the property 3 years ago, I remember telling Brian with sheer excitement in my eyes – “I’ll have projects for years!!” But that was workaholic pre-pandemic Emily. Some days I still feel that excitement, others It feels truly never-ending and I have to remind myself to expand the timeline and be ok with it taking years (and years).

Obstacles are part of the journey, y’all. I suppose I’m learning (again) what a lot of you might have already, that having more property and more house just means more work, more money spent, and more maintenance. Of course, our hope is that we are investing in the initial design to look natural, setting ourselves up for the future, and then in a couple of years it will just look like it’s always been here and be easy to maintain. And even though those other buildings are absolutely falling down, I know I’ll be really excited to tackle them once we are done with this house and my brother’s river house project. We have a painter scheduled to come and do a quick coat to make them look temporarily better which will buy us a few years before we decide what to do with them (and of course save up for it). Turns out that house up there needs to be lifted to put in a whole new foundation, and it never even had electrical or plumbing so…

A Big Positive Shift Has Happened

I wrote the first version of the post over the holidays. But I didn’t feel right publishing it. It was pretty dark and negative, despite my trying to make my tone light and playful. A couple of weekends ago I went on a weekend retreat with some of my closest friends, some books, a journal, and lots of moving my body. And a huge personal shift happened. I hesitate to tell you too much, but it was pretty life-altering and I’m hoping this shift sticks (it takes daily work). A real mind/body/spirit experience that was actually so simple. I was berating myself pretty terribly last year and now I’m not. I released those thoughts, surrendered, asked for help, and feel totally and wildly different. Those of you who can relate are nodding heads, others are scratching them or eyes are rolling. IYKYK. I have my daily mantras, journal, and meditate and all I can say is that I feel like a cloud has lifted and even on the darkest and wettest of days I can see the positive again. On January 4th I was crying to Brian saying that I’m worried I lost my superpower forever, and I can honestly say that since that experience I’m back. It’s a whole thing that I’ll tell you about someday (I read this book – ignore the cover – if you are curious for yourself). Still processing what happened to drive me into that negative space, and what amazing thing happened that brought me out, but yes, the next chapter of my spiritual journey is underway (read this post about my experience in the Mormon religion if you haven’t). I feel pretty darn excited and full of gratefulness and hope. I’ve stopped comparing myself to others (something that was a daily battle for the last two years) and just feel so much healthier mentally.

So Was Moving To Portland The Right Decision????

YES. I mean, I’m so happy to report that in February 2023 I really, really really think Portland is such a great fit for our family. I can now recognize that while my life in Arrowhead was full of ease and simplicity, left to my own devices up there I don’t think I would have challenged myself, creatively or personally. I feel like my biggest challenge will be retaining that sense of slowness when deadlines are looming, and y’all I think it’s going OK. Those who have followed for a long time (thank you) will hopefully feel or see a difference – yes, the reveals are more spread out, but there is so much more balance which allows me to love it so much more again.

Do You Still Miss Arrowhead?

Sure, in theory, but not the day-to-day ache like it was at the beginning. Time does really mellow that longing. Plus going back twice a year for a chunk of time (if not more) and knowing that it will always be there helps tremendously. It’s just not our time right now:) But the truth is I think what I loved so much about it was the easy energy, the family time, nature, me learning how to relax for the first time in my adult life, with no pull from a busy city – and I can get all of those things here on the farm. I will always miss the morning plunges in the winter lake after a run, but y’all, we are figuring out where we can put in a cold plunge, so there’s that! While I think about my summer fling, right now I am so happy we chose this life for our family.

Thank you 🙂

I told you it would be self-indulgent. I think I just needed to get it out. For those of you still reading, thank you. You are the reason I’m still here and I’m SO grateful, especially for you daily (or weekly) readers. And always, thanks to my team for being with me, supporting me more on the days that I need it, and being open to sharing all our ups and downs which actually makes us all feel safer, better, and less alone. The ups don’t feel as good without the downs, and while I don’t tell you everything that is happening in my personal or even professional life, I know that I’m not alone and neither are you. Thank you so much for being here. xx

The post After A Year And A Half In Portland Here’s How It’s Going – Is It Everything We Predicted Or Expected? It’s A Long One… appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Help Malcolm Decide Which Dining Chairs To Get For His NEW LONDON FLAT

The art of starting over in a different country. Ahhhh (…a pleasant sigh, or a silent scream? YOU decide.) I’ve been living in London now for about six months, and I’m finally feeling quite settled into my new flat and the overall vibe of the city. To say I’ve found unexpected inspiration during my short time here would be an understatement. The history, gravitas, and culture of London is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. From vintage tiling in tube stations to the innumerable historical buildings I’ve walked through, it’s safe to say I’ve found my muse in the UK. After taking it all in, I’m feeling ready to start pulling some of that inspiration into my rental flat.

While I brought most of my furniture and belongings with me from the US to the UK, I decided not to bring any of my dining room furniture. I had a good sense of the floorplan and style of my new flat before I moved, and I knew that my existing dining room furniture wasn’t really going to fit—neither stylistically or functionally.

The new dining space is decidedly more modern than I’m used to. It’s connected directly to the kitchen, which is composed of cabinetry faced with glossy, off-white lacquer, which seems to be a recurring feature in newly built or renovated European kitchens (in my limited experience, anyway). As such, I’ve needed to pivot a bit from the American colonial design sensibilities I’d developed over the last few years in Virginia. The space also boasts beautiful high ceilings with traditional (and THICC) crown molding, a large window, and the cutest little radiator. This little space is a pretty telling snapshot of the entire flat: an interesting study of the relationship between modern and traditional.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I’ve been focusing so much on the dining space in my new flat. I last left you with a DIY-heavy dining room makeover in my Virginia home, which I promptly packed up and moved into storage before getting on a flight across the Atlantic. Sadly, I missed out on using that space to its full potential. So, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about how to make the best use of the dining area in the new spot.

First offfffff, the table. Look at this table. The table of my dreams.

Vase

After much deliberation, I settled on an Eames-inspired, marble-topped dining table for this space. For years, I had a cheap CB2 version of this type of table (I don’t recommend it… it did not fare well over the years), and I yearned for the day I’d be able to splurge on a higher-quality model. Today is the day, fine folks. Well…the day was like a month ago. When I bought it. 

I love how the brightness of the marble top complements the medium value of the kitchen countertops, but also looks different enough to feel like an intentional pairing. Also, the iconic, lacquered texture and movement of the table base vibes with the kitchen cabinetry in a very cohesive way. With the table procured, I’ve naturally pivoted to picking out some dining chairs. BUT I CANNOT MAKE UP MY MIND. I’ve assembled a few options here and I’m hoping you can help me decide! Let’s dive right in…

OPTION 1: TRADITIONAL AND INSPIRED

I’ve been eyeing these Cesca-style chairs for a while, which feel both stylistically fitting and historically relevant to my new European environment. The original Cesca chair was designed by Marcel Breuer in the early 1900s, and I admire how it—and other pieces he designed—inspired an entire wave of modern and functional furniture that we still regard pretty highly today. The softness of the woven cane seat and back seems like a nice complement to not only the hardness of the marble table but also the dark wood furniture I have throughout the rest of my flat. Also, the chrome structure of the chair speaks to the chrome hardware used throughout the rest of the rental, which either feels very cohesive…or too on the nose. I can’t quite decide!

While I’ve found plenty of authentic vintage Cesca chairs online, I’d more likely buy a new reproduction instead. Mostly due to cost limits, but also because I’m not sure vintage caning would hold up very well to a lot of use.

OPTION 2: HANDSOMELY VINTAGE 

Now, aesthetically, this chair just feels like me. It embodies everything I like: Classic lines. A tailored form. Collected by nature.

Built in the 1950s, these dining chairs boast a dramatic, metal red frame and a striking black seat and the back is made of Bakelite (a material I’m learning about as I type this). There are a couple of reasons I’m drawn to this chair. The dark seat would make for a nice contrast against the lighter elements in the kitchen and dining spaces: the floors, dining table, cabinets, and walls. I’m also really drawn to the interesting color of the metal frame. I’ve been thinking it would be really cool to incorporate a burgundy or oxblood tone into this space, and this could be the place to do it. However, there are potential cons with this option as well…the biggest one being a question of comfort. Might its age and material make for numb butts during long dinners? Moreover, would the metal legs scratch the floors in my rental into oblivion?

OPTION 3: BLUESY WILDCARD

So, I’m having quite a “blue period” at the moment. I’ve been drawn recently to adorn the new flat blue accents—like the huge IKEA area rug I purchased for my living room—and blue dining chairs could be a sensible way to introduce the color into the kitchen/dining room. These chairs in particular are decidedly more modern than my other two options, but I think I would grow to appreciate the touch of femininity they would bring to my otherwise masculine design choices in this flat. Also, if you know me…you know I LOVE a brassy moment, and these chairs would introduce a sleek, warm metal that would contrast nicely against the chrome accents seen elsewhere throughout the rental. However, are they tooooo different from many typical tastes? Would I regret it?!?

HONORABLE MENTION 

To accommodate some extra seating, I’ve been eying these foldable chairs from Zara Home. They’d definitely go with the Cessca chairs, but I’m not so sure they’d fit as nicely with the other two options I’ve laid out.

I’ll never forget the positive and affirming reactions I received from Emily and her team when I told them about my upcoming move to London, and I feel grateful that I can continue to share my journey here on the blog! Design is universal, after all, and I feel lucky to be able to share my tiny slice of perspective with all of you.

What do you think of these options? Do you have any different ideas you think would suit the space or compliment the table any better than what I’ve picked? Sound off in the comments below and let me know.

*Photos by Malcolm Simmons

The post Help Malcolm Decide Which Dining Chairs To Get For His NEW LONDON FLAT appeared first on Emily Henderson.