The Link Up: Em’s Mother’s Day Gift Rec, A Shower Filter To Protect Mal’s Blonde Hair, And A Highly Reviewed Travel Backpack

In case any of you missed our VERY exciting reveal this week, Ms. Caitlin Higgins made our lives a lot better with her beautiful living room and maybe even more so with her vulnerable words. If you haven’t read her reveal post, I promise now is the time and your day will only improve. So maybe start there and then come back for some really great Mother’s Day gift ideas and other fun recs:)

This week’s house tour made us speechless. It’s the kind of home that you could stare at again and again and still find new things to love. Designer, Nina Farmer, created a stunningly warm, layered, and elevated home for her clients. We actually don’t want to say anymore because you just need to go look for yourself. Enjoy!

Two years ago we put together an EPIC Mother’s Day post where we went to social media and asked moms (y’all) what they actually wanted for their special day. We got so many wonderful responses with a lot of crossover and timeless ideas. So if you need some ideas take a peek (or send it to someone who might need some help:)) and for an Emily rec and Aryln’s Mother’s Day wishlist this year keep reading…

From Emily: Carley Summer’s new book, Sacred Spaces: Everyday People and the Beautiful Homes Created Out of Their Trials, Healing, and Victories is just so beautifully written that I found myself tearing up during two of the stories told by the homeowners she featured. It’s a book full of beautiful images, of course, but her story and some of the others are just so soulful and add so much depth. You can feel all the hard work and emotion (and vulnerability) that went into it. It’s a great gift for anyone in your life that loves beautiful design with a big side of spirituality…maybe your mother?? 🙂

From Arlyn: This will be my second Mother’s Day. The first was a blur at the time with a two-month-old in tow, but I still remember how the day felt. However cliché, it just felt…special. Or at least *I* felt special. Like a new calendar day was unlocked for me I only had an outside view of previously. This year, I have a little more perspective and have been asked numerous times by numerous parties what a good gift would be for me or another young mother. I came up with a few ideas:

1. Ivy Name Paperclip Chain Bracelet by Oak & Luna: I’m still at the point where jewelry engraved with my daughter’s name or birth date is a novel gift and I have my eye on this one. There’s a more affordable gold vermeil version as well as a solid gold option if your budget allows. 
2. A “Voucher” for Family Photos: There’s always something to spend money on, so splurging on family photos is easy to sidestep in place of fixing your car brakes or buying diapers in bulk. We recently got one-year photos taken at the same location as our maternity shoot (this is actually my Mother’s Day gift this year from my husband!) and I can’t imagine anything better than having these to look back at over the years. Prices vary by location and photographer, but anywhere from $300-$700 is pretty standard. 
3. Anything to Give a Mom Back Time: Just like there’s always something to spend money on, there’s always something that needs to get done around the house (with or without children). Honestly, either the offer to take the kids off your hands so you can focus on a task you’ve been wanting to tackle or a gift card to a site like TaskRabbit would be a game-changer. You can find someone to do nearly everything on your home-related to-do list on there—cleaning, packing or unpacking, hanging art, TVs, or light fixtures, and even breaking down boxes and cleaning out the garage. It’s genius!

From Mallory: I’ve been bleaching my hair for years (at the salon, I’d burn my hair off doing it myself), but since living in my apartment it’s been harder and harder to bleach due to what we think is hard water. Plus it now turns green and copper after a while which is something very fun and new to me! I ordered this shower filter to try to soften my water because it was highly rated, removes chlorine (my last filter didn’t), and is apparently very effective (I’ll let you know). But there’s one major issue: it’s ugly af hahaha. If anyone knows of a shower filter that ACTUALLY works please help bc I cannot have my hair keep turning weird colors it’s the worst!!!

From Ryann: After much research (on my husband’s part) this is the backpack we bought for our trip to Japan. We are both packing light so we don’t have to check a bag, so we wanted a backpack we could use to pack some clothes and possibly shoes and also one small enough we could use for day trips. This one checked all our boxes and is much more affordable than others we considered!

From Caitlin: It’s no surprise that I am LOSING MY MIND over the updated IG photos that designer Sasha Bikoff has been posting of her work at Flex Mussels, an NYC seafood spot. It’s a FASCINATING take on nautical that perfectly threads the “themed, but not too themed” needle. I love the Royere-style banquette (ocean, but less obvious), the on-the-nose lighting (seashells and ship sconces, but still so elegant!), the incredible window treatments (okay, these are very themed, I’ll concede), and this new fantastic mural (scroll through her feed – every area has a new character to admire)!! The entire restaurant is just so fresh and warm and exciting – I WANT TO GO! Anyone down for a group trip?

From Jess: This one is for the cat owners. As someone who has never owned a cat, this link may seem like it’s coming from an unlikely source but when I was at my neighbor’s house I couldn’t help but notice her kitten’s fascination with this cat toy/scratcher! My friend confirmed that she’s obsessed. Plus it’s very cute to watch them play with it. Could be a great and affordable gift idea too!

Hope you have a beautiful rest of your day! See y’all tomorrow. xx

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

The post The Link Up: Em’s Mother’s Day Gift Rec, A Shower Filter To Protect Mal’s Blonde Hair, And A Highly Reviewed Travel Backpack appeared first on Emily Henderson.

from Emily Henderson https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/good-mothers-day-gift-ideas-2023

WAIT. Why Is It So Much Harder For Designers (ME) And/Or Creators To Design Their Own Homes? A Journal Entry…

There are times in the middle of the design process when I’ll show Brian, say, two different blue paint swatches, two different molding profiles, or even two different photos of dining tables and to him they are indecipherable. Brian has learned not to point out how similar they are (because they aren’t) but it’s at times hard for both of us not to laugh because they are virtually identical and I’m spending so much time obsessing over which is “right”. Many of you have commented similarly – that I’m clearly going a bit nuts during the design decision-making process and that I need to “calm down,” “take a step back,” etc. And it’s TRUE! I was/am losing it, but there are good reasons why, reasons I don’t apologize for. So let’s dive into it today: WHY is it so much harder for us to design our own homes?

But first, what got me thinking about this (again)… We started a new project recently – a transformative kitchen update that I’m excited to share with you. I hired Sarah (who was my assistant last year and left to go to design school) as the project manager to help me design/execute the partnership. Granted this is not a full kitchen remodel – it was meant to be fast, affordable, and not move any plumbing, electrical, or walls, but I kid you not – we made all the design decisions in 3-4 hours together (and then of course probably 40 hours in renderings/logistics/coordination/ordering, not including execution, project management, etc). And I’m legit so excited about the design. We didn’t phone it in, it feels fresh and beautiful. We chose the paint colors, the wallpaper, the hardware, the shelving style, etc all so quickly and it’s going to look pretty darn great. But it made me think, why, WHY does it take so much more time for me to design my own rooms? Why can I design someone else’s kitchen so quickly (and again, it’s going to be unique and special) and really belabor my own so much??? And I know I’m not alone.

We Have To Live Inside Of It – Including Our Mistakes/Regrets

photo by tessa neustadt | from: charlie’s big boy room reveal

Imagine a musician being told that they were only able to listen to their recent album, or a chef being told they can only cook from their latest cookbook. What if a filmmaker could only watch their own movie over and over in their home? It’s not just the outward appearance of it all as “your work” to show the world, it’s being surrounded by it daily. Design is an art form, a creative expression, etc, not unlike many others – but the difference is that as the designer/homeowner you have to live inside it, every day, every hour, for likely years. I honestly don’t stress too much about decorating it because those things are easier to move around, but with the hard finishes, you bet I obsess. Do I want to stare at my own regret for years and years? Do I want to get sick of looking at something that I spent a lot of money on? Does a musician want to listen to an off-key note in a song over and over? Does an athlete want to watch a losing free throw over and over? NO. Sure, we might get over it (and have) or change it (and have) but the best thing you can do is to avoid this feeling in the first place. However, to do that you HAVE TO OBSESS ABOUT EVERY DETAIL. And watching someone obsess about details from afar, can seem like they are going nuts and eyes get rolled by those who don’t understand. But, like all other creative careers, it’s their craft, their creativity, and their job.

We Get Sick Of Things/Trends Faster

photo by kaitlin green | from: the farmhouse kitchen reveal

As designers/stylists/content creators, we see so much design both in person and on the internet that it’s easy to get sick of things faster (at least I do). We’ll see a new trend and it immediately EXPLODES, it’s everywhere and then it feels like it’s done (even if it has 2-4 more years of mainstream-ness). Same with colors/patterns – it makes committing to something bold far more difficult and playing it safe far easier. It makes me way more careful to ensure that in two years I’m not going to be like, “Well, I can’t look at that any longer”. This is why I play it a bit safe with my own home with the permanent finishes, that I might not in others (especially if who I’m designing for wants something bolder). I don’t want to look at a room and say “It’s so 2022”. This is why I love trends for furniture/decor (nothing is wrong with a trend and no one is immune to them) but I’m so much more careful with tile/flooring and plumbing.

We Want To (And Are Expected To) Take Risks And Do Something New But It Also Really Needs To Function Well Because We Are Using It Every Day

photos by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the riskiest bathroom i designed—with a “how i’m feeling now” update

This is why many designers get into hotels and restaurant design – these spaces are meant to be more “of the moment” and need to function as temporary spaces for a specific type of enjoyment. You don’t stay there long enough to be annoyed that the table is too high for the chair, or that there isn’t enough storage in the hotel room. You have more creative freedom because the expectation is a one-time experience, so doing something that feels “now” and not necessarily timeless is the fun part (and is often the expectation with a new hotel or restaurant). But since this is our home and we have kids/pets, it’s just harder because this has to work for our daily family needs. And yet this is our opportunity to push the boundaries, and do something fresh and original. I feel like I did this in some ways (our sunroom, the tile in the kid’s bathroom, our vanity wall) but for the most part, it’s just really pretty and timeless – not necessarily full of these big design swings. But the line between timeless and boring/generic is very thin and I found myself close to it many times during the design process. Obviously, I am very privileged with my budget and partnerships so I could invest in things like more laborious tile installs (sunroom and our bathroom floor) but many designers don’t actually have the budget that their clients do. I know I didn’t when I had clients – it’s a luxury service and the chances that an interior designer has a million dollars to remodel their own home is extremely low. So you have to find more creative ways to take risks, which is honestly a really fun challenge, but also if those risks don’t work for your family then what? For instance, I had collected all of these vintage plaids for like two years, and I had around 30 yards in total. I thought it would be so fun to do a sectional in them – all patchworked, but as I got closer to executing the idea I just knew that it wasn’t going to be as functional as I wanted (the fabric is old, worn, tears easily, and it wasn’t soft either). It would also be such an expensive risk to take (10k to customize a sectional with my plaid upholstery, not to mention using up all my vintage plaids which are irreplaceable). I wanted it for photos so badly, and I knew that I could style it to be so special – but it wasn’t going to function as well for our dogs/kids and I could see myself apologizing for it to guests as they sat down to ripped up upholstery… So the big swings that we want to take are harder to do in our own homes because striking out can be a really expensive bummer that again, you have to either live with or fix. All good stuff – excellent challenges, but it leads to a lot of time obsessing about the small stuff.

The Expectations Of A Designers Home Are Extremely High

photo by zeke ruelas | from: introducing my living room

I remember in 2011 when I had a literal design TV show but very little money, I invited some new friends over to our apartment (they were in a higher economic bracket in Hollywood). I had just won DesignStar and they knew about the show, so when they came over I could see the palpable disappointment and confusion on their face when they looked around. We lived in a small one-bedroom in LA (on Los Feliz Blvd) and most of my stuff was vintage or IKEA. I wasn’t embarrassed before that moment – I liked my stuff (and it shot well), and then one of them said, “Oh I see, you are like the thrift store girl”. They weren’t being snarky, but instead more like they understood. They didn’t have the eye to know good vintage over just “used stuff,” so to them, that was what it looked like – fun and thrifty. I obviously remember this well and it didn’t make me feel good (they weren’t dicks, just surprised). The disappointment around the expectation that I would have an incredibly dialed-in designer home was just so palpable. I wondered if I would ever meet any future guest’s expectations. People will say they don’t care if our house is messy. People will of course say they won’t judge, but y’all – everyone does. Not because they are assholes, but because it’s human nature! It’s similar to going to a dinner party at a famous chef’s home – your expectations of getting a delicious meal are higher than other friends’ cooking, even if it’s just a BBQ. It’s just part of moving through this world while having this job, and that’s ok, honestly! But yes, it increases the pressure (and I think makes us all a bit agoraphobic). We are considering having some fundraisers for our school next year once the property is done (outdoor movie night!) and already I have anxiety about it – and let me be clear – this house is objectively very pretty, I know this intellectually. I have a nice house with pretty things in it, but still opening up my home (and work) to so many people feels incredibly vulnerable to their judgments and the gossip that will absolutely ensue. Somehow doing it on the internet is so much easier, but I know that when I mess up it’s a gossip storm – which is absolutely OK, but to pretend it doesn’t add pressure is false.

It’s A Representation Of Our Creativity And Skills -AKA It’s A Living Resume For Future Work

photo by kaitlin green | from: our mudroom reveal: a dog + storage-focused space that is possibly my favorite room in our house

Besides the emotional fear component, it’s literally our livelihood and how we support our families. There is this feeling that when it comes to our home there is no excuse for a bad design. You can easily excuse away a bad client choice and say, “Well they really wanted this weird color, but I tried to persuade them against it” or “They already had that sofa and I was forced to work it into the design”. But when the designer is the client, you theoretically have free reign creatively. Of course, you do NOT always have free reign with budgets (which again, is another expectation that is wrong). But creatively, your home is your laboratory and each room is a song on your debut studio album (I just finished reading and watching Daisy Jones & The Six, FYI, thus the band analogies). For me, since we don’t currently do client work outside of partnerships, this home HAS to perform well for our partners in order to get the next round of partnerships to keep the company going. The skylights have to be highlighted well, which means I’ll panel the ceilings. The furniture has to be showcased inside an architecturally interesting space with excellent natural light so I’ll add a window that we might not have otherwise. You simply can’t put a partner’s product in a mediocre environment (at least not at this level) or else you will disappoint them, the world will see the mediocrity, and future clients/partners won’t come after you. So you have to spend a lot more to create the environments to ensure that your home, your portfolio, sings on so many levels.

photo by tessa neustadt | from: the finished patio (with the tile!)

It’s all good stuff, and frankly, I’ve gotten pretty used to the stress of it (it’s “challenge stress,” not the bad stress). But that doesn’t mean I don’t get super frustrated with myself when I know I’m taking too long to make a decision, or very disappointed with myself when I make even a minor infraction. And that’s ok! I give myself more breaks by framing it like other artists – i.e. a band putting out their debut album, a writer and editor obsessing over every word in a first book, or a chef producing a follow-up book to their #1 selling cookbook. Caring about our jobs is a great thing and obsessing over the details is a by-product of the creative careers we are fortunate to be able to do all day. While the word passion gets wildly overused, that is what it is – obsessing has a negative connotation, but passionately tuning into every detail is exactly what it is.

Once again going through this process gives me so much compassion for literally everyone else trying to pull together their home. People might think that I would judge others’ homes if I came over, y’all, I know how much it takes to pull together a home and it’s just so much. I have a team of people, and I get to spend a lot of time on my own home, I have partnerships and resources and even then I still have so much to do and so many excuses for what’s not done yet. If you have a job, kids, and a tight budget that task is so close to impossible to do quickly. So no, I honestly don’t judge and at times am very relieved just to be around friends in a home where the design isn’t the focus and we can all just hang.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our light-filled neutral & textural living room

So if you are a designer (or want to be) or a content creator (or want to be) or both, I hope that you can relate to this and it can make you feel a bit better about your indecision or the times when you feel like you might be losing it. It’s ok to almost lose it in the pursuit of creativity. It’s part of the job. I also think that since this is a female-dominated world that this “obsessing” has more of a negative connotation. Does an accountant obsess about the numbers on the spreadsheet being accurate? Of course! Does a lawyer obsess over the transcripts of a deposition? Yes. But if it’s a creative career, specifically in the domestic space, there is this outside perception that I’m just being nutty and need to get pulled down to earth, that it’s not “that big of a deal”. So from here on out I’m going to frame my “obsession” more as “passion” (while it’s hard for me to use that word) and yes, we as designers/content creators are very, very, passionate about every design decision in our home. I, personally, love seeing other designers think over and over and over their own home details, and pivot or change when things just don’t hit the mark. It’s all good stuff and part of the fortunate creative career that we are lucky enough to be pursuing every day.

photo by kaitlin green | from: the family room update + the case for a dark moody room

Ok. That is all. I’m off to hang a seascape gallery wall and passionately obsess over it 🙂 Thanks for reading my journal entry – it’s something I’m going to be doing more and more here. Our new comment policy (of moderating and not auto-publishing the hate/mean stuff) has given me and my team more freedom to write what I/we want to write knowing that there won’t be a firestorm of toxicity if we look away for one second – which is usually just 2-3 people, BTW. Kind criticism is always welcome – I love a good dissent and dialogue – I learn so much from you, honestly, but if you find yourself constantly wanting to write something negative here in hopes of derailing our day, simply don’t read this blog as it might not be the right fit for you. I have missed just being able to write in a safe space and have so many personal drafts unpublished (the internet seven years ago was totally different), so I’m excited to do it more for those who are interested. Thanks, per usual, for reading. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Styling To Sell: How We Staged Our Dining Room And Kitchen (With The Changes I Should Have Done Years Ago!)

The post WAIT. Why Is It So Much Harder For Designers (ME) And/Or Creators To Design Their Own Homes? A Journal Entry… appeared first on Emily Henderson.

from Emily Henderson https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/why-is-it-so-much-harder-for-designers-and-or-creators-to-design-their-own-homes

New Series Alert: Get The Look For Less – Emily’s Glendale Living Room

Do you have a favorite room on the internet? If so, have you ever wanted to replicate it, even slightly, so your home can feel the way you feel when you look at that photo? I think we design enthusiasts all suffer from a little design envy. We are bombarded with perfectly styled rooms daily which can be inspiring but perhaps at times, a little disheartening. I have definitely asked myself, “Why can’t my home look like that?” too many times to count which is of course AMAZING for my mental health :). If you have ever felt that way, now you know you are not alone.

If you’ve been following Emily for a while you probably recognized the above living room immediately. It is Emily’s Glendale home living room and one of it’s those spaces that is warm, calm, and inviting while still being eclectic and fun. It has been an EHD favorite for years and years and it’s not hard to see why. So today’s post is for anyone who has ever wanted to shop straight from this room – but on a budget. We scoured the internet for similar pieces that are also affordable so you can essentially replicate this exact room if you so please. Ready to see what’s in store?

Before we get to the shopping portion of this post, I think it is important to dissect what makes this living room so successful. The white walls and wood flooring lay a light, warm base for the furniture to remain neutral and inviting. In addition, with the focal point being this large natural and rustic-looking stone fireplace, the space could easily become overwhelming or confusing with brightly patterned furniture. To create a cohesive space, the furniture pieces are variations of gray, wood, and leather (but all have special details so they are anything but boring). With light tonal furniture in place, there is so much room for color and pattern to be layered in.

This living room is one of the best examples of mixing styles by sticking to a consistent and cohesive color palette. The colors are gray, blue, navy, white, and wood, with some hints of lighter-toned pinks and even some green and light coral accents. And you might notice that there are many different shades of blues and even pinks and that’s okay, because they are all tonal and calm. A bright pink pillow might look out of place, but a light and calm pink blends in effortlessly. The clean lines and neutral gray tone of the MCM-inspired sectional allow for ample color and pattern to be layered in with pillows and throws, in a way that is not visually overwhelming. While we are on the subject of sofa styling, always remember to mix different sizes, shapes, textures, patterns, and styles (again, in the same color palette).

You may have also noticed that the furniture styles are quite different. The sofa leans MCM, the vintage chair is more bohemian, the coffee table is rustic, and there is even a modern side table to top it all off. The key, as I said above, is that they are all neutral, inviting, and within the color palette so they don’t clash with each other. Instead, the mix of styles provides visual interest and personality to the space.

With all of these elements backed by gorgeous natural lighting, the result is an uber-inviting, warm, and lived-in room that has a ton of style.

Now are you ready to get the look?

1. Oliver 2-Piece Chaise Sectional: This is a great, affordable, and comfortable 2-piece chaise sectional that is 79″ wide. If you are looking for one a little bigger, we also love this one (that’s 112″ wide). If your budget allows, the original Burrand sectional Emily used is also still available!
2. Handmade Studio Leather Dorotheia Modern Leather Rug: This textural hide rug with scallop detail looks almost identical to the original one Emily used and comes in various sizes (the largest being 8’x10′).
3. Mid-Century Modern Walnut Dining Chair: This wood and gray dining chair could be a great accent chair for a small space.
4. Live Edge Coffee Table: Especially when mixed with straight Mid Century Modern lines, a live edge coffee table brings movement and warmth to a space.
5. Morrocan Pouf: This classic Morrocan pouf instantly adds a bohemian vibe.
6. Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant in Pot: Fiddle leaf plants add so much vibrancy and movement to a room.
7. Bianca Striped Seagrass Tote Basket: We love putting potted plants in woven baskets for added warmth and texture.
8. Marla Vegan Leather Armchair: While Emily’s vintage safari chairs are obviously awesome, this vegan leather armchair is a great alternative (and also comes in black).
9. Marble Pedestal End Table: This black and marble side table brings in just the right amount of modern flair.
10. Grady 6 – Drawer Dresser: Adding a dresser to your living space provides extra storage and can exude a very relaxed and welcoming feel. Plus it’s a great place to display vases or other accessories.

1. Cozy Teddy Faux Fur Oversized Pillow Cover: This 30″x30″ boucle pillow cover would be a great companion to a gray sectional sofa.
2. Blue And Ivory Geometric Indoor Outdoor Throw Pillow: This blue patterned pillow is suitable for both indoors and outdoors.
3. Global Tufted Throw Blanket with Tassels: This is a nice, large (60″x80″), and affordable blanket with a lovely texture – not to mention it’s almost identical to the one in the Glendale living room.
4. Yucatan Terracotta Stripe Euro Sham: I love how Emily added so many colors to this room using throw pillows. This white and coral sham has such a pretty pattern and the soft orange hue blends beautifully with the blue, green, and pink colors throughout the space.
5. Vintage Blimp Aircraft Illustration Digital Art: Emily’s blimp art is an iconic piece that works with so many styles. If you are into the vintage drawing style art, this is a very cool one but please note it is a digital print so you would need to have it printed 🙂
6. Custom Frame: Once you have your art printed, you are going to need it framed. We love Framebridge for their quality and service.
7. Wood Coat Hooks: These wood coat hooks which are also perfect for hanging things like ceramic bells, will bring a warm, MCM flair to any space.
8. Stripy Ceramic Bell: We are forever fans of MQuan’s ceramic bells but if they’re out of your budget, these are great.
9. Pettini Vase: This is such a pretty vase that would add texture, movement, and color to your space.
10. Euro Woven Stripe Decorative Throw Pillow Blue: This is a high-quality pillow for the price and we love the grid pattern.
11. Sage Green Colorblock Pillow Cover: I love the calm sage green color of this handmade color block pillow cover.
12. Pink Pillow Cover: To complement the other pink hues in the space, this pillow cover is your guy.
13. Angeleta Woven Throw Blanket: This is a solid, affordable throw blanket that would work well with a variety of styles.
14. Onslow Tray: A woven tray will provide warmth and a hint of bohemian flair to your space. If you want, you can place it on the floor next to a chair (as Em did) to provide a place for extra magazines or books.

1. Saqqara Pillow Cover in Albatross: This playful pattern pillow cover is available in a wide range of sizes so you can tailor it to your specific needs.
2. Ivory and Grey Grid Pillow Cover: Mixing pattern scales is essential to styling your sofa like a pro. We love this grid pattern that pairs so well with smaller patterns.
3. Knitted Throw Blanket: This throw blanket will add a nice pop of blue to your sofa or chair.
4. Solid Cotton Fringe Throw Pillow: We love when a solid color pillow has a fringe hem that adds texture and style.
5. Oversized Cotton Striped Square Throw Pillow: A classic stripe pillow looks good in any room.
6. Ceramic Candlestick: This totem candlestick holder is a really solid piece for the price and we love the speckled off-white detail.
7. Brice Mid-Century Ivory Ceramic Table Lamp: We love the wood accents on this Midcentury-inspired lamp.
8. Turquoise Speckled Round Pottery Bowl: This is a one-of-a-kind turquoise pottery bowl that would look good styled on any shelf.
9. Handmade Japanese Bowl: How stunning is this handmade Japanese bowl? And you cannot beat the price!
10. Button Fern: This fairly low-maintenance plant is pet-friendly and comes in this gorgeous turquoise pot.
11. Bonnie Grey Pillow: It is so important to mix and match different size pillows. This one comes in various sizes and has a lovely woven texture.
12. Priya Throw Pillow: Here is another neutral pillow with a ton of texture.
13. Periwinkle Blue White Lumbar Throw Pillow Cover: I love the blue paint splatter pattern on this pillow cover.
14. Elsa Reversible Woven Striped Chenille Square Throw Pillow: This pretty pink pillow has a subtle and oh-so-lovely stripe pattern.
15. Faux Bradford Pear Branch 50″: We are big advocates for going outdoors and foraging for branches but if you want an easier route, you can also buy faux branches like this one.
16. Black Terracotta Vase: This vase ties in the other black accents in the room and grounds the space.
17. Styled: What’s a coffee table without a GREAT design book?
18. The New Design Rules: One design book is never enough. Have you picked up Emily’s new book yet?
19. Suzanne Kasler Gourd Lamp: To complement the other light blue tones in the room, we love this lamp.

And there you have it, folks. Please let us know if you enjoy this type of post, and if you would like us to start a series. If so, what room would you like to see next? xx

*Photos by Tessa Neustadt

The post New Series Alert: Get The Look For Less – Emily’s Glendale Living Room appeared first on Emily Henderson.

from Emily Henderson https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/neutral-living-room-on-a-budget

This “Happy Moody” Craftsman Home Is A Vintage Lover’s Dream (We Can’t Stopping Starring At This Kitchen)

When a home and a homeowner(s) find their perfect match, you can tell. There’s a visible energy that both are there to care for and protect each other. I think this is especially true with old homes. And look, sometimes an old home is too far gone – too many homeowners before either weren’t able to properly care for it while others made quick, trendy fixes that simply didn’t pay respect to the original structure. Today we have a happy story. A story of a young family who was in love with their wonderful 1910 craftsman, wanting to preserve as much of it as possible while needing to update for modern living.

When I was pitched this project by the incredible Jamie Haller (remember this craftsman she and her husband restored?) I was blown away. In that previous post, I called them the “soul keepers” and baby, that title remains intact. As we move through this home you will not only get to soak up an almost endless pool of vintage details but see how with careful and thoughtful design choices, old and new can beautifully coexist. I think that if you love this “happy moody” style there are some key elements you can incorporate into your home. But first, let’s hear how it all began and the biggest challenges Jamie faced.

What was the conversation about the color palette and style with your client? Did they have a style they said they specifically wanted or did they just want you to lean into the style of the home and run with it?

Jamie: “The direction was to embrace the authenticity of the home and create a modern and functional space that inspired them.”

Ah, the magic words for a historic home-loving designer, right? But before we get into the more extensive parts of the renovation let’s have some fun dissecting why the living and dining rooms are so special and why they nail the “happy moody” style.

First, let’s take about the choice of white paint. Jamie was told by the homeowner that they wanted to keep it a warmer shade which was absolutely the right call. It works with the dark warm woods in the room and makes it feel brighter but still cozy. Then to bring in that depth, it’s all about the patterns. Notice the scales all vary, bouncing your eye around but all are in darker moody tones so they don’t feel too overwhelming.

HOT TIP: Adding a bright decor piece that works with your established darker color palette, like that yellow table lamp with the burgundy shade, will help to bring out those colors elsewhere making everything pop a little more.

Another pillar of this look is vintage decor and florals. When vintage pieces have decorative elements in darker metals and wood tones it adds a cool playfulness. And of course florals, whether in textiles, art, or actual real flowers, also add a needed energy/joyfulness for a moody space.

Wallpaper

Speaking of florals, this wallpaper by House of Hackney was a really important element to Jamie because it was meant to be a connector to the kitchen in terms of style and colors. She presented a few wallpapers in connection with a kitchen palette and this was the one they all decided on.

Clearly, a beautiful choice. What I also love is the use of a light (but not bright white) linen curtain and a vintage warm white tablecloth. It gently lightens the space to keep the vibe cozy and not too dark.

Chandelier (vintage)

Here’s a better view of how the light linens highlight the light tones in the rug and the wallpaper. And what is always important to remember when designing a vintage space is to still incorporate modern decor pieces to help visual balance. They also just add an inherent freshness. You can see that in action with those modern vases that have been placed on the back built-in. Contrast is always important:)

I had to include this shot because just look at all that original woodwork. It’s so stunning!!

But now it’s time to talk about this home’s beautiful kitchen renovation…

Cabinet Color | Pendant | Faucet | Countertop Material (soapstone)

Jamie: “For the kitchen, there were a couple of original cabinets in the room, and we knew we wanted to use that as a North Star. I also wanted there to be a color relationship between the dining room and kitchen. I wanted the glimpse of the kitchen at the dining table to have a connection to a wallpaper we would use in there. I wanted the home to tell a story as you went room to room.”

The original cabinetry she spoke of is that large built-in. Its specialness remained intact because of all the love and care that was put into it. Jamie explained what it took to bring this beauty back to life:

Jamie: “The kitchen had a few original cabinets in the space, however the only one worth keeping was the large built-in armoire. It was a little low and we had the box drawers rebuilt so they had a smooth and soft close. So many times it’s the heavy clunky drawers that kill a vintage piece. We corrected that here. We also added stone and wainscot to the piece to tie it into the kitchen flow.”

This would be my dream for my kitchen cabinets. I love the way they look but they are so heavy, overpainted, and hard to open. While this is not an affordable thing to do, if you have a vintage home and can afford to do this, it will only extend the kitchen’s longevity.

But wait, the other cabinets aren’t original too? NOPE! The time and care that went into this project makes my heart so happy. Here’s how she made the new cabinets look cohesive:

Jamie: “We did reuse the original doors from the cabinets we decided to not keep. We recut them into new doors in a new box configuration at the sink. We essentially remade new boxes for an improved layout, used all the doors and original pieces we could, and then fabricated matching doors as needed. You can’t really tell the difference between the old and new at this point.”

One thing I was curious about was if they talked about integrating the appliances, mainly the fridge and dishwasher. It’s no secret that it’s a VERY popular thing to do when getting to renovate a kitchen. But Jamie had a case against it and I agree:

Jamie: “There is something beautiful and industrial about seeing the stainless steel in such a painted and paneled room, I liked having the appliances be present and not hidden.”

Wall Tile

I also wanted to know more about those sweet toe kicks. Creating a thoughtful toe kick is such an impactful way to bring character and uniqueness. I was curious why Jamie decided against matching the base of the built-in with the new cabinets. Here’s what she said:

Jamie: “I wanted something playful incorporated into the space so incorporating the beautiful toe kick was a way to add femininity to the space. The shape balanced out the utilitarian feel of the tongue and groove.”

That’s such a good point! Those curves are a beautiful contrast to all of the straight lines in the space.

Fun fact about that sconce – From Jamie: “We looked at probably 100 sconces for over the stove before landing on this one. It was actually a combination of two different sconces, both vintage from the era of the home. You would not believe how many months we discussed this sconce. It’s a good thing sourcing vintage lights is one of my favorite things to do.”

Knobs (similar)

You can also see how she incorporated some other curves with that little peg rail shelf and original hardware (well, as much of the original as possible). This is when having a client that cares about a vintage home restoration as much as you do comes in handy…

Jamie: “Half of the hardware was there, original, and half were matched. We had a few knobs and some beautiful butterfly hinges. My client actually took it as her project to source almost identical hardware. I think there were many nights of eBay deep dives involved.”

Well, those late nights most definitely paid off. Now let’s talk about the bathroom.

So I don’t know the state it was in pre-renovation but I can guarantee a masterful upgrade. Now that you’ve had a sneak peek let’s dive on in…

As Sara and Bowser will agree, the white subway and black hex tile mix is a classic. However, this white subway tile is a little extra special given that it has that beautiful tumbled look we all love. Also, the small scale size of the black hex makes it feel more original and vintage.

However, what I really wanted to talk about with Jamie was the marble window trim. While technically on trend, this is a modern use of a classic material – meaning it’s going to age beautifully with this home. When I asked why they decided to go for it this was her answer:

Jamie: “It was a solution to a problem. The window extended into the shower area a bit and the marble was used as a casing and sill so that it wouldn’t be damaged by water overspray. It came out so pretty and I ended up loving the detail.”

What a gift!! While I don’t know the cost of doing a stone trim, if you have excess pieces from a counter or want to buy offcuts from a stone yard, I think it’s worth asking. Such a pretty detail.

Another pretty detail? This vintage vanity.

From Jamie: “We wanted to use a vintage piece of furniture for the bathroom vanity. There is a beautiful curved shape to this one. It was a 1960’s secretary. Not of the era, but beautiful lines are beautiful lines.”

Mirror

If you know us, we are very ok with mixing vintage eras if it feels right and this vanity feels right in here. All the vintage touches in this bathroom make it impossible not to love.

Bed | Velvet Curtains | Linen Curtains | Shams (no longer available)

To finish off this wonderful home tour, we have this wonderful bedroom. I believe this room just got a decor upgrade but man is it a good one and there are a lot of great style tips to grab!

I think this room is a great example of “happy moody”. The walls are light and soft while the furniture is dark and the textiles are colorful but a little muted. Then for added “happiness” there are florals galore!

As someone who also mixed vintage nightstands in a bedroom design, I love the playful shapes and how they are both dark but not the same color (ps I’m in LOVE with that chair). Then mixed with the black wood bed, your eye is able to bounce around the different dark tones and shapes without getting visually overwhelmed.

For the linens, this color palette is so pretty and the pattern scales all vary perfectly. They also work so well together because that solid light duvet keeps the patterns from touching which also gives your eye a chance to take it all in. As for the rug, choosing this one that hones in on the neutral colors of the room as well as ties in the green of the curtain makes the whole space feel wonderfully grounded.

In case you couldn’t tell, I love this home and how Jamie cared so deeply for it through her thoughtful design. When I asked if there were any specific challenges on this project this is what she said:

Jamie: “It went pretty smoothly. I would say that old homes aren’t straightforward. Figuring out which elevation of the wall to use where those cabinets and closets were was tricky. Communicating the slightly complicated cabinet design, using old original doors as material isn’t what cabinet makers are used to so it can be challenging to get people to work outside of their comfort zones. But they killed it! They did an amazing job and it was also refreshing to know we reused so much of what was original in the home.”

They completely killed it and goes to show how much time and expertise goes into a kitchen restoration like this. I hope all of your design tanks are full for today and if “Happy Moody” is your design style and you were needing some inspiration I also hope this helped! If you don’t already follow Jamie you are missing out. Before I leave you here are some before and afters of the kitchen:)

In case you were also wondering what was that small door on the right used for…

Jamie: “There was some storage of various depths along that wall, some extremely deep, think an overly deep boom closet, and some extremely shallow.  There is a hall closet on the other side of the wall, as well as an office. Some of the space was given back to the hall closet so it wouldn’t be dead space.”

Ok, now I’m done:)

Love you, mean it.

*Design by Jamie Haller
**Photos by Jenna Peffley

The post This “Happy Moody” Craftsman Home Is A Vintage Lover’s Dream (We Can’t Stopping Starring At This Kitchen) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

from Emily Henderson https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/happy-moody-design-style