If you want to know the best designer hack right now, read today’s post. This new product has become something I absolutely depend on (and collect), and I haven’t painted a room in the last 3 years without buying a few. Samplize is a company that sells large sticker paint samples that are made with real paint from almost every paint brand (Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Farrow & Ball, etc), and they arrive the next day. It’s almost too easy (and at $7 a pop, it’s affordable enough to ensure you are making the right decision – and don’t be afraid to keep them for next time, like me). It’s a total game-changer versus fan decks or paint pots. So today we used Samplize to order 12 of our favorite whites or neutral paint colors and show you how they look in two rooms – one with a ton of natural light and another with way less.

Whites or light neutrals are harder for me (and anyone, really) because it’s SO hard to see the undertones on a small paint sample. Additionally, the wrong white in a low-light room can look so sad and dead, while the right one can bring warmth and dimension. All the samples we tried actually look so light and white once the whole room is painted, but as you can see above, some are so much darker!

These Samplize stickers are big enough to really see the color, are repositionable so that you can try them on different walls or different rooms, and you can keep them up for a few days to really look at the room at different times. My two biggest rules for choosing whites are this:

1. Don’t paint a dark room white. White can look really flat and dead without natural light bouncing off of it. But in a room with a ton of natural light, you have a lot more options (it’s easier to not go wrong). I get it, you are scared of a really dark room – just do a more medium tone that has a lot of undertones then.
2. Stay away from overly blue or overly yellow undertones. Most of our favorites are so nuanced – they have so many undertones that work well together. Gray and beige both have tones that can be so pretty, but if they are too simple/basic, they look cold or dated.

Bright Natural Light Versus Low, Natural Light

Sherwin-Williams – Extra White

Sample: Sherwin-Williams – Extra White

This white is best for really bright natural light and definitely has the coolest undertone, but I wanted to show you what a cooler white would do to a room (and mixing it with wood is a great idea). But this white doesn’t look as good in our living room, which has a lot of indirect but not direct light.

Farrow & Ball – Strong White

photo by tessa neustadt for ehd | from: our modern english country kitchen reveal

photo by ryan liebe for ehd | from: my living room design, updated

Sample: Farrow & Ball – Strong White

This is a gorgeous taupe-y gray-white that I painted my cabinets (the perimeter, not the green island, obviously). I loved it so much that I went ahead and painted our living room the same color – I miss that living room! The swatch online reads very beige, but it’s a lovely creamy grayish tone that can still read white enough in a large setting.

Benjamin Moore – White Dove

photo by zeke ruelas for ehd | from: silver lake hill’s living room reveal

Sample: Benjamin Moore – White Dove

Arlyn painted her living room this same white, and she said this: “It’s a creamy and warm white in the way that vanilla soft serve looks creamy without being beige-y. It’s the type of color you strangely just want to look at, except it’s white, so you feel weird being kind of obsessed with it. Evidently, it was Benjamin Moore’s “Color of the Year” a few years back, if that says anything to you. But yeah, it works well for homes with more character (i.e., nothing super modern), and is warm without being the least bit yellow.”

Benjamin Moore – Soft Chamois

Sample: Benjamin Moore – Soft Chamois

We recently shot our furniture line at Catherine Sheppard‘s house for Room Service (her house is absolutely gorgeous). She painted her walls BM Soft Chamois, and trim is BM Simply White. It was so pretty and yes, light and airy, but still warm.

Farrow & Ball – Pointing

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ small space living room reveal

Sample: Farrow & Ball – Pointing

Arlyn wrote this, which I think is totally accurate and well put: The swatch online of Pointing looks SO warm and beige-y, but in person, it’s such a lovely warm yet neutral white. Jess used this in her living room and kitchen and was very happy with it. It’s warm enough that crisp white curtains pop against it, but looks very “white” against most other colors. Farrow & Ball paints tend to be more expensive than traditional hardware store brands, but the paint is VERY thick and super high quality with a wide range of finishes.”

Benjamin Moore – Edgecomb Gray

Sample: Benjamin Moore – Edgecomb Gray

We had our retreat out at The Carly in Oregon wine country (it’s incredible) and couldn’t believe that the warm neutral on the walls, which felt white to all of us, is in fact this dark!!

This is such a great example of how you need to rethink whites to include medium-toned neutrals that you think are going to be really dark, because in a larger space with a lot of soft indirect light, it will read lighter. We loved this light neutral so much in person.

Sherwin-Williams – Alabaster

Sample: Sherwin-Williams – Alabaster

We shot the “low natural light” portion of this in my brother’s upstairs hallway. It actually gets great natural light, but we closed the shades so they just let some light in to give you an idea of what these would look like without beautiful light bouncing all around.

I absolutely love how Alabaster looks in every room of their house – in fact, I’d go as far as to say that if anybody asked me on the street what a no-fail good white is, without seeing their house, I’d tell them Alabaster. We looked at it with the wood flooring and moved the Samplize sticker around in many rooms in their house, but it worked in every single one of them. It’s so solid and pretty, with a slightly creamy taupe undertone that makes a room feel really balanced and inviting.

Benjamin Moore – Simply White

Sample: Benjamin Moore – Simply White

Kaitlin painted her entire house Simply White, which is pretty dang similar to Alabaster, if not a tiny more saturated. Creamy undertones that still read as very white, yet with warmth.

Farrow & Ball – Ammonite

photo by tessa neustadt | from: my master bedroom reveal

Sample: Farrow & Ball – Ammonite

I loved this color in our old primary bedroom in LA. If you are looking for the softest, lightest gray that is so warm but not taupe, then this is for you. I love how subtle the color is, all while bringing some different hues into the home besides white. This color felt really clean, even though it has a lot of nuance.

As you can see, the #9 swatch looks, even a bit muddy, but with the amount of natural light the bedroom got, it felt bright and happy, but definitely a tone.

Benjamin Moore – Super White

photo by tessa neustadt | from: how we styled the living room to sell

Sample: Benjamin Moore – Super White

This was our go-to white for a while (I used it in our old Glendale house, and Brady used it in his kitchen). We still love it, FYI, but have since turned to Pure White by Sherwin-Williams for recent projects. This color is great if you are looking for a modern, clean color. It reflects light in such a pretty way and doesn’t have any cool tones that would make it go blue or warm tones that would make it yellow. It’s just really white.

Again, my advice is that a clean, bright white like this is best for rooms going for that extremely airy vibe, which requires a lot of natural daylight. So don’t put this in your dark bedroom – it will just look cold.

Sherwin-Williams – Oyster White

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: the portland project family room reveal

Sample: Sherwin-Williams – Oyster White

For many of the public living areas of the Portland Project, we used Oyster White from Sherwin-Williams. It’s almost a touch taupe-y gray in comparison to the crisp white of the molding (Pure White from Sherwin-Williams), so it works really well in that sense. During the big open house event, the most asked question about anything in the house was “What is this paint color?” It’s cozy and comforting but still white enough not to run too deep into gray territory.

Benjamin Moore – Decorator’s White

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: michael’s vintage-filled living room reveal

Sample: Benjamin Moore – Decorator’s White

This is called “Decorator’s White” for a reason. A ton of decorators and designers use it (honestly). Michael picked it for his current home because it mixes really well with other neutrals but also pops of color. It’s calm yet bright and an “elevated” sophisticated white. Not too clinical, just a great backdrop for lots of styles.

If you are about to paint a room, I can’t express how important it is to order these samples from Samplize, that is, unless you walk around with some magically inherited paint color confidence. Sometimes I’ll just order the final two, just to make sure (ordering a ton can add up, I know). I’m seriously so grateful that this product was invented and that it comes so dang fast (faster than going to the paint store to take home those tiny chips). It’s been an absolute game-changer. And for your convenience, here are all of my white and neutral paint color samples to choose from in one easy place! Let us know what paint color roundup you’d love next 🙂

*Unless Otherwise Noted, Photos by Kaitlin Green

Happy Sunday, y’all! Hope everyone had a really wonderful week. We are currently OOO, getting to spend some quality time with loved ones, which we feel so freaking grateful for. No other EHD updates, so please enjoy this week’s links.

This week’s house tour is so stunning! Mallory put it in our “watercooler” Slack channel. We were all gushing over it. Oh, and the amazing Commune Design is behind it, so no wonder we were all in love. Enjoy!

From Emily: Cathy and Gartett (The Grit and Polish) revealed their Poplar Cottage kitchen, which they have been working on for over 5 years (the project took many turns). As you know, I love a long-form blog post and appreciate the hard work that goes into this job more than most, so in case you missed it, head over and see their kitchen reveal. It’s sweet, warm, thoughtful, and hardworking (just like them). It’s meant to be a rental, so they made a lot of choices with that in mind, and it turned out so high quality, inviting, and just really “them”. Great job, guys!

Also From Emily: Just want to give my slippers a shout out since they are my new favorite toy. Since I work from home, I wear slippers every day and take them very seriously. I like the easy-to-slip-on ones, the moccasins, and the tall Uggs. I wish they weren’t so expensive, but the last time I had them, they lasted 3 years (in Arrowhead and Oregon).

From Jess: In another effort to stay warm on the East Coast, I bought this incredibly cute striped knitted scarf neckerchief. What’s even better is that it’s also delicate enough to wear on a chilly night in LA. I bought the blue and brown striped one, but there are so many color options. I want more! It’s that perfect accessory that makes a simple outfit really cool and elevated.

From Arlyn: This time of year, you’re either strapped for cash or feeling like you’re ready to get your hands into something new…or both. So I’ve got something for either of these types. My daughter had a craft fair at school to wrap up the semester, and we made worry stones. What I thought would be great for kids ended up being even better for adults! We love having one around to rub; it really calms the nervous system down to fidget with something, and the gentle swirling of the thumb does just the trick. I followed this tutorial (sort of); we skipped all the fancy extras, but liked how the creator explained smoothing the edges and forming the shape. I had some glossy Modge Podge sitting around, so we sealed ours with that since the matte clay out of the oven didn’t feel great.

From Gretchen: I was really inspired by Marlee’s DIY gift post from a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t help but make one of her craft ideas for my parents. My family isn’t huge on gift giving at this stage in our lives (the STUFF of it all just gets a bit overwhelming, and as cliche as it sounds, all we really need is each other’s good company to celebrate); however, a small, sentimental, and functional DIY gift totally flies! Using Mar’s recommended Sculpey and mini magnets, plus these stamp letters and cookie (clay) cutters I found, I made some pretty cute mini magnet photo frames. I painted the borders, stamped them 2025, and sealed my creations with glossy spray paint, like she suggested, then attached magnets on the back with Gorilla glue. I have this super awesome Liene photo-sticker printer (it’s so easy and fast to use and really comes in handy for a number of crafts) and printed out some photos we took together when my parents were out here for Thanksgiving. Both of them loved it (I loved making it), and each little frame found a spot on their fridge right away. So fun!

From Mallory: If you’re reading this, I’m likely already in Los Alamos on a little weekend getaway with my boyfriend, Austin! Last year, around this time, we last minute went up to Paso Robles with my parents, and my mom had the idea to stop in this tiny, adorable little town for some BBQ on the way (and Austin loves BBQ, so it was an easy sell). You guys, the town is ADORABLE and only 2 hours from LA. I’ve been to Solvang and Los Olivos a ton, but never popped into this area – it feels like a mini town in Texas but with a very California flair (read: natural wine is present). The whole town it’s one street basically, so it’s super quaint, but it’s full of cute antique shops, insane BBQ, coffee/pastry shops, and the most iconic billiards dive bar. We booked a reservation super far in advance for Bells (yup – there’s one Michelin star restaurant and it’s supposed to be AMAZING). When we left last year, we knew we needed to come back and spend more time – so that’s exactly what we’re doing, and if you’re in the LA area (or really anywhere) it’s such a fun getaway that’s so underrated IMHO.

From Marlee: I have pretty dry skin in the winter (which a ton of folks can relate to), but holy $%#& my forehead specifically gets SO dry and itchy. I’ll put a thick layer of moisturizer on, and within 10 minutes, it’s screaming for more, and I’ll end up carrying lotion around to reapply just on my forehead every hour. About a month ago, I could feel the dryness coming on, so I started researching new moisturizers to try and ended up getting the Instant-Angel Firming Moisturizer by Dieux. I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks now, and I’m obsessed. It’s SO rich and soft, and I love that it literally smells like nothing (sometimes lotions will say “unscented,” but it still has that sort of clinical smell IYKWIM). My forehead is feeling really happy, and my entire face feels so soft. I also get really dry under eyes and started to notice a lot of redness and irritation, so I got up the Dieux Reviving Eye Gel as well, and it’s amazing. A little goes a long way, and I’ve noticed a lot less redness around my eyes since I started using it. This part is totally optional, but I’ve been applying it and then wearing the undereye patches for 20-30 mins, which apparently helps lock the moisture in. I can’t tell if they do anything for sure because I started using both products at the same time, but overall, this routine has helped immensely (I also love that the eye patches are reusable). My friend had recommended these products to me a long, long time ago, so I’m so happy I finally tried them! I have a feeling they’ll be in my routine for a while.

We so appreciate you and see you tomorrow for a fun one. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Dressing Up Holiday Sweaters For A Party (While Still Being Comfortable)

Happy Sunday, everyone. Last weekend was devastating, as so many seem to be. While we spent the week getting ready for our big break (and making sure you all still were getting fun content), it was hard for us not to feel the weight. If anything, really hold your loved ones tight, but also, we so desperately need gun reform. It feels beyond cruel that nothing has changed in the US, and on top of actual reform, we need our leaders to promote true anti-discrimination in all forms and for all people, especially our marginalized communities and neighbors. Hate only ever begets hate. It’s the only way forward with any sense of safety and hope. The least we can all do is to spread as much love and community as we can right now. Alright, here are our links for this week.

This week’s house tour is one we’re sure you’ve seen, but given its beauty and the designer is a favorite of ours, Heidi Caillier, we think it deserves to be celebrated more! This mountain home owned by Kendall Jenner is full of pattern, color, deep wood tones, and a lot of soul. Check it out here!

From Emily: Two MUST-WATCH shows to binge. I know you are all in the middle of holiday movies (Elliot and I are barreling through the Christmas switch currently), but Brian and I also binged a couple of grown-up shows. Y’all, if you didn’t watch Normal People (on Hulu) when it came out a few years ago, you MUST. This is Brian and I’s second time through because we loved it so much. It’s a romance series with Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones based on Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel. It follows them as high school students through college and a lot of heavy life stuff, and it’s a 10/10 in acting, directing, writing, and chemistry. If you liked One Day, you’ll LOVE this (I think it’s better). But if you want a domestic thriller, then check out The Beast In Me (on Netflix) with Claire Danes and Michael Rhys. OMG. It’s so thrilling with exceptional performances. It is in the domestic thriller realm, with wealthy people acting badly, but the twists and turns are exceptional. We watched it while on our little getaway a few weeks ago, and I’m sad it’s over.

From Marlee: Ok, this is one of the best inventions ever – in the past, I thought that these were gimmicky and maybe didn’t work, but after trying one, it has quickly become a must-have. It’s one of those headache caps that you keep in the freezer and can pull down all the way over your eyes. Last year, I bought one to gift in a white elephant (kind of as a joke?), but it was fought over, and my friend who ended up with it LOVES it. Since then, my roommate has one that she lets me use, and it truly is life-changing. Any time I have a headache, I pop this on, and it’s instant relief. 10/10 invention. This would make a great stocking stuffer:)

From Gretchen: I didn’t do a ton of Black Friday shopping this year, but I did take advantage of the sale at Levi’s and bought myself 4 pairs of jeans–knowing I’d likely return at least two. Well, unfortunately, three out of four pairs were a hell no (only because they were too small. When I go to return them, I’m going to size up and see how I like the fit). But the fourth pair might just be my new go-to pant! They’re a light-weight leopard print jean in the “baggy dad” style, but look more how I’d like a barrel style jean to look on me. They run a little big (I think in Levi’s I’m likely a 31, but I tried these in a 30 and they were perfect). They have a 30″ inseam and hit perfectly at my ankles. I love the baggy look paired with this more stylish print. It makes me look like I’m trying with my outfit, without giving up on comfort. At the time of writing this, they’re on sale again, too!

From Mallory: If you didn’t know already, I REALLY love Christmas, and like Emily, I have a bit of an ornament obsession. I love to gift personalized ornaments to family and friends too so this year I gifted this one to my roommate, Jade (which I changed the wording on a bit bc it’s not our first christmas as roommates lol) and then I got this custom pet embroidery ornament for my sister and her husband Tom (who got a new pup this year) and then that spiraled into getting one for my parents dogs and my boyfriends parents dog too. I know it’s after Christmas, but I honestly recommend ordering these in advance so you can give them out earlier this year 🙂

From Jess: Last week I talked about my perfect sweater, and this week it’s all about my new boots🙂 I was Christmas shopping last weekend and decided to pop into one of my favorite little new shops in Highland Park, When Two Become One: Intentionally Blank x Ririku. I’ve talked about Intentionally Blank a ton because they are one of my favorite shoe brands. Anyway, I’ll be in NYC for the holidays and thought, as long as it’s not snowing, I could easily wear these incredible burgundy cowboots since my only other walking boot is basically a rain boot. My puffer coat might be from 2013, but my boots are full on 2025! They make me feel very, very cool.

From Arlyn: I have been eyeing a pair of Rothy’s for quite a while, but the price tag always felt a little too steep for a ballet flat. So when I saw the pair I loved (these in burgundy with little brass studs) was on sale for $89, I scooped them up faster than toast burns in the air fryer with your back turned. I had a bit of a sizing issue on my first go; the description says true to size, but I found that to not be accurate for me. I’m a solid 8, but the 8 in the square Mary Janes was way too tight. Maybe if my foot were narrower. The exchange process was super easy and quick, and the 8.5 ended up being perfect for me. Since they arrived on Thursday, I’ve worn them every day, and they just make all my lazy mom clothes look so much more elevated! Some colors are still on sale, so RUN!

Thank you for hanging out a little with us, and for those of you celebrating Christmas, we hope you have a very merry Christmas. But also see you tomorrow xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kailtin Green | From: Christmas In Our Home 2025 – Whimsy, Color, And Non-Traditional In A Really Cozy Way

Happy Sunday, everyone. First and foremost, we want to say how grateful we are that there are judges who are fighting against taking away necessary programs from people in real need. However, that doesn’t mean people and organizations serving those communities still don’t need a lot of help, especially since SNAP benefits may be heavily negatively affected regardless. There are thankfully so many wonderful organizations to donate to. Emily will talk about one close to her heart, and here is another one in Kansas City. Please drop the ones you know and trust in the comments! Figuring out how to balance content that gives you a break from all the atrocities happening and talking about them is not something we are perfect at. But as we go into the holiday season, where there is so much spending and consumption (and heavy promotion to do so, we know we are a part of that too), consider how we can help our neighbors – locally, nationally, and globally.

This week’s house tour is both magical and feels very much like real life happens there. A wonderful vintage home among the California redwoods. Your cortisol levels will lower when looking at this beautiful home.

From Emily: With the SNAP benefits possibly ending (at the time of writing, it was set to end Nov. 1st), I wanted to personally recommend a resource for those who are in the position to help others. Family Promise of Tualatin Valley is the family shelter that we work closely with up here, and they house 100 families who are all experiencing extreme economic challenges (not to mention trauma). They have asked for donations to help offset the SNAP benefits. They are a great organization and will accept any amount (year-round, really), so if you are feeling like you don’t know where to give or how to help, I can personally attest to them. You can donate HERE.

From Jess: If you like the idea of lip stain but want a glossy look, then do I have the recommendation for you! After seeing this hydrating lip stain from VIOLETTE_FR on my friend, I knew I needed my own. I got the shade Bêtise, which is described as a “warm berry”. It’s so pretty, and you can go light or you can apply more applications for a darker look. It feels amazing on, and I don’t have to worry about my lips drying out. 1000/10

From Arlyn: My sweatshirt game is lacking going into this fall and winter season, but I’m slowly rectifying it. A woman I follow on Instagram posted about this fantastic oversized quarter snap sweatshirt from Aerie, and I immediately went and grabbed one. It’s on sale right now (at least it was when I wrote this a few days before you read it), but be sure to Google around for other promo codes because I locked in another 15% off by signing up for emails. Word of caution: When it says it is oversized, they MEAN it. I’m usually a large/x-large in most tops, and I sized down to a medium and wish I had gotten a small, tbh. My body doesn’t wear oversized things well since I have a large chest and end up looking like I’m wearing a mumu, so keep that in mind.

In case you missed our first gift guide of the year, click here!! It’s all about fashion and beauty:) And if you want to see more of Emily’s and the team’s gift recs, we are SO proud of our new, very shoppable gift guide page. We aren’t doing as many gift guide posts (we know we all max out on those kinda fast), so instead we spent hours upon hours designing and creating this very fun (at least we think so) shopping experience. Go check it out and bookmark it because we will be adding more as the month goes on and we find more wonderful gift ideas<3

From Mallory: Halloween is over, which means it’s officially Christmas, and yes, I already bought my first piece of holiday decor. How cute is this little A-frame house?! It would also look super cute next to this A-Frame house (which looks just like the mountain house – Em, you need this!!) Also, if you live in Southern California and haven’t been to the Rodgers Gardens at Christmas time – PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR THIS YEAR. It’s absolute magic!!

From Caitlin: I recently found myself on the East Coast, where you’re all seemingly experiencing something called “fall.” (It was 90 in LA this week, for comparison.) My lone pair of ankle-baring pants were no longer cutting it against your 40-degree temperatures, so I caved, hit the mall, and grabbed this pair of wide-legged pull-on pants from Gap. I’ve broken my self-imposed “shop small or not at all” rule a handful of times this year, but these pants were worth it – they’re 100% cotton, supremely comfortable, easy to adjust, and I think they have nice proportions! I’m looking forward to layering them with my fleece-lined leggings this winter – there’s a ton of room in those wide legs to bundle up. Bless all the Gen Zs who brought back big pants! (PS. Also, the pockets feel enormous. That might not be important to you, but as a frequent “no purse, just pockets” type, it’s a big green flag for me.)

From Gretchen: I took a few days off to run away to Hawaii (my first time there) and spent it in total vacation mode: sunbathing all day, eating everything in sight, drinking Mai Tais like they were coming straight from the tap. But l also spent a good chunk of my time catching up on some reading. Just before I left, Kaitlin, our photographer, lent me this book, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and said I just HAD to read it. And I did. I devoured most of it in a day and saved the last little bit for the flight home. It was SUCH a fun read, especially for someone like me who secretly loves to gobble up all of the latest gossip headlines–this story is a good reminder that news media can be so distorted (and really always has been). I know this book is pretty well-known already, but I hadn’t heard of it and was just so delighted! A tale of many different kinds of love, heartbreak, Hollywood, and a look back at Evelyn’s legacy. It had me wishing she were a real person so I could go dive even deeper.

From Marlee: Up here in Portland, everyone in their mother wears Keen shoes – I’ve shared my Keen Jaspers before, which have a sort of fun, funky silhouette and come in a TON of colors. I just picked up this pair of their Jasper Zionic sneakers, which are a sportier, more classic silhouette. I got them in this fun blue/grey/white neutral color, but I LOVE the chrome tongue – it makes them so fun, especially with the laces that they come with. Both of these shoes are incredibly comfortable and so fantastic for days around town, walks through the neighborhood, and even hikes. I love that they have a sporty vibe but feel more playful than a typical walking shoe. I highly recommend!

Thank you for spending time with us today, and see you tomorrow for a reveal we’ve been WAITING to show you. xx

Opening Image Credits: Architect: Anne Usher | General Contractor: JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction | Interior Designers: Emily Henderson (me!) and Max Humphrey | Styling: Emily Henderson | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The River House Game Room Reveal (The One Everyone Wants To Be In)

Warning: if you are currently renovating or building (congrats), do not just Google info about can lights, or rely on most contractors (no offense). I think we’ve all seen egregious can light crimes (which are almost impossible to change after the fact without serious ceiling and electrical deconstruction). You have one shot to get the placement and amount right, when your ceilings are open, before you finish drywall or, in our case, paneling (no pressure), otherwise back to the construction phase. I have a lot to say about can lights – warnings, learnings, anecdotes, and recommendations. But first… 

“Can lights” are a type of “recessed light,” which is the broader category of lights that sit flush in a ceiling – the two words are used pretty interchangeably. Can lights aren’t most designers’ favorite type of lighting because the older ones can be eyesores – they are huge (6+ inches), bulbous (like an eyeball), oddly placed (not in a row, often random), and all those things can scream cheap construction, which is what makes a room look dated fast. And listen, some are cheap (some being much cheaper than others).

My Personal Experience With Can Lights

But there are good ones out there, and sometimes they are the best solution to lighting a room. For instance, I don’t mind them in our more minimal mountain house where we used 4″ white round ones that just disappear into the ceiling, minimally placed, and are on a dimmer. The ceilngs are low and I like how streamlined it looks. We also have them in our farmhouse kitchen (4″ square), placed for cooking and cleaning as support to our pendants and sconces (and in the winter we definitely need them).

Below, I started ranting about can lights – all my thoughts I would tell someone in person if they were asking, so I’m putting what appears to be my extreme can-light passion into numbered points here:

1. The reason cans can be so good is that the spread of the light is wide and even (generally untrue of a spotlight, in my experience, although track-lights can work, but very style specific). They can really light an entire room evenly, should that be your goal.
2. I personally don’t love the 10 flushmount or semi-flushmount look (not to mention that being much more expensive), so if you don’t have a tall enough ceiling for a multi-bulb chandelier, then your options, if you want a lot of light, are what? 10 brass spotlights? Good luck cleaning in the winter!
3. For most rooms, I prefer a pretty ceiling fixture (chandelier or a pendant/s), with a couple of wall sconces (when possible) – these are the pretty fixtures. But then I like it when these are supported by some overhead, minimally and evenly placed, small can lights. THERE I SAID IT. I like to see when I want to see!!!
4. I don’t love cans in older plaster ceilings.
5. What about wood ceilings? Well, in my brother’s house we chose not to interrupt the wood ceiling with black cans (I was team can, BTW) so we did less lighting, choosing some pretty spotlights in their bedroom, and you know what? He wishes he had more lighting in that room and in the kitchen. We fought and lost that battle, and now they have to live with it.
6. I prefer small, square housing (4″), and I like black cans on a dark ceiling and white on a light ceiling – see our current family room ceiling. Although a minimal round one is fine, too!
7. I mostly choose function but over fashion (barely), and it’s all a personal preference (some rooms I don’t care about as much, functionally, and will choose the better design and skip the can lights).
8. Vintage style homes want fewer can lights (they are era-specific, so use where you need, but not everywhere).
9. And while I personally have never ever requested photoshopping out can lights in any of our projects, many a photographer has taken liberty to do so on our behalf, which is frustrating because then the rest of us on the internet never know where to place these GD cans!! (You won’t see them in a magazine, ever – admittedly, they can ruin the shot!).
10. Be very very careful to place a can light over something unless it’s in line with the others and makes sense with the overall ceiling pattern – i.e., don’t just do a constellation pattern in a kitchen to light the sink. At minimum, keep it symmetrical and balanced (not a random eyeball by the pantry on a diagonal). 

See? I have a LOT to say about can lights.

In today’s case, in this garage we need ample lighting in the winter, but we couldn’t have pendants due to the mechanism of the garage doors (pendants would hang down and the door would hit them). And living in an northern state we can’t always just rely on those cute/sweet spotlights that don’t do the job after 4 pm (I’d love to know if anyone has a recommendations for a spotlight that does create enough light – I think it’s a designer conspiracy theory to get us all to use them, but I have it on good record that they don’t create enough actual light to live!).

OMG I’VE GOT TO GET TO THE POINT. That’s all to say I had to figure out on my own (oof) how many can lights for our studio garage, how far apart they should be, how big they should be, and what wattage/lumens they should be (without anyone to help me). NO THANK YOU, SIR. In this space, can lights were the only real option that made sense – so what do I do????

Decision One: How Many Can Lights For This Room?

If you Google “how many can lights for a room that is 22×21” (our size), it says, “16 – 24 CAN LIGHTS”. LOLOL. That’s disgusting. Not only would this look so dumb, it would be so bright it would be annoying to live in (true story – my brother’s garage is over-lit and it’s annoyingly bright in there). I’m not performing surgery, folks! Of course, this depends on your lumens and personal preferences (perhaps you are a garage surgeon?)

For this room (22’x21′), my brother and Nick recommended between 9-12, but even 12 felt like a lot. I ended up choosing 9 lights, evenly spaced 6′ apart (technically 6′ left to right, 7′ front to back since it wasn’t a perfect square). This also might have to do with your ceiling framing and where your beams are (they need to attach to the beams).

I chose these, which are 4″ white square cans. We are VERY VERY happy with them. Now a few things you should know.

4″ isn’t really accurate – the light source is 2.2″ and the overall visible width is 5″. Additionally, these are for a specific type of rough-in that your electrician would need to do (so check with them to make sure that these are compatible). Regardless of the rough-ins, what I like about these is the following, in case you want to find them compatible with your kit:

1. 4″ Inch Square LED Recessed Can Lights
2. 14W=75W (adjustable/dimmable)
3. 5 Color Options 2700K-5000K (2700 is my usual, but 3k in a garage is good – you can always adjust after).
4. 950 Lumens (I don’t really get this, but this is what ours are and I like them)

How Far Apart Should They Be?

Listen, if there are any lighting experts here, please weigh in as I think it’s a formula based on the height of the ceiling, the width of the room, and lumens/wattage. But most importantly, it’s a personal preference which no formula can tell you! We placed our 6′ apart (on center), left to right, and 7′ front to back (consistent with the shape of the room).

At night (which would be before 8 am or after 4 pm in the winter,) there is plenty of light to do our job in here, which again, is NOT surgery or any sort of lab work. It’s a lot of even light without being annoying.

But I was nervous that choosing only 9 for the whole room and choosing the smallest 4″ cans (which is very small). Would this be a mistake? So I did an experiment – in the other garage, that is purely storage, I decided to amp it up, see if more would be too much or better.

Now we haven’t shot this yet (it’s done but full of stuff you can’t see yet), but this is what the other garage looked like after they installed them. I had to make the decisions at the same time for both garages. This garage is bigger, 25×21, so just in case I was wrong about the first garage, we installed 12 cans in here, of the bigger 6″ size (same specs). We chose these, which were the same, just 2″ bigger and a little cheaper.

And you know what? The 6″ cans look fine in here! I think that 9 would have not been enough, but the 12 fits great and it is definitely enough light for us. But I guess what I’m saying is that had we done 6″ in our prop studio garage, it would have likely been fine. We also could have probably done 12 in the smaller prop garage without it being annoying, but the 16-24 would have been insane. We are very happy with both, having done far less than “recommended,” which is a great example that your personal preference should always come first (it’s just scary when you don’t want to have regrets later because you can’t see).

I’d love for people with experience to weigh in in the comments to help others trying to make this decision. My main beef with this conversation is that it seems to me that designers don’t want to put them in their clients’ homes, because designers don’t like them, but we never hear from the clients whether they have enough light in the winter. Do any pretty spotlights really give enough ample light? I know that if we didn’t have cans in our bedroom, kitchen, and family room, I would be frustrated a few times a week (not all the time and not in the summer, but definitely in the winter when I want to clean or look for something).

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: My New Prop Garage Reveal – Including IKEA Shelving (Non-Spon) And A Lot Of Vintage Collections

In our world where everything seems to be controversial no matter the topic, allow me to enter another talking point into the “I HATE that/I LOVE that!” conversation: Kitchen islands with tile surrounds. Tile is one of those things that we all accept and even adore when it’s somewhere we’ve grown accustomed to, such as floors or on our bathroom and kitchen walls. But put it somewhere other than that and all of a sudden, it’s a wild concept.

And while I’m not really a proponent of tile as a counter surface material for practical reasons (I had some in my previous kitchen and UGH all the crumbs that get stuck in the grout lines is such a hassle), it does have its merits elsewhere. Remember this post with a killer kitchen reveal from earlier this year where Jess explored tile in an unexpected spot—the vertical rise of the base of a kitchen banquette?

If you were a fan of that look, it’s not that far a leap to wrap an island in tile, is it? That said, it’s worth exploring the pros here:

• Affordable: You could make the base of the island in a fairly affordable wood or material since it would mostly be covered in tile.
• Low-maintenance: Tile is durable, easy to clean, and non-porous. It resists water, heat and stains.
• Colorful: Tile is an easy and dramatic way to add color and texture to a kitchen.
• Cool-looking: It makes you do a double take (and your friends and neighbors likely won’t have the same design treatment…don’t you want to be unique?!?).

Of course, no idea is without its cons. Between grout maintenance and the possibility of cracking or chipping of one of the tiles (total bummer), there’s also your home resale value to consider. A tiled kitchen island surround is a very niche look, and likely one that won’t be understood or appreciated by the masses. Anytime you put something in your home that’s distinct, you run the risk of it turning off future buyers if your goal is to sell down the line. Don’t let that stop you from putting your full self into a home design, but it is something you should keep in mind.

During my research of this tiled kitchen island trend and concept, I discovered that you’re likely to see one of three tile categories used to accomplish the design: Standard ceramic or porcelain 4″x4″ tiles, Zellige tiles of varying shapes and sizes, or a more custom looking decorative tile, all of which I think can look good in the right application. In general, though, the look leans contemporary with some exemptions for retro/mid-century vibes and even warm transitional designs. Let’s take a look.

Simple 4″x4″ Tiles

Regular readers may know that I’m quite the fan of the versatility (and affordability) of a classic 4″x4″ tile, though they have a fairly specific look that might not be right for every home. On an island, this type of tile definitely reads modern, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it work with something warm or even a touch rustic.

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Maybe it’s the color of the tile, or that the white wall tile seamlessly transitions into the countertop which then is echoed on all surfaces of the island, but I love the look of this kitchen by Whitewood in New South Wales. It’s one of those things you’d never think to do, but once you see it somewhere else, it just might become a contender.

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One thing tile-surround kitchen islands do well is lean into a look. That cohesiveness of material between the walls and island (just like in the previous photo) is unbeatable for making a statement and bringing in so much intentionality. Granted, the grand architecture of this home designed by Years Studio (featured in Architectural Digest), helps support the very bold look.

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I’m fairly obsessed with the design and architecture work coming out of Mexico City. It’s at the same time grounded in history and culture and incredibly innovative and chic, like this kitchen project in the home of Kar Brulhart. From the homeowner in the post: “We wanted this place to feel like a 1970s Mexico City apartment. Layered, a little moody, with a lot of wood and warmth and nods to my Mexican grandparents.” Tile has a rich, deep roots in Mexico, so it makes sense that a punchy, earthy red tile would be featured at the center island. Brave, bold and wonderful.

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There’s something about this kitchen—by Nimtim Architects, featured in Clever—that is instantly nostalgic. It makes me feel like I’m in the cleaned-up, grown-up, more neutral version of the set of Double Dare (#IYKYK). Glossy 4″x4″ tile in general makes me feel that way, I guess. It’s ingrained in my ’80s and ’90s-bred child soul. The built-in plywood shelving is super practical, and frankly, something I’d much prefer to inferior bar seating (I prefer to sit at a proper table…). If you look closely, you’ll see the integrated sink continues the tile material which probably isn’t a choice I’d make, but it sure does look pretty cool.

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Here’s a mullet island by Jessica Hansen of Tandem Interiors via Domino: tile party in the front, cabinet business in the back (or, you know, on each side). It’s a fun way to break up the same-sameness of lower cabinetry, as well as continue the backsplash material elsewhere for cohesion. It’s a toe-dip into the trend that frankly, I think is really fun and an interesting way to try it without going all in.

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I’ve shared this photo of a kitchen by AD100 designer Alex March (via Clever, again) in the past and while it’s not technically a tiled island, it accomplishes a similar vibe. There’s just something about the repetitive use of a single material across different surfaces that feels so cool, edgy and all-encompassing.

Zellige Tiles

Onto something a bit more “now”: the Zellige tile. Admittedly, I do really love the look of this but I have to wonder: are all those uneven edges along the corners…comfortable? Safe? Prone to damage? I don’t have the answer to this, but if we suspend our disbelief and questioning for a few moments, we can all enjoy these beauties below.

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First up is a kitchen I’ve had bookmarked for a long time and come across throughout the web very often: a Berlin penthouse project by Studio Bosko. The use of the Zellige-style tile creates so much movement, personality, and light (not something lacking in this kitchen, that’s for sure). That texture that Zellige is beloved for has a way of grounding the other contemporary elements of this space.

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Here, we see the same kitchen, by Cristina Alvarez of Curio Interior Design, that’s at the lead of this post. I’m quite smitten with the color choice of the island surround, which I think works beautifully to bring out the warmth of the wood cabinetry, seating and floors. Also of note is how well all three tiles work together without feeling overdone. Petite Zellige in a neutral on the backsplash echos the Zellige on the island (in a louder hue, of course), while a warm checkerboard in a large square size finishes off the kitchen flooring.

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So far, we’ve seen a lot of color, but here’s a quiet neutral version for anyone who finds it hard living with so much intensity. This kitchen by WHLF Studio proves how much (quiet) impact an island like this can make in such a simple, reserved space.

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Here’s a bit of a flip from what we’ve seen before. Instead of a tile transition from wall to countertop to island sides, we have countertop to island sides to floor, and uh… ::slow claps::. Wow what a look, huh? The whole kitchen is a head-to-toe visual feast brought to life by Nick Gavin with design-build firm Made.

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To round out the Zellige category is this long and lean number on this rounded island. The rounded nature of the island is a nice juxtaposition to the rigidity of the tile it’s enveloped by. The peninsula suddenly becomes it’s own statement furniture piece and draws the eye into the kitchen space. This might be one of my favorites. Thanks to Charlotte Pourbaix for the eye candy.

Decorative Tiles

Finally, we have the drives of the risk-taker bus. The decorative tile users, which break the mold on an already mold-breaking design move. (Is that like a double negative?). Anything goes here, where tile is measured with the heart.

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I fully understand that this kitchen by Y S G Studio (built by LocBuild) may not be for everyone, but there is a nugget I want you to take away from it: that stripe of checkerboard tile along the toe kick of the island. This idea of tile on an island doesn’t have to be all of nothing. You can mix it in with a more accepted material such as wood and get something that is still very unique and interesting.

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A post shared by Interior Architecture & Design Byron Bay (@whitewood.agency)

Another by Whitewood, this is actually a restaurant space, but I liked how the edge was a strip of wood, so I wanted to present it to anyone who likes this tile-surround concept but is worried about corners. This tile is likely only on the backside of this counter seating, but it could be applied all around, too, with the added support of wood to the sides.

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I have to admit: My eye struggles to make sense of this kitchen. Are those marble-fronted cabinets? There is a lot happening here, but it’s certainly eclectic. Anyhow, I’m bringing it to the table here so we can all see different tiles used. This pinstripe may or may not be to your liking, but a patterned tile in general could be very interesting in the right space. Thoughts?

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A post shared by Andrea Rodman (@andrearodmaninteriors)

And finally, this cool, pint-sized matte tile on a rounded island (the kitchen was designed by Andrea Rodman Interiors out of Vancouver). Keeping the tile and the countertop in a cool-toned white takes the attention away from the material use while still benefiting from all the pros of tile.

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So…where are our heads here? On a scale of 1 to “Changing my kitchen reno plans STAT”, where do you fall on this tile trend? Anyone started this post thinking there’s no way they’d get on board but found themselves warming up to the idea the more they read or saw it used? As always, I’d love to chat about it in the comments. Oh, and if there’s another off-the-wall design concept or trend you’re seeing and want us to dive deep into, add it to the conversation, too.

Until next time, friends…

Opening image credit: Design by Cristina Alvarez of Curio Interior Design | Photo by Kelly Ann Rose

All of our trend posts got pushed back a bit because well, January was an extremely difficult month for many reasons. However, we LOVE talking about trends and decor trends are extra special to my heart because they are inherently more user-friendly. They are the kind of trends that don’t require a big renovation which is great considering like a lot of people, I will not be renovating a home in 2025 (I mean who knows but it’s unlikely:)). So with my very mathematical and strategic formulas (ha), I am very confident that these 7 trends/great design ideas are going to be popping up all over our magazines, Instagram, Pinterest feeds, and hopefully some of your homes which makes me very happy. Ok, let’s go!

Curtains As “Doors”

While conducting my research I was kind of taken aback by how many rooms I saw that were using curtains to “separate” adjoining rooms. And no, this is not a new idea as also shown by the opening photo (my living room in 2019) and from general history, but let’s just say they are having a moment and are being done in BEAUIFUL ways. Also, this made me extra happy because I just installed a curtain in my friend’s apartment to give her vanity area a little more privacy. So yes, it’s renter-friendly too!

Who doesn’t love a little home decor drama right? The photo on the left, a home by the incredible Arent&Pyke, gave its entrance a moment to remember. Those warm velvet drapes are perfection. But what’s even more special and detailed is that the arch was made to house them meaning the rod is completely hidden. This method is definitely more “custom renovation” than installing a renter-friendly curtain rod. Regardless it’s such a stunning example of this reemerged design idea. Then the photo on the right is a retail shop but another Australian designer we love, Tamsin Johnson. The shape of the doorway is so beautiful and the added detail of that fringe is not only so pretty but also immediately draws your eye up.

These next two examples actually show the rods which would be more standard for those of us adding them into existing homes and doorways:) Of course, the rods in these two homes are very special and likely very expensive but are inspirational nonetheless. The exaggerated curve of the one on the left looks like a sculpture in and of itself and the thick brass rods in the bathroom only add to the luxe and glamour of that space. Love both of these.

 

 

 

 

 

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Finally, this space is a hotel but I love the softness that the drape brings to that fairly large doorway. I don’t see why you couldn’t do that in a home as well. Plus, I’m sure it helps with draftiness!

The Droopy Roman

Maybe I’ve missed something but another design detail I’ve noticed a lot more lately is relaxed Roman shades. And this is across many different styles which is what feels different to me. Let me show you what I mean…

I think I have associated that type of Roman shade with more classic/traditional-style homes. I could be off on that but that was what I put them with. Now, as you can see from the examples above, a relaxed Roman is spreading its wings. I love the added softness it brings to the very calm and simple room on the left. Then for the room on the right, it feels like a nice little style contrast to all the straight lines in the space.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Clever (@getclever)

Also, you don’t have to do a plain neutral linen, you can add something like a stripe! Just kidding you can do way more than that, but I do love this example and how much soft sweetness this window treatment brings to this little office space. So if you love a Roman but want some soft romance…go relaxed.

Oversized Lighting

This is another one close to my heart because not only has my love of lighting been very well documented on this site, but I also really love it when people go BIG with their lamps. I really want this trend to stick hard this year/forever. Let me show you some pretty awesome examples.

Look, I know that huge fringed floor lamp is pretty specific but it’s also AMAZING!!! What a find. I always think of lighting as art pieces (or have the potential to be) but this one really takes that idea to the next. In the other room, the floor lamp is nearly as large but much more neutral so a little less “in your face,” but in terms of scale just as impactful. Playing with scale in a really purposeful way is such a surefire way to make your home have that designer touch:)

But it’s of course not just floor lamps, it’s all lights! I love that this works with every style too. Both that stunning vintage sconce and incredibly fun table lamp add just the right amount of “cool” to these spaces. They are oversized but in a more manageable way if this idea makes you a little nervous but you want to try:)

What’s also pretty great about this trend is that it really encourages vintage sourcing. There are definitely new options on the market but it seems to really nail this trend it’s all about that thrift hunt (plus the deals tend to be better too).

Unframed Art

A trend that makes things “more affordable”?? Yes! We love a beautifully framed piece but we also know that especially if it’s a large piece of art that big frame isn’t going to be cheap. So let’s talk more about the good news…

This particular trend does focus on large-scale art as you can see in the two examples above. The paper or fabric should have a solid texture of its own to visually hold up without a frame. I’ve done this before with medium-sized pieces and loved how it looked. It gives such a fun and unexpected dimension.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Y S G (@ysg.studio)

Modern tapestries are another type of unframed art that’s having a very chic rebirth. It’s drapier like in the space above. I’m excited to see a lot of this too because it’s high-impact and can be done for a super affordable price if you find the right piece of fabric. Another reason to go vintage shopping!

Retro-Inspired Graphic Fabric Prints

This trend one is really cool and I’ve been trying to get a piece of the action myself – I’m talking Euro (?) Retro-inspired geometric fabric prints. These high-impact, colorful but cool fabrics are becoming more and more popular. In my searches, they tend to be pricey but I haven’t given up hope yet. Ok, on to the beautiful examples…

Same fabric (Limpopo by Pierre Frey), different orientation, both awesome. When you have such a stunning fabric like that one you really don’t need much else and these bedrooms are testaments to that. And actually, if you scroll on the post on the left you’ll see a lot more examples of this trend! I didn’t even realize that’s what the carousel was until I added it here.

All you need is a little too. I mean yes, in the bedroom on the left the bolster and an entire bench seat are covered but if it was only the bolster it still would have looked great and packed a fun-sized punch. And that bench cushion on the right is perfection. I love that the thinness of the cushion quiets down the visual impact of the pattern so it’s a great accent instead of taking over the space.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Clever (@getclever)

I also love that they come in different fabric types – some are embroidered while others, like this one above, is stamped. It still holds the essence but in a more casual way.

The Romantic Drape

I’m realizing a lot of these trends are fabric-focused but I’m not made about it:) Now, I’m a little embarrassed to say I don’t know the name of this hanging/draping style but it is here to play decor trend ball, people. It’s old world, it’s romantic, and with some beginner DIY skills, not hard to achieve.

 

 

 

 

 

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I first took notice of this accent from the beautiful home of Emily Bode and Aaron Signh Aujla a couple of years ago. Also, THAT BLUE! It’s a beautiful and very romantic way to “make a headboard” so I was immediately onboard.

Then I started to notice it more on my feeds and continued to love it. What is fun about these two examples is that since their fabrics are solid, they added art and a mirror to them for more dimension. This trend has such a high impact and is also super renter-friendly which is another reason to love it. I think the key is for the rest of the room to feel relaxed, a little mismatched, and full of other old-world vintage.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Tamsin Johnson (@tamsinjohnson)

Here is a different kind of example that I LOVED too (and another stunning space by Tamsin Johnson). She took this draped look and created a very special corner banquette. It’s just so cool and the tassels make it even better.

Light Blue

This was a trend I called last year and it’s only gotten bigger so we can’t ignore it! Also, Arlyn declared it a 2025 paint color last week so let’s talk about it again. Plus, as I was writing this post I may have purchased a linen curtain panel as a potential option for my bedroom. I too may have finally given in (not that I was ever opposed:)).

I mean if these don’t make a case for using light blue in your home I’m not sure what will. Especially when paired with medium-toned woods and reds, light blue is both happy and wildly chic. I am so in. Plus, paint is always a fairly affordable way to try something new!

But you can also go for the banquette cushion or stand-alone bathtub route (!). These spaces are also so dreamy I could cry. But for options that are a little more “tip your toe in” vibes, you can get light blue taper candles, a throw blanket or pillow, or yes, even…linen curtains;)

So that’s where we stand on the 2025 decor trends and we can see what blossoms/the new ones that pop up. Got a favorite?

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Jess Bunge | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Jess’ Studio Apartment Living Room

This dining room reveal is one of my favorites ever, and not just because it was for one of my best friends in the world (but that probably helps). It turned out so gosh darn elegant and yet livable. If you missed their living room reveal (which you’ll see a peak of below) head there first for the background and the befores) because today is focused on this jewel box of a room that I’m so proud of (and jealous of, TBH).

Remember, the move-in before was colorless, pretty charmless, and cozy-less. So we had a clear directive – but that doesn’t mean it was fast, cheap, or easy (nothing ever is). It took a year, a fantastic partner (yes, perks to being my friend), and a lot of meetings squeezed in to make it happen.

Green Pillow | Small Blue Lumbar Pillow | Square Blue Pillow | Rosewood Velvet Pillow | Throw Blanket | Vase | Red Marble Tray

But you can see the potential, right? The big window that frames Mount Hood, the pretty original floors, the built-ins – all just needed some color and point of view. The dining chairs were 10 years old (and falling apart), the chandelier was honestly fine (but sold on FBMP now), and the rug felt too boho for this elegant room but the table? Oh, that heirloom table that’s been in her family for generations was so pretty so we knew that we’d keep that.

You can see here the connection between the living and dining room here, with a shared color palette of such warm tones, mixed with so many blues and greens. The dining room properly draws you in, while being totally balanced with the living room – not one room feeling heavier than the other. Almost like magic! (but not magic at all, LOL, it’s a hefty combination of effort, intuition, risk-taking, mistake-making, time, money, and experience…so easy!).

Introducing The Dining Room…

Wallpaper | Cabinet Color | Mirror | Table Lamp | Chandelier (no longer available) | Table (vintage) | Chairs | Rug

Kaitlin Green blew me away with these photos – the vibe is captured so perfectly! I think my favorite thing here is the rug with the wallpaper – neither “matching” necessarily and both rather busy, but because they are both classic and even historic, it now looks so vintage and original in here. I feared that it would be too much (especially with the other Persian rug in the living room) but now I see that when you are using such classic motifs and are wanting an old-world vibe, this is the way to go (and let’s be clear the tones and colors work really well together – a lot of complementary tones, not just random). See the full video tour here (just wait for the ad to play…thank you!)

The Pretty Brass Chandelier

We almost kept their chandelier because it was “fine” but boy am I glad we didn’t. This one is so incredibly beautiful and the slate blue shades make it feel so updated, while the finish and the shape are classic. You can customize the drop, the finish, and the color of the shades (we almost did the burgundy but Robyn got scared and I complied). We kept it high enough to see the view from the living room, but low enough to still feel connected to the table. It’s perfect. And I apologize to those of you who hate it when we photoshop out recessed lights – While I didn’t ask Kaitlin to I am so grateful she did as they can be distracting if they are wrong, stylistically. One thing we could have done is replace them with brass spotlights but they were done spending money and making decisions, and since they didn’t mind the recessed lights we left them and just photoshopped them out for cleaner shots).

New Dining Chairs + Antique Table FTW

White Vase | Placemats | Gold Flatware | Plates | Bowls | Napkins | Wine Glasses | Salt and Pepper Grinders

The wallpaper is a classic William Morris pattern (that Rejuvenation sells!) and it was Robyn and Ryan’s first choice so YAY!!!! I loved it too so it was a real win. The chairs are a nice modern pairing to the more detailed/decorative table legs and the black finish added a nice depth and edge to the room. The wishbone shape is not only super ergonomic but the roundedness always adds a nice contrast to a rectangle table.

We knew that we couldn’t do a bold piece of art in here, and no gallery wall (too busy + there is one in the living room) so we hung this gorgeous huge mirror which obviously reflects a lot of light and adds so much elegance. The brass frame works so well with the hardware and the chandelier (obviously) and that rounded cut-out detail in the corner keeps it from looking too simple and modern (by giving it a vintage vibe).

I know I’ve been harping on the dark blue paint color, but it sure is so perfect, especially with the unlacquered brass handles popping off.

Brass Handles | Brass Knobs

We chose a hardware (The Ladd Collection) that has a little bit of detail, leans more elegant than utilitarian but still feels fresh and modern. My goodness, did this elevate this built-in a lot.

Fluted White Stone Box | Pitcher Vase (no longer available) | Gold Frames | White Handled Bowl | Burgundy Glassware (Vintage) | Table Lamp

I styled the credenza with winter branches, a big bowl of mixed pears, family photos in frames (From World Market), and a vintage set of the perfect-toned glassware and carafe (from Stars Market in Portland – although I saw very similar ones from World market the next day that were much more affordable lol). We put a nice classic candlestick lamp in the corner to balance out the branches, draw your eye, and provide a nice ambient glow.

Burgundy Glassware (Vintage) | Table Lamp | Leather Ottoman (Vintage)

We brought over my beautiful inventory of tablescape pieces (that are from Anthropologie for the most part) to style it all out and boy did it look so pretty. Again, all the tones just work so well together.

I think this tour isn’t complete without some before and afters:

What a difference a year makes. They are sooooo happy and grateful (me, too). Here’s one more of Robs and I for those of you who like to see best friends being unabashedly affectionate 🙂

*Design by Emily Henderson
**Photos by Kaitlin Green

If you like friendship romance stories you’ll like this one. Girl-meets-girl in 6th grade and stays best friends through long-distance high school, reuniting as college roommates, ripped apart to spend decades across the country pursuing careers only be reunited, able to live 7 minutes apart and go on long weekly walk and talks. That’s us and this project has been so fun. Today is Robyn’s living room reveal and to be fair Robs is only one of my three best friends – all of which were huge factors in moving back to Portland, and helping them love their homes more has been one of the joys of this job. While she lives close it still took a year to squeeze in during all our other projects so I hope you agree it was worth the wait.

A quick recap: Robyn and Ryan bought the house last summer and these before shots were when they had just moved in. It’s such a beautiful house, and they were ready to upgrade from their 15-year-old starter furniture but were paralyzed on where to start, and like most people, really didn’t want to get it wrong. The previous owners had stripped the house of color (or maybe just painted it a neutral to sell). So we needed to A. replace almost all the furniture with more high quality “grown-up” furniture (i.e. heirloom quality where possible) and B. add color, coziness, and charm – The three C trifecta that so many people (myself included) want in their home. And a year later, here is how it turned out 🙂

We are collectively pretty darn thrilled with it all – it’s so layered and warm, and yet still works functionally so well for their family (two teen boys and a dog) as both a living room and TV-watching room. We also have a video tour of the space below (just wait for the ad to play):

We grounded the living room with this beautiful Persian-inspired rug from Rejuvenation that pulled together all of our colors (and is just so durable and forgiving). The coffee table, another RJ heirloom is so gorgeous and solid. We knew we wanted a reading corner and I ended up finding this chair online that checked all our boxes – really comfy, affordable, roll-armed but not too granny, and green velvet – which Ryan loves – GO DUCKS! We custom-made the ottoman because we couldn’t find what we wanted on the market, and it’s honestly the first thing you see (so we don’t want to throw in a pouf or something basic).

Sofa | Green Chair | Ottoman (Custom) | Swivel Chairs | Coffee Table | Rug | Curtain Rod | Velvet Curtains | Sheer Curtains| Flush Mount

We worked really closely with Rejuvenation on this space because I had some of their brand new furniture from our partnership that needed a home and I thought that Robyn and Ryan’s was that perfect fit for their entire vibe (and all Portland-based which we love – Rejuvenation is an institution here and has so much Portland loyalty). The layout was pretty darn intuitive since this is their living room/family room and TV room (they have a basement TV room for the boys but it’s not done yet). So we put the sofa facing the TV and swivel chairs that can also face the TV (or one person can put feet up on the other one to lounge) and a cozy chair and ottoman in the corner.

I’m extremely envious of this color palette – so rich and yet cozy and casual. These jewel tones are so pretty and are so grounded by all the wood and leather. Add that deep dark blue on the fireplace and boy does it feel balanced (very much tooting horn here, which I don’t always do but we are OBSESSED with this room and it turned out so much better than expected so I’m pleased as punch writing this).

The Lighting

Green Chair | Ottoman (Custom) | Floor Task Lamp | Side Table | Pillow | Throw Blanket | Sconces | Frame TV | Coffee Table | Rug

Once again I was so grateful for Rejuvenation’s customization ability. We chose unlacquered brass finishes for all four hard-wired fixtures, knowing that it will age so nicely with this older home. We didn’t want to move the J-boxes above the fireplace but they were pretty high so we chose these sconces that hang down a bit (and the directional light on a dimmer is nice not to blind you while watching TV). The flush mount is so simple and pretty.

They are classic and modern and look very high-end and original to the house (plus work so well with the dining chandelier which you’ll see later).

I know that Rejuvenation rugs are investments for sure, but man are they forever pieces and like all high-quality Persian knotted rugs, just hide everything so well. So with two boys + a lot of their friends, a ton of foot traffic + a dog, Robyn and Ryan have ZERO stress about wear and tear on this rug, which is a real gift. And the color palette of this one is really gorgeous.

The Window Treatment Saga

Ready to nerd out? No project goes unscathed from annoyance and figuring out the window treatments here was the biggest issue so imma go off for a bit. They had cheap shutters and they liked the function of them (can easily angle for privacy during the day while still getting natural light coming through the slats). They were a hard no for me but telling my friends they needed to spend $3k on custom window treatments felt wrong when they liked what they had. They also didn’t want five Roman shades that would have to go up and down every day – up when they wanted light, down when they wanted privacy from the street walking traffic. They wanted light and a privacy filter, which the shutters gave them. I felt that this wall needed floor-to-ceiling curtains to add the coziness, so layering curtains with shades is doable…but custom fabric Roman shades are so expensive and this house is too traditional to do a roller shade, and a wooden or natural shade felt too beachy/boho for them (but I could have made it work). We went round and round and I just wanted to snap my fingers. Now I’m sure there are other solutions for this, but two weeks before when we thought we were going to shoot I just made the call to do sheers layered with heavier curtains and use a double curtain rod on the main street-facing window – a move I haven’t done in a while and frankly didn’t feel confident about, stylistically (if done wrong it can look dated, TBH). But it just made sense functionally and I knew we could execute in time with readymade curtains and rods. This way they can easily pull the sheers open and closed (or just leave them closed since they let so much light through) but they are flanked by more substantial curtains (which is great for summertime evening TV watching since this room faces west and gets blasted). We used four sheers and four panels, two on each side, and Robyn’s mom is going to sew them together at some point (but we didn’t for the shoot). But that’s not where the saga ends. The rods were drilled and installed as high as possible because I was supposed to order 96″ curtains, and then hemmed to the perfect float length. But I ordered the wrong length of curtains and when we held up the 84″ ones we realized that if we used clips with rings they would actually just barely float off the floor (my preference). I usually prefer S hooks which hang close to the rod. The clips added the extra 2″ in length that we needed to not have to hem at all. This felt like BY FAR the easiest and best solution (and I was so over troubleshooting these things), plus the rings slide so fast making them super easy to pull open and closed all day. IT WORKED THANK GOD AND IT STILL LOOKS GOOD!!!

But what about the shorter windows??? Right. Everything is a thing. Well as you can see below, we took the same curtains (ordered their shortest version) and DIY’d them via hemming tape into cafe curtains. We treated the hardware the same (except no sheers so just a single rod) and used the same rings/clips. The rods are from West Elm and unfortunately don’t come with the finials (they say they do, but they don’t when you read the fine print and they never arrived) and you can’t order the finials separately (we were on with customer service for a LONG TIME and even they couldn’t figure it out what the deal was). So we bought the finials on Amazon at the last minute – just a heads up. Why didn’t we order from RJ? Because we thought we were going to shoot in November and they were on backorder but we ended up shoving the shoot til January due to holiday overwhelm. SO THAT IS MY WINDOW TREATMENT TED TALK THAT I WOULD NEVER SIT THROUGH. But look how good they turned out!!

Gold Frames | Blue Footed Bowls

The curtains actually really soften the space and the color and the fabric really balances out the intensity of the dark blue shelving. It is honestly such a win. (Shout out to Gretch for her meticulous hemming tape skills). I love the rosy tones of the curtains, with the more deep aubergine of the pouf and all the blues and greens – it’s my new favorite color palette.

Bookcase Paint Color | Vase | Wooden Candelabra | Ruffled Candelabra (no longer available)

Robyn and Ryan already had all these vintage dark red books and were an inspiration to bring in more of that so we have punches of this deep red/brick throughout the space.

The Pretty Leather Sofa

The leather sofa from Rejuvenation is such a classic, feels so “library” and is extremely comfortable. The leather was scratching easily so the first year of ownership is hard emotionally if that bothers you, but the patina really comes alive and it gets better every year. The tufts with the modern curve are so pretty.

The Picture Molding Gallery Wall

Green Pillow | Small Blue Lumbar Pillow | Square Blue Pillow | Rosewood Velvet Pillow | Throw Blanket | Vase | Red Marble Tray

I wrote a full post about how we hung this gallery wall on these art rods (my new favorite trick – SO EASY if you have picture molding but still doable if you don’t) so check it out here if you are interested. We collected all the vintage art from local antique stores (except for one – can you spot it??)

Left: Side Table | Table Lamp | Right: Side Table | Marble Fluted Tray

We incorporated a lot of pretty wood side tables and brass lamps throughout – all so high quality and perfectly curated. Rejuvenation’s quality is just superb and I feel confident that they’ll have them forever and pass these down to their kids.

Clyde, their perfect dog is really nailing these makeovers (he was also the star of their former basement makeover, seen here). Quite possibly the perfect tones of browns and reds in his fur 🙂

Here are a couple of before and afters:)

I know that are dying to see the dining room and I can’t wait to show you, but I will because this post is already too long. So here is a sneak peek of it but please come back and get the full tour – Kaitlin’s photos are just so pretty and we set it all up for a meal which we don’t do that often. It’s such a homey and elegant dining room with an epic view of Mount Hood:)

*Design by Emily Henderson
**Photos by Kaitlin Green

For those of you who have been around since the beginning (I LOVE YOU) you’ll recognize this project, but for those who are new in the last 8 years you might not remember this lady. This was a house I designed over 10 years ago (I think even before I had Charlie and he’s 11 now). It was for a friend of a friend (who became my friend), two filmmakers in LA in the Los Feliz neighborhood (fun fact, it’s now owned by a super famous podcaster who was also a friend of a friend – LA is wild, folks). I recently re-discovered this project and I thought it would be fun to repost it with fresh commentary. 

Now Shana, the client, is a massive antiques collector so a lot of pieces were hers already (that she sourced at Big Daddy’s or deKor). I came in to help with the kitchen and to finish decorating/styling. Some of these shots were styled by a stylist for a magazine (I think Country Living? Shana wrote Country Strong so I think that was the feature title). I remember thinking that I didn’t love how the rugs were layered because the bottom one was pretty small, but we loved the colors and we were done spending money so we made it work. 

This is some classic 2013 Emily Henderson styling right there. It’s a lot 🙂 There is nothing I don’t like, but it’s borderline too much and I think could look a bit messy. But it’s also eclectic and fun 🙂 

Shout out to the white and gold ceramic cowboy hat – I do love some quirk!! I still love that chair by the window. The coffee table was from Santiago’s – I’m not sure it’s still there, but it was part of a strip of vintage stores in the Valley that I shopped at weekly when we lived in LA. Never not into fig trees – I know they got a bit played out for a while, but boy do they pack a powerful punch. 

This was the famously controversial “art under the window” move which I don’t think I would do now, but I applaud past Emily for doing the weird thing! I mean, I still like the idea (and recently hung our dog painting in front of the window in our kids’ bath so I’m clearly still into putting art in unexpected places). But certainly, weigh in 🙂

Design Lesson: Opening Shelving

If I remember correctly (which I do) this house was bought mid-flip and the contractor had already ordered the cabinets. We couldn’t change them so we painted them instead (which at the time was a $3k upgrade). We canceled the upper cabinets in favor of these shelves which made the kitchen look a lot bigger (and more charming). But hot tip that I’ve had to learn many times – you HAVE to know that you are putting shelving before you drywall because you need it to be re-inforced to hold heavy dishes. Also, an additional hot tip, you have to put that in writing to the contractor because otherwise, they will frame things normally. 

Design Lesson: Cement Tiles In Kitchens

The only regret here is not upgrading the fridge to panel-ready (especially because you see it immediately from the living room). I think the plan was to do that later, but we never did. I LOVE this cement tile floor, but remember that cement is porous so it has to be sealed and resealed or it gets stained so easily. I wouldn’t do it again in a kitchen unless it was a darker tone and could hide more. 

Boy do I LOVE that blue antique credenza. That color is perfection!! I wish I could take credit for it but I think that Shana collected it before me. I will take credit for the brass knight helmet (???) and the biggest wicker bowl of apples ever 🙂 

I LOVE this dining room so much. I think had we had the budget this would be a perfect room for a built-in nook on all three sides, but it’s so pretty as-is. Also, I think wrapping the beams with wood would be prettier, but it didn’t bother me at the time and it’s still such a pretty room. 

I LOVE that cow painting so much. Shana had the most incredible eye for antique art. 

This was their out building that they turned into a writing studio. I don’t believe I really helped with this beyond styling – I think full credit goes to Shana and Isabelle from deKor (I can’t believe how little I remember of the process). But it’s just so pretty! 

I believe it was a garage. I love how bare-bones they kept it – adding to the charm (I even love how the ceiling fixture is on the brackets and all the cracks of the wood show). 

Back inside, this is their primary bedroom, finished off with some antique movie seats (which were just for charm). The lamps were planters! OMG, I totally forgot all of this. Next time I’d add a beautiful big worn Persian rug, but again at a certain point we stopped spending money 🙂 

Look at us taking a photo of a normal “non-Frame” TV. Truly shows the era that we shot this in 🙂 

Design Lesson: Thick White Grout

This is where I learned the lesson of the dangers of thick white grout – I’m assuming they didn’t use the right kind (or maybe it didn’t exist 12 years ago) or they didn’t seal it properly. That would drive me nuts now. I love how we put the vanity in front of the window with just one mirror in the middle. Less practical but way prettier. 

Design Lesson: Plumbing Placement

This is also where I learned the lesson that unless you indicate higher, plumbing contractors (at least 12 years ago) did a very low “standard” height for shower fixtures. This fixture was so low that Brian (Shana’s husband) had to duck his head under it. I believe they ended up changing the fixture to be a gooseneck (or at least that was the intent once we realized it was so low and the tile was already installed). Also how pretty is that pink antique mirror over the tub? 

I love this bathroom but it’s always driven me nuts that I allowed only one foot of that towel holder to be on the mat – very poor styling by me.

The guest room was a color departure  – so fun and a bit more whimsical. 

The nursery was tiny but so sweet. The wallpaper was hand-drawn ships (I forget where we bought it from, but this is the only place we could find it now). 

This blue wall color (Hague Blue, I still remember!) is still one of my favorites and we almost used it at the river house in the guest room. I think I would have liked it more here if there wasn’t a skylight, leaning into the moody vibe more. We exposed the bookshelves during framing (if there isn’t electric behind it they can often utilize the wall space to add more storage and shelves are the least expensive type of storage). Actually, this is basically what Jess wrote about a couple of days ago!

I wanted to show you the outdoor space again, but I didn’t do this – this is 100% Isabelle from deKor. She is so talented and has an incredible store that sells really beautiful antiques, vintage, and newer pieces (and we stayed at her house in Mexico last year that you can rent out in Todo Santos – INCREDIBLE). 

I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane 🙂 xx

*Design by Emily Henderson Design, Isabelle Dahlin, and Shana Fest
**Photos by Tessa Neustadt and David Tsay