Emily Henderson's Blog

Happy Sunday, everyone. Well, we hope you had a fun reading everything we posted this week:) We’re pretty proud and happy. In case you missed it, Arlyn wrote a beautiful piece about folk art, Emily talked about the real cost of repairing the guest cottage’s foundation, then Em gave a stunning holiday makeover to The Carly, and Em also re-revealed her living room with the sofas she designed for it! Of course, there was more, which you can easily go to the site to check out, but see what we mean?? Exciting stuff! And before we get into these links, we have something fun to share…tomorrow we’re publishing a MOTO reveal you’ve been waiting for, YAY!!! Ok, time for links.

This week’s house tour is the home of none other than the legend that is Diane Keaton. AD republished her 2008 Beverly Hills Spanish Colonial Revival, and it’s as timeless as you’d expect. I’m sure most of us have her infamous design book, The House that Pinterest Built. What a gift she was to all of us, and we are so grateful for everything she created.

From Emily: As you know, I think that Madewell nailed the barrel jean more than any other brand (IMHO). Others are too high-waisted or too bulbous or too long, but theirs is still slimming while still being “a big pant”. I have in mid-wash denim and cream, and was VERY pleased to see that they are expanding the line (and selling out) into the same profile, like this mossy green one. Also, there is a denim version now with front cargo pockets (which I always find looks great) that keeps selling out, but many sizes are currently in stock. I would size down 1-2 sizes depending on fit. These aren’t meant to be tight, but they are pretty oversized, and Madewell’s sizing is tricky anyway. So I have them in two sizes – one for the days when I want them to sit more on my hips, and one for when I want them to sit higher on the waist and is more fitted in my butt 

From Jess: Look, I’m not here to cause any trouble, but since Emily posted about her favorite pjs the other week, I thought I might as well throw my new beloved jammies into the ring. The brand is Hanes, heard of it? lol. They are impossibly soft, lightweight, totally affordable, and I kinda feel cool in them too, which isn’t mandatory but a fun bonus nonetheless. I wear the shorts around my waist, and I’d say they are true to size. However, if you want a little more room or to wear them lower, consider sizing up. Oh, and I LOVE the color I got, which was, of course, Stargazer Grey. I also got the shirt in my typical size, and it’s perfect for me. Now, LA just had its first cold rainy day for the season, so I’m heavily considering getting the pants for a warmer option:) I really can’t recommend them enough!!

From Arlyn: I have a long history of spending a wild amount on skincare and makeup, but these days, when it feels like everything costs roughly a semester’s college tuition, I’m working on finding some substitutes. I had great luck with this $15 E.L.F. Halo Glow “filter” I wrote about this summer, and I’m happy to report I’ve found another drugstore win in the No. 7 serum foundation. It works well for my combination skin, glides on effortlessly, covers well, but feels very airy, and leaves a subtle glow without looking greasy. I’ve put it on with both my fingers and a foundation brush, and each worked out well. For around $18, I can’t really ask for more.

From Mallory: I’m PASSIONATE about this one, you guys…I’ve never been a nail girl because I don’t have the patience to sit at the nail salon, but I’ve truly been trying because I LOVE the feeling of having my nails done. My nails are also super thin, so for them to be long at all, they need to be painted (I also bite them sometimes, oops). Anyway, enter the least annoying nail solution I’ve ever seen: Dazzle Dry. My best friend visited from New York, and she said she was going from the Upper East Side to Brooklyn (far) monthly to get these Russian manicures, but was so over the time commitment. So she started researching every at-home nail solution out there and found the one. She also said she sounds like a snake oil salesman with how hard she sells people on this product, but it’s not snake oil – it’s just that good. The problem with most at-home nail solutions, though, is that it takes FOREVER for the polish to dry (and thus it gets smudged) or you have to get the whole gel set up, which also takes a long time. You put this stuff on your nails and it dries IMMEDIATELY. like within a minute. It’s CRAZY. And the best part is it’s a gel, so it lasts a really long time too. Could not recommend this enough!

From Caitlin: I am also PASSIONATE about my link, lol. Remember how I sang the praises of PBS Passport? I hope I sold you, because I just stumbled upon the greatest TV show of all time: ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP. (The screaming emphasis is mine. And it’s justified.) Here’s the rub: a pair of antiques experts pair up, hop in a beautiful classic car, and traverse England’s finest charity shops, vintage stores, and antique emporiums. It’s technically a competition show – albeit a good-natured one, in the Great British Bake Off tradition – that pits our experts against each other at auction, but it’s a totally delightful watch that can scratch your shopping itch from the comfort of your couch. The best part? THERE ARE 30 SEASONS AND 905 EPISODES TO WATCH. I truly cannot imagine a cozier show to binge this winter – I’m so pleased to have found it. (And if any of you have any HGTV sway, please bring something like this to America! I just want to watch people picking! It’s so fun to see what experts are drawn to, and why! Can you tell I’m a woman obsessed?!)

From Gretchen: I desperately needed a new phone case because the one I bought a couple of years ago has finally bit the dust. The rubber is coming off in chunks, and while it’s been fun to peel off, little bit by little bit when I’m bored, my friends are starting to judge me… but not without a recommendation to solve the problem! Two of my friends influenced me to grab a new case from CaseMate (a brand they swear by), and I landed on this one! I have the purple iPhone 14 Pro that’s pictured, and I like how it looks showing through the clear, glittery shell. I won’t be going back to a rubberized case because they clearly do me dirty, but I did also pick up this rubbery, suction-cup phone mount to get the free shipping. You can buy it with just the adhesive backing for cheaper, but I treated myself to the MagSafe version so I can take it on and off to use my other magnetic phone mounts. I’ve been eyeing these suction-style selfie-mounts for a while, so I’m excited to try it out. But I’m more excited to have a phone case that doesn’t look like I picked it out of the garbage! Bonus–it sounds like this one will actually last!

From Marlee: Well.. It’s cold(ish) now (and we’re not turning on the heat yet), so as someone who despises being cold, here are my absolute non-negotiable items to make the seasonal transition easier. First and most importantly, my favorite slippers ever. Well, I guess they’re not technically slippers because they don’t really “slip” on (more of a bootie!), but the ankle protection is ESSENTIAL! You gotta keep the toes AND the ankles warm… these are SO comfy and I wear them every single day. Fun fact, did you know Uggs were invented for surfers’ feet to stay warm after getting out of the cold ocean?? Next: my heated blanket. This thing really makes movie nights extra cozy. It has 4 temperature settings and turns off automatically after a certain amount of time! Finally, my favorite thermos mug – I don’t know anyone who forgets about their freshly brewed tea more than me… with this, you can pour it and forget it, then come back an hour later and enjoy your *very* strongly brewed (and still hot) cup!

Thank you for stopping by, and see you tomorrow for a BIG MOTO REVEAL!!! xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Farmhouse Living Room Update: The Sofas I Designed For The Space Are Here (And So Many Changes)

For the recent Holiday shoot (that was shot in early October) I struggled to find anything that read as “Christmas” but found a lot that felt “holiday adjacent” (i.e., festive, pops of red, or even just slightly more elevated than my usual denim/denim/scarf vibe). Here are some cute holiday outfits if you are starting to think about what to wear for Thanksgiving or the holiday season. I rarely dress up these days, opting for holiday sweaters over cocktail attire, but some of these feel more transitional and easier to throw on.

Dress | Shoes

This dress is viral for a reason – it has these nice wide sleeves, pin tuck pleating around the waist, and pockets -i.e., it’s flattering and easy to wear. The plaid is what got me – so festive and fun (and can definitely be worn for multiple seasons).

Dress | Shoes

This dress comes in a bunch of different colors and patterns (and even fabrics) because it’s so popular. If I still went to church (well, a church where you dress up), I would wear this for sure. I even dressed it down with a chambray shirt tied around my waist and ballet flats or samba sneakers for a more casual look. It’s just very easy to wear.

Sweater | Jeans | Belt | Boots

This fair isle sweater is pretty solid and while on the splurgier side (god, it feels like everything is more expensive right now), it is soft, easy to wear, and can go from fall through winter (not just “holiday”). But in great news, when we checked yesterday, it’s on sale! I love it because it’s classic and neutral (I LOVE a Christmas sweater, TBH, but really only wear the bright red ones for 6 weeks, so I like that this has more longevity). The jeans are the Bella Wide Leg from Quince that are pretty dang incredible (for $50!!!). I sized slightly down. The boots are Vince Camuto for anyone looking for a slightly western vibe.

Blouse | Pants | Shoes

Another pair of pants that is so popular they make it in soooo many different colors/styles – the Colette (from Anthro). But the ruffles are so dang fun (and they flow/drape in such a fun way). I joked that it’s about time your ankles had more fun – it really dances and hits your ankles when you walk (not typically a priority of mine, but I was delighted). The shirt is from Old Navy and a great menswear short/boxy look that I’ve been wearing a lot. Can’t stop wearing those mesh leopard ballet flats (Dolce Vita shoes really are so comfortable).

Sweatshirt | Skirt

This was SUCH a fun skirt to wear that could definitely be good for fall/harvest/Thanksgiving or Christmas. I paired it with this sweatshirt from Gap (it’s really good – drop shoulders, great color), but it would also look good with a T-shirt or white button-up (1/2 tucked in). Of course, you could dress it up as well, but it’s less my vibe.

Sweatshirt Vs Sweater

Cardigan | Skirt | Shoes (similar)

Here I wore it with a burgundy cardigan, and I liked it, but it felt a bit less my style (a bit too prim and proper). I liked dressing it down with the casual sweatshirt above (but wish I had put on necklaces or a scarf). It’s a lot of fabric and lined really nicely (and has pockets!).

Blouse | Skirt | Belt | Shoes

This skirt really surprised me – floral corduroy, pencil with enough stretch to be comfortable but still so flattering. It’s bold, for sure, but the floral is in such a pretty color palette. I paired it with my Frank & Eileen denim top (so thin, so easy to tuck in and layer, and yes, splurgy, but I’ve had it for 4 years and still wear it all the time).

Top | Bottom | Slippers

Lastly, the satin PJs that everyone on set wanted (that I wore in the little reading nook below). If you are following my pajama journey (LOL), you probably know I like a thinner modal fabric over the satin-y feel (just a sleeping preference), but if you want something objectively cuter, these are great. My current favorites are from The Gap, but I also love J.Crew (both feel “barely there” while not getting tangled up with my legs, no cutting in, and still draping really nicely). I returned this set not because it wasn’t great, but I’m just very loyal to my matching sets.

Top | Bottom | Slippers

Happy holiday shopping, everyone. xx

*Photos by Kailtin Green

The other week, for fun, Marlee put up an Instastory asking the followers what they needed advice on in their homes. It was meant to just be an Instagram thing, but then we decided that it was silly not to share our suggestions on the blog, too! So that’s what we’re doing today. Here are 3 rooms, 3 different design problems, and 3 (or more) potential solutions. Let’s jump right in!

The Accent Wall…

First off, it’s definitely not terrible, but we have some suggestions to give her ideas to get the look we think she wants. Also, as a general design “rule”, accent walls are hard. They were a massive trend in the early 2000s, but since then, designers advise against them unless it’s drawing attention to an architectural feature, such as a nook. Arlyn wrote a great post about it here. They are advised against because they can feel jarring and stop your eye abruptly. I think that’s what she’s feeling with her’s.

design by ryann trombetti | styled by emily bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: ryann’s living and dining room reveal

We’re not sure if this room is a part of an open concept plan; if it isn’t, we suggest really committing fully and painting all of the walls like Ryann did in her last home. It feels intentional in a great way and keeps the eye moving around the whole space. Then, if it’s in the budget, a deep-toned, colorful rug would really help to visually balance the space. Also, going up a size will also make the space feel better scale-wise. Much like Ryann’s home, we recommend leaning into richer-toned furniture and decor. In conclusion, we think that the overarching issue she feels is that the space doesn’t feel balanced. So, by painting all the walls and leaning into those richer tones throughout will definitely fix that.

And for fun, here are some rug options with a reminder of what the space looks like:)

Aymer Copper Rug | Plaid Wool Reversible Rug

From what we gather from the baskets on the wall, loving pattern isn’t an issue. Both of these rugs are rich and warm with a pattern that won’t overwhelm the room. The copper rug is a little more neutral and has a similar vibe to the baskets, while the brown and blue one is a little more unexpected and modern.

Pierce & Ward Deco Border Handwoven Wool Rug | Katasha Checked Wool Area Rug

Then, if they wanted to choose a rug with a less intense pattern, I think this golden colored rug would be very fun and complement the bright color of the wall. Or they could tone it down but still add richness with the checked one that would also talk to the brick on the fireplace.

Hope this helped!

A Bathroom That Needs More Color

This follower really wants to add more color because she thinks there’s too much white. Well, fear not because we’ve got you. The good news is that this is a beautiful bathroom, so this is going to be a breeze.

We decided to really only recommend decor changes. Could they paint the walls? Sure. But we don’t think it’s necessary to inject a healthy dose of color to cure her from her “boring bathroom” blues. Naturally, there are two mood boards (we can’t help ourselves), and we based the style and some colors on what was already there – florals, pink tones, and a modern traditional look.

Deco Blossom Shower Curtain | Blair Warm Brass 3-Light Bath Light | Half Moon Dual Mount Shower Rod | V Hook Shower Curtain Rings | Sahar Bath Mat | Raspberry Vine Print | Caspian Soap Pump | Marble Toothbrush Mug | Metalla Trash Can | Candle | Luxe Faux Marble Bath Tray | Black Round Toilet Seat

This first one is definitely more green-forward, but we love that shower curtain so much that we couldn’t not include it. Speaking of the shower curtain, they should get a rod, hang it towards the ceiling, and make sure the curtain is long enough to almost touch the floor. This will make the whole room feel taller. Now, as you can see, we mixed metals. This is totally allowed, but make sure each metal looks balanced. We did, however, feel that the rod should match the shower doorframe. Then, while it’s not necessary, we liked the idea of switching out the current vanity light for a brass one to warm up the space. Just an option. Remember when I said the metal tones should be balanced? That’s why the soap pump and the waste bin are also brass. A little brass high, medium, and low. And if you’ve been paying attention, then you know our deep love for burgundy. It’s rich, is a warm neutral that is anything but boring, and it’s a perfect match for green. So that bath mat and tray (that would work on top of the toilet’s tank) are perfect additions and will really add in the color this follower is looking for. But their current bath mat could also be great. Now, for the toilet seat, I am very pro black seat cover. I have one myself, and I think it really makes the room look so much better. It feels vintage-like but not old, and since this is a modern traditional bathroom, it’s kinda perfect, right?? I also love the added green textures of the toothbrush holder and candle. And finally, the piece of art. There’s nothing wrong with the beautiful piece they have, but it does look a little small and/or hung a little too high. So if they are looking for a new piece of art, I love this idea of this print because it’s got all of the tones of the established color palette, but a little more saturated/bright to add a little pop to the whole space.

Deco Blossom Shower Curtain | Blair Warm Brass 3-Light Bath Light | Half Moon Dual Mount Shower Rod | V Hook Shower Curtain Rings | Sahar Bath Mat | Velas, Vinho e Flores Fine Art Print | Caspian Soap Pump | Marble Toothbrush Mug | Wicker Waste Basket | Candle | Rattan Tray | Black Round Toilet Seat

This mood board leaned much harder into the warm tones, so you can see the same color palette but with a different color emphasized. We also swapped out the waste bin and tray to be in a natural woven material, since bathrooms inherently have a lot of hard surfaces like tile and stone. Oh, and that wonderful print is again, a brighter version of the rest of the colors to add freshness. The only thing that I didn’t mention that could also be switched out is the mirror, if they wanted. It’s totally great, but a slimmer frame might feel more balanced in the space. I think a black frame would still be a perfect color, but silver or brass would also look awesome. Happy decorating!!

Adding Character To The Builder Grade Kitchen

Now, this follower has a great kitchen, but given that it’s builder-grade, they really want to add more character to it. Clearly, it’s very modern, so we’re hesitant to recommend going “too vintage”. That doesn’t feel quite right for a design like this because it may feel like too much of an overall contrast. Like they are fighting each other instead of working in harmony. We only say that because when most people hear “character,” they mostly only think “add all vintage”. Keep reading:)

So what we are about to recommend is a little vintage, but mostly things that add color and texture. It’s really about adding personality, right? With that said, the biggest change they could make is the handles. The brushed silver they currently have isn’t helping the space to feel warm. But to be fair, the cabinet colors are also not warm, so adding on bright gold pulls that would highly contrast (and may visually overwhelm) isn’t the answer either. So what could work??

Lacquered Oak Wood “Join” Cabinet Handle | Oval Bar Wood Handle Cabinet Pull

We first thought a mid-toned wood handle pulls. They could warm the cabinets up a little and be a more unexpected choice. The other issue is that we couldn’t find any wood pulls over 12″, and some of those drawers look much longer than that. It’s an option, but we think we have a better idea.

Linear Pull Bronze | Antique Brass Cabinet Pulls

Bronze. It’s not as bright as gold brass, and it seems like it’s easier to find extra-long options. We think this could be the most elevated option for what they have. Warm but not too warm, you know? Plus, we LOVE a knurled detail like the ones above have.

Onto decor!

Vintage Bamboo Basket

We want to start with the space above the cabinets. Currently, all they have are a few gray-brown baskets that look too similar to the gray undertone of the brown cabinets. A rich, warm vintage basket like this (with others) would look great up there. It’s texture, it’s warmth, and it’s anything but builder-grade.

Orcino Green Marble Fruit Bowl | Hand Carved Wild Olive Wood Bowl

But as we said at the start of this space, decorating with all vintage isn’t necessarily the move in a super modern kitchen. So adding in pieces like this beautiful green marble footed bowl (that also adds a great rich color) would look awesome displayed above the cabinets. The same goes for these hand carved bowls. They aren’t vintage, but they have so much texture and movement. The biggest thing when decorating an area like above cabinets is to make sure not all of your pieces are the same height, and that they are big enough to make a visual impact when you’re looking at them from the ground. Create levels and don’t forget scale!

Handmade Studio Pottery Polka Dot Utensil Holder | XL Utensil Holder

We also think this kitchen could use more color and/or pattern. We love a well-placed polka dot, and that utensil holder is the perfect amount. But you know a splash of color is just as impactful, and you bet that Nickey Kehoe sells the most beautiful green utensil holder in town:)

Rechargeable Dimmable Rattan Touch Table Lamp | Ryland LED Table Lamp

This one may be tricky because it’s clear this kitchen gets a lot of action with at least one baby living under their roof. But if they can clear a little corner, we LOVE a kitchen lamp. It adds so much personality, ambiance, and guaranteed character. Both of these are rechargeable, so no need to take up any outlet space.

Moon Face Vine Dinner Plate | Antique Upper Hanley Semi Porcelain Dinner Plate | My Main Passion in Life is Bagel Plate

Ok, at first, the idea was to maybe hang a mix of modern handmade and vintage plates on the tile backsplash, but obviously, they would be difficult/potentially require holes to secure, and there’s the whole cooking grease mess issue. However, we still think that maybe the wall with the window or the wall next to the fridge could be options. Even if it’s just a single vertical line of plates or more of a gallery like this. The great thing about plates is that they are great to thrift, too! But again, for this kitchen, make sure it’s at least a mix of more contemporary and antique.

To the people who submitted, THANK YOU! And when we do this again, those who weren’t chosen will absolutely be looked at again, and we will also, of course, make sure you ask our blog-only readers too<3

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Ryann Trombetti | Styled by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Ryann’s Living and Dining Room Reveal

I “finished” the living room over 2 years ago, and while I was never 100% happy with it, I couldn’t put my finger on what/why, and loved it enough (and we had to shoot it for a magazine, so yes, I might have chosen some things based on timing). Now I want to be clear – I know intellectually that it was super, super pretty and functionally it worked so well for our family, but all I can say is that I know when I nail a room and I wasn’t there YET with this one. Today, friends, we are getting so much closer, thanks to my new sofas arriving (and some surprise swivel chairs!). And I feel like I might even know the three things that I could change to get it to the 100% true love phase (which I feel for our sunroom, kitchen and family room – good design takes time).

My Alice Sofas!!!

Alice Sofas | Suz Swivel Chairs

I am in LOVE with these sofas, both visually and functionally. The arms are so pretty, the seat is cushy, the back curve is so elegant, and that darker green pops so well in here. I loved the two facing sofas in here, and our prior sofas from Lulu and Georgia were so comfortable, but the dogs lying on top of the back cushions made them almost unsittable unless I did the daily Herculean effort of taking off the back cushion and pushing, stomping, or jumping on it to make it a rectangle again. It was so annoying. I fixed them daily or avoided sitting on them altogether. So every morning since we’ve had these has been such a treat.

Wait, Do The Dogs Not Sit On There?

They sure do, but these sofas were designed as a tight back yet deep sofa, meaning it doesn’t need the two back pillows that come with it – they are optional. Since they are deeper, you might want the pillows, but they are so pretty without them (with throw pillows). As of now, we are using the back pillows but setting them flat on the sofa seat during the day while the dogs lie all over the sofas, and then they are so easy just to prop back up when ready to sit (they are small, lightweight pillows instead of one huge back cushion). I may end up not using them and just using throw pillows (which my dogs will also sit on), but I love the streamlined look in here.

If you are wondering why the sofa isn’t centered on the rug, I have a rambling reason for you. At first we shot this room with the Soho home chair (the blue velvet). The sofa and chair clearance was different. But Gretch was like, “Shouldn’t we just try the Suz chairs?” and we did, and they needed to be off the carpet (or fully on) since they are swivel. So we just forgot to center the sofa or move the rug!! You probably wouldn’t have noticed! But it’s driving me nuts

Coffee Table Vase | Wooden Tray

OH MY. How I love that shot. I joked a lot that it’s a very “Go Ducks” room (green and gold), but my team assured me that normal non-Oregon Duck-obsessed people wouldn’t think this. I think with all the blues and deep burgundies it doesn’t feel that way. I’m LOVING the Suz chairs in here, mostly because of the additional seating, how it feels more filled out, and the swivel is so fun. You can turn and look out into the backyard.

Striped Velvet Pillow | Throw Blanket | Striped Table Lamp

The Alice looks really firm, but it’s just streamlined with a lot of give. I know I’m biased, but I hope you trust me that I wouldn’t say something is super comfortable unless it was (I know you’d tell me!!). It’s not something you flop onto and sink 4″ into (like our Oscar), but it’s cushy and has a nice soft give. It’s perfect for our needs in here, which is mostly morning coffee with our laptops and lots of conversational hangs with our friends or games with our kids. But I assure you that if it were your TV sofa, you’d be so happy as well. It’s very comfortable, just looks more streamlined intentionally.

I’m really loving how they look in here. I LOVE this deep dark green in a super family-friendly velvet, especially with the darker coffee table. It just feels so rich. The dog’s hair sticks to it as much as the other velvet sofas, which is not very much (our dogs shed twice a year, but otherwise aren’t huge shedders; they are a huskie-poo mix). If you have heavy shedding dogs, the Alice also comes in a nice cream linen that has a lot of different tones to mask hair.

Tufted Pillow

The sofa is just so pretty and streamlined, but with that arm and leg that says, “I’m not boring, I’m special.” The roll on the arm gives it a slightly traditional look, but obviously not hyper traditional (not a tuft or carved wood).

Regarding the fireplace – I’m still not happy with how cold it looks, but you guys, I can NOT decide on what color to paint it!! My latest idea is to just wallpaper above the paneling and leave the fireplace white. My MIL got in my ear that painting it might feel too bold, like a big dark block in the middle of the room that would stop your eye in a bad way (I thought it would just look like a proper focal point). But I really do see her point and I fear she is right (also paint is just paint- like, Emily, JUST PAINT IT AND SEE, it would likely take one day!! ). But perhaps a soft wallpaper on the walls would help give it depth, texture and definition? I’ve ordered samples, and I can’t wait to belabor this for another 3 years.

Our Suz Chairs!!

Round Burgundy Pillows | Throw Blanket | Suz Swivel Chairs

Y’all. These chairs are so good. There are million swivel chairs on the market but these are special. Mal (on my team) designed them for Room Service, and they def have more of a regency vibe, which we love. They are deep and the seat is so comfortable. I put these round Schoolhouse dark burgundy pillows on them, which look pretty great, IMHO. And if you are wondering if you can have too much velvet in one room, we decided, collectively years ago, that “no, no you can’t.” It’s just so pretty and soft and therefore wins every time.

Throw Blanket

Which Chair Do You Like More???? Two Options…

Ok, so when we started shooting that day, we had the Soho home chair in here (above), and it looks really good (she’s a big lady). As you know, I love a really tight color palette (mostly so I can go nuts with my accessories), so this blue/green world works for me! Also, what you don’t see here is that I brought back the floral chaise in the corner (it looks way too dark/crowded in this angle, so we removed it for the sake of a better shot). I haven’t shot it yet (just ordered a rug for underneath it. But ANYWAY, that’s the blue chair version, and now check out the Ochre Suz swivel chairs option:

Ochre Swivel Suz Chairs

Suz Swivel Chair

GAH! When we looked at the laptop screen, after clicking the photo were like, “Whoa, this looks so much better”. Which we totally didn’t predict!! It’s just fuller, more balanced, looks like a better design.

Wait, What Are The Other Changes You Made??

Well, for you eagle-eyed readers (thank you!), you’ll notice that I swapped the midcentury cabinet and the French farmhouse cabinet, and my goodness, it’s so much better. The blue cabinet looked sad and grey over there and it gets way more light where it is now. And the richness of the midcentury teak piece is a much better backdrop to the green sofas and balances out the Suz chairs.

Striped Table Lamp

I DIY’d pleated lampshades!! Look at me! Of course, I did it on the weekend and didn’t shoot the process, but honestly, I just copied how Lone Fox did his and didn’t want to steal credit, so please watch his tutorial. It’s SO EASY. I used a stamped thin batik from Etsy that is so forgiving, meaning that these are not perfectly done at all, but you can’t tell. They don’t give as much light as the white shade, which we hope is fine in the winter, but meanwhile, I LOVE the more traditional pattern popping off the wall (but will make selecting a wallpaper slightly more challenging).

So, What Changes Do You Still Want To Make??

Ok here me out. Again, I recognize this is a great room but no, I have still not nailed it. Here is on my list to slowly tweak:

A Bigger Rug

This room always wanted a 12×15 rug. My RugsUSA collection didn’t come that big (I begged and begged and begged) and frankly very few rugs do. And I love a big Persian rug, but the colorway I want is so hard to find, and they aren’t nearly as cozy (and just so expensive). I sold my brother my OG 12×15 rug, which didn’t pop in here nearly as much as I wanted it to, and looks so much better in his house. A 12×15 rug would allow the full swivel chairs to be on it (we think). However, this current rug is the most cushy, comfortable, and forgiving rug on the planet (for being so light). I can’t link it because it was a one-off from the now-gone H.D. Buttercup, for $2k, which is not bad for a 10×14, but if I could link it, I would sell it all day, every day, because it’s famously the best rug I’ve ever had. I tried to recreate it with RugsUSA but they couldn’t figure out how to make it so cushy, to have so many different yarn colors, and stay within their standard price point. It’s like sitting on a cloud, and yet it doesn’t look like a shag (I also have a memory foam carpet pad underneath), and you can’t see any dog hair and barely even stains. So I’m hesitant to downgrade our comfort in the name of upgrading the design. But I’m so in love with this rug from Lulu and Georgia that does come in a 12×15, and I think could really punch up the room, so I might do it. We used it in my friend’s dining room, and it’s just an incredible colorway and pattern. It’s still forgiving but not as cushy (because no rug is, Brian and the kids are going to be so bummed if I change it). But then part of me is afraid of it being too bold. So Gretch mocked it up for you…

Lulu and Georgia Rug

I also ordered a sample (3×5) of this rug (Arvin’s denim rug from his old collection) to see if it would do the trick and not add the busyness of the above pattern. It’s such a pretty color in person, but it’s a magnet for our dog fur, so I don’t think we can do it (but I was impressed with the color/texture). I bought the round version in camel for underneath the chaise since our dogs don’t really lay there (I’ll show you soon).

Adding Wallpaper Above The Paneling

Raphael Wallpaper

If I could go back in time I would put the white/cream rafael wallpaper in here instead of the entry. Brian gave it a hard no at the time, which I didn’t understand then, but I kinda wish I had just steamrolled it. I know that it’s a popular paper, but it’s PERFECT for what I want (which is to still keep it light and airy, but give the walls some sort of definition). Remember that the room as a whole has so many openings/doorways/panelings that going high contrast would be SO BUSY, you have to trust me. Part of me says just put it up in here and re-paper the entry with something more bold since that tiny room can handle it. But I’ve ordered some more samples of subtle patterns that could work. Stay tuned.

Other Options: Darker Curtains Or Paint The Fireplace

Listen, I went safe with the curtains but they are custom and I really don’t want to replace them. They are really pretty, high quality, and nothing is wrong with them. But I wasn’t as in love with florals and tapestries as much as I am now, so if I could snap my fingers and have a patterned curtain/shade situation, I would, but for now I’m really trying to make the room work without changing them. For the fireplace, I really do want to do something to it, even if we redo the mantel. After we tiled Kaitlin’s fireplace, and it became such an incredible focal point, I got really jealous. I want this fireplace to be prettier, full stop. Oh, and I want to frame that painting on the mantel to be bigger and in a better frame, and hang it instead of leaning it.

Furniture To Add/Swap

I brought back in the chaise lounge where the blue demilune table is in these photos, and LOVE IT. Will shoot/show you soon. I want a prettier cabinet where the midcentury one is (I like that piece, but found it on FBMP the weekend before the shoot). And I want to add a footstool for the swivel chairs (thinking of this one) as well as a prettier fireplace screen (our opening is huge, so it’s hard to find one that fits).

OMG. This has been quite the ramble. This room has been hard! It’s a pass-through room, open to three other rooms with multiple focal points, and needs to be highly functional (dining nook and lots of seating), so it’s just hard to nail. Its so lovely to be in right now, thus the lack of urgency but every weekend I spend hours thinking about it while I drink my coffee

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

Ready for my personal holiday decorating schedule? (Remember that my job alters a typical process, so NO PRESSURE). Ok, October: start gathering inspiration, new ideas, and any new pieces you want (good stuff can sell out). November: it’s dark/wet outside, so it’s fun to start adding greenery and twinkle lights (yes, faux for us inside, real outside comes later, and no, we don’t host Thanksgiving – we travel to family that week). And then the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we have our small family ornament hanging party (literally my favorite night of the year), and it’s an explosion of holiday from there on out. No holding back. No shame. Just utter joy. I really want people to do whatever schedule they want, real or faux, long or short. To me, this spreads out the fun (and the labor) and we get two months of twinkling lights, which help the darker nights and mornings so much (the magic doesn’t get old). For this shoot, we took to The Carly, the most magical rentable retreat estate outside of Portland, because we wanted to try out some fun new holiday decor ideas using pieces from AllModern. They have so many great holiday gems, and The Carly is too special not to get a proper holiday makeover. If you are ready to decorate or not, check out these really pretty areas that my team and I created, and hopefully, it will give you some ideas and inspiration going. It sure did for me

Wreath | Folding Paper Tree Set | Folding Paper Ornament | Christmas Village | “Gumdrop” Velvet Pillows | Faux Fur Throw Blanket | Gold Throw Blanket | Side Table

Their wreaths and garlands are solid (and so full). My two favorite things from their collection that I’m likely stealing for our house this year are those stockings and the accordion paper trees (you’ll see later). The colors all just worked so well together, in a happy and traditional adjacent way

Our Favorite New Stockings

Stockings

The stockings are ochre and cream check, in a chunky knitted wool. This colorway works so well with our jewel-toned palette (it’s really just a gold, so in a way it acts as a neutral). I love our stockings, but boy am I tempted to use these this year because they are so pretty and well-made (and dare I say “on trend”). They come in green/cream and red/cream as well, should you want a more traditional color.

Great Non-Holiday, “Holiday” Pillows

“Gumdrop” Velvet Pillows | Wreath

All the cut velvet pillows are so soft, high quality in the prettiest jewel tones, and clearly we like mixing them all together (and are great year-round). And that 4′ wreath is KILLER (so hard to find that big of a size) and will be living on our huge picture window outside (it’s not pre-lit, but easy to string). Fun fact, there was a big white outlet (for a future Frame TV) on the fireplace, so we hid it with that collection of bows (not AllModern) that frankly turned out so cute.

With faux wreaths, in my opinion, you need to dress them up with ribbons, bells, or ornaments to give them more life (I suppose the same with real greenery). The bigger the wreath, the bigger the bow.

A Solidly Good Faux Tree

Faux Christmas Tree | 3-Tier Serving Tray | Tree Skirt

Even though I’m a massive tree lover (one of the reasons we moved back to Oregon), I’m pretty “tree agnostic” when it comes to real or faux. You do you (we often do both, lol). But if you are in the market for a new faux tree, this one is fantastic (they just keep getting better and better every year). This is a Nordic-style fur, pre-lit with really warm lights. It’s excellent. I also want to say that if you are really into collecting ornaments (hi! me!), the faux trees can hold much more and heavier ones

Large Glass Ornaments (Rose Gold, Green) | Café Latte Ornaments

As you know, I’m a massive family ornament lady (my kids joke that “soup” and “ornaments” are my two biggest hobbies, and they are hilariously correct). For this tree, we chose some really beautiful glass balls that reflect the light in such a pretty way (and you always need the big round reflective shapes to offset the more eclectic handmade ornaments, imho). The smaller “Café Latte” ones are a really pretty blush/ivory tone and hang with wire (so they stay put).

Large Glass Ornaments (Gray/Purple, Blue)

A Huge And Excellent Pre-lit Garland

9′ Pre-Lit Garland | Cream/Black Dining Chairs | Green Head Chairs

This garland is extremely girthy, and each one is about 9′, so we hung three in a classic drape. They are prelit, LED, warm lights and connect together, so once up, you don’t have to think about them. One end plugs in, and you have warm ambience all month long. These are also on the list for our living room – the scale of the garland is huge and perfect for any really large windows.

The Easiest Table Centerpiece

Paper Folding Tree Set

What I love about these accordion paper trees is a long list:

They style themselves – different heights, shapes, and colors that look good together, no matter how you arrange them. You can put them on any surface in any room. Mantel, shelf in kitchen, bathroom, coffee table – they look great everywhere (we’ll prove that today)They fold down flat, and use a magnet to stay together – so easy to store, put together, but take up such little space.They come as a set – you don’t have to think about combining the right colors/sizes. They play with the light/shadow in such a pretty way – so much texture and depth.

Red Dinnerware Set | Wine Glasses | Napkins | Placemats

I also want to give a shout out to this dark red place setting – it’s such a good tone and finish for anyone that wants to have “holiday plates” that are more simple (i.e., not fancy) but still high impact. Christmas Eve lunch is the meal I host; I’ll be pulling these out.

Taper Candles | Wooden Candlestick Holders | Green Glass Flutes

The candlestick holders are also fantastic for year-round – turned white oak in a really simple shape can do no wrong any time of year.

Green Head Chairs | Cream/Black Dining Chairs

Should you be in the market for new dining chairs to host this season, I love what we chose here. The two green end chairs swivel and are so graphic and warm (a massive hit with the kids), and the arm chairs are solid, large in scale, and have really pretty lines.

Pre-Lit Wreath | Pair of Vases | Colorful Stockings | Chrome Lamp

This 3′ pre-lit wreath is fantastic (warm white lights, plug-in), and we peppered it with a bunch of smaller velvet bows that we made. Those knitted stockings are so, so good, too.

There she is Not Martha, but certainly looking ready to host here. I just thought this whole space turned out so festive, fresh, and fun (but still traditional enough and transitional enough for a lot of styles).

Felt Garland | Green Glass Flutes | Blue Dinnerware Set | Pink Platter | Napkins

I want to call out how pretty the texture of the trees is – the light just plays so well with all the paper folds. Here we styled out the shelves with some felt garlands (great for trees, too) and these new stackable blue plates, which pop so well.

Pre-Lit Faux Skinny Tree | Cream/Black Dining Chair

We kept moving around The Carly because it’s just so dang pretty (shout out to Max Humphrey for designing it). This little area highlights a skinnier tree, which is great for smaller spaces, obviously. We styled more with the velvet pillows, wreath, and trees, just to show you different combinations.

Pre-Lit Wreath | Gold Throw Blanket | “Gumdrop” Velvet Pillows | Felt Garland

A Cozy Nook

9′ Pre-Lit Garland | Geometric Christmas Pillows | Wool Sphere Pillow | Gold Faux Fur Pillow | Gold Throw Blanket | Teal Side Table | Chrome Serving Bowl

We couldn’t not shoot this nook – it’s so sweet and cozy. We used one of the garlands to frame it out and layered it with a ton of pillows from AllModern, accented with the modern lacquer table.

Teal Side Table | Chrome Serving Bowl

This was such a fun shoot, styling with beautiful and festive pieces from AllModern with my team in the most incredible location. A huge shout-out to Gretchen for doing a stellar job at producing this one and Kaitlin for these gorgeous photos. We had so much fun styling it out, listened to holiday music, and even stayed the night in our own suites. At night, we drank martinis and watched The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox (not ready for Christmas movies yet) while we wrapped all the “presents”. Thanks, AllModern for sponsoring this post and project. I hope you all enjoyed it and got some new ideas and inspiration. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

Happy national “Reveal Your Foundation Repair cost” day. Brian advised against “cost honesty” (because he is my ultimate protector, which I appreciate), but I’m going to share some real numbers, similar to the asbestos and lead removal quotes (thanks for the feedback there). My hope is that these numbers can provide educational information for others (despite my fears – I’m very, very aware of how privileged we are to be able to even embark on this expensive project). This particular project is all about me learning and sharing, so it’s time to learn and share. Our original goal was to restore this house, make it a proper home to be able to live in (with some but not all bells and whistles), but that has shifted…keep reading. So today I’ll share our four foundation quotes, and walk you through them all (and why we are dialing it back in a good way).

The Foundation Quotes

In our inspection report (above) from Tom said that it needed substantial foundation repair due to settling and some dry rot, but he told us over and over that the house in general was in really, really good shape. When you are in the house, it feels solid besides the sloping. Again, this is not our house that we are living in. It might be a place for my team to create content, the kids to play drums and ping pong with their friends, or sure, hopefully live after college. We have no intention of moving any walls (just adding a tiny bathroom), nor adding a ton of cabinetry or a 500lb cast iron tub. There is only one room that supports an upstairs room, and that room is actually in the best condition, foundation speaking. This house has been around for so long – surely we could just fix it and live with it being OK, but not perfect???? But I didn’t get to that epiphany til after the first quote…

The First Quote – Company A (Hello Sticker Shock!)

The first quote, from Company A, came back at $114k with unknown additional costs to be added as they are discovered. This would include essentially redoing the entire foundation, using different methods for different rooms based on their individual needs (they were all built over time, so they all have different problems). It would require weeks of excavation, re-engineering, digging out crawl space, the works – over 2-4 months. I LOVED this contractor, by the way. He was so knowledgeable, communicative, experienced, and kind. Before he sent the quote, Brian and I were 95% sure we were going to hire him. But then once we got the quote, we looked at each other and had no idea how to proceed. We expected it to be a lot, but it simply didn’t make sense to spend this on this house that we don’t need (and the cost was sure to be much higher by the end). And yes, it could add some value to our property, but if we were to treat this like a proper renovation, it could cost well over $600k. And furthermore, foundation work isn’t even good design content! You can barely even shoot the repair process, and if we did it’s just dirt and wood. I will likely splurge here and there on really special design elements, but this first quote made us totally rethink our approach to this project (thus, us DIY-ing some of the asbestos and lead abatement). We had three other quotes scheduled and I’m so glad that we did…

Wait, But Didn’t The Grit And Polish Lift Their Entire House For 35K??

After I got the first quote, I re-read Kathy and Garrett’s post about how they lifted up their entire house (which was admittedly much smaller and before they added the second floor). They lifted and poured a new foundation (and the works) for $35k. For context, this was in 2021, an hour and a half out of Seattle (meaning this wasn’t 10 years ago and it was near a big city). This made me even more sure that we didn’t need to spend over 100k… We needed to get creative and lower our expectations, while keeping it safe. And it made me even more sure that publishing the costs will help others in similar situations make more informed decisions.

Our Second Foundation Quote:

This was by a massive nationwide company that I thought would be interested in the PR or social media stuff, and potentially offer a discount, but after they assessed and I told them that it was going to be a very “public project,” they backed out. He said that it wasn’t really what they did, and they didn’t feel comfortable doing it. Seems like they were more about strapping larger commercial buildings than repairing vintage farmhouses (and perhaps if they didn’t do a good job, there could be a bad PR experience). Not everyone is interested in getting blasted online

Our Third Foundation Quote:

This team came out twice, and I really liked them. Ultimately, they said they could do the works for well over six figures (similar to Company A) or do about 1/3 the work for 1/3 the cost (just repair or replace). While they were getting us actual numbers, I got the quote back from Company D (below), which blew us away…

Our Fourth And Final Quote

Company D approached things differently. They can do the massive house lifting/brand new foundation route, should it be in one’s budget, or they could simply repair and replace the problem areas. He said that they work with people of all budgets, and they have a really clean formula for what things would cost, calculated in a program. Once quoted, they do NOT go above that cost (which is not typical for contractors). He did multiple trips and spent a lot of time underneath the house in our 8″ crawl space to make sure they had all the information to plan and give an accurate quote. He asked a ton of questions, trying to understand what we really wanted for each room (and what concessions we were willing to make). Their first quote came back at $90k…. OOF.

But I really liked him, and I remember him saying that they work with all budgets. So I reached out and was super blunt. I asked, “What if we only wanted to spend $25k on repairing the foundation? What if, after thinking about it, we really just wanted to do the bare minimum to make it safe and last another 100 years, but not necessarily another 300 years. Yes, we wanted to level some of the extreme settling that is causing one room in particular to fall into the ground (the old prop room), but what if we didn’t try to make it perfect or brand new?? What’s the minimum they could do and the minimum we could spend to make it legal and safe???

He came back with a whole new plan, based on his experienced assessment of our foundation, reducing the scope by a TON. The new, reduced scope of work came back at $29k.

Now you might be worried that it’s going to be shoddy work, that the house is going to fall down, but I’m not, and neither is the contractor – they do this all day, every day. Basically, only one beam has dry rot (and will be replaced), the rest are fine, but the other companies (and Tom’s advice) were based on completely replacing everything for preventative measures (non-pressure-treated wood can rot). This company would do some light excavating, use some steel adjustable posts to replace the less strong pier and posts, lift the corner of the prop room and put it on a beam, repair the cracks in the poured foundation, and replace any dry rot. But if we were ok with the rooms not being perfectly level, a little wonky, no 90 degree angles, but very safe, then he could do it for that price.

HALLELUJAH!!!!!

Y’all, I can’t stress this enough, so don’t freak out and be worried for us: This house is strong. We aren’t moving walls. It’s been around for almost 200 years, and everybody says it’s in great shape. Is it as strong as a newly engineered/built house? Nope. But it never will be, no matter how much dough we put in it. There is only one room that supports a room above it, and that room is in great shape – its original engineering is strong. The rooms that need more help are the added-on rooms – the prop room, canning room, and gardening shed, which don’t support anything but a roof. I remember reading a few comments from a couple of you, warning me that when a house is this old and cobbled together, messing with it a lot might make it weaker. You are just throwing good money after bad. Extensive foundation repairs won’t guarantee 90-degree angles or a perfectly flat floor. When houses are this old, you either work with them to repair and make them better, put in hundreds of thousands of dollars or more to completely make them “brand new” (essentially what we did for our home), demo them out and start over, or give up. For this guest house, we are going with the Fourth Quote, and we feel GREAT about this, while understanding that this is still a TON of money at $29k.

Like all of life, it’s all about balance. We are now constantly reminding ourselves what we really want out of this house – not a fancy restored cottage with a pebble ice machine, but a pretty, cute cottage full of vintage charm. We are setting up boundaries and parameters for budget and time, and then having fun within them (much like parenting). This house will be a fun flex space with bare minimum amenities and a lot of charming details through vintage and DIYs. The more we pare it back, the more excited I get about it.

*Pretty Photos by Kaitlin Green

Welcome to another installment in my unofficial guide to non-cookie-cutter design. My first take explored the beauty of ethnic textiles, global and ethnic design; my second, a plea for designing for whimsy rather than chicness. Today, we’re diving into a topic that I lightly touched on earlier this year, in a team shopping post about what we were on the hunt for in our homes in 2025: folk art. In it, I explained that I would love to stumble upon a Scandinavian hand-painted folk art dresser or chest for my daughter’s bedroom, as she absolutely adores the “Frozen” movies. When I was first introduced to Anna and Elsa a decade ago, I didn’t even notice all the gorgeous painted scrollwork and florals adorning millwork, doors, walls, and textiles. But after seeing the films enough to have them imprinted in my veins, it’s what I enjoy most about the visuals.

Then, as if tapped into my soul, Caitlin wrote a piece on a Scandinavian folk art furniture trend she was noticing. That article has been tucked away in my mind since she published it, and I had the itch to expand on the topic. But I’m not just stopping at Swedish or Norwegian folk art; there is a wide world of it to know more about and admire. Let’s go.

What Exactly Is Folk Art?

To establish what we’re talking about here, folk art and folk craft are amateur art made by the people, for the people. It’s how most cultures over time have kept their traditions, lore, and people alive. It’s a visual art that was predominantly utilitarian or affixed to functional items, most often done by hand or with limited means. Folk art tells the stories of people and their beliefs across time, and honestly, that alone is so beautiful to me. It’s often colorful, geometric, or full of interesting figures and animals.

While folk art can touch all areas of life, like with music and practical art, we’re here to talk about the home, after all. Quilts, tapestries, ceramics, wall hangings, embroidery, sculptures, framed art, and furniture made or crafted by common folk (i.e., not trained artists for the means of selling for profit) are all examples of folk art—hence the name.

In my mind, it’s kind of like the original DIY of the decorative arts. And appropriately, there’s been a boom of folk-art style hand-painted creations at the hands of design DIYers and artists. While I do love the look of it, it’s important to note that a lot of the modern-day folk art we’re seeing lacks the cultural significance at the heart of it. It’s more aesthetic-forward than anything else. That’s not to say I would feel a way about implementing some Nordic folk art motifs in the room of my Afro-Caribbean daughter, but it does make me want to do some research on the traditional art styles of both my and my husband’s heritage.

I could wax poetic about this until everyone is bored, so let’s keep it moving, as there is a lot to talk through (plus some shopping!). First, beautiful inspirations and aspirations…

Let’s Look At Some Folk Art Beauties

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Swedish and other Scandinavian folk art is often seen around “box beds” that were common in the region (the inset nooks often provided more warmth and privacy). As ornate millwork in our homes has made a huge comeback in the recent decade, I’ve seen more alcoves like this popping up in designer projects. Hand-painted florals and scrollwork really make these come to life and are just so special.

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I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for ornately painted furniture. It has a distinctly cottage-y feel, which I love in small doses in a charming or even stripped-back room design. This type of folk art is the easiest to DIY if you like the look but can’t afford a thousand-plus-dollar antique, and was actually my current reentry into the folk painting world, as I mentioned.

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Natasha Mann is a modern-day artist I love to follow for her folk sensibilities. She specializes in decorative painting with natural pigments and egg tempera on wood, which is how it was done originally. Her work, which you can see above and below, is intricate and just so beautiful, no matter its application.

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How sweet are those sparse florals above the tub in the bathroom shot below? It’s such a sweet detail that doesn’t overwhelm. Similar to the daisy-like floral arrangements on this fridge in the kitchen of Brittany Jepsen from The House That Lars Built. Caitlin shared it in her original Swedish folk painting post, and I’ve loved it ever since.

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Explore Some Popular Folk Art Provenance

Like I mentioned earlier, a lot of what we’re seeing in our feeds and saved folders is DIY, modern-day versions of folk art, and highly inspired by original pieces without cultural significance specific to the creator. As a reminder, folk art is highly specific to the people and places from which it originated. It’s my duty as a design writer to pay tribute to those and further explore their DNA. Of course, there are many, many types of folk art, from Guatemalan to Ecuadorian to Native and indigenous peoples and tribes, but here is a sampling of some beloved and often talked about folk art.

left: 1940s unburnished mexican tonala wedding jug | right: vintage mexican embroidered table runner

Mexican Folk Art: You’ll recognize Mexican folk art by its bright colors and narrative symbolism. Folk art from this area can be found on wood carvings, weavings, papel-mâché, tinwork, and glazing on terra-cotta ceramics. They have a strong link to festivals and rituals such as Dia de los Muertos. Common colors include turquoise, fuchsia, magenta, bright orange, sunflower yellow, cobalt blue, deep red, and vibrant green.

left: vintage peruvian folk art painting on sheepskin – andean scene | right: andean wall mural with llamas and birds, hand-woven

Peruvian Folk Art: Much of Peruvian folk art comes in the form of textiles such as Andean blankets that depict traditions and religious/devotional life, often with Catholic iconography (and llamas…lots of llamas). You’ll also find painted ceramics and carved wood with intricate patterns and narratives of festivals, saints, markets, and mythical stories. Common colors include deep reds, purples, browns, indigo, turquoise, bright pink, orange, and golden yellow.

left: primitive folk art quilt print: 1847 bedspread design | right: antique pennsylvania dutch miniature folk art painted wood wedding/dowry chest

American Folk Art: Different from Central and South American folk art, North American folk art spans household crafts via quilting, patchwork, hooked rugs, and painted furniture and boxes. It shows some religious depictions, but most often, you’ll find more “personal” storytelling and practical scenes of everyday life. A lot of American folk art we still have today came from the Amish, Shakers, and Pennsylvania Dutch. The furniture is simple with functional wood joinery, and colors used throughout all forms of this folk art are often seen in muted earth tones, soft blues, barn red, darker yellow, and greens.

left: norwegian rosemaling on a wood chest | right: original blue painted swedish pine dalarna cabinet cupboard dated 1821

Scandinavian Folk Art: Folk art from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland falls under the label of Scandinavian folk art. This is quite popular right now thanks in great part to its softer, milkier blue and green colors. Scandinavian folk art can be found in hand-painted furniture and blanket boxes, textiles, carved wood household items, and embroidery. Most of the designs under this umbrella feature scrolling floral motifs called rosemalig. Colors are restrained and muted, typically in ochre, dusty blue and green, red, white, and gold.

left: antique south german folk art hand-painted armoire, 1807 | right: herrzeit by adolf herr cuckoo clock – the bavarian guesthouse

German Folk Art: German folk art is rooted in centuries-old woodcarving (think nutcrackers and cuckoo clocks), painted furniture, and symbolic pattern work tied to regional traditions (like Bavarian, Black Forest, and Alpine styles). American folk art was heavily influenced by German folk art through immigrants. They used a lot of milk paint, natural dyes and oils; in textiles, you’ll find meticulous tulips, hearts, birds and precise starburst motifs. Colors are varied depending on the region it came from, but you’ll find reds, deep greens, mustard, cobalt blue, black and ivory, sometimes with gilded accents.

left: vintage indian patchwork wall hanging | right: set of 2 indian pattachitra decorative folklore animals

Indian Folk Art: One of the most diverse folk art stems from India, which has highly regionally specific creations. Scroll paintings, block-printed fabrics, and many other painted and woven art show ritual occasions, storytelling, and everyday objects. They used pigments made from minerals and plants in earthy reds, indigo, ochre, black and white. Madhubani and Pattachitra folk art features pops of emerald green, magenta, and orange, symbolizing fertility and celebration.

left: kuba raffia textile | right: vintage african mali indigo cloth

African Folk Art: You can find out more about some African folk art, like mudcloth and Kuba cloth in this article I recently wrote about global textiles, but as a refresher, folk art from the continent tends to use a lot of resist-dye processes, embroidery, and complex weaving techniques in bold geometrics. These textiles were often used for ceremonial dress and other social functions. Look for earthy browns, ochre, black and white, camel, and sometimes even brilliant golds, reds, and greens.

Shoppable Folk Art Picks

1. Pair of Mexican Folk Art Chairs in Green From the 1930s | 2. Hand Painted Green Moorish Armoire – 1990s | 3. Mid 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Hand Painted Pine Coffer | 4. Painted Folk Art Bridal Cupboard 18th Century Germany | 5. Antique Hand Painted Folk Style Trunk, 1880s Transylvania | 6. Antique Painted Folk Art Dresser Chest | 7. Vintage Hand Painted Norwegian Rosemaling Black Decorative Stool | 8. Hand-Painted Folk Wardrobe with Monogrammed AMW, Southern Germany, 1824 | 9. Vintage Handmade African Tuareg Chest | 10. Swedish 19th Century Painted Pine Marriage Trunk | 11. Vintage 1965 Ebersol Childs Size Wooden Folk Art Handpainted Flowers Rocking Chair | 12. Antique Folk Art Dutch Pedestal Table

As you can see from the prices above, antique folk art furniture is, uh, expensive (much like all other antiques in general). But I wanted to include all of these, even if not a single reader is in the market for a $4,200 Swedish 19th-century painted pine marriage trunk, to train your eye a bit in what these things look like and what sorts of pieces exist. You never know what you might stumble upon on Craigslist, flea markets, garage sales and the like, and knowing what to look for is half the battle.

1. Pa Dutch Painting | 2. Set of 4 Vintage Guatemalan Handwoven Textiles Coasters | 3. Vintage Scandinavian Folk Art Metal Tray w/ Horse | 4. Vintage Guatemalan Folk Art Clay Bird | 5. Vintage Peruvian Wall Hanging | 6. Mexican Otomi Gold Hand Embroidered Wall Art | 7. Vintage Norwegian 1930 Rose Painted Trinket Chest | 8. Larger Simple Tramp Art Antique Carved wooden Picture Frame | 9. Vintage Amate Bark Painting 1970s Mexican Folk Art | 10. Vintage Greek Sailboat Painting on Salvaged Wood | 11. Mate Burilado Peruvian Hand Carved Gourd | 12. Vintage Hand Stitched Peruvian Style Embroidered Wool Wall Hanging | 13. Ukrainian Throw Hutsul Blanket | 14. Folk Art Beveled Mirror | 15. The Jabberwocky Act III Embroidery Kit | 16. Pennsylvania Dutch Tole Painted Wall Hanging | 17. Flower Foliage Frame – White II | 18. Antique Norwegian Painted Jewelry Box 1920s

Smaller pieces are, no surprise, far more affordable, and may be just the right dose of folk if you’re just dipping your toe in this style (plus, I think a little goes a LONG way in most homes). While some art is vintage or antique, there are also some picks that are meant to do yourself. For example, the embroidery kit (#15) from The Fabled Thread, or the wall appliqué from Photowall (#17).

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I know that was a lot to take in, and honestly, I really only scratched the surface. It’s impossible to fully encompass the whole of folk art across the globe, but hopefully I gave you at least a taste of something that might strike your fancy. Enough to do your own deep dive or jump-start a hunt for a piece for your home.

Until next time, friends…

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The Full Reveal Of The Art Barn/Craft Shed Happens TODAY

Happy Sunday, everyone. It was another week of shoots because boy, are we gearing up/going hard for these last three months of the year. We just want to take a second to say how much we really appreciate all of the support you give us, and hope you know it’s never being taken for granted. Our gratitude is year-round. Links, anyone?

This week’s house tour is the unbelievable NYC home of the one and only Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott. While the couple was extremely hands-on, they hired contractor and friend, Artie Lange, and AD 100 designer, Young Huh. The article said it best when it described the home “steeped in French and English aesthetics”. You have to see it.

From Emily: As you know, I am a HUGE tree lover, but for holiday decorating, I also love a faux Christmas tree, and I have a new affordable favorite. We got to shoot a Christmas styling decor shoot at The Carly the other week (and you’ll see it this week!), and this is the faux Christmas tree we got. This is a Nordic-style fur, pre-lit with really warm lights. And not only does it look great, but it’s more affordable than most of the other great ones on the market. Highly recommend!!

From Jess: Last Sunday was my birthday, and not only did I get to spend the day with some of my favorite people, but my dad also surprised me by sending me this bag in the suede taupe color! Somehow, he knew I’ve been wanting a brown bag, and boy did he nail it. He really does have excellent taste. It’s so pretty, such a great size, comes with two strap length options, and the closure magnet is nice and strong. I feel so stylish in the most effortless way when I wear it, and I just couldn’t be more grateful. Highly recommend:)

From Caitlin: I picked up The Time of Gifts last week – it’s a 1934 memoir that follows the author on a foot journey from Holland to Constantinople. (Are those historical wheels turning? To save you a Google: Hitler had just come to power, but the war was still a few years away.) Fermor is heralded as the greatest travel writer of all time, and it’s a well-deserved title – this book follows him as a tender, plucky teen through newly-fascist Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. He observes everything – I’m talking flora, fauna, art, religion, architecture, language, clothing, tradition, everything – and explains it all most beautiful prose. I found the whole book to be pretty moving: so much seems familiar to our current day, but there’s a sense of possibility and wonder that feels like it’s been lost in our more connected, homogeneous, interlaced modern world. I really enjoyed it! (The best part? There are two more books in the series to read!)

Also from Caitlin: My friend Tommy is a world-class human rights lawyer (not just my opinion – he won the first-ever human rights lawsuit in the US against a living former head of state), and he’s currently sailing into Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, on a boat filled with medics and journalists. He’s part of the second wave of ships (read: he wasn’t captured last week, if you’ve been following the news), and he’s posting quick, digestible, daily video updates to his Instagram feed as he sails through the Mediterranean. If you’re interested in some first-person, first-hand, real-time reporting from the scene of this humanitarian emergency, take a peek at his page. (As a personal aside: I worked with Tommy’s band over a decade ago – he was juggling the Bolivian presidential case while somehow also recording an album and touring – and I’ve never before met anyone with such moral clarity and backbone. I’m proud of him, and I’m proud to know him.)

From Arlyn: The mornings and evenings have been chilly here in LA, and my cool-weather wardrobe currently consists of a few raggedy old cardigans and some stained hoodies. So I was PRIMED when an Instagram ad hit me with something it knew I couldn’t resist: a Chilton sweatshirt. As someone who has rewatched Gilmore Girls more times than Lorelei had a cup of coffee in that show, it felt silly not to buy it, especially because it was a fairly good price. It’s warm but not too thick, and cozy and oversized. At 5’3″, it’s longer on me than I was hoping, but hey, I’m not planning on rocking my Chilton Prep sweatshirt for any fancy gatherings anytime soon.

From Mallory: I found a SOLID pair of tall brown boots for under $100, and I’ve been wearing them constantly. They’re crazy comfortable – I walked 10k steps in them when they were brand new and didn’t get a blister (I love a shoe that doesn’t require the “break-in” phase). The quality is great and the heel is the right amount of high without being too much. Highly recommend if you’re in need of a good fall boot!

From Gretchen: Ever since I visited Santa Fe with my mom earlier this year, I have kind of been obsessed with wearing silver. The collection of sterling rings we purchased from native artists and makers there have quickly become like treasures to us. The EHD team can vouch–I wear my three silver rings every single day. Quick funny story–one of them recently slipped off while I was cleaning something outside at the farm, and I was heartbroken thinking I’d lost it forever in the clover field. But I ran to Amazon, bought a cheap metal detector (lol), went hunting for it the next day, and…FOUND IT! Feeling extra grateful to have it back on my finger, I decided it was time to round out the rest of my silver look. I swapped my signature gold cowboy boot necklace for a sterling one I found in Toronto, then I repurchased some verrrrry inexpensive chunky hoops in my new metal (admittedly not real silver). I have a tendency to misplace earrings specifically (I lost two pairs this week alone–they just don’t stay in my lobes!), so I love that these are only $10 if/when I need to repurchase. I still like wearing gold occasionally, but it’s been pretty fun to lean into this silver look!

From Marlee: The softest hoodie EVER – Gap does really really good loungewear and for a pretty good price. This hoodie has the best fit – loose but not too oversized or slouchy. I would say it’s true to size (I got a small), and it comes in some great colors. I also have it in a grey and a navy, and got the men’s version for my boyfriend, and he loves it (and my dad has one and HE loves it). All 10’s over here! Em was wearing the crewneck version last week, and we both agreed that Gap is one of our fave places to get sweatshirts, etc., right now:)

Thank you for spending a little time with us, and see you tomorrow. 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 (me!) | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The River House’s Cozy But Modern Dining Room Reveal!

I love styling out this room, despite very rarely having grown-up dinner parties (more like 6 family frat parties). But we had a social campaign with Anthropologie (some new, some I’ve had for a while), so I played around and set it up for those of you looking for some fall, harvest, or most likely Thanksgiving table setting ideas.

I really think this is my color palette these days – blues, greens, with hits of deep burgundy and ochre/mustard. It’s all over the house (I can’t wait to show you the new living room next week). The glasses, cafe bowls, and placemats are also super holiday-appropriate color-wise, should you want to use them year-round.

The things that scream “fall/harvest” specifically are the salad plates, napkins (questionable – those could be more year-round), and the candle holders (so pretty but very delicate). The centerpiece vase is pretty incredible – it lives on my coffee table now with big black Halloween branches

It’s both colorful and soft, which I love.

White Vase | Bowl | Harvest Plate | Dinner Plate | Plaid Napkin | Flatware (similar) | Placemat | Short Green Wine Glass | Burgundy Wine Glass (no longer available) | Burgundy Vase | Candlestick Holder | Taper Candles (similar)

This was shot on a day we were doing like 5 campaigns so I set it up and told Kaitlin to just go for it while I shot something else with video in the other room (technically we didn’t need to shoot photos, it was just so pretty and I love photography so much, so you may notice a small vase with no flowers in it and some wonky flatware, wrinkles, ec – whoops!). The flowers are from my garden, NBD:)

White Vase

The vase is spendy, for sure – a great heirloom piece or gift for someone (and likely on sales over the holidays). I typically wouldn’t style those brown gingham napkins with these other colors, but i think the brown in the plates and the amber candles help pull everything together.

We rounded up a bunch of our favorite harvest/fall tablescape pieces that are new this year, since some of the pieces above are no longer available. xx

1. Carved Edge Salad Plate | 2. Marin Botanical Stoneware Salad Plate | 3. STRIMMIG Side Plate

If you love having a full, different set of plateware for each holiday/season, more power to you! But a little hack that also saves on storage space is to just switch out your salad plates. Adds a little festive feel, and you can still use your everyday dinner plates.

1. Reactive Glaze Tapas Bowls (Set of 4) | 2. STOCKHOLM 2025 Bowl (Set of 2) | 3. Stoneware Reactive Glaze Bowl (Set of 4)

The same goes for bowls if you want!

1. OMBONAD Wine glass (Set of 4) | 2. OLIVTRAST Glass | 3. Vintage Goblet | 4. Plum Stemless Wine Glass | 5. Grooved Stem All-Purpose Wine Glass (Set of 4) | 6. Acrylic Tumbler | 7. Short Recycled Pint Glass | 8. Harvest Floral Amethyst Etched Glass | 9. Coupe Glass

Pretty glassware never gets old, and if it isn’t “too holiday,” then you can also display it year-round as beautiful decor.

1. Glass Beverage Pitcher | 2. VARDAGEN Pitcher | 3. Marble Wine Chiller

We love a pitcher because it can be used as an actual pitcher OR a vase.

1. Eider Brown Glass Bud Vase | 2. Amber Icon Embellished Glass Bud Vase | 3. Essential Stoneware Table Vase

Speaking of vases, we would suggest choosing one main large one with a couple more small vases, or just small vases. You want to be able to talk AND see the people across the table from you.

1. Alcantara Frederic Leather Wrapped Candle Holder | 2. Milano Small Green Glass Taper Candle Holder | 3. Mina Tall Taper Candle Holder

Boy, are we suckers for great candle holders. They don’t block the view, add dimension, and of course, ambience.

1. Plum Beeswax Candle | 2. Pumpkin Orange Dipped Taper Candles (Set of 2) | 3. Acorn Beeswax Candles (Set of 10)

For more added dimension, fun candles are a great way to get that! You can choose an interesting shape or just go for a colorful taper.

1. Fall Glass Pumpkins (Set of 3) | 2. Papier Mache Pumpkin Placecard Holders (Set of 4) | 3. Woven Pumpkins (Set of 6)

Is it a harvest or Thanksgiving table without at least one pumpkin??

1. Washed Spice Orange Linen Napkin with Fringe Trim (Set of 4) | 2. Plaid Napkins (Set of 4) | 3. Floral Napkins (Set of 4) | 4. Ivory and Chestnut Border Block Printed Napkins (Set of 4) | 5. Block Print Ruffle Napkins (Set of 2) | 6. Marin Walnut Linen Buffalo Check Napkin

There are so many great cloth napkins on the market. They can add instant color and pattern.

1. Woven Charger (Set of 2) | 2. Round Placemat | 3. Reversible Placemat Scallop (Set of 2) | 4. Olive Woven Placemat (Set of 2) | 5. VÅRARV Place Mat | 6. Mason Handwoven Cotton Fringe Placemat (Set of 4)

The same goes for placemats, and these are all great.

1. Fall Plaid Oversized Runner | 2. Marin Spruce Green Buffalo Check Linen Table Runner | 3. Autumn Botanical Linen Runner

And if you want to go all out, also include a runner! Or you could simple and skip the placemats and just use a runner.

1. Dutch Bread Oven | 2. Floral Porcelain Soup Tureen | 3. Wavy Edge Soup Terrine

Of course, a pretty lidded dish for those “need to keep hot” foods might as well be pretty, right?

1. Oval Stoneware Floral Serving Dish | 2. Large Stoneware Cabbage Serving Bowl | 3. Floral Earthenware Serving Dish

Then serving platters is where we think your personality can really shine. Are you “Colorful folk”? “Whimsical Produce Lover”? “New Classic”? Your platters can take you there:)

1. Le Creuset Pumpkin Butter Dish | 2. Carved Edge Gravy Boat | 3. Stoneware Butter Dish with Knife

And finally, to top it off, might as well also have a great butter and/or gravy boat on the table. That sweet Le Creuset one is pricey, but is one that could even be passed down.

That’s kind of the special part about festive tableware: you create so many memories over these dishes, vases, and even table linens that likely the next generation will want at least some of them for their homes. Decor is something that holds memories, and that’s what we love about it. Happy table setting, everyone!

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

Every few years, a product explodes into the marketplace, and you can only say “finally” with equal parts relief and enthusiasm. Quilt is that for me this year. Mini-splits are famously huge and bulky, look like plastic, and are such an eyesore (and impossible to disguise, especially in an older style home!). Quilt not only heats and cools better, but it can be disguised in your room, not taking away from the overall design. Hallelujah. Form meets function, folks. As someone who was about to put a bunch of ugly mini splits in our 1850s guest cottage, I was lamenting how bad they were going to look against all our pretty old beadboard. Then I saw my friend Brady’s partnership with what seemed to be a very attractive and simple alternative. I reached out, did the research, and am THRILLED to be part of the solution to replace ugly mini-splits with this new genius invention that’s actually attractive.. Even if you have no intention of ever needing an all-in-one heat and AC unit, keep reading to see what good product design looks like. It’s like the Apple of home tech (and works extremely intuitively). Let’s break it down.

Wait, What Is A Mini Split?

It’s a standalone heat and air conditioning unit that you can opt for in rooms where you don’t want to redo or put in an entire HVAC ducting (which is painfully expensive and laborious). Instead of being inside the wall, it’s essentially hung inside the room where you need to heat/cool, with a portal to an exterior heat pump right outside (so it has to be an exterior wall). You opt for it for outbuildings (like our gym), or if you did an addition and didn’t want to tie into your HVAC, it will do the job on its own. The Quilt unit can heat or cool up to 480 sq. ft. of space. The unit on the outside is a heat pump, which basically moves temperature from inside to outside. This means you get localized control (like in a hotel room), without the inefficiency of window AC units and the inconvenience of space heaters. 

Why Is Quilt Better Than The Others?

It’s not like I’ve tried every one on the market, but we had a crappy one in here that never worked, and boy was it ugly (this could have been our former contractor’s fault – not my brother, btw). The gym was super cold in the winter (we had a small heater) and like a sauna if you worked out past 11 am in the summer. PROBLEM SOLVED. But more importantly, it is the most efficient mini split on the market with an industry-leading SEER2 of 25, HSPF2 of 12, Energy Star certification, and their Auto-away feature (again, it’s a 2-zone heat pump, which is more energy efficient than a typical heating and cooling machine). We used heat pumps in our entire house for this reason. When it comes to sustainability, my philosophy is not to replace something that works fine for something that works better, BUT if you are in the market for a new one or if, like ours, yours is broken, then you sure should get the thing that works the best (should that be in your budget).

So, Why Is The Design So Great?

Yes, it works great, but what got my attention is that you can customize the front to be any color and almost any finish. So that means you can wallpaper it, you can panel it with beadboard, or even wood! It comes white or with a white oak front (the white would be what you’d want if you are customizing).

The unit itself is also so compact, unlike other bulky mini-splits. It’s only 7 7/8 inches tall; many others are pushing a foot! You pop the front panel off (so easy, I did it myself), then wallpaper or paint it the color of your walls to disappear.

We obviously chose white here to blend in, and in our guest cottage, we’ll put whatever paneling is in each room on the front. It’s honestly GAME CHANGING, especially for those of us who have a vintage home that would be drastically compromised, design-wise, if we had to use the bulkier old type of mini split.

Is It Hard To Install?

We hired Greensavers in Portland (shout out to them – they did an incredible job, in and out in 4 hours!!). Hanging it on the wall inside is super easy (it just goes on these cleats), but the wiring on the outside is what you’d need some experience in (or again, hire out for). Here’s the breakdown, really quick:

The exterior unit has to have clearance around it (both to have access to air as well as per local codes)You’ll need an electrician to do the electrical work.You need to make sure you have enough power at the source and that you can tie in easily. If this seems like a barrier, know that many companies, like Greensavers, will execute the entire job, so you don’t have to think about it (again, ours took 4 hours – so fast).Everywhere charges differently for the install; however, Quilt’s is in line with the industry.The hole behind the unit is pretty small (about 3″), so you don’t need to worry too much about your framing, but you will need to make sure you have something to anchor to (a stud).How Do You Use It?? Is It Easy??

One of my first questions to the Quilt team was “how smart is it, because I like a little smart but not that smart”. I do NOT want something with so many bells and whistles that I can’t figure out how to turn it on and off, and should it ever need repairs, no one else can either. It’s my personal opinion that we are over-teching our things in our home (TVs on the fronts of fridges, anyone?), which honestly just makes them more vulnerable to problems and creates so much frustration (for me, at least). Quilt is extremely simple and intuitive.

It’s both a wall-hung thermostat (the “Dial”) and an app. If I forget my phone in my house, I use the wall dial. If I’m on the Peloton and I want to cool it down or turn the heat off, I use my phone app. So easy.You can set it at a specific temperature and never need to change it. One and done.You can schedule it to come on and off at certain times – like we have it set for Monday – Friday to heat up to 65 degrees starting at 5 am (but not the whole night) and then turn off at 11 am. In the summer, we both work out in the morning (and having the doors open is lovely), but if we wanted to use it in the middle of a hot day, it would cool the entire room down from 90 degrees to 75 in minutes (room size TBD).You can have multiple rooms on the same app, just labeled separately. Extremely easy.There’s a very helpful (and money-saving) feature called ”Auto-Away” that can detect if people aren’t in the room and will turn off the device for you. They tested it in a 3-bedroom home, and they cut their energy use by 44%!I even love that the wall dial plugs in, so I don’t have to worry about changing batteries!!! It’s a sleek white cord (so obviously install near an outlet).

I’m famously tech-adverse and was able to download the app and figure it out all by myself (I made the Greensavers expert stand next to me just in case, lol, but I didn’t need him :)) But if you have an installer make sure that you are all set on your app before they go just so you don’t have to think about it.

Is It So “New” That We Should Worry About The “Bugs” Getting Worked Out?

This has happened to a lot of us – a new product launches, but then the better version comes out the next year (as was the case with our Soake pool – integrated pool covers now! and our cold plunge integrated cooling unit now!). That’s fine if it’s something easy to replace or upgrade (or in those cases if it works as-is just fine), but for anything renovation-based, I do NOT want the beta model that might still have tech bugs (fine if the design changes to be even better – thus is just innovation!). So I asked Greensavers, candidly, this before I committed (they aren’t the inventors of the product, just the installers, and they use all brands). He reassured me that the unit has a classic heat pump mechanism that has been perfected for years and years – i.e., they didn’t reinvent a new type of heat and AC, they just redesigned what already works efficiently to be better for the consumer (both in the sleek design and the simple app/Dial). But what’s even cooler is that they have what’s called “over-the-air” updates. What that means is that as their technology evolves, you can update your existing mini-split without buying a new one! I think that’s using technology in the best way possible because you don’t have to replace an old unit that will likely end up in a landfill, but instead you get to improve the one you originally bought. More of this, please!

I’m extremely excited that there is now a product to solve all our bulky mini split woes. I wanted to try Quilt out here first, with just one unit, to make sure it works really well before committing to multiple units in our vintage guest house restoration. But knowing that I can get efficient (and powerful) heat and AC in that house, clad with our pretty beadboard to disappear and not ruin the look of the vintage room, is a real gift. Of course, now I want one in the garage instead of our stupid Cadet heater, but unless Quilt builds a time machine, I guess I’ll live with that for a bit.

This post is indeed sponsored by Quilt, a partner that I pursued and am so glad to be a part of its success.

*Photos by Kaitlin Green