fix it friday it’s time to refresh some real life bathrooms for peak enjoyment (no reno allowed)

Home Decor

Fix It Friday: It’s Time To Refresh Some Real-Life Bathrooms For Peak Enjoyment (NO RENO ALLOWED)

Drescription

The other month my dear friend asked if I could help her with her vanity/bathroom area. It wasn’t bad but it was feeling a little lifeless. She lives in a rental so obviously there was only so much we could do and the budget also had a limit:) And let me tell you, it never ceases to amaze me what some elbow grease, a fresh coat of paint, and a few new decor pieces can do to a room. She’s so happy now! So when I was thinking about the next “Fix it Friday” prompt I was already in the bathroom refresh mindset. And truly the bathroom is a place I don’t think we realize how much time we spend in. It makes a WORLD of difference if you feel at ease and maybe even a little pampered by your surroundings. But just to be clear, this post is all about working with what you have in terms of hard materials. No one is going to be asked to retile! So before I help out some real-life readers with their “in need” bathrooms, I have a few pretty incredible examples from other designers who refreshed instead of remodeled…

First up is our very own EHD alum, Sara Ligorria Tramp, and the refresh she gave to her parents’ bathroom. As you can see all of the tile, fixtures, and vanity didn’t get touched. But a lighter green paint color, new sconces, a new shower curtain, and some general decluttering made this bathroom look BRAND NEW!! How happy yet peaceful does this space feel now?

Then designer/homeowner, Alison Pierce, decided to embrace her amazing colorful vintage tiles and lean in hard! It may seem counterintuitive to go bolder in an already bold space, but matching the color intensity of these tiles lowered the contrast making the overall design easier on the eyes. Look, both of these beautiful bathrooms definitely still pack a visual punch but in the best and most balanced way.

But sadly not all of us have amazing vintage tile to play off of so here are some general NO DEMO things you can do to make your bathroom feel a bit better/updated and more cohesive:

DECLUTTER/get rid of what you don’t use (if you just do this I promise you’ll feel better)

Consider some closed storage to quiet the visual chaos

Paint or wallpaper the walls

Paint or restain your cabinets

Change out hardware (pulls, knobs, towel rings, towel bars, hooks, etc)

Hang shelves

Get a new rug

Get new towels

Change the lighting

Switch out your vanity mirror (if possible)

Get a new faucet (but maybe have a pro install that one:))

Hang some art (yes, your bathroom deserves pretty stuff too!)

Good smells are important so get a candle or diffuser you love

As I said, these are just some ideas! Julie (above!) and Mallory also designed incredible rental bathrooms if you want to get even more inspired. So while you don’t need to do a lot to make a big difference, here are some readers submitted bathrooms, in need of some love, that I am going to try to give helpful advice to. Let’s go!

An Early ’00s Neutral Upgrade

Let’s start on the easier side, shall we? There is a near-perfect bathroom under some of these slightly outdated design elements. But also it’s pretty beautiful as is. Regardless, this reader wants a refresh so that is what she’s going to get. Here’s what she asked for:

“I saw the post about a bathroom refresh! Would love to update this and make it more my style, but don’t know where to start! I feel like it needs a paint refresh (cabinets and walls), lighting change +/- mirrors, and maybe wallpaper?”

Not a problem!

Now I think if she just swapped the mirrors and lights for something a little less…ornate and gave the walls a happier creamy white color, she could call it a day! But obviously, I wanted to give her “a few more” suggestions because this is what I love to do:)

Some new hardware and towel ring (in the same metal finish) would also really change the feel. Swapping in a bigger tray on the vanity will look more intentional. Her other vanity decor pieces are cute so those can stay! And while I totally get having your more colorful things on a vanity like hairbrushes and toothpaste bottles, if those can easily be tucked away in a top drawer that will help to keep the color palette more consistent and calmer to the eye. But look, NO judgment! Not everything needs to be “aesthetic” 24/7 because life comes first. However, this is a design blog so it’s just a little suggestion.

Man, that tub looks amazing! However, this area could use just a little design love. Let’s first get some art (one large piece or a little gallery) or floating shelves on that empty wall. Then let’s give some new styling life to the ledge. I really love the pieces I found and can’t wait for you all to see. And while new towels aren’t necessary, with the color palette I chose below, I think something a little softer in tone would look pretty nice. The tub tray and cute laundry baskets stay!

Here it is! As always, any wall color I choose is a general suggestion. Always test out paint colors in the space to see how they actually look in person. But I do think a creamy white (one that contrasts enough with the white on the cabinets) would look so pretty. Sometimes those taupey greys can weigh down a room when it’s on the walls. I also decided to go with a paint color instead of wallpaper because the floors already have so much pattern with the darker marbling that I think a wallpaper might compete too much. Then I chose a simple but classic vanity mirror option (under $150 each!) that will immediately make the space look and feel more elevated. The lights on the other hand are more expensive but the opal glass shades are STUNNING and are pieces you keep forever even if you move. I decided to go with a matte black finish instead of brass because A. I didn’t know if the different brass finishes (mirror and light fixture) would work together and B. peppering black around the space will make it look a little more grounded and balanced. And because I chose black for the lights, I decided the towel ring, towel bar, and cabinet hardware should also be matte black. Speaking of hardware, I just love these knurled pulls and knobs! Modern, elegant, and fun. Then to finish off the vanity side of the bathroom, I LOVE that wooden tray from H&M which seems a bit bigger than the one that’s there and also keeps a dark tone to the countertop to balance out all the matte black. I am a big ole fan of a long runner in front of a double sink. This one from CB2 is vintage-inspired, the colors are beautiful and forgiving, and the fringe gives it a little extra personality.

Onto the tub side, I chose this big art piece from Target that works so perfectly with the other colors in the space. Then on the ledge, I do think a vase with a bit more of an interesting shape with a big branch or two would be sooooo pretty! I love this vase/jug so much because the texture is so good and those curves are to die for. Plus it’s 14″ tall so its got some good height on it. Then I think if some of those products in the tray they have could be decanted into canisters like these it would be a real chef’s kiss. I think choosing glass for those nice contrasts with the terra cotta of the vase. Oh, and a candle is a MUST and why not have it also be a beautiful piece of art? I have this candle and love it! 10/10. And finally, since we’re here, I think a lighter bath mat (this light taupe tone is kinda perfect) would look so pretty and those light green waffle towels that Emily AND Arlyn have are a nicer color with the overall design…plus the texture is beautiful too:)

Giving Power To The Powder Bath

We always think having a little “fun” with your powder bathroom design is the way to go and this reader already had their eyes set on dark blue but was second-guessing her ideas…

“My home’s powder bathroom urgently needs design attention, and I would love your help! The sticking point for me is how to bring color into a small room with no natural light. I tested Benjamin Moore’s Van Deusen Blue on the walls. I love the color, but I grew concerned that it was too dark for a space without a window. The style of the house is NW modern. Our budget is about 2 thousand dollars for a new mirror, light fixture, hardware, small storage solution, and decor. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration!”

Actually going dark in an already dark space is something we almost always recommend so it’s a big YES to the dark blue walls. Wanna see what else I’m thinking.

Aside from the paint, mirror, light, and some hardware there’s not much else they need. Just a few more decor pieces and maybe a new faucet if they felt like switching things up. I definitely leaned into the modern PWN style they said they have so here we go!

Modern PNW to me translates often to darker tones and midcentury modern design. And since Schoolhouse is a PNW company (Portland) I went there first and found the prettiest light fixture (amongst other things)! I love it so much but since I don’t have the bathroom measurements I’m hoping that this light/mirror combo works together. I think a little overlap would be so sick. Oh and how good is that Target mirror? Only $70! And staying with the vanity, if they want I do love the idea of mixing metals and bringing in a little brass faucet. Then I went with matte black for the towel ring and toilet paper holder (which are only $16 each, WILD) to blend into the blue walls a bit. But of course, I wanted to bring in a little color and texture so that waffle hand towel adds such a fun but cool pop, and how amazing is that bath mat?! I love that it’s a brighter blue than the walls and has a pattern, adding some dimension and a tonal vibe. And is it even a PNW room if something isn’t dark green? That little trash can is so cute and has the prettiest tone.

Ok, back to the walls. Let’s start over the toilet with the piece of art by Jordan Sullivan. I love his work so much and this photograph brings in so much movement and a beautiful, happy, contrasting color. It livens the whole design up. It’s not cheap but it’s a limited-run print and so special. The reader also asked for some storage and I found this awesome wall cabinet from ferm Living. It’s simple but detailed and very slim so I think it will work perfectly hung on the wall across from the toilet. And finally, I couldn’t not have something to put on top of the cabinet. That’s what the candle, matches, and book are for. The candle can sit on top of the book to one side and the match cloche can sit on the cabinet next to the book. I think that will look very cute but have fun and play around!

P.S. We are over $100 under budget:)

The Grain Is REAL

When I first saw this bathroom I thought two things, 1. “Wow, that’s a LOT of grain” and 2. I really like those mouldings.” And if you know me then you know I love wood but this wood would require something special. Here’s what the reader sent in:

“Hello!! We are trying to update our early 2000s built home. This is our master bedroom. I like a clean, classic look. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!”

Ok! Sweet and simple and something I think I can handle:)

The first order of business is the wood grain. I do love some grain, but given the intensity and the amount in this one space, I think that if the reader is up for it they should consider stripping and restaining all of this wood a really dark tone, masking a lot of the grain. That way they don’t have to cover that beautiful wood with paint and it saves them lots of money by not replacing them. I definitely don’t want to downplay the hours that this would take and that it would potentially drive them to curse my name every day until the end of time. BUT after they are done they will have stunning cabinets. Worth it?? Then if they were up for spending some money, honing those countertops would make them look nicer and more expensive.

Not let’s talk walls. I think they should go for a white like Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams – bright with a hint of warmth so the room doesn’t feel too stark. Then those lights really need to be updated and that ceiling fan also could really use a modern makeover.

The countertop could use some cute styling but I do love the plants in the shower! Oh, but all of the switchplate covers and hooks need to be updated, and let’s see if I can find a solution for the towel rings. Much to do so let’s get to it…

Clean and pretty classic, right? So the biggest changes would be the wall color suggestion and the darker stain on the wood cabinets and trim. But switching up those old sconces with these stunning ones would be amazing! Just would want the reader to make sure they were long enough. And keep things golden, those switchplates need some love…or not. Get rid of them! These are all of our favorites so do with that what you will:) Another fun item I had to swap was that outdated ceiling fan! This one is simple, pretty, and has a brass detail to tie everything together. A super great thing about this bathroom is that the countertop is huge! That leaves room for almost any size of tray and I really love this beauty from Target. Then I chose that white vase and pretty candle. But since the countertop is so long I think that tall pitcher will look so great in the left corner.

For some reason, I really wanted to keep the metals consistent in this bathroom so that very elegant towel holder, switchplates, and hook are all from Rejuvenation. Lastly, we have the textiles. I wanted to keep it super simple but really textured and the combo of these two I think looks great together and mesh really well with the space.

Ok guys, it’s the freakin weekend now so I hope that this post inspired you a little to start to tackle a big or even small home project. And as always thank you to everyone that submitted!!

Love you, mean it.

What We (And You All) Bought During The Biggest Sale Weekend Of The Year

Last weekend was the biggest online sales weekend of probably ALL TIME considering so many of us were stuck inside. And we just think it’s genuinely interesting to find out what the heck everyone was buying (and based on this post and this post, so do you:)). So…welcome to today’s post of “what we all bought and what you bought too during Black Friday/Cyber Monday!!” Now let’s dig right in and start with Em… EMILY This last weekend I bought A BUNCH of my kids’ Christmas presents (I feel SO on top of it this year) and this holiday candle making kit was one of them. Honestly, we might break into this early because you all know how much I love Christmas crafts and I might be more excited for this than my own kids. I bought these leggings for me and matching ones for Birdie because it’s cold up here and it’s getting even colder. I can never have enough fleece leggings and for $20 for mine and $10 for Birdie, these are a great buy for the price. I’m so excited for my kids to play this educational STEM game. Any game that’s fun AND educational is a big win in my book (homeschooling is HARD), and this is one I think Charlie will get very excited about. You can configure this game in a bunch of different ways to make a light turn on or a fan move…(watch the video to see what I mean). I call it engineering class :) I bought parkas for me and the kids from Uniqlo (seriously we cannot get enough jackets/beanies/warm anything up here). This pink one is for Birdie (she only wears things with pink, purple, or unicorns on it), this matching blue one is for Charlie, and then I couldn’t help but grab a longer navy version for myself…they’re all very affordable for winter puffer jackets & I love how light and comfy they are. JESS I have been eyeing this chunky boot trend for a minute and these were both cute and far more affordable than most of the others I was looking at. Fingers crossed they are a hit! P.S. I sent them to Veronica for style approval and she said that she loved them so my hopes are really high now:) When I saw this necklace on Em’s gift guide I knew I wanted it. It’s so cute, very hip, AND really affordable. Basically. a no brainer and can’t wait to add it to my 2021 everyday look :) Ok, this was my big splurge but hear me out. I live in an ooooold building with oooold pipes. A couple of weeks ago was just one of those “I don’t even have time to shower” kinda weeks…so I didn’t. Then when I went to turn on the water…it was brown for 2 seconds. Not ideal. SO since I left my more affordable filtered shower head at my old apartment, I decided that it was time to upgrade. I mean why buy nice beauty products if I’m showing in rust water, right? (I also bought mine at Bed Bath & Beyond but it’s currently sold out there) In my gift guide, I linked to the Target version of these but they were sold out everywhere around me AND couldn’t ship. So I was stoked to find these puppies at Anthro that are so similar (although more expensive). I can’t wait to feel the fanciest and the most cozy in my home. MALLORY If I’m being completely real I went to my gift guide and was checking out what was on sale (lol) during Black Friday. I was SO happy to find this workout set that I’ve been watching for QUITE some time was $60 off. I can’t wait to wear it and workout in it every day and feel cute but also a little extra. I’m also excited to mix and match the top and the leggings with some of the workout clothes I already have! I grabbed these hoops and it’s matching ring for someone super secretive in my life (and I think she’s gonna know who it is if she reads it and to be honest I’m nervous), but I’m very excited about it because there’s no better gift than good quality gold jewelry. NOTO lip stain (how many times have I linked this now?? It’s too good) I bought a few of these (in varying colors) for pretty much everyone I know for Christmas. My personal favorite colors are the Ono Ono (which is more orang-ey) and Touch (which is more pink-ey) And since they’re so good I also snuck the one color I’ve been eyeing for myself into my cart…this beautiful deep red HOLLAAA. I got a pair of these baddies for another special person in my life. I’ve come to find that these are the BEST workout and walking shoes, which is critical because all we do for fun these days is go on long walks (trying to hit that 10,000 steps a day ya feel?). SO I got these and am very excited to give them to a very special lady…when she tried mine on she was like “WOAH IT’S LIKE WALKING ON A CLOUD THEY’RE SO COMFY” so I can’t wait for her to have a pair of her own :) CAITLIN I own one of these robes and I love it, so I bought one for my mom (and an extra one for me, too!!). They’re so plush and cozy and luxe and I wanted to share the warmth. These boots are A. LOT. – especially for my hometown – but I think I love them??? I’ve been getting Instagram ads for them for months and figured that I’d finally give them a whirl at 20% off. They’re getting here next Saturday and I’ll keep y’all updated! I’ve had an iPhone 7 Plus for 4 years and it is BUSTED – there are pieces loose inside and it sounds WILD whenever it vibrates – but I finally bit the bullet and ordered an iPhone 12!!! I’ve been lusting after these beautiful leather wireless charging trays from Courant for a while and got one in cream and one in pink for my entryway and nightstand. I’m excited for the phone but REALLY excited for these. RYANN This is another Madewell purchase because WHY NOT. I’ve actually have been eyeing this top for a while as I think it’d be a really cute and versatile staple in my wardrobe. It’s still very much on sale (only $25!) and reviews say it’s comfy enough to be loungewear but cute enough to wear with jeans and boots. SOLD! I bought this custom necklace for my sister in law who is having her first baby in December (!!!). I think we all love a “Mama” necklace and this shop has fantastic reviews and you can’t beat the price! I ordered myself a pair of jeans which will come as a shock to absolutely no one. To be fair, I actually did need new ones because the holidays + a stay at home order equals my jeans miraculously shrinking on me!! So weird. I think we can all agree that Madewell’s sale was BONKERS and I couldn’t pass up these jeans that were only $30 with the 50% off deal. Now they are $60 which is still a steal. This is another gift from me to me because I’ve actually wanted this perfume for YEARS. It’s really a perfect everyday scent that is not to overwhelming and not too sweet. I’ve been staring out my window waiting for it to be delivered every since I purchased it. 5. ALBIE’S GLITTER NUTCRACKERS Albie’s glitter nutcrackers did GREAT!!! These are really cute and so Christmasy and fun. Here’s what she said about them…”Meet my very first holiday purchase for the new house! My daughter’s first thoughts were “they look like you and dad” and that made my heart smile. Hopefully, this’ll be the first of many more decor pieces that reflect us as a family.” 4. EMILY’S ETSY WOODEN MUSIC BOX WE LOVE ETSY. Em bought this wooden music box for her kids and now I wanna buy one for myself (is that weird?) Anyway, I totally get why it sold so well (especially because custom anything feels extra special in 2020). 3. ANTHROPOLOGIE LOUNGE SET Caitlin linked this in her AWESOME Black Friday post and it looks so cute and comfy NO WONDER it sold so well. We’re all pretty much living in lounge sets right now, or as we like to call them “day pajamas.” 2. MALLORY’S J. CREW DRESS In a shocking turn of events, my dress was #2!! I wore this dress to Thanksgiving dinner with my immediate family (who I’ve been quarantining with, don’t worry) and I’m planning to wear it to Christmas Eve dinner (also with my family) and for every holiday every year to come. PLUS I FOUND OUT AFTER I BOUGHT IT THAT IT HAS POCKETS. Oh and now it’s 46% off (which is more than it originally was when I linked it). Enjoy!! 1. EMILY’S PERFUME Understandably, Em’s perfume did the BEST!! Here’s what she had to say about it “I decided that this is the year I’m going to try to smell good. It’s not that I smelled bad before, but I’ve NEVER worn perfume and I don’t have a ‘scent’. After begging my more beauty/smell expert friends they both agreed that Kai smells good on literally everyone and nobody doesn’t not like it. I put it on last night after a bath and snuggled up to watch a movie with the kids and Brian and everyone, EVERYONE, was like ‘mama you smell goooooood’. It’s not overpowering, just a nice floral/gardenia scent that I LOVE. I bought the lotion and the roller ball. Brian is a BIG fan :)” So if you are wanting a fresh and pretty new scent this one is a VERY good and safe bet.

FIX IT FRIDAY: We Gave 4 Relatable Entryways Some Major Design Advice To Bring Them Back To Life

Anytime we’ve talked about entryways, we always say two things. They are the first thing you see when you walk into your home so you want to create a space that instantly makes you happy, and secondly, we know they are notoriously hard to keep organized/are a dumping ground. Not an ideal combo, right? That’s why we thought entryways were a great space for our second “Fix it Friday” post. Now remember, the point of these posts is to show you that you don’t need to throw every single piece you already own out to create a space you’ll love. There may even be pieces in other parts of your home you can move around making the whole house feel a little newer! A real budget-friendly hack that I don’t think is promoted enough. But back to entries. I am now of the firm belief that entryways are like snowflakes and no two are 100% alike. We got so many awesome entries that I wanted to help but since I couldn’t, I picked 4 that felt versatile enough that they would spark ideas for a lot of you. Plus there are a lot of cute things I found in case you are in the market:) Also as I was looking at all of the entries we’ve done over the years (or our designer friends) there is a ton of inspiration too! Make sure you study them. Take this basement entry of Emily’s best friend’s old home. That “built-in” was partially a ready-made piece that was customized making it a bit more affordable overall! Oh, and the color palette is very intentional and colorful, but also neutral and sophisticated. These photos were ideas from a Target shoot we did that were just as useful but even more affordable. While this is much easier said than done, once you really know your and/or your family’s needs you can clearly think through what the physical pieces you should get are and perhaps try to create new habits that will help to lessen the visual clutter (that’s the harder part, obviously:)) Now, we still want it to be pretty which is probably the biggest reason you come to a design site. Funcation is great (and necessary) but a little form never hurt anyone. Take Sara’s “entry” above. It’s teeny tiny but she chose pieces that fit within her space and with her style and added pretty things like new leather pulls on the cabinets, a cute lamp, properly scaled art (more on that later), etc. Ok, let’s finally get into these real-life examples. But if you need a little more visual guidance, here’s a graphic with 5 easy-peasy formulas to help you in your home. Bigger May Be Better Here’s what she said about it: “Our entry is not a separate space, it leads right into our open concept first floor. I love the vestibule with the moulding and wallpaper and 120+-year-old doors, but once you get inside the second door I don’t feel like the cabinet and decor relate to it very well. I feel like I keep adding more decor to make it feel more “designed” but something has always felt off. I am open to any ideas you have, but the moulding is on plaster and would be really difficult to remove so I think that is the only thing I wouldn’t do.” Since these post are really just for light decor ideas that’s what I’m going to focus on. Plus this is such a pretty home that it doesn’t need much! But what I find is the most related issue is scale. While that Target cabinet is so so cute, it feels a little too small for me. I think something longer would be an immediate visual upgrade. But let’s get into the designs so I can talk about it more. I created two design options because since I don’t know what the other side of the room looks like I wanted to give an option with the light wood credenza and one that’s darker. Let’s start dark. I feel that a darker wood credenza would look so beautiful next to those vintage doors. It adds a bit more richness which could be what this reader is looking for! I also think that adding a larger mirror to lean on the top with the other piece of art would also help make it feel grander (in a good). Plus mirrors are always helpful when running out the door for a last-minute check. I love the table lamp and other accessories they already have but getting a tray would help to corral some of them to make everything feel more intentionally placed. I also added a few more things since the credenza was a bit longer:) Oh and adding a cute boot tray like that metal one could also make things look a bit more streamlined but not mandatory:) As I said before, I don’t know what the other side of the room looks like so the lighter wood could look WAY better with the overall space. So I made another combo with the same but larger credenza with some other pretty accessories that would all look great together. Good luck!! In Need Of A little Function This sweet little PXD home doesn’t really seem to have a space to drop your keys or store your everyday shoes. The budget for this one was $500 and I am pretty proud that both combos are cute and nailed the budget! Now, the existing runner rug and wood cube are great. I did an option with the existing rug but feel that, while so pretty, the cube isn’t helping in the function department aside from a place to sit or place down a bag. Let me show you what I came up with. I took a swing with the combo on the left and went more with a classic PDX style. That console table is simple but great and only $126. The rug is a little more of a splurge but it’s almost the length as the original (this one is 9′ and her’s is 10′) but is available in much bigger sizes! Then for a little color, I think this schoolhouse-y plug-in sconce is awesome and works well with the style of her flush mount. They to elevate the look a little I loved this marble tray and cool little vase. But of course, shoe storage is key and I love these baskets from Target. The weave pattern is pretty and I love the warmth of the leather straps. The total for this look was $494! For the combo on the right, I let the style of the rug they have take charge! I chose the same console table since the price could not be beat and I really love that classic linen shade sconce because it also goes great with the flush mount. Then to space out some black accents, that tray is stunning in person (Emily has it) and the black leather straps on the shoe storage baskets tie the whole thing together. But to add a little fun, the checkered planter is perfect (and would look awesome with a plant:)), and a pretty candle always belongs in an entry…especially when it’s in a pretty vessel you can reuse after the candle is long gone. This total was $502 which isn’t too bad either! Simple But Cool Let’s start with what our lovely reader had to say when she emailed me: “We just moved in a couple of months ago and would love to get the team’s help. Attached are some pictures. I also included a coat rack we have but not sure if we should hang it up. Not sure if it’ll look too cluttered above the shoes. Oh, the measurements are 80in x 40in and the budget is around $300. Thanks so much!” Isn’t this a great and almost blank canvas!?! Since the budget is small, shoe storage is clearly important, oh, and they have a gorgeous coak rack already, I kept it simple but fun…at least to me:) I am partial to the combo on the left but it is fairly over budget buuuut could be reduced a little which I’ll get to. Now as I said above, the coat rack is a no-brainer but if it were my home, I would try to eliminate as much of the visual shoe clutter as possible. That’s why I picked this shoe bench! It’s pretty, goes great with the coat rack, and the cushion is leather so it’s easy to clean. There is a linen version that’s almost $30 cheaper. I also added a shoe basket since the bench doesn’t hold as many pairs as the rack they have. Of course, to lower the budget by another $30 that could also be eliminated. Lastly, a rug with a graphic pattern would really inject a ton of personality! This one is probably my favorite rug in our collection and has been in my kitchen for at least 6 months so I can attest to its durability:) The total for the whole combo is $481 (I know it’s a lot over but it’s not easy finding the right pieces at the right prices! Oh, and remember it could be $420). So for the second combo, I went with the original open-storage look but wanted to make it feel a little more modern. I think this shoe rack is very cool and also looks great with the coat rack. Then to really go graphic and match the shoe rack, I love this rug. It’s amazing how three little things can change the whole vibe of a space. This one comes to $385… Ok wait, there’s a third option. To save A LOT of money, they could also spray paint the current shoe rack black and get the shoe show basket for more storage. Then they could pick either rug. This would put them very under budget:) Oh and for those who love that coat rack but need a more affordable option, here’s a great one! A Looooong Journey From our reader: “I’m looking for any suggestions for our awkwardly long entryway. The double doors take up all the width so we can’t put furniture close to the doors or else the right door won’t open all the way. (The right door is the main one with the deadbolt.) We use the entryway to store all of our dog-walking gear. The runner is not my favorite, but I have to have some sort of rug to prevent my dog from slipping (she is arthritic). A sitting area is not needed; we just had the bench from the last house and brought it here. The width of the entryway is 74″ and depth is 24′. The distance from the doorway to the edge of the first room door is 8′.” This one was bar far the trickiest one so I very much felt for this reader (or anyone with a very long entryway!) And sure there are way to potentially break up the length by adding some architecture but that’s not what we are going into today. Now this reader didn’t give me a budget so I did my best to find both really affordable pieces and moderately affordable pieces. The truth of the matter is that prices have just gone up (I’m sure everyone reading this knows) so searching on sites like Craigslist or hunting in person is never a bad idea to help save some money and of course, create less waste in the future. But since that’s now really helping to any of you, here we are! Let’s dig in shall we? So while this was a feat, I am pretty proud of these combos and hope this reader loves them too! The first combo is where I played off more of what I saw in the photos – very light woods and neutrals. That credenza not only has a ton of storage for all things pets and life, it’s also a whopping 120″! That’s pretty huge for one piece of furniture…but still is only half of the total length of the hallway. That’s why I added a chair that could sit on either side of it (a potted plant could work too). I imagine someone putting on or taking off their shoes while sitting in it, making the shoe basket a perfect side companion. But going back to the credenza, it’s long which means it will need some more decor to make it look not totally empty. I love how the black in the lamp talks to the chair and shoe basket. Then a vase is always a great decor piece with or without flowers and I think this tray is so cute! I didn’t realize that they already have a wicker bowl which would also be perfect. And siiiince there’s space, you know I love a good candelabra:) The art for this was the hardest and these three pieces are more of a jumping-off point. The reader definitely needs to measure it all out and probably add since the wall is so huge. But they also don’t have to fill up the whole wall. Oh, and since there is soooo much happening on the credenza side, I think the 4 photos they have should be moved to the opposite wall in a grid and maybe stick that little bench under them as long as there’s enough walking space. Now, I left the existing rug in this combo to make it more affordable but the other rug would also look awesome. The only thing is that they will need to get 2 since it doesn’t come in that long of a size. OK, combo #2! I’m a sucker for that medium-toned wood so this credenza is magic to me. Plus, the brass hardware is so so pretty. Overall this is a still neutral but a warmer option. That print from Juniper Shop can be printed up to 55″x79″ (which is the size I tried to measure out in the graphic)! Can you believe it? What I also love is that you have the option for them to print it on paper or canvas OR you can get a very affordable digital download (but then you have to get it printed and framed which is something to consider if you want to go big). But I love this specific piece because it’s colorful but soft and has so much movement. It’s not going to overwhelm the space. Let this be a lesson in scale. When things are more or less the same size or too small, it almost never looks right or properly designed. So when in doubt say no to itsy bitsy and go bigger. Oh, and aren’t those sconces great? It’s amazing how many cute battery-operated options there are out there now. I just thought these linen shades felt a little softer which I wanted. The accessories each have a fun detail about them whether that’s pattern, material, and/or shape! Actually, pattern is an important element to this, including the easy-to-clean, shed-resistant, water-resistant runner (which again, they’ll need two and potentially a rug pad or some rug tape so their sweet pup doesn’t slip). It will help make the space feel more alive. But to not have too much pattern I love love the shape of that leather chair which I paired with a simple shoe basket. Now, all this of course is going to add up so I also looked at more affordable credenza options like this wall-mounted IKEA cabinet that they could get a couple of but I worry about the mesh getting dusty or full of dog hair. I also loved this affordable extra-long cabinet (under $650) but the wood tone looked a little too yellow and the wood grain looked too similar. The last idea I had was if they were handy that they could build something like this at their desired length. That way they could fill it with books, bins, or whatever they’d like. Oh, and something I didn’t mention above is that they could also add some hooks by the front door if they wanted their pet leases more accessible :) Well, that’s it for me! I truly hope that these 4 readers find this helpful and for the rest of you, that you are a least a little inspired. Love you, mean it.

Our Very Cute Last Minute Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

One of the best sales of the year is coming to an end: The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Emily wrote about her picks here when it started! I, on the other hand, tend to be a bit disorganized about sale shopping, so if you also fall into that category, this post is for you. I went through and found 16 truly great pieces that can be worn through the rest of the year (and beyond, of course:)) If you’re in need of either a few more summer pieces or new clothing for the fall, I highly recommend you check out this sale before it’s gone. Ready to “last-minute” shop this Nordstrom Anniversary sale picks with me? Cozy Sweaters In the clothing category, few things are dreamier than a slightly oversized sweater. Both of these are from Free People, which makes sense because all of my favorite knit sweaters are from them. They just have “the slouch” down perfectly. And both of these are well under $100 and come in more colors. Also, should we do a belt roundup? The are EXTREMELY back. If you prefer a more tailored (but still cozy) look, this Madewell sweater is perfect. It’s great to throw on for a cool summer evening or be the perfect pop of pattern under your fall/winter coat. It also comes in blue with white stripes. Cool Jeans If you are someone who maybe wants to try a pair of expensive jeans, a sale like this is such a great way to do that without paying full price. Both of these jeans are by MOTHER, a beloved but not inexpensive brand. I love each of these styles for different reasons. Who doesn’t love a little flare? They just know how to show off those curves. The other wide-leg jeans are simply cool. It gives you that chic, effortless vibe I know I’m always trying to go for:) Easy Blouses Naturally, I had to find some pretty blouses since we are VERY pro flow-y blouse at EHD. If you like some pattern, then look no further than Farm Rio (where the blouse on the left is from). This top, in particular, is the perfect colorway and pattern for all seasons. It’s vibrant without being too over the top. We are big fans. Then that solid blue top is simple, but the detailing in the cuffs and neckline are so pretty. Versatile but special! A Chic, Structured Top But if you want a top that is a little more structured, that can also easily transition to a cooler season (just throw on a thin little long sleeved top under), this vest is ideal for that. It’s from Rails, which Em is a big fan of, and I love that it’s a little longer. A great find…if I do say so myself:) Fun Tees Time to get a little more casual. I’ve recently been leaning more into fun tees. I still love a simple, plain white t-shirt, but sometimes you just want something a little more, amirite? Both of these have that ideal amount of “fun” without being too loud. That’s my ideal mix. A Trendy Lounge Pant Continuing our cool and casual journey, I’m in love with these track pants. How cute is the paper bag waist, or the curved detail on the bottom, or those cool stripes? A great pant for you to run around town and feel put together and comfortable. Transitional Dresses One thing most women love is an easy dress. But especially an easy dress we can wear in that transitional time between seasons. I think both of these dresses fit that bill perfectly! They can be worn with or without stockings and/or boots, and style-wise are appropriate for any season. A Multi Seasonal Skirt Looking for a sweet skirt? How good is this one?! It’s great for any season, has enough detailing to be interesting but not so much that it’s not simple, and it has the cutest matching top. A classic staple for your closet Cute Coats Since fall is approaching, those of you who are on top of things know that it’s smart to buy things like coats and jackets now…if you need any. So if you do, we love a barn jacket. It’s cool, utilitarian, and easy to throw on with most outfits! This one also comes in blue and green. And finally, who can resist a powder blue bouclé coat? It’s such a great pop of soft color that is fun but still feels neutral enough. When I see coats like this, it makes me sad that I don’t live in a place that has a true fall or winter. But if you do, maybe you could be this cool person! Here ends our talk of last-minute Nordstrom Anniversary sale picks. Hope you enjoyed the finds, and if you’re like me, needing a little reminder it was ending, happy shopping.

How We Made Our Old House Charming Again – A Front Of House Tour

The other day I realized I’ve never shown you the full front of the house – nor did you get the play-by-play of the 10 million decisions we made to get here (a huge shout-out to ARCIFORM – my goodness, do they know how to nail classic design so well). Every time I drive up, or anyone does, really, it’s hard not to be impressed with how truly pretty this view is (far more of a grownup house than I ever imagined I’d own). But it wasn’t always beautiful or charming. Like many 100-year-old houses, it started simple/basic, then over the years people made repairs and judgment calls – both good and bad. So today I’m very excited to walk you through what it looked like when we bought it, what we did to it to make it this classic, charming home we have now (PLUS, what two things I have yet to add to it when the budget magically arrives, lol). These were all of the things we knew needed some help with the house and curb appeal… …and these were all of the things we did to achieve that:) Now, come read alllll about it! The Addition – A New Sunroom First things first, ARCIFORM designed my beloved sunroom to help the house look like it had a wraparound covered porch. It looks incredibly original. Thank you, Anne! The house was totally fine, a classic 4-square (where the main living areas are on the first floor, all bedrooms above). Of course, they had added a wing in the 60s, so already that style had changed, but the addition of the sunroom created the sense of this wraparound porch, which just added so much charm. I designed the sunroom windows to marry the original diamond windows (upstairs) with the newer classic grid. The only reason we didn’t do all the new windows like this was due to design and budget constraints. The sunroom windows are absolutely gorgeous, IMHO, and so having these and the entry window be custom-made felt like the right move. The Hefty Porch Railing We went round and round about the porch railings. Classic white wood railings felt basic and, dare I say, boring to me, but I couldn’t find an alternative that made sense (that wasn’t going to be custom welding metal work, which is crazy expensive). Ultimately, I trusted ARCIFORM that this was the appropriate thing to do for the age and style of the home. As far as the size, we wanted them to be a height that people could rest their butts on (we landed at 28″ high), but I thought that these were going to be too chunky, thick, bulky. I was so wrong. ARCIFORM kept telling me that with the scale of the house, we’d need big posts and big railings. They were right!! I love how they look. Our railings are 6″ wide on top with 3″ vertical square railings and 7″ square posts. Ceiling Beams And Rafter Tails I learned a ton about classic porches thanks to ARCIFORM. We chose a tongue and groove ceiling with beams that were 18″ apart, with custom rafter tails to match the original roofline rafter tails (which we tried to replicate on the gazebo but were floored by the pricing – $$$$$$). The pretty carved detail at the end is, of course, gorgeous, but very expensive. Here, you’d have to do it to match. Now I thought we were leaving these rafter tails exposed (so you could see them from the front of the house, with the gutters going on top of them) but they were covered with a piece of wood (is that called skirting when it’s up there, too?) that covered them and then they attached the gutter to that piece of wood. Ultimately, I didn’t have them redo it, but it was something that bummed me out at first. They said that the gutters worked much better this way, and with the rain in Portland, I respected that as we want the best water management here. Now I’ve gotten used to it and heck, maybe all the exposed rafter tails would have been too busy throughout the entire property? Just Google “exposed rafter tails” if you want to see what I’m talking about – it’s a different look. Cement Stairs And Black Metal Handrails Another two details that I sweated over were the cement stairs and the black handrails. We were told over and over that we can’t have wood railings or wood stairs exposed to the rain – they are sure to rot (maybe not for 10-15 years, but still!). So I looked on Pinterest for hours/days/weeks of what we could use that wasn’t wood, and I either found crazy decorative custom stuff (too $$$) or just simple/boring. I was both overwhelmed and underwhelmed, so I designed them to be thin and wide and hoped that they would just go away. I hoped that the house was so pretty that these didn’t need to be anything special. Thank god, I was right about this because even though they were simple, they still cost thousands of dollars since we needed 10 of them around the house at every entrance/exit (by code). Same with the cement stairs – cement is so boring! But because we had so many entrances (front door, mudroom, our bedroom, and the kitchen), we couldn’t really do brick or anything special due to budget. Just the cement was $10k, so imagine had we chosen to do real masonry…ANYWAY, that’s all to say in retrospect. These are the things you don’t notice – the house is so pretty, and these simple and classic elements just disappear in a good way. Vertical Wood Skirting + Horizontal Siding We chose real lap siding (not hardy board), which I think we did because it was a more authentic thing to do, but we did our garages in hardy board and you can barely tell the difference, TBH. Our siding is a 5″ reveal (so I’m assuming it’s 6″ lap siding, where the top of the first inch is covered by the next board). Super classic. Now, the vertical skirting underneath the porch threw me at first, but it makes sense as it contrasts with the horizontal siding nicely. What About Copper Gutters? Oh, you bet we thought about copper gutters, but the price difference was pretty nuts. Now I don’t remember for sure, but I think our white vinyl gutters were around $5k and the copper ones would have been $30k (or something like that – a CRAZY Difference). And the more we thought about it, the more we actually felt that our bright white house didn’t want copper gutters – that they’d get too much attention. I love seeing them on Chris Loves Julia’s house (and they broke down the process so well) as their house is so classic and moody and their patinated gutters look so good. But for our white house, having you not notice the gutters really works. Of course, the copper sconces really pop in a way that I love (and I love how they work so well with the brick landing pad, which is an architectural call back to the kitchen patio). On Mixing Stone And Brick Hardscape The hardscape gets complicated, but the reason we did a herringbone brick anywhere on the property in the first place was because of the covered walkway on the north side of the house, which was long and skinny. It felt like it needed to be a linear pattern (not organic like flagstone). And doing a rectangular flagstone didn’t sound pretty enough to me. The reason we didn’t do herringbone brick everywhere was due to the extreme cost of both the material and the install (which is saying a lot because the stone is also shockingly expensive). So we decided to mix the finishes – a more formal herringbone brick and casual/rustic bluestone. My philosophy was and remains that with older houses like ours, there is something charming about not having all the finishes match or be the same. My feeling is that over time, people in different eras added on different style choices, and that as long as they are all high quality and well executed, the hodge-podgeness of it is actually charming and feels collected over time. I think I’m right for this house, but I wouldn’t do this for a contemporary house – I would likely curate all hard finishes, with some custom details, but I wouldn’t do organic flagstone next to herringbone brick just anywhere. The Landscaping While the house is gorgeous, it’s still simple (white on white, pops of copper/brick but nothing too whimsical). At times, I was so worried that it would be boring (should the windows have been a color? The trim a color? The whole house a color?), but I kept reminding myself that once the landscaping grew in, it would be surrounded by different tones of green and darker aubergine/pinks. Cali (Studio Campo) originally selected the plants/trees for here and they have already changed a lot since install (those amarlylis just showed up this year and I should probably get rid of them before they take over). I added the hydrangeas from Dennis’ 7 Dees), but that statement cherry tree (thanks to Big Trees Today in Oregon) and all the plants really added a ton of color. Two Things I Want To Add (Eventually) I truly love our home, so much. But if I could snap my fingers and add two things, I’d add blue shutters on the bedroom second floor and custom corbels (like we did on the gazebo). I know we went round and round about shutters, here, and it was very polarizing, but I really think that this house can handle real shutters (NOT these renders, they would be the right size and REAL), with pretty black hardware in the same blue as the garage doors (Sherwin-Williams Dutch Tile Blue). And it’s not abnormal to have them only on the second/bedroom floor (since they wouldn’t work on hardly any of the first floor windows). When I had them quoted before, they were $25k (!!!), and I was on the fence, so we didn’t do it. But I do wish we had them, and I might play the lottery and go for it :) And then re the corbels, Purl made the most beautiful corbels for our gazebo, so I’m going to hire him to add some to our porches ($400 each + install, so not nothing but architecturally worth it to me). Anyway, we’ll see if I get around to either of these things (both financially and time-wise). The corbels feel easier to execute (and I love supporting Purl and his artwork), but the shutters feel like a lot. I’ve got other fish to fry (i.e., a carriage house to restore). Thanks, ARCIFORM, for helping us make such classic decisions on the architecture of our home. Everyone thinks that the front was original, and they can’t believe that we didn’t have a porch or the sunroom. Ask me questions in the comments!!