my friend’s moody dark green dining room (you should see the before)

Home Decor

My Friend’s Moody Dark Green Dining Room (You Should See The Before)

Drescription

This is a real pleasure to introduce you to an eclectic cool dining room I helped design for one of my best friends. If you haven’t seen their living room, dining nook, or basement go check those out afterward, but what you’ll see is a continuation of this “traditional with a big edge” style, employing some classic elements along with a few contemporary twists. I LOVE how it turned out so much.

When they bought the house everything was neutral and pretty tame, so they amped it up pretty quickly with this green paint color (Bancha from Farrow & Ball chosen with Max Humphrey) then I came in and furnished it all (spending other people’s money on Saturday mornings is really my favorite hobby and satisfies my shopping addiction without the personal damage!).

As you can see the dining room can be viewed from the living room so the colors really had to work together (and dare I say, they do). The green really pulls you in and then the colors once you are inside speak to the living room so clearly. I feel like it’s impossible to not feel happy looking at this photo.

The rug was game-changing – the colors and pattern are perfect in here and really livened up the room. I had been eyeing it for a long time so I was so happy when I finally got to use it somewhere. The dining table is a really pretty walnut oval, with awesome curves (and I love how the curves talk to the light fixture). I opted for two captain’s chairs in a soft green velvet, then punched up the side chairs with these from Soho Home (the multi-color upholstery is so pretty, especially on the more classically shaped chair).

FYI, they normally don’t leave a beautiful book open on their dining table when not being used:)

This room is used as a home office at times (especially with all the shelving) so we added this cabinet (more oval shapes offsetting all the grid of the window and the stripe of the rug). And that punch of red in there with the lamp keeps it feeling moody and unexpected.

The colors really did all work so beautifully together – the greens, blues and warmer red tones create such a cozy and yet totally modern palette. It was also such a refreshing room to design – so different than my light/bright Scandi vibe. That green paint color has a lot of yellow which I typically don’t choose (not sure why) but I really LOVE it in here (but be careful in a really bright room it might be really bold/jarring).

For the shelves, I mostly just styled with what they already owned. I edited it and curated it a bit, only bringing a few things from my prop closet that I was wiling to part with.

I do love a before and after and this one really shows how layered and warm this room became:

So again, if you haven’t seen their living room, dining nook, or basement go check those out. I just love how this house turned out so much and hanging out in here in person is even better. Cheers to friends who give me free rein to do cool stuff (and who have fantastic taste in making the project so seamless).

A Year in Fashion & Beauty: All the Things I Wore (On My Body and Face) in 2018

It has come to my immediate attention (once we pulled together this post) that this was not a very fashion-y blog year for Emily Henderson. I blame it on the fact that I was too deep in the renovation trenches to focus on fashion and beauty which I really LOVE, too. But once the summer hit, we got it together and dove in hard. So much chambray, bathing suits for different body types (thanks Arlyn and Sara), the team’s favorite beauty picks and, of course, the HAIR MAKEOVERS. We have a lot of plans for fashion and beauty next year because, well, it’s just fun and most everyone likes it, me included. :) Plus, I’ll take any excuse to try something new. For now, let’s take a look back on what happened in 2018 in the world of Haute Henderson. My sister pointed out to me that last year’s post is almost identical to this one so I fired her immediately. LOOK this girl loves her blue, white and blush for an everyday look. Plus this post contains some of my staples like the jeans and shoes that I wear all the time (SPEAKING OF WHICH: Nisolo, one of my go-to footwear brands is having an INSANE sale starting today until January 5th where a big majority of their products are 40% off, like these Chelsea boots, these oxfords and these mules). I did step out of my color palette a little so head to the post if you want to see what I changed up. I tend to lean on the modest side of fashion so swimsuits are not my favorite clothing item to discuss. And let’s be real, all of us have pain points on our bodies that we aren’t the happiest about. One of mine is my post-baby tummy. So this year, I talked to the team to see who was brave enough to talk about their bodies and pick out swimsuits they love. Sara and Arlyn (it was her FIRST month here) stepped up. Head to the post for some real body talk and flattering swimsuit options. I love a flowy dress and this summer I wanted them on my body. They are easy, comfortable and a whole outfit in one piece of clothing. This post was a roundup of all the ones I wanted plus some super cute summer shoes. We thought it would be really fun and super helpful to share the ladies of EHD’s most favorite beauty products. Since we all have different skin types, needs and levels of beauty knowledge, we figured that many of you could relate. So each team member talked about their skin, challenges and why they love the products they use. Just consider us your new cool friend who has all those awesome product recommendations you need in your life. This was the first year I shopped at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and now I get it. It’s AWESOME. This post was not sponsored at all. I just needed some new fall clothes and jumped on the sale train. My love for the long trench is alive and real folks. But I grabbed some other very fun and apparently CONTROVERSIAL pieces. Check them out and see what you think. :) Summer is THE wedding season and it’s hard to know what to wear to all of those different weddings. Jess felt very passionately about this since she had five weddings to attend this year. So we decided to round up our favorite dresses and shoes by venue type and dress code. Remember when I said at the beginning of the post that I love trying all the new things?? Well, that usually excludes my hair. But we got an opportunity to do a trade with The Harbor Salon in Silver Lake to do five hair makeovers in exchange for a blog post. Four of the EHD ladies and I were ready for a change so we said YES. This post is an intro to where their hair was at and what we wanted to go for. We did it! Well, they did it as my hair is forever a work in progress. The girls look SO good and they feel/look like new people. Head to the post to see the beautiful pics of the salon and how awesome the ladies hair turned out. There you have it. That’s it. Short, sweet but still full of fun yet help info. Okay, now I want to hear from you. What fashion/beauty content do you want in 2019? It’s honestly so fun to put together so we would love to know what is most helpful to all of you. Comment below and we will try to deliver.

4 Women Honestly Review Gel-X Manicures (+ 42 Nail Art Ideas We Actually Tried)

It’s been nine months since my first Gel-X manicure and let me tell you: I’m never going back. Dips? Acrylics? Extensions? Regular gel? NO MORE FOR ME, THANK YOU. So today, I wanted to share a little bit more about Gel-X (you know – what it is, how much it costs, how long it lasts, the pros/cons) buuuuut I also wanted to bring in a few familiar faces to share their opinions and experiences. (If you’re the type of person with the dexterity to paint your own nails, we’re also sharing 42 different shots of our actual manicures – maybe we can spark some of your creativity! And, if you’re like, “uh, nails aren’t for me,” there’s even a picture of a real-life horse in here! Why? You’ll find out! Anyway, something for everyone!) Let’s start with the high-level overview, yeah? Basically, Gel-X is a press-on nail that cures like gel (read: your nail technician will size up your hands, glue on a nail of your preferred shape/length, and your ~new nails~ will be firmly attached for about a month after you shove your hand under one of those UV lights). Once everything has cured, your technician will proceed as normal – polish, art, lotion, oil, an occasional full hand model photoshoot for their IG, etc. – and when you’re finally ready to come back in a few weeks to switch things up, the removal process is the same as it would be for any standard gel manicure. i’ll pop in later with more of my nail art, but here’s a taste! Gel-X nails are flexible (so they won’t snap in half when you jam your hand into a wall, or a counter, or your car, or some other place, as regular humans are wont to do). They’re also really lightweight, especially when compared to acrylics, and they look natural – or, uh, as natural as neon cow print nails can look, at least. More than anything, though, I’ve found that Gel-X nails just make me feel really, really, really great. There’s something kind of fun and visceral about clacking away on something, you know? But this isn’t just about me – three other EHD gals have hopped on the Gel-X train, so I wanted to grab their unbiased opinions, too. I’ll check in with you below (and I’ll spill the details on my average spend!), but first…let me throw it over to the queen of nail art, Veronica. Veronica When’d you start trying out Gel-X? My first Gel-X manicure was in June of 2021, because I wanted to do something special for my birthday, and since then it’s been a nice once-a-month self-care routine during the pandemic. :) Had you invested in nails or nail art before (e.g. gels, acrylics, press-ons, etc.)? Before Gel-X, I had gotten gel on my regular nails and tried press ons / glue ons, but those only averaged about 2 weeks max. Was there an adjustment period to Gel-X? Not really. Gel-X is better for your nails than acrylics, but your nails do thin still because of them being sanded down in the process. What’s your preferred shape and length? I go back and forth between getting somewhere between an almond and stiletto shape and a square shape. I usually keep them short-medium length because of my job (photographer who works on her computer most days, or is dealing with equipment when I’m on set). How long do your appointments take? Appointments take between 1.5 – 2 hours. How long do your nails stay on? I’ve never had a nail fall off when getting Gel-X, and I usually get mine done anywhere between three and four weeks because my nails grow out pretty quickly. How do your nails feel? My nails feel good, not like they are being ruined or anything, but they are thinner for sure since starting Gel-X! Although, my nails have always been on the thin side. Is there an average cost? The place I go to is on the more expensive side (between $90-100 before tip) because I found a nail tech I really love and trust, but I know a salon that a pal of mine has gone to and it’s around $65 starting price. It really just depends on the salon, but I have found it’s important to go somewhere you feel the techs are able to take care of your nails in a healthy way. Where do you get your nail art inspiration? I use Pinterest and Instagram for nail inspo and have saved boards on both. Two accounts I follow on Instagram are: Nia Ho & Vivian W and the other saved posts have popped up on my explore page. :) Any pros and cons? I’m not a professional, so I can only speak to my personal opinion lol but pros – if you want something that will last without having to worry about chipping, breaking, or touch-ups, then the Gel-X is a great option. Cons – it can add up and get expensive depending on how often you get them done and it’s important to get them taken off in a salon so you don’t ruin your nails trying to do them yourself. Ryann When’d you start trying out Gel-X? I started October 2021. Had you invested in nails or nail art before (e.g. gels, acrylics, press-ons, etc.)? Years and years ago I used to get acrylic nails but I hated it. More recently I was a press-on nail gal but only for special occasions. Was there an adjustment period to Gel-X? Oh yeah. At first, I felt like I couldn’t do anything with long nails but I got used to it pretty fast. Typing was very hard at first (I looked like this). What’s your preferred shape and length? I get the medium length and almond shape. How long do your appointments take? If I am getting a Gel-X removal plus a new set it usually takes an hour and a half. How long do your nails stay on? The longest I have gone between appointments is 4 weeks and they were still holding on! How do your nails feel? My actual nails feel a lot stronger than they did when I used to get acrylics. I think the Gel-X is a lot more gentle on your actual nails. Is there an average cost? With tip it’s between $100-150 (when you do designs versus a solid color it’s closer to $150). Where do you get your nail art inspiration? Instagram or my friends! Any pros and cons? Pros: I feel put together even when I am wearing sweats. And I get compliments all the time. :’) Cons: If the technician cuts my actual nails too short before putting the Gel X on as my nails start to grow out it can be painful because my nails start to grow into my nail bed (it’s gross I know). But the easy fix to this is to tell your nail tech not to cut your actual nails. Jess When’d you start trying out Gel-X? October 5, 2021 (my birthday:)). Had you invested in nails or nail art before (e.g. gels, acrylics, press-ons, etc.)? I went a couple of years getting gel manicures all the time when I worked in restaurants because it was the only kind that actually lasted. Getting a regular mani at the time was like throwing money directly into the trash. Then a few years ago I got a gel manicure with a design for the first time and my god I loved it but wasn’t able to afford it on the regular. This go around however was my first time EVER getting “fake nails”. My mom gave me a hard no when I wanted those french tip acrylics in middle school. I guess being like all the other cool girls wasn’t a good enough argument. Was there an adjustment period to Gel-X? Lol yes. I felt like Edward Scissorhands but less proficient for at least a week. I remember the next morning trying to put on my leggings thinking “I don’t think I can dress myself. This nail thing is a LIFESTYLE!” I was mainly afraid of them ripping off which is apparently a VERY normal experience for newbs like me. But then when I got my second and now with my third, they just feel like my normal fingernails. the 2nd set that felt too wide (they also were a little shorter to be fair) What’s your preferred shape and length? I love an almond shape and medium length. I don’t know if “medium” is a technical term but I want them to look longish and elegant but still want to be able to you know, type. I will also say that the physical gel-x shape is I think called Stiletto (not the tip shape but fact check me on that). Basically, I like the nail to look slender. The second set I got (the green one above) felt a little wide for me. Just something to think about if you are going in for the first time or if you want a different look. How long do your appointments take? Eh, 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the design. The first time is the shortest since they don’t have to remove your old set. How long do your nails stay on? So far about six weeks. BUT I have chosen designs where the “background” is clear or “natural”. Why that’s a good idea if you want to stretch out your mani is that the grow-out is less noticeable than if I had a solid color. How do your nails feel? Ok, so the plan is to have my real nails grow long enough to where I can just go back to gel manicures and they are almost there (except one stupid one that broke so not sure if I need to wait until that one grows back). That being said, you can see my real nails when I flip my hands over. It’s not the prettiest if I’m honest but I’ve got goals. So when you go, you have the choice to keep your natural nails long or cut them short so you really can’t see them ever. How do my real nails feel you ask? When the fake ones get shaved off, they feel oookay. Look, it’s a sacrifice. I don’t know if it’s possible to have perfectly healthy nails and do anything beyond a regular manicure. All I know is that for now, I love having my nails done and fun for six weeks at a time. Is there an average cost? $105 + Tip (I usually give $30 because they do such a great job and they are literally painting art onto my hands). left: really long nails | right: short (for me:)) nails Where do you get your nail art inspiration? Pinterest and Instagram. I have folders that I save to. But also Beyonce was my last inspiration so look at those celeb nails too! Veronica also shares accounts she loves which is so fun and very sweet of her. We go to the same salon too! AD Any pros and cons? Pros: I LOVE my nails and they make me feel sexy, powerful, and put together. Cons: It’s not cheap and I know that my real nails aren’t living their best lives. Oh, and activities like bowling and putting on necklaces are hard. Caitlin When’d you start trying out Gel-X? Got my first one on May 19, 2021 and I never went back. Had you invested in nails or nail art before (e.g. gels, acrylics, press-ons, etc.)? I used to spend a bunch on standard gel manicures with full art – that’s the one beauty splurge that I really loved – but I had a really bad habit of picking it all off, which (a.) made my hands look kind of gnarly and (b.) was not great for the health of my nails. Was there an adjustment period to Gel-X? For me, no. I was used to having longer nails so other than the constant fear that they were going to pop off, they felt totally normal to me. What’s your preferred shape and length? I started with medium ovals, but I moved into long territory with the set you see above. Scale-wise, I think longer ones look best on my hands. How long do your appointments take? Removal can take 30-45 minutes and then my new manicure can be another 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much detail I’m looking for. How long do your nails stay on? I maxed out at 8 weeks for the holidays – I literally had to cut them like my regular nails because they’d grown out so much. That said, I did experience some lifting on the base of my pointer finger when I first started – this was remedied by bringing it up to my nail tech and I haven’t had any problems since! If you’re doing a lot of schlepping or manual work, I’d highly recommend flagging that before your first set. How do your nails feel? Good! While I don’t mean to suggest that Gel-X is making my nails stronger, they’re in WAY better shape than when I used to get gel manicures sanded off every two weeks. When my sets are removed, my nails look pretty normal, too – no breakage or thinning is happening underneath the Gel-X nail. Is there an average cost? I pay a $20 booking fee to reserve my spot and then manicures are $60-100, depending on how crazy I’m getting. Tips are always 20-25% – so basically $100 on the low end, $150 on the high end. Where do you get your nail art inspiration? NIA!!! My nail tech is LA’s best-kept secret and while I kind of don’t want to share the intel (it’s already hard to get an appointment – she’s popular!!!), YOU MUST CHECK OUT HER INSTAGRAM. I do not know how Nia does not have a million followers – she can do ANYTHING. Seriously, her IG page is filled with a staggering variety and you’re guaranteed to find something inspiring there. SHE IS THE BEST. (I wouldn’t want to spend ~2 hours with anyone else.) as promised – this is doolittle, a big sweet dummy who loves to eat bananas, and these are my thanksgiving nails after a month of growth! Any pros and cons? Pros: I feel really powerful and kind of intimidating when my nails are done. Shampooing my scalp feels like a dream. If I’m going to spend at least 8 hours a day typing, it cheers me up to see a little party going on at the tips of my fingers. Clinking my nails on glasses makes me feel really happy. Cons: COST. I mean, when I break it down, I do think they bring me at least $3 of joy per day…but it’s not an essential and if things ever went south, I’m totally aware that this would be the first item cut from my budget. I don’t love subjecting my hands to such isolated UV rays once a month and sometimes I forget SPF before my appointments. Picking up coins is challenging. Working lobster clasps on jewelry is impossible. Nia’s studio is walking distance from my apartment and I get catcalled by a lot of creeps on my way to get my nails done. Despite all this…they’re worth it to me. If you’re self-assured (I’m not) and want to give Gel-X a whirl at home, you can grab a kit right here. If not, check Yelp to find a highly-reviewed technician near you – if you’re going to splurge, make sure it’s on someone who can deliver long-lasting results that’ll make you smile. But now I must know – what say you??? Tell me about your nail habits! Show me your nail art! Send me your inspo accounts! (I have an appointment next week and need a jumping-off point if anyone has suggestions.) LET’S JUST TALK ABOUT OUR HANDS.

How to Revive Near-Dead Petunias and Save Your Yard in the Process

Depending on where you live, petunias are probably a summer staple in your flower beds. They’re a reliable pop of color, and they tend to thrive in a variety of conditions. As long as they’re in a sunny spot and watered regularly, petunias are generally considered low-maintenance plants. As the summer goes on, it’s not uncommon to catch your petunias drooping and dying—especially if you’ve faced a summer of extremes—but with a few handy tips you might be able to revive your near-dead petunias and bring them back to thrive until the season ends. Deadhead Any Lost Blooms One of the best ways to help a struggling petunia plant is by deadheading; this is the process of removing any dead or faded flowers from the plant. Deadheading petunias both encourages more blooming and immediately fixes the look of your plant. The reason it encourages more flowers to bloom is because the plant can focus its energy on new life, rather than trying to revive spent blossoms. You can do this either with proper shears, or by simply picking off the dead flower with your fingers. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! Prune the Dried Foliage Another way to perk up your petunias is with pruning. This is similar to deadheading (it serves the same purpose), but instead of tackling the dead flowers, you go for the dead leaves. Along with cleaning up the look of your plant, you’re also helping it direct its energy toward new, fresh growth. While pinching off flowers is an option for deadheading, you’ll need proper, sharp shears for dealing with the foliage. It’s also important they’re clean, as otherwise you run the risk of spreading disease to the plant. Adjust Your Watering Schedule Depending on where you live, petunias don't require too much attention, but they still need regular watering. If you notice your plants look dire, have a peek at your watering schedule. You might need to make adjustments. While petunias planted in the ground can go longer, anything in a pot needs daily watering. But you don’t want to over-water your petunias, either. If your plants look parched and crispy, amp up the water. If the leaves are yellow and the plants are drooping, slow it down. Ensure Proper Drainage Along with taking note of whether or not your petunias are drooping and looking yellow, you also need to beware of root rot. This is when the roots of your petunias become waterlogged, and it’s the most fatal effect of over-watering. If you suspect your petunias are at risk, they might need removing or relocating into fresh soil that can ensure good drainage. If you plan to repot in the same container, make sure you clean and disinfect the pot thoroughly to avoid the spread of any mold or mildew that might have started to accumulate. Fertilize the Soil Petunias are considered heavy feeders, which means they benefit from fertilizers. Slow-release options are great, and can be used both in the ground and when petunias are planted in pots and containers. Along with reviving your plants, fertilizing petunias can also help with more abundant blooms and a longer growing season. If you don’t want to invest in special fertilizer, you can try making your own compost, or adding banana peels or coffee grounds to the soil. Move Into Full Sun Petunias thrive with the right amount of sunlight, so check the light levels if you find your blooms aren’t full or abundant. You should aim to provide these plants with at least six hours of direct sunlight a day, although eight or more is ideal. If your plants are in containers, this should be easy enough to resolve—simply move the pot. If you’re dealing with grumpy petunias in the ground, it’s likely time to relocate. Some shade is fine, but a sunny spot is an absolute must if you’re hoping to perk your plants up enough to see more flowers. Offer Protection From the Elements As a final potential problem for your petunias, consider their exposure to any extreme elements. Blistering sun with no water is an obvious problem, but petunias can also be sensitive to strong winds—especially any varieties with more delicate blooms. Keep an eye out, too, for any potential pests. Petunias are prone to attracting aphids and slugs, while rabbits and deer might also snack on these blooms. If you notice any signs of an invasion, consider moving or protecting your plants to help bring them back to life.

The Expertly-Planned River House Primary Closet Reveal

My brother (and SIL’s closet) technically isn’t my design but once I saw it all done by the incredible team at California Closets I was so excited to style and shoot it with my team. I’ve been so happy with our closet (also by CC) and while it’s certainly a luxury full-service situation, you get exactly what you want at the end with the final design solution being so functional and customizable. Have a lot of gowns and jewelry? They know how to maximize that. Do you have mostly utilitarian boots, jeans, and fleeces? They got you. It’s such a fun exercise to go through – to really list what you have and even more importantly what you wear frequently. Ken and Katie worked with Amy Bodi of California Closets – I was sooo happy with Amy’s design of my closet so I knew they were in good hands with California Closets’ Oregon team. One of the first steps Amy does is talk through their lifestyle, AKA – what their real needs are for clothes storage. Ken and Katie (like most PNW folks) are very casual, and neither of them have typical office jobs that require multiple wardrobes. Of course, you want to design it for universal functionality in case someone does have a lot of gowns, they will be able to store them. But for the most part, Amy took the information and designed the closet to meet their needs. She sent through all the drawings where you can see clearly where the jeans could be folded and stacked, where the blouses could be hung, or where the full-length dresses would live. She might have even done the same exercise with them where I counted out roughly how many sneakers vs. boots vs. tall boots vs. heels and designed the shoe racks to make sure that there weren’t any major holes (I even have a place for my tall boots but this lady – and her husband – love some thigh highs, LOL). The customization and thought-through custom design approach is what you are paying for (well, that along with the incredible installation service – this closet took under 2 days!). Here are some shots of it without clothes in it so you can see the general layout, materials, and how they match up with the design plans. Ken and Katie chose black stained wood, with white faux leather handles, and brushed brass accents. They added a few bells and whistles you’ll see below and decided against adding extra cabinet fronts for easy access (the closet has pocket doors on both sides and can be shut off easily. They opted for a lot of drawers and shelves for jeans, and the hanging space is pretty flexible for hers or his (and some but not too many spots for long dresses or suits). We couldn’t believe that this went from blank to totally done in 2 days. Their crew are absolute pros. This is because they have their own designers and installers instead of using subcontractors, meaning they know this product. That ensures the quality is always extremely high. Before we get into the beautiful photos, here’s a little video walkthrough! (just wait for the ad to play:)) The finished product, as you can see turned out so easy to manage and keep organized, met all of their needs (and more) and I actually had to bring in a bunch of my clothes to help fill it, LOL. While Ken and Katie aren’t huge fashion folk they know that a house of this size and budget needs a really thoughtfully designed closet for future owners, so they still went for it. As you can see it’s a pass-through closet between the hallway and their bathroom (I love a closet very close to a bathroom if you can lay it out that way). Amy and the California Closet team designed it so that the drawers and shelves are on one side, all the hanging on the opposite, and miscellaneous or seasonal shelving with bins up top. The opposite view shows their Maddox wall organizer which is great for setting out clothes, or more realistically, steaming them or hanging belts and robes. The finishes are all very high quality and coordinated. It’s a nice detail that puts the simple hook to shame. California Closets did such a great job of allocating each shelf for different things (and please note the mirror that is tucked away by the dresses – you’ll see it down below. The closet rods are wrapped in faux leather which is such a nice high-end detail (and makes it so easy to slide hangers). Ken and Katie went with only one full-length hanging rod, the rest for blouses, jackets, or pants. Above, we bought bins for seasonal items (or things like Spanx, slips, and specialty clothes). Secret Accessories FTW Two things that Katie and Ken went with are the pull-out hamper and again, a mirror that slides out and pivots – GENIUS. You could obviously use the hamper for laundry of course (it slips out easily), but they use it for dry cleaning. I think one of the biggest benefits of California Closets is the drawer customization (which is harder to get off the shelf, obviously – ha, pun intended). It precludes the need for a dresser in your bedroom – underwear, bras, socks all the annoying little stuff can have designated areas as well as T-shirts, athleisure, etc. For Katie, we styled sweaters, sweatshirts, and shoes on the shelves, but could easily have put jeans if you didn’t want to hang them up. When it comes to shoes, California Closets has a lot of different suggestions (for instance, Brian and I aren’t big shoe people so we did some pull-out drawer shelves and taller cabinets for my tall boots). For Katie and Ken, they wanted flexibility with the shelves so they selected shoe shelves on top (for heels or more occasional shoes) and we styled the rest of the shelves with everyday shoes, but those could easily be for stacks of anything, or baskets full of scarves, etc. The leather and brass detail make it look so high-end and luxe. There are a lot of different options (or you can use your own like we did for our closet). Quite possibly the best perk of this are these jewelry pullouts (that are lit with special lights). Listen, in case you are a robber you should know that these are all either my jewelry or props we bought for the shoot, but if you have fine jewelry this is such a lovely way to keep them organized, not to mention visually pleasing. A huge thanks to California Closets for designing and partnering on my brother’s closet. It’s a total luxury because you get it all totally customized for your needs and installed by professionals. If it’s in your budget for even a simple design solution it’s pretty darn incredible. Thanks, Amy Bodi for helping my brother and SIL – they are extremely happy:)