the expertly planned river house primary closet reveal

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The Expertly-Planned River House Primary Closet Reveal

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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:)

I Tried On Everything At H&M And These Are My 9 Cute And Affordable Summer Outfits

Last Friday, I went to the mall (Pioneer Square to be specific) with the goal of finding some affordable summer outfits and play clothes, but instead, I basically tried on the entire store to find some things that I liked across a few categories (summer office clothes, too). I don't take pics of what doesn't work (a waste of time and would likely include some self-body shaming that is bad for everyone involved), so what you see here today is what I really really like and think passes a lot of tests. Now to remember, I'm more apple shaped (bigger boobs, smaller hips/legs) and right now I'm around a size 4 so I'll indicate the size I'm wearing because sizes at stores right now are WILD and nothing is consistent across the board making it really hard to buy sight unseen. A solid summer chore jacket - lightweight denim, huge pockets, easy fit to layer over. LOVED IT. But we are all here for the pants. I tried on every single wide-leg linen pant they had, and this is the only one that I felt like had a drape that didn't read as pajamas. The cream and grey stripe is flattering and could be worn with flip flops or elevated a bit (but not too much). I want to wear these all summer when I don't have self-tanner on my legs (which is never, LOL - this is my new at-home favorite and develops in TWO HOURS). I don't want to hate on loose linen pants, but often I just feel a bit schlubby in them out of the house - not these!! How cute is this set???? So great for park hangs, over a bathing suit, mall shopping - anywhere where you want to be cool and casual but not look boring. These have a GREAT fit for me with a nice boxy top with a rounded shirt hem (i.e., not straight across), and the shorts don't hug, cut in, or gather in weird places. I wouldn't typically wear this set with those Nisolo Mules (still a favorite pair for almost any occasion where I want to be comfortable with a heel for hours), but with flip flops, sneakers or even cute wedges, this yellow and white stripe allows me to enjoy this summer yellow trend without investing too much financially. Affordable summer outfit, check! This is a fantastic summer suit if I had an office job. It's linen and looks really high-end, but is so affordable! My lifestyle does not support me having a white suit set (although if I were headed to New York for work meetings, I would totally buy this). The blouse is easy and lightweight (not a total slam dunk, but cute enough). Another one, but make it a skort! And cream (which I can do a bit better than bright white). I loved the cut of the jacket - strong shoulders that drape really well. The skort is pretty dang cute - skirt in the front, shorts in the back. And that ribbed tank top is pretty great - for $9.99, it comes in a few colors. Great to layer, not too see-through, or did it show my bits and bobs. I'm wearing a medium but would size down if I wanted it more fitted (it was loose as a medium). Proof of skort :) Likely my favorite of the work looks - these navy blue shorts are so cute and pairing them with the crisp white blazer felt pretty "me". The shorts are formal enough that I think you could totally wear them to work (or anywhere, really). The linen blouse has cute ruffled sleeves and isn't like doing anything new in this world, but if you need more airy white linen blouses, this one is great and affordable. Listen, I'm not a huge white denim wearer year-round or in the summer, but this set is SO CUTE. I bought the top enthusiastically because I have it in denim (wearing it right now actually) and it's a solid shacket. In cream with the button and pocket detail is solid (and it's lightweight, not a super thick heavy denim). The jeans were long on me and high-waisted - so I didn't get them, but they were great if you like straight-legged high-waisted denim! Oh! Here is the white denim shirt as a shacket with these awesome pull-on linen shorts. Again, I tried on many linen shorts and these were my fave by far. Cute, affordable, flare out a little bit (no hugging or cutting in at the waist). I also really liked these shorts with the tie at the top. I think these pair best with a tank top tucked in, which I rarely do, so they aren't for me, but my team agreed they were really good if you are into that look. The last two things, which admittedly don't make the best outfit, but individually, the pieces are great. Baggier jean shorts with a drawstring/elastic waist (so comfy) that flair out a bit. Solid summer play shorts. Then the linen shirt is SO GOOD. Easy to wear, so breathable, forgiving/flattering stripe pattern, dress her up or down = solid summer shirt. Where should I go next for affordable summer outfits and clothes????? I tried Mango (and failed) but haven't been to Old Navy in a bit...Just say the word... Oh, and if any of these are sold out online, I would absolutely check your local H&M if you have one. And in case you missed some of our other summer fashion posts check these out: 30 CUTE Pull-On Shorts For Our Most Comfortable Spring/Summer Yet The 4 Active But CUTE Swimsuits I Bought To Play With My Kids On Spring Break (+ Our Favorite Past Swimsuit Posts) 10 “Emily Henderson-Approved” Spring Blouses

Revisiting A 2013 Project, DesignLoveFest’s Apartment (+ What I Think About It Now)

In our grown-up pursuit of “timelessness” (which gets more intense as we get older), it sure is fun to see a time capsule of our youth. The year was clearly 2013, and two “internet famous” bloggers collabbed on what now feels like OG vintage influencer content. When I stumbled on Bri Emery’s apartment from 2013, I gasped and then wanted to gossip about it with you. So much to talk about. It still pops so hard and is full of pieces that I love, while also just screaming “2010’s blogger time capsule”. It’s a real lesson in where to bring in trends as well as demonstrating the power of vintage and color. This was my last “blogger collab,” where I designed/styled famous blogger’s homes (who would be called influencers now) to cross promote, garner press, more followers, etc (I decorated Cup of Jo’s apartment, Oh Joy’s (multiple times), Nicolette Mason and then Bri Emery, aka DesignLoveFest, Green Wedding Shoes nursery, and many more). Bri redesigned our website (which has since been redesigned and is DESPERATE for a new redesign – coming soon, I hope), and I designed/styled her living and dining room. If you want to read the original post, check it out -it’s a funny read. That’s Bri, aka DesignLoveFest, and if you haven’t seen her new kitchen in upstate New York, you MUST. She, like most OG design/style bloggers, made a lot of life shifts, and after taking a long creative/personal sabbatical from social media, she is posting again and collaborating with other old friends (which is so fun to watch on stories). She has always been wildly creative and such a visionary, so I’ll follow her forever. I dream of doing a “Bloggers: Where Are They Now” series because most of the OG crew that really took off in the 2010s, have changed careers and are thriving in such different and interesting ways (I think like 10 of us are still here, spoiler – social media caused burn out really fast). That’s a whole other story, but today let’s look at Bri’s 2013 apartment transformation: I swear we didn’t try to take low-light befores back then… But here’s the super bright after! LOL My first gut reaction: this room is undeniably still so fun. If I walked into this apartment now, I would think this person has so much style and creativity, an eclectic, even eccentric, point of view, and we are about to have fun. And then, of course, I’d want to edit it a bit, tweak it for 2025. So let’s talk through the main trends that were big then: 2013 Trend #1: Bright White With Pops Of Bright Colors I was so guilty of this, doing it over and over in that decade (and still am!). The formula: all white walls, big pops of color, drenched in natural light. And the thing is, this still really works in Southern California. Of course, now we’d do a warmer neutral, and employ darker, more subtle greens and lots of muted pinks. Heck, my brother and SIL wanted a version of that in their bedroom (see here). I think for the most part it works, it’s just some of the colors here that make it feel a bit 2013. I would definitely get rid of that scalloped pillow on the sofa and reduce the amount of hot pink (the vintage ottoman could be more of a neutral). 2013 Trend #2: Fig Trees And Whimsical Plants Galore (In Whimsical Pots!) Again, I still like fig trees, but my goodness, they were EVERYWHERE in the 2010s (mostly because of me, I think – remember DesignStar?), so I really don’t think we needed two here. And while having plants galore is more popular than ever, I don’t think doing it like this is working. I think it’s just a bit messy, the pots are a bit eclectic, and it feels generally over the top. If I could do it again, I’d do one big fig tree and a smaller green plant on the coffee table. Also, not sure we need a decorative piñata… 2013 Trend #3 Palm Springs Style Mid-Century Vintage Everything In Bright Colors Again, I don’t mind this trend!! Mid-century is never out, and I don’t think that there is too much of it here. It’s just combined with the big saturated colors and the Moroccan rug and brass that make all the pieces feel 2013. But yes, in the 2010s, before any of us had a budget to buy investment pieces from adult stores, we bought anything from the Rose Bowl flea market, which was full of midcentury vintage from Palm Springs. None of these are dated; it’s just within the context of so much stuff and bright colors that it screams 2013. What’s Not Working?? What Would I Get Rid Of? That’s pretty easy – the black chair with the more Navajo-inspired woven pattern feels like we were trying hard to dip into that next trend (I’m not sure what to call it, I apologize if I’m not accurate here). At the time were really seeing the rise of African mudcloth and Aztec-style prints, and now we know better and to never buy them in a mass-produced fashion. Purchasing from the actual people whose culture these textiles belong to should always be a priority, like with my Boro fabrics. I do like the idea of the pattern, but it belongs somewhere with less bright, saturated colors or trendy pieces. I’d also nix the gold drum table (very 2013), and I’d reduce the amount of stuff by 1/3rd AT LEAST. And I really, really don’t like that colorful pillow on the sofa. I think this was during my “miniatures” phase that I’ve never really grown out of, TBH, but I don’t force it on my friends as much now. Those flowers are WAY too big and busy in here, IMHO. I still love those vintage lamps and would use them in the right project now. The art was from the flea market, and the Blu Dot table is so simple that it’s hard to call it in or out, but the collective vignette just feels very 2013 due to the color palette. Now I’d change the drum shades to be more tapered or pleated (or a color). Nothing really dated here except all my EHD vintage whimsy, which I still love, but it’s a younger version of me. That lamp is still pretty darn cute. The midcentury shelving unit is rad still, just needs to be styled with less stuff and with more grounding colors (i.e. less teal and yellow). So many plants shoved in this shot!!! I really think the culprit here is mostly just the accessories and the styling, both of which were obviously 100% on me. And in a lot of ways, that is refreshing because those are the things that are less of an investment and easier to change. I still really like this!!! It’s just a bit too much, too many small trends that inevitably read as 2013, and too much “stuff”. But those are almost all in the smaller pieces and would be so easy to tweak to make them work. It’s visually so fun and stimulating,g so while it seems like I’m tearing my own work apart, it’s actually really easy to see that with a few tweaks it could feel 2025 really easily. We kept with the same styles and colors in the dining room – that vintage dining set is still so rad, and Mid-century teak is having a big comeback right now, so do NOT sell your stuff, people. Besides me holding the plant hostage in that cage, I think most of this works, but maybe just too much altogether. The Brendan Ravennhill light fixture had just launched, and Max Wanger’s photography was so popular (they both pioneered a LOT of copycats). hi, bri! While I wouldn’t go back to 2013 Emily, I think this room actually has a lot of timelessness. The Lessons In Trends And Timelessness: You will not be able to avoid leaning into some trendy design elements if you are super into design (no one is immune to the zeitgeist), but if you want to avoid looking dated, buy the high quality version of it or just do it in accessories that aren’t as much of an investment to change out. I think the squiggle or amorphous shapes are great current examples – bring them in in limited amounts to avoid looking dated real fast. Bright colors will always be more likely to be “dated”, but that doesn’t mean we should avoid what we love right now. Will they call 2022 the year of dark moody green everything? Yep! But I don’t know how you avoid any color trends without just being so boring. Will warm pinks, browns, and burgundies also be less exciting in 10 years? Probably, but again, there is no such thing as timeless colors, and for the most part, there is a way to make them still work with styling. A well-designed room with high-quality materials done in a balanced way will likely still be very pretty in 20 years. Sure, there are some navy blue tones that feel fresher than others, but for the most part, blues, greens, and neutrals are timeless (coming from someone who has and will always love blues and greens, so I’m very biased). Although if you live in Texas or Arizona it’s likely warmer tones that feel timeless there. It’s so nuanced, folks. Good luck! LOL. Too much stuff can really overwhelm a room (and in this case, make it feel dated). I think this can be blamed on youth, especially when we are younger and we can’t afford the more expensive design elements, but we love to shop, we are drawn to smaller things that we love, because it’s what we can buy. Nothing wrong with this, but just know that displaying it all, on every surface, especially when they are all super eclectic, can just look a bit cuckoo. I had to learn this lesson over and over and over. Authentic Vintage will always be in style – it’s just context, styling, and color combinations that can make the pieces look dated to the specific era that it “came back” in. For the most part, I think that this room could be tweaked so fast to make it feel “in” right now – the main “dated” culprits are in the accessorizing, which feels pretty harmless to me. Thoughts????

How Many Cucumbers Should My Plant Grow? Plus Tips for Boosting Your Yield

Cucumbers are one of the easiest plants you can grow in your summer garden, but just how many cucumbers you can expect to harvest from a single plant depends on several different factors. Some of it depends on a gardener's level of experience. The weather, cucumber variety, and whether or not the cucumber plant is trellised properly can also impact the number of fruits it will produce in a season. Want to boost your cucumber yield? Follow these guidelines to get the most out of your cucumber plants this summer. What Determines the Number of Cucumbers Per Plant? A cucumber plant can produce more cucumbers during the growing season than you might expect. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, a healthy cucumber plant can yield anywhere between 15 and 30 cucumbers during its lifetime. Varietal Differences There are more than 100 known varieties of cucumbers, which come in all shapes and sizes and fall into one of three categories: Monoecious Cucumbers These open-pollinated cucumber varieties produce both male and female flowers, which need to be pollinated by a pollinator such as bees. For every female flower grown on a monoecious cucumber plant, 10 to 20 male flowers will grow. If pollination doesn't occur, the female flower will drop off the plant and the cucumber fruit will not grow. Gynoecious Cucumbers These cucumber varieties grow all female flowers, increasing the chance for a high yield of cucumbers. These cucumber plants tend to fruit earlier. However, if not planted alongside a variety with male flowers, the female flowers may not all get pollinated, and therefore may not generate fruit. Parthenocarpic Cucumbers The most productive type of cucumber falls into the parthenocarpic cucumber category. These types of cucumbers don't require pollination in order to produce fruit, allowing the plant to be more productive. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! Proper Nutrients Cucumbers are heavy feeders, meaning you need to water the plants frequently and fertilize them during the growing season to maximize harvest. To ensure your cucumber plants have all the nutrients they need, it's best to feed them weekly as soon as they start to produce flowers. To get your cucumber plant to produce more flowers, apply a phosphorus-rich fertilizer. As soon as fruit begins to form, make sure you're watering consistently. Regular Harvesting Frequent picking is essential for prolonging your cucumber harvest. When producing fruit, a plant's goal is to successfully reproduce. The more regularly you harvest the mature fruit, the longer the plant will continue producing flowers and growing new fruits. Gardening Mistakes That Result in Fewer Cucumbers These are the most common mistakes gardeners make when growing cucumbers than can affect the number of fruits a plant produces. You're planting cucumbers in the wrong spot. Cucumber plants need space to vine out and sprawl. If you're planting them in a compact space, they won't have the room to grow large enough to produce flowers and fruit. Cucumbers do best when they have a trellis to climb up. There's not enough sun. Cucumber plants need a lot of sun to thrive—at least eight hours per day. You neglect the soil health. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and need well-drained soil that is rich in nutrients. Boost your soil health by mixing compost into it. There aren't enough pollinators. Most cucumber varieties rely on pollinators such as bees to pollinate female flowers. To help this happen, add pollinator-friendly plants to attract these helpful insects to your garden. How to Maximize Your Cucumber Yield To get more cucumbers out of your crop, be sure your plant has the right nutrients from the start. Add compost to the soil and feed the plants with fertilizer when the cucumber plants begin to produce flowers. When planting your cucumber plants, select a spot that gets at least eight hours of direct sunlight. Once they start produce fruits, pick the cucumbers regularly and frequently. The more often you harvest fruit, the longer the harvest will last. To ensure they stay healthy, monitor your plants for signs of insect damage or disease and treat as soon as possible. The healthier the plant, the higher its yield will be.

This Simple Trick Can Bring a Faded Hydrangea Back to Life Overnight

Hydrangeas tend to fade and wilt in the summer, but don't consider it a lost cause just yet. You can bring those flowers back to its bright and cheery self with one main trick—and it doesn't involve watering them more. Hydrangeas aren't big fans of the heat and sun, so you'll likely see them bounce back in the evenings when the weather cools down. Of course, there's more to it than that. We asked gardening experts for their main tricks and tips on how to bring faded hydrangeas back to life in no time. Meet the Expert Amy McCord is the founder and CEO of Flower Moxie. David Angelov is the founder and CEO of Plant Parenthood. The Trick to Bring Back Faded Hydrangeas To bring your faded hydrangea back to life, set up a shade cloth or move or replant them in a more covered spot to give the plant some relief. "Hydrangea are shade plants, and this also helps with water retention," says plant expert Amy McCord. "A shade cloth will work wonders, and setting up a drip hose can keep the plant thriving even in hotter months." It's a common misconception that most hydrangea plants love full sun; many of them only want partial sun. "If possible, have them planted in place with partial sun," say plant pro David Angelov. "Ideally, you start from that, rather than remedy with a band-aid." Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! Why Your Hydrangeas Are Fading Experts point out that hydrangeas can fade due to three main factors. First, Angelov says the heat itself can make the hydrangea wilt and suggests waiting it out until the evening when the temperature goes down. "The leaves start to wilt, and they bounce back in the evening without any intervention," Angelov says. Additionally, the plant doesn't like weather hotter than 80°F, and its leaves will wilt due to the heat. "If the leaves are turning brown or losing their flowers very easily, that's different," Angelov says. "But generally, if the leaves are just wilting, then it's the heat." Lastly, hydrangeas need a lot of water and do not like to be even slightly dehydrated. "This is the most common reason, as they are very thirsty plants and cannot withstand a several-day dry out," McCord says. How to Care for Hydrangeas in Intense Heat Angelov and McCord have several tips for caring for hydrangeas in the sweltering summer weather. When watering them, McCord advises giving the plant hydration at the bottom, where the plant meets the soil. "It's best to give them a long, slow drink at the base of the plant, as they are shallow-rooted," she says. "Although they wilt quickly, they can bounce back quickly." However, Angelov warns against giving the usually thirsty flower too much hydration, because overwatering can be just as fatal. McCord also suggests removing any old blooms. "Hydrangeas take a lot of resources, so aging blooms pull hydration away from new growth and blooms," she says. 4 Other Tips for Hydrangea Care Angelov and McCord had these other tips for caring for hydrangeas in the summer. Increase acidity. Hydrangeas are pH sensitive, and more acidity will make their flower colors more vibrant. Use well-draining soil. This will help prevent root rot in the plant. Prune at the right time. Both experts emphasized double-checking when you should prune your specific variety of hydrangeas during the year. Each type is different. Compost at the beginning of the season. Give the plant a top dressing of compost each year so it will have the nutrients to produce flowers during the season.