I believe this is my third time writing about one of the best flea markets…Downtown Modernism. Because of that, I won’t bore you with all of the details; aside from that, it’s in Los Angeles, only happens twice a year, is the perfect size, and the vendors primarily sell mid-century-era goods. For me, this is total heaven. Here’s the current problem: I don’t need anything. The main spaces in my home are done, and since my boyfriend went out of town the morning of the market, I couldn’t even attempt to convince him to get things for his home. However, my dear friend Franchesca needed some art, and I clearly needed to be an investigative journalist and show off all of the things that caught my eye for this vintage-loving community (spoiler alert: I didn’t leave empty-handed. I’m sure “no one” saw that coming).

But there is one thing a professional investigative journalist does…they come prepared. I did not come prepared. Despite Franchesca and me being avid flea market lovers, we did not bring any cash. Not the biggest deal, as most markets have ATMs. But there is a $10 entrance fee, and their ATM had not arrived yet. We felt like idiots. Nothing like getting your butt up to get there at 7:45 (which was a little later than planned) to then get to the front to be understandably told, “Sorry, ladies. You can see if someone in line has extra cash, and then you can Venmo them.” As we were trying to figure out what to do, who else but EHD alum Mel Burstin sees me, says hello, and knowingly asks, “Do you need cash?” Needless to say, she was our angel, and in we went. So before we start looking at the amazing vintage, THANK YOU, MEL!

The First Few Things That Caught My Eye

At the end of the first lane of the market, I saw these guys. Aren’t they outrageous in the best way? Yes. Will they be for everyone? No. And honestly, I wouldn’t necessarily say they are for me. But I could envision the face tables in a really cool garden as these incredible sculptures/tables/planter holders. I forgot to check the price, and to be honest, I’m not sure whether they are safe for the outdoors. But I think they are kind of a perfect introduction to the market as a message that this isn’t your average market. That cabinet is also something that I was drawn to but likely wouldn’t buy if I had the $1,200 to spend. It’s more 80s than I tend to go for, but I love the more organic wood grain with the ultra-modern shape. I could see it in a super high-end home where there’s only one “funky” piece that adds a fun contrast.

This vase was actually the first thing I took a photo of. I knew I didn’t need it (especially for the price), but I was so drawn to the colors, the shape, the hand-painted design. In the right space, this would look so cool.

Outdoor Furniture Was Having A Moment

Something that we noticed was the uptick in fun vintage patio furniture. The photo on the left is a company called Los Resort, and they restore old patio furniture! The shape of that set was so cool. The chair frames are the best. The yellow and white chairs were from a different vendor and cost $45 a chair. I don’t know why, but I feel like these styles could be making a comeback in the next couple of years…

This set had us swooning! This beauty was $3,500 and just unbelievable in person. Franchesca was scheming to try to take it home:) But it was meant for someone else (we hope!) who will give it a good home. The wicker table, while the coolest, I would imagine a tablecloth would be pretty necessary if any food were to be consumed on it. I’m normally not the most worried about “how to clean things” when I’m shopping, but the idea of semi-permanent crumbs in wicker would likely stress me out.

My Favorite Thing To Talk About…Lights

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m going to need a bigger home in the nearish future because there are too many incredible lamps that I need more space for. This one is a great example. MCM Italian (I think) from Modern Thrifter LA, with 2 lights and an ambient reflective plate. It’s a piece of functional art! $395 isn’t cheap, but it’s also not much more than what many major retailers are charging for non-vintage pieces.

Another Italian table lamp that I absolutely loved. It was perfectly small but not too mini. It was $600, which was more than I would have wanted to spend.

I know this one is pretty specific, but I thought it was insanely cool. It’s a late 1970s Vico Magistretti Nemea Lamp, and while $500 is a lot, when I looked online, they often sell for more than double that.

The Search For Franchesca’s Art

Now, as I said in the beginning, art was Franchesca’s mission, and I was happy to support. Franchesca’s style tends to lean more classically romantic than mine, but we both love a little playfulness:) This will all make more sense when you see what she bought. I like that Downtown Modernism has more abstract/modern artwork than a typical market, but they also have nearly every style.

As a reminder, Franchesca and her husband Ben were my friends who lived in the apartment above me for years (and I got to design their bedroom). Well, they were able to buy a home last year (bittersweet, but they are still close!), so they are now in a slow but intentional decorating mode.

There’s my flea buddy surrounded by pieces that really weren’t her style, ha. I really loved that red staircase photo. Should have asked for the price just to see:)

Ok, both of these spoke deeply to her heart. This first one was an original piece in the original frame for $350. The price was a bit more than she wanted to spend, so she passed. The piece on the right was much harder to pass up for her. It’s a piece by Argentine-Italian surrealist artist Leonor Fini. It was stunning, but at $600, Franchesca decided to wait. She got the vendor’s information if she changes her mind:) But please look up Leonor Fini. Her life and work seem pretty remarkable from the little bit I’ve read so far.

These were just pieces I liked and wanted to share.

This one I really loved, but at $1,025 it was sadly a definite no. Also, I know I’m pointing out a lot of expensive things, but there are also many more affordable pieces there too!

Furniture We Fell For

And the prices aren’t getting lower yet. I stopped in my tracks when I saw this. The vendor wasn’t around to ask the price (well, I accidentally asked a shopper, thinking it was the vendor- whoops). Regardless of that, I just wanted you all to see it. The inset handles, the two-tone wood, the open and closed storage – perfect.

I did ask the price for this dining set, and it was $3,750. Honestly, for a table and four chairs, you’d likely spend close to that at a major retailer. But with this, it’s a 1957 by Glenn of California, which was a pioneer in MCM furniture manufacturing from the 40s to the 60s. The vendor told us that this set was a rarer design of theirs. I loved the chairs the most, and that leather seat is original. The lines are so beautiful.

This 1960s Danish teak and oak daybed for $1,875 (with new upholstery) was a great size and really comfortable! It’s from Modern for All.

This settee on the left is proof that there is a variety of styles at Downtown Modernism. We loved the arms and the two-tone look! I spotted those red velvet chairs while Franchesca was at another booth, and I had to snap a photo. The shape is perfectly exaggerated, and I feel like red velvet is a less common type of color/fabric combo for an MCM chair, right? If that’s correct, it needs to happen more.

THAT BASE. No words. It’s perfect.

One Of My Favorite Vendors

Of course, I needed to stop by artist and vintage seller Melinda Forster‘s booth. It’s always my favorite. I’ve bought two of her ceramic pieces before, but her vintage finds are also so good. No one should be surprised that I love this chair with the circle cutouts

Here’s a mix of her work and some vintage. It took a lot of strength not to buy another piece, but I knew I simply didn’t have the right place. Oh, and another great thing I loved about her booth this year was that she had a clearly marked (that’s important) table for items under $30. So nice and helpful!

This was also at Melinda’s booth, and I just thought it was so fun. It’s a 1970s Pierre Cardin Serving Set that was made in Japan out of plastic and mahogany. It has a serving tray, salt and pepper shakers with a caddy, and two pitchers. I didn’t see a price, but when I looked it up, one site is charging $675. I have a feeling hers was a lot less than that, but you never know!

More Cool Objects (And Two I Almost Bought)

I didn’t need it, but I loved it. It was $75 and would be a really fun napkin holder for a table, right?

I didn’t almost buy this, ha, but I was blown away by it. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more modern wood piano like this. Both Franchesca and I couldn’t stop looking at it. The vendor, Furniture Fosters, was selling it for $5,9995. According to them, it’s a Steen Nielsen Hammerspinet, which is a rare, mid-century Danish piano and harpsichord hybrid housed in a Brazilian rosewood case. 10/10.

Boy, do I also know how to find special but expensive pottery. I love that black and white ceramic box a lot. But at $400, I was going to skip. Then those little ceramic sculptures made me smile. The hands are adorable, right? They really weren’t right for me or my home, but at $900, I was sure.

Now, before I knew the price, this was the first piece I thought about buying. The patina was great, the handle was cool, but that ball nozzle was everything. I mean, it’s so cute but kinda chic, right? Well, once I found out it was $400, it was out of budget, and my sad heart walked away.

This is a brass “Nike” paperweight, and I loved it. I immediately thought, “Oh, maybe I can get it for my boyfriend! I think he’d like it.” A dangerous new purchasing excuse I need to keep a close eye on, ha. And had it been $20, I might have grabbed it with less consideration. But it was $60. Then I really thought about it and realized that while he would have appreciated me thinking of him, he would likely not have loved it like I did. So I passed…it was close one.

I didn’t need them, but I hope someone did! SUCH a fun flatware set for $350.

What We Actually Bought!

This was the first purchase of the day from Seoda. Franchesca bought a block print by N. Pollock for $45. It was the exact size she was looking for, and it was already framed in one she really liked!

Her second and final purchase was this sweet cat piece from an art show that celebrates autistic artists. This was near and dear to the vendor. She shared that her son is autistic and is an artist as well. This made it all the more meaningful. She paid $68 for it.

Onto me:)

I also only made two purchases (which was two more than were on my list). But this book jumped out at me. I loved the cover, the patina, and the photos inside. When he said it was $20, I said, “done!” Did I totally need it? No. But will I need more design books in my future larger home? Yes.

This tray put a spell on me, I swear. I picked it up and fell in love. I love the asymmetrical placement of the opening, the carved lines, and the little feet you can’t really see from this angle. I did put it down, went around the market one more time, and then decided I needed it. I’m sure I could have haggled, but I didn’t and spent $125. It’s now on a nightstand, and I’m very happy.

Has anyone been to any good markets lately? Any favorites? Let us know! Happy thrifting, everyone.

Love you, mean it.

ALL RISE. Design Court is back for round 2, and it is now in session. I’ll be overseeing today’s proceedings as your dedicated prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, and jury. (To be clear: design court does not follow standard courtroom procedures, nor does it stand up to any real legal scrutiny. But I am a Libra, so you can trust that I’ll be both very judgmental and very fair.) Today’s defendant: doorless walk-in showers. The charge? FRAUD. You may be seated. Let us proceed. 

Opening Arguments

I’m an average American who, like most folks, lives in a home with a standard shower. I grew up with a builder-grade tub/shower combo, rented basic apartments with budget-friendly showers, and now have dedicated shower stalls in my LA apartment and my Delaware home. (I’m not going to lie: both of these showers are pretty tiny, and they don’t necessarily provide the most enjoyable experience. The former is a 3’x3’ 1930s tiled number that feels akin to bathing in a coffin; the latter is a standard plug-and-play cheap shower insert with room for your body and…not much else.) 

All this to say: I have not grown up in the lap of shower luxury. I am not accustomed to grand showers. AND THAT IS HOW I KNOW THAT THE DOORLESS WALK-IN SHOWER IS AN ABSOLUTE MONSTROSITY. Over the past year, I’ve had four run-ins with these bathing atrocities: one in a high-end Philadelphia hotel, one in a rural Irish bed and breakfast, one in a basic Delaware hotel, and one in – dare I say it – my employer’s home (!!!!!!), and each shower left me reeling. WHY IS WATER EVERYWHERE? WHY IS EVERYTHING WET? I’ve questioned my own sanity: am I dumb? Do fancy shower designers have a special bathing technique that I, a basic normal, am not privy to? But no: it isn’t me, or my soap application style, or the way I rinse my hair. IT IS THE DOORLESS SHOWER’S FAULT, AND IT MUST BE STOPPED. The world has been tricked by beautiful photographs. These showers promise a hotel spa environment at home; in reality, you’re left freezing in a swamp. Today, we will bring these cruel shower frauds to justice. (There will be no defense opening statements, because I am the tyrant of Design Court.)

The Prosecution

Allow me a moment to break down my case… 

Assault with Cold Draft: Oh, did you want to be warm in your shower? TOO BAD. No door or curtain means that all your steam escapes, leaving you standing in a freezing cube. There’s a reason that the giant shared gym showers of yore didn’t make their way into our homes: because it’s cold and uncomfortable to stand – soaking wet – in a big, barely-insulated space.

Indecent Exposure: To that end, there is NO PRIVACY! (This goes double at the W Hotel in Philadelphia, which boasted the nightmarish combo of a barn door bathroom entrance and a glass wall separating the shower from the bedroom. WHO DESIGNED THAT?!) With a doorless, curtain-less shower, you’re visible from the hallway. The toilet. To any guest who enters, should you forget to lock the door in your own home. There’s no privacy. Is it worth it? NO!

Cruel and Unusual Valve Placement: This is where I’ll give kudos to Em’s walk-in shower – she placed controls both on the exterior wall and the wall opposite the shower head, which did make for a far more enjoyable experience. But to everyone else, I say: SHAME! You better be bare naked and ready to get hit with a blast of icy water when you turn this puppy on, lest you find yourself standing in your clothes and totally soaked. (Learned that lesson in Ireland.) Who enjoys this?????

Reckless Endangerment: I know that the plans had a beautiful sloped floor, and the perfect linear drain, and that everything was plumbed to draw water away from the rest of the bathroom. BUT IT’S ALL A SHAM. Your bath mat is drenched. Did you accidentally leave your underwear on the floor? Too bad, they’re soaked! Did you think that your laundry bag would be safe in a far corner of the bathroom? YOU FOOL – IT’S ALL SOPPING WET NOW, just in time for you to shove it back into your suitcase before a day of travel. Oh, did someone want to sprint into the bathroom after your shower wearing only socks? Lucky them – they can enjoy wading through puddles in their now-damp socks. (Is this getting too specific?) And it’s SO MUCH WATER, you guys. In Ireland, Den and I burned through our towels trying to keep the floor dry, and our Airbnb had a special heated room that could expedite the drying process because this happened to EVERYONE. Give me a door, a curtain, a ledge, anything, PLEASE!!!!

Embezzlement of Budget: The true horror: you are paying more for the trouble! The additional waterproofing, the floor slope, the linear drains – they’re more expensive than any standard tub or shower. I don’t love my little $1,000 shower insert by any means (and believe me, I have big dreams of remodeling once I finish settling my mom’s affairs and have a moment to breathe!), but even that little ugly white fiberglass number provides a less stressful bathing experience. (Like, imagine this novel concept: the water stays where it belongs and doesn’t leave me with a cleanup project afterwards!)

The Defense

OKAY, OKAY. I’m being a bully. And I will concede that there is at least one legitimate use case for these nuisances.

Aging in Place: Last year, my mom and I became regulars in the handicapped suite at a local hotel. We didn’t have a first-floor shower in our home, so I’d pack Brenda and all of her essentials up in the car, drive her across town, set up our shower stool, and then I’d give her a nice little scrub down. (Her cancer caused something called Paget’s Disease, which meant that any movement could – and often did – break a bone. Loudly, and terrifyingly, and frequently. It was really horrible!!!! I am still trying to process it!!!)

ANYWAY. This was the only way my mom could bathe, and for that reason – and that reason alone! – I will give some doorless showers a pass. That being said, she was still freezing her little tushy off any time the water wasn’t hitting her core! There was no steam to keep the room warm, and it took a lot to get her body temperature back up. It’s hard to give a really good shower to another person without getting yourself wet in the process (I found that wearing a sports bra and workout shorts to be the best outfit, FYI), and at that point, we might as well just be getting soaked in a regular shower. Easy access does not eliminate one’s need for a door! (This isn’t even defense, at this point. This post has just turned into a tirade. C’est la vie! Can you believe this is a job?!)

No Squeegee, No Problem: I mean…I suppose there’s little to no glass to spot? No tracks to scrub? No hinges or seals to fail? I guess that’s all a plus, in the same way that, like, having no windows in your house would also reduce your cleaning load. (Read: it wouldn’t, because now you have a whole new mess to handle.) But to each their own?

Character Witness: I will concede: they are beautiful. Nothing blocks light or airflow; they really do help a bathroom feel like a spa. And they can even be done well! I will even admit that I did enjoy Em’s – I cranked the temperature up to 140 degrees from a wall unit outside the shower (obsessed with that level of control, TBH), opened the window for a nice warm breeze, and the installation was precise enough as to not totally soak everything in the room. (Hey, W Hotel Philadelphia, you should have some Lake Arrowhead contractors out to help fix your showers!!!) But I am not a world-renowned designer – I am a mere mortal – and I do not trust us regular folk’s ability to successfully execute (or operate, TBH) these showers without causing a big ol’ mess in real life.

Closing Arguments

I mean…this one feels open and shut, folks. THROW THE BOOK AT THE DOORLESS WALK-IN SHOWER. Do you want a perennially wet bathroom? What are we even doing here? Is it worth being cold every day in the pursuit of a beautiful room? How far would you go for design? In this case, I argue: we’ve gone too far. PULL IT BACK. This ain’t it. You deserve better. And I do, too!!!

Verdict & Sentencing

The doorless walk-in shower promises…well, I’m not even sure what it promises. It’s pretty, I guess? But there are lots of beautiful ways to build a shower that don’t involve being a little uncomfortable all the time. SHE’S GUILTY OF FRAUD. This is blatantly false advertising – it’s a beautiful image on Pinterest that turns into a frustrating chore in real life. We can no longer stand idly by as innocent homeowners across the world are FOOLED by this visual trickery!!! The sentence? LIFE IN PRISON. Maybe some time behind bars will teach this doorless shower that a little enclosed space can – sometimes – be just what the doctor ordered.

You know what the funniest part of this is? This thought experience has inspired in me a newfound appreciation for my dinky, dingy, tiny little showers. They’re not much to look at – I might even argue that the LA shower is, uh, a little gross after a century of use – but they do their job! They keep me warm and clean, and they’re a-okay in my book. May we all find such peace with our own bathing situations. BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, KEEP IT ENCLOSED!!!

Now, what say you? Please share your hot takes. Anyone want to file an appeal?!

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain House Reveal: The Upstairs Guest Bath That Used To Be A Closet

You asked, and we calculated. Today we are breaking down my sister’s budget kitchen remodel total cost, which we did in partnership with Lowe’s. I’ve written a few posts about the process (and obviously make sure you see the reveal here), so I might repeat some things for those just landing. Today I’ll break down what we spent from when we started the project. What is hard to calculate is our time and what it would be “worth” if we charged for it (for these makeovers we get paid from the partner to create the content, not from my sister). Here goes!

My sister and brother-in-law were already deep into their remodel before we began this project and partnership. So a lot of the work was already completed, making this budget breakdown kinda impossible to really add up accurately if you were starting from scratch. They had already finished the framing, rough electrical and plumbing, window openings, and drywall. Starting at this point was pretty awesome for us because they had laid it out really well and had already “placed” everything, so our job was to shop at Lowe’s for everything you actually see and design within these parameters. We didn’t reconfigure anything or even move an outlet (intentionally). Lowe’s covered materials and the flooring, cabinet, and countertop installation by Lowe’s vendors. We covered any outside labor. It was the most streamlined kitchen I’ve ever done because of their services. Let’s get into the numbers.

Kitchen Consultation And In-Person Measurement – $75

We met with Chris at Lowe’s to design and lay out the kitchen cabinets. To kick off the project and confirm the order is correct, Lowe’s sends someone out to measure your kitchen, ensuring everything will fit just right. This costs $75. This is to cover their time to design it all in case you move on to a different cabinet company.

Hardwood Flooring And Installation – $2,243.62

Bruce Hardwood Floors in ‘Fawn Oak’

We chose this wood floor (which we LOVED) for $4.79/sq ft or $105.38/carton. Michelle’s kitchen was 219 sq. ft., so the materials added up to $1,342.81. The flooring was installed in one day by one fantastic installer. The labor costs totaled $900.81. Lowe’s managed the vendor and set up the appointments (it was super streamlined). Now, full disclosure, the install rate will be different everywhere because from what I can tell, they are installed by an outside vendor that Lowe’s works closely with,. So depending on where you live, your Lowe’s would have different contracts with different vendors, so price could vary. As a reminder, we were so impressed with this wood. I was a hardwood snob before and couldn’t believe that something this affordable could look so good and classic.

Upper And Lower Cabinets – $20,332.92

Upper Cabinets: ‘Tropic’ | Lower Cabinets: ‘Emma’

The cabinetry was and will always be the biggest expense (which is why we always encourage trying to paint or refinish what you have if you can). We fully broke down the cabinets in their own post last week, but the quick and dirty is that we chose two different lines (slightly different price points) for uppers and lowers. And we saved money by using a huge vintage pantry and installing shelving instead of uppers for part of the kitchen. If you are shopping at Lowe’s, here’s a cheat sheet on the cost of the cabinetry from least expensive to most expensive:

Diamond Express | Allen & Roth | Shenandoah | Diamond Express Plus | Diamond Intermediate | Kraftmaid-Diamond Advanced | Schuler

Cabinets with 30% discount: $16,294.96
Cabinet Install Labor: $4,037.96

Appliances – $6,380.88

Electric Range | Brass Knobs | Refrigerator | Brass Handles

The appliances were fantastic and so pretty (they drove the whole color palette). They definitely aren’t the cheapest line, so this could be somewhere you could save money, but they are also just so prominent (especially in a smaller kitchen), so having them all be as streamlined as possible will keep it from looking too cheap. Here they are broken down:

Fridge: $2,463.12 + $359.10 for brass handles
Electric Range: $1,601.11 + $337.46 for brass handles
Rangehood Insert: $209.98
Dishwasher: $1,221.06 + $189.05 for the brass handle

Taj Mahal Real Stone Countertops – $10,915.80

Countertops

This was one of the places where we splurged. Lowe’s doesn’t break down the cost between materials and installation. In my experience, it’s specific to the stone because if it gets cracked or broken during fabrication, they have to replace it, so I would imagine the install cost increases with real stone that is slightly more expensive with Lowe’s, too. We estimated what it would have cost if we used Organic white Caesarstone (which is one of my favorites for engineered stone), and with the current promotion it would be around $6k. So that is a substantial savings of almost $5k from what ours cost. Lowe’s most popular option (if you are curious) is Golden Sky(D Grade), which is a faux veined engineered stone; the price with the current promotion would be around $9,662.70.

Plumbing Fixtures – $2,261.07

Hot Water Faucet | Faucet | Sink | Pot Filler

This is one place you could have absolutely saved. Michelle had already plumbed for two things that are a nice-to-have, but not a need-to-have: the pot filler and hot water faucet (they also plumbed and planned for a pebble ice machine, which we capped and nixed). So as you can see below, that could have saved a lot. Garen already had the disposal, so that’s not included here.

Farmhouse Sink: $275.08 (This is a GREAT place to save. It looks as expensive as fancy ones!)
Sink Faucet: $258.99 (we chose this faucet because we had to choose one that had a full suite that we liked, but it’s great on its own)
Hot Water Faucet and Tank: $549 + $389. Uh oh. Ok so annoyingly, our brass faucet didn’t come with a hot water tank, so we had to buy another one separately just for the tank. We didn’t know this up front, obviously. It did come with a silver faucet, so if your main faucet was nickel, this is a much more affordable choice.
Pot Filler: $789

So nixing the hot water and pot filler would have saved us over $1,700!

Hardware – $326.46

I can’t do cheap hardware. In fact, I would prefer painted wood knobs over cheap metal ones. We touched on this in the cabinet deep dive last week, where you saw all the options we were considering. We spent $326.46 on knobs and pulls for all the cabinets. Knobs were about $8 each, and our long and short pulls were $19 and $14, respectively. These were on the more expensive side, for sure, but absolutely worth the extra couple hundred dollars, I promise.

Pendant Lighting – $167.99

This was a fantastic place to save money. Sure, there are cheaper fixtures out there, but this one looked higher-end than that price and yet wasn’t splurgy at all. Michelle and Garen had already installed recessed lighting before we started the kitchen design, so if this number seems low, it’s because it is. This $167.99 covers the one pendant light above the kitchen sink. The rest were recessed lights already installed.

Finish Carpentry And Materials – $3,649.16

My brother hired a finish carpenter to do all the beadboard panels, hood box, shelving, and brackets.
10 beadboard panels: $267.60.
18 wooden brackets we needed for the shelving and to support the peninsula overhang: $327.96.
Wood and decorative trim it took to build out the shelves: $453.60.
The finish carpenter charged $2,600 to install all the panels, build the hood cover and shelving, and secure it all to the wall.

Painting – $1,850

We hired a team of painters to come in and spray the room and paint my sister’s large vintage cabinet. Painters did the job for $1,500, and we estimated that we spent about $350 on paint and supplies. Now this is a place where we could have saved by DIY. The reason this was even this low is because we specifically didn’t change finishes or paint colors, which requires so much more time/labor. So the walls, brackets, shelves, and trim were all the same paint color and finish, while the window, door, and vintage cabinet were white to add some variation. But if we had chosen to do the brackets and shelves in a different color than the walls, it would have taken twice the time, and thus cost twice as much (we used the Forte line from Sherwin-Williams in satin finish – this is a self-priming, self-leveling paint that is super durable).

Props And Decor For Styling $TBD

Of course we styled it out, but a lot of those things were things that I had in my inventory or were vintage (some she kept, many she didn’t). So this cost is for the remodel cost, not the styling and decor.

Additional DIY Done By Garen ($0)

Garen is handy when he’s not busy running his window company, so he installed the appliances, and he and Ken did some of the finished plumbing. So yes, he’s a window expert (he owns a company where they keep the vintage frames and double-pane the windows on site, which is so cool), so he installed the new big window.

Grand Total: $48,202.90

But What If You “Hired” A Designer?

Now trying to calculate my time, Gretchen’s time, and my brother’s time is kinda hard. As you know, designers and contractors are expensive to hire, as they should be. I think I spent probably 50+ design hours on this (not including the photo shoots, content creation, or negotiation of the contract, which most designers don’t need to do). Gretchen probably did more, let’s say 60, since she did all of our Spoak renders and did more of the ordering and project management. I’m not sure of the going rate for designers, so let’s say for me its 200$/hour (I have no idea if that’s accurate) and $100 for an associate designer/project manager. So maybe I would have been $10k and Gretchen $6,000 (adding another $16k to the projected cost). And then my brother, a contractor with Afore Construction, spent around 10-15 hours on the job, but didn’t charge us (I tried to pay him, but he’s a real caretaker of a brother and was like, “nah, it’s for my sisters,” which is very sweet).

I would imagine all the construction prior to arriving would be 20k+ (they were doing the whole house so hard to parcel out just for the kitchen).

So yeah…. Kitchen remodels are expensive, and they seem to be going up, not down. Here are the ways you can save:

1. If you are starting from a white drywall box like this, you can skip hiring a contractor or designer by using a company like Lowe’s to streamline all the contracting work and use them for installation services. Feel free to copy the design of this kitchen and design it yourself!
2. Go for engineered stone or butcher block. I love real stone, but getting a simple white Caesarstone as we had intended would have saved $5k.
3. We skipped tile. I don’t love just a couple rows of tile backsplash (especially when integrated with shelving – just so many lines) and prefer tiling the full wall, which would have been super expensive in both material and especially labor. We had planned to do just a short stone backsplash instead, installed by the fabrication team. But we had to pivot once installed because the thickness of the counters was so high that adding it as a backsplash would have only been 2″ due to the placement of the outlets (or we could have gone around the outlets and gone up higher, but I don’t love that look when the stone is 3cm and so thick). Skipping tile saved thousands, mostly in install time.
4. Using full overlay cabinet fronts (instead of inset).
5. Affordable pre-finished wood flooring instead of tile or stain-in-place flooring. This install took one day and was a little over $2k total. I was so impressed (and yes, wood flooring is great in a kitchen and a bathroom).
6. Beadboard paneling and shelves instead of upper cabinets.
7. Paint yourselves. This is best with experience or watching a ton of videos, and you won’t do as good a job, but unlike plumbing and electrical, this is something you could attempt yourself (just do your research around types of paint).
8. More affordable appliances. This is hard for me because in a small kitchen cheap appliances can get just so much attention, so just go for the simplest lines and least amount of contrast or bells and whistles. But I can’t really recommend cheap appliances because they need to function well for a long time.
9. Skip the hot water tap, the pot filler, and any pebble ice machine. Heck, if you want to simplify it more, get a fridge without plumbing for ice/water so you don’t have to bring plumbing over to it. My sister already rough-plumbed for all of these, so we executed the original plumbing design.

I hope this is so helpful. I’ve done 10+ kitchens now, so I have more experience than a lot of people, but I’m sure other more experienced designers (kitchen-specific designers) can weigh in and give even more ways to save. My #1 tip if you just want a “better” kitchen but not necessarily a “designer” is to paint your original dated cabinets. Here are a few kitchen-specific posts that can help!

Reveals:

• RENO COACH PROJECT REVEAL: See How This Family DIY’d IKEA Cabinets And Made A Beautifully Bespoke Kitchen
• Sara’s Galley Kitchen “Update” Turned Into A Full Renovation (And The Result Is Well Worth The Wait)
• Emily Bowser’s Kitchen REVEAL! Plus The 8 Ways She Really Maximized Her Galley Kitchen Storage
• The Prettiest Green And Pink Kitchen Remodel That We Completed In 7 WEEKS
• Rashida’s Totally Transformed Kitchen Reveal (That Includes One Of Our Favorite “New Classic” Kitchen Trends)
• EHD Alum Photographer, Tessa, Shows Us Her FINALLY Updated Kitchen
• Arlyn’s Rental Kitchen Reveal Just Might Have You Wishing You Had Brown—Or Even Cherry— Cabinets (Yes, Really)
• The 3 Best Ways To SAVE $$$ On Your Kitchen Reno (+ Our EHD Alumns’ First Reveal As a New Boutique Team)
• How Well Do IKEA Kitchen Cabinets Actually Hold Up? A Very Honest Review 4 Years Later
• Velinda’s First Freelance Client Reveal: Molding The ‘Builder-Grade Budget’ + Where They Saved & Splurged

Design Tips:

• How We Added Panel-Ready “Hidden” Appliances Without Replacing All The Cabinets
• I Bought A Counter-Depth Fridge & Here’s What I Honestly Think About It 2 Years Later (Hint: Some Pros & A BIG Con)
• Small Kitchen Ideas To Steal (For Renters And Renovators)
• The RIGHT Way To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets and Save $$$ (Factory Finish Guaranteed)
• The Process of Designing Our Farmhouse Kitchen – Some Questions I Asked Myself And Where I Chose “Style Over Practicality”
• Our Go-To Cabinet Hardware Placement
• Renovating Your Kitchen? Here Are All The Reno Mistakes To Avoid – Crowdsourced From Our Readers Who Have Been There & Done That
• The Truth About Unlacquered Brass Faucets + All The Kitchen Faucets I’m Considering (And WHY….)

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

We don’t know if you’ve heard, but the holidays are coming up (ha!), and it’s the main time of year we want our homes looking their best, right? We know that so many of you have a hard time with bookshelf styling, and since it’s an easy (and potentially free) way to make your home look more pulled together, we are reminding you that this post is VERY helpful! Plus, there are new examples and tips to enjoy. So read this post, grab your favorite beverage, turn on some music, and start playing. We promise you’ll be happy you did it:)

Bookshelf styling can be incredibly daunting. It seems like a skill that should come naturally, right? I always say my dream would be to have a grand room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, but the truth is, staring at those shelves would be like staring up at a huge mountain I have to climb. Thankfully, EHD has taught me that there is an expert styling formula for almost anything. Lo and behold, we have discovered some no-fail shelf styling formulas that EHD has been using for years and years. If you feel lost, stuck, or just plain exhausted with making decisions, the following four formulas are foolproof and will make your shelves look like they were styled by an actual pro (that’s you!).

First, to help guide your quest, a couple of ground rules we swear by:
1. Maintain a consistent color palette.
2. Mix up the shapes, sizes, and scales.
3. Don’t go all “big box store”! Mix in vintage and personal pieces.
4. Include a little greenery.

Now that you know the basic rules, let’s dig into the formulas so you can style with some confidence.

FORMULA #1: 2-3 Books Stacked Horizontally + Object On Top

Our first tip for styling bookshelves is to start by stacking books horizontally. This will immediately add visual interest and will inform how much more space you have to style with objects other than books. When you stack books horizontally, there is often space above, so our favorite trick to take up that unused space is to add an object on top. This could be a lidded bowl, a precious family heirloom, a vintage vessel from your travels, or truly anything you love and want to look at every day. Above, a stack of three books (in ascending size) is coupled with an aged sculptural vessel which adds shape and color to their shelves.

In the above home office, Ginny (EHD alum designer) peppered in books and objects to create an open yet collected look. The horizontal books are topped with round, sculptural objects, which add movement and texture to the shelves. How cool is that wood-lidded bowl??

So while this isn’t really a shelf and is definitely a console, the rule still applies and looks great! Everything is within a similar color palette with a variety of textures, but when you break it down, it’s simply some stacked books with a cool object on top. Also, make sure that you don’t put a tiny object on a really wide stack of books. Notice how the size of the objects chosen is complementary to the top book’s size. Scale is important too:)

FORMULA #2: Art Leaning + Multi-Sized Objects Layered In Front

Adding art to your shelves is one of our favorite styling tips that can add color, shape, height, and personality. We love the relaxed look of leaning art (as shown above), which also draws your eye to the back of the shelves, making them seem deeper and more open. Now the trick to styling around leaning art is to layer, layer, layer. Depending on the scale of the art, you can layer 1-3 pieces in front, which will create a collected look and will impress all your friends. Just make sure your objects vary in height, shape, and scale so it is easier for your eye to understand.

If you have several art pieces you want to display, you can absolutely layer art in front of art. Just make sure the frames are different sizes and layer the smaller one in front. Mal added a handful of really great personal pieces to the living room makeover she did for her parents.

While we love layering art in kitchens too, like A 1000x Better did in this incredible kitchen. Adds so much texture and color. So if you see a little piece of art you love at a flea market or thrift store, grab it! They are usually more affordable and will bring a shelf to life.

FORMULA #3: Display A Collection Of Objects Of Varying Shapes And Heights

I am someone who loves my things. I know I am not alone, and it’s something we design enthusiasts have to come to terms with. I love my vintage coupe glasses, my collection of antique candlestick holders, and what would I do without my many lidded bowls and vessels?? Luckily for us, shelves are the perfect display case for objects if done right. Remember the second rule from the beginning? It will come in handy here. Basically, you can absolutely group together several objects as long as they vary in height, size, and shape. If you have a collection of similar objects you want to showcase, just make sure they are not identical to avoid your shelves looking too uniform.

For example, in Emily’s Glendale home, she styled her built-ins with many of her favorite objects and some collections, too. The three teal vessels on the right are similar but not identical, so they add personality without being too matchy-matchy.

Caitlin’s living room is another great example of “going for it” in the objects on shelves department. They are fun and varied, but nothing feels too overcrowded. Notice how, with her wooden mushroom collection and her colorful candlesticks, they are all different heights and slightly different shapes. Perfect collections that are interesting but not too overwhelming to take in visually.

Jess spent a lot of time finding unique sculptural pieces she loved, and it resulted in a very cool and collected shelf display! She considered height, shape, material, color, and pattern and made sure it all felt balanced. Your eye is happy to jump around but not in a way where it’s overwhelmed.

The River House Game Room is just so stunning, and once again, Emily Henderson reminded all of us she is the bookshelf styling expert. As opposed to her Glendale home at the beginning of this section, this styling has more visual breathing room. The objects chosen are also large enough not to get lost (helpful when the shelves are so high up) and in cool shapes to draw your attention and make it more interesting. Also notice how tight the color palette is. It’s so even and easy on the eyes.

FORMULA #4: 3-5 Books Vertically Flanked By Bookend Or Object

As much as I love my things, I might love my books even more. If you saw my living room reveal, you know I have a bookshelf entirely dedicated to books. This reminds me: you can always style your bookshelves with just your books, full stop. However, if you have a lot of books AND want to sprinkle in objects and found things, that is, of course, an option too. To accomplish this look, again start by stacking your books both horizontally and vertically. Once you have done that, you can see where your objects make the most sense. With the grouping of vertical books, we suggest flanking them with objects or bookends to create space between the individual vignettes within the shelves. The more sculptural the object, the better it is to add intrigue and movement to your shelves.

Emily styled her best friend’s awesome dining room built-in with so many personal items, which were mostly photos and books:) But notice how she chose different shelves to use the same marble striped bookend with books stacked vertically. She also never used the same amount of books to make sure they styled didn’t look too symmetrical or boring.

The VHD and Emily Bowser nailed this too in the living room above. I love the alternating stacked book moments on each shelf and the fun, unconventional “bookends” they used. It really makes the space feel so unique to this home.

And there you have it! These four formulas have never failed us and make styling shelves so easy and fun.

Do you have any other styling questions for us? Be sure to drop them down below. xx

Opener Image Credit: Design by Velinda Hellen Design | Lead Designer: Julie Rose | Styling by Emily Edith Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: A Kitchen Makeover That Focused On Small Changes For A BIG Impact (Julie And Velinda Did It Again!)

This is an oddly important/big post for me (and potentially quite vulnerable for the person it’s basically about). You may be asking yourself, “Jess, why is teaching us how to frame posters so that they look cool ‘big’ for you?” Fair question. This post is about how my kind and sweet boyfriend sent me pictures of his apartment so that I could more or less publicly critique his art installation. In the now 10 years I’ve worked here, I’ve never talked about a boyfriend. But he’s very special, and this was clearly the natural next step. It’s the classic: become official, then say I love you, then be talked about on a design blog. Normal relationship stuff! To be fair, he offered as I was worrying about being stumped on something I wanted to write about. It went something like, “Well, what about helping me make my walls look better?” I stopped, smiled, and then double-checked he was sure. He confirmed, and started sending my photos.

If any of you know my style, festival posters and vinyl albums are not what I tend to put on my walls But it is what a lot of people do. It’s a visual reminder of good times and interests, which I can, of course, understand. I sent one of his photos to Arlyn, and her response was, “If Charles lived alone, this is exactly what his place would look like.” While I don’t want to gender types of art or framing styles, in my experience, this does tend to be a classic male aesthetic. For my economically-minded boyfriend (along with so many guys this age), they head to Amazon, grab very affordable standard “full bleed” frames for things like posters and albums, and call it a day. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with that. But when you are an adult (say heading into your 40s), there are simple ways to elevate a beloved festival poster to look how you really want and, dare I say, yes, look cooler.

Let me also say he has a very cool apartment (with central AC!). You never know what you might walk into when entering a man’s home for the first time, but a downtown loft with huge windows and an awesome brick wall feels very much out of a movie:) It wasn’t the reason for the next date, but it didn’t hurt his chances. But guys, stop. This post is about ART. I couldn’t help but notice said art on that first visit too. To me, it was “classic single guy in his late 30s”. Did I think it could be kicked up a notch? Sure. But I’d never suggest someone change something in their home. I do not go into people’s homes judging or imagining how they should be different. But in this case, this was a person I was newly dating and, if things went well, would maybe, down the road, potentially build a life with someday. I was going to be checking out the decor, people! Ok, enough dating storytime. Let’s talk design.

This is how the art currently looks. His original plan was to add another row of four albums on the larger wall to have a bigger grid configuration. Turns out the first row was a real pain to put up, so he decided to deal with it later…that was months ago. A story as old as time. The two framed posters above this desk, to me, are a little too far apart. I believe he centered them with the whole wall. Logically, I see how that made sense. But visually it’s not quite right. If the frames were larger, this could have been fine. But in their current size, the scale is off with the width of the wall, and it also looks a bit off with the desk.

So, as he was sending me photos, he decided to do one more pass with the help of AI…just to see. He has these three large posters framed, leaning against the back of his sectional, so he popped them in, and this was the result. Of course, he immediately didn’t like it (too high and not in line with the albums). It was then my turn…

How To Frame Posters Better: Use A Picture Mat

See how much better it looks with a picture mat and in a larger frame?? It looks intentional and elevated (but still fun). Since all of his frames were black, I wanted to show him an option with a darker walnut. Another way to add a layer of style is to mix frame colors and even materials. It’s all about the overall visual balance, which I’ll get into more later.

I also prefer a thinner frame in general because it feels more modern and tends to look more expensive. Speaking of which, the unfortunate reality of doing this kind of poster framing is that it will likely require a bigger financial investment. A standard full-bleed poster frame is 24″ x36″ and runs in the $35 range on Amazon, but upgrading to a ready-made frame with a mat border (like 28″ x 40″) is anywhere from $45 to $100. It doesn’t have to be a lot more money, but it’s not less. Of course, it’s even more if you want a custom frame, but if it’s in the budget, they do look incredible. We’ve used Framebridge, and I’ve used Frame-It-Easy for online orders. Frame-It-Easy doesn’t have many thin frame options, so just note that. If you are in Portland, Em’s handyman, Dave, is an expert framer and has helped her with some pieces. If you are in LA, I’ve used Quick Frames in the Los Feliz/Atwater area. They guarantee they have the best prices, and they are so easy to work with.

But if you simply prefer a full bleed, here’s an example I like:

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A post shared by Poster House (@poster.house)

The frames are in a pretty wood that’s thin and complements the credenza’s tone. The scale of the art with the width of the credenza also looks great. Oh, and the edges of the posters’ borders have some negative space. It almost gives the illusion of a mat frame.

Here are some great larger (mat-friendly) frames I found:

Engineered Wood Matted Poster Frame to 24×36 – $49 | Thin Aluminum Poster Frames – $77 | Petrol Wood Frame – $129

These are all ready-made and in three different price points. They also each have other color options. The first two only come in neutrals, but The Poster Club one comes in a bunch of really fun but cool colors. Don’t be afraid of a pop of color.

Solid Teak Wood 27 x 40 Frame – $98 | Oak Wood Photo Frame Matted to 24×36 – $81 | Brown 27×40 Picture Frame – $45

These also all come in other colors! All pretty wood, and how great are the edges of the teak wood frame? That’s a subtle detail that, especially in a gallery wall, gives it some edge.

How To Frame Posters Better: Mix In Other Art (With Good Framing)

Ok, he liked the dark walnut for the design area pieces, which then helped choose the frames for the bigger wall. And as you can see, I moved the albums, but they’ll be back shortly. The grid of four on the large wall was in the same sightline as the diptych on the desk wall. It was too linear and one note. It didn’t really create any real interest, and your eyes didn’t have anywhere to bounce around to. But by making the diptych’s scale bigger and the larger wall a gallery (that fills the whole wall), your eye is happier with this better balance.

Let’s also note that not all of the posters have a mat border on the large wall. When you are creating a gallery wall specifically or hanging a lot of art in the same room, it’s important to have different styles and sizes of framing, unless you are creating a grid. But for a gallery wall, have some be full bleed (with a quality frame), some with a mat border, some float mounted, maybe one large mat with a little piece of art, etc. Here’s a whole post on how to create an EHD-approved gallery wall and another on how to hang art on different walls in the same room Now, you also want to mix the frames’ colors themselves. See how I used dark walnut, light oak, and black? It creates a subtle visual depth with how they are mixed in a balanced way. There’s almost equal space and use between them all.

Ok one more thing, and this is not a rule but, I think, a good guideline for poster and album art is to STAY AWAY FROM LARGE POSTER AND ALBUM WALL GRIDS. It may seem like the most logical configuration, but in many, if not all, of the examples I shifted through, they fell visually flat to me. They can take up a lot of wall space, which sounds good, but lack that movement and that interest we want from our wall art.

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Here’s one of the better examples I found. While I would have personally opted for thinner frames, I appreciate the variety in sizes and frame styles, as well as the gallery being floor-to-ceiling.

Back to my boyfriend’s gallery wall:) This, of course, isn’t the final art he wants or I think is perfect, but putting it together was more to show to him (and maybe the men or other poster lovers in your lives) that they can still have art that speaks to them and makes them happy, but how it’s framed and arranged does make a pretty big difference.

How To Frame Albums Better: Maybe Don’t?

See, I told you his albums were safe. The frames he put them in are totally fine. But what I think could make them look even cooler would be to put up single-album floating shelves. The brick column is a perfect place. I love how the walnut is a little softer to the eye, and functionally, he could easily swap out which ones he felt like displaying on any given day. What’s more fun than showing off your latest vinyl purchase and having easy access to play it?? There is also a 3-D element to these shelves that adds more visual variety to the room. Now, these shelves are $24 a piece, whereas frames like the ones he has can easily be $10 or under. A new option can cost more, but if you love it, I think it’s worth the larger investment.

There are, of course, so many different shelf options. Here are some others I found that I really liked:

Vinyl Record Ledge – $34

This is the one I used in the render. It comes in three different lengths and two different wood tones. I love how simple it is.

Handmade Walnut Floating Vinyl Record Shelf – $48 | Mid Century Modern Album Holder – $238

These were two others I thought were great too. The wood hooks (?) are very cool, but I wouldn’t display too many of them on one wall. I think this design is best at a handful max. The second album holder is so pretty but definitely not inexpensive. It comes in a lot of sizes, so if it’s in your budget, I think it’s a great choice.

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Magazine Shelving – $383

I saw this on Instagram and loved the idea! Technically, it’s a magazine holder, but in the example above, it can easily be used as an album display shelf. It comes in other colors and larger configurations too. Very cool, very chic, very Scandinavian. I actually was gifted my long wall mirror from my last apartment from this company, and it’s still so wonderful and beautiful. So I trust their quality.

One More Wall Art Display Option: Art Ledge

Another idea I really love, especially for rentals, is a long art ledge. I think the longer, the better/makes sense is best. In most cases, things look better when a little bigger. Again, scale is SO important. Think rugs, coffee tables, a piece of cake:) Like the single vinyl floating shelves on the brick wall, it gives so much flexibility. You can change up your art or the styling as often as you want.

I chose to show an art ledge over his desk with the two pieces. If this were a real shoot/life and not a render, I would have layered in more, but I like the visual variety it has in relation to the gallery wall. There would need to be a lot more playing around if the ledge were put on the larger wall, given the bigger and taller canvas (the sofa sitting low adds “more” height). Regardless, always remember it’s a great-looking display option.

45″ Gallery Shelf – $162 | 72″ Wall-Mounted Floating Shelves (Set of 3) – $86 | Floating Lines Metal Ledge – from $49

Three great product options with multiple lengths for each, in three different price points. I do love the wooden circle dowel detail in the first one, which, naturally, is the most expensive. Cool cool cool. I am also a huge fan of the thin black metal one too. I think that profile is so chic but really understated in the best way.

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A post shared by Robb (@robbkenon)

Here’s a wooden art ledge very similar to the dark wood one above that shows a great display of multiple layered albums. Why I feel this one really works is that while they are floating, they are visually anchored by the TV and the wall/window. They aren’t just in the center of a big empty white wall all by themselves. I now think that was the issue I kept seeing with the posters and albums that were in grids. They were too large, with too much empty space around them (like in my boyfriend’s place…). This example is cozy but still has some breathing room so that corner setup isn’t cramped.

Vintage Posters

Vans Warped Tour 1998 Poster – $19 | The Beatles Help! Original Music Poster, 1965 – $128 | Trips Festival 1966 Handbill (6.5″x9.5″) – $100

Aside from flea markets, thrift stores, garage sales, and good old-fashioned hand-me-downs, the internet is your best bet to find cool posters. I doubt I have to convince any of you readers, that a vintage poster is almost always the way to go. The patina is priceless and visually adds so much soul to a room. We suggest Etsy, eBay, and Chairish as go-to places to check out. If y’all know of any great vendors, let us all know in the comments! But if your person is like my boyfriend and has a lot of their own beloved poster art, maybe just one vintage option could get added to the mix if it looks right:)

TV And Movie Posters

Cowboy Bebop Anime Poster – From $28 | Back to the Future Trilogy Movie Poster DeLorean – 3 Parts – $64

This one is less about finding something vintage and more about something that they love that’s presented in a cool way. One of his favorite shows is an anime called Cowboy Bebop. I haven’t watched it yet, but the original illustrations are maybe not what he would want to put on his walls. But when I asked if he liked this version on the left, he was into it. Again, I don’t know if this is something that he will end up getting, but it’s a good-looking, cool option of something he really loves. The Back to the Future triptych that’s on the right is actually one that Arlyn bought for her husband for either his birthday or their anniversary. They both LOVE those movies, and this was something that she knew he’d love and she didn’t mind hanging in their home. Oh, and she framed them in IKEA frames.

It usually doesn’t take a lot to make something look a little (or much) better. I hope that’s how you feel after reading this. Everyone should get to have art that they love in their home, and good framing is pretty transformative. Now, I only had my boyfriend read the first three paragraphs of this post (which he approved and said he really liked, phew), so chances are good you might hear about him again:) Until then, I’m just excited to help him make his place feel and look even better than it already does. Maybe a rug is next??? We’ll see!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Sara Ligorria-Tramp and Macauley Johnson | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Sara & Mac’s Office/Guest Room Reveal – LOTS Of Function + Even More Color and Style

It’s been a while since I’ve ventured into Secondhand Scores territory, but I’m back, baby! The premise here is easy: I find a piece of furniture that’s easy to overlook on places like Facebook Marketplace, and then convince you that it’s worth a second look. In the past, I’ve explored dry sinks, barrister bookcases, and vintage armoires. Today, I’m tackling the gateleg table. As I slowly furnish our new home in North Carolina, I’m trying my hardest to have at least a 50/50 split (maybe more) of secondhand to new, so I’m constantly cruising FBM. And let me tell you, there is a PLETHORA of drop-leaf and gateleg vintage tables available here. In truth, I saw them all the time when I was living in Los Angeles, as well, but I never looked twice. They seemed fuddy-duddy and old, and not the kind of old I liked.

But then…I changed my mind. Not for no reason, though. I kept stumbling across images of rooms that used vintage and antique gateleg tables in ways that made my thumb come to a screeching halt. They were grand, interesting, curious, and a little hard to understand at first glance. On the big dining varieties, there are so many legs in play. As we’ll learn today, they aren’t all like that, including the one I recently added to my home after I started researching for this post. I’m sharing a sneak peek at it at the end of the post. But first, let’s educate ourselves a bit.

What Exactly Is a Gateleg Table?

Alright, so…a gateleg table is a type of drop-leaf table where the leaves are held up by legs or brackets that swing out like a garden gate. This furnishing got its start in England in the late 1500s and really hit its stride in the 1600s Jacobean era, when homes were smaller, rooms did double duty, and furniture had to earn its keep. The idea is pretty genius in its simplicity. A narrow center section holds one or two hinged leaves that drop down when not in use, and when you need more surface, a pair of legs swings out on a hinge, just like a gate, to hold the leaves up. Folded, it could slip against a wall or into a corner. Opened, it could seat the whole household for dinner. That flexibility made it a fixture in everything from farmhouse kitchens to taverns and inns, and it’s easy to see why people loved it, since it was basically the original space-saving furniture long before anyone was talking about small-space living.

The earliest versions were made of solid oak and had a sturdy, slightly chunky look, with legs that were often turned on a lathe into bobbin or baluster shapes. By the later 17th century, especially after the Restoration in 1660, the barley twist leg (pictured below this paragraph) became the star of the show. Named for the twisted barley sugar candy it resembles, this spiral-turned leg gave the table a sense of movement and craftsmanship that still feels special today, and it’s probably the detail most people picture when they think of an antique gateleg. Into the 18th century, walnut and then mahogany took over; the shapes got a bit lighter and more refined, and the gateleg eventually shared the stage with cousins like the Pembroke table. The Victorians and later the early 20th-century revival crowd brought the barley twist back in a big way, which is why you’ll see so many of those reproductions at estate sales.

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Then came the mid-century Scandinavian designers, who took this centuries-old workhorse and made it feel brand new. Danish and Swedish versions traded oak and turned legs for warm teak and clean, tapered lines, and the leaves often dropped down to a surprisingly slim profile. Some of the cleverest examples even had a little cabinet or drawer tucked into the center section to store folding chairs, so the whole dining setup could disappear when you didn’t need it. It’s the same practical thinking that made the gateleg popular 400 years ago, just with a lighter touch and a lot more polish, which is exactly why it still works so well in apartments and multipurpose rooms today.

They come in varying heights, so they can serve as end tables, dining tables, hall tables, and even desks. And, as it turns out, a small gateleg table is exactly what I needed for my living room. You see, I had my eye on an Emma Chamberlain demilune bookcase end table from West Elm, but I really didn’t want to spend $550 on it. I envisioned a piece that could sit flush to the low and wide side of my sofa but would round out enough to fill some space in my furniture arrangement that I was struggling with. I tried hunting down a secondhand demilune table, but nothing was quite right. I also liked the idea of some flexibility. Could I find something that worked as an end table but also maybe even a low table for my daughter to use for certain activities?

And then I saw this image:

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A post shared by Annie Shealy | Antiques & Vintage | Collected Interiors (@addyhomedesigns)

While this table has squared-off edges, it inspired me to pivot my search direction to drop-leaf tables and even gateleg. I kicked myself thinking about all of the pieces I skipped over for months and months because I didn’t see the vision.

How Do You Find One & How Much Do They Cost?

As is common with peer-listed product marketplaces, the titles and descriptions of pieces aren’t always super accurate. Your best bet is to examine the images or see the piece in person to check if it operates as a true gateleg table, but some search terms to consider looking up include: Gateleg table, drop-leaf table, Pembroke table, folding wood table, wing table, swing leg table, folding leg table. Don’t forget off spelling variations, such as gaitleg, drop leave, and even something like barely twist instead of barley twist!

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I found this website that does a great job of breaking down some of the eras key to this table’s history, how to check for authenticity, what to look for in the pieces, and even what they should cost. I pulled some of the pricing information (thank you, Antique Tables Co. for sharing this) so you have something to work from when you’re shopping for one. For most of the gatelegs you’ll find people selling on Facebook Marketplace, they’re likely Colonial reproductions, which are still made super well and highly versatile, but aren’t really worth all that much. These are the ones you can get a big deal on!

• Era & Classification: 17th-Century English Jacobean Oak
• Estimated Market Value: $3,500 – $8,500+
• Key Value Drivers: Original barley-twist legs, intact floor stretchers, unstripped dark brown fumed patina.

• Era & Classification: 18th-Century American Colonial (Maple/Walnut)
• Estimated Market Value: $1,800 – $4,500
• Key Value Drivers: Original rule joint hinges, wide single-board leaves without splits, authentic tool marks.

• Era & Classification: 19th-Century Victorian / Provincial
• Estimated Market Value: $500 – $1,200
• Key Value Drivers: Turned baluster legs, English pine or fruitwood, practical compact dining dimensions.

• Era & Classification: 1920s–1950s Colonial Revival Reproductions
• Estimated Market Value: $200 – $550
• Key Value Drivers: Sturdy everyday decorative condition, factory maker’s stencils (Tell City, Imperial).

Be sure to check out this link for further details on the above if you’re interested in more nitty-gritty!

Local Listings

A typical part of this Secondhand Scores series is to show some actual listings so you can get a sense of what’s out there, how people title the listings, and what they charge. Here are some by me in the Raleigh, NC, area, but I also poked around some of the cities I know we have a lot of readers in, including Los Angeles, Portland, and Dallas.

Here’s what I have near me:

You can see that for around $100-$200, the condition varies. You may have to refinish the top, like the one gate leg table on the left. Also, note the title of the one on the left; no real mention of gateleg, but you can see that the two legs under the table leaves nestle into that little notch in the base (a hallmark of a gateleg table).

$75!!! For a gorgeous MCM gateleg. The top is in need of some love, of course. It would need sanding and restaining, but what a great project for such a low price. I could see that being used as a dining table if you don’t have a ton of space to always have a dining area set up, or a desk in a guest room that does double and triple duty. And the table on the right is right up my alley. This is a butterfly wing table, rather than a gateleg, but the function is the same. You can see it’s listed as a gateleg, though, so important to really study images and descriptions to know what you’re getting.

I’d love to see the oval table on the left as an entry table in a large foyer, or even as a center table in a home library (I’ll show you an example of what I mean later on). The $40 table on the right is, again, not in the best finish shape, but a light refinishing and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous console table to use in a hallway, as a bar in your living room, even as a narrow foyer table up against the wall.

Now, let’s look around the country. Here are some of the top results I found in and around Los Angeles, which feature similar pricing but some more variety in wood finish and design. That little scalloped number is CUTE!!!

Next up, Portland. A few more antique versions with barley twist legs in a dark mahogany finish.

And here is Dallas, with smaller occasional table options from $60 to larger dining table sizes for a few hundred.

I also poked around Chairish to see what was shakin’ over there in the gateleg table realm. Given that Chairish houses more antique dealers, you can see there are options from the 18th and 19th centuries.

That Edwardian mahogany gateleg table below has my heart and is similar in shape to my original inspiration.

Some Ideas For Where to Use One

Entryway Tables

One of my favorite current uses for a round gateleg table is the grandest: As a center table in a foyer. Trust me, I know this one isn’t going to be the most practical for most of us. I have a split-level entry townhome with a foyer no larger than about 5 feet by 7 feet, but I can dream, can’t I? Let’s dream together:

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Above is the home of designer Carlos Garcia. This gateleg table has a little drawer, a common feature in larger and better-made designs from as early as the 17th century.

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Technically, the above is a snapshot of an entry hall in a hotel (the Inness Hotel in Accord, New York), but wow wow wow! What a cool surface for displaying some of your own curiosities, collections, or florals.

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Here’s one that’s more realistic for most of us. If your foyer features a little alcove next to the staircase, it’s a fantastic spot to put a smaller version of a gateleg. If you click through the above, you can see how it’s used, including on slide four where it’s in the caddy corner of two upholstery pieces.

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Head of Dwell Wright Interiors, Kaylyn Wright, stands proudly in a beautiful space she designed. I love the addition of the two fringed stools, which extends my mind to using something like this in a study, as a cute little conversation area of a living room with square footage you don’t know what to do with, or as a breakfast nook table.

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If you’re lucky enough to live in a home with a parlor or library-like space in your home (I’m very jealous), get yourself a gateleg table to place in the center STAT.

Hallway or Alcove/Nook Tables

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Got a narrow hallway or spot you would love to add a surface to? This is where the gateleg shines! Sure, you could buy a narrow console table, but using something like this instead gives you the flexibility to repurpose it for other uses as they come up at home.

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The finish on this one is so lovely. It glows almost gold!

Small-Space Dining Rooms

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Click through the images in the post above to see how practical a gateleg dining table can be. This is a more modern version (IKEA even sells something similar—my friends own one!), and I love it for an area in your home you want to leave open to multiple purposes. I could even have seen something like this working really well in my last home where I contemplated using my dining room as a playroom. With a table like this, I could have had both!

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Here’s a mid-century modern one. I mentioned it earlier, but these Scandinavian ones fold up super slim. They go from console table to compact desk, to a 2-seater table and all the way up to a 4/6-seater table. Name another piece of furniture that can do this!

Console Tables

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Technically, all gateleg tables of a certain height are console tables, but I wanted to show the above because some of them are much smaller occasional tables even when opened up. The barley twist legs here are so gorgeous.

Desks

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I can’t understand the Japanese on the above post, but the images speak volumes. What a stunning teak piece! Something like this would be so useful to someone like myself who likes to bop around my house working on my laptop. I don’t have room for a desk in every room, but sometimes I wish I could be downstairs in my living room without the neck-breaking posture of working on the couch. A table like this would be amazing to open up, work on, then close up and move on.

In Conclusion…

We’ve reached the end of my plea to consider the amazing, transformative, versatile, and stylish gateleg table. There are SO many of these out there, all in need of good and beautiful homes. Including mine! Just last week, I found one for $50 in exactly the size I was hoping for, for next to my sofa. The condition is a little worn, and I’m pretty sure someone painted it along the way, but it functions exactly as I hoped it would, and it looks great as-is. Maybe one day, I’ll strip it back to see the true wood grain and restain it, but for now, I’m very happy with my purchase that’s 10x cheaper than what I was originally considering! I haven’t styled it or much of my living room, but here’s a quick iPhone photo because I wanted to share it with you ASAP!

Technically, after writing this post, I learned that my table is a butterfly wing table, not a true gateleg, as the support that comes out is more of a wing that swings around to hold up the leaf rather than a leg. But it was listed as a gateleg, so I’m counting it!

Until next time, friends…

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson Design | Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Emily’s Kitchen and Dining Room Reveal

I, Emily Henderson, am hijacking your attention and Jess’ usual linkup to celebrate Jess’ 10 year WORK ANNIVERSARY!! Jess Bunge, you magical soul of a human, is our favorite, most creative, hard working, compassionate, talented editorial leader. I feel endlessly grateful and lucky to have her and hope to God I can continue to keep her for many more years. I’ve said it before, but working at such a small company for one very flawed human is not always easy. Of course I try hard to do all the things, but I don’t take the years for granted and feel just incredibly appreciative of the decade of dedication. Jess is such a huge part of the success of the business and the heart and soul of the blog. She does so much behind the scenes as well, and I rely on her so much to help guide decisions or just make great judgement calls. Digital media is a very scary place without the right support, both emotionally and professionally. I hope I can continue to support Jess like she supports me and the business (and you). Plus her Moto designs are incredible – that woman has serious design talent! We celebrated her during our last retreat and surprised her with a pontoon ride and a big fun dinner out (with balloons and a pretty epic “compliment jar” where we showered her with so much praise and love). It was quite the love fest, as it should be. So lets give Jess some love in the comments – this blog would truly not be here in this way without her leading every single day. Happy 10 year Workaversary Jess. I thank the God and universe for you and am so grateful for you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. xx

Happy 10 Year Work Anniversary Jess!!!!!!!!

Now Back to the linkup that Jess had fully prepped

Happy Sunday, everyone! The photoshoots have. not. stopped. And we are getting very ready to start this holiday season. We are also pretty excited to get even more down and dirty with the Lowe’s kitchen budget. Here’s the cabinet budget post in case you missed it. Ok, let’s talk links!

This week’s house tour is the ultimate example of style contrast, and it’s incredible. Just north of Barcelona, this home, from the early to mid-1800s, has been beautifully reimagined while keeping a lot of the original features. What’s even cooler is that this home has never left the family; the great-great-grandson of the original owner, along with his wife, are the ones who hired Barcelona architect Raúl Sánchez to make it work for their lives. Go read all the history and enjoy this incredible home.

From Emily: Legit torn about which plaid overcoat to get – they are both  SOO GOOD. The first one is black/brown plaid from  Marine Layer, coming in at $288, which is a lot (but y’all, everything at Nordstroms, Madewell, and even Banana Republic was like $450 for long wool overcoats). And a lot of those were just solid black or camel, which is great, but I like a little more personality and not to look so serious (I don’t have a serious office job, as you know). This one fits so well, has great tailoring in the shoulder, big deep-lined pockets, and the color palette is so easy to wear on all occasions. The plaid doesn’t go “bathrobe-y” at all. God, I’m really talking myself into this one right now.

The second one was my initial gut favorite; with the powder blue plaid, it’s just so fun and stylish. It’s also $168, so it’s much less expensive, and it has a better lining and more of a pea-coat vibe. But it is less versatile (maybe?) because it’s a bolder pattern. It feels more “me,” but I’m extremely drawn to having a more sophisticated, subtle alternative!!! What to do????

From Caitlin: I regret to inform you that the Oura Ring 5 does, unfortunately, live up to the hype. Den recently upgraded us (a big “thank you” to his HSA), and I absolutely love this little health monitor – it’s 40% smaller than the old version, lasts 9 days (!!!) on a single charge, and offers a ton of nuanced data on everything from nighttime breathing rates to stress levels to body temperature to cardio capacity to the distance of my bike rides and more. Sadly, I do require some type of feedback loop to keep myself (relatively) healthy, and all of this information is like catnip to me – I really love this little ring. (It also blows every Apple Watch and Fitbit I’ve ever worn out of the water – there isn’t even a comparison.) If you’re looking for a slam dunk gift this holiday…this one’s it.

From Arlyn: I’m excited to report that fall has arrived for us in the mid-Atlantic. It was a long, hot summer, but pulling from the top of my closet, where I store my cool/cold weather pieces, has me with an extra pep in my morning step. One of my absolute favorite things to throw on for school drop-off (or basically any casual activity) is my American Eagle snap-front sweatshirt. I most certainly wrote about it last year when I bought it, but it’s time to remind everyone about it! It’s one of their best-sellers for a reason; oh, and they added a new henley-style version in the same shape that I’m also looking to add to my closet, considering how much I wear my existing sweater. Be warned: These run HUGE. I normally wear an XL in tops, and I can get away with a medium here if I want it slouchy and long, and even a small if I’m after a less roomy fit.

Willoughby Chair | Piano Stool | Bar Cart

In case you missed it, the Jon Batiste & Suleika Jaouad Collab with Anthropologie just dropped! They said that they wanted to create things that they couldn’t find for their own home. It’s fun, colorful, happy, and has the same wonderful energy they bring to the world. We are big fans of the furniture in particular.

From Gretchen: I’m still on my Korean skincare journey and was recently turned onto a new sunscreen that I’ve been adding into my routine and simply love! It’s the Beauty of Joseon face sunscreen. The packaging is nice and quiet (yes, that stuff matters to me), and the product is so easy to apply and feels very light. It doesn’t feel greasy at all and is super easy to layer under my makeup. I’ve been wearing it for weeks now, and my skin really agrees with it.

From Jess: Last weekend, a new friend of mine was wearing these pants and my lord, they were cute! As you know, we are Colette pant fans, but these have a scalloped edge around the pockets that gives them some edge. I have a pair of the classic corduroys, and they honestly feel like pajamas; they are so comfortable. They are perfect for the fall and perfect for the holidays.

From Marlee: Last week I was at Em’s filming some social content and got to test out a couple of candles that she had ordered. We lit this Santal one to give our video a nice ambiance, and it smelled SO. GOOD. For only $24, I would say it’s almost a perfect dupe for this $40 candle that I’ve reordered a few times, so I’ll definitely be ordering the $24 instead next. I know that ordering candles online is risky, but you really can’t go wrong with this one. We also tried the Minerale candle that I know is one of Mal’s favorites – this one smelled very, very crisp and clean. The Balsam Fir one was also very, very nice as a winter scent – I have a major aversion to artificial pine or fir scents (even the Trader Joe’s one is a little too artificial-smelling for me), but this one was great! Looks like you save some money if you bundle 2 or more candles. I will definitely be ordering some for my house!

From Mallory: Last year during Black Friday weekend, I went into Williams Sonoma and found MY DREAM pumpkin Staub on a massive discount (I’ve been tempted to get one for years, but I was never going to drop $380 full price). The only con about getting it during Black Friday was that I had to wait an entire year to pull it out for fall – but let me tell you, when I whipped this thing out to make butternut squash sage pasta, IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. It is back on a LARGE discount (but you can actually still enjoy it during fall!). I am Staub’s biggest fan – their products are excellent quality:)

It was great spending some time with you today! See ya tomorrow xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain House Reveal: Our Light-Filled Neutral & Textural Living Room

I have a pretty firm belief that the best exercise is the one you really enjoy and crave doing; otherwise, you simply won’t stick to it. That doesn’t stop me from trying new workouts (and then committing to them only to quit after 6 months). Walking will always be top of my list of what I actually enjoy doing because it’s moving my body in nature while listening to a great podcast with my pups. It checks so many of my boxes (along with yoga + road cycling). Sure, I lift weights and do Peloton because I know that I have to (and I’ll probably share in the new year the program that I do that I like). But anyway, today is about walking because I probably log 10-15 miles a week, and living in Oregon, I need a lot of different jackets for different weather and lengths of time. Here are the requirements for the best walking jackets:

1. Pockets. Big enough for a phone, a doggy bag, a headphone case, and sunglasses. Extra credit for a zipper (but deep is fine if not).
2. Big enough to cover my weighted vest or thin enough for my weighted vest to go over.
3. Not bulky or heavy.

I didn’t have what I needed for this fall, so I went shopping. I want to publicly say there is a hole in the market for cool outdoor active jackets by the major brands, but Free People’s active line is filling that hole for me pretty great these days. These aren’t performance jackets, BTW, like nothing you would run 10 miles in. But not all of us want to wear super tight body-con jackets (I’m talking to you, Lululemon). I tried looking at Nike but couldn’t find anything that checked my boxes this time (outside of shoes). We want layers that add warmth and make us look cool. Utilitarian in vibe, not trying to be sexy (IMHO).

Dew Point Rain Jacket | Aerie Leggings | Hat (similar) | Sneakers

Look at those pockets!!!!! So big, deep, and with a zipper? Plus, I love the thumb holes (we don’t need gloves here til Jan/Feb usually). And while I wouldn’t wear this if it were raining (I have a different one below), this is technically a rain jacket and has a hood. Also shout out to those leggings which are so comfortable I bought 5 pairs (different colors) because I wear leggings most days and I love how non-compression-y they are (I buy small for walking then mediums for all day lounging – literally feels like I’m not wearing anything). Now these aren’t warm at all, nor are they performance (no 10-mile runs). And while I wouldn’t buy white shoes again in Oregon, I love those Nikes for how unbelievably comfortable they are for walking. I love all the Airmax Motos, BTW. I have two pairs, and they are my preferred sneaker for all-around-the-house stuff, too (not just long walks). Just really cushy and comfortable.

Misty Mountain Waterproof Pullover | Leggings | Baseball Hat | Shoes

This is the rain pullover that I would use for rain if it’s not cold. And yes, I walk the dogs in light showers, just not downpours. I can fit my weighted vest underneath it. It has 4 pockets, all with zippers – two up high, which is nice so it doesn’t bang against my thighs. It just feels cool. Those are my rain walking shoes (technically hiking shoes) from Columbia that I’ve had for four years (and love because they come up high enough that I can walk through wet grass without getting my socks wet). They have this shiny silver fabric on the inside that keeps my feet so warm (these are what I wear most winter walks unless it’s snowing). I should probably replace them, but they are still going strong after so many years!

Happy Trails Poncho | Quick Step Bubble Pants | Tennis Shoes | Shirt (old Aerie) | Chunky Beanie

This vest is so stinking cute. It’s a puffer without being huge. It has two really deep pockets and is lined in fleece on the inside. I’m wearing the small, and it’s still big enough to hide my weighted vest. BIG FAN. Oh, and I love those cute yoga pants – such a cute little bubble shape.

Weighted Vest

BTW, I have a pretty strong weighted vest game (not to brag, but I’ve been doing it WAY before it became such a thing). I just gave away my 12lb because I rarely grabbed it and now just have a 16lb and 25lb. The 25lb is CRAZY HEAVY, so this is the one that I use on my Monday morning walks that are around 3 miles with a HUGE hill, but I can’t do 5 miles in it (hurts my shoulders). If you want to just do stairs, you won’t be able to walk the next day (which I like because I’m crazy). So if you are new to the weighted vest but are used to walking, I would get the 16lb. Much more is just too heavy. I don’t love the adjustable ones, FWIW.

Pom Beanie | Sherpa Vest | Shirt (old Nike) | Pants | Sneakers

This vest I got to layer underneath my jackets because I thought the camel color would be cool. I don’t think I’m really selling it here, but it’s pretty great. Not bulky, with zipper pockets, and easy to layer under jackets.

Jacket | Top | Aerie Leggings | Hat (similar)

This new light puffer has such a good cut. Two zipper pockets. Super flattering IMHO, although you can’t tell with the weighted vest on. I’m wearing a Quince long-sleeve workout shirt underneath, which I really like (soft, not too fitted, doesn’t hug or cling in the wrong places).

The jacket is light, so it’s not going to be your winter walking jacket, but for a brisk morning in the fall it’s actually perfect.

Weighted Vest | Headlamp | Headphones

I don’t stray from this weighted vest (there are a ton of brands, but don’t let them fool you – you don’t need more bells and whistles or to spend a lot of money). This one comes with a cell phone attachment, which I used to use, but I took it off and can’t find it. I don’t love the adjustable ones because I don’t like to lose parts, so it’s almost easier to just have two different weights if you think you are going to use it enough. The headphones are the all-time favorites that I’ve been using for 8 years because they stay in my ear and last for 80 hours and charge in the case. There might be better/newer things on the market, but I keep rebuying these (just to have more in case I can’t find mine) because I’ve been so happy with them (they are dorky though when I’m grocery shopping with them, which I do). BTW, I only use one ear while walking/shopping so I can hear around me.

But Wait, How Do You Make Walking Not Boring???

Podcast. Gripping, entertaining, educational podcasts. I don’t love scary true crime, but I LOVE all the heist/scammy ones – just all the series where you HAVE to listen to the end. Not to brag, but my “Gripping Podcast” blog post is epic and has gone really viral. I add to it every few months as I listen to more, so if you haven’t checked on it in a while, head over there.

But outside of gripping series, I listen to a ton of weekly podcasts. I love Armchair Expert twice a week. Off the top of my head, I’ve loved (lately) these guests a LOT: Eric Goode, Guillermo Del Toro, the most recent Malcolm Gladwell, Ray Madoff (SO GOOD!!!!!), Oliva Fox Cabane (on the science of Charisma), Chris Young (incredible story), Alan Ritchson (def didn’t predict I’d love that one), Lukas Gage (woah)… And that’s just the last few months. I’ve always wanted to do a list of my absolute favorites from the last 8 years – let me know in the comments if you want it (you HAVE to listen to the one on Sociopathy and OCD, so freaking good). I also listen to Pivot twice a week (Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway have the best chemistry) and Smartless. I like Amy Poehler’s if I like the guest. And I tend not to listen to audiobooks when walking, just while cleaning, unless I’m so gripped by it that I can’t not listen to it. I also love Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, and anything by Brené Brown. I’ll listen to Diary of a CEO and Call Her Daddy if the guests are good. If/when I need a dose of spirituality, I’ll listen to Gabby Bernstein or Dr. Joe Dispenza or anything with Laura Lynne Jackson. OMG, I could write a whole post about the non-gripping podcasts I listen to (and yes, the audiobook blog post is still in the works!!!). There are so many more (Huberman, Dr. Becky, Emma Grede…). Let me know if you want a full post on podcasts. Ok have a great Saturday!!

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

So we know it’s October, and you are currently staring at a very beautiful Christmas vignette from Emily herself. It may be a little startling, but trust us when we say it’s worth starting to think about if you are in need of some new holiday decor or are starting your own collection. The holidays always come at us so fast, and the last thing we all want is to be stress buying the gaps in our decor. And to me, what is a really good stress reliever is nostalgic decor. Nothing fills me up more than an old-looking, beautiful Christmas-styled home. And since we are in deep gift guide planning and photo shooting, we have been shopping for decor too! One place we love working with and shop at is, of course, Wayfair. I was really pleasantly surprised to see so many great vintage-inspired Christmas decor pieces and thought we’d show them to you today (including Em’s favorite pre-lit faux tree!).

Pre-Lit Faux Tree | Damier Stocking | Tree Skirt | Armchair and Ottoman | Hand-Woven Throw Blanket | End Table | Vase | Pre-Lit Garland

While I’m not in favor of time passing by quickly, looking at this photo (in the guest cottage!) is making me very ready to start cozying up by a tree. And this is Em’s favorite pre-lit one! According to her, “it’s surprisingly pretty for the price point, and the lights are really warm and small, almost fairy lights. In general, it’s a lot glowier than other trees we’ve had in the past. Basically, it looks high-end and a great faux tree pick.” Even better news, it comes in four different sizes, so there’s a tree for everyone:)

Hubbert Plush Velvet Christmas Tree Skirt | Solid Color Burlap Tree Skirt | Solid Color Velvet Tree Skirt

If you have a great tree, then you need a great tree skirt. To me, all of these feel a little vintage-y but can easily go with other styles if that’s more you. The first plush velvet one is luxe and decadent-looking. The bunched trim is special without going overboard. The middle “jingle” one has a little more whimsy, and the solid red one is a total classic and is such a pretty tone.

Ornament Set (Set of 12) | Glass Shatterproof Bauble (Set of 9) | Retro Stripe Ball/Finial Ornament (Set of 6)

A lot of you already have your special, memory-filled unique ornaments, but if you’re looking to inject a little vintage feel into the foundation of the design, these are perfect. The shape and candy cane stripes of the first one make me think of the most magical old Santa’s workshop; the texture of the glass (shatterproof) set is quiet but perfectly nostalgic, and the retro set is just that, retro. I love the horizontal stripes, the mix of shapes, and the MCM style.

1.25 in. Glass Shatterproof Finial Ornament (Set of 12) | 2″ Bauble (Set of 12)

Or even if you have your main bulbs, here are some little guys (smaller ornaments) that can fill in and make the overall design more vintage-feeling. Mixing up the shapes and adding color is an easy way to achieve this too.

Leoncia Christmas Bears True Handcrafted Needlepoint Stocking | Velvet Stocking

Now we have our stockings. This is where you can also make a big, happy vintage-style impact. This first needlepoint stocking has my heart because it’s the same style as my family’s stockings. Even new, they look old in the best way. But needlepoint isn’t for everyone, so something simple and elegant like this velvet stocking is also so pretty.

Holiday Brights Stocking | Damier Stocking

Woven stockings, regardless of whether they have a more modern pattern, look so wonderfully nostalgic to me! Em has used those checkered ones before (as well as in the photos at the start of the post) and loved the cozy yet playful energy they bring. The red one feels even more vintage-inspired to me, and the pom poms are the cherry on top:)

Christmas Tree Cast Iron Stocking Holder | Paper Accordion Christmas Trees (Set of 5)

Unless you are a nail-in-the-mantel kinda home, you need a stocking holder. This cast iron tree one is so, so sweet! I love that it’s not a traditional metal color and that it looks worn already. Now, admittedly, the accordion trees aren’t totally vintage in look, but the paper feels crafty (aka nostalgic), and the colors are great. Also, I think it’s good to mix a little style contrast in any design:)

Reena Antique Brass Trumpet Metal Taper Candle Holders | Ceramic Christmas Tree Decor

It’s in the name – Antique Brass. These candle holders are fun without going tooo kitchsy (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I love the metal tone and that you almost need to take a second glance to clock that they’re trumpets. The ceramic tree is another one that’s very special and nostalgic to me. We’ve had one from grandmother set out at Christmas for as long as I can remember. My dad has so little from his childhood, but this tree is one of them, and nothing says Christmas time more to me. The design is vintage in nature, and it’s just the right amount of kitsch (at least for me:))

Snowflake Soldier Nutcracker Set | Resin Nutcracker Statue

Another item that says “vintage Christmas” to me is a nutcracker. The wooden ones especially have my heart. It’s an easy piece you can set almost anywhere, and it works. I have, umm… a lot, and they really add such instant happiness to my home.

Aneatra Square Throw Pillow | Kathleen Throw Pillow

Pillows will be our final category today. While needlepoint pillows with Christmas sayings on them are great, you can still get the vintage-inspired look with pillows that are a little more subtle in their Christmas vibe:) This first striped one may not say “Merry Christmas,” but those red and white stripes scream it in such a fun way! It’s happy and sweet with that ruffled trim. 10/10. I believe we’ve talked about that green one before, but what a perfect pillow for the holidays- well, all seasons, actually. It feels festive with the wider ruffle but can completely be a year-round pillow too.

Steeplechaser Striped Throw Pillow | Sevan Collection Knitted Throw Blanket

Another classic pattern and material: velvet stripes. Another festive, classic, and not too “hey! I’m a Christmas pillow” pillow if that’s more your style. But I do like the idea of a Christmas/Holiday specific throw blanket. How darling and sweet is this knitted one? I actually really like this pillow and throw blanket combo:)

I hope this was a fun reminder that Christmas is coming, and starting to fantasize now won’t hurt and maybe even decrease some stress later. Also, now you know you can find vintage-inspired Christmas decor for great deals at unexpected places like Wayfair! Happy (almost) Holidays:)

Love you, mean it.

*Thank you to Wayfair for partnering with us on this blog post.

Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green

When we stress and obsess about the design details, we take note because that’s often what we think makes the best stuff to share here. Just saying “we chose these shaker full overlay cabinets” doesn’t really show you all the decisions along the way that we had to make (let alone the hardware choices, which felt endless in a good way). So today is a deep dive into this: my sister’s kitchen cabinet design for those who might be stealing these ideas (And please do! Nothing makes me happier than our ideas making your design choices less stressful and your homes more beautiful).

Lowe’s kitchen cabinetry had a few different lines that all had different profiles and colorways (varying in quality and level of customization). Knowing that they all functioned well, our priority as design enthusiasts was to make sure that the door style and color were what we wanted, and we chose that first.

Wait! But before we jump in, here is a great video we made about the process (just wait for the ads to play first:))

Things We Knew

• We wanted dark green appliances (so whatever color we chose had to really look good with that specific color); we didn’t want a white kitchen this time.
• I don’t love wood-toned flat overlay cabinets as much as painted (in some settings it works, BTW, but didn’t feel right here)
• We didn’t want anything too dark (the kitchen is small with only one window, and I frankly rarely love dark kitchens).
• Nothing too contemporary or hyper-modern, so cabinet doors would be shaker (but what size of panel/rail/stile was up for debate).
• Just in case they wanted to sell soon, we didn’t want to take any huge color risks (I love a burgundy kitchen, but not here)

So this really narrowed it down to warmer neutrals and blues and greens. But we needed to be hyper-picky about the greens and blues, which is why we mixed two different lines (Diamond Express and Diamond Intermediate) that had the same shaker profile. We chose the color Emma (bottom) and Tropic (light blue, on top). Each of these colors and corresponding lines offers a bunch of door styles to choose from. Of the shaker styles offered, we felt good about ‘Gresham’ for its simple, clean lines, but appreciated that it offered shaker drawer fronts, which worked well for our more drawer-forward design.

Basic Cabinetry Tips

Opt for deeper drawers instead of lower cabinets. You can mix in some cabinets, but most everything that would fit in a cabinet can fit in a drawer except taller appliances. So we left one big cabinet that houses their microwave and could also keep a mixer. You might want a cabinet for bigger pots (and usually you need some doors because you don’t have the width to do drawers everywhere in the corners). But all Tupperware, mixing bowls, and kitchen tools fit better and get less lost in drawers than cabinets.

Lean into symmetry. While not every kitchen is as clean-cut as this one with the range being in the middle of the back wall, I generally try to find symmetry if it can happen. This might mean wasting a tiny big of space with a faux panel just to even things out, but I’d opt for that rather than having one bigger drawer or cabinet on one side. I would have never flanked one side of the range with the spice pull-out and the other with a cabinet, but that is also a style preference (but a strong one). In order to make your cabinets look high-end, you want things to look streamlined, not collected.

Skip partial overlay cabinet fronts. Most designers love to choose “inset” cabinetry, which means that the face of the cabinet run is flat, with the cabinets and drawers “inset” inside the frame. It’s the cleanest, most streamlined look. But it’s a lot more expensive, and I don’t think it’s always necessary. Full overlay, like what we did here, is easier and thus more affordable to execute because it can be slightly less precise and still look perfect. There are more margins for error, and you can use different equipment to build. But what you don’t want, what can look dated, is what we did in the ’90s: a partial overlay, which creates bigger gaps and adds more lines, thus being the least streamlined. If you have a partial overlay (especially if you have a more decorative front panel), you can replace it with more streamlined styles. If for some reason you have to choose partial overlay, paint it a modern, fresh color and it will reduce the datedness by a lot!

Our Layout

With the colors decided, we needed to figure out exactly how the cabinets would be laid out.

We sat with Chris (our Lowe’s kitchen cabinetry specialist) and went cabinet by cabinet, drawer by drawer, to decide what would go in them and, therefore, what the inside should be (size and function). Some decisions were easy (garbage by sink, spice pull-out by range) while others required a bit more thought. I think the cabinet layout is specific to your family, storage needs, and how you cook, but if you’re embarking on the process, here are some things that I always do:

Now for function – the insides of the drawers and cabinets are so fun to lay out because you get to fantasize about how you are going to live there (which is so fun), and you really want to meet your needs. This is where you label each drawer with everything from “Saran wrap” to “SodaStream”. What you want to avoid is not having an easy in/out storage location for the Vitamix you use every day. Not everything will have a perfect location (which is why so many new-build kitchens will have a walk-in pantry to throw the air fryers and serving platters into).

We only shot a few of the drawers because it didn’t feel necessary to buy Tupperware just to shoot it in a drawer, so I wanted to call out our favorite features as a “don’t skip these” cabinet elements.

Spice And Oil Pull-Out

Spices can be in a drawer and lie flat, labels up (like I have, which is admittedly really easy to find each spice). But here we opted for a pull-out spice drawer next to the range (with pretty labels on the spice lids instead). All of your cooking oils and vinegars need to be upright, obviously, and putting them behind cabinets is annoying, as they can get buried quickly. So we took out one of the shelves of the spice pull-out to allow for spices up top, oils in the middle, and canned goods on the bottom.

Utensil (and Knife) Pull-Out

We flanked that pull-out with a matching front, with different functions. For this, we did knife storage and utensil storage. The utensil bin is key (I have two and they are so convenient). You might want knives to be on a knife block or mounted on the wall and do more utensil storage, which was an option, but we were excited to explore this feature. This is a flex rod knife block which makes it super easy to slide and store your knives of all sizes and keep them protected.

Lazy Susan Corners

To avoid a blind corner (which I have at home and no idea why, but it also doesn’t really bother me since I only use the same three pots or pans weekly), you can get these corner lazy susans installed instead. It’s not crucial but sure is handy for finding buried pots. We did it on both sides.

Trash And Recycling Pull-Out

Probably the most important of all of these so you don’t have to deal with a floating trash can in your kitchen. We didn’t have that much space on the left side of the sink (and the dishwasher was on the right), so we squeezed in two smaller trash cans.

Microwave In A Cabinet

I’m so sorry I don’t have a picture of it (we hadn’t bought the microwave yet), but this cabinet is big enough to house a microwave and has a plug (through the floor, pre-planned obviously). Listen, I don’t hate a built-in microwave, and sometimes it’s the best option if you use it all the time, but I’d rather look at cabinets than at appliances, so like in our pantry, I prefer to hide them behind a cabinet. Yes, this requires two moves (opening the cabinet, then opening the microwave), but it’s worth it to me not to give up visual real estate. In my sister’s case, that peninsula wasn’t wide enough for the built-in microwave anyway (in the matching KitchenAid suite), so barring keeping a microwave on the countertop, this is the best and a great solution.

Choosing The Right Hardware + Placement

We went a bit overboard when it came to choosing the hardware for this kitchen. Between the brass appliance pulls, pendant light, and plumbing fixtures, we wanted to make sure all the finishes worked well together. Because “champagne bronze” doesn’t always translate the same across brands, this meant ordering a bunch to test out. I think Gretch ordered something like 30 different options between knobs and pulls in varying shades of brass to see what would look best in both finish and style. I wouldn’t say you need to order as many to feel good about your choice, but it doesn’t hurt to have options, and we were pleasantly surprised by Lowe’s wide range and wanted to try a variety. And the rejects were very easy to return once we made our final selection.

Short Drawer Pulls | Long Drawer Pulls | Knobs

To help a kitchen feel more high-end, I recommend using a mix of knobs and pulls throughout. We played around for a while to decide which knob or pull looked and functioned best, based on the type of cabinet (a heavy pull-out spice drawer works well with a sturdy handle, but an upper cabinet pulls easily with a single small knob). On the larger drawers, we opted for a mix of double knobs and larger drawer pulls. Mixing sizes, styles, shapes, and placement across all cabinetry helps the kitchen feel more designed rather than choosing the same handle for everything. But you do you! Some may like a more streamlined selection, but I gravitate toward a collection. If you’re feeling stuck and need some inspiration, we wrote this post all about hardware placement just for you.

For this kitchen, we went with a more traditional placement, centering the knobs in the corners of the face frame. But knobs and pulls on drawers were treated differently than knobs and pulls on cabinets, and pull placement on cabinets varied based on orientation. I recommend creating a sort of map for yourself or your installer to keep all your placement choices straight. Get specific with your measurements and placements, noting when it’s a knob, 4″ or 8″ pull. You’ll thank me later.

So How Much Did We Spend?

Here’s the official cost breakdown for just the cabinets. Next week we will dive into the overall budget for the kitchen. On hardware alone, we spent $326.46. That covers 15 knobs, 8 short pulls, and 4 long pulls. Cabinetry is where we spend the bulk of our budget.

The upper cabinets totaled $5,197.95. These were from a more mid-range line, Diamond Express, and we required fewer uppers since it was always our plan to have open shelving and a large vintage cabinet they’d use for their pantry. The lower cabinets came in at $18,080.56, and because we wanted a specific color only available in Diamond Intermediate, these were a step up in price. But thankfully Lowe’s was running a 30% off sale, so our cabinet total dropped from $23,278.51 to $16,294.96. Labor was an additional $4,037.96, but it was worth every penny for the ease of having the Lowe’s kitchen cabinetry team handle the install. All in, we spent a total of $20,332.92 ($20,659.38 if we’re including hardware).

Next week, we’ll dive into the overall kitchen budget, detailing costs of stone, hardwood floors, appliances, etc., and I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the best times to splurge vs. save. Let us know what else you’d like us to touch on with this kitchen. If you have any questions, put them in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer them! xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green