Happy Sunday, everyone! Hope everyone caught Em’s “All The Design Projects We Have Going On” post this week so you know we are hard at work to get you some awesome reveals, and soon. It’s gearing up to be a busy fall too, which we continue to be so grateful for. Hope you are having a restful weekend and are ready for some fun links. Let’s get to it.

This week’s house tour is the home of a true artist. The British fashion photographer-stylist-creative director, Venetia Scott, lives in a post office-turned studio/apartment, and it’s incredible. Layered with art, cool fabrics, colors, and more. It’s a feast for the eyes.

From Emily: Two podcast episodes I was so gripped by that I mostly stared at a wall while listening to. 1. Armchair Expert with crime expert (former government agent, sniper, and FBI expert) Chris Whitcomb, who recently wrote his latest book about the Idaho murders. As part of the zeitgeist writ large, I obviously knew about this heinous crime (every parent’s worst nightmare), and I thought there were a lot of suspicious things about the case, but I also find the internet and social media to be generally inflammatory and conspiratorial, so I feel like I have no one to trust. WELL, COLOR ME SUSPICIOUS. Chris’ book does not claim who did it or that Brian Kohlerberger is innocent, but as a seasoned investigator with a ruthless pursuit of justice, he clearly outlines evidence in the case that doesn’t make sense. I don’t want to spoil it for you, and you don’t need to know much about the case to listen to it, but wow, it’s riveting. (If you haven’t listened to the Amanda Knox episode, please do – INCREDIBLE). 2. As someone who lives in this influencer world, I was excited to hear Nara Smith on Call Her Daddy. If you don’t know who she is, she is a 24-year-old former model with 4 kids who makes Skittles and Cheez-Its from scratch for her family – All for content on her insanely popular TikTok. She is gorgeous, wears gowns while cooking, and does the seemingly impossible, thus her extreme explosion on social media. It’s absolutely fascinating, entertaining, and provocative – intentionally or not. I have a lot to say about the “trad-wife” movement. I’ve been so interested by the media coverage of Nara Smith and Ballerina Farm and, moreover, the backlash (all from women). I have more to say, so much more, and I’ve written many unpublished drafts about what I think is actually going on with this supposed movement. But if you want a glimpse inside this very interesting media bonanza, listen to Nara Smith on Call Your Daddy. It’s a good listen.

From Arlyn: I found myself in need of a sconce for a spot in my living room, but I didn’t want to spend too much money. In doing some research for the very specific design I wanted—articulating arm, pewter or chrome—I found this baby on Pooky’s site for a huge discount. And then, scrolling through their other offerings, I was stunned by the pricing on some of their sale and clearance items. They aren’t super easy to find all in one place, but do yourself a favor and just dig around to see what you can stumble upon. I saw some quality lighting for like $25! You can’t even buy some cheap tinfoil-like lights off Amazon for that price.

From Mallory: I shot a Walmart commercial back in January of this year (which was so fun), and I got to have my own glam team (a total dream honestly!!) – the hairstylist took one look at my hair and was like, “Girl, you gotta get a Mason Pierre brush“. When I inquired more about this famous brush, he said, “It basically moves the oils from the top of your head and evenly distributes them throughout your hair so it helps a lot with dry ends.” He said they’re crazy expensive, but it’s the only brush you ever need to buy…I was immediately sold until my makeup artist whispered to me, “Girl, the one at Sally Beauty is the exact same, and it’s $10 instead of $200.” Well, I passed a Sally Beauty the other day and snagged one, and I LOVE IT. My hair feels silky smooth, and it really feels like it untangles everything so well. If you’re in the market or if you’ve been wanting to try the fancy brush – try the dupe first to see if you like it:)

Anthropologie will forever be a staple for us, and this weekend they are giving an extra 40% off of their sale section. Music to our ears! Looking for some cute breezy tops? Check out this one and this one. Love Em’s Trucker hats?? She has this one and this one. The stock is good, so if you need some new pieces (at a much more affordable price), check out their sale.

From Marlee: Well… I have good news and bad news… and more good news, and so on. GOOD NEWS: I was recently at a “vintage” market (emphasis on the quotation marks) and found a SUPER cute tank top. “It looks like Doen!” I exclaimed. Paid $15 for it and have been wearing it nonstop all summer. BAD NEWS: last week I had to take my sister to Target and lo and behold, on the rack, lies my new shirt (here it is). Vintage schmintage. GOOD NEWS: that means you can have it too. BAD NEWS: it’s almost sold out. GOOD NEWS: it also comes in a dress, which is also VERY cute. Couldn’t tell you what size to get in the shirt, because the tag was ripped off – at least I saved $2. Ha!

From Gretchen: I don’t know what it is about a cream stick, but lately my entire makeup routine has revolved around them. My holiest of grail products is my Fenty Contour Stick (in shade Mocha). I love how instant and easily it pays off. A messy swipe or three across my cheeks and a haphazard brush blend, and I’m out the door looking glowy as ever. For the longest time, I used IT Cosmetics CC cream as my base (still love it and still use it from time to time), but there’s nothing quite like the ease of swiping a cream stick product, so I figured it was time to find one to fit the bill for foundation. Well, surprise, I did! This LYS Beauty stick is exactly what I was hoping it would be. The triangle shape makes swiping this under my eyes a breeze, and I just love love LOVE the way it blends out. Plus it actually camouflages my dark circles. And just like my bronzer stick, I can swipe this one on in a messy hurry, give it a quick blend with my fingers or brush, and it comes out amazing. Definitely hydrating like the CC cream, with plenty of coverage and a price tag that didn’t give me immediate sticker shock. This will definitely be a product I repurchase as soon as I’m out.

From Jess: I might be the last to know about the long-form conversation podcast Talk Easy, but I just started listening, and I love it so far. The host, Sam Fragoso, has the most incredible soothing radio voice; his research is very thorough, and his questions are poignant and thoughtful. The guests are artists, activists, and politicians, and there are so many I’m excited to listen to. I found the podcast by way of comedian/actor Mary Beth Barone (whose Netflix special, Galaxy Brain, just dropped, and I also loved). Robby Hoffman’s conversation is wonderful, funny, and a must-listen. If this kind of podcast style is your favorite (like me), I think you’ll also really enjoy it!

From Caitlin: I recently discovered Jon Hutman’s YouTube channel and cannot believe he only has 41,000 followers. If his name doesn’t ring a bell, it should – he’s Nancy Meyer’s set designer! And he’s giving out unbelievable advice! On the internet! For free! I know that you’ll love this 13-minute video on how he designed the cottage from The Holiday, and this 16-minute video is filled with great tips on creating a cozy home. I could listen to Jon talk about pulling these sets together all day – I can’t believe we FINALLY get to learn the nitty-gritty secrets of building the Nancy Meyers aesthetic straight from the horse’s mouth. They’re really fun to watch, especially as we head into fall!

Also from Caitlin: Bike folk, I need you. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good beach cruiser or e-bike? Den and I have decided to hang in Rehoboth Beach for a few months (thank you for the advice!), but we’re looking to ditch the car for a bit – ideally we’d be able to trick one out to handle our grocery and pet food hauls. But I have literally no idea what to look for or what to avoid – if you like to bike, I will take any advice I can get!

Thank you for sharing part of your day with us, and come back tomorrow for a great reveal! xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The Official Summer 2026 Backyard Tour (It’s Grown So Much!)

Last week I instastoried something that got a lot of engagement and pushback, and I thought I’d bring the discussion here to you all who presumably are more design enthusiasts. It’s about kids + my money philosophy, which is always a fun topic, LOL (P.S. did you read my Substack about how we talk to our kids about money, part 1?). I’m currently decorating both my kids’ rooms. One who wants to be highly involved (Elliot, my 10-year-old daughter) and one who wants it to be cooler than it is but is mostly ambivalent outside of being concerned that I’m going to make it look too “designer-y” (my 12-year-old son). I’m having so much fun on both of them, but ok fine, probably more fun with Elliot because she wants in on the process, has HUGE opinions, is super engaged with every detail, and is just so clear about her art direction. So this summer I tried to carve out time to take them both shopping for their rooms for the fun stuff, and I realized that while I have a lot of existential fear and anxiety about my job inadvertently spoiling them, I sure am fine spending money on some stuff for their room.

Do They Get To Pick Out Their Own Furniture?

While I absolutely let them weigh in on my furniture choices, I’ve learned now not to give them too much carte blanche freedom with investment pieces, or they will choose whatever looks like the most garbage-y, funky piece, which tends to be from Amazon ads. Think super fuzzy bean bag chairs, anything that could look like it involves gaming, spinning around, swinging, squooshies, etc. So I usually show them 2-3 options after I shopped and found pieces that make sense for them now, look nice in a room, and have some longevity (while admittedly some pieces might only work for them the next few years as they age). This is all super privileged, obviously, but it’s also my job, and I have a business to run so I’m not going to buy them a crappy $80 purple fuzzy lounge gaming chair that is going to fall apart and look ugly (and become MY problem) in a year. So furniture is mostly my domain, with recommendations that they get to choose between. GREAT.

Do You Let Them Choose Their Own Paint Colors?

Now when it comes to paint colors – it’s mostly freedom, with my “expert” guidance (I learned my lesson on permanent wallpaper for KIDS – DON’T DO IT unless you are ok changing it once they become tweens). I’m fine with repainting every few years because it’s fun for me and part of my job. Oh, here’s a HILARIOUS story. So as you know, Elliot wanted purple walls for her room. We sampled 10 or so of varying degrees of saturation. I strongly cautioned against getting anything too purple, and she chose one of the semi-muted ones, but the even more muted ones that I loved felt “sad” or “gray” or “boring” to her. But like I warned her, once it’s on ALL THE WALLS, even the more muted colors will become more saturated (it’s a volume game). So there are certain times of the day where she loves the color and other times where she says it’s brighter than she thought it would be. She laughs about it, knows that it was her doing, and we plan on breaking up all the walls with more art, so I think it will be fine (they are still empty walls now, so it’s more overwhelming). BTW, I still really like the color (Grape Mist) and I’m surprised she says it’s too much for her (only in the evening, strangely when the light isn’t bouncing around). So this isn’t a mistake, just some insight and a great reminder to us all – color gets exponentially “bigger” the more of it that you paint. Painting a bed frame that same color would have read the perfect amount of purple, but on all four blank walls it feels like A LOT OF PURPLE. Anyway. We like it enough, and it’s not a thing, but I just wanted to flag that for you. On to money talk.

Goal #1 – Have Them Love Their Room (So They Love Being Home)

Art and decor is where we all can bring in our personal style. Kids included. This is where they can feel like it is their room, during whatever kid stage they are in, and it’s where I love/crave their involvement. Now this isn’t for everyone. Most parents just want their rooms to not have empty walls and for their kids to clean their rooms. But again, since this is both my passion, hobby, and job, I get to really indulge in this stuff with my kids, which is something I’m so grateful for.

We make our kids buy anything with their own money that they “want”. We cover their “needs”. Needs are food, clothing, shoes, sports uniforms, basic toiletries, etc. They save by doing chores; we sometimes do allowance, they get money for birthdays, etc. And since we started this a year ago, it works. Sure, when we are on vacation we might buy them merch or a souvenir, and we certainly indulge in treats when we are on a family outing (we don’t make them pay for their own ice cream or anything), but if they want that dumpling squishy or squooshie, it’s on them. They no longer complain or push back.

Goal #2 – Have Them Love Vintage Shopping With Me (So They’ll Hang Out With Me)

Yes. Buying them stuff so they enjoy hanging out with me is manipulative, but it’s exactly what a lot of parents do at sporting events. Brian wants to go see a game and spend time with kids – shared interest, bonding, etc. But kids go for the cotton candy, junk food, and sweets until they actually are interested in the sport. There is no way that my kids (when they were little) were going to use their own money at a vintage mall. But since it’s my favorite thing to do and I want to enjoy doing it with my favorite people, I have to be realistic about what it takes for them to enjoy it. I mean, if I’m going for work, I leave them at home. But going to Aurora with my family on a Saturday, popping into some antique shops and then getting lunch at Filberts is my fantasy day. And them complaining the whole time ruins said fantasy day, so therefore I have to take manipulative measures to make sure they enjoy it:)

So yes, when it comes to vintage shopping, flea markets, makers markets, or thrift stores, I give them “free money” or buy them a few things (within a common-sense reason, obviously). It doesn’t need to be a “need”, because inherently none of these things are needs – they are decorative. For a while I was giving them $20 each and letting them decide what to spend it on, but it wasn’t enough for them to get too excited or to buy much. We’ve done scavenger hunts when they were little (so fun). I’ve bought them stuff for their rooms, costume jewelry, gadgets, boxes of old Legos, remote control cars – I’m enthusiastically open to anything. And I tell them all the time what a good eye they have, or what cool style they have. Like sports, it’s a lot of encouragement so they build their vintage shopping confidence. I really try to make the day as fun as possible, so they associate the experience of vintage shopping with FUN. Something they’ll look forward to, not something their mom makes them do that they dread. So yes, it’s part of a bigger manipulative scheme to eventually take them to the Paris flea markets, of which I’ve never been!

Goal #3 – Have Them Appreciate Vintage, Thrifting And Makers On Their Own

I really do think it’s a particular muscle that needs to be exercised; otherwise it can feel overwhelming and kinda gross at times. If you walk into your first thrift store when you are 30, you might think it’s disgusting (I know I’m preaching to my crowd here). But for most of us who grew up thrifting, even that smell is nostalgic and wonderful. It’s my job to teach them how to hunt for the good stuff, how to spot it, and what prices make sense.

Goal #4 – Have Them Value Antiques, Vintage, And Most Importantly Contemporary Makers

A lot of the stores in Portland are a mix of maker goods and vintage. These are my favorites and are soooo good here (thrift stores have gotten so expensive and so picked over in Portland that the antique malls are often the same prices for a much more curated experience – plus I’d rather give my money to vintage vendors than to thrift store chains). So we go to Urbanite, Cargo, Stars, Monticello, Aurora – all the best ones that are guaranteed to be a good time. These all have new artists as well as curated vintage, and I find the pricing really reasonable (not cheap, but reasonable).

Goal #5 – Art Is Important And Worth Buying If You Can

I will absolutely admit that Target, World Market, and Ikea have pretty dang good mass market art and I’ve 100% bought it many times (was in Target last week and their still life collection or vintage landscapes were seriously so good). There is absolutely no shame – when you can get something pretty good on a budget and fast, well that’s nothing to be snobby about. Sometimes you just want your walls to NOT be empty. I GET IT. For a few projects right now that we are over budget on, I’m definitely using Target art. But for my house…

If you have the budget and you enjoy the hunt, I think that spending money on either contemporary or local artists or vintage art through dealers is one of the best ways you can spend your home decorating budget. It’s a real win for all. We need art in this world to help give the world meaning and beauty. To help cut through all the other stuff and be surrounded by colors, textures, soul, and emotion. But artists can’t survive without a client to buy their pieces. So I think it’s my responsibility to try to seek them out as much as I can afford. We’ve written a lot of posts about this – where to buy art online (Etsy, Uprise, Tappan, Saatchi, etc.), and I’ve highlighted a lot of my favorite local or non-local contemporary artists over the years (of which I’m so grateful I can finally afford).

Vintage dealers are another gift to the world. They are the ones that scour the thrift stores to find the gems, and while they mark things up, trust me that the profit margin isn’t enough for the amount of work they do. You can’t scale vintage. And people think they need to haggle, and fine if you want to offer the top of what you are willing to pay, but trust me that most of the time they aren’t trying to screw anyone. I recently went to an estate sale with prices THROUGH THE ROOF (like 5k pieces of art, $1,200 pieces of busted vintage furniture). Sometimes it does feel offensive. But most of the time they are hustling so hard to find the good stuff that if they broke it down, their hourly rate would be shockingly low. Quick note: rug dealers often bake negotiating it into their profit margin; it’s more customary with them to price high knowing that they’ll give 20% or more off, FYI. And of course, if you are buying many pieces from one dealer, you have more leverage to ask for a discount. But if you are just buying one thing and it feels reasonable to you, just happily pay for it if you can. You are supporting people doing the good fight.

So yes, if I like the artist or a particular piece and my kids show enthusiasm around it, then I’m usually happy to support the maker, artist, or dealer by buying it full price (even if it’s splurgy). I want to show my kids the value of art and decor but encourage them to buy from these sources when possible.

Everyone has their thing, within their own budgets. Some might be sporting games or theater tickets (which I also enjoy). But vintage shopping with my kids and buying personalized things for their rooms is my vendiogram of happiness.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kailtin Green | From: Birdie’s New Tween Girl Wall Color (Bye Bye Butterfly Wallpaper)

I’m decidedly a no-shame romance lover – for exactly the reason that “critics” find them unbearable. Sure, they follow predictable tropes (enemies to lovers, fake boyfriend, office romance, friends to lovers, etc), with impossibly pretty people that always end with a happy ending. FINE BY ME. Sure, I like a fresh plot, too, and I am discerning because there are so many where the writing is weak and, even worse, the chemistry is bad (or low stakes/poor tension). Many lean far too far into the “com” when what we really want is the “rom”. So, I’m that friend – an expert in most things romance (books, TV shows, movies). Don’t watch Anora, Baby Girl, All of You, or the Materialists on your special date night, despite what the critics say (unless you want to feel icky afterwards). Listen to me. These really nail it in the purely happy romantic, feel-good ways that are fun and easy to watch (mostly). Welcome to the best rom coms ever list:)

Best Rom Coms: The Idea Of You

Y’all. Anne Hathaway as the hottest 40-year-old being courted by Hollywood’s next leading man (and a solid crush of mine), Nicholas Galitzine (if you don’t know him now, you will). He was in the pop musical film of Cinderella and is SUCH a compelling actor. The writing, the music, the acting, the steamy chemistry… 15/10. (There are 2-3 pretty steamy scenes, so don’t watch with your parents or tweens). Fresh and smart. I’ve seen it 12 times (many while flying and working).

Best Rom Coms: Anyone But You

This one might seem pretty cheesy unless you know that it’s a contemporary version of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, and that’s why the plot is full of these follies and misunderstandings that can otherwise be annoying (at the beginning at least). But with Glenn Powell, Sydney Sweeney, and a fantastic supporting cast set in a world (Australia) that gives Nancy Meyers on the beach for a Gen Z audience, this movie is GREAT. They have incredible chemistry and the writing is hilarious. Brian even watched it in the theater with me (he and I both love Glenn Powell). I’ve seen it 5 times.

Best Rom Coms: Voicemails For Isabelle

A new one that everyone is raving about, and Brian and I really loved it, too. You will cry at the beginning due to her relationship with her sister (so TW there). The acting is great, the chemistry is spot on, and the world they live in (San Francisco) is beautiful. But seriously, grab the tissues.

Best Rom Coms: People We Meet On Vacation

Already in my top 5 of all time. I read the book by Emily Henry (of course), and the movie is even better. It’s a friends-to-lovers with Emily Bader (Hollywood’s next biggest star), who carries that movie on her pinky (she is so god damn good). It’s sweet and funny and a coming-of-age in all the ways that I felt in my 20s. Elliot has watched it with me twice (she loves it and I skip through the only and quite steamy sex scene), so I think it’s mostly tween and teen-friendly.

Best Rom Coms: The Life List

Do not watch without tissues and probably not the best date night (because you’ll be blubbering). A mom (the mom of all moms played by Connie Britton, for God’s sake) has left a list for her beloved daughter to do before she can get her inheritance. Sofia Carson plays the daughter perfectly. It’s set in New York, very coming-of-age with a lot of healthy mid-20s relationship plot points. But seriously, TW – dying mom + cancer.

Best Rom Coms: We Live In Time

A serious movie that is much more romance, with a lot of heaviness. It follows a couple over 10 years with a lot of ups and downs, starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. Fantastic acting, sets, direction (so more of a good film than my typical rom com). It’s a great date night movie, but also very sad, so it’s not going to be light and easy, FYI.

Best Rom Coms: 40 Dates And 40 Nights

This really shouldn’t be on a “best” list, but it’s fresh in my brain, and I liked it enough. A sweet enemies-to-friends-to-lovers situation. A young LA girl has to go on 40 dates in 40 nights to get her grandma to help her pay her rent (obviously). She needs motivation to help break her out of her habits and her shell. I enjoyed it, while pinning (so yes, it’s more of a double-screener to put on in the background).

Best Rom Coms: Love At First Sight

I don’t know why this movie didn’t blow up. It’s about two people who meet on an overnight flight to Europe, and their emotional connection is so fast and deep that they seemingly fall in love. They try to reconnect after landing, on the other side of the world. The acting is what does it for me in this one – they are both fantastic. The writing is great, too – excellent dialogue and a few scenes near the end (regarding a parent’s funeral) that were so memorable and special.

Best Rom Coms: The Hating Game

First off, don’t watch this until you READ the book. And prepare yourself for a fun night with your partner (or your imagination). This book is steamy, with the tension dialed up to an 11. The movie version is better than I had thought it would be, probably because Lucy Hale is so good. This one might be dancing on the line of dumb, but I’ve watched it 3 times, so… Might be a better alone night with a glass of wine, because I’m not sure Brian would tolerate the antics, but I enjoyed the hell out of it.

Best Rom Coms: How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

A classic, obviously. And another one set in the now almost non-existent magazine industry. The first time you watch this you’ll be embarrassed by how much you like it. The plot is so cliché and shallow, but they both sell it; you believe in them, and there are some strangely hilarious moments having to do with a tiny yappy dog. It’s as dated as it is good – VERY. Brian loves this one, too.

Best Rom Coms: Always Be My Maybe

Finally a new one from 2019 that is becoming a go-to in the background. Great acting and sweet story. Just talking about it makes me excited to watch it again. 

Best Rom Coms: The Proposal

It’s practically perfect. Sandra and Ryan are so good, Betty White (and all the other silly character actors) entertain thoroughly, and it has enough heart to really root for them the whole way.

Best Rom Coms: Devil Wears Prada

I’ve never not watched this on a plane (usually while working, so yes, double-screening it). I worked in the magazine industry in New York in my 20s, so this certainly speaks to me, but even if I didn’t, I’m sure I would love it. Anne and Meryl kill it, and it has heart, glamour, and some hunky love. The second one isn’t as good, but I will likely rewatch it many times as well (because those are all my friends now!).

Best Rom Coms: Set It Up

I watched this twice in the same week. The two leads have such good chemistry and all the acting is great. I, again, apparently love the “hustling in the magazine industry as a 20-something” genre, but maybe we all secretly do? 

Best Rom Coms: Bridesmaids

I can’t. It’s too funny. And has heart with the girl friendship situation. I know you have all seen it, but just watch it again. You’ll be so happy you did.

Best Rom Coms: The First Time

YOU GUYS. No one has seen this movie, and it’s VERY VERY VERY good, cute, and a great one if you are with a partner to watch. It’s a rom-com meets coming-of-age, and those are my two favorite movie genres. Yes, it’s about the first time they have sex, and it’s allllllllll the things.

Best Rom Coms: Ten Things I Hate About You

’90s angst meets Shakespeare. It’s not particularly amazing, but I love when it’s on TBS. Plus… Heath. Another Shakespeare adaptation that my daughter didn’t like (yet, she’s only 10).

Best Rom Coms: A Lot Like Love

How is this not a more popular classic? I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie. They have such great chemistry, and it’s coming-of-age in a really fun 2000s kind of way. If you haven’t seen it, please rent it.

Best Rom Coms: Definitely, Maybe

While many people think this tale of a movie is cheesy, I, for one, love watching it over and over. The cast is incredible (as seen above). Definitely. Not maybe.

Best Rom Coms: Sweet Home Alabama

Pretty much the exact same plot as The Notebook (have you noticed that?) but I’m a huge Josh Lucas fan, and I think this movie is entertaining from New York to Alabama.

Best Rom Coms: Crazy Stupid Love

YES. UGH. All-star cast, about love and relationships. Emma and Ryan’s love + Steve’s hilariously depressing character makes me smile. I’ve watched it no less than 14 times (on planes, in the background while working – pure comfort).

Best Rom Coms: 13 Going On 30

A favorite for Elliot and me (my 10-year-old daughter). Set in the magazine industry in the aughts, Jennifer Garner wakes up a 30-year-old editor fighting for her job (and to get back to her roots). Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner – what more do you want???

Best Rom Coms: The Girl Next Door

This is lesser-known, but it is GOOOOOOOD. It’s one of the few romantic comedies that Brian loves as much as I do. This one is about a girl who moves next door to a normal teenage boy, and she is a porn star. It’s not what you think. It’s full of heart and romance. Plus Elisha Cuthbert, Emile Hirsch, Timothy Oliphant – so good.

Best Rom Coms: Dirty Dancing

That’s right. Dirty Dancing is my #1 movie OF ALL TIME, and there is no shame in my Patrick Swayze-loving game. And you know what? After I made Brian watch it recently, it’s also one of HIS favorite movies. The acting, the production design, the music, the romance – EVERYTHING is so good. And Patrick Swayze truly was a national treasure. I’m counting down the days that we can watch this with the kids (thinking 14?). If you haven’t watched this lately, you should – it doesn’t date.

Listen, you might want Sleepless in Seattle, or You’ve Got Mail to be on this list, and they are great for sure, but I think it’s a generational thing and Meg Ryan + Tom Hanks have never done it for me in a re-watchable way. Now of course, Pretty Woman is missing here, as are a million others that I might add over time, so bookmark this and keep coming back. If you like high-brow dramatic films, I’m not your gal. But if you like light-hearted, entertaining, fresh but easy-to-watch comforting rom coms, I got you:)

For a very different movie list (ha!), check out my favorite family-friendly movies

Opening Image Credit: Photo by Kaitlin Green

This summer has been equal parts fulfilling and busy – workwise. We have so many incredible design projects that all have the same deadlines, which means we are slammed, and yet all of them have so much creative freedom and autonomy that my team is buzzing with fun. And I’m not just talking about the guest cottage or my daughter’s purple room. Nay. We have jobs for clients that are so fun, etc. Let’s jump right on in…

Design Projects: A Tiny House

Talk about a dream project. This is for Velux, our skylight partner, and they’ve hired us to design a tiny house that will move around to different design events and show off their skylights so more people can experience them IRL. We have so much creative freedom, and I’ve worked with them for so many years that they trust me, and I them. Gretchen and I are doing it together and so while our design team is so small (just the two of us), we are having so much fun doing all the creative work in the ways that we work best. Its being built in California, by Joshua and Shelley of Tiny House Basics, and they are moving so fast, so we have to be on top of all the decisions so we don’t hold them up. But since the scale of it is smaller (just 4 small rooms), it is easier to execute, and we also know that we can do a lot of magic with styling. Its designed in a ‘contemporary cottage’ style which I think will be a sweet take on the Tiny House. Done by end of September so hopefully you’ll see it published in October.

Design Projects: My Sister’s Kitchen

My sister lives in NE Portland and had the perfect project for us to help on. This one has been going on in the background and we are holding the content to release it all closer together (sometimes when we spread out the projects in real time we lose people amongst all the noise of the other projects and followers get overwhelmed – ha, me too). We started it in March, and we are shooting it all finished in August. It’s with a sponsor, Lowes, that has made things so easy, TBH, and while it has still taken 100s of hours, it’s been pretty streamlined where a lot of the decisions came really naturally and fast and working with all their installers has made it so streamlined.

Design Projects: A Fall Dining Room/Entertaining Makeover

You’ve seen our upstairs “meeting room” being painted (a more accurate work than an “office”, as we are mostly WFH). We are transforming it this week into a dining room for a partner. This didn’t create stress per se (we have our systems for partnerships and they work really well due to my dialed-in team), but we did want to paint the walls and floors a fun pattern (and electrify the room, literally so we have lights and plugs). And we wanted to do the floors ourselves (again), so that took a few days, which doesn’t sound like a lot but it meant we were neglecting the other projects. I’m excited to show you how it looks!

Design Projects: Beth’s Makeover

This is another makeover for Velux that I’m so excited about. Beth has macular degeneration and her living room is so dark, so our job is to redesign and brighten it up. There has been a real stall with this one due to some roof construction that is out of our control timing-wise (we are vaulting the ceilings, changing out some electrical, etc). All the furniture is ready to go, so we are just waiting for the skylights to get installed then we’ll tile, paint, decorate and shoot! You can read about the project and why our wonderful client was chosen here

Design Projects: The Guest Cottage

Like I’ve said all summer, this project had to get placed back on the back burner due to all of the above as well as parenting and enjoying time with my kids while they still live with me. I owe you an update, but things are moving now, and a little too fast for me to keep up with. So many questions are being thrown my way that I just don’t have answers for, which is frustrating for everyone. I really want the game room to be ready to shoot holiday content this year, and I think that can happen. But we are behind on the bathroom with some not-so-fun plumbing hiccups, with a heavy dose of side-eye from our plumbers when they see my vintage fixtures. So yes, there have been some very sad shifts away from some of those that I’m not ready to talk about (still mourning them) as we move into more practical choices. Cue your schaudenfraude – because yes, many of you were “right”. Stay tuned on that. Meanwhile, the fridge and range are supposed to arrive next week, the last-minute windows I ordered just arrived, and the wall and floor paneling are 1/2 way done. It’s so dusty and full of construction stuff right now that as soon as we get some time to clear it out, I’ll take some photos to show you the progress. The good news: six months ago, I prioritized the stained glass colors for the vintage doors to the water closet! LOL. It’s go time on the important stuff, and no, I wasn’t totally ready. More to come obviously.

Design Projects: Elliot And Charlie’s Rooms

Coming in last on the priority list, but still fun to think about on the weekends, are my kids’ rooms and the upstairs landing. II’ve squeezed in some fun shopping time with Elliot and I still work on it at night and on the weekends because it’s fun and easy and low stress. But its been deprioritized for now during the week.

Juggling all the design projects and staying on top of the day-to-day (blog/social) with the kids around has been wild – Fun and chaotic. Thank god for Brian, who has put down his writing for a lot of the summer to take over the Substack more and continue lead-parenting so I can support us. Also three cheers for my team who has leaned in when people have gone on vacations (yay!) and has had to deal with my scrambling slacks that even I am trying to decifer.

This fall you are going to get a lot of fun reveals. Most of the above should be done by the end of September. Oh, and we have another renovation coaching client who is almost done with their project (another awesome custom IKEA kitchen makeover). It’s been a year on this one, and it’s turning out so beautiful. Anyway, thanks so much for being here. If you are juggling a lot this summer, you are not alone. But I’m honestly so grateful for the work and to be able to do it with my team and for you all. xx

We are back with another installment of Design SOS because y’all have loved it so much, which couldn’t make us happier. Practical style advice is what we are here to dish out, and today we are going to cover a fireplace that’s bumming out a reader, a builder-grade bathroom that’s allllmost there, and a primary bedroom that was never really finished due to an exhausting renovation. While these rooms are specific to these three readers, the problems can be universal, and I think the tips can help a lot of you! In case you missed our other Design SOS posts Emily kicked us off with this one, I took the next round, and Arlyn jumped in with this last one! So many helpful fixes that you can take and make your own. Ok, now let’s get into today’s submissions…

Practical Style Advice For: Fireplace Woes

From Our Reader: Pleaseee!!! I’m begging you! I love Emily’s style so much, and this room keeps me up at night. This room is so long and narrow. The fireplace is not in the middle of the room, ugh! I like the two blue chairs, coffee table, and loveseat where they are (would get a new loveseat bc this one is sunburnt on the back, I know). I don’t know what color to paint. The fireplace is an ugly orange/brown, and the orange brick of my house casts a pink hue on the wall next to it on account of the light from the French doors. I painted my kitchen a similar neutral color because of the pony wall from the kitchen…I thought it would make the two rooms flow together, but it’s not working.

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Long and narrow rooms are famously hard to decorate! Then you add an off-center fireplace in a brick tone they don’t love, only makes it harder. I have two potential solutions that I created using Spoak (so helpful!), so let’s jump right in!

Evangelyne Console Table | Peyton Wood Wall Mirror | Ball Foot Wood Table Lamp | Vase | Wood Frame Art | Framed Painting | Blue Candle | Yellow Candle | Green Candle | Bookcase | Cursive I Print | Cursive II Print | Storage Bench | Rattan Basket | Linen Curtain | Floor Lamp | Leather Sofa | Side Table | Coffee Table | Rattan Tray | Accent Chair | Rug

Here is my “go big” solution that would require a bit more money but could be worth it if they plan to be in this home for a while. Given their love for Em’s style and the glimpse of their kitchen they sent, I think wide-plank wood paneling, painted in the same color as their walls, will give them the look they want. They still get texture but in a much quieter way. The materials shouldn’t be too crazy expensive, but if they aren’t a big DIYer, I’d recommend hiring help.

Then in terms of decor, clearly I had a lot to suggest. Since they like the layout and their blue chairs, I kept those. The coffee table they have is great too, but I think a slightly longer one would feel better scale-wise. I chose an oval coffee table to still keep those sharp corners away from their sweet toddler. It’s a much more affordable version of Em’s old one! Since they are willing to replace their sofa, I think going for a warm-toned option is best, and I thought leather would be easy to clean with a little one:) Also, if they can’t or don’t want to do anything with the brick, adding in warm browns will help balance the color and not make the brick feel so intense. This is what happened when I went from a cream sofa to my now cognac colored one. I HATED the brick on my fireplace, but then a magic trick happened when I got my new sofa. It balanced out the brick, and I really didn’t mind it anymore.

For the rug, I definitely recommend finding one that can go parallel to their fireplace. I thought this one could be great, and it’s also washable:) If they can’t find a long and narrow one, here’s a potential hack…

Remember this rug from the river house entry reveal? Well, it’s actually three runners on a very sticky rug pad! With the right solid or geometric rug, this reader could do something similar. This is what I mocked up…

Evangelyne Console Table | Peyton Wood Wall Mirror | Ball Foot Wood Table Lamp | Vase | Wood Frame Art | Framed Painting | Blue Candle | Yellow Candle | Green Candle | Bookcase | Cursive I Print | Cursive II Print | Storage Bench | Rattan Basket | Linen Curtain | Floor Lamp | Leather Sofa | Side Table | Coffee Table | Rattan Tray | Accent Chair | Rug

Ta da! This kind of pattern repeat lends itself to putting two rugs together. This is also a slightly more modern version in case that is what the reader was hoping for! Rugs just make such a big impact on the feeling of the overall style. But the rest of the “cool, eclectic farmhouse” elements are still there. That mirror has a great modern traditional textured frame; the console table is almost identical to the vintage one Em has and adds a little color. Then the art, lighting, and accessories have cool shapes and are meant to feel collected. Those sculpture candles are classic EHD:) I wanted to make sure there was a decent amount of storage given a toddler lives here, so that’s why I chose those great open/closed storage bookcases (not sure if two can fit, but one would be just as great), the bench has a drawer, and the basket adds storage and whimsy.

I chose this style of sofa not only for its warmth and material but also for the fact that there isn’t space between the floor and the bottom. With those chairs, there are already a lot of “legs,” so contrasting that with a legless sofa helps to visually balance the space. I also thought more kid storage, like cubbies, could more easily live behind the sofa and be not as visible when you first walk into the room from the front door.

Ok, here’s the second fireplace solution:

Evangelyne Console Table | Peyton Wood Wall Mirror | Ball Foot Wood Table Lamp | Vase | Wood Frame Art | Framed Painting | Blue Candle | Yellow Candle | Green Candle | Bookcase | Cursive I Print | Cursive II Print | Storage Bench | Rattan Basket | Linen Curtain | Floor Lamp | Leather Sofa | Lumbar Pillow | Side Table | Coffee Table | Rattan Tray | Accent Chair | Rug

Paint baby! I’m sure this reader has thought about painting, but it helps seeing it in a render, right? Unless something is really calling to them, I would avoid an accent color. To me, that feels like it’s going to create a similar problem to the brick. Avoid a lot of contrast and focus on the styling pieces. Also, please note that cute pillow that I realized too late didn’t make it into the other renders:)

Durable Evangelyne Console Table | Peyton Wood Wall Mirror | Ball Foot Wood Table Lamp | Vase | Wood Frame Art | Framed Painting | Blue Candle | Yellow Candle | Green Candle | Bookcase | Cursive I Print | Cursive II Print | Storage Bench | Rattan Basket | Linen Curtain | Floor Lamp | Leather Sofa | Green Pillow | Blue Lumbar | Side Table | Coffee Table | Rattan Tray | Accent Chair | Rug

Here’s the room with the green rugs and more colorful pillows. The room is great despite the shape being frustrating. Hope this helps!

Practical Style Advice For: Builder-Grade Bathroom Blues

From Reader: I saw Emily’s post about designing SOS. I painted this bathroom recently to get away from white box builder style (Debonair SW just like her bedroom), and now I’m having trouble styling it. This is the powder room and gets a ton of use. The rest of our house is sophisticated modern organic or like a lighter Soho. I’d rather not change the vanity or shower, but the decor and most of the hardware I’m down to switch up! I think I probably need an oval mirror and some new lighting. And maybe update finishes in brushed or antiqued brass (although I’m not sure I’d wanna update much in the shower, which is oiled rub bronze). I’m down to get rid of the painting and add other decor, maybe a shelf above the toilet? And something behind the door? And maybe new linens?

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This bathroom is so cute and really almost there! I have lots of styling ideas that won’t require hiring anyone, I promise:)

This is really just a great start. I say to keep costs down; let’s keep all the hardware, except the cabinet pulls and switchplates. They are totally great, but to me they do still give more of a builder-grade feel. In terms of the rest of the decor, I did kinda start from scratch to give this reader the “modern organic, slight Soho” look they are going for!

Abstract Paper Collage Art Print | Neutral Abstract Art Print | Wall Cabinet | Bud Vase Trio | Candle | Toilet Brush | Red Marble Trash Bin | Vanity Light | Mirror | Hand Towel | Single GFCI Switchplate | Single Toggle Switchplate | Terra Cotta Frog Vase | Silver Bowl | Soap Dispenser | Cabinet Handles | Bath Mat

I’m pretty obsessed with the burgundy-and-blue color combo that’s gaining popularity right now. It’s on trend but not something that’s going to be out, you know. Cool but also classic. They mentioned wanting an oval mirror, and I think that’s a great choice. It’s a contrast to the vanity and that very chic little dark wood wall cabinet I added above the toilet. Incorporating that dark wood is a nice way to balance with the other dark tones (ie floor, hardware, and burgundies). The vanity light is under $200 (!) and has a slight texture to the glass shades, which is a plus and makes it feel a little less MCM to me. To add the “organic” feel, I chose that very cool bud vase trio, terra cotta frog vase, and the red marble trash bin. The trash bin is a bit of a splurge but a quiet statement piece that adds a lot to the room (if I do say so myself:))

I know mixing metals feels intimidating, but silver and black look great together. Swapping the switchplates and adding that cool elevated dish brings in the toilet lever, which may seem silly but I do think it’s an intentional way to balance even a small detail. Also, look at these black pulls up close; they are awesome.

Finally, adding in some pattern felt really important to soften and create a little more interest. I LOVE those new hand towels and bath mat from Pierce and Ward’s newest West Elm drop (I used a lot of their line in this post because it’s so so good). They feel Soho chic but also vintage and welcoming. Overall, the color palette is tight, textures are varied, and the shapes are fun.

Practical Style Advice For: Unfinished Bedroom Boredom

From Reader: Here’s my primary bedroom. Did a big Reno about 18 months ago but never did much with this room. Thinking of getting a 4-poster or canopy bed to take up more room in the space & some larger nightstands. I should have removed that white floor lamp because it is broken, but alas. Would love help on furniture ideas, art, styling, really anything to bring more life to this room!

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I’ve never done a big renovation, but I can only imagine the fatigue when it’s done. Heck, that’s how I tend to feel after simply decorating only one room! So I wanted to at least help this reader with some ideas to give them some inspo that might excite them into getting their primary bedroom/personal sanctuary all done for themselves.

This is where they are starting. Some good pieces, but it’s clear that it hasn’t reached its full potential yet….

Curtains | Bed | Nightstand | Table Lamp | Picture Frame | Candle | Wood Tray | Art (Readers!) | Settee | Shearling Pillow | Rug | Green Lumbar Pillow | Cream Bed Blanket | Blue Duvet Cover

Here is what I’m thinking. A little modern traditional and yes, maybe a little Soho/Euro vibe too. I love the idea of a canopy bed, but I also like the idea of it not being too visually heavy. This one is delicate but still has presence. I did take the original art over the bed and original rug and use those for the color palette. I really do love their piece of art and think hanging it a little lower and asymmetrically off the right would be a cool, slightly unexpected move. If they hate that idea, then finding a big piece of art will be better for the overall scale. I also chose nightstands with a ton of storage (I have the same amount and it’s awesome). It’s also awesome to contrast the wood tone of the nightstand to the wood tone on the dark floor. They pop instead of fade into the flooring. I actually really like the rug they have, and it’s similar to the colors of this one in the render. But ideally the original rug would be bigger, so that’s why I swapped it. It’s also why I chose those pretty, dusty rose linen curtains. The rug also has blue, which is why I chose those incredible table lamps for the nightstands! The style contrast is so exciting to me visually, but the colors talk to the rug AND art. The striped picture frame and velvet green pillow were chosen to also add in some modernity:)

While we love an end-of-the-bed bench, when appropriate, we also love an end-of-the-bed settee. This one is special without being loud and pulls in the wall art and bed pillow. I also wanted to play with texture material! That’s why there’s velvet, handwoven cotton, brushed cotton, and even shearling. Since the rug has just a big pattern, I chose to focus on texture for most of the bedding.

Vase | Plate Tray | Candle | Alas Art | Flair Art | Floor Lamp | Side Table | Glass Carafe Set | Curtains | Accent Swivel Chair | Round Pillow | Settee | Rug

There’s the other side of the room! I kept their great dresser, and I think they can keep their original leather chair. I just added this one for fun. If possible, I’d love to see the TV mounted, a little tree for some greenery, and minimal other styling decor. A tray, a candle, and maybe a couple of books if it feels too empty. For the chair vignette, I think some kind of cool vintage floor lamp would be awesome, but this one is extremely good if they loved it. If you can’t tell, I like unexpected art placement, and these two sweet pieces of original art, hung a little low, would again be a fresh, cool moment. Adding a couple more fun shapes, with the glass carafe set, striped pillow (a call to the striped across the room), and that warm-toned side table would all create the perfect finishing touch to this great room.

Those are all my thoughts and feelings for today, and hopefully you were reminded of the power of color palettes, textures, scale, and how adding in decor that is unexpected and exciting can really elevate your room. Design should be fun, and I hope this felt like practical style advice:)

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Portland Project Primary Bedroom Reveal

That time of year has arrived again, and our design-loving hearts are very full because the 2026 fall decor collections have started to drop! Think soft neutral tones, lots of woods, and a ton of vintage inspiration. Today we are covering 5 collections, and while there will likely be more as we get further into the month (yay!), the last thing we want to happen is for items to sell out on you because we waited too long to talk about them. I mean, the first collection nearly knocked us out; we all loved it so much. We’re sure it’s been selling very well! So if you are looking for that one special piece, moved into a new house and need to swap out or add to your collection, or are like me and just love looking at what’s new on the market, please enjoy:)

Fall Decor Collections: West Elm x Pierce & Ward

Arched Burl Arm Chair | Foot Ceramic Table Lamp | Notch Floating Bookshelf w/ Cabinet

Tramp Art Trinket Tray | Perforated Buffet | Bold Stripe Hand Towel

Slim Ceramic Table Lamp | Linked Wood Vase | Corner Cabinet

There are simply no words! Pierce & Ward doesn’t know how to miss. I remember either watching or reading that they pitched their line to other stores first, only to be turned down. Well, jokes on those other stores because West Elm won hard when they said yes, and their collab remains one of the most unique and exciting ones we have seen, especially in the big box store category. Caitlin initially dropped this perfect little lamp in Slack, saying, and I quote, “new pierce and ward collab is good!!!” And boy, she was right. I love how they are leaning deeper into vintage-inspired pieces with tramp art, wood patterned details, and more. If I needed an open shelving unit, this one would be it! This style comes in a few other configurations in case you were curious:) It’s collections like these that make me want a bigger home because tell me you don’t also want this buffet cabinet. Ok, you don’t have to want it as badly as me, but it’s special and cool just like everything they design. I just need more of them in my home, ok? Do yourself a favor and just have a visual dip into their beautiful world by going to their page on West Elm.

Fall Decor Collections: Lulu And Georgia x Huey Lighting

Camberry Flush Mount Light | Germain Table Lamp | Germain Chandelier

Prairie Sconce | Nickelby Pendant Light | Germain Sconce

I always get excited when Lulu and Georgia come out with a new collab! They are masters in finding incredible designers and makers that want to create special pieces. Did you see Ginny’s newest drop??? Well, this time they joined forces with Bret Williams of Huey. A small but thoughtful collection of lights that are inspired by Parisian design (something I am a big fan of). The Camberry Flush Mount Light is one of my favorites because I love a whimsical brass detail, but the fabric shades on the Germain series are so chic. Go take a deeper look.

Fall Decor Collections: Target x Hearth & Hand

Mini Portable Ceramic Green Striped Table Lamp | Dining Bench | Round Rattan Decorative Tray

Sketched Cottage in Wood Matte Frame Wall Art | Plaid Throw Pillow | Pinched Edge Stoneware Appetizer Plates

Joanna and Chip (and their design team) know how to make cozy, beautiful, but still affordable. Their style is made for fall, and this collection is yet another example of this. That little portable lamp is undeniably cute and cordless, which is always a plus. Then they clearly also got the wood frame trend memo with that very pretty sketched cottage piece. The wood tone is so pretty. I mean, if you love their style, you will love this fall collection. Check it out here.

Fall Decor Collections: CB2 x Todd Snyder

Marylebone Cast Metal and Leather Dining Chair | Ballard Natural Jute Area Rug | Atelier Aged Brass Table Lamp

Madison Dark Oak Bookcase | Atelier Aged Brass Semi-Flush Mount Light | Kingsley White Marble and Cast Metal Side Table

I feel like we often don’t get decor collabs by menswear designers, so this one feels pretty cool for that reason. Of all the fall decor collections, this one is by far the most “classically masculine” or at least how we’ve defined it in the past. Not a lot of detailing, but instead beautiful, clean lines that pack a powerful aesthetic. Given Todd’s reputation for pristine tailoring, his collection is very in line with those descriptors. As a big-time lamp lover, I really love these simple, vintage-inspired brass pieces that added a little bit of leather for some extra dimension (a theme through a lot of the pieces). The moody tones of the rug are awesome, and that bookcase is grand, sexy, and simple all at the same time.

Fall Decor Collections: Crate&Barrel

Richmond Cane and Warm Brown Oak Wood Bed | Everton Brass Double Wall Sconce Light | Via Velvet Walnut Wood Dining Chair

Acland Warm Brown Oak Wood Dining Table | Witney Warm Brown Oak Nightstand | Burgundy Marble Footed Bowl

Atrium Natural White Oak and Glass Lighted Storage Display Cabinet | Dunfield Brown Oak Wood Octagon Side Table | Harbury Brown Oak Wood Storage Media Console

This last one from Crate&Barrel isn’t a collab but instead, their official fall decor collection drop, and it’s good. They are really leaning into ornate traditional but in their own way. I really love that warm cane color in that beautiful bed. The shape is also so pretty! And while I personally love the light blue (I can’t seem to get enough of it), they have 7 other shade color options to choose from on the double sconce. Then, if you love that marble bowl, they have other great accessories in that same material. Aside from that, you can see the interesting shapes they are playing with, and I think it’s pretty fun and exciting. There is a HUGE new inventory, so go check it out!

Those are the fall decor collections we’ve been loving thus far. There will likely be a part 2, so we can’t wait to talk about what’s cool and new with you more. Any favs? Any that you added to cart mid-reading this post? Let’s chat!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credit: Via West Elm

An alternative title to this post could have been: Arlyn is trying to make her beige walls and traditional architecture in her rental way more interesting without spending a ton of money. As that doesn’t really roll off the tongue very easily, or work with SEO keywords, I went with what we’ve got here today. I’ve long had a love affair with stained glass. I grew up going to Sunday service at the Methodist church where my parents were members. When I wasn’t scribbling on the notepad at the pew meant for taking notes during the sermon (for me, it was prime tic-tac-toe territory), I would zone out just taking in the sanctuary’s stained glass walls. Religious iconography isn’t exactly the design style for my home, but in that use case, it mesmerized me. I got lost watching how the light refracted through the colored glass, trying to spot where it landed within the space.

They really just don’t make buildings like that anymore. It reminds me of something I just saw online that had side-by-side comparisons of old and new buildings with the tagline: “Why did we stop caring about beauty?” A photo of a room that looks like a white modern box juxtaposed with a gothic ceiling painted in frescos…there’s no comparison.

All of that to say, I still very much care about beauty. “I want to make beautiful things even if no one is looking,” is something my uncle—a celebrated shoe designer—always has declared; it has stuck with me. So today, while I don’t have a ton of control over the structure of my rental townhome, my brain is busy trying to find ways to bring in my personality. While I’m very much in the murky middle area of decorating, where nothing is complete and everything looks kind of uninspired, I can see the end result in my mind’s eye. And it makes me so excited! One of the first things I thought to do was transform some of the windows in my living room and at my front door with stained glass window film. It’s shockingly affordable, typically around $20-$30 for a roll, if not less, and it just peels right off when you’re ready to move on. If I were more artistically inclined, I’d try my hand at DIYing a design with liquid faux stained glass.

There is no shortage of window film on the market, but I have to say, a lot of it is not what I’m looking for right now. Most feel pretty dated to me, or just too heavy-handed, so I decided to round up some sources for where to find good ones, plus my top picks for each. But first, let’s play around with my home digitally to see what *could* be.

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A post shared by Bello Vetro Stained Glass & Leadlights (@bellovetro)

I’m a sucker for colored blocks, and the more subdued hues used here by Bello Vetro Stained Glass are so beautiful to me! I could see picking some softer colors like this and giving them a try if I could find the right temporary application around my front door (keep reading to see a mock-up).

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A post shared by JULIA MARCUM · CLJ (@chrislovesjulia)

I do love color, but I also love just texture. Chris Loves Julia launched two window films with Wallpops this past spring that almost immediately sold out. I’m really digging that diamond faux leaded pattern. I really hope they’ll restock soon.

Alright, here’s my front door. Is it the color I want it to be? NOPE. There’s a lot of dark cherry wood in my current home (it was built around 2010, so…that tracks for the time), and while I don’t really like it, it’s not a big deal given that we don’t plan on staying here for more than a year or two. The left is looking at it dead on from one of the bottom steps. The right is more for you to understand the placement. The door opens to a small landing, then goes up to the living spaces, or down to a guest bedroom and the garage. You can see this door from just about everywhere in my house with the exception of being on the top floor with our sleeping quarters or in the kitchen.

Besides being so visible, I don’t love the clear glass on the sidelights or the transom. It’s a privacy thing for me. Every time a stranger rings the doorbell, I’m hiding behind the wall in my kitchen like a true Millennial, peeking around the corner to see who it is. Sure, frosted or reeded window film would help solve that, but…what if we did something else instead?

Since Julia’s window film is sold out, I found another diamond, textured option at Artscapes. It’s not bad, but I’m not sure I love it. I know in real life, it would look better, not fuddy duddy like it looks in my bad Photoshop work. Now, I do love the color blocks on the right!! Part of it is the texture of the glass, which I can’t really recreate with window film. They sell that in clear or frosted, but not really in colors like these. Anyone have any ideas?!?!?

Now for my living room. You’ve seen this room many times, and it hasn’t progressed much. Things are in motion, like a fabulous chair reupholstery with Calico, a new powder blue area rug, and a cute kids’ art corner that so far only has up a too-large felt board with some preschool treasures. The goal is to eventually put up some floor-to-ceiling ivory sheers as I want any window covering here to feel light and airy, but that window you see at the top left and the transoms on the door and “door” would be perfect to play with, don’t you think?

I found this beautiful window film on Wayfair, and it was actually sold out until just last night, but it’s back, and I think I need to grab it. I’ve been dying to find a way to bring in some subtle lavender as a complement to the yellow sofa, and I love this. Normally, the blinds on the other windows are open, so it doesn’t feel quite so claustrophic, but I couldn’t be bothered yesterday when snapping this photo. Sorry! Regardless, I think it adds some real interest to the plain walls. Once I get in some more textures, art, and furniture, it can really start coming together.

Where To Buy Good-Looking Stained Glass Window Film

Now that we’ve explored some possibilities for my home, I’ll let you do the same for yours! I put together some online stores with picks that I think would work in a variety of homes. Some classic, some contemporary, some eclectic or Art Deco. All beautiful. First up, Etsy:

Top row, from left: Art Deco Window Film | Geometric Diamond Stained Glass Window Film | Green Stained Glass Effect Custom Size | Bottom row, from left: Stained Glass Window Film | Art Nouveau Floral Stained Glass Window Film Frosted | Vintage Diamond Art Deco Leaded Glass Window Film

What can’t you find on Etsy, seriously? It’s not always the fastest option, as things take time to ship from all over the world, but the great part about getting a window film from here is that some vendors sell custom sizes so you can get just the right fit for your window. That way, you can do more elaborate motifs, such as the Art Nouveau Floral (bottom middle) of the Vintage Diamond Art Deco pick (bottom right). My top picks here, though, are the pastel Art Deco Window Film in the top left spot, and the Green Stained Glass Effect, as it can be ordered in a custom size, too, to get the leaded part of the design to match up perfectly with the size of your window.

Top row, from left: Colorful Diamond Grid, 78.7″ | Geometric Diamond Design Decorative Static Cling Window Sticker | Add.heres Window Privacy Film Rainbow Crystal Shards, 78.7in | Bottom row, from left: 3D Stained Glass Window Film-A Million Dreams | Lumina Rhomb, 17.5″ x 78.7″Window Privacy Film | 3d Stained Glass Window Film, Decorative Window Privacy Film Grid Order

Next up, good ol’ Wayfair. That’s where I found the privacy film I’m currently considering for my own home (it’s sitting in my cart, waiting for checkout). That’s the Lumina Rhomb I mocked up earlier in this post. If you have an interesting window shape, I’d love to see Colorful Diamond Grid (top left) put to use! For something more mid-century inspired, I think the 3d Stained Glass Window Film (bottom right) would be groovy if your wood tones are neutral. Oh, and Add.heres Window Privacy Film Rainbow Crystal Shards is so pretty with the wavy, imperfect diamond grid (top right)!

Top row, from left: Victoria Large 36″ x 72″ | Heritage 24″ x 36″ | Horizon 24″ x 36″ | Bottom row, from left: Old English 24″ x 36″ | Skyline Large 36″ x 72″ | Jasmine 24″ x 36″

Artscape has a ton of options, as window films are one of their main exports. Most lean fairly traditional or standard, but they do have a handful of others, including the six I plucked above. Skyline Large and Heritage are both for contemporary homes; one that’s just leaded glass and the other with some cool, swirling color blocks. I used the Old English in one of my front door mockups, and I do like it. This would also be beautiful on glass-front cabinets, whether in your kitchen or freestanding (don’t forget, you can use these on glass furniture, too). For a floral, Jasmine is so pretty in those subdued tones. I could see this in a picture window of a bathroom, hallway, or in a home office/library.

Remember when Em used translucent window film on the diamond pattern of Birdie’s window years ago? That’s also another option! A bit more DIY, but it works great to get just the colors you want, with plenty of control for those of us with paned windows. You can also use a stained glass paint kit with some faux leading to make basically anything your heart desires. It peels right off for when it’s time to move (or you want to dabble in something else).

From left: Plaid® Gallery Glass® Best Sellers II Stained Glass Paint Kit | Gallery Glass ® Redi-Lead Value Pack – 16690 | SOLYX SXB-85 Pale Pink Sand Blast

Plaid makes a paint kit with a good range of colors, some soft, some bold. I wonder if I could use these on my door side lights….Though picking some frosted or translucent colored window film could also work, like these from decorativefilm.com.

Faux Stained Glass In Action IRL

You’ll find plenty of inspiration online for people using window films and hand-painting some DIY faux stained glass. There’s truly something for everyone. Some standouts from my saved folder are two from our friend Marco Zamora, which I’ve included in a handful of my articles around here:

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A post shared by Marco Zamora (@want.zamora)

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A post shared by Marco Zamora (@want.zamora)

Mallory Fletchall from Reserve Home added some stained glass film to a piece of plexiglass in a transom she added to her home. Such a simple, affordable idea that makes a huge impact:

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A post shared by Mallory Fletchall | Reserve Home (@reserve_home)

I’m so excited to dig in deeper into my home, even if a temporary stop along my home dwelling timeline. Of course, I’ll eventually share some more about what I’ve done, with the end goal being doing a full photoshoot of at least the downstairs. I’m also working on my office and my daughter’s room…lots going on over here! Stay tuned.

Until next time, friends…

Opening Image Credits: Left: Styled and DIY by Brady Tolbert for EHD | Art Directed by Emily Henderson | Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: How We Transformed Our Studio Windows in One Hour + Get The Look | Right: Design by Emily Henderson | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: How We Used Colored Window Film On Birdie’s Windows – Spoiler: It Was A Super Fast, Cheap, And Easy DIY

Happy Sunday, everyone! August is here. Are we all ready?! We’re sure that many of you (especially our readers who are parents) are in fall planning mode. But if it’s possible, let’s all try to enjoy these last few weeks of “before school” summer and get outside! Any final plans??

This week’s house tour is an epic one. It’s the Portuguese homestead of Nate and Jeremiah Brent! It’s been 5 years in the making, and as you can imagine, it’s full of a mix of antiques, contemporary vintage, and SO much texture. A total dream, if we do say so ourselves.

From Emily: We took the kids to San Francisco last weekend to be casual and active tourists for three days, and it was EXTREMELY fun (I wrote a recap on the Substack that you can read here). I brought three pairs of shoes – these leather sandals, my huaraches, and a pair of cute sneakers. I ended up wearing the platform sandals for all but one portion of the three days because they are almost sneaker-like in comfort and support while being so transitional style-wise that they worked with all my outfits (admittedly I dressed very casual). They have a cushy footbed, so I was able to walk and walk and walk super comfortably. The huaraches were nice to dress up for dinner, but honestly I could have just worn these for all our biking, walking, and dinner outings and I would have been so happy.

From Caitlin: How’s this for dorky: I finally splurged on my dream hangers (thank you, Wayfair’s July 4th sale) and I COULD NOT BE MORE THRILLED. I first wrote about them in 2024, and I am so excited that 3 weeks in, I love them just as much as I thought I would. The shape is incredible (no dents in any of my shoulders!), they’re small and light and shockingly strong (they’re holding some HEAVY beaded dresses right now), and I love that the material means they can be used wet or dry (I can air-dry directly in the open area of my closet!). Don’t be fooled by the curved arms – the coating locks straps into place, so I can position silky tanks exactly as I’d like. Den ended up getting an extra set of these for his suit jackets and larger sweaters, and we are obsessed with these for pants. (Hanging up my pants on these is like, a euphoric experience – I get a perfect, centered hang every time.) We wrapped up our buy with these strange, open hangers which are a dream for draping Den’s trousers or hanging bathing suits. We got everything in the cherry red color, and I’m having such a great time walking into my closet now (my first walk-in, to boot!!!) – I’m just so pleased that they lived up to my expectations.

From Jess: I’ve really been leaning into claw clips again…especially in this heat! I do a little “French twist” thing and immediately feel less hot and put together. I love these clips especially because they are made for fine to medium-thick hair (ME!), and they aren’t super long/big, which is also really nice when you don’t have a ton of hair. A small little rec that I seemingly can’t live without.

From Gretchen: I picked up a pair of these electric cardboard cutters I had seen all over TikTok, and they are SO GOOD. I won’t shut up about them. I make a point to show anyone who walks into my house my new gadget–it’s like magic! I don’t mind breaking down boxes (and I must to get them all to squeeze into my recycling bin), but having a tool like this makes that process so much easier and allows me to break the pieces down even smaller so my neighbors can still shove their paper in. But I really love them because they cut and glide like BUTTER, and when I’m in a crafty mood and find myself wanting to repurpose my online shopping boxes into something useful…well, scissors be damned! This electric blade cuts the smoothest, straightest line with zero hand cramping. Last week, I took an IKEA box, sliced it down to the size of my small bedroom window, and covered it in the same fabric with the same technique I used for the walls in that room to make some temporary blackout window covers. I have a baby coming to stay with me soon, and he goes down better in a totally dark room, but I sleep better knowing my makeshift cardboard covers are cut STRAIGHT and pattern-matched

From Marlee: A pair of pants to keep your eye on – the Gap Easy Double Knee Barrel pants. I LOVE a pull-on pant, and these are so so easy to wear. They’re constantly out of stock/back in stock, so if you’re interested, I would just keep an eye out, and if they show as available, don’t wait! They’re a nice lightweight cotton pant, and I love the drawstring. They also come in other colors in this material, which is also 100% cotton but a little bit of a thicker fabric. They’re so cute with a little tank in the summer, but I’m also super excited to wear them in the winter with sweaters:) I’m not a super big fan of barrel pants, but these are very subtle and drape nicely.

From Mallory: I wanted to highlight one of the most perfect pieces on our roof that we splurged on but was totally worth it. We wanted to put in a dining table, but since the space was a bit tight, I didn’t want to get something that was too visually heavy but was still high quality (because once something goes up to our top floor we DO NOT want to have to bring it down). I found this table from West Elm and GASPED. It’s truly so perfect. The white concrete top has held up super well all summer (and we’ve had a ton of parties and spills, and it hasn’t stained at all so far). I love the legs too, modern but not too chunky. The table looks absolutely perfect with the dining chairs, imho too! If you’ve been looking for a solid outdoor dining table, I love ours so much (and they have white glove delivery, which was an actual dream for us since this was going up a crazy amount of stairs!!) Shoutout to the West Elm delivery guys who brought it up – they were AWESOME.

From Arlyn: A dermatologist I follow on Instagram recommended this drugstore brand moisturizer. Given that it was about $15, I grabbed one as I had run out of my normal La Roche-Posay and was also feeling strapped for money after the big move. I squeezed it out into my hand and thought, “Nope, not gonna cut it,” given that it was almost…watery? My 41-year-old face needs some MOISTURE, baby. But I gave it a go, and I’ve gotta tell you, it’s been great. I use about a dime size and it absorbs quickly into my face, leaving it ready for sunscreen and makeup. It has no fragrance, parabens, dyes, or a handful of other things, which is cool with me. I’ve been using it day and night, mixed with azelaic acid in the evenings and the Trader Joe’s vitamin C serum in the day, and my skin is happy!

Thank you for spending some time with us today, and see you tomorrow! xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Mallory Wackerman | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mallory’s Rooftop Reveal: You Have To See This Crazy Outdoor Kitchen DIY

I recently hit my T-shirt frustration point – just not having any that I felt comfortable in (outside of a couple of vintage gems). Now I like boxier, looser, and not “too long” T-shirts, which is a cut that might be less popular (I think most people like more fitted T-shirts). Can’t a gal easily find non tight T-shirts? I know that oversized is what’s in, but when it’s not the right cut, it looks really schlubby on me, and while I don’t mind if they hug the boobs a tiny bit, I don’t want them hugging anywhere else (or showing bra lines, etc). But I found a few that are pretty dang good, and we shot them for a T-shirt show-and-tell. Let’s get to it:)

Hat | Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Sandals

The slight drop shoulder and wider sleeves make this feel stylish, but it’s also just a super easy black-and-white shirt to layer over. I’m wearing an XS, so size down unless you want super oversized. Just super easy to make any basic look feel a little more stylish.

Hat | Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Sandals

This was my #1 winner here for value + style (and I bought in a solid burgundy, too). It has a soft vintage wash, dropped shoulders, a great color combo (burgundy and navy), and totally feels like The Great, while only being $25. It’s a bit long, but an easy 1/2 tuck (or you could do what the kids are doing and tuck part of it into your bra strap so it kind of bellows out – I did that one day and actually thought it was super cute). I’m wearing an XXS (size down).

Hat | Necklace (unavailable) | Shirt | Shorts | Sandals | Purse

While I know it’s 1,000,000x cooler to wear actual vintage shirts, this is a solidly good shirt for getting the vibe. I rolled the sleeves, which I think is the right move, and the washed black color is perfect. I’m wearing a XXS so def size down unless you want super oversized.

Hat (similar) | Beaded Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Belt | Sandals

Ugh. I’m not really selling this V-neck here, but it’s boxy, and loose and cropped just enough for an easy tuck. I bought this in light grey, too, and it’s the perfect heather color.

Hat | Beaded Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Belt | Sandals

Another shirt that feels vintage and makes a basic outfit slightly cooler but in a neutral palette that is easy to mix. If you like short shorts (y’all this long JORT craze is taking over!!) I really love these shorties from Free People – low wide, sit on the hips perfectly, etc.

Hat | Beaded Necklace | Shirt | Shorts | Belt | Sandals

I tried a few white T-shirts, and they all hugged somewhere in a way I didn’t feel great in. But this one is basic, a great length and some structure (so not too drapey, more boxy), and just fit so well. Comes in a few colors, too (I also bought one in burgundy that I work out in).

Hat | Beaded Necklace | Shirt | Shorts (vintage) | Belt | Slides

Lastly, the muscle shirt that has such a great vintage texture and I find so easy to wear and flattering. It’s still on sale at the Nordys Anniversary sale for $45 but will go up to $68 after it’s over, so snag it if you want. Vintage Levi shorts, I’m sorry.

I feel like I have my fall base layer now. And yes, fall is so close, and I’m not ready, but I am ready, but I’m not ready, but I am ready. You know what I’m talking about.

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

The garden has exploded this year (turns out heavy rain + lots of sun + good design + good maintenance are the key, lol). Get excited for this backyard tour, y’all. Last summer we finished another phase of landscaping and turned the massive broken-tennis-court-turned-cement pad into a smaller pickleball court, and then we hired Dennis’ 7 Dees to do all the hardscape and landscape (shout out to Eric, our designer who totally got us). Year one was sooooo pretty. And yet year 2 is an even more magical wonderland of plants. A quick and satisfying recap:

When We Bought The Property…

It was rustic and charming, and while we didn’t intend on doing so much (we loved the idea of grass and using the existing tennis court as a sports court), the construction of the house ruined a lot of the original landscaping, so we launched into re-landscaping. The end of that string was very hard to find (and we still aren’t done – so doing it all in phases).

A Year (Or Two?) Of Mud

Despite our efforts, we had to take out the broken tennis court (which we were able to grind into gravel, BTW, and we used for our access lane), and once the machines were here ripping it all up, the entire yard became a mud pit. I’m not sure if it was more “give a mouse a cookie” syndrome or an unstoppable snowball, but let’s just say it triggered extensive updates that we are so grateful for. The band-aid was pulled off, and the hardscape, landscape, mini-gym, and Soake pool area were all put in.

The Too-Big Cement Pad

But the reduced-sized tennis court was still too big (IMHO, Brian loved the huge sports court, lol, but now realizes that I’m right). So we took a year and a half break and last year hired Dennis’ 7 Dees to reduce the pad and landscape the area underneath it and around the future outdoor BBQ area.

Last summer I did a full process post showing how they did it and how long it took, so if you are new to this and you want more info, check out this post.

Cut Down Sports Court, Outdoor Kitchen Summer Of 2025

The Dennis’ 7 Dees crew did such an impressive job – fast, professional, and super high quality. Hot tip – Book them in the fall so they design in the winter for an early spring install – that is their slower time, so they have more crew to put on your project. We finalized the design by February, and it was completely done in late April (or somewhere around there – but FAST).

It looked amazing in year one. Monrovia, which is a huge nursery in Oregon, grows really healthy, robust plants, so they planted larger than you can typically. You could still see bark and some plants were still small, but for year one we were so impressed.

Introducing…Summer Backyard Tour 2026

It’s so lush and beautiful right now, and we are enjoying the heck out of this yard. It changes every month, so I didn’t know when to shoot it, and August normally gets pretty hot, so I thought mid-July would be best. But little did I know that all the hydrangeas turn to blush pink in late July, and now I want to show you that!

Seating Set

The winter was actually still so pretty thanks to the abundance of evergreens (you can see that tour here). We already have had a huge harvest and cutback of the white garden roses, so there are less of them in these shots, but they are coming back really strong. Oh, and as you can see, we added some way more comfortable and durable seating by Polywood that I can leave out year-round without being covered (yes, in the extreme rain).

The sofa and chair set is really comfortable and is getting so much use already (it’s the best place to read while the kids are playing on the sports court). Being surrounded by the greenery feels like you are in a hidden garden, and by the time I’m out there reading (in the evening ) it’s shaded by the tall trees. But we have a third umbrella on hand during daytime hangs.

The entire garden looks like it’s been here for years and years. It’s just so lush and natural. Remember that Oregon conditions make it much easier to have a lush garden – the entire city looks so beautiful and abundant right now. Our summers are dry, so you don’t invest in this kind of landscaping without irrigation unless you are good at daily watering, but the rest of the year is so wet that the second the sun comes out, everything just bursts and it’s incredibly satisfying. We have all our irrigation on our well, thank goodness, and Dennis’ 7 Dees monitors the water needs closely.

I love that the ground cover in between the stones is thriving and so sweet. Dennis’ 7 Dees also did the area on the left side of the gazebo, which really softened that harshness of the building and made it look like it’s been there longer.

Adirondack Chairs

Aesthetically, we loved the wood picnic tables more, but functionally no one really wanted to sit in them (I think people felt locked into a conversation during parties, not to mention the lack of back support). I found that most people remained standing holding their food and drink, and as a host that mostly cares that people have fun and can relax, it bummed me out. So having these two conversation groupings (one for firepit, one for lounging) has been awesome, and they get SO MUCH USE.

I chose the green Polywood in hopes that it would blend the most year-round. We thought that black would be too modern and that white would be too bright, and we already had the green stools so we just went with it. Then we chose a more tonal soft green Sunbrella fabric to reduce contrast and again, just have them blend in with the garden.

Our wild strawberry groundcover has really taken hold in some places, but it’s so lush and natural that we love it.

We love how layered it is with different heights, textures, sizes of leaves, and color variation. There are still a lot of perennials, and some are just not popping up (so many more echinaceas have bloomed since we shot this).

I’m sure a lot of you are wondering about maintenance, because obviously this doesn’t maintain itself. Because of my job, this property needs to look good year-round, so I’m so grateful to have Dennis’ 7 Dees crew maintain it (Fernando comes every week in the summer and once a month after big cutbacks in the winter). Charlie and Elliot mow the lawns unless we are out of town. And then once a quarter, a project manager will come by and see if there are any more major tweaks that need to be made or requests from us. The garden has a mind of its own, and some plants take over, or maybe we want a jasmine to climb the posts, etc. So then we pay extra for additional work outside of maintenance. It’s a big property, but they did a really good job of weed abatement, so it’s usually a 2-3 hour maintenance every week.

I think we are those odd clients that don’t mind it more grown and less manicured (I don’t even like sharp edgelines on the grass), so we often let things grow more and then we’ll cut back in the late fall. I know it’s an extreme luxury and privilege to have maintenance, but one of the best things we did this time around is hiring the same people that designed and installed the landscaping to do the maintenance. They just know the overall art direction and irrigation system so well when it needs to be tweaked. There is so much trust. Also, having an in-house maintenance team means they are inherently much more invested in keeping it looking really good and keeping all the plants healthy because it’s their work. Same with interior design, there are going to be changes and tweaks based on how a family lives so I actually love it when my friends call and say “hey we need to get new bedding, what do you think about this” so that the room remains looking good (Don’t worry, it’s not a requirement and I’m not weird about it, but I like that we both care that the design work continues to look really good, even years after its “reveal”).

The hydrangeas really are the star right now. They are Panicle (sun-loving) hydrangeas from Monrovia that Dennis’ 7 Dees has at most of their nurseries. They change colors – more pink in late summer and burgundy in the fall. Truly incredible.

Eric also redesigned the pool area this year, which is growing in so well, but I’ll show you that in our next Soake pool update post. While I loved the wildflowers from years 1-3, they were getting too messy even for us, so we took most of them out and Dennis’ 7 Dees planted more of what we have around the flagstone here instead. It’s still natural, but it’s so pretty and is easier to see over.

The overhead shots really are my favorites – we feel extremely, extremely lucky. This summer we had so many kids here every day running around. And don’t worry, all the random socks, towels, plastic squirt guns, frisbees, balls, water cups, janky pool toys, and trash are not shown – it doesn’t always look this good. We always have to do a huge yard cleanup before we shoot in the summer because these feral summertime kids do a lot of beloved damage.

Our Soake pool has gotten so much use this summer (and winter and fall and spring) because even though it’s small, when it’s hot outside it’s PERFECT.

We have our annual pickleball tournament fundraiser for our elementary school in two weeks, which is only for grownups (and taken very seriously by some of our neighbors). It’s always a blast, so I’ll try to take more footage (but understandably not all our neighbors are as psyched to be all over the internet as I am). Point is, we feel extremely grateful and lucky to live here and continue to use and share our yard.

We have 2-3 more months of nightly hangs out here before the great long dark. So trust me that we’ll take advantage of every night possible.

Here is a pretty fun true “before and after”!

And the next two are sliders showing the difference between last year and this year:)

A huge thanks to Dennis’ 7 Dees for the design and install of the garden. If you are in the Portland area, I can’t recommend them enough for design, project management, install, and maintenance. And for most people who aren’t going to hire out for a full design, their nurseries are the best (one in Lake Oswego, a new one near me in Raleigh Hills, Cedar Hills, and Vancouver). And for a very fun perspective from their side as well as specific plants they used, head to their post on the project

*Photo by Kaitlin Green